Phoenix Ash

Disclaimer/AN: I'd like 2 say now that if u wanna see the disclaimer, look in the 1st chapter cuz I'm 2 lazy 2 post it every time.

Kiss it Goodbye

It took Miroku a while, but he finally found his way to the servant quarters. After crossing many courtyards and buildings, he reached the kitchen.

There were about five maids inside, busily bustling about, trying to prepare the king's lunch in time. The smell of sweet roasted pork met Miroku's nose. He shifted a little to see a maid frantically chopping carrots. Behind her, another lifted the lid of a pan, releasing smoke. Next to her where two maids setting prepared dishes onto a tray, ready for the king.

Miroku approached the maid with the carrot and tapped her shoulder. "Miss………"

"What!" The maid dropped her knife and abruptly turned around in a flying frenzy. She saw whom she was addressing and immediately apologized. "Oh! I'm terrible sorry, Mister! I didn't know it was you!" She bowed thrice to show her apologies.

Miroku raised a hand and stopped her before her fourth bow. "It's ok. I need a maid to clean a mess."

The maid nodded. "Yes, sir. I'll send one right away. To where, sir?"

"To Lord Inuyasha's chamber, in the North Wing."

The maid bowed again. "Yes, sir. To the North Wing." She picked up her dropped knife and began at her carrots again.

Taking his cue, Miroku bid his goodbye and headed for Inuyasha's room.

Neither said a word as they stared menacingly at each other, refusing to back down.

"Shoot it," the taller of the two grinded out.

"You first!" the figure on the floor equally shot back, gathering herself up coolly without glancing away. However, she was met with no answer as the two continued glaring viciously at one another.

As he stared, a wave of emotions swept over him. Shock, disbelief, anger, relief. Speaking of the latter………He inwardly sighed and smirked. 'I'm so gonna repay her………hell yeah!' Now, staring harder, Inuyasha conveyed her an I'm-gonna-take-you-down glare.

Sensing the message, she glared evenly back with a Not-if-I-take-you-down-first.

Inuyasha growled as Kagome clenched her fists. They continued on like this for a while, oblivious to all that was around them until Miroku reentered.

"I'm back."

Struck back into reality by the voice, Kagome abruptly adverted her eyes from Inuyasha's unwillingly.

Miroku's gaze bounced on Inuyasha, the broken vase, and the girl Kagome, whom he had seen twice in Goshinboku. Wait a— "What the—"

"Oh my—."

All eyes turned to the new voice. There in the doorway stood Sango, just as shocked as the rest of them. "Kagome? What's going on?"

"That's what I'd like to know," Inuyasha threw in as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Sango turned to him. "And what are you doing here? I thought we left you guys eating dirt in Goshinboku!"

"Quite unexpected," Miroku chimed in, frowning from her unique choice of words. "But we're here, as you are. We're guests of the palace."

"No kidding!" Kagome scoffed, throwing Inuyasha a skeptical glance.

At the comment, Inuyasha scowled.

"Actually," Miroku started, "Inuyasha is—"

"Figure it out yourself, if you're so interested," Inuyasha cut him off, for some reason not wanting his identity revealed. "All you need to know is that I'm a guest." He looked Kagome up and down idly, noticing her palace uniform. "And by the looks of it, you're to serve me."

This time, it was Kagome's turn to scowl. "Drop dead! So I'm a maid, lower than your status by some degrees—"

"WAY lower."

"—but that don't mean I gotta serve you. And I'm not gonna." She stuck her tongue out at him challengingly.

Inuyasha ignored it. "We'll see about that."

"Anyways," Sango interrupted, getting to the matter at hand of her summoning, "I was sent here to clean something. I'd like to carry it out, so I can finish my many other chores before nightfall."

Kagome gasped as she remembered the forgotten vase. "Sango! The vase!"

"Aha!" Inuyasha jumped in., pointing and accusing finger. "You broke it, didn't you? It was you!"

