Disclaimer; I do not own Inuyasha, nor the story of Esther.
Summary; There once was a peasant named Inuyasha, who was pulled into the competition for a new King unwillingly. As the competition continues, something happens that neither Inuyasha nor Her Majesty, Kagome expected. How will the two fair, as the rush and search for a new king becomes the only life they know?
The Story of a Peasant
Chapter Nine;
Another week of shoving knowledge down our throats, afternoon's in the servants kitchen, and getting awoken and yelled at by a pissy woman passed.
I welcomed the next break with open arms and sighed in contentment as I woke up that morning so utter silence, (or at least as silent as it could be when you had demonic hearing).
Managing to drag Miroku up, we made it to breakfast before everyone else arrived.
Chatting quietly, something continuously nagged me that something was different today. It wasn't till Miroku and I stood up to leave that I realized what was up.
"I'll see you later, I'm gonna go check up on someone." And left without Miroku getting another word in.
'Now where was Nida? She's not one to just not show up. Sure, it's the day for a break, but wouldn't she at least come say 'hi?' I thought as I dashed off to the kitchen.
The usual smell of baked bread met me the second I turned into the hallway leading towards it, yet it was strangely silent except for shuffling feet and a person muttering to themselves.
I walked in to see Nida pacing back in forth, her arms crossed except for a hand that was holding a piece of paper that she was staring intently at, seemingly talking to herself about something or another.
"Nida?"
She jolted and whirled around to see me standing there.
"Oh, Inuyasha. What're you doing here?" She asked dumbfounded.
I felt my feet shift as I tried to think of an excuse.
"Well uh- I just didn't uh..." It was suddenly very hard to grasp words. I furrowed my brow and let out a 'feh'. "What's it matter to ya, woman?" I grumbled, crossing my arms.
Her shocked expression turned to a mischievous one, and I gulped when I caught the shine in her eyes that meant a teasing remark was certainly on it's way.
"Did m'lord Inuyasha actually happen to notice my absence this morning?" She said, laying the list down and crossing her own arms in a stubborn gesture, and took a step towards me. Her smile was devious and I unconsciously took a side step away from her.
"Or maybe," she continued, "just maybe, he was worried when I didn't show, nay?" She asked, making a circle around me. I leaned against the thick wooden table used for kneading dough in the center of the room, growling.
"Shut 'yer trap." I said, narrowing my eyes.
She laughed and flicked one of my ears, which reacted with a twitch from the touch and just smirked at me.
"Face it Inuyasha. You care about people."
"Do not."
"Then what's Miroku?"
"The only guy who isn't smart enough to stay away?"
Nida shook her head, unconvinced.
"Nope he's your friend. And so am I, and you just don't want to admit that deep down your a big softy who wants friends." She finished triumphantly, a finger pointing towards my chest.
"Would you be quiet already?"
She just smiled, knowing she had won.
A few servants lazily came in, Nida immediately calling to get to work on the light meals for the day. I turned and started to walk away, thanking god for the distraction.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of, you know."
Turning, I raised a brow at Nida who was now staring intently at me, the piece of paper back in her hands.
"Letting people in. It's not a big deal. No need to be afraid of it."
"I never said I was afraid."
"Doesn't matter," and here she smirked playfully again, "if you said it or not. You are. You just don't have to be."
We stared at each other for a minute, before she shrugged and began to walk away.
I rolled my eyes.
"Nida."
She turned, obviously having drawn her from some thought. I was quiet for a minute.
"What is that in your hands?" I asked, pointing to the paper.
She looked at her hands, "Oh this?"
I nodded.
"It's a list of materials I need to get immediately, so I can get ready for the yearly fall festival!" she exclaimed with a wide smile.
"Fall isn't for another month, at least..."
"Do you know how much preparation goes into this festival? We're already behind schedule after everything that's been going on as of late!" She called out loudly, throwing her arms up in the air in exasperation. My eyes widened slightly. "There's excessive special food orders to be made, food packages for the civilians made up and delivered, the rare items have to be collected and brought in from outside the village which could take up the entire month in itself!" She collapsed in a chair throwing her head into the wood, while I stood aside not exactly sure how to handle the hysterical woman.
