I walked slowly into the medicine hall, my back burning and throbbing at the same time. 'What did he do to me? Why is it so painful!' I winced as I leaned my shoulder against the door frame, breath shuddering as I realized one thing; he must have poisoned me!

Limping forward again, I called out with a raspy voice, "M-medic…" I slumped onto a futon face first, my forehead became slick with sweat, and after a few minutes of waiting a monk ran forward, "Princess Kagome!"

I looked up at him with clouded eyes, and I leaned my head back down, barely motioning with my right hands towards my back. "A… Attacked…"

The monk quickly pulled the remaining cloth off of my back, keeping it wrapped around my legs and waist to preserve some dignity. "What happened to you, Princess?" He prodded at the cuts lightly with his fingers, trying to figure out how to cure them.

I shook my head, my tongue starting to grow thick in my mouth. "P-Poison."

The monk assessed the wounds for a moment, and then leapt up, running to a medicine chest, throwing open top. "Poison! I'll give you a medicine that cures all. Don't worry Lady Kagome!" I didn't reply as my vision start to swim, and quickly shut my eyes. I could hear the monk calling for Kaede and for another monk, foot steps beating into the room as I finally passed out.

xxxxx

"…Will she make it…?" Emperor Takashi asked quietly.

"I do not know, milord, but the poison appears to be dissipating. But…" The monk stopped.

"But?"

"She will have scars."

xxxxx

I woke up about a day and a half later, my body plastered with sweat and I had a strange, sour taste in my mouth. I sat up slowly, the thick coverlet falling from my form. I had a large mass of bandages wrapped my torso. 'Kami.' So much for my wounds, were they really that bad?

I reached up with my arm to lightly rub my cheek, peering around the gloomy room. It was a few hours before dawn, and the room had a sleepy feeling to it. I stood slowly, my back throbbing dully. I was almost nude, and after a moment I looked around. I saw a silk dressing robe and slowly pulled it on. I felt horrible, and my entire body felt sore, as if I had gone through a week of intense military training. Pulling the screen to the side with one hand, for I found that if I tried to use both of my arms at the same time, it would send intense shooting pains down my back. I stepped out into the cold night, I let a breath go.

This past week and a half was a blur of emotions and pain. Rubbing my face with my left hand, I stared down at my bare feet. I needed to thank Sesshomaru, with complete sincerity, but I also needed to talk to Father… Frowning, I looked up, startled to see the two who I had been thinking of sitting on a stone bench in the gardens in front of me. Neither seemed to notice, or pay any attention to me, which I was half grateful for.

I slowly moved forward, taking a minute to step down off of the wood decking that went along the inside of the courtyard. "Good evening, Father, Lord Sesshomaru."

The two men stopped their conversation abruptly, turning towards me. Sesshomaru seemed more surprised then ever; apparently he hadn't expected to see such tanned skin, or I was completely appalling. "Good evening, Princess Kagome."

Father nodded in my direction, a serious look on his face. "Kagome, is it true that you were attacked?"

I nodded, wincing as the movement tugged on the healing skin of my back. "Yes, it is, unfortunately."

Father frowned, his hand going up to rub his graying temple. "Lord Sesshomaru says he does not know who the attacker was, and would like to express his apologies for not getting there sooner." I felt a blush rise to my cheeks at this statement, looking to Sesshomaru.

I quickly shook my head, holding back the wince as it hurt my back. "No, no! Please, Lord Sesshomaru, if you hadn't gotten there when you did, I would have been in an even worse condition. Thank you." I bowed fully this time, my dark hair trailing over my shoulder and towards the ground, my hands on my thighs. As I stood, I could see a twinkle of amusement in Sesshomaru's normally listless eyes, and it made me happy on the inside. Oddly, my back did not hurt.

Father watched the interaction between us, as if gauging what his next mode of conduct should be. 'Hem'ing, softly, Father brought a hand up, placing it on my arm. "Kagome, I am glad you are safe."

I was a bit shocked at the emotion in Father's voice, and nodded slowly. "Father… I… Well, it will be hard for me to say."

Father frowned once again, his handsome features turning downward. "What is it, Kagome?" His hand dropped from my shoulder, and I saw him retract behind a courtesan's mask.