"Just shut up," was all Kagome said as she scuttled to the vase and began gathering up the scattered shards. "It's all my fault! This wouldn't have happened if I had been more careful. Sango, help me!"

"Kagome, how can you be so careless!" Sango collected some shards and dropped them in the basket she formed with the flap of her uniform.

Kagome shook her head. "Oh god, I'm so sorry!"

"Well, sorry ain't enough," Inuyasha interjected, smirking. "Looks like you're going to the dungeon. Hmm………" He maid a point to pause and think, as if he was deep in though. "Should I or should I not destroy you? I dunno………What do you think?" He turned to her expectantly, as if she held the answer to his obvious inquiry.

Kagome growled and glared at him, hoping that if she glared hard enough, he'd become a puddle of mud.

"Don't worry about it, Lady Kagome," Miroku assured, steering Kagome's intense gaze away. "Inuyasha won't do it, no matter how much he makes it look like he will. He's no rat."

Inuyasha took up the challenge. "Wanna bet?"

Miroku just ignored him. "Don't worry. He's harmless."

"Sure………" she muttered under her breath.

"What was that!" Inuyasha provoked, having heard her.

"Nothing." Kagome stuck her chin up defiantly.

Inuyasha only "Keh"ed and stomped out of the room, leaving behind the crowd of three. "Be grateful 'cause this is the ONLY TIME!" he shouted back.

That night, Kagome and Sango were assigned rooms in which they were to occupy for the rest of their working lives. Luckily, the two were to share a room, along with another maid by the name of Miki.

Each room was lit by a candle, and was placed on a small round, wooden table on the left of the room. On the right were three beds, positioned two feet apart. Each bed came with a dusty pillow and a thin blanket. Near the door was a wardrobe, which would contain their uniforms.

The third maid was nowhere in sight. Sango claimed the bed on the far left and began dusting her pillow and bed. Tired speechless and weary of all the day's work after Inuyasha's encounter, Kagome flopped down on the one on the middle and unraveled her blanket, draping it over her. "Goodnight, Sango," she sleepily muttered before dozing off.

­The next morning, after Kagome woke up, she neatly folded her blanket and made her way to the kitchen, as directed by Maaya-san the night before. Kagome yawned. It was around 5:00 AM, way too early for her. Sango must have apparently started her chores, as Kagome didn't see her that morning in their room.

When she had located the chief maid, she was waved over.

"Sweet morning," Maaya-san commented.

"Yes," Kagome agreed, her head bowed down.

"Alright then. To business. Every morning, you are to report to the kitchen at this exact time. Consult with the royal cook; he will tell you what to buy and give you enough money. You will be conducting this duty with Ayame until you are capable of doing it yourself."

Kagome lifted her head to see a maid of higher rank inspecting her. "Yes, Maaya-san," Kagome customarily replied.

"Good." With all she needed to say said, the old chief left the two alone.

"Hey. Let's get you started," the maid, Ayame, addressed. "Kagome, right?"

Kagome nodded. The taller girl had kind green eyes and was holding two baskets. She handed one to Kagome.

"I'm Ayame. Nice to meet you." She smiled placidly.

Kagome smiled back and nodded. "Ditto."

They both let out a laugh. "Come on. I'll show you what you're supposed to do." She led Kagome to the kitchen, which was only a few steps away, considering they were standing right in front of it.

The kitchen, like the rest of the buildings in the palace, was huge. Half of it contained many rectangular tables and benches, the dining spot for maids and servants. The other half of the kitchen housed stoves and utensils, where the cooking was actually done. Inside, Kagome could see three maids and an elderly man, which she assumed was the chef. The man was butchering some meat while the other three were boiling something that was giving off the smell of a remedy.

"Kagome, this is the cook." Kagome ripped her eyes away from her wanderings and brought it the old man, who was smiling brightly at her.

As taught by Maaya-san, she politely bowed before the man. "Good day, sir."

"Good, good," he replied.

