Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to InuYasha, nor do I own any of the songs.
After curtsying to Inutaishou, Kagome looked up the steps at the two princes; they looked almost exactly alike except for their height and manner. The smaller one was fidgeting and pulling at his clothes while the elder had an expression of complete boredom on his face.
"Kagome, meet Prince InuYasha and Prince Sesshoumaru, your betrothed" Inutaishou introduced them. She didn't know what betrothed meant, but she smiled up at them.
"Boys why don't you go play with Kagome in your room?" the queen suggested to her sons. Kagome skipped up to them and took both of their hands in her own, never noticing Sesshoumaru stiffen.
At their room InuYasha led her off to begin playing with his wooden blocks as Sesshoumaru started to read the rest of the book he had been reading. It wasn't long, though, before he felt something tug on his sleeve and looked down to see two pairs of puppy dog eyes staring back at him.
"Take us to the stables Sesshoumaru, please?" the young princess begged, "I want to see the horses." Sesshoumaru sighed and got up, Kagome squealed and an out the door with InuYasha in tow.
He walked after them tiredly, why was he stuck baby-sitting these two? Sure she was his betrothed and a very sweet little princess, but couldn't they just let him sit down and finish his book? He arrived just in time to see the sweet little princess clamoring up his father's warhorse. He gaped at her amazed, that horse bit anyone, other than the Taisho family, who tried to touch it.
Yet here it was, nuzzling her as she fed him a carrot. He felt a familiar tug on his sleeve, "I want to ride Tempest too!" InuYasha whined. Sesshoumaru lifted him onto the horse's back and led them out onto the nearby forest trail. The two seven year olds giggled and whispered two each other as he led them along.
Suddenly they came upon a slow creek and Kagome made an announcement, "I want to make mud pies."
"Me too, me too!" InuYasha squealed, almost falling off the horse in his excitement. Sesshoumaru smiled slightly as he imagined the picture the two would make with their fine clothes covered in mud.
"What's so funny?" Kagome demanded, Sesshoumaru chuckled at the cute little pout on her face as he told them that they couldn't because of their clothes. The two tried puppy dog eyes that usually never failed but he just shook his head, grinning, and led them back to the palace. When it came time for the princess' visit to end she gave each boy a small kiss on the cheek, standing on tiptoes to reach Sesshoumaru.
"See you!" she smiled as she called back to them, waving her arms like crazy. But the little princess did not see the two princes until fourteen years had passed.
*Fourteen years later*
Kagome was again before the steps of Inutaisho's throne. He had not changed much, only a few new lines around his eyes. However the two princes had grown up. Sesshoumaru wore a loose white shirt with a midnight blue tunic and blackish-brown pants; InuYasha wore almost the same except he had on a crimson tunic, both wore their long hair pulled back and tied. They bowed stiffly, but only InuYasha gave her a small grin.
"InuYasha, Sesshoumaru, why don't you show Kagome around the castle?' Inutaishou said. InuYasha offered her his arm and they exited the large chamber. Once out of the throne room kagome asked,
"Where to Sesshoumaru?"
He stared at her coldly and said, "Girl, you may call me Crown Prince Sesshoumaru."
InuYasha winced at the cruelty from his brother and was about to try and defend Kagome when she quickly did it herself, "And you may call me Crown Princess Kagome." InuYasha grinned, finally a girl who wasn't going to let herself be pushed around.
"Tell me princess, do you still like to make mud pies?" Sesshoumaru asked coldly.
"No, Crown Prince Sesshoumaru" she said sarcastically. "Now I like to wack people with a sword. Would you like to try?"
"No one can beat me at swordplay."
"That is an empty boast, " she said as she walked toward her rooms, "as you have yet to see me fight." With that she shut the door behind her.
Sesshoumaru turned to InuYasha, "I am going to the library. Go ahead and show her around, but do not forget your history and statecraft lessons at noon. InuYasha stood there a moment, but finally couldn't take it anymore and burst into his room to change.
