Note : Thanks itzjustme & Fay-of-Faerie for telling me what AU means =)
Kagome stripped away her dirt caked kimono and threw it onto the floor. She dropped a thick cotton towel the Queen had given her, next to her kimono and excitedly rushed up to the gigantic bathtub in the middle of the humongous bathroom. Never have Kagome seen such a big ' bathtub ' in her life. It was probably the size of a pool.
Watching the little soap bubbles dart away the moment she stuck her foot in, she giggled. She felt the warm feeling rush up her leg from the incredibly blue waters and she sunk inside. Ahh .. it felt so good !
Kagome hummed as she began to scrub herself, grimacing as the pretty blue water turned brown from all the dirt. Aww .. it's not so nice anymore ..
Continuing to scrub all the dirt off her, Kagome's mind began to wander. Kikyou seems to really like this boy .. even though I see nothing good about him. But maybe I shouldn't think that .. since he seemed so hurt. Hmm hmmm ..
Taking a deep breath, Kagome plunged under the water, hoping it could clear her mind and rinse off the leftover dirt. She stayed under and swam quietly to the bottom.
She really shouldn't have.
Suddenly, the wide doors to the bathroom swung open widely, knocking the walls loudly. A dazed prince strolled in with his face twisted confusingly. This girl .. her name was .. Kikyou ? She was hurt .. just like me. Should I really give her a chance to get to know me ? She's going to be my wife in a few months anyways ..
Without thinking, Inuyasha tore off the top outer layer of his kimono, showing his defined chest. He strolled up to the pool and stuck his feet in, his mind whirling with thoughts. Kikyou ..
===
Kagome just wanted to stay under there forever. It was so warm, with bubbles massaging her body. But unfortunately, she needed to breathe too.
She was about to resurface for more air when her eyes caught something. She froze and let out a squeak. Her eyes widened underwater, letting it sting against the bubbles. Is she seeing right ? At the edge of the pool .. are .. are those .. f-feet ?!
Kagome wanted to scream. Is there somebody there with her ?!?!?!?!!
So she did.
Inuyasha let out a sigh as he dangled his arms between his legs and bent his head low. He didn't know what to do. He's been hurt too much in his pastime .. is it alright to suddenly trust again ?
He was about to wander deeper before he heard something .. something besides his own breathing. His amber eyes quickly shifted to the middle of the pool and he saw .. bubbles ? Oh .. just bubbles. No wait .. whats that shadow under ..
Inuyasha's jaw fell open, just as a young girl bolted out the water, screaming. A teenager, around fifteen, shot out, her arms splayed across her chest, a ear piercing shriek ringing out of her wide open mouth.
Kagome stopped screaming and snapped her head forward, panicked. Inuyasha froze, as he and Kagome made eye contact.
Both teenagers stared at each other, both eyes widened in shock. Before a second was over, Kagome let out the loudest, bloodcurdling scream Inuyasha has ever heard. Inuyasha let out a strangled cry and quickly jumped out of the water. Too quickly.
In his haste to get out of the water, and bolt from the room, he lost his balance.
And fell in.
Before Inuyasha could let out his longest sentence of curses, he plunged into the hot water, making a huge splash that hit Kagome right in the face, muffling her scream.
The minute Inuyasha hit the water, he shot right out. His eyes made contact with Kagome's, and both let out a scream.
Inuyasha quickly scrambled out of the water, slipping on the slippery edge of the pool and jumped on his feet. Kagome got out as well, grabbing her towel and quickly wrapping it around her.
The two stared at each other again, their still shocked orbs locked into each other's. Neither of them moved, and Kagome could hear her heart thumping her her sn. Oh god .. oh god .. OH GOD !!
Kagome's wide brown eyes stared into the boy's amber ones in front of her. She could relate to the shocked and panicked expression he held. But she couldn't and wouldn't relate when his gaze fell under her neck.
Letting out another piercing scream, Kagome quickly grabbed one of her bathroom wooden clogs she wore so she wouldn't wet her feet, and sent it straight at Inuyasha's head.
Inuyasha's conscious didn't come back until the clog actually made contact with his head, knocking his gaze away from Kagome's chest. He let out a muffled grunt before whipping around and falling flat on his face.
Groaning, he slowly pushed himself up, forgetting where he was for a second. His ears pricked, and he instantly whirled around on the ground. His amber orbs widened. Dramatically.
