InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Daimyo Inutaisho ❯ Two ( Chapter 2 )

CHAPTER TWO

"Anuki?"

She looked up, her face lighting with pleasure. "Inu," she said, smiling as she laid aside the book she had been reading. "When did you get back? Inoki told me it might be weeks."

"It felt like weeks," he said, a wry grin on his handsome face. "Old Kashiri and Tasami insisted on dragging me around to every den or stronghold in their territory to show off their new Daimyo."

"Ah, the price of popularity," she grinned. Unlike many of her people, including those of greater rank, Anuki felt completely at ease with her new sovereign. She patted the seat next to her. "Come sit by me, Inu. You look absolutely done in."

He sat down, stretching out his long, lean form. Inutaisho flung back his head and let loose with an exaggerated sigh of relief. Anuki laughed, her voice was like a clear mountain stream, pure and uninhibited.

"So tell me," she teased. "Just how many highborn ladies did you seduce on this trip?" His golden eyes twinkled merrily. "I can't think of what you mean, I always behave with the utmost discretion."

She made a rude noise. "Excuse me? Who do you think you're talking to? If your father hadn't been such a powerful influence in this territory, you would have been castrated for your discretions."

He winced. "My dear lady Anuki, I'm not the rash young pup I used to be. My days of seducing maidens in rice fields are long gone. Now that my father has so graciously seen fit to pass away, damn his evil hide, I find myself swamped with all the duties and ceremonies of any other crusty, dried up clanlord. I don't have time to chase the girls anymore."

Anuki shook her head. "You always were a shitty liar, Inu. I've heard the stories, the highborn young ladies are practically lining up to take their shot at you." She smirked knowingly. "You're such a dog, Inu."

"Thank you," he said pleasantly. "Might I return the compliment? You're such a bitch, Anuki."

She held up her book warningly. "Don't push me. General or not, I still know where your ticklish spots are and I'm not afraid to take you down if I have to."

He shouted with laughter and she could see the tension visibly drain out of him. He leaned his head on his fist, gazing at her with affection. "You always did know how to put me in my place."

Anuki returned his warm smile. "And I always will, remember that before you try to get lippy with me again."

He chuckled. "As long as I have you and Inoki to keep me in line, I will have no fear of any enemy or all the clanlords."

"Just their daughters." She was unable to resist teasing him further about his legendary love life. He snorted, glancing around the room. "So where is Inoki anyway? No one has seen him in the past few weeks. Please tell me he's not out on another one of his wilderness treks."

"I, I haven't seen him," she said nervously. Does he know, she wondered. Has someone seen us together? Not that Inu would mind, but if her father found out about her affair with the hanyou, she'd probably be disowned from the Sutakasi clan.

Inutaisho rubbed his face. "Well, I'm sure he'll turn up. It's just that I had something I needed his opinion on, as a brother."

She smiled. Inutaisho and his brother had been her two dearest childhood friends. Growing up, the three had been nearly inseparable. Her father had not been pleased to see his only daughter and heir tearing up the countryside like a rebellious tomboy. Fortunately for her, the two delinquents she was most likely to be caught running with happened to be the sons of the region's most powerful warlord.

Once, to her eternal humiliation, she had been summoned before her father's entire household, wearing a filthy, shredded dress and mud caked feet. Her father had upbraided her publicly for her lack of ladylike decorum and banished her to her room. In a fury, she defied him and escaped, running straight to her two best friends for support in her newly chosen career as an outcast border bandit.

Inutaisho had promptly sent her father a ransom demand. Howling with rage, her father had come to the lord's residence to demand satisfaction. Inu had refused her father's angry request for a duel, saying that it would be unfair for a young youkai in his prime such as himself to take advantage of the older lord's decrepit condition. The boy's calm arrogance had stunned her father and he'd sputtered angrily about the great hall, totally losing his dignity in front of half the warlord's court.

