Chapter 4: Garden of sweet words
Kagome had moved into the kings palace and her room was only a few feet away from hers. This kind of made Kagome uncomfortable about sleeping but she brushed it off. Her life seemed to get more complicated by the day, there was been a court meeting in a short while and Kagome was afraid of what it would be about. Arriving at the queens hall, Kagome sighed when she saw she was the last to arrive. She found her friends and stood next to them.
"We are all here, now we can begin."
The queen walked to the front of the room and sat in a chair up on a higher platform. She was slim with short black hair.
"The reason I called you all here is, the king is concerned, and frankly I am as well. There has been no attempt to produce a heir."
The queen glanced at Kagome and she froze.
'She knows.'
"There is only one person in this room who has that specific job and yet has failed to even tried to fulfill her duty."
At this point, the queens eyes were fixed on Kagome, she tried to look away but found it hard to do. Feel bad? Kind of, the queen was probably mad at her.
"I would like the one who is responsible to stay, the rest of you may leave."
Kagome gulped and nodded as her friends wished her luck. She walked up to the queen and bowed.
"Your highness."
"Why did you refuse him, your king."
"I-I don't believe I should lay with a man I do not love."
"It is your duty to the king!"
"B-but-"
"You shall obey, or be banished."
Kagome found herself speechless. She felt tears build, what could she say. She couldn't go against the queen and she knew it, but she didn't want to lay with the king. He wasn't even nice for Kami's sake! She only nodded and bowed once more before walking out.
"Kagome?"
She turned.
"It is for the best."
She half smiled and left without a word. Kagome quickened her pace until she was practically running. She ran to the gates that outlined the palace garden. She grasped it and let her tears fall. It wasn't fair, she had to give herself away for the good of the kingdom? No! That was outrageous! Wasn't it? She slowly fell to her knees and looked out at the miles of green grass. It seemed to never end, she couldn't tell where the land ended and the sky began.
"Madam? Are you alright?"
She sat up and turned her head. Over her shoulder she saw the tall silver haired figure they called the king. She turned back around and tried to wipe her tears away. She was stopped by his hand, he took her wrist and pulled her to her feet. He pulled a handkerchief out his pocket and wiped her tears.
"May I ask what has upset you so?"
Kagome was shocked, he was like a total different person. His eyes were so soft and he seemed really concerned.
"W-well…um I.."
Kagome felt the blush creep slowly across her face, she pulled her wrist from his grasped, but found her eyes locked with his.
"Go on, what happened?"
"Just a little family quarrel is all."
"What awful thing could someone have said to make you cry so?"
"O-oh it was nothing. Don't worry about it."
He smiled at her and stepped back.
"Ok then, if you are sure you are alright?"
"I am."
He smiled once more and walked towards the exit.
"Oh and Kagome?"
"Y-yes?"
He picked a Jasmine flower and tossed it to her.
"Smile."
She caught the flower and watched him leave. Stunned? Oh yes, to think he was the same man who had her beat. She smelled the flower in her hands and couldn't help the smile on her face from warping into a grin. Flower in hand, she walked to her room and placed it into a small vase and placed it next to her bed. She sighed and sat on her bed.
"I guess I have to do what I am told. Banishment? I cant deal with that, where would I go?"
"Kagome!"
She opened her door and saw the frantic Sango running towards her door.
"Sango, good heavens, what is wrong?"
Sango pushed Kagome into the room and closed the door.
"Something terrible has happened."
"What?"
"Kagome…its awful…"
Sango sat on Kagome's bed and sighed. She looked up at her friend.
"I am with child."
"W-what, but Sango isn't that good, I mean now I will not have to-"
"It is not the kings child."
Kagome's eyes widened and she looked at Sango in disbelief.
"But then who's is it?"
"Miroku's"
"Sango no, I told you to stop."
"Kagome, I am in love with him."
"Do you know what will happen to you?"
"Beheaded. What shall I do?"
"No, what shall we do?"
Kagome sat next to her friend.
"We are in this together. I shall think of something. Don't worry."
Kagome sighed and hugged Sango. What was she going to do? Sango and Miroku would be killed if she didn't think of something.
'What will we do? Hmph…..Ah!'
"Sango, call a private meeting with the king. Get Miroku into the throne room. I have an idea."
"Kagome, are you sure?"
"Trust me."
Sango nodded and did as Kagome asked. Moments later, Miroku and Sango stood before the king, but where was Kagome?
"Sango, you sure about this?"
"Kagome wouldn't let us down."
Meanwhile the king was getting restless.
"What is the meaning of this meeting?"
"W-well-"
"I apologize, for I am late your highness."
Kagome walked in and bowed before continuing.
"We have called this meeting to inform you on a important matter. Sango?"
Sango froze up but shook it off and stepped forward.
"I-I am with c-child my lord."
The king sat forward.
"Really? Has the doctor confirmed it?"
"Yes my lord."
