Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
This is where I began to get uncertain of pairings. Let me know what you think!
Please review if you read. Comments, criticism, ideas, and suggestions are welcome.
As the pair traipsed down the wharf streets, Deirdra took in the surroundings with a mind ready for fun.
"A good place that seems to be," she quipped, as several drunks were tossed out of a bar. Sesshomaru gazed down at her – although Deirdra was a decent height, the sailor shadowed her by almost a foot.
"Do you ever wear light colors anymore?" he asked, as he led her into a small bed and breakfast, run by an elder couple. Deirdra shrugged as they found their seats, and he frowned.
"It's been three years since your mother, Kagura, died," he mentioned, "Doesn't he let you wear anything but dark colors yet?"
"Da says that it's not appropriate yet," Deirdra told him, "I can't say I'm not missing the colors, but these suit me just fine, or so Kagome says."
"You look beautiful," Sesshomaru agreed, causing her to flush slightly. He wasn't lying, since the cranberry set off her dark-auburn hair. "But I've seen girls step out of mourning only after a year."
"I can't go against Da," Deirdra said bitterly, "Once I'm married, I can wear what I want, he says. Only that's not true – having to wear what my husband wants, I will. What kind of choice is that?"
"You're not betrothed again, are you?" he asked, suddenly suspicious at the tone in her voice. She avoided looking at him, and he sucked in his breath in horror. "To whom?" he asked firmly. Sesshomaru regarded Deirdra as a younger sister and friend, nothing more, but wasn't pleased at the thought of her father selling her off to the highest bidder merely to raise his own social standing.
"Muso Perini," she informed him.
"That son-of-a-" Sesshomaru stopped himself, disgust creasing his features. The young wealthy estate owner of a nearby plantation, Muso was famous for his lechery and dissolution, but somehow remained in the high regards of his fellow socialites.
"Sesshomaru!" Deirdra admonished him, privately agreeing with her friend. "We're to be married once I turn twenty," she sighed, and Sesshomaru remembered that her birthday was in May.
"That's not that long," he mused, suddenly thinking of something.
"What's that face for?" she asked suspiciously. Waiting for the maid to place their food on the table and walk away again, she continued to press him. "We were landed in a barrel of trouble, last time ye had that face, Sesshomaru."
"It's nothing," he replied, and began to eat. Realizing that conversation was stopped for the time being, Deirdra turned her attention to the breakfast before her, and eagerly tucked in.
"Ladies of high society shouldn't eat like that," he reprimanded her teasingly, when they were once again outside, the sunshine warming them slightly from the chilly fall breeze.
"Aye, picking at my food I should have," she agreed calmly, "Half-starved and pinched, ladies of high society. I'd rather be a wharf rat, I'm thinking."
"Your mother must have been the bane of Naraku's life," Sesshomaru shook his head, referring to her father, "Embedding her 'radical' ideas in her young daughter – what can he do with you?"
"Nary a thing," she replied happily, "Merely independent, I am."
"That's about the size of things," he rolled his eyes in mock despair. Arm-in-arm, the two continued their walk back the house slowly, enjoying the air and sights.
"I have several matters I have to attend to," Sesshomaru told her, once they had reached the house, "I'll be back-"
"By dinner, of course ye will," she interrupted him laughingly, "Hopefully the stove will have come, or else you'll be taking me out again for food."
"My pleasure, of course," he shot back, and turned back to the road. Deirdra re-entered her study, and began work on her father's accounts with a renewed interest.
"What the…I'd know that laugh anywhere," Sesshomaru thought, and turned to a house of ill-reputation down an alley. Narrowing his eyes in suspicion, he stalked into the building. While not openly a brothel, rumors were constantly flying about the employees and their customers.
"Ack – Sesshomaru!" Miroku blinked in shock as his former friend appeared before him, and gulped. "Why don't you join me, and we'll talk over good times – or not," he amended, as Sesshomaru grabbed him by the collar and dragged him back into the street.
"What were you doing in there?" he demanded in disgust, once they had found seats in a more-respectable shop.
"Merely enjoying the aspects of bachelorhood," Miroku said defensively, "How did you know I was there?"
"I didn't – I heard that laugh," Sesshomaru growled, "Won't you ever stop your lecherous ways? Engaged to the governor's daughter, and you still won't quit!"
Miroku Weir looked at his former companion, surprised at the outburst.
"I didn't know how I occupied myself was any of your concern," he replied smoothly, and Sesshomaru snorted.
"It is when your stories could possibly reach Deirdra's ears," he informed him, and Miroku winced at the name.
"She…she still lives here?" he asked weakly. The last time they had seen each other, he had informed Deirdra of his engagement, and she had given him a tongue-lashing he still hadn't forgotten.
