The White Dog
by Becky Tailweaver
Chapter 31: Meet the Folks
The thick tension between the two full-youkai could have been plucked from the air and used as a doorstop--hell, it was heavy enough for even the massive doors the Dogs used. Inuyasha could feel it palpably; it made his thin fur stand up all the way down his spine. Consternation made him want to flatten his ears, but apprehensive alarm kept them pricked warily in the newcomer's direction. Though no one moved, the deadly animosity between the two youkai burned and crackled like a physical aura.
Inuyasha only blinked in surprise for a half a moment, before his eyes widened in realization and faint alarm. Sesshomaru's mother--Yukishima, the one both his brother and Shirokiba had warned him about. Her eyes made his hackles bristle even more; though she looked like a harmless old lady, there was something in her cold pale-amber gaze that deeply unsettled him.
Sesshomaru continued to lock gazes with the ancient White Lady who blocked their path, tense and guarded--more so than Inuyasha had ever seen him, in any of their battles in the past. And he couldn't believe that he saw fear glimmering faintly in his brother's eyes.
Even Inuyasha could see how wrong it was--that a person should be driven to fear his own mother. What could this Lady have done to make Sesshomaru fear her so?
The youkai woman could see his fear, too--her smile sharpened, her eyes narrowed just a hair, her hands clenched in the sleeves of her colorful kimono. She was more like a coiled cobra than a proud Dog--crouched, ready to pounce.
It was indisputable that she was old, perhaps nearly as old as Byakugata, but she still retained the polished beauty of a grand lady despite her age. Her clothing was elaborate, layers of silk kimono in many Autumn colors tied with bright intricate obi, enhanced by jewels and embroidery. Her makeup was flawless, painted on just so to hide her wrinkles; her hair was done up impeccably, not a strand out of place. Though her features were lined by time, it was obvious where Sesshomaru had gotten his porcelain-fine good looks; his face shared a great many features with hers--though he was spared complete resemblance by the strong stamp of Seibunishi that he shared with Inuyasha. Her eyes were pale yellow-amber like Byakugata--Sesshomaru's gaze was golden, matching his half-brother's in brilliance.
Yukishima must have been a striking jewel in her prime, probably outshining even Ginnezu--and she might have made a beautiful White Dog, if not for the harsh dark stripes that marked her body anywhere her skin was visible. She was the one who had given Sesshomaru a long, silken, flexible tail--but where his was snow-white, hers was striped from base to tip like a tiger.
"Hello, Sesshomaru," the Lady said at last, in a tone of utmost politeness. "Welcome home, my son. It has indeed been a long time since you last graced the White Clan with your presence."
"I am honored to walk the halls of my ancestors once more," Sesshomaru replied stiffly, more rote speech than earnest response.
The Lady smiled, and though her face was civil her eyes held a muted flicker of demonic glee at the younger Dog's silent suffering. Even Inuyasha could see that Sesshomaru wanted out--wanted to get away from her presence--and the sense of his brother's fear made him even more nervous.
But Inuyasha's worries for his brother's sake were cut short when the old woman's yellow-amber eyes turned to him. The hanyou visibly flinched, his ears flicking flat for a bare moment of startled terror; in the world of youkai, a lot can happen in the space of an instant's glance--and most of those things included blurring violence and quick death.
The woman's eyes were full of death indeed.
"Ah, and here's Ayako-chan's little boy, all grown up!" she cooed, smiling most indulgently. "My, my--I haven't seen you since you were a tiny pup! What a handsome young man you've become."
Inuyasha's mouth moved only a little; he was far too wary to speak. The woman's presence--as well as his brother's obvious edginess--had sealed his voice.
"What are you waiting for, Sesshomaru?" the Lady prodded. "Introduce us properly!"
Sesshomaru blinked, managing a respectable-yet-hidden glare at the woman. "Inuyasha, this is my mother, Yukishima-sama of House Kogarashi, a Lady of the White Clan." He spoke formally, his voice cold--before changing his tone to muted, mocking pride. "Hahaue, this is my half-brother, Inuyasha--the youngest son and sworn heir of the Great Daimyo Seibunishi-sama."
His tone startled Inuyasha with its vehemence--its courteous defiance. Sesshomaru was flinging Inuyasha's station and bloodline right in Yukishima's face, under the pretense of polite introduction.
