The Romance of Three Kingdoms by Symphonia

Prologue

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. So don't sue.

A/N Some events will still correspond to the original Inuyasha plot, but I have made use of them to fit my story. Please R & R, thank you.

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"Please, this is a mistake. There must be some one else," a young mother sobbed as she cradled her new born baby to her bosom.

Her husband knelt beside her and held her gently. "You know they would not have asked had there been someone else." He murmured into her hair. But his words only caused his wife to cry even harder.

Every sob his wife uttered was like a stab to his heart. But the heartbreak for him had began long before the baby was even born. He had hoped that it was a mistake as well when the elders summoned him to inform him the potential of their child's destiny during his wife's pregnancy. Even though the elders were the most powerful and the wisest of their generation, oh, how he had hoped that they had been mistaken that his unborn child was the one they desired. After all, they had erred once before. But when the child was born and he was summoned again by the elders, he knew that there was no mistake in their judgment and the fate of his little one was sealed.

"At least she will not be alone and could stay with us during her training." He said to his wife comfortingly. "We won't lose her completely until she is of age." He added.

"But what will happen afterwards?" the mother looked up at her husband with tears in her eyes.

"We can only pray and hope for the best" her husband sadly replied as he looked at the baby sleeping in his wife's arms.

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"What is the news from the eastern border?" the Lord of the Western Lands asked.

"There had not been any movement from Kouga's troops, my lord." The soldier replied keeping his head bowed towards the floor. It was always better to appear more servile when you are in the presence of Lord Sesshoumaru.

The soldier did not dare to move a muscle for he feared that any movement might be taken amiss by the great taiyoukai. Finally, he heard Lord Sesshoumaru's dismissal and slowly backed out of the room. Only when he was out of the house did the soldier dared to breathe a sigh of relief having to survive yet another meeting with the lord.

"One of these days, Sesshoumaru, everyone in the western lands will drop dead at anything that resembles the sound of your name the way you keep on scaring the shit out of them." A voice came out of the shadows of his study.

Sesshoumaru ignored the comment, but asked instead, "What do you think of the rumor about Kouga's engagement to Ayame, princess of the northern wolves?"

Strolling to a chair in front of his brother's desk, Inuyasha threw himself into it before shrugging his shoulders. "Does it matter? It's not like they are going to invite you or me to the wedding when it comes."

For probably the hundredth time, Sesshoumaru wondered what had possessed his father to accept Inuyasha's mother, Izayoi, as his concubine when she was given to him as a goodwill gesture by her father. She was human, therefore weak. The evidence of her inferior blood sits before him, in the form of Inuyasha, the son she bore Inutaisho, a hanyou who was incapable of controlling his demonic blood without the help of the tetsusaiga which he was unable to use. As much as Sesshoumaru disliked Inuyasha having tetsusaiga, it was better than having a crazed youkai running about disgracing the Taisho name even further. Besides, the lack of control over his demonic blood, Inuyasha also lacked the intelligence of the Inuyoukai clan, another obvious sign of tainted blood.

"I am certain that you possess a brain, so use it." Sesshoumaru said coldly.

"Feh!" Inuyasha growled, "You know I suck at this shit. So why the hell are you asking me? You've got Myoga and Jaken, why don't you ask them?" Inuyasha said angrily jumping to his feet.

Sesshoumaru looked at his half brother coldly, "You will do well to remember who you are speaking to."

"Of course, I do. Sesshoumaru, Lord of the western lands." Inuyasha sneered. Without looking back, Inuyasha stalked out of the study and slammed the door behind him.

As he strolled down the hallway, Inuyasha muttered obscenities under his breath. He was so engross with his cursing that he did not notice Myoga until the flea bit him.

"What the hell did you bite me for Myoga? You could have called my name." Inuyasha snarled at the flea youkai now trapped between his thumb and forefinger.

"Pardon me, master Inuyasha." Myoga wheezed. "I did call your name, but you did not notice it with all your cursing."

"Feh!" Inuyasha huffed, "Say why aren't you at Sesshoumaru's study? Don't you have to report to him or something?" He asked the flea.