"This is wonderful!"
"Your highness, there is more…..go on Sango?"
"The child is not yours my lord."
"W-what? Then who's?"
"W-well…"
"Mine."
Miroku stepped forward, beside Sango. The king stood.
"This is an outrage! Do you know the penalty for this? You two are to be beheaded!"
Sango grabbed onto Miroku's shirt.
"You highness, permission to speak?"
He nodded at Kagome.
"What happened is indeed awful and punishable by death, but have you no mercy?"
"Not in this matter."
"They are in love your highness. You of all people must understand that."
"I do, but this is a act against the kingdom."
"But your highness I-"
"I shall not yield!"
Kagome jumped at the tone of his voice. Sango tighten her grip and held back her tears. Kagome hung her head.
'Think! Think! Think god dammit! There has to be something…..'
She looked up and walked up to the throne and knelt before the king.
"Spare them, I beg you."
"My decision is final."
"Show them mercy….and I shall give…."
She took a deep breath and looked at him.
"I shall give myself to you, willingly. Producing a heir shall be my top priority. Just please, I beg you. Have mercy on them."
"Kagome…"
Sango stepped forward but Miroku pulled her back.
"Let her do as she wishes."
Inuyasha's questioning look faded and he met her gaze.
"So be it. Sango, you are free from court and your life shall be spared. Miroku you as well. You may go."
He stood and walked back into his chambers. Kagome remained kneeling for a while.
"Kagome…"
Sango walked up to her. Kagome stood and looked at her with a phony smile.
"See, I told you to trust me."
"Why did you do that?"
"Nothing would have been worse then him beheading the two of you. I did what I had to do."
Sango let her tears fall and hugged her friend.
"Thank you Kagome…..so much."
Later that day Kagome was in the garden once more. She brushed her finger tips over the flowers as she walked slowly through the paths, taking in all the wonderful colors and smells as she explored her surroundings. She came across the orchids and knelt in front of them. She breathed in deeply and smiled at the sweet scent.
"You seem to enjoy orchids."
She tensed up at the voice behind her.
"Yes, they are my favorite. Along with jasmine of course."
"I think I enjoy the daisies."
"Yes I agree. They are so small and yet hold so much beauty."
Kagome stood and walked to the sunflowers.
"Sunflowers. They are so magnificent to the eyes that they do not need to hold a scent."
She smiled and turned to him.
"I thank you again, for sparing my friends."
He only nodded, Kagome turned away from him and looked at the daisies.
"You know, every flower has a meaning?"
"Yes, but I do not know them all."
Kagome smiled.
"May I tell you?"
"Enlighten me."
"Well, your favorite, daisies, mean innocence. Orchids,
they mean delicate beauty."
She walked and at every flower she passed she said the meaning of, Inuyasha followed her.
"Pansies mean loving thoughts. Sweet peas mean shyness. Oh tulips!"
She rushed to them.
"Different colors mean different things. Like the pink ones mean caring, purple means royalty, white is forgiveness and red is a declaration of love."
"What about roses?"
Kagome smiled and knelt in front of the roses.
"Let me see, pink means friendship, yellow is jealousy, white is purity, and red is love. Red and white.."
Kagome plucked a red and a white rose from the group and twisted them, so that the stems were tangled together.
"Those together mean unity."
Inuyasha took the flowers from her, but no before brushing against her hand, causing her face to turn slightly red.
"Unity huh? Hmm, sunflowers mean admiration right?"
"Uh-huh. Oh the forget me knots, I always loved these. To never be forgotten, that must be wonderful. For someone to love you so much that they never want to forget you."
She sighed and closed her eyes as she thought of the idea. When she opened her eyes, Inuyasha was in front of her. He took her hand and smiled.
"I am sure there is someone who never wants to forget you, how could they ever want to forget such beauty."
Kagome was red as the rose in his hand.
"I-I…."
Inuyasha leaned in slightly and Kagome's heart was pounding.
"Uh…umm…l-look carnations."
Kagome pulled away and ran past him.
"A-are they not lovely? Yellow is cheerful, pink is gratitude, w-white is-"
"What dose a buttercup mean?"
"B-buttercup…..um childishness."
"Ha-ha yes. What about gloxinia?"
"Um, l-love at first sight."
"And gardenia?"
"Umm I don't think I know that one."
He took her hand and placed a gardenia bud in her hand.
"It means secret love."
She looked up at him, he winked and walked away from her. Kagome found herself frozen with a gardenia in her hand, it hadn't fully bloomed.
"Secret love…. That has not fully blossomed?"
She tried to fight the smile that was forming, but it over came her. She smelled it.
"Not blossomed and yet it smells so sweet."
A/N: Ok sry its rly late…this is my sisters cp and she is addicted to the website so I didn't get a chance to get on until today. Anyway, hope you liked it, tried to show a nicer side to Inuyasha. ^.~* If it is short i am sooo sorry!!!