Lost but not Forgotten
--------------------------------
By: Nuali Aikyo
Chapter Four: A Story About a Princess
---------------------------------------
Nuali: I figured it was time for a flashback. I love the brothers getting along. Yay! And I figure I should explain about Aemi and Kagome more. So here it is. Thanks for your patience!
No ownage of Inuyasha. Sadly…
-------------------------------------------
Sumire sat outside the hut the next night and stared at the stars. They were so bright and they seemed so much closer here. She loved that about the Sengoku Jidai. She loved the vast open spaces that tugged at her heart. She loved running through thigh-high grasses and meeting such kind, sometimes powerful people. People like Jinenji, Rin, Kouga, and so many others. This was home.
"Suzu-Oneesama!" A chorus of voices called and Sumire turned to find Kohaku, Rin and Shippou along with Inuyasha and Kagome.
"What's up?" She wondered aloud as she smiled.
"Sesshomaru is looking for you." Kagome said with a smile. Inuyasha scowled, growled, and glared at Sumire who gave him an innocently confused look.
"Why the hell would he look for you?" He bit out in his irritation. Sumire frowned and shrugged. True, she got along with the stoic lord—oddly enough—but she couldn't tell her Inuyasha-Oniisama why Sesshomaru even gave her the time of day. She had several theories, most of them centered on Rin as a key point to Sesshomaru tolerance, but no real answers.
"Come Oneesama!" Rin urged in her chipper voice. "You know Sesshou-Papa doesn't like to be kept waiting."
"Where is he?" Sumire wondered why he'd want to talk to her. She'd ignored him all day and had planned on doing that for a while longer. He wasn't good for her mental health. She had decided that much in the hot spring last night. She had even dreamt about the guy last night! Dreamt that he'd kissed her! That was one tiptoe too many outside the line of normal and acceptable. She would not think about him as boyfriend—boyfriend!—material! That was just so outta line!
"Is Oneesama okay?" Rin asked tugging on Sumire's belt. Sumire was wearing a skort and a lacy tank top. Rin took a moment to appreciate how the outfit looked on her Oneesama. She couldn't wait for the future so she too could wear such pretty clothes!
"Yeah…I just had a bad night." She told the girl.
"We noticed majo." Sumire winced and looked up to see they had reached Kaede-baaba's hut and Sesshomaru stood there in front of the entrance.
"What d'you want with Suzu ya bastard!?" Inuyasha demanded stepping in front of Sumire like any older brother would. Sesshomaru refrained from rolling his eyes.
"You still act like a possessive brother Inuyasha." Sesshomaru said and Inuyasha growled. "You always were protective of her…" Inuyasha's eyes widened as he realized what Sesshomaru was referring to.
"Shut up! Don't tell her! Not now!" He growled in the inu tongue.
"I will tell her when I deem it the correct time." Sesshomaru replied in a low growl.
"Like hell you will!"
"Yes little brother, I will. It is just not yet the time nor the place." Sesshomaru smirked then and turned to look at Sumire who was frowning at them. "I was thinking perhaps it is time to return to Mikazuki Castle Inuyasha."
Inuyasha's eyes grew large and he snarled at his older brother. "No! She's better off like this Sesshomaru! She's better off human!"
"No she is not. She was better off as a hanyou."
"Like hell she was! You remember what happened! What that bastard wanted to do to her! Just because she was hanyou!"
"That will not happen again." Sesshomaru scowled remembering exactly whom Inuyasha was talking about.
"Hell no it won't happen because she's staying human!"
"Simply because you despise your lot half-breed does not mean—"
"This isn't about me!"
"No it is not." The brothers growled at each other and Inuyasha looked ready to kill.
"Will you please stop growling, barking, whatever else you're doing! You're giving me a headache!" Sumire shouted and everyone turned to her. She was massaging her temples, teeth clamped together, and face scrunched up.
"Oneesama!" Shippou hopped up on her shoulder and tried to pry her hands away from her head.
