InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ What Does It Mean To Be Loved? ❯ Prologue ( Chapter 1 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

"Long, long ago under the era of demons and humans there was a great war. A war that came to last thousands of years in which millions of demons and humans died. So many were hurt in this war due to differences of both races and greed of the heart and soul. But both sides had reason to act as they did. The demons were angered by the fact that the humans were going about claiming the land and taking territory. The humans were mad that the demons wouldn't share the land and that they were killing their young and children. And so the real war began.

Both races looked to their leaders for support. Of the demons; the Taisho's stepped up. And as for the humans? The family Higirashi rose to power. Many times had their swords clashed in the heat of battle. Both knew what they fought for and wanted it with a fiery passion and mad desire. Power, and wealth was what they had both claimed to want and would stop at nothing to get it.

The war turned from months and years to decades and centuries. And finally, the only lasting battle took place on the grounds of the human's castles, the Higirashi's palace, and the Taisho's were dominating. Cannons could be heard going off for miles around, and some say that the cries of the wounded still haunt the grounds. The leader of the humans, Lord Higirashi, was tired and on the verge of death when his daughter, Kikyou, came from within the castle and saw her father at the blade of Lord InuTaisho. Insane with the lust for blood, she screamed out only to have 'magical' powers, later known as miko powers, injure the leader of the demons. InuTaisho and his herd retreated for the safety of the pack, and so the Higirashi's won a empty victory at the hands of Kikyou.

But later in the coming battles, Kikyou was killed by the demons, and their greatest weapon was gone. Making a fatal mistake on heavily relying on the miko, the humans began to decrease in size greatly at a rapid pace. Soon enough, demons were to have thought ruled the planet, until slowly the humans came back into power. And the earth was forced to be the battle grounds for another war. But the existing leaders, InuTaisho; who was still alive, and Lord Higirashi X, both had families and friends that had witnessed them in battle and were afraid of the beasts that they had become. Looking to what they had become, both Lords had forgotten what they fought for; both already having power and wealth, and gave in.

All witnesses saw both Lords sign the small document, known as a peace treaty, and shake hands. After spending long hours together, the races were at peace and both leaders had become the best of friends. Their two eldest, Lady Sara and Lord Sesshoumaru were to marry, when Sara was killed. No one knew how or why and both had their ideas. But out of pure love Lord Higirashi, who had complete trusted in his new found friend, for the safety of his future kin, placed the law that none of his daughters were to ever meet a man until the date of their marriage. For years this law was held.

Now in this time, Lord Higirashi X, had two more beautiful daughters by the names of Kikyou, in honor of Kikyou who fought in the war, and Kagome. Kikyou was a warm girl at childhood, but saw battle for what it really was and began to despise demons only to have her plan backfire and fall in love with InuTaisho's son Sesshoumaru and vowed at nothing to marry him. Her mother died of sickness later. Taking a second wife, Lord Higirashi then had Kagome. She was a lovely child, who was thought to be happy. She was young as where Kikyou was older and yet to marry. Kikyou then decided to impress the castle and become a miko like the other women and fulfill her destiny and her name. She did become a miko, and a powerful one at that. She was still in training when a other miko came to challenge her. The fight had ended with both seriously hurt. And so the new laws of mikos came about and were set to the entire land.

No two mikos could live in the same village or town. If another were to exist, they were to duel. Fighting all mikos in the castle, Kikyou had proved her worth, and was all set to have a ceremony in honor of her accomplishments. Imagine her surprise when no one came to care for her. All eyes were on the child Kagome, who everybody loved to no end. As miko, Kikyou had to power to do many things, good or ill, and decided that she would not let Kagome get in her way and told everybody about her ideas.

Kagome was not to be seen by anybody; man or woman, and too stay 'innocent' and 'pure'. So growing up, Kagome was often alone and casted to the side as she watched her old sister grow older behind the veils and curtains of lies. She stayed in the shadows and watched as her father adopted many more child children of other woman, shunning her own mother, grow with Kikyou. She told herself countless times that she was indeed happy, when she wasn't and longed to go out and live the life she wanted.

But she couldn't and so she remained in the shadows waiting for the light to find her and set her free--" the old man looked down at his student who indeed had fallen asleep in class again. She lay with her hand in her hands on the desk, sighing softly in her slumber. Her midnight blue tresses where cascading down her back and her blue eyes were half lidded as she fought the urge to sleep, "Kagome, are you sleeping again?" he asked.

