The residents of Ikana had all but awoken at first light, busying themselves with their daily chores. The construction of Stone Tower would finally reach its final finishing's in the late afternoon, its stature rising well above the canyons bordering the large settlement.
Sunlight poured through the open window of the Palace, its light filling the room in a soft, golden glow. The satin red curtains seemed to dance as the wind blew in from outside, and it was enough that it caused one of the occupants inside the bedroom to stir from a much needed sleep.
Kagome turned slightly, raising her arm which had previously been hanging off the side of the bed in hopes of searching for a more comfortable space in the roomy bed. The sheets were made from the finest silk, the same color as the curtains, rising to her midsection.
Sadly however, she could not drift back into her deep slumber, and instead, opened her brown eyes tiredly. The first thing she saw as she laid there were the high ceilings. The entire Palace had been built from red stone, though it felt at times a little drafty. It nonetheless seemed perfectly fine. Decorative vases with beautiful flowers of yellows and oranges sat near the open balcony a few feet from the bed, and intricate designs were painted upon the walls, though she was unable to ascertain their meanings.
With a slight yawn, Kagome turned onto her side, placing her back to the lighted room. As she did, she couldn't help but feel a soothing warmth from beside her and she couldn't help but snuggle deeper into the sheets. It felt nice sleeping in a bed after so long, yet she hadn't imagined she'd sleep within a fancy room of a Palace some hundreds or thousand years ago within the past of a different universe.
Flashback
After Princess Cathleen had given Kagome her opinion on the matter between the priestess and Link, they had finally arrived at the entrance of the city.
To Kagome, it was a different experience than what she had seen in the present day, when Ikana had been nothing more than just a barren land with desecrated buildings; in fact, the only house that had still been occupied was the Music House, where Pamela and her father, Nathaniel had dwelled for a time. However, Kagome never thought it used to look like this.
Hundreds of buildings, seemingly carved from red stone, laid about the large settlement. If Kagome had to guess, there was at least over a thousand homes. Yet she couldn't help but stare away from the buildings to one much larger in comparison, almost as tall as the Stone Tower in the distance; it was the Palace.
"I hope father isn't too worried…" Cathleen said aloud, musing silently to herself from beside the priestess.
As if he had seen the place a million times, Adrian merely gave it a glance before turning to stare at the Palace ahead of them. "Well let's hurry up before the entire city wakes up," He exclaimed, leading the way with Inuyasha still slung over his shoulder unconscious.
Before he followed after, Link suddenly turned and approached the girls. Link took notice of Kagome watching him, wearing the same disheartened look from back at the cave previously, but he said nothing to her. Instead, he stood before Cathleen, who looked up at him curiously. "I have something that might belong to you," He replied, urging Kagome and Cathleen's curiosity. After retrieving the rolled parchment from his inside pocket, he placed it into the Princess's open palm. "I found this among those who had kidnapped you. I believe that's the seal of the Royal Family."
Cathleen gasped. "It is!" How had those mysterious fiends gotten their hands on the Sacred Script? As far as she knew, it had been locked up safely where only the King knew of its whereabouts. "Thank you so much, Link."
Link only nodded before turning to follow after Adrian, but before he took another step, he saw a shadow move from beneath his feet, and immediately, he unsheathed his sword before glaring up into the sky.
Numerous knives of a strange sort shot down towards him and Adrian unexpectedly, and he reacted by nimbly jumping out of the path, though he caught himself with his hands and knees. Fortunately the girls were safe and Adrian had only gotten a slight scare from the unplanned attack.
"What was that?!" Kagome cried. "Daggers?"
A young woman with caramel brown skin and long burgundy wavy hair stood upon a large pillar just at the entrance of the city. Her vibrant emerald eyes stared ablaze upon the group, and in each of her hands, crossed over her chest, she held the same daggers as the ones that had landed between Link and Adrian. This woman's ornate attire was fashioned from what seemed like the finest silk imaginable.
She resembled that of a Gerudo of the present times, and she wore what appeared to be a short flowing maroon dress; its sleeves falling gracefully from her wrists in a graceful fashion, with her skirt resting at her thighs, its sides exposed by small openings with golden trim tied off at the waist. A white sash was tied loosely around her middle, decorative symbols and gems resting delicately upon the soft cloth. A band rested around her forehead, the same color as that of her dress, and it bore the sacred emblem of the Royal Family.
With incredible speed, she leapt from the pillar, standing directly before the group as she took on a defensive stance, her eyes scrutinizing each individual suspiciously.
From close up, Link acknowledged that she was indeed of Gerudo birth, and though her eyes were not golden like that of the tribe back in Great Bay, she did appear to be a late descent of those in the present times. The exposure of her shoulders and the bareness of her legs and feet drew in much question.
"Halt! Outsiders are prohibited from entering any further! State your business here or else leave, there will be no other warnings!"
Wary of this woman carrying the weapons threateningly, Kagome kept the Princess behind her cautiously. For some reason, she was reminded of those women back on Great Bay who had attempted to steal Link away from her and her friends, and of course the same ones that had urged Sango's jealousy.
While Adrian felt a sort of fear while looking into the eyes of this graciously tall amazon, he couldn't help but watch Link approach her, his sword still drawn. This young boy showed no signs of fear, instead he merely looked upon her passively.
"Judging by the emblem on your forehead, I take it you are a member of the Royal Family? We have brought someone I'm sure your people have been searching for since late last night," Link explained, though he never intended to receive a stern and heavy glare from the woman.
