Explanation/introduction/AN
This is the starting of a new fic and it is a kinda Inu Tortall Xover but I'm trying to use only Inuyasha characters and made up ones. This does not take place in Tortall. it takes place in the western lands. The only thing that is in common is the story line 'kinda' its not exactly the same.
Disclaimer-I…sadly…will never own Inuyasha.
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Chapter 1
Kagome was sitting under a tree hefting an apple while contemplating about her soon to be life at a convent. Or more like pouting and complaining. She had just been informed that morning by her nurse Kaede that they were to leave tomorrow at dawn. And that it had been her father's decision. Her father...yeah right! He, her father,an esteemedscholar that didn't know that anything that existed besides books, was shipping them off to a place to become wonderful sweet ladies who would one day be married to an idiot husband and raise idiot children.
Looking over to their manor she was reminded how much she disliked the old koot, actually it was more like how much she disliked him now. He didn't used to be like that. Before her mother died he had been an attentive caring the father that actually acknowledged their, her and Kikyo's that is, existance. Now he completely ignored them and forbade them to use their miko energy any way shape or form.
"It's not fair!" Kagome slammed an angry fist into the dirt. She glowered at the ground. The wind blew a couple of leaves into the lake in front of her. A bird sang, a frog lept but Kagome was too angry to register. She was the best rider, swiftest tracker in the whole entire fiefdom and she had to go to a convent to learn how to sit in a chair? Run a manor? Curtsy without toppling over? Screw that! Kagome gritted her teeth. Although she had known someday, somewhere in her subconcoius that this would happen, it had never occurred to her to prepare or how to accept such a fate as was laid out for her.
When younger she had seen the men looking at her as if she didn't belong but she hadn't cared…hadn't known why really. But now she did. It was her gender. Her upbringing. Damn it was her heritage and her awful sex chromosomes that decided her final fate. Damn it all to hell.
It also didn't help that only things she seemed to be good at were male activities. It wasn't as if she was good at hunting and she was good at mannerism and etiquette. She, for some odd reason was handicapped at being a lady. May it be physically, mentally, or both. Yeah…it was probably both.
Her twin Kikyo, however, was the perfect lady. She knew how to dress to impress, how to twist etiquette and manners to her advantage, how to smile at a guy even when pissed off beyond thought. Kagome, if she was pissed, everybody would know. Her smile would show one too many teeth and her eyes would gleam with something you'd rather not stay to find out. Kikyo, she could do everything, hell she could even walk in high heels and not topple over, a feat that Kagome hadn't quite mastered yet. She was a good sibling though.
When the two of them got into trouble when they were young, Kikyo could always sweet talk Kaede, their nurse, from giving punishment. Kagome got up from under the tree and headed back to the castle. Walking past the horses tethered to the fence she giggled as Kitty, a white mare, nibbled at her shoulder. The mare flickered and perked her ears as a brown hunting dog ran out of the kennels to come and yap at her feet. Jumping and placing its forepaws on her leg trying to gain her attention. Laughing she bent down and scratched the dog ears. Kitty then nickered at the lost attention.
"Alright here," Kagome slipped her a carrot. And then Kagome frowned. She wouldn't have any of this, the horses, the dog, the freedom, if she were to leave and marry. She would never really be able to come back. She sneezed abruptly and rubbed her nose, The horse in front of her sneezed as well. Kagome laughed contemplating what she should do in the span of a day.
Maybe I could get Kikyo to talk to me…it'd make me feel better atleast. Kagome gave the mare a final pat and headed toward the manor. She didn't really want just talk to her. It was more like she wanted her to come up with some miracle so that the rest of her life wouldn't be doomed to boredom. Kagome was really the plan maker in these two twins but when it really came down to it Kikyo was the one that perfected it. There had been instinses where Kagome's plans had not been perfected and well…been changed from insane to sane and those she'd rather not think about. Kikyo might come up with something other than the convent.
The Higurashi Manor was quite magnificent considering the type of care that was applied. Her father, the current owner, couldn't of cared less for it. He was and always would be locked up in his personal library in the west wing. And because of this he hadn't given any instructions for the staff to keep it at a top rate of cleanliness. He never noticed. But thankfully the staffs head, Mika, was a no-nonsense obsessively clean woman who couldn't stand anything to be less than clean.
Banisters were polished daily, floors brushed, curtains washed, the dining hall was left spotless. Lastly Mika's one pet peeve, the Higurashi manor's famous glass monument was polished till Kagome would have thought it would erode. It stood tall, erect, and whomever had the chance to see it would always say it cast a mysterious vibration. It illuminated the air with a kind of positive energy that made the sick well, purified the cursed and made the sad happy.
