Infinite Legends by SSI-Invasion

Beauty

A/N: This is a one-shot with no specific dedication other than my desire to write something not related to anything. I have yet to produce something new for any of the other stories so I have abandoned the idea of continuing them. Maybe I will one of these days but not right now.

So enjoy this small one-shot and please leave as many of your thoughts as you may like.

I do not own Inuyasha in any form, shape, color etc. The characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.

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Chapter 1:

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BEAUTY
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Once upon a time, there lived in a faraway kingdom, two families that fought for two different things: one for peace and the other for wealth. Yet there was another one, small and few in numbers, that fought for love. As time progressed and the war continued, stretching on from father to son, from mother to daughter, a curse rose to change their fates forever. Those that once fought for honor with no regards to their surroundings fell pray to those greedy and never satisfied. With the impending doom of death with no escape, only the curse, once made out of spite, helped them unite.

These are the Infinite Legends of a kingdom long forgotten!

Lost in time... Lost in legends...

Chains rattled as the last rays of the torrid, humid summer sun washed the room in their steady red glares. Moans permitted the air in a desperate and final cry as blood-shot eyes raised to the sky, thoughts and prayers going unnoticed by the gods. Silence followed soon after as the noises died down, ragged breathing continuing the music of decaying bodies and fallen souls.

A low growl vibrated through the thick, solid rock walls, the powerful and virile sound capturing the attention of the prison guards as they inched forward towards the black metallic door where person who had made said sound continued to rumble in pure hatred and annoyance. Who would have guessed that, because of some war that had broken loose some time ago between two countries that have lived in peace and harmony till that very moment, the king of the more domineering country would have been captured and imprisoned. And by a woman no less.

Black eyes peered through the small opening in the door, searching for the torn body of the fallen king, this cursed body still full of life and energy. It didn't take long for them to meet with ruby bleeding eyes the owner of said eyes appearing next to the door in a flash of bright colors, the setting sun making him even more dazzling. Hiccupping a small yell of surprise, the cautious male guard swiftly backed away his face pale and his body trembling. No matter how many times he had tried to get close to that door, the imprisoned beast behind it had made him back away. Not even those that wanted to care for the captured king could get close to his cell, his livid rage making everyone back away.

Gulping down a breath as he tried once more to near the door, the tray with freshly made food shaking in his hands, the young fellow couldn't even get one foot near the door, the glistering eyes that shone brightly in the dim light making his body shiver in fright. Another growl, this time even more dangerous than the first, escaped the chipped lips of the prisoner, his eyes turning into slits, warning the person before him to stay away or face the wrath that was slowly bottling up inside him. White teeth, long and sharp glistered between full lips, this final show of hatred determining the guard to stay away from the door. If the guy didn't want to be tended and just wanted to die a miserable death, then so be it. He had his own life to think of. The queen should be the one to come and give this man what he needed and face his never ending anger, the solid waves of his poisonous feelings directed straight at her. Existing because of her.

Turning around, the tray forgotten on the dungeon floor, the brunette took yet another peek at the door that he had so soon abandoned to approach, his eyes meeting with sad, golden orbs as the still young king took unsteady steps away from, his wide back thumping, a wet sound reaching the guard's ears as he continued to walk away. Open wounds... that was what he had heard. Open wounds that have yet to close or be treated that were scrapping against the humid, unsanitary wall of the cell. Cringing in pain, the younger male made a haste for the castle, his mind replaying in a sick, twisted way, the last images of the fallen king.

His steps echoed through the wide, marble chambers as he passed one after the other, the soles of his boots thumping in a hurried rhythm, his breath stuck in his throat as he passed one room after the other, his face pale except for two rose-buds on his high cheek-bones. It was part of his duty to report and, even if he couldn't tend to the injured prisoner, he still could alert the others.

'There must be someone that can do something for him.' His mind zeroed on this thought as he almost broke into a run, passing giggling maids and bored guards.

He didn't even stop to salute his superiors as he made his way for the king's room, his eyes focused on the ground. A week... That man had stayed, unattended in that cell for a week.

'And to think that the war ended the moment he had been captured...' the young male shivered at the cold reminder of the battle.

He had never seen someone fight with such determinism in his life, risking his life for his men, putting himself in danger for his country. His stomach churned uncontrollably as he inhaled sharply, his body stopping to a halt right in front of the huge mahogany door, his black eyes searching for some form of salvation from his own bothered thoughts.

