Chapter Two Conversations with the Prince

Kagome and InuYasha said nothing for a long time. Her basket slowly emptied. She forgot the prince was there until he spoke again.

"Why do you not hum again?" InuYasha finally asked. His hand rested against the terraces rail. His golden eyes kept on glimpsing at her while she worked. He finally stared at her when he spoke to her.

Kagome blushed and stopped her work. "You heard that, Sire?"

"Yes," he told her watching her reaction. "What the hell were you humming?"

"A song my late mother sang to me and my late brother but I forgot the words, your highness." She ignored his rudeness. He is a prince after all.

His eyes grew soft. "People have the habit of dying. They are weak. When they do die the people they leave behind are sad. They are weak to."

"That is because it shows that they were loved, Sire."

"Heh," InuYasha said. He wondered would anyone cry tears for him. His father hadn't shown any when his mother did. His half brother would be first to kill him because he is a half demon. He didn't voice his thoughts to her though. He didn't have to. He is far above her in social status.

"Return to your work," he grumbled and commanded her.

Kagome obeyed. InuYasha is a prince. It would mean death if she did not obey him. After conversations with him, she knew she would obey him anyway. He isn't a bad prince. He has rudeness. He isn't cold despite what other servants said. She had observed this. She believed that they just didn't understand him or give him time to know him. Maybe he didn't want to be known.

InuYasha watched her as she worked and hummed. He had forgotten why he had come out on the terrace after talking to her.

Kagome kept on hanging the linen on the line and hummed the tune she learned over and over. This time she was aware of the prince's presence. There isn't anything she could do about it. So she ignored it. Once the last linen was on the line she wiped her brow. She stopped humming and looked to the sky. It is a clear sunny morning. It would mean that she would have to fetch the linen when it is dry later. She picked the basket and put it against her hip. She walked towards the servant's door.

"Where the hell do you think you are going?" The prince called to her. "I didn't say you could leave."

She stiffened and stopped. He smiled. Her actions displayed her emotions well. It was something he was not used to. He is surrounded by the scholarly type and demons. They never showed their emotions. Their weakness.

"Sire, I am leaving for my work here is done," Kagome told him. She bowed not facing him. She tried her best to curtsy. She turned and started to walk towards the door trying to not look in his direction.

"When in the hell did I say you could leave?" InuYasha growled showing her his anger.

Kagome stopped in her tracks. She stiffened. She didn't want to disobey him. Her work here is done though. She had much more work to do inside the castle. She couldn't explain why she is late. It would mean death. She would be punished if she is too late. Would talking to InuYasha be worth a lashing? He wouldn't chase her if she left for it is not the act of a prince. She didn't think that he would keep her if she would be in pain. She stayed trusting him. Maybe he would be worth the pain.

"I am going to ask you a question before I let you leave," InuYasha informed her. He did not want her to leave. He could not understand why. He thought of something after she finished her work.

Kagome wasn't sure if she could answer a prince's question. She had to though. He seemed to not be a bad person. She still couldn't forget her place. She said nothing waiting for him to ask his question.

"Why are Humans so pathetic and weak?" InuYasha finally asked.

Kagome frowned. It wasn't a question that she thought a prince would ask. She thought about it for a moment trying to think of a suitable answer for a prince. She couldn't find anything that she liked.

"Well? Answer me." His voice showed anger again.

"It's not just humans that are weak, Sire." Kagome finally told him. She ignored the pathetic knowing it is just part of his rude demeanor.

His eyes darkened. "What could a foolish human mean by that?" He thought. He couldn't think of anything that would fit a possible statement.

"What do you mean, foolish servant?" He finally spat out at her. His anger showed his ignorance.

Kagome froze not daring to breath. There was great anger in his voice. She had to explain what she told him. She wasn't so sure now. She found her resolve somehow.

"Your Highness, I mean that everything has a weakness only because we determine what is weak."

InuYasha's eyes darkened. "Even a demon has a weakness?" He growled out. She angered him once more. This human was showing superiority towards a demon. It is a foolish act when in the presence of half a demon.

