Kagome walked into the dining hall to find the girls lined up, with guards surrounding the walls, with the royal families standing in front. Kagome took her place at the end and looked at the princes with concern; she wondered what was about to happen, wasn't it supposed to be dinner time?
Sesshomaru stepped forward and took a glance over with his cold yellow eyes before speaking with authority.
"Some of you were supposed to be eliminated tomorrow. Our mothers find it inhumane to leave you in a nervous wait. So we will eliminate you before dinner. Each of us princes has someone they will eliminate. Once eliminated the guards will take you to the holding cell, where you will be given three options. Become a servant, become a concubine, or death. Naraku will start the elimination."
Naraku walked towards the line of girls, his red eyes full humor. Finally he reached a girl with bright green hair and he pointed at her. Immediately she started to cry as the guards grabbed her by the shoulders and all but drug her from the room.
Kagome felt her hands start to shake. She was so blatantly disrespectful earlier to them, she was sure to be chosen. What would her life become? A concubine, a servant, or death, at this point she was sure to choose death because if she was not allowed to go back to the academy or was able to win a spot in this competition, she would rather die.
Miroku stepped down next. He started to walk down the line of girls and he stopped in front of Sango. Kagome felt her heart start to break, but instead of pointing at Sango, he winked at her, though he did point at the girl next to Sango, without ever taking his eyes away from Sango's. Kagome smiled at that, she hoped that Sango would be chosen for this prince, she could see them being happy.
The girl was ripped out of the line screaming and crying. Kouga stepped forward then, and he and Kagome made eye contact. Kagome quickly looked away as he walked up to her. She could feel the imminent death as she felt him stand in front of her. Then he turned and walked back down the line.
Kagome took a deep sigh of relief as he pointed at a girl further down the line. This girl did not scream, she merely bowed and allowed the guards to walk her calmly out of the room. Kagome could feel the girl's resilience to die the minute she passed Kagome. She and Kagome made eye contact; Kagome felt something pass between them, something that even Kagome could not pinpoint at that moment.
Kouga stepped back up on the stand and Sesshomaru stepped down, he did not even hesitate he walked right up to a familiar face to Kagome. Not Sango, no it was the bawling girl from earlier, the one who broke into the room and had tears flowing down her face.
Sesshomaru did not even take a second look before pointing at her. This girl just dropped to the ground, it seemed like he sucked the life out of her.
Once the four girls who had been eliminated were gone, only eight girls remained, which meant there was only one more challenge before the winners were chosen. Kagome could feel the tension amongst the girls. Kagome and Sango made eye contact then. Kagome wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around Sango and hold her close, but she couldn't. She had to pretend her and Sango did not know each other.
Queen Nala then stepped forward and smiled at all of the girls.
"Congratulations girls, you made it past round one. In the morning there will be Kimono from each of the princes who have an interest in you. Your hand maidens will present them to you in the morning. Who's ever Kimono you wear tomorrow, will pick your fate for the last competition. So please girls choose wisely." Queen Nala then motioned for everyone to take a seat as the guards filed out and the food filed in.
This dinner was different than the last one; it was filled with talking, excitement, and music. The girls were talking about the kimonos and who they would choose if they could. Kagome however just smiled and drank her juice peacefully.
She looked up to the royal families however and made eye contact with Kouga. He just smirked at her and raised his glass to her slightly before drinking it. Kagome hid her blush and smile as she drank her juice in response.
"So Kagome, we haven't heard a peep out of you, who is it that you want?" A girl with light brown hair and big brown eyes asked. Her smile was wide and she held an excitement that was palpable.
"I do not know honestly. I would be honored by any of the princes." Kagome said cordially.
"Come on Kagome! That is not a fun answer, come on if any of them had to send you a kimono who would it be?" The girl asked again. Kagome thought for a moment and then looked at the girl,
"Oh I don't know, who would you choose, and I did not quite catch your name." Kagome said as a change of conversation.
"Oh my name is Rin! And me, oh I would just love it if prince Sesshomaru sent me a kimono." Rin said sweetly. A few of the girls gasped and then one said,
"You can't mean that Rin! He is so, cold and you are so warm, it would never work!" Rin just shook her head and stared into her cup before casting a glance at Sesshomaru who seemed to be enamored in a conversation with his father.
"He is cold, and I am warm. That is why it would work. He can chill me out a little and I can thaw out his heart." Rin said with a blush. The girls went into a chorus of awhs and oos but Kagome just stood, bowed to the royals and took her leave.
