An Inuyasha fanfic by Nommie

Disclaimer - I own nothing aside from OC's mentioned in this fic.

That is all. ^^

Quick Note: (1/19) I'll be re-typing up chapter 1 & 2! This first chapter will be revised almost completely.

-Chapter 1-

Morning rays filtered in through the tree-tops, scattering light throughout the forest as the sun began it's daily rise into the clear cerulean skies. A peaceful and beautiful morning like any other, a young female to rested contently on her knees within the woods. Occasional breezes passed by, uplifting the girl's ivory hair for only a moment before settling down again. Sitting upon a bed of grass with legs tucked under her, she had knelt forward with her hands rested upon the ground. A gentle smile spread across her face.

The girl's focus had set on a variety of wild flowers, bringing about her gentle sky blue eyes to light up with amusement at the sight before her. One by one she plucked the fragile plants along with setting them on her lap, forming her own little bouquet to bring home after her quiet outing. Perhaps the villagers would enjoy these as much as mother, she pleasantly thought to herself, eyes never leaving the forest floor. Picking a few more handfuls of flowers, she quickly rose from her place on the ground and dusted debris off the delicate kimono she wore, clothing that paralleled her tresses in hue.

Meandering in direction to where she initially came from, a faint cry sounded in the distance. She stopped in tracks for a brief moment, in a bit of distress at the sound of pained voice. Did something happen?! She panicked mentally, taking off in a run towards the noise with her flowers clenched tightly in one hand. With all her might, the girl dashed onward as fast as her legs could carry her. She prayed to the gods that something terrible didn't take place in her village.. again.

"Yukiko!" A woman's voice called out.

Uh oh.. She thought. It's Mother..

Yukiko flinched at the realization once she arrived in the village, catching her breath while surveying the area. It were clear nothing serious took place, considering the villagers were already up and about in addition that all looked rather.. well, normal. For the most part that place she called home was a rather small and solitary village nearby a mountainous range in the east. It didn't receive much attention from both travelers or even merchants. Not to mention being enclosed by a thick, dense forest didn't help too much either.

"Yukiko! As if I wouldn't be able to tell it was Liam sleeping in your bed and not you!" The one known as her mother had shouted, barging out of their wooden hut near the very edge of the village.

Detached and bleak. The dwelling of an outcast.

Additionally, scurrying out from the hut came a meager alabaster fox, Liam. A fluffy little creature dorned with a backwards crescent moon on his forhead, bright pink in hue. Her partner in crime, so to speak. Although they never done anything that would be considered a crime, the villagers seemed to conclude otherwise. Liam darted over behind the girl's legs then cowered there with his ears pinned to either side of his head. Yukiko peered down at him only for a moment before her mother caught her attention by speaking once more.

"At least this time I can clearly see what you were up to" Her mother pointed out, taking notice of the vast array of flowers in Yukiko's hand. "But you can't be running off all the time and you know this" She scolded her, eyeing the flowers once more as she continued. "Why so many flowers this time though?"

Yukiko gazed up toward her mother through her bangs, feeling guilty for motivating so much distress. The dark haired woman already had enough to deal with, thus her daughter's disappearance antics only added to her stress. A woman that was almost well over eighteen yet still behaved much like an over curious, carefree child. Due to this, the already bitter villagers habitually deemed she were mentally insane. Albeit to this, Yukiko didn't pay too much attention to what people would say to her. Only to that of her mother.

"..I wished to get flowers for you.. and plant some around the village.. I knew it would take awhile to get enough, so I had Liam hide under the covers pretending to be me until I got back" Yukiko confessed despairingly, watching to her mother with eyes that expressed she understood what she did wrong.

With a sigh, her mother took the necessary steps forward, embracing her daughter close. Locks of ebony hair brushed against Yukiko's cheek and neck, the girl's eyes now staring off ahead in slight surprise by her mother's actions. Did she truly upset her that much this time? She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off straight away.

"I don't want you risking your safety just to get flowers. Not for me, and especially not for the folk that live here" Her mother spoke in concern, drawing back to gaze into Yukiko's face with a serious expression.

"With all that's been happening around here for years, you still run off far into the forest by yourself? She asked with a hint of anger, worry distinct in her voice.

"Yukiko.. if anything were to happen to you.." Her mother softly trailed off.

"I-I'm sorry.." Yukiko stuttered in response, lowering her gaze with a frown.

In due time though, both Yukiko along with her mother couldn't help but acknowledge the sound of whispers coming from behind them. As if on cue, Yukiko's mother swiftly set a hand on her daughter's shoulder and drew her toward the hut, ushering her inside to safety. However, not before greeting the other villagers with a sinister, hateful grimace that most knew all too well. Fire danced in either of her dark colored eyes, these people were the last thing she wanted to deal with right now. Though with Yukiko inside, she contended them outside the hut, stared down any and all on-lookers. It wasn't difficult to see that the men and women of the village had ill intent, feelings of animosity and pure disgust.

