Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha...

AN: This is my very first fanfic, so please review and tell me what you think!

Disowned

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'Get out. You're not worth our money.'

The harsh command still rung fresh in her mind.

Wandering almost drunkenly in the town streets, Kagome was very much aware of the many disapproving stares she was earning from walking passerby. She clenched her fists to maintain her anger from exploding.

It was enough that her parents had been killed by Naraku years ago, and that she had been thrown out of her foster home because a slight famine had come across, but the looks these people were giving her! It was like she was some indecent speck of dirt polluting the air around her just by breathing.

Kagome snorted with bitter laughter to herself. These strangers would never understand what levels of hell she had been through.

After walking for quite a while, Kagome had to stop and icily ask herself, 'Now what?' She forced the full truth on herself. She had no family, no friends... and now, no home... She was only a penniless seventeen year old! Sighing, Kagome knew the only answer was getting a job.

'Hmmm... Let's see... A seventeen year old girl with no family, no career experience, looking as if she just got off the streets...' Kagome had to sigh. 'Wouldn't everyone just love to hire me!' she thought sarcastically. 'Well it's not my fault...'

"But I do have to get a job soon..." Kagome unconsciously muttered out loud, thinking. "Or else I'll really be on the streets..." A girl who was picking out some vegetables in front of a nearby store looked up; she'd obviously heard Kagome's mutterings.

"You need a job?"

Kagome whirled around. A hand over her heart, she thought, 'Oh great, now I'm getting paranoid. Well, luck really hasn't been smiling down on me.'

Kagome glanced at the speaker. It was a girl about her age, with long dark hair that was casually set back in a ponytail. She had dark brown eyes, and was dressed plainly in a white tee shirt and denim jeans.

"Yes," Kagome replied uncertainly to the girl's earlier question. She did not know that she had spoken out loud about her need of a job, and therefore it creeped her out as she had no idea how this strange girl knew about it.

"Well," the girl said brightly, "there's a job opening at the palace. Oh, and by the way, I'm Sango, Lady Ayame's maid."

"Kagome," Kagome introduced herself. Then, "At the p-palace?"

Sango nodded. "Prince Inuyasha is hiring a personal maid."

"Prince Inuyasha?" Kagome exclaimed disbelievingly. 'Well, the girl did say she was Lady Ayame's maid... And Lady Ayame is Inuyasha's mother...'

"Yup," Sango answered, smiling at Kagome's reaction. "There's a huge line of girls outside of the sitting room in the palace. It was so stuffy in the halls. I just had to get out." Sango shook her head, wrinkling her nose disapprovingly. "So I decided to get some fresh air by coming out here and meanwhile help the cook with her shopping."

Kagome could just imagine the number of girls lining up for a chance to become Inuyasha's maid. Although she had never met him before, Kagome had heard of the prince. And she had yet to hear from a female who didn't like him. 'He must be really hot,' Kagome thought. 'Maybe I should try out for this job,' Kagome smiled uncertainly. 'Although I probably wouldn't get it... I've always wanted to see this Inuyasha for myself, and just what is so great about him... Trying can't hurt, can it?'

Sango suddenly spoke up, breaking Kagome's train of thought. "Hey, er... Kagome?"

Kagome looked up surprised; obviously she had forgotten about Sango being there in the midst of her daydreaming. "Yeah?"

"Is that a 'yes' as in you'll try the job?" Sango asked.

"I guess so," Kagome replied. "There's a first time for everything, including working at a palace, I guess."

"Great!" Sango smiled. "Come on, I'll pay for these, then you can come with me to the palace!" she gestured at the carrots she was carrying.

Inuyasha looked at the crowd of girls cramming up the entire hall leading up to the sitting room. The girls noticed his attention, and flashed him suggestive smiles, or blushed furiously. Inuyasha graced them with a seductive grin of his own. But inwardly he sighed, as a couple of girls fainted to the ground.

"Quite a show, eh?"

Inuyasha turned around to find his friend looking dreamily at the line of girls, some of them blowing him kisses.

"Care to explain?" Inuyasha growled.

The man snapped out of his trance. "Eh?"

Inuyasha scowled. "Miroku, what the hell are all these girls doing here?"

"Your mother arranged for you to hire a personal maid," Miroku smirked at the prince. "So those girls would be here for that job opening."

"Feh," Inuyasha snorted. "I don't need a fucking maid."

Miroku looked taken aback. "What's not to like about having a personal maid? Personally, I wouldn't mind."

Inuyasha looked at Miroku. "That's 'cause you're a fucking pervert, houshi!"

Miroku looked hurt. "Oh, like you aren't," he muttered.

"Not half as much, anyway," Inuyasha grumbled at Miroku's triumphant look. "Tell the girls I'll be interviewing them in my room upstairs."

Miroku smirked.

"What now?" Inuyasha growled. Seeing Miroku's look, he said, "Oh for - Can you fucking think of nothing else?" Scowling, he left, giving up.

"Here we are," Sango said.

