Miyu
By
Jeslyn Nighthawk
A/N: My most profound gratitude goes to profiler120 who helped me to find a name. This chapter might not have happened without her.
Review Responses: S.D. Nymm- You still don't count as a reviewer no matter what name you use. You are still my beta-reader.
Disclaimer: Do I really have to bother with this? I mean is any one actually going to sue me if I don't? Fine. I don't own it. *pouts* Are you happy?
Part 2: Chapter 2
Despite her feeling of foreboding at being called home early, Miyu could not help the feeling of relief she felt as she rode into the gates of the Western Palace. She had lived here now nearly twenty years. Every detail of the elaborate walls, every leaf of the sumptuous gardens, every color, scent, familiar sound, was engraved in her memory, and her heart.
She could hardly remember the land of her birth. The shades of blue that made up the Northern Palace had changed to the warm reds and gold of the Western. The cool, cruel eyes of her father's wife had long been obscured by the loving and motherly warmth of those of Lady Sakura. The stern face and regretful eyes of her father were now superceded by the laughing eyes of Lord Inutaisho. Somewhere along the way, she did not know when, this had become home in her heart. Protecting this home had become her goal; she had lost all desire to return to the North as heir. Her loyalty was centered unfailingly on her uncle.
Not only that, she thought as she looked over her shoulder at the smiling faces of he Ospreys, she herself held the loyalty of the most feared and respected unit in the Western Lands. With the Ospreys at her back, she had the ability to protect that which she loved. She was more fortunate than most.
When they were all in the courtyard, Miyu turned to face her men, a smile on her face, "You completed your last mission to perfection. It has been nearly six months since we have been home. Tonight is yours. Celebrate a job well done. Maybe tomorrow I will have news that you will be able to stay long enough to visit your families. Until then, I will leave orders for the sake to be delivered to the barracks. Enjoy!" Miyu turned away with Himura and Takeda flanking her.
As soon as she was out of sight of her men, her smile faded and her shoulders hunched once again. The feeling of foreboding had returned. What would make her Uncle call the Ospreys home on such short notice? She looked to her friends and comrades of the past decade. She knew they would see the question written on her face. Takeda shrugged, and looked away, while Himura merely shook his head. Neither knew, then, or if they did, they weren't telling. At the entrance to the Royal Apartments, Miyu dismissed her captains with a slight nod and wave of her hand before entering.
Outside Inutaisho's study, she was stopped by a guard, obviously new. He announced her to their lord, and she was granted entrance. He was granted a month long stint of midnight duty for detaining her.
"Don't you think that was a little harsh?" Miyu asked as she sat down across from her uncle, an amused smile on her face, "He has never seen me before-how could he know who I was?"
"All of my guards are given a brief list of those never to be denied admittance to my presence. That list includes a rather detailed description. There is no excuse for him. Perhaps this will make him take that duty more seriously." Despite his stern words, there was a slight twinkle in his eye as he spoke of it. Apparently this was not an uncommon occurrence. Maybe I should have a go at his guards, she thought, they would never have that particular problem again.
Inutaisho apparently saw her thoughts in her face for he said, "Don't even think about it. I do not want or need Ospreys as guards. I am perfectly able to take care of myself."
That brought her back to reality. "Speaking of Ospreys, why have you chosen to call us back so suddenly?"
***
Miyu sat before her uncle, her eyes wide and unseeing. She had already determined she had no more desire to be the Heir of the Northern Lands. Truthfully the only thing linked to that aspiration that remained was her desire to be recognized as legitimate. Still, it stung that her father had chosen an heir who was not even blood kin.
Kaemon, son of Lord Inutaisho's younger brother. I don't think I've met him. Why had her father chosen an heir related only by marriage, and distantly at that? Politics, she was sure, but what would bring the great inu-youkai to such a point? No matter how hard she analyzed it though, she had no answers, not with her limited knowledge of the situation. If Inutaisho knew, he obviously had no plans of informing her.
Miyu took a deep calming breath, and looked her uncle in the eye, "I cannot say that I am not hurt by my father's decision, but I also cannot say that I have had any desire for Kaemon's new position for years now. The only disappointment I feel is that my father did not see me as being worthy of legitimacy, even after all this time." Her voice was hushed, speaking of unshed tears.
"As to that," Lord Inutaisho looked hesitant, as if unsure of how his words would be taken, "If you do not object, Lady Sakura and I would adopt you. It would offer you legitimacy, and I will not deny that we have long since come to think of you as our own. We were planning on broaching the subject upon your return, even before we received this news."
Miyu was startled to say the least. She could not deny, however, the feeling of joy welling up inside her. Inutaisho and Sakura were more her parents than anything else, and they were willing to offer her the one thing she needed most: legitimacy.
Miyu felt tears streaming down her face and a grin wash over her as she threw her self at her uncle-soon to be father- and hugged him. "Thank you," she whispered against his hair, "Thank you."
***
The arrangements were made, and the announcement feast set for one week's time. Sesshoumaru was thrilled to say the least, but promised to keep the secret. Himura and Takeda were ordered to inform the men that they had one month to visit family. Both of them would be staying for the ceremonies. When next she faced her men, it would be as Lady Miyu of the Western Lands.
TBC
A/N: Again thanks to profiler120. And to all those who take the time to read this. Please review or I will be forced to withhold the next chapter. That's right at least one review or I don't update. So please review, I'm desperate.
Ja ne
Jeslyn