Disclaimer: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.
Summary: He had always gotten everything he wanted—until he met Kagome Higurashi, the untouchable betrothed of the Emperor.
Special Notes: ::sigh:: I really do love you guys for reviewing, really does make me feel special, never mind the fact that billions of writers in the world out there are also receiving reviews..anyway, I want to thank all of you for reviewing, and keep it up! ::flashes thumbs up:: Okay, this chapter took a long time to write out and trust me...it was horrible trying to work around writer's block. My head is still stuck with my new plot and I can't fully concentrate on this one, so I kept opening and closing this chapter to work on. But all in all, I finally placed everything aside and decided to work on this.
But enough with the long A/N, Enjoy.
This Treacherous Heart of Mine
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Chapter 4-
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Like all children at one point in time had, I also had worshipped my father.
Completely and utterly idolized him.
He was my epitome of perfection. Always being quicker, braver and smarter than me.
The pedestal I placed him on was so high, I thought it could touch the heavens and beyond—that was how much I adored my father.
That was...until he broke the trust I held for him.
My mother was a great beauty in my eyes.
She may not have been the most beautiful female in the real world. But in mine, she was.
My mother had unconditionally and truly loved me. She was there to kiss my scraped knees, always ignoring my protests on being a fast healer, she was always there to offer a hug on those bad days, despite the fact I prided on being the strong and brave son of Inutaisho. The fact that she was always there made her the most beautiful person in my world.
And like the foolish child I was, I had always thought that I had the perfect family.
A loving mother, a strong father and their pearl of the world, me.
I had always thought that we were happy, that my parents loved one another and that nothing will go wrong as long as we stuck together.
I was a bit off on the part about happiness, I was happy with my parents, I just never realized that my mother and father wasn't exactly content with their lives.
I was right on the fact that my parents loved one another. Correction, my mother loved my father.
My mother loved my father. I could see it, even as young as I was.
Every time her eyes would shine with happiness when he entered the room and acknowledged her, every time her face would soften with care and kindness usually only reserved for me when my father talked to her, and every time her lips curved into that beautiful smile of hers after interacting with him.
She loved him with everything she had. She had thrown her heart on her sleeve for the world to see that she loved him; she would have given her life if only to protect his. I could tell.
I couldn't say that about my father on the other hand.
I couldn't see that special glimmer in his eyes when my mother walked into the room, I couldn't see that softening of his hard façade every time my mother answered his questions, and I couldn't see him smile after my mother acknowledged him.
I knew that my mother was aware that my father could not give her the love that she gave him. But she was strong, she stayed by his side even though she knew the love was unrequited, she stayed by his side though she knew he only harbored respect for her, and she stayed by his side, though she was hurting so deeply inside.
That was another reason she was the most beautiful person in my world.
I never knew at the time that my father was actually in love.
That he in fact, did harbor love deep inside him.
I just never thought about the fact that the love was not for my mother.
When he informed my mother of that fact, something in her died. I could see it. She no longer kissed my scraped knees and tucked me in at night.
She no longer had that mischievous twinkle in her eyes, and she no longer had that bright spirit that only my mother could hold.
She was no longer the mother I once knew...the mother I knew and loved had died.
When he brought home the woman that he loved, that held their child, my world, and I think my mother's crashed down...
...along with the pedestal I had so highly placed him on.
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Green.
...and more green.
Sesshoumaru gave a quiet snort of disgust as he looked around the quiet garden.
He had no idea why he came to this garden every time he had to make an appearance to court; it just reminded him of his mother.
His mother had loved her gardens. Wide stretches of green grass with the occasional fish ponds and pots of flowers. Which were all dead now, thought Sesshoumaru as he sat on the same bench that the young woman—Kagome—had a few moments ago.
He stared at the small tree with pink and white blossoms, such a fragile structure. He was sure he could easily swipe it off with his claws in less than a second.
Although he doubted that Naraku-sama would enjoy that gift much.
"—and she is to be said a great beauty. Every woman in court envies her from far...is it true Yumi-sama?"
Sesshoumaru turned at the quite whisper just outside of the garden he was in.
"Great beauty? Do not kid me Asuki, she is disgusting, not worthy of Naraku- sama's attention. Little whore."
Sesshoumaru scoffed, women. All the same. Never less, he lowered his youki and continued to listen.
"Yumi-sama! You could be severely punished if word was to go back to Naraku- sama, such words of the future Empress of highly looked down upon!"
