InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Tomaru's Story 2: Prejudice ❯ Chapter 2

Chapter 2

 

Tomaru looked down at the happy little girl wrapped around his waist. The whole room seemed to be holding its breath, waiting to see what the Inu no Taishou would do with his youngest daughter's lack of decorum.

 

Sesshoumaru locked gazes with his son. Ever so slowly he blinked, turned around, and seated himself on his chair, Kagome next to him. He turned his head slightly at the group of youkai musicians in the corner and they immediately began playing some soft, lively music.

 

It appeared that Haya was now Tomaru's problem.

 

The young hanyou put his hands underneath the little girl's arms and lifted her up so that she was nestled against his right hip. “You shouldn't have done that, runt,” he admonished in a hushed voice.

 

Haya giggled. “Haya so happy! Toma got a fluffy!”

 

Tomaru rolled his eyes. “Don't you think you should go back and sit by Rin?” he asked, almost desperate. How was he supposed to mingle and find a potential mate with the runt of the litter attached to his side?

 

The silver-haired girl buried her nose into his shoulder as she emphatically said “No.”

 

Sighing, he walked to his chair and sat down, arranging his pelt so that it flowed over the back of the chair the same way Sesshoumaru's did. Haya arranged herself comfortably in his lap, content to watch the celebration from her new seat.

 

Tomaru glanced up at his father, who appeared to be watching the mingling guests with a look of perfected boredom. Upon closer examination, he could see a small curve to the corner of the tai-youkai's mouth- apparently amused by his youngest's attachment to her brother.

 

A male youkai, dressed in black armor covering a brown haori and brown fur vest, with his legs encased in formal black hakama, stepped forward accompanied by two lovely females and a strapping younger male that had to be his son. His bright blue eyes shone in the abundant lighting of the ballroom and his long black hair, usually up in a high ponytail but hanging loose for this formal occasion, fanned out behind him as he walked. The yellow eight-point star on his forehead that was usually covered by a headband was partially hidden by his ebony bangs.

 

The females were dressed in formal kimonos- the older in a silver floral kimono, the chest covered with a navy blue fitted armor, tied with a grey fur-looking obi, and the younger in a gold kimono that brought out the fire-red streaks in her dark hair. A light tan obi- similar to the older female's- was wrapped around her slender waist. The older female's leaf-green eyes were shining as they approached the dais and her flame-red hair was pulled up in an elaborate style. The younger girl's black and fire tresses were pulled back with a simple gold bow and her eyes remained obediently on the floor, so their color was indiscernible.

 

The younger male behind them was dressed similarly as his father, only in shades of red and russet rather than brown and black. His long black hair was restrained at the nape of his neck and an orange eight-point star- identical to his father's- was evident on his forehead. Leaf-green eyes matching the older female's marked her as the lad's mother.

 

Sesshoumaru stood up and stepped off the dais, grasping the forearm of the older male youkai in greeting. “Inu no Taishou,” the newcomer said with a nod. His mate and two children bowed in respect.

 

Sesshoumaru nodded as well. “Ookami no Taishou,” he replied quietly. He slightly turned to where Kagome had stood up and walked to the edge of the dais. “I believe you already know my mate.”

 

The Ookami no Taishou gave a saucy grin at the ningen, showing long white fangs. “It's been a long time, Kagome.”

 

She gave him a bright smile as she stepped down from the dais to be enfolded in a warm hug. “Too long. I've missed you, Kouga.” Releasing him, she turned to the older female youkai. “And you, Ayame. You look stunning this evening. Thank you so much for coming.”

 

Ayame smiled happily. “We wouldn't have missed it for anything.” She turned to her daughter and son, who were waiting patiently behind her. “You remember Kagetsuniji and Keiji, don't you?”

 

Kagome's smile broadened. “Of course! Niji and Keiji. How could I forget? You two got into so much trouble as children I sometimes wondered if you were some of mine.”

 

Kouga and Ayame laughed as the two young adults blushed. “We've grown out of that now,” Keiji mumbled.

 

Kagome stepped forward and gave the young woman a hug. “You've become so breathtakingly lovely!” she exclaimed. “You must have many suitors.”

 

Niji flushed, only increasing her appeal. Her gaze remained on the floor. “No, Lady Kagome. Father refuses to allow me suitors,” she said in a voice so gentle, so delicate that Sesshoumaru had to wonder how such a soft-spoken girl was Kouga's whelp.

