And I'm back!:) this chapter was very heart felt and contained a lot of emotions:) hopefully you have as much of a great time reading as I did writing:) Disclaimer: Yup, still don't own Inuyasha, the characters, yada yada yada lol. I sincerely appreciate all of your reviews, the followers, etc. Have a wonderful time reading! Shout outs to... (Drum Roll)
Sarabear209
The Guest that reviewed in Chapter 9 (make an account! Lol:) )
HermioneGranger919
I want to give you special thanks to you guys, I appreciate all of your reviews and opinions!:)
Kagomes eyes got wide with shock and relation. "Your serious?"
Miroku solemnly nodded his head. "We must be on our way"
Kagome quickly looked down at her attire. She was wearing an all white kimono that was usually worn for bed and her hair was all over her head. "I can't go like this, please give me five minutes" She begged Miroku.
Miroku nodded his head and patiently waited outside.
Kagome instantly ran back into her room and opened the large wardrobe to find three very nice kimonos. *Thank you heavens!* she pulled out the satin soft blue kimono which had sheer sparkling silver material underneath. She quickly put on the kimono and found a brush to tame her tresses. She was actually making good time so she found a small wash cloth and entered her personal bath that was connected to her room. She washed her face thoroughly and saw no imperfections.
There was a light tapping on the door and Kagome knew that her time was up. She quickly went to the door and opened it.
"Wow" Said Miroku as he admired the beauty before him. "You look very nice"
"Thank you" Replied Kagome as she turned a pretty shade of pink.
The two walked along the candle lit halls with light conversation.
"So where exactly are we going?" Asked Kagome with curiosity in her Boise
"We are going to the garden of Izayio" Replied Miroku as warm memories about the garden came back to him.
"Izayio"
"Yes, it is a very special garden and it means a lot to the King"
"It sounds beautiful, I've never heard of a man liking gardening very much"
"Well, Inuyashas mother Izayio actually created the garden, she passed away quite some time ago. He has kept the garden up as a way of honoring her"
Kagome nodded her head. * That takes a lot of time, dedication, and commitment* "Tell me my Lord, I overheard some of the candidates speaking and one of them referred to the King as a half-breed what exactly does that term mean?"
Miroku instantly got tense. "It is a very racist term, a half breed or half demon is someone who is neither all demon or all human. Their blood is mixed between the two. They are usually not accepted among humans or demons because of this."
*So the King is a half-demon then* Thought Kagome.
Miroku stopped causing her to stop as well. "Listen to me well Kagome" said Miroku in a serious tone. "Never, ever, ever call the King a half breed. The council call him that behind his back as do the subjects but, no one has ever said it directly to his face because they fear the consequences. Just erase that word from your vocabulary completely"
"Yes my Lord" *If he's a half demon that means his mother had to be human, since his father was a great dog demon*
The two continued walking until they came to the center of the castle which led outside. Kagome took in the wonderful sight of water fountains which contained rose petals and Lilly pads and breath taking sculptures. They walked a little further and soon saw that magnificent cherry blossom trees dominate the area. "They are beautiful" Kagome said as she became entranced by the scenery. A vast variety of flowers were planted through out the area and Kagome could see small animals such as rabbits, frogs, and even a small monkey hanging in a nearby tree. They continued walking a little further and Miroku abruptly stopped and gave Kagome a sweet reassuring smile.
"This is where we part Lady Kagome, the King should be just up ahead."
Kagome slowly nodded her head but, felt slightly nervous. "What if..."
Miroku chuckled. "Don't worry, everything will be fine. Just remember the protocol, to approach the King uninvited is death. Once you get past approaching him its easy sailing"
Kagome gulped hard. "Thank you my Lord" Kagome continued to walk along the cobblestone pathway that was lined with rose bushes, cheery blossom trees and white lillies. She continued walking a bit farther and stopped dead in her tracks.
She saw a rather large pond that glimmered in the celestial moon light. Many small ducks occupied the pond as they waddled into the water. She then saw a small bench and what appeared to be a man sitting on it.
*Is he the King?* Thought Kagome as she examined him. He was wearing an all white haori with gold lining. He looked unnaturally beautiful, his silver hair blew gently in the breeze and his tanned skin looked flawless. *This can't be him, this couldn't be the man that ordered the annihilation of my entire clan, he couldn't be the source of all of my pain and suffering*
Just then he turned his head in her direction and Kagome felt her stomach drop. *Oh my God* His eyes were smothering gold and they entranced her chocolate Brown eyes. How could such a man have this kind of affect on her? How could her heart be racing even after the heinous and wrongful murders he agreed upon. How could a man like him hold her heart by merely looking into her eyes.
He stood to his feet then "You may approach"
His deep voice cut off her vivid thoughts and she slowly approached the King. She was only a couple of feet away now and both held an nice silence.
*This girl... She looks like Kikyo*
Kagome bowed deeply. "It is an honor to be in your presence my King"
Her words were light and airy to Inuyashas sensitive ears. He gently grabbed her hand and kissed it. "I believe I can say the same, forgive me for not acknowledging you sooner, I can usually smell when someone is near but, your scent is the same as the Cherry Blossom trees in the garden."
