Thousandfurs

Chapter 14: Thousand Stars

"This is, without a doubt, your stupidest idea ever."

"You've been saying that for the past two weeks. Besides, you're the one that told me that I had to choose."

Miroku sighed as he glared at the prince. "Are you really that naïve?" he muttered, trying to keep from yelling at his prince. Or from strangling him. "You told me what happened with the girl last time you saw her. What are you going to say? 'Hey, sorry about wanting to pick Kikyo over you. Wanna get hitched?' It's moronic."

Inuyasha shot him a deadly look. "It's not going to be like that."

"Yeah, well, I was cutting out the crying and her yelling at you for being a royal jackass." He tugged at the collar of his robes as they moved down the hallways, wondering why all of his finer robes were so tight around the neck. "The tailors hate me," he groused.

The prince rolled his eyes. "What's wrong with you, pervert? You've been on edge for ages."

"You throw together a feast with major diplomatic implications in less than two weeks and see how you feel," Miroku said with a frown. "And I'm just envisioning the work that will be waiting for me if you screw up tonight."

"Gee, thanks for the support."

The diplomat sighed and rubbed his hand across his face. "I just can't shake the feeling that you're doing this to prove yourself to a scullery maid, that you can find this mystery girl without her help." He ignored Inuyasha's venomous scowl. "You could have just taken your father up on his offer and gotten the palace scouts to find the girl."

Inuyasha's shoulders stiffened as they entered a small, delicately furnished room. "No," he said simply.

"You're a prince. These are the luxuries that are afforded to you," replied Miroku.

"I don't need help finding my mate!" snapped the prince, his eyes sparking with anger.

The king and queen arrived just then, breaking up what was quickly dissolving into a grand row between the two friends. "Are we interrupting?" asked Izayoi mildly. She was accustomed to her son's arguments with her diplomat. "If you want to fight though, I'd rather you go to the dojo. I just finished this room to my liking."

Inuyasha sat down on the mats heavily as Miroku bowed to the monarchs. "We're fine. What're you doing here?" asked her son.

"We thought we would join you boys for breakfast," she replied, gracefully taking her seat at the small table.

Miroku waited until the king had taken his place as well before seating himself at the other end of the table. They were served in silence, waiting until the last attendant left them in peace. The king looked at the diplomat expectantly. "I was just telling the prince that I thought this feast was… an unwise idea," he explained slowly. "Your Majesties, I don't know if Inuyasha is going to secure the hand of this young woman."

Inuyasha made a violent movement, but was stilled by his mother's hand. The king sighed and pushed around the food on his plate. "If Inuyasha fails tonight, he knows the consequence. We have already found a suitable mate, if anything goes wrong. I sincerely hope it does not."

"What?" choked the prince. "Already? Who?"

"Ayame," said his mother softly. "One of the princesses of the wolf tribe."

Miroku frowned as Inuyasha's eyes bugged. "I thought she was betrothed to Koga-sama, Your Majesty."

"She was," admitted Izayoi. "Apparently, Koga has refused their betrothal. He told Ayame's father that he had found another female. He was quite insulting about it, if I understand correctly. Said something about his new love at least having a kingdom and not being vagrant royalty."

Inuyasha's chest rumbled with a growl. "It's her. Koga is after her too!" he yelled, slamming his hand down on the table.

The king caught his cup before it spilled onto his lap. "That's not good news," he said, "but must you shake the table like that?"

"And who does the girl prefer?" asked Izayoi, ignoring her mate.

Inuyasha opened his mouth and then looked at Miroku, who answered for him. "The girl clearly preferred Inuyasha, Your Majesty," said the diplomat. "I'm just unsure if she still cares for him after what happened. But I suppose that's the question on all of our minds today."

"Well, all lovers have their quarrels," said the queen. "I'm sure she will forgive Inuyasha for whatever he did or said."

"Or at least have the grace to not mention any of it in front of the other guests," added Miroku.

There was a soft knock on the door and a servant announced the arrival of 'King Sesshoumaru and family'. Inuyasha's ears drooped as his elder sibling stepped through the doorway. "Oy, why does he have to be here? Can't he eat breakfast in his own room?"

"Inuyasha," warned the queen. "He's your brother!"

"Exactly," grumbled the prince as his parents greeted Sesshoumaru and his companions. A new table was brought in before he noticed that the 'family' part had extended from two to three. "Hey, that's that little girl!"

Sesshoumaru raised a delicate eyebrow as Yuki and Haruko found their seats. The little girl that Koga had slaughtered at the shrine a couple weeks beforehand was standing at the younger king's elbow. "Her name is Rin," he said simply before pointing her towards her seat and sitting down himself.

'Rin' had cleaned up quite a bit since Inuyasha and Miroku had last seen her. She still wore a lopsided ponytail, but her vivid orange and white kimono was quite complimentary to her dark hair and eyes. When she smiled at the prince, she showed off that she was missing a front tooth. "You kept her around?" asked Inuyasha incredulously.

