Chapter fourteen
Confrontation (part one)
Reworked
"Your... mother?" Kagome asked and gulped nervously.
"Hn."
"Well I think I better go," she added hurriedly getting up. The door opened at the same second, and his mother graciously stepped inside. The female was gorgeous, and Kagome looked at her not daring to blink so as not to lose the vision in front of her eyes.
"Sesshoumaru," the lady mother addressed him and sat down next to him totally ignoring the miko who silently sat down again. She then flared her youki, and a servant appeared immediately bowing lowly.
"My lady?" she asked in a respectful voice. His mother curtly ordered tea then dismissed the servant with a wave of her hand. Sesshoumaru saw the miko fidgeting before standing up again only to be stopped by his mother's voice.
"Sit." The human tensed but did as was told. "Sesshoumaru, dear, the lords' daughters that participated in the contest will spend a few days here. Be sure to pay them the needed attention," she said looking pointedly at him.
He clenched his teeth. He hated that. "Ah the tea," she smiled indulgently when the door opened, and a tray with tea was brought inside. "Human, pour us some tea," Asuna ordered Kagome.
The priestess blinked owlishly but nodded. She poured a cup first to Sesshomaru, then his mother, and finally herself. His mother's gaze never left her. She studied Kagome's every move. Sesshoumaru knew his mother dealt the miko the worst offence by asking her to pour the tea, thus demeaning her from a guest to a servant, but the miko didn't say anything and did so with a grace that he could attest was perfect for a tea ceremony. He was sure his mother realized that as well.
"Son, the Northern borders seem to gain on us. Kyoran is more audacious each day," his mother said, sipping her tea. "The humans are bolder, their number grows daily," she continued, watching the miko's reaction. Said miko tensed, but continued to drink her tea. "Such weak and useless creatures..." she added only to be interrupted.
"We're not useless. We were equally created by the gods, to populate the earth. We have the same right as you to live," enunciated the miko, putting her cup on the table.
"Ah, it speaks!" exclaimed his mother.
"I'm not an it!" Kagome said clenching her fists.
"Prove it!" challenged his mother.
"Fine!"