Phoenix Ash
Chapter 8: My Mother…...
"Isn't this flower beautiful?" Kikyou asked him, staring admiringly at a flower as she strolled the courtyard. She cupped her hand around the pink flower and bent down, inhaling in its sweet scent before letting it go and straightening herself. She glanced over to Inuyasha, expecting an answer but found him inattentive and looking elsewhere. "Inuyasha?"
"Huh?" Inuyasha, coming back to focus, turned to her. "What?"
Kikyou asked again while cupping the same flower, "I asked you whether you thought this flower was beautiful or not."
"Oh," Inuyasha let out. "Er……….I guess so," he answered, glancing once at the flower and back to her face. But actually, he could care less about it. He was hungry and he was bored, and being with Kikyou was nowhere near entertaining. If it weren't for the queen, Inuyasha wouldn't have agreed to take a stroll through the courtyards with her. He would have gone to the kitchen to make fun of that annoying girl and while he was at it, he would have eaten a bowl of ramen. But no, since he was lodging here for free, he might as well spend some time with his "future bride"—of course, she only held the title until he found a way to break the engagement.
"Ah, why don't you two go for a stroll in the courtyards?" the queen had suggested, smiling a while ago. "Since you two will be wedded, why don't you get to know each other a little more so when you marry, you won't be complete strangers."
Inuyasha would have refused if he could, but he found himself smiling a fake smile and complying. But she was so boring! He'd rather have that Kagome girl than Kikyou. She always created more reasons for him to hate her and he liked getting in her way. He liked annoying her, though not so much when it was the other way around. But with Kikyou, they did not talk much. They just walked and……………well, WALKED. And when they did have conversations, it only lasted about ten lines, and then both would fall silent again. If anything at all, he wanted to get away.
Hearing his answer, Kikyou smiled. "I think so too."
Who cares? Inuyasha leaned forward on the rail of the bridge and propped his arms on it. He looked down at the small, green pond beneath; bored. Beautiful white lilies and locus decorated the water's surface. The green, red, pink, and white of flowers and leaves added to the peaceful scenery. Idly, Inuyasha stared at a dried leaf that was floating around nearby.
Kikyou, too, leaned against the rail and looked out at the pond, absorbing in the beauty of the pond. She peered at Inuyasha, who was right next to her, and smiled. He was concentrating on a floating leaf, she could see.
It was exactly as she had wanted; being able to spend time with him and get to know him better—although she still didn't find out so much about him except that he extremely loved ramen. But it was good enough, she thought, just to be in his presence.
Suddenly, she heard Inuyasha snicker. Looking over, she saw him laugh softly into his arm, his head down. Wondering what it was, Kikyou searched for the cause of his laughter. She found her answer across the pond.
Inuyasha had heard a faint yell, and had immediately directed his attention to the voice. There, on another courtyard across the pond from where he was, he saw that annoying maid. She was on the ground, rubbing her bosom. He had to squint his eyes to make out a banana peel and a broom next to her. Apparently, she had been sweeping the courtyard walkways and had stepped on a banana peel—the same one he had littered when he was wandering around a while before—and fell splat on her bottom. Mind you, Inuyasha did not intend it to happen. He had no idea that she would be there sweeping. When he was patrolling the courtyards in boredom and drenched in laziness, he was too lazy to trash the banana peel so he had thrown it on the ground when no one was looking. But he didn't mind what just happened now. He was just happy that she had slipped and even more, relished that it was because of him—though it wasn't intended—but it was sufficient.
Inuyasha watched as she sat there a couple of moments, trying to ease her pain and glaring at the banana peel, thinking evil thoughts about the person who had left it there. Which was him. But she didn't need to know that. He could see the head maid making her way over to the wench and watched her surprised and embarrassed face as she jumped up from the ground and grabbed her broom. "Dumbo," he muttered as he laughed at her as she sheepishly tried to explain to the head maid what had happened. He would have shouted a comment out to her, but they were too far away to exchange words. She wouldn't be able to hear him.
