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Chapter Two"Did you hear? Lord Sesshoumaru and Lord Inuyasha are getting matched after the war is over!"
"Oh...how I would love to be of age to get matched...I bet mine would be Lord Inuyasha."
"Seriously? I've heard he's way too childish. I'd want Lord Sesshoumaru."
"The Ice Prince? No thanks!"
Kagome listened to the gossip from a pair of students that stood in front of the material shop, waiting on her mother to come back with fabric to make her new kimono with for her meeting with the matchmaker later that morning. She sighed, wishing she were a queen, so she wouldn't have to see the matchmaker, and could make it a law where all young girls didn't have to marry if they chose not to. 'That would make things so much easier.'
Sakura suddenly appeared next to her, a bundle of different silks in her arms. "Come on, Kagome, we're going to be late."
"Yes, Mama." Kagome sighed, following her mother down the street towards the seamstress's house. Kaede, the seamstress, welcomed them with a bright smile that made Kagome feel a little better about the pain she was about to endure. "Good morning, ladies. Are we ready to begin?"
"Lady Kaede, what do matchmakers do, exactly?" Kagome inquired as she stripped her clothing, giving it to her mother before climbing into the steaming tub of water. Kaede just smiled as she gave her shampoo and a bar of soap that smelled like lavender. "Let's just focus on getting you clean, child. We'll talk about it later."
…
An hour later, Kagome was standing in the middle of the main room of Kaede's shop, feeling nervousness creep into her stomach as they put the last finishing touches on Kagome's makeup.
"Oh, Kagome." Sakura cooed, patting Kagome's hair gently as Kaede moved to retrieve a mirror. "You look so beautiful."
"Mama, what…oh my." Kagome gasped as Kaede handed her a mirror, her blue eyes widening as she took in her face. Her cheeks were a beautiful pink color, her blue eyes outlined in black and her lids highlighted with purple. Her long hair was smoothed back into a low bun, bouncing gently against her neck as she stood, admiring her blue kimono. It was trimmed in silver, and the belt was silver as well, with an intricate pattern of silver sakura blossoms and branches. "Oh, Kaede, I feel so beautiful."
"You are beautiful, dear." Kaede said gently, handing her a pair of blue slippers to match the dress. "Now, let's get you to the matchmakers. You only have a little while before you have to be there, and she likes her clients to be early."
"Wait!"
Kagome grandfather suddenly appeared, holding a small wooden box in one hand, and a pendent in the other. "Here, Kagome, these are for you. This," he gave the wooden box to Sakura before stepping forward, holding the pendant out for Kagome to see, "was your grandmothers."
The pendant was a golden-amber stone, cut into the shape of a crescent moon. It was handing on a silver chain, and Kagome smiled as she bent forward, allowing her grandfather to put it on her. "Thank you so much, Jii-chan."
"And you'll definitely need this." He took the box from Sakura, holding it out for Kagome to take. "It's a lucky flea!"
Kagome just blinked, looking down at the box. She fought the urge to throw the box out the window. "Umm, thank you, Jii-chan."
"Fleas bring you luck! Don't release it!" Kagome's grandfather stopped her hand from opening the box. "Whatever you do, don't open the box!"
"Jii-chan, it feels a little too heavy to be a flea." Kagome said timidly, weighing the box in her hand. Kagome's grandfather just shook his head, taking the box from her and stuffing it into her obi. "Don't lose it, you hear?"
"Yes, Jii-chan." Kagome muttered, and watched at he whispered a few words to Sakura before hobbling out of sight. Sakura just sighed, holding out a blue silk umbrella to Kagome. "Here you are, dear. You'll need this."
"Good luck, Kagome." Kaede said, patting her on the arm before Kagome was drug away by her mother. "I hope you don't get eaten alive."
…
It was horrible. Kagome grimaced at the odd stares from the other girls in line, and she felt slight anger when one of them muttered on how 'un-matchable' she looked, because her eyes were blue, and not the unusual brown. 'Breathe, Kagome, just breathe…'
"Higurashi Kagome." A sultry voice called, and Kagome gulped, holding her head high as she passed the other girls. She stepped timidly into the room, jumping when the door slammed shut behind her.
"Sit." The voice said again, and Kagome quickly knelt on a nearby pillow, her back straight as a board. She felt something slide, and the little wooden box her Jii-chan had shoved under her obi slid onto the floor with a soft thump. Kagome glanced around, looking for the woman before quickly picking up the box and stuffing it into her belt again, not noticing that it was a lot lighter than before.
"What is your main goal in life, child?"
"Umm…" Kagome could feel the burning stare of the unseen eyes, gulping as she screwed her eyes shut, trying to remember the advice her mother had given her earlier that day. 'When she asks you what your main goal in life is,' Sakura has told her, 'be sure it's something that is not selfish-sounding. Say something like, 'I want to meet and marry the man that is matched for me.' And whatever you do, say it seriously, and with a smile.'