"That is why I wish to talk to you first before approaching Sesshoumaru." said Myoga anxiously.

"Huh?" Inuyasha looked confused. Myoga knew that he was absolutely abysmal when it came to everything dealing with the ruling of the western lands, why was he so anxious to talk things over with him first.

"Alright, come to my room and we'll talk." Said Inuyasha grudgingly.

Once the two reached Inuyasha's quarters inside the citadel, Inuyasha released the flea and flopped himself down to the floor watching the flea take position on a cushion near him.

Myoga crossed his arms and closed his eyes for a moment to collect his thoughts before launching into his story.

"For awhile, I have heard a rumor coming from the south that there is a Naraku who had gathering dissenters from all around and persuading them to join forces with him. From what I have heard, majority of them are low level youkai who have more brawns than brains." Myoga began.

"These low level scumbags are no match for Sesshoumaru alone, plus they are constantly fighting for dominance amongst themselves. So what's the big deal?" Inuyasha scoffed.

"Yes, that is usually the case when low level youkai come together. But this time is different." Myoga said gravely. "This Naraku being not only managed to gather them together, but he had also manage to unify them to fight under his banner."

"What's surprising about that?" Inuyasha yawned, "Look at Sesshoumaru, he's got people who are afraid to breath around him."

"Lord Sesshoumaru is a taiyoukai of immense power, to be in fear of him is a natural instinct of weaker beings." Myoga explained, "But this Naraku we are speaking of is not a full blooded youkai, but a hanyou like yourself, master Inuyasha."

"You have got to be joking, Myoga." Inuyasha exclaimed. "What has he got over them to make them listen to him?"

"That is why I am worried. Besides, the youkai he already has under his banner, he is making overtures to some lesser youkai clans who are not completely satisfy with their current situations. At the rate he is going, I'm afraid that he might become a force to be reckoned with. How am I going to tell Lord Sesshoumaru that besides Lord Kouga, he now has to worry about this Naraku as well?" Myoga said mournfully.

"What you mean is that you are afraid that bastard brother of mine's is going to take it out on you when he hears this," said Inuyasha out of the corner of his mouth.

"Master Inuyasha, I have never shrunk from my duty when it came to the Taisho household." Myoga cried indignantly.

"So why did you come to me first instead of going directly to Sesshoumaru with this tidbit huh?" Inuyasha asked.

"Master Inuyasha, I am simply giving you an opportunity to assist Lord Sesshoumaru with the governing of the western lands. It would make your lord father happy to know that his sons are working together." Myoga said coaxingly.

Inuyasha gave Myoga a look before getting to his feet and said, "Well, the mutt doesn't scare me. Come on Myoga, you had better come along to make sure that I don't mess things up."

"Yes, of course. As long as you keep yourself between Lord Sesshoumaru and myself, I will come with you gladly." Myoga said happily as he climbed onto Inuyasha's shoulder.

"Stinking coward," Inuyasha muttered crushing Myoga with his hand as he made his way back to his brother's study.

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Kouga perched on top of a tree over looking his domain while his servants, Ginta and Hakkaku stood silently on the branches beneath him.

Without turning his head, Kouga asked, "Have any of those rumors been confirmed yet?"

Ginta and Hakkaku looked at each other to see who would answer their lord. In the end, it was Ginta who answered, "No, nothing definite has been found. But the signs are there."

"What about Sesshoumaru? Anything?" implored Kouga.

This time Hakkaku answered, "Nothing either, but I'm pretty sure that he knows of it by now."

'So it has come to this.' Kouga thought sadly as he took one last look at the lush beauty that his lands were known for before turning his back and he jumped down the tree gesturing for his retainers to follow.

Along the way to the cave, Kouga only gave the briefest nods to the various wolves but did not stop to talk with them. When he had reached his destination, he motioned for Ginta and Hakkaku to wait for him outside and stepped inside.

The first person he saw was Ayame, her red hair made her hard to miss in the dim light. Seeing his approach, Ayame turned to the wolf sitting behind her and whispered something to him.

"I see you have heard about it as well." Kouga commented to the great white wolf who had turned his head and regarded him with his blue eyes.

