Hey everyone! Many thanks for the reviews! I can't wait to get into the main plot, get them to school, get some character interaction. Heh, I especially can't wait for Sesshomaru to show up, because even though Kagome gets with Inuyasha, I'm finding Sesshomaru to be my current fave. He's just so…cool… Now read on.

Chapter 2 :

It was dark when she awoke, her back aching, her fingers clenched in a death grip around the porcelain horse. Peeling them off, she flexed her hand, easing the stiffness, and sat up, leaning against the foot of the bed.

It was an odd feeling, waking up on the floor, the room dark, and feeling empty. It was as if all the blocked up emotions had flowed out last night and left her hollow. It wasn't horrible, she wasn't sad. She couldn't be. But she wasn't happy either, and she couldn't remember a time when she'd ever really felt like this. She was typically emotional, beaming when happy, crying when sad, yelling when angry. Emotional expression had never been a problem.

Vaguely, she stared up at the ceiling, wondering when her feelings would come back? She couldn't imagine that starting off school emotionless would go over too well.

Then again…there was last night… before the dam had burst. She'd been angry at Inuyasha. More angry than she'd been in quite a while, and that was at least something. Maybe he'd make her angry again. Maybe anger could trigger something else, something better.

But was that right? Was it right for her to want that? Wasn't she supposed to be in mourning? Wearing all black?

Well, she always wore black. She liked it. But that wasn't the point. The point was whether or not she should be happy. She knew her mother would want her to, she'd hate to imagine her suffering. But she couldn't help it. There was a small part of her that viewed that as betrayal, and she couldn't bring herself to try and squelch it.

Turning her head in the dark, she stared at the window. There were heavy curtains over them in what she could vaguely remember as dark blue. She remembered thinking, in passing, that they weren't hideous. A nice color actually. Standing, despite the protests of her sore, stiff, legs, she walked over to the window and pulled the curtains back.

It was dark outside, but the moon and stars were bright, casting pale light across the land and flooding it into her room. Finding a window seat behind the curtains, she sat down, leaning against the wall and staring out the window, her knees drawn to her chest.

It was pretty out there. Her room was facing what she assumed was the back of the house, which was apparently built on the bank of a lake. She supposed the Hayashi's owned the lake, as well as the land around it.

It really was gorgeous. The sand on the bank looked extra pale, the water reflecting the moonlight. She sighed at the beauty of it, wondering what she'd feel if she could. Probably awe, wonder. Maybe a longing to go walk the beach. Yes, that'd be nice.

She couldn't help but wonder though, what type of people were they? They'd seemed nice enough, the adults anyways, but the rest of it just seemed weird. Supposedly Taisho Hayashi was a friend of her father's, the father who died when she was three. Great. But why did that mean she had to live with him? Why couldn't she live with Kameko or someone? Hell, did her mother even know these people?

That's what she most wanted to know. Why them. Out of all the people she could have gone with, her grandmother, her aunt…Kameko, why them? Sure they were super loaded, they had to be to afford a house like this much less the land she guessed they owned as well, but was that really a decent character reference. Ebenezer Scrooge had money , but you didn't see Bob Cratchit shipping Tiny Tim off to live with him.

With another sigh, she decided to put that on the list of things to ask Izayoi, and glanced at the clock radio blinking on the nightstand.

1:36 AM.

Great…

Walking to the foot of the bed, she retrieved her carousel horse and placed it safely on the nightstand by the clock. She then sat on the bed, bouncing a little. Testing it, then flopping back onto it. Unmaking it, she slid herself down, beneath the cool sheets and curled up. Her eyes hot from crying , longed to close, and allowing them to, she soon fell asleep.

Cold. That was the first thing she felt. Severely, intensely cold, as if the blood in her veins was suddenly ice water.

The second thing was fear.

And then she was running. So what if she was supposed to stay in the office, there was no way in hell that was happening. She wasn't waiting around for someone to pick her up from school. Not if her mother just died. Sure the principal had broken it to her gently, but that didn't make the news any less horrible.

The strange thing was, she didn't believe it. People didn't just get called out of class to be told their mother died. No. That kind of thing just didn't happen. She was probably just being Punk'd. She'd see. She'd run to her house, burst through the front door, and see her mom sitting on the couch watching her soaps.

Even the cop cars around her house didn't seem to convince her, or the police tape she jumped over. Not the sirens, the ambulance, none of it.

