Disclaimer: Okay, okay! I admit it, I don't own Inuyasha or even anything
related to him or the show for that matter...I own nothing but the unknown
plot...tear and sigh I own nothing...why is it that I own nothing yet others
own all? I demand an explanation...okay...I will shut up now.
Summary: Princess Kagome's life was a fairytale; her husband Kouga was the ideal husband, and her father was the Ruler of the Northern Lands, then disaster struck. The Lord of the Western Lands attacked, killing Kouga. The Northern Lands are now ruled by the feared demon, Lord Sesshomaru, and fearing her own life she joined the ranks of the many servants, but she does not go unnoticed for even the Lord Sesshomaru is not a fool...Sess/Kag...I don't think that Inuyasha will even be part of this story...
((A/N: Thanks for reviewing Rushyuo, sesshygurl22, Yujin-chan aka Neko Megami, forest-fires, Yukioh2021, Guardiun Angel15, Cattt, Pink Sakura, Sakura Tenvaiga, Glass Dragon, neon-animefan, LunaRyuu, Katrinal4love, and katie.))
((A/N: Also, special thanks to Glass Dragon for telling me which story she wanted me to work on next! It makes me feel totally awesome that someone ACTUALLY READS my little notes!!! And it's okay if you can't decide Sakura Tenvaiga...I can't either.))
25 Days with Mr. Arrogant: 1
Mixed-Up Love: 1
If you have no clue what that's all about...read the A/Ns and go to my profile page!!!
((JUST A REMINDER: Mikos live longer than the average human...oh and humans and youkais get along fairly well...somewhat...there are certain places where they interbreed and live harmoniously, and places where one race is clearly dominant but tolerant of the other...and of course there are places where the dominant race persecutes the 'lesser' race...))
Chapter 5
In the morning Kagome woke up in Sango's room rather than the room in the 'infirmary.' She was awakened by a violent shaking, "Kagome?!" came the voice, "Is that really you?!"
"What?" came the sleepy reply. "Five more minutes Sango...SANGO?!" Kagome was now fully awake. "How did I get here?" she asked.
Sango raised an eyebrow, "I thought that you came over here yourself."
"No..." Kagome thought. After Sesshomaru had left she had eaten all of the rice cakes to console herself and to help her forget how mean Sesshomaru was. Then she recalled falling asleep curled up near the warm oven...she shrugged, "Maybe I sleep walk..."
Just then an old servant came in. "Lady Kagome?" she called.
Kagome whirled around, "Kaede, is that you?" she asked.
"Yes it is, I have brought ye some tea child. I heard that ye are not faring too well." Kaede replied as she hobbled in, carrying a small black lacquered table with a pot of tea and teacups on it.
Kagome smiled, "That's very kind of you Kaede, but I'm doing a lot better now."
"I insist Kagome," Kaede put the table down, and was about to leave when she turned around, "Oh, and there is a letter from the Lord on the table as well."
"What for?" Kagome asked as she gave Sango a puzzled look.
"How should I know?" Kaede asked as she left.
Kagome sighed, and sipped at some of the jasmine tea that Sango had poured her. "Have you had any word from...Koji...and Yugi...?" she asked quietly.
Sango shook her head, "Sorry Kagome...last I heard they were nearing the borders of the Southern Lands."
Kagome's shoulders slumped at the news. She then spotted the letter that Kaede had been referring to. She slipped the rolled up piece of rice paper from underneath a saucer, and unrolled it.
Come to my study as soon as you are done with your morning tea.
-Sesshomaru
"What does he want?" Kagome grumbled rather bitterly.
"Hm?" Sango inquired.
"The fluffy dog demon wants to see me," Kagome replied as she drained the rest of her tea in her fury in an unladylike way.
"Do you have any idea why?" her friend asked, her cinnamon eyes full of concern.
Kagome shrugged, "Oh wait...yesterday I yanked on his chain a bit, and he told me that he was going to send me to the dungeons," she answered rather casually.
"You know, I would have laughed at your little joke, but considering the grave subject of the situation I decided against her," Sango informed her.
"Oh come on, do you really think that he'll send me there?" she asked, forcing her voice to sound unconcerned. It sounded fake to even her own ears.
Sango set her teacup down, and looked Kagome in the eyes. "This is no normal demon lord we're talking about Kagome. This is Sesshomaru, the most feared demon lord of them all, and he's capable of doing anything...besides, if he ever found out who you really are...I don't even want to think about it,"
Kagome's hands shook. She knew that Sango was right. 'I can never let him know,' she resolved. "Don't worry, I'll be fine,"
Sango shot Kagome a doubtful look. "I'll be right behind you ALL the way," Sango assured her.
