InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ No Such Thing As Fate ❯ Let's set the record straight ( Chapter 22 )

Hi everyone.

It's been a while and I truly apologize. I've had an outrageous summer and as most people know I was robbed and had to rewrite a lot of my work including this chapter. I want to thank everyone for their support and patience. I think I would have cried if someone yelled at me for not updating. My aunt got me a new computer (Yay Auntie!) and now I'm going to try updating at least once a month. I'm in my last year of college so work comes first.

I sat for a little and tried to edit this chapter, as per usual it may not be the best but I did try. Ummmmm I think that's about all that I have to say. Enjoy and if you have time drop a review. Takes like 2 minutes.

Chapter 21: Royal Pains: Let's set the record straight.

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Kagome grinned at the seamstress who smiled nervously, “I made the clothes you requested Lady” she gulped . Kagome chuckled and nodded approvingly as she held up a pair of white shorts.

“A-Are you sure about this, won't your advisors give a fuss for a lady showing so much skin?”

Kagome's gaze darted to the seamstress who ducked her head in fear of being beheaded for her insolence.

“The old men? I don't care what they really want I'm doing things my way.” She huffed. The seamstress nodded quickly “besides it's not as if I'm going to go running around outside the castle with these on…outside the castle grounds I mean” Kagome grinned brightly.

Shippou watched this exchange from his mother's futon. He liked her sleeping area because it was on a raised platform with a few stairs leading up to the screen-enclosed bedding. It made him feel tall to look down from so high off the ground. While he liked her bed, he didn't like how he was prone to falling over when he left her sleeping area so he kept the normal futon on the floor for himself.

Her new room was if possible, nicer than her last room had been. As the ruler, she took over the main chambers for herself but she still kept the ladies quarters at the servants pleading.

Kagome winked at Shippou before vanishing behind a changing screen. When she reappeared she was wearing a long sleeve horai top that clung to her curves and the shorts which were loose for running around in. The top was a white and dusty pink with white flowers on it. The obi was tied just below her breast and covered the whole of her stomach with the silky fabric just underneath the obi. It was tied neatly in the form of a bow at her back.

She twirled looking down at her outfit with pride.

“It feels like something is missing from the shorts,” Kagome admitted feeling the cloth she was silent in thought before she shrugged, it was good enough. The Shikon Miko grinned brightly at the seamstress then tilted her head in Shippou's direction. With a nod, the seamstress pulled out another bundle of clothes. Kagome took the smaller set and put it aside to try on Kuro later.

Taking the clothes Kagome walked over to Shippou who lay on her futon picking his nose absently.

“Shippou?” she chuckled.

“Hai” he called in a bored voice as he stared at the ceiling. Kagome held out the clothes in his line of sight and Shippou grinned brightly. Taking the clothes, he shot from the room to go try them on.

“Well he's happy, I have work to do thank you for making our clothes.”

The seamstress bowed and shuffled from the room her eyes shining. Kagome twirled a lock of hair as she glanced around her room. Though she had moved into the new room, she was still trying to get everything organized to the way she liked it. Her room was very neat, the servants saw to it, but Kagome had never been a very messy person in the first place.

With a frown, she gathered the scrolls set aside on her desk and walked from the room. Almost two months and she was just now getting the hang of all the paperwork she needed to complete. The work ranged from complaints, government issues to everything in between.

The servants literally stopped in the halls to stare at her new outfit. The graceful and very long sleeves gave the clothing a unique look that Kagome didn't mind at all but of course she could expect a good scolding from the advisors. The seal earrings and anklet added a bit of spice to her choice of clothing.

“Kaa-san!”

Pausing in her stride, Kagome glanced back at Shippou who was racing toward her in his new clothing. He grinned cheekily at his mother who eyed his clothing with approval.

“Can you play with me today? The servant's complain when I try to play with Kuro.” The kit complained.

Kagome thought long and hard about her answer. She had a meeting with the head servant in a few hours and she was still fixing the study to her liking. Kuro needed feeding too, the babe screamed insanely if he was even remotely hungry. A sad reminder of his previous situation.

She shrugged, “umm…sure I have one meeting today and I need to work in the study a few hours, I'll play with you after lunch.” Shippou's head bobbed eagerly and he raced off. Kagome smiled and continued toward the study.

The door to the study was a very unassuming door and you would likely pass it up if you didn't know where it was. She slid the door open with her foot and paused in the doorway. All the rooms' occupants turned and glanced at her.

“Good morning milady,” All four advisors murmured in unison.

For the most part she ignored them. Glancing around the study she nodded approvingly. The room was finally starting to look like a study. While she liked to keep things relatively neat, her deceased `husband' did not. The study honestly looked like a localized hurricane had done a hit and run. There were scrolls and papers all over the tables and hanging from the storage shelves; all over the floor. Now it looked like someone had simply had a tantrum, which was a vast improvement compared to its previous condition.

Seeing the scrolls in her arms Kagome could swear she heard the advisors groan but they hid it well by busying themselves with sorting the scrolls.

Kagome giggled and walked into the room stepping delicately over the mess on the floor. She knew exactly where she wanted the scrolls in her arms so the advisors dismay was unnecessary. She eyed the shelves putting the scrolls away quickly so she could do something else. When finished, she walked over to the cluttered table to join the advisors in their sorting.

She picked up a scroll that caught her attention. It had a wax seal on it that had yet to be opened.

“Is there a reason this hasn't been opened?”

Koji glanced up from his work and eyed the scroll.

“All this is yours to handle now milady, open it.”

Kagome glanced at him warily before picking away the wax with a nail. She walked over to a pillow and sat down as she scanned the scroll.

“Lady Kagome look here!” Kagome glanced up as Takahito rushed eagerly.

She scanned the scroll he shoved at her as he babbled, “lord Natsumoto offered us an alliance. He says if you give the northern section of the-”

Kagome looked away frowning, “I'll read it later. I'm not agreeing to anything until I've read all of these scrolls. It'll take me a while but…” She stood suddenly a smile splitting her face. “It would help if you move all the really important scrolls into a pile. Things from other lords and things that need to be taken care of this month or next month.”

The advisors stared at her a moment but she only continued to smile brightly. Takahito was openly scowling at her. A bowing, ass-kissing idiot quickly replaced the scowling man when she turned on him with a cool glance.

She didn't know why they insisted on trying to make her look stupid but it was starting to grate on her nerves. Her eyes narrowed at Takahito even as she smiled. The act immediately dropped. He frowned and bagged away, opting to return to his work.

All of the advisors had tried it at least once. They would try to get her to sign documents or make decisions that always somehow benefitted them. A good glare always set them straight but she was tired of the games.

With a knowing glance at the four men she waited till they averted their gaze before returning to sorting.

They thought she was an idiot because she had been `beneath' them in birth, even if she was a `noble' by their standards. Kagome wrinkled her nose at the thought, If she had to play the tyrant to get anything done in her household she would.

