Chapter One: The Hanyou
"... The heir to the Southern Kemetian lands will be arriving tomorrow, my lord." the tiny little toad with the bulbous yellow eyes and swampy smell blubbered at the feet of his master. The Lord, looking down uninterestingly at the youkai and sniffed lightly, capturing the approaching scent of the Princess.
The two youkai were standing in the lord's personal training area. White sand from wall to wall, the grounds proved to be an excellent place for practicing for battles on rough terrain. The large shoji doors off to the side opened into the baths and the grand cherry-wood doors separated the are from the courtyard. Possessing no ceiling or ight fixtures, thelord was able to choose to practice in all degrees of light.
"Hanyou..." he whispered. His long white hair creating a curtain over his face. The young Lord's flashing golden eyes rested upon the figure.
"Why had not he Queen informed me that her daughter was hanyou?!" The Lord, draped in his beautiful white kimono and ghastly armor kicked his servent, causing the toad to fly across the room ad slm into the shoji door.
"L-Lord Sesshoumaru! I didn't know... I swear!" the toad blubbered his apologies again and again. The toad knew that when his lord was angry, he would get tossed, thrown, cut, poisoned, or clubbed over is head with his very own staff of heads.
The Lord's eyes flashed dangerously, his pale skin growing slightly pinker, "What could I do to appease you, my Lord?" Sesshoumaru turned his back to his servant and looked out of the window.
"Bring her here. I will talk with her and then she will be returning home."
"But m'lord, you have already promised..." Jaken jumped back in surprise when the lord turd and swiped his claws at him. Tearing only his clothes, Sesshoumaru left Jaken shivering in fear.
"Do as I say."
"It's hot..." Jaia complained for the seventh time that hour.
She had been cooped up inside the same carriage for four months with the same bare slaves, the same stupid hair wig, and the same, unbearable heat. Wearing a sheer white dress with a long, thick, gold necklace and belt that barely shielded her private areas, she rubbed her wet bronze skin and turned her brown, almond shaped eyes to the woman across from her. Her Arabian nanny, Shahira, kept a close eye on her, driving both her and the slaves mad. The elder woman reclined on her couch lazily and threw her slippers to the ground. Wearing a linen tunic and pants, the fifty-year old woman eyed her warily.
"Faster." she command all of the nude slaves. The girls, wearing the same wigs they had on yesterday fanned faster, stirring the foul-smelling hot air in the cabin.
"Fan all of us, girls...it's as hot for you as it is for us." the women were delighted when they heard that. Each turned slightly so that everyone could catch a breeze from their fine palm leaves.
"Someone is approaching...ugh, and they smell horrible." Jaia scrunched up her nose in disgust.
Pulling her braids back into a ponytail she poked her head outside the curtain and looked around.
Lush green forestry surrounded heir caravan. Beautiful, tall trees towered over them, casting wondrous shadows on her face, vines creeping along their bark, and overgrown sweet-smelling grass assaulted her senses. The best sighting of all was the river that ran alongside the path, easily accessed, but with a dangerously stong current, she had ordered her slaves to only pour water over their bodies, lather, and rinse off once again. They groaned at the thought of not dipping in the cool water, but she had expressed that humans could never swim in such a strong current.
"Come back Kyky-Sherit." Shahira called, "Something might take a bite at that pretty little head of yours."
And pretty it was. As Jaia sat back, she gave her nanny an excellent view of her oval face. Eyebows perfectly arched, they complemented her slightly slanted eyes. Her nose, although easily determined 'Kemetian' with it's wide, but pointy structure, enabled her to smell much better than normal inuyoukai, and she had been complimented on it countless times.
Although her bronze complexion was praised in her home lands, she feared that the young Lord might not find her beautiful, as here a woman's paleness equated with her gentleness and short and thin figures were accepted better than her shapely build. Not to mention the fact that her hair fell in gentle black ringlets instead of falling straight down her back.
"Stop fidgeting, Kyky-Sherit," Jaia was running her fingers through her abnormally curly hair and rubbing the soles of her feet together.
"Fidgeting helps me to deal with my nerves. And would you please stop calling me 'little monkey'?" Jaia waved her slaves away.
"Princesses don't fidget and this Lord is all about etiquette. You climb like a monkey and when you stop acting like a crazed monkey, I will cease to call you a monkey."
Although her nanny was considered a slave, she was very bold, and always have been. Although her mother never enjoyed her company, having her around was always a delight. Her quick sarcasm and easy criticism always comforted Jaia, even as she was about to marry someone she hardly knew, someone who was known to be apathetic, threatening to other royals, and abusive towards his slaves.
"Remind me again why mama chose him?"
"The humans have agreed to intermarry with the Asians, that's how you've got those beautiful eyes of yours. Although it isn't so thick in you, your grandmother on your youkai father's side having been Japanese, you can't see much of a difference between you and pureblooded Egyptians." she started, eliciting a yawn from Jaia.
"Anyways, the Egyptian youkais wanted to make peace with the Asians...open up a trading partnership. And who better to trade with other than Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western lands? He has the richest vallies and the safest lands for our princess to live." she continued. Jaia rolled her eyes and reclined farther in her seat.