"And how is it an outsider like you knows of this?" She seethed. Before she could even allow Link to utter an explanation, she was suddenly in front of the young blonde, her grip upon his tunic hard and a dagger lying dangerously against his neck.
Noticing her highness from behind the oddly dressed girl, the warrior woman felt her eyes soften. She was relieved Lady Cathleen was well and unharmed, but she couldn't understand why it was these people had her.
Her green eyes looked upon the boy intently, and for a moment, she recognized those same blue eyes as that of the Princess's, only without the light of innocence in his blue depths. From what she discerned, this boy wore a hard gaze, of one that had seen much in his lifetime. From the scar along his cheek to his calloused hands, she had a feeling this boy had fought many battles as well; she was curious of his story. Despite all that he had endured in his life, she couldn't help but notice he also had the same hair color as the Princess, and she pondered his place of birth.
"How strange…only those of the Royal Family from the late mistress's side had such hair and eye color…" She muttered aloud to herself. Could this child be the missing Prince that had disappeared some years back?
It couldn't be…If that was so…then…
Witnessing her caretaker in front of Link brandishing the dagger to his neck, Cathleen couldn't help but move from behind Kagome to approach the woman. "Please don't!" She cried out urgently, alarming the amazon suddenly. "Priestess Kagome and Link rescued me and have brought me home safely. Please do not hurt them," She pleaded.
Releasing the firm grip she had on the boy's tunic, the woman approached and knelt before Cathleen respectively. "Forgive me, My Lady. I'm pleased the gods have returned you safely." Standing up, she turned to the ghost hunter, her eyes scrutinizing the young man lying asleep over his shoulder. "I thank you for helping to escort the Princess safely. You will be rewarded handsomely."
Cathleen crossed her arms. "I've promised him double in gold," She replied before flashing the hunter a confident smile.
The amazon nodded at this before turning her gaze to Adrian. "Your reward shall be delivered to your place of residence. I shall take over from here," She explained, and though Adrian seemed a little hesitant, he decided he didn't want to risk angering this armed beauty. Instead, he handed Inuyasha to her before bowing and disappearing down the path to his abode.
"How is father, Roshan?" Cathleen asked. "I hope he has not done the unthinkable due to my absence…"
Roshan merely studied Kagome and Link. "His Majesty has sent out a group of fifty men to search the woods for you. Yet seeing you are safely returned without injuries, we should return quickly to the Palace."
She nodded. "Of course! But I don't think it would be wise now that the city has awakened, Roshan…With our presence outside the walls, it would not do good if the people saw us. They might suspect something odd, wouldn't you agree?"
And of course she was correct. However, as Roshan looked upon the priestess and young swordsman, along with the young man over her own shoulder, she wasn't sure if bringing them along would do well for the safety of the Kingdom. Roshan guided Link, Kagome and Cathleen up a small incline near the outskirts of the gates away from the town. From there, where no other eyes could spot them, they arrived upon a secluded area where a small well made from gray stone sat.
"This well is never used by the residents of Ikana, except by those of the Royal Family," Roshan explained, allowing Kagome and Link to peer into the well; even Cathleen couldn't help but take a gander into its dark depths, seeing as how it was a first time she had heard of the well. "The people fear being near it, back when rumors spoke of a curse upon the drinking water here. Those rumors were made up, of course." Normally, they'd have guards watch over the area there, that way, their secret would not fall prey to curious eyes, but they were in luck when they arrived.
The well reminded kagome of the one back in the Feudal Era. But what caught her interest was that there was a ladder descending down into the darkness, and she realized it must have been a secret path underground. How interesting…
With her leg lifted over the rim of the well, Roshan turned her stare over her shoulder to look at the Princess and her two saviors. "Watch your steps on your way down. Princess, if you'd like, I can—"
Cathleen only raised a hand dismissively. "That's alright. I can manage, I'm sure," She replied with a smile.
Roshan nodded in understanding before jumping down into the dark depths of the well, without the use of the ladder. There was a soft thud down below, and when Link and Kagome saw this, they peered over the rim, though they did not see her or Inuyasha; they merely presumed she was alright. A few seconds went by and they saw a faint flicker of light, probably from that of a candle or lantern and a faint outline of the older amazon below.
Deciding to brave the ladder first, Cathleen, with Link assistance helping her over the rim and so that her dress did not get caught upon the loose stones, was the first to descend into the darkness.
For a Princess, Kagome was surprised she held such courage. As Link allowed her to go next, only given that in her predicament, just as Cathleen's, it was only right that they went first. Sighing, she propped her leg over the rim, her hand clutching the wooden ladder tightly as she took each step down slowly.
If this had been a magic well like the ones in her Era and the Feudal Era, all they'd have to do was jump and in a few seconds a magical blue light would teleport them to their destination instantly. One after the other, Kagome swore the ladder seemed to go on forever. It must have taken them forever to dig out a tunnel and as more surprising, keeping it secret from the citizens for so many years.
Cathleen's voice echoed off the walls of the tunnels, her jubilant voice bantering excitedly with the female guard below, and Kagome presumed she had already reached the bottom. Sighing yet again, Kagome couldn't help but find the existence of magical and secretive wells a little trivial. "Why shouldn't I be surprised…My Era has a well, the Feudal Era has a well, this world has a well, and I seem to be exploring each and every one of them," She muttered to herself, her voice still echoing off the walls.
Finally reaching the bottom, Cathleen couldn't help but saunter up to the priestess with a curious expression. "Do you have bad experiences with wells, Priestess Kagome?"
Kagome only scratched her cheek; a little embarrassed she had heard her. "Well not really bad experiences…I mean, seriously though, they aren't as bad as Timmy…" She replied with a wave of her hand.