"Kagome's gonna be the new shopper. Instruct her what to buy and give her the proper amount. How's that, Gramps?"

"Dandy," the cook replied. "Bring back a pound of radishes, a calf leg, a pound of mung beans, three catfish………" As he trailed on, Kagome wondered how she was supposed to remember all of this. Already, she had forgotten the first item. This was not going to work out………

At last, when he was done, the cook reached into his white apron pocket and supplied her with twenty silver nuggets. "This should be enough."

Kagome pocketed the money just as Ayame called out, "Thanks, Gramps! Seeya later!" and tugged Kagome out of the kitchen with her. When they were outside, she let go and stopped abruptly. "Ok, so every morning after you wake up, do what we just did, ok?"

"Alrighty. What's next?"

Ayame turned on her heel so that her back was facing Kagome. "Now, to the market."

The marketplace was huge and crowded, full of stands and customers. Vendors and consumers were squalling over products and prices as children ran about the streets, unsupervised. Somehow, the market air calmed Kagome as she followed behind Ayame, who was a few feet ahead, her basket slung on her arm and swishing with every step she took. She turned around and motioned Kagome over. "Faster!"

"What did Gramps say to get again?" Ayame asked when Kagome had caught up.

Kagome froze. "I don't remember. Some catfish and………stuff."

Ayame just nodded as if it was an everyday thing and patted Kagome's shoulder. "It's ok. I forgot on the first day I did this too." Then she proceeded to recite what the old cook had wanted.

Kagome stared at her in disbelief. "How could you actually memorize it? That's just impossible!"

"That's what I thought too, but look! I could, so it means you can too. You get the hang of it, especially when your life's on the line. Ya know what I mean?"

Kagome raised a skeptical brow.

"Don't worry. You'll do fine."

'I sure hope so,' Kagome thought as she once again followed Ayame through the busy market, which was divided into three different sections; fruits and vegetables, seafood, and meat. Each section contained many stands and their vendors, selling similar products.

Kagome scrunched up her nose as the stench of fish met her nostrils. She spotted a vendor with buckets next to him, each holding fish. There were other stands next to him, selling other types of fish and shrimp and crabs.

Ayame leaned back to Kagome and pointed to the stands. "These make up the seafood part. Always remember this: the best, and only the best. Not just for seafood, but everything you're instructed to buy 'cause it's all gonna be made into food for the royal family. If something happens, the blame's passed down to you, 'cause you're the one who bought it. So always, remember: only the best. Promise me you won't forget."

Kagome nodded. "I won't forget. Hopefully," she added as they neared a vendor.

"You know how to choose fish?"

"Yeah. And other stuff too. I used to be the one shopping back where I lived," Kagome confided with a hint of sadness at the memory of her lost grandmother.

"That's great! Then there's not much to show you, since you already know most of it."

"Hm." Kagome sadly smiled, but Ayame didn't notice and continued on to a fish stand.

In the next half hour, the two bought everything they were directed, the best, and only the best. On their way, Kagome asked the maid questions about the palace and events, which the maid happily answered, adding more to Kagome's knowledge of her new life. Each day, she was to wake up at five in the morning and complete her duties and to be dismissed only when they were finished. It sounded like hell to Kagome, but Ayame said it would get better as she got used to it. Kagome doubted it. She also found out that the young prince Higurashi was ill with a cold and learned the relationship between Lady Kikyou and the queen. She explained to Kagome that long ago, Queen Higurashi had lost her newborn daughter to a foreign assassin.

"I've heard of that," Kagome told Ayame, "but I doubted if it was true."

"You bet it's true," Ayame responded. "Thought I wasn't there, Gramps was and told me. He said he was in the kitchen making something when he heard a crack from the tiles on his roof. Said he came out and saw a person clad in black with the princess in its arms leap on the roof of the room next to the kitchen and disappear."

"Wow," Kagome let out as she mulled over the facts. "I wonder if she's alive. The princess, I mean."

