InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Into the East ❯ Making Amends ( Chapter 12 )

Into the East

Chapter twelve: Making Amends

Posted: 11 July 2006

Characters/Plot originally appearing in the anime/manga Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

Everything else © me

 

 

 

 

Glittering crimson eyes peered into the small silver mirror for what must have been the hundredth time that day and still he was met only with dark swirling mist. It was the same image he got whenever he tried to delve into the Western lord's mind. Naraku growled his frustration and turned away to stare into the flames that tried desperately to cheer the dim, gloomy chamber. He was a patient hanyou by nature, fully content to sit in wait for unsuspecting prey to ensnare themselves in his traps, but it had been a full moon cycle or more since Sesshoumaru had so much as set foot out of his palace. Naraku may have been patient, but he hated the unknown. That the great Sesshoumaru took in yet another human was a small matter, beneath his concern, really, but what did she mean to him? Would it even be worth it to try to use her? He wanted to know what was happening behind those walls and he wanted to know now. He wanted to know what made the deadly, stoic taiyoukai tick. What could he possibly used to gain an advantage over the dog lord? But… as Onigumo knew better than anyone else, one cannot always have what one desires - right away. But his plan was set in motion. Now he need only wait until the opportune moment.

 

Naraku turned back to the pale child with an expression of mild amusement. Kan'na was a detachment of his own body, just as Kagura was, but his two offspring could not have been more different if they had been born on opposite sides of the planet. The child displayed no emotion, revealed nothing to anyone. She was, in fact, the embodiment of nothingness, and she fascinated him. Within her deceptive form was nothing, no emotion, no youki, no aura, and yet there she stood before him, a living contradiction in her very existence. She was also the most loyal of all of his creations. Kagura on the other hand, wore her heart on her sleeve… or would, if she possessed her heart. It was no secret that her greatest desire was to be free of Naraku and he held that over her head every step of the way. He held an iron grip on her heart and used it to punish her, but he wouldn't kill her outright, not yet. That would only give her what she wanted, for surely once the life left her body, she would become like the wind itself. No, she still had her uses, despite her rebelliousness.

 

Turning his gaze back to the mirror, Naraku once again commanded Kan'na - he had a feeling this time that the awaited moment was drawing very near. “Again, Kan'na. Show me the Western palace.”

“Yes, Naraku.” Just as before, his eyes beheld only the mists of the barrier that blocked his scrying. Soon, he thought, soon all will be revealed to me. He continued to stare, searching, willing the mists to dissolve and show him what he so desired to see. Then suddenly, as though a gate had opened before him, the mists disappeared and Naraku glimpsed the entryway to a vast, walled compound. The image drifted through the courtyards and passages of great buildings until he saw Sesshoumaru himself. Ah… he thought with a low chuckle, and now to watch and wait.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Vanessa awoke with a heavy sort of fogginess settling in the general area of her head and an insistent pounding behind her eyes. She sat up only to bury her face in her hands. Oh… she thought while her body groaned. Sesshoumaru is not going to be happy. She prided herself in generally taking well enough care that she hardly ever got sick. Now here she was, five hundred years in the past and she developed a cold after a little time in the rain, never mind that she had been soaked through for the better part of the afternoon and well into the evening. After he had been so adamant that she get warmed and dried so that she didn't get sick, she felt a bad that it seemed to be all for nothing. What made it worse was that she couldn't just go down to the corner drug store to get something to clear everything up… There was no corner drug store!

 

The moment that Vanessa decided to admit defeat and find out if there was some sort of soothing herbal tea that she could drink was the precise moment that Sesshoumaru chose to knock on her door for breakfast. Breakfast! Oh no! This would be Mitsue's first morning at the palace and Vanessa had wanted to go to breakfast and meet her. Maybe Sesshoumaru wouldn't notice that she was sick? It wasn't a bad cold… just a little stuffiness. Who am I kidding? “Come in,” she called, noting with annoyance how her voice gave away her stuffy head. Sesshoumaru slid the door open but paused before crossing the threshold, a small frown marring his face. His nostrils flared slightly as he sniffed and in just a few strides he had crossed the room and was brushing the backs of his cool fingers against her forehead.

“You are not well,” he announced. Well, so much for him not noticing…

“It's nothing really, just a little head cold.” He stared at her for a moment.

“Nevertheless, you will remain here until you have recovered. Jaken will bring you something to eat.”

“But-” She really wanted to be there to meet Mitsue.

“You will stay here.” It was a command, not a request. Suddenly she wasn't just talking to Sesshoumaru, her friend, but Sesshoumaru-sama, lord of the West. She was, after all, in his house… His word was law. Vanessa had no choice but to do what he said.

“I'll stay here,” she finally said, though a little more sullenly than she had intended. She would do as her host requested, but she didn't have to like it. Sesshoumaru nodded once, but apparently her tone was not lost on him; his eyes softened just a little.

“You will heal faster if you rest. I have duties to attend to that will require my attention for most of the day. Jaken will be in shortly.” He turned to leave, but paused when Vanessa called out to him.

“Sesshoumaru…” Turning over his shoulder, Sesshoumaru appraised her with a raised eyebrow. “I hope everything goes well… at breakfast, I mean.” He stared at her for what seemed an eternity before he finally responded.

“It is only a meal,” Sesshoumaru said before sliding the door shut behind him.

