"Tsutsuji" is Japanese for the Azalea flower

Chapter 2: Azalea

Kikyou narrowed her eyes, her displeasure as apparent as the silence. Her Lady Mother gave her a glance that quickly broke the expression on her face. She was fully aware her Lady Mother disliked it when she was being willful, explaining that it was unbecoming of a Hime who the intended one of the most powerful youkai in all of Japan. The demoness had just received word that Sesshomaru-sama, son of Inu no Taisho was already on his way to claim his bride and only recently finished explaining the situation. Yet, that was not the reason Kikyou was showing signs of displeasure. She was elated with being the woman whom Sesshomaru-sama was to marry, the grandeur of the position and title far more perfect than she could have ever dreamed of. Despite it all, the news that troubled her the most, and sent tremors of anger though her body was what her mother said about the girl standing in the corner of the room. The very girl who she had forced to pick up grains of rice from the cold wooden floor. Apparently, the girl had not "wandered" into her path, she was ordered by her Lady Mother to attend her. It bothered her because she felt it took away the power she had felt. If the girl had walked into her path without the order, Kikyou would have felt the power of being commanding towards a girl who had no reason to follow her orders anyway. But no, the girl was ordered by her Lady Mother, thus taking the feeling of power she had felt, away. She was her mother's servant when it came to the final word, not hers. Kikyou stared down at the cup of tea, her hand trembling. Without thinking twice, she grabbed the delicate piece of china and flung it towards the wall, watching as the girl dashed the cup as it shattered into tiny little pieces.

"I want her fully under my jurisdiction." Kikyou muttered, meeting her Lady Mother's dark eyes. The demoness said nothing, her long elegant hands gripping her kimono relaxingly. She didn't even bat an eye as she stared up at her daughters unbecoming behavior. Much to Kikyou's surprise, and the rest of the chamber maids, the Lady stood up, her voice breaking the echoing silence.

"Very well, consider her a wedding gift from me. A lady should always have one who is fully under her order. Keep her, she is no value whatsoever to me. Humans are of no value."

The silence flooded back into the room as her words faded away as she left the room. Kikyou herself could not avoid being stunned. "I won…?" Kikyou thought… a shadow of a smile forming on her ruby red lips. While the rest of the chamber maid shad already scuttled out of the room, her maid was on the flood collecting what was left of the broken tea cup. It annoyed her ears to hear the china scratch against the wood as the girl picked it up. She could not asses the girl's reaction to what her Lady Mother had just ordered. She seemed to be completely indifferent.

"You, girl. Tell me, what do you think of your new position? It is an honor to be my maid, do you not think so?"

The girl raised her head but kept her eyes downcast, a clear sign of obedience.

"Hai Hime, an honor."

~*~

Kagome picked up the tiny pieces of the china that had been thrown against the wall in a fit of fury. Her hands were shaking terribly, but she did her best to keep them as seemingly calm as possible. She could not betray her true feelings in regard to the matter that was her future. Inside, she was truly stunned at her Lady's decision, or her Former Lady's. Now, it was Kikyou-Hime that she would be fully attending to. For some reason, the mere thought of it made her uneasy. She had not liked the look in the Hime's eyes as she watched her pick up the cup, her eyes bearing into every single part of her body. She felt the tension in the air, still and foreboding.

~*~

"Sesshomaru-sama, we are nearing the palace of the North, territory of the Spider Youkai." The voice of the carriage man rang out against the sound of the wheels turning furiously against the rocky path. They had been traveling for two days time, and only now they were nearing their destination. "Lack of proper efficiency among humans is astounding. I would have reached the destination far in advanced in comparison to these creatures. Damn father and his will to uphold proper manners." Sesshomaru thought silently to himself as he glared at the scenery they passed by so quickly. He had one thing in mind, and that was consummating the marriage and returning to his territory with his wife. After that, she would just fulfill her duty by giving him a child and he would doing whatever was necessary to fulfill his goals. He would have no time to tend to her and show he the ways of that court, she would need figure that out on her own.

"Are we there yet?" InuYasha muttered, his features not even trying to neglect his apparent impatience.

Sesshomaru didn't even bother sparing the han'yo a glance, nonetheless an answer. The bastard, which was exactly what he was, was not worth giving an answer to. To Sesshomaru, he belonged in the same category as humans. Useless, worthless, and lowly creatures.

~*~

InuYasha felt all too familiar with the silence. Silence was something that had become his closest companion since the day he was born. His father cared for him dearly, he knew that much, but his great father was always too involved in his duties to pay him much heed. Sesshomaru, on the other hand, detested him entirely. He was used to it. He was certain his brother had disliked the idea that he was to accompany him to the North to fetch his bride, but there was nothing he could have said to their father to prevent it. His father's words like always, were set in stone, an unbreakable stone.

