InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Bond of Thorns ❯ Preparations ( Chapter 4 )

A BOND OF THORNS

Preparations

oooooooooo

"Kikyo-sama!"

All guards at the Inuyoukai manor began bowing diligently at the sight of the princess. Said princess just took one short look at each of them in turn, before letting her distaste at their presence facially obvious. "Where is Inuyasha?" she asked.

"Permission to speak, your highness," said one guard, bowing low and waiting for the acknowledgement. Kikyo nodded, and he continued. "He went off to visit Kaede obaa-sama, Kikyo-hime."

She huffed angrily. "Ok." She paused. "Well? Let me in, you imbeciles!"

"Hai, Kikyo-sama!"

She stood back as the guards pulled the gates apart as quickly as they possibly could, tripping even, in their haste to let the woman in. She flipped her hair in annoyance as she passed by, then marched determinedly towards the house's front doors.

The two guards standing watch by the massive ebony doors stepped back, bowing courteously as they let her step in. She gave them both a short uninterested glance as she passed them, entering the wide entryway. Maids bustled around at the sight of her, more than a few scampering about to call for Sesshoumaru, the master of the house.

Kikyo erased the smug grin from her face, replacing it with a hurt, pouty one once the man showed up at the head of the stairs.

Sesshoumaru looked down at the princess, groaning internally as he flashed her a small courteous smile. 'I know that pout,' he thought in slight disdain. 'She wants something, and I think I know just what that something is. Or, more accurately, WHO it is.'

"Kikyo-hime, what may have merited this house with your presence?" he asked, bowing low as he reached her.

Kikyo crossed her arms, stamping one foot impatiently in front of the other. "This is not a courtesy call, I'm afraid. I'm here to see your brother."

"I don't think he's here, Kikyo."

"He left. The guards told me. But just so this trip would not be an entire waste..." Kikyo said, while Sesshoumaru mentally rolled his eyes.

'Let me guess,' he thought. 'Now you wish to see the Calderian princess.'

"...I thought maybe it would be wise if I went to see that alien princess. You DO know where the bitc-, I mean, the princess is, ne?" she said, and Sess nearly smirked.

'Thought so,' he thought. "Well, I happen to know that my brother has prepared a room for her on the second landing. After all, she IS his CONCUBINE, and he has to care for her. And you know Inuyasha..." he stressed the word concubine, nearly bursting into laughter when Kikyo interrupted.

"I know! Whatever. I want to see her. NOW!"

Sess shrugged indifferently, turning to lead the princess up the long, slippery marble staircase. 'I hope she slips and falls,' he thought in irritation, cursing the red stair carpet that lay on the steps. Kikyo had never really done anything to him, but for some reason, the spoiled, whiny princess always managed to get on his last nerves.

He stopped in front of the door of the largest guestroom in the house. On both sides of the door stood two tall guards, who immediately bowed low upon seeing the princess and their master.

"This is where she is," Sess said, noticing with unnoticeable glee that the princess' cheeks had heated up, her eyes blazing slits as she stared at the door.

"Thank you," she said, not looking at him. She turned to both guards. "Let me in!"

"Permission to speak, ma'am."

"WHAT?!"

"We were ordered by Lord Inuyasha to let no one but Sango-san into this room."

"Do you wish to die for treason?" Kikyo asked angrily, and the guards shook his head. "Then let me in, you moron! I'm the princess! No one is above me!"

"Your father is," Sess murmured. Kikyo didn't hear him though.

Both guards looked at each other reluctantly, before turning towards the door, fumbling for the right key. The door had a special lock... one that could be opened only by its proper key, and Inuyasha's personal ID tag.

Kikyo smirked as the door swung open.

oooooooooo

"Inuyasha? What brought you here?" Kaede asked, merrily pushing back the cottage door to let the hanyou in. Kaede didn't even begin to miss the troubled expression on the boy's face. She led him over to the low couch in the center of the room and took her place on another low stool. "Do you want some tea?"

"No thanks. Kaede, I have a bit of a problem..." he said slowly, before sitting and taking out a tattered piece of cloth.

"I noticed that, young man," she said with a smile, before noticing the cloth. "And what do we have here?"

Inuyasha handed the old woman the piece of cloth. Kaede looked at it in confusion for a while, before her eyes widened in surprise.