 

Vanessa couldn't help but smile as she leaned back against her pillows again. She was reminded of her first introduction to Sesshoumaru's staff. Just as he had said, everything had turned out all right… so far. Sesshoumaru had been lord of the West for more than two hundred years. Surely some demoness who may or may not be in disguise, wearing the face of someone he once held dear, was nothing compared to some of the things he had dealt with. But why did she have to get sick? Vanessa wanted to know more about this demoness… Who was she? What did she want? And why did being just a little bit sick mean that she had to be confined to her rooms? The more she thought about it though, the more she thought it had something to do with Sesshoumaru's reputation. He was supposed to despise humans, yet he brought home Rin - a child. She would have served no purpose in his household, so why did he take her in? That must have raised a few eyebrows. Then he brought Vanessa home with him and barely a month later, she had fallen ill. From what she could gather, humans were considered weak by most, if not all, youkai. Illness only intensified that weakness, so wouldn't Sesshoumaru's subjects - and now someone from the Eastern territory - begin to think he was growing soft by taking in weak humans? She didn't want to be the cause of any more trouble for him than she already was.

 

Resigning herself to her fate, Vanessa closed her eyes in an attempt to go back to sleep, but found the pressure in her head to be too much of a distraction. Moments later, she heard her door slide open again. Half expecting it to be Sesshoumaru, she was surprised to see no one in the doorway. Then tiny green hands lifted a tray onto the table beside the door. Must be Jaken. She sat up and, sure enough, there was Jaken, muttering to himself and struggling to get the tray balanced over his head and onto the table. “Jaken?” Vanessa called after he got the tray securely onto the table; she didn't want to run the risk of him spilling tea on himself if he got startled. As predicted, Jaken jumped with a squawk and spun around. “Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.”

“Humans…” she heard him mutter before saying more clearly, “Good, you are awake. As Sesshoumaru-sama requested, I have brought you some food and tea. Now I must leave.” That said he shuffled toward the door.

“Jaken, please wait.”

The imp paused at the door and turned back to her. “Human, I have very important matters to attend to.” Well… that was uncalled for.

“I just thought that since I haven't seen you around much in the weeks that I've been here, we might take a minute to get to know each other.”

“Insufferable girl, I have no time for such sentimentalities. I can't understand how a great lord like Sesshoumaru-sama tolerates your presence.” Ouch.

Still, determined not to let the little green man get to her, Vanessa tried to keep up a positive front. “Well… thank you so much for bringing up the tray for me. I really don't mean to be a bother.” Jaken gave her a strange look then, not entirely unlike the one Sesshoumaru wore her she did something `unexpected'.

“Yes… well… see that you recover quickly, and make sure that you don't infect Rin as well. Sesshoumaru-sama should not need to trouble himself with one let alone two sick humans.”

“I'll do what I can,” Vanessa responded, suppressing a smile, but Jaken only nodded and left. She had the feeling that somewhere deep down the imp had a special place for Sesshoumaru's humans… or at least for Rin. Maybe he'd start to accept Vanessa with time too.

 

After Jaken and Sesshoumaru went through the trouble of making sure she had a hot meal, Vanessa thought that the first step in acknowledging their kindness would be to eat it while it was hot. It looked good, though in her current state of stuffiness, she couldn't tell whether or not it smelled good. She had been brought a bowl of rice soaked in some sort of broth with a few soft vegetables, just what a potentially disagreeable stomach might like. One whiff of the pungent tea, however and she could already feel her head beginning to clear. They sure do know a thing or two about tea. Taking the tray with her, Vanessa returned to her bed. After eating her meal, she thought it best to take the time she had to sleep off her cold. Sesshoumaru was right: resting would only help her body recover faster. Besides that, the sudden heaviness of her eyelids led her to believe that the tea she drank was doing more than just clearing her airways.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Sesshoumaru closed Vanessa's door with a soft sigh. On some level, he had been hoping that she would be present for Mitsue's introduction. He found her scent calming in a way that few others were, but it would not do for her current state of weakness to be made obvious to the youkai who would also be present. She would be too much of a temptation for the baser instincts of some of those youkai. It simply was not safe for her. He made his way into his own suite once again and found Jaken tidying the sitting room. “Jaken,” he said, causing the small youkai to jump and then fall to the floor in a bow.

“Yes, milord?”

“Vanessa has fallen ill. You are to bring her appropriate food and a medicinal tea to clear her head.”

“For the human woman, my lord? Surely you can't expect…” Whatever thought Jaken was about to voice was abruptly cut off by a cold glare from Sesshoumaru. “Y-yes, Sesshoumaru-sama.” The taiyoukai arched an elegant eyebrow as if to ask why Jaken still cowered in his presence, and in the next instant the imp was scurrying out the door and down to the kitchens. He has his uses… Rin once caught a similar illness and Jaken was the one to make the discovery in a human village of an herb that, when infused in a tea, would all but eliminate the symptoms. Unfortunately, the primary side effect was that it would force the drinker into sleep after only a few cups. Vanessa would probably sleep through the day, but it also meant that there was little chance of her slipping out and being found. In the back recesses of his mind, Sesshoumaru wondered how she would react when she discovered that he had sent her into a drug-induced sleep. Regardless… She requires rest in order to recover.

 

Since there was nothing more he could do, Sesshoumaru pushed thoughts of Vanessa to the back of this mind. He did not need thoughts of concern for her welfare as a distraction. Setting his impassive mask in place once more, he made his way to the dining hall. As he made his way across the courtyard, he spared a glance toward the morning sky, noting the absolute clarity and wondered at the sudden appearance of yesterday's storm. A brief frown marred his features; there was something strange about that storm, but as quickly as it appeared the frown was gone and the matter was forced from his mind. There was no use in dwelling on what was done. If it happened again… that was another matter.