And then there was the body, on the living room rug, covered with a sheet. And blood. It had been cleaned up, but the blood had stained the carpet.

She could hear the cops calling her, feel someone with strong hands lead her away. She could hear someone shout her name, grab her in a fierce hug. Red hair was flying all around her, the voice sobbing. Kameko?

She wasn't sure. She was detached, absolutely, from the rest of the world.

She woke up in a cold sweat, the remains of the fear resounding inside her hollow form and for moments she willed the numbness back. Once it had returned, however, she found she regretted it.

She was sitting up in bed, the covers over her knees, which were drawn up to her chest. She rested her elbow on her knee, running her hand through her sweat soaked hair. Taking deep breaths, she allowed the air to evaporate the sweat, allowed herself to settle down.

And then she smelled the bacon.

It was, by far, a much better thing to focus on, and so she let the scent waft around her from the vent, let it permeate her being until her stomach growled from want of it. Getting up, she shuffled out into the hall.

She was met with the sound of chatter. Happy, incomprehensible chatter.

For one, weak, self-pitying moment, she hated them. She wanted to scream and yell and tell them not to be happy. Not now. Not when her mother was dead.

For the moment after that she felt repulsed by herself for thinking those things. It wasn't like it was their fault and they had every right to be happy.

And for the moment after that she felt a small rush of relief as she realized she'd just felt two things. Sure they'd both been on the negative end of the spectrum, but still. They were emotions, and that was good.

Following the sound of their voices down the stairs, she could soon distinguish who said what. The conversation was dominated by a small, chirpy voice she could only assume was Shippo's.

"- But I don't know what the big deal is! I like cherry pie! And also apple, and chocolate and banana and -"

His chattering was interrupted by a voice she recognized quite easily. She frowned at it, pausing as she reached the doorway. She was out of sight, but could hear them all plainly.

"Banana's not a pie. Whoever heard of banana pie?"

"It is so!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"Uh-huh!"

"Children!" Izayoi's voice rang out over their argument, "Inuyasha, banana can be a pie. Anything can be made into a pie. Chicken, for God's sake has been put into a pie I think banana pie is a perfectly reasonable pie option."

"It is", Taisho agreed, "Ever heard of banana cream pie? It's good and has, guess what? Bananas! Gasp!"

"That's just stupid," Inuyasha muttered.

"Inuyasha!," Izayoi snapped warningly.

"What?"

Another voice joined the conversation, slow and smooth.

"Stop taking your stupidity out on innocent objects. It's not the pie's fault you don't know shit."

When he wasn't reprimanded for his foul language Inuyasha voice rose up again.

"How come you never yell at him?"

"Because you deserved it," Taisho replied, followed by crunching sounds she supposed was him eating bacon.

"You always say that!"

"You always deserve it."

"I told you!" Shippo exclaimed happily, "Stupid head!"

"Shippo," Izayoi sighed, "don't call people a stupid heads."

"But he is one –"

"Shippo."

"But-"

"Just shut up and get used to it pipsqueak."

"Inuyasha!"

"What?"

"I-"

She never found out exactly what Izayoi was going to say. Her stomach has chosen that moment to growl loudly, attracting everyone's attention. Suddenly the loud, chatter-filled , kitchen was silent, everyone staring at her.

Shippo's large, green, eyes had gone from victorious and happy to resentful and cold in record time and Inuyasha's burned with angry hatred boiling in their amber depths.

Sesshomaru's were somewhat distant, and perhaps just a tad cold, watching her with aloof interest. She hadn't seen him the night before, and even though her view was obstructed by the table she could make out enough to know he was tall. Very tall. His eyes were the same as Inuyasha and his father's, his hair a long, fluid, shiny, silver, falling and pooling down on the floor while he sat. If she guessed correctly, it'd fall to somewhere around his knees when he stood. She had to admit it was gorgeous, and obviously better kept than his brother's.

Oh well. At least he didn't seem to hate her.

And neither did Izayoi, who was sending her a warm smile. It radiated from her eyes as well as her mouth in this way that made her whole face glow, practically emitting waves of welcome. It was nice.

It was also disturbingly similar to her mother's, a fact she tried to ignore.

"Good morning Sweetheart, did you sleep well?"