The hard yellow snap in her eyes showed that she knew it too.
And speaking of polite introduction, he'd better answer or he'd look like a quivering jackass, standing there gaping. He scrabbled for what he could remember of his mother's lessons on court manners, pulling himself up to stand straight and tall at Sesshomaru's side. Managing a shallow, respectful-yet-haughty bow, he spoke with only a little hesitation.
"I'm...honored to meet you...White Lady." The "Lady" part he tacked on only after remembering the way Shirokiba had addressed Ginnezu--he really had no clue about Dog ettiquette--but from Sesshomaru's faint reaction it was apparently satisfactory.
Yukishima's bow of reply dipped not a millimeter lower than his. "And I you, my Lord. I am pleased to see at last the one whom our Great Daimyo, Seibunishi-sama, has chosen."
Inuyasha could think of little else to say--he didn't really want to stay and chat with this frightening old woman. "Eh...thank you."
Smiling, Yukishima stepped closer--three meters away, then two...then one. She stopped only when Inuyasha just noticeably drew back, just enough to keep himself out of arms' reach; Sesshomaru silently bristled, noting her triumph at the young hanyou's forced retreat. He may not have been on Inuyasha's side, really, but he hated how his mother played her little intimidation games.
She liked it when others feared her--she reveled in it. It was what had made her lust after the position of White Daimyo--even Taiyoukai of the West--for so very long. She loved power--loved terrorizing those under her with that power.
Inuyasha managed to keep his ears from pinning themselves down at her closeness--damn his hanyou heritage, cursing him with ears that would betray his every emotion given half the chance! He swallowed hard, fingers curling involuntarily into claws, hidden in his sleeves. She was far too close; her terrible eyes made him want to strike, to defend himself, to flee.
He didn't like the feeling he got around her--not the remembered terror that sprang up in him any time he saw a rat, but a trembling nervous fear induced by her cold eyes and hateful dark youki. He knew--he would have known even if Sesshomaru had not told him--that this ancient she-Dog would kill him in an instant if she thought she could get away with it. And she could do it, too; she was only deterred at the moment by the presence of witnesses and the obvious scent evidence that would be left.
At last, Sesshomaru took a small step forward, putting himself between his mother and his brother; not truly in front of Inuyasha, but interposing himself just enough that it was obvious to both of them that the hanyou was, at the moment, under his protection. And by doing so he'd put himself within her claws' reach--literally flinging himself into harm's way in this silent, polite little battle.
"Hahaue," he said tightly, "we are on our way to the Council Chamber. If you wouldn't mind..."
"Not at all, my son." Finally lowering her intent gaze from Inuyasha's face, Yukishima stepped back, releasing both of them from her petrifying thrall. "By all means, go; I wouldn't want you to be late. Do give Byakugata-kun my regards and apologies--I have an unscheduled errand so I may be a little late to Inuyasha-sama's presentation."
"As you wish." Sesshomaru's expression and posture did not waver. He remained still, gazing harshly down at his mother's unimpressed face, still as taut as a drawn wire.
Yukishima smiled indulgently, her face and tone still perfectly pleasant. "Thank you, Sesshomaru. I'll be on my way now. Good luck, you two."
She strode sedately past them, unhurried, giving them a wide berth--and both younger Dogs turned to watch her go, not wanting to put their backs to her. Sesshomaru did not relax until the ancient White Lady completely disappeared around a corner--and Inuyasha remained nervously alert even after she was gone.
A moment of silence passed.
"Shit..." Swallowing, Inuyasha took a deep breath at last. "How can anyone stand to be in the same room with that woman?"
"Most can't," Sesshomaru replied shortly, sourly. "Even Ginpatsu fears her." Without another word, he turned away and struck off up the passage once more, making Inuyasha trot to catch up with him.
"I can see why," the hanyou muttered. "And I thought Ginnezu was bad. Damn, she must be the living, breathing definition of a--"
"Stop it," Sesshomaru snapped, his voice uncharacteristically rough. "Just stop it."
Inuyasha bit his lip and fell silent, glancing at his brother in strangely unfamiliar concern. There were obviously some major issues between Sesshomaru and his mother--and whatever had passed between the two in this last quiet confrontation had reopened some of those raw wounds. But Inuyasha had no clue what it could be, nor how he could help.
