Chapter Three The Necklace

InuYasha waited for a while he did not want to get caught by anyone in the castle. His golden eyes looked upon the vast back garden beyond the servants' small area. He did not openly acknowledge the necklace but he still knew that it was there. The ground is grand. His mother is the one that created the back garden. His father made the yardmen tend to it keeping it the way she had it. There are several grand fountains each having their own mythical creatures placed around the separate gardens. He didn't like them for to him they didn't fit. The well fit for it was the only source of water for the castle. It was a little ways away from the servants' area. Since that area is closed off the servants had to get to it through a different door. The water is always cool and fresh from the well.

Despite the fountains InuYasha liked looking at the back garden that is why he is on the terrace. This spot had the best view. Its height is perfect to see all of it. He usually didn't visit it one a servant was present but he needed to relax. His family problems had gotten too much for him. His father's growing weakness, his brother's growing annoyance, his duties as a prince all added weight upon his shoulders. Here on the terrace he could clear his head just by looking at the garden.

The back garden is actually six gardens not counting the servants small ridiculous garden. The first garden InuYasha remembered it being called the sand and stone garden. Large stones that are weathered were placed among white shirakawa sand. The stones look as if they rose from a sea. The sea is made of the raked sand. This represents a style of Zen.

The second smallest garden is named the seasonal garden. It has deep evergreen foliage that represents summer. It has white shirakawa sand raked in careful patterns. The patterns represent water. The color represents winter. There are several sakura trees representing spring. There are flowers with the colors of autumn, red, yellow, and orange.

The third and forth garden are named the twin dragons. It is InuYasha's favorite. The gardens are next to each other. Two stone statue dragons that are different in appearance face each other. Each of the dragons is in their own garden. Their foliage is different around each dragon. It represents the struggle within, the yen and yang inside a person. Though they are separated a small stone path encircles them presenting that each opposite side is needed to make a whole.

InuYasha likes this garden for the depth of it. It reminds him of him. Like the dragons he is faced with inner turmoil. His human blood and demon blood are inside him two separate species. Yet, they make him whole.

The fifth garden is the tea garden. It has a tea house in the middle. A waiting station is next to the tea house with a canopy over top. There are two gardens around it. It is a garden within a garden. There isn't any rich flowers in color in this garden. The flowers represent the tea. The tea is harmonious and precise. There is no need for vibrant flowers. The water and stones are picked with the tea in mind. To walk to the tea garden there is a stone path to follow. It has a wooden gateway when the garden is entered.



The sixth garden is the one InuYasha remembers the most. His mother called it their special spot. Its name is the moon pond garden. It is the largest of the six gardens. The Sun Rising is the gateway to the garden's centerpiece, a four tiered red stone lantern. The lantern represents the light with four layers being each kingdom. Stones at the base of the lantern represent the four kingdoms, West, East, North, and South.

InuYasha eyes fell upon each kingdom remembering what he was taught. His father ruled over the West Kingdom. Koga's father ruled over the East Kingdom. Humans ruled over the South Kingdom. His mother was a princess in this kingdom many centuries ago. The North Kingdom is ruled over by another demon clan. He never met that clan. He knew that it is taken over recently by another clan.

There is the harvest bridge that takes you over the serene Upper Pond in the moon pond garden. The Upper Pond has sculptures of cranes rising above the water. It looked peaceful but to InuYasha it meant a painful memory.

InuYasha caught a ball on the harvest bridge. The full demon children that were in the Garden with their parents were playing ball there. InuYasha brought them the ball and they refused it. They didn't want him to play with them. He knew even at that time they didn't like him. It was because he is only a half demon. They thought that his human blood shouldn't have mixed with the more powerful demon blood. He remembered running back to his mother after they ignored him in tears. She embraced him despite being in the middle of an important conversation with the full demon adults. He knew her kindness was something he would never forget.

To the south of the Upper Pond on the creek side path is the Lower Pond. There the Zig Zag Bridge, which fits its name, wanders through the beds of irises which bloom in early summer. Rising from this pond are crane and tortoise shaped stone figures. It is a symbol of longevity. The Lower Pond is the place where the koi swim in. There is the rushing Moonlight Falls that fall into the Lower Pond. In the moonlight the water sparks by the special rocks hidden behind it.

