Thousandfurs
Chapter 7: Investigation
Sesshoumaru's golden eyes flickered over the tables. Hundreds of guests were standing behind their seats, waiting for the king to take his place at the head table that ran perpendicular to the rest at the far end of the room. His father was just in front of him, walking with his human mate. Sesshoumaru looked away, expertly concealing his disgust.
"Stop it," murmured Yuki.
He glanced at his mate's ice blue eyes. "No one can discern my feelings aside from you."
"I'll take that as compliment, although I know you didn't mean it as one," she replied, smiling. "Come on, darling. Hurry up. Grandfather is waiting," she said to her son who was trailing behind them.
The small boy trotted forward to the elder king. "Grandfather, will we sit with you?"
The monarch looked back at his son, who sighed. "You are old enough to attend this feast," said Sesshoumaru, "so I suppose you are old enough to sit at the head table."
"You must mind your manners," warned Yuki.
"Yes, Mother. Thank you, Father," replied the boy, trotting over to his place.
Izayoi smiled at her stepson. "You have raised him well. It's a pity we see him so rarely though."
The king nodded in agreement with his mate. "Our only grandchild will always be welcome here. Of course, we understand that you are quite busy with your management of the kingdom."
"Haruko will be accompanying us abroad from now on, Father," said Sesshoumaru, watching as his son picked out his seat three places away from the king. He took his place at his father's right hand, the place of honor as the eldest son and the king of the closest ally of the Taisho kingdom. His father sat down and conversation throughout the hall paused as the guests made a racket to take their seats as well.
The murmur of talking began anew and Izayoi leaned forward from her place on her mate's left hand to look at her stepson. "But perhaps he is lonely when he is at home? Perhaps you should have another child? Your father and I would enjoy another grandchild to look after."
"I have raised him well because of my queen." He looked over at his younger half brother, who was just wandering in aimlessly. "But why would I give my son a sibling after my own experience with Inuyasha?"
The hanyou's ears flicked forward as he approached the table. "Shut up, Sesshoumaru," he said automatically to the smirk on his elder brother's face. He took his place next to him. "I don't understand why you can't sit next to your mate."
"Neither do I," said the dog demon, looking down the table to where Yuki and Izayoi were now admiring Haruko's good table manners. He turned back to see Inuyasha ignoring him, instead craning his neck to look up and down the tables before them. "I have never seen you so interested in the guests at one of Father's feasts. Who are you looking for?"
"None of your business."
The taiyoukai smirked again. "Are you perhaps looking for that human female you were dancing with earlier?" He watched as Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably. "She looked remarkably like your former love, the Princess Kikyo."
"For someone who is famous for being silent, you talk too damned much," growled his brother.
"I am noted for observant nature, not my silence," replied the taiyoukai. "I can be very loquacious if I feel the need." He glanced at the king, who was now talking with the females and Haruko. "Well, Father will be pleased you've found a mate."
Inuyasha snorted and looked away. "Shows how much you know, you jackass. The girl amused me, that's all. I don't have any other plans for her." He shot his brother a scathing glare. "Unlike you, I don't need Father to pick my mate for me."
Sesshoumaru paled imperceptibly. "I am quite pleased with the matter of my mate. It was not Father's choice, but mine. I accepted Yuki in order to preserve the lineage of an ancient youkai kingdom."
"And to further your own ambitions," spat Inuyasha.
The taiyoukai sat silently for a moment. "Yes, that as well."
"Don't think that when I am king, you will be able to depose me just by claiming that you are the elder brother. I am the heir to the Taisho kingdom," said the hanyou.
"Foolish boy," said Sesshoumaru. "You understand nothing of politics, do you? You shall embarrass me when you ascend the throne just as you have done your entire life in just the confines of the palace. To invade another demon kingdom would destabilize our entire race and give the humans an opportunity to invade. You accuse me of being unduly ambitious but you know nothing of the greed humanity possesses. As much as I abhor the thought of you ruling this kingdom, I dislike the idea of a human sitting upon the throne even more. I will let you be."
