Kagome was awake before anyone, including before the sun rose. Glancing behind her to see Leigha sleeping soundly, she carefully removed herself from the bed. Moving into her own room, Kagome changed out of her clothes and into a clean dark blue kimono with a black obi. Combing out her long hair she braided it and let it fall back down her back. Looking at her reflection she finally took notice of her appearance for the first time in decades. At first glance she looked the same, then with a closer eye, she saw all the scars. Kagome easily remembered where each one came from, battles, training, and torture were the methods. She was surly a cursed soul, she had lived in happiness since being found. Happiness she didn't deserve, but she had been selfish and latched onto it with both hands and still was hesitant to leave. However, she knew her time was running out. Leigha had been the one to draw her out of her shell and discover her true personality, she would always be thankful for that. Lord Drago had been a father where she had been without one since she was a small child, and Lady Nanao had been so kind to her as a mother figure. Koga, just thinking on the kind hearted yet determined wolf she had to smile, he had done so much for her self-esteem. He had rebuilt the confidence that she was attractive in some way, though she still thought he over exaggerated at times. All of them had built her up and brought her so far, now she was planning to leave them. 'Is this the right decision?' she thought looking at herself again.
Suddenly a loud snarl echoed throughout the castle, and an evilly wicked smirk enveloped Kagome's face. 'Success!' she thought as prepared herself for what may come. She knew Hiei wasn't stupid, so she had a feeling that he would quickly surmise that she was the mastermind. Then she would be in so much trouble! Hearing Leigha stir in the next room, Kagome went back in and saw that Leigha was rubbing her eyes but smiling as well.
"Sounds like you managed another win, do you think he knows?" she asked before yawning.
"Surely he does now after what he pulled, I no doubt gave it away with my timing." She replied while pulling out clothes for Leigha for the day. Thinking back on the surprise that Hiei had just enjoyed she chuckled.
"What's funny?" Leigha asked.
"I might have gone a little overboard with the amount of feathers."
"Nonsense! I think it was perfect, I mean once he walks into the honey we needed to ensure there were enough feathers to cover his entire body. No, we did good I'm sure." Leigha responded.
"Nevertheless, I think I better make myself scarce for a little while. He's going to be furious!"
"But then he will know for sure that it was you, I think you should come with me. Besides, Koga won't let him do anything to you." Hearing Kagome's snort she turned to look at her from her seat at the vanity.
"Please! Hiei's managed to get me alone three times now without Koga around."
"So, don't go anywhere without me or him there. Simple solution." Smiling at her friend Leigha saw Kagome's apprehension. Kagome had wanted to show Hiei that he was messing with the wrong woman, but she also knew that there would be repercussions to her actions.
"I don't think it will be that easy." she replied, portraying her distrust that it would work.
Surprisingly, Hiei hadn't been at breakfast. Though, Lord Youko kept glancing to Kagome with a smirk. She had no doubts they knew, it was just a matter of time before something came of it. Shippo had mentioned that Hiei wasn't present, stating that he had an emergency of a personal matter come up. Kagome had hid her smirk of satisfaction, 'Yeah, cleaning the honey off his ass!' She'd shared a knowing look with Koga who sat to her left. He too had a ghost of a smirk on his face, he was glad to know that his Kagome was fighting back. And from what he saw of her set up the night before, she wasn't playing fair. It had taken all of his strength and stealth to carry the huge bucket of honey that had been used, then again to position it just how she wanted it above Hiei's door. The feather's had been the easy part, stuffing five pillow cases then rigging them to open once the bucket dropped hadn't taken long. All in all, it hadn't been the most original idea as Kagome had admitted, but it was complex in set up so as not to draw attention.
"Lady Leigha, I have received a letter from your father. I'm sure you will wish to read it as soon as you are done this morning?" Lord Youko's voice cut through the silence, causing Kagome to jump slightly. Leigha smiled wide and nodded her agreement.
"I would!" she replied.
"Good, then once we are done here then come with me to the study and I will fetch it." He said.
Once Leigha and Youko left and Shippo had also excused himself, Kagome turned to Koga. "What are you going to be doing?" she asked.
"I have volunteered to go with some of the hunters to gather meat." He answered. Kagome's heart dropped.
