Just a quick note before I get on to this chapter. I want to thank everyone who reviewed last chapter, and hand out a couple awards! A special deluxe virtual cookie goes to RiaKitsuneYoukai for being the 100th reviewer! Another special deluxe virtual cookie goes to pangie-06 for reminding me that new Inuyasha episodes are on now. I almost forgot to watch them, and that would have been truly tragic!!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha & co.

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Chapter 14: Going Crazy

They were doing it again. At first Kagome had thought it was sweet of them. Well, sweet of Inuyasha, anyway. Miroku had weirded her out from the beginning. Now it was not only weird, it was downright annoying. It was like they didn't think she could be trusted to take care of herself. Somehow the thought made her feel homesick. Kagome could suddenly feel the sensation of tears gathering. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and blinked rapidly, trying to dispel them. She was not going to cry in front of these two…these two mother hens! "Quit hovering over me!" she finally snapped.

Miroku jumped away from her guiltily, but Inuyasha stayed firmly glued to his place hovering over her shoulder. He was so close, his walking momentum carried him right into Kagome when she stopped. Kagome pushed him away with stiff arms. "I appreciate the concern, really, but I'm not helpless and I don't like you treating me this way." Kagome glared at Inuyasha, trying to catch his eye so she could drive home what she was saying.

Inuyasha turned his head to avoid her, and responded with the now-tiresome "Keh!"

Kagome leaned towards him with her arms stiff at her sides. "Will you stop saying that?!"

"Keh."

Kagome's eyes narrowed further. She stood stock still and glared at Inuyasha, determined to make him acknowledge her. Then she noticed Miroku taking advantage to try and sidle up to his old position again.

"Oooo!" She shot Miroku a quick glare before stalking off. It didn't help cool her temper any when both men immediately followed.

After about two minutes of playing the unwanted "follow-the-leader" game, Kagome stopped again. She took a deep breath to calm herself, and then turned around to face her companions. "Ten minutes." Miroku and Inuyasha both opened their mouths, but Kagome continued, "I'm only asking for ten minutes. I understand that this is a dangerous area, and I know we've been attacked a lot, but I haven't had a second's privacy in nearly a week! I just need a few minutes by myself."

The two men closed their mouths and looked uneasily at each other. Finally Miroku shrugged at glanced away. Inuyasha looked down at his feet. One ear stayed pinned on Kagome, but the other twitched around in agitation.

Kagome folded her arms and shifted her weight. "Well?" she questioned.

Inuyasha looked up at Kagome. "Two minutes."

Kagome's heart lifted inside her, but she kept her expression firm. "Eight."

"Three."

"Seven."

"Five."

Kagome paused, then nodded. "Five minutes." She smiled at Inuyasha happily.

Inuyasha pretended not to notice her smile and simply growled out "You call me if you feel even a twinge of demonic energy."

"Will do!" Kagome practically bounced away from them.

"She doesn't have to look so happy to leave me," Inuyasha muttered to himself.

"Ah, don't worry Inuyasha." Miroku clapped a hand to Inuyasha's shoulder. "Your love won't be unrequited for forever." The monk deftly dodged the blow aimed at him.

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It was with great relief that Kaede saw before her the familiar towers of the Eastern palace. "It's been far too long," she thought to herself, surprised to find it felt like she was coming home, even after all these years. "Unfortunately it is not to be a happy homecoming," she reminded herself. Still, she gave her horse a cheerful pat on the neck, and encouraged him to move a little faster.

She felt the tingle of passing through the Palace's traditional priestess barrier far sooner than she had anticipated. "They've enlarged the barrier," she realized. "Perhaps there are more troubles in the East than I am aware of."

The guards at the city entrance let her pass with only a cursory glance in her direction, and Kaede soon arrived at the gates of the Palace proper. She stopped several yards away from the gate and studied the guards posted there. She recognized none of them. Good. Hopefully they wouldn't recognize her either. She approached the younger looking of the two guards. "I come seeking employment as a Priestesses of the Royal Family," she told him.

The young man looked at her skeptically, noticing her Priestess's clothing, but also noticing her aged appearance. "I don't think the royal family is interested in grandmas, old woman."

Kaede raised a brow. "And is that your position to decide?"

The man shook his head in good humor. "No, no, that's not my decision. If you want to hear it from the Queen's lips, you're welcome to. She has the final say."

Kaede nodded firmly. "Let me pass, then."

The guard opened the door and called a courier to him. Another young man came hurrying over. "Hey, take grandma here to the Queen. She wants to be a Royal Priestess."

The courier looked at Kaede the same way the guard had, but he motioned her to follow him. "You'll have to pass inspection first, and then you can take your application to the Queen." The young man glanced over his shoulder at Kaede, saw her impatient frown, and smiled. "It shouldn't take long."