This monument was said to have been crafted by a woman of the Higurashi line and Higurashi's had been famous for producing their country's strongest Miko's till about two generations ago. Her grandfather had forbid the females of there line to receive any training. Then her mother had married her father who didn't care. So she had received training for a little bit till she had Kagome and Kikyo. She'd died from that and from then on her father had forbid either of the Higurashi twins from receiving training. Saying how it was a useless skill and how it hadn't saved their mother. Kagome couldn't really blame him. He was bitter over her mothers death.
The servants and staff nodded to her as she trotted down the halls and up the staircase that led to her sister's private study. Reaching for the wooden door of her sisters study, she yanked it open and stalked in.
Kikyo had been reading a book but put it aside as Kagome drew near. Kagome gave her an extremely sweet smile. Kikyo groaned putting the book away. Whenever she wanted something she would sugar that person up.
"Just ask and cut the 'you are the best sister act' Because you know I'm the only sister you got."
"I don't want to go to the convent." Kagome whined almost pitifully. Kagome slumped into a velvety seat beside Kikyo.
"Well," Kikyo shrugged, "Tough."
Kagome gave her puppy dog eyes
Kikyo sighed, "Are you seriously that desperate?" Kagome thought for a moment then nodded, "Well then you would risk anything?" Kagome shook her head, "Maybe not my Horse." She started ticking off her fingers, "My sword, my underwear, my figure, my abbs, great food, my life, and of course my dear dear lovly beautiful twin sister." She finished dramatically. Kaogme was really covering up her dread with jokes. She didn't really feel like facing her problem seriously. Kikyo saw right through her I don't care act and assessed her closely.
Kikyo lifted an eyebrow "Then I guess what I had in mind won't work."
"What'd you have in mind anyway." Kagome was really starting to whine for the first time in her life.
"You could become a miko..."
"No I don't want to become one. Its way too much work and it's probably worse then what will be coming tommarow anyways." Kagome was feeling helpless and she didn't like it one bit. Even though Kikyo suggested knew things but it really wasn't going to solve or stop the inevitable from happening.
"Or a hostler..." Kikyo sounded as if she didn't believe herself either.
"No thank you, as much as I love horses their manure is quite distasteful." Kagome joked once more. This time it was more than a little half hearted.
Kikyo suddenly became serious and said, "You could try to be a knight, you've always wanted that right? Even though it was more of a fantasy but you could try. Kagome, you only live once." Kagome sent Kikyo a 'you seriously have gone mad' look.
"You are crazy!" Kagome blurted, "Its never going to work."
" Although you're right. I'd rather regret something I did than something I didn't do Kikyo, I'd be miserable in a convent but at the palace at least it would not be so sufferable. Accept for the fact that I'm cheating my country's king, breaking about every rule in the rule book, and I can't pull something like that off."
"I will forge the papers and take care of the documents if you go." Kikyo said as if she was seriously considering it. Maybe she was. Kagome studied her twin's eyes. She seemed as if she was serious…about being a knight. Looking down she rung her hands taking in the alternative. She'd be with a bunch of men, well boys really. She'd have to work hard for it. If she got caught she'd be hanged. She was braking about every law there was. Wake up at dawn and work till dusk. She'd have to cut her hair, bind her breasts, fake a voice change, and temporarily change from being a lady to flirting with them…….
………….
Or she could go to a convent like she was supposed to
………….
Or she could not.
"Let's do this!" Kikyo got off her perch to come to Kagome.
"I love you!" Kagome gave her twin a big hug and stepped back.
"I don't think that even I could get you out of this one if you get caught so be careful, got it? I wouldn't want my look a like to go and pull down the cookie chain." Kagome laughed. That had always been their inside joke.
"yeah I guess I must be careful if it's the cooking chain at stake." They were both silent for a while. Both knew the consequences for breaking that certain law.
"Ok, you'd better get to persuading Kaede and I'd better get to forging those papers. father will never know, he doesn't even care for us." Kikyo added the last part with a disgusted voice. They parted to there separate jobs.
Next Day
Kagome sat atop her horse that was headed for the palace of the western lands. She had "persuaded" Kaede, cough forced cough, and Kikyo, like she had promised had done the paper work. She was now going to be the new page Kam.
Kagome kicked her horse into a gallop and watched the scenery fly by behind her horse, thrift. Thrift was a totally black mare that shined a kind a dark purple in the sunlight. It would take her about two days of hard riding to get to the palace. She laughed and gave whoop. This was an adventure and she wouldn't forgive herself if she didn't make the best of it. Kagome gave the mare her head. The mare clamped down on the bit and galloped even faster obviously liking this game.
