Author's Note: sigh It has been such a long time since I picked up my writing. This Inuyasha fanfic is a little different from
others. If you came here to read about gory demons beating up each other, then I suggest you turn back before you disappoint yourself. In this fanfic, nobody is going to be a demon/half-demon or a monk, or anything like that. It's just going to be a fanfic about Kagome and all the other characters living life. Also, no shards will be in the story. I'm sorry to disappoint some people.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Inuyasha characters. If I did, then I wouldn't be doing this right now.

An Orphan's Love

An Inuyasha Fanfic

"Kagome, I trust you'll take care of yourself well while we're at the zoo." My mom said in her motherly voice. Myparents were taking Sota to the zoo. We go every year, but this year I have so many tests. I couldn't afford to waste my time at a zoo, watching animals sleep.

"Yes, Haha. (AN: Haha means 'my mom' or 'mommy' in Japanese.) I know." I didn't bother to tell her that I was sixteen. They all walked out the door and I was there at the front door to see them off. I didn't know that this was going to be the last time I was ever going to see them again.

I closed the door and leaned against the door. I was under so much stress lately. I couldn't even think anymore. It hurt to think. My head was always throbbing. It was... painful.

I closed my eyes.

The phone awoke me from my rest. It was ringing loudly. I picked it up and spoke into it.

"Moshi-moshi? This is Kagome-chan."

"Kagome? This is your Aunt Fumina. Remember me? Listen, we need you to come over to the hospital right away. Get in your car right now and come to the hospital." Her voice was serious. It was usually so cheerful when she came over for family visits. I wonder what happened.

"Okay. I will. Don't worry." I put the phone back and grabbed my coat. I was so curious about what had happened. Why would they call me to the hospital?

I rode in a taxi to the hospital as fast as I could. Still, it took me most of an hour. I met my aunt at the front door. She was waiting for me outside in the cold. What could be so important? Who would be so crazy to wait outside in the cold winter weather for an hour?

"Good, Kagome. You're here. We need to get in fast." I followed her into the hospital and up the escalator to the second floor. On the second floor, we walked over to the left wing of the building. People all around us were moving frantically and eyeing my warily. What was going on?

And then, I finally found out what happened.

"Kagome... I'm sorry." I guess she could tell by looking at my face. I couldn't believe it. Why? How? When? All these questions and thousands more clouded my mind. My head was throbbing so painfully. The shock was so great at first. I'm surprised no tears fell.

"Your parents were driving in the dark when it was snowing. They got into a car accident." My mother, father, and Souta were each laying in their own white sheet beds, eyes closed and not moving. They were each covered in blood from head to toe. I couldn't stand to keep looking at them. But I also couldn't stop. I thought maybe if I kept staring at them, I can will them to move. Or at least make a sound. Just anything to show that they were still living.

A doctor walked over to the place we were standing. He placed a hand on my shoulder and spoke, "I am so sorry. Your parents have passed away. I'm afraid your brother has died, too. There was nothing we could do to save them. They were already dead by the time our ambulances got to the crash." Finally, a single tear fell. And another. They just kept falling. I couldn't stop them. I dropped to the ground, my tears now making little rivers on my face.

Finally, my tears slowed down and I could speak. To nobody in particular, "Does this mean I'm, I'm all alone now?" I didn't want to be alone. At school some kids might not have liked me and not spoken to me, but my family was always there. Always there to congratulate me when I got first place. Always there to cry with me after people hurt me, physically and emotionally. Always there to hold onto my hand. There was no one else to do just that for me. And no one ever could. No one could replace the loving hands that embraced me in joy.

Aunt Fumina spoke, "Your grandparents would have been willing to take you in, but both of them also passed away two years ago. I could take you in, but I'm afraid I'm already busy with my own family matters. But I know a relative member who could take you in," She smiled sadly at me, like she was sorry she couldn't take me in. Probably a plastic smile.

"Who?" I wasn't too happy to be taken in to a family that wasn't mine. But from now on that family will also be called my family, wouldn't it?

"Your father had a cousin who now has his own family. You will be staying at the home of the Namuro family," She looked around the hospital. At the people, staring at us. " Listen, Kagome. The hospital is not the place to be talking about your family. I'll come over to your house early next morning to tell you about your new family."

I left the hospital dazed. Confused... hurt. I wasn't so cheerful. Who would? This is only once. Imagining this happening to you every year. Or every month. Every month you get a newer family member to stay with. Every month, some disaster happens to them. House burns down, car gets in an accident, dies of stroke, heart disease, cancer. But still. I feel it inside. The same hurt that happens in life.

