Disclaimer: no, no ownage whatsoever
Authoress' Note: I'm so sorry it's been so long, I've just been so swamped with the school year coming to an end. So I found some time when I should be studying but I think I'll be able to pump out a chapter before I need to study.
Set Me Free
Chapter Seven
"What do you mean Miss Kagome?" Miroku asked, not understanding what he had just heard. He knew that Kagome valued the company of all three of her slaves; so he couldn't comprehend why she would move away to get married and not bring them with her. "Do you not want us to accompany you?"
Kagome shook her head and began to cry again, taking the washcloth from Sango and blotted her eyes as tears leaked out of the corners. She sniffled and attempted to talk, only to find that she was not able to. She began to cry harder, only to find that she had run out of tears. She dry-cried and rolled over so she was lying on her stomach on the couch, her face buried in Miroku's pillow. She was shaking and sobbing, and Sango, Miroku and Inuyasha felt so sorry for her. Inuyasha reached out and placed a clawed hand on her back, sitting down on the floor in front of the couch.
"It's okay. Just take a breath. Calm down before talking" he whispered into her ear so Miroku and Sango wouldn't hear him. He rubbed her back softly until she stopped shaking. She sniffled loudly and then rolled to her side so she could look at her three slaves through tear-filled eyes and plastered-on bangs.
She tried to sit up but immediately decided against it, lying back down and reaching out her hand for the glass of water. Sango took it from the table and handed it to Kagome. Kagome tried to hold the glass but could not close her fingers around the glass firmly enough to hold it. Inuyasha put his hand around Kagome's shaking one and helped her drink; he then took the cup from her and put it on the table again.
Miroku looked at Kagome, "Miss Kagome? Do you think you are able to tell us what is going on now?" he asked softly, his voice full of concern.
Kagome nodded slowly and then began to sit up. It took a good while for her to reach sitting position, but she got there and looked at her friends with sad brown eyes. "It's not me" she said in a pleading voice, "Please never believe that I would want to go away without you."
"We believe you Kagome. But I don't understand. If it wasn't you, then who was it?" Miroku asked.
Kagome took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself before speaking again. "My mother told me that I had to go to the Eastern Kingdom by myself. I'm not allowed to bring you with me." She said, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
"Miss Kagome, why do you have to go to the Eastern Kingdom?" Miroku asked, not knowing the whole story.
Kagome looked to Sango, who knew what was happening, and Sango nodded at Kagome.
Kagome looked from Miroku to Inuyasha – who was still sitting in front of the couch looking up at her with concerned amber eyes.
She looked at the floor next to Inuyasha and mumbled "I'm getting married" softly.
"What?" Inuyasha asked, "I'm sitting right next to you and I can't hear you so how are Sango and Miroku supposed to hear?"
Kagome looked Inuyasha in the eye and took a deep breath, "I'm getting married." She said calmly, staring straight into Inuyasha's eyes without blinking.
Inuyasha, realizing what she had said, broke eye contact with Kagome and turned his attention to the floor next to him. He then looked from Sango to Miroku who obviously were less shocked than he was. He shook his head in disgust and then looked back to Kagome, "They knew?! You told them both and wouldn't tell me?! You know what, fine. Go to the east and marry your prince and just send me back to where you found me. I don't want to see you again."
"Inuyasha!" Sango yelled, "I can't believe you! Apologize!"
"Feh. I'm sorry Miss Kagome." Inuyasha said with not an ounce of sincerity in it.
Kagome looked at Inuyasha and blinked once before looking up to Miroku and Sango. "I am going to ask Prince Hojo to let me bring you with me. I am fairly certain he will agree; seeing as it was mother who said I was to go alone, not Hojo."
"Thank you Miss Kagome, for your concern" Miroku said, "I am sure I can speak for Sango as well when I express my gratitude."
Kagome nodded and with a smile, got off the couch. She smoothed her dress and began to walk to her room, motioning for Sango to follow her.
Kagome and Sango walked into Kagome's room, closing the door behind them.
"Sango I need you to help me get ready. I'm going to see Prince Hojo now."
"Of course Miss Kagome. What dress would you like to wear?"
"The one that I am wearing. I am going to beseech him as someone below him, and I think maybe this will convince him of my humility. I just need you to help me fix my hair; I think it looked perfect before that little episode, now it appears to be quite disheveled." She said, taking a seat in front of her vanity mirror.
Sango crossed the room and stood behind Kagome, she pulled her hair out of the bun it was in before and brushed her hair. It was knotted and semi-wet from the crying but Sango was able to get its normal sheen back. She then pulled it back into the same bun it was in before, messy while still retaining elegance. She looked at the vase of flowers on Kagome's vanity table and took a white lily out of the arrangement, putting on the side of Kagome's bun.
"Oh Sango, it looks amazing. Thank you so much!" Kagome exclaimed, "Now I need the carriage here. Could you have Miroku call it for me?"
"Of course miss Kagome" Sango said and bowed as she left the room.
Kagome stared at her reflection in the mirror. You need to be strong now Kagome. You need to be strong for all of them. But most of all you need to be strong for yourself.
After a few minutes there was a quiet knock on the door and Miroku poked his head in, "Miss Kagome? Your carriage is here."
Kagome stood and slipped her feet into simple blue shoes and walked out of her bedroom. She walked through the living room with her head held high, completely disregarding Inuyasha's existence. She walked out of the manor and as she stood in front of the carriage she was suddenly stricken with fear.
She turned around to see Miroku and Sango standing in the doorway of the manor.
"You can do it Miss Kagome. Be brave" Sango said and Kagome smiled and climbed into the carriage. She waved goodbye to Sango and Miroku until they were out of sight and then sat back and planned her words carefully.
The carriage came to an abrupt stop in front of the palace and Kagome was helped out of the carriage. She walked alone to the front doors of the palace and took a deep breath before addressing the guards on either side.
"I am Lady Kagome Higurashi and I need to request an audience with Prince Hojo of the Eastern Kingdom" she said with all the regality she could manage.
The guard looked her up and down, obviously doubting who she was.
"I may be dressed in simple attire, but I assure you, someone below my station would not have something like this in their possession" she reached into the plain blue purse she had brought with her and pulled out the Higurashi diamond that she usually wore about her neck.
The guards fumbled with words and then bowed, "Of course Lady Kagome, go right in"
Kagome tucked the diamond back into her bag and walked through the now open front doors and into the grand entryway.
She stood in the entryway, waiting for someone to acknowledge her presence there. She waited for at least fifteen minutes before a servant came down the grand staircase to meet her.
The maid bowed low before Kagome, "Yes Miss? What do you need?" she asked upon rising.
"I would like an audience with Prince Hojo please" Kagome said, mustering up her regality once more.
"Of course Lady, right this way" the maid said and began to walk down a hallway to the left of the grand staircase. Kagome rushed to keep up with her and she was grateful she was wearing comfortable shoes. The maid stopped at the doors at the very end of the hallway. She knocked three times quickly and awaited a response. She then opened the door a crack and stuck her head in, "Miss Kagome Higurashi to see you sire" Kagome heard her say.
The maid then pulled her head out of the door and looked at Kagome, "He will see you now Miss Kagome. Go right in" she said, pushing the door open for her to walk in. Kagome took a deep breath and entered the room.
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Authoress' Note: I know it's short but I need to study so I wanted to get something out before I had to start. Review please!