Kikyou looked over to the girl on the other side of the pond, wondering why Inuyasha had thought it was funny. All the girl did was fall down, a foolish action. It wasn't what Kikyou would have called funny. Just then, the maid turned her face and Kikyou recognized her as the maid she had encountered before, the one that looked eerily similar to her. At once, Kikyou felt an uneasiness and dislike settle over her.
Inuyasha straightened himself and pushed his hands above his head, stretching and yawning. After seeing that girl, he wasn't so much bored as before, but he was still hungry. She had certainly been a great source of entertainment. Just as Inuyasha stretched, the necklace that he had forgotten he was carrying fell out—the one he had purchased for no reason back in Goshinboku. It made little tinking sounds as it bounced on the ground.
Kikyou, noticing the eye-catching necklace, bent down and picked it up. Holding it in her palm, she inspected it with wide eyes. She recognized its quality at once, having always loved jewelry and having a collection of accessories herself. "It's beautiful," she marveled, gazing at the necklace and its fine quality. "Inuyasha, is it yours?"
"Eh………" Inuyasha sheepishly rubbed his head, embarrassed to be seen with such a thing around. He had totally forgotten about it, and now that he thought about it, he still couldn't explain why he had gone out of his way to waste his money on a thing as that necklace. He didn't know what he was thinking when he bought it.
"It's so beautiful," Kikyou remarked again.
"Er, if you like it so much, I guess you can have it," Inuyasha offered while continuing to scratch his head.
"Really?" Kikyou looked up at him in astonishment and excitement. A present from Inuyasha!
"Yeah."
Kikyou clutched at the beautiful necklace and bowed low to Inuyasha in gratitude. "Thank you. I don't know what to say."
Inuyasha politely nodded and looked over across the pond again, but the girl that was once there was gone.
Kagome smiled devilishly to herself, the small paper figure tucked secretly in her robe. She was in the kitchen and it was lunchtime. Many of the servants and maids were happily chewing their rice—but not Kagome. She was happily chewing rice AND thinking of Inuyasha's destruction—which was coming in the VERY near future. Just a little too happy, it was hazardous. Moments later, she found herself choking on some rice.
Sango had to reach over and pat her back. "Hey hey. Are you ok?"
Kagome coughed a few times and drank a sip of water. When she had calmed down, she stood up and picked up her bowl and chopsticks. "I can't eat anymore today," she told Sango. "Every time I think of doing damage to him, I get so excited, I forget to chew. If I don't stop now, then I'd die choking before I get to lay a hand on him."
Sango nodded in agreement. "True. True. So, are you going to destroy him now?"
"Duuh!"
"Cool," Sango commented while stuffing the last of rice into her mouth. "Can I come too?"
"Er………sure!"
Kagome waited a few moments for Sango to finish her lunch. When the other girl was done, the two washed their bowls and chopsticks and bid farewell to the cook. Settling to carry out the mission at the washing stream, they made their way there hoping no maid would be washing robes at the moment.
"Hey! Sango!" Turning to the voice, the two spotted Miroku behind them making his way over as he waved. "Wait for me!" Cuddled in his other arm was Kirara.
"Oh. It's you, Miroku," Kagome greeted.
"Kirara!" Sango shouted, holding her arms out to the kitten. Kirara jumped into her open arms and rubbed its furry head against Sango's cheek.
Miroku smiled at the pair and turned to Kagome. "So, where are you going? What are you doing?"
"Oh, nothing really," Kagome answered matter-of-factly. "Just out to get my revenge on that stupid fat jerk."
"Actually, he's not really fat if you look at him closely," Miroku pointed out to Kagome, who could care less. "He's actually pretty well fit. With muscular arms!" Miroku made a show of pulling up his sleeves to show his biceps.
Kagome gave him a cold glare. "Miroku, do I care?"
"I dunno. Do you? But anyway! Revenge? So, did you get a strand of hair?"
"Yep," Kagome answered proudly, arrogantly. "And I did it WITHOUT your help. DO YOU SEE, MIROKU?"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Miroku apologized, remembering that he had refused to help her last time. "But then, so you got his hair. What are you going to do about it?"
