Inutori: I'm back for another chapter. I know, shock, shock.
Inuyasha: Maybe if you had updated several months ago, when you were supposed to, it wouldn't be so surprising.
Inutori: Whatever. I don't own Inuyasha; so don't sue me for using him and his co-stars.
Kagome: My head is overwhelmed.
Inutori: Better get things straightened out, because you'll just get even more confused in this chapter.

Chapter 7
Galactic Empire

I rub my temple in misery. Of all people, why do I get stuck with jerk-face here? Inuyaha (who cares what his name is) is sitting next to me in the car, driving me to the bridge where I guess my half-sister was killed.

If I were in control of the universe, Inuyahoo would be next on the list of people to die. Good grief, I'm starting to feel sorry for his parents. I wonder if he has any siblings? If he does: poor, unfortunate souls.

Emu-boy coughs, grabbing my attention and pulling me back to reality. Apparently we have arrived at our destination.

"Wench, is it here?"

I roll my eyes. How am I supposed to work with this guy if all he can do is insult me? Honestly, I get no respect.

"What do you think, Inuyuhu?" (Inūyūhū) I look around the area briefly; keeping in mind my life depends on this. Nothing really stands out to me except…oh wait, were those policemen by the river? Big shocker there…not.

Kikyou probably just committed suicide and made it look like murder.

I sigh, angry at the world. Really, I just want to go to school and be a normal teenager. But no, I have to play servant to a freak who thinks he's an alien.

"Well, is it?"

Looking over at Inuyasha, I debate whether I should tell him the truth or not. Well, they say the truth hurts, so here goes: "No, Inubuhoo. If it was ever here, it left quite awhile ago."

"My name is Inuyasha, but you should be calling me Prince Inuyasha." He is definitely a snotty-nosed brat. What I'd give to rub that smirk off of his face and replace it with a broken jaw.

Gritting my teeth, I turn away from him and back towards the river. It is a peaceful place that reflects nature and not humans. Except for those warehouses on the other side of the bridge…

My eyes widen slightly. My dream…about Kikyou dying. She had been running away from some buildings onto the bridge. I feel my heart constrict.

Had I really seen my sister's killer? The night she was…killed? The possibility had already crossed my mind, but it never hit me as strongly as it does now. In fact, the timing of my dream would have put me witnessing it as it happened.

A shudder runs down my spine. My life is circling down the drain, and I feel like it is getting way too close to the hole in the middle for comfort. I think my face is a little pale by this point, because Inuyasha starts looking at me strangely.

"Oi, wench, what's your problem?"

Yep, I must look pale or something. "N-nothing."

I swallow when I see the dark expression on his face. "Tell me now, human, or I may be forced to use other means of-"

"Threats, threats, and more threats! Maybe if you gave me a little respect, I'd give some back to you, Emu-baka!" I stand up straight, trying to be as threatening as I can, but when someone's taller than you, it's kind of hard.

Inuyasha got right up into my face, towering over me menacingly. "Listen here, woman, I am-"

Without warning some freak jumps on Inuyasha from behind, pushing him into me, and the three of us into the ground.

"Inu-itouto-chan!" A perky voice fills the air. It is a little too perky for my taste. The high-pitched squealing really hurts my ears.

"Get off of me!" Inuyasha's one to talk. He is on top of me as well as this other person, who I could guess was a girl based on the voice. Black hair manages to get in my face, but it is too straight to be mine. It must belong to the newcomer.

"Itouto-chan, you're no fun." The girl's voice sounds like she's pouting, but I feel a great deal of weight get off of me, and then Inuyasha's body follows.

I stand up, my eyes falling on a girl wearing a dark green full-body leotard with black lining on the outside of the legs and a large stripe down the middle of her torso that ended at a strange belt. Her arms also have the same black lining on the outside of the sleeve, but that blended into her straight black hair.

Her hair is something else. It is pulled back in a ponytail, but it comes down to just around her knees. Man that would have taken a long time to grow out.

"Who're you?" Perhaps I shouldn't be so straightforward, but I just can't help it.

"Oh! You must be the witch's cousin." A frown suddenly covers the girl's features, changing her appearance drastically. Are those dog-ears twitching on her head? They are just like Inuyasha's, only black.

"Witch?" I cock my head to the side, trying to keep myself focused on the conversation instead of those fuzzy triangles.

"Kikyou. She was so creepy and she had these bizarre powers to boot."

You know, this girl still hasn't answered my question. I don't know her name. But hey, at least we share the same sentiments about Kikyou. That thought makes me smile slightly. But…Kikyou is my half-sister, not my cousin…

She suddenly slams her palm into her forehead. "I'm such an airhead! I go on ranting about a dead girl and don't even introduce myself!" Finally she is going to tell me her name. "I'm Inutora of the Inu Taisho house! First in command of the royal army and heir to the Inu Taisho throne."

I just blink and continue staring. That is quite the introduction.

"And Inuyasha's big sister!" She leans closer to me to whisper, "You don't want to meet our big brother. He's a pompous jerk. That's why he was disowned."

Okay, so their family has issues besides really needing to be locked in the loony bin. "I'm Kagome Higurashi."

"Ooh! The Higurashi House! On top of the Miko House! Very impressive."

This girl is a serious, down-to-earth nutcase. What in the world is she talking about? "Umo?"

Inuyasha apparently thought this was a good time to cut in. "She doesn't know a thing about what you're saying Tora. Her aunt raised her away from the rest of the royal family."

Royal family? Higurashi House? Aunt? Nani?

I
Do
Not
Sleep

Inutori: It was short, yes, but I was finally able to introduce the character I've been dying to put in. I drew her last semester during science and was pleased with how she turned out.
Inutora: As some of you may know, I am the character Inutori got her penname from. Only to cut down on her own, and other people's confusion, I've been renamed.
Inuyasha: Not only that, but Inutori found out tori means bird, not tiger. Tora means tiger. So that's the real reason why she changed it.
Kagome: Why aren't Sango and Miroku and Shippou in this?
Inutori: They will be, don't worry. I'm still building up the plot and characters, okay?
Sagi: No, not okay.
Gem: Shut up, Sagi. (to readers) Please review for me!
Sagi: Germ…saying "please"? (heart attack)