Disclaimer- Characters from the animaes YYH, Inuyasha, RurouniKenshin, and SailorMoon may appear in this chapter but i don't own them.

2 It was just any other job…..

A small girl was sitting on the edge of the cement block that held their playground and watched Youko tend the flowers that bordered the orphanage. He noticed her watching him, "Why don't you play with the others on the playground?"

"No body will let me play with them. They don't like me."

"None of them!" he sounded surprised.

She shook her head sadly. A tear fell down her cheek as she thought about it.

"Well then, how would you like to help me?"

"Ok" the girl hopped lightly off the cement block and went to him. "My name's Ash. What do you need me to do?"

"You may call me Youko or Mr. Kurama. I'm just about finished here" he hands her a shovel. "To help, you can dig some holes over in that bare patch over there" Ash nodded her head and took the shovel over there and started to dig intently. While digging, her shovel hit something hard. "Hum?" She pulled out a pink bag with blue and yellow speckles. She opened it to find six beautiful gems. "Wow" Youko came over to see her work "Well done. Those are some nice holes." He walked off to get some flowers.

"Shadow Plant" Ash called softly.

Youko stopped " What?" He turned to see Ash holding out a green jewel, which was glowing. Youko's eyes widened.

Ash looked like she was in a trance. "I am the keeper of the legendary Shadow talismans of the lost race. You are the incarnation of the Shadow Plant warrior. That means your aura is to compliment the powers of this talisman and allow you to use its powers" Youko took the talisman and felt the of it power surge through his body.

At this time the children were being brought inside. The headmistress noticed Ash with Youko and was approaching them. "Come girl stop bothering Mr. Kurama. By the way the flowers look pretty." She took Ash's hand and started to lead her away toward the building. " Wait" Youko called "I want to adopt her if you don't mind."

The headmistress turned "You serious"

"Yes I am" Said Youko.

"Fine then. We've been looking for someone to dump her on for some time now. Her absence from this orphanage is no loss. Just come to my office to sign some papers" She turned to Ash "Go and get your thing and report to the main hall"

"Yes mam" Ash dashed off to where the girls sleep. It didn't take Ash long to gather her things. Aside from the bag, she had a few dresses, a brush and a pokeball.

An older girl approached her " Where do you think you are going?"

"Someone's finally going to take me to a new home"

"Listen to this girls, Ash here thinks she is going to be adopted." All the other girls that had gathered around Ash were laughing. When they quieted the main girl turned to Ash "I don't think so. Nice try though" She punched Ash hard, and within a few minutes all the older girls were upon Ash beating her.

A whistle blew and a whip cracked. Some of the girls leapt back in pain " What is the meaning of this!" the headmistress shouted. "You" She pointed to the girl who started it and she was still holding Ash. Ash was unconscious and badly hurt. "14 lashes! Go downstairs now!" she yelled at the girl. She turned to an assistant "Escort her please" Youko thought Man she's rough. The headmistress picked up Ash and her things which were in a small tattered book bag, and handed her to Youko. "She's your burden now."