I never thought my first story based off Inuyasha wouldn't involve Kagome and Inuyasha themselves as the main characters…
Oh, well.
This story is based off of the movie Annie, and it stars Rin as Annie, Sesshomaru as the millionaire (I can't remember his name for the life of me; in the most recent version, it's Will Stacks), Kagura as the lawyer (can't remember her name, either), and Kikyo as Miss Hannigan. That being said, this is based off the most recent version, so please forgive everything modern…
Kikyo being Miss Hannigan might not make sense, seeing as she's pretty nice, but let's face it: after she gets resurrected, she becomes a grade-A, bonafide bitch.
OWTF!
Day 2,189
Dear Diary,
Tomorrow marks my first year living with Miss Kikyo. That means it's been six years since my parents left me because they couldn't take care of me. I'm not sad, though, because I know they'll come for me one day. I have my half of a locket and the note that says they will. This diary was a gift from the old woman next door, Kaede. She says it'll keep me from feeling too overwhelmed if I write down my thoughts and feelings. Asagi says nothing will keep Miss Kikyo from being horrible.
I don't mind living here, though.
Oh, I should probably introduce myself!
My name is Rin. I don't have a last name, not yet. I'm seven years old (I turn eight tomorrow; I was abandoned on my second birthday) and I have long black hair. It's not nearly as long as Miss Kikyo's or Miss Kaede's, but it's enough for me. Miss Kikyo doesn't have time to take us for haircuts and things like that, so we do it ourselves. Moegi styled my hair last time, and I wear a tiny bit of it in a ponytail to the side in the front.
Anyway, I live with Miss Kikyo. She runs a little home for us abandoned kids. Right now, there's eight of us. Asagi is the oldest at twelve, then Roku and Dai, the twins, are ten. They're followed by Moegi and Shion, who are ten and nine. Then there's Kanna, who's nine, and me. Ai is the youngest—she's only four and the only one of us who's actually adopted by Kikyo. Asagi, Roku, Dai, Moegi, Shion, and Ai are all half-demons; they have one human parent and one demon parent. Kanna is a full demon, but she's nice—a little quiet, but nice. I'm the only one of us who's fully human, which Dai says makes me weird. Most humans and demons don't abandon their kids. It's the half-bloods that have to watch out.
I'm a little nervous about tomorrow; Miss Kikyo has the day off, but she's probably not going to do anything for my birthday. She never does anything for anyone's birthday. Roku says it's been that way for a long time. It doesn't surprise me because most foster parents don't. None of my other four foster parents did.
I'm sleepy now, and I have school in the morning.
Good night!
Love Rin Without-a-Real-Last-Name.
Rin snapped the diary shut and shoved it under her pillow. She looked across the room, where Kanna was fiddling with her sole possession—a beautiful mirror—on the bottom bunk of the bunk-bed she shared with Shion.
Kikyo's apartment wasn't very large. There were only two bedrooms, but she had taken the smaller of the two for herself. She had managed to put four bunk-beds in the larger room, which was enough for the eight foster children she had. Originally, Ai—who had been there the longest, despite being the youngest—had slept in Kikyo's room, but she'd been moved to the main bedroom when Rin had arrived.
"Hey, Rin?" Dai said from his bed.
"Yeah, Dai?"
"Do you really think that your parents are gonna come for you?"
"Of course they will! They promised in their letter!"
"Will you read the letter again, Rin?" asked Ai, coming up the ladder and sitting on Rin's bunk.
"Of course I will!" Rin said. Asagi scoffed from her bottom bunk and clambered onto Moegi's bed. Kanna got onto Shion's and Roku onto Dai's.
"Read it!" begged Ai.
"Okay, okay!" Rin cleared her throat. " 'This is our baby, Rin. We can't take care of her right now, but one day, we'll be able to. We'll come and get her when we can take her, and we'll know she's ours because of the half of a silver locket around her neck. We have the other half and can't wait to come get our baby!' " Rin reached into her shirt and pulled out the half-of-a-locket. It was shiny and silver, with a distinctive butterfly-on-roses design.
