AN: Hi everyone! So I've decided to start on a new story. It will be loosely based on The Little Mermaid, the original Danish version, and not the Disney one. When I sat loosely, I mean I will write a story entirely from my mind, except for a few crucial details from the story. Hope you'll enjoy it! Feel free to leave constructive criticism, I'd love to improve.

Daybreak was one of the most stunning times of the day. A slender girl with ebony black hair leant against a rock, her cerulean eyes opened by a crack to admire the beauty of nature. Her full lips were parted as she inhaled the fresh sea breeze. As she stretched, her flat torso was revealed, as well as a long, dark green fishtail. The fishtail would have been a horrifying sight, yet the scales glittered in the shifting light, making it seem as one of the most beautiful treasures in the world.

Said girl yawned quietly, stretching her arms. She would never miss daybreak for anything, not even if it meant a few more hours of precious sleep. Treasuring every single moment was crucial in life, even though she had long accepted that her lifespan was to be three hundred years, and not the mere hundred that mortals had.

She sighed as she heard someone approaching. Being so tuned to her favourite sister Sango's heartbeat, she could detect her presence a few miles away. She smiled briefly and counted herself lucky for being a mermaid. Their senses were so much sharper than humans could ever dream of.

'Kagomeeeeee! How many times do I have to tell you? It's dangerous here, you're too near to the shore! Any mortal could just stumble across you, and you know they're actually hunting us now!"

Kagome sighed once more. It was ridiculous how people that inhabited land could actually want to harm them. True, King InuTaisho, the great inuyoukai of the land, was convinced that mermen meant only trouble, especially after his whole fleet of ships were destroyed by the 'filthy creatures', as he called them. But that had only happened because Kouga and his gang had been drunk to the point of no return, celebrating his victory in a fight with Hiten and Manten. They had been reckless, and now the whole mermaid population was under this silly threat.

'I know Sango, but you know I love coming up here. It's one of the best things in life. Maybe if you tried to admire daybreak for once, you'd understand.'

'You know I don't fall for that mushy crap. It'd be totally humiliating if I did.'

Kagome laughed. It was true how tough Sango liked to be, especially when Miroku, her betrothed, was around harassing her. Deep down, she registered the fact that Sango was only harsh to Miroku to cover up her feelings.

'We should go back now,' Sango said after a comfortable silence. 'Father will be angry if he finds out you've been up here again. Besides, I think he's arranged for you to marry someone.'

Kagome gasped and had a coughing fit that lasted for a while. When she recovered she screeched out 'What? What do you mean marry? Do you have any idea how old I am?'

'I heard him talking to Mother about it last night,' Sango drew circles on the water surface nervously. 'I was about to ask Mother if he knew where Ayame misplaced her pearls, when I heard Father speak up. If I remember correctly, his exact words were "Kagome is turning eighteen next month, and as she's the eldest, it's obvious that she will be taking over my throne after I'm gone. Even Sango is engaged and she's a year younger than Kagome. We must find a husband for her, for her sake.'

'And Mother agreed?' Kagome groaned in exasperation. 'I thought she said they'd allow me to actually fall for someone, and not force me to marry a brute.'

'She had no choice, Father's word is law. Even Mother can't tell him what he can or can't do when he means it.'

The Sun was blinding their eyes, but Kagome disregarded it. She was extremely annoyed, her lovely face was adorned with a scowl. Sango took a peek at her, waiting for her to explode.

Finally, Kagome relaxed, her posture no longer tensed and furious. When she spoke up, her voice contained a hint of reproach. 'Sango, why don't you go back first? It's getting late, and you need to practice. If you see Father or Mother, tell them you can't find me. I need some time to reflect on my own, please.'

Sango nodded. After gently embracing her dear sister, she swam away, leaving Kagome perching on the rock alone once more.

