A/N: I know what you're all thinking. Making another story? You still have to finish Disastrous Meeting! I know, I know, I'm horrible, so let's get this over with shall we?

Sephiroth/Kagome is the pairing. I can't help it... they're too cute together~ =w= It's a little different too, since Sephiroth and Sesshomaru are all mushed into one character.

Ikou ze!

Disclaimer: I no own FFVII or InuYasha and anything that entails to them. I only own this little plot, and other things that you'll see later on.

Tomorrow's Hope

Chapter 1

Prologue

The Light of the Four,

Destined to end this eternal strife,

Hath crystals that privy thee.

Thy path is e'er a plague.

Only when fulfilled will thus

Bid adieu.

Whence hope doth return,

Upon tomorrow's horizon.

A baby's shrill cry echoed in a paper-walled room, bringing relieved smiles to two newly made parents. They turned to kiss each other, both not noticing a lavender glow fading through the cracks of the babe's enclosed fist.

"What will we name her?"

The man seemed to contemplate for a moment with a thoughtful expression. "Hm... How about... Kagome?"

The woman blinked at the oddity of the name, "What an unusual name! But... I want our daughter to have a unique name. Kagome it is." A tender look came over her face as she smiled gently at the baby in her arms. "Our Kagome."

A Wutai couple, dressed formally, strolled down an brightly lit street as they maneuvered around seas of people while pushing a white stroller along. People paused minutely to look at them curiously before going back their original paths. Large, clean buildings rose up to greet the trio as they continued on their walk to the center of the town, ShinRa Manufacturing Works Headquarters. The couple visibly straightened as their destination appeared in front of them. They nodded at each other in silent agreement and continued on.

Cool air wafted out as they passed through automatic sliding doors into the large edifice when they finally reached their destination.

"Mr. and Mrs. Higurashi, if you would please come this way." A secretary came up to greet the couple as they stopped in middle of the entrance hall. Glancing at each other, they nodded in assent before following after. As they stepped into an elevator and waited to go up, happy gurgling noises came from the stroller. Mrs. Higurashi leaned over and cooed quietly to the baby in an attempt to silence it. However, the doors slid open before she could completely stop the noisy gurgling. The woman sighed as she resumed pushing the stroller into a large office.

"...Be silent Sephiroth! This is highly unbecomi-" The voice abruptly stopped as the owner of it turned around sharply to glare at the newcomers.

"-unbecoming of you, Professor Hojo. Sit down and shut up. You're in the presence of two very high officials." A short stout older man snarled at the other occupant of the room before switching to the bemused guests. "Please, have a seat. We would like to discuss a few things with you."

If the Wutai man felt any shock at his quick change in demeanor, he was hiding it very well. "What kinds of things, President Shinra?" He asked as he and his wife sat in two comfortably padded chairs. Mrs. Higurashi pulled the baby out of the stroller and onto her lap, bouncing her lightly on her thigh. Shinra took a long draw from his fat cigar, creating a moment of tenseness.

"We would like for your daughter, Kagome, to keep our little boy here, Sephiroth, some company as he grows."

Now, Mr. Higurashi was no stranger when it came to ulterior motives. It was painfully obvious to him that Shinra wanted his beloved daughter and Sephiroth to be in wedlock when they grew older. He knew what arranged marriages were like, his being one of them, but he was lucky. He and his wife had fallen in love with each other. He wasn't so sure about Kagome and the boy. "I'm not sure about this..."

"Oh, it'll be fine, Ichiro. I'm sure this will be good for Kagome, right?" Mrs. Higurashi completely blew off his refusal before it could even come out. He sighed, rubbing his temples in exasperation.

"I guess it's okay," Ichiro regretfully consented. "Alright, Kagome can be with Sephiroth, but..!" He cut off whatever President Shinra was going to say, gazing sharply into said man's eyes. "Only if she will not be harmed in any way, shape, or form, or manipulated."