"It's not going to happen," Asagi snapped. Ai looked up at Asagi with an expression of shock.
"What do you mean, Asagi?"
"I mean it's a fairy tale. Rin's parents aren't going to come for her because they didn't want her. Just like none of our parents wanted us."
"My mommy and daddy left me with Kikyo because they were both sick!" Ai defended.
"And look at me! I'm almost thirteen! Nobody wants to adopt a teenager!"
"Well, not with that attitude!" chirped Rin. "Don't worry, Asagi! You'll find a family!"
With the grin on Rin's face, Asagi sighed and backed down. She couldn't be mad at that face. Nobody could be mad at that face.
It was weird that Rin hadn't been adopted yet.
"Night!" Shion whispered, gently nudging Kanna with his foot. Kanna slid off his bed and down the latter to the bottom bunk. The others followed suit, with Ai letting out a little yawn as she headed down the ladder. The four-year-old then proceeded to go around the room and give everyone a good-night hug and kiss on the cheek. Shion blushed and covered his head, while Dai and Roku pretended to complain.
It was then that Asagi turned out the light.
"Sir!"
Sesshomaru Taisho sighed as his attorney/assistant, Kagura, ran after him. He was a busy demon who didn't have time for little things.
Unless it was his status in the election.
"You're behind by ten points in the polls," Kagura reported. "Jaken says you have to show the people you care about demons, half-bloods, and humans."
"But I don't."
"You've shown you care for demons by hiring them, and you've shown you care for half-bloods by taking in your younger brother and supporting others like him."
"Yes, because they're not completely human. Real humans are nothing but noisy and dirty."
"Except Izayoi."
"She was an exception purely because she was my stepmother. And I only tolerated her because she married my father."
"Yes, but today, we must visit with some poorer humans. You're going to act as if you don't mind being around them and gain votes so you can get elected."
"Fine…"
Sesshomaru followed Kagura out to the limo, where the driver took them to a benefit at a homeless shelter. There, he saw a half-blood in the arms of an elderly human woman, who was talking to some of the residents of the shelter. She was the woman in charge, Kaede.
"Hello, Miss Kagura," she greeted the lawyer.
"Hello, Miss Kaede," Kagura replied. "This is Mr. Taisho."
"It's a pleasure," Kaede told Sesshomaru. "This is my neighbor's daughter, Ai."
"She seems very sweet," Sesshomaru told Kaede. "Shall we begin?"
"Have a good day, everyone!" Sango, the teacher, told the class as the bell rang. Rin shoved her books into her bag and headed for the door before Sango stopped her.
"What is it, Miss Sango?" Rin asked.
"I just wanted to wish you happy birthday and give you this." She handed Rin a small, wrapped package. "I know your foster mother doesn't have much to spend on you kids, so there's enough for everyone."
"Thank you!"
"You're very welcome."
Rin ran out the door after putting the treats in her backpack. She headed down the street, in no hurry to get home as she went along. The little girl offered greetings to everybody she knew as she passed them, smiling all the way. However, she stopped when she heard a little growl in an alley, accompanied by loud voices. She looked in horror as she saw a two-headed dragon demonling being pelted with stones by human boys from her school.
"LEAVE THEM ALONE!" she demanded.
"Who's going to make us, foster brat?!" one of the boys, whose name was Sakamoto, snapped. "You?!"
"Y-yes! That's my dragon!"
"Prove it, then! Call its name!"
"Um…" Rin though fast, then yelled out, "A-Un! Come here, now!"
To Rin's amazement, the dragon got up and lumbered towards her, lowering his head to be petted. She smiled and did as he wanted before glaring at the boys.
"See?! Now leave him alone!"
"Whatever! Let's go." Sakamoto and his two buddies—Kenta and Michi—left Rin alone with the two-headed dragon.
It was then that A-Un got spooked by a car and ran across the street.
Rin followed.
