Journey On Once More

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Chapter 2

"RYUUKI?!"

Kagome and Seiran looked at each other, both curious and worried as to what's happening inside the house. Seiran was just as confused as Kagome but with a shrug and a small smile he opened the door of the house and led her in. There they saw a boy with green hair tied in a ponytail and looked totally innocent as he sipped his tea with a smile. They also saw a taller man with darker green hair, also in a ponytail, which had a smirk on his face as he watched two people create a 'friendly' commotion. One was a female, younger than Kagome, who seemed annoyed with the other person who was clinging to her neck like a spoiled child. That person was obviously male and he had long golden hair. Kagome recognized him immediately.

"Ryuuki...?" she asked, still unsure if it was her friend from long ago or if he remembered her. All their attention turned to her. The boy looked at her in wonder and surprise. The dark-green haired man was smiling at her fully while leaning on his staff. The girl just 'eh?'-ed in embarrassment and bewilderment causing her cheeks to turn red. The man with long golden hair looked around the room to see who called his name and saw a woman who looked like his old friend. Then without warning, he jumped off of Shuurei and went straight towards Kagome, knowing her immediately.

"Kagome! It's so good to see you again!" he shouted as he lunged at her wrapping his arms around her neck almost cutting off her supply of oxygen.

The impact was so sudden and unexpected that it made both of them fall down laughing. Kagome wrapped her own arms around Ryuuki and laughed with all her might as she was overcome by the joy of reuniting with her friend after 9 years. She hugged him the tightest she could and he did the same until eventually they released each other for some much needed air.

"Same old Ryuuki, always so excited!" observed Kagome as Seiran helped her to her feet. Shuurei helped His Highness to get up as well, while staring at the girl who seems so familiar with her royal suitor. Seiran's eyes widened when he remembered the Kagome from his childhood. He was about to tell her right then and there that he was Seien but decided that it was for the best that she didn't know who he was right now. There were already a lot of complications in his life as it is. He couldn't drag her in all of it when they haven't seen each other for 15 years. It was so long ago but he could never forget one of the few friends he has ever had. He knew that if she found out that he was Seien, she would forget everything else and get mad for a while before hugging him senseless. As tempting as it sounded, he couldn't do it. Pathetic, Seiran, just royally pathetic...

"Ah, thank you, Seiran." She said as the man finished helping her stand. Ryuuki eyed his older brother. It seems that somehow, Ryuuki noticed that he did not and ha no intention on telling Kagome who he really was anytime soon. Seiran just shook his head and gave Ryuuki a sad smile. Ensei caught the gesture and was frowning a bit, too. He needed to have a good talk with his pal, later, but for now, he would greet the woman,

"Well, hello, milady. It seems we have another princess on board. Call me Ensei." Kagome blushed a little at the comment but nodded at his request. Eigetsu, out of sheer curiosity, asked,

"Um, who are you exactly?" he asked, uncertainty lacing his voice. Kagome smiled at him with a warm smile,

"My name is Kagome Higurashi, little one. And you are?" 'Higurashi?! No, that's impossible...' thought Ensei and Shuurei but Eigetsu was all too busy being cheered up to notice the girl's family name and they only let the name slide, it was just too impossible to be true. Eigetsu brightened at Kagome's kindness and introduced himself with a bow,

"I'm To Eigetsu, co-governor of Sa Province." Kagome smile grew wider as she stepped forward and bowed,

"Well then, I'm pleased to meet you, Eigetsu-kun. Please take care of me during my stay in Sa Province..." She looked up from her bow and smiled again,

"...ne?" Eigetsu's cheeks were blood-red as he had never had anyone so kind to him outside of their little group. Everyone in the room smiled, too. Nervously, he replied,

"H-H-Hai..." Kagome stood up straight once again and turned to the girl.

"May I please ask for your name?" it was Shuurei's turn to bit a bit flustered but she handled her blush well, and quickly replaced it with a smile of her own as she answered with a bow,

"I'm Kou Shuurei, the other co-governor of Sa Province." Kagome bowed again, and said in a kind voice,

"Please take care of me, too then, Shuurei- chan. I do hope we'll be great friends." she said the last sentence with sincerity that matched no other. Seiran and Ryuuki smiled as Ensei smirked and Eigetsu was still blushing a little. Shuurei called for everyone to sit down as she went into the kitchen to make some snacks, Kagome announced that she will help. Then both disappeared into the hall. After making sure that the girls were gone,

"Ne, Seiran, how'd you find Kagome-chan?" asked Ensei. All of the others looked at the grayish-violet haired man as he sat in his chair calmly.

