A/N: This story is written using a character from my other story Unimaginable. It isn't necessary to read my other fanfiction to understand the character because she is explained as well in this story, cause it doesn't follow Unimaginable at all.
This story really is only written for my own joy, I do not owe any of the characters from Inuyasha. I merely own Kaiden, all of her servants, and the plot.
The Love of a Taiyoukai
Chapter 1: The Lady of the North
Kagome stretched out enjoying the feel of the soft grass under her. Glancing to her right side she noticed that Koga, Ginta and Hakkaku were all sprawled out enjoying the last rays of the sun. They were on a small hill just on the outskirts of a village they had stumbled upon. She found it odd that Inuyasha would leave her alone with Koga, but they really had no choice.
The villagers told them of a near by temple that kept getting attacked by a youkai nightly. Inuyasha had said he wasn't going to help because Kagome had sprained her ankle and he didn't want to chance her safety. Luckily for them Koga showed up to say hi to her. Quickly she convinced Inuyasha to go and leave her here with Koga. She didn't want the villagers to suffer because she was hurt, it just wouldn't be fair.
Inuyasha fought her saying he would never leave her alone with Koga, but Kagome explained it would make her upset if he didn't help the temple. Koga had no qualms about being left to care for Kagome. She looked at the wolf youkai. He had realized a little while ago that she would never return his feelings. He still continued to act confident that she would pick him, but she could see it in his eyes. The sadness of realization.
They had known each other for the past year. Almost as long as she had known Inuyasha. But, she had already fallen in love with Inuyasha before Koga showed up. She wondered if maybe she would have fallen in love with him, had she met him at the same time as Inuyasha, or before. Not that it matter, she loved Inuyasha and as much as it hurt, she knew it would turn out for the best in the end.
"Look at that moon," Ginta pointed at the full moon that had begun to rise.
"It's so bright," Hakkaku shifted to get a better look.
"What do you think, Kagome," Koga looked at her.
"About what," she asked confused.
"Is the night sky beautiful ?"
"It's much more beautiful here that at home," Kagome smiled looking up at the stars that had started to appear, "that's for sure."
She wasn't sure how long they laid there for. It seemed like time was dragging yet at the same time it was going faster then she would have liked. She worried for Inuyasha's safety. Koga would protect her with his life, so her safety wasn't a concern. Inuyasha, however, seemed to always get himself in the deepest trouble when she wasn't around. A frown crossed her face. What would she do if he lost his life? Tears filled her eyes and she tried desperately to blink them away before the youkai around her noticed.
"Whoa," Hakkaku gasped.
"What is it," Ginta sat up staring in the same direction, "Whoa, she is beautiful."
"What are you going on about," Koga moved into a sitting position and his jaw dropped when he saw who his companions were looking at.
"Is she some kind of celestial maiden," Ginta asked.
"She looks more like a goddess to me," Hakkaku stated.
Kagome moved over next to them. What the heck where they going on about? Her eyes caught sight of a beautiful woman. Even her jaw dropped when she noticed the being walking in front of their hill. How could someone be that beautiful? They must be right, she had to be some form of goddess. It was impossible to be that beautiful.
The woman had hip length icy-blue hair with a silver tint. It flowed freely behind her blowing gently in the wind. On the top of her head were ears just like Inuyasha's. Her tail looked like Shippo's, only it was twice as long. Both matched the colour of her hair, but the tip of each ear and the tip of her tail were purely silver. She wore a beautiful light blue kimono that cupped her body. The bottom of each sleeve, around her shoulders and the area around her ankles had light pink sakura petals.
Her breasts were large (36d's), her hips small (size 4), and her stomach was flat displaying muscles. Kagome bet her legs and arms were just as thin but her kimono was to loose in those areas to tell. The woman looked toward them giving Kagome time to study her face. On each cheek were two sparkling blue strips that looked just like the ones on Sesshomaru's face. In the center for her forehead was a small beautiful pink sakura blossom that sparkled just like the marks on her cheek. On each of her upper eyelids was bright electric blue thin lines. It looked almost like eye liner.
The thing that really caught her attention was the woman's eyes. Her pupils matched the electric blue on her eyelids. Her irises were icy blue ringed with gold. Her whole body glowed with a soft blue light. It was probably that light that made her seem unearthly. Otherwise, Kagome was sure she would just look like a extremely beautiful youkai.
"I don't know boys," Kagome pondered, "I think I feel a youkai aura mixing with a priestess one on her. I think That's why she is glowing. I don't think she is a goddess."
None of the men responded. She glanced at them, all of them entranced staring at the woman. Kagome sighed. Men were so hopeless when it came to a beautiful woman. For a second there she thought that maybe Miroku's bad habits were rubbing off on everyone around them. None of the men from the village seemed to be so entranced. They stopped and stared but, continued on with what they were doing. The wolves around here however weren't even blinking.
She shrugged, there was nothing she could do. She would just sit here and wait for Inuyasha to return. They said they would be back to sleep in this village tonight, but maybe they stayed there instead. For some reason though, she couldn't find it in her to sleep. She noticed that the woman remained still, staring off into the sky. Completely unmoving. It was unnatural to say the least.
The moon was setting and the sun was beginning to rise when Kagome noticed a speck in the sky. Assuming it was Inuyasha she stood, excited to greet them, but as it drew near she realized it was a group of youkai. Her eyes went wide and she tried to rouse her wolf friends from their unmoving entrancement on the beautiful woman. Kagome sighed, and smacked Koga in the face. He didn't even budge.
