It's here. Enjoy! See the end for notes.
Nanami sat to the side with Tomoe and Akura-ou as Mikage answered a few more questions about the loss of spiritual energy. She felt a little better having the support of all three familiars, even if it was reluctantly. Mikage sighed when he finished explaining for what he felt like the tenth time that the loss of spiritual energy had no other outcome besides worldwide mass extinction. "Alright, now that you all are informed, I think we should head to the banquet. Otohiko, we can pick up your familiars on the way there. They do know about the situation, correct? Otohiko?"
Otohiko sat cross-legged on the floor with his head propped in his hands, snoring lightly. He snorted when Akura-ou nudged his back to wake him. When the wind god turned to scold whoever had poked him, he screamed, leaping away from the oni. Akura-ou rolled his eyes. "Otohiko," Mikage said again, standing behind his partner. Otohiko squeaked and jumped before turning to see Mikage giving him a sweet smile. "You did tell them about the situation before you bound them to your suite, correct?"
"Huh, uh, oh, yeah, yeah. Of course, I told them. What do you take me for?" Otohiko said, straightening his pink jacket. Mikage ignored the question in favor of helping Nanami to stand without messing up the skirt of her dress.
"Good, then we will pick up your yokai group on our way to the banquet," Mikage repeated.
"Fine, fine," Otohiko said as he stretched out. The group started to make their way into the genkan to put on their shoes when Nanami realized something was missing.
"Um, hold on, I don't have shoes to go with this dress," Nanami said as worry spread through her as she tried to remember seeing them while the rabbits dressed her. She took off through the living room, calling back over her shoulder, "maybe they were in the box. I'll go check."
"Hurry, Nanami. We do not want to be late," Tomoe called after her as he slipped into his zori. Nanami raced down to her room and went straight to the box without closing the sliding door. She pulled all of the tissue paper out in one move, hoping the shoes would drop to the floor if they were wrapped in it, but the box was empty.
"Looking for these, Lady Nanami?" Nanami turned around at the sound of a female voice, expecting to see one of the tanuki. Instead, she jolted in fright when she found an ebony-haired kitsune standing in her room holding a pair of kitten-heeled sandals. The female was smiling at her softly, her orange sapphire inhuman eyes sparkling as they met Nanami's.
"Wh-who are you?" Nanami stuttered. The female kitsune's smile faltered as concern overtook her expression, her black fox ears drooping on her head.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I'm Azami," she said, smiling brightly as she bowed low. Nanami stared at her with apprehension, so Azami continued while slowly holding the sandals out to her, "The rabbits forgot to bring you these, and I couldn't resist the chance to meet you in private. This whole thing is unusual enough without having it put on display for all to see, and Ookuninushi strikes me as the type that likes attention. But I'm not, and I have a feeling you're not either."
"You're from the other world?" Nanami asked, relaxing slightly, then realization struck her. "Are you my soul reflection?" Azami nodded while smiling at Nanami so wide her fangs showed. Her ears lifted, and Nanami noticed the fur at the bottom and inside was bright red.
"Yes, that would be me." Nanami looked at the kitsune closely. She was a tall curvy woman of between maybe eighteen and twenty years old. She held herself straight and proud, but there was a gentle playfulness about her. She had the sharp features Nanami associated with kitsune through Tomoe, but the warmth in her wide almond eyes and high rosy cheeks made her appear more approachable. Azami's black hair was tied back in a loose bun. Her long wild bangs framed her face and sloped sideways over her forehead with a single streak of red hair. Her pale porcelain skin seemed to glow in contrast to her cobalt blue gown.
"Wow, when I imagined what you would look like, I thought of a fox because of Tomoe, but I didn't think you would actually be a fox," Nanami said, slowly walking over to take the shoes.
Azami chuckled softly, "Maybe you have a touch of clairvoyance. It would not be the strangest thing I've ever heard." She paused, her expression taking on a hint of seriousness. "Honestly, I wasn't sure what Ookuninushi told you. My family is hardly conventional, so I would not have been offended if you imagined me as anything other than a kitsune."
"What do you mean?" Nanami asked, tilting her head. Azami was about to answer when she suddenly stood up straighter, her right ear turning towards the door and an expression of keen awareness spreading over her face as her eyes shifted in the same direction. She looked back at Nanami and smiled again.
"You'll see," she said with a wink as she waved her left hand through the air, disappearing in a swirl of white smoke. "See you at the banquet, Lady Nanami," her voice whispered before the smoke faded away, and Otohiko walked through the open door a second later.
"Hey - oh, good you found the shoes," Otohiko said, offering Nanami a guilty smile. Nanami returned the smile with one of her own, but Otohiko didn't notice the expression on Nanami's face. "Listen, Nanami; I'm not good with this sort of thing, but..." Otohiko paused as he fiddled with the hem of his jacket uneasily. Nanami clutched the shoes to her chest, unsure what Otohiko was about to say as he reluctantly bowed to her. "I-I'm...I'm sorry," he finally got out. His tone was halfhearted and annoyed, like a child being forced to apologize. "I was wrong to punish you for Ookuninushi sticking me with those yokai. It was petty, and even though I had a brilliant plan, it was mean." He stood up and quickly went to the pink bag on the nearby dresser where the rabbits put the seventies kimono. "See," he said, pulling the kimono out. It was no longer the hideous avocado green and huge but pale pink with large white camellias. "I had the kitsune shop owner put a timed charm on it as a prank, but I didn't expect him to add a smell or that it would hurt your feelings so badly. It was set to reverse just before we left for the banquet." Despite his annoyance and apparent reluctance to apologize, Nanami could hear that he was sincere. One thing she had learned about the wind god was while he could be haughty and sometimes mean, he never meant anyone harm. Even if he was apologizing because Mikage told him to, a part of him genuinely felt awful for the hurt he caused her.
