InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Tale of Sesshoumaru ❯ Opposable Thumbs ( Chapter 20 )

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, Smart Ass, Hizumeha and Kuza . If you would like to use them, please contact me at skycladstrega@yahoo.com

 

 

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Jaken led the two men to the meeting room again where small personal tables had been carefully lined up to accommodate everyone. One large low table now sat on the dias empty. The little toad pointed to the places where Inuyasha, Miroku and Shippo were to sit, and once they were made comfortable on large silken pillows, he left to find the women and escort them in separately. Rin had wanted them to make a big entrance, proud of her beauty work and no one would deny Rin such pleasures.

 

Sesshoumaru entered next and once again, Inuyasha was a poor guest in his home. He would not bow while the monk did as he past by. He rolled his eyes before turning back around to face everyone from the dias, wondering when Inuyasha would ever grow up.

 

Rin entered next and the men did not bow to her at all....except for the little kitsune who seemed quite enamored with his little Rin. Sesshoumaru growled a little in frustration, but let it go. They did not understand how he truly felt for her. When she approached the dias she bowed low to her lord and when he gave the slightest nod, she came up and sat next to him in perfect silence and sitting as lady like as she could muster. When everyone was settled, all eyes turned to the doors, waiting for Kagome and Sango.

 

It was hard to walk in the heavy furisodes Rin had insisted they wear. She had picked out a lovely black and red one for Sango to match her slayer outfit and a green and white one for Kagome. They were worn in a more casual style, after being wrapped around the waists with obis, they slipped off the large sleeves and let the top portion dangle free so that the three layers of silk kimonos with tighter sleeves show through and the linings be seen. This way they would not drag their long sleeves into their food. Rin had directed them how to make their hair look, Sango helping Kagome and Kagome helping Sango. They each carried a purse and fan, Rin not allowing them to go without. She made them wear eye liner and lip rouge. The white powders were not necessary. Their skin was youthful and flawless like peaches in summer.

 

The two women stepped into the room to an approving Rin. The men stared with their mouths half open as the two women desperately wanted to giggle. They were beautiful and they knew it. “What do you think Sesshoumaru-sama?” the little girl asked her father, pulling on his empty sleeve. “Aren't they beautiful like the cherry blossom in spring?”

 

Sesshoumaru had heard the same sentence out of Akanesuji and remembered how she had said it about Rin. Looking at Sango and Kagome he now fully understood what she meant. In no time at all, these two beautiful young women would not be like this any more. “Hai,” was all he said. Rin beamed. That was all the approval from Sesshoumaru she needed. The two small tables for the women were set across from the men, so Kagome sat directly across from Inuyasha and Sango directly across from Miroku. They sat their purses and fans down to the side and when they looked up, they discovered they were being stared at.

 

The lord of the manor gave a slight smile to himself. Yes, these boys “had it bad”, just like he did for Akanesuji.

 

Jaken started with water and tea, then on to a soup for the first course. “Tell me ladies,” Sesshoumaru asked. “Are either of you familiar with tea ceremony?”

 

The ladies nodded no. “I'm afraid Sesshoumaru-sama, I have not had time to learn it with my schooling,” Kagome said. “Neither have I,” Sango said.

 

“Such a pity,” Sesshoumaru said. “There is much joy when a beautiful woman performs it.” The two ladies blushed and the two men grumbled. The daiyoukai was smooth. Too smooth. He made them look like fools in his quake.

 

“Did the Lady Akanesuji perform tea ceremony?” Miroku asked to start a conversation.

 

“Oh yes,” Rin answered, but was cut short by Sesshoumaru's hand waving to hush her. “Yes, she did so. Beautifully.” he answered.

 

“Sorry Sesshoumaru-sama.” Rin said in a whisper.

 

Sesshoumaru barely nodded. “Remember your place when there is an audience.”

 

“Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama.” Rin went back to her eating.

 

“As I was saying, the Lady Akanesuji was trained in all manner of court life and performed her duties well. Maybe when times become more peaceful for us all, you ladies could come and learn from her.”

 

“I would like that,” Kagome said. Inuyasha gave her dirty looks. “I am sure my mother would approve of me learning such things.”

 

“Does not your mother teach you the courtly arts?” Sesshoumaru asked, curious as to why her mother would not have done so already. The slayer Sango he could understand. Her kind of family trained in martial arts instead. The human life was too short to learn it all.

 

“My family are in the priesthood. My grandfather tends a shrine and I am a miko.” Kagome replied, a little proud, a little embarrassed.

 

“Ah, I see,” the daiyoukai said. “You devote your life to the spiritual arts.” Kagome sighed internally in relief. She now did not seem so unladylike. “Please do not find me rude, but may I assume that when the Jewel of Four Souls is repaired, your merry group will disband? Surely you will find a shrine to tend, as will the monk?”

 

That cut really close to the quick. Kagome opened her mouth and nothing came out. She closed her mouth and then opened it again, searching for something to say. Miroku watched and was quick to continue the talking. “We all live in the same village now. I hope that when our adventures are over that we can continue to stay close to one another. We have all become like family.”

 

“Yes,” Sango said. “We have adopted Shippo. His family is dead. My family is dead now too. We are all in this together for the long haul.”