Grabbing her arrows she prayed she could save herself from these youkai since her guards were useless. Maybe she shouldn't have spent so much time worrying over Inuyasha and more time worrying about herself. Readying an arrow, she shot it into the first youkai that approached. She did well, firing several times and lessening the group. It was down to three youkai and she only had one left.
Placing the arrow on the string and pulling it back, suddenly it slipped falling to the group. Kagome dove for it, but she knew she would never make it in time. Just as the youkai was about to bite into her, it was sliced in half. Kagome glanced up hopeful thinking she would find Inuyasha, but instead it was the woman. She stood there, wielding a familiar sword, watching Kagome. Her blue and gold eyes sparkled with a knowing look. Kagome shook from the previous fright and stood.
The sun crested the mountains and the glow around the woman's body stopped. Her beauty didn't diminish, but she no longer looked like a creature from heaven. Koga, Ginta and Hakkaku blinked and the entrancement ended. They confusedly looked between each other before glancing back at the two woman in front of them who were locked in what seemed like a staring contest.
"Thank you," Kagome said softly, "for saving me."
"You are most certainly welcome," her voice sounded like a melody.
"Who are you," she asked, almost as if afraid.
"My name is Kaiden," the other woman didn't hesitate to respond.
"What manor of being are you," Koga questioned, suddenly angry that he had ignored Kagome because of this woman.
"I'm a youkai priestess."
"That's impossible," Koga growled.
"It is suppose to be, but my mother and I were born this way," Kai turned looking him straight in the eye, letting him know she was telling the truth.
"Why couldn't we take our eyes off you," Ginta asked blushing.
"On the night of the full moon, my powers overflow. The glow you saw about my body was my priestess powers. I become a bundle of energy that has no where to go. You being unable to take your eyes off me is because you are a youkai and the mixing and swirling of my priestess and youkai auras cause a phenomenon that cause only youkai to become entranced by my appearance."
Kagome watched her sheath her sword, her eyes widening, "that's Sounga."
"You know of my sword," Kai asked.
"It's the sword of hell."
"Yes, that is what most call it. Sounga was a sword entrusted to me by my father," she explained touching the orb on the end, "I can control the youkai soul that is trapped within it. It doesn't posses me like it does so many others that wield it."
"That's kind of scary," Hakkaku shivered.
"Your father entrusted you with that sword? That means," Kagome's jaw dropped at her realization.
"What is it, Kagome," Koga asked.
"You are related to Inuyasha," she finished her sentence.
Kai blinked momentarily before smiling brightly, "you know my brother?"
"You are related to that mutt," Koga gawked.
"And you aren't kind at all," Kai frowned at him.
"I never knew Inuyasha had a sister," Kagome stated, "I travel with him on the search for the shikon no tama shards."
"My brother always did want to become full youkai. He always felt it was unfair that Sesshomaru and I were born full youkai," the sadness on her face was shocking, "but his mother was human and it couldn't be helped. My mother, a full fox youkai. Sesshomaru's mother a full dog youkai. We wouldn't turn out any differently then what we did."
"And you are a priestess, he must have felt so weak around you," Kagome mused.
"Like Inuyasha I have been shunned by every single living creature. Humans are to afraid of me, youkai are nervous around me, and priestess believe me to be an abomination. A priestess mixed with a creature they were created to kill. Even my brothers shunned me."
"What?"
"Inuyasha felt... he felt that I had a easier life, that I was accepted by those around me. Because, I was a full youkai, he felt that I lived just like Sesshomaru did. He wanted nothing to do with people who had an easy time in life. Sesshomaru was afraid of me. Afraid because of my strength, but also because he thought he had grown weak by trusting and caring for me."
"That sounds just like Inuyasha, but it's hard to believe that he wouldn't realize that you were being treated so badly," Kagome sighed.
"I lived in the North. Sesshomaru lived in the West. Inuyasha lived in the East. Neither of them knew what went on around me because they didn't live near," Kai suddenly smiled a dazzling smile and tilted her head to the side, "If you ask, I'll leave. I understand how unnerving it can be being around me and I wouldn't feel the least bit offended if you wanted me to leave.
"No," Kagome said firmly, "stay. Please."
She was stunned, "are you sure?"
"I know that people don't accept you. But, I'm different," Kagome claimed, "I want to get to know you."
Kai felt tears sting her eyes. For once in her life, someone who didn't run screaming when they found out just what she was. For once someone who stood there unafraid. Koga didn't seem afraid or worried, he seemed almost indifferent, sitting there with his arms crossed leaning against a tree. Ginta and Hakkaku kept glancing at her, but neither of them were afraid either, just simply curious.
Her and Kagome sat side by side staring off toward the rising sun. Kai spoke of herself, telling her all about herself, and listened as Kagome talk about herself. The men would often interrupt, asking questions or making comments. They also ended up explaining their stories about how they met and who they were. Kai felt at peace, she had finally met people who accepted her.
"Inuyasha should be returning soon," Kagome commented.
"I should leave," Kai stood suddenly.
"Why?"
"My brother and I... We parted in such a sour way almost seventy five years ago."
"What happened," Kagome whispered, afraid of the answer.
"When I was really little, Sesshomaru attacked me, till the point of death and it made me afraid of him. Inuyasha shortly after pretended to attack me and it reminded me of my fight with Sesshomaru, in fear I ran. I was so afraid that Inuyasha would hurt me like Sesshomaru did. But, I continued to check up on my brothers. I never kept it a secret, but they never knew it was me as I always looked like a human thanks to my fox magic.
