Chapter 1
"Help! Please somebody help me!" A terrified girl screamed. She looked down at the boy in her arms. His face and midnight hair were covered in blood and dirt. His breathing was shallow and he was covered in sweat. He was dying.
"I'm so sorry, God this is all my fault." The young girl sobbed. Her tears left streaks of pale skin across her dirty face. She pushed her sweaty hair out her eyes trying to take in everything she could about the boy below her. How had it come to this? How had things gone so wrong?
"No more crying, it’s gonna be okay...I promise." Said the boy.
"No it won't! It's my fault you’re hurt...if only you hadn't met me-"
"Stop, don't talk like that. I've done a lot of shit in my life that I regret, but meeting you isn't one. I love you. Now and forever." He finished quietly. He could feel himself slipping away, he wasn't going to last much longer.
"I love you too,” she said softly as she swept his matted bangs away from his face. Even contorted in pain, he had the most beautiful eyes she’d ever seen. “Please, please don't go. I don't want to live without you…I can’t."
He reached out his pale hand and placed it on the girl's cheek wiping away her tears with his thumb. Her smaller hand found solace on his as she curled their fingers together. Deep violet met chocolate brown as their eyes locked and suddenly the carnage that surrounded them faded away.
"I'll always be with you. You’re my everything, my something to protect."
Leaning down to kiss her lover goodbye their lips met and she felt as if his earlier declaration that everything would be alright was actually possible. In that moment time stopped, the chaos ended, and they were together like they were supposed to be.
Soon the young boy's lips went still, his hand fell away from her cheek, and his head went limp.
He was gone.
"No! Please comeback!" She held onto his body cradling his head to her chest as she rocked him back and forth. Tears pouring down her face and falling into his hair.
"Comeback, comeback, comeback." She whispered brokenly.
Why? Why her? She'd lost so many people in her life: Her family, her friends, and now the only man she's ever loved. Why was fate so cruel?
Gently she placed her beloved on the cold ground near her feet. Finding a small dagger tucked into his belt she took it in her hands and examined it. She wouldn't live without him. She couldn't. Everyone she’d ever cared about was gone, she had nothing keeping her in this world.
"The moment you died my life became meaningless." She touched his cold face and stared down upon him with loving and sad eyes. She gripped the dagger tighter in her hand and pointed it straight at her chest.
"I'll see you on the other side, then we can be together. We can be happy. For eternity."
And with that she plunged the knife into her heart.
"Kagome!" A young girl with onyx hair, big chocolate brown eyes, and a pale pretty face turned around at the sound of her name.
"Morning Sango." Sango was Kagome's best friend. They had known each other since they came to the castle together as children, and began serving the royal family. Sango’s long brown ponytail swished behind her as she ran towards her friend.
"Morning, Lady Kaede needs our help in the kitchen. Apparently another clan is coming for dinner to discuss politics and other boring royalty stuff." Sango said while trying to catch her breath.
"Does she need us now?"
"Yeah unless you’re busy. Is everything okay? You seem a bit out of it." Sango asked concerned.
"It's nothing. Come on let's go." Kagome said trying to change the subject.
"Are you sure? You can tell me anything you know that." Sango had always been like a big sister to Kagome. Someone she could confide in, maybe she would feel a little better if she could get this off her chest.
"Well I've been having some strange dreams. I'm running through the forest when I stumble upon this man. Everything around us is burning even the castle and he’s hurt. I know he’s going to die, but I also know that nothing I do can save him. I've never seen him before, but I can't help feeling like I know him. It's so bizzare." She looked to Sango hoping the girl would say something to put her mind at ease.
"I'm sorry Kagome but I don't know what to tell you. I've never heard of a dream like that. It sounds so realistic...maybe it's not a dream." she suggested.
"What do you mean not a dream?" Kagome asked.
"I mean what if it’s like a premonition or something?" Sango suggested.
Kagome thought quietly to herself for a few moments, and all it served to do was give her a headache. "Let’s hurry, Lady Kaede is probably waiting for us."
