Authors Note: I'm SO sorry about the long wait! I've pushed this story off to the side for awhile and I've just gotten to it and this is a pretty short chapter too, so sorry! Anyway, another Flashback. This will mostly be about some of the guests arriving and I believe the party will be next chapter.

Avelyn Lauren Thanks a bunch!

sheenachi Poor Kagome indeed. There shall be more poor Kagome's in the future...tch tch

lyn er...yes, of course!

DeathByMotorBike Very interesting name! . Wierd can be VERY good at times.

loz Mm...yes, I have considered that option. Very hard though, I don't trust very many people. I shall try harder with the spelling and grammar on my own though.

animeadhdgeek14 Updating as soon as I can!

Cold Kikyou Thanks for the compliment.

InuKago45 Lol! Sesshomaru will come soon enough. . I can't wait either!

FluffyShai Thanks!

Chris thank you!

DarkAngelofMusic Hahaha, addicted. So nice to hear that.

Chapter Four

"Kikyou! You're going too fast!" cried a six-year-old Kagome as she pumped her short legs as fast as she could. Kikyou had much longer legs and longer strides, so it was expected for the older girl to run much faster.

"Kagome! Careful!" cried Kikyou as she stopped at the bottom of the hill and watched as her sister came over it and to her horror and dismay, begin to fall very quickly. Her sister rolled to a complete stop at the bottom, where she found the girl too shocked to cry. Blood was oozing slowly from the cuts that had appeared on her legs and arms, but most of it was on her knees and a rather large gash was on her cheek.

"It...hurts..." said Kagome simply as she looked down at herself, suddenly realizing what had happened. Then the tears began to spring for her eyes as a loud wail erupted from the little girl. "Iiiiittttttttt huuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrtssssss!"

"Sh...shhhh, Kagome. It's going to be okay," said Kikyou as she glanced around, not knowing exactly what to do. There were lots of options and most of them seemed dangerous. "Can you get up?"

Kagome went on wailing and shook her head slowly, finding the pain shooting up and down her body quite unbearable now. Kikyou glanced around nervously, silently hoping that maybe one of the servants would come running by. There was the option of running back to the castle and getting some people to aid Kagome, but the thought of leaving her sister all alone so close to the forest was not a good thought. She could of course just stay with Kagome at the bottom of the hill until people came looking for them, but who knows how long that would take and her Father had warned her of bad, stray demons lurking around at night.

"We have to go back Kagome, it's dangerous out here," said Kikyou, in the bravest voice she could muster.

"It hurts really bad though," said Kagome as she began to rub the tears from her eyes, her crying becoming much more quieter.

"I'll carry you," said Kikyou.

"I'm too heavy," said Kagome sadly.

"Can you at least stand?" asked Kikyou as she grasped her sister's hand and pulled her up slowly. Kagome winced as she felt her wounds open up wider as she stood, but the girl gritted her teeth firmly and nodded. "Okay, just hang onto me and we can go slowly, okay?"

"Do we have to go up the hill?" asked Kagome fearfully.

"No. We can go around it. It's longer but I think it'll be easier for you," said Kikyou as she grasped her shorter sister tightly and slowly began to help her walk around the large hill.

Every once inawhile Kagome would cry out in pain and Kikyou would have to stop and let Kagome wait. It didn't matter how long she had to wait really, just as long as Kagome got home safely as she could. She didn't want to cause her sister anymore pain.

It was past sundown when they had gotten home and Isuzu had been standing outside waiting for them. There were tears brimming in her eyes and she had run towards them and had wrapped Kagome carefully and protectively in her arms. Kenji had arrived a bit later on horseback, a look of relief over his face and once again he had smiled at Kikyou with gratitude, happiness, and pride.

"Kouga has arrived," said Kaede as she stood in the doorway of the dining room as she gandered a look at Kagome's face. She was currently poised over her breakfast, her spoon halfway to her lips and there she had frozen from shock. He just had to have been one of the firsts to come! She wasn't even properly dressed yet!

"Tell him to wait outside," said Bankotsu as he glanced over at Kagome with a smirk.

