Sesshomaru slightly bowed his upper torso at the older woman before he fully rotated around to face his wife, her eldest brother Noaki, another one of her brothers Isamu, Rin, and his servant Jakken stand ready to explore this kingdom.
She briefly fixed her face to show curtesy and politeness but deep down she was truly annoyed at her recent misfortune of being caught between a rock and a hard place. He made a mental note to personally ask his mother-in-law about her methods used to steer her daughter back on track.
"Shall we?" Kirara dutifully asked through gritted teeth as she repeatedly forced a smile on her face while she physically gestured with one of her hands toward the now open gate.
Rin enthusiastically chimes in with a "Yes," while Jakken quickly runs down the dos and don'ts since they were no longer in the safe confinements of the West Kingdom. Once he felt that the brunette tot was properly prepared, he sent her along the way while he purposely hung back where his Lord walked.
"Where are we heading to first?" Noaki curiously poses before he feels a warmth slips between his hands only to see the brunette toddler now physically attached to his hand.
He was slightly tilting his head down toward the child with the bright wide toothy grin on her face before returning the same smile at her.
At that question, Isamu and Kirara simultaneously connect eyes as if to pass a message among each other. Kirara was the one to nod her head, which seems to spark excitement within her brother as he interlocks his fingers behind the nape of his neck.
Naoki merely narrows his sight at the two as he mentally checks off his list the number of places that would easily excite both of his siblings.
The sextet leisurely explores the immediate grounds outside of the Royal Family grounds before they soon note the decrease in foot traffic around them.
"Are these the outskirts?" Jakken inquisitively questioned once they traveled down a rocky path covered with light brown sandy dirt until they beheld a compound with a hay thatched roof and enclosed fences formed circles. There was even a fully stocked stable with horses that were out to graze on the hillside grass.
An older male with salt n pepper hair tied in a high ponytail stood at the end of the path clad in a white robe with a dark red sash, thick dark red wristbands and ankle bands, black and white slippers.
"Prince Naoki, Prince Isamu, and Princess Kirara, and guests," The male politely greets each of the royal family first before the other guests when he adds, "Welcome to the Demon Slayers Academy,"
The group was then escorted through the property where they noticed students throughout the campus either sparring, tending to the household needs or running through drills that will hone skills necessary for a Demon Slayer to survive beyond their gates.
"You all can sit inside of here," The older man sternly instructs as he gestures inside of a waiting room that was presently fill with goodies and empty teacups.
Isamu and Kirara patiently waited until the others were completely seated when a servant entered inside to serve the rest of their group before they closely followed behind the Headmaster.
Sesshomaru instinctively made a move to join them but was abruptly advised to do otherwise by Naoki, who knowledgeably explained, "It's a sacred tradition that Demon Slayers business is discussed amongst those who are thoroughly versed in its art form."
The neko-youkai male immediately sensed the determination that seemed to openly emit in waves from his sister's husband. 'I don't know who is more stubborn between the two?'
"Pardon me for my interruption, but Prince Naoki is correct. It's a tradition for those who learn the arts of demon-slaying to discuss business amongst each other." The woman swiftly reiterates, which only seems to annoy rather than divert his determination.
Meanwhile…
The trio now comfortably settled on soft square purple cushions trimmed in golden accents were now served tea by a tall blonde teal eyed male with an athletic built.
"Pardon my interruption but it would be an honor if you would spar with me," He unexpectedly proposes to her once he pours the hot liquid inside of three circular cups and stands off to the right of the Headmaster.
Kirara gently blows the hot steam from the inside of the cup, sharply cuts her eyes upward and casually retorts, "You have an interesting yield of candidates this year, Headmaster."
He was graciously accepting the compliment by nodding his head with his eyes shut while revealing, "He is one of my best students this year."
Isamu watched as the blonde's chest puffed outward at the praise from the best demon-slayer in their current generation until he overheard the counter, "But he's not the best is he?"
"You'll have to battle me to see." The male sternly declared as he narrowed his sights on the woman, who openly challenged his reputation as a warrior when she barely even knew him.
"Oh goodie, I get to see an armed fight," Her brother instantly perks up at the idea of his sister spar with weapons, which was her strong suit, after he places his cup back on the coaster.
The blonde woman merely closes her eyes while her hand remains on the bottom portion of her cup when she boldly comments, "It's such a pretty day outside for unnecessary bloodshed…why not a hand to hand combat?"
