Disclaimer: I don't own the InuYasha characters.

A Promise to Keep

by Lady Noticula

Chapter 1

Once upon a time there lived a merchant family. The family had once been prosperous but catastrophe had brought them to hard times. Causing them to move from their grand house to a small hut on the outskirts of the city. The merchant's son had been killed in war, and left the merchant to take care of his son's wife and their two children, Kagome and Sota.

The family was happy and tried to look out for each other. Kagome and her mother doing most of the household chores and Sota taking care of their small vegetable garden outside. The merchant would try to sell what little they could to make enough to support his family. One day some happy news came to the family, a messenger was sent from a port a few days ride away announcing that a ship thought lost had returned to port. The merchant hoping that he might turn a profit from this got ready to make the trip to port and secure his ship. Before he left he asked each of his family what they would like him to bring back if he could. His son's wife asked for cooking untiles, Sota asked for a ball, but Kagome would ask for nothing.

"Kagome, please I would like to bring you back something if I may." Her grandfather pressed her for something that she wanted.

"Well if you could, I miss our old gardens and wish that you might bring me a rose to remind me of them?" Kagome sighed, not really expecting that her poor grandfather would be able to come across such a treasure.

The girl asked for so little the merchant resolved that if he could he would bring back his granddaughter her rose, and took his leave of his family.

When the merchant arrived to the port he was too late, the ship's merchandise had been sold to pay off his debts and the merchant was even poorer than before. He barely had enough money to travel straight home if he slept under the stars off the path.

Dejectedly the merchant traveled back toward his home and family. As he was passing through the great forest a mighty storm came up and forced the merchant off the path. The darker it got the more lost the merchant became. Out of nowhere there appeared a light in the distance. He followed it thinking he could find a small house in which he might beg shelter from the storm. As he got nearer the light he saw that it came from the gates of a great palace that seemed to rise up through the forest. Before the merchant could say a word the guards opened the gates and instructed him to proceed to the main house. Servants met him and brought him food and a change of clothing. They treated him like a visiting lord not a poor traveling merchant.

The merchant rested and relaxed while the storm continued for several days. When it let up one afternoon he wandered the grounds. Coming across a vast garden. Following the paths he came to a large and beautiful rosebush. Thinking only of his granddaughters request he reached out a plucked one of the rare blooms.

The ground shook with a great roar. The merchant was no longer alone. A huge Phantom Dog appeared next to the rosebush. The merchant fell to his knees in front of the great beast.

"This is how you repay my generosity, by stealing my roses!" the Demon roared.

The merchant feared that he was to be devoured and never see Kagome or the rest of his family again.

"I am sorry Great Lord, I did not mean to offend" the merchant could only reply trembling and looking only at the ground. "I only meant to take this small flower to my granddaughter, who has made my poor life bearable".

At this reply the Dog demon eyed the merchant carefully. "I will let you go on one condition, " he said slowly. "That your granddaughter come here and take your place"

"I could never ask that of my dear Kagome" the merchant trembled and cried.

"I will send you home and she is to decide, whether your life is worth hers" The demon turned and stalked away.

The next morning the merchant left with a heavy heart. A carriage carried him back to his home.

When the carriage pulled up in front of his small home his grandchildren and daughter ran out to meet him.

"Grandfather" Kagome exclaimed "we were so worried that you had been hurt in the storm" She hugged him tightly and the old man began to cry.

"Father what is wrong" his daughter asked.

The carriage attendants were unloading packages of all sizes and placing them near the door of the small house. Sota watched the attendants and asked them "what is all this?"

"These are gifts from Inu no Taisho" the servant replied. Then turned to the merchant. "My masters bids that you remember your promise" then bowed and both attendants climbed back on the carriage and left.

"I will remember, though I wish I could forget" the merchant sighed. "Let us go in and I will tell you all that has happened" and staying in Kagome's embrace led the way back into the house.

They sat around the table as the merchant told all that had happened to him over those last few days. He told of the loss of the ship, the forest palace and the great Dog demon to whom he had promised to return, or give up Kagome to. The rose that had been picked lay in the center of the table. All but Kagome expressed their sorrow at the though of losing either of them. But all that Kagome did was to pick up the rose and say "That which you have promised you must fulfill, I will take your place" and left the room, leaving her family in sorrow for the brave young lady.

