D-R-A-M-A

Summary: DRAMA! D...R...A...M...A! What is Drama? Drama is an episode that is turbulent or highly emotional...This is Drama. Kagome Higurashi, that's me; and my life's FULL of D-R-A-M-A! So much so, that it doesn't matter where I go, I step into a new level of Drama. Now, I just hope I can find my way out of this Never-ending Drama.

Anime: InuYasha/Yu Yu Hakusho

Couples: Kagome/Yusuke (Incestuous) – Kagome/Kurama (Escape) – Kagome/Hiei (Fate)

Rated: M (DUH!)

Genre: Adventure/Romance/DRAMA

S. T. Nickolian: Konbanwa, minna-san! How'd you like the first chapter? Akuma-Chibi and I were chatting and she gave me the extended summary of this story and I asked if I could help! We did damn well, if I do say so myself. ^_^ Like Akuma said, we went back and forth on this, but I have to say I think she did more of the writing than me. ^^; So give her extra love! Thanks for reading, and please leave us a review!

Akuma-Chibi: Hiya guys! Hope you all enjoyed the first chapter of this story! This was a request from Bishonen'sFoxyMiko. S.T Nickolian has kindly agreed to help me write it, so please pay respects and give her the credit she deserves. We went back and forth, every time you see -x-x-x-, we traded, I started, so you should be able to tell with that. Anyways, I hope everyone enjoyed!

DEDICATED TO:

Bishonen'sFoxyMiko

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Starting Anew

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"Can someone give me an example of a First-order constant-coefficient linear homogeneous difference equation?"

Hands went up, many avoided the teachers eyes, knowing full well that they would be ignored if they put on the 'I'm-taking-notes' act. The teacher scanned the classroom and stopped on a young girl sitting in a daze, staring out the window with a look of forlorn and wishy-washy. "Miss. Higurashi?"

"..."

"Miss. Higurashi?"

"..."

The teacher walked down the rows of students and up to the quiet girl, lost in thoughts about who knew what. Her black wave hair reached past her elbows, pulled into a set of two braids and her cobalt blue eyes were covered in a film of haze; truly, this girl had no idea where she was anymore, so far gone in her thoughts. The teacher picked up the book on the girls desk and prepared to bring it down loudly onto the desk when the girls hand stopped it mid drop with her pen that had moments ago been held limply in hand. She snapped out of her daze and realized what she'd done, pulling her hand back, she apologized to the teacher.

The teacher composed herself and placed the book gently back onto the girls desk, "Miss. Higurashi, can you give me an example of a First-order constant-coefficient linear homogeneous difference equation?"

"y(x + 1) – ay(x) = 0."

"...yes, that's good." She walked back up to the dry erase board and took a market, writing the example given down on the board as the girl drifted off into her thoughts once more; being consumed with the grief of whatever lay within her heart.

-x-x-x-

(Flashback)

-x-x-x-

"What are ya cryin' for, wench?" Blood dribbled from moving lips as he tried to pull them into a smile. "Stupid. You're always crying."

"Be quiet!" Tears poured down her cheeks as her hands desperately tried to stop the bleeding from his stomach. "You—Why can't you stop insulting me at a time like this!" Red stained her fingers. She couldn't stop it.

He coughed, sending blood spraying over her face. "Not something—"A ripple of pain cut him off, and he cried out. "Shit-god-damn-it!"

She didn't bother scolding him for cursing—the children weren't in the clearing, but rather safe in the village far away. Sounds of the battle she'd dragged him from filtered through the trees. Metal screeched against metal. Roars returned with challenging war-cries.

He should have been back there. He should have been fighting with their friends. Winning. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Her apologies repeated, agony choking her voice. He wanted to roll his eyes—she really was such a crybaby—but he couldn't find the strength. "It ain't your fault…" His words slurred, and the pain in raking over him began to fade. "Ain't—your fault."

The hated scent of that guy wafted up from beside him, and dark brown eyes glared weakly into golden. The noble silver and white that made up his damned brother glowed under the moonless sky—the stars shining on him. "Ain't… your fault either."

His brother frowned, confused. Of course it wasn't his fault. "You're dying."

His blood-stained lips lifted in a sardonic smirk. "An' Tenseiga doesn't work twice…" She sobbed, slouching over him. He lifted a hand onto her head, never breaking his brother's gaze. "Kagome…" The unspoken request was understood, and his brother closed his eyes in resignation. "I'm sorry."

"Inuyasha!"

-x-x-x-

(End Flashback)

-x-x-x-

BING, BING, BING

Kagome glanced at the school intercom as it sounded the end of her last class. Standing and stretching, Kagome made to move when her teacher had so abruptly cut her off. "Miss. Higurashi, please take a seat, I wish to have a word with you."

Her three friends glanced between each other before leaving the class and waiting in the hall.