Yuki and Haruko smiled as Sesshoumaru nodded solemnly. "She is agreeable enough for a human," he replied.

"But she's human!"

The king threw a look of disdain towards his little brother. "Not for long," he said.

"But she isn't really a princess either, is she?" asked Inuyasha as he tilted his head towards the little girl. "Does she even talk?"

"No, Rin is not a princess," Rin giggled. "But Rin can talk!"

Sesshoumaru lifted his chin. "'Your Highness'," he reminded her. "As much as I detest the fact, my brother is still a prince and heir to my father's throne, Rin."

The small girl nodded, not at all cowed by the imposing look of the taiyoukai, which would have sent armies running in the other direction. "Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama!"

"So have you adopted her then?" asked Izayoi gently, waving at Rin.

Yuki smiled at her mother-in-law as Sesshoumaru frowned. "We're considering it." She ruffled her son's ice-blue hair. "Haruko likes having another child his age to play with around the castle. And she's hardly any trouble at all, considering she takes Sesshoumaru's orders so very much to heart."

Izayoi smiled brilliantly. "Another grandchild. How wonderful. We should go for a ride this afternoon, Yuki, with the children. I can't bear to be in the castle right before a feast."

"Why is that?" asked the younger queen.

"Because Naraku pesters her so much," laughed the king, patting his mate's hand as she blushed.

"My mate…" she began.

The king shrugged. "It's true. He's a nightmare to deal with sometimes. Makes superb bread soup though, I must say."

"Not the best," muttered Inuyasha.

Everyone looked at him. "What was that, son?" asked the king, leaning forward.

Inuyasha flushed scarlet. "Nothing!" He looked at Miroku and nodded at him. "Come on, if they're going for a ride this afternoon, we should get one in now."

Miroku glanced down at his plate, still half covered with his delicious breakfast, and sighed. "Sure," he said, as the prince looked at him meaningfully. He got up and bowed to the royalty still seated. "Good day, Your Majesties, Your Highness, Lady Rin. I will see all of you tonight at the feast."

"Thanks," said the prince, once they were out and down the hall.

"Hm. You owe me breakfast," said the diplomat, placing a hand over his grumbling belly.

Inuyasha scowled. "Then go get another at the kitchen! I have to go."

"Wait, what?" Miroku stopped in the middle of the corridor. "I thought we were going for a ride."

"Geez, pervert. Couldn't you tell that was just a way out before they started asking questions?"

"What? Questions about how a scullery maid makes better bread soup than the head chef?" asked the diplomat. "Yeah, I can see how that might really be embarrassing for you. And to think, I thought you just wanted to get away from the topic of tonight's feast and what happens if you don't get your girl."

Inuyasha paled. "Oy, how am I going to get out of becoming Ayame's mate if something goes wrong tonight?"

"You don't," said the diplomat with a shrug. He was still a bit bitter about the lost breakfast. "It was your agreement with the king – mate with this girl or he chooses one for you."

"Well… I mean…" He glowered and kicked at the floor. "Damn it."

"I'm sorry," said Miroku sincerely. "Let's just hope that you have success tonight."

Inuyasha's ears drooped against his head. "Yeah… let's hope. I think I'm going to go for a ride."

"Right," replied the diplomat, recognizing the prince's desire to be alone for awhile. "I think I'll go to the kitchen and see if I can't find some leftovers."

The prince nodded and turned away as Miroku headed towards the back of the castle. He worried about what would happen tonight, of course, but first, he would eat something. Inuyasha wouldn't let him help anyway – it had taken the diplomat almost three days to get a clear picture of what had happened with the mystery girl last time. Inuyasha was a difficult person to deal with, having both a youkai's pride and a human's blind stubbornness. He wondered if he would become that difficult as time passed and he became a demon.

It was a quick trip to the kitchen. It hadn't snowed in several days and it was even sunny. Spring was arriving and none too soon, in Miroku's opinion. Coming from the northern kingdoms, the diplomat had seen enough snow to last a lifetime.

The kitchen door was open when he arrived, with youkai running in and out, all with the same wide-eyed look of fright and urgency. Miroku smiled and waited patiently for a pause in the constant stream when he noticed a familiar figure coming back from the well. Lithe and strong, it had to be Sango. Suddenly, he wasn't very hungry for food.

She came closer, slowing down considerably when she spotted him standing outside the door. Curtseying with her buckets still in her hands, she stared over his shoulder as she addressed him. "Lord Miroku, can we help you?"

"Ah, I was just, ah…" He cleared his throat loudly and smiled shakily. "I was coming to see if you had any leftovers from breakfast. Inuyasha dragged me away from mine before I could finish, and it was quite good."

