InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Her Own World ❯ Chapter One ( Chapter 1 )

Her Own World

 

Chapter One

 

Kagome-hime stepped off the ship with practiced grace, her russet orbs scanning the sparsely inhabited land. The land was already showing signs of development, and many houses were under construction. It was clear which of these houses were for her. The large mansion was on top of the hill with expansive grounds and gardens that rivalled that of her father's castle back in the mother country.

 

Her father's men had discovered this land mass ten years beforehand. Since his son was unable, for one reason or another, to govern it, he had presented it to his daughter. She was given her own land, her own people - her own country. And her father had called it Shikon. The name was taken from her mother's maiden name `Shikonna'. Kagome was pleased with the name, and so she set sail to this new land called Shikon.

 

She was told that the natives of the land were youkai, but they were easily taken care of. Her father had drawn up plans for the taijiya to drive the youkai away from the human settlements and settle them into new areas of the land. Kagome didn't know what the plans were, but she was assured that the youkai would be treated humanely and with dignity. She assumed that they'd send in a few of their `civilised' youkai to negotiate with the natives. The youkai, according to her people, were little more than animals. They wouldn't be hard to persuade to leave their land.

 

As soon as she stepped off the boat, she was whisked off into a horse-drawn carriage, and up the hill to the mansion. She used her brief spare minutes to admire the beauty of the developing town around her, chattering happily with Sango, her taijiya bodyguard. Sango seemed as excited as she was to be in the new land, to be able to govern themselves in the way that Kagome, who was far more just and fair than her father, saw fit.

 

Kagome was nervously awaiting their arrival at the mansion. Her father had offered to build her a castle of stone like they did in the western world, but she had politely declined, preferring a mansion like the one she had grown up in. Nevertheless, it was still large, with expansive grounds and gardens, and utterly beautiful. Her own home, with her parents, paled in comparison. It seemed that it had been designed with the girl herself in mind. Sango commented on that very fact as they passed through the gates.

 

The moment the cart halted outside the doors, they burst open. Three ladies-in-waiting burst out, twittering happily amongst themselves, followed by a jovial Houshi, and a rather sombre miko. Kagome smiled to realise that she knew four of the five people. The three ladies-in-waiting were Eri, Ayumi, and Yuka, her three childhood friends. The Houshi was Miroku, son of her father's chief advisor. They bowed to each other, exchanging friendly greetings, before Kagome turned her attention to the stranger in the group.

 

Miroku introduced her as Kikyou, her second-most advisor. They would oversee the two faiths in the land, Shintoism and Buddhism, as well as help her govern the land. After exchanging pleasant-enough greetings, Kagome was led to her chambers, where she would be able to rest for the evening. It was getting quite late, and she did not relish the thought of having to be awake all night, when she'd barely slept the night before.

 

As two of the three girls readied her sleeping garments, Kagome sat on a chair as the third unpinned her hair, letting it fall to her waist in gleaming ebony waves. She barely registered their conversation as the last tress fell. She dimly heard the words `execution' and `sunrise' amongst the twittering, and started to alert.

 

“Wait, what execution?” She blurted in confusion. The three ladies looked at each other with apprehensive expressions. They knew their Princess abhorred execution in any way, shape, or form. They hesitated. “Well?” Kagome demanded. “Out with it!”

 

“Please, Kagome-hime, Miroku-sama tried to stop it--”

 

“Kikyou-sama overruled him!”

 

“Hush!” Kagome stood quickly, her hair bouncing as she did so. “What execution?”

 

“There is scheduled to be a youkai execution at sunrise.” A velvety female voice interrupted the three girl's protests from the doorway. “Fear not, Higurashi-hime, you need not be there. It is just a standard execution for resisting taijiya. I will personally oversee it.” Kagome turned to the voice and narrowed her eyes. Kikyou stood in her doorway.

 

“There are five things that I am about to tell you, and there will be no arguments, Miko-sama.” Kagome's voice was icy. The three girls cringed from their Princess, knowing that tone of voice. Kikyou, however, did not recognise the danger of her situation, and stood her ground.

 

“Of course, Higurashi-hime.”

