InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A New Twist ❯ Arrival ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha nor do I own any of the Inu-Yasha characters, though I would love to. I do own my own characters that live inside my head.

 

Chapter 4

 

Sesshomaru watched the girl as the cloud stopped moving. He had only met an actual dragon once in his life, and that particular dragon had once tried to kill his father. He looked at her confused. Even though he had only met one dragon, he knew what they were supposed to look like, but she did not look like one from the stories he had been told. He shoved his questions to the back of his mind and pulled her back with his one arm. He stayed silent, wanting her to think that he was not surprised, just quiet.

Ether frowned and tried to pull her locket out of his hand as the cloud continued moving, but this time at a swifter pace. She tugged at the chain, but the angelic guy would not let it go. “May I please get my locket back?” she asked, glancing up at him with her dark amber eyes. She would need a new chain for it or something, but until then she could at least place it in her bag.

Sesshomaru just looked down at her as if she were crazy and continued on.

Ether sighed after a moment and gave up. She would ask for it later if he didn't give it back. “Are you one of my sisters friends? I came looking for her. Are you taking me to her?” Ether said, not really liking the silence between them. He may have a deep scary voice, if very velvety and alluring, but she really liked it. When he spoke, it was like he was weaving a small spell around her. She wanted to hear him.

Sesshomaru grinned mentally. It was obvious to him now that the miko had never told her sister about what went on. For if she had, the girl he was holding would have been frightened and wouldn't have asked such an idiotic question. He looked down at her and then back to the sky in front of them. “I am not taking you to the miko. I am taking you to my castle until the time your sister comes to get you.” He said, it was the closest to the truth he was willing to go and not make this girl attempt to escape. Besides, it was the truth. He was taking her to his castle until her sister begged his brother to trade the Tetsusaiga for the girl.

Ether shrugged, not really caring. She figured that Kagome had guessed she would try to follow her and had asked this guy to take care of her. She sighed very softly; she kind of liked the idea of this angelic guy taking care of her. “By the way, what's your name?” she asked curiously.

Again Sesshomaru was surprised. Everyone knew him, how to recognize him, and if some one didn't know him they would recognize the marks on his face as those a demon Lord would wear. He controlled his calm cold expression and answered in the most dramatic and formal way he could. “I am the great dog demon Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands.” He said, his chest puffing out slightly as he proclaimed his title.

Ether was impressed and a little humbled, just a little. She had never once met a Lord before, though there was one in Japan in her time, but he rarely left his home and neither did his family and his mate. “My name is Ether Higurashi.” She said with a warm smile. “No title I'm afraid to say.” She said with a laugh.

Sesshomaru forced himself to keep his expression blank. Part of him wanted to slap this girl for her impertinence, but the other part thought her joke was slightly humorous…very slightly. He nodded and looked forward to where his giant cliff top castle was. The most lushes' forest surrounded it and there was a waterfall that flowed from under the castle and down the cliff. The castle was grand and around it were gardens of all kinds.

When Ether looked at the beauty and attempted to see everything at once, she was astounded. She couldn't even count the gardens they passed over. Nor could she even begin to see the giant field on the other side of the castle. “This is amazing! You live here?” she asked in surprise. She thought it was the greatest place ever. It was hard for her to imagine him living in such a large place, but then again there were probably a lot of other people living there to.

Sesshomaru nodded and landed the cloud outside the main entrance. He remembered when he had been younger; the castle had been smaller and not as grand. When he had inherited everything he had added to his home, to try and impress all that visited.

As they landed several servants came up and bowed low to their lord. One of which was a little toad that came right up to Sesshomaru. “It is good to have you back my Lord Sesshomaru. Everything is in perfect order, just as you left it.” The toad didn't even glance at the girl standing to the side of his Lord.

Sesshomaru nodded, but before he could give an order a young black haired girl came running up to Sesshomaru. She wrapped her arms around his one good one. “Lord Sesshomaru! Rin missed you so much!” the girl cried out, burying her face in his sleeve.

