Random. I know. But I think it's cute. Please review and let me know what you think. It will be another long story. There's a lot of...politeness in this chapter, but that will change shortly, promise.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.


Beauty Killed the Beast

Chapter One


I'm sure you've all read the fairytales, the stories about the princess befalling a terrible fate and her prince charming comes and kisses her, sweeps her off her feet and they live happily ever after. Then again, I'm sure you've read the others, when the prince is not so charming and the princess is more a warrior than a lady in distress. But this story is unlike any fairytale ever written. It's a story with action, adventure, angst, humour, fantasy and of course, romance. And it all begins with once upon a time…


Once upon a time there lived four very powerful families. Each family ruled their own large region in a land called Golden. These four families were all very rich and no one dared to go against them. No, the only enemies to these rulers were each other.

To the Northern part of Golden was the Hidaka Empire: a human family that consisted of a man and his priestess daughter. Haru Hidaka ruled his region with an iron fist. He was cold and at times ruthless but his people were always in the forefront of his mind and none of them suffered.

Beside them, in the Western region, a dog demon family by the name of Taisho ruled. The Taisho Empire was once by far, the strongest link. Once just a widow father and his son, InuTaisho remarried breaking the unwritten no-mixed race rule and falling in love with a mortal woman named Izayoi. Together, after years of controversy and spite, they diminished all thoughts after being victorious in the Great Battle against the Dragons. Years after war, Izayoi gave birth to a half-demon son.

In the Eastern part was the panther demons and within the Masuda Empire, the ruler and his four children lived. Their mother murdered by a disease, each child inherited a single ability from their elemental-powered mother. Of all the regions, the East had the strongest military, though they just barely surpassed the West. The Eastern lands, however strong, had many poor towns since the money went into military and not health.

And last but not least, there was the Southern region where the Higurashi Empire sat. The two loving rulers of the South had two children, one daughter and one son. The Southern land was a strong region, no families suffering from poverty with a fair sized military and very supportive background. Unlike the other three lands, the South preferred self-dependence. They grew their own food and only traded when other objects were needed.

Each of these four lands were controlled by the Prophecy, a cryptic scroll written about the foreseen revolution but this, no matter how important, is not where the story truly begins. Yes, our story begins with a grown daughter of regal grace…

"Hurry up Kagome!"

Of outstanding beauty…

"Yeah sis! Hurry your butt down here!"

And of royal upbringing.

"Kagome Sakura Higurashi, if you do not get down here this instant I will be forced to take away your lessons in archery!"

"I'm coming Mother!" Kagome exclaimed tirelessly, running down the stairs with the front of her dress in her hands and her head up high. As she caught up to her waiting mother and brother, Kagome let go of her dress, clasped her hands together and bowed her head. "Please except my apologies Mother. I was merely trying to finish my studies before the answers slipped my mind."

Naomi Higurashi, Queen of the Southern Empire and mother of two, looked down at her eldest daughter, a smile tugging on the edge of her lips. "Accepted. Now all I ask is that in the future, you will come when I call."

"Yes Mother," Kagome said solemnly and waited for her mother to turn around before sticking her tongue out and squinting her eyes. Foolish, of course it was. Gratifying, by all means.

Princess Kagome Higurashi was a young woman with long midnight cascades and deep chocolate eyes. Her face was pale, one of a girl who was neglected of the sun and her body healthy. Due to unavoidable genes, Kagome had always been voluptuous, having the body of a twelve year old when she was only nine and had constantly been made fun of by the other wealthy children for having 'boobies.'

Now, at seventeen, Kagome was strong and independent, a hard-worker who was also known to be quite stubborn. She was next in line for the throne, and despite Kagome's occasional rebellion, she was perfect for it.

"Now please children," Naomi said as they approached two large wooden doors with servants on either side. "Your father has been very busy lately and today's mail may be even more stressful. I suggest that you remain quiet today, and that means no bugging your sister." Naomi gave a pointed glare to her son Souta, who looked about as disappointed as a child who wasn't given a present on their birthday.

When Naomi nodded, the doormen opened the doors and the trio walked in, greeted by a lone man who sat at the far end of a dark cherry wood table.

"So you decided to show up after all!" Akira Higurashi announced, his playful smile making Kagome and Souta run up to him, hugging him fiercely.

"Sorry Father, but Kagome was rebelling again," Souta explained, grinning at his sister.

