4

PALACE LIFE

The walk back to the Palace was neither uncomfortable nor silent; both brothers spoke with the other but not too personally. Certainly Inuyasha had questions respecting his future sister-in-law and Sesshoumaru was willing to list her family ties, but nothing else was forthcoming. That she was strong, highly intelligent and beautiful was all he was prepared to say in various ways. Inuyasha wanted to know what she was like, was she nice, kind, good with children; what did she like doing, her hobbies?

Sesshoumaru just said that these things were not necessary for Inuyasha to know and the hanyou for once kept quiet, suspecting that Sesshoumaru was just as in the dark about her as his brother. Sesshoumaru however did expand on his answer;

"None of these things are essential to know before mating occurs; she is healthy and will birth good pups and her references in matters such as tolerance of infants, is documented." Sesshoumaru had the grace to look a bit pink on his cheeks and Inuyasha couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"What about compatibility, don't you care if she even likes you or not?"

"Of course, that is why we court, but it is not essential to have mutual attraction; what is more important is how well she is connected politically and that she will heed me as her Alpha. As Lord of the West I am not as free as you to make a complete choice based only on reciprocated desire."

"Still you must have some idea of what she's like; you have spoken to her?"

"In the company of chaperones only; I will not know what she is really like as a person until we are mated. But it matters not; I already know that she is suitable as my Lady." It was more than he had ever got from Sesshoumaru before and Inuyasha shut up so as not to push his luck. It was exciting and for once Inuyasha thought he had a new life to look forward to, and it was enough to take his mind of his aching loneliness for once.

Sesshoumaru had announced to his staff before he left the palace that Inuyasha was to live there and that he was mark protected; so when they arrived neither of them had to face surprised or disapproving stares. In fact there were very few servants around when they entered the palace; or rather not many to be seen, Jaken however was in evidence and he was told to escort Inuyasha to his rooms.

To his amazement, Inuyasha found he had been afforded his old suite from the days when he and his mother had lived in the Palace; days before they had escaped from the intolerable hostility of the ever watchful and predatory youkai who lived there. He was told to settle in and be ready for dinner in two hours. There was a built in bath and a closet full of new kimono, mainly in the reds and darker colours he favoured and he realised that Sesshoumaru had chosen them especially for him.

Inuyasha had a good long soak and then before dressing smartly for dinner as he knew he couldn't always wear his trusty fire rat, he set out his belongings around the suite. Getting lost in memories as each thing was found a new home, he nearly missed the warning for dinner and it wouldn't be polite to be late. So he grabbed the kimono he had chosen and pulled it together quickly, hoping that Sesshoumaru wouldn't mind that he hadn't put shoes on his feet.

Inuyasha found he was not the only newcomer to the table; he didn't recognise the others but one had to be Sesshoumaru's mother and the other, a stunning beauty, was surely his brother's intended. Two others were obviously a chaperone and perhaps a sister of the new Lady to be. As he entered the dining hall, all eyes turned to him and he could feel their gazes on him as they weighed him up, and suddenly he felt the lack of his protective fire rat.

"Greetings, hanyou son of my mate." The female with the crescent moon exactly like Sesshoumaru's spoke, as she appraised him instantly and then she smiled gently.

"This is Sesshoumaru's half brother? You are Inuyasha? Welcome to the house of the West, we are awaiting on My Lord." This from the female Inu; who was soon introduced by Sesshoumaru's mother as the Lady Yukaiko. Inuyasha bowed to both of the ladies as his brother entered the room.

"I see you have been introduced; that is good, now we should eat." Once Sesshoumaru had sat down and started to eat, the others joined in and soon the dinner was underway with much chat and small talk between all parties. Inuyasha was aware though that many curious glances were thrown his way, and soon he had the attention of Sesshoumaru's mother, the Dowager Lady of the West.

"So you are the half-breed my mate sired on his human pet; very pretty, you have some of his look." Her tone was imperious but without rancour and that was what alarmed Inuyasha the most; her anger he would have understood. "I never understood this need for pets that you and your father had Sesshoumaru; at least however you mated your two together and didn't make the mistake your father did, by taking her and thereby causing another of these half-breeds."

"Of course not Mother; I am not completely like father, I inherited many of your traits too."

"For that I am very thankful; I am sure Lady Yukaiko would not be happy if you had any bastards running loose about the country. It makes for so much trouble."

"The Lady Yukaiko may set her mind at rest on that score; This Sesshoumaru has no issue, hanyou or otherwise as of this moment." Sesshoumaru smiled at his soon to be Lady and she smiled demurely back. Inuyasha was silent, he knew that in a way he was being tested by these high youkai and he wouldn't cause himself shame by running away. But they were not talking to him, but about him as if he was not present, and he felt the full weight of their deliberate rudeness keenly.

"I notice too that you have marked the boy; why would you do that after so long?"

"Inuyasha is to live here Mother; his mate was killed and I have promised him his family, besides, he would not be considered safe without the mark."

