Chapter 1
It started as any other day had: she woke with the sun; she bathed in the stream; she returned to the village and shared breakfast with her immediate kin; picked berries with her friends; and took a break to share lunch with her friends. Everything was as it should have been, until Sango came barging unceremoniously into her hut.
"Sango! What happened?" Kagome jumped to her feet from her place on the floor beside the cooking fire and stepped quickly to stand by her panting friend.
"Oh Kagome!" Sango heaved, "You father wishes to speak to you!"
Kagome blinked, before a small smile slipped to her lips. "Is that all Sango? Well with the rate you burst in here, I thought the village caught fire!"
Sango straightened and pulled Kagome to her. "Oh, Kagome…you will soon know how serious this situation truly is…." Withdrawing suddenly, Sango picked up Kagome's hand and squeezed them reassuringly. "Come now. Father is waiting for you."
OoOoO
When Kagome and Sango arrived at the village hut, Kagome was startled to find strangely dressed men standing to the left side of the large wooden structure. Youkai? She wondered. On the right, she recognized many of the "Go-Betweens" from her village. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. The Go-Betweens were hardly ever present in the village for long. They stayed for the winter, but as the snow and ice thawed, they embarked on various excursions to look for whatever it was the newcomers were hoping to find.
Some years ago, strange men appeared on their home island. They seemed to be children of the Great Goddess Midoriko, for they carried traits of their animal brethren. Some were said to have been incredibly fast, others strong, some had the gift of vision greater than an Eagle. In either case, the arrival of these demi-gods changed everything. They did not come to conquer, thankfully. Instead, they came searching for something. What, Kagome did not know. But rather than waste time and wander around the vast land themselves, they forged a partnership with the people of her village. The Go-Betweens searched the land looking for the item being sought by the Youkai, and the Youkai, in turn, stationed a few men on the boundaries of their tribe's land and they protected the village from their hostile neighbours.
But the men had never entered the village before. What, Kagome wondered, were they doing here now?
Kagome turned as she heard the door behind her open, and her confusion grew when she saw her mother and grandfather standing behind her now with sadness in her eyes.
"Kagome." A deep baritone called her to attention.
Turning back, she fell to her knees, bowing deeply for the Village Leader. "Father," she murmured. Kagome raised her head, but remained kneeling.
"Come closer my child," Her father beckoned to her forward and she crawled towards him, until she could rest her hands upon his knees, as their people often did, when endearing the Elders to forgive them for some wrong.
The man gently patted her head to reassure her, before lifting his head to address the entire room – the villagers and the Youkai. "My friends, we are gathered here today, to strengthen our bonds with the Youkai." The low undertones of hushed whispers among her people could be heard, but Kagome herself had no clue what was happening.
"The Youkai have come to ask us for an alliance. Long have we been partners in trade, but dark times are upon us, and the day may come when we will need their strength and they will need our resources. Thus, Lord InuYasha, a leader of the Youkai, has come to us today seeking a tie to bind us together; a contract of faith and trust…A marriage."
Eyes wide, Kagome sat up straight and withdrew her hand from her father's knees, a sinking feeling in her stomach growing. Suddenly, things were beginning to fall into place.
He turned to her and reached for her hands once more. Kagome slowly raised her hands and placed them in his. She turned her face towards him, eyes wide with anticipation of his next words, tears of panic forming at the corners of her eyes. "My child, you are my most precious gift from the Great Midoriko. I will not ask this of you if you will not have it. But I believe that of all our children, you will bring us peace and you alone will be able to withstand the hardships that we will soon face. We are in need of an unshakable alliance. It is my hope, that you will accept this duty."
Through laboured breathing, Kagome managed to speak. "Father, though I am honoured that you think so highly of me, surely you must be mistaken. I am barely a woman, yet how can I be ready for marriage?"
