Phoenix Ash
Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha and co.
Fated
17 years later, at the Tama Palace………
"INUYASHA! Open up this door!" Queen Inutaisho yelled at the top of her lungs, banging with all her might on her son's bedroom door. "Now! Open it now!"
"No!" a voice yelled back, matching that of Queen Inutaisho's.
"Inuyasha! It's for your own good! Come out here and we can talk it over! I mean, you're still going to marry her, but………we can work something out! Inuyasha! Inuyasha!" No sound could be heard within the room. "Arrgh, that stubborn son of mine!" Stomping away, the exasperated queen approached Miroku, one of her husband's advisor's son and also Inuyasha's best friend.
"Good morning, Queen Inutaisho," Miroku greeted in the sweetest of voices. "Where is Inuyasha?"
"He's locked himself in his room again. Miroku, try to convince him for me, will you? It's the engagement thing," Queen Inutaisho informed.
"Ohhhhhhhhh. Yes ma'am." He bowed to the queen and headed off to Inuyasha's room.
Miroku knocked politely and waited for an answer.
"Go away!" a voice berated.
"Oh, I see. So that's how you want it, huh?" Miroku narrowed his eyes. "See ya." He sighed. "And to think you'd want to abuse Jaken with me………he needs punishing for being so ugly………"
"We already did that yesterday!" Inuyasha shouted through the door.
'He's right………" Miroku mused. They had beaten Jaken senseless yesterday. "Then how 'bout we go 'borrow' Sesshoumaru's Tenseiga and have a little fun?"
"And have our asses kicked in the process?"
"Good point. How 'bout sneak out of the palace and take a walk?"
"You sure you don't mean stand and watch you flirt with girls?"
"Umm………" Too right. "Kite flying?"
"String's broken."
"Well, you can fix it."
"Lazy."
"Cricket fight?"
"Mother squashed mine yesterday when she accidentally stepped on it."
"Ew………" Miroku made a face.
"Yeah," Inuyasha agreed from the other side.
"Okay. Then how about horse racing?"
"I always beat you."
Miroku was running out of ideas. "Just open the damn door and let me in!" He bammed his fist against the hard wooden door.
"Who are you to demand?" But Inuyasha got up and opened the door anyways. Miroku shook his head while he entered and closed the door behind them.
Inuyasha plopped down on his bed while Miroku occupied a chair near it.
"So. What ails you today, Prince Inuyasha?" Miroku asked in a joking manner, only to be greeted with a flying pillow. Miroku dodged the attack, but barely. 'Man, Inuyasha's aim's getting better everyday. I guess I should start watchin' what I say………Nah.'
"Cut the crap, Miroku." Inuyasha brought a hand up and laid it on his forehead. "Mother wants to marry me off to some bimbo named Kiki-something. Kikyou was it? I dunno," Inuyasha confessed. "I don't even know her! I don't want to know her!"
"Tell me. Who is this Kikyou that is troubling you so much?" Miroku was obviously playing the part of a patronizing friend that he evidently was not. If a meteor were to strike, he would be the first one out of the palace. Who wouldn't?
"Dunno. Mother said she was from Shikon. She's daughter to one of King Higurashi's advisors. From what I know, she's really close to the royal family over there, as if she were their own daughter or something." Inuyasha reached out for a pillow and covered his face with it.
"Well, you can't really blame them. I mean, their real daughter was kidnapped seventeen years ago. No one has heard of her since then. That's really sad." Truly, he felt sorry for the Higurashi family.
"Yeah yeah yeah. Whatever." Inuyasha heaved a sigh.
"Wait………" Miroku recalled. "Weren't you engaged to her when you were two?"
"Who?"
"You and that Higurashi princess."
"They had another daughter? Since when?"
Miroku rolled his eyes. Inuyasha, the prince that he was, could be so dense sometimes. "No. The one who was taken away. Before she was, King Higurashi and your dad arranged a marriage for you two."
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Her. Well, she's probably dead by now. That's why mother and father are planning another engagement. But that's not the point. What we should focus on is, how can I escape my mother's wrath?"
"You can't," Miroku bluntly stated.
Inuyasha scowled. "That's why we're thinking!"