She left the great hall with Ayame but as soon as they were out of earshot Kagome asked Ayame to leave because she needed some alone time before bed.
Once Ayame left, Kagome ventured into the garden from earlier. She touched the seat where she had spouted off her nonsense and then the flower in the pot caught her attention. What had used to be a wilting, dying rose was now full, alive, and beautiful. Kagome leaned down and smelled the rose.
"You know, this garden is supposed to be just for the royals." A voice called out, Kagome got up and bowed deeply,
"I am sorry; I was wandering and found myself here. I will leave." Kagome said as she started to walk away. But an arm grabbed her; she felt her heart skip a beat at the warmth of the palm. She knew that, it was the same warmth that radiated in her dreams.
"I did not ask you to leave, did I?" the voice asked. Kagome shook her head in a negative and he pulled her around to face him. Kagome felt his hand go beneath her chin as he lifted her head so she would meet his eyes.
"There, that is better. Now Lady Kagome, will you join me in a walk around the garden?" Kouga asked as he dropped his hand and took a step back from Kagome. Kagome nodded sweetly and started to walk with him.
"Kagome, how would feel if I sent you a kimono in the morning? I want an honest answer. Would you accept it?" Kouga asked.
Kagome was taken aback by the questions; she started to think seriously about the answers she wanted to give.
"I would feel grateful and amazed. Well I don't know you majesty; we will just have to see if I get one." Kagome chided back with a smile. He shook his head and laughed, it was a deep laugh.
"Oh you're a tricky one aren't you" Kouga said with a smile. Kagome just shrugged as she looked to the sky and sighed at the moons beauty.
"You are different from the other girls, did you know that?" Kouga asked while looking up at the moon with Kagome. Kagome looked down from the moon to his face and tilted her head in confusion.
"Why do you say that? The girls and me we have the same goal." Kagome said while continuing to walk. Kouga walked beside her and shook his head before running his hand through his hair, messing up his ponytail successfully.
"You do not have the same goal Kagome. You are not looking at us as pawns. Most of those girls they wanted power, money, fame. They do not want to take care of the people, or to love us, or to even try to love us. They just want to be on top." Kouga said with frustration as he threw a pebble into the koi pond. Just as he was about to throw another rock Kagome placed a hand on his arm to stop the assault,
"Prince Kouga, my goal may be more different than I realized. Do not take your frustrations from this mess out on the fish. They are pure creatures whose only purpose is to eat and have families." Kagome said calmly as she took her hand away.
"See right there! Right there is why all of us want you as our queen." Kouga said a little frantically. It stopped Kagome short, as she turned to face him she asked
"All of you want me to be your queen? Kouga, you do not know what you are implying." Kouga shook his head as took a seat near the pond.
"Sesshomaru wants you as his wife because he can see how powerful you can become. Miroku wants you as his wife because he thinks you will have beautiful children. Naraku wants you as his wife because his mother says you are powerful." Kouga said as he picked apart some grass blades.
"If it is alright to pry, why do you, your majesty want me for his lady wife?" Kagome asked as she sat down next to Kouga. Kouga turned to face her and then looked out onto the pond.
"Because, after your answers it only strengthened my resolve, for the past few weeks I have been having these dreams. About a girl, who chases butterflies and lays down in meadows. I thought she was just a dream, from stress due to this whole thing. But then I saw you when we were first introduced and I knew! I knew that it was not just a dream! It had to be something more." Kouga said while staring at the moon.
Kagome put her hand over her heart and shook her head. Before looking at the prince, she did not know if she was ready to expose herself yet, to feel vulnerable when he could be taken away in an instance.
"Prince Kouga, if you send a kimono to me, and only me. I will accept it." Kagome said with downcast eyes. Then she looked up to find his blue eyes bearing into hers.
"Do you mean that my lady?" Kouga asked with utmost sincerity.
"I do." Kagome said as she stood and started back towards her sleeping place. When she was halfway across the garden she turned back and said,
"But only me." Then she turned back towards the building and did not look back. Kouga then fell back on his back and smiled in happiness. The other princes showed up then and rolled their eyes at him before going into their respective homes.
As the girls filed in, Kagome could hear their excitement. She heard so many girls vying for Kouga's attention that it made her heart hurt, what if he sent the kimono to someone else? Or what if he did not send her one at all? Why was she so disrespectful…?
Back at the dining hall the queens still sat drinking their tea; their husbands had turned in for the night. Just then Ayumi set down her tea and called out,
"You may come out now priestess." The other women then set down their tea as Kaede walked out from behind a rice paper wall.
