Phoenix Ash
Chapter 10: Prince Inuyasha
Exhausted, Kagome decided to sit down for a few moments before continuing to clean. Already, she had taken off the mud-stained curtains and left them aside to wash later. She had changed a new bedspread for his bead and left the dirty one along with the curtains. She had also changed the dirty pillowcase and had washed the entire mud-covered floor.
The sun was up now and she was tired as hell. Not to mention that it was a little hot and added to her irritation. As she rested, she dreaded over what came next. The walls would have to be cleaned, the table wiped, the curtains and bedspread washed. It would take FOREVER to clear the wall of mud and to wash the curtains; hang and dry them. Kagome sighed and gave one last wail of despair before standing up resuming her cleaning.
At twelve o' clock noon, Inuyasha entered his room to find it sparkling clean and exactly as it was before he had ruined it. It was so clean it hurt his eyes. He didn't expect her to finish before lunch. His whole bed was clean, the walls were clean, the floor was clean, and so was everything else. If he would ever compliment her, he'd say she'd done a magnificent job.
Hearing footsteps from behind him, he turned around to meet a very weary Kagome.
"There. I'm done with your stupid room now. I'm going to lunch," she told him.
"Suit yourself." Satisfied for the moment, he waved her off, amazed.
The royal kitchen was as busy and bustling as always when Kagome entered.
"Ah!" the cook greeted when he saw her. "Kagome! How are you doing, a personal maid and all now!"
"I bet she's having the time of her life," some servant answered for her. On his way out, he affectionately patted Kagome's shoulder. Kagome smiled at him and tried to hold her footing in the weak state that she was. She was sure that if that servant had patted any harder, she would have collapsed then and there and make a fool of herself.
"Well, all I can say of my new job is that it's very exhausting," Kagome answered, walking over to a pot of steaming white rice. She grabbed the bowl next to it and spooned herself some, then grabbed a pair of chopsticks from a pile that was laid out some time ago. "And I wish I could be a scullery maid again." She made her way to the table she had always sat at lunch with Sango, but the other girl was nowhere in sight. Kagome didn't give a second thought about her absence. So hungry that she was, she dug her chopsticks into some side dishes on the table and began ravenously eating. Working six hours straight made her so hungry she couldn't slow down.
When Kagome lifted her face up from her bowl a while later, she found Sango sitting right across from her with her bowl of rice and chopsticks.
"So, how's it going, Kagome?" Sango asked, interested. "Is he treating you well?"
"I WISH," Kagome answered. "That dude is pure evil. Do you know what? He woke me up early this morning and told me to clean his room. It was so messy, you should have been there. So dirty and mud-covered that you would scream. I am POSITIVELY SURE his room was clean yesterday. It was spotless yesterday, but when I saw it this morning, it looked like trash."
"So I guess he messed it up just for you then." Sango grabbed some rice with her chopsticks and plopped them into her mouth. "How affectionate."
"Yeah right," Kagome muttered, finishing off her bowl. "Anyhow," she changed the subject as she stood up, "I have to get back now before he ruins his room again and invent reasons for me to clean it again. Or something like that."
Sango nodded while swallowing. "Mmm, ok."
Kagome stood up and walked a little distance to place her finished bowl in a pile of dirty bowls on the ground along with her chopsticks for whoever was going to wash the pile later. "Bye, people!" she called before returning to Inuyasha's room.
When Kagome returned to his room, she found Inuyasha waiting for her. The doors to his chamber were open and he was sitting at his round table in the center of the room. He was drinking tea with one arm propped onto the table and holding his head up. When she entered, he looked up and a smirk settled on his face.
"Did you have a lovely lunch?" he asked.
Kagome sighed and pulled a stool out from under the table. "Very lovely, thanks for your concern," she answered tiredly. She dropped her head onto the table and closed her eyes as if she was going to sleep.
"Good." Inuyasha grinned. "Glad to hear it. All ready for the next job?"
"Not really," she whispered, almost asleep.
"Look over there." Inuyasha pointed idly at something in his room.