Unseen by the family a small flea then jumped off the old merchant and left through the window, leaving the merchant's house and family behind.

"The master will be pleased" the old flea mused as he traveled, "she is quite pretty, too"

The flea entered a study at the palace and waited till a tall man in armor and a fur cloak sat down. "So Myoga, my friend" Inu no Taisho asked the flea "What do you think of this granddaughter of the old merchant's"

Myoga told the Lord all that he had heard and seen while at the merchant's house, and the words spoken by Kagome.

"Good work Myoga" Inu no Taisho said after hearing this report "we will see how she and my son get along" a slight smile graced the lord face.

Chapter 2

Two days passed before the carriage returned. This time Kagome and her grandfather climbed in with her few treasured things, a small necklace that had once belonged to her family in her pocket. The carriage carried them swiftly back to the forest palace.

At the entrance with the guards was an old woman in a priestess garb waiting for them.

"Child" she asked "do you come here of your own free will?'

Kagome nodded wondering what kind of place she had come to where an old lady with an eye patch was waiting for them.

"Then you must say good bye to your grandfather here and follow me." the woman stated.

Kagome hugged her old grandfather and bid him to take care of her mother and brother, then followed after the old woman as her grandfather traveled back to their home in the carriage.

The old woman waited at the front doors "well hurry up" the old woman chided, "we must get you settled and properly attired" Kagome was lead through a maze of corridors till they came to a set of rooms. "These are to be your rooms" announced the old woman, opening the door to a luxurious suite of rooms, with a door open to the largest garden Kagome had ever seen. "I am called Kaede, and if you have need of anything you are to call upon me" the old priestess told her.

Kagome was confused "Lady Kaede, what is to be my place here?"

"That I must leave for our Lord to tell you, but we must get you ready to meet him" Kaede replied while searching through a closet filled with kimonos of all colors. She pulled out a green kimono with white flowers and red obi. "This will do nicely for tonight." and laid it out for her to ware later.

"Shippou should have finished getting the hot spring ready for your bath." Kaede said. As if on cue a little child with fluffy red hair bounded in carrying a pile of soft drying cloths. A matching tuft of a tail bounced behind him as he proceeded through the room to another side door. "Your bath is waiting for you if your ready" he said so cheerfully, Kagome couldn't help but smile.

"Alright, please lead the way" Kagome bowed slightly to the little kit.

Puffed with pride the Kit opened a side door that let in a scented steam from the other room.

A little while later Kagome soaked in the natural hot spring that was enclosed in the palace. She tried to figure out what was happening. She just couldn't fathom why she was being treated like some fine lady instead of the daughter of a merchant solider. She climbed out and wrapped herself in one of the large cloths and went back to the main room. There waiting was yet another woman, this one closer to Kagome's age, waiting for her.

"Kaede sent me to get you ready,"the lady said before Kagome could ask, "you can call me Sango." She lead Kagome to a screen to get dressed and then to a chair.

"I think that we should leave your hair down, that would suit you best" Sango said mostly to herself and brushed Kagome's wavy black hair till is shone like an ebony jewel in the late afternoon light.

Sango looked out the door and seemed to realize the time "We must hurry" she said as she grabbed Kagome's hand "The lord requested to see you before the evening meal"

Sango led the way through the many passageways of the palace till they came to a set of large ornate doors. Next to them was a young monk in purple and black robes, leaning against the wall.

"So he's gotten back already, has he?" Sango addressed the monk.

"Yep, and in a fit again. Sesshermou tried to kill him again and he due to his father's orders he couldn't stop me from from interfering" The monk replied rolling his eyes. His eyes stopped when he spotted Kagome, and started twinkling with merriment. "And who is this beautiful lady" He exclaimed, quickly grabbing Kagome's free hand and bowing over it. Kagome felt a had where there should be none, yanking her hand out of Sango's she struck the lecher as hard as she could.

Sango looked like she was going to bust her gut if she didn't laugh soon at the site of the poor monk on the floor with a blossoming red hand mark on his face.