 

Sesshoumaru finally reached the great oak doors that led to the dining hall and without hesitation, pushed them open. As usual, all conversation stopped and the current occupants of the room rose from their seats in greeting. A brief scan of the room showed him that Mitsue had chosen - or was given - the place directly to his left, Vanessa's customary place. How would he have remedied this had Vanessa been well enough to attend? Despite the fact that Sesshoumaru preferred the human's company far and above this strange female's, for politics' sake he would have had to move Vanessa farther down the table, but he didn't feel right about that either. He would have to think on it. Now, however, he had to concentrate on the duties that currently called his attention. Sesshoumaru nodded to his staff and retainers, indicating that they could resume their seats, but motioned for Mitsue to remain standing for her introduction. “I, Sesshoumaru, present to you Mitsue, a guest from the Western territory. She has accepted the hospitality of the House of the West for the duration of her stay.” That said, he took his seat and began to fill his plate, allowing the rest to do the same. He spared a brief glance to his left and was somewhat surprised to find that Mitsue's appearance was far less shocking in the light of day. True, it was unnerving, her resemblance to Atsuko, but now that he had time to adjust, she really was nothing more than just another noble. He kept telling himself that anyway.

 

Thoughts of the day's tasks filled his head as Sesshoumaru half-listened to the idle chatter surrounding him when a strangely timid voice sounded from his left. “Sesshoumaru-sama?” He turned his head slightly to look upon Mitsue, acknowledging her presence. She dipped her head respectfully in a small bow. “Forgive me. I am afraid I did not leave you with the best first impression last night. My only excuse is that I was cold and tired and wet. I behaved poorly in face of your hospitality.” He simply stared at her for a moment, searching her lowered eyes for any sign of falsity. Finding none, he nodded once.

“I trust your accommodations are acceptable.” It wasn't exactly a question, but it was a nicety and reinforced his position as host. He still wasn't entirely sure what to make of this female. Her attitude had certainly improved from the previous night.

“Oh yes! We are very comfortable. Thank you very much for allowing us shelter.” Sesshoumaru nodded once more and scanned the room. He had said what protocol required of him, but small talk had never been his forte, nor did he particularly enjoy meaningless conversation. Unfortunately for him, it appeared that Mitsue did and to top it off, everyone else was otherwise engaged in their own conversations.

“Your palace is really very lovely, Sesshoumaru-sama.” He returned his gaze to the female on his left.

“Indeed.” Mitsue nibbled on her meal daintily.

“It would be wonderful if I could see more of the grounds.”

“Perhaps a tour may be arranged for you.” She pouted a little.

“Surely no one would know better than you, my lord, what hidden wonders this palace holds.” Now, if Sesshoumaru were any judge of female behavior, based on the coy smile and demure lowering of Mitsue's eyes, he could only conclude that she couldn't care less if she were given a tour of the dankest dungeon so long as he was the one giving said tour. He heaved a mental sigh. What could it hurt? He might learn what it was that didn't quite feel right about her - besides her unnerving lack of scent - if he were to actually spend a little time with her.

“There are matters to which I must attend this morning, however… perhaps in the afternoon some time might be spared to give you a personal tour.”

 

If she had less self-control, Sesshoumaru was sure that Mitsue would have clapped her hands and squealed in delight. Instead, she merely smiled brilliantly at him. “Oh, Sesshoumaru-sama, I would like that,” she said happily. “I hope it won't be too much trouble.” He might have rolled his eyes; trouble or not, he had just granted her exactly what she had hoped to achieve.

“It will be no trouble. Until then, you may go where you like. Now, you will excuse me.” He then turned to Saburo. “Come to my office when you have finished, Saburo-san.” His meal finished, Sesshoumaru rose from the table and exited the dining hall. As he crossed the courtyard once again, he checked the position of the sun and decided that he had time to check on Rin and Vanessa before going to his office.

 

Upstairs in his suite, Sesshoumaru found Rin enjoying a breakfast of rice and fried egg, but the moment he stepped through the door, she all but leapt to her feet to greet him. “Ohayou, Sesshoumaru-sama!” The she gave him a slightly puzzled frown. “Did Nessa-neesan not go to breakfast with you?”

“No, Rin. She is not feeling well. You must be quiet so that she may rest.”

“Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama. Will she be better soon?”

“It is nothing serious.” He stepped toward the table and motioned for Rin to continue eating.

“Oh good,” she said as she reclaimed her seat and chopsticks. “I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to her.” Neither would I.

“You may play outside today, Rin. Be sure to take Jaken with you.”

“I will! Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama.”

“Finish your meal.” Sesshoumaru strode across the room to the open door that divided his space from the females' and made his way to Vanessa's room. He silently slid the door open and peered into the dimness within for a moment before crossing the threshold. Just as he had suspected, Vanessa was already asleep. She was curled on her side with her hands fisted in the blankets under her chin. As he knelt beside her bed, he noted that the blanket had fallen away from her shoulder. Almost on instinct, he reached for it to gently pull it back into place, but when he pulled the blanked over her shoulder, his fingers brushed the soft skin of her neck and he snatched his hand away with a small frown. Sesshoumaru stared at her, watching as small puffs of air escaped her slightly parted lips to stir a few strands of hair that had fallen over her face. Why do I care? he asked her silently while moving the hair away from her face and then touching her forehead with the backs of his fingers. The herbs had done their job and broken her fever. Now she had only to sleep off the rest of the effects. He sat back on his heels and continued to watch her sleeping peacefully. You are human… and as such, should be beneath my concern, but… you are not. Sesshoumaru rose smoothly to his feet and left, quietly sliding the door closed behind him. He had lingered too long already and Saburo was probably waiting for him.

 

He found Saburo standing patiently outside his office door and nodded his greeting before proceeding inside. “What do you know of Mitsue?” Sesshoumaru asked the tiger-youkai before taking a seat at his desk.