Whatever camaraderie he'd shared with Sesshomaru seemed to have utterly vanished in the wake of Yukishima's presence--and strangely, Inuyasha felt its absence keenly. There was a cold gap between them once again, cavernous and raw, as though cut there by the White Lady's claws.
He found himself deeply surprised that he actually missed the conversation and near-banter he'd shared with his brother. There had been strange, newfound solidarity between them, even for those short, agreeable minutes. They were White Dogs, brothers, sons of Seibunishi; for just a little while, all of it had been real--more real than it had ever been before. During those brief moments he'd felt as if he was beginning to understand his brother; that he could, just maybe, actually like him--perhaps even forgive him, found that there was indeed a real, feeling person beneath that cold, pitiless exterior...
Frowning, Inuyasha followed his brother's stiff, silent form, cursing Yukishima's interference; for whatever she'd done to Sesshomaru, for whatever she'd inflicted on Seibunishi, for the way she had frightened and intimidated him--and enjoyed it--he silently snarled at her. The old hag was far worse than Ginnezu--a thousand times worse! Ginnezu was young and selfish and petty, but Yukishima was clever and manipulative and downright sadistic; Ginnezu hurt people and ignored it--Yukishima hurt people and gloried in it.
It didn't take a genius to figure all that out, even from a single meeting; her wickedness shone through her gaze no matter how she tried to hide it. He would never forget the brutal enjoyment in her eyes as she'd stepped up and forced him to retreat. He'd seldom seen a youkai so full of malicious mockery and gleeful hatred--in fact, he'd never seen one that had reached this level of vicious heartlessness. Well, maybe--just maybe--Naraku...
Hell, if he could find a way to sic Yukishima on Naraku, all his problems would be solved. Those two were perfect for each other.
The low rumble of Shirokiba's soft growl was the only warning Kagome had, startling her out of her tired half-doze as they bounded through the forests. She raised her head from his fur, astonished to realize that they were close--that finally, they had almost arrived.
It seemed like forever that they'd been running through the dark, Kagome clinging to Shirokiba's ruff as tree limbs whipped past and thorny brambles reached out to try and tear at her. She'd been holding on for hours, and her hands were cramped--not to mention her seat and legs were so stiff she wasn't sure if she'd be able to stand when she dismounted. And she'd thought she was fit enough for this sort of thing with all the Inuyasha-riding she did.
She'd also been half-frightened for a good portion of the ride; the first part had been spent getting used to the movements of the large youkai beneath her, as well as overcoming her initial terror at the sheer speed that he traveled. She was positive she'd never gone this fast even in a car.
The second part of her fear had begun towards the end, as she began to wonder if they were getting close, when they would arrive--and what would happen when they did. Finally, though, after what seemed like an eternity of hanging on for dear life as the world flew by in darkness, Shirokiba grumbled an incomprehensible warning to her--and within minutes, Kagome began to realize how close they were.
She could hear them.
Shirokiba had probably been detecting the sounds of the inu-youkai for a while now, hence his cautionary growl--and if she, a mere human, could hear them now, then at the speed Shirokiba was traveling they weren't very far at all.
This is it, she thought, the fear in her mind building until it seemed to freeze, turning the watery anxiety she'd been feeling into a sort of crystallized panic. Her mind was amazingly clear and focused, but she could feel her own heart pounding all the way into her throat.
Kami-sama, she could hear them.
Closer and closer and louder and louder, like the rats in the Hitai Mountain cave, but these sounds were even more terrifying; those were no rats up ahead, but inu-youkai--monstrous beasts like the one she'd briefly seen when Sesshomaru transformed. The noise they made was enormous.
As Shirokiba topped another ridge, it grew even louder. It was as though she'd stepped into a giant dog kennel--the night echoed with barking and howling and yipping, a cacophony of canine voices. They were deep and sonorous, betraying the size of the creatures that spoke forth in those tones, and the chorus of noise was overwhelming.
Kagome gasped when Shirokiba's path changed suddenly; the transformed wolf-dog leaped aside of his original direction, turning a hard right and circling away. She heard something enormous baying very nearby, and bit back the urge to cry out in fear. Shirokiba continued to bound, his pace even faster, until it seemed that he was circling the Dog-gathering's location.
Her mind dug for an explanation, reaching for something Inuyasha had mentioned. He's taking me downwind...?
