Disclaimer: I don't own it. Not even a little bit.
Authoress' Note: I bet you all are wondering what's going to happen next! Well I would be if I were all of you! I hope you enjoy this chapter and please remember to take the time to review and tell me what you think!
Set Me Free
Chapter Thirteen
Kagome lay on her chamber floors, still hysterical even though there was nothing she could do about anything. She had pleaded with Hojo but he was unmoved by her cries and pleas. Sango and Miroku had both tried to move her but she resisted them both and refused to move from her place on the floor. Sango and Miroku both sat on the couch, watching over their mistress. They sat and watched, and waited until Kagome was ready to move – but until then they were unmoving.
There was a knock on the chamber door and Kagome moved to look at the door, "Go away! Leave me be!" she cried at the door, but it slowly opened regardless of what Kagome had just said. A servant entered the room and looked from Sango and Miroku – who were both staring at her with evil eyes – to Kagome who was lying on the floor.
Sango and Miroku both had to look twice when they got a good look at the servant; she looked almost exactly like Kagome.
"What…do you want?" Sango stuttered out, still in shock about the uncanny resemblance the servant had with Kagome.
"I was sent by Prince Hojo to see how Lady Kagome was. But I can see that she is still very upset about the decree." She added the last sentence softly.
Kagome sat up and wiped her eyes with the handkerchief that Inuyasha had taken out for her. She looked at the servant and noticed the same thing that Sango and Miroku had both noticed – the servant girl could be her twin.
"What's your name?" Kagome asked.
"Kikyo, Lady Kagome."
"Kikyo…I am going to ask you to do something very, very important. Could you do this for me?"
"Whatever you wish Lady Kagome, I am here to serve you."
"And you cannot tell Prince Hojo what I am going to tell you. Can I trust you?" she asked, standing up and walking towards Kikyo.
Kikyo swallowed hard, not knowing what to expect, "Yes my lady. You can put your trust in me; I will serve you in any way I can."
Kagome nodded and smiled, the wheels in her head were turning and she was formulating a plan. "Kikyo, how do you feel about Prince Hojo?"
Kikyo blushed. "I'll admit, since I have come into his service I find myself wanting to be near him and wanting to do everything in my power to make him happy."
"Are you in love with Prince Hojo Kikyo?" Kagome asked, knowing what she was asking would make the girl very uncomfortable.
"I…Lady Kagome. I am sorry."
Kagome smiled, "It is okay Kikyo; I too know what it is like to be in love with someone you shouldn't have fallen for. But this makes what I am going to ask you even better."
"I don't quite understand what I can do for you Miss Kagome. I am just a servant and you are the future queen."
Kagome smirked, "No Kikyo, you are the future queen."
Kikyo took a step back; Sango and Miroku were also shocked at what Kagome was saying. "What do you mean Miss Kagome?" all three asked her at once.
Kagome walked forward and put her hand on Kikyo's shoulder. "I want you to be me Kikyo; you can't deny that we look like sisters – twins even. I need to get out of here and protect someone and I want you to be me. You love the prince Kikyo, this is perfect. You can marry him in my stead and live happily with him; which is something I cannot do."
"You want me to sacrifice who I am for you? Miss Kagome, I don't know if I can do that."
"I don't think this is wise Miss Kagome" Miroku said from his place beside Sango, who nodded in agreement, "What would happen to you if you are caught? Is Inuyasha worth it?"
Kagome looked at her slaves and the servant girl that could save her life and began to cry. "Yes. Yes. YES! He is worth it. I'm in love; do any of you understand that!? And I'm going to lose him forever; whether it's by marrying Prince Hojo tomorrow or letting him get sold in the slave market. I don't want to lose him, and if that means giving up my title and living as a peasant for the rest of my life, I'm prepared to do that."
The three sat silent for moments and the Kikyo stepped forward, "Miss Kagome. I will be you. I will marry the prince in your stead and live happily with him."
Kagome ran up to Kikyo and embraced her harder than she had ever embraced someone before. "Thank you. Thank you" she whispered into her ear while sobbing with happiness.