Cathleen furrowed her brow. "Timmy? Who is Timmy?
Blinking, Kagome realized she had brought up the child's name from an American show her mother used to watch. Well it was no wonder Kagome felt so reminded of it after so many trips to and from the Feudal Era. "Timmy is … well he's from my homeland…and um…well…" Well it wasn't technically a lie but if she went into detail about televisions and such from her time period, she was sure it would only confuse the Princess and her guard further. "and he always has the misfortune of finding these wells and falling into them," She explained with a slight laugh. "And Lassie is always trying to save him…" Now she felt like she was just rambling.
For a moment, Cathleen pondered this before looking Kagome squarely and seriously in the eye. "Maybe you and Lassie should sit down with young Timmy and tell him to stay away from wells," She explained as if it were of utmost importance, which caused Kagome to laugh suddenly.
"I don't think that will do any good. Timmy always has a knack of finding trouble and trouble always finding him," She explained, and at this, Cathleen merely nodded.
Link who had heard the short story about Timmy falling into wells, couldn't help but scratch his head. Why did the priestess find such a situation laughable? He sighed; he really didn't understand girls.
The passageways though the tunnel seemed to stretch on forever. Rats that had lived the entirety of their lives down there scurried from the cracks in the walls, loitering in small clusters feeding upon small morsels of some sort of food they had scavenged from somewhere. A faint foul smell followed them through the darkness, so strong in fact, that it had Kagome and Cathleen covering their noses disdainfully.
"It must have taken years to carve out such a tunnel…" Kagome muttered aloud. Her gaze shifted from the walls to the high ceilings before turning to stare behind her, but she only saw darkness before looking back ahead where Roshan's lantern flickered brightly.
Eventually, they passed through a large opening in one of the walls, and as the guardswoman led them deeper into the tunnels, the three were surprised to see celled dungeons in the room on either side of them. Though they appeared haunting, with shackles lying rusted upon the dirtied ground to the bent bars and opened doors, they were however vacant of any prisoners. Perhaps the dungeons were never used after so long.
It was Roshan's voice that snapped Kagome and the others from their silent musings as they followed on after. "Long ago, during the King's great grandfather's reign, the well was stifled of its drinking water during a terrible war. During a time of great crisis, the city was attacked by those who had snuck in. Because of that, these tunnels and secret passages were built here. They serve as both a way to the Palace and one to escape outside the protective walls of Ikana," Roshan Explained.
"What about these dungeons?" Link inquired.
Roshan continued. "They only serve as a distraction, as many of these secret rooms do. There are many traps along the way, and there are many paths that lead to unsightly deaths. Only those of the Royal Family's guard know the routes to and from."
Eventually, a ray of sunshine flooded the path ahead of them from an opening in the ceiling, and it was from there that Roshan led them up a ladder. After exiting the frightful and dreary tunnels, they found themselves surrounded by lush greenery and many assortments of flowers and hedges. The sound of running water shifted their attention away from the beautiful garden to that of a stunning fountain of crystal clear water.
A few seconds after taking in the beautiful gardens, it was then that Link and Kagome came to realize they were indeed inside the walls of the Palace. The scenery seemed entirely familiar as well, though this time a great deal more pleasant than before. Their first trip to the gardens was a few days ago in the present time, where they remembered treading through a dangerous maze of hedges with giant man-eating wolves wandering the path to Ikana's Castle entrance.
After arriving in the gardens, the servants tending to the roses had been startled from their abrupt and questionable appearance. From Roshan's authoritative command to see his Majesty at once; they all but hustled into the Palace with great speed and alarm.
The Princess, thereafter, was then escorted to the Royal Room before Link and Kagome could make their entrance, and as they listened from the halls, ignoring the questionable stares from passing maids and Royal kinsmen, they heard the King in his loud voice welcoming the young Princess back. There were some muffled voices interlacing with that of the King's which told Link and Kagome that there were others on the other side.
Eventually, after a few minutes of waiting in the halls, Kagome and Link, along with Roshan carrying Inuyasha about her shoulder, were summoned into the large and decorative room. The first to capture their gaze was the enormous male seated into a magnificent chair, laced with expensive cloths and cushions imaginable.
Well he was indeed a sight to behold, more so than their first encounter in the present time; only now, he was not just mere bones but flesh, lots and lots of flesh.
An older man with graying red hair and tired green eyes sat upon his bejeweled chair in a regal yet threatening manner. He was garbed in a large silken red cape, the upper part flowing above his forearms where golden bands decorated his wrists. From his neck to his upper chest was a golden cloth with purple trimming at the ends wrapped about his shoulders delicately; the emblem of the Royal Family was largely pinned to the golden fabric of his torso. Green pants, reaching as far as above his bare knees, was fitted tightly against his form, and a golden belt was tied loosely around his middle where a maroon, tight fitted body suit showed off his abs and lean figure.
Much like a brute King, he wore the face of one quite well. His silken and gleaming locks were fanned out away from his face, curling upwards, and his face was nearly shaven, except for two small pointed goatees upon his double chin. King Igos Du Ikana had a round face and thick red brows, his eyes green and narrowed-like, that just from his expression, he seemed quite menacing. Lastly, his crown sat elegantly upon his head with loose golden chains hanging off the opposite sides in a Chinese fashion.
On either side of the King's throne stood two of his personal henchmen, otherwise known as the strongest swordsman in all of Ikana. They were both dressed in military garb, much like that of the King, minus, however the elegant cape and royal jewels. Military headdresses adorned their heads and they were each in possession of a mighty sword and shield.
