(A/N: This is my first Inuyasha fanfic which is a nice change from writing Rurouni Kenshin. Since I'm having trouble with "A Reason to Love" in the RK section, I decided to post this story up and will update when I can. I can assure you that this will be an interesting story, since it came from my dreams like all stories do *sweat drop*. Please read and review. Like my other stories, should you care to read them, I will be writing responses to your reviews. Thank you.)

Story Key:

"Dialogue"

'Thoughts'

^~^~Dream/Flashback^~^~^

~~~~Change of Scene~~~~

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, but I do own my own original characters in here.

Perfect...

Chapter: Prologue

A young Chinese woman drenched in sweat lies in laid in a hospital bed. Her caramel colored locks were matted to her pale face and every breath she took was laborious and uneven. A baby boy who was barely a year old played on the bed giggling in joy and oblivious to the suffering woman resting in the bed. The woman's bright amber eyes shine with love and managing a weak smile, she caressed her baby son's hair. A Japanese man sat next to the bed smiling at his wife's actions. He was in a disheveled state after staying up every night watching over her.

The man was also accompanied by his other two sons, a eleven year old and an eight year old. Both of the sons were staring into space trying to ignore what was happening. They were both the sitting image of their father and were full-blooded Japanese children. The eldest had short black hair and piercing cobalt eyes The other had a short ponytail and also had cobalt eyes. The man's youngest boy was of course the baby whose features were distinctly different from the rest of the family. He strangely had dark midnight blue hair, his complexion was a shade darker than his pale faced brothers, and he inherited his mother's amber irises.

The man took a hold of his wife's hand with tear-filled eyes. The doctor had already told him that she would only live for another hour and no more. He was frustrated and refused to believe it. Not only was he worried about his wife and his future without her presence, but he was also concerned about the future of his youngest son. He pitied that the child would grow up not knowing a mother's love and knew the hardships the boy would have to bear as a result of being half Chinese and half Japanese. Because of these inevitable hardships, he fears the boy would grow up to hate his mother.

"Anata..." the woman whispered.

"Hai...Koiishi...nan desu ka?" the man tried to hold back his tears as he looked at his wife's beautiful face.

"Gomenasai...Ryu-kun...it's time for me to pass to the other world." She closed her eyes as she fought for breath.

"I understand... But I don't want you to go...think about me...think about our son, Inoue-chan..." The tears flowed freely down his face as he tightened his grip on her hand as if trying to keep her spirit from leaving her body.

"Inoue-chan..." she smiled as she looked at the baby boy who was now looking straight into her eyes and smiling at her. She took out a locket from around her neck and replaced it around Inoue's neck.

"Inoue-chan, keep this and remember me. I love you so much, I'm sorry to leave you at such a young and tender age." She caressed his face and the men all focused on her.

"When the time is right, you'll open it...don't forget me...Inoue-chan..." her hand fell away from Inoue's face and landed lightly on the bed as she took in her final breath.

The man wept on his wife's dead body. The two older boys shifted uncomfortably as they heard their father break drown. Inoue-chan touched his mother's face in curiosity and then picked up the heavy locket around his neck. He looked at it and started chewing on the gold object.

The medics soon rushed in to tend to the body. The man and his children walked home in silence. In his arms he held Inoue who had fallen asleep and the locket hung around his neck loosely. The last reminder of the woman he would have no memory of...

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Japanese Dictionary:

Anata - beloved/affectionate name for lover or wife

Koiishi - beloved/affectionate name for lover or husband

Nan desu ka? - What is it?

Gomenasai - I'm sorry/Sorry

-kun/-chan - suffixes relating to relationship, -chan refers to children/affectionate name for friend, -kun can also be used for a friend

(A/N: Sorry to start the story with a death, but it's very important to the story. I know it doesn't seem to have any connection to Inuyasha, but soon there will be. Inoue plays a very important role in this story and will be told in 3rd person. Again, please read and review, I'd like feedback on this story. Do you like it yes or no, that sort of thing. And if you flame, I have a fire extinguisher ready at hand and plus I am wearing fire- proof gear so Hah! You can't hurt me!)