Sesshoumaru's POV
I took inspection of her form again. She's peaceful now and she seems to have no recollection of who she is and what is of her. I still am not sure what kind of creature she has transformed to, but it's neither human nor youkai. She looks just the same as before, only new. There seems to be no trace or scar on her body and her skin glows compared to the dead-like appearance it used to give off. Seeing a village near, I decided that maybe I should get her better covering.
As I made my way down, I see the crowd clearing a space for me and staring at us. They might be thinking things. But it's what these useless humans do so naturally anyway, so I just brush it off. It is good that Jaken is missing for I am not feeling up to tolerating the toad. I make my way to the shop to get her a more decent thing to wear. As I enter, I see an old woman at the desk. She stopped to greet me and showed me the collections of clothes. I asked her to pick for something that would suit the girl in my arms. I then plopped the miko down the floor of the dressing room and told the old woman I'll be waiting outside.
Normal POV
When Kikyo got out, she was wearing a dark red silk kimono with a black obi sash held together by a silver Obi jime. She bowed as though asking for Sesshoumaru's approval and seeing him nod, Kikyo faced the old woman again. Sesshoumaru just took her hand and without a word, left some golden coins at the shop and then carried Kikyo again to set flight.
"Who are you?" Kikyo asked as she stared at Sesshoumaru. It was a simple question yet the youkai found it a bit annoying that she can't remember him.
"I am Sesshoumaru. Lord of the western lands"
"I see. Thank you for not leaving me there. I would tell you who I am but I can't seem to extract information."
"You're Kikyo. Don't you know?"
"I'm not aware. Thank you for telling me. How do you know of me if I might ask?"
"We had crossed paths before. You probably don't remember"
"Yes, I don't know you but you are familiar, Lord Sesshoumaru. Perhaps I've seen you before" She said as she tried to think deeper
"We're here" Sesshoumaru put her down as the big gates of his castle opened.
They were approached by an usher asking Sesshoumaru if he needed anything, which he just replied to with a grunt. Kikyo followed close behind him just looking at the surroundings. Around them was a marvelous garden filled with different flowers and trees and shrubs. In the center stood the tall falls. It is hard to fathom how one could live in such a place even though it has astonishing beauty, there seems to be the absence of any form of shelter except trees. She then saw a long red bridge which leads to the other side of the falls straight to the water. They crossed the bridge and were lead to a curtain of waters with a very fast tide and speed. Kikyo could only think of how they would cross.
"It is I, Sesshoumaru who is desires to enter the castle." At his words the water just parted and as soon as they had crossed, it came rushing back down.
"Milord, would you like any assistance on any matter?" The servant asked
"Is my mother here? I can smell of her"
"Yes milord. The Queen Mother is in the palace indeed, do you wish to seek her counsel?"
"Yes I would want you to arrange a meeting with her later. It is a request of the Lord if she asks so. Also, prepare a chamber for this woman. One near mine and see to it that she is bathed and dressed properly before attending audience in my court."
"Yes, milord" replied the servant
"Kikyo, I shall see to you later." With that Sesshoumaru gracefully took his leave and went to the highest point of the corridor to the biggest room. Apparently, he is lord here
"Come milady, I would show you your chambers" said the servant
"Thank you. My I ask your name?"
"I am Aya, your personal maid servant, milady"
"Call me Kikyo. I'm pleased to meet you" Kikyo smiled
"As am I" Aya bowed "would Lady Kikyo be comfortable for a bath? It is a request by the lord"
"That would be nice, please just show me where and I can bathe myself"
They walked down a huge hall and stopped in front of two big sliding doors. Once it is opened you can see another hall with four rooms each side. Each room has a hot spring in it and it seemed somehow like a bath house. Kikyo was then shown around and she was to choose which one she would like.
"I'll just take the first one. Thank you"
"I would be right outside. Please don't hesitate to require my services. There are medicinal and aroma herbs available for you to choose from inside." Said Aya.
The doors were closed and Kikyo studied the room as she undressed. The size alone is impressive but the beautiful paintings on the walls were breath taking. It had greeneries and mountains painted in an old Chinese style. The paintings actually show a story about a hero saving his beloved. She could safely say that it was not Sesshoumaru who picked the design for he could not care less about his surroundings. She just took a plum smelling aroma and put it in the water and then she bathed. She washed her body thoroughly and used the cold water from the dispenser to wash her long black hair. She looked at herself and blushed at the thought that Sesshoumaru has seen her naked, but it quickly faded away as she reminds herself that he could not care less.
