InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sesshoumaru's Secret Life ❯ Rivals In Love ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter 9: Rivals In Love

 

“Anoki,” she whispered. “Where have you been, I thought you had died.” Sesshoumaru was totally floored; never would she have expected to see her cousin ever again. She, of course, hid her surprise behind the cold, lordly exterior.

 

“Cousin, it's good to see you. You have grown more beautiful than an angel.” Anoki gave a short laugh. “You still look like a girl.”

 

Sesshoumaru frowned and then her eyes opened large in shock as her very handsome cousin embraced her. He held her tight, his warm breath ghosting over her neck causing goosebumps to form unbidden on her skin. I still react to his touch, I have missed him, she thought and let herself embrace him, smelling his scent that she had put into her memory so long ago.

 

“Let's sit and I'll tell you what happened since we last saw each other,” he told her, regretfully moving away from his cousins warm body.

 

Sesshoumaru led him into one of the smaller rooms. It had many cushions on the floor around a large, short legged table. She called Jaken to make tea for the two of them. When the toad left, Anoki relayed his tale.

 

“After I went home my father basically disowned me, he sent me far away to a place called Europe. There I was abandoned to my own devices. So many humans there Sesshoumaru, you wouldn't believe it. They all feared me because I looked so different. They called me the spawn of the devil and tried to kill me. The mob probably would have succeeded if it hadn't been for Father Webbe.” Anoki made the sign of the cross causing Sesshoumaru to look at him quizzically at the hand gesture.

 

“It's a sign of Christianity, a religion of that region,” he told his cousin. “I'll explain it to you later if you wish. Now where was I, oh yes, Father Webbe took me in as an apprentice and trained me in the use of the broadsword. They're very large, heavy swords, not like what we have at all, no magical powers. They have a much different way of fighting as well but I, of course, was able to defeat anyone that challenged me. Father was most impressed with my own fighting style, and for a human not native to our country, he did quite well when he learned the martial arts.”

 

“Why do you call him father? Didn't you say he was human?” Sesshoumaru questioned.

 

“Father is his status, he's a priest. Sort of like our monks. All priests are called Father.” He grinned at Sesshoumaru, that same grin he had given her as a young teen and she felt her cheeks heating up.

 

“I stayed with the Father for quite some time, learning his language and his teachings until his death and then I went out into the country hoping to find a way to return to my own land. There are no demons there, or at least none that I could find. I often wondered if some of the humans I ran into were disguised demons. Some of them gave off peculiar auras. Do you know the Father never believed I was a demon? He thought I was some poor malformed human, because of my ears. I never transformed because I didn't want him to know what I was. He always said all demons were evil. For some reason I didn't want him to think me evil.”

 

“The humans didn't try to kill you anymore?” Sesshoumaru asked.

 

“Oh yes, but I disguised myself quite well. They thought I was some exotic human from a far away land, can you believe that,” Anoki laughed, his tone deep and booming. Sesshoumaru felt shivers of pleasure course down her back at the sound.

 

Anoki continued to tell Sesshoumaru some of his adventures and experiences and of his attempts to return. “In the end though, all I could think about was you. I never found out what had happened to you and I finally found a way to get back here on their human ships. I had to see you, to tell you…”

 

Just then Jaken interrupted, “My lord, there is a messenger waiting for you from the east.”

 

“I'm sorry, excuse me Anoki, this is something I have been waiting for.”

 

“No trouble cousin, I would like to look around your castle if I may, we can talk later,” the grey haired demon returned, bowing.

 

“Feel free to go where you wish,” Sesshoumaru told him as she left to speak to the messenger.

 

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“Thank you,” Miroku said to the man who told him the way to the great dog lord's castle. He continued on his way leaving the rest of his group further behind. He had snuck away the same evening he found out Sesshoumaru had left. Inuyasha still wasn't speaking to him and Kagome had gone to the hanyou to try to talk to him on Miroku's behalf.

 

Miroku would have just liked to have forgotten the whole thing and gone and flirted with Sango but he couldn't get the beautiful demoness out of his mind. Miroku had never felt so strongly about another before, he realized he probably loved her, truly loved her. Not the way he usually loved women, only with his body, but with his whole being and he was determined to get her back.

 

It had taken him longer than he thought to make it to the gates of the castle because he had no idea where Sesshoumaru's castle was. He had had to stop and get directions and on the second day had gotten lost taking a wrong turn. So here he was four days later knocking on the large door.

 

“What do you want?” the toad asked irritably when he slid the door open to the monk.

 

“It's always a pleasure to see you too, Jaken,” replied Miroku with a smile, not worried about the imps poor manners. “I've come to speak to Sesshoumaru.”

 

“My lord is busy and is not accepting guests,” the toad grumbled, beginning to close the door.

 

Miroku held his staff in the way to prevent it from shutting in his face. “I'm not leaving until I speak to her,” he retaliated, speaking low so if any others were about they would not hear.