"So am I the first here? Where's my woman?" said Kouga as he stormed into the room suddenly as Kaede disappeared. His eyes slowly landed on Kagome who had finally moved and was drooping further down in her seat.

"Didn't you here me damn wolf? Get out," said Bankotsu as he stood from his seat.

"And what are you going to do about it?" said Kouga as he crossed his arms and smirked.

"Pound your fucking face in, that's what," growled out Bankotsu, oh how the seconds ticked until he jumped upon the wolf.

"I will not have fighting in here," said Kikyou calmly. It was quite unforunate both Isuzu and Kenji were not in the room.

"And this is Kikyou's home, I believe you should respect her wishes," said Suikotsu.

"I-I'm going to change! Yes! Change, or something," said Kagome with a light-hearted laugh as she bolted from the room suddenly out the side door. Kouga made a dash for her, right before Bankotsu stuck his foot out and the wolf went skidding across the floor.

"She's changing, didn't you hear her?" said Bankotsu. "You shouldn't walk into a lady when she's changing, especially when she's changing."

"Yes, you shouldn't. If I hear that you did intrude upon Kagome changing, I shall have you executed," said Kikyou simply as she wiped her mouth dantily and stood and left the room, Suikotsu not too far off behind her.

"THAT ASS! THAT STUPID ASS!" cried Kagome as she banged her head on the wall in her room angrily. Normally Sango would be in here with her, trying to consol her about Kouga...but alas, Sango, once again, was no where to be find. A sigh escaped her lips as she slumped onto the floor, remembering what had happened in the hallway just minutes before.

Kagome had been walking...well sort of running actually, down the hallway to her room, quite fearful Kouga would catch up with her. Although she had no doubt Bankotsu would probably be holding him up. She had almost reached her room when she had caught sight of Sango and Hojou talking together and laughing...without her. A smile had spread over her face as she ran towards them though and they had looked at her for a moment before running into a nearby room.

"Sango! Hojou! Wait!" she had cried.

She had burst into the room they had run into but found that they had gone. Her smile had disappeared and she had walked back into her room and from there she had begun to yell. Mostly blaming everything on Kouga.

"They hate me," said Kagome as she sighed. "It's official...they hate my guts and I don't even know why. What did I do!"

"Oh...this is your room," said a familiar voice as Kagome looked up from the floor to look into the face of Ayame. Of course, the girl had never really spent much time in the castle whenever she came, she wouldn't know whose room was whose. "Seen Kouga?"

"Dining room..." said Kagome, not really sure. Kouga had probably run off by now.

"Yeah, thanks," said Ayame as she waved at Kagome with a light flick of her wrist and was gone. Wierd girl. The two had never really been...friends and such. Ayame just saw Kagome as a rival for Kouga's attention, but wasn't exactly...cruel to her in anyway really. Ah well, you win some, you lose some.

"You weren't really getting dressed, were you?" came Renkotsu's voice as Kagome looked up once more and she shook her head and smiled. "Yes well, I can see why you hurried away so quickly."

"Did Bankotsu kill him yet?" asked Kagome as she smiled at the thought.

"Alas, no," said Renkotsu as he smiled and stepped into her room and shut the door behind him.

Kagome sighed as she kept sitting on the floor, glancing down at her hands. Renkotsu and herself had a bit of an awkward relationship, they had never bonded that much. Their conversations always seemed to be cut short and they never seemed to find anything to talk about. Although even without words, you could tell that Renkotsu was protective of Kagome just like the others...well Jakotsu was a bit of an exception.

"Are you alright? You don't seem happy," he said simply as he glanced down at her small figure.

"I'm...fine," said Kagome as she looked up and gave him a big, fake, cheesy grin. "See, I'm smiling!"

"Right," said Renkotsu as he shook his head.

Another sigh escaped Kagome's lips as she looked up at Renkotsu. She doubted he would leave anytime soon. "Well...it's just that everyone's making such a big deal out of this whole birthday thing."

"But it's yours and Kikyou's eighteenth, of course it's a big deal," said Renkotsu, not really getting the point yet.

"But I don't want it to be! I don't want to be eighteen! I don't want to get married! I just want to have fun!" cried Kagome as she threw up her hands in frustration.

