Myth and Truth
Chapter 1: A Birthday Walk
She sat in her favorite spot; it was so peaceful here. The sound of the waterfall hitting the rocks below it, the smell of the wild flowers, the feeling of the water on her feet, she loved it here.
She had long, raven black hair, it was down and wavy, her ears pointed slightly at the tips, creamy, pale skin, and chocolate brown eyes. She looked very differnt from most of the elves in her kingdom. Not many had raven black hair and brown eyes. It was very rare and she just happened to be one of the unique ones. Though she was different, there was no doubt that she was beautiful.
She sat there, her chocolate brown eyes moving from her paper to the two birds she was drawing, back to her paper. She was almost finished, she had been out here for a few hours now, just drawing and singing, what and when she wanted to. She sighed as she finished the final details on the drawing.
"Kagome… Kagome!" called her best friend Sango.
She looked up, "Yeah Sango?" she replied.
"Do you know how long you've been out here?" asked Sango.
"A few hours… why?" Kagome inquired.
"Do you realize that your birthday party starts in 1 hour?" asked Sango.
"Shit!" exclaimed Kagome standing up.
"Yeah, let's go!" said Sango as she started to run after Kagome.
They ran through the forest as fast as their legs would carry them.
They came to a cliff side that had a small cave in it. Vines hung in front of the cave entrance like a curtain in a door way.
"Otan." whispered Kagome.
The cave entrance turned into a small polished rock door that opened.
"I didn't know you had this." said Sango.
"Shh." Kagome placed a finger to her lips, walking through the door.
"Clearly you don't know everything about me." said Kagome with a smile.
"I would if you would have told me." Sango replied.
They walked down a small, narrow hall way to another door. Kagome opened the door quietly and looked out of the crack to make sure that no one was around.
"Come on." Kagome motioned for Sango to follow her.
They slipped out of the door and into the palace.
"Oh… Princess Kagome, Lady Sango… where have you been?" asked Allie, a palace maid.
"Sorry no time to explain… Allie please take Sango and help her get ready." replied Kagome, dancing around the question.
"Yes, Princess Kagome." Allie bowed her head and began to lead Sango away.
Kagome started to run up the marble stair case, but paused and turned around, "Kagome, Allie, just Kagome," she said and then started to run up the stairs again.
Allie smiled, "Lady Sango… this way if you will," she said leading the way.
When Kagome got up to her room she ran into her bathroom and started the water in her marble tub; as soon as it was full she got in. She was out in 15 minutes and started to scramble around her room in her towel.
She grabbed the dress her mother had laid out on her bed and started to put it on. It was a light blue dress that went down to her ankles. The sleeves were slit from her shoulders down to her wrist where it connected again, leaving the sleeves to dangle around her arms. No shoes were set out so she assumed that she was to wear none, which didn't bother her because that's what she normally did.
She ran over to her mirror and scrambled to try and brush her hair.
There was a knock at her door.
"Kagome, it's your mother!" came her mother's voice from behind the door.
"Oh, come in!" Kagome responded.
Her mother walked in, she was wearing a light purple dress that went down to the floor. She wore a crown that was adorn with dark purple gems in her black hair that was done nicely.
Her mother walked over to her and smiled, "you look beautiful," she said.
Kagome blushed, "thank you mother."
"Here, let my help you." Her mother took the brush from her.
Kagome sat down, "thanks" she said.
Her mother smiled, "18 already..." she mumbled fondly.
"Mom..." Kagome sighed.
"Just saying," her mother laughed.
"There." she said, putting the brush down.
"Done?" asked Kagome.
"Not yet," replied her mother.
She walked over to one of Kagome's cabinets and took out a crown.
It wasn't big but it was beautiful. It was mostly diamonds with a crescent moon made of blue gems in the center.
"The final touch," said her mother putting it on Kagome's head.
"Oh mom, it's beautiful..." Kagome responded with awe.
"It was my first crown," her mother stated.
"Really?" Kagome questioned.
Her mother smiled, nodding.
"Well, we better get going, your party is probably starting." said her mother.
"Ok," Kagome stood up and followed her out of the room and down to the ball room.