Inuyasha set his jaw. "You're still a jerk."
"I will not lower myself to your level by retaliating to such a juvenile remark," Sesshoumaru replied.
"Are you two going to eat the meal that Naraku-san worked so hard to create or are you going to bicker all night?" asked Izayoi.
"Are we taking bets?" questioned Yuki. "Twenty gold coins on 'bicker all night'."
Inuyasha scowled at his sister-in-law. "You've been hanging around your mate for too long."
Yuki smiled and pushed back her ocean blue hair. "With Sesshoumaru-sama as my mate, I must remember my sense of humor," she said, giving a soft look to her lord and mate.
"Tonight is not an occasion to humiliate me," he replied with a scowl.
"It's always an occasion to humiliate you," Inuyasha muttered automatically. He returned to his search for his mysterious dancing partner as his father laughed.
Where was she? She would save him from this bore of a dinner. She said she would be sitting with the other representatives of her kingdom, but that wasn't any help. Besides, he reasoned, she wanted to remain anonymous. If she sat with her compatriots, he could figure out who she was. He realized that she had probably retreated to her room.
"Maybe she was offended by your parting words," said Sesshoumaru.
"What?" The hanyou turned his head sharply to glare at his brother. "Were you eavesdropping?"
The taiyoukai raised an eyebrow. "Such a vulgar word."
"Yet accurate," replied Inuyasha.
"Eavesdropping is beneath my station. Not everyone is as rude as you are, little brother," he said. "I simply noticed that she appeared disappointed when you walked away."
The hanyou frowned. "I wasn't asking for your theories."
"I wasn't offering them. I was stating my observations."
Inuyasha sighed and looked away. "Well, keep your observations to yourself," he snapped. He stood up suddenly, causing half of the room to look at him in surprise. "I'm going to my room." The hanyou didn't wait for an answer before he stalked away.
The king frowned at his son's rapid exit. "That was poorly done, Sesshoumaru," he said, turning to his elder child. "You should have a bit of sympathy for the boy."
"I attempted it once but I can feel nothing for a hanyou that does not have the decency of admitting his own mistakes."
"As if you ever admit to your own mistakes!" said Yuki, leaning over her plate so she could glare at her mate. "Despite what you think, my dear, your brother has had a hard life. It was unnecessarily rude to mock him about his new love interest. I wouldn't be surprised if nothing comes of it now that you've put in your two cents. Don't you remember the pain he went through over Kikyo? I don't think it's very fair for you to subvert any attempts he makes to start his life again after that."
Sesshoumaru scowled at his family, who were all nodding in agreement with his mate. "I will have respect and consideration for my brother when he begins to act as a prince, instead of a spoiled brat." He raised an eyebrow at his father's frown. "At least I no longer try to kill him."
"Oh, the blessings you give us, my son," murmured the king as he rolled his eyes.
Izayoi pushed her plate away, not able to eat anymore. "I hope he finds her," she said, staring at the doorway.
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"Do you even know how to make bread soup?" asked Sango out the corner of her mouth. Her eyes flashed over the dark figure of Naraku on the opposite side of the kitchen. If she were caught talking to Kagome, she would receive ten lashes across her back. The wounds still hadn't healed properly from the last time.
Kagome frowned at the ingredients she had collected. "I watched my mother a few times. Or once. I'll manage," she said, trying not to see her friend's worried expression.
Sango slowed down her washing. "Naraku's best dish is bread soup. The prince will know that someone else has done it and he'll allow Naraku to punish you."
"I bet the prince doesn't know what goes on when Naraku punishes someone," Kagome muttered.
"Of course not. The king would never allow it. But that doesn't exactly stop him, does it?" She made sure the cook was not watching and grabbed Kagome's wrist. "Please, let me do it for you."
The princess shook her head. "No, if you do it, then you'll get punished too."
"But at least the prince won't find out!" she said. "I fear that Naraku-san will kill you if you displease Inuyasha-sama. He will say it was an accident."