His eyes softened and he patted her shoulder reassuringly, "My child, we never feel ready for the trials that the Great Goddess Midoriko sends our way, but we must trust in her to guide us. I have heard her, and it is you, she has chosen for this task."
When her eyes met his, what little fear she had left was pushed to the back of her mind. Midoriko always protected her children, and if the Great Goddess had spoken to her father, then she simply had to believe. Nodding to herself for reaffirmation of her decision, Kagome declared, "I will do what has been asked of me."
Her father smiled, traces of sadness in his eyes, as he gestured for her to stand. He stood up from his chair and turned his face towards the Youkai. "Lord InuYasha, I present to you, your bride."
Kagome turned, heart pounding with adrenaline, to see the face of her soon-to-be-husband. Her breathe caught in her throat.
From the line of odd looking men, a young man stepped forward, but what perturbed her, were the dog ears perched on top of his silvery main. He wore all red, save for black "boots," she had heard them called once, on his feet. At his hip, a sword lay sheathed. But his eyes, a striking gold, seemingly pierced the depths of her soul.
He stepped stiffly forward and bowed slightly. "Higurashi-san, my people accept this sign of good faith. With this union, we shall strengthen the bonds between our people." His tone was clipped and strained, and his politeness seemed forced.
Kagome furrowed her brows unconsciously. What kind of a man was she marrying? Before she really had time to contemplate her situation further, InuYasha turned and proceeded to stiffly exit the hut with his men.
"Come my child," Her father's voice broke her from her reverie, "We must prepare you for the marriage ceremony tomorrow."
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she nodded and was soon being escorted by her mother and grandfather back to their home hut.
OoOoO
"This if bullshit!" He raged, stomping back and forth across the room.
"You will calm yourself, whelp. This is reality and it is your duty." Cool and collected, Sesshoumaru remained un-phased by his half-brother's tantrum.
"Calm? CALM?!" InuYasha whipped around to glare heatedly at Sesshoumaru, "How the HELL do I remain CALM when I'm being FORCED into a MARRIAGE with some SAVAGE GIRL?"
Sesshoumaru raised a delicate eyebrow. "There are strange tidings afoot, little brother, and the 'savages', as you put it, hold the solution to it all."
"Ten years! Sesshoumaru! TEN FUCKING YEARS we've been looking for the Shikon-no-tama and THEY HAVEN'T FOUND IT! What makes you think, that a MARRIAGE, is going to speed up the process any? Huh?"
"You are as dense as ever. The marriage may not accelerate the speed with which the jewel is found, but should Naraku make his move on the village, we will need their complete trust and cooperation. If we should have any hope of their handing the jewel to us after they realize its significance, then we must establish their trust. While we do not know when the jewel will be found, we know Naraku will not stay silent for much longer. Too much darkness brews about his lands and our men have seen shipyards spring up overnight. He is planning to invade the island soon, you know this."
"There's got to be some other way, Sesshoumaru." InuYasha slumped down into a chair opposite his brother, distress evident on his face.
"Their people value the ties of kinship. Marriage is the only secure way."
InuYasha raised his eyes to meet his brother, and for once in his life, he pleaded, "Please Sesshoumaru. I need to find her. I know she's out there waiting for me. What will I do if she comes back, and I'm married to some savage?"
Sesshoumaru stood and walked to the bay window facing the palace gardens. "She is gone, InuYasha. She may never return. Your duty, however, calls to you."
"Why does it have to be me?" a pathetic whisper.
"You know as well as I do, that a marriage of alliance has only so much strength as the patrons involved. Higurashi-san will give up his daughter, only if she is received by someone of equal status. You will marry her, InuYasha and cease pining for a woman who is long gone." Sesshoumaru turned and swept away from the room, leaving InuYasha alone with his thoughts.
It made sense…all of it. And while he hated it, InuYasha owed Sesshoumaru his life, for everything that had happened. Clenching his fists, InuYasha held his tears of frustration at bay. He would not cry.
