"Quick to judge, quick to anger, slow to understand. Ignorance and
prejudice, and fear, walk hand in hand..."
~Author Unknown
All's Fair in Love and War
Chapter 32: Guilt
~Hikari Fortress (Kagome's POV)~
"There is no proof that Kikyo didn't try and kill you." Inuyasha says disbelievingly.
"She gave me her word." Kouga answers.
"I am not sure of the worth of her word." Inuyasha replies.
They face each other, anger showing on their faces.
"Inuyasha! Prince Kouga!" I interrupt.
They turn to look at me.
"Prince Kouga---I will prove that Kikyo is innocent. You must trust me."
Relief floods his face and he bows low.
"Thank-you Lady Kagome."
"You must tell me what you know."
"Kikyo said she noticed a man outside your door. She is sure she will recognize him if she sees him again."
I think about this for a moment.
"When I send someone for you, bring Kikyo, and come to the audience chamber."
He nods and then leaves the room.
"You are not Queen yet, and even when you are you will never have more authority and power then me." Inuyasha growls.
I glance at him and see annoyance in his eyes. I bow my head in acknowledgement.
"It seemed the best path to follow. I apologize for not consulting you; I am not quite accustomed to sharing my power."
He stares at me for a few moments, then looks away.
"What is you plan?"
"We must call court. Gather everyone together, and have Kikyo identify the one who was outside me door that night. He may have something to do with this."
"Let me hazard a guess," Inuyasha says with a slight smile. "You intend to be there, to personally find the criminal."
"Of course."
"And yet you can barely sit up without aid..."
I am getting impatient.
"Call together court, send for Kikyo and Prince Kouga and I assure you I will be there."
He bows mockingly.
As your Lady commands. Shall I also summon servants to help you dress."
I nod. There is no way I can do it alone.
"Very well." He says and leaves the room.
~Hikari Fortress (Inuyasha's POV)~
I wait impatiently outside the door to the audience chamber for Kagome. I look down the hall and see two footmen on each side of her, helping her down the hall. She is dressed in a full midnight-blue gown, that does not even try to hide the paleness of her skin. Her hair is piled on top of her head intricately.
She comes to stand beside me and waves the footmen away. I see her sway slightly and she raises her hand to her forehead. I wait for her to gather her strength. She lowers her hand and I am surprised by how dark and blank her eyes appear. They seem to have lost all their appearance of depth.
"It you are ready my Lady..." I prompt, offering my arm.
Looking up as if she has just noticed me she slips her arm into mine. As we walk, she rests most of her weight onto me, without giving the appearance of weakness. The doors open and we enter the silent chamber. All eyes are upon us as we slowly move up the aisle to the thrones.
The further we walk the more Kagome leans on me; I can feel her shaking with exhaustion, but she keeps her back straight and refuses to slow.
It seems like eternity until we reach the thrones. Relief washes over her face as I help her onto her throne. I sit down beside her and listen to her heavy breathing.
"Are you well Kagome?" I ask softly, concerned that she is going to faint.
"I am in perfect health." She replies with a small smile.
"Hardly."
"Well, I don't think that I will fall over and die."
I laugh softly at his.
"Let's get this over and down with."
She nods.
"Let Kikyo come forward."
Two figures push their way out of the crowd. Kouga stays at the front of the crowd and Kikyo comes forward and curtseys.
"How do you plead? Guilty or innocent to the crime you are accused of?" Kagome asks before I can say anything.
Kouga steps forward but freezes when Kagome casts a look at him.
"Innocent." Kikyo says fearlessly.
"Can you cast light on the guilty party then?" I ask.
Kikyo turns and looks onto the crowd. After a few minutes she points to a man in the second rule. His face is obscured by those in front of him. I motion to the guards and they wade through the drown to reach him. The lead him in front of me.
"This is an outrage!"
Shock courses through me. This man is a baron whose family has been loyal to the crown as long as anyone can remember.
"What were you doing outside Lady Kagome's door the night she was poisoned?" I ask him keeping my voice neutral.
His face cracks and anger blazes in his eyes.
"She is destroying you country; she was our enemy only a month ago. Now she is to made our Queen---even though she's a filthy traitor! It's impossible for any of us to continue making profits with all her new rules and regulations! I was going us all a favor."
I look out onto the crowd and see that many agree with him.
"Put him in the dungeon. His fate will be decided later." I tell the guards.
They lead him away by a side door. I glance at Kagome and see that her eyes are closed and her breathing shallow.
"Court is dismissed."
The crowds file out of the door, murmuring among themselves. The only people left are Sango, Miroku, Kikyo, Kouga and Shippo."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
thanks to: Midoriko-sama, Tamakia-gss, Hamaguri, SwtAngl53, SakuraSpring and Phoenix06 for reviewing!
