A/N: Ugh, sorry if this chapter is a little... crappy. I couldn't write it out... oh well. At least I got it out =). Yeah, I reached twenty reviews! Thanks a lot, people!! Psst, the chapters come out faster the more you review !

I noticed I have a couple of grammar mistakes on my other chapters like, "boring into his head." Lol, well, I'm re-edited those. I also re-edited the last chapter . Seems like I keep re-editing all my work. So annoying! If you find any more mistakes, please tell me! Thank you!

Oh yeah, I killed the dividers . I'm using only a couple dashes from now on! K, nevermind, ff cut THAT out too. Oh and they cut off the little arrows pointing up... now I can't make faces with it. DAMN IT!! What am I supposed to use NOW?

Well, enjoy the chapter I guess...

Disclaimer: Read the disclaimer for chapter one... I only own the plot (though, that could be doubted too -)

Previous Chapter:

"So, what happened between you and Miroku?" Kagome asked with a mischievous grin on her face. She noted the red blush that appeared on Sango's face.

"I accidentally hugged Miroku..." said Sango, her face turning a deep red.

Kagome laughed, "Just that? Come on Sango, you and I both know that you want something more from him." Kagome stuck out her tongue.

Sango blushed even more if that were even possible. Kagome saw this and said, "Alright, I'll leave you alone to your thoughts now!"

With that, Kagome ran to where Inuyasha and Miroku were, with Sango hot on her heels.

Boy was it going to be a long day.

In the Shadows

Chapter 6 The Castle and the Shooting Star

"Remind me again why they are here with us?" Inuyasha asked with an annoyed tone while pointing to Kagome and Sango.

"Because, we are going to help in the war that you said was going to be launched soon," Kagome said. She had an impatient expression on.

They were at the gates of the Inu Youkai's castle. The castle was huge! There had to be at least eighty rooms on the front. Add the sides and the back, and wonder how many rooms there would be in all.

Inuyasha ordered the guards to open the front gate for them to go in. The guards seemed suspicious at first, and didn't let them in. Inuyasha started to get annoyed, and he started yelling at the guard saying he'll fire him once he got in. The guard immediately let them in; no one had an attitude as bad as the Inuyasha.

They passed the gates, and walked through the gardens, since you had to get passed it to get to enter the castle.

The gardens were beautiful; there were so many kinds of flowers! The colours were shining under the sun's heat. It looked like it was from the fairy tales the slaves often talked about back at Naraku's place.

Kagome shook her head and cleared the thoughts of Naraku out of her mind. 'It's all over now, I escaped!' Kagome thought.

Kagome looked beside her and saw Sango. Sango, like Kagome was looking around in amazement. Kagome smiled slightly. Kagome returned her attention to where she was going.

The doors in front of Kagome were huge. It had to be at least four times taller than Inuyasha and three times wider than Inuyasha. The doors were made of wood, and there were glass pieces here and there.

Kagome looked closer. The glass pieces were the flower pedals! There were some carved flowers on the sides of the door, and some of them were made of glass. There were also carved branches and leaves. The doors were magnificent!

Inuyasha and Miroku stopped walking and stopped at the doors, which Kagome and Sango followed.

Inuyasha opened the doors and revealed the castle to Kagome. They stepped inside, and both Sango and Kagome gasped.

If you thought that the outside was amazing then there would be absolutely no other words to describe the inside.

The hallways were just grand. The hallways had a couple of tables up and down it, with fresh flowers in pots on them. The framed paintings on the walls were beautifully painted. Most of them were scenes of nature, while the others had humans and youkai together, smiling. Sunlight shone through the thick glass ceiling.

While Naraku's castle was elegant, there was always a slimy feeling to it when you looked at the walls or the flowers in the garden.

They continued down the halls, until Inuyasha turned left and entered another hallway, which was similar to the first hallway except that they were some doors on the sides.

This went on for a couple minutes as Kagome and Sango followed Inuyasha and Miroku. The turned left and rights, until they finally reached a huge door, similar to the one they entered through at the very beginning.

Inuyasha was about to open the door when the door opened, almost hitting Inuyasha.

Out stepped a tall youkai, with long silver hair, and golden eyes. Almost like Inuyasha except, the sides of his face had two purple streaks and his ears were pointy. He carried an amused expression.

Inuyasha was about to scowl at the person who almost hit him with the door when he saw who it was.

"Hi Father," Inuyasha said, with a surprised expression.

Miroku bowed slightly and said cheerfully, "Hello, King Takahashi!"

King Takahashi merely nodded, but anger was flashing through his eyes.

"Come in and explain to me why you were captured by Naraku," King Takahashi stated as he walked into the room.