"It's okay. I forgive you. As long as you promise never to pull something so mean again. It was really embarrassing. I thought about not asking you for fashion advice ever again," Nanami said, giving him a stern look. Otohiko's eyes widen. He loved giving her fashion tips and getting the chance to pick out her kimonos for special occasions. The realization that his prank nearly cost him helped Mikage's words about treating her better or losing her friendship sink in. "It's beautiful, and if I weren't already dressed, I would have loved to wear it." Otohiko's expression brightened, and he folded the kimono up neatly before putting it back in the bag.
"We have several meetings to attend this week, so I see no reason why you can't go looking stunning. You're going to be an official goddess someday. Might as well start dressing the part now. I brought extra kimonos you can borrow." He put the bag back on the dresser.
"If I become an official god." Nanami reminded. Otohiko blew out a puff of air in disbelief.
"Oh, please, girly. We all know you're going to choose to take their offer. It's just a matter of time," he said as he turned to leave. "Come on. Everyone's waiting." She could not find it in herself to dispute his words as she followed him. After meeting Azami, she found herself curious to find out more about the fox hanyo. She was not like she pictured at all. She was beautiful, yes, but there was something Nanami could not put her finger on that made her feel drawn to the fox.
Azami reappeared on a gravel path in one of the lavish gardens near the banquet. As the white smoke of her teleportation spell vanished, she smoothed out her dress. "Azami," Sesshomaru called, standing behind her, making her tense as a jolt ran through her body.
"What the hell, Grandpa? Don't do that," she exclaimed, turning to look at Sesshomaru and instantly wishing she hadn't. The look of disappointment in his golden eyes made her blood run cold.
"It was fortunate that I was able to convince Ookuninushi not to introduce you as Nanami's soul reflection during the banquet. He had planned to make a spectacle out of our future alliance. Imagine his great disappointment at finding you snuck off without permission to meet her behind his back," Sesshomaru said as he walked past her slowly. Azami huffed, crossing her arms over her chest and averting her eyes.
"Nanami and I are not monkeys to be paraded around like a circus act. She's a modest sweet girl, and it would have embarrassed her for Ookuninushi to make a big deal out of this. If he wants this alliance so badly, then I think he needs to back off a little," Azami objected. Sesshomaru looked back at her over his shoulder; his eyes softened when he took in her defensive posture. A minuscule smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"So, you already deem her worthy, do you? Very well," Sesshomaru mused, turning away to continue down the garden path. "One more thing, Azami. I expect you to be more mindful of your surroundings. I will inform your sensei you require further instruction concerning your aura sensitivity. I am sure he will be more than happy to put you through your paces." Azami paled, swallowing hard as a faint blush spread over her cheeks.
"But Grandpa, you're the only one who can catch me off guard. Isn't that a good thing? I mean, there's no way I could ever be as powerful as you," Azami defended, lifting her skirt and jogging a little to catch up with him.
Sesshomaru shot her another look of displeasure from the corner of his eye. "No, it is not a 'good thing.' You are capable of more than you give yourself credit. Never doubt yourself and never settle for less than your absolute best. The world already labels you as a lesser creature because of your mixed heritage. I expect my granddaughter never to let fools sit comfortably in their ignorance."
"Yes, Grandpa," Azami replied softly. Sesshomaru stopped and turned to her. She looked at him hesitantly. She hated disappointing him, but she felt like she was born to do just that. Sesshomaru pulled her into an embrace as he leaned forward and kissed the top of her head.
"Never forget, the pack is proud of you," Sesshomaru said, gently flicking one of her ears and making her giggle. Azami laid her head against his chest with a smile.
"Ah! Stop hugging. You're going to wrinkle your dress. Azami!" Shippo cried, putting his hands on his hips. Sesshomaru sighed as the rest of their group shook their heads behind Shippo. They stood at the entrance to the garden, and just beyond Azami could see a large lake rimmed in cherry blossom trees.
"Remind me to ban your father from taking a career in fashion again in the future." Azami giggled again as Sesshomaru hugged her tighter, making Shippo squeak in horror.
"I still think his Bauhaus phase was worse," Azami whispered, stepping back from Sesshomaru and turning to show that her dress was fine. Shippo narrowed his eyes at Sesshomaru before checking Azami's dress.
"Stop fussing, kit," Sesshomaru commented dryly, walking past him to join the rest of the group.
Shippo snorted, "Don't tell me to stop fussing. You're the one who wanted us all to wear modern clothing so everyone would know how well adapted we are to human society. It's not my fault their fabric wrinkles so easily. Azami, I should have put you in a structured bodice. Look at this mess." Azami wrinkled her nose at the idea as he waved his hand over her dress, making the tiny creases disappear instantly. When he finished, Azami reached up and grabbed his face between her hands.
