InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fallen Rose Petals ❯ Plans ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

A New King

Plans

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I do not, have not, and will not ever own Inuyasha.

He hadn't gotten far. The scrawny messenger stood talking with a stable boy across the road, trying to find a place to secure his horse. By the looks of it, he had been traveling for several days. His brown leather shoes were caked with mud. All his clothing was worn and tattered. He wore his shirt untucked and his jacket unbuttoned. If he met the King as such, he would surely be beheaded. The King was far too vain to have his servants looking unkempt. Weaving his way in and out of the mid afternoon crowd, Inuyasha made his way towards his next victim.

As he neared the messenger, Inuyasha took notice of his long brown hair. He would certainly die at the hands of King Sesshoumaru simply for the state of his hair. His hair was knotted and tangled, and probably hadn't been washed since he'd set out on his journey. Inuyasha flashed back to all the arguments he'd endured with Sesshoumaru over his uncombed hair. Of course, the two of them would fight over anything and everything. They couldn't pass each other without spouting insults and a fair amount of swearing. That's the way it had always been, but lately, it had gotten worse.

Since his father's death, he and his brother, the great Sesshoumaru, had been engaged in an all out war. It wasn't as if they had been best friends to begin with, but their father's murder had snapped the last string holding together the fragile tolerance they had of each other. After several months of putting up with constant abuse and several threats on his life, Inuyasha had left the castle he'd once called home, with only a few belongings, and his best friend Miroku by his side.

"You! Come here!" Inuyasha bellowed. He watched in amusement as the messenger flinched and the strong scent of fear filled his hanyou nose. There were few reasons he enjoyed being related to Sesshoumaru, and being able to imitate his cold, emotionless voice was one of them. "Turn around and look at me when I speak to you!"

Various emotions played over the poor messenger's face as he turned to take in the man now before him, surprised to find he wasn't the King, but merely his half brother. He should have known. The original fear of inevitable doom was quickly replaced by, shock, confusion, and then realization struck. Coming to the conclusion that he wasn't going die, at least not at the moment, he straightened his clothing and looked on with a hateful sneer. "What do you want, half breed?"

Now it was Inuyasha's turned to be shocked. "You've been Sesshoumaru's messenger for less than a week and you're already insulting me? I know he doesn't like me, but I'd think he'd spend more training time on dress code than on his list of reasons to hate me."

"Don't be so arrogant. The King does not waste any time on your pathetic life." The man pulled himself up to his full height, squaring his shoulders, and tried futilely to appear threatening. "I hate you all on my own."

Finally catching up to his friend, Miroku felt obligated to speak up. "Well, that's a comforting thought."

"Shut the hell up, Miroku."

"I was merely commenting."

"I don't need your shit right now."

Miroku looked at his friend skeptically. "What's your problem?"

"My problem? My problem?"

"Must you repeat yourself?"

"My freaking problem is that I've spent the last 3 months living in that hell hole of a shack with you and your so-called witty remarks when I should be spending my time eating delicious food, sleeping in big comfy beds, and ordering around stupid little servants—"

"Speaking of which—"

"But instead I've been forced to eat the same disgusting shit day after day—"

"Inuyasha—"

"And I have to sleep on those painful cots—"

"Inuyasha—"

"What!"

Miroku simply turned his head. Following his lead, Inuyasha turned to look down the dirt road to find the coward of a messenger high tailing it towards the castle. "Awww shit."

Miroku sighed as Inuyasha took off running. He began walking after them at a much slower pace. At this rate, they'd never get any information. Since hearing a rumor a few days ago of an important political event going on in the east, the two had stopped every man who passed the stables looking for information. However, all incidents had ended unproductive. They had yet to collect any information. Unless they counted the personal information the men all seemed to babble in fear of their own demise. Somehow, that didn't really help them.

Taking a sharp turn into the forest at an upturned tree, Miroku soon found his way to an all too familiar picture. Inuyasha pinned the pitiable messenger up against a nearby tree, snarling and slowly tightening his hold around the man's small neck, why the man, in turn, tried bravely not to tremble. "Now I'll ask you again, what were you going to tell Sesshoumaru."

The man gasped for his rapidly shrinking air supply. "I...I shall never tell."

Inuyasha slammed the helpless man back into the tree. "I think you'll change your mind after I've broken a few bones." He reached to his hand, ready to begin with his fingers. "I'll give you one more chance."

"I won't...I won't be able to...to work without my fingers."

"So?"

"I have a fam...family to provide for!"

"Then talk."

An unspoken staring contest began between the two of them. A mistake on the messenger's part. Inuyasha laughed as the man squeezed his eyes shut and began to talk.