Kagome shot her a grateful look, and stood up, "I'm going to go see him now...see you later?"
Sango nodded, "I'll be out in the dojo, I've been assigned to teach Rin how to fight,"
"The mangy dog couldn't have chosen better," Kagome complimented with a grin.
"More like fluffy," Sango corrected.
Kagome laughed, and left the room. She made her way down the hall to the study. "There he lies...the ever so dangerous Fluffy-sama," she muttered under her breath before she stepped inside.
Sesshomaru sat at his desk writing away on some rice paper. "Sit," he commanded before Kagome could say another word.
Kagome reluctantly, but obediently sat on the other side of the desk, and waited patiently.
And she waited...
And she waited...
And she waited...
"Did you ask me to come here and watch you write letters?" she finally asked once she awoke from her little doze.
"No, and I do not recall telling you that you could go to sleep," he replied without looking up.
"You're not my lord," she retorted.
"Oh?" Sesshomaru asked with an eyebrow raised, "Then who is?"
Kagome opened her mouth to say, 'Kouga,' but stopped herself in time. "I have no lord," she said, colder than intended.
"You certainly fooled me," he replied in his monotonous voice.
"What did you say?" she demanded.
Sesshomaru chuckled inwardly. 'No one would expect i you /i to be a princess Kagome...' "I said nothing wench,"
"Don't call me that!" she snapped, "How many times do I have to get it through your head that I have a name?"
"I'd call you a hypocrite," Sesshomaru began as he finally looked up from his letter, "You really can not say much wench after all, I believe that my name is Sesshomaru...not Fluffy."
Kagome's jaw dropped. How could she have forgotten that he was a dog demon?
"You look like a fish, most unattractive, and until you call me by my correct name, I will continue to refer to you as wench," Sesshomaru concluded.
Kagome was now shocked beyond words. She had no comeback...not that she was extremely witty anyways.
"Now tell me, wench can you read and write?" Sesshomaru asked as he leaned forward slightly, his hands folded on his desk. A single strand fell into his face, obscuring his sight a bit.
"I'm literate thank you very much," Kagome replied, miffed by the fact that he had thought her a simpleton.
"I see, and are you well versed in history?" he asked.
Kagome nodded.
"And areas of arithmetic?"
Kagome shook her head vigorously.
"I'll take that as a 'no'?" he inquired.
Kagome nodded.
"Astounding. A mere minute ago it seemed as if you would never shut up, now here you are, like a mute," Sesshomaru commented, the flicker in his eye expressing amusement.
"You're mean," Kagome declared, "I try to be nice by listening for a little bit and THIS is how you treat me?"
"And did you know that you're a horrible liar?" he asked.
"I am not lying!" she protested, her cheek turning a slight red. She knew he was right, and when she did lie, she often got caught, and despite the fact that she denied it, she would begin to 'glow.'
"Then care to tell me why your face reminds me of an apple?"
"You...are...so..." Kagome sputtered. Her face was so red that she was incapable of finishing it.
"Mean?" Sesshomaru offered.
Kagome nodded vigorously.
"Continuing...so you are knowledgeable in the area of history, reading, and writing, and are as useful as bowl of rice?"
Kagome was about to nod again, when she fully absorbed his words. "Excuse me!!! I am capable of doing much more than that! AND a bowl of rice is much more important than you are too,"
Sesshomaru was slightly taken aback by her reply. "Explain to me how a bowl of rice is much more important than I."
"For starters you're the most feared demon lord of all! Humans and demons alike are afraid of you, and you don't give a nitwit about what happens to your human subjects, and a bowl of rice would mean a lot more to them than you would." Kagome crossed her arms over her chest, and sniffed rather haughtily.
"I see...and you were talking about how you can do more than what I have fore mentioned...?" Even though he would never admit it, her reply had concerned him a bit.
"I am an excellent archer," she told him proudly.
"You're a miko," he stated, "Isn't it only expected that you should be an excellent archer?"
"How...how...how did you know?" Kagome stuttered again in shock.
Sesshomaru merely raised an eyebrow, "I am a inuyoukai...and the most powerful one at the moment," he reminded her.
"And the most pompous and arrogant creature to ever walk the earth," Kagome added.
"Your impudence will not go unpunished," he warned icily.
"See if I care." Kagome got up, and stormed out of the library. She made her way to the room that she and Sango now shared. "Sango!" she called as she walked, "I hated him before, but now I REALLY ha-" Kagome's voice came to a halt as she realized that she was talking to herself. "Oh yeah...she's at the dojo."