"Mr. Higurashi, why must you be so mistrustful of us? We would never do anything to harm little Kagome's well-being." President Shinra gestured his cigar harmlessly at the baby in Mrs. Higurashi's arms, Ichiro following with suspicious eyes. "In fact, why not introduce them now?" He motioned for Professor Hojo to bring Sephiroth up to Kagome. "I'm sure it would be beneficial to both of the children."

The Wutai man watched with carefully guarded eyes as his wife took the male babe into her free arm. Kagome seemed to feel the other's presence, for she reached out with her little pudgy hand to grab Sephiroth's. A slight glow seemed to surround the two babes, and Mr. Higurashi squinted his dark brown eyes in an attempt to see it better. However, the light soon faded and he subtly glanced around the room to check if anyone else had seen the spectacle. No one else seemed to have, as Professor Hojo was currently arguing one-sidedly with President Shinra (he was simply smoking his cigar carelessly while watching the town from below out his window), and his wife was looking at them in confusion. He sighed in relief and vowed to himself to never speak of that to anyone so long as his heart was still beating. Glancing back down, Ichiro watched in slight fascination as Sephiroth's cool green eyes silently shifted over to stare at Kagome. He was a little unnerved by that, but was soon distracted by his wife's little squeal.

"Isn't it so cute? They're holding hands! And look, they're even watching each other!" Indeed they were watching each other- rather intently, he might add- with Kagome giggling happily as only a baby can, and Sephiroth strangely quiet. Ichiro found it kind of creepy how silent the silver-haired babe was. No normal baby was like that. What kind of raising was this child receiving?

"Alright, I think that's enough for today. We'll come back soon for another play-date." Mr. Higurashi stood rather suddenly, and Mrs. Higurashi looked at him questioningly.

"Yes, yes, sure thing. You can leave your daughter with the secretary at the entrance and she'll bring her up." President Shinra waved his smoldering cigar around flippantly, sitting down behind his desk in dismissal. "Hojo, get the boy."

Professor Hojo hurried forward and snatched Sephiroth from the Wutai woman's arm. She in turn looked at him with an affronted expression as she slowly strapped Kagome back into her stroller.

"With all due respect, President Shinra, I would much rather take my daughter up here myself than leave her with a woman I don't know."

Shinra glanced up from whatever paperwork he was doing in slight annoyance. "Rest assured, Mr. Higurashi, she is in very capable hands. You need not worry so needlessly."

Said Wutai man visibly hesitated before nodding his head in resignation, "Fine. I'll leave her with you, but if I find one scratch on her, there will be no more of these meetings, you hear?"

The short CEO raised a thick, blond eyebrow in contempt. "As I said before, you don't need to worry. No harm will come to the girl."

Ichiro nodded his head once more in acceptance as he and his wife walked out of the office into the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, Professor Hojo turned on Shinra.

"What are you thinking? That worthless baby will only deter Sephiroth's learning! He needs to-"

President Shinra raised a pudgy hand in silent command, "Be silent, Hojo. You will understand all in good time..."

The professor snarled uselessly before stomping to the elevator doors with Sephiroth in hand. "I will not allow this!"

"As if you have any say in this. You are under me, therefore, my word overrules yours, understand?"

Hojo scowled deeply as he stepped into the returned elevator. He glared defiantly at Shinra while he punched the button for the lowest floor. The doors closed on his face and the room was once again returned to its regular silent atmosphere. President Shinra took a puff from his cigar as he chuckled humorously.

"You are a fool, Hojo."

A/N: It's official. Hojo is a fool. President Shinra says so!

Anyways, I'd like to personally thank fan writer in disguise! ^-^ Yes, yes, you've been such a great help to me! This story was practically inspired because of hers, Otherworld. Read it if you haven't already! It's an amazing story~ =w=

Please review! I'm giving out free fudge cakes to those who do~ *Baits shamelessly*

Thanks for reading! ^-^