His king had started the war wanting more than what he had, killing and doing horrid things to people that had never done anything to him. He had watched good men die for a cause that wasn't even noble without even participating. His sire had stood there, in his comfortable chair, shouting orders and not caring about how many soldiers risked their lives in his name.

'While he fought side-by-side with them...' his mind supplied, but he brushed the thought away.

His lord Naraku had even used his own wife to lure the now fallen king into his grasp, queen Kagura playing the role of the enamored beauty just fine. His stomach churned yet again as he tried to make the nausea go away through pure will. Was he dumb to believe that his ruthless king would care for his enemy now that he had captured him in such a vile way?

"Takumi... Are you feeling alright?" a sweet voice made its way to his ears as he almost jumped out of his skin, his reddened face turning to look at the newcomer.

Black eyes widened in front of the warm beauty of the adopted princess, her sapphire eyes showing concern and something very close to brotherly love. She had been the salvation of this kingdom, her pure nature and selfless attitude calming many feuds that the egotistical king had started. She had been the one to maintain peace when her father had shown only the unmovable wish to conquer. Yet not even she could have calmed the spirits when the war had broken out. Still she had helped in every way she could, her medical and even tactical knowledge saving many.

"Yes, milady... I just have some urgent news regarding... lord... Sesshomaru..." his voice broke into a whisper.

Not many had the courage to remind lord Naraku that there was still a better king in those lands than him. A ruler that belonged on the throne by his birthright and not by war and blood-spill.

Concern flooded sky-blue eyes as her hands fisted on the silky material of her dress, long lashes fluttering like the wings of a hummingbird on rosy cheeks. But the look of hopelessness disappeared just as fast as it appeared, her head nodding at the guard as she grabbed his hand, her fast pace making the young male both blush and break into a run to keep up with the spunky female. She always had her own way of doing things, her outspoken way of being always drawing everyone around her. She had always known what to do, when to do it, and even though she was only twenty, she had yet to think about marriage. Most people thought that she had more than one torch lighted for the fallen, cursed king and Takumi, somehow, hope that those rumors were true. She was going to be his salvation.

'And not only his but the kingdom's as well...' his thoughts trailed off as they turned one corner after the other, the moon's rays bathing their path as her determined face shone, full lips pursed in a thin line.

"I should have known!" her muttered angry remark made the young boy gulp down a breath as she finally slowed down in front of her chambers, her eyes fixed on the other side of the castle.

"Milady Kagome?" his whisper made her turn her beautiful face towards him, her eyes full of sorrow.

"I am very sorry Takumi that this has fallen on you. I should have been the one to take care of him, yet my father had kept me busy with the finances of the adjoined kingdoms and I almost forgot, thinking that someone was tending to him. I am so sorry..." her voice broke at the last part, her eyes filling up with tears.

And then he knew. She did have something for the fallen creature that didn't even dare to call himself a king though he had every right, his men – those few that had escaped Naraku's wrath – still wishing that he would come and rule them . And love wasn't the only thing that made princess Kagome weep for the lost king. She had been the one to save him from certain death out on the battlefield, dressing his wounds and tending to him more than she had tended for the others though she never forgot about anyone, her clear voice shouting at the women that were present around her to do her biding. She knew the horrific extent of his wounds, the open gashes, the bullet wounds, the cuts and bruises that marred his body.

A shaky breath escaped plump lips as she shook her head, her tears vanishing as she swiped them away with the back of her hand, dainty fingers rubbing at swollen flesh. Releasing his hand from her tight grasp, Kagome told the guard to remain next to her door and wait for her while she dressed in something not so formal as the extravagant blue dress she was currently wearing. The moment she disappeared into her quarters, young Takumi slumped next to her door, his face buried in his hands as he tried not to remember the war he had seen from afar. He didn't want to recall any of it, yet his mind still played the horrible dance of bodies disemboweled by cannons, or the painful cries that came from dying mouths. Tears stung his eyes as he remembered the look of shock the moment his own father had faced Sesshomaru in battle, the wounded king barely standing, yet still fighting with everything he had for his men, his spirit larger than anything he had seen. He still remembered how his father had dropped his sword at Sesshomaru's feet, dropping on his knees as the king passed him, his blood stained face an unmovable stone mask. Lord Sesshomaru had wanted to end the war by making Naraku surrender, yet a couple of mercenaries paid by the lowlife he now had to call his sire, charged at the courageous king as he made his way through all the fallen bodies of both men and horses, their blood-thirsty grins making everyone sick, ready to kill him. He had watched them then attack, again and again, falling by Sesshomaru's blade one after the other, not one managing to inflict a mortal wound.

