InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Tragedy of Inu Yasha and Kagome ❯ Act 1, Scenes 2 and 3 ( Chapter 2 )

The Tragedy of Inu Yasha and Kagome

By Oshidori

A/N: Some chapters might be longer than others, but this is because I'm trying to keep things parallel to the actual play. Gomen!

Also, please feel free to correct any terminology or spelling that might be wrong ^_^

Disclaimer: All IY characters are the creations of the great Rumiko Takahashi. The storyline and characters they represent are inspired by the even greater William Shakespeare. I am simply standing on the shoulders of artistic giants for my humble fanfic, so to speak ;)

Act 1, Scene 2

Hojo sucked in a breath as he followed a creepy young youkai named Kanna to where her master was. Her aloof behaviour made him even more nervous.

"My Lord Naraku is waiting for you in here, Hojo-sama…" she could barely be heard, and her voice had no color to it. Hojo bowed before the girl and turned to face the door, taking in another deep breath. He braced himself for what was to come.

"Naraku-sama should not be kept waiting…" Hojo jumped at her warning; he though the all white girl had already left. He turned to look at her as she just stared at him with big, cold eyes.

Hojo slid open the door to the parlor-room Lord Naraku waited in, with Kanna following closely behind. He sat down on a mat across a low table from the hanyou lord and bowed in greeting. Kanna simply took her place and stood next to Naraku, staring out at nothing. Hojo swallowed hard.

"Ku ku ku," Naraku chuckled, "What brings you here today, Hojo-kun?"

Hojo looked down at his hands, which held a gift that he suddenly remembered bringing. He awkwardly shoved the parcel in front of him as he hung his head, blushing and trying to speak. He swallowed again, his throat much drier than before.

"For you, my lord. A gift. They say it's good for the heart and soul, and boosts power…"

Naraku took the parcel from the young man, which was a wooden Chinese box wrapped in painted silk. Upon opening it, a glow shone on the lord's face, which invoked a wicked smile from the nobleman.

"Ku ku ku ku, a shard of the Shikon no Tama. How kind of you."

Hojo breathed a sigh of relief at the lord's words. His courage had gained ten-fold.

"Kizoku-sama," Hojo began, " I… I want to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage!" The young man blurted.

Naraku responded by raising a brow.

"Kagome? What makes you think you are worthy of her hand?"

Hojo's heart fell at that answer. However, his look became determined. He knew he would be tested, and that he had to win. He had to win, because he truly loved Kagome.

"I'm not worthy sir. I don't think anyone could ever be worthy for someone as wonderful and kind as Kagome-sama, but all the same, I love her," Hojo eyed the nobleman seriously, "And will do all in my power to provide for her and keep her happy for the rest of my life!"

Naraku held Hojo-kun's gaze, his face remaining expressionless.

"No," he calmly replied, "She is too young, and needs to concentrate on her studies."

Hojo pressed on, unwilling to back down,

"But sir, I am more than able to provide the best education Japan has to offer to your daughter, and am more than willing to do so, in her best interests!" A sweatdrop suddenly formed on the back of Hojo's head, "Uhh…that's not to say you can't sir, but what I mean is-"

Naraku's expression went from his usual dead calm to amusement at the youth's flustered behaviour.

"Hojo-kun," he began with a spine-chilling note of mirth in his voice, "You are a good man, from a reputable family, whose wealth equates even that of I, Naraku. I can think of no other person in Japan more worthy of my daughters hand in marriage." Hojo's smile matched the brightness that he felt in his heart. Naraku then turned to Kanna.

"Kanna, have the Lady of the house help you compile a list of guests for a masquerade tonight at the palace; we will celebrate the engagement of Hojo-kun and my daughter, and announce it to the rest of the village."

"Hai, Naraku-sama..." Kanna replied, unmoved by the turn of events.

********

As Kanna wandered the streets, she glanced at the invitation list and looked around the busy streets, thinking of where to go. Still unmoved after a few minutes, she glanced back down at the list in her hand, virtually useless to the nothing youkai.

