"So look at you," a voice drawled lazily from the doorway. Inoki was watching him, a rare smile on his face. "How long have you been standing there?" Inutaisho demanded.
"Ever since Kaso ran into the reception hall blubbering something about you threatening his life. I thought I might stop by for a quick hello before you managed to alienate everyone in the household staff." Inoki casually circled his brother, appraising the older demon's court finery. "You know, I don't think I've seen you dressed like this since Father died and the clans declared you Daimyo in succession."
Inutaisho brushed invisible lint from the delicate silk of his sash. "Not true, brother. I did so for your own wedding, not ten years ago."
"Oh that's right, I remember now. Those can't be the same clothes, as I recall you made a flag out of them and ran around the courtyard waving it and singing some obnoxiously bawdy song about a demoness with certain legendary..."
"I was drunk," Inutaisho snapped, turning back to his mirror. The hair floated up again and he grabbed it, trying to force the slippery stuff into obedience.
Inoki chuckled. "Drunk doesn't begin to cover it," he said, his dark eyes glinting with enjoyment at his brother's discomfort. "I'd never seen anyone drink that much rice whisky without dying or at least vomiting for three days. The kitchen staff still speaks of you with awe."
"A wedding is supposed to be a happy event. People are supposed to celebrate," Inutaisho said stiffly. Inoki sighed, scratching at his own embroidered collar. His brother glanced at him. "I see Anuki managed to force you into your own finery. Did she need to use violence or just the threat of it?"
Inoki considered the question. "A bit of both if you want the truth. I did try to talk her into letting me get by with wearing my hunting clothes. After all, it's not like anyone's going to be looking at me today. But she got her way, as usual. I'm still better off than the kids are, she's threatened them with a most heinous fate if they let out even a peep during the ceremony."
His brother frowned. "She could have let them off, it will be long and boring for them at their age."
"I said as much, but they raised a stir about it. Not one of them wants to miss out on the first look at uncle's new wife."
"Don't remind me," Inutaisho growled. The thought of his yet unmet and unseen consort made him almost queasy with anxiety. His brother clapped a hand on his shoulder sympathetically. "You'd better get used to the idea, Inu. She's going to be part of the family soon enough."
"Part of the family?" he asked, glaring into his brother's reflected eyes. "Damn you, it's a military alliance, the Azaryu heir is just part of the negotiated deal. She won't be my wife, it's a goddamn contract."
Inoki held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Calm down, Inu. I know why you're doing this, you don't have to bark at me. It's a smart move, better than spending another twenty years fighting all along the western border."
"It's still a fight," his brother answered sourly. "The tactics have changed is all, along with the location. I'm willing to make a few personal concessions to put a stop to the bloodshed, but it doesn't mean I have to be happy about it." He forced himself to stop fidgeting.
Inoki ran his hand through his own hair, startlingly black next to his brother's. "Listen, Inu. I know how you hate being cornered into anything you don't want. But I hope that you aren't planning on taking it out on the Azaryu girl. Remember, you negotiated this deal with her family. Think about how she must feel, dragged away from her home as part of an alliance and made consort to a man she's never even met."
Inutaisho glared at him. "What do you take me for, of course I've thought about that. It's her father that made this so called marriage a deal breaker. He wants his bloodline in power, he'd sell more than a daughter to get an heir of Azaryu blood over the Western lands. I get an end to twenty years of fighting, the waste of lives and resources."
"As long as you both get what you want, it doesn't matter what some stupid girl thinks, right?" Inoki said sarcastically.
"Come on, brother. She's probably been raised with the knowledge that something like this could happen, all highborn women are. Political marriages are common. Besides, she's Azaryu. We'll be lucky if she can string two sentences together. And once she delivers me a healthy child, she'll be free to go wherever and do whatever she likes. It doesn't matter to me if she's pretty or if she has a face like a bog youkai." Inoki grinned. "Oh so that's what's been bothering you. You're worried that sly old Azaryu lord is sticking you with a dutiful ugly daughter for a bride."
"Wouldn't it bother you, never having seen the face of the woman who will bear your heir?"
His brother looked at him soberly. "I see your point. In any case, elder brother, it's time for the show to begin. Are you ready to go through with it?"
Together they left Inutaisho's quarters and proceeded to the reception hall. As they took their places, Inutaisho resisted the urge to pace the finely embroidered carpet. "Is it late?" he asked Inoki. "I think they're late."