Kagome snorted and rolled her eyes. "Oh yes, I'm a total rebel," she told her brother and then looked to her father. "I was actually finishing up my studies on the Great Battle."

Akira laughed; a hearty sound that rumbled deep from his chest. "Oh, is old man Totosai making you learn that? Tell me Kagome, how many times did you fall asleep during lecture?"

"Akira!" Naomi light-heartedly scolded.

Akira pushed his two children in front on him as he ducked behind them, the top half of his black shaggy hair showing as his wife came towards him. It did him no good though, since Naomi just moved them aside and slapped him on the head. "Respect your elders!"

Akira laughed, rubbing his head and gesturing towards the table for them to sit down. They all did after several seconds and talked about idle things before Totosai Yanami, both a teacher and trusted advisor of the Higurashi Empire, walked in with his hands filled with papers.

"King Higurashi," Totosai said with a bow, "your mail has arrived."

Trying not to burst out laughing, Akira waved him forward, accepting the papers with thanks. Quietly, his family watched him as he sorted through them, eyeing some longer than others.

"The Eastern land is offering a trade," Akira said finally. "Our food and seeds for their weapons."

Once again, Kagome snorted, shaking her head. She stopped when she saw the look her mother gave her, knowing that it irritated her when such an "unladylike" sound came out of their "ladylike" daughter.

Right.

"I'm sorry Mother, but I was just wondering if the East had nothing better to trade other than weapons."

"They don't," Akira said, looking over at Kagome. "Their military is the only thing going for them, I'm afraid."

"That's their own fault though," Souta piped in. For the age of thirteen, Souta knew many things that no ordinary boy his age knew. "Instead of inventing knew ways to build weapons, they should've been inventing knew ways to grow food. It's the only thing that King Masuda faults in: priorities."

"Hush now," Naomi reprimanded, glaring at her son. "We do not speak of the other rulers in such a way."

"Listen to your mother," Akira agreed.

Kagome started to tune out her parents as further conversation about the land continued. Instead, she looked to Totosai and watched for the signal.

There: the slight almost unperceivable nod of his head. You wouldn't have seen it if you hadn't been looking for it and lucky for Kagome, she had been. When Totosai took his leave, she chose to listen back to the conversation at hand and was fortunate enough to understand what they were talking about.

"If the weather doesn't permit, we'll have a huge problem on our hands. Many of our people will grow hungry and one fault could result in a chain."

"Agreed," Naomi said, facing her husband. "If we choose to decline Katsu's offer of weapons and do not give up the food, we won't have a problem with our people."

"But we'll have a problem with him."

"Katsu Masuda has a problem with everyone Akira," Naomi stated, folding her hands on the table. "It's not like we haven't declined them before."

"True but last I heard from Haru, Katsu's starting to lose it."

"Haru is a fibber, he always has been," Naomi sighed, talking about the ruler of the Northern Empire.

Souta frowned. "So I can't say that King Masuda doesn't prioritize but you can say that King Hidaka is a liar?"

Akira had to bite his lower lip to stop from bursting out laughing and Naomi sighed patiently. "Honey, I did not call him a liar."

"But you called him a fibber," Souta said, an evil grin on his lips. It was his favourite game to try and outsmart his mother.

"Do as I say and not as I do," Kagome quoted, giving a small smile of her own as her family looked at her confused. "Please excuse me, I will be back momentarily."

When Naomi nodded for her to go, Kagome walked out of the conference room and up to Totosai, who waited patiently a couple feet away.

"You know I disapprove of this," Totosai commented, handing Kagome a folded piece of parchment with the seal of the Western lands.

"Oh, of course you do," Kagome said, hugging the old man. "But since when have you not?"

Not waiting for his reply, Kagome skipped away, up a flight of stairs that she had recently tumbled down on and into her large bedroom. Dark red walls surrounded her and her dark green canopy bed welcomed her as she jumped on it, careful not to rip her plain sky blue dress.

Removing the seal and opening the letter, Kagome could hardly contain her smile as she read the bold writing of a cocky jerk.

Dear Princess,

As you already know, life sucks.

"Amen," Kagome whispered with a smirk as she read on.

My parents are forcing me to marry and if I had a dollar for every time they've asked me who my bride-to-be is, I swear I could buy this entire damn world. I don't want to marry and I have no intentions of getting a woman. So far, I've managed to chase off forty-seven of them, which, to my father's dismay, has given me the title as The Beast. Go figure.

