InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Predestination ❯ Predestination 10 ( Chapter 10 )

Dressed for dinner in a dark brown kimono trimmed in black, she walked to the children's room. She opened the door to see them sprawled on the floor coloring.

As soon as they saw her they jumped up from their coloring to greet her. Shippo jumped on her shoulder and hugged her neck tightly while Rin squeezed her legs with no mercy. She laughed and hugged them both with a tight hug.

"Mommy I love it here. I get to play with Rin and do all sorts of things, and dog breath isn't here to make you cry. We should have been here a long time ago." His little fist were clinched at his waist, obviously to emphasize his point. He was right on one aspect though, but the other she wasn't sure about, she was human before, meaning death from Sesshoumaru.

After trying to guess what the hell they were drawing, and failing miserably she slowly slipped out the room but bumped into someone. She looked up to see Sesshoumaru's ever emotionless face.

"Hi, I was just coming down." She looked down to see his huge hand outstretched, hesitantly hoping she was doing the right thing, and not making a fool out of herself. She put her hand in his, she noticed hers was so small compared to his as he closed his long fingers around hers.

Walking away from the children hall towards the dining hall, he remembered hearing the kit. "…and dog breath isn't here to make you cry. We should have been here a long time ago." He remembered that she was in love with his brother, but when he was near them now he didn't smell that attraction from her anymore. Was she still in love with his hanyou brother? The mere thought made his blood race through his body. No she couldn't when the mutt made her cry, and from the sound of the kit, it sounded like he made her cry often. But she was a very forgiving girl, and there was the possibility that she forgave the little cur yet again. He was confused and he didn't like it, he wanted to be in control.

She could feel his aura change from cool and emotionless, to a hot and angered filled one. Looking up she was startled to see his usually passive face, hard like granite accentuating every contour of his beautiful face. He was holding his face so tight his cheeks were defined ruggedly, while his lips were in a tight line, and his eyes were narrow and darkening. What the hell was going on? She stopped abruptly causing him to stop, he turned his head swiftly at her action causing his long silver tresses to sway about him. When he looked at her with those eyes he sent the same chill through her, like he did when they were in battle against each other.

Slowly raising her right hand up, she traced the side of his face, brushing the silver lock away.

"What is wrong Sesshoumaru? Tell me so I can fix it." she had no clue to what was bothering him but she sure would hell try to fix it to get rid of this version of Sesshoumaru.

"Why should I tell you." His face semi softening from her caress, he subconsciously turned into her hand, wanting to feel so much more.

She stepped closer, nearly pressed against him, she whispered. "Because you scare me like this, and I don't want to be scared of you again."

Her words hit him like ice-cold water. He instantly calmed down, he didn't want her fear. He would admit that, he never wanted her fear but something else. He slowly wrapped his arm around her waist and turned her towards the table. After sitting down, servants appeared to serve the food. She thanked, each servant as they passed by gracing them with a big smile. Yes she will be quite different at youkai meetings, he mused.

"Sooooo… what kind of etiquette are we going to work on today MASTER." She giggled, he was sitting to her left at the head of the table, mere inches away from him.

"Be careful, Kagome I might just make you call me that."

Crossing her arms she laughed defiantly, "There is no way to make me Sesshy-boy." She retorted haughtily.

His facial expression alone was her undoing as she started to laugh uncontrollably. But she never expected to feel his tail, going after her sensitive ribs.

He just sat and watched as she writhed beneath his torture in laughter, trying to escape him. But he only dragged her back for more, he couldn't believe he was doing this, but seeing her this happy was well worth it.

"MERCY, MERCY!!!" she choked out between laughs. He instantly stopped and pulled her limp body back up with his tail. She gave him a mean look before straightening her clothes back up, he smirked in return. She couldn't believe he did that to her, sooo she thought he can have fun we will have to test this out further another time she laughed.

"Now the first thing you need to know about being around youkai of higher class is that they can smell all your emotions." He waited for her reaction.

"But can't I just mask my scent?"

"Yes but they can tell if you do. You want to be able to portray a few emotions. Such as anger, authority, and other correlating emotions."

"But I don't think I will portray those well, I'm going to be surrounded by youkai I can guarantee you I am going to be scared." She squeaked, she couldn't believe she wasn't going to be able to mask her scent.

He could smell her worry now, shit he thought this was going to be harder than expected.

