A.N. Hi guys! I'm so sorry this took so long! I'm not sure if it is as long as I wanted it to be, but it IS seven pages on Microsoft Word!

This chapter may be a bit weird. I think my imagination is becoming cloudy. The next [chapter may take a bit more time than it took for this one.

I know, you guys are heartbroken. .

Guys, I love reviews. If it is to say you love it, I'll reply. If it is constructive criticism, I'll reply. If it is a bunch of mean crap, I'll reply! I reply to everything!

So feel free to review!

Chapter Two

"Now, daughter, it is time for you to get a husband," the Queen herself sat on Kagome's Queen sized bed, fingering the lace sewed onto the edges of the soft, warm and fluffy blanket.

"Mother, not this again," Kagome hid under the covers as she had done when she was a child, not wanting to be woken up. "Kagome, you are almost 18! You should be married by now!"

Kagome squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to open them once more. She hated it when her mother began to act like a Queen, instead of her mother. She knew it was her duty, but Kagome had always wanted her mother to be just that: a mother. A normal mother who didn't keep pressuring her to marry!

"But Mother, I can't seem to find anyone who sparks my interest," Kagome argued. "Ah, but you see, that is where you're wrong. I saw how you flirted with Prince Kouga, how you couldn't take your eyes off of him and kept on smiling when he just happened to be around," the Queen's eyes sparkled mischievously. "He likes to be called Kouga," Kagome mumbled, thinking over her mother's words. Was she right? True, she had experimented with flirting, but the key word there was experimenting. She couldn't take her eyes off of him because of his eyes. And she was always smiling because he could make her smile, not because she was in love with him!

"You are already at the point where you take out the titles! Interesting! As they say, it's love at first sight!" The Queen's happy voice interrupted Kagome's thoughts and, with a feeling of dread in her stomach, watched as her mother danced out the door and into her own. What had she done? And most importantly, what was her mother going to do now that she thought she cared for Kouga? Not that she didn't, but it was more in friendship.

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"Kagome, Her Majesty would like to see you in her study," Kagome's messenger, the small Shippo, chirped cheerfully. Kagome smiled warmly at the boy. She had found him when he was out in the cold rain, shivering in his sleep. Being the kind hearted Kagome she was, the Princess wrapped him in her jacket and carried him into the Palace, insisting he was going to live in the Palace with her and her family. Yet, he was chosen to be a messenger. He was Souta's first, but he always stopped by Kagome's room, therefore not as quick as he was told to be, and was chosen to be Kagome's messenger.

Kagome smiled at the memory. She had gotten a cold after that day.

Shippo waited for her reply patiently as Kagome studied him. He had grown so much. He was much taller than the time when she had found him, and he didn't look so skinny after the Palace began to feed him well. His bright red hair, once very short, could be tied in a short ponytail as it grew and grew, refusing to cut it. His green eyes, full of eagerness and enthusiasm, sparkled with a special boyish-ness that no one possessed.

"I'll go right after I change, Shippo," Kagome replied after a moment's pause. Shippo nodded and ran out, not wanting to keep Kagome from changing.

Kagome couldn't help but laugh softly at his reaction. She pulled out a long green robe and covered her head with the hood that was much too large for her head. But the color green fit her well, and she just couldn't find anything for the occasion. Her mother had taught her well.

She walked quickly to the giant room, and stood staring at the large wooden wall that had the words engraved in gold, "The Royal Study." No one could be sure if the King or Queen would use it, so they had simply engraved The Royal Study.

She finally raised a hand to knock softly, and turn the shining gold doorknob to the right, the white shoes she had worn to the Festival drumming rhythmically upon the carpet.

She curtsied low when she saw her mother, dress grandly as usual with the crown circling her usual bun, and Kouga. Why was he here? Kagome replayed her conversation with the Queen in her mind. She couldn't have taken that seriously, could she?

"Princess Kagome, I have decided you are to be engaged to Prince Kouga. If Prince Kouga agrees, of course."

