InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Kiss for A Prince ❯ A Lord's Day at a Glance ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: Inuyasha doesn't belong to me, Soul Caliber doesn't belong to me, and Keni'Chi doesn't belong to me. If he did, I'd be gray-headed and committed by now.

Chapter Six: A Lord's Day At A Glance

'Five days…'

Sesshoumaru rolled onto his side, his eyes scanning the mural on the wall in front of him.

'She has been here five days…'

Sesshoumaru sighed and rolled onto his back, his gaze moving from the wall to the ceiling as he crossed his arms beneath his head. 'I have had my little ningen for eight days now, or over a week as Nassirudden and the others would say. But I have yet to see her. Father's lessons steal the day from me, and not having the option of her presence is an annoyance.' Sesshoumaru finally sat upright, then stood and moved from his bed to a door in a nearby wall. He slid the door open, the torches inside it instantly sparking to life as he crossed the room.

The tiles below his feet were white/gray swirl marble, and gray stone made up the walls and ceiling. Sesshoumaru passed the center of the room, and what seemed like a pond with coals buried in a trench around it, to the left back corner of the room. He stepped onto a perforated metal grate embedded in the floor, then pushed a protruding stone into the wall. The stone beside it slid out as the first stone slid in, and water flowed down the wall from a vent near the ceiling moments later.

'I must ask Father about this,' Sesshoumaru thought as he 'showered'. 'It is most unusual. Perhaps it is one of the grand generals' inventions.' He washed up quickly, pushing the stones back into their starting places before walking toward a nearby closet for a bathrobe and some towels.

'Speaking of the generals,' Sesshoumaru said to himself as he quickly toweled off his hair and tail. 'Why would Father pick the female of the three to lead the armies? One would think that the male kitsune would be logical, but instead he allows the kencho to govern and strategize. I must remember to ask about that as well.'

Sesshoumaru left the 'bathroom' and entered his chambers once again, reaching inside another closet for a loincloth and a cobalt blue pair of un-hakamas with a silver full moon on the outer right leg. 'After all, neither of them are from this land. Each is a foreigner, but at least Kilik has been here the longest. Though the idea of Kilik being the High Grand General is funnier than the female kencho.'

Slow, light footsteps came up the hallway, with Sesshoumaru's ears twitched absently at the sound as they stopped before Kagome's room. He could hear Kagome's voice moments later, with Nassirudden answering whatever questions Kagome asked before the footsteps and Nassirudden's citrus-like scent approached Sesshoumaru's outer chamber door.

Sesshoumaru tossed both the white inner and outer haori onto the bed, finished tying a blue sash around his waist, then walked from his inner chambers and through the small library that served as his outer chambers and opened his door as Nassirudden raised her hand to knock. Smiling gray eyes became serious instantly, and Sesshoumaru looked on as Nassirudden gave him a slight bow.

"Ohayo my lord," she greeted formally. "How faired your rest?"

"I did not rest. Of what do you require?" Sesshoumaru demanded shortly, noting the slight crimson flair in Nassirudden's aura.

"InuTaishou-sama requests that Kagome-san be granted permission to study under the houshi-san, with my lord's permission of course."

"For what purpose?" Sesshoumaru asked, instantly wary of Kagome being around the known lecher.

"Medicinal studies, such as herbs and mushrooms," Nassirudden responded. "From what I understand."

Sesshoumaru thought a moment, then nodded. "Tell the houshi that he has my permission, provided that he keep his hands to himself."

Nassirudden nodded, a highly amused glint in her eye before bowing again, turning around and walking down the hallway back to Kagome's room at Sesshoumaru's dismissal. Sesshoumaru finished dressing, then waited for Nassirudden and Kagome's footsteps to fade away before leaving his room, walking down the hallway and making his way to the main parts of the castle. He followed Kagome's scent absently, ignoring the female's with her as his mind began to wander.

'According to Nassirudden's nightly reports, my little ningen seems to be fairing quite well with her lessons,' Sesshoumaru thought to himself as he passed the hallway Nassirudden and Kagome disappeared down moments before. 'She has taken to horseback riding, and seems to find her nightly instruction fascinating as well.' He paused at the center of the hallways, taking a moment to study the pictograms above him before turning north toward the throne room.

'If only my lessons were not as boring,' Sesshoumaru mused as he pushed open the doors to the throne room. InuTaishou sat on the throne inside, with Jaken collecting the signed documents at his feet.

"Good morning Sesshoumaru," InuTaishou greeted with a smile. "And how was your night?"

"Eventless," Sesshoumaru answered, watching the scurrying toad a moment before sitting crossed-legged on the floor.

InuTaishou smiled and nodded. "Wonderful. I take it there are no problems with your new wing."

"There are no problems, but I do have questions."

"Really?" InuTaishou said absently. He rose just as Jaken scurried out, walking toward the outer edge of the room to look out into the sky around them. The clouds above were a dark gray, the scent of rainwater lying heavily on the early morning air. "Then you may ask them after your lessons. Today we will start on the judicial system."

Sesshoumaru mentally groaned but remained silent, merely resting his hands deep within his sleeves. InuTaishou droned on and on for what seemed like hours, until a bright red blur suddenly zipped into the room and settled beside Sesshoumaru.

Inuyasha placed a finger to his lips, a silent bid for Sesshoumaru to keep quiet about his tardiness. Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes, but said nothing. Inuyasha grinned back, then glanced at InuTaishou's back before pulling a large, red apple from his haori sleeves. He cored and sliced it, then offered a few bits to Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru paused a moment, then took them with a single bow of his head.

