A New Path

By: Ryu Katanna

Beta:

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Six

A few hours later and Kagome had finished her report. After sealing it with wax she turned to look at the two perches that had been placed in the room after she had returned with the birds who would be her partners. Kaito and Sora were both sound asleep as Kagome knew she should be at that moment. The sky outside was now completely dark, and yet she felt restless as she doused the light. While the bed looked inviting, Kagome moved toward the window instead, knowing that the much-desired sleep would not come to her so easily this night.

The cool breeze felt good against her bared skin as she was dressed for sleeping in a pair of thin slacks and a tank top that left the lower part of her stomach exposed. With a quick movement, Kagome was out the window and a few steps later near the tree just outside the house. Moonlight glowed through the branches as she jumped to climb up and rest on one of the lower and thicker branches. She had been resting comfortably for only a few moments when she heard the slight movement of footsteps through the grass.

"Shouldn't you be resting, your highness? I do believe you will be leaving early." Kagome said softly as she glanced down at the young man who had come to a stop just next to the tree she had perched herself in before looking back up at the sky.

"I could say the same about you when you'll be the one training with your birds in the morning. Instead, you're laying in a tree rather than a bed." Zen replied with some bemusement as her penchant for high places reminded him of someone else he knew.

"The breeze feels nice tonight, does it not, your highness?" Kagome deflected as she shifted before relaxing once more.

"It does." Zen murmured in agreement and listened as the sound of the waves in the distance created a soft tempo.

Time passed with only the sounds of nature around them. Kagome glanced down at the young man her friend had chosen. She may not have realized it yet, but Kagome had seen it as she watched the two back at Wistal Castle. It was one of the things that had come up in a conversation between Prince Izana and herself on a few occasions. They both could see how Zen and Shirayuki felt for each other, and it concerned them.

Zen was a Prince from a royal line. He might not be the one set to be the next King, but his title was such that the other nobility would never remain silent if he chose a commoner for his bride. Shirayuki, with no noble blood or title, would become the source of unrest with the nobles who hoped to marry their daughters to the second Prince. They would both have a lot of obstacles to overcome if they ever hoped to be together, and Zen's title would hinder them more than it would help them.

"How do you intend to protect her, I wonder?" Her soft tone broke the silence that had prevailed between them and caused Zen to look up at her as she watched him.

"Excuse me?" Zen asked as the topic took him back a bit.

"Come now, your highness. I know you understood me perfectly well. I would have to be blind not to have noticed your feelings for Shirayuki." Kagome replied with some amusement as she turned on her side and tucked her legs under her to look down at him more easily.

Zen leaned further into the trunk of the tree as he looked up at the woman. He found himself at a loss as to how to answer her. Kagome was still a bit of a mystery to him. They had not spoken often enough for him to completely understand if he could trust her. He knew about her past, but not the kind of person she was. Shirayuki had told him some things, but he had found the depth of the information to not hold many clues as to who the woman really was. Yet, Izana had made her the First Constable of Clairnes. That alone told him that there was something his brother saw in her. Izana was not one to hand out his trust without reason, and he had seemingly gained Kagome's loyalty in return. Enough so, that she had pledged herself to his service.

He had kept a closer watch on the interaction between the two around the castle after Kagome's formal oath. It was because of this observation that he had begun to see the easy friendship that had formed between this woman and his brother. Though Izana took pleasure in Kagome's discomfiture in the formal dresses of a Lady of the Court, and Kagome's irritation of wearing the garment. Zen had seen the respect and companionship hidden just under the surface of their banter. Never before had he witnessed such an easy camaraderie between his brother and another. Zen did not know how she had done it, but Kagome had gained the confidence of the future King.

He had to wonder if her past had anything to do with it. Kagome was a strong woman who had overcome a lot. He could see how she cared for Shirayuki but gave her space at the same time. Obi, who was always a bit distant from others also seemed to have taken a liking to her presence around the castle. Often when he'd had to go searching for Obi or Shirayuki, Zen would find Obi and Kagome in the branches of a tree or roof ledge not too far from wherever Shirayuki was.

