Disclaimer: I do not own Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. I Do not own Inuyasha nor any of it's characters.

A/N: This is a rendition of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet using the characters from Inuyasha. I have attempted to keep the characters as close to their own personalities as is possible in this setting. The story is slightly altered in respect to keep them in character but does not stray far from the original story line. I hope you enjoy.

Character List:

Romeo: Sesshoumaru

Juliet: Kagome

Friar Lawrence: Miroku

Mercutio: Inuyasha

The Nurse: Sango

Tybalt: Kikyou

Capulet/Lady Capulet: Mama Higurashi (I have combined the two into just one as Kagome's father is not ever mentioned)

Montague/Lady Montague: Dead for purposes in this rendition

Paris: Naraku

Benvolio: Rin

Prince Escalus: Kaede

Friar John: Myouga

Balthasar: Kouga

Sampson & Gregory: Ayumi & Yuka

Abram: Jaken & Ah-Un

The Apothecary: Totosai

Peter: N/A

Rosaline: N/A

The Chorus: Author

Prologue:

Two species, both alike in dignity

In Sengoku Jidai, where we lay our scene.

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where noble blood makes noble hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes

A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;

Whole misadventured pitiful overthrows

Do with their death bury their species strife.

The fearful passage of their death mark'd love;

And the continuance of their family's rage,

Which, but their kinsman's end, could not remove,

Is now to our eyes the filling of this story's page.

The which of you with patience attend,

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

Chapter One:

"Yuka!" Ayumi quickly pulled some herbs from the ground before standing to face her friend. "This is not our fight."
Yuka scowled and drew her dagger from her waist. "They still will feel the edge of my blade!"

Ayumi smirked, "Right, if you can get your blade out in time!"

Yuka looked down at the patch where they had been picking herbs for their village. It seemed as though Ayumi had gathered them all before she even had a chance to see what was there. She shrugged and made a mocking swing in the air, "It doesn't matter! A dog from the Taisho house would make me move more quickly!"

Ayumi smiled and sheathed her own blade. She had used hers to cut the roots from the herbs. "Yuka, the more you move, the sooner we can leave!"

Yuka pouted, "Are you implying that I would run away?"

The bushes rustled to their left and both girls quickly placed their hands on their blades. It was not so long that a two headed dragon and its toad like companion stepped into the large meadow where they were pulling herbs.

Yuka nudged her friend. "We can take them on, what do you say?"

Ayumi shook her head but kept her hand on her dagger, "Let them make the first move. I'll draw attention and see if they respond."

Her friend nodded and watched as Ayumi walked toward the other side of the meadow where the two demons seemed to just be passing through. The sound of her footsteps drew their attention and the dragon and the toad quickly braced themselves.

Jaken, the green toad like creature, stepped forward and watched the girl. "You would dare to come so close, human?"

Ayumi glared and drew her dagger. "No." She crouched down and made to look for herbs on that side of the plane, "I am merely pulling herbs for my village, youkai." She gathered a few before standing to face Jaken. "Are you trying to start something between us?"

Ah-Un snorted but Jaken pulled on his reigns to settle the two-headed dragon. "No. We are just passing through."

Ayumi stepped forward, dropping her herbs and faced her dagger in their direction. "Well, if you were, we'd have no problem finishing it." She smirked and flipped her blade in the air before skillfully catching it in her other hand, "After all, we do serve as good a ruler as you do."

Jaken stepped forward. "Hmph! A ruler, that's true, but one not better than ours?"

Ayumi saw the trap in his words and looked over to her companion who had started to walk towards her.

Yuka had seen a fellow villager and drew her own dagger, "Say better! We have backup coming!"

Ayumi nodded and quickly looked to the toad. "Dare I say it, youkai? Yes, we do serve a better ruler!"

Ah-Un shot forth a blaze of fire, the massive beast growing angry at the human's words.

Jaken let his reigns go and drew his staff of heads joining in the angry blaze. "You lie, human scum!"

The two girls quickly darted to the right, avoiding the heated flames and pulled their bows from their backs. Each drawing an arrow, they aimed and made to shoot.

"STOP IT!" A girl quickly emerged from the forest brush and cast herself between the two parties, a sword drawn in her own hands. The demons stopped their fiery blazes but the two girls kept their arrows taut.

"Rin…" Another girl, one dressed in miko garb stepped from the other end of the field and made her way to the center of the field, opposite the young woman with her sword drawn. The priestess smirked at the younger girl, "Tsk, tsk foolish Rin. What brings you here among these petty villagers?" The miko drew her bow and made ready an arrow to strike.

Rin set down her blade as she faced the priestess, "Kikyou-sama, I am only trying to keep the peace…"

Kikyou, the priestess, snorted in disgust. "You talk of peace and yet bear your kitana?" She watched the young girl bring her blade back up, her stance moving to that of defense. "Peace!" She spat the word as if it were a dirty thing in her mouth, "I hate the word as I hate hell…"

The persons in the field readied their weapons and waited for the miko to continue.

