The PROBLEM
"You wanted to see me, Princess?" I entered Kikyou's room wearily. I know she's my half-sister and all, but she had this…aura about her.
"Please sit down, Kagome."
I did.
Kikyou spoke as she looked out the window, whimsically. See? This is the side of Kikyou she never lets anyone but her siblings see. Maybe if she wasn't a Princess people would like her better…
"I understand you have met some of the Princes."
I nodded then realized she wasn't looking at me. "Yes, Princess."
"Are they as conceited as I've heard?"
Ooh, she's got a sarcastic streak. "Some…mostly. There are few exceptions."
"Please go on."
How polite of her. "There is a nobleman's son…he isn't a prince but his mother was a princess. He is from the Hojo clan. I think his names was Akitoki…he's very kind. He plans to be a doctor. Then there is the Prince of Wolves. Kouga was his name. He is very…passionate."
"Oh?"
"Yes…when he wanted to dance he danced for hours. When he wanted someone's attention he vied for their envy." I knew it because he kept on following me around. I didn't think people could be so annoying, but there he was. "Then there are the two Princes of the Dog Clan. The older half-brother did not speak very much. Even Lady Kagura could not get him to say more than five words at a time."
I think Kikyou smiled. "Really now."
"Yes, but Inu—Prince Inuyasha is most talkative. He also likes apple juice. I think."
"Is he as violent as they say?"
"He is…changeable."
"Changeable?"
"Temperamental."
"Ah."
"Friendly, though."
"I see." She paused. "Did you mention Kagura was present?"
"Yes."
"Was her master there as well?"
Yeah right. "I'm afraid he was…delayed."
Another pause. "Of course. You may leave."
"Thank you Princess."
--
"Princess-hater?" Souta cried.
"I know!" I moaned. "He prefers servants over princesses!" Kaede stared at me oddly, which I didn't notice then.
"Was Kikyou interested in him?"
"Sort of. I'm pretty sure she was."
"What are we going to do?"
"I don't know. We have to keep him interested in Kikyou and vice versa."
"You shouldn't go see him."
"What?" Both Souta and I looked at Kaede.
"You said he preferred servants. He's going to prefer you more than Kikyou if you keep talking to him."
I frowned. "O…K…"
"Just hang around the balcony. Souta and I'll distract him with Kikyou's awards and paintings…"
Somehow I had a feeling this wasn't going to work.
--
It didn't.
I spent the good first part of the second day of the celebration running away from Kouga. What was it with princes and servants these days? I finally managed to get away from Kouga by pointing him over to the Princess of the White Mountain Wolf Tribes. I knew the green-eyed girl had a thing for him, so I said she wanted to speak to him about territorial disputes.
I'm so sneaky.
I went over to the balcony…and lo and behold, HE was there. No, not who you were thinking.
"Oh…you." I growled. "What are you doing here?"
Naraku sneered. "I may not have gotten an invitation but Kanna has."
"There's a reason why we invited your underlings and not you."
"Aren't you supposed to use my title, little girl?"
Little GIRL? "Oh, let me guess, your title as in ugly-squirrel-sucking-white-baboon-as—"
"I hope I am not interrupting."
The two of us whirled around to see…
"Prince Sesshomaru." Naraku bowed. "I am glad you are speaking again. I was worried after what I heard from yesterday."
"The day you were suspiciously absent, you mean."
"I had been…delayed." He sent an icy glare. "If you'll excuse me…" He left without another word. Sesshomaru looked at me, not quite interested but clearly bemused, and left as well.
"Yo."
The day was getting weirder and weirder. "Hello Lady Kagura."
"Someone's looking for you." She warned. She looked at me with those unnerving red eyes, as if what she said was supposed to have a second meaning, and left as strangely as rest of them had.
…bunch of weirdoes, really.
"Well if it isn't the little maid."
I snapped my attention to Inuyasha. It was bound to happen, honestly. "Was someone looking for me?"
Inuyasha blinked. "Actually, some bozo from the Hojo clan wanted to give you a rash ointment…"
I stared. "WHAT? Why?"
He shrugged. "I guess you must have a rash on your as—"
"LA, LA, LA, I've heard enough!"
"He, he, he," He sniggered. "You're popular with the princes. You must be experienced."
"Experienced?"
"Oh don't play around. You're the flirt extraordinaire. Every prince in there's talking about the servant."
"…" Oh. Hell. No. "WHAT?" Now everyone's going to think I'm some…servant-prince-player! NOOOOOO! No, no, no, this isn't happening, this is Kikyou's freakin' birthday bash!
"I said—"
"I heard you, I heard you!" I groaned. That was when I lost all feelings in my legs. I leaned on the ledge of the balcony for support. The castle servants didn't like me already. Now what are they going to think of me? They'll call me a slut. A sick little…GAH! This isn't happening!
"Are you OK?" Inuyasha leaned in to look at my face.
My mind was whirling. I couldn't think straight. Someone's looking for you. So Kagura did mean something else. Kaede was right to send me to the balcony. Wait…what if Naraku managed to get this piece of information? Oh crud! He'll TOTALLY use it against me!
"Hey," he poked my shoulder. "You look pale."
"I…" I inhaled. I exhaled. I inhaled. I exhaled. "…need…drink."
He frowned. "I'm not getting it for you."
"Right! Right, I'm the servant. I should go." I turned to leave—
"Wait."
I turned to Inuyasha just as he lifted my chin and gave me a very quick, very chaste peck on the cheek.
"You had something on you cheek," he said, and then left.
I stood there. And nearly fainted.
"Ka…gome?"
I whirled around and breathed a sigh of relief when it turned out to be Kohaku, Sango's little brother. He was dependable. "Kohaku, please promise you saw nothing."
He stared. "Uh…I don't think that's possible."
I felt my stomach drop. "Why?"
He pointed at something behind me.
I turned. Behind me two servant boys were spying on me with their friend Mr. Telescope from the servants' quarters.
My life was officially over.