I think this whole get-married-and-live-happily-ever-after crap is bullshit and guess what? My stupid parents are throwing me a ball for my eighteenth birthday! Of all the good things in life, why the hell would they throw a ball? And here's the best part: they want me to go with my bride-to-be! Which is interesting, considering the fact I don't have one.

Write me back, I can't wait to hear about your latest rebel act as Princess of the South.

Much hate,

Inuyasha

By the end of it, Kagome was laughing so hard her sides hurt and tears were gathering in her eyelashes. It was the age old letter that Kagome and Inuyasha, Prince of the Western lands and second in line for the throne, would write to each other.

Though nobody but Inuyasha knew, Kagome secretly despised being called Princess. She felt like it made her feel better than everybody else and Kagome, who was always equal to everyone, hated it with a passion…of hate.

The other thing they constantly wrote to each other was the famous 'much hate' line. Instead of 'much love,' they preferred to twist it up a little.

Now, it was just tradition.

"Kagome, where are you?"

Kagome gasped when she realized how long she'd been and folded up the letter neatly, deciding to write back to him that night. Hiding it in the far back of her dresser drawer, Kagome raced out of the room, careful to not trip over her long dress and met up with her father.

Akira Higurashi eyed her suspiciously. "Kagome, dear, what was taking you? We finished the discussion long ago."

"I'm sorry Father I was just finishing up on my studies. While passing my room when I was coming back from the bathroom I remembered something vital to my homework. Totosai gave me a bundle of questions to do and he expects them to be due by lesson tomorrow."

Akira's brow rose further. "I didn't need an hour long explanation, dear. You could've just told me you remembered something."

Kagome grinned sheepishly. "Sorry Father."

"Stop apologizing Kagome and follow me, I'd like to show you something."

Kagome nodded and followed her father, walking through many rooms and halls until they reached their destination: a book shelf.

"Umm, if I may ask Father, why did you bring me here?"

But Akira was ignoring her, dismissing her question and counting the number of books on the top shelf. "Kagome, what day were you born?"

"On the forth of the Ice-month."

"Exactly." Akira pointed to the top shelf, counting them one by one. "See the white bound books? I want you to count the fourth one and take it out for me."

Kagome, skeptical of what her father was trying to prove, did as she was told and grabbed a thin, barely noticeable book off the shelf. Instantly she jumped back, the shelf sliding back and then to the side, revealing a secret passage.

"Now Kagome, what I'm about to show you, you must not show to anyone. Promise me Kagome."

"I promise," Kagome said, slightly startled at her father's firmness. She had only heard him speak like that in meetings or debates but never with her. "Why, what's so important?"

"This," Akira said and then walked into the room, Kagome following close behind. Soon the room that joined into the library led into a hallway which then led to another room further back. In that back room, though there were no lights on, Kagome could see a pink glow, so brilliant and so bright that it lighted the secret passage. She could feel power entering her body and it felt like the weirdest sort of high.

Just then, a large round pink jewel came into Kagome's sights and she had to control a foreign urge to run up and touch it. She looked to Akira, who smiled down at her. "Do you feel that?"

"You mean do I feel the power radiating off it like a thousand demons? Yes, yes I do."

Akira laughed and shook his head. "Not that. Do you feel…funny?"

Kagome scrunched up her face but nodded. "I feel like I can do anything. What is it?"

Akira walked towards the jewel that sat on a podium dead center of the square room. He reached his hand out to touch it but when the tips of his fingers were only a few centimetres away, a spark of white lightning shot out at him.

"Did you see that Kagome?" he asked, retracting his hand. "The jewel rejects me. Now you try."

Kagome cocked a brow, crossing her arms. "I'm sorry but having mini lightning coming from a pink jewel strike at me really doesn't appeal."

"Try, please."

Her father looked down at her so sincerely that Kagome didn't know how she could refuse. Before she was even conscious of making the decision to, she found herself reaching out for the pink orb and felt a cool touch when she grabbed it. Like a cold finger running up and down her back, she felt shivers run through her body.

"Excellent," Akira whispered, his smile never fading. "The Prophecy is being fulfilled."

"What?" Kagome asked, looking at her father worriedly. "What are you talking about? Why didn't it strike out at me?"