"Naraku would be pleased to hear that," she replied softly, still not looking directly at him. "There are no leftovers though. The pigs got them almost immediately. We had to start on the feast after all."

Miroku nodded. "Of course. Forgive my foolishness."

Sango made a little sigh of exertion as she shifted the heavy buckets in her hands. "Nothing to forgive, my lord." She moved as if to join the stream of youkai going into the kitchen and then sighed again, looking at him for the first time. "It's a long time until dinner, my lord. Would you like to come inside? I'll try to find you something to eat."

He almost smiled. He almost took her up on her offer. He almost declared his undying love for her, right there in the snow while a dozen demons could have listened in. But instead, he stepped back and shook his head. "No, you have work to do. I've kept you long enough," he said, looking down on the ground. "I wouldn't want to steal you away from the others."

"I would."

It was a whisper, so faint that he thought he might have imagined it. When he looked up, she was going back inside, her cheeks glistening with her tears. His heart clenched and suddenly, he realized that he could have been wrong. He could have misheard that conversation in the market. He was far away and it had been noisy. Kami, help him, he could have wasted all these days that he could have spent with her!

Miroku bound into the kitchen, barely avoiding knocking over several heavily laden youkai. "Oh, don't let me be wrong about this," he muttered to himself, once he saw how packed the building was. What humiliation if she was in love with that other man!

"Lord Miroku!" Naraku had spotted him and was coming over, suspicion flaming in his eyes. "What can we do for you?"

The diplomat shoved down the disgust the youkai's presence created in him. "Nothing. I just want to talk to Sango."

The cook lifted an eyebrow. "With all due respect, my lord, she's working and I need everyone at the moment. Perhaps I could help you instead?"

Miroku took note of the way Naraku's hands were twisting nervously. "No, you really can't. I must talk to Sango."

"Very well," simpered Naraku. "Sango!"

The girl came over, her eyes widening when she saw that Miroku was still there. "Yes, Naraku-san?" she asked.

"Go with Lord Miroku. He has to talk to you."

Sango nodded and left, trailing behind the silent diplomat. Instead of stopping outside of the kitchen, as she expected, they continued walking towards the back of the gardens. When they passed the well, Sango hurried to catch up with him. "Lord Miroku? Where are we going?"

He ignored her inquiry, but slowed down a bit, so that she could walk alongside him. "Sango, may I ask a couple personal questions?"

She frowned for a moment, but nodded. "I suppose so."

"Who is Kuranosuke-san?"

The demon slayer stopped dead and stared at her companion with wide eyes. "How do you know that name?" she asked, her voice quivering.

Miroku blushed and rubbed at the back of his neck. "I… I overheard you in the market one day, a couple months ago. You were talking about him and how you were meant to marry him in your old village. He took care of you and your brother."

Sango nodded, remembering the conversation clearly. "So, you actually know who he is," she replied, her eyes narrowing.

"I just wanted to know," he said, trying to take deep breaths, "if you love him."

"If… if I what?"

He lowered his eyes. "If you love him. I heard you say you love him. Or, at least that's what I thought, until a few moments ago."

She took a few steps back as the enormity of the situation hit her heart. That was why he had been ignoring her for so long? She could have killed him right there for being such a… such a… man, she thought vehemently. "I don't see how it's any business of yours, my lord!" she snapped. "You were eavesdropping! You based everything off a conversation that you clearly could not even hear well, because if you had, you would know the answer to that question!"

Miroku's heart began to ache as he dropped to his knees, capturing Sango's hands before she had the opportunity to storm away. "Please, my dearest Sango, I have to know. It was wrong of me to listen in on your conversation, but I could not pursue you if you love another! I could not have you settle for anything less than what you most desired!"

His words gave her pause, but she was too angry to heed them for long. "You made me believe that you didn't care for me anymore!" she seethed at him. "I cried for you! You and that stupid note you wrote! I thought you had abandoned me! Do you know what that did to my heart?"

He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist and placing his head against her abdomen. His knees were beginning to freeze from being on the ground, but he barely felt it. He only could hang on to the slip of hope left. "Please, Sango, forgive me for what I have done. I too was hurt, believing that you gave me your attention while loving another man." He held on tighter as she pushed at his shoulders and looked up at her. "I know that's no excuse! I caused you pain and I could kill myself for it. But please, forgive me or I may die anyway, because I haven't really been alive since I thought that I would have to be without you."

"Miroku…" Sango sighed and looked away, her sharp anger evaporating. "You should have asked me ages ago. You wasted so much time!"

The diplomat got to his feet to face her. "But we have all the time in the world, my lovely Sango!" he replied, smiling at how she wasn't fighting anymore. His hands skimmed up her arms to cradle her head as she looked at him. "We're becoming youkai and there is no one else I would rather spend that eternity with, than you!"