Seventy five years ago, Inuyasha was being attacked. A bunch of youkai had ganged up on him and I was worried he wouldn't make it. I drew Sounga and slaughtered the youkai. Unfortunately for me, Inuyasha had caught me. He knew it was me and we began to argue. He yelled, screaming that it was unforgivable that I would help him. That he could have taken care of himself. He told me he hated me and wished to never see me again.
That was the day I stopped checking up on Inuyasha. He could do as he pleased. Fifteen years later I was informed that my brother had been sealed to a tree by a priestess he had fallen in love with.
As much as my brother hated me, I loved him. He was my older brother and I looked up to both of them all my life. I wanted nothing but the best for him and I cried many nights after finding out what had happened. I visited often, hoping I could break the seal but nothing I tried helped. I stopped visiting him as often after thirty years had passed.
I was so happy to hear that my brother was alive again. Living and in search for the stupid jewel in which had caused his sealment. But, I still pray for my brother's safety. I do not wish to fight again with him. Not after so many years."
"What will you do," Kagome asked.
"I don't know," Kai told her honestly, "I'll continue checking on the villages of the Northern Territories. After all it's my duty."
"What do you mean," Ginta inquired.
"I'm the Lady of the Northern Lands. It's my job to protect all the creatures living here."
"Those markings," Kagome mentioned, "when you were glowing, those markings, the ones on your face. They are just like Sesshomaru's."
"Yes, my brother is the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands," Kai nodded.
"So you inherited that from your mom? What happened to her?"
"She died after I was born. My strongest blessing is my biggest curse. If my soul were to become un-pure, my priestess side would purify myself. It would consider my un-pure youkai soul a threat and purify it without a second thought. My mother, had become un-pure. My father had promised her an hire if she could not find a mate. Not having found one and she knew she was dying she called upon my father who fulfilled his promise. During the pregnancy, my priestess aura protected my mother from dying. But after I was birthed and my aura no longer resided in her body, her soul realized how tainted it was and purified itself."
"What caused your mom to become un-pure," Koga butted in.
"My mother found her mate. She was so in love with this hanyou. He loved my mother just the same and they had agreed to go through the mating ceremony. Another man who had fallen in love with my mother despised the hanyou. He was a full blooded youkai and felt he had more right by my mother's side then the hanyou did. In his anger he killed my mother's soon to be mate. It darkened my mother's soul. The hate for the youkai who killed her true love festered and spread turning her hateful.
She sought to kill him. Wanting her revenge for the lost of her loved one. After killing him in cold blood, her priestess aura had begun to purify her. Shortly after she fell pregnant and that is what killed my mother."
"That is horrible," Kagome gasped, "you live every day facing death."
"It is easier then it sounds. I have lived many a years. But, I do fear that one day my heart will darken."
Kai stiffened, she could sense Inuyasha getting closer. After a hasty goodbye she retreated, running faster then even Koga. Kagome stared in awe at how quickly the woman disappeared headed westward. Koga watched after her a thoughtful look on his face.
"So that was mutt-face's sister."
"Koga!"
"What?"
"You really have to insult him all the time?"
"Sorry, Kagome."
"Hey flea-bag did you take care of Kagome," Inuyasha stopped in the middle of the group, earning a deep glare from Kagome.
"I just got on Koga. Stop calling each other names!"
"But, Kagome," Inuyasha couldn't understand why she was so mad.
Kagome realized she was mad because the way Inuyasha treated Kai was unfair. He had pushed her away when it wasn't even her fault that she was born the way she was. Inuyasha of course didn't know she had met Kai, but she still couldn't stop herself from the small angry feeling in her stomach. She knew she shouldn't take it out on Inuyasha, but she couldn't help it.
"Is something wrong, Kagome," Miroku asked.
"Nothing."
"Are you sure," Sango tried again.
"No," Kagome sighed, slumping back down to the ground.
"What's wrong then," Shippo jumped into her lap.
"Inuyasha," she started, "don't get mad. It was an accident."
"What happened," Inuyasha instantly flexed his fingers.
"Koga, Ginta and Hakkaku were busy and someone else saved me. Someone who knows you."
"Who would that be," Miroku sat next to Sango who was next to Kagome.
Inuyasha's eyes narrowed as he sniffed the air. Drawing in a couple deep breaths he tried to place the scent around him. Sakura blossoms and a hint of frost filled his nose. His eyes widened and he glanced down at Kagome.
"Kaiden," was all he said.
"Yes," Kagome nodded.
"Who is Kaiden," Shippo asked curiously.
"She is my younger sister."
"Wait you have a younger sister," Miroku gasped, "how come I never knew about this?"
Ginta spoke up, "probably because she is absolutely gorgeous and he knows how you are with woman."
Miroku's eyes lit up, envisioning a female that looked similar to Sesshomaru. Sango quickly smacked him upside the head. Of course the only thing on the monk's mind would be if she was pretty or not.
"What did my sister want?"
"She didn't even know that I knew you. She was here checking on the village when I was suddenly attacked by youkai. I ran out of arrows, so she stepped in and protected me."
"Using Sounga, no doubt."
"It was what led to us finding out that she is your sister, mutt-face."
"What to start something flea-bag?"
"You bet I do!"
Inuyasha suddenly stopped with a huff, "just stay away from my sister you mangy wolf."
Koga stepped back, his eyes wide and shock written all over his face. How did the mutt know that he was interested in getting to know his sister? Inuyasha's sister was undoubtedly beautiful and he knew she was strong. She had caught his attention from the moment he first saw her. He wasn't going to let his stupid mutt talk him out of another woman.
"What is it to you if I get to know her," he taunted the hanyou.
