InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ How Do We Learn to Love the Ones We Hate? ❯ Star-Crossed ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I own absolutely no characters created by Rumiko Takahashi; as much as I wish I was brilliant enough to come up with these characters, I did not; however, any characters that I create, I do own. Yay! I'm smart enough to make up characters.

 

Star-Crossed

 

10,000 years ago, the Lord of the Takashi clan asked for the hand of Lady Higurashi, the lady and ruler of the neighboring kingdom. She agreed and both were to be wed, but Lady Higurashi was scared of being bound to someone at age 16, so she fled from home, running away from her love to Lord Takashi. In his anger and sorrow he sent his army into her kingdom and ordered the lad to be burned to the ground. Lady Higurashi returned in time to send her army out to meet the advancing one; the battle raged on for days until the rulers met on a peace treaty. This halted the fighting between the two kingdoms, but not the hate; and the two kingdoms have lived in hate of each other ever since.

 

10,000 Years Later.

 

“Do you think Kagome will be mad?” Rin, a fourteen year old duchess, asked the woman next to her, Rin was the Duchess at such a young age because of bandits, who killed her family, she was at the moment retying her dress's sash for the fourth time over in nervousness.

 

“I think so, but it's understandable.” Ayame, who was eighteen, shrugged and drew her sword to make sure it didn't need to be sharpened before she left to protect Kagome on another journey.

 

“We'll see. Sometimes she takes things like this lightly.” Rin said hopefully.

 

“I don't think she will this time.” Ayame finished inspecting her sword and sheathed it again. “But we'll see, this wouldn't be the first time she'd surprised us.”

 

Rin nodded in agreement and opened the door to Kagome's part of the palace and began to climb the stars in the tower to get to Kagome's room. The palace was placed high on a hill, away from oncoming dangers; it was a seven-floored medival palace, divided into four main buildings. One for Lady Kagome, the sixteen year old heir, one for Lady Higurashi, one for Lord Souta, and one for the memorial of Lord Higurashi, Lady Higurashi's late husband.

 

It was a custom in the Higurashi family that women always be the heads of houses in honor of Midoriko, the strongest and most powerful female heir of the family.

 

“Is she in a good mood?” Ayame asked Kaede, Kagome's first in hand wash maid.

 

“She is fine at the moment, but with her powers inherited from Lady Midoriko, she has sensed something different at the palace. All of the servants are talking about Lady Higurashi's decision with Lord and Lady Takashi.” Kaede was an old woman and had served Kagome and Souta as the first in hand wash maid all her life.

 

“We need to tell her now… she isn't sleeping is she?” Ayame raised her hand to knock on the wooden door.

 

“You are her body guard Lady Ayame, you should be the one to know she's asleep.” Kaede chuckled. “Or perhaps Lady Rin knows, and I am curious as to why Lady Kagome's first lady in waiting left her side.”

 

“Lady Higurashi summoned me, I think she wants both of us to tell her, we are her best friends after all.” Rin reached around Ayame and knocked on the frame; Kaede shook her head and walked away.

 

“Come in.”

 

Ayame opened the door and bowed in unison with Rin.

 

“Didn't I tell you that the Lady's best friends never ever bow?” Kagome laughed and set her drink down on the table, she then rotated herself towards her friends on the cushioned chair.

 

“I know, but Kaede was out there, we didn't want to get yelled at.” Ayame pushed the door shut and sat down along side Rin in front of Kagome.

 

“Is everything alright?” Kagome picked up her tea again and sipped it. “Everyone's been whispering the entire day, and no one will tell me what about. Something about my mother's orders.”

 

“That's what we came to tell you about Kagome, Lady Higurashi wants to see you, she needs to tell you something.” Rin said, not meeting her friend's eyes.

 

Kagome nodded, and the stood; she dusted off her gown to remove the wrinkles before walking out of her room and down the walkway to the throne room, where Lady Higurashi held all meetings. She straightened her dress once more and knocked.

 

“Come in.” her mother said softly, Kagome loved the way her mother never yelled unless she was scared; all matters were held in a soft but firm manner.

 

“You summoned me mother?” Kagome closed the door behind her and walked over to where her mother was. Lady Higurashi ruled her lands in a very different way than the past; she met with townspeople when they were desperate and helped them, wore her hair short despite the fashion of long hair, defended herself with an army but never attacked another clan and smiled so often that everyone was happy around her. Kagome wanted to be like her mother when she ruled the clan.

