Chapter 16

Princess Yukami of the Southern Lands was angry. She growled and yanked her servant closer to her. "What is this?" she demanded waving a small piece of parchment around frantically.

"I..it looks like an invitation to a wedding, your Highness." the servant replied.

"And why is it here?" Yukami screeched.

"Because it was addressed to you, sister." The prince of the south said as he came walking in. He gave his sister a stern look. "Now release poor Achiko."

Yukami did as she was told and the servant scampered away. "You ruin everything Yuri." she said with a pout. "Besides, it isn't fair. Why should Kagome, who is barely a noble at all, get what I can't have?"

Prince Yuri sighed. He loved his sister, he did. But too often she acted like a petulant child. "Yukami, we've been over this and over this. It isn't Kagome's fault that you and Prince Sesshomaru didn't connect. Shouldn't you instead be happy that she, who has known much sadness, finally has a reason to smile?"

"No I should not!" the princess shouted.

"Um…Your Highness?" A trembling Achiko poked his head around the corner. "Lord Naraku is here to see Princess Yukami."

"For what reason?"

"He did not say, my liege. Just that it was quite important for him to see the Princess."

"Perhaps it would be better for us to ascertain his purpose before-"

"Yuri!" Yukami interrupted. "Stop it! If the handsome Lord Naraku wants to meet with me, then it is the very height of rudeness to keep him waiting." The princess smoothed her skirts and flounced out. Yuri exchanged a weary glance with Achiko and made to follow his sister. She really was such a petulant child sometimes.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Of course Naraku wasn't as a nice looking as Sesshomaru, but he would certainly do, Yukami thought. She put a little extra sway in her hips as she walked over to him. "Greetings, Lord Naraku." the princess purred.

The pale hanyou stood and bowed. "Princess Yukami, I am disappointed." he said. "The rumor said that you were as beautiful as ever. But Your Highness, you have grown positively ethereal."

Yukami giggled. "I'm sure you'll set the record straight. Now, what can I do for you, my Lord?"

"On the contrary, I am here to aid you, Princess. I have heard of your recent rejection by the Western Prince."

"And what of it?"

"Prince Sesshomaru's betrothed is a cousin of mine, as I'm sure you remember. I feel that she is unfit to marry into such a high position."

"So you seek to stop their union." Yukami remarked.

"Precisely." Naraku replied. "I have a contact in a very high position, who is like minded He has offered wonderful rewards for the success of the scheme. I thought it would be polite to offer your Highness a place in it"

"Then I thank you, Lord Naraku." the princess smiled dangerously. "If we are to work together, you should call me Yukami."

Prince Yuri frowned as he listened at the door. It seemed that in addition to being a petulant child, Yukami was a devious little witch. He knew that she was upset about her rejection, but this was ridiculous. Kagome had never hurt anyone purposefully and here was his sister, plotting against her. Yuri frowned and made a decision.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Shippo was sitting on a rail watching as his ladies shot arrow after arrow at moving targets, his four tails undulating on their own accord. He turned his face up to the sun and smiled. It was nice not to be in the South. While he enjoyed serving Prince Yuri who was an able and just leader, his sister was a nightmare. Sure she was the loveliest thing he had ever set eyes on, but the attitude was enough to make him want to go back and hide in his clan's forest.

A shadow fell over the kitsune, and he opened his eyes curiously. He started when he saw who was hovering above him. It was Prince Yuri's personal messenger, a female hawk youkai who only left on important deliveries.

"Ashiteru, hello." Shippo greeted her. "What brings you here? Finally lost patience with her Highness?"

The hawk chuckled and shook her magnificent head. "No, though it would take little for that to happen. Prince Yuri has sent me with a letter for the lady Kagome."

Upon hearing her name, Kagome held up her hand to stop the guards from moving the targets. She was mildly surprised to find that she didn't even need to turn around to see who the newcomer was. She could feel her friend brightly in her mind and her power.

