Summary: (M for language, violence, and romance) Kagome is the granddaughter of the high king but instead of being trained in normal queenship she is cross-trained in stealth and battle. Now she is being shipped off to the Western kingdom to "protect" her cousin who has been named heiress to the kingdom and is training in courtship with the sons of the Takahashi family. What will happen when tempers flare, secrets are revealed, and hearts fall? Inu/Kag
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters. (Do we really have to put this in? Most fics I see have it...)
Now on with the show!
Chapter One: Introductions
"Now remember, Kagome, your status will be slightly different here. Your father's, ehem, previous position and status and your training will make life no easier for you here. You will simply be a maid to those here, and simply Me (a/n simply shortened version of her name pronounced May, if anyone has a better spelling, let me know), not even the king and queen are aware of my true reasons for sending you or your job here. You will primarily be in charge of taking care of Sayuri though she does not know it nor does. No matter what, you mustn't fight with her here. Like I said before- "
"I have no immunity and no one to protect me. I am on my own," Kagome interrupted her grandfather finishing the lecture he had given her more times than she cared to hear. She could basically recite it now as the three day journey was coming to a close though this plan had been in the works for a good deal of time longer. Kagome couldn't help but feel bitter at the thought of being swept under the rug, tucked away in a corner, locked in a door to keep her out of the way… Her grandfather sighed pulling her out of her mental tirade.
"I'm sorry, my dear. I know you have no love for my lectures and even less for these arrangements, but with your father's death and my failing health I fear for your life. This is the safest place for you now. The King is an old friend and though his realm is not at peace it is one of the safest in the land, and I trust him more than any other." He paused. "Your father would have wanted this," he intoned gently. At the mention of her father she glanced up tears already beginning to form in her eyes. It still stung to think about. Kagome cursed herself mentally for her moment of weakness and schooled her face before nodding. Her grandfather was right, and she knew it. And that was the end of their conversation.
The carriage rolled on through the great gates of the Takahashi palace. The guards, dressed in their formal regalia of crimson, lined the path up to the doors. When Kagome glanced at them she realized how their demon blood showed. Some had tails and others just strange markings. She was surprised to see so many different kinds of demons among their ranks. When the procession came to a halt, they were in front of the giant, wooden palace doors with the Takahashi family waiting for them.
"Welcome, Your Highness. You honor us with your presence," the king greeted as they exited the carriages. He saluted, bowed, and shook hands with the high king as tradition decreed. The High King took up his position at the front of the procession. Sayuri fell into step behind him accompanied by her attendants. She was only the king's niece, yet she walked as if she were the true born high queen. Her flaming red curls bounced as she strode towards the palace. Her milky skin and piercing green eyes gave her a ferocious look.
Sayuri clenched her jaw as she observed the family waiting to greet them. They appeared normal but seemed to have an underlying bestiality nonetheless. She knew that she had been coming to a demon territory, but the knowledge still unsettled her. Her mother had been very clear in instructing her not to trust demons. Sayuri brought her attention back to the conversation at hand.
"Must there be such formality between two old friends such as us? I was Katsuo before I became King and hope to remain so to you," Kagome's grandfather, the high king, said.
The king smiled and nodded his ascent. He then stepped back putting an arm around the elegant woman next to him. "You remember my wife Izayoi?" Inutaisho asked.
"Of course! How are you my dear? You've aged well. It must have been at least ten years since I last saw you and yet you don't look a day older."
"You're too kind, my lord. These past twelve years have not been easy. There's been much turmoil in our lands, and I know I have not come out unscathed."
"Yes well that which does not kill us only makes us stronger," the High King replied. He glanced around before asking, "Where are your sons? I had hoped to see them. Surely they are no longer the pups I remember."
Izayoi gleamed with pride at the mention of her sons. Though technically only one came from her womb, she liked to think of them both as hers. "They have grown quite a bit actually. They would be here now, but they're away on a hunt today. They will be back for the feast tonight."
Kagome watched the exchange in a dreamlike state bordering on nightmare. She did not want to be here with her cousin. She did not want to be here in this situation. She did not want to be here under false pretenses. She did not want to be left without her grandfather. She did not want to be away from where she was needed most. She… was in deep shit because she just received a warning glare from her grandfather. Damn it. He had developed the knack for reading her eyes, never her face though. Her face had become her tool ever since… shit there it was again. Kagome finally came back into the conversation.
"Then let me introduce you to my niece, Sayuri. She is here to study the art of queenship. If she is ever to ascend to the throne she must have a proper education." At this Sayuri stepped forward and bowed. Kagome, standing directly behind her grandfather, bristled. He had just said that Sayuri was preparing to be his successor. Kagome's heartbeat thundered in her ears as her anger rose. She clenched and unclenched her fists as her rage consumed her.
"Calm down, m'lady," the guard on her right whispered under his breath. Kagome looked at him with confusion. "Demon senses. They can feel it," the guard finished.
Kagome nodded and smiled thankfully. 'Happy thoughts… happy thoughts… waterfalls, thunderstorms, beating Sayuri.' Kagome sighed happily.
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"Inuyasha, get down here now," Sesshomaru demanded in a none too gentle voice. He stood at the base of a tree. He was not going up a tree in his new good clothes. They had both defied their parents and went off hunting to escape the fuss of the preparations. Unfortunately, he had not escaped his new clothing. Not that he minded. He looked damn good in his new clothes, and he knew it.
