InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Through The Eyes Of An Innocent ❯ Chapter Five ( Chapter 5 )

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Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Through The Eyes Of An Innocent: Chapter Five

It was over.

All of the nervousness that she had felt within that single moment - when she had spoken those fatal words that bound her to him - they were over. It was as if she were free from the curse that had been brought upon her by her father and the Late Emperor.

Although - she knew that it would never be that way. She was now married to him and there would be no way out of that. Not now - and not ever. She was now completely devoted to him and him alone. And Kagome simply hated that fact.

Maybe if she had not have had blue eyes it would have been different, she would not have had to marry -

Kagome sighed and rubbed her temples slowly. There really was no point in continuing to dwell on what had already come to past. Even though Kagome knew that she would have had it some other way, she could not change the decision that was made.

She had promised her heart, body, and soul to Naraku and there would be nothing that could change that - even if she did dislike the decision. It would probably be a lifetime in hell, but she had simply done it out of love for her father and his well-being.

Kagome let out an undignified snort. The more she thought about it the more she realized the decision she made was too rash. She should have known that the Late Emperor wanted her to be in his family too much to actually kill her if he said no. He most likely would have pulled some strings to bring her into the family without having her marry his son.

And all of the possibilities running through Kagome's mind made her grow pale with anticipation.

"Well, better not to think about that." Kagome mumbled as she turned to look in her vanity. It was amazing how much she had already changed since the morning the wedding had passed. It had only been three hours since the wedding had taken place, and already Kagome could see the stress that was falling upon her being.

But the thing that she could not understand was how much different she looked with that silver tiara atop her head. It seemed as though so many problems had been intertwined within her being - so many responsibilities. She did not know if it were possible or not but she looked years older already.

Was this what was supposed to happen? Kagome sighed audibly and closed her eyes while scooting away from her vanity. This whole ordeal was going to be a nightmare. She had not even begun her duties and she was already feeling the effects that it was having on her.

"You just need to calm down Kagome." She muttered to herself.

"You do know that it wouldn't be in your best interest to start talking to yourself. People might not want to have an insane Empress leading their country." An amused voice said from her door. Kagome jumped visibly and turned around, her blue eyes wide from shock.

"My, my Lady Higurashi, normally people say hi when their friends come to greet them." The violet-eyed boy stated, trying his best to hide a grin at her astonishment.

"Well," Kagome started, getting over her initial shock, " most people knock when entering another's personal chambers. What if I had been naked Miroku?" Kagome asked, standing up and crossing her arms over her chest.

"Are you positive that you wish for me to answer that?" Miroku asked, allowing himself to grin and his eyes to twinkle with mischief. Kagome merely sighed and turned away from him, rubbing her temples once again.

"You know, in all the time that I have known you Empress I have never known you to look so sad and troubled."

"Please don't call me Empress - whenever I hear that word it makes me realize that responsibility that I have and - I don't think that I would be able to take it." Her voice was cracked - her pain eminent. It hurt Miroku to see his best friend like this - to see her look so helpless as though she had given up life.

"Then why did you accept it? You could have said no you know." Miroku commented as he walked up to Kagome and placed a hand on her shoulder. All he was rewarded with however, was an apologetic smile and a shake of her head.

"My father's well being is more important. I couldn't risk him losing everything because I was thinking of my own happiness instead of his." Kagome stated folding her hands neatly in front of her. Miroku sighed audibly, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly.

"Perhaps, instead of putting others well being before your own, you should think about your own happiness."

"But then what kind of Empress would I make if I always thought of myself before others? I am supposed to assist in ruling the country - not to change everything for my benefit." Kagome replied looking back into her mirror.

But perhaps Miroku was right - perhaps she should have been thinking of herself, after all if she had, it was possible that she would have been happier. But she did not know if she would have been able to live with herself if she had not accepted her responsibility. But still the thought of being able to have everything change for the better -

Kagome growled irritably, walking away from Miroku and plopping down on her bed. She sighed in exasperation as she pulled her beautiful silken sheets over her body, concealing the white wedding dress that she still wore.

The sheets were cool, causing a chill to go up her spine. Miroku watched her, amusement on features as she snuggled into her bed, oblivious to the fact that her tiara had fallen off of her head and next to her on her plush feathery pillow.

"Well I suppose that I should leave her majesty to sleep should I not?" Miroku asked quietly, as though afraid he would disturb her peaceful thinking. Instead however, Kagome rolled over, and watched him, smiling brightly and motioning for him to sit down at the end of her bed.

"Actually Sire Miroku, I was wondering - well what I mean to say is do you have any idea of why I got hit with that fruit earlier today?" Kagome asked, rubbing her offended cheek softly. Miroku merely raised an eyebrow, contemplating her question.