"Ashiteru!" the miko exclaimed. A worried look marred her lovely features. "What's happened?"

"You've a letter." the messenger replied, handing it over.

Kagome broke the seal on the missive and scanned it quickly. "That bitch!" she shouted, startling everyone in the area. "That vindictive, ungrateful, malicious bitch!"

Hearing her tirade, Sesshomaru was beside his betrothed in a second. "What is it?" he demanded.

"My traitorous former mistress has decided that she isn't going to get over the issue she has with me. Instead she's joined with my snake of a cousin, Naraku to find some way to keep us from being wed." Kagome explained angrily. "Apparently they have some highly placed accomplice who will not only ensure their success, but reward them greatly for it."

Sesshomaru narrowed golden eyes. "I would bet my crown that it is someone on the council. They cannot find a legitimate reason to prevent our union, especially since you are a miko now, so they turn to whatever methods they can. It is quite fortunate for them to have found someone so willing. Incidentally, why is your own cousin so willing to see you fall?"

"He wants the Higurashi land." Kikyo answered. "I am a widow and Sota is still to young to inherit. Kagome is the only one with a strong claim on the Higurashi estate. If she is disgraced, unmarried, or dead, Naraku gets it all as the closest family member we have left."

"In addition to that, he hates us." Kagome put in. "I don't know the reason. Prince Yuri says that he cannot help me publicly because this is a Western issue. He does however, say that we can use whatever resources of his that we can get our hands on without involving him."

"Well you've got me and the rest of the Southern guard." Shippo remarked. "I imagine Koga will say the same when he hears of this." the kitsune made a face. "Along with some other, more vulgar things of course."

Kagome had to grin at that. She turned to Ashiteru. "Can I count on you to carry messages between Yuri and I? He might find out more information and Sesshomaru and I will need to know as quickly as possible."

The demoness nodded. "Of course you can. We are all at your disposal." She made a little bow in the air.

"Can you all just stay here for a bit?" Kagome asked. "I need to go talk to King InuTaisho."

Sesshomaru laid a protective hand on the girl's shoulder. "I shall come with you." The couple set off quickly for the palace. Kagome was seething. Sparks of pink light popped around her body. The prince winced as a spark crackled over his skin. "Calm yourself." he murmured.

"I'm sorry." the girl took two deep breaths and reigned in her powers. "I am just so…mad! I've never intentionally hurt anyone. Least of all Yukami."

"You wounded her pride." Sesshomaru told her. "To someone like Yukami, that is the same as threatening her family. In fact, it is probably worse in her eyes. That, my little miko, is the way of the world. You never know what is going to anger someone the most."

"According to my mother, that's why there aren't more miko in our family, or in the world. Betrayals and deaths caused them to lose their powers until only one woman in a generation became a miko. I don't want to live in a world like that."

"We cannot change the world, my dear. But our kingdom shall be different." Sesshomaru assured her. "Loyalty is prized above all else in the West, and there are harsh punishments in place for traitors." They stopped outside of the king's study and knocked.

"Enter." InuTaisho called.

Sesshomaru pushed the door open. "Father, we have a problem."

The king arched a silver eyebrow. "Of what nature?"

"Kagome has had a letter." The prince ushered his fiancée forward. "From Prince Yuri."

"The ruler of the Southern Lands?" InuTaisho clarified.

Kagome nodded. "He is a friend of the family." she handed the letter over for him to read.

The king scowled and looked up. "This has Okudo's name all over it. He came into power in the first place, by taking advantage of fracturing alliances and scorned nobles."

"Can we prove that?" Sesshomaru wanted to know.

InuTaisho leaned back in the chair. "Not without letting him mess with us first. We of course, have to have substantial evidence before calling the elder of the council a traitor." he looked at Kagome. "What type of youkai is your cousin Naraku?"