"Papa, breathe. I'm going to be fine," Azami said, looking into her father's bright green eyes with certainty. Shippo began to refute her words, but Azami continued. "I know you are worried about how these gods and yokai will react to us, but this isn't any different from what we have faced in the past. I'm not scared. I've got you and the pack with me. As long as we stand together, there isn't anything we can't do, right? That's what you always told me as a kit." Shippo nodded slowly, then pulled his daughter into a tight hug, making her laugh. Inuyasha rolled his eyes as he and Sesshomaru watched them embracing.
On the other side of the lake, Mikage's group was escorted through another garden until they reached a break in the trees leading to the water. Nanami expected the banquet to be held in the same hall it was during the Divine Assembly. This area was new to her. Her eyes darted all around, trying to take it all in. The lake in front of them was so large that Nanami could easily visualize her school fitting into it. The blooming cherry blossom trees lined the bank littering the ground and water's edge with pink petals. In the middle of the lake, an enormous round wooden platform bobbed lazily with a floating walkway connecting it to the bank. The venue was decorated with blankets, cushions, and tasseled umbrellas. Rabbits dressed in fine silk kimonos carried trays of drinks and food around to the guests. In the water, hundreds of square water lanterns glowed softly. The beautiful sight was surreal, but there was something subdued and solemn about it. Nanami had a feeling this would be unlike any banquet she had been to before. Even the gods, familiars, and yokai already present mingled in restrained curiosity. Anyone entering the clearing drew the attention of the whole crowd, only to be quickly dismissed when the newcomers were not Ookuninushi or the daiyokai.
The rabbit escorting them stopped at the pathway before bowing and leaving. Otohiko led the way with his four yokai trailing behind him silently. Nanami had been pleasantly surprised to find Unari and Ryuo had been assigned to Otohiko. Tomoe, on the other hand, was keeping his distance from the Zan chief and Dragon Lord. No one had met the other two yokai with Otohiko before, but Tomoe had heard stories about them. The redheaded crane yokai, Lord Tancho, was a handsome nobleman with flaming red hair and piercing black eyes. Tomoe told Nanami that Lord Tancho was once lord of a vast kingdom in northern Japan and was several hundred years old, even though he appeared to be in his mid-twenties. After humans overtook his kingdom, he moved his people to Over Yonder, where he controlled one of the districts. The ancient salamander yokai, Master Sansho, unlike the other yokai, did not have a human appearance. He was simply a large bipedal Japanese giant salamander wearing a green kimono. Master Sansho was not a lord or an official leader in Over Yonder, but he was one of the oldest yokai alive. He was also one of the last yokai historians.
Nearly blind and deaf and walking with a heavy limp, Master Sansho said little aside from the random mumblings about uneven ground and stairs. Still, his knowledge of yokai history was unmatched, which was why Ookuninushi had invited him. Mikage followed quickly onto the path with the rest of the group. As they got further out onto the path, Master Sansho's awkward and heavy gait made the pathway pitch enough to make the females in platform zori and heels feel unbalanced. Nanami grabbed Tomoe's sleeve to steady herself. She was not used to wearing heels, and even the tiny heel on her sandals was too slender to give her a feeling of security. He looked at her irritably for a moment before seeing the faint blush coloring her cheeks as she held onto him. He glanced over his shoulder to see Aotake steadying Himemiko while Sakurako and Tanuko clung to either side of Mizuki, making him redden. Turning back to Nanami, Tomoe took her left hand with his right while slipping an arm around her waist, holding it tightly. He could almost feel Mizuki's glare on his back as Nanami gave him a sweet smile that made his heart race. They waited silently until Master Sansho cleared the path before moving forward again. Tomoe relished those few minutes holding Nanami to him protectively even as Akura-ou shot him a knowing smirk over his shoulder.
Once they were all on the platform, Otohiko led them to one of the blankets towards the opposite side of the path. Kurama looked around at the guests talking quietly within their groups. Few strayed far from their blankets to mingle with others. "Why does it feel like we are at a funeral?" Kurama commented absently.
"It is a rather quiet gathering for a banquet," Jiro said, standing next to him, looking at the crowd curiously. Otohiko helped Nanami sit by fluffing out the back of her skirt, so the tulle didn't get smashed while Tomoe waved down a rabbit. Several rabbits came over carrying tea, food, and sake. They set about serving the group while a hush overtook the crowd.
"False alarm," Kurama chuckled as Inari walked into the clearing, followed by five male kitsune of varying color. Tomoe tensed upon seeing them, making Nanami put a hand on his arm in concern. He immediately pulled his arm away, shooting her a scathing look.
"Oh, this is going to be fun. Your old friends, the Kitsune Council, is here," Akura-ou half-joked, half grumbled.
"What's the Kitsune Council?" Nanami asked, watching the group walk onto the platform. When the males looked over at Tomoe, they narrowed their eyes at him before shifting their focus to Nanami. A cold feeling crept into her stomach as several of them sneered at her.
"They are the leaders of the kitsune villages in Over Yonder. They are a bunch of arrogant, wealthy dudes who believe kitsune are superior to all other yokai. When Tomoe started running around with me and calling me brother, it pissed them off. They felt like he betrayed his kind because he's more powerful than all of them combined," Akura-ou said while scooting closer to Nanami. Neither he nor Tomoe trusted the kitsune to behave themselves, and after the way, they looked at her, they knew she would be a target of their mischief. "They probably hate it even more that Tomoe is your familiar. Stay away from them, okay?"