Her eyes widened a bit, but she pulled back. "It'll never work. You're a lord and I'm a servant! You barely know me!"

"Like I said, we have an eternity," he replied, smiling. He turned serious and pulled her back into a tight embrace, his lips against her ear. "And if I know nothing else, I know I love you."

Sango gasped and tears sprang to her eyes. "How?" she whispered, more to herself than Miroku.

He answered her anyway. "I think from the moment you slapped me that first night I met you, remember?"

The demon slayer blushed and laughed under her breath. "You tried to grope me." She moved out of his embrace quickly. "And you just tried to do it again!" she accused. "You should be thankful if I don't slap you again!"

He grinned at her. "From you, dearest Sango, it would be a blessing."

She blushed again and then gave him a careful look. "You're always groping or flirting or asking some female to bear your children."

"Are you mad that I haven't asked you yet?" he questioned, still smiling.

"No!" She paused and frowned. "But you're going to keep doing that, aren't you? You told me yourself that first night we met that you can't help yourself!"

Miroku stopped smiling and came close to her again. "I can't help myself, no, but I think I may improve rapidly in time, if I have such a woman as you. How could I think of anyone else when I have you, after all?" He didn't wait for an answer as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to his chest. "And I never asked you to bear my children… because I knew that when I asked you, it'd be the last time I ever asked anyone. Even if you said no, I would swear myself to celibacy. So think carefully, my love. Will you bear my children, Sango?"

She smiled softly and looked up at him. "Well, how could I banish you to a life of celibacy?" she asked. "I will bear your children, Miroku."

His eyes widened and he began to rain kisses down on her, finally pressing his lips to hers. "I love you," he kept whispering.

"I love you too," she replied, earning herself a deep kiss from the diplomat. When they finally parted, she was flushed and feeling deliciously weak. "Does this mean we're getting married?" she asked.

"I suppose so," he replied with a smile. "It would be improper for a lord and lady to be unwed with children."

Her breath caught in her throat. "Lady?" she choked.

"Of course. Did you think I would let you continue to work in that kitchen? I think that something more suited to your previous talents is in order. Perhaps you would like to join the scouts or palace guard? I don't know where you would place a former demon slayer in a demon army. Perhaps the king will have some ideas," he said, appearing thoughtful.

Sango grinned, still unable to get over his carefree announcement. "You mean, no dealing with Naraku, ever again?" she asked. "Just so I'm clear on this."

He smiled at her. "Never again. And I hope you will have the courage to tell the king about his behavior, so none of the staff will have to suffer with him any longer either."

"Of course I will," she replied firmly, remembering the beating she had taken a few weeks before. She closed her eyes and hugged him. "A lady!"

"What did you think I would do? That I would send you out into the city with no title and no means of making a living?" he asked, laughing.

"Well, I'm not sure fighting is a proper job for the wife of a diplomat either," she said, her eyes sparkling at the mention of 'wife'.

He leaned into her, burying his nose into her silky hair. "As if my Sango would ever be able to just lie around, doing nothing all day."

"I could give it a try," she replied, "for a few days at least."

Miroku laughed again and kissed her. "Of course. Well, I guess Naraku is out of a servant permanently then. Come, my love. Let's talk to the king and see about getting you suitable clothes to wear for tonight's feast."

Sango almost fainted, saved by her love's tight hold on her. "The king? And I'm going to the feast?" she repeated. "You're going to spoil me."

"That's my goal," he said, winking at her. "Come on, we have a lot to do, my dearest." He began walking with his arm firmly secured around her waist. She was almost glowing with happiness in his embrace. He couldn't help himself from leaning over to whisper some of his other plans in her ear.

Sango couldn't stop blushing all the way to the castle.

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Kagome watched as the kitchen grew darker with the setting sun. Where had Sango gone? She had left hours and hours ago and there was no word of her return. Kagome hoped that something hadn't happened, but of course, no one would tell her why the other girl had left in the first place. No one was really that interested and she hadn't had the chance to ask Kagura, who seemed to be having a constant tiff with Naraku.

She felt Sango's absence even more keenly due to the fact that she had to pick up all the slack. Kagome despaired of ever being able to escape to see Inuyasha. What would happen if the girl he were throwing the feast for never showed up? She couldn't bear to think of the humiliation he would endure. But Naraku seemed to be bent on giving her more tasks than even Sango dealt with, and he watched her carefully. It brought coldness to Kagome's heart as she remembered her friend's warnings – could he know of her secret? He was at least suspicious.

She began to sweat when the servants started putting aside finished dishes of food. The dance was almost over, she realized. The feast would begin and Inuyasha would be alone. Her heart beat quickly with the realization that she might not be able to say goodbye, that her final action towards the prince would be cruelly embarrassing him.

Standing up, she went over to Kagura, who was huffing over the kitchen accounts as usual. "Kagura?" she whispered, trying not to gain Naraku's attention as well. "May I… may I go to the infirmary?"