Each pond has a meaning and a deeper understanding within the society. InuYasha's mother created them for this purpose. She also created them for beauty and the calming effect they bring a person who ventures in them. The ideas behind each pond reflected the wisdom his mother had. She tried to fill him with her wisdom, kindness, and understanding. It all happened ages ago it no longer mattered to him. He lived for today.

He looked behind him. He sniffed the air. Once InuYasha thought no one was around he jumped of the terrace. He landed next to the necklace Kagome lost. He bent low. His left claws touched the beads holding them. He touched it with his fingers testing the surface. It is smooth to the touch. He slowly picked it up to examine it further. The necklace consisted of several brown round beads. It had a few claws. On careful inspection InuYasha noticed that they were not claws but magatama. A magatama is a claw shaped bead that is imbedded with spiritual power.

"How did she get this?" InuYasha thought. He knew that the beads had a purpose. They were made by a priestess. Right now they had no power until they were activated. The activation would be a certain command word created by the priestess. Its purpose was a mystery.

InuYasha had no pockets. He had to put it somewhere if he wanted to take it. He slipped it into his sleeve. He looked at it his sleeve. He knew that wouldn't hide it. He had to put it somewhere else. He knew Sesshomaru is lurking around. He knew that Sesshomaru expected that he did something wrong. Having these beads would just prove him right. He couldn't explain how he got it. His brother wouldn't take a simple "I just found it" excuse. Sesshomaru would find a way to figure out how he spent his morning. It would mean that Kagome would be in danger. He didn't want that for her.

InuYasha slipped the necklace over his head. He knew that Kagome couldn't have been a priestess so he had no worries about it activating. He hid it under his clothes. He could feel the beads against his chest. He would just take it off later once he knew it was secure. He had to walk on egg shells for a while.

InuYasha looked back at the terrace. He easily jumped that height. He landed on the terrace.

"What were you doing, dog turd?" Koga said.

"Nothing I have to tell you, stinking wolf breath," InuYasha shot back. He wasn't careful enough. He should have been paying attention.

"You were in the pathetic servants' area," Koga noted.

"So?"

"You would have to of been there for a reason."

InuYasha said nothing. He faced the wolf and glared at him.

"I'll tell Sesshomaru."

"Heh, go right a fucking ahead," InuYasha said. "If I tell you something you will think that I am lying, idiotic wolf. You will run your legs as fast as they can go to tell him. If I don't tell you something you will think that I have something to hide and you will tell him. Either way you will tell him. So, I will tell you to use your head even though it is empty and see what is down there. Unless all wolves are morons."

Koga looked at him and said nothing. He pondered over what InuYasha said. He looked down into the servants' area. He saw the vegetables in their garden. It was likely that InuYasha was down there for that reason. InuYasha is a prince like him, not a crowned prince mind you but still a prince. They could take whatever they desired. Plus if he was wrong and he contacted Sesshomaru for no reason there would be hell to pay. Sesshomaru wasn't ever in the mood for games or demons that didn't have the answers. He decided to say nothing about that subject.

InuYasha carefully watch Koga ponder what he said. All of it was set up to fool the wolf into not speaking to Sesshomaru about his actions today. He knew that the wolf feared his brother so the odds were in his favor.

"You have been called by your father, filthy mutt," Koga told him. It is the real reason why he came out here again.

"And you have been sent like a servant to tell me? Does that mean your status has lowered?" InuYasha asked. He knew from Koga switching subjects that he had decided to not tell his father. He was easy to fool.

"Shut the hell up. Inu no Taishou asked me to PERSONALLY come and tell you, filthy blood. "

"Heh. You fear him despite the fact you believe he is losing power. That is always the way of a wolf demon."

"Shut the hell up," Koga barred his fangs at him. He didn't like what InuYasha is drawing a conclusion from.

"Tell my father that I do not wish to come," InuYasha said.

"I am not your errand boy."

"No you are my errand wolf."

Koga glared at him. "You had better go to this meeting. The new King of the North will be introduced."

"So what?"

"He is a rather interesting character. There are whispers about him in the castle."

InuYasha just watched Koga wondering what he meant. "Get to the point, stinky wolf."

"You can't hear the whispers?" Koga taunted him.

"Get to the point before I leave."

"Heh."

"Fine then bye," InuYasha said then pushed past him.