Sumire didn't hear him. She kept hearing the brothers speaking inu. It sounded so familiar to her. Odd, because Inuyasha never felt the need to speak inu in front of them. She couldn't tell why it sounded familiar to her. "What the heck are you arguing about anyways? Tell who what? Who's staying human?" Sumire finally let go of her head and opened her eyes. Both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were staring at her like she'd gone crazy. She frowned at them as she heard their conversation replay in her head, the barking and growling making more sense now. "Who arer you talking about? Who was better off hanyou? And what's Mikazuki Castle?"
"You understood us majo?" Sesshomaru asked aching an eyebrow.
"Yeah." Sumire replied uneasily. She felt a little less annoyed and a lot more confused. "Don't ask me why though…" She trailed off as a wave of dizziness hit her.
"Oneesama!" The young ones cried as Sumire fell to the ground, her eyes falling shut, her mind focusing on one last thought.
I remember it now. Mikazuki Castle. My real mother…she told me a story…about a princess…
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
Sesshomaru looked up at the castle and smiled. It was a grand castle no doubt but it held a homey feeling to it that the Western Palace did not. He much preferred spending the summer months in Mikazuki Castle.
"You're smiling pup?" Touga looked at Sesshomaru and laughed when the young demon growled. He ruffled the boy's perfect silver hair and turned to Inuyasha who was practically bouncing in his seat. "I can see you're happy to be here as well." Inuyasha nodded and kept peeking out the window as they approached the castle. They could have just traveled by demon speed but the other Tai were meeting them here and impressions were a necessity.
The gates finally came into sight and then opened soundlessly as the carriage approached. They passed under the arched entryway and into the vast courtyard where Sesshomaru saw the one person he was truly looking forward to seeing.
"Hello!" She called cheerfully waving and acting much more enthusiastic as Sesshomaru stepped out of the carriage. She rushed forward, tripping up on her kimono hem and launched herself at the young demon. "Sesshou-sama!" At thirty-seven she looked thirteen now and she was starting to develop a figure. He turned his mind away from this very hentai frame of mind and returned her embrace.
"Hey! What about me!?" Inuyasha demanded and Sumire let go of Sesshomaru—a bit reluctantly he noted happily—to hug her brother figure.
"Inuyasha-Oniisama!" She glomped him as well and kissed his cheek making Inuyasha blush a bit.
"Hey! Don't do that!" Inuyasha sputtered.
"Hee hee! Inuyasha-Oniisama is so silly! Right Sesshou-sama?" Sumire turned her bright violet eyes to Sesshomaru and giggled when he nodded.
"Sesshomaru, I didn't know you were so familiar with the girl." Sesshomaru refrained from growling when a dragon appeared behind Sumire and pat her head as well.
"Nariaki-sama, when did you get here? I thought you were staying home." Sumire asked cheerfully enough. She turned and bowed properly to the young dragon prince.
"I changed my mind when I realized the Inu no Taisho would be coming here. If he brought his family you would be here as well instead of running off to the Western Palace." Nariaki replied with a smirk. Sumire smiled and hugged Sesshomaru once more.
"I've spent half of my life in the Western Palace Nariaki-sama, it is my second home." Sumire said and smiled up at Sesshomaru. "I'm glad you're here!" She whispered as Nariaki was distracted by his father calling him over. "I can't stand that snob! He's so blegh!" Sumire giggled as Sesshomaru pat her head.
"I cannot stand his presence either. Let us retire to the garden." He suggested in a whisper. Sumire nodded happily and waved to her mother. Machi arched a brow then noticed who Sumire was embracing and nodded before waving them off. Sumire grabbed his hand and tugged him behind a hedge which hid a trail. She giggled as they rushed along it towards the garden by the river that cut through the castle grounds. It was their special garden. They were always careful to go when everyone else was busy so no one would find their treasures.
