InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Resurgence ❯ Chapter 1

Blanket Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha or any of the characters therein. They are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, and she does a beautiful job!

 

Chapter 1

 

 

 

Our estate had many things that one would see at any other estate, the richly crafted building, the marvelous gardens, the pond with the lily pads and frogs, the vast forest with a lovely forest path, the stables, the servants and the maids, the fresh air, the smell of freshly baked goods. We had it all…except for a family.

 

The large building suited for a king was owned and operated by myself and my father, Duke Josias the fifth. His father was the brother of King James I after he was brought into my grandfathers' home as a foster child.

 

My father was a suitable man. He wanted above all else to take and care of me, although, many times that resulted in him being gone for long moments at a time.

 

Now was no different.

 

It was the spring of 1645, and we were under my beloved Uncles' rule.

 

He didn't really consider us much as family. The royal ties didn't delve that deep when the King or Queen were always on the radar to be assassinated.

 

Of course, it could also be stated that since there is actually no real blood ties that my uncle just preferred that we were not connected in that way, which was fine with me.

 

Too often a time then not, the royal family longed to marry inside their own bloodlines, and although I might have been able to see the appeal, I found it most repulsive when that now included me in the mix…to some degree, but it is rather disgusting when you have your own uncle looking at you as if you were a piece of meat, so I decided on all accounts to no longer visit him unless summoned, which had worked out fine for the last two years.

 

With my father going to and fro to his palace, I awaited at our home. I hated to travel such long hours only to be bored and obnoxiously wooed by my uncles court, so on the day of my fifteenth birthday when most girls my age would beg and plead for a chance to be a part of the kings court, I respectfully told my father that I would rather find marriage through love then through the slimy scheme of lustful eyes. Of course he had chuckled at the time, but he most took it certainly, for since that day, he had not forced me to my uncles' court once, and for that…I am eternally grateful.

 

Life at our estate, however, did still have the ups and downs. Just because I managed to flea the annoying men at my uncles court did not mean that I was able to get passed the men that aligned my fathers. Most days I would find it too tiring to go outside, thus I traveled inside our homes' walls. Although there wasn't much to accomplish, I was able to keep away from the dire pleas of the men from our court.

 

I truly didn't see the point in it at all either.

 

What was so fascinating about a man bugging one so much that they automatically became wooed? Further, who's to say that I should accept the advances of one man over the other just from their family's standing?

 

While I would have to admit that living like a queen in my own section of the Empire didn't falter my steps, I will not make my judgment on who I wed just from the amount of money the other possesses.

 

Marriage is supposed to be about love, is it not?

 

So without love for the other person, what does that give?

 

Need?

 

I truly did not know, and I would not know, for I knew that I would marry for love, the only reasonable excuse to get married as my mother always taught me, and if I didn't keep to anything else that she held to, that was one thing that I would never budge on.

 

I believe with all my heart that love is the only reason for marriage.

 

“Lady Kagome,” one of my personal staff called me.

 

I looked up, hunched over my journal, to find Sango, my deeply trusted friend, standing in my doorway. My stylist dropped, “Sango,” I replied as I made to stand and go to her.

 

I embraced her in a hug, only to have her sighing loudly as I did so, “Must you be so open with your affections,” she teased as she embraced me back.

 

I could only laughed at her concerns, “Well yes, I think I must,” I replied as I stepped back from her, my arms grasping her shoulders with her hands lightly resting on mine.

 

She just rolled her chocolate orbs, “Well then, I suppose there is no hope for you after all,” she lightly teased, a small grin tugging on her lips.

 

“Oh,” she immediately dropped her arms as she swiveled to her pocket fishing out a small piece of parchment, not the best…but a writing canvas even so.

 

“This came for you,” she replied as she handed me the piece of tattered material.

 

I reached out to grab it. My eyebrow quirking as I did so, “My, now, who would go through the troubles of sending me such barbarous draft?”

 

The parchment really was not that hard to unfold. The sides might have stuck together mildly, but it was only from the mud smudges and gentle tears along the edges that it did so. Finally the note opened, and I glanced over it.

 

My Dearest Daughter,

 

Although it has been months since I have seen you last, I wish to bestow great news! I am on my way home as I write, and I will be back within a fortnight.

 

I hope all has been well with you. I miss you greatly, and I cannot wait for the chance to see your beautiful face once more.

 

With all my love,

 

Your Father

 

April 5th 1645

 

I glanced once more at the note, trying to make sure that what I read was true. He was coming home…my father was truly coming home?

 

I looked up to see Sango glancing at me expectantly, although most servants and maids were not allowed to stand and wait in the presence of the royal family, I didn't care much for that protocol.

 

“He's coming home,” I replied happily to her, my mouth widening in the largest grin to date since my father's departure.

 

Sango's eyes widened, “Well, that's wonderful news,” she replied with a smile of her own. “Did he say when,” she asked looking down at the piece of parchment in my hands.

 

“A fortnight,” I immediately told her, opening the note so that she could see it for herself.

 

“Oh, well that's amazing,” Sango exclaimed after looking over the note, “He will be here tomorrow night.”

 

My eyes widened, “Tomorrow night?” I asked incredulously. “What's the date today?”

 

“Why its April 18th,” she replied without hesitation.

 

I fell into my chair next to the door, “Oh no,” I replied shaking my head back and forth.

 

“My lady, is everything all right?” Sango asked as she rushed to my side. “I thought you would be ecstatic about your fathers return,” she wondered aloud.

 

“I am,” I replied quickly. I turned to glance at her, “It's just… I have to get this place in order before he does so,” my hand went to my forehead. I gently messaged the area as I felt a throbbing begin in my temple. “So much to plan…and we only have a day?” I asked myself aloud.

 

Sango lightly chuckled at my behavior, “Don't worry so much.” She patted my head as if I were a small child, “Leave it to us,” she replied smiling down at me.

 

I felt a small smile grace my features, eternally grateful for the wonderful staff that aligned our walls, so much was done because of them, and none of it was truly ever our doing. “Thank you,” I replied genuinely as I made to get up.

 

I walked over to my desk, pulling out a couple scraps of paper. I quickly jotted down my list and handed it over to Sango. “We will be having a welcome home party for my father tomorrow night,” I exclaimed excitedly, finally allowing myself to be completely at ease with his return

 

“Ah, so it's to be a surprise,” she replied with a joyful grin, nodding her head as she made decisions of her own.

 

“Yes, and I think I know of the perfect way to get him to be surprised,” I told her with a mischievous grin crossing my features.

 

“Oh, pray tell,” Sango responded as she scooted in closer to me, her head residing only a couple of inches from my own.

 

I urged her closer still, “Well…”

 

 

A/N: I am happy to announce a new story in the making. I am quite happy with this one. It has a lot to be expected, so please leave a review and tell me what you think of it. I love to hear feedback, and thank you so much for reading so far!