A/N: I don't own Inuyasha. That's all I'm going to say because I'm too
lazy to write about you not suing me because I don't own it and the fact
that I wouldn't be wasting my time writing fanfictions if I did own it
okay?
Summary: Princess Kagome had never agreed with the way that her father, the king, made youkais fight to the death, only for entertainment. She sincerely wants to stop the fighting and cruel treatment, so what does she do? She falls in love with one.
The Gladiator
The crowd exploded into applause as the beast fell, writhing around on the ground in obvious pain. They watched in excitement as the ground was slowly tainted with crimson red, as they cheered madly.
The sea of faces turned to the man overlooking the crowd, as they reeked with anticipation.
However, there was one person who wasn't looking at the king with happiness, and that was the girl sitting just to the left of them. Princess Kagome, the heiress to the throne, soon to be queen, sat looking at her father with complete anguish in her hazed eyes.
'Please no. Father, please.' She begged mentally. She dared not say it out loud, for she knew insubordination to the king, father or not was unacceptable.
Still, she hung to the single thread of hope that her father's kindness hadn't completely dissolved from his soul.
The thread was soon cut, to her dismay as he lifted his hand. She heard the crowd's intake of breath as he slowly curled his fingers building the anticipation. Slowly, only his thumb pointed out as he pointed his thumb down to the ground.
The crowd erupted as their Lord completed the signal. Princess Kagome's eyes closed in dismay, three years ago, she would have looked at him with disbelief, but that had worn away. The warm, kind man was gone, in his place was this. This person whom she didn't know. Years of him signing death warrants with a single gesture of his hand had caused her to accept the fact that he had changed.
Kagome watched as the victorious demon walked up to the other, who was still panting heavily on the ground, choking up a warm, crimson liquid. As the demon gasped for its final breath in the living world, they watched in excitement as the final blow was made. The princess turned away at the gruesome sight when the crowd's silence was pierced with cries of enjoyment. Enjoyment from killing. From another departure from the cruel world.
A tear ran down her cheek for someone she didn't know, someone she would never know. Lord Higurashi looked down at his daughter, still smiling from the show. His face hardened, "Kagome, what's wrong with you now?" He asked with now warmth or concern in his voice.
All she could do was sit there and stare up at her father...no, her father was gone, this man in front of her. "Nothing my Lord, just so...excited." She said, forcing the last word.
He smiled, but it wasn't a kind smile, it was malicious, evil. "It is your birthday soon is it not?" He asked.
She was surprised by the sudden change of topic. 'So, he does remember something about me.' She thought dryly. "Y-Yes my Lord." She replied.
He smiled at her again, his breath held the stench of sake that intoxicated her with every word, but what he said next was enough to make her cringe in disgust. "Well, I will give you the honor, my dear daughter, to choose the next two combatants." He said, still smiling that cruel smile.
"O-Oh!" She said, "H-How, very...exciting!" She choked out. He was too drunk to see that she had stuttered from anguish instead of "excitement."
"Good, good, I'll have that ruddy woman servant take you down tonight." He said, taking another sip of his sake.
"You mean Sango?" Kagome asked, frowning slightly.
"Y-Yah, yeah, Bango, sure, have her fetch you tonight, and you go to, go to, the, the...da.......... um...eh?" He was drinking too much sake. Kagome sighed, even when he was the father that she knew and loved he was not one to hold sake very well, this was one thing that didn't change.
"The chambers?" She offered.
"Huh? Oh! Yeah, yeah, the changers! Yes! Go choose the kompatentz...you choose....yeah...'appy 'irthday...." Kagome watched as his eyeballs swirled to the back of his head as he fell with a THUMP to the ground. She sighed as the guards hurried around him in worry.
