Many years ago there lived a beautiful princess. She was the only child of a very powerful king and queen and was coming of age to take over the throne. Human law stated that in order to take the throne, the princess must be wed to someone of royal blood. So, her parents decided to throw a ball and invite every person of royal blood from the areas surrounding the kingdom. It was at this ball that the princess met the unwed youkai king from the next kingdom over. The king had been mated to another youkai for a short time and she bore him one son. However, she died shortly after and the youkai kingdom had no such foolish laws as the human kingdom, so the youkai king had not chosen another mate and had been ruling without his queen for years. However, at the ball the king and the princess fell in love and were wed (and mated) within the next month. The princess became queen and she and her king ruled over both of the kingdoms, joining them in harmony. The queen quickly bore the king yet another son and it was decided that the elder son would rule the youkai kingdom and the younger would rule the human kingdom after the king and queen had passed. That was the story of Inutaisho and Izayoi. This is the story of their children.
"Answer the door!" Kagura called to her serving wench after a knock was heard. After a few moments and no response from her wench, Kagura huffed to herself and slowly glided to the door. She opened the door and curtsied to the man standing outside her door.
"And who might you be?" Kagura asked coldly, raising an eyebrow as she spoke.
"I am Miroku," replied the man, "the king and queen's herald and I have a message for you and all the other residents in this house."
"Oh please, come in," Kagura said and attempted to usher him into her house.
Miroku shook his head and said, "I require only for you to call the other residents to hear my message."
"Well, I'm afraid that is only my daughter, Kikyo. I will get her immediately. Please wait a moment." Kagura left the doorway and gracefully climbed the stairs until she was out of view. She then hurried up the rest of the way and began to scurry from door to door, seeking out her daughter. "Kikyo," she called, "come quickly, the king has sent a messenger!" Upon hearing the news, Kikyo burst out of her bedroom floor and followed her mother back down to the doorway. Unbeknownst to Kagura, the serving wench quietly followed behind them. However, she stayed on the stairs, hidden from view, but close enough to hear the message. When Kikyo and Kagura had reached the doorway, Miroku blew on a horn.
"The queen has sent me to spread an important message regarding her son." Miroku unrolled a scroll and began to read from it. "My son, Inu Yasha has reached the age in which he must soon choose a mate. So, I have decided to throw a ball and invite everyone in the kingdom. The prince will dance with every maiden who so desires a dance and at the end of the night, he will choose the girl he wishes to wed. The ball is a masquerade and each person attending is required to wear a mask. The names of the maidens shall not be revealed until the end of the ball or the maiden forfeits her chances of marrying the prince. This ball will be held in one month at the palace. Signed, Queen Izayoi." Miroku rolled up the scroll and nodded at the women.
"One month! Such a short time away!" exclaimed Kagura. "We must prepare!" With that, Kagura shut the door on Miroku and began to speak with her daughter in regards to the ball. "We must find you a beautiful costume," mentioned Kagura, "one that emphasizes you in all the correct places."
The servant wench remained on the stairs, pondering what Miroku had said. She scrambled to stand up when she saw Kagura and Kikyo at the bottom of the steps.
"What have we here?" Kikyo cackled once she caught the sight of the wench.
The girl scurried down the stairs and fell to her knees once she reached the ground. She grabbed on to the hem of Kagura's skirt and cried out, "Please, step-mother, allow me to go to the ball too. I do not even need to seek the prince's hand, I only wish to see the gowns and taste the food."
Kagura smiled an evil smile. "We shall see child, stand up." The wench obliged and Kagura cupped her chin. "If you perform all of your duties and obey my every word, then I shall allow you to attend the ball. However, you must find a dress to wear on your own. I cannot have you show up in tatters, but I do not have the time or money to help you. Do you understand, Kagome?" The wench smiled and nodded enthusiastically. "Good," continued Kagura, "then return to today's tasks. Oh, and fetch the seamstress from town. Tell her that my daughter and I need beautiful dresses for the ball and to bring everything she has here so that we may find something to wear. Come Kikyo." Kagura walked up the stairs, Kikyo trailing her.
Kagome called after her, "yes step-mother. I shall not disappoint you." Kagura smirked upon hearing this and continued on her way.