InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Quadrille of War ❯ In the Kingdom of the Blind ( Chapter 4 )

Author Notes: I think this might be record time for me. I usually start up chapters the day I post just so I remind myself where I wanted to lead off, but I just couldn't stop myself. Thank you to all the reviews, I know this fic doesn't have the audience I hoped it would. . . but this chapter is for you! I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!

 

Disclaimer: All I own is my pride and that doesn't amount to much.

 

 

In the Kingdom of the Blind

By Hoshi-ni-Onegai

 

A strong man of even stronger principals stood at the entrance of his castle. At first glance anyone would just simply say that he was looking over the landscape of his kingdom, but anyone else that knew him any bit better would know that he was anxious. It had been a long season in which he did not see the love of his life and he wasn't sure if he would allow her to leave for the season in the coming year.

 

His ears perked as he heard a distant carriage coming over the hill that protruded before the castle. The galloping of hooves made him hopeful and a bright smile crept across his face as he saw the familiar carriage come up and over the hill.

 

As the carriage made short work of the remaining distance, he tried to collect himself as he walked calming down the steps. Little did he know that each step he took betrayed a cheerful spring showing his happiness. The carriage coming to a stop and footman opening the door he grinned as a dainty little hand reached to be helped out.

 

“Kagome!”

 

Looking up from her concentration on her feet, her eyes brightened immediately and ran into the strong arms of the man. “Father!”

 

Embraced within the arms of her father Kagome sighed, “I missed you so much.”

 

“Same here kid.” He pulled her back and looked upon his daughter that shared many of his facial features but had her mother's coloring -except for her surprising gray-blue eyes. “You've grown. . . I told you not to grow while you were away.”

 

Giggling she hugged him again. “I tried but I could not stop. . . An entire season is far too long.”

 

Wrapping one arm around her, he walked her back into her childhood home. “How about we say hell with courtesy and have you skip out on the courts next year?”

 

Playfully hitting him on the arm she shook her head. “And have us be thought the crudest of the four monarchs? I'm sure mother is turning in her grave even at the mention of it. Anyways, I'm home for two of the four seasons due to our Lands' relation with the South.”

 

He frowned, “I still don't see why you must go to court. The noble women are introduced to all the eligible noble men to be eventually married. . . but I arranged your marriage years ago Kagome.”

 

She smiled, “I know father, but it is still polite to attend court.”

 

“And keep the men thinking you're available. Oh, you're such a heartbreaker. . . Just like your old man.”

 

She laughed, “From what mother told me you were the one chasing after her in court.”

 

He furrowed his brows, “Your mother always loved her stories.”

 

“Oh don't disrespect her name.” Snuggling into him she looked up to gaze at his face. “You haven't changed at all. . .”

 

He grinned, “Your father will always be this ruggedly handsome, don't worry.”

 

Laughing she sat down in one of the chairs as they arrived in the sitting room. “Tell me what has occurred during this season. I can't think that nothing occurred in the three moons I have been gone.”

 

A hard expression fell across the king's face but he shook it away. “No, nothing to concern yourself with Kagome.”

 

“These will one day be the lands of my husband and my self, it does concern me.”

 

His expression softened as he took in the resolved look of his only child. “These always were and will be your lands. You are my daughter. These land will be yours first, and your husband's second.”

 

Gazing up at him she smiled. “Of course father.”

 

He looked upon his daughter of thirteen years and wondered where the time had passed. It was a few short years ago when his wife had given birth to a beautiful baby girl and he had cradled her within his arms. Now, the girl was growing into a young woman and he couldn't help but think that she was slipping from his fingers. It had been a tragic day in his life when she had finally replaced calling him `daddy' to `father.'

 

Taking the seat next to her, he nodded. “So tell me about your season in the Eastern Lands.”

 

Weeks later the king was occupied with the matters of his kingdom as he met with his advisors.