Kagome looked up at the most beautiful building she had ever laid eyes upon. Majestic white marble walls carpeted the towers and stories of the palace. Gold rimmed every window frame. And above all, there was the enchanting display of roses and orchids gracing the courtyard, marked by a water fountain carved in the likeness of a budding lotus.

"It's beautiful," Kagome breathed. It truly was.

Sango smirked at the girl, who was drooling at the sight of the palace. "Er... Kagome, we can go in, any moment now..." Kagome snapped out of her trance, noticing that she had been staring in awe at the palace for a full five minutes. Smiling childishly, Kagome scampered behind Sango to the gate.

Two armored sentries guarded the pathway, glowering at the two girls who walked up to them.

"ID," one of the guards demanded, with a surprisingly low voice. Sango tugged a plastic card out of her jean pocket and handed it to the guard exasperatingly. She knew the guard recognized her, but still wouldn't let her in without a card because of 'security purposes.'

"You can go," the guard mumbled. "Is this your guest?" he pointed rudely at Kagome.

"Yes," Sango replied. She beckoned for Kagome to follow her through the gate.

Kagome soon found herself walking in the palace courtyard alongside Sango. She could smell the freshness of the air, captured by the many flowers and trees growing in the place.

Sango brought Kagome to the halls of the palace, telling her, "I have to go give the cook her vegetables. See that line over there?" Sango pointed to the crowd of girls leading up to the stairs.

"How could I not?" Kagome sighed, suddenly weary. She had remembered how much she needed a well paying job like this one, but also how much she couldn't possibly get it.

"Okay, good. Good luck!" Sango told her. "And, try, okay? It gets really boring sometimes around here, with no one but the cook to talk to." She didn't mention Miroku. "It'd be really nice if you could get the job and stay here."

Kagome smiled in reply. At least she wasn't the only one in need of a friend. She turned around to face the line up as Sango walked away. 'Urgh... This is gonna be a loooonnngggg wait.'

"Hi, I'm Rin!" the cheery faced girl introduced. Inuyasha winced. It bothered him when people were so damn... cheery.

Inuyasha proceeded with the interview. "So, why do you want this job?" The girl looked mildly surprised at his abrupt question. 'Hell, I've never interviewed anyone before, how am I supposed to know what to ask?'

Rin blushed for a moment, for reasons oblivious to Inuyasha. "Um..."

Inuyasha sighed. It was obviously another one of those fangirls who had a crush on him...

"Never mind," he said. "You can go." The girl faltered for moment, the smile wiped off her face. Then, very slowly, she got up and left. Inuyasha growled. It wasn't his fault if she was at a loss for words. And she didn't seem to have much spirit either... didn't even need any pushing to leave.

The door opened and the next girl came in. Inuyasha graced her with a glance. The girl was tall and had long black hair. She was wearing a revealing tank top and a mini skirt. Inuyasha managed a grin. 'She's gorgeous,' he realized.

"I'm Kagura," the girl said, walking towards Inuyasha.

"Let's start the interview, then," Inuyasha replied. His eyes widened a bit as he realized the Kagura girl had closed up the distance between them and was making for his lap.

"I couldn't hear you over there," Kagura explained innocently. Inuyasha gave her a grin. Now he was getting somewhere...

"So, why do you want this job?" Inuyasha inquired, as he'd done with every other girl. He wondered suddenly if this girl would end up in a fit of blushing.

"Job?" Kagura murmured. " I came for you, honey." She placed a hand on his neck, tracing her finger down to his chest.

Kagome sighed in impatience. She had been waiting in line for about two hours now... Suddenly, she heard Inuyasha's room quiet down considerable. 'Is he done with that girl, then? Is it my turn?' she wondered. She could have no idea. All the girls so far had walked into Inuyasha's room and left it through a different door, possibly through the bathroom. The hall had been so crowded that it wasn't possible for the girls to come back out through the same door.

'Guess it's my turn, then,' thought Kagome. Inuyasha's room was really quiet now. Kagome opened the door, and introduced herself. "I'm Higurashi Kagome," she said politely. Immediately her face flushed as she saw the scene before her.

The white haired man she supposed was Inuyasha, was sitting down on the couch, a girl on top of him, and they were making out.

"I'm sorry!" Kagome shouted, and turned to leave.

"WAIT!" came Inuyasha's loud roar. He had unattached himself from Kagura, and was glaring at the newcomer. How dare she come into his room while he was busy! He could feel his face heating up in embarrassment. The girl who had just come in turned around to face him.

Inuyasha gaped. The girl's pants were ripped at the ends, and she had dirt and dust smeared across her clothes and face.

"What the hell?" he muttered. 'How could this girl have been let in the palace looking like this?'

"I'm sorry," Kagome muttered again, as Inuyasha glared at her. Kagome was suddenly very well aware of her appearance. Quickly rubbing the dirt from her face, she looked again at Inuyasha, apologetically. She knew it was an offense to look at royalty with your face dirty.

Inuyasha gaped. "KIKYO?" his voice blared through the silence of the room.

Kagome was now confused. "Kikyo? I'm Kagome. Kagome Higurashi."

Inuyasha gradually relaxed. Kagome... Her name was Kagome...

Is the story okay so far? PLEASE R&R! I love you all!