Disclaimer: I don't own it. Yet.

Authoress' Note: so it's been 75 thousand years since I've updated this and I hope you all haven't stopped reading. I was struck by my muse so I'm going to try and pump this out before I have to take a shower and go to class. There will be more updating during thanksgiving break, so you can look forward to new chapters all around. In the meantime, read this and review please!!!

Set Me Free
Chapter Eleven

Kagome walked back to her room, her head buzzing with thoughts. What am I going to do? Prince Hojo has wronged me in no way and I am lucky to have an arranged marriage to someone who truly cares for me. I'm already here, so I have to make the best of it, for my family and for my kingdom.

Before she had realized her feet had led her to her bedchambers. Standing and looking up at the magnificent stained glass doors more closely, she sighed. "I guess things could be worse" she said to herself, trying to lift her own spirits. She lifted her hand to the handle of the door and prepared herself for a heavy door to pull open. To her surprise, the door pulled open with no effort at all. She walked into her room and was impressed all over again, but this time she was impressed at the handiwork of her three slaves. The boxes had already been unpacked and the empty boxes had already been disposed of.

She walked into her bedroom where Sango was taking her gowns from their tissue and putting them into the wardrobe. She looked up when Kagome entered the room and sat down at her vanity.

"How did things go Miss Kagome?" Sango asked quietly, still working as she talked. She lifted an extravagant dress from the tissue, a pearl strand falling off of it and pearls going everywhere.

"Oh Miss Kagome! I'm so sorry! The strand must have come loose from traveling and I should have been more careful! And now the dress is ruined!" she exclaimed, trying to save herself from the punishment she expected.

Kagome looked over at the dress and felt nothing towards it. "I don't care Sango. Mother had that dress made for me, I don't care for the extravagancies of it, and I'm a simpler person. Don't worry about the pearls, just pick them up and I'll save them and have someone make them into a necklace." She said softly, her voice devoid of emotion.

Sango looked at her mistress, her face showed a look of happiness, a look of someone looking forward to marrying Prince Hojo. But her eyes and voice showed her sadness. Her deep chocolate eyes looked ready to spill tears over the happy cheeks and her voice had not been that way since the time her mother had commanded her to the east. Sango felt empathetic to Kagome, she was just a child being sent from her home; just as Sango had been when she was taken into slavery. Sango felt kindred to Kagome, knowing what she was going through, even though she didn't know what was worse in Kagome's eyes, a forced marriage or forced labor.

"Miss Kagome? Please don't cry" she said softly, knowing that she did not need to speak loudly for Kagome to hear what she was saying.

Kagome looked at her with those sad eyes and they held a gaze for a moment until a smile appeared on Kagome's face and in her eyes.

"Don't worry Sango. I'll be fine. I know that everything will be wonderful here. Prince Hojo will take care of us all here, I know he will. And we can all be happy, and together."

She's a better liar then I thought she was. She's putting on such a brave and happy front for the benefit of me, Inuyasha, and Miroku. Sango thought and then nodded, "of course Kagome. If we are all together, everything will be fine."

"Thank you Sango."

"For what?"

"Calling me by my name. You called me Kagome."

"I'm sorry Miss Kagome. I didn't realize. I will help you get ready for your dinner now if you wish." Sango stuttered out.

"Sango, Sango, calm down. I'm glad you called me Kagome. It means that you are more comfortable with me know. I'm happy that you see me as a person and not as your mistress. Thank you."

Sango was confused, she didn't know how to respond but she knew that Kagome was truly happy at her mistake. She smiled and nodded, "You're welcome Kagome." she said, putting emphasis on her name and watching her smile again.

Kagome smiled and stood up from her vanity chair. "Now I would like to take you up on the offer to help me get ready for dinner. What do you think I should wear?"

"I don't know. What would you like to wear?"

"Something…smaller. This dress is much to fancy for me. But I don't know if there will be people watching us dine tonight. But I assume that no one will be doing that until we are officially married. So I would like to wear a simpler dress. Could you find one for me?"

"Of course." Sango said and opened up the two wardrobes – the one of Kagome's dresses and the one with the gifts from Prince Hojo. She fished around within the wardrobes until she pulled out a dress she thought that Kagome would like. It was a simple, green dress with a white silken stomacher and a white silk skirt. Over that there was a green velvet dress with shortened sleeves. Sango held it up to Kagome and Kagome's eyes lit up.

"That's perfect Sango! Help me out of this dress and I'll put this on. I think my hair is okay, right?"

Sango nodded, "I think so. There isn't a reason why it would need to be changed I don't think."

Sango unlaced Kagome's gown and helped her out of it. Kagome then put on the skirt and stomacher and slipped the dress on over that. She arranged the dress so it was most comfortable and rearranged her hair a little so it fell more gracefully.

She stood in front of her mirror and smiled, "Do I look like a princess?" she asked Sango, still looking into the mirror.

"No Miss Kagome. You look like a queen."

Kagome smiled and took a deep breath, "Let's hope I'm ready for that." She said and moved away from the vanity and stood in front of her chamber door. She opened the door and walked out into the antechamber where Miroku and Inuyasha were both sitting; having completed their tasks.

Kagome walked out and both of their eyes widened.

"Miss Kagome" Miroku said, "You look…"

"Beautiful" Inuyasha finished, although louder than he would have hoped. Kagome looked at him and smiled.

"Thank you. I'm on my way to dinner, you may go down to the kitchens and get whatever you'd like for dinner. And don't let them tell you otherwise. But I have to be on my way. I'll see you all tonight."

She was at the door when she heard Inuyasha call to her.

"Miss Kagome?"

She turned, "Yes Inuyasha?"

"Could you spare a moment to talk to me for a second?"

"Right now? Can't it be later?"

Inuyasha shook his head, "No Miss Kagome. It needs to be now."

Authoress' note: there it is! Enjoy!