Nanami huffed, "I'm sure they are harmless. Besides, what can they do to me? They are bound to Inari."
"You're an idiot if you think you can trust them to behave. It does not matter that they have a familiar contract with Inari. If they want to hurt you, they will find a way," Tomoe snapped, glaring daggers at the kitsune as they sat on a blanket not far from them.
"I'm not an idiot. I just think you're overreacting. Maybe they are not as bad as you think they are. You're a fox, and I trust you," Nanami grumbled back before taking a sip of her tea. Tomoe sighed as he shook his head as he thought, 'She's so stupid. She'll never get it.'
"Nanami-chan, you can never trust a fox. Not even Tomoe. They are all cunning and deceptive creatures," Mizuki stated, ignoring the death glares from Akura-ou, Tanuko, and Sakurako while Tomoe rolled his eyes. Unari sat next to Mizuki, nodding her head in agreement.
"That's not a very nice thing to say, Mizuki, and it's not true. I can trust Tomoe and Azami too," Nanami objected, giving Mizuki a stern look then covering her mouth when she realized what she said. The moment Azami's name fell from her lips, the group looked at Nanami with concern and confusion.
"Who is this Azami? When did you meet this kitsune?" Tomoe interrogated, his eyes narrowing to slits. Nanami took a long drink of her tea to buy herself some time to figure out how best to explain without making Tomoe scold her in front of everyone. She swallowed the hot liquid down hard. It made her cough a little, but everyone continued to stare at her waiting for her answer.
"Um, well...you see..." Nanami took a deep breath hoping a distraction would save her from having to answer, but it seemed her luck had run dry. "Azami is my soul reflection. The rabbits forgot to bring me the shoes, so she brought them to my room. I met her while you were waiting for me. She said she didn't want Ookuninushi to make a big deal out of the offer to bond with me, so she wanted to meet me privately. She seems really nice, and I think she and I can be friends." The words tumbled out of Nanami's mouth in a rushed exhale. She sucked in a breath of air when she finished speaking, then took another sip of tea, averting her eyes.
"What?!" Tomoe snapped, clenching his fists. "You had a strange yokai in your room, and you failed to tell me? She could have hurt you!"
"But she didn't! I told you, she's nice, and I don't know why but I know I can trust her. You said you would give this a chance! Are you going to go back on your word already?" Nanami snapped back, making Tomoe's glare falter, and his eyes widened.
"Of course not," he defended with a huff. "Still, you should have told me she visited you. How am I supposed to protect you when you keep things like that from me?"
"Hey, I protect Nanami-chan too!" Mizuki complained, but Nanami and Tomoe ignored him as they stared at each other. The group was awkwardly quiet around them.
"So, your reflection is a kitsune? Does that mean the daiyokai lord is a kitsune as well?" Tanuko interrupted the moment, much to Nanami's relief. She looked down at her teacup quickly.
"Um, I'm not sure. She said her family is unconventional, but then she must have heard Otohiko coming and quickly vanished. I have a feeling she didn't have permission to meet me yet. She did say I'd see what she meant, so we will know soon." She tried to steady her racing heart. Whenever Tomoe spoke of protecting her like that, his words always felt heavy, like they held more meaning than he wanted her to know. It was moments like this where she thought he could possibly return her feelings. Nanami was so lost in her thoughts she didn't hear the crowd grow quiet again.
"It seems our wait may be at an end," Mikage mused, spying Ookuninushi making his way with a procession of rabbits through the break in the trees. The god of wealth made a show of walking to the platform, seeming to savor in the quiet regard of his guests. When he finally reached the center, everyone waited for him to speak as he accepted a glass filled with sake from one of the rabbits.
"Welcome; thank you all for coming on such short notice. Many of you have questions and concerns after learning about the grave situation that faces us, but there will be plenty of time to answer them in the coming days. Tonight is about creating new alliances and making peace with our past. Our ancestors made a severe judgment that resulted in the extermination of an entire yokai class. The lanterns around us represent those daiyokai that perished in the name of love. Thankfully we have been given a chance to start anew. A chance to make alliances with the daiyokai of our sister world and save both of our worlds from a dreadful future. It is my great hope that all those present tonight will stand with me in this effort to mend the wrongs committed by our ancestors and create new bridges of friendship, love, and cooperation. Tomorrow the rest of the gods will join us as the summit officially begins. We have a difficult task ahead of us to convince them to be diplomatic and open-minded to the challenges we will face in the future. What we have believed for centuries will have to be questioned, and we will come out of this changed, but I believe we will be better for it. We owe it to ourselves, to yokai kind, and humankind to do all we can to make this summit successful. Thank you, and now I'd like you all to welcome my guests from our sister world," Ookuninushi nodded to the rabbit standing at his side, holding a large scroll.
Everyone turned towards the bank to see a group of seven walking onto the path. "It is our honor to welcome Lord Sesshomaru, Lord of the West." Sesshomaru led his pack onto the platform. His golden eyes did not leave Ookuninushi despite the hum of whispers, giggles, and gasps.
"Oh my, Ookuninushi said nothing about the daiyokai being gorgeous," Otohiko mused with a dreamy glint in his eye. "Those facial markings, I could just-"
"You could what?" Mikage interrupted, narrowing his eyes in irritation at his partner.
