InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Foreign Exchange Orphan ❯ Out of the Orphanage ( Chapter 1 )

Foreign Exchange Orphan

Chapter One:

Out of the Orphanage

"OK," Mrs. Ochida said happily. "I hope you're all ready!" Everyone exchanged excited glances.

"Kagome, you're up! What country did you choose?"

"Japan," she answered. Mrs. Ochida handed her three profiles. The first one was of a boy with black hair pulled up into a ponytail and clouded blue eyes. His name was Kouga. The next one was of a small boy with red hair and big blue eyes named Shippo. The third one was-

"Oh my god!" Kagome gasped. "She looks just like me!" A girl with long black hair and brown eyes struck a striking resemblance to her. But, her favorite picture was the last one. A guy with beautiful silver white hair and bright amber eyes looked up at her, a twisted cap on his head.

By the time Kagome looked up, everyone had his or her profiles. She showed her friend Sango his picture.

"He's OK..." she muttered, but the light in her eyes told Kagome otherwise. "I like Miroku much better though!" She pointed to a picture of a guy with short black hair and purple eyes.

"I picked Japan like you, but I got some different pictures." She nodded, and then raised her hand.

"Mrs. Ochida, I've chosen this one. His name is Inuyasha..."

^_~

A man with a jet-black suit, long flowing white hair, and piercing yellow eyes stepped into the SJ orphanage. It was breakfast time. Kids were chattering and eating slop. The man walked over to a table pushed far back in one corner. Each one of the kids looked at him eagerly, hope fluttering in their eyes.

"Inuyasha..." he began. "You have been chosen to go to America for a while!" The guy he was talking to dropped his spoon.

"Sesshomaru, no joke?" he asked. He nodded.

"Yes little brother. Now go pack your stuff, and make sure you bring plenty of hats." He scratched the side of his ear and walked off.

"Why?" a little boy with red hair asked innocently.

"None of your business, Shippo!" he growled.

"But Inuyasha, you always wear hats! What's wrong?" a young woman with black hair and brown eyes asked.

"That...is a secret, Kikyo." But his voice had softened a bit. She crossed her arms over her chest and scowled.

"But we should be happy for Inuyasha!" Shippo popped in, breaking the silence.

"That albino runt, please!" came a voice. Inuyasha hopped from his seat and growled at him, clenching his hand in a fist. A guy with black hair tied into a ponytail and blue eyes sat down next to Shippo. "He doesn't deserve her!"

"WHAT?" everyone chorused. Inuyasha was having a hard time controlling himself, but he did not want to look like a total jerk in front of Kikyo...

"I caught up with Sesshomaru. He gave me this!" He showed everyone a picture of a pretty girl with black hair and big brown eyes smiling cheerily. Kikyo's mouth dropped open.

"Hey, she looks just like me!"

"Weird..." Kouga muttered. "But I think she looks much better, not so serious!" Kikyo scowled even deeper now. Inuyasha took in a shuddering breath. Kouga was so close he could just reach out...and punch his lights out.

"Well, I think she's ugly! Copying my look!" She flicked her hair in Inuyasha's face.

"How could she?" Shippo asked. "She's never seen you before!" Kikyo growled at him, then turned sweetly to Inuyasha. She put her head on his shoulder and looked up at him with begging eyes.

"Please Inuyasha! Don't go! Stay here with me!" she pleaded, poking out her lip. Inuyasha was torn. America was a new place, no more slop, no more Kouga. Then again, his girlfriend Kikyo was still at the orphanage... He bit his lip, falling into deep thought.

Suddenly, Sesshomaru came sprinting back, out of the breath.

"Inuyasha, you're supposed to be packing! And guess what, Kikyo!" She perked up, bumping Inuyasha in the chin.

"You've been summoned to America, too!"

"REALLY?" she squealed, squeezing Inuyasha's arm. "Now we'll be in America together!" He nodded.

"The guy who chose you is...Naroku." She shivered.

"What a horrible name!"

"Oh well. Now that only leaves Shippo and Kouga. Well, you'd better go pack!"

Inuyasha and Kikyo shuffled up the stairs, and went to pack. Inuyasha didn't own many possessions. A lot of hats, some clothes, all tattered and threadbare, a picture of his parents without him in it that the orphanage had given him, a card from Kikyo for Valentine's Day, a small sum of money, and a locked box that had no key nor a hole for it. It was long and narrow, and no matter what, he hadn't been able to open it.