"She is stronger then you will ever be," Inuyasha narrowed his eyes, "her powers are so strong she can purify multiple youkai from over a thousand feet. Her sword she carries causes such destruction that she barely ever uses its special technique. Sesshomaru may be strong, but Kai... Kai is the strongest youkai in all of Japan. Not to mention she is the Taiyoukai of the Northern Lands, a scrawny youkai like you has no chance with her."
Koga's usually confident demeanour faded. His frown totally unnatural on his face. Kagome sighed, when Kai was here she sensed no harm from her. Nothing about her made Kagome fear her so why was he saying such things to Koga. Then it dawned on her, Koga must be attracted to Kai in more then just a pure physical way. Inuyasha was trying to warn him off because of her higher status, he was being friendly, trying to keep Koga from getting his hopes up.
Sudden cries from the villagers turned their attention to find the blue haired woman talking with the village elder. Her face was bunched up in concern. The man was speaking rather quickly and looked utterly afraid of the woman before him. His old frail body was shaking uncontrollably and he bowed continuously. She nodded several times before the elder motioned for a woman next to him to lead Kai.
Kai followed along to the hut that was just at the bottom of the hill and stood outside the door waiting. Her unique eyes glanced up and she stared straight at her hanyou brother. Inuyasha felt the stab of pain race through his chest, the one he associated with guilt. How could he ever ask his sister for forgiveness after everything he had ever done to her?
The woman returned, carrying a small boy. He looked no older then two. Her body shook as she held out the child. Kai gently pulled the young infant into her arms, holding him close to her body. Instantly his little hands reached up and he yanked hard on her ear. A yelp spilt from her mouth before she laughed and pulled his small fingers away.
"Are you sure," Kai asked.
"We don't have the means to care for him and all the other villagers are to old," her shaking continued.
Kai smiled, her white teeth glinted in the light, "thank you for entrusting me with his care."
"Thank you, milady for taking him."
"You are ever so welcome."
She tickled the little boy, causing him to squirm with laughter. Picking him up she placed him on her shoulders, little his small fingers plucked and pinched at her sensitive ears.
"Please forgive him milady, he is just a child," the woman apologized for the boy's behaviour.
"Do not worry. It does not upset me," she laughed, "I can see the fear in your eyes for him but there is no reason to fear. I will protect him with my life."
The woman bowed so deeply that she lost her balance and Kai gently helped her back up. Instantly she pulled back away as if Kai's touch had burnt her. A sad knowing smile tilted the bright pink lips of the Taiyoukai before she bounced the boy on her shoulders and began to walk away.
"What do you say? Want to come live at the Northern Palace," she asked the small child who simply cooed in response and pulled her ears again.
"My sister has always been so kind hearted," Inuyasha watched her greet all the children as she walked passed.
"Who raised her that way," Kagome asked, "because Sesshomaru isn't kind."
"I'm not sure," he stated, "no one really knows her because everyone is to afraid to ask."
"Kai," Kagome called out, hobbling down the hill and into the village after her on her bum ankle.
"Kagome, you shouldn't walk on such a bad ankle," Kai reprehended her.
She blushed, "you are lonely. It hurts to see that look on your face."
The youkai blinked several times before it dawned on her what she meant, "the loneliness is something you learn to live with. It will pass."
Kagome reached out and touched her hand. A comfort she hadn't felt since she was a small child.
"How long have you felt lonely," Kagome whispered.
"I'm not as lonely as I look," Kai offered, "I have a palace, full of servants who are there by choice, who choose to serve me because I'm kind and loyal. Because I'm strong and promise full protection. And I'm friends with many of them, but none feel they can truly be my friend. I'm too strong, too dangerous. It has been over one hundred years since any living creature that wasn't a young child has willing touched me."
"One hundred years," Kagome felt her heart break in her chest just a little for the woman standing before her.
"Do not fret over someone like me," she gently touched Kagome's arm.
The blue light they had seen during the full moon covered Kai and slowly inched over to Kagome. Her skin tingled as the light slid it's way down her body to her ankle. A few seconds later the swollen appendage returned to normal and Kai moved her hand away.
"Once you have sprained an ankle, it's often common to do so again."
"Thank you," Kagome placed more pressure on her healed ankle.
"I shall take my parting. I must take this child to my Palace where he will be adopted by a family and cared for."
"Take care," she called out to the youkai.
"Same to you," Kai called back, waving.
"Koga," Kagome raced back to them, making sure Kai hadn't fully disappeared from sight before saying, "I think you should go with her."
"Nani," Inuyasha and Koga asked at the same time in varying degrees of surprise.
"She is more lonely then any living creature I have ever met," she could feel her heart squeezing in sympathy for the lonely youkai, "she needs someone. Someone who is confident and not afraid of her. I know that you would be just that."
"My sister doesn't need some stinky wolf dogging after her," Inuyasha cried out, "Kagome, her nose is ten times stronger then Sesshomaru's and his nose is only five times stronger then mine. Kai would go crazy around unwashed bodies all the time."
"You speak as if I couldn't wash my body once a day," Koga snipped.
"Right now my sister can hear what we are saying. It's different for her, her priestess powers double every single sense her natural youkai body had. In her palace I know that she makes every one of her servants bathe every day. The house is cleaned every single day. Life is very complicated for her. Screaming and yelling usually gives her a headache that leaves her laid in bed all day. Strong smells turn her stomach and often leaves her ill to the point of vomiting. There is a lot of care that goes in to being around her."
"So we just have to be quiet and bathe daily," Koga shrugged, "I got that."