"See you in five," Kirara confidently quips before she stands to her feet and begins to make her way out of the main tearoom as her older brother follows suit.
After drawing closer to where she was standing while casually leaning in before audibly whispering to her, "You know dog boy is going to throw a major fit when he hears about this…"
She simply ignores his statement when she asks, "Headmaster, do you have anywhere to change?"
An expression of thought briefly appears on his face before he supplies her an answer to her question, "The women stall is being renovated so they've been using the old scroll room."
"Yep, he's so going to throw a fit." Isamu was knowingly grumbling since this was practically screaming angry dog demon husband ripping this poor sap's head for catching his wife's attention all over it.
The siblings eventually broke apart before the eldest of the two came to terms with his role as a messenger for his baby sister just so she could let loose and have some fun.
"Kids these days are so eager to show their stripes," He was surmising about the group of recruits after approaching the shoji door, carefully sliding it out of the way and stepping inside for the one-man firing squad.
"Where's Kirara?" Noaki was the one to break the silence since he notices his brother enter inside of the tearoom but without their sister at his side.
"Oh, she's changing clothes. One of the new students challenged her to a spar," He casually downplays with a wave of his hand as he speaks with his eyes shut to avoid the intense stare from the white-haired inu-youkai.
"That Neko can't go one day without being dragged by the tails," Jakken audibly mutters only to receive two swift flicks to the forehead by Kirara's brothers since he speaks ill-will about their sister and demon race.
Sesshomaru quietly rose to his feet tired of the noise and traditions while he sniffed the air and tracked his wife down using her scent.
"Good luck on getting her out of this one," Isamu was purposely directing towards the now retreating daiyoukai's broad back.
0000
She was adjusting the thick leather black straps of her metallic red gauntlets to fit snuggle around her wrists before she hastily sweeps her long blond tresses into a ponytail with a hair tie.
Once she deemed herself fully prepared, she exited the old scroll room and casually strolled in the direction of the encasement when she suddenly smelt her husband near her vicinity.
'I need to focus on this match,' her thoughts soon deviate from the inu-youkai's scent once she takes notice of the number of spectators animatedly chat among each other on the outside of the wooden fence.
The neko-youkai confidently enters in the pen only to watch her opponent engages in what she presumes was his warm-up routine.
"You challenged me for a spar and you're not even ready…how rude?" The blonde woman boldly declared, which seemed to earn the attention of not just her opponent but the audience as well.
The male merely smirks at her statement once he releases his arm from across his chest, "Pretty confident that you'll win?"
"Pretty confident that you'll lose," She easily retorts once she approaches her opponent and eases into her stance.
The male lounges forward while Kirara avoids the reach as she leans toward his left, rotates on her right foot and gently tapped her elbow against his nape. "Already going for the killer blow?"
"You always fight as if your life is on the line."
This time instead of a lounge, he dashes forward, steps to his right and swings his right arm toward her jaw. At the same time, she was stepping forward, jabbing the webbed part of her left hand against his armpit, ducking under his arm taking his wrist along with her.
Kirara physically releases it once she feels him repeatedly taps her hand and exhales deeply once she removes her tight grip from around his wrist.
"Looks like I severely underestimated you…" He audibly muttered while he slowly rotated his stiff wrist before he stood onto his feet and faced her again.
The neko-youkai felt a slight tingle during this staredown, which was just the distraction he needed as he quickly speeds forward. 'Is it a punch or a kick?'
He abruptly jabs the palm of his hand upward toward her chin so she steps back, which he already anticipates and reaches out with his other hand.
The male stops her momentum and drops his elbow down toward her face as she barely manages to cover her face with her palms upward to catch the downward momentum of his swing.
'So he has a talent for hiding his true skill…' Sesshomaru, Isamu, and Jakken inwardly shared similar thoughts about the tall blonde male, who currently stood over Kirara in the center of the pit.
"Shall we trying this again?" He was cheekily chiding his opponent while feeling his body starting to react faster and frequently thinking of ways to attack, defend and counter the female demon-slayer.
Kirara was now on the offensive. First, she approaches the male, who seems strangely calm and still as if he was a statue. She leads with a punch, which she hopes he falls for and blocks it so she could swing around and use her legs to land a kick.
However, she unexpectedly felt a strong arm around her waist, which immediately ceases her forward motion only to suddenly catch a glimpse of white in her peripheral.
