Laughter could be heard from miles away. People were eating merrily and dancing around. The sun was setting softly so streaks of bright orange and pink were shooting across the sky. Kagome watched happily with a smile on her face. She sighed peacefully as she heard someone come up behind her.
Two arms wrapped around her waist then and a chin was rested on her head. Kagome just giggled and turned around. She placed a hand on the man's cheek and shook her head. Her eyes were dancing with joy as she dropped her hand from his face and turned back to the sunset.
"It is beautiful isn't it? To see something so pure after so much has happened." Kagome said while staring at the sunset. Two warm hands were placed on her shoulders and the man said
"It is beautiful my love. Not as beautiful as you though, even in spite of what has happened." Kagome laughed this time, and turned around facing the man. She stared into his bright blue eyes and nodded.
Then calls from below them were sounded. Kagome looked down the mountain and then back at the man before shaking her head and saying,
"Catch me if you can!" Then she ran as fast as her feet would carry her. The man was hot on her heels but she got into the cave just before him. When she entered the cave she was greeted from all sides. As she walked forward however the dream started to fall apart.
Suddenly she was just floating in darkness. Kagome screamed out for the man, for anyone. No avail though, until a woman appeared, her face was covered with a black veil. She reached her hand out and grabbed Kagome's wrist tightly. Then she said in a gravelly voice,
"Do not falter Kagome. Do not give up in this fight!"
Kagome quickly sat up in bed, her heart pounding in fear. She looked down at her wrist and grasped it in fear. She took a deep shaky breath before Ayame's voice called to her behind the rice paper door.
"Your majesty, may I enter? I need to prepare you for the first challenge today." Kagome nodded but realized Ayame could not see her, so she said in a timid voice,
"Yes" Ayame slid the door open and walked in before closing it once again. Once she turned around her face filled with worry as she rushed to Kagome's side asking her if she was ok and if something had happened the night before.
Kagome just shook her worries off and smiled softly,
"No, Ayame I am fine. I just have these dreams. I can never remember all of it when I wake up, usually just the very end." Kagome stood up then and let Ayame start to dress her in the contestant's kimono. As she was doing her hair Ayame asked softly,
"Are the dreams usually scary miss? You do not need to tell me, I am just merely curios." Kagome smiled as she looked into the mirror at Ayame who was sliding in the pin into her hair. Then Kagome turned around and allowed Ayame to apply some makeup to her face.
"They usually scare me a little. Usually they feel like they are searing into my soul. This one however was just frightening, it kind of hurts to remember it. Like a really bad nightmare." Kagome replied as her cheeks were made rosy.
Once Kagome's makeup was done, Ayame helped her up and allowed Kagome to lead her to the great hall. As Kagome walked she noticed all of the other contestants leaving as well. This time however, Kagome did not feel insecure, she felt like she had a purpose today.
They entered the great hall and sat in the same seats as the night before. Kagome then realized she had not seen Kaede yet and felt a small bubble of worry creep into her stomach. The royal families entered again, with the girls sending their praise.
Kagome however kept her eyes downcast, looking at her hands. She felt it though when he laid his eyes on her. It took every ounce of self-control not to look up at him. When everyone was seated breakfast was served.
Once the bowls were empty, the white haired king stood and smiled at the girls.
"Welcome! Today is the day that the competition truly starts! I know you are all extremely excited. We will announce the first challenge after I introduce all of the royal families by name. Starting with the north, King Bonkotsu, his wife Queen Kagura, and their son Prince Naraku."
The girls all bowed in respect, and the white haired king continued on.
"Then from the East, King Myoga, his wife Queen Ayumi, and their son Prince Miroku." More bows followed for respect but the next names made Kagome's heart start to speed up a little.
"From the South, King Ginta, his wife Queen Nala, and their son Prince Kouga." Kagome clenched her fists as she bowed and tried not to make eye contact with the now named prince Kouga.
"Now for myself, from the West, I am King Inu no Taisho, my lovely wife Yoshiko, and our son Sesshomaru." The girls bowed once more and then King Inu no Taisho spoke up announcing the challenge that will be placed before them today.
"Your challenge today is to spend at least ten minutes with him today alone. The princes have already done the choosing. So you do not need to worry about that! The girls will be taken out of the room one by one. Until then go back to your home and start with your lessons. The queens will be accompanying you."
When he sat down the girls hand maidens stood up and helped the girls up before allowing the queens to get up and lead them to the living quarters.
Each girl took a spot on the floor and started to practice their embroidery. The queens observed as the hand maidens helped some of the girls who had no idea what to do. Kagome happily picked up her thread and became lost in a picture she was stitching from her mind.