She barely had time to think it before her mount slammed to a sudden abrupt halt. Nearly unbalanced, she almost smashed her nose against his shoulders--and her squeak of dismay was enveloped in a sharp bark from the wolf-dog. The surprise almost made her bite her tongue as she clamped her mouth shut, mindful of his earlier commands.
Quiet, she reminded herself scoldingly. I've got to be quiet!
Trembling from the abrupt series of scares, she almost didn't notice when Shirokiba knelt down; it took a soft "Wurf!" from him to make her open her eyes. When she realized that he was asking her to dismount, she scrambled to comply, all but falling from his shoulders--her stiffened legs were little help anyway.
His order for silence still stood, but she didn't know what he wanted her to do now. He had said this would be exceedingly dangerous--but to be honest, she hadn't expected it to be like this. She hadn't expected there to be so many of them; she could tell by sound alone that she was in over her head.
He was right--Shirokiba was right. He could've been better off on his own--Kagome why do you have to be so stupid? One hint that Inuyasha's in trouble and you go charging off...!
Her eyes wide and alarmed, she gazed up at the towering wolf-dog, questioning; in reply, Shirokiba crouched back, one large paw gesturing behind her.
Kagome turned to look, spotting the gnarled roots almost immediately. A great fallen tree with tangled roots lay on the forest floor, its dirt-burled presence like an eerie, many-fingered claw in the moonlight that dappled through the boughs above.
Shirokiba stepped closer, pushing aside a few brambles near the spread of roots, revealing that the center of the old tree was hollowed out--probably the reason it had fallen years ago. The bushes at the entrance made it a near-invisible little tunnel, and it was far too small for any giant inu-youkai to enter. This was definitely a burrow scaled to human proportions.
Shirokiba whuffed again, urging her in with a gesture of his head. Comprehension dawned--he was going to hide her here while he went on, to keep her safe from the vast crowds of Dogs she could hear. Suddenly flooded with relief and gratitude, Kagome dived for the safety of the wooden burrow and ducked down to enter; it was a bit cramped, but she wouldn't have to crawl, and the inside of the brief tunnel was nothing but smooth wood. It was clean and dry and safe, and once inside she could smell the strong, sharp scent of cedar.
Shirokiba lowered his head to peer into the hole, ears pricked; she caught the sound of an interrogative rumble and turned to smile at him, mute but grateful. She gave him a wave in thanks, and a nod to assure him she was all right; he gazed at her for a moment, his earnest blue-gold eyes sharpened with command as he huffed a brief growl--obviously, he wanted her to stay here.
That was quite understandable--she certainly didn't feel ready to venture out into the middle of the thundrous noise she heard just beyond the forest. She nodded again, scooting further back into the tree trunk as Shirokiba let the vines fall around the entrance once again. With a soft breath, she settled down to wait, while the wolf-dog bounded away.
Shirokiba stopped to look back only once, hoping that the thick bushes at the entrance would hide her from sharp youkai eyes--that the thick tang of cedar would mask her scent from keen youkai noses, and the cacophony in the valley would cover the sounds of her breathing. No matter how silent she might try to be--if they were near enough, the matchless ears of the inu-youkai could pick up her very heartbeat.
From a dozen meters, he could no longer make her out. He hoped--prayed--that his efforts were good enough; that with the party going on below no one would venture down to this dark, boggy side of the woods. If she was found by the Dogs...it was over.
He couldn't let that happen. Inuyasha's life depended on this girl.
With one last heartfelt prayer to whatever deity might be listening, the wolf-dog turned away and leaped through the trees, heading for the valley below.
At least that ugly babaa isn't gonna be at the Council, Inuyasha reflected, as he continued to follow his elder brother through the wide, earth-and-stone corridors beneath the mountain. Personally, he'd rather have faced a dozen bloodthirsty youkai than that one old hag of a Dog; she was one of the first he had met in a very long time who were able to make him feel real fear like that--and it was a feeling he enjoyed.
Neither, apparently, did Sesshomaru. The older youkai had remained icily silent from the moment they'd parted ways with Yukishima, and the chilly indifference of his usual attitude had sprung up and smothered the little spark of--dare he call it--fellowship that had existed for a little while between them.
Inuyasha came close to speaking several times, if only to break the cold silence--but each time, a glance at what little he could see of his brother's rigid, darkened, closed-off features clamped his throat shut like a noose.
