InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Nigatsu no Hoshi (Stars of February) ❯ Getting to Know the Family ( Chapter 22 )

Suteki: alright, here's the deal. I KNOW that in the last chapter I said that this one would be Meeting the Counsel, but I ended up adding a whole bunch of more stuff, so, just think of this as a filler chapter! Enjoy ;)

Chapter 20: Get to Know the Family

Inuyasha and kagome found some appealing outfits and quickly dressed. Kagome stood infront of the large mirrors and smiled at her reflection. She didn't recognize the woman that stood before her, she looked too sophisticated. She was dressed in a black royal Furisode, the sleeves dropping to the floor. The kimono had beautiful designs of silver and pink sakura blossoms, the designs being of very fine detail. Kagome cringed at the thought of how much this thing much have cost.

She had fixed her hair up into the traditional bun that she had learned in her kimono class back at school, if she remembered correctly, this was the one worn by royalty. She had it pinned up in some simple barrettes that she had in her bag, since she wasn't too sure if there was any hair supplies laying around in the castle. She twirled around infront of the mirror, and smiled at her handy work.

Her eyes caught movement in the corner of the mirror, she turned around, and her mouth fell agape. Before her stood inuyasha, at least, he smelt like her inuyasha, but certainly did NOT look like her hanyou. He brushed off the arms of his ward, not noticing his mates gaze.

He was adorned in a white silk haori, with silk black yukatas, much the same style as his red ones. On the front of his haori, was the simple yet elegant pattern of what appeared to be inu paw prints. His long silver hair, that usually flew free, was now pulled back in a simple ponytail at the back of his neck. "Keh, I hate wearing this stuff, it's just not me." He complained to himself.

He smelt something strange coming from his mate, and he looked up. He was about to ask her what was wrong, but found that his voice had vanished as he took in the vision before him. His heart thudded in his chest as he was overcome with a strange sense of pride.

Kagome had the same feeling bubbling in her heart, and she felt it difficult to hold back tears. "Inuyasha, you look more elegant than I've ever seen Sesshoumaru, you were meant to wear those robes." She told him softly as she approached him. `Kagome?'

"You look stunning kagome, absolutely beautiful." He said as he smiled at her beaming form.

"Really inuyasha? It was the most simple one I could find!" she laughed as she gave him a little twirl.

He laughed at her, and took her hand in his once she stopped spinning. "Well, shall we?" he asked as he bowed towards the door.

She gave him another giggle, "of course my lord, I will be right behind you, two paces behind and too the left."

He nodded, "no, no mate of mine is going to hide her beauty from me by lagging behind, you are to stand at my side at all times." He said, half sternly.

She smiled back and squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back. He led her up to the giant wooden doors, and watched as they opened before them. They made their ways down the long corridors, both following their nose to the food. They walked down to the ground floor, and walked towards the other side of the house.

"Jeez, just how big IS this place? We're gonna die of starvation before we even find the dining room." Inuyasha complained.

"Foolish brother, its about time you arrived." Came the voice of the former lord of the western lands, and inuyasha looked to his right to see a small doorway, apparently leading to the dining room. "Good evening Sesshoumaru-sama, it is good to see you again." kagome smiled. Sesshoumaru bowed in respect to her, "good evening My Lady, we have awaited you. You too Lord Inuyasha." He said, his voice showing no emotion, but something strange glimmered in his eyes as his greeted inuyasha, but it disappeared before kagome could identify it. She didn't sense any hostility in his aura, so she decided not to worry.

Inuyasha and kagome took their seats at the head of the table and Sesshoumaru took his seat at Inuyasha's left side, and kagome noticed a few other people sitting with them. There was Jaken, and Rin, who sat next to Sesshoumaru. To her right was a young demoness, probably the one who had called them down to dinner.

"And what is your name child?" the girl looked at kagome with horror in her eyes, and she looked to Sesshoumaru for help. "What's wrong with her?" she asked Sesshoumaru. He looked up to kagome, "she is a servant girl, she is forbidden to speak to the lord or lady directly, unless ordered to do so. "

Kagome frowned, and then looked back over to the girl that was fidgeting uncomfortably. "Come now child, I will not harm you. You are allowed to speak freely in my presence." Kagome assured her. Sesshoumaru frowned slightly, and inuyasha watched on interestedly. "It has been our ways for millenniums Lady Kagome, don't be surprised if they are hesitant to change." Sesshoumaru told her.

"Fine then, it wont be casual conversation. Young servant, I command you to give me your name and age." She said with a fake sternness.

The young girl continued to fidget, knowing that this Lady was certainly different from all the others. "M-My name is Yamaha Miehiko, I am 14 years old. My clan has been the servants of the inu kingdom for countless centuries."

"You are a dog demon yourself are you not? It's in your scent. But your appearance differs from that of Lord Inuyasha and Lord Sesshoumaru."

"She is of the red haired clan, a lower race who was bred to serve the higher clans such as the silver haired youkai, our clan." Inuyasha recalled.

