InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Chou Shoki I: Learning from Yesterday ❯ Chapter 18 ( Chapter 17 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
In law an infant, and in years a boy,
In mind a slave to every vicious joy...
Fickle as wind, of inclinations wild;
Women his dupe, his heedless friend a tool,
Old in the world, though scarcely broke from school.
-Lord Byron, “Damaetas”
CHAPTER 18
“I beg your pardon,” she said in her monotone voice. “I didn't expect to find you here.”
Sesshoumaru forced himself to ignore her subtle perfume, which was like the sweet, cool breeze in the summer, full of the scent of lilies.
“Obviously, I didn't expect to run into you, either, Lady Kagome,” he said, bowing stiffly. “Or to have you run into me. What are you doing here?”
“I should ask you the same question. Were you following me?” She cocked her head as she regarded him with that discomforting intensity. “Did you get lost in here, too?”
The answer to that was none of her business. “Were you spying on me?”
“Doko (Where)? Koko ni (here)? Of course not,” she said, her voice having the same genial `friendliness' that Ujio usually did. “I accidentally bumped into you.”
“I didn't mean here in the labyrinth. I meant in the grotto.”
Her expression was innocence itself. “Why ever would I do that?”
“I'm sure you were. I recognize your gown.”
She glanced down at her dress, which reminded him of roses. “Suppose that were true- and I'm not saying it is - why do you think I would spy on you?”
He struggled to keep a lid on the exasperation that threatened to boil into anger. “How the hell should I know what your motives are?”
“Really, such language is hardly becoming of a prince addressing a princess.”
“Don't try to change the subject. You were spying on us.”
Her delicately arched brow rose quizzically, “Us?”
He bit back another curse and changed tactics. “Perhaps it was envy that compelled you.”
She smirked with that same affability, as if they were two old friends conversing casually in the forest behind her castle. “I don't envy anyone except Murasaki-sama.”
Another unexpected - and fascinating - answer. “The writer?”
Her brows shot up even more. “You know of her?”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Unlike the false reports spread about me by certain parties, I am not a complete ignoramus. I am well aware of her work. Even though she may be ningen, her work can be applied to any living being in the same social standing.”
Lady Kagome smiled and he realized what a charming smile it was - open and honest and pleasant. “Since you know of Lady Murasaki's works, I will admit that I do find you a very interesting man.”
He'd received many compliments since leaving his parents' lands, but nothing had ever made him feel quite as this one did, as if he really was interesting, and for more than his looks. His anger drifted away as he began to wonder why she didn't desire him. Then he told himself it didn't matter how she felt about him.
“However you came to be here, you shouldn't be wandering about the labyrinth or the gardens without an escort,” he warned. “It can be dangerous.”
“I didn't mean to be. I told you, I got lost and perhaps if young men wouldn't stand stock-still blocking the path just around a corner, it wouldn't be so dangerous.”
A little annoyed by her pert answer, he took a step toward her and gave her a wolfish grin. “That's not the sort of danger I meant.”
Lady Kagome tilted her head again, reminding him of an inquisitive squirrel. “Oh, do you mean there are other lascivious men prowling about and that as a momentarily unescorted female, I may fall prey to their unconstrained lust?”
Other...? Sesshoumaru's anger flared. “If anyone was prowling about, it wasn't me?”
She didn't seem at all nonplussed by either his anger or his answer. “However misplaced your concern, I assure you I can defend myself if I must. But surely you, who have personally felt my power, shouldn't worry.”
He barked a laugh. “Your waspish tongue may not be enough.”
“No?” she inquired, still annoyingly calm.
Before he could say anything more, her fingers suddenly shout out straight into the base of his throat about his collarbone and below the neck lining of his haori, letting out just enough spiritual power to paralyze him momentarily. “Damn!” he gasped, his breathing labored from the sharp blow as he stumbled backward.
She smirked that charmingly friendly smirk again. “You see, a young woman raised in a monastery is not necessarily a babe in the woods. I am well prepared against men, or youkai, who wish to do me harm.”
