Ok I know I have two other unfinished fics. This obviously makes people unhappy seeing as how I get murderous reviews...O.o...it's scary. Ok so this will be my first InuYasha fic so I am hoping and praying that you'll like it. hope hope pray pray It's basically going to be the Jane Eyre story, but with the InuYasha characters instead. Oh, and fans of the book don't be too upset with me because I'm going to have to change lots of things. And if the Lowood Academy was one of your favorite parts I am SO SORRY! All of the Sesshomaru fans will threaten me if he doesn't show up soon. Anyway, hope you enjoy!!!

Disclaimer: sigh Once again, I do not own the characters in this story. Well maybe a few. But not Takahashi's. I don't even own the plot...oh dear...

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Chapter 1

Prologue

Everyone here treated me differently ever since my mother and father died. Well, except maybe my Uncle Myouga. He always treated me like his own. He could have even loved me more than his own children, my cousins, though we couldn't be any more different.

There was basically no resemblance; I, Kagome, had short, black, and unruly hair with pale skin that sharply contrasted to the black mass on top of my head. They, on the other hand, were all "beautiful" children, as my Aunt Asai would say, and of course anyone else who didn't want to face the wrath of Aunt Asai and her "little darlings".

The oldest was Kimoto, a sad excuse for a boy, weighing in around 200 pounds at the age of thirteen, with choppy hair and fair skin. He was a malicious one too, always causing me as much pain as he could without his "dear mama" seeing. Even when she was around he sometimes hit me, but Aunt Asai would always turn a blind eye, and scold me for making too much noise.

Then there was Kagura. She was about two years Kimoto's junior, yet had as much, or more, cruelty in her as Kimoto. She would always taunt me, mainly for my undeveloped looks and "odd" personality. She would constantly steal eggs from the chicken coop then insist the servants buy them from her. If not Aunt Asai would flash a quick reprimand and Kagura would get her own selfish way.

Yamano was the youngest and by far the most lovely. She had soft, thick curls that shaped her comely face. She wasn't all that cruel but never stopped the taunting when others started and every once in a while would join in when she grew tired of playing with her dolls or no one was around to praise her angel-like appearance.

As you may have noticed, Aunt Asai was the center that all my problems revolved around. She was a tall, stately, and harsh woman. She had always been raised around wealth and never knew what it was like for poverty stricken people.

She always regretted the promise she made to my Uncle Myouga on his deathbed, that she would take care of me as if I was her own. She hated me from the beginning, mainly because my mother, a member of a wealthy family, had married a poor clergyman. My Uncle Myouga strongly resented the disownment placed upon her by their parents.

Anyway, I was forced to live with these people, my "family" if you will, but only Uncle Myouga seemed to understand me. As fate would have it though, he died soon after Mama and Papa died. I was only five. There was no other family for me to go to. I think a brother of my father was mentioned but he was never found until later years.

They lived in a nice house anyway and I wasn't forced to live the life of a beggar like Aunt Asai said I should have. I didn't want to be a beggar. It seemed awfully horrid to have to sleep on the streets and have to scavenge or beg for your meals.

I was considered lower than the slaves though, for I lived off Aunt Asai and didn't work for it. Even so I felt as though I was treated unfairly. It didn't seem right that I should always be so depressed and have so many bruises...

Eventually I got into another scrape with Kimoto, this time worse than usual. He threw a book at me, nothing new, except for the fact that I flew right back at him, and Yamano went squealing to Aunt Asai. Once she came it was broken up and, as usual, the blame was all laid on me. Even the maids who were always more understanding towards me than the rest, scolded me "for going into a flurry at Master Kimoto".

So I was sent to a boarding school where I spent the next eight years of my life; six as a student and two as a teacher. As I stayed there, I learned a broad variety of subjects. Not too deep in any, just brushing over each, but enough to keep us satisfied.

Not known to many, since Lowood produced such refined young ladies, but they were awfully harsh to us. We never had adequate food, it either being too scanty or burnt. Our hair had to be kept up, no signs of sins had to be present among us. Punishment was harsh. I lived through it though, and I think I am all the better person for it.

I could play the piano decently, spoke and wrote French fluently and skilled on the canvas. Or at least to onlookers for I myself was never quite happy with my end results. It always needed something, something I couldn't give it.

When I was eighteen I thought it time for me to find a job, perhaps as a governess, and leave the boarding school I had spent my life in for nearly a decade. I put an ad in the paper reading thus:

"Governess available to teach children within the

ages of seven and fourteen. Has experience as a teacher and

attended boarding school for six years. Can teach a variety

of subjects including French, music, and drawing. Please contact at –"

I thought it proper for me to limit the age to fourteen, not wanting a student almost my age. About three weeks later I received an answer from a "Kaede-sama", a lady wanting me to tutor a young girl about ten years old. I of course delightedly agreed and sent my agreement as quickly as possible. I gave the headmaster my notice and plans were made for me to leave in two months.

For me, two months have never seemed so long. My fellow teachers were all equally grieved, and the students took their share in tears as well. I never knew I was so loved until the news was broken to them. It was the first time I can ever remember being loved.

When I was finally on the carriage to my new "home" I began to wonder what my new "family" would look like. I had pictured Kaede-sama to be an elderly woman by the looks and style of her writing, and a widow most likely, since the master of a house would usually handle the employment of such things.

The little girl's name I found to be was Rin. She seemed quite the young lady for her age as described by what Kaede-sama had written, yet still acted the child part.

The name of the house was Thornfield Hall, making me think of a grand home, with refined and quite wealthy personage there.

It took two days and a night to reach the small inn that I was to be picked up at. I expected for there to be a coachman waiting for me at the inn, but when I asked the innkeeper if there was anyone from Thornfield for a Miss Higurashi. There was none so I asked to be shown to a private room so I could wait.

About an hour and a half passed, and I grew anxious waiting for my ride. A servant came in to keep up the fireplace and I asked him if anyone had come. He said he would and came back moments later and asked, "Are you Miss Higurashi?"

I nodded yes and he ushered me outside where a man was waiting by a coach. He helped me in, and as I was settling myself I took the liberty of asking him how long it would take for us to reach our destination.

"No'an aroun' two hours," he replied, with a strong accent. He seemed nice enough but I was not one to assume he was actually a servant at Thornfield. It was very often coachmen were hired just for these occasions.

He started off, and began to go at a very slow pace. I'm not sure if it bothered me since I was ready to see my new residence, but it gave me time to plan and ponder over the next stage of my life.

I hoped that the residents were kind, not like Aunt Asai and my cousins in the least. But if they were then I could very well just advertise again and find a new situation. All in all my spirit was very positive.

About two and a half hours later, I caught glimpses of Thornfield Hall. How did I know it was Thornfield? Oh I don't know, it just had this aura. Like, it gave off this energy, not like life energy; in fact it seemed somewhat dull. But I just had this feeling that I belonged there; that it was a part of me. Very silly to someone who does not know my life I am sure, but you may come to understand.

Anyway, there it was, and within five minutes I was at the door. I came to the conclusion that the coach driver was indeed a resident and servant at Thornfield Hall, since he took the side entrance, motioning me to knock on the door before he entered the home himself.

I promptly knocked on the door and fixed my kimono so I would at least seem presentable. In just a few seconds the door was answered and I was faced with a scruff looking man.

Muahahahahahahahaha. Cliffhanger yes? Well sorry but it's an epilogue, so I can't bring in any major plot stuff now. Ok well hope you enjoy and be assured Sesshomaru will enter the story next chapter. Or the next. One or the other I promise.