InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The King and I ❯ Wake up and smell the obvious ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter 8

*
**

***
****
***
**
*

“Hey, Pretty Lady, wake up! Hey! Wake up, wake up, wake up!”

 

A tiny finger repeatedly jabbed my cheek, and I groaned. I reached up and grabbed the offending hand before realizing exactly what I was doing.

I shot straight up and stared at the little girl kneeling next to me.

 

“You're awake!”

 

“So are you!” She giggled, and I noticed her slight cough at the end.

 

I took my attention away from the liquid brown eyes peering up at me and began to examine her wound. I unrolled the gauze from her head as she waited patiently. I nearly fainted at what I saw.

She was completely healed. There was no scar, no bruising, nothing to even suggest that there had been a wound there.

 

“It doesn't hurt anymore. Thank you pretty lady.”

I tried to snap out of my shock and took a deep breath.

 

“What's your name?”

“Rin is Rin.”

 

“Rin, eh? Do you remember what happened to you?”

She frowned and her eyes immediately welled up with tears.

 

“Yes. The man took all the money Mama gave Rin and threw me off the horse. Rin fell. He told me Mama was dead.”

 

She began to cry, tears pouring down her cheeks like rain, and I pulled her close, still gentle despite the lack of injury.

 

“My name is Kagome, Rin- and this is your home now.”

 

 

When she had calmed down some, she'd taken every bandage off of her body and tried to put on her tattered kimono. She'd almost burst into tears again when she saw the state of her only clothing.

 

“Don't worry; I'll make you a new one. For now, you can use one of the spares I dress my patients in. It'll be a bit big on you, but it's all I have right now.”

With the promise of new clothes and a brand new home that still needed to be explored, she brightened up immediately. I heated up the leftovers from the previous night as she washed her face and hands in the stream outside.

I did my best not to think about that night, rather focusing on my new ward.

 

“Pretty La-I mean, Kagome-chan! Are they clean enough?” She asked, showing me her hands. I nodded, and handed her a bowl. As we ate, I was able to get more information from her. Her real birth parents had been dead since she was a baby, and another woman had actually taken her in before me.

 

“Mama was hiding though. Some bad people were after her and she had to go to the next kingdom. But she said she would send for me, and she did. But then that man did that bad thing to Rin.”

I could feel the sadness coming over her again, and changed the subject by asking her what color cloth she wanted for her new clothes.

After our meal, Rin had insisted on inspecting every inch of the house, and questioned every bottle or dried herb she saw. I explained in brevity, but inside was excited at her genuine excitement. She was ready to learn, and now I was itching to teach.

 

We set out for town soon after. I watched as she chased after butterflies, and picked just about every flower we came upon. The kimono was bunched up around her knees, and she looked just as funny as she did adorable. But at least she was comfortable and untroubled.

I on the other hand, was still trying to make sense out of Rin's overnight recovery. Despite the lingering cough, and the soreness of where her injury once was, she was perfectly healthy. Like nothing had ever happened.

 

“Just like magic…,” I murmured, before stopping dead in my tracks. I raised a hand to my mouth. `Oh Kami…did I?…'

 

Back when I was very young, about Rin's age, my elder sister had fallen ill. Despite the constant reassurances that she would be fine, I could see through all the lies-she was dying.

One night, when I was sure she was just about gone, I snuck into her room since I'd long since been forbidden to go inside without supervision. That night, I lay down with my sister, and held her tight, praying for some kind of miracle to save her.

 

The next morning, my sister walked for the first time in four months. Within a few days, she was back to normal, as healthy as she'd always been. Like nothing had ever happened.

 

My mother claimed that I had been the one to save her.

 

My father felt differently.

 

A priestess had come to our home once, soon after that incident, claiming that she'd been drawn by some unseen power. She'd declared I was something called a miko, and asked to train me in their ways. I hadn't known what a miko was then. I still didn't to this day.

 

My father had turned her away, claiming she was imagining things. That I was just a normal little girl, not some strange miko.

 

For that reason, I'd never learned the true extent of my powers. That contributed to my leaving, the fact that my own father could not acknowledge what I was.

