Inspired by Stardust, The Princess Bride, Ella Enchanted, Romeo and Juilet, A Midsummer's Night Dream, and a bit of Happy Feet. Please let me know if this is good.
You've heard stories before right? Ones about fantasy, romance, adventure, stuff like that right? Well this story has got that but it's a little different from the stories you've heard.
Now before we begin let me tell you about two certain kingdoms: Meishu of the West and Khugai of the East. Both kingdoms very powerful and very prosperous, they share many similar customs one of which is something known as the Soul Song Festival. Now according to tradition, the people of both kingdoms can find their soul mate by singing a song from their hearts and if someoe else's song matches then you know that the two are meant to be. But we'll get back to that little detail later.
Our story truly begins with a little country boy called Inuyasha who once lived a carefree and happy life with a loving family. But he was only eight years old when he saw his parents viciously murdered by four hooded men who then jerked him up and dragged away to a slave trading ship. He was exposed to cruelty that no child should ever know, daily beatings and back breaking labor. The poor boy found himself praying to God to let him die so his misery could end. Then after enduring this torture for a year a miracle happened, the slave market where he was currently being put up for sale was intercepted by the royal army led by the good King Shinichiro. He had all the slave traders in prisoned and all the slaves freed and returned to their rightful homes. Well...All except one.
"Your majesty." The captain of the guards said stepping toward the king who sat on his regal steed.
"What is it Captain?" The king replied.
"This boy found we says he doesn't know where he used to live." The captian brought the fightened white haired boy up to the king's horse.
Shinichiro got down from his horse, kneeled down, and gave the boy his most kind smile.
"What's your name boy?" He asked.
"Inuyasha." He answered after hesitating for a moment.
"The captain says that you don't remember where you used to live, is that true?"
He nodded.
"You don't have to be scared, we're not going to hurt you. We just want to get you back home, back to your parents. They must miss you so very much."
"They're dead."
At last the king and his men realized that the boy had no home or family to return to.
"What should we do with him sire?" The captain asked.
Shinichiro thought for a moment, he had already taken in one orphaned peasant child about a year ago and the imperial court had berated him for it. Calling it irresponsible and foolish, threatening to consider having him dismissed if he ever took in another. But it would be cruel of him to leave the boy to fend for himself. Then he remebered the royal cook Kaede, an old but caring woman who had no husband or children or grandchildren and she was very lonely and in need of some help with her work. So he took Inuyasha with him back to castle where he asked Kaede if she would look after the boy.
"I'll take him." She said.
"Thank you Kaede. If he gives you any trouble just let me know."
"Nonsense my lord, if he gives me trouble I'll handle it myself."
"Then I leave him to you."
When the king left the kitchen the old cook approached Inuyasha who was shivering in a corner. She laid out a bowl of hot stew with some bread and a cup of water. She then sat in a chair across from him and waited. Inuyasha looked at the food suspiciously then turned his gaze to Kaede.
"It's not poisoned if that's what you're thinking." She told him. "I'd eat up if I were you. You're terribly thin and I have some things that I would like you to do tomorrow so you'll need your strength."
"Let me guess." He finally spoke. "Moving cinderblock? Pouring molten metal?"
"Heavens no! Tomorrow all you'll be doing is washing the pots and pans."
"That's it?"
"That's it. Now I don't expect you to be perfect but I do expect you to put forth an efoort and if you get lazy you'll be very sorry. You'll be given three meals a day and his majesty will have a bed sent here for you to sleep on. It won't be as grand as what he sleeps on mind you but it'll be suitable. Now start eating your supper before it gets cold, I worked hard on that stew and I don't want it to go waste."
So Inuyasha ate the stew and bread she had given him. It had been so long since he had been given a decent meal. The slave traders had pretty much starved him and the only food they gave him was scraps and bones. Before today he wasn't sure if he would ever get anything to eat again.
"Now after dinner you'll have your bath."
"Bath?"
"Yes, I won't allow someone who's dirty to work in my kitchen. You'll bathe daily."
"What do I bathe went?"