"Naraku-sama has not taught me how to read..." She thought aloud.

She espied a young hanyou and kitsune nearby to her, and proceeded to calmly stride to where they were.

"Sumimasen," she began in a voice slightly above a whisper, as the men turned around, "but, can you help read this guest list? My lord has asked me to personally invite each and every one of these people..." Her voice remained monotonous in tone.

Inu Yasha looked down at the girl, and then turned away.

"Keh! What do I look like, a teacher or something?"

Shippo sighed at the hanyou's typical response.

"Gomen nasai," he apologized, "ignore my cousin's rudeness." Inu Yasha snorted at him and crossed his arms. Shippo leaned in closer to the girl in white, "besides," he whispered, "I don't think he knows how to read either! I'll do it for you."

Inu Yasha face-vaulted at the indignation his cousin handed to him, and immediately jumped up and bopped the kitsune on the head, causing the young man to wail. All the while, Kanna remained unfazed at the scene before her.

"Gimme that!" the hanyou snatched the scroll away from the youkai, whose hands remained in position, even without the list in their hold. Inu Yasha began to read aloud the names.

" Jinenji and his okaa-san, Tsuyu hime-sama, Kikyo-"

After reading aloud the last name, Inu Yasha's eyes grew large, and he excitedly turned to his cousin. Shippo sighed as he knew what was about to come.

"Shippo! Kikyo is gonna be at this ball!" Shippo rolled his eyes.

"I heard you read it Inu Yasha…"

"-would you like to attend also, sir? It would be my thank you for your help with this list…" Kanna cut in, with absolutely no emotion in her voice to the matter.

"Really?" Inu Yasha exclaimed, grinning a cocky boyish grin, "Hai hai!" He looked at Shippo, who shrugged. "Oh yeah, let me read the rest of this list to you…"

Inu Yasha's excitement didn't falter for an instant as he continued reading the guest list to the masquerade ball. After he was done, he handed back the list of names to Kanna, who in turn bowed and set out to accomplish her task. Inu Yasha bowed in return and walked over to his now impatient cousin, whose stomach was growling since it was already lunch time. Inu Yasha stopped and turned around, realizing he didn't know where the event was to take place.

"Ano, where is this ball taking place anyway?" He shouted after the slowly departing Kanna.

Without so much as turning around, or raising her voice for that matter, Kanna replied,

"At the Higurashi's, of course…" Kanna then continued on her path.

"The… Higurashi's?!" both Inu Yasha and Shippo exclaimed, exchanging a worried glance to each other.

"Keh!" replied the defiant hanyou, "Who cares where it is, as long as I get to see my Kikyo!"

Shippo rolled his eyes and sighed in frustration as he mumbled under his breath,

"Baka!"

Act 1, Scene 3

Sango bowed as she arrived in the presence of her Lady, and waited for the noblewoman to speak. Kagura smirked seductively before she began,

"My dear nurse, will you get my daughter and bring her here? I would like to speak with her."

"Hai kizoku-sama," Sango replied as she bowed once again before leaving her mistress. A few moments later, she arrived with the Lady Kagome.

"Hai okaa-san? You called for me?"

Lady Kagura looked upon her adopted daughter, pride welling from the beauty she possessed. Her daughter was the pinnacle of good health, and very nearly glowed in her youth. Her daughter was also very kind-hearted, unnecessarily so; that both her ruthless mother and father could never quite understand, but realized that this was a good trait for a human. She was also quite astute for someone her age.

"Come here, Kagome-chan, and sit next to me," Kagura beckoned the young girl. Kagome did as she was told. Kagura picked up her fan and fanned herself.

"In two weeks you will turn 15."

"Hai, mama."

"You will be a woman," Kagura sighed, "time goes by so quickly, especially for you humans!" The youkai mused. "It was centuries before my body matured to the age I appear now, and I still look like a young, beautiful woman…"

Kagome and Sango glanced at each other, rolling their eyes. They were constantly subjected to the Lord and Lady's `humans vs. youkai' comparisons. It was because of this that Kagome was never quite able to feel close to either of them, and was grateful to have Sango, a human, as her nurse and surrogate mother.