I started to ask if she was okay when another rampage came from her mouth.
"And that's just in the kitchen! We still have to organize the festival activities, entertainment, decorate, and get everything ready for the fall festival's ball!" She wailed.
Sighing and just a bit fed up with her excessive ranting, I grabbed the list from her hands scanning over it.
"Nida, I think I-.."
"Oh what will I ever do? There's so much to do and so little time!"
"Nida." I said sternly.
"Why oh why did M'lady have to appoint me as staff director for this event. It's got me so stressed out!"
"NIDA!" I yelled, pinching her hand.
"OW! What're ya yelling for, dogboy?" She said, letting the disgraceful name slip through her lips, like she did when she got frustrated.
I gave her a dark glare, and she muttered a barely intelligible apology.
"As I was saying, I can help you out, I think.." I quickly read over the list again.
"See these here? These nuts and these red and blue berries down the list are all easily found and harvestable along the southern inward coast." She looked at the list and then up at me.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure." And moving my finger I pointed to another item on her list. "And this here, this type of grain is often available in the eastern village marketplace where I used to travel to when I was little when my father was on business. I don't really remember the name, but if you could get me a map, I could easily point someone in the right direction."
She nodded vigorously, and grabbed a notepad jotting stuff down before sending a servant for a map of the area. After helping with a few other matters, I left, leaving a much happier Nida behind as she shouted commands to her workers.
After leaving from the kitchen, I found myself wandering into the enormous, the smell of old books just waiting to be read oddly comforting. I followed the immense wooden shelves, glancing over each title as I passed them. I smiled when I found an old children's story that my mother used to read to me when I was a young pup.
I pulled it off the shelf and opened it, reading the words and reliving memories of a happy time. I got so immersed that I didn't notice the presence sitting not but a few feet from me.
"Inuyasha?" I heard the voice call, and I turned abruptly, clutching the book to my chest. I wasn't caught by surprise often, and it was happening to much lately for my liking.
I spied Kagome sitting in a luxurious looking chair, curled up with her legs tucked underneath her, a book open in her lap. I was struck by how much more young and innocent she looked here in this atmosphere than when she was dressed up and sitting at the head of a council or dinner table.
I bowed quickly but I heard her whisper, "Please, don't bother."
Looking up I saw her wave off the gesture. "Ma'am?"
She smiled. "Today, while here, I'm just Kagome. Hardly noticeable."
"I wouldn't hardly go that far to agree to that, m'lady." 'Did that really just come out of my mouth? What was it you were trying to say to Miroku about not treating her like she's some slab of meat!' Mentally slapping myself, I was a smidge surprised to hear Kagome full out laugh, a loud sound in the quiet library.
When that was over, she gestured for me to sit. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do in this situation, but I sat down all the same. She smiled at me, silent for a minute before noticing the book still in my hands. She bent down and caught the title and gave a brief giggle. I felt my cheeks warm that she had caught me with a book that was more noticeably known for children.
"You still read kid's books to?" She said smiling.
"To?" I asked, catching on. She picked up the thick book in her lap, only to show me from the top that there was a second book laying over the bottom, effectively looking like she was reading a certain book when it was in fact a different one. She picked up the on on top, and showed me the cover, a book of fairytales that I was also familiar with.
I laughed along with her, before she shushed me and looked over her shoulder at a guard that had just showed up to take post near her majesty.
She rolled her eyes, laying the book back down on top of the one she was assumingly supposed to be reading.
"And uh-... What're you reading there?" I pointed to the lower book. She grimaced, and hefted the book up. 'All Great Biographies of All Great Leaders' it read. I grimaced back, but attempted to say "Can't be that bad can it?"
She just gave me a pointed look.
"You want to read it?" She said starting to pick it up and heft it over. I laughed holding up my hands.
"No thanks. I've had enough of the boring big books between childhood and with this whole 'schooling' thing now."
She set it back down in her lap, and situated herself then looked back up at me.
"What was your childhood like?" she asked, bringing her eyes to look up at mine. I looked away, not answering right off the bat, trying to figure out how to. My eyes were drawn to the book I had picked up.