She wasn't sure if she liked being called sweetheart, but decided it best not to insult one of the few people on her side.

"Yes," she lied, with a careless half-shrug, "The room's nice."

"I'm glad."

"Want some breakfast?" asked Taisho, gesturing towards the bacon.

Yes she did. More than anything…well…almost anything.

"Yes please."

He motioned towards an empty chair between him and Shippo and stood to get her a plate. As she sat down, she received a scathing glare from the boy, who then scooted over in his chair, as far as he could towards his brother. Apparently no matter how much they argued, they were still a united force against her.

Taisho set her plate down, scooping some bacon onto it from the plate in the center of the table.

"Is that enough?" He grinned.

"Yes. Thank you."

Izayoi frowned as she watched the girl eat her bacon, politely, with a fork. In this house it was usually only her and Sesshomaru who bothered with things like that. A glance around the table proved it, as she watched her husband and younger two sons shovel bacon in with their hands.

Then again, everything Kagome did was polite. Falsely so. Hitoshi had told them of his bright, impulsive, rambunctious baby girl, and she was having a hard time believing that this was the teenager that girl had become. She refused to buy into this whole formal, polite act. This couldn't possibly be natural.

She was right of course, it wasn't. But there was no way in hell she was going to act like herself. For starters she didn't feel like herself. The old Kagome Higurashi wouldn't have been sitting at a large, rounded table in the kitchen of a gigantic mansion, being glared at by a 6 year old and his older, jerkier, brother. She wouldn't be quietly eating her food and focusing intently on the design on the plate.

The old Kagome would be sitting on the couch, eating a Toaster Strudel and watching Jerry Springer with her mother and maybe Ayame.

Looking around, she doubted these people had ever eaten a Toaster Strudel or even knew what Jerry Springer was.

The poor, deprived, souls.

"So Kagome," Izayoi smiled, attempting to draw the girl out of her shell, "have you settled in? Unpacked?"

"Yes."

"Was there enough room for everything?"

Room? Was she kidding? The room had been freaking huge and she'd had all of two suitcases. There was surplus amounts of room. Total Lagniappe!

"Yes."

Refusing to be discouraged, though the girl was really trying her optimism Izayoi continued.

"That's good. I hope you know you can feel free to come to me or Taisho, or even one of the boys with any questions or concerns." - Inuyasha snorted, earning him a quick, sharp, glare - , "Now, on another note, We, that's Taisho and I, have been talking and we've decided that, well. You see, we had originally planned to give you a week or so to adjust before sending you to school, however, seeing as you've already missed a whole week and everything we feel it best for you to go immediately. So, that means on Monday. Let's see…um…what day is it?"

"Sunday," Taisho supplied slowly, in a tone that suggested that perhaps he hadn't been in on this little plan.

"Oh…well…wow, that snuck up on us. Well than, I suppose that makes today your adjustment day. Tomorrow, you will continue your Sophomore year at Takahashi High School. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru both go there, it's a very good school."

Kagome nodded. She hadn't much thought about school. She had her supplies already, she'd brought them from home, but she couldn't say she was anticipating it.

And somehow Inuyasha's presence didn't comfort her.

"I know it's a little sudden dear," she continued, her voice soft with sympathy, "But I really do feel this is best."

Kagome nodded again, and it was all Izayoi could do to keep from sighing.

"I know things are hard right now, but I have faith that they'll get better. I'll do anything I can to help you, just let me know. Just give it some time, I'm sure you'll fit in around here. I just know it."

Kagome doubted this, but nodded anyways, putting on a small, fake smile for the woman who was trying so hard.

"We've already handled your registration," Taisho informed her, getting up to clear his plate. "And all of that stuff."

"Thank you".

He looked at her strangely. Why was she thanking him for doing his duties as her guardian. Lifting his plate, he brought it to the sink, then turned back to her.

"Kagome, when you're done eating I'd like to talk to you." He nodded in the direction of the living room.

"Alright."

Taking one last bite, she cleaned her plate and followed him, feeling the stares of at least two pairs of eyes on her back.

In the living room, he sat on the couch where he'd been the first night and motioned for her to do the same. She sat, but it wasn't relaxed and easy. Quite the contrary. Her shoulders were stiff, her back straight, and she was wishing she'd declined. She'd much rather be standing. She wasn't sure why, it wasn't like she was going to dash off up the stairs if he said something she didn't like , but still… She was always more comfortable, when engaging in possible confrontation, when standing.