"Quit squirming," his brother hissed, looking out over the honored guests. By their own choice, his and Anuki's wedding had been a simple, private affair. Only his brother and a few of their closest friends had attended. Anuki had been grateful her disapproving relatives had chosen to make themselves absent. Now, as the Sutakasi clanlord herself, she had found herself the subject of renewed popularity despite her choice of mates. He wished that he possessed his wife's natural social grace.
Inoki was willing to stand beside his brother even for the torment of an official state event like this. Inu was right, it wasn't a real wedding. When the Azaryu delegation arrived, treaties would be signed, a good many long speeches would be spoken and then, finally, the Azaryu lord would present his daughter to Inutaisho like a crate of wine or some other token gift. Inoki wished he knew why it bothered him, maybe it was because he could have easily envisioned the same fate for his Anuki if Inu hadn't stepped in and bent the rules for them.
A flurry of activity heralded the arrival of the Azaryu delegation. The Azaryu clan had been at odds with most of the West for generations. Border battles, disputes over resources, the Azaryu clan had been a thorn in his brother's side and their father's side before that. Of course their sire wasn't half the diplomat that Inutaisho had become. The old man's answer to the Azaryu problem had been to answer violence with more violence, surpass atrocity with atrocity. The moment the old lord had died, and no doubt been on his way to a richly deserved hell, the Azaryu had started pushing at Inutaisho. His brother had grimly set about the business of securing the borders, but unlike their father, never once did he press his advantage to vent a little vindictive justice against Azaryu holdings.
The Azaryu lord had been suspicious of these new tactics, but had eventually come to have a grudging respect for his new adversary. This treaty was the culmination of the last ten years of hard work and careful treading of diplomatic waters. Then the old lord had thrown a final bargaining chip on the table, his daughter. Surprised by the maneuver but unwilling to restart negotiations, Inutaisho had agreed and now stood waiting for the last act of the play to begin.
At the far end of the reception hall the guards threw open the tall double doors to admit the Azaryu delegation. The assembled guests stood as one, straining for a look as much as out of respect. Old Kashikoto, the Azaryu clanlord, swaggered boldly as he entered the hall followed by his bodyguard and entourage. He was an elderly youkai, stooped but still powerfully built. His iron gray hair fell around his shoulders in dank locks, his weathered and creased features scowling impartially around him. He wore a leather patch over where his right eye had been, legend had it that he'd lost that eye as a youth to none other than Inutaisho's father.
Inutaisho stood still, seemingly at his ease as his new ally approached him down the long length of the hall. Inoki discreetly moved away, slipping down to sit next to his wife. She flashed a quick smile at him, her hand finding his as they settled together to watch the formal ceremony begin.
"Lord Kashikoto, may I formally welcome you to the Western lands as friend and ally." Inutaisho's voice was smooth, the treaty was now signed and all appropriate honors had been observed.
The old dog chuckled, his voice coarse and rough edged. "Indeed, lord Inutaisho. It will be a welcome change to stand down from our constant warring. I must say, you're every bit the bastard your father was in battle."
Inutaisho's expression never altered, but he heard the court's murmur at the old barbarian's rough language. He inclined his head. "I shall take that as a compliment."
Kashikoto laughed again. "As it was meant, pup, as it was meant." Inutaisho's eyes narrowed. No one who knew him would dare call him a pup to his face. And the Azaryu lord knew that. He let the comment slide.
"Still, I never thought I'd live to see the day that our clans would unite in peace. Your father must be spinning in his grave."
Inutaisho met the lord's gaze with a feral smile of his own. "I hope so, the thought pleases me."
Kashikoto blinked. "Does it now? Well, maybe we're better suited as allies than I had thought. In any case, you don't strike me as a man who would back down from a challenge. I'd say it's time for me to present you with my clan heir."
All eyes followed the lord's gesture. At the end of the room, a tall, slim figure appeared, draped in a long cloak. She approached silently, moving with an graceful, easy step. Inoki peered hard as the woman passed, unable to catch a glimpse of the she-demon's face. No doubt this was part of some last minute drama engineered by old Kashikoto. As she drew close enough to stand at her father side, the Azaryu heir paused, looked up at her new husband's face and cast of her concealing cloak.
