x.
"That does it! I have had enough of this stupid-"
"But it... it isn't my fault-"
"You say that every time! You do this to me over and over, and I've FINALLY had enough of you! Get out!"
"B-But-"
"GET OUT!"
The two raised voices were practically shaking the walls of Kaede's house. Miroku sighed heavily, slumping back on the steps that led to the shrine. Now was NOT the time for those two to bicker. Things were getting worse by the minute, and Miroku had the uncomfortable feeling that they would be worse before they improved.
Suddenly the elderly priestess emerged from a nearby side street, puffing slightly. "Miroku!" she called breathlessly. "I heard the news. One of the children said that Kagome is angered with Inuyasha..."
An angry voice shouted, "This is the end, you got that? THE END!" from inside the hut.
Miroku smiled slightly. "Not exactly." He glanced over at the doorway to Kaede's home; Kagome was sitting placidly on a low bench, staring at her feet. Sango and Shippo were sitting beside her. "I'd say that Inuyasha is breaking up with Myoga."
Kaede looked somewhat relieved. "I see. Then, what of the rumor that Inuyasha is betrothed?"
"It's not a rumor, I'm afraid," Miroku said grimly. "A demon arrived and told him so. It was a great shock to us all - especially to him. Apparently only Myoga knew, and he never told Inuyasha."
He glanced over at Rukusin, who was standing solemnly near the entrance of Kaede's hut, with his arms folded. The demon hadn't said a word since Inuyasha had stomped off to confront the flea, but he was looking a little disturbed at the racket coming from inside. Miroku winced as he heard something shatter.
"I wasn't aware that he had not been told," Rukusin said suddenly. "Had I known, I would surely have broken the news to him more gently."
"Very understandable," Miroku said, standing up and brushing himself off. "But what is going on here? Would you tell us how Inuyasha came to be betrothed in the first place."
"Very well." Rukusin took a deep breath. "The noble Fire Demon clan has been a powerful force in this land for many thousands of years. They were also the enemies of young Lord Inuyasha's father. Many years ago, their rivalry came to a head, and the Fire Demons threatened to consume all of the lands surrounding them.
"The great dog-demon had no intention of letting the noble Fire Demons make good on their threat. And the noble Fire Demons knew well that if they fulfilled their threat, he would use his mighty power to destroy them all. In the end, such a conflict would benefit no one. Yet neither would back away.
"And so, a solution was proposed. A truce was made between them, and to seal that pact, the youngest son of the great dog-demon was promised in marriage to the youngest daughter of the Fire Demon clan. Princess Rakura was already a woman grown by that time, while young Lord Inuyasha was only a baby."
"Were you aware that he is only half demon?" Miroku interjected.
"Yes, of course," Rukusin said, looking mildly insulted. "However... unfortunate his heritage, what matters is that he is his father's youngest son. That is all that is needed to complete the pact. Had Princess Rakura been younger, they might have been wed at once, and then raised apart for a time. But since she was already grown, it was decided that a betrothal would be arranged instead, and that she would wait for the time when Inuyasha would be ready for marriage. That time is now, and the princess awaits his arrival."
Kagome felt something in her chest tighten. Inuyasha, she thought. Inuyasha...
Kaede smiled dryly. "Ye may not find Inuyasha as... malleable as ye think."
Kagome started as Inuyasha stormed out of the hut, looking flushed and angry. A gasping Myoga was pressed between two of his claws. "We need to talk," he said tensely.
TO BE CONTINUED