"Mother, you wanted to see me?" A tall boy with waist length midnight black hair walked into a large and intricately decorated bedroom. His deep violet eyes took on an annoyed glare, one that went perfectly with his bored tone.
"Inuyasha my son! I just wanted to tell you that we are traveling for dinner tonight. I need you to look presentable." A petite woman sat at her vanity gently brushing her knee length raven locks.
"Where? Why do I have to go?" Inuyasha half whined. He was prince of the Takahashi Clan, and next in line for the throne. His mother Izyaoi was always carting him around to different kingdoms, teaching him how to conduct business, but in truth he hated every minute of it. He didn't care about treaties or land or any other of the political things they were sure to talk about at this dinner.
"We’re going to visit the Aomori’s, their home is just a little south of us. You have to go because I want you to meet their daughter." The empress said with a slight twinkle in her eye, and her youngest son knew exactly what that meant.
"Oh no. Mother what did I say about trying to ship me off to the highest bidder? Arranged marriages are for losers who could never find a suitor on their own, like Sesshomaru." Sesshomaru was Inuyasha's older half brother. He was a frigid old bastard with no sense of humor whatsoever. He scared away practically every woman his mother had tried to set him up with, until Princess Rin. The girl was a tiny thing and very smilely, the complete opposite of her now King. They’d married soon after and now ruled the western lands.
"Inuyasha you worry too much. This is just a trial run. If you do not like her then so be it, but you will go to this dinner."
"But I-"
"Inuyasha this is not up for discussion, you're going."
"Keh fine." Leaving his mother's room to start getting ready, Inuyasha was already dreading this dinner. He didn't need to be married off to some girl he didn't know. 'Plus these weird dreams have got to mean something.' He thought.
"Inuyasha!" The boy turned around to see his best friend and cousin Miroku running towards him.
"What's with the long face?" Miroku said as his light violet eyes scrunched up in concern. He rain his hands through his short black hair, that he quickly forced back into a small ponytail.
"Nothing, my mother is just makin' me go to another one those political dinners. She wants me to meet their daughter."
"Oh and who's dinner are you going to?" Miroku said suddenly becoming interested in the subject when Inuyasha said the word "daughter."
"The Aomori Clan" Inuyasha said in a bored tone.
"Really? I hear their daughter is a sight for sore eyes. Kikyou Aomori is her name I believe." he said wiggling his eyebrows.
"You're such a lecher. Why do I even bother talking to you?"
"Because I'm your dear cousin and you love me." Miroku said fluttering his eyelashes playfully.
"Sure keep thinking that." Inuyasha said heading towards his room.
"So what were you thinking about? I called your name three times before I got your attention."
"It's not important." Inuyasha said distractedly.
"Aww come on, tell me." Miorku whined jumping in front of Inuyasha and beginning to pout.
"It's none of your business! Get out of my way I’m trying to get to my room."
"I'm coming to the dinner too so you can either tell me now or I'll bother you about it all night."
"No." Inuyasha said shortly
"Please, please, please, pleeeeease!"
"Fine! Just shut up, Gods you're annoying."
"Yes! Okay now what’s been bothering you old pal?"
"No laughing got it?" Inuyasha looked to his friend and continued after Miroku gave a nod in confirmation. “I’ve just been having some really strange dreams, nothing that I’ve ever experienced before.”
"Oh Inuyasha you naughty dog!" Miroku said unable to hide his chuckles.
"Not those kind of dreams you perv! Usually I'm just walking in a forest and I suddently hear someone call my name, I don't see anyone but I hear them, like the voice is in my head but it’s not mine. It always says, "is there someone you have to protect?" I don't understand what it means but then I see this girl. She calls my name but as soon as I try to call out to her she disappears. Then I wake up."
"Wow, well that's strange alright I don't know what to tell you."
"Well thanks you were a load of help." Inuyasha said rolling his eyes.
"You're welcome. Now if you excuse me I need to get dressed. Maybe that new servant Yumiko will help me." He said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Pervert." Inuyasha snorted. 'I don't know what it is but I have a feeling something big is happening. And I'm gonna find out who that girl is...even if it kills me.'
