Well.. I vow NOT to write myself into any more corners like I did with my other story..
Anyway.. umm.. you will notice that some of the relationships are changed around.. but I promise you, this will be InuKag and MirSan!! (it would kill me to change those two..)
And also.. I did say I'm a canuck. So if you see any oddities in spelling (like honour instead of honor), it's probably that. Or it could be that I'm too lazy to hit the backspace key.
Last note..
I have a lovely mental map-picture of how the castle might look, and I know you can't possibly have read my mind. Maybe you have. In any case, i decided to write some detail down at the bottom of this chap.
Disclaimer: I own Inuyasha. Mmhmm. See? points to a sheet of paper oh.. wait.. nevermind, that says "I own nothing". WAAAH! runs away crying
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"Kagome, wake up." Sunlight splashed on the girl's face as the door slid open.
"Ughhh.." A slender hand moved to shade soft brown eyes from the light.
The girl who had opened the door walked in and closed the door behind her. "Mistress Kagome, it's time to get up!" She walked over to the futon, clothes draped over one arm. Her hazel eyes closed for a moment in exasperation, then she put the clothes down and strode over to the futon. She put her hands on her hips, and exclaimed, "Kagome, wake up! You're already sleeping in! If you don't get up soon.."
The covers on the futon were thrown back as Kagome sat up abruptly. "It's today!" She managed to untangle herself from the futon and almost fell off the side of the futon. "Ack! Sango!"
Sango barely held back a laugh. She reached down a hand to help Kagome up. "We've got to get you dressed. Breakfast is in.. 15 minutes. Hurry!"
Without waiting for an answer, she picked up the clothes she'd put down earlier and shook them out, laying them on the futon one by one for Kagome to put on. Kagome made a face. She hated wearing so many layers; it made it hard for her to move around. But there was no way she could get out of this. Sighing, she put on the layers one by one, with Sango's help. Finally, they were done, and Sango pushed Kagome over to the bathroom. While Kagome brushed her teeth, Sango brushed and pinned up Kagome's hair.
The moment they were done, the door slid open again, and another woman entered the room. She looked much like Kagome, but her face was more composed. Which, one supposed, could be attributed to the fact that she was about five years older.
"Lady Kikyou!" Sango bowed to the older woman. Kikyou was Kagome's older sister, and the two were as alike as two peas. The only differences that stood between them were the difference in status, age, and in character. Kagome was a nobleman's daughter, and she would be betrothed soon. Kikyou, though she should have married also, was training as a miko. And where Kagome was light-hearted and almost childish in her innocent happiness, Kikyou was calmer, dignified, and almost emotionally detached in her cool manner.
"Kagome, Sango, please hurry. The guests are beginning to arrive at the breakfast table, and my sister must take her place." She walked back out, towards the dining room. Kagome and Sango followed, Kagome silently cursing the kimono that hampered her movements. Seeing that Kikyou, having already gone ahead out of sight, Kagome glanced quickly around to make sure the two girls were the only ones around, picked up her sandals in one hand, then lifted her kimono enough to run. Sango giggled and followed her example. "Your lady mother would kill you if she saw us doing this." Not that either cared, of course. Just before they reached the main hallway, they put their sandals back on, straightened their kimonos, and walked to the dining room.
They exchanged one last, conspiratorial glance as Kagome took her place, and Sango left to join the other servants. Kikyou, who was seated next to Kagome, looked at the younger girl's hair, slightly flushed cheeks, and whispered, "Sister, next time you run, make sure you get your hair back in order before you present yourself."
Kagome flushed, embarrassed. "Oops! Arigato , Kikyou." She quickly raised her hands to her hair, grimacing as she felt the now out-of-place strands. Kikyou turned, pushed Kagome's hands gently back down and smoothed down the rebellious strands.
Glancing nervously at her parents, Kagome struggled to keep her hands still in her lap. Noble ladies mustn't fidget. Her parents conversed quietly with those next to them, their faces and bodies composed and calm. How can they stay so still? Kagome barely managed to stay seated. She wanted to get up, run, maybe take a shot or two at the archery range. She twitched once. Kikyou raised an eyebrow at her, the look on her face saying, behave. Kagome sighed softly. She hated having to stay so still. Normally, she wouldn't have to sit like this, prim and proper with her back perfectly straight, without a single hair out of place, keeping quiet. Normally they could just wear whatever they wanted, and sometimes, if Kagome wished, she could have her breakfast brought to her room.
But today was different. Tonight her parents were throwing a massive party, and several nobles and their sons had been invited. Kagome had turned 17 not more than two weeks earlier, and her parents had decided that it was time for her to be married. Really, it's not so much of a surprise, I'm the only marriageable daughter my parents have. This is what was destined for my life. This is what my parents want for me. But it wasn't what she wanted. She didn't really want to get married; she wanted to be a miko, like Kikyou. But this was her duty. Kikyou had already taken that path, and so the duty of bringing honour to her parents by marrying was left to her.
I wonder, who will I marry? Suppose he was some ugly noble, decades older! Or.. maybe he would be handsome, and young. I still don't want to marry. Maybe I'll just run away! Yes, that would solve that problem. But of course, it wasn't really that good a solution. Kagome sighed and made some noise of thanks as her food was placed before her.
Some of the nobles and their sons had already arrived; they were now seated at the table. Kagome kept her head down and stared pointedly at her food, taking small, delicate bites and sipping quietly at her tea. Beside her, Kikyou did the same. Even so, she could feel the eyes staring at her. She purposely kept her head bowed as far as was considered polite, letting her bangs fall down to hide her face. She lifted another small piece of food to her lips, and saw Kikyou clench one hand in her lap.