"Honey, you know that you are expected to find a husband sometime this year and get married sometime between now and your 20th birthday..." her mother stated rather than asked.
"Yeah… I know..." replied Kagome.
"I'm sorry dear… if I could change the rules I would," stated her mother.
Kagome sighed, "I know mother."
Her mother smiled.
They paused outside the ball room.
"Where are your brother and father?" her mother asked herself.
Kagome shrugged.
"We're here!" Sota exclaimed, walking behind his and Kagome's father.
Kagome's dad walked up her, "you look beautiful," he said.
"Thanks Dad," Kagome responded with a smile.
"Ok… come through the door when your name is called," Kagome's mother instructed, linking arms with her husband.
"Yes Mom," replied Kagome and Sota in unison.
"Welcome your King and Queen Higurashi!" called the announcer and Kagome's mom and dad went through the doors.
"Prince Sota!"
Sota followed.
"And now the girl of the hour, Princess Kagome!"
"Kagome, just Kagome..." she mumbled to herself under her breath.
She walked through the doors; a huge applause greeted her.
It looked like the whole kingdom had shown up. Everyone was dressed up in their finest clothes.
Sango came up to her and hugged her. She was wearing a light pink dress that went down to just below her knees. Her hair was up in a wavy ponytail and she wore no shoes like Kagome.
"Happy birthday Kagome!" Sango smiled.
"Thanks Sango," replied Kagome, returning her smile.
Kagome looked out at all the people, "thank you for coming to celebrate my 18th birthday with my family and I! Please enjoy your evening!" Kagome said.
Everyone cheered and the party began.
~~~~~~
4 hours later the sun was setting and the party was still going.
Kagome went outside and sat down on a bench, Sango followed her out.
"What's wrong?" she asked sitting down next to Kagome.
"Just a little tired, needed a break..." relied Kagome.
"So, how do you think the party is going?" Sango questioned.
"It's fun..." replied Kagome with a sigh.
"And the guys?" Sango's voice was teasing.
Kagome looked at her, "about 20 guys have tried to get to know me… they're starting to annoy me..." replied Kagome.
"Well, what do you expect? You're the princess and are now of marring age..." Sango replied, serious now.
"Yeah, I know, I know..." replied Kagome.
"Hey, you'll find someone!" Sango stated, smiling again, putting her hand on Kagome's shoulder.
"It's not that I'm worried that I won't find someone… I just want someone that will marry me for me, not because I'm the princess..." Kagome whispered.
Sango smiled reassuringly.
Kagome sighed, "I think I'm going to go for a walk... I'll be back soon." she said.
"Don't make me come and find you..." Sango teased.
"I'll be back..." Kagome responded with a smile.
"Oh, and could you put this in my room?" she asked, taking off her crown.
"Sure." said Sango, taking it.
Kagome walked out of the kingdom and started to walk in the forest.
'I don't want to get married… I'm not ready. I want to find someone who will love me for who I am. Not because I'm a damn princess' thought Kagome.
She continued to walk slowly down the path. After a while she started to hear voices coming from somewhere close by; she followed them. As she walked, she started to see the glow of a fire.
When she got to where to voices were coming from she noticed it was a camp and hid behind some bushes close to the camp.
"Humans..." she whispered to herself.
There were two men sitting by a fire laughing.
"Alright Inuyasha… your turn!" said one of the men.
"No, sorry Miroku, I don't think so." Responded the man called Inuyasha.
"What is the half-demon prince, son of Lord Inutashio, afraid?" teased the dark haired man, Miroku.
"No!" replied Inuyasha, shooting a glare at Miroku.
"So tell me!" Miroku demanded.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "fine, whatever," he replied.
Kagome raised her head above the bushes a little.
"This one time I–"
Kagome moved and broke a stick. "Shit..." she mumbled under her breath.
"Did you hear that?" asked Inuyasha.
"Yeah." replied Miroku.
"Stay here, keep an eye on the camp, I'll go check it out." said Inuyasha, standing up.
Kagome moved quietly and then got up and ran. Inuyasha ran after the noise of breaking twigs. It didn't take him long to catch up.
"Wait… I'm not going to hurt you!" yelled Inuyasha.