 

Jaken glowered at the human monk but then relented, opening the door wide. “Wait in the main hall, I'll see if my lord will see you.” The toad scurried off into the castle to find Sesshoumaru, cursing under his breath as he went.

 

Miroku looked around, impressed. The room he was in was large and beautifully decorated with artwork adorning the walls and expensive but not ostentatious chairs lining one wall. There was even a lavish warriors costume right at the front of the foyer, encased in glass. He was looking at the impressively detailed costume when he whirled, feeling a demonic aura behind him that wasn't Sesshoumaru.

 

“Who are you?” questioned the grey haired dog demon male, looking quizzically at the human.

 

Miroku bowed, taking in the tall, muscular demon before him wondering the same thing. He had no idea there were other inu demons in this area other than Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha. He had almost thought they were the last of their kind. “I am the monk, Miroku. May I have the pleasure of your name?”

 

The handsome demon quirked an eyebrow at the human, he shows no fear at all, what would a monk want with my cousin? “My name is Anoki. What is your business with my cousin?”

 

Cousin? That explains the similarities in their looks, I wonder if he knows about Sesshoumaru. “My business is of a personal matter,” Miroku answered politely, deciding to err on the side of caution in case this demon did not know the truth.

 

“Miroku, what are you doing here,” Sesshoumaru stated coldly as she entered the room. She was doing a wonderful job of controlling her heart that was thumping loudly and happily at the sight of him.

 

“I have come to speak with you,” he returned, saddened by her lack of emotion. He had hoped she would have been a bit glad to see him. I really have my work cut out for me if I want to get her back.

 

Sesshoumaru crossed the distance between them in an instant, wrapping her claws around the human's throat, her eyes blazing anger. “I could kill you here and now for your impudence,” she growled out.

 

Anoki watched the exchange in bafflement wondering what this small human had done to invoke his cousin's ire.

 

“You could,” agreed Miroku calmly, keeping his body relaxed and submissive in her grip. “But I will not leave until I have the chance to explain so if you wish to kill me then I suggest you do it.” He stared straight into her eyes, letting her see the truth and determination in them.

 

Sesshoumaru released him. “Very well, I will hear your explanation. Excuse me cousin,” she turned and left, Miroku following at her heels.

 

Anoki frowned at the look he had seen pass between his cousin and the monk, a stab of jealousy going through him. He followed quietly behind, standing just outside the doors of the room they had disappeared into.

 

Sesshoumaru turned and glared at the monk. Miroku swallowed now uncertain how to begin. He decided to just plunge right in. “Sesshoumaru, I'm sorry about what happened. I was a fool.” He hung his head.

 

“Yes, you were,” she stated. “Where is my brother?”

 

“Not here. I left them to find you, I had to tell you Sesshoumaru…I love you. I don't think I can go on without you. Please forgive me, I promise to make you happy if you'll give me another chance.”

 

Sesshoumaru stared at him in shock but before she could give him her answer her cousin barged in through the door.

 

“Sesshoumaru, don't listen to this mortal. He cannot give you what I can. I love you as well. You will have to watch him grow old and die but I will always be with you. Don't go with him, I have loved you since that day in the doujou. You were all I thought about when I was in Europe. You were my inspiration to come home. I was worried about us both being male, I didn't know how you would react to my confession but I have to take this chance. Stay with me, cousin.

 

Sesshoumaru plopped down on the chair that was behind her, for the first time in her life completely flummoxed and speechless, at a loss of what to do. Her two suitors were staring at each other with animosity.

 

“Anoki, is it?” Miroku questioned. “I will not be pushed away and I think I know Sesshoumaru better than you do, in fact I'm sure of it.” The monk glared at the taller demon, feeling emboldened by his knowledge that Anoki did not know Sesshoumaru's secret. He had no idea how long the dog demon had been here at the castle but for whatever reason, the demoness hadn't told him.

 

“Why do you come begging for forgiveness, human? Have you betrayed my cousin? And you are a monk, isn't this love of yours against your religious teachings? You seem untrustworthy to me,” Anoki growled out, flexing his claws.

 

“That is none of your business,” Miroku ground out, his face flushing from anger, gripping his staff tighter. The two males began to step towards each other.

 

“Stop, now!” Sesshoumaru ordered, finally awakening from the shock of what was happening. “You will not fight like beasts in my home.” She stood to her full height which was even slightly taller than her cousin, staring them both down until they averted their eyes.

 

Dear Kami, what do I do now? Do I give Miroku another chance? I do love him but can I trust that his feelings are true? And what of my cousin? I still have feelings for Anoki, feelings I did not even know existed until I saw him again, but he does not know I am female. Should I tell him? Sesshoumaru's thoughts swirled in a confused whirlwind in her mind.

 

“I need time to think, to process what you have said to me,” she told the two men. “I will have Jaken set rooms up for you.” Sesshoumaru rose and left the two men staring daggers at each other, relieved to get away from them and hopefully get some time to herself so she could decide what she was going to do.