"Oh, ok." She said. Koga gave her an apologetic look before leaving as well. Stretching out her senses she found that Hiei was still in his room, 'Good!' she thought. Kagome didn't want to go outside, since it was raining so hard outside, and she didn't want to stay in her room. So, she decided that the library was her destination. Scanning the large room and finding she was alone, she began to scan the ceiling to floor shelves for something to read. Once she found something, she went to the back of the room and sat down in a plush chair and lost herself in the pages. Hours passed and as she became more enthralled with the story, the less she paid attention to her surroundings.
"Enjoying yourself?"
Screaming and jumping, Kagome looked around until she pinpointed the presence leaning against a bookshelf. In the dark corner in the far right of the room, she saw Hiei's short but lean frame. His crimson eyes glaring at her with the intensity of a wildfires flame. Taking a moment to slow her breathing and pulse, Kagome braced herself.
"Actually I am." She said as she returned to the book, though this time keeping his aura on her radar. She had no intentions of being spooked again.
"I wasn't refereeing to the book." She noted the angry undertone. Maintaining her calm exterior, despite her chaotic insides, she glanced up over her book.
"I don't understand your meaning then."
"The hell you don't!" his voice never rose in tone, but it grew to be a double edged sword in sharpness.
"I noticed you weren't at breakfast this morning…" she let her voice trail off on purpose. Kagome knew it probably wasn't a good idea to bait him, but damn it was too much fun not to.
"You also know why." He said. He didn't move closer, though he was itching to rid her face of that innocent disposition.
"I don't believe that I do, Shippo said…" she didn't get a chance to finish. Hiei was in an instant right in front of her, an arm's length away mind you, but far closer than before.
"Enough! I know you were one of the ones that left that disgusting mess for me to find!" he was pissed. Not only because this woman had had the audacity to pull such a joke on him, but at himself for not anticipating it in the first place.
"What proof do you have? I was asleep all last night and Lady Leigha can vouch for me because I crashed in her room." in the face of Hiei's anger, Kagome managed to keep her voice even and not show any emotion other than indifference. Seeing him narrow his eyes, she knew she hadn't left anything that could prove she was there. He had no evidence to substantiate his claim.
"I don't need physical proof, you were obviously angry with me over yesterday. As you were upset with Shippo when you laid the trap for him those weeks ago." He was attempting to not completely lose his cool with her, he knew she was right. But she was the only one that had motive, she also knew the layout of his room ahead of time because of him.
"Now I'm being accused of two incidents?" she asked, sidestepping his attempt to rile her. Oh yeah she had been upset over his treatment of her, being manhandled was not her idea of a fun time!
"Drop the innocent act, everything in terms of motive and timing points to you!"
"Maybe so, but without physical evidence there is still the opening for doubt. Are you sure there's no one else that could want to do such things to you? You are after all a complete ass!" she said.
Her defiance was doing nothing for his self-control, he found himself wanting to both beat the life out of her and ravage her at the same time. A woman of her station should not possess such wit! The feistiness in her eyes made them glow like sapphires in the sun, making her more beautiful than he would like to admit.
"Woman…"
"Man…"
Growling Hiei took what should have been a menacing step toward her, but all it did was make her raise a brow. Why did she not fear him? Everyone feared him to an extent, why not her? It was driving him to near insanity, she was infuriating!
"Are you done now? I'd like to get back to my book." She asked. Inside she was laughing at his rage, Kagome was sure that he had never been as angry as he was now. She knew he wasn't one to show his emotions, but it seemed that she had crossed some unknown threshold. She watched as he narrowed his eyes and once again began to invade her personal space. 'I'm getting really tired of this feeling!' she thought. Anytime they were alone he ended up closing her in, he must have an obsession with violating personal bubbles. What Kagome didn't comprehend was that he only ever did this with her.
"I am not done, as a matter of fact." He said.
"What more would you like to accuse me of then?" she asked as she was able to stand before he got too much closer. Walking away from him with her book in her hand, she was hoping to keep a good amount of distance between them. Since for some reason he felt the need to diminish it, and it really was getting bothersome.
