Here we go my loves! New chapter, and it all is going to hit the fan!
Disclaimer: You know what, go away! I've already admitted that they aren't mine!
I was quick to reassure the strange group of fighters that I was alright, and apologized for what I had said to Inu Yasha, the inu hanyou. I had to resist the urge to laugh, though, since I was under the impression "yasha" translated to "female demon". Instead, I picked up my little brother easily, ignoring his protests, and returned to my mount. I set Rizu at the front and, after many moments of soothing, I mounted behind him, getting comfortable in the sidesaddle. As we started to return in the direction Yukiru and Ichigo were shouting from, Rizu asked me curiously, "Taylor, why do you look that way? Papa's going to kill you if those are real tattoos."
I bit my lip to keep from growling. Despite my protests, Rizu often called me Taylor to appease his father, and tried to insist on me calling him Ron. I said slowly, trying to keep my temper, "Rizu, you mustn't call me that. Here, I am Lady Tomoyo of the Dashio Clan, and calling me Taylor will get you in trouble, the same sort if I call you Ron. Here, you must be Rizu. And what Alan will do to me is unimportant, since I'm unsure if we'll ever see him again."
"Ever?" my brother demanded. "Why? Did you take me away? Why Tomoyo?!? I love Papa!"
Snarling at him, I pulled the mount to a stop and made him face me. "Rizu, I didn't take you away. I didn't want to come here, I just ended up here. Now I'm making the best of it." Sighing, I asked him gently, "Can you understand that?"
He was sullen for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, I guess I can. But why do you look like that? To blend in?"
"Mama kept some secrets from us, little brother." I said softly, reaching up to finger the edge of one of my white bangs. "It turns out Mama was a member of a race known as youkai. My father was one as well, so I look like a combination of them. You look so much like Mama because Alan is human instead of youkai."
"What are youkai? Are there different kinds?" Rizu asked eagerly. With a soft sigh, I proceeded to explain to my little brother everything that I had learned over the past few weeks. Then I realized what his hanyou trait was. A hanyou has something of whatever breed he is, whether it's ears, tail, or paws. My little brother had little black puppy ears, higher up on his head then normal ears. It didn't bother me, but I knew Yukiru and Lady Tairo were going to have a fit, especially since I learned of my betrothed's own half-sibling. Briefly I wondered if Inu Yasha was Lady Tairo's, then shook that thought away. Best leave that be for the time.
Yukiru was nearly crying with relief when Rizu and I strolled up. Ichigo was quick to ride over and assess my physical well being, and while stunned by Rizu's prescence, he saw nothing else wrong with me that a good bath and a clean kimono wouldn't cure, all of which I was due for anyway, immediately upon arrival at my betrothed's home. Rizu, however, wasn't one to be ignored. "Tomoyo, who are they? Why are these people worried about you?"
Chuckling I bent down. My breath ruffled the hair beside his ear as I said softly, "Yukiru is a new friend, and Ichigo has been assigned to making sure no harm befalls me, that's all. I scared them when I disappeared to find you. A nice woman, Lady Tairo, has arranged a new home for us." I wasn't going to clue Rizu into the fact I was going to get married in order for us to have this new home. My answer satisfied him, and he was relieved to be moved from my lap to behind Yukiru. He was entering the stage where he thought girls were gross, and that I embarressed him by my constant attentions. Snickering slightly as he startled pelting Yukiru with questions, I was glad that he remembered his lessons in the youkai language, the only lessons I had ever managed to get him to sit still for.
As we rode up alongside the carriage, the lady scolded me for running off, though she was glad that I had found my little brother. I was tempted to talk to her about my meeting with her son, but disregarded it quickly. He didn't introduce himself, so I could pretend that I didn't know who he was. I did ask her, however, about Inu Yasha. She stiffened, and I thought I wasn't going to get an answer, but eventually she went into the story of her husband's infidelity with a human woman, and how that led to his death. Fear struck me then. I couldn't help but worry I would end up like Lady Tairo--alone with only one child, who would serve as my husband's heir, as I served as a trophy that was taken of the shelf and dusted occasionally. I wisely didn't voice these questions to Lady Tairo, feeling they would only get me in trouble.