Kagome walked back the way she came, and headed down the long case of stairs. As soon as she arrived to the first story, she went to the main dining hall and into the kitchen. Kagome thanked the chef as he wrapped several dry rice cakes dribbled with some honey in a kerchief for her. ((A/N: Kagome had 'wet' rice cakes last night.))
Kagome walked around the garden a bit before she went to the dojo. The dojo was located on the other side of the palace. The garden of the palace was actually quite large, large enough that there was a small lake and a pond on each side of it with acres and acres of flowers, pastures, and trees. In the middle of the small lake was the dojo.
Kagome walked along the narrow strip of land that was just wide enough for a horse to walk on. She could hear the sounds of Sango yelling, followed by Rin's yells who was trying to mimic her. Kagome grinned. "Sounds like you guys are working hard," she commented when she entered the dojo.
Sango and Rin stopped their yelling, and turned to look at Kagome. "Pretty lady Kagome-chan!" Rin squealed as she ran towards her.
Kagome let out a slight 'oof,' as Rin nearly knocked the wind out of her with the force she ran up to her with.
"Oooh, are those dry rice cakes with honey that I smell?" Sango called.
Kagome laughed and nodded. The three females all sat in one corner of the dojo as Kagome unwrapped the rice cakes. "Can Rin eat the rice wrapping?" Rin asked as she munched on a honeyed rice cake.
Kagome nodded again, "That is if Sango doesn't want it,"
Sango shook her head, "I'm okay...for now at least," she added as an afterthought.
"Yeah! Thank you pretty lady Sango-chan." Rin squealed as she began to eat the edible rice wrappings with smears of honey on them.
"I still can't get her to call me Sango," Sango said with an exasperated sigh as she licked the honey off of her fingers.
"I don't know, I'm sort of flattered," Kagome admitted as she reached for another rice cake.
"You're vain," Sango replied.
Kagome cheeks turned pink, "I am not!" she protested, "Admit it, you like it too,"
Sango's cheeks turned pink in reply, "Okay, fine, but still, I prefer Sango," she grumbled.
"Pretty lady Kagome-chan, what does 'vain' mean?" Rin asked as she wiped her 'crumby' mouth with the sleeve of her white training outfit. ((A/N: It's the same outfit that people who do karate and tae-kwon-do wear, except a thinner cloth since it is summer.))
Kagome bit her lower lip as she thought, "Hmm...I suppose that it means that someone is really full of themselves...no...that's arrogant, umm..."
"I thought that you said that you were well versed in such subjects," a familiar voice came from the far end of the dojo.
Kagome whirled around, and at the same time, Rin leapt up, and made a mad dash for 'her Sesshomaru-sama.' Sango and Kagome gave each other a nervous glance, but both of their fears subsided when they saw Sesshomaru affectionately pat the little girl on the head.
Kagome shot Sango a look of surprise, and in return, Sango merely shrugged. She had seen this already a few times since Sesshomaru usually made it a routine to visit Rin in the morning at the dojo, and walk her to breakfast.
Kagome bit her lower lip, bowed, and grabbing Sango by the arm left the dojo. "Kagome! Where are you taking me?" Sango hissed demandingly as they walked along the tiny strip of dirt that led them back to 'shore.'
"Away from Fluffy-sama," she growled through her teeth.
Sango's cinnamon eyes widened in surprise, and a peal of laughter erupted from her lips. "You...you sounded like a...a dog!" she wheezed, her comment implying much more than just that.
Kagome stared with a incredulous look, and with a single move, unbalanced Sango. "Kaaaaagomeeeeeee!" Sango's arms flailed wildly as she struggled not to fall into the water. Satisfied and about to explode with giggles, Kagome giddily turned around, and ran, not wanting to face a wet Sango's wrath. Her ears strained to hear a splash...but none came.
Instead, she felt a wind-like blur rush past her. In a blink, Sesshomaru with Sango in his arms and Rin on his leg appeared right in front of her, blocking her path. "You're a horrid influence on Rin," Sesshomaru said plainly as he set a blushing Sango down.
Kagome's jaw dropped open. He did not...but he did...he had... "Why did you do that?!" she demanded.
"I saved your friend wench," he icily replied to a gulping Sango who squirmed a bit. Sesshomaru in one fluid movement set her to her feet.
Sango quietly grabbed Rin's hands, and slowly crept off to the palace for breakfast.
"And this is how you react?" he continued.
Kagome was speechless. "You're...you're...you're no fun," she grumbled angrily, "We were just playing, and you just had to ruin it!" Fuming again, Kagome stomped off after Sango. "You'd think that he'd know when enough is enough...it's breakfast and he's already angered me..." Kagome struggled to recall, but could not, "Too many times," she finally muttered.