Kagome blushed a deep shade of pink and Inuyasha found this to be simply adorable. "It's okay my King, I love the Cherry Blossom scent, its been my favorite since I was a small child"
Inuyasha took a moment to take in her full appearance. *She looks like a completely different person* "We have actually met before my Lady, I rescued you along with the other women that were being held captive by Jimo"
Kagome nodded. "Yes, I do not remember much but, I do remember your eyes" she paused momentarily. "I never had the chance to thank you properly"
"It's fine, Jimo shall receive his punishment tomorrow night"
Kagome nodded her head and there was a brief silence.
Inuyasha genuinely smiled. This young lady that stood before him was sweet, kind, gorgeous, and held proper manners. She may resemble his former wife but, Inuyasha could tell they were two totally different people. He took this moment to admire her, she had the prettiest plump pink lips, long silky hair, and wonderful chocolate brown eyes. This girl that stood in front of him actually had his heart racing.
Inuyasha gestured for her to sit and he did as well. "So, you are under Lady Kaedes supervision?"
Kagome nodded meekly. "Yes my King, I look at her as a grandmother. Do you know Lady Kaede personally?"
"Yes" Inuyasha paused momentarily. "You are aware of my former wife and Queen, Kikyo?"
Kagome nodded her head.
"Well, Lady Kaede is Kikyo's elder sister, I've known her for quite some time now"
A pang of shock and hurt waves were sent throughout her whole body. *She never once told me that she knew the King on such a personal level* Kagome felt slightly betrayed by Kaede. After the long nights, night sweats, nightmares, and screams Kaede never said anything about about the King, Hell Kagome wasn't even aware that Kikyo was her sister! She didn't even know she had any siblings!
Inuyasha could feel her sudden frustration and sadness. "Is there something wrong?"
"No!" Said Kagome a little too quickly. "Everything is perfect"
The King smiled at the stunning young lady that sat beside him and they continued talking.
An hour had passed and this had to have been the best time he had spent with any woman since Kikyo was in his life. Inuyasha slowly felt his guarded wall slowly fading away.
"So how has your search been going in finding a Queen?" Asked Kagome innocently as she stared into his golden orbs.
Inuyasha whole heartedly laughed. "To be honest, horrible! The first woman wasn't that bad but, everyone else had serious mental issues!"
Kagome giggled sweetly. "Well, I do hope you find someone that not only can stand by your side as a Queen but, someone who you love as a wife as well."
Inuyasha smiled at her words. "I was just about to cancel all of this and let my brother and Lord Miroku choose a Queen for me but, Miroku told me about you and now..." Inuyasha blushed a light shade of red. "Now, I want to continue"
Kagome blushed. *So he's saying he wants to keep the competition going to see me and get to know me better?*
There was a brief silence and Kagome decided to change the subject.
"This garden is quite large and beautiful my King, Lord Miroku told me that your mother is the one who made it"
Inuyasha took his eyes away from Kagomes and stared at the glimmering pond. "Yes, she loved to garden and to be outdoors" he chuckled lightly. "She was a very adventurous woman" he paused "She died a long time ago, I was only a small child"
*Did I just confide within her?* Inuyasha never liked to speak about his mother, she was a dazzling woman that held Inu'Tashios heart firmly and because of that many demons within the kingdom despised her. To make matters worse she got pregnant and birthed a half demon son. This was an abomination towards the council and the entire kingdom. Inuyasha did truly Love his mother but, the society that surrounded him made him hate his mother for bringing him, a half breed into this very racist and divided world.
Kagome grabbed the Kings hand and held it firmly in her lap. "My mother died when I was a small child, my father passed three years ago" she smiled at him. "It seems as though we have a lot in common my King"
Inuyasha released her hands only to grab hers and placed a light kiss upon them. "We don't have to be so formal, call me Inuyasha"
Kagome blushed. "Okay my- I mean Inuyasha"
"So, what village did such a stunning woman originate from?" Inuyasha was so shocked at his sudden boldness.
"I umm" *what am I suppose to say? If I say the Higurashi clan who knows what might happen!* "I'm from a very small village, you wouldn't even know of its existence" *please buy it!*
Inuyasha seemed to be in deep thought. "As little as it may be I am glad that you were born there, if not we may not know each other today"
Kagome exhaled deeply. "Yes, I assume that is right" *thank you!*
The two chatted for another hour and they seemed to get along just great. Inuyasha had never had this much fun on date before, he had never been around a woman that was so kind and warm hearted before. His heart had never raced this fast before, not even with Kikyo. He found himself eager to know more about Kagome on a personal level. Inuyasha found himself admiring the way she talked, walked, laughed and even the way her lips curled when she smiled. This was a woman that he could not lose, and he would make sure of that.
