Kagome awoke in the morning uncomfortably warm. Upon cracking open her eye all she could see was silver. Sitting up, she felt something drop to rest on her waist and when she looked down, she saw that it was an arm. Gasping, she brought her hand up to cover her mouth while she looked to see whose arm it was and Kagome had to bite her lip to stop herself from screaming. Inuyasha was in the bed with her, his arm wrapped around her waist and his face buried in the pillow.
"Um Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered poking his arm only for the arm that was wrapped around her waist to tighten, pulling her closer.
"Inuyasha." Kagome whispered again trying to get out of the bed only for Inuyasha to roll over pinning Kagome under him as he buried his face into her neck. He then heaved a deep sigh and began to lightly snore again.
"Well, this is fun." Kagome muttered looking over his shoulder at the way the light bounced off his silvery hair.
"Don't make me get up," Inuyasha muttered into Kagome's neck making her giggle because it tickled. "The chicken keeps looking at me." He muttered again, still sleeping.
"INU- oh!" Sango stopped at the opening of the tent looking at the sight that was on the bed.
"Morning," She raised an eyebrow at Kagome who was slightly red
"Morning." Kagome muttered back giving a slight wave.
"Is he sleeping still?" Sango jutted out a hip to place her hand upon it.
"Yeah, he's heavy." Kagome tried to get up again and almost made it off the bed before Inuyasha grabbed hold of her again and dragged her back, pulling her close and burying his nose in her hair.
"Oh ya dumb mutt!" Koga shouted at he stomped into the tent and he too stopped next to Sango but the damage was done. Inuyasha's head jerked back as he woke up and locked eyes with Kagome, who he realized was under him, her face slightly red.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" Inuyasha jumped up from the bed and backed as far away from Kagome as he could.
"I think it should be more like what are you doing Inuyasha," Sango laughed.
"What do you mean?" Inuyasha spun around to look at her.
"Well, you were on top of her weren't you" Koga sniggered while Kagome yanked the covers over her suddenly realizing that her nightdress was thin.
"Shut up and get out!" Inuyasha snarled as he pushed them to the opening of the tent and shoved them out before spinning around and glaring at Kagome, who kept her eyes fixed downward.
"Get dressed and we can go." Inuyasha muttered before stomping over to his bed and pulling his shirt over his head.
Kagome climbed into the carriage refusing to look at Inuyasha, who was looking out the window.
"Morning," Rin greeted and with a smile.
"Morning." Kagome bobbed her head at the smiling girl
"Did you have a vision last night?" Rin asked moving over so Kagome could sit there.
"Oh, yeah I forgot about that." Kagome blushed looking at her hands that were folded in her lap.
"So you did have a vision I knew it!" Rin exclaimed as she punched the air.
"What did you see?" Inuyasha asked leaning forward and staring at her.
"You drank tea and died." Kagome said blankly.
"I die because I drank some tea?" Inuyasha leaned back scoffing.
"You were on the floor, everyone was gathered around you and you were dead, there was blood everywhere, and Rin said that you had drunk some tea I'd left," Kagome said
"So you kill me?" Inuyasha snapped.
"No, I don't have any tea, the only tea I have is still in the temple," Kagome snapped back.
"Don't fight," Rin said, holding her arms out and glaring at Inuyasha.
"Listen to Rin you two," Sango stuck her head through the window. "We've got a long way to go and I don't want to have to break you two up and send you for time outs." She pulled her head out and they were off again.
Two days later the carriage rolled through the great gates that were in front of Naraku's castle.
"Be on your guard," Inuyasha muttered to the girls who were sitting with him. "We don't know what's going to happen so don't let anything slip and we should be okay."
"Right" Both Rin and Kagome said.
They stopped and Sango moved forwards to open the door for Inuyasha, now he would have to act like a real prince. Once Inuyasha was out Miroku stepped forward to help Kagome and Rin. They stood around the carriage waiting for someone but they didn't have to wait long. A short woman who wore a white dress and had white hair walked up and stopped.
"You are prince Inuyasha?" She asked, her voice quiet.
"Yeah, do we follow you?" He stepped forwards.
"Yes, I'll take you to the prince, the rest follow Kagura and she will show you the rooms." She turned around and began to walk back into the palace leaving the small group.
"I'm going with you Inuyasha," Sango muttered looking around them.
"Okay. Miroku, you stick with Rin and visions girl," Inuyasha muttered as he and Sango walked through the door leaving Kagome, Rin, Ayame, Koga, and Miroku standing by the carriage.
