InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Feud: A Marriage Made In Heaven ❯ It Begins... ( Chapter 10 )

Disclaimer: I own nothing… still.

 

“The best place to start is at the beginning…”

~Don't know. (Anybody recognize it? O_o)

 

 

 

Chapter 10: It Begins

 

“Do you think they're trained to use them all?” asked Miroku thoughtfully, his mind still on the sisters and the impressive array of weapons hanging in the dojo.

 

Neither Sesshoumaru nor Inu Yasha offered up an opinion; not that he was paying attention if they had.

 

Sesshoumaru continued walking away from the dojo, ignoring his brothers, because his mind was still there. There was no denying his surprise at the skill the sisters just displayed. Their father had, more or less, boasted of the competence they had when it came to combat, but Sesshoumarru had put most of it down to fatherly pride more then truth. He had obviously been mistaken.

 

The prospect did not sit well with him.

 

He knew very well that there were women out there who were good in combat; especially youkai women. His own mother had been one of them and so was his step-mother; even Lady Higurashi was known to be a fierce opponent; his father had mentioned it on many occasions. So, why was he so surprised at the daughters having such skill and power?

 

It was easy to forget, because of the way they looked, that they were not human. This just proved the fact that despite their appearance they did, indeed, have youkai blood within them.

 

Though he had never said anything to the contrary, Sesshoumaru had wondered on many occasions if the sisters' really were their parent's offspring. Apart of him had even hoped that they were not, so when he found a way to get out of the marriage he was sure he did not want, he had one more reason on his side to get his father to agree.

 

He ignored the fact that Higurashi Kagome's reputation would never recover from such an act by him since they were, technically, already married. It was a known fact that society would rather a woman entered a bad union then to be jilted, or worse, divorced. Especially in a youkai bonding.

 

That was her problem.

 

But, her appearance could not aide him since she was of youkai blood. It was of no use to him now.

 

He frowned inwardly as his mind was brought back to the display he and his brothers had only just witnessed moments ago. While the whole act was unexpected there was something that left the the youkai more unsettled then surprised

 

Their auras.

 

Sesshoumaru did not understand it. He did not see how it was possible, but he knew he was not mistaken. There were three women in that dojo, but he only sensed one aura. There was a slight fluctuation whenever they switched attackers and he could almost feel the undercurrent that was different and unique to each one of them when he focused on one daughter more then the others, but their youki was so similar-almost the exact same-that it left him puzzled.

 

Only twins, or the like, had auras that were that similar to one another and from the information he received on the Higurashi daughters he knew there was a year between each of them. Given the amount of time, their youki should not be that identical.

 

It was just another mystery he intended to solve about the daughters… whether by his own methods or he would have the answers he sought from their own mouths. He, personally, did not care which, but he would have his answers. Though, he wondered if it would really make much difference since it seemed that when one mystery was solved two more - far more perplexing - were waiting to take its place.

 

The fact that his father still agreed to the unions when so little was known about the women, caused Sesshoumaru some concern.

 

He could only speculate on what his father thoughts on the matter were. It was obvious the Masaharu Taiyoukai did not feel there was any real threat from the unions. He hoped his father was correct in his assumption.

 

Whatever the case; the fact Sesshoumaru, himself, knew so little about his intended did not sit well with him.

 

With a slight tilt of his head he motioned for both InuYasha and Miroku to follow him as he made his way to the library.

 

Miroku and InuYasha exchanged identical looks before doing as Sesshoumaru requested. They had both found the display of skill to be mildly surprising, if not a little amazing. While Miroku had suspected there was more to the sisters then what had been shown to them so far, he had still found the revelation that he was correct a bit miraculous. He could sense that they were all holding back and he wondered, not for the first time, just how powerful they were. InuYasha, honestly, didn't know what to think about the matter. He was happy to know that the women could defend themselves should they not be around to protect them, but something about the whole display was unnatural to him. When he'd shared his unease with Sesshoumaru and Miroku he wasn't surprised to see they'd also felt the same way.

 

When they reached the library InuYasha and Miroku both took seats in the two large armchairs sitting near the large fire place while Seeehoumaru moved to stand near the large window that looked out on to the lands to the west of the large castle. Crossing his arms over his chest he stared out towards the far horizon. He could just barely see the roofs of his family's ancestral castle sitting in the distance.

 

“So what now?” asked InuYasha as he eyed Sesshoumaru's back. “What are we supposed to do here?” he asked after a moment when his brother didn't seem like he planned on answering his first question.

 

“We wait,” replied Sesshoumaru quietly.

 

`Wait for what?' thought InuYasha as he received an arched brow from Miroku, but decided not to voice the question knowing he wouldn't get an answer anyway. “Feh!”

