A/N: Thank you for the all the reviews. I hope you like this chapter. There's a lot of stuff that is going on now: Inuyasha's emperor, Kagome needs to find her parents, Sango has to find her father, Kikyo has to try to capture Inuyasha's heart, Miroku still has to find a way to get Sango to love him, Kagome and Inuyasha still have to fall deeper in love, and what about those teeth marks? I'm going to try to get to everything.

Oh, and I have a quote that relates to the first part of this chapter. It is: The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch with, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you've had." Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Two

Understanding

Shock went through Inuyasha. He was meaning to hide it from her, until some time that it would be suitable to tell her… but how did she already know? Inuyasha couldn't believe this was happening to him.

"How do you know this, Kagome?" he said quietly.

Kagome looked up into his eyes. Her face was illuminated by the moon's light and it showed sadness, a loss of trust. It almost tore Inuyasha's heart to see her expression. "I heard Miroku ask you during the night in the inn. I couldn't fall asleep… Why did you keep that fact from me all this time and tell Miroku? All those lies that you have made up and now you've even brought me into the palace, your home."

Inuyasha knew that the first time that they had met, he had never imagined that they would ever get as close as they were now. He didn't see the relationship that he would build between her. He hadn't expected all of this to happen. He just thought that she was another girl that he would meet and then forget about… but that didn't happen.

Inuyasha waited for a moment before he answered her. Silence lay between them, except it was comfortable silence. It seemed that it was necessary; no one needed to say anything just yet. "The first time I met you," he began, "I knew that I had to keep my identity a secret- to everyone. You don't know how dangerous it could be if other people knew that I was the only son to the emperor and the only reason that Miroku knew was that he knew that the prince's name was Inuyasha. Myoga had already told me that you would find out sooner or later and I had told him that when the time was right I would tell you my true identity, but I guess you found out before I even got the chance."

He slowly slid his hand into hers. "You have to know, Kagome, that I'm still the same person. I'm just sorry that you I wasn't able to tell you about it."

Kagome wrapped her hand around his and they sat there for about an hour, neither one of them saying anything more, but each of them knew that there was something more between them than before.

&

Kikyo roused early to get ready for the new day- a new day to see Inuyasha. She took a warm bath and picked out one of her prettiest robes to wear. Maids swept around her to ponder her face, get her jewelry and everything else that she could possibly need. Kikyo was just going out the door before she saw her mother.

"Kikyo, leaving already?"

"Yes, mother. I'm going to be staying at the palace for dinner as well so you don't have to wait for me." Kikyo turned to leave, but her mother had one more thing to say to her.

"Tell the queen that I give my regards and tell Inuyasha that I wish him great successes for the future." She looked at her daughter longingly, as if she wanted to accompany her to the palace, but only could not.

"I will," and Kikyo got into the carriage to head over to the palace, not even looking back or thinking further about what her mother had told her.

&

As soon as Kagome had walked into the kitchen, Lin told her that the queen had requested her company.

"The queen?" Sango asked suspiciously.

"Yeah, I had run into her while I was refilling her tea yesterday." Kagome rubbed her eyes, still tired. She had not gotten back to her room until really late.

Sango nodded and Kagome headed over to the queen's quarters slowly. As she approached, she heard voices from within.

"Mother, why are you making Kikyo come here again? I have enough things to worry about already; I don't need her to be another issue."

"Inuyasha, you have to worry about your personal life as well. You need to mature. China will always have its problems and when you do find the solutions to all of it, than it's going to be too late…"

"Why Kikyo, mother?"

"I've already answered that Inuyasha. You know the reasons."

"Can't it be anyone else?"

"Inuyasha, you are not allowed to argue with me on this issue; I'm your mother and you have to respect the decisions that I make for you."

Kagome heard this all and wondered if it would be appropriate if she entered. She decided that it probably would be best if she entered rather than wait outside eavesdropping on their whole conversation.

"Your highness," Kagome said as she bowed down to the queen and Inuyasha.

