Reversal by GG

Kagome

A/N: Based on the art by and with the blessing of youkaiyume. View other art in the role reversal tag on youkaiyume's tumblr knowing the others have spoilers for the story to come. [ https://www.tumblr.com/youkaiyume/172333596968/i-once-got-a-prompt-request-for-role-reversal?source=share ]

Words: 3,160

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“Lady Kagome!” “Lady Kagome!” “Lady Kagome!” The chorus of calls made the knots in the pit of her stomach tighten, and she tried desperately to keep her breathing slow and even. She had to be as quiet and as still as she could. They could not send her away if they could not find her. Even as young as she was, she had known this was coming from the moment her little brother’s first sharp wail of life had pierced the air not more than a year ago. Then earlier that day, her greatest fear had been confirmed. Why did he have to be a boy? 

Everything had been perfect before Sota came. She was the only and most precious daughter of the great Lord and Lady Higurashi, heir to the throne. Everyone in the palace doted on her, and she never wanted for anything. She was spoiled to say the least. There were of course the expected drawbacks. On bright sunny days she would be forced to sit through lessons when she would rather be outside. Whenever she left the main palace she was never without guards, and kept from being free to climb trees and such as she wished. Rough games were out of the question, and whenever she did manage to slip away she would be punished harshly. It was rare, but worth it to her when she was able to play in a stream or let her hair come undone.

A male heir changed everything. She was no longer the next in line, she would simply be skipped. Now Sota would be loved and doted upon as she had been, if not even more so. She already felt the loss keenly now. He had come early, not by much, not like her last sibling who had not been able to cry when he had been born and didn’t stand a chance. Still, it was enough for focused concern to surround the boy day in and day out. Many had thought Lady Higurashi would not be able to give her lord another child. Sota, however, had only grown stronger with each day. 

“Lady Kagome!” The little girl pulled her knees tighter to her chest, silently praying that they would not find her. If only she hadn’t let them see the pink sparks she could make. They had been so pretty, she thought the adults would wonder and clap at her little magic trick. Instead the shock and quiet murmurs that had rolled through the room sent a chill through her. Her own hand maid had to explain to her that she had displayed Miko powers. Although they were small, it was rare that someone so very young could show even a hint of the abilities she’d shown. It surely meant she would be incredibly powerful, maybe one of the most powerful to ever live. Sooner rather than later she would have to train to learn to control it.

As the heir, no one wanted to send her away and they had been trying to find a Miko that would be willing to reside in their palace to train her. A difficult, maybe impossible request to make of any miko powerful enough to help hone Kagome’s promising abilities. So when her mother became pregnant with Sota, the whispers had started that surely the young Lady Higurashi would be sent to train with one of these Mikos. She’d ignored them, never  believing that her loving parents would ever send her away. Besides, her mother would not only have to give birth to a boy, but a boy who was strong enough to survive. Then she did, and her parents' attention waned and the whispers turned into open conversations.

It was why, when a woman in red and white arrived at the palace, Kagome had crept to her hiding place in the throne room where she was sure she would be received. The conversation was everything she had dreaded. This woman was the Miko that would be taking her away to  begin training, even though she was younger than any student they had taken on before. So at the first opportunity she went and hid in a little used storage compartment in the servants’ quarters. First she had wept softly, thinking of how her mother would not hug her at the end of every night, that she would not see her father pull little trinkets and treats from his sleeve to surprise and delight her. Eventually she had fallen asleep, then was awoken by the various calls of her name echoing down the palace halls.

“Kagome chan?” Her eyes widened at the sound of the familiar voice. He must have smelled her. Surely enough, a small clawed hand slid the door open to her hiding place, and worried gold eyes gazed at her. 

Quickly, but quietly, the eleven year old girl pulled her little friend into the cramped space with her and shut the door. “We have to be quiet, Toga chan.” She said as softly as she could.

“Everyone is worried ‘bout you, Kagome chan.” The small boy matched her tone, taking her order very seriously. 

The little girl closed her eyes, fighting back the tears that suddenly threatened to fall once more. “I know.” She whispered, squeezing his hand she had yet to let go of. “But they’re trying to send me away.” 

“I won’t let them Kagome chan.” He squeezed her hand back. 

“Thank you.” Allowing herself the softest sniff, the girl rubbed the heel of her palm across her cheeks to banish her fresh tears.

They sat like that for some time, a seemingly unspoken agreement passing between them to stay silent. All the while, neither of them let go of each others’ hands. Toga had only been in the palace a few days while visiting with his father, but being the only two children that weren’t servants in the palace had done much to endear them to each other. Even though she had gained a rather red angry scratch and a torn Kimono when they learned quickly their differences they had been warned of. The younger boy had been more careful with his delicate human friend and Kagome appreciated his efforts. He was not even five yet and it must have taken a lot to control himself. 

