Disclaimer Notice : Forgot to put this but no I don't own Inuyasha – sobs – This goes for all chapters 'kay, so NO suing !
- Btw, whats AU ? Hehe ..
" WHAT ?! " a young hanyou exploded, as he sent a priceless glass vase hurtling at his older brother. Older half brother.
The hanyou's strange, yet exotic amber orbs flashed at the demon in front of him, and whirled around to face him. His fangs bared and his long silver white hair was messily tossed over his shoulder. His red haori fluttered at his wild movements, as his clawed hand extended to throw the vase at his brother.
The older demon, who was staring passively at his older kin, simply stepped aside and let the plate smash into the wall behind him. Sesshomaru was in no mood to play games today, especially with his stupid younger brother. Sesshomaru lifted his chiseled chin at his brother, letting his long silver white hair brush down his back, which was covered with an elaborate kimono and pieces of armor.
Narrowing his also amber eyes at the hanyou, the older youkai repeated the very same words that sent Inuyasha off into his temper tantrum. One that included a hell of glass breaking.
" Inuyasha, father has decided that since you are seventeen, you will need to find a mate. But how he knows that you'll born into a stubborn fool, I do not know. Father has already planned this arrangement, ages before you were born .. even before I was born. So I suggest you keep your wide trap closed and just do as he says. "
Inuyasha let out a desperate shriek and sent a bonsai pot straight at his brother's emotionless face. " I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY OR WHAT HE SAYS ! I'M ONLY SEVENTEEN AND I'M NOT GETTING MARRIED ! NOBODY TELLS ME WHAT TO DO AND YOU CAN'T EITHER !! " Inuyasha spat as he grabbed a marble statue next to him. A marble statue the size of him.
" Fool, " Sesshomaru muttered. Suddenly, he was in front of Inuyasha, his clawed fingers wrapping around the younger demon's throat.
Inuyasha's amber orbs widened and he dropped the statue, letting it break into millions of pieces under his feet, which was now two feet off the ground. Sesshomaru narrowed his amber eyes and tightened his grasp. " I am here to tell you once, and you listen carefully. You will do what father tells you to, or be ripped in half. Father is not in his best mood lately, for your future wife is arriving late. So you better get ready, for your wife will be arriving here any minute now. "
" W-W-WHAT ?! " Inuyasha managed to sputter as he grabbed Sesshomaru's wrist.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes deeper into menacing slits. " She will be coming any minute now, so stop acting like such a upset child who lost his pacifier. The other kingdom may get a bad impression of us, if they see you stomping around like a madman, Inuyasha. " Breathing very dangerously, Sesshomaru dropped Inuyasha onto the ground and walked away.
Inuyasha grunted as his bottom hit the hard marble floor. Shaking his fist, Inuyasha called after his brother. " Come back here and MAKE ME you-sad-disgrace-for-a-demon-that-looks-like-a-girl ! "
After twitching his dog ears attentively for a few moments, Inuyasha gave up, knowing Sesshomaru wouldn't answer. This place was so boring without anybody to argue with. Hopefully his new wife would be competition ..
Inuyasha scrunched up his face in disgust, shaking his head violently. Eww .. how could he HOPE how his wife would be .. any women are disgusting !
His features still scrunched up, Inuyasha stomped off down the hall after his brother. Seething with anger, Inuyasha's mind began to whirl with unhappy thoughts. Like always.
Damn it ! Why do I have to always be the one tortured mercilessly ?! Why can't Sesshomaru be the one this time ?! Damn Sesshomaru, that arrogant bastard ! Thinks he's so powerful with his girly looks. Feh .. if looks could kill, I would've been dead the moment I was born. Now I know why I think the other men in the village look so strange .. I've been staring at a guy who wears eyeliner and blush too much !
Even though that wasn't true, Inuyasha liked to think that. Feeling just a slight better with himself, Inuyasha slowed his stomping pace to a fretting one. He couldn't believe his father didn't tell him AHEAD of time ! If he knew a few years ago, he would've had the chance to run away !
Inuyasha automatically lowered his eyes, as the thought of running away came into his mind. Where would I run ?There would be no place that I could be accepted in ..
