Disclaimer: I only own my plot.
Authoress' Note: Once again, thanks so much for the reviews! That makes me incredibly happy! The idea for this chapter struck me randomly last night so I'm really excited to write it. So I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Living on a Prayer
Chapter Ten (double digits!)
Kagome woke up the next morning apprehensive and nervous. She tried to go back to sleep, but it was pointless. She climbed out of bed and walked out of her room to find Miroku. She navigated the halls better than she had earlier until she reached the main courtyard where the priests were at that time. She walked out barefoot onto the sandy yard and walked towards Miroku, who was standing separate from the rest of the priests.
"Kagome, you're up." He said when he saw her walking towards him. "Did you get out of bed and come see me? You aren't even wearing shoes."
"I know. I'm just…" she let her thought trail off as she stared at her bare feet, afraid to disclose anything to Miroku for fear that it would travel back to Sesshoumaru. She kicked at the sand and dirt at her feet, not knowing what else to say and waiting for Miroku to say something.
"Nervous? Don't be. Everything is going to be fine. I will call for Sango and your amphithales to prepare for the baths. Go and wait in the bathhouse and they will join you shortly." He said, pointing her towards the door to the palace and giving her a little push. "A bath will probably relax you a little, and that's just what you need."
Kagome nodded and began walking out of the courtyard, "Thank you Miroku." she said, turning back and smiling at the priest. She walked out of the courtyard and back into the palace. She walked down another series of hallways until she reached the door that would take her outside to the bathhouse. Using all of her strength she pushed the large door aside to find a small child already filling the steaming bath with water, while humming to herself happily.
As she approached the girl noticed her presence and turned and smiled at her. "Are you the empress?" she asked cheerfully.
Kagome smiled at the child's innocence and knelt down beside her, "Not yet. Who are you?"
"I am the…amph- I can't say it, it's a long name the priest told me. But I am getting the water for your bath just like the nice priest told me to do. And then later I'm going to be in the ceremony. I'm really excited for that empress." She said with a toothy grin. "The water should be ready soon and then you can have your bath before you go to get married." She said, giving Kagome another big, excited smile.
"I told you already, I'm not the empress yet." Kagome said laughing at the child's enthusiasm. "And thank you so much, you are doing a wonderful job." She said as the girl nodded and left the house with her large vase. She came back into the bathhouse a few moments later with the large vase filled with fresh spring water and poured it into the large tub, filling the bathtub the rest of the way. She placed the vase she was carrying water in beside the tub and bowed with another smile before excusing herself and running out of the bathhouse.
Kagome sat by the tub's edge and dipped her foot in to test the water, finding it to be the perfect temperature. She heard the door open and close again, Kagome turned to see Sango walking into the bathhouse, and bundled up in her arms were Kagome veil, chiton and sandals. Sango placed the clothing on a table and walked over to Kagome.
"How are you feeling this morning priestess?" she asked warmly, sitting down beside her on the tub's edge.
Kagome shook her head, holding back the tears that sat on the edge of her eyes, "No, not priestess. Just Kagome. I'm not a priestess anymore…I gave my robes in sacrifice to Artemis last night. I'll never be a priestess again."
Sango put her arm around Kagome's shoulders, "Don't act so sullen Kagome, there is no room for tears today; the Gods have great plans for you and they start today. This is a happy day."
Kagome stood and walked away from the tub, "I am trying Sango, believe me I am trying to be happy."
Sango stood up and followed Kagome over to the table where she was running her hands over the clothing that Sango had brought. Sango could see the sadness in Kagome's eyes as her fingers moved across the beaded moons on the veil. Sango walked over to Kagome and placed a caring hand on Kagome's shoulder, "There is no sense trying to put this off, it will be over before you know it, trust me; and it will not be anywhere as bad as I know you think it is going to be. Everything will be fine and you and Emperor Sesshoumaru will have a happy marriage, he deeply cares for you Kagome, you have to know that."
Kagome shrugged, "I suppose. He does do a lot to make sure I am happy. I know that he will do all he can to make me happy once we are married. There's just something in me that is resisting. I don't know Sango, I'm so confused."