"And each state has it's own set of laws, such as how one should be on time for his lessons." InuTaishou glanced over his shoulder, his gaze directly on Inuyasha. "Isn't that right, Inuyasha?"

"Yes Father," Inuyasha muttered guiltily, his ears drooping like wilted flowers.

"You're stealth is improving by the way," InuTaishou said absently. "However, you should still be on time for this. I do not want you to miss a single thing."

"Does Inuyasha really need these lessons?" Sesshoumaru asked. "After all, he is only the second heir."

"He needs these lessons just as much as you do," InuTaishou told him. "Especially the judicial ones."

"For what purpose?"

"For when you appoint him to the Council of Judges," InuTaishou responded, frowning at the instant scoff from Sesshoumaru.

"To quote your favorite general; 'As if'."

InuTaishou frowned slightly, finally turning to face them fully before attempting to reason with his older pup. "What would be wrong about appointing Inuyasha to the Council?"

"Besides the fact that he is a hanyou?"

InuTaishou sighed in annoyance, his arms uncrossing long enough for his fingers to tenderly massage the bridge of his nose. "Inuyasha would be an asset to you."

"And how so?" Sesshoumaru responded. "Other than making me look foolish for appointing such a high position to him?"

"It is always wise to have someone on the council that shares your points of view. Inuyasha would be your voice, since you two are from the same background."

"Of course Father," Sesshoumaru said sarcastically. "I do not know how this Sesshoumaru managed to not realize it."

InuTaishou sighed inaudibly, then fixed Inuyasha with a pointed glare. "There are rules about eating in the throne room…"

Inuyasha smiled sheepishly, then offered an explanation. "Um, I missed breakfast."

InuTaishou quirked a brow, then shook his head. 'Well,' he thought to himself, eying the slices of apple in Sesshoumaru hand in approval. 'At least they're getting along, which is something I've ranted about for the past…couple hundred years.' "For now, it will be allowed."

"Great!" Inuyasha exclaimed, then managed to somehow pop the remainder of his apple into his mouth in one gulp. "Thanks Father!"

"Do not talk with your mouth full," Sesshoumaru grumbled in disgust, then proceeded to toss his slices into the air. They arched a little before landing perfectly in his mouth, the pieces disappearing in short gulps.

'Great Kami-sama,' InuTaishou said to himself with a shake of his head. 'As long as they don't do that at state functions,' he chanted repeatedly to himself for a moment, then shook it off and continued. "Where was I?"

"Explaining the importance of wisdom and impartiality during trial situations," Inuyasha responded, then shrugged at InuTaishou's and Sesshoumaru's curious glances. "What?"

"It is good to know that someone is listening," InuTaishou joked, shooting Sesshoumaru a glare before chuckling softly. "Even if you are late."

"Please," Sesshoumaru gestured with his hand. "Continue."

"As I was saying," InuTaishou began. "One of the generals spoke to me of a grand tale about wisdom."

"Which one?" Inuyasha asked, immediately curious.

"I believe it was Keni'Chi. Anyway, it is a foreign one, but it is effective. It is about a ningen tai, whose name escapes me for the moment. During the first few moon cycles of his reign, two females came to him with a complaint.

'Between the two, there were two pups, one living and one deceased. Each claimed that the living pup belonged to her, and the dead pup belonged to the other."

"Huh?" Inuyasha grunted. Sesshoumaru signed in annoyance. "Each claimed the living pup, but disowned the dead one."

"Oh."

"Thus is was up to the tai to decide who the pup belonged to," InuTaishou continued.

"Why wouldn't he have just sniffed the children?" Inuyasha asked. "Then he would have known for sure."

"Ningen do not have the senses that youkai do," Sesshoumaru answered with a roll of his eyes. "Of course, you are aware of that aren't you Inuyasha."

"Do not start Sesshoumaru," InuTaishou warned as Inuyasha bristled.

"Of course not Father. I merely wanted to be helpful."

"Of that I'm sure," InuTaishou said without conviction, then brushed the incident aside. 'Just when I think they're progressing…' "Sesshoumaru is right Inuyasha. Ningen do not have the developed senses that we do. Thus, the tai had to rely on his wisdom."

"What did he do?" Inuyasha asked, fully engrossed in the story.

InuTaishou looked around a moment, then retrieved the pillow on the seat of his throne and withdrew his sword. "He held up the living pup and told them that if they could not decide it for themselves, then he would split the pup in half."

"Harsh," Inuyasha grumbled, with Sesshoumaru silently in agreement. "What happened?"

"Well…two things happened if I remember correctly," InuTaishou responded. "One mother shrugged in indifference to the decree, but the other requested that the living pup be spared and given to the other. Now," InuTaishou returned the pillow to its rightful place and said "who do you think is the rightful mother?"

Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha thought a moment, then Inuyasha sighed in confusion. "I'm stumped."

"The one who requested the child to live."

"Really?" InuTaishou said, smiling at Sesshoumaru in approval. "What makes you think that?"

"Only the true mother would wish her pup to live with another instead of sharing half of the pup's body. It is simple, though I wonder how a ningen would have been able to figure out a solution."

"I suppose the ningen where Keni'Chi is from are smarter than the ones here," Inuyasha replied hopefully.

"I suppose," InuTaishou said thoughtfully, the shrugged. "Now, let's continue with feudal laws."

"Feudal laws?"

"Laws of land and property of course!" InuTaishou said. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha both groaned miserably, expecting a long morning indeed.

****

Inuyasha picked at his lunch thoughtfully, glancing from Sesshoumaru; who sat across from him reading one of the many scrolls from the morning's lecture; to InuTaishou, who sat on his left before sighing and reaching for a nearby goblet of water.