"Kagome, calm down. I will explain everything in due time. The only thing you need to know right now is the name of the jewel."

"And that would be?" Kagome probed, awaiting the answer.

"The Shikon no Tama or what it's more commonly called The Jewel of Four Souls."

Kagome frowned and looked at the pink orb in her hands.

What have I gotten myself into?


"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not going to marry!"

"Inuyasha, stop this business at once!" InuTaisho yelled, his booming voice resounding on the walls around them. "You are turning eighteen. It is time that you marry or I fear for what you'll become."

"But Sesshomaru is to be the heir," Inuyasha said, a heavy sigh in his voice. "Sesshomaru is already getting married to Kagura. Isn't that enough?"

"No," his father said. "You two are to both marry, even if I have to drag you down the isle."

"But there isn't a woman I want to marry," Inuyasha said again, repeating the same thing he had constantly been saying.

"There would be if you stopped chasing them all away!" InuTaisho roared, his patience wearing thin. The Great Dog Demon, Lord of the West was a very skilled fighter, gifted in many areas, smart and fierce. He ruled his region with both his head and his heart and he worked hard to keep everyone happy. But right now, he couldn't care less how his youngest son, Inuyasha Taisho, was feeling.

"All of them just want to marry me because of our wealth, our land and the fact that I'd look good beside her."

InuTaisho sighed. His son did have a point. "But that still doesn't change the fact that you need a bride. It's for the country's sake, if anything should happen to me and your mother, Sesshomaru and his fiancée."

Inuyasha snorted. "The possibility of that happening is slim to none. And slim just walked out the door."

InuTaisho rubbed his temples, sitting on his throne and out of habit tapping his right foot. It was a sign of stress and Inuyasha knew he was pushing it.

"But Inuyasha, we have already arranged the ball for your birthday. Your birthday is in four days and in those four days you will find your bride."

"So Sesshomaru is allowed to marry out of love but I can't? I hardly think that's fair." He didn't care about love, but that was beside the point.

"What's fair doesn't matter anymore Inuyasha! You have four days and that's final. At the very least find someone to take to the ball with you… And since you do have a point about marrying out of love and force, the one you take doesn't have to be your fiancée. Just please…try."

Inuyasha let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks."

"Thank you," InuTaisho corrected.

Scowling and rolling his eyes, Inuyasha turned away from his father and walked out of the throne room. Down the Great Hall, Inuyasha climbed a flight of stairs before finally making his way to his bedroom. It was large and spacious, the walls a deep red and his furnishings black iron.

He collapsed on his bed, thinking about his father's wishes. Being seventeen was a fun year but now as the closing weeks for his eighteenth birthday came, he dreaded the age. He was strong, a warrior both in strength and mind. Several times his brother Sesshomaru told him that he fought more with his heart than his head, but then again, he would probably never have to go to battle.

Unless his entire family died, but he wasn't exactly counting on that to happen.

His blew his silver bangs out of his face and twitched his dog ears that sat upon his head. He was half-demon, both of human and demon blood. He didn't exactly mind, but as a young child it had been the most difficult thing for him to accept.

"I wonder…" Inuyasha mumbled as he pushed himself up, going to his iron and glass desk and looking at the scattered papers. "She should have gotten my letter by now."

A smug smile was on his face, wondering how she reacted to his letter. It was an odd relationship the two had. It had all started when they were kids at a huge ball hosted by the Northern Lands. He had first met Kagome when he saw her hit Kikyo, the daughter of the North, because she had made a comment about Kagome's curves. They had only been ten when they met and seeing that Kagome was one tough little girl, he decided to show her up. He had taken some cake from a table and offered it to her and the minute she went to reach out to grab some, he smeared it all over her dress.

She cried, of course, and ran away without anyone but him noticing. Inuyasha, racked with guilt, followed her and apologized. Secretly, the two had then been sending letters to each other, the only people that knew were their trusted advisors and best friends.

"Inuyasha! Where are you?"

Inuyasha growled and looked to the door. "What do you want monk? Haven't I've been bothered enough today?"

"Have you destroyed anything valuable yet?"

Inuyasha twitched. "No."

"Then not nearly enough," came the laugh of an answer as a tall dark haired man entered wearing purple and blue robs. Inuyasha's best friend, Miroku or also known as "monk" was one that considered himself to be holy despite the fact that his mind was far from it. His hair was pulled back in a small ponytail and his left ear was pieced, a golden ring through it.