“I don't wish to do you harm,” he panted as he regained his balance. His curiosity got the better of his wounded pride. “Where did you learn to do that?”
“My father sent me to the monastery up the mountain to train with a houshi. He had many interesting skills.”
“I bet he did. And he showed you all of them, did he?” he asked with an exaggerated leer. He still couldn't get a rise out of her.
“I daresay it is difficult for you to appreciate that a man and a woman can have any sort of relationship other than a carnal one,” she said calmly. “But Tanaka-dono was fifty years old and a man of the cloth, so all he taught me was how to defend myself.”
“I can and I do have relationships with women that aren't carnal,” he retorted.
“Really? I must confess I'm surprised. Nevertheless, I believe you should follow your own advice and leave the labyrinth.”
“I'll go when I decide. Besides, this is MY home.”
“Have it your way, dog boy. But I recall our conversation before, when we spoke of whether or not women would be more virtuous than men if given the same opportunities. You may remember I have my doubts that women would be. Therefore, you may not want to risk being discovered in your weakened present condition by other young women who may be overwhelmed with admiration for your broad shoulders and handsome face. You might not be able to fend her off should she decide to have her lascivious way with you.”
The idea of Lady Kagome having her lascivious way with him was a surprisingly appealing notion. He ran his gaze over her body. She was long of limb, curvy of hip. Her full, but not big, round breasts would probably fit perfectly in his cupped palm. She'd responded to his words with no false coyness, no fraudulent maidenly modesty. She'd been bold, frank, and even brazen. He could well imagine she would be the same in bed, making love with eager joy and unabashed delight.
A vibrant image burst into this head, of this bright-eyed young female naked beneath him, her eyes shining not with curiosity but with desire, her body undulating as he pressed his lips to hers.
Her longer legs would wrap about him, pulling him closer as he thrust inside her. He could almost hear her whispers, soft moans and cries of delight as he pleasured her. And by Kami, how he would!
He eased toward her, closing the space between them. As she stared at him, her lips parted and her breathing grew rapid. Her expression changed, to something that was not calm composure. Nor was it fear. It was something he was sure he recognized, for he was feeling it himself.
“Perhaps I wouldn't fend you off, Lady Kagome,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with suppressed desire, the force of it overwhelming his urge to intimidate her. “Would you care to try?”
She laughed. She actually laughed in his face.
“I amuse you, do I?” he asked, a hint of real warning in his voice as he moved closer yet, trapping her body against the labyrinth.
“Because I know you can't be serious, Lord Sesshoumaru,” she answered, apparently unaware of how truly tempting she was. “I'm no beauty, and have little to recommend me to your sex. As I said, I find you interesting, but my interest is purely platonic, as I'm sure yours is for me if you are at all sincere.”
Platonic? He'd show her platonic.
He slid his hands up her slender arms. “You're wrong, Lady Kagome. I find you very attractive.”
Lady Kagome met his gaze with that brazen, yet strangely innocent, boldness he was coming to expect. “Do you plan to kiss me, Lord Sesshoumaru?”
His fingertips shimmed her soft cheek. “I was certainly contemplating it.”
She closed her eyes and stood perfectly still, her whole body rigid.
“What are you doing?”
She opened one eye. “Why, I am waiting to be kissed. It's sure to be a novel experience.”
She sounded so very matter-of-fact, his passionate desire instantly dissipated. She truly was odd, and if he were wise, he would have nothing more to do with her, images of her in his arms notwithstanding.
Both her eyes opened. “I gather from this delay that you have changed your mind about kissing me.”
She didn't have to look so relieved. “I have reconsidered, hai.”
She reached out and patted him on the chest. “That's quite all right, dog boy. I really didn't think you would.”
“Stop calling me dog boy! Which doesn't mean it's safe for a young woman to be wandering about the garden at night, whether you think you can defend yourself from physical harm or not,” he retorted, telling himself she must be the most frustratingly naïve young female in Nihon. “You're putting your reputation at risk the very least.”
