Chapter 5
Kagome was still reeling with confusion as she let herself back into her room. She was making a mental note to tell Sango about her encounters with the prince when she noticed that Yukami was sitting on her bed with a displeased look on her face.
"Where have you been?" the princess demanded.
"J-just out in the garden, Your Highness." Kagome answered and bowed.
Yukami sniffed. "Dressed like that? You look like an arms woman, not a lady in waiting. Honestly Kagome I don't know what to do with you. It's no wonder you're still unmarried. Young gentlemen like their women to look nice. Kikyo knew that. That's why she is married."
Kagome bit her lip to keep from snapping at her mistress. "Was there something that you needed me for Princess Yukami?" she asked tightly.
"Yes. I want you to go find that prince and ask him to invite me to go riding with him. I'd have Sango or Miroku do it, but I gave them the day off since it's close to their anniversary."
"Begging your pardon, Highness, but couldn't you just invite him to go with you?"
Yukami waved this comment away. "You see, that is why you are alone. It is fine to flirt with a man when you are in the same place, but you must never seek one out. He must find you. Now do as I ask."
"As you wish." Kagome replied with another bow.
The princess stood up and headed for the door. "Oh and Kagome? At least put on a gown before you go. I've done a lot for you and I'd appreciate it if you'd at least try to look respectable when you are representing me."
Kagome took a deep breath, changed into a light blue gown and then stomped from her room. It took the young woman fifteen minutes of getting lost and going in circles to remind her that she had no idea where Sesshomaru was. This made her even more frustrated and as she stomped blindly down a corridor for what had to be the eighth time, she slammed into a solid mass.
"Whoa there." a familiar deep voice said as clawed hands steadied her. Kagome looked up and was horrified to find herself staring into the kind amber eyes of the king.
"I am so sorry Your Majesty." she exclaimed. "I should have been paying attention. It will never happen again, I swear."
The king smiled. "You are the lady Kagome, yes?"
The young woman curtsied, startled that InuTaisho had remembered her name. "I am." she replied.
"Well Lady Kagome, accidents happen. It was I who was not paying attention. I've walked these corridors for decades and it's easy to forget that there are others who walk them as well, usually with better reasons than I. You for instance seem to be on a mission."
Kagome was surprised that King InuTaisho was so kind. She was used to rulers being cold and snobbish. But here was this youkai having a conversation with her as if she was on his level. "I'm looking for your son actually." she said.
"Ah yes." InuTaisho remarked. "You do seem well acquainted with Inuyasha."
"Oh, well yes. I am. But I meant Prince Sesshomaru." Kagome corrected. "I have a message for her from my mistress."
"I see. I fear that having you and your princess come here will have been for naught." the king sighed. "Sesshomaru keeps going on about having to find the right woman for him. One who is different than the others. But it is as if he expects her to fall into his lap. I'd be happy if he showed a little interest. Asked a girl to go on a walk every once in a while. But no, not my heir."
Kagome blushed, thinking of the walk she had had with Sesshomaru earlier. She cleared her throat. "Do you know where I might find the prince?" she inquired.
InuTaisho nodded. "Yes. He is usually in the practice yards at this time of day. But I warn you, he doesn't take kindly to people being there if they have no reason to be. That is if they cannot wield any sort of weapon, then they've no place there."
"I think I'll be alright." Kagome replied with a smile. "Thank you for the information, Your Majesty."
"Please, just call me InuTaisho." the king said. "You are after all friends with my younger son."
"Thank you, InuTaisho." the young woman curtsied again and then hurried off. When they had first arrived at the castle, Sango and Miroku had been given a tour of the practice yards, and she had tagged along so she already knew where to go. It had been a while since she'd practiced with her weapon of choice, but Kagome was confident that she could still hold her own.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Sesshomaru parried an attack from a guard and then moved forward to engage another. This was one of his favorite practice scenarios. A youkai could never tell when they were going to have to fight more than one enemy, so the prince had seven guards spar against him at once. He had already taken three of them out of the fight with mock slashes to the throat and chest.
Two of the remaining four, ran at him and Sesshomaru took one out with the hilt of his sword and evaded the other, sending him down with a punch to the head. The last two cut down in one swing. The prince sheathed his sword and turned to see Kagome clapping enthusiastically, now clad in a blue gown that looked lovely on her.
Sesshomaru walked over to her. "Did you enjoy that?" he asked.