"What's to stop him from doing that to both of us if you help me?" asked Kagome. She sighed and pushed her dirty hair back from her face with the heel of her hand. "I know you're worried and I appreciate that, but I can't let you get hurt too, Sango. The guilt would be unbearable. And Miroku would be heartbroken." She smiled softly.
The former demon slayer frowned. "Alright, but I swear that I will kill Naraku if he steps out of line with you."
Kagome didn't approve of this plan, but nodded anyway, knowing that Sango's mind would not rest until she felt she had helped in some way. She doesn't know how alone I am in this, the princess mused silently. She wished that she could tell Sango everything, but it would be suicide. Sango was many things, including respectful of others' privacy, but Kagome doubted that even she could hide her feelings about having a princess working in the kitchens. Someone would notice and then people would begin to talk and then Kagome would have to literally kill herself. She had decided that that would the preferable option to going back to her father and his bed.
She began to chop, crush and mix ingredients, stirring them one by one into the large pan sitting over the fire. Sweat was dripping down her face from working so close to the flame, but she didn't pause in her work. The other workers began to watch her bustle back and forth with interest in their eyes, murmuring about her fervor.
"Get back to work!" snapped Naraku, sending the servants scuttling to their posts. He prowled towards the still busy Kagome and watched her for a few moments. "What the hell are you doing, Thousandfurs?" he demanded.
"Stirring the bread into the soup, Naraku-san," she replied, not taking her eyes off of the rapidly dissolving food as she whisked it.
The demon gave her a triumphant smile. "It shouldn't look that thick until after the bread has been completely mixed in. Your cooking is a failure. I shall enjoy it when the prince demands punishment for his injured sense of taste."
"Naraku-san, this is how my mother made bread soup and it was quite good," she said, still staring at her work. Her arm was beginning to hurt from the repetitive action, but she would not rest in front of him.
The cook sniffed at her preparations and scoffed. "A failure," he said again. "At least make certain it's still warm when the prince receives it." He gave her a nasty smile and turned away.
Kagome scowled but ladled out a large serving of her soup into a bone china bowl and held it for a moment in her red, chapped hands. What had she been thinking when she had taken one of the Artifacts from her bag? It had been a brief moment of desire, she decided. She wanted to find a way to give it to the prince, to let him know that his mysterious dancing partner was truly royalty, his equal. Now the idea seemed childish and yet more desirable.
She turned to retrieve a tray and a china cover for the bowl from the shelf and, concealing the soup with her body, her hand slipped into her pocket and brought out the Arrowhead. Once upon a time, it had hurt a half-demon by pinning him to a tree, now she hoped it would warm a hanyou's heart. He would know that it wasn't just a dance to her. Preventing herself from casting about a glance which would only arouse suspicion, Kagome took the chance that no one was watching and dropped the Artifact into Inuyasha's soup. Quickly, she covered the bowl and put it on a tray and set it on the table so that she could fetch some tea to accompany it.
Naraku appeared at her side. "Leave it," he said, putting down a cup and teapot that he carried onto the tray. "Another servant will take it to the prince. We can't have you fouling the royal quarters with your stench." His shoulders were sagging and his voice was soft.
The princess furrowed her brow but said nothing. Naraku had sounded almost kind in those few words, despite the insult. She looked at him and saw that his face was even blank of its typical cruelty. She had the insane urge to ask the tyrant what was wrong. Looking around, she saw confusion on the other servants' faces as well. She bowed and backed away towards Sango as Naraku wordlessly handed the tray to a cleaner servant to take up to the prince.
"What's with him?" she asked her friend.
The demon slayer shrugged her shoulders as she continued to watch the cook. "After he insulted your cooking, he spoke to Kagura for a moment and then he was like that."
Kagura was sitting quietly with her hands folded in her lap across the kitchen. Kagome could see the lines on her face, made to look even deeper by the firelight. "I wonder what has happened," she said.
Sango went back to sweeping the floor. "We'll never know. As much gossip as there is in this place, no one ever knows what's going on with Naraku. It's probably why Miroku-san can't get him thrown out." A ghost of a smile passed over her lips as she spoke her new love interest's name.
