InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Tale of Sesshoumaru ❯ Akanesuji's Ass ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I do not own copyright to any of the Inuyasha characters. Wish I did. I make no profit off of my fan fiction. Wish I did.

 

Disclaimer #2: I do own the character of Akanesuji and Smart Ass. If you would like to use them, please contact me at skycladstrega@yahoo.com

 

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Music played in the forest. A sound Sesshoumaru had not heard for many months. It was far enough away that it was but a gentle buzzing in his ear, but yet so clear that every note was clear and clean. He raised a single eyebrow, recognizing it as a traditional tune every graceful noble would have memorized.

 

“Lord Sesshoumaru,” Jaken said, “Do you hear that music?” The dog-demon gave the smallest nod. “Does your lordship wish to investigate?”

 

“I don't hear anything thing.” Rin said with a frown. Tugging on his sleeve she asked, “Can we go hear the pretty music?”

 

Sesshoumaru looked down into her deep brown eyes. They were filled with hope and her cheeks were rosy. How could he refuse her? Surely he as the biggest, baddest demon in the area could protect her from a wandering musician.

 

The road ahead was familiar, and he knew the sound did not come from there. They would have to sneak into the thick of the forest to find the source. Giving Jaken the order to watch Rin as he did a preliminary investigation, he set to jumping from high tree limb to high tree limb until the source was insight.

 

In a tiny clearing, no bigger than a space for a few tents and a fire pit was a woman sitting on a downed tree. Her skin was palest white, a tint only available on a fellow demon. Her hair was pulled into two large horsetails, tightly wrapped in silk cording so that they stood a foot above her scalp. The hair dangled down a bright ruby red. The woman wore a uniform similar to a demon hunter. It was tight fitting, made from the black hide of a demon eel. Her back was to him and she showed no sign of acknowledgment.

 

When her song was done, she perked her nose into the air and drew a deep breath. “My Great Lord Sesshoumaru” she gently whispered. She turned and fell to her knees, placing her hands before her and placing her head upon them in traditional custom. With ease he sprang from the trees to the soft forest floor, drawing a deep breath himself. It was a relief to come across someone who acknowledged his rank and power and not put up a fight. He wasn't in the mood for yet another slaying. Not today anyway.

 

“You recognize me, yet I do not recognize you.” he calmly spoke.

 

“I am no one of consequence to you my great lord.” She never raised her eyes, speaking softly into her hands. There was no need to raise her voice, knowing that the great lord heard her.

 

“You are a vassal of my land?”

 

“Hai”.

 

“Then you are of consequence to me.”

 

“I am the handmaid and champion of the Lady Akanesuji. I am of no consequence to you.”

 

Sesshoumaru's mouth made a subtle quirk which the bowing woman could not see. “Surely you have a name.” His tone stayed even, though inside he wanted to growl. Lady Akanesuji was not his favorite subject.

 

“Hai.”

 

“And what is it?”

 

“Respectfully my great lord, it is of no consequence to you.”

 

“Do you mean to disrespect me?”

 

“No my lord.”

 

“Then spit it out.”

 

“You may call me ass, my lord,” she replied just as even and coolly as he did.

 

This would simply not do. “Tell me Ass, you say you serve the Lady Akanesuji.”

 

“Hai.”

 

“And Lady Akanesuji serves me.”

 

“Unfortunately so my great lord.”

 

“So thus you serve me,” he paused. “Ass”.

 

“Hai.” she said, once again taking an even tone. Well that was clear enough. The servant before him owed allegiance to him and would be obedient.

 

“You are Lady Akanesuji's Ass?”

 

“Hai.” she said confidently with great pride in her voice.

 

“Ass. What is your family name?” he asked with a raised brow.

 

“It is Smart, my great lord.” she said in all seriousness.

 

Sesshoumaru took in a deep breath out of frustration. “Your name is Smart Ass?”

 

“Yes my great lord. My mother was Smart Bitch, and my father Smart Son of a Bitch.”

 

Sesshoumaru could take it no longer. “Raise your face.”

 

Ass did so, still maintaining the submissive body pose. At once her chin was rested on her unmoving hands. Sparkling golden eyes gleamed at him under low cropped bangs that covered her forehead. A pert little mouth stayed straight and motionless. A battle of wills was taking place. A battle to see who would crack first.

 

Sesshoumaru was drawn in wither he liked it or not. He would not loose to a lowly servant of a minor noble. Curiosity rarely got the best of him, but like all creatures big and small, he was not perfect. “You are dog demon.” he stated.

 

“Hai.”

 

“And what? You stink of human horses too.”

 

“That is why my name is Ass, great lord. Bitch cheated on my Son of a Bitch father with a donkey demon. I am sad to say I am not the daughter of Son of a Bitch, but that of Mother Fucker.”

 

“Enough!” Sesshoumaru exclaimed. “You are a fool”.

 

“Hai, my great lord. I am only one of two fools the Lady Akanesuji has ever loved.”

 

“And let me guess who you think the other one is.”