"I will work on that in practice tomorrow. For now you need to know how to act around them." He turned from her, gracefully getting up causing his silver curtain to sway softly. He slowly walked around the room gazing at the pictures as he spoke to her.

"When spoken to never answer too quickly, answer briefly, never give more information than needed. Most of all never lie to them just avoid the answer they desire by giving a vague answer." His amber jeweled eyes washed over her. She nodded, remembering how Inuyasha told her that his brother thought it was beneath him to lie. How interesting she thought.

"Is there a way I should eat, stand, or anything along those lines?" finishing her food she cleaned her area and collected her dishes together and handed them to the shocked servant.

He noticed her actions, how she didn't notice the look of the servant. How it came straight from her good heart. "No, but do try not to be too nice. Even though I know that would be very difficult for you. Remember you are now royalty, you must act like it."

She nodded and looked at the picturesque paintings, trying to imagine herself acting snobbish towards others. She had to stifle a giggle at the mere thought of herself failing miserably doing so.

Hearing her tinkling of laughter was quite soothing instantly reminding him of a very important detail. "The day after tomorrow we shall travel to the central lands for a territory meeting." He said nonchalantly as he waited at the door for her.

She stopped dead in her tracks, what! So soon, she was no where near ready. "What!! No way that is way too soon Sesshoumaru, I will be an embarrassment to you." She screeched, she could just see herself being clumsy and looking a fool.

"Calm yourself Kagome." She never saw him move from the door, but here he was standing right in front of her. But she was too worried to really care. "Half the royal youkai we will meet are self absorbed and very ignorant. I have no doubt you will hold my family's honor high." That only made it worse, she was so worried her vision was blurring, Damn it this only happened on test days! Sensing he was getting nowhere, he sighed and let out a startling growl, causing her to jump. "Kagome, enough you will be fine. Now go to bed."

She scowled at his lack of emotions and stomped past him. As soon as she entered her room, she let out a big sigh, but it ended up sounding like a growl.

"Great just great now I growl, how un-lady like. What next will I bark." As soon as the statement escaped her lips she silently prayed that she would never bark.

She heard him enter his room which was conveniently attached to hers. Before she was graced with his image she promptly stomped over to the connecting door, and closed it shut briskly and locked it. Satisfied she changed into a shorter kimono that reached her knees and tied her hair into a braided ponytail with her now trademark silver bangs. She turned off the lamp to her room and sat by the balcony with a spell book.

He heard the door shut and lock when he entered his room he smirked at her attempt. If he was anywhere near set on getting in he could tear the door to pieces. But he had no attention of doing so, he was thinking of what she did earlier in their sparring. He sat on his bed and slowly disrobed replaying the events. He remembered her getting mad when he told her to kick higher, he already concluded that her eyes turned indigo when mad instead of red like most youkai. He also noted that her aura became a hell of a lot stronger, reminding him of the village. How her hands and feet glowed bright indigo, however she was in the first stage in her true form transformation. He had to admit it would be quite interesting to see her transform, it sent a ripple of pure pleasure just thinking of her like that. He swiped his fingers fiercely through his hair at the his lack of mental control. Putting on some sleeping pants and leaving himself shirtless he lied in bed and stared outside thinking of the many things he needed to do.

Confident that he was asleep by now she masked the rooms scent. While she had been waiting she practiced a few basic spells that youkai should know. Even though it took her a few thousand tries and the expense of her throat she mastered the lighting of the fireplace with a single growl. Slowly she climbed down the wall of her room to the garden floor, her claw toe nails made it so much easier. She landed gracefully and ran to another balcony and hopped up and over the rail landing a little off but silently nonetheless. Going to have to work on that, she thought.

She was now in one of the main foyer sitting rooms. Concentrating on noises she slowly stepped out into the main hall. From the front door it was surrounded by winding and connecting staircases leading to different wings the first, second and third. She knew what the second and first one went to, but she had no clue to what the third one led to.

Leaping to the top of the stairs she opened the doors to the hall, closing it softly behind her. As soon as she entered she was hit by the cold dusty air of the unused hall. The moonlight cascaded in through the grand dusty windows, giving anything not covered in a black shadow a cold and eerie blue hue. This place gave her the chills, no wonder he never used it. Walking to the first door on her right she slowly opened it, growling at the torch beside it, causing it to flare up instantly giving off a wanted warm glow. Grabbing it she entered the room. She was perplexed at her sight, the room was filled with trinkets journals, a beautiful floor pillow placed next to the window, an unfinished sewing task, and a beautiful Koto. She marveled at the room it was filled with such love, despite its current condition. Deciding she would come back to this room another night she walked down the hall and looked into the other rooms, but they were all filled with furniture.