Sad to say, Miroku was that trusted advisor that knew about Inuyasha and Kagome's secret friendship.

"So Inuyasha," Miroku said, seating himself comfortably on the prince's bed. "Why are you up here, all alone and in a terrible mood…again?"

"What else?" Inuyasha hissed.

"Ah," Miroku nodded. "The marriage ordeal."

Inuyasha grimaced at the word. "What am I going to do? Come on Miroku help me," Inuyasha all but begged. "This is serious. I can't get married now."

"You haven't been laid nearly enough," Miroku agreed with a nod.

Inuyasha stared at Miroku who seemed to be lost in thought. "Is sex all you think about?"

Miroku stared at him in complete shock, the accusation stirring him out of his thoughts. "How could you say such a thing? To me of all people! My goodness Inuyasha, my virgin ears are bleeding because of you."

Instead of retorting to that, Inuyasha just shook his head and leaned against his desk, sighing as he looked at the binding of blank paper and an ink pen.

"Don't worry Inuyasha," Miroku said suddenly. "I mailed your letter."

Inuyasha shrugged. "Doesn't matter."

Rolling his eyes, Miroku laughed. "Right. And the last time I forgot to mail it you just locked me in the dungeon for the fun of it? I think not."

"Whatever. Anyways, back on topic. Who do you think I should invite?"

"I thought you didn't want to get married Inuyasha."

"I don't," Inuyasha confirmed. "But my old man said that if I had to I could just invite someone as a friend and not have to marry them."

Miroku nodded. "Sounds like a plan. And who do you know that will go with you just as a friend?"

When dead silence hit the room, Inuyasha cursed. "Oh hell, I don't know. Definitely not some spoiled rich brat that would do anything to be on my arm. That would just annoy the shit out of me."

"Watch your language," Miroku murmured though he knew he shouldn't even bother. The prince would never change his ways.

"And I don't know that many girls because of said issue…" Inuyasha rambled on.

For some reason, Miroku got the feeling that Inuyasha wanted him to say something or to point something out. And for some reason, he had absolutely no idea what it was.

"Like Kikyo is engaged."

"To that bastard Naraku."

"A match made in both Heaven and Hell," Inuyasha agreed. "And all the other girls I know are either already married, engaged or like my sister-in-law."

"Like…"

"Don't. Look, I just have absolutely no clue," Inuyasha continued. "Kikyo is engaged and most of the other girls I know are married."

"You barely know any girls though so that can't help much," Miroku pointed out. "Living in a castle and being the prince of the Western Lands can do that to you."

"Yeah," Inuyasha agreed in a whisper and made his way over to his bed, flopping down beside Miroku. "So who should I take?"

"You're asking me?"

"Do you see anyone else in the room?" Inuyasha asked, slightly annoyed.

Miroku looked around the room jokingly but when he saw Inuyasha's fierce stare, he raised his hands in mock defence. "I was only teasing. Relax Inuyasha," Miroku assured.

"Fine. Now answer."

"Kagome."

Inuyasha didn't look shocked. "Why her?"

"Because the way you looked at me when you were rambling on was like you were telling me with your mind to say to you 'Kagome… Kagome is the one for you…'"

"No."

"Denial isn't a healthy thing Inuyasha."

"It's not denial if there's nothing to deny."

Miroku sighed. "Just ask Kagome. You don't really have much of a choice."

"True."

"And she'll understand."

"Yeah, I guess."

"And she is the princess of the Southern Lands."

"Can't disagree with that."

"So it would look good."

"I look good anyways."

"The smaller the mind the greater the conceit."

"Pure logic."

Miroku smiled. "Then I'd be terrified to see how small yours is."

"Are you implying anything monk?" Inuyasha asked threateningly, raising himself up to his elbows to see his best friend start to leave the room.

Miroku laughed for a moment before shaking his head and pointing towards the half-demon prince. "Yeah. You definitely need to get laid more."


It's going to be a romance, don't worry. And there will be a lot of action, don't worry. It's all going to start up during the second chappie. There will be love...and fighting...and a lot of fluff? And maybe a higher rating? I started this a while ago (when my writing was more innocent) but that'll probably change.

Anyways, please review and let me know what you think. I won't continue if it isn't enjoyed (by others beside myself).

Thank you!

WitchyGirl99