Don't own Inuyasha. This is chapter 1 of what i hope to make into a decent and accurate story of how Inuyasha's parents meet.

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There was once a time when youkai and humans lived in relative peace. They kept themselves to themselves and rarely overstepped the boundaries into each other's society. Humans made a sport of hunting the lower youkai, and a few ambitious ones liked to go after the more powerful predators and claim the title of "strongest". Setsuna no Takemaru was one of these. Daiyoukai were very proud, and did not trouble themselves to get involved in the human affairs one way or the other, so when they came upon a hunting party they generally left the humans unharmed – unless, of course, they were hungry.

In the midst of the Kamakura jidai, in the year 1279, there was a great battle of the most powerful daiyoukai. It was a fight between Ryuu and Inu, and when the great dragon of the north was finally slain and his heir Ryuukotsusei fled, the war was over. However, the other side was not unhurt. The great Inu no Taisho was fatally injured, and as he sat on the edge of the warfield his son tried to tend his wounds.

"Do not waist your efforts, Touga," Inu no Taisho said in a weak voice. "I am spent. Before sunset you will be the lord of the west."

"I should not watch you die, Chichi-ue," Touga replied.

"Take my weapon," the dying youkai thrust the long sword towards him, gripping his arm in a grasp that was tighter than one would have thought possible for someone so weak. "You are strong enough to control the beast. In exchange, give me your promise that you will not use Souunga to destroy the humans; they must live alongside you in peace for perfect balance."

Touga's expression darkened; he had never been a human-lover and thought they were a waste of perfectly good air. That and the fact that they seemed attracted to bloodshed, with the introduction of what they called samurai.

"You have my word, Chichi-ue."

"Just in case you ever lose your control…" he removed his hand from his son's wrist. In its place was a thick metal bracelet with a glowing red jewel embedded in it. "That is a twin shackle. The other half is in a village on the wrist of a human. The two of you will be connected in greater ways than a common manacle. If one of you dies, so does the other." He leaned backwards. "Watch over these lands. Teach your son Sesshoumaru to be strong."

Touga almost frantically pulled at the shackle, but it was held on his wrist by a strong power greater than his own. A growl built in his throat and he scented the air to see if anyone was nearby. There was no one, so he plunged his claws into his father's wounded heart.

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The young princess walked through the village outside her father's palace with her guards surrounding her. Her maid, Haru, walked beside her holding her purse in the folds of her kimono, out of sight of the beggar children.

"Oh, look at this," Izayoi stopped, looking at a jeweler's stand. "I would like to see if there is anything I might purchase."

"You must hurry, Izayoi-hime, as your father is expected back in Takase at sunset," Haru said.

"I won't be long." Looking at the silver jewelry, she saw one silver bracelet that caught her eye. It was larger than most, but was thin enough to fit her delicate wrist. There was what seemed to be a sapphire embedded in it, and although it was an ugly piece she liked the thought of owning such a strange trinket.

"Izayoi-hime, such a thing cannot be worn by someone in your position," Haru looked shocked when her mistress picked up the horrible object.

"I know, Haru-san," Izayoi replied. "But look, it is so thin. It is as if it has been made for a woman." She slipped it on her wrist, and suddenly the "sapphire" glowed a brilliant blue.

"Izayoi-hime!"

Panicking, Izayoi tugged at it, but it wouldn't come off. One of the guards turned on a shocked looking jeweler.

"I – I didn't know anything about it!" the man defended, terrified for his life. "I purchased it from a traveling merchant – he merely told me it would be worth some money as it is made from pure silver!"

He fell to the ground in a bow as the guard raised his odachi.

"Wait!" Izayoi said. "If he says he knows nothing, then I must believe him. And if he lies, then it would be better for him to live so he can assist in the removal of the bracelet."

"As you say, Purinsessu," the guard lowered his tachi.

"Bring him to the palace; we will await my father's return," she said, turning to go with the shackle still glowing on her wrist.

And so the tribulation began.

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Kamakura jidai - the Kamakura era of Japan

Ryuu - dragons

Inu - dogs (duh)

Chichi-ue - Father (formal)

-hime - princess

odachi - long sword

Purinsessu - Princess

tachi - sword

feel free to R&R. also, i'm not sure whether odachi had been introduced in the Kamakura era or not. All i know is that katana weren't used until 1392 or something in the Muromachi era and that odachi predate them. So if you happen to know otherwise, then let me know in a review or something