The garden was hidden from view of the rest of the castle grounds. It was actually an old part of the castle, which had broken off during an earthquake many centuries earlier. The grass had pushed up through the cracks in the foundation, and a wall still stood blocking the wild beauty from sight. Dozens of sakura trees had sprouted up along with maples further shielding the place. Flowers and vines grew wild here. The remaining wall hid it from the rest of the grounds, which was why Sumire loved it. Not even Inuyasha knew that this was where the young inu and the little hanyou ran off to. Over the years the two youngsters had filled the garden with things they had found along the river bank, or when they explored the nearby caves. Glittering rocks, a piece of diamond Sesshomaru had discovered in his pelt after an expedition into the caves, a feather from a peacock Sumire had as a pet that died, a string of pearls Sesshomaru had gotten Sumire for her twentieth birthday, a shred of Sumire's favorite old kimono, and lots of other little trinkets.
"Nariaki-sama gives me the shivers Sesshou-sama!" Sumire exclaimed as he sat down on the cracked marble floor among the all grass. Sumire hopped about checking on her precious lilies and roses.
"He is not to be trusted Sumire. Keep an eye out for him and never spend more than a few moments alone in his presence. He is known to be…rough with young ladies." Sesshomaru watched Sumire's face grow serious and he smiled lightly. She was so mature for her young age.
"Would he try to make me his mate Sesshou-sama?" She asked and Sesshomaru nodded when she looked at him. Sumire bit her lip and looked down at the cracked floor, eyes somber. Sesshomaru recalled his last trip to the garden and a frown marred his beautiful face. He had finally told Sumire about mating. He'd been putting it off for twenty-six years hoping her mother or someone else might step in and relieve him of the duty and yet he was glad it was he who had told her of it. She had been very mature about it and when he finished she had asked him only one more thing…
"Sesshomaru…" Sumire spoke now and Sesshomaru noted she spoke his full name without a title. "Sesshomaru…Papa won't make me mate anyone will he?" Sesshomaru felt a smile tug at his lips. She had asked that after he had told her the year before.
"No. Some fathers do make that choice for their daughters, but your Otousan is a very noble and kind inu lord. He will allow you the choice, I am sure." Sumire smiled and glomped him yet again.
"Right! Because Papa is very kind!" She assured herself. Sesshomaru pat here hair then pulled her closer, an impulse he couldn't pass up. She snuggled into him and sighed happily, relaxing and letting her senses just float along. She felt the tension of the last few hours disappear. It was just her and her Sesshou-sama. Sumire smiled. She never thought of him as a brother, only ever as her best friend, the only friend she could honestly pour her heart out to. Inuyasha was kind and sweet and every bit her older brother. She told him when others bothered her, and when she felt sick and when she was hurt, but she held back a lot of her thoughts so he wouldn't feel like he wasn't protecting her as well as he should be. With her mother it was the same thing, Sumire held back a lot so Machi wouldn't be hurt. The only other person aside from Sesshomaru whom Sumire felt comfortable with telling everything to was her father.
Sesshomaru purred contentedly making Sumire giggle. She pulled back to look at him with her eyebrow arched in question. He simply smiled at her. He was content when she was with him, and even more so when she was in his arms. She was his little hanyou, his and his alone. He had decided this many many years ago. She would only ever belong with him. And he liked having her in his lap very much too.
Sumire giggled and cuddled up to him once more. She breathed deeply of his scent, sighing cheerfully. He smelled of the forest, rich and earthy, with a hint of something else she couldn't name. Some scent that could only ever be her Sesshou-sama. No other male she knew smelled like that. Sure Touga-sama smelled of the forest as well, but his was a rainy citrus forest. And Inuyasha smelled of a spring forest, with a hint of the ocean. Her father's scent was made up of sunshine and lemons. No…no one could ever smell just like her Sesshou-sama.
"Are your studies going well Sumire?" Sesshomaru asked softly running his claws through her hair. He could see hints of red mixing with the blue and black strands of his little hanyou.
