Authors Note:

Okay, this is set in medieval times. Kagome is the daughter of a prestigious noble man and Inuyasha is a son of the youkai king.

Kagome pulled at the uncomfortable front of her dress. 'So itchy…so tight…' She thought to herself. "Stop fidgeting." Her mother chided gently. "We are almost there." Kagome sighed and stared glumly out the carriage window, watching the trees pass by.

"I don't want to go." She mumbled. "I feel like Father is putting me out on display whenever I go a one of these balls. Trying to sell me to some stupid rich boy for as little dowry possible and to gain lots of power."

"Kagome!" Her mother exclaimed. "Don't speak of your father that way!"

"It's true though." Kagome stated.

"He just wants what's best for you." 'Yah right.' "Besides, this is at the youkai king's castle and even the human north king will be there." Her mother smiled. "Maybe you can meet up with one of their sons. They both have several close to your age."

"Just great!" Kagome said sarcastically. "I get to meet the kings sons! I think I am going to faint--" The carriage stopped and Kagome fell forward, quickly putting her hands out to catch herself. Her mother sighed in exasperation, knowing that out of her two children, Kagome was definitely not the most obedient. The driver opened the door on Kagome's side and offered his hand out to help her down. Kagome looked at it and then ignored the help. "I can get down just fine." She replied, annoyed by the fact that everyone seemed to assume she was helpless.

"Kagome, he was just doing his job." Her mother told her. "Please, be on your best behavior tonight." Kagome winced at her mothers pleading tone.

"I will be an angel." She said, grinning evilly.

"Really, Kagome. Most girls would be excited to be going to the ball, meeting two kings and getting introduced to their sons. You don't know how lucky you are." Kagome sighed.

"Fine. I will be good tonight." She stated. "But for you, not for Father. I could care less for Father." She walked up the steps of a small building located in the castle walls. Halls would connect it to the actual castle itself, but it was designed for privacy and housed the more important guests. Butlers and maids rushed to greet her and lead her up a small spiral staircase to the room she'd be staying in. Her mother followed behind her, and soon their guides paused at a door, motioning that this was for Kagome. Kagome nodded and reach to touch the handle.

"Remember, seven is dinner. Afterwards, you can go back to the room and get ready for the ball this evening. I will send a maid to accompany you and show you where the dining room is." Her mother said gently before the maids took her to her room. Kagome nodded absently. 'My mother…I don't think she is in a good marriage.' She decided to herself. 'It was arranged by her father…I bet I will be getting married off in that same way.' She thought to herself. 'I wonder if I will be unhappy to?' Kagome sighed and looked around her accommodations.

She had to admit it was really nice. It had a canopy bed on one side and a large wardrobe for her clothes, which had been sent ahead and already hung up in perfect order. A woven blue rug lay in the center of the room and green thread displayed all sorts of intricate designs in it. Her eyes went to the curtain that hung against one side of the wall. 'At least I have a window.' She thought to herself, and pulled back the curtain. It revealed a pleasant garden below her. There were few people there, though two of them, she assumed youkai, were in the middle of a fight. 'Probably training. Youkai rely on strength to keep them in power.'

It was really amazing to see the moves they made. One of them used his attacks elegantly, as though trapped in a dance. His moves seemed to spin naturally within him, and it was obvious he was the better fighter. He had a feminine look to him, Kagome noticed, and was older than the other. He wore a strange fluffy thing on one of his shoulders and had a colorful tattoo painted on the side of his face. The other fought aggressively, relying on pure instinct and brute force to win. He wore a brilliant red kimono and had silver hair with two white ears perched on the top of his head.

They did not use human weapon like swords or bows. The one with the fluffy shoulder often attacked with a poison fist, with the other used some kind of claw attack. It was quite interesting to watch. Kagome sat down and place her head on her arms; eyes attached to the on going fight. Suddenly, the older blasted the other into a nearby tree. The loser lay on the ground for a moment before springing to his feet, looking particularly annoyed and angry. He started to stomp off, but happened to look up and see Kagome staring at him. She quickly moved away from the window, embarrassed she had been caught watching.