Kagome and Sango looked at Inuyasha, wondering if they should go in too. Inuyasha saw this and nodded with a bored expression.

Inuyasha and Miroku went into the room with Kagome and Sango following.

They entered a room, which Kagome guessed as the Throne. Now, she had never been in a throne room before, but you had to be really dumb to not notice the two tall, magnificent, chairs at the back of the room.

King Takahashi sat on the first chair and looked at Inuyasha with a stern stare. "Now boy, tell me what happened," King Takahashi said, still looking at Inuyasha, though, deep in his eyes, there was a soft look.

Inuyasha sighed, and told him about how he got caught and how Naraku made him a slave, leaving out Kagome and Sango's part. When he got to the part about Kagome breaking the barrier, King Takahashi asked who she was.

Inuyasha just pointed to Kagome, who currently was behind him with her head held low.

She felt humble there, mostly everybody there was royal or was at a higher rank, and she was just a mere slave. But she was caught off guard when King Takahashi asked who 'Kagome' was, so she looked up.

King Takahashi almost gasped and his eyes widen a bit in surprise. There were two reasons.

Reason number one: She looked strikingly like Kikyou.

Reason number two: Her eyes held immense power.

Miroku looked and Kagome when he saw King Takahashi's eyes widen. There was nothing wrong with Kagome, and then realization dawned. "Oh! So that's why she looked so familiar; she looks exactly like Kikyou!"

Kagome looked confused, "Kikyou?" she asked.

"Yeah, she's betrothed to Inuyasha," Miroku said simply.

Inuyasha let out a groan, and said, "Don't even remind me about it!"

King Takahashi cleared his throat after he got over the shock and said while looking at Kagome, "So I assume you are staying here?"

"Yeah, we want to help with the war against Naraku. Sango too," Kagome said, her voice a bit shaky while pointing to Sango at her last two words. "That is, if you let us stay until the war. Can we, please? We can help out around the castle if anyone needs any help," Kagome said.

King Takahashi didn't say anything for a moment. It looked like he was considering it.

To tell you the truth, Kagome was nervous. Really nervous. Her shaky voice already proved it, and now King Takahashi might not let Sango and her stay. She had managed to escape from Naraku and help Inuyasha escape. If Naraku ever found her, she and Sango would be dead

Finally, King Takahashi spoke. "Both of you can stay... I think we might need some help with the war too, and about helping out around here," King Takahashi paused and smiled, "Forget about it. You did help Inuyasha and Miroku escape."

Relief washed over Kagome as she looked at Sango. Sango caught her gaze and they both smiled brightly at King Takahashi.

"Thank you so much, King Takahashi!" Both Kagome and Sango said truthfully.

King Takahashi smiled warmly and said to one of the maids on the side of the room, "Take them to the guest rooms and give them each a room."

The maid obeyed and gestured Kagome and Sango to follow her as she went out of the room.

King Takahashi turned his attention to Inuyasha and Miroku and said, "They were both slaves of Naraku, right?"

Miroku nodded, and said, "But I think Kagome is a bit... different. Her aura just feels weird."

"I agree with you, Miroku," King Takahashi said.

Inuyasha just remained silent, still wearing a bored expression, but on the inside he was wondering why Kagome had a different aura.

King Takahashi snapped his fingers, "That's it! The girl, Kagome, she might be a miko since she broke a barrier that was supposedly powerful. Her miko powers must have reacted and awakened in order to protect her. But I don't think Kagome realizes that she is a miko."

Miroku's face brightened, "I think you're right, King Takahashi!"

"At any rate though, I don't think she has any evil intentions or her friend. There wasn't any evil in her eyes, just power," King Takahashi said.

A silence greeted them after that.

Inuyasha cleared his throat and said, "Father, can I go now?" clearly annoyed at having to be stuck there.

"Yes, son, you may go," King Takahashi said, "You too, Miroku."

Miroku nodded, and left the room following Inuyasha, leaving King Takahashi alone, to his thoughts.

'Why did Inuyasha bother with those girls? He never brings anyone to the castle... Don't take me wrong, the miko girl could change Inuyasha. Now why am I talking to myself?' The King pondered.

"Wow! Are we really going to be staying in here?" Kagome asked the older maid, clearly surprised that they were to sleep in such an elegant room.

"Yes, milady," the maid.

"Please don't call me that, please just call me Kagome," Kagome said.

The maid looked up and gave a small smile, "Thank you, mil—Kagome."

Kagome smiled at the maid who was a couple years older than her. She glanced around the room. The bed looked so fluffy, and the pink curtains around the bed made it look so cute!

Kagome looked out the glass doors. The view before her was amazing. The golden sun was just setting behind the hills and the rays of light were beaming through the sky. The day was getting late.

