Disclaimers: I own Nothing

Authors Beginning Note: In all honesty I think this is the hardest story I've ever written. Why you ask? Because I'm trying to make it into a short story- never an easy accomplishment for me. As such, short stories require a nice small smooth plot, well this one is in my head very large and over-elegant, but being a short story I've had to seriously condense it. Even now it threatens to get wild. Blim! I'm trying though. Short and Sweet is what I'm aiming for. So how am I doing so far?

The Christmas Dolls

Chapter 11

In the Castle

A flash of light and the demon imploded to oblivion. Dust cleared and nothing was to be seen of the former threat.

Inuyasha sheathed Tetsusaiga as it conveniently shrank to its smaller rusty size.

"Inuyasha?" Sango starred in wonderment at the boy who now stood before her. No- not just a boy- but also a demon.

"What happened? Why are we…but the curse?" Miroku, for once seemed to loose his eloquent speak in his bewildered excitement.

"It was that wench…er…Kagome." He begrudgingly said her name.

"What? Kagome?" Sango was lost

Miroku quickly unwrapped the guantlet of cloth he always hadcovering his right palm and nearly ripped the prayer beads apart. There, for his eyes to see, was smooth pale skin. Unbroken by any hole...or wind tunnel.

"Mirku?" Sango set her hand on his shoulder adn he shook his head.

its gone...finally gone...

He took in a deep breath and let the situation sink in . Now beginning to grasp the present happening and their effects henodded and began rubbing his chin in wisdomatic thought.

"It appears that Kagome is just as powerful if not more so than Kikyo, and being thus was able to break the curse with a purification arrow.

"But how would she know what to do? I mean, she was always good at archery, but purification arrows? Breaking curses? It sounds more like a story her grandfather would tell."

"The only real way to find out for sure would be to ask her ourselves."

But why…why did she do that…now…more than ever…I have to save her…besides…she has my haori…dumb wench…

"Please, did you call yourselves Inuyasha and Miroku?" A new voice broke into their conversation.

"Depends on who's asking." Inuyasha said gruffly. He looked at the woman, Kali who had given Sango board and room for a night. She looked around hesitantly.

"You must hide quickly. While you may have been gone for many years, it has not lessened the need for revenge of others upon your return." She whispered. Shouts were heard; the guards had finally almost reached them. Sango looked around her, at the debris. Those who hadn't fled were strewn on the ground, underneath former buildings and stalls. Dead. It was a terrible sight to behold.

"Hurry! You must follow me!" She pleaded and ran. Without much thought or hesitation they all followed her, Kirara shrinking and leaping on the ground to keep pace with all of them. Inuyasha had to withhold himself from running past even the woman. All of his senses and abilities were quickly flooding him, including his increased speed.

The woman signaled them to hurry, as she came to the castle wall and pulled loose a board, where they were greeted by a darkened passageway.

"Should we go in?" Sango hesitated.

"Do we have a choice?" Inuyasha was first, and Miroku last.

Oh kami above…surely you have blessed me…

He watched her hips sway in the mysterious ways only a woman can move them.

"Is there something wrong Miroku?" He snapped out of his blissful reverie.

"No, no, nothing at all."

"Hmm." Sango turned back. Miroku heard Inuyasha give a snort.

"Kagome…suppose something goes wrong with our plan." Kagome was looking up at the ceiling, worry clouding her eyes.

"We'll just have to hope for the best. We aren't just doing this for ourselves." Kagome thought back to the King and shook her head.

But what if it goes awry…what will we do…if Shippo transforms back at the wrong time…of if he does it at the right time and I wasn't able to escape…Naraku will know…I'm sure of it…then what…I'll be forced into it anyways…what if Shippo doesn't get away in time…poor Shippo…I don't think I can just leave him…and then there's Inuyasha and the others…

"Empress Elect…it is time." Shippo gracefully stood up, well as gracefully as he could and nodded. Kagome quickly stood, her head bowed and covered by a mere headscarf. Her heart throbbed in pulses all the way into her head. Her breathing swallowed and her hands trembled ever so slightly as she followed him out.

"Stop." Kali lit up a lantern and they all stood in a small room, holding broken jars, cracked shelves, and shattered glass.

"It was once a cellar, specially for sake, but as the castle expanded, they abandoned this one and made a new one." She turned to the door and gave a series of knocks. The door opened hesitantly and then a little girl launched onto her mother.

"Mama! You're all right!" She looked past her shoulder.

"Mama, what are they doing here?"

"They are friends of mine. They're here to save the king." Inuyasha gave another snort.

"Come one. We had all better keep moving." The walked down more passageways before opening to the kitchen. For the most part they were ignored, except by one who came to Kali and whispered into her ear.

"It has begun."

"How long?"

"Only a few hours time." Kali nodded gratefully, took his hand in hers, and swept away, with her company close at hand. They took the servants halls and finally, they all stopped in what seemed to be a private room.

"We must be quiet. There are spies everywhere. Suki, you wait outside." The girl nodded and slipped out.

"Did he mean the coronation?" Kali looked at him in confusion then nodded.