"Difficult to say. I didn't know my father well. Wasn't his fault, he was just busy and also died young. I don't harbour any ill will towards him over it. And my step-brother..." I trailed off, not even knowing what to say about that.
"Cold and unemotional?" She suggested.
I felt one side of my mouth lift up.
"Good choice of words. He didn't.... no, wouldn't accept me the way I am. A half blooded mutt.." I sighed. "Not many people would. I didn't grow up with friends. Everyone thought I was a disgrace, humans and demons alike. All because my father loved a human woman." I shook my head. "But it was okay.. at least for a little while. My mother,.. She was kind." I picked up the book and let my fingers brush over the cover, feeling the words imprinted across the front. "She read me stories. She let me play, and got me out of scrapes with other kids." I smiled to myself, no longer paying any real notice to Kagome, caught up in my own memories. "She was the only person I knew to fully accept me for who I was."
My fingers were gripping the edge of my haori tightly, my knuckles turned white. I hadn't thought about my mother this much, in such a long time. I felt Kagome's hand tentatively touch my shoulder.
"I'm sorry." She whispered fervently when I looked up towards her seeing her leaned over, not knowing what my facial expression must've looked like. I smiled and shook my head.
"It's okay. It's just been awhile since I've talked about her. To anyone."
I leaned back against the chair, suddenly very tired.
"My father passed away a few years back." She commented. I opened my eyes and glanced over at her. Her head was tucked down, her hands clasped in the book. "Not long after my little brother was born, it happened." I listened intently as she spoke, soaking it in. "He was a great man, a great King. He treated me like a princess, no pun intended. Strong and loyal like a father should be. It was such a shock when it happened." Her voice was quiet, but I could still pick up her words. "His health had rapidly decreased over the years, but he still kept up a happy attitude, hiding from us what was really going on. Then suddenly he was gone." She picked her head back up and put on a cheery smile, as well as she could.
"I guess I say that to tell you that we all lose people. It's nothing to be ashamed of, to show that you miss them."
I couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
"Everyone keeps telling me that. That I have nothing to be ashamed about. If I keep hearing it, I'm going to start believing it." I said sarcastically, the mood immediately lightening.
She smiled brighter now. "In that case, I'll tell you that every day. 'Inuyasha, there is nothing to be ashamed about, and that's an order.'" She said, using a 'professional' voice.
I rolled my eyes. "Feh. Yes ma'am."
It was quiet for a bit before her quiet voice spoke up again.
"You do have friends here, you realize."
Smirking I started to answer only to be interrupted by Sango coming through the doors of the library and briskly walking towards Kagome.
"There you are! I've been searching all over for you." She called out upon closing in on us.
Kagome sighed throwing me an apologetic look.
"Well here I am. What is it you need Sango?"
Sango looked at me, then back at Kagome.
"If I'm interrupting, then I can come back later." She said dryly. I took that as a sign that I should get up and leave.
"No need." I said, standing and stretching out my arms just a bit. "I'll just be going and leave you ladies to your business." I bowed quickly towards Sango, who nodded her head, then turned and bowed swiftly for Kagome.
Walking out the doors, I felt light. Like air. Something churned in my stomach, and I looked back towards the doors of the library, and smiled.
"Inuyasha!" I heard Miroku call out, and I turned towards him.
He came walking up then looked at me, studying my face.
"And what're are you so happy about, my friend?"
'my friend...'
'It's nothing to be ashamed of you know.'
'deep down your just a big softy who wants friends...'
'I didn't grow up with friends.'
'We all lose people.'
'You do have friends here, you realize.'
"Miroku, you wouldn't believe me if I told you." I said smile still in place, clapping a hand on his shoulder, turning him in the other direction and began walking with him.
A/N; I apologize for the wait. That's what happens when an author buys Final Fantasy VII for $10 dollars. You just have to hold up in your room and do nothing but play it, till it's beat. I'm still working on Crisis Core, but I decided to go ahead and take a break to update this since I'll be gone till Monday at least. I cranked this out within one night, once I got started it just sorta fell outta me. It's about time we got some good quality Kagome/Inuyasha dialogue going on.
You should be happy.
;]
R&R please,
Souzousei