"Do you hate this too?" Kagome whispered.
"Get used to it, Kagome. Now that our parents have started on this, it will likely be many more formal meals like this before you'll be free. And yes, I hate this." Kikyou gave Kagome a little smile.
Finally the meal was finished, and Kagome rose smoothly. She followed Kikyou out, attended by Sango, and together they headed for their rooms. As soon as they reached the private family section of the estate, they all breathed a huge sigh of relief. Kagome promptly stretched her arms, grateful to get some movement into her upper body. "Much better!"
"Now, Kagome. Remember that you must be on time tonight. I will be at the shrine most of the day, so you will have to find some way to amuse yourself. Try not to make a scene, ok?"
"Hai." She and Sango watched Kikyou head for her room, then the two looked at each other. "Well? What are we supposed to do now?"
"Umm.. how about the archery range? I don't think any of the nobles will be there. They're probably all hanging around the courtyard, or chatting nonsense with your parents and each other. No doubt, starting or continuing a few petty squabbles of their own."
Kagome giggled. "You're probably right. Let's change into more suitable clothes, and then the archery range it is!"
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The young noble stared down at the archery range. From the doorway of his room that led to the outside hall, he had a perfect view. And right now, that view included two very lovely young ladies. One was clearly the lady Kagome. Her slender wrists and hands, her arms steady as she pulled the arrow back and released it. She was quite good; she always hit the target, although she hit the center only once. Her long, shiny, dark hair was tied at the nape of her neck with a bright red ribbon. The other girl was pretty too, although she wore her hair in a ponytail high up on her head. But the lady Kagome!
She's mine, I swear it.
Laughter drifted up to his ears as the next arrow landed in a tree far from the target. The two girls walked towards the target to pick out the arrows. The young noble watched, entranced. The lady's walk was smooth, graceful. There was almost a slight bounce in her step. She wasn't merely lit by the brilliant sun overhead; she radiated light back.
The lady and her maid had finished plucking out arrows, and headed back for their earlier spot. This time, the maid took the bow. Her aim was not quite so good as the lady's, and the young noble smiled as he compared her aim with that of the lady's. He clenched his hand at the thought that some other, undeserving noble might marry this lovely lady. She's mine! I will go tonight, as soon as possible, and I will talk to her parents. I will not let this chance slip out of my hands. He smiled faintly as she watched the two girls in the archery range until they stopped, gathered all the arrows and headed back inside.
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Kagome watched as the arrow thunked into the edge of the target. Close. She had yet to hit the centre consistently. But she loved archery anyway. It felt so good, concentrating on the target, and nothing else mattered, just you, the target, the feeling in your arms. She raised her bow again, took aim, fired, and watched the arrow hit another spot on the target. Her next arrow landed so far from the target she couldn't help bursting into laughter.
Together with Sango she collected the arrows. A strange, prickly feeling tingled through her. She felt as if she was being watched; by whom, she had no idea, but it unsettled her all the same. When they reached the starting position again, she handed the bow to Sango. She couldn't get rid of that strange feeling. She looked around. There was absolutely nobody around, save for herself and Sango. Maybe there were people in the castle.. but she didn't see anyone. She probably wouldn't have seen anyone, at least; the sun was painfully bright behind the castle and it was hard to tell in the shadowy upper hall of the castle.
She turned her attention back to Sango and laughed. Somehow she had managed to get her arms tangled in the bow and bowstring. Sango made a face, and slowly worked herself free. "Great. I can't even use a bow without somehow messing up! See, this is why I'm a lady's maid and not some warrior maiden, like my mother used to think of me." She chuckled. Sango had no aptitude whatsoever for weapons, much less a bow and arrow. Which was a strange thing, you could say, because her mother had been Kagome's mother's handmaiden/bodyguard, and pretty darned good fighter.
"I think we're good for the day. Let's go back inside, and go find something to eat." Kagome took the bow from her friend's hands, and went back inside, hunting down the kitchen.
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well, how's you like that? It's taken me forever to write that. Sorry. I have Aps coming up, and fanfic-writing-time has turned into mad-cramming-time. But I have my "AP study day" which means hopefully I'll get most of the next chapter done!
PLEASE REVIEW!! Arigatou, minna-san!
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AN: Verbal Castle Layout.
I truly don't know how traditional Japanese castles/estates work (actually.. I dun really know that much at all.. in general) but so I did my best to combine something in between Naraku's castle (sry.. but it's the only one in the series!) and the one in Miyazaki's Spirited Away. Neither of which I have a particularly good memory of, so here goes.
Uhh.. the general layout is a giant square, with a large courtyard/garden in the middle. That's where any social mingling would normally take place. (again, forgive me if this is not at all how castles work at all) There is a main hallway that goes clear through the entire floor (how to explain this? Imagine a normal doughnut, but square instead of round. The hole is the courtyard. Hope that makes better sense) I decided to add a second floor, so imagine two square doughnuts, the top one slightly smaller than the bottom one. The space where it is smaller, is turned into basically a balcony/hallway. So where the bottom floor has an indoor hallway (plus one that goes around the courtyard), the upper one has balcony/hallways on the outside and overlooking the courtyard but not INSIDE the building. Clearly, the family's private quarters are on the upper level, as well as any guest rooms, but the two are in separate parts of hallway. Any other rooms (dining, kitchens, practise courts [for combat], etc.. are on the lower level. Okay, now that I've completely turned you off my story, I'll just go and uh.. go eat my bubble tea.