"That's it," he sighed, looking at the bare room. There was loud knock on the door.

"Hey," Kikyo said as she slid into the room. "We were chosen by two kids who live very far away from each other! Isn't that horrible? When we go in a few days, we'll get their addresses. We can write to each other." Inuyasha nodded and smiled. Before he could say anything else, Kikyo came up to him, wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pressed her lips against his passionately. He was surprised, but kissed her back, his own arms finding their way around her waist.

When they finally broke the kiss, each gasping for air, Kikyo stared him for a long time.

"Thanks."

"Now that we kissed, you have a certain obligation, right?"

"I guess."

"Now reveal your secret and take off that hat!" Inuyasha jumped in surprise.

"That's all you kissed me for?" His heart was pounding furiously.

"No. I just got around to it. Please!"

"You...you...promise you won't hate me?" he asked nervously. She nodded.

"Why would I...I love you!"

He sucked in a shuddering breath and removed the hat.

"Oh my god!" She covered her mouth with her hand. Two white dog ears sat atop his bush of fluffy white hair.

"Please don't yell, it hurts..." Covering them with a whimper.

"INUYASHA!" she screamed. "Are you some kind of freak or something!" His jaw was wide with shock.

"Please...Kikyo..."

"I-I-I have to go pack!" She ran out of the room, yelling. He stuffed the cap back onto his head, and crumpled onto his bed. Kikyo had just declared that she loved him, and he loved her. The weird thing was, he still did, even though she called him a freak.

*~Flashbacks~*

14 years ago

"Hwello, my name is Kikwo, what's yours?" a little toddler with short black hair had asked him.

"Inwasha!" he had answered.

7 years ago

"So, how did you end up here?"

"Parents...didn't want me."

"Why?"

"I dunno, how bout you?"

"My daddy died."

4 years ago

"You ever think about escaping?"

"Naw."

"Why?"

"No one in my family wants me."

"Yeah, that's right. And I don't know anyone in my family, except for my daddy."

~*End of Flashbacks*~

Inuyasha stuffed his face in his pillow. If he weren't such a tough guy, he probably would have cried. Freak. That's what his was. With white hair, amber eyes, fangs, claws, and dog ears, what else would he be? It was easy to hide his claws by balling his hands into fists, or his fangs by smiling in a lopsided sort of way. His excuse for white hair and amber eyes...he was an albino. Kouga loved calling him an albino runt, because he was a few centimeters taller. Inuyasha had always known why his parents had given him away. Freak. Shipped him off to an orphanage when he was two. Inuyasha was also gifted with a great sense of hearing and smell. He knew everyone of his friend's scents. Shippo smelt like peanut butter and jelly, Kouga like rotten fish, and Kikyo, like slightly withered flowers. He preferred to keep to himself, until Kikyo came along. Weird for a little baby, right? Then their relationship grew. She hadn't changed how he acted, rough, angry, selfish, self-centered, rude, and obnoxious. No one could, not even the best of therapists and counselors. All because he had dog ears.

x x

o

Kagome and the rest of her class waited at the airport excitedly. Lots of her other friends had found Inuyasha to be handsome, but because he was albino-ish, they slightly disliked him. He was cute to her, no matter what. She waited impatiently in a seat, listening to the plane updates from Mrs. Ochida. In thirty minutes, their foreign exchange students would be coming off the plane!

^_^

Inuyasha dosed lightly in his chair, one hand securely clamped over his hat. A boy with short black hair pulled into a tiny ponytail sat next to him, reading Playboy magazines. Suddenly he felt a jolt in his stomach. They were landing. A few minutes later, he got off the plane, and went to wait for his bags. A man directed him to Mrs. Ochida's class. His eyes lightly grazed the crowd until he spotted a girl who looked remarkably like Kikyo. Probably would be mean to him like Kikyo. I'm so stupid, to still like that girl... Inu thought to himself as the girl rushed up to him.

"Hey, my name's Kagome!" she chirped, putting out her hand for a shake.

"Inuyasha." He didn't take it. Frowning slightly, she put her hand down and beckoned him to follow her. Weird... Kikyo would have gotten mad.