Inuyasha stared at her in disbelief. What in the world was Kagome doing here?

"Kagome, my dear." The queen walked over to embrace her. "Thank you for coming. I was just discussing so matters over with my son here."

"Nice to meet you," Kagome said. She extended her hand to him. Inuyasha shook it firmly. He was thankful that she didn't give it away that they already knew each other.

"I better be going, mother. I'll see you tonight at dinner." Inuyasha said and smiled at Kagome without the queen seeing before he left.

"Did you want me to get you anything," Kagome asked politely. She still did not know why the queen was treating her so nicely, what did she possess that compelled the queen?

The queen shook her head. "No, I didn't ask you to come just to get me something. I want to ask you a favor. I remember that you said that you worked at a restaurant yesterday and that you can cook fabulous dishes."

"Well, I don't know about fabulous, but I can cook," Kagome laughed.

"Tonight, Inuyasha is going to be having dinner with Kikyo, so I would like you to prepare something extra special for them. Inuyasha has had food from our cook for the past ten years and I want it to be something different."

"Of course I can make something for them," Kagome managed. Throughout this whole time, she had been wondering who Kikyo was. What did Inuyasha mean when he had said, 'couldn't it be anyone else?' Did the queen want Inuyasha to … to get married with Kikyo? Kagome couldn't even bear this thought in her mind and she left promptly before she got to even meet Kikyo.

After a moment, Kikyo came through the door. "Your highness!" She hugged the queen, not even waiting to bow to her.

"Kikyo, you look just lovely today." Kikyo spun around for the queen to see her whole outfit.

"I'm so happy that you invited me to come have dinner with you and Inuyasha again. I know the last time didn't go too well."

"No, it didn't, but this time, I already arranged everything for you two."

"Just for the two of us?" Kikyo's eye's widened. She could not believe her luck. The queen was making it all happen for her. She would be able to become queen of China- live in the palace with servants at her every beck and call and of course with a husband that she truly adored.

"Yes, just the two of you. I asked for a special meal to be prepared for you two tonight. Cherish the time that you have with him. He's been so busy and I don't know how many more times I can set you two up again."

Kikyo nodded knowingly. She was going to capture his heart and even if she couldn't the queen would be there for her. The queen loved her… and it would work to her advantage.

&

Inuyasha stopped by the kitchens to find Sango before heading to his study. "Sango?" he called.

"Here I am," Sango said as she stood up from behind one of the counters. Her hair was a mess and she was covered with scraps of vegetable peelings.

"I wanted to tell you that I talked to Suga this morning and he would like to talk to you in person. I'm going to be sending a carriage to his home for you at around noon so get ready and be prepared with what you're going to tell him."

Sango was overwhelmed with joy. She ran to Inuyasha and got to her knees. "Thank you, thank you." Tears of joy ran down her face.

"Get up, Sango." Inuyasha grabbed her arms to pull her up. "It was nothing. Don't worry about it," trying to sound like it was no big deal.

"Thank you," she said for the last time.

"I hope that Suga will be able to help you." Sango smiled at his generosity. She had only known Inuyasha for a short time and he was able to give her so much and she was sure with everyone else supporting her, her father will soon come out of this whole mess innocent.

&

Kagome was shown to a kitchen by one of the queen's servants. It was the biggest and cleanest kitchen that Kagome had ever been in. Ingredients were already laid out on the counter and four girls were already in aprons all ready to help her.

She walked around to the other side of the counter and looked at everything that she could use. Everything was there- all the meats and vegetables that she could possibly think of. Her fingers drummed on the counter. She wasn't sure what she would make for them to eat. It had to be something special. That's what the queen had told her. But she also wanted to make something that would remind Inuyasha of her.

"We're going to be making dumplings, fried rice, chicken, and fried fish." The girls looked at each other in confusion. The dishes that Kagome just mentioned were no where near formal, but the dishes were the ones that Inuyasha made for her or that she had made for him and they got to work.

