Disclaimer Shadow-chan does not own YuYu Hakusho or any of its characters...But if she did, it would so totally rock.

"Mama?" came the soft voice of a child. The girl's voice had several emotions flowing in it; confusion, pain, fear, hate, worry...and though her mother hadn't been looking at her, she knew all-too-well what had happened, yet again.

"Come here, Alisha-chan... Are you alright?" the woman's voice was a gentle one as she turned to look at her young daughter. She was ningen, but was beautiful, one would think her a goddess given the chance to have seen her. Her skin was fairly pale, but only because she was rarely outside anymore. Long, dark, raven hair framed the woman's pale face; sea blue shadow covered over her eyelids, bringing out the blueish-emerald coloring of her irises. The woman was dressed in a dark blue kimono adorned with sakura petals, a red and pink obi tied around her middle, and a dark blue cloth drapped over her legs, as she had been kneeling before a small shrine.

"Yes, Mama, but... Why are they doing this?" The girl was near tears as she went to her mother. The young child had kitsune-like ears by the sides of her head where human ears whould have been, as well as a tail, which swayed lightly near the ground as the child was pulled into a warm hug by her mother.

"They hurt you again, and called you a half-breed, did they not?"

The girl nodded, looking away as her mother eyed her. Two claws had made their mark on Alisha's right cheek, the wound still bloody. Her left ear had been bitten, blood staining her silverish-white hair and fur. The lavender kimono Alisha had been wearing was torn by her right shoulder, and in several places on both her sides, her pink obi looked like it would fall apart at any given time. "Why are they so mean to me? I was only walking in the village, mother, honest." Her mother didn't answer, only shook her head softly and hugged her daughter close, keeping her safe.

"Ira-sama? Alisha-san?" a new voice asked; a small boyish one.

Ira let go of her daughter as the young half-breed's ears twitched. "It is alright, Yoko-chan... You may come in." Ira told him, looking toward the straw mat door in which the child's voice had come. Alisha broke away from her mother and looked to the door as well.

"Kulone-sama sent me here. Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked, lifting the straw door out of his way and walking in. The child bowed low in respect, silverish locks falling over his shoulders and somewhat into his face.

Ira shook her head gently, and somehow managed a soft smile as Yoko stood upright once more. "Iie, Yoko-chan..." she then looked to her daughter, "Alisha-chan, why don't you go play with Yoko-chan?" she suggested. "After you've cleaned up, of course," she added as an afterthought.

Alisha blinked, looking up at her mother, then smiling lightly and nodded. "Okay, Mama. Arigatou." the girl bowed to her mother, did the same to Yoko, then vanished off behind the straw door and began down a corridor which led further into the castle.

"Iri-sama?" Yoko blinked after a moment, looking back to the woman. She did not reply, knelt again before the hrine, whose dark grey stones and oaken wood glowed a light, blue, promising light. The event all together bewildered the young kitsune male, though he spoke nothing more, only bowed again to the Queen of Icile before excusing himself from the room to await the Princess's return.

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Months passed and nothing changed much. Ira continued to allow her daughter to go out and play with the demon child known as Yoko Kurama, and he, in turn, vowed to do his best to watch after and protect the princess. The village children continued to torment Alisha, Yoko now just as well, though Yoko had finally had enough.

One day, several of the village children as well as a few straying youkai had began throwing sharp-edged stones at the both of them. Yoko and Alisha had reached the edge of the village by the time that started, and so the village children had figured they were safe should either wish to strike back. Nothing had hit Yoko nor Alisha, but as a sharp charcoal-black stone finally cut into the back of Alisha's neck, Yoko'd finally grown tired of this all. He turned swiftly, glaring at them coldly through his tawny golden eyes. None of them had had the chance to see his attack, and that became their downfall...Literally. The children and young youkai all froze, and suddenly fell apart, limb by limb, blood spewing everywhere. It was then that emerald-hued optics saw the thorned whip in Yoko's left hand, and Alisha blinked, half confused, and now fearful of her friend.

A sigh came from Yoko, the whip falling from his hand. "Alisha-san... It had to be done. You cannot allow them to continue pesturing you like that." he told her softly. When he turned to look at her, he found she had fled, heading back to her father's castle, leaving him amongst the battlefeild; the little slaughter hadn't even been a battle at all, and was only the beginning of the bloodshed either of them had yet to see.