Disclaimer: No, I am not smart enough to come up with this brilliant manga idea. Inu-Yasha is not mine, (though he's really hot) so go and sue some other scumbag! ^-^'

Mirror Images

Chapter One: Gilded Cage

It was a normal day in the market place, well, as normal as could be expected with all the gossip flying every which way and the rumors and talk of war from the commoners that had family and friends working in the palace. All the dirt roads were bustling with people, all of which were headed to different locations. The only problem now a day was that all the prices were rising because of the war. Kingdoms from all over were fighting for newly found land somewhere deep in the valley. It is said that the land was well nourished by a river, with many plants and animals possibly for cures and necessary needs. It seemed as though all the royal families thought it was paradise; too good to be true.

"Is that what all this rubbish is about?" An elderly lady cried, nearly in hysterics. The middle-aged woman she was talking to winced, but nodded her head. "My son was in a darn war forty years ago! Now my grandchildren have been taken into slavery because of this war! How much will us poor folk have to suffer?!?"

"It seems everyone wants a scrap of that land. I wonder if our Kingdom will intervene. The two Princesses must be taking this horribly! Especially with the thought of fighting against the Tetsui Kingdom."

"I heard it's already a done deal," a man who happened to overhear stated. "As of late last night, this Kingdom has entered the war. There have even been threats to the Princesses from other Kingdoms! It is said that one of the Princesses was terribly disappointed. Something happened. Everything is too 'hush, hush,' if you ask me."

"We weren't asking you!" The elderly lady snapped, turning to glare at the man.

He shrugged. "Have it your way. If you end up getting forced into slavery like your son, don't blame me."

"Who said I would?" She yelled angrily to the man's retreating back.

"He's right you know," the middle-aged woman said, deserving a glare from her neighbor. "There definitely is something we're unaware of, and I don't like it one bit."

"My dear, you're starting to sound like me."

I shook my head and edged away from the two gossips, making my way to the "monk's" shop. When I entered the little wooden shop I smelled all of the different assortments of herbs and incense of almost every kind. It was musty in the compacted room with shelves of books against every wall, from how to rid ghosts to what herbs can heal certain pains and cuts when combined. You would never guess what a troublesome "monk" this guy was unless you got to know him… or should I say… come close to him.

Miroku glanced up from what he was doing and offered a little smile. "Well, well, well? What brings you here?" he asked, indicating for me to come forward as he walked over to meet me part way. "Couldn't resist my monk-like charm?"

"No," I said flatly. Giving him a suspicious look, I told him the real reason I came here. "I need something for grandpa. He claims he sees monsters surround the palace at night and he thinks they might get smart enough to come here and attack him, along with the whole market place. Do you have some kind of a seal or something that will make him happy and think he's safe? He thinks they'll appear out of no where and attack the market place from the sky. Ridiculous, I know." By now I was fed up with grandpa's odd behavior. Why couldn't he be normal like everybody else?

"Ah, I see." He briskly walked over to one of the smaller bookshelves along the wall and reached up to the second top-most shelf, pulling down some of his banishment seals. "Why do you want something for him to 'think' he's safe when he can just use-"

I grabbed the seals out of his hand saying a quick, "Thank you." Following him to the counter I answered the question he left unfinished. "Because… as long as he thinks he's safe, Sota and I won't have to hear him complain anymore. He's starting to get Sota worried too, as if he doesn't think he's safe any longer either. You know how grandpa is. Besides, you don't really expect these things to work, do you?"

A shocked expression crossed Miroku's face, then it looked as if his pride had been smashed to pieces. I blinked. What was up with this monk anyway? "Well, I hope your grandpa and your brother are happy," he stated rather huffily.

I shrugged and handed over the little money grandpa had given me to buy this. Even in rough times like these, grandpa always seemed to have just enough money for whatever it was we needed, and I had no idea where he got it. He sure didn't work at such an old age. Sota was too young to make that much money, and all the money I made I put in safe keeping, where he never takes anything from. Sometimes it makes me wonder if he steals or something, yet that idea was too absurd. Still…

"What do you think you're doing?!?" I yelled, slapping Miroku—hard—across the face. "You pervert!" I was sure my hand wouldn't ever stop twitching. I backed away from him, making sure he couldn't reach behind me, and glared. "Why are you so obsessed with my butt?!?"