"The whispers are that he is planning on invading the Kingdom of the West," Koga finally told him.

InuYasha stopped in his track. Whispers usually had some type of truth to it. He turned back to Koga. He stared into the wolf's blue eyes for the truth. It didn't appear to be lying.

"What is the Kings name?" InuYasha asked now curious.

Koga pushed past him. He gave him a half smile as their faces went by each other. "His name is Naraku." He left InuYasha there knowing he will want to meet this man.

"Naraku?" InuYasha said. So that was why Koga and some of the wolf clan members had been at the castle these past few days. He slid his finger into his clothes touching the necklace. He wondered what Kagome is doing right now but he had to meet the men that could challenge his father. He left the terrace. Heading towards the Conference Hall where the meeting would typically take place.

Kagome had finished her morning chores. She made all the beds being careful of the royalty. She kept her head low whenever they were in the room with her. She didn't usually see so many royalties at the castle. The ones that lived in the castle is the King, Inu no Taishou, and the two princes, Sesshomaru and InuYasha. Last night Nobles from all over the country stayed the night. Even the royalties from the separate kingdoms had stayed the night.

The castle would get very busy throughout the day. It meant a lot more tension and work for the servants. There are even whispers throughout the castle about the new King to the Kingdom of the North.

Kagome wiped her brow. She had finished all the changing of the bedding. It was time for her break. She would get a bite to eat and then start cleaning the linen that she had just changed. She walked with her head down to the servants' quarters. She didn't know if she would see anyone above her station.

She opened the door to the servant quarters. She took the spiraling stair case downwards. Once there she made her way to the area where they all ate. It wasn't much of a set up. There are several wooden tables that were fixed up from the servants to use. A fireplace on the opposite wall of the door she entered. It had a fire going always on cold days. There is a small serving area next to the kitchen.

There is a small kitchen set up in its own area on the left side when entering. To get to it you had to walk under the large stone arch. Everything in the castle is made of stone except for what they used. The kitchen is set up simply. It had a wood burning stove next to it a small pile of fire wood. It had an ice chest to house their meat. On top of it sat a pitcher of water. It had a wash basin to clean themselves before a meal and their dishes. Few cupboards lined the wall before the windows filled with their dishes and dry goods. The servants eating area is in the basement of the castle. It got enough light from the outside expect for at night. They used candles at night just like the rest of the castle. Once Kagome got there a friendly voice called her name.

"Kagome, over here," Sango called to her. She is wearing the same style outfit as Kagome. Her black hair is far longer than Kagome's. It sweeps past her back. She tied the end with a white ribbon.

She made her way over to her good friend and roommate. She smiled at the older girl.

"Feeling better?" Sango asked her.

"Yes, much better. The drink helped along with getting out of the sun. Thank you."

"There is no need to thank me. We are friends after all."

"I am not used to having others care for me," Kagome told her. She had sad eyes. "It has been a long time."

The older girl grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "Well, you better get used to it." She smiled at her.

Kagome couldn't help smiling back.

"You better not say thank you," Sango said then pulled her hand back.

"I wouldn't dream of it." They both laughed at Kagome's comment.

"Go, girl," Sango said shooing the Kagome away, "get your food. We have work to be done."

Kagome nodded her head and followed the others girls orders. She joined the line with a few other servants. Their lunch is simple. A stew made by the cook and a bun along with a fresh glass of cow's milk. Kagome took her food and drink back to Sango sitting down across from her.

"Did you hear the buzz around the castle?" Sango asked once the other girl set down her food.

Kagome looked at her startled. No one could have seen her and InuYasha. No one should know. It had to be something else.

"What news?" Kagome asked.

"A new King to the Kingdom of the North."

"Oh, I heard about it in between cleaning rooms." It wasn't the news she thought it could be. She was thankful for that.

"The castle is in an uproar. The new King is coming here so the rest of the royalty can meet him. It means that we will have much more work to do. I also heard that he is planning on trying to take the Kingdom we live in."

Kagome chuckled. Sango joined in.

"Ridiculous isn't it?" Sango said. Kagome agreed.

"I don't want to hear about whispers in the castle," Kagome said. "I want to hear stories about your days as a demon slayer."

A/N As I said before this story has a way of working itself out as I write it. I hope that you enjoyed it. Yes the castle is a mixture of different cultures.