"Probably not. Even if she is, she's considered dead. I mean, it's been seventeen years, ya know? And there's no sign of her. Everyone's seem to have forgotten her except the queen."

Kagome nodded and Ayame started a new topic on the new guests of the palace as they continue their walk home. 'Yes, home,' Kagome thought sullenly and sighed. On their way back, Kagome noticed a small Buddha shrine and stopped Ayame.

"Hey, Ayame, can you wait up a bit? I wanna give my respects." She motioned to the shrine.

"Sure," Ayame said. "But make it quick."

Kagome grinned. "Will do. Be right back!"

The shrine was dimly lit, the huge bronze statue of a sitting Buddha opposite of the entrance. Before the statue was a long table, a sort of alter, set with food as offerings. In the middle was a bowl of uncooked rice with three fat sticks of incense sticking out of it. There were four round, yellow cushions. Kagome knelt down one of them and kowtowed three times, her forehead touching the floor. She pressed her hands into a praying motion and closed her eyes. When she had finished her prayers of respect to the Buddha, she whispered her own hopes and wishes. She prayed she wouldn't make any stupid mistakes and that she and Sango wouldn't get into trouble of any sort. She prayed for the young prince's health, even though she barely knew him, and for the royal family's happiness and safety—why she didn't know.

Unbeknownst to her, her prayers for the royal family were heard………

When Kagome was finished, she rose, accidentally bumping into a woman behind her.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Kagome exclaimed as she helped the woman up, who had fallen. "Are you alright?"

The woman dusted herself. She was wearing peasant clothes, her hair tied up in a neat bun. "It's alright. I'm fine."

As the woman raised her gaze, Kagome saw her face for the first time. This woman before her had her hair, her eyes. Kagome was shocked at the strong resemblance between them. She searched her eyes to find a hint of surprise and sadness. For some strange reason, Kagome understood this sadness, without knowing what it was. It was surprising that she could connect with this lady, who she didn't even know. It was as if………she knew this woman. So strange, yet so similar………

Catching herself staring, Kagome snapped out of her daze and apologized once more, which the woman assured her it wasn't her fault. She bid her good day and ran out to Ayame, who was waiting silently outside.

The woman smiled as she watched the palace maid disappeared. Yes, so similar……… "My daughter would have been your age………" she whispered before breaking off into a smile.

­Sango sighed as she picked up another uniform and dipped into the stream's cold water. There was a small stream in the West Wing—which was where she was now—preserved for the washing of clothes and the sort. Usually, there were around three or four maids washing, but they were all called away for some other specific work, leaving Sango alone and desolate. Upon leaving, the other maids had gushed their piles of unwashed clothes towards her and thanked her in a fake, annoying way as they ran off. Sango was stuck until she was done with every uniform. 'Thank the lord above,' she thought sarcastically as she continued her task.

In the time she had been there, Sango had finished washing about fifty dirty uniforms and robes all together. Her heart sank as she dreaded on the other fifty or so uniforms she had left………Damn them, damn everyone. She was crazy to have thought living in the palace would be great and luxurious. It was pure hell. In her contempt, she scrubbed and scrubbed harder.

Hearing footsteps, Sango half-turned to see who else but the pervert himself approach with a red haori and hakama draping on his arm. He walked casually past her and settled himself along the stream not too far away from her. "Good day," he greeted cheerily.

Sango did not respond, but turned back to her scrubbing. Gods, of all people………HIM!

"Looks like you've got quite a lot to do," he remarked, plunging the red shirt into the stream and scrubbing it.

"Looks like you don't."

"Ooh, touchy today, are you?"

"Only when you're around."

Miroku took no offense. "Whatever makes you happy." He returned to scrubbing the cloth, occasionally glancing at the girl on his right. When he thought she wasn't looking, he scooted closer by a foot and causally lifted the red haori out of the stream, wrenching it free of water.

