The Numbers

Chapter 1-Autistic and Silent

A/N: I don't own anything except for the idea; all Inuyasha characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.

I am nearing the fifteenth year of my life, and I still haven't spoken a word. It's not like I can't speak, I merely have no desire to talk.

"Kagome! You're going to be late for school," my father shouts as I walk into the room, "Persephone will take you today okay?"

I just look at the ground, walking to the car. 'Yeah, make step-mother take me to school, because being Hades daughter is so time consuming.'

Oh yeah, by the way, I'm a demi-god. My real mom is human who met my father, Hades, Ruler of the Underworld, by chance. My mother fell in love with the Ruler of the Underworld instantly, while my dad was conviently horny. Surprisingly they fell in love and close to nine months later I was born. Mom died in child birth and Father took me in. Around the fifth year of my life I was diagnosed with mild autism. The only symptoms I have are my lack of verbal skills and eye contact, occasionally rocking back and forth, and difficulty in expressing emotions. Despite all that I have problem solving skills that greatly exceed my peers.

Persephone gets in the car, "Hello Kagome."

When I don't talk back she cranks the car. The radio comes on, blasting her auto tuned pop music. I grunt and quickly turn it off.

"Oh. I'm sorry honey," Persephone starts driving, "I forgot to turn it off last night."

"So I was thinking about going shopping this afternoon," Persephone says breaking the silence, "would you care to join me? We can get you a new necklace; get rid of that old one you always wear."

I touch the beads around my neck. I found these beads at an antique shop when I was nine. Dad didn't want to buy them for me.

"Maybe we can find you something new." He said.

I grabbed the beads, tugging on his arm for ten minutes. When he got annoyed he dragged me out of the store. I broke free of his grip and ran away. I went back to the store later that day, grabbing the beads I hid under the table, rocking back and forth. When Dad found me he sighed.

"You really want the beads don't you?" He smiled.

The clerk smiled at me, "You're very persistent. The Beads of Subjugation keep you safe and the person you give those to will never leave."

I grinned and ran out of the shop with my Beads of Subjugation.

Persephone pulls up to the school, "Okay kiddo. I'll see you later."

I pick up my backpack and get out of the car. I walk to my class, sitting in my usual seat in the back. Moments later, Sango, the daughter of Hestia, sits beside me. Sango is the student assigned to help me around school because of my autism. She is kind of like my voice, helping me say things I can't and, in a way, protecting me.

"Hey Kagome. How is everything today?" She says, playing with her fingers nervously.

I grasp my notebook and scribble a sentence down. "What's wrong?"

"Oh Kagome! I'm getting transferred to someone else!" she gives me a sad look as I drop my pencil.

I realize how attached I've grown to Sango. Tears fill my eyes.

"It's okay Kagome! You'll still see me at lunch! Don't worry."

Then I do something I've never done before: I hug Sango. She is obviously surprised by the action. She hesitantly hugs me back. I pull away and write another sentence in my notebook.

"Will someone else take your place?"

Sango smiles sadly. "Yes. They'll assign somebody else."

The English teacher puts notes up on the board that we're suppose to copy down. I start copying while the teacher talks.

"Who's familiar with the Odyssey?" she asks.

My head snaps up and I raise my hand.

She smiles, "Can you tell us what it is?"

I shake my head, looking down at my notebook. I feel the urge to crawl under my desk.

"Well that's okay Kagome. The Odyssey is an epic poem about Odysseus, from the Iliad. The Odyssey is about Odysseus's journey home from the Trojan War," she starts, "Odysseus has to face many obstacles on his way home. His patron goddess, Athena, helps him face the challenges and the wrath of Poseidon." She continues explaining as I close my eyes.

Moments later, the bell rings and I sigh. I grab my book bag and walk with Sango to our next class. She puts her stuff down.

"Do you think you can manage without me while I use the bathroom?"

I nod, putting my stuff down in the desk.

"Okay. I'll only be a minute." She walks out.

I sit down, writing in my notebook, only looking up when I see a shadow cover my desk.

"Hello Kagome. You're looking beautiful today." Koga says in a deep, husky voice I look up at him with no interest. "You're not talking to me? That hurts Kagome." He puts his hand over his heart as if he's in pain.

I roll my eyes. 'I don't talk idiot.'

He sits on my desk and I recede in my chair, putting as much distance as possible between us. "So I was wondering if you would like to go on a date with me Saturday."

I shake my head.

"Oh," he frowns then smiles, holding my hands in his big one, "You're busy aren't you? Don't worry we'll be together soon."

I jerk my hand away and Sango slaps him.

"Leave her alone Koga."

"Okay, okay. I'll talk to you later Kagome." He jumps off my desk and goes to his seat.

Sango glares, "He's an idiot."

I nod in agreement.

The math teacher, Mr. Naraku, passes out worksheets.

"Do these on your own. No one should be talking. I want to see what you know, not what your friends know," he looks straight at me, "If I catch you talking, it's detention."

I grab the sheet and start working on it.

Sango whispers, "Kagome," I give her a questioning look, "He's been staring at you."

I grab my notebook and write, "Who?" I pass it over to her.

"Kagome," Naraku says, causing me to jump, "talking and sharing notes? That's a detention."

"She doesn't talk . I was the one talking." Sango defends me.

"Even if she wasn't she was sharing notes and that is unacceptable," Naraku looks at me with a creepy smirk on his face, "see me after class."

I shiver and look away.

The bell rings and I pick up my stuff. After everyone is gone, I walk up to Naraku's desk. He looks up with his cold eyes meeting mine. His thin lips stretch into a creepy smile, "I am surprised by you Kagome. This is your first detention. We will meet here on Saturday." he takes out a detention slip and scribbles down the time and reason for the detention. I take it, turning to walk out. "See you then Kagome."

I feel the hair on the back of m neck stand up and I quickly walk out to the waiting Sango.

"I'm so sorry Kagome. I didn't mean to get you into trouble." Sango says.

I raise my hand in a dismissive manner and walk ahead to lunch.