Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Disney and in no way do I gain monetary value from this FanFiction.

A/N: There is going to be a lot going on in this story and I really want this to be interactive with the readers. So, I'm going to have little contests or quizzes at the end of the chapters to see if anybody is catching on. ;)

Title: The Fairest of Them All

Prologue

Ridiculous. Sesshomaru glared at the demons that sat around the large council chamber. For once, almost all of the Cardinal Lords seemed to be in agreement. How he hated each and every one of them at that moment.

Sharp, brown eyes closed as the falcon youkai sighed slowly and raised his hands in what was supposed to be a calming gesture. "Now, Lord Sesshomaru, we all understand that the Western lands have been prospering under your rule since your father's passing, but we cannot let you have full control over them until all of the conditions have been met." The other two youkai nodded their agreement. The metallic-silver dragon of the East crossed his arms and leaned against the back wall while the tiger youkai of the South found the table top quite interesting.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed impossibly more at the Northern Lord, but he remained silent.

The falcon youkai sighed, sensing that he wasn't getting through to the stubborn demon. The Northern Lord opened his mouth to once again try to reason with Sesshomaru when a clawed hand landed on his shoulder and silenced him. The Eastern Dragon Lord spoke up, "Pup, you will take a mate. If you refuse we will be forced to split the Western Kingdom between the remaining Lords until there is a proper heir in place. No one here wants that."

Sesshomaru scowled inwardly before standing from the great table. "Under my conditions will I accept."

"We shall see," the Eastern Lord countered. "What might those conditions be?"

The only sign pointing towards Sesshomaru's anger was the hard look in his eyes. "I will choose my own mate at my own time and I will court her and mate her when and where of my choosing. None of you will interfere."

"There must be a time limit, pup, or else you could roam as you please under the pretenses of finding a mate," the tiger met the young lord's fierce gaze.

"You find my honor so lacking, Yuuta?" Sesshomaru snarled at the tiger. None in the room flinched at the inuyoukai's vicious expression or how the temperature of the room dropped impossibly more.

"Hardly, Sesshomaru," Yuuta tried to reason, "I am merely stating that the courts will not be pleased without a proper time allotment. You know how finicky they can be."

"I care not for the woes of the court," he growled in disgust.

"Regardless," the dragon spoke up, "you have until the winter solstice to find a mate of your choosing. If you fail to have acquired one by then we will choose one for you or you may decide to divide your lands among us. We will not put her through the tests of the court nor will she have to bear the weight of the Mating Ceremony, but she will be displayed to the courts before the actually mating takes place. Those are the conditions or you risk war, pup."

"Hn." The three Cardinal Lords looked on as the Prince to the Western Kingdom stalked out of the meeting room.

"Thank you, Lord Katsuro, I wasn't getting to him," the falcon looked up at the dragon and sighed again.

"Hn, I don't think anybody could've gotten to him, Lord Hayato."

"True. What a stubborn pup," Hayato shook his head. "Just like his father."

o-o-o-o

Ridiculous. Sesshomaru growled out as he made his way through the trees around his castle. Even though it was nearly dusk he felt now was the perfect time to patrol the grounds. He let his aura float menacingly across the land and was only slightly satisfied when he felt all the other auras flee in fright.

"Trouble in paradise, Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru turned slowly to face the mocking voice. "Bokusenou."

"Tell me, pup, why are you scaring away all of my friends?" The bark of the old tree morphed into a withered, smiling face.

"This Sesshomaru does not have to answer to you," coldly, the demon turned to leave.

"Then use this old demon as council. I've seen and heard quite a few things in my time."

Sesshomaru paused in his step but didn't turn around. He contemplated the old tree's words before answering. His father had used Bokusenou as an advisor before his passing; maybe he could do the same. "I must mate before I can claim my rightful place as Lord."

"Ah, I see," the tree thought a moment, "And you feel there is no demoness who is worthy?" The young demon hn'd his agreement.

"This one will not mate below himself in any way." Not in power, beauty, or grace.

"Even at the threat of losing your lands?" The young taiyoukai narrowed his eyes, but the tree couldn't see the warning in them and continued on. "So, you search for the fairest of them all. I agree; there is no demoness who even comes close to your power," Bokusenou's eyes twinkled with amusement the younger demon could not see.

"Then you understand my predicament." Sesshomaru took a step forward with every intention of leaving the ridiculous tree behind. He obviously was not going to be of any use.

The old demon stared at Sesshomaru's tense back. "I do, but I do not think you do."

Sesshomaru quickly, but rather gracefully, spun to stare at the youkai, bristling at the perceived insult. "Do you dare doubt my intelligence, old tree?"

Bokusenou paused and sighed blissfully as he felt the cool breeze blow through his leaves; it was one that told of the turning of the seasons. "I know of the one you search for; the one who will match you in all things. I have heard of her travels from the other trees and have listened intently to the stories of her power and beauty. I think you, too, will find her most pleasing."

Sesshomaru growled menacingly and flexed his claws. "Do not lie to me, tree!" How dare he try to play this Sesshomaru for a fool.

Calm eyes pinned fierce golden ones. "I speak nothing but the truth."

"Did you not say that there are no demonesses who could ever come close?"

"I did."

"Then how is there one out there that could match me perfectly?"

The old tree smirked slightly. "I never said she was a demoness."

Sesshomaru pulled back sharply and narrowed his eyes. "I will not mate a mere, filthy ningen."

Leaves bustled gently with the old tree's laugh. "Oh, she is far from ordinary and has a fondness for baths."

"I stand by my claim."

"She is timeless, pup. Never aging and dying like her fellow ningen."

"Then she's a witch."

"Hardly. She's a miko."

Ridiculous. Sesshomaru turned to leave the idiotic tree. His father must have been truly desperate to take any advice from the insane demon.

Bokusenou watched Sesshomaru's retreating back and just before he passed beyond the tree line, the old demon spoke softly, knowing the inuyoukai would be able to hear him, "I hear she's quite powerful, too; maybe, even more powerful than you."

Let's start a contest. Each chapter will be referencing a specific Disney film and cookies go to the reviewer who can figure out which film I'm referencing and where the reference is at! I'm going to try to stick to the more commonly known films just to narrow it down for you readers, though I doubt the references will be very hard to catch. Good luck!

Oh, and let me know what you think. I love constructive criticism.

Hint: I am referencing two different films here, but one is the overall theme of the story.

bbgirl15