Part I – The Magical Coco Beans
Summary: Miroku's a traveling monk who sells a cow for magical coco beans, Sango's a princess whose hand is up for marriage because she refuses to talk after the death of her brother, Inuyasha's a genie under a curse to find a girl will marry him or spend an eternity as the Chocolate Genie and Kagome is a fire child whose been alone since her twin died. What happens when they all encounter each other? A hodgepodge of fairytales that's what!
Author's Note: "Chocolate is the only way to a girl's heart." Amazing how this one statement can start a story…but that is the case. I've decided to do a fairytale hodgepodge of sorts and I hope you all like it. Couple facts, genii is plural for genie and a keep is another word for castle.
"Are you looking to sell this cow because if so I would like to purchase it?" an old man said. Reflecting back later Miroku realised that it was this simple line that changed his destiny forever.
Looking up from his meditation at the base of a large oak tree, violet eyes glinted with interest. Reaching beside him, the handsome monk, grasped his staff and rose slowly to his feet. He tugged his purple robes into place and dusted off the crumbs that were proof of his late lunch. "Good day to you sir," he said smoothly. "You say you would be interested in purchasing my cow?"
"Yes," the old man said patting the cow's head affectionately. "My family's cow has recently died leaving my wife in a very hard situation because she has no money with which to buy a new one. You see she has seven children and what little money they make is needed."
"Oh," Miroku said warily though he was always generous, to a fault some might say, he never gave anything away for free. "What are you willing to give me in exchange for my cow?"
"My magical coco beans," the man said reaching into the inner folds of his clothing and producing a small pouch. Upturning the pouch into his palm Miroku saw three beans fall out.
Miroku had to cough and put his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing out loud. "Magical koh koh beans?" he repeated somewhat sceptically. "I have never in all my travel's heard of such things."
"Not many people have," the old man winked. "I came across them in my travels and have horded them ever since. I know you may think I'm merely being old a senile but I will swear to you that they will grant you the secret to any woman's heart. There is only one such tree in all of the world and these three beans I plucked with my own hands."
"Any woman's heart you say?" Miroku said his ears perking up. "How so?"
"I am not one hundred percent sure," the old man said carefully. "You see these beans are enchanted."
Miroku sighed heavily, for a second there he had actually thought these beans might have been worthwhile exchanging for the old cow he had discovered wandering the road that afternoon.
"The beans will make the most delicious food imaginable," the old man said proudly. "I've tried it myself. It is called chocolate."
"Ch- Chocolate?" Miroku asked stumbling over the strange word.
"Yes, I'm unsure of how to make this, but the genie does and he will instruct you on how to do so."
"Genie?" Miroku echoed. This man was most certainly out of his mind, genii (A/N: the plural of genie) only existed in legends.
"Yes, he's extremely temperamental though," the man fearfully whispered as if afraid this "genii" could hear him. "I don't recommend calling him for whimsical reasons."
"Don't worry good sir I won't," Miroku said truthfully, well truthfully enough considering he had no intention of trading the beans.
"So will you trade your cow for these coco beans?"
"I'm afraid I'm unable to seeing as this cow as is not mine," Miroku said.
"You think I'm crazy don't you," the man demanded. "Everyone I know thinks I'm mad, but this time I can't fail my grandchildren need milk to grow big and strong."
"I'm sorry sir," Miroku said.
"Genie of the chocolate, I call upon you. I command you by your promise to appear," the man said throwing a single brown bean into the air.
There was an explosion of red smoke and suddenly a man stood before them dressed in a red haori with long white hair flowing down to the middle of his back.
"Whad'ya want old man," he growled impatiently planting a hand on his hip.
Miroku stood stunned, the old man hadn't bee lying. There was a genie, an actually genie and he was standing not two feet away looking very very angry.
"I wanted to prove to this monk that I wasn't mad because I need to sell my coco beans and you to pay for a new cow."