"We didn't come here for you to fight. Time to go." Sesshomaru's voice was stern as he locks her in a firm grasp since he knows all too well that she can be as slippery as eel if given the chance to escape.
Kirara already knew it was pointless to even protest to stay so she simply conceded to his order only to overhear, "Just when I was getting serious,"
"You never let me have any fun." The blonde was audibly grumbling at her husband for having the uncanny knack of always interfering with her match after propping herself on his tail.
Sesshomaru was unbothered by the statement and her sentiments when he countered with, "Well…your mother wouldn't like it if she heard what you did,"
He overheard heard her mumble "Jerk" under her breath, which earns a small smirk across his face.
"Noaki-niisan," Rin specifically addresses the eldest of the three when she curiously asks, "Are there any places to eat? I'm hungry."
The young man pondered over the options that were nearby before he decided upon a good option, "There is this inn but it's on our way back towards the kingdom.
0000
Jakostu releases a heavy guttural sigh as he rests his head against his interlock hands as he watches the midday sky fill with clouds float over his head toward the east when he overhears one of his brothers grumble under his breath, "Why hasn't big brother Bankostu told us to snatch the woman yet?"
The effeminate male scoffs at the idea of a snatch and grab which was so not their thing but if it was a handsome guy that was his type he wouldn't mind as much. 'He wouldn't even dare mention that if Bankostu was around.'
Right as he was about to doze off for an afternoon nap, there was a gentle rustle from behind the shrubbery until the sight of their eldest brother emerged with his halberd attached at his back.
"Be ready in five." He simply commanded, which earned a two-fold reaction excitement from the ones who were bored and a slight upset tone because Jakostu could no longer drop his daily afternoon nap.
'Maybe this time…we'll be finished for good.' He hopefully wishes as he plops down near the rear wheels and props himself against one of his brother's back and attempts to catch up on his sleep
0000
Kirara allowed Noaki to guide the group back toward the kingdom as she purposely hung in the back of the pack while she visibly moped at the fact that she was unable to finish that brawny pipsqueak off in the spar. Now she would have to deal with the whispers of those kids if she were ever to return to the Demon Slayers Compound.
She continues to mope until she hears, "I told you so," as she glances up to her right only to see her brother, Isamu, with his hands' laces behind the nape of his neck while he occasionally peers up at the clouds in the sky.
"I already get lectured enough from the mutt so I don't want to hear it." The blonde was irritably hissing while directing her sights onto her husband before focusing on the road while they were heading to the inn.
"You may not like what he did but there was no reason to challenge that kid." He openly agreed with the idea of Sesshomaru's interference in the match, which was a shock since he treated him at arms' length similar to how she acted around him.
The blonde male drops his hands from his neck before he admits, "Besides, it was actually kind of normal to see you two act cordial with each other but hey…I'm not the one married to a prick so what would I know."
'Dog boy and I…cordial?' She inwardly thought when her hand unknowingly grazed her hip where a deep wound was previously inflicted by an anti-demonic magic weapon then healed by none other than Sesshomaru, the sheer repulsion she felt when Bankostu tried to make a move on her during her recovery, the training grounds that was a wedding gift to prepare for the fight against said man or the fact he left his kingdom, not completely defenseless, just to bring her back home.
An "oh boy" was slipping from her lips before her cheeks were ablaze once she was finally connecting the dots. She was suddenly finding the urge to reach one of her hands outward to the broad back until she was hearing, "We're here," before placing her hand at her side and sidestepping around Sesshomaru.
Golden eyes catch sight of the blonde woman bypasses him on his right when he silently notes two things about his wife: her cheeks were a bright red color and there was a sweet scent that emits from her.
He opted to keep his thoughts to himself as he followed in behind the others.
The inn was fairly empty of patrons even for a mid-afternoon lunch hour rush. Kirara eventually notes that it was an establishment that serves the royal family based on their family's insignia present throughout the decorations.
Her face was still burning from realizing that the mutt or rather Sesshomaru was genuinely caring for her wellbeing. She opted for the seat furthest away from the others so she could gather her wits from her sudden revelation.
Yet, when the silvery haired male sat directly next to her did she become aware of his presence.
The blonde woman eventually reaches out for the drink and sips from the teacup as she cuts her eyes over at him. He had sharp features yet they were soft when you view them from certain angles. His eyes were as golden as the morning sun while his skin has a healthy dose of exposure to the sun ever since he left their kingdom.
