Disclaimer:  Inuyasha is solely a creation of Rumiko Takahashi's.  I forget who wrote the original Beauty & the Beast.  In any case, neither of them are mine, so please don't sue.  I swear I won't do anything bad with them.  I really like both stories, so I don't think I even could if I wanted to.

AN:  As I stated in the prologue, this is a reworking of the classic fairytale Beauty & the Beast, but with an Inuyasha twist.  Now, since it's been a while since the last time I read the original Beauty & the Beast, I am probably going to be using the sigh- Disney version for some of the parts that I don't remember.  But, I promise, I swear to all things holy, there will be NO dancing, singing, talking, or otherwise vocalizing or willing movement from any candlesticks, teacups, clocks, or any other inanimate object in this story.  Period.  If any inanimate object moves without the help of an outside source, you all have my full permission to flog me into the 22nd century.  (And, BTW, thanks to lazy the anonymous for the reminder about the shadows.  You gave me an idea.)

Also, as I said before, though my knowledge of the Japanese language is very limited, I am going to try and insert some of the syntax (the formal adjuncts to the names, etc.) into this, to give it more of an eastern feeling.  Please, forgive me if I use it improperly, and feel free to correct me if I use it out of context or something.  Be aware, however, that I don't take kindly to unconstructive flaming.  If you have something helpful to add, by all means, say it.  If you just feel the need to vent on me, go take a walk or something. 

But, anyway, I think that's about it, so, without any further delay, let's get this thing started.  Hope you enjoy!

Kagome & the Hanyou

By: Wolfchild

Chapter 1

The sunlight shined down on the grassy fields and the cool waters near Shingetsu village.  The wind gently rustled the trees, causing them to discard their leaves in a flutter of activity.  It gently brushed its fingers over the grass, rippling the fields in waves of glimmering green.  The river's waters lapped at it's banks in the breeze, forcing the small amphibians and birds that rested there to seek higher ground or find themselves unwillingly damp.  And, on the wide dirt path just outside the village proper, a young woman pulled at the collar of her kimono, closing the garment just a bit more against the chilly breeze.

Kagome shivered slightly as she walked along the road, the breeze lifting her hair from the back of her neck and sending a chill down her spine.  She gripped the folds of her kimono just a little bit tighter, shielding herself from the autumn breeze.  It was still early in the season, but so far, this autumn was proving to be one of the colder ones that Kagome had been witness to.  In the short seventeen years that she had been around to notice these things, Kagome had seen many an autumn, and she had a feeling that the growing season was going to be coming to a halt much sooner this year.  Perhaps they would even have snow soon.  She liked snow.  Even with it being such a threat to the livelihood of village, when it lay out along the fields and draped the trees in blankets of fluffy white, she couldn't help but think how beautiful it all was.  As much as she enjoyed the flowers and sweet smells and warm breezes of the summer, nothing could be compared to the stillness and quiet that accompanied a gentle snowfall.  It always made her feel at peace to watch the winter snows. 

The breeze kicked up again, sweeping Kagome's hair over her shoulder, a few tendrils whipping into her face.  She lifted a hand and brushed the errant strands back, tucking them behind her ear.  As she approached the village, a few of the villagers looked up from their various tasks.  Some waved and said "good morning" as she passed by, while others simply smiled politely or nodded.  She returned the gestures in kind, and continued on her path to the village square.  Since her parents had passed away some years ago, leaving her alone to raise and care for younger brother, the entire village had become some sort of extended family in her eyes.  They looked out for her and her brother Souta, and did what they could to help them get by.  The village merchant had even taken her brother in as an apprentice to the trade, providing them with food and necessities in exchange for her brother's hard work.  It meant that Souta was away from home for long stretches at a time, but she knew that Nijimi-san was looking out for him, and it was a good experience for him. 

She approached the village square, her eyes glancing around the familiar setting.  It wasn't a large or fancy square by any means, since the village itself was rather small.  The typical village houses surrounded it in a circular formation, with the one exception of Nijimi-san's home, which had a small vendor's stand attached to the front that extended out into the square.  The only other notable object there was a small, simple stone well that sat in the center of the square.  Small tufts of grass littered its base, and moss filled in the cracks between the stones that had worn away with age.  It looked like most of the typical stone wells that could be found in any village in the land.  But, unlike other wells whose water level changed whenever the rains did or did not appear, this well remained forever at the same spot, never changing its depth.  Even in the deepest, coldest winters or in the hottest, driest summers, water could still be drawn from it freely.  It was a constant that the villagers had grown accustomed to, one of the few things that they could always count on

And today was no exception.

As Kagome walked past the well, she glanced briefly into the clear waters.  Despite the windy conditions of the morning, the waters of well remained remarkably still.   Smiling gently at the reliable, old well, she continued on past and approached Nijimi-san's stand, where the older man stood sorting through some bags of grain.  Kagome smiled as she approached.

"Ohayou, Nijimi-san."

The older man looked up at the sound of her voice, his stern expression softening somewhat at seeing her.  "Oh, ohayou, Kagome.  How are you today?"

"I am well, arigato for asking, Nijimi-san."

He smiled at the slight formality to her tone.  She was always such a polite girl, but sometimes she really overdid the formalities.  He reached down beside him and hauled up a large bag of grain, setting it down on the table in front of him.  Deftly undoing the tie on the bag, he reached his hand into the bag and began scooping out some grain and depositing it in a smaller bag on the table.

