Full summary:

With a dead mother and a jailed father, most would think that Elena is lucky to be adopted by a wealthy couple. Yet, through strange happenings, she finds herself lost in a rugged environment, a place not cut out for her. Where survival is of the fittest. With nothing to her name, Elena must find a way to protect herself from some who are drawn to her knowledge.

Knowledge is power, and she can't afford to lose this power to any other, for the forfeit is her life.

Yet as Elena encounters the people within, she is forced to consider actions that she is most vehemently against. To Trust, and perhaps, to -if she dares think it- Love.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters.

They all see the happy-go-lucky girl that she is. The girl that always have time for jokes. The girl that did not seem to be affected by what Fate gave to her. A broken family. A mother that did not manage to survive her birth. A drunkard of a father who had earned himself a lifetime sentence in jail.

Elena tried very hard not to let her situation mar her thoughts of the world. But she had heard of, had seen so many things -doctors refusing to save her mother just because they couldn't pay, her father had told her- that she became distant from the world itself.

Yet, some may say that the Fates took pity on her. Just one month into her stay at the orphanage, a wealthy couple decided to adopt her. While others applauded the couple's kindness and generosity, she questioned their sincerity. A few weeks later, her adoptive father was appointed as the mayor. And she was right to question the world.

While she retained her original name, her surname had to go. It was now Elena Smith, instead of Elena Scott. Not that it would matter to her, for her name holds no meaning, no significance.

However, a new environment meant that she had to act differently.

Gone were her days of pickpocketing, scavenging from the rubbish bin and wondering if she could survive to see the next sunlight. She was now provided lessons on the proper way to walk and carry herself. A little tutoring on the few dances that she is required to know during the many balls that her 'parents' throw.

And she slipped into her role of a well-bred aristocrat, as if it was a second skin. It was necessary for survival. Tell people what they want to hear, give them the illusion that she is happy and all would be well. Although Elena was never this subservient, -not with her fiery nature- she had to force herself to comply with her foster parents' and make do with whatever freedom they provide.

"Are you sure you do not want to take up something more… different… than the flute?" Mrs. Smith asked her while sipping her tea noiselessly in small amounts. Still, Elena could discern the hint of disdain from her tone. "I know that you have had lessons for quite some time but if you ever feel like dropping it, just say the word."

"Yes, Mother, I am very sure." Elena said her tone kept neutral, as always.

"I suppose it would not make a difference if I try to persuade you out of the archery lesson that you insist on having? I don't think I'll ever understand you and your interest in areas like horse-riding, fencing and, of course, politics. Those aren't activities a lady such as you should have… "

Elena thought that she could have died, trying hard not to laugh. Obviously, the woman was displeased with her choice of activities and it is such a relish to know that things, however small, may not be going as her 'parents' have planned after all. To her, it's her own special way of keeping her sanity.

"They are of my interest, Mother. Of course, if you'd rather I change them…"

"It is alright." came Mrs. Smith short and albeit a little sharp reply. Elena smirked inwardly. That was expected. After all, she wouldn't want someone to say that they are not treating the adopted child properly.

"Do not worry. If I lose my interest in any of them, you will be the first to know," Elena said as she plastered on a sweet smile. "Like that would ever happen," she continued under her breath, which went unheard.

Her 'mother' nodded her head as she dabbed her lips delicately, a signal Elena had came to know that the small talk was finished. Elena followed her lead as they both exited the balcony where the afternoon tea had taken place. While her 'mother' went into the drawing room, –probably to invite some guest or the other in- she made her way to her own room.

The cream-colored curtains of the 4-poster canopy bed swayed to the wind from the open window when she opened the door. The ebony dressing table was topped with many accessories, make-up kits, perfumes, nail-polish bottles and other beauty products. The shine of their surfaces had long told her that the servants had been cleaning them constantly. If left to her, significant layers if dust would have appeared from the lack of use.

She undressed and quickly slipped into her jeans and pulled on her jacket over a plain white shirt, as she quickly came up with the shortest path to the small shed that was behind the large building. While the rest of the house had expanded with the Smith family's wealth, they hadn't bothered to do so with the shed. Now, with the manor at five levels high, the small shed was dwarfed by it. In fact, they seemed to have forgotten about it, which worked to Elena's advantage.

Keeping herself close to the side of the house and ducking under the windows, she made her way smoothly to her secret hideout. Sliding the window at the side of the shed up, she climbed in before gently putting it down. Turning, she allowed herself to drop her mask of bubbly happiness and scowled in the direction of the manor.

"'You should do this, you should do that…' I swear, someday she is going to be the death of me." Elena grumbled under her breath as she hauled a chest on top of the table in the middle. Plugged into one of the few power sockets in this small place was a DVD player and a small portable TV. Opening the top of the chest, she smirked at her treasure trove of Anime CDs and DVDs.
Mrs. Smith would probably die from the shock that someone from her family was indulging in such nonsense. Which was why she did not have to know, Elena reasoned happily. She placed a disk into the player and watched the screen avidly as a certain silvered-hair dog demon appeared. This was the third time she was re-watching 'Inuyasha'.

Perhaps that may be overdoing it, but watching anime was more than an interest to her. It showed her what was unattainable in the real world. Flawless looks. True friends. A happy family.

It showed her what she could never dream of having.

A happy ending.

~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X

She stretched herself as she exited the manor. Sitting in front of the television for four hours was hurting her back -and also her ass- from the wooden chair in the shed. Still, she felt that it was worth it. As she made her way to the nearest convenience store, her mind wander back to the episodes of 'Inuyasha' that she'd just watched.

She should have known better than to let her mind wander. How many times had she watched from under the cardboard box in a corner of the dirty ally, the numerous times some drunk drivers knock someone down? Yet, it seemed that she had grown complacent.

As she crossed the road, the light green man glowing in the night, she did not notice the car coming towards her with no intention of stopping. It was too late when she did realize it. Her feet were rooted to the ground with fear, as all thoughts left her. It was as if her self-trained quick reactions have abandoned her. Her vision was quickly filled with the bright headlights of the oncoming vehicle as she heard a high pitched screeching sound. Maybe she was imagining it, but she could smell the burn of the tires on the asphalt as the car sped towards her. It was so close, so close, just a hair's breath away-

And then there was nothing.

~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X

It was after a few hours -or maybe it was days or weeks, she couldn't tell- did she regain consciousness. She shook her head, but it seemed to make the pounding worse. She opened her eyes, squinting at the surrounding forest in the bright sunlight, when it hit her. She did not faint in the woods. And shouldn't she be on the pavement, if not the hospital? The pain of her throbbing head felt real enough, so she didn't think it was Heaven. Or Hell, for that matter.

So where the heck was she?

Alright, how's that for the starting? I hope that you can get a good feel of Elena's character, and I'd like to know what you think. Reviews are loved~! :D