 

“Can't this be dealt with without a war?” Ryo, king of the Northern Lands and full time father of Kagome, sighed as he listened to his advisors talk about conflicts with the Southern Lands.

 

“I'm afraid that with how the relations are going it is unavoidable.” Seeing the tired look of the king the advisor added, “But we will try to postpone it as much as possible.”

 

Ryo nodded in understanding while one of the servants went up to speak to him. “Your daughter your majesty.”

 

He turned his head toward the man, “What of her? Is she ill?”

 

Hearing the words of the protective father the servant shook his head smiling, “No your majesty. She wishes for your audience in the courtyard after your meeting.”

 

With the servants words he stood and addressed his advisors. “I assume we are done here.”

 

“Yes your majesty.”

 

Not giving it a second thought he left out the doors leading to the courtyard. There, sitting amongst the flowers, which mysteriously always bloomed so vibrantly, sat his daughter and his wife's nephew.

 

“Kagome.”

 

Looking up from the conversation with her cousin she smiled. “That was quick. I thought I would be waiting a few more hours.”

 

Settling himself to sit amongst the flowers as well he smiled. “I can't leave my little princess waiting can I?” He took his attention toward the young man. “Hello Kazuma. How are your parents?”

 

“You know my mother. She's been telling me to bring Kagome to visit at some point. Says that she needs a woman's influence.”

 

Ryo laughed, “Your mother is just like her sister. Kagome's mother was also always worried that she would lack female sensibility due to her having no sisters or female cousins.”

 

Kagome rolled her eyes, “Kazuma is my only cousin father.”

 

Shrugging he leaned back on his arms. “So what did you want to talk to me about?”

 

“Well. . . you see, with you in meetings with advisors I find my self a bit bored.”

 

He frowned at her words. Sure, he had been pretty much swamped since she had arrived, but that was because of the conflict arising with the aggressions in the Southern Lands. Now, if Onigumo could keep his men off the holy Central Lands and away from his borders and those of his allies he wouldn't be so busy. “Do you want to invite some of your friends from court for companionship?”

 

She sighed, “I spend most of my year with them, and it's court. . . I can't really be my self around them.”

 

“So what do you suggest?. . . You're not about to ask for a pet again are you?”

 

Pushing away the tragic memories of dear Mr. Whiskers, Kagome shook her head. “No. But I would like to ask you permission of something. . .”

 

He stared at her warily. She was known to manipulate him as easily as her mother could. He mentally sighed, he would forever be doomed to be wrapped around Kagome's little finger. “What is it?”

 

Glancing at her cousin that nodded in encouragement she took a deep breath. “I want to train in sword fighting. . .”

 

“Oh God. . .”

 

She sat up to regard her father more urgently. “It would be good for me to know how to fight -to defend my self.”

 

He turned his attention toward Kazuma. “I'm assuming you're behind all this?”

 

Kazuma shrugged and smiled at his uncle and king. “She's a very difficult person to say no to.”

 

Bringing his attention back to his stubborn daughter he frowned, “Where did you get this idea anyways? When on earth have you had a need to defend yourself?”

 

“There was this boy at court-”

 

Without letting his daughter finish, he roared as fury entered his eyes. “I'll kill him! Who was it? Who was the bastard that tried to touch my daughter? !”

 

She rolled her eyes. “Nothing like that father! He just said that it wasn't fair that a girl would be ruling the kingdom some day: a person that can't even defend herself. Then he went on to say with a couple other boys that the strongest of all of them should be the one I marry.” Kagome frowned at the memory of what the boy had said. “I don't want to just end up being the woman behind the man.”

 

He couldn't believe that the little girl he had sent to spend her first social season in the Eastern Lands had returned as a woman worried for the welfare of her future kingdom. “You don't have to listen to anything that boy has to say. And they have no right to even assume the strongest will marry you. Your intended is stronger than any of them will ever hope to ever be.” Stroking the smooth raven hair she had inherited from her late mother he smiled. “If you're anything like your mother you will never just be the woman behind the man.”