“Nothing more than what she said at breakfast, my lord. I have never seen her before last night.”

“What did she tell you?”

“Just that for most of her life she lived in the mountains to the east. She said that she is the great grand-niece or some such relation to the Eastern lord.” Sesshoumaru allowed a small frown. It was possible for younger children with little chance at being an heir to take their families and move away from the palace proper to govern their own small holdings. What she said could be the truth; in which case, she may very well be there to try and gain his favor and possibly improve her status. He would have to ask her more that afternoon.

“What news of Naraku?”

“None of our scouts have seen any sign of him or his puppets. Even the wind witch has been unusually quiet, but they have felt a vague stirring of an aura to the northeast. However, nothing has been confirmed.”

Sesshoumaru growled softly. “He is waiting for something. How can it be so difficult to track down one worthless hanyou?”

“With all due respect, my lord, the piece of the Shikon jewel that he holds makes him more powerful than the average hanyou.” The Shikon no Tama… a tool for the weak and cowardly, the path for those whose ambition and desire for power far outweigh their natural ability to achieve those goals. No good could come from that jewel, especially when it was tainted by one such as Naraku. Sesshoumaru knew first hand the consequences of dealing with the hanyou and that accursed jewel, all the more reason to have him destroyed. He fixed Saburo with a glare.

“I am well aware of the effects of the jewel. We are finished. Return when you have more information.”

“Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama. Forgive me.” Saburo bowed low and excused himself from the office, leaving the youkai lord to sift through the piles of reports, missives, and other mundane documents that required his attention.

 

Several hours and a light lunch later found Sesshoumaru reclined against a pile of cushions in the corner of his office, massaging his temples against the onset of a headache. At times he wondered how his father had managed to rule for so long without going insane by the pettiness of his subjects. Then again… perhaps he had. Between the grievances against one another and the land disputes, young lord would have liked nothing more than to eliminate them and be done with it, but that would not be very diplomatic of him and would likely cause more problems than it solved. So, as long as he was acting ruler of the West, he would have to hold their hands - so to speak - and see to it that his subjects were happy, or at least that they got along well enough to prevent major altercations. By the time disputes reached his attention, often the situation had escalated to the point that village heads could no longer exert their authority and, whether a blessing or a curse, the resulting reports and requests for guidance were almost excessively detailed. It saved both Sesshoumaru and the parties involved the time it would take to meet personally, but it still took time to sort out the facts and come to a conclusion. Only rarely was his written decision rejected and then would not only the disputing parties be required to make the journey to the palace, but also the village headman. If Sesshoumaru were made to deal with those who were too incompetent or unwilling to carry out his orders, chances were that he would not be the most patient and accommodating of mediators. So it was really in everyone's best interest to settle matters quickly and effectively before they reached such a state. Reading through the latest set was what had Sesshoumaru easing away a headache by the time he finally finished. He rose from the cushions and stretched before moving the signed and sealed documents from his desk to the pouch near the door to be taken out with the next messenger.

 

Sesshoumaru picked up the message pouch and stepped through the doorway. He went to the messengers' station near the front gate personally; foregoing a workout that morning and sitting in his office all day had him feeling a bit restless. A good fight would be nice, but there were no rogue youkai in the area that would warrant an attack. Perhaps a walk? A walk or… a tour. He had nearly forgotten that he had said that he would give Mitsue a tour - if he had time. Well, with Rin presumably playing with Jaken and Vanessa very likely still sleeping… he had time. With a small sigh, Sesshoumaru set off for the gardens; he had a feeling that that would be where he would find Mitsue.

 

It didn't take long to find Mitsue. After Sesshoumaru passed through his building and into the garden behind, it took mere moments to spot her seated on a bench under a painted umbrella. As he stepped onto the path, his boot crunched on the gravel, causing Mitsue to start and turn in her seat toward him. Once she saw who he was though, she smiled brilliantly and rose to give him a proper bow. “Sesshoumaru-sama, I'm so happy you could take some time from your busy day to show me around.”

“Indeed.”

“Are you ready to begin?”

Sesshoumaru nodded. “What would you like to see first?” he asked as they walked back toward the buildings.

“Might I… see where you live?”

He stared straight ahead for a moment. Allowing her into his chambers was not only bordering on improper, but also brought her to close for comfort to Rin and Vanessa's suite. “No,” he said firmly. “I will show you where my chambers are located should you need to find me, but the rooms on that part of the floor are off-limits to visitors.”

“Oh… I see.”

“Come.” Sesshoumaru led the way through the building where he lived, showing Mitsue where his office and the library were. He hadn't thought to ask Saburo where she was staying, but he assumed it would be in the hall opposite the stairway from his own. When they reached the top landing, Sesshoumaru was about to point out where his door was when Mitsue sniffed, daintily, though none too discreetly and took a step toward Rin's door. “What are you doing?” he asked and she froze.

“You have the scent of humans on you. It's faint, and I didn't catch it at first, but it's the same scent as is down this hall. May I ask why?”

He glared at her, but she merely stared unblinkingly back at him. “A human child has come under the protection of this Sesshoumaru. Her caretaker and tutor is also human.”

“Human? And two no less? But I was under the impression that you despise humans.”

“As a race, that is true, but humans are allowed to live on my lands. This is no different.”

“But it is! Humans on your land and humans in your house are two entirely different things.”

“Enough. They are not to be disturbed and there is much for you yet to see.”

“H-hai, Sesshoumaru-sama. Forgive me, it was not my place to question you.”

“Indeed.”

