By the time dinner was started Nikki had determined she would not be mating an inu prince. Everyone, but Ryo, was awkwardly silent through the meal. By dessert the arrival of the prince of the north and two of the south was announced. Higashi immediately had the staff bring them all dinner as they joined them. While it didn't change the weirdness of it all, it was at least the start of conversations between them. It was quite obvious after a bit that Nikki was still ignoring the two from the west.
"Tomorrow the ten sons of the local lords will arrive," Higashi announced as they all nodded that they at least heard him. "I'll once more remind my own children about their manners. Everyone should be within the castle for the ball in two nights." They all nodded once more. He waved them off for the night as he noticed Sesshomaru follow Nikki into one of the gardens.
"After you spoke," Inuyasha explained, "he realized he should apologize." Higashi nodded in agreement as he relaxed some.
"So, you've been with her longer, what's the princess like?" one of the princes asked Inuyasha.
"She's a fighter," Inuyasha answered, "but she actually fights for a cause, not just to fight." Higashi figured that was an interesting view point. "Beyond being quite beautiful, she can be as scary as him." He motioned towards Higashi causing the older youkai to laugh.
"Sounds like a challenge," one of the princes of the south murmured pleased.
"Only if you can keep your hands to yourself, perv," his brother commented amused. "When will the princess make her choice?"
"As we're expecting a lot as is from you fifteen and more from her," Higashi mused as he thought, "I believe we agreed upon in three months." The five nodded as Nikki's brothers remained silent and motionless as they listened.
Later that night found Nikki, Sango, and Kagome out of the castle for a bit. Sesshomaru was relaxing in his new chambers with a book when he heard knocking. He opened his door to see Ryo looking for the girls. He watched the younger hanyou curiously as he waited to see what he'd do.
"Everything alright?" he asked as Ryo jumped after staring at the door for a bit.
"Yes, I was waiting for little sister Kagome to come back," Ryo explained. "Saki is still out and I know that she will help make sure I'm ready for bed." Sesshomaru nodded as he listened and pitied the guy.
"Do you not want to show your sisters that you are capable of doing so on your own?" Sesshomaru asked him. Ryo thought about it for a bit as he looked at the youkai before him.
"I do," he answered, "I hate being a burden on them all. The doctors and healers always told them I can't do it on my own." Sesshomaru nodded in understanding, he personally would jump off a bridge if he relied on everyone else like that. "But I also know they worry, when I was in the hospital Seiji and Jiro never left my side. Nikki and Rinji would bring me homemade meals. Shinta would read to me."
"Then do you know how to get ready for bed?" Sesshomaru asked, figuring if he could help the slightly confused prince it might help Nikki in the end. Ryo grinned widely and nodded enthusiastically. "Then you should do everything they have gone over with you and when she gets home I will send Kagome to check on you. It will surprise her to see you in bed and asleep." Ryo agreed wholeheartedly before running off and Sesshomaru turned to go back to his room.
"From what I've learned about you, that was uncommonly nice," a voice said from down the hall. He stopped from returning to his room and looked, one of the princes from the south was watching.
"There is much about me many do not know or are not privileged to know," he replied. The young tora youkai chuckled bemused and nodded in agreement.
"I'm sure, but I never thought the son of the great inu no taisho would be so kindly to…well…a retard," he commented with a shrug. Sesshomaru immediately knew he was not going to get along with this prince. He was certain that once Nikki heard him speak she's kill him.
"Those who are foolish to see compassion as weakness are doomed to never receive it," Sesshomaru muttered vaguely. "Beyond that, his circumstances are not of his own fault. His sisters and brothers are extremely fond of him, though I believe he has not had the chance to grow because they give him so much affection."
"If you say so," the tora responded with a laugh. "He is weak, weakness deserves nothing but death." Sesshomaru shook his head before turning to return to his room. "It's a shame he's going to lose such a devoted sibling so soon." Sesshomaru looked over his shoulder as he listened. "It's also a shame you all wasted your time with her, since the decision has been made and all."
"If you are trying to bate me into demanding what you are rambling about, I will not," he growled at the offensive youkai. He went into his room and closed the door, shaking his head he returned to his book, one ear out for the sound of the returning females so he could convince them to check on Ryo. After half an hour he was also curious about how the slightly addled hanyou was doing. He got up to check on him when he heard the girls returning.
"One of you," he instructed as he opened his door and scaring the hell out of them, "should go and check on Ryo." They looked at him surprised as Kagome smiled.
"We did that before heading this way," she informed him, "he's fine and sound asleep." Sesshomaru nodded and prepared to return to his room. "It's great that you're so worried."
