The car ride only seemed to drag on. Sota was already half asleep; his head against the cold window and his body wrapped around the small yellow blanket that was stashed in the back compartment of the back seat. My mother had the radio playing real low, of old songs she had on a tape that my father had made her years ago in high school. Every song he made he gave her to listen to, and she always listened to that single mixed tape every chance she had.

All of us had never been so quiet; I just stood out the window looking at all the old buildings, and surroundings we past by in flash. Snow was still coming down, and I could only wonder why that guy was staring at me the way he did. I had guessed he had never seen a girl my age dressed up in a silky rouge dress, their done up and done professionally. His stare was different from the others; The others had the look like I had looked like something they'd take to their bedroom for a night and get rid of in the morning. I didn't know why I cared so much, I just did.

Finally we had pulled into the driveway. The whole house hadn't changed one bit. It was an old looking house that was completely white, and a small red roof over their heads. They had an old water fountain garden theme directly in front of her living room windows, and an old huge oak tree that one single tire swing still hanging from the branch. Everyone else in their neighborhood had changed dramatically. Sango's house was the only one that still stayed the same after all these years.

" Guys were here. Sota honey, come on it's time wake up."

Sota just groaned slowly throwing the blanket the side, and stepping out onto the concrete. I gently lifted my dress almost forgetting I still had the thing on.

" Mom how long are we going to stay? I'm really tired."

Sota whined rubbing his eyes trailing along with my mother, who seemed more awake and cheery then all of us combined. Quietly we stepped onto the porch while I knocked on the door waiting for either Kohaku to run to the door, or her mother to greet out. My mother just messed up Sota's slicked back hair and waited patiently.

" Believe me we aren't going to stay long. Just long enough to consider it a nice visit. Kohaku will probably be there so time will go by fast."

Finally I could hear heavy footsteps stumbling to reach the door. There was Kohaku with an excited smile painted on his face, dressed back into his regular army looking style clothes. He just opened the door and automatically ran to Sota doing their special handshake, and filled the inside of the house with laughter.

" Mom, the Higurashi's are here!"

Kohaku's voice had deepened a lot. He use to have the same squeeky soft voice as Sota's but it had changed practically over night.

The minute I had walked in the house smelt of cigarettes. Her house never smelt like that, ever. It always smell fresh and clear with candles lit, and air fresheners scattered through out the house hold. It seemed like her mother had taken up cigarettes pretty quickly. She was never the type to smoke. At one point she was practically against it since she had a friend of hers who had died from cancer because of her bad habit.

Her mother appeared with a wide smile, and a half lit cigarette in her left hand. The minute she saw my mother she opened her arms wide, giving her the biggest hug anyone could receive. They were laughing so hard, just so happy and overwhelmed to spend another moment together.

" It's been so long since you were here!" Her mother chuckled while Sota and Kohaku had ran off into his room where all his video games were, and likely be playing for hours on end.

" I know! Last time I was here I was beating you at that game Bridge." My mother responded with excitement remembering they played that game all the time when they were over at their house. It was almost like a tradition; Usually they would find the wine bottles and pour themselves some glasses and sit down and play like old times.

I was glad everyone had someone to be close to, to be welcomed by. Kohaku would always have Sota by his side, and my mother would always have Sango's mom to gossip and appreciate too. I just felt an outcast. There was no one to welcome me with open arms, or gossip about or talk about life with. The world around me seemed so perfect, but it wasn't perfect for me anymore. There just didn't seem to be any room.

" Kagome you don't have to stand there like a stranger. You can come more into the house if you like."

Sango's mother commented grabbing another chair towards the oval wooden table. She had finally put out the cigarette into the ashtray, watching the ashes fly off out of the tray. My mother was already in the fridge getting out some white wine, pouring it into classes setting up for a another game of Bridge.

" Kagome sweetheart, you know you can do whatever you want here. How about watching some tv, or hanging out with your brother? Hey, why not come over here and keep score for us?"

Softly I nodded, there wasn't anything else I'd be able to do. It wasn't my idea of fun being around parents watching them play the same game after another. It was better than standing there at the front door all dressed up, and finding myself already lost and misunderstood.

