A/N: 1) This is a new Sesshoumaru and Kagome fic : o )

2) I know I should be writing the next chapters for my other fics, but I have no inspiration at the moment. And if I don't have inspiration, I have no interest to write. And I don't at the current moment. But I hope you will like this one!

3) I have changed my writing style. Hopefully it won't be as confusing as the first. This is the writing style I have been using with my Harry Potter fics, so I do hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha and co.

Has not been beta read.

Chapter 1: Everlasting Innocence

Kagome Higurashi looked out of her bedroom window, the expression on her face looked as though she could just drop dead. The girl was bored, she had nothing to do, except look at the landscape before her. A small-though not detectable-smile emerged from her angelic face, as she watched a bird flutter across the clear water blue skies. It had been a while since she had seen any form of life outside her window, aside from the servants who would tend to the flowers beneath her windowpane. A heavy sigh escaped her full lips. Kagome's life, had not been the easiest to live. Being born into a noble family, did not have its perks.

Sitting on her chair, she thought about her life. Life as … as a noble. A bitter sweet laugh escaped her, as she repentantly shuck her head. Her family came from a long line of priestesses and monks. Very powerful ones at that. One of her ancestors, was a seer. One who was able to see into the future, one who was undoubtedly the most powerful of the Higurashi clan. And the name of that person, was Midoriko.

Midoriko Higurashi was a very powerful being. It was said, she had fought off thousands of demons, and when push came to shove, she had produced the Shikon No Tama Jewel. The most powerful thing in all of feudal Japan. The way she had created such a powerful jewel, was in battle. A bloody battle with ruthless demons. Kagome's mother had told her, that Midoriko was a fine, strong ruler and leader. And her inner beauty was just as astounding as her outer. Her mother also had said that Midoriko was the most wanted miko of her time. Almost all the single noble men, had wanted this woman for a wife. No one knew, that at the time, Midoriko was already in love.

Midoriko and lesser demons were in battle the night that the Shikon No Tama Jewel had made it's presence known throughout the entire country. It had been merely months since she had given birth, to a set of twins, a boy and a girl. Midoriko's secret lover had been revealed a few years back, when Lord Shiro had found out about Kanta. He wasn't a very happy Lord, but when he had heard that Kanta had been planning on marrying his daughter, the Lord was absolutely ecstatic.

Kagome shuck her head in amusement, her ancestors were a real something back then. Midoriko was being chased by the lesser demons that night, and she didn't want to fight near the village where they were chasing her. She had wanted to protect the nearby villagers. So she had lead them to a neighbouring cave. And that was where her husband, and father had found her.

No one knew what had happened to the fallen warrior. But, rumour has said that Midoriko used up all of her powers to create the legendary jewel. No one knew how she did it, to produce such a powerful thing, but she did. The jewel had came shooting out of her chest, where her heart had been. Some say that it is her heart, others say it is her very soul, and inside the jewel a battle still rages on. The battle, between miko and demon.

And inside the cave, there were the statues of the being themselves. It was not an artificial creation. No sculpture could have created the statues. The statues in the cave held such a beauty, and with the pain, and determination etched on Midoriko's face you would be able to tell that no sculpture, no artist could create such an emotion. There, in the middle of the cave, was Midoriko, and wrapped around her a demon, a dragon demon. And the thousands flying above her, crawling up her body, were such a wonder to be seen.

Kagome felt her chest, her hands roaming the bare area, searching for something. Finally finding it, with a little "A-ha" of triumph, she lifted the chain a bit to see the pendant. It was no other then the Shikon No Tama Jewel itself. It was her time to protect it. She was of-age now to protect the sacred jewel, that everyone-youkai and human alike-has been lusting for, for the past decades.

Though, she was given the jewel at a very young age. A precious age of only 13 years. While the rest of the women in her family, had been given the jewel at the age of 16 to protect. Her mother had given her the jewel on the eve of her 13th birthday, only to be told that she was The One.