The little girl nodded, and kagome thought for a moment before coming back to the conversation that she was striving to keep alive with Miehiko. "My name is Higurashi Kagome…I mean…wait…inuyasha, what's your families last name?" kagome asked, just now realizing she didn't know what her mates last name was.

Inuyasha thought for a moment, and realized he didn't know either and just shrugged to her. "Its Hara." Sesshoumaru stated simply.

"Oh okay, my name is Hara Kagome!" kagome told the girl excitedly. The little girl smiled at her Lady, but said nothing.

Before the two could continue, Sesshoumaru and inuyasha stood. "What is it inuyasha?" kagome asked. "Somebody's here, we have guests." He told her. "They are indeed guests, do not fret, the counsel has invited them for the coronation."

"Coronation?" kagome asked. "Yes, the coronation of your coming to sovereignty. It takes place at the beginning of every Lord and Ladies appointment. It is an approval I guess you could call it." Sesshoumaru told them. "Okay, I see. When is it exactly?"

"after dinner."

"Its tonight?!" she all but screamed. Sesshoumaru raised a brow at her, "is there a problem your highness?"

kagome looked up to inuyasha, who looked down at her with the same worried look in his eyes. "but, I don't know how to act around them, I mean, I know that they are going to know that I am a miko, and I'm too sure how my powers will react to being in such close range to too many demons at once."

"its okay kagome, you can do this. You are a strong person, don't let all those snobby nobles get to you, just do what I do, ignore 'em." Inuyasha said as he sat back down by her side. Just then, they felt two presences enter the room, and Kagome's head shot up. At the threshold of the doorway, stood a familiar demoness in miko ward. "Katasuki?!" kagome asked in astonishment.

"aye, nice to see you again, Lady kagome." The woman responded in her soft voice as she bowed to the Lord and Lady. "where is shippou?" kagome finally asked as she jumped from her seat, her eyes widely searching the room . Before Katasuki could answer, an orange blur dashed over the table, knocking over plates and glasses, "okasan!!" the fur ball cried as he landed in the woman's arms. "shippou, its you!" she cried as she held him close.

"inuyasha look, its shippou!" she turned to face inuyasha who couldn't help smile in return as he watched his mate laughing in excitement. "I missed you so much kagome, has inuyasha been treating you right, cause you know I'll whip him into shape if he isn't" he said, the smile permanently singed into his face.

Kagome laughed with the young cub, "oh thank you shippou, I don't know what I would do without you. Speaking of which, how is life in china? I notice that you've already changed your clothing." She said as she held the young boy away from her so she could look more closely at his new clothes. He wore a green, short sleeved top, orange pants, and a black Chinese style hat that sat awkwardly on top of his ears and ponytail. "yeah, mommy said that it would be easier for me to get used to china if I felt like I belonged there. the humans are so strange though kagome, woman walk the streets in clothing almost as revealing as that green and white kimono you used to wear."

`how many times do I have to tell them that those clothes were for school?' she thought as the child continued to number off the strange things that the humans in china did, running out of fingers and moving to his fox toes.

"and the demons! Jeez, talk about psychos! Although, maybe its just because i cant understand what they're yelling at me about, so I cant help but laugh at 'em…note to self kagome, never laugh at a youkai that's trying to ask you for directions to the nearest Bed and Dinner."

He thought, and kagome laughed again, as inuyasha continued his amused smirk.

Sesshoumaru turned his attention back to the demoness on the other side of the room. "Katasuki, what news do you have for us. Did any of the Lords or Ladies develop sudden illnesses again?" he asked in a bored tone.

"actually Sire, no, all have confirmed their attendance and will arrive shortly. The knowledge of the new Lady being a full demon, miko, and ex-mortal, has stirred their interest it seems. I just pray to Kami that things do not get as unpleasant as when Lord Inuyasha's mother was appointed as Lady of the Western Lands." She recalled sadly.

The room fell silent, the last comment catching Kagome's attention completely. "what do you mean, `ugly'? do you think they will have a problem with me being Inuyasha's mate?" she asked, her brow furrowing at the thought of someone voicing such opinions.

Katasuki sighed, "I can not say for sure what they will be judging you as Lady Kagome. You must especially beware of the Lady's, they are cunning and jealous of all newly mated females. You, being of exceptional beauty, will indeed be granted many a glare by the old hags. They all feel as if their mates have their eyes on you, though many WILL in reality. If I were you, I would steer clear of the Lord of the South, Samui, he enjoys trying to seduce the new Lady's, even to the point of rape if he can...i still do not see why the counsel has yet to do away with him. Another one to beware of is Hayai, he is very charming, not as dirty as Samui, but, he has the same thoughts as he."

Kagome gulped and inuyasha growled, "don't worry kagome, neither of those men will lay a FINGER on you, I will see to that.'

"as will I, inuyasha will no doubt be occupied with the counsel for moments at a time, which is when the Lords choose to attack, I will be watching kagome." Sesshoumaru assured her, but the butterflies still refused to leave her stomach.

"oh come on kagome, you're as white as the belly of a fish. You will enjoy yourself, this is YOU'RE night, I wont let any dirty youkai touch you, so you don't need to worry about it." inuyasha said as he put an arm around her shoulder.