She was looking forward to meeting new people and making friends. She was not looking forward to lying to people however. She gave a mental shrug it wasn't like there was any other way to do this.
After a few hours of riding the sun was going down. Kagome stopped at an inn, gave her horse to a hostler and paid for a room. She trudged up the steps and kicked the door open. She was tired and wanted some well-earned sleep. She changed into a new shirt plus breeches, plopped down on the bed and fell asleep.
She woke early to the call of a mockingbird and continued on the road toward the palace. As she entered the city that surrounded the western palace she was awed by the amount of valuables being sold and such. She also got a peek at a tavern and turned away immediately.
"There is so much noise." she said to her self. It was like moving threw maple syrup. The pace was so slow. After an hour of getting stuck in the mass of city people she was finally at the side entrance of the palace where the new pages were supposed to arrive in. The palace was magnificent. High castle walls arose all around her enclosing her. Although she wasn't coming through the main entrance but she was touched by the delicate architecture and shimmering statues that welcomed the more fine guests. A large Golden dog stood tall as a pillar in the quart yard. It stood there next to its mate a smaller dog. Its eyes represented by multiple jewels that sparkled as it was still bright out. Taking a deep breath she looked at the smaller entrance.
"Here goes nothing." She urged her horse into the courtyard and dismounted. Leading thrift to a hostler she was lead by a servant to an office. Inside was Duke Kunai of Kamtu.
"Have a seat Kam." Kagome sat down in the chair provided in front of his desk. She had made sure to have worn a loose fitting shirt and breeches. Her hair was cut to just below the shoulders-she couldn't make herself cut all of it off.
"I have been informed that you are starting out to get your knighthood and you have a twin sister at the convent. Your father is the scholar Higurashi is he not?" Kagome nodded. The duke's face was neigh unreadable but she swore his face resonated with one of disgust, although it disappeared almost immediately.
"Is there something wrong my lord?" Kagome asked curiously. Although she wasn't too fond of her father the other man seemed as if he had had some issues with her father.
"It's really your grace but no…not really."
"Your grace." Kagome murmered. She kept her eyes dow, trying to hide them so not to give away her nervousness. She wiped her sweaty palm on her borrowed trousers. "Well then lets get you to the tailors. You'll need a new pair of clothes for serving at banquet and regular training clothes.
My son Miroku will take you to get a fitting. Duke Kunai nodded at a servant and he left. A few minutes later a dark haired boy came in. "Take him to the tailors Miroku." The boy nodded. "And while you're at it, show him around will you." The boy nodded again and saluted wryly.
"Yes sir."
"Your Grace" Miroku grinned
"Awww come on DAD!" His grace grimaced.
"I thought getting you to try for your knighthood would have improved your manners page but they seem to have gotten worse." Miroku ignored him and signaled Kagome to fallow him.
"Sooo." Miroku drawled. "Are you insane or just incredibly stupid."
"Huh?" Kagome just blanked, had he found out?
"Well anyone sane would know not to try for a knighthood, you look sane enough to me but you might be stupid." Miroku shrugged, "Who knows." Kagome scowled and landed a punch on Miroku's shoulder. "Ouch. What the hell was that for!" Miroku demanded as he rubbed the offended limb.
Kagome just walked faster.
"Ok ok I know what it was for but really, why are you here?"
"Maybe it's because I want to be a knight and so that's why I'm here. It's also because I am the only son and we are required to come." Kagome gave him a pointed look. It was true kinda…if she had been a son.
"Whatever." Kagome rolled her eyes at Miroku's response.
"Yeah well let's go and get that fitting shall we?" Kagome had feared that she would have to strip to get fitted like getting most dresses but she was wrong. The tailor happened to be a lazy drunk and just stuffed a bunch of clothes at her and kicked them out. The clothes she received were overlarge and bulky. Oh well it doesn't matter. Kagome thought they're just clothes.
Miroku showed her around the palace, the training grounds and the stables. The stables bustled with activity, a large airy place. There was always some job or the other. He also pointed out the royal forest where numerous nobles went to hunt in their spare time. She was tired by the time they were done.
Miroku had showed her her room. Kagome opened the door and ordered a bath.
As the maid had filled the tub she had suggested to stay and help her with her back. Kagome quickly declined. Was she really that hot? Man! Sinking into the tub she sighed, the warm water chasing away the aches and sore on her tired body. Not that she was obsessively clean but she needed baths. She loved baths, and really couldn't stand grime or dirt. Gazing at the steam that arose from the water she splashed her face with warm water and groaned. Getting the kinks from her back, she grinned almost wishing the maid had stayed. Later she laughed at herself. What an atrocious thing to imagine. After she took her bath she went to sleep ready for a new day and new people.
