Title: Whispers on the Wind - Ch. 3 - Healing
Author: CrystalTokyoPrincess
Chapter Rating: G
Summary: In an era of daimyo and youkai, strife and torture, elegance and intolerance, begins a story of love and sacrifice. This is a tale of romance, courage, and strife, a story of the love between Inuyasha's parents.
Author's Notes: It's taken me a while to update! My most sincere apologies to anyone who has actually been reading this story.
The youkai's eyes fluttered open as the morning sun trailed through the opened door. He propped himself up on his elbows, gaze focusing on the feminine figure superimposed black against gold and green.
"Shitsurei shimasu..." was stated with a respectful bow. The woman made her way gracefully across the floor. "Ohayou gozaimasu ... youkai-sama."
So it was the woman, the daimyo's daughter. He tried to sit up, but the stiff bandages and the sharp twinge of pain in his side reminded him of his battle nights previous. With a sigh, he resigned to propping himself upon his elbows.
He glanced up at her, "Good morning, hime-sama."
"My good youkai-sama, you heal quickly," spoke the daimyo's daughter tonelessly, neither voice nor stance nor expression giving way to whatever thoughts prevailed inside. She knelt beside him and tapped at his elbows, "Your wounds would have killed a mortal creature such as myself. I would not be surprised should your surface wounds have healed but your internal injuries still be of some discomfort."
The youkai grunted and lay back. The daimyo's daughter took out a small knife and artfully slit the thoracic bandages, maneuvering the demon so the wrappings slid easily out from under him. She set the bandages aside and then returned her gaze to her patient; in total amazement, her eyes went wide and her fingers reached out to delicately trace the remnants of scar tissue.
The youkai blinked up at her. "Is there something wrong, hime-sama?"
"Not at all. I'm simply amazed at the handywork. The old miko and her houshi companion have done a splendid job. There is only some scarring," said the woman breathlessly, "Fascinating...although, I suppose that has something to do with being what you are, hmm?"
"Hai, hime-sama. It does. I should be fully healed in a few hours at the least. I see you left me clothing."
The young woman inclined her head respectfully to the youkai, but as she glanced back up her eyebrows were drawn suspiciously over her eyes. "Ano sumimasen ga...why did you feel the need to protect us, youkai-sama? No other youkai has ever or would ever have bothered to keep another in check under such a situation."
"My opinion differs greatly from that of other youkai, hime-sama."
"So I had gathered."
"If I must go into it now, I will. However, I feel this should be addressed at a later date should I maintain my status as a guest in this house."
The young noblewoman's gaze went perplexed at the youkai's choice of words and then hurriedly she stated. "A hero is always welcome. He who saved us is always welcome, my lord. You have our gratitude. We have not yet repaid it. Please, youkai-sama, forgive my forwardness. I have a committed a great rudeness..." Her head bowed at her perceived rudeness.
The youkai reached out and tilted her chin upward, looking her boldly in the eyes. "You were forward but as you should be. This is your house, your home. Protecting it should be first in your mind as always. This is your father's court, nee, hime-sama?"
"Yes, youkai-sama."
"Are you the only child of your father's?"
"No, youkai-sama. I have an elder brother, a younger brother, and many younger sisters."
"And your mother, what of her?"
"She died when I was only ten. I assisted my father around the court until he married my stepmother."
"Ah. I was wondering how you had become such a hostess. If only my son had manners as yours. His mother and I tried to teach him...but he is untrainable."
The noblewoman tilted her head at this information, "If it is not too bold of me to ask, how old is your son?"
"Old enough to know better. He is probably the age of some of your younger siblings."
"Oh," came the girl's reply, the tone somewhat disappointed as she continued, "I had heard rumors that one youkai's lifespan could span many human generations."
"They can, hime-sama," said the youkai as he struggled to sit up fully. The noblewoman reached out to assist him. He nodded his thanks to her, "Arigatou gozaimasu, hime-sama. You should know that I am centuries old. I am not a young youkai and perhaps this is why I think and feel the way I do about the interactions of the youkai and human worlds."
"Oh?"
"I shall explain my feelings on this to you at a later date. Let us take a walk."
"You should dress yourself first, youkai-sama," said the girl blushingly.
"Yes, I believe I should. It is nothing to blush over. Have you not already considered a man whom you wish to marry? That is the custom of humans is it not?"
"It is...but, I have not...partaken."
"No one, then?"
"No one. I shall step outside for a time. Let me know when you have finished. Shitsurei shimasu!" With a flourishing bow, the lady stepped outside.