She would.

The prince bowed his head in thought, but brought it up in about two seconds. "I would be honored. But I suggest you let your daughter choose as well." Kagome felt an instant rush of affection and gratefulness for this young man. He gave her the freedom to choose. She opened her mouth to speak. "I-"

"We talked of this this morning, Kouga. You need not worry. Although it is very kind of you, I must add," the Queen interrupted her own daughter, her voice calm and measured. It would have fooled anyone but her own family. Kagome could hear the guilt in her voice, and felt the affection for Kouga melt into boiling fury for her own mother.

She did not listen as Queen Higurashi discussed the details with Kouga, who was listening intently, leaning forwards just a bit and staring at Kagome. Kagome was too busy thinking of ways to get out of this situation. She could run away, but that would hurt everyone. She could simply come out and say she did not wish to marry, but that would hurt everyone as well, and her mother would force her to marry, leaving Kouga having to wed her knowing she did not love him. There was no way out.

Kagome didn't even think of the possibility of Kouga deciding to cancel the wedding himself. He was much too in love with her. Kagome could see that.

"Princess Higurashi?" The Queen interrupted her thinking and began to look at her curiously. She had clearly asked her a question or spoke to her. "Yes, Mother?" Kagome asked, widening her eyes a tad, trying to look innocent. "What will I do with you, my daughter? You are forever losing focus. I asked you if you would like to go riding with Prince Kouga," The Queen smiled fondly. "I'd be delighted. I just need to change into my riding clothes," Kagome curtsied low, and walked out gracefully out of the beautiful room. "Whip her into shape, my future son," she heard her mother joke as the princess opened the door.

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"Kouga!" Kagome waved gaily, and ran over to her white stallion. "Hi, boy. Want an apple?" Kagome brought out an apple from her hand, which she had been hiding behind her riding dress.

The dress was a soft pink, almost the color of peach. It was a few inches above her ankle, and was loose and comfortable. Her shoes were simple black riding boots. Her hair was tied into a neat ponytail.

While Kagome's stallion munched on the apple, Kouga and Kagome began to talk.

"What do you think of the engagement?" Kouga asked, resting an elbow on his own black mare's dark leather saddle. "Well, I don't know what to think of it. Unbelievable, I must say," Kagome answered, stroking the silver mane. "I see." Kouga smiled. He must have thought it was in a good way, Kagome thought.

"Well, let us ride!" Kouga declared in a strong voice, lending Kagome a hand, waiting for her to take it and use it to get on her stallion. "Your assistance is not needed," Kagome commented in an amused voice. Kouga, deep in his thoughts, had not realized Kagome was already seated on her ride. Kouga smiled graciously, and bowed. He swung his leg over the mare, and they began to ride past the Royal Gardens.

"The Royal Gardens are very beautiful," Kouga commented. Kagome's fair face beamed with pride, an emotion that matched her grin and posture. "Thank you. I tend to them myself," Kagome smiled fondly at the rosebushes as their horses walked by, their hooves clicking comfortably on the stone path. "You have an excellent taste," Kouga smiled warmly at his fiancé. "Thank you. I'm glad you think that," Kagome turned to smile back at Kouga, her smile not as warm as his but warm enough to satisfy Kouga.

They began to talk about many things. They joked of the people of the court, of the people who had visited the Festival, and imitated their dancing.

As Kagome began to pretend to be a young man at the age of 20 dancing clumsily, she began to fall as she let go of her reigns. "Watch out!" Kouga caught her in his strong and muscled arm. Kagome wrapped her hands around his biceps and pulled herself back up. "Thank you," Kagome turned her head away to hide her red cheeks. But Kouga saw them, and he smiled. "I'd do anything for you, Kagome," Kouga's voice was so full of love and affection that Kagome couldn't help but feel guilty for not returning his feelings. He was a great man. Why couldn't she accept that and wed him?