 

But now, it had happened again. It could not be a coincidence- I had done this. And now I was another step closer to understanding the sense I'd been born with.

I smiled when I realized just what that really meant.

 

I'd chosen the right path by coming here to help these people. I had been born to heal

 

When we reached the town, I was greeted warmly. Rin was a source of interest, and she adored the attention the town women lavished on her. Finally I pulled her away and we walked to the seamstress's house. After picking out a few bolts of cloth for Rin's new clothes, I snuck some coins onto her work table. She always claimed that whatever I left with would be free, but I couldn't take without giving something.

 

From there, we made our way to the area where passing merchants would show off their wares. I wanted to find a new pair of sandals for Rin, despite her protests that she didn't like them. She'd obviously taken notice of my own aversion to the things.

I hardly ever wore anything on my feet, preferring the feel of the earth and grass beneath me. The only exception was when the snow came.

 

I gave in and just bought a pair for myself as well, and just as planned, when I slipped mine on, she followed suit.

 

With our items in tow, we started back to the main road.

 

“Kagome-chan!”

I groaned aloud but still turned when I heard the voice of the one person I'd hoped to avoid.

 

“Hello Hojo-kun. How are you?”

“I'm well, and you?”

“Fine.”

“I heard you had some trouble.”

“No, not trouble, just a patient.”

He frowned and I readied myself for the lecture he was about to give me.

 

“Kagome-chan, I've told you before. Your remedies are just fine for common illness, but real injury should be looked at by the trained doctor. We both know that is not you. But I would be happy to make the walk to your home to see the patient and supervise.”

“I'll save you the walk. She's right here.”

He finally noticed the small girl holding my hand and staring up blankly at him. He frowned again and knelt down so they were eye level.

 

“What's wrong with her? She looks healthy to me.”

“And she is now. I've said it before, Hojo-kun. I may not be trained, but I do know what I'm doing. That is why these people make the choices they do when they need help. It was nice seeing you.”

 

I turned and began to walk away, stopped when Rin did not follow. Instead she was still staring at Hojo, who remained kneeling.

 

“Kagome-chan. You have to stop your meddling-”

Before he could finish, Rin had kicked him hard in the shin, sending him back on the ground in pain. She stood rigid over him, her tiny fists clenched tight at her sides.

 

“Don't talk to Kagome-chan like that! She made Rin better, and now she's Rin's new Mama, and Rin loves her!”

 

She turned on her heel, and without a word, slipped her hand back into mine. We shared a smile and started back home.

 

*

*

*

***

***

*

*

*

 

In only a few days, everything had become second nature to Sesshomaru. The fear in the eyes of his servants when he scowled; the respect of the Lords of the Council when he made a wise decree; the confident smirk on his face when he saw his reflection.

 

Yes…it was good to be the king.

 

He often wondered how he'd taken to being Inuyasha so easily. After all, only a few days ago, he was still quiet, shy, scared little Sesshomaru-the only eldest son in the history of their kingdom that had been passed over. Now he was outspoken, loud, and even rather obnoxious at times.

If only his father and adoptive mother could see him now.

Better yet, if only his real mother could. Then that woman would see how strong and independent he could really be, without her constant hold over him.

 

Tsukoya. She'd been a harsh woman, with an equally harsh tongue. His father had made it no secret that he was not happy with this arranged marriage. But he was a man of honor, and respected his wife as was his duty. He also saw that Sesshomaru was separated from her as much as possible. Sesshomaru preferred to think that he was being saved instead.

 

Why she found it so hard to treat her son well was a mystery to anyone. She'd been overbearing in everything that he did, from his studies, to his training, even his hygiene. Not one detail was overlooked, and if he made any mistake, he was publicly humiliated.

Even when she'd taken ill, she would not relent in her constant criticism. That was why he refused to visit her the night she died. That was why he'd never cried or mourned for her.

If anything, he was glad she was dead.