The room was quiet as both contemplated Inuyasha's situation. After awhile, Miroku spoke. "I know the Queen. She wouldn't call it off once it's been confirmed." Inuyasha removed the pillow and faced a very serious Miroku. "The only way left is to………run away."
Suddenly, Inuyasha snapped his fingers. "Miroku. I've got it. The perfect solution."
"What is it?" Miroku was curious as to what Inuyasha's tiny mind can come up with.
"It's to………run away."
Miroku literally fell off his chair. "Um, I just said that?"
"You did?"
"Uh, yeah! Get your ears checked, man."
"Oh. Oh well. Wanna come along?"
"Wha?" Miroku was caught off guard. "I can't! What would father say if he found out I ran away with you? Besides, I was just kidding! You're not gonna actually do it, are you?"
Miroku glanced at Inuyasha, whose expression informed him that he would. Oh hell.
"Come on, Miroku! It's not such a bad idea! Go with me! It gets pretty lonely, running away by yourself, ya know? Plus, there's someone to lean on if something happens."
Miroku gave Inuyasha a skeptical look. "You? Lonely? As if. Anyways, I'm not going. You can do anything you want. Just leave me out of it. Run away for all I care."
"Come on! Anyways, I'll see you later at…midnight? Remember, we're running away, so bring lots of money, okay?" With that last statement, Inuyasha ran out of his room and into the corridor, leaving Miroku alone and gaping.
"What the………?"
Seconds later, as it finally dawned on him, Miroku raced outside, yelling at the disappearing Inuyasha, "Wait! Where are you going! Who's 'We!' "
Inuyasha yelled something back, but Miroku couldn't make it out. Something about finding his Tesaiga. "What the hell did I get myself into?"
At midnight, two figures could be seen sneaking out of the palace.
"Tell me why I'm doing this," one figure whispered to another, glancing both ways before motioning that it was secure.
"Just because. You should be happy I'm even inviting you," the other figure replied.
"Oh? So you mean, it's an honor getting invited to run away with a hotheaded, conceited, thick—and by that I don't mean fat—aggressive, violent—"
"Keh! Of course it is! And besides, if I get found out, I'll just tell father it was your fault. You suggested it."
"So that's why! You asshole!"
The other figure rolled his eyes. "As if. Besides, think of all the pretty girls you'll meet out there."
"Ah, now that you say that………" There was a glint in his eyes. The pervert.
The two ceased talking as they heard voices in the palace kitchen. Silently as possible, they dashed pass it.
Ten minutes later, after overcoming many maids and guards, the two finally reached the palace gate. There were two guards before it.
"Hey Inuyasha. Did you bring the royal pass?" one of the two figures asked.
"Where's yours?"
"I left it at home."
Inuyasha sighed. It was a good thing he had brought his pass. "It's right here." He brought the pass up so his companion, who was clearly Miroku, could inspect. "How would you ever get on without me?"
Miroku made no response as the two stood up from where they were hiding behind a bush and made their way over to the guards.
Upon hearing footsteps, the sleepy guards jerked to attention. "Who goes there?"
Miroku stepped forward as Inuyasha turned his head and body away, edging behind Miroku, hoping that he wouldn't get recognized.
"It's just me, Miroku, and a friend I brought to visit Prince Inuyasha," Miroku lied as he showed the guard Inuyasha's pass. "We wish to return home."
"Oh! It's just you, Master Miroku." The guard on the right briefly glanced at the pass that Miroku held. Gesturing to the other guard, they both pulled the huge gate open and let Miroku and the 'friend' through. All the while, Inuyasha kept his face hidden.
When they were through, Miroku waved at the guards and exclaimed, "Thank you, dear guards!"
Inuyasha scoffed and nudged Miroku as they walked on, aware of the stares their backs were receiving. "Gotta be polite," Miroku whispered. Again, Inuyasha scoffed.
'Some prince,' Miroku thought. 'No manners. But then again, he can't be helped.'
Once both were out of the guards' sight, they took a deep breath and exhaled, relieving themselves. Sure, they'd sneaked out of the palace a thousand times—heck, a few millions—but this time, it was somehow…different. This time, they wouldn't come back. Not until a very long time. Not until they ran out of money.
"So. Where do we go from here?" Miroku asked. "What's the plan?"
"What plan? There was a plan?"
Miroku slapped his forehead. He should have known. "Okay. Forget that. Where are we gonna go?"
