InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ This Sesshoumaru Needs Not A Mate - ON HOLD ❯ PART EIGHT ( Chapter 8 )

DISCLAIMER - The ownership and general brilliance that is the original Feudal Fairy Tale remains the property of its honored and rightfully revered creator Rumiko Takahashi without whose brilliance, we would not have fodder.

Edited by: Meara

Reviews are fuel.

EP

Japanese Phrases/Words Used In Part Eight

 

Seppuku - Ritual suicide for honor

Youjin - Child

Yagura - Guard Tower/Storage facility etc.

Shigaraki Vase - Cherry Blossom Vase

Rikka - A style of flower arranging

Sannomaru - The innermost structure of a castle was called honmaru or main circle, the second and larger defense structure surrounding the honmaru was named ninomaru or second circle, and the outside defense line was called sannomaru or third circle.

Jii-Chan - Grandpa/Grandfather

Oka-saan - Mommy/Mother

 

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Part Eight - This Sesshoumaru Needs Not A Mate

 

 

Jaken stood within the yagura, sweating nervously rubbing his clawed hands. Even in the guard tower he could hear the sounds of porcelain being smashed in the dining hall and the loud ribald carousing of Prince Kouga's retinue. `What was he to do? The Western Lord had been out, an exceptionally long time, retrieving that troublesome youjin, Rin,' the maladroit kappa thought.

 

He had no way of contacting him. How was he to know that, mid afternoon at the main gates, would appear the Ookami and twenty of his finest and baser wolves? The demon lord would surely make him commit seppuku for this breach. At the mere thought, Jaken's ophthalmic eyes rolled back into his head and he fainted, again to be caught by a now thoroughly irritated tower guard who had played nursemaid to his other three fainting spells that evening.

 

Another cold compress removed, the little kappa cringed as he heard more porcelain crashing. At this rate the Taishou collection would be in ruins. The carousing continued with bouts of uproarious laughter. The stores of finest Daiginjo-shu sake - his Master's favorite - being drunk like well water.

 

Another guard in the tower brought his attention to the cloud carrying his Master off in the distance with a dark figure following a short distance behind - Ah-Un. Even this far way, the lord youkai appeared encumbered. Apparently, the horrid child had fallen asleep in his master's arms.

 

Jaken began to shiver as he made his way down the yagura in order to reach the sannomaru before the taiyoukai arrived. He had to explain, his life might well depend on it.

 

As it was, he had a difficult enough time not being throttled by Prince Kouga for daring to threaten him with his staff of two heads a few moments earlier when the wolf prince came to retrieve more sake from the storehouse.

 

 

sks

 

 

It was rare that Jaken had the testicular fortitude to stand up to ningen, much less another youkai, but the little toad, a former lord of his tribesmen, felt compelled to make a good showing of protecting his beloved Master's private much prized libation.

Politics being what it was, the guards and staff had not been in a position to do anything against the prince's repeated intoxicated demands. So, it was left to Jaken to safeguard, as best he could, the storeroom. The little demon stood google-eyed, threatening an already smashed Kouga, Ginta and Hakkaku with bodily harm.

 

Most fortunate for the little imp, the Ookami Prince was by nature rather given to being jovial and especially so when inebriated.

 

With great effort, the prince remained upright …or more accurately leaned against the stonewall trying his best to look as dignified as possible. The damn walls just kept moving as he attempted to lock orbs with the two diminutive toads who stood firmly planted in front of the door.

 

“Step aside Froggy Boys,” slurred the handsome Ookami. The very act of waving his right arm almost caused him to keel over onto Hakkaku, who was not doing much better in area of footing. Ginta, having long lost the battle, had sought the comfort and safety of the lookout's cool wooden floor.

 

“Prince Kouga, I cannot allow you to enter. Your entourage have already nearly decimated the Taiyoukai's private stock. It is with humble apologies that I ask you to await his return,” the kappa said in a pubertal squeak.

 

“Now look, Toady, I shall be mated in a few days to …, ” he looked to Hakkaku for help in remembering the Northern Wolf Princess' name, it escaped him at the moment. All he could remember was her red hair and green eyes - nice girl…she wasn't Kagome…

 

`Sigh.'

 

How he loved Kagome. Her long shapely legs that went on forever, her soft sun kissed skin, her fiery temper, those soft cherry lips - at least he thought them soft. Her come hither deep, chocolate brown eyes with their sooty lashes that touched her blushing cheeks ever so softly when she smiled, her shiny dark blue black tresses that cascaded about her shoulders reaching mid back with the scent of …Kami knows what. It was simply delicious. Whatever it was, he could spend a lifetime figuring it out, if given the opportunity. His cerulean blue eyes glazed in thought landed upon the `kappas' once more.

