Chapter 1: To Gain Freedom
I strode through the halls of the castle I called my home for the past half century with my goal firmly in my mind.
The shoji screen on my left suddenly opened, revealing a servant girl coming out.
It was the room I was heading to.
I looked at the girl, cold indifference I inherited from my father showing on my face.
Upon seeing me, the girl bowed, shivering in fear, her muscles straining as she tried her best not to bolt like a rabbit youkai she was. I breezed past the girl, leaving her to her duties.
Just by the fact she had come out of that room I knew the person I was looking for wasn't there. And so, I continued my search.
Finally, I came to my destination. The throne room.
Without making a sound, the guards stationed before the door opened it for me, allowing me to step in.
I strode into the room, no hesitation or second thoughts. Not even when the silver-haired inu taiyoukai and his leopard mate seated on their respective thrones turned their eyes on me.
I bowed, as was required of me, and looked at the regal-looking couple.
The woman was wearing a bloody red silken kimono with a light orange flower pattern and white simple sash. Her hair was blonde, adorned with an orange ornate hairpin, which complemented her chocolate brown eyes with a hint of honey around her cat-like irises. On the top of her head lay two leopard ears.
The man was wearing a midnight blue hakama pants with a white top and a white haori, which had a red leaves pattern on its edges. The man's hair was white, but shone silver in the light, his eyes honey yellow. In the middle of his forehead was a purple crescent moon, which was accompanied by two red striped on each of his cheeks. Unlike his mate, his ears were normal, except that they were pointier than normal human's.
I straightened my back and looked at the two gravely. Taking a deep breath, I spoke.
"Father, Mother." I looked from the man to the woman. "I have come to make a request of you."
I bit my lip, waiting for their answer. This is the moment. They either prompt me to tell them more or outright refuse it.
"What is it, Miya?" spoke my father in a cold and indifferent manner.
"Father, I want to travel."
My mother gasped in astonishment and my father merely raised an eyebrow at me. "What for?"
"I wish to see the land you rule and people you guide, father."
"You do realize that what you are asking of me is inappropriate for a lady like yourself, do you not?"
My mother was glaring daggers at me, daring me to say anymore. However, I had thought of this more than once and I was not going to back down so easily.
"I do, father." I answered defiantly.
The taiyoukai rose from his seat and closed the distance between us, all the while looking right into my eyes. I returned his stare, not once blinking.
"My dear, forgive her impudence. She is still but a child in mind and her inexperience and inability to find her Mate among the suitors that have come for her is clouding her mind." pleaded the leopard youkai softly.
Her silver-haired mate ignored her words and kept looking at me as if he was measuring my worth. I wasn't sure what he was thinking, but I saw the exact moment he made his decision.
He turned away from me and went to sit back onto his throne.
Sighing and preparing for the worst, my shoulders sagged and my white leopard ears flattened on my head.
That's why I was shocked when I heard his next words.
"Do you hate it here that much, my child?" Sadness and disappointment that were hidden in his words and tone were ten times stronger than normally since my father rarely showed emotions.
That was the moment the audience ended and a family talk started.
"It's not like that, dad." I whispered, knowing he could hear me. Then I went to him and sat down by his feet, patting his clawed hand gently.
"Then why, Miya? Why do you wish to leave your family?" Dad's golden eyes were unnaturally wide, sign that my request had deeply hurt him.
"I have to leave. This environment is making me go insane! The etiquette, rules, lack of action and constant visits of men who want nothing more than gain your power and wealth by getting my hand in marriage..." I let my face show how much the idea of marrying one of them disgusted me and then told him what solution I found. "I want to be free."
My mother sighed, finally understanding why I wanted to leave. It was evident in her posture and the way her alert ears relaxed. She knew what I was talking about, since she, herself was a feline, therefore of an independent and freedom-loving nature.
"I wouldn't ask this of you if it would pose a threat to our lands, but you still have my four siblings. What difference will it make whether I am here or somewhere else?" I continued.
It was killing me on the inside to see my proud father so unhappy but this was what I have decided for myself and I wanted him to see that.
"Let her go, Sesshomaru."
We both looked at my now timid mother. "Mom?" She stood up and knelt down next to me, nuzzling my cheek affectionately.
"Are you sure, Reina?" asked the inu youkai.
"Yes, my love. If this is what she truly wishes for, nothing can stop her from leaving."
"Thank you, mom." I purred at my mother, who gave me a heart-wrenching hug and a bittersweet smile.
"Very well. Miya, you are free to depart for your journey whenever you like. Under one condition, that is."
I swished my white, leopard-patterned tail in curiosity, glancing up at my dad's saddened eyes.
"What condition?"
"You will visit us whenever you have time." finished the feline youkai with the other nodding in agreement.
"Of course I will!" I jumped up to my feet and hugged my poor astonished father, purring and nuzzling his cheek.
"Stay safe." he wished me one last time and I nodded.
Then, as abruptly as I came, I left.
Prolonging our goodbyes might result in me breaking in tears and that was always an unpleasant sight.