"Somewhere far away from the palace."
Miroku slapped his forehead again. "Right. Let's go to the end of the street and stay there 'til things settle down," Miroku remarked sarcastically. "I mean, that's far."
"Jeez. I didn't mean it that way."
Miroku only sighed.
After a moment of thinking, Inuyasha came up with the best answer he could think of. "How about we………walk aimlessly until we find a suitable place?"
"Any other ideas?"
"No."
Miroku glanced at Inuyasha and shook his head. "What will become of us?"
The next morning………
"Inuyasha! Where are you!" hollered Queen Inutaisho, waking the whole palace, sending King Inutaisho and Sesshoumaru flying through the corridors.
"What is it?" asked King Inutaisho sleepily.
"Inuyasha is missing! I can't find him anywhere!"
"You probably scared him away." King Inutaisho received a glare from his wife.
"Perhaps he ran away," suggested Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha's elder brother.
"No, I don't think so. He'd never do such a thing."
"It was just a suggestion." Sesshoumaru turned and strode back to his room.
"What do you know? He runs away all the time—not from you, off course." King Inutaisho glanced nervously at the woman before him. "He'll come back. He always has."
"But—but—"
"No buts," King Inutaisho confirmed as he stalked away in the opposite direction of his wife.
It had been five weary days of traveling and it finally brought the two companions to Goshinboku, a province village of Shikon.
Miroku grinned broadly at the beautiful maidens passing by. "Never knew Goshinboku had such beauties………"
"Stop droolin', will ya? It's getting all over my clothes," Inuyasha told him. "Just drop it. You're disgusting me out."
Miroku turned away just as he heard a shout erupt through the streets.
"Out of the way, please! Out of the way!"
Inuyasha, busy brushing off something on his shirt, didn't catch the call and remained in his place while Miroku and the crowd parted, leaving him standing in the middle of the street. He hadn't heard the yell, due to the noisy din.
"Inuyasha! Over here!" Miroku called over, standing with the crowd.
"What?" Inuyasha jerked his head up to see Miroku motioning to him. He had no time to decipher what was going on as something—rather someone—collided into him. The momentum was too great, pulling both Inuyasha and the girl—or so it seems, towards the ground.
"Ow!" Inuyasha exclaimed, pushing the girl off of him. "Get offa me!"
He looked sat up and took in his surroundings, noticing first that fish were sprawled everywhere. Gods, there was even one on him. Brushing the fish off, he spotted Miroku coming towards him.
"Inuyasha! Are you okay?" Miroku rushed over, helping his friend up.
"Oh no! Now I have to rewash them!" It was the girl. She was kneeling on the pavement, frantically gathering the fish into a bamboo basket.
Inuyasha glanced down on his soiled haori and wrinkled his nose. He reeked of fish. Then his gaze shifted down to the raven-haired girl beneath him.
She stood up, having finished collecting all of the fallen fish.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" Inuyasha barked when she began to walk away, taking no notice of him.
"What?" The girl looked up, spotting an angry boy.
"I said, watch where you're going!" Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest.
"Me!" the girl questioned, annoyed. "It's you!" Brushing something off of her shoulder, she started to scurry away, but Inuyasha caught her arm. "What do you want?"
"An apology," Inuyasha demanded.
"You don't deserve one," the girl spat out. "Let go of my arm. I'm very busy!"
"Not until you apologize. Unlike you, I am not busy. I can stand her forever, waiting for that apology, if needed. So apologize, and I'll let you go." Inuyasha stood, calm and composed, as if he had all the time in the world.
"Inuyasha, just let her go," Miroku intervened.
Ignoring Miroku, "Hurry up now. You said so yourself you were busy. All it takes is 'I'm so sorry I bumped into you, mister,' and you'll never have to see me again!" Boy, was that an understatement.
"I don't need to apologize to people like you," the girl sneered. "What's the point if you don't mean it? Besides, it's your fault!" With that, she kicked Inuyasha's shin.
Immediately, Inuyasha released her arm. Snickering, the girl dashed away before he could get at her. "That bitch!" Inuyasha shouted, rubbing his bruised leg.
Miroku sighed. "Inuyasha, you are just SAD. Really, you are."
"Shut up!" Inuyasha elbowed the laughing Miroku.