"Figures," the genie muttered rolling his eyes and turned to Miroku, "only you'd be stupid enough to sell magic for a cow. Well Monk? You gonna stand there gawking at me all day or trade your dumb ol' cow for magic? Not really a hard choice is it."
Running a shaking hand through his hair, Miroku said clearly unnerved. "Of course I will."
"There you go," Inuyasha said handing the cow's rope to the old man. "You've got your cow, now beat it."
The old man nodded and hurriedly scrambled pulling the stubborn cow behind him.
"Are you really a genie?" Miroku asked.
"Half," the red garbed youth said gruffly sitting down Indian style.
"Pardon me?"
"I'm half genie, half human," the white hair boy huffed.
"Is that even possible?" Miroku asked.
"Yes, if not I'd be lying and I can't lie to you," the boy growled.
"Really? You can't lie?"
"Oh I can lie, I just can't lie to my master and you're my new master so I can't lie to you. Make sense?"
"Yes," Miroku said sitting down as well. "So do you have a name?"
"Inuyasha," was the impassive reply.
"So Inuyasha may I try some of this chocolate?" Miroku inquired. With a careless wave of his long clawed hand a thin piece of brown solid appeared in Miroku's hand. "Is this edible?" he asked holding it up to the sunlight to observe it more closely. It appeared no more magical than anything else he had seen
"Of course," Inuyasha sighed.
Miroku nibbled a small corner and his eyes lit up. "It's delicious!" he exclaimed.
"Yes, yes," Inuyasha yawned leaning up against the tree.
Miroku followed suit nibbling his new treasure. "It's delicious," he mumbled his mouth full of chocolate.
"You've already said that monk," Inuyasha pointed out.
"It's so good it's worth saying twice," Miroku said.
"So where are you travelling too?" Inuyasha asked closing his eyes lazily.
"Not really sure," Miroku replied popping the last piece in his mouth and chewing with much enjoyment. "Was thinking of heading west. What do you think?"
"What does my opinion matter?" Inuyasha asked bored. "I'm merely your slave until you chose to pass me on."
"Really, you have no choice in what I tell you to do?" Miroku asked.
"Within reason and my powers no," Inuyasha said grumpily.
"Hmmm," Miroku hummed and then stood up. "Well I've had enough of a rest for now you ready to go?"
"Go where?" Inuyasha asked opening his eyes.
"Well you're traveling with me aren't you?" Miroku inquired.
"If you want me too," Inuyasha said slowly. "All my other master's allowed me to leave when I satisfied their pitiful whims."
"Where?" Miroku asked.
"The coco tree," Inuyasha said. "It's my enchanted home. You've probably heard of the Genie of the Lamp?"
Miroku nodded.
"Of course you would, he's the most famous out of any of us. All because of that boy Ladin or whatever his name was," Inuyasha grunted. "Well the tree is like my lamp but when the old fart plucked some of the beans they serve as a link between the tree and him allowing him to summon me."
"Interesting to know," Miroku thought out loud. "But even if that's what your used to I wish you to travel with me," Miroku replied. "I like talking to new people."
"Damn," Inuyasha swore. "You mean I actually have to walk with you?"
"Yes, travel as my friend," Miroku said.
"A friend," Inuyasha said confused. "I'm your slave."
"No you're my friend who will occasionally do my bidding," Miroku said smoothly helping him to his feet. "Now let's get moving, I'd like to set camp at a better location before sunset. And if I'm not mistaken we've only got an hour or so before that happens."
"Why would you want a genie as a friend," Inuyasha demanded walking beside Miroku.
"Half," Miroku corrected him.
"Huh?"
"You said you were half," Miroku reminded him. "Therefore I assume your part human as well. Not that that really matters in the least to me when it comes to who I socialize with."
"You're not afraid of me?" Inuyasha asked sceptically.
"Not particularly," Miroku replied. "I can command you to stop, if you ever try to kill me so why would I be afraid?"