 

“I have some news for you, but whether you'll take it as good news or bad news is up to you.” Lady Higurashi gestured for her daughter to sit by her. “I spoke with Lady Takashi recently, we are both very tired of the fighting.”

 

Kagome looked at her mother in confusion, why would she go to see the ruler of the clan who hates us more than anything else?

 

“We made an arrangement that you and her half demon son will be married to join our lands and end the feud.”

 

“What?” Kagome shrieked, then covered her mouth. “Sorry, but… how could you do this to me?!”

 

“Kagome, this isn't you decision to make; I understand if you don't want to get into a relationship right now, but you are the heir for this family and Souta will be going to a new clan soon. He and Lady Hitomi are getting along well and Souta has told me that he will soon ask for her hand in marriage.”

 

Kagome nodded. “He told me too, it's scary, Souta seems so young and he's getting married soon. But he's a Takashi!” she jumped back to first subject the second she had answered her mother one the other topic.

 

“And you wont always be young either, so I want you to meet the Takashi's son; and being a Takashi has nothing to do with who he is.”

 

“Fine, but I haven't decided anything yet; and it will mean a lot, he'll think I automatically hate him for who he is; and besides, he'll think I hate half demons, so it'll automatically turn him off!”

 

“I've already told you, this isn't your decision to make; you will meet the Takashi's son and you will marry him, besides, you don't hate half demons, so it wont be hard at all to convince him of that.”

 

“Mom---”

 

Lady Higurashi's stern glace shut Kagome up; well, what could happen if she was just meeting the son? It wouldn't be so bad… most likely.

 

“Ayame, Rin? Since you are both no doubt listening right outside the door, why don't you ready Kagome's carriage and some food for her journey?”

 

Ayame cracked open the door and bowed in apology. “Yes ma'am.” Then they both turned to go.

 

Lady Higurashi shook her head in amusement, and then rang the bell for a servant; Koharu entered the room after some time.

 

“Koharu, why don't you send a note to Lord Takashi saying that we will be arriving by the end of the week? That will give us time to get an offering and to pack.”

 

“Yes ma'am.” Koharu bowed and departed.

 

“Aren't I the offering?” Kagome muttered.

 

“Kagome, why don't you go tell the servants to pack you best dinner gown and dresses?” Lady Higurashi said kindly, ignoring her daughter.

 

“Fine, but I want to see San--- Lady Sango first.”

 

“Alright, you can see her before we go, it only take a two days to get to the Takashi's kingdom, so you can go see her for three days.”

 

“Thank you mom.” Kagome bowed and ran back to her room.

 

“Kagome, where are you---?” Rin ran along side her friend.

 

“I have three days to see Sango, then I have to go to his palace, so I have to pack quickly.”

 

“I'll do it, why don't you send for a carriage? And may I come? I haven't seen Sango in so long.” Rin started folding gowns and put them into a chest.

 

“Both you and Ayame are coming, a Lady's three best friends should visit together, don't you think?” Kagome rang the bell and Koharu walked in.

 

“Yes ma'am?”

 

“I need a carriage to visit Lady Sango, will you ready one?”

 

“Yes ma'am.” Koharu bowed and left; Koharu and all the other maids were under the control of Wakana, Lady Higurashi's first lady in waiting. Wakana was the most trusted and devoted servant in the palace.

 

“Your carriage is ready ma'am.” Koharu poked her head back in the room after a few more minutes of packing.

 

“Thank you.” Kagome said, slipping on her favorite purple dress. “Tell mother I'm leaving, would you?” Koharu nodded and ducked back out.

 

I wonder what the son is like? Maybe he wont be so bad… No! He's from the Takashi clan, he hates us, of course he'll be bad---no, horrible!

 

“Lady Kagome?” Wakana asked.

 

“Yes?”

 

“Your mother wants you to take Ayame along with you, she said she will feel safer if you have her while going through the Nothing lands.”

 

Kagome nodded. “You can tell my mother that I'm taking Ayame and Rin.”

 

Wakana nodded and walked back out.

 

Meanwhile

 

“You did what?!”

 

“Hush Inuyasha.” Lady Takashi addressed her eighteen year old son, sitting back down on her throne. “We just want you to meet her, nothing else.”