Kagome reached into her robe and whipped out the small paper figurine and pushed it in front of his face. "You see this? You see this? Whola!"
"What?" Miroku asked, confused as he stared at the yellow paper that was shaped like a human. "What the hell's that supposed to be?"
"Ooooh," Sango uttered, understanding as she patted Kirara. "Voodoo, right, Kagome? This is gonna be fun!" Kirara meowed a response similar to agreement.
"Of course!"
"Ooh! I want to have some fun too!" Miroku eagerly pleaded. "Come on, Kagome! It's not fun hurting Inuyasha by yourself!"
Sango looked over at Miroku with an unbelievable expression and scoffed. "Miroku! He's your best friend, for god's sake!"
"Exactly!"
"You don't make any sense!"
"Exactly!" Miroku shouted, determined. "Now, let's go and start the torture already! I'm just itching with anticipation!" Miroku passed Kagome and started walking ahead. "Come on!"
Both Kagome and Sango gave Miroku weird looks and followed him. Kagome hadn't expected Sango and Miroku to accompany her, but it was fine this way. The more, the merrier. The more the pain. Kagome grinned to herself at the last thought.
Inuyasha, on the other hand, was sitting in the royal dining room, feasting luxuriously with the royal family. He and Kikyou were eating quietly while King Higurashi and the queen talked about the kingdom's welfare.
Glad that it was lunch and so hungry he was sure he wouldn't live till the next minute, Inuyasha surveyed the table. There was a big bowl of delicious soup, which he promised to taste. There was a plate of steamed fish, fried pork, roasted chicken, and some steamed vegetables. Inuyasha closed his eyes and sniffed in the sweet smells radiating from the food.
"Help yourself!" King Higurashi shouted to Inuyasha, who sat across from him. "Eat whatever you want!"
"Yes, do eat," the queen agreed, nodding to him.
Inuyasha picked up his chopsticks in one hand and his rice bowl in the other. "Thank you." Diving for the fish, he gripped a piece of it between his chopsticks. Grinning to himself, he begin to lead the fish to his bowl when suddenly, he felt a sharp poke on his side. It didn't hurt or anything, but was shocking and ticklish. The fish between Inuyasha's chopsticks dropped splat on the table before it could reach his bowl.
All three pairs of eyes at the table turned on Inuyasha, and he could feel his cheeks burning up. To be found incapable of acquiring his own food in front of the royal family! WhatEVER had gotten into him? Suddenly, he felt another poke at his sides and this time, he emitted a short cry of surprise.
"Is something wrong?" the queen asked him, looking at him worriedly.
Inuyasha wished he could dig a ditch, jump in, and disappear for eternity as all eyes averted to study him. His face was burning. 'They all must think I'm crazy………' Inuyasha thought, mentally slapping himself. "Eh heh heh heh," Inuyasha laughed weakly, nervously. "I—uh……..kind of injured myself this………morning," Inuyasha covered up. "S-sorry."
King Higurashi shook his head and looked seriously at Inuyasha. "It must hurt to move, is that it? It's ok. Kikyou will help you."
Kikyou, picking up her cue, scooted closer to Inuyasha and leaned a little closer to him. "What do you want, Inuyasha?" she asked.
"No, it's okay," Inuyasha refused her offer. "I'm fine now. It doesn't hurt anymore," he lied. 'I doesn't hurt at ALL!' he secretly thought. 'Just something weird happened just now………'
"Oh," Kikyou replied, a little sadly. She scooted away and back to her original spot.
"Well then," said the king, "now that it's all calmed, let's continue lunch, shall we?"
"Yes, we shall," Inuyasha agreed, nodding as he was once again reminded of his hunger. This time, Inuyasha was able to successfully get the fish to his bowl. As he chewed happily, his thoughts wandered to the two pains he had felt earlier. It was queer. Very queer indeed. He looked over to Kikyou, thinking maybe it was her who had poked him. But when he thought about it some more, he decided it couldn't have been her. She was too reserved to do such a thing. Then, who—or WHAT did? Or maybe, it had all just been a part of his imagination. It must have been—though he couldn't explain why it felt so……….REAL. Yes, it was queer. Very queer.
