Title: A Long Engagement

Pairing: Sesshomaru & Kagome

Warning: Gore, pain, violence

Genre: Romance & Fantasy

Rating: PG-13 - T

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA.

Chappy 1

In the Eastern Lands of japan lived the royal family of Higurashi. The family consisted of a father, Lord Naraku, a mother, Lady Sakura, the eldest princess, Kikyo, the middle child, Kagome, and the youngest, Prince Souta, all 2 years apart. They were a tiger demon tribe, they bore black hair with orange streaks and brown eyes. Naraku had orange and black streaks on his cheeks and body, showing a mature demon. On their foreheads they all bore a mark of a black fang. Their mother, she was different. She was a white tiger demoness, in turn, her hair was a light orange, but she bore all the other marks as her family.

Along with his Tiger demon powers, Lord Naraku was a master of all elements: Air, water, earth and fire. His father before him had taught him. The Lady only mastered one element, water, to heal and defend herself if needed. It had always been a tradition that when the children reached the age of five, in demon years, they would choose their own element to learn, and so based on their choice of element, the heir to the throne would be chosen.

Their chosen element would be burned into their skin by their masters, and would be their strongest advantage. Other elements could be learned and mastered over time, as the marks would appear on the warriors crown, but their chosen element would still burn brighter than all others.

Lord Naraku was the eldest child of his father, and he chose water because of the healing nature of water, that it could bring life, yet could destroy in mere seconds. His father was impressed with his reason, and chose him as heir.

Coincidentally, the Lords and Ladies before him were all eldest children of their fathers, therefore, Kikyo knew, better yet, assumed she would be chosen as heir.

At the age of five, Kikyo was brought to the throne room where she stood facing her father, the crown shining brilliantly on his head along with a water drop under it, a flame below, a rock to the left and a swirl to the right, with his fang in the center representing his mastery of all four elements.

She bowed as her long black, orange streaked hair touched the floor, her brown eyes deep like a river, dark purple kimono, with pink sakura blossoms embroidered into the purple silk touched the floor with a pink obi. She was 5, and already learned so much. "Yes father?" her little voice seemed almost adult. She knew what this meeting was about, ever since the day she could talk and comprehend, but awaited his reply.

"It is time." He said, his tone commanding her utmost attention.

She nodded and four masters appeared from behind the throne. A master in a blue velvet coat held a bowl of water in his hands, the water ever whirling. The second in red velvet, and in his hand, he held a bowl filled with fire he conjoured and manipulated. The third was dressed in white velvet with a tiny tornado in his bowl, and the last dressed in brown velvet, a bowl of warm dirt, ever changing and moving like an ongoing earthquake.

"You may choose." Her father said royally.

She nodded and stared at all the masters. She eyed them and she walked slowly to the master of fire a look of pure determination in her eyes. There was no guessing, she already knew what she wanted. "I choose you, Master of Fire." Her father's left brow rised and he carefully asked her what his father, and his father before him, asked him, "And why did you choose fire?" She looked at him, her ego filling her eyes, "To be strong...and to gain ultimate power. Just like you, father." He closed his eyes and sighed. "As you wish daughter." And with those last words, the master of fire placed a single index on her forehead, a flame burned into her pale skin above her black fang.

It burned a little, as she whimpered at the touch. Soon the Master of Fire took her hand and led her to the dojo, her training would start as soon as possible. The other three masters turned to their Lord and bowed. "You may leave." They rose and left the throne room.

He sighed and turned to his wife and mate who entered the room, her ladies in waiting told to wait outside. She wore a pale orange silk kimono, with a deep blue tiger embroidered into the back, reaching down well pass her ankles and wrists and a black obi. She looked at her husband, a troubling look etched into his face. "Which did she choose, love?" He sighed. "Fire." She smiled lightly, "And for what purpose?" He looked at her and motioned for her to come closer. She walked up to him and sat in her smaller chair, artfully decorated for a queen, to the right of his. "She wants strength and ultimate power." He said to her, her smile faded instanty. "Utter power..." She looked at her hands that gracefully lay in her lap and the sting of utter disappointment overtook her. "You and I both know Naraku...that those are definitely not the qualities we are looking for. Being Lady of these lands require compassion, and kindness, with an iron fist...but," she began trembling now, "...I am to blame. I taught her of kindness, and civility...humility...it is quite obvious that I...I-I failed..."

Lord Naraku stared at his wife and took her hands in his, "Do not blame yourself, mate. You can always teach a frog to be a prince, but in the end, it is still a frog. Even though she is merely five in demon years, she has had a century to learn what you have taught her but still has chosen this path." He caressed her pale cheek and continued, oh how he adored his wife, "Let us hope she does not turn out like we assume she will. Hopefully, she will find something to protect and forget all about her search for power." She nodded and licked his cheek affectionately. "I hope that Kagome or Souta will choose their element for the right reasons." She said as she nuzzled his neck.