The King's henchman from the right was a leaner individual. From the looks of it, he appeared in his late twenties, seemingly rather calm at the abrupt intrusion of outsiders entering the Royal Room of the Palace. His hair was black and his eyes just the same, his face cleanly shaven and his hair pulled back neatly.
While on the King's left stood a more robust individual in his early thirties. Unlike his other companion, he had a rounder and sturdier face much like the King's. A rugged beard and with thick brows, his hair was pulled high upon his head, and it fell as low as to his hips. Rather than remain calm, he of course merely snorted in disgust and abhorrence from the surprising visit. However, he was thrilled to have the Princess back within the safety of the walls.
Following Roshan's lead, Kagome and Link lowered themselves upon their knees, humbly lowering their heads to his Majesty, while the Princess, seated beside him looked on elatedly.
As they were acknowledged silently by all occupants in the room, from those of the entertainers and dancers to their far left to those of the composers and scholars to their right, Kagome couldn't help but peer under her bangs at the King. A burning memory of their first visit to Ikana had been frightening, yet the King's words at the time had remained burned in her thoughts…
"I don't believe in Great Fairies or Goddesses with divine powers! I am the King, Igos Du Ikana, and you shall pay for trespassing into my Kingdom!"
"You say you were commanded by the Goddesses? How loathsome. Such fickle creatures deserve to burn…and all for such an insignificant matter…"
"Ikana fell long ago. Perhaps then, if I'd known of such an inevitable doom, I might have tried to appease the Gods, but now that is impossible. I simply do not care any longer. Hate and death have already consumed my people, and I can't be afflicted by the problems faced by the living…"
End Flashback
Sighing, Kagome couldn't help but close her eyes at the memory. After meeting with the King earlier that morning, the priestess remembered how he had spoken to them; his attitude, despite the one in the present time, was much softer than before. If Kagome had to guess, his attitude and character changed after Ikana was befallen with a terrible catastrophe.
The Great War.
After which, before they could explain their reasons for wanting to travel inside the city uninvited and though a little suspicious as those in the Palace called it, the Princess had kindly asked her father to allow them lodging until their departure. Surprisingly the King has accepted it, and after which had them each escorted by maid servants to the guest rooms to rest until they felt replenished enough to accompany him later that afternoon.
Pulling the sheets up closer to her neck, Kagome snuggled deeper into the warmth of the bed, raising her knees against her chest when her feet felt slightly cold from the cool breeze just outside. Of course she should have remembered to put socks on during cold days such as this.
As she continued to lie there, attempting to fall back asleep, her thoughts were plagued by their abrupt appearance in the ancient past; it was all because of the Happy Mask Salesman, that peddler that Link was well acquainted with long ago. Such a strange man…Kagome swore she remembered every word he spoke to them yesterday…
Flashback
"If you help me, I'll help you."
"Help us?" Inuyasha asked, dumbfounded. "And just what makes you think you can help us?" Did he know something they didn't?
The merchant held up a hand before withdrawing it to his side before continuing. "My favor is something easily manageable, I assure you. With the great feats you and your friends have endured during your travels, I know that without a doubt, it will be quite a simple task," He explained. "I only need your answer. I can change your fate, if you simply trust me."
"What do you want?" Link questioned.
Pleased he'd gotten through to them so quickly, the Happy Mask Salesman nearly rejoiced before opening his arms wide before him. "I need for you to right what I've wronged," He explained, as if it was the simplest thing imaginable. "Nothing more, I assure you."
Link glared. "Explain yourself. What wrong have you committed?"
The peddler covered his eyes, shaking his head as he let out a small moan. "That mask was nothing but trouble…Had I not…" He paused before dropping his hand, folding both in front of him as he smiled eerily like. "I'm afraid I've caused nothing but trouble for everyone in Termina…" The merchant explained. Abruptly, he couldn't help but glance down at his sleeve before withdrawing a small object, after which, hastily returning it to his pockets. "Oh but it seems I don't have much time left…" He replied. "And neither do you." Once again he lowered himself into a bow, bending at the waist with a plea gracing his once happy expression. "I beg you! Do me this one favor!"
"And what would we gain from this?" Link inquired.
It was then that the peddler smirked, as if he had been waiting for such a question to be asked. "The thing you most need in order to summon the Goddesses of course!"
"You seem to know an awful lot for being a merchant…" Inuyasha replied distrustfully.
The peddler did not respond, but instead, turned his attention full upon Link. "The decision rests with you."
End Flashback
It was then shortly after that the Happy Mask Salesman spoke to them while in the midst of teleporting them to ancient past:
"I'll keep you to your promise," Replied the voice of the Happy Mask Salesman. "But time is short, so listen closely. What you have lost can be regained if you go to the castle. In return, I ask that you put a stop to the one stealing the mask from the tower," He explained. "Be quick about it, my friends and believe in your strengths, believe…"
He wanted them to stop his past self from stealing the cursed mask called Majora from the tower and after unleashing a terrifying curse upon the Kingdom. Was the peddler referring to the tower in the distance on the hill above the city? That had to be it! So all they had to do was talk to his Majesty about maybe putting up more guards around the tower and maybe that way the peddler couldn't sneak inside and steal it. Would it really be that simple?
With that in mind, Kagome once again turned onto her side, shifting slightly if only to nuzzle her face into the warmth on the far right of the bed. A faint movement from beside her caused her to scoot closer when she realized the warmth had moved away. As her cheek rested softly against something warm and firm, she suddenly felt something slide across her abdomen to rest upon her waist.