He couldn't remember ever seeing an expression like that on Sesshomaru's face.
The lighting began to change as they went--growing brighter, the torches less intermittent. On the walls, the number of decorations increased, and the formality of the depictions on the tapestries reminded Inuyasha of the finery and decorum of the youkai lords who had greeted him upon his arrival. He surmised that they must be getting close to their destination, the Council Chamber.
He was right; there were youkai ahead--and powerful ones. He could smell them even before he heard them.
"Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said, quiet and abrupt--his first sound since meeting with his mother.
Startled, the hanyou blinked. "Hn?"
"We will be arriving at the Lesser Door momentarily," his brother informed him, his voice returned to the indifference Inuyasha was used to. "Several nobles are waiting to greet us. You will behave as befits a son of the White Daimyo."
Inuyasha scowled rebelliously, rather indignant that his brother still thought of him as an uneducated ruffian with no manners at all. "Yeah, yeah, I know..."
Almost before he could blink, Sesshomaru turned on him. "If that is your response, then you don't know," the older youkai stated, his face harsh and his gaze piercing as he put them nearly nose-to-nose. "You will not shout, you will not curse, you will not leap about, you will not fight, you will use the most honorable and correct language--and you most certainly will not make a fool of yourself and thus our family!"
Startled by his brother's vehemence and still defiant, the hanyou pinned his ears and glared right back, his surliness getting the better of him. "I get it already! You me to act like a pompous ass like you--"
"Listen for once, idiot," Sesshomaru snapped, interrupting his growl. "I expect you should at least know how to behave as an intelligent being! Did your human mother teach you no manners at all?"
Wide-eyed, Inuyasha took a step back.
"When you step into the Council Chamber," Sesshomaru informed him tersely, "you will be standing before the Daimyos of the Clans, as well as their vassals, lords of the regional Houses, and other persons of importance. You will represent our Clan, our House, and our father before all the leaders of our people. Do you understand now?"
His throat suddenly rather dry, Inuyasha swallowed hard. "I...I do too have manners," he protested inanely, trying to at least defend his mother from any insults. Gathering his nerve again after his brother's forceful instruction, he attempted to bring a measure of confidence back to his expression. "Ofukuro was a Lady here too, you know! She taught me about the court and the customs--so I do have manners. What do you think I am, a--?"
"A hanyou," his brother broke in sharply, directing a cool gaze that cut off his speech like a knife. "A childish, foul-tempered hanyou pup--who was raised in the wilderness, speaks like a peasant, and lives as a beast in the woods. If you have such 'manners' as you speak of, I have never seen them--which makes me doubt you truly possess them."
Inuyasha growled shortly, stung. After that brief bit of solidarity in his mother's quarters, a part of him had almost expected Sesshomaru to be beyond such insults, but apparently the old heritage quarrel still remained--and right now, his brother's scorn hurt a lot more than it should have.
"When have you ever given me a reason to be polite to you?" he snarled quietly, shoving past the older youkai and striding on down the tunnel. He didn't care if he got lost--he just didn't want to face his brother's arrogance and contempt again.
For a moment, in his mother's rooms, he had allowed a tiny gap in the ironclad armor around his heart; for a moment, on a sliver of hope even he didn't understand, he had let his brother reach him there. But it was the same old story--if he opened his heart, he was invariably hurt. He was the stupidest kind of a fool to expect anything from Sesshomaru--the kind of fool who had faith in childish dreams and hoped for something that could never be.
Sesshomaru called his name, angered, but Inuyasha stomped on without looking back. Frowning, the full-youkai strode after him, using his cold ire to cover over any traces of anxiety he might feel. Wanting to kill Inuyasha for his own reasons was one thing; having the hanyou disgrace their Clan and their father's blood before all the lords of the Dogs was something else entirely.
He already considered his younger brother's halfbred existence enough of a disgrace to their family. To have Inuyasha go before the Daimyos, only to blow up into one of his temper tantrums at even the slightest hint of offense, would be more than dishonorable--it would be disastrous. And if his furor was too great, the Clans might decide to destroy him--Seibunishi's heir or not. There were more than a few of them who already thought the hanyou was either a blot on the honor of the Clans or a dangerous liability to their race.
Sesshomaru would not allow another Clan--not even another House in his own Clan--to sully Seibunishi's bloodline by killing one of his sons. Ignoring any personal reasons he might have to keep Inuyasha alive--which, he reminded himself firmly, he did not have--he quickened his step in annoyance to catch up to the fuming hanyou.