"Um-hm. Papa got me another tutor though. This one is a dragon youkai from a place called England. He has a funny accent. He's teaching me his language. English. He says it's always raining in England and that it's an island just like our Japan. He tells me a lot of stories about his home. It's fun to hear him talk. I like learning English too but it's a bit annoying having so many tutors."
"Hai, it is." Sesshomaru heard steps approaching and frowned slightly. No one wandered so close to their garden ever. So these intruders must be looking specifically for them. He sighed as their scents reached his nose. "We have company Sumire."
"Aww…" Sumire pouted and she twisted around a bit to face in the same direction as Sesshomaru, waiting for their guests. A few seconds later they could hear whispers.
"Just a bit closer. I wonder why they always run off over here. Just a bunch of ruins." Sumire rolled her eyes. That voice belonged to Aemi, her elder cousin.
"We shouldn't be doing this Oneechan." Kagome's voice whispered anxiously. Kagome would never have done this on her own but Aemi was a persuasive sister. And when Aemi and Inuyasha were around Kagome was usually roped into doing something stupid, dangerous, destructive, or all of the above.
"Oh go back then!" Inuyasha whispered annoyed. "You're no fun Kagome."
"She won't talk to you for a week Inuyasha!" Kagome warned her hanyou friend. "She's still not talking to Aemi because of last time!"
"What last time?"
"I killed one of her koi fish." Aemi replied indifferently. "How was I supposed to know that green stuff on the rock was poisonous? I figured it was just more algae and lured one in to take home. She got so pissed off…"
"Wow, that was stupid." Inuyasha replied in a dead pan tone.
"You know what Suzu's like. She loves everything. Just like you sis!" Aemi giggled and Sumire could picture her pinching Kagome's cheek.
"Hey! I just thought of something." Inuyasha nearly shouted and the girls shushed him.
"What?" Aemi hissed.
"Why don't you two ever age? You guys haven't aged one bit since for years. You still look eighteen Aemi. And Kagome still looks fifteen."
"Machi-Obachan gave us some elixir of life or something back then. It gives us demonic aging I guess. Machi-Obachan didn't want us to just die like Obaba." Kagome explained sounding a little farther away than the others.
"Hey where ya going?" Inuyasha demanded loudly.
"Shut yer trap! They'll here us!" Aemi hissed. "She's probably going to the library. She doesn't like spying on people. She's such a nice girl." Aemi giggled at the look on Inuyasha face no doubt.
"She's got a temper too." Inuyasha muttered.
"Sesshou-sama? How long should we pretend we don't notice them?" Sumire whispered in his ear.
"I am not sure. Perhaps we should allow them their childish fun for a few minutes?" Sumire giggled at his smirk and nodded.
"Sesshou-sama!" Sumire whined in a louder tone. They heard all the rustling and whispering stop as Aemi and Inuyasha settled in to spy.
"Hai Sumire?"
"Why do you think Papa makes me learn so much?" She asked resting her head on his shoulder.
"He wishes for you to be a strong hime Sumire. Have you noticed many others your age do not know half of what you do?" Sesshomaru watched her eyes grow pensive and her smile leave her lips. As she went off on her thoughts he watched her. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of violet, and her lips were perfect and pink. Her face was prefect with her high cheekbones and her tan complexion. As he watched her eyes shut fully he noticed she had stripes over her eyelids much like his. Hers were light pink and they ran along her eyelid and along the outer half of the bottom of her eye, reminding him of the markings he'd seen on a panther demon a few years ago.
Other markings were starting to appear as well. On her wrists there were faint pale blue slashes, like his magenta markings. He was surprised by the markings. His claw traced the slashes on her right wrist as he asked, "When did these begin to show Sumire?"
"Hmm?" Sumire smiled and straightened up in his lap. "About four months ago. I just woke up and noticed the ones on my eyes first. They were really faint but they got darker after a few days. Papa says these blue one will get a little darker, like his. He says it must be Mama's magic in my blood cuz hanyous don't get markings right?"