"There's going to be a party. A celebration of sorts for the young princess of Shikon."

"Celebration? What for?" Miroku asked, while praying Inuyasha didn't turn on him again.

"She's going to be married."

Inuyasha let his grip loosen.

"To who?"

"That's the important part, she'll be choosing a groom at the party. Her father was murdered a while ago and her mother is dying. She's too young to rule by herself. The country is in need of a ruler. Sesshoumaru has been invited as a perspective groom."

"That's what all that talks been about? What a waste."

"I think there's an opportunity here to be taken." Miroku motioned Inuyasha closer so they could talk privately.

Inuyasha gave a meaningful look to the messenger. "Move and your dead."

The messenger nodded his head frantically as he was finally let down.

"What's the deal, Miroku?"

"Don't you get it?"

Inuyasha stared at Miroku blankly.

"Look, if Sesshoumaru doesn't know about this party, he won't go."

"Get to the point, Miroku."

"If you go in his place, and get the princess to marry you, you'll have power again."

"Power, huh?"

"And money. It's worth a try."

Inuyasha nodded. It was a long shot. There would be a lot of influential and wealthy men there, and chances were against him, but if he played his cards right, he could easily get this princess girl to fall in love with him. Then, with his own country and a powerful army behind him, he could finally seek revenge on his brother.

"Just one question," Inuyasha asked as he looked back to the messenger. "What do we do with him?"

***

Kagome threw her tear soaked pillow across her room then watched as it hit the wall and landed in an unsatisfying lump on the floor. She knew she was acting like the spoiled brat people liked to label her as, but she didn't care. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to be the dull, brainless girl she was rumored to be. Maybe then she wouldn't care so much; maybe then she could delight in fantasies of falling in love with some handsome young prince at the ball and live happily ever after. But she wasn't stupid. She knew how it would really be. She'd go the ball, meet all the men, make a big show of dancing with them all, then the advisors would send most of them home, only leaving the most powerful and most wealthy, maybe letting a few military experts in. She'd be granted the privilege of choosing from a group of about ten arrogant old men. She'd become their third or fourth wife.

She'd probably live somewhere in the country, as far away from him as she could, while he brang destruction to Shikon. That way, he'd be able to have all the mistresses he wanted without having to hide them from her. It wouldn't be so bad. She'd have to bear him a child, a boy. The child could spend the summer with her, and the winter with him. Maybe she could even find love and have an affair of her own.

She grabbed a nearby book and hurled it in the general direction the pillow had gone. The book slammed into the wall with a much more satisfying crash.

Watching her grandfather slowly whither away in his bed had been horrible. She remembered being so scared. Death had been new to her then. She'd assumed that would be the end of her pain for a long while. She couldn't have been more wrong.

Next, it had been her brother, then her father, and now her mother was leaving too. It was all too much for her. Kagome threw a few more books; delighting in the large sound they produced. How was she supposed to marry? How was she supposed to fall in love when she felt so empty inside?

She wouldn't even be allowed the chance anyway, all in the name of her country. She wanted what was best for Shikon just as much as the advisors did. More so even. She didn't want lots of land and money, she just wanted for her people to be safe and happy, and have the freedom to live the lives they wanted. Unless they wanted to become mass murders. There were some limits.

For good measure, Kagome threw another book, this time hitting the window. She cringed as it broke through the glass. Outside, the pages broke from the book and slowly fluttered toward the ground. "And that was my favorite book, too."

***

Naraku paced across his room. It had to work. It just had to work. He'd spent too much time under the control of those wretched people. It had to work.

If he wanted to become King, he'd simply have to marry the girl. Being a lifetime servant to her mother had to help somewhat. He wouldn't have to bother getting her to trust him. In fact, he might not even have to deal with her. If he was lucky, he could get the Queen to point out all the reasons he should be King for him. All he'd have to do was smile. He'd have the throne in no time.

Naraku let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Being evil was stressful.

After a few minutes of inner debate, Naraku decided on a nice walk. He could terrorize a few servants then grab something to eat. Throwing on his coat, Naraku slipped out the door and headed down the hallway, hoping to pass someone on the way, but found no one. Searching the grounds, he decided to survey the gardens for a good victim. Humans were always easier to scare there. They allowed themselves to feel safe in the presence of the soothing plants. Maybe he could even find the princess and put in a few good words.

Naraku looked around the gardens. The summer flowers were just beginning to bloom. Naraku had to admit they weren't a complete eye sore. Maybe living here was making him soft.

"Lord Naraku!"

An evil smile spread across Naraku's lips. Bunjiro, the Queen's newest advisor was coming his way. This should be fun.

***

"It's not that bad."