The demoness was stunning. Her hair reached to her ankles in a perfect white-gold curtain of silk. The girl's skin was the tone of pale honey, a few shades darker than her astonishingly bright hair. In contrast to her dusky skin, her eyes were an usual shade of icy blue surrounded by dark, sooty lashes.
Inutaisho's face remained impassive as the lovely demoness allowed her father to guide her to her new husband, a satisfied smirk on the old man's features. So they thought the Azaryu were no more than coarse barbarians, violent, uncivilized hill demons who could never approach the refinement and sophistication of the west. Kashikoto felt an almost visceral sense of pride as he presented his matchless daughter to the Daimyo of the Western lands. "My lord, may I introduce my daughter and heir, the lady Seshiko?"
Now that the honored guests had left, Inutaisho could breathe a sigh of relief. The tension that had ridden him mercilessly over the past week was finally free to disappate. At the moment all he could think of was a hot bath, a stiff drink and bed. Alone. He had no intention of pressuring the Azaryu girl tonight. It would be better to take slow steps with his new consort. He hadn't been lying to Inoki about having some consideration for the girl. The fact that she had turned out to be exquisite was a pleasant surprise. With a little luck and his own not unimpressive store of personal charm he was certain that he and the girl could find an agreeable acceptance of their roles. At the moment he had to confess his mind was more on the treaty than his new bride. Still, he had one more duty to perform before he could head off for his own much needed rest. A quick visit to her quarters, a polite personal welcome and bid the girl good night. It was in his best interest to establish that he wasn't an ogre and that her feelings would be considered.
Hr rapped lightly on the door which was answered by a short matronly looking Azaryu female. Her eyes widened at the sight of him. "My lord Daimyo," she said, nervously bobbing to him.
He smiled pleasantly. "No need to stand on ceremony with me," he told the woman. "I require a brief word with the lady Seshiko. I'm sure you've also had a long day and I won't keep you from your rest for very long."
"My lord." She guided him into the small sitting room. The lady was waiting for him there, dressed in delicate snow white gown, her glorious hair shimmering in the firelight. She turned and immediately dropped into a submissive bow. Inutaisho stepped forward, preventing her from kneeling at his feet. "No, please don't. No need for such formality here. I only wished to bid you welcome to my household and wish you a good night's rest."
She stood, her hands clasped before her, eyes downcast. Inutaisho tried again. "I am pleased that you have joined us. The treaty between our people will benefit both our clans. If you need anything, you need only to ask. The household staff has been instructed to bring anything you require."
Still the lady stood unmoving before him, her eyes focused on the floor at his feet. She can't really be that scared of me, he thought. Gods only know what she's been told to expect, maybe she really is just a frightened girl.
Inutaisho felt guilty to be the cause of such a beauty's distress. "Lady Seshiko, please believe me. I mean you no harm. It is my wish that we come to regard each other as friends. This is an uncomfortable situation for us both and I'm prepared to give you as much time as necessary to feel secure with me."
Impulsively, he reached out to tip her chin up so he could meet her gaze. His breath caught just a little at her loveliness. He smiled as gently as he could, keeping his eyes on hers, willing her to respond in kind. "You have nothing to fear, perhaps in time, you might even come to love me as your husband."
She smiled timidly, a shy, demure bit of innocence. Encouraged, he drew a step closer, hoping this meant a good beginning to the relationship. Gracefully, she raised her hand to her mouth, her eyes sparkling. Then she drew back that delicate little hand and struck him hard across the face.
"Love you?" she said harshly. "Don't presume that I am one of these pampered lapdogs that will roll over at your feet. I am an Azaryu warrior. I've taken more men in battle than most of my father's elite guard. Just because I have allowed my body to be used as barter in your negotiations doesn't mean that I'm here to spend the rest of my life as your obedient bedwarmer. I have a duty to my people to bear your child and seal this alliance. As soon as that duty is complete I will return to my home and never set foot in this cursed place again. Understand I'm not your trophy and I'm not some prize you won in battle. You can take my body but you will never take my soul."
She whirled on her heel and stormed out of the room, leaving him shocked and staring. He reached up and felt where her claws had raked his cheek. Inutaisho left the lady's apartments, quite baffled by the turn of events. Once again he'd made assumptions based on incomplete information and lived to learn that with all his power and all his skill in battle, he still didn't know a damn thing about females.