Kagome grinned evilly as she mused over her bloody thoughts. The advisors visibly inched away from her as what bit of instinct they had sensed danger.

She began to dig through a pile of scrolls that caught her attention. She walked to the shelves and began to put them away, making mental notes of which ones to read later.

The room was eerily silent as she and the four men worked. None of them liked her so it made the experience of working together all the more awkward. Kagome eyed the men from the corner of her eye suddenly realizing there was no logical reason for all four of them to be sorting in the study with her.

She thought to question them on this matter but shook it off. Some part of her realized they either liked being able to go through Taishi's scrolls or they liked the chances they got to upstage her. Both scenarios were plausible but who was she to take away from their fun. Besides, she had other things to worry about.

“Milady”

Kagome looked up as Koji passed her a scroll. The manner in which he passed her the scroll alarmed her. He wasn't trying to be sneaky or even explain what was so great about this scroll and how she should agree to its terms. Instead he was passing the scroll over with a blank expression. The only thing she saw that betray his hidden feelings were his tightly pressed lips.

She took the scroll and eyed the seal on it. Of course she recognized the scroll seal, she had seen three others like it. Scraping away the wax seal, she unrolled it and stood a moment to read through the contents.

The scroll was a letter from Taishi. It was supposed to have gone out to a lord named Sagisoto. It bragged of all Taishi's accomplishments and finally went on to boast of his good `marriage.' Kagome gritted her teeth as she read through all the bragging he did. The deceased lord went on about her and her apparent `noble bloodline.' He spoke of her beauty and whatever else he could spout on paper without drawing a picture of her. Kagome closed the scroll slowly and stood a moment deep in thought.

`I didn't know he had such a big ego, then in that meeting a while ago he was talking about how to deal with Sagisoto…'

Finally, she decided what she wanted to do with this abomination.

Koji jumped away as the scroll erupted into yellow and blue tinted flames.

Kagome simply held the scroll as it burned before her. The advisors watched her apprehensively, for the first time seeing this power that had frightened the castles occupants into obedience. When the flames suddenly blinked out, they stood in a tense silence staring at Kagome as she tilted her hand forward and let the ash slip through her fingers.

“I'm going to relax for a bit, I'll be back” she promised quietly as she walked from the room.

A few minutes later Kagome was in her room glaring from the elevated walkway outside her door. Leaning on the wooden railings, she stared toward the fortress like walls. She could see glimpses of tree tops and she moaned to herself. The urge to climb trees came suddenly and she didn't feel the need to deny them.

It was an odd habit, but she had liked climbing trees since she was a small girl and Goshinboku had seemed the ultimate excursion. She still hadn't climbed the god tree outside her home simply because it was a god tree and she knew better in adulthood.

She eyed the grounds that were now hers. There was a zen garden inside the inner circle of the castle but she wanted to see flowers outside and more trees. Right now it looked rather boring and plain. The only colors she saw were the green grass, the brown of the dirt path leading to the gate, and the grey and brown of the wall.

Turning her head she glanced to the few trees on the grounds. The Sakura trees were bare at the onset of winter. She rushed back inside for a blanket and some part of her remembered the dark furs Jiji had gifted to her.

“I left my furs at Jiji's didn't I?” she pondered aloud tightening the cloth around her body.

Satisfied it would keep her warm, she ran to the balcony and jumped off without a second thought. She rushed to the trees and with a burst of power, jumped onto a low branch.

She sat on the branch and leaned her back against the tree. For some reason she really liked trees, they gave off a calming aura that could lull one into a light sleep. Closing her eyes she pulled her hair free from its style and it immediately drooped in her face. Kagome smiled to herself and relaxed. She wasn't as disciplined as other monks so she absently played with the seals on her ear as she tried to meditate.

“You're a strange little human.”

Kagome glanced up and smiled, “You finally came to visit again Kazi-chan?”

Kazi eyed her warily as she lounged on a higher tree branch.

“I said I would come back you stupid girl.”

Kagome's smile quickly became a frown.

“Watch the name calling,” she warned.

Kaze shrugged unaffected by the threat.

“You are amusing princess”

Kagome's frown deepened to a scowl, Kazi cackled like a mocking bird.

“You are a princess now, you might as well get used to it princess,” the demoness teased.

Kagome only huffed and looked away. Kazi took this chance to untie the sac at her waist. Kagome glanced up hearing the demoness shuffle around. She pulled a cylinder shaped bamboo box from the sac and pried open the air-tight top. Reaching into the container she pulled out something pink covered in a off grey sheen of slime.

Kagome paled in alarm, “W-What is that?”

Kazi only smirked and leaned down to pass the `thing' she held to the miko. Kagome made a face as she felt the warm liquid seep between her fingers.

“Eat it!” Kazi gushed excitedly.

Kagome only made a face. “What is it?” She demanded again.

“Just eat it. If you don't I'll cut your tongue out. It took me forever to find that,” she growled.

Kagome bit her lip nervously and poked the `food' she held. She sniffed it and paused a bit startled at how good it smelled. The smell could only be described as a cinnamon bun fresh from the oven. Kagome found herself near drooling and her stomach rumbled in response.

Despite how wonderful it smelled it still looked funny and she was wary. The slime actually didn't bother her much, it looked like some kind of candy treat her brother liked to eat just because it looked nasty and he could bother her by wiping the sugary slime on her clothes. It was the fact it was actually slime covered meat that got to her.

Taking a deep breath she glanced up Kazi.

Kazi was staring down at her with a frighteningly delighted look on her face and eyes that seemed to glow despite how bright it was outside.

“What's wrong with you?”

“Eat it!” Kazi squealed.

Kagome looked back to the Eyan in her hand and shrugged, it smelled good so she was going to take that chance and say it would probably taste good too. She took a tentative bite and chewed slowly. Her body tensed up when something sour made her eyes water. The sour taste was quickly followed by a sugary taste. She couldn't quite describe it but she liked the taste so she continued to eat.

Kazi watched her intensely and Kagome shifted uncomfortably.

“Why are you watching me like that?” the young miko grumbled licking away the liquid that ran down her arm.

“You didn't turn purple,” Kazi grumbled sourly.

The demoness took another piece of Eyan from her container and began to eat too.

“You expected me to turn purple?” Kagome asked quietly her eyes wide.

“Not really. I mean if you hadn't lied last time about actually being able to eat Eyan, then you would eventually be able to eat this.” Kagome scowled at Kazi “this is the poisonous Eyan I promised to bring” She explained. “Isn't it good,” the demoness asked excitedly.

Kagome shrugged and Kazi frowned, “you don't like this one as much as I do ne?” She scratched her chin thoughtfully “I'll bring another kind next time”

“Why, this is good,” Kagome assured.

“You didn't react the way I expected. The poisonous Eyan is a delicacy. You didn't even drool in delight. It's supposed to get a strong reaction out of you but everyone has a different kind of reaction to the different poisons”

Kagome took a moment to stare at her meal but quickly shrugged it off and kept eating. “Just don't ever tell me where you get it from and I'll keep trying them,” Kagome promised.