The ride to the House of the Western Lands, which turned out to be just as elegant as Lady Tairo's home, wasn't a long one, and we had barely just arrived before I was tossed in among a throng of maids, eager to make me presentable. Knowning better by now, I gave into their will, letting them do the work while I tried to rest. I had come to hate traveling; it drained more energy from me then anything else I had ever done. The maids were quick to change me into a white and red kimono, with simple silver obi. I recognized the colors as the same as my betrothed's from earlier, and assumed that they were special to him in some way. I felt my hair being twisted up on to the back of my head, complete baring my neck to the world, causing uneasyness to flood through me. It was a rare occasion that my hair was completely pulled off of my neck, and I never liked it, feeling overly exposed. I didn't protest to the maid doing it though, just saying I prefered the bright red combs over the ivory ones in her hand. Beaming, I assume because she was thrilled I wasn't upset with her, she nodded her head eagerly and put them at the base of the complicated bun she had wound my hair in, the delicate flower design complimenting the snowy whiteness of my hair.
I was helped to my feet and led out into the hall, where Rizu was waiting in a red and black hoari and hikama alongside Lady Tairo, Yukiru, Azula, and Ichigo, all in their typical dress. Smiling slightly at Azula, I felt a stab in my heart. If the lord accepted Lady Tairo's proposal, then Yukiru, Azula, and Ichigo wouldn't be with me anymore, since their loyalty belonging to the lady. Pushing such painful thoughts aside, I scolded myself for getting so attached in such a short time. With a shake of my head, I took Rizu's hand in mine and whispered to him, "So you won't get lost. These places are huge." With a slight grumble in return, he let me keep a hold of him, and we followed Lady Tairo and Yukiru down multiple hallways and through a couple of gardens. We walked past one that took my breath away, for it was filled with various kinds of roses. In the center, a fountain had been made around a large weeping willow tree, hidden in the very center of castle. I stopped in my tracks, my eyes obsorbing as many details as possible.
"You like it? My son designed it himself, when he was younger. It was suppose to be for me, but before he had a chance to show me, his father, the Inu no Tashio, took off to save his mistress." Lady Tairo said from beside me.
"It's incredible..." I murmered. "Roses have always been my favorite flower, and the house my mother and I lived in before she married Rizu's father was surrounded by weeping willows, making them very dear to me." I felt the lady giving me an appraising look, as if I had shown her something she hadn't counted on. I turned to face her, and I was shocked to see some sort of pride in her eyes. "What's wrong?"
"I knew you would be well suited for my son... I just never imagined it would be this strong." she said softly. "You and him are very much alike, more alike then I had thought. Your histories, your personalities, even your outlooks on the world are so close, but that's also what makes you different. It makes me wonder if fate was toying with me all these years before finally bringing you to me."
Deep in my heart, I felt myself getting touched by what she said. However, I was still shocked when she pulled me into her arms, giving me a warm hug. I was stunned into stillness, then my instincts took over. I nudged my head under hers, a low, deep growl, more like a purr really, rising from my chest. Only a moment later, she let out a similar one. When we pulled apart, we could both probably feel the stunned silence following our moment. Her hand reached up and touched my cheek gently, then she murmured softly, "In such a short time, I already think of you as a daughter...yes, this must be fate's doing." With a shy smile, I ducked my head. I had come to love this woman like a girl should love her mother-in-law, and it made me feel better about what was to come.