"How do you intend to protect Shirayuki, Prince Zen? Are you the one to whom I can entrust her happiness too? Her future? Will you be the one who can release me from my promise?" Kagome's voice held a note of wonder, and Zen could not mistake the seriousness of the questions.

"I love her." Zen answered and Kagome's eyes sharpened on him in an unexpected way.

"Love is good, but it will do little to nothing to protect her. In fact, your love for her may one day lead to more hurt than she can bear. What would you do then?" Kagome said before dropping down from her perch and coming to stand before him.

Zen stiffened as her blue eyes stared into his own. He had never before felt so exposed to another as he did in front of her at that moment. Kagome may have only been a couple years older than him, but her eyes held an agelessness to them that he really couldn't describe. It made him feel like the heart and mind behind those eyes was far older than he knew them to be. The second prince felt himself at a loss for what he found as she looked at him.

"For all your love for her, Prince Zen, Shirayuki was born of common blood. It may very well have been an act of fate that the two of you had met and gotten to know one another, but fate can also be the cruelest of mistresses. I wish only for her happiness. If it is you that can give her that happiness then I will not be one who will stand in your way. Life is filled with both pain and joy. There will be times when you feel like the wall that blocks the path you have chosen is just too great, but you must continue to break that wall to reach that which you seek." Kagome's eyes were distant as she turned her gaze toward the shore.

"I want to be with Shirayuki. I want to live my life by her side even if it means I have to fight for it. I will never give up." Zen spoke with a determination that brought the curve of a small smile to Kagome's lips.

"Then I will help you where I can if that is the future her heart desires as well. Know this, Prince Zen, that it will be a long and difficult path. Yet, as long as it is what makes Shirayuki happy then you will have an ally in me." The tone of her voice was strong as she looked back at him while she spoke before turning away to walk back to the room she had been given.

"What about you, Lady Kagome?" Zen couldn't help but ask as a warmth came over him toward the older woman.

"What about me, Prince Zen?" Kagome's soft steps halted at the question, but she did not turn around as she inquired as to his meaning.

"What about your happiness? For as much as I try, I can not understand you. You are loyal enough to Shirayuki to follow her to Clarines from Tanbarun. You watch over her, but you do so from such a distance that even she only knew so much about you when you first arrived. You have no care for a position within the Royal Court, but you accept it as a burden even as you swear yourself into the service of the future King. You have won the confidence of my Lord brother, something that is almost unheard of, and yet from what I have seen you say nothing about it to anyone to boost your standing even further. You hold yourself as I have only seen a trained warrior who has seen the horrors of a battlefield. You speak like someone who is far older and wiser than you appear, and you hold everyone at a distance even as you have devoted yourself to my brother's service, and Shirayuki's happiness. I ask about your own happiness because I have yet to see you truly smile." Zen said as he explained his observations of her so far.

Zen knew that there was far more to Kagome than she had explained that first day. He knew Izana must know more, but Zen had trouble figuring out how far he could trust her. The talk of demons, priestesses, and humans threw him at first. Eventually, he thought of it as different cultures of people in her homeland that didn't really intermix. It was easier than taking it as she had described it. From what he could see so far, Kagome devoted herself to others. That may yet be the greatest thing about her as a person, but it also concerned him. Zen was the kind of Prince who worried most about the happiness of the people of his kingdom. Yet, from what he had seen of Kagome, she devoted herself to the happiness of others but had kept none for herself. As someone important to Shirayuki, and held in esteem by Izana, Kagome had quickly become someone of notice.

"Do not worry yourself over me, Prince Zen. I am content as I am now." Her voice was almost too soft for him to hear before she continued on her way.

Zen couldn't help but notice her careful choice of words as she left him standing there.

123

The next morning Prince Zen and his attendants departed early to return to Wistal Castle. Kagome saw them off as she handed Mitsuhide a few pieces of parchment paper that had been rolled and sealed with the First Constable's insignia. It was the first of many reports she would have for her Prince that included her progress. She nodded in thanks to Mitsuhide as she stepped away.

The feeling of being watched had followed her since waking that morning. Kagome knew who it was. It was not hard to figure out after the talk the two of them had the night before. Ignoring the penetrating gaze of the second Prince, Kagome stepped back with a nod.

