Hey guys, I've already begun typing up the next chapter. :DD Also, I've got a little surprise stored up for you all (a short chaptered story, like maybe 3 or 4); I decided to try writing a lemon, so hopefully you all will like it once I've finished the entire thing. ^^

Disclaimer: All Non-OCs are not mine

The Arrangement

-1-

The late afternoon drizzle gradually developed into heavy drops of rain as a small group of darkly clad people crowded around a freshly dug grave. Before them sat a dark wooden coffin topped with a small arrangement of red and white flowers. The pall bearers, all four dressed in full black suits, began to lower it inside its grave as the solemn priest closed the funeral ceremony with the benediction.

Apart from them stood a young fifteen year old girl, her silent tears mixing with the pouring rain as it came falling down, drenching her. As the crowd began to disperse, she neared the now buried coffin and stared vacantly down at the carved gravestone, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her black pants to read the following:

Inès Viona Jiménez

1971-2006

Devoted Mother, Beloved Daughter

R.I.P

She made perfectly sure to train her eyes on the slab of stone sitting before her while members of her so-called extended "family" passed by; she ignored their cold stares and their harsh whispers.

"Is that…?"

"Oh yes, it's her alright. See the eyes?"

"Are you sure? She looks nothing like him…"

"Yes...well, I know she's the woman's daughter." the first woman said with a sneer. "We'll know if she truly is his soon enough."

The girl clenched her teeth tightly at their tittering and seethed silently as they passed, angrily setting her jaw.

*Ugly old hag...'If I was his'…? So what if I wasn't...*

She blinked when a shadow suddenly fell over her, and she looked up slowly to see an umbrella protecting her from the pouring rain. Glancing abruptly to her left, she saw a woman who she hadn't noticed earlier, also wearing funeral apparel, standing close beside her. She blinked again in surprise when she noticed that she also held a very strong resemblance to her now departed mother; the shape of her eyes, the color of her skin...so similar to her own.

"...Hello." she said quietly, giving her a small kind smile.

She stared back at her in befuddlement, and the woman chuckled lightly at her expression.

"You are D'Leh, no?" she asked.

D'Leh turned her body slightly toward her and nodded her head yes, watching her warily. She was speaking to her in Spanish, her (and her mother's) first language. It was possible that she too was a native speaker, but who was she? Why was she here? She couldn't possibly be a blood relative of her father; none of his family members would even talk let alone stand by her, and they were all of Chinese descent…The woman's smile widened a fraction.

"You are wondering how I know your name."

D'Leh nodded again, crossing her arms. The woman gave her an indignant look, but her dark eyes sparkled with amusement.

"What grandmother doesn't know her own grandchild's name?"

Her eyes slowly widened, and she continued to stare, this time slack-jawed. *G…Grand…?*

That was impossible. Her paternal grandmother was the only grandmother she had ever known she had, and she was long dead. This woman…?

"I'm your mother's mother, my dear...My name is Consuelo." she explained as if reading her thoughts.

D'Leh looked her up and down. She didn't look old at all, barely past 40, and her skin (and her hair) looked healthy; she glowed with the appearance of youth.

"What's the matter, Child? Are you mute?" she asked, suddenly looking worried. "You haven't said a single word during our conversation…."

D'Leh looked quickly away from her and stared silently down at the tops of her wet black shoes, a lump forming in the back of her throat. Consuelo's eyes softened in understanding, and she moved to place her free hand on her shoulder. D'Leh, startled by the movement, jerked away from her and gave her a cold, distrusting look.

"Oh! I'm sorry; I suppose we aren't that well acquainted yet, hm?" she said with a gentle laugh.

D'Leh's expression lessened in its coldness and increased in confusion at her "grandmother's" behavior.

*…What a strange woman…Why is she being so…nice?* she thought, turning away once more.

" …Look Nieta, I'm very sorry about your loss, truly I am." she continued.

She glanced back at her, trying to doubt that claim but finding (surprisingly) that she couldn't.

"Your mother and I...we weren't on good terms ever since she married that father of yours." she told her quietly, looking down at the dripping gravestone. "I didn't know for sure if I even was a grandmother until recently, when they told me Inès had passed, but I had suspected for years."

D'Leh turned back around to face her, and the woman gave her an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry I never came to visit you; I guess you could say that I was a little scared…Ha! Can you believe that? Scared to talk to my own daughter?" she asked, laughing again in that gentle way of hers.

D'Leh shrugged in reply. The woman smiled yet again.

"What's past is past, and I plan to make things right. Now, I know it must be hard to accept that your mother is gone, and I know your father's relatives don't think much of you; trust me, they gave your mother and me the exact same courtesy…"

D'Leh snorted unladylike in agreement. *Huh. You can say that again.* she thought bitterly.

Consuelo chuckled quietly before continuing.

"Yes, well... it is a shame when family act in such a way with each other. But, as I was saying, losing your mother has been a great tragedy for the both of us, and if you'd like to…I want you to come live with me." she said finally, watching her hopefully.

D'Leh was quite shocked by the proposal, and the effect was prolonged when she hesitantly took her right hand in her left.

"…You're all I have left of her D'Leh…" she whispered, suddenly distraught. "Will you come live with me?"

D'Leh watched her evenly for some time and then she glanced down at their loosely clasped hands, debating within herself. This woman was a complete stranger to her, but then again so was her father. He hadn't been around for 9 years; if she didn't go she'd end up staying with the man, who (at this very moment) was probably with some other woman many years younger than him…. Finally, she looked back up, gave her a small smile and slowly nodded her head "yes". Consuelo returned her smile with a wider one of her own, and she squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"Come." she said, moving her arm around her and pulling her gently away. "Let's get out of this rain and get you home."

After giving the tombstone one last look, they turned completely away from it and left along with the others, and they began their long bus ride to her newly acquired home...

Another little side note for any first time visitors: This is really just a prologue of sorts, and there will be 1 very long chapter before Sesshomaru actually comes into the picture (^^'), so if you're one of those people who prefer his appearance to be very early on? Sawwy! XD Just keep reading; It gets better :3 (Plus, any new reviewers will be greatly appreciated!).