"Damn," Inuyasha swore. "You're smarter than any of my previous masters."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Miroku smiled.
"I'm not sure it was meant as one," Inuyasha said squinting one eye.
"Oh well," Miroku replied cheerfully. "So tell me, how'd you come to be a chocolate genie."
"I angered my father," Inuyasha said. "And he made me a genie even though I'm technically not supposed to be allowed to be one being half human and all."
"Why'd he do that?"
"I was mad one day at being called half breed, and I demanded to know why he would fall in love with something as week and as pitiful as a human. Took that the wrong way and made me a genie until I can find a human who'll love me and marry me."
"So he cursed you?" Miroku asked for clarification.
"Depends on your opinion, personally I think it's a blessing, but mortals might refer to it as a curse. I can only be freed by a mortal girl who loves me even though I'm part genie."
"Curses normally have a time limit don't they?"
"Yes, the curse gave me a hundred years and I've used about ninety-eight of those years."
"No girl yet?"
"Haven't really looked, I actually don't want to be mortal again," Inuyasha huffed. "Rather be a genie, I get to live forever and handle magic."
"Must be lonely though."
"I was lonelier before," Inuyasha shrugged. "It's an improvement."
Miroku was going to say something until he realised they were approaching a crossroad. Stopping Miroku read the signs out loud, "Handania lies to the left and Tristania to the left. You heard of either?"
"No," Inuyasha said. "I really don't give a damn where you chose to go either."
"Hmmm, why don't we go to the right. Handania it is," Miroku decided cheerfully and they hadn't even taken three steps down that road when a scream erupted from the direction of Tristania.
Miroku and Inuyasha looked at each other and then simultaneously dashed back and towards the scream where they stumbled upon up a group of bandits trying to capture a young girl with long raven hair.
"Let me GO!" the girl cried ducking under one man's arms as he attempted to grab her.
Inuyasha froze the second he saw the girl murmuring, "Kikyo?"
"Let the girl go," Miroku called ignoring his companion's odd behaviour. His voice distracted the bandits momentarily but they soon ignored him. "Hey!"
"And what's a puny little man like you gonna do," a bandit easily twice the size of Miroku scoffed. "I could snap your puny neck with my two fingers."
But his whirled around when his partner screamed in agony clutching his hand which was suddenly covered with red and shiny burns. The man next to him lunged at the girl as she froze in horror at what had happened. But when the man reached to grab her she reached the end of her control and screamed, "leave me alone!" Pushing herself away from the group of bandits and closing her eyes stumbled back as she tried to regain control of her emotions. But it was to no avail light suddenly radiated from her and she slowly rose off the ground trembling. Raising her right hand above her head she formed a gigantic ball of what appeared, Miroku thought, to be fire. Miroku was forced to shield his eyes the light emanating from the girl was so bright.
Opening her eyes as the radiance diminished Miroku saw the girl struggling to control the overwhelming power. "Leave me alone," she bellowed he voice filling the surrounding area and breaking the shock of the bandits and causing them to run for the hills.
Once the bandits had disappeared the girl sighed heavily and slowly floated down to the ground where she collapsed into a heap like a puppet whose strings had been brutally cut. Miroku and Inuyasha dashed to her side and Miroku reached out to touch her shoulder but instantly recoiled in shock.
"She burned me!" he said stumbling over his tongue in amazement. "She's magical! Is she a genie too?."
"Genie? You got to be kidding me monk," Inuyasha scoffed. "A genie would never lose control over their power like that."
"Can you touch her being a genie?" Miroku asked taking his cape off and draping it over her careful not to touch her.
"I think so," Inuyasha said cautiously and tentatively reached out at touched her forehead. "She's burning up. It must be a result of the magic she called upon. We need to find a stream and cool her."