"Yes, Ayame just brought me the news. It would appear that the south has fallen completely to this Naraku and the last of the kitsune clan have been driven out. Nothing was heard of them since." The wolf elder said sadly.

Kouga's tail swished in agitation. The kitsune clan was a group of gentle and fun loving youkai although they can fight when the occasion called for it. But because of their natural personality, kitsune were generally well liked by other youkai and humans, therefore have very few enemies. Now that the kitsune clan is gone, the eastern lands are at risk for attacks on two fronts.

The white wolf gave his granddaughter a nudge on the arm. Ayame turned to look at her grandfather who nodded at her. Kouga watched as she raised herself to her feet and walked out of the cave followed by two of her companions.

The wolf elder watched the retreating forms of his granddaughter and her wolves, "She really had her heart set on you, Kouga." He sighed continuing, before Kouga could protest. "But I know you are not ready to mate nor am I ready to let her go yet." Smiling he turned to Kouga. "So we'll just keep Sesshoumaru continue speculating about it then, shall we?"

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Miroku quietly stood beside his master, Mushin, trying not to fidget. After all, he was only four years old and was attending his first village meeting as the apprentice of the Buddhist monk. He traced the rosary that covered the palm of his right hand; Mushin had warned him that under no circumstance was he to remove the beads. Although, he does not completely understand what exactly lied beneath the beads, but Miroku was fully aware that whatever it was had consumed both his father and his grandfather.

Mushin glanced at his apprentice, who was like a son to him and inwardly sighed. The boy already had a tragic childhood, watching his own father consumed by a curse placed on the family that was passed down the male line from one generation to the next. With the death of his father, the kazana began to manifest on Miroku's right hand as expected and all Mushin could do was to seal it with the rosary beads and warned Miroku to never remove them. He knew one day, he would have to tell Miroku the origins of the curse for it would up to the boy to break it. However, duties to the village came first and Mushin turned his attention back onto the stage after clapping a hand onto Miroku's shoulder.

Miroku tried hard to understand what the elder was talking, but cannot fully understand the meaning of some of the words. Confusion clear on his face at the words of the elder and the mother standing at the back of the platform. He could not understand why the young mother appeared to be saddened by the words of the elder when the elder proclaimed that the hope of the human race has arrived. From what he learned, he knew hope meant a good thing, so Miroku turned his attention to the bundle in the young mother's arms and scrutinized it.

"Do you see it now, Miroku?" Mushin murmured his voice no louder than a buzzing insect.

Miroku jumped when his master spoke. He had no idea that Mushin was paying attention to him. He shook his head and looked up to his master's face inquiringly.

"Remember what I taught you, look closer." Mushin prompted encouragingly.

Miroku closed his eyes and concentrated, remembering the lessons that Mushin taught. Opening his eyes, his mouth gaped in surprise.

"Now do you understand the elder's words?" Mushin whispered

Miroku nodded, even to his untrained eye, he could see that the baby in the woman's arm possessed the potential of a great amount of power: purification power to be exact. Even though the aura was slight, it was a steady one. There was no doubt in the young monk's mind that if the baby was to receive training as she grows up, she would become a powerful miko.

Mushin gently patted Miroku's shoulder in praise. Finally, after fifty years, a child with the potential to rival Kikyo was born. He had no difficulty in understanding the young mother's pain. Like Miroku, the child's life was destined to be a hard and lonely one. Looking around at the people gathered here today, there was no one who had not lost a loved one to the cause. As a member of their society, every one understood that sacrifices were necessary for the greater good, especially now that they are so close. The setback with Kikyo had been devastating to the morale of the society. Their people simply could not afford to fail again.

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"I had always hoped that there would be another way." Kaede said shaking her head. It did not sit well with her conscience that they were not giving the child or her family a choice in the matter.

"My daughter and son-in-law are fully aware of their responsibilities to the village." Grandpa Higurashi spoke. "Our ancestors have paid the same sacrifices and we will not fail them now that we have another chance. Remember Kaede, we are not doing this just for ourselves. Have we not seen what they are capable of? Mass slaughter of people for fun? Destroying homes and villages just because another youkai had tweaked their tail." Grandpa Higurashi spat out while looking angrily around the room.

