A/N: About the ink thing (you'll see later on). Back then, the ink wasn't in bottle form. It was in like a block form and you would have to take a little thing (rectangular prism piece of wood) and rotate it on the ink so then it would be writable. So I hope that will clear things up a bit.

The exams were about two- three days long. Here it is just two. The test would be really hard and usually only the upper classmen/ elite had time and money to study and prepare for them. They would be over the Confucianism classical works.

I think I described the exams about correct. I've watched a movie over it, so it should be depicted in the right manner. I've also learned about it in world history, so I hope the facts are historical. This story takes place in like Tang/ Ming. I don't really have a set one. But I think the Ming has the forbidden palace and the Tang has the examinations.

So here it is: Enjoy!

Chapter Eight

Examinations

Inuyasha fell back from the blow; he had not moved away quickly enough to dodge Kouga's attack. Kouga left just a slight cut on Inuyasha's upper arm. He got up and this time was more prepared. "Darn, I haven't fought in such a long time," he breathed.

He held his sword up in front of his face and swung at Kouga's head. Kouga moved to the side and blocked Inuyasha's sword with his own. Inuyasha pushed hard and held the sword tightly. Kouga pulled his sword away and Inuyasha lunged forward.

Kouga swung again and this time Inuyasha and Kouga were clashing swords. Their swords were sparring and with each swing it blocked each other's blows.

In the background, Inuyasha heard the announcer's voice and the crowd. He tried to block out all the noise and concentrated on Kouga. Kouga seemed to be getting exhausted from deflecting all of his hits. Every single time Inuyasha would swing, it would be with all his might… and heart. He had never fought with such passion before. And for what? A common girl.

By this time, the two men were worn-out from striking and clashing swords. Inuyasha knew he had to do something different before he ran out of energy. He stopped swinging and kicked off from the platform.

Inuyasha leaped about 6 feet in the air above Kouga. Kouga looked up in astonishment. It had taken Inuyasha years of practice to be able to do this.

Inuyasha dived right in front of his opponent. Kouga held his sword in defense, but just before landing he turned to Kouga's backside and held the sword to his neck. With his leg, he kicked Kouga's sword from his hand.

The battle and competition between the two was finally finished. Inuyasha zoned back into what was going on around him.

"And the winner is… INUYASHA!" the announcer screamed, hardly audibly over the crowd that was standing up and cheering from him. Kagome was even standing up.

Inuyasha looked over at her. His sword was still gripped tightly on Kouga neck.

"You can take your sword off me down. That was just luck that you won. I was beating you till the very end when you kicked off from the ground," he said, then after a long pause he added, "Good job… prince."

"Thank you, my dear cousin. You actually put up a fight." Inuyasha smirked at Kouga and he just scowled back at him. He didn't know, but for those few moments they were acting like civilized cousins…

Then Kouga added, "You can't marry her."

Inuyasha understood why he had said that. He was the prince after all. How was he going to get himself out of this one?

Inuyasha took his sword and put it back into its sheath. Kouga didn't say anything more to him and left the stage with his head drooped. "He must have loved her… but she wouldn't have been happy with him…" he thought.

The announcer was walking towards Inuyasha. "So, Inuyasha, when do you plan on marrying this young girl?" The crowd grew quiet to hear his response.

The announcer motioned for Kagome to join them on stage. Kagome still in shock over the whole matter walked slowly onto the stage.

Now that Kagome and Inuyasha were standing beside one another, the announcer repeated his question, "When do you two plan on getting married?"

The crowd was stirring and whispering. Neither one answered. Inuyasha nudged Kagome and whispered, "What do you want me to say?"

"I don't know…" Her eyes were gleaming in the moonlight. Night had already fallen and everything was getting dark.

"I would like to marry Kagome…" Inuyasha started, but didn't know how to finish.

"We will get marry, but we haven't decided on a date yet," Kagome finished.

"Yes, of course. You two are still young. Don't want marriage to tie you down."

"Yes, exactly. I would like to still view more of China and learn more until I will be able to support a family," Inuyasha answered. "But I will marry Kagome." He pulled her close to him. "She is the dearest love of my life."