"Eh?" Kagome slowly lifted her head and sleepily opened her eyes, directing her gaze to where Inuyasha was pointing. At some distance from the end of his fingertip was an overly large pile of dirty palace uniforms of servants and maids. Kagome's mouth widened in shock, horror, and dread. Gathering herself, she lifted herself up from the table.
"I especially gathered this pile here for you, knowing you love washing clothes. Well, now that I've assigned your chore, have fun in doing them. Come back when you're done though. I've got lots of chores planned for you. Ne?" Inuyasha stood up from his seat and led himself out of the room. "Have them all washed and dried neatly, ok? Alright then. Enjoy yourself."
After he left, Kagome let herself fall onto the big pile of dirty laundry. The pile was so tall that it was square with her standing waist. "So much work………" Kagome complained, dreadfully sleepy. More than anything, she wanted to jump into bed and never wake up, but she doubted she would ever be able to do that as long as she was a subject of Inuyasha's.
"Alright, all clean and tidy now." Maaya-san, the head maid of the palace, straightened the young little Higurashi prince's silky robes. When she was done, she looked up to him and smiled, reminding him like she always did after cleaning him up with a bath, "Don't dirty your robes, Young Prince. Remember to always keep your clothes clean. You must be a presentable prince, after all."
Souta frowned. "But by keeping my clothes clean, I can't have any fun! I can't run around or play with my ball!"
"True," Maaya-san agreed with the boy. "But you should be spending your time studying and practicing calligraphy, not running wild! You are—"
"A prince, after all," Souta mimicked unhappily. "I know, I know! But can't a prince have any fun around here?"
Maaya-san patted the Higurashi boy's bosom. "All done now," she said. "Go on." She lightly pushed the boy towards the door.
Souta turned to her and stuck out his tongue playfully before running off to the courtyards. The head maid watched as he disappeared, traces of a smile around her lips.
"Oi!" Souta called to a passing maid.
The maid, who was carrying a basket full of grocery and heading for the royal kitchen, turned at the calling voice. Spotting the young prince, she closed the distance between them and bowed her head. "You called, young lord? Is there anything I can help you with?"
"I'm looking for the maid Kagome. Do you know where she is?"
"Ah! The maid Kagome?" asked the maid. "I saw her a few moments ago carrying baskets of laundry. She might be at the washing stream. Would you like me to fetch her for you, young lord?"
Souta shook her head. "No, it's ok. Just carry on with your task."
The maid nodded and bowed again before backing away a few steps and continuing on to the royal kitchen.
Souta smiled as he thought of Kagome and began his journey to the washing stream, skipping all the way.
"Kagome!" the familiar voice of a young prince shouted.
Tiredly, Kagome turned her head to greet the prince as her hands continued to scrub the laundry. "Oh, it's you, Souta," she acknowledged in a low voice without energy.
Souta made his way over to the girl and sat down on the rocks next to her, wondering how Maaya-san would react to see him dirtying his royal robes. "What are you doing, Kagome?" he asked her.
"Washing," Kagome answered as she yawned sleepily. The yawn bounced off to Souta, who caught the infectious thing and also yawned.
"You look really tired and sleepy," the boy observed worriedly, peering up at her face and examining it. "You should rest."
"I really want to," Kagome replied, looking at him and making an effort to smile. "But I can't. I have to finish washing this pile of robes." She pointed to the mountain of clothes behind her. Three-fourths of the assigned pile was waiting for her.
"Whoa!" Souta exclaimed, surprised. "So much!"
"I know. I don't think I'll ever get done. I guess I'll be skipping dinner today." Kagome wanted to sigh, but didn't think she could gather up the energy.
"I know!" Souta proclaimed suddenly, after a while of thought. "I can help you! I'll help you wash! And don't tell me I can't because I'm the prince!" Excitedly, the young prince rolled up his sleeves.
Kagome let small laugh while shaking her head. "I appreciate the thought, but—you're a prince!"
Souta frowned. He had just told her not to tell him that.
