"In exile/survival/is the first necessity."
~Margaret Atwood
All's Fair in Love and War
Chapter 17: Doubts
~Regenbogen Haven (Kagome's POV)~
I pace the floor waiting for Miroku to return. I will not be angry if he hasn't caught Inuyasha and Sango. I am no longer trapped. I have another choice to pick. I am hopeful for the first time in days. We can still win the revolution. With Tour de Loup soldiers added to my armies we could match the King's army.
I hear slow foot steps outside my door and Miroku open it cautiously. I can see how tired he is, he also walk with a slight limp.
"Are you well? What happened?" I ask with concern.
He is taken aback. I can see he expected anger not compassion.
"Sango hit me and I fell of my horse."
I start laughing. It has been a long time since I laughed as I do now. I keep picturing Sango hitting Miroku. I slowly stop laughing. I become serious once more.
"Did you lose them?"
"Yes. They got across the boarder before we could catch them."
One plan over, another plan takes its place.
"Fine. We need to start preparing for war. I suspect the king will strike soon after Inuyasha and Sango return to Hikari."
He nods. I know he is wondering how I plan to win the war. He is afraid to ask. He is afraid of the rages I seem always seem to fly into lately.
"Read this letter."
I hand him the letter from the King of La Tour de Loup. He reads it carefully and then considers.
"He wants you to marry his son." He finally states.
"I know."
"You've agreed?"
"I've agreed to accept his aid. I have no intention of marrying his son."
"You plan to manipulate him? You're playing a dangerous game."
"I have no other choice. It is the only way we can win."
He nods. I know he knew that I had planned after he read the letter. He was only questioning me to find my faults in my plan.
We sit in a comfortable silence, our hopes cause the mood to lighten. After a few minutes Miroku breaks the silence.
"I almost miss having Sango and Inuyasha here. It was like having important guests."
"You visited Sango often." I point out.
"As mush as you visited Inuyasha."
I nod. It's true. I was-am-drawn to Inuyasha. Perhaps it's because he is my enemy. I always like to know what I am up against. It sounds like a lie even in my head. I know it is Inuyasha personally that I am drawn to. It has nothing to do with this rebellion. He is some one like Miroku-I admire him and value his friendship and advice. If Inuyasha was on my side he would be a valuable general and perhaps even a better friend. It is stupid to think of such things. He is the enemy. I find I cannot hate him as I used to. At least I can still hate our real enemy the King.
"Why did you-" Miroku starts but he cuts off when there is a knock on the door. I walk over to the door, I do not want to disrupt our happy gathering. It reminds me of before father died.
A messenger hands me another sealed letter. I am tired of the constant flow of letters. I thank the messenger and close the door. I walk over to my desk and look at the seal. It is blank with a small 'x' in the middle. It is from one of my informants in the village by Hikari. I hope it isn't bad news.
I break the seal and read the message on the parchment aloud for Miroku to hear.
"Lady Kagome. I have heard the King is dead. Rumors say it was poison, they also say the assassin was the son Inuyasha. He was declared King."
I finish almost unable to force my voice out. Inuyasha is King? Inuyasha is truly my enemy now? I doubt he poisoned the King-it is possible but he does not seem to wish to be King. I truthfully don't understand. It is all too strange to me.
I glance at Miroku and see he is also distracted with is own thoughts/ I force myself to think of the consequences. Could Inuyasha be a good King? I stop that like of questioning: like father like son. Can I still win the war? His power might be weaker then the old King's because he had just ascended to the throne. It is hard to say, it depends on the loyalty of the court. I know one thing: this will either raise or lower the chances of me winning. It will have an effect no matter what.
~Road to Aoi Kaze (Kikyo's POV)~
Exile. I am exiled but you wouldn't know it. Traditionally an exile is stripped of all pride and family in a ceremony before they are exiled. The ruler takes your clothes and gives you plain, uncomfortable clothes in replacement. The ruler walks you to the door to the courtyard. Outside the crowd gathers into two lines on wither side making a path. You must walk through while people hit, spit and yell at you. At the end is your family, they take away their love, the name they gave you and they throw away their memories of you. You are left naked and empty.
I am grateful I was spared this ceremony. I don't even think my exile is official. I continue to ride south along the road. I am truly alone now. I am traveling to a city full of strangers. It is strange. For the first time in my life I feel shy. What will it be like there? I have heard very little about La Tour de Loup except that they are violent people that worship a wolf god-their god of war. The name of the country means 'wolf tower' in the old tongue. (otherwise known as french ^_^) It is a strange name for a country. It is the biggest country in this land because they are constantly conquering some little country and adding it to their lands.
I admit to myself. I am afraid of being away from the Haven. I have never been away from it in my life. New people, new things. I miss the solitude of my garden. I wish everything were as it was before Kagome got her idea to kidnap the Prince. I was good at hating back then.
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yay! I finally finished this chapter! you guys don't get to know who killed the kind until (probably) next chapter. feel free to guess all you want though. i don't think there's anything else I wanted to say....nope...