 

“Firstly,” Kagome cleared her throat, “you are to authorise any and all executions through me before any plans are made.”

 

“Of course.” Kikyou nodded.

 

“Secondly,” she continued, “when an execution is warranted, it will be for a much more serious crime.”

 

“I see.” Kikyou nodded again, her chin still high and her eyes glaring at the Princess in disdain.

 

“Thirdly,” Kagome's eyes narrowed, “if I hear of you authorising any more executions without my consent, you will be imprisoned.”

 

“It is to be expected.” Kikyou's smooth voice never faltered.

 

“Fourthly,” Kagome glared back, “you are to revoke the execution proclamation as soon as you are released from my chambers, and have the prisoner brought to the Palace dungeon.”

 

“Indeed.” Kikyou's own voice became icy.

 

“And finally,” Kagome's voice and eyes were both hard as a rock by now, “you are to knock and wait for permission before entering my private chambers, Miko-sama. You do not just barge into my personal space and demand an audience with me. I will send for you if I require your presence. Is that clear, Miko-sama?”

 

“Crystal.”

 

“Good. Now get out of my sight and do as I bid you.” Kagome ordered. Kikyou bowed, completely foregoing an apology, and swept out of the chamber. Kagome glared after her, decidedly disliking the Miko.

 

“Send for Miroku-sama.” She turned to Eri. “Have him see that she does as I bid her. After that, you may retire for the evening.”

 

“Of course, Kagome-hime.” Eri bowed and scrambled out of the room.

 

Kagome turned to the other two. “Go to bed too, Yuka-san, I will no longer be requiring your service tonight. I will send for you in the morning. Good night.”

 

“Good night, Kagome-hime.” Yuka bowed, disappearing out into the hall.

 

“Come, Ayumi-chan,” Kagome smiled at her closest friend, “help me dress for bed. We only need the two of us.” She sat in front of the vanity mirror, watching Ayumi closely as she ran a brush through her silky locks. “Just like old times, is it not?”

 

“Yes, Kagome-chan.” Ayumi nodded happily, reverting to their childhood honorifics in privacy. “Just like old times.”

 

“I have missed you.” Kagome commented idly, unclipping her earrings. “I did not much like Kanna-san and Kagura-san.”

 

“My replacements?”

 

“Yes.” Kagome set the ornamental earrings down in the jewellery box. “The pair of them made incompetence seem gifted between the two of them.” Ayumi giggled. “In the last six months, I have basically had to dress myself and do my own hair and face.” She squinted in the mirror as she wiped off the horrid job she had done that morning - nowhere near as good as Ayumi's gifted hands could do.

 

“You look radiant as always, Kagome-chan.” Ayumi twittered softly, setting the brush down and helping Kagome stand. “It is a wonder that you have not brought a husband or fiancé with you.”

 

“Oh, please do not remind me.” Kagome rolled her eyes. “I have three suitors on their way to this very household as we speak. They will be arriving in little more than two weeks.”

 

“You are not thrilled?”

 

“Oh, please.” Kagome sighed as Ayumi began undoing the ties on her western-style gown. “One of them is sweet, yes, but he appears to have little between the ears.”

 

“Ah.” Ayumi laughed. “Hojo-san?”

 

“My, however did you guess?” Kagome laughed sarcastically. Ayumi allowed herself to giggle a little more.

 

“And the second?”

 

“A pompous youkai Lord from China who would end up despising his own children if we were to wed.”

 

“He does not approve of hanyou?” Ayumi raised an eyebrow. Kagome shook her head. “Well then, what hope does he have to win the compassionate heart of the fair Princess?” Ayumi teased. Kagome laughed playfully as the gown slid to her ankles, leaving her in a corset and petticoat. “And the final?”

 

“Truthfully, I can find nothing outwardly wrong with the man, other than his age.” She squirmed a little in discomfort as Ayumi loosened the ties. “He is hanyou, yes, but there is something… else. I do not trust him.” She paused. “He is so very old, and he has two daughters already - one of them grown! I do not wish to have a step daughter that is older than me.”