Kagome took Kikyo's hand and pulled her into her bedroom, calling for Sango and Miroku to follow her. Kagome threw a green and white gown at Kikyo and went to the jewelry box and pulled out some teardrop pearl earrings and a strand of pearls. She helped Kikyo into the gown and tightened the corset ties; shocking the girl a little bit because she was unused to wearing such constricting clothing. Kagome fastened the necklace around her neck and earrings in her ears. She took a step back and smiled, "You look wonderful Kikyo. Sango, can you do her hair please? I need to get some things together before I leave."
Sango nodded and sat Kikyo down in front of the mirror and started fixing her hair. Kagome turned to Miroku, "I need you to go down to the servant's quarters and get me some things, all right?"
"Of course Miss Kagome. What do you need?"
"I'm going to need a servant's dress and cloak – with a hood. And I need a pouch to fasten inside the cloak; I'm going to take some jewels with me to buy some things and I need something safe to keep them in. can you do that for me?"
Miroku nodded, "Yes Miss Kagome. I will be back shortly."
Miroku turned from Kagome and headed out of the chambers. Kagome looked around the room, trying to figure out what she could stand to bring with her. All I really need is a form of money. I can take a fair share of my jewels; Prince Hojo hasn't seen enough of them to realize some a missing. And besides the Higurashi diamond, I always wear pearls. And I'll need some food too. And enough for Inuyasha too.
Sango took a step back from Kikyo and smiled, "All done. You look great."
Kikyo turned and looked at Kagome, "Do I look like you?" she asked nervously, "Will he be able to tell?"
Kagome smiled, grateful for Kikyo's loyalty, "You look amazing, just like me. There's no way he'll be able to tell. Trust me." She turned to Sango, "I need food. Nothing that will go bad and nothing too big to not carry easily. I need the food put into a pouch, but make sure it is enough food for Inuyasha and myself."
"I'll head down to the kitchen right now and I'll be back shortly."
"Thank you Sango. Hurry back."
Kagome sat down next to Kikyo and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "How are you feeling? Nervous? Excited?"
"A little of both actually. I am worried about what will happen if Prince Hojo finds out but I am excited about the whole adventure. And I am also worried about you Miss Kagome."
"Don't worry about me. I will be fine as soon as I am away from the east and I have Inuyasha."
Miroku walked into the room and handed Kagome the clothing she had asked for. She quickly slipped out of the dress she was wearing and put on the simple servants dress and relished the fact that she was able to move in it. Miroku handed her the pouch which she began to fill with assorted necklaces and pins. She tied the pouch closed and tied it to the belt of the dress. Miroku then handed her cloak which she fastened around her neck and then pulled the hood up over her head.
Sango returned shortly after and gave Kagome the food she had secured, which Kagome tied next to her pouch of jewels.
"There's only one thing left to do" Kagome said, looking at Kikyo. She went into the top drawer of her armoire and pulled out a box. She opened the lid and removed a pouch from it, setting the box down on the vanity table. She slowly opened the pouch and pulled out the largest diamond anyone in the room had ever seen.
"This is the Higurashi diamond. This is proof that you are me because there is only one diamond like this in the world. Take good care of it Kikyo." She said, handing the necklace. She then looked at Sango and Miroku, "And you two need to take care of Kikyo, and each other. I'll come back for you, I don't know how or when, but I will be back for you."
Sango and Miroku nodded and Kagome walked over to them and gave them each one last hug goodbye. She then walked over to Kikyo and gave her a hug and kissed her cheek, "Take care Kikyo. And thank you for saving my life."
"You're welcome Miss Kagome."
Kagome turned and walked from the room without looking back, not wanting to cry. She walked down the halls unnoticed and out the kitchen door. She walked past the stables and to the gates of the palace. She knew where the slave auction was held and that it would take place the next morning, but until then she needed to find a place nearby to stay.
As she walked away from the castle she felt a huge burden being lifted off of her shoulders. She knew that Sango and Miroku would help Kikyo in any way possible and she knew that once she bought Inuyasha in the slave auction that everything would be all right.
"Everything will work out just fine." She said to herself, hoping that hearing it said aloud would make it true.
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