[Woo! More time-skips! Please review and enjoy!]
When dawn broke, a seventeen-year-old girl slipped from between her blankets and was greeted by her two handmaidens. They dressed her quickly, and she slipped out the door, her guard following in her wake. She was to meet betrothed in the gardens, and she wanted as much time with him as she could.
The late-sleeping, always tired girl of four years prior was gone. This girl was orderly and on time, always the first to arrive. In public, she played her role of a demure princess perfectly, but when she was around friends, she was a loudmouthed visionary, always thinking up things to do that no one else could.
The door to the garden slid open under her touch, and she walked out into the snow.
She strolled silently, knowing that he could find her wherever she was. She stopped when she reached the frozen pond at the center of the gardens. Her own reflection stared back at her. Ebony hair framed a pale face and fell to her knees, as she hadn't cut it since before she had come to the palace. Brown eyes practically glowed against the snowy backdrop, and her warm cloak covered tight fitting clothing that fit well over slight curves. She was slim, as well as being short, and she was quiet, only showing her true colors around her playmates and the rest of the royal family.
She was drawn from her days when Sesshomaru appeared behind her. Her eyes met his golden ones in their reflection, and she turned.
"You're here."
"Hnn. Do not sound so surprised."
She smiled, used to his reserved manner.
They began to walk, the young woman clasping her fiance's hand in hers. They had been engaged since childhood, true, but as they grew older, both seemed to realize more and they were engaged. The deal had been made by Kagome's parent's, and unless her brother decided to intervene, they would be married in a year's time. While most women got married younger, Kagome's parents had insisted that she be eighteen before it happened. Kagome was glad for this, because if they had gotten married years ago, things would surely have been awkward.
"How are your lessons going?" he asked, his voice bringing her back from her thoughts.
"My lessons with Sango are going fine. She is a great teacher, and she says in a few weeks she will have taught me all she knows. My combat training is as good as is possible for having Naraku as a teacher. He wants to have me challenge him in a few weeks, around the same time I finish my lessons with Sango, and if I win he will deem me fully learned. I'll still have to practice with him, though."
"Unfortunate."
"I agree. How are you doing?"
"Quite well. I finished most of my lessons years ago, and my father has said that I am fully prepared to lead the lands if it becomes necessary."
She paused, reading his expression carefully.
"What aren't you telling me?" she finally asked.
He glanced down at her, "It is a matter of government. You need not concern yourself."
"As the future Western Lady, I will concern myself. Now, what happened?"
He sighed, apparently giving up, "My father gave me express orders not to tell you. However, it would seem you are determined to know."
"Exactly."
He sighed again, "Lord Ungai has threatened to declare war on us."
"What? Why?"
"When you came back here four years ago, Ungai killed your parents, as you know. We believe that the attack was an attempt to end our engagement. However, you had already left your family manor by then, and if anything it made you more determined to continue with the previous plans. He temporarily retreated, but we believe that now he has increased his power, and believes himself an equal to the power of the West. He wants to punish us for the humiliation he experienced when his plans failed."
She went silent, and the pair stopped walking.
"There is a reason my father did not want you to know of this."
"This is... terrible!" the girl said, "I've always wanted an excuse to kill Ungai, but this... does he have any idea how many unnecessary deaths will come from this decision?"
"He is well aware. That man is insane."
Kagome shook her head, "We'll need to start preparing immediately," she said, becoming a leader before his eyes, "If it does come to war, he will have been preparing for ages, and we'll be swept off our feet in seconds."
The young lord nodded, "My father has already sent out the order. We are to prepare as well. Your training with Naraku will be doubled."
The girl groaned, but took it in stride, "And my training with Sango?"
"You need not learn anything political, but study the geography of various areas, and learn strategy. This is very important."
The girl nodded.
"We must begin immediately."
She nodded, and the pair moved back toward the palace's entrance, saying a quick goodbye and parting ways.
Days passed, and Kagome took to her new lessons like a fish to water. She quickly mastered the new fighting techniques, and her strategy was said to rival the Inu no Taisho's. The young woman was ready, and it would seem Sesshomaru was too. Though they both did a great job of hiding it, they were impatient with war preparations.
"You will have to cut your hair," he told her one day as they walked through the gardens.
She frowned, "I'm putting that off as long as possible."
He chuckled, "You may as well get it out of the way."
Sighing, she nodded, "Alright."
She held her hand out to him, knowing he was always armed. He handed her a small dagger, and she gripped all her hair in one hand, taking a shaky breath.
And then she began to cut, screwing her eyes shut as she felt her now shoulder length hair brush against her neck.
"My lord!" a messenger said, coming out then, "The war has begun. You will leave in the morning."
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