"Hey, that was uncalled for!"
"Keh! If I see her again, she's gonna pay!"
"Alright, alright. Just forget it. Technically, it is your fault, you know. She did call out a warning. But you, the idiot you always were and is, just stood there."
The two were now strolling down the street, looking out for a suitable restaurant. The pain inflicted on Inuyasha's leg had subsided after much rubbing.
"How was I supposed to know? How often does a girl carrying a basket of fish come running through the streets hollering, 'Get out of the way?'!" Inuyasha questioned smugly. 'Let's see you answer this one.'
Suddenly, an old man popped between Inuyasha and Miroku. "Everyday." Then he popped back. Inuyasha sweatdropped. 'Okaaaaaaaaaaay………Weird.'
"Um…I believe that answers your question." Miroku doubled over in laughter at the expression on Inuyasha's face. He pointed to a building up in front. "Come on. Spring Blossom, huh? This restaurant looks promising!"
Kagome rushed into the kitchen of Spring Blossom, the restaurant in which she worked in.
"What took you so long?" asked her best friend, Sango. "The customers are complaining!"
"Sango!" Kagome dumped the basket of fish into a water-filled bucket. "You have to help me clean them!" She began rolling up her sleeves.
"What! You haven't cleaned them yet!" Sango kneeled down, helping her friend.
"I did!" Kagome exclaimed, pulling out a bucket. "Some jerk bumped into me and the fish spilled to the ground! He wouldn't let me go! He told me to apologize, but I refused 'cause it wasn't my fault. It was his! So you see, I was delayed!"
"Kagome!" a voice called from outside the kitchen. It was their owner, Yura. "Come out here! I need you to wait on some tables! It's crowded out here and there's not enough waiters!"
"Coming!" Kagome yelled, drying her hands on a piece of cloth beside her. "Sango, wash them for me? Please?" She pointed at the fish.
"Right." Sango sighed. "The things I do for you."
"I love you, Sango!"
"You always say that."
"Oh well." Kagome led herself out of the kitchen and into the dining room, where customers were either enjoying their food or just waiting. She spotted Yura and trotted over.
"Mistress Yura?" Kagome lightly tapped the woman's shoulder.
Yura turned around. "Oh, Kagome! The table over on the balcony needs a waiting!"
"Yes ma'am!" Making her way to the table, she saw…HIM. But as fate had it, he had seen her first and had shot up from his seat.
"What the hell are you doing here? Stalker!" The white-haired boy was fuming. She could tell by the way he kept clenching and unclenching his fists.
"Stalker? Excuse me, but I work here!" Kagome yelled back, equally angry. "What would you like, sir?" She turned her attention to the young man beside him, ignoring the furious boy.
"Just bring out your best dishes," the man replied sweetly.
"In that case, please wait a few moments," Kagome informed as she walked back to the kitchen.
"Hey! Wait!" yelled the boy behind her. Kagome ignored him. Who does he think he is, a prince? Yeah right………
Little did Kagome know that her guess wasn't that far off………
Kagome stomped into the kitchen with such force and hatred that all of the other occupants in the kitchen who were chatting excitedly quieted down and turned away.
"What's wrong?" Sango asked, finally finished rewashing the fish.
"I saw HIM again!"
"Him? Who's he?" She glanced at Kagome, who was splattering oil into a large frying pan.
"They guy who bumped into me, that's who!" Kagome picked up a knife and proceeded to chop some carrots. "He even accused me of stalking him, that jerk! I can't believe him! Sango, hand me the celery, will you?"
Sango did as requested. "So what are you going to do about it?" Kagome was busy chopping some peppers. When she was done, she added it to the pan, along with other ingredients, and began stirring it.
"I'm gonna make it so spicy, he'll pee in his pants! Teach him to mess with me!" With that, Kagome gave a loud and hearty cackle. Oh my.
Sango sweatdropped. Sometimes, times like these, Kagome really scared her.
A few minutes later, Kagome handed Sango a delicious looking platter of food. "This goes to the two young men sitting at table on the balcony," Kagome explained, smiling a sweet but devious smile. "Tell them to enjoy."
Just who were these people that could have affected Kagome this much? Sango pondered. Well, she was going to find out. Approaching the table Kagome indicated, she noticed a grumpy looking boy with silver white hair and another handsome boy with black hair, tied into a small ponytail. Setting down the platter, she said pleasantly, "Please enjoy."