 

****

 

Lavender eyes stared into the raging fire before them as the mind of the youkai who possessed them whirled around his current problem. It was going to be difficult to make sure the Masaharus and the Higurashis remained enemies, he realized as he thought about the wedding he'd witnessed the day before. He hadn't anticipated the two rivals would actually move as quickly as the Emperor had requested… or as quickly as they assumed the Emperor requested. He'd been sure that both families would fight against the unions for as long as possible and, with that, renew the fighting between the two families.

 

He'd been sure requesting a speedy union would exacerbate the problem.

 

Now he'd have to move to Plan B. He didn't mind that though; truthfully he much rather preferred Plan B to Plan A anyway. Plan B was a more… hands on…approach then Plan A was and anyone who knew him knew he was much more of a hands on kind of youkai.

He could do nothing about the youngest Masaharu heir's marriage, it was done and from the display put on by the bride it was obviously not a harmonious union. It didn't matter now, regardless. That was just icing now. What was important was the next two marriages - and making sure they never happened.

 

When he was finished with the Masaharus and the Higurashis both InuTaisho and Naraku would curse the day they ever heard the name Moriyoumaru.

 

****

 

“When we enter should we pretend we don't know they saw us?” asked Kagome of her sisters as they slowly made there way to the library where they knew the men were waiting for them.

 

It wasn't hard to figure out that the guys had gone to the library. It was known throughout the castle that the sisters liked to rest in the library for about an hour before it was time for lunch to be served. Sometimes they even stayed in the library through lunch if they were in a particular mood. So, naturally, if you wanted to find any one of them around the current time of day, for whatever reason, the library was where you'd look.

 

And they knew, the men would want to talk.

 

“Would that be wise?” responded Kikyou thoughtfully. “Is it really plausible that neither of us would have sensed them?”

 

“Good point,” sighed Kagome. “What could they possibly want to talk about anyway?” she asked irritably. She hated when her sisters and her were judged on how they looked and for some inexplicable reason she felt that was exactly what the three yoiukai waiting for them had done.

 

“They can't possibly think we don't know how to defend ourselves!” she added suddenly, throwing her hands up and almost hitting both her sisters in the face as she was walking between them.

 

Sango shot the irritated miko a disgruntled look, both for almost being knocked in the cheek as well as for her sister's last statement; thinking it was a stupid thing to say.

 

Kikyou just arched a brow as she calmly dodged the expected blow. Her baby sister had always been excitable when angry.

 

Kagome muttered an apology to them as she caught the look in their eyes; an unspoken `Of course!' She rolled her eyes at them then sucked in a deep breath and slowly released it, trying to release a bit of her anger before she got to the library. It's not as if it was the first time someone had wrongly assumed things about them. It was only in this particular case that it truly pissed her off! Knowing who they had for a mother - not to mention their father - why would anyone think they were untrained? It was absurd!

 

Not to mention insulting to them as well as their parents.

 

“Well, we'll let them bring it up if they want,” she decided, than added, “and if one of them says something I don't like I won't be responsible for my actions! I mean honestly!”

 

Sango just shrugged, agreeing completely. If one of them had something derogatory to say, a little singed fur would be just what they deserved.

 

Kikyou merely nodded. Not really caring, one way or another, what any of the brothers thought on the subject.

 

Five minutes later they entered the library, Sango leading the way

 

“Hello,” Sango said in greeting as Kikyou moved gracefully to the chair in front of the fire she always sat in. It was immediately vacated by InuYasha, whom Kikyou nodded at as she grabbed the book she'd been reading off the table beside the chair.

 

Kagome gracefully fell on the thick rug in front of the fire, comfortably stretching out on her back then folding her hands beneath her head. Sango took up position on the chaise near the window and Sesshoumaru, lying on her side with her elbow propped up on the raised part of the oddly shaped chair and her head resting in her open palm.

 

“Hello ladies,” said Miroku after the women had found places. “You all look refreshed after your vigorous training. I must say you all fight remarkably well. Did your father train you?”

 

“And our mother and grandmother,” said Kagome as she turned to look at him. “Are you surprised?”

 

“Not particularly,” he shrugged. “My father has mentioned on many occasions that your mother is a formidable warrior.”

 

That wasn't what she meant and she had a feeling he knew that from the look in his eyes. There was a light in his violet orbs that gave her the impression he was laughing at her. And just like that, her irritation was gone. She gave him a crooked smile and rolled her eyes before looking away.

 

They all sat in silence for a moment, no one wanting to break it. Suddenly there was a soft sound at the door. They all turned to look at the entrance when a small black head with large emerald green eyes appeared that was quickly followed by a spotted head with amber eyes and a tan head with black ears and red and black eyes.

 

“I was wondering where they'd gone to?” smiled Sango as she held her hand out.

 

“Who knows?” shrugged Kagome as she stretched her hand out as well. “Hello Dygee.”

 

Kikyou only smiled as Mala jumped neatly into her lap and purred while the other two felines made their way to Kagome and Sango. She gave another smile as Dygee, the only male of the three cats, bumped Kagome in the cheek with his head before climbing on her stomach.

