Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters from the t.v. show. Some of the character's in here are mine, but they have tiny parts ^_^. I don't own the quote either. I thought it fit well with the chapter. ^_^

Enjoy!

"If the radiance of a thousand suns
Were to burst at once into the sky
That would be like the splendor of the Mighty one --
I am become Death,
The shatterer of Worlds."
-Hindu Spiritual, Bhagavad Gita

It was well after midnight. The sky was a deep, abysmal black dotted with stars, and the eighteen moons were visible and greatly reflected off the wide ocean. The ocean itself was nearly calm, though a little wave gently rocked the small yawl that was being rowed across it. In this little yawl was a woman. She looked very young, hardly over twenty, with long dark hair pulled back at the nape of her neck. Draped closely around her petit form was a cloak nearly as dark as the night. Her skin was very pale, but not enough to make her look sickly.

She looked up from the roping that would adjust the sail to see the city. From the distance the yawl was from the docks (which was not too far) she could make out the palace with its numerous wings and stories. Its windows stood out like warm beacons on a cold winter's night and she longed to turn the boat around to rest in one of the illuminated rooms. On the very top of the palace she could make out the form of a human. Male, she assumed, since the figure had broad shoulders.

That man was the reason for her departure of the royal lands. His name is Dion. She sniffed, trying her absolute best to hold back tears. It wasn't that she was mad at him or was missing him; it was the circumstances surrounding their situation. He is Second Prince of the royal lands and so was not allowed to take a mate and have children unless the elder sibling died. The prince would be executed for having a lover along with his mate and children. And so, he bade her, Shira, to leave with their daughter and find a home outside of the royal lands.

Kagome is their daughter. Kagome is less than a month old and already Shira noticed her daughter resembling her father. The girl had fair wisps of ebony hair that framed her tiny face just so and matched well with her deep brown eyes. The features she had inherited from her father was her straight, strong chin -that was hereditary among the royal family-, high and smooth cheek bones, as well as the flawless forehead. All those facial features were an instant sign of royalty.

Right now, Kagome was nestled carefully amongst thick wool blankets in the bow of the boat, sleeping serenely. Not a care in the world. Shira desperately wished that she could give Kagome a good life, though she seriously doubted it possible. Their midnight departure of the royal lands' capital city of Mythora is because of the First Prince discovering Dion's secret. He had sent a multitude of forest green garbed soldiers after her and baby Kagome. They had chased her through the twisty streets of Mythora in hopes of fulfilling First Prince Kyota's orders and earning a promotion in guard ranks. Shira was quite aware of how little they cared for the mate and offspring of lower royalty such as Prince Dion. She visibly cringed at the nearly certain punishment her lover would face for her and their daughter. Yes, a good life for Kagome was most definitely out of the question. Prince Kyota ordered the guards to chase her down until they caught her and so they would, even if it meant traveling across the world to get Shira and Kagome.

Shira blinked trying to force back warm tears that stung her eyes and contrasted heavily with the cool night air floating above the ocean. A tiny whimper emerged from the bow and Shira scuttled to Kagome to see what ailed her. She absentmindedly stroked one of Kagome's soft cheeks in an effort to calm her from whatever bothered her sleep. Shira half suspected she was doing that to calm herself as well. Kagome is the only thing she had left in the world, for surly her family would disown her if the First Prince was after their lives. Even when Dion was telling her to leave, Shira had not thought of a location to take herself and Kagome. The world is large, though only a portion of it is accessible by sea, so Shira knew she would have to find a port. With their safety for the time being –only the gods would know how long before danger would rear its head and they'd have to be extra careful- Shira needed to consider a new place to call home.

There was the port city of Cyngrad on the other side of the ocean which would take days –if not weeks- to reach in a yawl. She could go to Neerot which is out of the royal lands, to the northeast of Mythora, and would only take about a week to reach. Yes, that is what she would do: Head to Neerot. From there she would decide where to go.

With that thought, Shira tip-toed back to the sail ropes and adjusted them to pick up any breeze. She couldn't help but feel relieved when she spotted fog rolling in from across the ocean. The fog would cover up the little yawl and buy her time to get away from Mythora.

After sailing for a few hours, Shira became cold and scuttled to the bow of the boat and yanked a simple brown blanket out of a huge yellow pack she had brought with. The pack carries everything they would need to survive and to start their new life out. Just before Dion had said good-bye to them, he had thrust three good sized bags full of un-minted gold at her so they could have money to buy a home and other things.

Shira shook her head, trying to shake him out of her head. He is their past which is now, Shira surmised, five miles –if not more- to the southwest of their current position.