The boy with golden eyes glanced once at her while the other kept on staring at her. Sango felt really uncomfortable under his gaze and was about to walk away when he spoke.
"Beautiful lady, what is your name?" Sango was flattered. Never had anyone addressed her so. 'These guys don't seem to bad,' she mused.
"Sango, sir."
"Sango," he repeated. "What a beautiful name for a beautiful lady. It fits you."
Sango blushed. 'Really, I don't see why Kagome hates them.' Suddenly, Sango felt a hand brush her rear. HIS hand. The one who was complimenting her just a while ago.
"Oops! Accident!" he casually stated.
Livid anger riling up inside, Sango held back the urge to smack him then and there.
She would have liked to, but she knew she couldn't. What if Yura saw? She'd get fired for sure. And there were way too many people here. She'd attract too much attention. Gritting her teeth together, she gave him a death glare. "Please enjoy, sir."
All good thoughts Sango had had for the pair jumped out the window. The only thing she could do was stomp away, which was what she did.
"Wait! I'm Miroku, by the way!" the other boy yelled.
"My ass!" Stomping into the kitchen, very much like Kagome, she yelled, "I can't believe him! That jerk!"
"What, Sango?" Kagome asked eagerly. "Did he eat it? Did he eat it?"
"No," her friend replied bluntly. "But he groped me! He violated me! THE PERVERT!"
"He what!" Kagome couldn't believe her ears. First, the guy bumped into her and demanded an apology. Then he showed up at the restaurant with his friend and called her a stalker. And NOW, he just groped her best friend! It was just unforgivable. She didn't know it, but she was mixing the story up.
Kagome was about to avenge Sango when the said girl stopped her.
"It's okay, Kagome," she retorted, still angry. "Don't. You'll only get in trouble. Come on, we got to get working before Yura finds out that we're dallying. You can't afford to get fired," Sango reminded.
"But he—"
"It's alright. Besides, didn't you prepare them a little something? Just get back to work for now."
"Yeah yeah," Kagome answered sullenly, thinking of all the chores before her. Sango and another girl began slicing a portion of beef while Kagome stirred a pot of soup, using a pair of chopsticks.
Suddenly, a shriek erupted from the dining area. Dropping her chopsticks, Kagome dashed out of the room, grinning evilly. "That's my cue!"
Inuyasha was on fire. He felt as if his mouth was burning. He was gagging, convulsing, trembling violently.
"Inuyasha! Inuyasha!" Miroku yelled over the loud din, handing him yet another cup of water.
Inuyasha drained it in a second. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the HER, leisurely strolling to his table.
"May I help you?" she asked, amiably, innocently.
"What—did—you—put—in—here!" Inuyasha demanded between huge gasps of air, pointing to the dish.
"Oh, nothing really!" the girl answered. "Your friend asked for our best dishes! As you had requested, we've brought out our top dish, which is also one of our spiciest. If you don't like spicy food, you should have told us sooner!"
What the hell? Her act was just too obvious. It was clear she had done this to rile him. "BITCH! You did this on purpose! I know you did!" Inuyasha stood up, pointing an accusing finger at her.
"Surely you must be mistaken!" she said in a phony tone.
Never in his life had Inuyasha punched a girl before. But this girl, she just wanted to get punched! Inuyasha raised a fist.
"Calm down, Inuyasha!" Miroku tried his best to pin Inuyasha down, but one more remark from that girl would result in serious harm.
"Inuyasha? Is that your name?" the girl asked in a mock pity.
Inuyasha could tell she was retraining from breaking into fitful laughter. "Got a problem?" he growled dangerously. How dare she mock him! A prince as he! She was passing the borderline and she didn't even know it!
"No," she replied. "It just fits your status." Now she laughing. Wickedly, to say the least.
From the counter, a shout interrupted the arguing duo. "Kagome! You're needed in the kitchen!"
"Yes ma'am!" the girl, Kagome, yelled over her shoulder.
"Until next time, Inuyasha," she said, slowing emphasizing each part of his name before returning to her position.
All the while, Miroku just sat there, enjoying the lovely fight.
When she was gone, Inuyasha let out a long string of profanities. They were so intense that even Miroku had to cover his ears, blocking out the nasty, evil words.
