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 Thirteen;

"Fine, you get this one break." Sango glared at me, "I wouldn't give it to you, except you helped me out a lot in the past week. Don't expect it again." and flounced off.

Nida stood, her arms crossed over her chest, a triumphant expression on her face. "I told you I could wheedle her into giving you the time off dance lessons."

I just rolled my eyes.

With Nida's fairly recent pregnancy, now known to the proper officials, came a wave of frequent morning sickness that lasted far longer than just the morning. By her request, more help would be offered when she was too sick for her duties.

"But," she claimed, "I won't feel comfortable if your not at least there for the first week. All those new people in my kitchen." She visibly cringed. "It would become a wreck. Watch over them for me if need be?" She'd asked. I calmly responded that I couldn't do anything during the day because of my lessons in the afternoons.
"Hmph." She had replied. "I can take care of that."

The next thing I knew I was in a crossfire between Sango and Nida over my uses for both women, with Nida ultimately winning.

"So," she started, "you'll need to arrive in the kitchen in the morning after you've eaten. I'll have my normal second-hand assistant over seeing breakfast, but I want you there for the afternoons throughout this week." as we walked down towards the servants area.

"Why can't your second-hand assistant over see the entire day?" I mumbled, not too thrilled with this new task. Helping out in the kitchen was one thing, running it was an entirely different manner. "I mean, cooking isn't even in my repertoire of skills. Why am I the one who has to do this?"

"Because," Nida said, placing her hands on her hips and staring at me sternly, "I trust you to do a better job. You know how important this ball actually is, and why these preparations are being taken so seriously."

Silence.

"And my assistant is going out of town in the afternoon tomorrow.."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course he is." I crossed my arms and sat down on a stool as I Nida began to prattle off a list of things needed while she was out for the week.

"Oh- and you'll probably have to leave one day of the week to go pick up some stuff in the marketplace."

I felt my ears perk a bit at the words.

"You mean I'd have to leave the castle? Me personally?" I hadn't left the castle in months, and even I had to admit I was going just a bit crazy being held up in this place.

"Yeah. Is that a problem for you?" She asked, one brow shooting up.

"No, no. Its just...." I took a breath. "Do you care if, while I'm out, I go and possibly visit..." My voice trailed off, and I realized that I was just a bit homesick.

Nida stood quiet for awhile before quietly stating, "Whatever business you have may be attended to."

I nodded and replied with a soft "Thank you."

"It's a shame really, that you guys are all horded here like this." Nida placed her hands on her hips. "Taken from your families and no way to communicate with them." She 'tsk'd and shook her head. I just shrugged.

After prattling off a few more things, Nida sat. One hand clutched her stomach, the other bracing the counter.

"Need something?" I asked tentatively, being at a loss as to what to do.

"Get a damp cloth." She murmured.

I quickly raced to find a clean cloth and wet it before laying it over her head. She sighed when the coolness reached her head.

"Thanks." She said flatly.

A few moments went by silently. "You should go rest. I can handle things here."

She nodded and waddled off, already looking as miserable as if she were full term instead of a few weeks.

I shook my head once she left, glad I would never have the fears of being a pregnant hormonal woman.

I cringed at the thought and quickly wrote the list down of the things needed for the week before leaving the storeroom.

"Your not going to be with us today?" Miroku said, after practically spitting his drink across the table.

"Nope." I said, automatically wiping up his mess.

"But why? Why would they want you?" I shot Miroku a look.

"What're you suggesting monk?" I said, letting a small growl shine in my voice.

He gulped and shook his head. "I didn't mean it like that. You can't cook."

"How would you know?" I said, pinching off some bread and stuffing it in my mouth.

Miroku rolled his eyes. "Well, can you cook?"

"Well enough. I did have to actually feed myself, plus one, back at home." I replied. Miroku sat and absentmindedly stirred his food around with his pinky.

"Look, you'll be fine without me." I pushed his head roughly as I stood up. "Make some real friends who actually give a damn while I'm gone."

Miroku rolled his eyes, but waved me off all the same.

I walked away briskly, not wanting to waste time. But my ears pricking at the sound of footsteps following me caused me to turn and spy Sango casually strolling just behind me.

"Good morning, Inuyasha." She stated, voice firm and nearly without emotion.

"Morning." I swiftly tilted my head down in a bow and continued walking, Sango keeping pace beside me.

After a minute or so of her silence and constant stride next to mine, I decided to finally break the monotony.

"Soo, what're your plans for this week?"

"What since you won't be there and all?"

'Damn woman won't let it go.' I thought, but just shook my head and said "Fine, let's go with that excuse."

Sango just let out a grumble under her breath. "Every other day will be a dance lesson. One day will be devoted to getting measurements so our seamstresses can whip up something presentable for you guys for the festival." She said, eyeing my clothing. I crossed my arms and huffed.