"Follow me!" But, Kagome's scent was much different from Kikyo's. She smelt like soap, perfume, and a field full of unwilted flowers. He inhaled deeply and trailed behind her.

He sat next to Kagome on the bus. She gave him the window seat.

"So...where did you come from?"

"Orphanage," he snapped.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Now he picked up the smell of salt.

"Shut up! Stop crying!" he growled.

"I'm not!" She wiped the corners of her eyes. "I hope you like it at my house. It's big. Good thing you came during Spring Break, but you're staying long enough that you have to go to school. That sucks, right!"

"School?" he asked.

"Yeah, you've gone to school right?"

"No. Everyone at my orphanage is tutored..."

"You haven't?" she squeaked. "Well, then I'll have to teach you about school."

"Oh, wonderful."

"Look, I'm trying to be nice. And all you can do is growl at me!" He smelled her tears again.

"Would you stop it with that!"

"You gotta problem?" He stared at her hard. Kikyo, all he saw was Kikyo when he looked at her, but she was different, much different.

"Now what's wrong with you?" she asked. He quickly turned from her and glared out of the window, thinking of his past love. When he had woken up the day after she freaked out, he found her new address on his pillow. He would write to her once he got settled in.

"Look, there's my school! We can take a few blocks to the next bus stop. You need help with those suitcases?"

"NO!" he retorted, inching away from her.

"Fine." She started to walk away.

They were silent the whole way until the reached the bus stop, caught the bus, and sat down. Now Kagome dominated the window seat.

"So...what do you do for fun?" she asked hesitantly, not daring to look him in the eye. How could a boy so good-looking be so...alone?

"I dunno," he answered a bit too quickly. He mostly spent all of his spare time when we wasn't moping around in his room or doing chores with Kikyo.

"Do you play sports?"

"No."

"What's your favorite food?"

"LOOK!" he yelled after a while. "I ate nasty gruel all my life, I don't have a favorite food!" A few people turned to gape open-mouthed at him.

"W-w-well I was trying to make conversation!" she stuttered after a while, wiping her tears on her arms to try to hide them.

"Why are you such a wimp?"

"Why are you such an inconsiderate jerk?" Kagome wailed. He closed his mouth at this comment.

o_0

A few minutes later, they got off the bus.

"I live in an old house where Japanese people used to live, so we must be respectful. C'mon, you're sleeping in the guest room." Surprised that she was no longer upset, he went after her. Kagome's house was neat and quaint, very comfortable. Just the walk up the steps was a real breath-knocker, but Inuyasha wasn't going to admit that, that's for sure. She led him to his room.

"You can set up your stuff there. I'll fix you a big lunch, OK?" She smiled warmly at him.

"What? All for me?"

"Well I need to eat to, but mostly for you. We had a half day today so we didn't eat lunch. So, what do you want?"

"Something other than water and no gruel." She laughed.

"OK." Kagome walked off.

Inuyasha was surprised at the size of is room. Spacious, bright and cheerful, no cockroaches... He could get used to it. Heaving his stuff on the floor, he whizzed around, putting his possessions away, eager for lunch. But, by the time he was done, he couldn't smell any food.

"What's the hold up?" he grumbled, stomping into the kitchen.

"I'm still working on the ramen, Geez!" she exclaimed, glaring at him. "Watch TV or something."

"TV?" Inuyasha hadn't watched TV in such a long time.

"Yeah, what kind of place where you in?" Kagome foraged for the remote and turned to a channel with cartoons. He was instantly amused and sat down on the floor to watch.

"You can sit on a couch you know!" She pointed to one to the right. "Get comfortable."

In a few minutes, his nose betrayed him and his attention to the television started to wane.

"Food ready yet?"

"Almost. When Samurais and Dragons goes off, it should be finished." He nodded and continued to gaze at the TV, mouth hanging open.

"C'mon, Inuyasha, lunch!" Kagome called. He was up in a millisecond and sat down across the table from Kagome. There was a bowl filled with ramen, some potato chips, soda, and something she called "Jell-O" whatever that was.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome snapped, glaring at him. "Use your fork, not your hands!"

"What fork?" She sighed, rolling her eyes. Then pointed to one. He picked it up as a two year old would and complained when he couldn't get any noodles without them slipping off of the stupid fork.

