The Girl Down The Hall by EvanescentLight

Moving Out

This is the beginning of my new story. You can critique anything you want, I'll try to write better. (I still haven't thought of a good title yet.) I haven't been to college, heck, I haven't even been to high school, so I was wondering if you guys could help me with the college part. #^^#

Nothing is ever normal in this neighborhood. Which was why I, Higurashi Kagome, am moving out. I'm eighteen years old, living with my mom, brother and grandfather, holding a steady job as an employee at a local music store and attending college. The room and board was a bit pricey for my family, so I decided to just stay with them because school was within walking distance of my home.

I started to make my own money, the music store payed pretty well. I saved up for a few years and poof! I had enough to support myself. My brother is fifteen and he helps around the shrine that we live in. Oh, right, I forgot to mention that. It's called 'Sunset Shrine', and it's typically what other cultural and historical places are like: the gift shop is bigger than what the people actually came to see. I'm getting off topic here, back to why I'm moving out.

My friend Sango is living in a house, but it's too big and scary for her. So she got a few of her friends to move in and split up the bills and rooms among them. I haven't gotten the details yet, but it's no problem. I'm just glad to be gone from here. You see, I have these two guys who fell head over heels for me. It's extremely creepy. One is Hojo, he has honest intentions, he just comes off as a little...odd. And then there's Kouga, who claims I'm his woman and that I should be living with him.

So I figured that if I move away, he won't bother my family or me.

"Kagome?"

I turned around and saw my little brother lugging my bags down the stairs. He was taller than me and a lot stronger, so he offered to carry my bags to Sango's car when she came to pick me up. "Thanks, Souta. Be good to Mom and Grandpa, okay? I'll try to help out with bills, but I can't promise." His brown eyes were twinkling, and I groaned. "Yes, Souta?"

"You're moving out because of Hojo and Kouga, aren't you?"

"Well...maybe." I twisted strands of my long black hair around my fingers. "I know that Mom and Grandpa like Hojo, and that Kouga sends money because his dad is so rich, but they're borderline stalkers, you know that as well as I do." Souta nodded and set my bags down on the curb.

"I'm going to miss torturing you, Kagome. But on the bright side, Now I can use your room for my video games! Isn't that great?" He grinned and pulled me into a hug. "No, I'm just kidding with you. Have fun finishing up school, don't forget to come visit, take care of yourself, don't contract any sexually transmitted diseases, no amateur nights at the strip clubs--"

"Good bye Souta," I ground out. Sango had pulled up in the middle of the street and was honking at me, waving me over. "Tell Mom I'll call when I get settled." I hugged him one last time before dragging my suitcases to the black car. I opened the trunk and heaved my bags in there, slamming the top down. I jogged over to the front, waving to my annoying little brother. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was free.

"Hey 'Gome, ready to go?" I hesitated. Freedom was great, but what if something happened to my family while I was gone? Sango checked her chestnut hair and deep brown eyes in the rear-view mirror before turning to me again. "Hello? Kagome?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm ready. Let's go."