A/N: All right, I'm going to admit that I haven't written anything extensive in a while, so I'll probably be somewhat rusty. My style may have also changed some. That said, this will probably be a test chapter, to see if it goes well with readers. So if you like it, don't like it, have suggestions, etc, please review or send me an email and tell me what you think.

Story Summary:

A modern version of the tale. My interpretation to the best of my abilities. Inuyasha's life was never easy. Who's is? But he was getting used to it. Then, two events occur that force him to leave the life he'd always known behind, and he must learn to start a new life. One that will teach him to trust, to live, and to love again…but only if he is willing to. WARNING: Rated for language, possible scenes of drugs, violence, and sexuality.

When It's Over: Chapter 1

"Then why don't you just kick me out!" Inuyasha bellowed at the top of his lungs, storming into his room and slamming the door, which made the whole house tremble from his rage. Shesshomaru, holding together his calm demeanor, just watched the door, observing the slight cracks in the wood and picturing the fuming Inuyasha on the other side. The atmosphere around him was flinching, sharply cut by the loud bang.

A number of things he could've said ran through his head. He was angry of course at Inuyasha's outburst and rashness, that was clear. Should he try and talk through the closed door, telling Inuyasha to keep his behavior in line? Should he try with simple reason that he was overreacting and that although he was his brother and wanted to kick him out sometimes that they both knew he couldn't do that, for one reason or another? Or should he just stay silent and let Inuyasha seethe alone?

"I'm going for a while. I'll be back later. Just for that, you can walk to work. There's money for pizza on the counter for dinner if I'm not back by then," Shesshomaru said through the door, keeping his voice under control. Years of practice gave him the ability to remain calm, even when dealing with the blasts of his little brother's rage.

Inuyasha, his fists clenched, and his body sprawled out on his unmade, wrinkled bed sheets, fought back the angry tears and the painfully constricting lump in his throat. He wanted to kick something and scream, or slam his fist into a wall. He was even livid enough to dare to try a swing at his brother. But he knew that wouldn't end well. Last time he tried that, his brother socked him in the stomach, leaving Inuyasha out of breath and dizzy as well as with a nice bruise for the next week or so as a souvenir. It was the kind of bruise that changed all those ugly, dark colors and he had to be careful about moving around too fast. Absentmindedly, Inuyasha brushed his hand against the spot where Shesshomaru had hit him.

Lying still in his bed, he opened his eyes slowly, listening for his brother's steps as he made his way down the short hallway and out the door. As soon as heard the door slam, but on a much smaller scale than the previous one, Inuyasha stared, with a watery vision at the permanent bed sheet stains that decorated the once white cloth in a distasteful fashion, hating his brother. He turned over and his eyes wandered over the low ceiling. A spider had begun spinning a threadlike, wispy web in the far corner.

Continuing to lie there for what seemed like hours, Inuyasha found his breathing return to normal as he calmed down, the silence working with time to bring him back to his senses. Glancing at the digital clock, on the desk beside his bed, he stumbled off his bed and cursed, at the same time managing to throw on a clean shirt and trip over the electrical cord to his lamp, which in the blink of an eye, hit the floor, the bulb shattering into God knows how many pieces. Another wild curse escaped his mouth, as he jumped out of the way, knowing he'd have to deal with that later. It took fifteen minutes to get to work on foot. He was already ten minutes late.

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"Inuyasha, you can't keep being late," reprimanded his assistant manager as she steamed with an aggravated sigh, which Inuyasha swore almost sounded like a growl. She whipped past him and disappeared back into the supplies room.

Hey, I haven't been late this entire week…

Inuyasha went back to watching the french-fries float in the bubbling grease. It was hot, and steamy, and the smell of fast food grease made him sick sometimes. He officially hated McDonalds now, and glared at the popping and frying grease, mentally cursing the assistant manager, the boss and the whole place.

See if I ever recommend McDonalds to anyone now, he fumed. Not for the first time, he wondered why he even took the job in the first place. That's right…money. Damn. He made a mental note to look for other job opening later.

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Later that evening, exhausted, Inuyasha flopped onto his still unmade bed. Come to think of it, he couldn't remember the last time it had been made up. Oh well…

There had been an ordeal as usual when Shesshomaru had found the broken lamp in Inuyasha's room. The yelling match went something along the lines of Inuyasha yelling at him for snooping around in his room, and Shesshomaru, calm as ever, but with flashing eyes, telling him that he'd have to clean up the mess and pay for a new lamp. Inuyasha knew perfectly well that Shesshomaru didn't care whether he had a lamp in his room or not, and was sure that he was just saying he'd have to pay for a new one just to aggravate Inuyasha more. The yelling match ended with Inuyasha yelling at him that he wasn't his father and couldn't tell him what to do, and Shesshomaru finally raising his voice and grabbing Inuaysha around the throat and raising him against the wall, with the final threat that he didn't like the living arrangements any more than him, but that he promised his father he would take care of him, so they had no choice.

Glancing around his room, Inuaysha pushed the ordeal out of his mind, and watched the sharp beams of the glowing moon pierce through his window, casting countless shadows that patterned his room. His eyes fell on his black book bag, the right shoulder holding on by a few threads. He should've gotten a new one. But he just never seemed to have enough money, and he knew asking Shesshomaru for the money was out of the question.

In any case, he hadn't touched his book bag since it was thrown next to his open closest Friday afternoon, which meant his homework was still there amidst the unorganized notebooks filled with a bunch of wrinkled papers. It had only been a couple months into the year, and he had already accumulated a mass of handouts. Senior year was gonna be tough, but he assumed he'd slide just as he had the past few years. So far it worked. He supposed he was just like most teenage boys. It's not that he wasn't smart. He was in most subjects. Nope, it was the effort part that kept him from "reaching his full potential" as he had heard from his guidance councilor at least once a week for all the years he could remember being in school.

He was supposed to do something? What was it? Oh right…homework…Well he'd been getting by with mostly C's and only one D so far without doing homework. A few more busy work assignments wouldn't matter much.

Yawning, Inuyasha, scratched his head, and turned over, a little warm, but that didn't matter much either. His eyes seemed to close by themselves, and in the few minutes before falling asleep, he realized just how tired he was.

PREVIEW:

These were the moments that he was glad to be alive. Kikyo's hand in his gave him the best feeling ever. As they continued strolling through the park, he breathed in deep, enjoying seeing the green scenery that was slowly turning to a crisp, fall setting. Every now and then Inuyasha would glance at Kikyo, finding it hard to keep his eyes off her. She was so pretty, the way the light bounced off her dark hair, the slight smile that she usually wore, and her soft, fair skin that was sometimes brushed with a light, natural blush. Inuyasha stroked her delicate, slightly smaller hand with his thumb, and she responded with a gentle squeeze, and by looking up at him with a comforting smile. He loved how she made him feel calm and…just wanted…just by being there.

Inuyasha stopped underneath one of the magnolia trees and sat down on the green, wooden bench. A gentle breeze blew gently, wrapping them both in a cool atmosphere. Kikyo gave a slight shudder, and Inuyasha, slightly alarmed, pulled her close, wrapping both his arms around her. Two emotions leaped from his chest: worry, because she was cold, but also pride, because he was able to protect her. He leaned down and kissed her on the top of her head. Kikyo nestled into his chest, and could hear his heartbeat, even through the layers of clothes. She smiled, taking in his scent, and his warmth. Why couldn't moments like these last forever?

"I love you," Kikyo whispered.

"I love you," Inuyasha breathed lightly back with a smile.

Things were hard. Their relationship hadn't been the easiest. God knows, life hadn't been the kindest. If only they knew what was coming.