InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Princess and the Pauper ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

The old carriage pulled up outside the large, foreboding castle. The air was quiet and peaceful, which belied the atmosphere in the area. The nation was at war and the guards at the castle gates were suspicious and cautious. The driver of the carriage opened the door. Out stepped a older man, with silver hair and mustache and spectacles on his face. His face was definately foreign ... he was not from these lands. As he stepped down, he took in the sights around him. His outfit told a story all in itself. Khaki shirt, khaki pants and khaki hat. This man was an explorer and this was just another stop on his journey.

The older man turned around and extended his hand for his passenger to accept. From within the carriage, a soft, small hand covered in a white glove emerged and took the older man's hand. Its owner stepped onto the small step and then stepped onto the ground. The face looked up at the castle. A lovely face appeared under the huge, lacy hat. Fiery red hair hung in ringlets around her soft, porcelain face, enhacing the large, emerald green eyes and soft, pouty, pink lips. Her dress was robin's egg blue, frilly and lacy with pearls covering the bodice that pushed up her very full breasts. The skirt extended out quite far, enhanced by the many crenolins that she wore underneath. Blue, ankle high, laced up boots completed the outfit.

"Mary Colleen. We mustn't dawdle. Our host is waiting for us." said the elder man.

The young girl looked at the old man, "Yes father." she replied, softly.

The driver announced the visitors to the castle guards, who warily let them pass. They followed the driver into the huge castle and into the main room,

"My lord. Sir Winston O'Malley and his daughter are here to see you." the driver announced.

"Fine. Fine. Thank you, Kuichi." the man sitting on the floor in the middle of the sparsley decorated room said.

The man known as Kuichi departed and the man in the center of the room said, "Remove your shoes. In proper Japanese houses, shoes are not worn."

The young girl looked at her father and he nodded his approval. He had been to the Land of the Rising Sun on many occasions and knew the customs. He had already started to remove his shoes. His daughter was a bit taken aback and found she had to sit on the floor to remove her laced up boots. It was very awkward.

After removing their footwear, they were invited to sit at the table with the man. As his face came into view, Mary Colleen gasped slightly. The man was much, much older than her tender 15 years. He even looked older than her father. Why had her father agreed to this?

"My lord Mamoru." started O'Malley, in fluent Japanese but with an Irish accent, "Allow me to introduce my daughter, Mary Colleen."

The young girl bowed to the older man and spoke in fluent Japanese, "My pleasure, my lord."

Mamoru grew angry, "Have you not told your daughter not speak in front of a man, O'Malley?"

"My apologies, my lord." O'Malley said in Japanese, then talked in his Irish brogue, "Child, do not anger him. He is very traditional Japanese."

Mary Colleen looked at her father and nodded, fear evident on her eyes. She averted her eyes and studied the floor, as her father had taught her to do. She was very uncomfortable.

"O'Malley." started the lord, "I have had business dealings with you for a very long time. It is because of our past that I have agreed to take yet another wife. As you know, your daughter will be my fifth wife. She must learn her place in Japanese society as a princess."

"Yes, my lord. I am most grateful to you for agreeing to marry my daughter." said O'Malley.

"Be grateful that I am not making you pay your debt to me. Your financial ruin caused me quite a bit of gold. Your precious child is your trump card. Because of her, I will not behead you."

"Yes, my lord." O'Malley said, his voice shaky.

Mary Colleen continued to stare at the floor, her mind full of fear and trepidation. She had never been in this land and so far, she did not care for it. Every ounce of her being told her to run, but she had promised her father.

"The wedding will commence in the spring." announced Mamoru, "This will give her plenty of time to adjust to Japanese life."

Mamoru clapped his hands and a young maiden entered the room,

"Kita. Please show our guests to their rooms." Mamoru commanded.

The woman bowed, "Yes, my lord."

The woman turned and walked down the long hall, with O'Malley and his daughter following behind her.

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He ran through the forest as face as his feet would take him. Long, silvery tresses blew in the breeze as the red of his outfit seemed a blur,

'Tonight's the night.' he thought to himself, 'I have to find a safe place before ...'

He hopped into the tree as the rain started pouring from the sky. Settling back against the trunk, he relaxed. Then he sensed it. A woman. And not just any woman,

'Who is she?' he thought, as he gazed around the tree at the woman with a bow and arrow dressed in priestess garb.

"Who's there?" she called, "Are you after the sacred jewel?"

"The sacred jewel?" he answered back, "Never heard of it."

To his dismay, he watched as his claws receded into his skin and felt his fangs retract. In the breeze, he saw his hair had turned black. He slumped against the tree, dejected. His demon powers were gone. He was vulnerable.

"Good." she responded, "If you don't know of it then that's for the best. Stay away from me."

As she tried to stagger away, she fell in a pool of rain water. The boy jumped down from the tree and went over to examine her,

"She's some priestess." he said, mainly to himself.

Cries were heard in the distance, "KIKYOU! KIKYOU! WHERE ARE YOU KIKYOU?"

The boy looked up and decided that the better part of valor was to get away from the priestess quickly. He ran away and found another tree to hide in until morning.

As he sat there, another demon flew overhead and he heard it commenting,

"The sacred jewel. I must possess the sacred jewel so I can expand my powers."

"So that's what the sacred jewel is." he said with a smirk, "That priestess' name was Kikyou, wasn't it?"

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Mary Colleen stood and looked out her window at the vast Japanese wilderness,

'Oh, mama. I wish you were still alive. If you were alive, I could remain in Swords. Oh mama, how I miss you and Kenneth, my brother.'

Mary Colleen hung her head and allowed the tears to flow freely.

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A/N: Chapter 1 is done. I usually update pretty quickly. It won't be long until our heroine meets Inuyasha!