 

“Even if what you say is true I want to learn to fight.”

 

Seeing the unfaltering look in his child's eyes he sighed. “So how long have you been training with Kazuma?”

 

Kagome was taken aback, surprised that her father had known about her sneaking in lessons with her older cousin. On the flipside Kazuma laughed, “I told you he would figure it out.”

 

Ryo shook his head smiling, “What did you expect Kagome? This is my castle and you are my daughter, I should know everything that's going on. So, Kazuma, how bad is she?”

 

“Horrible -doesn't know which side of the sword is sharp.” Receiving a jab in the abdomen from his cousin he laughed, “She's actually picking it up very quickly.”

 

“Just like your father.”

 

Kagome shook her head in exasperation. “Anything I do well, you think I got it from you.”

 

“You can't deny what's in your blood.”

 

Under the supervision of her older cousin by seven years, Kagome took to learning the ways of the sword. Much like how Kazuma had told her protective father, the princess was doing surprisingly better than expected. Completely engrossed in her new activity, Kagome used all her spare time to practice. Consequently, a short year later, she was sparring with her now twenty-one year old cousin and occasionally beating him. She quickly mastered the sword technique of the royal army and that of her father. King Ryo could only look upon his daughter with a sense of pride as she rapidly mastered the sword, bow and arrow, longbow, hand-to-hand combat, and the long staff. Being such a fast learner, no one was surprised that she could combat on a barebacked horse and run faster than most men in the royal army.

 

“You're not letting me win are you? Because you know I won't have you beheaded if you beat me you know. . .” Kagome looked upon Rinji that was catching his breath after racing with her around the castles grounds.

 

“I'm saddened that you would think so my lady. When I have been giving it my fullest effort.” Rinji smiled as he sat down to rest.

 

Kazuma laughed and clapped the tired man on the back. “Don't go teasing the royal army Kagome. We're an overly proud bunch.”

 

Shaking her head, the fifteen-year-old princess sighed. “I can't believe my father made you a knight.”

 

“And soon to be seraphim I might add.” Rinji boasted for his fellow army member.

 

She crossed her arms as she regarded her cousin. “Who has ever heard of a Duke, second in line to the throne, serving in the royal army?”

 

“Well, who has ever heard of a Princess, first in line to the throne, training to be one of the greatest warriors in the land.”

 

She responded with a glare at her cousin. “I'm not a warrior. I'm just a princess that just happens to know how to hold her own if the time ever called for it.”

 

“In battle?” Kazuma titled his head in question.

 

“Oh shut up.”

 

“Don't tell me that my proper young daughter has picked up the foul language of the warriors.”

 

Spinning around she grinned as her father came from another long meeting with his advisors. Over the previous two years the conflicts with the Southern Lands were only getting worse while alliances with the Western and Eastern Lands were getting stronger. Prepared to quip back at her father Kagome froze when she noticed the tired and worried look upon his face. “What's wrong father?”

 

Wrapping an arm around his rapidly growing daughter he sighed, “I know you have only been home for a moon cycle, but I'm afraid I have to leave for a bit.”

 

It was Kagome's turn to sport a worried look. “A bit? To where?”

 

He looked toward Kazuma and Rinji, “The royal army and I will be heading toward the Southern Lands at an attempt for negotiations of peace.”

 

Catching the attention of her father once again she questioned. “Then why must you take the entire royal army? Wouldn't a smaller group be less threatening and better for peace negotiations?”

 

Ryo shook his head, “That would be the route I would choose if I were to be dealing with any of the other lands; however, with the Southern Lands and the way Onigumo is, I would like to go prepared. Just in case.”

 

“I do not like the sound of this father.”

 

He sighed and kissed the top of his daughter's head. “Nor do I.”

 

Kagome sighed as looked into the mirror. It had been two moon cycles since her father's departure for the Southern Lands, taking along with him Kazuma and the rest of the army as mentioned. The negotiations seem to be taking longer than expected and had led to the king not being present at the opening ball for the Northern Lands' social season.

