Disclaimer: Inuyasha characters belong to
Rumiko Takahashi. Other characters are property of Kidoairaku.
Rating: PG-13: for possible language, adult situations, and just in case
Summary: [Sess/Kag] An elf, captured from overseas, was abused in all ways imaginable. She finds it, now, too hard to bear. She will live on through Kagome…but what problems will it pose to the young girl?
Genre: Romance/Drama
A/N: Urg! I've returned! ^_^ This story, contrary to popular belief, is NOT dead; LOL, far from it. Worry not; I will [try to] finish everything I start. Thus, every story WILL be finished one way or another. Believe me, I'll *tell* you if I plan on leaving a story...'dead.' Another thing: this chapter...or rather, segment, will be split up into two or three sections: The Life of Royalty II and III, etc. It'll basically be a transition in Sesshou's life from 'warm' to 'cold,' so to speak. Kay, I'll let you all read now! ^_^ Thank you for the reviews ALWAYS! I read *every* single one! ^_^
Review Responses:
Will they still keep in contact with each other, or will they forget about each other until they meet ten years later?
You'll have to find out, LOL...
Will Inuyasha be in the story?
So far, I haven't planned it for him to be, but it may change with the passing of inspiration...so, in a word, or two; probably not.
Will Sesshoumaru become detach from the world until he meets Kagome again?
Again, you'll have to find out...
Will the other characters be in the story?
As in, Sango, Miroku, Shippou; no, I don't think so; probably not.
Will Kagome ever meet the queen again?
Hm, kinda sorta. Wait and see...
How old are they?
Um, I believe I mentioned specifics earlier on...and maybe more in this chapter, but I believe Kagome is seven, now eight, and Sesshou should be around the same age but a little older...maybe two years older.
Who was the lady that borrowed Kagome's body?
An elf: Queen Erianthe.
Was she [Erianthe] related to Sess?
No, not even remotely.
Merged Souls
Chapter Four: The Life of Royalty
May 2003
"Sesshoumaru-sama!"
The toad moved in a flurrying twirl about a clearing. Where was his master? Where had his beloved young master gone? Jaken cursed himself for his incompetence. This must have been one of a million times he had lost track of his charge. His toady head shook in dismay. When would the young master learn? This was not the way royalty went about acting. If he did not straighten up soon, he would have to deal with lord Inutaisho, and that would certainly not be pretty. The servant paused to catch his breath, for yelling required much air, leaning heavily on his wooden staff.
"Jaken!"
He jumped. Oh, praise the gods above! He had found his beloved Sesshoumaru-sama! Taking a breath, Jaken straightened his crumpled posture to take a bow. He received a whap to the head by fallen tree limb.
"Awk! Sesshoumaru-sama! I have found you!"
Another strike with the stick. "You are mistaken, Jaken. I have found you."
"Gawk! Forgive this lowly Jaken, master! Sesshoumaru-sama should not run off without Jaken's knowing!" He braced himself for the rebuke.
"Jaken," the young prince's voice was low and dangerous. "Do not assume to scold me." The inu-youkai's chin lifted fractionally. "It is by your flaw that you did not see me leave." The tree limb was tossed nonchalantly into the retainer's body. His lips curved into a satisfied smirk while Jaken crashed to the ground.
As suddenly as he appeared, Sesshoumaru melded once more into the tree branches, leaving a flustered Jaken in the dust. He did not have time for this retainer's nonsensical prattle, much less for his unwanted reprimands. After all, who was he, Jaken, to scold one so high as Sesshoumaru, Prince of the Western Lands? No one, that's who he was. As his feet carried him effortlessly from branch to branch, Sesshoumaru reflected on the young girl he had met. Something about her—well, actually, many things about her—struck him as curious. For example, her eyes were…what were they? Her irises were of a…deep emerald hue. It was extremely unnatural here; he had only seen such a shade in the eyes of kitsune and other exotic youkai. Needless to say, it startled him that a girl…a, seemingly, human girl possessed such a special trait.