He got his answer when Kaede put him in a tub of cold water and scrubbed him.
"It's freezing!" He complained.
"You'll get used to it. My goodness child, I've never anyone so dirty."
"Give me a break, those slave traders didn't let me bathe."
"Well then it's a good thing his majesty found you when he did."
Kaede was very strict but very kind. True to her word, she made sure that Inuyasha was given everything he needed. Food, water, clothing, and a place to sleep and in return he would help her by washing the dishes and sweeping the floors. It was work but it was reasonable work and he preferred it over the torturous labor he suffered with the slave traders. One morning Kaede had sent him to check the herbs she had planted in the royal garden and as he was checking them he heard a woman's voice shout.
"Princess Kagome! Princess Usagi! Where are you?"
Looking up he saw two little girls running around in the garden. One had black hair and the other had blonde hair, they both hid behind a large hedge and peeked over the edge before giggling to each other.
"Usagi we shouldn't have run away from Miss Sakurada." The black haired girl said trying not to laugh. "We're going to get into trouble again."
"Lighten up Kagome." The blonde haired girl said. "Besides you wanted to get out of that boring lesson as much as I did."
"Hey what are you two doing back here?" Inuyasha asked them.
"Shh! We're hiding from our tutor." The blonde hushed.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because her lessons are so boring."
"Usagi you're being very rude." The ravenette said who then grabbed the skirt of her dress curtseyed. "I am Princess Kagome and this is my sister Princess Usagi."
She was a very pretty young girl, they were both very pretty but he thought that Kagome was the prettiest girl he had ever seen and for a moment he felt a little nervous about talking to her.
"I'm...I'm...Inuyasha.
"It's very nice to meet you." Kagome said. "I've never seen around the castle before."
"Well I typically work in the kitchen."
"Are you that slave boy papa found the other day?" Usagi asked.
"Um...Yes I am."
"Huh I thought you would be taller."
"Hey!"
Kagome gigled a little.
"There you two are!"
Just then a woman with reddish-brown hair came from the other side of the hedge.
"I've been looking all over for you rotten girls, just wait til I tell your father about the mischief you've caused." She scolded.
"We're sorry Miss Sakurada." Kagome said.
"Kagome I expect this kind of behavior from Usagi but from you...You should know better." She looked over at Inuyasha. "And who are you? Some tramp looking to steal food?"
"No Miss Sakurada, he's the new kitchen boy." Kagome said. "The one who will be living with Kaede."
"Oh...Young man what are you doing bothering the princesses? Get back to the kitchen!"
"Yes ma'am. Sorry."
He quickly got out of there before he caused anymore trouble.
"That was mean." Kagome said. "You probably hurt his feelings."
"Kagome royal princesses do not associate with kitchen boys. Best to avoid him." She took both Usagi and Kagome by the hands. "Now come along girls, you must finish your lessons."
She pulled them away as she walked back toward the castle. Later that evening as he was finsihing up sweeping up the ashes from the fireplace he heard the door to the kitchen creak open. At first he thought it was Kaede but quickly remebered that she had gone for a quick trip into the market place to buy some eggs for tomorrow's breakfast. Looking around to see who it was, he saw that the person entering the kitchen was Kagome.
"What are you doing here?" He asked her.
"I wanted to apologise for my tutor's behavior. I hope this will make amends, I swiped it from supper." From her dress pocket she pulled out a napkin that had something wrapped in it and handed it to him. "Please don't hold it against her, she's cranky but she means well."
"Thanks but you better leave. If somebody sees you down here I could get into some real big trouble."
"Alright. I hope you like it."
She left, Inuyasha unwrapped the napkin and found a tart inside. He felt his mouth water immensely, he couldn't remember the last time he had eaten a dessert. The tart was real sweet, warm, and delicious. He had just finished eating it when Kagome suddenly came back.
"Hey Inuyasha I forgot to ask you something." She said. "I'd really like to talk to you again. Would you mind coming to see me in the garden tomorrow afternoon?"
"Uh...Sure."
"Okay. See you then."