"This cloth..." Kaede began, while Inuyasha, in his unease, stood and went to the nearest window to look out the yard.

"It's part of someone's clothes. I thought you might be able to help me figure something out," Inuyasha said, not daring to meet the confused lady's questioning gaze.

Kaede looked between him and the cloth repeatedly, before asking, "To whom do those clothes belong to?"

Inuyasha hesitated. "The Calderian princess..."

"Honto ni?"

"Yeah," he replied, looking back at his old babysitter. "There's something different about her... Definitely strange. I felt it back when we were still in Calderia. Do you think..."

"She's a miko, isn't she?" Kaede suddenly asked, making Inuyasha gape at her.

"What? I dunno. Is she? I came to ask YOU, ya' know?! I can't sense this type of thing."

Kaede put the cloth on the table. "What made you think her strange?"

"I dunno either. Call me stupid, but I don't know. I just felt like I had to keep her alive... protect her," Then as an afterthought, he said, "She cast a spell on me, didn't she?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothin'," he said, desperately hiding a blush. Where had that thought come from?

Kaede sat back and regarded him seriously. "Well... from what I can tell through this cloth, she is certainly not an average princess. I would have to personally meet her. She may have some deeply buried reiryoku..."

"The way you said I might?"

"Hai," Kaede answered. "It may be the one reason why you feel strangely drawn to her..."

"I do not feel drawn to her."

"And you think I would believe you because...?"

"Shut up, baabaa."

"Oh, come on, Inuyasha!" the old lady exclaimed. "I know you like the back of my hand! Why would you have made her your concubine?"

"You know about that?" Inuyasha asked incredulously.

"Who doesn't?" Kaede scoffed. "Anyway, yes, she may have miko powers."

Inuyasha tensed. "Are her powers... like mine? At all?"

Kaede nodded. "I believe it is. But as I said, I have to meet her first to be able to tell for sure. But if my suspicions are correct, then you know what that means..."

Inuyasha remained silent as Kaede continued. "I believe that with her being here, we have completed the key to unlocking the Shikon no Tama."

Inuyasha was silent. "You said I was half..."

"And we have just found the other..."

Both were silent. Then...

"Do you think HE knows by now?" Inuyasha asked. "Could he have sensed it by now? He's been after the jewel for as long as I can remember, and if he does..."

Kaede shrugged. "I don't know, Inuyasha. But if he does..."

"Shit."

oooooooooo

Red eyes narrowed as he found what he had been feeling for. He looked around the dark room where he was presently meditating.

"Ku ku ku. I think I have finally found the key. Who would have thought that the key was in the palace, right beside its other half," he mused.

The strong reiryoku had appeared all to suddenly only the night before, and he just knew that it was what he had been searching for. The key...

If only he could get to it...

"I will have the jewel, Inuyasha. You may hold half the key, but I will still have it... Now nothing can stop me..."

oooooooooo

"HEY! Can't a girl get some privacy here?!" Kagome shrieked in indignation when the door to her room suddenly opened. She jerked back from her position on her bed to look towards the door, but what she saw made her stand straight off the bed and grow paler than the white castle walls.

"Oh my god..." she whispered, eying the figure of the woman standing by the door, looking as shocked as she was. Kagome's mind was spinning. 'Am I... looking at MYSELF?'

She can barely breathe as she seemingly watched herself walk from the door towards her, a look of pure shock on both their faces. As the other woman came closer though, Kagome realized that she had not been hallucinating... the woman was not her double.

But it was still shocking, to say the least. They looked almost EXACTLY alike... putting an identical twin pair's likeness to shame. The difference though, was discernable now that they were near.

The woman, who Kagome only now noticed to be wearing a scandalously short gray dress, had cold gray eyes, clashing greatly against her vibrant gray/blue ones. Her hair, unlike Kagome's rather wavy, silky bluish black locks, was brownish black, thick and undeniably straight. The gray-clad woman was also a bit thinner and taller than Kagome. Also, Kagome's facial features seemed rather softer.

A rather wicked grin passed over the other's lips, making Kagome's eyes widen in apprehension. "Well, this is interesting..." she said, crossing her arms and looking at Kagome through slightly narrowed eyes.