 

“You are such a boy Dygee,” said Kagome as she rolled her eyes and ran her fingers along his soft fur.

 

Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sesshoumaru watched the three felines curiously for a moment as they each made themselves comfortable on their mistresses. Sesshoumaru stared as the tan and black one curled itself in the space between Lady Sango's neck and shoulder. She was idly running her fingers over the cats head with one hand while the other continued to support her head. Kirara meowed as she caught the inu-youkai's eyes.

 

“Are the rumors true about them?” asked Inuyasha suddenly. He nodded towards the cat in Kikyou's lap when she looked at him. “Can they change?”

 

Kikyou stared at him as she tried to fight the odd sensation that had come over her when he looked directly at her. Her eyes fell to his mouth and a flash of the kiss from the night before came to her mind. She could feel a blush rising on her face, so immediately averted her eyes to hide the tell-tale sign. She met her sister's curious blue eyes.

 

Kagome had opened her mouth to answer Inuyasha's question when she'd noticed the sudden stiffness in her sister. She watched Kikyou in wonder as she turned her eyes away from Inuyasha. She wondered what about his question had put that look on her sister's face. She'd never seen Kikyou blush like that before. She looked at Inuyasha, but couldn't really get a feel at what he was thinking since he was still intently watching Kikyou. She angled her head to look at Sango and was met with the same curious look as her own. She gave a small, inconspicuous shrug in response.

 

“Kikyou are you alright?” she asked, opening a link to her sister.

 

“I am fine,” responded Kikyou after a moments pause. “Do not worry.”

 

“If you're sure…”

 

“I am.”

 

Kagome gave her sister one last doubtful look before cutting off the link. She looked to Sango once more and shook her head in the negative, letting her know she didn't get any answers from Kikyou.

 

“Ladies?”

 

They all turned to look at the dark haired brother then, a question in their eyes.

 

Miroku had noticed the odd exchange between the sisters and quietly wondered at it. Their movements were so short and subtle, so fluid and normal that he almost didn't notice them. It was as if they were having a conversation with there eyes and body movements alone… yet not alone. It was strange. He exchanged a look with Sesshoumaru and saw that he'd noticed the odd exchange between the women as well. He knew Inuyasha was too busy watching Kikyou to have noticed anything.

 

Keeping his observation to himself, he asked Inuyasha's question again since it was obvious the women had forgotten.

 

“Can your cats change their appearance?”

 

“Oh,” said Kagome with a blink, realizing neither of them had answered the question earlier. She exchanged another surreptitious look and a nod with her sisters before nodding to him again in response, “yes, they can.”

 

That snapped Inuyasha out of his trance. He turned to her an eyed the sleeping black ball of fur on her stomach then crossed his arms. “Feh.” Why'd they answer Miroku but not him?

 

Kagome grinned at the stubborn look on Inuyasha's face. He was the brother she got along with the most. He annoyed her a lot but he didn't grope her and her sisters and he wasn't rude or mean to her on purpose. He also didn't strut around like a peacock like someone else, she thought as she eyed the figure in white slacks and shirt standing near the window.

 

Sesshoumaru returned her look with one of his own, holding it for a moment before turning his gaze back to the view outside the window; dismissing her.

 

Kagome huffed, recognizing a dismissal. She quickly sat up, deciding she no longer wanted to be in the same room with the pompous jerk! She gathered an indignant Dygee into her arms - he'd taken exception to being knocked out of his sleep when he'd fallen off of her when she'd suddenly moved - and rubbed her fingers through his fur in apology as she stood up.

 

“It's almost lunch time,” she said as she moved to the door. “I'm going to eat. I'll see you all later.”

 

Sango watched her sister leave and wondered at the look in her eyes. She'd looked more irritated then hungry. She'd seen the small exchange between Kagome and Sesshoumaru and also the way he'd turned from her soon after. It was obvious her baby sister and her intended still weren't getting along. She turned a worried look to Kikyou and met her sister's gaze.

 

Neither one of them knew what to do.

 

Sango sighed and muttered something about arrogant assholes that needed to get over themselves as she followed her sister out of the room. She didn't bother saying goodbye or giving any explanations on her way out, Kirara still perched on her shoulder

 

Miroku sighed then grinned at Sesshoumaru's back; having heard his wife's muttering, before quickly chasing after her.

 

Kikyou gracefully stood up after watching Miroku chase after Sango. Seeing how the room was quickly emptying, she didn't want to be left alone with the youkai in red standing across from her. She wasn't ready for that and she didn't want a repeat performance of last night… or so she kept telling herself.

 

“Excuse me,” she said quietly as she held Mala close to her and moved towards the door.

 

“Kikyou?” called out Inuyasha as he watched her.

 

She immediately stopped a few steps from the door, facing away from him. Inuyasha hadn't meant to call out her name, he'd been thinking of saying something, but he hadn't figured out what he should say when her name had slipped out. He had no idea what he was going to say to her if she turned around. All he knew is that he didn't want her to leave.