 

The air surrounding the remainder of the tour was noticeably tenser than when they started out, but true to his word, Sesshoumaru showed Mitsue what the palace had to offer. It took nearly an hour and a half to show her everything from the kitchens to the dojo to the rarely used great hall, but finally they found themselves once again in the gardens. “Satisfactory, I trust,” Sesshoumaru said regarding the tour.

“Oh yes. Thank you so much.”

“Then I assume you can find your way back to your rooms? Dinner will be served within the hour.”

“Hai, I know the way, thank you. Sesshoumaru-sama?”

“Yes.” He raised an eyebrow at her.

“If it's alright… I should like to meet these humans of yours sometime.”

He stared at her - she seemed sincere… “Perhaps. I will ask that they come to breakfast tomorrow, but it is their choice.”

“I see. Well then, will I see you at dinner?”

“No. I will not attend.”

“Oh… well, if we don't cross paths again tonight, have a good night.”

He nodded and followed Mitsue with his eyes as she retrieved her umbrella from the bench and then turned to give him one last bow before hurrying inside to prepare for dinner. Sesshoumaru then turned and entered the building himself.

 

He went directly upstairs and through his door; he meant to see if Vanessa had awoken yet, but didn't like to give the casual observer any ideas by going directly to her door. Sesshoumaru stopped short just inside his door though, and felt a small smile creep to his lips. Rin lay curled up on one of the cushions, a blanket half covering her body while Jaken lay sprawled on his back on the floor beside her, a thin line of drool seeping out of the corner of his mouth. Both were sleeping soundly. He crossed the room and stood over the sleeping child. “Rin,” he said softly, trying to wake her gently and send her off to her own bed. No response. She must have exhausted herself chasing the imp all over the compound. He knelt beside her then and tucked a strand of her unruly hair behind her ear. “Rin, you must awaken and go to your bed.” This time she muttered something incoherent, but continued to sleep. Sesshoumaru sighed and shook his head before gathering up her small form in his arm and carrying her into her room. He set her on her feet for a moment and propped her against his leg, to which she instinctually clung, so that he could turn down the covers on her futon. He then dropped to one knee and guided her, half-sleeping into her bed. Once she was settled, he covered her and tucked her blankets around her sides. Finally he stood and gazed down on her - for a human she really was a good child… better behaved than many youkai children he knew for that matter. He shook his head once more and retreated out the door and down the hall to Vanessa's room. This time he frowned after opening the door. Still sleeping? At this rate she would be up all night; perhaps he should have waited a while before sending her the tea? No matter. Sesshoumaru backed out the door and returned to his suite, dropping a blanket across Jaken where he lay as he passed by to his bedroom. Now that everyone he spent his evenings with were asleep, he was left with an unusual amount of free time. Well, there were always those books he'd just received from the continent…

 

The sun was just sinking too low to provide proper light for reading and rather than light a lamp, Sesshoumaru closed his book. Despite the fact that all of his companions had already found sleep, he couldn't seem to find it himself. Perhaps a bath? It was decided; he quickly changed out of his clothes and into a bathing robe in hopes that the warm water would soothe him into restfulness.

 

Once in the bathhouse, Sesshoumaru took the path up to the smaller pool that was set a little away from the rest. It was his customary bathing spot, somewhat private, but he could still oversee the rest, with the exception of the secluded divided spring. It was large enough that a few others could join him if he so desired, but more often than not, he chose to bathe alone. Setting the towel he had collected at the door on the small stand and hanging his robe on a peg, he slipped into the hot water. He closed his eyes for a moment and allowed the heat to ease the tension in his muscles. After a few minutes of soaking, Sesshoumaru ducked under the water to thoroughly wet his hair. When he came up, however, he was not met with the silence that he had previously been enjoying. Someone gasped from the doorway. “I'm sorry, I didn't…” said person stuttered, and then: “YOU!” That was enough to cause the taiyoukai to crack his eyes open to find Vanessa stalking toward him. It was quite impressive, actually. In that one word, she had managed to convey the essence of both a snarl and the howl of a cat, and he wondered briefly whether or not she was part neko. But no, she was most assuredly human and this was a side of her that he was certain he'd never before seen. Another part of him wondered when she would take notice of his state of undress. As it was, she stopped before he was fully exposed to her, and proceeded to cross her arms under her chest and fix him with a glare that might have been a match for one of his own. “What's the big idea?” she asked heatedly.

Big idea? “I am certain I know not of what you speak.” Sesshoumaru replied calmly. Yes, he was sure: until now, she had been the picture of politeness. She acted with a demure grace that was entirely appropriate for one of status and breeding, and it had all been genuine. Now she displayed a certain fire that he had always felt simmering just below the surface. It intrigued him, but… what had he done to deserve such treatment? True, he held her in higher esteem than many others in the palace, but she was treading on thin ice to think that even she might get away with it. “You… you drugged me?!” Oh, that.

 

Well, if he was wondering how she would react before, now he knew. He quirked an eyebrow at her, an action that apparently was not what she wanted as she threw up her hands with an exasperated “Oh!” and turned her back on him for a moment. Sesshoumaru frowned; who was she to turn her back on him?

“You would be wise not to turn your back on this Sesshoumaru again,” he warned. Nude or not, he was on the verge of rising from the water to correct the situation when she turned to face him again. She does not know the volumes she speaks with body language alone, he reminded himself. He would hear her out this time.

“You're impossible, you know that?” His frown deepened. “What, did you think that I wouldn't do as you asked? Did you think you had to force me to sleep just so the others wouldn't find out I was sick?”

“I thought no such thing.”

“Then why?”

“An unfortunate side-effect, it would seem.”

“I… a what?” She stared at him blankly.

“Surely you have noticed a certain… lack of symptoms?”