 

“Look, I am sure Lord Stick-In-The-Mud, would not mind entertaining his esteemed guest and friends. It being the least he could do considering he hasn't bothered to answer the invitation,” slurred the handsome youkai prince. He tottered from the effort required to utter a cogent sentence before joining Hakkaku companionably on the floor. His mouth open and now, apparently dead to the world, revisiting dreams of resting his cheek lovingly on the Priestess' ample soft cleavage.

 

“Kagome…my…woman...,” were his finally garbled words before abandoning consciousness and being dragged down the stairs by guards to the gates.

 

sks

 

Jaken sighed in relief, he really did not know what he would have done if Kouga had pressed his point to storm the storeroom. There was still the matter of Ginta, who at this moment was quite happily on his knees baying at the waning moon soulfully.

 

The sound and smell of the wolves were the first things to reach the conscious mind of the Taiyoukai. His thoughts previously had been occupied with his little breathing parcel enfolded in his arms as his cumulus cloud approached the stronghold of the Western Shiro.

 

“Kouga,” he stated quietly not wishing to wake Rin.

 

As if in acknowledgment, Ah-Un snorted contemptuously.

 

“Indeed…a fine homecoming,” the lord intoned in his usual deep register. He should have known the damn canis would not wait, being a creature prone to instant gratification for all things.

 

The Western Lord once again regarded the fragile warm bundle sleeping in his arms. One hand clung to his haori with seeming desperation as she slept. The thumb of the other hand was in her mouth.

 

`He really must break her of this disgusting habit. She was still a ningen pup but beyond the age of suckling,' he thought.

 

`How would she react to Kouga's wolves being present? From what he could scent, there were at least a dozen if not more present. He would have to make sure they stayed away from his ward or there would be bloodshed. Her previous experience with them had been less than life affirming, to say the least. These ningen were far too delicate in nature and form, a nuisance in fact, but still she was his to protect and protect he would.' He thought resolutely, his eyes growing suddenly cold like pinpoints of iridescent amber light.

 

As the well-lit palace came into full view, a tiny figure stood out by virtue of size. Jaken was flanked by the demon lord's soldiers, and another slumped figure trying to remain upright - the lupine youkai, Prince Kouga.

 

Ah-Un landed first with a dull thud. The dragon wondering through the gates without so much as a backwards glance at his Master. His stable called. It had been a rather long, eventful day, what with hanyou's screaming, a miko's ranting, neko youkai watching his grazing suspiciously and a little fox demon stalking him relentlessly for no apparent reason other than curiosity. Then there was his Master's odd behavior but that for another day.

 

Ah-Un roared, fire escaping both mouths effectively clearing a path, lighting the way to restful sleep.

 

“Jaken, see to Rin,” the youkai lord said quietly disengaging her strong grip from his haori, handing her to a guard while only cursorily glancing at the now prone snoring prince. He wished, in all Kami, he would topple over into the moat, thereby alleviating the demon lord of his presence. He did not need this unwanted intrusion.

 

He had had quite enough of the unexpected for one day.

 

“Bring him,” he said to no one in particular looking pointedly at the Ookami. The Taiyoukai brushed past the little toad who cowered in his wake, unsure of what to say or do. As if sensing his thoughts, the youkai lord turned.

 

“You, Jaken, will have an opportunity to explain in my chambers, but first attend to Rin,” he re-affirmed to his retainer.

 

Sesshoumaru walked with purpose towards the noise and tumult that was the inner courtyard of his palace, kicking the occasional unsuspecting wolf or two out of his way, eliciting loud yelps of pain - rather satisfying.

 

sks

 

Indeed, it was a wonderful homecoming. Her mother had made one of the finest meals she had ever eaten and all was joyful in the Higurashi household. Even Jii-chan, who had been somewhat grumpy of late, smiled and talked of the old days.

 

Tomorrow was the big day, a chance to celebrate with her friends, but tonight it was about family.

 

Sister and brother sat on the porch steps of the main house watching Jii-chan do his nightly prayers of cleansing. As the soft wind caressed the chimes of the Goshinboku tree he knelt below in supplication.

 

`This was nice,' Kagome thought. `No demons; no evil hanyou; no shards; silence, but for the calls of amorous crickets, and Grampa's distant comforting intonations, and the soft glow of the waning moon…Sesshoumaru.'