Forgetting her boss's odd behavior, the princess pounced upon the expression. "How is Miroku? Have you seen him lately?"
"No," said the demon slayer immediately. "I mean… I've seen him walking to the stables with Inuyasha a few times. He waves, but never comes over."
"You're holding back on me," accused Kagome, watching her friend's face. "What else?"
Sango paused in her work and stood up straight. "He did send me something," she murmured, blushing terribly. "One of the palace servants brought it to me yesterday morning." She pulled a scrap of paper from her thin yukata.
"What does it say?" squealed Kagome, practically dancing with the romance her friend was experiencing.
Her reddened cheeks turned darker as she lowered her eyes. "I don't know. I can't read, Kagome." When she looked back at her friend, her eyes were glistening with unshed tears. "He's a diplomat! He is educated and highborn. I am a slave. What can I possibly offer him that he cannot get from any woman?"
"I can read," Kagome said, not sure what to say in response to her friend's question.
Sango frowned and looked away, the note hanging loosely in her grip. "Then you are fortunate. I never had the opportunity to learn."
The princess took the paper from Sango's hand and unfolded it. Reading silently, she smiled and looked up at the demon slayer. "Would you like me to tell you what it says?" she asked. Sango nodded slowly and Kagome's heart jumped into her throat. "Let me just say that I wish a man would write so lovingly to me.
"'Dearest Sango, I hope that this reaches you and does not accidentally fall into the hands of some unscrupulous servants. I wanted to apologize for my behavior on the night we met. I have no excuse for it, but may I say that of all the women, human and demon, that I have come into contact with, you are the most beautiful? To not touch you would be death. You were covered in snow and ashes from the fires, but every time I think of you, I imagine you in a silk kimono in a grove of cherry trees. And every time I see that in my mind, I hope that you are waiting for me there. Even if I was a monk, I would not be able to stay away from you. Forgive me for my behavior, and forgive me for my absence as I attend to this tedious feast, and I will be yours if you will have me. With all my affection, Miroku."
Kagome sighed. "He loves you!"
The demon slayer was freely shedding tears now, attracting the attention of several other youkai. "It can't happen, Kagome. What would he do? Give up his position and tend to the pigs?"
"I think he would if it meant being with you!" argued Kagome. "Sango, believe me, this is a beautiful letter. I would guess he went through a hundred attempts before this one."
"He says nothing of our situation though. He is a diplomat and I am a slave. No amount of letters can change that," replied the distraught girl. "I cannot even read. And he forgets that possibility!"
"Perhaps he knew someone could read it for you. Kagura could have done it."
Sango scoffed through her tears. "No, he has forgotten what deep trenches there are between classes in this world. Believe me that it would only take a few moments for him to remember. He will regret what he has done, what he may be planning to do." She wiped away the droplets from her cheeks and stood straight with a set jaw. "Besides, he will always be the pervert diplomat. He cannot change that either and I will not have a husband who so easily goes after other women."
"Now you're just being difficult," said Kagome. "Maybe he didn't want to talk about those things in a letter. This is love written here, not a point by point plan for the future."
The demon slayer turned away. "I cannot."
Annoyance boiled in the princess's heart. How could Sango ignore what so clearly was a letter from a man in love? She would never have a more worthy lover if she waited a thousand years. Kagome stepped closer to the fires and held out the bit of parchment. "Then I should burn the letter. It wouldn't do for it to be lying about. It needs to be kept close to your heart or in ashes."
Sango's back was rigid. "Yes, burn it. It could embarrass him."
The princess shook her head sadly, but she could not toss the letter Miroku had so carefully written into the fire. Instead, she folded it up again and placed it in her pocket for the inevitable moment when Sango came to her senses. Kagome could only hope it would be soon, before the diplomat learned of her refusal. The princess walked past her friend with empty hands. "You've made a mistake."
"It's mine to make," said the girl, carefully keeping her back to the fire as she continued to sweep.
Kagome began to clean her workstation where she had prepared Inuyasha's soup. He would have gotten it by now. Would he have discovered the Arrowhead yet? She realized that it was her own love letter to the prince, although much more vague than Miroku's attempt.