'She acts exactly like a child,' Sesshomaru thought as he watched her walk off, 'Could she really have been the wife of Kouga?'
Kagome entered the dining hall, and found a random empty seat at the long table, and sat down. The servants around her, out of habit and respect, nodded deeply. Kagome smiled graciously, but gave them a warning look, telling them to be careful. Kagome was about to begin the meal when Akino, the young hawk demon came up to her.
"Lady Kagome?" he asked politely.
Kagome set down her chopsticks and looked up. "Yes?"
"Lord Sesshomaru requests that from now on you eat over there," Akino gestured over to the corner of the large room. There was a certain corner of the room where the royal family and other privileged servants ate, hidden from view from beautifully painted screens the royal family and the privileged ate privately.
"Please inform him that I am perfectly comfortable here," she replied.
Akino's dark eyes sparkled as he grinned, "He predicted that you'd say that, and wanted me to warn you that you were still in danger of being sent down to the dungeons."
Kagome scowled, and got up, and followed him. One of the servants, jumped up, "Lady Kagome, where are you going?" she asked worried.
Several other servants stood up as well, "Yes, Lady Kagome, where are you going?" a few of the male servants piped up.
Akino shot her a puzzled look as Kagome raised a hand, "It's alright, I'm just eating," she paused and pointed, "Over there,"
The servants bowed humbly and resumed their eating. "The servants seem to adore you," Akino commented as he led Kagome towards the thin rice paper screens with painted butterflies and gardens.
Kagome smiled rather meekly, "Yes...we're all family," she told him as they neared the place.
Akino held out a arm, meaning for her to go inside. Kagome bowed out of sheer politeness, and went inside. Behind the painted screens sat Sesshomaru at the head, Sango, and Rin on his left. On the second seat down on the right, sat Miroku, and at the other end sat Lady Kaede.
"Please...do sit," Sesshomaru drawled with sarcastic politeness.
Then again, she could be interpreting the tone as sarcastic...the whole politeness thing and Sesshomaru just didn't fit in her opinion. "My pleasure," she replied her lips stretched out in a forced and fake smile.
Kagome sat down, and almost gasped in realization where she was sitting...the seat of honor...this seat had always been reserved for the wife of the current Lord. Tears threatened to glaze over her eyes again.
"Do not take this gesture the wrong way," he warned as he stuck his chopsticks into his bowl of rice. "This is merely the only available seat,"
Kagome was about to grumble about stupid dog demons again when she remembered how acute his hearing was. So she settled for shoveling rice and spooning soup down her throat.
"By the way, Lady Kaede," Sesshomaru spoke politely, "We will be having guests over in three days...I believe that we must spruce up some of the guest chambers."
A rice grain flew out of Kagome's mouth and landed in Sesshomaru's soup. Sesshomaru shot her a look of pure disgust, "Do you have a problem?" he asked grimacing.
Kagome shook her head despite the fact that she was turning red. "Perhaps she is having a hard time breathing...here, let me help you Kagome." Miroku set down his chopsticks and began to slap Kagome's backside, and somehow one of his hands 'slipped'...down...to her rear.
An ear-splitting shriek of "MIROKU!!!" filled the air, followed by a yelp of pain as Kagome tossed the remnants of Sesshomaru's soup into his face. "YOU ARE SO LUCKY THAT HE IS NOT ALIVE, IF HE WERE YOU'D BE DEAD!!!" she screamed.
Kagome stormed off again. 'How often does she get angry?' Sesshomaru wondered as he calmly continued eating. 'And who is he?'
"Good job Houshi-sama," Sango spat as she ran after Kagome.
"What? What did I do?" Miroku asked in disbelief.
Sesshomaru ignored the monk, and Lady Kaede giving the monk a lecture about the integrity and such values that monks were expected to have. He continued to chew slowly on his rice, his amber eyes having forgotten about Kagome, but remembering his very much-unwanted guests.
Kagome now ran at full speed, her kimono hitched up to her knees. She ran out into the gardens...ignoring Sango's cries and that of the other servants. Today was a horrible day, worse than the last week...and almost as bad as the day Kouga's body was burned. Would the rest of her life be like today? "Oh Kami-sama, please let Lord Koji and Lady Yugi be safe..."
Instead of going to the usual weeping willow tree, she instead went and sat underneath the small bridge at the other end of the garden. There she cried herself to sleep, and reminded herself to find Kouga's ashes, and take them with her when she escaped...
