I don't own Inuyasha or any of Rumiko Takahashi's characters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------
Chapter 3: Life
"I leave this all to you son," Inutaisho declared, a strange gleam in his eyes, 'yes it feels nice not to be in charge anymore.'
With that, Inutaisho headed down the hall in the direction that the guests had gone.
Sesshoumaru sense another being and looked down only to see his attendant, Jaken, at his heels. Without another word, Sesshoumaru headed towards the source of his annoyance.
Upon reaching the room, Sesshoumaru's senses were bombarded by a pungent, acidic smell that slightly burned the inside of his nose.
'Miasma. . . Lady Wisteria never had such a smell. . .'
"Sesshoumaru-sama, please take a look at the room." Jaken said as he went into the room and rushed back out, obviously disgusted by something or another.
Sesshoumaru calmly glided to the entrance of the room, which contained the metallic smell of blood. He quickly assessed the scene as a couple of his generals arrived.
The room was a mess. The futon was hastily unrolled as if Lady Wisteria was feeling ill. The lamp, now ripped, and table, along with its contents, had been knocked over. The shoji doors and the fresh tatami mats were stained with splattered blood here and there. In the corner, he noted, the body Lady Wisteria young servant girl laid crumpled up, dead. Near the door, probably what Jaken had seen, was a torn silk kimono sleeve along with the, still fresh, arm inside. He would let the coroner deal with that.
Sesshoumaru sniffed the air, 'No one has been here since the murder.'
He turned to the group of youkai that had formed behind him and began giving out orders.
"Summon the coroner to deal with the arm. Move the child's body to another room. Organize and file all possible evidence."
They all bowed, "Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama."
With that, Sesshoumaru left the crime scene and headed towards the guests, who were now lounging in the foyer area of the castle. As he neared, a familiar smell hit him.
'Lady Wisteria. . .'
He calmly follow the trail through the crowd but then, the scent suddenly disappeared.
"Oh my, I do not feel very well. Do excuse me honourable Inutaisho. I should really be heading back to my lands."
The crowd shifted slightly revealing his father conversion with Lord Naraku.
"Arigato, Lord Naraku. Your presence here at my son's wedding was highly appreciated. Too bad all this had to occur," his father replied.
"Ah, too bad indeed. . .anyhow. . .sayonara Inutaisho." Naraku responded. The two men slightly bowed to each other; then Naraku left.
With that, Sesshoumaru stepped up to his father.
"Have you discovered anything? The clan members are becoming skittish," his father said as father and son turned to gaze at each other.
"No," was his reply.
"By the way, did you know that Lady Wisteria is part of our clan?" Without waiting for answer, Inutaisho continued, "She married into the family some 300 years ago to my second cousin. . .hmm. . .I think, twice removed."
"Interesting," Sesshoumaru replied blatantly.
"Inutaisho?"
"Ah, cousin Takeshi. It has been a while."
Watching his father wander off with some uncle, Sesshoumaru decided nothing else could be accomplished here so he returned to the crime scene.
The body of the child had been removed as he ordered. 'Good. I'm in the mood for some torturing.'
Servants followed and lit the room that now contained the body of the dead girl. He bent down, picked the child up and drew tensaiga. With one swift motion, he slashed the air in front of the girl. Immediately, heartbeats were heard and shortly after, big brown eyes gazed up at emotionless gold ones.
'Her eyes. . .they are filled with. . .innocence?'
Realizing where she was, the child quickly shrank away from Sesshoumaru and moved to the other side of the room.
"What is your name?"
No answer.
"What is your name?"
No answer.
"Why were you hurt?"
A shaky smile.
'Maybe the child is mute.' Sesshoumaru pondered.
"Answer my question, child," he pressed.
'Maybe she is still in shock. . .and WHY am I, Sesshoumaru, caring. . .the wedding fiasco must have soften me. . .nonetheless, the child will speak eventually. . .'
Standing up, Sesshoumaru slid open the door and told the servant to keep the child guarded at all times and to take good care of her.
What was wrong with him today. His usual indifference towards these matters has been utterly changed. Maybe it was the atmosphere. Maybe all he needed was a little peace. There's still the girl he just got married to. Sighing, Sesshoumaru headed in the general direction of his personal quarters.