"Horrible things only keep happening around here because of you and that demon!" One man shouted, undoubtedly having overheard the conversation between her and her daughter.

"Get rid of that demon before it ends up destroying the whole village!" A woman chimed in, shouting at her with a finger pointed in direction of hut's entrance where Yukiko hid behind.

Yukiko's mother glared at the body of people in front of her house, placing her hands on her hips in defiance. They never stopped. Once something wrong took place or soon as they eavesdropped, like pests they'd swarm in relentlessly. Truthfully, she wasn't certain why she even bothered trying to argue and criticize them. She had just felt the need to voice her thoughts to them regardless.

"Just because my daughter is different, you call her a demon and other vile names that she does not deserve! She has done nothing wrong and yet you shun and treat her like a vicious criminal, yet all this poor girl does is try and liven up this wretched village by bringing flowers. Voluntarily accepting tasks no-one else wishes to do! Enduring the all the pain and slander! You should all be ashamed of yourselves! If anyone is a demon here it's all of you!" She shouted in utmost anger at the villagers, her face even turning a faint shade of red from her frustration.

Still, nothing would change. Just like how the villagers casting small stones at her would never change either. They deserved to be chastised one of these days, though woefully justice wouldn't be served this time around again. The woman yet again suffered the fate of being pelted, hated, despised. All because of that fact she had a daughter that didn't fit their expectations of what people deemed to be 'normal'. How despicable.

"Mother?!" Yukiko cried out as she witnessed in horror the view of her mother staggering into the hut, a few bleeding wounds on either side of her head.

For the whole while, Yukiko cringed in fright and pain. Having listened to the treacherous accusations along with her mother's flaming rampage, she'd grown so accustomed to it all her life. Even used to having objects hurled at her as well as her mother, whenever things became heated like now. In the past she herself would go so far as to shield her own mother, receiving all the hits and be left with welts, bruises and cuts all over her body. Yet she failed to understand why the villagers despised both her and her mother so profoundly, along with why it necessary to label her a demon.

"I'll be alright.. mere stones won't be enough to kill me off." Her mother muttered, putting up a brave front.

Yukiko immediately attended to her, helping her lay down on her futon in addition to grabbing a cloth to apply to her wounds in hopes of ceasing the bleeding best she should. Her vision started to blur. Tears threatened to overwhelm. She wanted more than anything to ask her why the villagers treated both of them this way, to know why she was referred to as a demon. Yet noticing the pained expression on her mother's face, now certainly wouldn't be the time.

Having been so distracted the all the events, Yukiko failed to notice her companion laying in a corner of the hut. Liam watched her with sad, sorrowful eyes. In his own way, saying he wished he could of done something. She merely shook her head to him and turned back towards her mother who now slipped into a unconscious sleep. With gentle hands, Yukiko pulled a few blankets from behind her mother and brought them over to cover her sleeping body. Her head hung in despair. Once again because of her, her mother had to endure such brutality from the villagers. Many times in the past she had proposed to leave the village and find somewhere else to live, just the two of them. Though for some reason her mother dismissed the idea, not wanting to leave.

This bothered her. For what reason could her mother want to remain in this village full of horrible, hateful people? Why suffer from all the pain and torment? Why mother?..why? She asked with earnesty inside her mind, peering at the older woman's sleeping face.

"You don't think I'm a demon.. right Loo-loo?" Yukiko asked her fuzzy companion with a disheartened smile, moving a hand gradually over his head. Her voice normally so spirited that sounded like heavenly bells, now almost so monotone that it hinted profound misery.

"Demons are evil, vicious beasts..so I can't be one." She uttered to herself before sighing woefully.

"Yet everyone calls me one.. but why?" Yukiko cried in grief of her own words, bringing her hands up to bury her face in them.

Her shoulders quivered as she began to cry, no longer able to hold aside her feelings of despair and pain. Liam uttered a soft puppy sounding whine as he jumped up onto his owner's lap in effort to console her, but to not much avail. Yukiko only continued to cry, wondering as to why everyone had to be so cruel and heartless towards her and her mother. For what exactly did she do that was so wrong to elicit endless hatred? She yearned to know.. wanted her mother to be safe and happy.

After a while, Yukiko finally calmed down. Her mother continued to sleep, appearing so peaceful as she did despite the small wounds that afflicted her. With Liam in her arms and dried trails of tears on either side of her face, Yukiko languidly rose up from the wooden floor of the hut. She considered that everything negative that impacted her family was her own fault. Unsure of what exactly she was doing wrong, she knew, there must be a way to put an end to all of it. She could not handle witnessing her mother in this state again, it ate away at her heart.