"He came looking, I informed him I would send you to him upon your arrival." Sesshomaru told her. Kagome grinned and nodded as he looked at her and thought about her reaction.
"You're far nicer than it's rumored about you," she informed him.
"No, I actually killed all that it is rumored," he informed her. Kagome looked at him surprised as Sango sighed and shook her head, and Nikki silently smirked at him. "Good night, ladies," he murmured before vanishing into his room again. He sighed some after the door was shut, his curiosity sated for the night, and an odd comfort knowing the females were home and safe.
"Hey," his half-brother greeted him the next morning. He nodded in response silently. "So, what's the plan for today?"
"I would believe that is up to our prey," he answered with a shrug. "I am curious about the others with us." Inuyasha looked at him with a mixture of surprise and confusion. "I had a chat with the full youkai half of the south."
"His name is Shinta, he's deviously cunning," Inuyasha informed him. "He's not confident, he's arrogant." Sesshomaru snorted at the comment, he could agree with that statement and say so much more.
"He is under the delusion that he has already won favor with Nikki," he replied as they walked. Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"Well he's a dick," Inuyasha shook his head. Sesshomaru was not always fond of the crude way Inuyasha spoke, but this was one of the few times he couldn't argue. "I wouldn't mind seeing him get knocked a few pegs."
"He does not think highly of Nikki's brother, so that will be to everyone else's advantage as long as they stay quiet." Sesshomaru mused as Inuyasha nodded in agreement. "Ryo is not incapable, he is simply being overcompensated for."
"He can handle himself?" Inuyasha asked confused. Sesshomaru nodded in affirmation. "Why?"
"The same reason we were sent here, to assist us in ways they thought best. It is not out of the question that all of our parents thought it would help us find a mate by doing this." Sesshomaru explained. "If they did not, one of us would have been sent and the other remained home." Inuyasha nodded in agreement.
"So your new goal is to help Ryo get along on his own, freeing everyone up from their own presumptions?" Inuyasha asked as Sesshomaru shrugged and nodded. "That would put you in both Nikki and Lord Higashi's favor, pissing off Shinta all the more when he was sent home." Inuyasha smirked at his older half-brother. "Devious bastard, how quickly did you devise that plan?" Sesshomaru looked at him silently as Inuyasha sighed and shook his head.
"So, you two ready to win over Nikki before someone else does?" one of the princes asked as they joined the inu brothers.
"No offense to your sister, but I wish we had time," Inuyasha replied as the two nodded in agreement. "I mean, it wouldn't stun me if she went for like Sesshomaru or that Shinta guy from the south, but us hanyou need more time." The two chuckled and nodded in agreement.
"We fought the old man," one of them told them, "we were lucky to get this."
"How so?" Sesshomaru asked, his curiosity peaked.
"Shinta of the South was supposed to be engaged to Nik by her next birthday," the second one explained as both inu brothers looked at him. Inuyasha was obviously surprised, Sesshomaru didn't look as much.
"We didn't like him the moment we met him, had to fight to keep Nik from poisoning him," the first continued. "So Seiji and I got father to agree to this, let the fifteen of you meet her, hope she likes one of you better than Shinta or the others to mate, and keep that pompous prick out of our kingdom."
"Why was Shinta already chosen?" Sesshomaru asked slightly annoyed.
"To keep the peace, Nikki was offered to the tora of the south to stop the attacks." The second answered. "It was a desperate last attempt at peace, but we know it wouldn't have lasted." Inuyasha shook his head as Sesshomaru remained silent and in thought.
"To save a kingdom a sacrifice was needed." Inuyasha murmured. "A part of her must have died when she was told."
"You think?" one of her brothers replied sourly. "Her freedom has been stolen by her own kin, this was our last attempt to preserve that. Father's final hope resides in this test." The two nodded before the four walked into the dining hall to see the three females dressed in fine white gowns, the ten sons of the lower lords already seated with the prince of the north.
"Once all are gathered, the lord of these lands will need a word with all the suitors and his heir," ome of the sons announced. Nikki looked as her brother spoke, though her emerald eyes lingered on Sesshomaru a moment longer. He noticed her smirk a little at him before returning to her meal as she listened to her friends gossip. He sat not too far away as Inuyasha joined the prince of the north.
Behind the sons of the south, Higashi and Seiji walked into the hall. Nikki finished her meal and was led out by her friends before anyone spoke. Sesshomaru watched her movements closely, but also noticed so were the others. He figured none of the lower lords' sons truly stood a chance, it was up to the heirs. As Higashi looked at them, they all prepared for whatever he had to say, though by the looks of him it was serious and probably not good.
Hi everyone! I came up with this idea as I was going through one of my tests. I hope you like it!
-Angel