 

She quickly dismissed her errant thoughts of a tall aristocratic male clad in white and reached, instead, for Souta and ruffled his hair. He pulled away in exasperation.

 

“Quit it Kagome! I'm not a baby anymore, I turned 10 a month ago - you missed it by the way,” he said sarcastically.

 

“I'm sorry Souta, it could not be helped,” she said in a soft apologetic tone.

 

“S'okay, I know big sister,” he said in turn, allowing her to hug him to her gently.

 

“So how is the girlfriend? Will I meet her tomorrow?” she said as casually as she could.

 

Souta had fallen head over heels in love with a little girl in his class. Kagome loved to tease him whenever possible, if only to see his cheeks blush a vivid pink.

 

The miko prized these simple moments of family most of all. Souta was growing like a weed, she noted with a sad smile, and becoming quite the handsome young man. He was definitely going to break some hearts one day. `Kami help the woman who hurts him though.' she mused privately.

 

“Ahh yeah, she might come over for a bit, she might not…we'll see and she is NOT my girlfriend,” he said in a huff while extracting himself roughly from her sisterly embrace choosing instead to go over and kneel with Jii-Jii.

 

The priestess smiled, `At least he let me hug him.'

 

Her gaze wondered back to the waning moon and thoughts of the taiyoukai's soft warm lips.

 

sks

 

`Finally silence,' thought the more than irritated taiyoukai as he stood on his balcony, stared up at the waning moon held lovingly in the blue-black velvet sky.

 

Kouga had finally done it. Usually, he tolerated the Eastern Prince's undisciplined nature but he had finally surpassed his usual stupidity and unconscionable behavior storming the shiro and even worse, reducing his one guilty pleasure considerably.

 

What greeted him in the dining hall was too much to bear. The place was a shambles. The long low, intricately carved table was plastered in food debris, as were the walls and the tapestries, one of which he was sure was ruined. The tatami under the table was rare and of extraordinary size. There were no others like it in Japan, probably irretrievably

damaged with spills of every possible kind. Some looking so suspicious, he dared not think what they were.

 

The servants would be up all night, attempting to access and repair the damage. He would not even countenance the thought of the porcelain Izayoi had brought to the castle as gift. Most destroyed. It had been the first items she had bestowed to the Inu-no-Taishou's palace, her new home.

 

Though reluctant to admit it, Sesshoumaru had never seen such beautiful, delicate pieces in his lifetime. She was a ningen and though he despised her presence, and what it meant to the family's continuity, she had exquisite taste, refinement and delicacy. How she gave life to Inuyasha still remained one of life's mysteries.

 

He would have Jaken commission an appropriate artisan of great skill tomorrow to begin their recreation if possible. A warlord could not have done better if he and his troops had tried to decimate those things he valued not for themselves as objects, but as sacred memories.

 

What Sesshoumaru refused to admit, in that moment, was this was indirectly his own fault. Had he listened to Jaken, the destruction of the kitchens and dining hall would never have occurred. A rather circumspect tap on the fusuma interrupted his musings on the general chaos and destruction surrounding him.

 

“Enter Jaken,” came the modulated baritone softly. The shoji doors slid open for the second time that day, and the little kappa came in prepared for the worst.

 

“Where is Prince Kouga?” the taiyoukai intoned without leaving the peaceful view of his balcony.

 

Jaken shuffled his tiny little feet, trying desperately to think of all the possible outcomes of his answer - mainly if they would incur some form of threat to his person. He nervously cleared his throat and spoke.

 

“The Ookami Prince is in the easternmost wing, my Lord, and his men have been sent packing as requested but for two guards. Hakkaku and Ginta are, at this moment, asleep outside his chambers well guarded,” he said in a crouched position awaiting the inevitable.

 

Surprises were myriad that night.

 

“Come here, Jaken, the night is cool and the air fresh from the ocean's breeze,” the lord stated without rancor.

 

The little imp crouched rooted to the spot. `Was his master going to toss him over the balcony to his death?' he thought now trembling in fear.

 

“Jaken!”

 

“Yes, my lord, coming my lord, my lord please…” begged the little youkai.

 

“Please what Jaken? Has the din of the evening made you deaf? Do not make this Sesshoumaru repeat himself. Come here now,” he said through gritted teeth, never raising his voice nor looking in the direction of his retainer.

 

Jaken tripped over a tatami landing in an ignominious chubby puddle at his Master's feet. Righting himself, he looked up into the oddly expressive eyes of the taiyoukai's face.

