Summary: It seemed her future was already planned. Until she saw him.
A/N: I tried.
This story was a very poor attempt on writing a Sess ship. And since it's around the Sess ship day of Inuvember I decided to name this story my answer for that prompt (really, I can't ship the guy with anyone so it doesn't look like a middle school stage play)
Feel totally free to flame me in your comment, I need to know how much I screwed this one. If you don't I might make a sequel one day..
Flowers on the Wind
1. He Who Rules
All the girls in the teahouse, who weren't busy taking care of the customers or performing other duties, were giggling and whispering to each other excitedly. Kazubana entered the small space behind a beautifully painted screen, dividing the big private room in two. Six girls were crowded by the screen, spying on the guests who were currently getting seated on the other side of the screen.
The girls looked like rare flowers, dressed in vibrant colors, their hair adorned with pins and ribbons. Kazubana's attire wasn't different from their, it was evening so it was very likely all of them could be summoned to entertain guests, so they had to look their best. They were still students, so their duties were limited, but each one of them could at least pour sake and engage a guest in a game.
"Kazu!" Mika grabbed Kazubana's wrist and practically dragged her down to kneel beside her. "You won't believe it!"
"What's going on?" Kazubana looked at the rest, pretty confused. They shouldn't be there, the small area behind the screen should be empty and the girls (including her) should have their lesson with Mother Mi. But Mother Mi had been called to greet some high ranking guest and the girls had sneaked here to see the newcomer who was so important to make their teacher just walk away from the room. In Kazubana's ten years in the teahouse it was the second time the stern and wise woman did something like that. She was very firm about teaching her daughters until they were perfect, just like she was. Kazubana joined her friends after fulfilling her task or letting the kitchen know that Mother Mi wanted the special guests to have the best meal the cooks could make.
"They came in just a minute ago!" whispered Hana, who was peeking through a hole in the screen. Hana was the only tanuki among them, was petite and kind to everyone. It was hard not to like her. Now she moved so Kazubana could peek at the guests herself.
First her sight rested on Mother Mi, her kimono plain blue, contrasting with the stripes the tigress had in her hair. Then Kazu looked at the pair the owner of the teahouse was bowing to and barely kept a cry of surprise inside.
A human woman - a miko! - was standing there, sporting her red and white robes, her wavy black hair falling around a smiling face of delicate beauty. Her brown eyes were unlike any miko's Kazubana had ever seen - there was no hate, only politeness and warmth when she bowed back. And beside her - Kazu had to bit her bottom lip - stood a hanyou. He wore red, his hair was white, long and messy, almost hiding his dog ears. He had a sword at his side and was very handsome.
It was unheard of - a miko visiting a youkai teahouse and a hanyou, who dared to approach the place where many guests could kill them with a flick of a wrist? Mother Mi wasn't one to turn away any customer who could pay and wouldn't cause too much trouble, but this seemed odd for her to not only allow them in, but bow before them like she was right now. Kazubana thought that maybe this was the reason they were in the private room, not in the main room where most of the guests were enjoying music and sake.
"We're greatly grateful that you, honorable guests, decided to rest under our humble roof," said Mother Mi, bowing yet again. "Please, if we may bring you sake or tea?"
"Tea would be wonderful, thank you," replied the miko, her voice soft and sweet. Kazubana moved away from the hole so others could look at the pair sitting down on two pillows beside a low table. The room was practically empty, save the pillows and the table, but it was elegant and there was a scroll hanging on the opposite wall, depicting a kitsune dancer with a fan and fox fire glowing around her. Under the scroll was a vase with a single orange chrysanthemum. Little Riwa peered at them while Kazubana looked at her sisters.
The daughters of the teahouse gathered around her. All girls in Kazu's class were around fourteen years old, with Mika being the oldest in the group. Beside the tanuki girl there were two more animal youkai, others were element youkai like Kazubana. None held prejudice towards hanyous, but it was so unlikely to meet one. Most hanyous were hunted and killed before growing up. Seeing one sitting in the best room of the teahouse, with the great Mother Mi bowing to him like that was like something from a crazy dream.