 

What worried her was not taking the task of opening the season alone, for it was something she had seen done many times over, but was for the length at which her father had absent. She could only hope that he would return quickly and safely before the end of the season. If he failed to return before then, she would be unable to see until her return six moons later.

 

Her long stubbornly wavy hair had been curled and cascaded down her back. A small portion of it was pinned to the sides as she adorned a diamond and pearl incrusted tiara that had belonged to her grandmother. Her dress, a rich burgundy, was the design customary to her native land and reached the floor with an impressive trail. The maids had made her up and she couldn't help but think that she didn't recognize the girl. . . woman in the mirror.

 

“Are you ready my lady?”

 

Hearing the voice of handmaiden she turned toward the door. “I suppose I am.”

 

Entering into the grand hall she saw that it was decorated with the flowers that bloomed at this time of the year and each chandelier was lit completely with the hundreds of candles. She had never been fond of these functions. The grand hall that held her father's regal throne and her smaller more feminine one at its side had always been a place of familiarity and comfort. However, with the social season and the ball, the grand hall could only be seen as foreign territory.

 

At her entry the music gently ceased and all looked upon her. Standing tall with her chin poised she smiled her trained `princess on duty' smile. Gliding with the training of hundreds of hours of etiquette training her mother had made her father swear she would receive, Kagome made her way toward her throne. Standing before the crowd with her back to the throne she spoke in an imperial voice that she was still unaccustomed to using as it carried through out the room to each ear present.

 

“The Northern Lands graciously welcomes all of you from my land and the lands of our peaceful neighbors. May the season begin.” With a nod toward the crowd she gestured for them to proceed in their previous conversation and dance as she sat upon her throne.

 

As much as she disliked attending balls, she disliked them even more when she was to be the hostess. It was custom for the hosting lands' royalty to sit upon their throne and watch over the crowd joyfully. Joyful was far from what Kagome was. For, due to her open position on the throne any noble male could approach her in inviting her in a dance. And being the prime unwed noble woman to marry at the present moment, many of the men tried to woo her heart. She sighed. Her father had reminded her of her marriage date within her sixteenth year, as agreed upon when the arrangement was decided between the two fathers. But she couldn't help but think that the date was fast approaching and she knew little to nothing about the man she would inevitably call her husband. Also, with the wedding date set, the single noble men were completely convinced they would have her fall madly in love with him and have her attempt in breaking the marriage arrangement. One such man was the arrogant prince from the Eastern Lands that decided he would be the first to approach her this evening.

 

“Hello Princess Kagome, I must compliment you on this exquisite ball.”

 

Giving a struggled smiled Kagome nodded at the wolf demon, “You are much too kind Prince Kouga. The social season commencement ball held in your land always dazzles me.”

 

Smiling at the compliment he looked over the princess, “During which time you dazzle me with your beauty more every time I look upon you. You have become such a beautiful damsel in these few short years.”

 

She smiled through her gritted teeth at the sugar sweet words that the prince was pouring upon her. “And you have not changed. The demon blood within you does well in preserving your youth. It is hard to believe that you look to have not aged a day since the day of my birth.”

 

Kagome had tried to point out the vast age difference between her and the prince, but Kouga seemed unfazed and took it as only a compliment that she was showering her with. He had a response ready when suddenly a servant came up to the two of them breaking their conversation. Bowing his head in apology toward the foreign prince the servant went to kneel next to the throne of his princess and whisper to her. “I am sorry to disturb you during your ball my lady.”

 

Kagome tilted her head toward Kouga in customary apology, and then turned her attention toward the servant. “Do not worry Nobuhiro. Do you have urgent news?”

 

Nobuhiro whispered in a low tone as so that the demon guests would not hear their conversation. “It is your father.”

 

She froze at his words and worry laced through her voice. “Has he returned? Is he not well?”

 

“I do not know my lady, but the royal army has been seen coming over the hill. . .”