"You should be ecstatic that your mother could secure such a bargain with the Lord. Our Princess for open trade between our two countries, which would surely flourish under his rule."
"So what..." Jaia yawned again and closed her eyes.
"SO WHAT?!" Shahira bellowed, "You ungrateful child, the youkai princess of Egypt and the Western Lord of Japan are about to marry, forming a powerful alliance and you say 'so what'? Do you know how many women in both Kemet and Japan would die to be in your position right now?"
"I'd rather not discuss positions at the moment, thank you." Understanding the hidden meaning of her words, Shahira blanched.
"You naughty little girl, I'd hope your future husband never hears you speaking in such a manner. If your weren't about to meet him so soon, I'd box your ears."
"You haven't boxed my ears since I was twelve, Shahira, I'd doubt you'd do it again."
"You little mongrel..." Shahira started.
"While you were boring me with your rant, you've failed to notice that there is a rather ugly toad peeking through our window." Jaia interrupted, lifted her head and nodding in the direction of the tiny toad-youkai with wide, pus colored, bulbous eyes.
"This Jaken is sorry to disturb Her Majesty and her Ladies," the toad began in an annoying little voice.
"Go on," Jaia stroked her chin, watching the toad as though it were prey. Gulping, the creature continued.
"Lord Sesshoumaru wishes to speak with Her Majesty immediately."
"He sent you all the way out here for that? When I am already on my way?" Jaia furrowed her eyebrows.
"He wishes to find you in his presence as soon as possible."
"My caravan will reach his palace in a day, I must bathe before I would have him see me, and I flat out don't appreciate being rushed." her eyes flashed dangerously. "Now, what's a tasty little treat like you doing all the way out here...alone?" she smirked devilishly, barring her short, slender fangs.
"My Lord has sent his personal assistant to retrieve Her Majesty and bring Her back to the palace."
"Her majesty has spoken. She isn't ready." Shahira spoke up.
"You would do well to remain quiet and not speak for royalty, slave." Jaken spat, and the next moment, he was swimming in the stream.
"Did you really have to do that, Kyky-Sherit?!" Shahira, who had seen Jaia punch the little toad with enough force to throw him, but not kill him, had her eyes wide.
"No one insults anyone under my care, especially my friends, Shahira." Jaia sat back down and looked out the window again, "I guess I'd better get ready now and tell the drivers to use their demon speed to get there quickly or my royal husband will become a royal pain in the ass." all of the women in the carriage gasped at her harsh language. No matter how often she does it, it still seems to surprise them.
"Stop the carriage!" Jaia yelled. The buggy immediately came to a screeching halt, nearly throwing Shahira and the girls from their seats. Laughing, Jaia immediately jumped outside and dove into the lake.
"Come on, girls. I'll let you bathe this time since the water's a bit shallow." she giggled girlishly and ducked her head under the water again. The nude slaves smiled broadly at each other and ran to jump inside the lake, too, splashing their Princess in the process.
"Come on, Shahira, make a group of ten and join us!" Jaia beckoned her friend.
"Oh, calm yourself, these old legs aren't as fast as they used to be." the old woman wobbled over and slowly dipped herself into the stream, savoring the feeling of the cool water running down her back.
"You girls should wash your wigs, too- they're beginning to smell." Jaia pinched her nose for emphasis. All of her human slaves wore braided wigs made of their very own human hair. Although youkais never had to worry about lice, her human servants were practically plagued by it. So women shaved their heads and donned wigs made out of their hair to cut back on the parasites, so if he wig ever got lice, they could just make another out of animal hair or the like with ease. Jaia, who only wore her braided wig for show, pulled it off and dipped it lightly in the water. Her hair was actually longer than the wig, falling to the middle of her back in silky waves and curls.
"Since I can't wear this anymore, I'm giving it to you, Shahira." all the other girls gave jealous moans of protest.
"Oh... that's too glamorous for an old woman like me. Give it to one of the other girls, I have enough." The old woman continued to lather her body with the soft oatmeal soap.
"I didn't ask if you needed it or not, Shahira, I said I was giving it to you. Besides, I want you to look beautiful for when we meet my husband." she said all too sweetly, sticking out her tongue childishly at the end.
"Why do I need to look beautiful for your husband, Kyky-Sherit?"
"Because I said so," Shahira opened her mouth to protest, "and I don't want to hear any argument out of you. Hand me the lotus-flower soap in that basket, Serakhet." Jaia asked a slave, who, in turn, threw a pink bar to her.
"That is appalling behavior, I expect more from you, Serakhet. Throwing anything at the Princess..."
"She wasn't throwing at me she was throwing to me. And put a cork in it, will you? I want to have some fun before I'm a locked-down, child bearing, sweet lil' ole housewife who doesn't have a mind of her own and lives to please her husband." finally, Shahira quieted down, and Jaia finished her bath in peace.
"Is that it, Shahira?"Jaia asked, looking up at the massive walls surrounding a large stone castle within.
"I believe it is, Princess." both gazed up in wonder, mouths nearly hanging open at the sight before them.