 

Kikyou had hoped he wouldn't say anything before she left, but couldn't help stopping when she heard the pleading sound in his voice. A part of her wanted to go back to him, but a larger part knew she wasn't ready for that yet. She needed to figure some things out first and the indecision she could sense in him only confirmed her belief that she should leave.

 

He waited, watching her quietly as she stayed where she was, not moving. He opened his mouth to say something else when she suddenly turned her head to look over her shoulder at him.

 

“I can not,” she said quietly then turned and quickly left the room.

 

Inuyasha watched her leave then sighed as he lowered his head. He didn't know how to approach her. He was afraid if he did the wrong thing he'd only scare her away and make her withdraw into herself even more. And he feared if that happened, he'd never get past her shields, but he wasn't good with waiting either. Patience had never been one of his strong points. Just the thought of waiting was pissing him off!

 

Sesshoumaru eyed his little brother from the corner of his eye. He'd heard and seen the interaction between Inuyasha and Lady Kikyou, but wasn't sure he understood what was going on with them. He also didn't particularly care. He remembered the kiss Inuyasha had given the middle sister last night and he also remembered the scene that followed, ending with her practically running from the room.

 

It was mainly the reason why their father and they were back at the Higurashi castle so soon.

Though he didn't like it, he knew Inuyasha was really attracted to the Higurashi girl and he was relatively certain that Miroku was already in love with his wife. He would have preferred they kept an emotional attachment for the women out of the equation, like him, but he hadn't held much hope after seeing the sisters.

 

It was pathetic.

 

He had to admit to a bit of surprise in Inuyasha's case though. Inuyasha wasn't easily swayed by a pretty face. He was too stubborn for that.

 

But, Lady Kikyou wasn't just another pretty face and it was obvious his brother had no idea what to do about the middle Higurashi daughter.

 

“You have never been the type to think before acting, Inuyasha,” he said to the forlorn youkai.

 

“Be who you are.”

 

He gave Inuyasha a moment to let his words sink in then quietly left the library, leaving Inuyasha alone with his thoughts.

 

*~~*~~*

 

Kikyou sighed as she ascended the stairs to the next level. She didn't understand what was wrong with her. Her stomach had felt queasy when Inuyasha had called out to her and she'd felt tense and sort of self-conscious the entire time she was in the library. It was really odd. She wanted to think she was coming down with something, but she knew it wasn't the case.

 

She only felt this way when she was around the inu-youkai.

 

But, what really worried her was how he was able to breakdown her walls last night without even trying. No one had ever been able to get through her safety nets… not even her sisters. She wasn't afraid to admit it scared her. He scared her.

 

Last night, when he'd kissed her, she'd never imagined it would be like that. Her skin had felt flush and alive as waves of heat washed over her. It had been amazing and terrifying all at the same time. She'd felt so secure and safe with him that she hadn't even noticed her walls had fallen until it was almost too late.

 

And that's what worried her most. She couldn't think when he touched her.

 

These feeling were so new and confusing that she was unprepared to handle them. And no matter how hard she tried to block them out it didn't work. She needed to figure out what was going on and she needed to speak to her grandmother.

 

She knocked gently on the double white doors of her grandmother's suite at the end of the east hall on the third floor.

 

“Come in, child,” said her grandmother from the other side of the doors.

 

The corner of her lips rose in a small smile as she opened one door and closed it firmly behind her. She allowed Mala to jump from her arms as she moved further into the spacious area.

 

“Konichiwa, baasan,” she called out evenly as she looked around the room.

 

Kikyou loved her grandmother's rooms. They were done in varying shades of cream and white. Once you entered the rooms you were in the sitting room. The entire east wall was made of windows and the windows were covered with white silk drapes that hung from ceiling to floor. In front of the window sat a cream colored futon, its cushions made of silk with chiffon pillows. There was a large fire place in the wall near the door and the floor was covered with a pristine white rug that matched the décor perfectly. The rest of the suite; which consisted of a master bedroom and a spare, a dressing room, a bathroom and, lastly, a balcony was done in the exact same colors.

 

When she was younger she refused to eat or drink anything in the beautiful rooms, fearing she'd make a mess and ruin them. Kikyou gave a small smile as she looked around the beloved rooms; she didn't spend as much time there as she use too.

 

“Hello Kikyou, child,” said her grandmother as she came from the hall leading to the bedrooms at the back.

 

Kikyou turned to face the older woman as she moved towards her. Her grandmother was wearing her usual chihaya - miko garb - and her long thick hair was pulled back from her face in a thick braid. In the last few years the thick mass of hair that had once been a deep ebony, tinged with grey at the edges and along the sides, was now completely silver. It did not take away from the handsome face of the older woman, even with the presence of the patch that was covering the miko's right eye.

