InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Tale of Sesshoumaru ❯ Sesshoumaru's Prisoner ( Chapter 23 )

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 characters 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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Sesshoumaru called court back a few weeks before the Spring Equinox. The weather had broke and the flowers were already starting to blossom. Rin was anxious to go traveling again, the place had given her and him both a bad case of cabin fever. Akanesuji had given her a gift at every full moon and Sesshoumaru had made no effort to chase her down and catch her, allowing her to come and go as she pleased without seeing her. It was a very unusual arrangement, but better than none at all.

 

They never saw each other or spoke, but it was a strange comfort knowing that she was around.

 

The three travelers went first to their summer home base to stock supplies. Ah-Un was weighed down with lots of dried foods for Rin, and Jaken had brought more kitchen supplies this time. Sesshoumaru was glad to see the stark cave. It was a refreshing change from their winter home. Rin laid out her patched up quilt over a large mound of hay and placed her bone carved animals in a line. Not only did she have a whole farm, but she seemed to have more new wild animals and youkai too.

 

Akanesuji dropped out of the ceiling passages into the hallway outside her room. Entering, she found everything still in it's proper place. She changed from the uniform of a shinobi into the proper dress of her station and walked slowly down the halls to the main room. On the way she was greeted by surprised servants, who quickly passed word throughout the estate that their mistress was home and to be attended to. “Send word to Lord Hizumeha in the buffer lands that I request he attend me,” she ordered one. “And tell him not to bring his wife. She is not ready for court...yet.”

 

Within the hour, every courtier and noble had come to the meeting hall to make their appearances as she sat on the dias. They all bowed low, they all kissed ass, but Akanesuji was gracious and kind.

 

Except when it came to her mother.

 

The stunning inu made her entrance as expected in full dress. She had heard her daughter was residence and holding court. To not attend her would be suicide, to attend her probably just as bad. Honor was as stake, and the bitch would not back down. When she came to be below the dias, she bowed low. She smiled graciously. She acted incredibly happy to see Akanesuji.

 

“Greetings mother.” the Lady of the Western lands said unemotionally. She neither blinked nor moved.

 

“It is good to see you, my daughter.” The elder woman held her head high, carrying her chin just a little too proud.

 

“Amazing mother. It it only good to see me now that I am first wife of Lord Sesshoumaru. You did not find it good to see me when I as in exile.” Akanesuji got straight to the point, cutting into her resolve like a knife.

 

The woman did not open her mouth. She continued to hold her chin high. “What do you wish of me, my lady?”

 

“I wish you to be in permanent exile.” Akanesuji let a small, evil grin crack on her face. She raised a single eyebrow, waiting for her excuses.

 

“You wouldn't!” the older inuyoukai said in shock.

 

“I advise seppeku,” she said, waiving a dismissive hand, motioning her to leave. “I did not do so because I always knew I would be called back. You, my dear mother, will never, ever, be called back.”

 

The horrid woman turned and stomped out the room letting all those in attendance quake in her anger.

 

“Well done darling!” Sesshoumaru's deep voice boomed from the hall. Following it was the demon himself in all his glory, wearing the full robes of his station. His furry mantle rest over his shoulder, his swords at his hip, armor recently shined and on his chest. He was amused with his Akanesuji, and if he had had both hands, he would have clapped for her.

 

“I didn't expect you here.” Akanesuji's eyes were wide, but she did not let her voice match her surprise.

 

“But I expected you. When no reports of your mother's demise came over the winter, I knew you would do it here,” he stated, walking up to the dias. “No better place to disgrace her than at court.”

 

“You know me so well,” she murmured.

 

He sat down next to her as if nothing was ever wrong between them. They made a lovely pair on the dias, him in white with red and she in red with white. Everyone bowed now that he was throned. “Kind of you to come home,” he murmured back. Sesshoumaru nodded to the populace assembled before him so that they may rise.

 

“I will be leaving shortly,” Akanesuji said loud enough for all to hear. “I have business to attend to elsewhere.”

 

“Going to run off and leave me once more?”

 

“It was you who walked away.”

 

“I do not care to discuss this in front of everyone. Come, let us adjourn to our quarters.” He raised his hand, waiting to accept hers.

 

“No thank you,” she whispered.

 

“Not in front of the servants dear,” he whispered back. Slowly she placed her hand in his and gave the room a gracious smile as they stood and left. No more regal a couple had graced the place in many a year. Those in attendance could since the tension between them but had no desire to acknowledge it.

 

People parted for them as they strode down the hallways in silence. Akanesuji's steps were much smaller than his and he had to slow down slightly to keep even with her. He did not mind. This was the closest he had been to her in nearly a year. “I want to thank you for continuing to keep contact with Rin.”

 

“It is my pleasure. I miss her very much.”

 

“Do you miss me?” Sesshoumaru opened the door to her room and escorted her in, turning her to face him. They stood no more than a foot apart, his toes nearly touching hers.

 

“Of course I do. I cried when you left me.” Her voice was even and metered. She did not want to cry in front of him, nor loose her temper. Her eyes rested to the wall, avoiding him as best she could.

 

“I have tried to apologize.”

 

“I am not ready to accept it.”

 

“When will you? When you are laying some where dying after another flirt with danger?” Sesshoumaru leaned in deep until his nose was close to the lobe of her ear, his breath hot on her neck.

 

“Likely,” she whispered after taking a deep hard swallow.

 

“Your body betrays you. Your heartbeat is racing.”

 

“I never said I didn't love you.” Akanesuji closed her eyes tight, trying to push him out of her mind and soul. It was very hard with him so close she could count the hairs of his eyebrows. She balled her hands into fists, letting the pain of her nails digging into her palms bring her back to some sort of control.

 

Sesshoumaru kissed the space below her ear, noting how she stiffened up tight. He exhaled across her skin and he kissed her neck lower, right over the soft skin over her pulse. Tingles ran from her throat to her shoulders and down her arms to her finger tips, countering any pain her nails had given her. “I can smell you.”

 

“I need to leave.”

 

“I won't let you this time.”

 

“Am I your prisoner?”

 

“Forever.”