Otohiko shot him a wink, "Please, you were thinking it too. Don't blame me for saying it out loud." Mikage hid his face behind his palm leaf as his cheeks reddened. Nanami tried to ignore their embarrassing conversation as she watched Sesshomaru and Ookuninushi bow to each other. She was unsure what she had expected, but the tall, silver-haired man dressed in a modern suit and a large white pelt of fur wrapping over his right shoulder to the ground was far from it. "Lord Inuyasha, General of the West."
"What kind of yokai are they?" Mizuki questioned out loud.
"I am not sure. Perhaps they are a type of kitsune since Lady Nanami said her reflection is one," Unari answered. Nanami looked between the two men noticing they shared the same eye color. Their faces were similar as well. Even the difference in their ears was not enough for Nanami not to wonder if they were related. She was confused about what their different features meant.
"Yes, I think you are right, Unari. More powerful than Tomoe, for sure. Still, we probably should not be trusting them if they are foxes. Kitsune are selfish, devious creatures who have no place in Izumo," Mizuki said with a haughty tone. Nanami stared at him in disbelief. She knew he never missed a chance to put down Tomoe, but she wondered why he was saying such things about yokai he had never met before.
"You're so stupid, snake. Those are not kitsunes. It's more likely they are either wolves or dogs," Tomoe huffed in annoyance. Unari bristled at Tomoe, insulting Mizuki. The last time this happened was in her lair when they returned her cloak of feathers. Tomoe had called Mizuki an idiot, and Unari had turned him into a fox using her powers and the waters of evolution.
"Call my precious one stupid again, and I will turn you back into a fox. I am still not sure how you were able to revert back to a yokai, but I promise you will not do so again," Unari snarled, getting the attention of the group and, to Nanami's horror, the daiyokai. Mizuki beamed at Unari with haughty pride while Tomoe opened his mouth to retort.
"Stop it, right now. We are at a formal banquet, and you all are acting like children. It's embarrassing. Now behave yourselves, or I will word bind you both to your rooms," Nanami seethed in a whisper as her cheeks burned, knowing she was being stared at. Mizuki began to apologize, but her death glare made him snap his mouth shut while Unari scooted closer to him with an expression of fear. She turned her narrowed eyes at Tomoe, but he was looking away from her. Sighing, she looked back to Ookuninushi and Lord Sesshomaru to find a microscopic smirk gracing the daiyokai lord's lips. Inuyasha's grin was not so subtle. "Lord Shippo, First Son of the West and his daughter, Lady Azami, Champion of the West."
Nanami's eyes went to Azami, and she felt a little self-conscious when she saw Shippo and Azami looking at her with bright smiles. Again, Nanami found herself perplexed by the differences between Azami and her father. Shippo had elfin ears like Sesshomaru, while Azami's were animalistic like Inuyasha's. When the two kitsunes reached Ookuninushi and bowed, Nanami could see that Tomoe was right. Azami's fox ears were bigger and came to a sharper point than the white ears on Inuyasha's head. He also did not have a tail, whereas Shippo's tail was blonde and fluffy. Azami's was black that faded to red before ending in a pure white tip. Nanami beamed as she realized Azami's red hair and fur were the same color as her father's.
As Nanami was trying to figure out what the differences meant, the rabbit announced the remaining members of Sesshomaru's pack, "Lady Shiori, Master Usuri, and Master Ichigo." She was starting to understand why Azami had said her family was unconventional. The last three held no resemblance to anyone else in the pack. Lady Shiori was beautiful with silver hair, violet eyes, and tanned skin. Master Usuri was an exceedingly large male with jet black hair, dark brown inhuman eyes, and human ears. Master Ichigo was a tall, handsome man that looked utterly human. There was nothing special about his dark brown hair and eyes that tipped her off to his species.
After the last three pack members bowed, Ookuninushi turned to Sesshomaru and asked, "Lord Sesshomaru, would you like to address the kami and yokai leaders present tonight?" Sesshomaru inclined his head slightly, his stoic mask firmly in place. Before he could speak, a scoffing laugh rang out, drawing everyone's attention to Inari's temporary familiars. The five kitsune were looking at Sesshomaru's pack with disdain, and several were laughing. "Do you have something to say, Master Haru?" Ookuninushi called to the red kitsune, who sat in the middle of the group while waving Inari back from subduing his familiars.
"As a matter of fact, I do," Haru commented, getting to his feet and approaching Ookuninushi and Sesshomaru. His tone was thick with arrogance, and Nanami could already see Azami tensing as he drew near. "The Kitsune Council will support removing the seal, but we cannot support such pathetic yokai as this pack you bring before us. The gods say that daiyokai were the superior yokai, but their great legacy is in the water around us because they were weak and chose to lay with humans." Several other yokai around the platform laughed, boosting Haru's ego further. Azami looked over to Shiori, who didn't hesitate, already on the move, pulling a red jewel hanging on a necklace from her dress. Their eyes connected, exchanging the slightest of nods. "And from our sister world comes this weak group of outcasts. The only half-decent looking one among them is that pretty little vixen." He winked at Azami, and Nanami swore she heard her growl, but the noise disappeared as Shippo pulled his daughter closer to his side, shifting them to be between Haru and Mikage's group. "If you wish to create an alliance, I am looking for a new toy. Give me that female, and maybe we can work out a deal." Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at the kitsune, and several things happened within seconds.