"Dinner will be served soon, Kagome. Would you like a bath?" The maid asked.

"That would be great!" Kagome exclaimed, thinking of a warm, relaxing bath.

"I'll get you some new kimonos, Kagome," the maid said.

"Thank you!"

Soon Kagome was bathing in a tub with scented water that smelled like blossoms. Thoughts were buzzing through her head.

'Hmmmm, it feels so good! I don't think I've ever been bathed like this,' Kagome thought. 'Sango is probably taking a bath too. We didn't really do anything to deserve this, I feel bad!' Kagome sighed.

When she got out of the pool, the maid—whose name is Anna, by the way—had a new kimono for her.

It was pretty! It was a dark blue with light yellow flowers on it. The piece of cloth that was to be tied around Kagome's waist matched the light yellow lilies on her kimono. If Kagome were to pick a kimono, that would've been her choice.

Kagome smiled brightly and said, "Thank you so much Anna; it's so pretty!"

"You are welcome, Kagome!" Anna gave a light smile and said, "You should get to dinner after you dress. King Takahashi likes it when everyone comes for dinner."

Kagome nodded as she changed behind a dresser. When she came out, Anna smiled and said she looked pretty.

Anna opened her hand and revealed a dark blue ribbon. "Turn around," Anna told Kagome which she did.

Anna tied a low ponytail with the silky ribbon leaving a couple strands of hair on the side of Kagome's head.

Kagome looked into a mirror and Anna smiled. The ribbon brought out the light blue in Kagome's hair.

"It looks so nice, Anna, thank you!" Kagome said.

They left the room, and saw Sango coming out of her room, which was beside Kagome's. She was dressed in a darker shade of green with pink blossoms on it and she had a pink ribbon in her hair.

Kagome and Sango smiled. "You look great!" They both said in unison.

They laughed at jokes ((A/N: Yes, including the Anna, and Sango's maid, who, by the way, were leading them to dinner.)) as they travelled down the long hallway. When they finally reached the end of the hall, they met Inuyasha and Miroku, who were coming out of the royal hallway, which was across from theirs'.

Confusion found its way to Kagome's face as she watched Inuyasha. He had blushed then turned away. Kagome let it slide for a moment though, as the scene before her was much more interesting.

"I don't believe we've met before. My name is Miroku, and what may your pretty name be?" Miroku said holding on to the hands of Sango's maid. There was a familiar glint in his violet orbs.

Sango's eyebrow twitched and her face was a light shade of red.

"Mary," Sango's maid said quietly, obviously embarrassed.

"Oh, what a beautiful name! Would you do the honour of my bearing my child?" Miroku said.

The maid was stunned; a vein was popping out of Sango's forehead; that was when a slap was heard. Miroku cupped his red cheek, sighed and said, "It was worth a try."

Sango just rolled her eyes. Kagome turned her attention back to Inuyasha and as to why he was blushing before.

Suddenly, a woman pulled Inuyasha into an embrace and he returned it. Kagome's eyes twinkled amusingly, as to why Inuyasha returned the embrace. There was also a feeling Kagome couldn't identify, but she let it slide as the woman began speaking.

"Inuyasha! I was so worried when you didn't come home! I would have come earlier to see you, but I was sleeping and your father didn't wake me up. Are you alright? No boo-boos are anything?" The woman said all in one breath.

There was a tint of pink on Inuyasha's face as he said, "No mother, I am fine."

"Okay, good!" 'Mother' said.

"Ah! You are even more beautiful than the last time I saw you, Queen Takahashi!" Miroku said, after bowing lightly.

"Oh, and Miroku, as flattering as ever," Queen Takahashi said, smiling.

The other maids bowed, after the Queen's gaze was in their direction. The Queen's smile widened when her eyes locked contact with Kagome's.

Now Kagome could clearly see the woman's face. She had long, straight black hair, and light brown coloured eyes. Though Kagome guessed that she was older than thirty, she looked young.

"You must be Kagome! You are very beautiful!" The Queen said with enthusiasm, while still wearing her bright smile. Kagome blushed at the compliment.

'How did she know my name?' Kagome thought, surprised. When Kagome realized that everyone's attention was directed at her, she became nervous. "Err..." Kagome tried to say something, but it was really hard to think straight when she was in the centre of attention.

The Queen said, sensing her nervousness, "Oh, excuse me, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Inuyasha's mother, Queen Takahashi, though you may call me Izayoi."

Inuyasha's eyes widened at this. 'What?! She's letting someone she has just met; call her by her first name?' Inuyasha thought.

After, what the Queen said had gotten through Kagome and Sango's head, they bowed.

