Author's Note: Hi! Thanks for checking out my story. This is the first one I've wrote, so please, no flames.

Disclaimer: I own no part of Inuyasha. cries in corner

Painful Beginning

Sessho's Lady

Chapter 1

"talking"

'thinking'

Normal POV:

It was early morning, just before the sunrise, and Kagome was already up and going about her business. It 's become almost traditional to be ready and have everything prepared before her friends woke. As everyone got up, kagome set out breakfast around the fire. Looking around, she noticed Inuyasha wasn't present.

"Hey. Has anyone seen Inuyasha this morning? Did I miss him?"

Miroku and Shippo continued to stuff their faces, but Sango looked thoughtful.

"You know, Kagome, I don't think he ever came back from his walk last night."

"I hope he's okay. But this gives me a great chance to go back home. I think I have a history test tomorrow, but I'm not quite sure."

Kagome quickly packed up her things and picked up her giant bag.

"I'll see you in a few days."

She ran to the well as fast as her legs would carry her. When she reached the clearing, she was actually surprised Inuyasha wasn't waiting for her.

'I really hope he's not… never mind'

Kagome could feel his aura approaching quickly, so she jumped down the well. Once she climbed up the top, she concentrated her energy until the well glowed blue. She had secretly been training herself to be more efficient with her miko power for the past four years.

'I sure hope that barrier holds Inuyasha in his time for a while.'

Kagome ran to her house, happy to finally be home after three months of traveling, but as she opened the front door, she felt a sense of dread wash over her.

The house was unusually quiet. Kagome checked the fridge, but found no note from her mom or Sota.

"Mom? Grandpa? Sota?" she called out, but there was no answer.

She enter the living room and shrieked. She felt her legs become weak, and she felt nauseous at the site in front of her.

Mrs. Higurashi was laying face down in the middle of the room. A puddle of blood surrounded her. There was a large knife sticking out of her back, and there appeared to have jabbed into her back and sides several time.

""MOM!"

Kagome ran forward and dropped to her knees beside her mother. She didn't care that she was getting covered in blood. She just wanted her mom to wake up. Kagome began to shake Mrs. Higurashi as hard as she could.

"Mom! MOM! Please! WAKE UP!"

Kagome pulled the knife out of her back and threw it against the wall.

"Mom, wake up! Tell me what happened! Where's Grandpa? Where's Sota?"

Still, she received no answer. Kagome slowly got up, silent tears rolling down her face. She just wanted to collapse, but she knew she had to find her brother.

Kagome ran up the stairs as fast as she could. In the middle of the upstairs hall was her grandpa. He, too, was in a puddle of blood, but his death was caused by a gunshot to the head. Kagome sob as she passed him but didn't stop. She knew there was nothing she could do for him.

She continued down the hall, entering, and tearing up, every room along the way. Finally, she reached her own room. As soon as she opened the door, she fell to her knees and let her sobs rack her body.

"Mom… Grandpa… Sota… Why would someone do this? What did they ever do to anyone?"

Kagome put her head in her hands and continued to cry, until she heard movement from inside her room. She instantly prepared to defend herself, assuming that the murderer was still in the house.

"Come out quietly, or I'll purify your ass to Hell and back."

Slowly, Sota emerged from under Kagome's bed.

"Kagome, is it really you?"

"Sota!"

Kagome leaped forward and latched onto her brother.

"Thank God you're safe!"

"Kagome, he killed them. He just walked in and killed them. He said if I called the cops, he'd come and kill me too. I don't want to die!"

"Shhh… It'll be fine," kagome soothed Sota while choking back her own tears.

"Sis, what's gonna happen to us."

Kagome remained silent. She knew what would happen. Since she was nineteen she'd be left to fend for herself. But Sota was only twelve, and they wouldn't allow him to stay with her. Sure, they be together while the police questioned them and all, but in the end, Sota would be sent to an orphanage God only knows where. And worst of all, they wouldn't tell her where she could find him or anything. After they where separated, they'd probably never see each other again. Unless…

Suddenly, Kagome knew what to do.

"Sota, listen to me very carefully. I want you to go pack a sleeping bag and as many clothes as you can stuff into a bag. When you're done, drag your stuff to the well house. I'll meet you there."

Without question, Sota did as he was told.

Kagome went to her mother's room and took the money from her vanity. She ran to the store and bought all the food she could afford before returning to the well house.

"You ready, Sota?"

He nodded. The two could hear sirens approaching from a distance.

Kagome grabbed Sota in her arm and threw the bags down the well be fore jumping. The blue light faded just before the well door opened.

A man's frame stood in the doorway.

"So, she thinks she can escape me by going to the past. Well, my girl, you're in for a surprise."