InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Chou Shoki I: Learning from Yesterday ❯ Chapter 11 ( Chapter 10 )

CHAPTER 11

 

Kari rode fast the horse Princess Kagome had bought her. She had said it would make the trip easier and get her there in one piece. She smiled at the thought. Kari had always heard of the young princess miko and of her accomplishments. At her age, she should be already married and living a comfortable life at her palace. Instead she was traveling throughout Nippon endangering her life for people that didn't appreciate her. Now, having met her, she knew those rumors of what she had `supposedly' done couldn't possible be true. And although her father, the emperor, had required payment for her aid, she had it on good word that the princess would sometimes return the money without her father's knowledge. Concentrating on her assignment, she shook the reins of the horse, gesturing it to gallop faster.

 

When she arrived at the palace doors, she was shocked to see that everything happened as the princess had told her. Hiroyaki escorted her inside and told her to wait in the gardens. Kari examined her surroundings. The palace garden was filled with sakura trees. There was a small pond and a bridge ran across it. The winter snow blanketed it. It was as if the clouds from the heavens had settled there.

 

The sound of closing footsteps brought her back to reality. She followed the noise and bowed down as she identified the emperor. `He looks nothing like her'. She lifted the scroll to the emperor without standing up.

 

“My lieutenant here informed me that you bring a message from my daughter. Where did you meet her?” His voice carried the concern in his face.

 

Recalling what the princess told her, she responded. “I was on my way to search for aid for the women on my furusato when I encountered Lady Kagome. When I realized who she was I asked her to return with me to my village and help us rid the women from a fatal disease. I paid her in advance and she agreed.”

 

Lord Seiya looked down on the woman and then opened the scroll.

 

Sumera-Mikoto (heavenly sovereign),

 

Forgive me for letting you know of my whereabouts in this manner. I was on my way back home when I came across the woman who is delivering this message. I trust she will tell you the reason of my delay.

I still do not know what these women suffer from and therefore have not found a cure. Although it is not contagious, I wish to keep this disease from spreading outside this village.

Please, I beg of you, do not send anyone. I fear that any outside contact might make matters worse. I shall return home as soon as possible. Kirara is by my side and will help me guard this village. Above all, do not let Hiroyaki convince you to let him come for me. Thank you.

 

Arigatou gozaimasu.

Kagome

 

 

Hiroyaki, who had also been reading the message, began to argue with the emperor about her last statement. “My king, I ask that you let me go! She might need my help.”

 

“She specifically asked that I not seek her out. I wish to respect the wishes of my daughter. What's more is that you and I both know that she can take care of herself. Why, she can take on a whole demon army by herself!” Lord Seiwa's last words were said with much pride. Kari had to keep herself from laughing at the irony of his words.

 

`If you only knew,' she thought.

 

“Onna (woman),” the emperor ordered, “Where is this village of yours?”

 

“A day and a half from here my lord. But, then again, I rode a horse, so it might be about three and a half days on foot if you do not stop to rest.”

 

“Very well. Hiroyaki, pay this woman for her services and feed her horse. I am sure she is eager to return to her furusato as soon as possible.” He was about to leave when Kari spoke to him.

 

“Tenno (sovereign), payment is not needed. Princess Kagome's help is more than enough.”

 

“Alright. Then have your horse watered and fed so you may return to your family.” The emperor watched as she once again bowed and gave her thanks. She did not see the disgust in his face when she had turned.

 

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“My lord, do you think it is wise to not follow her?” Hiroyaki asked as he saw the woman leave on her horse.

 

“Hai. My daughter is still mad that I had you follow her to that village south of here. I do not wish to anger her more.”

 

“I just worry about her. I cannot help it. She means more to me than anything else.” He glanced at Lord Seiwa and waited for his reaction.

 

“I know. In fact, that is something I've been meaning to speak to you about.” He wrapped an arm around his most trusted samurai as he led him into the dinning hall.