Her heart began to beat rapidly. Wait a moment, she said to herself, when did the prince become qualified to receive a love letter from me? She remembered the awful trek from the barn to the kitchen, when he had insulted her very manner of walking. She remembered his rudeness when she had been lost in his hallways and when he had found her in the forest, tired, cold and afraid. This certainly wasn't a male to be worthy of a princess from the Nakao kingdom, even if she was temporarily covered in soot and fur.
But she also remembered the moment they began to dance that night, and how his arms curled around her body in a gentle, protective way. He had still be slightly rude, but she realized that both of them had felt that instant pull towards each other, the kind you only get with someone whose heart will belong to you.
She wondered if he felt it when he saw her as Thousandfurs too. She was beginning to realize that she did. Sango had even seen enough to ask if she cared for the prince and it had felt wrong to deny her friend's suspicions. But Inuyasha had his way too. As rude as he was, he was never cruel. There was never any true malevolence in his voice or actions towards her. He talked to her quite a bit more than he had to, actually, considering his elevated position and hers so low that he didn't even have to see her if he didn't want to. Yet he noticed her and took her in. And even as frustrated as she got when she had to listen to his complaints and insults, she had an inherent feeling of security with him.
She desperately hoped she wasn't just fooling herself. How crushing it would be to find that he only felt a bond with the mysterious dancer at the party, and none with the fur-mantled girl in the kitchens. Could she accept him if he only loved one part of her? She shook her head clear of this thought. It was too soon to be asking such questions.
Kagome wiped down the table one last time and looked back at Sango. The girl was sweeping the same area of the floor that she had been sweeping for the last five minutes. "Sango."
"Please, Kagome, I don't want to talk about it."
The princess frowned, but remained silent. Instead, Kagura appeared and watched the demon slayer's methodical movements. "Sango, go fetch some water."
Sango looked towards the two full barrels of water sitting in the corner. One look at the wind witch, however, prompted immediate agreement. "Alright." She leaned the broom against the wall and walked out, giving Kagome a small glance.
Kagura stared at the princess, her eyes filled with confusion. "I don't know if you noticed, but Naraku's presence has been requested by the prince. If you had any sense in that human head of yours, you'd run now. Sango is gone, so they cannot blame her. There is a small gate in the back of the garden that goes to the orchard. It's guarded by several sentries, but if you tell them that you're going to the shed to get some dried apples, they'll let you through. Once out of sight, scale the orchard wall and get out."
The princess looked towards the door, her heart filling with trepidation. She had seen what servants got when they angered Naraku, but those were normally passion-filled attacks. She feared what a calculated punishment that he had planned would do to her. She could leave, find another position in another city. She would have to find Myoga first, for his guidance. Without him, she would die, either of starvation or despair. "No, Kagura-san, I cannot leave," she said finally, moving her eyes back to the wind witch.
"You're foolish not to do so."
Kagome shook her head. She hadn't run away before this night and now would not be the time to start. "No, it's here that I have my best chance of surviving," she said. If I leave these castle walls, I will be caught and returned to my father, she thought mournfully. "I have to stay."
Kagura frowned deeply. "This will be the only chance you have."
"I can't. Please understand that I hear your warnings, Kagura, but I have problems beyond these castle walls. I can't go out there again."
The wind witch narrowed her ruby eyes. "Don't keep secrets, Kagome."
"Everyone has secrets," replied the princess, shifting under the youkai's intense gaze.
"Not here," said Kagura. "Not with Naraku around. He'll find out and then you'll be sorry that you've kept anything from him." She laughed scornfully. "The best thing to do around him is parade your secrets around shamelessly. Then everyone will know and no one will care. But hindsight is always a bitch." She sighed heavily and walked away.
