InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cursed ❯ Schmoozing ( Chapter 26 )

Chapter Twenty Six - Schmoozing

 

With a fluid grace that surprised even himself, Loki crouched just behind the backstage curtains. The players had left soon after the performance in order to join in the feast that was taking place in the palace gardens. This left the perfect opportunity to do some surveillance on his Lord and the strange companion he'd brought to the play. What in the seven hells was he doing with a human woman? She'd seemed distressed by the entire affair, perhaps she was even there by force. Had Sesshoumaru's distaste for the human race suddenly led him to torturing their females? Certainly Loki thought the play was torture but did humans dislike such fanfare with as much gusto as his did?

 

“Please let me go...please!” That was what he heard the human say as she struggled to free herself of his Lord's grasp. She was definitely not there by choice. She must be some exotic plaything. He began to wonder if they really were fun to play with. Perhaps he would get himself one when he became the Lord of the Western Lands as it did seem to be in fashion now. He could not make out the rest of the conversation much to his chagrin. They were too far away and were speaking far too quietly for him to make out but since she looked as though she were quite anguished and his Lord looked just as cold as he normally did, he just assumed that he was threatening her to behave as a proper plaything should. After a few more minutes, he watched as Sesshoumaru stood first, followed reluctantly by the human. He ushered her out of the room and then moved close behind her.

 

Loki gave himself a big pat on the back. He'd observed his Lord without him even realizing it and that in itself was quite a feat. But then again, when you're the great Loki, it wasn't actually all that surprising after all. He smiled to himself as he made his way to the feast. He was starving.

 

 

“Yuti will escort you back to your room.” Takana nodded as she automatically moved to stand next to the female youkai that she had met the previous day. She didn't trust her but she was in no position to question anything. Besides, her room was exactly where she wanted to be right now. “I will join you as soon as I take care of some business that needs attending too.” Sesshoumaru waited for some type of response from her but when he was met with silence he grew anxious.

 

“Will that be alright?” This surprised two of the three people in the hall but it was the third that spoke.

”Yes, I'll be fine.”

 

Tomo exchanged a quick glance with his mate before Yuti whisked the human back to her Lord's chambers. Had their Lord Sesshoumaru just asked for confirmation on a plan of action from a human. They knew he cared for her but this... this was... well they just didn't know what to make of it at the moment. It made Tomo nervous and he was glad that it seemed everyone had already made their way down to the feast. He would hate to even begin to imagine what would happen if someone had heard that otherwise innocent exchange. The Lord of the Western Lands asked confirmation of no one, especially humans.

 

He and Sesshoumaru turned in the opposite direction of the women and headed to the gathering. It was necessary for him to show or it would arouse the suspicions of everyone present and begin a rumor mill that Tomo had no desire to undermine at the moment.

 

“That went...well. Don't you think?” Tomo asked his silent companion.

 

“It put her under undue stress.” He calmly replied.

”Yeah but she did alright. It's probably good that she acted the way she did. People will never think that she wanted to be there. Makes it look like something strange is going on but not that you're...” Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow.

 

“That I'm what?”

 

Tomo cringed. “Well, that you're...doing whatever it is you're doing with her.” He breathed a sigh of relief when Sesshoumaru merely nodded. He prepared himself again. Why in the gods was he such a loyal fool? He just didn't know how else to be. “Since we're on the subject, we need to find her a place to stay.”

 

“Where she is now is fine.”

 

“Well...yeah but you don't want anyone to...” He was cut off before he could finish that thought.

 

“She will not be moving.”

 

“Oookay.” He sighed. This was going to complicate matters. It wasn't going to take any time at all for people to find out where this human was staying. The palace staff was not known for its indiscretion when it came to such matters and swearing them to silence would only make the situation seem more scandalous than it already was. Rumors that she was there for a sexual nature would be out before the end of the week but he'd worry about that problem later.

 

“Perhaps you should tell me in what capacity she'll be staying so that I can better advise you on what courses are available to you.”

 

Sesshoumaru stopped mid stride, causing Tomo to stop rather suddenly and awkwardly. He waited patiently while his Lord seemed to mull the question over. `How could he not have considered this question before?' Tomo thought to himself with unease. Where had his old Lord gone who wasn't even in need of advisers because he was always one step ahead of everyone else?

 

“I don't yet know.” He finally answered.

 

“Ah, well then.” `Thanks, that clears it all up.' He thought sarcastically to himself even as he answered something else entirely aloud. “Ready to assuage the fears of your lords, my Lord?” He finally asked as the silence between the two became strained. “They want you to, trust me.”

 

Sesshoumaru smirked. Schmoozing his under lords was not a task he relished but it was one he could do without having to second guess himself all of the time. It would be good to feel that way again after so long.

 

“Indeed.” He replied as they again strode out to the festivities.

 

 

“Would you like to change into something else?” Yuti asked as the human continued to fidget in her currently cloths.

 

“Gods yes.” She sighed. “I wasn't sure if I should or not.” She immediately made her way over to the small pile of cloths that were now hers. She chose a simple sleeping gown to wear since it was late and she no longer expected to go elsewhere.

 

Yuti couldn't help but smile. She was happy that the human was speaking now. The silence had been incredibly boring and she had begun to wonder if perhaps Sess had chosen her for that characteristic. She decided to see if last utterance had just been a fluke.

 

“You did not like the play?” She asked as the human struggled out of the intricate clothing. Though Yuti was not a dresser, she moved to offer her assistance which Takana took after it became clear that she could not escape from the ensemble on her own. It seemed Yuti had been correct in her suspicion and that it had indeed been a fluke until Takana got down to the last layer of clothing. Finally, she answered.