The red-eyed demoness swept her with a gaze and sniffed the air. "I don't see anything wrong with you," she said, putting down her ledger. "Are you trying to escape preparing for a feast again, Kagome? That will be the third time in a row."

"But last time…"

"Last time, you were lucky and the palace guards backed up your story. But I think we both know that you weren't helping the bakers." She eyed Naraku, who was yelling at a servant across the room. "He knows," she whispered.

"What?" The breath left her lungs and she leaned against the counter.

Kagura's eyes narrowed. "Whatever your secret is, he knows and you're in danger. He was practically giggling today."

Kagome took a few deep breaths. "You have to help me. Just get me out of the kitchen."

The wind witch straightened her back and spoke in her normal tone. "Get back to work!" she snapped. "You still have several things to scrub down and I know that Naraku will want to see them sparkling by the night's end."

The princess turned around to see the chef standing a few feet away with a catlike grin on his face. "Best be listening to Kagura, Thousandfurs," he sneered. "You keep your ass in this kitchen, even if the world's end comes tonight. I still want you cleaning this place from top to bottom. No dancing about the corners of the castle tonight!"

Kagome felt as if she had been hit. He did know! How? She went back to her customary stool and sat dejectedly. She should have been more careful! He had noticed something that she hadn't thought to take care of. Damn youkai senses!

The door opened wide and the servants covered their work from the harsh wind that flowed in. Kagome looked up but couldn't see anyone until a familiar voice piped up. "Naraku-san! I have a message from the king!"

"Why would they send you, you little runt?" he growled, turning back to his work.

"The king invited me to watch the dance, considering how well I know His Highness. And all of the page boys are busy." There was a flurry of movement and Shippo bounced up on one of the tables. A nearby servant grumbled and moved his dish away from the furry demon. "The king wants to see Kagome."

Naraku whipped back around and glared at the little fox, who admirably did not flinch. "What the preoccupation of the royal court with my human servants today, fox?"

Shippo shrugged. "All I was told was that the king wanted to see Kagome."

"There's a feast going on. It can wait."

The fox kit looked at the chef carefully. "Do you really want me to go back and tell the king that you have refused his direct order?" he asked seriously.

Naraku's upper lip twitched. "How do I know the king really wants her? Odd timing, and besides, you're the brat's friend. She's escaped from feast preparations twice now and I won't allow it a third time!"

Shippo nodded solemnly. "Thought you might have that objection," he said. He dug into his pocket and brought out a heavy signet ring. "I have the king's seal though. Isn't that enough for even you, Naraku?"

The chef blanched at the sight of the ring. "Fine!" he snapped. "Thousandfurs, get to the king! And I fully expect you back to prepare the prince's soup!"

Kagome slowly stood up after looking at Shippo, who grinned and nodded at her. What was going on? Did the king know too? Did everyone know her secret? She made her way across the kitchen with the eyes of the staff firmly fixed upon her. "Alright," she said to the fox kit. "Lead the way."

They left the kitchen in silence and walked down the path towards the castle slowly. Once out of hearing range, Shippo turned to Kagome. "Okay, you can go now! Get your last kimono and go to the dance!"

"What?" Kagome stared at him. "So the king doesn't want me?"

"Well yeah! Of course! He wants you as a princess to show up and take some of the pressure off! Inuyasha's going about crazy in there, you know!" he said, smiling. "Come on, you have to go!"

Kagome turned and went towards the servants' quarters. "But how did you get the king's seal?"

Shippo blushed as he ran alongside her. "I took it from his desk. He has two. One is for Inuyasha actually, but the prince never wears it."

"Shippo! What if Naraku finds out? He'll kill us!"

The fox kit grinned. "No, he won't. Naraku's time is over."

"What do you mean?"

He looked as if he were about to burst. "I can't tell you yet!" he blurted. "You'll see! Just hurry! I'll keep watch!" He pushed her into the building and shut the door between them.

Kagome stumbled into the common room and, after a cursory glance around, stripped off her fur cloak and tossed it into her cupboard. She scrubbed herself clean of the soot so that her skin was clean and reddened from the force she used. Satisfactorily clean, she slipped into her diamond kimono, tied her obi and put up her hair in record time. "Shippo?" she asked, coming close to the door.

"All clear," he chirped, as the door opened. "I can't believe you're already…" He looked at her and fell silent, if only for a moment. "Wow, Kagome! You look beautiful! Inuyasha's going to just die when he sees you."

"I hope not," she said, nervously smoothing the fabric as they walked back towards the palace. "Shippo, thank you for the help tonight, but I think you should realize that tonight is the last night I'll ever be a princess. I'm going to say goodbye to Inuyasha and never see him again, not like this."

