This is an old story that I've chosen to rewrite as I found myself feeling as though it was missing something.

WARNING: Before you read this story and complain or raise question: Yes, the story begins in China - therefore the main character's are Chinese and have Chinese names which will be used until about Chapter 5 until...well I don't really want to give the plot line away but the names will not be a permanent thing after Chapter 5 and they will come to be known as their respective names from the series. If that bothers you then you'll probably not want to read this story.

I will say - I welcome constructive criticism as long as it is just that: constructive. I enjoy feedback, helpful suggestions and opinions but if you're going to be rude or my vision for this story doesn't satisfy your tastes, then simply don't read it. I don't write for views, I write because I have a lot of stories that swirl around in my head and I like to write them down for my own enjoyment. I like to share because there is the off chance someone else might enjoy it to. If you do, I'm glad! If not, then that's ok too.

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all it's characters do not belong to me.

Prologue:

We Are One

Her fingertips brushed along the long stalks of wheat whipping in the wind along the dirt path they strode, her elder sister's song dancing on the breezefurther up the road as it wafted behind to reach Xiao-Niao's ears.

"From the end of the earth, to the furthest corner of the seas– I search for my heart's true mate." Ching-Lan sang, the length of her silken mane bouncing with each joyful skip, swinging her basket at her side. "A young girl sings with her lad at her side. Aiya aiya, my love we are one."

Xiao-Niao laughed, dropping her arm, racing up the road to catch up with her sister, humming along to her hymn.

"Looking north from my home on the hill, my tears fall and wet my sleeves." Ching-Lan continued, looking to Xiao-Niao as she fell into step at her side, flashing her a bright smile that reached her eyes. Ching-Lan linked her free arm with the girl as they finished the verse together. "I have been missing you up to today, love in troubled times runs deep. Aiya aiya, my love, we are one."

The girls giggled together, continuing their familiar journey the hill together, arms intertwined. The market was as lively as usual; the streets buzzing with conversations and various smells. The pair weaved through the crowd, shuffling past fruit stands and vendors peddling their wares. Xiao-Niao craned her neck to see across the ocean of bodies – searching for a familiar face. She straightened her dingy brown skirt with her free hand, plastering on a charming smile as she spotted the vegetable vendor, pulling her elder sister along.

"Mister!" Xiao-Niao greeted, the pair bowing their heads in respect as they approached. "We've brought you potatoes from our Father's garden."

"So I see." The pudgy man grunted, rubbing the underside of his bulbous nose with a dirty finger before reaching out for the basket.

"Three yuan." Xiao-Niao chirped, sharply jerking the basket away from his reach, her sweet expression melting away as she fixed him with an unwavering stare. His hand flew back, as if the basket held a snake prepared to strike.

"You ask too much, girl." He scoffed, crossing his arms over his large chest grumpily, glowering down at the two girls before him.

"I'm sorry, Mister. I thought it a fair price." Xiao-Niao bowed apologetically, feigning innocence. "You see, a vendor from Dong'An offered my father three yuan for our crops when he was passing through Xiapu some weeks ago, but they weren't yet ready. It's such a far walk just to sell potatoes, you know! If it's too much, Mister, then we must get going if we wish to be home by nightfall."

With that, Xiao-Niao bowed once more, ignoring her elder sister's confused expression as Xiao-Niao led her away, shh-ing Ching-Lan's whispered protests as she mouthed for her to wait. She counted their steps in her mind, the corners of her lips twitching as she held back a knowing grin.

"Wait, wait!" He called to their retreating backs, Xiao-Niao stopping, glancing back over her shoulder, eyebrows drawn up in question.

"Yes, Mister?" She asked coyly.

"I will spare you the walk. Bring them here and I will pay what you ask." He sighed in resignation, beckoning them over with a wave of his hand. Xiao-Niao beamed brightly, releasing Ching-Lan's arm as she returned to him, eagerly offering the basket as he pressed three coins into her waiting palm.