The princess sat down on one of the rickety wooden stools, feeling it sway tip back and forth on the flagstone floor. She felt winded suddenly. Her heart felt small and cold inside her chest. Although she had refused Kagura's offer, the door to the winter landscape looked inviting. She had never known impending death would be so alluring. But death could be awaiting her here, in the kitchen, too. She had known that when Naraku had pronounced that she would be preparing the prince's soup, but if Kagura had been worried, the threat was somehow much more palpable. She felt the death knell striking at her ribs. Where were her warm thoughts of Inuyasha now?
Her fingers curled around the edge of the table and her leg muscles tensed. She was about to bolt when the door opened and Naraku walked in. He was a terrible sight. Darkness seemed to enter the room along with him and his blood red eyes moved like fire. "Thousandfurs!" he bellowed.
Kagome slid off of her seat and fell to her knees, pressing her head against the cool stone floor. "Naraku-san," she replied softly, knowing his demon ears could hear her.
He stalked over to her, stepping so heavily that the solid stone floor vibrated. "Get up!" he yelled. Without waiting a moment, he leaned over and dragged her to her feet by her arm as she yelped in fear. "What the hell did you do?"
"Please, Naraku-san, I don't know what you mean!"
His face was inches from hers while his breath washed over her, smelling of rotten rice. "If you ever humiliate me like that again, I will kill you," he snarled.
Kagome began to cry. "I don't know what you mean," she repeated.
"Stop terrorizing the girl, Naraku!" called Kagura's voice from across the room. It was quivering. "She has no idea what the hell you're talking about. No one does."
Naraku pulled back a bit and let go of the princess, letting her drop to the floor. "The prince," he spat, "enjoyed your soup very much. More so than anything I've ever made. He knew I hadn't made it. He insists upon meeting the true chef."
The girl's jaw slackened. "Do I have to go?" she asked, her voice a whisper.
"Yes," he hissed. His words came quickly, thick with anger. "Of course you do. You humiliated the head chef with a scullery maid's cooking. I told him you were a witch. He still wanted to see you." He took a breath and glared down at her. "Get out of my sight before I'm forced to bring him your bloodied, broken body."
Kagome folded over on herself and bowed her head before scampering out of the room. Sango was right outside of the door and sloshed water as she jumped out of the princess's path. "Kagome!" she called. "What happened?"
The princess didn't stop but ran down the icy trail towards the castle without stopping. She ran through the doorway, skidding around the corners and up the stairs to Inuyasha's hallway. Servants shouted in annoyance and surprise as she rushed by. When she finally stopped, she had to lean against the wall to catch her breath. Facing the prince at this point in her very long and confusing day was not appealing, but she would have fought a ravenous tiger with her bare hands at this point in order to avoid Naraku for just a few more minutes. Steadying herself, she walked to Inuyasha's doorway and knocked on the frame.
"Come in."
She slid open the door and bowed deeply before stepping in. Emboldened by her earlier camaraderie with the prince, she lifted her head to look around and almost gasped aloud at the beauty of his room. His red draped futon was thick and filled with soft goose down. Mats of the finest quality covered the floor and crimson cushions surrounded the exquisitely carved mahogany table in the middle of the room. Like all noble quarters, a fire roared, warming the room and casting a healthy glow over everything. Expensive was all that Kagome could put words to.
Inuyasha was by his closet with the doors open to reveal the many red hakamas he owned in various fabrics and shades. He had shed his red silk robe and stood in his thin white undershirt. "You're the one who made my soup then, Thousandfurs?" he said. His eyes darkened as he looked at her, his voice deeper than usual.
"Yes, Your Highness," she replied, bowing again.
"Naraku tried to lie to me. He tried to tell me that he made it. I nearly had to beat the truth from him." He placed the folded robe into his closet and slid the door closed. "I can't imagine a single reason for him to lie for anyone's sake but his own, so I must believe him. What benefit would there be for him to say that you made the soup when you didn't?"
Kagome shrugged and lowered her eyes to the floor. "None, my prince."
The prince walked to his table and sat down upon the plush pillows. His tray still sat there with an empty bowl and dirty teacup. Something was shining in his hand as he flipped it over and over between his fingers. Looking at her, he held the Arrowhead up. "Do you know what this is, Thousandfurs?"