Surprised, Kagome immediately opened her eyes, fully awake. The first thing she noticed was a mess of blonde hair and a face awfully close to her own that it had her blushing automatically.
'What the…Why am I in bed with Link?!' Her thoughts loudly exclaimed with worry. It wasn't until realization struck her that she remembered.
Flashback
After the King had graciously allowed them lodging for the day until their departure from the Kingdom in but a couple days, Roshan led Kagome and Link, with Cathleen remaining in the presence of her father, to their separate guest chambers.
Their rooms were quite spacious with high ceilings and decorative tapestries and ornaments here and there. The overly large bed was enough to make the priestess gasp from the sight of it. At least 5 or 7 people could sleep on such a mattress, and it had so many pillows upon it that it had her feeling a little sleepy.
While Link was escorted to his room, Kagome explored her bed chamber. The closets were filled with beautifully intricate dresses, some with laces and bows, and there were even matching slippers and polished shoes in many assortments of colors and designs. They were all so lovely that Kagome wanted so badly to try some on, but she couldn't help but let her thoughts drift to Link.
"He's still mad at me…isn't he?" She asked aloud. Maybe she should apologize…Otherwise she knew she'd never get any rest.
Deciding she would talk to Link and hopefully sort out their misunderstanding, Kagome quietly left the room. Thankfully her room was right beside Link. A door opened from across the room, and surprised, Kagome hurriedly ran back inside her room with the door barely closed and her ear pressed up against the door. She heard a couple maids shuffling inside the rooms, their small voices muffled. Roshan's voice was soon heard as she exited the room, and as Kagome peered from behind the door, she noticed Inuyasha in the other room asleep in the bed with many of the maid servants tending to him.
'At least Inuyasha is safe with us…' She smiled to herself.
As soon as Roshan disappeared down the hall and there were no other servants loitering around, Kagome quietly exited her room, closing the door behind her before standing before Link's room. With a deep breath, she turned the knob and stepped inside.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, removing his boots, Link looked up at the priestess in his doorway confusedly. As he threw his other boot off to the side near the dresser, he watched as she softly closed the door before walking towards the bed nervously. "Something wrong?" He asked with a raise of his brow.
Kagome nodded. "Can we talk?"
Link blinked. "Sure." He knew why she was here and why she wore that frown. It was obvious she was upset that he might be angry with her, and to speak truth, he was a little unnerved, but not deeply angered. Link understood Kagome as a caring individual with much compassion, and she was the type to do anything if only to save those she cared about.
"I was only thinking of Inuyasha…I didn't think about your feelings…about how much you thought of the necklace," She softly explained. "I was a little hasty…"
The young swordsman only shook his head before patting the spot beside him in bed. "It's not your fault..."
Sitting beside him, Kagome could only stare down at her hands on her lap. She felt a little awkward and at a loss of words. So she guessed they were both in the wrong.
While she fingered her necklace around her neck, Kagome peered up at Link from behind her bangs. "This necklace means a lot to me, just as much as it does to you, Link," She explained. "I guess my feelings didn't show earlier…I was so wrapped up in wanting to free Inuyasha from that cage that I didn't consider your feelings. I guess I'm a little selfish, Link."
Again Link shook his head. "I got jealous and angry…I didn't appreciate how Adrian was talking to you, trying to coerce you into giving it to him in such a way…" He replied, baffling Kagome suddenly. His blue eyes turned to hers, and he frowned before rubbing the back of his neck, his eyes looking away from her embarrassedly. "I didn't intend to upset or hurt. Inuyasha was our top priority at that moment, and I realize I misunderstood your feelings for something quite childish. I'm sorry Kagome."
End Flashback
It was after their apology that Kagome remembered asking him if she could sleep in the same room as him, and though it had flustered Link a great deal, he nodded. They shared the bed that early morning; at least, that's what Kagome remembered. Link was the first to fall asleep.
Still feeling very flustered, she was pleased to know she was still clothed in her school uniform, though she did notice, under the sheets that her skirt had risen a great deal, exposing her thigh which had somehow, mysteriously draped itself over one of Link's legs.
From what she could see, Link's arm had wound itself around her waist, but Kagome made no movement to push him away. Instead, she laid there admiring him, pushing away some strand locks from his face as he slept with his mouth slightly parted.
While she watched him only a breath away from her, Kagome couldn't help but notice his earring glimmer from the rays of the sun just outside the window. This was a first she had ever noticed him wear any type of jewelry. Absentmindedly, she couldn't help but reach her hand from underneath the sheets to touch the smooth surface of the blue earring on his pointed earlobe. The tip of her finger slid from the smooth surface, gently down the contour of his face to his jawline, where she pulled away to stare at his lips.
The priestess couldn't help but bite her lip, her thoughts of Link's sudden declaration of love back on the hill in the swamplands coming to mind. He was pretty good at kissing…Kagome swallowed, imaging the kiss, followed by her own boldness yesterday which resulted in their sudden relationship. What would Inuyasha and the others think when they learn of this?
Unable to help herself, Kagome couldn't help but giggle softly. Well she could only imagine what their reactions would appear as. She had a feeling Inuyasha would be flabbergasted while Miroku would more than likely want some perverse details that transpired during their absence. Sango would more than likely react in a shy manner, though happy, she presumed, and Shippo, seeing as how he genuinely cared for Link, would joyously celebrate from the news.
Because of her soft laughter, Link stirred from his sleep, immediately causing the priestess to still as she noticed his eyes scrunch and slowly drift open.