Sango then giggled to herself, and looked at the noblewoman for permission to speak. Kagura nodded her head to the woman, allowing her her turn.

"Kizoku-sama" Sango began," I was recalling the time when Kagome-sama was a little girl, and we had first discovered she could see what was normally unseeable by most human eyes," Sango smiled at the memory, before she continued, "and had found the two fragments of the Shikon no Tama hidden among your things, and then went to show them to my Lord, your husband-" Kagome glanced over at Sango, hoping she would see her panicked look and stop her story. Sango continued,

"Sure, at first he flew into a rage when he realized that they weren't from his stash, but then he was so happy that his daughter could actually see the shards when even he couldn't! Kagome-sama was always such a curious and bright child!" Sango chuckled as she finished. She looked up with a grin on her face, only to meet the glaring eyes of her mistress, and the piteous look in Kagome's eyes. Sango realized her error, and hurriedly bowed for forgiveness.

"Gomen ne, Kizoku-sama!" Sango apologized, "I had forgotten, and was only recalling of Kagome's role in the story! I know that was a hard time for you! Please forgive my insolence!"

Kagura continued to glare at the nurse, but nonetheless replied, "It's alright, Sango-chan." In as cold a voice as ever. Sango stopped her bowing and blushed in her embarrassment.

"Kagome," Kagura turned her attention to her daughter, "Hojo-kun was here earlier today." Kagome looked at her mother curiously, "He asked your Chichi-ue for your hand in marriage…" Kagome gasped at this information.

"But mama…!" Kagome pleaded, but her mother had dismissed her cries.

"Naraku has already accepted, and tonight a masquerade will be held in the engaged couple's honor." she concluded, ignoring Kagome's troubled eyes.

"But…how will I know, if I love him?" Kagome asked defeated.

"Ha! Love is for fools and the poor! Besides, Hojo-kun is from one of the wealthiest families of Japan, and is also quite handsome! He's a fine match!"

"Hai mama," Kagome sighed. She glanced over to Sango, who looked at Kagome sympathetically. Kagome looked at her mother once again.

"Alright then, mama, I'll meet him tonight, and then I'll see how I feel."

"How you feel, is irrelevant, Kagome. The match has already been approved!" Kagura gave her step-daughter a cold glance that warned Kagome not to challenge her.

"You may go now, and have Sango-chan help prepare you for tonight's festivities!"

"Hai mama." Kagome replied obediently, looking off to the side with an expression that failed to hide her defiant thoughts, and then stood up to leave. She and Sango bowed before her okaa-san before exiting the room. Sango closed the sliding door behind them.

Kagome snorted as she turned to her friend, "Heh, love is for fools and the poor! Easy for her to say, she doesn't even have a heart! C'mon, Sango-chan, lets get ready for this stupid party!"

At that, Sango held her hand up to her mouth and giggled girlishly, nodding her head in agreement.

"Hai, Kagome-chan!" And they walked to Kagome's room.

********

As she watched the girl in white slowly walk away, the undead miko smiled a bitter smile as she replayed the information just given to her over in her mind. She began to chuckle to herself.

"So, Naraku has invited me to his masquerade ball, has he?" she mused. She turned to face the direction of the Higurashi palace as the wind picked up and blew the tall grass behind her, her long raven tresses mimicking the sultry waves of the foliage. She laughed a hollow laugh once again.

"Your foolishness in inviting me will be your undoing, Naraku," she spat, "I will have my revenge tonight!"

********

A/N: Following in the spirit of Ericedwyn, I've decided to also include a glossary.

Ano- umm, well, excuse me

Chichi-ue- father (formal)

Gomen nasai, ne- I'm sorry, excuse me

Hai- yes

Hanyou- half-demon

Hime-sama- princess

Kitsune- fox

Kizoku-sama- nobleman, noblewoman

Miko- priestess

Okaa-san- mother

Sumimasen- excuse me (formal)

Youkai- demon