Although she didn't notice the first time, Sango noticed the second.

"Forgive me?" He was referring to the incident at Goshinboku.

"Nope." Sango scooted a foot in the opposite direction and resumed her work.

"But—"

"Nope."

"My hand—"

"Nope."

"If you would just lemme—"

"Nope."

Miroku sighed. God! What an evil person! "At least lemme—"

"Nope."

"Fine! Be that—"

"No—Yup."

Miroku gave up. It was no use. All he could do was scoot over again. And he did.

Sango once again distanced herself from him and dropped the uniform she was currently rinsing, giving him her attention. "Ya know what space is?"

"Um, the distance between you and me?"

Sango rolled her eyes. "Why are you here? I thought you were a guest. Guests don't do work. They tell their servants to attend to them."

"Well………" She was right, of course. But he was glad. At least they were having a decent conversation and she didn't answer "Nope" all the time. He took a step closer.

"I bet those clothes you're washing aren't even dirty." She stepped back.

Almost entirely correct, but not quite. "But they aren't! Take a look at this!" Miroku shoved the cloth in her direction for her to see.

Sango slightly leaned over to see a small stain on the sleeve of the red haori and rolled her eyes. "GOD!" she yelled, frustrated. "It's just a stain! You could have just washed the sleeve and would've been done hours ago! And left!"

"But the view here is so nice, the air so calm, I wanted to stay a little longer. I wanted to clear it up to you." Miroku closed in again, as Sango moved the opposite direction. "I thought you'd get lonely, with just you here. And in your hard work, you might accidentally fall into the stream. You'd need someone to fish you out," he exaggerated further.

Sango snorted at the ludicrous ideas. "I could only wish I would drown if I happen to fall," Sango reasoned, "but apparently, the water's TOO SHALLOW."

"As long as you're happy. Well, I'm done anyways, so I guess I'll leave you alone to your work." He stood up and gathered the pieces of clothing he brought out, tucking them under his armpit.

"Good!" Sango retorted, relieved. "And don't come back!" She picked up the uniform she had dropped and continued, glad that the pervert would leave her alone at last.

Miroku whistled as he walked a few paces, unaware of a protruding rock below. As he fell, he threw the clothes in the air and they landed in the dirt, right next to him. Instead of frowning, Miroku smiled. "It's definitely dirty now. I guess I should wash it again." He watched in delight as Sango scowled. Ah, that lovely countenance.

Sango growled viciously low in her throat as the perv resumed his spot three feet away from her and began whistling a happy, overly cheerful song. She wanted nothing right then but to slap him silly. Although it was a nice thought, she refrained herself and began scrubbing harder, faster. The quicker she finished, the quicker she'd be rid of him, as she presumed he would be staying for as long as she was.

Miroku smiled happily as he secretly watched her work, indeed intending to leave when she did. Safe to say, he made no more motives to scoot closer to her that day.

"Come on, Kikyou!"

"I already said no! Stop bothering me!" Kikyou shouted at the young prince. She was sitting at one of the tables at a courtyard, a servant fanning her from behind. It was a hot day and Souta was becoming a real pest. Kikyou wanted the boy to go away so that she would be allowed some peace. She wanted nothing more than to sit and stare out into the beautiful pond before her, doing nothing in particular. Unfortunately, Souta would not leave her alone.

Souta scrunched back at the volume of her voice. Every time he had approached her for recreation, she'd scream at him. By day, Souta was beginning to dislike Kikyou and her moods. He hated her father for dying, for turning her into a big, gloomy meanie. "Fine then!" he yelled back. "Be that way!"

"I AM!"

Souta picked up the light, wooden ball that was lying at his feet and ran out of the courtyard. "Stupid Kikyou," he muttered.

Kagome hummed a song as she worked to help pass the time as she hung wet uniforms on clotheslines to dry. Just recently, Sango had dragged in four baskets of washed clothes, an angry/dangerous look about her. Behind her followed Miroku, who only expressed Kagome a dazzling smile. He had handed her what Kagome recognized was Inuyasha's haori and asked her to hang it dry. It took Kagome a lot of willpower not to drop it and stamp it in the dirt, but she did, miraculously.