"OW!" he hissed, his hand drawing back instantly at the pull of offended muscles. InuTaishou turned to him instantly.

"What ails you Inuyasha?" he asked. Inuyasha waved his hand frantically, then grunted in surprise when InuTaishou seized it by the wrist and pulled it closer to him. "What did this to you?" he asked as a clawed finger gently traced the healing burn marks around his thumb and knuckles.

Sesshoumaru glanced up, then immediately returned his attention to the scroll in front of him with a snort. "Yes, Inuyasha. Tell Father your theory."

"Shut up!" Inuyasha snapped. "I wouldn't have this if it weren't for you!"

"Sesshoumaru…" InuTaishou growled in warning. "What did you do to your brother?"

"I assure you," Sesshoumaru began, took a draught from his soup bowl, then "I did not touch the hanyou. Ask him what happened."

InuTaishou frowned at the 'hanyou' comment, but decided to ignored it as he turned to Inuyasha for an explanation. Inuyasha recounted their brief stay in the Damascas kingdom, and how the burns appeared after Kagome touched him.

'Hmm..' InuTaishou pondered to himself. 'I have known of Kagome's power, but it would seem that it is more potent than I thought; seeing as how its taking so long for Inuyasha's injuries to heal.' "And you say that she did this under duress?" InuTaishou asked when Inuyasha stopped for breath.

"Yeah," Inuyasha nodded. "If Sesshoumaru had kept his hands to himself instead of trying to choke the daylights out of her father-"

"The ningen had it coming," Sesshoumaru stated coldly.

InuTaishou scowled. "I am surprised at you Sesshoumaru," he began, ignoring Sesshoumaru's instant outrage. "You should know better than to loose your temper like that. No wonder Kagome-san reacted in such a way."

"I am not aware of any sort of power within the ningen," Sesshoumaru responded. "For all I know, Inuyasha could be lying."

"What?!" Inuyasha bellowed. "Why you dirty little bast-"

"Inuyasha! Sesshoumaru! Stop it this instant!" InuTaishou commanded, his balled fist slamming down on the table with enough force to knock every bowl and plate upon it's surface to the floor below. "I've had enough of this petty bickering! Inuyasha, you will cease with the name calling!"

Inuyasha 'Feh'ed, but crossed his arms over his chest and complied. Sesshoumaru smirked triumphantly, but it soon disappeared when InuTaishou whirled on him.

"And you Sesshoumaru! Do you know what you could have caused, just by your arrogance alone? You are aware that the queen is a miko!"

Sesshoumaru thought a moment, then shook his head. "That is no concern to me," he answered. "The girl has no power. Of that I am certain."

'Oh Sesshoumaru,' InuTaishou thought disdainfully. 'What you don't know would surprise you…' "She may not have any training, but her mother is powerful. It may be that she is capable of summoning up enough of her ki to protect her should she need it."

"I have not seen this power," Sesshoumaru replied.

"Are you sure?" InuTaishou asked. Sesshoumaru thought a moment, and though he seemed to remember something about their journey here, he nodded. "I am."

"Well then," InuTaishou sighed, watching the nearly discernable blue flicker of Sesshoumaru's aura. 'The pup doesn't want me to know that he suspects something. It is good that he is not aware of her power, nor that it grows the more I train her.' "I suppose the matter is settled then. Inuyasha, go to the infirmary and have the houshi look at your hand." Inuyasha stood and bowed before departing.

InuTaishou turned to his eldest, his amber gaze hardening as Sesshoumaru glared back. "You, Sesshoumaru, will refrain from threatening our allies."

"Allies?" Sesshoumaru said in disbelief. "The ningen kingdom…are our allies?"

"You lie!" the king accused. "There is no Great Taiyoukai, and the Western youkai has no son!"

'I suppose that would explain some things,' Sesshoumaru concluded, then returned to his studies. InuTaishou sighed, not entirely surprised at how quickly Sesshoumaru managed to tune him out before returning to his own meal.

****

Inuyasha walked down the hallway in the eastern part of the castle, glaring at his now bandaged hand as he made his way to the dojo. 'Such bullshit,' he grumbled to himself. 'I can't believe this! Sesshoumaru should have been burned, not me! Feh!' He took comfort in the slightly minty herbs applied underneath the gauze, and the houshi's words that he would be better come morning.

'Can't believe it!' Inuyasha continued to complain as he entered the dojo. He wasn't surprised to find InuTaishou and Sesshoumaru already there, Sesshoumaru with a bokken in one hand and two in InuTaishou's as they circled around each other. 'No way is Father going to accept my hand as a hindrance. Bleeding crips, is everyone against me?'

"Hurry along Inuyasha," InuTaishou called over his shoulder, his gaze never leaving Sesshoumaru as he circled around the older tai. "We do not want to start without you."

"Yeah yeah," Inuyasha grumbled, grasping one of the bokkens in his left hand. "I'm coming."

"Today's lesson," InuTaishou announced as Sesshoumaru finally attacked. "is on agility, grace and teamwork." He ducked Sesshoumaru's vertical strike, then struck him in the side.

Inuyasha attacked next, somehow managing to sweep InuTaishou's feet from underneath him before being tossed into the wall on the other side of the room like a rag doll. He stood up groggily, then shook himself off before sprinting forward once again.

"Agility and grace," InuTaishou instructed as he used his right bokken to vertically block Sesshoumaru's horizontal swing. "are only useful if you remember to think during every move. To act on instincts alone is to ask for failure." He shoved Sesshoumaru back, then attempted a horizontal swing to Sesshoumaru's neck. Sesshoumaru blocked easily, then ducked underneath the bokken to slash his claws across InuTaishou's haori front.

