InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Happy Ending Delayed: A Fairy Tale ❯ My Prince(ss) has come? ( Chapter 3 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Namiyo11 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 04.30.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 2.7K | Visits: 244 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 04.30.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 2.7K | Visits: 244 | Status: Completed
Chapter 3-My Prince(ss) has come?
Inuyasha isn't mine.
“It was kind of him to give us food. I doubt we need to set much of a watch tonight, either,” Sango noted over the fish they were roasting.
“It was. He must be lonely here,” Kagome said sadly.
“Yes. It is unfortunate. He may be bound to this place, Kagome, and has no choice but to stay,” Miroku answered. He then explained the concept of a Guardian Pact to her, and she felt bad.
“You mean he can’t leave because of some magical spell?”
“That’s right,” the monk nodded. She sighed.
“I think that’s terrible! Can’t we help him somehow?”
“I doubt it. It might be unwise to try. We are safe here likely because he is convinced we do not intend to harm anything here. That might be interpreted as trying to remove the Guardian so we could loot the Tower.”
“I see,” Kagome wrapped her arms around her knees and stared at the fire as the storm raged. But her eyes kept going to the stairs.
***
Upstairs, he glared at the almost illegible sign for the first time in years. Stalking past it, he shut his door and sighed. They weren’t Champions. He reminded himself of that. Merely guests.
But Prince Inuyasha couldn’t help himself. He walked over to his clothes chest and opened it, shaking out a rich blue outfit. He still kept a few kimonos from the old days. A pity they’d begun to show age when the curse was broken, like so much else in this room. They also were a bit short and loose now. He’d grown and thinned out.
Glancing at his own supper on the perfectly normal fire he kept going himself, he made sure the shutters were secure and tossed the thin old silk on top of the chest.
He washed up in the bowl he kept full of water, ate, changed into a worn sleeping robe of fine silk he liked for its comfort, and went to bed. Even the ladies of his scrolls had lost their appeal years ago. They reminded him of too much. Even that...got old.
***
Downstairs, a miko couldn't sleep.
Kagome just knew that there had to be a way to help him! Maybe if she talked to him, or something. Plus her own curiosity ate at her. Something kept urging her to go upstairs. She couldn’t help it. She got up when everyone else was asleep, and took a guttering torch from it’s socket.
Kirara, however, was a light sleeper. She rose and trotted over from Sango’s blankets to block her. Kagome sighed down at the kitten looking neko when she mewed.
“Kirara? I just-I want to see what’s up there.”Kirara couldn’t talk, but the disapproval was manifest.
“He said the stairs were trapped, right? What if...what if you carried me? If we flew, no traps, right?” Kagome asked as the idea came to her. The cat looked uncertain.
“Please? I just want to try and help him! If it’s dangerous, we’ll come right back and leave in the morning. I promise!” she whispered. Kagome bit her lip and tried, “a new catnip mouse, and a fresh fish when I go through the well again?” A smile.
Alright. Kirara did have a price. She transformed. The girl put the torch back. One thing about Kirara, her own flames gave plenty of light. Kagome mounted and the neko carefully rose upwards. They both kept an eye out, and saw a nasty net was hanging in the shadowy heights. They avoided it, and rose higher.
She saw the beat up stairs and spikes glinted on steps as they flew upwards.
“Look! A door. Could that be where the Princess lived? Maybe he has a space there?” Kagome breathed. It looked like the entire top floor was another room that was reached by way of a trap door.
“Do you think the stairs there might be safe?” she asked the neko, who checked. They seemed sound to her nose, so she landed carefully, very carefully, on them. Kagome stood there and read the almost faded off lettering, tracing it by Kirara’s light.
“Welcome, Champion. You have...succeeded in your Quest. Your reward awaits you?” Kagome softly read it out loud. He’d mentioned Champions. Must have been the brave warriors who came for the Princess.
How sad.
“Stay there with Sango, Kirara. I’ll call you when I’m ready to come back down,” the girl asked. The neko was uncertain...but finally left.
Kagome opened the door carefully. It swung up easily, having been well cared for in the last few decades.