"I will uncover your secrets, one way or the other!" he growled. When she stopped he thought that maybe she had finally decided to talk. However, when she turned with a smirk Hiei didn't expect what she would say next.
"You're not the first to try…and you won't be the first to fail!" then she was gone.
Walking down the hall Kagome almost fell when a solid body came barreling into hers. Once she caught her balance she saw Leigha smiling at her while practically jumping up and down.
"What's got you so excited?"
"You're not going to believe it!" Leigha said with a high pitched squeal. Seeing Kagome flinch at from the noise she tried to calm down, with little success.
"What, for heaven's sakes, what is it?" Kagome asked with a hint of irritation.
"The letter, that Youko told me about this morning! It was from father, you'll never guess!" Kagome fought the compulsion to roll her eyes at her friend. She could really act like a juvenile at times, and her patience for it was at an all-time low.
"You're right, so why don't you spill it so I don't have to guess."
"Fine, fine, you're no fun!" she said as she motioned for Kagome to walk with her while she explained. Sighing Kagome made to follow. "Father wrote inquiring about how everything was going and how we were doing. General stuff, then towards the end he started hinting at the possibility of speeding the process up if we wished it. He said that if we wanted we could invoke an old tradition, one that hasn't been done in a couple of centuries, it would allow Youko and me to cut the courtship phase down from 6 months to 2! Then we would go back to the West and the ceremony would take place within a week!" she was physically jumping in excitement by the end of her explanation.
"If you did that, then we would leave in less than three weeks!" Kagome said.
"That's right! I'd be mated in exactly one month!" her joy was written in every move of her body while her green eyes sparkled. Kagome had never seen Leigha so happy, and it caused her to both feel joy for the occasion and sorrow for her own selfish reasons. Her time with Leigha and the others had just been lessened to a month, and she wasn't prepared for it.
"Oh Leigha! I'm so happy for you!" she said as she faked the enthusiasm. She really was happy for her, but she needed time to adjust to the new time line. Her planning needed to be stepped up and completed before they left for the West, because once she was back home she would have to dedicate all her time to Leigha's ceremony. Finalizing dress selection, decorations, guests, and then assisting with packing for her honeymoon all in one week.
"Thank you! Youko is writing back to father as we speak. I can't wait, I'm so excited Kagome!"
Kagome watched Leigha skip off to see how the letter was coming to Lord Drago, she never saw the small sad smile on Kagome's face.
Later that evening, Youko called Hiei and Shippo into his study to inform them of the new developments. After explaining that they would be leaving for the West within a few weeks, and Shippo would be going since he was one of Youko's close friends like Hiei, though Hiei was also for extra protection.
"Does Lady Leigha know we will be going as well?" Hiei asked, indirectly wondering if Kagome knew as well.
"Yes, she knows that you two along with some of our soldiers and some servants will accompanying us." Youko answered.
This caused Hiei to smirk, then Kagome would find out. He knew she would despise his presence, and he intended to make her trip home as miserable as possible as payback. He was still fuming over her actions towards him that entire day, and he looked forward to some retribution.
"Then we will start making preparations first thing in the morning." Shippo said. He hadn't attempted to go near Lady Kagome since their interactions in the garden, he also knew that it was she that had pranked him before. Hiei and Youko had alerted him to her actions, and now with Hiei being the newest victim, he deemed it necessary to keep his distance for a time. Though, maybe he and Hiei could use the few days' worth of travel to their advantage. Smirking, Shippo made a mental note to talk to Hiei later about the prospect. For now, they focused on setting up plans for the servants and soldiers that would remain in the East while they were away.
"Oh, and I'm taking care of seating arrangements." Youko said with a devious smirk. Leaving Hiei and Shippo to wonder what he was planning, Shippo knew that when a fox looked like that it rarely meant well for others. If only they truly knew their Lord's thoughts, neither one of them would know until time to leave, but Youko had every intention to torture them both the entire trip.
Ok, with Christmas coming up I don't know how often I will be able to update, but we shall see. I'm hoping to get another chapter or two in before then. Thank you for the reviews and please keep them coming. I want to know if there are any mistakes or if the story flow is off, it makes my writing better is I know where my weaknesses lie. Thank you again!