Chapter 3: Life
"I leave this all to you son," Inutaisho declared, a strange gleam in his eyes, 'yes it feels nice not to be in charge anymore.'
With that, Inutaisho headed down the hall in the direction that the guests had gone.
Sesshoumaru sense another being and looked down only to see his attendant, Jaken, at his heels. Without another word, Sesshoumaru headed towards the source of his annoyance.
Upon reaching the room, Sesshoumaru's senses were bombarded by a pungent, acidic smell that slightly burned the inside of his nose.
'Miasma. . . Lady Wisteria never had such a smell. . .'
"Sesshoumaru-sama, please take a look at the room." Jaken said as he went into the room and rushed back out, obviously disgusted by something or another.
Sesshoumaru calmly glided to the entrance of the room, which contained the metallic smell of blood. He quickly assessed the scene as a couple of his generals arrived.
The room was a mess. The futon was hastily unrolled as if Lady Wisteria was feeling ill. The lamp, now ripped, and table, along with its contents, had been knocked over. The shoji doors and the fresh tatami mats were stained with splattered blood here and there. In the corner, he noted, the body Lady Wisteria young servant girl laid crumpled up, dead. Near the door, probably what Jaken had seen, was a torn silk kimono sleeve along with the, still fresh, arm inside. He would let the coroner deal with that.
Sesshoumaru sniffed the air, 'No one has been here since the murder.'
He turned to the group of youkai that had formed behind him and began giving out orders.
"Summon the coroner to deal with the arm. Move the child's body to another room. Organize and file all possible evidence."
They all bowed, "Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama."
With that, Sesshoumaru left the crime scene and headed towards the guests, who were now lounging in the foyer area of the castle. As he neared, a familiar smell hit him.
'Lady Wisteria. . .'
He calmly follow the trail through the crowd but then, the scent suddenly disappeared.
"Oh my, I do not feel very well. Do excuse me honourable Inutaisho. I should really be heading back to my lands."
The crowd shifted slightly revealing his father conversion with Lord Naraku.
"Arigato, Lord Naraku. Your presence here at my son's wedding was highly appreciated. Too bad all this had to occur," his father replied.
"Ah, too bad indeed. . .anyhow. . .sayonara Inutaisho." Naraku responded. The two men slightly bowed to each other; then Naraku left.
With that, Sesshoumaru stepped up to his father.
"Have you discovered anything? The clan members are becoming skittish," his father said as father and son turned to gaze at each other.
"No," was his reply.
"By the way, did you know that Lady Wisteria is part of our clan?" Without waiting for answer, Inutaisho continued, "She married into the family some 300 years ago to my second cousin. . .hmm. . .I think, twice removed."
"Interesting," Sesshoumaru replied blatantly.
"Inutaisho?"
"Ah, cousin Takeshi. It has been a while."
Watching his father wander off with some uncle, Sesshoumaru decided nothing else could be accomplished here so he returned to the crime scene.
The body of the child had been removed as he ordered. 'Good. I'm in the mood for some torturing.'
Servants followed and lit the room that now contained the body of the dead girl. He bent down, picked the child up and drew tensaiga. With one swift motion, he slashed the air in front of the girl. Immediately, heartbeats were heard and shortly after, big brown eyes gazed up at emotionless gold ones.
'Her eyes. . .they are filled with. . .innocence?'
Realizing where she was, the child quickly shrank away from Sesshoumaru and moved to the other side of the room.
"What is your name?"
No answer.
"What is your name?"
No answer.
"Why were you hurt?"
A shaky smile.
'Maybe the child is mute.' Sesshoumaru pondered.
"Answer my question, child," he pressed.
'Maybe she is still in shock. . .and WHY am I, Sesshoumaru, caring. . .the wedding fiasco must have soften me. . .nonetheless, the child will speak eventually. . .'
Standing up, Sesshoumaru slid open the door and told the servant to keep the child guarded at all times and to take good care of her.
What was wrong with him today. His usual indifference towards these matters has been utterly changed. Maybe it was the atmosphere. Maybe all he needed was a little peace. There's still the girl he just got married to. Sighing, Sesshoumaru headed in the general direction of his personal quarters.