Kagome plucked a uniform from one of the baskets and flung it on a line, straightening it out. As she did, she compared her life in Goshinboku with her new one at the palace. Certainly, the palace was a much stricter, scarier place than she had first thought. One wrong move and she'd be history. She hoped God had heard her prayers that morning and would keep her out of trouble.

Kagome looked back at the baskets and found herself half done. "Just half a million more to go," she exaggerated gloomily under her breath. Moving onto the third basket, she was startled when a wooden ball rolled into her and stopped abruptly at her feet. "Oh?" She picked up the ball and tossed it up into the air, catching it when gravity pulled it down.

"Hey!" Kagome watched as a ten-year-old boy raced to her. He was wearing splendid, elaborate clothing fit for a prince. "That's mine."

When the boy reached her, Kagome handed him his ball back. "Here ya go." The boy accepted it, but made no move to leave as she continued hanging the clothes. When a moment had passed and he was still there, she turned and faced him. "Need something?"

The boy raised his eyes to her and Kagome could see tears spilling from his eyes. "Oh………" Kagome kneeled down, so that she was leveled with him. She dropped the uniform she was holding and slid a hand up his cheek, wiping away the tears with her thumb. He sniffed. "Why are you crying?" she whispered almost inaudibly, but loud enough so he could hear.

"Because."

"Because?"

"It's none of your business."

Kagome smiled faintly. "If you don't to say, then I won't ask." With her arms, she wrapped the boy into a warm embrace and pulled him into her. Immediately, he stiffened.

After a few moments, she could feel as he began to relax, leaning against her. He brought his arms around her neck and dabbed his tears with her shoulder. "She didn't have to yell at me," he confided, still hugging her. "I just wanted to play. I just wanted her to cheer up a little, that's all. She didn't have to be so mean. Don't you think so?" He sniffed.

Kagome didn't know what to think for she didn't know what he was talking about, but told him that she thought so.

Moments of silence followed. It was an understandable, comfortable kind of silence.

"Do you know who I am?" the boy asked a while later, still in the embrace. He had stopped crying.

"The prince?" she guessed. His extravagant clothes pretty much revealed his identity. He wore fabric similar to that of Kikyou's, Kagome observed.

"Then why did you hug me? Aren't you afraid?"

"Afraid?" Kagome asked, confused. "You were sad. I wanted to comfort you. Was it wrong?"

"No," he sniffed out. "It's just that………No one's ever hugged me like this before, except you. It………surprised me."

"Then maybe I shouldn't have?"

The young prince shook his head. "No, I'm glad you did." He pulled himself from her and looked her in the eyes. "What's your name?"

"Kagome. And yours?"

"Souta," he contributed.

Kagome stood up and stretched. "Well then, Your Highness, would you mind if I called you by your first name?"

Souta lifted his eyes in surprised. God, all these years, he was the one who had been asking everyone to call him by his plain name. Never had he thought a day a maid would ask him—nor hug him. "Nope!"

Kagome laughed lightly at the look on his face. "Alright then." She picked up the uniform she had dropped and flung it over a clothesline. "I'm kinda running late. Would you like to help me?"

"M-Me?" he stammered. If he thought she'd shocked him when she hugged him and asked him if she could acknowledge him otherwise than his status, she shocked him even more. All his life, he had been caged and restricted. The maids and servants never let him handle anything himself, even though he was well capable of so. They never let him toil in any way, afraid that if someone saw and reported it, they would loose their lives. But this maid—Kagome—she was different from the rest of them. She wasn't afraid.

"Yeah, if you wanna. And If you I finish early with time to spare, I'll play with you."

And yet another surprise. It seemed this maid never ceased to surprise him. She'd said she'd play with him, something no one did. "What do I have to do?" Souta eagerly asked.