The little fox frowned and nodded. "I figured. I know you can't tell him who you are, Kagome. I was sad about that for awhile, but I understand. You gotta protect yourself. And Inuyasha for that matter!"

Kagome smiled at him. "Thank you," she whispered as they came to the back door. "Now, were you actually invited to the feast? Or did you steal an invitation too?"

"I was invited!" he said, rather indignant.

"Oh, alright," she laughed. "Then I suppose you better go first. We can't go in together or Inuyasha will know something's up."

"Right. Good luck, Kagome!" He opened the door and scampered down the halls as quickly as possible.

Kagome followed much more slowly, her feet growing heavier with every step. Kami help her, she wasn't sure if she could go through with this! Even if it were Kikyo that he wanted to ask, it would be almost too painful for her to bear to say goodbye to him.

She sighed. At least once he had received the second half of the Shikon no Tama, he could choose his future as human or demon. He could be with Kikyo, and maybe the cold-hearted princess would actually love him in return once he was fully human. Kagome didn't really understand how Inuyasha could bear to be treated so poorly for something he couldn't (yet) control, but then, wasn't that a sign of how necessary this goodbye was? She didn't know him well enough to risk all of their lives. Yes, a goodbye, short and final, would be the best.

The sound of music came to her ears and she saw the open doors of the hall, filled with dancing youkai and laughing attendants. Inuyasha was somewhere in there, she realized. And he was probably beginning to worry that she would never arrive. The king and queen would worry too. Damning her previous hesitance, she took a deep breath and walked in.

Expectedly, most of the room fell quiet when they spotted her. She smiled graciously and moved around the perimeter, watching for the red of Inuyasha's clothes. She was deeply aware that despite the festive colors of the other guests' attire, she was easily spotted in her glittering kimono. Every eye was on her, mostly in envy and contempt (although there was a lovely girl in pink who stared at her with what could only be described as intense admiration). It would only get worse when she joined Inuyasha, she knew, but she ached to see him.

Finally, he was there, the crowd parting before him without command. He was standing at the bottom of the simple dais where the king and queen were seated. Both of the monarchs had their eyes upon her as well, looking serious but not displeased. The queen's mouth was open a little as she took in the princess's extravagant kimono.

Inuyasha approached her and offered his hand. "You came."

"You sound surprised every time I show up," she replied smiling, placing her hand in his. "You knew I would be here though."

"Well, you're later than usual," he said, sweeping her into the brisk dance going on in the center of the room. He held on tightly and focused on her brown eyes. "I was wondering if tonight was the one time you weren't going to show up."

Kagome's eyes fell away from his as she tried to bolster her resolve. "I can't stay for long."

He tilted his head. "What do you mean? You always run off like that! But not tonight!"

"I have to. Soon, I have to go."

His arms stiffened around her and she shifted her hurt, concerned gaze up to his. "Don't," he replied softly. "No matter what, tonight you have to stay here with me."

Her tenacity was flagging already, she realized, biting back the desire to sigh in defeat and admit everything. Fighting it, Kagome reminded herself of how horrible he had been to her when she was a servant – the insults, the extra work, and the 'shoe incident'. Armed with these memories, she looked back up at him with steely eyes. "We'll see," she said finally, her lips drawn in a tight line.

The prince leaned in close to her ear. "I have something to ask you."

She could feel the heat of his blush, although she couldn't see his face any longer. "Not now!" she whispered, almost harshly.

He nodded, misunderstanding. "Yeah. I don't even know your name after all!"

"You can't know it," she replied, her eyes closing. "Please, Inuyasha. Don't ask me."

He pulled away and looked at her with his sharp, golden eyes. "Why not? You're here, at the ball that everyone knows is for my announcement of my mate. Didn't you know that I would be asking you?" His eyebrows knitted together. "Is it because I'm a half-breed?"

Kagome gasped. "No! Never. I thought I made that clear to you last time!" She bit her lip, letting the presence of Kikyo hang in between them for a moment. "You're not a half-breed. You're not a prince. You're just Inuyasha."

"That's why I want you!" he replied hotly.

"But it's exactly why I can't have you," she said, shaking her head slowly. "I didn't come because this was your engagement feast. I came to say goodbye. You are just Inuyasha to me, but I can't be what you want in return. What you see before you is not all that I am."

He closed his eyes briefly. "I don't care. I know I don't know you completely. I want to find out though."

Kagome sighed and looked away. She could see that many of the youkai could sense the tension and distress between the two of them. Some of them were smiling, but most were shaking their heads in pity. "But you never can. It was wrong for me to come to that first dance. I thought I belonged here, I thought that I was worthy of you, but the truth is that I don't belong in this world anymore. Not with things the way they are."

"I don't understand," he growled, finally getting past the shock of rejection.