A few hours later, the girls were cycled through and Kagome still sat peacefully sewing away. The queens arose and started to look at the girl's projects.
Queen Nala however stopped short when he saw Kagome's work. She kneeled down next to Kagome which had the other girls around them stop their work and stare at what was happening.
"That is beautiful dear, how did you get the eyes to be so lifelike?" Queen Nala asked while observing the artwork. Kagome now just realizing the queens closeness smiled awkwardly, bowed and said
"I saw it in a dream. I felt it only right to bring it to life, right? It seemed to have a spirit of its own so it deserved to be preserved." The Queen reached her hand out and let her claws barley touch the strings. She then gasped softly and pulled her hand back.
"My dear, this is the best piece of work I think I have ever seen. Kagura, Ayumi, Yoshiko, come look at this piece." The other queens walked around the other girls until they had a clear view of Kagome's piece.
"Look at this line work, it is admirable. Who taught you this?" Queen Yoshiko asked while studying the piece. Kagome lowered her eyes to stare only at the paws of the wolf she had created.
"I taught myself you majesty." Kagome said while putting the needle back into its holder. All of the queens continued to compliment, all but Kagura. Finally Yoshiko said
"Kagura, what do you think of this piece?" Kagura then leaned forward and touched the piece with her nail. She pulled her hand back while her eyes went cloudy. When her vision cleared she looked at Yoshiko and said
"I think it is more than just art Yoshiko. I think it is something more. It seems living to me." Then the door opened and a girl was ushered in, she was in tears. Kagome felt the nerves strike her as the guards looked at her and said,
"Next girl, Kagome Higurashi, Scheduled for Prince Sesshomaru" Kagome felt her heart beat slow and the disappointment settled in her heart. Then she shook it off as Ayame helped her stand, what was she to be disappointed about? Every prince had a chance with her.
Kagome followed the guard out of the room and failed to see Yoshiko's smug grin. The Queens walked back to their seats and sat down. Kagura did not look to Yoshiko nor did she look at Ayumi but she said quietly as to have none of the girls hear her.
"That girl, we all want her as the daughter in law just from the art work. Do not try to deny it either. That girl is something more than a mere human. You could feel it on the threads. She probably does not even know what she is but yet she pushes her essence into that artwork." Ayumi looked to the door and said quietly,
"She may have potential to be a queen. Though we will not know for sure, we should bring a priestess in the next few days, to see who has any future of being a queen." The other queens tried to hide their expressions after that request.
"Ayumi, bringing a priestess in here could be risky. Not everyone believes in the power of a priestess. Their kind was almost eradicated years ago." Yoshiko said calmly while pretending to watch the girls. Ayumi smiled at a girl before whispering,
"It is true almost all of them were destroyed. Though a certain academy still runs, it is to the east of here. Although it is said that there is a priestess on the grounds, all we have to do is arrange a conference with her. She is said to have powers that rival even your husband Yoshiko." Yoshiko growled softly at Ayumi in a warning before Nala spoke up,
"I think we should do it. We will keep the priestess hidden but allow her to see the girls. She will be able to tell us who our future daughters are." The other queens agreed reluctantly but Ayumi called over a guard, whispered in his ear the request and sent him away.
Kagome however was walking calmly behind the guard. The guard led her straight to the garden in the middle of the four buildings. There in the garden was not just Sesshomaru but all of the princes. The guard stopped a bit away from them and called out,
"I present lady Kagome." He then bowed and walked away. Even Ayame bowed and left with the guard. So Kagome stood there, vulnerable, with her heart pounding in her ears.
"Well don't just stand there my dear, come over here." Prince Miroku called out with a wave of his hand. Kagome slowly started to walk forward. She was confused, wasn't she only supposed to be meeting with just one prince?
"I am sure you are confused, but we all wanted to meet with you so we agreed to have all of us meet you at once, that is not a problem, is it?" Prince Naraku said with a cruel smirk, like she was enjoying her nerves.
"Not at all your majesties, what is it that you would like to know about me?" Kagome said sweetly after bowing. Prince Sesshomaru motioned towards an empty bench so Kagome went and sat down, her hands clasped in her lap.
"Let us start with the basics of a queen to be shall we?" Prince Naraku said with a malicious smile. Kagome bowed her head softly to him.
"What will you do if you are pregnant and the palace is invaded?" Prince Miroku asked while looking at his nails.
"I would go to safety, they baby's life would cost more than mine at that point because I would be carrying and heir." Kagome said while clenching her hands.
"I don't want a textbook answer. Tell me what you would really do." Kouga said sternly. Kagome felt her heart flutter as she raised her eyes to meet his blue ones. Then Kagome said what was truly going on in her mind,
"I would find my husband. Then I would go to safety after knowing he was alright first."