((A/N: Awww...Sesshy why do you have to be so mean?!?! Sorry about the long wait you guys...and sorry about the rather bad chapter. Life has NOT been kind to me...neither has Fate. Blast them...oops...))
Summary: Princess Kagome's life was a fairytale; her husband Kouga was the ideal husband, and her father was the Ruler of the Northern Lands, then disaster struck. The Lord of the Western Lands attacked, killing Kouga. The Northern Lands are now ruled by the feared demon, Lord Sesshomaru, and fearing her own life she joined the ranks of the many servants, but she does not go unnoticed for even the Lord Sesshomaru is not a fool...Sess/Kag...I don't think that Inuyasha will even be part of this story...
((A/N: Thanks for reviewing Rushyuo, sesshygurl22, Yujin-chan aka Neko Megami, forest-fires, Yukioh2021, Guardiun Angel15, Cattt, Pink Sakura, Sakura Tenvaiga, Glass Dragon, neon-animefan, LunaRyuu, Katrinal4love, and katie.))
((A/N: Also, special thanks to Glass Dragon for telling me which story she wanted me to work on next! It makes me feel totally awesome that someone ACTUALLY READS my little notes!!! And it's okay if you can't decide Sakura Tenvaiga...I can't either.))
25 Days with Mr. Arrogant: 1
Mixed-Up Love: 1
If you have no clue what that's all about...read the A/Ns and go to my profile page!!!
((JUST A REMINDER: Mikos live longer than the average human...oh and humans and youkais get along fairly well...somewhat...there are certain places where they interbreed and live harmoniously, and places where one race is clearly dominant but tolerant of the other...and of course there are places where the dominant race persecutes the 'lesser' race...))
Chapter 5
In the morning Kagome woke up in Sango's room rather than the room in the 'infirmary.' She was awakened by a violent shaking, "Kagome?!" came the voice, "Is that really you?!"
"What?" came the sleepy reply. "Five more minutes Sango...SANGO?!" Kagome was now fully awake. "How did I get here?" she asked.
Sango raised an eyebrow, "I thought that you came over here yourself."
"No..." Kagome thought. After Sesshomaru had left she had eaten all of the rice cakes to console herself and to help her forget how mean Sesshomaru was. Then she recalled falling asleep curled up near the warm oven...she shrugged, "Maybe I sleep walk..."
Just then an old servant came in. "Lady Kagome?" she called.
Kagome whirled around, "Kaede, is that you?" she asked.
"Yes it is, I have brought ye some tea child. I heard that ye are not faring too well." Kaede replied as she hobbled in, carrying a small black lacquered table with a pot of tea and teacups on it.
Kagome smiled, "That's very kind of you Kaede, but I'm doing a lot better now."
"I insist Kagome," Kaede put the table down, and was about to leave when she turned around, "Oh, and there is a letter from the Lord on the table as well."
"What for?" Kagome asked as she gave Sango a puzzled look.
"How should I know?" Kaede asked as she left.
Kagome sighed, and sipped at some of the jasmine tea that Sango had poured her. "Have you had any word from...Koji...and Yugi...?" she asked quietly.
Sango shook her head, "Sorry Kagome...last I heard they were nearing the borders of the Southern Lands."
Kagome's shoulders slumped at the news. She then spotted the letter that Kaede had been referring to. She slipped the rolled up piece of rice paper from underneath a saucer, and unrolled it.
Come to my study as soon as you are done with your morning tea.
-Sesshomaru
"What does he want?" Kagome grumbled rather bitterly.
"Hm?" Sango inquired.
"The fluffy dog demon wants to see me," Kagome replied as she drained the rest of her tea in her fury in an unladylike way.
"Do you have any idea why?" her friend asked, her cinnamon eyes full of concern.
Kagome shrugged, "Oh wait...yesterday I yanked on his chain a bit, and he told me that he was going to send me to the dungeons," she answered rather casually.
"You know, I would have laughed at your little joke, but considering the grave subject of the situation I decided against her," Sango informed her.
"Oh come on, do you really think that he'll send me there?" she asked, forcing her voice to sound unconcerned. It sounded fake to even her own ears.
Sango set her teacup down, and looked Kagome in the eyes. "This is no normal demon lord we're talking about Kagome. This is Sesshomaru, the most feared demon lord of them all, and he's capable of doing anything...besides, if he ever found out who you really are...I don't even want to think about it,"
Kagome's hands shook. She knew that Sango was right. 'I can never let him know,' she resolved. "Don't worry, I'll be fine,"
Sango shot Kagome a doubtful look. "I'll be right behind you ALL the way," Sango assured her.
Kagome shot her a grateful look, and stood up, "I'm going to go see him now...see you later?"