"Thanks father." She said with a fake smile. She turned around in her seat, careful to prevent her eyes from traveling to the battlefield, she took her untouched sake cup and took a long swig. "Thanks a lot."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Chapter 1: The Birthday Present~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A young girl ran through the woods, she was holding something in her arms, glistening tears and ebony hair flew in back of her as she ran. Panting heavily, she neared the castle (Note: The castle isn't the kind of Roman castle that gladiators were really from, this takes place in Japan so picture more like, Naraku's castle, only with more levels and turns, okay, back to the story). Soon enough, she threw open the shoji, flying through the halls. She turned one corner, but ran headfirst into a hard figure. She flew back, landing heavily to the ground.
Looking up sorely from the floor, she saw just the man she was looking for. She gazed at Lord Higurashi with tears flowing freely from her hazed, strong blue eyes. His look softened at the sight of his daughter.
"Kagome, oh sweetie, what's the matter?" He asked, picking the small girl into her arms. Her figure fit perfectly in his strong hold, creating a soft, safe atmosphere for the troubled girl.
Kagome sniffed, she held out what she had been cradling in her arms. It was a tiny, calico kitten. It's soul was gone from the tiny, defenseless body, and Kagome's arms were slightly covered with the creature's blood. She hugged it to her chest, her white kimono tinged with crimson. "I-Is it dead?" She asked, trying so very hard not to sob.
The man looked at her with soft, identical blue eyes. "I'm sorry honey." He said quietly, holding her closer. "These things happen." He said, trying to tell a four year old this wasn't easy, however he knew, living in the age that they did, this would not be the first time she was exposed to death.
"B-But," She stuttered, but her sorrow held her back from saying anything. She broke into sobs as she squeezed the lifeless form in her arms.
He couldn't stand to see her like this. "Kagome, that face doesn't suit you." He told her, removing her to one arm, he lifted one hand to wipe away her tears. She looked up at his loving face.
"Daddy..." She said quietly.
"I promise." He began, wiping yet more tears away from her small face. "I will do anything to stop you from this sad face again okay?" He asked her. Slowly, her features changed into a small, sad smile.
"I love you daddy."
"I love you too."
The scene faded, and soon all that was left was darkness.
Soon, another scene blurred into focus.
Now, there was a taller and older version of the same young girl. Her face was once again distressed, full of anguish as tears flowed from the same powerful eyes.
"Father! What's going on?" She cried.
He smiled at her. "The Romans have started to try it. It proves of great entertainment Kagome." He said in a cold tone, looking down at his daughter.
"You're KILLING them!" She cried.
"No dear, they kill each other normally. They're DEMONS Kagome, they don't have feelings. Besides, they would kill us if they are not controlled." He informed her.
"Princess Kagome! Princess Kagome!" She heard the voice in the darkness, fighting to see light once more, her eyes opened slightly.
"Princess Kagome!" She was in her bedroom chambers. "Princess Kagome, I'm sorry to wake you, but the Lord sent me. Kagome's hazy vision soon came into focus as she recognized the voice. The lady servant, Sango stood above her futon, looking down at her expectantly.
"Wh-what is it?" She asked, tiredly.
"Your father informed me of your present." Sango stated, straightening as Kagome sat up.
"Oh, great." Kagome said, remembering the glorious gift her father had presented to her.
Sango looked at her highness, "Do you want to talk about it?" She asked quietly. Kagome offered a warm smile. The truth was, they were more friends than anything else. Sango knew more about her than she herself, and could recognize despair in a heartbeat. Still, she refused the offer.
"Let's just get this over with." She said reluctantly. Sango nodded in understanding as Kagome got out of her futon.
During the silent trek to the prisoner's chambers, Kagome's mind wondered to the dream. It wasn't a dream really, but a memory. So many promises had been broken by her father, or at least the man who had possessed her father.
All those ground breaking promises he had made.
'I'll always protect you Kagome.'
'I'll never let anyone hurt you Kagome.'
'I'll always love you Kagome.'
'You'll always be first Kagome.'
Each of those promises had been broken.
He didn't let anyone hurt her because he hurt her enough himself.