These last few lines seemed to have satisfied the audience. "Have a good night everyone and thanks for coming out and supporting Inuyasha and Kouga." The announcer tied things up and patted Kagome and Inuyasha on the back. "Wish you two the best of the future."

&

Kagome moved away from Inuyasha as soon as the announcer had left. She blushed and looked at the ground.

"Is your arm okay?" The cut wasn't that deep, but it was still bleeding.

"I'm fine and a 'thank you' would be nice too.'"

She lifted her head, the softness from her eyes were gone. "Thank you, Inuyasha, my dear future husband."

"Look, I don't want to get married to you."

"And how are we going to not get marry, huh?"

Inuyasha couldn't get married to her. He was the prince. A prince of China could NOT get married to a common girl, even he wanted to, his parents would both oppose it.

"Think of something. You were the one that came up with this great idea of a competition." Kagome gritted her teeth.

Before Inuyasha could respond, Sango and Miroku had made their way on the stage. Sango embraced Kagome. "How is everything?" She had heard the two arguing from afar.

"Everything is fine, Sango. It's just that we can't think of a way to not marry each other. That's all."

"Oh…"

During Kagome's and Sango's conversation, Miroku and Inuyasha were getting pretty close.

"Nice to meet you, Inuyasha. I'm Miroku, Sango's soon to be husband. I loved your move that you made at the end."

"Nice to meet you Miroku."

"I'm going to be taking the examinations tomorrow and then we'll get married. You really don't have a date to marry Kagome?"

"No, I don't… There are just some things to hard to explain."

"Wait, you're Inuyasha…" Miroku was racking his brain to remember where he had read of that name, and then it came to him. He leaned over and whispered into Inuyasha's ear, "You're the prince, aren't you?"

Many people of this small town were not literate or else hadn't had the education to learn about China's government. The royalty did not allow anyone in all of China to have their name. So Inuyasha was a unique name only to the prince. Not a single other person would have that name.

"How do you know?" Inuyasha couldn't believe this commoner could tell her was the prince.

"Only one person would have the name Inuyasha… and that's the prince," he said in his ear again.

"This guy is educated. When he had arrived here, he had forgotten about that fact. He wasn't thinking…" he thought.

Inuyasha pulled Miroku away from the girls and commanded, "Don't you dare tell anyone about this. Do you understand?"

Miroku, remembering his place, went down on his knees. "Your highness, spare me. I promise to never speak a word of it."

"Get up! I don't want to attract anymore attention. Keep calling me Inuyasha, and I won't kill you." He was deadly serious. If his cover was blown, his life would be in danger. The kingdom had many enemies. He was also the only heir that was directly linked to the king. Killing him would result in taking rule.

Miroku got up, slightly shaken now. Inuyasha patted him on the back reassuringly. "Don't spill and nothing is going to happen to you."

"What about Kagome? How are you going to marry her?"

Good question… "Do you have any ideas?"

He looked thoughtfully and after a few minutes he answered. "The examinations. If you fail them on purpose then, you could say that you aren't worthy enough for Kagome."

A smile spread on Inuyasha's face. "Of course. Failing anything is easy; it's passed that is the problem." The two then walked back to announce their idea.

&

Kagome and Sango turned as the two guys returned. "What were you guys talking about so secretly over there," questioned Kagome.

"I just came up with a plan on how to not marry you," he smirked.

Kagome looked skeptically at him. "Let's hear your brilliant plan."

"I knew you would want to hear," he grinned, "I'm going to be taking the examinations with Miroku."

"How is that in any way going to help us?"

"This is where by brilliance comes in. I proclaim to everyone in this town that if I pass the exams I will marry you since I would be able to support you, but of course if I fail… I won't."

"And the dowry money?"

"I'm giving you that tonight. Stop worrying about that. The government shouldn't have raised the taxes." Inuyasha made a mental note to himself of this issue. He would return back home with it to try to resolve this problem. Some people were living month by month with no extra savings, a tax raise could bring ruins to them.

"Thank you, Inuyasha." For once, Kagome sounded sincere.