 

“That is quite understandable.” Ayumi clucked, helping Kagome out of the undergarments and leaving her standing there, bare, as the sun's final rays hit her nude form. Her milky-pale skin glowed orange in the light of the sunset as it cast its brilliant rays over her. Ayumi returned a moment later with her sleeping gown. “I would not wish to have a daughter of such an age either.”

 

“Chichi-ue does not see reason.” Kagome shook her head ruefully. “He pushes me to wed Naraku-san for his power or Hojo-san for his parentage. He does not want me to wed Chang-san, because he is a pureblood youkai.”

 

“But if Naraku-sama is a hanyou, then why does your father push you to wed him?” Ayumi asked, perplexed, as she helped Kagome shimmy into the gown. Kagome sighed as she wrapped herself in a robe. “Surely his youkai blood would be a deterrent to your father?”

 

“I do not think that Chichi-ue knows that he is half youkai.” Kagome shook her head as Ayumi braided her hair for sleep. “I can only sense it because of my inherited spiritual powers. I can sense both a malevolent human energy and youki from him. I have tried to tell Chichi-ue of this, but he insists that it is my imagination. Haha-ue was the only one to believe me.”

 

“How terrible!” Ayumi exclaimed as she finished the final tie on her hair.

 

“Yes, but such is life.” Kagome sighed. “Thank you, Ayumi-chan. I'll see you first thing in the morning.”

 

“I'll see you in the morning, Kagome-chan. Bright and early.” Ayumi nodded, closing the doors as she left, leaving Kagome to climb into the futon, alone. Kagome sighed as she drifted off to sleep, slightly nervous. Her official reign over Shikon began the moment she swore in the next evening.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

A small lump of red and orange fur was dumped into a cell in the palace dungeon. Sniffling was heard until the door at the end of the dungeon was slammed, and locked by a key. Jumping up onto his hind paws, the tiny youkai cub attempted to escape through the cell door. It was only metal and, even though he was smaller than most youkai, the cub possessed enough strength to bend the bars enough to slip through. Unfortunately for the small kitsune, someone had previously thought to attach a sacred ofuda to the metal, eliciting a squeak from the kitsune a he laid his small hands on it.

 

Sobbing in pain as he clenched his small burnt hands, Shippou didn't know what to do. Having lived his entire short life near humans, being born shortly after their arrival, he had managed to learn their language, and therefore knew what was in store for him. The human vixen who had decided his punishment for fleeing the youkai-killers was to be death. When the sun came over the horizon, he was to be taken out in front of all the humans, and killed.

 

He was so afraid; he didn't know what to do. The humans had shamed him further, taking his small coverings from his body and leaving him naked. He had been given, under the guise of a human child, clothing to keep away the chill. But, as it was, Shippou's cotton haori and hakama had been taken from him, along with all of his youkai tools, and he was now sitting naked in a dank, dark, damp cell in a human dungeon, prevented from leaving by spiritual wards, awaiting his death at sunrise.

 

His father and mother had been killed in a hunting accident a year before, leaving Shippou as their clan's orphan. He had been made fun of and ostracized within his clan, being left out of everything and never receiving any adult attention. The only attention he ever got was from the Kitsune no Taisho, and that was to reprimand him for his foolish behaviour. So, tired of being left out and ignored, Shippou had donned a human guise, and went to live in the village as an orphaned child.

 

The disguise had worked, too, until a miko, leading a band of taijiya, had come to the door claiming to sense youki from their household. As she accused the kitsune disguised as a human child, the humans of the house defended their young ward, stating that he had lived with them for nigh on a year, and they had never noticed anything inhuman about him. Purification salt had done the trick, revealing the child's true appearance to the shock and horror of the human family that had adopted him. Using all his kitsune tricks, Shippou had barely escaped for half a day before he was captured and sentenced to death.

 

Now, sitting alone and miserable, he wished more than anything that his parent were there to comfort him. Many a night had he wished for his parents back, but none more so than that particular moment in time. His only comforting thought would be that he'd get to see his parents again, after it happened. Tomorrow, he'd see his family again. But, until then, there was no one to keep away the nightmares and the fear of death.

