It was, for once, slightly comforting that Sesshomaru could remain stoic no matter what situation occurs. Had I been working for a human lord, they wouldn't have been able to resist making their knowledge known, or telling too many people his information, resulting in everyone within a mile knowing- yet another reason for my preferring to work under a demon. Whereas my lord didn't look even slightly fazed as he conversed with Katsurou, not even blinking as Suzune smiled warmly at me from further up the table at her mother's side.
I nodded slightly in return and went back through the rules my master had set for nobles. I remembered being wacked none too many times for slouching, and tried not to slink lower in my seat as the Lady of the Southern Lands herself looked my way as well. I clenched my hand and relaxed it in my lap, biting back the accusation just aching to be shot her way. Politics- why had I signed up for this again? Or better yet, feighned sickness?
"So tell me." Katsurou said, voice rising only slightly to reach my place amongst the other Western advisers. "What has brought on your sudden appreciation for humans?"
The white-haired lord didn't react, eyes levelled at hers. "Nothing. Humans are weak and disgusting creatures." Her eyebrow raised, linking her fingers together, elbows resting on the table.
"Oh? Then why hire one as your Hani? The girl makes a sick sort of sense, considering her age, but the Hani? Does she not meet these expectations?"
"Hn. That has yet to be seen. Thus far, she does not seem like her unsavory kin."
"Hani-san, what is your opinion on ningen?" the male, Mokoto, asked curiously and a kernel of suspicion began. I shrugged anyway, glad for a subject I could speak truthfully about.
"Other ningen are vain and greedy. I think that he's correct." Surprise flashed across his face before he leaned forward, an eyebrow raising. It was eerie how much the move resembled his mother.
"Oh? You'll forgive me if I don't believe that to be your true opinion. I don't suppose that you have any reasons..?"
"I travelled for a while before working here- ningen willingly kill each other for minor grieviences or gain, rarely bathe, sometimes don't even stick up for themselves, and I've had to clean up the results of their mistakes constantly." I shrugged, taking a small sip of the tea before taking a larger drink.
"But surely you don't prefer the company of youkai over ningen? Your lord is a rare youkai, and many others have views much more violent then his own."
"I'm aware. I've had more youkai aquantices than ningen- there are exceptions to every rule, along with a significantly larger group that takes predjudices a bit too far. That's true for both races, in my opinion, although it's a bit more common in ningen." At this, even the other lords looked in my direction, incredulous.
"Now that," The Lady of the Southern lands began, interest lighting her eyes. "is quite the theory. And very rational, for a ningen."
"Interesting." One of the other lords muttered, nearly too quietly for my hearing.
"A ningen-hating ningen." Hideyoshi crowed, delighted. "Wherever did you find such a rarity Sesshomaru?" The other lords began speaking in quick, low tones, not bothering to slow down as they had when speaking to me. After years of living with youkai who'd done the same at all times, I could still vaguely understand what they were saying.
I barely focussed on the conversation, focussing on the plate in front of me boredly. And there went what would possibly the only reasonable conversation I would have for the duration of the Lords' stay.
... ...
"What are you doing?" a curious voice asked, and I mentally cursed as my hand slipped, cutting deeper then intended into the plant in front of me. Immediately, a bright red liquid spewed from the incision point, closely followed by it's fellow plants nearby doing the same in defense to what they assumed was an attack as my hand shot in front of my face. My skin began burning slightly as I spun around, intent on lashing out at the stupid- I stopped as I met a pair of calmly amused yellow-green eyes.
Suzume covered her mouth as she took in my appearance, looking like she wasn't sure whether to be amused or disgusted. I sucked in my breath slightly, fighting not to yell anyway as the burning grew. I nodded curtly, resisting the urge to brush the rancid liquid onto her clothes as I brushed past. She made sure that I could hear her footsteps as she followed, stopping just outside my door as I closed it slightly and changed, rubbing furiously with a rag at my skin to get all of the traces off.
"I apologize for startling you Hani." she said, speaking through the wooden door. Doubtful, I snorted mentally. "I was merely hoping to recieve your answer to our offer...?" I dug through my bag, pulling out some dried herbs and grinding them into a nearby bowl I'd been meaning to return to the kitchens. Anything to avoid the demon outside my door.
"I've thought about it." I called out, adding in some water and stirring quickly.
"And?" She said expectantly. I downed the drink and shuddered as the burning slowly abated. Close enough.
"And.." I opened the door, and Suzume turned away from my desk with a smile, hands smoothing her dress. "I refuse." I stated casually, remaining in the doorway.
There was a small pause before Suzume spoke sharply. "What?"
