Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. But I DO own Gin-Hitomi, so don't even think about it!
"Speaking"
'Thinking'
Author Note
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Recap:
.:.Later That Night.:.
Kagome sighed into her pillow. She was completely relaxed after that hot, lilac-scented bubble bath, and was extremely comfortable in her silk sheets. She soon cast off the docks of consciousness and crossed the river to land on the soft ground of dream land.
Friendship, Betrayal, Lust and Love
Chapter 2- Prince Kouga and Gin-Hitomi
.:.Western Lands.:.
"When will you be back Gin?" asked a 16 year old young man with silver hair.
"In about a week; sooner if I can help it. Don't worry, I won't leave you." said a 16-year old girl with raven hair and raven dog ears perched on top of her head.
The boy with silver hair laughed. He also had dog ears, but his were silver. His ear drooped when he heard the coach come up the path though.
"Don't be gone too long sis, I don't know what I'll do without you. Your the only one who keeps me from getting myself killed by Sesshoumaru." he whispered the last part, and Gin smiled. Her brother, Inuyasha, was always rude and ignorant, in public. He was actually really sweet in private, mostly only around her. In public, he acted as though he was the strongest thing ever and had no weaknesses. Only Gin, whom he trusted most, knew his weaknesses.
"I won't be, and make sure you stay out of trouble." she called as she stepped into the carriage. It rumbled off down the path and out of sight. Inuyasha sighed and went back inside, trying to decide what he would do for a whole week.
.:.Eastern Lands.:.
Kagome was awoken by a maid before the sun was even up. All her clothing was packed and was waiting in a carriage. When Kagome questioned the maid further and searched her drawers, it was revealed that not all her clothing was packed, merely the kimono's that had been recently made.
"Please your highness! Your father said that you are not to take any practice clothing! Nor are you to take any of your weapons!"
"Is he awake?"
"No..."
"Good." Kagome grabbed her weapons and packed them into her weapons case. Weapons Case Includes: Bow and Full Quiver, Glaive (Description at bottom), 14 pairs of knives ranging in length (2 inches-10 inches long),and a weapons maintenance kit Slinging the case over her back, she grabbed her saddle bags and packed 6 black, cotton, male kimono's into 3 of the pockets. That done, she gave a tell-anyone-and-your-dead look to the maid and stalked out of her room.
After carefully stowing her saddle bags and weapons case in a secret compartment under the seats in her personal carriage, she said good-bye to her father and sister, before checking to make sure Botond was being led by someone at the back of the small train of people and carriages that would accompany her to her destination.
The train was relatively small. It included her personal carriage, 4 horses to pull it, one horse driver, 4 guards and 2 servants. One of the servants was leading two packhorses and Botond, while the other servant sat atop one of the horses pulling her carriage. She was to be Kagome's personal servant to help her dress and such at the events.
The driver flapped the reins and they were on their way. The train rolled across the flat dirt track as Kagome watched the palace slowly shrink in the distance until they rounded a bend and it disappeared completely. Kagome sat down on her seat and decided to take a nap. After all, they would be traveling until nightfall, and the first event, a welcoming ball, was to take place that night.
.:.Palace of the Eastern Lands.:.
Kikyou and King Higurashi waved to the carriage until it was out of sight. Then King Higurashi turned to his eldest daughter.
"Shall we pro-"
His words were cut short as a dagger suddenly slashed across his throat. Gasping, he stumbled backwards and looked at his eldest daughter with wide eyes. She had the coldest expression he had ever seen on her face. She leaned down and whispered into his ear.
"Now I can rule, completely, without you in my way, father."
King Higurashi spluttered and coughed up blood, before falling to his knees, dead.
.:.With Kagome.:.
"Princess, we have arrived." Was the first thing Kagome heard. Then someone gently shook her awake, and she sat up, blinking furiously. As soon as she got her bearings, she was led out of the carriage and over to a waiting footman. The footman bowed and led them into the castle.
That's when Kagome noticed.
The castle was HUGE. It looked about twice the size of her palace, and was a lot more splendid. Kagome felt a twinge of jealousy, but brushed it off. Her palace was her home, and that's what mattered.
They walked up the steps leading up to the palace and stopped at the door. A man in a servant's uniform greeted them just inside the door and gave Kagome her room number, keys and itinerary. The footman led Kagome and her personal servant up a set of grand, carved wooden starts the twirled up out of the entrance hall, and up to the rooms.
Kagome's room was number 216 Obviously on the second floor. .The footman stopped outside her door, bowed, and left. Kagome put the iron key in the lock and turned. The solid oak door swung open with ease.