Kagome laughed again and looked at him, a smile on her lips. "I was just kidding," she ensured him. "You can't help because………well, you're still a kid. The robe will be too heavy for you to handle after you soak it in the water and your little arms aren't enough to wash it sparkling clean."
The upside smile on his face didn't budge. "Then what CAN I do?" he asked, disappointed.
"Well………" Kagome thought about it for a while. "What CAN you do? Ah! I know. Just stay here and keep me company. Help me stay awake!"
The Higurashi prince considered this for a moment and then turned his frown upside down. "Okay!" he agreed enthusiastically. He walked a few steps over to the mountain and took some robes. Tracking them to the rocks he was just sitting on, he settled the clothes on them and sat them; wiggling the robes beneath him this way and that to make it more comfortable. Watching him, Kagome gave a small laugh.
"Okay, what should I tell you?"
"Anything you want to tell me. How about tell me about your family? About your mom and your dad, the queen and the king. What are they like?"
And so Souta sat on his rock and conveyed to Kagome about his family, his relations, his thoughts about random topics and people and places. Kagome, as she worked, listened to his interesting stories and found time speeding along a little quicker. Some time later, the mountain of clothes shrank by a third, then a half, and then to nothing at all.
Kagome stood up and stretched, relieving her tired arms. Sitting for such a long time left her legs sore. Souta, too, followed her motion and stretched. "Yay! We're done!" he exclaimed happily. "We're done!"
"Yeah!" Kagome screamed after him. Strangely, her energy had returned after she had finished all the washing. "Okay! All that's left now is to dry them! Peace of cake compared to washing them!"
"Yeah! Let's go!" Souta ran over to four baskets of wet clothes and tried to sling one over his shoulder, but it was too heavy. Kagome laughed at him and took two baskets in her arms.
"We'll take these two first, then come back for the other two later. I know you're hungry," she turned to Souta. "I've been hearing your stomach growl. Just bear with me a little while longer. When we're done, I'll cook something delicious for you!" the maid promised.
"Yeah!"
And so the two departed from the washing stream to finish their last task.
"We're FINALLY done!" Kagome shouted gleefully as she and the young prince sprang up and down like springs. "We're really done!"
It was around five o' clock, and the robes were robes were flying back and forth as they hung on the clotheslines. Kagome and Souta slapped hands together and hugged.
"Kagome! Remember you promised to cook me something!" Souta reminded.
"Of course I remember!" Kagome exchanged. "Come on!" She grabbed his hand and together, they ran in the direction of the kitchen. "Let's go!"
When they arrived in front of the royal kitchen, both were panting heavily from the running. Kagome took a deep breath and straightened herself. "So, Higurashi prince, what would you like to eat?"
Souta thought for a moment, but didn't come up with anything. "I don't know," he admitted.
"Well then! The decision is up to me!" Kagome said, hyped up. "Ok, you go sit at one of those benches over there while I figure out what to make, ok?"
"Okay," Souta answered, making his way over to one of the many benches and sat down, leaving Kagome to herself. Sharing the table with him was a servant enjoying a bowl of soup. As soon as he saw the young prince, he shot up from where he was sitting and bowed. "I'm sorry, Prince Souta," he apologized. "I didn't see you come in. Forgive my late greeting."
"It's okay," Souta said as he sighed, as these kinds of things happened to him on a daily basis. "You don't have to be so formal to me and treat me like a prince," he tried to explain, as he always did.
"But you're a prince!" the servant replied expectedly.
"Prince or not, he's still just a little ten-year old," a voice interrupted. Souta looked up and found the owner of the voice.
"Kagome!"
Kagome was carrying on a tray two bowls of rice, two pairs of chopsticks, a bowl of soup with fish and vegetables, and an impressive dish of seasoned beef.
Souta could smell the sweet aromas of the food as Kagome set a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks in front of him, followed by the soup and the dish. "It looks delicious, Kagome!" Souta exclaimed excitedly. "I've never seen this kind of food before!"
"Try it," Kagome prodded him. She turned to the servant and explained to him, "Taka, this little prince is my guest today. Just calling him Souta is fine. No formality needed."