I had pulled out the seat and tried to get myself comfortable. I grabbed the notepad and paper and already marking off points for my mother who was way ahead.

" Higurashi , you missed a spot. So really I'm ahead of you! Kagome mark another checkmark for me because I'm winning against her! That's now two points ahead of you."

The table was rumbling from Sango's mother banging her fists with excitement, grabbing the crystal glass full of wine and carefully placing it to her lips, and back onto the table. My mother just narrowed her eyes, staring at her cards ready to outdo her within any given moment.

" Look if it's alright with you two, I'm going to watch some television for abit."

My mother grabbed the notepad and the pencil from me, and placed it directly beside her. I pushed the chair in, while my mother was barely picking up on the fact that nothing else quite the same anymore.

" Sure go right ahead Kagome. Make yourself comfortable.- No fair you cheated on that hand!"

I could hear them continue on screaming and laughing, accusing each other of cheating every single second. I walked further around the house and just carefully placed myself at the bottom steps of the staircase.

" Why do I have to be the one out? Kohaku has Sota to be with, and my mother has his mother to play cards with, and enjoy each other's company. Why can't I have the same?"

My hands carefully held up on my head. I just watched the soft snow fall to the ground, the only thing that was making time for me go alittle bit faster. With my thoughts and watching the snowfall, I could hear someone storming down. There was Sota who looked upset more then ever.

" Hey kiddo, shouldn't you be upstairs with Kohaku?"

Sota threw himself directly beside me on the same step. He still had his suit on, only the bow tie was undone and his slicked back hair was already back to normal.

" Ya well, he failed to mention that SHE was here."

I could see by looking he also felt like the odd one out like had the minute I stepped into the house. Sota just looked in the opposite direction feeling so upset and I couldn't blame him. Kohaku and him were always together making havoc, pulling pranks on everyone like me and Sango, or just sitting around playing video games. Now that Kohaku was dating, it just didn't seem that fun anymore. It wasn't only that, it was the girl Sota had his eye on for the longest time. He was ready to ask her out and next thing he knew his best friend had her before long.

I was kind of glad that I wasn't the only one feeling that exact same way. It almost felt rude for me to even think that way. I wanted and expected my brother to be happy at their place, never the opposite. Softly, I placed my hand over his shoulder and pulled him in enough for him to feel comfortable and needed.

" Maybe Kohaku should of told you she was over here again. But, I understand why your upset. You feeling left out, ever since she came along. Does Kohaku ignore you when she's around though?"

He sighed, and just titled his head enough to look at me and listen to what I had to say.

" No he doesn't. Just when I want to play our type of games he always tries to include her. Usually it never works, so lately he's been doing games all of us can do. Really it isn't that fun. Even if it's the girl I still like."

I just smiled at my brother. We never had talks or spent time like this as brother and sister properly. Usually we were at each other's throats always trying to get the other one upset and tease them at every moment of the day. This was different. It was a once in a life time thing.

" Kohaku it isn't easy I know. I think it's hard for Kohaku too when he has a girl friend and a best friend who acts like he hates her guts. Kohaku is trying to include you, and her to make it fair. Some boys his age don't include the friend at all. Your lucky Kohaku's nice. Look try to get along with both of them. You'd understand how hard it is if you loved someone too."

" I know, I know. Just isn't the same that's all. I felt left out."

He just titled his head towards the kitchen where my mother, and Kohaku's were laughing it up and throwing more cards down on the table.

" Believe me I feel the exact same way. I thought I was left out. I guess I'm not the only one. Look, I'll come upstairs with you and I'll talk to her. Maybe you two can have enough time to play what you want. And maybe you should talk to her. Get to know her a lot more."

Sota laughed almost amazed by what I said. " Your serious? You'd do that for me? You never do things for me, especially like this."

" Look I'm sister. I'm a pain in your ass and that's kind of my job. When it comes down to it, I help you out. So stop feeling sorry for yourself and go up there!"

Sota's mood dramatically changed. He was already bolting up the stairs into his bedroom with laughter and a determined look on his face. When I looked in the room there was Kohaku laying on the fold out bed laying on his stomach at the edge of the bed with a controller in his hand, and his girl friend on the right side cuddled up to you, with Sota's controller in her palms.