"I guess I should have warned you." Sango said with a smirk "Miroku here has a problem with his hands. They tend to wander where they shouldn't, though you would think that he would learn with all the lumps on his hard head" she sighed after she had said that.

Loud voices from the next room and one of the great doors slamming open interrupted Miroku's attempt to apologize to Kagome.

A young man in a red haori and Hakuma came storming out of the room. Kagome was caught off guard by his long white hair and to dog ears on his head. The boy's amber eyes searched the room quickly lighting on the monk.

"Come on Miroku," he said gruffly and continued to storm down the hall.

"I must take my leave of you lovely ladies right now" Miroku said with a bow, "but I will be seeing such beauties around" and turned to run after the young man.

A dignified voice emanated from the open door "Sango, you may bring the young lady in"

Inside the great room on a raised dais sat a dignified older man with long silver hair pulled high on his head, in a ponytail. White bangs covered his eyes as he appeared talking quietly to a tiny object in front of him.

Kagome came forward and knelt down before the lord next to Sango.

"Ah, yes" the old flea spoke from in front of the lord "this is the young lady I told you about."

"Sango you may go," the lord spoke again.

Sango stood bowed and left the room.

"I have been told that your name is Kagome, is that not right" the lord asked.

Kagome sat back on her heals and nodded not trusting her voice right now. Something felt like she has walked into a den of wild dogs. The lord standing and stalking around her didn't help. His fur cloak trailed behind him as he walked. Stopping in front of her she stared at her. "I gather that you had expected to see the great beast that your grandfather met here"

Kagome who had been trying to remain motionless looking right in front. Her eyes snapped up to look directly into the lords emotionless amber eyes. The lord's eyes seem to bore into her soul. Kagome couldn't help but think how unlike the lively eyes of the young man who had stormed out of this very room.

"No need to answer Lady Kagome, your eyes tell me enough. I am that very beast, I am Inu no Taisho, the Phantom Lord of the west." His eyes were cold but there was no doubting his words.

Kagome could do no more that prostate herself before the lord. "Lady Kagome, you need not feel afraid of me I will not harm you, you are a guest in my home." The lord's voice took on a gentle quality. Kagome sat up again only to find the lord seated again on the dais.

"I have determined that you will have two duties while here. The first will be to train with Lady Kaede to develop your sleeping spiritual powers, the second is you will be a companion to my youngest son InuYasha"

Kagome was surprised by both of these duties. She thought that she was either going to be a servant or dinner here.

"Forgive me, my lord," Kagome started "but I don't have any spiritual powers, wouldn't I know about them if I did?"

Inu no Taisho chuckled, "I said they were sleeping didn't I my dear, but don't worry they will soon awaken"

"oh" Kagome said in a small voice. Thinking back to the young man who had stormed out of this room earlier. She suddenly didn't feel so frightened as earlier.

"This kingdom is one where Demons and humans live in peace." the lord continued, "but lately have becoming worried. Something has been destroying all those with strong spiritual powers, and I wish all my subjects to be protected. I shouldn't be burdening you with these worries but as you will be here for awhile I will entrust you to keep this quiet."

"So," Kagome deduced "that is why you brought me here?"

"If you wish to talk more it will have to wait," Inu no Taisho stopped her musing "Lady Kaede you were going to announce dinner?" Just as the old priestess entered the room.

Chapter 3

Just after Kagome entered the throne room, Miroku caught up to his friend just outside his rooms.

"InuYasha, wait up" he called.

Slamming his door open InuYasha started to yell "What does he want me to do ?" pacing his room.

Miroku who had heard this rant from his friend often enough, slid open the door to the garden and sat down. Deciding that the best action was to give the practiced response "You know your father only wants you to master your own power. He gave you the Tetsuaiga for that reason." he sighed.

InuYasha plopped down next to his friend and pulled out his sword in it's sheath. "I know that the Tetsuaiga has more power, I just don't know how to tap into it yet." InuYasha turned his head and looked at the red hand mark on the young monks face.

"So did you get that from the new girl?"he asked.

Miroku's violet eyes stared off into space, "Yes, what a vision of loveliness" he sighed rubbing his cheek.

