Into the Forbidden Bamboo Grove by RisuBento

Snowy Agony

It was the summer of my 10th year. I'd been sent from my home in the mountains to the royal palace in the Western realm to become proper consort at the youkai Court of the Moon.

I truly had not wanted to leave my mother and brother behind. Grandfather had been too ill to see me off. I was continuously worried about their welfare and I was filled with euphoria and relief when I received letters from them.

It had been so long since I'd heard from them. I had begun to fear the worst.

But that wasn't important at the moment. It was the youkai Court ball that eve. I wanted nothing more than to run away and roll in the grass, swim in the creeks or ponds nearby-anything to just get away from it all.

But, no. I was to become a lady. And not just 'any' lady. A lady in waiting to be courted by one of the Inu no Taisho's sons. It was curious as to how they chose what women, from society, would become a consort and what women were to remain as they were.

I would have gladly stayed my old childish self. But the day my mother received a message from a messenger, she told me to never forget whom I was and that she loved me.

Of course, at the time I hadn't known about the letter or that the Inu no Taisho had even existed. I was shocked and speechless when I was told that I was to become a lady.

I kicked and screamed, flailing my arms, trying to get away from the man holding me to him. His horse was galloping at a fast pace and my tears bounced from my face, the vision of my crying mother, blurring as she grew smaller and smaller.

I had awakened hours later; I figured I must've fallen asleep, in an entirely new setting. A gargantuan pagoda-like castle loomed in the mountainside before me. It had frightened me. It had reminded me of the ghost stories my father used to tell of haunted castles and raving poltergeists.

When the man holding me onto the saddle before him entered the large outdoor courtyard, a freezing rain had begun to fall in sheets. My lips had turned blue and my bare feet were just as well. I couldn't feel my hands and my legs gave out, I'd been trembling so horridly, when I was helped from the large beast of a horse.

Someone with warm hands had lifted me from the cobblestone and carried me into the nice smelling grand entrance hall.

From what my half-lidded eyes and half awoke mind could register...it was a nice place. I could see blurs of vivid colours and smiling faces.

I'd wanted to see my mother's face. Her smiling brown eyes. I wanted her to hold me and tell me that it would be all right. I had begun to cry and no one, it seemed, knew what to do.

Hot tears coursed down my chubby cheeks as I wailed, burying my face into the shoulder of the person carrying me. A gruff, yet gentle, hand was suddenly on my heaving back, patting me awkwardly. I sniffled...trying to will away my tears and tell myself that it was all a dream. I was still at home with my mother, brother and grandfather...it was only a nightmare.

How horribly wrong I was.

I didn't remember falling asleep. I had awakened when someone next to me was shaking me.

"Child! Child! Ye must awaken! The lord has summoned ye!" The kind voice whispered into my ear.

I was calmed and relaxed by that voice. Maybe because it reminded me so much of my mother's. I opened my eyes and heard someone gasp. I turned my head over and found myself looking at an elderly woman...I nearly gasped myself when I noticed that she had only one eye; a black eye patch covered the other one.

I was confused as to why she'd gasped. Sitting up, I felt the tears return and I sniffled. I wanted my mother. Somehow...deep down, I knew that that wasn't going to happen any time soon.

The woman who kneeled next to me pulled me to my feet and helped me bathe in a lovely scented bath water and then to dress me. I was given the most beautiful kimono my icy-blue eyes had ever seen. It was a dark blue with sunburst type shapes patterned irregularly here and there. They were each patterned with orange, yellow, and yellow-orange. The material had felt like water running through my fingers. I'd wanted to cry at something so beautiful.

I'd learned as the older woman was brushing my hair dry, that her name was Kaede and she was the miko at the Court of the Moon.

I liked Kaede. She was like a second grandmother to me. She treated me kindly and was always there for a hug or whenever I needed the help.

I was beginning to grow tired once again when a knock at the shoji door startled us both. Kaede stood and opened the door a crack.

Soft words were heard and I strained fruitlessly to hear what they were whispering about. I turned my head back forward when Kaede closed the door and moved back over to me.

Kneeling down once again, she resumed brush drying my hair. "The lord wishes to see ye now." She said suddenly, her kind, aged voice said.

I swallowed and willed the tears back. Standing, I was careful to move in my new silk kimono. I wanted NOTHING to happen to it. I sighed and silently followed Kaede out from the room and was stopped after a short while in front of a decorated shoji door.

I looked up at her with fearful eyes and she smiled. "Ye will be fine child. Now..." She smiled, turning and knocking softly on the door.

A shadow was seen on the other side, leaning over and opening the door. I felt my eyes widen. I was staring at the most beautiful man I'd ever seen. His golden orbs were currently staring at me, making me feel as if I was suddenly dropped in a tub of ice water.

I was gently pushed into the room, Kaede's gnarled hand resting gently between by shoulder blades. I gasped and began to resist but was startled when a bark of friendly laughter caught my attention. I jerked my teary eyes back to the man sitting behind the table. His luminescent silver hair flowed and shifted gently as he shook with booming laughs.