 

~~~~~~~~

 

Kirara and I passed through the gates of the Inu no Taishou's castle, the Crescent Moon (Inu Ancestor's Royal Home), just as the sun was beginning to set. I was tired but I did not stop to rest. Several demons that were camped outside turned to see us and began to growl. We ignored them as I came into view of the entrance. A leopard demoness could not contain her anger and started towards me. I paused and turned. I knew I could not kill them so I settled for teaching her a lesson.

 

The youkai was pushed back hard as she bumped into my barrier and hissed in pain at the burn it made on her hands. Kirara transformed and growled at the demoness.

 

“I will shred you to pieces miko for daring to come into the territories of my lord!” She pushed herself off the floor, readying herself for another attack. She never got the chance for a white blur pushed her down in mid air again as it came to stand before me.

 

::STAND DOWN:: he growled in what I would later come to realize was the inu language, which at that moment annoyed me because I had no idea if he had just insulted me. “If you so much as take another step, I will make sure you live to regret your actions.” All the growls had stopped when they recognized their leader.

 

Keeping his eyes on his warriors he asked, “Daijoubou desu ka?”

 

“Please, your pathetic army could not touch me even in my sleep!” I glared at the demoness who was currently still on the ground.

 

He smirked.

 

“Listen up.” His voice carried the command and seriousness of his order. “This is Lady Kagome. She and I have made a pact. She is here to help us fight off the kuro miko working under Lord Otoya and the reason why such kuro miko have not purified any of you. She carries my mark for the time being. Any attack on her is an attack to me. You will defend her and aid her in whatever she asks. She shall also be staying here under my care. Do I make myself clear?” Silence and nodding heads gave him his answer.

 

“One more thing. Seeing how she will be here for the duration of the battle, all of you will treat her with the respect due to a Lady of the Western Lands.”

 

I had been smiling mockingly at all of them until he spoke those last words. I whipped my head to look at him. Lady of the Western Lands? Why the hell had he said that?!

 

I regained my composure and pretended to agree. He motioned me to follow him inside. I waited until we were left alone to talk to him. When he closed the door to his study, I took in a deep breath.

 

“TEME( You bastard)! THOSE TREES MUST HAVE REALLY LEFT A DENT IN YOU! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? I... HOW... I AM NOT TO BE TREATED AS LADY OF THE WESTERN LANDS!” I was beside myself with anger. Had this been a cartoon, you probably could have seen smoke coming out of my ears. Fortunately, I had kept my voice to a high whisper.

 

“I give you respect and I demand that you treat me with it as well. Please, refrain from addressing me with nothing less than `my Lord'. He glanced at me and I saw the humor in his eyes.” He's having fun at my expense!

 

“Alright... my Lord .” My words came out through gritted teeth.

 

“One of my most trusted will show you to your quarters. If you need anything, ask and it shall be given. I will call you down for dinner in a while.” He went back to reading some scrolls that were left in his desk.

 

I did not even excuse myself when I left his study. I closed the door behind me and came face to face with an inu youkai that was waiting for me. He bowed and smiled, genuinely. In appearance, he seemed about my age. Electrifying blue eyes gave me a look that was searing. Unnerving. It was so intense that I could almost feel his hands on me. The red of his hair, which was half held up, contrasted with the tanned skin. He, too, had the small gold sun on his upper right arm that I had seen on the other inu youkai. It seemed that all who lived in this land, at least men, dressed mostly in the same manner with the long and airy hitatare and hakama. His hakama was a deep purple and his hitatare was a crisp white with a crescent moon on its front fold.

 

“My lady, my name is Juro. I am to personally tend to your needs while you stay here. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask.”

 

I tried to stay mad, but I found no reason to. The youkai servant was only following his master's orders. It was true that I despised demons, but even then I would not kill unless it was in self defense. I looked at his blue eyes. He was old, centuries perhaps, but he had been human he'd be only a few years older than me. His beautiful red hair was almost as long as the Daiyoukai.

 

“Arigatou, Juro.” I replied at him.

 