"Very good Sesshoumaru," InuTaishou complimented as he backed up and inspected the damage. "And very controlled. However, it lacked grace."

"What's so important about grace?" Inuyasha asked when InuTaishou tossed aside one of his swords and took a swing at him.

"Grace confuses the enemy," InuTaishou explained. "and using both agility and grace on your opponent may confuse him enough for you to best him."

"Perhaps," Sesshoumaru growled as he shoved Inuyasha out of the way and attacked InuTaishou head on. "But there should be more important things to learn than such silliness."

"You think it's silly?" InuTaishou growled back, his irritation growing the instant Sesshoumaru nodded. "Well, allow me to prove you wrong." InuTaishou disappeared moments later, leaving Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha to stand in confusion.

"Where'd he go?" Inuyasha wondered aloud, delicately sniffing around the room as Sesshoumaru did the same. "I can't catch his scent or anything."

"Another lesson to remember," InuTaishou's voice boomed around them. "is teamwork. Sometimes it takes more than one to defeat a foe."

He reappeared between Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha, grasped the back of Sesshoumaru's collar and hurled him across the room. Sesshoumaru fell to the floor moments later, stifling a painful groan before attempting to stand. InuTaishou chose that moment to throw Inuyasha, laughing when Inuyasha crashed into him. They fell back to the floor in a heap of arms, legs and snarls.

"Ow…" Inuyasha groaned as he finally rolled over and stood on his hands and knees. He looked to his side at Sesshoumaru, who was just standing as well. "Hey Sesshoumaru, are you ok?"

"I'm…fine," Sesshoumaru replied, ignoring the painful stitch in his side while Inuyasha stood up fully.

"Are you two alright over there?" InuTaishou asked with a playful smirk. Sesshoumaru ignored him, choosing instead to look at Inuyasha before inclining his head in InuTaishou's direction. Inuyasha nodded, then the two of them jetted toward opposite sides of the room.

'What are they doing?' InuTaishou wondered as the blue and red streaks zipped past him. He blocked the sudden foot that flew toward his face, only to fall flat on his back as his feet were swept from underneath him. He landed with an oomph with Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru on his right and left side.

"How is that for teamwork?" Sesshoumaru remarked, with Inuyasha chuckling darkly on the other side. InuTaishou nodded in defeat and attempted to stand up. "Alright you two, you win."

"Yeah, we thought so," Inuyasha said as he and Sesshoumaru each grabbed an arm and helped InuTaishou to stand.

"It is good that you two know the benefits of teamwork, but there is one more thing I wish to teach you."

"What's that?" Inuyasha asked, watching as InuTaishou brushed off his hakamas. He grinned suddenly, grasping Sesshoumaru's and Inuyasha's wrists.

"Surprise!"

He tossed Inuyasha over his head to his left, flung Sesshoumaru past his stomach to the right, and laughed as they once again crashed into the walls. "There is much you do not know, my sons," he chuckled. "Now, let's continue the lesson."

****

"But why are we stopping so soon?" Kagome asked as Nassirudden and the others lead her and Alabaster back to the stables.

"Because you're to begin your new lessons today," Keni'Chi explained. "You're to only spend three hours learning to ride, then spend the next hours until dinner with the palace houshi."

"Oh, ok," Kagome said absently. She softly patted Alabaster's nose, then led him into his stable and removed the reins from his head. "What am I supposed to do?"

"He'll tell you," Kilik answered. "You go ahead. We'll settle Alabaster down. The houshi is by the Inner Gate."

"Inner Gate?" Kagome repeated, obviously confused. Nassirudden moved Kagome to the middle of the courtyard and pointed to the small gate a few meters away. "That's the Inner Gate. Go, and don't worry. I'll meet you in the bathhouse, ok?"

"Alright, but…"

"But?" Nassirudden said with raised brows.

"What if something happens?" Kagome said nervously. "I don't exactly know how to defend myself yet."

"Well, blocking is a way of defending yourself," Nassirudden soothed, then silently decided to walk Kagome to the gate. She started forward, then motioned for Kagome to join her. "Just because you can't hit doesn't mean that you can't defend yourself. Learning how to avoid and block your opponent's advances is far more important than learning how to make advances on your own."

"How so?" Kagome asked, pausing to wave at a passing servant.

"Because a well placed block can save your life, and it's better to learn how to save your own life than to learn how to take another's."

"You mean," Kagome started, instantly surprised. "You don't like killing?"

Nassirudden shook her head, a passing wind picking up a stray lock from the otherwise refined bun. "Where I'm from, we're taught that all life is precious and that we're all created equally."

"But that is not true," Kagome disagreed. "Youkai are different than ningen…aren't they?"

"Well, that is true," Nassirudden agreed moments later. "Animals are different than ningen, and youkai are different than they in varying degrees of strength and skill. However, we still bleed the same red, right?"

"I suppose," Kagome said thoughtfully. Nassirudden nodded to a passing soldier, then sighed. "That's why I always give a slight blessing over the meat I eat. I know that some poor animal died so I could live, and that animal deserves some respect and recognition. That's the way miko do things as well."

Kagome nodded, remembering times when her mother would be found mumbling something over a kill after a day's hunt. "I see."

"I know," Nassirudden said with a smile. "That's why, no matter what else you're taught, always remember that all life is precious and that we're all equal, no matter our strengths or weaknesses. No one being is better than the other."

"Alright," Kagome responded as they reached the Inner Gate. "Is that the houshi?" she asked, pointing to a man leaning against the gate itself with a brass staff in his hands. He seemed in deep contemplation, with his arms folded across his chest and his eyes closed with a small smile on his face.

