Chapter One- Where it All Began
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Inu-Yasha, but I do own Kura, because I made her up in my brain...other than that, they are all Rumiko Takahashi's. Oh and Inari is mine as well, because I don't know Kagome's mother's name. Anyway, on with the story!
"Tag, you're it!" cried a young silver haired half-demon as he raced away from a startled chestnut haired human child. After a moment, Kagome grinned and began chasing after Inu-Yasha, squealing in delight as she attempted to catch her best friend.
Theirs was not a normal friendship, but one held and maintained in secrecy. Secrecy was a necessity, for Inu-Yasha was a prince of the great Western Lands and Kagome was a mere servant at the castle. Her mother, Inari, was a kitchen maid, which made Kagome an automatic servant to the king. This is where she would spend her entire life, but with Inu-Yasha as her best friend, it made that thought an easier one to have.
Kagome and Inu-Yasha were once caught playing tag together by Kagome's mother and Inu-Yasha's father. Inu-Yasha's father took him away and scolded him briefly, while Kagome had gotten a good paddling to her backside for playing instead of working, especially with Prince Inu-Yasha. At the age of seven, Kagome was clueless as to why she couldn't play with Inu-Yasha. Inu-Yasha was ten, and knew exactly what everyone was talking about when they said for him and Kagome not to play together again. Everyone thought Kagome was not worthy to play with him simply because he was the prince and she a servant.
He didn't care that she was a servant, she was the only one that treated him like a normal kid, instead of a high and mighty person that he just didn't feel like he was. They were best friends, and they were going to stay that way, even if they needed to keep it secret to protect Kagome. It didn't matter to Inu-Yasha, because he knew when they were older, they would get married and she would no longer have to be a servant. Kagome would be his princess, and they would live happily ever after, just like in fairy tales.
The years flew by quickly, and as they grew, Inu-Yasha and Kagome got even closer. They shared their dreams, and their fears. They experienced everything together for the first time. Their first kiss was with each other. They were hiding in Inu-Yasha's room. Kagome had been fifteen, and Inu-Yasha had just turned eighteen. As they laid upon Inu-Yasha's bed, they had talked of their fears.
"What are you scared of, Kag?" Inu-Yasha turned his golden gaze to her. She sat up and looked to him with large chocolate eyes.
"What are you talking about, Yasha? I'm not scared of anything." Her chin had lifted defiantly with her statement, emphasizing her point. Inu-Yasha laughed softly, and sat up as well.
"Everyone's afraid of something, Kag. What are you afraid of? It's okay, I won't tell anyone. I promise." Kagome looked down at her hand, which were primly folded in her lap.
"I'm scared that I will be a servant forever, with no one to make even that a pleasant thought." Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, but she rapidly blinked them away. She looked up at Inu-Yasha. "What about you? What are you scared of?"
"Losing you." Inu-Yasha locked his gaze with hers. "I never want to lose you, Kag. You are my best friend...and more if I can help it. I love you, Kagome." Kagome's eyes widened a fraction as Inu-Yasha's head descended, and his lips captured hers gently. Kagome's eyelids closed as she wrapped her arms around Inu-Yasha's neck. At the same time, Inu-Yasha had wrapped his arms tightly about Kagome's waist, pulling her onto his lap as he opened her lips with his tongue, delving into her mouth.
That had been their first kiss. The first kiss for both of them, and they had many more over the next year.
One evening, Kagome slid silently out of her bed and made her way to Inu-Yasha's room, after making sure everyone was fast asleep. She unlocked his door with a key he had given her years ago. Kagome walked silently as a thief to Inu-Yasha's bed, where the boy lay snoozing contentedly. She kneeled beside his bed, and brushed stray locks of silver/white hair to the sides of his face. After nine years, Inu-Yasha maintained the fresh face of his boyhood.
Her fingers sifted through his thick locks, then stroked his cheek tenderly. She knew he would soon have to marry a princess and their lives would never be the same. She would no longer be the love of his life, she wouldn't be able to stay with him as they had while he was married. Her hand stopped moving, citing a soft moan from the hanyou's lips. Kagome's hand jerked back.
"Kag? Why did you stop?" Inu-Yasha lifted his eyelids, revealing twin pools of molten gold. She sat up quickly and lifted her up into his lap as though she weighed nothing.
"Is everything all right? Did something happen?" His eyes perused over her face and the skin that was not covered by her nightgown. "No one hit you, did they?" Kagome couldn't help but laugh.
"No, Yasha, no one hit me. I just came to see you, is all." Kagome lifted her head, pressing her lips to his, which he immediately reacted to. His arms wrapped around her as he deepened the kiss. Something was different this night, Inu-Yasha realized quickly as Kagome tugged at his clothing. He looked to Kagome, question in his eyes.
"I want to be with you, Yasha. I want to be with you as all those who love each other are. Please...love me, Yasha." Without another hesitation, Inu-Yasha did just as she had asked him, and loved her.