"Be safe on the road. I will see you back at the castle upon my return."

"You as well, Lady Kagome." Mitsuhide replied with a gentle smile before he turned to ride alongside Kiki as they followed Zen.

"Be careful out there." Kiki said with a nod before settling into her own place near Zen.

"I will think more about what we spoke of last night, but I won't let it stop me. I would like to speak more with you when you return." Zen told her seriously.

"Of course. Should time, and my Prince, permit then it would be a pleasure, Prince Zen." Kagome replied with a small bow as she stepped back from the horses to let them depart.

She received a quick glance from the corner of blue eyes before Zen turned his horse to lead the others home. It didn't take long for the Prince and his entourage to depart. Once they had gone, Kihal approached her from her left. Kagome turned to look at her as the rest of the people who had lingered to bid farewell slowly dispersed.

"Are you ready to start your training?" The teen asked and Kagome nodded as she turned back toward the village.

"I'm always ready. Let's just hope Kaito and Sora learn quickly. Your village is beautiful, but I have somewhere I will be needed soon enough."

123

Time always seemed to pass quickly when working towards a goal. Kagome had worked Kaito and Sora hard in that time. They really were smart birds and had learned almost as quickly as she had hoped. Kaito and Sora had both been trained to the sound of a couple different bells.

Kaito had been trained expressly for communication with Prince Izana. He would be her main flyer while Sora would handle two, but wouldn't need to fly as often. Sora would be flying letters back and forth between herself and Shirayuki, and Obi as well. Obi was unofficially Shirayuki's protector, and as such, Kagome wanted to be able to keep communication open between them in case Shirayuki was in trouble while Kagome was away.

She trusted Shirayuki, but she also knew that the girl wouldn't always tell her when something was wrong. Shirayuki was far too independent and used to handling most things on her own. Usually, that would be fine, but now that Shirayuki was involved with Price Zen, Kagome knew it was only a matter of time before the red-head could be in for some trouble. If keeping in contact with Obi was what she needed to do to know what was really going on while she was away then that was just what she would do.

Really, meeting Prince Izana was probably one of the best things that could have happened with this situation. She could tell from her talks with him that he truly cared for his country, and loved his little brother. Prince Izana wanted Prince Zen to be happy, but there was only so much leeway he could work with. It was obvious to any who watched them that Prince Zen and Shirayuki were in love but to keep that love would be difficult given the station Prince Zen had been born into. Prince Izana knew this and so had been watching the interactions between the two closely.

He knew that, just as his interests lay with making sure Prince Zen would be happy, so too did Kagome's interests lay with Shirayuki. They had spoken on the situation for hours when they weren't discussing topics related to the welfare of Clarines. The time spent together had started to draw some attention, and so the rumors involving the two of them had started circulating the castle. Kagome pledging her loyalty to Prince Izana as his vassal had worked to quell them while they had both gained something in return. Prince Izana had gained a confidant that he could trust and Kagome had gained her own place to belong. Now neither were alone in watching over the younger couple.

As much as her new duties would call her away Kagome was now in a better position to watch over Shirayuki. That was the most important thing on her mind. She would do what was necessary to keep her eye on the girl until her promise to Shirayuki's grandparents had been fulfilled. Once that promise had been seen to then Kagome would still have somewhere she was needed thanks to Prince Izana. For that, she would tolerate the torturous dresses and anything else he found amusement in torturing her with.

"Be safe on your travels, Kagome!" Kihal called out to Kagome with a waive as Kagome directed her horse toward the direction of Wistal Castle while Kaito flew overhead and Sora perched comfortably on her shoulder.

"Goodbye Kihal, and thank you!" Kagome called back with a short nod before spurring Ayame into a run and leaving the small village behind.

Looking up to the bright clear sky, Kagome smiled as she heard Kaito cry out and Sora answer his call before taking off from her shoulder to join him in the sky. Her life would never be easy but things would move forward with or without her. What mattered right now is that she had something to move forward for now. She was heading back to the place where there were people she cared about waiting. Where she had a purpose. She had not felt this way in a long time and she felt something in her heart she'd thought long gone come alive.

She was heading home.

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