THANKYS TO: Suki, ShellBabe, Mitsuko Maxwell, Kenya Skadi, Jazzy, AnzGurl, Brood Mayran, babedoll, Soudesuka-Shurikens, MJ, Thesmartazngirl, ShadowSpinner, The Weasley and Kitten Kisses FOR REVIEWING THE LAST CHAPTER
~Margaret Atwood
All's Fair in Love and War
Chapter 17: Doubts
~Regenbogen Haven (Kagome's POV)~
I pace the floor waiting for Miroku to return. I will not be angry if he hasn't caught Inuyasha and Sango. I am no longer trapped. I have another choice to pick. I am hopeful for the first time in days. We can still win the revolution. With Tour de Loup soldiers added to my armies we could match the King's army.
I hear slow foot steps outside my door and Miroku open it cautiously. I can see how tired he is, he also walk with a slight limp.
"Are you well? What happened?" I ask with concern.
He is taken aback. I can see he expected anger not compassion.
"Sango hit me and I fell of my horse."
I start laughing. It has been a long time since I laughed as I do now. I keep picturing Sango hitting Miroku. I slowly stop laughing. I become serious once more.
"Did you lose them?"
"Yes. They got across the boarder before we could catch them."
One plan over, another plan takes its place.
"Fine. We need to start preparing for war. I suspect the king will strike soon after Inuyasha and Sango return to Hikari."
He nods. I know he is wondering how I plan to win the war. He is afraid to ask. He is afraid of the rages I seem always seem to fly into lately.
"Read this letter."
I hand him the letter from the King of La Tour de Loup. He reads it carefully and then considers.
"He wants you to marry his son." He finally states.
"I know."
"You've agreed?"
"I've agreed to accept his aid. I have no intention of marrying his son."
"You plan to manipulate him? You're playing a dangerous game."
"I have no other choice. It is the only way we can win."
He nods. I know he knew that I had planned after he read the letter. He was only questioning me to find my faults in my plan.
We sit in a comfortable silence, our hopes cause the mood to lighten. After a few minutes Miroku breaks the silence.
"I almost miss having Sango and Inuyasha here. It was like having important guests."
"You visited Sango often." I point out.
"As mush as you visited Inuyasha."
I nod. It's true. I was-am-drawn to Inuyasha. Perhaps it's because he is my enemy. I always like to know what I am up against. It sounds like a lie even in my head. I know it is Inuyasha personally that I am drawn to. It has nothing to do with this rebellion. He is some one like Miroku-I admire him and value his friendship and advice. If Inuyasha was on my side he would be a valuable general and perhaps even a better friend. It is stupid to think of such things. He is the enemy. I find I cannot hate him as I used to. At least I can still hate our real enemy the King.
"Why did you-" Miroku starts but he cuts off when there is a knock on the door. I walk over to the door, I do not want to disrupt our happy gathering. It reminds me of before father died.
A messenger hands me another sealed letter. I am tired of the constant flow of letters. I thank the messenger and close the door. I walk over to my desk and look at the seal. It is blank with a small 'x' in the middle. It is from one of my informants in the village by Hikari. I hope it isn't bad news.
I break the seal and read the message on the parchment aloud for Miroku to hear.
"Lady Kagome. I have heard the King is dead. Rumors say it was poison, they also say the assassin was the son Inuyasha. He was declared King."
I finish almost unable to force my voice out. Inuyasha is King? Inuyasha is truly my enemy now? I doubt he poisoned the King-it is possible but he does not seem to wish to be King. I truthfully don't understand. It is all too strange to me.
I glance at Miroku and see he is also distracted with is own thoughts/ I force myself to think of the consequences. Could Inuyasha be a good King? I stop that like of questioning: like father like son. Can I still win the war? His power might be weaker then the old King's because he had just ascended to the throne. It is hard to say, it depends on the loyalty of the court. I know one thing: this will either raise or lower the chances of me winning. It will have an effect no matter what.
~Road to Aoi Kaze (Kikyo's POV)~
Exile. I am exiled but you wouldn't know it. Traditionally an exile is stripped of all pride and family in a ceremony before they are exiled. The ruler takes your clothes and gives you plain, uncomfortable clothes in replacement. The ruler walks you to the door to the courtyard. Outside the crowd gathers into two lines on wither side making a path. You must walk through while people hit, spit and yell at you. At the end is your family, they take away their love, the name they gave you and they throw away their memories of you. You are left naked and empty.
I am grateful I was spared this ceremony. I don't even think my exile is official. I continue to ride south along the road. I am truly alone now. I am traveling to a city full of strangers. It is strange. For the first time in my life I feel shy. What will it be like there? I have heard very little about La Tour de Loup except that they are violent people that worship a wolf god-their god of war. The name of the country means 'wolf tower' in the old tongue. (otherwise known as french ^_^) It is a strange name for a country. It is the biggest country in this land because they are constantly conquering some little country and adding it to their lands.
I admit to myself. I am afraid of being away from the Haven. I have never been away from it in my life. New people, new things. I miss the solitude of my garden. I wish everything were as it was before Kagome got her idea to kidnap the Prince. I was good at hating back then.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
yay! I finally finished this chapter! you guys don't get to know who killed the kind until (probably) next chapter. feel free to guess all you want though. i don't think there's anything else I wanted to say....nope...
THANKYS TO: Suki, ShellBabe, Mitsuko Maxwell, Kenya Skadi, Jazzy, AnzGurl, Brood Mayran, babedoll, Soudesuka-Shurikens, MJ, Thesmartazngirl, ShadowSpinner, The Weasley and Kitten Kisses FOR REVIEWING THE LAST CHAPTER