In a heartbeat, she was over there, touched his big hand with her small one, and helped him twirl the noodles. Inuyasha practically recoiled from her touch. Most of the touches he had received were bad. Welcoming touch had been his downfall, or at least according to him, since Kikyo had kissed his lips and dissed him about his ears. They drooped sadly under his hat.

"Well, I was only trying to help!" she huffed, a little hurt.

"Whatever."

"Inuyasha, take your hat off at the table. It shows proper respect." He tensed.

"No."

"Inuyasha... Please, don't be difficult!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

"NOOOO!" Kagome's eyes widened in shock, but she bit her lip and walked away. Inuyasha instantly felt bad. She would hate him even more than she already did! Stupid ears! After Kikyo, he would get close to no one. She betrayed him, and this Kikyo replica was guaranteed to, too.

"Y-y-you c-c-can have dessert after you're done. Sugar cookies from last night." She fell silent again when he didn't answer. This is all my fault! Kagome screamed mentally. That's the last time I pick a hot guy to be my foreign exchange student. He's not even a student! They conned us. Just some beat up kids from different orphanages! I bet he hates me!

They finished dessert without another word.

"Make sure you wake up early tomorrow, we have to go shopping. I bet you don't have very many clothes..." He growled slightly from his end of the table. Don't cry, don't cry! She willed herself.

"I'll be in my room." She practically ran to her room, face in her hands. As soon as she left, he threw his head on the table, banging it softly.

"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Now everyone I know hates me, except for Kikyo..." How come he couldn't get her out of his mind? When he saw Kagome smile, he saw Kikyo smiling at him. Whenever she sighed, he thought of Kikyo. How could you still love someone after she called you a freak?

"I know, I'll write to her."

He made his way to his room, ignoring the sniffling, muffled sobs coming from Kagome's. Inuyasha found Kikyo's address and he scrounged the room for some paper. He found some under the desk, in a cabinet. A whole stack!

Dear Kikyo:

I miss you so much. This girl looks so much like you... It was a crime to steal that from you. But Kikyo, you are so much nicer and beautiful. I think Kagome, that's the girl's name, hates me already, like everyone else but you. I wish I could gaze upon your wonderful face, but all I am stuck with is Kagome's... I already hate it here! How are you and Naroku hanging? I hope everything is all right between you guys. Please write back!

Love,

Inuyasha

Now Inuyasha didn't know what to do with the letter. He didn't have a stamp or an envelope, and he didn't know if they even had a mailbox. There was only one thing to do. He drew in a deep breath, walked out of his room, and knocked on Kagome's door.

"What do you want now?"

"I want to mail this letter..."

"Hold on." He folded it up so she couldn't read it.

"C'mon Inuyasha, I'll find an envelope and a stamp for you, OK?" He nodded.

"So, what's the address?" she asked, as she got an envelope from the cabinet.

"Hang on." He ran to get the slip of paper Kikyo had given him. It still smelled like her. Kagome copied down the address, licked the envelope, and stuck a stamp on it.

"Go put this in the mailbox. Put the flag up." Inuyasha snatched the letter from her and walked outside. He bet Kikyo would write a very long letter back to him, pages and pages. Maybe of how she missed him, how she was sorry, how wonderful Naroku was treating her, and maybe, just maybe, how much she liked his ears. OK, maybe that's stretching it, but I can dream, can't I?

When he went back inside, Kagome had a purse and she had changed her clothes.

"Where are you going?" he questioned.

"You're coming."

"I am?"

"Yeah. I need to buy some things from the store, and I am not leaving you here by yourself."

"Hmph!"

"C'mon Inuyasha. I promise to buy you anything you want!"

"Really?" His stubbornness was starting to ebb away. Maybe she wasn't so bad after all... NO! She was!

"Really." She would have steered him out of the house, but she didn't want her head to get bitten off again.

As they walked to the bus stop, Inuyasha asked her a very serious question.

"Kagome?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you hate me?" She gasped and looked at him deeply. Kagome, unlike many other people saw past the rough layers. He had a hard childhood, he was just a little baby who had been neglected. Her expression softened a bit.

"No. Of course not!"

"For real?"

"Yeah! Now let's go shopping!"