"At least she shows some good sense" InuYasha laughed "I wonder why father brought her here?"

The sun continued to sink in the west, as the friends sat in companionable silence.

InuYasha broke their silence by suggesting that they question Shippou who always seems to know what is going on even when he isn't supposed to .

"I wonder where he is right now" Miroku said.

"Well I smell him in the next room probably cleaning up before dinner." InuYasha replied.

They found the young fox just finishing up getting dressed, a bit finer than before.

"So what you getting all dressed up for Shippou?" Miroku asked.

"Kaede said that I could eat dinner with Lady Kagome tonight" Shippou pipped.

"So is that the girl's name" InuYasha said suspiciously thinking that if the little fox seems to think that Kagome was pretty great in such a short time, something has to be wrong with her.

"Yeah and she has a great smile, so please InuYasha, please don't make her cry" Shippou's voice took on a childish whine.

"Feh" InuYasha replied, thinking that he never made anyone cry.

"Well you do have a bit of a temper InuYasha" Miroku said as well.

"Hey you don't have to pick on me too" InuYasha roared at the monk.

"I am just stating the obvious" Miroku replied trying to sound innocent.

"Geeze, you don't have to be critical about it." InuYasha snapped back, seeming to go into a bit of a funk.

"Well you look very nice Shippou, I am sure that Lady Kaede is just about to serve dinner and you don't want to be late do you?" Miroku said to the young fox. "We will be right behind you"

"Your right Miroku, I promised that I would walk Sango to the hall as well" Shippou skipped away like only young kids can do with no cares at all.

Miroku and InuYasha followed after him at a slower pace.

"Your temper ruined my chance to find out more about that young girl, now all we know is her name" Miroku complained to InuYasha.

"It isn't my fault you can't stop commenting on my personality" InuYasha replied, "besides we already know that she is going to be at dinner you can find out all you want to know there."

"But there are times when you want to have topics ready to discuss with ladies over a nice meal." Miroku's mind drifted ahead to his ideal dinner with Sango and Kagome fawning all over him.

They entered the dining hall only to find Shippou and Sango already seated, and waiting for the others to show up. InuYasha sat down in his accustomed seat, with Miroku beside him as close to Sango as he could manage.

No sooner than they had sat down then Kaede opened the door and InuYasha saw his father leading Kagome by the arm into the room.

"Wow, I didn't notice it before, but she is pretty just like Miroku said" he thought.

Inu no Taisho lead Kagome to a seat on the other side of him, and assisting her to sit down.

"Kagome, this is my son Prince InuYasha" his father seemed to stress his name and not his title to the young girl.

"I am pleased to meet you" Kagome said in a meek voice.

"InuYasha, this is Lady Kagome, she is to be staying with us for awhile as she trains with Kaede"

"Feh, whatever" InuYasha replied, if she was going to fawn over him falsely than pretty or not she wasn't worth another thought.

Kagome's eyes flashed in anger at his brushed off response, "what kind of son is he. At least he could fain courtesy when their father makes an introduction"
Inu no Taisho saw Kagome's flash of anger on his behalf. Turning away to take his seat he smiled to himself "This is a girl with a spirit of fire, just the right match for InuYasha"

Dinner seemed to be chaos, with only islands of tranquility, primarily around the lord and Kaede at the head of the table.

InuYasha wolfed his food, and Miroku kept trying to inch closer to Sango in attempts to converse, but contentiously getting hit when his hand wandered to her bottom. Shippou kept asking for more and reaching over the others when he was ignored. Kagome kept trying to eat but her appetite seemed to disappear when ever she saw the Lord or Kaede looking her direction.

The meal proceeded faster that Kagome expected, and soon a last cup of tea was being served to all. Inu no Taisho stood up looked at his son, "InuYasha, please join me in my study when you have finished with your meal." He calmly walked out of the room.

The good natured chaos continued for a short time, after some good natured ribbing about table manors from Miroku and Sango, InuYasha sighed "I guess that I better go see what the old dog wants to talk about" and started to stand only to be stopped by Kagome's hands slamming on the table.