"…I want to meet, a-and marry the man that is matched for me, and live happily for…the rest my life…?" Kagome winced at how timid and un-serious she seemed to herself.
Jumping at the low chuckled, Kagome saw a form appear from the corner of the room, and a tall, beautiful woman was looking at her expectantly, her dark eyes swirling with mirth. She had long, flowing silver hair, her lips as red as rubies. She looked at Kagome's face for a moment before dropping her gaze to her neckline, where the crescent moon shone brightly against her chest. "Where did you get that necklace?"
"What?" Kagome asked blankly, before looking down. She saw the necklace, and gulped, hoping that the sight of the necklace didn't mess her up her chances. "I-It's a gift from my Jii-chan…a family heirloom."
The woman narrowed her eyes slightly in response, her mouth forming into a prim line. She knelt down on the pillow across from Kagome, her head bent slightly as she motioned to the teakettle next to her. "Pour two cups, dear."
Kagome blinked, but did as she was told, sitting up slightly to reach for the kettle. Just as she did, a large, plump bug jumped on her hand, causing her to scream in surprise. The matchmaker screamed as well, and stood quickly, her knees bumping on the table, causing the kettle to fall onto the floor with a crash.
"Get out!" The matchmaker screeched, her calm exterior disappearing completely as she waved Kagome away. "Leave, immediately! How dare you bring that, that thing in this place!"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Kagome snapped, standing as she glared at the woman. "You sit here and accuse me of bringing whatever that was in here, and I did nothing wrong!"
"You, girl, are disrespectful! Good luck in trying to find someone yourself!"
"Thank you, I will!" Kagome growled, turning on her heel before marching out of the building. The girls sitting outside stared wide-eyed at Kagome as she marched down the steps, stopping at the bottom step to turn towards the girls. "Don't think for one second your better than me! I bet some of you are here because you just have nothing better to do!"
The girls gasped, some glaring at Kagome as she turned back around, marching into the awe-struck crowd towards her mother and Jii-chan, who were looking at her in slight shock. "Kagome, what…" Sakura started, but was stopped when the matchmaker appeared in front of her, glaring as she scowled. "Your daughter is a disrespectful girl, and she'll never find a man! Higurashi Sakura, you were kind spirited, and if you had married the man I chose for you to marry, you wouldn't have married that foreign filth, and would've had a well bred, respectable daughter!"
"No, Kaguya. If I had married the man you picked, I would probably be insane." Sakura bit back, grabbing Kagome's her upper arm before pulling her through the crowd, followed by an irritated grandfather. Kaguya just sniffed, turning her nose up at them as she called out, "You cause your family to become dishonored, Higurashi! May fate guide you! Not." She muttered the last part, turning on her heel before stomping back towards the house, snapping at the staring girls before slamming the door behind her.
…
"Father, you called for me?"
Inu no Taisho looked up from his desk, grinning broadly as his eldest son. "Sesshoumaru, how nice of you to finally join me!"
"Hn." he grunted, his golden eyes narrowing slightly at the elder's boisterous laughter. "Now what is it that you need to see me about?"
Taisho sighed as he leaned back into his chair, his own deep amber eyes reflecting his slight frown. "Please, take a seat."
Sesshoumaru didn't say anything, nor made any indication to move to the proffered seat. Taisho shrugged as he sat forward in his chair, his eyes focusing on the map on the table in front of him. "We already have troops stationed in the forrest here, and here." Pointing to the two places on the map, he glanced up at Sesshoumaru, who was following his finger. "I need more help to train and move more troops into various stations between Edo and the mountain pass. The only one's that are capable of that are you, Vincent, and Miroku. Once they get back from their mission in China, I will send them and their troops to you."
"Father, if you'll just let me find him myself, I'll put an end to his existence." Sesshoumaru said monotonously, and Taisho sighed, running his hand through his hair. "I understand your power, Sesshoumaru, but trust me, I could not defeat Naraku ten years ago when I was at the peak of my power, and I know I couldn't now. I'm asking you as a nurturing father, please do what I say."
Sesshoumaru was silent for a minute, then suddenly bowed his head before looking back up at Inu. "Yes, father, I will train the troops."
"Thank you, my son." Taisho sighed, smiling in happiness. "Report to Edo in three days. That will give your new troops time to make arrangements with their families before they're off to training."
"Would you like me to send Jaken back as soon as his mission is complete?" Sesshoumaru asked, and Taisho thought he detected a slight bit hopefulness in his voice. "No. He is to stay with you and keep an error report."
Sesshoumaru's eyes hardened, and his fist clenched behind his back as he bowed. "Yes, father."
…
MC: Fixed some gramatical and spelling issues, and fixed Taisho's name. I did add a few things to kind of help the flow out, I just felt like this chapter needed a little more. I've noticed the chapters are getting shorter and shorter, but I promise to remedy that. I hope you guys have enjoyed the story so far.
Please R&R!