"Thank you, Mister!" Xiao-Niao chirped, giving him one last parting bow, tucking the coins into the little drawstring purse she kept tucked inside the waist sash of her tunic before returning to her elder sister's side.

"Wow!" Ching-Lan gawked, her dark eyes wide and soft, pink lips agape as she stared down at Xiao-Niao in awe. "Mei-mei how did you know he would pay?"

"Everyone knows that the Wu family grows the best produce in Xiapu." Xiao-Niao exclaimed proudly. "Baba built our house on rich soil. Our crops never spoil."

"Even so, when I try to sell to them they always end up cheating me." She pouted, side-eying her sister with suspicion, giving Xiao-Niao's shoulder a playful nudge. "What's your secret?"

"I'll never tell!" Xiao-Niao giggled, linking arms with her sister once more, leading her to a cart selling sweet buns and rice cakes.

"One please." Xiao-Niao requested, pointing out a rice cake to the vendor. Placing a single coin in his hand, she accepted his exchange, tucking the treat into her pocket before accepting the change. She smiled as she caught Ching-Lan's questioning look. "Mama always tells me to ask for two yuan but I always ask for three so that I can buy a rice cake for Shaozu with the extra as a treat for working so hard on the boat with Baba."

"Aiya!" Ching-Lan scoffed. "No wonder he likes you best."

"He likes you too!" Xiao-Niao protested.

"You're his favorite." Ching-Lan pouted lamely.

"Oi, Ching-Lan, you'd be his favorite too if you brought him home a sweet bun." A teasing voice interrupted. Both girls turned, Xiao-Niao waving excitedly in greeting while her sister grew flushed beside her.

"Jian-Heng! What are you doing here?" Xiao-Niao greeted the older boy as he approached.

"Hello..." Ching-Lan whispered shyly, nervously stressing her bottom lip between her teeth as her hands moved to smooth out her skirts.

"I'm escorting my sisters around while they shop." He replied stiffly with a roll of his eyes, gesturing to his two sisters who were having an animated conversation with a vendor selling silk scarves near by.

"What rotten luck for an eldest son." Xiao-Niao teased playfully.

"Time wasted better spent on my studies, but Father couldn't spare our house-maid and mother is in Xueshanli visiting her family." He explained bitterly. "Come, I've been walking them around all morning. I'm starving. Come join me for some egg-flour noodles; my treat."

"What about your sisters?" Ching-Lan asked hesitantly, sparing a glance back to the pair.

"They'll be fine. They'll just to carry their own purchases for awhile." He laughed, gesturing for the pair to follow him. "Truth be told my father has been preoccupied with some letter he received from Shanghai for the last couple of days. I think he just wanted us all out of his hair for awhile."

Jian-Heng lead them through the crowded streets, stopping once he'd located a small noodle shop just further inside the village. Choosing an empty table outside, he sank down onto one of the dusty pillows, beckoning them to join him. With a blush, Ching-Lan took up his side while Xiao-Niao sat across from them.

"What sort of letter has your father received from Shanghai? It must be important." Xiao-Niao, her steel-blue eyes full of curiosity over the thought of a mysterious letter from the far city. Xiapu was a small fishing village far, far away from the bustling city of Shanghai. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, leaning across the table.

"Our Xiao-Niao is so curious." Jian-Heng laughed, Ching-Lan giggling nervously beside him, embarrassed by her younger sister's forwardness. Jian-Heng smiled broadly as he sat his chopsticks down beside his bowl, mimicking Xiao-Niao as he leaned forward, whispering teasingly to the younger girl. "Very well, should I tell you?"

"Yes!" She chirped, leaning on her elbows, her bottom wiggling like an excited dog's tail.

"Calm down." He chuckled, reaching across to ruffle Xiao-Niao's hair affectionately before properly setting himself back on his cushion. "Baba received a telegraph from a friend in Shanghai a few days ago, the Japanese Emperor has contacted the Minister in hopes of settling the animosity between our nations."