Hmm, was she even human? No human had green eyes. Moreover...no human that he'd ever heard of, even in fairy tales, had pointed ears. He mused, they looked much like his own. And her hair…although not as lustrous as his own, held some kind of unique sheen, as if the sunlight itself sprang from the very depths. Kagome, as she deemed she was, looked no more than eight years old and yet, seemed to demonstrate a sense of maturity well above the rest of her class. Was she some kind of human-youkai mutation? A hanyou, perhaps? No, he threw down the theory in an instant. None of her scent suggested any demon heritage, whatsoever. Sesshoumaru sighed. This was pointless. Perhaps, he would make her as a friend, and he would find out more about her. It was a so simple a solution; nothing could go wrong with it.
~*~*~*~*~
He was dressed elegantly in black and silver clothes. The shoulder-length hair was brushed to perfection, face schooled to express congeniality. His hands fell idly by his sides as he stood motionless beside his mother. A frown marred her features as she watched her mate. So perfect was she in her splendor, no one took notice of her dissatisfied expression. They saw only the flawlessness of the Lady and Lord of the Western Lands with their son, Prince and future Lord. Inutaisho conversed amiably with another Lady, a human lady. Sesshoumaru watched furtively, catching the subtle signs of attraction in each of their gestures. Doubtless, his mother could see them as well, which must have been upsetting her. Although the mating of Toshira, his mother, and Inutaisho, his father, had not been out of a love of any sort, it was a strong and binding alliance; in other words, it was arranged for power. Neither of them loved one another; love did not exist among the aristocracy of youkai. However, there was a large measure of respect between them, and it sufficed, for the time being, to keep them loyal. However, with the elders dead and buried, there really was no one to uphold their binding promises; they could separate without so much as lifting a finger. Sometime, though, Sesshoumaru knew his mother had fallen in love with the Western Lord. Somehow, the simple respect had swelled and bloomed into an affability, and then, eventually, to this strange emotion dubbed "love." Which was why, he presumed, his mother looked jealous as hell, ready to slap the human queen to her knees should she make so much as a smile toward her mate. Or, perhaps, she expressed longing, envy, sadness, something along those lines. Whatever it was, it was making her tense. Sesshoumaru fervently wished for this meeting of royalties to end soon; he did not like the scent of anxiety; it was too strong for his tastes.
"Toshira-san," a lady called.
His mother turned, flashing a polite smile at her caller. They became engrossed in an uninteresting conversation, appropriately distracting the Lady from her mate and his friend. Sesshoumaru, having nothing else to do, slipped out of the great hall unnoticed and into the garden. Watching the wildlife was more entertaining than this.
~*~*~*~*~
Kagome huffed. There was absolutely nothing to do. Mother and father had gone off to the market some time ago, and, still not having returned, left Kagome alone in the hut with nothing to amuse her childish wits. Frequent were the little girl's visits to the flap of the hut, expectantly watching for any sign of her parents. There were none, though, so she settled for sitting quietly before the fire. Her green eyes watched with juvenile curiosity as the flames crackled and sparked, fingering the air. Another impatient glance to the window settled her boredom. She would go out! Briefly scratching a message on the dirt floor, Kagome shot out the flap and into the forest, her most worthy friend.
Once again, she returned to that amiable companion, the silver oak tree that offered her its umbrage and supportive trunk. Kagome settled herself there for a while, watching awestruck as the stars flitted in and out of the misty clouds. Occasionally, she would glance to the moon, wondering if her parents had returned yet. Perhaps they had stopped to visit a friend or two? It was possible, most definitely, so Kagome did not worry; a child shouldn't have to, after all. Her interest was soon lost stargazing, though. As finely tuned to nature as she had become, she was still a child, and her interest could not be held so long by any one source. She joyfully closed her eyes and listened for curious sounds she could investigate. No murmurings came to her, but against her skin, she felt the winds' soft caresses telling of a near garden, filled with so many flowers and embellishments of nature. Kagome, intrigued by these touches, rose and followed the soft breezes that whispered to her the location of this natural shrine.