'Kagome, huh?' Inuyasha mused, standing up abruptly and signaling to Miroku. "Hey, we're leaving!"
'I swear I'll get you………if it's the last thing I do………'
Kagome slowly opened the door of the crude shack she shared with her grandmother. "I'm home, Kaede ba-chan!" she exclaimed, only to be greeted by a couple of coughs. Quickly, she shed her shoes and made her way into her grandmother's room, where she found Kaede in bed.
"Kagome………" Kaede tried to sit up.
"Don't sit up, ba-chan." She gently but firmly pushed Kaede back down. "You're ill. You shouldn't be up."
"But I—" she was cut off as she began to cough violently.
"See?"
Smiling, Kaede complied.
"Ba-chan, stay here while I prepare your remedy, okay?" Standing up, Kagome led herself out of the room.
Kaede sighed. She was getting old, she knew. Somehow, she had the feeling that she wouldn't be able to live much longer. But even so, she was content to die at 57. She had had a good life, or at least better than most of the people she knew. Before Kagome, she had lived a lonely life with only herself to care. She had no other relatives, not any that she could come in contact with anyways. Then, that fateful day 17 years ago………She had gone to the Shikon Capital to merchandise. On that same night, as she rode back to Goshinboku, she had found Kagome.
Kaede remembered she had heard a cry while she was riding home. When she glanced down, she noticed a bundle she hadn't seen before when she boarded her carriage. A moving, wailing bundle. Alert, she took it in her arms and noticed it was a baby. At that time, she had thought, 'A baby! What is this little one doing here?" Scared out of her wits, she had immediately turned back. She spent the whole day after that walking around the Capital, asking every person if they had lost their child. It turned out no one had, and so she went home, back to Goshinboku, child in arms. Soon enough, she discovered the infant's name was Kagome, due to a slip of paper that she had overlooked, regarding what little identity the infant had.
As days passed into months, and months to years, whoever thought that such an infant would morph into a beautiful lady?
And as time grew, so did their affections for each other.
All in all, Kaede was proud of herself for doing a splendid job raising Kagome, but she couldn't help but feel a little guilty. Sure, she had provided the best protection for Kagome, but she couldn't protect her from everything.
Kaede thought back at the times when Kagome, five or six, would ask about her parents. Each time Kagome had asked that question, she literally froze. "What makes you say that, Kagome?" she would ask. Kagome would retell of her day and how her friends always ask her where her parents were and why her parents hadn't come visit her. Kaede didn't want to break the young one's heart and tell the truth, that she had no parents. That she was found in a carriage.
So instead, she covered it up by saying, "Kagome-chan, your parents are very busy. They have no time to spare. But! They told me that if you are a good girl, then they'd try to come visit. As usually, Kagome would exclaim, "Really!" in a tone that always broke Kaede's heart. Kaede would nod to confirm the lie.
Sometimes, Kaede would find Kagome sitting in front of the hut her chin propped on her hands; waiting. Gazing at the passersby, hoping that any minute, two people would walk up to her and call her name; would embrace her and tell her they were her parents, that had they missed her so much.
Seeing Kagome like this, tears would threaten to fall from Kaede's eyes; and often, it did.
But as she grew up, Kagome ceased to ask those questions, ceased to sit continuously in front of the hut.
Kaede knew she had to tell her granddaughter the truth sometime…but she didn't know how. "How would she take it if she found out?" she mused out loud.
"Take what?" Kagome was just outside the room, holding a small bowl of brown liquid.
"Nothing. Nothing at all," Kaede hid.
"If you say so, ba-chan. Here, it's ready." Kagome set the bowl on a stand beside the bed and helped Kaede into a sitting position. Handing the bowl to Kaede, she sat and watched tentatively, making sure she drank every single drop.
Kaede sipped the bitter fluid. When she was done, she returned it to Kagome, who set it once more on the stand.
"Ba-chan, how do you feel? Any better?"
"A little, yes."
"That's good." Kagome picked up the blanket that was kicked off onto the floor and draped it onto Kaede.
"So, how was your day?"
"Horrible." Kagome frowned.
"How so?"
"I met the cockiest, most aggressive, repugnant guy ever!"
