Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters!

Prologue

If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.- Niccolo Machiavelli

He had been waiting for this for a very long time. How many years had he remained in shadows and darkness, clinging to the thought of his revenge while all the world believed him to be dead? Two hundred years? Three hundred? Perhaps longer. He could not even recall, but it had been a long time, even for a youkai. By all estimations he should have been dead, but hate is a powerful emotion and like its opposite, love, is capable of achieving much and fueling one to survive when all odds are against them.

It, when coupled with his natural strength and power, sustained his life through the long years. It was the only way his power was now used and was a necessity. For all other things, he chose to conserve it. He would need every ounce of it he could muster to succeed. Even then, it might not be enough, but he would not allow himself to dwell on that possibility. It had to be enough. Too much counted on it. He would only have one chance, but it was the only chance he needed. One chance to change the very pattern of history.

The Inu Taiyoukai had been a fool. One should always make sure their enemy is truly dead, not just mangled to the point where they should die. Leaving an opponent to simply die always allows there to be complications. To possibly gain another chance.

Only one. One more chance to take his rightful place- to regain all that the dog bastard had taken from him with that fateful battle. The very thought of his revenge intoxicated him. A nasty laugh escaped his lips as he stalked throughout the room, the very image of a caged animal. He paused in front of a bowl of water, allowing just a little of his power to distort his own reflection and instead show him what he wished to see. It was excusable, this small use of his power. He could not venture out himself, for to do so would alert others to his strong youki. It was hopeful that no one would sense him till it was already too late. Using the water was dangerous and he knew it for even the tiniest use of power could allow others to sense him, but he pushed that thought aside. He could not afford to have doubts. Not when his revenge was so close that he could taste it.

He looked into the bowl, watching as the water swirled and gradually took form. Two faces were apparent, one with expressionless yet cold features, the other more petulant and stubborn. Both powerful, both presenting possible interference... and both in the presence of a human female. Amusing. A misshapen lip curled upwards in a sneer. It seemed they had their father's penchant for surrounding themselves with that weaker race. The sneer turned to a snarl and he sent the bowl of water shattering with the back of his hand. They would not interfere. The youkai lord and his hanyou brother would present no concern, for if all went according to plan, they would never have existed at all.

He would not fail- could not fail. History would be rewritten and this time...He would be the victor.

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Please review with any suggestions or comments so that I know if there is any interest for this story! I love getting the reader's takes on things, especially constructive criticism. The next chapter will pick up with Sesshoumaru and his group and should be out soon! Like all my Prologues, this one is short, but the chapters will be much longer, so hang with me. ^_^