" Hey man, where did you go?" Kohaku questioned keeping one eye on the screen and another one Sota.

Sota placed himself on the floor, while I sat on the edge of the couch watching them slowly work everything out. His girl friend was a cute polite girl, who had blonde hair pulled back in a loose but high pony tail and wearing bright colors. Sota just smiled and looked at the two keeping in mind what I had said.

" I just went to get a drink that's all." Sota lied, while his girl friend beside him shyly looked down at Sota and at the controller.

" Here Sota, I took over the controller until got back. So here you can play against Kohaku. I got you way ahead of him."

She gave a devilish smile, seeing Kohaku pounding so hard at the buttons on the controller I thought they were going to break. Sota blushed alittle and took the controller off of her, and smiled with thanks and placed himself comfortable on the floor. The girl just sat right beside me, holding her knees close to her chest watching them play on.

" You must be Kohaku's girlfriend. I'm Kagome. Sota's older sister."

She was really a sweet girl. She looked pretty shy, and gave a small smile and forgotten all Kohaku and Sota playing against one another on the video game system.

" I'm Lacey. Sota never told me he had a older sister. He said he was an only child, and had a pet named Kagome."

Sota knew already I was glaring at him even if he couldn't see it, he could feel it. He just shivered and laughed it off knowing if those two weren't there I would of strangled him in a second.

" Sota likes to joke around. He thinks he's a "comedian." He's alittle bit of a goof, but he's alright. How long have you been dating Kohaku?"

She told me the whole story and finally opened up. She explained they had been dating no longer then two weeks, and she even told me that she bought presents for Kohaku as well. She even mentioned how much she enjoyed Sota's company and that she was secretly going to buy him a special gift as well. Sota was thankful that I had been spending time with her, so he had alittle bit more time with Kohaku.

When I was talking to her I could see why Sota loved her a lot. Lacey just smiled when Sota had got alittle tired of playing and handed the controller back. The room looked so big, even if there was four of us in it. I had almost forgotten this was both Sango's and Kohaku's room. Sango's room was hidden in the corner, it was almost like another room but they were still joined.

I trailed off from Kohaku's side of the room and into Sango's room that looked exactly the same. The minute I opened the room I could smell the scent of flowers, and the room had always smelt like that every time I came over. Quietly, I closed over the door looking around at everything that had her written all over it.

Her room wasn't as big as her brother's but it was comfortable enough to be in. Her room was a beautiful pink that the theme of pink and yellow everywhere. Beside her huge queen size bed was two night stands that held her light, and small things she had received like cards, flowers or toys. She had a lot of pictures frames hanging through out the room. It was like as though she had never left in the first place.

I barely touched anything in there. I couldn't help but slowly walk around and take in everything that was laying out that was hers. She had received a lot of gifts from guys at our school, like flowers and written cards. A lot of guys were crazy about her. She had a photo frame book and in it was everyone, and her life. There was a lot of her and I. Stupid pictures with spoons hanging off our noses, and a lot of her family. There was something I recognized that stood against her dresser that I couldn't help but smile about.

There was the jar full of change that was suppose to be towards our California trip. She had a lot of change in there differing from pennies to dollars. I carefully opened up the top to see a green note tucked away in the jar. Carefully I pulled it out and saw Sango's beautiful handwriting all over it that was towards me.

Kagome,

I know this jar may not look like a lot with the change, but I've counted it so far and I have at least 500 dollars worth. I've got another jar too stashed away so all together almost a thousand! Can you believe it? So far it's probably only enough for the gas of an old RV. We are going to California no matter what! Hopefully you have a lot saved too. I can't wait to go with you. You have no idea!

Love, Sango.

I was so happy to read that, nobody had no clue. By the look and the amount of change it sounded like she was saving up every other paycheck, and change she could possibly find towards that. It looked like she was ready to show me all the amounts of change she collected for the trip. Carefully I stuffed it back in it's original place, and wondered around a little more until I felt calm.

" All the money I have is probably five hundred dollars that I've saved."