Luckily, if not miraculously, Inu's father had seen the humor of the situation and prevented the older youkai from declaring a full bloodfeud against his young son. Anuki and Inoki had huddled behind a tapestry, clutching each other like frightened rabbits as the discussion became heated. Even then, Inutaisho had thrived on the conflict, holding himself with the bearing of a prince in the presence of rabble. Eventually, with a bit of parental prodding, Inu had agreed to the release of his `hostage.'

A good deal of rice wine was then consumed by both fathers, as well as considerable commentary on the unladylike behavior of certain daughters and the boldness of certain sons. Her father had taken her home peacefully, his ego salved by his lord's courtesy. Indeed the whole incident might have come to nothing, if Inutaisho hadn't sent her father a bill for her care and feeding during the twelve hours of her supposed kidnapping.

"What are you thinking about?" Inutaisho asked, amused by her thoughtful expression.

"Oh, nothing," she said, "just remembering some of the things we used to do as kids. It seems so long ago."

"Not that long ago," he answered mildly. Anuki was probably the closest friend he had, except for his younger brother. Now as a powerful Daimyo himself, he couldn't afford the luxury of trusting anyone the way he trusted Anuki and Inoki. He wondered what they'd think of his idea. He hoped feverently that they'd both approve.

"Anuki," he began. "I've been wanting your opinion on something. It's important."

She raised her eyebrow. "Don't even think of making me into one of your warlords, Inu. I've never felt your fascination with battle."

"No, no," he said, laughing. "I'm thinking of getting married. You know, settling down, having pups of my own."

"Really?" she sat up eagerly. "Who is it, I had a bet on with my cousin that you'd be interested by that pretty little daughter of Lord Shibisi."

"You're making bets on who I'm going to marry?" he asked, looking annoyed. "And you think I'd go for that ditzy girl? I'm offended. I'd hope any woman I'd marry would be able to think with something more than what's between her legs."

"Hmmm, and here I thought it would be a perfect match." She was struck by his expression. His face was set in firm lines. "My god, you really are serious, aren't you?"

He sighed. This wasn't exactly how he'd planned to approach the topic, somehow he kept getting off track. "Of course I'm serious, Anuki. For the past six months it's been a not so subtle subject of conversation with the other clanlords. `Who will it be, my lord? Have you met my daughter, my lord? Have you thought about an heir, my lord?' Gods, I'm sick of it all."

"Are you in love with anyone?" she asked quietly. She wished she felt free to share with him the joy that she and Inoki had found. Their passion had erupted quite suddenly, surprising them both its depth and intensity. Only her father's lingering hatred for Inutaisho's half-breed brother made it impossible for them to openly celebrate their love.

"No, I'm not in love," he said softly. "But I've been thinking about it more all the time. I'll need more than just a pretty face to warm my bed at night. I'll need a woman who can support me, someone with intelligence and humor. Someone I trust as a friend, not someone who is looking to promote her clan's bloodline by bearing a Daimyo's children."

Anuki was impressed. "You have been thinking about this a lot, haven't you? I didn't realize you looked at women as anything other than playthings between battles. I wish I knew the perfect girl for you, she'll have to be something special."

"She is," he said, reaching for her hands. "I already know the perfect woman. Do you think you could stand being married to a conceited, temperamental, obnoxious half-wit like me?"

She was stunned. "Did you just ask me to marry you? I swear I can't tell when you're joking, Inu." Her heart was pounding in her chest. Oh Inoki, she thought, we should have told him sooner.

Inu reached out to toy with her long dark hair, stroking it affectionately. "Oh come on, Anuki. I promise it will be fun. You remember, we almost got engaged once already."

She remembered it all too well. They'd been lovers at one time, however briefly. When they were both too young to realize there was more to life than hot, sweaty nights of experimentation. They were both far too young by their society's standards, as young people of their rank didn't engage in casual affairs.

