Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

I'm quite ordinary.

24, single, and living on my own. I suppose that is what every other adult my age would consider ideal. No attachments, no obligations…

That's a lie, I have plenty of obligations.

Raised by a single mother, my little brother and I grew up with the mindset that we had to prove our worth to others. I can't tell you how many times I've been told that I was disadvantaged, that because of my lack of a father figure in my life I would never truly succeed, that it was a shame I showed so much potential but no resources…

Bullshit.

I graduated at the top of my high school class, proceeded to attend a prestigious college, finishing with a Biology degree, and managed to land a job at an up and coming laboratory within two weeks of my college commencement.

I suppose I should be proud, I've achieved a lot. But I feel like something's missing, like there's something else I should be doing…

And then an idiotic thought pops into my head.

Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I lived in a fairy tale.

I stare up at my ceiling, counting the stucco bumps, trying to ignore the annoying alarm I set up on my Iphone. My bedroom is hot and stuffy, and I wince as I move my arm, feeling my pajama shirt stick nastily to the side of my breast. With a low, feral growl, I swooped up my phone, silenced it, and dragged myself to the shower, gasping as the cold water pulsed against my skin.

Trying to shake myself awake, I ponder my stupid thought once more. Every girl dreams of adventure, romance, and a happily ever after, nothing wrong with that. What IS wrong is that I'm an adult with childish hopes and dreams, wishing that a knight in shining armor would come waltzing through my laboratory, tear my lab coat off of me, and carry me off into the sunset with my coworkers and boss gaping.

Shutting off the water and wrapping myself in a fluffy towel, I walk over to my bedroom window, staring at the city below. I loved my apartment, not only for the amazing price and close proximity to my job, but I had a bird's eye view of my childhood home—the Higurashi Shrine.

I know, I know, why move out when I could live at home for free? Mama never invaded my personal space, and my little brother and I got along great, but ever since I turned 15 I've felt strange things when I walked on those grounds, as if someone was watching me.

So when college rolled around, I booked it 250 miles north.

It wasn't a dark feeling, it was just…strange. The first weekend I came home from college I walked past the old well house and I could've sworn I had seen something in red zip by me, and I felt that strange feeling again. For years I've tried shrugging it off, but it never seemed to go away.

And yet at the same time…that strange feeling was comforting to me.

Shaking my head, I noticed the clock flashing 8:15.

Ah shit, I'm going to be late again.

"Bye Kagome! See you tomorrow!"

"Oh, bye! Yes, I'll see you tomorrow…uh…"

"Suki."

"Ah yes, sorry," I flustered, waving goodbye as I took off in the opposite direction. Damn company was taking off and expanding every single day, and I could barely keep track of all the new employee names.

Trudging past a couple of school girls laughing like hyenas, I pulled out my phone, remembering that Mama had called a voicemail earlier that day.

"Hello dear, I hope you had a good day at work…If you have the time, stop by the shrine and have dinner…"

I could never pass up the opportunity of Mama's cooking. With a lighter spring in my step, I walked past the street leading to my apartment and into the quiet neighborhood where the shrine stood.

Walking past a dark alley, an ominous feeling fell all around me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a psychic or anything, but I do come from a long line of shrine dwellers, and I know a bad feeling when I know one.

I began to speed up, holding my purse against my body tight as I made my way through the empty streets. Glancing behind me, I realized no one was following. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, before walking head first into something warm and firm.

" I'm sorry," I gasp, holding my ground and my purse. "I didn't see you there—"

Looking up, all the words on my tongue simply vanished as I stared at the person I had run into. Sharp, golden amber eyes gazed down at me as he smirked, his long white hair pulled into a low ponytail revealing a handsome, rugged face.

Now, I may have lived in Japan all my life, but I've had my share of tourists, and I have never seen a man with features such as this one. He must have sensed my shock and gave me a wolfish smile, which to my disbelief, revealed one perfectly formed white fang.

Holy shit.

"Is something scaring you, Kagome?"

His voice sent a shiver down my spine as his smooth baritone words echoed in my ears. It took me a while to register that this exotic stranger had spoken my name.

"Have we met?" I asked curiously, taking in his strange attire for the first time. His billowy pants and top looked something out of an old Japanese medieval story, and was this guy barefoot?

"Not really, I guess," he drawled, crossing his arms across his chest. "I mean, I know you, but you don't know me."

I was starting to get annoyed. "What the hell is that suppose to mean? Are you some sort of stalker?"

"Eh? Stalker?" He frowned, as if he didn't know the meaning of the word.

"Yes, stalker." I eyed him closely. "I'm positive I've never met you before."

"That's because you haven't, bitch."

Taking a step back, it took all of me not to slap this asshole in the face. "Excuse me? Did you just call me a bitch?"

The man's expression quickly turned to one of remorse. "Ah shit, I didn't mean that. Don't get mad…and don't say that word!"

I'm so lost at this point…and hungry. "Look, are you crazy? I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Fuck, I've said too much," he muttered. I opened my mouth to ask if he escaped some sort of asylum when my phone vibrated with a text from Mama asking where I was.

"As much as I love entertaining you I've-hello?" Looking up from my phone, the strange man had disappeared. I had to take a moment and blink out what had just happened.

"Maybe I've been working too much."

Shaking my head, I made my way to the shrine. Every now and then I would turn around, looking for him, but it was if he had disappeared into thin air.

What the hell?

AN: I feel my writer juices flowing :)