Author's Note: This story has honestly been rolling around in my head for weeks, but I just now decided to go ahead and type the first chapter for it. At first I was too nervous to post it since I haven't written fan fiction in such a long time ( three or four years, I believe! ), but I figured that I should see how this premise is received before I decide to dump the idea altogether.

This story will be a definite AU. I got this idea from several different myths and movies, and I'm honestly really excited to finally be putting my ideas to words. I'm sorry if some of the characters seem OOC, or if there are mistakes –– as previously stated, I haven't written fanfiction in ages. I'm a bit rusty!

Just a warning: In this story, instead of using the names Inukimi and Inutaisho, I will be using something else. The name I gave to Sesshomaru's mother will be Shimizuki. I haven't decided what name I wanted to use to refer to the Inu no Taisho yet.

Now, without further ado!

DISCLAIMER: Naturally, these characters all belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I own nothing!

**Story edited on 12/19/16.

UNDER THE PALE MOON

prologue

Most of the humans who lived on the estate of the Inu no Taisho had never come into contact with their landlord. This was not unusual –– most yokai who were as powerful as the Inu no Taisho had so many shinuhi that it was impossible to meet them all. Even the kenin and nuhi who worked closer to the manor house had barely ever scene the Lord and his family. When entering the house, they were required to cast their eyes to the ground, as it was considered disrespectful to look directly at the daiyokai. The handmaidens of Lady Shimizuki, the Inu no Taisho's wife who was said to possess legendary beauty, could not allow their eyes to wander –– they were required to wear thin, white veils at all times, both to avoid looking upon the Lady and as a symbol of their status.

By all means, Rin's encounter was a mistake, a mere happenstance.

The girl remembered that day as if it were a bad dream she couldn't shake.

It had been her first time near the manor house, during her fifth spring. Her mother had a green thumb, and was considered to be beautiful enough of a human by the Lady's standards; therefore, she had been allowed to assist in the upkeep of the gardens. Human children were usually not allowed to be so close to the manor, as the Lady had a keen disdain for them, but Rin's mother was far too afraid to leave her in their home all alone. Various bandits had been attacking the outskirts where Rin and her family resided, maiming and murdering some humans and stealing others. The guards of the manor were sent to protect the small community because they were valuable property, but somehow bandits continued to slip past them. Rin's mother had nearly begged Mistress Kaede, the village elder, to allow Rin to be by her side for the time being. Kaede had allowed it, but had made one thing clear: Rin must stay with her mother and not be a hindrance, lest she be seen by the Lady of the estate.

Rin, like the coltish girl she was, did not listen. Overcome by curiosity, she had slipped away from her mother's side and was exploring the gardens with childish awe. She had never seen such beautiful flowers before! There were no such flowers out in the fields where she and her mother sometimes worked. The only other vivid flowers she had seen had been brought back from the forest by her eldest brother after their long days of collecting firewood. Even those weren't as beautiful as these.

The garden seemed to be built like a giant labyrinth, and Rin smiled and she darted past the other nuhi. She could hear the faint cries of her mother, but the young woman had to be far behind her by now.

Quickly, Rin rounded a stone column and then some trees. These gardens were endless! She was about to round another column when her attention was captured by a silver shimmer to her right.

A small Shion had been constructed in the very heart of the garden, over a small pond. Tōrō lined the pathway that led to the stair of the elevated structure. The sun's rays filtered through the leaves of the trees, scattering light everywhere. It feel on the path, the water, and on the silver locks of the man standing in the Shion with his back facing her. His beautiful, long hair seemed to be the source of the glimmer.

Rin stared, mouth agape, her eyes sparkling like that of a newborn babe who had just opened their eyes for the first time. At such a young age, she did not grasp just who this person could be. Slowly, she stepped towards the picturesque scene.

No sooner did her small foot hit the ground did the man turn to face her. The whites of his eyes were a deep, blood red. Ears quirked and canines bared, her released a low, guttural hiss the frightened the small child to the core.

She soon found herself running back to her mother, away from her mother and the frightening monster she had come across.

By the time she had found her mother, she was shaking and exhausted. In their hut that night, her mother held her close and braided her hair with worn but gentle hands, something that always helped Rin relax.

"Do you now understand why Obaa-san and I instructed you to stay close, little one?" she spoke, her fingers combing through Rin's dark brown locks. "It was a daiyokai you saw in the garden today. You must avoid them at all costs, for they are heartless and ruthless and cold. They won't hesitate to hurt a small girl like you, Rin, if they so desire."

Rin, like any small child would after a traumatic experience, took her mother's words to heart. By now, the splendor of the manor's gardens was the last thing on her mind –– she wanted to stay as far away from the daiyokai as possible.

Yet, when she fell asleep that night, she dreamt of flowers.

terminology

shinuhi: the lowest of the five lower castes in ancient japan; the slaves of families.

kenin: the third of the lower castes in ancient japan; the servants of high families.

nuhi: a shortened name for the two lowest castes of ancient japan (kunuhi and shinuhi).

shion: a drawing room or study in japanese architecture.

tōrō: a japanese traditional lantern, originally from china.