Chapter One

The Way Things Are

Society sucks. People like to talk about equality, "There's a place for everyone," and all that bullshit, but in the end that's all it is; bullshit. Humans have their place among each other, and demons too. Humans belong with other humans, demons belong with other demons. But there are deviations, sometimes a demon falls in love with a human and they have a child, but when that child is born he or she belongs to no-one.

That's me, half-demon half-human all nothing. No one talks to me, no one even looks at me. I can do anything and everything they can do, but they don't acknowledge me. Sure I get out, go places. I have to go to school, it's the only escape from my half-brother. But there are assholes at school too. For someone like me there are always restrictions, half the restaurants around here don't cater to half-breeds and it's only because of my father's influence that I got into school at all. Like I said, it's complete bullshit.

I pulled the hood of my jacket up over my head and flattened my ears. I wasn't fooling anyone. If they saw me they knew what I was, but at least I could pretend I was someone else, someone normal.

It was dark out, it had been a rainy autumn and wet leaves clung to my boots. I kept my hands in my pockets and my head down, trying to draw as little notice to myself as possible. It rarely worked, but it seemed to be going well this time. I didn't have a destination, I only had a couple crinkled dollar bills in my pocket and it's not like I could buy anything from anywhere if I had more. I didn't know how I felt, whether I was angry or sad, probably both. The streets were pretty empty, only a few stragglers heading home from the bar or somewhere else.

It was always better when the streets were empty, there was very little to hear. The bad thing about being half dog-demon is that you can hear too well. All those opinions floating around, all those thoughts those judgments. Halfbreed, bastard, thing. I knew those words as well as I knew myself. I had become numb to them by the time I was twelve. I stopped under a streetlight and looked around. The street was empty, my only companions were a few fat crows screeching happily in the trees and my own shadow. The streetlight cast it's yellow glow on two vending machines.

I didn't feel particularly hungry, but I purchased two energy drinks. Caffeine helped in high doses, made my blood fizz, took away some of the pain of everyday life. And it was better than other addictions, at least in my opinion. I heard footsteps in the distance, and cursed, I wasn't alone anymore. I debated turning around and walking back home, but there was no escape their either, so I held my ground and straightened up, peeling my wet hood off of my head.

It was a girl, about my age, skinny and shivering. Her eyes met mine briefly and then darted to the vending machines. It was typical, she would get her drink or her snack and walk off, if she was brave she might even call me a Halfbreed.

"The weather is awful isn't it?" she asked, catching me completely off guard. My eyes widened as I observed the girl. She was a human, not a trace of demon in her, but there was something different about her smell, something nice. She was short, no more than 5'02" with big brown eyes and waist length brown hair. She was pretty but a little unkempt. She watched me expectantly, waiting for an answer, when she got none she simply shrugged her shoulders and walked over to the vending machine, digging some change out of her pockets.

"I hope it clears up soon, I'm so tired of everything being gray!" she chuckled. "Do you like the cold?" she asked, turning back to me with a big grin on her face. I studied her face, looking for the hidden agenda behind her words. There was nothing but curiosity in her eyes.

"Not really," I said dully, and she turned back to the vending machine. She talked as she pressed the buttons.

"Maybe we'll get snow soon, at least that would be a change," she bent down to grab her soda from the slot.

"Do you know who I am?" I asked, still perplexed by her behavior. She straightened and studied me.

"Oh..." she whispered. I knew it was coming, this would be the part where she would look at me in disgust and walk away as fast as she could. She didn't do that though, instead she grinned brightly. "Are you a celebrity?"

I was at a complete loss for words. I didn't know if she was just sheltered or if she was completely stupid.

"I'm a Hanyou," I told her slowly, as if speaking to a particularity distracted child. She glared at me, but it was more humorous than frightening, she was so small.

"Well of course I knew that, I'm not blind," she folded her arms over her chest and regarded me closely.

"Hey, what's your name anyways? You look kind of familiar, do you go to Sogen Highschool?"

I did go to Sogen, but I had taken great cares to stay invisible, unfortunately I had gained somewhat of a reputation as being one of two Halfbreeds who attended. I had never seen this girl before though, not that I could remember at least, though her smell did seem a bit familiar.

"InuYasha" I answered slowly, watching her face. She chewed her lip, thinking for a moment, then her face brightened.

"InuYasha Taisho?" She asked cheerfully, "Yeah I've heard of you, not much though. I'm Kagome Higurashi, I'm a freshman, I think we have Algebra together though,"

Algebra? Yeah, that sounded right, that could be where I knew that smell from. I didn't say anything though, I had no desire to talk with her. Humans were just as bad as demons, they were either outright hostile or manipulative. They always had another motive. A loud buzzing erupted from the girl's pocket and she sighed.

"Hello?" she said into the receiver. I turned away and began to walk off, but the voice on the other end of the phone made me startle.

"The fuck are you doing out? You stupid bitch, I told you to be home by 6:00, it's 6:30,"

I turned around to see the color drain from the girl's face, she looked absolutely terrified. She saw me looking at her and offered me a quick darting smile and a wave before turning back on her heel and running back home. Living me once again alone to think.

A/N: How's it going so far? InuYasha might be a bit angsty, but I think he has good reason to be. Please let me know Thank you!

Love MM