"True, but surely he never has been 'safe' as you so quaintly put it."

"Inuyasha and I have come to terms now and he is my brother, despite his unfortunate makeup."

"I am sure that your brother is grateful for your attention Lord Sesshoumaru." Added Lady Yukaiko with a smile towards the hanyou who was now staring at his plate and had gone off his food; although to the lady it seemed he was just a picture of humility. Until that is he stood up and with a bow said he had to leave as he had finished his meal and had things to do.

"Sit down Inuyasha; you may not leave until I do and at this moment I am conversing. I know you do not have formal training but that will be addressed." Sesshoumaru didn't sound angry, but Inuyasha knew that could and would change if he was disobedient and the meaning of his mark was becoming plain, he must honour it. So he sat and endured for another hour before he was dismissed to his suite.

While he was changing for bed, Inuyasha took a look around his new home with its splashes of Kagome and sighed a heavy sigh; he also tried to forget the conversation at dinner that hadn't included him, although the others had spoken of little else. As he caught sight of himself in one of the rooms full length mirrors, Inuyasha looked at his mark; it had faded greatly, now it looked just silvery indigo, as if fine wire had been etched to his throat. But he supposed it would fade even more as time went by, he could smell Sesshoumaru's mark from their father but he couldn't see it.

In the week leading up to the mating banquet Inuyasha tried to keep from being underfoot all of the time; in fact for the latter half of the week he kept to his rooms as he was unwanted anywhere else. Rin and Kohaku found him there on the day before the mating and they had tea together in the small, but private garden of his suite. They already knew that they were to sit together for the ceremony; they had all heard that the 'pets of the palace' were to be kept safe at all costs.

Inuyasha had been informed that he was not to take part in the ceremony; the fact that he was Sesshoumaru's brother made no difference. He had found out just where he stood when he had tried to get to know Lady Yukaiko; taking it upon himself to ask her some polite questions. She had told him that he might be Sesshoumaru's half brother, but that did not allow him to think he was her brother-in-law or any relation at all; he was just a hanyou by-blow who had been given asylum due to his need and heritage.

She said it in a laughing way as if Inuyasha was absurd to think he could have a place in their lives and Sesshoumaru didn't berate her for her discourtesy but carried on talking as if he hadn't heard. Until that is she started to discuss how Inuyasha would be moved out of the Royal Quarters when she came to live in them. Then Sesshoumaru stepped in, but it was only a test for her submission.

"You will accord my brother the honour of a marked member of this household My Lady; know too that his suite of rooms belong to him, they were given to him and his mother by my father."

"My apologies of course My Lord, and I would never turn Inuyasha out of his own home." The lady smiled at Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha could tell that her words were genuine; she was not conniving by nature. But the attitude was hardly new for the hanyou, he had heard it all of his life, perhaps she would mellow as time went by as Sesshoumaru had done; he was prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt.

He could honestly tell Rin and Kohaku that the lady was lovely to look at and seemed to have a nice nature in the main. He didn't go into great detail about her attitude to him, but he didn't need to, Rin saw with understanding in her eyes, all the things he was not saying. They laughed about their collective name and whiled away time by joking between them and wondering if the 'pets' would have silk cushions to sit on, as some of the real pets of the human emperors did.

Then there was a knock at the door and Sesshoumaru entered, Lady Yukaiko on his arm; she had wanted to meet the human 'pets'. As she saw them enter, Rin knew this was how things should be; the pair were right for each other, just as she and Kohaku were. They were absolutely beautiful and for the first time Rin could rejoice genuinely along with her Lord. She would always hold a very special place in his heart but it was not the place of his mate, and it never had been as far as he was concerned.

The Lady and the two humans got on very well, she had not had much contact with humans in her life and the new experience was something she enjoyed. Rin too finally released any bitterness she might still have left in her heart and Sesshoumaru could see again the sunny child he had adopted in the woman he had denied. Meanwhile Rin was quickly entrancing Lady Yukaiko as she introduced her husband and spoke of their children.

Inuyasha was glad that things seemed sorted out for Rin, but he couldn't fail to notice that the lady's eyes had warmed up greatly while she was speaking with her, but had hardened drastically when she had caught sight of him again. He was not surprised, just saddened that his brother's mate could not see past the ears that screamed 'hanyou'. The visit lasted about an hour and then they left, leaving Rin and Kohaku to talk with Inuyasha about the lovely lady that Sesshoumaru would take as mate the next day.

To Inuyasha's great surprise, in the morning and after breakfast and his bath, a new kimono was hanging ready for him to put on. It was silk, a luxury he had never known, although he had given silk to Kagome and mainly a deep red that was slightly darker than his usual fire rat. The accents were in brilliant white and were the familiar flowered pattern of the House of the West, and Inuyasha knew that his brother would be wearing the exact opposite colours as he always did when representing his House.