'Not that I should be.' She told herself. 'If they were going to train in public, then they should expect for those not use to it to watch.' She got up her nerve and approached the window again…and found herself looking into the eyes of the loser before. He was standing strangely balanced against the side of the roof.

"Who are you?" He demanded, his voice muffled through the glass windowpane. Kagome hesitated for a moment, then opened the window.

"I think I should be asking you that." She said crossly once she had it open. He sniffed her and frowned.

"You have that smell of that stupid human who comes to pester my father on you." He said. "Who are you?" His tone rose. Kagome glared.

"I am Kagome." She stated, purposely leaving off any title. "Who are you? And why are you up here?"

"You were the one staring at our fight, moron." He said, pointedly ignoring her first question.

"So you just decided to come up here?" Kagome yelled. "Go away."

"I'm not going to listen to a mere human wench." He said, crossing his arms. Kagome, getting awfully annoyed by his attitude, reached out and pushed him firmly on both shoulders, smiling as he lost balance and fell off the roof.

"I said go away." She called down at him and slammed the window shut.

"Damn, you bitch!" He yelled, climbing back to his feet, shaking one fist angrily. Kagome pulled the curtains closed. 'Well, that was fun.' She said sarcastically to herself. 'Maybe I did go to far in pushing him off the roof…but he was being rude.' She looked at the clock and decided it would be best to begin to get ready for the dinner.

Later, Kagome heard a faint knocking sound and promptly opened the door. "Miss, I am here to direct you to the eating corridors." It was the maid, just as Mother had promised.

"Lead me away." Kagome said glumly. The maid bobbed her head and walked briskly down the halls. Kagome pulled at her dress one last time, knowing that when she got there, she would have to put on a big charade. 'I promised I'd be good.' She told herself. The maid gestured to a heavily decorated door. Two guards who had been standing motionlessly nearby sprang into action, quickly pulling back the doors to reveal a stunning dining hall.

"My dear Kagome!" She heard her father cry, and saw him stand up and walk over to her. 'I see you have your party charade on as well.' She thought darkly.

She smiled at him and exclaimed. "Father, I have missed you so!" The few people who were already there would be expecting some kind of scene. After all, she had not seen her father in a little over a month, since he spent most of his time away doing business. 'I was the happiest when he was gone.' Her father took her arm and led her over to the table.

"You will be sitting with the higher nobles and princes today." He whispered in her ear. "Be on your best behavior." Kagome nodded slightly. Her father pulled out a chair and she sat promptly in it, and watched as he left to where her mother was sitting. 'Best behavior.' She thought angrily. She slouched low in her chair, arms crossed and a scowl on her lips, but quickly straightened when her mother caught her eye.

"Your promise." She mouthed. Kagome sighed. A promise was a promise. She smiled at a young lord who sat down beside her. He smiled pleasantly back.

"I am Prince Hojo." He told her. "Who might you be?"

"I am Lady Kagome." She groaned at the sound of her title. It didn't quite seem to fit.

Soon, the entire dinner hall was filled with people. The youkai king who sat at the head of the table stood up. 'And here comes the speech.' She thought to herself.

"I thank you my good people for coming here." He said loudly, his voice projecting easily over the many people. "I especially would like to thank King Anagei and his sons Prince Hojo and Prince Bris and his daughter Princess Rin for joining us." Polite applause followed as the four people stood up. "And also the prestigious Lord Grechs with his lovely wife as well as his daughter, Lady Kagome." Kagome had this strange urge to stay seated, just to see what they would do. After a moment, though, she stood up, and then sat back down quickly. "Lord Urakan will be joining us later, as well as his sister, Lady Kikyo."