I was frightened to say the least. I was thinking the reason I was here was for him to eat me! I wanted out and I wanted out now!

"Don't be frightened. Please, have tea with me." The man smiled, a pair of canines poking out from his lips. My jaw went slack and my eyes were wide as teacup saucers.

"You're...youkai!" I said breathlessly. He continued to smile and nodded for me to sit on the cushion across from him. I did, too frightened to do anything otherwise. Raising his hand and flicking it with his wrist, a vassal suddenly appeared next to me, pouring me a steaming cup of tea.

I continued to stare at him in shock. When he chuckled, having caught me staring at him, I averted my gaze to my tightly clasped hands in my lap.

"You are called Kagome?" He stated more than asked. I could only nod my head in response, not lifting my gaze.

"I suppose you are wondering the reason you are here, little Ka'me..." He started. I gasped and snapped me head up; my eyes wide with shock.

'H-how does he know my father's nickname for me?'

He continued, smiling at my reaction. He went on to tell me that I was to become a lady. And as a lady, I would be required to marry one of his son's and bear an heir. I was shocked. I mentioned my shock of bearing an heir-I was too young! I became embarrassed when he tilted his head back and boomed once again in laughter. When he'd calmed down, he told me that I WAS too young and that I would need to wake until I was able to bear children. I didn't understand what he meant until I was 13.

I was relieved. He then told me that both of his sons were away, training in the east and were not to return until the winter snow covered the mountaintops like fuzzy hats.

It was during the duration of the summer and into the fall did I begin my training to become a lady worthy of one of his sons. He was kind to me and treated me as such whenever we dined at evening. He would ask me how my day went and I would answer in my most polite manner and not make eye contact with him-just as I had been taught.

I had been out in the early morning one December day, a cold, and windy day, when I felt something cold fall onto my cheek. Looking up, I squealed as the first snow had begun to fall. I twirled around, my arms above me, as I laughed. The heavy cloak I was wearing was thick and warm. As was the wool scarf and bear skin boot I wore-which were hidden beneath my multiple layers of kimono (think Ugg boots...sorta like that).

When I was done twirling, I wobbled and teetered left to right before the world finally stopped spinning. Shaking my head once again, I was just about to head back inside when I heard the whinny of a horse. It was soft and distance, but was unmistakably a horse. Turning around I saw on the horizon three figures perched upon what looked like a mare and two stallions.

I knew I should have gone inside...but I didn't-not when I found myself lost in the two foremost figures. They both had long liquid silver hair and amber eyes. The younger and the one yelling, of the two, had two of the most adorable ears upon his silver mane. He looked angry.

When I shifted my gaze to the other one, as they drew closer, I shivered at the eerie emotionless facade carved into his face. He had the most beautiful ivory skin-almost porcelain-like. On his face he had a two crimson stripes adorning each cheek and a lavender crescent moon in the middle of his forehead. He gave me the shivers.

I was drawn back to the younger one with the, now twitching, ears, for he was yelling curse words at the monk riding the mare behind both of the men. The monk had on his face a cocky grin-as well what looked like a bruise on his left cheek.

When they were just passing me, they looked over and stopped their steeds. I was frightened that they were going to lash out at me for not greeting them formally. Quickly falling to my knees in a bow, my forehead touching the ground, I shivered when some freezing air snuck into my cloak.

It was quiet for a moment...I didn't dare breathe. I knew that they were the lord's sons. How could you not? They were practically mirror images of the lord himself.

"Rise." Came the icy growl. I did; my head bowed and my hands clasped one over the other before me. "Who are you?" Came the same icy voice.

I shuddered.

"I am Higurashi Kagome, my lord. I am training to become a consort in the Court of the Moon." I answered, willing the shakiness of my voice back.

A loud conch shell horn blew suddenly from the castle. I snapped my head up and glanced at the mountain palace.

The older of the two brothers glanced at me and then to his younger sibling. "Take her back with you. Father has summoned my presence." He spoke curtly.

The younger youkai grimaced and cursed as he watch his older brother gallop away. He then turned to me.

"Oi! Get the hell over here wench!" He yelled.

'W-wench?' I knew in that moment that I did not like him...not one bit.

When I didn't answer, he sighed and closed his eyes. I watched as he turned to the monk behind him. "YOU take her back, Miroku."

With that he took off towards the mountain path gates, which led up to the castle itself.

I heard a throat clear and I turned. I jumped back in surprise when I found the monk kneeling before me; my hands in his.

"My fairest lady. Your beauty astounds me ever so much." He cooed, giving me goose bumps. "Will you do me the greatest honor of bearing my son?"

I swallowed and felt a squeak lodge in my throat. My eyes grew wide and I did the only thing I could think of-kick him where it counted.

I glanced back only once as I ran to the castle gates, and saw him writhing and clutching himself in agony.

The snow and wind was beginning to sting my cheeks, turning them raw and rosy red. I didn't stop running until I was safe in my chambers and underneath my covers.