He had stopped loving her, loving nothing but money and pleasing the public.
She wasn't first in his life, no longer did she hold a place in his heart for her. The only thing that came first in his life was this. This. What was it? A way of living? A business?
Whatever it was, killing and torture was the only thing that came first in his life.
'Father' She thought to herself. 'You said you'd protect me...but can you protect me from yourself?' she thought to herself solemnly.
The man had changed, there was no doubt about that. Now, he found pleasure in killing. He found excitement in the crimson red liquid that now tainted almost every inch of the battlefield. He found pleasure as souls left their bodies. He found happiness in death.
Now, she would be helping him. She would send two people out to fight, one of whom, would be dead not too long from now.
People die every day. That's what she told herself. But why this? Why send more people to die?
Sure youkai and humans are different, but why had the world changed? Why had everything become so difficult?
Her questions ceased as they approached the entrance to the prisoner chambers. 'This is my birthday present hm?' she thought bitterly.
'I can't believe I'm doing this.'
She reached for the opening, and stepped hesitantly into the darkness.
Never had she remembered her heart pounding so much. She had always had the power to sense demons. It was something that came naturally to a miko. This room almost made her head spin with the feeling of demonic power.
Just as she was about to turn back, she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. Sango looked at her in support. "Kagome..."
Kagome looked at the older girl and nodded in thanks. She turned back slowly to the darkness of the room. Blood red eyes turned to her as she froze once more.
She forced herself to walk down the aisle between what looked like a jail. Cells on either side of her, she continued down, forgetting about her task to choose the combatants.
However, something made her stop, oblivious to the fact that Sango had just ran into her, she turned to her right. "What is it?" Sango whispered from behind her.
Kagome ignored her for a moment. She stared into the darkness of the cell. The dim lighting from the moonlight shining through steel bars was just enough for her to see the figure's features. There, in the cell, slumped against the wall was a young man. The boy had long, silvery hair that sparkled in the moonlight. His eyes were a golden gleam as he stared motionlessly at her.
Gold met Blue as the gazes locked.
Silence filled the air as the wind raged outside the building.
Suddenly, the man broke the silence, "Wench, what the hell are you staring at?" He abruptly lunged forward. She winced slightly as he clashed with the bars. But it was then that something around his neck began to glow. Kagome watched with wide eyes as he was pulled back to the wall, chains around his wrists and neck shone with bright red.
A blood curling scream escaped from his lips as smoke began to emerge from where the shackles clung to him. Kagome watched in surprise and anguish as he clutched at his neck in pain.
Then, as soon as it began, it stopped. "Dammit." She heard him say.
This boy felt different from the rest. That was what had made her stop, his demonic aura wasn't as strong as the others. Her eyes widened in understanding, "You're a hanyou." She inquired.
He did nothing but glare at her, rubbing his neck. She winced at the sight. He was in so much pain. So this was how they kept the demons in control? Was this the cruelty that humans showed now?
"Kagome, maybe we should...." Sango started.
"No! Sango! Don't you see this? Don't you see what's going on?" Kagome asked her friend helplessly. Making the youkai fight was cruel enough, but this?
"Get out of here human." Kagome turned to where the voice had come from.
"What?" She asked.
He smirked at her. "Rest assured, once I get out of here, I'm going to tear you to pieces." He threatened.
Her eyes softened. He hated her. He had every reason to hate her. Once again their gazes locked.
She stepped closer to the cell.
Closer.
Closer.
She was right up to the bars. Kneeling down, she was at eyes level with him, still continuing the icy gaze.
His eyes widened slightly. What was she doing? Why couldn't he sense her fear? Why was there no hate in her eyes like the rest of the humans?
"What are you?" He asked. The only thing he had ever seen in a human's gaze was hate, fear, or disgust. Surely, this couldn't be a human.
Before she could answer, a voice cut into the room. "I see you've chosen. Yes, this should be an interesting match, I'm proud of you Kagome."