Marriage was a carefully planned and prepared for event when two clans of such impeccable breeding and power were involved. She'd been desperately in love with him at the time and equally defiant of her father's tyrannical rule. Inu's hands on her body had seemed to be their own kind of salvation. They'd clung to each other as the children they were, her in defiance of her father's wishes for her to become a proper young lady. He had been bold, sure of himself to the point of challenging his powerful father, but in awe of her during their nights together. She smiled at the memory, if her father had known about the things they'd done with each other, the two of them would have been married in the blink of an eye.

Of course it hadn't lasted, the furious emotion that had driven them together conspired to tear them apart. Gods, he'd been angry when she'd refused to marry him, but she was so full of defying her father that even marrying someone she adored wasn't acceptable if it pleased that bitter old man. She'd grown up her whole life hearing about how she should have been a son and if he had to be stuck with a miserable daughter for his clan heir, why couldn't she at least behave like a proper court lady, demure and submissive. So she'd thrown Inu's proposal back in his face and then thrown his body into the lake behind her father's house. It was a miracle that their friendship had healed after the rift she'd torn in it. She didn't know if it could handle a second rejection.

"Inutaisho," she said formally. "I'm very flattered and surprised by this but…"

"But what?" He leaned closer to her, his breath tickling in her ear. Gods help her, her body still responded to him, even if her heart didn't. "I will be a good mate," he whispered. "Our children will be beautiful."

"I know," she breathed, trying to quiet the racing of her pulse. His mouth closed over hers, her biological compulsion was to submit to him, the strongest male she'd ever known. His hands wandered over her body, coaxing a pheromonal response from her nerves. Even as children, he'd had a certain command over her. For all they'd fought, played and dreamed together, she also knew he didn't really need her, didn't love her, not the way Inoki did.

She broke away from his kiss, shivering with physical reaction. "What's the matter?" he asked. "I thought you'd be happy, we've always been so close. There's no one I trust more than you, Anuki."

"But you're not in love with me," she said simply. He regarded her steadily, a shadow had fallen in his golden eyes. "Does it matter? I care about you more than anyone else in my life except Inoki and he's my brother. I sure can't marry him, can I?"

"I know," she answered sadly. "But I do love you, not as a mate or lover, but as my best friend and my sovereign." He reached for her again and gently she pushed his hands away. "No, let me finish. You're Tai-Youkai, you won't ever need anyone, not really. Other youkai see you and instinctively want to lie at your feet. It's always been that way for you. I want a husband who belongs to me alone, not some great Daimyo or victorious general. I want my husband to need only me, love only me."

His voice was soft and cool. "I see." Impulsively she reached for him and turned his face to hers. "If you command me, I will marry you. I know the old laws, I know my duty to you as my lord. I would not disgrace my clan or my bloodline by refusing you. But I beg you, Inutaisho, don't ask me to be your wife. It would be a mistake for the both of us."

He reached out and gently traced her lips with a fingertip, his expression unreadable. For a moment she thought he'd disregard everything she just said and take her anyway. Inutaisho did not like to lose.

He leaned closer still, not meeting her eyes. "Who is he?"

"What do you mean?" Her heart was thudding in her throat while his hand continued to play with her hair. He could kill her in an instant, she knew it was easily within his youkai nature.

"Who is he? I want to know the name of the man who is lucky enough to have won your heart."

"And if I told you there was no one?" As usual, she couldn't hide anything from him.

A fleeting grin crossed his face, wry and mischievous at the same time. "You always were a shitty liar, Anuki."

She breathed a sigh of relief, he really wasn't angry, she realized. Now it was her turn to surprise him with some news, the big clown. "I'm in love with Inoki. We've been lovers for months, ever since your father died."

His eyes widened with shock. "Are you two out of your minds?" he demanded. "My god Anuki, your father would scream for his blood if he ever found out."