She wondered if his father, the Inu no Taisho had encouraged this. His family was there in an act of diplomacy after her father had begun to seek alliances with those welcome to the idea of peace between youkai and humans. She had heard whispers in the palace that if all went well the Inu might be the first to sign a peace treaty with her father. They were near to inseperable, knowing the two weeks he was in the palace would have to end, and their parents seemed to encourage the bond gladly.

She hated that on top of everything else, she would be robbed of another week with her new friend. With the thought, her hand squeezed his again, and she rested her chin on her knees.

“What are you gonna to do?” He asked when the voices calling out for her grew farther away.

Kagome shook her head. “I don’t know. If they find me, they’ll send me with that Miko. If I run away, I still won’t be with Mama and Papa.”  

Toga frowned, seeing the problem seemed not to have a solution. He’d promised not to let them send her away, but he couldn’t think of how to stop it without her running away like she’d said. “Maybe Miko will leave.” 

“...Maybe.” Even though she said it, she didn’t really believe it. As soon as she had answered his question moments before, the impossibility of her problem had set in and she hated it.

“I can sneak you foods until she leaves.” He insisted, catching the deepening scent of her despair. “I won’t tell no one–”

“Lady Kagome!” The voices were getting closer to them again.

“Shhh!” Kagome pressed her free hand over his mouth, shaking her head. Little Toga nodded, putting his hand over hers and pulling it away to hold it. Both of his hands squeezed hers in assurance.

Even at his tender age, he knew he had never cared so deeply about anyone that was not his kin as he had about Kagome in the short time he’d gotten to know her. She was free and wild underneath all that princessy stuff they put on her. The way she was reminded him almost of his distant wolf cousins who were the most fun to play with. He’d told her very confidently that she was the most youkai-like human he’d ever met. 

A familiar aura brushed against his, alerting him that keeping his friend hidden as he wished was futile. A little growl came from him, unbidden, and Kagome’s eyes widened. A moment later, mumbling voices drew nearer to them slowly becoming clear. 

“Here?” The familiar tones of her mother asked softly. “You’re sure?”

“As sure as I am Inu.” A deep voice replied. “Toga, enough.”

The boy’s growl ended, and he let out a miserable whine to appeal to his father.

“Kagome, Kagome, my love; Come out, sweetheart.” Lady Higurashi called out. 

The girl stared into her friends eyes for one moment longer, squeezing his hands before finally letting go and pulling the small sliding door open to reveal them to their parents. Toga kept his head bowed as he climbed out after her, unable to meet his father’s gaze. Kagome threw herself into her mother’s legs, sobbing in earnest.

“Please– Please d-don’t send me a-away, mama.”

The Inu Taisho swept his son into his arms, ignoring his pleading whine to stay. “We will give you privacy, and I will inform Lord Higurashi of your whereabouts.” 

The woman looked up at him, giving a nod of understanding. The taiyoukai turned away from them, heading down the hallway. Lady Higurashi rubbed her daughter’s back, allowing her to let out her overflow of emotions. They stood like that for some time, mother comforting daughter. She could not remember the last time Kagome had needed her so desperately. Lady Higurashi waited to speak until she seemed to calm down.

“Kagome, look at me, my darling girl.” The woman urged, her tone perfectly walking the line between gentle and stern.

Taking a deep– although shaky– breath, the little girl finally pulled away from the stain she’d left on the front of her mother’s Kimono. She looked up at the woman she so adored, sniffing softly. “Please, mama–”

Lady Higurashi silenced her daughter with a simple shake of her head. “Kagome, do you know how important you are? How special?” She pushed the hair back from her daughter’s face that had broken free. “No one can remember the last miko that showed her abilities so young as you are. You could change everything. Everything, my love. You are already most likely the first little girl to befriend a youkai boy. If you train, you could help make sure that all humans and demons could be friends. You know this is your father’s goal. Do you not wish to be able to remain friends with Toga, not enemies? it is not forever. I promise you.”

“But– but Miko hurt youkai.” 

“When they must, yes. They also have many other abilities, abilities you will learn in your training. You will be able to do so much more than bring harm. That is just a small stitch in the tapestry.” Her mother gently wiped at the fresh tears that began to spill from Kagome’s eyes. “Do you trust me?”

The girl squeezed her eyes shut tightly, but nodded.

“Good girl. Now come.” The woman pulled back from her, offering her hand. 

Her daughter took her hand, and Lady Higurashi led her back to the main palace calmly. She allowed the girl to cry openly, mumbling reassurances to her every so often. It would be difficult, but it would also be worthwhile. She was going to become a young woman soon. How strong she was to take this on. Lord Higurashi would be so, so very proud of her.

It had been early afternoon when Kagome had run away, but now it was late evening and every third lantern was lit, doing only little more than the moonlight to guide the way. Her mother took her to her bedroom, turning the handmaid away and helping her undress and redress into a sleeping yukata on her own. Soon, she was helping the girl settle into bed. 

Lowering herself to sit on the edge of her bed, Lady Higurashi continued her efforts to soothe her. “Shall I tell you a story?”

Kagome nodded, exhausted by the day’s events.