"I guess I had forgotten how good of hearing you had…have."

"Who are you really?"

"I am Kali, though formerly called Takara. Once Kikyo's head servant." Silence, and the woman sighed.

"I see I will have to explain things to you. It seems you are not as knowledgeable as I had first anticipated. Please sit." They all seated themselves. Hiraikotsu against the wall, Miroku's staff on the floor near his hand, and Tetsusaiga crossed over Inuyasha's shoulder.

"Have you heard of Kikyo and her child?"

"Yes, we heard it from…Keiko." Sango said, thinking better of not using her real name. Kali nodded.

"This makes my job a little easier than. It seems that Naraku has yet once again returned to this city, and he brings with him the long lost heir to the throne. A girl called Kagome. Many rejoice in her return, but there are a few of us, who know better." Sango squirmed, not liking how this conversation is going.

"What is it you and your group suspect?" Miroku asked, trying to get to the point.

"That her life is in danger, that she is under Naraku's control." Sango let out a breath, though barely.

"Go on." Miroku goaded.

"You see, it is well known that Naraku still holds a grudge against Kikyo, and his thirst for power is bottomless. It is also rumored to have seen him with the Shikon Jewel, though I don't believe it. If he did, then he could have wished himself to the throne by now. Rumors aside, we think he plots to have her become Empress, then when the time is right, force her into a marriage. If she is under his control, than nothing will be able to stop him from ruling not only his kingdom, but our own. Our king is also in danger. He will immediately step down from the throne as soon as she has gone through the coronation ceremony- of course she doesn't know that-but she will. So as far as her obtaining the throne, that won't be a problem. It's the marriage. I don't think he'll give away his newfound daughter, not to Naraku. The only way to do it would be force. Enough sadness has befallen this kingdom already with out another one of its beloved rulers being murdered." She sat quietly.

"What do you have in mind?" Kali covered her expression with her bangs. Quietly, she answered Sango's inquisition.

"We will kill the Empress Elect, so Naraku can never have his way."

"What sense does that make?" Inuyasha stood up, angry and defensive.

" It is the only possibility we could think of! We only hope Emperor Hojo can marry young, so if he dies, she can marry. Eventually an offspring will be born an and the blood line renewed."

"But you can't kill Kagome! Her role in this is innocent." Sango said sternly.

"Innocent or not as she may be, there is a whole kingdom of innocent to protect and we chose the lesser of two evils."

"Evil is evil, no matter what excuse you hide it under." Inuyasha said darkly.

"Then you will not help us?" Kali was almost afraid, and desperate.

"Both Inuyasha and Sango are right at where they stand."

"Then you would have the Emperor and his Kingdom fall into Naraku's hands!" Kali spat out venomously.

"Wench, you have us all wrong. We'll save your silly kingdom of human cowards. And we'll do it with out killing Kagome." Inuyasha slid the door open forcefully. Sango walked out with out word. Miroku stood up.

"We are sorry if we have upset you. It might be wisest to leave this castle for the time being." He left without a nod, or bow, or any other form of elegance he normally holds. The plan that Kali had spoke of had chilled him as much as it had Sango and Inuyasha, for while he hadn't known her long, his friends were few and he already counted her as one of them. He looked at Inuyasha's back.

I wonder…

The throne room was a vast space in the castle. Impossibly huge. This was a new addition as well, reflecting the prosperity of the kingdom. Beams of wood rose high into the air and balconies were also seen. Every place was crowded. Except for the long aisle to the throne. As the maiden stepped forward, Kagome shrank back into the crowd, easily getting lost. She watched Shippo slowly walked forward, followed by an entourage of servants, the man on the other side was the king. He wore finely imported robes and looked majestic. He glowered with joy. A sick flop turned Kagome's stomach. What was worse was that Naraku stood right at the front of the crowd. Scanning over him, sure that if she looked right at him, he would know what she and Shippo had done.

Also by the thrones were priests, waiting to bless 'her' as she continued the path of ruling over this small country.

They walked into the crowd, disguised. They had made it to one of the balconies and were watching the ceremony begin to take place. Kagome stood, like a bride at the alter. She wore a white silken Kimono with an obi of blue and orange. These were the colors that represented the country. Her hair was tied back and wrapped around her head, held by a traditional golden hair comb of ornamented jewels. The priests were chanting and anointing and christening, and doing what ever else was required at the ceremony.

" I can barely even recognize her." Sango whispered.

"We should get closer. If anything happens…"

"Wait. Look." Inuyasha pointed at a solemn figure that made ice water drip down their spines.

"Naraku. Of course." Miroku's eyes darkened, but he kept his face guarded.

They were moving through when they accidentally bumped into a young girl. She fell to the floor and quickly scrambled to her feet.

"Sorry." She bowed, before turning. She moved through the crowd, pushing and apologizing. Miroku and Sango thought nothing of it. Inuyasha how ever…

"Wait a minute. Get back here!" He was after her before Miroku could hold him back.

"Now what do we do?" Miroku shrugged his shoulders.

"We wait for opportunity."