Chapter 2: Iki o Suru
The next few days had flown by in a whirlwind of activity as preparations for the journey were made. The announcement that Princess Kikyou would marry Lord Sesshoumaru had been made, and heralds sent throughout the land to proclaim the match.
And of course, it wouldn't just be her that was sent to the Western Palace. Furs, silks, gold, perfumes and other gifts, as well as servants and guards for her Imperial Highness would also have to make the long journey. Jaken had informed the Emperor that he could simply take the princess on the back of Ah-Un. 'The better to get this done with quickly,' the imp had said, but the King had deferred to Kagome's wishes, and told Jaken it would be improper to send her without a proper entourage. Jaken hadn't liked the decision, but he had agreed to it after hearing of the riches that would be offered to his master.
Once all of the preparations had been completed, Kagome had been loaded up into a large palanquin, where she'd spent the next week trying to keep herself from losing her mind to boredom. At the moment, she sat and watched the bamboo pass by as they traveled.
Her constant companion was the pretty, dark-haired woman who sat opposite to her, deep in meditation, a tiny firecat curled up on her lap. The girl, Sango, had been Kikyou's personal bodyguard since they were children. Descended of a line of demon hunters, she made a logical – if not a very diplomatic – choice as her lady in waiting. She examined the girl and the small demon for a moment before breaking the silence.
"Do you think he'll buy it, Sango-san?" Kagome asked.
Sango didn't even bother opening her eyes. "Almost no one could tell the difference between you two in our own palace. How would a complete stranger know any better?"
Kagome chewed on her lip. It wasn't a good habit – certainly not a habit that Kikyou would indulge in – but she wasn't the Princess. And that was the crux of the issue.
Under normal circumstances, she hated to lie. And to think that this peace between the demons and humans would be built upon her lie? Nothing good could come of it.
Even worse was the thought that she was slowly losing herself to this lie. She hadn't picked up a bow or practiced her forms in weeks, for fear that someone would see and realize the duplicity. More and more of herself she'd had to suppress in order to keep up the facade. At what point will Kagome just simply... whither away to be replaced entirely by Kikyou, she wondered.
But what choice did she have? If they refused Lord Sesshoumaru's offer, there could be open war between their peoples. And if they explained why Kikyou couldn't marry, it would mean that the King would have to admit that his daughter and only heir had abandoned their people.
Sango opened her eyes and gave Kagome a sympathetic smile. "I know you hate this, but it's for the good of all humanity. I'm here to protect you, so just remember to breathe, and you'll be fine."
Kagome wondered if she'd need to be protected from her own husband, once he found out he'd been duped into marrying a simple shrine maiden, instead of the Princess he had demanded.
"Yeah... just breathe."
Author's Notes: 'Iki o Suru' means breathe.