When Shiori reached Nanami's side, she snapped the necklace chain and handed the jewel to her. "Lady Nanami, please hold on to this and do not let it go until I tell you to," Shiori said, placing it in her hand and focusing her power into it. Nanami was so surprised; she didn't resist holding onto it tightly. Shiori wrapped her arms around her, and Momaru, unsure of what was happening, mimicked the bat hanyo. Tomoe moved quickly to take the jewel and push Shiori away, but he found that his mistress was sealed behind a strong barrier. Before he could yell at her, a crushing amount of youki exploded over the lake, knocking the air from his lungs and pinning him to the spot. He was able to suck in a breath and move enough to glance over to see yokai and kami alike were immobilized. Only a few were able to still move under the weight of the aura. The only ones to move freely were Sesshomaru's pack and Nanami, safely behind the barrier. Haru was pushed to his hands and knees, and he struggled to remain conscious as the brunt of the blast was directed at him. The platform was pushed down into the water enough that when the youki vanished a second later, it bobbed up in the water and would have flooded upon descent if not for Shippo. Pushing his hand down towards the ground, a wave of teal light seeped into the wood and held the platform above the water until it calmed before lowering it gently. While Shippo was keeping everyone dry, Sesshomaru took a deep breath. His blood-red eyes shifted back to gold, and he waited for Haru to stand.
"Our mission here is one of peace but do not make the mistake of thinking that I will not defend what is mine. As alpha, I will not hesitate to ensure the safety of my pack, and my pack will not hesitate to protect each other. We restrained our youki out of respect, but if you wish to experience the legacy of the daiyokai, then this Sesshomaru shall allow a demonstration. You have experienced a sample of my power, but let's see how you feel about a hanyo's power since you believe them weak. Inuyasha." Sesshomaru said coolly before nodding to him. He released his youki in a tightly controlled fashion, but still, his aura was oppressive and overwhelming to all, save for a few. Tomoe and Akura-ou could move freely now, but neither dared approach Shiori while she had Nanami. Sesshomaru stalked closer to Haru as he continued speaking. "Four of my pack present tonight are hanyo. My brother Inuyasha, my granddaughter Azami, my pack son Usuri, and my pack daughter Shiori." When Sesshomaru was right in front of Haru, he lowered his voice until only he, Ookuninushi, Haru, and any yokai with keen hearing could catch. "Master Haru, my youki brought you to your knees, but you still struggle to remain standing under the weight of my brother's, and that is only because he is being polite. Can you imagine what it would feel like if I ordered them all unleashed? Can you imagine what it would feel like if I ordered my full-blood son to join them? Would you like to see?" Haru shook his head quickly. "Perhaps you are not a complete idiot after all," Sesshomaru commented dryly before returning his voice to his usual volume and adding, "now I believe you owe my granddaughter an apology."
Haru's eyes widened as his complexion drained of color, but he nodded reluctantly. Bowing low to Azami, he gritted out an apology, "Lady Azami, please forgive my crass behavior. A female of your lineage should be treated with more respect than I showed you. My apologies." Azami narrowed her eyes at Haru, finding his apology insincere and dishonest, but the look in Sesshomaru's eyes told her to be diplomatic.
"I acce-," Azami began to say, but the sound of boisterous deep laughter cut her off. All eyes turned to Master Sansho, who sat holding a cup of sake that sloshed as he laughed.
"Do not accept a hollow apology from one not fit to look upon your feet, Lady Azami. Haru, you pathetic fool. Believing you could brazenly ask for a female more powerful than yourself. And not even to mate. Does your idiocy know no bounds?" Master Sansho tried to stand, but the blanket made it difficult for him by catching on his kimono. Kurama and Jiro stood and allowed him to use them to pull himself upright. "Good boys," he commented with a deep chuckle. Then smacking his moist lips, he limped forward. Those still sitting dashed to move teacups, legs, skirts, plates, and hands out of his way.
He paused to look at Shiori closely, then hummed, "Excellent barrier, quite fantastic. I am grateful you kept our lovely human kami safe. Don't tell Ookuninushi or the windbag, but she's my favorite. I always did find the bat daiyokai fascinating. They made the strongest barriers I had ever seen. Back when I could still see, of course." She stared at him dumbfounded as he ambled up to Shippo and Azami, then gave them a lengthy visual examination punctuated by hums and chuckling. "My physical eyes have long since failed me, but I do not need them to see the lineage of the great foxes have returned to our lands." He turned to Shippo, and his mouth pulled up in a grin. "Still so very young, and yet already you possess five tails. Impressive. Only the white wild fox, Tomoe, can claim such power on our world." Tomoe groaned, covering one eye with his hand while Shippo narrowed his eyes at the salamander for his impolite manners. It was considered rude to boast of one's tails or to have another reveal the knowledge without permission. "And you breed impressively as well. Your daughter follows in your footsteps. Already she is a force to be reckoned with, and she still has much to learn." Master Sansho nodded absently as he continued on his way, slowly ambling to each pack member, mumbling and humming his approval.