Her eyes danced at him. "I know, isn't it great?" He shook his head, hardly believing the gall of them. Very sternly, he pointed his finger at her, going from avid lover to protective big brother in a heartbeat. "Woman, your clan will disown you. Even if they don't tear my brother to shreds, they'll definitely make sure he doesn't sire any children on you."

She looked down, her face sad and pensive. "We've talked about running away, finding someplace we could make our own."

Inutaisho sat back and looked at the ceiling. "Anuki, they'd hunt you down. Your cousins would declare bloodfeud and even I wouldn't be able to stop them. They'd find you and kill you both. Is that the kind of life you want for your children?" He had changed personalities on her once again. She knew her friend had now disappeared and her sovereign sat beside her, mulling over what could turn into a bloody and unpleasant mess that no sane clanlord wanted on his hands.

"What are we going to do?" she asked softly. A single tear had appeared in her eye to slide slowly down her cheek. He saw it and felt his resistance crumble. Inutaisho gently swept the tear away and pulled Anuki close, cradling her head against his chest.

What to do, he thought. He sure as hell wasn't going to allow his two favorite people to spend their lives miserable and in fear. As clanlord, Anuki's father had every right to prevent his daughter from marrying a hanyou like Inoki. He would cite protection of the bloodline, laws of succession and such. Even if Anuki chose to throw aside her inheritance, the Sutakasi clan would feel mortally humiliated and demand blood for their satisfaction. He had no say in the matter as the clan laws were ancient and inviolable. To disregard them could shred the fabric of their social structure. Dog-demons lived in a very complex social hierarchy. As lord Daimyo over the clans, he had no more ability to break the ancient laws than the most common farmer could lead his army into battle.

He continued to stroke the girl's hair as he turned the problem over in his mind. Inutaisho had always thought the old laws were stupid and arbitrary, now cruel where the lives of his dear friend and his brother were concerned. A devious smile crossed his face as an idea began to evolve in his mind. I can't break the laws, but I can bend the living hell out of them, he decided. It might even be fun. He kissed Anuki on the top of her head, feeling the least bit of regret that he wasn't going to have her for himself. "Don't cry, girl. Your Inu has a plan."

*****

"My lord Inoki, you've returned. Oh thank the gods." Inoki turned around, on his way into the living quarters of the great stone fortress. "What's the matter, Hashiro? Has something happened to my brother?"

Hashiro hurried up to the young lord, automatically whipping out a linen cloth to wipe away some of the dirt and grime that encrusted the young hanyou. Inoki grinned, fending off Hashiro's habitual fussing. The old servant sighed, no matter how hard he worked, lord Inoki was determined to carry on like a common huntsman and track dirt all over the fine carpeting. "My lord, your gracious lord brother has convened a special assembly session today. He would like you there in attendance if possible."

"Why me?" Inoki was puzzled. "He knows I don't care about what the clanlords are up to, there's no reason I should need to be there."

Hashiro crept closer, taking advantage of Inoki's surprise to relieve him of his dirtiest outer garments and hunting gear. "I'm not sure, my lord. But he did say to tell you that lady Anuki will be in attendance and he would like you to join her in the audience hall as soon as you arrive."

Inoki turned visibly paler at Hashiro's words. Gods, Anuki's father found out about us, he thought furiously. He's called a special session just to humiliate us in front of the other clanlords. Inu is going to kill me for this. Swallowing his nervousness, he followed Hashiro up to the main audience hall. He almost choked when he saw it wasn't just the major clanlords, half the full court was in attendance, dressed in their finest attire. He rubbed his hands self consciously on his leather breeches, feeling not for the first time like a dirty urchin caught lurking at the heels of his betters.

He would have happily hidden at the back of the room with the assorted runners and personal assistants who attended their masters at this time. He was on excellent terms with both the household staff and the other regular servants. Lord Inutaisho's younger brother was popular and well liked, at least among the many people who oversaw the day to day affairs of the huge castle. They found him refreshingly unpretentious compared to the arrogant young lords who strolled the hallways, flashing their jewels and fine clothing like so many peacocks on display.

