Silent Heart

Chapter 1 ~ Meeting

Kagome was, for all intents and purposes, an ordinary 15-year-old girl.
There was one thing different about her that baffled the doctors...
Kagome couldn't speak. Kagome's parents, at a loss as to what to do,
brought their daughter to Kaede, a kindly elderly miko. The miko
taught Kagome and her mother sign. Kagome caught on quickly, and her
mother was more than happy to find a way to communicate with her
daughter. Kagome's father was not. All Kagome really remembered about
him was that he tried many times to get Kagome to talk, refusing to let
his daughter sign. He would become very angry with Kagome, and often
scare her. Kagome was 4 years old on the day her father left. Kagome
didn't understand why her father left, nor did she really have a chance
to miss him. Kagome was more than happy to stay with her mother. About
9 months later, when Kagome was 5, her little brother, Sota, was born.
He was Kagome's life. Sota adored his older sister, and Kagome loved
Sota. Sota learned sign to communicate with his sister, and things went
smoothly. Sota went everywhere with Kagome, despite the fact that
people called Kagome nasty names in the village as they passed, such as
"Dumb" and "Stupid." Some called her a curse. Sota didn't pay much
attention, and distracted Kagome from what they said, and cheered
Kagome. That was all fine, but sometimes the older boys in the village
would try nasty things to try to get Kagome to either talk or make a
noise. They would hurt her, trying to get her to talk. Sota, who was
never far his his sister, would come across the boys beating on his
sister. He would always call someone to help Kagome, and help her home.

On this particular day, Sota was sick. Kagome's mother had asked that
Kagome go into the woods behind the village and get the herbs that
would bring down a fever. Kagome went. She had heard stories of youkai
living in this forest. Kagome didn't let it bother her. She had to get
the herbs for her brother. Kagome walked, admiring the leaves. It was
a crisp autumn day, and the leaves were changing. They looked
beautiful. Kagome went deeper and deeper into the forest, picking
the herbs she needed as she went. Kagome just needed one more herb,
an herb that grew deep into the forest. Kagome was so preoccupied,
she didn't notice the tree root that was sticking up until she
tripped over it. Kagome shut her eyes tight and braced herself for
impact, but it never came.

Instead, Kagome opened her eyes and noticed someone was holding her.
She was held against a strong chest, and arms were wrapped tightly
around her. Kagome squirmed, giving the person the idea that she
didn't want him to hold her. She was freed, but her right arm was
grabbed and she felt herself being turned to face the man who had
caught her. Kagome looked at the one who had caught her. He had long
white hair, golden eyes, was tall, thin, and had...dog ears? Kagome
blushed when she noticed that she head been staring. Kagome quickly
gave a "Thank you" sign with her free hand and tried to free herself,
but it didn't work, he was a lot stronger than she was.

"Oi, where do you think you're going?" The boy who caught her said.
Kagome quickly signed "Home" and pointed in the direction of her house
to get the point across. "Huh?" the boy asked, looking at her oddly.

"Okay, let's try this again. What's your name?" the boy asked. Kagome
used her fingers and spelled slowly, one letter at a time, K-A-G-O-M-E.
The boy looked at her, confused, again. "Why are you doing that?"
the boy asked, pointing at her hands. Kagome pointed to her throat,
where the voice box would be, and shook her head. The boy looked at
her. "You can't talk?" Kagome shook her head. Okay, they were getting
somewhere.

Suddenly, she was thrown over the boy's shoulder and headed in the
opposite direction of Kagome's house. Kagome signed franticaally
"Home! Home!" Pointing in the direction, and hitting the boy on
the back to get his attention. The boy spoke suddenly. "Oi, will you
stop that, wench? You're becoming annoying." Kagome put her hands
down in defeat. She wasn't getting away from this boy.

Kagome was placed on the ground inside a large cave. The boy spoke.
"My name is Inuyasha. This is my home." Kagome looked at the boy,
then looked away to show her annoyance. "Feh, whatever, wench."
Inuyasha said, walking away. He stopped at the opening of the
cave and looked back at Kagome. "I'm going to get firewood and
some dinner." Inuyasha said. Kagome looked away from Inuyasha again.
"Feh, bitch." Inuyasha said, taking off. Kagome gave a dirty look
in his retreating direction.

Kagome had only this chance. She moved slowly to the opening of the
cave, and took off in the direction of home....

when two arms wrapped around Kagome's waist, stopping her. "Oi, no you
don't." Kagome squirmed and signed frantically "Want go home! Want go
home!!" Inuyasha dragged Kagome into the cave again.

Kagome was back in her spot on the cave floor. Kagome looked over at
Inuyasha, who was sitting next to the fire that he had made. He had two
rabbits cooking over it. Disgusted, Kagome turned away from Inuyasha.
Inuyasha looked over at her. Kagome involuntarily started shivering, for
the sun had set, and it was a cold November night. Kagome felt
something being placed over her shoulders. She looked over her shoulder
to see that Inuyasha had placed a blanket over her. Kagome watched
Inuyasha sit down. Kagome took the blanket and threw it towards Inuyasha
and turned away again. Inuyasha growled angrily and placed the blanket
over Kagome again. This repeated 4 or 5 times until Inuyasha got fed
up. "Fine, wench. Freeze to death." Inuyasha said. Kagome didn't move
at all to respond.

"Look, wench, I'm not leeting you go." Kagome spun around to look at
Inuyasha. She signed "You want what?" but Inuyasha showed no signs
of understanding. Kagome faced away from Inuyasha again.

A little while later, something was dropped on her lap. Kagome
noticed it was the rabbit Inuyasha had cooked. Kagome put the
rabbit on the ground next to her and pushed it away, shaking
her head to show that she wouldn't eat it. "Oi, eat, wench."
Inuyasha said, noticing Kagome's actions. Kagome faced him
and pushed the rabbit farther away, shaking her head again. "I said
eat, wench, or I'll make you eat." Kagome shook her head again.
Before she should think, Inuyasha had Kagome pinned to the ground
and was straddling Kagome to provent her from moving. Kagome squirmed
furiously under Inuyasha, but it was no use. "I said eat, wench." He
took a piece of meat and forced it at kagome's lips. Kagome slapped
his hand away. Inuyasha moved forward, pinning Kagome's arms down
with his knees. He forced the meat near Kagome's mouth again. Kagome
shook her head voilently so he couldn't force it in. Inuyasha used
his hand to keep Kagome's head still and force her mouth open, and
forced the meat into Kagome's mouth. Kagome spit it out into
Inuyasha's face. Inuyasha got up, exhausted.

"Fine, wench, you can starve then." Kagome pushed herself up and
lay with her side against the wall. She was scared, tired, hungry,
thirsty, and cold. But she wouldn't tell Inuyasha that. She eventually
fell asleep for exhaustion, shivering.

Inuyasha watched Kagome sleep. He picked the sleeping bundle in his
arms and walked farther into the cave to his makeshift bed. He placed
the girl down gently and covered them both up with blankets. In her
sleep, Kagome snuggled into Inuyasha's body for warmth. Inuyasha
looked at the girl. She was going to be his...forever. Why he wanted
the girl, he didn't know. But she was now and always his.