Inuyasha was speechless at this honour; he had not expected this from Sesshoumaru in light of his mate's reluctance to accept him as family. Then he realised that Sesshoumaru was alpha and his decisions were to be final in his household and that of course included the tempestuous little brother; although he too would be bound by his alpha now.

But that was not all; an hour later there was a knock on the door frame followed by the Daiyoukai himself dressed in his usual colours, diametrically opposite to his brother's costume. Sesshoumaru nodded his approval of Inuyasha's grooming; the boy's hair shone silkily and had been left loose as was his brother's own hair. Inuyasha actually looked like the younger son of a Lord and would not be further disapproved.

Sesshoumaru had decided against wearing a high ponytail in the manner of his father and was pleased that Inuyasha too had refused the style. He would have looked too like his father had he done so, and that might have caused difficulties in some quarters, especially with his mother around. She might have made some disconcerting comments and Inuyasha unfortunately could often be goaded into action, without thinking of the consequences.

The brothers looked appraisingly at one another and their own similarities were very obvious to the casual observer. To Inuyasha it seemed that Sesshoumaru came to a decision based on what he saw in his brother's demeanour; it seemed that his older brother approved of him for once. The full youkai called to Jaken and the imp entered carrying a white silk cushion, highlighted in the ubiquitous red flowered pattern; a jewelled casket sat in the middle of it.

"Inuyasha, this is a gift I wish to present my mate; I want you to look after it and bring it to me when I look to you, immediately after the ceremony. Will you do this?"

"Of course Sesshoumaru...but your mate won't like it if I do this, she..."

"The Lady Yukaiko is more favourably disposed towards you now Inuyasha and it is something I wish you to do. My Mate will learn to tolerate your company for my sake, if not your own."

"It will be nice to be part of your ceremony Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha watched as Sesshoumaru swept out of his room and was glad to be alone again. It had hurt him to be excluded and to know that two of Sesshoumaru's male cousins would stand beside him instead of the little brother; but Inuyasha was happy that Sesshoumaru remembered him, even if he was reduced to no more than an overgrown page boy.

Inuyasha blinked back the moisture from his eyes that his thoughts had provoked; it would not be auspicious for the saline to cling to him on a mating day and Sesshoumaru would certainly not be pleased if he scented it. Inuyasha had a feeling that he would wish to cry fairly often if he lived at the palace, but he would not indulge in tears. Kagome may have set him free emotionally but he no longer lived with her and although he would not go back to being as suppressed as he used to be, he was still constrained.

The ceremony went perfectly, Sesshoumaru and Yukaiko were a beautiful pair, a sentiment held unanimously by the company. Inuyasha even got a genuine smile from the new lady when he brought up his brother's gift; he stood straight and proud, without faltering once under the critical gaze of all the full Inu Youkai, who were a good four inches taller than he was. Sesshoumaru opened the casket and placed the jewellery on the finger, wrists and neck of his mate and Inuyasha was happy to see that the pair looked contented; this was no mere marriage of convenience after all.

Many dignitaries from all over came to pay their respects at the mating feast; it was only natural that the most powerful youkai attended, some even from far off lands. Sesshoumaru was a youkai to be taken very seriously and his mating assured the future of the West for ages to come. The feast itself was spectacular; there was nothing outrageously ostentatious, but the food was of the best quality and presented in good taste. Any guest would be able to find something to their particular palate, and there were speciality dishes from each of the guests' provinces or lands.

During the course of the evening Inuyasha was encouraged to circulate as individuals came up and introduced themselves to him. At first he wondered about this before remembering that not only was it obvious he was Sesshoumaru's brother, but he was also responsible for ridding the world of Naraku. As he met new people, Inuyasha noticed that for a select few, there was an extra excitement when a group of mainly males and a few women entered the room together.

They proceeded to disperse however to various places around the room and were met enthusiastically by what seemed to be their respective parents. Inuyasha had never seen these youkai before, but he was intrigued to notice they all had the same mark on their throats as he did. Their scents also were heavily interlaced with not only Sesshoumaru, but a far older and vaguely familiar one in some cases. Myouga was on hand thankfully to instruct Inuyasha on what he was seeing and smelling.

"Who are they Myouga, are they relatives of ours or perhaps adopted?

"No indeed Master Inuyasha; they have nothing to do with you."

"Why do they have a pack mark then? It's the same as mine."

"Yes, that's so, but it is not a pack mark My Lord; it is a mark of possession that Lord Sesshoumaru has placed on you."

"Possession, like I'm a slave or something...you're telling me that Sesshoumaru owns me now?"

"Well, not a slave; but yes he owns you in a way..."

"That deceitful...why did I trust him? Is this permanent...can it hold me here?"

"I'm afraid that it can Master Inuyasha; if you left without permission, he could have you brought back and punished if he so chose."

"He's trapped me; he lied when he said I'd be family...always everything goes wrong for me..." Inuyasha took one look around the party and aimed for the nearest exit.

TBC