In that moment, Kagome panicked. Because there was not enough time to jump out of bed and flee from the room, Kagome did the only thing thinkable; she closed her eyes and feigned sleep.
There was a brief moment of complete silence, followed after by a sudden jolt of movement in the bed beside her. Kagome only assumed he noticed her and had backed up in surprise, but she hadn't expected to feel the warmth beside her disappear so suddenly and with it a loud thump with a pained yelp resulting after.
Kagome opened her eyes and sat up in the bed. There was no one beside her, but she couldn't help but notice a foot, caught up in the bed sheets resting above the edge of the bed. As she crawled over to look on the other side, she found Link on the floor on his butt, rubbing the back of his head achingly.
She laughed. "I don't know why, but I feel as if that should have been the other way around."
Red in the face and embarrassed that he had fallen out of the bed, Link couldn't help but watch as the priestess laughed at him in amusement. "M-morning Kagome."
Kagome stifled her amusement. "Good morning or should I say good afternoon, Link," At this point, Kagome allowed herself to sit on the edge of the bed, patting the spot beside her as she smiled at Link. "Did you sleep well?"
Standing up and fixing his attire, Link accepted her invitation, seating himself beside her. "I slept well enough. How about you?" He realized they had probably slept for only four hours or so, and he briefly pondered if Inuyasha had awakened by now.
Kagome nodded. "Okay. My neck kind of hurts a little," She replied rubbing her neck achingly. "I must have slept on it wrong."
Noticing her discomfort, Link placed his hand upon her shoulder, sliding his palm and fingers upon the spot behind her neck that slightly pained her before giving the area a good squeeze. He allowed his fingers to press upon her skin lightly, and when he heard her softly moan, he couldn't help but blush.
"That feels great…" Kagome replied with a dopey smile on her face.
Before Link could pull away, Kagome had suddenly leaned against him, resting her head upon his shoulder. He felt her hand upon his, and he couldn't help but swallow nervously. "Kagome?"
"I really do like you, Link," She softly explained.
Link only smiled, and when the priestess raised her head to look at him, he couldn't help but intertwine his fingers with her own. "You know…I always thought you liked Inuyasha, but I realized Shippo was right."
She blinked. "What did Shippo say?"
Link flushed from her gaze before looking away embarrassedly. "Er…well…"
A fit of giggles caught him by surprise, and when he felt a soft thud upon his lap, he realized Kagome had allowed herself to get very comfortable with him. Looking down at her, he saw that her head was laying innocently upon his knees, staring back up at him adoringly, her cheeks very flustered as well.
"You're so cute when you get all shy like that," She laughed. After a couple seconds of silence, the priestess sat up, her legs resting on the bed, but her body positioned more towards the boy beside her. Lifting her hand, she couldn't help herself as she tugged playfully upon his ear.
Link pulled away. "Stop that," He replied, but Kagome held on firmly, grinning mischievously at his failed attempts to push her hand away.
Kagome only leaned in, this time softly rubbing his lobs to the point Link lowered his hand. "I noticed you got your ears pierced," She replied curiously.
He nodded. "A lady named Impa pierced them back in Kakariko Village. She said these earrings were only meant for young Sheikah men when they came of age," He explained, his eyes half shutting from her handy work.
She only nodded, a little lost as to what a Sheikah was, but she nonetheless decided she would ask later on. For now she was a little too preoccupied with massaging his ears. She was so caught up in this that she hadn't realized she had leaned into him a little too closely until Link turned his head, his faces inches from her own.
Their eyes widened, but neither of them pulled away. Instead, they leaned into one another, their eyes slowly drifting shut and their lips mere inches from the other. The scent of Kagome's perfume coupled with Link's own, but unexpectedly, there was a strange knocking noise that stirred their curiosity.
Before either could pull away, the door abruptly opened. A familiar woman with dark skin, flaming hair and bright green eyes looked upon them with an arched brow. Both her arms were crossed, and she stood there unaffected by their close proximity or nearly intimate moment. "Master Link…and priestess Kagome, I hope you've rested well. You've been summoned to the dining area to join his Majesty and the Princess for an afternoon feast." With that said, Roshan closed the door, preferring to wait for them outside.
Link and Kagome pulled away, both blushing quite profusely. They'd been caught in a most interesting situation. Thankfully Roshan hadn't questioned why Kagome was in the same room with Link. Normally in such time periods, to see an unmarried couple in the same room alone together was looked down upon; Kagome wondered if it was the case with Ikana, but Roshan hadn't said anything about it.
Hearing Kagome softly giggling to herself, Link couldn't help but look at her confusedly. "You seem to find this amusing?" He asked, and she only nodded. "Aren't you afraid they might—"
"Afraid of what?" She asked. "We're technically dating, right?" She asked, and at this he nodded. Kagome understood they were not married, but hey, if you liked someone, then you had every right to be alone with that person. With a sly smile, she leaned into him once more, causing him to somewhat back away, confused as to her intentions. "Besides, I don't just kiss anyone for no reason," After that, she pressed her lips against his cheek pulling herself off the bed and sauntering over to the door. As she took the knob, she turned to look over her shoulder before smiling. "I'll see you downstairs."
As soon as she left and the door closed behind her, Link couldn't help but allow himself to fall into the bed with a small sigh. Kagome was indeed a very interesting girl. He had a feeling she would make his life a whole lot more interesting as the days progressed.
OOO
Flashback
With his heart pounding deafeningly in his ears, Emmett felt the quickness of his breath, and almost terrified, he couldn't help but glance back at his pursuer behind him. The blurred glimpse of the demon told him enough that outrunning it could prove difficult.