"Yes, that's him. Miroku-san!" Nassirudden hollered, effectively startling the poor man. "Here is your charge for the next few hours!" She gently nudged Kagome in his direction, turning to leave before stopping to give Miroku a pointed glare. "You'd better look after her," she growled. "If I hear anything to the contrary-"

"You won't, I assure you," Miroku interrupted with a gentlemanly bow. "I will take care of Kagome-san as if she were my own."

"You'd better. Oh, and Kagome, if you need anything, just yell. I'll hear you."

"Ok," Kagome said, then waved as Nassirudden finally waked away. She then turned and bowed to Miroku, who returned the gesture. "I'm Kagome, Miroku-san."

"Please, just call me Miroku," he replied. "Now, let's begin, shall we?" He led Kagome through the Inner Gate, explaining the purpose and the name as they walked toward the valley ahead of them.

"There are two gates on the southern part of the castle. The Inner Gate leads to the castle itself, while the Outer Gate surrounds the castle and the vast lands that surround it."

"Where is the Outer Gate?" Kagome asked. Miroku chuckled softly, then smiled back at her. "Why, the Outer Gate is the gate you pass through first Kagome."

"The one protected by the mountain?" Kagome asked. Miroku nodded, then tensed as they entered the valley. Kagome gasped, moving to stand behind the houshi as hundreds of thousands of youkai appeared in the barren land in front of them. All were equipped with swords and wore armor branded with the western taiyoukai's symbol on their backs.

"So many," Kagome whispered, clutching the back of Miroku's robes for dear life. Miroku nodded in agreement, then reached back to pat her hand.

"Have no fear Kagome," Miroku whispered as they began to walk past them. "This is part of the army."

"Part? Where are the rest?" Kagome asked.

"Most likely at lunch. The army is quite large, and I think the infantry stands before us no-"

"Hey Houshi!"

Kagome froze, Miroku merely sighing as he turned toward the army. Two youkai, one a cheetah and the other some kind of rodent with ningen features jeered at them from the edge of the practice field.

"Hey Houshi! Who's the wench? Another servant?" the rodent asked.

"She's pretty for a ningen. She smells good too. Do you mind if we play with her a little first?" the cheetah asked, growling as the others around them laughed merrily. Miroku frowned, then looked to his side as Kagome stepped from behind him.

"Oooo…" the rodent gasped, mockingly clutching onto the cheetah for dear life. "Did we anger the little plaything? Oh, I'm scared!"

"Absolutely terrified!" the cheetah responded, then burst into deep rumbling chuckles as the others merely laughed harder. Kagome frowned, her eyes narrowing as she glared at the army before her. Miroku could feel her ki rising in response, the untrained power making his hair stand on end.

"Kagome-sama," he said gently, moving to rest his hand on her shoulder. "Allow me to handle them, if I may."

"Of course," Kagome said, her ki lowering unconsciously when Miroku stepped in front of her. Miroku surveyed the army thoughtfully, his suspicions of it being the infantrymen soon confirmed. 'There's only one way to deal with them…'

"Good afternoon," Miroku said politely. The cheetah growled softly, his claws extending as he stalked toward the pair.

"Whatever ningen. Give us the girl."

"What girl?" Miroku said innocently, then pointed to Kagome. "That girl?"

The cheetah nodded, and Miroku could literally smell the excitement from the rest of them.

"Sure." Miroku grasped Kagome's shoulders and thrust her in front of him with a happy smile, only to frown moments later. "Well…"

"Well?" The cheetah blinked, then snarled. "Well what?!"

"She's not exactly mine to give." Miroku thought a moment, then winked at Kagome before snapping his fingers. "I know! How about we ask Sesshoumaru-sama!"

"Sesshoumaru-sama?!" the rodent gasped, as did the cheetah as the others around him began to buzz nervously. "What does he have to do with anything?"

"She's his ningen," Miroku said simply, watching as the two in front of him paled instantly. He bit his lip to keep from laughing, then grasped Kagome's shoulders lead her away from the group.

"How do we know that you're telling the truth?" the cheetah growled darkly. "For all we know, you could be lying ningen."

"Do I smell like I'm lying?" Miroku asked, smirking at the silence that answered him. "Well then, if you'll excuse us. We'll leave you to yourselves. Good day." He smirked when he and Kagome were finally clear of them, entering a forest on the other side of the training ground. " Forgive them Kagome-sama," he finally said. "They don't really mean what they say. They're just mean at times."

"Think nothing of it," Kagome replied, then flashed Miroku a bright smile. "And please, just call me Kagome."

"If you wish, Kagome." Miroku smiled back, then crouched down in front of a patch of mushrooms. "I'm going to teach you about plants, and how each has it's own purpose."

"Such as?"

"See these?" Miroku gestured to the mushrooms in front of him. "These look like shitake, another form of mushroom. The only differences are size and the little brown dots that freckle the top."

"I see," Kagome replied, leaning over to get a closer look. "What are they-" She stopped at what felt like a butterfly landing on the small of her back.

It shimmied toward her hip, then curved around her buttocks…

A contented, masculine sigh fluttered on the early afternoon breeze, and Kagome's eyes narrowed dangerously.

*

"Awww…," the cheetah youkai said as Kilik walked into the valley toward them. "the houshi ruined our fun."

"Do you think he's telling the truth about the ningen?" the rodent youkai asked incredulously. The cheetah shrugged.

"It doesn't matter anyway. She would have been to small for-"

>Smack!<

"HENTAI HOUSHI!!! HOW DARE YOU?!!!!"

"Hm," the rodent chuckled as everyone around they started to laugh. "I just knew he would do that. Cough it up."