"You'll have to carry her Inuyasha," Miroku said rising to his feet. Inuyasha gently picked the raven hair woman up and rose to his feet as well. "I'll be back he said, I promise," he said and with a snap of his fingers.
Miroku blinked twice before his eyes accepted the fact that Inuyasha had indeed vanished. Considering it hadn't even been an hour since he had discovered that magic did exist he was surprised that was all it took. Deciding that this was as good of a place as any to set camp he set to work building a fire. Inuyasha appeared moments after the fire started to dance happily a soaked Inuyasha appeared holding an equally soaked and still unconscious young woman.
"How's the girl?" Miroku asked.
"She cooler now," Inuyasha said. "Jumped into a river."
"Won't that make her sick?"
"People with as much power at their disposal as she has don't tend to get sick very easily.
"Do they now? I would have had no idea, magic's still a pretty hard concept for me to grasp. I had no idea it actually existed until the old man summoned you and now within half an hour I've run into some sort of witch."
"Magic tends to attract magic," Inuyasha said simply.
"What should we do with her," Miroku said looking her very fine looking body over.
"Let her sleep," Inuyasha growled. "And if I may offer a suggestion master I would advise you don't let her see you look her over like that, or you might end up very very dead."
"Point taken," Miroku grinned. "Why don't you lay her down here by the fire?"
"D'you have any food?" Inuyasha asked. "She'll be famished when she wakes."
"I have a bit," Miroku said. "Not enough for three people though. Can I wish for some?"
"Do you know nothing about magic or genii?" Inuyasha asked incredulously.
"Only the stuff of legends which I've never believed or put any store by," Miroku replied.
"Basically there are only four things you can wish for, to change history, to bring someone back to life or to make someone fall in love with you."
"Ok so I wish for a grand feast," Miroku wished.
Inuyasha coloured slightly at this and mumbled something under his breath.
"Sorry what was that you said?"
"I said," Inuyasha grumbled. "I can't because of the curse. I can only grant wishes that involve chocolate."
"You're joking," Miroku laughed but Inuyasha didn't join in with him and his laughter abated. "You're serious aren't you/"
Inuyasha nodded glumly. "It's true."
"Sorry," Miroku apologised. "I think maybe a brief magic lesson might be in order seeing how little I know."
"What do you want to know?" Inuyasha asked.
"What did you mean by magic attracts magic?"
"Simply that magic is like a magnet to other magical items, people, places and stuff like that."
"Like bees to a honey pot," Miroku said wisely. "So what about-"
Just then the girl moaned loudly and began to toss and turn. "No," she mumbled. "No…no…"
"I think she's waking up," Miroku observed.
"NO!" the girl screamed sitting up panting heavily. "I won't do it!"
"Calm down miss," Miroku said in his most calming voice. "You're safe you have no need to be afraid."
"Where am I?" she asked confused looking around in panic. "The last thing I remember was being attacked by those bandits…oh my god!" scrambling to her feet in attempt to distance herself from them. "Get away from me!" she screamed toppling over as Miroku's cloak caught around her feet effectively tripping her.
"Don't worry miss," Miroku said. "We're not bandits, we were attempting to help you deal with them when you…" Miroku trailed off.
"Oh yes," the girl said softly rising to her feet and bracing herself against a large tree for support. "I remember now. You tried to stop them but they wouldn't listen and then I….and then I…" bursting in tears the girl turned to leave. "I'm sorry but I must go now before I….before I….hurt…..hu-hurt you"
"Oye wench," Inuyasha said angrily rising to his feet and reaching out to grab her arm as she turned to flee. "Just where do you think you're going? You've got some explaining to do!"
The girl froze as if turned to stone as his hand grasped her wrist tightly.
"Answer me wench, just where do you think you're going?" Inuyasha demanded roughly.
The girl blinked and slowly turned to stare at his hand holding her wrist in awe. "You can touch me," she said in disbelief. "You're touching me."
