InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Eternal Curse ❯ OH LORD! ( Chapter 3 )

The Eternal Curse

Chapter Three:

OH LORD!

~*Thanks for all of your reviews guys, I really appreciate it!*~

There are a lot of breaks ( *** or ~*~ or *~*) in this story to show a large passage of time, change in position, or different characters.

Disclaimer: People say I don't have a firm grip on reality when I claim to own Inuyasha. My response? Shut the hell up.

***

You know how those days turn from bad to worse? Everything seems to go wrong. Either, everyone hates you and spends a gruesome amount of time loathing you OR you don't get enough attention in the first place. You seem to have no friends. You're frustrated, and everyone keeps pestering you about some person that you have to meet in less that a week that you haven't even caught a glimpse of. Why can't you choose your own friends? Live your own life? Everything is perfectly planned, perfectly arranged. Life sucks huh? Welcome to the lives of Princess Kagome and Prince Inuyasha.

***

Kagome had somehow survived last night, but her whimpers and screams soon turned vicious, and her room the next day, was catastrophic. Her mattress was ripped, bookcases were turned over and the fine glass of the window was shattered. Last night had been worse than usual, and when she came out of her room, in a slightly ruffled dress with tussled hair, with a pounding headache, the maids scurried to clean her chambers.

She was in a rush to grab a quick breakfast before her classes started, but she winded up running into someone.

"Oh, gomen, Mama," she mumbled.

"It's alright Kagome, are you hurting? How was last night?" she asked urgently, voice laced with tight concern. Kagome tried to suppress a smile.

"Fine," she replied, stifling a yawn.

"You don't look fine. You have bags under you eyes and your hair is a mess!"

"Thanks for noticing," she snapped, trying to run her fingers through her messy hair but they only got snared. She groaned. "Last night was rougher than usual. I barely slept!"

"I wish I could have been there for it, it is my job, after all . Gomen, gomen."

"Arigato, Mama, but it wasn't your fault. That meeting must've been important, how was it," she said, yawning, rubbing sleep from her tired eyes.

"The journey was easy as we were on our fastest steeds. You should have seen Queen Shioko's castle! Marvelous!" she added, with an envious tone. "Anyway, we chatted and planned about opening up our borders to increase trade, And we got to talking about her son and you--"

"NANI! MAMA!" Kagome screamed, making her head pound even more. She moaned.

"Gomen," she answered, still smiling.

"You didn't tell them about. . ." Her voice trailed off. She couldn't bare to think about what would happen if she had. . .

"Hai, I did, We decided it would be best if you met." Kagome couldn't help it, her mouth hung open.

"Nani! Why?" she screeched.

"He is having some of the same problems as you are."

"Yeah, and you're probably blaming it on puberty. Mama, Kikyo did it!"

"Enough!" Koi raged, eyes narrowing into slits, her mouth forming a straight line. Kagome gulped. "I will not have you talking about your poor sister like that Kagome! You know she wasn't the one!"

"Mama, I was there!" she whined. Of course, her darling, favorite, beautiful, perfect daughter could never do anything like that! HA! Yeah right. Behind that mask Kikyo was a selfish, petty, disloyal, envious person. "KIKYO IS MEAN!"

"KAGOME!" Koi shouted, just as loud, brown eyes now burning with fury.

"GOMEN!" she practically shouted, still not wanting to make eye contact.

"Go to your room," her voice was quiet and lethal. Kagome hated that tone. It was intimidating as well as unnerving.

"I can't, it's messed up, as usual."

"Then just get out of my sight. I don't want to see hide or hair or hair of you until dinner AND you will go and apologize to all of your teachers and explain why you cannot attend their classes."

"Fine, it's not like you loved me anyway! Kikyo was your favorite!" And she fled to Yumiko's room before her mother could respond.

~*~

As usual, her room was dark, with the musty smell of books and old ink. A stray beam of sunlight filtered through a cracked, grubby window.

"Ms. Yumiko. . ." Kagome murmured.

