Chapter 5: Making an Entrance

Kagome stood back to admire her creation. There on the table was her mother's famous Ginger Cake. It was a simple round shape, brown with a hint of orange to it. As a final touch, Kagome whipped up some creamy topping and decorated the top. Now, it sat in the dinning hall where she and her future husband would be dining.

Totousai came out from the back room where he was getting silverware and plates for the dinner. He went around the long table and sat a plate at each spot. There were five chairs set out: Three for the King and his two sons, and two for her and the Queen. Kagome sighed. This might be the longest dinner she'd ever had.

After setting out each fork and spoon, Totousai noticed Kagome's cake.

"Kikyo, that looks rather good! I didn't know you could cook so well." He remarked, wiping his hands on his apron.

Kagome smiled. "Thank you. I tried to make it look good."

The old man winked. "Looking good doesn't mean tasting good." Since Kagome's arrival into the kitchen, Totousai and she had grown less formal with each other. He reminded her of Keade. They were both kind and funny people.

"It tastes good too!" Kagome replied indignantly.

He chuckled. "I'm sure it does."

Presently, there was a knock at the doors. Totousai went over and opened them; where on the other side was Sango, looking very out of breath and slightly sweaty.

"Totousai, have you seen the princess?" She asked quickly, huffing a little between words.

"Sango, yes she's here with me." He said, gesturing behind him to Kagome, who waved sheepishly, smiling.

Sango looked angry at this point. Without a word, she walked in and grabbed Kagome's hand, leading her out of the room and down the hall. They practically ran the entire way. Kagome tripped over her dress Sango walked so swiftly. They passed theentrance to the palaceand turned to go up a huge staircase with wide banisters on either side.

Turning to the left at the top of the stairs, Sango stopped at a wooden door marked "Bathing Room". Steam came from between the cracks.

"Princess, after your bath, Ayame will be in your chambers to assist you with dressing and preparing." So saying, Sango bowed and stalked off down the stairs. She sighed heavily, and Kagome heard her remark. "She's never been like this before…"

Kagome gulped, and wasting no time, entered into the bathing room and began to wash swiftly in one of the many bathtubs. There were so many soaps; she did not know which one to use. She decided on a white bar that didn't have much of a scent and scrubbed her body as hard as she could. Dirt had managed to get on her feet and legs, probably from her ride, so she rinsed this off as well. After she felt clean, she got out and dried off with the towel set out for her.

Finding a red silk robe hanging from a hook near the door, Kagome put it on and tied it tightly around her waist. It felt like cream running over her skin. She hoped that her dress would be this comfortable.

She stepped out of the room and felt the chill run over her. She didn't realize how warm the room was until she stepped out of it. Shivering, she tried to remember where Kikyo had said her room was.

She recalled Kikyo's voice. "Go down the stairs and turn right down the hallway. My room is at the very end, with the golden door knobs."

Smiling at her good memory, Kagome followed the instructions from Kikyo and did as she had said. She went down the stairs, her bare feet slippery on the floor. Reaching the bottom, she slipped and fell, landing right on her butt.

"Ow…" Kagome winced, reaching behind her to rub her throbbing rear end. "What is this floor made of?" She asked to no one in particular. Grumbling, she set off down the hall, knowing there would be a bruise on her left cheek tomorrow.

Kagome reached the end of the hall and sure enough, the door with the golden knobs was there. Stepping inside, she looked around for this Ayame that Sango had mentioned.

A woman sat in a pink cushioned chair. She had two long braids of red hair falling down her back. Her green eyes were darting anxiously from side to side, her hands ringing in her lap. Kagome cleared her throat, ready to say something.

The noise startled Ayame from her spot. She looked to Kagome, and then bowed swiftly, almost falling over in the process.

"Kikyo, Highness, are you ready to get dressed?" She asked, stepping forward.

Kagome smiled. "Well, I don't think I should wear this to dinner."

Ayame looked surprised by Kagome's joking manner, and she smiled. "No, no, of course not." She took Kagome's arm and directed her to the closet. Opening it, Kagome gasped.

There were probably twenty dresses, each one so extravagant and ornate. Each one was a different color. From the deepest blues to the brightest yellows, it was a rainbow to look at. Kagome scanned them all, her eyes wide. They were beautiful!

Ayame walked over and picked out a deep blue one with flowers around the hem and waist. It was very pretty, and Kagome could almost picture Kikyo wearing the same thing.

"This one is your favorite, Princess. Shall you wear this one?" Ayame asked politely.

Kagome made a humming sound of consideration. She was about to say yes when something caught her eye. It was a flash of red, just like her robe. She reached out and touched the material. The fabric was almost the same, but lighter. She took it out and held it at arms length in front of her. Red ribbon criss-crossed down the front, ending just at the waist, were the ribbon tied off in a bow, the long ends flowing down to the end of the dress. The ribbon and dress were the same color. The sleeves were short ruffled bunches around the shoulders, tiny bows on each one.

"Do you like that one, Princess Kikyo? You've never worn it before…" Ayame asked, commenting thoughtfully.

Kagome struck down the urge to hug it. "I love it!" She said loudly, turning to Ayame. "Can I wear this one?"