Kagome was confused. "Who are you?"

"And impolite! Gods... what could have ever possessed my Inu to bring you in as a concubine? This is quite distressing..." she said, and Kagome drew slightly back.

"What are you talking about?"

"Listen here, bitch," she said, spitefully spitting out the last word. "I am the Princess Kikyo, heir to this entire planet. I get everything I want, so stay away from MY Inuyasha!"

Kagome looked at her in confusion, before her words sunk in. Kagome turned red with anger and she angrily glared at the woman. "Well, Princess," Kagome said sarcastically. "I never wanted to have anything to do with your Inuyasha anyway. THIS was NOT my choice."

"Just stay away from him!!!" the princess shrilled.

"I won't dream of coming near that murderer!"

"Take that back, you bitch!"

"I'm not a bitch!"

Both glared quietly at each other, and Kikyo hissed. "I should have you killed..."

Kagome really didn't want to say what she was thinking of saying, but just to spite the obviously jealous girl, she promptly repeated what Inuyasha had said to her earlier. Of course, with a few minor adjustments...

"You can't," Kagome hissed back. "I am now Inuyasha-sama's written mistress - his legal possession. You can't have me executed without his command. You can't touch me without his consent."

"You forget, missy," Kikyo replied. "I'm the princess. I am higher than Inuyasha."

Kagome fought back her panic. "True," she replied, sitting on her bed. "But if you try... you would be deliberately disgracing him, ne? I doubt he would ever look at you then."

Kikyo stepped away from her in shock. "Just stay away from him, you aggressive bitch. He's MINE!" she yelled, before stomping out of the bedroom. Kagome grinned in relief and triumph as she heard the princess begin ranting outside her door.

'Poor guards...'

oooooooooo

Inuyasha had not been seen in the manor since he left for Kaede's, and everyone had started to worry. Even Sango, who was presently getting Kagome ready, couldn't help glancing out the window every once in a while.

"Sango-chan," Kagome began. "How long have you been working for this manor?"

Sango paused from what she was doing to Kagome's hair. "Not too long... barely two years, actually. And so far, this mansion has given me more security than I could remember."

"You really like it here, ne?"

"Ee... you would, too. You should give Inuyasha-sama a chance, Kagome. He's not too bad, once you get to know him." Then, looking out the window again, "Where is he?!"

"Does he usually go missing when he is about to be awarded?" Kagome asked tensely when she noticed how worried Sango looked.

"Inuyasha-sama has an incurable knack for getting into trouble whenever something important comes up," Sango replied irately. "I'm willing to bet that Houshi-sama will be barging in on us any second now..."

Kagome blinked, twisting her fingers into the folds of her green hakama. "Houshi-sama?"

A knock interrupted them, and before neither could respond, a violet-eyed man with short black hair tied into a ponytail at his nape poked his head into the room. "Sango-sama," he said. "Has Inuyasha-sama come in yet?"

Sango turned to glare at him. "I'm busy, you know. No, he hasn't shown up yet. Now please leave... I am in the middle of preparing Kagome..."

"Ah, Kagome-sama," he cut in, smiling widely as he made his way towards her, holding one of her hands in his. "I believe we have not been properly acquainted."

Kagome looked intently at him, trying to figure out why he looked familiar. "No, I believe not."

"I am Miroku, a soldier and friend of your master," he said. Kagome bristled, knowing the "master" he was referring to was Inuyasha. "I did not realize that you were so lovely..."

Kagome looked away, noticing absently that he still clutched her hand, and that Sango was positively glaring holes into the man's head. "A-arigatou."

"Now, Lady Kagome, if I may ask you..."

"DON"T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT, MONK!"

Both turned to find a fuming Sango practically engulfed in flames in her fury. "She belongs to Inuyasha-sama, for crying out loud! Spare her your monstrosity!"

Miroku abruptly dropped her hand and turned to Sango. "Why Sango-sama... I had no idea that you felt so strongly about..."

"Shut up! I'm trying to..."

Kagome stared when Sango abruptly cut herself off, and recoiled when the woman sent a strong backhand slap to the man before her.

"HENTAI!" she screamed, her face flaming red. "Don't touch me. Now... achi ike yo!!!!"

"Hai, hai... gomen, it was..."