~*~

(Dusk)

Kagome dressed herself in a light and plain lavender kimono and wandered out past the palace walls. She had only recently finished attending to the Hime, an exhausting and daunting task. Kagome let her feet lead the way and let her mind wander to her thoughts. She had been on this path thousands of times, her trek etching a tiny narrow path leading to her destination. She could arrive there with her eyes closed. As she walked, she took in the scent of the surrounding forestry and flowers. She felt so calm, her sense accustomed to the place. Her heart felt so at peace, her body so relaxed. Kagome stopped, staring out into the surroundings. She had reached her beloved haven, her own personal Eden. She made her way toward what she called her sacred tree. Her mother had told her the tree had special powers, because when you were by it, it would take your soul in its comforting braches and nurture all the pain and hurt away. It allowed everything around it to blossom, such as all the various flowers that surrounded it. Her mother had christened the tree "The God Tree". She believed that the Kami's had bestowed a special power to the tree, for it to be able to foster such a unworldly haven. Kagome sighed, her heart beginning to wrench. She sat in the crook of the tree, feeling she could become a permanent part of her towering guardian. She closed her eyes, drifting into a sound sleep.

-Dream-

"Mama! Mama!" Kagome ran, as fast as her childhood legs could take her. Tears were welling up in her eyes and trailing down her face, her tiny hands balling up into fists as if to fend away the shadowed demons of her life.

Her mother was standing before the God Tree, her hand resting on its huge trunk.

"Hush my little bird, everything will be alright." Her mother's soft reassured her.

Kagome stopped near her mother's leg¸ looking up curiously. The ill pallor of her mother's beautiful face reminded her of the whiteness of rice paper. It was something that scared her.

Her mother kneeled down, and faced her, cupping her cherub face in her cold hands. Cold hands that felt so much like the hands of death, painful and uncomforting. She wished she could feel her mother's warm hands upon her face, not these foreign ones.

"Shh… don't cry darling. I have prepared a position for you in the palace of the North. They are youkai, but I have been assured they will treat you well. Tend to the Lady of the household, and become friends with her daughter." Her mother said. She pulled out a white necklace with a spherical shaped jewel hanging off of it. The lavender color gave off a faint glow, the inside of it reminding her of a swirling storm. "My own mother once told me to keep this close for it is what makes us who we are. It is rumored that our family line is descended from a powerful Milo. This jewel once belonged to her¸ and has been passed down ever since. You must forever nurture it with the goodness and purity of your heart, for it you don't it is said it will turn dark, only spreading its anger. Never betray your true and pure self. Besides that, keep it on your neck at all times, it will cover any Miko power you may possess. If anyone should find out you possess any power, I fear the worst."

Kagome only nodded, as her mother put the necklace round her neck and embraced her with her thin arms. She stood there, frozen and trembling. She could feel the wind blowing against them, uprooting their beautiful garden. The God tree had turned dark, the blades of grass faded into a grey mass, and what flower that had been at the majesty of their beauty had shriveled up, fainting into nothing. Her mother's embrace had also disappeared, leaving her with the most empty and alone feeling. Empty and alone was all she was in the end, surrounded by a grey garden.

-End dream-

Kagome woke, her heart beating furiously and drops of sweat covering her entire body. She half expected to see the dead garden of her dreams, because it felt so real. Too real to be a dream. She looked to her right and saw blooming flowers. She stood and walked towards them, their pink and red beauty calling out to her. She recognized the flower to be an "Tsutsuji" flower. She smiled to herself, slightly uplifting the damp mood of her heart.

~*~

After returning to the palace, Kagome tended the Hime. She did her best to be patient and modest, avoiding to show any signs of displeasure. This is the position that fate had bestowed upon her, and it was her duty to make the fullest of it. While brushing Kikyou-sama's hair, the frenzied screeching of a chamber maid rang out through the chamber.

"Kikyou-Hime, Kikyou-Hime!" The girl said, bowing before Kikyou.

"What is it you fool? Know better than to yell in my presence. I will not tolerate such!" Kikyou said, her voice tinged with anger.

"My sincere apologies, but you must know… Sesshomaru-sama has arrived." The girl said, her voice quavering.

Kikyou shot up, causing Kagome to drop the comb on the floor. Kikyou only turned to her, a annoyed expression. "Fool! Pick it up." She spat. "Do I look presentable? You will follow me and stand in attendance while I greet Sesshomaru-sama. Understood? Any conduct that will cause embarrassment to me will earn you a beating."

"Yes Hime, you look beautiful."

Kikyou smiled smugly and started to walk out, Kagome trailing behind her.

