Beauty Within The Eyes of The Beholder by Creature of Shadow

Chapter 1

This was written for Tangie's Ultimate Fanfic Tournament Challenge.

Word: Morbid

Word Count: 2298

Rating: T

Summary: Lady Kagome of the Northern Realm comes face to face with herself and her own beliefs she thinks about and finally meets her intended. Moral, don't believe everything you hear, and always remember beauty is within the soul not the skin.

I would like to apologize for any errors in this also, I didn't have time to find a beta.

Kagome sulked, staring out the window of her carriage. She was en route to the Western Fortress, to meet her fiancee.

Bristling at the thought, Kagome blinked slowly and resumed her seeming interest in the scenery. It just wasn't fair. Sure, arranged marriages were common, but she had never thought to include herself in that particular statistic. Not only was her father, Lord Akio of the Northern Realm, destroying her every hope of marrying for love, but the man he had betrothed her to was a ruthless tyrant.

'Man.' Kagome snorted.

Truthfully speaking, he wasn't really a man, male maybe, but no man. Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands was a demon. A demon known for intolerance to just about everything, and harsh punishment befell the poor souls who displeased him. Kagome had heard that once, the terrible demon lord had beheaded a servant for breathing to loudly in his high and mighty presence.

Just what kind of being could do such a terrible thing for such a silly reason?

Her intended, of course. This arrangement was very beneficial to her family and kingdom, sure. But she still didn't understand how her father could so easily toss her aside for politics. Did he really care so little for her? If politics meant so much, he could let it be known that she had strong spiritual powers. Such a thing was treasured in this time, but Lord Akio was afraid the Western Lord would turn her away if he knew. This arrangement had been made at her birth, she was just not informed until a few weeks ago. It had angered Kagome greatly to find the reason she had been forced to hide a piece of herself was so she could be tossed into a loveless marriage. Every girls dream for sure.

But she supposed, it could be worse. Her father could have married her off to that awful Lord Kouga, wolf spawn of the Eastern Mountains. Kagome shuddered at that. Kouga was a boorish nightmare of a lord who never learned to think before speaking. Sometimes, she wondered if he knew how to think at all. He was attractive enough, she supposed, but that counted for very little where she was concerned.

Kagome had always thought her self to be a pretty non-superficial person, searching for the beauty within rather than looking solely at the outer shell. It was something she prided herself on. She tried not to judge people before she got to know them, never sided between human/demon squabbles. She never thought one side was any better than the other. Which is why she was traveling hundreds of miles to marry a complete stranger.

Kagome sighed and readjusted herself into a more comfortable position.

He couldn't possibly as bad as she had heard. No one was that cruel. And, she was in fact judging him prematurely, which in her mind was breaking a cardinal rule. It was unfair to place him in a category based on the stories of others. People loved to gossip after all, and tales were shredded so only a hint of the real truth remained.

Besides, at the very least, she would have a nice male specimen to look at for the rest of her years. That was a plus. Kagome had seen paintings of the great Dog General and his son depicting valiance and bravery no matter the odds. Not only were they indisputably heroic, her intended was by all definitions, an extremely handsome male. Flowing white tresses, skin like moonlight, golden eyes that shone like sunlight, and an unconquerable masculinity that would have even the most devout priestess week in the knees.

Kagome shivered at her memory. How bad could it really be? Even if Sesshomaru turned out to be a mean unfeeling bastard, at he least he looked good doing it.

She had to wonder about some other rumors though. From everything she had heard, no one but a select few servants and family had seen the young lord since right after he had assumed the throne. His great father had been killed in a skirmish with the former of the Southern Plains, a dragon demon named Ryukotsei.

Now he, was an evil being. Even Kagome could not argue that the world was not a better place without him. The dog general had managed to take the evil lord down, but had lost his life in the process. All four kingdoms had mourned the loss. The young prince Sesshomaru had taken it especially hard from what she had heard. After his coronation, he hid himself away from the world. No one seemed to know why either. But, she would find out. She was marrying him, so logically she had to meet him at some point right?

'Right.' she told herself confidently.

Kagome roused herself from her thoughts just as her carriage entered the gates to the mighty Western Fortress.

It was beautiful. The large palace rose to a height she had yet to acknowledge even existed. It seemed to touch the very sky, and Kagome had to wonder what they could possibly have inside that would require so much room. The general style of the buildings were typical, but the craftsmanship was keenly unique. Carvings of leaders past lined the entrance to the grand doors at the base of the colossal structure. Kagome bent her head in silent prayer as they passed the likeness of her late father in-law.

The carriage stopped just short of the castle doors. She had barely stood when the great entryway was suddenly spilling people faster than she could count. Servants lined up creating a pathway before her, and lastly, tottering down the stairs was a short toad demon.

Kagome gracefully exited the coach, and curtsied just as she had been taught. The grumpy looking amphibian bowed and opened his arms wide.

“Welcome to the Western Fortress your Highness. I am Master Jaken, second in command to the great and powerful Lord Sesshomaru.” the little toad demon greeted in a squeaky voice. “Please, follow me inside so we may get you settled in.”

Kagome had time to nod, and that was about it. That little imp could move!

Kagome was debating on whether or not a human with legs that short could move so expeditiously, when she nearly ran the small demon in comparison over.

“I apologize, Lord Jaken. I will be sure to pay more attention to my surroundings in the future.” Kagome said placating, after seeing the rage bubbling up on the toad's face.

It seemed to work a little, as the boiling anger slowed to a simmer.

“Hmph, be sure you do hu-your Highness. Should you disrespect Lord Sesshomaru so, your head will roll.” he replied smugly. “Now, these are to be your rooms until you are officially mated to my lord. Someone will come to dress you for dinner shortly.”