The princess bit the inside of her mouth so hard that it bled. "No, Your Highness."
He frowned and stood up again. "Then you wouldn't know how it got into my soup?" he asked. "I nearly swallowed and choked on it. I'm thinking that it was an attempt on my life."
Kagome tried to keep her heart still, her hands from getting sweaty. She was in the presence of a youkai, half blood or not, and he could tell if she was lying if she was careless. "I wouldn't know anything about it, Inuyasha-sama. Other people handled the soup aside from myself," she added for good measure.
He raised an eyebrow. "I know that," he snapped. His eyelid was twitching slightly. "I've had a long day, Thousandfurs. Tell me what you know about this arrowhead or I will throw you into the dungeons."
The princess bowed. "I know nothing about it, my prince. I beg you to believe me."
"Did another servant approach you with it?" he demanded, now standing toe to toe with the girl. "Did they order you to put it in the soup?"
"I am only a lowly orphan," she replied, not able to look in his golden eyes. She wanted him to dance with her again, to wrap his arms around her waist and step with her lightly across the floor. "I know nothing about it."
He held it in his open hand between them, his shadow making the yellow gold look soft and dark. "It's valuable. Anyone can see that. I smell your scent upon it. You're a servant. Why would you have something so precious?"
"It's not mine, my prince."
"You must know who it belonged to though. Your scent blankets it." His jaw was clenching repetitively between his words.
"Please, Your Highness, but surely my scent is upon everything on that tray?" she asked.
Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably and stepped back. The obsessed glimmer of his eyes faded away. "Well, yes." He frowned and walked towards his balcony that overlooked the garden. Kagome could see the smoke rising from the chimneys of the kitchen. "Is everyone talking about the feast?" he asked.
Kagome shook her head. "Not yet, my prince. I'm sure they will be tomorrow."
He bent his head and rubbed at the nape of his neck, before turning on his heel to look at her again. "You really don't know anything about this?" he asked, holding up the Artifact again.
"No, Inuyasha-sama."
"So you have no connection to any of the visiting nobility here?"
"No, Inuyasha-sama." She bowed again so that he couldn't see her face. "Why would a servant like me know any nobility besides those that I serve?"
The prince frowned again as his dog-ears flattened back across his head. "Of course you wouldn't," he sneered. "You're just a filthy little creature, just like Naraku said." He gave her a withering stare. "Get out."
Kagome felt a pain in her heart from his words, but as she turned to open the door, it opened to reveal someone who would make her day indescribably worse – Kikyo. The former princess backed away immediately and bowed to the other monarch. Kikyo looked down her nose at the servant. "Shouldn't you be on your knees before me?" she stated dryly. Kagome only stared back at her.
"What do you want, Kikyo?" Inuyasha remained by the window, but his hateful gaze had shifted from his troublesome servant to his former love.
"Are you already questioning the servants about your newest romantic interest?" asked the princess, ignoring his query. "Starting from the bottom, I see."
Kagome wanted to bite back but she was a servant once again, not the mysterious noble in the golden kimono. She hovered by the doorway, sensing that Inuyasha did not want to be left alone with the venomous princess. She would wait for a second dismissal, she decided, as she stepped back into the corner.
Inuyasha's golden eyes flickered towards the servant but did not mention her continued presence. He slipped the Arrowhead into his pocket in a fluid motion and crossed his arms. "The last time I checked, Kikyo, it was none of your business who I choose to spend my time with."
"It's not my concern really, just simple curiosity. Obviously this girl has only just entered proper society. I only wish to assist her with the transition," she said with a coy smile.
The prince scoffed. "If I ever see you being so benevolent as that, Kikyo, I think I would die of shock."
Kikyo squared her shoulders and narrowed her shining brown eyes. "There was a time that I would be the kindest woman on earth just to have that result."
"What do you want, Kikyo?" he said again, turning his head away from the firelight, so that it fell into shadow.
The princess opened her mouth but paused and turned to look at Kagome. "Why are you still here, furry creature?" she asked. "What gives you the right to listen in on nobility's conversations?"