"No need for formalities," Queen Takahashi said, while leaning down to help Kagome and Sango up.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know..." Kagome said. 'So that explains why Inuyasha hugged her back!'

"That's alright, dear," Queen Takahashi said, then she looked beside Kagome and her eyes landed on Sango. "Oh, and you are Sango, am I correct?"

Sango looked surprised and was in the same state as what Kagome was in. Sango was less confused though, and she found her voice. "You are correct, Queen Takahashi."

"Oh, you can call me Izayoi too. As I have said before, no need for formalities," Izayoi smiled warmly.

Kagome and Sango grinned a bit.

"Well, let's get to dinner then!" Izayoi said.

As they walked down the hallways, the Queen, Kagome, and Sango, talked about anything they could think of. Inuyasha and Miroku were forgotten, as they followed the ladies to dinner.

((A/N: I'm just going to go over the dinner settings, okay? The king is at the front of the table with the queen at the end. Rin is across from Sesshoumaru, which are the first seats beside the king. Kagome is beside Rin, with Inuyasha across from her. Miroku is beside Inuyasha, with Sango across him. Then the queen. There should be more people at the table, but I don't feel like writing it. Make sense? If not, oh well, your lost. =P!))

Dinner was... different.

The King was sitting at the front of the table, while the Queen was sitting on the opposite side.

There was an inu youkai sitting there that looked like Inuyasha and the King. He had long ears, some streaks on each side of his face and a pair of cold, golden eyes. Turns out he is Inuyasha's half-brother and the King's son. His name is Sesshoumaru, or at least, that's what they called him.

There was a human woman sitting across from Sesshoumaru. Her name is Rin and she is a year older than me, but she doesn't really act her age. I can tell that she is very cheerful, and generous. She is married to Sesshoumaru, which is strange because Sesshoumaru doesn't seem very – err... loving.

Kagome stops her train of thoughts as a new dish is presented to them. She watches which fork Inuyasha uses, before following. Sango does the same.

If you think that Kagome isn't nervous, then you are wrong. First of all, she has never, ever ate at a royal dinner before. Therefore she does not know the dinner manners, or what utensils to use. Second of all, Kagome barely knew these people, and yet she was here eating dinner with them. She didn't think she deserved it.

Sango was doing no better, especially since the pervert was in front of her.

That was when Kagome noticed that the hanyou in front of her was glaring at her. What had she done wrong this time to upset 'the-great-oh-mighty-prince?' Kagome just glared back. Who cares if he is the prince or not?

'Damn wench. First she convinces father to let her stay, then she comes out looking beautiful and all mighty with a brand new kimono, now she glares back at me?' Inuyasha thought. He didn't care though. If she wanted to play games then he would challenge her right back.

He continued to glare.

He glared, she glared, he glared, and she glared. That went on until the King cleared his throat.

They both quickly jerked their heads towards the source of sound. The King didn't say anything, but instead, started a conversation with the other people at the table.

'That should keep them from glaring at each other,' the King thought. Unfortunately, that wasn't what the other two had in mind.

The glaring contest started again.

Kagome sighed as she walked out the doors to the porch. The night was beautiful, with the bright stars sprinkled across the night sky.

She sighed again and thought, 'What was with Inuyasha? He always seems so moody, and always snaps.' Kagome's eyes twinkled with amusement. 'But, all the better and sometimes its fun when I argue with him. I can tell he's soft inside, but he tries to act tough. It's funny sometimes watching him.'

Kagome lets a smile appear on her face.

Suddenly, a shooting star travels across the night sky. A pair of dark chocolate brown eyes quickly follows the blazing star, and a whisper is heard.

"I wish I could have a full, enjoyable life with the one I truly love..."

But, unbeknownst to Kagome, the wish was granted even before she whispered it in to the night sky.

A/N: Phew! That was really hard to write, but I'm so glad I got it out!

Mansee415: Yay! You reviewed, =)! Yeah, Inuyasha is ending. The dubbed version is still out in America though. I think the anime ends before the manga... oh yeah! There are these only manga translations for Inuyasha and they have 37 volumes there? Yeah, around that... check it out if you want! (Add the h t t p and all that stuff along with the triple w's. Remove the spaces too!) wot-club. org . uk/Inuyasha/ (If ff cuts it off, email me or just review!)

Next time!

purity=starz (if removes ff the equal sign, its not my fault!)

Posted - September 4, 2004, 6:15 PM.

These are awesome Inuyasha fanfics I recommend:

A Wish upon a Star – kealilah – Rated 'PG-13'

My favourite princess alternative universe!

Broadway Baby – del-kaidin – Rated 'R'

Really angst this one. It was actually the first real fanfiction that made me cry, but it was enjoyable.