 

It was still obvious that Higurashi Kaede had once been very beautiful as a young woman.

Kaede only had to take one look at her granddaughter to know there was something wrong.

 

“Tell me what has brought ye to me,” she commanded as she grabbed the younger woman's hand and pulled her down to sit beside her on the futon.

 

“He broke through my walls,” she responded in a quiet voice, barely above a whisper.

 

“Who-” began Kaede before dropping the question, eyes wide with wonder, “Ye husband? So soon?”

 

“He is no-” it was Kikyou's turn to cut herself off then. She focused confused hazel eyes on the other woman. “What do you mean `so soon'?”

 

Kaede knew what her granddaughter had been going to say and wondered at the denial. Her son had told her that the marriage certificates had been signed already. So either the young woman didn't know what the paper-signing really signified or she was trying to distance herself from reality… for whatever reason.

 

Looking into her eyes, she had a feeling it was the latter. Question was; why?

 

“Well… once ye became joined,” she began, choosing her words carefully for the moment, “its only natural, child, that such a barrier would not be able to hold against such a power.”

 

Power? Kikyou had no idea what her grandmother was talking about, but it was scaring her all the same. What power was the older woman talking about? She had not witnessed any significant power from Inuyasha.

 

“I do not understand. What do you mean?” she asked, worry shining in her eyes.

 

“Tis an intimate relationship between a youkai and his mate, child. Tis not something to be taketh lightly. He will knoweth ye in ways no other ever shall…” she told her, eyes grave.

 

Kaede sighed to herself as she saw the fear and apprehension rise in her granddaughter's eyes. She'd known for years this moment would come when the younger woman started noticing men and was ready to marry, but she had never imagined the marriage would come before the noticing.

 

Problem was; before all the business with the Emperor and the Masaharus Kaede was pretty certain that Kikyou would probably never have married. Unlike Sango and Kagome, Kikyou did not pay attention to the opposite sex in the way a woman pays attention to a man. She saw them as she saw everyone else; with a polite disregard. She was not interested in men or sex in any way.

 

Kaede knew it was partly fear that kept Kikyou from wondering about men in that way, but she also knew that it wasn't the only reason. It was also ignorance. Her granddaughter didn't know how to open herself to the type of relationship that a youkai male would want from her as his wife. That any man would want.

 

And that's what worried Kaede.

 

She figured now was as good a time as any for her to breach the subject with the younger woman. Kikyou needed to start thinking about what it would mean for her to be a wife and what could possibly happen. The fact that her husband was already able to breach her shields only meant that Kikyou was not unaffected by the inu-youkai.

 

“Ye can not hide ye from such a union if ye wish it to progress.” Kaede waited a heartbeat for her words to sink in, before asking her question. “What happened between ye before ye walls broketh?”

 

“It was the end of the wedding reception and we were… dancing,” answered Kikyou, wondering why what Inuyasha and her had been doing was relevant.

 

“Dancing?” asked the grandmother thoughtfully. “Ye say it was the end of the party… were ye alone? Is that all ye were doing? Nothing more?”

 

“Yes… well, no,” she corrected herself reluctantly. She didn't want to think about the kiss, but for some reason she felt that was exactly what her grandmother was waiting to hear.

 

“He kissed me. And for a moment there was nothing but quiet around me. It was as if all of the feelings, everything, had just stopped and there was - for once - only me. And him, I guess…”

She released a small breath. It was the first time since the kiss that she was putting what she'd felt into words. It made the incident feel even more significant because of it. “Yes, he was there,” she continued, a thoughtful look on her face. “For a moment it was as if I couldn't distinguish him from myself. I didn't know what was mine and what was his… Then he stopped kissing me and the whole room came back.”

 

She looked at her grandmother then, the memory fading from her mind. “That's when I realized my shields were nearly gone.”

 

So it had been a kiss. Kaede had imagined something like that had happened, but it still surprised her that a simple little kiss could throw her granddaughter - her serious-minded granddaughter - so far off her way. She guessed for someone who had never been properly kissed by a man, a simple kiss is all it took.

 

Kaede was so happy she almost made the mistake of smiling at the younger woman.

 

“Ah. That maketh more sense...” Love was a powerful thing. Even the beginnings of love held a magic of its own. “Ye have a feeling for the youkai. Ye must discover what that is.”

 

“A feeling?” she asked, puzzled. “For Inuyasha?” She supposed that could be possible, but she couldn't imagine what it might be. She could admit, if only to herself, that his kiss hadn't been unpleasant, but it had been obvious afterward that he hadn't really wanted to do it.

 

Kaede nodded as she watched her closely.

 

“How do I do that, baasan?” she asked in a grave voice. “How do I figure out what I feel when my shields are failing me? I must learn a new way to protect myself.”

 

“Ye need not a new shield, child,” answered Kaede, eyes on her granddaughter. She waited a heartbeat before saying what she was going to say next, knowing the reaction she would get. “Ye must trust.”