 

But when it came to Izayoi, things were very different. If anyone had shown him unconditional love, it was her. She immediately took him in as her very own, not caring that they shared not even a drop of blood-that they were not even of the same race. Demon or human, it was all the same to her. She knew that no matter what they were, everyone felt.

 

Soon after his father married her, Inuyasha was born. Not only did he have a real mother, but now a little brother. Someone he could look after and protect. Though it actually turned out to be the other way around.

 

Inuyasha was independent from the minute he could walk. He would wander off on his own, play with the peasant children, until eventually one of the parents would recognize him and drop him back off at the palace. Sesshomaru sometimes followed, and would join in the adventure even though he was old enough to know better. But the times he had with Inuyasha and the other children healed him more than just the love of Izayoi could have done alone.

 

There were still bullies, and older children who did not like the idea of classes mixing, and since he was bigger, Sesshomaru would be their target. But time and time again, the younger brother would show that he was the strong one, and before long, the bullying stopped.

 

He felt useless compared to Inuyasha, but did not hold it against him. They were simply two different kinds of people, and that would just be the way things were. So when their father passed away and Inuyasha was named king, he was neither bitter nor surprised.

 

It was a hard time for everyone, but somehow the younger boy had been able to make the transition to leader easily. He commanded attention every time he entered a room, and now he commanded an entire country.

Sesshomaru did his best to counsel this brother, though mostly in private. Though he never spoke up during councils or meetings, he did have opinions and even ideas. Inuyasha was always open to everything he said, and implemented more than a few of them. What was more-he never took the credit when it was not due to him. For that, the other lord's view of him changed dramatically. Things started to get better, and not too soon after Inuyasha assumed the throne, Sesshomaru spoke for the first time at a grand council.

 

But all was not well in the palace itself. Although he was a great leader, Inuyasha was still weak in the eyes of his court. His mixed blood was always a problem to them, and spies began to turn up all over their home. It seemed that the other lords were seeking to undermine their young king, and wanted to overthrow him.

 

At Sesshomaru's advice, Inuyasha took swift action, and several Lords were exiled with little or no warning. The situation was mostly resolved, thought the whispers of unrest continued to hum just below the surface.

 

Tragedy struck the brothers again not a year after losing their father. Izayoi took ill, and within a month or so, was gone. Sesshomaru sat with her everyday, seeing that she was tended to and taken care of, but nothing helped. She simply wasted away before their eyes.

 

It was obvious why it had happened. Ever since her beloved husband had died, she'd been haunted, almost broken by his absence. She did nothing to hide her depression in private, though she did keep her head held high when in public. Only her two sons and closest subjects saw the agony she went through each day.

 

Sango had been her main handmaiden, and Miroku her spiritual advisor. They each had worked long and hard to try and nurse her spirit back to health, but to no avail.

 

The only thing left to do was to say goodbye.

 

Sesshomaru had been so heartbroken and numb, that not even the barbed insults of his mother could have had any affect. He simply shut the rest of the world out, and wallowed in his own misery.

 

Inuyasha, who was only fifteen at the time, had his hands full with a conflict with the southern kingdom, and had no time to console his brother, let alone even have time to mourn for Izayoi himself.

 

It had taken years for Sesshomaru to recover and become who he was up until a few days ago.

But now…

 

Now he was his father's successor. He was the one responsible for the well being of the kingdom and everyone in it, human or demon.

 

Now, Sesshomaru, Son of Sugimi and survivor of the late Tsukoya was Lord and King of the Western Lands.

 

“My Lord? There is a messenger awaiting you in the throne room.”

 

He waved dismissively at the young page, and took a deep breath before standing to leave.

 

Right now, Inuyasha was out there on his own, looking for a queen to bring back and to once again assume his power. Then Sesshomaru would go back to his place on the side, the private counselor, the quiet and shy man sitting beside the ruler on his throne.

 

The more he thought about it…the more he secretly hoped Inuyasha's mission would take longer than expected. The more he secretly wished his time in the sun would be prolonged, and that he would not have to return to his previous position.

 

He looked in the mirror just beside the door and smiled wide at what he saw there.

 

It wasn't Inuyasha's form he was seeing, with a crown atop his head. It was his.