He blinked almost innocently, and stated, "It's not just yours I'm obsessed with, my dear Kagome—"

"Ugh! You are such a… such a pervert!" I stomped away, towards the door, and remembered that Miroku had a clear shot at my backside. I whipped around just in time, coming face to face with his intent stare.

He grasped my hands in his and I gulped. Oh, no. Not again, I whined to myself, taking a half-backward step.

"Kagome, I know I ask you this every time you grace me with your presence… but-"

"Miroku," I interrupted, before he continued. He ignored me.

"Will you bear my child?"

I felt my eye start twitching as I clenched my fists. "No!" I shouted, fed up with this ongoing conversation even more than with grandfather at the moment.

"Ah, well, it was worth a try."

I jumped back and was out of his reach when he was still bringing his hands up from behind. I sighed with relief, knowing I escaped this once. He looked over at me like he was a baby and I had taken away his milk. I gave a short laugh, proud of myself, and said, "Not this time buddy." I left the shop, still smiling and not able to hide my glee.

Grandpa, I thought wryly to myself, If you see any more of those 'demons', you're going to have to go to Miroku's shop yourself! I am no longer your messenger-girl, and I can't take his curious hands any longer! Then on a second thought I added, What kind of a monk is he?!?

By the time I finally came out of my thoughts and glanced around at my surroundings I had realized that I must have taken a wrong turn. Not only was I in some part of the market place I had never been in before, but there was a large group of squirming commoners like myself, mostly young girls and their fathers or mothers, crowding around… was it a guard? Two? Three? They were on large towering horses of a dark brown color, trying desperately to keep the magnificent creatures from bucking and hurting the people around them. They were carrying the Kingdom's flag high in the air, while one of the men read a proclamation of some sort. I stepped forward, curiosity getting the better of me.

What now? I thought to myself, slowly dreading the answer. They weren't here to take more people away to train them as soldiers, are they?

"Yes, you have heard correctly," One of the men bellowed, causing all the young women to swarm in his direction. "You shall be a Princess for a long period of time! Finally you will be able to wear silk gowns, dance at balls, have young lords kiss your hands, and eat your full, living in a large room of your own corridors."

"Ooh! Ooh! Pick me! Pick me!" One girl with light brown hair and green eyes was quite persistent, the wrap over her head sliding halfway out of her hair as the girls on either side of her tried to push their way through.

"No me! Me!"

I raised an eyebrow. Now what was this all about? A girl could become a Princess? For a long period of time, huh? Well, there had to be a catch. The royal families don't just come down to the market place and pick a girl to home in their castle and feed them their food! I mean, come on! What was going on here?

Rolling my eyes, I turned and headed in the right direction home, reminding myself not to get caught up in any specific thoughts that will delay my errand further.

"Hey, you!" Someone shouted in a rough voice, loud and persistent.

A shiver ran up and down my spine. Some how I knew he was talking to me. I turned to look in the direction of where the voice had come from and came to the realization that things were far too quiet for my liking. Quiet was never a good sign.

"Y-yes?" I asked, regretting already what he was about to say next. I knew that whatever it was I wouldn't like it in the least. The man with black hair and a top knot on his head was starring directly into my eyes, subconsciously switching the flag he was holding into his other hand so his aching one could get a rest.

He turned his horse in my direction, his jaw slack as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. His companion's attention captured, the man holding the parchment looked in my direction, the utterly shocked look in his face causing me to gulp.

"Y-you… you look…" He stuttered, as if all knowledge of the written words he had learned to read and write were wiped from his memory, a humorous picture if you saw the proclamation in his hands and his mouth opening and closing as he gaped like a fish.

I didn't laugh. Instead, I glared.

"It is done!" The man holding the flag yelled loud enough for all to hear. "We have chosen the temporary Princess! This young lady here!" He pointed in my general direction.

"What?!?" I gasped in horror. I didn't want to be a Princess! Who knows when I would see my brother and grandfather again? I even wanted to see my little cat! Cat? Now where did that come from? I don't have a cat! Commoners are too poor to even feed an animal or pet, let alone themselves! I didn't even have a mother or father for goodness sake!

"Aww!"

"No fair!"