"Fuck off, Fluffy," Inuyasha spat back. Inuyasha on the other hand was in his every day riding clothes. He didn't care about impressing the new girl. At this point he didn't even care to impress his family or even the High King. "I have no intention whatsoever of leaving this tree just to go see Mother's newest ward."
"I hear she is quite the beauty," Sesshomaru said suggestively. He paused then added with a smirk, "Can't be worse than the trash you have been seen with. Really you should try not to disgrace our family every time you are seen."
"Fuck off, Fluffy," Inuyasha growled lowly. He did not want to go back and be paraded in front of more royalty. Sesshomaru might not mind, but it pissed him off.
"So you've said. Really, little brother, you need to improve your vocabulary if you are to ever make a suitable husband."
"Keh."
"Oh yes. That is so much better. Are you sure we are related at all. Even admitting half the same genes is embarrassing."
"Keh."
"You know I should just leave you here," Sesshomaru said changing tactics. He knew it would be his head if he got Inuyasha out here and left him in a tree when both knew they had very important guests back at the palace. "It would probably save Dad and Izayoi a lot of grief." With that Sesshomaru remounted his horse. '3…2…1…'
"Like hell you're leaving me here," Inuyasha announced as he mounted his horse and took off with Sesshomaru. 'Like hell I'm missing the chance to harass some fresh meet. Wonder when the parents will get the message? How did everything become so... wrong?'
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'How did everything become so wrong' Kagome thought watching Sayuri make nice with the King and Queen, and all her Grandfather would do was stand there and smile. 'Fucking lying bastard.' Sayuri giggled and bowed shyly. Bull. Kagome could call her bluff, but it wouldn't matter one bit. From now on she was the maid and her, ehem, delightful cousin was the master. This would be a whole new game. 'Sayuri doesn't have a bone of her own in that entire flimsy body,' Kagome thought ruefully. S he sighed dejectedly and stared towards the near by forest behind them. A dust cloud had started to form. Emerging at its head were two proud men, obviously brothers, riding erect and proud.
Suddenly the aforementioned flimsy body turned to face her. Sayuri flashed her one of her menacing grins then followed Kagome's eyes to the dust cloud. Sayuri's eyes grew wide at the sight of the godly figures at the head of the cloud. Kagome knew Sayuri just found her inspiration to study here. Sayuri threw one last smirk her way before turning to the High King with all her sugary goodness.
"Uncle, I think see the men returning from the hunt," Sayuri said softly. 'Playing the sweet and innocent,' Kagome thought with a dry sort of humor. Sweet was about as far from her cousin as possible, and innocent hadn't described her for years. She stood there musing the many ways to sabotage her dear cousin when the next exchange reached her ears.
"Perhaps you would like to go freshen up, Sayuri?" Queen Izayoi suggested almost playfully. "I'm sure you are eager to meet the men of the household and would like to look your best. Sango here will be your maid from our staff for the duration of your stay. She can show you to your room if you would like and then return and help your personal maid with your things."
"Oh that would be perfect, thank you," Sayuri offered with a bow. She quickly followed the maid the Queen had assigned her into the castle. Kagome didn't hide her sigh of relief when her cousin left her, albeit only momentarily. However, her respite was brief when the thundering hooves were literally about to rain down on her. Kagome's reflexes and athleticism were the only things to sayve her from being the welcome back mat for the horses and their masters.
"Watch where you are standing, girl," the man with dog ears growled as he dismounted.
"Inuyasha!" the Queen gasped, but it was no use.
"You need to learn your place," Inuyasha said as he advanced on her. Everyone fell silent and watched anxiously. "You are in demon country now. You follow our rules and show respect. We don't need any more prissy princesses around here."
"I see. You must be more than enough for all the demon kingdoms," Kagome hissed. The High King chuckled lightly as did King Takahashi. Sesshpmaru smirked and watched in interest. He could feel the waves of emotion rolling off the pair. If this little spitfire was staying, things around here could be interesting.
"Who are you to talk to me, bitch? You are the worst dressed princess or lady or whatever I have ever seen. Where did you come from?" Inuyasha replied, scrambling. No one had ever responded to him like this girl, well no one other than fluffy.
"Enough!" the Queen finally interjected. "Forgive my son, your Highness. Sometimes he forgets his manners." She sent a piercing glare in the direction of her son. Ouch. "Come. Let us go into the palace so I may show you our true hospitality."
"Of course, dear Izayoi," the High King replied. "Nothing would make me happier." Katsuo followed the King, Queen, and a smirking Sesshomaru into the palace.
"I believe you are expected to folow," Kagome ground out as Inuyasha stepped closer yet again.
"Watch it, princess. You need to remember who you're messing with," Inuyasha snarled getting closer and showing off his fangs. "Now let's have your first lesson. I'll be your teacher," Inuyasha said leaning closer. Kagome's breath hitched, and her world stopped.
A/N Hey, this is my first serious fic so I would really appreciate any comments and/ or criticism you would care to bestow. I promise that the chapters will get longer. Oh and if you have a fic you would like me to read, if you leave me a comment and ask me to read it (no you can't just say read my story) then I will gladly do so and review you. Spread the love. Thank you and until next time. Ja!