"I didn't. She found me." he cleared. They still looked confused so he continued,

"I was going my patrol until I lost track of where I was and what time it was. When I decided to go back, I was nearly attacked by a..."

"By a what?" Prodded Ensei. What thing in this whole wide world could catch his colleague off guard like that?

"...A bear youkai." all of the guys were shocked because like Seiran, they thought youkai only existed in stories, especially those of children. They didn't expect for these creatures to be real.

"So what happened? How did you come out of that alive and unscathed?" questioned a very worried yet interested Emperor. Seiran continued,

"Kagome shot it down by one of her arrows and after that we had a few more of them surrounding us. We managed the swarm of them somehow. It looked like Kagome was enjoying it, like she was an expert at slaying youkai." Eigetsu now had a worried look on his face. He never thought that that Kagome person was some sort of demon-slayer, heck; he never even thought there were such creatures as demons in the first place. How did she even manage to kill a fully-grown bear youkai with only one arrow? It was already hard to kill an ordinary bear much less a bear demon.

Everyone was now silent and contemplating on the information about this 'Kagome' person. It wasn't like they didn't trust her any less or any thing, it's just that, it's kind of hard to believe that a person like her would be able to kill demons with such expertise. Even Ryuuki was surprised. Never in his life did he think Kagome had the guts, let alone the power, to kill anyone anyway. It was hard for him, for them all to believe that a kindhearted person such as her would have killed so many, demon or not. After a few more moments of silence, Kagome and Shuurei went in the room with 2 trays in each hand. One was for the tea, the second was for the meat buns, the third was for daifuku and the other was for simple dessert to make everyone feel a bit better.

The sweet aroma of the food brought the boys out of their musings and into the real world. Kagome just smiled at them and distributed the food evenly so as there were no complaints from a certain Ensei (Shuurei told her that he was a bit childish), but since he was too distracted by the food, he hardly noticed. When, they all sat down to eat, Shuurei asked,

"So, Kagome-san, what business did you have to do here in Sa Province?" Kagome replied,

"I don't know really." Turning her head to the Emperor she asked,

"Ryuuki? What did you have me do here again?" Ryuuki's face darkened and so did his aura. Is it really that bad of a job? Thought Kagome as she also became uncomfortable with the idea. Then Ryuuki replied,

"That was also, part of the reason why I came here myself. Your 'job' was decided by Shou-Taishi and I was unaware of it until it was too late. I didn't come here to you as the Emperor, but as your friend." He looked Kagome seriously in the eyes now and continued,

"*sigh*... Shou-Taishi wanted you to marry Sa Sakujun of the Sa clan." he stated regretfully. Everyone in the room was silent and stuck in the air of disbelief or in someone's case, anger. Kagome didn't know who this man was but she did know that she didn't want to get into an arranged marriage, with or without her knowing. She narrowed her eyes dangerously and asked,

"Why?" Everyone in the room stiffened at the fierceness in her voice. Ryuuki got his act together, ignored the chill that ran down his spine since this is the first time he heard Kagome use a tone like that and then he replied,

"The Sa clan, as it is, is both a threat and, at the same time it is not. Shou-Taishi wanted to make sure that they weren't going to be the former so he arranged for this without my knowing. He did it because he knows Sa Sakujun will do anything in his power to amuse himself and make his life interesting. And in doing this, he knows that Sakujun and the Sa clan will not act against us. He already tried to take Shuurei but Shou-Taishi knew he wouldn't succeed."

"Why is that?" asked Kagome, the venom in her voice remaining the same. Ryuuki shuddered but answered with a bit of pride as he looked at Shuurei lovingly with a knowing look,

"Because of me." Shuurei sighed and shook her head at his behavior but said nothing to deny it. Seiran smiled at the two. Ensei and Eigetsu were smiling now, too. Kagome noticed the atmosphere relieved itself of tension and sighed while asking,

"Why me? Aren't there any other girls who would be more appropriate for this kind of thing? I don't even know the guy. Sure I've read some books about this place but that doesn't mean I'd agree to marry any random guy! Besides, I don't think I've anything to attract his attention." looking at her sadly, Ryuuki replied,

"You didn't have to. Over 18 years ago, your family served the Emperor as the spiritual guides of the country. Your father was his friend, along with your family. You were one of the families who ranked higher than the rest because of your reputation for having the strongest, spiritual abilities, not to mention the kindest of hearts. Your family was one of those who cared for the people with all your hearts and they all loved your family back, earning a very high status among the people of this country. You still do, especially around these parts. That was why Shou-Taishi picked you, because you are from a family that is as powerful as the Kou family, in different ways, yes, but still, just as powerful."