Suddenly, his nose started to tickle and seconds later, before he knew it, he was in a sneezing frenzy. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten and a half.
Again, all eyes around the table focused on Inuyasha worriedly. "Inuyasha! Good heavens!" exclaimed the queen, setting her bowl of rice on the table. "Are you alright?" Her eyes searched the boy for any signs of sickness and such. "Sneezing ten times!"
'And a half,' Inuyasha thought. His face, which had cooled down a while ago, burned again.
"You must have caught a cold," Kikyou suggested, her expression filled with concern.
"Y-Yeah, I must have," Inuyasha agreed with her, though he felt perfectly fine. He didn't know hell what had happened. Sneezing ten and a half times? Just what was wrong with him today? 'Arg!' he thought angrily to himself. He was burying himself deeper and deeper into embarrassment! Just WHAT was happening!
Once again, the king, queen, and Kikyou settled down and resumed their lunch as Inuyasha followed suit. As he did, he hoped that his body wouldn't play any tricks on him and would let him eat in peace. Oh lord, how he didn't know that it was just the beginning.
Kagome, Sango, and Miroku were laughing hysterically at the washing stream.
"Oh, too bad I can't be there to witness his reaction!" exclaimed Kagome, holding her stomach because she was laughing so hard it hurt.
Miroku nodded his agreement and brought up, "He's having lunch with the royal family now. They must probably all think he's gone whack!"
"What?" Kagome abruptly stopped laughing and faced Miroku seriously. "He's dining with the royal family?"
Miroku nodded "yes".
Seconds later, Kagome found herself grinning, eyes glinting. "If he's eating with the royal family, then let's embarrass him to DEATH!"
"Yeah! Yeah!" Sango yelled excitedly, petting Kirara. "You can't forgive him, Kagome, you can't!"
Kagome turned to the small, yellow, paper figurine that was lying on a boulder, pinned down with a rock so the wind wouldn't carry it away. Around its neck was Inuyasha's silvery strand of hair.
"He's really ticklish," Miroku willingly gave the girl the information. "His sides! Go for his sides!"
"Got it!" Kagome answered, smirking evilly as she gathered some twigs that were on the ground. She handed half of them to Miroku and kept the other half. "Okay, Miroku," she instructed him, as the two of them and Sango hovered over the small precious figurine of Inuyasha. "You take care of his left side, while I take care of his right side. We'll both attack at once! The sticks I gave you, we'll use them to jab at his sides, got it?"
"Yes ma'am!" Miroku replied enthusiastically. "On the count of three! One, two, three!"
The royal family stared open-eyed at the hysterically laughing Inuyasha before them, not knowing what to make of it. In one hand he held his bowl, in his other hand he held his chopsticks. The boy himself was laughing hysterically, but at what, they had no idea. The watched, perplexed, as Inuyasha set down his bowl and chopsticks, then gripped his sides and laughed harder.
By the end of that lunch hour, Inuyasha had fainted from overuse of energy—energy from actions his body carried out on its own. He had to be carried on back to his room by a few of the servants.
When he had woken up a few hours later, Inuyasha swore to himself that he would never—NEVER—show his face outside of his room AGAIN. It was the first time he had been so humiliated as to feel this way. He had been such a fool in front of the royal family that he didn't dare to show his face to them. Inuyasha was SURE they were laughing at his stupidity right this moment, was SURE they were talking about Inutaisho's foolish second son.
But what REALLY ticked him off was that he could NOT control his actions. DAMMIT, he couldn't stop ANYTHING! It really pissed him off. When he was laughing hysterically in there, he could do nothing about it. He tried and TRIED to shut up and laugh no further, but it was useless. But then, at the moment, he felt as if he was being tickled and well, it tickled so much, he couldn't STOP himself. But then, the next actions that his body took were inexplicable. Before he knew what he was doing a few moments after he had cooled from laughing, he was singing. Yes, he was singing. SINGING A SONG he didn't even KNOW he knew. It had been so humiliating, watching the shocked expressions of the royal family. And the thing was, he couldn't STOP himself. No matter what he did, he couldn't stop.