Kagome gasped.
The room, was huge.
She was facing her windows, which were facing north. The windows were floor to ceiling, and wall to wall. The windows were only on the north wall, the rest of the walls were bare and painted black. The bed was solid oak, but painted white to offset the black silk sheets that covered the mattress. The bed was on the west wall, while a dark cherry wood desk was in the corner between the windows and the wall on the east wall. Also on the east wall was a dresser and a mirror, obviously for getting ready at. A large birch wardrobe was on the south wall, right beside the door.
The room looked extremely bare, and that's when it hit Kagome. Someone must have known what she liked, and what she was interested in. The furniture was all of solid woods, and there were big spaces between it all. Kagome grinned infectiously. There was tons of room for weapons practice.
Kagome and her maid walked into the middle of the room. Her maid, after a nod from Kagome, went into her room, which was joined to her room by a door in the corner of the east and south walls.
There was a knock on the open door. Kagome turned casually and saw her servants and guard accompaniment at the door with her trunk of clothing. Kagome nodded and they brought the trunk into the middle of the room. Kagome's maid came out of her room at the sound of the knock and immediately set to putting her mistresses clothing away.
Kagome pulled aside one of the guards. "Where are the stables? I wish to see Botond."
"My lady, he is being seen to by one of the stable hands. I assure you he is in good hands."
"I don't care. I wish to see him. Also, where is the carriage located?"
"B-behind the stables. The stables themselves are located just off of the tilting yard, which is right next to the gardens. I'll show you where the gardens are."
.:.An hour later.:.
Kagome was back in her room, lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She had gone with the guard to the gardens, then dismissed him and went to the stables. After scaring the stable hand half to death, and threatening to test out her new sword on him if he ever touched her horse again, he fled. She attended Botond herself, then retrieved her saddlebags from his stall. She then found her carriage and retrieved her weapons case.
She brought all this back to her rooms, much to her maids dismay. The maid tried to take her practice kimonos away, but after one swift movement, Kagome had taken her swords out of the weapons case and the maid dropped her mistress's saddlebags in a hurry.
Kagome took out all of her weapons, and put them in spots around the room. The bow and quiver went in the south-western corner of the room. Her glaive went on the right side of her bed, while her swords rested on her hips. When she slept, they would go under her pillow.
As for the knives, Kagome had a special suit made just for them. The suit held places for all 14 pairs of knives. It had buckles, dulled ones so as not to shine to attract anyone's attention, to hold the sheaths for all of them. Kagome's other kimonos had buckles for only 4 pairs, that she also kept on her at all times.
The knives that she kept on her at all times were located on her outer caves, her wrists, the top of her arms, and her back. All of the knives were unsheathed in the same way, except for the ones on her back. The ones of her back were positioned so that to reach the hilts, you had to slide your hands behind Kagome's hips, unlock them, and pull down. They were quite handy when you were tied up.
Kagome pulled off her traveling kimono, and pulled on her under kimono. The nice thing about Kagome's under kimonos was that they had the buckles for her knives. Her knife suit was also an under kimono at the same time.
Once she had a white under kimono on, she buckled her knives to it. She left all of them locked, for now. She then called her maid to get out tonight's kimono for the greeting ball, and grabbed her swords. The maid rushed in and took down a silk kimono, laying it carefully on the bed before rushing over to her mistress to apply her make-up.
"You're not wearing you knives and swords!" the maid wailed.
"Silence." Kagome's voice was deadly quiet.
The maid immediately shut up and headed for the make-up as Kagome sat at the dresser.
"Never mind the rice powder, just some lip paint and some cheek powder."
"But my lady, the rice powder is fashionable for princesses and--"
"I don't care."
The maid bowed and applied the requested make-up.
Afterward, one Kagome was dressed in a light, silk, easily manoeuvrable kimono, Kagome looked at her itinerary. The ball was to start at sundown, and it was about half-hour to. Since the place was such a maze, Kagome decided she better start looking.
She had attached her swords to her under kimono, and they had made sure the outer kimono his them completely from view, while at the same time making them easily accessible. The secret was that there was whole in Kagome's pockets at her waist, but she didn't mind. The only thing she would need pockets for would be her shukusen, and that she tucked into her obi.
Kagome wandered into the main hall, and started looking around. Spotting the people who had handed her the itinerary, she asked them for a map. The young man gave one to her, while bowing. Kagome thanked him and used it to find her way to the ballroom.
Kagome was in shock when she entered the ballroom. It had a huge, crimson tiled floor, with solid, circular wooden tables with white tablecloths. The ceiling looked as if it was as high as the sky, the black on the ceiling making it look even more so. Kagome was so distracted by the ceiling, she stopped in the middle of the room, and was promptly bumped into.
