Spiritual

The dividing lines in Samui City were clear to every citizen who lived there. There was a demon side and a human side, and nobody crossed the line. Nobody, that is, except the hanyous. They wandered where they pleased, receiving dirty looks from those on both sides and never really belonging anywhere. Inuyasha was no exception.

"Shoo, ya mongrel! We don't allow demons in here, and that includes you half-demons!" the owner of the restaurant shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Inuyasha.
"Yeah, grow it out your ear, old man!" snarled the nomadic half-dog demon in return. He turned and stomped away, stabbing the sidewalk with every step. It was the usual routine, being shunned and glowered at everywhere he went. It used to bother him, but not anymore. It was just the way things were.
Inuyasha stuck out a foot and tripped a briefcase-carrying man walking past him. The man went sprawling on the frozen sidewalk and an oatmeal-raisin cereal bar fell out of his pocket.
"Oops," said Inuyasha casually, scooping up the bar.
"You disgusting hoodlum!" raged the man. Inuyasha ignored him and strolled away with his spoils, knowing the stupid yuppie didn't have the guts to try to retake the snack bar. Stealing was often the only way Inuyasha could get food.
After walking a few blocks, Inuyasha sat down on the steps of a large, steepled building. He unwrapped the cereal bar and munched on it, flicking the raisins at passersby. A human woman walked up the steps, looking askance at the dog-eared young man. She was dressed very nicely, Inuyasha noticed. She also smelled nice, he thought, and sniffed the chilly air for several moments after she had passed to catch the last traces of scent. A few minutes later, a family of humans followed her up the steps. They were dressed well also, and one carried a leather bound book. Soon there was a regular stream of humans entering the building. Most were well dressed, but a few looked like tramps from the street. Inuyasha watched them in confusion, wondering why they were all going in there. He'd never seen them doing it before. He vacated the steps and wandered away down the sidewalk. After a little while, he stopped near an alley and looked back at the strange occurrence.
"Something wrong?" inquired a voice from the alley.
"What's it to you?" Inuyasha demanded impulsively as he whirled around to find the person who had spoken.
"You just looked curious about something, that's all," the speaker replied, undeterred by the half-demon's abrasive personality. Inuyasha didn't know why, but he relaxed a little at the sound of the voice, just enough to take in the person before him. The human was huddled under a ratty blanket in the dirty alley, and he looked thin and cold. He looked too young to be a man, but something about his eyes made him seem much older than he appeared.
"Well, it's none of your..." Inuyasha began, then decided he might as well get some answers. "Why are all those humans going into there?" He jerked his head toward the building. The alley man smiled. "They're going to church, of course."
"Church?" echoed Inuyasha.
"Yes. They go to hear about Jesus Christ and God," said the man.
"Who are they?" snorted Inuyasha "Some humans who killed off a bunch of demons?" This sounds like a crock, he thought
"'For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, Jesus Christ, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life' John 3:16" said the man. "God created the Earth and everything in it, and Jesus Christ died so that all God's people may be saved and cleansed of sin. God loves us that much."
"And who are this 'God's' people?" said Inuyasha with a sneer. "Who does He love? The most perfect humans, I suppose?"
The filthy tramp shook his head slowly and looked back up at Inuyasha with shining eyes. "No. God wants everyone."
Inuyasha didn't know how to take this, so he turned around and strode away. "Yah, whatever," he called over his shoulder.
"He wants you, too, you know!" the man called at his retreating back.

Snow fell softly from the sky as Inuyasha continued to wander the human side of the city. He considered what the alley tramp had said. He seemed to really believe what he said, Inuyasha thought, But who in their right mind would die for a bunch of stupid people? Confused thoughts spinning in his head, Inuyasha suddenly looked up to discover his steps had brought him back to the steepled building. His sensitive dog ears caught the sound of singing from inside. He stood frozen on the sidewalk, and a snowflake gently kissed his nose as he gazed at the warm light the building emitted. A shiver brought him out of his reverie, and a strange feeling such as he had never known in his life came to him. One of being wanted. Of being safe. Of being...home. He slowly walked up the steps and through the doors.

A/N: When I think of the word spiritual, I think of God, so that's how I came up with this very Christian-based fic. And really you have to wonder, if there were half-demons, what would God's attitude toward them be? On one hand, demons are more or less anti-God, but on the other, humans are God's children. I think God would accept anyone who was willing to be accepted.
I read a few other fics in the spiritual category after writing this, and they didn't seem much like my take on the genre. Any opinions on what 'spiritual' means, or should mean, would be welcome.
One other note, if anyone speaks a bit more Japanese than is usually seen on anime sites, maybe you'll know why I named the city what I did.