It was in fact true - he did know why she had gotten jeered at the presentation ceremony earlier that day, but he didn't dare tell her. After all - his father had promised to dismember him if he uttered a single word about it. In truth he thought that the entire ordeal was unjust and unfair, but he would rather keep both of his hands.

He remembered the day when he first found out about the problem. His father and Lord Higurashi had been talking to each other and he had walked in on them just before his lesson with Governess Toshikasa. They had been talking about a revolution that had taken place within the Northern Lands.

It was strange, the looks he had gotten from his father and Lord Higurashi, and they immediately told him not to speak a word of this to anyone. They had said that all would hate Lord Higurashi because it was his decision to keep the peasants in line. They had spoken of all the blood that had been spilled - all the people that had died, as if it were nothing.

And the entire time they had allowed Miroku to stay in the room. He had only been a child at the point, not knowing the entire meaning behind what was spoken within that room, but it was easy enough to understand now. And if he had known that all of the peasants whose families had been decimated would still hate Lord Higurashi then -

Why had they allowed Kagome to marry Naraku, knowing that these peasants would still hold a grudge against her family name? She was a Higurashi, and it did not matter to the peasants that she knew nothing about what had happened. All that mattered was her name, and if she were even remotely related to the Lord than she was at fault as well.

Miroku sighed, shaking his head. He did not know what kind of effect this type of information would have on Kagome, and she already had enough on her plate already. If she were to find out that her father had been the reason all of those peasants hated her - Miroku definitely did not want to be responsible for Kagome losing all respect for father.

She already had to deal with Naraku, and Miroku already knew that he wasn't the one for her. She also had to deal with the fact that an entire country hated her just for her name, even though she did not know the answer.

So Miroku, being the obedient son and the best friend that he was, merely smiled and shook his head. He could not risk Kagome losing all of the enthusiasm that she possessed, and even if it did hurt him to lie to his best friend.

"My sincerest apologies Empress, but I do not know the answer. But perhaps we can converse about this in the gardens. It is such a lovely day after all." Miroku proclaimed, holding out his hand to help Kagome up.

She smiled thankfully, reaching her hand out and allowing him to help her up. As she righted herself, Miroku worked on straightening out her sheets, in complete companionable silence. He still did not know of whether or not he should tell her or not, for he did not wish to risk her losing respect for the one thing in her life that truly did matter.

But it still did not escape his notice that perhaps it would be best for her to find out on her own. She was so naïve, so young that it would take an experience such as this to get her to wise up and realize that the world is not as wonderful as it seemed.

As Kagome finished cleaning herself up she felt something heavy and weighted was replaced atop her head. Her shoulders slumped almost at once, as recognized the not so foreign weight of responsibility that was placed upon her head. Her eyes had fluttered closed, almost as soon as it had happened.

She really hated this. She knew that every time she would start to feel normal and fit in, something like this would happen. She would be reminded of exactly what she was now, and there would be absolutely nothing to change that.

She was the Empress of the Northern Lands now, and that is all she could ever be. She would never be happy anymore, she would be forced to stand by Naraku's side at all time and help him direct a country, which was something that she had no idea of what to do.

But it was something that she would have to get used to, whether she liked it or not. But she knew that there would always be one simple thing that would make it easier on her.

Miroku. And as long as she had a friend who was so willing to listen to her problems, and wiling to let her forget about the role that she now held, it would be so much more less strain on her heart.

And so - it was not with a heavy heart that she locked arms with her companion, and allowed him to escort her out to the Gardens.

_________________________________________

There was too much blood.

In truth he had not expected to see so much of that thick crimson liquid spill from the open wound that had been created by his silver blade - but he knew that it would be inevitable. Blood had been splattered against the beautiful white walls, the crimson standing out in the all white room.

A light breeze had entered the room, causing torn light blue cloth to flutter needlessly around room. In its essence the sight was grossly beautiful, but the small pool of sticky red blood that was forming at the offenders feet took the essence in its entirety away.

It was strange - he had never killed someone so shamelessly before. But he had to do it. Otherwise he would be risking everything he had. It was actually amusing how little his father actually believed that he knew - and he was not going to allow his father to make a fool out of him.

It was really a pity that he had to kill someone who meant so much to others, especially her, but it had to be done. He simply could not risk having that single document located, and her father was coming close to it. He had made sure that he had been under surveillance for some time now, and due to the fact that his impudent father had been so trusting of the elder man, and had let it slip that there was a document concerning his blood lineage.