 

“Get up, Jaken. You are fine,” his Master said dryly, turning back to the undulating waves of the ocean and the shimmering night sky.

 

“Yes Master, I am sorry Master. There was nothing I could do…I humbly…,” the imp sputtered.

 

“ Jaken,” came the usual bored tone.

 

“Yes Sesshoumaru-sama?” he quickly said, perhaps he would actually live through this night if he was particularly careful and fawning.

 

“You are babbling,” the lord said, stating the rather obvious.

 

“Yes my most noble lord, Jak-Jak-Jaken will…,” he stuttered nervously.

 

A delicate clawed finger rested on the taiyoukai's lips, indicating a need for the imp's unequivocal silence.

 

“ Commander Daichi tells me that you defended the guard tower and its storehouse alone?” affirmed the quiet baritone.

 

`What to say? What to do?' Jaken thought. At that moment all he could do was look at his glorious Master. Even now in the waning moon, there stood the most beautiful being he had ever had the good fortune to lay eyes upon. Just as on that fateful night when dispassionately the dog demon had saved his tribesmen. Not for the sake of saving them, mind you, but simply as their enemy was in the lord youkai's way - most unacceptable.

 

That one act had brought him here as the willing, humble servant of the most powerful youkai in all of Japan and for that he was proud. He hoped he had finally done something to make Lord Sesshoumaru proud in that moment. Only time would tell.

 

“Yes, my lord,” he said prostrating himself. A soft boot nudged his side and Jaken cringed in anticipation of his doom.

 

His large eyes assumed their usual pleading expression as he looked up into the hooded unreadable gaze of his Master.

 

“Get up, Jaken. How many times must this Sesshoumaru say this? Inform Prince Kouga I will see him in the morning. Now leave quietly,” said a resigned, tired Taiyoukai.

 

The lord's words took a second to register with his servant. The little toad hurriedly got up and fled, amazed at his good fortune.

 

Sesshoumaru noted absently, `He is capable of speed, if sufficiently inspired …fascinating,' thought the lord, before returning to his private meditations on soft feminine lips, and the waning crescent moon.

 

The feel of smooth silk sheets against his cheek felt exquisite, reminiscent of the texture of the miko's skin but for the lack of her warmth. Sesshoumaru's eyes opened sleepily as the miko's pleasing scent once again came to him as he turned.

 

Reaching above his head, he extracted and examined the delicate, lacy, black multi-textured cloth. He recognized the function of the twin cupped lace. It was an exotic form of binding for her breasts, the other item consisting of a triangle and silky strings.

 

“Very curious indeed,” he thought with furrowed brow, holding the delicate material up by two clawed fingers while inspecting.

 

Not being clear on its function by sight alone, he sniffed it speculatively and a slow predatory smile crossed his lips. It had been cleansed, but he now knew its intended function without question.

 

The little triangle with its delicate strings smelt somewhat of that pleasing liquid she had bathed in. He decided, then and there, she would display this item for his viewing pleasure at their next encounter tomorrow.

 

The sudden thought of seeing the miko brought him to full wakefulness as his member twitched in anticipation. With any luck, this day would pass uneventfully but for the small matter of the Eastern Prince.

 

For whatever reason, his beast had been silent for close to half a day now. An unusual thing, since it had made its presence felt for the better part of two weeks without fail. Its sudden silence proved most disturbing.

 

The Taiyoukai wondered off-hand what the miko would be doing on this day of her birth's celebration in that mysterious place of the future with her family.

 

Over the years he had come to know her family consisted of three. A Jii-Chan, who was somewhat of an inept priest, a younger sibling named Souta, who was a budding warrior obsessed with an unfamiliar martial art form called video games. Then there was her mother who appeared to be the quintessential unassuming ningen who cooked well. Obviously, Kagome took after her father. Though he tried, he never found out anything about her father. He apparently died when the Miko was relatively young. Most of this information he had found by simple reconnaissance during `patrols'.

 

Yes, to put it another way, the Lord of The Western Lands was eavesdropping on the priestess' impromptu conversations with her feudal family; purely as an intellectual exercise you do understand. It was always best to know quite a bit about one's mortal enemy, especially the lippy ones.

 

“Has she found it?” he wondered out-loud. The scent of the ocean's breeze and the otherwise quiet stillness of the morning lulled him into peaceful state. He delicately sniffed and stroked, once more, the triangle with his eyes closed in a happy meditative silence.

 

A loud crash below his balcony had the Taiyoukai out of his futon's palette and on the balcony poised to spring into lethal action.