Raising a thin eyebrow, Sesshoumaru tilted his ear to listen more closely; Naraku-sama had finally chosen a woman to become his Empress?
"Asuki, whose side are you on? Naraku-sama can do better than a conniving miko slut. The only reason she was chosen was because of her status, if she had not come out of the Higurashi clan, she would have never even captured Naraku-sama's eye."
Higurashi...Sesshoumaru wrinkled his brow slightly as he thought about the name. He knew that Ryu Higurashi was a high noble in court, a human noble at that. Naraku-sama had chosen a human to become the future empress? A miko at that too?
"My apologies Yumi-sama, but what is so bad about this Higurashi child becoming the new Empress?"
A sharp sound of flesh-on-flesh rang clearly throughout the garden.
"Foolish chit! What do you think is so bad about Higurashi becoming the new Empress? That means that Naraku-sama will no longer have a use for me. I will become yet another woman at court once again, one of the Emperor's old mistresses, no title at all. Do you think any man will still want me if I bear the title as another one of Naraku-sama's abandoned whores?"
Sesshoumaru smirked slightly, no wonder this woman was so worked up. If the youngest Higurashi daughter becomes the Empress, all of his old whores would be pushed to the side.
"I-I'm sorry Yumi-sama...forgive this lowly servant, I did not mean to say such foolish words. Please forgive me Yumi-sama, my utter apologies. Yumi- sama, please!"
Not bothering to listen to the rest of their conversation as they passed the garden, Sesshoumaru rose from his seat and walked to the entry of the garden.
Naraku intended to mate with a human miko...he frowned. Why would a half- breed want to mate with a miko? True, Naraku may have a human side, but his counterpart was demon, the race that mikos were made to bring down.
Sesshoumaru internally shook his head; this had nothing to do with him.
He had better things to think about...
...Like Kagome.
Feisty little thing that girl was, full of spirit and fire, Sesshoumaru smirked, which he would be most honored to put out.
He had never experienced such fire and disrespect from a female. Human nonetheless. But that was alright, as much as he will enjoy her free-will, he will enjoy breaking her spirit more.
He walked down the stone path leading towards the gates of the palace, ignoring the low bows he received from the servants and appreciative glances women sent his way.
She had to be from a noble family, no commoner would be granted the honor of even stepping into the palace, and the clothing she wore, he shook his head slightly, no common villager could ever wish to touch, much less pay, for such fine silk.
He turned by the artificial waterfall leaking into a gurgling brook as he continued his way. And her skin, beneath all the powder, he could tell it was unblemished, pale. It was not the rough, parched skin of a common village girl.
And her hands, he gave a slight smirk of appreciation, her hands were dainty and smooth, the hands of a person who lived a life of wealth and possession—someone who was used to getting her way.
He made yet another turn as he stepped out of the palace gates, but this time, she was not getting her way. Though she might not want him...
...he wanted her.
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"Naraku-sama!"
The Emperor of Japan turned his head slightly as a high-pitched whine sounded his name.
"Naraku-sama! I heard from the servants that you were taking someone as your wife! How could you do such a thing to me? To us?"
Naraku said nothing, as he continued to stare at the woman who had dared disrupt his time.
The woman fidgeted, her hands twisting together slightly under his gaze, "Naraku-sama, aren't we of any importance to you? I thought you said we would be together forever!" She jutted out her lower lip in a full pout.
Naraku allowed a slow smirk to slide on his lips, "Is that so? Well, Liko is it? You are sadly mistaken."
"Leiko," she corrected as she took another slow step towards him, "But I thought you said..."
"What I said, and what I do is a different matter Leiko-san, I do intend to take Kagome as my wife, and you, my dear, have no say in it whatsoever. I think that we should not act like our name says should we Leiko-san? I think this will be the last time we shall see each other," Naraku drawled as he lifted his tea cup to his mouth slowly.
Leiko walked briskly to his side before sidling up close against him, "But Naraku-sama..." she quietly whined.
Naraku looked dispassionately at her.
She paused before changing the whine into a seductive drawl. "But Naraku-sama...if it is our last time together, shouldn't we make it something to remember by?" Leiko innocently asked as she looked up beneath her lashes as him, as she drew small circles on his chest.
Naraku smiled slowly before fisting his hand in her long hair and crushing his lips to hers, "Yes Leiko...I think we should..."
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