“Wait if we can just eat the poisons and not have a problem then doesn't that mean being attacked with the poison won't hurt you?”

Kazi looked at her human companion strangely.

“Of course the poison is more potent in a live demon using it to fight. If you eat too much of this Eyan you would still die. This is not something to be gluttonous with, it's a treat that is eaten rarely,” Kazi explained. “You have to know what parts of the youkai is safe to eat too. That's why a lot of youkai won't even bother to try and eat a poisonous opponent. Besides that, not all youkai can be eaten. If you make a mistake and eat a youkai that produces acid instead of poison you die a nasty death.”

Kagome nodded quickly at the explination.

“Can Shippou eat this too?” Kagome asked warily. She wasn't even going to even consider Kuro.

“Right now, I don't think he should, I have something for your kit to eat,” Kazi promised passing a small sac to Kagome. Kazi watched as the younger female peered into the sac curiously before reaching into the sac with her still clean hand. She pulled out a small red wedge. It was about the size of a grape but hard and wrinkled.

“Its dried fruit. Pieces of peach that were cut into small pieces and dried.” Kagome sat a moment and frowned when she remembered the peach man from early on in her travels that ate peaches grown from human souls.

“You mean human souls are inside this,” Kagome asked weakly.

“Human souls?” Kazi asked confused. “What, no! I'm mean, but I'm not that mean,” kazi huffed waving a hand. “These are grown by feeding the tree roots youki and blood. It's not as easy as growing the fruit with a humans soul but it works. It just takes a lot longer than a few hours. I'd say it takes a month or so.”

Kagome continued to frown.

“Just eat one, its good. It's a treat for little ones.”

“It has blood in it…” Kagome began.

“Are you mad Human? You just ate demon flesh, if you aren't tainted or growing horns then you aren't going to be. Just try it!” Kagome popped one of the bite-sized pieces of fruit into her mouth and smiled

“It tastes just like fresh peaches,” Kagome mused.

“If you want to teach your own offspring to eat Eyan this would be a good way to start them off,” Kazi said with a smile.

Kagome blushed, “Kuro isn't-”

Kazi waved a hand, “ I know that one isn't your child. I'm talking about when you have your own human babies,” She huffed. “Be happy humans can have offspring so easily, you should have tons of babies” Kazi chirped happily. Kagome gagged in shock as kazi continued.

“Besides the same benefits you get like a very healthy body and healing abilities your human babies will live longer.” Kagome's gaze darted to Kazi in confusion. “The problem is this fruit is much harder to find than anything else, most youkai are carnivorous by nature. So its popular for children but not older youkai, it isn't made a lot either.”

Kagome stared at the demoness wide eyed, “You said live longer?”

“Didn't know that? Of course a human can never live as long as a demon but there are means to extend your life. That's what demons do when they take a human mate. Well if they survive their first taste of demon flesh, it's usually a long and horrible death for a human but people take the chance.”

Kagome stared thoughtfully at Kazi, “That is interesting and explains a lot more than you will ever know, but I can't worry about stuff like that right now.” kagome huffed closing the little sac and putting it away for Shippou.

“Kazi I have a weird question”

Kazi only grunted in acknowledgement.

“My Jiji says that I should learn to use my senses like smell and hearing and things. I see just fine with my eyes, I've worked out how to do that much at least” she explained.

“Oh is that why your eyes glow like mine, I thought I was losing my mind the first time I noticed it.”

Kagome flinched watching Kazi eat. Her manners were not the best but who was she to comment. A little bit of grey colored liquid dripped onto Kagome. Wrinkling her nose she wiped the drool mixed liquid on the tree.

Kazi gave a grin still chewing wildly on her food.

“Sorry about that,” Kazi cooed sarcastically as she let a bit of grey liquid dribble down her chin.

There look on Kagome's face made Kazi laugh and wipe her face messily, “Yeah what about it?”

“I got the eye thing down, I can see in the dark as if it were midday. The only way I know it's night is the strange way the shadows move at night compared to the day.” Kazi smiled gruesomely and Kagome finally looked away.

“Is your vision sharper? Can you see further than a normal human?”

“I've always been able to see just a little better than a normal human I am a miko, that was a given. But no, I can't see far like a youkai can. I see details better and I can see in the dark but my range of vision hasn't really changed. It's like seeing everything in HD”

“What?”

“Oh, don't mind me, that's just a term from my home”

Kazi stared at her a moment but let it drop.

“I want to work on everything one at a time so I don't kill myself, so how do you make your sense of smell work?” Kagome asked excitedly.

Kazi frowned and proceeded to clean herself like a cat. They sat in silence a moment before kazi stopped licking her taltons and looked up. “The sense of smell for a youkai is automatic, believe me sometimes I wish I didn't have it. Both humans and youkai give off some strange smells I'd rather not come in contact with. You hear youkai tell humans they stink and they do, all they have to do it take a bath to tone down the scent you humans give off but they don't. On the other hand there are some youkai who just have a very foul scent they can't get rid of.” Kazi shook her head scowling and Kagome stifled a laugh.

“Anyway how did you make the night vision work?”

Kagome shrugged “I put some energy behind my eyes, beyond that I don't have a clue” she admitted.

Kazi leaned forward and peered at the human female curiously. “That's all you did?”

Kagome simply nodded and Kazi snorted. “Well ain't you a genius. You got lucky to get it on your first try. Humans just aren't built to do that.”

“Yeah I know that, but I'm pretty sure I'm just really strange. I took to a lot of things a lot quicker than a normal person.”

Kazi looked at Kagome a long moment “I don't know, have your tried doing the same thing you did for your eyes to your nose.”

Kagome nodded warily. “It just burned and I couldn't smell for like three days,”

Kazi howled in laughter and Kagome blushed and glared at the female demoness.

Kazi fanned herself rapidly. “Whew that was funny,” she cackled.

“Well when I use my sense of smell I can both see and smell the scent.”

Kagome looked at Kazi as if she had turned purple.

“Don't look at me like that, I'm not crazy!”

The demoness began to foam at the mouth as she spoke.

Kagome stared long and hard at Kazi.

“When you smell something you tell your mind to give it a color. For instance when I smell something disgusting I give the scent a color like green. For whatever reason, when I color tag a scent I can see it and follow it. It might not be possible for you to smell like a demon but you do have the ability to smell something. Your human nose might be useful because it's not as sensitive as a demons so you won't be overwhelmed.”

Kagome rubbed her chin as she thought about this. It made a lot of sense. “So the question now is how do I make myself see these `colors'. I already have a sense of smell.”

Kazi nodded thoughtfully, “As you keep learning to use your senses they should improve over time”

Kagome sighed deeply already seeing this was going to take some time to think over.

Suddenly she stiffened when she felt an unfamiliar aura approaching with one of the servants.

“Milady!”