Master Sansho finally approached Sesshomaru, but he refrained from his clinical examination of the inu lord. "Lord Sesshomaru, it has been quite some time since I have seen a living daiyokai, so forgive me for satisfying my curiosity. My fellow yokai probably believe I was drawn to your hanyo, but yokai on this world are not as pure-blooded as we like to boast. We create half breeds even today," he said as he exaggeratedly winked his beady clouded eye at what Azami assumed the salamander thought was Sesshomaru's direction. Instead, it ended up being directed towards Mikage's group, making Himemiko pale. "No, no. I was most curious about the mixture of your pack. In all my years, and there are quite a lot of them - I lost track of them years ago. Every time I try to figure it out when I think I'm close, another hundred years have passed. I'm not getting any younger, and honestly, I'm not even sure I can die at this point," he said, chuckling at his joke. His laughter ebbed until he stood smacking his lips absently, then abruptly started speaking again, "Yes, in all my years, I have never seen such a blending of species." As he named them off, he gestured towards them, "Inu, kitsune, bat, bear, and human. Each one powerful enough to stand alone, but together..." he chuckled knowingly. "We yokai are not known for our empathy. We reject orphans of our own kind, don't we, Haru." Haru crossed his arms over his chest defensively as Master Sansho continued. "We value strength and power. To most, an orphan is weak. If any want an example of how wrong that belief is, just look to the oni and the wild fox brothers sitting over there. Both orphans, both rejected by their own, both so powerful that had the gods not intervened, this would be a very different meeting." Akura-ou and Tomoe exchanged a glance, envisioning how that meeting would have gone, then they smiled, knowing they would never have to find out. "Tell me, Lord Sesshomaru, how did you come to call a kitsune son?"
Sesshomaru's expression remained impassive as he answered, "I call him son as he is the adopted kit of my mate and the mate of my adopted daughter." Master Sansho's jaw dropped, then he grinned.
"Both human?" Sesshomaru nodded, and Master Sansho laughed happily. "I'll be damned. Is the rest of your pack as diverse as what I see here?"
Shippo barked a laugh getting a stern glance from Sesshomaru, which he completely ignored, "You think this is diverse? Name a species, and we call one family. At this point, we are less of a pack and more of a zoo." Master Sansho beamed at Shippo like a child in a candy store, then turning his gaze back to Sesshomaru, he began to awkwardly lean forward in an attempt to give a low bow of respect. His large head and stiff muscles put him off balance making him tilt too far forward. Sesshomaru reached out and gently caught the ancient yokai by the arms pushing him back upright. When Master Sansho was stable, Sesshomaru stepped back, and to the shock of the yokai and kami guests, he bowed low. Master Sansho's mouth opened as he let out a hearty laugh. When Sesshomaru rose, Azami recognized the mischievous glint in his warm golden eyes.
Ookuninushi took that moment as his chance to redirect the banquet back on track. "Let's drink!" He said, raising his cup and everyone relaxed as the rabbits began to serve more sake.
"Master Sansho, come drink with me," Sesshomaru said, gesturing towards the empty blanket that had been reserved for Ookuninushi's party. Master Sansho grinned at Ookuninushi, knowing he had told Sesshomaru all about him long before the inu lord set foot on their world.
Turning back to Mikage's group Master Sansho called out, "Oni! Bring me my cushion and my sake cup. I go to drink with lords." Akura-ou's eyebrow rose indignantly, and he turned to Mikage to find the god staring at him expectantly. The oni grumbled curses under his breath as he stood up and roughly snatched Master Sansho's things from the ground. His curses turned to soft growling as he made his way over to the salamander, stopping briefly to glare at Shiori still inside her barrier with Nanami.
"Um, thank you for protecting me, but I think you can let this barrier down now," Nanami said, motioning to the iridescent sphere around them. Shiori didn't answer, giving her a soft smile. "You know I could have created a barrier myself with Momaru if you had just told me what was going on."
"My apologies, Lady Nanami, but your barrier would not have been strong enough to withstand a surge of youki from Lord Sesshomaru. If what I was told is correct, it protects against evil, and while he's not exactly a saint, I wouldn't consider him evil," Shiori replied in a soft feminine voice. "But I do find your barrier charm very adorable. Hello, little one," she cooed at Momaru, making the monkey chirp and turn bright red.
"Release Nanami this instant, bat. You have no right barging over here and-" Tomoe began to scold Shiori, but the look Nanami gave him made his words catch in his throat, his ears pulled back tightly to his head. He resigned to scowl at her instead.
"Master Tomoe, please forgive us if you believe we overstepped," Azami said, joining the group and nodding to Shiori, who immediately dropped her barrier. Nanami handed the jewel back. Shiori bowed then went to Azami's side. "This is hardly the first time my grandfather's temper has slipped when one of his pack is insulted or threatened. We knew immediately what was about to happen and acted to protect Lady Nanami. My grandfather's youki would not have been good for her in her current state."
"Maybe he should learn some control," Akura-ou commented, coming up behind Azami. He intended to startle her, but instead, she turned to look at him over her shoulder.
"My grandfather is the image of control. Can you not forgive an alpha for protecting what is precious to him?" The question stunned Akura-ou as he stared at her. Tomoe coughed to get his brother's attention, and Akura-ou looked at him briefly then huffed at Azami.
"He nearly sank us and pinned everyone under a crushing weight because a hot-headed fox mouthed off. I call that overreacting," he growled, resisting the urge to bump into her shoulder as he passed, not wanting a repeat performance from the daiyokai lord.