"I also would like to present my two sons, Prince Sesshoumaru," The youkai with the fluffy shoulder stood up. 'So that's who he is.' "And I am afraid my other son will not be joining us." He stated. Kagome laughed a little under her breath. 'At least someone is smart.' "Now, let us eat." He said calmly, and servants poured into the room, carrying steaming platters of food they sat delicately on the tables

"This looks really good!" Prince Hojo said happily. Kagome almost smiled at his over enthusiasm. The food did look tempting, and Kagome soon had her plate piled high with many assorted edibles. She ate quickly, but neatly, trying to avoid eye contact with any of the higher nobles. She couldn't help it. She just found most of them to be spoiled and self-centered airheads. She meant that in the nicest way possible, of course. "So, how is the weather where you live?" Hojo asked her kindly.

'Great. It's the classic weather talk.' Kagome put on a fake smile. "It is well this time of year."

"Don't you thing the food here is great? I heard he hired forty different chefs just to prepare this feast. Then he only used the finest parts of all the meats and had the rest thrown out" Hojo chatted to her.

'Who cares if there were forty chefs? And throwing out the meat--isn't that a little extreme?' She thought to herself. 'There are bound to be hungry people who would have loved to have some of the wastes.' "Is that so?" She answered politely.

"It is true. He spared no expensive at the ball either. I heard that he had golden and silver tapestries made just for this occasion." He told her, taking her reactions as signs of interest and disbelief.

'Do I really care? I don't like it when people flaunt their money like that.' She still nodded and said, "Is that so." That answer seemed nice and safe.

"My father brought in the finest musicians from our kingdom to here." He said, sounding very proud. Kagome was getting a little fed up with this money talk, so she quickly finished her food before responding.

"Wow…oh…" Kagome put her hand up to her head. "I am afraid I am getting a headache. I think I will go up to my room and rest a bit." She told the young man. He looked worriedly at her.

"Are you okay? Would you like me to accompany you or find a healer?"

"I am fine. I just get sick so easily sometimes." She stood up.

"Farewell, Lady Kagome. Rest so you can come to the ball. I'll save a dance for you!" He called as she slipped out one of the side doors, where people would least likely to be seeing her leave. She hoped her parents wouldn't notice that she was gone. She walked down the halls, a little lost on where to go. Finally, she pushed open a door that seemed familiar, and found her in the gardens that she had witnessed the fight before. 'Well, I wouldn't mind getting some fresh air.' She thought to herself, and walked out along a dirt path. She decided to cut through the trees and soon found herself at a small lake. She sat down beside it and picked up a couple of rocks on the ground and threw them in. 'Stupid dinner. I bet the ball is going to be the same way.'

"What are you doing?"

Kagome screamed in surprise, jumping up and away from the voice. She instinctively threw the rock she had been holding at the sound, and heard a small cry of pain as the rock made contact. A figure walked out of the woods, clutching his head. "Damn bitch. Why'd you go and hit me?" He demanded. Kagome recognized him as the one who had come up to her window.

"I didn't know who you were--and you have no right to sneak up on people like that!" She shrieked. "For all I know, you could be some evil conspirator who has come to kidnap me--"

"Why would anyone want to kidnap and annoying woman like you?" He asked. Kagome glared at him.

"Why are you here?" She asked him. "Do you live in the gardens, coming out only pester helpless ladies?"

He pointed to his head. "I don't think you are all that helpless, girl!" He cried. "First you push me out the window, then peg me with a rock!"

"Well, you deserved both. And you still haven't told me who you are." Kagome couldn't help to soften towards him. He was the first person she had ever met to actually think she could take care of herself.

"Feh, I am Inuyasha, if you want to know so badly." He told her.

"So, Inuyasha, why would you be out here at such late a night? Its suspicious." She told him. He just gawked at her.

"You are out here too! You are the suspicious one!" He cried.

"Well, I am here because I got lost going back to my room." She said honestly. "You live here, right? So that's no excuse."

"I am just avoiding something." He said, crossing his arms in a sign that he wasn't going to say anything more.