“Well… yes…”

“Your tea was infused with herbs that I knew would eliminate them.”

“Then you would have known that it would also put me to sleep.”

“Yes.”

Vanessa turned her gaze down to the path before her and kicked a stray rock absently. “You could have warned me.”

“Perhaps I should have.” She snapped her gaze back to his, the anger in her eyes receding a bit in light of his hint at an apology. “Now, by your leave,” he continued, “I should like to finish my bath.” Immediately she blushed, as though just realizing his state of undress.

“R-right.” With that, she turned and fled to the secluded area of the bathhouse that she preferred. For the second time that night, a small smile could hardly be suppressed, this time at the antics of his other human. What are they doing to me?

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

After setting her things on the small table beside the spring, Vanessa practically dove under the water, anything to escape her burning embarrassment. She seriously wondered where her common sense had run off to. What on Earth had made her barge in on his bath of all things? Her cheeks flushed anew at the realization that had she taken two, maybe three, more steps, she would have seen him in all his glory. What was I thinking? Just as soon as her blush appeared though, all the blood seemed to drain from her face. I yelled at him… Really, what was I thinking?! True, she had been indignant, and more than a little upset that her tea had been drugged, but now that she thought of it, she probably shouldn't have been. Sesshoumaru had never done anything to betray her trust. In fact, everything he'd done since they met had only been in her best interests, and he seemed almost apologetic. She washed quickly, suddenly her bath didn't feel as relaxing as she originally hoped, though she did feel even better now that she was clean. Clean, dry and re-robed, she all but bolted from the bathhouse; at the moment, she couldn't bear to look anywhere near Sesshoumaru's unclothed direction.

 

Once more in the safety of her room, Vanessa closed the door and leaned against the frame, covering her face with her hands for a moment. She thought about going back to bed, but, thanks to a certain taiyoukai, she'd spent the entire day asleep. Since she had no books, magazines or TV to keep her occupied through the night, stargazing seemed to be the only viable option. It was a nice night, after all - unlike last night. Vanessa changed into her sweats and a t-shirt and then hauled a blanket off of her bed. As she passed through the sitting room, she grabbed a cushion off the floor and proceeded out onto the balcony. A light breeze played in the trees, but otherwise the air was just cool enough to be comfortable so she spread out the blanket and lay back against the cushion. She still couldn't get over how clear the air was.

 

After a short while, Vanessa heard the door between the two suites open and cringed but sat up and turned toward Sesshoumaru as he approached anyway. “I'm sorry,” she said before he could say anything. He paused in the doorway to the balcony.

“For what?”

Vanessa tucked her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them before speaking. “I had no reason to snap at you. All you've done since we've met is watch out for me. That and I interrupted your bath.”

“No harm done. I was beginning to wonder if anything made you angry.”

She smiled at him. “Sit with me for a while?” At first it didn't look like he would, but then he moved to sit against the outer wall of the building.

“You often come here at night,” he observed.

“Back home I would read a book or watch television to help me fall asleep, but I can't do that here,” she said, leaning back against the cushion again. “Watching the stars seems to have the same effect, though.”

“I see.” They sat together in silence for a while, listening to the wind and night creatures going about their business. “You have not eaten since this morning, are you hungry?” Sesshoumaru asked, breaking the silence.

“A little,” Vanessa admitted.

“Would you like something?”

“Maybe some fruit?”

“Then you shall have it. Come with me.” He unfolded himself from his position on the floor and waited until Vanessa stood as well.

“Are you sure? I can wait until breakfast.” She was met only with silence, as he turned walked across the room to the door. I don't think I'll ever understand that one.

 

Sesshoumaru led her across the palace grounds to a small staircase next to the dining hall. She couldn't remember if he had pointed out that door when she had first arrived, but she knew that she had never been through it. The staircase led them down into an expansive room with cabinets and counters along three walls and fire pits, banked so that the remaining embers could not escape, and ovens along the fourth. Another door on the far wall looked like it might lead outside, probably to an herb garden. A few tall tables and stools were set out in the middle of the room and dishes and other cooking supplies were stacked on top. The cooks must have set them out in preparation for breakfast tomorrow.

 

While Vanessa was taking a look around, Sesshoumaru went from one cabinet to another until he produced a pair of teacups and a bowl of fruit. He set those on a table and went to stoke one of the fires to heat water. “You sure know your way around a kitchen,” she said as she watched him go about his tasks. He paused and glanced at her over his shoulder from the fire.

“I was a growing pup once.” When he didn't expand, Vanessa raised an eyebrow at him, mimicking the expression she had seen on him so many times. Sesshoumaru turned back to the fire, but continued speaking. “Even as heir to these lands I was not allowed to wake the kitchen servants on a whim. If I wanted something after hours, I had to get it myself.”

“Not a bad thing to know when one travels as much as you seem to.”

“Indeed.”

 

When the tea was finished, Sesshoumaru joined Vanessa at the table and filled both of their cups. “This isn't going to put me to sleep, is it?” she asked. He stared at her. “I'm kidding!” Vanessa took a sip as a way to sort of prove her trust and then started picking at the berries he had found her. “Sesshoumaru… what were your parents like?” He set down his cup and stared at her for almost a full minute before he finally spoke.

“I know little about my mother. She died when I was born and my father rarely spoke of her.”

“Oh… I'm sorry.”

“It was long ago, though I am almost certain that had I not been born and had he not had the territory to rule, he would have followed her to the grave.” The way he spoke, it was as though he were detached, as though they weren't his own parents that he was talking about.

“Wow, he must have cared for her a great deal.”

“They were mates,” he said, as though that explained everything.

