This is my very first fan fic, so pulz read and review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Chapter 1

Hokkaido. The one province in all of Japan that had two monasteries, one for the training of Mikos and the other for Monks. Actually, these were the only monasteries in all of Japan. Before they were built 50 years ago you had to go to China or England to get training. Now each building housed over 200 young men and women.

She had been living at the Miko Monastery for the past three years. Both of her parents had died and her grandfather took care of her younger brother, but it had been easier to care for her if she was off on her own. Not that she was really off on her own, being taken care of by the head miko, Kaede, and sharing a dorm with 200+ other students, but who was to complain! Sure she missed her family, but she still wrote and here she was getting an education.

She slowly made her way through the streets of the marketplace in Hakodate, picking up some things for the kitchen and doing errands for the head. The fact that she was the senior miko meant that she got stuck with all the chores. Also, there hadn't been a miko who had actually finished her training for a couple of years. It also didn't help that she was finishing her training 2 yrs before the minimum time served.

She sighed and wished that she could wipe her forehead and rid herself of the sweat that had formed there. She hated having to wear the stupid veil, they weren't in the stone age anymore, it was the 16th century, but no one must look upon the face of a miko in training. "A pretty face makes a vain heart" is what Kaede-sama always said. At least she soon wouldn't have to wear it. She fixed her robes instead. It had a white bodice that had a collar that ended at the base of her neck. The sleeves were red and the skirt was red, but split down the front to show the white underskirt. The wretched veil was simply a red cloth that had a hat structure underneath to keep it in place.

She made her way up the steps of her home and handed the grocery items to a servant patiently standing by. It was even stuffier in the monastery. It wasn't usually this warm, in fact, the winters are bitter in Hokkaido, but lately there was many hot streaks and the cotton garments weren't helping. She quickly ran to her tower room in order to get rid of the constricting veil.

As she closed the door behind her, she ripped the veil from her head, letting her long, black hair fall down her back. That was another problem that would be solved by tomorrow. Once she was "Lady Kagome" she wouldn't be confined to a uniform. She could finally do something with her hair, instead of hiding it under a veil.

That was another thing that she would have to get used to, being called 'Lady Kagome'. Of course, Miroku had been mocking her with it for years, but she hadn't seen him in a while, about 6 mths really. Wouldn't he be surprised to find that she was being 'released' as Eri put it.

She walked over the window to let the breeze blow on her face. Since her room was so high up, the bustling town below wasn't getting much of one but she was taking full advantage of hers.

Kagome glanced at the crowd below and noticed a young man with a staff and black hair pulled into a tiny ponytail at the back of his head coming up the steps. "Well, well, speaking of the devil", she thought. She pulled her hair back and put on her veil, then made her way downstairs to meet her friend.

"Kagome, how good to 'see' you again." Miroku teased.

"Shut up, you know very well you haven't seen my face since I came here." Kagome smiled and gave him a light punch on the arm.

"Now now, we wouldn't want Kaede-sama seeing you misbehaving and treating your High Monk like this would we? It might increase your training another year instead of five."

A small smirk formed on Kagome's face (not that he could see it through that damn veil). Actually, I'll be Kagome-sama in a few days." Miroku gave a start and surprise filled his eyes. "What?".

Kagome nodded her head. "Seems I have a knack for this miko stuff and I've completed all my training."

Miroku was speechless for another second, then caught himself. "Well in that case, Congratulations and will you bear my child? (!Slap!)

"You never give up do you?" Kagome turned away, fuming.

"I'm sorry Kagome-SAMA, I don't know what got into me. Your not really my type, you see, I like my girls with a face included."

"It comes off soon, god dammit!"

"But is there anything under there worth looking at?"

"That's it, I'm outta here!" Kagome started walking away, hands in fists tightened at her sides.

It wasn't long before Miroku was matching her strides. "Awww, come on Kagome, I was just joking and you know it. Truce?" He stopped in front of her and held out a pinky finger. "I can't stand it when we fight."

Kagome's face melted into a sigh and she twisted her own pinky in with Miroku's, "Truce."

"Good, now Milady," Miroku held out an arm "Shall we move to an area where we can talk amongst ourselves in private?"

She shooed his arm away instead of taking it in order to not get in trouble. "The shrine's not in use right now, we can use that."

Miroku bowed, "Lead the way."

Inuyasha looked out the window of his carriage and sighed. It would be at least another 24 hrs before they reached their destination, and it was incredibly lonely without Sango to talk to, but she was busy making sure no one attacked the carriages. The trip would be worth it though, a vacation with his best friend to get away from life and her. The only thing that dampened his spirit was what he had to do when he got there. But he wasn't going to think about that right now. He looked away from the window. Nope, not now.