Kagome became nervous. The prince is talking about demons, a mad question. What is she to do? Demons don't exist. If they did exist she would have to figure out an answer. Could demons have a weakness too? She thought about it but words mixed around inside her head.

"Well?" His patience was growing thin with this girl yet again.

"Your Highness, we determine what is strength not everything can be the strongest so with that should there not be a weakness?" She finally asked him. Her voice showed her weakness. It is the answer she came up with.

"Why in the hell are you speaking in riddles?" InuYasha asked. He doesn't like what she said. Demons were not weak. His father and brother were not weak.

"I am sorry, Sire, I mean not too," Kagome chirped out. Her heart beat heavily in her chest. Her breathing staggered. She had never heard someone so angry. She is unsure of what he would do.

"If by that then one thing could be strong."

It wasn't working. What can she say to make him understand what she meant by all this? Kagome is scared. She tried to think until something came to her.

"Well? Answer me," InuYasha demanded. His voice is heavy with dislike.

"Sire, why do you assume weakness is a bad thing?" She finally asked on the bridge of tears.

He stopped. It is natural to think of weakness as being something bad. If you are weak you die. He said nothing just stared at the girl and growled. His anger had hit a whole new height inside him.

"Sire, there are different types of weakness," Kagome told him continuing on knowing full well that he believed that weakness is a bad thing. Tears fell from her eyes. She was so afraid. She could feel his anger even from how far apart they stood.

"Go on," he commanded her.

"Humans…" Kagome started and took a deep breath gaining courage. "Humans and demons consider caring for another weak but if that weakness gave them strength then it wouldn't be bad, Sire."

"Hmmm," InuYasha said. His brother would hate that theory completely. Could it be true though? "So, you say humans and demons can possess strength when they care for someone? That's rather silly isn't it?"

"Sire, would you fight for something you care for or don't care for?"

"I don't care for fucking anything," InuYasha said harshly. Someone stepped outside on the terrace. InuYasha didn't bother turning to see who it was. He knew by the smell. It stunk like a certain wolf demon he knew.

"And for that I am sorry, Sire." Kagome whispered before she slipped away through the servant's door. She took the chance to make her leave. She didn't want to get caught talking above her status. She did not wish for InuYasha to get into trouble.

InuYasha's golden eyes wavered. He watched the girl disappear behind the door. It seemed like she cared for him not just because he was a prince. Would she still care for him if she saw the real him?

He noticed that she had calmed him once more. She has a strange effect upon him. He knew that it wouldn't last long for the stupid wolf is behind him.

"Who was that?" A gruff voice asked.

"No one, Koga," InuYasha replied. "You're an idiot that sees things."

"It didn't sound like no one, dog turd," Koga spat back.

InuYasha continued to stare at the spot where the girl left. She had left something behind. By the looks of it, it is a necklace. He wanted to pick it up to see what it is made of. He yearned for it but he couldn't not with Koga standing behind him.

"Shut up, wolf breath," InuYasha shot back. "Mind your own business. Nothing was there. You imagined something. Maybe you should see a doctor. I am sure someone in the castle would gladly fetch one for you."

"I need no doctor, filthy vermin," Koga growled at InuYasha.

"How about a priestess or a monk to save your soul?"

"Is that a way to treat a guest in your castle?" Koga asked anger in his voice. If a priestess or monk tried to "save his soul" he would die. Demons are that on the evil side. They would be purified and die. Their bodies would simply vanish. Demons had a hard time against them along with demon slayers. If the priestess, monk, or demon slayer were well trained he would die.

"You are not my guest and I treat you the way I see fit, stinking wolf breath."

"A half demon like you should learn your place, filthy half human."

InuYasha growled. "I know my place and you should know yours."

"Keh," Koga said. "Your father isn't half the man he used to be after since your bitch of a mother died. Someone will take over the Lands of the West if he isn't careful."

"You don't know anything about that matter," he growled at him. "If I were you I would drop that subject." He barred his fangs. His body radiated with anger.

"Heh, the bite of a half demon isn't that scary."

