Here we go again, another attempt at romance! I have a feeling that I will stick to this story and continue with my two other stories, as I have recovered from my writer's block! I have major plans for this story and I am excited to start this baby of a story! I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the sexy InuYasha. All characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I only own the plot and Akio Higurashi.

Into the Mist

"You love simply because you cannot help it" -Kim Anderson

Chapter 1

"…and I feel as if I'm running through a mist. I haven't any idea on where I should turn or why I should keep on going. My life has always been like that. I want to live and be happy, to be free of any worries that burden me, to be free of any surrounding foggy mists that cloud my mind and soul. But where? How can I find that dream? Why must I have to search for something that seems so surreal and unattainable?"

And the young woman closed her journal with a soft thud. Her delicate hand brushed away a stray lock of black hair from her face then gently slid her private book under her bed. She then got up from her kneeling position on her bamboo floor and walked over to gaze into the green forest that surrounded her family's home.

The woman of seventeen closed her eyes and breathed in the pine, the oak, the rain kissed leaves of the woods she loved so much. The wind was gentle as it caressed the tan skin of her arms and bare feet, the warm heat of the sun beaming down on her delicate face. Her blue cotton dress, a gift from her father from England, swayed around her legs. Her ears could pick up the soothing gentle music from the trees, causing a small smile to form on her pale pink lips.

It was times like these that Kagome Higurashi forgot about her internal struggles. Her hands braced her form as she leaned out the window to better sample the outside world. She loved the forest and the way it seemed to calm her. Sometimes, she would sneak out and walk along the tall, aging oaks and would sit against a tree by the small stream that wove through the forest. If her parents ever found out about that…

"Kagome! Kagome, come on lunch is ready!"

The teenager turned around to see her younger cousin of thirteen. Rin was a smaller girl, preferring to wear her custom made kimono to the English clothes that her father brought back. With black hair down to her shoulders, cute hazel eyes and a bubbly personality, Kagome had come to adore her cousin as much as her younger brother.

'Rin seems so carefree! I wish I could feel like that.' Truth was, no one knew of her waging struggles inside. It was something that she needed to deal with on her own she decided, to find her own happiness and strength, feelings she's wanted for a long time.

The young woman nodded and glided across her room, shut her Japanese style door, and silently followed her cousin down the wooden steps of their two story home.

For a Japanese family living in the late 1800's, English influence was spreading all across the country. After visiting England, Kagome's father loved the style so much that he sought on adding English influence to their Japanese home. Kagome didn't care much for the foreign style, expect for the clothing. She loved her native land and loved all that she grew up with, but she loved the simplicity of the English dresses like the one she wore.

As they entered the dining room, with the traditional Japanese table surrounded by five pillow seats, Rin and Kagome sat together on the left side, joining the rest of the family.

Kagome sat silently and ate after they said the family prayer. She gazed across the table to her younger brother. Souta was the youngest child at ten years of age. He was a spitting image of their father, with his short brown hair and the same colored eyes. Unlike her, he loved both the Japanese and English styles and preferred to wear both. Today he wore a white collared shirt with black pants and socks. Despite their differences, she loved her younger brother and cherished him as much as she did Rin.

Then she turned her deep yet sad walnut brown eyes on her mother. She was a very beautiful woman with curly brown hair that grazed her shoulders and warm eyes that reminded Kagome of the oaks just outside her window. She wore her lovely electric blue kimono that was decorated with white cranes. Her mother was very understanding but sometimes Kagome thought she was a bit controlling.

But her father was the most demanding of the family.

"I think we should go out today and enjoy the cherry blossoms that are blooming today in town." His powerful voice caused all occupants to look up.

"That's a wonderful idea, dear." Masako agreed with her husband.

"Yeah, I want to go!" Rin bounced up and down, clapping at the idea. Souta was almost just as enthusiastic as his cousin.

As much as Kagome loved to see the spring's beauty, she just wasn't up to it. After seeing the magnificent trees years after year since she was two, Kagome yearned for something more exciting. Like the woods that she deemed as her sanctuary.

"I don't feel very well, so I think I will just go and take a nap." She set her half eaten bowl of rice down and stood up while earning curious gazes her family.

"Would you like me to make you something?" Masako offered, opting to stand up if need be.

Kagome shook her head tiredly. "That's okay, mother. All I need is some sleep and I'll be fine." She insisted as she moved to exit the dining room.

