A/N: The summer is in full swing now. And it is actually summer now, not just spring (June 21). I had a rough time with this chapter, so that's why there was a delay (plus I was lazy, but let's not dwell on that point).

Thank you for the all of the reviews and people that have been reading this and I just don't know, thank you too. Enjoy!

OMG! Fanfiction is not letting me update. So… I don't know when I possibly get to do it, so this time it's not my fault. Would have updated 6/20/06…

Chapter Twenty-Five

A Missing Piece of the Puzzle

Kagome whirled around, hearing the loud footsteps suddenly. She looked right into Kikyo's eyes. They burned, as if Kikyo was about to transform into a demon and go after her.

Kikyo stared Kagome down, looking into her soft eyes. Her heart was racing and aching. She wanted to kill someone right now. Jealousy blazed inside her. "Inuyasha," she tried to say sweetly, but it came out angered and scolding.

"Kikyo, I didn't know you were still here in the palace," Inuyasha said confused. Kikyo never would spend the night over in the palace… and suddenly seeing her made him very uncomfortable.

"What are you two doing here so late? I didn't know you two were so… close." Her last word came out vehemently.

Kagome stood there, unable to speak. Words stuck in her throat. Kikyo kept looking from her to Inuyasha intently, questioning them. "Kagome just started working here and I met her by coincidence," Inuyasha said smoothly; he was not going to let Kikyo scare him.

"Really? I would have thought that you two had something going on by the way you were holding her in your arms, Inuyasha." Kikyo smiled. She had got them where she wanted them.

Instantly, Kagome turned to Inuyasha with a worried glance. She didn't know what Kikyo was trying to get to, but it did not seem good.

Inuyasha saw Kagome's expression. He had thought that Kikyo hadn't seen them together that way. "It's none of your business, Kikyo," he said firmly, "You better get back to your room. It's late."

Kikyo took a couple of steps closer to him. Her shoulders were back and she stood tall and unwavering. "I think it has a lot to do with me," she said as she leaned her face close to Inuyasha, saying the words softly to him, "We're going to get married and I don't want you to be with a servant."

At this, Inuyasha inched even closer to Kikyo's face. "I'm going to say this one more time; it's none of your business. And you better get the idea that I'm going to be your husband out of your head. So get back to your room before someone sees you out this late."

Out of nowhere, Kikyo breaks out laughing. How could this be happening to her? She was Kikyo. She got everything and whatever she did not have handed to her, she always had her ways for it to become hers.

"Don't try to scare me Inuyasha. Because I could do much worse."

He had no idea what she meant. This conversation was just pointless to him. "Kikyo, what do you mean by that. You know that you are threatening the emperor, right?" he said heatedly.

But Kikyo looked unalarmed. She seemed invincible. The burning inside her had now smoldered a bit. She was going to let it all out. "I could accidentally, you know… let it slip to the queen that you two were seeing each other." She looked at Kagome.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome said worryingly.

He looked at her, "Don't get into this," he turned back to Kikyo, "You don't have any proof, Kikyo. Don't try to pull anything over my mother."

However, Kikyo knew for sure that the queen was going to believe her. She remembered clearly that when they were young, the queen would always seem to love her more than Inuyasha. Still today, she didn't understand the reason for this love, but right now it was going to work to her advantage. "So, it would be okay if I tell her then?"

"Look Kikyo," he scratched the back of his head, showing his frustration, "You can go and tell the queen for all I care. I was going to tell her myself. I want to marry Kagome."

Everyone was stunned, including Inuyasha. Had he just said that? What on earth was he thinking? Did he truly mean that? He wanted to marry her… Well, it wasn't the first time he said it, but this time… he meant it.

Kagome stood frozen. She had thought that he would deny that they even knew each other… but he hadn't. He had said that he wanted to marry her… for real. Not just to help her... She wanted to instantly go over to him and wrap her arms around him, but it didn't seem like the appropriate time.

Her expression changed. Kikyo was not so sure of herself anymore and her face showed just that. She wasn't smiling smugly, like she had a few seconds ago. "What did just say, Inuyasha?" she asked, almost in a whisper.

"You heard me the first time, Kikyo," he sounded confident.

Kikyo felt tears forming in her eyes. She forced herself to hold them back and not let her hurt feelings show. "Well, then. I have only one thing to say to you. It isn't going to happen. Never… on my life, Inuyasha."

She spun on her heel, walking back to her room. A trail of tears followed her.

&

Inuyasha watched her go. Her robe swayed in the wind slightly, and she disappeared into the darkness.

Remembering that he was not alone, he turned to Kagome. She was still standing in the same exact spot. Kagome didn't seem to notice his stare. Her mind was miles away.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha took her hands and brushed the hair from her face. She looked at him, startled.

"I didn't think that you would… you would… want to marry me…" her voice trailed off.

He laughed. "It's not like that it is the first time I've said it to you. But this time, I mean it." His voice was warm and sincere. "You have taught me so many things, more than you will ever know. And… gosh, do I sound all mushy."

This time, Kagome laughed at him. Then she added seriously, "But what Kikyo said, is she really going to tell the queen?"