"He had saved us... all of us... even if, maybe, that wasn't his intention..." a sweet, low and understanding voice made its way through his thoughts and reached his heart as he looked up, his tear stained face facing the princess.

Long leather boots, riding pants and a silk jacked clad her beautiful form as she lowered herself in front of him. She knew, like she had always known, what was eating at him. He had a family to take care of, he had to always mind what he wanted to say because of their crazy king, yet he couldn't stop thinking about his rightful king, the man that had saved his father, that had saved his life two months before. He was one of the children born from both kingdoms yet his heart served only one king: the one cursed to die in a filthy dungeon. Biting his lips, Takumi got up and fallowed the princess towards the kitchen where she gathered as many supplies as she could.

It didn't take them long to reach the parts of the castle hidden from view where all the war prisoners were being held. They knew that they had to move quick or risk being caught by someone that didn't have their believes.

"You stay back... I am the only one that can enter and stay alive. Don't ever think that because he's in this state he is easy to take care of. He is even more dangerous now than before." Her calm, clear voice made the guard shiver as he hid himself in the shadows, watching the heavy door from afar.

Kagome bit her lips, her nostrils flaring as the putrid smell of rotting flesh hit her nose, her stomach cringing in pain. Barbaric! This was not a human being would treat his prisoner. Anger spiraled to the surface of her mind as she hoisted the large basket she had carried with her from the kitchen, using her hip to keep it in one position as she neared the door. She was going to save him from his place once his body will be at least a little better. Something told her that her so called father was planning to do something horrible to her long time friend.

'And secret love... Even though it is an one-sided love...' she huffed, her passion for the foreign lord never dying down.

Inhaling sharply as she used all her force to push up the heavy steel bar Kagome groaned as she watched it fall on the ground with a resonating bang, the sound being swiftly fallowed by a dangerous growl coming from inside the cell. Munching on her lips, the mahogany haired princess pulled the large, metal ring of the door until it cracked open, her body squeezing easily through the opening.

Blackness greeted her eyes and, as she stood completely still right next to the door in hopes that her eyes would accommodate faster, she strained her ears to pick up every sound that permitted the air. Nothing but a shallow breathing something a menacing growl. He was beyond angry yet he knew that he had no real chance of escaping. Not yet at least.

Rage bubbled in her chest as she took a step away from the door, her eyes finally helping her in the pitch black darkness. A large form appeared in her peripheral vision and, just as she was about to turn around and face whatever was there, a huge body of pure muscle slammed into her small form, her back hitting the wall behind her, the body of her capturer cadging her there.

"You are either very foolish or very brave, little one." His smooth baritone made her shiver as she recognized both the heat and the familiar built.

"I would say both... But you know there is more, my lord." Her voice didn't waver.

She wasn't afraid of him, even if he had always seemed like the coldest king of them all. There was a certain tenderness that not many were privileged to.

"Hn" his raspy replay made her cringe.

His body stepped away from hers and, if she wasn't ready to catch him that moment, the usually stoic male would have crumbled to the ground. Hissing when her hands circled his waist to keep him up, Sesshomaru looked down at the petite figure of the only female that had yet to do him harm. Though he trusted no one, he somehow trusted her.

"You should have called for me." She sounded mad at him, yet sad when she brushed her fingers over his swollen flesh, his cringing telling her more than enough about his state.

No replay came from him as she made herself busy with her basket, taking out a lamp and matches and lighting them. Warm light chased away the shadows as she helped him lower himself down. Anger clouded his judgment yet again as he sow his pathetic state, wishing that his enemy would have ended his life on the battlefield.

"I have to take off your clothes, my lord." She whispered, a faint blush adorning her cheeks.

Snorting in disgust as he turned away from her, Sesshomaru ignored her puzzled and sad stare. He was no longer a king, so she didn't have to lower her head in front of him. He was worse than mere scum.