“You mentioned mating before,” Vanessa prompted gently. She was intrigued, but also knew that Sesshoumaru didn't much like to talk about his past.

“The ties that bind a mated pair are so strong that it is rare that one will survive the other by any significant amount of time. The grief is too great a burden to want anything more than to join the other in death. My father lived more than three centuries beyond my mother's death. He even took another mate.” There was bitterness in his tone as he said the last and then the pieces fell into place. Vanessa gasped.

“Inuyasha's mother?”

“Yes. A human princess by the name of Izayoi.”

“Then what happened?”

Silence. Sesshoumaru's eyes seemed to cloud over in memory, and then: “He died protecting that human and the half-breed whelp that is my brother.” That human? Half-breed? Somehow those terms didn't sit well with her. Part of it was that she was human herself, but there was something else…

“I see… and then you became ruler after him.”

“I did.” They fell into silence then, while Vanessa finished her fruit and Sesshoumaru banked the fire again. Vanessa set the dishes in an empty basin and followed her host back to their rooms.

 

“You can stay a while longer if you like,” Vanessa offered when Sesshoumaru paused at her doorway.

“No, I will retire.” He turned toward his bedroom then halted and looked over his shoulder. “Mitsue has requested the opportunity to meet you.”

“Oh, so you had a chance to talk to her?”

“Yes. Will you join me at breakfast?”

“Of course. So I guess this will be another occasion for Miu and Saika to have their way with me then, huh?” That first morning had not been the last Vanessa saw of the pair of human servants assigned to her and Rin. She had since learned their names and as her handle on the language steadily improved, she was able to talk with them more and learn more about them. Miu, the first to brave touching Vanessa's curls, lived in the castle town just outside the palace gates with her husband and three children - two daughters and a son, while Saika lived just a little farther out on a farm with her husband and four sons. Sesshoumaru gave her a strange look, but nodded.

“Do you wish to bathe in the morning?”

“No, I don't think so. Tonight's bath should be fine.”

“Then I will send the women directly to you. They will wake you.”

“Alright then, good night, Sesshoumaru.”

He nodded once, “Good night.”

 

Vanessa closed the door and shook her head. Would she ever understand Sesshoumaru? One minute it seemed as though he hated everything human and the next he was doing something thoughtful for her or for Rin… both humans. Maybe sometimes he forgot that they were human? Vanessa sighed and resumed her place on the balcony. If Sesshoumaru so much as mentioned the fact that she didn't sleep that night, well… he should have thought about that before he made her sleep all day. Chances were that she would end up napping for a bit, but it wouldn't be a full night's sleep by any means. Ah, well… For the moment, the woman was fully content to simply gaze up at the stars.

 

Hours seemed to pass in moments and suddenly the sun was rising. Vanessa was on the wrong side of the building to actually see the sunrise, but the lightening of the sky gave away the hour. Reluctantly, she got up and went to her room; she wasn't sure of the exact hour, but thought she should splash some water on her face to refresh herself a bit. After lighting a lamp, Vanessa washed her face and brushed her teeth, then lay back on her bed until Miu and Saika arrived. When they did, there was no room for relaxation. It started with a soft knock on her door and a “Vanessa-sama?” and after a seeming whirlwind of silks, Vanessa found herself in three layers of kimono in varying shades of violet with a shimmering silver outer kimono. Black and silver fish were embroidered on the bottom hem and at the bottom of each sleeve, and her obi was violet swirled with gold. In the month that she had spent at the palace, she had yet to see this particular kimono, but found that she really liked it. The silver was a shade similar to that of the evening gown she had worn so long ago, and the violet complemented her eyes. I wonder…

 

Before she could think too much on it, Miu asked her what she planned on doing with her hair this morning and, for a change of pace, Vanessa thought she'd let her helpers decide. “What do you think I should do?” she asked them. Miu and Saika exchanged a glance.

“Would you allow us to fix your hair for you, my lady?” Miu asked.

“Haven't I told you how I feel about being called `my lady'?” It didn't feel right, she had no position to speak of, and even if she had, `my lady' was just so… formal.

“Yes, my lady, you have,” Saika responded, causing Vanessa to sigh and shake her head.

“And still you insist on calling me that.”

This time Miu spoke. “My lady, it is only proper when addressing one of your station.”

“But I have no station here!”

“You hold Sesshoumaru-sama's favor, Vanessa-sama. That alone sets you apart from the rest.”

“I give up,” Vanessa said in mock exasperation. “If you can think of something appropriate to do with my hair, then by all means, have at it.” I hold his favor? I wonder who else thinks so… Immediately, Miu and Saika sat her down on a stool and began working on her hair. A good deal of twisting and tugging later, they let her look in the mirror and she was quite impressed. They had twisted her hair up along the back of her head and secured it with a pair of silver combs - where those had come from, Vanessa couldn't even guess - while remaining length cascaded down to her shoulders. “Miu, Saika, thank you. I like it.” After they had made sure that every detail about her dress and appearance was perfect, they left to make sure that Rin was appropriately dressed.

 

Vanessa shook her head and went to meet Sesshoumaru in his suite. She knocked lightly on the door and then entered without waiting for a response. “You still knock, though you may enter freely. Why?” He had his back to her when she entered, but then turned and stared. Now, staring wasn't an uncommon thing for Sesshoumaru; Vanessa had long since come to accept it. This time, however, the intensity of his gaze made her feel as though she were being scrutinized, as though he were determining whether or not she would pass a test. She blushed under his gaze but responded, “Habit I guess. Something I learned in college… you never know what might be going on behind closed doors.”