Kagome groaned and looked up and paused seeing Kazi was long gone.

Kagome scowled and looked to the servant walking toward her. Trailing behind her was a young messenger looking a little travel wary. When receiving messages it was usually very formal but Kagome guessed that was the advisors being asses again.

It was time to handle that before someone got hurt…

“Hime please reveal yourself,” The servant called passing under the tree. She looked around before walking back to the messengers and murmured quietly to him. They both looked around the area warily. The messenger glanced up on a whim and his eyes widened when he spotted her.

“Mistress why are you in a tree,” the servant cried when she too spotted Kagome up in the branches. Kagome only shrugged already bored with the servant's rants. The young man stepped forward and bowed respectfully “Milady I am a messenger from lord Kasaragi's castle.”

Kagome eyed him with mild interest before leaping from the tree. He caught a glimpse of her outfit before the sheet hid her body from view again.

She walked forward and paused within arms reach to eye the messenger suspiciously. He blinked a bit startled by her behavior. This princess was beautiful and wild, not at all like what he was used to.

He shifted nervously under her intense stare until she gave a slight smile, “Well does the messenger bare a message?”

He blinked a bit stupefied and nodded quickly. When he turned to dig frantically through his message pouch Kagome smirked and winked at the servant.

He passed the scroll on to her and bowed his head respectfully.

She opened the scroll and read through its contents quickly. “A meeting, it seems your lord is curious as to who rules here now?”

The messenger didn't respond.

Kagome rolled the scroll up and looked to the young man, “and when does he want this meeting to take place?”

“He will send word when a meeting can be made, all I seek is your agreement to have a meeting,” he responded uncertainly.

She tapped her chin thoughtfully “Hmm? We'll we can't disappoint.” Kagome smiled darkly, plans brewing in her head. “You are welcome to rest here the night. Ask a servant for a meal and bath. You will return to your master in the morning and tell him I will meet him as long as I am able.”

He nodded not thinking to enforce a definite time range as he bowed and rushed away. Kagome smiled at his retreating from then looked to the servant.

“You heard me didn't you. Go inform whoever needs to know. I want to begin preparations for travel once that messenger has left tomorrow. I don't want to hear a word of this from anyone else in the castle, especially not the advisors” The servant looked at her horrified but nodded and rushed off much like the messenger had.

Kagome smirked to herself and turned to go find Shippou.

XXXXX

“Lady Kagome”

“Hm?”

“Do you realize what you have done!”

Kagome stared in a bored manner at her hyperventilation advisors and sighed.

“No, do inform me”

“You don't have the proper training, we haven't touched on your manners yet, and you want to go negotiate with a lord!”

“Yes, and…”

All four advisors looked as if they had eaten something rather foul.

“Why did you make this meeting so suddenly. Milady please send a messanger, to postpone this trip. We don't even have ample time to prepare to leave,” the eldest advisor cried. Takahito pointed to the panicked servants trying to pack carriages and prepare guards for the journey.

“You idiots are causing the problems, I don't need all of you and I certainly don't need all that junk!” Kagome sneered

Takahito bristled at the insult but Minawo stepped in before the older man got himself killed.

“You're a princess now lady Kagome, not a commoner, you need us and all those things being prepared.” Minawo tried to explain civily. The servants and guards tried to stay out of their way for fear of being dragged into the argument somehow. Kagome was sure the sight of the advisors yelling and scolding her made for a funny sight.

“Fine we will bring all this stuff but I'm not sending a messenger, that will cause more problems I promise you.” She waved the advisors away then turned to go about her own business. The advisors fumed behind her.

She spotted the head of the castle guards talking to a few of the men. As she approached the soldiers bowed, she could sense wary and annoyed auras from the men. She hated to drag them into her messes but this needed to be done.

“Kazuki-san can I have a word with you?”

Kazuki blinked at her startled and nodded quickly, a light blush staining his cheeks. It was so obvious he had a crush on her but that crush could never go anywhere. They stopped a few feet from the other men.

“I just wanted to ask you to choose a few of your best men to protect me on the trip, I want guards for Shippou-kun and Kuro-kun and to protect the castle too.”

Kazuki looked confused, “but milady your protection is first priority.”

Kagome shook her head sadly, “I am a replacement for Taishi, I am simply convenient for the advisors.” Kazuki looked grim but he didn't try to convince her otherwise. He looked to his men who stared at him in return. Glancing back to Kagome he bowed at the waist, “As milady wishes,” he murmured. Kagome nodded in thanks.

“Kaa-san?”

Kagome glanced back to see Shippou walking toward her eating on his treat of blood peaches. “Kaa-san I think the advisors are right, isn't it too early to go starting fights with a human lord.”

Kagome gave an amused smile. “It probably is but I'm not worried, I do have training of sorts to deal with royals or noble families.” She winked as Shippou raised an eyebrow. “I was raised in a temple, my grandpa and mom made sure I have the best manners, it's simply up to me if I want to use said manners.”

The kit smirked and popped another piece of dried fruit into his mouth, “Hey where did you get these?” Shippou asked holding up the little sac.

“Kazi stopped by yesterday and brought treats.”

Shippou's grunted in surprise.

“You mean she actually came back?”

Kagome nodded absently. Watching the servants run around like chickens with their heads chopped off was somewhat interesting. “Yeah she brought that Eyan stuff too, just like she promised.”

Shippou squinted in thought then he looked to his mother.

“She promised to bring poisonous Eyan last time right?” Kagome nodded and Shippou gave a toothy grin. “What did it taste like?” He asked excitedly. Kagome licked her lips as she tried to think of a way to describe the experience to Shippou. Nothing came to her and after a long moment of waiting Shippou finally pouted.

Kagome smiled sheepishly, “It was sweet like cinnamon buns” she admitted sheepishly.

“Cinnamon buns?” the kit asked warily.

Kagome smiled awkwardly and gave a shrug.

“Shippou you're going to stay here, I hope I won't be gone for more for long. Make sure the servants take care of Kuro while I'm gone and if they do anything wrong you tell me.” She murmured to the kit.

Shippou eyed his mother warily feeling he had missed some joke, “What are you getting into Kaa-san”

Kagome grinned wildly.

Three hours later, her travel party was racing through the forest.

“Why are we moving so fast!” Kagome growled when her Kago lurched violently and caused her to bounce all the way to the other end of her seat. She groaned and rubbed her abused butt. Outside the men holding her transport up chanted to keep a steady pace as they jogged.

Minawo pressed his hands to the ceiling of their ride trying to keep himself seated. Thankfully, there were the only two in this particular carriage. Kagome stared at him, it certainly wasn't normal for a princess to have to ride with her servant. What were the advisors afraid of, her falling out and killing herself?

“It is dangerous to move at night like this milady but this is what you wanted. This is the time when the youkai hunt?”

“I didn't say we had to rush,” she hissed when she bounced again and her head hit the side of the wall.