"Since you are thankful that I am doing this for you… how about you repay me?"

She pondered over what Inuyasha would want her to do. "Umm… what do you want me to do exactly?"

"Just say yes."

"…Yes…"

"You are going to be my maid for the rest of my stay, my lovely wife."

"I hate you."

"I hate you more."

&

Throughout this whole time, Sango and Miroku were standing on the side and watching them.

"They look so cute together," Miroku acknowledged to Sango.

Sango waved her hand in front of Miroku's face. "They are arguing, if you didn't notice."

"Sure they are, but they look like a couple. It's like it was meant to be."

She looked at Inuyasha and Kagome. Together they did look like a couple. Too bad, it wasn't going to work out.

"Let's go home now." Kagome told Sango and Miroku.

"Come my dear, it's getting late and I have the exam tomorrow." Miroku wrapped his arm around Sango's shoulder.

Sango moved away from his reach and the two pairs walked home.

&

Kagome and Inuyasha bickered the entire way back. Sango and Miroku bid their good byes when they parted ways to return home.

"So now that you are my maid, I would like you to make me some dinner when we get back."

"In your dreams."

"Then I wouldn't give you your money that you need."

"Is that a threat?"

"You bet it is. I'm hungry." Inuyasha's stomach grumbled at this. "And you better not make anything burnt," he added.

"And I'll be sure to give you some nice, hot tea with it." Kagome smiled. She hoped that Inuyasha wouldn't make her do anything to terrible. He did deserve something in return from her, but she wasn't going to let him know that.

It was really late when they got back to her restaurant. Kagome stepped into the kitchens to prepare Inuyasha a quick dish.

&

Fifteen minutes passed before she returned. In her hand carried white rice and chicken with vegetables. "Where's the tea?" Inuyasha joked as she set his dinner down.

"I only have two hands, you know." Just before Kagome was about to leave to bring back some tea, Inuyasha stopped her.

"It's alright. You're hungry too. Eat."

"He's actually being nice to me," she thought.

"Okay." Kagome sat down right away and dug in. "E-eat," she said with her mouth full. Inuyasha had been staring at her this whole time.

"Slow down, you're going to choke." And he grabbed some chopsticks and ate with her.

&

After they had finished their dinner, Inuyasha rose from his seat. "Wait here, I'm going to go and get the money you need."

"Okay." Kagome cleared the dishes as Inuyasha leap up the steps to his room to retrieve the money.

He got out 1,000 yen from one of his sacks. He returned downstairs and handed her the money. "Here you go."

"I hardly know you and I can't believe you are giving me all this money." Tears fell from Kagome's face and onto the sack.

"Don't cry. I hate it when women cry."

She sniffed back the tears. "It's out of happiness though," Kagome paused for a moment, "I'm will be able to repay you one day."

"Save it. We probably won't see each other after I leave her. Just pretend that I didn't do it for you, but just for the well-being of China." And that was he was supposed to do with all the money that he had brought with him.

"Good night then," Inuyasha said after there a long period of silence.

"Good night," Kagome responded, her eyes not meeting his.

&

The next morning, Inuyasha rose early. The exams were being held today. Anyone was allowed to enter if they had the money for the entrance fee. Of course he had the money.

He dressed quickly and walked to Kagome's room. "She must be still asleep."

He opened the door and walked right in. "Rise and shine, my dear wife!" he said as he threw open the curtains, letting the sun shine through.

Kagome stirred under the covers. "Who is that?" she thought groggily. She slowly opened her eyes to find no other than Inuyasha standing at her side.

"AHHH! GET OUT OF MY ROOM! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?" Kagome screamed.

"I DON'T NEED TO GET YELLED AT FOR WAKING YOU UP." Inuyasha screamed right back and slammed the door behind him on the way out. "That girl…" he fumed.

Kagome couldn't believe he had gone into her room again. She got up since she couldn't fall back to sleep and went down stairs. Again, there was Inuyasha sitting at a table waiting for breakfast. "Every where I go, I see him… It's a curse. My terrible fate."

