Fallen Snow

By: Souls' Hatred

Prologue

The air was cold as it blew past me as I sat on the porch watching my daughter, sending shivers up my spine. I called to Kagome, who was playing in front of the large tree in the yard, to come inside. She looked at me with large chocolate eyes, nearly hidden by the hat she wore, as if saying, "But why, Daddy?"

"Come on, Kagome." I said, holding my arms out to her. Quickly she ran into them and I picked her up, holding her on my hip. Turning around, I placed one hand on the door handle but paused when I felt a cold flake of snow land on my cheek. It took no time for Kagome to notice the waited for white substance falling from the sky.

"Daddy! Look, it's snowing!" She cried out in excitement. I was immediately hit by a powerful memory that forced me to turn and look at the falling snow. Her presence was almost tangible as her words floated through my mind, "Never forget them…never forget your loved ones." Those were her last words to me, before she left, never to be seen or heard of again.

I looked over the grounds at the small building that housed the ancient well. After my parents moved to a quieter town, I inherited the old shrine that I now lived in with my wife and five-year-old daughter and new born son.

Even with my new life, I never forgot the story my grandmother had told me when I was young.

"Yeah, Kagome, look at the snow. Looks like there's going to be loads this year!" The girl in my arms gave a small squeal and clapped her hands together. "But right now, it's time to eat." We entered the house, greeted by the warm air and sweet smell of cooking dinner.

I unzipped Kagome's jacket as she tugged off her hat then led her to the bathroom to wash up before bringing her to the table where my wife and son waited. She gave me a smile that had this way of making me forget everything around me. I returned it and took a seat across from her.

"What are you thinking of?" She asked as I grabbed a spoonful of peas from a nearby bowl. She had this way of being able to sense when I was deep in thought.

"My grandmother." I said without looking at her.

"What about her?" Her voice was gentle, not demanding or prying, she merely wanted to know what I was thinking.

"A story she once told me when I was young."

"A story?" Kagome with a face I knew only too well. "Daddy, Daddy! Tell story, tell, tell, please!" She begged from beside me.

There was no way I was going to be able to not tell her, not when she looked up with wide, innocent brown eyes she'd inherited from her mother. I glanced at my wife and received a smirk before she added, "Yes, I'd like to hear it as well, Honey."

I felt cornered, but was happy to share the story with my family, it was, after all, what my grandmother had wanted.

"After dinner." With that, I picked up my fork and took a mouthful of potatoes to show my point.

We sat on the floor after dinner had been cleared; Kagome sat on my lap, her brother being put in his crib and my wife across from us.

"Kagome, do you remember why you have your name?" I asked my daughter. She shook her head and I continued, "We named you after your great grandmother, Kagome Higurashi."

"I remember when I was your age, Kagome, I was trying to hide from my mother because I didn't want to take a bath. Grandma was sitting in her room looking out the window when I popped my head through the door. She greeted me with a big smile and held out her hands. 'Come here, Tomo,' she said and I ran into her arms, happy to see her.

"Her hair was a white with age and I remember her having the warmest chocolate eyes I'd ever seen. Just like yours, Kagome." I looked over to my wife and smiled. That had been one of the first things I'd seen, her warm eyes.

"'Would you like to hear a story as you hide from your mommy?' she asked before she started. 'Once upon a time, there was a girl. It was her fifteenth birthday the day that her life changed forever…'"

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A/N: Reason this is so short, it's just an intro. The other chapters will be much longer. Have no worries. Reviews are appreciated!