"The person who attacked me was… Was…" I took a breath, taking strength from Sesshomaru's nearness. "It was Naraku." Silence greeted me after I made this confession. I was worried that I had caused father a heart attack, or something along those lines, and when I looked up at his face, all I could see was anger. That worried me. I had closed my eyes to gather my courage, and after a moment I opened them, peering at Father

Father was scowling, and a hand went up, slapping me thoroughly across the face. "Stupid girl! You know that could never be true! Naraku has been here for longer then you!"

I felt my eyes burn with suppressed tears, and I covered my reddening cheek with my left hand. I heard Father get up and leave in one angry movement. Silence stayed in the void where Father stood, and I didn't dare look at Sesshomaru. Swirling in my own unhappiness, I was surprised when I felt a heavy, clawed hand get placed on my arm. "Lady Kagome, please, have a seat."

I sat down, my head facing away from Sesshomaru, the godly yokai. "I'm… I'm sorry you had to see that, Father… Father doesn't feel sympathy towards me." 'Might as well say it bluntly.' I thought.

"Lady Kagome." I felt a clawed hand tilt my head gently up, and towards Sesshomaru's face. "You do not need to feel shame; it is not your fault that your Father cannot see value in you."

I blushed delicately, "thank you, again, Lord Sesshomaru. That means a lot, especially coming from you." I blushed even deeper as I realized I had conveyed some of my feelings towards this omnipotent being, and I watched as a curious look came to his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

I shook my head quickly, attempting to make an excuse or change the subject. "Thank you Lord Sesshomaru!" I stood, and quickly turned to run back to the medic hall, not looking back at his single, lonely figure.

xxxxx

In the next few days my recovery went smoothly. Feeling slowly returning to my back, but I soon found out that my body would be permanently marred from Naraku's encounter. I had five evenly spaced but differently sized scars that had a purple tinge to them running down my back. To top my predicament off, I had to endure standing next to the vile creature for an entire ceremony on the eve of Sesshomaru's departure, my heart aching with sadness and rage at the same time. Sad to see the amazing yokai lord to go, and anger towards the one who had stolen my precious time with him.

Sesshomaru and InuYasha would not leave until the next day, and I was hopping to catch one last glance of the brothers before the morning. But the entire day after their ceremony, they spent rounding up Father's troops, putting them in line, and supplying them for the long journey ahead.

I watched solemnly as oxen were loaded with supplies, pulling a large cart behind them full of blankets, extra armor, food, and other miscellaneous things. I sat with my head in my hand, still pained from my back every now and then, but my heart ached incomparably.

After an hour of waiting with no sighting of Sesshomaru, I got up, heading towards the main household. I needed to speak with Father, and try to convince him that Naraku was the one who attacked me, and that I was not making it up. I stopped in front of Father's private chambers, about to knock on the wooden doors, but I saw they were slightly open. I took the chance to sneak towards them, listening for the conversation inside.

"…Kagome accuses you of attacking her, Naraku." Came the happy, slightly drunk voice of Father.

"Nay, that is not true sire. You know I would never attack Princess Kagome." Came the soft, hissing voice of Naraku.

I heard the clink of sake cups, as the two men took another sip of the fermented rice.

Father laughed jovially, "I know I know! She is the younger twin and all, so I would expect something like this from her!"

Naraku agreed whole heartedly, tipping another cupful of sake into Father's cup. "Yes, yes, that's true. She is becoming a danger to herself… And Kikyo."

Father's laughter stopped short, and his voice became harsh. "Kikyo? Have you Seen it?"

Naraku nodded, from what I could tell of the clinking of his many adornments. "Yes… She will interfere with the Domain's future!" Naraku filled Father's cup once again, Father taking the cup down in one gulp.

"That! That must be st-shtopped!" Father was becoming even more drunk now, his voice slurred and not nearly as alert as it normally was. "That daughter of mine will never interfere with Kikyo!"

"I know sire, so that is why I have created a Proclamation, saying that she will be sent to the farthest reaches of the Domain, along the northern border." Naraku seemed rather pleased with himself.

Father nodded sluggishly, his hand waving the sake cup around. "Good good! Le… Let me sign it!" He clumsily reached for a brush and blue ink, Naraku helping him as Father nearly spilled the bottle full of ink on the hatami mats below. Blue ink could only be used by the Emperor- it was a sign of his royal blood.