I told myself looking at the last thing I hadn't looked at all; the closest. I opened slid open the doors to see all her clothes hanging out neatly of her unique tops and sweaters. There was one piece of clothing that stood out from the rest; her dress. It was black with no straps and cut into a V-shape and looked glittery. I knew it had to be her grad dress. It still had the tag on it showing the price, and she wasn't the one to buy expensive dresses like that.

My brother had wandering off from Kohaku and Lacey, to give them enough time to be alone. He knew I would bound to be in Sango's room since I missed her so much. He quietly shut the door behind him and could see me standing there motionless, and could hear me crying. He moved over to my side and hugged me tightly, knowing this was the hardest thing ever for me to get over.

" Kagome don't be sad."

He spoke very soft but I couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. I was glad he was concerned for me, he was never like this. He carefully sat me on the very edge of the bed, and saw me catching every tear that fell. I knew I must of looked stupid to still be dressed up and be crying like that.

" I'm not, Sota don't worry. I'm happy just looking back on things about her. She was saving up money for a trip for her and I to go to California, and wrote a note to go with it. I even found her grad dress she had bought way ahead of time. I'm not sad, I'm just crying because I'm happy that's all. Why are you with Lacey and Kohaku?"

He smiled, making sure there was a tear left on my cheek. " Because. I wanted to check up on my sister. I knew you'd be in here and I wanted to see if you were going to be alright. Plus I got to know Lacey, and maybe things aren't bad between all of us. I gave Lacey and Kohaku alone time since they haven't since I arrived."

My crying had finally subsided. I just hugged him tight enough, for being concerned and actually cared about me. I didn't feel so left out anymore, I felt a lot better just knowing someone understood me at all.

" Your so sweet Kohaku. It's already going on nine. We should be going anyways, and pull mom from her game of bridge."

Sota agreed coming out of the room noticing that Kohaku and Lacey were just in the process of kissing each other. Sota thought nothing of it, and smiled at both of them.

" I gotta leave. So I will see you two later."

Before he could step out of the room, he felt someone tug on the sleeve of his shirt. He turned around to see Lacey hugging him real tight as a good-bye and looked down.

" You don't hate me do you, Sota?"

Sota felt bad. He realized the way he was acting made Lacey get the wrong impression. Sota shook his head, " Of course not!" " I'm glad. I was starting to think you did. Look before Christmas you should come to my place to hang out. If you want that is."

" Sure!"

He smiled saying both good bye to Lacey and Kohaku. I just smiled at the thought and walked downstairs, to see Sota happier as ever. Sota just elbowed me in the ribs with this look on his face I don't think I'd ever forget.

" You were right all along Kagome. I guess Lacey isn't that bad! I got invited over to her house and everything!"

" See I told you, but you didn't believe me at first."

Sota nodded while we stood at the base of the kitchen, seeing those two look like they had enough fun for one night.

" Mom I think it's time to go. Sota and I are both tired out."

My mother carefully placed the two empty wine glasses on the counter, and placing the wine bottle back into the fridge. She helped Kohaku's mom place the cards back into the proper sleeve, and made sure the table was clean and cleared. My mother smiled while Kohaku's mother just finished another cigarette.

" I think we should get going. Thank you so much for the night. Remember I kicked your butt this time at bridge!"

" Give a date and I'll will sure beat you to it!"

We all waved off closing the door tightly behind. Sota seemed to have a bounce in his step ever since Lacey and him had gotten on good terms, and when Lacey kindly invited Sota for a visit before Christmas. Myself I was pleased what I had found in Sango's room.

Carefully we climbed into the back of the car, while my mother could see Sota and I were partly asleep as she continued to drive. Sota had the yellow blanket all wrapped around him, and he kindly gave me half of the blanket. It had been a good visit. My mother kept looking back seeing both of us out in the back.

" I guess both of them had a good time." She softly whispered to herself heading straight back home.

Author's Notes: To answer everyone's question yes Inuyasha will appear soon. I promise!Also you'll understand the title soon, just not this moment. Miroku may just show up in it :)Don't expect this to a normal fanfic either. It has alot of twists in it. This story is getting started. So please R&R