 

“Take your time Inuyasha. I'm in no hurry.”

 

With that, he turned and made his way to the courier awaiting him down the hall.

 

 

*
**
*
**
*

 

Miroku and I spoke very little on our way to the capital. We'd hitched a ride with a merchant headed that way, and sat in silence except for a few comments on the towns we passed.

 

My mind was filled with a million different things, none of which I felt compelled to share with the monk. But with the sympathetic looks he constantly sent my way, I could tell I didn't even have to say anything.

 

He knew I didn't want to continue searching for a wife. I'd already found the woman I wanted.

But I couldn't choose her, not even if I could convince her to come with me. Kagome was still just a regular peasant girl, and there was nothing I could do to change that. Myouga and the court would never accept her as queen.

 

We reached the capital sometime in the afternoon, and the merchant dropped us at the nicest inn he could find. When we were settled into our room, Miroku launched into the planning of our mission.

 

“I know you'd rather not think about this yet, but we do still have very important business to at attend to. We only have a limited amount of time before-“

”Just get on with it, monk. What's your plan?”
He blinked in surprise before replying.

 

“Oh. I see you're ready then. Well, as you know, if anyone here were to find out your identity, I have no doubt we'd be in a lot of trouble. Therefore, before we took our leave, I had some of my more talented acquaintances draw up these documents for us.”

 

He reached into his robes and pulled out several scrolls rolled together. As he laid them out smooth, I realized that when he said “talented acquaintances” he meant great forgery artists. I'd seen many a legal document in my day, from each of the other three territories. And even I couldn't tell they were fakes…

 

“I should have your acquaintances thrown in prison-Kami know what else they're up to.”

 

He smiled mischievously, and shuffled the scrolls casually.

 

“They're no longer engaged in the criminal acts you so readily accuse them of. If anything I had to go to great lengths to get their assistance in this. Of course mentioning the name of my Lord helped a bit.”

 

“Along with a few pieces of gold, I assume,” I said, rolling my eyes. His silence was all the answer I needed. “Whatever. Just tell me what our story is-and I do hope you have one.”

 

“Of course-I have everything covered. As you can see from our papers, you are a young lord from the South, in search of a strong family to marry into. I've listed your proposed dowry here, which I think would be most pleasing to the eyes of a Northern lord. If anything, they'll be throwing their daughters at your feet. Ahh….what I wouldn't give to be in your shoes….err…or lack thereof.”

 

He caught my glare, but ignored it, still seeming to contemplate my feet.

 

“What the hell are you staring at Monk? You got the same thing on the ends of your legs!”

 

“My Lord, as adverse as you are to wearing them, I'm afraid we'll have little success with our mission if you appear less than…respectable. I believe a pair of sandals is in order.”

 

“Fuck no!”

 

“I for one didn't miss the look from our innkeeper as we arrived. If you don't fit the part, we'll fail. And we cannot return without your bride. For the sake of your country…You have no choice.”

 

I mulled his words over for a moment, my ire rising with each passing second, and I knew he was right. I watched as he reached into his pack, pulling out his extra pair and presenting them to me silently pleading for me to take them. Roughly, I snatched them, then waved a dismissive hand at him. He took the hint and rose, mumbling something about doing some research about the families we were to visit later that evening. As I heard the door slide shut behind him, I let out the breath I'd been holding, and threw the sandals across the room, hitting the wall with a dull thud.

 

“I have no choice….fucking story of my life, Monk….,”

 

 

I lay back on the wooden floor, not caring to walk the two extra feet to the futon spread out beside me, and stared up at the ceiling. I'd done the same thing the night before, in Kagome's home, thinking about the same sort of things. About how unfair my life was. About how I started to wonder more and more if I was really the King my father had expected me to be. About how much I wished I could see Kagome's face one more time…

 

Later that night, Miroku returned, informing me that he'd set up a meeting between us and a very influential cloth merchant with several daughters. The chances of me finding a bride among them seemed good since I had “so many to choose from” as Miroku put it. I of course was not nearly as enthusiastic, but had learned long ago, that didn't matter. I had a duty to fulfill, whether I liked it or not.