Kaede was lead down several halls and finally into a small room, where she was directed to take a seat and wait. After several moments, a young Priestess appeared. Kaede saw with relief that the girl was too young to have known her during her time at the Palace. The Priestess quickly inspected Kaede and her belongings, questioned her as to her motives, and pronounced her safe. "My name is Takeda," the young woman told Kaede. "I will take you to the Queen now." Kaede bowed her gratitude.

Kaede walked with the Priestess for a few moments before venturing a question. "Is it long since applicants have been inspected when visiting the Queen?"

"It is a more recent practice," Takeda confirmed. "We are not as trusting now as we once were."

Kaede nodded in understanding. "These are dangerous times."

"Yes," Takeda agreed. "I am glad you are come to apply. I can tell you have strong spiritual powers, and we need all the strength we can get."

The pair continued in silence until they came to what Kaede recognized as the Queen's door. Takeda knocked smartly on the door post. "Takeda, my lady," she called out.

"Please come," came the answer from within. Takeda opened the door, and Kaede followed her inside the room. The Queen was standing at a window overlooking the town. She turned from the view to look at the women entering her apartment. If she was surprised to see Kaede, she hide it completely. "Yes?"

"Your Highness, this woman comes seeking to become a Priestess of the Royal Family," Takeda announced.

The Queen nodded. "I will speak to this woman alone. Thank you, Takeda." The young woman bowed low and withdrew. As soon as she was gone, the Queen's face changed completely. She rushed forward and embraced Kaede in a fierce hug. "Kaede!"

Seeing her old friend opened the flood gates to the Queen's tightly held emotions. She sobbed into the older woman's shoulder, her throat too tight to speak. Kaede wrapped her arms around the Queen and rocked her gently until she calmed. At last the Queen pulled back. She drew a handkerchief from a pocket and dabbed her face dry. Finally she met Kaede's eye. "It's so good to see you, Kaede, and yet your presence makes me fearful," the Queen told her frankly. "Do you have my daughter with you?"

Kaede shook her head at the eager inquiry. "I do not. I'm afraid that's the reason I've come to you."

"Something has happened to Kikyo." The Queen's eyes widened and she swayed dangerously. Kaede quickly grabbed the Queen's elbow and gently helped her sit down. She took one of the Queen's trembling hands in her own and softly massaged it.

"I do not currently know the Princess's whereabouts, but I do not believe any harm has come to her," Kaede said as she gently soothed the Queen.

The Queen took a deep breath, and then nodded. "Tell me everything."

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The Queen listened to Kaede's story with alternate feelings of fear and happiness. When the old woman was finished, the Queen hardly knew what to feel.

"So, Kikyo is traveling with Prince Inuyasha, then."

Kaede nodded. "So it would seem."

The Queen's face softened. "I met him once. What a nice boy!" She pondered for a moment before continuing. "I suppose it's good for Kikyo to have time to get to know her intended. He doesn't know who she is, though. Did the villagers say anything of how he treated her?"

"Not badly, I think," Kaede responded slowly. "Though I got the impression the girl might be trying to provoke him a little. She can be like that at times."

"Really?" the Queen smiled. "It's so good to hear about Kikyo. I've often wondered what type of person she has become."

Kaede smiled in sympathy. "She's a wonderful girl, my lady. I don't think you'll be disappointed."

The Queen's smile broadened for a moment, but her expression soon turned serious. "My daughter is in grave danger now. Naraku knows her location and we do not. We have no hope of protecting her until she is found and brought here. You say you don't know where she was traveling to?"

Kaede felt a shock go through her when the Queen spoke Naraku's name, but she put it aside for the moment to answer the question. "It's true that I don't know for certain where her group was going," replied Kaede. "However, I had time to think it over. Prince Inuyasha was leading the party, and they were headed west when last seen. I have a strong suspicion that they are headed towards the Prince's home, the Western Palace."

"I have a feeling you are correct, Kaede. That's where we'll start the search for Kikyo, then."

The Queen paused a moment, and began tapping her lips with a forefinger. Kaede took advantage of the pause. "What causes you to believe Naraku knows of the girl's whereabouts?"

"I received a letter from him several days ago," replied the Queen. She rose and went to a small desk where her letters were kept, and shuffled among the papers until she found Naraku's. She handed it to Kaede and returned to her seated position.

Kaede silently read the letter, and handed it back to the Queen when she was done. "This is very bad news. We must find and protect the Princess immediately."

Queen Higurashi nodded in agreement. "I must think carefully who to send. The search party will leave at dawn tomorrow."

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Thanks everyone for reading this chapter! I hope you enjoyed it!

Silvanon