Kagome stared at Sango. She loved her best friend, really, but she was horrible at advice. "You're kidding right. This is a complete catastrophe."

"Things could be worse."

"How?"

Sango shrugged.

Kagome turned her view towards her broken window. "I wanted to at least find a man with a good heart. I don't want Shikon ruled by some overmatic narcissistic—"

"Kagome—"

"self-inflated self-absorbed—"

"Kagome—"

"self-centered self-interested—"

"Kagome!"

"self-regarding egotistical jerk."

"Kagome!!!"

"What?

"Overmatic?"

"What?"

"That's not even a word."

"Is too."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Okay then, what does it mean?"

Kagome stared at Sango. "What do you think it means?"

"Whatever, Ms. Thesaurus."

"At least I'm not the grammar police. 'Kagome, don't say ain't,' 'Kagome, it's Shippou and I, not me and Shippou,' 'Kagome, don't use double negatives.'"

Sango grinned; glad Kagome's mind was finally off her somewhat arranged marriage for the time being, even if it was at her expense.

"And my mother! She's even worse, 'Kagome, such fowl language is not befitting of a young princess.' Ugh!"

Sango laughed as her friend continued to mock her overbearing mother's strict rules. Though she would love to have the luxuries that Kagome could afford, it was times like these she realized how lucky she was. She slept in a warm bed, never went hungry, and was able to spend much of her time in wonderful company. As a soldier, she was expected to spend some time in training, but because the country was not currently at war, at least not officially, most of her duties included protecting Kagome.

"Did you hear what happened to Bunjiro this morning?" she asked when her friend was done ranting.

"Who? The new advisor?"

"Yep, he was taking a walk out in the gardens, when a book fell from the sky and hit him square in the head!"

"Oops..." Kagome mouthed.

Sango giggled when she saw the guilty look on her friend's face. Since the incident had occurred near the princess's window, and since she knew her friend had a deep love of all literature, Sango had immediately assumed it had been her who had thrown the book, and by the look on her face, and not to mention the now obviously broken window, her guess had been correct.

"Is he..." Kagome swallowed her laughter, ashamed at finding the advisors misfortune so amusing. "Is he well?"

"Physically."

The princess raised an elegant eyebrow at her friend's comment. "What does that mean?"

"Well," Sango grinned. Grateful for the small smile that was forming on Kagome's face. "He's proclaimed it to be a sign from the gods."

"Bunjiro, a religious man?" Kagome's smile grew.

"If you can believe it. He has been reading carefully all day long, looking for a hidden message within the text."

Kagome couldn't hold her laughter in any longer. At any other time, she was sure she would not find Bunjiro's predicament so amusing, but she was desperately in need of a good laugh, and if his misfortune was the cause, she'd just have to make sure he received a nice bonus in his pay for the unknown help.

Sango giggled and beamed with pride in her ability to bring such happiness to her friend. Above all else, she valued the princess's friendship, and would feel unworthy if she could not help her in times of her need. "Apparently," she went on, "He believes he's been chosen to save the world from certain destruction.

"He's..." Sango could barely talk from laughing herself. "He's going around dressed in a long white robe speaking gibberish and blessing anyone he runs into by dumping buckets of 'holy water' over their heads." Tears were beginning to form, in the corner of her eyes. "When he tried to bless Naraku, he just stared at him in shock. I've never seen such an expression on his face, you should have seen it."

The two girls continued to laugh in a continuous circle. When one of them would finally tire, the other's laughter would provide a new burst of energy and amusement.

Finally, the laughter died, and Kagome, feeling refreshed, stood in front of her broken window. Below her were the many gardens. The flowers and varying plants gleamed in the late afternoon sun. It couldn't compare to the beauty of the many delicate petals and leaves dancing in the early morning breeze as dawn broken upon the land.

She'd first watched the sun rise on the gardens with her father, the day after her brother died. It was something they would do together, especially when her father had a problem he couldn't solve. When she closed her eyes she could still see him, and hear his voice upon her ears. Every morning they would spend by the trunk of their special tree, he'd say the same thing. "Listen, Kagome can you hear?" She would close her eyes and listen intently, but she could never hear it. "The flowers are singing, they're greeting the sun, can't you hear? It's so beautiful."

She could never hear, after her father's death, she'd spent every morning outside, listening. Her father insisted that when the people of Shikon died, they came here, to their gardens, taking the form of a flower, to greet the sun every morning. She listened, but she could never hear him sing.

Kagome sighed and looked down, picking a piece of nonexistent lint off her skirt. "Sango?"

"Hmm?"

"I feel so alone."

Sango smiled sadly and pulled her friend into a hug. "You'll always have me."

***