A/N: Sorry it's short. Please review anyway. This will get better I promise! ^_^
Summary: Princess Kagome had never agreed with the way that her father, the king, made youkais fight to the death, only for entertainment. She sincerely wants to stop the fighting and cruel treatment, so what does she do? She falls in love with one.
The Gladiator
The crowd exploded into applause as the beast fell, writhing around on the ground in obvious pain. They watched in excitement as the ground was slowly tainted with crimson red, as they cheered madly.
The sea of faces turned to the man overlooking the crowd, as they reeked with anticipation.
However, there was one person who wasn't looking at the king with happiness, and that was the girl sitting just to the left of them. Princess Kagome, the heiress to the throne, soon to be queen, sat looking at her father with complete anguish in her hazed eyes.
'Please no. Father, please.' She begged mentally. She dared not say it out loud, for she knew insubordination to the king, father or not was unacceptable.
Still, she hung to the single thread of hope that her father's kindness hadn't completely dissolved from his soul.
The thread was soon cut, to her dismay as he lifted his hand. She heard the crowd's intake of breath as he slowly curled his fingers building the anticipation. Slowly, only his thumb pointed out as he pointed his thumb down to the ground.
The crowd erupted as their Lord completed the signal. Princess Kagome's eyes closed in dismay, three years ago, she would have looked at him with disbelief, but that had worn away. The warm, kind man was gone, in his place was this. This person whom she didn't know. Years of him signing death warrants with a single gesture of his hand had caused her to accept the fact that he had changed.
Kagome watched as the victorious demon walked up to the other, who was still panting heavily on the ground, choking up a warm, crimson liquid. As the demon gasped for its final breath in the living world, they watched in excitement as the final blow was made. The princess turned away at the gruesome sight when the crowd's silence was pierced with cries of enjoyment. Enjoyment from killing. From another departure from the cruel world.
A tear ran down her cheek for someone she didn't know, someone she would never know. Lord Higurashi looked down at his daughter, still smiling from the show. His face hardened, "Kagome, what's wrong with you now?" He asked with now warmth or concern in his voice.
All she could do was sit there and stare up at her father...no, her father was gone, this man in front of her. "Nothing my Lord, just so...excited." She said, forcing the last word.
He smiled, but it wasn't a kind smile, it was malicious, evil. "It is your birthday soon is it not?" He asked.
She was surprised by the sudden change of topic. 'So, he does remember something about me.' She thought dryly. "Y-Yes my Lord." She replied.
He smiled at her again, his breath held the stench of sake that intoxicated her with every word, but what he said next was enough to make her cringe in disgust. "Well, I will give you the honor, my dear daughter, to choose the next two combatants." He said, still smiling that cruel smile.
"O-Oh!" She said, "H-How, very...exciting!" She choked out. He was too drunk to see that she had stuttered from anguish instead of "excitement."
"Good, good, I'll have that ruddy woman servant take you down tonight." He said, taking another sip of his sake.
"You mean Sango?" Kagome asked, frowning slightly.
"Y-Yah, yeah, Bango, sure, have her fetch you tonight, and you go to, go to, the, the...da.......... um...eh?" He was drinking too much sake. Kagome sighed, even when he was the father that she knew and loved he was not one to hold sake very well, this was one thing that didn't change.
"The chambers?" She offered.
"Huh? Oh! Yeah, yeah, the changers! Yes! Go choose the kompatentz...you choose....yeah...'appy 'irthday...." Kagome watched as his eyeballs swirled to the back of his head as he fell with a THUMP to the ground. She sighed as the guards hurried around him in worry.