 

There was Kouga looking far the worse for wear and still inebriated to the gills. Kouga, at that moment, was attempting, rather unsuccessfully, to shield his pale blue eyes from the morning's glare in order to get his first look at the clearly agitated nude Taiyoukai. He smiled inanely at the sight.

 

“There you are Sesshoumaru…nice,” Kouga beamed and waved in a cheerful manner.

 

“Kouga, do try not to frighten the servants so early in the morning,” said the youkai lord in a quiet patient tone.

 

“Shhhhhhhhh…Shhhhhhhh…my head…I feel a bit dizzy. And where are my men exactly?” the Ookami inquired stumbling backwards and landing on his butt, fur clad legs splayed in an undignified manner, showing his own manly wears. He looked quite surprised by the sudden painful landing on his backside but decided to take it in his stride and lay back on the cool stones. It was far easier and everything stopped moving, except for the clouds. One of them looked like Kagome, he smiled.

 

“Stay where you are Kouga,” the demon lord said in irritation, wondering how a day could begin on such a low note. He returned to his room to dress quickly. What he had to say to the Wolf Prince would surely not penetrate his brain in his current state. He had been meaning to chastise him for his unseemly behavior the night before but soon realized his efforts would have been a waste and instead had Prince Kouga carried to his guest chambers to sleep it off.

 

Instead, he had the visceral pleasure of charging his youkai soldiers to toss them all out beyond the gates barely missing the moat along with the baser wolves of the Ookami's retinue.

 

“Ka-gooooooooooo-meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, such a beautiful name, it trips off the tongue…so soft, Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-goooooooooooooo-meeeeeeeeee, mmmmmyyyyyy woman.”

 

Sesshoumaru stilled, his haori half on as he stalked back to the balcony and looked down at the Ookami, whose eyes were now closed with a serene look upon his face.

And a very good thing too that said eyes were closed, because the look in the dog demon's citrine eyes, as they bore down upon his youkai would not inspire a sense of well being. No, if looks could kill, this one would.

 

The youkai continued dressing, his jaws clenched and a quiet growl echoed within his chambers as he stalked back to his balcony once more and leapt down to tower over the prone prince of the eastern wolf tribe.

 

`What had he meant by HIS WOMAN?' thought the Western Lord whose teeth ground against each other in irritation and a sudden strong need for violence. He wanted answers now, no matter the Ookami's intoxicated state. To his knowledge, this wolf was entering a mating bond with the Northern Wolf Princess Ayame, NOT his priestess. If memory served the Western Lord remembered several formerly amusing, rather loud `discussions' between the ignorant whelp Inuyasha and Kouga relating to the miko.

 

At the time, it had merely been entertaining. Now, it most certainly was not. Sesshoumaru's beast on the other hand was in fine form and rather pleased with itself, just at that moment however, he could not tell why. Still, the damn wolf needed to explain himself.

 

The prince briefly regained consciousness as his handsome face connected with something solid and painful. Popping one blue eye open (for whatever reason the other refused to budge), he noted a glowing, round amber eye with thick silver lashes glaring at him with menacing intent. Then, by Kami's grace, he was once again dead to the world.

 

The next time he regained consciousness, he was gasping for air, his face and fur was

Wet. A tiny, horrid green thing moved into view; a repulsive creature, if looks were anything to go by. He really should stop drinking.

 

“Prince Kouga, Lord Sesshoumaru wishes to see you in his study immediately. If you will follow me,” said the imperious little imp, Jaken, who turned on his heels and was gone.

 

“I should have strangled you while I had the chance, you little tadpole,” said Kouga under his breath as he struggled to find his footing; a challenge of late. Whatever happened, he firmly decided he would never drink again. He was completely unable to remember how he got there, what happened and damn it, where was Kagome? No wait, …she was never here.

 

The Taiyoukai sat waiting for the Ookami Prince having finally calmed his beast sufficiently from wanting to rend the Eastern Prince for his offense.

 

Kouga was still inebriated and, as such, should be ignored entirely. This did not, of course, prevent the growing tightness between the lord's eyes, signaling a migraine of epic proportions on its way. Just as he began rubbing his temples Rin flew through the open shoji, only coming to an abrupt halt when seeing her lord and remembering his edict to walk, not run, in the library.

 

The pure physics of her sudden stop and bowing (with an attempt at graceful respect towards her master) and completely forgetting she had a shigaraki vase whose full compliment of delicately scented, white cherry blossoms, along with water, heralded the next disaster to befall the Taiyoukai. He barely missed being drenched. Most unfortunately, this was not the case for the pillows; nor anything else in his vicinity.