"Miss. Higurashi, what was that you did in class earlier? You have been behaving strangely lately, and what you did was almost...dare I say it...delinquent like. I don't want to send any bad news home to your mother, so whatever trip you are on, whatever is going on in your life that you think it's more important than your studies and your future, I think you need to sit down and sort through those priorities, see what is truly important." Her teacher took a breath, "You aren't heading down a good path, and I don't buy into all those sicknesses; I think they are merely excuses your mother's making for you so not to bring shame to her family, in which case, you need to shape up."

Kagome's hands were clenched in tight fists at her side as she with held her temper. 'Who does she think she is! She knows nothing about me! Nothing of what I have gone through! Nothing of what I have lost!'

"I want you to attend counseling after school on Wednesday's from now on, until I see an improvement in your attitude and attendance."

'My attitude?' She glared heatedly at the older woman and turned away from her, making her way to the door. It was all she could do to keep herself from lashing out at the woman.

"Miss. Higurashi! I did not give you permission to leave!"

She turned callously to her, "...I don't recall asking for your permission..." She left the teacher stunned silent and passed through the door and past her three baby chicks.

"Kagome,"

"Kagome wait for us!"

"What was that all about, Kagome?"

She turned and smiled, "Don't worry about it; I need to head home and help Mama with the Shrine, I'll see you guys later." Turning away from the perturbed trio, she walked home, letting her mind fall back to the past once more.

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(Flashback)

-x-x-x-

The funeral was simple—nothing at all adequate for the son of the Great Dog Demon General, but Kagome had insisted that it was good enough. Inuyasha wouldn't have wanted something too grand for his death.

She sat in front of his grave, staring blankly at the stone, engraved with simple words. "Inuyasha. Friend, brother, and love. Loyal to the last."

Sesshoumaru had narrowed his eyes at the "brother" but didn't complain, lest he suffer the heartbroken rant and sobs of the miko again. She wouldn't allow him to be taken to a resting place with their father and had tried to beat him with her pitiful fists in an attempt to keep him. So instead he was placed at the base of the Goshimboku; the tree that brought them together.

Ever since the short service ended, she wouldn't leave her spot. Sometimes she would stare at her hands, as if she could still see his blood, and she would mumble and cry, blaming herself. The kitsune had to bring food and blankets to her for three days, though he had to convince her to eat. But now Sesshoumaru had enough.

"Miko." As expected, she didn't acknowledge his voice, continuing to stare at the grave. He stood at her shoulder, eyes boring into her. "The half-breed would not want you to waste away for him." She remained silent, and a slight narrowing of his eyes was the only foreshadowing to his next action. "This Sesshoumaru will not let a powerful ally destroy herself for something as petty as death."

With a deft movement, she was thrown over Sesshoumaru's mokomoko-covered shoulder. An indignant cry—the first real sound she released in three days—grated at his ears, but he didn't pause. His steps were as sure as ever, and they were directed away from the grave. "What are you doing, you bastard! Put me down!"

"No." Kagome gawked at the simple, dispassionate response and pounded on his back with her weak punches. She gazed despairingly at the Goshimboku as it moved further and further out of sight.

"Stop! I won't leave him—you can't do this!"

"You'll find that I can." Sesshoumaru was nothing if not graceful as he whirled to a tree, pressing the miko against the bark firmly. She gasped in shock and reoriented herself before gazing back at the grave longingly. A sharp claw jerked her head up to meet Sesshoumaru's gaze.

Eyes hard as solid gold and face lined with annoyance, the taiyoukai caught her gaze and held it. "When Inuyasha died, he entrusted your safety to this Sesshoumaru, but it will be nothing like what he did for you. This Sesshoumaru will not travel with you for the sole purpose of protecting you. This Sesshoumaru will not save you from minor opponents that one such as yourself should be able to easily dispatch. You will not be pampered as before, whether or not you believe it to have been so. You will be trained and forced to defend yourself and any in your company, none of which will allow mooning over the dead."

-x-x-x-

(End Flashback)

-x-x-x-

Kagome walked up the last few steps of the shrine stone stairs, glancing back at the street below before returning her gaze to the shrine and heading in. Back then, when Sesshoumaru had spoken those words, resolute and obstinate, she hadn't a clue how to react. She had pretty much gawked at him while he gave a half smirk and released her, knowing that, not only had he won her silence, he had also helped her to understand that he was her protector now, and she needed to snap out of her depression and get back in the game. She was thankful to Sesshoumaru, for many things, and not just training her, but for pushing her.

She sighed in irritation, looking at the small stack of papers that she'd pulled from her bag; she had school work, and chores, as well as wanting to speak with her mother about her teacher. Truly, Kagome didn't know how one could say such things without thinking them through.

"Kagome?" The soft voice her brother had grown into came from her open doorway. He was leaning against the frame, patiently waiting to be acknowledged. "You seem a little irritated."

She turned to her brother, it had been two years, thirteen, and she was seventeen, but he still acted fifteen or sixteen every once in a while. "Yeah, slightly so. What is it you need?"

