CHAPTER 1

Suka

I had been on that damn plane for thirteen hours! Japan, it was the last place I wanted to be right now. I watched as all the passengers filed out of the plane. My heart hurt. It hurt like my mom had stopped trusting me, like my dad had given up on me. Like they were ashamed of me, and for all I knew they were.

The flight attendants were checking all the seats. Finally I got up; as I exited the plane I felt my life change. As if everything I was, was going to stay on that plane and fly back to America. I sighed, and took my first step into what I thought was despair.

Kagome

"INUYASHA!" I screamed. I heard something loud drop in the far off distance, and a second later he was bursting through the brink of the forest. He looked particularly panicked. Well he should be because I was definitely about to rip him a new one! "What? What do you want, wench?" God I hate it when he calls me that! Stupid jerk face, I don't have time for this! Suka will be there any minute if she isn't there already!

"Inuyasha! Did you take the basket Kaede made me to take back to my cousin?" I asked even though I already knew. "The one with the candies and pastries?"

"Yepp"

"No?"

"SHIPPO!"

From somewhere far away Shippo yelled, "INUYASHA DID IT!"

Inuyasha replied with, "Damn kid!"

I sighed, "Whatever I need to leave!"

"And where are you going?"

"I told you, my cousin, Totosuka, is moving in with my family today."

"Oh yeah."

"I'll be back in a couple of days"

"Okay, could you ge-"

"GOODBYE!" I shouted as I ran towards Bone Eater's Well. I was excited I hadn't seen Suka since we were kids. I remember that we used to be best friends until she moved to America. I wonder what she was like now. Was she still the sweet little girl, I remember? Well whatever she was, she was still family.

When I finally made it back home I noticed that mom's car wasn't here. Good, that meant that I wasn't late! I exited the shrine and made my way to the house, it was a clear night. Mom hadn't told us why she was coming, just that she was staying.

As I walked in, Sota was cleaning. I had to say that suspiciously he looked a little dressy. I had almost forgot that he had a crush on her back then. It was always awkward having a crush on a family member. He looked up and said, "You should have been here earlier."

"Why?"

"Because I could have used your help with the ceiling. I couldn't find the duster for it."

"Oh, I'm sorry! Inuyasha ate the basket I had got for Suka."

"It's cool, I managed."

"Okay, I'm gonna go upstairs and change into something presentable."

Sota nodded, indicating he heard me. I went upstairs to my room and picked out a really cute pair of jeans and a shirt. I was ready for whatever God could throw at me.

Suka

When I had gotten off the plane Grandpa and Aunt Yuki were waiting for me. As I walked up to them I forced a smile, not impossible. Even with the emotional crap I had been going through it was great to see Aunt Yuki, She was always looking out for me. We, all, used to be really close, before I left for America. Kagome, Sota, and I were almost siblings; we had spent almost every day together. I was almost 'home' when I saw her.

Yuki and Grandpa each gave me a hug. We left almost immediately, I was thankful I didn't have to drag on about how sad my life is. God I hated pity! I wanted them to get over it! Like, yes my life sucks now drop it and move on. Yuki knew how it, and I, was. So she didn't bring it up, another great thing about her.

It was about an hour drive from the airport, Grandpa had played music the entire way. When we pulled up to the house, Yuki turned off the radio. Everything was quiet except for some strange noises coming from inside, it sounded like mating season in the outback. I looked around at my surroundings, just how I left it. I smiled, it was like eating your favorite ice-cream after being in space for a good millennia. I took a deep breath, yeah definitely NOT the same it smelled like old man fart.

When realization hit I looked at grandpa, his face was suspiciously red. I laughed as he walked away smiling, he knew how to part a crowd! When I got to the front door, I spotted the shrine and a wave of memories hit me like a ton of bricks. I remember all the times Kagome and I had played priestess on those steps. I almost cried, almost.

Grandpa opened the door, Showtime! As we walked in the door we found out what the strange noise was, Kagome and Sota were wrestling on the floor. Kagome was trying, with great success, to mess up his hair. "GUYS!" Yuki yelled. Immediately they both stood up, Sota looking particularly flustered, and simultaneously said, "Sorry Mom."

"You two are shaming this family!"

I walked over to Sota and ruffled his hair, "Oh, Come on Aunt Yuki! I'm family what do I care?"

Kagome smiled from ear to ear, "Suka."

She gave me a hug, and I smiled back. When I turned around I was unexpectedly trapped in a hug from Sota. Wow, he got tall! And strong! "Whoa, Tiger you can let go now!" I said, trying my hardest to keep from slapping him in to next Tuesday.

He pulled away and apologized. He smiled and I couldn't help but smile back, he was like the little brother I never had.

I faked a yawn, "Well I think I gonna go pass out."

Yuki laughed, "Okay. Your room is up the stairs, down the hall; the last one on your left. You'll be bunking with Kagome."

"Alright!" Kagome said, "Your bed is the one that's not screwed up!" She laughed and I smiled. "Okay, I'll see you in the morning." I grabbed my bag and walked upstairs.

I found my room and made it inside. I sat down on the bed and looked at the floor. 'So this is my life from now on.' I thought. The acting was hard, but society doesn't approve of depression. Just like my mother once told me, "It doesn't matter how you feel, it only matters how you look." She was right and at that thought I saw the walls harden around my soul. I knew that no one really cared they were just obligated to ask. So it wasn't gonna hurt when someone dropped me like a kick ball, it was expected. I brought out my planner: TOMORROW = Survive.