"Ewww !!! Look at the ugly hanyou !" shouted a girl. "Yeah, shes never gonna get out of this place like the rest of us !" said a boy. "Who'd wanna take her ? Shes funny looking and not a bit cute !" said another. A young hanyou heard these cruel words being said to her. She sat in her little corner, sulking. "She thinks shes too good for us ! That's why she never talks to us !" said a girl.

The hanyou girl got up and looked out of a window. Snow was falling and the sky was dark. The tall buildings of Tokyo towered above, making the street look darker and much gloomier. "Did ya' hear ? Adoption day is coming up again, betcha she won't be adopted yet again" said a boy. Tears stung the hanyou girl's eyes, but she refused to cry. "My name is Serenity, I am 8, and I live in this hell-hole called an orphanage. I have no life, I await the day when the sky will bring down its furry and strike me, so I may leave this world" thought the hanyou girl.

Unlike the other kids, Serenity wasn't normal. You could tell from first glance. Her long silver hair and dog-ears kept her from blending in with the others. Her fox-tail that was always yanked by other kids was another abnormal appendage. The other kids wore pink or blue overalls, depending on their gender. Serenity's pink overalls were dingy, almost red since her clothes were never washed.

"Serenity !! There you are !" shouted the owner of the orphanage, Yamasaki. Serenity faced the tall skinny woman wearing a blue dress with clouds on it and gulped. "You haven't done your chores you filthy thing !!" shouted Yamasaki. "Why don't the other kids have to do what I have to do ?" asked serenity. "Because they aren't little freaks !" said Yamasaki as she took serenity by her ear and dragged her to the first task she had Serenity do.

Little Serenity worked very hard, using all her strength. She washed all the floors, but the other kids ran around purposely, making it dirty again. She cleaned all the windows in the building she could reach. Dusted Yamasaki's room and office. Scrubbed all the toilets in the bathrooms. And made up all the beds.

Dinner time came, Serenity was served after everyone else had eaten, so in other words, she got nothing. She climbed into her bed, which Yamasaki refused to clean the sheets for, and looked out the window near her bed. "Please...I want to get out of here, even if I have to break out..." thought serenity. Serenity finally broke and sobbed into her dirty pillow. A pillow that had been soiled with her tears many times before.

The next day came and Serenity was awakened with a hard slap to her face. "Wake up you vile thing and start your work !" said Yamasaki. Serenity nodded and got out of her bed. She heard the laughing of the other kids as they got ready for Adoption day.

The door to the orphanage opened and the first person to adopt someone came in. he wore a red shirt, blue sweatpants, and had a black jacket with a hood that was over his head. "Welcome Sir, look around carefully for which child you wish to adopt" said Yamasaki. The person nodded and walked around the first floor, watching many kids play and run down the halls.

Serenity had a bucket of water in her hands with a sponge in it to wash the windows. She had to hold it with both hands since it was heavy with water. She turned a corner and ran into the person, nearly dropping the bucket. "Watch it there little one" said the person. Serenity looked up at him and nodded. "Hey, why aren't you with the other kids ?" asked the person. "I don't play with them, I clean up the place" said serenity. "Oh, well don't overwork" said the person. "I have to" said serenity as she walked off. The person watched her slowly walk off with the bucket.

(Later)

"Have you made your decision ?" asked Yamasaki. "Yes, that girl with the dog-ears will do just fine" said the person. Yamasaki laughed. "You must be joking, you don't want her" said Yamasaki. "Im serious, shes adorable, I wish to adopt her. If you have a problem with that, then must I file a complaint with the city council that you are keeping her from being adopted ?" asked the person. Yamasaki huffed and got Serenity's adoption papers ready. "What is her name ?" asked the person. "Serenity" said Yamasaki bitterly. The person smiled and walked around, looking for Serenity.

Serenity was washing the windows and was about to start on washing the floors when the person tapped her on the shoulder. Serenity jumped up in shock. "Calm down little one" said the person. "What'd I do wrong ?" asked serenity. "You've done nothing wrong, come with me" said the person as he extended his hand. Serenity looked at his hand and placed her tiny hand in his. The person walked back to the front desk while holding serenity's hand. Serenity had to walk on her tip-toes so the person wouldn't have to hunch over a bit to hold her hand.

"Sign here, here, and your initials here" said Yamasaki as she pointed to the places where the person was to sign the adoption papers. Serenity was in complete shock, she was being adopted ! She wasn't dreaming, or being fooled. "Serenity, this is your new father" said Yamasaki. The person picked serenity up and held her in his arms. Serenity looked at him with her shiny violet eyes. "Hello there, my name is Inu-yasha" said the person. Serenity couldn't speak, she never felt this happy in her life.

"Aren't you gonna get your things ?" asked Inu-yasha. "I...I...dont have any" said serenity. Inu-yasha looked at Yamasaki bitterly and looked back at Serenity with a calm face. "Then I'll buy you everything you'll need" said Inu-yasha. "Thank you...father" said serenity nervously at the part when she said father. Inu-yasha smiled and walked out of the orphanage, the adoption papers in his pocket and Serenity in his arms.

"Why'd you pick me ? Don't you think im a freak ?" asked serenity. Inu-yasha smiled and took his hood off. Serenity's eyes widened, Inu-yasha had the same ears as she did. "See, im just like you" said Inu-yasha as he held serenity over his shoulder so her head rested on it. Serenity watched as the orphanage got farther away from sight. She was free, she had someone who liked her enough to adopt her. She felt safe and happy. For the first time in 3 years, serenity smiled.

"Hey, you're smiling. I haven't seen you smile once since I saw you" said Inu-yasha. Serenity's smile went away. "Do you want me to stop ?" asked serenity. "No, you look cuter when you smile" said Inu-yasha. Serenity rested her head on Inu-yasha's shoulder again. She didn't smile, it hurt when she did. "Aww, don't be sad little one, you're gonna be living with me. Don't worry, I'll take care of you" said Inu-yasha. Even though it hurt, serenity couldn't help but smile at Inu-yasha's comforting words. "Thank you...father" said serenity in a tiny voice. "Please, call me Inu-yasha" said Inu-yasha. "Ok !" said serenity cutely.

To be continued...

Shall I continue this ?