Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and Co. nor do I profit from anything I have written about Inuyasha.

The giggling of the young children ensued, echoing throughout the village. The children came bursting from around the corner, laughing and playfully shoving one another, some sticking their arms out and pretending to soar through the air. The parents slowly came into view, talking and slowly following behind their playful children, an ever-present smile on their face's at their children's happiness.

A young girl stood of to the side, her hands gracefully folded in front of her, as she stood there her emotions hidden behind a shield of stoicism, but if you studied her carefully you can see a longing hidden behind her brown eyes.

Kikyo sighed, puffing her freshly cut bangs out of her face, fiddling with the hem on the priestess garbs she was forced to wear, the arms and legs were too long, she had to fold them over so she could fit her appendages through the proper holes, without having unnecessary fabric hang in her way.

The children came hurdling towards her, and she took a semi-graceful step back to let them past, her eight year old legs stumbling from the sudden movements. The children's laughter seemed louder as they passed, and in a knee jerk reaction a smile split across her face as she began to take of after them, forgetting her regal stance and giddily jumping into a run.

Before she could push her way through the crowd a heavy hand laid on her shoulder, halting her movements with a firm squeeze. "Wha-?" Kikyo squeaked in an undignified manner.

A firm voice sounded behind her, and Kikyo shrunk away at the authority held in her father's voice. "And just where do you think you are going Lady Kikyo."

The urge to roll her eyes at the name that was forced upon her was outweighed by the urge to curl up into a ball and shrink away from her duties.

"N-Nowhere pa-papa?" She stuttered out, unsure of her response. Her dark eyes downcast in shame.

"You know you aren't a normal kid anymore Lady Kikyo, you best start acting that way." With a harsh squeeze he turned and left, leaving Kikyo stunned.

She closed her eyes tightly, forcing away the tears that threatened to fall. With a heavy sigh she locked away the wants that she wished for, she locked away the unwanted feelings. When she opened her eyes they were hard, and immaculate. Her childhood was no more, and from this point on she was of higher rank than her parents, meaning she couldn't go to them with her needs. Kikyo was alone in this world.

Hope you enjoyed. This is my first ever fic about Kikyo ... So yeah.