Sesshomaru glared at the ground as he walked along. The benefit hadn't gone as well as anybody had hoped—in fact, it had gone horribly wrong. He'd insulted a few of the homeless people and accidentally spilled food all over Kaede's feet. While the old woman had insisted he hadn't done anything wrong, he had scoffed that it was the fault of the condition of the shelter out of spite. Kagura had been quick to whisk him out of there, but he insisted on walking home instead of riding in the limo. That was what he was doing now.
Across the street he saw a little girl running after a two-headed dragon demonling, a little human girl. She ran into the street as the demonling pushed past him, just as the light turned green. A driver hit the gas and headed straight for the little girl.
As quickly as he could, Sesshomaru dashed into the street and grabbed the little girl, lifting her out of the car's path. He didn't notice several passersby snapping pictures with their phones and cameras. Sesshomaru brought the human to the sidewalk and looked down at her.
"Why were you running?" he asked.
"It gets me places faster, sir." She gave him a smile before she caught sight of the bank clock on the corner. "Oh, no! I'm late!" She turned away before giving him one last look. "Thank you, sir!"
Sesshomaru couldn't help but be warmed by that grin.
"And just where have you been?"
Rin gasped as she heard Kikyo's voice. She looked up to see her beautiful yet terrifying foster mother standing over her, a displeased expression on her face.
"I was out," Rin replied.
"Out where? You missed dinner."
"I was taking a walk after school."
"Hmm… you're grounded for not calling us from a payphone."
"I'm sorry, Miss Kikyo."
" 'Sorry' doesn't clean the apartment. Make the place shine… and don't touch my medicine cabinet!"
Rin nodded and headed to the bedroom, where she deposited her backpack on her bed. The others were already cleaning. Even Ai was sorting their clothes to be taken to the laundromat. Miss Kikyo had already headed out to the store by the time Rin retrieved the dusting spray from the cleaning closet.
At least Miss Kikyo treats us all the same, no matter what our gender or age.
"It's a hard-knock life," Moegi murmured.
"It's a hard-knock life," agreed Rin, pulling out a dusting cloth.
"What does 'it's a hard-knock life' mean?" Ai asked.
"It means our lives suck," Asagi replied.
"Oh." Ai nodded. "It's a hard-knock life."
The kids continued cleaning, humming the song to themselves. Ai put on one of Kikyo's blouses and a pair of her billowy pants and struck a pose.
"Make it shine, and don't touch my medicine cabinet!" she sang.
"Ai!" they all shouted, laughing.
Day 2,190
Dear Diary,
Well, my eighth birthday didn't go at all like I thought it would. I met a dragon demonling, but he ran away before I could catch him. I almost got hit by a car, but I was saved by a kind demon with long, silvery hair. I got in trouble with Miss Kikyo, but it was worth it just to see that man smile.
Miss Sango, my teacher, gave me a gift. Hers was cookies to share with the other foster kids. She also gave me a fancy new pen—it's orange, my favorite color, with a sparkly orange little puffball at the top. I'm using it right now to write this!
Chores were normal, but I feel like something's going to happen soon.
Still no sign of my birth parents.
I'm holding out hope, though!
Love, Rin Hoping-For-Good-Things.
So, that chapter didn't go as I originally planned, but whatever.
Something you'll notice quickly is that Rin has a lot of thoughts she internalizes. That's why I added the diary part (although a friend pointed out this contradicts the whole 'I can't read' plot point of the movie, but I don't' care) to show what she thinks of what's going on. Her diary entries are bookends at the moment—they'll finish each chapter, but I chose to start this one with a diary entry. I may do this more often. She also ends each diary entry with a different last name, due to not having a permanent one. This is going to be a running gag.
Yes, Kagura is Sesshomaru's lawyer. Jaken is his campaign manager. Six of the other foster kids Rin lives with are from Fire on the Mystic Island, the fourth (and in my opinion, best) Inuyasha movie. I added Kanna for fun and because having an eighth orphan made it even (which satisfied my slight OCD).
I hope you'll all enjoy this story and keep an eye out for the next chapter!
So long and thanks for all the fish!