Hey everybody! I'm back from a very long reprieve! Out of my writers block hopefully. This chapter is a little slow, but don't worry, it speeds up in the later chapters, so please hang out. Review at the end.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha and the crew, or the title of the story and the song at the end "Duck and Run" by 3 doors down.

Duck & Run

Prologue: Circumstance

Kagome curled up in the corner of her new room, her knees held up against her chest as she looked it over with blank, unseeing eyes. She sighed and finally stretched out her legs as she grabbed a pencil and did her ritual room-certifying by writing her name and the circumstances she had come upon the new house. This time she wrote it with her shaking hand, beneath the window sill.

Kagome Higurashi-16 years old, F. November the 3rd. Moved into this house because people started figuring out what my father does and he was 'forced' to kill one of my dear friends Eri. End Circumstance.

After she finished writing this she slid out to lay down for a second before she heard a soft knock on the door… That could only be one person in her house "Yes mom, come in."

Her mother slid through the door, clasping her hands nervously in front of her before saying quietly "Honey, your father is asleep still.. I'd get out of the house soon so we don't cause any disturbance…" Kagome watched as her once radiant mother fidgeted in fear of the man that lived down the hall from them. Her mother cleared her throat slightly "He has business later tonight around 10… We can decorate your room like we used to then!"

Her daughter just gave her an incredulous look as she stood up "He's not my father, and just where do you suppose I go until then mom?" Kagome left her snide comment at that, ignoring the fact that she didn't have enough courage to blurt out the question as to why her mother was acting as if nothing had happened.

"Well… Go to school and take your brother to his of course… I'll need you to enroll yourself and him… Here are the addresses and names of the schools for you. I love you, and have a good day." With that her mother turned out of the room and rushed down to the kitchen silently to make her husband breakfast before he woke up.

Letting out a frustrated breath Kagome opened up her suitcase and pulled out first a pair of her muddy brown cargo pants and then a tight dark brown t-shirt with a maroon guitar on it and pulled them on before tightening her old black studded belt. Her dark blue eyes searched the room; looking for the old pair of black and white converse she'd thrown down the other night in her hurry to soften her foot steps.

Spotting the old things, she tied the strings together and slung them around her neck and read all of the little scribbled messages on them as she pulled a brush quickly through her hair. Her hand searched in the dim early morning light for her make up bag, which she grabbed and pulled out black eyeliner. She skillfully applied the eyeliner to her eyes without a mirror and then proceeded to check that her wallet, her many earrings, studded wristband and the leather necklace around her neck was still in tact… It was one of her most treasure items, coming from her father, her real one, before he died.

The leather necklace had a small, flat silver locket on it with a few small 'pages' in which pictures could be stored. In the first two there were pictures of her real father and her as a little girl… And in the second two he had placed a note saying 'Fill this with the one you fall for as madly as I have fallen for you…' Her eyes stung lightly with fresh tears as she closed it and bit her lip, refusing to cry. When was the last time she'd actually cried? Must have been a while ago, since she couldn't remember.

"Sis, you ready?" Came the small voice of her brother Souta, standing in the doorway wearing the same worn-out looking clothes. He ducked his head in and quickly slipped into her empty room and shut the door without a sound. His young grey eyes still held a little light to them whenever he spoke to his older sister "Hope we get the furniture in soon, eh?"

Kagome smiled and nodded, ruffling his hair lovingly before she wrapped her arm around him as they walked silently in their socks to the front door and out into the dim street. Once they started walking she relaxed more and spotted a park "Hey, let's go over there for a bit and put on our shoes while we wait to warm up a bit…"

Souta nodded enthusiastically as he ran over to a swing and jumped onto it and started pulling on his torn up sneakers ferociously "Kagome! We're going new schools again! I hope all my friends are as nice as they were in the last school I went to!" he yelled out as he swung back and forth, watching his sister tie her shoes.

"I'm betting it will be! I mean, who wouldn't want to be friends with YOU?" She giggled out as she started to swing too. Her laughter faltered though, when she realized that her situation about a new school was grim… High school teens weren't quite as accepting as elementary kids. Remembering how at her last school she had been shunned by all but one girl, the school 'slut', her eyes closed and she grimaced a bit. Eri had been a great friend to her, but had gotten involved with the wrong guy.

Noticing Souta's worried look towards her, she forced a smile and said cheerfully "It looks like this town has nice side walks! And everything is close, so we can walk everywhere we need to without dying of exhaustion! Maybe I can even begin jogging again." Her eyes drifted off again before she shook her head and stood up, grabbing his hand "Well, we best be off to see if we can find the place and get you enrolled in the school and a couple after school activities."

Souta nodded and followed her as they both set out looking for the elementary school. Soon she saw a small school with the words 'Green Gallow's Elementary School' pinned up in slightly graying white letters. It was earlier than they opened for students, but the office was open and she knocked tentavily on the door before a plump, cheery looking lady opened the door.

The ladies chubby hands grabbed at Souta's cheeks, pinching them as she chirped "Oh, and who might this be? A new student? I heard there were new folk in the town! How delightful! He'll fit right in, don't worry. You have such a fine young son m'am!" said the woman as she took Kagome's hand and shook it heartily.

Kagome gave the woman a half smile as she pulled Souta into her and ruffled his hair "Sorry, but I'm just his older sister. Our mother, well, she's already at work so she asked if I could enroll him in school." The lie slipped easily passed her lips, like it had done more than a dozen times already.