She laid her hand over her heart and drew back sarcastically as if shocked. “Why, how kind of you, Lord Sesshoumaru, to counsel me on propriety and guarding of one's reputation. You, of course, are a model of both counts. So now, ever mindful as I must be that a woman's reputation is so much more delicate than a man's, I must beg your leave to be excused -“
She turned to go but he reached out to make her stay, resisting the sudden urge to pull her into his arms and see if her kisses would be as exciting as he expected. “Were you spying on me?”
Kagome looked down at his hand with an expression of revulsion. “Unhand me, inu youkai, or I may be forced to hurt you... again.”
Like flame to tallow, her challenge heated his blood. “I would like to see you try.”
“I doubt that. Tanaka-dono was an excellent teacher. It might be embarrassing for you to explain to your otou-san how you came to be so bruised. Now will you unhand me, or are you the animal everyone here believes you to be?”
He released her immediately. “No doubt the other lords have described me as quite the blackguard.”
“As a matter of fact, they have. It's really very shocking, some of the things they say of you.”
“They're lies.”
She got a little studious wrinkle between her brows as she gave serious consideration to his words. “Are you accusing my hand maid of lying?
He wanted to press his lips upon that little wrinkle and make it go away. “Not deliberately,” he said, his anger lessening. “She is merely repeating lies other people have told her.”
“Then you deny that you've got a score of mistresses all over Nihon?”
“I don't even have one.”
“At present?”
Damn, he was actually blushing like a little pup. What could she possibly know of his world, to stand there so cool and composed and make him feel like he ought to be ashamed? He'd had enough of that in his youth.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Before he could reply, two female voices rose nearby. “Kagome! Oh Kagome-hime, where are you? Lord Inu no Taishou is waiting for you!”
I smiled. “Lady Michiru and Lana are at hand. I suggest you flee. You're very attractive in your own way, but I wouldn't want to feel compelled to marry you for the sake of my ruined honor should we be discovered alone, and I don't think you'd want to mate with me under those circumstances, either.”
I could see the frustration and aggravation in his face. “I wouldn't mate you under any circumstances, not even if they found us naked together,” he growled.
I laughed again, a low, intimate chuckle at his expense. “Then run, prince, as quickly as you can.”
He didn't run, but he walked very fast.
When he was gone, I let out a slow, deep breath. It was a fortunate thing they both had called out when they had, and that the youkai had swiftly departed. My legs had been trembling so much, I couldn't have gone a step. If he'd actually kissed me, I'd probably have slipped right down to the ground, regardless of my pricey kimono. I had hardly been able to breathe as it was.
I allowed myself to play with fire, for heat was exactly what the inu youkai inspired - exciting, delicious and very dangerous heat that had forced me to use all my self-control to keep from revealing his effect on me. I hadn't because I was quite sure he would think me a silly, hen witted female with an extremely exaggerated sense of self-worth if I had. I was, after all, ningen Kagome, which meant that his real motive for acting as if he found me attractive was to intimidate me, or discomfort me at the very least.
My behavior tonight puzzled me. I wasn't one to care for others. It hadn't been right to follow them, and spying on a couple at an intimate moment hadn't been my intention when I'd manage to get away from the watchful Daiyoukai's supervision and the other youkai. I'd merely wanted to admire the beauty of the gardens on my own for a little while, in silence.
After I exited the labyrinth and joined the rest of the guests, we were called to a rather large table set in the middle of the garden. Dinner was ready and all sat to enjoy the meal. The youkai were served raw food. However, Lana and I were served regular human dinner. Most of the night was spent in `talk' about the victorious battle.
Since most of the guests were staying for the entire week festivities, the ceremony went into the morning hours. Lana and I retreated about two or three hours after the feast. Hours that I thanked Kami in which Juro never left my side, chasing away any unwanted chats with the other youkai. I had seen Ujio talking with Sesshoumaru and other youkai, but he never made eye contact with me or even spoken a word in my direction.
~~~~~~~
The morning after, I arose with the sun. Exiting my heya, I headed for the training grounds. I wished to meditate through breakfast and avoid everyone's ongoing curiosity. I wanted to leave.