And then, AFTER the singing, he was HOPPING. Hopping, from one foot and then on the other, over and over again for about five minutes. After the hopping, he was dancing; waltzing around the table. Waltzing by the king, waltzing by the queen, and waltzing by Kikyou. It was so humiliating………
And then, after that, he—he—Inuyasha stopped his train of thought and slapped his forehead. He didn't even want to REMEMBER what he did following that.
Just as Inuyasha sat up from his bed, the screen door opened and a servant walked in, carrying a bronze bowl filled with water. Inside the bowl was a white towel. The servant set the bowl on the circular table and seeing Inuyasha awake, bowed low to the lord.
Inuyasha lazily walked over to the table and held up the wet towel while addressing the servant, "Where is Miroku?"
"I haven't seen him recently today," answered the servant as he bowed again. "But I saw him walking with the maids Kagome and Sango joyfully after lunch, Lord."
"Eh?" Inuyasha wrenched the towel free of water and opened it. He was once again refreshed as the cool towel touched his face.
"They looked really happy, Lord Inuyasha," continued on the servant. "Especially the maid Kagome. She was skipping and laughing really loudly, saying something like, 'What a stupid guy to give me a strand of his hair! I bet it never occurred that I'd USE it against him!"
Inuyasha jerked up abruptly and turned to the servant, his expression deadly. "She said that?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"What else did she say?" Inuyasha awaited the servant's answer. He dropped the wrenched towel back into the bowl while still keeping his eyes on the servant.
The servant, nervous under Inuyasha's glare, lowered his eyes and shifted his feet. "Well, Lord, she didn't say anything else, but laughed outright after the maid Sango said something like, 'I think he's got enough embarrassment for today, Kagome. I mean, you made him dance, sing, and a number of other things in front of the royal family. You even made him make animal sounds!' And then the maid Kagome just laughed. Your servant Miroku then departed and—"
The servant looked up to meet Inuyasha's gaze, but found himself looking at air. His lord was nowhere in the room and the screen door was wide open. "When did he leave?" muttered the servant, wide-eyed. "I didn't even HEAR him. Anyways." The servant headed over to the table and picked up the bronze water-filled bowl, walking out of the room and closing the door to Inuyasha's chamber.
Kagome was sweeping a courtyard in the North Wing and laughing as she recalled the pranks she had played on Inuyasha that day. Oh, how she wished she could have been there to see him suffer—how she wished she could have been there to watch him dance, sing, make animal noises, hop, and all the other pranks. Kagome gave a snicker as she imagined Inuyasha singing off-key and the royal family's reaction.
Kagome sighed and looked up at the clear blue sky that blanketed the earth. Today had surely been contenting. No revenge could have been better. And there was also Miroku, who pointed out all of Inuyasha's weak spots for her, making her revenge even more fun. She had to give him credit in totally making her day. Kagome sighed once again and returned to quietly sweeping the courtyard.
So caught up in her work, Kagome didn't realize Kikyou and another person approaching from behind.
"Move out of the way!" shouted a voice, which Kagome recognized was Kikyou's maid. Toki was her name, and she was Kikyou's personal maid. Her rank, as Kikyou's personal maid, allowed her many advantages that other maids didn't get, such as being able to go to areas that were restricted to other ordinary maids. Another of her advantages was that she had some power over the lower ranked maids, such as Kagome herself. Living at the palace for some time, Kagome had only encountered the maid once, but had heard many rumors about her, and most of them weren't pleasant.
Abruptly turning around, Kagome collided into a woman that was elegantly dressed, walking right beside Kikyou. Toki, who was walking behind Kikyou and the other lady, rushed up and pushed Kagome back, away from the other woman.