The Lesser Door which led into the Council Chambers was around the next bend; for good or for ill, whether he liked it or not, Inuyasha was going before the Council. In the very next hallway, three high lords waited to make his acquaintance, and the young hanyou was already in a huffy, angry, entirely belligerent mood--though the analytical side of Sesshomaru's mind informed him that Inuyasha wouldn't have gotten that way in the first place if he had handled the situation differently.
But now it was too late; he could only pray that the hanyou didn't make a complete and utter ass of himself before the Daimyos.
Even if his human mother managed to pound some etiquette into him, Sesshomaru thought, scowling at Inuyasha's back, he's not practiced it in years, and he's lived in the backwood amongst beasts and human peasants. And even if he were passably educated, a lowborn's manner will not be enough--to honor our House, he must have the bearing of a prince! But how can he, when he was raised a pauper?
Sesshomaru frowned as he went, feeling entirely too irritated. It was partially from his own lack of foresight, for not having slain Inuyasha before he came here tonight; partially that he had allowed his brother--a member of his father's family--to have fallen to such a low station. It was a very odd juxtaposition of thought--and one that he was not used to admitting, even to himself.
Ahead of him, Inuyasha stopped so suddenly that the older youkai almost brushed into him, he was so absorbed in thought. Beyond the young hanyou stood five regal inu-youkai, waiting in front of the Lesser Door--which was, unsurprisingly, much smaller than the conventional Dog doors.
Still standing stiffly, Inuyasha gulped just loudly enough for Sesshomaru to hear it--and quickly, the inu-youkai removed all emotion from his face and stepped up to his younger brother's side. The moment they were abreast, he cast a glance in Inuyasha's direction--and found that the hanyou had fixed him with a brief sideyed glare. It was one that portrayed faint nervousness--but stronger still was the determination, and the hint of defiance.
Just watch me, "Niisan," Inuyasha thought at the taller youkai, resisting the urge to smirk. Just watch me.
And as one, the two brothers stepped forward. Inuyasha could in no way mimic his brother's flowing stride, but he didn't need to; bringing his head up and his chest out, he walked as himself, dragging forth every drop of pride in his father that he had ever felt. To other youkai, on other days, he was just a lowly hanyou, fit only to be spit upon and slaughtered--but here in this place, on this day, he was a prince, and the son of a Taiyoukai, and none of the other things mattered.
As the brothers approached, the five youkai bowed--deep, respectful bows, as if to Seibunishi himself. "Welcome, sons of Seibunishi-sama," spoke Byakugata, from the head of the group of five, as he stepped forward. "Welcome, Sesshomaru, eldest born of our Great Daimyo. Welcome, Inuyasha, chosen Heir of our Clan."
Following Sesshomaru's lead, Inuyasha copied his brother's bow only a nanosecond late--a brief shallow nod of a bow to honor fellow nobles of the Clans. For a moment it was as if a breath was being held; there was a wall between them--they, the heirs of the White Daimyo, and the others, nobles of lesser Clans.
Then, it seemed, the formalities were over.
"Thank you for bringing him, Sesshomaru-sama," Byakugata said with a smile--and it was as if a switch had been thrown. The other nobles broke formation and stepped forward--the Gray Daimyo, Kaishika, whom Inuyasha had met before, as well as another Daimyo and two Ladies, who were all unfamiliar to him.
Kaishika was the first to reach him--and to his surprise, set a strong hand on his shoulder; too startled at first to respond, which thankfully stalled his first defensive instinct, Inuysha's ears flicked flat for an instant of alarm before he saw the elder youkai's hearty smile.
"There now, lad, aren't you a sight for sore eyes! Couldn't tell you so out in the entrance hall with all the gossips around--but by the good Moon, you have your father's look about you! Didn't I tell you, Noukatsu?" The Gray Daimyo turned to grin at his companion. "Didn't I tell you he's the spittin' image of Seibunishi?"
"You did, Kaishika. Repeatedly," the solidly-built Brown Daimyo replied, smiling wrylyas well--though he was less gusty than the Gray. "'Tis an honor to meet you, Inuyasha-sama. Let me say on behalf of my Clan that we welcome you home at last, and we will ever stand with the chosen heir of Seibunishi."