She opened her eyes and sat up slowly, looking at him, "Yes, Kagome is sorry Myoga-sensei. Kagome did not mean to sleep while you were teaching," she whispered and stood at her desk's side to bow to him. Gasping her shoulder and forcing her to look at him, he smiled and nodded "No," and pointed to the door. Getting his message, she giggle and threw her arms around him in a gentle hug, careful not to hurt the old man. The ceremony was about to start and Kagome had been in classes all day with Myoga, who Lord Higirashi saw fit to teach her, and wanted desperately to go outside and play.

"Bye bye Myoga-sensei! Kagome is gonna go outside and play! Maybe sister Kikyou will play with Kagome!" and with that she ran out the door to the gardens. "Wait Kagome!" Myoga shouted, "Don't go near-" but it was too late, she was gone, "Sister Kikyou..." he said to the empty room. Why had he bothered to tell her all those things? She didn't get the message...again. Being her 'beloved Myoga-sensei' as she came to call him, he wanted nothing more than to let her be free. But Kikyou had not permitted it, and even Lord Higirashi could not do anything about it. Teaching her history he always tried to get the message through Kagome's head that Kikyou did not like her, fond of her, yes, but not love. Nothing close to love.

Only the servants loved Kagome, for her father was only vaguely aware that he had another daughter out of all his other children, adopted or by birth, and paid her no heed. But even then, Kagome was shunned. Kikyou had said that no servant was to talk to her only leaving himself and his wife, Kadae, to care for the girl. Myoga had come to pity the girl and took her on as his own for her life was not fair. She lived it hard and everyday was like another day for survival. She lived not in the castle, but in the house in the back with all the other servants and wore plain cloth kimonos, unlike Kikyou's silk ones, and didn't eat a feast everyday, or live the grand life with servants on hand and foot.

But she seemed happy, but on more than one occasion, Myoga found her out crying her eyes out. She often would whisper things in her sleep such as, "Kagome wishes sister Kikyou loved Kagome," or "Why can't Kagome be like sister Kikyou?" Was this girls life not hard enough, Kami-sama, he silently prayed.

"Kagome!" some one called out, "Kagome, where are you?" Myoga turned around and found his wife, Kadae, walking from room to room across the hallways, looking for the small girl she came to call her grand daughter.

"Dear," he said, "She went outside," he said, knowing that he was in for it. This was gonna hurt...

"WHAT?!?!" she screamed, yup it hurt, "You know she is not suppose to go outside! I am suppose to fetch her for she is to go sit behind the veil now with all the other servants! Kikyou is to perform now! Do you know what she were to do--" she got cut off.

"Yes, Kadae, do you know what I can do to you and the girl?" they turned around to see Kikyou leaning over with the curtain in her hands, "I can do many things and I will not tolerate it that she is out! Fools! Do you not know that Lord InuTaisho and Lord Sesshoumaru are here as we speak?! What if they are to find the brat? Huh? Now I shall go find her to teach her a lesson!" and with that Kikyou snapped back the curtain and strode from the little hut.

"Kagome!" Myoga whispered and made a mad dash for the door, only to break out in coughs, "Damn cold!" he cursed. It had been a couple of days since he had this cold and was already tired of it. Kagome! She needed him now!

"Dear!" Kadae said and grabbed hold of him and lead him back to the chair he once occupied, "Rest. I shall go find Kagome," she said.

"Hurry! Kagome still hasn't forgiven Kikyou for that last time," he said as he rested his back against the chair, "Who knows how bad Kagome can get this time," he said.

Kadae's eyes grew wide as she realized what he spoke of. It was true. Kagome had snuck from class to go watch the outside workers tend to the garden and was caught by Kikyou and severely punished for it. She was whipped ten times by Kikyou and was not still fully healed. The wounds were still fresh and Kagome would still complained to Kadae about them at night. They often bled as she slept, thus ruining all her good kimonos making Kikyou and Lord Higirashi mad having to buy more for her. Myoga snorted for Kagome's kimono's were not as expensive as their silk ones and they complain?

"Okay, I shall hurry," and with that Kadae shuffled out of the room in search of the little girl. What was to happen to her? Please be safe Kagome, please be safe...

Sorry for any OOC for any of them, but if was annoying the way I first had it with Kadae talking with all those "Ye's" and all. And Myoga? Yeah sorry. Other characters shall be in character, kk? And Kagome's third person talk? Hello! She is young about, being 5 or something here. Thank you for your time. Please review. -Lea

In order not to confuse anyone, authors note shall be wrote by the author who wrote the chapter at the end. In this case it is Lea from the message above. Just wanted to clear that up since a lot of people are asking. Thanks again.

Next Chapter: Kikyou finds Kagome and so does somebody else...*coughs* Ahem! *coughs 'Sesshoumaru* Later!