 

I briefly wondered if I would ever be able to keep the promise I made to my mother before she died. She wanted me to be happy, but knew I had responsibilities that took precedence over such a thing. Did she mean to contradict herself? Or was she just so sick, she'd forgotten about what I had to do? Was she trying to tell me something different, something that I just hadn't quite grasped?

 

How could I marry a woman I'd never love? How could I be happy knowing I'd never have who I really wanted…

 

How had I fallen in love with Kagome, and not even known it until this moment?

 

Quickly, I shook that thought out of my head, knowing that no matter how profound it was for me personally, I could not pursue or ever have the only woman to ever win me over.

Besides…she'd made it obvious the feeling was far from mutual…

 

As we made our way to leave, Miroku cleared his throat and I turned. He held the pair of sandals I'd carelessly thrown earlier, glancing away to avoid my glare at his reminder. With a deep sigh, I accepted my fate, and slipped the foreign feeling things on. I tried to fight the feelings of anger I suddenly felt for my parents, for putting me in such a position, for giving this burden of responsibility to the son who by all means was the definition of wrong in the eyes of the court.

 

My anger silent, but certainly not veiled, we turned and made our way to the house of Lord Fujitama.

 

*

*

**

***

**

*

*

 

 

 

“Kagome-chan? What does this one do?”

 

I glanced up from the herbs I was harvesting to see what Rin was referring to this time. I blanched at what she was pointing at, and as she leaned over to pull a leaf off, practically tackled her to the ground. She giggled, probably thinking I was just being playful, but unaware that I'd just saved her from perhaps the most annoying plant I'd ever come across: Poison Ivy.

 

“Rin, sweetie, you have to make me a promise,” I said after righting myself and kneeling next to her. “Can you do that?”

 

“Yes, Kagome-chan.”

 

“Okay, you have to promise never to touch a plant if you don't know what it is. See, not all that surrounds us is good for us. And this one right here is very bad for us. This is called Poison Ivy. I think the name should say enough.”

 

“What does it do?”

“It gives us the worst itch we've ever felt in our lives. I learned that the hard way-and if possible, always try to learn from the mistakes of another.”

 

She nodded profusely, suddenly very wary of the seemingly innocent plant swaying in the light breeze. I smiled, and turned her head to meet my eyes. I stroked her face comfortingly, and she flashed a cute toothless grin in return.

 

“Now, if you happen to come upon someone who has been unfortunate enough to touch this plant, here's what you can do to alleviate some of their suffering.”

 

For the rest of the afternoon, I babbled on and on about medicinal herbs and plants, and though I was sure she didn't remember it all now, if I continued to teach her, she would eventually become as expert as I was.

I of course had had to teach myself all that I imparted now… but she didn't need to know those details. I was grateful that Rin had never asked any questions that would make me have to lie to her. I hoped she would never ask where my family was, or why I really lived alone.

 

Inuyasha had asked, though. He had been curious, and genuinely so…

 

For the umpteenth time, I found my mind wandering back to the previous morning, when Inuyasha had caressed my cheek. The traces of emotion behind that action still lingered on my skin, and once in a while, the area would tingle just a little, as if reliving that wonderful feeling.

 

Later that evening, as Rin was dozing off, her head in my lap as I brushed her hair, I let myself admit that I at least wouldn't mind seeing him just one more time.

 

`Maybe he will come back…on his way back home?'

 

But another part of me wondered if I had been too harsh with him that night-maybe he didn't want to come back? I certainly hadn't been very inviting. I couldn't blame him if he never showed his face in my neck of the woods ever again. And if he didn't, I would have to live with that. It was my choice, my mistake, and now, my regret.

 

Just another among many…

 

A sudden knock at my door startled me from my thoughts, and I practically shoved Rin off my lap. Luckily, she was so deep asleep, she barely noticed. Breathing a sigh of relief from that, I set her on my futon, and got up to answer the door.

