"Kagome! Come over here this instant!" called Sango, stressing the phrase: 'this instant'.

I shouted back at her, "What now? And where is 'here'?"

"Move as slowly as you can, Kagome! 'Here' as in my room! Are you suffering from short term memory loss, my dear little sister?" She sang out, being slightly sarcastic. "Don't worry about me! You can just spend your whole day in boredom, while I--"

I giggled. Sango always made me feel better. "I'm not little!"

"Come on lazy dog!"

"You're the one that spends the whole day in your room! And I'm not the dog!" I shot back.

"Well, you're the one that gets yourself covered in dirt, leaves, and whatnot! You sure act like one..." She scolded me lightly.

I grinned. I love having this childish banter with Sango. It relaxes me. "Sango.."

Sango replied with mock anger in her voice. "What? You ignore me all this time, and suddenly ask for my help? What an ungrateful child!"

"Me? Ungrateful? You have got to be kidding!" I pouted.

Finally I reached her room.

"That took you long enough, little sister."

I laughed. "Let's hope we don't take this long to get downstairs..."

Sango grinned. "Oh my...imagine the ceremony starting...and in pIace of the princess--comes a dog! I would surely die of not doing my job right of preparing our lil' princess"

"Sango, Father and Momma would be soooooo--"

"Glad that you're learning how to be a dog?"

I giggled. Then my giggles bubbled into laughter. Sango laughed. After we managed to bring our laughter down, I said,

"You know that they would get very 'upset' at us for preparing ? I mean, we neverdo that!"

We started laughing again.

"Wait...' Sango frowned. "You're the one who doesn't prepare! I always prepare!"

"Yea, suuuuure." I snorted.

"I'm serious! I've never came close to missing a ceremony in my life!"

"Yes you have!"

"No I haven't!

"Promise to do one of my tricks with me?"

She sighed. "Fine..."

"How about that one time where you went of with Miroku and totally forgot about my first Tea Ceremony?"

"W-wha? How did--hey! That isn't playing fair! You were spying again, weren't you? And I didn't do anything...we were j-just...u-uh...hmph!"

"I saw it clear in daylight in the gardens, I was not spying, I was walking in the garden, picking some lilies," She motioned to the freshly picked lilies on Sango's desk. "You were so doing something! Hugging, cuddling, all that crap."

"You'll understand when you grow up..." Sango replied dreamily, obviously recalling all those 'relaxing' times she had with her 'friend'.

"I'm not that little, you know!" I complained, though Sango didn't notice.

I looked at Sango, and decided to keep this moment forever. Hah! The look on her face will be so rewarding when she finds out she forgot to prepare me for the ceremony. What type of ceremony? I dont know. Daddy didnt tell us yet. Ah...

I gathered together my paints and brushes. I painted Sango, as she was now, the dreamy look still on her face. Within a flash I was done. I put my paints, brushes, and the canvas away.

"Sango." I slammed my hands on the table. "Wake up."

"Huh! Wha...Oh, Kagome!" Sango blinked. "Why do I fell like...I'm forgetting something?" She jumped up in realization.

"Oh my god! We got to get ourselves ready! That's what I called you over for! I got your kimono done. And..." Sango glanced at the sun. "We have exactly five minutes to get ready if we don't want to be late..."

Aw...darn! She remembered...oh well...I'll just have to use the painting as blackmail sometime...

Sango helped me, and in turn I helped her. She made me a kimono that was a light blue; overlapping the bodice and skirt of the kimono was a sheer, silvery, see-through material. It was simple but long, the bodice embroidered in white phoenixes and the skirt embroidered in silver phoenixes. She tied a white obi stitched with lilies outlined in a golden thread around my waist. For me, it was perfect. The light blue color brought out the sparkles of my blue eyes...or so Sango told me...

She brushed my hair until it was soft and silky and glowing. She let it fall free, letting the ends reach my waist. She then parted two tiny sections of my hair, one section on each side of my head, and twisted them. She stranded some sparkling lilies into my hair and stranded some more to complete the circle, forming a circlet of lilies resting on my brow.