***
In the bed-golden eyes flicked open, and got very, very big as the fire suddenly burst into full life from banked coals. The lamps lit! The trace of magic! It was active again!
He heard a soft gasp as he smelled the...the...woman...who’d been told the traps were active, and had braved them anyways. Who had her Jewel. Who had to have come for him. He smelled her.
No.
He smelled-his Champion!
Inuyasha sat bolt upright! He was too stunned to say anything. Terrified of being wrong. Almost as scared as he was of being right.
Kagome had gasped when the lights suddenly appeared.
It was a room. One that looked like it was decorated in wealthy shabby, if she had to name it. Large, with windows on all sides. A tub in the corner, shelves and hangings, faded paintings on the walls. A table and a large basket on it. The gardening implements and improvised weapons were clearly added after the place had been decorated, along with a carefully drawn map of the surrounding area. Scrolls were unrolled on the table, what she could see of them showed pictures of plants and one had-she wasn’t sure what that was. Like a castle, maybe? Something seemed wrong. Something wasn’t right here...
A big, curtained bed with an occupant that made her freeze.
Her eyes went to a silk kimono on one of the chests-and she knew.
“You...aren't the guardian! You’re the Princess! Were you cursed to be a man or something?”
He paused. Hm. Thick. She was rather thick.
“No. There was never a Princess here. Just me. Cursed to stay alone in this room until either I was claimed by my bride-or one hundred years passed.”
“You mean...”
“Guess what came first?” he answered from the bed. A clawed hand pushed the curtain away and he stood slowly. She just stared at him.
That...was pity. He knew that was pity.
“Go away. You came too late, Champion. There’s no one here for you.”
“Really? I see someone,” Kagome answered sadly.
“Unless you want to marry me, we ain't got much to discuss,” he shot back. Arms folded as she all but watched the grim tatters of pride get wrapped around his thin frame.
“Marry...?” A squeak.
“Keh. That’s the way this shit works. You overcame the obstacles to reach my chamber. See the fire and the lights? That means you won me and all you see here. Inuyasha, Inu Hanyou and Prince of the Western Lands. I’m supposed to marry you. You’re standing in my dower room. Fifty years ago, we’d be naked by now and celebrating your victory and our future wedding, Champion. Get it?” he answered, pointing at the lights, and then the bed.
“Um...” Kagome turned beet red.
“Yeah. What I thought. Congratulations. Now go away,” he turned to go back to bed.
“W-wait. You’re telling me I walked into another fairy tale?” Inuyasha stopped and did turn at that.
“You-what do you mean?”
“One where I’m...Prince Charming and you’re the fair damsel?”
“Prince...Charming?” he was lost-and it showed.
Oh, no. She started laughing! Clutching her side, doubled over laughing!
“How dare you!”
The laughing stopped.
“I...” she stopped talking when she was suddenly grabbed by the arms! Nose to nose, he glared-even as he realized she was as lovely as he’d hoped she’d be...she was a woman...his Champion...but the rage overrode it. Damn it!
She even smelled good.
“How dare you!? I waited for you! For a hundred years! All my damned life I waited, and no one fucking came! No one! Not a single Champion. Then the curse was fucking lifted, and I was left here to fucking rot! Alone, get it? The only people who came were youkai who wanted to kill me to take my home away. Then you-and now you want to fucking laugh?!”
“I’m sorry,” Kagome whispered.
She was let go.
“I meant it. Get out. Take your allies and get away from me. Get out of my Tower and drown in the storms for all I care, Champion.”
Kagome hesitated.
“Prince Inuyasha?”
“What? I said-”
“My name is Kagome, you know. Besides, don’t you mean...my Tower?”
“Excuse me...?” a dangerous tone crept into his voice as he glared, ears twitching.
“Well-” her fingertips tapped together, “I won, right? So, everything I see here is mine.”
“Sure. What the hell! Have it,” he snapped, hands flung out in exasperation.
“Including you?”He just stared at her.
“I don’t know what you’re playing at, but it ain’t funny! It’s pretty obvious you didn't come here to find a husband! Did you? Didn‘t think so.”