"Ah!" Kagome fell on her back just as she heard Toki yell, "Insolent maid! I told you to move out of the way!" The higher ranked maid turned to Kikyou. "Kikyou-sama, may I punish her?"
"No, Toki. Leave her be," answered a familiar voice—though Kagome could not place whose. "Girl, get up."
Kagome complied, quickly compiling herself together and getting off the ground. She was going to be in trouble, she knew it. Why was her luck so bad that she always ran into noble people?
"But Milady," Toki tried again, "she was careless! She needs to be punished."
Kagome got up and kneeled before Kikyou and the lady—she had not yet gotten a chance to get a glimpse of her face. "Please forgive me for my impudence!" she apologized as she kowtowed.
"You will not!" screamed Toki.
"Toki! Quiet!" came Kikyou's voice, berating her maid.
"Stand up, girl," the other lady bid Kagome. "It was only an accident. Now stand up and let me see your face."
So deep in thought, Kagome did not hear the command given to her. Just where did she hear this voice before? It sounded………so familiar, yet she could not recall. She was sure she had heard it before—but where?
"Stand up!" yelled the angry Toki. "The queen just told you to stand up! Are you disobeying her?"
The queen! Snapping out of her thoughts and forgetting all the rules of what to do in encountering nobles slipping her mind, Kagome found herself doing the forbidden, staring straight into the face of the queen.
As her eyes set on the queen's she was shocked to see her own eyes staring back at her, just as shocked as she was. Kagome studied the queen for a moment, tilting her head to the left and to the right, verifying if what she saw was real. The woman was no longer in rags, but dressed elegantly in beautiful silk kimono. "You're………that woman," Kagome whispered.
"How rude!" Toki screamed again. "Kikyou-sama, Milady, we HAVE to punish her! Showing such disrespect to you, the queen!" Toki came up and grabbed Kagome's arm, dragging her away in the opposite direction. The link Kagome had established with the queen in that mesmerizing moment broke and she yelled in pain. Toki was tugging her arm, hard.
"Toki, I said to leave her be. Are you disobeying me?" the queen directed at the other maid.
"Toki, let her go," Kikyou ordered calmly. She had just witnessed the connection between the maid and the queen, and she did not like it one bit. It was as if something was being taken away from her without her knowing it. She could not help but feel more dislike for the maid, seeing that the queen was defending her. "Toki, let her go," she repeated to her maid.
"But—"
"Toki!" ordered the queen.
Reluctantly, the higher-ranked maid released Kagome's arm.
"I would like to have a private word with this young maid here," the queen declared to Kikyou and Toki. "Wait for me at my chamber."
Kikyou, sensing her dismissal, bowed low to the queen and backed away. Toki followed suit. As Kikyou walked away, she looked back at the maid for one last time and abruptly left.
"Are you alright?" The queen pulled her kimono up and squatted down next to the girl.
Queen. Queen. Queen. It was all that ran in her head. She had offended the queen. She had offended the queen, just now and those two times in the market. She had offended the queen. Of all people to offend! Why did it have to be the queen? The queen wanted a word with her. Was she here to tell her that she was to be executed the next morning? Or did she want—"Please! Forgive me!" Kagome begged. She threw herself at the lady's feet and kowtowed. "Please forgive my impudence," she begged again, her voice shaking and tears starting to come out. She didn't' want to die. She didn't want to die yet. "I'm sorry for not realizing you were the queen earlier and did not great you properly. I'm terribly sorry I have just broken the palace's rules. I'm sorry, Milady. Please forgive me!" More tears wriggled their way out of her closed eyes. Oh, it had been such a great day! She had been able to get her revenge on Inuyasha, and it had been so much fun! But now—but now………she had offended the queen.
Queen Higurashi lightly smiled at the scared girl. Softly, she began to stroke the maid's hair. "No one is going to punish you," she ensured the girl. She lowered her eyes and then closed them. "I………will not let anyone punish you."
Kagome looked up at the queen's face, teary-eyed. "I'm very sorry," she repeated.
The queen only smiled and wiped the girl's tears away, just as a mother dries her daughter's tears. "You are already forgiven, do not cry anymore or I will punish you for crying. Now stand up."