Inuyasha growled to himself, and felt his claws sink into his palm. Those memories, just came flooding back like a sledgehammer over his head. Those memories .. those painful memories.
Inuyasha could almost remember everything, all the odd stares, the cruel laughter, and their merciless actions. All the people, children, women and men, did everything to kill the mindless monster that once lived in their village .. that mindless monster .. that halfbreed. You belong nowhere, not in the human category, or the demons. You were nothing in their eyes, but a toy to play with, just because you were a hanyou. Kids would throw rocks at you, till you were bruised all over. Women would shun you away, and give you looks that could freeze fire. Men would beat you with their spears and sticks, laughing all the way. Everybody would try to destroy the evil in their village, even if you were just a child .. like I was.
Inuyasha's eyes narrowed, as he bent his head. I thought .. when they realized I was belonged to royalty .. they would pay some respect to me. But I was wrong. Instead, all the people, cried and sobbed, begging for the gods to forgive them. They thought they had did something wrong .. to deserve a future ruler like me. No matter where I go, humans feared me, and would do everything in their will to kill me .. to live peacefully again. Even though you did nothing, you would be blamed for everything. If somebody died, you would be blamed for cursing them. If their crops did not grow, they would think you poisoned it by living. If an illness was spread among them, you would be blamed that you had started it. They thought if they got rid of me .. their lives would be pure and normal. No matter what you do, it would be wrong .. even though it's right. And now I have to marry a human .. that would probably shun me like every other normal person would in their life.
" I don't need this. " Inuyasha suddenly blurted out loud to himself. " Man .. why the hell am I wasting my time thinking of the stupid past that will never overcome ? I could be .. could be .. training or something. Yeah, " Inuyasha's frown slowly turned into a smirk. " I'll go ' train ' and piss my father off cause I won't be there to greet my .. " Inuyasha inwardly shuddered. " F-f-f-uture w-w-w-WIFE ! "
Inuyasha groaned. I said those nasty, dirty words. Now I have to go wash my mouth ..
Quickly looking around to check if anybody was there, and seeing that the coast was clear, Inuyasha dashed off to his room. Leaping across his basketball court-sized room, he jumped out of his opened window. Running swiftly down the castle roof, the half demon leapt into the air, letting the wind whip across his cheek.
Inuyasha's amber eyes moved quickly across the field, searching for any guards or servants, before making a mad dash towards the wide span of blue stretching across the land. Inuyasha automatically half grinned and his pace quickened. The ocean ..
Inuyasha gave one giant leap and landed behind a huge cliff that covered the view of the ocean. His feet touched the soft, grainy sand and he looked around before walking up to the blue that washed up on the shore.
The wind caressed his silver hair as he sat down into the sand. The sun shone above his head, and the blue just seem to stretch on forever. This was his favourite place to think .. besides the cherry blossom tree in his garden. But there, maids and annoying bastards would disturb him.
Closing his eyes, Inuyasha let the sun rays hit his fair skin, as he felt himself drift away with the tide.
===
Kagome quickly hopped out of the carriage, surprising the doorman holding the door for her.
She landed with her feet hitting the ground hard, causing the mud from the mud hole she was lucky to land in, to splash all over her kimono. Groaning, Kagome gave the doorman an I-hate-you glare before he shrugged and mouthed : Not my fault you were so stupid.
After giving the rude doorman a big lump on the head, Kagome trudged very unladylike down the path, holding up her mud splattered kimono. Great .. just when I get something new .. I ruin it. Again ..
Kagome quickly started walking up the path to the castle when she heard another carriage arrive. Without looking back, Kagome quickened her pace. Great .. Kikyou is gonna see me like this ! I'll never live it down .. maybe if I hurry .. she won't ..
" Very smart, my dear Kagome. " A sudden chilly voice sounded next to Kagome's ear.
Kagome jumped and narrowed at the person next to her right after. " How'd you here so fast ? "
Kikyou, who was walking gracefully next to her, kept looking forward as she replied, " There is a thing called ' walking ' .. besides wobble-like-a-pathetic-duck, little sister. "
WHAT ?! Kagome froze and a comical expression crept upon her features. Kikyou didn't flinch but just walked straight forward, her expression expressionless. Even though Kagome's ears were practically shooting out steam and was breathing fire.