Sango shook her head, "Kagome, let's not think about such unpleasant things. Now get into the tub before the servants let the water cool." She said, coaxing Kagome towards the tub.
Sango and Kagome both disrobed and climbed into the steaming hot tub, in any other ceremonial pre-wedding bathing there would be a multitude of women accompanying the bride in the baths, but Kagome was reminded once again of her utter aloneness. She bathed and rinsed and laid back into the water for a while to relax, breathing in the soothing scents of the bath salts. After a while Sango got out of the tub and redressed, leaving Kagome to relax for a moment longer. Once Sango had laid out Kagome's clothes she called her out of the tub.
"Time to get dressed Kagome; you need to come out of there eventually."
Kagome shook her head like a child, "No, five more minutes Sango."
"Kagome, don't be like this. Emperor Sesshoumaru is waiting and you need to get ready. Come."
Kagome reluctantly got out of the bathtub and walked over to Sango. She toweled off until she was dry and Sango helped her into her new chiton. Once Kagome's hair was dried, Sango helped arrange the veil and Kagome slipped her feet into her sandals. (A/n: the veil is a pretty big deal in ancient weddings, it symbolized virginity and was only removed by the husband in private. It is not just a veil like we know now; it was a veil that covered not only the face, but the majority of the body.)
"Wait here, I'm going to go see if there carriage is here." Sango said, leaving the room. The bride traditionally took a carriage from her father's home to the home of her future husband and it was when they reached the husband's home the father would hand over the bride to her husband and the biggest part of the wedding ceremony would be over. Kagome knew that it would be different, having already been living with her future husband, but as far as she knew the carriage; carrying Sango and Miroku – who was giving her away, would drive out into town and then circle around and drive back to the palace as a way of preserving some traditionalism.
Sango came back in the bathhouse and took Kagome's hand and led her out to where the carriage was waiting. Miroku helped her into the carriage and then Sango and climbed in after them both. The carriage began moving and Kagome sat stoic, staring at her feet.
"Kagome, smile" Sango said, trying to comfort her friend.
"Sango is right, this should be happy. I know this isn't what you wanted exactly, but this is what the gods want for you."
"I know. It's just-" Kagome was unable to finish her sentence as the carriage came to a screeching halt and she flew forward into Miroku's lap. As she picked herself up all she remembered was a loud crash before everything went dark.
Sesshoumaru paced uneasily in the main hall of the palace where the carriage was said to arrive. From what he was told, Kagome should have arrived already. He hadn't heard anything from the guards that were watching the carriage either and that worried him. He continued pacing, certain he would wear a hole in the floor.
He looked up to see Miroku staggering towards him, Sesshoumaru was curious about the way Miroku was moving until he noticed something that terrified him, Miroku's robes were covered in blood.
"Miroku! What is going on? Where is the carriage and where is Kagome?" Sesshoumaru asked, running towards him, meeting him so he would not have to go any further; knowing that he already must have come a long way while wounded.
Miroku collapsed on the ground in front of Sesshoumaru, "It…happened so quickly sire…" he gasped out.
Sesshoumaru knelt down beside his friend, pulling his head into his lap, not caring that the blood and dirt was staining his white ceremonial robes and placed a hand over the wound on his abdomen, attempting to staunch the flow of blood. "What happened my friend? Miroku, what's going on?" he asked ferverently.
"They came…they were…everywhere. I couldn't...I tried but I couldn't..." Miroku said with a struggle, trying hard to take deep breaths.
"Who is "they" Miroku? Who are you talking about? What couldn't you do?" Sesshoumaru persisted, becoming increasingly worried about the whereabouts of Kagome.
"Sp…Spartans sire. I couldn't protect her...I tried to. I tried to keep her safe but I couldn't protect her. The Spartans attacked the carriage while we were in the center of town…they…they took her. They took Kagome."
Authoress' Note: okay, plot twist extreme right here but yeah. This is a good time and I hope you liked it and please review!