"What do we do now?" Rin asked turning to look at the monk.
"You follow me." A new voice said from behind Rin, making the young girl jump.
"Who are you?" Koga asked pulling Ayame behind him.
"I am Kagura, mistress of the wind. Prince Naraku," she sneered his name, "Has asked me to show you to your rooms, while he talks to your prince." She turned round and began to walk back into the palace.
"Then let's go," Miroku said before following the strange woman the rest of them trailing behind him, the girls between him and Koga.
"Okay." Kagura said suddenly stopping and turned to look at them "Wolf boy, you're in that room with the other boy. The prince has his own room while the two black haired girls are in that one and the red head and the other girl who went with your prince are in the room next to them." She turned around again and stalked off; as if she was cross that she'd had to show them.
"Do you think we should stay like that?" Rin asked looking at Miroku.
"I don't know, we'll wait for Sango and Inuyasha to come back and see what they say. I don't like us being separate but there's nothing we can do about that one." Miroku sighed running a hand through his hair.
"Shall we wait in Inuyasha's room for him to come back then?" Koga asked wrapping his arms around Ayame's waist.
"Yeah, that's the best place we can be until they come back, what do you think they're talking about?" Rin asked pushing the door of Inuyasha's room open.
"No idea, we'll ask when we see them." Kagome smiled following the others into the room, sitting on the bed next to Rin she looked around. The room was huge. The bed was up against one wall. The walls were a pale gold as were the bed covers.
"It's very… gold" Ayame muttered a smile creeping on her face.
"Yeah, wonder what our rooms are like," Rin laughed looking at Kagome.
"Do you think all the rooms are gold or if they have different colours?" Koga asked leaning back against the wall.
"You'll find out." Inuyasha's voice cut through the silence making them all jump
"You're back? What did he want?" Miroku asked standing up from the chair he'd been seated in.
"Nothing much," Sango said walking around Inuyasha and sitting on the bed between Kagome and Rin. "He just wanted to welcome us and tell us that there would be a ball tomorrow evening to celebrate our arrival. Oh, and we're to eat with him and his sister tonight so Inuyasha can get to know the sister." Sango sighed. "What are the sleeping arrangements?"
"Koga and Miroku are meant to share while I'm sharing with you. Kagome and Rin are together, Inuyasha's on his own." Ayame said.
"I don't like that, Inuyasha shouldn't be on his own, but then again, we can't all be in one room. I don't think the girls should all be on their own. New sleeping things, Koga, you and Ayame share, Monk, you're with me. Inuyasha you're on your own. Kagome you're sharing with Rin. Any problems?" Sango stood up, her amour making a small noise as she moved.
"No, shall we go then?" Miroku stood up and headed towards the door followed by Sango leaving Kagome and the others in the room.
Kagome lay on top of the bed she would be using while they were staying at prince Naraku's palace.
"Do you think he will marry this princess?" Kagome asked, turning her head to look at Rin.
"Who knows. Inuyasha doesn't want to get married though, he thinks falling in love is a weakness and that it shouldn't happen to him," Rin replied putting the brush back on the table.
"He won't fall in love?" Kagome sat up.
"No, he once said he would rather die than fall in love." Rin sat next to her on the bed
"We should get ready for this dinner." Kagome stood up and went to find her dress.
"What do you think about Inuyasha?" Rin suddenly asked
"He's okay, a bit annoying but okay I suppose," Kagome muttered before turning to look at Rin "What is it with you and Sesshomaru?"
Rin went bright red "Well," she licked her lips before speaking again "I like him, everyone knows I like him and if you ask Sango she thinks he likes me but he won't do anything."
"Do you want me to try a near sight?" Kagome asked, taking hold of Rin's hands and looking into her eyes.
"What's a near sight?" Rin frowned.
"You know how priestesses can see the future; normally we can't control what we see we can only see when the great Goddess gives us a vision. However, we can do personal visions for people. The only people we can't do them for is ourselves and other priestesses." Kagome smiled.
"Does it hurt? You sounded like you were in pain when you had one on the way here."
"That one was painful, the ones about death are always painful but otherwise it's not. Do you want me to do one?" Kagome asked looking into the chocolate orbs that stared back at her.
"Yes," Rin whispered, Kagome lead her to the middle of the room and sat down, her legs crossed with Rin sat, likewise opposite her.