 

It wasn't uncommon for me to get visitors this late, but as I approached the door, I began to wonder why no one had yet called a greeting out. The villagers always did so as a sign of courtesy and reassurance. Suddenly, I realized, I could not feel any aura outside my door.

 

Again, there was a knock, and I froze mid-step at my last realization. I was experienced enough to know there were demons who could mask their presence-what if this was one? I then wondered what luck I would have holding up against such a power? Kami knew one brittle little door would not stop something like that…

 

And as I felt my heart begin to race, and my breathing come a tiny bit faster, a lone golden voice called out from beyond the door.

 

“Fear not child. I mean ye no harm.”

 

It was the voice of an old woman, the tone very sage and confident. And although I relaxed some, I still had no intentions of letting anyone in without knowing their intentions first.

 

“Who are you? What do you want?”

 

“I am but an old woman, seeking shelter for the night. I fear I may have frightened ye, calling at such a late hour as this. But I assure ye, I bring no harm to this healing place.”

 

I opened my mouth to ask why an old woman would be traveling so late, when I caught what she had said.

 

“…this healing place…”

 

“How did you know I was a healer?” I asked, wincing slightly at the quiver in my voice. She was silent for a moment, but I could hear her step closer to the door. Finally she answered, her voice low and calm

 

“To not feel the power that flows inside ye child, I'd have no right to claim myself a Miko.”

 

*

***

**

***

*

 

This was bad.

This was really, really bad…

 

“Shit,” Sesshomaru muttered into his hands, the word suddenly feeling very foreign to him. Hidden behind the guise of Inuyasha, he'd found it natural to use such language, seemingly taking on his younger brother's rude manner.

At the moment though, he'd never felt more like himself.

 

Right now he was terrified.

 

The messenger had left the room almost an hour ago, yet he was still frozen in the same position, face buried in his hands, hunched over, elbows on his knees. He hadn't spoken a word after the young human had imparted his news, but the way his face had fallen surely had been enough of a dismissal, and he'd slipped out quietly.

 

Alone, he'd sat there, contemplating the doom that awaited him, the spectacular disaster that only he, Sesshomaru, could achieve.

 

In less than two days, the princess of the North would arrive in his kingdom, with a marriage proposal written by the hand of Lord Naraku himself.

 

No, the irony was not missed on him-the fact that they'd gone through such great lengths to conceal Inuyasha's absence from the throne, the very reason for that absence; and here, the Lord of the North was practically dropping his daughter off in the lap of the Western King.

 

And as the realization hit him for the umpteenth time, Sesshomaru swallowed hard-he was the King of the West!

 

“Ah, My Lord?”

 

Not bothering to look up at the woman who'd just entered the room, Sesshomaru waved dismissively, really not wanting to talk. Maybe she's just go away….

 

“Don't even think that pansy little hand thing is going to make me turn and walk away. Didn't work for your brother, and it's certainly not going to work for you.”

 

Her voice was calm, but from years of living with her, He knew Sango's eyes were probably gleaming with anger. He'd watched her and Inuyasha clash -err…interact many times, and he knew well she was not a woman to be dealt with so rudely. Sometimes he wondered how the monk had managed to live up to this day.

 

As he continued to sit there, still not bothering to raise his head, the air in the room grew less tense, and Sango took a few steps towards him.

“My Lord? Is something wrong?”

 

He nodded, admittedly a little relieved that he had an opportunity to get his problems off his chest. While Sango and his brother often rubbed each other the wrong way, he'd always found her to be much like the sister he'd never had.

He lifted his head, and from the way she reacted, he could only guess his face told her to expect the worst. But she didn't stop coming, and after making sure she'd closed the door behind her, she stood in front of him and embraced him.

 

“Tell me what's wrong, Sesshomaru.”

 

He smiled, surprised at how nice it felt to be addressed by his own name for once. Sango only did it in private, when it was just the two of them.

He withdrew from the embrace, and Sango just smiled at him calmly, petting his hair to help soothe him.

 

“Things are going to get rather complicated Sango. Naraku is sending his daughter here with a marriage proposal in two days time. And I don't know what to do.”

