Chapter 1: Submissive

"I have told you several times now, Kagome, women do not fight. When will you get it through your thick skull that no man will want you because you are so stubborn and violent. You need to be more like Kikyo." He looked to his eldest daughter, whom looked like the younger woman, with slight differences. "She is a daughter to be proud of. She is always so obedient, and quiet. She doesn't run around bugging the men to train her. She doesn't skip out on her etiquette lessons. She doesn't insult every man that has asked for her hand. I cannot even have you attend functions that involve the lords of the other lands. You are an embarassment."

She scowled at her father. "I would have been better off being born as a boy," she remarked bitterly. She had a younger brother, Souta. He showed no interest in learning how to fight or any other lordly duties. "Maybe then I'd have some freedom."

"Do not lift another sword, do not fire another arrow, and do not speak another word without permission." He glared at her. "You will not miss another lesson, and you will not turn away another suitor. You will do as told or so help you."

Kagome gave a frustrated scream before turning and storming out of the room, wild hair flowing behind her and the training garbs she wore giving a swish. She hated her life here. She could no longer train because all the men had been threatened not to train her. Her father had never lain a hand on her, but she knew he wasn't above it. She would be damned if she saw another suitor. She would never attained a function that involved all the lords and she would not show her face when another suitor came for her hand, though admittedly it was becoming less and less. Rumors had spread about how unsufferable she was.

Kikyo was the favorite because she did everything her father told her. Kikyo wasn't perfect though. Her dearest sister was a whore. There was not a man in the kingdom she would not sleep with, with the few exceptions. She was certain that was why her sister went unmated. What man wanted a woman that slept with so many men? Her father couldn't smell it, otherwise he would be shamed. Kikyo was his perfect daughter that could do no wrong. And Kagome was the "imperfection" of her father's name.

She slammed her shoji door shut, flopping ungracefully onto the futon and grabbing a silk pillow to scream into. Angry tears burned her eyes, and her throat had been sore by the end of it. She refused to cry, instead shedding off her training garbs and opening the wardrobe. She pulled out a simple but still beautiful silk kimono. None of her kimonos were light in color, all being dark blue, black, dark green, blood red or royal purple. The one she chose to wear today was sapphire in color, with silver embroidery. It was of bare tree branches. The obi was black. She brushed her hair and secured it with a black silk ribbon. She made her way to the stables and found her favorite horse. A large black colt dark eyes and a white star burst in the middle of his head. From the hooves to knee was white. This was her best friend, and only companion. She named him Phaux. He wasn't scared of anything.

She easily saddled him before swinging up into the saddle. She rubbed his mane and he walked out of the stables, before trotting down the familiar paths. He could easily tell that his mistress was not pleased. She had a scowl upon her face and her aura just screamed danger. He knew she would never harm him, so he was never uneasy. He snorted, an unfamiliar scent coming into his nostrils. It was unclean, and smelled of body odor. She smelt it too and she smirked. She dropped from Phaux's back and drew the sword she kept strapped to his saddle. She was ready when a group of robbers leapt into attack. She dodged and blocked attacks before slashing. She dealt with the group easy enough, but a growl met her ears.

"I told you never to lift another sword!" Her father's hand wrapped around her wrist and he spun her around, anger in his eyes. Phaux reared and swung his front hooves to defend his lady, but it did nothing to the large cardinal lord. Two guards secured his reins and pulled him back to the stable as the lord dragged his daughter back to the castle, sword dropping to the ground forgotten.

"I was defending myself," she reasoned as she tried to pull free.

"You shouldn't leave the grounds without guards," he replied. "A lady is always protected. Never does she fight." He threw open her bedroom door before throwing her into the room. A maid followed them in and he threw open the wardrobe, pulling out the dark colored kimonos and riping the one she wore from her back, leaving her naked. He walked to the fireplace and threw them all in before lighting them on fire. He pulled the swords and bows from her room. "Have the seamstress make her more kimonos. Nothing dark. You are to see to her from now on. She is to look like a proper lady. She is to go to her lessons. I do not care how you do it." He stormed out of the room.

