Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Hey all. I'm really excited about this story. Lately I have not had any time to brainstorm or anything. So I decided to do it at work when my boss wasn't looking, so this basically means I have napkins covered with notes all over my computer desk. Let me know how you think the story is please!
Chapter 3 - Breaking Hearts
Hidenka stood impatiently in the hallway outside of her parent's bedroom. Naraku had been the first one to discover her screaming and quickly rushed to Kagome's side. He had then took it upon himself to return Kagome to her room, and order a guard to remove Inuyasha from the tree. She stared at her hand watching her claws go in and out, wondering how it would feel to slice off Naraku's slimy head. 'He has the nerve to forbid me to enter my mother's room while he's alone in there with her. And THEN he puts up a barrier to make sure no one does get in. When he comes out of that room I swear I'm gonna…'
"Hidenka" Hidenka looked up and found Naraku finally exiting the chambers. "Your mother is very distressed. I would like to express my desire for you to leave her alone right now."
"Who the fuck do you think you are to tell me not to see my mother. She fucking killed my father, I have a right to know why."
"She told me herself."
"O really," Hidenka sneered. "Pray tell what did she say?"
"That your father had betrayed her. After that sentence it was basically a bunch of mumblings about a maid in the hall." He didn't even try to hide his smile as he told the young princess why her father was dead. "Allow your mother to rest, she is unstable." With that said he turned and headed back towards his own chambers that he shared with Shippo. When he was finally gone Hidenka reached for the doorknob, only to end up burning your hand in the process. 'How dare he! He put up another fucking barrier to prevent me from seeing her. Why doesn't he want me to see her?' Growling in agitation, she headed for the library, determined to find something to tell her how to break barriers. 'Too bad I didn't listen to mama when she kept trying to get me to practice my miko powers...'
"Kagome's sanity is wavering right now. She keeps claiming that she is being haunted by the ghost of Inuyasha. She is also paranoid of her own people, saying that they hate her for killing their king. After that she keeps asking him why he betrayed her." Sesshomaru watched as Naraku gave his report about what was going on in the South, it seems he had appointed himself temporary lord. "Since young Prince Mitoko is not yet of age to take over his father's lands, I propose an idea."
"And what would that be Lord Naraku," Miroku questioned skeptically. He too was wary of Naraku's intentions.
"Shippo and Hidenka are already betrothed on the wishes of both sets of parents. Lets have them wed now, and act as regents of the Southern lands until Mitoko is of age."
"An interesting idea Lord Naraku, but why Shippo. We all know the young princess is uninterested in the fox. Why not have her marry one of my sons, Sango and I would be more than glad to watch over the young couple." Miroku wasn't too happy with Naraku's idea. Yes Hidenka was technically betrothed to Shippo, but at least his own sons don't have the influence of Naraku in their hearts.
"But Lord Shuudoushi, it was Inuyasha's wish for Hidenka to marry Shippo. You wouldn't want to go against your best friend's wishes would you? Unless there is something about this union you don't like…" Naraku simply smiled as he watched Miroku fidget.
"No, I would not want to go against the wishes of my friend."
"It is settled then," Sesshomaru started. "Hidenka and Shippo will wed by the end of the month and act as regents for the South. Now if you don't mind," he paused while glaring at Naraku, "I have other matters I need to attend to."
"Certainly. Well then, I think I'll go inform the happy couple." Naraku stood to leave when Miroku interjected.
"How about we let Lady Sango inform Princess Hidenka. She is like an aunt to her, and I'm sure she would rather prefer the news from her than yourself." Naraku caught without any legitimate reasons as to not allow Sango in the South only nodded and left the room.
'I'll also have Sango be my spy.' Miroku stood up and walked towards Sesshomaru. "You think this is the best course of action?"
"Of course not. But what else can we do? We have no legitimate reasons to say no without questioning Naraku himself. Let's just wait and see what happens."
