"Come on lets go, Sango!" The girl in the green dress said as she ran through the fields.

"Coming kagome!" The girl in the pink dress called back.

They were running, grabbing random flowers along with way. It was a carefree day, a day for fun and laughs.

"Man, Sango this is great!"

"Yes, yes it is," Sango said watching her friend, but she knew soon it would end.

"I can't believe I'm 18."

"Soon we will be married," Sango looked off. She wasn't ready, and she knew Kagome wasn't.

"Yes, we are lucky we have not been pushed to marry already," Kagome said as they sat on a rock, watching the sun go all the way down. Kagome never questioned why she was not pushed to get married at 16 like most girls.

"It would be great if we could be close, get married, have kids together, and watch them grow up together like we did," Kagome sounded like a child hoping to spend the rest of her days with her best friend.

Sango smiled softly.

They sat for a moment, sighing as the daylight started to fade, leaving the sky orange.

"Kagome, where are you?" It was faint, but Kagome knew it was her mother calling.

"I guess we should be going," Sango pushed off the rock and offered Kagome her hand, which she took, and they made their way back.

"Kagome there you are, come quickly!"

Kagome gave Sango a funny look and then looked at her mom "What's wrong Mom?"

"You must hurry."

"Hurry for what, it is getting dark out," Kagome pointed out, thinking her mom had lost it.

"Yes, I know, that's why you must hurry now come and sit let us get you clean."

Sango and Kagome looked at each other again. "Mom?"

"Kagome, you must trust me,"

"Mom, you are scaring me,"

"What's going on?" Sango asked, slightly panicked, though she did not show it.

"Do you girls remember how I told you the story of how your father and I once met the Lord and Lady of the West?"

"Yes," They said at the same time; they had heard that story over and over.

Kagome sat down and let her mom wash her face and brush her hair.

"Well, the Lord blessed us with something that day." She spoke while pinning Kagome's hair and placed fake jewelry on her. It was all they could afford.

Kagome looked at her mom. "What is it?"

"You are 18 now, and you have been gifted with a spot on the court of intended," Her bother spoke fast.

Both Sango and Kagome looked confused "What do you mean?" Sango asked with an odd look on her face.

"Kagome, along with many others, could be chosen to be the future Lords mate,"

"WHAT!" Kagome yelled; Sango placed a hand on her heart.

"No, that's not a gift, I dont want to be some horrible demon's wife!"

"You must stay calm; he will choose a mate out of many of you,"

"I dont want to, I've heard stories about their son! He's mean and cruel and cold and hates humans!" Kagome tried to recall all the stuff she had heard.

"Now, dear, you don't know that you have never met him; not all rumors are true."

"Well, when I did get a glance at him, he looked cold and arrogant; can't I just say no thank you?" she yelled, now standing.

"Kagome, you must go," Sango came in.

Kagome turned to her "What, why are you saying this, aren't you on my side?"

Sango had lost her parents long ago and lived with Kagome and her mother, she and Kagome were best friends, almost like sisters. "Kagome, you must go this a great honor."

"I don't care," she said, now looking at her friend.

"The Lord Inu Tashio would be upset if you didn't show up; he offered this to your family," Sango said. "It would bring shame on your house to refuse, besides if you are not chosen, you will leave with enough items to care for your mother,"

Kagome felt a little bad; she knew the great Lord was a nice gentleman who took a human for his mate. She had seen his mate in town before, with her guards; she was very pretty, it was an honor any other girl would love to go and be on ...this court.

"Kagome," her mother chimed in "You know any girl would die for this chance, well any human girl for that matter."

"The rest of the court will no doubt be demons," Sango said as she was thinking.

"Hey, wait, why would Lord Inu Tashio put her in this court? She is human; it is known that his eldest son doesn't like humans,"

"Well, she was but a baby when this happened; I'm sure his son was young at the time. I'm sure at that time he didn't hate humans." Kagome's mother said.

"But other than Lord Inu Tashio, no other Lord has a human for a mate; it is looked down on, really, but since Lord Inu Tashio is the most feared and strongest demon Lord I guess they didn't say anything," Sango said thinking back on demon history.

"I don't know, but we have no time to talk about it anymore; we must go!" Her mother said, pushing Kagome out of the door; Sango followed.

Kagome objected the whole way.

"Please dont make me do this, Im not even ready to be a human's wife!" she said as she was pushed to front of the castle gate.

"What business do you have here, humans!" One of the guards asked.

Hello, well you see," Kagome's mother fumbled with her words, then she pulled out a scroll that Lord Inu Tashio had sent to her. "Here," She said as she handed the scroll over. The only reason the guard even took it was because it was a royal scroll. The guard looked it over and then looked back to the women. "Fine, you may enter." The guard waved his hand, and the gate was opened

"Follow me,"

Kagome thought back to the conversation she had just had with Sango about falling in love, getting married, and having kids together. That's is what she wanted, not this.

What a horrible birthday this turned out to be.