Naraku unrolled a small parchment, made of the creamiest paper, with a large, golden circle for where Father's seal will go. "Here, sire." Naraku's pale hand went up, helping to grip the calligraphy brush to sign Father's name.

Father nodded, his eyes closing for a moment as if he had dozed off, but was suddenly alert, holding the golden medallion around his neck. "G… G… Get the wax… Naraku." Naraku obliged, pouring the hot wax into the golden circle, which Father then pressed his emblem into.

I took a step back from the door, my hands over my mouth. Father had signed me away, signed me to the Northern Border! I must get out of here! I turned, running quickly towards the servant's quarters and Kaede's room, bumping into a large influx of soldiers and monks, all of whom begged my pardon and got out of my way.

"Kaede! Kaede! KAEDE!" I shouted out my old nanny's name, practically running through the paper screen to her room, the old woman opening it quickly.

"What is ye problem, child?" She asked as I slumped onto the floor, gasping for breath.

"Father!… Signed!… Northern Border!" I wheezed out these few words, burying my face into my arms.

"What? Explain what ye mean." Kaede kneeled down next to me, placing a hand on my shoulder, helping me sit back up.

"Father signed a paper saying I was to be banished to the Northern Border!" I said in a whisper.

"Are ye sure?" Kaede asked solemnly, her single eye staring at me with intense purpose. "For if this is true… That means that Naraku's influence is more then we thought." Her wise gaze seemed to be calculating something, as if she already knew an answer to my problem.

I nodded quickly, "I heard them! I heard the entire conversation! Naraku got Father drunk… And… And produced this scroll and Father signed it without hesitation!" I felt tears well up in my eyes when I realized again the severity of Father's factions.

Kaede frowned, nodding slowly; she turned back to a pot of soup she had boiling over a fire pit. "I see… Kagome, do you know when you will be sent off?"

I nodded quickly, scrambling forward on my hands and knees to get closer to her. "Y-yes! Tomorrow, after Lord Sesshomaru and InuYasha leave!"

My old nanny nodded again, taking the ladle from the pot up to taste the soup. "You cannot stay here then."

My heart stopped. "What?"

"You cannot stay here." Kaede repeatedly softly, standing with a groan as she moved over to a small, locked chest.

"But… Where will I go! I have no money what-so-ever, and… And I don't want to leave you!"

Kaede listened to my objections, opening the chest with a copper key she had around her neck. "I understand what ye are saying, Kagome, and I have thought something like this would happen, so…" She produced from inside the chest a small pouch and a large traveling bag. "Here are two gold crowns and a few copper pieces. That should give you enough to live on for awhile."

I watched, mesmerized, as Kaede handed me the tiny leather pouch. "But what am I to wear, where am I to go?"

Kaede gave a grim smile, and opened the bag. She pulled out a garment. A soldier's uniform. "You will go where they least expect; into the army."

I stopped, and nearly laughed. "Kaede! You can't be serious! If they find out I'm a woman, I'll be killed… Or… Or violated in some way!" I started to refuse the armor, but she quickly pushed it on me.

Kaede looked at me, her brown eye melancholy. "Aye, I know child. But where else have ye to go?"

I opened my mouth to reply, but I closed it realizing I didn't know. I didn't have anywhere to go; all I knew of was inside this Palace. "No where…"

Kaede nodded, and helped me stand. "I shall put some salve for ye's back wound in the pack, but you should be prepared to strike out, and leave with the soldier's tomorrow morning, when Lord Sesshomaru leaves." My heart skipped a beat when she said the yokai lord's name, but I pushed that feeling aside.

I nodded slowly, gripping the two bags to my chest. "Thank you, Kaede. I know you are looking out for my well being."

Kaede nodded, a small smile coming from her face. "I am sorry it had to come to this, Kagome, but you will get through it." She reached forward to hug me, and after a moment we parted.

I nodded again, my head staring at the wrinkly face of Kaede. I would miss her, Izo, even Kikyo… But I had to do this; I had to get out of here. "Okay." I felt strong again, a feeling I hadn't had in days. "I will leave before dawn, so that the maids will think I'm still sleeping when I don't reply to their calls."

Kaede placed a calloused hand on my arm. "You know archery, and some hand combat. You will be fine, Kagome." I gave a tiny smile, but it felt cracked and useless. I could only hope that I was able to get through this nightmare.