He stared at me. He had not expected me to do that. I suppose I wouldn't expect me to speak kindly at a demon either. Juro asked me to follow him. We walked up spiraling stairs and down a very long and wide hall. I observed the numerous tapestries hanging in the walls. Many of them had a white demon dog standing among other demons. I recognized the inu youkai. One tapestry in particular caught my attention and I paused to see it better.

 

There was, again, a giant inu standing atop a mountain. As I looked close I observed that he was hovering over two figures. One of the figures was a beautiful demoness. Her long pale blonde hair ran all the way to her ankles. Her eyes were a clear blue. She had two magenta stripes, one in each cheek. In between her eye brows was the same crescent moon that the Daiyoukai had. Next to her, was a small inu youkai. He looked just like the Inu no Taishou.

 

Juro's voice interrupted my thoughts. “That is the Inu no Taishou. Under him, are the late Lady of the West, Lady Aikiko and their son, Lord Sesshoumaru.” He was pointing at them.

 

I wanted to ask about them but I decided against it. They were none of my business. As soon as this war was over, I would be returning to my usual duties and never seeing them again.

 

I walked a few steps more and stopped. Gliding the door so I could enter, he said, “This will be your room. I will come for you when dinner is ready. Is there anything that you require before I make my leave?”

 

I was already inside removing my cloak. “No. There is only one thing I require. I was wishing to take a bath. Is there a bathing chamber?”

 

He walked inside and slided open a door. I moved to where he was and saw a beautiful hot spring that was build inside. “If there is anything else, please call for me. Everything to clean your self is inside. Drying cloths are over there. I will leave a kimono and sleeping yukata for later on your futon.”

 

“I can fend for myself.”

 

“Very well.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

The Daiyoukai studied various attack plans that were devised by some of his most trusted officers. Although many were very good, they always seemed to find a flaw in them. He was beginning to feel frustrated and was about to break his new desk but a knock interrupted.

 

“Enter.” He looked at Ujio who entered slowly detecting the irritation in the lord's response.

 

“Chichioya (father), dinner is ready.”

 

“Very well. We shall continue working on this after dinner. The sooner we end this war, the better. Go and eat.” He gestured for his captains to head for the gardens where their food was waiting.

 

“Ujio. Inform Lady Kagome that dinner is ready and escort her to my dinning hall.” He returned to arranging his desk when he observed that his son was looking at him in awe.

 

Standing straight he surprised Ujio. “What is it?”

 

“No... no-nothing my lord.” Ujio stuttered.

 

“Then why are you standing there fidgeting?” Inu no Taishou was becoming annoyed.

 

“It's just that the only ones that eat in the private dinning hall are yourself, Sesshoumaru, Juro, me and... the late Queen. Only family is allowed to eat there.” Ujio knew he was crossing the line by bringing this up but he wished to know why his father would allow a mortal, a miko nonetheless, and not a family member, to sit at the inu family dinning hall.

 

The Inu no Taishou took in a long breath. He glared at this adoptive son who was already starting to tremble more at the silence. Raising an eyebrow and walking around his desk he leaned on the empty chair facing Ujio.

 

“I was not aware that it was now customary for the pups to question what their alpha has to say.”

 

“No my lord! I was not questioning your orders. I was simply stating that -“ Ujio stood his ground.

 

“Not that you deserve an explanation, but so that you make sure no one makes the same mistake you just did, I will tell you why.” He paused enjoying the fear that he saw in his son. He was by no means aggressive, but he did not like to be questioned or disobeyed. He'd cared for and defended his land and its inhabitants for almost a millennia. All that he demanded in return was loyalty and obedience. Was it really too much to ask?

 

“I told all of you that Lady Kagome, for the moment, was to be treated as Lady of the Western Lands. You and all my demon army surely have perceived my scent in her. Therefore, does not that make her family and the right to dine with me? Clearly you can see I am not breaking any tradition.” He really did want her presence during dinner. It had been long since a female sat at the table with him. “Now, go fetch her and inform the others in the castle of what I just told you!”

 

Understanding, but not content, with the answer the Daiyoukai had given him, Ujio scurried to the upstairs rooms to fetch the miko. He really, REALLY did not want to see her.

 

Arriving at her door he knocked lightly as not to upset her. He still remembered what she did to him.

 

