Chapter 6, Love At First Sight? Not!

Author's Note: I Liiiiiiiiiiiiiive! Sorry about the long wait but now I'm back. I'm now busy, sick, and addicted to Rurouni Kenshin. Anyway this chapter is, in all fairness, pretty long and lots of interesting things happened. Hope this will make for the lost time.

Reviewer's Corner:

To Jamie: Well, I made Kag's parents let her off easy on purpose. The title is Let's Party so I want it to have a happy mood. However this is just the temporary calmness before the storm hits.

To Sweet-InuKag: I'm kinda following your advice, my paragraphs are shorter than usual and I made the dialogue according to you at one part. However, I'm trained to write the way I write and I'm really heavy on descriptions, so sorry but I'm still gonna mainly stick to my own style.

To All My Reviewers: Your reviews and support means a lot to me, I love you all! Wo Ai Ni! In a friendly way of course, lol.

Kagome was bored. She had been sitting at the royal table for almost two hours now with her back perfectly straight and a fake smile on. Her back was stiff and her face felt sore. She longed for going somewhere more private, a place where she could be herself, not a perfect-looking porcelain doll her parents wanted her to be. "Kagome, you've been sitting here for a while now," Empress Higurashi spoke up, "perhaps you should go out there and get acquainted with some people. Sango's already gone." Perfect timing, Kagome thought, just when I need an excuse. "Look, there's Prince Koga." The Empress added. Ok, maybe not so perfect, Kagome thought with a big sweat-drop. She got up slowly (under the scrutinizing eyes of her parents and party guests, she had to be as graceful as she could be) and walked over to Prince Koga.

Kagome's first impression of her would-be-husband was, well, okay. He was clad in an exotic-looking fur hunting suit which made him stand out from all the party guests. His body was fine-tuned with muscles that made him seem very strong. His hair was coal-black and long, which he tied up in a high, sporty ponytail. His face was handsome, hard and firm. But in his eyes there was a tinge of bad-boy-ness in them. All in all Koga seemed very, wild, but the look worked for him.

"Hello, Princess Kagome," Koga smiled at her, "I'm honored to meet you." "Um, hi Koga," Kagome greeted awkwardly. Koga bowed slightly as he took Kagome's hand and kissed it. "I've heard your name and tales of your loveliness many times before in my realm, but I have never anticipated for such great beauty." Kagome slightly blushed at the flattery. "Thank you Prince Koga." Then, Koga did something that completely shocked Kagome. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed her close against him. "You simply take my breath away Princess," he whispered seductively Kagome's ear, "I'll do anything to make you mine." Kagome was a loss for words, she had not expected such a heart-felt confession! Although she did not know why, something about Koga was making her feel very uncomfortable. While trying hard to suppress her sudden urge to fidget, Kagome writhed out of Koga's grasp and politely bowed, "You flatter me, Prince Koga. But I, um, have some business to attend to. Feel free to enjoy yourself. Excuse me." Although she noticed Koga's obvious disappointment, Kagome dared not stay. In fact, she hurried out of there as quickly as possible.

Kagome let out a sigh of relief when she saw that Koga did not follow. She made her way through the crowd, attempting to reach the snack table. But it was at this time her clumsiness decided to kick in. She stepped on the rim of her silk kimono and tripped. She anticipated the embarrassment of people staring at her when she crashes with a loud, "bang". But instead, she felt herself slamming against a hard surface that was later identified as someone's chest.

Inuyasha let out a small growl when Miroku left him, obviously to hit on pretty women. It's amazing how fast he would ditch an old friend for the lure of young women and free food. Wasn't this whole thing started because, he, Inuyasha, was in need? Not that he'd mind. With Miroku gone, he could finally steal a glance at his beautiful Kikyo.

Inuyasha's golden eyes skipped on the splendor and exquisitely-prepared food, his mind was only on Kikyo. But with hundreds of loud guests, all wearing bright-coloured kimono that made him dizzy, it was impossible to find her. Just when he was about to give up, by some strange twist of fate, he felt someone slamming into his chest. He gazed down, what he saw would change his life forever.

Kagome was about to apologize, but something stopped her. There was something vaguely familiar about this strange young man she bumped into. Red haori, straw hat, and unusual long silver hair. But where was it that she saw him before, she couldn't remember. Then, she noticed his eyes.

Kagome stared into his golden eyes which glowed like amber, only to find that he was staring back. His eyes looked at her with such intensity that they threatened to envelope her in a world of wildest fantasy. Kagome suddenly found it hard to breathe. She watched as the handsome stranger leaned in closer and closer, until she could almost feel his hot breath on her face. Kagome felt nervous; somehow it seemed that a thousand butterflies were fluttering in her stomach. The sensation was strange but not unpleasant. Suddenly, she was scared; scared that the stranger might do something foolish. It didn't pay to lose her reputation in front of a large crowd with her parents watching. Just when she was about to push him away, the hunger in his eyes vanished and was replaced by a glint of recognization. Kagome blinked, then it finally hit her. "IT WAS YOU!" they both said it at the same time.

"So, what brought you here ramen thief?" Kagome demanded hotly. She said it pretty loud so a couple of guests turned their heads, and more than one of them shot dirty glares at Inuyasha's demonic silver hair. Inuyasha saw this and decided that it's not a good place to argue. He put one arm around the girl's waist and his right hand covered her mouth. He could feel her struggle but he only wrapped her tighter. "It's not a good place to draw attention," he whispered in her ear and felt her shuddered slightly, "We'll go to the garden and sort things out." At that, he dragged her away.