 

She furrowed her brows, nodded vaguely in acknowledgement of the situation, but showed no other outward signs of distress.

 

“There's no way for us to reach Inuyasha in time is there?” He asked, somewhat hopeful.

 

“You know there isn't. Even with our best courier, we don't even know where he is in the North. Tracking him down and getting him back here-that would require four days at the least.”

 

“I don't know how to handle this Sango. I'm…afraid. I'm afraid that I'll do the wrong thing, or that I'll blow my cover-I'm afraid of her.”

 

“She's just a girl Sesshomaru-there's nothing she can do to hurt you. We can handle this, don't you worry. All we have to do is distract her long enough to get a hold of Inuyasha, and then once he's here, he can do the rest.”

 

“But the proposal-what about that?”

 

“I think it's obvious that we have to accept it. I doubt our Inuyasha will find a better wife than the daughter of the Northern King, eh?” She said confidently, cocking an eyebrow.

 

“I suppose you're right…Sango, sometimes I think you should be the one in this chair.”

 

“And sometimes I think you're right at home there.”

 

With a big smile at his surprised reaction, Sango turned and left the room without another word.

 

Not a minute after she left, Myouga burst into the room, and Sesshomaru noted that his eye did indeed twitch like Inuyasha so often joked about.

 

“My Lord! I just heard the news! What a great and terrible thing to happen all at once! We must find a way to deal with this accordingly, and quietly too, so as not to alert the court! Above all things, we cannot jeopardize the real king's life.”

 

It was strange, right then, after hearing Sango's words, that Myouga's words would have such an adverse affect on him. Abruptly, Sesshomaru stood, hands fisted at his sides.

 

“The moment Inuyasha set foot into the Northern territory, I became the real king. If you doubt that I understand the importance of acting swiftly, you highly underestimate me, and I will not tolerate that from you or from anyone. Understood?”

 

With his head craned back to meet his eyes, Myouga looked up at him with the same respect he'd so often directed at his father. And it felt good…

 

“My Lord. I apologize, please forgive my words. I only worry for your brother's safety.”

 

Sesshomaru, sat down again, please to hear the apology, but not bothering to acknowledge it.

“Send our fastest courier to the Northern territory. He is to seek out my brother at once, and inform him of the situation. Knowing Inuyasha, he will cease any courting he might have engaged in, and promptly return home. When he does, we will switch positions once again.”

 

“Very good my Lord, I'll send the order down at once. But…I trust you know it will take some time to track down our Lord. What shall we do in the meantime?”

 

“I will play along, as I have these past few days. There is nothing more that we can do but…distract her, so to speak,” he grinned, wondering if Sango would playfully accuse him of stealing her idea.

 

“Ah, very wise my Lord.”

 

“We have little time-go and send out the order.”

 

With a small bow before turning to exit the room, Myouga hopped out, and Sesshomaru was left to gather his thoughts again.

 

He had to somehow plan on what to say, and what to do once the princess arrived. It was strange to think he'd be associating with the woman soon to be his brother's wife. But then again, it would be no more than two days. Surely she didn't expect to be wed within a week of arriving?

 

Though it would be a delicate situation, this was most fortuitous. Sango had said it best-there was no way Inuyasha would find a better wife. It was known that Northern tradition required each generation of princess to be well educated, able to both read and write independently; on the contrary, the daughters of Lords had no such standards, and very few ever learned to do much on their own. Maybe if the princess who was currently en route was more refined, she would also be more desirable to his brother. Kami knew he hated a brainless woman.

 

After much time and thinking, he'd come up with a very rough, but reliable battle plan to properly deal with this incoming wife business. He'd spend the next two days mentally preparing himself-until then, it was all a matter of waiting.

 

 

*

*

*

***

***

*

*

*

 

Been a long time, ne? Sorry for the wait. Hope the chapter lived up to standard ^_^”

“My Will” should also be updated shortly. Thanks for all the support, e-mails, and reviews.

 

~Sabi~

 

BTW: I am in fact female. No worries, though, Drake-thanks for letting folks know what was up ^_^