"As I hate all youkai, and as I. Hate. YOU!" She let her arrow fly.

Rin's eyes widened and she quickly brought her sword up, darting forward as her blade swung up.

THUD. THUD.

Jaken gulped as two halves of the same arrow implanted themselves on either side of his head in the tree behind him.

And it grew quiet before the dragon growled low, a dark aura gathering around him as her drew forth his youki.

Rin crouched and stared at her opponent, "So be it!" She darted forward her blade ready to strike!

"ENOUGH!"

The two enemies paused their brawl to face the power that grieved their hearts. Rin and Kikyou bowed low before the lady that entered the clearing.

This woman, though human wielded a power that drew the respect of both youkai and miko and all those in between.

"Youkai from the house of Taisho and Miko from the house of Higurashi! You will cease these mindless brawls in our forest. And if you don't…"

The old woman drew forth a stone laced to her neck. An eerie pulse rang through the forest, making all the creatures that stir grow still at the magnificent power display.

"You have disturbed the calm of this forest one too many times and if it happens again, your lives will pay the price."

The old woman placed the pink stone back to its place and glared at the two fighting parties. "Is that understood?"

"Yes Kaede-sama!"

Rin and Kikyou both stood and sheathed their weapons. Gathering their comrades, they both went their separate ways.

…

"Where is Sesshoumaru-sama?" Jaken squawked as he entered the private lands of his lord.

Rin sighed and followed the fretful youkai, "He is where he always is! Practicing in his private quarters, as he always does!"

Jaken stopped, turning to his master's young ward. "Ever since you managed to take care of yourself, he seems to have drawn in to himself again."

Rin smiled and skipped past the old toad. "No worries, Jaken-sama! I will go and see what's on his mind, ne?"

Jaken's eyes grew wide and fearful but before he could protest, the young lady had disappeared down the halls of his master's home. He shook his head and turned to walk to the kitchen muttering about years off his life or something of that nature…

…

"Naraku-san, Taisho-sama is bound as well. It should not be too difficult to keep the peace. We are both honored in this land, if not by each other then at least by the dwellers of the land." The older woman gestured for the young man to follow her to the dining area.

He obliged and quickly came to step next to her as they entered the large room. Kneeling at the table, he accepted the tea that was offered to him before continuing, "I understand the differences in the dwellers of this land, but I must admit… I grow weary of the bloodshed…" The woman sighed in response and took a sip of her tea.

Naraku quickly brightened and set his cup down. "If I may be so bold, Higurashi-san, what do you think of my proposal?"

Mama, the lady of the house and also known as Higurashi-san, quietly took another sip of tea. "Naraku-san… I will tell you what I have already told you. My daughter is still a young girl and I believe she is not ready to handle the duties of a wife, especially in her profession."

Naraku frowned. "There are several girls younger than her who already have children, Higurashi-san. And we all know that she has not been formerly trained in her profession to prove a powerful priestess."

Mama smiled at the small insult. "She may not be trained, Naraku-san, but that does not make her any less powerful." The young man looked sheepish for a moment and the lady of the house continued after a sigh, "Fine."

Naraku smiled but her words cut off his early celebration, "But… only if she agrees to be yours, will my consent be granted."

Naraku bowed in respect and gratitude. They both stood as she made to walk him to the door. "Tonight I am having a gathering for the new year, of course they will be no Taisho guests, but you are welcome to join. There will be many young woman from this household and this village but if she still holds your desire, then so be it."

She gestured him to the front, "Tonight then?"

Naraku bowed once more, "I shall see you tonight, Higurashi-san."

…

Rin slowly crept to the master's gardens. And although she could not see where he was, she knew he was there as she had so often seen him there before.

"Why do you insist on bothering me?"

Rin nearly jumped out of her skin and quickly turned around at the deep voice of her lord. Plastering a brilliant smile on her face she grinned sheepishly, "Good morning, Sesshoumaru-sama!"

Sesshoumaru merely walked around her and gracefully sat down in the grace. A lord with such grace as he would not dare to 'plop' down in a miserable heap! But that left room for his young ward to do so and so she did and 'plopped' down next to her master.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, I see you have again neglected your training routine and opted for a visit to the gardens."

He merely raised an eyebrow at the young girl. Never had one been so bold around the master of the house but since he'd found her, she had been nothing more than attached to him. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that he had raised her from the dead and… had not killed her since!

Rin lay back in the grass and looked up at the clouds. "Are you hiding, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

He nearly snorted. Nearly. "This Sesshoumaru does not hide."

Rin just sighed. "Oh come off it! I know that the council has been harassing you to find a mate!"

Sesshoumaru scowled. "I don't need a mate."

Rin sat up and stared at the demon lord. "Don't tell me! You are searching for your true love?"