One girl stuck her tongue out at me, which was completely uncalled for, and extremely unladylike! Wait a second… since when did I care about what was ladylike or not? I always worked around the market place and helped grandfather sell his stupid 'antiques' and other little nick-knacks as I called them. One thing was some stupid rock that was called the Jewel of Four Souls and it happened to be quite common, though I can't imagine why. Why would people believe in something as ridiculous as that? I think it was also known as Shikon, or something like that, and even nobles would come asking to look at it. Weird.

"You are coming with us!" The man with the parchment boomed as he handed his scroll to his companion and urged his horse in my direction.

"No!" I yelled, horrified at the picture that was unfolding before me. "No!"

I turned and ran, anywhere but where I was. I had to, for my own good. I didn't know why I was so scared out of my wits, but I did know that if I didn't get away from there as fast as possible, worse things would happen, and I would be running my whole life practically. I couldn't let him catch me. I wouldn't let him catch me.

"I order you to stop!" He yelled, the horse's hooves beating faster and steadier on the ground, getting closer and closer.

I didn't listen. "No! Never! Why me? What do you have in store for me? Go away!"

I put a hand behind me as I kept on running. Out of no where a blast of pink energy erupted from it and blasted into the horse, deserving a gasp from me as well as all the other on-lookers that were moseying about.

"It really is her. She really… would be the perfect Princess…"

That was the last I heard. As I finally turned the corner, thinking I got away, I felt a searing pain at the back of my head as I started to fall to the ground. What's going on? Why do I not want to go? How come…this is happening? Why me? As I almost hit the ground the guard scooped me up and hauled me over the saddle of his horse. I dangled there helplessly, my vision blurred. The last thought to run through my mind was, Grandpa, I don't think you'll be getting your protection seals any time soon. Then I blacked out.

***** Time gap *****

Pain. An aching pain that went from the back of my neck all the way to the front of my forehead; that was all I could feel. Where was I? What was happening? That couldn't have been a dream! Ah, a softness at my back. So soft in fact, that it seemed I was floating in mid-air. Wait, did I feel…yes, a pillow, a nice soft pillow beneath my throbbing head. Why was I being treated so nicely? Did I dare open my eyes?

Yes. Slowly, at first my eyelids were stuck together, I peeled them apart. Automatically I squinted against the sunlight that was streaming through a nice sized window. No, wait a second, it was a large window. So large in fact that even being so far away from the bed I was in it looked pretty big. I tried to look around the room without having to move my head. It was large, with a desk and furnishings and pictures on the wall, and everything you could imagine. It was paradise! So beautiful!

I sighed and slowly, trying not to make my headache any greater than it already was, I turned my head to the side. I had a feeling that things were going to change drastically around here. I still couldn't decide if I was better off being here, or if I should be at home, with my grandpa and little brother.

"Oh, good, yer awake."

"Huh?" I looked over in the corner of the room and saw a servant sitting on a stool knitting… I think.

"I'd best tell their majesties. They were ever so thrilled when you showed up here an' they got a good look at ye. I don't know if th' Princess likes the idea, but she'll be safer, that's fer sure."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, hopefully able to get some answers more soon than later."

"Oh, don't ye worry child. Ye may not be that old, but ye'll do. Ye should be pleased, serving yer kingdom like this."

"And just how am I serving my kingdom?"

Now the lady looked surprised, and I didn't like that look at all. "Ye mean ye don't know?"

Now I glared, getting thoroughly fed up with this. "NO I don't know!"

She hurriedly stood up and set her embroidery, it had to be that, down on the chair she had occupied only a few moments before. "Oh, dear. Ye poor child. Jus' remember it's a rare privilege, and Ye'll be able to suffer through it." Suffer? I don't think I like the sound of that. "Th' penalty is much worse if ye don't obey, so keep that in mind if ye want to keep yer head."

"What?!" I yelped.

"I think I'm causing even more damage. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! Ye must do this! Ye must! We need ye more than ye can imagine. Please keep all the people in this kingdom fresh in yer memory when ye make yer decision. Yer our only hope."

With that said, her eyes flicking every which way like a startled bird, she scurried from the room. It was then that I started panicking. What could they possibly need me for? I am just a normal poor commoner. What is it that I could do to serve the Kingdom I live in? Nothing! Nothing at all! I couldn't do anything! I couldn't!

