This is NOT like "Will You be Mine" Yes, I have read the story, I like it, and am waiting for the author to update it, but this story is nothing like "Will You Be Mine".
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha.
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The
War Between Races
Chapter
4 - The Human Kingdom
By:
Scaevola
Published
9/16/05
Updated
9/25/05
The royal palace of the Eastern Empire, home of the Higurashi family, was known for its beauty. It's white walls would gleam in the sun, the stone walls were filled with intricate designs from the most skilled masons. The palace's tall spires pierced the sky, towering over the land.
Travelers in the city would stop and stare in awe of the palace. Yet few people, even the inhabitants of the surrounding city, knew of the full beauty of the palace and its grounds. It was surrounded by high walls, leaving only the highest parts of the palace visible to the city.
Princes Kagome took little notice of the courtyard she was in while her three closest friends, Lady Yuka, Lady Eri, and Lady Ayumi all chattered and giggled behind her. Princess Kagome could always be found in one courtyard or another with her friends, talking about their dresses, or the handsome princes in the land, especially Prince Hojo.
Prince Hojo was from one of the more powerful human families, and had been seeking Princesses Kagome's attention for some time. While he may not have asked the Emperor for his daughter's hand, everyone knew of Prince Hojo's interest in Princess Kagome, and that he would ask for her hand eventually.
Now, as the three ladies behind Princess Kagome were giggling over Prince Hojo's good looks, Princess Kagome was lost in deep thought.
She had been hurrying through the palace halls after breakfast hour. She was supposed to begin learning to use her miko powers today with Priestess Kikyo, but she could not find her. Finally, she decided to stop and ask one of the guards in the halls, who bowed deeply as she approached.
"Have you seen Priestess Kikyo?" she asked, acknowledging his bow with a nod of her head.
"I believe that your father, Emperor Higurashi has called for her my Lady, along with others. For what reason I am not sure."
Kagome thanked the man and hurried to where she knew her father would be. The room he was in was often used to meetings between him and advisors. It was in a more quiet area of the palace, meant to give her father privacy when he was speaking with others on important matters, but Kagome, living in the palace her entire life, knew of a way to hear what they were speaking of without being seen.
As she approached her hidden spot, she could hear her fathers voice raising in frustration.
"What do you mean that he was assassinated? And they're blaming us?"
"My Lord, you must understand, your emissary was the last person to see Lord InuTaisho. They naturally believe that you sent assassins, and not a true emissary." Kagome could hear Miroku's voice calmly tried to explain the situation to his Lord.
Miroku was a powerful monk who lead both the monks and priests into battle in the previous war with the demons, and had gained a lot of respect. He was now one of Emperor Higurashi's most trusted advisors.
"What do you suggest I do?" asked the Emperor, suddenly sounding tired.
"Well, If the rumors are true, then they were already prepared for war when we sent our emissaries. It is likely we will be at war again soon. If that is the case, then we must ready ourselves." answered Miroku.
The emperor sighed. "Do you agree with him, Kikyo? Sango?"
Kikyo was the head priestess in the palace. Where Miroku had lead the monks and priests, Kikyo lead the priestesses into battle, healing who they could, purifying the demons they came across. Sango on the other hand, lead the demon slayers with her brother, Kohaku.
A moment of silence followed the emperor's question before Kikyo spoke. "Yes, my Lord. We should be ready for war so we will not be caught off guard by the demons."
"Very well then. I expect you all to ready your men, resume training immediately. We will discuss more about this later when all of my generals are here."
It was after her father left that Princess Kagome hurried from her hiding spot, outside to a nearby courtyard, where she was now, with Eri Yuka and Ayumi.
Kagome snapped out of her thoughts as Eri tapped her on the shoulder. "My Lady?" she asked.
"Eri, I have told you before, you do not need to call me 'My Lady' when we are in private. Just call me Kagome."
Eri smiled at Kagome's insistence to not be called My lady. "Lady Kikyo is looking for you, Kagome."
Kagome nodded and quickly excused herself, telling her friends she'd see them later in the day. She then quickly hurried off towards the miko training grounds on the other side of the palace grounds.
When she arrived at the training grounds, she found Kikyo along with an elderly woman who Kagome knew was Kaede. (Quick note: Kikyo and Kaede are unrelated in this story. Just works out better.)
Kagome approached the two women slowly.
"Welcome, Lady Kagome." Kikyo greeted her calmly, bowing her head to her.
"Welcome child." Kaede was much less formal than Kikyo, having been close to a grandmother figure for Kagome when she was young.
Kagome nodded to both in greeting before looking up to Kikyo, unsure about what she was supposed to do.
Finally, Kikyo spoke. "My Lady, I know I am supposed to train you to control your miko powers, but unfortunately, more important matters have arisen, as I'm sure you're aware, and it is necessary to prepare for them. That is why I have asked Kaede to begin you're basic training. I will resume your training when I have the time." The priestess then walked of the training grounds slowly, leaving Kagome with the elderly priestess.
