'You aren't fit to reside here, that is the point. You bring the name of our house down with your rash ruthlessness. There are many lessons for you to learn that your brother has, for all his faults, already learned. My decision is final'

There was a stunning lithe creature standing before a wondrous throne, occupied by a woman who had made the above pronouncement.
The creature was very still in a way no mortal creature could be, more like a cat on the prowl, or a poised snake.
Though strikingly feminine in many aspects, he had the unmistakeable air of a male fuelled by rage and the need to hunt; delicate like a lily flower but deadly as poison. His long white hair shook ever so slightly in a sign of disgust, his yellow lizard-eyes flashing.

'You can't see what needs to be done in order for us to become the rulers once again!'

'Enough! Sesshomaru, our name is built on kindness, not cruelty. I know I am not your real mother, but she agrees with me at least on the point of your training. There is a rather monumental event that will take place soon at a city on earth. No more details will be given to you, but your actions during this time will determine the outcome of your trial – and your demotion, or promotion within this realm.'

'I refuse' his growl was menacing as he took a quick step forward.

'There is no use, young demon' The woman on the throne waved her hand, magic seeping from her finger tips.

And before he could move or even breath more air of the other world, the beautiful demon prince found his sight blurring and his consciousness fading from light to darkness.

The next he awoke; he was lying on a floor in the mortal realm. His entire being felt different, as though it was less 'full'; lifting his hand his eyes widened as he inspected it.
Where there had been a glow around his form, and claws on his hands, he appeared as a plain mortal – no claws just nails, and no glow – just pale skin.
Rising swiftly, though not so swiftly as he was used to being, he took in his minimalist surroundings. It appeared he was in a flat or apartment, and the sudden sound of horns and vehicles assaulted his fine-tuned hearing.
The kitchen, living room and bedroom was all confined to the one space.
This was utterly insupportable! In disbelief, Sesshomaru flung round looking for the bathroom, and opening the only other door apart from the entrance way in the place, he came face to face with himself in the mirror. Immediately his hands flew to his head, searching for the length of his hair – or lack of.

Cut to just above the shoulders, his hair was still white but choppy and he had – bangs? Like a fringe swept to the side, and there were no royal markings on his face, no fangs! His eyes were a dull hazel instead of blazing gold, and his royal robes were gone, in their place – a school uniform? He began to tear at the absurd button up shirt with his hand, finding it much harder without his sharp talons. But before he could entirely ruin his outfit, a green imp appeared at his side.

'Oh no, my Lord, you cannot go destroying that! I spent ages making sure it would fit you to perfection. You better get going, your first day of the trial awaits you!'

'Jaken' the demon hissed, lunging ferociously at the small demon.

The kappa skilfully dodged the attack – had Sesshomaru been in full form, the imp might not have been so lucky.

'No, no milord, you must leave! Don't shoot the messenger! You'll be late for school, you know'

'Late for - ? How dare you order me around you little – ' Sesshomaru successfully grabbed the trembling green demon by the throat and lifted him up.

'Milord, I beg you to understand I have been sent to help you, not hinder you!'

'You can help by disappearing' Sesshomaru hissed.

'Now, milord – ' the imp began to implore the white demon.

But Jaken's sentence was cut short as he was promptly flung out the apartment window.

What the hell was all this? He looked like a revolting human, no less, and he was expected to attend a school seething with the two-legged mounds of rotting flesh? He was a young demon, but he'd seen thousands of humans die and live in his time. They were not honourable – they were doomed in a contract with death.

Sesshomaru immediately began tearing at his shirt again, but he was assailed by an invisible slap on the wrist, and a gust of air so strong it pushed him to the ground. A voice came to him on the wind that said: 'Go to the school across the road NOW or you will never return to this realm!'

Sesshomaru batted at the invisible force and snarled, cursing his lack of powers; each blow he gave was counteracted by the unseen presence, and he was left breathing rather raggedly without any answers.

After some silent moments mulling on the floor, with a clenched jaw he got up stiffly, straightened his shirt, and walked robotically out of the room, not bothering to close the door behind him. Descending many flights of stairs in the apartment complex, the disguised demon reached the ground floor.

If he saw that pesky Jaken again he might just kill him, so foul was his mood. Looking up at the school gates across the road Sesshomaru growled in his chest and kicked a stone in anger.