"Well, I am running away from something, so I guess we are similar in that sense." She side smiled at him.

"What would a worthless human like you have to run away from?" He glowered.

"Boredom and pressed marriages." She said, counting them off on her fingers. "What are you avoiding?"

"I don't have to tell you."

"That's no fair! I told you what I was running away from!" She cried.

"I didn't force you, did I?" He smirked. She glared at him and then promptly pushed him into the lake.

"That's for being annoying!" She called to him and he splashed angrily in the water.

"Damn you bitch! This water is cold!" He shouted, and then crawled out. He was rather cute with his ears lying flat on his head on water dripping down to the ground. "I ought to push you in too!" He shouted.

"You can, but I'd drown." She said as he approached her threateningly. "I can't swim."

"Who has ever heard of a person who can't swim?" He asked, not quite believing her.

"Well, I can't. My Father thought it would be better if I remained helpless in that area." She said, her eyes flashing angrily. "So I never learned."

"Humph. If you go and die, then I'd be blamed." He said, annoyed that his revenge had been taken away from him. "Are you going to that stupid ball later on? I heard a lot of people were invited." He asked, not quite looking at her.

"I have too. Why? Are you going?" She questioned.

"My father is forcing me." He said angrily. "Bastard."

"So, I will be seeing you there." She said. "I guess I should go and get ready for it." She started to walk off and then turned around. "Sorry for pushing you in the lake. You may want to change, or you'll get a cold." She told him.

"I don't have to listen to you." He cried.

"Fine, but if you get pneumonia and die, I am not going to be responsible." With that, she continued on her way. 'At least there will be one guy there who will be as miserable as I will be.' She thought to herself. 'He must be either in a high class, since he was practicing with the prince, or a lower class since he wasn't at the dinner.' She couldn't help but observe, then shook her head. 'Damn my father for making me automatically question his status!' She thought angrily to herself. 'He could be a stupid garden tender for all I care.' She stomped off, her anger written clearly across her face.

Inuyasha watched as the strange girl walked, then sudden changed her pace to one of anger, off. She was definitely one of the more interesting girls he had ever met, able to express her opinions without worrying of what he might think. When he first saw her staring at him, he had been curious to who she was, because of both her scents and the fact that she didn't seem like the average people that came to the youkai castle. He wearily walked back to the castle. The girl was right about him needing to get on some dry clothes. He didn't want to catch a cold.

'I have never been pushed into the water by a girl before.' He thought angrily. 'In fact, I try to avoid most bitches since my father will have to marry me off one of these days.' Inuyasha felt the small knot on his head, where the rock from earlier had hit. 'Damn, she throws hard.' He thought to himself.

He jumped on to the roof and ran swiftly to where his room was located. He didn't like going the normal way, where people would be expecting to wait on him hand and foot. He jumped through his window and landed delicately on the ground. 'This party is going to be so stupid.' He thought to himself. 'At least that girl will be as bored as me.' He sighed. 'Well, if I am a little late, it will hardly matter. The more time I wait here, the less time I am there.'

He thought back to the fight earlier, wishing that he could beat his half brother to a bloody pulp. Sesshoumaru always won, telling Inuyasha that he lacked the strength and concentration to beat him, blaming his weak human side. Inuyasha hated to be reminded of his human side. It wasn't his fault that he was only half youkai. His father's first wife had died shortly after giving birth to Sesshoumaru and he later married a human woman from a small kingdom near him. Then, she too died mysteriously. Being the hanyou son of a youkai king was not good. He had to prove that he had the right to the royal family, fighting around several youkai insults. Humans didn't really understand his problem, and some youkai failed to realize the hardships it was to be living a life that you really didn't want to live. Being a youkai prince was certainly a cursed gift.

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So, what did you think? I hope you liked it! ^_^ If you review, I will continue sooner! Also, I thought this up on my own, but if you feel that it seems similar to your story in anyway, feel free to take credit, since I haven't read too many fanfics. PLEASE REVIEW!