"Koga," the concern in Inuyasha's normally brash voice pulled everyone's attention, "my sister is fragile. I have heard from her second in command just what her life has been like for her. She is pure of heart, but a heart that is completely broken. A hundred years ago, my sister fell in love but the man lost his life. As most hanyous tend to do at a young age. She hasn't received any care or kindness from any other creature since him.
Her servants treat her well. They smile at her and laugh with her. They play games with her. But they won't touch her. No one will touch her. Afraid of her and yet comfortable around her. They give excuses like touching her would be a crime because she is a Taiyoukai and servants simply do not touch them, but my sister has never looked down on anyone. She treats everyone as her equal, humans, hanyous, youkai, everyone.
She fights only when needed, but usually refuses to kill. Even more then that, she cares and loves every single creature that lives in the Northern Territories. She doesn't hold back her emotions, and often is seen crying during battle, or when people have died. She isn't cold hearted. Not even close. And I worry for her. The things Sesshomaru and I have done to her," His hands clinched into fists, his nails breaking the skin of his palms.
"She needs someone. She needs people, to be there for her. To show her it's okay that she is different. Because my sister's soul is darkening. I can tell. The haunted look on her face, the way her smile has a ghost behind it. She isn't truly happy any more. She needs friends to help her along. To show her that life isn't about all the pain and suffering she has been though."
"Inuyasha," Kagome gently laid her hand on his arm, "there is no one better to do that then us."
His amber eyes widened, "my sister will never forgive me for what I have done to her."
"I'm sure she would," she tried again.
"I almost killed her, Kagome," Inuyasha snapped pulling away from her, "I almost ended her life. I almost forced her to end her life!"
"How," Miroku asked.
He turned his head staring after the blue headed woman who was walking abnormally slow, "I pushed her away. I told her to leave my life. I felt that I hated her at the time. I refused to accept her help in battle and she got so severely hurt, because of me. The creature was going for the final blow to kill me and she jumped in the way and took it for me.
We fought forever after that. Arguing and yelling, screaming at each other. I could see she was getting dizzy from the headache that was building behind her eyes. But she continued to fight with me, telling me that she wanted me to live. That if nothing else she would give her life for me to survive. I told her she was being stupid. Stupid because I would never want someone like her to take my place in death.
When I got sealed to the tree by Kikyo, I was told that she almost went crazy. Her soul darkened so much that her priestess powers were in constant flux and she almost purified herself. But, the need to try and help me, to try and save me from my seal kept her alive. I almost killed my sister because I refused to let her be there for me."
"Then don't kill her again by refusing to let her now," Sango told him in a soft voice.
Kai had stopped then. Her whole body tensed. She knew she should not have been listening. It was wrong for her to eves drop on others, but Inuyasha was here and this was the first time she had seen him in so long that she almost didn't want to move. She had only been too happy to return to the village when a villager had caught her on the road and told them of the child in need of a home.
"I will find a way to make it up to my sister," Inuyasha stated simply, "I will find a way."
"I'm sure you will," Kagome smiled.
"I'm going to go with her," Koga stated.
"One last thing wolf," he spoke sharply, "if you fall in love with her or if she falls in love with you, realize that life will be hard. Completely complicated and difficult. She is a Taiyoukai, remember that her status would require you to learn the rules and everything else a Taiyoukai has to. And you will be challenged, many times to prove your worth to be the Lord of the Northern Lands.
But most importantly, if you hurt my sister. If you cause her pain in any way. Physical or emotional, I will have to kick your ass."
"Your threat has been noted," Koga told him before descending the hill with Ginta and Hakkaku following behind him.
"I think someone like Koga could help your sister," Miroku pointed out, "he is brash, hot headed, and he doesn't stop to think what he says. He will show her that not everyone is afraid to be themselves around her."
"And maybe later," Shippo whispered, "we could let her join us."
Inuyasha looked at the small kit, his eyes hard but he simply nodded his head, "we should go."
-x-
"Hey wait up," Koga called out softly to the woman in front of him.
She stopped and turned around, smiling at him. Before he hadn't noticed but now that Inuyasha had told him, he could the sadness that lurked in her eyes and behind her smile.
"My brother warned you it would be quiet dangerous to follow me, and yet," she stopped watching the three catch up to her.
"The only danger would be you, and I don't think you would have it in you to kill me simply for following you," Koga shrugged.
"Why do you wish to follow me, Koga," Kai asked, turning and continuing her walk listening to the footsteps behind her.
"Because you interest me," he supplied, "if you wish for me not to follow you, I will go. But, you already knew my intention and had time to make it out of here before I got here."
"You are more then welcome to come along. I will be headed to my Palace and after that, well I can go anywhere. Satoshi is in charge while I'm away."
"Why don't you come to the wolf den," Ginta asked.
"Yeah, you could relax for once," Hakkaku pointed out.
"I've never been to a wolf den," Kai said thoughtfully, "I have wolves that live in my Palace, but the Taiyoukai has been requested to leave the wolf dens to themselves."
"Why is that," Ginta moved forward walking beside her.
Kai shifted uncomfortably as the small boy began to chew on her ear, "No no, don't put that in your mouth. Ow, don't bite that hurts," the child sat back up and settled for fisting his hands in her hair, "the elder said that the wolves can handle themselves. Also they said they don't want to make me spend more time away from my Palace to climb their mountains."
"Make sense," Hakkaku laughed.
"You can come you know, I'm the leader of my wolf pack," Koga told her, "no one has to know you are the Taiyoukai and you wouldn't be there to check out the lands, you would just be there to see how we live."
"It would be nice to get out for a while that isn't for work."
"How long can you stay?"
"Satoshi can take care of everything. Unless something comes up that is to strong for him to handle, or another Taiyoukai requests I return home, I can stay out as long as I'd like."