She scowled down at the princess. "You are a disgrace, not meant to be a lady. He should just sell you and be done with it. No man would ever love you, let alone marry you. You are such a child, you do not know your place, and you do not know how to remain silent."

"You have no right to talk to me like that," Kagome growled back. The woman struck her across the face. "How dare you!"

"Shut up, you stupid child." The maid punched her in the stomach with a miko charged fist. Kagome hissed at the feeling of burning. Dark miko ki hurt more than a regular miko's ki. "You will get into this kimono without complaint. You will go to your lessons and become a lady. You will not pick up a sword or bow. You will not speak without permission." She dropped the kimono at Kagome's feet. It was pink and yellow and bright. Kagome scowled but the maid punched her again. Kagome bent down and picked up the kimono before pulling it on. It looked hideous to her. It was such a bright pink with the under kimono being a hideous bright yellow. White large flowers decorated it. It looked nothing like the kimonos she loved to wear.

"Sit." She wash pushed down in front of a vanity and the maid took a brush to her scalp, dragging it roughly through her hair. She pulled Kagome's hair into an entirely to tight bun, no hair left down. Large amounts of makeup was added to her face, making her look more like a geisha than an actual lady. Her feet were shoved into geta that were too tall and too small to be comfortable. She was forced out the door and to etiquette lessons with Kikyo, whom was already way passed this.

"A lady does not make such unattractive faces," the instructor said, an elderly lady with grey hair. Her hair was in a bun and her kimono was a soft pink, nothing nearly as atrocious as what she was wearing. She sighed after erasing the scowl from her face. "A lady does not make such sounds, either. They do not slouch," a stick was snapped against her back and she sat up straight, "and they most definately do not have such ugly hands." She hid her calloused hands in her sleeves.

The lessons progressed, most of the time telling her everything she did wrong. Kikyo was smirking behind her fan and laughing quietly. To Kagome this was torture. She would much rather be out in a clearing somewhere with Phaux. She was smacked on the top of her head, as the woman told her how ladies "do not day dream." She was glad it was over, until the maid ushered her to get fitted for new kimonos. None of which complimented her. She was then shoved into a seat, where her callouses were scrubbed roughly from her hands. Her whole body went through extensive hair removal, which had hurt more than any cut she had ever received. She was submerged in ice cold water to rid her skin of the golden tone it had. She shivered for a good hour before she was pulled from the water, lips blue, even with the bright red on her lips. She was dressed again, and hair redone. Her make-up was just as bright. She hated this, but she showed none of it. She did not smile, she did not scowl. She was quiet. She was brought to dinner and took her seat after her father and did not touch her food. It was not proper for women to eat in front of men. She wasn't really hungry anyway.

"You look hideous," her father remarked at her. She wanted to scream but a dark miko ki charged smack to the head kept her from saying anything. Her father did not know this woman was a dark miko. "Leave." She stood and bowed low to her father before backing out of the room. She turned from the door and stormed to her room. The maid left her there. She made it to her room and tore the kimono from her form, using the hideous remains to wipe all makeup from her face. She threw it in the fireplace and tore her room apart. She finally broke down and cried, arms hugging her legs and face shoved into her knees. Her whole form shook. She hated this life.

It was the next day and three guards were with her. She was riding through the forest, sitting on Phaux side-sattled. Tsubaki, the evil maid from hell, had scolded her about "proper ladies." This break was what she needed. Tsubaki was terrified of riding large animals so did not accompany them. She did not speak to her guards. They all scowled and were whispering with each other about having to take care of such a disgraceful woman. She ignored them, and had Phaux stop at the sound of whimpering. She dropped from Phaux's back and approached a trembling bush slowly.

"You shouldn't go close to wild animals, princess," one spat but made no move to stop her, hoping it would maim her. She ignored him and dropped to her knees. It was another hideous kimono Tsubaki forced her into with just as hideous make-up. She took her sleeve and wiped off the make-up before parting the bushes. There was a trembling kitsune covered in blood and sobbing into a fox pelt. A stick snapped and he bit her hand in self defense. She did not flinch, instead she smiled sadly at him. She cooed to him softly and patted his hair.