"The risk would bee too high, and I'm not nearly as stupid as you made me out to be."
"I don't understand..." she said, slightly slowly. "Why would you deny our offer? It asks for very little, and-" I didn't think before interrupting her.
"You approached me in one of the most frequently passed-by and visited places in this castle, asking me to betray my lord, who is admired by everyone employed here. You didn't lead me to a more secluded place, and didn't seem even remotely concerned over my being the newest and least-trusted employee of the castle, particularly by Sesshomaru-sama." I walked over to my desk, relaying what I'd noticed yesterday and what I'd been told. "You didn't even attempt discretion while making your offer or today around others. Also, you wouldn't need personal information to make a union of your lands through marriage or for any other union." I frowned, shuffling through the papers and listening closely for her reaction.
There was a brief pause before she replied, her voice cool. Blank. "And you're certain about your decision, Hani-san?"
"Yes." I turned to look at her directly- there was no point in looking from the side if she would notice anyway. She stared at me stoically for a moment, considering, before a slow smile crept onto her face. It wasn't the polite mask from before- this smile bordered on feral, markings glowing slightly. In that moment, she switched to the exact thing that ignorant people pictured all daiyoukai to be.
"You know, the influence you could have gained through us would have been invaluable to a ningen such as yourself. But angering me, my mother? That isn't the best idea. I believe that you gained your position by treating an illness that was only contractable for ningen, ne? Your kind are so very weak in comparison." She moved around the room, eyes fixed on the diagrams on the walls
"Is there a point to this? Or am I allowed to return to my work?" I asked boredly, and she glanced at me from the corner of her eye.
"Merely that angering a lord isn't the best way to begin your career. Especially considering the differences between ningen and youkai systems. It's so simple elimating one of you by mere accident." Her posture changed slightly, the air around her seeming to shift in one moment. "Particularly for ones as young as yourself and the little girl- Rin? Neither of you have much training against attacks, which are common amongst others seeking a political advantage over Sesshomaru." She smiled innocently.
"Hm."
"It's foolish to threaten an employee and ward of the Western Lands in his own home, Suzume-sama." Akatsuki spoke up, and she turned, feigning surprise.
"Threaten? I was merely stating facts, Akatsuki-san. I apologize, I didn't see you there." He smiled slightly from his position in the garden, arms folded against his chest- just as he'd been for several minutes, which she'd no doubt noticed before I had.
She turned to leave, all of the danger from before gone as she shot one last look at me over her shoulder and left.
... ...
I frowned, muttering darkly as I tossed more papers onto the ground. If it had fallen out, surely it would be here? I knelt down, spreading out each paper and skimming over them. "No, no, to be looked over later-" I put those papers into a different stack. "No, trash, no, trash, trash," I swore quietly and opened my book, looking over the section again. "Nothing!" I got up, eyes fixed on the ground as I walked through each room.
"Ah, Haruka-san?" A hesitant voice asked from the doorway and I vaguely gestured for them to walk in, leaning into my room for a moment.
"Hm?" I shook my head, running a frustrated hand through my hair. "Yes?" I attempted to remain civil as I glanced at the newcomers. Akatsuki sat in the corner, head turned toward the door curiously. One of the demons from the Eastern Lands standing there, eyeing me warily. I groaned inwardly. "Look, if you need help with anything, I'm sure that Akilah can help you. He's more then happy to help at any hour of the day, don't hesitate to interrupt what he's doing to ask a question." She looked confused for a moment and looked at Akatsuki, silently asking him for guidence. I looked along the floor again, frowning and flipping through my book. Maybe they were just in another spot...?
Akatsuki laughed as my attention drifted away. "Don't mind Haruka-san, Natsuko-chan. She's a bit irritated at the moment. Something about loosing her notes?"
"I did not" I huffed, skimming through a second time. "lose my notes. They just happened to escape from the binding of my book. And their current location eludes me at the moment."
"You rely on a book to know your medicines?"
I shot her an incredulous look before turning back to my desk. "Of course not. But-" I shook my head. "Did you need something? Petty theft isn't really something you should worry about."
"I... Akatsuki? May I speak with you a moment?" she asked uncertainly, and there was a pause before I heard him stand up.
"We'll be right outside, ne?" I nodded and heard her speak quickly and quietly outside. I snapped, diving for the medical chest.
"I know you're here somewhere..." I muttered, thumbing through some of the papers. If I'd put them back and forgotten, surely they'd be here. "Kuso. Oh!" I rose to my feet quickly, practically running to my room. Akatsuki would be able to find me if I was needed.