"man," the cheetah grumbled, then reached inside his armor for a couple of coins. "Lost again!"

****

Kagome glowered at the dinner table hours later, her left eye still ticking as Kilik and the others laughed at her misfortune. "It is not funny."

"Of course not," Kilik soothed, shooting Inuyasha and Keni'Chi a dirty look when they snorted in unison. "Don't be offended. That's the way Miroku greets everyone he sees."

"Including you, Keni'Chi and Inuyasha?"

"Um, no, not exactl-"

"Exactly."

Inuyasha and Keni'Chi laughed again, along with Kilik as Nassirudden hid her smile behind her hand. "If it makes you feel any better, Miroku greeted me like that too."

"What did you do?"

"She zapped him!" Inuyasha howled, leaving Kagome in her confusion as he and the males at the table fell into a fit of the giggles.

Nassirudden groaned irritably. "Where are InuTaishou-sama and Sesshoumaru-dono?" she asked in an attempt to change the subject. Inuyasha stopped laughing immediately, a scowl replacing the wide grin on his face.

"Probably still training," he grumbled, absently swirling his chopsticks around his plate. "Or arguing. I can't seem to remember."

"Oh." 'Oh well,' Kagome thought to herself as she too began to pick at her food. 'I guess I'll see Sesshoumaru-sama another night.'

Nassirudden, Kilik, and Keni'Chi glanced around at the suddenly somber table. Keni'Chi opened his mouth to say something when Jaken burst into the room.

"Female!" he squawked, the Staff of Heads bobbing in his arms as he scurried across the room. "You! Get up this instant!" He struck the top of Nassirudden's head forcefully, then raised the staff over his head to do it again when Nassirudden stood. He eeped when she glared down at him, her eyes a stormy electric gray as she reached out for him.

"Come here you little bastard!" she demanded, then chased the toad around the table. "How dare you hit me like that! Come here while I'm feeling generous!"

Kilik and Keni'Chi giggled in spite of themselves, with Kagome flabbergasted at Nassi's suddenly filthy mouth. Inuyasha, used to this kind of treatment from the toad youkai, only reached out and grasped the Staff of Heads, effectively stopping Jaken in his tracks.

Inuyasha stood, placed his foot on Jaken's head to hold him steady, then cheered when Nassirudden punted the little toad into a nearby wall. "Well done!" he applauded as the others looked on in amused shock. Nassirudden sighed irritably, shoving a strand of hair out of her face before glaring at the toad.

"What do you want?" she growled viciously through gritted teeth, her fangs slightly overlapping her bottom lip. Jaken paled to a sickly green, then quickly scrambled to his feet.

"InuTaishou-sama wants you to report to his chambers at once!" he commanded, then rubbed the lump on the side of his head. Nassirudden 'hm!'ed and left the room, only stopping with a promise to be right back. Jaken relaxed the instant she disappeared, grumbling to himself as he dusted himself off.

"Stupid female," he gripped under his breath; Kilik and Kagome the only ones in the room unable to hear him. "The only things worse than ningens are hanyou, including that crossbreed."

"Oh Jaken…" Inuyasha sang jovially, mischief dancing in his amber eyes as he glared at the little youkai. Jaken straightened immediately and came to a sort of attention. "Yes, Inuyasha-sama?" he said, obviously displeased at having to show Inuyasha any sign of respect.

"I don't know if you realize it-" Inuyasha quickly grasped the Staff of Heads, jerking it out of the toad's hands and holding it like a baseball bat. "but I can hear you!" He swung the staff forcefully, then watched as the toad sailed through the air.

"It's going…" Keni'Chi shouted, his hand shading his eyes as Jaken sailed over his head.

"Going…

"Gone! Yeah!" He jumped up just as Jaken sailed through the open doors and landed with a splat in the hallway. "Good shot Inuyasha!" They high five'ed each other, then stopped at the unusually quiet room. They turned to see Kagome and Kilik staring at the two of them, they're mouths slightly open and their eyes wide.

Keni'Chi scratched his head nervously, as did Inuyasha before Keni'Chi said "Um, home run?"

Kagome blinked, then blinked again before bursting out laughing. Kilik joined in seconds later, and soon the entire room was engulfed in merriment at Jaken's expense.

"Does that happen often?" Kagome asked as she wiped away a tear. Inuyasha nodded. "Yeah, pretty much. That toad never can keep his opinions to himself."

*

Nassirudden knocked against the shoji frame, then lightly bounced on the balls of her feet as she awaited entrance. A disheveled female kitsune hanyou emerged from the room moments later, stepping aside to allow Nassirudden entrance before scurrying down the hallway and out of the throne room below.

Nassirudden closed the door quickly, then raised her skirts and dropped to one knee, her hands by her sides and her head bowed. "You summoned me, my lord?"

InuTaishou rose from his desk, taking ill notice of his now open haori as he crossed the room to her. "Rise Nassi. You know better than to bow here."

Nassirudden stood instantly in a flurry of pale pink skirts. "Forgive me my lord, if I disturbed you in any wa-"

"Nonsense," InuTaishou dismissed with a wave of his hand. "I called you to me. Please," he gestured to a nearby set of chairs. "Sit. I wish to ask you something."

Nassirudden obeyed immediately, taking a moment to brush herself off before sitting in the leftmost chair. InuTaishou sat down in the one the right, propped his arm on the armrest and leaned toward her. "I wish for Inuyasha to join Kagome in her nightly lessons, if that is possible."

"Then so he shall," Nassirudden complied. "But why if you don't mind my asking."

"I think that it will do him some good." InuTaishou placed his forehead in his hands and sighed deeply. "I feel as if he is neglected in some way."