"Kagome, tardy, again?" She appeared to emerge from the shadows, and put a clawed, bony hand on her shoulder. Kagome sprung from her reach clutching her chest in horror. "Scared, now aren't we?" She wasn't yelling for once, deciding to take a chance, Kagome cocked an eyebrow.

"Ms. Yumiko, are you alright?"

"I just got great news!" Kagome prayed that it was that she was going to quit her job, but of course, she got no such favor.

"Nani?"

"That little hanyou brat from the Western Lands is coming to visit, right? He's a spoiled, selfish, destructive, defiant, idiotic boy and my bet is that he is going to ruin your life." There was an odd, eerie twinkle in her beetle black eyes that made Kagome shudder. So, that was it!

"I did not hear that from Mama. So, I will take my chances, maybe we'll be the best of friends. Anyway, Ms. Yumiko, I won't be able to attend your classes today, which is a shame, because I talked back to mother." There was a whispery cackle and she showed her yellow, jagged teeth.

"For once, your mother is heeding my word. You will come to a nasty end if that curse doesn't finish you off first." (Does this remind you of someone from Harry Potter?) Kagome narrowed her eyes, and huffed gently, crossing her arms over her chest.

<rb>

"Arigato for that, MS. Yumiko. Now I must depart." With that, she angrily stomped from the room.

Was everyone out to ruin her day? It sure seemed so. Sighing, she walked to Tai's classroom. It was the beginning of a long day.

~*~

"Oi, Sango-chan!" Kagome called, quickly rushing up to her friend who was struggling with Rei and Zenshin.

"Kagome-chan! Take Rei, arigato!" She grabbed the rope and trailed after her.

"Your welcome. I'm punished. Mama is such a--"

"Don't say it," Sango warned.

"But she can be real hot headed sometimes! All I did was say that it was Kikyo's fault," Kagome explained hurriedly, her grip on the leash tightening.

"You don't honestly believe that do you?" Sango asked, shaking her head. "I mean Kikyo was--"

"Perfect, I know, you don't have to rub it in," she mumbled. "And I don't feel like explaining." They scrambled over a log in their way while the dogs yipped happily. Of course, no one is going to believe me. Perfect, beautiful, kind, wonderful, intelligent, wise, helpful Kikyo would never do something like that She pouted, poking out her lip.

"Aw, don't get upset Kagome! I'm sure she'll be alright at dinner. That guest of yours will be coming over shortly, I assume." She nodded.

"Yeah, but I don't want a snobby boy coming over and I bet Mama is trying to hook me up with him, like Hobo."

"You mean Hojo?"

"Oh whatever. That dude was dull, I mean come on! After he finished boring me to death with his lint collection, he explained the personalities of every ant in his farm!" Kagome rolled her eyes.

"Big yawn."

"I know! And I bet this guy will be ugly and dumb, as usual!" How very wrong she was.

~*~

"And she's smart, funny, beautiful. . ." he drawled, prodding the hanyou with his finger. "Hey, are you listening?"

"Why should I?" Inuyasha growled, throwing up a small brass ball, catching it easily. "I know Ma made you do that, so I'd somehow fall in love with her!"

"Ooh, you're quick."

"I'll take that as a compliment. Anyways, I'm not falling for it, so you can stop. It's not like I wanna go anyway, it's just that Ma wants it so much that I'll put up with the little b*tch for a while," he explained heatedly, twirling the ball in his fingers. He was in the library - his entire lesson plan for Tuesday. Of course, Miroku and Inuyasha was defying rules because they were just talking. Oh man. How do I get myself into these situations? What am I gonna do for a month? Annoying the b*tch seems to be my only option, right?

"And besides, I heard that that castle is know for it's beautiful woman," Miroku added thoughtfully. Inuyasha turned bored amber eyes towards him before rolling them.

"Is that all you think about you perverted houshi?" he mumbled, throwing the ball up into the air again. He had it since it was little and never wanted to give it up like his building blocks or figurines.

"What else is there to think about when I only have you to tend to?" He never saw the ball whizzing towards him but he did feel it when it connected with his skull.

