Chapter 1
I wake up in the morning to the sound of dad pounding on my door. "Get your ass out here!" He yells through my door. I look at my clock. It's 7:30! My alarm didn't go off. Now I'm half a hour late. School starts in half a hour and I don't have Shiori up or breakfast on the table. I'm so dead.
I walk out the door and see my dad fuming. He grabs my ear. I whimper and curl in on myself. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" He yells. "Yes, sir. It seven thirty. I'm sorry I over slept. Let me wake up Shiori and I'll start breakfast. I'm sorry," I plead with him. His grip tightens before he throws me to the ground, "Hop to it, boy!"
I run into Shiori's room and she's still fast asleep. I walk to her bed and shake her shoulders gently, "Come on, Shiori. Wake up." She rises from her bed and hugs me. "Mornin', Shay. What happened to your ear? It's all droopy," she asks. "It's nothing. I just bumped my head. Come on it's seven thirty. I over slept. Can you get ready without me? I'll do your hair while your eating," I say. She nods and I give her a hug before leaving to start making breakfast.
I make some bacon and eggs for Shiori and dad. I put their food on the table and wash the pans quickly. Dad takes his seat at the head of the table and Shiori sits to his right. I put her hair up into pig tails quickly but neatly. She smiles up at me.
I leave the room and quickly throw on my school uniform and run my fingers through my hair. I brush my teeth quickly then walk out of the bathroom. I grab my book bag and walk to the front door and see Shiori waiting with her book bag on her back. "You ready, kiddo?" I ask. She nods and yells, "Bye, daddy," as we walk out the door.
We make it to her school in three minutes. She gives me a hug and kiss, "Bye. Love ya, Shay." "Love you to, squirt." I reply with a smile. She walks off into her building.
I run to my school building and make it there just as the first bell rings. I already have my books in my bag so I rush to the classroom. I walk in and Mrs. Shoji glares at me. "You're late, Inuyasha. That's going to be a detention," she says. I nod and take my seat in the back of the class. As I walk to my seat the class snickers at me and some people throw spit balls at my head. One person kicks my leg as I walk past him. I just keep my head down and take my seat.
As class goes on I pick the spitballs out of my hair and wait for the bell to ring. I pay attention as Mrs. Shoji teaches. I hand in my homework. At the end of class the bell rings and I pack up my books as fast as I can. I speed walk out the door and go straight to my locker.
When I get to my locker I shove my books in it and grab the books I'll need for the rest of the day. I sigh and my locker door slams shut. I jump. "Aw I think I scared the little half-breed," says Kouga. The rest of his gang laugh behind him. "I don't want any trouble, Kouga. I just want to get to class," I say quietly hoping he'll just let me go. I never make eye contact with him or any of the other bullies. It only make them madder. "What are you gonna do about it, mutt?" He asks while getting in my face. I just cower a few inches away from his face and whimper quietly. "That's what I thought," he says proudly.
"Kouga!" Yells a girl's voice. "Kagome. What's up?" He asks casually. "What are you doing?" She retorts while putting her hands on her hips. I snicker a little. "What was that, mutt?" He yells. "Kouga! Stop it! Just leave him alone," she pleads with him. "Fine," he growls and turns and leaves.
"Thank you, Kagome. You didn't have to help me. I would've been fine, but thank you," I thank her politely. "There's no need for all the thanks. I was just stopping a bully from bullying. Haha I just said bully a lot didn't I?" She giggles. I chuckle a little. "Well, it was nice meeting you-. I don't know your name," she says. "Inuyasha. Inuyasha Takahashi," I reply. "It was a pleasure, Inuyasha Takahashi. I'm Kagome. Kagome Higurashi. Well, I'll see you at lunch, Inuyasha," she says and skips off to class.
The rest of the day is uneventful untill lunch time. I walk into the lunch room with my paper bag and walk to a table to sit alone and eat. Within five minutes of lunch Kagome and a couple of her friends are sitting at the table with me. "Hey, Inuyasha," Kagome greets cheerily. "These are my best friends. This is Sango and Miroku. Sango, Miroku, this is Inuayasha," she introduces us all. "Hi, Inuyasha. I'm Sango. It's nice to meet you," she greets with a big smile. "I'm Miroku. Are you new or something? I don't think we've ever met," he asks. "No. I've been here since freshman year," I reply calmly. "Well it's nice to finally meet you," Miroku says happily.
"Why were you sitting all alone? Where are your friends?" Kagome asks. "I don't really have any friends. Who would be crazy enough to be friends with a half demon?" I reply. Sango and Miroku share looks of confusion and concern. "Don't you ever say that again! You should never talk down on yourself! That's just wrong!" Kagome exclaims. "It's hard to not think it when you've been told that your entire life," I reply. She gasps then just sits down. "Well, I want to be your friend. So I guess you can call me crazy," she replies stubbornly.
