Chapter 6
The children had all finished with their walk. Kagome and Sesshomaru were sitting on a wooden bench under a sakura tree next to a pond with koi fish. Sesshomaru was actually talking to her now, though it was in small intervals. He would usually just answer her small questions that didn't need long responses.
Kikyo and InuYasha were standing on a bridge that passes over the stream that ran through the garden. They stood in comfortable silence, watching the various fishes that would occasionally pass by.
Kouga and Kaoru were playing in a flower bed and wildflowers. Kaoru was sticking them all over Kouga, in any place she could reach. There was a flower crown on his head and he wore a flower necklace. There were flowers in small braids in his hair and flowers were sticking out of his clothes and armor.
Aki and Akio were sitting on a stone bench that had sun patterns and curls carved into it. The bench was sitting in front of a large mountain shaped fountain with various waterfalls flowing with water. The fountain was sitting in a large circle in the stream. The water coming out of the fountain flowed back into the stream. The twins were watching the water fountain and talking quietly among themselves.
It was a few minutes later when four servants came out of the castle. They gathered the kids by the door.
"The meeting between the Lords and Ladies is going overtime, so they have instructed us to show you to your rooms. If you would please follow us." The servant, Satoru, said. He was Kagome's personal servant, and was considered high above all the other workers of the castle. He had short black hair tinted red and molten golden eyes. He wore a light blue kimono with a lighter blue sash and red hakamas. The castle's symbol was stitched onto the back of his kimono in dark blue. He wore red house shoes.
Everyone followed him into the castle. They were led down winding halls until they came on one long hall that led to two others. The walls were decorated with portraits of former rulers. When they got to the end of the hallway, the children could see a portrait of a very beautiful woman with black hair tinted brown and sparkling brown eyes. She wore three layers of kimonos; the first layer was dark blue, the second layer was gray, and the third layer was a lighter blue with gray hydrangeas going from the shoulder to the sleeve. She had a calm smile on her face. Under the portrait was a small, silver plaque that read "Lady Etsuko of the Southern Lands". Everyone knew that it was Kikyo and Kagome's mother. They stopped when they got to the end of the hall. Satoru turned to the children.
"Princess Kagome and Princess Kikyo, please follow me. Would the rest of you please follow our other servants." He said, gesturing to the rest of the servants. He walked off with Kagome and Kikyo, taking a left while the others took a right.
Satoru led Kagome and Kikyo to their rooms which were across from one another. Before they went into their rooms, he told them what their father said.
"Lord Hikaru wishes for you to get ready for lunch. Your personal servant will be on her way, Princess Kikyo." He said to her. Kikyo only looked at him and walked to her room. He smiled anyways, then turned to Kagome.
"Make sure you take your bath first, then get dressed and head straight to the dining area." He said. Kagome laughed.
"I know what to do Satoru." She said. He raised an eyebrow, a smile still on his face.
"Are you sure? It was only last week that your were begging me to carry you to the dining hall because you 'didn't know your way there'." He said. Kagome blushed in embarrassment.
"I'm positive!" She shouted before closing the door in his face. She heard him laugh on the other side.
The other children followed the other servants. One maid with long white hair and ice blue eyes wearing a light blue kimono with a dark blue obi with the castle's symbol stitched in dark blue and light blue flats, stopped in front of the first door in the hallway with Kouga and Kaoru. The others continued on.
"Prince Kouga this is your room, and Princess Kaoru, this is your room. The rooms are next to one another, so your will be able to walk freely to each others room. I am Miyuki, and I will be your personal servant. Lunch will be ready in twenty minutes. I will be back later to escort you to the dining hall." She said, bowing. Kouga nodded and went into his room with Kaoru.
Another maid with lavender colored hair and deep blue eyes wearing a deep blue kimono with a lavender obi and the castle's symbol stitched on in light blue and lavender flats stopped in front of two rooms adjacent to each other. She turned to Aki and Akio.
"Prince Aki, this is your room, and Prince Akio, this is your room. I am Naoko, and I will be your personal servant. Lunch will be ready in twenty minutes. I will be back later to escort you to the dining hall." She said with a bow, not looking at the twins.
The last maid had red hair and forest green eyes. She was wearing a deep blue kimono with the castle's symbol stitched on the back in light blue and forest green flats. She stopped at two rooms that were adjacent to each other and turned to Sesshomaru and InuYasha.
"Prince Sesshomaru, this is your room, and Prince InuYasha, this is your room. I am Natsuko, and I will be your personal servant. Lunch will be ready in twenty minutes. I will be back later to escort you to the dining hall." She said with a bow.
The children all went into their rooms and the servants went away to help get ready for lunch.