The woman spoke in soothing tones, telling her daughter the tale of a beautiful and powerful warrior priestess named Midoriko. Braver and more talented than possibly any miko before her, she took on a Dragon and won, but only at great cost, creating a powerful magic jewel… The girl drifted off before the ending of the story, wondering why her mother would tell her something so sad.

Then she was awake again, eyes squinting against sunlight pouring into her room. Kagome could hear her hand maid shuffling about, no doubt to ready her for the day. Maybe if she stayed very still, she could put it off just a bit longer…

“Lady Kagome.” Rei called out to her. “Time to wake, my lady.”

The girl’s face scrunched up, and she rolled away from the sound of the woman’s voice. “I’m not ready.” She whispered miserably.

“You’ve managed to put it off long enough, my dear. Now up. Lord Higurashi will be quite displeased if he has to come get you.” The handmaid pulled back her quilt.

Letting out an irritated huff, Kagome sat up and moved to get out of bed. At the foot of her futon was carefully folded red and white fabric– miko garb. There would be no layers of fine silk kimono and hair combs today, she realized. Maybe there never would be again. It sent an odd feeling through the eleven year old that was something like sadness and loneliness but tasted bitter. Whatever it was, she didn’t have a word for it yet.

Her handmaid had her ready quickly, and with much less fuss than there usually was. “There you are. A proper miko apprentice.” The woman said as she finished her hair.

It struck Kagome that she might never see this woman again. Never fight with Rei about messing up her clothes or hair, never have her fuss and hover around her or chase her to take her to the baths. She turned around and hugged Rei fiercely. “I’ll miss you.” She said into her hip.

The handmaid’s eyes went wide, but after the initial shock wore off, she rubbed the girl’s back.

“I’ll miss you too.” She replied earnestly.

After a few moments she gently untangled herself from her, and led Kagome out of her room. The walk was simultaneously too long and too short to reach the courtyard of the palace. Waiting to say goodbye were her mother holding her baby brother and father, her grandfather, the Inu family and a few other important members of the court. An escort of four mounted soldiers and the miko she was to train under waited closer to the gates.

“Kagome chan!” Toga had his arms around her in a flash, and she hugged her smaller friend back tightly. “Mama and papa said I could give this to you.” He mumbled, looking almost shy as he pulled away and held out a white stuffed dog. “It’s an Inu. Like me.” 

The girl turned the toy over in her hands, smiling softly. “Thank you, Toga chan…” Her voice dropped to the softest whisper. “I’ll miss you.”

His voice lowered similarly. “I’ll miss you too.”

The older inu youkai cleared his throat and Toga took a step back from her and bowed deeply. “Goodbye Lady Kagome. Good luck.” The boy darted back to his parents, taking his mother’s hand. 

Lord and Lady Higurashi stepped forward, and Kagome moved to them easily.

“Papa. Mama.” She greeted, bowing deeply.

“You are going to do very well, I’m sure.” Her mother told her with a smile, leaning  down so Kagome could see her baby brother. “Say goodbye to Sota.”

“Goodbye little brother.” She placed a kiss on his cheek and pulled away to face her father.

The man gave her a light, warm smile and dropped to one knee before her. “I am very proud of you, my little princess.” He told her fondly. “I have a gift for you.” The man reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small fabric wrapped bundle. Unfolding it, he revealed a flower comb and beaded kanzashi. “Do not forget you are a lady as well as a miko, my girl. Wear them with pride.” 

Tears welled in Kagome’s eyes and she nodded stiffly. Her mother gave Sota to the wet nurse, and carefully moved to place the accessories in her daughter’s hair. The girl stayed still, waiting patiently for her to place them. When the woman was done, she drew back with a smile. 

“Beautiful.” Her mother touched her shoulder fondly before drawing away. 

Her father took her hands and squeezed them. “Make me proud, Kagome.” 

The girl nodded, and squeezed his hands back. She wanted to throw her arms around him and beg him not to let her go. However, Kagome knew that behavior would be frowned upon to say the least. Summoning all the bravery and strength an eight year old could, she bowed to her parents when her father let go and stood back up; then she turned and bowed to the rest of the court.

“Thank you for coming to bid me farewell, everyone. I promise to work very hard at my training.” Kagome said, willing her voice not to shake. Turning away before she could embarrass herself with tears, she made her way to the Miko waiting for her.

With a little help she mounted the horse, and the miko followed to mount behind her. Every inch of her being wanted to turn to catch one last glimpse of them, but she told herself to be strong. If she looked back she would sob, she would scream and beg to go back. She couldn’t dishonor her father and mother that way. So no, Kagome would not look back for one last glimpse. Not of her kind mother, nor her baby brother. Not for the Inu youkai family or just her little Inu friend whose doll she clutched in her hand. Not for the warm face of her father. She would come to regret that moment one day, but it was what she had to do.

In three days time she would reach her destination. She would make them all proud.

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A/N: Thank you for reading! If anyone is interested in betaing please reach out! Reviews appreciated :) --GG