Going up the stairs, she knew her father wouldn't like her lack of participation. He always insisted on doing things as a family, trying to keep up his image in their village as a proud family man. He was forceful, demanding, and strict with her, as she was his eldest child and was expected to be involved with the Higurashi family. But his insistence was wearing on her as of late, and the teenager was exhausted, like she was trapped in a corner and couldn't figure a way out of it.

'It's always like this.' She thought miserably as she laid on her side on her western style bed, gazing out her window. 'Why can't I just live without any doubt?' Thoughts like these were more common to her now. Her life seemed out of control. She was rarely happy anymore, barely able to enjoy time with her family; with the exceptions of her cousin and brother, and she felt like her spirit was now lost, sad, and lonely.

"My life is a mist….and I am unable to see clearly of what I want or how to get there." She whispered softly as her eyes closed. She was tired, not physically but mentally and she sought the peace that came with sleep.

Kagome fell into sleep with the sounds of the forest and the forest wind that eased her being, unaware of an intense pair of demon eyes watching her not far from her open window.

His golden eyes of the sun never left the from of the girl that had caught his attention. Her attractive scent of lavender and vanilla enticed him like no other. As he found purchase in an old and broad, sturdy oak branch, the demon watched the slumbering human, gazing at her delicate face that he thought of as beautiful.

The half demon could watch her for hours if he wasn't in the always present danger of being caught. His long and wild mane of silver hair whirled around him, while the two silver dog ears on his head flickered in irritation. If he wasn't a freak, an outcast that many wanted dead, maybe he would have the guts to approach her, talk to her, but he knew that that would never happen, if for only one reason.

Inuyasha was a half breed, born from a human mother and a demon father. His abnormal ears, his freakish silver hair and scary eye color marked him as a freak of nature and was to forever live a life of loneliness, despair, and endless taunts and torture. In this day and age, humans had more weapons to take him down with so he found safety and refuge in this forest. To them, he was the scary and dangerous half blood that could shred anything to pieces with his sharp razor like claws and inhuman fangs. But the truth was, he wasn't a murderous beast that killed humans for pleasure. No, he only hunted the animal life so he could eat and survive. But nobody would believe someone like him and so he was prepared for a solitary life without any happiness. It's always been like that since he was a young pup. Nobody listened to him, turned their backs on him and even went as far as to bruise him until he couldn't stand up. So he always sought after a place to hide in, but the humans would drive him out. A forest was the best option and that's were he found himself today where he has lived the past few years

But when he first caught wind of a delicious aroma, he had to follow it. InuYasha tracked it down to a simple human girl. He's seen many human woman before but none as pretty or different as this one. Her black hair looked so silky and soft down her back, and her skin looked so smooth he wanted to reach out and touch her. Her eyes that were warm yet as lonely as his was, a rich, calming shade of brown, captured his attention.

Ever since then, InuYasha has always looked out for her, without her knowing. He had an overwhelming sense to protect her from any danger, something he's never felt before. He had a strong and understandable resentment to humans but this one woman, Kagome as he heard them call her, was different. He couldn't get her out of his mind no matter how hard he tried. Her scent was powerful enough to lure him in, her voice was enough to calm his inner rage. But how long could he stay and watch over her? He wanted her to be his and his alone, but he would have to settle for looking at her from afar.

Inuyasha watched her sleep until the sun began to set. He didn't want to leave her though, but he had to feed himself. After glancing longingly at her angelic form one more time, he bunched his legs up and jumped from his branch and into the darkness of the woods, where the humans wouldn't dare to step into when it was approaching dusk.

While he jumped from branch to branch, searching for his dinner, his thoughts often strayed back to Kagome. 'Why am I so obsessed with her? Why do I have to constantly dream about her all the time?' He couldn't answer these questions no matter how hard he tried. She was engraved his mind, his nose, and even his lonely beating heart, one that yearned for acceptance and love.

"I don't know why, but why should I care about a human that would never in a million years care for a freakish monster like me? What makes her so special that I have to be drawn to her?" But as he said those words, he didn't believe them. He couldn't. Her face, her scent, her voice- it was all he had to live for everyday. And he hoped, against all odds, that someday, that they could meet, and to finally settle the loneliness he felt.

But let's face it, no one could love, or even remotely care for a hanyou- a monster, a ruthless beast that he was dubbed…and Inuyasha, hating himself for it… believed that they were right. That's all he was, and always would be…and he lived with that painstaking truth.

What do you think? A good start? More details will come in later chapters. Let me know!

Ja Ne for now!