She put her hands to his face. "I know. I wish I could tell you, but I cannot, for our own protection. Both yours and mine. I wish that I could say 'yes' with all my heart, but my heart isn't really mine to give anymore. Part of it is still in the past and it will remain there for a long time, I'm afraid. And that's not fair to you," she said, lowering her hands and her eyes. She knew she was being cryptic. She was having trouble finding the words, but how could she explain everything without explaining everything? Kagome embraced him and put her head on his shoulder. "Please, can we just dance?"

He growled again but pulled her closer, his long silver hair tickling her nose. They ignored everyone and closed their eyes, dancing without seeing where they were going. Kagome could hear his heartbeat, steady and slow, and hoped that she hadn't broken it. She could feel her own breaking within her chest, but she had known that consequence when she had come to the dance.

Time flowed on and on as the pair danced and it was only when her feet began to hurt that Kagome lifted her head. Everyone was still staring at them, but she looked to her night's companion. "How long have we been dancing?" she asked softly.

"A long time," he said, the corners of his lips turning down. "The feast will probably go cold."

She pulled away, jerking out of his arms with force. "I have to go!" she said. Tears came to her eyes. "I didn't want our goodbye to be this way."

"Please, stay," he replied, catching hold of her hand.

"No," she said, firmly removing his grip.

He frowned and turned his head away. "Fine. Go find Thousandfurs then and have her help you escape again. Tell her I want my soup early tonight." He waved his hand at her, trying to dismiss Kagome.

The princess's jaw stiffened. "This isn't the way to do this!" she protested.

"I don't want to say goodbye," he replied viciously, turning back to look at her with cold golden eyes that reminded her of his brother. "Stay here!"

"I am not yours to command," she replied softly. "Not tonight."

Before he could protest again, she reached up and pressed her lips against his in a needy, passionate, and painfully brief kiss. He tried to catch her again around the shoulders, but she moved away before he could hold her there. "I'm so sorry," she said. "Goodbye, Your Highness."

She fled, pushing her way through the crowd until she escaped to the hallway. The guards appeared surprised, but did not pursue her as she ran down the corridors. She had stayed very late. There were few servants in the hallways, meaning that they had gone to turn their masters' beds down and start the evening fires. If everyone hadn't been so mesmerized by her dance with Inuyasha, dinner would have been half over by now. Naraku would be furious.

Shippo was waiting for her at her bedroom door with a deep frown. "Kagura is looking for you!" he said. "She said she would give you fifteen more minutes before she allowed Naraku to come for you, and that was twenty minutes ago!"

"I… I couldn't leave," she replied, taking her hair down with such speed that she ripped several hairs out from the root.

"I know. But still… Oh, never mind that!" he cried, as she put her hands back to untie her obi. "Just throw on the cloak. Get out of the kimono when you go to bed. You only have to make the prince's soup, right? Just make sure Naraku doesn't see it glittering!"

Kagome realized he was right and dove for the fire pit in the middle of the common room, rubbing the ashes all over her arms. As she moved to her neck and face, her fingers found a new object, one that hadn't been there before. "Shippo! Shippo! What is this?"

The fox kit popped up onto her shoulder and inspected the heavy necklace she had around her throat. It appeared primitive, with large black beads and small fangs alternating all the way around it. "I don't know," he admitted, still frantic. "It's laced with magic though! Not demon either. Smells like miko magic."

The princess finally realized what Inuyasha had been doing when she thought he had been trying to hold onto her goodbye kiss. "He put it on me!" she cried. She tugged on it, clawed at the tie in the back. "It won't come off! What the hell is wrong with this thing?"

"I don't think it's meant to come off," he said, leaning closer. "Never mind though! You have to get to the kitchen before Naraku comes!"

Realizing the more imminent threat was the chef and not a thus-far harmless necklace, Kagome rubbed the soot on the rest of her skin and threw the cloak over her shoulders, firmly securing it before running across to the kitchen. She held her half of the broken Shikon no Tama in her fist, rubbing her fingers over the rough edge as she concentrated on her night's goal.

"Thousandfurs!" bellowed Naraku, as soon as she arrived.

Kagome sighed underneath her breath and turned to curtsey for the chef. "Yes, Naraku-san?"

"What did the king have to say to you?" he demanded, advancing upon her.

The princess stood her ground. She was getting sick of this ridiculous, pompous youkai who had nothing better to do than to terrorize the servants in his employ! She was sick of having to explain herself to him! All the emotional turmoil of the evening came forward in full force, knocking all sense and logic out of her head. "That's no business of yours!" she snapped. "It's between me and the royal family! If you would excuse me, I have to make His Highness's evening soup, or would you like to impede upon that royal order as well?"

The kitchen was silent, all of the servants staring at the furry, dirty little creature that had only crossed their doorstep for the first time a few months ago. Many of the most weathered, aged workers wouldn't have dared to say half of those words, half as harshly! Naraku wouldn't stand for it, would he? Many of them shook their heads, telling themselves that the little human girl was dead. Too bad, they thought. She was beginning to actually take her fair share of the workload around the kitchen.

