Title: Inutaisho's Weakness

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha or the characters. If I did, Sesshomaru, Koga, Naraku, Bankotsu, and Miroku would be chained up in my closet with nothing but censor signs to wear. grin

Rating: T, for Violence and Language Content

Genre: Drama/Romance

Pairings: Inutaisho x Izayoi

Summary: Izayoi was always lonely. As the Daimyo's daughter, she was only allowed to befriend the richest, most influential men. What happens when she meets a powerful dog-demon who begins to haunt her dreams?

A/N: Izayoi may be a little out of character, but I needed her to be a little rebellious in order to get her set up for the meeting with Inutaisho. So yeah…please don't throw anything! I'm sorry!

Inutaisho's Weakness, Part I: The Meeting

Izayoi had always been lonely. She had no "friends." As the headman's daughter, she was only to be married to richest, most influential man of the village. Or to a headman's son of a different village. Both options, to Izayoi, seemed to be for someone else's benefit than her own. After all, Izayoi had once decided, life was not supposed to be all about marriage, money, and profit. It appeared that life was more about money, war, and territory.

As a child, Izayoi's mother used to tell her beautiful stories of love, and of happily-ever-afters. Stories of princes and their fair maidens, how love can conquer all. Now that Izayoi was much older, just a young woman of 19, she no longer believed in those stories of peace. As far as she had seen, there was no such thing. Humanity was tragedy. War, illness, death, greed, it was all ignored for the sake of profit. And frankly, Izayoi was tired of it. In the azalea garden, where it was easiest for Izayoi to think, was behind her father's hut. When Izayoi was not being educated in the ways of marriage, or in proper female etiquette, she came here to reflect.

Now, as she sat alone on a stone bench surrounded by azaleas and lush green grass, with her ebony hair tumbling graciously down her back, she thought about her life and what she could do with it. She could travel, and learn of all the lands in Japan. Or, she could join a circus. Maybe be a geisha, even. However, none of those lives sounded like hers, and as her father had once told her: 'Life is nothing without a few coins in your pocket.' Izayoi had to roll her stormy gray eyes at that. Money and marriage weren't everything…were they? Was Izayoi doomed to a dull life as a housewife? Only useful to bear children and love her husband? She had no problem with that, as long as she did in fact love her husband.

The clatter of the shoji doors opening behind her alerted her of his presence far before his voice did. Izayoi turned to face him as he greeted her.

"Izayoi, my beautiful daughter, you have avoided marriage long enough. I demand that you choose a husband in a fortnight, or I will choose for you." Izayoi's father, Taigo, was getting old. His life as a samurai had exhausted him, and his body just wasn't as limber as it once was. His graying hair was pulled up into a short ponytail, though his hairline was beginning to recede. He stared at Izayoi through hardened, narrowed brown eyes. "I will no longer tolerate your disobedience." Izayoi remained silent, as she had been taught to do. Her father paced in front of her, his sandals making small scuffling sounds against the ground. In the sun's fading light, he seemed more peaceful…more like the gentle, caring man she had known until she turned 16, and then everyone seemed to only want her for her hand in marriage. She studied him carefully, taking in all details. The way is shoulders slumped as age grew heavy on him, the way his eyes always seemed to be watching for something. They were alert and focused, Izayoi thought, just as they had been in his warrior days.

"Father, I beseech you…" Izayoi bowed low to the ground. "I-I am not ready…"

"You should be grateful, Izayoi! Lord Uraken is a very handsome and rich man! He will treat you well, and bear you many beautiful children!" Izayoi stood, careful not to tread on the hem of her plum-colored kimono.

"Why must I marry him so soon? I do not even know him! I cannot love him!"

SLAP!

Izayoi let out a cry of pain as she hit the ground. Her cheek was bright red where the back of Taigo's hand had hit her. She clutched the side of her face and sobbed, jumping to her feet and stumbling out of her garden. Without looking back, Izayoi ran to the western border of the village and into the thick forest that surrounded it.

"IZAYOI!! GET BACK HERE!!" His angry shouts only motivated her to go faster. She winced as her kimono tore from the ruthless thorn bushes; the trees seemed to be reaching for her, trying to capture her.

"I don't want to go home," she panted, racing through the underbrush. "I'm tired of being a prisoner!" The roots of a dying oak tree caught her ankle, causing her to tumble into the ground.

For a moment, Izayoi just lay there, her ebony locks spread around her like a curtain. The sound of approaching footsteps gave her enough strength to climb shakily to her feet, all the while mentally cursing herself. How could she have run into this demon-ridden forest without any sort of protection? She could feel the aura surrounding her, tasting her. Shouldn't a prince be coming to her rescue, about now? Izayoi thought to herself. She then realized how she didn't believe those stories anymore. In an oddly calm voice, she asked the demon,

"Who are you? What do you want?" She stared at her feet, afraid to make eye contact with the man who could very well kill her.

"I am Inutaisho…Lord of the Western Lands." His voice was deep, but gentle and caring. "I heard you crying…Are you alright?" Izayoi looked up in surprise, and once her eyes reached his, she found she couldn't move. Though, she thought grimly, she could not have moved even if she wanted to.

Inutaisho was tall. If Izayoi stood on her toes, she may be able to reach his chin with the top of her head. His hair was a brilliant silver, tied up into a ponytail with a navy blue ribbon. Beneath his silver bangs were piercing golden eyes, and blue jagged stripes upon his cheeks. His kimono was white, without any dirt or stains, or even a tear. Upon his shoulders were armor-plates, with four spikes protruding from each. He wore leather arm bands that extended over his wrists and up to his clawed fingers.

Izayoi looked over his regal appearance, noticing the two swords that were tucked into his maroon and blue obi. Another sword, with a handle that looked like a bone of some kind, hung across his back. A cape, or boa, hung from his back; white, fluffy fur that separated into two parts behind him. Though, Izayoi mused, it might have been a tail.

"I…I am fine…" Izayoi lowered her head. "…Milord." Inutaisho stepped forward, a frown on his brow.

"You are lying."

"…" Izayoi gulped, and folded her arms across her chest to try and stop her hands from shaking. The dog-demon, Inutaisho, stepped forward again, and the movement was so sudden it sent Izayoi into a fit of panic. She stepped back, the hem of her kimono catching under her foot and sending her falling back. Before she could hit the ground, the princess felt a pair of strong arms catch her. She looked up into the dog-demon's sincere gaze and nearly melted. As Inutaisho stared down at her, a small smile graced his lips.

"You have no reason to fear me, maiden." His face broke out into a grin, bearing sharp canine fangs. "I won't bite."

And in that moment, Izayoi realized that she did believe in love and happily-ever-afters.

A/N: So? How was it? A little over 2 pages…I know it was short, but the next part will be longer, I promise. I plan on making it a three part story, but who knows. PLEASE, click the little purple/blue button below and review! I'm new here and need to know how I'm doing!!