" W-why .. you .. you .. you .. " Kagome seethed, as she bunched her shoulders up and clenched her hands into tight fists.
Kikyou didn't answer and continued walking. She looked back once with a monotone expression and spoke to her sister in a bored tone, " Oh, and watch out for another mud hole right in front of .. "
Kagome's eyes widened as her feet touched something very soft and wet, instead of the solid ground she had recently been walking on. Before she could open her mouth to let a scream out, she fell right into the brown liquid with a ' splat '.
With Kagome's body flat in the mud and her arms and legs sprawled out, Kikyou shook her head and continued to walk, leaving Kagome bubbling curses into the wet dirt.
" Hurry up, Kagome .. they're waiting for us, " Kikyou stopped walking and took a glance at her sister, still lying emotionless in the mud. " And try to brush yourself off before we go see the King and the Queen. I don't want you looking like a homeless girl that I randomly picked up. So stay at least three meters behind me .. you are not my little stepsister. " Without anymore said, Kikyou quickened her pace up the dirt road, leading to a huge castle, appearing over the horizon.
Quickly, Kagome shot up from the mud and tried to wipe the mud off. At least say you're sorry ..
Huffing, Kagome found a big blotch of brown on the bottom of her kimono and tried to rub it off. But that only smeared further onto the fabric.
After a few more seconds of rubbing and desperate cleaning, Kagome gave up and ran after Kikyou, who was almost at the door of the castle.
The guards looked at the two ladies and nodded, knowing who they were. They shifted their gaze on Kikyou and smiled at her. Then they moved their gazes onto Kagome and looked taken aback. Well .. what do you expect ? You don't normally see princesses smothered in mud everyday.
Ignoring the snickers from the two guards, Kagome stomped next to Kikyou and both walked around the castle, where the guards have pointed for them to go.
When they turned the corner, they reached to the bottom of the cliff. Kikyou and Kagome both looked up, their gazes confused.
Kagome bit her lip and lifted her eyebrows. " T-They don't expect up us to .. CLIMB right ? "
Kikyou, who had snapped out of her reverie, gave Kagome another one of her blank stares. " No, Kagome. I think we have to go around the cliff. "
Kagome followed Kikyou's gaze and saw a big gap that lead to the other side of the cliff. Blushing a little, Kagome made a face behind Kikyou, who had already turned to walk towards it. Grrr .. she thought she had to climb for a minute too ! She thinks she's so funny .. ahh .. I could just ..
But Kagome's unhappy just melted away, letting awe replace them. She gasped as her eyes widened, and let them travel around the scene in front of them.
It was utterly beautiful.
The sky was clear, and under it was a blanket of blue. The ocean's crystal clear water lapped onto the soft golden grains, leaving seashells and starfishes behind. Birds flew above it all, landing on palm trees towering over the ocean. Exotic flowers surrounded the trunks of the palm trees, and lacing around the perimeter of the beach. It was just paradise.
Kagome gave a squeal and was about to jump into the water to wash off the dirt, when her eyes caught something silver and red.
Stopping in mid air, Kagome watched as a male figure walked slowly into the water. Her eyes followed the figure, and watched him closed his eyes.
With surprisingly fast speed, he drew out his sword that looked mighty rusty, and whipped the sword down into the ocean. Kagome wasn't prepared .. for what was next.
The moment she blinked, she felt a rush of water hit her body like library books toppling over onto her from an entire shelf. She let out a scream as a cold tide from the ocean landed on her and seeped into the cracks of her kimono. It was cold. Very cold.
When the water subsided, Kagome's mouth was hung open and her arms were held in front of her as if the shield the water.
Um .. that didn't exactly help. Since she was standing there, completely and utterly soaked from head to toe. Well .. at least some of the mud came off ..
Kagome slowly turned to her older stepsister behind her, her teeth already chattering.