"But isn't marriage supposed to be fun? I mean all those married couples talk about the ups and downs, sounds interesting and fun to me," said Renkotsu as a smile appeared on his face.

"Then you get married for me, okay? Tell me how that turns out," said Kagome bitterly. It was amazing how a person could change once they focused their mind on hating something.

"Your parents seem happy with marriage," said Renkotsu.

"I mean I'm not saying I don't WANT to get married, I do, I do! Just not...now! Maybe in like, ten years when I know my childhood is over and done with," said Kagome.

"Your childhood is never over," said Renkotsu.

"Yeah, right," said Kagome.

"Hey! More people are coming!" cried Jakotsu as he burst through her door, stumbling into her room.

"Don't you knock!" cried Kagome as she stood up. "What if I was naked?"

"Oh please! Like I want to look at you," said Jakotsu as he made a face of disgust.

"What's wrong with me!" cried Kagome angrily.

"It's nothing, he just doesn't like women in general," said Renkotsu as he rolled his eyes and sighed, pushing his brother out the door and closing Kagome's door behind him. Once again, their little chat had been cut short.

Kagome made sure to lock her door firmly this time as she fell ontop of her bed. She didn't want to know who arrived this time, she just wanted to sleep. Let them bang on her door all they wanted, she wasn't going to answer it. No sir-ee! She was going to sleep and enjoy the time of peace she had left, fuck all the rest of them. Then of course...there was a knock at her door.

"WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE WANT FROM ME!" shouted Kagome shrilly.

She suddenly heard footsteps running away as a smile appeared on her lips. Ah yes, that would do.

"Where is Kagome?" asked a young, white haired girl as she glanced around the castle.

"I think she's still in her room," said Isuzu as she smiled.

"That lazy girl," said Kenji as he shook his head.

"Can I go see her Aunt Isuzu?" asked Kanna as she placed her pale white hands on the front of her kimono.

"Of course. Why don't you let Kikyou lead you there," said Isuzu as she led the little girl to Kikyou, who led her up the stairs. Kanna had always been a bit of a weak girl in health.

"Where'd Kikyou go? Wasn't she just hear?" asked Yura as she kept bursting through the door.

"She just led Kanna to Kagome," said Isuzu. "Is Kagura not here?"

"I'm afraid not," said Yura as she shook her head. "Pregnancy pains it seems, but she said she would try to come if she felt better."

"Well I do hope she doesn't push herself too hard," said Isuzu.

"No, we wouldn't want that to happen again," said Kenji as he shook his head, remembering the last two miscarriages Kagura had gone through.

"Kagome? Are you in there?" asked Kikyou as she knocked on the door to her sister's room.

"Kikyou? Is that you?" asked Kagome as she slowly opened her door, making sure it was her sister. "Yay! It is! You wouldn't believe how many people have bugged me today."

"Why weren't you downstairs? Kanna and Yura came," said Kikyou.

"Kagura's not here?" asked Kagome.

"She's not feeling well," spoke Kanna slowly and softly as she came into view.

"Kanna! You're here! I was afraid you wouldn't fe-" started Kagome, but stopped as a look from Kikyou silenced her. "Um...you wouldn't...um...wouldn't...oh yeah, you wouldn't want to come! You know, it's just going to be another boring get together thing."

"I thought I would come in stead of Kagura," said Kanna as she managed a small little smile.

"Well come in! Do you want me to get some cookies for you? Kaede makes the best sugar cookies!" said Kagome as she smiled and let the little girl into her room, Kikyou still standing in the doorway.

"That would be nice," said Kanna as she nodded. "May I have warm milk instead of cold though?"

"Sure! Sure! No problem!" said Kagome as she ran past Kikyou at the door and stopped in the hallway and quickly spotted one of the younger girl maids. "You there! Ummm...Mika, is it? Yes of course! Mika, with the freckles! Could you ask Kaede to bring up some of her cookies and a glass of cold and warm milk?"

The little girl looked quite startled at being adressed by the Princess and nearly dropped the tray in her hands. She quickly recovered though and nodded and then scurried off down the hallway as Kagome smiled and went back into her room to join Kanna.