"Girl!" Inuyasha said making her stop in her tracks. "I had a good intention in waking you up, and now I would like some breakfast before the exam."

"No you did not. You just don't go into a girl's room without knocking."

"But I am your soon to be husband."

"We aren't getting married after you take that exam."

"Unless I pass."

"I thought you didn't want to marry me more than I wanted to marry you?"

Very true. Inuyasha didn't want to marry her, but playing with her was fun. "Just get me breakfast."

"All I do is cook," she complained to herself.

&

It was nearing nine o'clock, when Kagome and Inuyasha finally made it to the town center to sign up for the exams. Myoga had tagged along this time, since examinees were allowed one "helper" (to make the ink and to cook the meals during the two day stay).

They waited in a long line. Finally it was their turn.

"Name?" A guard asked Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha."

"Last name too."

He couldn't tell him his real last name or else they would know for sure. "Hashimoto."

"Place of origin."

"Shenyang." Once again, a lie.

"Lift up your arms."

Inuyasha lifted them reluctantly to be searched. During these exams, there was so much cheating going on, these precautions had to be taken.

"Wow, I'm learning more about him than I have over the past few days," thought Kagome as she stood on the side and watched Inuyasha being searched.

The guard found nothing and let Inuyasha answer some more questions on a sheet of paper.

"Address? The forbidden palace," he laughed. "Girl, what is your address?" he asked.

"Why mine? Put yours."

"Just tell me."

"6 Yung Sheng."

Inuyasha filled out the rest of the sheet with more lies. At least he'll be able to get his score within a month or two at Kagome's place.

Inuyasha handed over the fee to the guard and the question sheet.

"Thank, sir," spoke the guard. "And who will be accompanying you during these tests?"

"I will," Myoga said and walked to the side of his master.

"No, I think the girl will do."

Myoga's head fell. He had wanted to help Inuyasha, but Kagome seemed to have been taking care of him during this whole stay here.

"Me?"

"Yeah, you girl."

"Kagome! Be a little respectful."

"Lift up your arms," interjected the guard.

Inuyasha crossed his arms and looked at Kagome. "This girl…"

&

Everyone else that was taking the exams were looking much more serious and nervous than Inuyasha. These men had studied years and years just for this day. This test would reveal their future; either poverty or fortune.

&

"You may go in now," the guard handed them a room number and pushed them through the gates. "The tests are going to start this noon, so eat and be ready."

Myoga handed Kagome a sack full of clothes and food before she entered. "Thanks, Myoga."

Inuyasha and Kagome entered through the gates. Inside were little compartments for each of the examinees. "Number 4"

"The unlucky number…" Kagome said in dismay.

"It's not like you want me to do well."

There was a pause of silence.

"I forgot to announce that if I don't pass then I'm not going to marry you!" Inuyasha couldn't believe he forgot such an important fact. He rushed back out into the square.

"I WANT TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT EVERYONE! I AM GOING TO TAKE THESE EXAMS TO ENSURE THE BRIGHTEST FUTURE FOR KAGOME. IF I DON'T PASS THEN I WON'T DESERVE HER. SO EVERYONE WISH ME LUCK!" he hollered over the people there.

There were shouts of good luck and awe for how much he "loved" her.

"That sure sounded mushy. Yuck," he said to himself.

He returned to where Kagome was standing. "Mission accomplished."

"Beautiful job." Kagome didn't know how to response otherwise.

&

Kagome made their small compartment a little more at home. She had prepared lunch and now they were just waiting for the proctor to come and hand Inuyasha the test.

Across from her, the other examinee was sitting and waiting for the test as well. Kagome had seen that face from somewhere. The person didn't seem to notice that Kagome was at him.

Then she remembered the face. Kagome couldn't believe who it was.

"Sango?"

A/N: What is Sango doing there? Hehe, you'll find out next chapter.

FYI: Only men were allowed to test for government and official position, so that's why it is weird that she is there. She is dressed up like a guy too, since Kagome first thinks that it is a guy. Just in case you didn't get that part.

The updates are going to be slower after this, just fair warning. Finals are coming and I hate finals.