Kikyou stood a safe distance away from her, completely dry and .. and .. smug ?! Kagome's nostrils flared and before Kagome could stomp up to the figure that started the tidal wave and scream at him, trumpets started to sound in the distant. Kagome turned her head, and saw a mob of people walking towards them. In the front, was two large figures, dressed richly and elaboretly.
That must be the King and then Queen of this palace .. Kagome thought in awe as she suddenly forgot all about her being all soaked and freezing cold.
After the group walked around the cliff, they strolled up to Kikyou and Kagome. Kagome's eyes widened as she saw the two most important people in this land and was dumbstruck at how .. how .. wise they looked.
Both King and Queen were dressed in an elaborate kimono, designed with swirls and clouds .. like a night's scene in Feudal Japan. They both wore a golden cape that dragged behind them and was about a meter long. The King's hair was long and silver and it reached down to his waist. His cheeks was interestingly marked with stripes, probably to symbolize that he was a demon. His kimono was wrapped loosely around his figure, and it came around his legs, puffing out like a lantern.
The Queen's kimono was long and loose and it spreaded out in all directions at the end. Her long black hair reached down to the ground and her loose sleeves were knotted in the middle of her stomach by her small frail hands. She wore no makeup, but she didn't need any. She was a rare beauty.
Kagome didn't realize she was staring, until she sensed somebody burning a hole through the back of her head. Slowly turning around, she saw Kikyou's head bent low and staring daggers at her. Then she lifted her eyes and saw all the servants and the Majesties staring at her.
Squeaking in panic, Kagome immediately dropped to the ground, burying her face into the sand. Oh god .. they're going to kill me for not being respectful ! They'll kick me out .. they'll punish me .. they'll ..
Kagome froze when she heard a low, rumbling sound echoing through the beach. Lifting her head just a bit, she could see the King .. what was he doing ? He looked like he was having a seizure. No wait .. he's .. laughing ?
Just as the King's rumbling laughter began, everybody else behind them started to laugh. A moment later, the whole crowd was roaring with laughter. At Kagome.
Kagome blushed when the laughter died down, and the Majesties walked up to her. The King smiled at Kagome warmly, even though it scared her. He looked very dangerous and very tough .. Kagome knew she would be dead just like THAT if she angered him.
Giving a small smile from the ground, the King motioned Kagome to stand up. Kagome hastily stood up and brushed herself off, but didn't look at the King. It was rude to look at the King right in the eye.
" Young lady .. what innocence ! So pure and natural, " The King smiled, even though Kagome didn't know why. " I like that. I take it that you're the young Kikyou, the princess that will marry the younger prince of this palace ? "
Before Kagome could help herself, her head snapped up, her eyes wide and panicked. " Wha .. ? NO, I'M KAGOME !! KA-GO-ME ! KAGOME ! " She said. Well actually .. it was more like a cry.
The King looked taken aback, but he laughed right after along with the servants. The Queen, who stood next to him silently, smiled kindly at Kagome, her eyes shining.
Kagome blushed and her head turned to the direction of a hiss. She saw Kikyou narrowing her grey eyes at her, and Kagome quickly looked back to the ground.
" Alright, " The King bellowed, after the laughter had died down. " You must be the little sister of my future daughter-in-law. Then where is the precious girl ? "
" I am. Kikyou, your majesty. " Kikyou stepped up, her head still stuck on her chest.
The Queen looked at the King, puzzled for a second. Quickly, she smiled, " For a second, I thought you were Kagome. You two do share similarities physically, no ? " The Queen laughed, missing the sudden stiffness coming from the two girls. " Well .. Kikyou. You seem like a wonderful daughter-in-law. Very Princess, I am glad. And this .. " The Queen gestured behind her, at the boy who had sent the water splashing all over Kagome, walk up to the crowd.
" .. is Inuyasha. My youngest son, the prince you will be marrying shortly. " The Queen smiled and placed her hand on the boy's shoulder.
Kagome's eyes lifted and she stared a the boy. Kagome couldn't help but stare. He wasn't the baddest looking boy she's seen. He had long silver white hair, like his father, and wore a red haori. He had piercing amber orbs, and .. what's that ? OH MY GOD ! DOGGY EARS ! So .. CUTE .. !