"So, you are awake."

I gasped and looked in the direction the deadly calm voice came from. Was that… the Princess? "What's going on? Why am I here? What purpose do you think I could serve here in the palace? Who are you?!?"

She didn't smile, didn't frown, didn't scowl. In fact, that kind of frightened me almost as much as it bothered me. "You are here for one purpose, and one purpose only. I am Princess Kikyo of this Kingdom. I am the oldest daughter, and heir to this thrown. You are here for only a certain amount of time, then you will go back to your pitiful little life, and live the way you were brought up to live." [AN: Ouch!]

"That still doesn't explain why I'm here." I managed not to yell or glare too horribly, I had to have some respect for royalty. Though I started to loathe it even more these days.

This time she gave a small merciless smile that scared the crap out of me. She looked deeply into my blue-gray eyes, her gray ones going right through me. "As I stated before, you are here for one purpose and one purpose only. To be me."

"What?!? Are you crazy? I can't be a Princess any more than I can fly!"

"Then you will have to learn."

"But…I…what about my family?!? Don't they deserve to know that I'm here?"

I didn't notice the other people waltzing into the room at that moment. They were all dressed in the nicest clothing I had ever seen, and the way the walked, how they held their head, I could tell that they must also be royalty. A little girl came out from behind her mother's skirts, a look of worry and interest crossing her features. Her mother, the Queen, was the one who spoke first, to the man I recognized to be the knight who captured me and brought me here.

"I thought you said she was exactly like my darling daughter Kikyo. She is nothing like her! Her tongue is sharper than her temper!" Even for the elderly age of the Queen and the few wrinkles around the edges of her mouth, her eyes were still as sharp and piercing as they must have been in her prime.

"W-w-well, y-your Majesty, she is a lot like Princess Kikyo. She could learn to keep her temper bottled up inside her. Just look. She has almost the exact same features as lady Kikyo herself!"

"I don't see it. My daughter is much more beautiful."

Why you… I clenched my fists, trying my hardest not to sock the Queen right there.

"B-b-but…your Majesty… certainly she will do." She stubbornly looked away.

Now the other knight that was at the gathering in the market place walked in. I had a feeling he was listening at the door the whole time because he seemed to know the conversation that had gone on and what to say.

"Now, your majesties," he said, bowing to the King and Queen, then gave a nod in Princess Kikyo's direction, "This lass is the closest we could find to the lady Kikyo's stunning looks." Now I noticed him as the one who carried the flag. "She may not be a rare rose… but she certainly isn't a thorn! If you are so concerned that they could tell the difference, then have the lass wear a cloak. Unless you would rather we kill her now and forget about this whole situation."

"What?!?" I yelped.

He ignored me. In fact, they all did. "I'm sure Princess Kikyo will last a long time being herself. It will save the enemies a lot of trouble if they capture her."

The Queen's face went pale and the King was outraged. The little Princess looked like she was about ready to cry.

"What is going on?!? I deserve an answer! I want to go home now!" I said strongly, hoping that would capture their attention.

The Queen's eyes flicked in my direction, then back to the knight. "She shall stay. I don't know what I was talking about earlier. Something came over me, that is all. She will stay in this room until further notice."

"But, love, Kikyo-" The King started to say, but the Queen sent him a stern look and cut him off.

"She stays, and that is the end of it. Come along Kikyo, Kaede." In a flourish of skirts, the ladies left the room; a grumpy King ambled behind.

"Well, that was interesting!" the man said. He turned to his companion. "Toma, you dolt! Stuttering like that! It's a wonder this girl didn't loose her head!"

"I can't help it! You know how I feel when the Queen's around. She never listens to me!"

"I wonder why," he muttered under his breath, the turned to me and bowed exaggeratedly. "Lass, my name is Notaro. I was the one holding the flag when we met." Ah, so I got it right. I still have no idea what's going on though and it's starting to make me mad! "That baka over there is Toma. If you know what's good for ya you'll ignore him. I'm sorry he hit ya on the head like that. I think it was an accident, otherwise he never would have caught you."

"Hey!" Toma sounded offended.

"Great," I said wryly. "Now…" I took a deep breath, trying to stay under control and failing miserably. "What…am…I…doing here?!"

He blinked, his grin fading into a frown. "I guess no one told ya, huh?"