Sesshomaru didn't move to remove her, he never could force her to let him go, he was to attached to Rin to ever be mean to her, even if he didn't admit it. “It is alright Rin, I am fine.” He said. He then turned to Jaken. “Jaken, you will escort lady Ether to a room in my wing. You will then send in some dressers for them to take measurements to make her some new clothes.” He said before he turned and started walking off towards another part of the castle. He needed to think for a while, and the only way for him to do that was to go to the garden of mist and relax.

Ether took a step to follow Sesshomaru, a little nervous about being in a huge castle with people she didn't know. She turned and bowed to Jaken, trying to show respect because she didn't quite know what rank he had in Sesshomaru's castle.

Jaken was a little taken aback by the girl bowing to him, but he had been surprised when his Lord had called her lady. Then again the clothes she wore denoted something of a higher rank. The clothes looked to be silk, though they were the strangest he had ever seen. Not only that, the shirt revealed too much skin. “Follow me lady Ether.” He said and turned, hurrying off through the large doors.

Ether hurried after him, forgetting that she wasn't wearing her locket and that her draconic markings were revealed. She looked around excitedly. There were large tapestries all over the walls, antique vases everywhere, art and sculptures from all over Japan in the castle. She wished she could slow down and take a closer look at everything but Jaken was setting a fast pace for someone so small. She looked at the girl skipping by her side. She frowned. She didn't look to be Sesshomaru's daughter. Was she a servant then? No, Sesshomaru didn't treat her like a servant. She shook her head slightly and walked on.

Rin was humming, watching the lady her Lord had brought with him. She was really pretty, with really long black hair, and dark amber eye, sort of like Lord Sesshomaru's. She even had markings on her cheeks like Lord Sesshomaru's, though hers were gold and the marking was only on her left cheek, it curled around her cheek like a vine. It looked like it was made out of scales! “You're pretty!” she said with a big smile.

Ether returned the smile. “You're pretty to.” She giggled softly, Rin was so cute.

Rin grinned widely and ran off down another hall. Ether wanted to stop and follow, but Jaken was moving on ahead and she wouldn't like to get lost in the huge castle. She jogged to catch back up with Jaken.

After climbing a few flights of stairs and going down several halls, the arrived in a well decorated, well-lit, large circular room. There were several seats scattered around with a large fireplace near one side. “This way lady Ether.” Jaken turned and walked across the room to the door on the other side. “This is Lord Sesshomaru's private wing. He has instructed me that you will be taking up residence in one of the rooms inside.” Jaken was a little upset that the girl, though a lady of some sort, got the privilege of living in one of Sesshomaru's private rooms that were reserved for revered and highly respected guests. “This way,” he said, pushing open the large door with some difficulty.

Ether followed, but now Jaken took a slower pace that didn't leave her panting. She followed him until he stopped in front of a large door with a golden demon seal on it. “You may choose a room you like,” he said. “All but this one. This door leads into Lord Sesshomaru's private rooms. You are never to enter unless he invites you in.” Jaken warned. He then bowed and started to hurry away.