So he was even more anxious when Hashiro led him past the ordinary audience section and right up to the first tier, reserved for the highest lords and their chosen heirs. He saw Anuki sitting elegantly next to her father and tried not to let his nervousness show as he slid into the empty seat at her side. She turned a serene face to him and nodded. "Good morning, lord Inoki. I hope your most recent hunting expedition was fruitful?" There was nothing in her smooth voice to indicate more than politeness. Inoki met her eye and saw the mischief he so loved dancing there.

He relaxed at her calm expression. Apparently they weren't discovered just yet. "Quite fruitful, my lady. I hope you and your family are in good health, it's a pleasure to see you, as always." Anuki's father grunted at the hanyou's presumption and interrupted his daughter's reply.

"The Sutakasi clan is well. You are kind to ask, Inoki."

Inoki flushed. Just because he didn't care for titles or honorifics didn't mean that he didn't know when he was being insulted by the lack of their use. Anuki's face also colored slightly and she made a small movement with her hand, as if she wanted to touch him to salve away her father's rudeness. He looked at her gratefully, it was enough for him to know that she loved him. He could deal with prickly lords and snobbish nobles as long as he could look forward to their stolen minutes alone.

A slight stir at the front of the room heralded Lord Inutaisho's entrance. Inoki watched as his brother swept into the room like ship under full sail, trailing a small armada of assistants and councilors who dissolved into the woodwork like so many ants. With a graceful flourish, Inutaisho turned around, raising his hands in greeting to the assembled nobles and lords.

"Cousins, I thank you for graciously favoring me with your presence on such short notice. It pleases me to see so many respond to my summons with such loyalty and good will."

"As if any of them had the nerve to refuse," Anuki whispered for his ears only. Inoki glanced over at her, raising his eyebrow. The lovely woman was on the edge of her seat, her eyes lit with an unusual eagerness while they watched his brother. He felt a mixture of adoration and envy sitting there and watching the command his brother so effortlessly exerted over the assembled clanlords and their retinues. His eyes were drawn to the great stone chair that sat on the raised dais, feeling as always the flinch of reaction, as if he expected his father to rise up from the grave and sit there.

Inutaisho never sat on the damn thing if he could help it. During his father's rule the chair had been covered by the skins of enemies, youkai the old butcher had personally slain in battle. It was a gruesome way to ensure no one who faced that chair ever forgot the brutal intentions of the demon who sat there. Inutaisho had stripped the chair almost before the old lord's corpse had cooled, tearing at the pelts with a savage mixture of grief and hatred. Inoki had helped his brother carry the skins to the courtyard and the two sons had burnt them, letting the stinking smoke wash over their bodies like the last barbarous wish of the evil old monster who had sired them.

"So I won't keep you in suspense any longer, gracious cousins." Inutaisho faced the assembly with a certain fierce glee. " It seems I've been thinking of getting married."

There was an audible gasp and the youkai lord waited until the urgent whispers subsided before he continued with his speech. "I know many of you have been anticipating this since my father passed away last year. And I have been busy exploring my options." Someone in the back tier coughed loudly, covering up a general titter of amusement from the audience. Inutaisho merely raised an eyebrow before smoothly moving on.

"According to the ancient and sacrosanct laws that have governed our lands for generations, a Tai-Youkai Daimyo may choose his mate from among any of his subjects, his choice limited only by the approval of that mate's clanlord. I myself would have no mate who would not come to me freely of her own will, without fear of reprisals from myself or her clan. I invoke the Right of Refusal."

Murmurs filled the audience hall as the assembled nobility whispered and hissed to each other in amazement. "I'm out of the loop on this one," Inoki muttered to Anuki. "Did you know he was going to pull something? This smells like a trap to me."