“No. It isn’t. I shouldn’t have laughed,” Kagome admitted. “It’s just, I’m already in a fairy tale, sort of.”
“What the hell is a fairy tale?”
“This, for one thing. It’s kinda hard to explain.”
“Keh. I believe that.”
“Can’t we-just talk?”
“No.” A headshake. “If you ain’t willing to go through with it, I don‘t care.”
“You mean...marry you?”
A nod.
“I’m too young to get married. Besides, I have a Quest. I have to get the rest of these, and I‘m not even out of school yet, Prince Inuyasha,” Kagome lifted her bottle and showed him the Shards.
“What kind of Quest is it, anyways? Not that I care.” The last was carefully added.
“Yes. You see-” she told him. Time travel. The Well. The Jewel, and the accident that led to it’s being broken. He wasn’t sure he was buying any of it.
But damn if she didn't seem sincere.
“Oh.” That was all he could think to say.
“Yeah. So, it’s not that I wouldn’t marry you. It’s just that I can’t now.”
His head tilted as he considered.
“I can wait. I mean, you could get the Jewel thing and come back when you can marry, if you wanted to.” She didn't know how to take the offer. Kagome bit her lip as he stood there uncertainly.
“Why wait? You could-come with us! You’ve got to be pretty strong to keep this place and smart if you worked out all those traps we saw in the woods and here! We could use the help! Honest! You don’t have to live here all alone.”
“I...can’t.”
“Yes, you can. We’ll all be together.”
“No. It’s too late for me to go questing. I don’t know anything but the Tower and how to be a good husband. I wouldn't last a day out there without a wife.”
“Oh...I don’t believe that! I can’t just leave you here! Isn't there any way I could convince you?”
“Say you’ll marry me, and prove it,” he told her intently, suddenly taking her hands.
“I...”
“Well? Will you be my wife? I‘ll be a really good husband! Honest! I know all about how, and-and I‘d love you, and treat you good every day...my Kagome,” Inuyasha hesitated as he used her name for the first time.
“I...” her eyes were huge.
“Please...?”
“Prince Inuyasha...” Kagome’s mouth worked. He looked so desperately hopeful, it was all so sad, he didn't deserve this fate...he just wanted to know someone cared, that was all...“yes. When the Quest is finished, I’ll marry you. You’ll come with us and help us, and then I’ll marry you. I’ll prove it however you like.” They could always break things off when he got used to the outside world. She’d help him, and he was strong, so he’d be really helpful...
That train of thought died when he took her in his arms and kissed her.
Kagome hadn't considered what her newly betrothed Lord would ask for as proof.
***
Downstairs, a monk and a tajiya were awakened by whooping and yells.
“Kirara!” Sango threw herself on the neko as Miroku climbed on behind her. The would be rescue party shot upwards...and the screams became intelligible. The neko hovered as they listened in shock. If Kirara could have-she would have blushed as hard as Sango.
Kagome did not need saving.
“Kirara. Take us down, please,” Sango managed in a strangled voice.
“Remarkable outcome, don't you think?” Miroku asked, eyes avidly going to the ceiling, and then to a firm rump. His hand twitched.
“Not happening, Monk.”
When the group left the next day, her new husband proudly walked beside the still blushing and somewhat stiffly moving young miko. Husband. Because Miroku had married them, alright.
At the bride’s own request.
She would just have to explain to her family later. No choice. Why? Because he was a jerk and a tease, that was why! He’d sadly told her after the most intense, passionate night of her life-that there would be not even a kiss on the cheek until the wedding day he‘d been promised.
It would be wrong, he said! Immoral, he said! Improper, he said! This was an impetuous act of gratitude, he said! They would just have to control themselves, he said! He’d meant it. She knew it.
No way.
Inuyasha silently blessed the scrolls as he walked hand in hand with a bride he was already feeling affection for. Kagome. His Champion and Princess. His wife. His woman. Apparently...like a perfect wife, good husbands were also expected to be animals in the bedroom.
He could live with that.
And so the Prince wed his Princess, and they lived Happily Ever After.