When he returned in some old, comfortable clothes Kagome had still not appeared. He knocked softly," Princess, Sesshoumaru is gone. Do you want me to show you around?" Kagome popped out, she was dressed in clothes similar to InuYasha's.
"You don't have to do that, call me Kagome. Do you think we could go on a ride?"
"Sure" he led her to the stables and took her out through the fields. They talked about things and joked with each other. The time seemed to fly and when InuYasha noticed that the sun was high in the sky he reluctantly told her he had to get back, and she asked him to take her to the library.
*Sesshoumaru in the library*
He saw the girl walk in from where he sat. He was hidden in a window seat, seeing but not seen. She wandered about staring.
"This is amazing," she whispered to herself. She grabbed a bunch of books and sat down at the table, sighing happily as she began to read. Hours passed in quiet but Sesshoumaru could not keep his mind on his book. His thoughts kept drifting to his betrothed. She was annoying and stubborn, but he wondered at her claim of skill with the sword. He looked up to see the girl's maid whispering in her ear. She nodded to her and got up to leave. Once she was gone he walked over to examine her choice of literature. There were many legends and classics, but also a fair amount of history and warfare tactics. He pondered silently, there would be a ball the next night; he could ask her about her absurd claim then.
Princess Kagome was announced and entered. All the men stared; she was dressed in a long, blue gown with a white corset lined with silver, and long, flowing white sleeves. She had left her hair down but had braided silver and blue ribbons in it. She saw her friend Sango rebutting an overly amorous knight, but she could tell that she liked him because she only knocked him out.
When Sesshoumaru came up and offered her his arm and whispered into his ear, "What are you doing?"
"You are my betrothed, we are required to dance the first dance together and act like we like it," he whispered back.
"Would you jump off a cliff if it was required?" she asked as she smiled at the guests who came to greet her.
He did not reply, but after dancing for a while he asked, "What did you mean about your sword fighting ability?"
"What do you think I mean Crown Prince?' she said sarcastically, "I mean I know how to use a sword well."
"Show me" he demanded, "tomorrow morning, in the training field." She nodded; as the dance ended and another began she accepted InuYasha's hand.
She danced with all who offered, but when she was again paired with InuYasha she asked, "Who is that man sitting next to your father?" She was pointing at a pale, black haired man dressed in black who was whispering in the king's ear.
"That's Naraku, one of father's advisors. I don't trust him and even father doesn't trust him much. But he says it's safer to have your enemies close so you can watch them." Kagome silently agreed with InuYasha that this man would be better far away. When all had their fill of dancing and many of the men were drunk, guests began slipping away to their rooms.
Before Kagome could leave, Sesshoumaru grabbed her hand and whispered in her ear, "Tomorrow."
*Kagome's bedroom w/ Sango*
The two girls were on Kagome's bed talking happily. Lady Sango was the daughter of a close friend of Kagome's father, and the sister she had never had.
"So tell me Sango, who was that cute young knight who seemed to so enjoy your company?" Kagome asked teasingly.
Sango blushed, "His name is Sir Miroku," then she turned to Kagome, "but he's nothing compared to your betrothed!"
Kagome scowled, "My betrothed may be very handsome, but in actuality he's an icy bastard!" Just then the two heard a voice from the window.
"Princess Kagome, your eyes are like sapphires and your mouth is so luscious red. Speak tender words to me for your manner is that of an angel!"
Kagome looked out and saw Sir Kouga, one of the knights she had danced with. Then, to her surprise, he actually started singing. She threw a shoe at him.
"Shut up Kouga!" she hissed at him. He simply dodged and continued to sing. Then the window next to Kagome's opened and a familiar prince appeared.
"Sir Kouga, I would take it unkindly if you were to persist in courting my betrothed. Especially in such a manner as that disturbs my sleep." Sesshoumaru stated.
Kouga bowed and departed, but not before blowing a kiss towards Kagome's window. It shut with a bang and the lights went out.
*Next morning in the training yard*
When Sesshoumaru entered the courtyard he found her already there, dressed in a pair of old pants and a shirt. She didn't notice him at first and continued fencing with her shadow. It was only when he brought his sword in contact with hers that she looked up.
