InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Happily ever after? A lot harder then it looks ❯ Forced Marriage ( Chapter 1 )

A/N: Yay! I am starting a new story! I am in no means forgetting about my other one. I got a bunch of ideas for a new story, so I just had to write it. Just have an open mind when reading k? So indulge in my new story, and don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: Only the plot is mine.

Chapter 1: Forced Marriage

Kagome made sure to slam the big wooden door on her way out. Sometimes, like right now, she could not stand her life. She sighed and ran down the castle steps and out into the courtyard. ~Why does my life have to be so complicated?~ She thought leaning against a big willow tree, enjoying the shade it provided. It was still considerably hot though, and because of this she pulled out her fan and tried to cool herself down.

It wasn't just the heat though, she had just been in another fight with her father about her little "situation". As always, he would not listen to anything she said, and believed that he knew what was best. Every time Kagome argued with him it got her nowhere, but it made her feel better to be able to yell all of her feelings at her father.....The person that was the cause of all her agony....

"Man I hate my life," she said to herself.

It was easy to see why she felt this way....Since age 6, she had been forced to spend her summers in this place, this hell hole. You see, Kagome was being forced into marrying a prince, a price that she just so happened to hate with almost every fiber of her being. Her father, and his mother had arranged their marriage when Kagome was 3 and he was 5.....Now they had to spend every summer together. The point, supposedly, of these insufferable summers was that one day, the two of them would actually fall in love. Well, Kagome was 18, and it sure hadn't happened yet....It fact, every year made her see more and more that she and the prince made an awful couple. Kagome had tried and tried to make her father see this, but he was stubbornly blind to what went on around him. Of course, that was not the only reason that he wouldn't listen to Kagome.

After she was married, their two kingdoms would be joined together which had three big advantages. One, their kingdoms could obviously never fight again if they were the same one, two, other kingdoms wouldn't fight with them as much because they would be bigger and twice as powerful, and three, they would have twice the influence and resources. Obviously, there would be new laws made, and old laws removed so the kingdom could exist peacefully as one.

As lovely as Kagome thought this would be, she currently cared a lot more about her own personal interests. Like her happiness for example. ~If I have to marry that moron, I'll never be truly happy again....I know that I could never love him, and I've always thought that I would love the person I marry.....My father says that's stupid and idealistic and that the world around me isn't like that any more. He says that my "duty" is more important then how I feel about this. Well, I'm not that stupid. I know I'm a princess and all, but it's not like I'm expecting a quaint little happily ever after.~

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice her father until he spoke about two feet from her. "Why can't you just accept what life has given you and make the most of it?" he asked hopefully.

She sighed and started walking off to the gardens while saying, "And why can't you see that I don't want this,"she said waving her arms to what was around her, "and that it would not, and could not make me happy."

"This is a beautiful place Kagome," he said following her. "You would be lucky to live in a place like this."

"Maybe I would be, but don't you see father, it's not home. It never has been and never will be!"

"Kagome, what have I told you about yelling?"

She rolled her eyes and droned off tonelessly, "It is not proper for a lady of status to raise her voice."

Her father smiled, always amused by his daughters attitude. She had never been like the other ladies, and he was rather glad of that.

"If you admit this place is beautiful, then why is it so much worse then home?" he asked patiently.

"It's just not my home....And the only place that is really beautiful around here is the castle grounds. Everything around them is ugly city....I miss the country. I miss the beauty being everywhere, not just around the royalty. And then there are "certain" people that make this place a hundred times worse."

"You know, I didn't set up this marriage just for my gain even though you think that sometimes. I thought that it would be good for you. The prince is a good man, and he could take care of you. I won't be around forever, and I want to know that my little girl is well taken care of."

Kagome smiled a little smile and said, "I know father, I know."

"Just try to get a long with him at least. You know that you don't always try to even be civil to him...."

"Well like he does!" Kagome yelled cutting him off. "He acts like the perfect little gentleman, but he's not."

"Kagome....."

"I'm sorry but I just can't stand any of this! I hate it all! I hate this place, I hate the fancy dresses and the big parties and balls, and most of all I just hate him!" She yelled sitting down on the garden bench.

"I realize that dear, but I am just asking you to try. Just try to like him. You don't even have to like him yet, just attempt to stand him. Please, do this for me."

Kagome sighed, looked into her fathers pleading eyes and caved.

"Alright. I promise that I will try to stand him and I will even attempt to act like a real lady around him."

"That's my girl," her father said smiling. "This will be a good thing for you more then anyone. Remember that. You are 18 now, and next year will be the last summer. You have to be married at 19 Kagome, you know that."

"I understand," she said simply.

"Good, I'll see you at dinner alright?" he said getting up.

Kagome nodded and he turned and left her in the garden. She looked around in admiration at the trees and many flowers. This garden had always been her favorite get away place. I was calm, peacefully, beautiful, and best of all the price rarely came here. Of course, that was usually. And apparently today did not want to stay usual.

"Enjoying the flowers?" he said scaring her half to death. She hated how he always seemed to pop up out of nowhere.

"Yes, they are beautiful."

"I quite agree," he said sitting next to her. "I have noticed over the years that this is the place you always go to."

"How very observant of you," Kagome said secretly cursing her luck. ~Great, now he'll know where to find me!~

"Yes I thought it was a good thing to know. Listen Kagome I was wondering, would you like to go for a walk? I thought it would be nice if we had a chance to talk. We haven't done that yet really this year."

~Thank the gods.~ "Oh well I was just about to go inside actually," she lied. "I need to write a letter that I've been putting off for quite some time now."

"Oh well maybe some other time?" he asked hopefully.

"Yeah Hojo, maybe some other time."

A/N: Surprised? Confused? I sure hope so! :D Don't forget to review and tell me what you thought.