Sango nodded, "I'll be out in the dojo, I've been assigned to teach Rin how to fight,"
"The mangy dog couldn't have chosen better," Kagome complimented with a grin.
"More like fluffy," Sango corrected.
Kagome laughed, and left the room. She made her way down the hall to the study. "There he lies...the ever so dangerous Fluffy-sama," she muttered under her breath before she stepped inside.
Sesshomaru sat at his desk writing away on some rice paper. "Sit," he commanded before Kagome could say another word.
Kagome reluctantly, but obediently sat on the other side of the desk, and waited patiently.
And she waited...
And she waited...
And she waited...
"Did you ask me to come here and watch you write letters?" she finally asked once she awoke from her little doze.
"No, and I do not recall telling you that you could go to sleep," he replied without looking up.
"You're not my lord," she retorted.
"Oh?" Sesshomaru asked with an eyebrow raised, "Then who is?"
Kagome opened her mouth to say, 'Kouga,' but stopped herself in time. "I have no lord," she said, colder than intended.
"You certainly fooled me," he replied in his monotonous voice.
"What did you say?" she demanded.
Sesshomaru chuckled inwardly. 'No one would expect i you /i to be a princess Kagome...' "I said nothing wench,"
"Don't call me that!" she snapped, "How many times do I have to get it through your head that I have a name?"
"I'd call you a hypocrite," Sesshomaru began as he finally looked up from his letter, "You really can not say much wench after all, I believe that my name is Sesshomaru...not Fluffy."
Kagome's jaw dropped. How could she have forgotten that he was a dog demon?
"You look like a fish, most unattractive, and until you call me by my correct name, I will continue to refer to you as wench," Sesshomaru concluded.
Kagome was now shocked beyond words. She had no comeback...not that she was extremely witty anyways.
"Now tell me, wench can you read and write?" Sesshomaru asked as he leaned forward slightly, his hands folded on his desk. A single strand fell into his face, obscuring his sight a bit.
"I'm literate thank you very much," Kagome replied, miffed by the fact that he had thought her a simpleton.
"I see, and are you well versed in history?" he asked.
Kagome nodded.
"And areas of arithmetic?"
Kagome shook her head vigorously.
"I'll take that as a 'no'?" he inquired.
Kagome nodded.
"Astounding. A mere minute ago it seemed as if you would never shut up, now here you are, like a mute," Sesshomaru commented, the flicker in his eye expressing amusement.
"You're mean," Kagome declared, "I try to be nice by listening for a little bit and THIS is how you treat me?"
"And did you know that you're a horrible liar?" he asked.
"I am not lying!" she protested, her cheek turning a slight red. She knew he was right, and when she did lie, she often got caught, and despite the fact that she denied it, she would begin to 'glow.'
"Then care to tell me why your face reminds me of an apple?"
"You...are...so..." Kagome sputtered. Her face was so red that she was incapable of finishing it.
"Mean?" Sesshomaru offered.
Kagome nodded vigorously.
"Continuing...so you are knowledgeable in the area of history, reading, and writing, and are as useful as bowl of rice?"
Kagome was about to nod again, when she fully absorbed his words. "Excuse me!!! I am capable of doing much more than that! AND a bowl of rice is much more important than you are too,"
Sesshomaru was slightly taken aback by her reply. "Explain to me how a bowl of rice is much more important than I."
"For starters you're the most feared demon lord of all! Humans and demons alike are afraid of you, and you don't give a nitwit about what happens to your human subjects, and a bowl of rice would mean a lot more to them than you would." Kagome crossed her arms over her chest, and sniffed rather haughtily.
"I see...and you were talking about how you can do more than what I have fore mentioned...?" Even though he would never admit it, her reply had concerned him a bit.
"I am an excellent archer," she told him proudly.
"You're a miko," he stated, "Isn't it only expected that you should be an excellent archer?"
"How...how...how did you know?" Kagome stuttered again in shock.
Sesshomaru merely raised an eyebrow, "I am a inuyoukai...and the most powerful one at the moment," he reminded her.
"And the most pompous and arrogant creature to ever walk the earth," Kagome added.
"Your impudence will not go unpunished," he warned icily.
"See if I care." Kagome got up, and stormed out of the library. She made her way to the room that she and Sango now shared. "Sango!" she called as she walked, "I hated him before, but now I REALLY ha-" Kagome's voice came to a halt as she realized that she was talking to herself. "Oh yeah...she's at the dojo."
