Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha and co.
StolenThe King of Shikon paced back and forth, dizzying his court. After some length of time, he sat down on his throne, only to stand up and pace again. He was nervous, very nervous. No one in the room dared spoke a word, dared defy the silence. Suddenly, a courier ran into the room, breaking the heavy tension in the air.
As the courier bowed before his king, he began, "Sire—"
"How is the queen doing? Is she in pain? Is everything fine? Did anything go wrong? What about the baby? Was it safely delivered?" King Higurashi, in the blink of an eye, was standing right in front of the courier, shaking the poor man senseless. "Tell me!"
"S-Sire, e-everything i-is f-fine! The q-queen is d-doing w-well a-and h-has d-delivered you a-a healthy p-princess!" stuttered the courier.
The king released his grip, joy radiating from him in every direction. "Congratulations, Sire!" the court chorused, happy for their king, who was beaming.
"What will you name the princess?" asked Myouga, one of the king's grand advisors.
"Kagome," the king replied. "She is Kagome."
"I want you to eliminate the new princess," a cold voice stated.
"As you wish, my lord," replied an assassin, who was kneeling in front of her master.
"I want this job done with no suspicions. Do you hear me? If a hitch was to occur, consider yourself dead. If you succeed, you will be rewarded."
"Yes, my lord."
"Now go," the voice dismissed. As the assassin stood up and headed for the door, her master, hidden in the shadows, spoke once more. "Remember, Kagura, your life is in my hands."
"Yes, my lord," Kagura replied as she walked out of the room, preparing to carry out her mission.
Back inside the room, the figure clenched its fist. "I will never forgive you for what you have done, Higurashi. I will make you and your family suffer, as you have made me suffer. I will make you feel the pain of losing a loved one, as you have inflicted upon me. You have slaughtered my brother, my beloved brother, Onigumo. For this, I, Naraku, will return the favor." With that, the figure laughed an evil, menacing laugh.
Gently rocking the small bundle of baby in her arms, the queen raised a hand and began stroking her newborn princess' face. "Sleep, Kagome, sleep," she whispered, but the young infant took no heed. Those small, dark brown eyes were consuming everything and anything in its surroundings. Finally, those eyes settled on the queen, who then tickled the young one's nose. "Kagome, you are my blessing."
"Ah, how are you doing!" King Inutaisho, the king of Tama shouted as he entered his old friend's court. A boy of two was trailing behind him, wearing a small red haori. He had silvery white locks and golden amber eyes.
"Just fine! Never better!" replied King Higurashi enthusiastically. "And who have we got here?" he asked, peering at the young boy who was hiding behind his father.
"This is my second son, Inuyasha," he said, pushing the said boy towards the other king. "Say hello, Inuyasha." The boy cowered behind his father. Inutaisho smiled. "He's just shy."
"I see. Ah! You two must be exhausted, traveling all the way from Tama. Come, have a seat and enjoy yourselves." The king motioned for his attendant. "Bring out food and sake."
"Yes, Sire." The attendant scurried away to carry out his orders.
When all was seated—with Inuyasha propped onto King Inutaisho's lap—conversation began.
"It's nice to see you again, Inutaisho," greeted King Higurashi.
"Same here. By the way, I forgot to congratulate you. Congratulations! Now you're a father, Higurashi!" Raising a brow, "I heard it was a baby girl, yes?" A mischievous look settled upon his face.
King Higurashi chuckled as a few attendants entered the room, trays of food in their hands. After all the food was placed on the table, King Higurashi nodded to his attendants; a sign of dismissal. Turning back to King Inutaisho, "Yes, it is a girl."
King Inutaisho smiled broadly and poured himself a cup of sake, as did King Higurashi. The two kings drowned their cups and began to eat. "Inuyasha, do you want to eat anything?" King Inutaisho asked his son. The boy nodded and his father handed him a crispy spring roll, which he happily munched.
After all was full, King Higurashi asked, "Would you like to see the new princess?"
"By all means, yes!" replied King Inutaisho. Delighted, King Higurashi stood up and motioned for the two to follow him. He led them to a room and knocked gently on the screen door. A maid opened it and bowed low, seeing her king.
"Is the queen and princess in there?" King Higurashi asked.
"Yes, Sire," the maid replied.
"Good." Turning to King Inutaisho and young Inuyasha, "Come!"
The two complied. Inside the room, the queen sat at her bed, the baby in her arms. "Long time no see!" King Inutaisho said as he approached the queen, Inuyasha following silently behind his father. As the king of Tama came closer, he could make out a beautiful baby girl with raven black hair. "Come, Inuyasha. Come see the princess."