"I don't know. But that's not what matters right now. I would be telling the queen anyways," he paused, thinking about what to say next. He decided to get now on one knee.

He looked up at Kagome. She was gorgeous in the moonlight. "Kagome, will you marry me?"

Silence. Kagome didn't know what to say. This whole time she had been going over what Inuyasha had said. Him and her… together as a couple. As husband and wife. As emperor and queen. It was just all too much for her. Her mind was spinning.

Inuyasha waited for her response.

Finally, Kagome looked down at him and said, "Inuyasha… I can't."

"What!" he looked bewildered. He got quickly up from his knees. He could understand why she would say no. Was it because of Kikyo?

"I'm sorry." Tears were falling from her face, and she quickly wiped them away to try to keep her composure. "It wouldn't work out, Inuyasha. You're the emperor. You have to remember that."

"I remember that all right!" his tone rising.

"You can't do this. Kikyo is right. No matter how you look at it, I'm still going to be a servant. I'm not suited for marry you. We shouldn't have been in this situation in the first place. Myoga even warned me. And I knew… and still… I let it all happen. Now we're just going to both get hurt more."

Inuyasha scratched the back of his head in frustration. "Kagome, it doesn't matter. All of that stuff doesn't matter. You matter…" he let this last part linger.

"I only wish it was that easy."

"I'm emperor and I want you to be the queen. Will you marry me, Kagome?" He looked at her pleadingly.

"Inuyasha, don't make me say it again." She pulled her hands out of his. "We can't. It's not just about me and you. It'll be everyone, and everyone will not agree to it."

"Who cares about everyone? It has nothing to do with them." He knew that she was right, but he said it anyways. All the lords and officials would be against it. His own mother would probably be the first one to be against it.

Kagome shook her head. She was trying to get all this through to him, and he was not even taking it seriously. "It should. You're the emperor of China. China matters more. More than me."

She turned her back to him ready to leave. Tears were flooding her eyes and blurring her vision. Even her voice wasn't steady.

"Kagome, don't go." He pulled her around, making her face him. "Promise me you'll think about it and give me your final answer tomorrow. Okay?" he told her softly.

"I already told you." She would have collapsed to the ground if it wasn't for Inuyasha holding her arms.

"Just think it over again." He wiped the tears from her face. It hurt him to see her so distressed.

"Let go of me," she said to the ground, not even looking up at him.

He let her go and saw she walk into her room. He let out a deep sigh. What was happening to him? He seriously did not know. He just wanted them to be together… but it seemed that everything was against them.

&

Kikyo didn't get any sleep that night. Throughout the entire night, her thoughts had bothered her. What was she going to do? What was going to happen next? And what was this Kagome girl like? How she wanted to just… to just… get rid of her.

She got up as soon as the sun rose and made her way to the queen's quarters. There were two servants standing outside the front door.

"Can I go inside?" she asked impatiently.

"No, I'm sorry Miss Kikyo. We were given orders from the queen to let no one bother her at all," one of the girls replied.

"Now why is that?" She was tapping her foot edgily.

"She wants to have total peace to be able to pray. The queen also says that she will be riding in a separate carriage to avoid any disturbances, and you will be riding with Kagome."

How could this happen? The day that she needed to talk to the queen, she was in deep prayer.

&

Kikyo soon found herself sitting across from Kagome. She looked tired, just like Kikyo did.

Once their carriage was moving Kikyo asked, "So, Kagome… how did you ever capture Inuyasha's heart?"

"Kikyo… please don't," Kagome didn't want to have this conversation.

"Oh, no. I want to know. You're a servant, and yet you end up having the emperor falling in love with you."

There was silence.

"You're nothing. You don't have money. You don't have the reputation. You are a servant, and you should know you're place."

Still Kagome didn't respond.

"I bet your parents…"

Kikyo didn't get a chance to finish. Kagome cut in, "You can bash me all you want, but don't you dare bash my parents." She didn't know why these words were coming from her mouth. Her parents that had left her… and she was now defending them.

"I can say whatever I want about you girl. Don't think that Inuyasha loves you makes you safe. You're far from it," Kikyo retaliated immediately.

Folding her arms across her chest, Kagome sucked in a deep breath. "It would a shame for all of China to have you as their queen… and for Inuyasha to have you as his wife." Did that just come out of her mouth? Kagome didn't know how she could say such horrid things.

At this, Kikyo almost launched herself on top of Kagome, but just in time, she held herself back. "You're going to regret that."

She called to the driver that halted the carriage. "Get out and walk," she didn't even look at Kagome.

Kagome was happy to get out of the carriage and walk. Something odd had overcome her in the carriage to have said that to Kikyo, and she some fresh air with no one around would do her good.

&

The monks of the temple had a special ceremony for the queen. The smell of incenses was in the air. Kagome was on her knees on the far side of the room. She didn't want to bother anyone and didn't want anyone bothering her.

"Please, tell me what I should do. Everything is just a mess now. I want to marry him, Inuyasha, but I know better than to do so. Please, give me the strength to endure the days that will come and help me make the right decisions. Thank you." She bowed her head to the ground, and then looked up at the great Buddha before her. Had he heard what she said? She didn't know.

