No Longer Alone

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and co. do not belong to me T_T. They belong to the great and wonderful Rumiko Takahashi. So don't sue me! I didn't do anything wrong! *cringes in fear*

Ok not as many reviews as I thought I would get. But it's only the first chapter so my expectations aren't that high. I promise my chapters will get longer but right now I have to get the settings straight. Thank you lovecups for such a great first review! It made me feel all warm and tingly inside! LOL. Ok anyway on with the story!

Ch. 2

The sky darkened and rain began to fall over Tokyo. In a dark alleyway, on the abandoned side of town, a young woman sat huddled in a large cardboard box with her knees drawn up to her chest. She hugged her legs and shivered in the cold as she listened to the pitter-patter of the rain droplets hitting against her shelter. The girl turned her face upward and watched as the ominous clouds hovered across the city creating a gloomy atmosphere in her already deserted surroundings.

~ Flashback ~

Her eyes opened slowly, and she pushed her hands against the soft, white bed to help her sit up. A nurse nearby rushed over, "Oh, you're finally awake! Don't try to move yet. Just rest for now." She sank back down into the large, fluffy pillows, and the nurse pulled the sheets up to her chin and smoothed them down in a motherly gesture.

In a soft voice, she asked, "Where am I?… Who am I?"

The nurse gasped loudly, "Oh, no! Doctor! Doctor Tofu! The patient has amnesia!" she called out.

A tall, young-looking man walked in. He had a kind face and slightly messy brownish-black hair. He had large, round glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, and around his neck hung a thin, chain necklace with a small, plastic pendant. The pendant was orange and had a design of a group of mice surrounded by several eagles in a protective manner, strangely enough. Small letters were engraved in gold on the bottom, but she couldn't make out what it said; he was too far away. The doctor lifted his clipboard, "Higurashi, Kagome, age 18. Do you remember anything before you awoke?"

She shook her head regretfully, "Kagome… is that really my name?" She asked softly. It sounded vaguely familiar but didn't really ring any bells. She racked her brain for something, anything at all, but to no avail. All she could think of was the white all around her in the hospital room.

The doctor absentmindedly nodded his head as he jotted something down on his clipboard. Slowly he lowered his board and looked her straight in the eye with a seriousness that frightened her. She dreaded to hear what he would have to say. "I really hate to have to be the one to tell you this, but you were in a fire accident. Someone had set fire to your house and unfortunately your mother, grandfather, and brother perished in the flames. I'm very sorry. It's actually quite miraculous that you lived. A beam came down on you and knocked you a bit on the head and it was out on the porch, quite high up. It's as if something softened the blow, and the fact that you were able to stay so long in the smoke…" he trailed off, looking thoughtful.

Kagome wasn't listening. Her face was frozen in horror. The nurse looked at her sympathetically and then shot the doctor a glare who was off in Lala-land with his scientific ponderings on her survival. So even though she couldn't remember anything, she was alone. There wouldn't be anyone to help her. She would have to manage on her own. That sounded so scary. She felt as if she were shrinking. How was she going to survive? She had no money, no home, and no family. She was homeless and an orphan. She was all alone.

But wait! The doctor had said her mother, grandfather, and brother died, but he had said nothing about a father. She lit up again, "Uh, doctor?"

The doctor looked up and said softly, "What is it, sweet heart?"

"You said that my family died in the fire, but what about my father? Is it possible he was out or something…?"

The doctor shook his head sadly, "I'm sorry, Kagome, but your father passed away years ago. The only family relation you had was in that house."

Kagome stared in disbelief. Her last shred of hope had been shattered. This couldn't be happening! Now, she really was all alone. And for the first time since she woke up. She let silent tears course down her face. The doctor leaned over and produced a tissue out of nowhere to wipe away her tears, kindly. Only then was she able to read what was on the pendant. In small, capitalized letters under the cluster of eagles, it read, 'The Organization'.

~ End Flashback ~

After she had heard of her family's death, Kagome had fled from the hospital. She ran away from her problems and her fears and she ran until she couldn't run anymore. She didn't want to remember anymore. She wanted to escape from all of this. The memories would only bring more pain. She felt tears sting at her eyes and gave in. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she sobbed. She cried and she cried and she cried, letting all her emotions run free, expressing all of her sorrow. And perhaps it was because of those soulful tears that led the demon to her deserted alleyway.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" A nasty voice slurred. Kagome looked up in fear at a drunken-looking man leaning against a dumpster. He wore a large dirty coat and had scraggly shoulder length hair. He leered at her and stepped closer.

When the man reached Kagome's cardboard box, he grabbed her by the front of her shirt and lifted her up to his eyes. "You're a pretty, little thing, ya know that? You shouldn't cry so much, it ruins your looks." Kagome felt the man's foul breath cover her face as he breathed and she fought the urge to wrinkle her nose in disgust. The strong scent of alcohol overwhelmed her senses and she felt faint. Then, before her very own eyes, the man began to change. His skin turned green and scaly and his blue eyes darkened to a menacing crimson. He lifted his webbed hand and stroked her cheek roughly. It felt clammy and sticky, dabs of thick liquid sticking to her skin.

This time, Kagome couldn't hold back a grimace. "Don't touch me!!" she shouted. Her hand came up to the creature's face. A blinding pink light exploded out of her hand. Her eyes flew shut to the intense light, and when she slowly inched them open, the fishy man had disappeared and instead lay a pile of smoldering ashes.