"I would call it restraint. Haru's alive." Tomoe and Akura-ou had a feeling that Sesshomaru was capable of more than boasting about his power, but the verbal confirmation sent a shiver down their spines. They knew years ago they would have tried to take on the daiyokai lord and their maturity told them that would have been an idiotic idea. Nanami was having difficulty with Azami's comment.
"Do-does Lord Sesshomaru kill people?" She asked hesitantly. Then without thinking, she added, "Do you kill people?" Azami and Shiori exchanged a look as their bodies tensed.
Azami let out a long sigh before focusing her orange eyes on Nanami, deciding the truth was better than finding out later. "In the past, yes." Nanami gasped, looking at her soul reflection in a completely different way. "The world we live in can be a cruel place. Lady Nanami, I am 350 years old, and I've fought alongside my pack since the day I could pick up a naginata. I was born during a time when yokai and humans lived side by side, and the results were rarely peaceful." Seeing Nanami's horrified expression made Azami's eyes sting. Shiori jumped in to try to help Nanami understand.
"Even other yokai posed a threat as hanyos were once hunted as a delicacy." This earned a gasp from the whole group.
"They ate hanyos?" Nanami turned green at the thought.
"Yes. That's how I came to be part of Lord Sesshomaru's pack. I used my barrier powers to create a haven for hanyos, but it was not perfect. We sometimes went hungry from lack of food when yokai would camp outside my barrier. Lord Sesshomaru found us during a particularly harsh winter. He fought off the yokai, who were waiting for us to get desperate enough for food to leave. He offered us a chance to live freely. There were twenty of us, and he adopted us all. That was a hundred years before Azami was born, but even in her childhood, other yokai and humans took every chance they could get to try to destroy the world Lord Sesshomaru was building. It was survival. Thankfully those days are over, and we live in peace now." Shiori tugged a strand of Azami's hair, trying to get her pack niece to smile again. Azami's eyes remained cautious and sullen.
"But you are a champion, so you still fight. How do you explain violence in a time of peace," Jiro accused before taking a sip of sake.
"We are still yokai. Competition in the form of battle is natural for us, but once my grandfather gained enough power in the Yokai Council, he was able to outlaw killing in sanctioned tournaments. Tournaments help the different yokai kingdoms resolve conflict without going to war, and they also serve as a way to create connections between our sparse communities. We don't have an 'Over Yonder' to disappear into. We exist solely in the human world. Many of us, including myself, live and work among humans. So, when a tournament is held, it is a way for us to come together." Azami stated softly. Nanami took in the way that Azami defended the tournaments of her world. There was a lot about their world she did not know or understand, and it made her feel ashamed for judging her so quickly. The idea of killing anyone didn't sit well with her, but she had forgiven Tomoe's and Akura-ou's past, and they had not killed for survival.
"I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions. I have a lot to learn about you and your world. Do you want to sit down?" Nanami motioned to the empty cushion between Kurama and Akura-ou. Shiori gave Azami a push before bowing quickly and leaving. Hesitantly the hanyo sat between the two males, tucking her skirt around her legs and wrapping her tail over her lap.
"Lady Azami, would you like some sake or tea?" Mikage offered.
"Tea, please." Sake would have helped calm her nerves, but she knew by the end of the night, she would be assisting Shippo and Inuyasha drunkenly find their way back to their suite. Mikage didn't move; instead, he gave Akura-ou another expectant expression. Akura-ou glared back, moving to get Azami's tea, but Tomoe beat him to it.
"Lady Azami is Nanami's guest, and as Nanami's familiar, it is my duty to serve her," Tomoe said as he poured the tea while ignoring the cold stare he got from Mizuki and Nanami's slack-jawed expression. Not looking up from his work, he added, "I would thank you for protecting my lady and mistress, but I have a feeling that it is unnecessary." The smile he gave Azami as he handed her the teacup spoke all the words he didn't. It had taken him a moment to understand, but he was sure that Azami had already begun to accept Nanami as pack. Who better to help protect his love than beings more formidable than even him? Still, he could not help feeling possessive and defensive over them claiming Nanami. He was not stupid. He wanted her to live, and being accepted as family would help convince her to choose to bond with Azami, but there was a chance they could take Nanami from him. His mind shouted too many possibilities to ignore. So, for now, he would put himself between Nanami and Azami. He would be present at all their meetings and ensure his place at his lady's side. 'As they say, keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. Therefore Azami, you and I shall become good friends,' he thought, taking his seat next to Nanami as Kurama started a conversation with their guest. It would also permit him to think of a future where he and Nanami held no secrets from each other. He would keep his thoughts to himself for now. The tiny seed of hope that had planted itself in his heart was still too fragile to share with anyone.
*When I say Azami is tall in this chapter I am going by the socially recognized standard for a tall woman which is about 5'7". This is not my personal definition of tall, but I'm 6' so I'm a little biased ;) If you are tall like me and you want to imagine her as being taller go for it. I left it open-ended just for that reason. She is a hanyo after all.
*There is more to Master Sansho and Sesshomaru knows what he's doing. It may be out of character for him but he has learned to play politics as well as he fights.
*Chapter 4 may not come out for a while. I'm in a research course and will be focusing on writing my research paper. I also have a side story that tells some of the back story for Lord Sesshomaru and the West coming. It's very dark but I never have sad endings so keep an eye out for that one. If you have any side stories you'd like to see based on Down the Rabbit Hole please let me know and I'll see what I can do.
Thank you for reading!