"What is it with this attitude of yours toward your father" she started to rant "the first time I saw you, you were storming away after yelling at him, and now...Such Disrespect!" Kagome's voice seemed to rise in volume with each angry word, "Don't you know how lucky you are to have him around?" Kagome ran out of the room with tears starting to simmer in her eyes.

InuYasha sat there shocked and a little cowed by Kagome's words. Sango got up and ran after her. Miroku and Shippou could only hold their mirth at someone putting InuYasha in his place. Kaede watched all this with her usual calm, noting more of what the Lord's intuition had done.

After a moment and the laughter of his friends sunk in, InuYasha jumped up and stared at Miroku and Shippou, nearly prostate with laughter. "What are you laughing at!" he bellowed at the two of them helpless with their laughter.

Miroku was the first to slightly calm down and wipe the tears of joy from his face "You must admit, she seems to have you pegged after such a short time"

"He's right" Shippou piped up agreeing with the young monk.

"What ! I am not that way" InuYasha yelled at them and was just about to pounce on his friends to "punish" them (which mostly involved them getting hit with just enough force to sting but not enough to leave them really hurt) when Kaede spoke up.

"InuYasha" she said sharp enough to get his attention. "Your father requested to see you, shouldn't you be going there now?"

"Fine, you two can laugh your selves silly but I have to go" InuYasha seemed to have his temper a bit more under control as he walked out the door his father had earlier exited.

The two friends started laughing again at the comical situation. Kaede just shook her head and left the room as well.

Chapter 4

Inu no Taisho was sitting in his study talking to Myoga when InuYasha came in. InuYasha could have sworn that his father had a slight smile on his face, which quickly disappeared.

"I supposed that you heard that wench yelling at me" InuYasha flopped down next to his father's desk.

"Well, I wouldn't be surprised if half the castle heard her." Inu no Taisho replied "Surprising, I took her for a meek young lady."

"Yeah, right." InuYasha shot back " I know you better than that. If you didn't observe her yourself you had that old flea find out everything about her."

Inu no Taisho shook his head slightly at his son's observance of somethings yet obliviousness of others.

"So, why did you want to talk to me anyway?" InuYasha asked.

"I wanted to let you be the first to know that I must leave soon to deal with a problem at the edge of our territories, a dragon demon has been destroying villages and I must stop it to protect our people." his father stated calmly.

"Why don't you send me" InuYasha exclaimed, "I could handle this problem."

"This demon is stronger than most and you know as well as I that until you master the Tetsuaiga you will not be strong enough to handle this."

"I just need to practice more"

"It is more than practice you have not yet learned the secret of Tetsuaiga, and it is something you must learn for yourself, I can not tell you, so don't ask again son" Inu no Taisho said cutting of InuYasha's unspoken question. InuYasha slumped his shoulders again, after hopping that he would finally get his question answered.

"As I expect to be gone for sometime, I must have you protect our newest member of our household. There have been things happening outside our boarders that have me concerned. I do not expect that anything will happen, but I fear for our land. We have had a great time of peace but now I fear that we must pay for such happiness as we have experienced."

"Also son," Inu no Taisho continued "you know that if you are ever to leave my protection the curse that I have been able to keep at bay will consume you."

"There must be some way to get around that Priestess's curse" InuYasha said.

"I have been working on trying to find a way, young master" Myoga replied "but it is difficult, Kikyo didn't leave many clues to the answer."

"Yeah, I remember, 'only a tear may save the beast, a heart of love may free the soul' what the hell is that supposed to mean. Stupid priestess" InuYasha snorted.

"Don't worry master's we will find the answer" Myoga said confidently.

"We will have to otherwise thirteen moons after the curse engulfs me I won't survive." InuYasha sighed.

InuYasha rose and left the room, leaving his father and Myoga alone. "My poor son," Inu no Taisho shook his head again "you have so much to learn, and I hope that this young girl will be able to teach you"

"Are you sure that we want to keep him in the dark" Myoga asked the lord.

"There is no other way, if he tries to force himself it will never be true" the lord said sadly.