"I'll prepare the best tea we have myself, honorable lady," Mother Mi assured the miko. "And I'll bring the finest sake for you, my lord."
"Keh, don't trouble yourself, I don't drink sake," replied the hanyou, his voice deep and rough. "And my alpha won't be drinking today too," he added. The crew behind the screen gasped and looked at each other. Inu youkai were pack ones, but what pack would accept a half-breed?
"Should I prepare tea for you and the great lord, then?" inquired Mother Mi, her voice polite.
"Yeah, whatever."
"As you wish. Your meal and the tea will be brought shortly," Kazubana and her friends heard the tiger youkai leaving the room.
"It's so lovely here," they heard the miko speak, wonder clear in her voice. "I've never been to a place like this."
"Feh, it's not a place you should visit. Nor should I," the hanyou grumbled. "You saw the youkai in the common room? They were this close from attacking us and making me blow the place to pieces"
Kazubana smiled, the hanyou was obviously exaggerating, no hanyou could have such power. She waited patiently for her turn to look at the pair. The miko was leaning against the hanyou's side and his arm was wrapped around her waist in an affectionate manner. The woman tipped her head up to look at her companion, who bent down and rubbed his nose against her cheek before stealing a slow, lingering kiss from her waiting lips. The sight made Kazubana's heart flutter with longing.
As a daughter of a teahouse of big standing she wouldn't be pushed to entertain guests in sexual way, unless she agreed to it, but falling in love was forbidden for her, at least as long as she was living and working under Mother Mi's roof. Until today she didn't have a problem with it, but the unlikely pair on the other side of the screen was the first couple obviously in love she had ever seen. Her young heart wished to share such tender embrace, such warmth with someone else - just for a moment before she pushed this desire away. No one would fall in love with a daughter of a teahouse, who was an artist, an entertainer, a woman taught many arts, but not the art of being a life mate.
Suddenly, the shoji slid open and a new person walked inside. Kazu could sense his youki, like an echo of a distant thunder, impressing, forcing obedience and respect. And yet she felt he was actually hiding most of his power. He was clad in white, with a fur tail thrown over his shoulder. His hair, silvery-white like the hanyou's, was long and smoothed. his chiseled face making the watching girl lose her breath. His golden eyes were stern and serious, underlined by twin stripes. The half moon on his forehead was the final piece that made Kazubana realize who it was. There was only one fitting this description.
The Lord of the Western Lands, Lord Sesshomaru, heir of Lady Kimoko.
Kazubana couldn't look away from the man walking with predatory grace towards the pair. She didn't notice her sisters fleeing in fright of his youki, she didn't worry he could attack the hanyou and miko occupying the best room, one that supposed to be on disposal of a daiyoukai like himself.
"Little brother, are you so struck by your affection towards the miko you lost awareness of your surroundings?" he asked, his voice cool. Kazubana blinked in shock at hearing him calling the hanyou his brother. The half youkai shrugged. "You're being watched by a spy."
"It's just a girl from the teahouse," Kazubana froze, fright gripping her heart when she realized that she was alone in the narrow area behind the screen and the daiyoukai could easily sense and smell her presence. So could the couple, because they didn't look at all fazed by his words. The miko looked in the direction of the screen with a soft smile.
"Come out, we won't harm you," she said gently, as if she was talking to a scared wild animal. The daiyoukai sat down on the third pillow, on the other side of the table, opposite to where the pair was seated.
Kazubana bit her bottom lip, unsure what to do. She was supposed to do whatever was requested of her, unless it was against the teahouse rules. But she felt confused and afraid of the guests gathered around the table. She shouldn't be there and she feared the possible punishment
Before she could decide what to do Mother Mi reentered the room, holding a tray with tea. She almost dropped it when she saw the third guest simply sitting there. The young girl didn't waste the opportunity sent from the heavens, she fled before the guests could remember about her existence. She didn't know that none of the guests forgot about her, they spared glances her way while the teahouse owner was still staring at the daiyoukai.