 

“Two second ago you told me that you had engaged me to someone from the Higurashi clan of all places, that's a lot more than just meeting someone.” He growled back. “She knows I'm a half demon right? I'll bet the deal will change once you tell them that.” He sniffed in disgust.

 

“She knows, but this is also her mother's decision; you don't really have a say either.”

 

“And dad?”

 

“He helped make the decision with me; he's fighting the in the demon war over in China and wants you to have someone if he dies. It will be better for everyone if the fighting between our families is stopped just incase Inu Taisho is killed, and our lands will be joined, making both of us more prosperous.”

 

Inuyasha growled, if both of his parents were in on it, there was no way he could get out of the arrangement; and it didn't matter if he ran away, his father would find him because of his scent.

 

“She'll be here at the end of the week, so you have time to prepare for her arrival; remember Inuyasha, you don't have a say in this.” His mother reminded him before he stormed out, Koga, his eighteen year old body guard and best friend right on his tail; though Inuyasha really didn't need one.

 

“How bad can it be?” Koga asked.

 

“Very bad, wolf. She's a Higurashi, that's as bad as it gets, unless you add in the fact that I'm engaged to her.” Inuyasha stomped down the hall.

 

“But what if she's good looking?” Koga smirked, showing one fang, Inuyasha only growled in response.

 

“Hey.” Shippo, the handsome fifteen year old baron, the youngest in six centuries because he was orphaned, came around the corner followed by Miroku, a seventeen year old village monk; Inuyasha's other best friends since his childhood. “We heard.”

 

“I'll take her if you don't want her.” Miroku put in, making Inuyasha growl again.

 

“She's royalty Miroku, she wont be able to go run off with you even if she wants to, which she wont.” Koga rolled his eyes.

 

“What if she does?” Miroku countered.

 

“She won't.” Koga said more firmly; Inuyasha slammed the door to his room shut in his friends' faces, not being able to take their fighting right now.

 

“Of all the things that have to happen to me.” Inuyasha snarled, just because she was from the Higurashi clan didn't mean she was all that bad, but there was no way he was marrying someone he was raised to hate and who would hate him for who and what he was.

 

Rumika Palace

 

“Lady Sango?” the maid slid open the door.

 

“What is it Yura?” Sango asked, standing up from her seat on the balcony.

 

“Lady Kagome has sent word that she is coming to visit you and brings bad news.” Yura handed Sango the small scroll by swinging it over by the hair controlled by her fingers.

 

“Why don't you go see if her room is all set?” Sango put the note on the table and went back to the chair.

 

Yura nodded and left the room, the door clicked shut behind her. Sango sighed, were the rumors true? She would just have to wait and see.

 

It wasn't that Inuyasha of the Takashi clan was bad, he was just… from the Takashi clan; and unfortunately, no matter what his personality was like, she would resent him for that. Sango groaned and slapped her palm over her eyes. Inuyasha had a reputation for a bad temper, not a good personality that attracted people, of all the unbelievable luck; Kagome was in for a surprise if she thought Inuyasha would be willing to be nice to her.

 

Sango Rumika had been the ruler of her lands for three years since her father was killed by demons, and would be until her little brother was seventeen and could take over for her; then she would be married off to someone she hopefully felt a little fondness for at least, she was just glad her brother wouldn't force her into a marriage with their enemy, like Kagome's parents.

 

“I feel for you Kagome.” Sango said to the west, the direction of the Higurashi lands.

 

Higurashi Palace

 

Kagome climbed into the carriage that the four strongest men of the palace would carry all the way to the Rumika lands. She made sure her kimono was out of the way of the door before Rin shut the door and climbed into the seat on the back of the carriage with Ayame; the four men picked up the poles on each corner of the carriage in unison and started running down the road while barely jostling Kagome.

 

Being alone was good; it gave Kagome time to think about what had happened that day. She had become engaged in about ten seconds and had absolutely no say in it. Kagome sighed, since she couldn't do anything about, she would try; just try to see him for a person, and not just someone from the Takashi clan. She just hoped that he would try the same with her.