Kagome held up a uniform from the basket. "It's really easy. Just take a uniform from the basket and hold it upright—like this. That way, I won't have to bend down. I'll just have to reach down and walla! It's there."

Souta nodded as Kagome hung the uniform she had used for demonstration on the line. She turned back and sure enough, Souta was holding out an upright uniform ready for her. She gave him a thumbs-up sign and took it.

As they worked, Souta found himself telling Kagome everything—about how everyone always fussed about him whenever wherever and that Kikyou's father had recently died. He told her of his encounter that day with the said girl and how cold she had been to him and about his mother, who was for some reason never quite happy.

In turn, Kagome filled the young prince with descriptions of life outside the palace, which he was much interested in. She told of Goshinboku, of her life with Kaede, and described the beautiful valleys and rivers she and Sango had seen on their way to the capital. Souta was very delighted, and by the time the two had finished hanging all the clothes, they had become friends.

A week later, as Kagome fell in rhythm with her work and new life, she found the palace not so bad. She was used to her duties now, and they could become quite enjoyable—if she wanted them to be. It came that her favorite assignment was the trip to market each morning, where she was around normal people and released momentarily from the palace. Among the throng of bustling consumers and vendors, she was reminded of Goshinboku and it felt almost like home. Kagome went about each morning, gathering the items Gramps had imprinted in her brain. It was shocking, but Kagome found herself remembering everything the old man had told her to buy.

Though life was busy in the palace, she made time to play with Souta whenever she could; who seemed to always pop up sometime or later in the day. He'd help her with her work or sit listening to her tell stories while she was working. When Kagome finished early, which was usually the case when Souta was helping her, she'd play with him and wring out laughter and smiles.

Very little times—if any—did she see Sango during the day, for they were given different tasks that took them to different ends of the palace. However, much to Kagome's dissatisfaction, she seemed to always encounter the hanyou. Whenever she did, they'd immediately spring insults and challenges at one another until soon enough, each encounter turned into a devastating game, the loser being the one burned with nothing left to say. Then the winner—sometimes Kagome and sometimes Inuyasha—would smoothly walk away, smug, leaving behind the usual menacing glare and growl of temporarily defeat.

Needless to say, Sango had troubles of her own, what with Miroku following her around claiming Inuyasha had sent him to complete some tasks. Although he made no move to touch her, it still peeved her to no end. When Sango washed clothes, so did he. When she hung clothes to dry, so did he. When she was told to help out in the kitchen, she found him there chopping some stuff, smiling when she came in. He took reason that Inuyasha was hungry and wanted something to eat. When she was sweeping one of the courtyards in the South Wing, he was there too. He had said, "What a coincidence!" Apparently, as he explained, Inuyasha had told him to do so. Whatever she did, so did he. Sango doubted Inuyasha told him to do those things and the worst part was, she could do nothing about it. It was totally out of her control. When she was assigned a task, she was to complete it, no matter the distraction. So of course she could do nothing about him. Sango was just grateful he didn't show up in her room every night.

"I see him everywhere," Sango told Kagome one night. "I see him washing dishes next to me, I see him scrubbing floors behind me, I see him trimming flowers in the courtyard beside me. And if he wasn't, I feel him there. God help me. I think I'm going crazy."

"Oh, it's you," Inuyasha sneered as they came in talking range.

"Who were you expecting, huh?" Kagome sniped back. "Fool."

"Fool yourself, wench. I'm winning this round."

"Or so you dream."

"Or so I know."

"Or so you're wrong."

"Or so we'll find out."

They stared at each other, long and hard.

"I'm taking you down!"

"Keh! Tell that to my dog."

"I am." Kagome smirked, knowing she had won the game. Inuyasha was a dog, which made it all the more accurate. Laughing, Kagome muttered, "Loser."

Inuyasha made no retaliation, his expression full of contempt and anger. "Watch your back."

