:::Disclaimer: I don't own these character's. I take not credit for Ramiko Takahashi's work.

Chapter Two

"Prince Inuyasha"

"Damnit Inuyasha! You're father will have my head for this!!" The guard shouted in a meager attempt to lure the half dog demon back through the palace gates.

Inuyasha stood maybe 15 feet away from him.

He was lean and tall, his hair a silver waterfall down his back over the red fire rat kimono he wore, making his golden eyes stand out in contrast .

He scratched behind one of his two fuzzy white dog-like ears in slight consideration.

Directly behind him was the wood line that bordered the Western Lands and connected to the Eastern boarder.

"Just tell my father I had an itch."

And with that Inuyasha turned on his heel and strode into the woods.

These woods were known for many mysterious legends and stories. People had told through the ages of demons never before seen and magic never before herd of.

Secrets and hideaways that could only be found in the Forest of Ages.

Children would listen to their parents or grandparents tell them tales of monsters or heros who dwelt within the borders of these woods. Ones who wished to never be found could disappear within the confines.

Few humans had ventured in and come out again whole and sane.

Inuyasha, however was half demon, and half demon and demons alike could fair much easier against the Forest of Ages.

Just beyond the forest was the neighboring kingdom; the Eastern Lands of Higurashi.

That was Inuyasha's destination for this adventure.

He could navigate in the Forest...well, at least more than most, and he had only ever been the kingdom village once before.

That occasion had been during the last generation of Higurashi reign. Inuyasha had been fairly younger, but since demons aged more slowly than humans...he hadn't seemed much younger. Of coarse with the spans of time, the village would be much larger.

With that, Inuyasha had once again decided on visiting for a while. There had been some talk back a while ago of a tournament or something as well that was taking place in the East Kingdom.

Inuyasha thought about that.

A tournament would be something interesting to enter for a change.

He'd been cooped up in the stuffy old castle long enough.

Nobody had to know he was the prince either.

He could just go out, have some fun, kick some ass, and just be out into the world of the normal hard working people and real life going-abouts that were never a part of Inuyasha's royal life style.

He walked for a bit, listening to the dying sound of bird call and noting the dimming of the light.

It was more than just thickening tree leaves or branches.

The light faded out of the forest the deeper he walked in.

Inuyasha had learned to read this.

His senses became the sharper than normal when the dim, white, glowing halo that seemed to stretch miles above his head was the only real visible light.

Inuyasha stopped and looked up at the halo of light.

There was nothing but blackness all around him and he had walked far enough that no sound could be heard but his own breath.

The light looked like a ring no bigger that a stone high above the center of his head.

This, he knew, was one of the illusions.

Most would see this as their only way out and try to go to the light until they went crazy.

'Keh.' Inuyasha closed his eyes for a moment.

He focused on the halo and continued walking forward again.

After a few minutes he opened his eyes.

Light began to shimmer around him in a glow.

Details became more defined the farther he walked and sounds began to rustle about in the forest.

A little further along and Inuyasha could see everything as it should be.

The first test of the forest, the test of darkness, was generally what most humans could not sense as a illusion.

This was the true Forest of Ages.

Beautiful and full of life. Strange and full of mystery.

There was a gentle breeze rustling the leaves around him and a creek could be heard not to far off.

The sun was shining down through the leaves and a few strange calls were exchanged by small demon animals in the trees.

The forest itself was a world of its own.

Inuyasha had ventured in many times before and knew his way around for the most part.

Today, however, he took the path that lead to the village on the other side.

Thinking was really one of the only pastimes for one who was simply traveling through the forest.

Luckily, Inuyasha had a lot to think about these days.

'Damn training. What's Father been thinking lately…pushing me to my limits…'

His father had been training him harder than normal the past few years.

Inuyasha hated to think of the reasons for this enthusiasm, but of coarse he knew why life had been progressively harder.

It was now his coming of age.

The age a royal member must reach to receive the land his family rules over as his own duty.

And since his no good half brother, Sesshomaru, had up and left the family behind years back, Inuyasha was the only heir left to receive the throne.

With that, Inuyasha feared, would come the end of these little excursions and any sort of free reign he might have had control of and the beginning of his life trapped in the palace or off on the battle field defending his home.

The battle he didn't mind as much.

The arranged marriage... he did.

His father would probably see his little outing today as another rebellion against it.

Well so what if his father was angry about him leaving toady for a little while? He'd get over it.

This could very well be the last time to ever walk amongst the uncontrolled living again.

Wanting to reach the village before the sun came up, Inuyasha broke out into a run.

He found his pace that felt to him as natural as walking but brought his speed up to that of an arrow having been shot through the trees.

It would be better, Inuyasha thought, to arrive when the village was awake and busy in the middle of the day.

'And why shouldn't I be able to enjoy myself?' thought Inuyasha.

'Because.' He could hear his father say, ' One day you will be a great ruler. You can't throw your life away for your own selfish pride (and of coarse everyone's thoughts might just wander to Sesshomaru...). It is in your blood to rule this land and it is your responsibility to take control of what is laid before you. You have the power, Inuyasha. You just need to have some self discipline and motivation."

Inuyasha had heard this speech so many times it was practically fried into his brain.

Motivation he had. Maybe not always entirely placed in the right situation ( thinking maybe of, say, the time when he was younger and he motivated himself to wreak havoc on every unsuspecting training guards inside the palace walls ) but it was there.

Self discipline?

Keh.

There was plenty regular discipline to deal with as far as Inuyasha was concerned.

He slowed to a walk as the trees became more spread out.

The light was beginning to change again, but not into darkness.

It was the shades in the light becoming more regular to outside the forest. The sound of birds chirping told Inuyasha he wasn't far from the edge of the woods now.

He thought about his title.

His life.

His future.

And then he quickly shook his head, making himself forget it.

'This is stupid' he thought.

'I'm not spending another minute today thinking about it.'

He began walking on the trail leading into the village.

Inuyasha, it seemed, was ready to make the most of his day…


:::Author here. Ok...so now we have Kagome, Inuyasha, and the forest.... Very important, the forest. ^^ I need reviews!! I NEEEEEEEEEED them... and then they were like "ow, that hurts. Don't knee me anymore!"

Bahaha.

Ok…not really funny. ALL WELL.