"I need you to put both of your hands on one of mine," Kagome said, holding out one hand while the other was curled up against her breast.
"Okay." Rin held out her hands and placed them on top of Kagome's outstretched one. Once both of her hands were touching Kagome's, she uncurled the hand that was on her breast and touching the little finger and thumb together, she pressed the other three fingers to the girl's forehead making a triangle. The skin in the triangle glowed blue as the visions slip into Kagome's head. These visions weren't as clear as the other visions. In the other visions, it was always like a clip of film, one thing that flowed at the same pace. With a near sight, bursts of different images flashed across her closed eyes. Finally, the brightness died down and Kagome saw the blackness of her closed eyes. Breathing out she opened her eyes and saw Rin's worried face looking at her.
"Are you okay?" Rin asked taking one of her hands from Kagome's and placing it on her forehead.
"Yeah I'm fine," Kagome smiled. "The thing you wish to come true the most will soon happen." Kagome watched as Rin broke into a grin
"Really? That's so good!" She squealed and jumped up, Kagome couldn't help but smile at the young girl's happiness. They froze when there was a knock on the door and Miroku poked his head in.
"You're not dressed yet? We have to go down soon." He looked at Kagome who still sat cross-legged on the floor.
"Do I want to know what happened?" he raised an eyebrow
"Kagome did a near sight on me!" Rin giggled making Miroku's other eyebrow go up
"A near sight?" He leaned against the door.
"A personal vision of what will happen to one person." Kagome explained as she stood up.
"Right, I'm going to send Sango in, she can help you and get you to hurry up." Miroku said over his shoulder as he walked off calling Sango's name.
"Rin, before Sango gets here I have a question, does Sango like Miroku?" Kagome asked looking at the girl.
"You noticed as well? Yeah, but she won't admit it. We think she secretly likes it when Miroku gropes her." Rin giggled at the look on Kagome's face.
"What's so funny?" Sango asked standing in the doorway
"Nothing really, just Kagome" Rin said, still giggling.
"Okay, hurry up, we've got to go down in a minute and you're still not dressed." Sango walked in and pulled Kagome's bag onto her bed to look inside.
"Rin you get dressed, I'll help Kagome then we have to go. You two should sit next to each other and look out for anything strange, something doesn't feel right about all this." Sango said pulling the red and white dress out of the bag.
Both girls joined the rest of the group before they went downstairs to eat.
"You okay?" Ayame asked Kagome, who was looking a bit pale.
"Yeah, just nervous," Kagome whispered back.
"Just don't be sick," Inuyasha muttered as Kagura walked up to them.
"Follow me," she turned around again and began to lead the way to the dining hall.
"You heard the lady, I want to eat." Koga said following her.
They walked for ages it seemed, but eventually they arrived at huge doors that must lead to the dining hall.
"It's just through there," Kagura said before she turned on her heal and left the small group
"Come on Inuyasha, I'm starving," Sango said giving him a slight push. She'd taken her armour off and was wearing the pink dress with the green belt that she'd been wearing when Kagome had first met her. She'd taken her hair out of the ponytail that it had been in while they'd travelled and it was lose save for a small section that was in a braid. Snorting, she gently pushed passed Inuyasha and gave a knock on the door before she pushed it open and moved to the side to let Inuyasha pass. The room was large, and like the room that Inuyasha was staying in, was light gold. A long table stood in the middle full of plates and food, with two people already seated there. One was a man with long black hair while the other was a girl with a sleek black bob.
"You've come," The man said, standing up.
"Yes, thank you prince Naraku," Inuyasha said as he reached the table and pulled out a seat.
"Like I said before Inuyasha, we do not need those formalities here, we can just use names. This is my sister Yura," He gestured to the girl who was still sitting.
"You know me and Sango my bodyguard. The wolf demon is Koga chief of guards, the other man is Miroku monk. The woman next to Koga is his mate, Ayame, and the girl standing next to Miroku is Rin. The other girl is-" Inuyasha turned to Kagome, a frown on his face.
"I'm Kagome priestess of the temple of Marzena," Kagome said.
"It is pleasant to meet you, sit so we can eat," Naraku said sitting down meaning for the others to do the same.
The boys held out the chairs for the girls to sit down in before they sat, even Inuyasha who did so for both Kagome and Rin.
"Did you have trouble getting here?" Naraku asked as they began to eat. Kagome felt like something was off about him, something that tickled the back of her mind but she couldn't for the life of her remember what it was.