~*~*~*~*~
He inhaled deeply. Both his silver and black haori were shed, leaving the simple ebon kimono. The jackets were thrown over a tree branch as he made his way towards the garden's center. It was there that his favorite perch sat, a massive beech, abnormally large. Once he had arranged himself comfortably within its arms, Sesshoumaru was surprised to smell someone coming towards him at an…alarmingly slow pace. A deep breath told him it was the girl from the afternoon, Kagome. What was she doing here? How had she found her way all the way to the heart of the Western Lands? The point where he had met her had to be at least five miles from his home! A smirk twisted his lips. What an amusing little girl…
Kagome turned her head from side to side, admiring all the foliage in this part of the lands. There wasn't nearly as much vegetation in her home village, and it delighted her that this many plants existed! She stopped abruptly when the whispering winds stopped. Raising her head in curiosity, she found a wall towering above her. The barrier was of a deep gray stone, carved block by block to perfection. She looked on in awe. Nothing would deter her from her destination, however, so she pondered a way to overcome this particular obstacle. Looking round for some answer, the little girl spotted a gnarled oak whose branches spilled over the top of the wall. That would do. Eagerly, she clambered up the trunk and protruding branches, which groaned and creaked under her light weight.
Sesshoumaru watched in amusement as she endeavored to conquer the tree. It was obvious that she had never done such a thing before, her movements timid and clumsy, but, somehow, she was mastering the task with relative ease. He wondered briefly if it had anything to do with her youkai-likeness. Alighting from his perch, he scaled the wall in a single leap and waited for his new friend to come across.
Cautiously, she inched her way towards the end of the limb, where she would be able to crawl onto the ledge of the wall. Her eyes were set determinedly on the other side, reminding herself not to look down. The branch cracked, and she squeaked, squeezing her eyes shut in fear. It was beginning to snap! Murmuring a quick and lousy prayer, Kagome made a half-leap, half-crawl to the end of the branch and flung herself at the ledge. As she fell onto the wall, the branch on which she had crawled snapped and crashed conspicuously to the ground. Kagome sighed in relief, standing precariously and brushing off her dirtied kimono. When her pointed ears caught a soft chuckle, she twirled around, nearly losing her balance. Her eyes widened in surprise. It was that boy in the woods! Sesshoumaru! Kagome giggled and bowed shallowly.
"What are you doing here, Sesshoumaru?" she questioned curiously.
"I could ask the same of you, Kagome." He took a step towards her and offered his hand.
Kagome looked at it hesitantly for a moment and then, deciding it was safe, placed her hand in his. They hopped to the ground lightly and safely, not stirring a single leaf. "How did you find this place?" Sesshoumaru asked. The young demon sauntered over to a stone bench and sat down, offering Kagome the other seat, which she took without pause.
"It felt nice." She stared up at the stars.
Sesshoumaru quirked an eyebrow. It felt nice? "What do you mean?"
"Oh, it's just…the wind felt nice. It took me here."
"Really…"
Kagome turned to him. He sounded somewhat skeptical. "Really! It did! I followed the wind." He nodded dismissively and turned his gaze to the stars as well. Kagome turned the question on him.
"I live here."
"Oh." She paused. "Why?"
"I'm the Prince of the Western Lands." He felt a bit of pride at the statement, straightening up slightly.
"Wow!" she exclaimed, not knowing what else to say. She was sitting next to a prince! Sesshoumaru nodded.
Once again, Kagome glanced to the moon. Closing her eyes, she allowed the wind to embrace her. They beckoned her to return. "I have to go," she murmured. The prince inclined his head and said a nonchalant farewell. Wandering back towards the wall by herself, Kagome paused in contemplation. The memories of the afternoon returned to her. Maybe… Her small hand was placed against the stone wall. A moment later, she was on the other side, trekking home.
A/N: kk, I promised a plug for cappie, poor girl, so here it is. Anyone who hasn't read her new story: "Shadows Against A Shoji Screen", should get to it! ^_^ It doesn't seem to be a Sess/Kag at first; more Inu/Kag than anything--but it's very minimal, I think. In any case, it's very well-written like ALL of her stories, and a very enjoyable read. All her trademark stuff is there: drama, suspense, a hint of romance and all; you won't be disappointed. And...I think I've heard something about more Sesshoumaru later on...well, I can't say more. It would ruin the story! Anyways, please read it! Dude, try reviewing, too! I don't care if you don't review for this story (as happy as it would make me), just review for other peoples'. *sniffle* Nothing worse than a good story with not enough credit.