“You can defend yourself against youkai, we cannot milady. I think head Kago runner was correct to assume we should rush to a safe destination.”

“Why are we in Kago anyhow!” She snapped.

“A carriage cannot move as quickly in the forest. We will stop for the night in a town and a proper transport will be brought for milady during the night.”

Kagome snorted, this wasn't what she'd planned but she could make it work in her favor.

“Your name is Minawo right?” he nodded stiffly to her.

“I don't need all of you to come with me, you advisors members are just trying to save your own asses,” she pointed out tightly, angered when she nearly tumbled over in the Kago.

Minawo sputtered a bit, “What milady, it's nothing like that.”

Kagome snorted, “Stop treating me like I'm stupid, you all would have preferred a male ruler and why didn't you or anybody else jump at the chance to become the new lord. That's a little too strange for me to just brush it off as me being `oh so lucky'” she drawled sarcastically.

“Why are you so suspicious milady. I swear its nothing like that.”

His nervous laugh was a dead giveaway.

Kagome shook her head at the older man and yanked her staff from her neck. He glanced at her alarmed as a long staff with a bird nestled in the wood grew to full length before his eyes. His jaw dropped in horror and Kagome sneered at his expression.

“You shouldn't have ridden with me. You can't lie to save your life.” That said she swung the thin club looking weapon at him.

The Kago slid to a stop at the shout of pain and the loud crack of a door breaking.

The travel party quickly scrambled from their respective transports to see what had happened.

They paused in shock seeing Minawo stretched out on the ground a few feet away from the first carriage. The men holding her Kago off the ground struggled to steady the swaying carriage. They finally set it down and she stepped from her decorated carriage, the wooden staff slung carelessly over her shoulder and look of cold anger on her face even as her eyes blazed with hatred.

She walked to Minawo slowly as the older man slowly tried to pull himself off the ground.

“Now what did you say? Oh yeah you asked me why I was so suspicious right?” Minawo grunted in pain, his face bruised and bloody. He looked up blinking uncertainly as his eye tried to swell shut.

She glanced at their small audience then back to the wounded advisor.

“Because you all are playing with me like I'm a toy. I'm a damn scapegoat for you bastards!”

She wacked Minawo across the back with the staff and he gave a shout of pain curling in the dirt. The other advisors gasped as he cried out, a few of them moved to draw their swords.

“Guards watch them, attack them if they draw their weapons and if you don't you can expect to fight me instead.” The guards didn't need to be told twice and they stepped infront of the advisors more than willing to fight them than fight their Hime.

The servants shrieked and huddled together near the stalled Kago while the runners looked on in mild interest. Anybody else with them chose to stand back and watch their infamous princess inflict pain.

Kagome circled around Minawo watching him closely, “Why me, why didn't one of you jump at the chance to be the lord here?” Minawo glared at her, shame and fear written on his face. He glanced to the others and Kagome dropped head of the staff in his line of sight making him flinch away. The image of that damn bird swinging toward his face would forever be burned into his retina.

“Don't look at them, they can't help you especially when your status is gone” Minawo's eyes widened.

“You can't…”

Kagome glanced at one of the cowering servants.

“Can I remove his status. Is he not a lucky little bastard that befriended Taishi and became his advisor?” the servant nodded quickly and Kagome smiled cheerily at poor Minawo.

“See I can,” she chirped. Her expression quickly became one of cold amusement.

“That's what you idiots get for giving me that power by making me the princess and ruler here.” She wacked him again though not as hard as the first time. He flinched and tried to move away. A glare from Kagome made him freeze in place.

“Is anybody going to speak up?” She looked around and found no information forthcoming. She moved to wack Minawo once more but he raised a hand to stop her.

“Please…” she lowered the staff and he sighed in relief.

“Tell me what you know,” Kagome demanded.

“The position is cursed,” he rasped.

“Minawo!” one of the advisors roared. Kagome didn't know who had yelled, her attention was fixed on the pained advisor.

Minawo glanced at them then bowed his head in shame. “It's been this way since Taishi-sama's great grandfather. He offended a demoness of royal birth and his position was cursed. His blood line died with Taishi-sama but the curse remains…”

Kagome took a few minutes to gather her thoughts.

“So you found the next best thing to die for the territory because the curse would have passed on to you all had I not come back…” This time all of them looked ashamed.

“Nobody with common sense and knowledge of the area's history would have taken the position, which explains why nobody jumped for the chance.”

She sighed deeply and rubbed her temple as Koji spoke up. “Taishi-sama hoped that having a miko marry into the family and bare him children with spiritual abilities would stop the curse or at least be able to combat the effects of the curse.”

Kagome groaned rubbing the space between her eyes. “What's so bad about this curse?” she asked suddenly very tired.

“The rulers die horrible and dishonorable deaths leaving the family in shame. They also die right before or after a major event, a war, a marriage, a birth.”

Now that confused the hell out of Kagome.

`The baby wasn't taishi's…is it because he thought it was his or is something big coming?' she stared into space deep in thought.

“Most of the deaths are by the hands of demons that's why he imprisoned youkai. He hoped that clearing the land of wildly roaming youkai would give him a better chance at survival.” Kagome stared silently at her subordinates. That explained a lot and yet gave her more questions. She would have to worry about her questions later.

She turned and began to pace. Everyone watched her apprehensively, trying to remain as quiet as they could. After a long moment, she stopped and looked at everyone. “If I had been told this earlier I would have tried to help and nobody would have had to die”

A heavy silence fell over the area.

She shook her head at the lot of them. “I'm ruler now and I'm stuck here so I might as well try to figure out how to fix this curse. Whether I like it or not you all are my responsibility.” She smirked at the group particularly at the advisors.

“Here's some information you should keep in mind advisors,” she flashed them her brightest grin, “I only need one of you, I need help but don't think I won't get rid of you.” She warned. “Start doing your jobs. No smart ass comments, no trying to be sneaky, no trying to control me because I won't be controlled by the likes of you” she sneered on her final words. They nodded quickly their faces ashen.

“You guards and servants. I won't force you to obey me. I think you should be allowed to choose to serve me or not. I can't get mad if you don't want to help me, I need to earn respect and return it.”

The servants were openly gapping at her. The guards turned to her shifting nervously.

Kagome frowned seeming to realize what was running through their minds. She had already earned their respect. They didn't have to like her so much as respect her. She had long sense kicked the crap out anyone that disrespected her and when it came to fights she was as nasty in battle as the rest of them. In a war situation they had the utmost confidence she would lead them well and trample any threat.

She rolled her eyes but somehow found their confidence in her assuring.

“Now advisors I want something from you all if you want to gain my favor and keep your jobs,” they nodded quickly.

“Find me a teacher, I want to learn sword fighting.” Jaw's dropped.

“Milady-”

She raised an eyebrow and the advisors scowled but kept their comments to themselves.

Amused, she chuckled and bent down by Minawo her hand covered in frosty light. Minawo flinched as she touched his back gently and was horribly confused when the pain his pain began to fade. When she was done she stood properly and waited for him to stand.