Being who she was, she was very, very, well cared for. Kagome closed her eyes, remembering when her mother had told her about being the very person the prophecies had been praying for, and talking about. Kagome remembered feeling very scared, she wasn't ecstatic about being the one. No, it was such a huge burden to be the one. But, she pretended to be very happy about being The One.

Carrying the title of The One, was a great amount of honour on your family. Before Midoriko had died, she had made dozens of prophecies, and had written them down in a small bound leather book. One of them, telling of someone who would come after her, and be even more powerful then she will ever be. And the appearance of the this person, would look almost, if not exactly like Midoriko.

And when the baby girl was to be born, she would come out of her mother's womb, glowing a bright blue light. The baby wouldn't cry when she would come out of the womb, no, she would laugh, a laugh that would make you smile and feel light-hearted. That was exactly how Kagome was born, a baby girl, glowing a bright blue light, like there was no tomorrow. Laughing gaily, and eyes wide opened, examining the world she was born into. That was how Kagome had been born.

Kagome suddenly got up from her chair, her long kimono swishing about her feet. She heard footsteps coming closer to her bedroom. If one of the servants, or a family member would have came into the room and saw her staring blissfully out of the window, she would get reprimanded again. One too many times, had her parents, family members, and servants had come into her room and reprimanded her for looking out of the window too often, than concentrating on her studies. Kagome sighed, a heavy-hearted sigh. Tomorrow, they were to bring her to her betrothal's home.

She was to stay there, and experience the married life for about 6 months before the wedding. She was also appalled at the thought that she would have to share the same bed with a man she had never gotten a chance to meet. Yet, that was the way of the feudal, noble marriages. And to think, she wasn't even married to the man yet. Still, her parents insist that she absolutely has to do this absurd thing.

Kagome flung herself at her desk, and started looking at random scrolls. At the precise moment, her mother came into the room looking about, a smile graced her face as she saw her daughter sitting at her desk. 'Oh thank heavens,' Tsuta thought. She had feared for a long time, that her daughter did not like the noble life.

"Darling, come now, it is time for your miko sessions," Lady Tsuta said, in a voice that demanded acknowledgement.

Kagome looked up from her scrolls to look at her mother. Her long black, ebony thick hair reached up to her waist. It was put in a braid to the right side, and her full lips were a dark blood red that stood out because of her pale white, porcelain skin. Kagome admired the way her mother held herself gracefully. Tsuta Higurashi was a very fine, and beautiful woman. Her miko powers were incredible, as well.

"Yes mother," Kagome said standing up.

Tsuta nodded, and elegantly left the room, her kimono billowing about behind her. Kagome had always wondered how her mother could accomplish such a thing. In secret, she had always tried to make the bottom of her kimono billow about her feet as she walked, but with no such luck, she had never accomplished it. Kagome followed her mother quietly towards the private gardens, where her miko sessions were always held.

"Good day Lady Tsuta, Lady Kagome," a voice said.

Kagome looked up, to look into violet grey eyes. The woman standing before her, was very tall and well built. Her hair was short, up to her shoulders with a pink strands here and there.

"Good day Yuki, Kagome is now here," Tsuta said.

The young woman nodded, and beckoned Kagome forward.

Sesshoumaru paced his office, in a bit of a worried fit. His father had engaged his brother Inuyasha, to a ningen, a miko no less. He didn't know what in the world was running through his father's mind when he decided that Inuyasha would wed the girl. 'Ningen filth, running around the house,' Sesshoumaru thought disgusted. The scent of his father approaching his office, filled his nose.

InuTaisho knocked on the shoji screen door, before sliding it open and regarding his eldest son. Sesshoumaru had always been closed minded about humans. Regardless that they were intelligent and powerful in their own right. Sesshoumaru looked exactly like himself, InuTaisho. Except, he had his mother's outlook on the world. Mira Taisho was an extraordinary inu-youkai, she was very beautiful in her own right, except she didn't look down on ningen like Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru swiftly turned around to face his father, his long silver shiny hair whipping around him gracefully. Gold locked with amber, the two started to stare each other down. InuTaisho was the first one to move, he elegantly settled himself on a comfortable chair in front of Sesshoumaru's desk. Sesshoumaru glowered at his father before sitting on his own chair.

