Kagome walked down the sidewalk with a new spring in her step. The sensation of being on her own, with no responsibility lightened a weight she hadn't known she'd been carrying. A grin stubbornly stuck on her face, she trailed a step behind Inuyasha as they traveled deeper into unfamiliar land. At least it was unfamiliar to Kagome, she had never been this far into Tokyo before, but Inuyasha seemed to know where he was going.

She hoped he knew where they were going. Her wide grin faded momentarily. "Do you know where we're going?" Kagome chirped skipping ahead of him.

He gave her an annoyed look - but she knew he wasn't really annoyed. He just liked to act tough. "Yes I know where we're going."

"Well, that's good. Where are we going?"

"Subway."

"Why are we taking the Subway?"

"Because I don't feel like walking to our destination."

"And our destination would be...?"

The annoyed look was put into play once more. "We need to get away from here. And we're meeting up with a few friends of mine."

"Oh. Who are you friends?"

"Do the questions ever stop?"

"Do the questions bother you?"

"Isn't it kind of obvious that the questions bother me?"

"Why would- -"

"Augh! Stop it!"

Her grin was back in place and Inuyasha was now sporting a scowl.

"You'll meet them later." Inuyasha said curtly, pulling his hat down further so that his eyes brows were hardly visible.

The two eventually made their way to the subway and found empty seats in a car in the back.. Inuyasha fell into his seat heavily, propping his feat on the empty seat in front of him, and lacing his fingers behind his head.

He leaned his head on the back of his chair and closed his eyes.

Kagome took the seat next to him. "Is this going to be a long ride?"

"Fairly long ride" He answered without opening his eyes.

Kagome slid her shoes off, tucking them under her seat along with her and Inuyasha's bags. She made herself comfortable, pulling her legs up so that she was seated cross legged.

She stared out the window for a while, watching scenery fly by with a glazed expression while butterflies danced in her stomach excitedly. Maybe too excitedly. Kagome wondered if the butterflies in her belly were perhaps tripping on acid.

Her dark ponytail whipped as she turned her head to watch her dozing companion. His girlishly long eyelashes were dark crescent moons laid against his pale cheek. His chest moved in a deep, steady rhythm.

She rested her head against the cool glass and watched him until her own eyelids grew heavy as the motion of the sub lulled her.

The crackling of doors opening jerked her awake. Her companion was still sleeping soundly beside her. She watched as a couple walked through the sliding metal doors.

The male sauntered up first, dressed in somewhat baggy jeans held in place by a studded belt. He wore a shirt a darker shade of purple then Kagome's. He looked over at her, then behind him and said something she couldn't make out.

He had bright azure eyes and hair a few shades lighter then Inuyasha's just long enough to be pulled into a tight ponytail at the nape of his neck, reminding Kagome of a pirate.

A tall, but attractive girl about a year older then Kagome's age of seventeen walked up beside him. She was wearing tight jeans with the knee missing in one leg, and a pink long-sleeved shirt beneath a short sleeved grey T. Her hair was a rich shade of brown that matched her caramel eyes, and was pulled into a low ponytail that trailed down her back to her slim waist.

She too looked over at Kagome and the napping boy beside her. She said something back to the boy she was with and then they started to walk in Kagome's direction.

The girl put her index finger to her lips, signaling Kagome to be quiet. The boy's eyes sparkled with mirth as he neared Inuyasha.

The girl got on Inuyasha's left while the boy took to the right. They got up close enough to his face to kiss him and then they both blew large bubbles, and then popped them, causing a loud popping sound to jump around their somewhat limited space that even stung Kagome's ears.

Inuyasha's reaction was priceless. His eye's flew open and he tried to jump up, but he had forgotten his feet were still propped up and he ended up rolling around on the floor, making strange "oomph" noises, one shoe still stuck in place on the offending seat.

The newcomers, which Kagome guessed to be the friends Inuyasha had been talking about, were laughing so hard they were leaning on each other for support to stand. Kagome tried to stifle her laughter and ended up on the floor herself, her stomach clenching painfully from her unrestrained laughter.

Inuyasha jumped off the floor, missing his hat. His hair was now even more tousled and in fell in his face, covering on eye almost completely. His eyes were narrowed and darkened with his humiliation.

His voice dripped fury when he spoke. "What the fuck did you do that for?" he snarled.

No one answered except in a new gale of laughter.

He picked his discarded hat up and shoved it back over his hair, while cursing "Damn it!" under his breath.

Kagome pulled herself back into her seat and gave the still giggling duo a thumbs up. Kagome promised herself that she would learn to do the bubble trick.

"What are you laughing at?" He spat at Kagome before sliding into his seat grumpily.

"I wish you could have seen your face!" Kagome retorted, causing the boy to start laughing again.

"Shut up Miroku!" then for good measure Inuyasha added, "You too Sango."

The couple, apparently named Sango and Miroku, Kagome stored the information, quieted their laughter, but their eyes still sparkled with mirth, and Miroku had a grin in place.

Sango took the seat across from Kagome and smiled politely. "Kagome, right?" she asked looking her over.

"Yeah, that's me..." Kagome returned the smile, immediately liking Sango. She was very relieved Sango was a girl. When Inuyasha had first told her they were going to be meeting up with a few friends she had thought the friends were going to be guys. It just made Kagome feel easier knowing their was going to be another female.