How or when, Shira could not figure it out, but she fell asleep. When the sun's blinding golden rays assaulted her eyes and when Kagome's hungry cries rang in her ears, that's when she knew she had fallen asleep. Inwardly cursing herself, Shira tossed off the blanket and moved to the bow and unraveled her daughter from the mound of blankets. As soon as Kagome was picked up she quieted her hunger cries to mere whimpers. Shira took off her cloak and unbuttoned the gray muslin blouse so Kagome could feed on her milk. When Kagome was done, of course she had to burp her, and then she buttoned the plain blouse up and cradled Kagome in her arms, blankly staring off across the ocean.

Now that light from the sun blazed steadily and no clouds –gray or white- marred the endless blue of the sky, she could truly see what lay around them. The ocean itself was a deep, reflective blue. Every few moments Shira would see a creature jump from the ocean, followed almost instantly by two or three more that would turn in mid-air or do flips, and it excited her to see such playful creatures in such a desolate area of water. After wracking her brain for a few moments, Shira came to the conclusion they were dolphins; though what exact kind only she could guess. The dolphins ignored the fast approach of the little boat that speed quickly toward them on a fast but gentle breeze. They continued playing even when the boat was right amongst them.

Sighing, Shira wished her life could be more carefree like the dolphins, or at least Kagome's life could be more like that.

The next five days continued very much the same as the first. The only difference was she saw no dolphins, let alone any other living creature. Also, Shira praised whatever higher powers each day for the pleasant weather; she did not think the yawl would survive a fierce ocean storm.

On the sixth and -unbeknownst to Shira- final day of the sea voyage Shira woke to find gulls screeching instead of Kagome wailing for food. She cracked her eyes open a tad and saw a brilliantly white gull glide effortlessly above her head. After a few seconds of hang time, if veered off to the right and swooped down towards the ocean. From the straight and true way it flew, it almost seemed as if it intended to dive into the ocean. What it really was doing was diving down to catch a fish. Once the fish was caught in the gull's beak, it used the wind currents to pull it up and away from the water.

From that small display of animal instinct in flight, and the fact she had not seen anything or anyone except for Kagome in five days, Shira felt refreshed. Sitting up, Shira rested her eyes on her sleeping daughter. Kagome had one hand resting on her cheek and an expression that looked as if she meant to sigh but was frozen in place before she could. Shira could not help but laugh and let a smile creep across her visage.

Giggling once more, Shira clambered to the bow and lay down, resting her head next to Kagome on the wool blankets. For many seemingly endless moments she stared at the tiny being next to her. She could not believe such a wonderful creature as Kagome could come out of a dangerous relationship as the one she and Dion had. Shira was extremely grateful each waking hour of day and semi-conscious second of night for her daughter. If it hadn't been for Kagome, Shira was sure she would have submitted to the guards when they chased her in Mythora.

"Well hello there!" a crackling old voice sounded from above.

Instantly, Shira shot up and pulled a concealed dagger out of her brown boot. She looked up angrily, fearing the Mythora guards had finally caught her, but was startled to see it was an old man in a yawl not much different than the one she was currently bobbing in. The man looked kindly with large blue eyes framed with deep wrinkles, and deep gray hair that hung loosely in grizzled tendrils well past his shoulders.

When he saw the dagger, the old man's large eyes became even larger with fear and he stepped back, hands up with the palms facing Shira.

"I don't mean you any harm, missy. You see," he paused nervously, "it's not too often a young women will be out by herself on the ocean. Especially with such a young babe, but I suppose you're not from the Neerot lands. I'm just judging that by your clothes. Not too many women around Neerot wear dark muslin blouses and matching skirts with brown leather shoes."

"No," Shira lied, "I am from Neerot. I just came from the south, from Visan. I was visiting my cousin and actually I had my baby there. My husband could not travel with us which is why it is the two of us."

The old man nodded in understanding, "That happens. Well, I best be off. Take care of yourself and that babe."

"Of course," Shira said as the old man adjusted his sail to move away from her yawl.

Shira watched the old man disappear into the horizon until he was a tiny black dot. After the old man's yawl faded away from being a black dot, Shira exhaled and scooped up Kagome that was now waking up. Kagome rubbed at her eyes and yawned a few times, earning a relieved smile from her mother.