As if sensing this, Taisho sent her an easy grin, relaxing back against the couch in an easy-going manner. His eyes however, remained serious. Not cold, but serious, and that was almost as bad. Maybe worse.

If they'd been cold she could ignore it. Or maybe get angry, or annoyed. Serious was more dire. It meant it was most likely something having to do with her future, and that was unnerving. Paying no mind to his relaxed appearance, she sat there, formally, with her hands in her lap waiting expectantly.

Seeing that it wasn't working, Taisho leaned forwards again, allowing the grin to slide from his face. Angling himself to face her, he laid his elbows on his knees.

"Kagome," he started, his voice as serious as the rest of him, "Jeeze. I'm not sure where to start." Running a hand down his face he tried again. "Let's see. You… God, this is going to sound rude but, you can't really be like this can you?"

Raising one eyebrow, she shook her head. "Um…no?"

"Then what's…what are you doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean," he sighed, "that you don't seem like I think you should. Which sounds stupid I know, but bear with me. It's just… It doesn't seem to me like you believe any of this?"

So that was what this was about. The whole polite act… except it wasn't an act. Not really. It was just…a reflex… Maybe even a defense mechanism. When she felt awkward or shy she was just really polite.

You had to admit, there were worse ones out there.

"I believe it," she replied, "Trust me. I know this is real. I'm not in any sort of denial."

Her voice was scratchy, her throat probably raw, and since her eyes were red he could imagine why. It was understandable, but niggled at his conscience. He had to admit, he'd been a little reserved when he'd made this deal so many years ago. In fact, for anyone but Hitoshi it wouldn't have happened. But because it was Hitoshi it had. He'd always expected this day to come, but now that it had it was awkward. He knew about parenting, he considered himself a great parent, but that was with his children. The one's he'd helped conceive, saw born, raised. They were his and he understood them.

This girl here was a stranger. He'd seen pictures of her as a child, been told about her. Perhaps, if she were still the three year old he'd practically known already this wouldn't be so hard. But the fact was, she wasn't. He hadn't heard a thing about her since Hitoshi's death twelve years ago.

That complicated things a little.

Still, he'd promised his friend and he'd keep his promise if it killed him.

Which it very well might.

Stranger or not, however, she was still his responsibility. Strangely enough though, that had nothing to do with his sympathy for her. As far as he could figure it was just because she was the daughter of the man he'd considered a brother.

"Are you alright?"

"Hmm… yes." She replied. And she was…for the most part. Aside from the obvious, and the fact that she stood out like a sore thumb. Other than that, yeah, she was just spiffy.

Sighing wearily, Taisho nodded. "Alright, just, if you ever need anything, you know you can come to us right? Izayoi and me? Even if it's just to talk, or complain or something. It's fine."

When she didn't reply he stood and wiped his hands on his pants.

"Well, alright then. Let me know if you need any help moving it. I can get one of my slaves- I mean sons - to help out."

He sent her a quick careless grin that she failed to return before leaving, his heart heavier than when he began. Just what the hell was he going to do now?

That had been, awkward to say the least, and she felt somewhat bad about it. He'd made an effort, much like Izayoi.

She supposed she should have thanked him or something. Maybe tried to drop the formal act and be herself just a little. But she couldn't help it. She didn't know him.

Then it struck her!

She may not know him, or anyone in this house, but she did know someone in the city!

Not sure how she'd forgotten, she hurried upstairs, her legs protesting the entire way. Throwing herself on the bed, she reached over to the nightstand, past the lamp, clock radio, and the porcelain horse, to where her cell phone lay charging. There was a phone across the room on the dresser, but she didn't want to use it. She wasn't sure who was in charge of her cell phone bill anymore, probably the Hayashi's.

She pressed the call button and waited until the third ring. Then someone picked up.

"Oh my God! Kagome! I thought I'd never hear from you! What's going on? Are you okay?"

Yes. It was good to hear from Ayame again.

Tiptoeing downstairs again, Kagome was hit with the sounds of talking once more. It wasn't high spirited chattering like before, but still, it was something other than silence.

It seemed they only spoke when she wasn't around.

Which was all the more reason for her to spy on them.

Creeping along the wall, she inched her way to the doorway and listened. Not that she had to be that close, she could hear Inuyasha's yelling from down the hall.

