It was spring again. The flowers were blooming and there was a rather cool breeze that day. Kagome looked around. No one. This was a good chance. She stood up from her position in the house and stepped outside. Looking around again, she breathed a sigh of relief. Then she started to dance. Not really dance if you say so. She was just twirling around… the breeze swept thru the garden,

More petals fell from the big tree beside. She broke out in laughter and suddenly fell to the ground. She kept her eyes shut as she lay on the soft green grass. Her sky blue Kimono blended in with all the colours as she breathed in the scent of Sakura flowers.

Slowly she opened her eyes, wincing a little to the bright sunlight. She held her hand up to block the bright light. Carefully, spreading her fingers apart, as sunlight streamed from the spaces in between her fingers. Being 15 was so stressful, all the people were watching her every single movement. Anything wrong move would be caught on the spot. Walking, sitting, and eating. Everything was to be done as they said, "Gracefully and lady-like". It wasn't wrong though, Kagome just thought it was so…Unlike her.

"What are you doing?" a cold voice broke her thoughts.

Kagome immediately shot up, finding the source of the voice.

Her sister walked in and sat down on a cushion, away from the sunlight.

"Nothing, just taking a break from the stress. All the 'Graceful and Lady-like' stuff." Kagome shrugged, dusting some petals off her skirt.

Her sister sniggered. "Be like that and you will not find a husband even after you are 18."

Kagome thought for a while. Then she broke into a smile. "I shall not marry then. I shall live alone, planting flowers and talking care of animals."

"How foolish. You are a nobleman's daughter if you should remember. Not some lowly peasant." Her sister snapped back.

Kagome pretended not to hear that last comment and asked her sister, "I wonder, how it feels, to be able to run freely with the wind blowing into your hair, to be able to go as high as to be able to touch the clouds?"

"Be a bird then." Her sister commented in a sarcastic tone.

Kagome frowned. "Do you not want to be free like the wind? To be able to live a life your own way?" She asked.

"What a foolish thought." Her sister said, looking away.

Kagome shrugged and got up. "I would like to. To be able to feel the wind at the tip of my fingers, to live in a world of flowers and maybe somewhere near the beach."

"Get your future husband to build you a mansion near the sea then. Although, I doubt you might be able to find one, with the way you behave and all." Her sister retorted.

"I shall build it myself than. Near a cliff with the sea next to it. Plant lots of Sakura trees in my garden and live there." Kagome said.

Kikyou looked at her sister. What a fool, she thought. She wondered was this really father's daughter. Indeed they looked identical. But their personalities were totally different. Kagome was nature loving and wild. She sniggered at the thought. Of course, she had a peasant mother. Kikyou rather disliked her step-sister, so she tried her best, acted her best in front of her father and relatives. While she was the 'beautiful and most lady-like' one, she was always out to snatch her father's attention from Kagome. She never failed however, considering everyone to tell Kagome, "Act more like Kikyou." "Be more like your sister."

Footsteps in the hallway broke her train of thoughts.

"Kikyou-sama, Kagome-sama. Your father would like to see you in the study now."

Slowly and gracefully, Kikyou stood and made her way to the study, treating her sister's presence as air.

Kagome sighed and walked towards the hallway. What was it this time…? Another suitor asking for Kikyou's hand in marriage? She always wondered of all the families that came to propose, her father never agreed to anyone of them. Was her father reluctant to marry Kikyou away?

The door slid open as Kagome entered, a servant closing the door behind them.

"Late again, Kagome. Be earlier, like Kikyou." Her father's voice boomed.

Kagome shuddered at the thought. The 'Be more like Kikyou' thing had been in her life since she was a young girl. She moved in front and bowed slightly.

"Yes, father." Then proceeded to sit opposite her sister.

"Now, I called you both here to announce something." Her father said in a rather proud voice.

"The emperor is inviting us to a dinner! With the emperor himself and the demon lord of the west!" Her father exclaimed.

"Wow." Kagome said in a bored voice.

"It's tomorrow, dear. Kikyou, this is very important because, your future husband might be there." Their father said in a serious voice.

"Who is it, father?" Kikyou asked rather nervous.

"I suppose it is the brother of the demon lord of the west. A hanyou." Her father said looking bored.

Kikyou's face distorted a little. "Why him father. A Hanyou?" Kikyou asked.

Kagome wondered…A hanyou?

"He is the brother of the demon lord of the west my dear! Imagine all the jewels and treasures you'll have." Their father exclaimed.

Kagome sniggered. For money I see. No wonder her father had rejected all the other suitors.

"I'm sorry, Kagome dear. I did not find a betrothed for you. Kikyou is older you see." Her father said rather said in a rather important voice.

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Kikyou, Kikyou, Kikyou. All was about her." She thought. She plastered a fake smile and said, "It's ok, father."

"Now, I have your robes prepared in your rooms. Dress appropriately, Kagome. I don't want you disgracing the family. Ask Kikyou if you need help." Her father warned.

Kagome sighed. Kikyou again. She got up and excused herself.

Tomorrow was going to be a long day.