The rest of lunch is sat with us eating and Kagome, Sango, and Miroku talking. I say something every now and then but not a lot.
After school I report to Mrs. Shoji's classroom for detention. "There you are! My room needs to be cleaned. Hop to it, mutt," she orders. This is what I do for detention. Everyone sits in the classroom and does homework, but I have to scrub desks and clean chalkboards. That's what I get for being a half demon.
After detention I run to Shiori's school building. I make it to the front gate just as the kids are dismissing. Shiori runs out of the doors and attacks me with a hug. "Hey, Shay. How was your day?" She asks happily. "It was good. How was your day, squirt?" I ask her as I return the hug. "We had s much fun. We played baseball in gym class and I hit a home run or something like that!" She exclaims with a silly grin. "Great job!" I reply and give her a high five. She smiles proudly as we walk home.
We are about half way home when I feel someone shove me from behind. I stumble to the ground but catch myself before smacking my face on the cement. "Hey, mutt. We have some unfinished business. Kagome interrupted us in the hall," yells Kouga from behind me. Just keep your head down and take it. He'll leave sooner if you do. I always tell myself that to avoid being beat worse.
"Hey! Stop picking on him! He didn't do anything to you! Just leave us alone you big jerks!" Yells Shiori. I hear Kouga and his gang start laughing, "That's rich. You really have a little girl fighting your battles, half-breed? You are more pathetic than I thought." I stand up and get in front of Shiori. "Shiori, go home," I tell her. "Shay, I can't jus-" "Go home, Shiori! Now!" I cut her off. She nods and runs in the direction of the house with tears in her eyes.
When I turn back to face Kouga, I am met with a fist to my face. I am knocked to the ground by the force of the punch. When I look back up Kouga's goons are surrounding me. They are stomping on my body in various places. Kouga grabs my ear and squeezes it hard. I let out a whimper and my other ear goes flat to my head. Kouga just laughs before whispering in my ear, "Kagome doesn't like you, mutt. Remember that. She takes on charity cases. That's all you are to her. You are her latest project that she will dump back to the dirt where you belong when she's done with you. Don't get any ideas about her actually thinking you're a real human being with a purpose in life."
I take the rest of the beating, and after about ten or fifteen minutes they get bored if me. When they all leave I get up and start to walk to my house. I make it to the walkway to my front door when Shiori comes out and helps me walk inside. I collapse in one of the kitchen chairs. My school uniform is all bloody and I have lumps and bruises all over. I am just a huge walking injury. "How can I help, Shay?" Shiori asks. I shake my head, "I'll be fine. Can u just get me some ice?" The oce is in my hand within ten seconds.
After I have enough strength to walk I got to my room and change into some clean clothes. I begin to bleach the blood stains in my uniform and then throw it all in the washer machine. I go back into the kitchen and see Shiori doing her homework. I look at the clock and see its already four o'clock. Dad will be home in half a hour. I sit next to Shiori and start my homework.
By the time dad gets home at four thirty, I am already done my homework and have my clothes in the dryer. Shiori is in her room coloring or something. Some of my bumps and bruises are healed and all of my cuts have stopped bleeding.
"Hi, dad," I whisper in a greeting. He looks at me in disgust then goes to sit on the couch and watch tv. I bring him a beer from the fridge. He snatches it from my hand, pops it open, and takes a long sip.
"Did you finish your homework?"
"Yes, sir."
"Did you pick up Shiori on time?"
"Yes, sir."
"Is Shiori done her homework?"
"Yes, sir."
"Did you get in any trouble at school today?"
"Yes, sir. I was late for my first class and served detention."
Dad stands up and slaps me across my face hard. I wince at the pain but take it quietly. "I thought we talked about this, boy. No more lates, demerits, detentions, suspensions, no nothing. What happened to no more trouble? I disappointed!" He yells. I now my head. "I'm sorry. I promise it won't happen again. Please. I am really, really sorry," I plead. I've already had one beating today. I don't want another one.
"Go start dinner! Make hamburger mac & cheese. You know how I like it. Go!" He commands. I nod, "Thank you." I run to the kitchen and start making dinner.
Dinner passes by silently with dad eating and drinking his beer contently. Shiori eats silently with a little smile on her face. I push the food around on my plate and take a bite occasionally. Dad only had me make this becaus he knows I hate it, but if I don't eat now then I won't eat until probably lunch tomorrow.
After dinner I bring Shiori to her room and tuck her in. "Good night, squirt. Sweet dreams," I whisper to her before placing a kiss on her head. "Night, Shay. Love ya," she replies half asleep. She kisses my cheek and falls asleep under the blankets.
I get to my room and just lay there for a while. I think about al that happened today. I was saved from Kouga by Kagome and made three new friends. I think. That's more friends then I've made my entire life. I hope they don't get disgusted in my half-breed nature.