Koga's nose picked out the scent of a dog demon long before his eyes found him. He searched the crowd, and there he was, standing close to Kagome, his Kagome. Koga clenched his fist, but he couldn't make a scene right here in front of all these people! He walked over to the Emperor Higurashi. "Emperor-sama," said Kgoa, "there stands that villain Inuyasha, son of your… no, our enemy, King Inutaisho. Shall I kill him?" The Emperor looked alarmed, then he said, "Let the boy go, Koga. I want this feast to go smoothly. I've heard that both of the Inutaisho brothers possess strength that matches one thousand skilled warriors. Even if you managed to defeat him, King Inutaisho will not take this lightly. Our kingdom's not ready for his wrath yet. Besides, I don't think the boy means any harm." Koga had not choice but to obey. However, his anger was still burning inside him. He swore that one of these days that Inuyasha will pay!

Kagome's anger flared up as soon as Inuyasha released her when they arrived at the moonlit garden. "What do you think you are doing, dragging me off like that?" She shouted at the top of her lungs. Inuyasha's face twisted in annoyance. "I can't really let you stay there and make a scene over some stupid ramen, now can I, wench?" Kagome's temper flared up another notch. "What did you call me?" "Are you so stupid that you can't even hear me straight? I called you wench, cuz that's what you are." Inuyasha replied in a bored but arrogant voice. "I'M NOT A WENCH!" Kagome yelled at Inuyasha, "I'm the noble Princess of Shikon, Higurashi Kagome. And you'd better be sorry that you ever called me that!" Inuyasha was temporarily dazed that sheer volume of her voice, he felt as if someone's ringing a gong in his head. After his head was cleared, his brain began to process this new piece of information. Three, two, one…Kagome counted. "YOU are the Princess of Shikon!" Inuyasha shouted, obviously shocked. "The one and only," said Kagome smiling. Although she hated the title, it's still useful to scare annoying people. However, this time Kagome did not get the desired effect. "No wonder," Inuyasha smirked, "another one of those silly princesses. I bet you have no more brain than a humming bird. You probably got bored yesterday from all the pampering and decided to go exploring with that equally brainless friend of yours, but never stopped to think about the consequence of your actions."

Kagome could not believe her ears. The boy standing in front of her was the rudest and most arrogant person she'd ever met. First he made a big deal out of a simple street accident, then he stole her ramen, which Sango and her had paid for, as some sort of payback. And now, he's standing there, in HER family's garden, reprimanding HER for being childish and immature. What has the world coming to? She was about to scream and storm off when she suddenly remembered about the Gift.

It was a quiet, rainy day many years ago when Kagome was only a small child. She leaned against the stone railing along a small square courtyard which grass and bamboo grew, untended, listening to the steady rhythm of the crystal-clear rain droplets beating against the roof tiles. Clouds covered the traces of the sky that peeked through the jade-green bamboo leaves, replacing the cheerful sunshine of high noon with a peaceful, serene darkness.

Kagome heard footsteps coming from behind her. She turned around and saw a kind-looking old lady wearing the red and white garments of a humble village priestess. Her black hair was mixed with gray and was tied messily with a white ribbon. Her clothes were soaking wet; water dripped from the bow and arrows she carried on her back. The servants passing by all looked at the priestess with obvious disgust, some even passed rude comments, but the elderly woman didn't seem to notice. She was summoned to the castle to deliver a baby for a lowly scullery maid, and she had done her job well. She was tired, but content. A maid noticed little Kagome, and she hurried over to lead her away from the priestess. But Kagome struggled out of her grasp. She ran over to the old priestess and offered her the last rice cake she'd stole from the lunch table. The old woman smiled and accepted the offer. She said her name was Kaede and she'd give a special gift to the adorable, kind-hearted Princess. The gift was a necklace made of plain, wooden beads and sharp, crooked animal fangs. Along with the gift came an incantation, which Kagome remembered by heart until this day. "This gift will subdue even the fiercest enemy," the old lady said, "once the incantation is recited, ye must pick a word, any word, to release the bead's power."

For some reason, Kagome remembered the encounter like yesterday and treasured the beads above all the shining jewels. She carried it with her everywhere she went, hoping to use it some day. Well, thought Kagome, today was as good as any. She took out the necklace and held it in her palm. Then, she closed her eyes, hands clasped together in prayer, and recited the incantation mentally.

Inuyasha watched in shock and awe as the Princess closed her eyes in prayer, her brows furrowed together in concentration. Then, the beads she held in her hands seemed to dissolve into the blue glow of miko energy. Suddenly, the beads sprang forth in flashes of light and circled themselves around his neck.

"What the…" Inuyasha tried to move, tried to take the beads off, but failed to do both. He was being held back by some unknown force. Once the spell was complete, he saw the Princess's eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Oww… Not so cocky now, are we?" she teased.

"What the hell did you do to me, wench?"

Kagome ignored his question. "Now, let's see, what command word shall I give you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Look at you, all leashed up like a dog."

"Why you… Grrr."

"I know," Kagome patted her head, "Sit boy!"

Much to Inuyasha's dismay (and Kagome's delight), the prayer beads glowed and sent Inuyasha crashing down to the ground. "What was that? Take this creepy necklace off my neck at once!" Inuyasha demanded while he struggled to take the beads off. Then, he noticed Kagome was staring at him. Or, more precisely, at his ears. That's when Inuyasha realized that his hat and fallen off.

"You…you are a demon?" stuttered Kagome. Inuyasha was speechless, he was discovered. Kagome knew that she should call the guards or run to safety, but for some reason she was glued to the spot. In all this excitement, she had forgotten Lady Kaede's last advice: "Ye should use the beads wisely my child, for the wearer of the sacred beads will be bound to you forever the moment you uttered the spell."