 

Takashi Palace

 

Inuyasha flipped through another couple pages of the book; he didn't usually read, actually, anyone who saw him reading would think he was sick, but he could stare at the words and not actually take them in while trying to figure out what to do about his fiancée problem. He couldn't ditch her, his father would track him down and drag him back by the ears; he could try to chase her away, but since it was their parents' decisions, he doubted that would do much good. He groaned and accidentally tore out a page of the book in frustration when he yanked it to hard while turning it.

 

“You look deep in thought.” Miroku walked into the library and sat down by him; he raised an eyebrow at the one lone page on the table before turning back to his friend.

 

“Trying to figure out how to get rid of her.” Inuyasha muttered.

 

“That's pathetic, you don't even know her name and you're already trying to ditch her?” Koga looked over Inuyasha's shoulder. “Why are you reading?”

 

“I'm not.” Inuyasha snapped, accidentally tearing out another page while turning it.

 

“He's probably a little off in the head.” Shippo walked in next and sat in the chair opposite Inuyasha. “It is understandable, people should bring on that you have a fiancée slowly, not in a matter of three whole seconds. `I engaged you to Lady Higurashi's daughter' flat out is almost harsh.” He quoted Lady Takashi.

 

“You could give her to someone else.” Miroku offered. “Say to me for example, we could dress me up as a prince from a far off land and I could get engaged to her.” He smiled, thinking lecherous thoughts.

 

“And by the time she finds out that you're poor as dirt she'll be so in love with you she wont care?” Koga scoffed. “Dream on Miroku.”

 

“It could happen.” Miroku countered.

 

“Well I need to figure out something fast or I'm going to be stuck with a Higurashi wench.” Inuyasha slammed the book shut, trying to ignore the pile of torn papers on the table.

 

“One tip.” Shippo held up one finger. “Don't ever call a woman a wench to their faces; they rarely get over it easily.”

 

Inuyasha cocked his head to the side, then smirked.

 

Rumika Palace

 

“Lady Sango, thank you for having me.” Kagome bowed.

 

“It is an honor to have you.” Sango smiled. “My brother is out, so I'm afraid you wont be able to see him, but we have prepared a banquet for you despite how little of us there are.” She winked at Ayame and Rin.

 

“How have you been Sango?”

 

“Alright Kagome.” Sango shut the door so they were alone. “But you need to tell me if my suspicions of your what your bad news is, is true.”

 

“Mom engaged me to the Takashi's son.” Kagome flopped down on the overly large futon, not bothering to be proper now that they were out of earshot.

 

Sango nodded. “Thought so, there are rumors going around saying that your mom and Inuyasha's mom lost their minds.”

 

“Is that his name?”

 

“No one told you?” Sango dropped down next to her friend.

 

“No, and I also want to know why I am probably the only one in the entire realm to have learned of this just today.” Kagome growled, Sango laughed at her expression.

 

“He really isn't that bad.” Sango tried to reason.

 

“But he's a Takashi, we've been fighting for centuries!” Kagome threw her hands in the air and then let them fall onto the futon again. “I've already decided to see him for who he is, or at least to try, but I don't know how much I can put up with.”

 

Sango rolled her eyes. “Just try ok? And let's go eat, I'm starving.”

 

“Me too.” Kagome agreed.

 

Takashi Palace

 

“Koga.” Hokaku panted, the two wolf demons had finally caught up with their insanely fast leader.

 

“Shut up.” Koga hissed. “I'm trying to see what this fiancée is like, and I'm trying to get her name if possible.” Wow, the one with the wavy black hair is really pretty, so is the one with red hair.

 

“Any luck so far?” Ginta asked, crouching down next to Koga; Koga's entire wolf demon pack had served Inuyasha since the second Koga pledged to be Inuyasha's bodyguard; Hokaku and Ginta were Koga's right hand men.

 

“None yet, but they're coming out for dinner soon, and that Sango girl should say her name at some point.”

 

Hokaku and Ginta nodded in approval.

 

Kagome and Sango stepped out onto the veranda followed by Ayame, Rin, and Yura, Sango's first lady in waiting and bodyguard who also dealt with intruders for the Rumika clan; Yura used her hair to kill her opponents by beheading them and saving their hair for herself; needless to say, this creeped the hell out of Sango, but Yura was the best bodyguard for millions of miles around, so she couldn't do anything about it.

 

Kagome and the other all sat and began to eat, excepting Yura, who just stood behind Kagome.

 

Ayame popped a piece of pork in her mouth and continued her conversation with Sango when a breeze blew a strange scent towards her.