The chirpy woman nodded enthusiastically as she gave Kagome the paperwork to fill out. After filling it all out the woman said she'd take care of Souta until school started so Kagome could head out to her own school. Kagome made sure Souta had at least two after school activities to do.

Leaning down in front of Souta and grabbing his hands, she smiled at him "You have your walky talky? Right… Good. When you need me to come get you, just give me a buzz. Don't head home without me." She stood up and kissed the top of his head before shaking the annoying woman's hand once more and leaving the small school.

Walking around the now wakeful town, she found that it was harder to find the high school than it had the elementary and it was then about 9 o' clock. Her frustration grew as she stalked through the town, wondering why she couldn't get up the guts to ask somebody. Another half an hour passed before she heard an engine pull up beside her and slow down enough to follow alongside her. She immediately thought it was her father and ducked her head, trying to hide her face so maybe he wouldn't recognize her.

But another unfamiliar male voice came from the car "Hey babe, what are ya doin, wanderin around town all alone? Need a ride… I can take ya to a nice lil place that ya really wanna go to. Come on, hop in." Her eyes looked over to the speaker with hope in her eyes. He had black hair and the blackest of eyes stared right back at her.

A small shiver was sent up her spine as she advanced on the car and her hand reached for the handle. But before she could open the door, an arm snaked around her waist and pushed her back behind them so her face was in strange silver colored hair. She at first wondered about the sex of the figure before she recalled the strong hands that had pulled her back.

A deep rough voice bit out from the man who had pushed her back "Hey Naraku, get lost. Stop prowling on high school girls and go find some your own age." He growled out before the Naraku guy revved his engine and sped off, flipping them off on his way.

Kagome watched as the car sped off and she peeked around to look at the guys face "U—umm what just happened here?" She asked innocently as she looked over the most beautiful, rugged face she'd ever seen on a male. Passionate, fierce golden eyes glared at her from a perfectly structured face with full lips and small fangs. He wore a beanie, slightly baggy ripped jeans, and a red button up collared t-shirt with black stripes that said in cursive "Back off" over his broad lean chest with a black hoodie thrown over.

She shook herself out of her stunned silence when he growled out again "Did you not hear me the first time? You were about to get tossed into that car and most likely raped! Even if this is a smaller town, doesn't mean there's not strange sickos' out there looking for their next cute victim! You can't just go prancing into every car that offers you a ride like a kid being lured by candy!"

Her breath pulled in as she let out a little groan of frustration "Well, thank you from saving me from the one way I could get to that stupid school! How do you know he'd do something bad!"

"Because he's done it before!" seethed the handsome young man before he grabbed her arm and pulled her a ways "Well, I can take you there, since I'm headed there."

Kagome let him lead the way for a while before she said offhandedly "I'm Kagome… Kagome Higurashi."

For a moment she thought he was just going to stare at her and act like he didn't give a shit that she even had a name before he grunted out "Inuyasha Taisho."

They continued their walk in silence, Inuyasha sneaking glances to the girl occasionally. She was absolutely beautiful and so far her attitude made her prettier than any other girl in his high school. He walked slightly behind her to examine her small, lean, curvy body that was swaying in the natural way that women's bodies did. He instantly snapped his eyes up upon hearing her voice, blushing madly when he realized what he'd been doing.

"So, why aren't you in school yet?" She asked, her musical voice rolling off her tongue and out through her perfect lips. Her midnight blue eyes snagged his golden ones for a second before they both looked away.

"Cuz I didn't feel like waking up until now. Plus, my damned car broke down and I can't take it anywhere until I fix it this weekend." He replied simply as he pointed at a slightly large building with the words "Gre n Gall High", half the letters knocked out from who knew what.

He put a powerful hand around her forearm as he led her up the stairs hurriedly. She sighed and felt a little depressed about the ostracizing she would receive upon entering before she realize that she'd sort of already made a friend… And his name was Inuyasha.

To this world I'm unimportant Just because I have nothing to give. So you call this your free country, Tell me why it cost so much to live, Tell me why. This world can turn me down But I won't turn away, oh no I won't turn around. All my work and endless measures. Never seem to get me very far, Walk a mile just to move an inch Now even though I'm trying so damn hard I'm trying so hard. This world can turn me down but I Won't turn away, And I won't duck and run, cause I'm not built that way. When everything is gone there is Nothing there to fear. This world cannot bring me down, No cause I'm already here, oh no! I am already here, Down on my knees, I am already here, on no, I am Already here. I must have told you a thousand times, I am not running away. I won't duck and run I won't duck and run I won't duck and run No pass away. This world can turn me down but I Won't turn away And I won't duck and run, cause I'm not built that way. When everything is gone There is nothing there to fear. This world cannot bring me down No cause I'm already here. This world can turn me down. But I won't turn away, And I won't duck away Cause I'm not built that way. When everything is gone there Is nothing there to fear. This world cannot bring me down, No cause I'm already here.

Thanks guys… It's been a long time! Sorry all! I haven't felt like re-reading my old fanfics and catching up on them yet, but I'll do that in the next couple of days. Hope you guys enjoy this new one. I decided I'd try one of those new time things….

Oh, oi, and PLEASE review. It would be appreciated!

And also, the romance part is obviously coming up… And the chapters will speed up from here on out, sorry this one was so slow… Just a prologue I guess.