~~~~~~~~~

 

“Lady Kagome? I am here to escort you to dinner.” The youkai called from outside waiting for me to allow him access.

 

“One moment.” I slid the door without looking at who was there. “I- “ Glancing at the nervous male who stood at my door, I smirked. “You. Did you really miss me that much or have you come to ask that I finally grant your death?” I turned my back to him and fixed my weapons

 

His entire body tensed. He was angry! However, his words contradicted his current emotional state when he heard Kirara's growls. “No, my lady. I am simply here following the orders of my lord.” His head was a bit bent but he was looking at me through his bangs.

 

Kirara instantly growled. `I don't like the way he's looking at you.” I arched a brow at Kirara's angry words in my head.

 

“You don't like the way any man looks at me. Not even father.” The neko scoffed.

 

`Still, he hasn't taken his eyes off you, Kagome. He's watching you now. His head is bent down, but there's lust in his eyes as he stares at you. Like he can already feel you under him. I don't trust him or that look. His gaze is too intense. Can I bite him?'

 

For some unknown reason, knowing that the inu youkai was watching me made me self conscious. `We're playing nice for now, Kirara.'

 

`I don't want to be nice, Kagome. Every instinct I have tells me to bite him. If you have any respect for my animal abilities, let me put him down now and save us both more days in this flea-infested place.'

 

I paused. Most likely this inu youkai would make the mistake of crossing my path in the future, especially if it was this aggressive against humans. And yet the Inu no Taishou's words from earlier rang in my head.

 

`I owe the Inu no Taishou for his end of the bargain.' She scoffed again.

 

He stood there glaring daggers at Kirara. “Here, kitty, want to go follow the mouse in the well? C'mon, girl, I'll even slide the door for you and toss you a treat.”

 

`Here psycho-dog, wanna find my teeth in your―'

 

`Kirara!'

 

`I can't help it. He bothers me a lot.'

 

I turned around to face him and leveled a sneer at him. The fact that I had been ignoring him for the last few minutes didn't bode well for him. “Look, let's just compromise for now. We are on the same side. At least, let's try. I'm not asking you to be my best friend by any means! All I'm saying is that we speak to each other without any insults. I'll even promise to let you have a go at killing me once this is over before I kill you.”

 

Ujio looked as he was considering my invitation of shredding me to pieces right now. He flexed his claws.

 

“You should be more careful,” he said.

 

“Believe me I'm not the one who needs to be careful.” My voice was sinister as I spoke those words, reinforcing my lethalness.

 

“Are you threatening me?” he asked. I said nothing. I was a total wall of silence.

 

Ujio drew near to me. He moved to my side, intruding on my personal space. I was torn between wanting to stand beside him and wanting to curse his nearness. I decided to pull away. “Look, could you just stay away from me?”

 

“Does it bother you for me to come near?”

 

More than he could imagine. When he was near me, it was easy to forget what I was. Easy to pretend I was in control of my unsated hunger and that I was normal. But that wasn't me. That had never been me.

 

“Yes it does,” I said, my tone low, threatening. “I don't like anyone to get near me.”

 

“Why?”

 

“That's none of your damned business, inu,” I snapped at him. “I just don't like people to touch me and I don't like them to come near me. So back off and leave me alone before you get hurt.”

 

Kirara growled at him again, more fiercely this time.

 

Eyeing me suspiciously, he looked to the floor, pondering on my words. He raised his eyes to mine and looked, trying to find any hidden lies. I guess he saw that I was honest. “I suppose we could try and get along while you are here.”

 

He spoke to me again. “Still, I don't trust you. I'll be keeping an eye for you!”

 

“Hmm...sounds fair. Lead the way.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

When she opened the door, Ujio was struck not only by the sweet scent of gardenias but also by something he'd missed before. Kagome was breathtaking. Her black chihaya couldn't hide the curvaceous body that rippled with power. Her face small and well sculpted. The planes of it, even while not covered by the paint that most females used, were a study in perfect female proportions. Yet she wasn't pretty, she was darkly beautiful. Almost sinister looking for her long black eyelashes and pouty lips that softened her face.

 

But what struck him most as she sat down when after he arrived in the room and she stared out the window was the deep sadness in her lavender eyes. The haunted shadow that hovered there. She looked tired. Lost. Most of all, she looked terribly lonely. She glanced at him and frowned before she practically kicked him out.

 

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