Meditation did help. My mind calmed and body released a bit of its tenseness. It did not last long, however. When I went inside the castle, most youkai were already up and about doing gossiping. I ignored them and made a mad run to my room.
Once inside the confinement of my room, I laid in the futon. Lana was nowhere in site, but I supposed that she might be with the rest of the servants overseeing the arrangements for this evening's entertainment.
It seemed that only seconds passed when Juro came by to inform me that I should start to dress myself. He even brought with him a silk kimono that he laid in the bed. It was a very light peach color. The bottom and the sleeve edges were covered in white lilies. The red and orange clouds depicted a sunset appearance. Instead of the traditional white inner yukata, this one came with a dark red one and dark green obi that also had lilies embroidered in it.
“Chichi-ue wishes for you to wear this for this evening. He hopes it will be to your liking and that you honor him in his one wish.” Juro smiled and motioned for me to take it.
“But who does this belong to?”
“Actually, it was a present for my late surrogate mother. However, Lady Akiko became ill before my chichi-ue could present her with it. He had never taken it out of the wrapping until tonight.”
“Tell the Daiyoukai that I will see him in a few moments.”
He smiled again and winked at me before sliding the door.
~~~~~~~
I tried to keep my eyes on `Lord something' throughout the entire conversation. My outlook was not improved, however, by the fact that the performing dancer could not take her eyes off Lord Sesshoumaru. At first I thought I must be imagining the dancer's fascination with the prince, but by the time the music was halfway done, there could be no doubt. The youkai dancer was issuing the prince a sultry invitation with her eyes.
Why this bothered me so much, I didn't know. After all, it was just another piece of proof that he was every bit the licentious demon I'd known him to be. I should have felt smug. I should have felt vindicated.
Instead, all I felt was disappointment. It was a heavy, uncomfortable feeling around my heart, one that left me slumping slightly.
When the performance was done, the dancer, after graciously accepting her applause, walked brazenly up to the prince and offered him one of those seductive smiles. There was no mistaking what the singer meant by that smile.
Good heavens, the man didn't even need to chase women. They practically dropped at his feet. Sesshoumaru offered the dancer a mysterious half-smile of his own. Then he reached out and actually tucked an errant lock of her raven hair behind her ear. I shivered as I saw him lean forward, whispering something in her ear.
It was disgusting. Really, truly disgusting. Turning on my heel, I searched for Lana, who was again engaged in talk with our host.
~~~~~~~~~~
Sesshoumaru continued to converse with the dancer who had come up to him. He certainly hadn't told his father, but he and the dancer had enjoyed a pleasant number the last time he'd been to a feast. Once in a while, and discreetly, of course, he would steal glances at Kagome when she wasn't looking.
Two hours later, Sesshoumaru was shocked to discover that Michiru had actually been bold enough to ask the strange miko for her approval of him as her mate. It seemed that the road to Michiru's acceptance lay squarely through her newly acquired friend. According to Ujio, this was the rumor circulating in the hall. The entire situation seemed absurd to Sesshoumaru. It was unfathomable! So it now appeared he had to charm the miko. But not before teaching her the lesson she so deserved.
He wondered if Kagome had told her of their previous encounters. Probably not. Michiru would have already berated him for even laying a claw on the miko.
Sesshoumaru had seen her enter the large hall by herself. He couldn't help but hold his breath when he saw how she was dressed. The warm colors of her kimono gave her a most beguiling look. Just like the day before, there was no paint in her face. Not that it made any difference when those dark lashes did the trick of accenting her eyes. Tonight her hair was picked up in a bun by her nape and held fast by two red picks that had white pearls at their ends.
He was about to begin complimenting her, mentally, when he recalled their rendezvous in the grotto. That was good enough reason to forego any more lustful ideas.
There was a sparkle of mischief in Juro's azure eyes. “You'll have no trouble winning her over,” he predicted, a confident smile lighting his face. “No trouble at all. A shy, spoiled princess? She's probably never received attention from such a male as you. She'll never even know what hit her. You simply can't fail. Trust me, I spent a few minutes with her earlier this evening, and she could not say enough about you.”