OoOoO
The ship rocked back and forth. They had just crossed to the island from the mainland and dropped anchor. Descending the rope ladder, InuYasha settled himself into the oar boat. The entire journey had been like a dream for him. He moved mechanically, feeling nothing but numbness.
"InuYasha!" a sharp bark startled him to reality. Miroku was staring at him, concern etched across his face. "We're on the beach…The village is only a short walk from here."
Nodding stiffly, InuYasha got out of the boat and followed his best friend and guide, their men trudging along behind them. As the village came into sight, the full gravity of the situation began to sink in, and a loathing began to plant itself within him. Why couldn't the girl have disagreed? Why couldn't the Chief have accepted someone else?
Arriving at what appeared to be the village gathering building, as it was the largest hut, Miroku entered first to request an audience with the Village Leader. Upon being granted one, InuYasha and the rest of his men stepped in.
The man looked to be in his forties and was seated upon a wooden chair. He wore little besides a pair of pants made from animal skin that ended just before his knees. His long black hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, resting on the nape of his neck. Despite his age, he was strong and well built.
"Lord InuYasha. I have been told to expect your presence."
InuYasha nodded stiffly, uncomfortable under the kind gaze of the man. He suddenly felt guilty for the loathing he felt.
"I have sent for my daughter, but I have a request of you, if you will hear it, before she and the rest of the village arrives?"
InuYasha's curiosity was piqued. "What is it?" Miroku cleared his throat, and InuYasha added "Lord Higurashi."
The man stood from his chair and approached InuYasha. InuYasha stiffened even more, as Higurashi placed both of his hands on InuYasha's shoulders. "She is young, free spirited, and at times wild. But she is kind and brave. If you will have her, she will be a most suitable wife."
"…Lord Higurashi, the peace among our people will be solidified only by this marital union."
"I understand. It is the custom of our people and I am grateful that you and your Lord Brother have accepted our terms, when we can offer so little in return. But my request is that you do your best to love her, as she deserves to be loved."
InuYasha ground his teeth, before hesitatingly replying, "I can make no promise, Lord Higurashi. But I will try."
Lord Higurashi stepped back, releasing InuYasha from his hold, and smiled. "That is all that I ask. Ah! My people are arriving." The people trickled in slowly to fill the hut, until finally, a slightly dishevelled looking girl came stumbling into the room, her friend at her side.
As she approached her father, InuYasha reeled from shock. Kikyou…no. Her hair is different- wavy and untamed where Kikyou's was straight and refined. And her scent…pine leaves. She is not Kikyou, but the Gods must be laughing, 'cause they sure as Hell had me fooled. Her dress was different as well. Kikyou had always been reserved. This girl, she practically exposed herself to the entire room, though, with a quick glance at all of her people gathered in the room, coverign up didn't seem to be a concept for them. The girl herself was dressed in a short skirt made of animal skin, leaving much of her long, toned legs exposed. Her midriff was bare, as her top covered her breasts and ended just 3 inches below her bosom. She's my bride... InuYasha swallowed the lump in his throat. This was it. There was no turning back. He scarcely paid any attention to the proceedings, until Miroku jabbed him in the back.
Snapping to attention, he stepped stiffly forward and bowed to Higurashi, staring at the girl in his periphery, "Higurashi-san, my people accept this sign of good faith. With this union, we shall strengthen the bonds between our people." There, just as rehearsed. Unsure of what to do next, he turned and left the hut. It was time to make camp outside of the village until the marriage ceremony the next morning.
"Just remember," Miroku whispered to him as they made their way to a suitable campsite, "you are doing this for your people."
InuYasha turned to stare at his long-time friend. In an almost broken tone, he admitted, "I'll never love her."
Miroku squeezed his shoulder, unable to respond.
A new journey was about to begin.
XxXxXxX
So…this idea came to me a year ago and I haven't been able to stop toying with it since. I finally decided to put it down on paper. -.- So…what do you guys think? ^-^