Kaede noticed her granddaughter's brow furrow in anger and chuckled. "Really now? Just what did this young man to do that has upset my Kagome so much?"
"You know how the restaurant is cramped with customers these days and how busy that makes me? Well, we ran out of fish, so I had to go fetch some. On my way back, this guy bumped into me and grabbed hold of my arm, demanding an apology. Imagine that, ba-chan!" Kagome was now fully into telling her story. "So I kicked him—"
"Oh my!"
"—and rushed back to the restaurant. And then, as if it wasn't worse enough, he was there too! We had an argument and he groped Sango!"
"I see………" Kaede nodded, a smile creeping onto her wrinkled face.
"But ba-chan, don't worry yourself over trivial things. Right now, we have to concentrate on getting you better." Kagome laid Kaede back down and brought the blanket up so that she wouldn't get cold. "I have to go back to work now, ba-chan. There are so many customers these days." Rising, she planted a kiss on Kaede's cheek.
"Alright. Take care, dear." Closing her eyes, Kaede tried to sleep.
"I will. I'll see you later, ba-chan." Kagome waved and left the hut.
Kagura fought against the urge to rub her stinging cheek as Naraku towered over her limp form on the floor.
"Kagura. Tsk tsk tsk. You are such a naughty girl."
"What………what do you want?" Kagura spat.
"Do you remember, Kagura, 17 years ago?" His voice was smooth, silky. "I asked you but a small favor………and you deceived me. You have truly broken my heart."
"What heart?" Kagura sneered. "What the hell do you want? I got other things to do than to chat with you."
Naraku turned his back to her. "You didn't kill that Higurashi princess."
"And so?" Kagura brought herself up and glared daggers at Naraku's back. 'So, he knows. It took him 17 years to finally figure it out,' she mused. "What of it?"
"Under normal circumstances, I would have killed you."
"Then why don't you?" Kagura stood up and dusted her kimono. "I would rather cease to exist than do your dirty work."
"Dirty work. Is that what you call it? I call them favors."
Kagura scoffed. "You're messed. I'll ask again. What do you want? So I did not kill the princess and you found out. And you're so kind, you're letting me live. So tell me, Naraku. What is it you have up your sleeve? "
Naraku only grinned. "You know me so well. Though I will say, I was repulsed by the fact that you had fooled me; but I am also relieved you did not send the princess to the other world." Naraku turned around and pulled out a stool. Seating himself, he poured some tea and sipped it. "I have another favor to ask of you, Kagura."
"Gee, Naraku. You sure ask a lot of favors," she stated sarcastically.
Naraku ignored the remark. "I want you to find that princess and bring her back to me. She will become of great use to me."
Kagura snatched the cup that Naraku occupied and set it back on the table. She couldn't understand him. He was an enigma to her. First, he wanted her to kill the Higurashi princess. And now that he'd found out the princess wasn't dead, instead of being furious, he was actually happy? And he wanted her to locate and bring back the princess?
Kagura shook her head. "Do it yourself. Don't you already know where she is? Just tell Goshinki to get her."
"You will attend to this, Kagura," he commanded, never breaking eye contact with her. "And unfortunately, I do not know where she is. I have consulted Kanna's mirror. It showed me a faint figure of a girl, her face blurred. Nothing can be done to determine her features. That is why you will search for her manually. You have 6 months to bring her before me." Naraku rose from his seat and started to head out of the main room of his fortress.
"What?" It was too much for her to take in at one time. She was to find the princess in 6 months? With no clues or lead? It was impossible. "I'm not doing this!"
"If I were you, I'd get to work. After all, you only have 6 months. And it's a big world," Naraku remarked over his shoulder, ignoring her previous declaration.
Kagura scowled. Who the hell did he think he was? Whipping out her fan, she gathered a ring of wind and released it at his retreating back.
But the attack didn't even touch him. It dispersed before it ever got to him. "Ah, what a refreshing breeze," he commented, chuckling as purple mist encircled him. He was gone.
"6 months? How the hell am I supposed to find her! Damn you, Naraku!" Enraged, Kagura banged her fist onto the table.
"Kikyou, play with me!" begged the young prince, hopping up and down.
"Not now, Souta. I can't play with you now. I've told you that already. Go play with the maids or something and stop pestering me!" Kikyou made an annoyed face.