"Of course, you jackass," Sesshomaru said, his calm tone deceptive. "Did you come to see her?"
"No – I have business with the estate in town," Miroku shook his head, "Why?"
"Because unless you have a good reason for it, I'd suggest you stay away from her," Sesshomaru warned him, "Thanks to you, she's engaged to Muso Perini now."
"That lecher?" he asked in horror, feeling his mouth go dry.
"Surprising that you'd use that word, considering," Sesshomaru said dryly, and Miroku slumped in his seat.
"I couldn't do anything, Sesshomaru."
"The word 'no' isn't in your vocabulary?" he asked sarcastically.
"Saying that to one of the most powerful men around isn't the wisest idea," Miroku reminded him, "Besides, we were merely children. I'm sure Deirdra will find love one day."
"Before, or after she marries that mud-slinger?" Sesshomaru demanded, "She'd rather run away in disgrace than be bound to that man, and I can't say that I blame her."
"And you're telling me this way?" Miroku asked testily, "What do you expect me to? Elope with her?"
Sesshomaru regarded him silently, and Miroku blanched.
"You're crazy!" he shouted, and lowered his tone quickly, "That's impossible, Sesshomaru! Naraku isn't a fool, and Lieder even less so. Even if I wanted to, I can't."
"Are you telling me you have no feelings for her whatsoever?" Sesshomaru challenged, "You've professed to love her for almost eleven years – and now you're saying that all that's gone? It was merely puppy love?"
Miroku ignored his friend, and glared instead at a passing server with such vehemence that the server dropped his tray in surprise.
"How did everything go, Kagome? Have ye planned the wedding to yer satisfaction yet?" Deirdra asked that night over dinner. Inuyasha merely grunted, much to his older brother's amusement, but Kagome ignored him with years of practice.
"Oh, yes!" she nodded happily, "The pastor is more than willing to do it in a few days, so that's no problem."
"Wearing a dress, are ye – or were ye planning on being married in work clothes?" Deirdra regarded Kagome in amazement, as the girl turned pink. "I can't be having that, can I, Sesshomaru?" she turned to him. "Planning a proper wedding I'm not, but sure, and the bride deserves a gown!"
"I agree," he nodded, and Inuyasha groaned.
"We don't have the time or money to get a dress!" he snapped, "Kagome and I already discussed this!"
"I'm not seeing things yer way, Inuyasha," Deirdra informed him. "I can hire a seamstress to make a dress in no time at all, I'm to be sure. Consider it my wedding gift to ye, Kagome," she added, "Keeping ye on is more to my benefit than anyone else's, I'm thinking."
"Miss Deirdra, there's a gentleman here to see you," Hiten announced, rather sourly. She cast him a suspicious glance.
"I'm not thinking I'll be enjoying his company, from your face, Hiten," she commented, "Who is it?"
"Lord Muso, Miss Deirdra," he said, crinkling his nose. Her eyes widened slightly, but she stood up, giving a resigned sigh.
"I'll be seeing him in the study, but make sure he knows that I'm in the middle of eating," she told Hiten, who nodded and quickly left.
"What does he want at this time of night?" Sesshomaru wondered, and then stood as well. "I'll come with you – it's not appropriate for a betrothed couple to spend time alone without a chaperone, is it?" he asked smoothly, giving her a welcome excuse to have someone along. Casting him a grateful glance, Deirdra led the sailor into the study, where her own personal bane was waiting.
"Always a pleasure to have your beauty grace my presence, Miss Deirdra," Muso said, kissing her hand.
"Why have ye come, Lord Muso?" Deirdra asked, quickly withdrawing her hand. Sesshomaru examined the twenty-two year-old man with nothing more than contempt and disgust, not very well-hidden.
"I'm afraid that I am the bearer of bad news, Miss Deirdra," Muso said solemnly, his dark-green eyes meeting hers. "Your father, Naraku, was in a carriage accident on his return trip. The carriage overturned into a ditch, and was splintered apart."
Deirdra sat down slowly, anticipating the news. Sesshomaru moved behind her protectively, glaring openly at the unwanted guest.
"Your father was killed by a piece of wood through his chest," Muso informed her, meeting her gaze without flinching, "He died almost instantly."
Deirdra turned her head into the winged back of the chair without a sound. Sesshomaru placed his hand on her shoulder comfortingly, and she took it in one hand.
"Ye should go now, I'm thinking" she whispered suddenly, "If what ye say is true, I've got a lot to get done."
"Of course," he bowed low, and exited the room without protest.
"I'm sorry, Deirdra," Sesshomaru said softly, moving next to her chair so she could bury her head in his shoulder.
"So'm I," she nodded, her voice muffled against his shirt, "Da's will states that if he dies afore I'm twenty, I'm ta be married immediately, and my husband'll have run of the estate."