~Author Unknown
All's Fair in Love and War
Chapter 32: Guilt
~Hikari Fortress (Kagome's POV)~
"There is no proof that Kikyo didn't try and kill you." Inuyasha says disbelievingly.
"She gave me her word." Kouga answers.
"I am not sure of the worth of her word." Inuyasha replies.
They face each other, anger showing on their faces.
"Inuyasha! Prince Kouga!" I interrupt.
They turn to look at me.
"Prince Kouga---I will prove that Kikyo is innocent. You must trust me."
Relief floods his face and he bows low.
"Thank-you Lady Kagome."
"You must tell me what you know."
"Kikyo said she noticed a man outside your door. She is sure she will recognize him if she sees him again."
I think about this for a moment.
"When I send someone for you, bring Kikyo, and come to the audience chamber."
He nods and then leaves the room.
"You are not Queen yet, and even when you are you will never have more authority and power then me." Inuyasha growls.
I glance at him and see annoyance in his eyes. I bow my head in acknowledgement.
"It seemed the best path to follow. I apologize for not consulting you; I am not quite accustomed to sharing my power."
He stares at me for a few moments, then looks away.
"What is you plan?"
"We must call court. Gather everyone together, and have Kikyo identify the one who was outside me door that night. He may have something to do with this."
"Let me hazard a guess," Inuyasha says with a slight smile. "You intend to be there, to personally find the criminal."
"Of course."
"And yet you can barely sit up without aid..."
I am getting impatient.
"Call together court, send for Kikyo and Prince Kouga and I assure you I will be there."
He bows mockingly.
As your Lady commands. Shall I also summon servants to help you dress."
I nod. There is no way I can do it alone.
"Very well." He says and leaves the room.
~Hikari Fortress (Inuyasha's POV)~
I wait impatiently outside the door to the audience chamber for Kagome. I look down the hall and see two footmen on each side of her, helping her down the hall. She is dressed in a full midnight-blue gown, that does not even try to hide the paleness of her skin. Her hair is piled on top of her head intricately.
She comes to stand beside me and waves the footmen away. I see her sway slightly and she raises her hand to her forehead. I wait for her to gather her strength. She lowers her hand and I am surprised by how dark and blank her eyes appear. They seem to have lost all their appearance of depth.
"It you are ready my Lady..." I prompt, offering my arm.
Looking up as if she has just noticed me she slips her arm into mine. As we walk, she rests most of her weight onto me, without giving the appearance of weakness. The doors open and we enter the silent chamber. All eyes are upon us as we slowly move up the aisle to the thrones.
The further we walk the more Kagome leans on me; I can feel her shaking with exhaustion, but she keeps her back straight and refuses to slow.
It seems like eternity until we reach the thrones. Relief washes over her face as I help her onto her throne. I sit down beside her and listen to her heavy breathing.
"Are you well Kagome?" I ask softly, concerned that she is going to faint.
"I am in perfect health." She replies with a small smile.
"Hardly."
"Well, I don't think that I will fall over and die."
I laugh softly at his.
"Let's get this over and down with."
She nods.
"Let Kikyo come forward."
Two figures push their way out of the crowd. Kouga stays at the front of the crowd and Kikyo comes forward and curtseys.
"How do you plead? Guilty or innocent to the crime you are accused of?" Kagome asks before I can say anything.
Kouga steps forward but freezes when Kagome casts a look at him.
"Innocent." Kikyo says fearlessly.
"Can you cast light on the guilty party then?" I ask.
Kikyo turns and looks onto the crowd. After a few minutes she points to a man in the second rule. His face is obscured by those in front of him. I motion to the guards and they wade through the drown to reach him. The lead him in front of me.
"This is an outrage!"
Shock courses through me. This man is a baron whose family has been loyal to the crown as long as anyone can remember.
"What were you doing outside Lady Kagome's door the night she was poisoned?" I ask him keeping my voice neutral.
His face cracks and anger blazes in his eyes.
"She is destroying you country; she was our enemy only a month ago. Now she is to made our Queen---even though she's a filthy traitor! It's impossible for any of us to continue making profits with all her new rules and regulations! I was going us all a favor."
I look out onto the crowd and see that many agree with him.
"Put him in the dungeon. His fate will be decided later." I tell the guards.
They lead him away by a side door. I glance at Kagome and see that her eyes are closed and her breathing shallow.
"Court is dismissed."
The crowds file out of the door, murmuring among themselves. The only people left are Sango, Miroku, Kikyo, Kouga and Shippo."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
thanks to: Midoriko-sama, Tamakia-gss, Hamaguri, SwtAngl53, SakuraSpring and Phoenix06 for reviewing!