Much to her surprise he bowed humbily. “Forgive me Lady Kagome”

Kagome waved a dismissive hand “Minawo please get up I'm not even a proper princess.”

He blinked and stood before going to stand with the other advisors.

Otsuki looked to Minawo's bruised face, “Milady…” Kagome glanced at him sharply, already knowing what he was going to say.

He swallowed his comment and looked away.

“Now let's go back to the castle” she chirped happily.

The advisors looked dumbfounded as did everyone else.

“But milady lord Kasarami is waiting”

Kagome smiled mischievously “I'm raising a fox kit I seem to have picked up some of his mischievous habits.” The advisors looked outraged as her comment raced through their heads.

Kagome giggled “Lord Kasarami sent a message this morning with his sincerest apologies. He can't entertain guest right now. A pressing matter has come up and he was forced to travel away from his castle for a while.”

She laughed at everyone's faces.

“I saw that this was a good chance to get away from the castle and deal with the advisors. I couldn't do that in the castle because there is a good chance there are people to back the advisors up there. I explained a little of my situation to Kazuki-san because I knew he would send fine guards to protect me and they most likely wouldn't be supporters of the advisors that would turn on me and kill me during the trip.”

The advisors looked dumbfounded and Kagome laughed aloud “I played a nasty trick but don't think that a word of what I said wasn't true.” She suddenly stopped laughing and everyone visibly shivered at her dark and angry gaze, “I will make your lives hell and get rid of you if you don't shape up advisors. The same goes for the guards and servants” she turned and walked back toward her broken carriage.

“Politics are fun sometimes” she mused.

“Milady” one of the Kago runners began. Kagome glanced at the person who had spoken. He immediately bowed.

“I'll pay you in full for your trouble just get us safely back to the castle” She said.

He bowed and rushed away.

Kagome looked to her stunned subjects, “Lets head home” She chirped.

XXXXXXXX

Word of what had happened on the `trip' had spread through the castle like wild fire, Kagome was sure those Kago runners were spreading rumors of their own. Kagome was actually surprised and humbled a staff body remained in the castle. Ninety percent of the guards remained on the castle grounds and others had moved on to do whatever it was they were going to do to survive, of course she wasn't going to pay people who didn't work for her.

The servants couldn't be so picky about who they worked for so she hadn't lost any servants.

The advisors were…annoying. She had seen them more than once trampling over each other trying to please her. It seemed like they couldn't bare to give up their pay and status. On the other hand they were actually working for what they received and she found their knowledge on little things more than helpful.

They didn't say much else about her want of a teacher which told her they were having a hard time finding said teacher.

Another two months passed before she finally met the prospective sensei she'd been hoping for...

Kagome smiled as Kuro gargled incoherently bouncing excitedly as he got used to his legs. She held his hands as he continued to bounce and wiggled awkwardly. She found herself smiling fondly at him and cooing over how good he was doing. He only stuck a hand in her mouth.

Kagome gagged as lint and other strange little things found their way into her mouth via Kuro's hand. She quickly whipped her tongue off ignoring Kuro as he lost control of his head and smacked into her chest. She pulled him close before he hurt himself more as Shippou laughed.

“Kuro's head is a dangrerous weapon” the kit snickered as he lay stretched out on his stomach going through practice exercises with his fox fire. The little stick figures danced around him in a neat circle. Kagome rubbed her abused chest hoping Kuro's big head wouldn't cause bruising.

“Did Jiji teach you how to do that?”

Shippou shot her a glance and nodded. “It took a while, one time I caught Jiji's hair on fire when I lost control of one of them.” Shippou snickered to himself. Kagome seemed amused as she rubbed Kuro's head making the babe hum in delight. “For some reason I can see Jiji just sitting there with his hair on fire glaring.”

“Have you talked to him lately?” Kagome shook her head.

She sighed looking rather depressed and Kuro continued to gargle and make strange sounds, oblivious to what was going on.

“I miss Jiji and I asked him to protect my kitsune jewel” Shippou sighed.

Kagome blinked “I totally forgot you had that thing” she admitted.

“I left it with Jiji cause I didn't want to get attatched to it and start stealing stuff.”

Kagome smiled at Shippou, “I think that was a very mature thing to do” she said gently. Shippou blushed and turned his attention back on his practice.

“Kaa-san did you like my newest attack spirit kit fire?”

Kagome laughed, her eyes shining in delight as she fought to keep Kuro from eating her hair.

“I loved it, the name could use some shortening but it was a great attack,” She admitted.

Shippou smiled proudly, “I tried to give it other names but it didn't work. I'll just have to practice launching the attack while saying its name in my head.”

“I actually thought-“

“Lady Kagome” Kagome sighed and Shippou rolled his eyes and moved away from the door just in case someone ran in not paying attention and tripped over him or ran into his fire figures.”

The door snapped open and Kagome stared dryly at the man in her doorway, finding Takahito smiling at her.

“Milady-”

“Can you be more careful next time, what if I was feeding Kuro?”

Takahito paused seeming to think about his behavior. He blushed lightly and bowed murmuring an apology.

Kagome rolled her eyes, “Yes Takahito?”

He stood properly this time a lot calmer when he spoke “Milady we found you a teacher.”

Kagome actually found herself surprised she had managed it, “Really, and what does he want in exchange for my training?”

Takahito was practically humming in excitement, “A small fee”

Kagome looked at Takahito dryly, “and what did you promise him?”

Takahitos smile dimmed. Kagome would have smacked her forehead right then if Kuro wasn't still trying to eat her hair and she wasn't still struggling to keep said hair out of his grasp.

“A small bit of land has been granted to him for a home” Kagome rolled her eyes.

`Well it could be worse, he could have sold his home trying to impress me.'

“Okay you go ahead and tell him I'm coming, I need to grab a scroll from another room first,” Takahito bowed and rushed away.

She shook her head and passed Kuro over to a servant who sat quietly in a corner waiting for orders from her mistress.

“Take care of Kuro while I go and speak to this teacher.” Kagome turned to Shippou who had settled back down and was practicing with his fire again. “You keep practicing, when you think of a new attack I would like to see what it does” Shippou blushed and nodded. Kuro began to whine. Kagome shot him a glance but continued from the room.

There was a tense silence besides the occasional grunt of Kuro trying to get away from the servant holding him. She sighed and laid out a blanket for Kuro so he could amuse himself. She turned eyes on Shippou and watched his fire in fascination.

She cleared her throat deciding now was as good a time as ever to introduce herself to the fox kit. He was going to be raised in the castle and one day he would be a powerful adult youkai. She didn't want to be on the kits bad side when that happened.

“Shippou-sama I'm-“

Shippou frowned at her from the corner of his eye and she shut up immediately.