"We had no problems traveling, it was pleasant." Sango said once she realized that Inuyasha had too much food in his mouth to answer.
"That is good to hear, I'm sure the rest of you have heard that there will be a ball tomorrow evening," Naraku smiled.
"Yes, we look forward to it. Prince Naraku, you seem familiar, have we met before?" Kagome asked a small frown on her face.
"I do my dear? I'm sure I've never met you before, I've never visited your temple," Naraku smiled. It made Kagome's skin crawl.
"I'm sure it's nothing." Kagome smiled, willing herself not to be sick.
Rin sat on her bed looking at Kagome after the meal. Kagome was sitting cross-legged on the floor, meditating.
"You okay?" Rin whispered.
"Yeah, it's just… something doesn't feel right." Kagome opened her eyes and sighed. "Maybe I'm just paranoid," she chuckled.
"Maybe, but, like Inuyasha said we should keep our guard up." Rin stood and began to undress, pulling her nightclothes out of her bag. She got changed into them and then crawled into bed watching Kagome, who was still on the floor.
"What's it like?" Rin asked suddenly.
"What's what like?" Kagome asked, tilting her head slightly to the side.
"Being a priestess. What's it like?" Rin leaned on her elbow.
"It's… I'm not sure. I started being a priestess when I was eight. I don't remember much before that so I don't know really how much different it is." Kagome groaned as she stood up.
"Well tell me about a normal day" Rin leaned back and lay down, looking up at the ceiling.
"Well. We'd wake up and if we weren't on kitchen duty we would go to the main hall and worship. If we were on kitchen duty then we would have to help cook all the food for the priestesses. Once that was done, we would meditate and teach the younger priestesses what to do when they have visions. After dinner we would help the people who came to the temple," Kagome said changing into her nightdress and climbed into bed as well.
"Sounds different," Rin said smiling.
"I guess it is," Kagome muttered.
"Night." Rin turned over, pulling the covers with her.
Kagome woke in the morning, her heart pounding from the nightmare. She couldn't remember what it had been about and that was what scared her more.
"You okay?" Sango asked from her spot on Rin's bed while Rin walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped round her.
"Bad dream that's all," Kagome gasped.
"Okay, we're allowed to explore the palace if we want. We were just waiting for you to wake up before we decided what to do."
"Well if you want to explore then I will go with you, I should know what the layout of the palace is so if I need to I can get out." Kagome threw the covers back and climbed out of the bed. Stretching, she hunted down her normal dress.
Once Rin and Kagome were dressed, the girls went and found Ayame before they looked around. The palace was huge and Kagome for some reason felt like she'd been there before.
"I think this is the library," Ayame said, pushing the door open and stepping in. This time she was right, and it only took twenty-four guesses.
"Such a lot of books," Kagome breathed. She loved reading.
"Are you ladies lost?" A voice asked, making them jump. Looking around Kagome saw a young man sitting in the corner, a stack of books next to him and one in his hands.
"No, we're allowed to explore we're just looking around," Sango said slightly defensively.
"Good, as long as you're not lost," He smiled and Kagome felt her knees go a bit soft. He was handsome, there was no denying that.
"Do you want me to show you somewhere?" He asked standing up and Kagome saw that his hair was long and in a braid down his back that swayed as he stood.
"Where were you thinking of?" Kagome asked
"The kitchens, if you're lucky you can steal some food without cook noticing." He smiled and Kagome nearly fell.
"Sure. What's your name?" Sango asked, a bit nicer this time.
"I'm Bankotsu, what are your names?" He asked while walking around the table to face them.
"I'm Sango; this is Rin, Ayame and Kagome." Sango said pointing to each girl in turn.
"Well, nice to meet you. If you'll follow me to the kitchens, seeing as there's a ball tonight there should be some good stuff about now." He strolled around them to the door and went through, leaving the girls in the library on their own.
"Well he's…" Sango muttered.
"Tell me about it," Rin sighed.
"Wow," Kagome breathed, it was only Ayame who wasn't affected by him, she had Koga and that was all she wanted.
"Listen, Kagome's the only one who can go after him so put your tongues back in your mouths." She giggled
"What do you mean?" Kagome spun to look at her.
"Well, Rin's got Sesshomaru when he gets it together, and as much as you want to deny it you've got Miroku, Sango. Kagome's the only one here who's on her own." Ayame said, her hands on her hips.
