Chapter One: Shikata Ga Nai

The room that Kagome sat in was opulent; the dress she was wearing was made from the finest silks, and embroidered with gold thread. The old woman who was helping to style her hair into a fashionable Tayu was immaculately groomed and thoroughly proper, as befit the head stewardess of the Imperial Family.

But despite all of this, Kagome was only partially listening to Kaede as the woman listed off Kagome's duties as princess for the day. A small, dissatisfied frown slightly marred the perfect face in the mirror of her vanity as she considered how she would rather have been outside, practicing with her bow, or helping sweep the shrine's grounds and tend to the duties of the home she had known all her life. All her life before a month ago.

"Kikyou, are you listening to me?" Kaede asked, bringing Kagome back to reality.

"Would you please not call me that when we're in private?" Kagome asked, bitterness making her more surly than usual.

Kaede clicked her tounge at the girl, but attempted to rein in her displeasure. She knew how hard this whole endeavor had been on the young miko, and she suspected it would only get worse. "We both need to keep up the act in private and in public. You are Kikyou now."

"For now," Kagome corrected. She hadn't given up hope that the princess would come to her senses and return home. Certainly it wasn't that Kagome didn't want to do her duty and help the Emperor in his time of need, but the unfairness of the situation was starting to grate on her. She wasn't the Princess!

"I was saying that Emperor Hirohito wishes for you and Higurashi-san to be present at the feast in honor of the arrival of ambassador of the Western Demon Lord this evening."

"The Imperial Advisor always attends when he asks her to, and I'll be there," Kagome said dejectedly. It had been her mother who had suggested that Kagome take on the role of the princess, and she hadn't quite forgiven her for it. "It's not like I have much of a choice," she added as she looked back into her reflection that looked less and less like herself these days.

xxx

The ambassador turned out to be a particularly ugly kappa youkai by the name of Jaken. He sat to Kagome's left, while the Emperor sat to her right, and her mother, as the Imperial Advisor sat across from her. An attractive yet stern girl with black hair and pale skin stood behind her and acted as her lady-in-waiting and bodyguard. Most people wouldn't be able to tell, but the girl was on edge this evening, and her eyes only left her charge or the kappa to scan the room for other potential threats.

While the old toad obeyed protocol the entire evening, his obsequious brown-nosing grated on Kagome almost as much as his backhanded complements about the food and entertainment.

Of course these are the best dancers that the humans could train. The food is the best, by human standards.

And, while he would always smile and fawn over her while talking with Kagome, she had started to realize that whenever he glanced at Kagome and thought she wasn't paying attention, his expression darkened to a frown of disdain.

Kagome was about ready to strangle the ugly creature, when he finally addressed Emperor Hirohito.

"Ahem," he cleared his throat loudly before he began. "I have in my possession a message from my Lord Sesshoumaru, Lord of the West and the leader of the Inu Youkai." He pulled a scroll from his sleeve with a great flourish. Kagome wondered how long the frog had practiced to get that trick right. "Might I read it, Your Imperiousness?" he smiled and bowed his head.

"It's 'imperial majesty'," Kagome muttered under her breath, but Emperor Hirohito simply nodded, and the frog got to his feet and began to read.

"Emperor Hirohito, gathered Lords, I shall be brief. The time has come for peace between our peoples. Long have our people warred, and I wish to see an end to these conflicts. I am offering an alliance between your people and the demons of the western realm; an act of friendship that is unprecedented."

Kagome felt the tension in the room as the youkai paused for dramatic effect. While she couldn't stand the imp, she knew that he could be suitably smug about his delivery. The crowd was abuzz with speculation as they tried to understand what had happened to change the Inu lord's demeanor towards humans so dramatically that he'd offer peace. Kagome was both suspicious and hopeful and was glad when her mother called for order.

"And what does the Lord of the West want in return for this peace?" asked Emperor Hirohito, giving voice to the question on everyone's mind.

"All he would ask for is the hand of your daughter in marriage," the youkai announced.

The room erupted into noise around her. Some were outraged over such a demand. Some were outraged that anyone would even consider not marrying off the princess.

'Well,' thought Kagome. 'That'll be a little difficult, since she ran off with his half-brother a month ago.'

Jaken waited until the room quieted again before he made his last announcement. "I await your answer in the morning."

xxx

The Emperor led Kagome and her mother to his private chambers before saying a word to either one of them.

Once he was seated, he looked so tired and defeated that Kagome couldn't help feeling sorry for him. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay. We'll find a way around this."

"Kagome..." the Emperor placed his hand over hers. "You've done everything I've asked of you and more. But there is one more thing I would ask. I would have you go in Kikyou's place."

"You can't be serious!" Kagome squeaked, jerking her hand from beneath the Emperor's as panic set in. "You can't expect me to marry under a lie!"

"What choice do we have?" her mother asked as she stood by the door. Kagome looked over at her mother. She tried to muster an encouraging smile for her daughter, but failed and looked away.

"Shikata ga nai," Emperor Hirohito agreed, looking even more tired than before.

Kagome still couldn't believe Princess Kikyou had run from her responsibilities. Kagome had spent the last month impersonating the Princess, who she bore an uncanny resemblance to. No one was ready to admit to the public that the princess had chosen to abandon her duties to run away with the hanyou, Inuyasha... the half-brother of the very man who was offering to marry Kikyou.

Kagome's head spun as she tried to figure out a way, any way, out of her predicament. Not for the first time, she cursed her similar appearance to the Princess.

Finally, she sighed. "Shikata ga nai."

Author Notes: Hello! This is my first Inuyasha fanfic, so please be gentle with me. I'd love to get reviews to see where people would like me to go with this AU, although I have some ideas. ^.^

I hope everyone enjoys!

Oh, and "Shikata ga nai" is a Japanese phrase that translates roughly to, "It can't be helped."

~Edit~

This is a much longer version of chapter 1 after some revisions. A Tayu is the hairstyle favored by courtesans in the Edo period. Kagome hates the hairstyle and makeup, but it's part of being the princess.

~Edit 2~

I cleaned up chapter 1 again. :D

~Edit 3~

Trying to get back into the story, so I'm updating the chapters!