Everyone now realized that she was a daughter of the famous 'Higurashi clan'. They thought it was some sort of mistake that a Higurashi clan member would return to Saiunkoku once again after the head of the clan, Kagome's father, died 9 years ago. Right after Kagome's father died along with a few of their clan members due to the spreading illnesses and too much exposure, the immediate family decided to leave this place to protect her and her younger brother from any more deaths. That was also part of the reason why the previous Emperor died, because his most trusted friend sacrificed his life to fulfill his duty, and the previous Emperor couldn't do anything about it. It weakened him greatly inviting his death.

Kagome suddenly lost her appetite and said,

"What will happen if I refuse?" Ryuuki looked at her, his eyes full of regret, sadness and guilt. But reply, he did,

"Then you will be disobeying a direct order from the Emperor as well as insulting the pride of the Sa clan. Either way, you shall be executed. Even though I was not the one who initiated it." he stated grimly. They all knew he didn't have a choice, even if he was Emperor. They really did need to control or even just subdue the Sa clan so as to remove their interference in any part of the Palace's future dealings, projects, etc. The Sa clan will have to be controlled one way or another, but this was the choice that made was made so as not to spill unnecessary blood in they knew that all too well.

Sighing she stated with a courageous yet cold tone,

"Fine. If this is the safest way for all of us, then it's just fine." then her face went all cheery again as if there was no talk of her arranged marriage to the leader of one of the most feared clans. Everyone was taken aback since they expected her to have a fit and march straight to Shou-Taishi and yell at him as well as to kick his ass but all they got was a cheery woman who acted as if nothing gloomy had transpired in the room. Seiran was calm outside but inside, he was imagining of a way to kill both Shou-Taishi and Sakujun in the slowest, most painful way he could imagine, and his imagination was quite elaborate, mind you. Too long have both of these men mess up his life, he was NOT going to allow them to mess up Kagome's!

"Are you really okay about this, Kagome-san? We can still try to find a way to get you out of this engagement." said a very concerned Eigetsu. Kagome's bangs covered he eyes for a while before answering with her happiest smile,

"It's fine. I just thought that my job would be something like killing the demons or protecting some sacred item or what-not. Things like that. I just never really thought I would bee in a situation like this at all. But it's not the first time, so, yeah, I'm fine with it." Ryuuki's eyes were downcast as he stated,

"Speaking of those things, they are also the rest of the reason you were sent here. Shou-Taishi also said that since you're a miko, it should be your duty..." finally, Ryuuki couldn't take anymore and blurted out,

"I'm sorry! If I'd been a good Emperor from the start then this shouldn't happen." Kagome looked at her friend and stood up to wrap her arms softly around his shoulders.

"Yeah, I heard that you did screw up at the start. I would've given you a spanking if we weren't adults already." This made everyone's mood cheer up as they laughed at Ryuuki who was blushing but smiling, too. Kagome ruffled his hair and said,

"Well, at least now I can visit you more often." Ryuuki removed her hand from his head while making a face that made everyone start laughing again. Then something popped in Kagome's mind,

"Has anybody seen Seien while I was gone? Ever since he was banished I tried numerous ways to contact him of find him but I couldn't. The people I asked said that the last time they saw Seien, he was in the woods fighting a group of bandits called the Satsujinzoku." Ensei and Ryuuki looked at Seiran expectantly. But he ignored them and said,

"I don't think anyone found the prince, Kagome."

"Oh...no one found Seien? So what did...? Never mind." Kagome said sadly as she sat back down in her chair. Ryuuki was sending him glares and so was Ensei meaning that they were going to have a 'little chat' with him later. Seiran knew he was going to have to convince them that she doesn't need to know who he was. This is going to be a long night. He thought. Shuurei and Eigetsu were clueless as to what was going on but they decided that it was better this way. At least they were all in higher spirits. No matter how low it still actually is.

Everyone ate in a comfortable silence until evening came and Kourin entered the room. There was an exchange of pleasantries and after what seemed like eternity, it was time for all of them to get some shut eye. All of them were too weary and tired to do anything else. Even Ryuuki stayed for the night hoping to give his foolish older brother a piece of his mind later on. Ensei was on the same boat and both would wait as everyone was asleep.

Kagome, however, had other things in mind...

Seiran, too...

TBC...

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