"I suppose it was too much to hope for, not being seen going to Neerot," Shira stopped and kissed Kagome's smooth forehead. "I had to lie to him and you know I don't like lying. I feel bad now but I have to keep you safe, right? Keep you safe from… Well… Your uncle's guards. They are trying to get you. Trying to get me, too. Oh, how I wish your father was here. He wouldn't make things better for us, I know, but I'd feel better with him here…"

Shira trailed off when she raised her gaze from Kagome's tiny face and looked to their intended direction. What a first started out as a miniscule black line became fuller and gained color. It was land. The closer the yawl came to land the more Shira could point out. It was a city that, at the waterfront, had long plank docks extending far out into the water with large ships moored along them. On the land end of the docks were various buildings painted in different colors with company insignias worked onto the ocean facing walls. Small black dots that, even a child could guess, were humans shifting along the street that stretched and wove among the buildings. This port area was settled at the bottom of a lush, green hill that had three bright, dirt paths carved into the side of it that lead up to the rest of the city. The city looked just like any other town with its wood and brick stores and houses. At the end of what Shira assumed was the city's 'main street' was a large white marble building that consisted of three wings. The two outer wings were set back farther than the center wing, appeared smaller, and had no entrances. The main wing had three flights of white stone steps that let up to the entrance which is surrounded by white marble columns carved as men holding up a marble shelf over the top of the last flight of stairs.

"There it is, Kagome, Neerot," Shira whispered as she turned Kagome to see the city.

Within half an hour, their yawl was being moored to one of the docks by a group of rough looking men garbed in tattered khaki pants and black stripped button-up shirts with their sleeves cut off. One of the men reached down and hefted Shira –who was still holding Kagome- up out of the yawl and jumped down into the boat to retrieve her pack. When he gave Shira the yellow pack, she offered them a small smile and quick thanks and hurriedly weaved in and out of people toward the city. It took Shira nearly five minutes to reach the end of the dock with all the people crammed on to them, but when she did come to the end she froze. Off to the left, nearest the central of the three dirt roads leading to the main part of the city was a band forest green soldiers. They were conversing with a group of teenage boys; about what, only Shira could guess. Her guess probably would have been right. Realizing how much she was in the open, Shira darted off to the right in hopes that none of the Mythora guards saw her. 

"Lady Shira, where are you going?" a deep voice sneered from behind her and as a large hand wrapped around her arm.

Shira spun around, dreading who she would see. It was a Mythora guard.

"Please… No…" Shira whimpered.

"No what? First Prince Kyota only wishes for his brother's mate and child to be at home instead of running around the countryside. I think Second Prince Dion would want to see his mate as well, eh?"

Out of the corner of her eye, Shira could see a man approach her with a concerned look on his face. "Is there a problem, sir?"

"Just apprehending a criminal, so please go about your business," the guard mumbled and yanked Shira toward the other soldiers.

The man scurried in front of the Mythora guard and grinned grimly, "This is my wife. As far as I know, she has never been to Mydora-"

"Mythora!" the guard growled, puffing his chest out indignantly. He loosened his grip on Shira's arm just enough for her to weasel out of his hand.

Shira caught the eyes of her savior and saw sympathy within the deep blue depths and shot off in her original direction. Just as she was running at a good pace, Kagome started crying which alerted the Mythora guard to her absence. She couldn't hear exactly what he yelled after her, but Shira was sure she wouldn't want to hear it. Shira kept running, dodging people and animals alike as she tried to get away. Abruptly and out of nowhere, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her into a darkened gap between two buildings. She struggled within the firm hold and started yelling as a hand covered her mouth. The person twisted her around and she instantly quieted when she laid eyes on her captor. It was the man from before who had distracted the guard for her.

At the moment he was bent over, hands on his knees, and panting; though he kept his face up. A tired but relieved smile crossed his features which showed off his straight and pearly white teeth. After he caught his breath, he held his hand out to her and she took it apprehensively.

"I'm glad I found you," he started as he walked deeper into the building gap. "You don't remember me, do you?"

Shira shook her head but never looked at him. Her eyes were on Kagome who was fussing about the abrupt stop just seconds before.

"I didn't think you would," the man continued. "I'm Veggis."

"I remember you now!" Shira exclaimed. "Dion's… Uh… Friend."

"Friend? More like acquaintance. You see, he saved me once from a tight position, if you catch my meaning. I owed him big for it so he had me find you. He explained everything to me and I hopped on the first ship outta Mythora," Veggis laughed shortly. "I sure found you in the nick of time, huh? The only thing was I needed to avoid all the Mythora guards Kyota sent after you, but I didn't. In fact, the one I lied to is the captain of the little guard band that chased after you.

"Anyway, Dion wanted me to find you and direct you out of this town. After that, you're on own. Sorry."

Shira blinked a couple times in thought then spoke, "Being alone with Kagome is something I've grown accustom to during the past five or so days. I'm not too worried about myself but I fear Kagome being alone or found. I have this haunting feeling that I might not make it to see her grown."

