Hello, all! It's been far too long since I've come up with a story to post. Most of my stories never get done, but this one really broke down my writer's block, so I think this one will get completed.

To give you a breif overview, the setting is in Feudal Japan, much like the orginal in the show. Only, in this story, humans and demons are at war, and the lands are divided. The story will eventually revolve around Inuyasha and Kagome, and the war that takes place from when they are children up to adulthood. So, with that said, on with the first chapter.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1: The Youths of Royalty

"Lady Kagome! Please, be careful!"

The voice of an elderly woman rang shirll in the deep wood. The forest's lush green trees and high canopies muffled her cry and made it echo softly. The said lady was a small girl, no older than ten, who was at the moment sitting atop a high brown limb, her legs swinging freely in delight.

"Oh, Keade, you worry too much." The young girl called down, giggling when her elder looked up with a look of disdain.

"Please, you must come down. You're mother will be expecting you soon."

Kagome flipped her shoulder-length hair behind her shoulder, a raven's wing in the setting sun. She seemed to ignore Keade's remark and continued to stare into the distance, a secret snicker in her hazel eyes.

Keade did not relent, but changed tactics. "Did you forget, my lady, that the Lady Higurashi is soon to have your younger sibling? She may have it as soon as tonight..."

Kagome's head swiveled toward Keade at the notion of her mother's unborn child. Her eyes grew wide with excitement at the reminder.

"Oh, you're right! We should go back." Kagome exclaimed.

At these words, she stood up on the thick limb, and with the grace of a cat that only a child has, she easily manuevered down the vast trunk, until, with a final leap, she landed softly on the ground.

Keade's heart looked about to burst at the sight. She sighed loudly. "Thank goodness you're back on the ground."

Kagome only grinned and thought to herself what a worrier her attendant was. Though she was only in early fifties, the woman had waist length grey hair, and large crows feet around her eyes. Her back seemed permanently bent over, but she nonetheless retained an air of dignity and wisdom. That's what Kagome liked about her. Keade was sharp and intelligent. She always went to the woman for advice or guidance. In a way, Keade was like her grandmother. Her grandfather had died some time ago, when she was only three.

"Come, child, let us return to the castle." Keade brought Kagome out of her revere, and with a start the girl started down the path to her father's castle.

The woods thinned out into an open feild, large and flat, sprawled green and gold all around. At the top of a slight hill sat the Higurashi home, the palace of the Northern Lands. Kagome increased her speed and left Keade to straggle behind her. Thoughts of her future sibling were fresh in her mind. Could the baby really arrive tonight? The idea spurred her on even quicker.

Entering through the gates, giving the guards a pleasant hello, she made her way into the castle, winding past rooms and gardens until she reached the back hall where her her mom was currently residing.

The ladies who watched over her were not at their usual post, and Kagome's heart beat faster. Could it be...? Without wasting time she pulled aside the shoji doors and entered the room to find five or six ladies swarming around a beautiful woman lying with her head and shoulders propped up on a large cushion. This woman was her mother, and she had never in her life seen her look more enchanting.

"Kagome," she sighed softly upon seeing her only daughter, "what are you doing here?"

"I came to see you. Is the baby coming soon, mama?"

Lady Higurashi smiled. "I think so, dear."

Suddenly, Lady Higurashi's smile changed into a grimace of pain. She hissed and leaned back into her pillows, her hands clenched around the sheets covering her.

One of the ladies stepped forward and said swiftly, "It's time. We must prepare for the child."

The ladies began rushing around, gathering blankets and water from the well. Kagome stood there, unsure but still feeling excited from all the commotion. Her mother's pained expression bothered her, but before she could see what was the cause, Keade put a hand on her shoulder and whispered, "Let us wait outside, Lady Kagome. A child takes much longer than you think to arrive."

Kagome did not protest, but was led out into the hallway and down toward her own chambers.

She remained in her room, restless, awaiting any news of her mother's situation. The sun had long since set before raised voices could be heard coming from down the hall. Kagome ran to her door and flung it aside. The shouts were drowned out by a heart-splitting scream, a scream that struck deep into Kagome's soul, causing tears to rush into her eyes.

This cry was replaced by a startling silence. Kagome dared not speak; her body was seemingly stone for she could not move. She stood this way, tears running down her pale cheeks, and only when a lady stepped out of her mother's room did she quickly rouse herself from her hazed state and ran to the woman, crying,

"What has happened? Please, tell me!"