"Something is troubling your mind, my son," InuTaisho declared nonchalantly.

Sesshoumaru held in the urge of rolling his eyes at his father. Well of course there was something troubling his mind! Another ningen in the family of course. It was bad enough that his father had married a ningen woman, his father could've at least married a noble ningen, but he had desired a peasant woman. Sesshoumaru could still hear the taunting and teasing of all the other Lords of the lands, and the youkai nobles. Then, when a hanyou had been born into the Taisho household, that was an absolute disgrace to the family name. There was no more youkai pureblood reputation to uphold and be proud about.

Though that thought had been banished from his mind the moment that he heard Inuyasha's first cry, when he was brought into the world. And when he held his little brother in his arms, Sesshoumaru made a vow to himself to watch out for him, even if they were only half brothers. Sesshoumaru knew that in the youkai world, hanyou's wouldn't be respected, because they had human and youkaiblood in them. No matter though, Sesshoumaru would always make sure that his brother would always get the respect that he deserved, being a Taisho means you deserved respect.

"Father, you already know what is on my mind," Sesshoumaru said shortly.

InuTaisho closed his eyes, and chuckled lightly at his son, he opened them to find Sesshoumaru not very pleased with his reaction. InuTaisho did know that the other Lords were laughing at his family at their current situation, due to Inuyasha being born. InuTaisho didn't have the slightest care in the world, with what the rest of the world thought of his family. As long as they were happy.

"Your brother marrying a ningen I presume?" InuTaisho asked, although already knowing the answer.

"Of course! Father, another reason for the Lords, Ladies and Nobles to laugh at us," Sesshoumaru said in an exasperated tone.

InuTaisho just shook his head, and made a reprimanding noise to Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru quirked an eyebrow in question. The last time he had gotten reprimanded by his father was when he had interrupted his wedding to Lady Myra, the late and deceased Lady of the Western lands.

"Sesshoumaru, my son, there is no reason for you to be judgemental about this marriage," InuTaisho said.

"Judgemental?"

"Yes, that is what you are being, a judgemental youkai who can not see past the blood of a beautiful young woman," InuTaisho said looking at his son with a look of disappointment.

Sesshoumaru looked away from his father, not wanting to see the look of disappointment on his face.

"She is a noble, and she will be arriving at our citadel tomorrow, I expect you to make sure she is welcomed here with the respect she deserves," InuTaisho said. Sesshoumaru held in a sigh before replying, "Yes father."

"Very well then," InuTaisho said, he gracefully stood up and left Sesshoumaru's study.

Sesshoumaru made sure that his father was far from hearing range before he muttered something about stubborn, prideful, retired Lords.

Kagome came out of her miko session, her head hurting from all the concentration put into the session. Kagome sighed, it was the eve of her 16th birthday, and tomorrow she would be 16. She wouldn't be able to spend it with her family, no, she would have to spend it with strangers, who probably didn't even know she was turning 16. 'Peachy, just peachy,' Kagome thought to herself wryly.

"Kagome dear, your carriage is ready," Shouou said, opening the door to his daughter's room.

Kagome turned around to stare at her father. Lord Shouou had long white hair that reached his chin, he had always left it down instead of tying it. Only on rare occasions would he do that. His slightly tanned skin, and big bluish eyes always gave the noble an innocent look about him.

"Father, this is absolutely ridiculous, sending me off to -"

"Hush child. Do not question my authority on this," Shouou said, getting unnerved by his daughter outspoken actions.

"But Father -"

"KAGOME!" Shouou bellowed, his anger showing in his eyes.

Kagome promptly shut her mouth, she knew from experience that angering her father wasn't a good thing. She looked up at her father like a lost little child. Shouou closed his eyes tightly, and looked at his daughter.

"Be ready child," Shouou said, he kissed his daughter on her forehead and left the room.