"Watch what you say, I'm going outside, don't follow," he ordered to deaf ears, for the poor houshi was unconscious.

Inuyasha found his favorite perch - the tree farthest from the castle, practically into the open, but guards always prevented him from going any further. How he longed to escape the confinement of the castle, go on a glorious hunt, smell the fresh air, to be free. Sighing, ear twitching in obvious annoyance, he slumped on his branch.

~*~

". . .and handsome and--"

"TAI SHUT UP!" she screeched, body trembling in rage. Her teacher/friend looked in with obvious hurt.

"Gomen for displeasing you, miss," Tai said stiffly. Kagome quirked an eyebrow.

"Since when did you start calling me miss?" she asked.

"Since you stopped being my friend." And before Kagome could protest, she walked off. This just isn't my day

~*~

What did I do to deserve this? she thought, stomping through the halls, trying to find someplace that wasn't swarming with servants. Last night was awful. Then Mama and I get into a fight! Yumiko is being her usual b*tchy self, Sango doesn't believe me. Tai follows me around, trying to put in a good word about Inutrasha even though she hasn't even SEEN the guy! Plus, I HAVE NO FRIENDS!

***

He knew it wouldn't last long. The temporary, fake freedom that is. And, just like he expected, Miroku came trotting up to him. Inuyasha only half listened to the employed monk's talks.

"Inuyasha, you must pack your bags and prepare tonight. Your mother wants to set out earlier. You will arrive there in less that a day, as the castles are close, and our horses are fast. I am to help you pick out clothes and anything else you would like to bring and you are supposed to wear a nice outfit, because there will be a banquet in your honor where you meet the princess, but you won't see her during the night." He paused, drawing in a quick breath, as that mischievous glint took over his eyes. Inuyasha sweat-dropped.

"DON'T get any ideas," he hissed.

"Anyway," he cleared his throat as he continued. "You are going to have to devote all of your time and energy towards the girl and everyone expects you to be friends and fast so I would loose the whole high-and-mighty thing you having going on for a while. See to it that you are polite and not a slob at the table, thank you very much." He checked his notes and scribbled on a scrap of torn parchment, making sure that he didn't miss anything. "Well, that's all."

"What's that for? It's not like I'm going out today or tomorrow, right?"

"Wrong," he snickered. "In fact, you're going out tonight. Besides, I get to go with you, to see to it that you behave yourself. Then I will be showered with beautiful women!" *WHACK*

"Get a grip," Inuyasha growled, sensing a major headache was on the way. Why had he agreed to this?

~*~

Somehow she had gotten lost. How that was even possible in her own castle, she didn't know. All she knew was that she was in a large, spacious room without any furniture. Some pale light struggled to pass through the window. The wooden floor was blanketed with two inch thick dust and it clung to her shoes as she walked across it.

"Hmm. . .with a little cleaning up and a mattress, this might be my perfect night time chambers!" she cried. "Now, all I need is a broom. I want to do it myself. It'll be my own, my own secret room and no one will be the wiser. That way my other room can stay in once piece!"

A while later, she found herself back up there, a broom, dustpan, mop, brush, pails, and cleaning sprays in hand. She had stolen them from the maid's closets and prayed that her memory knew where it was leading her, and she found that same, shiny wooden door with the less impressive space behind.

She hitched up her robes, tying them into a knot so they wouldn't brush against the floor, and grabbed the broom.

~*~

Kagome was proud of her work. The floor was sparkling and dust free, the air was fresh - since she opened the window. Now the room looked more vast and all she needed was a bed of shorts. A bundle of sheets would have to make do, and when she took them from the linen closet and piled them on the floor, it was done.

"But I have to leave soon. Someone may be looking for me, though I doubt it."

***

A zillion good byes later, he was in a carriage, though he'd much rather follow directions and bound from tree to tree, but Miroku protested, saying that he'd be sweaty and unable to take a bath before the banquet, then the princess would see him. It wasn't like it really mattered to him.