 

Kouga snorted. “No one's good enough for my baby.”

 

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow, apparently in agreement with the ookami tai-youkai. “I completely understand the sentiment,” he murmured dryly.

 

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Tomaru stared- well, he tried not to stare- at the ethereally stunning female wolf youkai standing with her family and his parents, not even ten feet away from him. Her long black hair was threaded with fire-red strands, making it look like the ebony locks were aflame. Her slender figure was emphasized by the fur obi she wore, pushing up her round breasts and making them seem larger than perhaps they really were.

 

Kami… I'd give my left leg to see her eyes… He blinked at the thought. What the hell am I thinking? I'm just a half-breed inu- she's a full-bred ookami! She'd never even look twice at me!

 

That won't stop you from drooling, can it?

 

Haya jumped down from her brother's lap and raced over to their mother, who scooped the little girl up and gave her a squeeze as she balanced her on her hip. Tomaru's ears flicked as he strained to hear their conversation over the soft exchanges of the crowd of guests.

 

Abruptly the small group turned, looking right at him, except for the gorgeous daughter, who kept her gaze on the floor.

 

He froze. Oh, hell no… they're not going to come over here, are they?

 

Knock it off, pup. It's not like they'll bite you.

 

You don't know that, Uncle Yasha. They are ookami youkai, after all.

 

Keh! his inner youkai- the reincarnated soul of his uncle- snorted. I know that scrawny wolf and believe me- he's a pushover. His cubs probably are, too.

 

Tomaru's golden eyes lingered on Kouga's daughter. Something tells me she's one of those females that's beautiful but deadly…

 

You're probably right. That just makes her a more worthy challenge. His youkai snorted again. Must get it from Ayame.

 

He stood up respectfully as the small group came to a halt in front of him. He bowed slightly, concentrating hard on keeping his ears still. Kouga grinned.

 

“He's filled out nicely, Sesshoumaru. Thought he'd be a scrawny cub forever.”

 

Sesshoumaru flicked a gaze at the ookami that signaled barely restrained irritation. “As `scrawny' as you have remained, you mean?” he said stoically.

 

Kouga's grin got even wider. “You sound like your brother.”

 

Kagome flinched. Tomaru barely restrained from doing the same. Haya stuck a finger in her mouth. Ayame sighed. “Baka… you really are stupid.” Turning to Kagome, she bowed slightly. “Would you be willing to reintroduce my children to the guest of honor? I've got some… business… to take care of with my mate.”

 

Kagome managed to hide a smile. “Of course. Take your time.”

 

Ayame nodded thankfully and proceeded to grab Kouga by his pointed ear and haul him away, across the ballroom and out the doors. The ookami tai-youkai's yips and protests could be heard across the entire room.

 

Kagome turned her attention back to her son, who was gazing at Niji as if she were an angel sent to guide him to heaven. She nearly chortled. Instead, she smiled, gesturing to Keiji with one hand, since Haya was occupying the other. “Tomaru, do you remember Keiji? You and he would play together whenever Kouga and Ayame would come over to discuss politics. You would spend the day hiding from your sisters?”

 

The black-haired ookami heir grinned, much more polite than his father. “Good to see you again, Tomaru. It's been a long time.”

 

Tomaru nodded, retaining the unemotional mask on his face. “It has. A good ten years, am I correct?”

 

Keiji nodded, then turned to his lovely sister. “I don't know if you remember Niji here- she was just a bratty cub when we last saw each other.”

 

“You will get yours, neesan,” Niji murmured.

 

Tomaru managed to swallow his nervousness enough to speak to the girl. “Kagetsuniji, if I am not mistaken.” Thank Kami I didn't stutter…

 

The enchanting woman bowed smoothly. “A pleasure to meet you again, Lord Tomaru.”

 

“Onegai… call me Tomaru. I am not a lord yet.”

 

Her head lifted at last, her exquisite face smiling delicately. He managed not to fall to his knees in praise to the gods as he saw her eyes for the first time.

 

They were turquoise. Not just a simple melding of blue and green, but a bright, almost electric turquoise that seemed to glow of their own power. Long black eyelashes framed those amazing orbs, and her lips were perfect, aching to be kissed. No wonder Kouga kept the suitors away from his daughter. She was, in a word, unbelievable.