'By the way, here is your school bag'

Jaken had appeared at his side, this time proffering a black bag filled with books.

'You carry it' Sesshomaru snarled.

'No milord I can't be seen by the mortals'

'You won't be seen by mortal or immortal if you don't do what I say very soon'

'But milord - !'

Just as the imp was exclaiming Sesshomaru's eyes widened slightly. The green creature was morphing – his skin became light brown, and he grew taller. Hair sprouted from his head, and his eyes shrank down in size. Before Sesshomaru stood a young boy of about fourteen, sickeningly adorable by human terms. His blonde scruffy hair flopped over dark brown eyes and a cheeky grin.

'What the - ?' Jaken looked down at himself and patted his school uniform, of the same style as human Sesshomaru's.

The white demon smirked for the first time in a long time.

'Now you can carry my bag. Off you go!' Sesshomaru slapped now-human Jaken's back a little too hard, sending the young boy stumbling forwards towards the school entrance. The imp had never been this tall before, and it would take a little before he didn't look like a baby giraffe gaining his footing.

Sesshomaru at least felt a little – a little – assuaged by the situation now that he had by all appearances a human servant to abuse.

Trying to hold back her fifth yawn within the space of the last few minutes, Rin set out her books in the usual pile on her desk. She liked to sit to the side of the classroom nearer the back where the sunlight hit her face, keeping her awake.
Rin's mind was often prone to wandering along non-class related topics, and if she did focus on the subject at hand her sleepiness would quickly kick in.
She was always fighting between trying to listen to the teacher, reining in her straying mind and attempting to stay awake amid all of it.
Her friend sitting in front of her never helped her dilemma, as he would always flick paper wasps over his shoulder, or slip her folded notes saying absurd things such as 'your monobrow looks good today' followed by advice on how to diminish facial hair growth.
(She didn't even have the hint of a monobrow or any other facial hair above the norm for that matter).
These notes unfortunately caused Rin to splutter with a singular chuckle that would raise the eyebrows of her teachers.
This morning was no different, and when her friend Kohaku came to sit in his seat in front of her, he planted a drink from one of the school vending machines on her desk.

'For me?'

'Of course, who else?' Kohaku looked innocently at Rin.

'I just don't expect nice things from you, is all' Rin smiled, genuine happiness sparkling in her brown eyes. 'You're always tricking me'

Rin opened the drink and took a sip, only to find nothing came out.

Kohaku burst in to laughter, clutching his sides.

Rin slowly placed the bottle back down and slowly looked at Kohaku with a glare fit to rival Medusa's.

'It was a really refreshing drink, by the way' Kohaku said recovering himself from laughing; 'you should try it!'

'Oh, should I? Well all I can smell from this bottle is your backwash and it's put me off ever trying it' Rin stuck up her nose and hit Kohaku's arm with the empty container.

'Everyone please be seated and remain quiet!' The morning teacher began to maintain order in the room and waited for the class of students to settle in their seats. Kohaku cleared his throat as he gave one last cheeky glance to Rin and turned around to face the front. Rin, having been genuinely thirsty, looked with a slight pout to the front, a hand supporting her chin.

'We have a new student joining us today. He comes from Tokyo' there were some excited whispers in the room at this announcement ' – please welcome Hakai'

There were audible gasps as probably the most beautiful boy walked in to the class, a decided attitude in his demeanour.

Rin's eyes went from vaguely attentive to stunned, and the whispers of her class mates were filled with awe.

This boy had the look of a top idol, with clear pale skin, even paler hair cut fashionably, a tall and slim body set off by perfect proportions. His face was that of an angel, yet Rin noted within a quick glance that his eyes seemed shifty and strange. She felt an uncomfortable sensation in regard to him; - and Rin trusted her initial instincts. But there was a faint blush on her cheeks, which only deepened when the teacher guided the new student to sit next to her.

'Rin is a very friendly student and will be able to help you if you need it, as well as show you around our school in the break' Rin caught the teacher saying to the striking young man.

What? No, she can't possibly be assigned to be the new student's guide – that was not going to happen. To begin with, she zoned out of lessons far too much to catch anyone up on content, and her social awkwardness would only intensify by a million-fold if she even tried speaking one syllable to such an ethereal beauty.

Not to mention, her gut feeling still loudly warned her that this new person was for some reason no good.