"Hush, just listen," she said, daring to poke him with her elbow. Luckily her father didn't notice as he was too busy conferring with another clanlord who had leaned in to get his opinion on their brash sovereign's announcement.

Inutaisho raised hands for silence. "Good cousins, I apologize for any concern I may have caused. As always, the good opinion of the clans is paramount to my intentions."

"Oh yeah right," Inoki said under his breath. He settled back against his seat to watch the show, this was going to be good. His brother swept the room with his cool golden gaze. "As Daimyo, I feel compelled to enter into such an important alliance only with a female who has no reservations. She must be free to accept me as her mate or refuse my request. Does any clanlord wish to challenge my decision?" The room became deathly still and Inutaisho smiled, his fangs glinting ever so faintly.

"Very well, let's get on with it then. Lord Sakusei, would you please stand before our gathered cousins?"

Inoki gaped as Anuki's father got to his feet, the old lord's face burning with pride. Anuki sat stock still, no twitch of reaction betrayed her face, but Inoki could see her mouth was white with tension. He forced himself to breathe regularly, the pounding of the blood in his temples made him dizzy.

"My lord Inutaisho," Sakusei intoned, bowing his head slightly. Inutaisho favored the old lord with a rakish smile. "Do you not have a daughter of marriageable age, lord Sakusei?"

The old lord smiled, all eyes upon him. "Yes, my lord Daimyo. Anuki, my daughter and clan heir."

"And under the Right of Refusal, would you bid her freedom to come to me and be my wife? And also freedom to refuse me if she wishes, with no fear of reprisal by you or your clansmen? Do you recognize her right to select a husband of her choosing before these assembled witnesses and grant her leave of your right to dissent?"

Sakusei puffed up his chest in lordly dignity. This was a most unexpected coup, his cronies among the lords had to be squirming that it would be his daughter who would bear the Daimyo's heir and his bloodline ascend in station. "My lord Daimyo, I most wholeheartedly do recognize this Right of Refusal. My clan heir may marry of her own free will, with my blessings."

"Lady Anuki, would you please grace me with your presence?" Inutaisho's voice was soft, a tender expression in his eyes as the woman stood gracefully and joined him on the stone dais. He lifted her hand in his, deliberately not looking down at his anguished brother. This is what you get for keeping secrets from me, Inoki, he thought. These few moments of doubt will be all the sweeter.

Inoki had closed his eyes, unable to watch. His heart had frozen and dropped like a ball of ice into his stomach. He couldn't close his ears and the voice of his brother rang like doom in his mind.

"Lady Anuki, would you consent to marry me?" Inutaisho's gaze held hers, daring her to relent at this one last moment and accept the proposal or damn convention and follow her heart with the chance he was handing her.

"My lord Inutaisho, I would not." Anuki's soft voice carried across the tiers, sending a shockwave of horror over the assembled faces. Those seated nearest to the dais actually began to withdraw in fear, anticipating the lord's terrible wrath at such a public rejection.

The lord shrugged, casually dropping her hand. "I'm glad you were honest with me." He folded his arms and grinned at her. "I don't suppose there's anyone else that you would like to marry instead? If so, speak up and say who. I can't stand the suspense."

She blushed prettily, her eyes downcast and her posture became positively demure. "Sire, I would choose to marry lord Inoki, that is, if he would have me."

Inutaisho gazed down at him, his expression fierce. "How about it, brother? Do you accept the lady's proposal?"

Inoki stood, his knees were shaking but he managed to keep himself intact. Anuki's father looked murderously at the hanyou, sensing this had been a set up from the start. "I'm, I'm honored to accept," he husked. "If the lady Anuki wants me, I can't believe, I mean I can't refuse. I mean I love her too!" he burst out, sweating as Anuki's face lit up with a triumphant smile.

"So will it be then." Inutaisho's voice was thick with emotion as Anuki turned and flung herself into his brother's arms.

END CHAPTER TWO