"And how is my apprentice doing today?"

Kagome gave a slightly exasperated sigh at the mention of her brother.

"He's still sleeping, the lazy boy.  I swear, sometimes I think I'm the only one that does any work at home."

Nijimi-san chuckled at her frustrated expression.  "Try not to be too hard on him, Kagome, he works hard for me.  And it won't do me much good if my apprentice is too tired from his sister making him do chores."

Kagome smiled wryly, and glanced at Nijimi out of the corner of her eye.  "Well, I just wish he would work as hard for me when I ask him as he does for you."

Nijimi simply smiled at her, scooping a last bit of grain into the small cloth bag in front of him.  "He is still a boy.  I worry sometimes about overdoing the amount of work I give him, but he hardly ever complains.  He's a very diligent worker."

Kagome huffed at that, watching as Nijimi closed the larger bag and set it back down at his feet.  "I wish I saw the side of him that you do, Nijimi-san.  He's hardly ever like that with me.  All he does is whine about being hungry, about me working him to hard, about being bored.  I swear sometimes I don't know what to do with him."

With a quick tug, Nijimi tied the smaller bag shut and rested his hand atop it.  He smiled at her gently.  "Or what you would do without him.  He's come along so well since your parents passed.  He'll make a fine man some day.  You must be very proud of him, Kagome."

Her attempt at an indignant look melted away quickly under Nijimi-san's smiling gaze.  "Aa, I am.  The little brat."  She grinned around the last remark, and reached out to take the bag of grain that he passed to her.  "Arigato, Nijimi-san." 

"You're welcome, Kagome."  He smiled again, and turned back to the bags of grain stacked behind him.  Kagome from the kind merchant and began the walk that would take her back home.  But, as she once again passed by the old well, a strange sensation came over her.  She stopped and turned towards it, leaning forward slightly to gaze again into the water.  Her unmarred reflection gazed back at her.  She had half turned to leave again, when deep down in the depths of the water, she swore she saw something move.  Leaning closer, she half squinted, trying to get a better look.  A tiny pinpoint of light blinked in the depths, winking at her.  Kagome's mouth came half open in rapt fascination as, before her eyes, the pinpoint expanded outward.  She gasped as the water's edges began to ripple gently, lapping against the stonewall.  Turning her gaze back to the tiny light, she was surprised to find that the pinpoint had expanded to the size of a large marble, rounded and in a perfect sphere shape, glowing with a faint reddish-white light. Kagome had the sudden urge to try to reach into the water and snatch up the marble.  Before she could act however, the waters rippled gently, disrupting the image.  When they stilled again a moment later, the image had changed.  Now, the marble hung in mid-air, suspended by some invisible force over a small flat a surface.  A small table, she realized a moment later, it's rounded edges finally coming into view.  As Kagome continued to stare at the picture in the water, she was suddenly overcome with a profound sense of sorrow.  She was forced to bite her lip to keep from letting a soft sob escape her as her eyes began to tear up.  The feeling didn't go away as she continued to gaze at the strange image before her.  An errant tear, eager to be set free from its prison in her eyes, wound its way down her cheek.  It hung for a brief moment on her chin, before dropping free and hitting the well water with a barely audible splash.  And, in that instant, the image abruptly changed.  Something moved to block the image from her view, and Kagome suddenly found herself staring into a pair of very intimidating yellow eyes.  Kagome gasped out loud, clutching the bag of grain closer to her, as the sense of sorrow was suddenly replaced with a sudden, irrational fear.  Whoever was behind those eyes, she knew they were powerful, angry, and, perhaps the most shocking of all, sad and a little scared.  She gasped at the sudden influx of emotions, taking a step back from the well.  She blinked once, and then found herself staring into her own perplexed expression.  Blinking a few more times to clear her vision, Kagome found herself staring into the still waters of the old well, the soft sunlight glinting off the smooth surface.  What was that? she thought.  A dream, a voice in the back of her head provided.  Just a little daydream, nothing more

Just a dream.

She sighed heavily.  I don't have time to be daydreaming now.  I still have to wake up that lazy brother of mine.  Shaking her head at her own foolishness, Kagome turned to leave……

…..and walked right into a very broad, cloth-covered chest.  Startled, she stumbled backwards, trying to catch herself before she fell backwards into the well.  Two strong hands suddenly gripped her upper arms, steadying her before she could tip too far.  Remaining still for a moment in order to orient herself, Kagome could only stare at the chest she had just bounced off of.  The cloth the person wore was a very fine weave, dyed a midnight blue, and probably made of silk or similar expensive material.  Too expensive to be anyone from her village.  Which left only one possibility.

Kagome swallowed hard and slowly lifted her head to look at her savior.  Her brown eyes met a pair of dark, refined, narrow eyes that gazed down at her with a slightly amused light.  After a moment, Kagome found her voice again, but not before the man before her could get out a greeting.

"Ohayou, Kagome."  He greeted her, his voice as smooth as the silk he wore.

Kagome swallowed past the hardening lump in her throat, and responded in a slightly shaky voice,

"Ohayou,. . . . . Naraku-sama."

End Chapter 1

Glossary:

Shingetsu village – I'm not sure if the place actually existed, but I got the name from an episode of Rurouni Kenshin.

Ohayou – good morning

Arigato – thank you

-sama – a respectful term for someone who is your superior or senior

Feedback is appreciated.