Author's Note: Three words: You. Guys. Rock. Thank you so much for such excellent feedback! I made sure to not keep the next one out for too long. Especially when I have received threats of readers clocking me with turkeys and sharp objects. :smiles:
Oh, and Tenmari, you're absolutely welcome. Thanks for giving me a great suggestion for a story. And Mel, hehe…the book was already named in Chapter Two. But I'm happy to see that people do know which one it is, since that means I'm getting the fic somewhat right (I hope).
Also, as I said earlier, this story will not be exactly like the book. Yes, the lead role in Lindsey's book was scarred (which was a heavy part of the story) but I really didn't want to do that to Sesshy-sama…hehe. Also, the character, Versallies (or whatever his name was. It's been a good few years since I actually did read it) is kinda Miroku's part, but not really. A lot of events will happen like the book, but at the same time, not necessarily. There will also be other twists added in here as well. Hopefully I don't disappoint.
Alright, well, that's enough from me. On with the fic!
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Chapter Three
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She wasn't sure how long she stood there, gawking at him. However, soon her brows drew together in a scowl.
"Look, I already know you're a jerk. You've proven that to me. You and your stupid sense of humor suck!"
Sesshoumaru blinked once, not expecting a barrage of such unpleasant language. "You would think this Sesshoumaru to be joking?"
"I 'think this Sesshoumaru' to be joking, as well as a hell of a lot of other things too. You've had your fun, now leave me alone! The door's over there, and take your unfortunate friend with you," Kagome said, giving him a pointed look.
"I assure you, I did not travel all this way to be refused and delayed from my schedule. Cease this foolishness and prepare for the journey."
She let out a dark chuckle as she snatched the broom away from him. "Yeah…okay." Kagome continued her earlier task of cleaning. 'Maybe if I just ignore him, he'll get tired and go away...'
Sesshoumaru stared at her for several minutes, not believing that she had just dismissed him in such a disrespectful manner. Him! The prince of the Western Lands being ignored by a feeble barmaid!
This would not do.
"It is not a request, but an order. You would do well to know your place."
Kagome squinted her eyes in anger. "And who do you think you are, huh? I don't have to take orders from you. I don't have to take anything from you. So why don't you just give up and leave already? You're not welcome here."
"I do as I please in most cases. However, this command comes not from my person, but a higher power. I do not enjoy this any more than you do." His own eyes narrowed at her before adding bitterly, "In fact, I would say you would most certainly enjoy the arrangement more than this Sesshoumaru."
"Oh, really? Why is that? Afraid I might throw you into the dungeon when I'm this so-called 'queen'"--she made the quotes with her fingers--"because you're an ignoramus?"
"Hardly. You would not even be able to place a scratch upon me." Sesshoumaru disregarded her snort and went on. "I was referring to the fact that you are exceedingly hideous, and I, however, most certainly am not."
Her expression was dubious as he finished his speech. 'Is this guy serious?' Granted, she did agree with him…somewhat. He was better looking than any male she had laid eyes upon, and had he not made it a point to insult her all night, she might have been flattered at this entire act. However, these guys showed that they had some severe mental problems…making up spiels about random women marrying some king or whatever. How ludicrous!
"What would you care that I'm ugly, if I did turn crazy and believed you? It's not like you're the--"
"Your Highness!" another male entered the room, blue eyes glancing to the pair then moving towards the body in the middle of the room. His brows drew together in confusion. "What happened to Miroku?"
"He had another… ill-fated accident with the bartender." Sesshoumaru stated plainly.
"Oh…" he said, understanding. "What's with all the glass on the floor and…" He looked around. "Where did everyone go?"
"I was trying to clean up before I was so rudely interrupted," Kagome yelled as she sent the prince a heated glower. "And the bar's closed for the night. You both need to leave."
"She doesn't know?" he asked Sesshoumaru.
The other man gave him a slight shrug of the shoulders. "I have informed her of the situation, but she refuses to believe such a thing. Perhaps you can talk some sense into her, Kouga."
"Well…" Kouga said, scratching his neck. "If she doesn't believe you, Sesshoumaru-sama, I doubt she'll believe me. We need Miroku for this kind of thing."
Sesshoumaru sighed, rubbing his temples. This entire ordeal should not be taking this long. Besides, someone obviously had given them false information in the past. It was believed that Kagome Higurashi was to be brought up as a princess for when this moment came about. Not a smart-mouth, infuriating woman!
"Kagome, are you alright?" Sango asked, returning from her earlier scuffle. "Everyone outside left for the night…" She eyed the other occupants in the room. "We need to close up," she said to them.
"That's what I've been trying to tell them!" the younger woman yelled.
"Enough," Sesshoumaru interrupted. "I will tell you one more time. Gather your things so we may depart from this vile place."
"I don't care what you're going on about." Kagome started sweeping again. "But what I do know is that you need to leave. Before I ask Sango to throw you out."
"Do not tell us to leave again, wench. We are not moving until this matter is settled."
"I will tell you to do whatever I need to conduct my business." She said, scowling. "And I've also told you, I don't believe a word you've said! Even if I did have a lapse of judgment and did believe it, who the hell would want to marry a ridiculous jackass like you!" She couldn't stop the glare that came to her face.
Everyone in the room paused as the air seemed to become thick. Kouga looked between them worriedly. No one had ever bothered to yell Sesshoumaru in such a way, and he found himself wondering if he needed to jump in front of the two before the other man killed her. He could have sworn he saw a vein popping out of the usually stoic prince's forehead…
Sesshoumaru was eerily calm when he spoke. "I am being very generous. Either do as I say, or come with us unwillingly. It is your choice how you go."
Kagome opened her mouth, prepared to deliver another refusal, but was stopped by a rather loud groaning. All eyes turned to the sound and witness as Miroku barely managed to sit upright.