"Thanks father." She said with a fake smile. She turned around in her seat, careful to prevent her eyes from traveling to the battlefield, she took her untouched sake cup and took a long swig. "Thanks a lot."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Chapter 1: The Birthday Present~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A young girl ran through the woods, she was holding something in her arms, glistening tears and ebony hair flew in back of her as she ran. Panting heavily, she neared the castle (Note: The castle isn't the kind of Roman castle that gladiators were really from, this takes place in Japan so picture more like, Naraku's castle, only with more levels and turns, okay, back to the story). Soon enough, she threw open the shoji, flying through the halls. She turned one corner, but ran headfirst into a hard figure. She flew back, landing heavily to the ground.
Looking up sorely from the floor, she saw just the man she was looking for. She gazed at Lord Higurashi with tears flowing freely from her hazed, strong blue eyes. His look softened at the sight of his daughter.
"Kagome, oh sweetie, what's the matter?" He asked, picking the small girl into her arms. Her figure fit perfectly in his strong hold, creating a soft, safe atmosphere for the troubled girl.
Kagome sniffed, she held out what she had been cradling in her arms. It was a tiny, calico kitten. It's soul was gone from the tiny, defenseless body, and Kagome's arms were slightly covered with the creature's blood. She hugged it to her chest, her white kimono tinged with crimson. "I-Is it dead?" She asked, trying so very hard not to sob.
The man looked at her with soft, identical blue eyes. "I'm sorry honey." He said quietly, holding her closer. "These things happen." He said, trying to tell a four year old this wasn't easy, however he knew, living in the age that they did, this would not be the first time she was exposed to death.
"B-But," She stuttered, but her sorrow held her back from saying anything. She broke into sobs as she squeezed the lifeless form in her arms.
He couldn't stand to see her like this. "Kagome, that face doesn't suit you." He told her, removing her to one arm, he lifted one hand to wipe away her tears. She looked up at his loving face.
"Daddy..." She said quietly.
"I promise." He began, wiping yet more tears away from her small face. "I will do anything to stop you from this sad face again okay?" He asked her. Slowly, her features changed into a small, sad smile.
"I love you daddy."
"I love you too."
The scene faded, and soon all that was left was darkness.
Soon, another scene blurred into focus.
Now, there was a taller and older version of the same young girl. Her face was once again distressed, full of anguish as tears flowed from the same powerful eyes.
"Father! What's going on?" She cried.
He smiled at her. "The Romans have started to try it. It proves of great entertainment Kagome." He said in a cold tone, looking down at his daughter.
"You're KILLING them!" She cried.
"No dear, they kill each other normally. They're DEMONS Kagome, they don't have feelings. Besides, they would kill us if they are not controlled." He informed her.
"Princess Kagome! Princess Kagome!" She heard the voice in the darkness, fighting to see light once more, her eyes opened slightly.
"Princess Kagome!" She was in her bedroom chambers. "Princess Kagome, I'm sorry to wake you, but the Lord sent me. Kagome's hazy vision soon came into focus as she recognized the voice. The lady servant, Sango stood above her futon, looking down at her expectantly.
"Wh-what is it?" She asked, tiredly.
"Your father informed me of your present." Sango stated, straightening as Kagome sat up.
"Oh, great." Kagome said, remembering the glorious gift her father had presented to her.
Sango looked at her highness, "Do you want to talk about it?" She asked quietly. Kagome offered a warm smile. The truth was, they were more friends than anything else. Sango knew more about her than she herself, and could recognize despair in a heartbeat. Still, she refused the offer.
"Let's just get this over with." She said reluctantly. Sango nodded in understanding as Kagome got out of her futon.
During the silent trek to the prisoner's chambers, Kagome's mind wondered to the dream. It wasn't a dream really, but a memory. So many promises had been broken by her father, or at least the man who had possessed her father.
All those ground breaking promises he had made.
'I'll always protect you Kagome.'
'I'll never let anyone hurt you Kagome.'
'I'll always love you Kagome.'
'You'll always be first Kagome.'
Each of those promises had been broken.
He didn't let anyone hurt her because he hurt her enough himself.
He had stopped loving her, loving nothing but money and pleasing the public.