The queen was still in the center of the room on her knees when Kagome was finished. The monks stood in the front reading. Kikyo was to the queen's left, also praying.

As soon it was over, Kikyo quickly took the queen to a corner of the room. Kagome wondered if she should stop Kikyo, but decided to do nothing and just walk out of the temple.

&

"Your highness, I was something very important to tell you," she said, her voice filled with urgency.

"Kikyo, my darling. Can't you wait till we get back to the palace?'' the queen asked taken aback with her pressure.

"No, I have to tell you now. It has to do with Inuyasha."

"What about Inuyasha?" The queen was fully listening now.

"He… I… I saw him last night… with Kagome."

"He knows Kagome? Well, that's quite alright. She's a lovely girl."

Kikyo shook her head. "No, she isn't. Inuyasha… told me that he wanted to marry her."

The queen went pale. "That's ridiculous."

"You have to believe me. I'm not making this up."

"Inuyasha told you that? Why?" She just couldn't understand. Inuyasha had to be more sensible then this.

"It's a long story," she didn't want to go into the details; "You have to do something."

"Yes, yes. Of course." The queen turned from her. Nodding and muttering to herself.

"You aren't going to let him, right?" Kikyo said, catching up to her.

"Absolutely not. I can't believe it. He's going to marry you, my dear. You're the one that will be my daughter-in-law. I will see to it," the queen made her way outside, spotting Kagome at once. "Kagome!"

"Your highness," she said weakly.

The three got into a carriage to the horses started to take them back to the palace. The queen and Kikyo sat on one side and Kagome sat on the other, looking at the floor, rather than at them.

"I have something that I would like you to make more clear to me, Kagome," the queen finally said, "I have heard that… Inuyasha has wanted to marry you, am I correct?"

She nodded.

"Now, my dear. From the moment I saw you, I knew there was a connection between us and you have proved yourself to be very well mannered and talented. Whatever that is between you and Inuyasha, I hope you will put an end to. You know that there is no way your relationship would work. Everyone has their place in society. I hope you understand that," the queen sounded so sympathetic.

"I know that."

"So you will not allow your relationship to go any further?"

"Yes." As she said this, it felt as if her heart was breaking.

"I'm glad you understand." No one said anything more for the remaining trip, but Kikyo wanted too. Yet, she kept it all inside her. Her feelings of hatred towards Kagome. She was not satisfied with Kagome's answers. As long as Kagome was around… Inuyasha would continue to love her… and never herself.

&

Suga sent a short letter to Sango in the morning and had asked her to leave the palace with her friends and come to his home. He wanted her there so she would be able to help him release Yang.

Sango and Miroku packed all morning and waited for Kagome to return before they would leave. Kagome returned at noon looking dreary.

"Is anything wrong, Kagome?" Miroku asked her.

"I'm fine." She replied, trying to muster up a smile.

"Everything is not fine. What happened?" Sango asked worriedly.

"I'm fine. Trust me," she looked at the two of them that were both shaking their heads at her. "Why are you all packed up?" Hoping to change the subject.

"Oh, right. We're going to be going to Suga's place. He has met with my father last night, and he says that he has come up with a plan to get him out, but he needs my help, so it'll be easier if I stayed there."

"We can just leave?" Kagome wondered.

"Inuyasha said it was fine and he told me to give you this." Sango handed her a folded piece of paper.

She unfolded it, sighing. He should remember that she couldn't read, but to her surprise, instead of words, there were pictures.

It showed two people. One was a guy and one was girl. It probably was them. He drew a bridge and there was moon at the top of the page. He wanted to meet her there tonight.

She didn't know if she should go or not. Last night, she had given him a very clear answer… yet he had not accepted it.

Kagome refolded the note and shoved it in her pocket, grabbed her bags and headed out the door for Suga's place.

&

Michiko walked into an old fabric shop. She had gone to this same shop for a little less than twenty years. The women that owned the shop was one of her close friends.

"Good afternoon, Mai."

"Good afternoon, Michiko. I just got a new type of cloth in yesterday. Would you like to see it?"

Michiko nodded and purchased a couple meters of the fabric. She was about to grab the handle on the door to leave, before Mai stopped her.

"Michiko, I have something that I want to get straight," the old woman's voice was shaking slightly, worried if she had made the right choice in discussing the matter with Michiko.

"What is it?" raising an eyebrow.

"Do you remember, nineteen years ago… when the queen gave birth?"

Michiko chuckled. How could she ever forget? "Of course I remember. Why are you bringing this up?"

Mai hesitated before continuing on. "There was a girl that came by a few days ago. She showed me a piece of cloth… the exact same piece that the baby had wrapped around her."

"That's impossible," she said, a little too fast. "You know what happened. You have even seen her. Whoever came in…. must be someone else."

She nodded slowly.

"Well, I have to be going now," Michiko smiled and quickly exited. How could this be? The girl that nineteen years ago she had left on a doorstep was coming back to haunt her.

A/N: Wow, finally an ending to this chapter. Hope you liked it.