I rode the bus back to my house. What's going to happen to my house? I would have to move into another house. Are they going to sell it? Why am I wondering about my house? The house is gone now. All that's left in this world for me is me. Nothing more. I hugged my elbows as I walked to the gate of my house. Then I saw a bird flying by. There wasn't anything special about it. It's just, a bird doesn't usually fly around in the dark. I pushed the gate and walked up the stairs to my house. Every minute was counted. Even if the Namuro family isn't really my family, I can't not be curious about what her family is like.

I woke up to the loud 'wake up' call of the alarm clock. "Wake Up! Wake Up! W-W-W-W-W-Wake Up!" I woke up to that alarm clock everyday. It works. I looked at the time. It was 6:45 AM. Now all I have to do is wait for my aunt to come over and tell me about my family. But I didn't want to move. I just wanted time to freeze, rewind. I wanted to stop my parents from going to that damn zoo. Why? Why did they have to go! Is this what I'm supposed to be feeling? Is this what's going to happen to me every morning I'm in that damn house of a family that I've never even met before!

I finally rose from my bed. It was nearly 7:30 now. When is she coming? I took a quick shower and washed my face. I looked in the mirror and saw a different face. This wasn't the face, always smiling, in those pictures. This was a face with dark circles under her eyes. This face had damp black hair. Hair that once used to hold color. Now, it had no life. It didn't look lively. Nor did the face. I dried up and dressed up. I have to look proper for my elders. Maybe she was even going to take me to go see them before I moved in.

It was now 9:00 AM. She said early in the morning. Where was she? I finished getting ready and now I was sitting on the sofa, reading a book I haven't picked up in months. I was getting bored. The book was boring. I put the book down on the coffee table and walked around the house. This house felt so empty. Many rooms. Only one occupied. What happened to us? Maybe... Maybe we all change in life. This was a long change. Our kitchen. Our dining room. Our family room. Now had nothing in it.I felt lonely. More pain. My head was forever painfully throbbing. Like it would never end. Will it ever?

Finally, the doorbell rang. I went to the front door and opened to the door to see Aunt Fumina. She was holding an extremely large handbag. I never remembered her with that bag before. She was smiling. I realized now that she was waiting for me to welcome her and let her into my house. My big, empty house.

"Welcome, Aunt Fumina. How are you?" She walked into my house, looking around. Maybe she noticed a change too. Like the most important piece of a puzzle was missing. She sat down on my sofa, mentioning with her hand to come sit next to her. I obeyed and saw that she was taking out a folder from her huge handbag.

She opened her folder and started talking. "Your new family is the Namuro Family. They have one boy. His name is Kouga. Kind of strange name, isn't it? Steel-fang. Why that name?" Aunt Fumina wasn't a really good focuser. She would start doing something and then quickly move on to another thing once she found it. "Oh, I'm getting off track here.Kouga is 18 years old. Only three years older than you! You guys should get really friendly! He's still your cousin, though, so no crazy stuff is going to be happening between you two! Kouga is their only son. Here's a picture of him." She took out a picture of a boy from her folder. He had slightly long hair. Nothing too short. Just a little longer than short. And it wasn't dyed. Most boys his age would've dyed it. Maybe he was a good boy. I stared closer and found out that his hair wasn't jet black. It was sorta brown-ish.

"The Namuro family also live in Asahi. You will be attending the Momasahi High School with Kouga," She paused and took hold of my hand. "Now, Kagome. I know this is going to be a little hard for you. But it's hard for me too. My brother... is... d-dead..." I realized that she was right. I was too blind t see that my parent's death not only affected me, but their families too. I was blind, and selfish. "But, we need to get through this together, okay? After you meet your new family, I need you to call yourself Kagome Namuro. Higurashi is not there anymore. It's gone. You are a... a Namuro now." My eyes opened wide. I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't. Nobody could take away my identity. It's mine. You can't just force someone to throw away their name. It's just not right. I didn't want to be a Namuro. I didn't want to live in that family. I didn't want to be part of that family. "Kagome. I know you can do it. Please, you have to do it for me, and everyone else. You're not the only one in on this. Let's go meet the family now. It'll be all right."

We got in her car and drove all the way over to Asahi. And the Namuro residence. I took one last look back at my house. I didn't know, but Aunt Fumina told me later that I would be moving that day. And, at that moment. After I moved out, nobody would be living in it again. I'll make sure of it.