 

Kikyou's eyes widened as she stared at the older woman. “Trust what?” she whispered as her throat locked up and her stomach rolled in apprehension.

 

Kaede couldn't remember the last time she'd seen so much emotion on her granddaughter's face. It was obvious Kikyou was worried or afraid about something.

 

“Him.”

 

With that one word the old woman watched as her granddaughter, Higurashi Kikyou, turned stark white as all the blood drained from her pretty face.

 

*~~*~~*

 

“I guess it's safe to assume that no one else is joining us for lunch,” said InuTaisho with an arched brow at the other two occupants sitting at the large table with him.

 

“It would seem so,” agreed Atsuki with a small smile. She'd arrived just in time to pass her oldest daughter on her way out of the dining room. She'd asked the younger woman if she was hungry and whether her sisters were going to eat as well. All she'd received was a polite `no' and an `I don't believe so' before her daughter had disappeared around a corner. She'd figured her daughters had a lot on their minds; she'd seen Kikyou going up to the third floor which meant she was going to visit her grandmother. And whenever Kikyou went to see Kaede it meant she was troubled.

 

She'd been expecting her daughter to go see the older miko after what happened at the wedding reception with the inu-youkai, knowing her daughter would suspect her barrier was at fault. She'd just figured her daughter would have gone sooner - more like first thing this morning.

 

Looking around the empty table, she smiled as she eyed all the empty seats. It was nice to know her daughters weren't the only ones having difficulties accepting their new positions in life. She almost laughed completely at how `well' things were going when she noticed the identical odd looks aimed at her from the two males at the table.

 

“What?” she asked innocently.

 

“You were grinning…” answered Onigumo, shifting uncomfortably in his seat as he exchanged a look with the other taiyoukai at the table. His wife truly unnerved him sometimes. “It wasn't a nice grin either.”

 

“Nonsense. All my grins are nice,” she said, waving him off.

 

He shook his head. “Okay.”

 

She arched one finely shaped eyebrow, as red as her hair, daring him to disagree.

 

“Hn,” he grunted, but refrained from commenting. “So, why were you… smiling?”

 

“No reason really,” she shrugged elegantly, “I just find it quite… satisfying… that our daughters are not alone in there troubles that's all.”

 

Both males gave her identical questioning looks, but she refused to say anymore. If they weren't going to open there eyes and pay attention to what was happening with their offspring, she wasn't going to bother telling them. They could figure it out on their own.

 

“I wish Ryumi had come,” she sighed as she stood to her feet. “Could you bring her with you next time, InuTaisho?”

 

Atsuki waited for his nod before bidding both men farewell and leaving the dining room, muttering something about feeding her plants.

 

Onigumo cringed inwardly as he watched her leave, imagining his wife around plants…He wondered, idly, which creature deserved his pity more; the innocent plants or his not-so innocent mate.

 

“What?” inquired InuTaisho as he caught the odd look on the other male's face.

 

“My wife… she's not exactly… great with plants, you understand,” he shrugged, turning to look at him.

 

“Ah,” he nodded. There was a wealth of knowledge in that one syllable. InuTaisho remembered Lady Atsuki's near obsession with plants… and how it closely resembled a type of herbicide. He'd never imagined there was anyone worse with plants then Lady Atsuki… until he'd met his current mate, of course.

 

“So, what was that all about before?” he asked, both nodding his head towards the chair Atsuki had vacated and shaking his mind of the disturbing image of his wife strangling a helpless plant.

 

Onigumo stared back at him, wondering if he could come up with a plausible answer, something that would make him sound like he had a clue of what he was talking about when he said it. He opened his mouth to give such a comment then closed it again; changing his mind at the knowing look in the violet orbs watching him.

 

“I have no idea,” he sighed, disgusted with himself.

 

“Hn.” That made two of them.

 

~~*~~*~~

 

Sango stiffened as she heard the door to her bedroom open then close a moment later. She'd decided to lie down when neither of her sisters had shown up for lunch in the dining room. In all honesty, she hadn't been all that hungry either. She'd wanted to talk to her sisters about the little dark haired girl that kept showing up in her visions; the one that knew Masaharu Sesshoumaru, but she'd forgotten with all the excitement that had happened between then and her wedding reception the evening before.

 

She tensed when she felt a body spoon up behind her then slowly relaxed as a familiar hand covered in a soft cloth around the palm appeared around her waist to rest on her stomach.

Bringing her own hand down, she silently laced her fingers with her husbands and squeezed. Pleased he'd followed her she snuggled closer to his warmth and closed her eyes, then slowly drifted into sleep.

 

~~oo~~

 

“She's asleep. It is time,” said the dark haired woman staring into the water at the young woman's sleeping face.

 

“Are you sure?” asked the man with a frown as he stood behind the kneeling woman and stared at the reflection in the waters' surface. “Is there no other way?”