"Why the hell does she have to go to my school?"

"She needs to go to school Inuyasha," came Izayoi's dry reply.

Though she couldn't see him, she could just imagine Inuyasha throwing his hands up in exasperation. She supposed she ought to be insulted by his words, but the mental image was just amusing. She felt her lips twitch in what she suspected may be the beginnings of a smile.

"Well yeah, but not my school! Send her to Shikon High, or some other, crappy, public school! Anything but Takahashi!" He cried again. "I mean come on, you don't even know her and you're willing to throw that much money down the drain to send her to private school! She'll stick out like a sore thumb!"

She could practically see the look on Taisho's face. "While your concern's touching, I'm afraid I've got to decline."

"But-"

"No buts." Izayoi interjected, "She's going to school with you. You're going to be nice to her and show her around, and that's final."

She could sense his retaliation and decided to make herself known. She was sure his argument would have been louder than he already was and she didn't need him attracting the attention of his pint sized mini-me.

Where was Shippo anyways?

Or Sesshomaru?

Well, either way, one would be easier to handle, should she even talk to him at all. That wasn't really her intention anyways.

"Um…Izayoi, Taisho."

All three heads turned towards her, including the one she hadn't addressed. Like usual his face immediately contorted into a scowl. Like usual, she ignored him.

"Yes sweetie?"

"I, um, I talked to one of my friends on the phone, Ayame. Her mom's the one who dropped me off yesterday. Well, she's in the city, she stays with her dad on weekends, and anyways, she wanted to know if she could come over. I said it was fine, do I need to call her back?" She held up her phone, "Tell her no?"

Izayoi's smile turned a little sad, and she shook her head.

"No sweetie. This is your home now too. You can have your friends over if you want to. It's fine."

"Um, ok. Thanks…"

Slowly she turned and headed back upstairs, feeling the heat of Inuyasha's eyes on her back.

She waited until Kagome had disappeared around the corner, and a few minutes after that, before turning abruptly to her son.

"What is your problem?"

"Huh?"

"What. Is. Your. Problem?" she asked again, pointing angrily at the doorway, "What the hell do you have against her?"

"Dear…" Taisho began in an attempt to calm his wife. She, however, would have none of it.

"Every time you see her you glare and scowl and mutter smart ass comments under your breath!"

"Izayoi, really…"

"Ever since she got here you've been bitching and moaning and I'm sick of it! Really sick of it!"

"Um…honey…"

"And another thing!" She ranted on, in full angry-mother-from-hell-mode. "As if it wasn't bad enough with just you, oh no, you had to go and corrupt your little brother as well! My God, you're a role model Inuyasha, for God's sake act like one!"

"And another thing -"

"Izayoi!"

"What?"

"Calm down!"

As if snapping out of a trance, she whirled back around to face her husband, before turning back to Inuyasha. He'd long stopped trying to defend himself here and had resigned himself to her verbal abuse. While he was taking it in silence, however, he was by no means happy about it.

In fact, this very well strengthened his resolve against Kagome. All she'd done since arriving was cause his parents stress, make him work, and eat bacon.

Oh, and get spoiled rotten. There was that too.

Seriously! Since yesterday, all his parents said was yes, yes, yes. Yes Kagome this, yes Kagome that. Of course Kagome, we want you to feel at home here.

Too bad for her, he was going to do everything in his power to keep that from happening.

So there you go! One more chapter down. I've realized that this is lacking in comedy, which makes me sad. But don't worry! It will come, oh yes! Probably next chapter. I'm planning to incorporate school into the next chapter. Then we can meet all the other characters and get this ball rolling! Wheeeee!

I feel kinda bad, making Inuyasha all evil, and Shippo is just totally out of character. It's kinda fun…

I am also depressed by the lack of Sesshomaru. He needs to show up, badly. But he can only show up when I'm in the right mood, otherwise his comments suck. I'm planning on developing the characters better though, and as I do they will change. And Sesshomaru will have a bigger part.

O BEFORE I FORGET! Lagniappe It's like, French, or cajun-French, or something. It means "a little extra"

I also plan to move into the mystery surrounding her mother's death and the answer as to why she's living here, with them. Well, not in the next chapter, but slowly through the fic.

Lastly, don't forget to review! Redfaerie loves reviews! They power her fingers!