In his dreams, he has never seen such evil. Not even from all the demons he battled in his entire life. Not even from the villagers who bluntly tried to beat him .. they just hit him out of amusement and for a few laughs. But this. For the first time in Inuyasha's life .. he was scared. No .. in fact, he was very, very scared.
Above him, stood Kagome, her brown eyes narrowed into such deep slits, they were barely seen. In her hands, was a thick wooden stick that servants use to stir up the bubbles, held high over her head. Her face practically shone with hatred and every feature and corner of her face spelled out ' revenge '.
You didn't have to tell Inuyasha twice.
Before he could scramble up and run, Kagome let out a pants-ripping roar and knocked the stick hard on the side of Inuyasha's head. Very, very hard.
Inuyasha let out strangled cry before his whole body was golfed, and was sent flying into the bathtub. He fell inside again, making a big splash. But he didn't stay there. Like the first time he fell in, he resurfaced, gasping for air. His head whipped around and caught Kagome raising the stick again. Oh boy ..
The moment Inuyasha took a look at Kagome's face, he jumped .. no practically flew out of the tub and running out the sliding doors like a madman. But Kagome wasn't going to let Inuyasha off that easily. He invaded her privacy, looking at something she did NOT wan a boy she didn't even know TO SEE ! Now he will pay .. dearly.
Kagome tightened her grip on her stick and strapped the towel around her tighter, before running out after the very scared hanyou with the stick held high above her head.
Inuyasha couldn't believe it. Him. Inuyasha. The fierce half demon that all humans feared, as running away from a human itself. This generation is really screwed.
Suddenly, Inuyasha stopped running. I'm running away from a pitiful human who I can rip into shreds in half a second. A pitiful human that's a GIRL !!!
The moment Inuyasha had stopped running, Kagome had appeared around the corner, running madly after him. Inuyasha jerked around, his eyes wide and afraid for a second, before quickly turning defensive.
He half smirked, surprised that this girl could even have the guts to come up to him. He cracked his claws, standing his ground. I'll teach this girl not to mess with me .. stupid wench, she'll get what she did do my head .. which surprisingly still hurt from the blow by the stick.
Kagome let out a fierce scream and plummeted the stick down onto Inuyasha's head. But Inuyasha was faster.
Without any of Kagome's body parts .. um .. distracting him, Inuyasha simply knocked the stick out of Kagome's grasp with the flick of his wrist. He smugly grabbed hold of her arm and flipped her over.
Surprisingly, she did not just flip. She grabbed Inuyasha's haori .. thenshe flipped.
To Inuyasha's horror and utter disbelief, he and Kagome were sent crashing to the ground, him on top of Kagome. Now who was the more unfortunate one ?
Quickly, Inuyasha jumped off Kagome, with a expression like he had just tasted dirt. As for Kagome, she was just lying flat on the ground, her face scrunched up in pain.
Giving a roar, Kagome lunged at Inuyasha with her bare hands. Inuyasha's eyelids fell half closed before he struck his hand out, giving Kagome's face a nice flattening.
Kagome gave a surprised grunt and fell flat on her butt, her towel almost falling off of her. But just as it was about to reveal her chest, Kagome yanked the towel up and glared menacingly at the smug prince in front of her.
Hissing, Kagome gave Inuyasha the scariest glare she could conjure up. " I hope you're happy. Punching a innocent girl in the face. "
Inuyasha almost looked surprised. Almost. " Innocent ? HAH ! That's more stupid than you trying to beat me up, you stupid wench ! "
Kagome's chocolate orbs widened and her teeth gritted. Her fists clenched and she could feel steam coming out of her ears. " What .. did .. you .. say .. ! "
Inuyasha smirked, his handsome features shining victoriously. " You heard me, wench. You were stupid to try beat me up .. like you would even stand a chance. I could break you in two just like that. " Inuyasha snapped and crossed his arms, waiting for Kagome to blow up.
Kagome knew this is exactly what he wanted her to do, so she didn't. Instead, she took a deep breath, swallowed her anger and looked Inuyasha squarely in the eye. " I know you want me to blow up in your face, so just to make you mad, I'm not going to ! And my name is KAGOME ! KA-GO-ME ! Not ' wench ' ! " Crossing her arms, Kagome waited for Inuyasha to get mad.
