Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any of the characters in this story, with the exception of Shin and Pan. My original creations.

A Burning House

By: Mariah Stewart

"There is fire in those walls," said the woman that untied her wrists and ankles. "That house belongs to the most powerful youkai in the land."

"Is he a fire demon?" asked the young girl with endearing naïveté.

"No, no," clucked the old woman. "He is not."

"Then why are the walls on fire?"

The elder woman was thoughtful for a moment as she continued her task of unbinding the young girl. She was done before she spoke again. "You will learn in good time child," she finally said. Then she gave her a small pat on the head. "In good time." She turned and began to trek towards the powerful youkai's home. A place she'd been familiar with all her life, yet she had never had the opportunity to gaze upon the inside. It was rumored to be a cold oppressive place, but she never put much stock into rumors. As a girl she'd always imagined the inside to be grand, but as a woman, she no longer held such illusions. She just hoped that it was comfortable.

The young girl followed the older woman with much trepidation. She'd heard of the youkai who lived in the burning house. He was said to be cruel and lecherous. He also had no mercy for any living creature. He took what he wanted and would cut down anyone that tried to stop him. Be they other demons or the families of the young girls that he took hostage every year.

This year she was his chosen, and she dreaded her fate. The elders of her village told tales of his madness and greed. They also told of his lust for beautiful things, more specifically, beautiful girls. They said he had an unquenchable lust for them, which is why he required the most beautiful girl from each village.

Once a year he would send a messenger to the chosen village. He would be received with a feast and the company of all the daughters of the village that were of marrying age. When he left, he will have chosen the "lucky" girl who was to be a bride to his lord.

The young girl had no wish to be a bride to him or anyone else. She wished to become a priestess and a healer for her village. However she was coursed with exceptional beauty that outshined any of the former brides the youkai had taken from her village.

She had black flowing tresses that reached her calves, chocolate doe eyes, full pink lips, and high cheek bones. Her skin was a lovely tan color that complemented her eyes, and she had a curvy figure. She was not overly voluptuous though. She was a small girl, with a sparkling personality that shown brightly in her eyes and a smile that could light up a room. This would ultimately be her undoing.

The girl followed the woman, whose name she wished she knew, through an outcropping of trees until they met with the messenger that had chosen her. He was an elemental youkai and he, like most other demons, was beautiful. His name was Shin and she hated it and him almost as much as she hated her doomed fate.

"What a lovely little thing you are Kagome," he said to her as a greeting.

Kagome bit her tongue. It would not do for her to incur the wrath of a demon.

"Do you have my pay Shin-sama?" the old woman asked.

Shin held out a black bag, which the woman quickly took. "It's been a pleasure," he said to the woman.

"Always," she said blandly. She turned back to the girl, who reminded her so much of the sister she lost to the monster in the castle above. "There is fire in those walls," she said and then she walked away.

Shin watched the old woman disappear through the trees before spoke again. His eyes lingered on her form and for a split second he felt a deep sorrow within his heart. Then it was gone and he was himself again.

"Come," he said to Kagome. "We are late."

"I wasn't aware there was a time schedule," she mumbled to herself.

"Always," he replied. "Always."

There were no words between them as they passed through the gates of the House of the Moon, as it was called by the elders of her village. And there would be no words, as Kagome was quickly passed on to a rabbit youkai and Shin took his leave to report to his lord.

The mouse was quiet and meek, as was natural for her kind. She was also very skittish and nervous. She had Stark white hair, and sky blue eyes. Also her ears were pointed with hair sprouting from the tips.

"Follow me," she said to Kagome. "We are late and the master is expecting you." Once again there was the mention of a schedule that only she alone seemed wholly unaware of. Kagome got the distinct impression that this youkai was obsessive about time. For what reason, she wondered. After all he was a demon, blessed with longevity. His life spanned across the centuries. He had all the time in the world.

But that was a conundrum for another time. Presently, Kagome was being led down a large hallway, decorated with extremely beautiful paintings. One that she found especially enchanting depicted an inuyoukai in his true form being bathed in the light of the full moon. He was standing in a meadow overflowing with moon flowers. It was a mesmerizing scene. So mesmerizing that Kagome had stopped and was staring, completely lost within the scene.

"You mustn't dawdle," the demoness said. "Sesshoumaru-sama will be very upset."

"Is that his name?" Kagome asked. "Sesshoumaru?"

"Yes. But you may never address him as such unless given his express permission." the bunny replied. "You may call him sire or my lord. Anything else is punishable by death."

"I guess he lives up to his name then," Kagome mumbled.

"Excuse me?"

"Killing Perfection," she said and left it at that. Her thoughts wondered back to portrait. It was so beautiful. She wished she knew who it depicted. Certainly not the cold bastard that had abducted her from her home for his own perverted pleasures, she thought disdainfully. The demon had looked at the moon with such sorrow and longing, as if he'd lost the love of his life and the moon was his only solace. It was a truly heartbreaking picture; one Kagome would remember for the rest of her days - however short they may be.

Kagome was pulled from her thoughts when she bumped into the rabbit youkai who had stopped at the entrance to what looked like a bath house. "My apologies," she said to the woman. The youkai only nodded, she seemed to be waiting for someone.

Just as the young girl was about to inquire who they were waiting for a beautiful inuyoukai emerged. He had long, flowing silver locks, and pale skin. His eyes were the color of molten gold and he had thin lips, which offset his thin nose and lush lashes just right. He held his head high and looked down his nose at the women. The rabbit immediately bowed and Kagome followed suit. She didn't exactly know the protocol and hierarchy in her new home, but she was positive that this youkai was the man, if you could call a youkai that, in charge.

"Milord," the rabbit spoke.

"Pan," he acknowledged.

"This is Kagome," she said rising and turning, prompting the girl behind her to rise as well.

"My lord," Kagome said bowing again.

"She is more respectful than the slayer I received last year," the taiyoukai intoned. "She will do. Take her to her new room and ready her for dinner."

"Yes milord."

"That will be all Pan."

The women bowed to the angelic looking lord and proceeded to leave as he went back into his personal bath house. Kagome was baffled at the exchange. She'd thought he'd be lustful and wanting to take her immediately, but he was not. She'd thought he'd be somewhat perverted about her beauty, making lewd comments to her, but he did not.

She'd also thought he'd be a gruesome and ugly creature with a terrible disposition; instead he was beautiful and cold. He had managed to contradict everything she'd been taught about him, and that just did not sit well with Kagome. She truly did not like surprises, and he was most definitely not what she was expecting.