"I'm going to the arcade; I wanted to know if you wanted to go with me." He saw her open her mouth to speak and cut her off, "All you do is school work and chores; you should get out and have some fun." Again she made a move to speak and he closed his eyes before interrupting again, "One day isn't going to throw your equilibrium off." When she said nothing, he opened his eyes and grinned, "Great, I'll go tell mom." He said, leaving her room with the door open.

She stared at the spot her brother had moments ago occupied, her mouth agape, having wanted multiple times to say something, yet being cut off each time was not something she was used to. "..." She closed her mouth and frowned in thought, 'Did that just happen?'

"Kagome, if you are going with Souta, take this."

Kagome turned and her hand shot out and caught the coin bag tossed by her mother. 'Was I given a choice in this?'

"Kagome, hurry up!" Souta pulled at her arm, pulling her from her seat and down the stairs. 'I know I didn't agree to this!'

-x-x-x-

Kagome stared blankly at the building her brother dragged her to. "What am I supposed to do here again?"

Souta rolled his eyes. "It's an arcade, Nee-chan! You're supposed to go in, play games, blow off some steam, and have fun! Seriously, I'm getting worried about you! All you do is work, so now you're going to play. Try doing something that normal seventeen-year-olds do!"

She let him pull her into the building, watching the back of his head. 'But you forget, I'm not a normal seventeen-year-old.' He let go of her hand to run over to one of the games, a grin splitting his face. Kagome stood still, tilting her head slightly. He looked so happy. 'I think… I've forgotten how to have fun with stuff like this.'

After Sesshoumaru's training of hell, she was used to having fun through training, preferably with a good sparring partner. Sango had really helped make her first sessions tolerable then enjoyable.

Kagome shook her head and strolled to one of the games and sat in the chair. She pulled out one of the coins her mother gave her, and twirled it over her fingers for a moment. "Ah, what the hell," The token entered the machine with a "clang" and the screen lit up happily.

Her hands resting on the controls, Kagome couldn't hold back a sardonic smirk. 'Oh, if Sesshoumaru saw me now…'

-x-x-x-

'One, two, one, two, two...TWO! DAMN!' Kagome glared at the screen, the bold red "Game Over" flashed in front of her, taunting her ruthlessly. She had been playing a random two player adventure game, and with only two more artifacts left to find, she had found one, and only had the second left when a fighter whom she had multiple times subdued suddenly appeared and had taken her out from behind. "Well that's rotten luck!"

"Hehe, you seem to be enjoying yourself Nee-chan," Souta smiled, walking over to her. They had been there about an hour and she'd been playing non-stop.

She laughed a little, "I was, until some coward decided to hit me from behind." She said it loud enough for the one on the other game system to hear, which he did, standing up and glaring at her.

"Hey, Yusuke!"

"Hey kid, what's up?"

Kagome frowned, how did this boy who seemed no older than her know her brother?

'He's got demon energy pulsating all around him. He's strong, how did I not notice this sooner? Was I really so enthralled in a game that I lost my senses?'

"Hey Nee-chan, this is Yusuke, he skips school a lot to come here and play. I've played a bunch of games with him too, but he usually wins."

Kagome forced a smile, "Cool, hey Souta, we should probably head home."

"What, after that friendly comment you made? I want a rematch, and we'll see who the coward is," He smirked, "And to let you know, I have no problem beating you then rubbing your face in the scores, so be prepared to lose, `cause I won't!"

Souta's eyes sparkled, a battle between his idle and his sister was about to take place, and he was going to witness it! He watched as Yusuke sat down at a different game, a fighting game, and Kagome grinned, "I'll take you on!" She sat across from him and took her joystick, fingers on the yellow, red, blue and green buttons, Souta played the coins, and the two were off. Both chose fitting characters; Yusuke a Street Fighter, Kagome a Female Samurai.

It was an all out battle and teens were gathering about to watch the two duke it out on the arcade game. Souta could tell his sister was a little anxious and uneasy about Yusuke, but having met the older boy before many times over, he could honestly say, punk he may be, Yusuke was a good guy. He knew that she would come to find that Yusuke...was very similar...to InuYasha. Watching them play, he could also see how Kagome was slowly morphing into the sister he had before she was pulled down the well; the playful and fun smile returning full force as she kicked Yusuke's butt.

"HA! That's how you do it!"

"Haha, I can't believe I lost to a girl." Yusuke sighed, standing up and weaving through the crowed as others sat down to play. He caught hold of Kagome's sleeve and grinned, "How about a victory meal?"

"Victory...meal..." Kagome smiled, 'A demon's asking me out; that's funny.' She laughed, "Alright then, yeah, that sounds like fun."

"I'm gonna hang out here a while, kay Nee-chan?"

Kagome looked hesitant about leaving Souta alone, but she knew he had come here by himself for awhile now, so finally agreed.

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