“I see. Wait here.” Vanessa stepped aside as he walked past, presumably to get Rin. When he returned, Rin trailed behind him wearing the cutest little pink kimono with a red and white sakura blossom print pattern. Her hair was done in her trademark lopsided ponytail. Some things never change. “Come,” Sesshoumaru said and they followed him out the door.

 

Everything was as it should be when the trio entered the dining hall, except… someone was in `her' seat. Mitsue. Vanessa didn't want to make a fuss or give any indication that she felt put out, after all who was she to complain? But… where was she supposed to sit? After everyone at the table stood to show their respect to their lord, Saburo stepped forward and gave a small bow. Vanessa assumed that it was directed at Sesshoumaru - that is until he addressed her. “Vanessa-san. It would do me great honor if you would sit beside me this morning.” Well… that would fix matters… She glanced up at Sesshoumaru and he nodded slightly so she smiled at Saburo.

“It would be my pleasure,” she said as she walked toward the proffered seat. Rin took the seat on the other side of her and after some minor shifting around the table, Sesshoumaru indicated that everyone should sit and begin their meal.

 

After she had filled her dish with rice, eggs and fruit, Vanessa turned to Saburo. “Saburo-san, I am afraid we haven't had the opportunity to talk very much since I have been here.”

“Hai. We have both been busy these past weeks.”

“So we have, but I would still like to get better acquainted with you.”

He smiled warmly, “Well then, if Sesshoumaru-sama permits, perhaps you would like to join my mate and me for dinner some night? Rai should be returning within the next few days.”

Vanessa grinned at him. “I would like that. Rai is your mate then? I don't think I've met her.”

“No, you wouldn't have. Her mother fell ill and she left to tend to her shortly before you arrived.”

“Oh… I'm sorry to hear that.”

“Do not be troubled, she is a sturdy female. I have no doubt that she will pull through.”

“I hope she does.” They both returned to their meals then, but throughout their conversation, Vanessa could practically feel Mitsue's eyes on her. She glanced up after a few bites to find the demoness openly staring at her so she smiled. Mitsue seemed slightly taken aback, but pasted a smile on her face too.

“Vanessa, is it?”

“Hai, Mitsue-san.”

“You know my name?” Mitsue asked, startled.

“It is true we haven't been introduced, but I know who you are.”

“I must say… For a human, you are a pretty thing.” Out of the corner of her eye, Vanessa thought she caught a small frown on Sesshoumaru's face, but she blinked and it was gone so she pushed it from her mind. A more pressing matter would be the rather condescending youkai female across the table from her. Mitsue spoke to her as though she were a child… or a pet. Well, I've got cheek-pinching aunts back home… This should be a piece of cake.

“Arigatou, though I am sure my looks are no match for your own.” Mitsue laughed and turned to Sesshoumaru.

“Sesshoumaru-sama, I like her! It's no wonder you keep her around. She is quite charming.” Sesshoumaru made a sort of non-committal sound, but remained otherwise silent so Mitsue turned back to Vanessa. “Vanessa-san, I do not mean to offend, but your accent is strange.”

 

To Vanessa's left, Sesshoumaru stiffened imperceptibly and Saburo glanced at her, but she was almost certain that Mitsue didn't notice so, without skipping a beat, she responded, “My home is in a land far to the East.”

“To the East?” Mitsue asked, “I live in the Eastern territory. Perhaps I know of your village.” Vanessa shook her head.

“No, farther still than the Eastern territory.” At that, Sesshoumaru turned his gaze on her. He probably thought she was being foolish in disclosing her origins, but she had a plan - he would have to trust her. She hoped that he would let her follow through. Vanessa never took her eyes off of the demoness and could see the confusion flitting across her face.

“Farther East? But… beyond the Eastern territory is nothing but water. Surely you must be mistaken.”

She shook her head, “No. Far across the ocean to the east is an entire continent. That is where my home is.”

“Then you have indeed traveled a great distance. How did you come here?”

Vanessa sighed, “I'm afraid I don't remember very much. The details are fuzzy, but I think I must have been marooned on this island nation of yours. I wandered around for a time and was very nearly killed by a rogue youkai when I happened across Sesshoumaru-sama. To my eternal gratitude, he quickly dispatched my pursuer and allowed me to stay as a guest of his House until such a time as I find a way to go home.”

“That is quite the tale. Is this the truth, Sesshoumaru-sama?” Mitsue asked, turning to Sesshoumaru.

“It is as she says,” he stated. Thank you, Drama101, Vanessa praised mentally.

“Rin has been a great help in teaching me your language. In return for Sesshoumaru-sama's hospitality, I have been teaching her some of my language and a few other subjects from my homeland. There is little else that I can do for my lord, but I owe him my life.” It was the truth; Vanessa wasn't sure how she could ever hope to repay him for everything he'd done. She was almost certain that she would have starved or been killed by another youkai before she found anyone to take her in as he had. Now that she had gotten to know him and had seen a side of him that she knew few others had, she didn't think she would have wanted it to turn out any other way.

“Vanessa-san, would you like to take a walk in the gardens with me? I should like to hear more of this far away land of yours,” Mitsue said and Vanessa didn't need the brief look of warning Sesshoumaru sent her way to know that she would have to watch what she said from here on out. She knew enough that she could probably combine a little European history with her own to make it seem that her culture was advanced at this point in time to have made a journey across the ocean.

“If Sesshoumaru-sama doesn't have any objections, I would like that.” She turned a hopeful expression toward him and despite the small amount of apprehension she felt from him, he consented. Vanessa decided that she would have to make a point of paying him a visit later and tell him everything she found out about her. It would seem that she was correct in guessing that Mitsue would be more open with another female - human or not. This day certainly would be interesting.