The queen lowered her arms so Inuyasha could see. Inuyasha peered at the baby before him, a lovely baby princess.
"Now, Inuyasha, don't you have something you want to give to her?" Inutaisho nudged his son. Inuyasha dug his hand into his haori and retrieved his gift for the young princess.
King Higurashi and the queen tilted forward, curious at what Inuyasha held concealed in his hand. Unraveling his small fingers, Inuyasha revealed a silver chain with a pink jewel in the midst of it.
"Ah, Inuyasha!" exclaimed the queen. "It's so beautiful! Thank you so much. Why don't you put it on for Kagome?"
Inuyasha complied, draping the necklace over the baby's head. Curious about the baby, he rested his hands on Queen Higurashi's arm and gazed intently at it.
Unexpectedly, the baby brought up her hand and gripped Inuyasha's forelocks, tugging it. Pulling his face closer to her, she let her tiny hands wander to Inuyasha's demon ears. He smiled as the baby played with them.
"Look at them. They're so cute together," remarked King Higurashi.
"Un. What could be better than being in-laws with your best friends?" King Inutaisho suddenly brought up, a glint in his eyes.
"Inutaisho. What are you planning?" The queen shifted her gaze to him, a knowing smile touching her lips.
"You know what I mean." King Inutaisho leaned closer to the baby and stroked her soft cheeks. "She is perfect for my Inuyasha."
At that, King Higurashi and the queen gave a soft chuckle. "Then so be it."
Kagura stood outside the queen's room, perched high upon a tree, listening to all that was being said and done. So this princess was Kagome, the newborn baby of King and Queen Higurashi. Why did her master want her to kill the child? What grudges could he hold against a baby? Or maybe it wasn't the baby. Maybe it was someone else. Who could be affected by this loss? The king and queen, of course. But why would Naraku want to do this?
Heaving a sigh, Kagura stopped her trail of thought. It was none of her concern. Whatever the reason, it was her job to assassinate the princess, and she would carry it out. Kagura leaned on the branch she was perched on, waiting for the right moment to assault.
The moon was high up in the sky, radiating brilliantly over all. King Inutaisho and Inuyasha had left, heading back to Tama. King Higurashi had also left, having to attend some important business with his advisors.
The queen and her attendants were washing the princess when one of the attendants noticed something. "Your Highness, look! There seems to be some kind of mark on the princess."
The queen went over to inspect the problem; and sure enough, right above the princess' left hip was a faint red mark resembling a star. She tried to wash it off, but the mark was still there.
"Is it a birthmark?" asked one attendant.
"It appears so." The queen inspected the mark again and after finding it was irremovable, returned to her previous business.
When the baby was clean enough, the attendants carefully dried her and dressed her. Having finished their duty, they bowed before the queen and left the room, leaving only the princess and the queen.
Upon watching the queen's attendants trod out the room, Kagura took out a black piece of cloth and tied it around her head so that it covered her nose and mouth, revealing only her eyes. 'It's time to work.'
"Kagome, Kagome," the queen chanted, holding a finger before the infant's face. Kagome made an attempt to grab the finger, but as she did, it was pulled out of her reach. Then it was right in front of her. Kagome tried to capture it, but once again, it was faster than her.
Suddenly, the door creaked open. The queen did not bother to look. After all, it was probably the king. The footsteps slowly came closer and closer as the queen continued to play with her daughter. Something seemed out of place, the queen noticed a few seconds later as the figure came closer. Usually, upon entering the room, the king would yell a greeting or in some way, make his presence known. So far, he had not said anything. 'That's weird,' the queen thought. Suddenly, the footsteps stopped, causing the queen to glance up.
The queen was totally taken by surprise. Standing three yards before her was a girl, her face covered by a black cloth. She knew well who this girl was. An assassin, no doubt. Yet, the queen could not bring herself to scream as she huddled her baby closer to her body.
"What………What do you want?" Her voice came out raspy, almost inaudible.
"The baby. Hand me the baby." The girl took a step closer.
"No!" The queen pressed Kagome closer to her. Having been squished, oblivious to it all, the young princess began wailing. But the queen did not notice it as fear coursed through her spine.
"Give it to me now, and I will spare your life." One step closer.
"Never! Guards! Guards!" yelled the queen at the top of her lungs. Tears were streaming down her face now. "There's an intruder! An assassin! Guards! Guards!"
"Your screaming is not helping any." Another step closer.