 

Ass let a slow, steady and wicked grin cross across her face. Insulting the almighty demon lord was incredibly easy. He walked right into it. Sesshoumaru wasn't nearly as impressed with her wit as she was. In fact he was contemplating snapping her little white neck with the stomp of his foot. At that moment, a snap and a crash was heard in the trees, announcing Jaken and Rin, the former trying desperately to catch the latter. Wiggling a toe or two inside his boot, he kept them remaining on the ground.

 

“Sesshoumaru-sama, did you find the pretty music?” Rin squeaked out as Jaken grabbed at her sleeve in a desperate attempt to hold her back and cover her mouth. Her fingers were grubby from falling in the dirt a few times, a smudge across one cheek. Jaken panted loudly, the two headed staff dragging upon the ground unceremoniously.

 

“I found an Ass.” he said, refusing to blow up in front of Rin and squishing the disturbing servant into a mass of red bloody pulp. That would only frighten Rin and cause her much distress.

 

Rin spoke what Jaken would not. “She is not an Ass, Sesshoumaru-sama. She does not have big gray ears and pointy feet.” Grabbing her wild horse tailed hair she jumped across her back and began to jump around. She giggled merrily, “but she does play horsey good.” she said with a kick to the servant's sides.

 

“She claims she is an ass, and so we shall call her Ass.” Sesshoumaru said, laughing deep inside where no one could see, for Rin had evened them up quite well. “Ass. Play for Rin.”

 

“Shall I play horsey for lady Rin, or shall I play the shamisen for Lady Rin?” the woman asked in all seriousness.

 

“You shall play as Rin commands.” he said, taking his leave to sit against a tree and watch the proceeding merriment. Jaken seemed confused, but would not speak lest he anger the great demon dog. Sesshoumaru was impressed that the other demon did not protest at playing with a human child or even bring it up. She did not question why he had a human child in tow, or that he had given her power over a demon. While Ass was certainly a smart ass, she was gracefully obedient to the child. That was a good trait in a servant.

 

Rin wiggled off her and stood before the still kneeling servant, her hands resting on her knees as she looked down. “I want you to play the pretty music horsey lady.”

 

Ass sat again on the fallen log. Patting it she beckoned to Rin to sit next to her. She closed her eyes and took a breath as if cleansing herself of all negative thoughts, and with deft hands she manipulated the strings. The instrument came alive with sound, a happy tune that delighted the little girl who kicked her feet out in time. The demon smiled and watched the little girl giggle and squirm, ignoring his lordship entirely.

 

After the first few tunes, Sesshoumaru allowed himself to drift in thought, his eyes still fixed upon the females having a splendid time. He was a younger man once again in his mind, a fresh young lad ready to take over a battalion of his father's great army of demon warriors. Not only had his father ruled by his strong arm, but by the love of his men. Sesshoumaru had spent every day of the last five years training in the arts of war. Mornings were hand to hand combat and weapons, afternoons were tactics, logistics and soldiering. From the walls of the castle overlooking the training fields, a sickly sounding koto was being played by Lady Akanesuji. Occasionally a yelp was heard, or the koto mistress yelling “again”. The men would elbow each other, “You better hope she gets better my lord, or you are going to be a miserable man.” “Lady Akanesuji sure can charm the birds in their nests.” “Your cousin can carry a bucket better than a tune.”

 

It was years before Akanesuji got it right. Her knuckles were always red and sore when he saw her, her fingertips swollen. Why she didn't give up he never knew. Music was a pretty useless skill anyway.

 

When his father and her mother arranged their marriage, she played the koto that morning. His father sat at the head of the room on an elevated mat while all of the nobles lined the edges of the room. Servants carried the koto in and she made the most regal entrance. Her snow white hair had been drawn into an elaborate style with large combs of tortoise shell and alabaster. Her maidservants must have worked on it all morning for her dog demon hair was overly full and not very silky. It fluffed more than it laid straight. Several kimonos and a fine silk furisode graced her in pinks and plums and on the outside a brilliant red obi brocaded in white herons. Akanesuji walked in tiny steps, her feet tightly bound for years. Gracefully she knelt before the koto and played, never looking at those who watched her.

 

When her song was done, she took her position beside him and when the formalities were done, the women were dismissed to their wing. Her constant chaperon followed her closely as she walked out the door.

 

It wasn't that he hated Akanesuji. He hated what she had become. She was a shell of the girl he grew up with, a painted up and preened lady, shallow and weak. Akanesuji had once been vibrant and laughing, but in those moments, she was nothing but a preserved flower, dry and pressed for all eternity.

 

Blinking Sesshoumaru realized it was growing dark. Ass was playing coarser tunes, the kinds the farm servants played to entertain themselves. They were silly and lighthearted, and Rin continued to hop about. With a wild strum, Ass finished her latest song and stood, arms reaching for the air. She took a flourished bow to the little child. “Sesshoumaru, can we stay here the night? There is already a fire and horsey lady has a tent I can sleep in. Please, oh please?”

