Chapter 9 – The Egyptian Prince
It was disgusting, watching the so-called prince as he spoke softly with the miko. His brother's wench was blushing, obviously not expecting such treatment from such a fine man, nor such a high classed one, and that disgusted him. She should have realized that somewhere in the universe, whether theirs or another, there was going to be someone who wanted her, yet still she continued to play the innocent, naïve little girl that she most likely was not, now that he thought about it. Yes, she might be innocent in body, but that did not mean she was innocent in mind nor heart.
"Kagome-chan seems to be getting friendly with that boy," Sango muttered, watching them from the end of the table. They were sitting at a fine golden table on soft pillows, and in strange clothing. It felt like silk, but she was sure that it could have been something else, for she had never had such finery. However, her thoughts were more for her friend that was talking with the prince of a place she could not even pronounce.
Miroku grinned, "It is quite obvious that that young man is quite taken with Kagome-sama, isn't it? I certainly know why, she is a fine—Ow, Sango-san!"
"Bouzo," Sango growled.
Miroku brought his hand up, and placed his fist over his skin. "I am hurt, Sango-san," he said.
"Now is not the time to be thinking of those things, bouzo," Sango hissed. "We need to think of a way to keep that boy from falling for Kagome-chan."
"My dear, Sango." Miroku stopped, and then nodded a bit to himself. "One cannot stop love from taking hold of their heart and causing them to fall to their knees before a beautiful woman."
"You have a lot of experience there, don't you?" Sango asked, her lip twitching in frustration. Why couldn't she keep Miroku on a single thought, instead of instantly trekking into his perverted ones? She didn't even want to know what was going on in his head, but they needed to be thinking on how to keep Kagome from that prince. If Kagome fell for him, as he seemed to be falling for her, then they may never leave, and she knew that Kagome would want to go home eventually. They didn't belong there; they could be ruining certain events just by showing up.
That, and she remembered that prince muttering about gods and goddesses as they were returning to his palace. Even then he'd been rather close to Kagome, trying to speak with her, but Kagome had politely sent him to the front of the group. Now, though, they were not walking in a large desert, but sitting together, and Kagome hadn't wanted to be rude. That boy could become rather annoying, especially if they ever wanted to go home. She did, very much so, for she wanted to be in the dimension she had grown up in, instead of this strange place.
Prince Sesshoumaru frowned at the tale he was being told. "I do not understand how any man could not see the light that you shine, Goddess Kagome—"
"Ah, Kagome," she stopped him. "I've already told you that I'm not a goddess of any kind, Prince Sesshoumaru. I'm only Kagome, and… strangely enough I fell from the sky."
As you keep telling me, Prince Sesshoumaru thought. "Of course, Kagome, forgive me. I did not mean to insult you in any way by giving you a title which ranks you higher than anyone living on this land." He bowed his head a bit, and noticed that she clenched and unclenched her hands time and again as he did so. She was such a strange deity, but her modest nature made him lean a bit closer to her. "I merely wished to tell you that I do not understand how this Inuyasha could ever treat such a woman in such a way. I," he continued, "would never have even wished such pain upon you."
Kagome blushed a little, and lowered her eyes. "That's—that's very kind of you," she replied.
"You should not be to surprised, Kagome," he smiled. "A woman as fine as yourself deserves the finest things that the gods gave to humankind. Even more so, if they were willing to part with some of their more impressive treasures. I will never question the ways of the gods, but I believe they spent a great deal of time when creating you and your soul." He picked up her hand from her lap and brought it to his lips, gently kissing the back of her hand.
She blushed a bit harder, laughing a bit nervously. He was very sweet, so unlike the Sesshoumaru sitting on her other side, but in the end she wondered how many of his words weren't merely said to try and make her stay with him. Believing she was a goddess was understandable when they'd come from the sky, and instead of hitting the ground hard, hit it gently. However, she'd had her history lessons and knew that he would try everything in his power to be in her good graces if he truly thought she was a goddess just so she would favor him and his kingdom. No doubt he thought she did already because she'd returned with him.
"There is no need to be modest," Prince Sesshoumaru said. "I have never laid eyes on a woman such as yourself, and my words are true."
Is he reading my thoughts? Kagome wondered for a moment. Not to mention his words came out smoother than he thought they could, like he was some strange mixture of Kouga and Miroku. A scary thought that was.