"You are wrong to be thinking like that, my lord. You are still my king and you will always remain so!" her confident and warm voice made him turn wide eyes towards her.

'There it is... Her unusual ability to read minds and ease troubled souls.' He huffed in defeat, doing everything he could in his crippled state to help her undress him.

When his flesh was bared to the light and his wounds glistered with blood as the gashes reopened, making him hiss in discomfort, he watched her in amazement as her face darkened with promised pain for someone that clearly hadn't done their job. Kagome had always had that look on her face when regarding his person and even though he suspected her feelings for him, he never dared to impose or ask her about them.

'You are going to become a great queen someday, little one.' His mind hummed.

Small hands reached for the basket again as she took out wrapping and some kind of smelling potion made of plants. Puffing her cheeks, Kagome gazed at the longs slashes that grazed her crush's pale body. Flesh glared at her, blood tears running down fine pairs of muscles as she just inspected them. None were infected and most of them had closed in time, yet she knew that he was far from being alright.

"This will sting... If you want to bite on something, please tell me." Her caring voice made his heart mend just a little.

At his twenty seven years of life, he had put more heart in her adoptive mother's charms than on hers. Sure, he had not believed that queen Kagura had really felt anything for him and was aiming for everything that he possessed, yet he couldn't stop the twinge of pain that he had believed a part of her lies. He could still remember Kagome's sad face when she had seen her mother kissing him so nonchalantly.

And just like that, the moment her cold fingers touched his heated skin, his flesh felt like it had caught on fire, yet he didn't say a word. He deserved even worse than this for being such a fool. Closing his eyes when her hand moved up his chest where a deeper gash resided, he couldn't suppress the snarl that escaped his lips, his face scrunching up in pain.

"You should have told me that it hurts..." she huffed, her voice almost bright as she balanced forward on her feet, her face close to his chest as she blew on his wounds, cooling off the burning sensation.

And yet he remained silent.

She kept this slow pace until his chest, back, arms and legs were full of her healing medicine, blowing air where he seemed more sensitive to the pain, his eyes remaining focused on the far wall above her head. Kagome felt almost disappointed that he refused to speak with her after all this time. She missed the sound of his voice, the beautiful stories, the legends he knew. But, most of all, she missed him as he once was: stoic and cold, yet so very warm with her. He had been the only man to touch her heart. And she refused to let him go!

Helping him get back on his feet, Kagome grabbed the wrappings and dressed him from head to toe in white bandages, smoothing it over his healing wounds. She was going to get him out of here and maybe, just maybe, run away with him and nurse him back to the ruler he used to be. She knew just how to do so and she was going to sacrifice everything for him. He was much more important for the people around her than she was. He was their hope, their sun-shine.

'Even with the curse markings of the moon, he still is our sun...' she smiled lovingly up at him, her face half obscured by the shadows.

"This is all for now, my king. I will come everyday from now on and take care of your recovery. Please eat what I have brought you... You lost weight..." she whispered the last part as she turned around on her heels, leaving the basket with food behind.

Turning around one more time just in time to see the once majestic king slump on his wooden bed, Kagome's heart cringed in pain and rose in want. Even with all this around him, he still looked gorgeous. Huffing when he didn't turn his beautiful, boyish face with milky skin, long lashes, full mouth, short white hair and golden eyes, towards her, the young girl turned her face towards the ground, sorrow filling her eyes and then walked away for good, closing the door behind her.

"I will get you out of here." She whispered her last goodbye to him, her forehead resting on the cold metal as her nails dug into it, the pain not even registering in her mind.

No replay then. He remained, like always, silent like a sculpted Adonis. Silence followed her up the stairs as she walked in complete and utter sadness to her room. This wasn't supposed to happen. This was not noble, or brave or even moral. This was what creatures even lower than the ordinary killers would do.

'Naraku will pay for this... You have my word... I will free you...' she made her wish at the moon, its pale figure reminding her of the one she held so dear.

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"W-what do you mean he... He couldn't have!" her screaming voice echoed through her study room as she pushed herself up from her chair, said object topping over and falling with a loud bang, not that she even noticed in her distraught state.

"Just like you heard, princess Kagome. Your adoptive father has killed your own parents and younger brother when you were only three to take the throne. He has burned all the archives regarding your family to make sure you will never find out, yet lord Sesshomaru has kept a part of them in his personal archives and had asked me to bring them to you as soon as possible. " violet eyes shone brightly at her as he pushed the thick books even closer to the agitated princess.