"I'll keep that in mind." With that, Kagome smugly walked away.

The kitchen was a noisy din when Kagome came in for lunch, as usual. Servants and maids alike were seated four to five on the benches, eating, talking, or both. She spotted Sango and made her way over. (4rm now on, I'm referring 2 servants as male servants n maids as female servants.)

"Hey." Kagome grabbed a small bowl from one of the cabinets nearby and scooped rice into her bowl.

Sango scooted over on the bench as she spooned some rice into her mouth and chewed.

Kagome took the seat and pecked at the side dishes; tofu, beans, steamed pork, and watery soup. "How's your day?"

Sango gave an irritated sigh as she looked of into the distance. "Same as always. Keeps 'coincidentally' bumping into me. Told me he'd do anything I told him to." At that, Sango suddenly smirked. "Got him to do half my share of laundry."

Kagome giggled. "Lucky you."

Sango nodded smugly. "You? Anything new?"

Kagome shook her head sympathetically. "Nope. Same old same old. Except I totally burned that jerk today. Ha! See if he can retaliate!"

Sango new well who "that jerk" was. She didn't know why Kagome hated him so much. He seemed pretty decent—if not cocky, compared to Miroku. When she voiced her thought, Kagome replied, "I dunno. I just hate him. Self-centered, know-all, snobby—there's so many, I can go on forever. " Kagome scrunched up her face at the thought of him.

"Don't," Sango said. "Unfortunately, I don't have forever. Just this life."

"Well—"

"Good afternoon, Lord Inuyasha," chorused some servants and maids, interrupting Kagome and Sango's conversation.

Kagome whipped around to see none other than the mentioned young lord, nodding his acknowledgment to the greeting. He scanned the tables and faces until he reached Kagome's, where he abruptly broke into a smirk. "You!" He pointed to her.

Kagome inwardly "humph"ed as she rose from her bench. "Yes, Lord?" In her stay, Kagome had learned that Inuyasha was some foreign lord from Tama, by the way the other servants addressed him and from the quality of clothes he wore. Though she could care less about him, she was compelled to play the role of the obedient maid whenever she was confronted in public. She despised it whenever he did, for he made it a known point between him and her—mostly to her—that she was merely a maid. And she hated it. But that was only in public. When they were not, they scorned each other verbally. With no one to witness, Kagome was able to freely express her feelings towards him and burn him to a crisp, and vice versa.

Inuyasha's smirk only intensified. He just loved it. Inside, he was snickering. Imagine that! Like she would ever be so polite if all the other people had not been there. "I must have a word with you. Follow me." He motioned with his finger and headed out.

Kagome glared daggers at his retreating back. 'What could the bastard possibly want?' she questioned herself. 'Whatever it is, he can forget it!'

Kagome found him in the courtyard closest to the kitchen, looking out into the pond beneath the bridge he was on. "Show's over. What the hell do you want?"

Inuyasha spun around and faced her. In his hands was a box with holes poked through the lid. Without warning, he smiled warmly at Kagome. "I've come to apologize. I'm sorry."

Kagome took a step back, totally freaked out. She poked a pinky into her ear and rubbed it, making sure she heard right. "I don't think heard what you just said."

Inuyasha took a step closer, his expression a serious one. "I know we had a bad beginning and I've realized all my mistakes. I was wrong—always were, and still is. You are the one who is right. I've thought about it and I felt sorry for being the way I was. I hope we can settle this and become friends. Let's call it a truce."

Kagome was taken aback by his sudden confession. She didn't know what to make of it. Something was wrong. Seriously wrong. He'd never say those things. "You're joking."

"I'm not."

"The day I hear you say this is the day hell freezes over."

"Please accept my apology and this gift." Inuyasha held out the box and thrust it into her hands. "Forgive me." Dejectedly, he turned to leave.

"I—"

But Inuyasha was already gone, had leapt onto a roof and disappeared, leaving behind a very confused girl.