Sesshoumaru snorted, turning his head away from them as he sipped at the wine he'd been given. It was quite obvious the prince was trying to win the miko's heart, as well as get her into his bed in order to breed with him. Thinking she was some type of higher being was ridiculous, though, for he would have never thought such a thing. In fact, when he'd first seen her in her indecent clothing, he'd almost thought she was a whore his insolent half-brother had picked up for his own pleasure. However, she'd smelled so pure and innocent in body that it was difficult to tell, and then she'd pulled Tetsusaiga from its resting place, proving that she was much more than a simple whore. Still, a goddess was a bit over the line.
His eyes swept over the woman again, a smirk tilting on his lips. The young prince was already beginning to become trapped in her feminine web. Perhaps he could use her? Perhaps there was a bit of greed that he could play off of, telling her that she could have anything she wanted when she stood by his side after the prince was gone and he ruled? Or maybe she wished for power, which he could also give her if the prince was out of his way? That woman may be the perfect way for him to crush the prince, killing him and taking his place on the throne because he had no heir. Even then, the prince could not truly rule as pharaoh because his father's final words ordering him to wed first.
Sesshoumaru's nose twitched, his eyes turning to the advisor the prince had. He would not have been fool enough to allow one with the name Naraku to stand by his side, but the prince was obviously not as intelligent as himself. It made him sick to know that somewhere there was an alternate version of himself that was blind to everything surrounding him, and even blinder when a pretty woman passes his eyes. Still, from what his nose told him, that advisor had no good intentions, and he doubted that he would wait for long before he struck.
"It is beginning to get late, my prince. Perhaps it is time to consider retiring?"
Prince Sesshoumaru turned his head, and scowled at his advisor. He brushed his brown hair off his shoulder, and replied, "I will retire when I am ready, Naraku. If you wish to then do so, but I will remain here for now."
Naraku stiffened, and then bowed his head. "As you wish, Prince Sesshoumaru."
Prince Sesshoumaru watched him go, and then snorted. Turning his eyes back to the woman at his side, he smiled once more. "You must forgive Naraku, he is old and cannot stay up into the long hours of the night," his smile turned to a smirk, "but I assure you, Goddess Kagome, that I can." He kissed the back of her hand once more, having heard stories of many goddesses who came from the heavens in order to sample the pleasures of man. Of course, they were mainly goddesses for the land of Greece, but he had never heard of the goddess before him, so he was not sure if she would be the same.
Kagome laughed again in nervousness, thinking, I'm sure you can. Though, I have to admit, that line was a lot better than Miroku's 'will you bear my child'. She was not stupid, she knew exactly what he was talking about, especially when she recalled that they were very close to ancient Greece, which meant he probably knew of the gods and goddesses from there, as well. Myths and legends were always talking about how they would sire or birth demi-gods, and she had no doubt he would want one if he could get one. "It's Kagome," she reminded him again, though.
"Hai, of course," he nodded.
She seriously doubted he'd remember, even as he said it.
"Kagome-chan."
Looking up, Kagome smiled, and pulled her hand away from the prince's gently. He had turned his head to stare at Sango as well, though not as pleasantly as he'd been staring at her, and she had no doubt it was because he was annoyed with her. Her smile became a little brighter, no doubt annoying the prince even more, as she asked, "Hai, Sango-chan?"
"I think it would be best if we retired, Kagome-chan," Sango said. "This place is rather hot during the day, and even with all the fine drinks we have been able to drink, we should sleep to recover and prepare for it tomorrow. There is no telling how long it will take for us to find a way to leave."
"Leave?" Prince Sesshoumaru blinked. He hadn't known they were going to leave. Were they so disappointed in the land of man that they wished to return to the heavens? Or had they been cast away from the heavens because of some type of dispute and now had to find a way to return to keep the balance of good and evil? He was not sure, but he did not like the idea of them leaving. Not at all – though the one who had been glaring at him, the one whose name he had not been given, was rather annoying. He'd need to watch him with the goddess at his side, for there was a chance they were married and the god was becoming jealous with his advances toward his wife.
"We're only traveling through," Kagome nodded. "Once we can find the way to leave, we'll leave you in peace. We appreciate your hospitality, though."
"I see," Prince Sesshoumaru frowned. "But perhaps you would like to bathe before you retire? I'm sure the servants would be happy to help you."
"A bath?" Sango asked. "Hai, that would be very kind of you, thank you."
"It is no problem," Prince Sesshoumaru said. "Afterward they will show you to your rooms. In the morning they will come to wake you when the table has been set, and then you may do whatever you wish around the kingdom. I will not set restrictions on any of you." He would also make sure that they were watched, but he would not tell them that, for he wanted to know a few things. Especially when it came to the beautiful woman that had caught his eye.