"You're amazing." Kagome answered. "Will they be okay?" she glanced over at the guards who were getting to their feet.
"They are trained to handle it and I hold back a little when we spar." He cocked his head at her. "Have you come here for a reason?"
"Two reasons actually. Yukami has a message for you and I was wondering if I could use one of the practice areas."
Sesshomaru raised a silver eyebrow. "What would you use it for?" he wanted to know.
"Archery." Kagome answered with a grin. "I haven't practiced in a while, but I used to be really good."
"Hmm, then we shall have to see if your skills are still up to par." Sesshomaru commented thoughtfully. He walked off in the direction of the archery courts, leaving Kagome to catch up and follow him.
As she walked, she caught sight of Inuyasha training what appeared to be new recruits to the guard. He waved at her and went back to demonstrating a slash with his sword that was larger than anything Kagome had ever seen.
Before long, the lady and the prince had made it to the archery courts. There were a few youkai standing around talking when they walked up. All of them stopped to bow to Sesshomaru and give Kagome strange looks.
The youkai prince led Kagome to an empty court and turned to look at her. "There are bows on the wall behind us. Choose the one you would like to use." Kagome nodded and moved to do as he instructed.
One of the youkai peered over the partition that separated the courts. He was a cat demon with green slitted pupils and long sandy brown hair. "It's rare to see you playing fetch with a human wench, Your Highness." he said. Sesshomaru didn't even acknowledge the guard's presence. He just watched as Kagome strung a few bows, testing them out.
"I mean no disrespect of course." the guard continued. "It's just that you won't even look at that sexy demoness princess who's visiting, but this is the second time I've seen you with the human."
"You would do well, Sanyen, to silence yourself, before I get the urge to do it for you." Sesshomaru said with out looking up. "Begone feline."
Kagome chose a bow finally and walked back over to Sesshomaru. By this time more of the guards had come over to watch. The prince decided not to send them away, but see how their presence affected Kagome's performance.
The young woman strung the bow and nocked the arrow Sesshomaru handed her. There were four targets in the court spaced away from each other with the farthest being about 400 feet away.
Don't hurt yourself now, girlie!" Sanyen called out. "These targets are designed for youkai archers, not little handmaidens."
Kagome turned and smiled at the guard. "I'm sure I'll be okay." She raised the bow, pulled back on the string and let go without even seeming to aim. The arrow whistled through the air and embedded itself in the dead center of the target. A moment later, there was an arrow in the same position of every target.
The court was deadly silent. The youkai guards had never seen such skills. Of course their own archers were superb, but they had demonic energy on their sides. Here was this little human girl who was every bit as good as they were.
"What other weapons are you trained with?" the cat youkai wanted to know.
"I'm best with archery." Kagome replied. "My brother and I were also trained in staff fighting."
"I've dabbled in that myself. I'd love to see what you can do."
Kagome bit her lip. "Not to be rude but...who are you?"
"Forgive me my lady. I am Sanyen, a humble guard of this castle."
"And by humble he means as rude and uncouth as Inuyasha." Sesshomaru murmured in the young woman's ear.
"Be nice." Kagome murmured back. She turned to Sanyen. "I'd love to spar with you sometime, Sanyen. But now I should return to my mistress." The lady dipped a curtsy and left the archery court.
Sesshomaru walked with beside her. "They will all respect you now. I believe you have even won their loyalty."
"And your respect? Do I have that?"
The prince grabbed her hand to stop her. "I do believe that you have had my respect from the first word I heard you speak, Lady Kagome."
The young woman blushed. "I'm just Kagome. You can drop the 'Lady' part."
"Then I must simply be Sesshomaru to you."
Kagome's heart was pounding now. She swallowed hard and remembered why she had come out there in the first place. "Yukami had a request for you."
Sesshomaru leaned in close to her. "Tell me."
"She wants you to invite her to go riding."
"Inform your princess that I must decline. I am very busy and have much to think about. You can give her that answer anytime she asks for an outing." He lifted her hand and kissed it gently. "Now, allow me to escort you back to your room, Kagome."
They walked up to the castle hand in hand. Kagome was pleased that for once the prince hadn't just walked off, effectively ending their conversation. Although she was not at all looking forward to explaining to Yukami that Sesshomaru wanted less than nothing to do with her and it was most likely Kagome's fault.