Because you believe in true love, Kagome told herself. She always had. She would marry anyone if she believed she loved him. A peasant, a farmer; even a servant.

Kouga interrupted her thoughts as he began to discuss the wedding.

"I could see that you weren't listening," Kouga smiled as Kagome blushed. "We decided that white is a boring color, and we wanted to try something different. So the color is going to be red. We're going to make it a big wedding, and we'll make it as fun as possible, so the children won't fall asleep. She said that you used to fall asleep at weddings and funerals all the time," Kouga's eyes sparkled. Kagome's cheeks darkened.

"We went over so much more, but that part even bored me, honestly. She was talking about wedding dresses," Kouga made a face, mocking and exaggerating his disgust. The red from Kagome's cheeks disappeared as she opened her mouth to let out a carefree laugh.

They were soon at the Higurashi Palace, towering over their faces. Kouga helped Kagome down from the stallion after jumping off his own mare. Kagome smiled as Kouga took her in his arms bridal style when she stumbled. Why was she falling so often?

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The Higurashi royal family began to walk down the aisle once more, as they had the day before.

Queen Higurashi looked casual yet majestic in her purple long sleeve shirt and a golden skirt that stopped below her knees. Her shoes were comfortable black ballet flats. Her hair looked as same as always, tied in a bun with the royal crown, shining brightly outside in the warm smiling sun, circling the little ball of raven black hair.

Princess Kagome Higurashi would have blended in the crowd, if she had not had the circlet placed gently on the top of her head. The green dress, stopping below her knees as her mother's skirt, had a thin black scarf wrapped twice around her thin waist and tied in a beautiful knot at the side. Her shoes were casual white and silver sneakers. Her gray long sleeve shirt, tight fitting as her mother's, popped out of the dress's cap sleeves. Her hair was brushed to the shine, and tied into a braid.

The Prince of the Higurashi family was next. Adorned in a casual white T shirt and jeans with black sneakers, he walked with a sense of dignity that set him apart from the crowd. His own crown, smaller than his mother's, revealed his pride of being a Higurashi.

Although many were smitten by their appearance, they could not take their eyes off of the Prince walking beside Princess Kagome Higurashi, who had her hands wrapped around his arm.

Prince Kouga did his best to shine and stand straight up and tall. His eyes showed them how proud he was to be where he stood now, and how much he loved this woman who had captured his heart. He looked just like Prince Souta, but with a brown T shirt.

"Excuse me?" Princess Higurashi stepped up instead of the Queen, asking for silence instead of the crowd exchanging rumors and gossip.

The crowd hushed.

"Thank you." The obviously nervous woman cleared her throat uneasily. "I know you are expecting my mother here, and I'm sorry if you are disappointed. I am here to announce my engagement to the most darling Prince Kouga of the North," the Princess turned to her fiancé, who bowed proudly and grinned from side to side. "Much of you know of my sister's failing in training. She has been released of the responsibility of being Queen. I am to begin my training soon and one day be able to rule you all with my husband standing firmly beside me, catching me when I fall or stumble," Kagome smiled at those few words, remembering when he had caught her a number of times during the ride. Was she really that horrible at riding a horse? "I also want to assure you Prince Kouga will be a fine Prince. And now, let the Fair start!"

The confident and excited Princess stepped off the stage after taking her fiancé's arm. Was this how her mother felt like after she made a speech? How did she keep the grin that Kagome now had from spreading across her face?

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Queen Higurashi beamed with pride at the response to her daughter's speech. Her daughter had gotten the gift as well.

From her father. Her father had always been able to add sincerity and honesty into everything he said. Yet this feeling...Of sadness. Oh, my love, I miss you so. Will you ever be back into my life?

Enough sad thoughts!

The Queen abandoned her thoughts to focusing on her daughter and Prince Kouga.

I am so sorry, daughter. But you need a husband to gain the Throne. I know you do not love him.

Then she noticed Kouga had not eaten anything but meat. And they did not have much meat left.

We'll need a new servant.