AN- I DON'T OWN INUYASHA OR RANMA 1/2 This had started out as a "Huh, these people in Ranma 1/2 are so like the ones in InuYasha. What would happen if they met?" only it turned out a little more dark/depressing than I'd intended. Or maybe exactly how I'd intended - I like stories about sad people. Have you ever noticed what a strange word hug is?

Chapter Two - Leaving Home

Kagome had packed everything she thought she would need for her stay with her cousins. Never quite learning how to pack light, she had filled four different bags till they were bulging. It reminded her of the heavy yellow school bag she'd dragged - she cut herself off mid thought. It was leading her nowhere good. She didn't allow herself to think about how she felt leaving the shrine either. That was a very dangerous topic. So, as usual she focused only on superficial things. Where was she going to sleep? Only that didn't work as it reminded her of the times she had been troubled by the same question in … that place. So she just forced her mind blank (a skill she'd been attempting to develop) and went to go pile her things in the waiting taxi.

She gave her mother an awkward hug, and did the same for Sota. She felt a pang of grief when she remembered the other person who she should've been saying goodbye to - her sweet old grandfather. Robotically she pushed that thought aside as well and got in the car. She leant her head against the cool glass of the taxi window and watched as her surroundings changed. Traffic was especially bad that day. She thought of how InuYasha leapt through the air - almost flying - as he raced to get her to school within just five minutes. She could've been at her cousins by now. Feeling the tears well up she started counting all the red cars she could see by means of distraction. She'd never cried once since she left - not even for her grandfather - and she wasn't about to start. It meant she had to spend a lot of time thinking of ways to not think. It seemed that was all she did lately, but it was better than the alternative; breaking down and giving into her weaknesses. She'd promised … someone, once that she'd never do that.

Not thinking was incredibly hard.

After a while the taxi had rolled to a stop outside the Tendo Dojo. It seemed different, yet familiar and Kagome realized that it'd been years since she'd visited. Kagome felt a little unsettled at this, she'd really lost touch with her relatives… would they still be the people she'd known and loved? She handed the cab driver his money and got out of the car. Immediately she was caught up in a bone crushing hug, courtesy of her Uncle. "Kagome! It's good to see you child!" he put her down. "Ranma!" he bellowed in the direction of the house. Kagome was unused to the volume of his voice. Everything had been so quiet that past year. A boy with a long plait and a red shirt strolled out the door and down the path towards them. "Yea? What's up?" he asked casually, tossing Kagome a disinterested nod of the head. It's an act, Kagome noted, seeing through him quickly. "Get Kagome's things to the house, will you Son?" Ranma scowled but did as he was asked. "Always making me do all the heavy lifting." Kagome heard him mutter as he passed them with her bags. He was strong. It'd taken her more than one trip to get her things to the taxi. But this Ranma was managing well; if he was struggling he didn't show it.

So her Uncle was still the same, fatherly and caring, but who was Ranma? She'd seen him before she'd thought, but she didn't know where from. Was he living here or just visiting? Was he a relative of theirs or a friend? Supposing she would get her answers soon enough she quietly followed her Uncle to the house.

Akane was waiting impatiently in the living room for her cousin. She was worried for her and expected Kagome to be quieter than her usual self, but when Kagome entered the room with her dad - well Akane just wasn't prepared. Kagome looked like she'd lost weight since the funeral and she seemed smaller somehow and extremely tired. Her eyes had lost any sort of the liveliness Akane was used to, now they just looked dull and empty. Kagome used to be so full of passion and spirit. It was like it had all been sucked out of her. Frowning inwardly, Akane put on a happy face and jumped up to hug her cousin.

"Kagome! I'm so happy you're here!" Hug. "Kagome, babe, good to see you." Hug. "Kagome, dear, I hope your stay here is comfortable. I've already made up your bed for you." Hug. Ranma walked into the room. "Kagome, you've met Ranma, he's living here with his father - I don't think you've met him, he didn't come to the... well you know," her Uncle trailed off uncertainly. "I'm going to go start on dinner then,"Kasumi said, breaking the awkward silence that followed. Kagome looked over at Kasumi who was already moving towards the kitchen. "Let me help," Kagome said quietly. Kasumi smiled, "I would be grateful for the help."

Nabiki turned to the TV. "Huh, she really isn't coping." Akane agreed silently, settling down to watch TV with her sister and Ranma. She was somewhat disappointed. She didn't expect Kagome to be all smiles and hugs, but she had thought she'd get a hello from her at least. That she'd want to talk like they always used to. "Strange chick." Akane whacked him over the head; Ranma was good outlet for her feelings sometimes. "Did you get a look at the necklace she was wearing? It seemed like some kind of opal, it looked expensive," Nabiki remarked. Akane hadn't noticed it.

"I told you, that thing, she kept tugging at it at that funeral."

"Maybe someone gave it to her?"

"What, like her Gramps?" Nabiki shrugged, "Dunno, but she didn't buy it herself."