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Welcome Back Readers!! Enjoy Chapter 2 of the sequel... I know you will enjoy it!! Ok... *cracks knuckles* let's begin... again.. : )

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Chapter 2

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Deep beneath the waves of the Great Ocean, far below- where the sun's rays cannot shine. The ink blackness of the water housed only tiny, sightless, worms and flocks of krill that were prey to any large fish that happened to brave the darkness in search of food.

Hidden underneath huge worm homes, that look like giant hollow tubes with clumps of mussels attached to their sides; lay a sleepy gorge. The gorge held thousands of cut out holes; just long, deep tunnels carved into the solid rock. Each hole was a small home for the Shadow Merfolk that inhabited the area.

The top rows of holes were each guarded with an armed guard. For these were the homes of the aristocratic family. Past the guard, deep within the rock itself, the tunnel split into hundreds of more tunnels; each lit with a series of torches, each torch was lit with a magical blue flame, which cast long shadows on the extensive rock walls. The tunnels grew colder, as they traveled deeper into the rock face.

Shadow Merfolk traveled in and out of these endless hallways on their countess duties to please the aristocratic family. Beneath the solid walls and never-ending tunnels, behind a shut door, a lonely mermaid sits on the edge of a luxurious bed, draped with colorful, flowing kelp.

The young mermaid bows her head in thought. Her arms are crossed close to her body, holding a thin cloak around her shivering shoulders. Her raven hair swept up in a lavish braid revealing her lily white skin and long neck.

Her eyes still are sweet brown, but they hold no life. The lack of sunlight has caused them to turn dull and wider to see through the darkness of the water.

Dark lines extend from around her eye lids and from the corners of her eyes; the vine pattern twists and turns down to the sides of her cheeks. It was the style of the Shadow Merfolk, to paint their faces in such way, to accent the eyes and complexion. The more extravagant the painting, the higher your status in society. Her lips were also painted dark and held no smile.

She wore silver spiraling arm bands, each adorned with shimmering jewels. Around her chest, she wore a tight fitting black corset, which pulled her small figure tightly together. The corset was decorated with long strands of flowing cloth, as well as a dark cloak that attached around her neck with a silver chain.

She held her fin tucked close to her body. This was perhaps the only thing that hadn't changed. It was still a deep purple color, with flicks of deep green throughout.

The mermaid lifted her head and stared at her reflection in the looking glass in front of her. The darker image of herself stared back at her, in the dull light of the room.

A knock is heard at her door, and then the door opened and in swam in one of her attendants. The attendant's face was flustered and she smiled from ear to ear.

"You're Highness, Kouga has returned! He has returned and he carries with him the item you wished for!"

The mermaid only stared at the excited attendant with dull eyes.

"He asks your immediate attendance Princess Kagome." The attendant continued.

"Very well..." Kagome spoke softly. She stood up and carefully swam out of the room; the attendant followed closely behind her, fussing with her hair and clothing, so that she looked presentable to Kouga.

Kagome swam down the extended hallway and into the hollowed out throne room. As she passed by, servants and other attendants bowed graciously until she passed.

As Kagome approached the doors that led to the throne room, the guards saw her coming and moved quickly to open the great doors. Kagome could hear a trumpet announce her entrance, and her eyes scanned the room, and fell onto a young merman who stood in the center of the great throne room.

He smiled a goofy smile and slightly bowed to her. "My love, I have it... I have the item you requested."

Kagome stared at him, "You tell me this every time you return, yet you do not bring me the item I requested. How am I to know if this time you speak the truth?"

Kouga answered confidently, "This time I am certain that I have the right one. But you must grant me some kindness, Princess, for this item was not easy to retrieve."

"This I understand Kouga, because my Father was its guardian, and he protected it well." Kagome answered.

Kouga ignored her comment and snapped his fingers. A few guards moved behind him and then hurried forward.

Kagome tried to see, but Kouga's body blocked her view. He turned his back to her, which blocked her sight even more, knowing that she couldn't see. With his back turned to Kagome, Kouga spoke softly, "Princess Kagome, my love, I present to you...Tetsugaiga."

He turns to her and holds the battered sword in his hands. Kagome's breath is caught in her throat, 'No! It can't be... he wasn't supposed to find it! This is impossible! Please say it isn't so...' she thought to herself.

~*~* Flashback *~*~

"Princess Kagome, I welcome you to my home...your new home." Kouga spoke as Kagome entered the room.