But even as they watched in silence, Kagome turned her back on the chef and marched over to pick out her ingredients, picking the finest that she could find, as if a dangerous youkai wasn't severely angry with her and standing a few yards away. She perused the knives, picking the sharpest and began her work. The rest of the staff watched.

It was five whole minutes before he exploded. He ranted and screamed and threatened to beat her within an inch of her life. Kagura had to hold him back as he brandished his favorite riding crop. Kagome ignored him, for the most part.

A terrifying silence settled again, as he stared at her from where Kagura was trying to explain how angry Inuyasha would be if his soup was late. He didn't listen to her words, but dropped the riding crop before walking up to the girl, who was patiently stirring her concoction. "Thousandfurs," he intoned, "you will pay for this dearly."

"I know," she said softly. She locked eyes with him for a brief moment. "You'll beat me until I stop breathing."

"You'll be lucky if I stop that soon," he snarled. "I would take your time with that soup, because as soon as it's gone, you're mine."

Kagura wandered up to the pair as they glared at one another. "Perhaps it would be prudent to rethink that plan, Naraku," she whispered, although Kagome could clearly hear her. "After all, there are certain parties that would not be too pleased with the girl's death."

Naraku's eyes widened for a brief moment. "Of course. How forgetful I am. Thousandfurs, I am happy to tell you that I will not be dealing with your punishment tonight," he said.

Kagome didn't feel pleased at all with this announcement as she considered the malevolent smirk on his face. "Then who will it be instead?" she asked simply, knowing that he only had something more tortuous in mind.

Naraku just laughed and strolled out of the kitchen. "Keep an eye on her, Kagura!" he yelled back over his shoulder, as the door slammed shut.

"You mad little fool," snapped the wind witch. "You just sealed your own fate!"

"You've been telling me that for ages," sighed the princess. Her anger was spent, and only resignation remained.

"I told you. I told you! He knows your secret," she hissed. "And right now, he's out there telling someone else how to find the girl that the entire Nakao kingdom is looking for."

Kagome lowered her eyes. She had forgotten that Naraku had somehow figured out her secret. In the tumult of the evening's events, she had become a 'mad little fool'. Even so, she would not be diverted from her evening's plans. If she would not survive, then Inuyasha's heart would. She ladled out the soup into a large bowl and dropped in the broken half of the Shikon no Tama, right in front of Kagura's eyes.

"Is that…?"

"Yes," said the princes. "Its power is long dead, but maybe if he puts it back together with its' other half, it'll be restored. That's what the stories say." She looked at the wind witch and placed the bowl into her hands. "Please, will you take it to him personally? I promise that I won't run away."

Kagura nodded mutely and went to put the soup on a tray along with a pot of tea. She stopped by the girl again on her way out. "You should run, you know."

"If they know where I am, nothing will stop a Nakao spy from hunting me down," she replied.

"It sounds like you've lost the will to live, Kagome."

The princess shrugged. "I hope not. But I'm not running again. I was prepared to take death before submitting to my father long ago, before I was convinced to run away. And look what it got me – a few months' borrowed time in the kitchen of a tyrant chef." She smiled at her friend. "I'll be alright. Even if it's not physically."

Kagura sighed softly and looked down at the soup in her hands. She imagined she could see the pink glow of the Shikon no Tama at the bottom, although it was far too opaque for that. "Why are you trusting me with this?" she asked.

"Because you're one of the few people that knows the truth now and if I can't trust the people who know the truth, then I really am doomed," she replied.

The wind witch smiled one of her rare smiles at the servant girl, who was losing everything in a blink of an eye. She didn't know the whole truth, she realized. Even Naraku, who prided himself on knowing everything about his servants, could not have fully conceived of the truth that lay in this dirty little servant that was called 'Thousandfurs'. "He'll get it," she vowed.

"I know," Kagome said, her faith in Kagura complete.

"He'll call you to see him again," she observed. "What will you say to him?"

The princess sighed and lowered her eyes. "Apparently, I will have to say goodbye. Again."

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A/N: Whew! Long chapter. I know that Kagome's emotions are a bit confusing towards the end but it's totally not because I'm writing at 2 am… Haha. Actually, I just imagined that she was going through about a million emotions a minute after rejecting the guy she loved for the sake of his kingdom. How heroic! Sigh… Anyway, please read and review!

Oh, and a warning – the next chapter(s) may be very spaced out. I'm getting married in less than a week and then the honeymoon, and then of course, the all-exciting move to Waco, Texas. No, I'm not going by my own choice to the town whose claim to fame was a FBI shootout with a madman. The law school is beautiful though. Okay, enough babbling. Just be a bit more patient than normal and you'll get your updates!