Chapter One: Switching Places.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha!

A/N: Hope you all enjoy this story that just randomly popped up into my mind and would not leave me alone until I posted it!

*Kagome's Voice-over*

Hi, welcome it Auriel Kingdom, my name is Kagome Higurashi and I come from a long line of renowned archers. Now, just like ever kingdom, there's a status scale - at the top, of course, is our King - Toga Takahashi, then it goes all the way down to the maids of the castle at the bottom.

Believe it or not, but there's also a status scale on the outside of the palace walls - sad but true. It starts out with the most sought-after archer family and goes all the way down to the people living on the streets, stealing just to survive.

You might be wondering who the most sought-after archer family is. I'm proud to say that the Higurashi family holds that title.

So, let me tell you a little bit about my family. My grandfather, Isamu Higurashi, is a proud retired archer - he was a strong archery guard for the palace and protected the kingdom with all he had for sixty years before King Toga was forced to honorably retired him due to his old age, if my grandfather had it his way, he'd die will protecting the kingdom from harm. My father, Kenji Higurashi, he's thirty-five and proudly protects the palace and kingdom with his amazing archery skills. My mother, Ai Higurashi, is thirty-two - she's not an archer, and thinks all sports - including archery - is un-lady like. She runs a school for girls to learn etiquette to be a proper woman and wife. Unfortunately, I'm in that class.

Like I said in the beginning, my name is Kagome Higurashi, I'm sixteen, I'm supposed to be all proper - be seen and not heard, use my manners, curtsey when a man walks by, nod when a woman walks by, sit up straight, speak when spoken to but use a soft delicate voice when doing so, use the right silverware when eating, never scrape or hit them against your plate, take super small bites and wipe your mouth after every bite and never ever - don't even think about picking up a weapon. Weapons are for men to protect us women, not the other way around.

Thing of it is, though, ever since I could walk - I was always drawn to archery. I used to go out on the training fields, sit on the sidelines and watch as my grandfather and father practice every day. I'd scream and cry every time my mother tried to take me away, and after the many times my father told her to leave me be and my crying, she eventually gave up and let me be.

When my brother and I turned five, my father got us both our first bow and arrow set, much to my happiness and to my mother's absolute horror.

"Why would you give her something like that, Kenji!?" My mother scolded. "She's a young lady that needs to learn to be a proper wife, she has no need for a bow!"

But my father just laughed and waved her off, much to her chagrin.

From that day forward, my father taught both me and my brother the art of archery, over the years I became quite good at it. I was happy, I loved being able to being able to go out in the field every day and shoot some bows - however, that all changed the day I turned twelve.

"It's time she stopped this nonsense and starts focusing on her schooling to becoming a proper lady!" My mother had demanded, finally putting her foot down and putting a stop to my archery all day every day, crushing my happiness.

However, I still got some happiness after class and when school was out, I went straight to the archery fields getting better and better at my stance and shot. It might have not been as long as I wanted to stay out on the field, but it was better than not going out there at all.

Oh, I have a twin brother, his name is Sota Higurashi. He's the best little - by ten minutes, but still - brother anyone could ever ask for! He's always there when I need him, always has my back and is just kind in general, always giving and not asking for anything in return - he'd give the shirt of his back if someone needed him too. However, when it comes to archery, how can I put this nicely? Well, he sucked at it, I've never seen anyone with a worse aim then him. We've been doing this since we were five, and he's not approved at all.

Which bodes a problem for the rest of the family. Sota was set to go to an elite school for archers as well as priestess' and monks, I would've been the better choice for going to the archery school, but that part of the school was only for boys - while the priestess school was for the girls, and they were only taught healing abilities while the monks, which, of course, were boys - were trained for a greater defense against attacks of demons.

If this kingdom got their heads out of their asses, they'd see that priestess' could also get rid of demons as well - and probably do a better job at it than the monks and archers combined, but no, they are women so all they are good for is healing the wounded and the sick.

None of that was the current problem, though, no - the current problem was that this kingdom prides itself on have nothing but the best of the best of everything. No weakness' allowed, weakness' meant holes in their defenses, holes meant easier access for an outside threat to attack our kingdom - whether from a rival kingdom or from a demon. If by the end of the four-year school course you have not approved or are on the very bottom of the class gets banished. Archery, priestess and monk, one person from each class, the person on the very bottom - gone. Three people, three families gone, just because of the palace insecurity.

And the person at the very top, the best of the best of each class, gets selected to work for the palace and brings the most honor to their families. That's the ultimate goal for everyone going to this school, to be at the very top at the end of the four-years and be accepted as guard/healer for the palace as well as bringing their family great honor.

My family has been to many banishing ceremonies, more than I can count on all my fingers and toes, but they never get easier. If I ever got the chance, that law would change - no more banishing, this kingdom was strong enough to pick up the slight slack that someone might have. If it were up to me, a lot would change, like the people living on the street, starving, I'd build them a shelter for a safe place to stay and sleep until they could get back on their feet - I'd hold food donation days to be able to feed them, and women would be treated differently - not seen just as objects. But for right now, I have to face the real threat of being banished because Sota wasn't meant to become an archer. In four short years we could be saying goodbye to this kingdom forever.