With that, the small stump of a demon left her to her own devices. Kagome sat on the well made futon, and couldn't help but replay the disdain in Jaken's voice when he spoke of the union. Could it be she was not as welcome here as her family had been led to believe? And what was all that business about heads rolling? Were the stories she had heard of her fiancee true?

This was a troubling turn of thought, but Kagome pushed them aside for later contemplation. She had promised herself she would not let the gossip bother her, and that she would make her decisions on what she sees, not what other's wanted her to see.

Nodding to herself, Kagome strengthened her resolve. She would never again take a rumor into her mind without first adding a grain of salt. She would not cower like a frightened child.

Kagome stood and faced a mirror adjacent to the bed, glaring imperiously at her reflection. She would take on this marital challenge like the noblewoman she was raised to be. She would hold her head high no matter what the demon court thought of her and be a fair and just ruler. And she would not fear her soon to be husband. She would not fear anything at all!

*KNOCK KNOCK*

Kagome 'eeped' and almost feel onto the bed. She sighed, and rose to answer to the door. Her new resolution was doing splendidly so far. Kagome huffed slightly, and regaining her composure, opened the door.

“Hello your Highness, I am Mai, your lady's maid.” A petite little fox demon said from her position on the floor.

Kagome took the young female's hand and guided her to stand. “Hello Mai. I am pleased to meet you. And for goodness sake, stay off the floor in the future.” Kagome told her pleasantly

Mai looked at her mistress uncertainly before nodding. “As you wish, milady.”

“Very good, now let's get me prettied up so I may meet my intended, shall we?” Kagome chirped.

“Yes, milady.” Mai responded, already digging through a finely crafted armoire.

An hour or so later, dressed in a regal dark blue and silver kimono, Kagome was led to the dining hall. Butterflies fluttered recklessly in her stomach as she walked. She was finally going to meet her fiancee. As the large doors opened, Kagome closed her eyes in something in between excitement, and terror.

“The Lady Kagome, princess of the Northern Realm.” Jaken's high pitched squawk thundered in the hall.

“Welcome Lady Kagome, to the Western Lands. This one is pleased to receive you.” A deep timbre replied tonelessly.

Kagome resisted the urge to snort. He made it sound like she was a present he had 'received'.

'A gift indeed.' Kagome thought indignantly as she opened her eyes to hopefully distract herself with her new lord's beauty.

What she saw however, nearly had her running home. Seated at the head of the table was her fiancee, but he was not at all the adonis she had fantasized about. Lord Sesshomaru, ruler of the Western Lands, was as large as a pregnant sea-cow. It was now clear why he had hidden himself away. No former war lord would wish to be seen like that.

“You will respond to your lord, human!” Jaken screeched irately.

Kagome shook her head slowly, the mantra 'Only the beauty inside counts' over and over again. Finally, she looked her intended dead in the eye, and bowed respectfully.

“I am pleased to be here, my lord. Forgive my rudeness, it was a long trip and I am weary.” Kagome said unwaveringly.

Sesshomaru nodded in acceptance, and motioned for her to take her chair with his large, wiggly jiggly arm.

Kagome once again found herself inwardly singing her new catch phrase. 'Only the beauty inside counts.' Morbidly obese husband or not, she was going to make this work.

Kagome smiled at her fiancee sweetly, and nearly shivered at the raw appreciation swimming in his amber orbs. Oh yes, she would make this work.

Short Epilogue

Three years and two children later, a very happy Lady of the West stood at her balcony staring at the stars.

It seemed like only yesterday she had arrived at the palace. Seemed like only yesterday she was married to the kind, loving demon sleeping in the bed behind her. She turned to gaze at her mate. How he had changed since she came into his life.

It took only a few short weeks for Kagome to break into the stoic demon's ice enclosed heart. They spent many hours reveling in the other's presence. Reading, writing, talking or just sitting in silence. It only took a few short weeks for the princess to fall for her overweight prince, and he for her.

She learned of the pain he had experienced when his last remaining parent had died, and how he dealt with his sorrow by eating. Ashamed of himself, he had locked himself away from everyone other than his trusted servant, Jaken. And now, of course, the stunning fiancee he felt he was unworthy of.

Kagome had just looked at him then, seeing the hurt in his soul.

“I am unworthy.” she had said quietly. “My first reaction to your appearance was unforgivable, especially since all your...bulk houses such a beautiful spirit.”

Sesshomaru had smiled a small smile then. Kagome had unknowingly healed the wounds in his heart. And without another word, he kissed her. They made their mating official that night, and were married the next day.

Six months later, Kagome birthed their first son, a little half demon angel they lovingly named Hiroyuki, meaning widespread happiness. For in truth, the small pup radiated joy, brought the same out of all around him.

And Sesshomaru of course, being a new father, had started himself on training regiment to lose his vast paunch.

“No father can give his son skills past that of a toddler, when he can move no faster than such. This one wishes to regain is former glory, and rid himself of this gruesome reminder of the past.” he had said.

Now, Kagome had fallen in love with a truly morbidly obese demon, but she had to admit, looking over her husbands new and improved casing, he was drool worthy.

An insistent wail penetrated her thoughts, and she smiled to herself again. Gazing one last time at the bright moon, she sighed contently and made her way inside to answer her infant daughters call.

A/N: Alright the end. I am not overly pleased with this, the original my old lap top ate was far better. But, I have a terrible memory and this was all I could remember of it. So, hopefully it doesn't suck to bad.Please review, and if you liked it please remember to pm TangerineDream with a vote. Thanx for reading!

CoS