"An accident? Leave, and let me do my job!"

Both girls watched as the monk stumbled out of the room. "Ne, Sango? What was that about?"

Sango smiled at her, traces of her anger still slightly seen. "That hentai gropes my butt whenever he could... now, where was I?"

oooooooooo

Sango smiled at her handiwork, fluffing up Kagome's sleeves as a final touch. "Done! Gods, you are so beautiful, Kagome!"

Kagome smiled shyly and looked down at her clasped hands. "Arigatou. May I see how I look?" she asked, and Sango promptly stood and led her to the full-length mirror near her bureau.

Kagome nearly gasped. "I can barely recognize myself! Sango, you are incredible! Arigatou!" She had never been able to dress so extravagantly in her planet, seeing as she wasn't allowed to parties, and seeing herself like this...

Her green, silk v-necked dress hugged her every curve gracefully, with its filmy, transparent sleeves showing off the slim curve of her arms. The wide skirt swept elegantly past her ankles, her feet enclosed in dark green pumps. Sango had swept her hair back in a stylish half ponytail, some free soft locks framing her face. She had on very light make-up, tastefully done to accentuate her eyes.

"Don't let ME take all the glory! I only helped dress you up! You wouldn't look so great if you weren't beautiful to begin with!"

"Oh, arigatou, Sango!" Kagome said, before a sad look overcame her. "I just wish my father were here to see me like this. He had always said that I was lovely, and he would have loved to see me dressed like this..."

Sango remained silent, a small frown crossing her lips. "I... I hope you do not mind, but I cannot bear to speak of your father, Kagome."

Kagome looked up sharply. "Nani?"

"Onegai, can we talk of something else?"

Kagome just then realized how much the people of Soldari seemed to absolutely detest her father. 'Why? My father was a good man. Was Inuyasha telling the truth?' she thought.

"Alright. Now that I am dressed, where do we go?" Kagome asked. "Aren't you coming with me, Sango?"

"Hai, I am..."

"Well? When are you going to dress up? Where are your clothes?"

Sango hesitated. "I have them here. But I have to await further orders. I can't leave you alone. Inuyasha-sama would hate to have anything happen to you."

"Like talking to that bitch of a princess of yours was delightful," Kagome groused, while Sango snickered. She had told her assistant of the unexpected 'visit'. "Dress up, Sango. Now. I can help! Though... I probably won't be as good as you."

Sango laughed. "Alright," she said, taking out a pink gown from a large box. It was much simpler than Kagome's, just a straight cut dress with long, flaring sleeves, but elegant nonetheless. "I don't think I would look as nice as you though."

"Stop that! Now... let's dress you up!"

oooooooooo

"What are you doing in my room?"

Sesshoumaru looked irately at his younger brother who sat idly in the center of his bed. "We have only thirty minutes left before the awarding starts. Why aren't you even dressed yet? Everybody has been looking all over for you. Have you even bathed yet? You..."

"She's the key."

Sesshoumaru stiffened. "Nani?"

Inuyasha finally looked at him. "I went to see Kaede about some vibes that I had about Kagome. Kaede says that," he gulped. "That she may be the last link needed to unlock the Shikon no Tama."

The inuyoukai was silent. "Was she sure?"

"No. But I think she's right. And now I have to do all I could to protect the wench."

"You would have done that anyway," Sess muttered.

"What the hell did you say?"

"Nothing. Now go dress up! Your award awaits."

"Yes sir!" Inuyasha saluted, before heading out of his brother's room. The moment he stepped out of the door, he bumped into Miroku.

"INUYASHA! We've been looking all over for you, you git! Where were you?" he yelled. Inuyasha noticed that the monk was already wearing his suit - a black dress suit with an indigo undershirt. Inuyasha was shivering with dread already. He hated dressing up!

"None of your business! Now could we just go dress up! We're already late as it is!"

"Your assistants are in the room already," Miroku said as he walked the hanyou to his bedroom. The hanyou's thoughtful expression didn't escape him. "Something's wrong."

Inuyasha paused and looked at him. They stopped just before Inuyasha's door. "Yeah. I need to talk to you. Take all those assistants out... I don't need help getting dressed. And we'll talk."

oooooooooo

 

A/N: Reviews would be so appreciated...

 

SR1001