Inuyasha looked into the bright moon and mentally sighed. "It's getting late, I should walk you back to your room"
Kagome nodded her head politely and Inuyasha wrapped his arm around hers and escorted her to her room. In about fifteen minutes they were outside of Kagomes door and she wondered how on Earth he knew exactly where to go.
*Maybe Sango was right about him putting me in his wing...*
Inuyasha blushed as he saw the odd look Kagome was giving him. "Oh! I put you in my wing to make sure nothing happpened to you, Kaede was very specific to bring you back alive and well. If you have any problems I'm just three corners down the hall" he chuckled nervously. "I'm not a creeper or anything!"
Kagome giggled at his choice of words. "Wow, creeper?" She found herself out of breath as she continued laughing. "Who knew that a King could be so funny"
Inuyasha smirked at her. "Well, to be honest, I have to act noble and present myself with proper manners and etiquette the majority of the time" he sighed as he stared into her Brown orbs. "I like to be myself but, that can only happen in the privacy of my chambers or around my close friends, Miroku and Sango"
Kagome smiled brightly. "Well, were just gonna have to change that now aren't we?"
Inuyasha chuckled. "Now you're the funny one" he took her hand and placed a small kiss upon it. "I had a great night with you, I hope to do this again"
Kagome felt her body temperature raise as he held her hands. Her heart fluttered as his eyes entranced hers. "I as well"
Kagome slowly opened her bedroom door and grudgingly entered. "Good night Inuyasha"
"Good night Kagome"
She closed the door and instantly her knees felt like jelly. She slowly slid down against the door as her legs gave out on her.
Inuyasha made it back to his bedroom and as he opened the door he was met with gold absorbing eyes staring at him very curiously.
Inuyasha chuckled as he walked past him and began to remove his clothing. "Now I believe this is just stalking"
Sesshomaru sat down in a nearby plush chair. "You seem to be very fond of this young lady"
"Feh! I knew I smelt your scent in the vicinity"
"She seems quite fitting for the title. She posses the looks, etiquette, knowledge, and hopefully strength."
"Don't get excited over one nice girl Sesshomaru, there are many, many others remember?" Inuyasha plopped into his bed and got under the covers.
Sesshomaru smirked at his brother's words. "I believe I was in your situation when I met Rin" he got up from his seat and proceeded to the door. "Denial will only hurt you and your intended, I regret not listening to Father sooner"
He exited the room and allowed his younger brother to soak in his words.
*Sesshomaru was in denial about Rin for months but, Sesshomaru couldn't see past his hatred for humans and see that his mate was standing directly in front of his face. During that time period he pushed Rin away when he needed her the most and caused a lot of unnecessary drama. After Father died he finally came to his senses and married Rin, even though it was secretly.*
Inuyasha stared endlessly at the ceiling. *Kagome*
Kagome calmed her racing heart as she tried to regain her shattered composure. Instantly the suppressed thoughts hit her and tears flowed heavily from her eyes. *Inuyasha has my heart racing yet, he is the one who took everything and everyone away from me in a single night? Am I crazy? Am I hallucinating? No, I wasn't dreaming, no man has ever made me feel like that, no man has ever had me lost for words like that.*
She changed back into her all white kimono and crawled into her bed. *I... I have feelings for a man that I have so much hatred for*
She turned on her side and cried hard ito her pillow. *I find myself wanting to be his wife, wanting to stand by him, even though he took my Father from me*
She wiped her tears away and pulled the covers around her tightly. *Please forgive me Father, I dont know what to do!*
Kagome cried herself to sleep within thirty minutes tops. She didn't even hear the lock on her door slowly creek as it opened. The figure cautiously entered the room and stepped very lightly to ensure that she stayed asleep. The luminous glow of the moon shone through a window and the figure could be seen clearly.
It was the King himself, staring admirably at Kagome as she peacefully slept. He only had on all white hakama pants while his tone chiseled chest lay openly. He gently steadied his arms into the soft bed and delicately wiped away one stray tear that was still on her face. He then placed a soft yet loving kiss upon Kagomes lips.
Kagome instantly sprung up and glanced around her room but, no one was there. She cautiously touched her lips and still felt the warmth, comfort and love of someone else. *Get it together, your losing it!* she sighed heavily and allowed dream land to over take her once more.
The King stood outside Kagomes door as he heard her breathing slow down and he left when he was certain that she was sleep. He then walked back to his chambers.
*I wont be in denial any longer Sesshomaru* Thought Inuyasha as a small smile crossed his lips.
And its completed! It took me a longer time to write and think of this chapter because I wanted it to be fluffy, sweet caring, etc. but, not too fluffy to the point where I skip major milestones within the relationship yada yada yada lol. I like romances to build up, and their relationship will go at a nice speed lol. As you can see Inuyasha is clearly interested in Kagome and she clearly holds feelings for him as well and she is starting to think of herself horribly because of this. Can Kagome release of the image of Inuyasha, the man who took everyone and everything away from her in a single night? What does Inuyasha have in store for Jimo tomorrow night? Will Rio ever make another appearance within the story? (GASP) Stay tuned to find out;)