The Oracle's Heir

"Hi!" he said cheerfully, "I'm Kazuki! What's your name?"

Amaya stared at the boy in shock. How bold he was!

Kazuki dropped Amaya's silver hair back in place and stood before her, chest puffed out and hands on his hips.

"Well," he said, the perfect copy of Kichiro, "Aren't you going to introduce yourself? You're going to be quite a boring wife apparently."

Her pride stung, Amaya brushed her hair from her eyes and stood, mimicking the boy demon's stance.

"I'm Amaya," she stated proudly.

The boy snickered at this and Amaya felt even more hurt.

"Amaya? What a meaningless name that is! I, as your future husband shall give you a new name, a more royal name."

Now Amaya was furious, she ran up to Kazuki and screamed in his face,

"You will not call me anything else you horrible…. horrible…meanie!" She slapped him across the face, "You're even worse than Kichiro!"

Now it was the heir's turn to be shocked. He stared and stared at Amaya, his cheek red from the hit. He put his hand up to his face, feeling it sting. Despite what had just happened, he did not shout back or ball up his fists with anger. He said calmly, his head hung in shame.

"Woah, you hit good…for a girl."

Meanwhile…

The rain was slowly stopping as the sunset and stars appeared in the sky above the travelers.

"When are we going to stop?" Shippou whined as he walked slowly beside Kagome. He was almost as tall as Kagome now at 14 years old.

"Just a little longer," Kagome said soothingly. She knew they would have to stop soon, but she wanted walk all night, in order to find her daughter.

"Oh look!" Sango called, pointing up into the dark sky. Kirara flew over the treetops and landed softly beside her master. Sango wrapped her arms around Kirara and scratched her ears.

She called up to Inuyasha, "Inuyasha? Can we stop now, Kirara is exhausted."

Inuyasha dropped down from the trees and looked at Kagome longingly.

"I want to go on too," he said to Kagome and they held each other's hands as Miroku started a fire and Sango helped Shippou set up futons.

"We have to rest or we won't last long tomorrow," Kagome murmured to Inuyasha and he looked even more pained.

"What if we're going in the opposite direction? I don't have a clue where to look for them…I'm not any help to us."

"Don't worry Inuyasha!" Shippou said, his voice cracking, "Your nose has never failed us before!"

"Usually there's a scent to follow Shippou!" he retorted angrily.

Shippou turned away, his ears red with shame.

"Inuyasha, don't be so mean!" Kagome said, hiding her tears with annoyance.

"Whatever."

The next day the group set off early, Sango, Kagome and Shippo sitting on Kirara's back as she padded along. Inuyasha was still brooding about last night's row and Miroku was trying to console him.

While the men talked together, Sango and Kagome made women talk while Shippou daydreamed.

"When is the baby due?" Kagome asked tentatively.

Sango patted her round stomach lightly with her palm.

"The healer said he…or she rather, was due in 2 months, but babies are never on time, right?"

Kagome smiled weakly, "Right."

Kazuko, that was her new name. It was very similar to Kazuki's name, obviously and he had picked it out especially.

It was morning on her second day in the demon's underground world, though Amaya couldn't see the fresh due or feel the warm light.

"Lady Kazuko," the demon servants all called her now, it was strange. She was honored more than she had ever imagined. Demons bowed before her and mumbled her name, even more when she was with Kazuki.

Amaya loved the outdoors and missed it, but her new identity, Kazuko must not think about the light, for it could not compare to her. Amaya missed her father and mother deeply, but Kazuko had no mother and father but the jewels of the earth.

Amaya was given new clothes to wear, (the kimono her mother had lovingly made was torn to shreds) a white kimono like Kazuki's patterned with silver brocade. Everyday her hair was brushed slowly and smoothly by her own maid and swept up with a flowered comb. Living underground, in this strange world now would seem like a luxury to some, but not Amaya.

"Kazuko! My dear Kazuko!" Kazuki would call from down the hall where his chambers were and Amaya would patter down to see him and carry out his every whim. She was a maid with a maid.

And once again he called, just then.

"Kazuko! My dear Kazuko! I wish to speak with you!"

Amaya put down the doll she had been playing with and followed the straight and narrow hallway to Kazuki's room. He sat on a crude wooden stool with his back to her, fiddling with something.

"Yes Kazuki? What do you want?" Amaya asked, trying not to sound annoyed.

Kazuki spun around and held a flute in his hands. It was delicately made of pale birch wood and about a foot long.

"I want you to learn how to play the flute Kazuko. It is a favor from me to you. I am told playing an instrument is healing for your soul. You can imitate the bird songs you always talk about."

Amaya was genuinely pleased with this offering. Playing the flute would be nice, and it would occupy her time, for now.

"Thank you Kazuki, you are most generous and thoughtful."

Kazuki handed his fiancée the flute and patted her on the head lightly, like one might do to a real dog and said that it was nothing. But really, it was.

Translation Note: Kazuko means "pleasant child", the same as one of the meanings of Kazuki.

Author's Note: Sorry that this chapter is so late. I've been busy with school, but that's not excuse! Thanks for reading.