The two were in the palace's garden. For a while now, Souta had incessantly demanded her to play with him. It wasn't that she couldn't, she just didn't feel like it at the moment. That and Souta's nagging were giving her a headache.
"But they're no fun!" Souta pointed out. "No matter what game we play, they always let me win! Besides, I'm the prince! You have to do as I say or I'll tell Mama! Come on, Kikyou! Please?" He clutched her hand and yanked on it hard.
"Hey, let go!" Kikyou snatched her hand back and pushed Souta away from her.
Just then, a maid approached them. "Lady Kikyou, the queen requested to see you." Turning to Souta, "It's time for your bath, your highness."
"Tell her I will meet her shortly," Kikyou replied.
"Yes, Lady." The maid ushered Souta forward, escorting him to the bathing room. "Your highness, this way."
"I know," Souta let out. "And don't call me that! Why is it always 'Your highness' and 'Young prince'? Why can't they just call me by my first name?" Annoyed, he stomped past the maid.
"Because you're the prince," Kikyou heard the maid answer, which quickly followed behind Souta.
Kikyou released a smile at the young boy's receding back. Souta could be so irritating sometimes, she thought, but he was so cute, especially when he was mad.
A while later, when she reached the queen's room, Kikyou noticed that the door was slightly ajar. Knocking gently, she peeked her head in. "Your Highness, are you in there?"
"Come in, Kikyou," a voice from within the room invited. The queen's voice.
"Did you send for me, Majesty?" Kikyou entered the room, spotting the queen sitting at her table. Before her laid piles of food.
"Have a seat." Queen Higurashi gestured to the stool across the table. Kikyou complied. "Have you eaten yet? I was hoping to spend lunch with you."
"No, I haven't," Kikyou confessed, looking up to see the queen smiling, something she rarely did. There weren't many times when the queen had smiled, expressing happiness. The queen was a cheerless person.
Every time Kikyou looked into her eyes, she could see pain and depression; and it never left her eyes. It was always there. Sometimes, she acted happy, but Kikyou knew better. Whoever would rejoice when their daughter had been missing for 17 whole years?
Ever since Kikyou could remember, Queen Higurashi had always been kind to her, loved her as if she were her own daughter. She had always been by her side, letting her have her way, and sometimes, allowing her the forbidden. Kikyou loved the queen as if she were her own mother.
"Then let's dine." Queen Higurashi picked up her pair of chopsticks and proceeded to eat. Kikyou did the same. "I talked to the king the other day. He said he was arranging a marriage for you and the Tama prince."
Kikyou's heart did a small somersault. She had seen the two princes of Tama, both strikingly handsome. Although so, she had her eye on the younger prince, Prince Inuyasha. One time, when he had come to Shikon to discuss about the alliance between the Shikon and Tama Kingdoms, she had stolen a glance of him had fallen head over heals for him.
"Which one?" Kikyou asked, hoping it would be the second prince.
"The second prince," Queen Higurashi replied, much to Kikyou's joy.
"Really?" Kikyou couldn't believe her luck. She couldn't think of anyone that could be happier than her at that moment.
The queen nodded to confirm the question. "From the last time I'd seen him, he's grown into quite a handsome young man, if I do say so myself."
Kikyou lightly blushed. 'Inuyasha………'
Kagura was sipping a cup of tea at Spring Blossom. It had been 3 days since her encounter with Naraku at his fortress. Wandering around for 3 whole days, Kagura had made her way into Goshinboku, a small province town of Shikon.
She hadn't started on her assignment yet. Truth was, she didn't know where to start. After all, it had been 17 years ago. In that number of years, a baby had matured into a young woman. How was she to track her down? It was truly impossible to do.
All she remembered was that that night, she had been in the Capital and had left the baby in a carriage. An old woman had driven the carriage—and the baby—to some unknown destination.
"Miss, do you need anything else?" a pleasant voice broke her concentration—not that she had been concentrating………much……… Kagura glanced up at the owner of the voice and noticed a pretty young waiter standing beside her table. Somehow, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she had seen this girl's eyes before. She knew she had seen them somewhere, but she couldn't place it.
"Miss, are you okay?" the waiter asked.
Kagura noticed that she was staring and turned her gaze away. She answered yes and waived the girl off. Little did she know that the person she had been trying to locate was the girl she had just spoken to.