Sesshomaru gripped her closer to him without another word, and glared at the door, after the man whom had brought this on her.
"How did it go, Lord Muso?" Kanna, his maid and assistant, questioned him on the ride back to his estate.
"Fine, I'm sure," he chuckled, "Naraku's body will never be found, thus eliminating all need for a cover-up. After a few days she'll be forced to wed me whether she wants to or not, or she'll be disinherited, and the next of kin gets the estate."
"Whom has already agreed to sign it over, should it come to that," Kanna finished, in her usual quiet monotone.
"Good man, that Koga," Muso chuckled.
Dressed in dark gray, Deirdra sat in the parlor of the house the next morning as mourners arrived to offer their condolences.
"Still no sign of the body," Inuyasha whispered to Sesshomaru, as the two met in the garden. "Something's not right – the carriage is there."
"Foul play, then?" Sesshomaru wondered, "I don't doubt it, considering Muso. Why would he kill Naraku, though? Her birthday was in a few months – surely that amount of time doesn't make that much of a difference."
"I dunno…Muso's an impatient man," Inuyasha muttered, "I'm worried about Kagome's safety, but she refuses to leave Deirdra alone."
"Good," Sesshomaru nodded, "Hiten and Myoga have given their word to remain in the house. Hiten's cousin, Bankotsu, is bringing himself and his sister Kikyo to stay – Bankotsu is a personal bodyguard and military-trained man. She'll be safe enough."
"And the sister'll keep people from talking," Inuyasha nodded, satisfied, "Kagome still won't leave, but at least there'll be more people in there besides a scrawny servant and an old man."
"We're staying in the wharf," Sesshomaru said suddenly, and firmly. "There's no way I'm going to leave Deirdra to deal with this alone. Perhaps it's best if we both stay anyway."
"Suits me fine," Inuyasha agreed, nodding. Suddenly, he growled in his throat in disgust. "Well, look who finally showed his face."
"Hm," Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed as Miroku strode up the walk, Sango Lieder's arm in his. Deirdra cast a quick glance at the couple, and immediately excused herself from the crowd.
"I can't do this, Kagome," she rubbed her forehead vigorously, heedless of her hair falling in her face. "I can't, I can't, I can't…"
"Calm down," Kagome said soothingly, rubbing her hand on Deirdra's back, "I can have Inuyasha keep Miroku occupied – besides, I'm sure they won't stay long."
"I feel like saying I want to go home, but there's no home for me to go to," Deirdra whispered in horror, "I'm trapped."
"There will always be a home for you at the Perini estate," Muso said, surprising the two young women.
"I don't want any company now," Deirdra said, barely containing her venom.
"Now, now, I'm sure you're distraught with grief, but we must think of the future as well," he continued smoothly, heedless of her words. "My assistant is prepared to issue a statement this evening cementing our intended marriage – we can even set a date by then, if you like."
"Have some decency!" Myoga said sharply, coming in from another room. "Colonel Ashby has just died, and his daughter is without even a body to grieve over!"
"Of course. My apologies, Deirdra," Muso said, bowing low and purposefully omitting the 'Miss'. Deirdra collapsed in a chair as he left the room.
"That horrid, wicked, slime-ridden man!" she burst out, followed by a string of curses only Sesshomaru could have taught her. Falling silent, Deirdra hid her face in her palms. "Tell them I'm ill, Kagome," she whispered, "Tell them anything, but make them leave. Please."
"Of course, Deirdra," Kagome nodded, having been allowed first-name basis since her plans for a wedding. Leaving Deirdra alone in the room, she cast a worried glance over her shoulder, and promptly walked into Inuyasha.
"What's the matter, Kagome?" he asked, holding her arm.
"Muso just came and began insisting on setting a wedding date," Kagome hissed, "And Deirdra doesn't look at all well. This is hitting her harder than she wants us to know."
"I'll take care of it, don't worry," he promised, "Go get rid of the guests, all right?"
"Sure," she nodded, and continued down the hall. Inuyasha turned as well, and quickly found Miroku and Sesshomaru engaged in tense conversation.
"Father is insisting that our wedding be held in a month or so, but due to recent circumstances, it's hardly proper," Sango said primly, holding Miroku's arm possessively. Miroku nodded solemnly, and Sesshomaru snorted.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Inuyasha asked, pulling Sesshomaru away.
"What is it?"
"Deirdra's not doing good. Apparently, Muso just cornered her about marriage plans, and Kagome said she looks sick," Inuyasha whispered, "I think you better go check on her."
"Why me?"
"Because I'm engaged," Inuyasha hissed, "Besides, you two've always been close. Just go – I'll take care of this."
"Fine," Sesshomaru nodded, and strode off.
Pairing decided by reviews! No flames.