$_$

Kagome took him to the supermarket first, to stock up on his favorite foods and some for Souta, Gramps, and her mom. Then to the clothes store. Those tattered rags were starting to get on her nerves. He picked out some expensive clothes, but Kagome wasn't mad, he was denied these enjoyments all of his life! Next, she got him some shoes and a little video game from The Game Guild.

"OK, that's all of my allowance. We'll have to walk home! It's twenty blocks!" she moaned, staggering under the bags. Inuyasha would have helped if he weren't so determined to hate her. But, before they could get going long, and old man stepped in their path.

"Young man, be a gentleman and help that poor woman with those bags!" he grumbled, fidgeting with his glasses. Inuyasha rolled his eyes, but lifted all of the packages out of her arms and carried them with ease. How did he get so strong if he lolled around an orphanage all day? Wow!

When they arrived, a car was parked in the driveway. Kagome gulped.

"Oh man, I totally forgot about Mom and the others. I guess I have to introduce you to my family...Try to be nice!" Inuyasha groaned.

"Oy, Kagome, where have you been!" Ms. Higurashi exclaimed. "And who is this young man?"

"Sorry Mom. This is the foreign exchange student, Inuyasha! We just went out to buy him some things to help him settle down."

"Oh, pleased to meet you Inuyasha." Ms. Higurashi shook his outstretched hand. "Come in. You guys must be starved. Dinner is on the table." They nodded and followed her.

"Hey sis, where have you been!" squeaked her little brother. "Who is that?"

"That's Inuyasha," she explained, hugging Souta.

"Oh."

"Grandpa?" Kagome called.

"Stop yelling." The old man appeared behind her. She jumped.

"This is-"

"Inuyasha, the foreign exchange student, I heard. Now come on and eat dinner!" Inuyasha, unused to this treatment sat down next to Kagome--it was only spot left.

"Please, Inuyasha, remove your hat," Grandpa begged, as he started on his salad.

"Yes, please!" Kagome looked up at him with big eyes.

"I can't..."

"Why not?"

"You don't understand!" he hissed at her, then looked up to everyone. "Sorry, I'm not really hungry. May I be excused?"

"Well...of course!" Ms. Higurashi said. "I can understand if you feel a little uncomfortable..." He bowed to her and went to his room. Inuyasha locked the door and took of his hat. His ears had cramps and kinks in them. He rubbed them gently with his hands and sighed as they stretched out. Stupid ears. Why couldn't he be normal?

X_x

Half an hour later, there was a soft knock on the door. Scrambling, he jammed his hat back on unlocked the door to find Kagome at it, a plate of food in her hands.

"May I come in?" He nodded reluctantly as she came into the room and handed him his food.

"What's wrong Inuyasha? Why won't you take off that hat?" she asked, eyes wide, interest and was it pity lurking in them.

"You wouldn't understand!" He turned away from her.

"Maybe so, but it wouldn't hurt to talk, would it?"

"I guess not. Sit." She sat down on his bed, and he sat down on the floor in front of her.

"Start from the beginning!" He took a deep breath.

"OK. Well when I was little, my parents didn't want me, they gave me away to the SJ orphanage. And after 15 years, I came here."

"There's more than that. Tell me, I won't get mad."

"OK." He took in another deep breath. "There's this girl, who looks just like you and we were...really, really good friends..." He seemed embarrassed. "And when I showed her what was under my hat...she freaked." Inuyasha lowered his head, but jumped when he felt a warm hand connect with his.

"It's OK, you don't have show me unless you want to!" she said sweetly.

"Really?"

"Really. Now do you want some dessert?" He nodded as she got up and let his hand go.

"But don't come until you're ready, kay?"

"Yeah..."

When she left Inuyasha instantly felt bad about that letter. Kagome seemed like she would accept his ears no matter what! But he wasn't ready to show them to her, yet.

^-^

A while later he emerged from his sanctuary, but declined the chocolate cake they offered him. It just didn't smell right. Then, Kagome taught him how to work the shower. He hadn't taken one in a long time, and when he had came out with a towel around his waist, Kagome giggled because he looked like a sopping wet dog with a hat but blushed when she looked down from his face, then hurried off. I could certainly get used to this! He thought as he slid down underneath his sheets. Especially Kagome. With her sweet scent and gentle ways. I am definitely going to have fun.