Unlike the hilly deserts that fenced her home palace, this compound was surrounded by lush green forestry, plentiful, flowing rivers, and fields upon fields of flowers. The castle walls encompassing the palace towered at a height of at least ten feet, the gates open and seemingly under-guarded. Although Jaia could smell the sweat of the soldiers, they remained hidden from even her keen eyesight.
The palace itself was divided into four wings: north, south, east, and west. The west being the largest, Jaia imagined that all diplomatic events took place there; dinners, balls, meetings, and perhaps the wing included his private offices. The north, south, and east wings were much smaller, and much less grand than the west. Each holding its own purpose, the state of use was easily discerned by the smells and sight of the buildings. Encompassed by beautiful gardens with fountains, wild rose bushes and native fruit-bearing trees, Jaia could sense that she would find herself at home in the shadows of large pear trees or maybe by the fountains where the trickling of water would put her fast asleep.
"I'm going to live here?" Jaia asked, incredulous.
"Only if he likes you well enough." Shahira crossed her arms and reclined in her seat.
"M-my Lord, p-please, spare this lowly Jaken eep!" Jaken was currently being thrown back and forth across the room by Sesshoumaru's personal servants, Hideo and Ryudo.
"P-please, My Lord, she threw me into the river and..."
SPLAT!
Jaken landed unceremoniously on the ground, his body making a sound similar to that of the yolk inside of an egg as it gets flung into a pan. Hideo winced as he picked him up and kicked him to Ryudo again just as a servant burst through the door and bowed politely.
"My Lord, Lady Jaia and her caravan have arrived. Should I send them in?" Lord Sesshoumaru nodded.
"How long do you think he's going to keep us waiting?" Jaia sighed yet again.
"He is the Lord of this house, he will take as long as he likes." Shahira spat as she smacked her hands away from her sheer dress, "And remember to be polite, Jaia. You don't want to displease your Lord on the first day of your meeting, do you?"
"Oh, so now you call me by my name." Jaia whined.
"Special occasion, sprite, don't get used to it." she whispered from the corner of her mouth as servants began to file out of the main entrance, each bearing a basket full of gifts. Neither Jaia nor Shahira missed the glances of disgust or shock as they sighted their new mistress. Blushing a deep maroon, Jaia fought hard to keep her eyes trained on the dark void between the doors. Finally the ugly little frog that was thrown into the river earlier came bounding out, gasping for air.
"I present Her Majesty, Lady Jaia, Princess of Egypt, to His Highness, Lord Sesshoumaru, Taiyoukai of the Western Lands." he said a little too fast for an effectively dramatic entrance.
Nervousness finally forming knots in her stomach, she softly wrung her hands together behind her back as she waited for this new lord to appear. When the edges of his white kimono finally came in sight, her heart began to pound ten times faster as doubts began to seize her mind. What if he was ugly? What if he thought she was ugly? What if they hated each other? Oh my...
Jaia's thoughts suddenly froze as the Taiyoukai stepped out onto the front steps of his estate. With beautiful, thick silver hair that fell languidly down his back, pale skin, and a lean muscular build, the Lord of the state was definitely not lacking in anything. With a soft face and high cheekbones the only word to describe him was beautiful. Her Lord was absolutely beautiful. The only thing that stopped her from practically drooling all over her sheer, pear green sheer dress was the coldness in his gorgeous golden eyes.
"Her Majesty will join me in my offices." and then he turned and left. Furrowing her eyebrows at his abruptness and cold disposition, Jaia turned to Shahira.
"Was that a bad thing?" Jaia asked her attendants.
"I don't know, My Lady..." Serakhet, finally clothed in the same sheer dressing, but with thicker cloth and minus the golden jewelry, shook her head.
Author's Notes
Okay, this is the end of the first chapter. For those who don't know which is the majority of people in the world, Kemet is the ancient name for Egypt, which is where Jaia is from. At first I was going to have Jaia be a neko youkai, but then I decided that it would just be a little too ridiculous a thought to have Sesshoumaru even consider to marry a cat. So, I changed her into a hanyou. Sesshoumaru, who blatantly hates humans and considers hanyous abominations, would definitely show some reluctance while trying to wriggle his way out of a promise he has made and a promise that pride and honor would have him keep.
Secondly, Jaia is actually pronounced Jay-yah. Jaya is it's equivalent and in Sanskrit (think Hindi) it translates to Victory or Unattainable, it also just so happens to be another name for the Hindu goddess Durga. (Very recently someone corrected my mistake that Durga was the wife to Shiva, but I was utterly WRONG! Lol...at least I admit it, so there!)
My third point- the servants were looking at Jaia and her attendants funny because of their state of undress. In ancient Egypt, the wealthy women wore very sheer, very see-through gowns with long, thick necklaces that covered their private areas. Of course this would be seen as scandalous and misunderstood in Feudal Japan.
Lastly, Kyky-Sherit means little monkey.
Well, I hope everyone that reads this will have enough time to give me some feedback on the story. All criticisms are welcome, as they will be responded to.
Ja ne,
Jaiasa