"Of course I'm touching you wench," Inuyasha growled. "I'm holding your wrist so you don't take off."
"You can touch me," she breathed looking up into his eyes. Then much to Inuyasha's shock she reached up with her other hand and placed it against softly against his cheek.
Recoiling from her touch Inuyasha let go of her wrist and stood back yelping, "what was that for!"
The girl merely stood there staring at her hand which she held before her face. "You're the first person that I've been able to touch me since my sister passed away," she murmured more to herself than to Miroku or Inuyasha.
"Why don't you sit down miss," Miroku said. "You must still be weak from the magic you called on earlier."
The girl nodded and walked over haltingly to the fire where she sat to her knees. "Who are you?" she asked softly to Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha," he said eyes narrowing. "Why? Do you know me?"
"No but my sister did," the girl replied.
"What's your sister's name?" Miroku asked.
"Kikyo," Inuyasha whispered.
"Yes, Kikyo was my twin sister," the raven haired beauty explained to Miroku. "She met Inuyasha about a year ago."
"What do you mean was?" Inuyasha demanded harshly.
"She died last winter," the girl said looking down at her hands which were clenched in her lap. "I've been alone ever since."
"No," Inuyasha said disbelieving. "She can't be dead."
"Would someone mind explaining to me what's going on?" Miroku asked raising one eyebrow.
"I might as well start at the beginning," the girl said looking up brushing her bangs out of her eyes. "I'm sure not even Inuyasha knows the whole story."
The oracle told my mother she would give birth to twin baby girls as much alike as they were opposites; one fiery as the sun and the other cold as ice. Only one of these girls however would live past her eighteenth birthday and the other would marry and live happily ever after. My mother being the foolish person she was decided the best way to protect herself from being hurt was to chose one child and give them everything, and prepare herself for the other's death the second it came into this world.
She automatically believed that Kikyo would be the one to live; she was calm, beautiful, more powerful magically and had no desire for adventure. I on the other hand was always the difficult one, never able to sit still for more than five minutes, an adventurer at heart climbing everything in sight and breaking more bones than Kikyo had paper cuts. Looking back it's clear why she thought I would be the one to die," saying this the girl's voice wavered but she forced herself to continue.
"I mean look at me I still can't even control my powers, only natural mother would think that someday I'd blow myself up. Kikyo had managed to control her powers at a much younger age, and that was the trigger that made my mother favour her. From that point on Kikyo was doted upon, the best clothes, the best parties, luxurious presents, while I was left with the knowledge I would die young and there was nothing I could do to stop it because it was fate."
"What happened?"
"Last winter I came across a genie named Naraku," the blue eyed girl said haltingly. "He attacked me without warning and I believed naively that this was my end but decided that if I was going to die I would at least take him down with me. The battle raged on even though I was expecting to either be consumed by my own power or killed by Naraku the entire time. My powers were waning and I knew it was only time before I used them up and was left with no defence. It was then that Kikyo, who had come looking for me because she sensed I was in danger stumbled the battle and threw herself in front of me, calling upon her powers to act as a diversion allowing me time to recover. We eventually joined forces to battle Naraku. There was no way either of us could win by our own, we couldn't combat Naraku's full magic with individual halves of magic so we combined our powers and directed them at him effectively incarcerating him. During the battle however Kikyo had funnelled her magic into me and I was too stupid to realise what she was doing until after the battle had ended and she lay dying in my arms."
Hunching over as sobs racked her body, Kikyo's sister cried, "It was my fault she's dead. If I had died like I was supposed to she would still be alive. I killed the only person who ever cared for me, the only person who was ever able to comfort me. That's what a monster like me does. That's why I can't be around humans."
"Stop your blubbering wench," Inuyasha barked. "You didn't kill your sister Naraku did. Blaming yourself won't bring her back and neither will tears."
