She had been summoned by her father, Lord of the Northern Lands.

As she made her way down the long, elegant hallways she thought of all the possible reasons her father would wish to see her. He never wanted to see her. He barely recognized that she existed. Completely unlike how he treated her twin sister. How he loved her sister. How could he not? She was perfect, after all. She was elegant, beautiful, polite, powerful, smart, and she demanded respect. Her cold, brown eyes could stare down anyone, no matter who they were, and her long black hair that was commonly compared to midnight coloured silk.

She on the other hand, was for from perfect. She was clumsy, spoke her mind, and far too kind for her fathers liking. She however, was blessed with electric blue eyes, which somehow made the villagers trust her, and black hair, that seemed almost blue, which shimmered like the stars.

Soon she had arrived at the gigantic wooden doors of her fathers study. She knocked lightly.

"Enter." Came the gruff, demanding voice of her father through the thick doors.

"Father, you summoned me?" She asked, opening the door slightly before slipping into the room.

"Ahh yes." He said looking up from his paperwork. "Kagome, you are going to the Western Lands tomorrow. You are to wed to one of the Tashio brothers to unite our lands." He spoke as lightly as if he were talking about the weather.

Kagome gawked. "But…"

"No buts!" Lord Higurashi demanded, angrily slamming his hand down on his desk. "You will go! I am not sure which brother you are to be married to, but you will do it with a smile!"

"Would it not be wiser to send Kikio? She can handle these situations much better then I." Kagome said, hoping her father would reconsider and send her twin as a replacement.

"No, I have already spoken to Inutashio and he is expecting you, not Kikio." Lord Higurashi snapped. "You are permitted to bring one person of your choice. But do it quickly. Or I will be obliged to choose for you. Now go. I will assign someone to pack your things for you. I have work to do." And with that, his focus returned to his paperwork on front of him, while Kagome slipped out the same way she entered.

On her way back to her room she made one stop. "SANGO!" She yelled through the door, "It's Kagome! Open up!" Almost instantly the door flew open revealing a girl about a year older then herself. She was 17, with long dark brown hair, and chocolate brown eyes.

"Is everything alright Kagome?" She asked concern flowing from her voice.

"Sango! Please come with me to the Western Lands! Please!" Kagome bedded her best friend.

"Why are you going to the Western Lands?" Sango asked, motioning Kagome to enter the room.

"I'm going to be marrying one of the Tashio brothers!" Kagome frowned at the thought. She had never met either of them ad now she was to marry one. And to make matters worse, she knew nothing about them; she didn't even know their names!

"Oh Kagome!" Sango cried, running to embrace her friend. "Of course I will go with you. I will be your emotional support. DO you know which one you are to marry?"

"Not a clue. My father is not even sure. The only thing that I know is that there are two of them."

"Well I know a small bit about them. The older one is Sesshoumaru. He is full demon and apparently he is practically emotionless." Sango gossiped, getting slightly into the slang that she and Kagome spoke to each other with when they were alone. "He believes humans are beneath demons. And I've heard that he's really cold." Kagome was listening intently, hoping to remember all of this newfound information. "Now the younger one is Inuyasha. He is half-demon, and Sesshoumaru's half brother!" She stressed half. "He is said to be arrogant, rude, loud and temper mental. Apparently he is easily bribed into fights."

"Ok, that makes it a bit easier. What do they look like?" Kagome was almost afraid to ask. She didn't base everything on looks, but she, like most people, did not want to be married to someone who was completely hideous.

"Well, I've heard they are both very handsome." Sango assured. "But Sesshoumaru has long silver hair that reaches is knees, a crescent moon on his forehead to represent his status of first born. On his cheeks he as purple stripes, representing his royalty and full demon blood. He also has a tail that he ether hides or hangs over his shoulder." Sango tried to remember every detail she had heard from the gossipers in the village. "And Inuyasha also has silver hair, but reaches just past his lower back. He is said to have dog-ears perched on his head. He, unlike Sesshoumaru, has no markings.

"Silver hair? Is that even possible?" Kagome asked.

"I guess so, but remember, both of them are demons." Sango assured.

"Well, I just want to know which one I am going to marry. What do you think father would do if I ran away? Imagine I ran away from the carriage when no one is looking! I could get away from this horribly unfair marriage!" Kagomes eyes sparkled with excitement at the idea.

"Kagome, you know I love you. You're like a sister to me. So I can't let you run around in the wilderness. It would be unsafe." Sango sighed.

"I guess you're right. Maybe I'll run away from the Western Lands if I don't like it there. What worries me most is what if I start to have feelings for one and then have to marry the other?" Kagome his her head against the wall over and over as though hoping it would help with the problem at hand. "What if the one I must marry does not with to even see me? What if he hates me!" Kagome said with tears shimmering in her eyes at the thought of someone hating her. But she refused to let them fall.

"Kagome, we have yet to find someone who hates you, or doesn't want to see you. Other then Kikio of course, but she doesn't count." Sango reasoned, "I'm sure they will both love you." Kagome's head snapped over in Sango's direction.

"Oh no!" She cried in despair.

"What? What's wrong?" Sango cried also.

"You think they could both fall in love with me! I can only marry one! I can't break someone's heart! You know that! I still can't get away from Hojo and Koga!" Realization hit Kagome hard! "Oh no!" she yelled more desperately. "It will kill Koga and Hojo that I'm getting married!" Kagome's tears were now flowing freely.

"Oh Kagome, it will be alright." Sango comforted. "Everything always turns out right for you. I'm sure no ones heart will be broken and Koga and Hojo will get over their feelings for you and they will find someone who will love them in return." She embraced her sobbing from in front of her. Rubbing her back in a soothing motion.

"One good thing about the trip is that this time you don't have to pretend to be a maid! You are coming as my best friend!" Kagome smiled. "Father said I could bring someone, he never specifically said a maid." Hope and happiness shone in her eyes.

"There's a relief! I get to spend more time with you this time." Sango cried happily.

"It should be so nice having you at the table with me. At least I will have someone I know and love their company there!" Kagome was becoming less distraught at the thought of going when she realized Sango was going to be there with her the whole time.

I'll always be there for you." Sango said.

"And I, you Sango." Kagome replied as they hugged.