Was it possible the demon was after his treasure?
As Emmett ducked under low branches, jumping over stumps and roots in the path, he found it almost impossible to outrun the feral beast. A few times, the demon had attempted to slash at him and other times, it'd try to jump in front of him. Emmett, however, was much too smart for those tricks.
It wasn't long until he grew tired of playing prey that Emmett decided to put an end to the chasing. With his back against the wall of the canyon, a mile away from his encampment, the sorcerer revealed the very relic that perked Inuyasha's wrath. "Is this what you're after?" He asked, noting the demon's slow advancement towards him. "Then you'll have to take it from me!"
Small orbs of fire materialized in the sorcerer's hands, and when the demon lunged forward, his claws prepared to strike, Emmett unleashed his power. Flames of fire were hurled at Inuyasha, however that did not hinder his advancement, and although Emmett half expected such, he leapt out of harm's path, rolling briefly before regaining his footing to look back at the demon.
It seemed fire was useless against such a beast. The clothes he wore did not catch fire like he had expected, but Emmett resorted to a different attack. Moving his arms out in front of him in a quick motion from side to side, an invincible energy surrounded the demon before materializing beneath its feet.
Before he could put his spell to the test, Inuyasha had suddenly leapt into the air above him, and surprised by such quickness, Emmett once again dodged the attack. He barely missed getting his head clawed off as his body hit the ground painfully, the mask falling out of his hands next to him.
The sound of knuckles popping did not go unheard by the sorcerer as he pushed himself onto his knees to look over his shoulder. From there, he watched in terror as the demon raised himself to his feet, its bleeding eyes piercing his soul threateningly.
A glimmer of purple light took his attention away from the monster to stare at the mask beside him. A strange and mystifying glow resonated from the mask, and feeling the urge to reach out and reclaim it, Emmett did just that. The moment he did, however, he was surprised to hear a voice speak to him yet again.
Pulling the mask closer, he examined it, all the while well aware of the demon's slow advancements towards him. "Did you speak to me?" He was beginning to question his sanity at that point, but he never expected to hear a reply back.
"Allow me to help you...Use my power…"
As if entranced by the voice, Emmett turned the mask over, suddenly pulling the relic towards his face, all the while feeling the mask pulsate within his grasp.
"Yes…that's it…Use my power to eliminate the vermin…"
Before he could ease the mask upon his face, Emmett shook his head, attempting to push it away cautiously. He could literally feel his hands trembling as beads of sweat fell from his brow. What was this mask doing to him? Sure he wanted to use the mask's power to fulfill his own wishes, but never would he have thought it would act on its own accord.
"Y-you're…still alive?" He breathed, moving his head to the side with difficulty. Looking down, he saw the dirt beneath his knees stir up, and pebbles toss about almost wildly. Turning his eyes to look back at the mask, he saw the brilliant colors pulsating harshly, so much so, that it seemed to hinder the demon's advancement towards him. "How…"
It wasn't possible…was it? Wasn't the evil destroyed a millennium ago? All that should have remained was the power it once harbored…But that wasn't the case at all.
Unfortunately for Emmett, he couldn't seem to release his hold on the mask, and frightfully, he saw the mask close in on him. "No…No! I don't want this!" He cried out vengefully.
A laugh caught the sorcerer off guard. "Why the hesitation, Emmett? Is this not what you acquire, my power? I can grant you anything. I pose no threat…"
Emmett narrowed his eyes, thankful that the mask halted its advancements towards him. With his arms outstretched holding the mask away from him distrustfully, he couldn't help but look back at the demon behind him, viciously snarling and swiping at the air swirling around Emmett.
"Don't you seek vengeance for your fallen comrades?" It asked. "Let me help you."
It was true, Emmett did feel some bitterness towards the demon, but it was not entirely enough to want him to kill it. Never in his life had Emmett ever used his hands to smite those around him. However, given the situation he was in now, he felt in danger, in more ways than one. One being that he felt entirely caught between the demon wanting to sink his fangs into him and the other being the mask, attempting to persuade him into using its power.
The sorcerer could literally feel his heart drumming loudly in his ears. What should he do? None of this was supposed to happen. The ceremony shouldn't have been interrupted by that demon, and furthermore, the entity inside the mask should have perished long ago.
With his decision made, Emmett attempted to push the mask away; however, to his dismay and terror, the mask had other plans. Tentacle like hands shot out from the inside of the mask's dark depths and latched onto either side of the sorcerer's face. His eyes widened alarmingly and before he could react in time, his protests were suddenly muffled, and he violently pulled at the mask covering his face.
End Flashback
It had burned. That sensation when he was smothered by that mask had completely distorted Emmett's senses since earlier that day was finally gone. For what has seemed like endless hours of continuous torture, he had finally removed the mask from his face, only to awaken later to find a few bodies of unknown corpses at his feet, bloodied and unmoving.
Emmett wasn't sure if it had been his fault or the mask's power that had killed these men, but he turned his glare toward the mask lying upon the ground beside him. Those strange tentacle like arms had gripped him forcefully and he immediately recalled a strange numbness overtake him since then. That mask was alive. It had spewed strange words to him, acting as if it were some sort of savior that intended to rescue him, but in the end it only caused him to take part in a fresh murder of complete strangers.
Emmett recalled the very words it has said to him earlier when he first felt the power of the mask back at his camp; it was during a time his people were attempting to summon a great and fierce god.
