The Princess of Two Empires by Lady Symoné

Prologue

Hello, readers! Thank you for picking my story! I am very proud of how it's coming along, so your reviews are welcome. I will try to update at least once a month, but there're no promises! You know how writers are, fickle as heck. Anyway, as of yet, there is no citrus action in my story. (I'm a freshman for heaven's sake! My mother would keel over!) But perhaps later. Now read and enjoy!

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Prologue

"How are our plans of attack coming along?"

"Right on track, Sesshoumaru-heika. Soon the Eastern Empire will be yours." The handsome man reclining on the silk pillows smirked. After all this time, he would finally be the one with glory.

"Very well. I leave the rest to you, gentlemen. I need to get ready for my dear brother's engagement revelry." The man elegantly rose to his feet while the other occupants of the room bowed their foreheads to the floor, in a sign of respect. I've done it father, the man thought. Who's your favorite now?

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Princess Kagome looked out her window, across the rich fertile land of her birth. Beautiful Assyria. A perfect pearl-of-a-tear slid down her face. Soon she would be moved to Japan, to marry the next demon lord of the Tao Lin Empire she had been promised to since her birth sixteen years ago. To that day, Kagome still had never even seen a picture of her groom to be. Women were not involved in matters of marriage, especially princesses. Kagome sighed. Her mother, the Malika of Assyria, had told her this so many times that she didn't even protest anymore.

Kagome had heard all kinds of unpleasant things about the Japanese from the gossipy maids. Things like 'they are barbarians!' and 'women are assaulted daily by men on the street!' She had no intention of being empress over a petty war-zone. Kagome wanted to be queen, but one that was respected for her beauty as well as intelligence; not some foreign man's plaything.

Commotion in the atrium below her brought Kagome back from her pensive state. Royal Assyrian guards were dragging something away from the main gate. Kagome instantly knew something wasn't right. She called for her chambermaids, while hurriedly putting on her robe.

"What is going on?" she inquired. After bowing their foreheads to the floor, one maid replied,

"It is Princess Rin, milady. She is throwing a fit over having to leave." Kagome felt her blood run cold.

"What do you mean 'leave'? Where exactly is my younger sister going?"

"Milady did not know?" the other maid replied, "Princess Rin is going to China to marry a rich noble. Her ship leaves today." The chambermaids looked up to find the room empty.

As Kagome ran down the elaborately carved staircase, her mind raced with thoughts. Why would father do this? At the foot of the stairs, Kagome had a clear view of what was going on. Her sister was desperately holding onto the main gate, while soldiers were attempting to wrench her small hands free.

"Stand down at once!" Everyone in the courtyard turned to look at the princess. With her long wavy dark brown hair down and swirling around her in the breeze, and her robes of royal purple contrasting her light tan skin, she resembled the goddess of beauty.

"Just what do you think you're doing? Release Rin at once, or I shall go to my father, the king." The soldiers released Rin long enough to wriggle free of their grasps. She then threw herself into her older sister's protective embrace.

"Forgive us, your majesty," the captain of the guards bowed his head, "but it was your father who ordered us to escort Princess Rin to the docks. Come, Princess. No harm will come to you, I promise."

The young princess ignored the captain's request, and buried her face farther into Kagome's robes.

Kagome was at a loss. If she did not surrender her sister she would risk being out of favor with her father, which was potentially dangerous. However she could not throw her sister into the lion's den, all alone. Rin was only seven years old after all.

"Kagome, release Rin this moment." Everyone in the courtyard bowed their heads to the ground. The Malik of Assyria and his Malika had heard of the commotion. Kagome turned around to face her father and mother, while bowing.

"Father, you know I never wish to defy you, but this time I must object. Rin is still so young! I will take her place if need be." Kagome's father stared at her for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Only the ruler of Assyria could have produced such a brazen child!" Then the Malik's face grew dark. "Kagome, I would never allow you to take Rin's place. We can't simply cut off our connections to Japan." He chuckled again. "Why can't you just be happy for your sister on her wedding day?" Rin started to sob.

"But father!" Kagome protested, "She is but a child!" The surrounding people fell silent. No one ever spoke back to the King, and lived to tell of the deed.

"Kagome," the Malika said softly, with a stern look, "you dishonor us with your impudence. What your father decides is for the best."

"But-" Kagome was cut off by the Malik raising his arm towards her.

"Silence!" He roared, as he hit Kagome on the collarbone with the head of his staff. She cried out in pain as a sickening crack split the stillness of the atrium. Rin screamed and her mother gasped. Servants rushed to help the fallen princess clutching her chest with one hand, and Rin in the other.

"Stop! No one help her up!" Some of the servants quietly protested, but stepped back as commanded. The Malik was breathing heavily, and his face was turning red.

"You have become quite the little activist in my absence, but I will stand for it no more! Kagome, you are but a straw in the wind. Worthless and little value to anyone but animals. You should be happy and grateful that I found you such a good husband. By protesting you set an example for your sister. Now I see it will be a very good time to separate you two."

With that, Kagome's father roughly pushed her out of the way, and firmly grasped the wrist of the weeping Rin. Kagome gasped out in torment. The pain was excruciating. Small driblets of blood ran down the side of her mouth and her breath was husky.

"My lord!" the Malika exclaimed, shocked.

"Silence!" He hissed once more. "Mighty kingdoms are built on the backs of slaves and obedient women! It seems I have none around here. With some luck, Kagome and Rin will never see each other again!"

The Malik thrust Rin into the captain of the guard's arms. Everyone watched in terror as the events unfolded before their eyes. All were powerless to stop it.

"R-Rin!" Kagome called out despite her agony, "Run Rin! Run away!" Kagome suddenly felt an extreme throbbing in her side. Someone had kicked the air out of her body. Kagome's father's cruel form stood above her gasping form.

"I should have you put to death. As it is, I have no more daughters to give to the Japanese. So I will mercifully let you live. Say goodbye to your beloved sister!" Kagome's eyesight was going fuzzy. She could barely make out the small figure thrashing about. The guards grabbed her and held her down.

"Captain! I give you permission to use whatever force necessary to quiet that unpleasant child." The Malik's cruel voice rang in Kagome's head.

"Kagome! Kagome help me!" Rin cried. "I don't want to be like Yuri!" Kagome barely heard her sister's desperate voice.

No! She thought. I can't leave her! I promised I would never leave her! No! Kagome felt consciousness slip away from her as she heard the fading sounds of a cart's wheels, and the muffled screams of a little girl.