 

“And what about you, Inuyasha?” Sesshoumaru asked. “Will you stay with your companions once the jewel is repaired?

 

“Where else do I have to go?” he asked, snarling a little. Kagome shot him a dirty look to keep him polite, but secretly she wanted to know too.

 

“You are still the son of Inu No Taisho. Our father had a plan for you.” Sesshoumaru stated unemotionally.

 

“Feh.” Inuyasha had nothing to say to that. He just didn't want to get into.

 

“You could come here,” he offered. “Make your name in court.”

 

“I hate court. Court hates me,” the younger said.

 

“No my brother. Before they just hated you, but now they fear you.” All of the companions gave Sesshoumaru curious looks. He knew he had to explain. “It didn't take long for the story to spread that you cut off my arm.” Everyone quickly gave an understanding nod. If Sesshoumaru was a bad ass, his half brother was too. No inu would question him now. “I have need of a good lieutenant underneath me. The barracks lay empty most of the year.”

 

“Are you offering me a job?” Inuyasha asked, wondering what angle Sesshoumaru was coming from.

 

“Keep you friends close, keep your enemies closer,” he answered, making it very clear. “I would rather have you under my thumb.”

 

“Feh. No thanks,” Inuyasha said, slurping his bowl of soup. “I would rather piss on an electric eel.”

 

“Good choice.” Sesshoumaru added. “I didn't want to have to share my father's estate with you anyway.” Kagome gave Inuyasha a really harsh look, and he gave her one back. Boy these young people were less than subtle the daiyoukai thought to himself.

 

At that, Jaken brought in another course, this time a seaweed salad with octopus and carrot. Again the room was quiet, and Miroku tried to start up more polite conversation. “So, Sesshoumaru-sama, what is court like here?”

 

“I guess it is just like any other court,” he replied. “We have the usual intrigues, plots, romances and such. I really wouldn't know. I tend to stay out of it.”

 

“Why?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“My position is undeniable. I will never be challenged. I could care less what the fools do.”

 

Inuyasha nodded in understanding. This he could definitely agree with. “Court hates you, you hate court.”

 

“Indeed,” Sesshoumaru replied.

 

“But what about all of the nice things about court, like the music and the poetry and the parties?” Kagome asked, rather enjoying the experience she was having. “It's so romantic.” Sango nodded her head in agreement.

 

“Trust me, Kagome-sama, I found more romance outside of court than in it.” Sesshoumaru said, thinking about his time with Akanesuji and stuffing a piece of octopus into his face. Inuyasha just couldn't imagine the cold hearted ass ever being romantic, but as Kagome and Sango listened to him, they could actually imagine it. Oh yeah, they could imagine it.

 

Kagome smiled and shrugged her shoulders. What girl did not dream of being some princess in a beautiful castle? All of her life she read the tales of Genji and the historical novels. “I don't know Sesshoumaru-sama. Where I come from, life just isn't as romantic.”

 

“Where do you come from?” he asked, shoving another bite of octopus into his mouth.

 

Inuyasha choked and Kagome got pale. “I live in Kaede's village now,” she lied. “Village life is not like it is here.”

 

“Hai,” he said nodding. “Village life for humans does seem hard. All that farming and cooking and hard labor....”

 

“Yes. That is it.” she said, nodding along with him.

 

“My wife likes all of that menial work,” he added. “At first I did not understand why. It made her more...human....no offense.”

 

“None taken.” Kagome and the others nodded along. Sesshoumaru started waxing philosophical and none of them had ever seen him do it before. This was bound to be an interesting show.

 

“But then I realized,” he continued, “that for some stupid reason we youkai keep adopting forms that look like humans. We did not want fire until humans got fire. We did not want clothing until humans got clothing. We did not want to build homes until humans built homes. For some reason, we really like opposable thumbs.”

 

Everyone started looking at each other, wandering where this was going.

 

“I mean, let's face it. I don't need to eat this meal, but I like it. And I don't need this estate, but I like it too. I don't need a sword, but I like wearing one. Damn it if we youkai aren't trying to be human!”

 

“Is that why we do not see you in your inu form that often?” Kagome asked.

 

“Yes, Kagome-sama, I suppose so. I really like having a thumb.” Sesshoumaru clicked his chop sticks together and grabbed another piece of octopus.

 

Everyone laughed. Inuyasha even laughed too. He had never thought of such a thing. “So Akanesuji likes hard labor?” he asked in a gruff voice.

 

“She likes to embroider and work with horses. I have seen her muck a stall and brush them. She taught Rin how to take care of her pony. I have also seen her slaughter a boar youkai and bury it with no more than a pair of wakizashis as a spade. I would have just incinerated it.”

 

“She must be a wonderful woman,” Miroku said, thinking about her tight ass as he gazed at the beautifully dressed Sango. Sango was a wonderful woman with a tight ass, and she was sitting right over there. And she wasn't married to Sesshoumaru, what a bonus! Sango blushed when she caught him staring.

 

“Yes. I am quite fond of her.” The girls looked knowingly at each other. Sesshoumaru had it bad. Jaken took away the used dishes and brought yet another course, this one served with a small cup of saki. It was some sort of meat dish with vegetables. Sesshoumaru lifted his glass. “To Akanesuji.”

 

All saluted their missing hostess.