"Shall we, Princess?" he asked. She didn't reply but put up her sword. He moved in quickly, trying to judge her ability. She blocked it deftly and counterattacked. The swords flashed back and forth, lights reflecting off them; it was almost like a dance.
The sound of swords and the beams of light caught the other prince's attention. The two didn't even notice him. They fought till midday when, by mutual agreement, they broke off. Sesshoumaru saluted her with his sword and then went off to take a bath. Kagome thrust her sword back into its scabbard and smiled at InuYasha. He was gazing at her in awe and then an idea came to him, the perfect chance to get back at his brother.
"Hey Kagome, how would you like to be in a tournament?"
"What kind of tournament?" she asked suspiciously.
He grinned evilly, "A tournament in honor of Sesshoumaru's coming of age. He's going to fight in It."
A mischievous gleam appeared in her eyes, "Sure InuYasha, can you enter me in the lists?"
"Consider it done."
The day of the tournament the field was filled with knights in armor with their different standards. The Taisho family's was a silver wolf on a black background. Each family had it's own, but there were many wandering, or green, knights with unknown standards. One of these was a knight seated on a coal black stallion. His standard was a blue rose on a white background.
The sounds of knights readying their mounts and weapons filled the field. Men were calling out to each other and sitting in front of their tents.
When the tournament began there was a fanfare and the king, and his retinue, entered. The foreign princess betrothed to Sesshoumaru was not with them, but most put it off to a lady's delicacy.
The first part of the tournament was the jousting contests. Steel resounded as lances hit shields and knights were unhorsed. Sesshoumaru cut through his rivals; unhorsing them all quickly, even the most skilled.
On the other side the Knight of the Blue Rose, as the peasants were calling him, was meeting similar success. When he had finished all that were pitted against him, Sesshoumaru watched the other knight carefully, he would be a tough opponent, but he did not doubt that he could beat him.
After that there was the group fighting. Sesshoumaru's group was put against Sir Kouga's and Sir Miroku's fought against the Blue Rose's.
Swords clashed together and men yelled battle cries. Sunlight gleamed against knight's armor as horses reared. However Sesshoumaru and the Blue Rose remained silent as they fought, letting their steel speak for them.
In the end, Sir Kouga and Sir Miroku were defeated and it was time for the one-on-one combat. As leaders of the victorious groups, Sesshoumaru was paired with the Blue Rose in the deciding fight. Swords were raised in a ready stance after the opponents shook hands. The two were completely silent, finding the other an equal match in skill. The strange knight feinted to the right and was blocked; he tried left and was still blocked. But when he switched his sword from his right hand to his left, Sesshoumaru was caught off guard. His sword was knocked from his hand, and he found the strange knight's sword pointed at his chest.
"Yield?" the knight asked. Sesshoumaru looked into the knight's visor, a little shocked. How could he have lost? The knight had a pair of deep blue eyes.
"I yield" Sesshoumaru said. The knight sheathed his sword amid the crowds happy cries, it seemed the peasants had adopted this strange knight.
The Knight of the Blue Rose was led to the king's pavilion to be congratulated.
"Congratulations Sir Knight," the king said, "We bid you take off your helm so that we may see the face of the victor of this tournament." The knight bowed and pulled off his helm. The crowd gasped as a tumble of curls fell out to frame the familiar face of Princess Kagome.
Prince InuYasha's laughter was the only sound heard during the stunned silence; and then the peasants started cheering. Sesshoumaru just stood there in total shock as his betrothed grinned at him. To make matters worse she came over and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek and a flutter of her eyelashes. He broke out of his trance to glare murderously at his brother who had fallen out of his chair laughing. All the other contestants were laughing as well.
He decided to play along and smiled, bowing to his betrothed. His father stood up and placed the victory wreath on her head personally. Giving her a fatherly kiss on the forehead at the same time.
Kagome moved happily to her tent to have Sango help her take off her armor. This ploy had definitely been worth it to see the look on Sesshoumaru's face. It was priceless.
