Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its affiliates are property of Rumiko Takahashi. All other characters, settings, and plotlines are property of this author. There shall be no unauthorized reproduction of this story. Viewer discretion is advised.
Prologue
The vines climbed up the high stone wall with skill and accuracy, practically obscuring all the stone from view. The deep green grass covered the ground, rolling over the hills. Trees with thick trunks and smooth leaves stood grandly along the edge of the clear pond, their leaves shaking in the summer breeze. Butterflies flitted among the beautiful flowers, ranging from the ever so simple tulip to the extravagant and elegant orchid.
Under a shady willow, on a small wooden bench sat a young girl with long black hair falling down her back to reach her waist. She wore a long red dress tied at the waist with a golden sash. She eyed the tall wall, calculating in her mind. She gave a quick look around, making sure she did not miss an inch, before creeping over to the high wall. She stopped at its base, staring up to the top. She looked around once more before grabbing a vine, hoisting up her bare foot.
"Mrow," a little kitten sauntered up to the girl, rubbing itself on her one foot still planted firmly on the ground.
"Shoo, Buyo," she whispered, waving her arm at the soft kitten. The kitten ignored her, pawing at her lower leg. The young girl sighed, reaching down with her free hand to scratch the kitten on its ears. The kitten purred gratefully, moving its head so the girl could scratch by the other ear.
"Now go," she waved away the kitten and the little creature ran off to pounce on a few butterflies, or a sparrow if it was lucky.
The young girl turned back to face the daunting task lying in front of her. She picked her other foot off the ground, testing the weight limit of the vines. Just as she had thought, her light frame was easily supported by the thick vines. She had to do it now, before she was too old and too heavy. She began to climb, clumsily at first, but soon gaining the feel of escalating up the tall stone. Within a few moments, she had reached the top and she poked her head over, gazing out over the hillside.
It was a lot less green, much like her father had told her, and it wasn't nearly as pretty as her gardens, but she could feel the wild pulse beneath the surface and she liked it. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, feeling something well up in her heart.
On a dirt road, trampled and packed down with use, a small carriage hoisted itself over a hill, pulled by four black horses. The young girl gasped. She had never seen such magnificent creatures before in real life, only in her books. The carriage looked like something out of one of the tales her father read to her at night. And if they had taught her anything, it was that a carriage like that carried a beautiful princess, off to be wed to a handsome prince! As it passed by her view, the young girl caught sight of the passenger in the carriage. It was not a princess, but rather a boy dressed in rich clothes with white hair. He only looked ahead, not once noticing the young girl watching him. The young girl thought he looked far too unhappy to be riding in such a splendid carriage that she was about to tell him so when she heard a voice call out her name.
"Kagome!" It was her father and if he saw her up on the wall, she would surely be punished. Just as she ducked back down to return to the grassy floor, the boy in the carriage glanced in her direction. He only saw a small black head disappear behind the stone wall. He gave it no thought, instead returning to look forward again.
Kagome, with expertise she had acquired while scaling up the wall, hurried back down, her knees jarring as she jumped from above, trying to get down faster. A sharp pain erupted in her ankle and she fell down, dirtying her pretty dress. She whimpered quietly, not quite sure why her ankle throbbed so horribly.
From around a large bush came a man with long, dark brown hair pulled back into a low ponytail. His square glasses sat low on his nose and he looked at the girl with kind brown eyes.
"Kagome," he asked quietly, "What are you doing?"
Kagome quickly let go of her ankle, looking up at her father. "Nothing, Father. I was only admiring the color of the leaves that is all."
Her father chuckled, shaking his head. "It is time to head back inside. I cannot have you running around outside where I cannot see you when I work." Kagome attempted to stand up, crumpling back down in pain as her ankle protested against the movement. She cried slightly, shocked by the pain. Never before, even with all the scrapes and bruises she had acquired over the years, had it anything ever hurt so much!
Her father crouched down by her, gently taking her ankle into his hand. He pressed it gently and Kagome cried out again. "Stop!" she whimpered, trying to swat his hand away.
From over the rim of his glasses, her father looked at her questioningly. "Kagome," he began.
"I had to see, Father," Kagome confessed, feeling guilty. "I wanted to see the outside world!" Her father leaned back, sighing.
"Kagome, you know it is dangerous," he reminded her.
Kagome nodded. "Yes Father, I know. But, all the pictures in the manor and the story books! I wanted to see what it was like!"
Picking her up gently, her father could only reply, "I know, Kagome. But you cannot. I am sorry. If it was possible, I would, but-"
"I know, Father," Kagome told him quietly. "I understand. It is bad enough that I am here."
He looked at his daughter, sadness in his eyes. She was so young and so adventurous. He had created this garden just for her, but it seemed it could not hold her curiosity. He walked back to the house to set her ankle.
Kagome looked forlornly back at the steep wall. She looked at her father, so kind and so giving. He had given her everything she had ever wanted and yet, here she wanted more. She knew she could not try again, for it would break her father's heart.
A/N: And there you go-my pilot chapter. My story is just getting started and I hope you're willing to stick around to see how it ends. :) Now, in order for me to continue this story, all I need is one review in which someone expresses interest in me continuing it. It doesn't have to be something long or detailed, a simple "I like it," will do.