Sesshomaru merely sipped from the teacup until he felt a pair of eyes on him as if they closely scrutinized his every movement.
At first, he slightly tilted his head in her direction to see if she would lose her confidence then look away but she remained steadfast once he fully faced her. He casually leans in toward her neck where the sweet scent heavily emits from.
Kirara suddenly felt him sink his razor-sharp fangs through her supple skin before he leisurely licked the small scarlet droplet of blood before he drew back and observed a heated dazed expression on her face.
It took a few seconds for her to gather her wits as she rapidly shoots to her feet, covered her neck with one of her hands and promptly excused herself for air.
She speedily dashed out towards the restroom but that was not good enough, she needed fresh air from outside to cool herself down.
A "what the hell" was audibly slipping from her lips since it was feeling as if she was presently standing in the middle of hell's hottest furnace. All she wanted at the moment is instant relief from this intense fever. Her vision frequently blurs until she accidentally stumbles over a couple of wooden crates and falls toward her feet.
She then hears someone nervously asks her, "Are you all right?"
Kirara roughly smacked the hand away from her because she could not visibly see exactly who it was nor was her sense of smell any help to her at all.
"Here this will calm you down…" The voice was suggesting before placing a vial underneath her noise while inhaling the pungent scent was extremely unbearable and strong enough to drain her of her limited strength.
A "what the…" was audibly huffed out before the foul aroma rendered her completely unconscious.
"Make it quick," The voice promptly commanded once their men quickly proceed with their new order.
0000
'She's been gone too long.' Sesshomaru quietly notes as he continuously watches the flow of people going in and out of the inn however there were no visible signs of Kirara being in the building.
'She wouldn't take this long.' He ultimately concluded once he stood to his feet, gracefully maneuvered around the group which quickly caught Isamu's eyes, who immediately excused himself from the group.
'Just where are you going?' The blonde male inwardly quips when he observes his brother-in-law frequently sniffs the air around him.
The silver-haired male then speedily jaunts in one direction as Isamu has to sprint to catch up to the inu-youkai's swiftness.
He noticed numerous wooden broken pieces haphazardly scattered about the open alleyway, which indicated a struggle between Kirara and her assailant.
"I can't smell her." Sesshomaru angrily hisses as he digs his sharp nails into the fleshy palm of his hands as irate rage courses throughout his body.
Isamu was too busy investigating the scene around them before finally realizing he was no longer able to smell his sister's scent, 'Why?'
0000
Kagura patiently waits for the arrival of her package as she repeatedly fans herself and curses the sunny and hot weather, which makes today's conditions muggy and completely unbearable.
Her scarlet red orbs repeatedly check out her surroundings as she vividly envisions a silver-haired male slowly emerges from within the woods and passionately embraces her within his strong arms and lovingly plants a kiss on her lips. He would not have to say any words because his eyes would radiate with warmth of a depth of love and compassion that she longed to have and call her own.
However, a raven's loud squawking was abruptly breaking her away from her sweet revere before recalling impatiently waiting for those humans to bring her the last thorn she was planning to remove from her side.
"What's taking them so long?!" She annoying grips as she continues to fan herself.
Meanwhile…
"Oi, how much you think she's going to give us for this neko-youkai?" The taller of the two curiously poses about the sudden increase in financial gains they were to earn once they successfully drop the package off to the lady with red eyes as he guides the horse toward their designated drop off destination.
The shorter of the two was nonchalantly flipping through their handheld bank book, checking their deposit from the lady with red eyes before revealing, "She paid a pretty penny for the deposit."
"She was a real looker to…blonde hair like straw and black eyes like gems." The driver complimented as he released a wolf whistle at their cargo's exotic looks.
"We should just make her our woman. The men in the village would be grateful and treat us like the kings that we are." The other male excitingly suggested before a whoosh sound was heard and two heads were soon separated from their shoulders.
"Whoa there…" Jakostu gently orders the brown horse after it slowly comes to a halt while he softly rubs the palm of his hand against its long furry nose.
"Are you sure this is the right one?" Renkostu was inquisitively questioning after tightly adjusting his blue bandanna around his bald head.
"How many neko-youkai you know that have blonde hair and black eyes?" Bankostu spoke in a matter of factually manner once he circled to the back of the wooden wagon and found a large burlap sack with a talisman band attached at the tied up ends.
"Found you…"