-kidoairaku
Rating: PG-13: for possible language, adult situations, and just in case
Summary: [Sess/Kag] An elf, captured from overseas, was abused in all ways imaginable. She finds it, now, too hard to bear. She will live on through Kagome…but what problems will it pose to the young girl?
Genre: Romance/Drama
A/N: Urg! I've returned! ^_^ This story, contrary to popular belief, is NOT dead; LOL, far from it. Worry not; I will [try to] finish everything I start. Thus, every story WILL be finished one way or another. Believe me, I'll *tell* you if I plan on leaving a story...'dead.' Another thing: this chapter...or rather, segment, will be split up into two or three sections: The Life of Royalty II and III, etc. It'll basically be a transition in Sesshou's life from 'warm' to 'cold,' so to speak. Kay, I'll let you all read now! ^_^ Thank you for the reviews ALWAYS! I read *every* single one! ^_^
Review Responses:
Will they still keep in contact with each other, or will they forget about each other until they meet ten years later?
You'll have to find out, LOL...
Will Inuyasha be in the story?
So far, I haven't planned it for him to be, but it may change with the passing of inspiration...so, in a word, or two; probably not.
Will Sesshoumaru become detach from the world until he meets Kagome again?
Again, you'll have to find out...
Will the other characters be in the story?
As in, Sango, Miroku, Shippou; no, I don't think so; probably not.
Will Kagome ever meet the queen again?
Hm, kinda sorta. Wait and see...
How old are they?
Um, I believe I mentioned specifics earlier on...and maybe more in this chapter, but I believe Kagome is seven, now eight, and Sesshou should be around the same age but a little older...maybe two years older.
Who was the lady that borrowed Kagome's body?
An elf: Queen Erianthe.
Was she [Erianthe] related to Sess?
No, not even remotely.
Merged Souls
Chapter Four: The Life of Royalty
May 2003
"Sesshoumaru-sama!"
The toad moved in a flurrying twirl about a clearing. Where was his master? Where had his beloved young master gone? Jaken cursed himself for his incompetence. This must have been one of a million times he had lost track of his charge. His toady head shook in dismay. When would the young master learn? This was not the way royalty went about acting. If he did not straighten up soon, he would have to deal with lord Inutaisho, and that would certainly not be pretty. The servant paused to catch his breath, for yelling required much air, leaning heavily on his wooden staff.
"Jaken!"
He jumped. Oh, praise the gods above! He had found his beloved Sesshoumaru-sama! Taking a breath, Jaken straightened his crumpled posture to take a bow. He received a whap to the head by fallen tree limb.
"Awk! Sesshoumaru-sama! I have found you!"
Another strike with the stick. "You are mistaken, Jaken. I have found you."
"Gawk! Forgive this lowly Jaken, master! Sesshoumaru-sama should not run off without Jaken's knowing!" He braced himself for the rebuke.
"Jaken," the young prince's voice was low and dangerous. "Do not assume to scold me." The inu-youkai's chin lifted fractionally. "It is by your flaw that you did not see me leave." The tree limb was tossed nonchalantly into the retainer's body. His lips curved into a satisfied smirk while Jaken crashed to the ground.
As suddenly as he appeared, Sesshoumaru melded once more into the tree branches, leaving a flustered Jaken in the dust. He did not have time for this retainer's nonsensical prattle, much less for his unwanted reprimands. After all, who was he, Jaken, to scold one so high as Sesshoumaru, Prince of the Western Lands? No one, that's who he was. As his feet carried him effortlessly from branch to branch, Sesshoumaru reflected on the young girl he had met. Something about her—well, actually, many things about her—struck him as curious. For example, her eyes were…what were they? Her irises were of a…deep emerald hue. It was extremely unnatural here; he had only seen such a shade in the eyes of kitsune and other exotic youkai. Needless to say, it startled him that a girl…a, seemingly, human girl possessed such a special trait.