"Aye, and my Clan too, lad," Kaishika was quick to agree, patting him firmly on the same shoulder. "Your father and I were friends through many a battle since we were but pups. I never knew a better man--so you have my solemn word I'll stick by you as well."
It was entirely not what Inuyasha had been expecting. These were the dreaded inu-youkai--the terrible Dogs Shirokiba had always taught him to be wary of and keep far away from? These people were of the same race as the cold, contemptuous Sesshomaru and the deadly Yukishima? These were youkai, who were supposed to revile him for his human blood just as much as his brother did?
Overwhelmed, and rather wide-eyed, he cast a glance toward that same brother--only to find himself again startled at the half-hidden look of amusement on Sesshomaru's normally-blank face. When he saw that, he remembered Sesshomaru's almost-kindness toward him earlier, and for some reason--though that had been lost thanks to Yukishima--it did a great deal to steady him.
"Come on, let me through!" a feminine voice spoke up from behind the Daimyos, as a slim hand grasped Kaishika's shoulder and tried to haul the much larger youkai out of the way. "You big oafs have had your look, now let me by. Ah!"
Chuckling, Kaishika stepped aside, snatching that same hand. "Aye, whatever you say, woman," the Gray Daimyo snorted, pulling the Lady up beside him and turning to Inuyasha. "May I introduce my mate, Kirihana of House Umibou, Lady of the Gray Clan--leader of the whole damn thing, if you ask her--"
"You do go on!" the Kirihana barked, with a wry glare at her mate. "Mind your tongue, you old wardog--telling him such things!"
Both the Brown and Gray Daimyo laughed, as Noukatsu took the hand of his own lady. "And this is my mate, Anjiko of House Tsuchi, of the Brown Clan."
The Brown Lady, apparently a little less forward than the Gray, gave another short bow. "I am honored, Inuyasha-sama."
Still feeling as if the world had tilted askew, Inuyasha managed a polite nod; his mother's teachings had never felt more rusty. "Eh...uh, hajimemashite, my Ladies...um..."
"Oh, you needn't be so formal!" Kirihana said, stepping forward and--to his great surprise--taking his chin in her hands. Only the remembered contempt from Sesshomaru in regards to his debatable manners let him fight the impulse to pull back--though he still remained almost tremblingly rigid, even as the Lady cooed. "You dear boy--you used to call me 'Obasan,' don't you remember?"
He almost blanched. One, at the idea of calling anyone "Auntie;" two, at the fact that these people remembered him, and things he had said and done here--but he could not. "I-I'm afraid I don't remember, my Lady..." The words came out stilted, formal, as if they weren't his own.
"For pity's sake, woman, give the boy some space!" Kaishika chuckled, seeing the boggled look on the young hanyou's face. "He's not a wee pup any more--comenow, you're embarrassing him."
"Goodness, yes--you used to be such a tiny thing, and now here you are, all grown up so tall!" For a moment, as she stepped back, Kirihana looked wistful. "It seems only last year you were toddling through the halls calling after your Niisan! How the time does fly..."
Oi...k'so...another person who only remembers me as a fluffy little pup. Gathering the shreds of his composure, Inuyasha strove to reclaim both his poise and his confidence. Battles, bloodshed, and insults he could handle; youkai who actually liked him were quite rare, very unexpected--and he wasn't sure how to deal with it.
And Sesshomaru still had that rather humorous--if very carefully hidden--expression on his face.
"She's right, Inuyasha-sama," the Brown Lady spoke up, more softly than her companion. "We have all missed you. We could hardly believe it when news finally came that you were indeed alive--but we are glad."
"Indeed," Noukatsu agreed. "Seibunishi's will shall be done, and put an end to petty bickering between the Clans. We and our Clans are all glad."
"'Twas some who weren't," Kaishika added, with his wardog grin returning, "but we soon set them to rights!"
Then Byakugata stepped forward, smiling regretfully. "Your pardons, my Lords; I hate to interrupt a happy reunion, but the Council will begin officially soon, and the Clan Daimyos must be present. Ginpatsu-sama will start the proceedings shortly, as soon as the message comes that the moon has risen."
"Aye, we must be off," Kaishika agreed, looking grumpy for a moment. "But never fear, lad--no matter what happens in there, remember that the Brown and Gray Clans stand behind you!"