 

It wasn't fair, he thought. He was too young to die, even by human standards. At eight years old, he had barely had any time on this earth. He'd not had any fun. He'd not learnt the more complicated illusions and would never have the chance to. His clan would never acknowledge him as worthy of being deemed a kitsune, as they had often taunted him of being unworthy. He was desperate. He prayed to whatever Kami were out there that there would be a way for him to live. He would do anything.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

There were inuyoukai dens a little further across the forest. In the setting sun, the only hanyou amongst them was sitting atop one of the caves, watching the strange floating thing in the water on the edge of the land. His human mother, before her age took her life, told him that they were used to transport many, many humans across the sea to distant lands. He'd never seen one before.

 

He knew the human tongue, but only used it to curse and speak to and for his niece. His older, full blood brother disliked cursing in the youkai language, and consequently stomped it out of their pack. The hanyou grumbled under his breath in the human tongue. What had his mother said the language was called…? Japanese? Yes, Japanese.

 

He knew he understood the humans that were invading their territory. He had come across a woman and her pup in the forest while hunting with his pack many a moon ago. She was gravely wounded, and begged them to take her pup into their care. His older brother, Sesshoumaru, had reluctantly taken the small human pup into the pack, and guarded her fiercely, as if she were his own pup. He had given her the name Rin, and had given the hanyou the task of teaching her the human speech.

 

“Inuyasha-oji-san!” The little girl called out in the human language. The two of them got on well, since they were the only ones able to understand the other. Humans were incapable of learning the youkai tongue, and not many of the pack would deign to learn the human one to communicate with their alpha-male's ward. Those who knew the human language had learnt to communicate with Inuyasha's mother, rather than with the child herself.

 

The hanyou turned at the sound of his name, in time to stand and catch the human. “Watch it, girl.” He growled playfully, using his nickname for her as he swung her around.

 

“What are you doing all the way out here, Oji-san?” She asked curiously. “It's getting dark and the humans might come by soon.”

 

“I'm waiting for the humans.” Inuyasha answered, setting her down and patting her head. “Your Otou-san asked me to find out what's going on with the humans. Find out who's on that boat.”

 

“It's a big boat, Oji-san.” Rin said breathlessly. “Rin thinks that it must be someone important to be that big.”

 

Inuyasha nodded gravely. “If it is their alpha, then Sesshoumaru might challenge him to get our real lands back.”

 

“But there is no way a human like Rin could stand up to Chichi-ue!” The girl gasped, horrified.

 

Inuyasha nodded again, keeping his eyes and ears trained on a bunch of what his mother had called taijiya that he had located nearby. “Rin, go back to the dens, and be quiet about it.” He hissed, flattening himself to the ground, his ears back and fangs bared.

 

Rin recognised the pose and stepped backwards, to get out of his way. “Y-yes, Oji-san.” She stuttered out as she sped off into the trees. Inuyasha stayed still enough to ensure that she made it back to the dens in one piece, before springing off into the trees. Swinging like a jungle man from branch to branch, he followed his nose and ears until he finally caught up with the humans. Thankfully, they were wandering away from the inu dens… but toward the ookamiyoukai dens.

 

He crept up behind them, making sure to stay in the shadows of the trees and not make a sound. Their clothing suggested that they were fully trained taijiya, licensed to kill. He did not relish the thought of having to kill the humans, nor being killed by them, but he knew he would have to keep reasonably close to them in order to hear what they were saying. Fortunately, his good sense of hearing allowed him to get close enough without endangering his life.

 

The group of five seemed to be twittering happily amongst themselves. Inuyasha's nose picked up the smell of excitement; so, something big was happening, was it? His ears twitching as they trained on the men, deciphering their words. “Kagome-hime has arrived. As of tomorrow night, she shall be sworn in and take the role of Ruler.” Inuyasha's ears perked up as he watched the group of men make camp for the night.

 

He had to remind himself not to growl a he saw the way they treated the land; they ripped up bushes, trampled the earth, dug holes for their waste. They desecrated trees for firewood, ripping branches off without thought as to how the tree was supposed to grow back. Pushing such thoughts to the back of his mind, he settled for listening fro a distance, outside the glow of their fire. “She's apparently a small girl,” he heard jeered, “and rumoured to have at least three suitors.”