Hmm, was she even human? No human had green eyes. Moreover...no human that he'd ever heard of, even in fairy tales, had pointed ears. He mused, they looked much like his own. And her hair…although not as lustrous as his own, held some kind of unique sheen, as if the sunlight itself sprang from the very depths. Kagome, as she deemed she was, looked no more than eight years old and yet, seemed to demonstrate a sense of maturity well above the rest of her class. Was she some kind of human-youkai mutation? A hanyou, perhaps? No, he threw down the theory in an instant. None of her scent suggested any demon heritage, whatsoever. Sesshoumaru sighed. This was pointless. Perhaps, he would make her as a friend, and he would find out more about her. It was a so simple a solution; nothing could go wrong with it.
~*~*~*~*~
He was dressed elegantly in black and silver clothes. The shoulder-length hair was brushed to perfection, face schooled to express congeniality. His hands fell idly by his sides as he stood motionless beside his mother. A frown marred her features as she watched her mate. So perfect was she in her splendor, no one took notice of her dissatisfied expression. They saw only the flawlessness of the Lady and Lord of the Western Lands with their son, Prince and future Lord. Inutaisho conversed amiably with another Lady, a human lady. Sesshoumaru watched furtively, catching the subtle signs of attraction in each of their gestures. Doubtless, his mother could see them as well, which must have been upsetting her. Although the mating of Toshira, his mother, and Inutaisho, his father, had not been out of a love of any sort, it was a strong and binding alliance; in other words, it was arranged for power. Neither of them loved one another; love did not exist among the aristocracy of youkai. However, there was a large measure of respect between them, and it sufficed, for the time being, to keep them loyal. However, with the elders dead and buried, there really was no one to uphold their binding promises; they could separate without so much as lifting a finger. Sometime, though, Sesshoumaru knew his mother had fallen in love with the Western Lord. Somehow, the simple respect had swelled and bloomed into an affability, and then, eventually, to this strange emotion dubbed "love." Which was why, he presumed, his mother looked jealous as hell, ready to slap the human queen to her knees should she make so much as a smile toward her mate. Or, perhaps, she expressed longing, envy, sadness, something along those lines. Whatever it was, it was making her tense. Sesshoumaru fervently wished for this meeting of royalties to end soon; he did not like the scent of anxiety; it was too strong for his tastes.
"Toshira-san," a lady called.
His mother turned, flashing a polite smile at her caller. They became engrossed in an uninteresting conversation, appropriately distracting the Lady from her mate and his friend. Sesshoumaru, having nothing else to do, slipped out of the great hall unnoticed and into the garden. Watching the wildlife was more entertaining than this.
~*~*~*~*~
Kagome huffed. There was absolutely nothing to do. Mother and father had gone off to the market some time ago, and, still not having returned, left Kagome alone in the hut with nothing to amuse her childish wits. Frequent were the little girl's visits to the flap of the hut, expectantly watching for any sign of her parents. There were none, though, so she settled for sitting quietly before the fire. Her green eyes watched with juvenile curiosity as the flames crackled and sparked, fingering the air. Another impatient glance to the window settled her boredom. She would go out! Briefly scratching a message on the dirt floor, Kagome shot out the flap and into the forest, her most worthy friend.
Once again, she returned to that amiable companion, the silver oak tree that offered her its umbrage and supportive trunk. Kagome settled herself there for a while, watching awestruck as the stars flitted in and out of the misty clouds. Occasionally, she would glance to the moon, wondering if her parents had returned yet. Perhaps they had stopped to visit a friend or two? It was possible, most definitely, so Kagome did not worry; a child shouldn't have to, after all. Her interest was soon lost stargazing, though. As finely tuned to nature as she had become, she was still a child, and her interest could not be held so long by any one source. She joyfully closed her eyes and listened for curious sounds she could investigate. No murmurings came to her, but against her skin, she felt the winds' soft caresses telling of a near garden, filled with so many flowers and embellishments of nature. Kagome, intrigued by these touches, rose and followed the soft breezes that whispered to her the location of this natural shrine.