 

At his pause Kagome could do nothing but panic. “Y-yes?”

 

“They do not raise the mast of your family crest, but a black one is raised in its stead.”

 

Hearing the words from the man Kagome's eyes widened with fear. It couldn't be. This was the day her mother dreaded but had the fortune of never whitnessing, but in turn Kagome had taken up the task of fearing it.

 

Shooting to stand from her throne she raced out of the grand hall as the guests began to loudly whisper over the strange behavior of the princess. Speeding down the long corridors she kicked off the ornate shoes that slowed her down as she slammed through the large doors of the castle. The same doors that her father waited every year at to welcome her into his strong open arms. As she ran into the pouring rain she halted abruptly on her bare feet when coming upon the horses of the royal army. She searched through the darkness for the figure of her father but his majestic presence could not be found. Coming upon the familiar face of her cousin she ran to his horse as he dismounted.

 

“What has happened Kazuma? Where is my father?”

 

Turning around slowly as to gather his words he looked upon his cousin. She had been beautifully dressed for the ball and now she was standing within the rain- ruining her hair, makeup and dress. But all that didn't matter now. Kagome always gave off the air of being under control, betraying that she was younger than her years indicated. However, the panic in her eyes made her look like a lost child and Kazuma feared that she would become just that.

 

“There were no negotiations. The paranoia of your father was right. For the better part of the past weeks was filled with staged mock talks of peace. . . but it was all a trap. Onigumo had set up an ambush to attack us when we had let down our guard.”

 

Kagome trembled at each word that came out of her cousin's mouth. “W-what of my father?”

 

Kazuma stared down to the right, anything to not see the look within her eyes. “I'm sorry Kagome. . . he fell in battle.”

 

She shook her head, her wet hair sticking to her face. “No. . . No. Father would never fall in battle. He was the greatest warrior of all the lands. He survived countless wars, he will survive countless more.”

 

“He was attacked from all sides by Onigumo's strongest demons. . . Onigumo made it so that your father had no chance of making it.”

 

“B-but. . . he's my father. . . he's supposed to be here for me. . . I'm supposed to be here for him. . . We're all we have! No!” Her knees gave out from the intense emotions but Kazuma was quickly there to hold her in his embrace.

 

“I'm sorry Kagome.”

 

She yelled and cried within her cousins arms. “No! Father! Father! . . . Daddy!”

 

Two days later the glitz and glamour of the ball had faded into a distant memory. The guests of the ball learned of the king's death the morning after and had stayed close to the castle to attend the funeral the day after. As the day progressed, thousands of people and demons alike came from across the lands. The traditional service was being held in the grand hall, where only a couple days earlier held festivities.

 

The throne that had stood so proudly was now hidden from view. Kagome looked upon her father's throne as she sat in her own. It was cloaked in a material of black silk. As custom with her land when a monarch passed away, the throne was to be hidden in such manner for three days. Then, it would be taken away from the room. She would never sit with her father ever again. Another noble came up to pay her respects and she nodded in silence. Their words of comfort did nothing, but she was grateful for the respect they came to show her father.

 

Beyond the guests and the cloaked throne was part of the tradition that she hated the most. There, a few feet away from her, on an ornate marble platform laid the body of her father. The only thing separating her and her father was the short distance and a sheer fabric that hid nothing of her father's image. Years ago, when she went through the same process with her mother's death she had gotten sick and had to be excused. But now, older, wiser, but no more used to death, she sat trying to control her emotions.

 

She hated the custom because it made it seem like he was only asleep and he would open his eyes to smile at her the he always did. But that wasn't the case. He would never wake up again, he would never smile at her again. The most difficult thing to deal with had been thinking about her father as not father, but as the body. Paying respects to the body. Looking upon the body. Saying farewell to the body.

 

Her face was devoid of emotion but screamed of sorrow. As she looked upon the crowd tiredly she saw her cousin approach her.

 

“Kagome. . .”