"I know," she sniffed wiping her eyes with her dirty sleeve. "I would gladly have died in her place. You have no idea how lonely it is with out her. She was the only one who ever treated me with kindness, the only one who protected me from my mother's wrath and scorn. She was the only one who could touch me without being burned by my magic…until now that is."
"You could say that I'm immune to it," Inuyasha shrugged and both Miroku and the girl sensed that something was troubling him.
"So you are Inuyasha right?" the girl asked tilting her head to the side. "Kikyo told my family about you, but I was the only one who believed her."
"Yes," Inuyasha said looking out past her into the darkening sky. "I knew her."
"She told me how you were able to touch her as well," she murmured.
"What else did she tell you of me?" Inuyasha asked trying to make it sound like he wasn't interested.
"That you were extremely touchy but that you were sweet deep down."
"Don't be fooled by a naïve girl's words," Inuyasha growled. "I am not sweet."
"You also left one day and never returned," the young woman whispered. "Why?"
"I had no choice," Inuyasha replied and received a sharp glance from Miroku.
"Why?" the monk inquired finding himself quite into the story.
"My master was jealous of her love for me and so he forbade me to see her," Inuyasha mumbled.
"Oh," she murmured. "I'm not sure if it's something you want to hear but, she waited for you."
"She what?" Inuyasha asked hesitantly.
"She waited for you," the girl repeated reaching up and started fidgeting with a lock of her waist long dark black hair. "She never gave up hope that you would return."
"She did, did she," Miroku said shooting Inuyasha a glance. "I thought you couldn't lie to your master."
"I can't," Inuyasha growled narrowing his eyes in distrust.
"When I asked if you had ever found a girl you said no," Miroku accused.
"You said quote 'No Girl yet?' and I replied quote 'Haven't really looked'. I spoke the truth I haven't found a girl who could break the curse and I never looked for one."
"What curse?" the girl asked curiously.
"None of your damn business," Inuyasha snapped.
"Oh," she whispered taken back by his temper. "Of course it's not my business, it was Kikyo's."
"What was that?" Inuyasha whispered menacingly grabbing her wrist and holding it tightly.
"I said it wasn't mine it was Kikyo's," the fiery young woman shot back angrily meeting his angry gaze with her own. "If you were under some sort of curse you should have told her! When two people love each other they shouldn't keep things as large as curses in the dark! Kikyo deserved to know! I know she would have wanted to!"
"I wasn't in love with Kikyo!"
"She was in love with you," she whispered accusingly recoiling from his grasp as if he had struck her. Averting her eyes she hissed so softly Miroku almost missed it, "and I think you were in love with her even if your to cowardly to admit it!"
"I am no coward," Inuyasha shouted.
"You're afraid to admit she affected you," the girl yelled furiously rising to her feet. "You're a coward because you were never able to tell her when she was alive that you loved her! I would know! Kikyo cried once in her entire life and it was when you left without so much as a good bye! You're not the one who held her as she cried because she believed you had abandoned her!" Eyes blurring with tears she was trembling with pent up anger. "You're not the one who had to help her piece her life back together only to have to loose her!"
"Shut up wench!" Inuyasha jumped up. "Don't presume to know me!"
"You did love her though!" the faired skinned girl cried passionately. "Yet she's dead and you still can't admit it!"
"Alright fine," Inuyasha said clenching his fists. "Maybe I did. But there was nothing I could do about it! I had no choice but to leave when my master ordered me to."
"You could have disobeyed!" Kikyo's sister cried. "If you had really loved her you wouldn't have left!"
"I had to!"
"Why!"
"Because!"
"Because why?"
"BeCAUSE!"
"Because WHY!"
"Because I'm a genie!"
The girl's jaw dropped in shock at the revelation and she stood stunned looking at him. With a flop she sat back down, shoulders dropping. "You're a genie?" she said in stunned disbelief.
"Yes," Inuyasha growled. "Got a problem with it?"
"So that's why you were meant when you said you were immune to my power. Of course a genie wouldn't be affected by either mine or Kikyo's magic."