"Why is that? Why would your husband's life mean more to you than your child's?" Naraku asked, looking like a kid in the candy store.
"Because your majesty. I may be carrying and heir, but what is an heir without a father to guide them. What is my life without my love? That may be the wrong answer. But I cannot see myself being selfish and sacrificing my husband for myself." Kagome said coolly
"It would not be just your life; it would be the pup's life." Sesshomaru answered looking at her with leveled eyes. Kagome just smiled softly and looked right at Sesshomaru unblinking.
"With all due respect your majesty, If I was that child and my mother ran away condemning my father to die for the sake of me? Then I would feel that regret." Sesshomaru smirked then and looked away.
"Next question, do you know how to handle the race of the children you will be given? I myself am human, but Naraku is a spiderling, Sesshomaru is a dog, and Kouga is a wolf. How would you raise them?" Miroku asked while looking into Kagome's eyes. Kagome smiled and giggled a little bit, throwing the princes' aback.
"I am sorry for laughing but, I do not know. I mean I should be all knowing of this subject but I do not know. I would learn from my husband and learn from those around me. I would be the best mother I possibly can. Can I say I would raise them to be perfect? No, I will say that I will raise them to be kind to their people, to be smart, to be the best they can be. No I cannot make them textbook perfect but I can have them be kind." Kagome answered while looking a potted flower next to her.
"I was not raised to be perfect you majesties. I was raised in the cold; I was raised on the streets as a child. I did not have everything I wanted or even needed. My mother was not raising me to be queen. She was raising me to be kind to those around me. She raised me to be strong and be pure. So no I cannot raise your children like those of your race, but I can assure you I will raise them to be the best they can be." Kagome reached out to the flower and smiled at it.
She was completely oblivious to the stares that were upon her. Kagome looked up then and the boys all looked away. She then looked down and whispered,
"I know it is not allowed, but may I ask you four a question?" They all looked at her then and nodded in unison.
"What are you looking for in a wife? Tomorrow there will be an elimination of the girls who you cannot see yourself with. But do you know what you are truly looking for so that the girls you eliminate know they are being eliminated because they could never be queen because you could never love them?" Kagome covered her mouth then and was about to take back her question when Miroku answered
"I am looking for a wife that can put up with me. Someone who is strong enough to with a human prince, someone who will be able to strengthen my children" He looked away then and kept his eyes on the fish in the pond.
"I am looking for a wife who is strong and can survive a spider labor. Who is into a little fun and who knows when to be silent." Naraku said with a bite to his tone before rolling his eyes.
Sesshomaru then looked at the two princes before casting his eyes upon Kagome.
"Normally I would have the person who asks such a personal question killed. But since these two answered already. I am looking for a wife who is regal, who can keep herself above others. Who knows she is the best out of everyone." Sesshomaru answered before getting up and walking toward the western building.
Miroku stood then and took Kagome's hand before kissing it,
"My lady I hope we meet again." Then he left toward the eastern building. Naraku just got up and walked away toward the northern building. Leaving Kagome and Kouga alone, Kagome was about to get up when his voice stopped her.
"Are you at all curios as to what I am looking for?" Kouga asked politely. Kagome sat back down and nodded,
"It would help your highness." Kouga smirked at that and he snipped a flower bud off of the plant next to him.
"I am looking for a woman in my dreams, a woman who chases butterflies and is not afraid of following a wolf into a deep dark forest. I am looking for a woman who enjoys running barefoot through fields and is ok with being a little wild. A woman who will raise my children to howl at the moon without fear that is the wife I am looking for, have you ever heard of such a woman?" By this time Kouga was standing in front of her and looking down at her with his deep blue eyes. Each word that Kouga had said had struck a memory in Kagome's mind and an arrow was plunged into her heart.
The rose bud Kouga cut earlier was in front of her face now. She looked up and met his eyes.
Kouga then learned down so he was eye level with Kagome.
"Sleep well lady Kagome." Kouga then left the rose bud in Kagome's lap as he walked toward the south palace. The minute the door to the building closed, Kagome grasped her heart. She felt her eyes shut tightly as she tried to re-attain her breathing. She touched the rose bud and opened her eyes as she smiled at it. Then she closed her eyes tightly as a tear slid down her cheek. She swiped the tear away and it felt on the flower in the pot next to her.
Ayame appeared then and called out,
"Lady Kagome, it is time for dinner, may I escort you?" Kagome wiped her eyes and looked at Ayame with a smile. Then Kagome tucked the beautiful bud away into her sleeve. Once she stood up she cast a glance to Kouga's palace.