"I'm not sure." the girl admitted. "He's a hanyou. His father was human and related to my father. There is a rumor that his mother was some kind of dark priestess who made a deal with a demon to become one herself."

The king frowned. "I have heard something of that." he murmured. "Nearly a century ago. The priestess was called Tsubaki."

"That is his mother's name!" Kagome gasped. "So it is true."

"Interesting." InuTaisho stood up. "Write back to Prince Yuri and accept whatever help he offers. I need to confer with my spymaster." He left his study and walked down a rarely used corridor. There was only one visible door and in front of it was an old man. His eyes were closed and a trickle of drool dripped down his chin.

InuTaisho narrowed his eyes. "Totosai." he snapped. The man snored on. A vein throbbed in the king's head. If this old fool wasn't so skilled, he would have had him killed centuries ago. "Totosai! Wake up!" Still nothing. He aimed a kick at the old man's head, and that did the trick.

"Gah!" Totosai shouted. "Where's the fire? Earthquake! Help!"

"Shut up you geriatric idiot!" InuTaisho growled. "I pay you a hefty sum every month and all I ask for is two things, Totosai. What are they?"

"Uh…" Totosai scratched his head.

"What are they?"

"I….I uh…make the swords….and…and…guard…the door!" the old man finished triumphantly.

"Exactly." InuTaisho said. "You are the finest swords maker anywhere. But your guarding skills leave much to be desired."

"What do you mean, your Majesty?"

"Sleeping is not guarding, you old fool. Do not let it happen again. Now open the door."

Totosai dug a heavy gold key out of his pocket and unlocked the door. He sunk into a low bow as his liege walked into the room he guarded.

InuTaisho rolled his eyes. "Oh return to your nap, you moron." he said gently. He shook his head and walked over to a large desk in the center of the room. "I suppose you've heard." the king settled himself into the chair opposite the desk. There was no answer. "Myoga, if you are asleep, I swear to the kami…"

"I'm not sleeping milord. I'm reading reports." The spymaster of the Western Lands was a tiny flea youkai who was hopping down a page of news. "I have heard that there is a plot against your future daughter."

"Good. At least one of you is doing your job." InuTaisho folded his arms. "As you can imagine, this is a matter of immense importance. It will require the finesse of an adept spy."

"Of course your Majesty." Myoga replied.

"Excellent, I knew you'd agree. You leave for the Southern Lands within the hour."

"B..but milord, me? I haven't done field work since the days of your queen." the flea squeaked.

"Then it's high time you get back out there, Myoga. You are the best at what you do for reasons other than your size. I cannot trust this to anyone else."

Myoga took a deep breath. "Alright then, milord. I'll go. And if I die, I die knowing I did your bidding."

"Oh cut the melodramatics, flea." InuTaisho snapped. "You're going." He stood up and walked to the door. "And wake Totosai up before you leave." The heavy door slammed behind him.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Sesshomaru had taken Kagome to his room in an attempt to calm her down. She was pacing and fuming with no end in sight. The prince reached out and grabbed the girl's arm, pulling her to the bed before she knew what was happening.

"Calm down." he implored her. "You are throwing off sparks again and I have no wish to be purified."

Kagome took a deep breath and then burst into tears. "I'm sorry, I'm just so angry. My own family is plotting against me."

"Then he is not really your family. I do understand how you feel. The inuyoukai council is supposed to be the best of our kind. This is in no way a reflection of that. As I told you, loyalty can be an illusion."

"I hate that!" the girl exploded. "I don't want to be queen of something like that. I don't want to have to be afraid that people are going to be trying to kill me or you for that matter. And I don't want to have to threaten a bunch of people to feel safe."

A small smile graced the prince's face. "You will be a beautiful benevolent queen and the people will love you. No one will think to betray you. Of that I have no doubt." He wiped the tears from Kagome's face with a slender finger and realized that he was completely serious. The West would benefit greatly from his marriage, as would he.