She wasn't first in his life, no longer did she hold a place in his heart for her. The only thing that came first in his life was this. This. What was it? A way of living? A business?
Whatever it was, killing and torture was the only thing that came first in his life.
'Father' She thought to herself. 'You said you'd protect me...but can you protect me from yourself?' she thought to herself solemnly.
The man had changed, there was no doubt about that. Now, he found pleasure in killing. He found excitement in the crimson red liquid that now tainted almost every inch of the battlefield. He found pleasure as souls left their bodies. He found happiness in death.
Now, she would be helping him. She would send two people out to fight, one of whom, would be dead not too long from now.
People die every day. That's what she told herself. But why this? Why send more people to die?
Sure youkai and humans are different, but why had the world changed? Why had everything become so difficult?
Her questions ceased as they approached the entrance to the prisoner chambers. 'This is my birthday present hm?' she thought bitterly.
'I can't believe I'm doing this.'
She reached for the opening, and stepped hesitantly into the darkness.
Never had she remembered her heart pounding so much. She had always had the power to sense demons. It was something that came naturally to a miko. This room almost made her head spin with the feeling of demonic power.
Just as she was about to turn back, she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. Sango looked at her in support. "Kagome..."
Kagome looked at the older girl and nodded in thanks. She turned back slowly to the darkness of the room. Blood red eyes turned to her as she froze once more.
She forced herself to walk down the aisle between what looked like a jail. Cells on either side of her, she continued down, forgetting about her task to choose the combatants.
However, something made her stop, oblivious to the fact that Sango had just ran into her, she turned to her right. "What is it?" Sango whispered from behind her.
Kagome ignored her for a moment. She stared into the darkness of the cell. The dim lighting from the moonlight shining through steel bars was just enough for her to see the figure's features. There, in the cell, slumped against the wall was a young man. The boy had long, silvery hair that sparkled in the moonlight. His eyes were a golden gleam as he stared motionlessly at her.
Gold met Blue as the gazes locked.
Silence filled the air as the wind raged outside the building.
Suddenly, the man broke the silence, "Wench, what the hell are you staring at?" He abruptly lunged forward. She winced slightly as he clashed with the bars. But it was then that something around his neck began to glow. Kagome watched with wide eyes as he was pulled back to the wall, chains around his wrists and neck shone with bright red.
A blood curling scream escaped from his lips as smoke began to emerge from where the shackles clung to him. Kagome watched in surprise and anguish as he clutched at his neck in pain.
Then, as soon as it began, it stopped. "Dammit." She heard him say.
This boy felt different from the rest. That was what had made her stop, his demonic aura wasn't as strong as the others. Her eyes widened in understanding, "You're a hanyou." She inquired.
He did nothing but glare at her, rubbing his neck. She winced at the sight. He was in so much pain. So this was how they kept the demons in control? Was this the cruelty that humans showed now?
"Kagome, maybe we should...." Sango started.
"No! Sango! Don't you see this? Don't you see what's going on?" Kagome asked her friend helplessly. Making the youkai fight was cruel enough, but this?
"Get out of here human." Kagome turned to where the voice had come from.
"What?" She asked.
He smirked at her. "Rest assured, once I get out of here, I'm going to tear you to pieces." He threatened.
Her eyes softened. He hated her. He had every reason to hate her. Once again their gazes locked.
She stepped closer to the cell.
Closer.
Closer.
She was right up to the bars. Kneeling down, she was at eyes level with him, still continuing the icy gaze.
His eyes widened slightly. What was she doing? Why couldn't he sense her fear? Why was there no hate in her eyes like the rest of the humans?
"What are you?" He asked. The only thing he had ever seen in a human's gaze was hate, fear, or disgust. Surely, this couldn't be a human.
Before she could answer, a voice cut into the room. "I see you've chosen. Yes, this should be an interesting match, I'm proud of you Kagome."
A/N: Sorry it's short. Please review anyway. This will get better I promise! ^_^