Kagome sniffed and complied. The queen held out her hand. Kagome took it and pulled her up.
"I have not forgotten you," the queen told her. "I remember you are Kagome, am I correct?"
"Yes, Milady," Kagome replied politely. "I am sorry I did not recognize and treat you properly before."
The queen shook her head and once again, held her arm out for Kagome to take. "Lead me to my chamber," she commanded.
Kagome took the arm and began walking with the queen, keeping her gaze down and not daring to look at her directly.
"You do not need to apologize, Kagome," the queen informed. "Of course you did not recognize me. It was purposeful. Outside of the palace, I am usually found in peasants' garb and furthermore, you did not know what the queen of Shikon looked like. Do not blame yourself, for you did not offend me in any way. It was just Toki who insisted I was offended."
"Yes, Milady," came Kagome's quiet answer.
"So how has your life been since the last time I have talked to you?" the queen asked. "Oh, did you arrive back without trouble last time?"
"Yes," Kagome replied. "When I got back, Maaya-san did not scold me. She just waved me away and told me to get on with my chores. It was unusual of her. At the time, I didn't know that I was excused with your help. I give you my gratitude, Milady."
"It was I who caused you to be late that time. I had to compensate for your busy time, after all."
Kagome was about to respond to that and say that it wasn't compensation, but was interrupted by a yell from someone behind them.
"HEY!" It was Inuyasha. She could recognize his voice ANYWHERE.
Instinctively, Kagome whipped around to find him racing up to her and the queen.
"Ah, Inuyasha," the queen greeted.
Inuyasha looked disgustedly once at Kagome, smiled to the queen, and eyed the connected arms of the queen and of Kagome. "This makes it pretty convenient for me then," he said aloud to himself, then turning to the queen. "Milady, I have a request I want to make."
"Go on."
Kagome just stood quietly beside the queen, not saying anything but eyeing the half-demon with caution. But she was utterly surprised though, when he suddenly looked her way and smirked before turning back to the queen.
"Milady, I was wondering if I could have a personal maid of my own. My own servant, Miroku, is more a friend than a servant to me. These past few days, he has not been feeling well, and I worry for him."
'Lies,' Kagome yelled at him mentally.
"Tasks must be done, but I don't want to work him so much, since he is not feeling well. Thus, I am asking if a may have a personal maid of my own."
"Do you have any maid in mind?" The queen inquired.
"Actually," Inuyasha admitted with a smirk, "I was wondering if I could have………her." He pointed directly to Kagome.
Taken aback, Kagome stared up at Inuyasha, confusion and hatred in her eyes. 'What the hell are you saying?' Kagome wanted to shout to him, but in the queen's presence, she remained silent as Inuyasha smirked down at her.
"Oh?" the queen asked, surprised. "Kagome?
"Yes, Milady," Inuyasha politely replied. "I have been watching her for a couple of days now. She seems very capable, Milady. A strong, enthusiastic girl who works efficiently. She fits perfectly as my requirement for a personal maid. And also, she and my servant Miroku are friendly to each other. They will be able to work together just fine. Please, Milady. May I have her?"
The queen contemplated for a moment, then replied to Inuyasha, "You may."
Inuyasha's grin only grew wider as he looked over to Kagome, relishing in the fearful, hateful look in her eyes.
"Ah, thank you, Milady. I will make sure that she lives well and healthy and not overworked."
The queen only nodded and smiled. "I am happy that she is able to come under such care. Now, Inuyasha, you don't mind if your maid escorts me to my chamber, do you?"
Inuyasha shook his head. "Why, not at all." He turned to Kagome. "Maid, when the queen is done with you, find Miroku and come to my chamber. I have something important I must tell you."
Kagome, teeth grinded together in anger, wished she had kept the small, yellow figurine she had thrown away. She knew what he wanted her to say, knew what she was expected to say. ARGG! Had only the queen not been there, she would have kicked his sorry ass long ago! But Kagome found herself replying as expected, "Yes, Milord."