Kagome's eyes scanned the elaborate residence, "Impressive Mister Kouga."

"My love, you do not need to address me in that manner. Refer to me by only Kouga." Kouga told her.

"If I call you by your informal name then that means that I know you well... and... Mister Kouga...I hardly know you at all." Kagome answered.

Kouga smiled weakly, "Ahh, yes, this is true. But, now I ask to what I owe this visit?"

Kagome bowed her head, "The Coral Palace has been attacked...I have traveled with the only survivors."

Kouga looked concerned, "The King...?" he asked.

Kagome's eyes began to tear. "I fear the worst has happened."

Kouga began to smile, but he hid it quickly, "Does this mean...?"

"It means," Kagome interrupted, "that I come to ask of your aid to my people. Many are wounded and all are starving; I am asking for hospitality."

"I'll see to it." Kouga answered.

"Thank you." Kagome answered. She gently took a seat and wiped away her tears.

Kouga swam closer to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. His touch made Kagome jump up, "I must go see that my people are comfortable."

Kouga pulled her back down to sit, "All will be taken care for, my love. You must rest; you have witnessed things that a lady was not meant to see."

Kagome looked up at him, "I will not put my needs before my people's; if I strength enough to help then I intend to do so."

Kouga shook his head, "You are but a girl Kagome, and your place should be among other beautiful things... not death or war that is a place for a man to be."

Kagome understood, she was still a girl, this is why she had come to Kouga in the first place... her people needed a leader.

"Mister Kouga," Kagome said softly, "My people need a leader; and I fear I am not strong enough take on the responsibility..."

"Our wedding will be announced immediately then! Oh my Kagome! I will make you proud... I will be a better King than even King Yuu himself was."

"NO!" Kagome cried, "Mister Kouga, you did not allow me to finish. I am not accepting your wedding offer. I will rule in my father's stead..."

"But you are a girl," Kouga stated.

"I may be a girl, Mister Kouga, but soon I will be woman. And when I become a woman, I will take up my place on the throne, and hopefully, one day, return to the Clear Waters."

Kouga looked dumbfounded, "But you MUST marry... and certainly that merman will become King!"

"Indeed," Kagome stated, "that is true... but I still believe in marrying for love, Mister Kouga."

"But you cannot rule alone! It has never been done! Society will collapse!" Kouga said.

Kagome thought for a few moments, and then an idea triggered her mind, she retrieved a quill and paper and wrote down a series of sentences, and then she signed her own name.

"Very well, then I will set up a quest. The man who can retrieve the demon sword, Tetsugaiga, from my father's secret grotto and present it to me will win my heart. That is the only way, until I fall in love. Until then, I reign in my father's stead."

Kouga's face was stern and fierce, he snatched the parchment from Kagome hand and pocketed it. "Then, I begin your quest Princess Kagome. I will retrieve the weapon and I will become King."

~*~*~*~*~*~* End Flashback *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kouga looked at Kagome's expression, a sneer appeared on the corner of his lips, and he knew he finally had won. He placed the old sword in Kagome's trembling hands. Then he turned to the other merfolk around him. "Arrange the marriage! Princess Kagome and I will wed before the tides change!"

Kagome was dumbfounded, but it was true, she held Tetsugaiga in her hands... she had it.

Kouga began to swim away, Kagome looked up at him, with his boisterous stride, she began to cry, "NO!" she shouted.

Kouga stopped swimming away and looked back at her, "It's too late Princess. You made a promise, if I found Tetsugaiga and returned it to you, you would marry me. You have your Tetsugaiga, and I now have my bride." He gave a deep laugh.

Kagome shook violently; she grasped Tetsugaiga in her hands and cried out, "You were not meant to find this!"

Kouga smiled, "Oh... But I did. You put this off for five years. Now Kagome, my dear, you uphold your part of the bargain. As royal Princess of the Clear Waters who ever you marry becomes King of the Clear Water and King of the Merfolk."

Kouga fumbled in his pocket for a rolled up piece of paper, he unrolled in and held it before Kagome's eyes. Tears spilled from Kagome's eyes as her mind remembered the paper. The paper she had signed saying just what Kouga had said. If he returned Tetsugaiga, she would be his bride.

"You forget all too easily, my love." Kouga said mockingly.

With those words Kagome swam out of the room, Kouga's laugh following her out the doors.