A/N: Happy New Years everyone! Yeah, so I think I goofed up on the character name, Suga. Sorry. I will fix it as soon as I do find a name suitable for that character.

The title of this chapter kind of gives away the whole chapter, but I hope you like it.

Chapter Fourteen

The Emperor of China

"…come back to the palace immediately." Suga read and rolled up the scroll.

Inuyasha took the scroll and stood up, thanking him. "Why does he want me to come back?"

"The king has fallen seriously ill. The doctors all think that he doesn't have much longer to live… The king wants you to return to tell you any last information before he dies and hands over the crown to you."

Inuyasha was numb. His father was dieing. "I have to get back right away," he said staring straight ahead.

"We brought an extra horse with us; we should get back tomorrow morning if we ride all through the night."

He got on the horse without saying another word. He had to get back to his father before it was too late. He was going to become king. Did he have enough power to rule all of China? Would he be respected by the people? All he knew was that he had to ride as fast as he can.

&

Kagome ran to Sango's house. Sango's home was gated and it was one of the nicest homes in the town. There were three floors and a huge garden surrounding the entire area. The guard knew her and let her in without any questioning.

Kagome walked briskly though the front foyer and up to Sango's room. "Sango?" She knocked before entering.

"Come in," her voice sounded tired.

Kagome walked in, finding Sango still in bed. "I'm sorry to bug you this early…"

Noticing it was Kagome, Sango sat up. "It's okay. Anything important?"

"Yeah," she paused and then added, "Inuyasha left."

"But you knew he would. You even wanted him too, right?" Sango didn't understand what was wrong about Inuyasha leaving.

"I did. But this morning he left without saying goodbye. Not even a goodbye, Sango…"

"I'm sorry, Kagome." She hugged her friend. Kagome broke away and pulled out the letter.

"Can you read this to me? He knows I can't read, but wrote me a letter anyways."

"Of course." She unfolded the letter and read:

Kagome,

You must be mad at me for not waiting and not have saying goodbye, but I think that this was a better way for it to end. I didn't want the tears or the sadness you would have given me. Try to find a good husband one of these days before you grow old. Tell everyone when my exams results get back that I will not be marring you. I will always remember you, don't worry.

Inuyasha

Sango looked up at her friend. Kagome was standing motionless. Her face was sad. "Was those his last words to her?" He sounded like the Inuyasha she knew: careless. Not a word of apology, not of word that he would miss her. He would just remember her and that was it.

"Kagome?" Sango was getting concerned.

"Huh?" she said jerking her head up and forcing on a smile.

"Is everything…alright?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be? I just wanted to know what it said. That's all. And now that I do know, I'm going to go back home and you can go back to sleep and everything will just be the same… Same as it used to be." Kagome spoke fast and headed out the door before Sango could ask her anything else.

Things would be the same now. Same as it used to be before he came. Kagome would force it to be the same. She got back to the restaurant and put on her apron.

"Where's Inuyasha?" Kaede asked right away.

"And I was just trying to forget him!" Kagome fumed and answered, "He left this morning like he said."

"Did you two say goodbye? He must have left awfully early. I didn't hear him leave…"

"Yeah… He woke me before he left." She hated doing this to her own aunt. Lying has what she has been only doing since Inuyasha came. All those secrets they shared.

&

The sun was rising on Inuyasha as the Forbidden Palace came into view. He had ridden throughout the night while Suga, his men, and Myoga had rested. The Forbidden Palace was a majestic site. Facing him was the main building. It was there that the kings held his meetings with his officials and nobles. Behind that building were dozens among dozens of red rooftops. Intruders needed maps to get around or else it would take them forever to find what they came for.

Guards heavily guarded the gates into the palace. Inuyasha held up his gold seal. It inscribed his name and acted as a key to the palace. The guards recognized the seal immediately and got to their knees. "Prince Inuyasha."

The gates were opened at once and Inuyasha charged through them.

He rode until he got just outside of the king's place. He dismounted quickly and sprinted up the steps. One of the maids at the entrance saw him. "Prince Inuyasha," she bowed her head as she got down on her knees.

"Prince Inuyasha is here," she called out for everyone else to hear. Servants lined on each side of Inuyasha all got down to their knees. Inuyasha ignored this attention and walked on towards the king's bed.

The king was pale. He wore a beautifully woven golden robe. Inuyasha's father once looked magnificent and feared, now looked tired and faded away. "Father…" Inuyasha bowed his head.

"Inuyasha, come here," the king patted the side of his bed. Inuyasha sat down slowly, looking worried at his father's health condition. "The doctor has said that by days here are numbered."

"No, everything is going to be okay." He couldn't accept what was happening. He held his father's hand. "You were fine before I left."

The king coughed before being able to speak. "I know, I know. I didn't see this coming either. It was just a cold to begin with, so I didn't think much of it. A couple days later I had a high fever and the fever never broke."

Inuyasha placed his hand on his father's forehead. Sure enough, it was burning hot. "Isn't there any medicine… treatment?"

"Let's not talk about this, Inuyasha. I didn't call you here for that reason," the king's voice was getting raspy and fainter. "I called you back to give my last advice for you to be…emperor."

