InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sesshoumaru's Mate: A Valentine's Story - ON HOLD ❯ Part 3 - In The Eye of the Beholder ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: The ownership and general brilliance that is the original Feudal Fairy Tale remains the property of its honored and rightfully revered creator Rumiko Takahashi without whose brilliance ,we would not have fodder.

 

Title: Sesshoumaru's Mate - A Valentine's Story
Author ElegantPaws

Genre: AU

Rating: Mature - Sexual Content Where Applicable
Edited by: Meara

Part 3 - In The Eye of the Beholder

 

Jaken had fainted. He had become the past master of these, overly dramatic, turns of late.

 

Fanning the retainer with her linen handkerchief, Kagome rolled her eyes and stooped next to the prostrate kappa, waiting for him to get his story straight. She had less than an hour to get to her meeting with or without Sesshoumaru.

 

“Jaken, I simply asked you where was Lord Sesshoumaru. If you don't mind simply answering me directly for once and stop with the play acting, have you forgotten I am a Miko?”

 

One bulbous eye popped open warily, an apologetic grimace on his little green face.

 

“Well, where is your Lord and Master, exactly? I know you know. He left before the crack of dawn and don't tell me he forgot we had an important meeting this morning.”

 

It was one thing to give against key members of the Preservation Society, it was quite another to outright snub them cold since they had not readily acquiesced to his autocratic views at the last meeting. `Bombastic Ass,' Kagome thought irritably. Gone were the days when the Taiyoukai could simply behead key members not towing his line and have done with it. Sesshoumaru had never been very good at negotiations. That had always fallen to his Mate as the velvet glove caressing his steel.

 

“Lady Sat-Satori's possible betrothed…My…my Master and Lord Inuyasha are- are investigating a lead,” Jaken responded near tears, snagging the handkerchief and blowing into it, rather copiously.

 

Kagome rose, straightening her skirt, waving her hand about as she strode off, her posture determined.

 

“Feel free to keep that, Jaken. Tell him where I am and that I would appreciate his support, when he deigns to have the time. Inform my Lord that Satori will be giving her first public speech today at the council in case it also slipped his mind.”

 

Jaken shuddered. This promised to be one of those days in which he wished desperately for safe passage to another time and space.

 

_______

 

It had never failed to amaze Kagome the instant transformation of more than three quarters of those present back to their youkai forms as the doors closed to the inner chambers of the council.

 

 

The Miko winked at her eldest son, Shippou, and her heavily pregnant daughter, Rin, as she passed them in their aisle seats as she headed to the front to take her place beside the Chief of Council, demure expression in place. Where was Satori? She promised faithful to be on time.

 

`Just like her Father,' the Priestess shook her head in frustration.

 

With luck, it would be a long boring meeting of protocol, giving her more than enough time to regain her cool. Right now, she wanted to rip Sesshoumaru a new one, but it could wait until evening.

 

_______

 

Jaken looked about him nervously. He raised a tiny, clawed hand to rap on the outer fusuma that lead circuitously down the path to the library.

 

“<i>Come, Jaken.</i>” beckoned a commanding feminine voice within his head. No matter how often this occurred, it never failed to jar the kappa's delicate nervous system.

 

Sliding the shoji open with trepidation, Jaken gawked at the female who was currently levitating the room's furnishings with a thoroughly bored expression.

 

Her bone straight, midnight tresses floated about her like a curtain. Exquisite features bore the distinct traces of her father's lineage. Maroon marking delicately etched her high cheekbones, lids and wrists, long, shell-like talons currently being used like a conductor's baton. Vibrant, somewhat cruel hazel eyes looked at Jaken with no small amount of predatory amusement. Satori smelt his fear.

 

Her nanny had always been a bit of a clockwork mouse, ever fearful of his own tiny shadow. Father was to blame, of course, and come to think of it, Rin and Shippou. Both had taken delight in their youth torturing the little reptilian. Something Mother had never allowed her to do…unfortunately.

 

“I'm practicing.” Satori said, stating the obvious as Jaken's small round body joined the other items within the room mid air.

 

“My Lady, far be it for your most humble servant …” sputtered the Western Lord's retainer trying to maintain his cool.

 

“Jaken, do save the groveling for Father, I would never hurt you and am perfectly aware of the time constraints. I think I will try the cumulous route today as opposed to the car. Thoughts?”

 

The little retainer's eyes bugged in fear, “Do you think that wise, my Lady? Suppose a ningen sees? Few know of your true abilities outside the family.”

 

Satori growled.

 

Her father was coming down the hall and he was not pleased. Ready, as always, to spoil her fun. Delicate feminine fangs protruding from rose petal lips in anger as she clenched her teeth in anticipation of his rebuke.

 

Jaken felt the Western Lord's presence and thanked the Kami in advance for his probable intervention. Lady Satori could be difficult at times. She was like her father, willful and somewhat predisposed to violence.

 

Silently, the shoji slid open, the towering presence of the Taiyoukai in the doorway, quietly taking in the current condition of his study. `She is moving towards mastery. One day soon, this amulet will pass to her.'

 

“Your symmetry needs work. The energies used are adequate with respect to inanimate objects. Note, however, Jaken is nearly touching the ceiling. That shows a lack of concentration on your part and an inability to control things with a mind of their own, however rudimentary. You must move beyond his fear and treat him just as you do the low table. Do not take his emotions into account by keeping him clear of the other objects. Only then will you attain mastery.”

 

Raising one clawed hand, he summoned his first born child from her seated position. “We have a meeting to attend. You will change. You know your Mother's predisposition for arguing a point to death. Be quick. We still have time.”

 

Satori sighed and lowered the kappa, being careful not to jostle him and the furnishings, before casually unwinding her legs and standing in front of her father in her favored attire of jeans and tee-shirt. Though not as tall, she still reached the Taiyoukai's chin, a full foot taller than her Mother.

 

“Yes, Father,” she responded diffidently, meeting the Western Lord's gaze in challenge. Not for Satori was obeisance.

 

_______

 

“Invite him to Sango's ball. It is your Mother's wish.”

 

“But not yours, of course. He does have a name, Father. It's Patrick. I love him and will protect him with my life, against all comers,” Satori answered carefully, as the earth below sped by the cumulous cloud she and her sire shared.

 

None beneath were the wiser of their presence. She had mastered her Mother's latent skills for cloaking, something the Taiyoukai could never do on the visible level.

 

“Hn.”

 

`Indeed, Father,' came the sudden thought in his mind's eye, before he blocked her.

 

“You are being intrusive, Satori. We have spoken of this before. Do not force my hand.”

 

“Forgive me.” Satori said quietly, keeping her head forward.

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes slid off his daughter's strained, delicate features. They truly were alike, even in how she held her little chin resolutely. He, too, remembered challenging his father at this age, the rationale different however. To the Taiyoukai's mind there remained but only one issue. How best to arrange the tiresome, medical student's imminent demise or disappearance. Either would do under the circumstances. This `Patrick' was simply unsuitable and would prove a distraction. Satori had been born for a reason, regardless of the normalcy they tried to instill in her day-to-day life. All was not to be lost for a mere infatuation that was sure to pass. Her destiny was to save the world as they knew it.

_______

 

 

 

 

EP