Kagome sat in the carriage ultimately bored with her life. She looked out the window of the carriage, all she saw was green. Just the plains before her, nothing more, nothing less. Kagome groaned and flung her head back in frustration.

"Now sister dearest, it is not part of protocol do that," a deep rich reprimanding voice filled her ears.

Kagome tilted her head a bit to look to her left, she saw her eldest brother Miroku sitting there, eyes closed in a calm manner. Kagome stuck her tongue out at him childishly, before smacking him across the head. Miroku's eyes opened in shock, he reached his hand to the back of his head and rubbed the area where Kagome had hit him. He looked to his right, to find his sister smirking at him.

"Another action, that is not part of protocol," Miroku said.

Kagome rolled her eyes at him. Though Miroku would always be the prick, over-protecting eldest brother, Kagome was glad that her father let him accompany her. For if Souta had came, Kagome would be annoyed to no end. The youngest of the Higurashi children was Souta, therefore he needed all the attention. Kagome looked over at her brother's right arm, she smiled sadly as she spotted the cloth and rosary beads that covered her brother's palm.

"How's your hand doing aniki?" Kagome asked tentatively.

Miroku looked at his sister curiously. He stared at her hard for a long time, not knowing whether or not he should tell his sister the truth. His hand, was now cursed, Miroku wouldn't ever be able to take off the cloth and rosary beads, that adorned his palm. Though, there was one way, but he had already tried, and failed; and to remind him of that failure, he had a scar on his back. The scar, was that of thunderbolt, and for the past few days he couldn't help, but run his fingers of it.

"Aniki?" Kagome questioned, since she hadn't gotten an answer.

"It's doing alright now, though soon enough, it'll eat me whole," Miroku answered gravely.

Kagome flinched, at his tone of voice. She had not expected her brother to answer in that kind of voice, or end off the sentence that way. Kagome loved her brother dearly, and she couldn't imagine her life without her brother. He always brought the laughter into her life, and the pain, well the physical aspects of it. He also brought the consolation, he would always be there for her in her times of need. For example, when she had been told that she was The One. He had comforted her, he had told her that everything would be alright.

Miroku and Kagome were 4 years apart, and they were each other's best-friend. Though at times, they would annoy each other to no end. Kagome didn't know what her life would've been like without Miroku. Yet, he could be an embarrassment to the family. Honestly, Miroku kept asking every female he saw, to bare his children. Then again, Kagome couldn't blame her big brother. He wanted an heir, for if he wasn't able to defeat the one who had cursed his hand, his heir would be able too. It was sad, as well. Kagome had tried healing her brother's hand, but it had all been in vain. Miroku's palm hadn't healed.

"Do not fret baby sister, he will be defeated before my death," Miroku stated.

Kagome jumped slightly at Miroku's voice. She nodded her head, after looking at her brother. Kagome had confidence in her brother, part of the reason why he had accompanied her, was because of the rumour. The rumour had been that the one who had cursed Miroku's hand, was in the town of her betrothal. 'Who is the man, that had cursed my aniki?' Kagome questioned herself.

"Who … did this to you?" Kagome asked, uncertainly.

Miroku, was not surprised by his sister's bold actions. He frowned, the man that had given him the cursed wind tunnel, was powerful.

"His name, is Naraku Masaharu. He is extremely powerful, his powers almost match our ancestor, Midoriko," Miroku said solemnly.

Kagome gasped slightly, putting a hand over her mouth. How could he be so powerful?

"He too poses a jewel as well, except this jewel, does not match the power that the Shikon no Tama has. The jewel was given to him, by his father. You see in that family, only a male can posses the jewel, unlike ours," Miroku started.

Kagome thought long and hard about what her brother had just told her. She had heard of this jewel. The jewel, was created by a man, she had remembered that.

"The jewel was created by a man, by the name of Hoshi. Hoshi wasn't an evil man, Kagome remember that. What he created was evil, Hoshi was always experimenting with different elements that were not to be tampered with. One day, while out in his private garden, mixing different types of herbs, plants and holy water together, something happened. Once the holy water dropped into his mixture, he disappeared. With just a puff of smoke, and all that was left was of this man was a crystal clear jewel," Miroku explained to Kagome.