"I'm sorry." Kagome told the young lady she had knocked over and held out a hand.
"That's ok." the young lady accepted the hand and pulled herself upright. That's when Kagome got a good look at her.
The young lady was Kagome's age of 16, same height, and the same black hair. There was a big difference though. The young lady in front of Kagome had black dog ears perched on top of her head that swivelled this way and that listening to everything. The young lady had also held out a clawed hand, Kagome noticed, and when the girl grinned she revealed to have long pointy canine teeth. Another difference, her eyes. They were silver.
"I'm Gin-Hitomi, and the name isn't a coincidence" the girl grinned and held out a hand. Gin-Hitomi means silver eyes
Kagome smiled and shook the girl's hand. "Kagome." was all she said.
"Nice to meet you, do you want to go sit down?"
"Sure!"
The two girls sat down and chatted for a while. Kagome told Gin about her home with her sister and how they were so different, and Gin told Kagome about her home. It turned out that Gin was a princess herself, and had two brothers. One was named Sesshoumaru, he was her half-brother and ignored her presence, while the other one was her twin, almost. His name was Inuyasha. Kagome listened, finding it interesting that she had a hanyou brother who was similar, and yet different in so many ways.
Suddenly their conversation was cut short as trumpets sounded. An announcer came into view and unravelled a long scroll.
"Announcing, his highness, Prince Kouga!"
A man wearing fancy dress armour descended a set of stairs and came into view. The armour was polished till it was mirror-like, but it was obviously too light to be combat armour, Kagome noticed. He wore brown leather boots and a forest green tunic with a white shirt underneath his armour. Kagome put on her best fake princess smile and stood beside Gin.
"I came all the way for this?" Gin voiced what Kagome was thinking. Although the prince was quite dashing, the self-centered smirk plastered on his features told of his personality. Kagome was as disgusted as Gin.
"Lets make the best of it, look! There chocolate over there!" The young ladies made their way over to the dessert table as the prince mingled with the ladies who had started to swoon over him.
.:.A while later.:.
Kagome hid underneath the dessert table and didn't even dare to breathe. She had been enjoying herself just fine, until the prince had caught sight of her. For the remainder of the evening he had followed her around like a lost puppy and refused to talk to anyone else. He kept telling anyone who would listen that she was HIS woman, which annoyed Kagome greatly. Gin had helped her hide by creating a diversion where she dumped a plate of some weird-smelling food she didn't recognise onto one of the snottier girls, who had in return screamed and run from the room.
The 16-year old prince now searched frantically, trying to pin-point Kagome's scent of lilacs. He couldn't pick it up, if only these girls here didn't wear so much damn scented water these days!
After almost 2 hours of searching, the prince gave up, for now. He announced he was going to bed, and ended the party. After the prince had left, Gin told Kagome the coast was clear and they went back to their rooms. It turned out the Gin's room was right beside Kagome's.
"Did you want to come in for a little bit? My maid is most likely asleep already."
"Sure!" Gin said enthusiastically.
Kagome led her into her rooms and went over to the desk. Gin walked into the middle of the room, and spotted Kagome's different weapons.
"Woo! Can you use all of these?" she asked curiously.
"Yep, and these." Kagome pointed to the knives she had removed from her under kimono and place on the desk. All except the wrist knives.
"Wow. I thought I was the only female in the world who knew how to use weapons, either than the demon slayers, of course."
"What land are you the princess of again Gin? I can't remember."
"That's because I never told you." Gin pointed out, earning a smile from her new friend. "The Western Lands, we're right across from you."
Kagome giggled and the two started discussing about how when they went back home, for neither of them wanted to be chosen by Kouga, that they would visit each other often and go riding all over their lands. They both smiled as they knew that they had both found a true friend.
Before they new it, it was time to go to bed. Tomorrow would just be a lazy day, so that the prince could see what they spent their spare time doing, but the girls had agreed to go on an adventure on their horses outside the palace walls, for Gin had brought her horse too. They bid each other goodnight and went to bed.
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What do you think? R and R! (And I don't mean rest and relaxation!)
Glaive: A pole arm including a five foot long staff capped with an eighteen inch, slightly curved, steel blade. I did not create this weapon. I found the description for this weapon in a book by Tamora Pierce. It is also called Naginata.
Shukusen-Lady fan, silk on steel ribs that are extremely sharp. Ladies carry them when they do not wish to be seen with a weapon.
I know Kagome is quite OOC, but I like her this way right now so DEAL WITH IT.