 

The Western Lord opened his eyes and turned his head towards his now traumatized ward. Somehow, his need to rebuke would have to wait. Her little face was now flushed and her eyes had the tell tale signs of tears.

 

“Rin, get Shou to clean this up immediately,” he said softly, retrieving a single stem and placing a blossom to his nose, ignoring the now wet parchment strewn before him.

 

“Yes, My Lord,” she said in a small voice without looking at her master, backing out of the room.

 

She had tried so hard to beat him to his study this morning. One of her supreme joys negated. Each day waking early, Rin headed to the garden and selected a perfect accent for the cherry blossom vase in her master's study. Though he said nothing, she knew her lord appreciated it and, on this day, she had failed. Not only did she not arrive before the taiyoukai (he being up earlier than usual) but she had managed to soak the prized tatami zabuton pillows opposite her lord. Those had been in the family for nearly 1,000 years and were for use by nobility.

 

She sighed.

 

“Well chosen, as always Rin. You have grasped the essence of Rikka in this most perfect arrangement, which captures the wonder that is nature. This Sesshoumaru is proud of Rin. His morning meditations are enhanced by these simple displays of perfection. Your tutelage had not been wasted.” he said in a seeming emotionless tone.

 

Her little face became animated once more. She beamed at him and gave him a shy, gap toothed grin that caught him off guard as she hid her face in her hands, turning and running from the room.

 

“Rin,” he said in a warning tone. Her galloping ceased immediately, replaced by rapid padding down the polished wooden hallway.

 

The miko must have looked similar as a child…interesting. He had never stopped to notice their similarity of coloring and facial features before. When the miko was elated, her eyes danced and brightened in the same way. It would not be impossible to those who did not know better to think her the mother of his ward, he noted vaguely. He shook his head, removing this unsolicited thought of the priestess as mother. He needed to focus on Kouga and his ill-advised infatuation with the miko.

 

Looking out onto the Western Garden, Sesshoumaru slowly regained his composure. His eyes passed over the subtly arranged boulders, rocks, pines, cherry trees, shrubs and the meandering water fall which cascaded delicately into the main pond. The key feature of the pond was the beautiful moon bridge which lead to the Taiyoukai's private chambers and hot spring. The bridge was flanked on either side by his late father's favorites; two red maples which were never to be touched by the gardeners and yet they remained perfectly pruned and in good health as though by magic.

 

The shuffling of feet approaching made him let out an audible breath of frustration, his peaceful musings forgotten.

 

Shou approached. Perhaps this would be an excellent time to make modifications in the elderly servant's current response to all things Taiyoukai. Sesshoumaru gracefully rose from his seated position just as Shou reached the open sliding doors. As he had anticipated, a terrified `eeep' was the first thing to come from Shou as he saw his lord in the study.

 

He had only been told to come immediately by Rin to clean up an accidental spill, he had not anticipating seeing the demon lord up close and personal with a decidedly annoyed look in his citrine eyes.

 

Shou bowed. He could think of anything else to do. Speaking was hard enough at the best of times. The servant grasped the cleaning cloth more firmly, his knuckles almost white.

 

“Shou, you will cease and desist any further outward expressions of unwarranted terror in your lord's presence. You have been with the Inu-no-Taishou Clan for close on six hundred years and served my father well. Should you ever run screaming hysterically from a room this Sesshoumaru occupies at a future date you will never utter another sound, as your tongue will be removed quickly and quite painfully by your lord and master. Is this Sesshoumaru understood?” the Western Lord said evenly.

 

“Yes Lord Sesshoumaru,” was the quiet fearful response from the balding grey head still bent in submission.

 

“Inform Megumi, there will be additional guests tomorrow and have rooms prepared,” he added as an after thought, “The priestess' quarters are to be to the right of your Lord and the kitsune at the end of the hall to the left of Rin,” he said flatly, then left the room to wonder the gardens for a time. Perhaps some fresh air would help ease the growing tension headache he knew was coming - not to mention allow Shou to finish without having an aneurism. He being somewhat infirm and, Sesshoumaru now suspected, approaching senility.

 

Nothing had gone right this morning. He missed his usual routine of early waking, meditation, practice in the dojo, a leisurely bath, breakfast and attending to affairs of state. Closely followed by a quick confab with Commander Daichi before a light afternoon's patrolling with or without Rin and Jaken at his side - and of course the odd disemboweling of an enemy for sport. Then there was dinner, followed by peacefully reading scrolls from neighboring villages and other nobles and sipping sake in his library by the crackling fireplace rounding out his working day; finally ending in meditation and then restful sleep.