With bows and waves--and smiles from the Ladies--the youkai Daimyos moved off; not into the Lesser Door, to Inuyasha's surprise, but back down the hall. Seeing his confused look, Byakugata stepped a shade closer and spoke in a low voice that would not carry.
"They depart to the Great Doors, my Lord, which are the main entrance for the Daimyos and their parties."
"'Great Doors'...?" Inuyasha frowned. "Then why am I going in the 'Lesser Door'?"
Beside him, Sesshomaru made a noise that sounded suspiciously like the word "idiot."
Byakugata smiled again, this time appeasingly. "It is not your status, Inuyasha-sama, but your size. For most Councils, only Dogs are present and the main hall of the Council Chamber is used. And, as I'm sure you know, in our true forms we are considerably larger. Entry accorded through the Lesser Door is a rare honor indeed."
Inuyasha blinked, still scowling skeptically. "An honor?"
This time, it was Sesshomaru who replied, with an almost scornful snort. "Do you think the Daimyos would step down from their rightful places in the Chamber to sit in Council with just anyone?"
"What are you talking about?" the hanyou demanded, stopping just short of a snarl at his brother.
"Only for special guests do we Dogs abandon our true forms," Byakugata answered evenly, unperturbed. "To honor such guests, who cannot match our size nor speak our tongue, the Daimyos and other councilmen step down to the Lesser Table, which is at the Lesser Door, so that all may hold Council as equals."
"Oh..." Suddenly, his skepticism and resentment seemed utterly foolish; Inuyasha's frown disappeared as he ducked his head briefly. Sesshomaru had said he was to remain on his best behavior--and he was quickly discovering just how much he did lack, in refinement and in knowledge.
"The Council will begin soon," Byakugata went on, more seriously this time. "When the time is right, Ginpatsu will announce you. As the interim councilman of House Setsuken, I shall precede you as the announcement comes." The ancient youkai offered the hanyou a kindly smile. "Take courage, young Inuyasha. The Brown and Gray Clans are with you, as is the White Clan--and your brother also stands beside you. You have nothing to fear."
"I'm not afraid!" Inuyasha retorted, his head snapping up--but even he had to admit the response sounded hollow. In truth, he was rather terrified of what might lay ahead; Kagome might call it "stage fright," or even link it to something deeper.
All Inuyasha knew was that he was stepping into something bigger than he ever had before.
Standing at the door, Byakugata tilted his head as if hearing something. "Ah, it comes! Be prepared, sons of Seibunishi. In but a moment, you will stand before the lords of the Clans!"
Quickly and smoothly, the elder youkai slipped through the door; for a moment, the muffled noise beyond became clear--a huge growling voice, speaking the ancient Dog tongue. Then the door closed, and once again Inuyasha was alone with his brother.
Moving silently as always, Sesshomaru stepped up beside him. In any other situation, Inuyasha would have adamantly refused to allow himself to be reassured by his brother's presence--but here, it was all he had. Taking a deep breath, the young hanyou drew himself up, preparing himself as best he could for whatever might lie beyond that door.
"Ojisama was right about one thing," Sesshomaru said, in a low voice that carried no emotion. "This night, and this night alone, I will stand beside you. Now--show them all the pride of our Clan, the honor of our House, and the strength of our mighty father."
"Just watch me," Inuyasha said, giving voice to what he had only whispered in his mind before. He cast a challenging glance at his older brother, as well as the best smirk he could muster--and to his surprise, Sesshomaru returned the smallest of smirks as well, almost as he had before Yukishima cut a breach between them.
Yes, I shall watch you, Sesshomaru spoke silently, as the door began to creep open and they knew it was time. Let me see what you can do, Otouto--let me see if you are truly a prince of the White Clan.
The Lesser Door stood open. Side by side, the two brothers stepped forward.
Author's Note: Big thanks to everyone for sticking around waiting for me to get my slow act together! I've finally gone and gotten this chapter done, and I know it's about time too! Apologies if it seems a bit different than the "old stuff;" apparently as I've grown in my otakuism, so too has my tendency toward Japanese as well as my stylistics. Hope nobody minds too much! On a further note, The White Dog itself is also in for repairs (part of the reason I never got down and finished this blasted chapter, I kept getting sucked into revisions!) so we should begin to see changes soon! (Not major story changes, just...fixerupper stuff. ) Thanks all!