 

“What do you mean?” she asked, aiming a questioning look over her shoulder at him.

 

“I just…” he didn't like it. This was the very thing that had gotten him and the woman before him killed; not to mention countless others. He didn't want that for his girls. “Must we involve them?”

 

“What?” She gave him an incredulous look. “Look at them, Hiroshi!” She waved her hand over the water and two more faces appeared beside the other, forming a triangle shape. “Can't you see it? Don't you realize what they are?”

 

Higurashi Hiroshi stared at the three faces in the water. Each was so similar to the next that one could believe they were triplets. Suddenly each image began to glow, a soft fuchsia light appearing around each woman's face. Crimson eyes narrowed then blinked as they shifted from the images in the water to the woman in front of him and back again.

 

He'd seen that type of light before.

 

“They're already involved,” she whispered, nodding at him though his eyes were not on her.

 

“Midoriko? Are they…?” he questioned, still a bit shocked that he couldn't even finish.

 

She looked back at the water than, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she spoke quietly, “They're my wish.”

 

“How?” he watched the water in awe, observing the three women without their knowledge.

 

“I don't know,” she shook her head. “When I made my wish they were not what I had imagined, but apparently, it's what the jewel provided… They're beautiful aren't they?”

 

He nodded. “Yes.”

 

“And… they're a target,” she sighed. “That's why they need to know. They need to know what truly happened back then, so they will understand and not hate us… hate me.”

 

“They won't hate you Midoriko,” he said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

 

“Perhaps not,” she agreed, knowing that's what her lover wanted to hear. And perhaps they will. “Regardless, they have to know. They can't fight what's unseen, so maybe by knowing the past they'll know where to look.”

 

He turned her to look at him then. Something in what she'd just said made him suspicious. He narrowed his eyes as he locked on to her darker ones. “You know who it is. You know who's after them.”

 

She shook her head in denial though his words hadn't been formed as a question. She lowered her forehead to his chest as she moved closer to him.

 

“I don't know, but I have a suspicion,” she admitted quietly.

 

His voice was hard as he asked his next question. “Who?”

 

She shook her head once more. “Not yet.” She sighed and lifted her face to look at him again. “Let's wait and see, first.”

 

Midoriko waited a moment for his reluctant nod before turning back to the water. She prayed silently that her suspicions would be proven wrong. She was sure Hiroshi was not going to take it well, if her concern proved to be right. She was having trouble with it herself already and it was only a suspicion.

 

Waving her hand over the water once more, she made the younger two sister's images disappear as she focused on the one called Sango. Her hand began to glow with a pink light; her miko powers at work. As she planted the first dream; her first memory of how it all began, she couldn't help wondering if her mate would have come to the same conclusions she had if he'd known the youkai existed.

 

~~oo~~

 

Sango moaned in her sleep as the dream opened. She unconsciously shifted closer to her mate's body, pressing herself closer to his chest as the dream took her over…

 

…The dark haired beauty twirled in circles around her room as she giggled to herself. She was so happy! She'd never imagined this day would come and now that it was here she didn't know how to act or what to think. She was so gloriously happy!!

She pinched the fleshy part of her left arm, just beneath the elbow, to be sure she wasn't dreaming. “Ouch!”

 

“Mistress,” said the servant, trying to hold back her own giggle. She'd never seen the young mistress so happy before and she'd been working for the Okamoto family for nearly twenty winters out of her twenty-five. Sake shook her head in wonder as she tried to get her mistress's attention once more. They didn't have much time left to get the younger woman ready.

 

“Mistress, please,” she said earnestly. Sake was glad she had so much experience dealing with giddy people. Her father was a very happy drunk and tended to get drunk very often, because he loved the potent stuff so much. He loved it so much he even named his only daughter after the beloved drink. “Mistress, we must hurry! His lordship's guests will be arriving any moment and your father wants you present and dressed accordingly. At this rate you'll be lucky to make it to the table with everyone and we still have to do something with your hair!”

 

“Alright, Sake,” sighed the young woman, “As you wish. Though I must admit I'd rather stay here in my room.”

 

“I know, mistress,” nodded the servant as she stepped up behind her mistress as she sat down and began brushing the long mass of thick hair.

 

“Sake?”

 

“Yes, mistress?”

 

“I've always wanted to ask; how did you come by your name?”

 

“Why my father of course, mistress,” she smiled though the other woman could not see since she was facing away from the servant woman. “He named me for his most precious possession. He likes to say to me all the time, “my only precious named after my only precious”.”

 

The sitting woman giggled at that as the servant smiled again.

 

“And what, pray tell, is so funny?” asked a deep, but pleasant voice from the doorway.

Both women turned in surprise then one bowed her head in respect while the other jumped to her feet to hug the unexpected visitor.

 

“Hello papa,” beamed the woman who'd just been getting her hair styled.