Kagome walked back the way she came, and headed down the long case of stairs. As soon as she arrived to the first story, she went to the main dining hall and into the kitchen. Kagome thanked the chef as he wrapped several dry rice cakes dribbled with some honey in a kerchief for her. ((A/N: Kagome had 'wet' rice cakes last night.))
Kagome walked around the garden a bit before she went to the dojo. The dojo was located on the other side of the palace. The garden of the palace was actually quite large, large enough that there was a small lake and a pond on each side of it with acres and acres of flowers, pastures, and trees. In the middle of the small lake was the dojo.
Kagome walked along the narrow strip of land that was just wide enough for a horse to walk on. She could hear the sounds of Sango yelling, followed by Rin's yells who was trying to mimic her. Kagome grinned. "Sounds like you guys are working hard," she commented when she entered the dojo.
Sango and Rin stopped their yelling, and turned to look at Kagome. "Pretty lady Kagome-chan!" Rin squealed as she ran towards her.
Kagome let out a slight 'oof,' as Rin nearly knocked the wind out of her with the force she ran up to her with.
"Oooh, are those dry rice cakes with honey that I smell?" Sango called.
Kagome laughed and nodded. The three females all sat in one corner of the dojo as Kagome unwrapped the rice cakes. "Can Rin eat the rice wrapping?" Rin asked as she munched on a honeyed rice cake.
Kagome nodded again, "That is if Sango doesn't want it,"
Sango shook her head, "I'm okay...for now at least," she added as an afterthought.
"Yeah! Thank you pretty lady Sango-chan." Rin squealed as she began to eat the edible rice wrappings with smears of honey on them.
"I still can't get her to call me Sango," Sango said with an exasperated sigh as she licked the honey off of her fingers.
"I don't know, I'm sort of flattered," Kagome admitted as she reached for another rice cake.
"You're vain," Sango replied.
Kagome cheeks turned pink, "I am not!" she protested, "Admit it, you like it too,"
Sango's cheeks turned pink in reply, "Okay, fine, but still, I prefer Sango," she grumbled.
"Pretty lady Kagome-chan, what does 'vain' mean?" Rin asked as she wiped her 'crumby' mouth with the sleeve of her white training outfit. ((A/N: It's the same outfit that people who do karate and tae-kwon-do wear, except a thinner cloth since it is summer.))
Kagome bit her lower lip as she thought, "Hmm...I suppose that it means that someone is really full of themselves...no...that's arrogant, umm..."
"I thought that you said that you were well versed in such subjects," a familiar voice came from the far end of the dojo.
Kagome whirled around, and at the same time, Rin leapt up, and made a mad dash for 'her Sesshomaru-sama.' Sango and Kagome gave each other a nervous glance, but both of their fears subsided when they saw Sesshomaru affectionately pat the little girl on the head.
Kagome shot Sango a look of surprise, and in return, Sango merely shrugged. She had seen this already a few times since Sesshomaru usually made it a routine to visit Rin in the morning at the dojo, and walk her to breakfast.
Kagome bit her lower lip, bowed, and grabbing Sango by the arm left the dojo. "Kagome! Where are you taking me?" Sango hissed demandingly as they walked along the tiny strip of dirt that led them back to 'shore.'
"Away from Fluffy-sama," she growled through her teeth.
Sango's cinnamon eyes widened in surprise, and a peal of laughter erupted from her lips. "You...you sounded like a...a dog!" she wheezed, her comment implying much more than just that.
Kagome stared with a incredulous look, and with a single move, unbalanced Sango. "Kaaaaagomeeeeeee!" Sango's arms flailed wildly as she struggled not to fall into the water. Satisfied and about to explode with giggles, Kagome giddily turned around, and ran, not wanting to face a wet Sango's wrath. Her ears strained to hear a splash...but none came.
Instead, she felt a wind-like blur rush past her. In a blink, Sesshomaru with Sango in his arms and Rin on his leg appeared right in front of her, blocking her path. "You're a horrid influence on Rin," Sesshomaru said plainly as he set a blushing Sango down.
Kagome's jaw dropped open. He did not...but he did...he had... "Why did you do that?!" she demanded.
"I saved your friend wench," he icily replied to a gulping Sango who squirmed a bit. Sesshomaru in one fluid movement set her to her feet.
Sango quietly grabbed Rin's hands, and slowly crept off to the palace for breakfast.
"And this is how you react?" he continued.
Kagome was speechless. "You're...you're...you're no fun," she grumbled angrily, "We were just playing, and you just had to ruin it!" Fuming again, Kagome stomped off after Sango. "You'd think that he'd know when enough is enough...it's breakfast and he's already angered me..." Kagome struggled to recall, but could not, "Too many times," she finally muttered.
