Disclaimer: I do not own either Inu Yasha or it's characters; that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own Tokyo Ghoul or its characters; that right belongs to Sui Ishida

Authors Notes: This story takes place 10 years before The actual Tokyo Ghoul story begins with Ken Kankei. So yeah, things will be changed and not kept to canon, if you have a problem with that, then please back out from this story before you even begin to read. Cause introducing a character from another anime/world into this one will have serious repercussions. AND WE ALL KNOW HOW KAGOME IS!

Prompt: Penny

(There are a lot of sayings involving this small piece of metal. Though out of all the US currency, it has the least amount, it affects us in many ways, big and small.)

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As he sat there, leaning back, eyes closed, attempting to relax. The last week had been trying on him. A soft huff reached his ears, even with all the noise in the park, from both animals and people alike. It was a sound he was becoming quite used to. Cracking open his eyes, Kuzen looked down the length of his nose to see the slightly annoyed face of a young girl.

Said same young girl who a week ago, stumbled upon him after a hard fight with a team of local doves. Instead of being scared of him as he stood there, fully cloaked in his Kagune and blood. The girl had come to him, hugging his knees and crying. It was her words that had shaken him the most before she had passed out — leaving him feeling at a complete loss of what to do.

Letting a frown pull his lips downwards, he mentally wondered how the girl had found him again. Every day this week, he had left her with either the police or social services. He did not doubt that she was human. Even if he was unable to smell her, which was odd. But as he looked at the little, blue-eyed girl, who just glared up at him. Kuzen couldn't help but feel some inkling of respect for her tenacity.

"You're like a bad penny. You know that, kid."

His words a statement as he watched her roll her eyes at him. Just before climbing up onto the bench and sitting next to him. Wondering what she was up to, on top of how she was able to find him this time since he moved two wards over from where he left her that morning.

"No, not a penny gramps. It's Kagome, Kagome Higurashi."

Turning his head ever so slightly to look at the curly raven locks as she spoke. Kuzen gave a soft snort. At least now he had a name for her. That could help the next time he left her with the appropriate authorities. While she was interesting, he knew he had no business having a small child, let alone a human one, around him. Being a ghoul, one that was hunted by the CCG, an organization his deceased wife used to belong to. The girl would be killed.

"You're wrong by the way gramps."

Her words drew him from his thoughts. And Kuzen decided to remain silent, to see if she would elaborate. As Kagome lifted her head, her dark blue eyes meeting his gaze, allowing him to see the wisdom in their depths that no child should have.

"Taking me back to the authorities won't work. I'll just leave and find you again. Instead, you should have just asked me to my home, Gramps. Or rather, my family."

The smile on her face told him she was patient with him, while openly mocking him. But as the words finally sank in, he couldn't help the chuckle that rushed from his gut and out his mouth. Giving a shake of his head, Kuzen knew he had been had. And by a four or five-year-old.

"Okay then, Kagome. Which ward is your home located in, so I can take you there."

The smile that lit up her chubby little face made him feel a bit at ease, somehow — staying silent as he watched her stand up and jump down from the bench. Only to spin in her dirty and torn dress, to look up at him. Knowing he had no choice from the gleam in her eye, now that he asked. Kuzen wondered if his child would have been like her as he stood up and took one of her hands in his own.

"This is the 20th ward gramps. We've got some ground to cover. My family's land is in the 1st ward."

Glancing down at her, step faltering for but a second. Kuzen couldn't help but be curious at how she was so far from home without her parents and still alive. More so since wards, one through four was the most violent, due to the ghouls and ghoul gangs that lived there. Even he tried to do his best to skirt those areas. Yet the way she spoke, he did not doubt that she was telling him the truth.

"Kagome, how did you end up in the 10th ward?"

When she did not answer immediately, he glanced down — seeing her lips pursed in a thin line — slowing his pace until he was able to tug her to a stop. He waited until she looked up at him. Those blue eyes had darkened to a blue-black sapphire color.

"A Series of Unfortunate Events, Gramps. Can we please continue to my home now?"

Her words were precise, blunt, and telling him she'd not speak more on that topic. Something told him that she was far from an average child. The fact that she was well-spoken and could track very well (Which he needed to find out how) while seeming to have the worldwise outlook on life.

So, as he continued to walk beside Kagome, as she more or less led him in the direction of the 1st ward. Her idle chatter as she told him various things while giving the appearance of a grandfather and grandchildren out for a stroll ( at least to the humans around them) and earning comments about how cute they looked.

It was not until they had passed through the 6th ward, Kuzen had picked up that they were being followed. By Ghouls no less. Even amongst their kind, it was taboo to eat children. Though some still did it as some cannibalized their kind. Feeling a bit agitated, Kuzen began to weigh options of how to handle the growing situation. Only to take a sharp breath as Kagome spoke.

"They won't bother us. I believe they are just curious Gramps."

Unsure as to what she means, Kuzen squeezed her hand, getting her to look up at him. A smile on her face as she winked at him before starting to skip, of all things. Her body language was showing no hint of fear at the situation.