Kagome was shocked, 'the things that happen to those who are just, too curious,' Kagome thought to herself. 'How, special is this Jewel?'

"The jewel that Hoshi Masaharu created is powerful in its own right. While the Shikon no Tama can grant you one wish, while the possessor of the Jewel can give life and also take away life. This jewel, is meant to purify anything, it can also manipulate one's thoughts. The owner of the jewel, does not posses any power," Miroku continued on.

Kagome thought about what Miroku had said.

"So, this Naraku, why did he put that hole in your hand?" Kagome questioned.

Miroku looked at his sister, studying her shocked face sternly. He wondered if he should tell her, about Naraku. He wanted to protect his sister, yet he knew he wasn't going to be able to be there for her forever. He felt the rosary beads, his nimble fingers flying from bead to bead. How will he tell her? That, this Naraku wants her dead? Kagome wouldn't be able to handle the truth of that. She was always a kind-hearted soul. Yet, as more time passed by them, the more danger Kagome would be exposed to. Miroku wanted his sister to be protected at all times, he wanted his sister to know how to defend herself.

"Aniki?" Kagome called out, waving her hand in front of Miroku's face.

Miroku snapped out of his daze, and gave his sister a sheepish smile. He nodded his head slightly, he had to tell her. There was, no other explanation after all. She was going to drag the truth out of him, another day, best to tell her now.

"Never mind why Naraku has put this god-forsaken hole into my palm. Naraku is a deadly creature Kagome. Be aware of him, he is someone who is extremely dangerous. This man, is absolutely disgusting. Yet, he wants you … he wants …" Miroku started off fine, but at the end he just couldn't bring himself to tell Kagome.

He looked at his sister, to find her eyes shut.

"What does he want with me aniki?" Kagome asked in a whisper barely audible.

"He, wants you …"

"Wants me?"

"… dead."

A deathly silence had passed the two of them. Kagome shocked, what had she done to this person? Had she done something cruel to this man?

"Why?" Kagome choked out, near to tears.

Miroku gathered his sister into his arms, and comfortingly hugged her to him. He had upset his sister, he knew that. Yet he would rather have her upset, then dead. The thought brought unpleasant thoughts through his mind.

"He wants your Jewel, so protect it baby sister. Protect that jewel, it is the fortune of our family. It is what we are so proud of. Without that jewel Kagome, our family would be thrown away into nothingness," Miroku said.

Kagome nodded her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Go to sleep."

"Dangerous indeed," a man with dark black hair smirked.

He studied the mirror in front of him, that was being held up by his daughter, Kanna. Interesting, the young monk that he had cursed interested him. The way, he would defend something as petty as the little creature that carried around, what was soon to be his. The dark toned man, took his hand out of his pocket revealing the jewel that had been in his family for generations.

The young monk, had left something out of the explanation that he had told his dear sister. 'Dear indeed.' The Jewel was called Crystal Earth, it was powerful. It was the crystal of the earth. Everyone thought that the crystal was worthless, and powerless. They were wrong, only the family knew of the Jewel's true potential.

He walked over to a mahogany table. He traced the rough edges with his agile fingers, carefully. His fingers landing on a piece of parchment. Picking up the rough material, rubbing his fingers against the sheet. He re-read the passage, that was written.

Once the Jewel of Crystal's Earth, and The Shikon no Tama are combined. They can either do two things; Keep the peace or create destruction. The only one who can decide the fate is the owner of the new jewel, which is to be called: Life and Death. There is only a sole owner of this new powerful, the only way the possessor can claim this newly found jewel is to kill the owner of the other jewel, whether it be; Jewel of Crystal's Earth or the Shikon no Tama. Then, and only then, can one possess: Life and Death.

"Yes, Midoriko; such a lovely prophecy. Though, your heir to the jewel won't possess Life and Death. I will, that is a promise."

(:End Chapter 1: )

RR!