"She's here by my leave," Inuyasha said quickly.
"It's sweet of you to defend the only creature more reviled than you," said Kikyo, "but let her answer for herself, alright?" She looked back at Kagome and raised an eyebrow.
"I am here by Inuyasha-sama's leave," said Kagome with a bow.
The princess lifted her lip in disgust. "I should have you whipped for lying to royalty," she said softly. A vein began to pulse under the thin skin of her forehead and her hands fisted in her white and purple silk kimono. "Inuyasha, I want to know who that woman was that you were dancing with. She was human, I know that much, so it narrows the field quite a bit. I simply want you to save me the trouble of hunting down the little witch."
"I thought you wanted to introduce her to proper society," said Inuyasha.
"Well, I want to know what sort of society she comes from," amended the princess with a smile.
The prince shared her secretive smirk. "You want to know if she's good enough to marry someone like me," he guessed.
"Even the furry little creature here is good enough to marry you," said Kikyo, still smiling. "I want to know if she's good enough to marry a prince."
"Why? Have your eye on another victim? Think she's competition?" He raised an eyebrow. "For Koga maybe?"
Kikyo tossed her hair and laughed. "I've learned my lesson about you puppies. This new girl wants you? She can have you." She jerked her head towards Kagome. "You should take the furry creature with you too. A bunch of little misfits."
"Get out Kikyo," growled the prince. "Misfit as I am, I don't want you here."
The princess smiled and bowed. "Of course, Inuyasha-sama," she said in a lyrical voice. "I wouldn't want to upset you."
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes so that they flashed in the firelight. "I believe you've already finished that particular task."
Kikyo went to the door and slid it open once again. Before stepping out, she looked back at the prince. "Remember that history has a way of repeating itself, Inuyasha," she purred. She glanced again at Kagome, who was still standing with her head bowed and shoulders hunched forward. "After they meet you, it's only a matter of time before a woman tries to run from you."
The door snapped shut and Kagome relaxed as she looked up to see the prince's silhouette by the fire. Inuyasha's cheeks were burning red, although he was not close the fire. Kagome shifted her eyes away for his sake.
"Light the lamps," he said softly.
Kagome immediately moved to follow his orders, picking up a taper and moving around the perimeter of the room to light the golden oil lamps. Inuyasha lowered himself onto one of the cushions in the center of the room with his head tilted forward and his elbow propped up on his raised knee. Kagome expected a piteous moan to rise from the defeated hanyou, but he remained silent. The lamps seemed to light up every corner of the room except for the prince's face. It continued to be in shadow, a void where there should have been matter. When she was done with her task, she blew out the taper and waited for Inuyasha's notice.
Minutes ticked by and the girl wondered if he had fallen asleep sitting up. She could hear nothing but his deep, even breaths. She stepped forward. "Inuyasha-sama, if you are done with me, I should return to the kitchen."
He looked up sharply, light filling a face that was drawn in anguish. Kagome nearly stumbled from the pain it gave her heart. The prince got to hit feet with a sigh of terrible weight. "Tell Naraku…" He paused and looked bewildered at his own capability to speak. "Tell Naraku that you are to make my soup from now on. And if he has a problem with that, he's free to speak with me about it."
Kagome swallowed thickly. Naraku would be furious when she told him this, she knew. But she bowed. "Yes, Your Highness."
"Get out."
For the second time that day, Kagome fled from the prince. He was in a darker mood than she had ever seen anyone, including Naraku. It might not be dangerous for her body to remain with him, but her heart would have been crushed by his anger and sadness. She almost laughed at the irony. He would never harm her as his mysterious princess, but as Thousandfurs, she was uncertain. What would happen if he ever discovered that the two were actually one?
And Kikyo. This was the second time Kagome had seen him unsettled by the princess's presence. There was a history of romance there, obviously, although Kagome could not imagine Kikyo ever being so soft as to be romantic. What had caused their relationship to splinter apart?
She had to speak to Miroku.
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A/N: Yay! Done! This chapter was rather bitchy to write. I'm not sure why. Anyway, please read and review!