Inuyasha, who also figured out Kagome expected him to get mad, merely just lifted his chin up to her and smirked. " Whatever, wench, " Inuyasha grinned as Kagome stiffened. " So you're the annoying girl at my beach, "
" YOUR BEACH ?! " Kagome pointed at Inuyasha and stomped up to him, poking him in the chest. " What makes you think it's YOUR beach ?! "
" Because I SAID SO ! " Inuyasha snapped and bringing his face close to Kagome and snarled.
Kagome narrowed her eyes at him and brought her face closer. " What makes you think I'm going to listen ?! "
Inuyasha half grinned, his amber orbs flashing. " Because I'm the prince of this palace and you have to do what I say since you're just a GUEST ! "
Kagome scrunched up her nose and squinted the boy in front of her, " And since you're the ' host ' in this palace, you should be NICER to your GUESTS ! "
Inuyasha didn't reply, but made a face at Kagome. Kagome half smiled, knowing she had just won the argument.
Silence dawned upon the two, and it finally made Kagome realize how close they really were. If one of them just bends over a little, their lips could meet. EW !
By the time Kagome had realized this, Inuyasha had too. Before neither of them knew it, their bodies automatically jumped apart from each other at the same time. They looked at each other, horrified and embarrassed, for they both knew what the other person was thinking.
Flushing, Kagome lowered her voice and muttered to herself. " I don't know what Kikyou sees in this guy .. "
She lowered her voice good .. but not good enough for Inuyasha NOT to hear. " If you haven't notice stupid girl, I'm a demon. And I'm a demon with super sensitive ears that can pick up a word that can be said in miles. So if you must talk to yourself, better talk in your head, cause I can hear everything you're saying, " Giving Kagome another smirk, Inuyasha leaned back and crossed his arms again, looking very arrogant. " Besides .. you shouldn't talk to yourself .. people might wonder. "
Kagome's eyes widened, knowing Inuyasha had hit the spot. Letting a ferocious growl in her throat, Kagome spat the next words at him without thinking. " People already wonder ! They wonder why I look so much like Kikyou, but is so much more stupid, clumsy, and so much more ordinary ! Why would I care if they talk about me ?! If might even do me good that they still know I'm still alive ! "
Inuyasha didn't reply.
In fact, after Kagome's voice had stopped ringing through the long hall they were standing in, there was no other sound that sounded around them. Except for the heavy breathing of Kagome.
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, as he eyed Kagome carefully. She didn't seem to be lying .. but this carefree girl, or so it seems, also has dreary moments in her life that haunts her ? Maybe there's more than that bubbly, childish, somewhat shy layer to this girl ..
Kagome didn't wait for Inuyasha to answer. She threw her arms in the air, half embarrassed she had just blurted out something so personal to this prince she didn't know, and frankly, didn't like and let out a yell. " AAARRGGHHHH ! " before stomping off down the hall, and out of Inuyasha's sight.
Definitely more .. Inuyasha thought bitterly as the pain from the stick suddenly came rushing to his head.
===
Kagome trudged into the huge dining room, with a table as long as flight of stairs. Kagome rubbed her eyes and yawned. She had spent all night thinking about how ungrateful Inuyasha was .. especially when he didn't say sorry for walking in on her like that. But what really bothered her was, that she even bothered thinking about him.
Kagome blushed. Well .. of course you think about him. He's your enemy .. you'd think how much you hate that person sometimes right ? Well .. there ARE other reasons. Like his oh-so-cute doggy ears and those enticing amber eyes ..
Kagome froze in her tracks and mentally kicked herself. EW ! Why was she thinking the GOOD things about him ? It's like she likes him or anything ..
Kagome shook her head from those yucky thoughts and stepped through the huge brass doors. Immediately, her eyes flickered over to the two future fiancé and fiancée, sitting next to each other on to table. Well .. four chairs away, but nevertheless, next to each other.
" .. parents haven't decided yet, Inuyasha .. but I think it's best if I don't guard the Shikon no Tama. " Kikyou quickly cut off when she noticed Kagome standing by the door.
Inuyasha noticed too. His drooping head, probably ready to fall asleep from Kikyou's lecture, or whatever it was about that goddamn jewel he didn't give a damn about, snapped up when he heard Kikyou's voice cease.