Before Kagome could start squealing, she remembered he was the one who made her soaking wet. Suddenly, the coldness came rushing back to her, that was gone the moment the King and the Queen had arrived.
Inuyasha, the prince, adverted his gaze upon Kagome and smirked. Kagome froze. Did he just .. THAT IS SO UNPRINCELY !
Without thinking, Kagome stuck her tongue out at him, and he stuck his back. For a second, lightening zapped between them and both glared daggers at each other. Kagome made a face at the boy in front of her, and thought gloomily. I don't like this guy ..
The Queen, who had noticed this, quickly gave a small laugh and stepped in front of her son. " Your luggage has arrived and has been put into drawers and shelves. We have already selected rooms for the both of you, and maybe it's best if we show you around before it gets late. Come, we will leave the two together, Inuyasha and Kikyou, to talk and get to know each other. " The Queen nodded at the King, who motioned the servants to go unpack for Kagome and Kikyou. " And Kagome, you can come with us. You can see your room first .. and .. wash up .. " The Queen said, as her eyes looked from Kagome's mud covered head to her mud covered toes.
Kagome tore her staring contest away from the doggy-ears boy and smiled at the Queen. " Okay, thanks. "
The Queen turned around to walk away, and Kagome quickly followed her. Before she walked up to the Queen, she looked over her shoulder and made a scrunched-up face at Inuyasha.
Inuyasha's eyes widened and he made a face back at her, much more twisted than hers. Kagome narrowed her eyes at him, and raced up to the Queen. " Um, your Majesty, I think I .. um .. dropped something back there. Can I go get it ? "
The Queen nodded and smiled in approval. " Of course you may, Kagome. "
Nodding her thanks, Kagome waited for the Queen the walk out of her sight, before rushing back to the cliff to scream her lungs out at the young prince. Grrr .. he's so mean ! Wait till I ..
Kagome screeched in front of the cliff and quickly ducked behind it. She saw Kikyou and Inuyasha, facing each other. Eh .. ?
Inuyasha looked away from the cliff, thinking that annoying girl was gone, when his senses finally kicked in. He could see the other girl in the corner of his eye, staring intensely at him. He turned to her, looking irritated.
" What ? " He demanded, his voice harsh and gruff.
Kikyou's cheeks reddened. Wait .. Kikyou's cheeks .. WHAT ?!
Kagome's jaw dropped open when she realized her normally stoic, emotionless sister was blushing .. and around somebody she didn't even know ! Just because he was cute with his adorable puppy-ears and all .. Kikyou wouldn't ..
Kagome's eyes widened when she realized what she had thought. Ew ! No ! That arrogant stupid dog boy is NOT cute ! He's mean, rude, and totally not fit for a prince ! Though his ears ARE very cute ..
Kagome mentally kicked herself before she waited to see what the two would do next. If this boy can make her older sister blush, then he can probably do a lot more Kagome wouldn't see everyday. This will be interesting to rub in her face someday ..
" Nothing .. I'm just thinking that you and I .. will be married less than a month. " Kikyou softly said, as she looked towards the sun setting behind the calm ocean.
Inuyasha crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. " Yeah, so ? "
Kikyou half smiled, which sent Kagome's eyes to widen. Kikyou .. neversmiled.
" I'm just wondering if I'm ever going to get to talk to you. Since you don't seem very sociable, " Kikyou looked away from the ocean and into Inuyasha's amber orbs.
Something weird happened to Inuyasha's heart just now. It .. fluttered ?
Kikyou kept her half grin and cocked her head towards him. " I can see it in your eyes, young prince. You have been hurt, and I know how it feels. We both share, the same feeling of being an outcast .. am I right ? "
Inuyasha's eyes narrowed at the strange girl in front of him. Who the hell does she think she is ? God ? How the hell did she know I have been hurt ? I'm gonna ..
Smirking, Inuyasha flashed his amber eyes at Kikyou. " Listen lady, I don't know what the hell you're talking about, but you know nothing about me .. so why don't you just .. "
" You were hurt .. weren't you .. Inuyasha ? " Kikyou interrupted, her voice surprisingly soft.