"Almost..." Sango murmured as she dashed some light silvery color onto my eyelashes and eyelids, and some silver sparkles onto my lips. "Done!"

"Oh thank you Sango..." Sango was dressed in pink, a soft rosy pink. She had embroidered red, white, and silver roses onto the hem and skirt of the kimono. The bodice was covered in dark pink roses, though the shades of pink varied. She had a dark pink obi stitched with white lilies. I had applied a soft pink onto her lips and a pinkish silver color onto her eyelashes and eyelids. Her hair fell free like mine, but hers only reached her shoulders. "Sango...you're beautiful..."

"Kagome! Sango!" A faint voice called.

"We're coming Shippou..." I called out back to Sango's and my little kitsune cousin.

"Sango..." I looked at her. "Something's missing...aha!...There you go..."

"Kagome! Sango! We're gonna be late!" Called Shippou and Miroku, who had joined him outside.

I ignored them and stranded five roses through Sango's hair, just as Sango did with lilies in my own hair. There was a white rose in the center, a light pink rose on each side, and a red rose on either end. "Now...you're done."

"Kagome! Sango! Get. Out. Here. NOW!" Bellowed a not-so-nice voice.

"We're coming, coming!" Sango replied as she placed my white cloak around my shoulders, fastening it with a sparkling sky blue phoenix pin, knowing that the not-so-nice person (who was Inuyasha) would hear.

"Would you two lazy slow pokes HURRY UP! We've been here HOURS!" He shouted.

I waved my hand, a blue ball of energy appearing. With a flick of my wrist the mass of energy went flying toward Inuyasha and enclosed him inside. "Sit, dog." I said smoothly, as Sango and I glided toward the Ceremony Halls two wide doors. Inuyasha was still in his ball in a crater I the castle floor. I dragged him with me, and then set him free.

He cursed. "Shit! What the hell did you do that for!"

Sango and I ignored him and glanced at each other and gave each other reassuring smiles.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Sango's P.O.V.

After Kagome and I gave each other reassuring smiles, Shippou and Miroku hurried forward and opened the two doors. Shippou called out to the quiet Ceremony Hall, which had been buzzing the second before, "Lady Sango Higurashi, elder daughter of Raishu Higurashi, Lord of the Southern Lands and Midori, his esteemed mate, Lady of the Lorthern Lands."

I took a deep breath and smiled. I stepped smoothly into the Ceremony Hall, approached our father, mother, and eldest sister, Kikyou, and kowtowed to them, my forehead touching the floor three times in the utmost respect.

Gasps came from many, amazed at Sango's beauty.

"Rise, my elder daughter. I welcome you to your Ceremony." Father intoned.

Mother smiled at me then glanced at the doors, which were closed at the moment, with a knowing smile. "Sango, my daughter. I trust you will have fun?"

"Yes, mother." I nodded quickly.

"Wait a moment." Mother said.

I stayed where I was, looking expectantly at the doors.

Murmuring spread through the Ceremony Hall. What were the General, his mate, and elder daughter waiting for? Surely there isn't anyone else? Wasn't this Ceremony for Kikyou, eldest daughter and Sango, elder daughter, only? These questions raced through the mind of many youkai and human alike.

OoOoOoOoOoO

When Sango left, I began to feel nervous. I took in a deep breath. What would I do without my sister?

"Whacha sighing for, eh?" Inuyasha asked, finally free of the bubble I created.

"I'm calming myself. Not sighing." I said quietly. "Hey Inuyasha?"

"Yea?"

"What kind of Ceremony is this?" I indicated the doors.

He blushed. What could have kindled this reaction I don't know. "It isn't that bad, is it?" I inquired worriedly.

Inuyasha shook his head and clawed hands so hard that his snowing white strands of hair flew into his blushing face. "No; uh...um...you see..."

My patience snapped. "What!"

"It's uh...asortofceremonythatinvitessuitorsandasortofcourtingorpre-matingceremony..." He muttered, still blushing.

My jaw dropped. What! How could Momma and Father do that! I'm not even of age! Ok, backtrack. So I am of age. BUT seriously! They could have warned me!