"What! Why would you think that?"

"I don't know why," Shira lowered her gaze. "I just do. You know, that feeling you get sometimes when you know something bad will happen. I have that feeling."

Veggis halted briefly, letting his deep brown eyes meet her's momentarily before he continued between the buildings until he reached an alley. Looking both ways for Mythoran guards and any sympathizers of the "enemy", Veggis gripped onto Shira's arm and tore off down the alley which earned many strange stares from street urchins. After running for at least five minutes –it seemed forever for Shira since she hadn't ran in a long time- he stopped when they reached a dilapidated warehouse at outskirts of the east side of Neerot. Veggis gesticulated for Shira to wait outside of the warehouse as he dashed inside. While she waited, Shira gently rocked Kagome in her arms to which worked to calm the baby.

"Alright," Veggis sighed as he exited the warehouse. He was pulling a chestnut horse out by the reigns which had a very nice saddle attached to its back. "This fellow should last you for a while."

"Thank you," Shira whispered and took the horse's reigns. "Does he have a name?"

"Nope. You can call him whatever you wish, but you need to go. The guards will be looking for you and I'm sure they're smart enough to figure you might try and leave town. I'm sorry to just leave you like this; seeing you under better circumstances would have been wonderful, but that's just not how things are working out. Good bye, Shira and Kagome."

With that, Veggis left.

"Well, Kagome," Shira grunted as she hefted her pack up and hooked to the saddle then jumped up onto the saddle, "we're off. It's just you and me."

************************************************************************************

"Mamma," Kagome whimpered and clutched onto her arm as a flash of lightening lit up the sky above momentarily

Shira and Kagome had stopped for the night in a shallow hollow, nestled among tree roots. Neither of them found the sleeping accommodations uncomfortable, for this is how they had slept for two years. Shira never trusted people anymore since too many had betrayed her and Kagome to the Mythoran guards. They had so many close calls and clever, well executed escapes from the guards that Shira was nearly positive next time would be it. They would get caught. Every time thoughts like those crossed her mind, she would look at Kagome and almost hate herself for thinking pessimistically. For their sake –if not just Kagome's- Shira had to keep positive because Kagome is only two and so would not be able to defend for herself.

Once again, Kagome squeaked out a "Mamma" and buried her face in Shira's embrace.

"It's alright," Shira said, trying to calm herself down as well. If she was not worried, Kagome had no reason to either.

At that moment, a deep, resonating thunderclap rumbled across the land, carrying with it a foreboding feeling. This was the exact moment Shira had dreaded two years previous. Shira hugged Kagome tighter to her and she tried not to cry. After a few seconds, Kagome squirmed uncomfortably but she was used to it since Shira hugged her tightly quite often. Even though Kagome is only two, she understood something was wrong. She could feel something wet drop steadily on her head.

"Are you crying, Mamma?" Kagome asked as she looked up at her mother.

Shira was crying but it was also starting to rain, and those droplets plunked heavily down on Shira's face. They ran in tiny rivulets until they came to her chin, then dropped off and splashed on Kagome's upturned visage.

Shira could not help but let more tears fall from her eyes and mix with the rain that fell more heavily from the sky and drenched them both. Kagome looked up at her so innocently and trustingly, just as a daughter would to her mother. That's exactly what they are: mother and daughter. For the first time in her life Shira felt completely without control and she longed to disappear forever with Kagome to a place that regular, selfish people did not exist. But in the past two years, Shira had come to the harsh realization most people would rather have a handsome reward in their hands than save two helpless people. Shira knew this was good bye because the guards –she could see their lantern lights- were approaching far too quickly and this time there would be no escape.

"Can you be a big girl for Mamma, Kagome?" Shira inquired, her voice trembling as well as her whole body, though it wasn't from being soaking wet.

"Yes."

"I need you to run," Shira pointed behind her to the east. "I need you to run that way and never look back. If you look back, those bad men will get you and I can't let them do that. You have to promise me you'll run Kagome. Can you run for me?"

"Yes."

Right now, Shira's heart was pounding mercilessly in her throat and seemed it meant to burst through at any moment. This is the last time she would ever see Kagome. After shifting through the yellow pack that had served her well, she pulled out a small package of food and handed it to Kagome.

"I love you, Kagome," Shira sniffed, her heart breaking.

"I love you too, Mamma."

"Run now, okay. Run and never look back. I'm going to miss you, dear. Now run!" Shira commanded and gave little Kagome a slight nudge.