Taka looked at her as if she had gone out of her mind. "But he's a prince," he repeated. "We are supposed to be formal, or our heads would be chopped off."
"This is really delicious!" Souta yelled, interrupting them. He grabbed more of the seasoned beef into his bowl with his chopsticks and ate ravenously.
"You're right," Kagome said to Taka, though smiling at Souta. "Because he is a prince, he is restricted from doing many things. It's really hard for a prince too, ya know." Kagome sat down and spooned some soup into her rice bowl.
Taka grinned. "I suppose it won't hurt to drop the formalities this once. I suppose it's pretty hard for a kid prince like him."
"Uh-huh." Souta looked up at Taka, nodding as he chewed.
"Well, Souta, you don't mind sharing Kagome's dishes with me, do you?" he asked.
Kagome found her lips forming a grin. "Do you, Souta?"
Souta shook his head as he chewed and swallowed. Both Taka and Kagome laughed at the little young prince who, like every other kid, was just a boy. The three were enjoying their meal when a maid entered the kitchen and approached Kagome. It was Miki, Kagome's roommate.
"Kagome, the Lord Inuyasha demands you," she delivered the message. "He's waiting in his chamber this instant and told me to tell you to report to him at once. He looked pretty peeved to me."
'Shit,' Kagome thought. And just when she had finished the washing and was having an enjoyable meal! Who did he think he was?
"Inuyasha-ni-san?" Souta asked curiously. "You know him, Kagome?"
"Why, Kagome is Lord Inuyasha's personal maid!" Taka informed. "Of course she knows him."
"Really!" Souta was both surprised and excited.
Kagome sighed and stood up as she nodded yes, quickly finishing her bowl. "Well, I'm have to go now," she told the young prince. "Enjoy your meal. I'll see you next time, ok?"
"Okay," Souta answered her. "Bye."
Kagome smiled at him and waved a farewell to Taka and Miki, then headed out of the kitchen. As soon as she turned around from the three, her smile abruptly changed into scowl. Damn him! Damn him to hell! She almost stomped across the courtyards in her hatred. Would he EVER give her a break?
Not far from her, she spotted Kikyou, Toki, and maid sitting around a square stone table in a nearby courtyard, playing mahjong. As she glanced over at the high-ranked maid not so far away, her body tensed and fear welled up her spine, remembering past encounters. Not wanting to be discovered by the Lady Kikyou and her maid, Kagome lowered her head and watched the ground as she walked by the three; trying her best to look causal but speeding a little. Unfortunately, fate was cruel.
"If it isn't Kagome," the maid heard Toki say sarcastically.
Kagome stopped dead in her tracks and immediately turned around to face the upper maid, plastering on a nervous smile. "Toki-san, Lady Kikyou," she greeted as she bowed respect to them.
Kikyou glanced once her way; a cold glare before returning to her mahjong blocks.
"I heard you got promoted," Toki was saying—although it was more as if she had grinded it out. "Personal maid now, huh? Not even a year in this palace and already holding the same status as mine?" she sneered. "How unbelievable."
Not knowing what to do or say, Kagome stood there with her nervous smile, nodding.
Toki looked up the girl with icy eyes. "Well, since you are here and we are short one person, come and have a seat over here," she directed, pointing to the empty edge of the square table that was adjacent to her and across from Kikyou.
Kagome humbly shook her head, trying to escape. "I'm sorry, Toki-san, Lady Kikyou," she apologized, "but I don't know how to play mahjong."
"It's a very easy game," Toki insisted, staring straight into the other girl's eyes. "You'll learn quickly. Don't worry about it." But the gaze in her eyes conveyed to Kagome the opposite message.
"My Lord is waiting for me," Kagome reasoned. "I must get to him now or he will be very angry."
"Is your lord more powerful than Lady Kikyou here?" Toki asked in a rather aggressive tone, almost accusingly. This woman was not to be messed with.
"No, Toki-san," Kagome answered, too afraid to raise her eyes to the unkind maid.
"Then good. Kikyou-sama will explain to your lord later and he will understand. Now join the table and watch."