"Nonsense InuTaishou-sama," Nassirudden disagreed gently. "I'm sure he understands why you can't spend quality time with him."

"That does not prevent my guilt," he gave her a wan smile, and nodded in thanks. "Though I appreciate the effort."

"Anytime, my lord."

"And do stop calling me that," InuTaishou scolded jovially. "You know as well as I that I do not deserve such respect from you, or the other generals."

"Maybe not," Nassirudden said with a smile. "but we don't mind giving it."

"Yes, I suppose you do." He patted the top of her head softly. "Now for a few questions."

"Questions?" Nassirudden repeated with a squeak. "What kind of questions?"

InuTaishou merrily laughed at her obvious distress. "Now now, my dear. You act as if I plan to feed you to a snake."

"You may as well," Nassirudden groaned softly. "because I think I know what you want to discuss."

InuTaishou shook his head at her, then sighed. "How are your travels? You call them 'jaunts', correct?"

"Yes InuTaishou-sama. They're fine. I plan on taking one tomorrow night."

"And where are you going?"

Nassirudden shook her head disapprovingly. "You know I can't tell you that."

"Ah…" InuTaishou said with disappointment. He reclined back in his chair, rested his elbows on the armrests and tapped the pads of his fingers together absently. "I remember. Just thought I'd 'test' you, as it were."

"Well ha-ha."

"What are you bringing back?"

"Um…" Nassirudden frowned thoughtfully. "I'm not sure. I know that I want to bring the seamstress some new samples, and the cook asked for something."

"Oh. I see. Well, what of you and ningen?"

Nassirudden sighed despondently, her shoulders slumping in kind. "There has been no difference."

InuTaishou nodded to himself. "Then I take it Kagome is like the rest of her kind?" he asked, knowing what her response would be before she gave it.

"No, not at all," Nassirudden defended instantly. "Kagome's different. She's quick-witted, and really nice. I can't see her doing anything cruel to anyone."

"And Kilik?" Nassirudden blushed immediately, then scowled at InuTaishou's chuckle. "I take it he is not like the others either."

"Kilik is nice enough," Nassirudden said after a moment, then shrugged. "Besides, he's my friend."

"Now you know better than to lie to me little one," InuTaishou reprimanded. "But I will let this pass…just this once. Now," he stood, motioning for her to stand as well before opening the shoji door. "Finish your dinner."

"Hai my lord," Nassirudden said with a deep bow, then swatted at his hands at InuTaishou attempted to pat her head again. "Stop that!" She turned to shake a finger at him, one hand fisted at her hips. "Never touch a woman's hair!"

"Yes," InuTaishou laughed, then bowed in mock reverence. "I forgot. Forgive me Nassirudden-kami-sama."

Nassirudden's eyes widened impossibly, a small gasp escaping her lips before she turned on her heels and stomped from the room in a huff.

"Oh, and Nassi?"

Nassirudden stopped and turned around, her hand grasping the stair railing. "Yes, my lord?"

"Have I thanked you or the others for staying with us?"

Nassirudden blushed and nodded. "Yes InuTaishou-sama, you have."

"Then thank you again. I do not know what this kingdom would do without your help."

"Thank Kilik," Nassirudden told him with a bow. "He's the one that convinced us to stay."

"Then I shall thank him as well. Goodnight Nassi."

"Goodnight InuTaishou-sama."

Nassirudden stood in place as the door slid closed, then shook her head. 'To think, he called me a kami. How funny…well, I guess I would be, sort of, if you think about it…'

****

"OK Kagome," Kilik said hours later. "Do you think you can catch Inuyasha up to what you've learned these past few days."

"I think he already knows most of it," Kagome replied. "After all, he is part inu youkai."

"Do you know poisons?" Keni'Chi asked. Inuyasha nodded. "Duh! Of course I know them!"

"Prove it," Nassirudden ordered, stepping away from a nearby bookshelf to stare at him. "I know! What are orange strips on an inu youkai a symbol of?"

"Again, duh," Inuyasha said hotly. "They have poisons that stop your heart."

"Alright then," Kilik said. "Then what color is the poison itself?"

"Its-" Inuyasha thought a moment, but couldn't seem to find an answer. "It's-"

"It's clear," Kagome answered for him. "That's why it's so deadly. You can't see it, but it smells like sakura blossoms."

"Very good Kagome," Kilik said, he and the other generals clapping in approval as Inuyasha scowled beside her. "You've done well. You're ready to begin the next lesson."

"I do not wish to leave Inuyasha behind," Kagome said, then frowned when his scowl deepened.

"Feh! You won't leave me behind. I'll know that stuff tomorrow."

"Alright then," Nassirudden interjected, then reached behind her to pull a book from the bookshelf behind her. "Inuyasha, I expect you to live up to your word. Have this-" she tossed him the book and wasn't the least bit surprised when he caught it. "read and in your head by tomorrow night. InuTaishou-sama also requests that you be on time for your early morning lessons tomorrow."

"What?!" Inuyasha shouted incredulously. "You mean to tell me that I have to do this, and that too?"

"Yup," Keni'Chi said, clapping his hand onto Inuyasha's shoulder. "Looks like your Chuck Stuck."

"Fuck off kitsune."

"Bite me puppy-chan."

"Boys!" Nassirudden snapped irritably. "As funny as that kind of language is to the both of you, there are ladies present that don't want to hear that crap."

"But you just said crap!" Keni'Chi griped. "Why can't we-"

"Because she says so," Kilik interjected, then bopped both Inuyasha and Keni'Chi on the top of the head. "Now apologize."

"Do we have to?"