Kagome tried to think of any man that she'd actually feel happy to marry. There was Hojo, but he was boring. He was the epitome of perfection, and accomplished all his tasks so…so perfectly. Kagome was somewhat his opposite. She loved pulling small pranks and enjoying herself at the disco at two in the morning. Sure, she was a princess among her people, but that didn't mean that she couldn't have a life.

Shrugging off the picture of marrying Hojo, the next suitor that popped up in her mind was Kouga. Every time they met, he assured her of how he was not indifferent to her. Sometimes, he even went as far as to suggest that he'd like to take her out to watching plays and throwing pebbles with her. To Kagome, Kouga was an admirable choice. He was the son of a loyal and respectable lord in her Father's court, and her Father would definitely be pleased if she chose to marry Kouga. Somehow, she didn't feel that spark of true love she knew she was supposed to. Once in a while, when Sango was feeling bubbly and carefree, perhaps after downing a couple of shots, she'd make a speech that lasted at least a quarter of an hour that made Kagome a teeny bit jealous. The way Sango described her all-consuming love for Miroku was so true and beautiful, there was no way any sensible female could not be envious.

Apart from Kouga, there was definitely Naraku. Just thinking of his name made Kagome shudder, even though her entire body was bathed in the warm morning Sun. The man was so creepy. He gave her chills just by looking at her, his disgusting eyes filled with evil and lust. She couldn't imagine herself being married to such a filthy man. She would definitely die first before he invaded her personal space.

A rustling sound from a bush not ten feet away caused Kagome to jump in surprise. Quickly, she hid herself completely behind the rock she was holding onto. At first, not a single soul appeared but a few more seconds brought a young man straight into Kagome's view.

That he was the most gorgeous man Kagome had ever laid eyes on was an understatement. His shimmering silver locks stirred jealousy in her, and she gasped in surprise as she noticed two adorable dog ears on the top of his head. She had a sudden ache to pounce on him just to rub those appendices. Her eyes trailed onto his perfect face. His golden eyes rendered him strikingly handsome, along with a chiselled nose and sensual lips. His strong jaw heightened his aristocratic features, and Kagome couldn't help but wonder who this stunning man was.

Her answer was solved when a stumbling frog youkai came after the breathtaking man.

'Jaken, how many times do I have to remind you to stop tailing me around like some freaky animal? I'm an inuyoukai, for God's sake! I. Can. Take. Care. Of. Myself.'

'Lord Inuyasha, forgive me, but it was on your Father's strict orders that I came to ensure your safety. He has also informed me to remind you how some ridiculous peasants are still prejudiced against hanyous.'

'Keh,' Inuyasha scoffed. 'As if you could protect me. I can take you down in ten seconds flat. Can't I at least have some privacy? Is that unheard of, or are you just so stupid that thought can process through that tiny brain of yours?'

Jaken, on his part, looked completely furious. Inuyasha failed to notice the murderous look that flashed through, but simply sat down on the seaside, his back to his servant.

'Jaken, you are dismissed.'

There was a haughty finality in his tone. Jaken huffed and left, but not without pounding a fist onto Inuyasha's head. Inuyasha winced and rubbed the spot where Jaken had hit, but did not complain.

Kagome watched with increasing interest as the scene unfolded before her eyes. She had heard about King Inutaisho's two sons, Prince Sesshoumaru and Prince Inuyasha, but she had never imagined ever seeing either one of them.

Just by watching Inuyasha from a distance, her heart sped up. His handsome, noble features had an enormous effect on her. For the first time in her life, she felt something. A spark. Attraction. The need to go nearer.

She stayed, perched on the rock, for a few hours just to admire the young man before her eyes. She wanted to make her presence known, to get to know him, to do something. She brushed that thought away and laughed at her own silliness. After all, this was the son of the man who wanted to hunt down her kind to extinction. Inuyasha might kill her on the spot when he caught sight of her.

Finally, just as the Sun was scorching on her pale back from the centre of the sky, Inuyasha stood up in one fluent motion. He took a deep breath once more, enjoying the comforting scent of the sea. Then he was gone.