 

“Well, I heard that, unlike you lot, she's pretty tactical. An intelligent ruler.” One of the other men said. “Very intelligent, in fact. I'm just glad its not her kid brother. Glad he stayed behind, I don't mind sayin'.”

 

“Ah, he's only a kid.”

 

Aside from that, Inuyasha heard no more. He was lost in his thoughts on how to reveal this information to his elder half-brother. No doubt he would be disappointed that the human alpha was a bitch rather than a male. Sesshoumaru, nor Inuyasha, had ever struck a bitch; their deceased father drilled into them that females were to be defended, not to strike. If they ever wanted to find a mate, they would have to learn to respect women. No matter that it was a human bitch; a female was a female, their father said, referring to Inuyasha's own mother.

 

Sighing, Inuyasha took off back to the dens. He'd followed the humans a fair distance away, only just managing to arrive home moments before the final sliver of sun disappeared from the horizon. Righting his vibrant red haori and hakama - a gift from his mother when he was nothing more than a pup - he strode purposefully into the dens, switching from the human tongue to the youkai tongue before speaking. “I would see the alpha.” He told the guards.

 

Knowing not to deny him, when the alpha's ward had already returned without him, meant that there was something serious going on. Of course, the entire pack knew that Inuyasha was in charge of finding information about the humans, and were eager to hear what he'd discovered. Letting him pass, Inuyasha stepped into the main cave of their dens, coming face to face with his half-brother and three other high-ranking inuyoukai. “You've discovered something.” It was not a question.

 

Nodding to his brother, he was quick to reply. “Their alpha has arrived in the human dens this day.”

 

This was met with approval. As if to dismiss him, Sesshoumaru and the other three turned their back to him and began to discuss challenging the alpha who was encroaching upon their territory. Inuyasha grumbled to himself in the human tongue, before addressing them again. “Oi, don't go gettin' too far ahead of yourselves just yet. I ain't finished.”

 

“You have ore information for this Sesshoumaru?” His brother spoke again, sparing him a glance over his finely tailored shoulder. After Inuyasha's outfit had been made, the inuyoukai bitches had asked his mother, through Inuyasha, how to make such a thing. Soon enough, all the inuyoukai sported human-like clothing. “Do share with us, brother.”

 

“Their alpha is a bitch.”

 

This was met with varying degrees of shock. The eldest of the four in the room, an ancient friend of the previous Inu no Taisho - Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha's father - stared at the hanyou in a degree of disbelief. The second burst out laughing. The third inu ran his hands through his hair, knowing that information to be fact since Inuyasha showed no traces of lying in his scent; this meant that their plans had to be changed, since their Lord would not hear of harming a bitch. Sesshoumaru himself simply snorted and said, “What is her name?”

 

“They called her `Kagome'.”

 

Sesshoumaru nodded, pleased with this information. “And her appearance?”

 

“I only heard of her.” Inuyasha shook his head. “I do not know her appearance. I was nowhere near the human dens. I was watching a band of youkai-killers. They spoke of her. All I managed to hear was that she is small, and has three suitors. She will officially become alpha tomorrow night. That is all I was able to discover. The topic of conversation changed shortly afterward.” His ears lowered to his head, knowing that they would likely reprimand him for his lack of information. However, it was late, and he needed to return to his home to give his report. He'd been given no choice. He waited a few moments, waiting to be dismissed.

 

Sesshoumaru then surprised him by pausing, then gesturing him to join them. Inuyasha stepped forward nervously, waiting for Sesshoumaru's explanation. He was not disappointed as he began; “They will likely have the alpha bitch surrounded by a spiritual barrier to protect her from youkai. As such, we cannot enter. You will not have this problem.” It was common knowledge that Inuyasha's mortal night was the moonless night, which was the next evening. Realization dawned, showing in his face. “You will pass into the human settlement and remove one of the ones holding up such a barrier. I care not how you achieve this. Once the barrier has fallen, we shall move in and take the girl, once we have identified her. You will also do this.” Inuyasha nodded. “Very well. We shall muster a small force and set out in the morning. Be there.”