&

Inuyasha was in a daze when he walked out into the open. His father had told him about all the secrets in running an efficient government, who to trust and who were not loyal, numerous war tactics, and so many other things that Inuyasha himself didn't know if he could remember it all.

Was he ready to be king? Would the people trust him? Would his officials take heed in his actions and commands? Before he could ponder the issue further, his mother, the queen, came into view.

She embraced him. "Inuyasha. I heard that you had returned." Tears were streaming down her face. "I can't believe what is happening. Your father, just like that, is on his deathbed."

The queen was still in shock over the whole matter. Suddenly there was a scream from with the king's quarters.

Inuyasha rushed back inside with the queen right behind him. A doctor was down on his knees begging for mercy. Inuyasha grabbed the doctor up by his robe. "WHAT DID YOU DO?"

"I'm…I'm…" the doctor trembled with fear.

The king held his hand up. "It… it wasn't his fault." He was straining every time he spoke. It took all his energy.

The queen was now crying even harder. "No…no…"

"Inuyasha, I place this nation into your hands. Rule with what you believe in and with your…heart." The king's hand slipped away from the queen's grip.

"FATHER!" Inuyasha cried out, but his father never would open his eyes again.

&

The king had not died immediately, but rather fallen asleep due to fatigue and then passed away peacefully in his sleep. His funeral was held the following day.

Inuyasha was dressed in white and stood in the front of the crowd at the biggest Buddhist temple. The king's wives, children, officials, and nobles were all there. The monk hit a gong and they all bowed their heads.

"The king has died just last night…" Inuyasha didn't hear what the monk had to say after that. His father was gone and all he could do was stare at his father in the coffin. It would be the last time Inuyasha would be able to see his father

&

The officials of Kagome's city paraded through and called for everyone to come outside to the town square. He held up a golden scroll and announced the king's death. People knew immediately to get to their knees and mourn for their lost emperor.

Kagome couldn't believe the emperor's sudden death. "Was it Naraku's doing?" she wondered, "And who was going to be their next emperor..."

There were whispers all around her about this: the new emperor and what had caused the king's sudden death? The official dismissed the people soon afterwards and everyone returned home.

Sango emerged from the crowd. "Kagome!" she called to get Kagome's attention.

"Sango, Miroku. Hi."

"I wonder who the new emperor is." Sango looked over at Miroku to see if he knew. He looked uneasy and shrugged. "Well, it's not like it's really going to affect us in any way."

"That's true." Kagome responded. She had never cared too much about their government.

Sango, remembering something, asked, "Are you busy tonight? My parents are invited some guests and there's going to great food. I just need a friend to share it with."

"I'm available," Miroku volunteered.

"Not you, Miroku. I was talking to Kagome." She looked at him in irritation.

Kagome smiled. "Of course."

"Terrific."

"You don't have to always be so mean to him, you know," Kagome whispered to her friend.

"But he deserves it."

&

The ceremony ended and the coffin was carried away. The king was going to be buried on the side of a holy mountain and no one was allowed to witness the rite except the monk and Inuyasha.

Inuyasha had not cried. His heart was crying on the inside. His father had loved him the most out of all his children. He was always there for him. He was someone that Inuyasha had looked up to and longed to be like and now he was gone. Forever gone.

Inuyasha saw his mother sitting on the floor, still sobbing. He placed his hand on her back. "It's okay. Don't cry. There's no point in grieving."

"I… know…" she responded in between sobs. She wiped her tears on her robe. "You better get going now. Get dressed. Your ceremony will be tonight."

"Tonight?"

She nodded her head.

"But…"

"Just go…" she was already crying again, "Leave me here."

Tonight? Inuyasha could not believe how fast things could change.

&

A golden robe hung loosely on Inuyasha. A maid placed a crown on his head. The crown was heavy and inlayed with dozens of jewels. He looked at himself in the mirror. Inuyasha looked majestic, but also young and inexperienced. He stared back at his reflection with confidence. Deep down, he knew he would be able to rule effectively and efficiently. He would do this to make his father proud-rule with his heart.

And then he thought of Kagome.

"Myoga, I would like you to…"

"Your highness?" He asked seeing that Inuyasha had stopped mid sentence.

"Nothing." He was about to ask Myoga to go back to Kagome's town, just to see how she was or even invite her to the palace. But he knew he couldn't… After all, Kagome was just a commoner.

&

Inuyasha was escorted to the main building- the one where the king had had his meetings.

Inuyasha paced around the room. He didn't know what to except tonight. Then there were the soundings of horns.

A load voice came from outside. "Welcome the new emperor of China!" Inuyasha was pushed out towards the balcony by one of the officials.

Before him were more than a thousand people lined up orderly and on their knees. "The emperor of China," they all said in unison and bowed their heads down to him.

Inuyasha looked out at them. His people. His nation.

A/N: Inuyasha is now crowned king. I had to make it happen fast enough that it wasn't dragging, but slow enough that the king had time to see Inuyasha one last time.

Next chapter is going to get exciting!