"Inuyasha has no markings and I have yet to see any other hanyou with markings." Sesshomaru said with a smirk. She had power, his little Sumire did.
"Hmm…"
"What were you thinking about?"
"Power."
"I did not realize you sought power."
"I don't." Sumire pouted as she snuggled up to him. "I was just wondering why so many other people did. Why you…" Sumire trailed off and buried her face in his fur. "Is it really so important? I don't have that much. I'm not as strong as Papa or you…but that's why Papa fights, why Touga-Ojisama fights, why you train so much right?" Sesshomaru nodded and stroked her hair, pausing to play with her ear. Sumire giggled and her ears twitched happily.
"Power is what keeps us alive and in control Sumire. We must ascertain our power constantly as Tai. Your Otousan fights to protect you and your Okaasan. I train so that I can protect my lands…our lands…" He looked up at the sky and let silence fall over them.
"Woah…I've never seen Suzu so…mature…" Aemi whispered to Inuyasha making Sumire smile into the pelt.
"Yeah…and Sesshou's chatting away. What gives!?" Inuyasha muttered in awe.
"You think he likes her Inuyasha?"
"Duh or else he wouldn't get along with her now would he?"
"No I mean you think he likes her?"
"No way! He can't…well…maybe. You never can tell with Sesshou. He's got issues."
"Yeah…." Aemi paused and then said, "Still, I think he does. He's always with her. Ever notice that? Whenever they're in the same place they always gotta be together."
"They've always been like that. Ever since she was a baby. He's always been a little possessive if you ask me."
"Not that she minds. Or does she even notice? Hmm…"
"You're weird you know that Aemi? No one else would ask such stupid questions."
"Duh. I'm related to a hanyou hime you idiot. And I'm a miko sorceress. I was bound to end up messed up in the head."
"Good point." Inuyasha rustled the bush a little as he rearranged himself. "Still…Sesshou and Suzu? No way."
"It could happen!"
"No way."
"You just said maybe a while ago!"
"Yeah but…I won't let it happen!"
"Why not!?"
"Cuz if they got together I'd be related to you."
"Hey! You bastard hanyou!"
"Hey yourself. Who wants a crazy miko for a relative?"
"Why you ungrateful, egotistical, moronic—"
"Would you two shut up and kiss already?" Sumire called giggling at her cousin's outraged spluttering.
"Kiss! You crazy Suzu!? I wouldn't kiss him!" Aemi demanded standing up and strutting over to Sumire before realizing she'd been discovered spying and freezing in place.
"See what ya get for spying?" Sumire said in a hard tone and Sesshomaru noted her outrage hidden under her calm façade.
"Geez you lunatic you got us caught…" Inuyasha grumbled getting up as well and walking over to Aemi.
"I will be telling Father about this Inuyasha."
"Telling me about what now?" Touga asked suddenly appearing around the wall along with Kazuhiro and some of the other lords.
"Ohayo Touga-Ojisama!" Sumire called cheerfully enough but Sesshomaru saw the devastation hidden in her violet gaze. Their secret was found. They no longer could come to this little garden. It's secrecy was compromised.
"Well well well what have we here?" Touga said walking around the ruins and noting the flowers and the trinkets lined up along their chipped bench. The others followed as well. Sesshomaru caught Nariaki's eye and grimaced at the dragon heir who glared back at the sight of Sumire in Sesshomaru lap. "Now what were you going to tell me Sesshomaru?"
"Inuyasha-Oniisama and Aemi-chan were spying on us Touga-Ojisama!" Sumire pouted and Aemi glared at her.
"Were you now?" Kazuhiro spoke up and gave his niece a stern look. "Aemi, your father and I have asked you not to do that."
"I know, I know." Aemi said looking at her feet.