This time Sesshoumaru did snort. He stood, his tall figure a powerful presence even among the beauty of the gardens.

"Love is a human quality that I do not possess, nor will I."

Rin stood as well and moved in front of him placing her hands behind her back. "That was not the question. Whether you are capable of love is not what I am wondering, Sesshoumaru-sama… my question was: Are you searching for it?"

Sesshoumaru did not deem that the question needed a response and instead opted for a blank stare at the girl with an already abounding imagination. Unfortunately she still seemed to be awaiting an answer so he decided to change the subject, "Must I pry the information from you, or are you going to tell me willingly?"

Rin blanched but he persisted. "Another disgrace has come upon my honor, this one from this morning's events."
Rin sighed. "It was not me who made the first insult, my lord."

"The insult was not directed towards you."

"No, but against the household that saved my life." Rin crossed her arms over her chest. "Kikyou is not a gentle miko."

"Indeed." Sesshoumaru flexed his hand, his nails lengthening at the miko's name.

Rin gazed distantly over his shoulder, seemingly staring at nothing as she mumbled thoughts to herself, "They are having a celebration for the new year tonight. If that wench is there, she will ruin the whole event!"

Hearing the small whisper made him think for a moment. And then he smirked. "Rin?"

Rin seemed weary of her master's inquisition but answered regardless. "Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"Order the servants to have celebration garments ready."

Rin looked at him quizzically, "My lord?"

Sesshoumaru turned, a smirk on his lips. "We have a party to attend."

…

"Sango-san, where is my daughter?" Mama quickly urged one of the servants to fetch the guest list. Her celebration was about to begin and soon the guests would arrive.

Sango shrugged her shoulders and looked at the lady of the house, "Higurashi-sama, I did ask her to come just a moment ago. I don't know what takes her so long!" Sango turned and slid one of the shoji screens open. "Kagome-chan!"

"I'm here, I'm here!" Kagome ran quickly down one of the corridors, trying desperately to keep her kimono together. "Mama, what is it?"

Mama merely sighed and pulled the girl into her room. "Sango-san, this is a private matter, can I ask you to come later?"

Sango bowed. "Of course, my lady."

Before she could move to stand, Mama had grabbed her by the sleeve and tugged her into the room. "Well, maybe you could be of some help!"

Sango quickly regained her footing and again bowed to the lady.

Mama simply waved her hands. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that! But regardless!" She shut the shoji screen behind them and quickly made to fix the heap that Kagome's kimono had become. Sango was at her front, and Mama at her back.

"Now you know that Kagome is coming of age?"

Sango smiled at Kagome who had the decency to blush as the two women made quick work of her clothing. "Of course, Higurashi-sama! It will not be long before she starts receiving suitors for her hand!"

Kagome was by now, beet red but her mother clapped her hands together in excitement, drawing her attention.

"Well, now you've spoiled the surprise!" Mama walked to face her daughter and clasped her cheeks in her hands. "What do you think of exchanging vows?"

Kagome blushed, the pink hue reaching to her chest. "Um… It's an honor that hasn't really crossed my mind at the moment!"

Sango sighed, "Honor? Kagome, this is a wonderful thing! Don't start taking up after me, now!"

Sango was like an older sister to Kagome. Although she was not married, she had hoped to see Kagome fill the role of wife at some time.

Mama smiled, "Sango, you are still young yet and I'm sure your skills will attract some very decent men!"
And so it was Sango's turn to blush.

Mama waved it off, returning to her original subject, "But really, Kagome! There are girls younger than you who have been married! Even I was married with you in my womb at this age! Nevertheless, a suitor has made himself known. The noble Naraku has asks for your hand."

Sango smiled. "He is a man of distinction, Kagome."

"Our village has been privileged with such a man of honor." Mama quickly made to finish adjusting Kagome's kimono.

Sango merely nodded in approval.

Mama finished a stood placing her hands on her hips, "So what do you say Kagome? He is to be at our celebration tonight, so I want you to watch him. He is a handsome young man, very well off and honorable. Oh what a lovely story this would make to marry one such as he and to gain all that he has and lose nothing either! It is a rare privilege indeed!"

Sango blushed, "I would have to say that you would lose nothing, Kagome, but instead gain a few!" She glanced briefly at the younger girl's belly.

Mama nodded as Kagome made a noise of embarrassment.

"Well then," Mama clasped her daughter's hands, "What do you say?"

Kagome sighed, "I will do as you ask, Mama. But I will only look just as you've asked me to do."

There was a knock before the shoji screen slid open partially. A servant bowed low and stayed low, "Higurashi-sama, the guests are arriving."

Mama nodded and the servant left.

"Alright ladies! Here we go!" Mama walked out with a happy Sango and nervous Kagome trailing behind.

…

A/N: This should cover Half of Act I. Comments, questions? I would love to hear from you!

Thanks for the support!