If I was not her daughter..she wouldn't be.. Yukiko began to brood, on the verge of tears once more. Feeling a furry paw against her chin though, distracted such awful thoughts. She forced a half smile down at the concerned companion rested in her arms, gazing up at her attentively.

"I'm sorry Loo-loo.. I'll be alright." Yukiko whispered to him with a sullen expression, taking his tiny paw into her fingers to lower his arm.

According to her mother, since the day she was born he had always been there. A peculiar looking fox with squinted eyes that continually stood by the hut as if keeping watch over Yukiko. During the days she had been able to first walk and talk, Liam was found right there by her side and rarely left her unless forcibly removed. Whichever the circumstances were for this creature's apparent perpetual attachment, Yukiko found herself inseparable from the fox.

-
The following morning, Yukiko spent much of her time planting some of the flowers she had brought previously. Though, acknowledging the events that happened the previous day, she made no plans to leave home or even just the perimeter of the hut for that matter. With a solemn look on her face, Yukiko continued planting the flowers in minor solitude for the while. Or it would of been complete solitude, if not for the ever so present fox that kept a watchful eye on her always. In addition to the nosey villagers that would once in a while take a moment to gaze across the fields, shooting the girl a dreadful look of disgust and bitterness.

Yukiko at times did not even have to look up to know when they gazed at her. The feeling of being watched sent a shiver up her spine, sensing such malice in almost all directions arounds her. Yukiko's mother on the other hand, went about her daily routines of cleaning the hut and preparing meals, cleaning all the linen together with other motherly types of duties. Yukiko had made endeavors previously to help her in those tasks, but those chores were the only way she could disconnect herself from the bitter reality she lived in. Thus, her mother insisted on doing everything herself.

The loud flapping of fabric sounded from the side of the hut, her mother had begun to hang various bedding to dry out in the sun. Yukiko finished planting her flowers and got up to her feet, mindfully approaching her mother who almost instantly greeted her gaze. The dark haired woman wore an equally sullen expression to that of her daughter's, partially soiled bandages wrapped around the top of her head. Yukiko's heart ached just from glimpsing the wounds on her mother's head.

"M-mother.. I'm going to the stream to wash my hands. I-I wont take too long, so don't worry." Yukiko asserted herself, thinking her mother was to disapprove.

Though instead of flat out denying her leaving, her mother smoothly nodded in response. Yukiko was pleasantly surprised, assuming she wouldn't want her straying. Though as to not waste any time, she took the opportunity to head out quickly into the forest. Her ever faithful companion pursuing her closely behind.

"Just come back the moment you're finished." Yukiko's mother spoke, continuing to hang up the bedding.

Yukiko took one last glance at her mother before turning back and departing into the woods. The stream wasn't too far away fortunately, only some yards before she came across it. Shallow yet clear, she kneeled in front of the stream and sank her hands into the cool refreshing water. The soil once caked on her finger tips now were clean once more, presenting the few inches of her pointed ivory nails. With a smile of satisfactory, she hopped up to her feet and dusted off her knees, taking a brief look at her surroundings. Another beautiful morning, she thought happily. Pure nature was always something that brought a smile to her face. In addition to spotting lovely woodland creatures of course. Yukiko giggled to herself, catching sight of a couple of squirrels chasing after one another in the tree tops above.

Much as she would love to just lay out on the grass with Liam, simply enjoy everything around them, she knew getting back to her mother would be first priority. Perhaps another time once the villagers calmed down and her mother's wounds healed, she'd find the chance to come out once more. Though only letting the woman know before hand. Last thing Yukiko wished for was another incident much like yesterday's.
It was not until a few moments later she heard a rumbling growl coming from Liam who remained standing at her feet. Yukiko peered down to him in confusion, raising a brow.

"What's the matter Loo-loo? Do you not like squirrels?" She asked him, though of course not receiving a verbal answer.

Instead, Liam dipped his head and growled further, his ears pinned backwards. It were a rare sight to see her companion so worked up above something. Although Yukiko looked in the direction he was focused on, she saw absolutely nothing. Just a plain patch of bushes and trees in the distance. She went to look back down at the fox but stopped all of a sudden. Hues of crimson snatched her attention away immediately. A chilling sensation ran down her spine, almost double what she normally felt when a disgusted villager looked her way. Yukiko trembled in fear of the unknown, slowly lifting her gaze to investigate.

"..Wha.." Yukiko managed to utter but trailed off quickly.

Two molten eyes resembling fire itself emerged into view. Pure malicious intent could be seen dancing around inside of them. Whatever or whoever the creature was that possessed such horribly terrifying eyes did not intend on kindly introducing itself. That much she was sure of indefinitely. Instead, the owner of the eyes proceeded to push itself through the bushes to reveal a wide, sickening toothy grin coated in saliva. It expressed a menacing smile accompanied by a dark, thunderous cackling. Yukiko shuddered in fear. She was not even sure what exactly she was looking at. Some kind of huge demonic looking canine with skin that appeared to be patches of dried blood mixed with coal. It's ears pointed upwards, seemingly sharp as daggers. She swallowed heavily and took a step back instinctively, hands and feet shaking in unison.