Walking back outside in the gardens she stopped by the maze again.

"Lady Kagome you should not be out here." A smooth voice startled her causing her to drop the bouquet of red lilies she was holding. She looked to see the Inu soldier that came in on her bathing. He was nothing like Sesshoumaru, his face was slightly rounder than Sesshoumaru's highly defined one. His hair was light blue with hints of white not silver, he was shorter than him but taller than her. This one's eyes were bright green, and his face held a whole hell of a lot more emotion. He was very handsome she could tell he was very muscular underneath his armor.

"Erm hello, well since you know my name what's yours I didn't get a chance to catch it last time." She laughed.

He couldn't believe it here she was the new lady of the western lands informally introducing herself to him. A male, alone, un-chaperoned by her husband or hand maiden.

"My name is Eichiro, my lady. I am the general of the western land army." He bowed deeply, his long hair nearly touching the floor before he raised. He reached down and picked up her flowers before handing them back to her.

"My lady it is not right for you to be out her alone with me, however I can not allow you to stay out here unguarded." She could tell he was uncomfortable about his situation. Laughing she patted him on the shoulder.

"Its ok Eichiro, I won't tell. If it makes you feel any better you can walk with me." Then it came to her an idea. Remembering how terrible her sparring match ended earlier that afternoon. "Eichiro?"

"Yes my lady." He noticed that she had a strange gleam in her eye and a weird smile on her face. He had know idea why but he knew it was about him and that made him feel uneasy. He couldn't believe this petite female inu had him uneasy, he Eichiro the general of the largest army to all four regional lands.

"I need your help in beating Sesshoumaru?" she blurted out.

"WHAT?" he couldn't believe what he was hearing, was she actually suggesting mutiny. He took a step back and gave her a angry growl. He didn't care how beautiful she was, or how nice, he wasn't going to stand by and listen to this.

She "eeped" at his reaction, and tried to figure out what she said wrong. After replaying it in her head a few times she finally understood. She couldn't help but laugh, she could see his face fault into pure bafflement which only made her laugh harder.

Now he was angry and confused, he was never mocked and for good reason to. "May I ask what is so funny Lady Kagome?" he tried to ask calmly but it came out a bit harsh.

After settling down, she sat down on the stone bench. "Please call me Kagome, and I meant would you help me beat him at sparring." His face was still confused, but the anger was gone, which she was thankful. " You see I can't fight worth anything, so Sesshoumaru teaches me. But frankly Eichiro I would love to be somewhere near the same level as him, so that's why I was wondering if you could help me." Giving him a fang filled grin, causing him to laugh. He has never met a female so sweet before, as well as tough.

"But I have seen you fight before my … erm Kagome, at the village you fought exceptionally well to me." It could have used some work but what the hell she accomplished the job.

"Yeah but I have no real clue how I did that, I was too angry to remember." Shrugging at her lack of memory.

"Well if you really want my help I will." Before he could finish his sentence his air was cut off by a tight embrace around his neck. Not knowing what to do with his hands he patted her on the back gently, even though he was cursing his armor mentally for not allowing that soft delicate body to touch his. After she released him and squealing her thanks, he finished. "But I can only teach you at night for an hour or two, at this time, and I can only teach you so much."

"Why?"

He cursed as he watched her wondrous smile disappear. "It is a great gift to be able to teach your mate how to defend herself, it would be dishonorable to take that away from him."

She wanted to tell him it wasn't like that between them, but it wouldn't be wise to mess up their secret.

"Thanks Eichiro, I will see you tomorrow night." She hugged him again and left for her balcony, but she noticed she wasn't going alone. Looking over to her right she saw Eichiro walking right beside her.

"Afraid I might get attacked?"

He smirked, "No I am afraid one of my men will come out, and you attack them." He quickly avoided her swats. He laughed at her attempts before grabbing her waist and leaping to her balcony.

"Good night Kagome."

She stared at the blue blur of hair bound over the gardens before disappearing from sight. She sighed and laid down falling instantly to sleep.