Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters in this story…nor do I own this story idea.


October 31, 1993

"You better come back here you good for nothing brat!"

I covered my ears with my palms. That was my stepfather calling me. His voice sounds murderous and I didn't want to face him today. He had slapped and hit me too much already. I'm afraid I can't take it anymore so I hid in my closet. I peeked through the crack in my closet and saw my step dad with a really pissed off look on his face. He was holding that stick that I'm always afraid of. I winced, thinking about how much it would hurt if he hits me with it again.

I'm just fifteen. Everyone says 13 is an unlucky number. They were wrong. Fifteen is an unlucky number. My dad had died when I was just turning ten. Before he died he told me that I was the most beautiful girl in the world and how proud he was to be my father. He said even though he'll be gone, his love is with me always.

Tears rolled down my cheeks. 'If you love me daddy, how can you be so selfish to leave me?' So now when I had turn 13 my mom had married Akito, who is my step dad today. He was a cold-hearted man who tortured me all day. Any self-esteem I had for myself was shattered and I was living a nightmare.

My closet door suddenly opened. "There you are you wicked girl!" My step dad started cussing at me as he pulled me out and threw me onto the floor. I began to tremble because I knew what was going to happen next.

Whack whack whack.

I cried out in pain but I knew that no one is going to hear my cries. I desperately began to gasp for air. My heart was aching again. I couldn't breathe.

"Not again! Don't you see how much you're costing your mother and me with your heart problems? If it wasn't for all these medical bills we wouldn't be so poor now!"

I had this heart condition where air would suddenly shut off and I couldn't breathe. The doctors are trying to save me by giving me a respirator and pills, but they're not sure how much longer I'll be able to live. My mom (who was very sick) came in.

She looked down at me with sorrowful eyes. She held my step dad's arm lightly and said, "I think she had enough. You don't want her to have another attack. Calm down and let's have dinner."

"That's why I'm hitting her!" he yelled. "She got detention and stayed after school for an hour. She was supposed to be home to go buy food for dinner and make it since you're sick. Your daughter is so evil. She wants me to starve or something!"

"I didn't get detention. The teacher wanted to talk to me about—"

But I was cut off by the whack of my step dad's stick. I cried silently in pain and turned away. I didn't want to look at him. My mom said, "Well, dinner's just going to be a little late today. Kagome, say sorry to your dad."

Despite the pain, I managed to say, "Sorry dad. Please forgive me."

My mom handed me some money. "Here. Go buy food to make onigiri tonight." My step dad's temper simmered down a little as my mom lead him out of my room.

I picked up the money and headed for the store. Mr. Hiroshi, the owner of the Food Market, shook his head as I walked in. He knew what kind of hell I was going through. I finished my shopping and checked out.

"That'll be 3.49."

"What?" I asked. "Umm…Mr. Hiroshi. That's impossible. With all this stuff it should be around 15."

"I know Kagome." Mr. Hiroshi gave me a sad smile. "The exact price is 14.32. Why don't you keep the change for yourself?"

I opened my mouth in shock. "Mr. Hiroshi…I...I can't do that," I said as I handed him 20.

He only took five. "No. Keep it. I know that step dad of yours don't give you any money."

I looked up at Mr. Hiroshi with tears in my eyes. Here he was, just a friend reaching out to me. I said thanks and headed for home.


Authors Note: Hmm…a longer chapter…and on the same day as the prologue…aren't you proud of me? If you are, review please!