The man's grip tightened on the silver blade, glaring at the dead man lying slumped on the floor. It was really too much hassle having to deal with something such as mediocre as this, and he had more important things to be doing in that moment. But for some reason - he couldn't bring himself to tear his gaze away from the sight before him.

He had been the cause of this noble's death - and he would be the cause of her pain. And it struck him as quite amusing as how this development did not irk him in the least. In fact he found it quite comforting that one less person would pollute the air that he had to breathe. But what he found even more amusing was the fact that death - blood - it was beautiful to him.

The thought of being able to kill only made his blood pump faster through his veins and his heart rate excel. If he had wanted he would be able to kill any and all who stood in his way and actually enjoy it. Life was truly grand.

To others he may have looked like a complete monster, but to him - it was beautiful, exhilarating and enchanting. No one would be able to understand that new feeling of comfort that had suddenly allowed it self to be known, and quite frankly he did not care. He was higher in rank than anyone else in the entire Lands so he could simply kill anyone who stood in his way.

He let out a cold chuckle of contemplation as he slid his sword into its sheath, rubbing his hands on front of his white robes. He ignored the fact that blood ended up smudging across the beautiful silken fabric. His breath came out in short quick puffs - as he continued to get over the strange feeling that spread its talons through his body.

His feet had started moving on their own, leading him out of the almost boring room and to his chambers. It surprised him that no one saw his bloody attire, or the fact that he had the most maniacal grin spreading its way across features. He entered his room with no problem at all, and immediately stripped off his bloody clothing.

After a few minutes of throwing his clothes into the wardrobe located in the corner of his immaculate room, he drew out some black robes, throwing them on messily. After tying his sword back to the thick leather belt that rested around his waste, he sighed wistfully and looked into a mirror.

And for some strange reason when he gazed into that mirror, he noticed that for the first time the person that looked back at him was tainted. His burgundy colored eyes staring back into empty expressionless ones. He ignored the fact that the long black hair that continually stayed plastered to his face caused him to look slightly homicidal.

It was strange, he had never really paid that much attention to what he looked like, but now he did. After blinking twice, he brought his hands closer to his face; he gazed longingly at his hands, noticing the dark red tinge that they now held to them.

Is this what they meant by blood stained hands? If he recalled correctly not once did he allow that noble's blood to come anywhere near his hands, so it was very strange that he was actually able to see blood that he had so mercilessly spilled. Perhaps this was only a way of reminding him that he had been the cause of someone's death, so now he was tainted.

At that thought he allowed a small smirk to play on his lips. The thought of even having any sort of semblance to death amused him beyond all belief. But he wouldn't care, because the sight of blood actually caused his own blood to flow faster. And his smirk grew into a full-fledged smile as he dropped his hands to his side.

The sound of the door opening caused him to turn completely around, and look into the troubled brown eyes of his father. He raised an eyebrow, taking in his father's disgruntled expression, guessing exactly what it was that had sent his father's calm façade over the edge.

"Naraku," his father said, his voice somewhat shaky, " I did not actually think that you would go through with it." Naraku raised an eyebrow, smirking at his father's surprised expression.

"Of course. I am not a coward, death does not frighten me, whether it be my own death or by my own hand, I will not back down from it." Naraku stated calmly, looking at his darkened hands. Onigumo raised an eyebrow, folding his arms across his dark green robes.

"A coward or not, it was the first time you have experienced death - I do not know what kind of impact it has had on you. And in either case you will need to talk to your wife-"

"I do not need to speak to that woman about anything. She is scum that will need to be disposed of as well." Naraku stated coldly, ignoring the strange look that he received from his father.

"I did not go through all of this trouble convincing Lord Higurashi to allow his daughter to marry into our blood lineage. If you even lay a finger on that child I swear that-"

"That you will what? It seems that you are more attracted to her than I am. Why did you not simply ask Lord Higurashi if you could wed and bed his daughter instead of having me do it?" Naraku asked, smirking at the poisonous look that was sent his way. That merely caused Naraku to chuckle.

It was obvious that his father had some sort of inane interest in the girl, and it seemed to be the only thing that he was not able to understand about the entire nuptial agreement. Naraku had expressed to his father that he had no desire to marry Kagome on numerous occasions, but Onigumo had always insisted that it was best for the country that he wed her.

Not to mention it would be good to marry the only person within the entire Northern Lands with those dark blue orbs. Shaking his head to rid himself of the thought of Kagome he looked to his father, waiting to see if he really had anything more that he would have wished to speak to him about.

"I am sure that there is a reason you disturbed me Father? If not I would prefer it if you left me to myself." All Naraku received was an undignified snort from his father.

"All I wanted to speak to you about was the fact that you needed to find your wife and let her know - let her know that her father is now dead."