The lady's eyes were grim and dark. Her frown quivered as she replied, "My lady--she, she is--Lady Higurashi is dead. Her child--did, did not m-m-make it." The lady turned her head and wailed loudly, a moan full of sorrow.

Kagome didn't remember much after this. The palace was in an uproar. What was to be done? How could this have happened? Keade was there, the young girl remembered that much, but the faces soon became a blur, and she went into shock before sleep finally took her away from the horrors of that fateful night.

---I---

The rocky terrain of the Southern Lands shone brightly with the noon day sun. The high mountains were contrasted between the green of the forests and the white caps of snow at the tops. The huge cliffs and rushing rivers gave it a grand air, and the Oniyuki palace thrived in this atmosphere, a gorgeous structure that housed a great dog demon lord and his family.

Just on the outskirts of the palace grounds, there could be seen two children facing one another on a flat stone-tiled surface. One child was tall, with a stoic face and a crescent moon on his forehead. The other was much smaller, half his size, with no markings, but a look of determination. Both of the boys had striking silver hair and glowing amber eyes. In each of their hands they held a wooden sword.

"So, Inuyasha, are you prepared for another defeat?" the older boy questioned, his voice smooth and penetrating.

The younger snarled, and growled back in a higher voice, "No way, Sesshomaru. I will win this time!"

Sesshomaru let the slightest smirk cross his lips before he set it in a thin line. "Let's go then."

In an instant, the two boys were flying at each other, their speed remarkable. They swung and parried, they leaped and swiped. They both seemed skilled, but it was obvious that the younger of the two was lacking in strength and technique. Sesshomaru soon had Inuyasha panting for breath while he hadn't yet begun to sweat.

With a final blow, Sesshomaru sent Inuyasha out of the ring, landing with a sickening thud on his side.

Inuyasha lay there a moment, trying to squelch the anger he always felt after losing to his step brother.

After a few moments, the boy finally rose up and turned to endure the look of triumph that Sesshomaru sported.

"I've beaten you once again it seems."

"So what!" Inuyasha shot back. "I'm still four years younger than you. Someday, I will be stronger."

Sesshomaru remained quiet for some time, but finally, a true geniune smile spread across his features. "Yes, one day you will be stronger. If you train with me, you will become the best fighter in all the lands."

Inuyasha knew that these moments of praise were rare, so he beamed under the uncommon compliment.

Sesshomaru turned so as to hide his secret affection for his younger brother. Inuyasha smirked at that. However cruel and heartless he seemed to everyone, Inuyasha knew that underneath the fourteen-year-old's blank mask there was a gentle and reasonable boy, wise beyond his years.

Sesshomaru called over his shoulder, "Come, father is holding a war council meeting. He is hoping to unite all the demon tribes into one nation."

Inuyasha ran up to Sesshomaru and fell in stride next to him as they walked. "Really?" he asked with awe.

"Yes. He hopes that under one rule we will be a stronger force in the face of the humans to the north and east."

Inuyasha, being only ten, did not quite understand these ideas of war and allies and forces. But the mention of humans interested him.

"What are humans like, brother?" Normally, Inuyasha would never call Sesshomaru "brother", but after his nice remark from earlier, he thought he would chance it.

Sesshomaru shot the boy a quick glance before looking ahead as they ascended the staircase to their palace entrance.

"Humans...they are weak creatures, full of greed and ignorance. They are afraid of anything they do not understand, and their anger clouds their judgement until they know not what they fight for."

Inuyasha's eyes dimmed in sorrow at this new found knowledge. He had had high hopes for them. "Oh..." was all he could manage.

By now the two of them were inside the palace, making there way up even more stairs to the high room at the top floor. Inside that room, demons from across the land were meeting to discuss a possible alliance, and as Sesshomaru and Inuyasha climbed the cold stone stair, a rush of cold air passed over them both, and the younger of the two felt chills sweep over his spine. Something life changing was about to occur. Inuyasha could feel it.

&Niiroke&

AN: Look for my next chapter fairly soon. With school and work, I'm pretty busy, but on the weekends I have plenty of time to write, so expect one within a week. And please, tell me what you think in a review. Thanks! --Niiroke