"I am not going to hurt you little one," she whispered softly, not wanting to scare him anymore than he already was. He retracted his fangs from her hand. "What's your name?" She asked him quietly.

"Shippo," he sniffled.

"What are you doing all the way out here?" She asked. He was a red fox. Red fox primarily lived in the northern mountains.

"I was running. Two evil demons killed my father. They were going to kill me as well." He sniffled and clutched the pelt tighter to him. "I lost them when I fell off a cliff."

Kagome looked at him with such softness in her eyes. He was injured from what she could see, and filthy. She lifted him up slowly and he held tight to the pelt, trying not to shriek. She secured him to her chest and mounted Phaux again, leading the guards to a small spring on castle grounds. She dropped down and coerced the kit to undress and wash the blood from his form while she gently washed the pelt and his clothes. She could then see the cuts and bruises on his form, as well as several rocks jetting out of his limbs. Phaux pawed the ground and she looked at what he was pawing at. It was herbs so she picked them and ground them up crudely. She pulled the rocks from his limbs and riped the top layer of her three layer kimono and used it to bandage his injuries. She held him to her chest, the pelt wrapped around him and mounted Phaux before turning back to the stables.

"Leave the kitsune," the guards said. "He is small and weak."

"I will not," she spoke back to them, a glare on her face. "I am not cruel or heartless." She had Phaux gallop ahead and the guards worked hard to keep up. She got off of Phaux and ran into the castle. She was still holding Shippo.

"You stupid girl," Tsubaki seethed. "You are late for lessons."

Kagome ignored her and continued on. She knocked on her father's study door. She entered when he gave permission and bowed low to him, Shippo still being held tightly to her chest.

"You look a mess," he scoffed. "Why are you not at your lessons?"

"Otou-sama," she whispered, knowing better than to raise her voice to her father, especially if she were to manage to get Shippo to stay. "I apologize for not being there, but I was out for a ride." She knew he was glaring at her. "I swear I was going to be back for lessons, however..."

"However," he pressed.

"I found this wounded kit." She raised her eyes slightly and presented Shippo. "He was covered in blood and extremely wounded. I couldn't just leave him there."

"You should have. His parents will come looking for him."

"They won't," she said sadly. "His parents were killed and he ran before they could kill him. I couldn't leave him alone. Please let him stay."

"Why should I?" He scowled at her.

"I'll do whatever you want, just please don't make him live out there alone. You know orphans do not make it long."

"Anything?" He looked at her. She looked a mess. Her hair was falling from its bun, there were minor tears in the kimono and the hideous makeup she was wearing before was smeared across a sleeve. "You will no longer pick up a sword or bow. You will be on time for your lessons. You will only speak when given permission. You will be presentable at all times. You will be a lady. No more of this foolishness, and you will keep that thing in line. Should you break any of that, he will be thrown out. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, otou-sama." Tears crawled down her cheeks. Her father just told her to never be herself again. But she would do it to keep Shippo safe.

"Go get changed. Prince Kouga will be here soon with his father." She nodded and left his room quietly. Tsubaki was standing there with a glare on her face. Kagome ignored her and made it back to her room. She set Shippo down and washed her face from the basin in her room. She pulled the ruined kimonos from her body and pulled out another, more tolerable kimono. It was a soft light blue with pink sakura embroidered in it. The obi was the same pink of the sakura. The lower layers were a soft pink and an off white. She pulled it on and expertly tied the kimono. She braided her long hair and set it into an intricate bun, fastening it with butterly combs. Her bangs were left to frame her face. She placed light pink on her eyelids, a light blush to her cheeks and left her light pink cheeks alone. There was no white makeup on her face. She pulled on the only piece of jewelry she owned. It was a light pink round stone on a bead and fang necklace. The fangs were white and the beads black. Shippo pulled the tabi onto her feet and helped her slip into her geta.

