Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Inuyasha.

Author's Note: Ah, it feels like forever since I've written anything… Anyway, this is a Naruto/Inuyasha crossover story – However, I will be deviating from both plots. My plot has almost nothing to do with the original plotlines of Naruto or Inuyasha.

Dedication: Fuyu Kitsune (Happy Birthday!)

Pairing: Either Kagome/Sasuke (older) or Kagome/Itachi.

Lastly, I once again accept all constructive criticism, but I do not want flames about the pairing (whatever it may be). :) Enjoy. Happy New Years!

Chapter 1: Women's Haven

12/27/05

Nights before the official sacrificial ceremony were always lonely moments marked by both hidden pain and suffering. For the young village girls, the night was their release and their salvation because only under the veil and protection of darkness did they dare to even express a hint of their ocean-deep sorrow. The village girls' silent wails and cries, hidden behind stoic masks of heartlessness, were inaudible to the cold and callous-hearted village women because their howls of untold pain were only tangible to the sympathetic-hearted.

It was on this particular night, a few days before the sacrificial ceremony celebrating the 532nd anniversary of the founding of Celestia, the hidden village ruled solely by women that Kagome finally caught a glimpse of what the village girls suffered through during the lonely, pain-filled nights before the sacrificial burnings.

In all honesty, the ceremonial burnings had never truly bothered her (due to her peculiar upbringing) until that night – the night her best friend cried out her heart…for a man.

"Kagome, what am I supposed to do? I don't want to see him die! I don't want to see another one of my family leave me! Watching my son killed before my eyes was enough! I had enough! How do they expect me to cope with both the death of my son and my husband? How can they execute him for trying to protect his own flesh – His own child? Tell me, Kagome, tell me!"

"Sango," Kagome whispered softly as she pulled her friend into a comforting, one-armed hug. "I'm sorry, but you have to understand that he isn't your husband – He's your slave."

"Kagome, you don't understand. I've never seen him as anything but my husband! No matter what people might say or think of me – I believe he is my equal, not my slave. I love him – I know it's forbidden, but I love him! I really do…" sobbed Sango as she buried her face into her friend's shirt. "I don't want to see Takeda die."

"Sh," hushed Kagome as she wrapped her arms around her sobbing friend's shaking shoulders. "This is our life, our way, and our tradition. We've been raised to see men as nothing but tools and slaves since childhood. We've been constantly warned against love – against the cruelty of men! You knew this, Sango...Why did you fall in love? Why did you do this to yourself? You knew from day one – from the day you met him – that love…was forbidden."

"You don't…understand." Sango whispered as she pushed herself harshly out of her friend's embrace. "You don't understand at all!" she cried as she turned furious, onyx to Kagome. "I was stupid to think you could have understood my pain when you haven't even experienced half of what I have. You don't even know what love is because you have never been in love! If you had, then you would know that falling in love in uncontrollable. I didn't ask for love – it found me. You don't understand the pain of loosing your child because you have never went through the pain of childbirth! If you understood, you would know that a mother's love is not bound by traditions. I loved my baby – I loved him even though he wasn't a girl! You don't understand anything, so stop acting like you do!"

"You're right, I don't understand." Kagome agreed wholeheartedly as she took a step back from her friend to give her some space. "I don't understand what it's like to love and then loose it…and I never will because I will never fall in love! Don't you see, Sango?" she whispered. "Men are only tools for procreation (I think…or were they used for field labor?) – If we didn't need them for children, they'd be killed the moment they set foot in our village. We dominate them – they are scum! They're not worth our tears or our pain! Mother said…"

"Shut up about your mother for one minute and forget her teachings," Sango hissed as she curled her hands into tight balls of fists, "You will never be able to understand me…never…until you experience heartbreak first-hand. You don't know anything about the love Takeda and I shared. You can't possibly understand because you don't want to understand. But one day, you will understand. Whether you want it or not, love will find you."

"Sango…." pleaded Kagome, a hint of desperation entering her voice. "Can we not have this discussion? I don't want to talk about men or love. They're slaves – end of the story! I might not agree with mistreating them just for the pleasure of it, but I will never see them as my equal! Sango…Please, forget Takeda! I want things to go back to the way it was before. I want my friend back."

"Shut up; shut up! Takeda is everything to me! I will never forget him!" roared Sango, her temper flaring to new heights. "Now get out of here before I do something to you that I'll never regret!"

"Sango…"

"GO!"

Shooting her best friend one, last despairing glance, Kagome hurriedly raced back home with quick, light steps. Even as she slipped past the sentries guarding the castle entrance, she couldn't help but feel as if a seed of doubt had been planted in her mind that night.

The way Sango had so defiantly protected Takeda made her silently wonder, "Is Mother's policies really the right course? Are men really worthless? If they were, then why would Sango, who had shared my views only a year ago, suddenly change her opinion on men? Is it possible that…No, Mother wouldn't lie to me…Sango's just confused. She'll see that Mother's ideas are right once Takeda dies – He's the one who lied to her. Kikyou-nee-san was right – Sango is too kind and too young. Twelve was too young to own a slave …"

However, even her self-assurances failed to erase Sango's heart-wrenching, tear-stained face from her mind's eye. Maybe…just maybe…Sango was right…Maybe, not all men were…bad?

TBC

I'll introduce the Naruto characters in the next chapter.

Also, to clear up any misunderstandings before they're asked, Kagome and Sango are currently 13. Sango was "married" (the term is used loosely) at age 12 and had her first child at age 13 (Yes, this is possible). However, in accordance to their village's unique laws (which will be revealed in full later), men are to be killed once they outlive their "usefulness". However, Sango is unable to just "let go" because she had finally learned to love – even though it was against the laws and traditions of the all-women tribe.

Lastly, if any of you are wondering, no, I am not sexist. (I had enough of my friend's asking me that question while I was writing this chapter). :)