Chapter 2: Iki o Suru
Kagome sat quietly in the palanquin, watching the bamboo outside slowly pass by. A pretty, dark-haired woman sat opposite to her, deep in meditation, a tiny firecat curled up on her lap.
"Do you think he'll buy it, Sango-san?" Kagome asked.
Sango didn't even bother opening her eyes. "Almost no one could tell the difference between you two in our own palace. How would a complete stranger know any better?"
Kagome chewed on her lip. It wasn't a good habit – certainly not a habit that Kikyou would indulge in – but she wasn't the Princess. And that was eating at her.
Under normal circumstances, she hated to lie. It made her stomach tie up in knots to know that she was misleading someone. And to think that this peace between the demons and humans would be built upon her lie? Nothing good could come of it. But what choice did she have? If they refused, there could be open war between their peoples. And if they explained why Kikyou couldn't marry Lord Sesshoumaru, it would mean that the King would have to admit that his daughter and only heir had abandoned their people.
Sango opened her eyes and gave Kagome a sympathetic smile. "I know you hate this, but it's for the good of the people. Just remember to breathe, and you'll be fine."
Sango had been Kikyou's personal bodyguard since they were children. Descended of a line of demon hunters, she made a logical – if not a very diplomatic – choice as protection. Kagome wondered if she'd need to be protected from her own husband, once he found out he'd been duped into marrying a simple shrine maiden, instead of the Princess he had demanded.
"Yeah... just breathe."
Author's Notes: 'Iki o Suru' means breathe.