 

“The play was beautiful. I'd never seen anything like it.” She left it at that but Yuti was not satisfied so she pressed. Secretly she was thankful to this human for giving her the excuse to not attend the feast. Though the food was always excellent and the company not that bad, she just didn't like such large gatherings. She preferred the intimate to the crowded. Besides, Tomo usually drank himself silly at these things. This year however would probably be a dry one for him. He knew when to indulge and when not to. This was definitely on of those `not to' times.

 

“I couldn't help but notice that you seemed rather upset throughout the program.” Takana looked up at her after she pulled the nightdress over her head.

 

“Was it that obvious?” Yuti gave her an understanding tilt of the head.

 

“We are all youkai here and we have an easier time telling such things.”

 

Takana walked over to a bench and sat down with a tired slump to her shoulders. “You don't need to remind me of that.” She sadly said. “Truly it wasn't the play that bothered me. It was that.” She motioned to the kimono she only freed herself of moments before with the female youkai's help. Yuti looked confused.

 

“A kimono would make you feel so...angry?”

 

Takana shook her head. “It's not the kimono. It's the fact that I was wearing it. Those things are not for me. It was ridiculous to dress me up like that, like I was some hime or something.”

 

“Humans do not where kimono?” She was still confused about why she had been so upset.

 

“Humans? Well some do, like royalty but I'm the farthest thing from royal. I'm just a commoner, a peasant. I'm not even meant to wear things as fine as this.” She said, tugging at the clothing she now wore. Yuti's confusion only lessened somewhat. She was now pretty sure what the human was saying but something still bothered her.

 

“Wouldn't the guest of royalty be expected to wear such a garment?”

 

“We'll yes, I suppose but...” Yuti cut her off in her quest for understanding.

 

“Then you should consider Lord Sesshoumaru royalty, for he is the highest ranking youkai in the lands. And since you were his guest tonight, it was appropriate for you to wear it.”

 

“You don't understand.” Takana was getting that desperate feeling again. “I don't belong here. I never should have been his guest in the first place. I shouldn't have worn the kimono because I had no place doing so. I saw the other women. They were all beautiful. They could wear theirs because they were youkai and tall and thin and graceful and...” But she just trailed off.

 

Yuti felt understanding was over her now though she thought the reasoning behind the feeling foolish. “So you were upset because you are not one of us? Not beautiful enough?”

 

“Yes!” Takana shouted, slapping her knee for emphasis.

 

“I see.” She was quiet for a moment and Takana finally believed that the conversation had been successfully concluded. “However,” Yuti began as Takana looked plaintively up to her, “I find it silly.”

 

“Silly. Really and why is that?” Takana snorted with a disbelieving look.

 

“Of all the females there, you were the most exotic. Of all the females there, you were the one that sat to the right of our lord. Every woman there looked at you and memorized every part of you. They will rack their brains over what part of their beauty is lacking and needs refinement. Many will begin to wish that they looked more like a little human woman because that is what has caught the eye of our Lord. It is their beauty that was inadequate tonight, not your own.”

 

Takana opened her mouth to retort but slowly closed it was the youkai's words began to sink in. She couldn't be serious, could she? But they were so... “Arg!” She finally supplied. It was easier to believe herself beneath them. Now she was somehow supposed to be their superior simply because of where she sat. Was he that sought after?

 

She laughed at herself. Of course he was. He was beautiful. He had been as a human and he was now as a youkai. She sighed.

 

“Thank you.” She said quietly to her hands.

 

“No need little one. It will take getting used to but...I think you will do just fine.” And Yuti meant it. It took courage for her to go out there today and though it frustrated and frightened the human, it did change the fact that she went and held her head high. She had a feeling she was going to like this human. Hell, anyone that could change Sess at all had her respect and she had a feeling that this Takana, had changed him more than she knew.

 

 

AN: I'm going to do something new. There's a little thing that some other authors do that drives me bonkers, threatening their audience with no more writing if they don't get more reviews. Well I've decided to do the same thing but for things other than reviews. If I'm going to hold my story hostage, it might a well be for other more interesting things. So here goes. I'm not going to update until someone gets over to my house and potty trains my new puppy. She does her business wherever she likes and until that stops, I'm not going to update. Now hop to it readers. (I'm such a genius!)

 

Cochrann - I know, I'm just a writing fool lately. Tsk, tsk. Asking for such a big spoiler, very naughty. But hey, come here, closer, no, even closer it will come out eventually, don't worry. :P

Nikkie23534 - *bows humbly before overly nice reviewer*

emeraldoni - There's always hope, I may make it hard to come by sometimes but I never completely snuff it out. If you weren't rooting for them I'd seriously have to go back an reevaluate what I written here. Good to know I'm on the right track.

soliary25 - Too kind, too kind. Takana is in a bit of a rut right now and she's having a hard time coping but she's tough so keep an eye on her in the future. Isn't it always the communication? They will have to work on that.

White Luna - Oh man, if you want to cry now, I don't know if I can recommend you sticking with the story. OOOOOO fan art for my fic! I would never presume to guide an artist but if you think of something appropriate, I'll be more than happy to endorse said masterpiece.

Lamb - There's my huge review writer! hehe I'm happy that you thought it not too much. Loki, you know I've been wondering where I know that name from too. I think it's probably from some Greek or Roman myth, at least that's the impression that keeps tappin at my brain. If you come up with it, let me know. Silly, the swords...I ain't sayin nothin. As you see, I just couldn't put my soapbox away totally...I'm a bit of a shit but hey, I'm not apologizing. Hope you liked the chappie.