Kitsune Girl by Nenyanna

A princess is born

She was born Princess Kagome Midoriko Megumi of the Ueda Kingdom to Queen Nanami and King Kaname and she did not open her eyes for three days.  The overly concerned mother of her first born was overcome with worry and paced for hours on end in the newly decorated nursery, ordering physicians and healers to the crib to inspect the child.  After many investigations, whereby each prognosis was declared no different from the last the royal couple were finally enlightened to the fact that their child was in fact fine for all intensive purposes, but simply refused to open her eyes. 

In an act of desperation, Queen Nanami permitted King Kaname to summon his sister.  The child’s namesake, Lady Midoriko, lived less than a day’s journey north of the palace in a humble cottage and was fortunately at home when the message arrived.  Once she received summons from her brother’s falcon she immediately came to his aid.   After a short, hurried journey, Lady Midoriko wasted no time on her arrival.  Drifting past the guards who each demonstrated their surprised but genuine deference, she swept up to the nursery glided over to the cradle and looked down upon the child.  Still with her eyes closed, the young princess seemed to register the presence of someone new and reached her arms up in a silent request to be picked up. 

Midoriko, sensing a kindred spirit in the child, obliged her while whispering a greeting to the young princess.

“Why hello there little miko.”

Upon hearing this address, the princess’ eyes opened for the very first time to see her aunt, her mother sitting up from her nap in her rocking chair and her father, panting from the exertion of rushing up to the nursery to be in time for when his child took her first look at the world.  The three looked upon the sky-blue eyes of the child, instantly knowing she was indeed a child of the House of Higurashi. 

Though the queen was begrudgingly grateful to the King’s sister, she was not about to allow her to have her child’s first sentient moments taken from her and quickly lifted the baby from Midoriko’s proffering arms. 

Queen Nanami did not dislike her sister in law.  Indeed, the woman was truly devoted to the family and was incredibly popular with the people of her kingdom, however the two would never see eye to eye.  Midoriko was the first born of the previous King of Ueda she had been born into the lap of luxury, had been very well educated, excelling in statecraft lessons, spoke all dialects of Nippon and several languages of the mainland, and was very well accomplished at all things noble ladies are encouraged to learn.  As a result of her great beauty, family position, wealth and general excellence of character she was courted by every noble in the kingdom as well as some very impressive princes from far-away lands, but had refused all in order to become a simple shrine maiden.  Many considered it a terrible waste of talent and beauty.  With the nobles of the kingdom begging her to recant, she still persisted, threw away her royal purple robes, her silken kimono and her gifts of baubles, for the simplicity of red and white cloth. 

All, including Nanami’s parents and sister had been absolutely appalled at her decision.  She would give up all she had been given for the life of little more than a servant to the gods!  Preposterous!  Nanami’s sister Samira who had considered herself to have been in close competition with Midoriko considered the decision a death blow.  It was not as satisfying to have won by default.  She had strived for years to catch up with her counterpart, seeking to be better at everything then Midoriko and win all the best suitors for herself.  Instead the once lauded princess would voluntarily travel about Nippon to feed the poor, heal the sick and care for shrines while Samira took the opportunity to wed the richest noble in the kingdom who had only accepted her because Midoriko had refused him. 

Yet, Nanami could not hate her.  The people and her husband loved her so she could not hate her, but Nanami secretly suspected that Midoriko was not all that she seemed and her sister Samira, defeated by the memory of Midoriko, still despised her. 

Thus she vowed then and there that she would do everything, in the most polite way, to keep her child from Midoriko. 

But the Queen, being a fickle and lazy sort did not follow through with her silent vow.  For from the time the young princess was able to walk, she would invariably set a stride which would take her to her aunt.  No toys or promises of food or new pets could impact her path.  The queen was often jealous at their close relationship, but soon stopped worrying when she carried another child.  Prince Souta upon his birth became the heir the kingdom had been waiting for and in response to their high hopes the Queen focussed her infrequent energy into moulding him into the promising future of the kingdom. 

Meanwhile Kagome spent all her free time with her aunt, who at this point had been persuaded by her brother to move back to the palace for the sake of the Princess who wailed whenever her favourite aunt left for her home or parts unknown.  Rationalizing that the young girl would soon grow out of her antics and realizing that she too was attached to the infant miko, and would need to train her, she relented to the child’s indefatigable glee.