Miroku looked back in forth between Inuyasha and Kikyo's twin in the silence that followed. "It must be hard," he imagined, "to face your love's twin and find out she was dead."
"You're his master?" the girl asked Miroku.
"Yes," both he and Inuyasha replied.
"My new master," Inuyasha added for clarification.
"I assume you must be traveling to Sorrow's Keep then," the young woman mused all traces of anger dissolving. (A/N: A keep is another way of referring to a castle)
"I'm sorry," Miroku said, "Sorrow's Keep? Is that a place? I've never heard of it if so?"
"Don't tell me you haven't heard!" exclaimed the pretty girl shocked. "You mean you have a genie and you're not attempting to win the princess's hand!"
"I'm sorry," Miroku said, "I'm very lost. Could you please explain what you're talking about."
"Of course," the girl said. "Sorrow's Keep is the new name of what was previously Tristania's Castle. The story goes like this….
Upon the death of her beloved brother Kohaku, the Princess of Tristenia fell into a state of total depression. No longer could she be enticed to attend the parties thrown in her honour -something nearly impossible even before her brother's death- no longer did she wish to look beautiful, but most importantly she stopped speaking and ate only enough to keep her from the same fate as her brother.
Her parents had hoped that time and space would heal her grief, and so they had allowed her to move to the highest tower of the castle where she had made a habit of watching for her brother's return. Regular meals were sent up but each returned only picked at with a maximum of ten bites taken total. No matter what meals they prepared none could tempt her. She spoke to no one, but occasionally the palace could here her sweet melodious voice carry from the window where she passed her days. The only songs that were sung, however beautiful, were all so sorrowful that those who heard them were unable to stop crying. Within months their castle was known as Sorrow's Keep.
Her mother was the first who attempted to speak with her. Climbing the hundred steps to her daughter's room the queen had opened the door bringing with her a plate of delicious delicacies. "My dearest, you really must eat something. You've lost far too much weight, look at how your clothes merely drape around you. It's very unattractive darling, how will you ever find a husband who'll love a wraith?"
The princess turned from the window to look at her mother with eyes that were so expressive that the queen recoiled. It was as if her daughter's eyes shouted "How dare you talk about husbands' when Kohaku's dead!"
"You may not want a husband at the moment," her mother hastened to say. "But you will some day."
"Never," Sango's eyes declared.
"Now dear I understand you are upset. We all are upset. But you must realise that you are now the only heir to the Tristenia throne now and will eventually have to marry. If you do not chose a husband for yourself your father will be forced to choose."
"I really don't care what happens," Sango's eyes said and she averted them back to the window. After that her mother was unable to bring forth any further "conversation" and so she left.
The next evening her father climbed the 100 stairs to his daughter's new abode bringing a new plate heaped with food.
"Daughter look at me," he commanded sitting next to her on the window seat.
Sango obliged him but her eyes held no emotion.
"Kohaku is dead and buried," he said in his firmest voice. "Nothing you do will bring him back. Starving yourself to a wraith-like state won't change the past. Your mother and I are concerned about you, it is not healthy and we never should have allowed it to go on for so long. As much as it grieves me to say this, death is a part of life. We all must die at one point; it was Kohaku's fate to die early just as it was your fate to live. We feel sorrow at his passing but we must move on. It is time for you to move on with your life."
She shook her head fiercely closing her eyes as they brimmed with tears. "I can't," her movements cried. "I can't!"
"I see now what your mother said and you've made me do something I would rather have avoided…" her father said sadly trailing off as he stood up and left."
"And now," the girl said, "her father, the king, has offered his daughter's hand in marriage to the man who can make his daughter speak and eat. There is also one other secret task that all the contestants are told of if they pass those tasks and they are given."
"That doesn't sound so hard," Inuyasha commented.
"Fifty other men thought the same thing," the young woman said solemnly. "They're all dead now."