The guards were coming. She could feel it. Kagura flipped out a dagger that was hidden in her kimono. The queen caught sight of it and gasped. Making a lunge for the baby, the queen spontaneously spun around so that if Kagura were to strike, it would hit her instead. Kagura stopped in mid-lunge. She would have taken this woman's life, but Naraku did not say anything about the queen. Killing the queen might anger him, and she did not want to do that. After all, her life was in his hands.
Voices outside the room brought Kagura back to attention. The guards were just outside. She had to make it quick. Quickly approaching the queen, Kagura spun her around and grabbed the baby successfully.
In a moment, the door burst open and three guards rushed in.
"Stop her!" the queen yelled at the top of her lungs. "She has the princess! Stop her!"
'Three guards?' mused Kagura. 'This should be interesting.' Gripping tightly to the wailing bundle, she charged and slashed at the guards with her dagger.
Outside, more guards were gathering, all rushing towards her. Swiftly, quickly, Kagura replaced her dagger with a fan. "Fujin no Mai!" A gust of wind formed and knocked out several of the guards. Seizing this chance, Kagura leapt on the roof, the baby princess in one arm, her fan in the other. Paying no heed, she ran and ran until the voices of the guards droned out.
When she was sure she was out of reach, Kagura slowed down. The baby was still wailing, now as loud as ever. "Shh!" She was getting annoyed. "People will hear you!" The baby continued crying. Well, it didn't matter now, would it? She would kill the child anyway, wouldn't she? Once again, Kagura took out her dagger and held the crying baby right under it. The blade glistened in the moonlight. Raising the dagger, Kagura prepared to deliver the final blow. Bringing down the dagger at full force, she closed her eyes.
The wailing had stopped.
"Have you done as I have requested?" asked Naraku, once again in the shadows of his fortress.
"Yes, master. I have disposed of the princess."
"Are you sure? You are not lying to me?"
"No, lord." Kagura focused her gaze on the ground.
"Very well. Do as you wish for now. I will call you when I need you."
"Yes, Lord Naraku." Kagura rose from her kneeling position and bowed low, then backed out of the room.
Once outside, Kagura ran. She couldn't stop running. She couldn't believe what she just did. 'Why did I do that? Why?' Suddenly, Kagura stopped and collapsed in the middle of a meadow. 'What is wrong with me?'
Flashback
The wailing had stopped. Kagura opened her eyes to meet brown ones, the tip of her dagger a millimeter away from the infant's chest. She looked into those eyes, those brown eyes that seem to suddenly gleam with happiness. Shaking her head, Kagura once again raised her dagger and brought it down with as much force as she could muster. She had to kill this child. She had to. She was an assassin. Assassins don't have feelings. They do as they're told. It was their life. This time, Kagura stopped in mid strike. 'I………I can't do this.' Kagura turned her head away, bringing her dagger down. She knew she had just broken an important code of the assassins. 'But………I can't. I………I don't want to. This baby is innocent. It doesn't deserve to die! But Naraku………what would he do if he found out? He has my heart. He controls my life. I can't do anything.'
Kagura looked down at the baby in her arms, the lovely white baby. Princess of Shikon. 'Then he just can't find out.' That decided, Kagura hopped off the roof of a house and landed in the middle of an empty street, for it was night and everyone had gone off to sleep.
"I can't kill you………so what do I do with you?" Kagura asked the baby, who was drooping her eyelids, evidently tired from all the wailing. "Humph." After a moment of studying the baby, a shiny object under its shirt caught her eye. "What is this?" Kagura asked as she fumbled at the neck of the princess, extracting out a silver chain.
A horse's neigh interrupted her thoughts. Kagura whirled around and spotted a horse, attached to a crude, empty carriage. Releasing the chain she was inspecting, she heard a voice ring out into the night.
"Yes, yes. Thank you," an old voice said from somewhere within one of the houses.
With amazing agility, Kagura made it to the carriage and placed the now sleeping baby into it, quickly but gently.
"Yes, and I must thank you again for purchasing," the voice continued, louder.
Kagura realized that the carriage was sitting in front of a house, the same house in which delivered the voice. The large gate of the house began to open. Her thoughts racing, Kagura snapped out her fan and tore a portion of it. Scanning the inside of the carriage, she luckily found something to write with and printed 'Kagome' on the scrap and tucked it inside the bundle beside the sleeping princess.
Moments later, a stout old lady in her forties emerged from the house and climbed onto the carriage, oblivious to the baby sleeping beside her, oblivious to what Kagura had just done.
Kagura stood hidden in the shadows as she watched the carriage stroll away. "The rest is up to you………"
End of Flashback
"What is wrong with me!" Kagura yelled out into the night.