"Such wisdom can not be denied" Myoga replied

Chapter 5

Moonlight filled the garden as the eye of the moon climbed over the garden wall. Kagome wandered out of her room unable to sleep and drawn by the garden in such ethereal light. She wandered the half lit paths till she came to the center and the rosebush that had caused her to be here. In the branches of a nearby tree, hidden from view, sat InuYasha, he had been in a slight daze while thinking over his conversation with his father earlier that evening.

He watched Kagome bathed in moonlight almost looking like a spirit in the night, reach slowly relevantly out to the blossoms nearest her. Her sent drifted up to him mingled with the heavy sent of the rosebush. He studied her, there was something different about this girl. Something that seemed to draw him to her. It was more than the promise he made to his father to protect her. He watched her study the roses and when a stray breeze came up and blew a strand of hair across her face, the movement of her hand to brush the offending strand away, seemed to be the most graceful movement he had seen. A slight shiver caused him to realize that she was out here in just her sleeping Kimono. "She'll catch cold that way" he thought before jumping out of his tree. He walked up silently on her shrugging out of his haori. "Hey girl"he said softly, and smiled as she jumped letting out a startled squeak.

"What,... what are you doing here?" she asked trying to cover her bewilderment with aggravation.

"If you stay out here like that you'll catch your death of cold" InuYasha replied with out really answering her question. He placed his haori on her shoulders, "This will keep you warm" his hands and voice were gentle as they settled his haori around her.

"Thank you" she said quietly looking at the base of the rosebush. Kagome build up a bit of courage to say what she felt she had to, at least he was being nice right now, it should make it easier. "I am sorry I yelled at you earlier. I guess I am still sensitive about losing my own father and your lord father somehow reminds me of him a little" She looked up and found herself looking directly into his amber eyes, softened somehow by the night.

"Oh"

Silence hung heavy between them like a friend. Neither one of them wanted to move or break it. There seemed to be something precious and fragile hovering just out of their reach. Kagome slowly reached out and took InuYasha's hand. Their eyes could not look away.

"InuYasha" Shippou's high voice drifted over the garden, "Where are you InuYasha"

They dropped each other's hands and looked away. A blush darkened Kagome's cheeks.

InuYasha's hand went to the back of his head and his eyes stared down at the ground near Kagome's feet, "I guess I better go, if they sent Shippou out here" InuYasha shuffled his feet unwilling to move, wishing that time would just reverse and they could have stayed in the previous moment longer.

Before Kagome could acknowledge his words Shippou bounded down the path "There you are InuYasha, I should have known you would by at your mother's roses" his bright voice seemed loud in the quiet night. Kagome backed a bit into the shadows trying to go unnoticed, which only brought Shippou's attention. "Oh, and Lady Kagome, your here too"

"Yeah" she replied sheepishly "I couldn't sleep so I came out here for a bit of fresh air. I better go back in."

She walked down the path a bit then as if remembering turned around and bowed slightly to InuYasha, "Thank you for the use of your coat lord InuYasha" she turned again and started hurrying down the path, but tripped on a root hidden by the shadows. Before she fell she felt two strong arms catch and enfold her. She looked up to see InuYasha had stopped her fall.

"You've got to be more careful" InuYasha said and he picked her up "These paths can be dangerous in the dark" his arms lifted her fully off the ground and he started carrying her back down the long path.

"I can walk on my own you know" Kagome tried to sound annoyed with him, but the strength in his arms and warmth of his torso were making it hard.

"I know" he replied distractedly " I just don't want to see you trip again, besides you look tired enough to fall over at any time with out the help of the rough path"

A yawn escaped Kagome too fast for her to stifle it.

"Lady Kagome, you should really get some rest" Shippou peaked around InuYasha's shoulder at her. The little fox leaped off in front of them, "Her rooms are this way"

As they walked the quiet of the night and the swaying step of the man carrying her rocked Kagome to sleep so that by the time they reached her room she was deeply asleep.

Shippou opened the door as InuYasha looked down a the sleeping girl. Her face softened in slumber he didn't have the heart to wake her, and carried her into her room. He laid her gently on the bed careful not to wake her. Shippou brought a blanket that they laid on top of her. Kagome already had pulled the haori closely around her.

InuYasha and Shippou quietly crept out of the room leaving the sleeping girl to her dreams.