Kagome turned to see Kaede smiling at her. "Come child, there is no need to be worried. I'm sure you'll learn just fine." she spoke gently as she began to walk over to pick a bow and quiver of arrows.
"A miko's weapon is the bow." she handed the princess the weapon and arrows. "Today we'll work on learning how to use the weapon. Now, draw your bow and aim at the targets. Take you're time."
The princess nearly groaned aloud. Here she was, believing that she'd finally learn to use her miko powers today. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. She wasn't going to learn a thing about her powers today. She'd be too busy learning how to fire the bow.
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Miroku sat down wearily in his quarters. He had spent the entire day trying to organize the monks and priests, informing them of the coming war, and just now he was getting some rest this evening.
He looked down at his hand, covered with a glove and wrapped in a rosary. An heirloom of sorts, the wind tunnel was given to his family by a powerful demon. It was because of that curse, the horrible hold in his hand which threatened to consume him, that Miroku had fought in the first war with the western lands. It was all in hopes of finding that demon.
Originally, his family knew the demons name, yet as time passed, the name faded from memory, and now only the curse remained, along with the knowledge of what must be done to save himself. If he could find that demon and kill it, he would be able to save himself.
As he slowly traced his fingers over the prayer beads on his arm, Miroku thought back to the last time the humans and demons had fought. Both countries had exhausted there supplies and men in the war, nearly coming to a standstill at a certain point.
It was during that standstill that Miroku, Sango, Kohaku and Kikyo all managed to plan a very well fought attack on Caori and Kain. Had it not been for those victories, the war might not have ever ended.
After the defeat of the western lands, Miroku, along with many others, had thought that there was little chance of a second war. How the demons had been able to prepare themselves for war again so quickly and begin their march was beyond him.
Miroku considered what he had learned from his informants in Daelis. They had told him that the sons of the late InuTaisho were now at the head of the army. Miroku knew from the many reports he received that both InuYasha and Sesshomaru were very skilled, having devoted themselves to their training.
Yet just because they were skilled in fighting and in politics doesn't mean that they are skilled in battle. They may have listened to what they were told about war closely, but how much they remembered - and how well they are able to use that information, could make a world of difference in this next war.
They may be similar to other young leaders, rash, impatient for glory. If that is so, then Miroku knew he'd be able to make short work of InuYasha and Sesshomaru with Sango and Kikyo's help.
Sighing, Miroku laid down on his bed. Whether the others chose to believe it or not, this war would be more difficult, and more demanding than the first, especially if the Taisho brothers were not fools.
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Sango hurried through the halls towards Miroku's quarters. Though she'd never admit it to anyone, she felt oddly comforted by Miroku, despite his faults and perverted personality.
In truth, the upcoming war worried her. The last one just brought up too many bad memories.
She remembered it very well; she had been away on the island of Coari with Miroku, busy planning out attacks on the demons there and how to siege their cities. She had made her family remain on the mainland, away from harms way.
She instantly regretted it on her return home. She wasn't greeted by her father's warm smile, her mother's gentle voice, the village children's laughter - she wasn't greeted by anything but the sight of death. While she had been away, fighting for her country, her village had been attacked by the western demons. Her family, even though they were demon slayers, could not compete with the sheer number of demons. They were quickly over run.
Sango would pray for her family every night, but there was little she could do to rid herself of the guilt. The guilt that she hadn't been there to help her family, that she had taken away as many demon slayers as possible in order to attack the islands of Caori and Krain. Had it not been for her, perhaps her family would still be alive. Such is the price of victory.
She felt tears well up in her eyes as she quickened her pace to Miroku's quarters. She needed his comforting voice, his presence.
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Kikyo watched from a distance as Kaede finished up her training with the princess for the day. The princess's amount of power was astounding. She had the potential to be more powerful than Kikyo. Such a strength had not been accomplished since the Midoriko, the first protector of the secret jewel.
The secret jewel...Kikyo's fingers found their way to the jewel that she had on a necklace around her neck. Entrusted to her by the Higurashi family, at least, until young Kagome was trained enough to protect it, the secret jewel held enormous power.
How to unlock it's power however, had been lost to humanity long ago. Yet demons could still easily access it's power. That is why the Higurashi family protected it; to make sure that no demons ever held the sacred jewel in their hand.
Should the humans lose the jewel, the demons would have unquestioned dominance over the world, and it would mean certain doom for humans.
Kikyo however, had no desire to protect the jewel, to have that amount of responsibility. She could not live with herself if she failed. She gripped the jewel tightly in her hand she vowed to train the young Princess Kagome as best she could.
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Yay! another chapters done!
I hope you're all happy now that you know all of the people are in this story!
Please review! please please please with sugar on top!