 

Inuyasha nodded, turning to leave. Once he was outside again, he breathed the fresh air, before leaping up into his own private chamber. Each inuyoukai family couple had their own den, and pups of a certain age all slept in one large chamber, to be guarded by an appointed inu bitch at night. If an attack began against the adults, the bitch could quietly remove the pups and take them to a safer location until someone sent for them. In the event that the entire pack was slaughtered, the pups would be safe to ensure that the pack was not extinct. It had only happened twice in history, and both times that method had worked.

 

Removing his red haori and white kosode, he flung them across a log that had long-since been dragged into the small cavern, and yawned. He had not slept for three days, trying to find information for his brother. Now, he assumed, he would not be sleeping tomorrow night, not that he ever slept on his human night anyway. A tongue-curling yawn tore itself from his mouth, along with a canine whine, as he curled himself up to sleep.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

Miroku did not trust Kikyou.

 

The woman was a mystery to him, despite the fact that they had essentially been running the country together for six months. She had never spoken to him of personal matters, preferring to keep the topic of conversation surrounded on business to do with the nation, or the pending arrival of their Princess. Not once did she ever engage him in conversation in anything as mundane as even the weather. She had expressed, once, that she was no at all looking forward to Kagome-hime's arrival, a that would put a damper on her own power as one for the rulers of the land.

 

He had authorised many things without Miroku's consent, including the hunting and executions of youkai. Miroku was not without logic. Of course, if the beasts were attempting to do them harm, they would need to defend themselves. However, there was no reason to send out hunting parties and senselessly slaughter dozens of innocent youkai every day.

 

The definition of civilised, according to humans, was having developed tools for industry, and a spoken language. Miroku believed that youkai were civilised, to an extent, not having these tools merely due a lack of need for them. He also knew that it was not impossible for a youkai to learn the human tongue, if that kitsune that Kikyou had apprehended was any indication. They were highly intelligent creatures, capable of much more than any other human gave them credit for.

 

Relaxing in his quarters in only his hakama, Miroku mulled over the changes that were likely to occur not that Kagome-hime had arrived. He had no doubt that executions would slow down dramatically, even cease. Kikyou would not be pleased with that. Then taijiya would likely become merely a guard, rather than a hunting party, occasionally hunting youkai if they were a nuisance. Kikyou would no be please with that, either. She was extremely racist, and it showed.

 

Pouring himself a goblet of sake, Miroku sipped it absently, watching out the window as the villagers began the preparations for Kagome-hime's coronation the following evening. He, Kikyou, and Kaede-obaa-sama would have to keep a spiritual barrier up during the evening, to prevent any youkai from harming their Princess. Miroku was not ignorant of the youkai's extreme dislike of the human race, and had no doubt that they would harm the Princess if ever given the chance. He and the two miko in the village would have to ensure that no such opportunity arose.

 

He was looking most forward to working beside Kagome-hime as an advisor. He had always liked the young Princess, holding a healthy respect for her abilities in reading, writing, logic, and the spiritual arts. She held much untapped spiritual power, and was currently being trained b the old Kaede; a miko from the homeland who had taught al of Kagome's other lessons. Miroku supposed that it was only natural that Kaede taught her those lessons too. Thinking about it absently for a moment, Miroku supposed he would not mind assisting Kagome in her lessons either. He did not trust Kikyou to do it.

 

Miroku thought back to his own spiritual instructor; an old Houshi by the name of Mushin. He wondered if he was sill living. He snorted; it was not likely. The man drank enough alcohol in a week to water a battle regiment for a month. But, then again, perhaps all the alcohol in his system had succeeded in preventing him to decay. He chuckled to himself at that. It would be just like Mushin-sama to defy death by pickling himself.

 

The coronation itself was set to be held at sundown the next night. It was supposedly going to be a celebration; dancing and music, and a large community-wide feast. Kagome-hime was to swear into the monarchy on Shikon and make a short speech, afterward making her first official proclamation. Absently, Miroku wandered what it would be. Knowing Kagome-hime, it would likely be something about peace and preservation, he chuckled to himself, draining his sake.

 

Well, Miroku supposed to himself, things were about to change in the nation of Shikon. It would likely be turbulent in the beginning, but he was looking forward to it.