 

Her turquoise gaze flicked ever-so-briefly to the top of his head, where his ears were trying- and failing- not to perk forward in delight. Immediately her head bowed again, staring at the floor in a gesture of deference. “Very well… Tomaru,” she said softly, her voice the same feather-soft as before, yet he fancied he heard the rejection in her tone.

 

Immediately his youkai groaned. Not another one…

 

You'd think I'd be used to rejection by now.

 

Trust me, pup. The pain never goes away.

 

Why… why does her disgust bother me more than the other girls'?

 

Dunno. Maybe `cause you knew her when she was a cub?

 

That didn't make much sense. He didn't remember the girl at all, actually. She had spent most of the time with his sisters when they had come to visit. Why was it that women could be friends with anybody- ningen, hanyou, youkai- but they refused to consider a male of less than pure breeding as a mate?

 

Kioko walked over, smiling in greeting. “Hello, Kagetsuniji. Do you remember me?”

 

The lovely youkai turned to her old friend and lifted her head, the unabashed delight in seeing Kioko, making the already lovely ookami practically shine. “Hai, Kioko. I would never forget you.” She opened her arms and the two girls embraced each other as long-lost sisters.

 

Tomaru stared in wonder. Kioko, with her black and silver streaked hair, matched Niji's black and fire streaked hair almost perfectly. Vaguely he remembered that the two were the same age.

 

Niji gave her friend a mock pout which almost made Tomaru drool right there on the spot. “You do not have to be so formal, Kio.”

 

Kioko grinned, looking like her mother. “Wasn't sure if all that Alpha Female training had changed you, Niji.”

 

Alpha Female. She was being trained to be a pack leader's mate. Tomaru nearly died at the thought of her being some weakling wolf's mate.

 

Sesshoumaru's observant gaze caught the longing in his son's eyes, although his face revealed nothing- as he had taught him. His golden eyes narrowed slightly. So… he has an interest in the wolf whelp?

 

It would seem. I had begun to worry that the boy would never find a female that interested him.

 

Several have interested him, yet as soon as they see his hanyou ears, they reject him.

 

His youkai sighed. It seems that this one is the same, yet she is friends with your daughters. Perhaps her views on half-breeds are not as low as the others?

 

Perhaps. Yet unlikely.

 

If all else fails, there is still Komichi…

 

Sesshoumaru turned his “bored” gaze towards his second son, who was kneeling in his seat, leaning over the arm of the chair, listening to Shippou, who was telling the boy a story about days when he was hunting down the evil Naraku with his friends. Of course, he made himself out to be the hero every time, with the others just being bungling fools that got in the way, but Komichi hung on his every word with awe.

 

Komichi had been a surprise, to say the least. When the boy had been born with the pointed youkai ears instead of the hanyou dog ears like his siblings, both he and Kagome had been shocked.

 

“Is… is something wrong with him?” Kagome had asked.

 

Sesshoumaru looked closely at the newborn boy. Twin light blue crests were visible on his cheeks and wrists- identical to his own, except in color. Downy black hair covered the infant's head- the only trait from his mother he had gotten. His perfect little face was framed by normal, pointed youkai ears.

 

All in all, the newborn seemed to be his father's mirror image.

 

Except for the lack of a crescent and that jet black hair. Sesshoumaru picked up his new son and Komichi opened his golden eyes, focusing on his tai-youkai father. Sesshoumaru offered a clawed index finger for the babe to grasp, which he did, and with a strength that mildly surprised the Inu no Taishou.

 

“He has great promise,” was all he said with a small smile. Kagome relaxed, relieved that there was nothing wrong with her second son. As with each of his children when they had been born, it took much effort to return the newborn to his mate, not wanting to let the child go, even so far as back to his mother. He loved every one of his children and they were each infinitely special to him, yet a small part of him- perhaps his own father's voice- wondered.

 

Why couldn't Tomaru have been born looking like that?

 

Looking at his first-born son now, he still deeply regretted any thoughts regarding the boy's- the man's- appearance. Tomaru was born the way he was for a reason, and it was not his to gainsay fate. He was every inch the heir to the Western Lands.

 

No. Komichi is not my heir. The title and responsibilities will fall to Tomaru and no one else. Do not mention it again.