Mainly because my demonic energy would go totally berserk.
The same hour, I finished my packing and changed into a more comfortable clothes as I would most likely be required to fight rogue youkais on my journey.
I was wearing a white yukata with black roses pattern on its sleeves and its hem, which reached only to the second half of my thighs. Holding it closed was a deep onyx sash, which I wore lower than is customary so that I could strap my swords to it. To make sure that despite the shortness of my attire nothing unwanted would be revealed, I put on a white short short shorts and a Black thigh-highs. As for the upper part of my body, I bandaged my chest and wore a short-sleeved, tight-fitting man's black t-shirt over it. I tried to find some alternate change of shoes for me, but came up with nothing, which meant I had to wear my usual wooden sandals with white straps.
The biggest change in my visage was that I let my hair down, not bothering to tie it up as was required of a lady.
I lstared into the mirror to see how I looked and was delighted to see that the combination was perfect. Not only did the snow-white yukata accentuate my curves, it also brought out my violet eyes and beautifully blended with my white, waist-long hair. My ears twitched happily at the sight.
Okay, now the only thing left... I picked up my black leather travelling stuff sack full of change of clothes, money, some food and other necessities and slung it over my shoulder carefully, so that it would not interfere with my drawing of my swords if needed.
I double-checked if I had everything I wanted to take with me and then took a last look around my room, trying to etch it into my memory as I would not see it for a very long time.
Only when I was sure I remembered its image down to the last detail did I close the door behind me and left.
It would be impossible for me to leave undetected through the main gate so I've decided to use the secret gate located in the training courtyard on the other side of the castle.
It was a good plan, but I forgot one little detail. That my siblings would be there.
"Miya! What do you think you're wearing?!" screeched my elder sister.
"That's none of your concern, Rei." The said blonde woman glared me, trying to intimidate me.
"Feisty as always, I see."
I turned to see the owner of the voice, only to come face-to-face with my brother. Instantly, I perked up and threw my hands around the elder male's neck affectionately, squealing.
"Kei-niichan!"
The male merely laughed and patted my head, unaware of the blonde female glaring daggers at his back.
"Okay, okay. I love you too, sis. And now, can you answer Rei's question?"
I growled at him for his betrayal and withdrew from him but answered nonetheless.
"I'm going to travel."
Rei's reaction was immediate. "Does father know of this?"
I scowled at the younger of the twins, hissing through my teeth. "Of course."
She narrowed her eyes at me dangerously, reminding me too much of dad for my comfort. "And he approves?"
"Yes. You can go ask him if you don't trust me."
The blonde female swished her golden dog tail in annoyance, crossing her arms on her chest.
Kei sighed and sent a pitying look to his younger twin sister, which aggravated me to no end. I am the one here who is being questioned like some criminal! Not her!
He must have noticed the change in my aura because he came to Rei's defence.
"Miya, you know Rei is just worried about you..."
I whined inwardly. Yeah, sure, I knew that Rei is just making sure I won't get in trouble with dad for running away, but she could have done it more delicately. And not act like a commander on duty.
Knowing what was expected of me, I flattened my ears on my head, turned my gaze to the ground and whimpered as I proceeded to apologize. "I'm sorry, Nee-chan. I didn't mean to sound rude..."
When I was finished with the speech, I turned to look at my sister's face and was relieved to see her usual grin in its place.
"Oh, come here you furball!" she cried out as she wrapped in a bone-crushing hug and started nuzzling my hair.
I purred at the feeling of her familiar hot breath on my ears. Now this is the Nee-chan I know and love.
We stayed like that for a while, until a sudden thought struck me. Pulling away from the warm embrace, I looked at the twins before me. "Where's Naoto?"
They looked at each other, then at me, giving me that look that said 'You don't know?' in a very irritable manner.
Rei fidgeted with the hem of her kimono sleeve, which was not a good sign.
"He decided to go train to the Waterfalls..."
"What?!" I hissed aloud. How could he have not told me?
On the other hand, I also wasn't planning on saying goodbye to my siblings before I left...
"We thought he told you." piped in Kei almost incoherently.
Despite him being the eldest (right after Rin-neesama) AND the next heir to the throne of the Western Lands, he was always quite scared of my anger. Not that I could blame him. I DID electrocute him the first time he held me when I was but a cub and it was a known fact my demonic energy got out of control with my emotions.
"Well, he didn't." I spat, my inner demon itching to get out and kill something.
Realizing that being bitter about it wouldn't solve anything, I took a few cleansing breaths and turned my back on the two scared inu youkais.
"Whatever. Just tell him I said goodbye when he gets back."
"We will." they both chorused and I smirked at that.
"So, see ya in a decade or so." I said over my shoulder, waving my hand in air at them and headed to the nearly invisible small gate.
"Good luck!" I heard their shouts and couldn't help but smile wistfully at their hyped up tone.
Glad to get rid of me, aren't ya?
With an insane laugh, I steered a bit more to the left than I would if I was headed to the gate and jumped over the high wall instead.
I'm free! I thought gleefully.