Having lost sight of her, he pushed himself up off the wall and gazed out with an air of determination. “Good. Where is she? I must speak with her at once.”
Juro scanned the room for a minute or so, and then said, “Ah, there she is. She's coming this way, as a matter of fact. What a marvelous coincidence.”
“Kagome-san,” Juro was saying, “what a delight to see you again.”
She looked a bit perplexed, and Sesshoumaru didn't blame her. Juro was making it sound as if they'd bumped into each other accidentally, when they all knew he'd trampled at least a half dozen youkai to reach her side.
“And I you again as well, Juro,” she replied wryly. “And so unexpectedly soon after our last encounter.”
Juro grinned winningly and Sesshoumaru had the distinct and unsettling impression that his brother was up to something. That and the fact that both of them had addressed each other with such familiarity. “I can't explain why,” Juro said to Lady Kagome, “but it suddenly seemed imperative that I introduce you to Lord Sesshoumaru, heir to the Western Lands.” Apparently, no one was aware of their previous meetings.
She looked abruptly to Juro's right and stiffened as her gaze settled on Sesshoumaru. In fact, she rather looked as if she'd just swallowed an antidote. This, Sesshoumaru thought, was odd.
“How kind of you,” Lady Kagome murmured - between her teeth.
“Kagome, I believe you made the acquaintance of Lady Michiru. She is Lord Sesshoumaru's choice for future mate.” Juro continued brightly.
“Indeed,” Sesshoumaru said, becoming aware of an overwhelming notion that Juro was using the miko to have a bit of fun tonight. Apparently, he was bored.
Lady Kagome bobbed a quick, awkward curtsy. “Lord Sesshoumaru,” she said, “it is an honor to make your acquaintance.”
Juro made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a snort. Or maybe a laugh. Or maybe both.
The inu youkai turned deliberately from Sesshoumaru to Kagome, “I think I might need some water,” he gasped.
“Would you like me to fetch it for you?” she asked. The prince noticed that she'd already stepped out with one foot, looking for an excuse to flee.
Juro shook his head. “No, no, I'm quite capable. But I do believe I had reserved this next dance with you.”
“I shall not hold you to it,” she said with a wave of her hand.
“Oh, but I could not live with myself were I to leave you unattended,” he replied.
Sesshoumaru could see Lady Kagome growing worried at the devilish gleam in Juro's eye. He took a rather uncharitable pleasure in this. His reaction was, he knew, a touch out of proportion. But something about this Lady Kagome sparked his temper and made him positively itch to do battle with her.
And win. That much went without saying.
“Sesshoumaru,” Juro said, sounding so deucedly innocent and earnest that it was all Sesshoumaru could do not to kill him on the spot, “you're not engaged for this dance, are you?”
The prince said nothing, just glared at him.
“Good. Then you will dance with Lady Kagome.”
“I'm sure that's not necessary,” the woman in question blurted out.
Sesshoumaru glared at his brother, then for good measure at Lady Kagome, who was looking at him as if he'd just despoiled ten virgins in her presence.
“Oh, but it is,” Juro said with great drama, ignoring the optical daggers being hurled across their little threesome. “I could never dream of abandoning a young lady in her hour of need. How” - he shuddered - “dishonorable.”
“I assure you,” Lady Kagome said quickly, “that being left to my own devices would be far preferable to dan -“
Enough, Sesshoumaru thought savagely, was really enough. His brother had already played him for a fool; he was not going to stand idly while he was insulted by Michiru's sharp-tongued miko friend. He laid a heavy hand on Lady Kagome's arm and said, “Allow me to prevent you from making a grievous mistake, Lady Kagome.”
She stiffened. How, he did not know; her back was already ramrod straight. “I beg your pardon,” she said.
“I believe,” he said smoothly, “that you were about to say something you would soon regret.”
“No,” she said, sounding deliberately thoughtful, “I don't think regrets were in my future.”
“They will be,” he said ominously. And then he grabbed her arm and practically dragged her onto the ballroom floor.
~~~~~~~~