Mostly.
The End
Author’s Notes- And we’re done. Short but sweet, I hope. Thanks for Reading!-Namiyo
Inuyasha isn't mine.
“It was kind of him to give us food. I doubt we need to set much of a watch tonight, either,” Sango noted over the fish they were roasting.
“It was. He must be lonely here,” Kagome said sadly.
“Yes. It is unfortunate. He may be bound to this place, Kagome, and has no choice but to stay,” Miroku answered. He then explained the concept of a Guardian Pact to her, and she felt bad.
“You mean he can’t leave because of some magical spell?”
“That’s right,” the monk nodded. She sighed.
“I think that’s terrible! Can’t we help him somehow?”
“I doubt it. It might be unwise to try. We are safe here likely because he is convinced we do not intend to harm anything here. That might be interpreted as trying to remove the Guardian so we could loot the Tower.”
“I see,” Kagome wrapped her arms around her knees and stared at the fire as the storm raged. But her eyes kept going to the stairs.
***
Upstairs, he glared at the almost illegible sign for the first time in years. Stalking past it, he shut his door and sighed. They weren’t Champions. He reminded himself of that. Merely guests.
But Prince Inuyasha couldn’t help himself. He walked over to his clothes chest and opened it, shaking out a rich blue outfit. He still kept a few kimonos from the old days. A pity they’d begun to show age when the curse was broken, like so much else in this room. They also were a bit short and loose now. He’d grown and thinned out.
Glancing at his own supper on the perfectly normal fire he kept going himself, he made sure the shutters were secure and tossed the thin old silk on top of the chest.
He washed up in the bowl he kept full of water, ate, changed into a worn sleeping robe of fine silk he liked for its comfort, and went to bed. Even the ladies of his scrolls had lost their appeal years ago. They reminded him of too much. Even that...got old.
***
Downstairs, a miko couldn't sleep.
Kagome just knew that there had to be a way to help him! Maybe if she talked to him, or something. Plus her own curiosity ate at her. Something kept urging her to go upstairs. She couldn’t help it. She got up when everyone else was asleep, and took a guttering torch from it’s socket.
Kirara, however, was a light sleeper. She rose and trotted over from Sango’s blankets to block her. Kagome sighed down at the kitten looking neko when she mewed.
“Kirara? I just-I want to see what’s up there.”Kirara couldn’t talk, but the disapproval was manifest.
“He said the stairs were trapped, right? What if...what if you carried me? If we flew, no traps, right?” Kagome asked as the idea came to her. The cat looked uncertain.
“Please? I just want to try and help him! If it’s dangerous, we’ll come right back and leave in the morning. I promise!” she whispered. Kagome bit her lip and tried, “a new catnip mouse, and a fresh fish when I go through the well again?” A smile.
Alright. Kirara did have a price. She transformed. The girl put the torch back. One thing about Kirara, her own flames gave plenty of light. Kagome mounted and the neko carefully rose upwards. They both kept an eye out, and saw a nasty net was hanging in the shadowy heights. They avoided it, and rose higher.
She saw the beat up stairs and spikes glinted on steps as they flew upwards.
“Look! A door. Could that be where the Princess lived? Maybe he has a space there?” Kagome breathed. It looked like the entire top floor was another room that was reached by way of a trap door.
“Do you think the stairs there might be safe?” she asked the neko, who checked. They seemed sound to her nose, so she landed carefully, very carefully, on them. Kagome stood there and read the almost faded off lettering, tracing it by Kirara’s light.
“Welcome, Champion. You have...succeeded in your Quest. Your reward awaits you?” Kagome softly read it out loud. He’d mentioned Champions. Must have been the brave warriors who came for the Princess.
How sad.
“Stay there with Sango, Kirara. I’ll call you when I’m ready to come back down,” the girl asked. The neko was uncertain...but finally left.
Kagome opened the door carefully. It swung up easily, having been well cared for in the last few decades.
***
In the bed-golden eyes flicked open, and got very, very big as the fire suddenly burst into full life from banked coals. The lamps lit! The trace of magic! It was active again!