 

Ayame looked to the right without turning her head so Kagome and Sango didn't freak out and saw three wolf demons through the trees who were watching them all intently.

 

She excused herself and ran back inside the house, then out the front and jumped from tree to tree until she saw the three.

 

“Will you two shut up!” the one with the black ponytail hissed. “I can't hear a single word they're saying, how am I supposed to find out her name for Inuyasha if I cant hear?!”

 

“Koga, where do you think the wolf girl went?” the one with the spiked white Mohawk asked.

 

“She might have gone to get more food Hokaku.” The one with white and black hair answered.

 

“Hokaku, Ginta, shut up!” Koga hissed again.

 

So, Ayame silently jumped down from the branches. Koga, Hokaku and Ginta. I wonder whose name they want? And who's Inuyasha?

 

“Can I help you?” she asked suddenly, making Hokaku and Ginta jump three feet in the air and Koga fly around and take up a fighting stance.

 

“Oh no, we're all fine here!” Hokaku waved wildly from up on one of the braches.

 

“Yes, nothing needing help here!” Ginta assured her, gripping his branch tightly; Koga hadn't relaxed his stance yet.

 

“What do you want?” Ayame addressed Koga, who she assumed was the leader.

 

“Perhaps we don't want anything, you should look into the whole situation before attacking.” He muttered, standing up and shrugging.

 

“I have. You want to hear what we're saying and you want someone's name, why?” she crossed her arms.

 

“Fine, I'll tell you… but only if you'll come and visit me tonight.” He smirked, showing one fang; Ayame blushed.

 

“Koga!” Hokaku and Ginta said in unison.

 

“Fine, just tell me where.” She shrugged in defeat, being a bodyguard meant you had to give up things for your master or mistress at some point.

 

“How about tonight…” he looked around. “right here.”

 

“Fine, now tell me what you want here.”

 

“I'm here on a mission, my lord has just gotten himself engaged and doesn't know who the girl is, he doesn't even know her name.”

 

“Why would he get engaged if he doesn't know her?” she looked at Koga like he was nuts. “For money?”

 

“Parents.”

 

“Ah.” She smiled, then blinked, there was something right in front of her nose, something familiar, but what was it? “Wait a minute, hold on… did you say his parents made the decision?”

 

“Yup.” He gave her a confused look.

 

"A-are you allowed to tell me what clan your lord is from?”

 

“Takashi, why?”

 

“I serve in the Higurashi clan, your Lord is engaged to my Mistress!”

 

They stared at each other for a few second before each blinked a couple times.

 

“Which one is she?” Koga looked back over the bush.

 

“I'll tell you which one she is and her name if you tell me what your lord's name is.” She bartered, looking over the bush with him.

 

“Inuyasha, the king of the bad tempered people.”

 

“Inuyasha… ok.” She pointed to Kagome. “That one with the black wavy hair is Kagome Higurashi.”

 

“Hokaku, do you think this is ok?” Ginta asked while getting a better grip on the branch.

 

“We'll, they're going to meet soon anyways, so why not tell Inuyasha what her name is?”

 

“That's true, I wonder if they'll get in trouble?”

 

“I hope not---ahh!” *womp* Hokaku lost his footing and fell out of the tree.

 

“You idiot, what if they heard---” Koga snapped.

 

“What was that?” Sango said from the veranda.

 

“I don't know.” Rin stood up.

 

“I'll go see.” Yura said in her sing song voice and lifted herself up with hair so it seemed like she was flying.

 

“Run!” Ayame hissed.

 

The three wolves took off into the trees, Koga leaving a whirlwind behind him; she braced herself as Yura's hair wrapped around everything before she dropped to the ground.

 

“What's going on? Did you see anything?” she flicked wrist and rearranged some of the hair in the trees.

 

“No, I was getting some more water from the well when I heard that, when I got her, whatever it was had gone.”

 

“Well they had to be either clumsy and had tripped to yell like that, or saw a demon and got scared off; they couldn't have been to dangerous.” Yura turned and walked back to the veranda.

 

“Tonight.” Ayame whispered in the direction of his scent before following Kagura back to her friends.

 

“Tonight.” Koga agreed with a nod from behind a tree not to far away, he then turned and streaked off into the woods, Hokaku and Ginta following not so close behind.