"Oi!" One of my best friends named Inuyasha scolded me. "Close your mouth and BREATHE, Kagome. I don't want my best friend to die of lack of air right before you enter the Ceremony Hall."

I closed my mouth, and then opened it again. "I—t-this-this isn't fai—"

Inuyasha clamped his hand over her mouth. "Shut up—OW!" He hissed in pain. He held out his bitten hand out to inspect the damage my fangs did.

I grinned as I slipped on my hood. "You deserved it." I was still grinning when both Miroku and Inuyasha walked forward to open the doors. I calmed myself down.

Shippou followed the two at the doors. "Princess, youngest daughter of Raishu Higurashi, Lord of the Southern Lands and Midori, his esteemed mate, Lady of the Southern Lands."

I glided forward into the hall, chin up, and head high though my eyes were downcast, holding myself with a grace I didn't know I possessed, toward my father, mother, and sisters.

I could sense the guests' confusion. Who was this mysterious being? Youkai or human? Surely Princess was youkai. Why was she donning a cloak?

I reached my family, and kowtowed three times to each, my father first, then my mother, then Kikyou, then Sango.

"Rise, my youngest daughter. I welcome you to your Ceremony." Father announced.

"Thank you, my father, for this Ceremony." I smiled, though it did not reach my eyes.

Mother, Sango, Inuyasha, Miroku, Shippou caught my expression and cringed. He would be in for it later, father, or not.

Mother said gently, "Princess, calm down." She placed the tips of my fingers on my temples and pressed gently, a blue glow surrounding our fingers. I sighed. My eyes slid close as my mother's relaxation spell came into effect. "Good girl, Princess..." Mother murmured, using my public name.

"Yes Momma." I opened my eyes.

"Feeling better?"

Sango answered for me. "Yep! Better than ever!"

"All right, you two. Relax, blend in with the crowd and enjoy. Run along now..." Mother admonished. Mother turned to Kikyou. "Kikyou dear..."

"Yes Mother?"

"You may begin."

'Thank you Mother."

We took off, giggling. I took Sango's hands into mine. Mine glowed light blue and Sango's light pink. We disappeared in a flash of lavender light.

Into the Garden! "Sango..."

"Yea, Kaggie?"

"Where's your sweet Roku that you met last time at this Ceremony?"

SMACK!

Sango turned around, glaring. "Right there."

The houshi turned toward Sango with a dreamy look in his eyes. "Why Sango! How nice to see you...if I may ask...who is this lovely young lady?"

SMACK!

"No you may not ask my dear houshi. You're mine." Sango said lightly.

I grinned. "Sango, my sister, you can't answer for me!"

"Yes I can. You're treading on light ground, my dear Kaggie."

"Don't call me Kaggie!"

"Kaggie, go find your own guy."

"Sango!" I whined. "I don't want a guy. Besides, I don't know any."

"Well, there's," Uh oh. Trouble coming up. "Always Inuyasha..."

"He's my best friend! And that's just eeeeeeeew..."

"Well...maybe he'll introduce you to a couple of people...and Kagome, dear?"

Yes, Sanggie?"

"Take off your cloak and don't call me that!"

"I'm so not taking it off! You know why! And call you what?" I asked, innocently.

Sango groaned. "Fine. Keep the cloak on until the right time. Just as long as you don't call me that—that horrible name!"

I called out, with a evil glint in my eye, "Okie dokie, Sanggie!"

"PRINCESS!"

"What?"

"ARG!" SMACK! "HENTAI!"

I giggled softly to myself. "Don't know how she'll manage him..."

I entered my favorite clearing, the one with all my flowers. Hmm...something's not right...I kneeled on the ground as calmly as I could. All my miko-youkai senses screamed 'Powerful taiyoukai near by.'

"I know you're there." I spoke in a whisper, still facing my flowers.

OoOoOoOoOoO

A/N: Tell me if the P.O.V. changes though there isn't the official title: Kagome's P.O.V. or Sango's P.O.V. R&R! I'm writing the 2nd chapter right now, and it's quite long, so I'm wondering whether I should split the chapter in two...

-K.I.