Ether watched him go a minute then she sighed. `Any room? Guess I better start looking' she thought to herself as she took 10 steps to cross the hall and place a hand on the doorknob of another room. She pushed the door open and then gasped. The room was large and airy, with a large window and balcony. The carpeting and walls were different shades of a dark green and gold, the furniture was made of the finest wood she had ever seen. There were several seats with large soft cushions, a cozy fireplace with an ornate grill in front of it, small tables around the room and against the walls, vases of every size, and there were two doors along the walls that she assumed led off into the bedroom and probably a study. She pushed open a door and again gasped. It was another room full of green, but this green was a warmer, richer color. The bed was in the center of the room and it was large enough to fit at least 5 people and still have room for each person to roll over. It had golden sheets and pillows, and the mesh curtain around it was also golden with silver stars decorating it. There was a window and balcony, though when she looked the balcony was connected to the one that was outside the large sitting room. She walked into the middle of the room and sat down. She looked around and spotted a large dresser with a huge mirror on the wall. On the dresser were several brushes, hairpieces and some makeup. She turned her head and looked at the small fireplace in the corner next to a large cushioned seat. There was a small table next to the seat, so she guessed you could put books or something on it while you sat and relaxed. She turned and spotted a long sliding door on the wall opposite the window. She walked over to it and slid the door open. She guessed it was a closet, but there were no clothes in it yet. She slid the door shut again and took note of the other furniture in the room. She sat down on the floor and stayed like that for a while. She guessed that the other rooms were very much similar to this one, perhaps in different colors and with different forms of decorations. She would prefer something red, but she wouldn't mind living in this one. She meditated on the thought of exploring the other rooms before she stood and left the bedroom. She went back into the hall and proceeded to look through the remaining two doors. One was blue and the other was red to her happiness. Like she had thought, the decorations were different, but the general layout of the rooms was the same. She went into the bedroom of the red suite and set her stuff down on the bed. It took her a moment before something dawned on her. She had chosen the room right next to Sesshomaru's. It was then that she noticed a third door in the room besides the closet door and the door leading into the sitting room. It was a well-disguised door, but it was visible. She walked over to it and pressed on it very gently. It didn't open. She sighed and went back to the huge bed, flopping down on it and closed her eyes. She had a feeling that she was either going to have the time of her life here, or she was going to be extremely bored.

There was a knock on the door and a tall demoness walked in. “I'm your seamstress, Lilly.” The demoness said with a smile. “Lord Sesshomaru has told me that you are in need of a new wardrobe and that I am to fit you and make you as many gowns as possible.” Lilly walked in and Ether rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. Lilly, it appeared, was a spider demon. Ether grinned slightly; she had read stories of things called driders. Driders were creatures that had humanoid upper bodies, but bellow their waist they had spider torsos. Ethril bowed and smiled happily. “I'm Ether, I'm honored to make your acquaintance.”

Lilly looked confused and then bowed herself. “No my lady, it is I who is honored!” she hesitated for a moment. “My lady. May I speak freely?”

Ether frowned, why did she keep calling her lady? And why was she getting so much respect from someone she had just met? “Sure, I don't see why you can't.”

Lilly was surprised; shocked, and confused by the way lady Ether was acting. Every time she had met a lady or lord of high rank, they had either been stubborn, angry, and selfish, full of pride, and they understood perfectly what their rank was. Ether didn't seem like that at all. “I have never met a dragon before my lady. That is why I am honored. Not many can claim to have served a Dragon in their life!” Lilly really had been excited when she had been told she would be the seamstress of a dragon.

Ether frowned. “Why is me being a dragon so important like that? I'm sure there are other dragons in this world.”

Lilly shook her head. “No my lady, the dragons have nearly disappeared.” She frowned slightly, how could a dragon not know about her own people? “Anyway my lady, not to sound rude, but I would like to get your measurements.” Lilly stepped forward, her spider claws making very soft clicking sounds through the rugs as she came forward.

Ether nodded and then smiled. “Just call me Ether ok? I don't think I like all that `lady' stuff.” She tried to sound light hearted and friendly.

Lilly nodded, taking what Lady Ether said as an order. “As you wish lady Ether.'

Ether frowned and shook her head. “No, just Ether.”

Lilly grinned slightly, “Alright just lady Ether.” She stopped talking when she realized she had been joking with lady Ether.

Ether laughed and shook her head. “If you keep calling me `Lady' then I'll have to call you some weird nickname. Like Spidey-girl or something” She grinned warm-heartedly.

“Alright…Ether.” Lilly smiled and pulled out her length of rope to start measuring Ether.

Ether smiled, she had made her first friend in the Feudal times.

Little did both of them know, Sesshomaru was watching through the window with an invisibility spell around him. He let a rare smile grace his lips as he watched the two joke.

 

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I swear I'm writing more with this story then I have with several of my past ones! This'll be the fourth chapter in three days! And I'm already starting on the fifth chapter. I can tell you know that I'll try to keep up this writing streak for as long as I possibly can! Then again if you don't like what I am writing then you probably don't even care. Reviews would be nice…I'd like to know if you guys like my story so far…