Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Note: I set the time period in the 1930s, so I gave the characters English-sounding last names. Enjoy!

The Halding Household

Prologue

In the Halding household, year 1934, an unfortunate event was taking place. An unfortunate event that, unfortunately, left many devasted. Mr. Halding was taking his last breaths on this earth. It was August the fifteenth, 5:42 in the evening when his only daughter unknowningly visited him for the last time. Mr. Halding had been sick for weeks now, and it wasn't a suprise when he fell fast asleep for the night, only to not wake up in the morning. Not being unexpected, his untimely death was not in the least comfortable for the many people he had known. You see, Mr. Halding had been a kind gentleman throughout his life and had managed to capture people's hearts in a moment. So, you see, it was a dreadful thing when he finally passed on. On the evening of his departure, his loving daughter sat by him, and looked into his eyes. She had Mr. Halding's kind and compassionate behavior, yet, at certain times, her mother's temper could be detected in her tone of voice, if not by any other means. She was a young woman, yet her eyes were old with pain. It was not the first time she had seen death, and even though she was looking straight into her father's eyes, and they were staring straight back at her, she could smell it. Death was pulling gently on her father, taking him with it little by little. She reached for his hand as if to keep him here a while longer, and she was shaken by how cold it was. It would not be long now, she realized. And with that, she leaned down and kissed Mr. Halding's forhead and whispered her goodnight. She left his room at 6:56 that night and at 7:37 in the morning, Mr. Halding was gone.

Now, his death is not a cause for celebration, but as we all know, an ending always leads to a new beginning and the ending of Mr. Halding's life defitnitely lead to a new beginning. That morning, in the Halding household, as young Miss Halding wept for her father, something she never expected was beginning.

Chapter 1

The Funeral

Everything was black. Kagome looked down at her black dress that reflected her mood. She looked around at the faces and knew all of them in an instant. Mr. and Mrs. Mill were holding each other's hands and the young Robbie Adams looked as solemn as never before. She sighed and looked at her father's casket, lavished in white roses. A single tear slid down her cheek as she thought of her father. She was suddenly aware that somebody was watching her. Someone she didn't recognize. Kagome watched him curiously, and he stared back at her, a compasionate look on his face.

"Miss Halding? I wanted to pay my respects. I'm so sorry," a voice broke Kagome's gaze on the mysterious man, as she turned to look at who was talking to her. It was Hojo Buren, a long life friend of the family. Kagome looked back to where the man had been, but he was no longer there. She thought this strange, but quickly dismissed it.

"Hojo, how many times must I ask you to call me Kagome?" she asked sweetly, though the sadness in her eyes did not disappear. Hojo smiled, and blushed as Kagome knew he would.

She excused herself and went to find the only person who could make her feel better. Winding down the stone path to the garden, Kagome knew exactly where to find her. When Kagome was younger, she had found a secret door on the side of the garden's wall which revealed a tiny vineyard filled with beautiful grape vines. Ever since then, it had become her secret garden. Kagome felt the wall for the knob, and once she found it, pushed it into the wall, and entered. There, sitting on a boulder, was Sango, her best friend. They had met one summer afternoon, when Sango's mother had dropped her off at the Halding household, temprarily. Sango's mother was Mr. Halding's sister and was going through a financially painful divorce. She had asked Mr. Halding if her children could stay at their house for a while. Only it wasn't only for a while; Sango's mother never returned, leaving her two children, Sango and Kohaku, to live at the Halding household permantly. Kagome and Sango were best friends in an instant, and had been ever since.

Kagome walked over to Sango and sat by her.

"Hey Miss Halding," she said.

"Hey Miss Ellwood," Kagome answered.

Kagome thought about the strange man she had seen at the funeral.

"Sango, did you see that man at the funeral?" she asked.

Sango looked at her curiously.

"Kagome, dear, there were many men at the funeral."

Kagome smiled and punched Sango gently on the shoulder.

"No, there was one...one that I had never seen before. He had long silver hair," Kagome said, thoughtfully. Sango furrowed her eyebrows, thinking.

"Silver hair? Are you sure you didn't imagine it?" She asked. Kagome shook her head.

"No, he was definitely there."

Sango shrugged and layed on her back. Kagome did the same.

"Hey, did you hear that Mrs. Holm called up her distant cousin or something to come up? Rumor has it he's going to help out here at the mansion, now that your father's passed. Handle costs and run the household, you know, all the things your dad did. At least, unless your mum remaries." Sango said.

Kagome sat up. Mrs. Holm was the head of the household; she told all the maids and the employees what to do. And when her mother had taken up staying in her room all day, she assumed the position of caring after Kagome.

"Her cousin? Well, I suppose that's a good idea. And I seriouly doubt that my mother will remarry..." Kagome replied.

"Yeah, he's supposed to arrive tomorrow; I hear he's a pain in the-" Kagome never got to hear where exactly this guy was a pain because at that moment she heard Mrs. Holm calling her.

"Miss Halding, you should come on out and say goodbye to the guests!"

"Ugh, what a bother." said Kagome laying back down.

"Yeah, funerals are never pretty."

And as Kagome walked back to the funeral, she caught sight of silver hair, but as quick as it was there, it was gone.