Our little traveling party continued on, coming to a room similar to the one where I had first met Lady Tairo. Nervously, I took the seat offered to me, Azula helping me spread my kimono out around me elegantly. I was shocked, however, when Yukiru placed a fur muff, identical to Lady Tairo's, around my arms, the ends drifting down along my kimono sleeves. My wide eyes must have given my surprise away, for he said with a slight smile, "You are a member of the Dashio clan, and if the lord turns you away, you will become a member of Lady Tairo's court. This muff marks you as such. If he accepts you, your new maid will sew red and white ribbon borders on the edges, showing that you belong to Lord Sesshoumaru's house and are the highest possible ranking, just below the lord himself. If not, Azula will add a lavender and gold border, marking you as an ornament in the lady's court." This simple explanation did wonders to reassure me; I knew that no matter what, I would have a home after today.
A concern filled me at the last moment. I had seen the hatred between Inu Yasha and his older brother, and it went both ways. Part of it seemed to spawn from Inu Yasha being a hanyou. I knew then Rizu wouldn't be safe here. Murmuring to Yukiru as an imp came into the room, announcing the lord's arrival, I said, "Yukiru, promise me that even if Lord Sesshoumaru accepts me, you will take Rizu with you and keep him under your care."
Yukiru looked at me in confusion, then he found my train of thought when Rizu's ears twitched in the direction of approaching footsteps. Nodding minutely, he glanced at the door as I felt the tension I had developed fall away. Obedient to the ettiquette I had learned over the past few weeks, I lowered my head and raised my fan, making it impossible for the lord to see my face before I had been acknowledged by name by both Lady Tairo and Lord Sesshoumaru.
As a result, all I could see were his boots. Seconds of wondering if this was really the same guy I had met in the woods ended as soon as he spoke, "Your request for seeing me surprises me, Mother. You rarely seek my prescence, and usually you are alone instead of with so many..." He paused, and I could practically feel his gaze piercing my still form, till they moved on to Rizu. I heard the faintest of growls come from him, but he was quick to still it when an answering growl came from Yukiru, Ichigo, and, surprisingly, Lady Tairo. As an unacknowledged lady, I couldn't protest, though I yearned to. I was willing to sing Aura and see him in pain if he harmed one hair on Rizu's head. Azula's soothing hand descreetly placed over mind stilled this thought, and I relaxed again to listen to the lady's answer.
"This is a formal visit, my son. You see, I have brought an offering for you. A bride."
"And what use do I have for a bride, Mother? You know very well I am not seeking a mate."
"Yet you're realm is troubled by the recent visit of the Dashio clan's lord." Yukiru interupted the banter calmly. I was troubled when I realized the clan I was associated with was causing problems. It didn't reassure me at all, till Yukiru said, "To avoid battle, the best thing to do would be take a bride from the clan."
The lord was silent for a moment, and Lady Tairo said serenely, "A bride that I have brought. This is Lady Tomoyo of the Dashio clan, and until Lady Sakura yields a pup, Lord Kioshi's heir."
"Lord Kioshi's heir, hmm? Tell me girl, why would Lord Kioshi select you as his heir?" the lord finally addressed me. Demurely, I raised my head to meet his gaze. One look in those cold orbs, and I knew that he recognized me and Rizu, but he wouldn't say so. He was waiting for me to lie.
As if. "I wouldn't know, my lord. I only recently met my cousin and his mate." Despite the time spent in youkai company, I always hesitated when using their terminology for a spouse. "He claims I have the purest blood besides his own, so I suppose that is his reasoning." My voice, thankfully, stayed calm and level despite my nerves.
"Hmm." was all he said. Already I was getting sick of that response, and my expression showed that annoyance, making him blink. "Is something wrong, Lady Tomoyo?"
"You ask very pressing questions, my lord, yet you give no reason. I am not one meant for such toying." I bit out. I heard Azula and Ichigo draw breath, but saw Lady Tairo smile out of the corner of my eye. I could hear his displeased growl from this far away.
"You have a quick, bold tongue, girl."
"Better than a slow, dull one."
Let the games begin.
And so they shall... In the next chapter! MUHAHAHAHAHAH!!! R&R please!