 

She forced a smile upon her face but only proved to look tragic. “Kazuma.”

 

“How are you holding up?”

 

She shrugged, “All things considered I think I'm doing well. . . I just. . .”

 

He nodded encouraging her and she let out a gentle sigh of relief. It had been a difficult couple of days, everyone expecting her to figure things out for her father's death -when she had not expected this day to come so quickly.

 

“I always thought that my father would out live me. . . being who he is. . .” Looking upon the peacefully face of her father she felt as if in a daze. “I never thought I would become an orphan. . . I'm all alone now.”

 

Throwing etiquette out the door he tugged his younger cousin in his arms. “You're not alone. You'll always have me, and mother has even told you she would come here to take care of you.”

 

Within his arms she shook her head and wiped away some of the tears that slipped out. “No, I shouldn't be taken care of anymore. The Northern Lands need a leader.”

 

He stoked her hair and looked into her face. “You can wait, the advisors can manage for a while until you are ready. . . or you can marry and your husband can-”

 

“No. That's not what this land needs. They need a queen from their land, not a king from a foreign one.”

 

His eyes widened as he stared upon his cousin. “Queen? Kagome. . .”

 

She nodded, “This is something I have to do. And I have spoken with my intended already.”

 

“He came?”

 

“One of the first to greet me. . . and I have discussed with him to postpone the marriage. He understood that the lands needed stability before an entirely new monarchy is set.”

 

“Postpone for how long?”

 

“The season of my twentieth birthday.”

 

His eyes widened in surprise. “That would be during the Northern Lands' social season. . . That is five years Kagome.”

 

“I know. . . and I want to ask you to be at my side through all of it. . . is that asking too much?” She sheepishly inquired.

 

Kazuma shook his head smiling sadly. The young princess had been forced to grow up in a sudden spurt and Kazuma couldn't help but notice and worry a bit. “Of course not.”

 

“Thank you. . . for everything.”

 

She turned her attention to look upon forlornly at her father's cold still body. At sunset tomorrow he would be set upon a pyre to be cremated and interred within the royal family crypt along with her mother -forcing her to say her final farewells.

 

Another quick two days later with her father put to rest, Kagome face the crowd and her people. Out of her black downplayed dress of mourning, she now adorned the most elaborate and regal dress she had ever been clothed in. The only sign of mourning left upon her was the black ribbon used to tie the royal crest pendant around her neck. She thought upon the irony of such a joyous event like a coronation occurring the day after an interment.

 

Seeing the look in the eyes of the subjects, her subjects, she began to worry. What if she didn't rule the kingdom well? What if she drove these lands into the ground? She could feel herself trembling, but with a glance at Kazuma she took in a deep breath. She had his support if nothing else. Then her eyes fell upon the portrait of her father that hung on the sidewall along with all the other previous monarchs. Kagome smiled as she swore to herself to keep the memory of her father with her forever. She would always remember the strong image of his back with long silver hair as he looked over his lands. The way his piecing icy blue eyes, present in all white tiger demons, sparkled when welcoming her home. How his deadly claws that embraced her in a gentle hug when they could destroy anything else. The tiger ears that adorned the top of his head indicating his half demon blood. Her father had always been a sight for sore eyes, and his distinct features had always set him apart. Although her own raven hair was common amongst the lands and her obviously human physical features made her seem as human as possible, she knew that her eyes were that of her fathers. She would be reminded at each glance at a mirror that the strength and pride she held within them came from her father. Kagome resolved to treasure the distinct trait that her father's demon had passed upon her.

 

The high priest of the land placed the royal crown atop her head and she rose from her kneeled position. Poising herself over the crowd she knew that as the quarter tiger demon daughter of her father she would make her parents proud. “I, the new Queen Kagome of the Northern Lands as the daughter of the late King Ryo and Queen Kaya, will reign over these lands justly and wisely until the day of my demise.”

 

Hearing her words all those present at the ceremony bowed deeply and welcomed the new Queen to their land and their hearts.