Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters related to the story of Inuyasha.
Author's Note: Just wanted to say, thanks to AquaGrace, for the awesoem first review. I'm glad you like it and hope I don't disappoint you. Hope you enjoy the story as it keeps going.
Chapter Two
A bandage had been wrapped around her head. That was the first thing Nyria noticed when she woke from her sleep. The second thing she noticed was that her head was pounding. That would pass, though. And third, she was in a room, but it was not her room nor any room she recognized, for that matter.
With all of these things coming to her, ordered and put into place in her head, Nyria bolted upright, swinging herself out of the bed and onto the floor. She crouched, eyes narrowed, searching the room for a clue as to what was going on. She saw her sword, propped by the wall of the bed. She took in her clothing, changed from the dirty outfit she had worn at the arena to a simple violet kimono with a paler purple sash and a design of white flowers decorating it.
Nyria gasped, her thoughts turning to her disguise. Where was she, and who was she for that matter? She reached up and grabbed a clump of hair, sighing in relief when she found blonde instead of black. That meant everything was still in place. Now the question was: Where was she?
No sooner had she thought this, there was a soft knock on the door. A kitsune opened the door when she did not answer, taking care not to step too far into the woman's temporary chambers, "Miss, you have finally woken up. It's been a good hour or so since we finished bandaging you," he said with a small bow, "Lord Sesshoumaru will be pleased that you have come to."
Lord Sesshoumaru? Nyria's eyes widened and a hiss came from her throat. This was not good. Her father was going to be looking for her soon. She searched her mind frantically for an answer. Grasping at the first thing that came to mind, she rushed forward, grabbing the kitsune's hand, placing a kiss on the back of it, "Thank you, I appreciate the help granted me by the Lord Sesshoumaru." She lifted her head and looked at the astonished Kit, then went on, "But I must be on my way."
Releasing his hand, she turned to quickly grab her sword, holding it so tightly that her knuckles paled. The kitsune just watched her and shook his head, not quite sure how to react to the lady. Before she could move past him or he could say anything further, there was a voice behind him, "Ah, so the lady has decided to wake up." The voice was smooth, calm, and velvety.
Nyria's muscles tensed as she took a step backwards. The kitsune stepped aside and dropped into a deep bow, revealing none other than Lord Sesshoumaru. Well so much for a quick, undetected escape. Nyria would have groaned, but she reigned the urge in and forced a smile to her lips, "Thank you for your generosity, my lord. I will have to track that fiend down and teach him some manners in the ring," she said, laughing nervously.
Sesshoumaru stared down at her, not sharing in her amusement, then waved a hand dismissively, "No need for that, unless you choose to take revenge on him. I took it upon myself to teach the pup some manners. I don't think he will be playing with swords any time soon, unless he can master the blade in his opposite, remaining hand."
Realizing what the inu-youkai was saying, Nyria felt the urge to roll her eyes. She could have taken care of the situation without cutting the man's hand off. But cats and dogs were definitely two different types, even as demons. However, not wanting to seem rude, she bowed her head, "Thank you, m'lord, but I must be getting home. My father will be getting worried." So that wasn't a total lie. Besides that, her concealment spell wasn't going to last forever. She could feel the magic slipping out of her grasp as she spoke.
The kitsune's fingers twitched, feeling the magic dancing around the girl as she fought to cling to it. He let out a soft growl, catching both the attention of the demon lord and the neko. His eyes locked with Nyria's and he could see fear swimming in their depths, but he could also see the violet shifting, slowly fading to silver.
"My Lord Sesshoumaru, I do not believe that lady is as she appears to be," the kitsune murmured, never taking his eyes from the girls.
Nyria wanted to hiss, to reach out and claw the kitsune's eyes out of his head, but she restrained herself. She moved her eyes back to the inu and noticed his eyes now on her as well. He stepped forward, grabbing her chin almost roughly and forcing her face upward so her could see her eyes.
"Neko, what is the meaning of this?" he growled, reaching out to lift a strand of hair with one clawed finger. It seemed as though ink were spilling from the roots, making its way down to stain the strands, all the way to the tips. Her eyes were completely silver, her hair was jet black . . . that meant only one thing was left.
Nyria did hiss this time, pulling her chin from the inu's grip and jerking her hair out of his reach. As she took a few steps back, Sesshoumaru's eyes were focused on something much more important than the color of her hair or eyes. The markings were barely visible at first, slowly darkening until their was no mistaking what they were.
A single, burgandy diamond sat in the center of her forehead, violet lined her eyes, and black stripes encircled her arms, creating a pattern much like that of a tiger's.
"You are the daughter of Haruki, the leader of the Southern Lands, are you not?" Sesshoumaru said this, not so much as a question, for her markings clearlt gave her away, but more as a statement. There was no arguing with it. "What are you doing so far from home, and in an arena of filth, no less?" He sounded much like her father.
Nyria narrowed her eyes at the inu and pulled her shoulders back, lifting her chin in defiance. Such was a stance she had taken to lately when dealing with her father. "Where I go and how I spend my free time is no business of yours, Lord Sesshoumaru," she hissed, gripping the sword at her hip even more tightly.
Sesshoumaru tilted his head to the side slightly, taking in the girl's stance, then shrugged, "Usually, no it's not. However, you are in my lands. What is your name?"
"My name is Nyria, and I only came to your lands because . . . well, the because if of no importance. All you need to know is I was here peacefully." She didn't like where this was going.
The kitsune standing by and observed the pair quietly, intrigued by the neko. He knew that the royal family of the Southern Lands possessed some magic, but hadn't know they were able to pull off any kind of concealment spell. Unless she was in league with a kitsune, herself, who had taught her to accomplish such a spell.
Sesshoumaru shrugged her off and turned, "I will let it pass this time, Lady Nyria, however next time you return to my lands, do it under your own name and face, or expect there to be consequences." He smirked once his back was turned. "You are free to go. Like you said, your father will be worrying soon, and we would hate for him to think you were trying to cause trouble in the Western Lands, wouldn't we?"
Hissing, Nyria turned and glanced at the open window. She looked outside, noting the trees outside of the window. She smirked, "Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru, we wouldn't want that. I will see you again," she murmured, before turning and leaping from the window, into the trees. She would continue this way of travel, all the way back to the Southern border, where she leapt from the trees and to the ground. She ran at full speed all the way home, never looking back.
Lord Sesshoumaru turned when she took her leave through the window and just shook his head, "She could have used the door," he told his kitsune guard with a smirk, who only shrugged his shoulders in response to his lord's comment. The two of them stared at the window for a moment more before Sesshoumaru left the room, gesturing for the guard to follow him. Yes, he would be seeing her again. As the ruler of the Western Lands and the someday ruler of the Southern Lands, they were bound to meet again, whether they liked it or not.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Author's Note: And that's all for Chapter Two. Thanks for reading. Make sure you review so I know what you thought. The more feedback I get, the more willing I'm going to be to move forward and update more. This and the first chapter were the only ones I have written so far. I may have another one up in a few days, *hint hint.*