"Are you ladies coming?" Bankotsu asked sticking his head in to look at them.
"Yes, lead the way," Rin smiled and the girls followed him.
After Bankotsu showed them around, Kagome could be found in the room she was sharing with Rin looking at her formal dress. When she had met Inuyasha for the first time at the temple, she'd been so nervous about meeting him. She was also scared stiff that she would rip or stain her dress. Now she was going to have to go to a ball in it!
"You'll look great don't worry," Rin said, her head disappearing into her dress as she pulled it over her head.
"I'm not worried about that, I'm worried that I'll ruin my dress!" Kagome sighed and stood up to get said dress.
"If you do we'll just get you another one," Rin smiled as her head popped out her hair everywhere.
"Thanks," Kagome laughed.
Not long after they finished getting ready, there came a knock on the door.
"Is it okay if I come in?" Bankotsu asked from the other side of the door.
"Yeah, it's safe for you to come in," Rin called back as the door opened and Bankotsu stepped in.
"You both look beautiful my ladies," He said giving them a bow.
"Thank you." Rin giggled behind her hand while Kagome blushed and looked at the floor.
"I'm here to take Lady Kagome down, my brother Jakotsu will take you, Lady Rin." Bankotsu smiled and opened the door again so Rin could see the man that stood there. He was handsome but in a pretty kind of way. Bankotsu leaned in and whispered in Rin's ear.
"He's the most normal looking of my brothers so I thought he would be the best to take you." He leaned back and gave her a smile before going to take Kagome's arm. Linking it with his, he led her out of the room and down the stairs closely followed by Rin and Jakotsu.
"How many brothers do you have?" Kagome asked, looking around her as they walked.
"There are seven of us. We used to be known as the band of seven actually." Bankotsu laughed. "Me, Jakotsu, Renkotsu and Suikotsu are the most normal looking ones so we're the ones that will be at the ball, the other three are too scary for ladies like yourselves." He smiled at her and Kagome blushed. Just her luck, the first time out of the temple and she already had a crush!
"I don't know how to dance," Kagome muttered as they neared the ballroom.
"You don't? Just stick with me then and I'll help you." He turned to make sure that Jakotsu and Rin were still behind them before they stepped into the full ballroom. Kagome gasped at the sight, there were women wearing gowns of every colour under the sun, silks everywhere as if it didn't matter if they got stained. Most likely, it didn't to these women because they could just buy a new one.
"Do you want a drink first or to see your friends?" Bankotsu asked as they skirted the dance floor.
"We could get a drink on the way to see them," Kagome smiled back at him.
"Okay then," Bankotsu smiled and they went to the table that held the drinks. One close by had food on it. Once Kagome had a glass of something fizzy they went to join the group of people she'd come with. Inuyasha looked uncomfortable wearing the fancy clothes seeing as the clothes he normally wore were old and worn.
"You look nice Miss Kagome," Miroku smiled at her.
"Thanks Miroku, you do too," She smiled back and took a sip of her drink.
"She we dance?" Bankotsu asked once she had finished her glass and put it down.
"Sure, but I'm really not good at it," Kagome blushed thinking about the dance class she'd once been to while at the temple.
"It'll be fine!" Bankotsu laughed before he swept her onto the dance floor.
A while later, Kagome sat in one of the chairs in the corner of the ballroom watching as the couples spun and danced around her. How she would love to be like that. She had stood on Bankotsu's toes so much she was surprised he could still walk!
"Here, it's tea," Bankotsu said holding a small china cup that had wisps of steam rising out of it.
"Thank you," Kagome smiled taking the small cup and took a sip, almost spiting it back out.
"I should warn you, it's bitter." Bankotsu laughed as he took the seat next to her.
"It's awful," Kagome scowled.
"It'll help you, you will be in pain in the morning so this should help. If you want I can get you some honey to sweeten it." He stood up before Kagome could say anything else and went off, coming back a few moments later with a jar of honey in his hands and a spoon.
"Here you go." He said, poring some into the small cup and stirring it with the spoon. "Try it now."
Kagome lifted the cup to her lips and took another sip, expecting it to be as horrible as it had been before. But this time it was nice, slightly sweet but not overly so.
"Better?" Bankotsu asked, watching her.
"Yes." Kagome giggled taking a bigger sip and soon finishing the cup. She was so happy with what was happening to her she didn't notice the sickening feeling settle in her stomach from the tea that was as black as her hair.
thank you to my beta reader Ai2000