Kagome could only comply, having no other excuses. She seated herself in the empty spot and watched as Toki, Kikyou, and the third maid played. Her eyes drifted to the maid sitting to her left. That maid had the look of fear and alertness on her face, more than once glancing worriedly at either Toki or Kikyou as if they were going to bite her.
"I win," Kikyou said, smiling as she knocked her row of blocks back to reveal the paintings on them.
"Wow! You are so good," the maid, looking relieved now, contributed in a fake voice.
"Of course," Toki answered in place of her mistress. "Kikyou-sama almost always wins."
The three pushed their blocks into a pile in the middle of the table and mixed them around, shuffling them up for a new game. Kagome watched the three play, taking notice of each of the blocks and their symbols. Each game, she understood the object of the game a little more.
Toki peered at Kagome with arrogance as she shuffled the blocks for a new game. "It's pretty easy," she said to the maid. "Do you understand how it's played?"
Kagome nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I think I've got it down."
"Good. Join us," Kikyou commanded.
"Yes, Kikyou-sama." From what she had learned while watching, Kagome tried to play, picking up blocks when it was her turn or giving up blocks to the middle of the table. However, before she could even decide her move, Kikyou had already won. In the second game, Kagome was a little more quicker—but that game once again went to Kikyou. In the following games, the maid got better little by little, thinking quicker and smarter as she became accustomed to the game and its rules. "I win!" Kagome suddenly shouted loudly—so loud that it make Kikyou, Toki, and the maid jump. It was her first victory since the twenty or so games she had played. "I win! I win!" she yelled again happily, revealing her row of winning blocks for all to see.
An expression of hatred crossed Toki's face. "You WON?" she scoffed, almost angrily. "Have you no manners? Even if you DID win, keep it secret!"
Kagome's face wrinkled in confusion. "Keep it secret?" she repeated. "But I thought you were supposed yell out when you win…"
Toki turned to Kikyou. "Kikyou-sama, do you see how rude this girl is? To think that she won you!" Glaring back at the other personal maid, she continued, "You are NOT to win! Even if you have the winning hand, you keep silent! You are playing with royalty here! Even if you have the winning hand, you will lose! Kikyou-sama will win!"
"But—" Kagome looked over at the other maid for help, to find her frozen in her spot with fear. She shook her head at Kagome, conveying without words that she shouldn't have done that. Kagome didn't understand. Clearly, she had won. It did not make sense. Why did she have to deny that and let Kikyou win? Thinking about it, she realized that in all the time that she had been here, the other made had not won a single game.
"Are you still trying to argue?" Toki screamed. "Kikyou-sama! Please let me punish this impudent girl!"
Kikyou turned her gaze away from Kagome. "Do as you wish."
"But—" Kagome tried to argue, but was unable to finish because Toki had grabbed a chunk of her hair, pulling the poor maid up by the hair as she stood up. "Ah! I'm sorry!" Kagome found herself yelling as Toki yanked roughly on her hair. Kagome's head started to ache due to the intense pulling. "Ah! Please! I'm sorry!" She was kneeling on the floor.
"What's going on here? Is that MY MAID!" At the sudden voice, everyone turned around.
"P-Prince Inuyasha!" Toki shouted, surprised. She dropped her grip on the other girl's hair as the prince approached.
"Inuyasha!" Kikyou stood up quickly, her face suddenly brightening with a smile.
Inuyasha gave Toki and Kikyou a distrusting glance before turning to the girl on the ground. After an hour of waiting and the anger that welled up into him, after his maid never came, he had decided to look for his her and give her a scolding. What was taking her so long? Why had she not come when he called? He looked down at the girl on the floor. When her face tilted up, she recognized her as his maid. "Just what the hell are you doing here!" he screamed at her.
Toki jumped in. "Prince Inuyasha! Please let me punish this girl! She has been so disrespectful to Kikyou-sama! I need to teach her manners!"
"P-Prince?" Kagome stuttered as she looked up at him. Did she hear wrong, or did Toki call him a prince?