Kagome stopped, she didn't know why, but she stopped and turned to face the way she had come from, the path that he would appear on. When he stopped she was standing in front of the waterfall, the moonlight reflected off the surface of the water and onto her.
Kagome stared at him, taking in his long silver hair, and dog ears on top of his head. She met his amber gaze.
Inuyasha took her in, noting the dress that fit perfectly to her every curve and her long, raven black hair that reached her mid-back. But what caught his attention the most was the way her ears pointed at the tips and her chocolate brown eyes.
He met her gaze once more and took in her scent, the scent of freshly bloomed sakura petals.
"Are… are you a… an elf?" asked Inuyasha.
Kagome smirked and started to run.
"Wait!" said Inuyasha.
Kagome stopped and turned around, again not knowing why she stopped when he asked. Her heart thundered in her ears.
"What's your name?" asked Inuyasha.
Kagome stared at him for a moment, uncertain. Should she answer him? "Kagome." she replied.
"And yours?" she asked.
"Inuyasha." he responded.
Kagome smiled, "goodbye Inuyasha."
She turned around, and paused once more when he called.
"Wait! Will I ever see you again?" he questioned.
Kagome looked over her shoulder and smiled, "maybe," she lied, because it wasn't likely, because this was dangerous in the first place.
"Goodbye Inuyasha," Kagome repeated and she ran off.
"Goodbye… Kagome..." Inuyasha mumbled under his breath as he watched her go before he went back to camp.
"What was it?" asked Miroku when Inuyasha arrived.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you..." replied Inuyasha.
"Try me." Miroku challenged.
"Ok… it was an elf..." replied Inuyasha.
"An elf?" questioned Miroku disbelievingly.
"Are you feeling alright?" he asked, laughing.
"I told you, you wouldn't believe me!" Inuyasha stated, sitting down.
"You're serious?" Miroku questioned, eyebrow raised.
"Miroku..." growled Inuyasha.
"I saw an elf… and... she was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen..." Inuyasha repeated quietly.
Miroku smirked, "she?" he asked.
Inuyasha nodded.
"What was her name?"
"Her name's Kagome..."
"Interesting..." said Miroku.
'Yep he's lost it' thought Miroku.
~~~~~~~~
Kagome ran into the palace and grabbed Sango and took her up to her room.
"What's wrong?" asked Sango, worried.
Kagome smiled, "n-nothing..." she replied trying to catch her breath.
"Then why did you bring me up here?" Sango demanded, curious now.
"To tell you what happened!" replied Kagome.
"Well then spill!" Sango responded with a laugh.
"While I was walking I ran into a camp; there were two guys sitting at a fire and I hid behind a bush to listen to them..."
"Kagome!" Sango exclaimed, eyes narrowing.
"I wasn't going to stay long, I was just curious, but then I moved and broke a stick. They heard it, so I got up and ran; one of the guys ran after me."
Sango's eyes widened.
"I'm not sure how, but he managed to catch up and for some reason when he asked me to stop I did..." Kagome continued.
"What? Why? You know our laws!"
"I know, I know! But Sango, it was like something wanted me to stop... a-and wouldn't let me keep running..." Kagome replied, eyes glancing out her window in thought.
"Kagome..." Sango sighed.
"Oh, but Sango, he was so gorgeous! His hair was a silver as the moon and his eye! Oh, his eyes were the most vibrant amber color I've ever seen! Our eyes met and he asked me my name, a-and I told him. It's stupid I know! But, I couldn't help myself! And then I asked him his and he said his name was Inuyasha..." said Kagome.
Sango gasped, "Inuyasha, the son of Lord Inutashio, the half-demon prince?" she asked.
Kagome nodded.
"Kagome! What if your father finds out? You know we're not supposed to allow ourselves to be seen! And you not only let yourself be seen by the one of the demon lord's heirs, but told him your name!"
Kagome sighed, she knew it was stupid, she knew it was against their laws, but she couldn't stop herself from doing any of it. "I know, Sango..."
"Why'd you do it Kagome, when you know it's so dangerous for us?"
She couldn't answer that. Something about the man had drawn her to him, and how could she explain that? The worst part was that she wanted to see him again...