"So, how has it been? I haven't seen you since your tenth birthday! You're um...twelve now?" asked Kagome, not exactly sure.

"Yes, I'll be thirteen in several months," said Kanna as she nodded.

Kikyou smiled as she watched the two girls talk amongst themselves, when she felt a light tap on her shouler. She turned around swiftly to see Suikotsu standing there.

"I'm sorry to disturb you Lady Kikyou," he spoke. "But Hiten and Manten have arrived."

"It's alright, I'll be right down," said Kikyou as she smiled.

"Shall I alert Kagome as well?" asked Suikotsu.

"No, leave her be. Greeting is not something she enjoys anyway," said Kikyou as she smiled and walked down the hallway with Suikotsu.

"It definitely isn't," agreed Suikotsu as he smiled.

"Thank you for the invite Lord Kenji," said Hiten as he smiled.

"Thank you for coming," said Kenji as the two men shook hands.

"Oh, hey look Jakotsu, Baldy is here," said Bankotsu as he pointed at Manten and snickered.

"Still haven't found any miracle growth, have you Manten?" added Jakotsu.

"HEY! DO YOU SEE THIS!" cried Manten as he pointed at the three wisps of hair on his head. "THIS IS HAIR!"

"Oh...it looked like dust," said Bankotsu as he shrugged.

"I thought it was a reflection of the light on his shiny, bald head!" exclaimed Jakotsu as he laughed.

"SAY THAT TO MY FACE!" cried Manten suddenly as he suddenly charged at the two brothers on his short legs.

"Ah yes, now where will our rooms be?" asked Hiten simply, taking a grasp at the back of Hiten's armour, holding him back.

"It's...um...I believe it's on the second floor..." said Kenji, not really sure. "Oh wait! Here comes Kikyou, she'll show you."

"Good Morning Lady Kikyou," said Hiten as he smiled at the young princess.

"Good Morning Hiten," said Kikyou as she smiled back.

"You two causing trouble again? Can't you leave the poor man alone?" asked Suikotsu as he glanced over at Manten and sighed.

"What? We weren't doing anything wrong," said Bankotsu defensevely.

"We were only stating the obvious," said Jakotsu.

"Yes, that's right. The obvious," said Bankotsu.

A look of pure rage struck over Manten's face as he tried to fight his way out of Hiten's grasp.

"Well you're room is this way," said Kikyou as she led the two brothers up the stiars.

It seemed as if Manten's rage was just a rather normal thing to everyone, and nobody took real notice of the uglier brother's anger.

"So how is Kagura doing then?" asked Kagome as she dunked a chocolate chip cookie into her milk and watched Kanna.

"She is doing fine, but her baby is giving her a bit of trouble," said Kanna, a sad look crossing over her face.

"Don't worry Kanna, your sister will be just fine," said Kagome. "She's a strong woman."

"Yes, she is," said Kanna as she nodded.

"You should be excited! You'll be an aunt soon," said Kagome as she grinned.

"That is true," said Kanna as she sipped her warm milk. "How are you?"

"I'm doing great!" said Kagome as she grinned.

"Really?" asked Kanna, a look of surprise crossing over her face. "But Kagura said you might be sad when I came."

"Sad? Why would I be sad? I mean I am a little sad because I'm getting so old, but that's not such a big deal!" said Kagome as she laughed.

"Kagura said you would hate it..." trailed on Kanna.

"Oh, come now. Kouga isn't an IT exactly," said Kagome as she kept laughing, still not understanding the girl fully.

"Kagura said you would hate the truth..." finished Kanna.

"The...truth?" repeated Kagome, her laughter completely ceasing. Her face held a look of curiousty and pain now, trying to understand what the younger girl was saying. "What truth Kanna?"

Suddenly the door to her room was opened as Kikyou came walking in. "I'm sorry to walk in on you Kagome, but Mother needs to speak with Kanna."

"But..." began Kagome, about to protest. She wanted to find out what Kanna meant!

"I am sorry Kagome," said Kanna as she walked towards Kikyou. "We will talk later."

Kagome watched as the two left her room, as she was left with a glass of milk in one hand and a half eaten cookie in the other. What had the strange child meant? What truth? What lies had she been told? What was going ON!