Shako, leader of the taijiya, held up a hand to stop Grandpa Higurashi from continuing. "Calm down, Higurashi-san, we are all well aware of the atrocities and we have not forgotten the price that our ancestors paid. We have taught our children well, Kaede-sama, they know what must be done." He said gently but firmly.

"Forgive my outburst earlier, Kaede, old friend." Grandpa Higurashi said tiredly, his eyes moistening with tears. "It's just hard on this old man knowing he is the one condemning his own grandchild to a life of hardship and loneliness, even if it was for the greater good."

Mushin cleared his throat, as a monk, he does not usually attend these meetings. But this time, since it concerned his ward as well, he had no choice but to attend. "I have a suggestion regarding the children's training, perhaps it might make it easier on everyone."

Seeing that he had every one's attention, Mushin began outlining his idea. "In the past, we have all trained the children separately according to what they are most likely to be capable at. We have also discouraged interaction, both during and after their training, between the different disciplines until the children have successfully mastered their craft."

Nods around the room affirmed what Mushin said was the tradition way of training, Mushin continued, "Since they are so close in age, what if this time, we still train the children separately in their craft. But allow the children to interact with each other in their free time? This way the children will get to know the joys of childhood, but at the same time fulfilling their destinies?"

"Aye, this will ease a little of the burden from my heart. It would not hurt the children to learn a bit more about things outside of their craft." Kaede nodded her head in support of Mushin's idea, and was glad that there were no objections to Mushin's idea.

'Dear Kami,' they prayed earnestly, 'Please let things go as planned.'

***************

Naraku waved his hand to indicate to Kanna that he had seen and heard enough. He walked to the balcony and laughed long and loud at the moonlit sky. After fifty years, his plans were about to come to fruit. Naraku had set about his plan of revenge when he was lying in the cave tortured and burnt till he was beyond recognition, but back then he was known as Onigumo.

Onigumo was a small time thief. He had been unfortunate enough to be caught stealing in a human lord's house. The human lord thought he would please his youkai overlord, handed him over to the youkai to do what he pleased with him. Inside the youkai's dungeon, Onigumo was tortured within an inch of his life. When the youkai lord became bored with torturing Onigumo, he had his underlings dump him over the cliff and left for dead until a miko called Kikyo came across him.

Thinking he was the victim of some youkai rampage, Kikyo smuggled him into a cave near her village and nursed him. During this time, he learned Kikyo came from a village made up of mikos, priests, monks, and taiyija living in secret. The ancestors of this village sworn years ago, through the combination of blood, power, and training, to become a force powerful enough to make even some high level youkai wary about attacking humans on a whim.

Unexpectedly, Onigumo fell for the miko. As his feelings for her grew, so did his hatred for the world. He hated the human lord who betrayed his own kind to the youkai, he hated the youkai lords who dominated the land, he hated the Kikyo's village for making her who she is, but most of all, Onigumo hated the body that he is left with.

He summoned many male youkai who devoured his useless body and gave him the body he has now. Finally able to move and possessing powers he never had before, Onigumo chose to become Naraku to began his campaign of revenge.

First thing he did was to destroy the human lord who had sent him to the youkai. He took great enjoyment in watching the man beg his life to no avail. It amused him to no end that by absorbing more powerful youkai into his body, his powers would increase. As he grew stronger, he had persuaded dissented youkai from all over to fight for him by offering them a very good chance to get back at those who had scorned them.

Secondly, Naraku began to extract revenge upon the village. Knowing that a certain Miyatsu from that village was susceptible to beautiful women, Naraku disguised himself as one. Needless to say, Miyatsu fell for it. Naraku was able to place the Kazana curse upon him making it pass down his bloodline and consume everything in its path, eventually, its wielder as well.

With the kitsune officially out of the southern lands, Naraku now had a land base to call his own. Soon he will launch his attack and no one will know what had hit them.

"When the time comes," He chuckled evilly, "they would all pay with their lives, every single one of them. Then the world will be mine."