~*~

The palace was dark, something that bothered Sesshomaru. The Lord and Lady of the North held a grand court, their many servants tending to every command. He was glad to know his future wife would be able to run the household.

"How is your father, Sesshomaru-sama?" The Lord said, his dark eyes turning to him.

"Well, and pleased with the prospect of marriage." Sesshomaru replied flatly.

"Indeed, it is a marriage the Kami's have blessed us with so generously." The Lady commented, smiled.

He noted his hosts eyes turn in a direction¸ and followed as well. "Ah, there she is now, your future bride, Kikyou-hime."

Sesshomaru glanced at the lady who was walking toward them. She bowed slightly, but not enough to his liking. She was a beautiful creature, but nothing truly grand stood out about her. From the scent in the air, he could tell she was full of a confident air. But something seemed to bother him about her. She didn't smell like a youkai. Her scent was very different from her parents and she looked like an ordinary human. He turned to his hosts¸ particularly angered.

"What is the meaning of this?" he said, ordering an explanation.

"Why Sesshomaru-sama, is something not to your liking?"

"Explain now. I am no fool and do not think my sense of smell would not catch on."

The Lord and Lady only shrugged. "We have been blessed with a daughter, but cursed with a human."

~*~

Kikyou stood there silently, fazed at his beauty and superior aura but angered by his words, not to mention her parent's words. She walked toward him, intending to end this conversation. She was his betrothed, and there was not a damn he could do about it.

"Sesshomaru-sama… " she cooed "Surly we can work past this 'imperfection'. I do have some youkai blood in me, for my true mother was a youkai, but my father as not."

**Entire chamber gasps**

"A Han'you?" Sesshomaru spat

"Our children will be mostly full demons. Does it not please you to know such a thing?"

"You look like a human."

"She is mostly in appearance, a human. Although, her internal make up suggests otherwise." The Lady commented. The Lord remained silent.

"I am not pleased. A dirty han'yo as my bride is not a prospect I look forward to, nor wish to accept." Sesshomaru said, his voice flat and cold.

The entire chamber fell to silence, shocked by his blatant disrespect. No one moved to reprimand him, for fear of causing more trouble.

~*~

Kagome let out a deep breath. Kikyou had quickly retired to her chamber after the scene had dispelled, subjecting Kagome to a hour of a her anger, which felt like the destructive power of a hurricane. Sesshomaru-sama had also been directed toward his chambers with the rest of his attendants. She had also taken notice had had a brother who seemed to look like a mix between a human and a youkai. She laughed. "A youkai who detests marrying a han'yo even though his brother is one?"

Kagome sat by the trees, enjoying staring up at the stars. She wished so longingly to grab hold of one and feel the glow cupped in her hands. She light from the stars had the power to enlighten the darkest of areas. She twirled the Tsutsuji flower in her hands, admiring the image of the pink and red standing out starkly against the dark night sky. Kagome sensed another presence, and turned around suddenly. She saw the familiar person standing not so far off, he took looking at the same stars. He turned slightly and met her gaze. For a split second, she met eyes the color of liquid gold. They were such a warm color but filled with such a cold and deadly feeling. The irony surprised her. She felt her heart skip a beat, and a blush warm her cheeks.

"What were you staring at?" He said, not bothering to look back at her, but facing the sky once more.

"Hm?" Kagome muttered, looking back at him. "Oh, nothing."

"Hn." He replied, the indifferent tone clearly noticeable.

Kagome stood up and walked towards him, the flower held firmly in her hands. A slight breeze blew between them and she extended the beautiful flower out towards him in a peaceful offering.

He only stared at her and then lowering his eyes toward the object in her hands.

She bowed slightly.

"It is Tsutsuji flower. Be patient and modest with life. Fate is like a river; simple but often rocky while flowing with the current, but rough and nearly impossible while willfully going against it. It is better than drowning from impatience and arrogance because you want to swim against the current." She said, her voice falling into the flowing wind.

"A human may not withstand going against a current, but a youkai certainly will." He said, coldly.

The flower fell towards the ground, and was swept up by the wind. Kagome was left standing there alone in the chill of the night, the faint sound of his footsteps walking away resounding though the harsh silence.

~*~

A/N: I REALLY love this chapter. I hope you love it just as much as I do. I feel like its just flowing with emotion in the last part. Although Kagome and Sesshomaru don't say much, there is a plethora of meaning to the dialog. Just the interaction itself… so beautiful!

If you haven't guessed, a Tsuutsuji (Azalea) flower in Japanese symbolism means "patient and modest".

It is the theme of this chapter. PLEASE read and review! I'll post the next chapter up faster.

And I do not own Inuyasha