"NO, NO ONE TOLD ME! DO YOU THINK I'D BE ASKING THIS IF I KNEW?!?" I screamed at the top of my lungs, panting with the effort.

He blinked as Toma cowered away. "You might want to sit down for this," he said calmly, his face solemn for the first time I've seen him.

"No thank you," I said curtly. "I've been sitting and lying down all day long. I will stand if you don't mind."

He shrugged. "Suit yourself. Well, you were brought here for-"

"For one purpose. I know. Tell me something I don't know."

He sighed. "You have to be Princess Kikyo for the time being. Until the end of the war."

"Why the end of the war? Why me?"

"Well, you look most like Princess Kikyo of course. And… well… the reason you have to be her until the end of the war is… in case something happens to her. To you. You have to take her place sort of like a replacement. The other kingdoms will think you're her, so if they try to kill her… they'll kill…"

"They'll kill me instead." Dread slowly replaced my rage and I sunk down onto the bed. A chill ran up and down my spine as I tried to think of a way out of this. "What if… what if I refuse?"

He looked at me, pity replacing the sadness that was in his eyes. "They'll kill you. They can't let anyone know that someone else will be in lady Kikyo's stead. Then they'll find the real Princess and hurt her."

"So either way… I'm in a lose, lose situation."

"Not necessarily. If you refuse, they'll kill you. If you accept… you might be killed."

"And my grandpa and brother won't ever learn of my death? They won't be able to know where I am?"

"They will be notified that you are in good care-"

"Yeah, good care my…" I didn't finish what I was about ready to say.

"But they won't be able to know you are at the palace, or that you are in the Princess's place or else word would be spread and… we can't let that happen."

I nodded mutely. "What do I do?"

"You have to learn how to be a lady, and the Princess will be your companion. She'll most likely be dressed in servant's attire so they won't look her way twice. In front of other people, she serves you. But if ya know what's good for ya you'll serve her when you're alone. You are a commoner, remember. We can't let this get to your head."

I almost laughed. "This will surely get to my head. I can't wait to be bait and die or be tortured once captured. Oh, jolly me!" I said it sarcastically, and both Toma and Notaro winced.

"Well, you better get dressed. And you shouldn't tell anyone about your strange power."

I looked at him, confused. "Power? What power? I don't have anything like that! It's not even real. I'm normal. And I most certainly do not believe in demons or monsters! You must have hit your head."

Notaro's brows furrowed into a frown and Toma's eyes were wide in either shock or surprise, I couldn't tell. "I mean…you don't know?" Toma asked in a tiny voice.

I glared at him and he cowered back even further. "Know what?" I snapped.

Notaro looked at me with sadness and pity in his eyes. "Ya have a lot to learn lass, and I think tonight will be even more overwhelming yet. You will believe, and if ya don't… well…you'll die even sooner than ya want to."

"I don't want to die at all, thank you very much! I just don't seem to have much of a choice!"

He tisked and shook his head sympathetically. "Things are goin' to take an interesting turn. That's all I know, but at least I know it." Now what nonsense was he talking? "Get changed. There's a dress for you on the chair. The maid must have picked it out. Now hurry up. Dinner is in forty-five minutes. I hope to see ya again before ya leave. Farewell."

He turned to exit the room, Toma scurrying to catch up to him when his last words finally registered in my mind. "Wait! Stop! When am I leaving?!? Where am I going?!? WHY WON'T ANYONE ANSWER ANY OF MY QUESTIONS?!? I NEED INFO!"

But it was too late. They already left. I let out a long annoyed breath and stomped over to where a big, poofy dress was spread out on the cushioned chair. Now how on earth was I supposed to put this thing on?

Just as that thought struck me, the door opened and a woman a few years older than me stepped easily into the room. She gave a small smile and a little curtsy as if unsure how to address me. Closing the door behind her she took me into the bathing room and that's where my makeover began. I was no longer Kagome, not to the people here. I was Princess Kikyo, and I had to get used to this at least until the end of the war, or until I died. I sullenly let the woman scrub my hair, feeling as if I had lost myself. Would I ever find myself again, or would I be stuck here forever? A tiny crystalline tear ran down my cheek, stopping in the middle of it. Change was approaching, and I didn't like it one bit.