She gaped in utter shock. Had she done that? "What am I?" She whispered almost inaudibly to even her own ears, as she watched the faint, pink glow fade away from her hand, "WHAT AM I?!"

"A priestess," a low voice whispered.

Kagome whipped her head in the direction of the voice. There stood a disturbingly handsome young man with a long silvery-white mane. His dark amber eyes pierced into her, his thick black eyebrows furrowed in a deep scowl, and cute dog ears that rested atop his head twitched in every direction.

"And because you are a priestess," his voice raised, "I won't allow you to live!" He was suddenly standing before her and his clawed hand gripped her throat. Kagome's hands flew up and scratched at his arm desperately as she struggled for breath. The pink glow returned and burned the man's arm where Kagome's hands were. He gave a small yelp that sounded suspiciously like that of a dog and released her.

Kagome slumped on the ground as she panted, watching the man. "Who are you?" She asked hoarsely, as her vision blurred. That pink stuff must have taken a lot out of her because she felt strangely weak and sleepy. Her eyelids drooped heavily. The last thing she heard before merciful darkness encompassed her was the young man's short reply, "Inuyasha."

~*~*~*~*~

Inuyasha watched as the raven-haired girl slept on his bed. Her black locks were spread almost intricately around her body. Her peacefully sleeping face looked so different from the miserable girl he had seen shivering in the cardboard box. Her clothes were dirt-smudged and stained with filth, but nevertheless, she looked like a beautiful angel in a deep sleep.

Why had he saved her? he asked himself. Maybe it was because she looked disturbingly alike to his old love. But he shook that thought away, he didn't want to be reminded of the betrayal in his past. Back to the present problem. He knew that the girl was a priestess so why hadn't he killed her? She deserved to die! But the moment that thought passed through his mind, he knew it wasn't true. She didn't have a choice on the matter, and even though he didn't give a shit that she didn't have a choice, something held him back. It was the sorrow and lonely look in her eyes as he watched crying in the dark. It reminded him of himself, and of the loneliness he himself had experienced. But still, the betrayal of his past had hurt him deeply and he doubted it would ever go away. He had a lasting grudge against priestesses.

Kagome woke in an extremely comfortable and warm bed. The first thing she saw when she woke, was gold. At first she thought she was looking at the sun, but she didn't even feel a single breeze like that of the outdoors. When her eyes focused, she realized she was staring into the depths of two beautiful amber eyes, filled with intricate emotions. Wait… amber? She choked back a scream. The young man who had tried to kill her had amber eyes and she was looking into those very eyes right now. The urge to scream returned.

The young man leaned back into his chair, "Feh. It's about time you woke up."

Kagome blinked, not sure what to expect. The man who had tried to kill her… saved her? "Where am I?"

"My house," he replied curtly.

"How long have I been out?"

"Five hours."

"Why did you save me?"

Inuyasha looked at her out of the corner of his eye, "You ask a lot of questions, you know that?"

Kagome bit her tongue. There were so many things she wanted to ask, but she felt it best to restrain herself. She fell silent and stared at her hands. After a while, Kagome pulled back the fancy silk sheets and stood up, "Thank you for your hospitality… er…(what was his name again? Oh, yeah) Mr. Inuyasha, but I don't want to impose, so I'll be leaving now."

"And where will you go?" He asked quietly.

Kagome didn't answer. She knew he was right. Again, she was reminded that she was homeless and alone. Completely and utterly alone. Her hands fisted tightly at her sides as she struggled to keep back the onslaught of tears, but Inuyasha's sensitive senses picked up the strained sobs and the salty smell of her unshed tears.

"You can stay here," he said so softly that she almost didn't hear it.

She turned around slowly, and suddenly, out of pure joy, wrapped her arms around his neck in a grateful hug, "Oh, thank you! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" Kagome's eyes widened when she realized what she was doing and she jumped back quickly. A blush stained her cheeks and she averted her eyes. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! She screamed at herself. He's a killer! He tried to kill you! But for some reason, she couldn't stay afraid of him. Maybe it was because he offered her a home out to her of pure pity or maybe it was because a light red also covered his cheeks, two things that were totally the opposite of his first fearsome impression.

She gave him a heart-warming smile in thanks, "My name is Kagome Higurashi, by the way."

~*~*~*~*~

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? He screamed at himself. You took in a girl from the streets! A priestess no less! But for some reason, he couldn't stay angry. Maybe it was because of her perky attitude that suddenly came out of the blue or maybe it was because of her comforting smile that seemed to light up the room, two things that were totally the opposite of her mournful first impression.

He remembered when she took him completely by surprise and hugged him. He felt such strong waves of warmth and joy radiating from her small body. It had been so long since he had been show such emotional warmth from anyone. He looked up and watched in amusement as the girl went around her new room 'oo'ing and 'ah'ing at the fancy trinkets and drapes.

Satisfied with her exploration, she sat down on the bed with a soft sigh. Her eyes a caught movement above the man's head and watched as his ears swiveled in different directions, every once in a while.

"But how can that be?" She whispered to herself quietly.

"How can what be?" Inuyasha asked, making her jump in surprise.

"Y-you heard me?" She asked in disbelief.

"What do you think my dog ears are for?" He asked arrogantly.

"But why do you have them?"

"Because I'm half demon."

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Review! Please! If things aren't clear right now, they'll be explained the next chapter. Well not fully explained or else that would ruin the surprise now wouldn't it? Anyway… REVIEW!