"Hidenka. It's me, Sango." Sango waited patiently after she knocked on the doors to Hidenka's chamber. The door opened, but it wasn't Hidenka on the other side. Instead it was just one of the palace maids.
"Lady Sango, I believe Princess Hidenka is in the library."
"Thank you." The maid nodded and went back to straightening the Princess' rooms. Sango turned and headed back towards the main hallway to go to the library on the first floor. She couldn't help but feel nervous as she silently walked down the dark hallways. The palace had fallen into a state of darkness and despair. There wasn't a smiling face in the castle, save Lord Naraku that is. He constantly played the hero, taking care of everything for Kagome. He was even arranging the funeral. 'Something is terribly wrong in this place. I wish Miroku was here. He is much better at sensing things than I am. All I can sense is that there are demons, which is expected when the Lord and his children are all part demon.' Sango soon found the large oak doors with the intricate carving of a large dog demon. Kagome had had it commissioned for Inuyasha as a birthday gift one year. It was blessed with holy power that only allowed true friends of the royal family to enter. All the secrets of the South were behind this door, they had to be extra careful. Sango knocked quickly on the door and then allowed herself in. The enormous room appeared empty, but she was sure she heard muttering further into the dark room. Walking quietly she made her way pass aisles of scrolls until she soon found the princess. She was furiously reading a scroll under a dim lamp. Dark circles could be seen under her eyes, indicating that she hadn't slept in days.
"Princess Hidenka, what are you looking for?" Hidenka jumped at the sound of Sango's voice and snapped her head up. Seeing that it was only Sango, she sighed a breath of relief and sank back into her chair.
"Naraku placed a barrier upon my mother's room forbidding anyone but himself to enter. I've been trying to find a way to break it. I haven't seen her since…"
"I understand," Sango interrupted so she wouldn't have to finish the sentence.
"Sango, what are you doing here?" Sango looked at the young girl and mentally sighed. Everyone knew she didn't want to marry the young prince, and now she had to tell her she had no choice.
"The council sent me to speak with you. They came upon a decision as to what is going to be done with the lands of the South since your mother is currently incapable of ruling herself."
"And that would be…"
Sango took a deep breath and said as quickly as she could, "foryouttomarryprinceshippoandactasregentuntilyourbrotherisofage." Hidenka's golden eyes flared red for a brief second before returning to their tired gold.
"You wanna run that by me again?" she said with as much patience as she could.
"The council decided that since your parents agreed to your betrothal with Prince Shippo, that the two of you should marry immediately and act as regents until Prince Mitoko is old enough to rule himself." Hidenka tilted her head forward, hiding her eyes from Sango's view.
"So I'm to marry Naraku's fox?"
"It seems so."
"And I have no say in the matter?"
"Sesshomaru and Miroku already approved. Miroku tried to interject with one of our sons simply since we all know you dislike Shippo, and the fact that Naraku is his advisor…but it appeared suspicious, and Miroku had no real reason why it should be done."
"I see. Well it's too bad. I'll never marry one man while I'm in love with another." Sango's head perked up and found Hidenka staring out of one of the windows into the night sky.
"Is that why you have been refusing Shippo all this time Hidenka?" Sango questioned.
"Yes." Hidenka allowed softly. A single tear could be seen trailing down her face. "We actually had plans of running away somewhere. After Mitoko was born, we knew that I wouldn't be heir to the South, and that I would be free of any official duties. My parents would never make me marry if I wasn't in love. They were too much in love themselves to force a love-less marriage on another." Sango nodded at the truth of Hidenka's statement. If only Kagome was alright, she would never allow these events to happen.
"If you excuse me Sango, I'm afraid I have some rather heartbreaking news to share."
"Of course." Hidenka smiled weakly and left the library heading for the gates of the palace. Sango sunk down to the floor and began quietly crying herself. Crying for the loss of her friends, and crying for the heartbreak that Hidenka was going to have to endure.