I tore through the room, yanking clothes out of the way and tossing papers to the ground. I paused for a moment, considering, when my eyes widened and I dove for the pile of nearly forgotten clothes in the corner. Old kimonos and yukatas flew across the room. An old poison pouch, a worn pair of shoes, even the burnt and tattered remains of the robes that I'd burned on my first day here. But my notes were no where in sight.
I ran a frustrated hand through my bangs, eyes searching my now ruined room, and I kicked lightly at a nearby pile. At the kick, old herbs and pouches rolled out, along with another object, light bouncing off of it, glittering brightly from its place on the ground. I frowned, kneeling down and plucking it up from the ground, feeling a sense of deja vu as I held it up to the light.
I remembered doing this exact movement before, before I'd even taken this position- the day that Akatsuki and the imp decided to recruit me. I tilted the sliver slightly, watching in interest as the light around it warped, seeming to be absorbed into it. At my touch, it almost seemed to darken in color, becoming a deep, dark pink. For a moment I could have sworn that I heard voices whispering, offering power... my eyes narrowed, and I tucked it into my pouch, nose wrinkling as my skin crawled. Whatever it was, I probably shouldn't leave it somewhere that Rin could pick it up.
I heard the sound of someone clearing their throat, and Akatsuki spoke up cheerfully. "Have you found your notes yet, Haruka-san?" I shook my head, distracted.
"What was that about?" I asked vaguely, noticing that the other demon was gone. He shrugged, sniffing slightly as his eyes darted around the room.
"Natsuko-chan just wanted to catch up. It's been a while since I transfered." I nodded, walking past him and automatically heading for the library. He followed behind closely, curiosity covering his face as he looked at me. "Haruka-san? Was someone in the hospital with you when I left?" This caught my attention, head turning quickly to look at him.
"Someone... no, why do you ask?" He shrugged, and my mind worked furiously. So maybe it wasn't my imagination- the jewel could have some kind of demonic traits, enough to attract Akatsuki's attention. I grinned inwardly. Interesting.
... ...
"You know, I could help you if you told me what you were looking for, Hani." Akatsuki said helpfully from his position in the corner, and I shook my head preoccupiedly.
"It's not here..." I muttered, sliding the next scroll towards me.
"Haruka-san, you've been researching for nearly an entire day. Perhaps if you took a break, bothered to sleep or eat something..?" He pointedly held out a plate, and I shook my head with a grin.
"This is fascinating. Besides, I don't need to eat yet." Another scroll, written in a different handwriting.
"Haruka-san, how long have you been here?"
"Several hours. You can leave if you prefer, but I've finished my work for today and tomorrow- I have plenty of time to research."
"Research what, exactly?" He leaned against the table, looking slightly annoyed and still holding the plate of food.
"Something interesting." I muttered. "Hm, close, but not enough." I grinned slightly.
"You've been here voluntarily for hours without rest or eating, skipping your meals without finding what you're looking for, and you're smiling?"
"Apparently. Is the only reason you're not insisting because you're waiting for someone else?"
"Is there a reason that you avoid questions involving whatever you're looking for?"
"Curiosity." I frowned slightly, finally looking up. "What, exactly, bothered you earlier when you walked into my room? Did it smell odd? Did you sense or see something?" His face went blank, and he stared at me for a moment before replying.
"For one thing, that was yesterday Haruka-san. Who was in the room with you? As your body guard, I'm required to know."
"No one was in the room with me. What did you smell?"
"As an employee of the Western Lands, you're required to tell an official- namely myself- if anyone appeared to threaten you in any way or attempted to convince you to betray the Western Lands." His eyes narrowed uncharacteristically.
"Which I did when approached by Suzume. No one was in the room, why do you think there was?" I pressed, and he just shook his head with a rueful smile.
"Nothing, Hani-san." I opened my mouth, angry, when an amused voice spoke up from the door of the library.
"And here I'd thought that you would have changed a bit by now, Neko-chan." I stiffened before scowling.
"And I'd thought that I could avoid you, Katsu. Were you actually allowed into the castle?"
... ...
A/N Thank you Aku Tora, FantaC Luvr, akakusomerusora, OCDingshutin, animeloser101, 88dragon06, Dontgotaclue88, and Nizuna Fujieda for all of your reviews! I'm really glad to hear that others like Haruka as a main character, and I'm always willing to hear opinions and ideas for the plotline! So now a figure from Haruka's past has shown up, she's royally angered the Southern Lands, and discovered a new mystery that will wind up badly for her, what do you think? Predictions for the future? Comments on characters? Even guesses at what's happened in the past? Please share!