Yoshiko then gestured for Kaede to kneel before them. Kaede kneeled and bowed her head deeply in servitude.
"Well what did you find?" Yoshiko asked coldly. Kaede looked to the heavens and felt the visions return to her.
She saw Sango kneeling as a crown was placed upon her hand, and a ceremony was taken place with a purple eyed boy at her side. She could see the love he held for her even though he did not know it.
She sped through the vision to see a woman in an orange kimono, picking flowers and smiling up at yellow eyed boy. He held his hand out for her and she took it with a smile as they walked through a field together.
Then she saw a beautiful dark haired girl with brown eyes take the hand of a red eyed man, but she saw the girl scream as blood spurted from her mouth and a white haired girl with eyes as dark as coal take her place.
She then saw the death of many girls, and the servitude of others. She saw pain and suffering and blood. But then she saw Kagome, standing on top of a hill, her hair flowing in the wind, her stomach great with child. A man was standing at her side, with blue eyes as deep as an ocean.
"Well? Who should we call our daughters?" Kagura asked impatiently. Kaede came out of her vision and she stared at the floor as she edited what she saw for the queens.
"Prince Sesshomaru will marry a girl as warm as a summer sun. She has hair the color chocolate. She is in this competition." Yoshiko sighed in relief and then asked another question,
"Oh tell me what her race is!" Kaede looked down and felt her stomach churn as she relayed the part that might disgust the queen.
"She is human you majesty." Yoshiko sighed a little disappointed but then continued to drink her tea as Kaede recited the next girls.
"Prince Naraku will marry a girl who is as regal as you Queen Kagura. She is easily spotted with her chin upwards never faltering. Her hair is as dark as midnight." Kagura made a pleased sound as she drank her tea with no questions.
"Prince Miroku will marry a woman who can meet his fire with fire. She is daring and bold and will fight for him in this competition. She has light brown hair." Ayumi sighed with a smile and drank her tea.
"Prince Kouga will marry a woman who is a mystery. She is daring, regal, and wild. She has onyx dark hair." Kaede then rose and bowed.
"Wait priestess. Tell us the names of the girls. Your powers can do at least that right?" Yoshiko asked with a bite to her tone.
"For Prince Sesshomaru her name is Rin, for Prince Naraku her name is Kikyo, For Prince Miroku her name is Sango, and for Prince Kouga her name is Kagome." Kaede then bowed and was escorted out of the building.
Nala felt satisfaction as the girl she wanted her son to marry more than anything was who he would end up. She felt the other queens' jealousy as she finished her tea and stood.
"Goodnight, I shall see you in the morning during the choosing correct?" With that Nala walked out of the building with her escort. Yoshiko and Kagura on the other hand crushed their tea cups to dust into their hands as the hot tea splashed everywhere. Ayumi got out of there with a quick bow and acknowledgement just as the two demoness queens exploded with anger.
In the palaces however the princes made arrangements for the kimonos to be sent to the girls. Kouga was arguing with his father about the only kimono he was going to send out. His father figured that sending one out was a mistake and he needed a bigger holding. Kouga however disagreed saying that this was the only girl he could see himself marrying. His father was angry but he told his son it was his funeral.
The kimonos were sent out and the princes slept soundly in their beds, certain of their choosing. Yoshiko on the other hand made sure her son sent a kimono to Rin, and to Kagome. Kagura had the same idea, send one to Kikyo but also to Kagome just to see if she could shake her up a little bit.
As the hand maidens received the kimonos they set them on each girls designated seating spot in the hall. Ayame felt like a target had been printed on her back. Not only was her mistress the only one to get a kimono from a prince, but she also got a kimono from each other prince as well.
When Kagome awoke she could practically drown in the anger and jealousy that fumed around the building. She tied her sleeping kimono closed as Ayame entered and escorted her to the choosing.
All of the girls were sitting at their spots with only their sleeping kimonos on. In front of each girl was the same size of covered boxes. As soon as the hand maidens were given a signal they helped the girls put on silk robes to conserve their modesty during the choosing.
The royal families entered and stood before the girls. Some of the girls were excited, others nervous, and a few were calm.
"Welcome girls to the choosing! Underneath these cloths are your kimonos. No one has the same amount; each was given certain kimonos from the princes. When it is you turn your hand maiden will lift the cloth and you have to choose which prince has chosen you. If you are not chosen at all well, think of this as the second trial. To be queen your king also has to choose you. Up here us queens we were chosen hundreds of years ago. Some of you may remember others were not alive. This is a moment that will jump start your lives. Choose wisely girls." Queen Nala said with a smile.