“You're scared of me, I can smell your scent of fear so why are you making an effort to talk to me now. Before, you liked to talk about me behind my back with your other little friend. I do have to give you credit you are the first human with the guts to talk about me behind my back where I could hear you, you should be glad kaa-san didn't hear.” She turned red in surprise, embarrassment, and fear.

“I-I'm sorry. I had never seen a youkai and you were something I've been taught to fear.”

Shippou shrugged lazily “I know and I don't blame you for it, that doesn't mean I like you either. I don't like weak humans like you and I didn't even really like humans all that much in the first place. Humans like you glare at my friends and my kaa-san behind their back even though they protect you. They're strong and fight for the respect they have and people make life hard for my kaa-san and Inu-baka and Sango and Miroku cause their different. You're scared of me and you don't even know me so if you're a coward don't try to talk to me because I don't like cowards.”

The servants jaw dropped as she struggled to understand what had just happened.

Shippou went back to his training with a sour mood.

Kuro gurgled.

XXXXXXXXX

Kagome walked swiftly through the hall scrolls in hand.

“Geeze can't this be even a little easier. One of the lower lords is complaining about fear of Sagisoto's advance on his land. Isn't there someone higher up than me that's supposed to take care of this stuff.”

Frustrated she rolled the scroll back up, “First thing I need to take care of is finding someone higher up than I am to deal with these complaints. I can't do much but protect the lords closer to me. Who is higher up?” she scratched her head frowning in confusion.

“…I don't want that, just be a little rough on her to discourage her. She's the princess, she doesn't need to fight. She'll be killed early on and we'll have an issue,” Kagome slowed as voices reached her. She peeked into the room and eyed the room's occupants.

Takahito was talking and the other council members looked rather sour.

“Kagome-sama will despise you should she ever find out.”

Takahito turned on the advisor that opposed him “You be silent Otsuki, I just don't want the princess to be killed trying to do a man's job,” Kagome blinked owlishly.

“She is young and foolish, Kagome-sama needs to be protected she could be the one person that could save us but only if she lives long enough. Teaching her to use swords isn't the way to go about it.” Takahito argued.

“She still won't like it” Minawo murmured.

Kagome could see a large man in the room. He watched them talk as he stroked his graying beard.

“When have you all become such cowards, she's a girl” Takahito hissed.

“You didn't get beat by said girl. She's a very strong girl that can badly hurt us.” Minawo snarled.

“He's right, need we remind you that she can take our status,” Koji pointed out.

“She has a temper like a demoness.”

“And she has no problem with causing issues for us. She doesn't seem to care about what other people think about her so it's not as if you can go a sully a name she doesn't care for.”

Takahito stood fuming. He knew what they said was true and it scared him as much as it did them.

Kagome chose then to slide the door open and all eyes turned on her. She stepped into the room and walked straight for Takahito. He seemed to shrink in on himself.

She stood before him her eyes narrow in anger.

He opened his mouth but the words died on his lips when she fixed a scowl on him. “Takahito,” he tensed under her angry stare, “get out of my sight”

He opened his mouth again but she gritted her teeth as if she would yell at him should he voice his comments. Finally, he bowed and moved from the room. Kagome waited until she heard him close the door before turning to her guest.

He continued to stroke his beard watching her in interest. After a long moment, Otsuki stepped forward “This is Shiki-sensei.” He announced.

Kagome eyed Shiki a moment as he bowed at the waist, “It's an honor to meet you lady Kagome.”

Kagome nodded to him “I'm Higurashi, Kagome. It's a pleasure to meet you also” She nodded slightly and the advisors could only gap.

Shiki only gave a grunt of amusement.

“Your being respectful!” Kagome frowned, half annoyed half amused by her advisors reactions.

“And you have a last name.”

Kagome's eye twitched, “of course I have a last name and I do have manners I just don't bother to waste them on annoying people.” She snorted as the advisors tensed in anger.

Spinning on her heel, she turned back to Shiki, “Will you please teach me to use a sword Shiki-san.”

He glanced at everyone present then focused on Kagome “You are bold and reckless girl,” the advisors looked at Shiki horrified he would be so disrespectful.

Kagome shrugged the comment off, “I get that a lot actually.”

Shiki seemed to find her amusing, “Why should I teach you anything, you are a woman,” he said calmly.

Kagome's eyes narrowed and the advisors moved back afraid she would explode. Instead, she was silent a long moment considering his words.

She took a few calming breaths before reaching in her top and pulling out the Shikon jewel.

“Do you know what this is?”

Shiki glanced at the jewel in disinterest, obviously he didn't know.

“This is the Shikon no Tama and I am its guardian”

“You lie, the guardian of the Shikon is with her travel party.” Angered by her blatant attempt to deceive him.

Kagome raised an eyebrow, “You mean Kikyou who took my place?”

Shiki didn't respond and Kagome smiled woefully “The shikon jewel was ripped from my side and I shattered it when a demon tried to escape with it. I traveled with the group until I got tired of being walked all over, then I left with Shippou. I have the responsibility of making the jewel whole again and I need more training. I don't know how to fight with a sword very well and I want to improve myself.”

She put the jewel away and Shiki looked flustered, “Prove this to me and I will proudly train you.”

Kagome frowned in thought, “I can't prove it to you without showing you the scar on my side, I already showed you the jewel.” Shiki looked at her dryly and Kagome stared at him in return. “I'm not giving you the jewel to examine either it makes people crazy.”

They stared at one another a long moment before Kagome finally turned to walk away. “Advisors, can you please begin searching for another teacher. He's already gotten land and a promise for a fair payment yet he still refuses, maybe someone else would like those gifts in exchange for training me.”

“Wait,” Kagome paused at the gruff voice that called out to her.

She turned to the old samurai and eyed him warily, “I never said I wouldn't train you.”

She raised an eyebrow “Oh?”

He began to stroke his beard slowly and Kagome looked at him expectantly.

“I will train you if you do one more thing,” Kagome looked at him rather irritated as he continued,

“Purify yourself at the lake of souls”

Kagome blinked owlishly and shrugged completely oblivious to the looks on her advisors face's.

“Okay.”

They gave shouts but were ignored yet again.

“You must go on the night of a full moon with witnesses''”

She nodded again and Koji stepped forward, “Milady you can't that lake is cursed.”

“Everything is cursed with you guys,” she grumbled. “I'm already cursed right, what's another curse going to do.” She waved a dismissive hand then turned back to Shiki, “We'll go tonight, I think your request came at the right time.”

She turned, “I hope to see you later tonight Shiki-san.”

That said she walked from the room.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Kagome glared at her `audience' of guards, a few servants, the advisors and Shiki standing on the lakeside staring at her. Shippou sat at the lakes edge watching everyone warily but he found Kagome's shivering form standing clad in nothing but a silk robe more interesting than the humans around him.

Kagome licked her lips fighting to calm her trembling body.

“It's so damn cold” she hissed and whimpered.

“What am I supposed to do again,” she called cringing when her voice hit an abnormal pitch.