He heard a soft gasp as he smelled the...the...woman...who’d been told the traps were active, and had braved them anyways. Who had her Jewel. Who had to have come for him. He smelled her.
No.
He smelled-his Champion!
Inuyasha sat bolt upright! He was too stunned to say anything. Terrified of being wrong. Almost as scared as he was of being right.
Kagome had gasped when the lights suddenly appeared.
It was a room. One that looked like it was decorated in wealthy shabby, if she had to name it. Large, with windows on all sides. A tub in the corner, shelves and hangings, faded paintings on the walls. A table and a large basket on it. The gardening implements and improvised weapons were clearly added after the place had been decorated, along with a carefully drawn map of the surrounding area. Scrolls were unrolled on the table, what she could see of them showed pictures of plants and one had-she wasn’t sure what that was. Like a castle, maybe? Something seemed wrong. Something wasn’t right here...
A big, curtained bed with an occupant that made her freeze.
Her eyes went to a silk kimono on one of the chests-and she knew.
“You...aren't the guardian! You’re the Princess! Were you cursed to be a man or something?”
He paused. Hm. Thick. She was rather thick.
“No. There was never a Princess here. Just me. Cursed to stay alone in this room until either I was claimed by my bride-or one hundred years passed.”
“You mean...”
“Guess what came first?” he answered from the bed. A clawed hand pushed the curtain away and he stood slowly. She just stared at him.
That...was pity. He knew that was pity.
“Go away. You came too late, Champion. There’s no one here for you.”
“Really? I see someone,” Kagome answered sadly.
“Unless you want to marry me, we ain't got much to discuss,” he shot back. Arms folded as she all but watched the grim tatters of pride get wrapped around his thin frame.
“Marry...?” A squeak.
“Keh. That’s the way this shit works. You overcame the obstacles to reach my chamber. See the fire and the lights? That means you won me and all you see here. Inuyasha, Inu Hanyou and Prince of the Western Lands. I’m supposed to marry you. You’re standing in my dower room. Fifty years ago, we’d be naked by now and celebrating your victory and our future wedding, Champion. Get it?” he answered, pointing at the lights, and then the bed.
“Um...” Kagome turned beet red.
“Yeah. What I thought. Congratulations. Now go away,” he turned to go back to bed.
“W-wait. You’re telling me I walked into another fairy tale?” Inuyasha stopped and did turn at that.
“You-what do you mean?”
“One where I’m...Prince Charming and you’re the fair damsel?”
“Prince...Charming?” he was lost-and it showed.
Oh, no. She started laughing! Clutching her side, doubled over laughing!
“How dare you!”
The laughing stopped.
“I...” she stopped talking when she was suddenly grabbed by the arms! Nose to nose, he glared-even as he realized she was as lovely as he’d hoped she’d be...she was a woman...his Champion...but the rage overrode it. Damn it!
She even smelled good.
“How dare you!? I waited for you! For a hundred years! All my damned life I waited, and no one fucking came! No one! Not a single Champion. Then the curse was fucking lifted, and I was left here to fucking rot! Alone, get it? The only people who came were youkai who wanted to kill me to take my home away. Then you-and now you want to fucking laugh?!”
“I’m sorry,” Kagome whispered.
She was let go.
“I meant it. Get out. Take your allies and get away from me. Get out of my Tower and drown in the storms for all I care, Champion.”
Kagome hesitated.
“Prince Inuyasha?”
“What? I said-”
“My name is Kagome, you know. Besides, don’t you mean...my Tower?”
“Excuse me...?” a dangerous tone crept into his voice as he glared, ears twitching.
“Well-” her fingertips tapped together, “I won, right? So, everything I see here is mine.”
“Sure. What the hell! Have it,” he snapped, hands flung out in exasperation.
“Including you?”He just stared at her.
“I don’t know what you’re playing at, but it ain’t funny! It’s pretty obvious you didn't come here to find a husband! Did you? Didn‘t think so.”
“No. It isn’t. I shouldn’t have laughed,” Kagome admitted. “It’s just, I’m already in a fairy tale, sort of.”