 

The simple things of a Taiyoukai's day had been denied him, hence his throbbing temples.

 

By the time the Western Lord returned to his study, all was pristine and the vase once again seated on the Kodansu chest with the vaguely crushed cherry blossom stems in place.

 

`Ahhhh…silence,' thought the dog demon.

 

The Taiyoukai's peaceful meditations on the soft trickling of the garden's waterfall was interrupted by the sounds of fussy little clacking steps - Jaken, and heavier dull footfalls behind - Prince Kouga.

 

`If this next conversation goes well,' thought the demon lord `he will be seeing the last of the Ookami Prince for some time.'

 

The handsome wolf prince glowered down at the back of Jaken's pointy-head in the doorway.

 

Sesshoumaru recognized the expression in those usually amused blue eyes - he smirked.

 

Yes, unless he intervened, Jaken would be hurtling through the air to land in the pond. For whatever reason, the little imp seems to inspire this need to do him damage in all his fellow youkai.

 

“Sit Kouga,” he said, removing any possibility of the wolf prince succumbing to the temptation of inflicting undue pain on his servant. He really did not blame the wolf prince, if truth be told. It was just simply unacceptable, as the kappa was the Taiyoukai's personal kick toy and no one else's.

 

“I need something to drink,” said Kouga immediately going back on his own resolution now that the light of day was finally evident and all objects appeared to be remaining stationary - disturbingly so. Then there was that little matter of Ayume and the mating feast. Each time he stopped drinking, she came back to his thoughts.

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes became angry slits once more, something was definitely going on with the prince and apparently, he, the Mighty Lord of The Western Lands had been appointed resident spiritual healer in the last twenty-four hours. The only benefit here being, if he did this well enough, the damn Prince would be gone before the priestess' arrived for their little assignation.

 

The Western Lord, refused to condone any further thought of the miko at this point, otherwise he would drown the Wolf Prince in his favored libation. Sesshoumaru knew that he had just managed to control his beast earlier from obliterating Kouga's existence, thanks largely to Jaken. He did not know what came over him - well, actually he did. He simply wanted to kill him most painfully and, but for the interruption of Jaken and the less than favorable politics of the matter, he might have.

 

“That, Kouga, is the last thing you need. You have been inhaling my private stock since your arrival and to what end, Kouga? The near destruction of my dining hall, which now is still being righted. The willful assassination of the head cook's character and lineage as a stew was not to Hakkaku's personal tastes. Adding to the stress of my guards, who due to our alliance safeguarded you and your entourage, knowing full well, they must not lay a hand on your noble youkai,” said the mighty taiyoukai raising a claw to indicate continued silence was advisable from Kouga.

 

The prince began to look sheepish whilst trying to stifle a yawn.

 

“This Sesshoumaru does regret keeping you awake, Prince Kouga,” said the Western Lord sarcastically, quirking a brow at the bleary-eyed wolf demon.

 

Usually a forthright youkai - perhaps too much so - Kouga now adjusted himself on the rather damp floor pillows. If he hadn't known better, he would have sworn he might have had a little accident.

 

The Western Lord smirked guessing at Prince Kouga's initial thought.

 

“Rin,” was the monosyllabic reply, leaving it up to the prince to decide if the child had wet herself while sitting there.

 

Kouga sniffed between his legs sighing in relief. It was definitely water, thank Kami.

 

“Sesshoumaru-sama, I do apologize and I will make good, particularly on the tatami in the dining hall,” the prince said genuinely.

 

He looked rather tired Sesshoumaru finally realized, along with worried and rather unhappy. Sesshoumaru made a dismissive motion with a flick of an elegant wrist.

 

“Ookami, what is it?” the lord asked, not truly wanting an answer, but if it affected his ally sufficiently, it could well manifest in a far greater problem in time.

 

“Ayame, the soon to be Princess of the Northern and Eastern Wolf Tribes and her damn pack,” he said in a disgruntled manner. Resting his elbows on the table, he held his head between his hands in dejected silence.

 

`There he finally said it,' and to someone who would not breathe a word. He thought the pending `Happy Event' would become a little less nerve wracking the closer it came, but of late it has only gotten worse.