Sesshoumaru was in his room bathing at his private bathe chambers. He glanced at his discarded clothes and saw the sash he wears then an image of Kikyo's naked form appeared on his mind. It almost seemed appealing. Although he was puzzled he's even taking time to think of it. He never paid attention to her before and even saw her own death but he's somehow magnetized to her now. She's a witch that's what she is. Why else would he be at the slightest bit concerned? But he surmised, she's a pleasant one. It made him annoyed that he was contradicting his own thoughts and just brushed the thought away. After he was done, he simply went to his closet and fetched a kimono which he used in court.
It was a midnight blue kimono with ocean imprinted on its sleeves and endings. Then he put on a pair of normal hakamas in comparison to his puffy ones after that he put on his usual armor and the sash he wears as his boa ties to his shoulder on its own. He went to his bed and just laid there to wait a bit. The counsel is not until a few hours anyway. His eyes caught sight of his sash again and it made him shiver. To take his mind off it, he took a blank scroll and decided to paint on it. A talent no one knows he ever had. He pleasures in hiding it for he thinks it is weak for a lord to paint.
Kikyo is now in "her room" with Aya. It was beside the lord's chambers so it must mean she's very important. For the room itself, it was huge with red and golden walls which are also painted with different sceneries and parallel to her bed was a wall with the painting of the ocean. The bed itself was a four post bed fit for a queen. It did not have legs like what is usual in the eastern countries. She had a big vanity table on the side of her bed and a study on the other side with a big closet filled with different kimonos already. There was a room leading to a washroom which was much smaller than those in the bathhouse but still spectacular. There was also a divider in her room and a small library of scrolls if she wished to read.
After she has dressed in her red under kimono, Aya dressed her in a long white silk kimono which has red and golden embroideries of flowers. Then she was coated with a second kimono which was translucent and red and then held everything together with a deep red obi which is further secured with a much decorated obi-jime which was tied in a fashion resembling a sakura. Then they proceeded to the vanity as Kikyo knelt down in front and grabbed the comb, Aya stopped her.
"Please, it is my duty fix the lady's hair" Aya said sternly
"Uhm thank you" Kikyo wanted to protest but she did not want to intrude in a place new to her
Aya continued to comb her long hair and then braided it. Aya took out a jeweled ornament from the drawers and decorated each side of her head which framed her face. Aya took a look at her and decided she was done. Aya smiled at her good job and took kikyo's hands and massaged them with a plum scented oil.
"It is pretty when you smile, you should often do so" Kikyo said as she smiled at Aya
"The lord finds no purpose to it and as his subjects, we need not smile if he does not so" Aya said a bit saddened
"It is alright. There's no purpose of being gloomed in such a beautiful palace like this" Kikyo said once again "I don't think he'll mind much" She laughed a bit.
"Thank you for being so kind milady" Aya laughed a bit too. "You are so pretty! Most ladies in the courts need to put hues on their faces but you totally pull it off!" Aya merrily said and then realized she went out of line and blushed "I'm sorry milady" she bowed
"No it's alright! It's much better when you are talkative, let's be good friends!"
"I don't think the lord will-"
"Nonsense, you shall just call me Kikyo"
"Alright, uhhmm Kikyo" Aya said a bit disoriented
Then the sliding of the door was heard and they straightened as the saw Sesshoumaru enter and look at them. Aya excused herself and went out. Kikyo stood and bowed to the lord. As she straightened, she can see Sesshoumaru was not even a hand's length of distance, so she backed a bit. Sesshoumaru walked closer though, and being tall, Sesshoumaru lifted her chin and examined Aya's work. Indeed he approved even though he didn't show it nor did he say it. He looked at her lips and how red they are without any hue and then he stared at her eyes. He noticed how nervous she was because of the proximity of their distance. It excited him but then he let go of her and just presented her a white sparkling translucent shawl.
"I want you to wear that"
"Thank you Sesshoumaru-sama" Kikyo bowed still red from what Sesshoumaru did.
"I shall see you again in the court within an hour" with that he turned his back and left, now smirking.
Kikyo just looked at the door puzzled at his actions. Then she looked at the shawl and put it around her. Lord Sesshoumaru sure is extraordinary. She decided she would read a scroll to consume her time. So she went to the shelf and decided on reading a story about a demon lord and his quests. The character was nothing like Sesshoumaru. The character was bold and expressive of his emotions, he's very loud too. After a bit of reading she decided she wanted to catch some fresh air and so she went to the veranda in her room and slid open the door as she stepped out, she saw Sesshoumaru in the veranda connected to his room so she got a bit nervous and hurriedly went back inside.