"It's still a bite, idiot," InuYasha said turning around. His eyes blazed with fire. He growled at him daring him to go on. His hand rested on his sword, Tessaiga. Even if it is a rusted sword it could still do some damage along with his claws. Koga wore his typical skin outfit a tradition to those in his tribe. Plenty of skin is open to cause some damage.

"Now look at what you done," a cold cruel voice said behind them. They hadn't noticed the presence until it spoke. "You upset the little half demon."

"Sesshomaru," InuYasha growled recognizing the voice behind Koga. "Don't you ever wear something normal, you bastard?"

"Do you?" Sesshomaru responded to his brother.

InuYasha wore his fire rat red outfit. He had no shoes on. His nails had claws so it bugged him wearing shoes. He preferred not to. It had on a hakama for the pants, a jacket that looked like a kimono's but it has separated sleeves, a belt, and underneath a kosode, under garments of sorts. It didn't look exquisite next to Sesshomaru's.

Sesshomaru is wearing a kimono with red honeycomb and flower crest at the collar, sleeves, and shoulder. It represents the family crest. He wears pauldron armor. It covers his left shoulder attached to the upper section of his breast plate. He is wearing black cloth boots.

"I think you both look the same," Koga said knowing it would annoy them both.

"Shut up," Sesshomaru growled.

Koga obeyed. He could fight on par with InuYasha but not with Sesshomaru. He knew he couldn't test fluffy's patience. He heard a rumor that once InuYasha obtain the power of Tessaiga he could also pose a problem.

"Heh," InuYasha said. He knew his older brother hated being referred to the same as him. He did hate it to but he wouldn't openly express it like his brother. He also knew Koga wouldn't dare say anything more with Sesshomaru's presence.

"Are you going to waste all your morning out here?" Sesshomaru asked.

"To avoid you, yes," InuYasha answered.

"Pathetic half demon," Sesshomaru said.

"If you don't like it just leave."

Sesshomaru glared at him. "You had better not being doing anything that would displease me."

"You say that everyday doesn't it get old, brother?" InuYasha glared back after he rolled his eyes.

"Don't call me your brother."

"We have the same father by that we are brothers," he inserted his arms into the opposite sleeves of his fire rat kimono.

"I will never admit that you are my brother."

"Heh, do you think I would?"

Sesshomaru said nothing.

"It fucking annoys you my birth," InuYasha went on.

"You don't matter to me so you can't annoy me," Sesshomaru replied.

"And yet you can't come to terms with me being your brother."

Sesshomaru said nothing. He turned around. He walked off the terrace disappearing into the castle. His garments swished as he walked.

InuYasha looked at Koga. He pulled his right arm from his sleeve. He moved it slightly. His motions indicated for him to leave too.

"Heh," Koga said. "We will finish this later, mutt."

"Anytime," InuYasha growled. "Anyplace, half wit."

Koga half smiled. He left the area leaving the half demon alone.

Kagome's body started to quiver. She gripped the door handle. She bent her head down taking in deep breaths. The prince talked to her. He treated her not like a subject. Her mind mixed with thought. Everything that she had been taught didn't apply in a few moments with InuYasha, he ignored their status, he challenged her beliefs, spoke of demons, and told her he cared for 

nothing. He is a prince he has the birthright to do as he pleases. It pleases her none for she knew after talking to him it would change her inside. She pitied him. She has no right to. She didn't want to care for him but she feared that she would.

She took a deep breath trying to regain her bearings. She had to return to thinking of InuYasha as a prince. He must have had loads on his mind to confide in her, a servant. Their conversation would mean nothing to him. In time it would mean nothing to her.

"Kagome?" A worried voice asked next to her.

Kagome looked in the direction of the voice. "Sango," she said smiling weakly.

"Is anything wrong?"

"Nothing at all," Kagome said. She had gained most of her composure. "The sun must have gotten to me." She hated lying to her friend. She couldn't tell her the truth for she didn't believe it herself.

"Let's fetch you some water and then continue on with our work."

Kagome gave her a thankful smile. There isn't rest for the servants. The palace royals should have risen from their beds. It meant beds to be made and work to be done. They each had a full day ahead of themselves.

A/N Another chapter done. Enjoy.