When Inu-Yasha woke up the next morning, Kagome was gone from his room. Although he knew it was for the best, he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. After his valet had come in to get him dressed, Inu-Yasha went in search of Kagome, feeling a desperate need to talk to her. Before he could even begin to locate her, a servant came to tell him his father had to speak to him. Inu-Yasha sighed softly, knowing he had to listen to his father before he would be able to even glimpse at his Kagome. Inu-Yasha smiled, His Kagome. He liked that idea.
Inu-Yasha went through the daily lecture with his father with only a quarter of his mind on what his father was saying. The other seventy-five percent of his focus was a certain chestnut haired beauty, and the previous night they had spent together. A faint smile curved Inu-Yasha's lips. He couldn't wait to speak to her.
"Are you even remotely listening to me, boy?" The very irritated voice of Inutaisho slipped through Inu-Yasha's thoughts, and made him realize his father was angry for being ignored.
"I'm apologize, Father. My mind appears to be elsewhere this day." Mentally Inu-Yasha grimaced, hating having to sound that way. Feh, stupid propriety. I hate talkin' like someone I ain't. Alas, it was true. Inu-Yasha sounded very much like an uneducated commoner when not around his family, or the other nobles. Only when he was around Kagome, or alone, could he talk as he wished. Inu-Yasha smiled softly. Yes, Kagome accepted him even as a half-demon, and an improper one at that.
"Inu-Yasha, what has gotten into you? You look like a love sick pup." Inu-Yasha's features straightened.
"Once more, I apologize. Is there anything more you wish to discuss?" Inutaisho sighed softly, then shook his head.
"No, Inu-Yasha. There is nothing more, you may go." He watched as Inu-Yasha practically raced out of the room, but not before properly bowing before his father.
Inu-Yasha walked quickly to the kitchen, where Kagome was to be. Kagome had taken over for her mother, when Inari had become ill. As soon as he walked in, everyone, with the exception of Kagome, quickly bowed before him. A girl about Kagome's age looked to Kagome in disgust, and elbowed the back of Kagome's knees to make her fall to her knees.
"Stupid girl, you show know better. Show respect to your betters!" Kagome glared at the girl, then bowed her head to Inu-Yasha, but her eyes were locked with his. Inu-Yasha could barely suppress a grin. With that, he cleared his throat.
"You, girl, what is your name?" The girl beside Kagome looked up, and saw he was talking to her.
"My name is Kura, Your Highness." Kura bowed her head once more.
"Well, then Kura, do me this favor, if you will. Take over the job of the girl next to you, for I have need to speak with her. She has insulted me beyond measure for not bowing, and that is intolerable. Rise, girl and come forth." Kagome managed to restain a smile, even putting fear in her eyes as she stood and moved meekly before him.
"Your highness, please forgive me. I did not mean to insult you." Inu-Yasha looked down his nose to her.
"Hold your tongue, and let us leave this place. We have much to discuss, and I can only hope you will learn from your mistake for the next time." Without another word, Inu-Yasha firmly grasped Kagome's arm and dragged her out of the kitchen, and continued walking to the secret stairwell that connected to his bedroom. Once inside the safety of the stairwell, Inu-Yasha pressed Kagome against the wall, and kissed her fully upon her lips.
"Oh, Kagome...I've missed you. I couldn't wait to talk to you, but my father...feh." His conversation was effectively cut off as Kagome pulled his head down and kissed him. Inu-Yasha lifted Kagome into his arms and raced up the stairs, and into his bedroom. Once in, he stripped them quicker than Kagome had ever seen anyone undress before, and began to show her how much he had truly missed her.
Every spare second was spent together, as Inu-Yasha and Kagome explored each others bodies, hearts, and souls. They spoke of the future many times. Inu-Yasha wanted a dozen pups, while Kagome was more than happy to have only a half-dozen. Either way, they knew they would marry and have children.
As they lay awake in each others arms, they were talking of the features of their future children.
"They will have your lovely ears and eyes." Kagome smiled and rubbed Inu-Yasha's puppy ears. Inu-Yasha grinned.
"Some of them will have your beautiful brown eyes and chestnut hair. I can see them now." They both smiled at the thought. A sudden, unexpected thought raced into Kagome's mind, pushing the smile from her lips. Inu-Yasha noticed the change immediately.
"Kag, what's wrong?" Kagome looked to him worriedly.
"What about your father? I doubt he will approve of us being together, I am just a servant." Tears of worry glistened in her eyes, and coursed down her cheeks. Gently, Inu-Yasha kissed them away.
"Kag, my father will not disapprove. He will accept us, simply because you are too wonderful not to be accepted." Kagome laughed softly, her tension easing slowly.
"Oh, Inu-Yasha, I love you so much." Inu-Yasha kissed Kagome's brow softly, and snuggled closer to her.
"I love you as well, Kag. More than anything else in the world."
Well this is the first chapter to my second try at a multi-chapter story. The first one sucked so bad that I don't think I will even attempt to finish it. I should just burn the entire thing. Anyway, I hope you all like it. R&R!