The Very Pink Of Love
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, it belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. I'm afraid of her cuz she might sue me (also I respect her). There are some references to Romeo and Juliet. I also don't own that, it belongs to William Shakespeare. I respect him also, but he can't sue me for obvious reasons.
This disclaimer goes for all my chapters.
Chapter 1, Kagome's Big DayTwo Royal families, both alike in dignity,
In fair feudal Japan, where we lay our scene.
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where human blood makes demon hands unclean.
From forth the guarded castles of these two foes,
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their place;
Whose adventures sprang forth,
Attempt to someday bury their parent's strife.
Now with the traffic of the story's chapters,
I beckon your patient eyes attend.
What here shall miss, I'll strive to mend.
If you review.
Kagome Higurashi was so excited, today is the day she could finally leave the castles walls. As the princess of Shikon, the Southern Lands, as some called it, she's seldom allowed to leave the well-guarded palace. The few times she's been out she was stuffed inside a carriage as the royal procession marched, with thick veils covering the windows, blocking the view of the city streets and the curious eyes of commoners. Oh, how she longed to step out into the noisy streets and observe the day-to-day life of Shikon's capital city! And now, her dream will finally come true. Her plan had worked, she got her parents to agree! It was, after all, her fifteenth birthday and she had begged for months!
Of course, Kagome's bodyguard and training-mate Sango was to go with her, for she was a very skilled demon slayer. The Empire of Shikon was the only human-ruled country on the islands of Japan. Surrounding it were the Northern-Lands, Western-Lands, and the mysterious Eastern Continent. War-like, wild nomadic peoples ruled by the wolf demon tribe and their prince Koga mainly inhabit the mountainous Northern-Lands. The Western-Lands was a very strong nation, ruled by the powerful Inutaisho family, Shikon's archenemy. And it's them who were causing the main problems in Kagome's life. It's rumoured that the Inutaishos, who were dog-demons, sent demons to assassinate the Higurashi family. It made sense. After all, the Western-Lands was very powerful, if they combined their military strength with Shikon's beautiful landscape, rich resources and population, the Inutaishos would be unstoppable. Sooner or later, they will eventually conquer the Northern tribes as well. Under these stressful times, Kagome had to avoid going outside the castle as much as possible.
Kagome could hardly stay still when her maid Yumi dressed her this morning. Instead of the normal elaborate silk kimonos, she was to wear a plain but lovely blue kimono with white under-dress. Her parents, the Emperor and Emperess Higurashi had decided that it's safer for her to go out disguised as a commoner. After she's dressed and washed herself she hurried out of the room to meet Sango. Kagome found Sango in the hallway outside of her room, and instead of the battle armor of a demon slayer that she always wears, Sango was dressed in her traveling garments: white and pink kimono with a green apron-skirt, her long black hair hung loose over her shoulders.
"Oh Sango, you look so nice!" Kagome exclaimed. "Not as lovely as you, Kagome-hime." Sango replied while looking at Kagome up and down. Kagome wrinkled her nose, "SANGO! I told you not to call me 'hime'! We're friends! Besides, I'm supposed to be a commoner today remember?" "Right," Sango said apologetically, "Kagome." "That's better," Kagome smiled while she took both Sango's hands into her palms, "oh Sango, I'm so excited! Can you tell me what it's like in the city?" Sango thought for a moment, "Well, it's kinda noisy and crowded, there are merchants selling goods and people walking and shopping. Anyway you have to see for yourself, because before I came to the palace, I lived in the demon slayer's village in a remote part of the mountains. So you see, I'm not really the expert." Kagome wants to ask for more, but a servant girl comes and tells Kagome that her parents are expecting them in the dining room for breakfast. "Sango let's go!" Kagome shouted excitedly, dragging Sango along. Both girls giggled madly and ran down the hall in a very un-ladylike manner.
"Girls! Please be more graceful. You are court ladies," Emperess Higurashi scolded when Kagome and Sango came into the dining hall. However, the girls' moods were not the least affected by it as they took their seats along the table. The Emperess's face suddenly softened, "But I don't blame you Kagome, today is your big day. Though I cannot say that I approve." "Oh come on, today's her birthday!" Emperor Higurashi protested. "Right!" Kagome agreed loudly. "That's my baby girl!" the Emperor hugged his daughter affectionately. "Dad!" Kagome whined, "Sango's here!" "I'm your father, you naughty girl," Emperor Higurashi gave her a light pat in the head. Sango chuckled.
