When Kagome first arrived in the shiro she had noticed a small forest some distance from her new home. Rather she noticed there was a difference in the feeling of this specific forest that the other forests lacked. This forest almost seemed to be calling to her. When she asked about it Prince Muso gave her an answer about a Half-Demon that used to live there but hadn't been seen for quite some time and it was now rather dull with nothing of consequence living there, just some local small game. That did nothing to satisfy her curiosity or quell the alluring call. One day when the Prince was out Kagome decided to take a stroll. And when no one had a solid eye on her, she made her way towards the forest.
When she got to the forest she saw, as Prince Muso has said, nothing of consequence. But still, something was speaking to her, pulling her deeper into the forest. Who was she to say no? Kagome breached the wall of trees leading into the forest. Each step deeper into the woods caused her heart rate to accelerate, her fists to repeatedly clench at her sides, and her throat to tighten. Whatever it was calling to her, it was strong and old. Older than anything she had ever met or even heard of. That scared her, but it was also what made her continue.
Despite her neck hairs prickling, Kagome had made it a point not to look behind her, because to look for someone or something implied there was someone or something to be wary of. That made it real. So head held high and shoulders straight she continued on, forcing herself to touch every tree she passed in order to keep her hands from balling into fists.
The young miko wasn't quite sure how much time she'd lost her in the forest. It had seemed like she had spent hours following the call. Her heart was still racing but she no longer had to force her hands open as they willingly danced across the rough bark, playing with the auras.
When Kagome spotted the clearing it seemed odd to her. Why would there be a clearing that contained a single large tree somewhere in a forest? The tree itself looked to be nothing special but when she took her first step into the clearing the aura was so concentrated she at first felt like she hit a wall, knocking all the air right out of her as she landed with her butt in the dirt. She took a minute to look around, she didn't feel anything or anyone new. When she was sure there was nothing around she stood back up, still trying to catch her breath. Short on breath but steady Kagome made her way towards the tree. She let her aura mingle with everything around her. It didn't take long for her to realize that this tree was it. The source. This tree had to be hundreds of years old. The power the tree contained was so familiar yet so different. She smiled to herself, she couldn't believe it. She'd never thought they were real, sacred trees. She had read about Shinboku in one of the many books in the castle, and she knew they were considered sacred. But never in her life did she think they were 1. real and 2. literally flowing with energy similar to hers. It was comforting. This tree reminded her of home, her real home. Her farm, her family, and of him. It wasn't often that she allowed him into her mind, but here it seemed natural.
Kagome made a habit of visiting every afternoon. No matter how she was feeling, lonely, angry, upset, she would always find a clam in the forest. It was then, during her time of reflecting that Kagome began to realize that she was more attuned to the auras around her, and EVERYTHING had an aura if you knew how to look. This made the Goshinboku a perfect place to meditate and train.
This area soon became Kagome's sanctuary. It was during this time that she was at her best. No one was judging her or expecting something from her. She didn't have to pretend to be a Princess, pretend to be prim, proper, and perfect. She was just her. Just a miko honing her craft. As she went through the motions she was able to go back to Kagome, the farm girl training to master her powers. This was something she could hold onto from her old life. One thing about her that wasn't a lie. And if she kept this to herself, well, where was the harm?
…
The afternoon of the announcement was no different, in fact, Kagome's mind was reeling. Sharing her aura with a crowd full of people left her a little weary. So she took time to rest and by afternoon she decided to go clear her head. She needed the calm the forest provided.
Typically Kagome would run her fingertips over the bark of each tree as she passed letting her powers flow, dancing with that of the forest. She wasn't really sure if each tree had an individual aura or if collectively they all shared one, but as her aura would dance with the one(s) around her she would relax. Today though, Kagome walked through the forest with a troubled mind that left her hugging herself while she looked for answers. For even though she had done nothing but train to be a princess for the last three years, today was the first day she actually understood it was soon to be reality. People would be depending on her. She would be looked to as someone more than what she felt, what she really was. And she wasn't sure she was ready for that, ready to be Princess, then eventually Queen, or for anything that came along with the titles.