“What the hell is a fairy tale?”
“This, for one thing. It’s kinda hard to explain.”
“Keh. I believe that.”
“Can’t we-just talk?”
“No.” A headshake. “If you ain’t willing to go through with it, I don‘t care.”
“You mean...marry you?”
A nod.
“I’m too young to get married. Besides, I have a Quest. I have to get the rest of these, and I‘m not even out of school yet, Prince Inuyasha,” Kagome lifted her bottle and showed him the Shards.
“What kind of Quest is it, anyways? Not that I care.” The last was carefully added.
“Yes. You see-” she told him. Time travel. The Well. The Jewel, and the accident that led to it’s being broken. He wasn’t sure he was buying any of it.
But damn if she didn't seem sincere.
“Oh.” That was all he could think to say.
“Yeah. So, it’s not that I wouldn’t marry you. It’s just that I can’t now.”
His head tilted as he considered.
“I can wait. I mean, you could get the Jewel thing and come back when you can marry, if you wanted to.” She didn't know how to take the offer. Kagome bit her lip as he stood there uncertainly.
“Why wait? You could-come with us! You’ve got to be pretty strong to keep this place and smart if you worked out all those traps we saw in the woods and here! We could use the help! Honest! You don’t have to live here all alone.”
“I...can’t.”
“Yes, you can. We’ll all be together.”
“No. It’s too late for me to go questing. I don’t know anything but the Tower and how to be a good husband. I wouldn't last a day out there without a wife.”
“Oh...I don’t believe that! I can’t just leave you here! Isn't there any way I could convince you?”
“Say you’ll marry me, and prove it,” he told her intently, suddenly taking her hands.
“I...”
“Well? Will you be my wife? I‘ll be a really good husband! Honest! I know all about how, and-and I‘d love you, and treat you good every day...my Kagome,” Inuyasha hesitated as he used her name for the first time.
“I...” her eyes were huge.
“Please...?”
“Prince Inuyasha...” Kagome’s mouth worked. He looked so desperately hopeful, it was all so sad, he didn't deserve this fate...he just wanted to know someone cared, that was all...“yes. When the Quest is finished, I’ll marry you. You’ll come with us and help us, and then I’ll marry you. I’ll prove it however you like.” They could always break things off when he got used to the outside world. She’d help him, and he was strong, so he’d be really helpful...
That train of thought died when he took her in his arms and kissed her.
Kagome hadn't considered what her newly betrothed Lord would ask for as proof.
***
Downstairs, a monk and a tajiya were awakened by whooping and yells.
“Kirara!” Sango threw herself on the neko as Miroku climbed on behind her. The would be rescue party shot upwards...and the screams became intelligible. The neko hovered as they listened in shock. If Kirara could have-she would have blushed as hard as Sango.
Kagome did not need saving.
“Kirara. Take us down, please,” Sango managed in a strangled voice.
“Remarkable outcome, don't you think?” Miroku asked, eyes avidly going to the ceiling, and then to a firm rump. His hand twitched.
“Not happening, Monk.”
When the group left the next day, her new husband proudly walked beside the still blushing and somewhat stiffly moving young miko. Husband. Because Miroku had married them, alright.
At the bride’s own request.
She would just have to explain to her family later. No choice. Why? Because he was a jerk and a tease, that was why! He’d sadly told her after the most intense, passionate night of her life-that there would be not even a kiss on the cheek until the wedding day he‘d been promised.
It would be wrong, he said! Immoral, he said! Improper, he said! This was an impetuous act of gratitude, he said! They would just have to control themselves, he said! He’d meant it. She knew it.
No way.
Inuyasha silently blessed the scrolls as he walked hand in hand with a bride he was already feeling affection for. Kagome. His Champion and Princess. His wife. His woman. Apparently...like a perfect wife, good husbands were also expected to be animals in the bedroom.
He could live with that.
And so the Prince wed his Princess, and they lived Happily Ever After.
Mostly.
The End
Author’s Notes- And we’re done. Short but sweet, I hope. Thanks for Reading!-Namiyo