Liam however, took a step towards the beast as if he knew precisely what he was doing. His normally squinted eyes had shot wide open, exposing rosey cat-like slits. He bared his small set of ivory fangs, tail swishing side to side behind him in agitation. This action of his only caused Yukiko worry for his safety. Did this fox really decide to try and fight the demon? She shook her head slowly, watching him take yet another step. He was really going to lunge head on into a fight. Liam was going to die if she didn't do something right now! All for her own sake at that. She couldn't allow that to happen. Gritting her teeth, Yukiko staggered forward to pick Liam up as quickly as she could before running off further into the forest.

The beast, having never looked away from the pair, immediately chased after them. An ebony snake-like tongue now hung from its mouth and dripped with bloody looking liquid. Yukiko did not dare to look behind her as she ran, nor would she dare to lead the monster towards the village either. As she ran however, Liam aggressively struggled in her arms, speaking in a series of growls, yips and barks. His way of vocalizing his own distress and possibly of how he could fight the demon himself. She would not let him fight, she would never let him fight and get hurt on her behalf, especially a monstrous beast such as the one trailing behind them.

She wanted to cry, she wanted to scream but nothing came out of her mouth. Too terrified and intent on running to focus on anything else. The urge to get away compelled her and over shadowed any emotions. The beast showed no signs of letting up, known to her by the sound of heavy thuds from its paws coming not too far behind her. Yukiko began to pant, unsure of how much longer she could hold out running. Her legs slowly begun to ache, pain from over exertion. Th-th-this is not good! She gasped, then gritted her teeth yet again. ..It's going to get me! I can't get away! She shouted at herself mentally, further pushing her legs to run but felt them beginning to slow down much to her dismay. She had always been the nimble type, though never before had the terrifying experience of trying to out run a very fast hellish canine. Yukiko doubted that any human would have that kind of experience!

"..Wait! Loo-loo!.. I think we can get away!" Yukiko shouted and pointed in direction of a bridge that connected one cliff to another.

She believed if she could get over it fast enough, they would lose the beast by severing the bridge. Unfortunately, Liam could do nothing but watch in horror while remaining smothered within her arms, unable to move at all for her grip was deathly. Even the fox knew that at this rate the girl would have little chance in accomplishing this feat she planned out in time. Yukiko soon sped over to the bridge, narrowly dodging a few ankle high rocks jutted up from the ground in her path. Running for her life was not exactly her forte.

Suddenly though, Yukiko screamed in horror as one of her feet snapped through an old plank in the bridge. Liam instantly fell out of her arms and tumbled onto the planks ahead of them. Frantically she grasped with all her might at the other flimsy pieces of wood, but it was too late. One plank behind her snapped in unison with a couple more, sending her towards the raging waters some fifty feet below in an instant. Upon seeing his owner slip through, he at first attempted to grab a hold of her arm or simply a piece of her kimono. His jaws snapped closed with nothing in-between them. In a flurry of panic, the fox jumped down after her, leaving a furious demon behind to only watch from the edge of the cliff. It snarled in annoyance before turning away, slinking off back into the woods in silence. Clearly it had no intention of pursuing to the extent of jumping off a cliff. For the duo, that seemed to be the only beneficial circumstance of their tragic descent.

Is this how I'm going to die?! Yukiko screamed inside her head, soon crashing into chilling river below with a deafening splash. Her body went limp upon entering the water. Having fallen from such a distance didn't bode too well for her frail frame. She gazed up in time at the shimmering surface above her head to spot a small white body plummeting into the water after her, swimming in her direction. It was Liam. With minimal remaining energy, Yukiko did her best to extend out her hand to him in a foolish attempt to be saved somehow. How could he actually save her?

He's just a fox..Yukiko thought sadly. Not that she was disappointed in her friend's inability to help her, but disappointed in all the series of unfortunate events that occurred. Seemingly due to her presence. It was heart-breaking.

Just leave.. leave Liam..I cannot drag you down.
I've already dragged down mother.. Not you too..

Dwelling on her depressing thoughts, Yukiko's eyes slowly came to a close. The momentary image of her companion's furry body inching closer was the last she was to see. The young woman then accepted her fate, terrifying at it was. Maybe it had meant to be this way. Perhaps she'd never truly know. Though as of the moment, the feeling of weightlessness while drifting deeper into the chilling water brought on an odd sense of peace.

A/N

Bit of a depressing start, I know.

I like angst, drama. xD

Though everything plays a part for the bigger picture, don't worry.

More happy fun times are to come!

Story will be updated with a new chapter at least once every few days to a week.