 

“I made one simple mistake, Sesshoumaru, when Ayume was young. I rescued her from being eaten by the Birds of Paradise and to alleviate a small pup's fear, I think I promised her we would be bonded when she grew up. The blasted little idiot believed me…and now, her entire tribe of Northern White Wolves are coming to see this promise to fruition. I cannot back out Sesshoumaru. I am up shit's creek. What is more, I love another, and intend to make her my mate eventually,” he said forlornly.

 

Now, up until this point, Sesshoumaru had looked empathetic, well, not empathetic exactly, more like `I will allow you to continue to breathe, wasting this Sesshoumaru's time with your whining, as long as there is no mention of the miko.'

 

“Lord Sesshoumaru! Lord Sesshoumaru! Prince Kouga cannot breathe,” was the shrill cry of Jaken as the Ookami fainted once more. Kouga's only conscious memory being of a deep baritone repeating like a mantra, “You will honor your commitments. You will honor your commitments.”

 

sks

 

“Kagome, you will honor your commitments, dear,” said Mrs. Higurashi from the kitchen.

 

The party had gone wonderfully well and all that was left was the clean-up. Jii-Chan and Souta had long gone up to bed leaving the women to do the necessary repairs.

 

Kagome lay against the door smiling, almost missing her mother's comment to an earlier conversation. At that moment, she was seriously questioning her grandfather's sanity.

 

You see, Houjo had been the last to leave the festivities. Kagome had noticed all evening, he had been furtively watching her with a look of empathy. Each time she caught him, he looked away with some embarrassment. It had begun to get on her last nerve. It was only now as he had left that he had summoned enough courage to ask after her health that she found out.

 

Apparently, she had recently undergone a near miraculous recovery from pleurisy - an inflammation of the membrane surrounding the lungs.

 

“Jii-Jii, did you even look these illnesses up before giving them as excuses?” she snickered, shaking her head. Some things never changed.

 

“Sorry Mom, what did you say?” asked the Priestess.

 

“I said, you must always honor your commitments young lady,” said her mother softly but firmly.

 

Kagome joined her in the kitchen to help with the copious dishes taking a drying cloth to begin the putting away.

 

“I know Oka-saan, but one more day won't make any difference. Naraku has seemingly disappeared. All we do is sit and fight these days in boredom, to be truthful.” She shrugged her shoulders and, taking another dish from her mother's hand to dry, stacked it in the cupboard.

 

“How are Inuyasha and Kikyou getting on these days?” said her mother, who seemed particularly focused suddenly on getting out the remains of a sticky dumpling from the steamer.

 

“Fine, I guess, though he seems a bit more miserable than usual. I cannot believe I thought I loved him once,” the miko said sadly.

 

“You do love him Kagome, just not in the romantic sense anymore. He is your friend just as the others are and you have made a commitment that could change the world,” said her mother diplomatically.

 

Kagome watched her mother's face for any sign beyond what she said. There was none. Then a slow, pleased dreamy expression came over her beautiful face as Mrs. Higurashi busied herself once again with the steamer. `Mom never gives up. That wayward dumpling is done for,' chuckled Kagome.

 

“Your father was one of the most handsome men I have ever seen and with a heart of gold. He was prone to being a little quiet, though. I was always a chatterbox and it took a lot to bring him out of himself, but it was worth it,” she paused in memory.

 

“That man was the joy of my life. We were very different than one another, Kagome, but your father brought passion to me and I will never forget our love, our laughter and implicit understanding of one another. My only regret is that you never had enough time with him. You look like him you know?” she said, reaching up a wet warm hand to stroke her daughter's cheek.

 

“Kagome, always follow your passion, my brave young woman. It is the best thing you will ever do. Make memories to last a lifetime. Allow yourself, Kagome, to be loved, not as a substitute, but for yourself alone,” he said softly.

 

There was nothing more to say beyond her mother's words, and so they stood at the sink, in rhythm, clearing the debris that marked her new life. It took over an hour to clean, stack and put the dishes away. Kagome yawned. She still had her backpack to empty sort and pack as well. She hugged her mother good night fiercely.

 

Reality had undergone some dramatic changes of late for the miko, so she should not have been surprised at her mother's final words good night before ascending the stairs.

 

“Kagome, speak with Kaede will you? I am sure, she can help you find a way to bring Lord Sesshoumaru through the Bone Eater's Well. Why should only Inuyasha be able to do so? It would be lovely to meet the Great Taiyoukai who has stolen my daughter's heart.”

 

 

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Author's Note

 

Mothers, when given the opportunity, can be more than wise. Until next time.

 

Reviews are fuel.

 

EP