But what if...

And this is where my story begins...

*X*

Kagome sighed as she sat at her vanity as one of the maids brushed her hair while another maid picked her out a fancy dress to wear.

Tonight was a celebration for Sota, tonight was his last night at home for four-years and our parents wanted to throw a huge party and feast to see him off.

She was staring at herself in the mirror watching as the maid curled her hair, chewing on her bottom lip as she thought to herself, 'what do I do? With Sota going to this school we are sure to get banished in just four years.' She didn't blame Sota, not one little bit, not everyone was cut out to do archery. She let out a sigh as the maid finished curling her long black hair and was now putting earing into her ears. 'I wish I was born a b-' Kagome cut her thought off as her eyes got wide and she touched her check with her fingertips.

"That's it." Kagome whispered as her heart kicked up a notch.

"What was that, Miss. Higurashi?" The maid asked as she paused in fastening her necklace as the second maid came out with her dress.

"That's it!" Kagome said louder as she ran out of her room.

"Miss. Higurashi, wait!" The maid said as she ran after her. "You're not dressed yet!"

"Sota!" Kagome yelled as she ran down the halls looking for her brother. "Sota!"

"Kagome!"

Kagome froze as her heart dropped in her chest as she heard her mother stomp from behind her. Sighing, she turned to face her mother's wrath.

"Kagome, this is very un-lady like! Have I not taught you anything!?" Kagome's mother scolded. "Ladies do not yell, we do not run we walk at a leisurely pace with our heads held high and we most certainly do not walk around in our pajamas! Where is your dress?"

"I'm sorry, mother." Kagome said bowing her head. "I'm looking for Sota, have you seen him?"

Kagome's mother sighed; she didn't know where she went wrong with her daughter. "Kagome, please listen to me. When I was your age, I was already married and pregnant with you and Sota. Women have a very small window for when they are the most valuable to men and, dear, your clock is ticking."

Kagome hated this speech, she's heard it one too many times, she was tired of hearing it.

Just like Sota didn't take to archery, she didn't take to societies views on how women should behave and be basically used as baby making machines, she just didn't agree with it.

"I know mother," Kagome said with a mental roll of her eyes, "right after I talk to Sota I promise that I'll go do my studies. Do you know where he is?"

Her mother let out another sigh as she dismissively flipped her hand. "He's on the training field." She said as she walked away.

"Thank you, mother." Kagome politely said as she bowed her head before turning on her heel as she made her way out their back door and out onto the back porch where she could clearly see the training ground from. Breathing a sigh of relief when she saw that Sota was alone, this way she didn't have to make some half-hearted excuse in order to try and get him alone. She stood there for a minute as she watched as he improperly notched an arrow back before poorly aiming with shaky arms and shooting the arrow only for it to fall short and land harmlessly onto the ground. Her heart clenched in her chest as she watched him once again make the same mistakes with the same outcome. The very real possibility of banishment staring her right in the face if her plan didn't work out.

"Hey, Sota?" Kagome called out as she walked down the porch steps and towards her twin brother.

Sota turned around to face her, and Kagome could tell that he has been crying. "Oh, hey sis." He said before poorly notching another arrow back.

"How's training going?" Kagome asked already knowing the answer as she stopped at his side.

Sota clutched his bow at his side as he looked down at the ground and trembled. "Horribly." He whispered then looked back at his sister with fresh tears running down his face. "We're going to be banished and it'll be all my fault!"

As Sota started hyperventilating, Kagome grabbed him by his shoulder and slightly shook him. "Sota, calm down and listen to me!" She demanded and watched as he nodded then took a few deep calming breaths before giving her another nod to continue with her plan.

"We're switching places." Kagome said looking deeply into his eyes.

"What!?" Sota shouted, shocked that his sister would even suggest something as ridiculous as that.

"Listen to me," she said as she gently shook him again, "it's the only way that we are guaranteed to not be banished! I love you, Sota, but you suck at archery and with you going to the school then we'd no doubt get banished! Don't you see that switching places is the only way!"

Sota looked down, his face showed deep thought and worry, but when he looked up Kagome could see that he was going to go along with her plan.

"So, how are we going to convince our parents?" Sota asked.

"They're not going to have a choice in the matter after I'm done." Kagome said as she started walking back to the house, walking inside and towards their father's study with Sota close on her heels.

"What are you going to do sis?" Sota asked with worry on his face as Kagome put her hand on the handle of the door to their father's study.

"Don't you worry about that." Kagome said before opening the door and walking in with Sota following. She saw their mother in there talking to their father and thought it was a good thing that they were both in there at the same time as she went forward with her plan as her heart tried to escape from her chest, she knew she was going to be in deep shit but that wasn't enough reason for her to put a stop to what she was doing. "Mother, father, I need to talk with you both." She said as she walked towards the wall where her father kept his collection of authentic swords before taking on off its stand.

"What are you doing?" Their father asked as he stood up from his seat.

Slice.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Until next time, bye!