~*~*~*~*~
He inhaled deeply. Both his silver and black haori were shed, leaving the simple ebon kimono. The jackets were thrown over a tree branch as he made his way towards the garden's center. It was there that his favorite perch sat, a massive beech, abnormally large. Once he had arranged himself comfortably within its arms, Sesshoumaru was surprised to smell someone coming towards him at an…alarmingly slow pace. A deep breath told him it was the girl from the afternoon, Kagome. What was she doing here? How had she found her way all the way to the heart of the Western Lands? The point where he had met her had to be at least five miles from his home! A smirk twisted his lips. What an amusing little girl…
Kagome turned her head from side to side, admiring all the foliage in this part of the lands. There wasn't nearly as much vegetation in her home village, and it delighted her that this many plants existed! She stopped abruptly when the whispering winds stopped. Raising her head in curiosity, she found a wall towering above her. The barrier was of a deep gray stone, carved block by block to perfection. She looked on in awe. Nothing would deter her from her destination, however, so she pondered a way to overcome this particular obstacle. Looking round for some answer, the little girl spotted a gnarled oak whose branches spilled over the top of the wall. That would do. Eagerly, she clambered up the trunk and protruding branches, which groaned and creaked under her light weight.
Sesshoumaru watched in amusement as she endeavored to conquer the tree. It was obvious that she had never done such a thing before, her movements timid and clumsy, but, somehow, she was mastering the task with relative ease. He wondered briefly if it had anything to do with her youkai-likeness. Alighting from his perch, he scaled the wall in a single leap and waited for his new friend to come across.
Cautiously, she inched her way towards the end of the limb, where she would be able to crawl onto the ledge of the wall. Her eyes were set determinedly on the other side, reminding herself not to look down. The branch cracked, and she squeaked, squeezing her eyes shut in fear. It was beginning to snap! Murmuring a quick and lousy prayer, Kagome made a half-leap, half-crawl to the end of the branch and flung herself at the ledge. As she fell onto the wall, the branch on which she had crawled snapped and crashed conspicuously to the ground. Kagome sighed in relief, standing precariously and brushing off her dirtied kimono. When her pointed ears caught a soft chuckle, she twirled around, nearly losing her balance. Her eyes widened in surprise. It was that boy in the woods! Sesshoumaru! Kagome giggled and bowed shallowly.
"What are you doing here, Sesshoumaru?" she questioned curiously.
"I could ask the same of you, Kagome." He took a step towards her and offered his hand.
Kagome looked at it hesitantly for a moment and then, deciding it was safe, placed her hand in his. They hopped to the ground lightly and safely, not stirring a single leaf. "How did you find this place?" Sesshoumaru asked. The young demon sauntered over to a stone bench and sat down, offering Kagome the other seat, which she took without pause.
"It felt nice." She stared up at the stars.
Sesshoumaru quirked an eyebrow. It felt nice? "What do you mean?"
"Oh, it's just…the wind felt nice. It took me here."
"Really…"
Kagome turned to him. He sounded somewhat skeptical. "Really! It did! I followed the wind." He nodded dismissively and turned his gaze to the stars as well. Kagome turned the question on him.
"I live here."
"Oh." She paused. "Why?"
"I'm the Prince of the Western Lands." He felt a bit of pride at the statement, straightening up slightly.
"Wow!" she exclaimed, not knowing what else to say. She was sitting next to a prince! Sesshoumaru nodded.
Once again, Kagome glanced to the moon. Closing her eyes, she allowed the wind to embrace her. They beckoned her to return. "I have to go," she murmured. The prince inclined his head and said a nonchalant farewell. Wandering back towards the wall by herself, Kagome paused in contemplation. The memories of the afternoon returned to her. Maybe… Her small hand was placed against the stone wall. A moment later, she was on the other side, trekking home.
A/N: kk, I promised a plug for cappie, poor girl, so here it is. Anyone who hasn't read her new story: "Shadows Against A Shoji Screen", should get to it! ^_^ It doesn't seem to be a Sess/Kag at first; more Inu/Kag than anything--but it's very minimal, I think. In any case, it's very well-written like ALL of her stories, and a very enjoyable read. All her trademark stuff is there: drama, suspense, a hint of romance and all; you won't be disappointed. And...I think I've heard something about more Sesshoumaru later on...well, I can't say more. It would ruin the story! Anyways, please read it! Dude, try reviewing, too! I don't care if you don't review for this story (as happy as it would make me), just review for other peoples'. *sniffle* Nothing worse than a good story with not enough credit.
-kidoairaku