"I shall grant you everlasting power…Let me feed off your desires…"
Infuriated by the mask, he cautiously picked it up, careful of holding it too close before narrowing his gaze. This was no ordinary mask. It was an evil spirit called Majora; he likely presumed that it had been sealed away for over thousands of years. Emmett found himself regretting ever stealing it from its place of slumber in the first place as it had caused such wickedness to spread so quickly.
"You said you'd grant my wishes…Yet I see that you tricked me!" He loudly exclaimed, grasping the sides of the horned mask tightly. "Perhaps I should return you from whence you came…"
When no response came from Majora, Emmett tossed the mask aside. Emmett felt he'd put himself in more trouble if he continued to use the cursed relic. Yet it was amazing, however, that such a spirit continued to live on, despite all it had endured.
The bodies lying beside him were dressed in a strange fashion, of one he had not seen in his country. These strange men were dressed in dark cloaks with hoods resting well over their faces. Emmett noticed the strange curved blades lying upon the ground, and he presumed they were of a different race than that of his own people.
"I wonder where these people came from…" He did not recognize the crest of Ikana imprinted upon their clothing like all the folks of Ikana, and he likely presumed they were outsiders. "Why are they so close within the outskirts of the city?"
"They are not ordinary folk. I sense great catastrophe flowing through their veins…"
Surprised, Emmett turned to stare back at the mask lying in the grass before picking it up angrily. "You!" He seethed, standing up by this point. "I thought you said you'd grant my wishes, not take control of me!" Did he make the mistake of bringing such a relic to the world?
"Did I not protect you against the demon?" It questioned, and at this Emmett couldn't help but admit that it was correct. "Are you not unscathed from any injuries? You see, I granted your desire, to be saved from an inevitable death, Emmett," The mask replied.
As much as he didn't want to admit it, Majora was right. "Without my consent! And what of these corpses! Did you use me to murder them as well?!"
The mask however merely laughed. "In order to grant your wishes, I need a host. Otherwise I cannot carry out your desires. My power alone is not enough…"
"A host?" This was a first, but as he thought back to that demon chasing after him, it was odd the mask had clung to him so fiercely and frighteningly. "I see…How many wishes are you capable of granting then?"
"So you have decided against throwing me back to whence I came?" It replied before laughing once more. "There is no limit to which I can serve, Emmett. Ask for it, and I shall humbly receive and grant it."
The sorcerer narrowed his gaze. "No more no less? Yet I have a feeling you require more than just granting mere wishes from humans. I cannot believe a demon of incredible might that existed long before, and one to have devoured humans, would merely wish the happiness of others…" He replied. "It seems a little farfetched, don't you agree, Majora?"
Yet again it laughed. "You're knowledge of my history impresses me. Yet you've seen the extent of my power. I no longer have a body nor a mouth to consume anything. My power is clearly retained within this shell of what I once was."
Emmett did not believe its words. "Yet you have the power to control a host into performing anything you desire," He replied before pointing at the corpses at his feet. "Explain this. Why have you used me to kill these innocent men? I only wished to flee from that demon, nothing more. Yet my hands are stained by this murder!"
"Think of it not as murder, Emmett…Your eyes cannot see because your mind refuses to understand my true intentions."
"What?" He questioned. His face was red with anger and his hands shook with uncontrollable rage.
The mask continued its explanation. "Your wish is to overthrow the might of your King Igos Du Ikana, correct?" And from Emmett's nod, the mask continued. "Then make use of these bodies…Why not let him suffer by that of another and save yourself the trouble of murder, Emmett…"
"By that of another?" Was the mask asking him to place these death's upon the King so that an all-out war could take place?
"Before I slew them, I heard an interesting conversation they shared with themselves…These men arrived from a foreign nation beyond the canyons. They are settled in a small town outside Ikana's borders where they have continuously sent men to spy on your home, Emmett."
What? A foreign nation of spies? As much as he didn't want to admit it, their appearance in the woods near his city had posed a question, but it made sense hearing it from the mask. "What else did you hear before slaughtering them?"
"Why else would a foreign nation send spies to your happy city, Emmett? World conquest," The mask explained, causing Emmett's eyes to widen a fraction of their size. "I did you a favor by killing them, yet at the same time they can become quite useful, wouldn't you agree?"
Useful…
"Save yourself the trouble of murder and use them to fulfill your wish. If overthrowing the King is your desire, then you will benefit greatly. However…the outcome could be either or. Either Ikana will prosper from a winning victory or it could fall completely…" It replied.
What the mask said made a lot of sense. "I could do away with him so easily…" Because the Sacred Script was lost to him by now, perhaps using the mask would indeed put his plans into motion. Soon he'd do away with the King and those horrid laws…
"But I can help you along the way as well…If you wish to take the form of someone, I can help you to sneak into the Palace and smite the King. My power alone would suffice in your victory, Emmett. If you wished, I could make you ruler of Ikana."
Hearing that last part, Emmett scoffed. "It was never my intention to rule this Kingdom, and it never shall be. I only wish for his demise. By doing so, his daughter cannot ascend the throne and she will be of unimportance thereafter," He replied before looking upon the mask earnestly. It was amazing how easily the mask had swayed his opinion of it. "It's only a matter of time…Prepare yourself, your Majesty."
Hidden behind the trees of the forest, Armaros looked upon Emmett and the cursed mask with sudden interest. Every word spoken between them, he heard. Though he was more curious as to where Emmett had found such a relic. Even if it was their master's plan to eliminate the current King, Armaros wasn't too fond of the sudden change in his rival. Bringing a total war upon the Kingdom in order to rid themselves of one person was not what Armaros and his people had intended. No harm should befall the innocent of the city, but Emmett had changed, because of that mask.