Disclaimer for this story: Fruits Basket is property of Natsuki Takaya and InuYasha is property of Rumiko Takahashi. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

punkish furball—New story! Yay!

Words to Ponder:

As you may or may not know. I deleted a previous IYFB crossover, "Love Hidden Within". I really was not happy with it, but I racked my brain and started this new one! I hope you like it.

Dedicated to everyone who like "Love Hidden Within" and I hope y'all like this story too!

Prologue

Kagome frowned at the seat in front of her as she sat in the bus. She felt the urge to punch it full force and would have if someone hadn't been sitting there. Instead, she slouched back in her seat and pulled her knees into her chest.

'What did I do to get into this mess?' Kagome thought disdainfully.

-O0o0O-

It was a typical day in the Higurashi household— excluding the lack of appearance from a certain inu hanyou—when the phone rang. Kun-loon Higurashi rushed over to the phone on the kitchen counter as it rang, leaving her cooking on the stove and picked up the phone.

"Moshi moshi," she said as she picked up the phone, "Oh, Naomi! What is it you want?"

Kagome chose this time to walk into the kitchen.

"Mom, who are you talking to?" she asked, taking over the cooking while her mother was on the phone.

"It's your Aunt Naomi," she answered and returned to the conversation.

'Minagawa Naomi?' Kagome thought. She hadn't heard from her or her daughter in a while. Kagome felt a bad taste in her mouth. It wasn't that she disliked her cousin. They got along somewhat that was until she started her second year of high school. Something always seemed to occupying her time. Kagome tried to get along with her on several occasions, but her cousin never seemed to be interested. Kagome sighed.

'Still, I do hope we get to be friends again,' Kagome thought.

"Kagome," Kun-loon said when she hung up the phone.

"Yes, ma'am?" Kagome said and turned off the stove.

"I know that you and InuYasha have been taking a break since you found that Naraku character," Kun-loon said.

"Yeah," Kagome said and pulled a small glass jar on a chain from under her shirt, "but the jewel shattered again. We have to get all the pieces."

"I know," Kun-loon said, "but you start high school in the spring don't you? Have any ideas where you want to go? You need to take your entrance exam soon."

"I know," Kagome said. She wasn't entirely sure where this conversation was going. They had talked about it before, but what did it have to do with her aunt.

"You know, your cousin goes to a good high school," Kun-loon said, "Your Aunt Naomi is willing to let you stay there while you attend school."

'So this is what this about,' Kagome thought.

"But I want to go somewhere that's closer," Kagome said, "You never know when InuYasha will pop up with a lead."

"And you'll be just a phone call away," Kun-loon said, "I'm sure that if it's really important, InuYasha would wait."

"But my grades aren't really that good," Kagome said.

"That's only because your attendance is so bad," Kun-loon said, "You know most of the basics and with a little studying, you can ace those exams. Also I think the school would understand your 'medical problems'."

Kagome grit her teeth. For every reason she had for not going, her mom would counter it.

"But what about tuition and uniforms and stuff?" Kagome said, but not as strongly as her previous statements.

"The tuition isn't all that expensive," Kun-loon said, "Some students can even afford it on their own with a part time job. Uniforms aren't that expensive either."

Kagome racked her brain to think of another argument. Nothing else came to her mind besides, "I don't wanna go, mommy!"

"What's the push for me to go this school anyway?" Kagome asked.

"Truth be told," Kun-loon started, "Your cousin may have a tough time with the new year started in spring and her senior year coming up. You two used to get along. Naomi and I both thought that having you around would be the best for the transition and give her someone to talk with. She has so many things on her mind and it would be a shame if she ruined her senior year because of it."

Kagome sighed; no arguing with that. She couldn't bring herself to leave someone who needed her hanging and her mother's guilt trip didn't help things either.

"Fine," Kagome said and added softly, "for her sake."

Kun-loon smiled, "Lovely. Now I'll put dinner on the serving plate and you go set the table." Kagome nodded and left the room.

-O0o0O-

Three weeks have passed from that day. Kagome went to take the entrance exam and the results came in a week ago. In a few days, she was all packed and ready to live with her aunt and her family and to Kaiwaia High School.

Kagome closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose as the bus skidded to a stop. The door opened with the touch of a button by the bus driver. Kagome began to take her bag in her hand and got off the bus. Once off, she looked around and caught a familiar face scanning the crowd that unloaded the bus.

"Hey you," Kagome said catching the person's attention. It was a girl with long light brown hair stopping her waist with a bow on her side of her head. Light reddish brown eyes stared back at Kagome.

"Hey," she said, "You get everything you brought with you?"

"Yeah, I didn't really need to bring too much with me," Kagome said and slung her bag over her shoulder.

"Suit yourself," she said and began to walk, "The store is this way. We need to get going before it gets dark."

"Whatever you said, Momo-chan," Kagome said playfully, knowing that it was a hated nickname.

The girl rolled her eyes but not before Kagome noticed a little glimmer of amusement and allowed a small smile on her face before it disappeared completely.

Kagome smiled. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. After all, this is her cousin, Minagawa Motoko.

-O0o0O-

punkish furball—Hope you liked it! There is much more to come. L83R, DUDES!!

(edited 9/3/07)