"When are we going to get there?" he asked, as he jounced along in his cushioned seat.

"In about an hour or so, why?"

"Oh, no reason," came his ever so innocent reply as he stared out the window. He's planning something, I'm sure of it

*~*

"KAGOME-CHAN!" Sango squealed, gasping for breath, leaning on Kagome for support. "I-I-I've g-g-got something to t-tell you!"

"What?" Whatever it was, it was important.

"You know that guy you were supposed to meet?" she asked, gulping in a mouthful of air.

"Yeah, what about him?. . ."

"He's coming!"

"What, next week?" she questioned lazily, hoping Sango wouldn't notice the large amount of dust that stuck to her dress.

"No, tonight."

"NANI!"

***

How could she do this to me! she screeched, fuming. It was only TODAY that Mama told me he was coming over. Only YESTERDAY that she met Queen Shioko. And a DAY later he COMES! OH MY GOD!

"Kagome?" a very timid voice asked.

"Mama?" She spun on her heel to see Koi, looking very sober.

"Gomen, Kagome-chan. Gomen. I am sorry to get mad at you. . .and punished you."

"Arigato, Mama. I shouldn't have yelled."

"Truce?"

"Truce." The pair exchanged a soft hug.

"But, honey, I've got some news."

"Yeah why is Inuyasha coming here tonight! I mean, you only met Queen Shioko yesterday, came and told me today, and now he's coming tonight! It doesn't make any sense."

"We are old friends, from childhood, I had only forgotten, seeing that I have extraordinary memory loss. But, since we met last night, I remembered. I know she also recalled our friendship, but she wouldn't tell her son, because he would assume a pre-planned marriage. Also, she said that he would most likely be coming the next day, but he could be stalled to up to a week--" Her sentence broke when she paused to sniff. "Kagome, you are very dirty! Please wash up and meet me in approximately half an hour, make sure that Sato sees to your hair. Tonight's banquet will be very important indeed!"

Grumbling, Kagome stomped up the stairs. This just isn't my day, this just isn't my day

***

Before he knew it, he was outside the castle guards, being thoroughly scanned by guards. With a grunt of approval, they let them in. The actual castle was wondrous. (Bear with me people, I don't know what Japanese castles are like) It was almost as high as it was long with a green roof and a seemingly mile long wooden patio. Little ponds and streams dotted the landscape along with some shrubs and beautiful trees.

He swung open the door, and groaned and Miroku told him to smooth some of the wrinkles in his clothing. But, he did, and followed him up the endless marble stairs. Miroku knocked twice on the door and a man, surly with hooded eyes and a big, broad chest opened the door.

"Ah, you must be Prince Inuyasha. Please enter." Another man, almost identical to the first swung open another door and he stepped inside. The floor was marble and there seemed to be a zillion, crystal or gold chandeliers hanging on the ceiling. There were some regular stair cases, but they met with twirling ones that ascended to a higher area.

"I think the Great Hall will be that way," Miroku said quietly, also in awe. Inuyasha nodded, and almost hesitantly swung open the doors. There was a deep, blood red carpet underneath their feet and on top of it was a stretched out table with a sparkling white table cloth laden with expensive looking china and silver/gold eating utensils.

Before he could make a move, a woman, with long black hair cascading down her back and big brown eyes rushed up to him.

"You must be Prince Inuyasha! I'm Queen Higurashi. Please, come in. Someone will take your bags for you," she said quickly and excitedly. He merely nodded. Now where was that girl he was supposed to hang out with. . .? The Great Hall was completely filled, people sat chattering in their seats, there was only one empty one. "I apologize. Kagome is late, but she will not be able to stay with you for long, because she has to depart to her chambers around 5 or 6 o'clock. Hopefully she will be here any minute." She plastered a fake grin over her face. Inuyasha just shrugged, hoping that she wouldn't detect how sloppily dressed he was.

"Ah, and here's Kagome!" Koi cried. His eyes swept the Hall until they settled upon a pair of chocolate brown ones and in a few seconds they locked on his.