"What," he said, rubbing the back of his head. "Just happened?"
"Sango knocked you out after you groped me." Kagome sent him a furious frown.
"My…" He grunted in pain. "Sincere apologies, miss." Kouga strode over to him and offered a hand to help him up, which he grabbed gratefully. He brushed himself off before looking around to the group of people with a raised brow. "Anything particularly happen while I was indisposed?"
"Just High-and-Mighty here spinning tall tales…" Kagome mumbled.
"Tales? Have you talked to her about…?" Miroku asked, turning to Sesshoumaru who nodded.
"Multiple times. However, she seems to think we are lying to her."
"This can't be…" Miroku said, still nursing his head absently. "What about Kaede? Wasn't she the one who was supposed to be training her in the first place?"
At that, Kagome looked at them skeptically. "How do you know about Kaede?"
"Is she available? If she is down here, then she can aid us in clearing this whole matter up."
The woman stared at Miroku for a few moments, then shook her head. "Not anymore. She died when I was really young. Myoga-san took care of me after she passed…"
"Ah…then perhaps we can speak with this Myoga?" Miroku asked.
She spared him a glance, then looked to Sesshoumaru before sighing heavily. "If I take you to see him, will you all finally leave?"
At that, Miroku gave her a faint grin. "I promise, my lady. If Myoga doesn't know of the circumstances, we will provide ample financial compensation for the trouble we've caused you tonight before we leave."
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"Explain to me why you informed the girl that we would leave her inside of this wretched place." Sesshoumaru commanded low under breath so both women would not hear as they climbed the steps, led by Kagome. "I do not have the option to refuse my father."
"I have faith that he knows what's going on," Miroku replied, under the same tone. "If you want to get technical, Your Highness, I did not say we would leave her here when we are on our way out. If push comes to shove, we can restrain her and take her with us." He held up his arms defensively at the other man's angry stare. "All I am suggesting is a Plan B. As I said, I'm sure this guy will vouch for us."
"For your sake, you should hope you are correct." He didn't give Miroku any other warning, as they had reached the door at the top of the steps. Kagome turned to them, her hand on the doorknob.
"He's been sick lately, so I'd appreciate him if you didn't badger him." She then turned a fierce scowl to Sesshoumaru. "Or verbally abuse him to boost your ego."
The prince just stared at her, obviously pretending she did not say anything to him.
Kagome rolled her eyes and cracked open the door. "Myoga-san? Some…guests want to talk with you."
"Who is it, Kagome?" Myoga asked, eyes taking in the three males that entered the room.
"They claim they're from the Western Lands, and that I'm supposed to be marrying…" she pointed to Sesshoumaru. "This guy."
Myoga looked at the other man, eyes widening slightly. "You're the king of the Western Lands?"
Sesshoumaru stared calmly at him before inclining his head in the slightest of increments. "I will be king within two months. My father wishes for me to get settled in before he dies."
Kagome drew her brows together in confusion as she looked between the two. "What's going on? Don't tell me, Myoga-san, that you actually believe these guys!"
"Well…" Myoga cleared his throat. "They are telling the truth."
The woman glared at Sesshoumaru's quiet "hmph" and Miroku's slight nod before returning her attention to the man on the bed. "What? This is ridiculous! I am not a princess!"
"You were brought here by Kaede-sama when you were an infant, figuring a tavern in the east would be the safest place for you to go into hiding."
Kagome sank on the bed, shaking her head in bewilderment. "Hiding from what?"
"Your family--your real family--was unfortunately involved in an accident. Both king and queen were murdered, but the Counsel managed to save the daughter. It was decided by them that the heir of the current king would marry the child--you--when he took the throne. Kaede was given care of you for until then, but as you know…"
Sango gasped as Kagome looked down at the comforter of the bed, taking all of the information in. Sesshoumaru watched her for a moment, before focusing on Myoga, turning a harsh scowl to the man.
"She was to be brought up as a princess, not a tavern wench."
The old man unconsciously backed himself into the headboard from the other man's expression. "Kaede passed away before she could begin her training. I had no idea that she was able to get into contact with your royal palace and give anyone this location. After she died, I had to raise her myself. Kagome is like a daughter to me."
"Why…" Kagome spoke up. "Was I not told about this sooner, Myoga-san?"
His shoulders slumped slightly. "I didn't know how to bring it up. Besides, I didn't think that they would actually come here."
"She will be accompanying us to the royal palace immediately," Sesshoumaru began.
"What? Wait! I never said I was going--!" Kagome interjected. However, Sesshoumaru had no intention of stopping his speech.
"--Where she will be properly prepared for the ceremony--"
"I never agreed to marry you--"
"--And instructed upon how to behave as royalty properly--"
"Stop trying to decide everything, you big dolt!"
"I suggest you pack your luggage for the journey ahead," he ended, giving her a piercing stare.
Her anger flared up, and she was about to tell him just where he could shove her luggage before Sango ran up and grabbed her hand. "I'll help you, Kagome-chan." She was dragged of the bed and towards her room, all the while thinking--
'What the hell did I do to deserve this?'
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Author's Note: Hmm…not to big on that ending, or the fact that it's only about 11 pages, but I needed to wrap it up for the next chapter's events.
Not a whole lot going on in this one, rather just setting things up for the next chapter as well as giving some more information about the whole situation in the past. Next one, is the chapter where they begin their trek back to the Western Lands…think Kagome can handle the arrogant prince for that long? Hehe…we'll see.
I just want to thank all of you guys who read as well as those who review. You guys sparked my drive into writing these chapters for this story so freaking fast (or…fast for me...hehe). Your reviews make me smile inside.
Alrighty…I'll see you all next week with the update! (Or sooner, if my motivation fires up again.)
ACP