&

Sango looked out the window of her carriage. She was heading out of the palace and to Suga's house. Her heart was fluttering and her stomach was in knots. She only prayed that Suga would take her seriously and help her father.

The carriage halted at the front of a gate. A guard quickly opened the gates and allowed them to enter. Sango walked into a big courtyard with a fountain in the center. Suga, knowing that she would be arriving, was waiting for her.

"Sango? I am right?"

"Yes, Mr. ..." Sango had never learned Suga's last name, she had always heard her father referring to him as Suga.

"Just call me Suga. I heard that your father was wrongfully arrested for corruption and that he might be at the palace now."

Sango nodded. "Our storage that is usually empty was filled with rice one morning. There were probably more than one hundred bags of it. Ximong, an official went by to our home and opened our storage. That very morning, my father was taken away. I asked for a trail, but Ximong was residing as judge and he would not even hear that my father was not guilty. I went in that night to rescue my father my father from prison, but he wasn't there. Kagome, one of my friends, had overheard that Ximong wanted to get rid of my father and that he had arranged something with one of his friends in the palace. So now I'm here."

Suga stoked his beard. Him and Mr. Matsuo were very good friends during their years studying together. "I will see what I can do. Is there any way that you can prove your father's innocence? During these times, rice is as valuable as gold. You have to understand that, and for one person to have so much…"

"My father is innocent!" Sango burst out.

"I know your father would never do such a thing, but I need proof to show everyone else that he is innocent." Suga told her calmly. It must be so hard for her to see her father be taken away he thought silently.

"No, I don't…"

Suga nodded sympathetically. "I'll try my best and I'll tell you any news that I get. For now, don't make any moves. Stay at the palace. Let me worry about it."

"Thank you for understanding and helping."

"It's my duty. Your father has helped me out before," he said wearily remembering something that had happened nineteen years ago.

&

Kikyo sat down at the table. Her heart was racing. Any second now, Inuyasha was going to come and sit across from her. There were three candles lit in the middle of the table and lanterns were strung above. The skies were clear and the sun was just setting beyond the horizon. It was just breath-taking. Everything seemed so perfect, that was until Inuyasha came.

He was unhappy to be there, and he was going to show it. "Hi," he said gruffly.

"Inuyasha!" Kikyo said with over enthusiasm. "How was your day? Isn't it beautiful right now? Just look at the sunset. Doesn't it get you to be all dreamy?"

"No, it actually doesn't."

"Well," she mustered up a smile, "let me tell you about my day."

"Sure," he rubbed his forehead. I can't wait till this is all over; if I am going to marry her then I might as well shot myself now, he thought.

"Today, I got to be with your mother and we talked about all sorts of things. It was just so pleasant. I wish you were there with us. She gave me these earrings too," Kikyo pulled her hair behind her ears to show him, "Aren't they pretty?"

"Yeah… they are. Where's the food? I'm getting hungry." The faster he finished eating the faster he would be able to get away from her.

Kikyo looked at him in disappointment. She wanted to be able to talk some more. "Bring out the food," she called to one of the servants.

In an instant, platters of food were set in front of them. The lids were lifted off of them at the same time and the sweet aroma of the food swept over them.

"The food looks delicious!" exclaimed Kikyo. Inuyasha stared at the platters. The food was nothing like what the chief would usually prepare from him. He got some fried rice and a piece of the chicken. After he had just put the first spoonful into his month he knew immediately who the chief was. It was Kagome.

&

Kagome stood behind a tree and looked at Inuyasha. The girl sitting across from him must be Kikyo. Kikyo was pretty, she thought. Her hair flowed from her shoulders and she was dressed so eloquently. It seemed like they were having a good time with each other. Inuyasha was smiling now. He was eating quickly and Kikyo was still talking.

Leaning her back on the tree, Kagome smiled. She wasn't jealous. She knew her place in society… and that was not going to be with Inuyasha.

A/N: Are my chapters going okay? I don't know why, but I seem to be worried about them. Like chapters 1-19, I thought that they sounded good, but now… it's getting into unknown territory.

Please review!