>Bonk!<

>Bonk!<

"Alright, alright," Inuyasha grumbled, then bowed to both Kagome and Nassirudden. "My apologies. Forgive me for behaving so offensively."

"Do you even know what half of that means?" Keni'Chi joked.

>Bonk!<

"OW!"

"Apologize," Kilik ordered, shaking his fist at the kitsune. "Or else…"

"Alright." Keni'Chi bowed as well, a slight frown on his face as he said "My apologies as well. I behaved rudely."

"No problem," Kagome responded cheerily. Nassirudden forgave them as well, though she was used to such language.

"Now, you guys scurry along," she dismissed them. "The rest of the night is yours."

"Great!" Inuyasha chirped as he and Keni'Chi bolted for the stairs. "Come on Fluffy-butt! Last one downstairs cleans the stables for a month!"

"Then you're going to be shoveling dung Inuyasha!" Keni'Chi yelled back as he sprinted after him. "And my tail is not fluffy…it's well groomed!"

"Well," Kilik said after they were gone. "I suppose I should be going as well. I wish to meditate before retiring."

"Goodnight Kilik," Kagome called after him, then gasped as she remembered something. "Oh! I've got to go too! I have to…do something in the garden. Goodnight Nassi!"

"Goodnight Kagome," Nassirudden called back, watching as Kagome rounded the steps and disappeared in a flash of navy blue silk. She sighed, allowing her shoulders to slump slightly as she glanced around the library. 'Clean up time…' She picked up the stray books lying on the desks and floor, putting them to their proper places before thinking of tomorrow's lessons.

'I really should make a lesson plan,' Nassirudden said to herself as she turned to the shelf behind her. She climbed up a ladder to the upper floor of the library and another row of shelves. 'Let's see here…' She scanned each book thoughtfully. 'Ah, here they are.' Nassirudden retrieved two books from the shelf, then sat down at a nearby table to read and jot down notes into a nearby journal.

Her thoughts soon drifted from the lesson plan and to her brief conversation with InuTaishou. 'Sometimes I wonder if he really is just an inu youkai,' she sighed wistfully. 'I suppose I don't have the problem with ningens that I used to, though it is difficult to trust them.'

Nassirudden stood and replaced the books, reaching for another when she suddenly gasped.

~Hey! Halfbreed!~

"Who-who's there?" She turned around quickly, glaring from one corner of the room to another before giving a shaky laugh at herself. 'I'm so stupid,' she scolded herself, then turned back to the bookshelf. 'There's no one here but me.'

~Hey! We're talkin' to you! Halfbreed!~

Nassirudden spun around again, this time with anger and panic written plainly on her elfin features. "Who's there?"

~My mom says that you have to be half human to be a half breed.~

~Then what is she then?~

"Go away," Nassirudden whispered softly. "You're not real. Go away."

~She's a mutt!~

Light, childlike giggles resounded around her.

"You're not real," she repeated, her back pressed against the wall as tears welled in her eyes.

~Hey, bark like a dog!~

~No, beg!~

~Yeah, beg, you mutt!!!~

"No…" She slid down the side of the bookcase and curled into a fetal position, her hands plastered to the sides of her head. "Not again…leave me alone."

~You know what you do to mutts?~

~What?~

~You stone them!~

~Yeah! Stone her!~

Nassirudden cried harder, her weak sobs fluttering on the air and to the ears of someone passing by the throne room.

~Mutt!~

~Mongrel!!~

~Halfbreed!~

~You're nothing like your mother!~

~That's why your father hates you!~

~You're nothing but a disgrace!~

~Mongrel! Halfbreed! Mutt!~

"Nassi?"

~Disgrace! Filth!!! Mutt!~

"Nassi! Damn it girl, snap out of it!" Arms picked her up and off the floor, holding her to something warm as something fluffy curled around her waist. "It's ok! It's not real, remember?"

Nassirudden sniffed, her face pressed into a now damp tunic front as the voice soothed her back to reality.

"Come on girl. Come back to me."

"Keni'Chi?"

"Yeah," he smiled when she finally looked up at him, then raised a hand to dry her face. "Are you better now?"

"I suppose," she responded, clutching his shirt front tightly. "I'm…sorry."

"For what?" he asked. "You can't be Supergirl all the time."

"I know…but it's hard."

"To escape your past? Yeah, I know. I know." He picked her up, ignoring her protests as he jumped from the library to the throne room below. "How about we get you to bed? You'll feel better in the morning."

Nassirudden struggled for a moment, then sighed in consent when he refused to let her down. "Fine. You're probably right."

"I am right. One day you'll realize that."

"Yeah, whatever." She wrapped her arms around his chest and closed her eyes, allowing the steady beat of his heart to lull her to sleep. "Thanks Keni'Chi. You always know what to do."

"Yeah well," he whispered when she finally fell asleep, unaware of two sets of eyes staring at them. "What's a cousin for anyway?"

----

SF: OK, first off, I'm really sorry about the lack of review responses. I got sick this week, and didn't have time to get them before updating.

Silver Fox: However, all reviews will be responded to next time.

Kagome: Oh, and the dresses in this chapter are the same as the ones in the last, they're just in different colors. Nassi hasn't had a chance to get new samples for the dressmaker.

SF: Nassi's breakdown, InuTaishou's treatment of said girl and other parts of this chapter are important to later chapters, but don't worry about remembering them. I'll be sure to remind you guys when the time comes.

InuTaishou: And this is not a N/IT fic either. She's a child compared to me.

SF: So there you go. The next chapter, A Hanyou's Journey, should be finished around the time the next 'SC' chapter comes out. Oh, and welcome to the story A Single Spark readers!