After I was scrubbed clean of about a year's supply of dirt and dressed in the fanciest clothing I had ever worn, I looked at myself in the mirror. A ghost looked back at me. A figure that looked tired and sad, drained of all the life she had ever possessed. It wasn't me, and I didn't like it. I couldn't handle this change. It was too sudden!

"M'lady," the servant said, gently touching my arm and indicating to the doorway.

"Please don't call me that," I said, as if in a trance. "Call me Kagome, at least when we're alone. That way I won't forget who I really am."

When I looked into her eyes I saw it again. Pity. It was really starting to annoy me, and I wanted to scream and yell and throw a fit. I wanted to tear this silk gown, with all the ruffles and the lace. It was a stormy looking blue, and it matched my eyes perfectly. It was perfect, that's why I despised it.

Looking at myself from head to toe I tried to see a part of me, any part, that I recognized. My hair was down and there were tiny white flowers laced through it. The neckline to the dress was low cut and pearls bordered the neckline and the edges of the long sleeves. There was powder on my face to make my pale complexion even lighter and lip coloring kissed my lips. The dress tumbled beautifully to the floor, and my shoes matched perfectly. My eyes looked dull beneath my long lashes, and the smile left my face. Closing my eyes I looked away from the reflection and headed to the door.

"Lead the way," I said, and the way she sighed I could tell she was relieved.

Waiting outside of the bedchambers was Notaro. I was actually glad to see him. He was the only one who happened to tell me a few things about what was going on. I had a feeling that my last nagging question would be answered tonight at dinner. We walked through the dark hallways in silence, small shimmers of light bouncing off the walls from through the large windows of the palace. It was either from the last minute rays of the sun, or the moon's soft gleam. I kept following the two people at an easy pace, looking straight ahead. The only sound I heard was our echoing footsteps as we went further and further through the castle.

It took me a while to actually look to my right and see that that whole side was glass with the exception of the frames that held the glass in place. Then I noticed that there was a shimmer of a magenta aura covering it. Why would that be there?

Screetch!

I lurched to a halt, my heart beating rapidly. That wasn't what I thought it sounded like…was it?

Notaro and the maid stopped also, but only because they noticed I wasn't right behind them any longer.

"M-m'lady. We really must hurry. If we're late-"

"What was that sound?" I asked, eyes wide.

Reeet!

"Oh, that? It's the Crow Demon. They don't pose much of a threat. The Princess put a barrier up around the whole castle, so they won't be able to harm us while we're inside. Don't worry." Notaro shrugged it off as though he just got a little cut on his finger for the hundredth day in a row.

I gulped. So grandpa was right. There really are demons that surround the palace at night. Now I wish I would have listened a little more. I have a bad feeling about this!

"We're here," The maid said in a little voice. I hadn't even realized that I had started walking again.

Great, I thought, wry, this is just what I want to deal with right now.

"Lady Kagome, please come in," the Queen stated in a regal manner. It took only a second for me to realize that the reason she was being so nice was because the whole dinning hall was filled with people. I stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed, then realized it was rude and quickly shook my head to clear it. I stood up as tall as I could. They were not going to make a mockery out of me just because I was a commoner! I stepper through the large double-doors and passed Notaro and the maid, whom were holding them open.

"My Lords, my Ladies," the Queen announced loudly over the hush that fell over the people seated at the long table, "This is Kagome, and my future daughter for the time being, Princess Kikyo."

Applause filled the room and everyone started talking at once. I noticed that the room was only filled with trustworthy lords and ladies from the Kingdom, and that now it was official. I was Kikyo. Princess Kikyo. Kagome never more.

Sooooooooooooo????????? How do you like it? Please, tell me ALL of your thoughts! I have only read three Inu-Yasha stories so far and none of the fics I've read are at all like this one, but if you think I'm stealing someone's idea, please tell me! I don't like plagiarizers. Constructive criticism is welcome! ^-^ I really hope you like this! I'm sorry about the first time I up-dated this! I had a friend of mine, Sapphire Midnight, up-date this for me. She and JadeWing are the ones that got me started on this. They like Inu-Yasha a lot, but they both mainly have CCS stories up, though they are really good if I don't say so myself! ^___^ Well, I gotta change this chapter now, the next one will be up soon! I'm going to start trying it right after this one. Enjoy!