"Should we clean the dens then," Ginta inquired, "We live around water, so we can all bathe every day."
"You do not need to inconvenience yourselves with such things."
"You talk oddly," Hakkaku pointed out, suddenly his eyes widened and he tripped over himself to change his meaning, "I meant. Not oddly. You talking differently."
The blush on his face made Kai laugh, "Being around you three will be entertaining. It's been many years since someone has spoken to me as if I was just a normal person. But, indeed, I do speak differently. As a Taiyoukai you are raised to speak with class and thought. We are to be formal at all times."
"Doesn't that get boring," Ginta turned up his nose at the thought.
"Indeed. It makes me feel like a snob," she told him.
"Just because you speak like that, doesn't make you a snob. You don't treat people like you are above them," Koga pointed out.
"No one is better than anyone else. We are amazing in our own unique way."
"You really think that," Hakkaku smiled, a hopeful look filling his face.
"Hai. I believe that every creature is worth more than what they believe themselves to be."
"How do you still have such a loving and caring heart," Koga questioned.
"Easy, my adoptive mother told me that no matter how people treat me, they are simply afraid, scared and uneasy, it doesn't mean that they are bad people they just don't understand what I am and that is scary to them. Because, all creatures shy away from things they don't understand. That is why hanyous are shunned by both sides. That is why humans are looked down on by youkai. That is why humans fear youkai and wish them gone.
We simply do not understand each other's side of the story and so we fear it. We push it away and run from it, trying to escape from the fear of the unknown."
"Who raised you?"
"Her name was Yume."
"Kagome said that Taiyoukai are usually raised to be hateful and cruel," Ginta thought back to the time she had explained who Sesshomaru was to them.
"Most of the youkai parents that raise their children, even none Taiyoukai are taught to hate and hide their emotion. I was raised, however, by a human."
"I've never heard of a youkai being raised by humans, well besides Shippo," Hakkaku stated.
"Most youkai aren't, but she was the one that stepped forward and offered to care for me. She lived till I was sixty years old."
"How old are you," Ginta asked curiously.
"You never ask a woman her age," Kai laughed, "I'm two hundred and two."
"But, isn't Inuyasha the same age?"
"He is. We are only eight months apart."
"Do dogs not tend to stick to one mate," Koga asked suddenly.
"Are you asking if I stick to one mate, or are you speaking of my father?"
A blush rose softly against his cheeks before he said, "your father."
"I, myself, believe in mating for life. I already explained the situation earlier. Inuyasha's mother understood that father had a promise to keep, a promise that was made on his honour, and told him it would be okay for him to help my mother. Humans usually get upset over things like that, but she had been friends with my mother and was more then accepting as long as the only time they bedded was to get her pregnant."
"So your father got her okay first," Koga nodded to himself, "that's better then doing it behind her back."
"It wouldn't have mattered," Kai shrugged, "My father died the day Inuyasha was born. I never met him."
The three continued their talking, asking all kinds of questions from what being a Taiyoukai was like to what her childhood was like. She indulged them, telling them all kinds of things they thought she would keep to herself. She surprised them by asking about their lives. What it was like to live in a pack and how they were raised. She seemed every bit as interested in their lives as they were hers.
They watched her reactions to every question and every answer. She would smile and laugh often. But, the thing that made them trust her the most was all the times that they would see tears pool in her eyes. She always blinked them away and replaced her sadness with a smile, but they knew. They understood that just because she was stronger then almost any youkai in the world, she was still as fragile as everyone else in her heart and mind.
-x-
"Whoa," Ginta gasped when he noticed the extremely large walls appearing before them.
"Open the gate," Kai called out.
The gate began to swing open. All around servants buzzed getting ready to greet them. Hakkaku, Ginta, and Koga couldn't help but be impressed at the size of the building hidden behind the wall. It was huge, spreading out far and wide on both sides. From where they stood they couldn't even see the whole building. Two men appeared before them, standing tall, their hands behind their backs and bowed.
One was a fox youkai. He had dark blue eyes, long white hair that laid flat down his back mingling in with the fur of his fox tail and on his forehead was a bright blue snowflake. The other was unidentifiable. He had silver eyes, his face was sharp and narrow in a serpentine like manor, his short hair was the same colour of his eyes, but his finger nails looked more like talons then the normal claws that all youkai sported.
"Milady," the men bowed low.
"Satoshi, Ryuu. It is pleasure to see you both again."
"We are thankful for your safe return," Ryuu, the silver haired one, stood a soft smile on his face.
"Milady," Satoshi, the fox, called for her attention, "the child on your shoulders?"
"Oh," Kai plucked him from her back and set him on the ground, "he is to live here."
Neither questioned her motives, it wasn't allowed to question her. It was considered an insult to question the Taiyoukai's judgement. Ryuu called for a human servant who came and took the child after bowing to Kai. She smiled at the woman and watched her walk away. Reaching up to her ears she gently prodded them, she gasped in pain and pulled her hand quickly away from the abused appendages.
"Are you alright, Milady," Satoshi took a step forward, but kept his hands at his sides.
"I'm more then alright. The child got a bit carried away with my ears, they are bruised but will heal shortly," Kai shrugged, "Satoshi, please prepare three rooms for our guests."
"Will you be staying, Milady?"
"For the night. I will leave in the morning with my guests."
"Hai, Milady."
"Please place them closest to my wing," Kai told him as he walked into the building.
"Is it hard to be so formal all the time," Ginta asked.