With that, Kagome tore off in the eastward direction, doing just as she was told: running and not glancing back. Despite the fact she was only two and not all of her motor skills were completely developed, she ran quite fast. Kagome rushed past tall trees that stood out like jagged pikes from the ground that scratched at her face and arms. She weaved in and out of bushes that wetly smacked her and through puddles that drenched her ever more that she currently was.

Still the rain fell in angry torrents that stung her face and chilled her completely. How she wanted to turn around and have her mother hold her from the cold, but she promised. Good girls keep promises. Above, the sky was continuously bombarded with bolts of lightening with thoroughly frightened her but she kept going. Thunder soon followed each staff of lightening that invaded her ears with loud, horrible noises.  Despite all this, she ran.

For what seemed like hours to the mind of a two year old, though probably fifteen at the most, Kagome saw a tiny village ahead of her. Because of the late hour, none of the tiny cabin-like dwellings had any lights on. It didn't matter though, she would only rest here. Upon entering town, Kagome collapsed on the first doorstep she came across. She sat there for many moments, laying on her side and glaring at the sky for no reason. Then she wrapped her arms around herself, brought her legs up into a fetal position, and cried. Why did she cry? She missed Mamma, what two-year old wouldn't.

Suddenly the door behind her flung open and she saw an old woman in her nightgown holding a lantern and staring blankly at her. Kagome jumped up warily –she and Mamma had too many bad experiences with village people but this woman did not look at her terribly.

"What is it Ma?" a younger woman appeared behind the first. She was too wearing a nightgown that billowed out widely from her belly, heavily swollen with child. "Goodness a child! Is this girl what you heard?"

"Quiet, Cylna," the old woman scolded. "Are you alright child? Do you need help?"

With the last question, a small war began in Kagome's head. Mamma never trusted most people, but she was being captured by the bad men. She just knew it!

"The men have my Mamma!" Kagome managed to choke out before a wave of sobs wracked her puny frame.

"I'll wake Jennis," Cylna said and dashed inside.

Kagome continued to cry, even when the old woman picked her up and carried her inside. Just as Kagome looked around the main room, a man who was still rubbing sleep scuttled out of a back room, hurriedly wrestling with a pair of pants. Cylna followed him, wringing her hands and pacing.

"Now little girl, what direction is your mother at?" the old woman kindly asked her.

Kagome wordlessly pointed off to the west and Jennis bounded across the room and out the door. Sighing, the old woman plunked down into a chair and held Kagome close to her.

"We should get you changed, eh young one?" the old woman inquired.

Cylna nodded more to herself than anyone else and went into the back room, emerging a few moments later with a dry nightgown for Kagome. The old woman muttered a "Thank you" and started to undress Kagome, and then she pulled the nightgown over her head.

"What is your name?" Cylna questioned, trying to break the silence in the room.

"Kagome," she said simply

"I'm Cylna and the woman changing you is my mother Typha. The man who was here earlier is my husband Jennis. It's nice to meet you, Kagome," Cylna smiled her brightest for the obviously bewildered child.

"Oh stop, Cylna. Can't you tell the child is tired and needs rest?" Typha mumbled and stood up. "Geez. And you're going to be a mother yourself in a few months. Besides," she turned her attention to Kagome, "you'll want to be rested for your mother, right?"

Kagome just nodded and Typha carried her to the bed on the opposite side of the room. With one hand, she pulled back the covers and then set Kagome down in them.

"Try and sleep."

And almost as soon as those words left Typha's mouth, Kagome was falling into a deep sleep.

Sometime later, Jennis came back and dragged a fair amount of dirt and water into the front room. Typha shot up from her chair and nearly ran to him.

"Well?"

"I couldn't find anything. I kept looking and looking until I came across a place that seem to have seen some recent struggles. The ground there was covered in blood that looked freshly spilt. Heck, it would have to be with the way the rain is coming down. But the girl's mother was not there," Jennis whispered.

Kagome opened her eyes.

"So her mother is dead?" Typha narrowed her eyes.

"Yes, I would have to say so," a long pause followed after.

"So she is an orphan-"

Kagome pained no more attention to the adult's conversation. Mamma is dead!

Eventually, Kagome would forget the painful blow of her only family member's death. It left a small hole in her heart that would later be filled…

Well that's chapter one folks! I hoped you liked it. In the next chapter Kagome will be older so the fluffy stuff and real stuff can get under way!!!!!!!! Well… uh… please review. Your opinions, comments, whatever would be greatly appreciated by me. I love feedback. Anyway, if you have any suggestions on storyline or a way to make this chapter better I'd love to hear them. All you have to do is click the button on the bottom left ^_^. I'm sorry. I'm really tired it's 2:16 a.m. right now. But yeah, I'll see you guys on the next chapter!!!!!! Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter.

^_^