'She acts exactly like a child,' Sesshomaru thought as he watched her walk off, 'Could she really have been the wife of Kouga?'
Kagome entered the dining hall, and found a random empty seat at the long table, and sat down. The servants around her, out of habit and respect, nodded deeply. Kagome smiled graciously, but gave them a warning look, telling them to be careful. Kagome was about to begin the meal when Akino, the young hawk demon came up to her.
"Lady Kagome?" he asked politely.
Kagome set down her chopsticks and looked up. "Yes?"
"Lord Sesshomaru requests that from now on you eat over there," Akino gestured over to the corner of the large room. There was a certain corner of the room where the royal family and other privileged servants ate, hidden from view from beautifully painted screens the royal family and the privileged ate privately.
"Please inform him that I am perfectly comfortable here," she replied.
Akino's dark eyes sparkled as he grinned, "He predicted that you'd say that, and wanted me to warn you that you were still in danger of being sent down to the dungeons."
Kagome scowled, and got up, and followed him. One of the servants, jumped up, "Lady Kagome, where are you going?" she asked worried.
Several other servants stood up as well, "Yes, Lady Kagome, where are you going?" a few of the male servants piped up.
Akino shot her a puzzled look as Kagome raised a hand, "It's alright, I'm just eating," she paused and pointed, "Over there,"
The servants bowed humbly and resumed their eating. "The servants seem to adore you," Akino commented as he led Kagome towards the thin rice paper screens with painted butterflies and gardens.
Kagome smiled rather meekly, "Yes...we're all family," she told him as they neared the place.
Akino held out a arm, meaning for her to go inside. Kagome bowed out of sheer politeness, and went inside. Behind the painted screens sat Sesshomaru at the head, Sango, and Rin on his left. On the second seat down on the right, sat Miroku, and at the other end sat Lady Kaede.
"Please...do sit," Sesshomaru drawled with sarcastic politeness.
Then again, she could be interpreting the tone as sarcastic...the whole politeness thing and Sesshomaru just didn't fit in her opinion. "My pleasure," she replied her lips stretched out in a forced and fake smile.
Kagome sat down, and almost gasped in realization where she was sitting...the seat of honor...this seat had always been reserved for the wife of the current Lord. Tears threatened to glaze over her eyes again.
"Do not take this gesture the wrong way," he warned as he stuck his chopsticks into his bowl of rice. "This is merely the only available seat,"
Kagome was about to grumble about stupid dog demons again when she remembered how acute his hearing was. So she settled for shoveling rice and spooning soup down her throat.
"By the way, Lady Kaede," Sesshomaru spoke politely, "We will be having guests over in three days...I believe that we must spruce up some of the guest chambers."
A rice grain flew out of Kagome's mouth and landed in Sesshomaru's soup. Sesshomaru shot her a look of pure disgust, "Do you have a problem?" he asked grimacing.
Kagome shook her head despite the fact that she was turning red. "Perhaps she is having a hard time breathing...here, let me help you Kagome." Miroku set down his chopsticks and began to slap Kagome's backside, and somehow one of his hands 'slipped'...down...to her rear.
An ear-splitting shriek of "MIROKU!!!" filled the air, followed by a yelp of pain as Kagome tossed the remnants of Sesshomaru's soup into his face. "YOU ARE SO LUCKY THAT HE IS NOT ALIVE, IF HE WERE YOU'D BE DEAD!!!" she screamed.
Kagome stormed off again. 'How often does she get angry?' Sesshomaru wondered as he calmly continued eating. 'And who is he?'
"Good job Houshi-sama," Sango spat as she ran after Kagome.
"What? What did I do?" Miroku asked in disbelief.
Sesshomaru ignored the monk, and Lady Kaede giving the monk a lecture about the integrity and such values that monks were expected to have. He continued to chew slowly on his rice, his amber eyes having forgotten about Kagome, but remembering his very much-unwanted guests.
Kagome now ran at full speed, her kimono hitched up to her knees. She ran out into the gardens...ignoring Sango's cries and that of the other servants. Today was a horrible day, worse than the last week...and almost as bad as the day Kouga's body was burned. Would the rest of her life be like today? "Oh Kami-sama, please let Lord Koji and Lady Yugi be safe..."
Instead of going to the usual weeping willow tree, she instead went and sat underneath the small bridge at the other end of the garden. There she cried herself to sleep, and reminded herself to find Kouga's ashes, and take them with her when she escaped...
((A/N: Awww...Sesshy why do you have to be so mean?!?! Sorry about the long wait you guys...and sorry about the rather bad chapter. Life has NOT been kind to me...neither has Fate. Blast them...oops...))