Note: This is my first fanfic, I hope you enjoy it. Please, please enjoy it. heehee .

((Oh btw, this first chapter is a flashback/ dream))

Serenade

Chapter One: Dream

Kagome sat under the sacred tree, looking up smiling brightly. She laughed as the tree whispered funny stories to her. She closed her eyes as the wind played their favorite love song.

Kagome's mother walked out of the house and looked to her daughter. She wondered if this was something all six year old children go through. She wondered if it was normal. She watched her stand and hug the tree and smile at the tree warmly. Her mother's concern grew, but then a hand fell softly on her shoulder giving her reassurance. She turned to see her husband's smiling face. "Don't worry, I bet we had done stranger things." she nodded and laughed at his remark remembering her past.

A man dressed in all black walks up the shrine steps. He stops and looks to Kagome. She stares at him with wide eyes and open mouth. She slowly backs away and leans against the tree. The man turns away and walks toward her father.

"Kagome. Come on, dear, lets go inside." she pulls Kagome's hand and leads her inside the safety of their home.

"Mommy... who was that man? He is scary. I don't like him."

"Don't worry Kagome, it was just an old friend of Daddy's."

"Oh... but Daddy didn't look happy to see him." Kagome walks to her room and shuts the door behind her. Her mother turned to the front door, "Umm... what was that about?" her husband looked up with a broken expression. She sighed and smiled slightly, "Oh... I understand... then leave when Kagome is asleep." she paused, "...I wish you didn't have to leave though... the baby will be born soon. I know you won't return in time to see."

"I know... but I have to go, he needs my help. I'll go pack now." he walked past her and smiled. "Everything will be fine..."

Later that night, Kagome's mother and father walk out of their room and to Kagome's. They walk to her bedside and cover her shoulders with her soft pink blanket. Her mother frowns, "Okay... I guess its time..."

"Yeah..." he runs his fingers through his hair and looks to his sleeping daughter. "Good-bye Kagome. I'll try to return soon." he softly kisses her cheek and heads out the door with his wife following. They walk outside and say their good-byes, then part from each other hoping it won't be the last time. Kagome's mother walks back into the house in tears, she slowly makes her way to her room to get some restless sleep.

After a few hours, Kagome gets out of bed and looks around. She opens her door and looks around the house, then she opens her parent's bedroom door to see only her mother there. Kagome shuts the door, looks to the ground then to the front door. She walks outside and makes her way to the sacred tree. "My daddy is missing, did you see him?" she listens, and hears nothing. Kagome frowns and tears form, "Are you still their? Were you already set free? Do you love someone else?" she closed her eyes then opened them quickly. "Oh. You do still love me. heehee I was worried." she smiled and layed on the ground next to the tree. "You are always alone at night... aren't you? Well... I'll stay by your side..." she slowly drifts off to sleep with the summer night's breeze blowing in her hair.

"Kagome!" she jumped up when she heard her name.

"What is it Mommy? Did I do something wrong?" she stood up and runs over to her mother smiling. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I was-" her mother cut her off and hugged her tightly. "Whats wrong?"

"Kagome... were you looking for Daddy?" Kagome nods a bit, then looks to her mother with a frown. Her mother sighs, "Daddy had to go somewhere... he might return after the baby is born." she lets go of Kagome and walks into the house. Kagome runs in after her but stops at the doorway and looks back to the tree.

Kagome runs into the living room and drops a pile of baby toys on the floor. "Here you are Sota, I'll go get Mommy and we can all play." she runs out of the room and runs outside. "Grandpa, wheres Mommy?" her grandfather turns to her.

"She is right here." Kagome's mother smiles and sets her basket of flowers down. Kagome waves her hand and runs back into the house, her mother follows. They enter the living room and sit down next to the baby chewing on plastic keys.

There is a knocking on the door. Kagome jumps up to answer it. She opens the door and smiles brightly, "Daddy!" she leaps into his arms and hugs him. "Daddy, we were worried."

"Aw, really? Well, where is your mother? I need to talk to her." he looks up and sees her standing there with Sota in her arms. "Oh, the baby was born." he pauses. "Um, Kagome I need you to go pack some clothes for you and ..."

"Sota. His name is Sota." her mother smiles slightly.

"Oh, Sota. Do you think you could do that?" Kagome nods and runs to their room to pack some clothes. Her father stands and hugs his wife. "I'm sorry I wasn't here, but we need to leave."

"Why?"

"We aren't safe here anymore. We have to find another place to hide."

"But... I love this place... I don't want to leave... Its our home."

"I know... but our family is endanger... Makai-"

"Makai! He is still alive!" she stares at him in disbelief. He closes his eyes to try and hide his pained look.

"Yeah, he is... thats why we aren't safe here. You knew when you married me it wasn't going to be a simple life... so please don't be mad." he sighs and continues. "We can come back here, but for now, we need to run." his wife chews on her lip and looks to the ground.

"You have to fight him again... don't you? You might not be as lucky as last time you know that... don't you?" she looks at him, "Okay, we can run... but promise me, when this is over, we will return here."

"I promise." he smiles and sees Kagome standing there with tears in her eyes. "Kagome... whats wrong?" she drops the bags of clothes on the floor and runs outside. "Kagome!" he follows her outside, "Kagome." his wife joins him and they look at their crying daughter laying next to the sacred tree.