Another hour slipped by, Kuzen felt the ghouls following them stop. But he chalked it up to the fact that they now stood with a human child on the boundary to the 1st ward. Glancing back over his shoulder, noting he could only see nothing or no one, but his senses told him no was anywhere near them as well.

"My home is only two miles in. It sits on the highest point in the 1st ward, Gramps."

His mind quickly raced, trying to recall if he had seen a place like that in the 1st ward on one of his jaunts or missions in his youth. Nothing came to mind as he took a few steps to catch up to the girl, who had, at some point, let go of his hand and continued walking forwards. The moment he snagged her hand. All five of his senses went on high alert at the bloodthirst he felt around them.

"Kagome, do not leave my side."

The throaty, amused laugh at his words had Kuzen feeling anger. He was being serious, wanting to keep Kagome safe so that she could get home. Only to have an odd tingling sensation pricked up his arm, causing the flesh of his arm to bump. Drawing a low growl from him he looked down at the girl.

Pausing and blinking his eyes rapidly to make sure he was seeing what he thought he was seeing. When it didn't disappear, Kuzen felt his jaw go a bit slack. There was a pale, pale lilac-colored hue encompassing her body. And the more he looked at her, or rather the lilac aura, since that was the best he could describe it, the more he felt his skin was trying to crawl off his body.

A sudden movement caught out of the corner of an eye had Kuzen jerking Kagome to him as he released his Kagune. He was spearing the ghoul who had just jumped on them. Intent on harm from the amount of bloodlust rolling off of them as their black and red eyes glowed. Watching as he snarled, trying to claw at Kagome. Who hadn't moved, her little body trembling as Kuzen held her?

"Stupid... hehehe.. bad move clown goons."

Kuzen saw the ghoul's eyes go wide as he was sure his own was at her words, as she started to laugh. Glancing down at Kagome, Kuzen saw her upturned head, that same lilac color now flooding her blue eyes as she reached out. It was like watching the gory part of a horror movie. Unable to look away as she touched the now panicking and struggling ghoul, impaled on his Kagune. The lilac color was flaring brightly down her arm and hand. Only to witness the ghoul turn to ash before his eyes.

"We need to run. Around the corner, you'll see a set of steps. That's our destination, Gramps."

Snapping out of his trance-like state, Kuzen looked at the little girl he held close to him for protection and now knowing why his instincts had gone crazy. It wasn't because of the 1st wards ghouls, but because of Kagome, herself. Wanting answers as the sound of movement filtered in as time seemed to pick up its pace. He was picking up Kagome, making a fast beeline around the corner, seeing at the other end of the open street, a set of stairs leading up to a set of tall red torii gates.

"You will answer all of my questions, child."

"Okay, Gramps."

He was putting on a burst of speed as he got an instant reply from the girl, not expecting it. Kuzen released more of his Kagune, deflecting the oncoming attacks of the ghouls. Understanding why they wanted her dead. As well as himself, since he was protecting a predator, albeit a small and very deadly one. The second his feet touched the first step, Kuzen heard loud thudding and cursing. Stopping at the halfway point up the staircase, his ears ringing with the beating of his heart, Kuzen looked back down the steps. Ghouls that had been chasing them now were milling three feet from the first step. A few trying to press through something he couldn't see. Looking down at Kagome, he saw sweat beading on her face as she labored to breathe, as she fought to stay awake.

"Hey, you're gonna be alright?"

When she lifted her head, showing him her eyes, that once more was a crystalline blue as she mumbled, yes and yawned. With a sigh, Kuzen made it the rest of the way up the stairs. He was getting a good look at the place. There was a two-story house next to the largest tree he had ever seen, which was roped off. To the immediate left of his position was what appeared to be a slightly run-down well house, again roped off. The cobbled pathway led to a small Shinto shrine. Pieces clicking into place, Kuzen looked down at Kagome. Who was smiling impishly at him? Only to start squirming to be put down.

Letting her down, Kuzen watched as she wobbled to the shrine, to kneel and pray. Watching left him feeling uncomfortable, so he decided to explore a bit more. The place wasn't big, so he covered it all quickly. He was found behind the house three graves that couldn't be more than a year old — leaving him with even more questions to be answered.

Making his way back to the front of the shrine, Kuzen stopped at what he heard. Kagome was asking the Gods to watch over the departed ghoul's soul. Striking him as out of place, but still, it made him happy. Having lost his human wife and daughter. Kagome's words caused him to feel something akin to hope. Waiting for her to finish, Kuzen knelt beside her, deciding to pray anything that could make things easier in the near future.

A chill wind blew through the now darkened skies. Causing both of them to shiver, as Kagome stood up, drawing Kuzen to look at her. Seeing streaks from tears shining on her pale cheeks and frowning as he too stood up, drawing her wide eyes to look at him as she put a smile back on her face as if nothing was wrong.

"I take it your wanting answers to the many questions you have now, huh gramps."