Kagome felt her nerves pick up as she was the last one in line. Hand maidens started pulling away cloths. The first girl did not have any kimonos and was taken away. The next girl was the girl that made Kagome envious from the beginning. Her hand maiden lifted on the cloth and their red and black silk laid a kimono, from the north, from Naraku. Her hand maiden leaned down lifted the Kimono and pulled the girl away into her room. Two girls were eliminated next, with no kimonos.
Next was Sango. Kagome did not know it was this possible to be afraid for someone else as Sango's hand maiden lifted the cloth. Kagome felt herself let go of a breath she did not know she had been holding. There sitting on the ground was a kimono, dark blue and purple, it was from the East, from Miroku. Sango bowed as her hand maiden lifted the kimono and took Sango to her room to change.
The girl from earlier came back then, her hair was up in a more elegant fashion with a red rubied accessory. Her kimono was black with red trim and red roses all over the back. She bowed deeply and got upon her knees and bowed from there.
The next girl was Rin, Kagome was rooting for her. Rin was all but shaking as her hand maiden lifted away the cloth but she smiled and looked up and bowed deeply. Under the cloth was two kimonos, one from the north, and one that was white, red, blue, and gold, from the west, from Sesshomaru.
Rin was all but jumping with joy as they left to put it on. Sango came back then. Her kimono was purple with red trim and a red sash, and on the back it was detailed with gold lilies. Her hair was done up exactly like the queen of the easts and had a pin through it that was purple with sapphires all over it. She truly looked like a queen. As such she bowed and then got to her knees and bowed and stayed there like the girl from before.
Kagome felt her heart drop to her stomach because three girls had received Kimonos. Only one had received double kimonos. Three princes had seemed to be taken. The girl to Kagome left looked at her with a sad smile as the cloth was taken away and no Kimono was revealed. The girl was taken out with tears rushing down her face.
Ayame moved to touch the cloth, and as she did Kagome made eye contact with Kouga who winked at her. Kagome's attention then was shot right back at the cloth. The cloth was ripped away and gasps could be heard. There under Kagome's cloth were four kimonos, one from each corner of the land, one from each royal family, one from each prince. Everyone's eyes were on her now. Because it was not just a two person choose. This would be her life choice. If she chose anyone else's kimono it could set the world into ruin. Luckily Kagome only had her eyes on one kimono.
It was green like a forest with cream trimmings and a cream sash, on the back in cream it had a wolf howling to the moon. Kagome turned to her hand maiden and whispered into her ear which kimono she was going to choose.
Ayame started to lean down, Kouga felt his jaw clench as Ayame scanned through each kimono thoughtfully. The queens on the other hand held their breath in anticipation. Then Ayame grabbed one, it was the kimono from the south, from Kouga.
Kagome bowed deeply and left with Ayame to put the kimono on. Yoshiko barley contained her rage along with Kagura. Ayumi ignored the encounter and just smiled at Sango. Nala looked to her husband and smiled enthusiastically.
Rin walked back in then, the kimono was a female version of Sesshomarus' with her hair laying down flat against her back but around her neck a crescent moon necklace lay filled with moon stone.
The girls all stayed on their knees with their hand maidens bowing deeply behind them. Kagome walked out then. Making others catch their breath. Her hair was in a ponytail but it had braids running throughout it. She left those around her breathless.
She bowed then and got onto her knees. Soon Inu no Taisho clapped loudly and bid the girls to get up. He laughed then with enthusiasm.
"We have found the next queens! Alert all of the kingdoms! Tell them the weddings are to happen in three days' time! Until then let us feast! Girls no need to be shy, you are officially royalty! We will come down there to join you now!" Inu no Taisho yelled with enthusiasm was the royal families left the front to join the girls.
Food started to pour in as they took their seats. Each of the girls was required to take a seat next to their husbands as a toast was made.
"Here is to the future peace of our kingdoms! And to these beautiful girls who I am proud to call the next queens, and specifically to my son's future wife, we can't wait to throw you to the wolves!" Ginta said with a smile. Kouga let out a life along his mother. Kagome just smiled as she took a drink of her juice.
The night seemed to be full of laughter and joy but Yoshiko could barely stand that the most powerful girl in the room did not stand next her son; she was going to do something about that.