 

He wasn't too thrilled with this idea, but staying would save him finding another suitable spot. He gave a simple slight nod as he was known to do, and Rin clapped her hands excitedly. Ass was most pleased and within minutes she had two pots over the fire, one filled with a soup made of dried soybean curds and meats, the other a soup made of other...unmentionable meats that smelled of rotten cheeses.

“Oh yuk, horsey lady. That smells awful.”Rin declared.

 

Ass added more small bits of wood to the fire and stirred the pots with a broken arrow. “That one is not for you. It is for our lord should he want it. If he does not, then Jaken and I shall eat it. It is dried demon slugs and a paste of...cough...cough...liver.”

 

Jaken smiled and clapped his hands. Sneaking up to Ass he whispered in her direction, “I hope he does not want any. I love..cough...cough...liver.” Realizing what he had said, he stuffed his mouth with his hand, for Sesshoumaru had the most marvelous hearing and knew what he had said.

 

Soon it was at a boil and Ass ladled some into a simple ceramic bowl she produced from her tiny tent. Handing it to Jaken she told him to serve the lord, as she was too beneath him to do so. Jaken nodded, feeling much more important. Her entertainment of Rin had made him somewhat jealous. Jaken had no such talents, except to be their band's comic relief.

 

To Jaken's dismay, Sesshoumaru took the bowl and without hesitation drank from it. It was a common demon favorite, a dish served in winter from the summer's catches. That would mean less for Jaken and the strange woman named after a common pack animal. Sesshoumaru let it sit on his tongue, enjoying the flavor. Demon's didn't need to eat, but they did it out of enjoyment. The slugs were soft yet firm like a tongue, while the...cough...cough...liver paste was mildly salty and slightly tangy.

 

The female demon served Rin next, putting her portion of soup into a second ceramic bowl, this one a bright cobalt blue with crackled raku glaze. On the one side were red characters spelling out Akanesuji's name. Rin straightened her self up, lifting her head and acting like a princess. She plastered her hair over to one side and pulled the wrinkles out of her little orange and white kimono. Sesshoumaru was secretly pleased at the scene.

 

Jaken was next to be served, getting the entire pot of demon soup, while Ass took a large spoonful of slugs and added them to the milder, human recipe. Holding the pot aloft, she proposed a toast. “To the lovely Lady Rin.”

 

Only Rin and Jaken replied, “to Rin”. Sesshoumaru drank from the bowl to avoid speaking.

 

The meal was quiet, except for the occasional slurps out of Rin and Jaken. Ass had taken to sitting on her knees and shins, slowing drinking from the bowl with a stiffened back. Sesshoumaru realized then that she had been born inside a noble castle, either as a child of a trusted servant family, or as lower nobility herself who had fallen on hard times. She did not have the coarse mannerisms of a field servant or soldier. Despite being called Ass, her hands were deliberate, graceful and quick.

 

With speed and efficiently Ass took the soon emptied bowls and washed them from a gourd of water. She dried them with her quilted blanket and set them quickly back into her satchel. Standing she took up the shamisen and began a quirky ditty about an ox, a chicken and a farmer. She danced about the fire, her red hair hopping about, her golden eyes glittering and her white skin shining an orange red hue from the flames. Rin stood and danced with her until the deep night fell and Sesshoumaru could barely be seen in the surrounding shadows.

 

Collapsing into a heap they giggled and laughed like sisters, Jaken still patting his leg in a cheerful rhythm as he sat on the stump. Curling into the red haired demon's lap, Rin played with the strings of her costume and patted her cheek like a good dog. Ass thought this was deeply funny, for Rin had learned that behavior from somewhere. It was likely from the old dog demon himself. Once she was quite asleep, she carried Rin with ease into the little tent and laid her on the old quilt made of goose feathers and cut silk squares. She pat the covers lovingly, thinking of better times when she herself sewed it.

 

“How may I serve you, Great Lord Sesshoumaru?” she whispered after pulling herself from Rin's side.

 

“Tell me. What business has Lady Akanesuji have in these lands that she would send you so far away from her side?” he asked, equally as quiet.

 

“I have many messages to deliver. You know she loves to write.” she answered, eyes cast down.

 

“No. I don't.”

 

“Well she does my Lord. She writes to many friends and family, telling them of her time in the kingdom of the East. She prays she will be called back to your castle from exile.”

 

Sesshoumaru would not answer, nor give a nod or even a squinting of his eye. How did they get to talking about her so damn fast? Oh yeah, he brought it up.

 

“She even has a letter for you.” Ass said, hope in her voice.

 

“Is it the same drivel as her last letters?” He said with a touch of venom in his voice.

 

“No my lord. She does not wish to kill herself because you will not marry her.” Ass paused thinking, bringing a clawed finger to her lips. “And she does not wish to beg for your forgiveness for a perceived slight, and she does not wish to explain herself for the thousandth time because you will not listen, and she does not wish to cuss at you greatly like the time before and she does not wish to break your father's contract with her mother like the time before that so you can be free.”

 

Sesshoumaru raised a single eyebrow at that one. He didn't remember that letter. “What does she want this time?”

 

“She vows to kill Inuyasha so that you may have the Tessaiga. She means to earn your respect.”

 

“Oh.”