Ayame smiled at the Princess' obvious good mood. "Of course, Princess."

Kagome slipped it on, marveling at how it fit her so well. She twirled around in it, watching as it rose up around her like a flower, her wet hair slapping against her cheek. This reminded her that her hair was still wet...and a mess. Ayame noticed as well.

"Here Princess, let me help you with your hair." Ayame said, gesturing to the cushioned chair she had recently been sitting in.

Kagome took a seat, gently though, as the pain was still there. Ayame's fingers ran through her hair, pulling it this way and that. "My Princess, your hair looks so shiny today!" She remarked as she worked.

"I guess it's the water!" Kagome replied, laughing at her own joke.

"Hmm…indeed…" Ayame commented. She had a look of skepticism on her face. Why was the princess being so…cheery? It wasn't like her at all.

Once Ayame's hands left her head, Kagome stood up and turned to smile at thesaid woman. "Thanks for fixing my hair." She said.

Ayame shook her head. "No need to thank me, Highness. You look absolutely gorgeous."

Kagome smiled her thanks to the compliment. Her voice suddenly failed her. This was it. She was about to go have dinner with the King and Princes of the Western Lands. Dining with royalty didn't sound very appealing to her at the moment.

"Are you ready, Princess?" Sango called, suddenly appearing in the room. She still looked flustered, but from a different reason. Her cheeks were red, and she acted almost…embarrassed. Kagome smiled ruefully. She knew why. A certain monk appeared in her head.

Sango pulled on her shift absently. "I'm ready Sango." Kagome said, trying not to laugh at Sango's girlish attitude. Sango nodded swiftly, taking Kagome's arm in hers.

They walked slowly this time, Sango looking left and right down the hall, as though checking for some one. Seeing no one in the halls, she let out a sigh of relief.

"Did you happen to meet with the monk Miroku, Sango?" Kagome asked, trying to sound off hand.

A fresh new wave of color appeared on her face. "No, Princess! No, not at all!"

Kagome smiled. That meant she had. It was so obvious that Sango liked him. He was handsome and he seemed kind enough. It was his lecherous qualities that probably put him on Sango's bad side.

"Of course. I am mistaken." Kagome replied, sarcasm lacing her words.

Nothing more was said the rest on the way there, Sango no doubt wrapped up in her thoughts of Miroku, while Kagome's stomach felt like a huge rock had fallen into it. With each step, she grew more nervous. They were all awaiting her arrival. Her body screamed, "Run away!" Her mind chanted, "You can do this, you can do this…"

Kagome smiled to herself. I can do this! She'd done it so far without any mistakes, save for the one with Sango. She knew she could make it through a simple dinner. She would not mess this up!

O

The room was silent. A table sat in the middle of the long dining hall. Elegant portraits adorned the walls, and a great crystal chandelier hung overhead, casting a glow in the room. The glow could only reach so far though. The people residing in the chairs were far from glowing.

The Queen sat at the north end of the table. She was dressed in an elegant black dress, flowing over her shoulder and pinned with a silver broach. Her short hair was pushed behind her ears, enhancing her high cheekbones. On her head she wore the crown, a token she would soon pass to Kikyo.

At the other end of the table sat Inutaisho, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha.

The Queen wore an expression of forced politeness, and behind her mask she was beginning to wonder how much longer her daughter would be. Inutaisho looked slightly bored, but a small smirk graced his features. Sesshomaru wore no emotion on his face, but he had his arms folded, a sure sign of indifference. And Inuyasha just looked plain angry.

No one spoke for some time. They'd already greeted one another, at least to an extent. The Queen had said her "Good evenings" and "How do you dos". Inutaisho had replied with, "Good evening as well. Fine, thank you." And soon after getting seated at the table, they sat staring at each other. For the past five minutes no one said a word.

A light knock issued from the door, and a moment later Sango stepped into the room.

She bowed low before speaking. "Your Highness, Princess Kikyo is ready."

The Queen sent her a curt nod. "Good. Send her in."

Sango turned and went to the door. The Queen stood up, as did Inutaisho and his sons. Sango and another servant opened the double wooden doors. Slowly, the entrance was clear, and Kagome stepped into the room.

She looked simply radiant. Her dress shimmered in the light as she stepped forward. She smiled to her mother, inside cringing as she received only a brief twitch of a smile. Kagome turned to look at the King of the Western Lands. He looked very handsome and nice in a way, even though he winked at her in a joking manner. The younger one, Sesshomaru,looked at her as if she weren't there, sending a chill down her spine.

Lastly, she looked to Prince Inuyasha, the one she would soon be marrying.

In an instant her breath was gone from her in a whoosh and her brain froze up like an icicle. There in front of her was the most handsome man she'd ever seen. She took in his smooth, silver hair, marveling at its color. His skin was flawless. She looked at his eyes, both a burning fire of amber. Each orb was trained on her, a look similar to hers on his face. She felt herself beginning to blush, but before she had a chance to be embarrassed about it, her shoe got stuck under the edge of the carpet, and with an ungraceful heave, she fell flat on her face.

AN: Aw, poor Kagome. I wonder how she'll recover from such a slip up. And what will Inuyasha think of the klutzy princess...?