For a moment, Inuyasha was speechless. This girl .. his future wife .. seemed so sincere. And it seemed like she could understand him, without him telling her anything. Has she really shared the pain he felt before ?
Without thinking, Inuyasha gulped and replied very quietly. " Yes. " Whoa .. quietly ?!
Kikyou half grin dropped into a straight line and she shifted her gaze back onto the sunset. " I was hurt .. just like you were. I was used by somebody, who I thought I could love and be with forever. Then one terrible day .. he dumped me. He dropped me like a hot potato, and stole everything I had. My wealth, my dignity .. my soul. I was nothing for a long time .. for months and months. I cried over him, because everything seemed to perfect, and nothing could ruin it. But here I was.
" I had lost all my friends and all my allies for him. I had given them up and told them I didn't need them, because I had the love of my life. So when he left me, I was all alone. Everybody shunned me away, for being so dumb for somebody smart like me. They thought I was disgusting .. to fall in love with somebody who was so evil and self-obsorbed .. something I couldn't see till the day I lost him.
" Then .. my parents just had to adopt some girl I didn't even know .. and had to treat her like a sister just like that. I didn't even know her. And she didn't know me. She kept on trying to get to me .. but she just didn't get it. I was never going to trust anybody again .. after what that bastard did to me. " Kikyou's grey eyes dropped and she spoke softly. " Is that .. how you feel Inuyasha ? "
Inuyasha thought this girl, that he didn't even know, was talking about his soul .. in a different way. He finally realized, he wasn't alone all this time. There was also somebody else hurting out there, just like him.
Nodding, Inuyasha spoke, his voice suddenly hoarse and cracked. " Yes. "
Kikyou smiled her little half smile again, " I thought so. "
Before Inuyasha could control what he was saying, he blurted it out. " Who was that bastard who hurt you ?! "
Kikyou's eyebrows went up, which normally never did. Inuyasha mentally slapped himself for asking such personal question, but Kikyou didn't seem to mind. Instead of walking away angry, she walked right up to him and looked at the ground, letting Inuyasha have the full view of her head.
" His name .. " Kikyou breathed, her features suddenly twisted angrily. " Was Naraku. "
Inuyasha nodded, afraid his emotions would betray the weird creepy feeling he was feeling he was feeling.
Before Inuyasha could open his mouth to say anything, a body was crushed into him and a pair of small arms was wrapped tightly around his waist. Inuyasha grunted, but didn't push the figure embracing him away. He knew it was Kikyou and he knew she wasn't going to let go. Slowly and awkwardly, Inuyasha wrapped his arms around the small girl in front of him, hoping it would reassure her. What ? Reassure .. ? I don't do things like that ..
Kikyou turned her head to the side on Inuyasha's chest and spoke softly to him. " I hope, that we could talk someday .. and be married when we have to .. without hating each other at all. At least .. like me. Because I know .. we can work it out .. if we try .. "
Inuyasha's eyes widened as he automatically tightened his embrace. This girl .. knows exactly how I feel. And yet .. she wants to share it with me, when I would've shunned her away. It's like .. like she trusts me. But .. how can she trust me .. after all the pain she went through ?
Absentmindly, Inuyasha buried his head into Kikyou's long black hair, which smelt like incense. It was a smell .. that meant she spent most of her life in a shrine, not showing herself to people. That might explain how pale she was.
In a surprisingly soft tone, Inuyasha whispered, " We will. "
As if a big weight was lift off from the both of them, they silently stood there, just hugging. Letting time pass, letting the sun set. They just did it all .. together.
===
When she saw them embrace, she knew that that was all they were going to do for a while. So the little figure hidden behind the rocks got up from her hiding place and began walking back to the palace. Slowly. Her brown eyes flashed, confused, and her mind whirled with renewed respect for the girl she thought had no feelings.
So that's why Kikyou never talked to me. She was trying to hide away from all the hurt she's been through. And I treated her like dirt. What kind of person am I ? And Inuyasha .. that was his name right ? He was hurting all this time too. And I was so mean to him. I can't believe how I treated them both ..
Lost in her thoughts, Kagome walked back to the castle .. all by herself.
A/N : I guess this chapter is for Kikyou lovers ? Hehee .. – runs –