"It is not. When you are raised to be formal every day, you do not see it as being formal. You are simply speaking," she told him, "it is nearing dinner time. Ryuu, please assign guards to Koga, Ginta and Hakkaku."
"Do we need them," Koga slanted his head to the side.
A hush fell over the servants, every single one stood still as a stone staring at the youkai who had the audacity to question their Lady. None of them have ever questioned her. All the other Taiyoukai would immediately kill anyone who questioned their actions or choices and having served them before coming here, they wouldn't dare step a foot out of line.
"If you do not wish for one, no. I do not see the harm in not having one. I figured that if you had a servant to help you, they could show you around the palace. I have things I need to check on to make sure I can leave tomorrow."
"Maybe one then, but I don't think we need three."
"One it is," Kai smiled, "Please do not feel worried around here. You are free to explore every area of the palace, however my wing is off limits to even servants. I will be in my study if you need me. I will see you at dinner."
"Don't work to hard," Hakkaku told her with a light tone as she walked toward the house.
"Do not get lost," she laughed, waving over her shoulder.
Around them the servants were glaring. Their eyes glued to the man who had the gull to question their Lady. Koga felt uneasy for a second before remembering that Kai was inside the building and would not let any harm to fall them. A very pretty red headed cat appeared in the door way and bowed to them.
"My name is Natsumi and I will be your servant," her soft pink eyes glittered with anger.
"We should bathe," Ginta told the two men.
"You are right, Kai probably was holding her breath the whole time we were with her," Hakkaku nodded.
"She would have said something," Koga pointed out.
"I doubt it," Ginta shrugged, "she is to kind to tell us we smell."
"Ginta has a point, Koga," Hakkaku sided with his friend.
"Fine, Natsumi, can you show us to the bath please," he sighed.
"Right this way," her voice was oddly polite.
They reached the bathing room in no time at all.
"Before you bathe," Natsumi started, "you should know that you will be given different clothes to wear during dinner. It is crude to wear such outfits while dining with Lady Kai."
"We have to wear something else?"
"It is a privilege to dine with Lady Kai, and you do not want to appear rude in her home."
"If you say so," Koga shrugged.
The men bathed quickly, laughing about how uptight the servants seemed to be when Kai was anything but. They stepped out to find three sets of haoris and hakamas. Ginta took the soft grey outfit, the obi was oddly silver. Hakkaku took the white one with the dark blue obi. Koga picked up the light brown ones that had a very deep purple obi that looked almost black.
The clothing felt awkward, but the silk was nice on their skin. The three followed behind Natsumi to sit inside the dinning hall and wait for Kai. They talked about the palace. All the many doors and odd turns. How it was different in its construction. They wondered if they could even see the whole palace before they would leave the next day.
Kai entered through the door at the back of the room. Natsumi stood and bowed to Kai as soon as she entered by the men remained seated, not knowing they were suppose to follow Natsumi's lead.
"Stand and bow. You bow every single time she enters the room," Natsumi hissed.
They began to rise to their feet but Kai held out her hand, "it is not necessary. You do not need to bow to me. Please, stay seated, the food will arrive momentarily."
"There is a lot of rules around here isn't there," Koga turned to her, ignorant that it is impolite to speak to the Lady without being spoken too first.
"Indeed, it is without saying, that you are breaking one right now," Kai giggled.
"You never speak unless spoken to," Natsumi told him.
"What other rules have we broken," Ginta asked.
"You have disrespected Milady from the second you got here. You have questioned her judgement, which is never permitted, you have spoken out of turn, you do not address her in the proper manor," she began to list all of their mistakes.
"Natsumi, that will be enough," Kai said gently, halting the woman in her ramblings, "I do not expect them to know the rules and will not hold it against them."
"Hai, Milady," Natsumi bowed her head, almost hitting it on the table.
"Do not worry, I am not offended," she told the three.
"We have never truly been around royalty before," Hakkaku blushed.
"It is hard to get used to," Kai nodded at them.
"Will you teach us," Ginta asked.
"Teach you the ways of being proper in front of a Taiyoukai," Kai inquired, receiving nods from the men she continued, "I do not think so. There is no reason for you to learn all the rules of the palace."
"Why not?"
"Because, if you know the rules, you will treat me like my servants."
Koga smiled, letting a small fang peak over his lip, "the whole point of us following her was to treat her like everyone else, not to learn the ways and treat her like royalty."
"Oh, yeah," Ginta laughed.
"I guess your right," Hakkaku nodded his head.
The food came, and the men stared wide eyed at the amount of meat set before them. The smells were rich, and they breathed deep. They ate meat on a regular basis but since they had stopped feeding on humans the different types of meat had been limited. Their mouths watered as they pulled food, a bit more reserved then they normally were at home, onto their plates.
"You are suppose," Natsumi started.
"We are suppose to do what we want," Koga stated, rolling his eyes.
Kai laughed at his declaration and pulled her own food on to her place, eating with much more grace then the men. Natsumi sat quietly, not moving or joining in. Servants never ate with the Lady.
"It seems so unnatural the way you move," Ginta pointed out.
"You walk with so much grace and pose," Hakkaku nodded.
"You talk formally."
"You eat slowly and without spilling anything."
"There is so much grace and elegance in your movements, it seems so unreal. Like you really are a goddess."
"It seems unnatural? This is how I naturally am. I don't even have to think of my movements, they just are this way," Kai pointed out.
"When you walk, it's like you float above the ground," Koga stated, "like your feet never even meet the dirt before you take another step. But there is a bounce in your step, like you are happy."
"I assure you, my feet do meet the ground," she smiled, "it is just naturally how I walk. My oldest brother walks much the same way."