"It's not all her fault. I kinda talked her into it." Inuyasha said defending his friend. Sumire smiled a little. Inuyasha never let his friends take the fall by themselves, especially when he had a hand in getting them in trouble.
"Well then, you will both report to your mothers, who are in the Red Garden and tell them what you've been up to." Inuyasha and Aemi nodded, turned around and disappeared into the heavy foliage once more.
"And just what are you two doing here?" The Eastern Lord, the wolf Kouji, asked teasingly as he took in the sight of Sumire and Sesshomaru.
"Talking." Sumire replied and she cuddled up to Sesshomaru once more, closing her eyes. She sighed heavily. "We need a new place." She muttered softly.
"Hai." Sesshomaru replied getting up, cradling Sumire to him. He felt everyone's eyes on them as he began to walk away.
"Wait a second Sesshomaru…" Kazuhiro called and Sesshomaru internally cursed him to the pits of hell. "I wanted to talk to Sumire for a few moments." Kazuhiro gave him a look that made Sesshomaru feel like a horse being seized up by a potential buyer. Sumire sighed again and Sesshomaru set her down so she could turn to face her father.
"Hai Papa?" She asked skipping over to him. Kazuhiro pat her on the head and smiled.
"Sumire, Edward was wondering if you would be kind enough to go and talk to him. He didn't realize we were having guests and he wants to be sure he knows who all is here so that he doesn't make any mistakes."
"Oh okay!" Sumire nodded and turned around skipping over to Sesshomaru. "Wanna come with me Sesshou-sama? Edward is very nice!"
"Edward?"
"He's the dragon from England remember?" Sumire said as she picked up a basket next to the bench and quickly gathered all her things.
"Hai. I will accompany you." Sesshomaru nodded towards the other lords and led Sumire away. Once out of earshot Sumire's smile fell away. "Why'd Papa and Touga-Ojisama have to bring them into our garden? I wouldn't have minded if it were just them two. But now even Nariaki knows! We need a new even safer spot."
"Hai." Sesshomaru stopped walking and looked down at her. Sumire looked up at him and cocked her head to the side.
"What is it Sesshou-sama?"
Sesshomaru smirked and leaned down to kiss her forehead making Sumire blush lightly. "You're blushing Sumire." He pointed out as he began walking again.
"Hey! What was that for!?" Sumire demanded chasing him and catching his hand and looking up at him, her face a lovely red.
Sesshomaru didn't answer. He just leaned down and kissed her cheek.
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
Sumire's eyes fluttered open and she rose into a sitting position, moaning. "Oi…what a trip. What'd I do? Run in front of a bus?"
"What's a bus Oneesama?" She turned slightly and noticed Rin peering at her worriedly.
"Nothin' kiddo." She looked around and saw she was still outside. She grabbed her head again and groaned.
"What hurts Suzu?" Kagome asked trying to touch Sumire's head to look for a bump or a dent.
"My head aches worse than if I'd head-butted a wall or somethin. I had the weirdest dream too."
"Dream? You've only been out for a minute at most Suzu." Kagome said feeling Sumire's head now.
"Really? Weird…"
"What'd you dream about Suzu?" Inuyasha asked kneeling next to her. Sumire looked around and her eyes landed on Sesshomaru.
"About…a princess…." She whispered still staring at the stoic lord. "A princess and a prince…" She corrected as the images flooded back to her mind.
"Huh?" Everyone asked. Sumire ignored them and glared at Sesshomaru.
"Do you know the name Nariaki Sesshomaru-sama?" She watched his eyes as she spoke and caught the flicker in those golden eyes.
"Hai." He replied and turned away. Sumire glared at his retreating back before remembering some more details. "Hey!" She called after him, jumping to her feet, chasing him, and catching his hand.
"What is it majo?" He asked, not harshly but patiently.
"Tell me about Mikazuki Castle."
--------------------------------------------
Well, that's that. Like the ending of this chapter? Hee hee! Till next time!
10