"Cool. I'm Sango." She jerked her thumb in the direction of Miroku who had just sat down beside her. "And this is a deranged, perverted, no-good, slippery jackass who has the morals of a dog in heat." she took a breath, then added, "But we just call him Miroku."

Kagome laughed and said hello to Miroku.

"Don't bend over or anything around him." Inuyasha added before he went right back to silently sulking.

Miroku gave Kagome a meaningful look, before shooting Inuyasha and Sango insulted looks. "Kagome, I have no idea what these two are talking about. They're very cruel." He shot Sango a pained look, "Your words hurt me, dearest. Now would you please remove the dagger from my heart?"

"Only if I get to shove it up your ass."

The next hour or so of the ride went like that, Inuyasha and Sango bashing on Miroku while he tried to prove them wrong to a very amused Kagome. When they all fell silent (Inuyasha was still sulking) Kagome gave her new found friends a thoughtful look.

"So...are we all runaways?"

Miroku nodded. "Why did you agree to come with us, Kagome?" He asked gently. Kagome really didn't see the evil in him Sango was religious about pointing out.

Kagome glanced out her window for a moment, considering the question. "I guess...well...my soul was withering."

This got incredulous looks from Sango and Miroku, and Inuyasha let out a dry laugh.

"Your soul was...withering?" Sango repeated.

"Yeah, you know...I felt like I was dying inside. It was the same thing every single freakin' day with only the promise of maybe it'll be different however long down the road. Everything just felt so...meaningless. I hate feeling that way. I couldn't stand it any longer. So when Inuyasha's offer of running away came up...I couldn't turn it down. No matter what happens I'm glad I came. I just knew it was the right thing to do - because now I don't feel that way...it's like I've been thirsty all my life, but I'd been ignoring my dehydration, and then just as I was about to die from it - someone hands me this huge glass of ice cold water." Kagome stopped to take a breath, her dark eyes sparking.

"Nice analogy." Miroku commented.

Kagome blushed. "Sorry for rambling. I know it sounds stupid, but that's what it felt like. Um, so why did you guys want to run away?"

Miroku and Sango exchanged looks, then met eyes with Inuyasha who had pulled his hat away from his eyes so that he could see.

Silence.

"Come on you guys! I just spilled my guts all over your lap and your just gonna sit there?"

Sango laughed. "Our souls were withering too." She looked uneasily at the guys, who seemed to nod in agreement. "Maybe we wanted to go for the same reason you did, Kagome. We've kind of been planning on running away for years."

"We've always talked about it, always dreamed about it. Finally we just sort of...did it." Miroku added.

"We wanted to do something impulsive that told life it could just kiss our ass." Inuyasha chimed in quietly, looking out the window with that look on his face he had the first time Kagome saw him.

She looked out the window too, searching for what could possibly be so captivating, but she didn't see anything but grey flash by.

They all settled into a easy silence, all understanding each other and their weird desire until the sub stopped at a place Inuyasha announced was their destination.

Kagome grabbed her pack and followed her companions off the sub, wondering if her family had found her note. But then she remembered that both of her parents had an early meeting they'd had to go to. She remembered her mom telling her that right after Inuyasha had left via her window.

She'd said not to worry about Souta, that her grandpa would take care of Souta till they got home so she could spend her day off school the way she wanted.

No one had probably noticed yet. And when they all got home around six they would probably assume she was with one of her friends.

It would be a while yet till they realized something was amiss. Her.

"Why don't we treat ourselves and find a motel to stay at for out first night as runaways?" Miroku suggested.

"As opposed to staying where?" Kagome wanted to know.

Inuyasha smirked at her. "Another bridge."

"Motel sounds good. I've never stayed at a motel before. Cool! I'm going to a motel." Kagome said, earning laughs from her companions.

"I wouldn't write home about that." Miroku grinned.

"Why?" Kagome wanted to know, only getting laughed at.

After getting no answer at all from anyone, she lapsed into silence and observed her surroundings. She didn't think they were still in Tokyo, and if they were, it was a part she had never been to. It wasn't exactly rundown, but not as flashy and sophisticated. Still just as busy, though. It didn't take them long to find an affordable place if they all chipped in a bit. Just a few hours, while they all talked and got familiar with each other.

When they eventually found a place Kagome and Sango gave their share over to Miroku who went in with Inuyasha to get a room.

They returned with a card key, Miroku shaking his head and smiling innocently.

"What?" Sango asked.

"They were full." Miroku said.

"Oh, no. Wait. Why do we have a key then?" Kagome observed.

"Inuyasha changed their minds." Miroku said solemnly. "We won't be getting any mints on our pillows that's for sure."

Sango shook her head and said, "You never change do you Yash?" She smiled faintly.

"Nah." he said leading them to their room.

"It's only got one bed." Kagome pointed out the second they got the door to open.

"Yeah, about that." Miroku started to say. "The guy at the front desk said we could have a cot."

"A cot?" Sango repeated. "As in singular. As in only one?"

"Yes."

"I call the cot." They all said in perfect unison.

Kagome sighed. It was going to be a very interesting day.

A/N: I can't wait to write the next chapter. You know it's still going to be awkward no matter who gets the cot. Maybe I should have them fight to the death over it. I thought I was going to manage to reveal some plot but I guess that'll have to wait. Whatever. Thanks for reading! Please review and tell me what you think. If you do...um...uh...the next time you go to a Chinese restaurant you'll get these really cool cookies with fortunes inside!

-BloodyRomance