Chapter One: Shikata Ga Nai

Kagome was only partially listening to Kaede as the old priestess listed off her daily routine as princess and arranged her long dark hair in a Tayu.

"Kikyou, are you listening to me?" Kaede asked, bringing Kagome back to reality.

"Would you please not call me that when we're in private?" Kagome asked, bitterness making her more surly than usual.

Kaede knew how hard this whole endeavor had been on the young miko, and she suspected it would only get worse. "We both need to keep up the act in private and in public. You are Kikyou now."

Since there was nothing she could say to that, she remained silent. It wasn't that she didn't want to do her duty, but the unfairness of the situation was starting to grate on her. She wasn't the Princess!

"I was saying that Emperor Hirohito wishes for you and Higurashi-san to be present at the meeting with the ambassador from the Western Demon Lord this evening."

"Mama always attends when he asks her to, and I'll be there," Kagome said dejectedly.

'It's not like I have much of a choice,' she added in her mind.

xxx

The ambassador turned out to be a particularly ugly kappa youkai. His name was Jaken, and he obeyed protocol the entire evening, while making backhanded complements about the food and entertainment. And whenever he glanced at Kagome, his expression darkened to a frown of disdain.

Kagome was about ready to strangle the ugly creature, when he finally stood to address the crowd.

"Ahem," he cleared his throat loudly before he began. "I have in my possession a message from my Lord Sesshomaru, Lord of the West and the leader of the Inu." He pulled a scroll from his sleeve with a great flourish. Kagome wondered how long the frog had practiced to get that trick right. He began to read. "Emperor Hirohito, gathered Lords, I shall be brief. The time has come for peace between our peoples. Long have our people warred, and I wish to see an end to these conflicts. I am offering an alliance between your people and the demons of the western realm; an act of friendship that is unprecedented."

Kagome felt the tension in the room as the youkai paused for dramatic effect. While she couldn't stand the imp, she knew that he could be suitably smug about his delivery. The crowd was abuzz with speculation as they tried to understand what had happened to change the Inu lord's demeanor towards human so dramatically that he'd offer peace. Kagome was both suspicious and hopeful and was glad when her mother called for order.

"And what does the Lord of the West want in return for this peace?" asked Emperor Hirohito, giving voice to the question on everyone's mind.

"All he would ask for is the hand of your daughter in marriage," the youkai announced.

The room erupted into noise around her. Some were outraged over such a demand. Some were outraged that anyone would even consider not marrying off the princess.

'Well,' thought Kagome. 'That'll be a little difficult, since she ran off with his half-brother a month ago.'

Jaken waited until the room quieted again before he made his last announcement. "I await your answer in the morning."

xxx

The Emperor led Kagome and her mother to his private chambers before saying a word to either one of them.

Once he was seated, he looked so tired and defeated that Kagome couldn't help feeling sorry for him. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay. We'll find a way around this."

"Kagome..." the Emperor placed his hand over hers. "You've done everything I've asked of you and more. But there is one more thing I would ask. I would have you go in Kikyou's place."

"You can't be serious!" Kagome squeaked, jerking her hand from beneath the Emperor's as panic set in. "You can't expect me to marry under a lie!"

"What choice do we have?" her mother asked as she stood by the door. Kagome looked over at her mother. She tried to muster an encouraging smile for her daughter, but failed and looked away.

"Shikata ga nai," Emperor Hirohito agreed, looking even more tired than before.

Kagome still couldn't believe Princess Kikyou had run from her responsibilities. Kagome had spent the last month impersonating the Princess, who she bore an uncanny resemblance to. No one was ready to admit to the public that the princess had chosen to abandon her duties to run away with the hanyou, Inuyasha... the half-brother of the very man who was offering to marry Kikyou.

Kagome's head spun as she tried to figure out a way, any way, out of her predicament. Not for the first time, she cursed her similar appearance to the Princess.

Finally, she sighed. "Shikata ga nai."

Author Notes: Hello! This is my first Inuyasha fanfic, so please be gentle with me. I'd love to get reviews to see where people would like me to go with this AU, although I have some ideas. ^.^

I hope everyone enjoys!

Oh, and "Shikata ga nai" is a Japanese phrase that translates roughly to, "It can't be helped."

~Edit~

This is a much longer version of chapter 1 after some revisions. A Tayu is the hairstyle favored by courtesans in the Edo period. Kagome hates the hairstyle and makeup, but it's part of being the princess.

~Edit 2~

I cleaned up chapter 1 again. :D