 

“My Tsunami,” smiled Takanobu broadly, green eyes sparkling. “I'd ask what put such a beautiful smile on your lovely face, but you look like you're already going to be late to dinner, so I won't delay you.”

 

“Alright papa, I will hurry so as not to keep everyone waiting.”

 

“Thank you. I just came to inform you that Lord Tsutomu and Lady Ayako with their son Lord Hiroshi of the Southern Lands will be joining us for dinner with Lord Takuya and Lady Keiko of the Western Lands.” He missed the extra brightening of his daughter's eyes when he mentioned Lord Hiroshi. “Lord Koji of the West will be joining us a bit later.”

 

It was her turn to miss the look in her father's eyes when he mentioned the Lord Koji.

 

“Alright papa,” she smiled, “The more the merrier, yes?”

 

“Exactly,” he smiled at her then turned to leave. Takanobu stopped at the doorway and turned to his daughter once more before walking out. “Wear something special, sweetheart. I have a special announcement tonight that I'm sure you will like.”

 

She nodded and grinned to her father then waited for him to leave before turning to Sake and letting the servant resume helping her. She hummed to herself the entire time as her mind jumped equally between wondering what her father had to say and the joy of being able to see her love again.

 

There was a moment of silence as the dream seemed to jump through time and the same young woman who'd been so happy just moments ago came rushing back into her room clad in a beautiful kimono made of pale green silk with a peach obi around her waist. She was crying hysterically as she threw herself down on the double size futon, cushioned heavily with blankets and pillows.

 

“No, no, no!” She cried as she shook her head in the negative, screaming to an empty room. “Papa, please don't make me!”

 

Moments later her father came striding into the room. His emerald eyes were no longer smiling, but were now full of angry clouds.

 

“I have promised you to Lord Koji, girl, and you will honor me!” Takanobu roared. “You will marry him or, I promise, you will regret it!”

 

“Papa, no! Please!!” she cried as she turned to him, tears streaming down her face. “I can't papa! Please don't make me!”

 

“I have asked you three times why you can not marry him and three times you have denied me a proper answer,” he spoke quietly, refusing to yell any longer. He waited to see if he would finally receive an answer, but after moments passed and still she said nothing, he gave a silent jerk of his head as he drew himself up to his full five feet and eleven inches of height. To him, the discussion was over.

 

“You will marry Lord Koji to honor my alliance with the Western Lands or you will no longer be an Okamoto. I will disown you and never look upon you again! You will be dead to me,” he breathed out dangerously. “Mark my words Tsunami. I will not hesitate to kill you for this dishonor.”

 

Takanobu stared at his daughter's crying face once more, wanting desperately to wipe her tears and tell her she didn't have to do anything she didn't want to. `My sweet princess…' But he could not do that. He stiffened his shoulders and gave her one last hard look before turning and quickly leaving the room.

 

“Papa please…” whispered Tsunami, desperately. “Hiroshi… help me…I don't know what to do…”

 

~~*~~*~~

 

Sango sucked in a deep breath and sat straight up in bed, shaking like a leaf. She stared straight ahead, eyes wide, as her mind went over what she'd just seen. She could still feel and see everything. She could feel what everyone was thinking, hear their thoughts…. It was like nothing she'd ever experienced before. It was fascinating and scary all at the same time.

 

She wondered, idly, if this was how her sister Kikyou felt all the time and if it was, she couldn't really blame the other girl for putting up a barrier. Sango was shaking and sweating like a pig and she'd only experienced three other people who weren't her. She couldn't imagine what it must feel like to feel dozens of people.

 

Miroku was jerked awake when he felt the sudden movement of his wife. He'd only been meaning to stay with her to watch over her, but had ended up falling asleep himself. Slowly he sat up as he realized the state Sango was in. She was staring straight ahead, sweating, shaking, and eyes huge as if she'd just been frightened out of her mind. He gave a cursory sweep around the room, though he didn't expect to find anything or anyone out of the ordinary since all he could sense in the room was them. Gently he placed a hand to her shoulder and watched in wonder as she flinched just a little, but didn't seem to snap out of whatever type of trance she was in.

 

“Sango?” he called to her, getting worried. This was worse then when he'd found her passed out in the bathroom. “Sango!?”

 

Sango could hear him calling her, but it was as if it was from far away or from the other side of some long tunnel. Shakily she reached over a hand and grabbed his even as her mind stayed trapped in the visions of the pass.

 

“It's begun…” she whispered aloud, not realizing she'd spoken.

 

Miroku gave his mate a curious look as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her trembling form close. As she held tightly to his hand, he waited patiently for her to come back to him. He didn't know what was going on, but it was obvious something was.

 

What's begun? He asked himself the question, but couldn't even begin to try an answer it.

 

 

 

 

Author Note: Well, there's chapter 10. The visions are beginning. This is where the back story of the Feud begins…

 

Chihaya: is the name of the outfit - the red hakamas and white kimono top - worn by temple mikos/priestesses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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