Kagome looked up at him and nodded as she smiled at him. "okay then! When do they arrive?" kagome said as she let out the breath she had been holding in.

"they will arrive shortly my Lady, the watchmen tell me that the Lord and Lady of the East are already near." Came the voice of Jaken as he entered the room, having left during the excitement to check the update. "Oy, Jaken. Take the children to Rin's chamber, they are to remain there until after the ceremony." Sesshoumaru ordered the imp. "yes sire. Come on children! Time to leave the adults to their affairs, you can go, do whatever it is you foolish children find pleasure in doing." He said as he shooed Shippou and Rin out of the dining room.

"and Jaken, you are to remain with them as well, we can't have anything happening to them. You well know, although this is supposed to be a civilized event, these lower class nobles are still demons who have yet to control their nature." Sesshoumaru continued.

Jaken stopped in mid stride, `whhhaaat?!' he wailed to himself, although he tried to keep his voice stable on the outside, "yes master, I understand."

Inuyasha, kagome, Sesshoumaru, Katasuki, and the servant girl Miehiko (yeah she's still there) listened as the laughter of the two kids, and shrieking of Jaken faded into the depths of the house.

Miehiko stood and bowed to the nobles before her and made to leave the room, "where are you going Miehiko?" kagome asked before the girl could turn the corner. Without even making eye contact with her Mistress, "I am retreating to my quarters as well, it is not safe for me to stay here when so many other royal youkai are about, they tend to see little servant maidens as… their toys." She said and quickly made off to her room.

"what's wrong with her?" kagome asked as the smell of salt came in the draft from the girl. Sesshoumaru's eyes kept on the path Miehiko had retreated in, seeming to be in thought, "a few years ago, during a counsel meeting here, her mother was raped and killed by one of the Lords' sons. She hasn't been the same around guests since then." He stated coolly.

Kagome gasped in shock of hearing such tragic events that had happened to such a young girl.

"well, you two had better go and get ready, the others should be arriving shortly. Sorry we did not have proper time to enjoy your meal, we will eat after the coronation." Katasuki told inuyasha and kagome, bowing. "oh, right." Kagome said, and turned to leave, inuyasha following.

As kagome walked around the corner, she stopped, and leaned backwards to look back in the room. "tell me Katasuki, why is it that you never told us you were one of this clans advisors?" she asked, just now realizing that Shippou's mother had apparently had a hand in arranging, not only this coronation, but some in the past as well.

Katasuki smirked at her before answering, "well my dear kagome, you failed to ask." Kagome glared at her, although the corners of her mouth were straining upwards into a smirk of her own. she laughed and shook her head as she continued her way to her room with inuyasha by her side.

"are you nervous inuyasha?" she asked as the silence grew while they pondered the events of the evening.

He looked down at her, eyes wide as if surprised by the question. He looked ahead and shook his head `no', "of course not. I could care less what all these snobbish bastards have to say about us OR our ruler ship. Don't worry kagome, this thing is mainly just for show. Its so that the other Lords can size up the new ruler, and the woman to gage how big of a whore the new Lady must be, just cause she's younger. I for one, have never attended one, but Myouga told me about my fathers and my mothers and it must have been something to see."

"heh, sounds like a school dance." She replied

Kagome smiled, enjoying confiding in her mate, since they rarely had the chance to do so. She looked ahead and kept her small smile, maybe tonight wouldn't be so bad after all. `as long as I have him at my side, there's nothing we cant get through. I'm actually looking forward to showing off infront of all these other stuck up woman who think they're better than everyone, just cause they're more confident than newbies. Keh, they have yet to meet THIS Higa- I mean, Hara.' She thought to herself as a mischievous smirk took over her features.

Inuyasha eyed the strange look upon his mates features, "what's got you so excited all of a sudden, what are you planning my little demoness?" inuyasha asked her as a playful grin toyed at his lips.

She looked back up at him, her eyes twinkling, her jaw slightly apart, and her lips tweaked to the side, showing off a fang. She removed the goofy grin, and gave him a `I-know-something-you-don't' crooked smile. "oh nothing, just thinking of what I'm going to say to the other noble woman, perhaps I could gain their…attention." She said with a wink, and Inuyasha's face went pale for a moment, and then he looked back down the hall, the same look plastered on his face.

Kagome laughed, and squeezed his hand. "come on inuyasha, race ya!" she said with another playful wink as she released his hand, and ran up the stairs best she could in the kimono. Inuyasha smiled and shook his head as he quickly gained on her, swooped her into his arms and ran with her until they arrived at their room. "behave yourself kagome, your one of the family now, you should act like royalty."

Japanese;

Furisode: kimono worn by royalty, the sleeves are exceptionally long, and they are of beautiful detail and tailoring.

Yukatas: Japanese men's pants

Haori: men's shirt

Suteki: alrighty, end of chapter! Hehe, shippou returns! Weren't expecting that now were ya? ::winks at CM:: lol. alrighty, NEXT chapter, is: Chapter 21: Meeting the Counsel.