[YAY! Another sesshy fic! Well, I'll get started fast, but here are the
Japanese glossary references:
Nahon- Japan
Youkai- demon]
Sesshomaru stepped into the great hall, hearing the small gasp elicited from Rin, a smirk tugged at his mouth. It had been at least a year since he had last entered the corridors of his own palace. Jaken seemed almost excited about returning to the endlessly uneventful court life. The steward was in a drunken slumber at the foot of the steps, he wouldn't live to regret that. Sesshomaru directed Jaken to check how the servants had dealt with affairs of state in his absence. The usual "Yes m'lord!" came from Jaken as he scurried to his favorite pastime of tormenting the stewards.
Sesshomaru took a seat on his throne and waited for the procession of servants to give their reports under the scrutiny of the head of staff. The plump old woman ushered the entourage in front of the throne to the 'ooo' 'aaahhh' amazement of Rin. She'd obviously never seen such finery amongst mere servants before.
"Sire?" the woman bowed respectfully before Sesshomaru. "There has been few problems since your departure, however, there are a number of youkai families seeking an audience of alliance with you." Sesshomaru frowned, he'd not accepted an audience like that since his father's death, and he was in a mood for some entertainment...
"Alright, send the first one in." He sighed finally, and noted the sly grin that inched across the old woman's plump face. She nodded and left immediately to send word, leaving Sesshomaru to inspect the servants. It seemed an age since he'd performed such a menial and useless task. There were a few lazy servants who'd gotten fat and rich off of his absence, but they were quickly sent away to be executed silently. It was odd to think that he used to do the task himself right here, but something had changed... oh, yes, Rin of course. That wasn't the only thing that stayed his hand though. For some reason his affinity toward killing, even his apathy and cynicism, had lessened of late. Was Rin the source of all that? No, he had to admit, at least to himself, that his brother had also influenced this change in him. The half-breed's increase in strength, as well as new found weaknesses had added to his understanding.
"The daughters of Oka of the province of Uchi are readying themselves m'lord." Her wrinkled face turned up in a knowing smile, pretending to take a position of waiting by Sesshomaru's throne.
"Enough games Aika! Tell me what is important to know about these guests." Sesshomaru disliked it when Aika tested his memory of tradition, even if she had been the one to teach him it.
"Well... Oka is a youkai who brakes with tradition by trading with other lands, but he refuses to sell what he gets and has hoards of treasures stashed away. The eldest daughter is a sly one trained by the mother and nearly an exact copy of her. The second eldest has more wit than anything else and may seem the charmer, but she's supposedly the secondary thorn in her father's side. The main one would be the second youngest daughter, she's supposedly rash and disobedient to every instruction given her, not to mention her reputation as the most unseemly youkai lady in Nahon. Then there's the youngest... What can be said? The girl lives to be married off, she's completely subordinate to whatever command is given her... Oh! I almost forgot to warn you, the mother is a witch, she'll not take rejection well." Aika took a breath after the long explanation, but Sesshomaru knew she was purposefully leaving something out.
"She's a spell caster?" He queried, knowing Aika wouldn't be stupid enough to allow one before him.
"Oh, no... I meant it with a different emphasis." She smirked again before retreating to the shadows of the great hall to watch what she was sure was going to be an interesting show.
Sesshomaru stepped into the great hall, hearing the small gasp elicited from Rin, a smirk tugged at his mouth. It had been at least a year since he had last entered the corridors of his own palace. Jaken seemed almost excited about returning to the endlessly uneventful court life. The steward was in a drunken slumber at the foot of the steps, he wouldn't live to regret that. Sesshomaru directed Jaken to check how the servants had dealt with affairs of state in his absence. The usual "Yes m'lord!" came from Jaken as he scurried to his favorite pastime of tormenting the stewards.
Sesshomaru took a seat on his throne and waited for the procession of servants to give their reports under the scrutiny of the head of staff. The plump old woman ushered the entourage in front of the throne to the 'ooo' 'aaahhh' amazement of Rin. She'd obviously never seen such finery amongst mere servants before.
"Sire?" the woman bowed respectfully before Sesshomaru. "There has been few problems since your departure, however, there are a number of youkai families seeking an audience of alliance with you." Sesshomaru frowned, he'd not accepted an audience like that since his father's death, and he was in a mood for some entertainment...
"Alright, send the first one in." He sighed finally, and noted the sly grin that inched across the old woman's plump face. She nodded and left immediately to send word, leaving Sesshomaru to inspect the servants. It seemed an age since he'd performed such a menial and useless task. There were a few lazy servants who'd gotten fat and rich off of his absence, but they were quickly sent away to be executed silently. It was odd to think that he used to do the task himself right here, but something had changed... oh, yes, Rin of course. That wasn't the only thing that stayed his hand though. For some reason his affinity toward killing, even his apathy and cynicism, had lessened of late. Was Rin the source of all that? No, he had to admit, at least to himself, that his brother had also influenced this change in him. The half-breed's increase in strength, as well as new found weaknesses had added to his understanding.
"The daughters of Oka of the province of Uchi are readying themselves m'lord." Her wrinkled face turned up in a knowing smile, pretending to take a position of waiting by Sesshomaru's throne.
"Enough games Aika! Tell me what is important to know about these guests." Sesshomaru disliked it when Aika tested his memory of tradition, even if she had been the one to teach him it.
"Well... Oka is a youkai who brakes with tradition by trading with other lands, but he refuses to sell what he gets and has hoards of treasures stashed away. The eldest daughter is a sly one trained by the mother and nearly an exact copy of her. The second eldest has more wit than anything else and may seem the charmer, but she's supposedly the secondary thorn in her father's side. The main one would be the second youngest daughter, she's supposedly rash and disobedient to every instruction given her, not to mention her reputation as the most unseemly youkai lady in Nahon. Then there's the youngest... What can be said? The girl lives to be married off, she's completely subordinate to whatever command is given her... Oh! I almost forgot to warn you, the mother is a witch, she'll not take rejection well." Aika took a breath after the long explanation, but Sesshomaru knew she was purposefully leaving something out.
"She's a spell caster?" He queried, knowing Aika wouldn't be stupid enough to allow one before him.
"Oh, no... I meant it with a different emphasis." She smirked again before retreating to the shadows of the great hall to watch what she was sure was going to be an interesting show.