His head turned to where Kikyou was gazing, and without him knowing, his eyes lit up. Lit up.
Kagome noticed. And so did Kikyou.
Blushing, Kagome strolled over to the chair with a plate of steamy ramen in front of it, four chairs away from Kikyou, whose eyes had lost the twinkle it held a moment ago. Wow .. touchy ..
Inuyasha looked confused when Kagome blushed and raised an eyebrow. What's up with her ? Guess she's in no mood to argue this morning. Damn ! I wanted something exciting going on, besides stupid Kikyou going on and on about the Shikon no Tama.
Inuyasha let it slide and shrugged. He turned back to his plate of ramen and started shoving globs of noodles in his mouth, slurping all the way.
Kikyou and Kagome both leaned over and stared at him, their eyes wide. Both surprised at his excellent manners.
Inuyasha stopped slurping and turned his head, sensing they were staring. He glared at the two, with his ramen still stuck halfway between his mouth. " WHAT ?! " a muffled demand came out.
Quickly, Kagome turned her head back, her eyes glued to the wall at the end of the room. Kikyou slowly turned around and looked down at her plate of ramen. Kagome looked too. They were probably thinking the same thing. Ramen in a plate for breakfast ? Okay ..
Kagome poked at her ramen, which was still hot. She didn't feel like eating, especially when your fierce older stepsister was boring holes at the side of your head. Kagome could see in the corner of her eye that Kikyou was eyeing her every move. For some reason.
After a while of poking and rearranging, Kagome pushed her plate back and drummed her fingers onto the wooden table. Man .. it's tense in here. Nothing's sounding except ..
Kagome sweat dropped as she sighed. The wonderful slurping of the young Inuyasha.
Clearing her throat, Kagome decided to strike up a conversation, even though she knew nobody's going to talk. " Um .. where's our Majesties ? "
And .. Kagome was right. Nobody did answer her.
Kikyou had resumed looking at her plate, while Inuyasha just slurped some more ramen up.
Kagome sighed. This is not the ideal breakfast between one family. Not that they are .. but they will be in a couple of months ..
" Probably off to some kind of stupid meeting, like always. " Inuyasha's voice suddenly rang out, causing Kagome to jump.
Kagome turned her head to look at Inuyasha surprisingly, as did Kikyou. Inuyasha, who saw this, growled. " WHAT ?!?! "
Kagome looked back to the wall again, sighing. There's no pleasing this guy whatsoever ..
Kagome slumped low in her chair, but Kikyou had yet to turn around. Shifting her body towards the young prince, and cleared her throat. " My dear Inuyasha, I have been here for at least forty-five minutes .. and you have yet to talk to me, "
Inuyasha grunted halfway slurping his ramen and bit the string off to talk. " Yeah I did. I said : ' so ' and ' shut up ' and ' wench ' and .. "
Kikyou cleared her throat, interrupting Inuyasha's little list, " Yes, but when my little sister has just come and spoke to nobody in particular, you chose to answer her. "
Inuyasha froze halfway and Kagome stiffened immediately. Kikyou had hit the soft spot. Wait. There was one ?
Inuyasha blushed but he gruffly crossed his arms and found the wall Kagome was looking at suddenly very interesting. " Feh ! I don't know what you're talking about, woman. "
Kikyou nodded, " Oh, do you ? "
Inuyasha blushed even deeper and he looked at his lap, his arms still crossed. Why DID I answer that stupid wench ?This is making it worse. I just have to dream about her and now I talk to her more than my fiancée ! AHHHHH !
Luckily, Inuyasha didn't have to answer. Kagome pushed her chair back quickly and stood up. Inuyasha didn't dare look at her. His deepened blush deepened even more when he felt Kagome past him, leaving a tangy sweet smell trailing after her.
" Sorry guys, I, um, I have something to research on. I'll .. uh .. see you guys later, okay ? Bye ! " Kagome quickly said over her shoulder, before bolting towards the door and crashing through.
Inuyasha quickly stood up as well after Kagome was gone, his arms still crossed. He didn't bother saying anything to Kikyou, afraid his voice might betray his emotions.
As fast as he could without looking like Kikyou was a disease and needed to be away from, the young prince walked away from his seat and through the doors Kagome went through.
Kikyou looked after them both, her gaze focused and blank. She wasn't stupid. She was going to get to the bottom of this. Inuyasha will be hers.