The deeper into the woods she got and the more she thought about it, she really just didn't like Muso. While she wouldn't say she hated him, she just never saw him. It didn't take Kagome long to discover the barrier in the back corner of the Shiro. And while she wasn't skilled enough to break it, she could feel the auras behind it. Feel the pain, fear, and anxiety of those auras and she couldn't say it made her happy. She had witnessed both Count Naraku and Prince Muso sneak through the barrier when they thought no one was looking. And it made her rather uneasy around her future husband.
So now Kagome was aware of two main questions repeating in her head:
1. Was it wrong to marry without love or even liking the person?
2. If it was, was it too late to do anything about it?
The answers Kagome came up with as she meandered through the forest, were no and yes. It wasn't wrong to marry someone you didn't like, but it wasn't right either. It wasn't ideal, and if the whole world did it there would be nothing but issues. But as it stood her relationship was hardly that of the entire world so she had little to worry about there. As for the second problem, she had given her word, and that had to be enough for her. Though the more she thought about it the more she realized that he hadn't given her a choice, he did threaten to kill her if she refused. Still, she could have, had she so chosen, said "no."
Now, since this little charade began, everyone had told her she was very likely the most powerful miko in the country. And she would soon be the richest as well.
Kagome had to remind herself not to expect too much from life, she needed to be satisfied with what she had. Her family was taken care of and safe. She would have nothing to worry about. She should be grateful, happy even.
The sun was setting by the time Kagome made it to the Goshinboku. She was sure that someone would eventually begin looking for her so today's session would have to be short. She sat down in front of the tree and with her back straight and legs crossed she closed her eyes.
It didn't take long for Kagome to feel the disturbance in the forest. There were two distinct auras approaching the Goshinboku. When she felt them close in she opened one eye and saw what would have probably been considered a normal sight had it not been dusk in the middle of a forest. In front of the Goshinboku and thus in front of her stood a small family of three, a man, a woman, and an infant.
The man had an aura around him similar to her own. He was dressed as a monk and carried a staff. She made note of his one wrapped arm and then looked to the woman next to him. The man was powerful in his own right, but his aura was nothing when compared to the woman's. She was tall with long dark hair wearing a two-tone pink kimono with a green maekake around her waist. It wasn't until Kagome concentrated, that she realized the aura was coming from the bundle the woman was holding. If it weren't for the gigantic boomerang on her back, the woman could have passed for a normal human.
The group was odd to say the least, there was a monk and, judging on the weaponry the woman had, an exterminator with a small demon baby. Meeting them anywhere would have raised alarms in Kagome. Meeting them in the forest was enough to put Kagome on edge. She tried not to squirm as the trio began to approach her.
"We are traveling demon exterminators. We were told of a half demon that terrorized this forest and when he," the woman gestured towards the monk with her head, "noticed the dark cloud hanging over it we figured we would try to help the locals with their issue."
Kagome's already straight back tensed as she eyed the three before her. There was no dark cloud over this forest, it was the most pure area for miles. The monk had to know that, she could feel his power. He wasn't the most powerful human she'd met, but he was by no means weak.
"You were misinformed," Kagome tried to keep her voice even, "The half-demon has been gone for a long time."
"Oh, thank god!" The woman seemed to visibly relax. "It's stressful, demon hunting with a child. But since I'm the only slayer left, I do what I must." The smile on the woman's face almost made Kagome forget the situation, then the baby began to cry.
"Would you mind," The slayer asked, holding the baby towards Kagome, I need to get ready to feed him and his father isn't the best with calming him down.
Kagome stood, dusted herself off, and eyed the baby. He wasn't human, but he was still a baby. She was being biased, assuming he was any worse than a human baby. What if they really were just operating on a mistake? At least that's what she told herself as she reached to take the baby from the woman. "He's adorable."
That was the last thing Kagome remembered. She took the baby, there was a disturbing feeling, followed by the baby expertly messing around inside her, and unconsciousness came.