Title: Hatsukoi (First Love)
Summary: When Soukisho of the Southern Plains struck out westward, he had grand ideas of fame and glory. But nowhere in his dreams did he expect what fate held in store for him, nor whom it was that would bring it all about.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its elements. They are the property of Rumiko Takahashi.
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- Three -
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Kaze wo itami
Iwa utsu nami no
Onore nomi
Kudakete mono wo
Omou koro kana.
-- Minamoto no Shige-Yuki
He could count on one hand the number of times he had been within hands' reach of Mizuki; even then, in the rigid hierarchy of the pack, he had never had cause to speak to her.
So it was understandable that his wits chose to abandon him at that moment. Fear and admiration roiled within, an unpleasant combination.
The subliminal hiss of blade retuning to scabbard jerked him out of his stupor, bringing the realization that he no longer had cold metal pressed beneath his chin.
His jangling nerves subsided and only then did he realize that he had given no response to her acknowledgement.
Embarrassment joined the gamut of emotions assaulting him, sending Soukisho on one knee. He pressed a fist to the ground, the weight of his upper body bearing down upon it.
"Ojou-sama," he breathed, giving her the title of respect that the pack used to address the general's daughter. "I did not mean to intrude."
The quiet interlude that followed did not feel scattered and frantic but heavy, waiting, poised like the moment before a storm.
"I suppose I shall have to challenge you now, to make sure you have not learned all my secrets."
In his pose of supplication, Soukisho stiffened. Her challenge would mean that she thought him to be worthy of testing. It would mean that he would not have to make Hisano show throat in order to rise further up the pack. It mean, perhaps that she was finally taking notice of him.
However, Soukisho knew that his skill was no match for the daiyoukai's daughter, and ruefully observed that this sort of attention was not at all the kind he had hoped for.
He bent his head further, a gesture as abject as his words, "Ojou-sama honors me; this lowly fighter could not have mastered the skills to match yours."
"You speak too lowly of yourself, warrior. You must know that your ascent through the ranks of the pack is unprecedented. My father thinks most highly of you."
Her tone was casual but made Soukisho uneasy. There was a barb there, for all that it was sheathed.
"If you are not skilled enough to learn from what you have seen, then I suppose it is just as well you die here and now, by my hand." Her matter-of-fact tone held no trace of regret or hesitation and panic shot through him anew. The arm he leaned on tremble.
Stillness descended again and Soukisho hunted for an appropriate response, wondering if indeed he was supposed to say something.
His chaotic thoughts were cut short by an unexpected sound that made him rear back and stare before he thought better of it.
Mizuki was laughing, the icy mask she wore gone. Her eyes were bright as she watched him.
He realized that he had been tricked.
He bowed his head to hide the new emotions that assailed him; embarrassment, stung pride, a touch of wry mirth – for he was not above conceding his own foolishness – and wonder at the fact that she would jest with him.
"My father would be severely displeased if I were to deprive him of such a strong fighter," she commented and her slippered feet came into his line of sight. She said nothing, simply stood there, and he again wondered if he was expected to speak.
She spun and walked away, no sound marking her passage.
Embarrassment returned, bringing self-castigation with it. She had dismissed him, leaving him on one knee amid the bushes, as if he were the lowliest of beings—
"Walk with me, Soukishi."
He barely registered that she had phrased it as a command, and not a request. His body moved without his conscious direction; he was on his feet and closing the gap between them before he realized it.
"Ojou-sama," he said in subtle enquiry, falling into step a correct pace behind her.
She did not respond immediately, slipping between the trees without a sound, making him feel clumsy and noisy as he followed.
"How do you fare?" she asked at last.
He was surprised at the banal question. "Well indeed, ojou-sama," he answered carefully, wondering where she might be leading with this.
He thought he saw the corner of her lip turn up briefly, though she kept her eyes trained on the shadowed forest before her.
"I would hope so, for one as young as you with such a high a position."
Had it been anyone else who spoke, Soukisho would have pointed out that he had fought for and earned the rank he held – and continued to defend it when others thought to challenge him.
But the person he was strolling through the night with was Mizuki, and he was half-convinced that he had fallen asleep on the riverbank and was dreaming all this.
And so he held his tongue.
They crossed the treeline and Soukisho found himself on a bare promontory, overlooking the valley dotted with fires where little knots of the company loitered.
"How long has it been?"
Soukisho's eyes darted from the scene below to the lady beside him. She stood straight and proud, lit by moonlight and breathtaking in her beauty. His lips parted but it was from awe rather than an attempt to answer her question. As it was, he barely remembered the question.
Dark eyes turned to him, half-lidded. "Since you came to us," she prompted. "How long has it been?"
"Ten years, ojou-sama," he replied, lowering his head in respect.
She let out a soft sound akin to a snort that could have been either amusement or exasperation. "So formal. I would prefer you to call me by name."
He shot her an uncertain glance but she had turned away and was looking out on the horizon, her face holding her usual serenity.
"Mizuki...sama." He tacked on the honorific, uncomfortable with the abrupt familiarity.
She smiled, and clasped her hands behind her back in a thoughtful manner. Tossing her head so that the breeze played through her hair, she resumed. "And how long has it been since you stopped following me around with a look on your face that said you thought the sun and moon answered my call?"
He froze and it had nothing to do with the cold wind that touched his neck.
After what felt like an eternity, he heard a laugh that made him think of whirling snowflakes.
He sensed no movement but suddenly, her hand was on his shoulder and she was tiptoeing to murmur in his ear, "Why ever did you stop?"
Impossible as it seemed, he went even more rigid. His eyes ached from straining wide open. Did she mean what he thought she meant? Did she mean that she wanted him to pursue her? That... that she felt the same?
Her head tilted, catching his gaze and holding it. He saw amusement there, bright in the night. Then her lips, the very ones he had dreamt of, curved up in a smile altogether bewitching.
Soukisho was lost.
"It was so very amusing."
His mind, in a fog of desire and elation, did not understand her words at first. But then their meaning hit him like a fist crashing into his jaw. He shook his head hard, once to clear it.
Through utter confusion, he heard that light, whirling laughter again and looked up just in time to see her passing between the trees, shadows dappling her white skin.
The waves that dash against the rocks
Are broken by the wind
And turned to spray; my loving heart
Is broken too, I find,
Since thou art so unkind.
-- Shige-Yuki Minamoto
Authorspeak: This is a day late; my humble apologies. Hope you enjoyed it all the same!
Glossary:
daiyoukai - Greater youkai. Literally 'big youkai'.
ojou - 'Lady', likely derived from 'jourou', which means 'court lady' or 'noblewoman'.
-sama - Title/honorific of respect