Her words more statement than a question. Once more showing a maturity that didn't belong to a child of her age. Giving a slow nod of his head, Kuzen got a soft sigh from her as she motioned him to follow. Slowly they made their way to the house. The silence between them as he watched her turn on the lights and put water to boil on the stovetop. As soon as Kagome was finished with that, Kuzen noted she looked a bit lost for a second.

"Are you ready? Tea or Coffee? Can you even eat human food?"

Her rapid questions were asked in a soft voice. Each very to the point and thought out.

"Coffee. And no, human food will make me ill."

A single nod was all he got from her as he watched her pull out a very old-fashioned coffee grinder and a bag of beans before putting them on the table, pointedly looking at him, then to the grinder. Only to watch her go to a cabinet and pull out a cup of ramen noodles. Taking the cue, Kuzen sat down, filled the grinder with beans.

"I saw the graves. Let's start there, Kagome. With your family and what happened to them."

As he cranked the grinder, Kagome met his gaze, showing the pain and loneliness she hid in the blue depths.

"My name is Kagome Higurashi. This shrine is my home; it's called the Sunset Shrine. The graves are those of my g-chan, dad, mom, and unborn brother. They died last year just after my fifth birthday."

When she stopped speaking, Kuzen just looked at her. Seeing how far she had mentally and emotionally separated herself from it all — causing unrest to build in him as he questioned why the CCG had not taken her to be trained at their academy. Then again, in the 1st ward, even they didn't venture here much.

"Okay, what happened, Kagome."

The brief pause before she seemed to center herself and spoke again. "We had gone shopping. A fight had broken out between two powerful ghouls. One a gang member, and I am sure their leader, while the other was not one I could recall ever really seeing around here before. He had white hair and a quiet demeanor. We got caught up in it by accident. My father and G-chan did their best to protect us with what I used earlier. But in the end, my father was barely able to save even me. Watching them die, my ability awoke in a violent torrent. Killing quite a few of the ghouls in the gang. The two powerful ones had left already, their fight taking them somewhere else." The cold bluntness of her spoken words had him sitting still. The kettle decided it had heated enough to whistle. Tracking her with his eyes as he finished grinding the beans. Kuzen watched as she used a potholder to put the kettle on a tray, that soon had two cups on it — carrying it precariously to the table, where she sat it down, between them. Before seating herself, opening her cup of ramen and pouring the water into it, as well as her cup, which had a small tea bag in it.

"From there Gramps, it is a haze. But when I came out of it, I created graves for them. I called my mom's sister in the 16th ward. She has been managing the finances and keeping this place going, occasionally checking in with me one Sunday a month. I didn't want to leave my home. She, like my dad and G-chan, and I can use our gifts. Though hers only allows her to sense Ghouls."

When she stopped speaking, Kuzen lifted the little filter that the coffee beans had been ground into, placing it over his cup, before taking the kettle and pouring in a slow circle over them to brew his coffee. Noting a small smile on Kagome's face as she watched him as if a memory that was pleasing was being relieved. When she stayed silent, he spoke again.

"What is that... The gift called?"

A dark chuckle from her made him pause and stare hard at her. That sound shouldn't be coming from one so young. "Reiki. The ability to purify and or kill. Though dad told me that ghouls were not monsters. Just a human who had... become de-evolved people due to genetic markers. And that just because of that, their lives and souls were not any less important than my own."

Shock coursed through him at what she said. He had talked with his wife about the possibilities of ghouls and humans coexisting. That there might be people out there who had the same idea. Or at least he believed it. Until she had betrayed him, but now this little girl was telling him her story and giving him hope once more. Though he could say that her gift, the reiki as called it, was a huge problem.

"That's nice to hear, Kagome. So, that's why you prayed for the ghoul's soul whom you turned to dust."

"Yes, Gramps. I am a firm believer in all beings being equal. Even though I am only six years old."

He felt his face warm as he smiled.

"Why do you call me Gramps? I am not related to you. Are you saying I am old?"

The light-hearted and happy sounding laugh from Kagome drew on from him as well. This girl was a complete puzzle. One, he was growing more and more intrigued by it.

"Nah. You may be old, but you are younger than my G-chan was. And it was an easy way to make others believe why you had a child with you and not question it."

Half choking on the coffee, he had started to drink, at Kagome's words. Kuzen cleared his throat a few times, locking in amazement at her. While she just stared back at him. Aware of what she said. She was getting the desired effect out of him.

"So why have you attached yourself to me? Why not go live with your mom's relatives."

The brief pause she gave before answering. "Because something tells me on a more basic instinct level that my place is here and with you in the future. Besides, you are amusing. And I can relate to the loss and pain. Also, you called me a penny earlier. Don't make me into a bad penny; I prefer to be a Lucky one if allowed."

Again her words made him stop and laugh. The seriousness, weight, and unspoken meaning of her words clear. He knew he would not be getting it out of her anytime soon. He was shaking his head at it all, wondering just how things can change before he realized it.

"Then, you will be coming with me to my home, Kagome?"

The sunny smile on her face told him her answer. Making him wonder further how Koma, Irimi, and Yomo would feel about her being there. On top of her being a human child. No matter their reactions, things would be getting very interesting and quickly.

TBC!