"This can not be true..." she moaned pathetically, her legs feeling like rubber, her whole body shaking.

She had known that her parents had died when she was young, yet she never knew how and by whom.

'And I had a little brother...' Her mind screamed, her heart agonizing at the knowledge as her best friend held her close to her chest as she trembled uncontrollably.

"W-why now?" she asked, her voice no more than a whisper.

"You know why, milady..." the handsome man said, his face harboring a sad expression.

And she knew why immediately. Naraku had ordered Sesshomaru's execution, in public, as a reminder for those that dared to rise against him. There was no hope.

"Leave... You know where you must be. I will do my part here!" her voice cracked as she tried not to sob for her lost family.

With a swift bow of his head, the man named Miroku left, his face sad and still determined. They were all risking their lives for a better future, for what was right. Fighting evil was never easy now was it?!

'And now I have nothing to loose.' She bit her tongue as she straightened herself.

For the past four months she had cared for the man she loved, growing closer and closer to him, loving him beyond anything. He was her world and she knew it. She wasn't going to watch him die by that monster's hands!

Fisting her hands, Kagome rushed to her room, Sango close behind her, their almost twin expressions catching a few glances from the guards and maids. Yet she didn't care anymore. So Naraku had been the one who had taken her family away from her. She had suspected something like this, but to actually be true... Anger boiled in her veins as she tried to find something to keep her away from exploding and showing everyone what she truly thought about this world. She was Sesshomaru's salvation from this world. She was going to fight that father of hers!

Biting her tongue hard until the copper taste invaded her taste buds, Kagome fell to the ground, her forehead hitting the marble floor her sobs raking her body, just as Sango closed the door behind them. Oh, how bitter sweet this life was. When she had finally found peace near the one that she care about she had now discovered an even darker truth about the place she called a home: something the elders knew about and yet had been silenced never to tell. She despised that vile creature she had learned to call a father!

"Kagome..." she concerned murmur of her friend made her stop crying like a mad-man.

Fisting her hands in the carpet and her dress, she pulled, ripping the material, joy brightening her face when a sudden sting of pain made her cringe, her fingers suddenly bloody. This life was no longer hers! She didn't belong here!

'Or with you... my love... I am not what you need... If I ever was...' she groaned in pain as a new fresh wave of tears washed her face.

She was going to purge whatever evil was in this kingdom and leave it in good hands as she ran away from it all.

Making up her mind, Kagome closed her eyes, rubbed her face ignoring the long smears of blood that now decorated her beautiful features and got up, her torn clothes hanging loosely around her shoulders. Maddened with pain, the feelings of unrequited love, the truth about her origins, the mournful shouts of those that were forced to obey a ruthless king, the cries of pain from those killed or mangled by Naraku's orders, everything evil from around her drowned her soul in despair. She wanted out or at least to get rid of the source.

"Soon..." she whispered, her blue orbs darkening with hatred.

For the first time in her life she felt like killing someone.

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"That's right my child! Feel the power of my curse as it eats you up! You may not escape it this time, little Kagome! You who has been blessed by the gods!" the dark laugh from within a secret room hidden deep within the castle echoed through the hallways as the red ruby that rested on the black, bloodied table shone, showing a pained Kagome fighting to keep her sanity.

Cursed, that was her fate from the start! She had been escaping it through some good fortune, but now she had given the witch the perfect opportunity to use her magic. Only one knew how to break it, yet was he sane enough himself to help the girl that had sacrificed so much for him already? Was he going to watch as her life ended before his eyes? Or did he value her enough to make her his and thus save her from a fate much worse than death?

No one knew the extent of his feelings, yet he somehow suspected it. Beauty lies in pain, he thought as his bright colored eyes closed, his almost completely healed back rested against the cold stone. There was still hope.

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A/N:
Thank you so much for reading this first chapter lol

I know I just told you that this will be a one-shot, but I kind of lied. I will make it a 2 parts story because I just feel that it will be more exciting that way. Plus, I'm tired as hell right now, so no more righting for me for a while.

Hope you enjoyed and excuse my many mistakes. I sometimes forget to re-read the story... Stay focused for the next part!