Miroku and Inuyasha stared at the girl as if she was crazy.
"You see part of the deal is," the girl went on, "you must do all of this within a week or your life is forfeit."
"Why haven't any of them succeeded?" Miroku asked her eyebrows knitting together.
"None have even passed the first level let alone proceeded to the second," the girl explained fearfully. "Some have managed to get her to eat but… At the beginning there was a rush of young men throughout the kingdom for the princess is not only heir to the throne but she is extremely beautiful."
"Beautiful is always good," Miroku said thoughtfully tapping his chin.
"What are you talking about," Inuyasha demanded almost afraid to know what the stupid monk was thinking now.
"Well now that I've heard of this lovely princess I certainly must try my hand at winning her hand in marriage," Miroku explained smiling. "And if I have you to help me I'm sure to succeed."
"I already explained my magic's only linked to coco beans and chocolate," Inuyasha said irritably and turned away throwing his arms up in the air. "I can't believe you're even considering this! You heard the wench! Fifty men have lost their lives! You would have to be mad to attempt something as stupid as this."
"I guess my new name's stupid then," Miroku shrugged as the young girl shot Inuyasha glare.
"Well if you're going to attempt winning the princess's hand I'm coming with you," the girl declared.
"Oh no you're not!" Inuyasha said pointing a finger at her. "You are not travelling with us. I won't stand it."
"I don't think it's up to you," Kagome said coolly. "Miroku may I travel with you. I can assure you that you'll wish you had brought me along if you decide to rely on this idiot for advice. I'm a woman, I know things you two won't."
"Just who are you calling an idiot?" Inuyasha demanded crossing his arms across his chest.
"She does have a point Inuyasha," Miroku argued rising slowly to his feet. "Having a woman on our side would be very useful. Of course you're welcome to travel with us….umm…." he trailed off turning around to the young woman
"What the monk's trying to say wench, is that because you clearly have no manner's we don't know your name," Inuyasha huffed.
Standing up and flicking her wet hair over her shoulder the girl said, "my name is Kagome."
"And a very lovely name it is too," Miroku said eying her comely figure as she raised her arms above her head and stretched. "Lady Kagome we would be honoured to have you travel with us."
"Honoured my ass," Inuyasha snorted.
"And I'm very happy to be travelling with you," Kagome smiled. "Should we head out? Sorrow's Keep is only a few hours walk away."
"I think," Miroku said looking up at the dusky sky. "That we should make camp for the night and set out in the morning. You must be hungry, I certainly am."
"Now that you mention it I am hungry," Kagome admitted. "Using magic always does that to me."
Night fell quickly after that, each of them busy preparing supper. They caught a fish and cooked it and on Miroku's request chocolate for desert. Kagome as much as she hated to admit that anything good came of having Inuyasha around, enjoyed the chocolate immensely and even overcame her pride to ask for a second piece.
As Miroku and the girl Kagome lay down preparing for sleep – Inuyasha said he would keep watch - Miroku suddenly thought of something and sat up. "Lady Kagome?" he murmured.
"Yes," she murmured sleepily.
"What is the princess's name?"
"Sango," Kagome yawned rolling over so her back was to him.
"Princess Sango," Miroku repeated to himself lying back down his arms behind his head. "Princess Sango…" he trailed off in thought. For some reason that name rang a bell, but why he wasn't sure.
Author's Note: well here it is part I of my new story. I hope you all liked it….I really hope you do….and see how many of the fairytales you can find in this hodgepodge of a story. There's quite a few. I would really appreciate reviews because I'd like to know what you guys think about plot, the characters, if anything was confusing, feel free to give helpful comments. I also want to know if you think the story has potential or if it's been done too many times and is road kill….so please please please REVIEW! I need to get reviews or I won't continue it because I have four other stories on the go that everyone is clamouring for updates….so yeah review.
Love,
Shamanic Destiny