"Can you please take me with you sis'?" Kagome's little brother Souta looked at her imploringly. "Oh, cut that out. Enough with the puppy dog eyes Souta!" Kagome reprimanded, "You know I can't take you with me." "Listen to your sister Souta," Sango chimed in, "you know it's not safe. Besides, we'll bring lots of presents home for you!" "Okay!" Souta chanted happily. Everyone in the room laughed.
After breakfast, Kagome and Sango were ready to go. Kagome brought her silk purse along in case they wanted to buy something (which is very likely) and Sango was carrying her weapon, the Hiraikotsu, on her back. She almost never part with it. Kagome liked the giant boomerang very much, it's an excellent weapon and it was Sango's pride and joy. But Kagome herself preferred bow and arrows, for the Hiraikotsu was very heavy and it took a very strong and talented warrior like Sango to wield it. Kagome's parents were in the garden waiting for them, they wanted to say good-bye. "Kagome," Emperess Higurashi said, "please be careful." "Don't worry Mom, Sango and I will take care of any demon." Kagome replied. Her mom rolled her eyes but her dad looked very proud. After a final hug, the Emperor and Emperess walked out of the garden with their guards and maids.
After they were gone, Kagome and Sango quickly turned and walked into a small woods inside the garden. While they were planning their "escape route" a couple of days ago, Sango told Kagome about this secret tunnel that leads out of the castle. It's located inside the rock pile in the middle of the large fountain and was very slyly hidden. Although the fountain was one of Kagome and Sango's favorite spots in the royal garden, Sango had only discovered it by chance a year ago.
Kagome and Sango made sure that no one's following them while they made their way through the flowering bushes. The tunnel was their secret now and they didn't want anyone else to discover it, not even their most faithful servants. The big fountain came into sight when they reached the end of the little stone path, with the water dancing and sparkling. "It's beautiful," Kagome commented, her eyes fixed on the clear water and the swaying branches of willow trees. "I know," Sango said, "but we must hurry before someone comes." As much as she wanted to stay there and enjoy the soothing coolness the water brings, Kagome listened to Sango and stayed focused on the task at hand. She laid her foot on the rocks in the fountain and carefully followed Sango. They jumped onto the huge rock pile and Kagome grabbed onto a sturdy rock to keep her self balanced while Sango looked around for the tunnel entrance. "Here it is," Sango exclaimed. She carefully removed a rock boulder and a dark, eerie hole appeared before their eyes. "We found it!" Kagome said happily as she followed Sango into the tunnel entrance. After they were in, she helped Sango putting the rock boulder back in its place. But Sango took the precaution to leave a small crack so when they come back they wouldn't have a hard time to find the opening. The girls then ventured ahead and soon, the slither of light let in by the small crack was swallowed up by the darkness and they found themselves in complete blackness.
"Sango, where are you?" Kagome whispered softly, suddenly afraid. "Here I am Kagome," Sango's quiet voice replied out of the darkness. Suddenly the flame of a rice paper lantern lit up the rock tunnel, and Sango's face reappeared. "I put some matches and a couple of lanterns here yesterday," Sango explained, "we'll put this one by the other opening before we go out." "Good thinking," Kagome said. With the lantern in hand, the two girls walked down the tunnel following the lantern's guiding light.
Kagome didn't know how long or how far they had journeyed, but it seemed an eternity had passed before they reached the end of the tunnel. Sango spotted the hidden trap door first. She blew out the lantern and put it down, then she signaled Kagome to remain quiet while they listened for any suspicious sounds. All was silent. Sango quietly opened the door and climbed out. A few seconds later, her hand reached down into the tunnel for Kagome. With Sango's help, Kagome climbed out of the tunnel. At first, her eyes couldn't see anything because they had grown so accustomed to the darkness. But it felt so good to breathe open air again, the air in the tunnel was very dense and smelled gross. After her eyes came into focus, Kagome saw that they were now in the storage room of some sort, food and barrels of sake leaned against the wall. The floor was covered in straw, concealing the trapdoor. Kagome was very interested in her surroundings and she looked around, studying each item attentively. But Sango dared not linger, she took Kagome's hand and dragged her out of the door. Outside is a restaurant, it's filled with people and all sorts of delicious smell filled the air. Kagome drooled and her stomach groaned. "Hey you!" the voice of a man boomed from behind them, scaring them both, "What are you doing in the back of my restaurant?" "Oh nothing!" Kagome and Sango smiled innocently. The man's eyes narrowed suspiciously, "You are not thieves are you?" "Who, us?" Kagome said quickly, "Of course not!" At this, they both ran out of the restaurant. "Hey! Come back here!" the restaurant keeper yelled after them, but Kagome and Sango ignore him and disappeared into the crowds.