"Please stay in here, Shippo." He nodded and she left the room, the face tilted down and her eyes on the floor. She made it to the throne room, Tsubaki complaining to her father about what a disobedient child she was. She did not seem to notice Prince Kouga or his father. She stepped into the room and bowed deeply to her father. Her sister was already in the room, a fan covering the seductive smirk on her face. She did not say anything, nor did she raise her face.

"Enough, Tsubaki," he growled and waved her away. He looked to Kagome and saw her dressed in such soft colors. Her hair was up, except for her bangs and her face was down, like a submissive bitch should be. "You are late."

"I apologize father," she whispered, barely loud enough for Kouga to hear. "It took a while to select a kimono that would not hurt your eyes." He nodded at the excuse. The kimonos Tsubaki had the seamstress make hurt the eyes. It seemed she had snuck in a kimono that wouldn't damage the retinas.

"Kagome, that is prince Kouga, and his father, Lord Juno." He signaled to the two males. She didn't raise her eyes to look at them.

"It is a pleasure to meet you." She bowed to them before she took the cushion on her father's right. Kikyo was sitting on his left, and Souta was in training still.

Kouga looked at the woman that had entered. She was quiet and submissive, too submissive for his tastes. Now the other sister, she looked and smelled like she would be some fun. He smirked and winked at the older sister. The smirk on her face seemed to get bigger and she batted her eyes before hiding behind her fan.

"Kagome is the one you are offering?" Lord Juno looked to the girl. She had not once looked at them, so he didn't completely know what she looked like.

"Yes." That got Kagome's attention. She looked up before looking to her father. "She has... refused all of her suitors so far."

Lord Juno looked at her. She had such marvelous sapphire eyes, a kindness and fire within them. His son, however, did not notice, too busy sending the other a seductive look. She averted her eyes and lowered her face. He was certain she was clenching her hands in anger within the sleeves of her kimono.

"Fuck no," Kouga said, just hearing what was said. "The bitch is too submissive for my tastes," he mocked.

He looked to his daughter, a scowl on his face. She did not raise her eyes, did not show any outward signs of anger at the prince's outburst. He was glad and looked back to Kouga. 'If only you knew,' he mocked to himself.

"To dinner." He stood from his seat and Kikyo eagerly got to her feet. He watched Kagome stand gracefully, never raising her eyes, though he knew she was angry. One thing he was proud about, Kagome never went back on her word. She promised she would do as he said and she was doing it. She would probably trash her room later, but he didn't much care, as long as she didn't embarass him. He signaled to a maid to take a tray of food and water to Kagome's room and she nodded before doing as she was bid. Kagome noticed and was grateful. She waited for the men to sit before taking her seat, which was next to Kouga. Kikyo was across from her. Her father sat at the head of the table, and Lord Juno was across from her father and next to Kouga. This was the family dining table, most of the lords that sought to make betrothels came to this room.

Lord Juno and her father were speaking. She was not eating, but the men were. She could smell the arousal in the air from the wolf sitting next to her. If her father and his father could smell it, they gave no indication. She knew why he was aroused too. Kikyo was probably rubbing her foot against him. She was actually disgusted by it.

"Eat, Kagome," Lord Juno insisted. "The food is delicious."

She looked to her father and he shook his head. "I am not very hungry," she whispered. "You are a strong male and need more food than I." He nodded, his ego sufficently pleased. Her father nodded and she went back to looking at her hands.

"Kagome, show Lord Juno and prince Kouga to their quarters for the evening," her father directed.

"Yes, father." She stood and bowed to him before leading the two males out of the room. She knew Kouga was fully aroused and was waiting for her to be gone and the castle quiet before he sought out release with her sister. She showed the prince to his room first. He ignored her and slammed the door shut.

"I hope you enjoy your stay," she whispered with a bow.

"This is not who you are," he commented as she turned away from him. "I see the fire in your eyes. You are not the submissive type. Submissive women are boring."

"I know not what you speak of," she said. She made sure her lie was carefully concealed. "Good evening, Juno-sama." She vanished down the hall.

"This is not who you are." He shook his head and entered his room. He knew his son was going to seek out Kikyo. Kikyo was the whore of the east after all.