"The rest will be a review on studies so that you'll be ready for the test next week."

Suddenly I felt like I was a little kid in grade school again.

"I'll keep that in mind." I said aloud, and began to drift off in a different direction towards the kitchen when Sango caught my sleeve.

"Hold up, this'll only just take a minute." After she had my attention, she drew her hand back. "Since you'll be in the kitchen, and won't be here to get measured, I'll need you to come up to the sewing rooms whenever you can today. Ask for Mei. She'll get your sizes."

"Are you done?" I asked, getting a little impatient with her somewhat stifling presence.

She raised a brow, something fleeting crossing over her expression, almost like amusement.

"You gonna complain if I'm not?"

"Your a real hardass you know?" I said, knowing Nida would flip if she found out I was late getting to the kitchens while she was gone.

Sango just laughed, surprising me, as I had expected to be chastised instead.

"Go on, leave." She said laughing still, waving me off.

I rolled my eyes and hurried into the kitchens, Sango's loud laugh still bouncing around my ears.

'Where is that darn sewing room?' I thought to myself, as I wandered around a hallway that I was pretty sure I had already been in. 'I'm male. I don't care about sewing. Why did she just expect me to know that? And why do we have to get new clothes? Are these not good enough?'

My thoughts continued down this road growing steadily grumpier, due to my exhaustion and growing frustration.

After having to run the entire kitchen over the course of the day, I was not in the mood to put up with crazy women flitting around talking about clothes.

And where the hell was this damn room anyways?

After asking a young woman carrying a basket of fabric, I found the sewing room, a door I had passed numerous times.

I opened the door only to reveal a place immensely larger that I could have imagined fitting behind so plain a door. Number upon numbers of women were running around, carrying assortments of cloth, ribbons, and other various sewing materials. Standing flabbergasted, I probably looked as lost as I felt.

"You needin' something?" I shook my head, trying to clear it out.

"What'dya say?" I asked, crossing my arms. I looked down at the girl who didn't look more than twelve.

"I SAID, you needin' something?" She mimicked my posture. I tried hard to hide a smirk.

"You know where I can find someone named Mei?"

The girl nodded, sizing me up, then pointed towards another door.

"She'll meet you in there. I'll get her." and with that flounced off.

Still overwhelmed, I crossed my way into the next room. It was smaller, far smaller, than the room I had just been in, but covered entirely with mirrors. It made me just as uncomfortable as the sewing room. I paced for mimnutes that felt like hours, till a small stocky woman with curled short black hair came waddeling into the room.

"You must be Inuyasha." She stated, setting down a basket with needles and measuring tools in it on a chair.

"You must be Mei." I answered back.

She nodded, and crossed her arms before looking me up and down, much like the other young girl had.

'Must be a traight for all seamstresses.' I briefly thought in passing.

After a few more minutes, Mei pointed towards the small pedastool in the center of the room.

"Stand here." She instructed.

"Feh." I answered, jumping up on it.

"Don't roll your eyes at me." She said. I just stared back at her, as she grabbed up her measure tape and needles.

"Now, hold out your arms." I obeyed silently, except for a huff.

She jotted down some numbers in a little notebook, then moved to get my height.

I heard her mumbling to herself about whether to leave the ears in or out of my height.

"Unless I'm wearing a damn hat, you don't need to worry about my ears." I stated, without thinking.

She just glanced over her shoulders tiredly at me, then continued mumbling to herself.

"Hold out your arms again." She said, beginning to take my arm length.

"Would it kill you to say please?" I said, again, without thinking.

I felt a stab so brief in my upper muscle.

"Hey! Watch where you poke that thing!" I yelled.

"Watch what you say to a woman holding needles." She answered back calmly.

I mentally stewed, and muttered something about a craggy old hag.

"What's with all you men and complaining about getting measured? What troubles do you have in life that this is really upsetting?" She grumbled at me, finishing up with her measurements.

"Don't start telling me about life troubles." She ignored me, placing her stuff back in her basket. "Besides, what's up with all the women in this castle being such sarcastic bitches?"

She just chuckled.

"It's good for you to get a healthy dose of feminism under Sango."

I rolled my eyes before feeling Mei shove my shoulder.

"Told'ya not to roll your eyes."

Glaring silently, I watched as she walked out over to the door.

"I'll need you again in two days for fitting. Sango's already told me about your off-kilter schedule, so come right after your duties are done in the kitchen." After that she left.

When I finally made it back to my room, completely skipping dinner, I crashed off into my bed. Not a minute too soon, I fell asleep deeply, never dreaming once.

Man, finally, I fit an update into my schedule. School is hectic, but I'm sure any of you in APUSH could relate.

I've been writing this chapter for a few weeks now, so sorry if it's sorta choppy. I tried to read it over and fix anything I found.

R&R,

Souzousei.