"So much for Inuyasha," Ginta laughed.
"He was never taught in the ways of formality," Kai placed the meat on her chopsticks in her mouth, leaving the pieces of wood there thoughtfully, "I believe he could be just as graceful if he had been taught the ways."
"Even you talking with food and chopsticks in your mouth you are graceful, how is that even possible," Ginta stared at her in curiosity, as if he could somehow figure it out by watching her.
Plucking the utensils from her mouth she blushed, "it was rude of me to talk with my mouth full. I am sorry, forgive me."
The men laughed. They threw their heads back and just let the cheery melody spill from their lips. No shame in their happiness at her embarrassment. Kai smiled, watching them. She liked this, being treated as if she was just a normal person. She felt very cared for, listening to them joke around about her graceful nature. They weren't afraid of her, if anything they enjoyed their time spent with her and didn't worry she will kill them for doing the wrong thing. Her chest filled with the warmth of happiness. Thanking Kami that she had been in that village last night.
"Kai," Koga called to her, derailing her train of thought, "we aren't being to loud for your ears are we?"
"Nani," Kai blinked several times before she realized what he said, "no, no. Not at all. You are fine."
"Then why did you suddenly blank out all of a sudden?"
"I was just thinking," the same smile she had just moments before returned to its place, "it's nice having you three here."
"Really," Ginta and Hakkaku asked, their eyes sparkling in her praise.
"Hai. It is nice, being normal."
"Normal?"
"Just like everyone else," she nodded, "to be accepted. To not be feared."
The three gave her wide grins and she shared in their delight. They continued to eat in silence. Kai watched them consume almost twice their body weight in meat. Happy dizzying smiles on their faces from the taste. She couldn't wait to go to the dens, to truly see what it was like to live without restrictions. To be able to do whatever she wanted to do without judgement, or being looked down upon.
"There are no pressing matters for me to attend to, so I shall retire. Tomorrow we can leave," Kai stated, standing gracefully from her spot at the head of the table.
"That sounds like a good idea," Koga nodded.
"Goodnight," Ginta and Hakkaku waved.
She disappeared through the door and the men followed Natsumi to their rooms. All the rooms had doors between them, but were still separate. They thanked their host for showing them to their room before retiring. Each marvelling about the beds, never actually haven't slept on real beds before. They were almost disappointed knowing that they would have to leave this amazing place tomorrow.
-x-
Kai walked listlessly around the palace. She made no sound as she walked on the wooden floors. She couldn't sleep and even after a hot bath to relax she found herself restless. She walked down the small stairs off the back deck and into the soft green grass. She continued on to stand inside the gardens her mother had planted all those years ago.
In the silence she heard the footsteps behind her. Kai turned to find Koga wearing only his hakamas, his arms crossed over his bare muscled chest. She smiled at him, before looking back up at the waning moon. She looked beautiful bathed in the soft white light from the moon. The markings of the Taiyoukai stood out, sparkling softly. She seemed so lonely to him, her sadness seeped into his skin making him frown.
He stepped up beside her, saying nothing, just giving her the only comfort he could offer. She stayed silent for a long time, watching Koga from the corner of her eyes. His black hair shined with a blue hue that wasn't visible during the day. The headband that usually sat around his forehead had been left behind in his room so his bangs curled against the skin of his forehead. His tanned skin glowed. He was one very beautiful male.
"Did I wake you," Kai asked suddenly cutting off the silence.
"No, I was already awake," he answered honestly.
"Do you feel... inferior to me?"
"Nani?"
"In power?"
"It does not bother me that you are stronger. I know we will never be on the opposite side of each other," Koga shrugged, "friends do not care how strong their friends are, they simply care that they can be themselves around each other."
"What about looks," Kai continued.
"Looks? What does that have to do with anything?"
She smiled at him, "I mean, I don't find myself as beautiful as everyone says I am. But, many beings feel unable to stand next to me. Afraid that I will over shadow their looks."
"Like a woman wouldn't want to stand next to you afraid that the man they are interested in would choose you over them?"
"Something like that."
"I agree with Hakkaku, you look like a goddess. Like a being to perfect to walk this earth. But, it doesn't make me feel inferior," Koga gave her a cocky grin.
"Sometimes," Kai told him suddenly, "I think the looks and the gifts I was bestowed in birth are a curse."
"Why?"
"Because no one is perfect."
"No, they aren't and nor are you."
She blinked and looked up at him, "nani?"
"You are beautiful, you are strong, but even you have flaws. Everyone does. You care for everyone but yourself. You don't care if you drowned in your sadness and you don't ask for help even when you need it. It's only been a day since I've met you, but even I can see that you are neglecting yourself."
"I'm okay," Kai smiled up at him, "I guess I'm just lonely."
"You don't have to be lonely," Koga told her.
She leaned against him, setting her head on his shoulder. He stood still, watching her ears twitch with every breath he took. She needed them, and somehow Koga found that they needed her. She would be a good influence on all the women and men of his pack. But, it would also keep his pack open minded about other types of youkai. They have always been very closed about only being around wolves.
"You should get some sleep," Koga whispered, her ears so close to his mouth he was afraid to speak any louder.
"So should you," she responded back.
"I will take my parting," he didn't move, not wanting to make her tumble over.
Kai straightened and smiled at him, "thank you."
"For what?"
"For coming outside with me," she turned and began to walk toward the house, "Goodnight Koga, I will see you in the morning."
"Goodnight Kai," Koga headed back to his room.
A/N: I've been dying to write this story, and currently I'm still in progress with writing Unimaginable so the updates might not be to regular. But, I will continue this story, even if no one reads it.