The four of them nodded, and watched as he clapped his hands together. Instantly men and women stepped forward, each of them bowing deeply, before asking them to step in a certain way – the girls couldn't help but laugh when they heard Miroku sigh, no doubt disappointed that a man was leading him away. However, Sango turned her head at the last moment, and saw that not only was the prince watching Kagome leave, but a pair of red eyes within the shadows were as well. She quickly stepped closer to her friend, wishing to protect her, knowing that she didn't know a thing.
OoO
"I don't like that boy's intentions toward you, Kagome-chan," Sango said after they'd ushered the servants to leave them in peace in their strange bathes. "He was far too forward with you."
Kagome sighed, "He was, wasn't he? He reminds me a little of Kouga-kun, but then he does something that reminds me of Miroku-sama. He's so different from the Sesshoumaru I've always known."
"That he is," Sango nodded. "Which would be a good reason to stay as far away from him as possible at all times. I don't think he can control his tongue, and he is royalty, he may not be able to stop himself if he decides he wants to… to," Sango blushed a little, "take you to his bed."
Kagome blushed as well. "Yeah, I noticed where his conversation went a few times, thanks." She blushed a little harder, "It's just amazing to see how different Sesshoumaru can be, how he could have been in our dimension—"
"He isn't, though, Kagome-chan. The Sesshoumaru we know is Taiyoukai of the Western Lands, a powerful ruler who would rather look down upon you than treat you like an equal. I'm positive he only puts up with us at the moment because he needs you, and possibly us, in order to return home. If he only needed you, I doubt that Miroku-san or I would still be alive," Sango sighed.
"I wouldn't let him do that, Sango-chan!" Kagome declared. "I would demand that he used Tenseiga, or left you be, or I wouldn't help him! I won't let him hurt you if it turns out we don't have to be together to go into the portal. I promise."
Sango smiled, "Thanks, Kagome-chan."
"You're my friend, Sango-chan. You, Shippo-kun, Miroku-sama, Kirara, and Inuyasha are like my second family. I won't let anyone hurt you if I'm able to do something about it," Kagome smiled back. I promise.
"I know, Kagome-chan, but that's going off topic," Sango sighed. "This Prince Sesshoumaru could be as rotten as his advisor Naraku, or our Naraku, on the inside. We shouldn't get close to him, or to anyone in this dimension, or any other. We could risk changing something that should have happened, or possibly end up not being able to leave because someone doesn't want us to. We don't know how this portal works, and we shouldn't let this prince get in the way of us going home."
"I know, I want to go home just as much as you do, Sango-chan. I won't let Prince Sesshoumaru interfere with that, and if I have to, I'll make sure to avoid him at any given time," Kagome said, nodding to herself.
Sango sighed, "That may not be as easy as it seems."
Kagome frowned a little, "I know, but I'll find a way. We need to go back home so we can complete the Shikon no Tama and defeat Naraku. We can't just sit here because one Egyptian prince wants us to stay. We'll find the portal and we'll find our way home, I know it."
I hope so, Kagome-chan. I hope so, Sango sighed to herself. This prince could prove to be more devious than we think he is. He may act like Kouga and Miroku-san, but he could be like Naraku or more like the Sesshoumaru we know. We don't know, and we shouldn't risk it. I hope you can see that in time if you need to, Kagome-chan. And I hope that prince can give you up, because that look in his eyes was just like Kuranosuke's.
"Besides," Kagome touched her blade on the side of the bath, "I think that the Shikon wants us to go home. I think that's why it turned into the shards I carried turned into this blade."
Sango blinked, "What?"
"I didn't tell you?" Kagome asked.
"Tell us what, Kagome-chan? What happened to the shards you carried?" Sango asked, her eyes widening.
Grasping the blade's hilt, Kagome pulled it up. "They turned into this blade, Sango-chan. I don't know why, but I'm sure it's because they want us to go home. They want us to, no matter how much we have to fight in order to get there, no matter how many hearts we've got to break. We have to go home and defeat Naraku, because he could do so much damage in the short or long amount of time that we're gone – he still has most of the jewel, after all." She sighed, "I only had these few pieces, but I'm positive they want to return home and became apart of the whole once more."
Sango stared at the blade, thinking, dear lord. Why are these things truly happening to us?
KibaSin:
I need to stop doing this to myself. I need to write, write, write, but no. Stupid muse keeps changing on me. However, I did manage to type this chapter up, and I did manage to write more for Breeding School, though not a lot on the newest chapter. I can only hope that it doesn't take too long to type up, I have to start babysitting in a few days. Though, I will be able to type while I'm babysitting, they have internet and everything and I'm allowed to use it, but I'll still need to watch the kids and entertain them at the same time. Hm, but I need the money, so that's why the chapter was so short, and I will try to make the next one a longer.
Kiba