“Recite the prayer you memorized, dunk yourself in the water, and then we can leave.” Takahito called over the strange sounds of the dark forest.

Kagome sighed and waded further into the water. When the water finally reached her waist, she closed her eyes and began to recite a purification prayer she'd learned at the Temple of Light.

She felt something touch her as if caressing her power.

A shiver raced down her spine and she paused in her prayer. Warily she looked into the water and frowned when she saw nothing.

“Kagome-sama is something wrong?”

Kagome stared at the water a moment longer before turning and wading quickly back toward the shore.

“Something just touched me, I'm getting out,” she replied stiffly.

A chill ran down her spine that left her paralyzed in shock. “Kaa-san” Shippou called fearfully.

Kagome blinked more than startled to hear Shippou's frightened cry.

She opened her mouth to say something when something shot under each of her arms crossed infront her, and pulled. The air was knocked from her lungs as she was dragged down into the murky depths.

Kagome fought wildly in the water kicking up a storm of bubbles as she was slowly dragged down toward the lakebed. Whatever it was that held her let go at a well placed smack on Kagome's part. A flash of colors and Kagome opened her eyes to see the culprit, or the shadow of the culprit.

A pair of hands shot through the bubbles and clamped tightly around her neck. Kagome grabbed at the wrist that were slowly strangling her. A woman's figure came closer and Kagome kicked out at her only for her foot to meet with cloth.

Kagome looked up at the face of the woman and froze staring at what held her. It was a woman with long black hair. Her skin was shrivled and white like paste as if she had been left to dry in the sun, robes that should have been beautiful and flowing were dingy rags full of holes. Where her eyes should have been were empty sockets and her lips were just as shriveled to the point it looked as if the hole that was her mouth was carved from wood.

Kagome's mouth opened in a scream and her powers burst forth from her body.

The woman holding Kagome gave a horrid shriek as her body literally fell apart. Her power was spinning the water now and Kagome found herself caught in the vortex and quickly drowning. A ball of light jumped from the clay like debree that had once been the creature. The ball darted around the votex frantically trying to escape.

Kagome couldn't bring herself to cry or scream as the orb seemed to spot her and dart toward her body. She kicked out of its attack range. It came back at her again and this time she couldn't dodge. It hit her dead in the chest and shoved her right into the middle of the vortex. Seconds later, everything exploded in white light and water.

When she came, too she was aware of someone pushing her on her side and water pouring from her mouth as she choked on the liquid blocking her air passage. Someone was in front of her shouting. Her eyes fluttered open to see everyone around her staring in shock and every last one of them dripping wet as a heavy rain of water beat down on them.

Darkness was creeping in around the edges of her vision but she had to make sure Shippou was okay, if the woman got him she wouldn't know what to do. A hand was petting her cheek and someone tumbled over her side. Shippou's tail appeared in her line of sight.

He quickly scrambled up and stuck his face in her line of sight petting her cheek frantically his eyes shining with tears. His hair clung to his face and he was shivering from the cold water pouring down on him and shock at seeing her hurt.

Kagome smiled reassuringly at her son before letting herself fall into blissful darkness.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sesshomaru blinked stunned as he was smacked with a shock wave of purification energy. He turned in time to see a spout of water and blue energy shoot up over the tree tops in the distance. The waterspout hit a peak before branching out in every direction and hovering over the area it had originated from before letting water fall from its branched endings. Water sprinkled his face even from so far away and he moved to wipe it away before it could begin to burn him. He paused when his skin began to tingle.

It didn't burn, if anything it was soothing.

He stood watching the unnatural event in silent awe.

“Sesshomaru-sama whats happening!” Rin hugged his leg frightened by the loud roaring noise the spout was making as it spun violently. Jaken, Ah and Un were staring in a stunned silence at the spout just like their master.

Sesshomaru looked down at the child as she clung to him slowly becoming soaked in water. He knew that the water wasn't hurting the demonic members of his pack but he had no idea what it would do to his little human ward. He bent down and took Rin up by the back of her shirt. She squealed when she found herself dangling by the back of her kimono. Sesshomaru's Mokomoko unwound from his shoulder and he placed Rin on the now unoccupied shoulder leaving the mokomoko to flow behind him.

“Hold on Rin” he said quietly before his cloud of youki began to gather under his feet. The cloud took off into the sky. Jaken squawked from the ground before scrambling to mount Ah-Un. The dragon waited for the little toad to get on properly before taking off after Rin and Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru ignored the human child that trembled with glee on his shoulder, his attention was drawn to the water spout that his youki cloud hovered over.

“Sesshomaru-sama, look at that. It's so pretty, can I have some of the pretty light stuff?” Rin gushed eagerly, her fear forgotten.

Rin pointed eagerly to the brown muck that was being spat out from the center of the water spout. The moment the brown substance hit air it vanished in a flashy and shimmering display of fading magic.

“No Rin” he said after a long moment lost in his own thoughts.

“My lord this isn't natural” Sesshomaru glanced at Jaken from the corner of his eye. The toad did not appear as frightened or cowardly as usual when addressing his lord so Sesshomaru knew he should listen to the elder youkai.

Jaken frowned at the spout “There was something in the lake that shouldn't have been here, now the lake is purging itself of the taint,” Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow but simply turned his attention back on the spout.

“But where did so much power come from to give life to this spout…” Jaken pondered aloud clutching the staff of heads closer to his body.

“Sesshomaru-sama?” Rin brushed a hand against his face absently. He glanced up at her but her attention was elsewhere. She stared at a small group of humans huddled together at the edge of the lake the spout originated from.

Sesshomaru's gaze narrowed when he saw the white clad woman in the center of the group. Everything suddenly fell into place, he now recognized the energy powering the spout, and he recognized her.

“Sesshomaru-sama is that Kagome-san?”

Sesshomaru gave slow nod, “Indeed it is Rin,” he murmured thoughtfully.

Jaken stared at the group of humans a long moment “The energy belongs to the Shikon Miko, that much makes sense but what was in the lake and how did she gain so much control over her power as to cause this.” He waved the staff in the direction of the spout and Ah Un grunted.

“Another transformation…” Rin looked down at her master curiously then back to the group.

“They're carrying her away, I think Kagome-san is badly hurt” Rin whimpered. Sesshomaru held back a snort at his wards comment.

The scent of sadness came off her in strong waves enhanced by the child being soaked in water. “She will live Rin,” he assured the child

Rin nodded absently and Sesshomaru turned on Jaken, “How long will this anomaly last?”

Jaken blinked lazily at the spout and was silent a long moment, “Forgive me my lord, I could not tell you. The lake seems to be getting rid of what should not be there. It may take a few minutes or much longer than that depending on the nature of the accident that caused this.”

Sesshomaru nodded and turned on his cloud to fly away “We'll leave it be for now…”

He glanced once more at Kagome and her retreating group. Why was it anytime something happened it was somehow tied to her?

“Come, we will return to the castle for now.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Thanks for the support everyone.