"How does he plan on doing that?" Xiao-Nao asked, her bottom lip jutting out in a pout as Jian-Heng paused to take another bite.

"With a marriage between nations." He answered finally, amused by Xiao-Niao's impatience. "He's offering to marry his eldest son off to a Chinese girl in an offering of hope for a future of peace and business between our nations."

"Ahhh." Ching-Lang perked from beside him, her gaze drifting off towards the marketplace. "That is why your sisters are preparing."

"Mhm. I think Lien-Hua is clinging to any hope that the Emperor may choose her." He laughed, shaking his head as he took another bite. "She's out of luck though. Supposedly not just any girl will do. The revolutionaries don't think it's a big enough gesture just to give the Emperor's heir one of the pampered daughters of a wealthy man. They're pressing him to choose a "true daughter of China."

"A true daughter of China?" Ching-Lan asked skeptically.

"A poor man's daughter." He answered with a smirk. "Lien-Hua may not think we have much compared to the daughters in Shanghai, but we own most of the land in Xiapu. We're well off enough that she wouldn't make the cut despite her hopes."

"There are poorer villages than Xiapu." Xiao-Niao commented.

"Aye, the Emperor will be sending a matchmaker to take record of the eligible daughters in the poorest villages of China's countryside. Xiapu included." He explained. Ching-Lan suddenly looked very hopeful as pondered the idea.

"Aiya, there are poorer families than ours, Ching-Lan, even in Xiapu!" Xiao-Niao scolded her as she caught her sister's dreamy expression, Ching-Lan sticking her tongue out childishly in response.

"She's right." Jian-Heng chuckled beside her, nudging Ching-Lan's shoulder playfully with his own as he beamed across the table to Xiao-Niao. "Can't have you married off to those barbarians. What would we do without our Ching-Lan, huh?"

Ching-Lan turned a lovely shade of red as she looked down, quickly taking up her chopsticks as she took an overzealous bite of noodles to distract herself, Xiao-Niao and Jian-Heng sharing a laugh at her expense. They finished their meal together in good company, even joined later by Jian-Heng's sisters. The sun was low in the sky when Jian-Heng finally walked them to the edge of the marketplace before parting ways, Ching-Lan staring longingly after him as they headed down the dirt road that would lead them home.

"I'm going to marry him." Ching-Lan announced suddenly.

"You think so?" Xiao-Niao teased, linking arms with her sister.

"I know so!" Ching-Lan informed smugly. "Ming-Hua whispered to me that she heard Jian-Heng talking to their father discussing his desire to ask Baba for the hand of his daughter before the maid shooed her away from the door."

"How do you know he was talking about you?" Xiao-Niao playfully teased.

"Who else could he have meant? You? Jian-Heng would never marry you!" Ching-Lan scoffed. "Men like Jian-Heng like girls with long pretty hair and soft milky skin. Your skin is too dark and you're much too short! You've chopped off all your hair and your eyes are are pale like the belly of a dead fish."

Xiao-Niao slowed her pace, her breath catching in her throat at the sharpness of her sister's words. It was true that her skin was tanned from long hours under the sun, and her once long, wavy locks cut down to shoulder length after having grown tired of how hot and uncomfortable the thick mane was to manage in the summer. She was the shortest girl in the village, barely five feet in standing. Even Jian-Heng's little sister Ming-Hua stood taller than her at only twelve years of age. Tears prickled behind her lids as her free hand moved to wipe at her eyes...her strange, blue-grey eyes the color of raindrops. The oddity that they were; inherited from their father.

"Xiao-Niao..." Ching-Lan laughed nervously, drawing her from her musings, gently bumping her shoulder against Xiao-Nao's own. "I was only teasing."

"Oh." Xiao-Niao replied softly, not at all convinced of her sister's claim, no matter how much she wished she could believe it. Shaking her head of the thoughts, she plastered a smile on her face as she unhooked her arm from Ching-Lan's. "We should hurry before it gets dark, Baba will be home soon!"