Shayril: Hello, everyone! Well, I've finished making my changes to Pai's
half of Tarnished Armor. There were any major changes, just grammatical and
a little word rearranging here and there.
Aliri: (Sighs) You have two unfinished stories and a Labby sequel to write.
What in the world are you doing taking on someone else's fic? Are you
crazy?
Inuyasha: Of course, she is. Haven't you realized that by now?
Shayril: (Growls) Watch it, Inuyasha. Remember, Kagome isn't the only one
the subduing spell works for anymore.
Inuyasha: (Challenging) Give me your best shot.
Dragonwing: (Shakes head) That wasn't a smart thing to say.
Shayril: (Eyes narrow) SIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Inuyasha slams a foot into the ground as the muses wince.)
Shayril: Anyways, I know that I have those other stories, but this one just
seemed to call to me. It'd be a shame to just leave it unfinished. Anyway,
on to the story. If you're old fans of the story I suggest you reread it
since Pai's last chapter for it was posted so long ago. If you're new,
enjoy the story.
Tarnished Armor
Chapter One: Announcements and Preparations
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"No." She thought her voice sounded very composed, if defiant. To him it sounded half pleading, half afraid, and definitely pissed off. He smiled to himself, she would be a hard one to control having inherited his independence. He frowned suddenly. A trait that was to his misfortune, however, for she rarely did as she was told, and could possibly scare any potential mates away. She was the perfect daughter for this scheme. She was kind, intelligent, young, beautiful, and blissfully unaware of it. She also possessed what it took to rule. He gazed back into the fiery blue eyes. They were so expressive, and it was rare for him not to know what she was thinking. He noted her defiance and scowled.
"Hai, Kagome, you will choose among the three prospects. You will do your duty as my youngest daughter and provide us with grandchildren and allies. Your sister Kikyo is long betrothed, now it's your turn. Kikyo didn't get a choice, be happy you have been provided with one!' Hyouga glared down at his daughter as he hissed out the last part.
Their family was a good one. It was a hanyou and ningen family, so the girl was lucky to be offered even two youkai mates. Not that those two had had a choice either. Kagome was a wolf hanyou, which made her marriageable to any of the three species. She was also a miko. Kikyo was a ningen miko, inheriting more from her mother.
Kagome's black wolf like ears flattened against her obsidian locks. He could not make her. Her mind tried to reason. He _would_ not. But she was fairly frantic because she knew that it was just wishful thinking. She didn't want to leave home, she loved the forests here, the people, her family. She just loved... everything. She had been dragged to her father's study before she had time to dress so her locks were pulled into a fast braid, revealing a face of scarlet fury.
Her claws dug into the table, where many other such marks marred the surface from past arguments. Fangs bared, she let out an unearthly howl of anger before storming from the room. Just outside the door a tigress youkai fell into step behind her. Her name was Sango and she was Kagome's bodyguard disguised as lady-in-waiting. She was also one of her best friends and she was worried about her.
Kagome stormed into her room, her aura almost black, but she managed to contain it to a small crackling area around her as she explained to Sango the cause for her anger this morning, that she was being forced to marry, while she stood and stripped down as her maid came in. Slipping on undergarments first, she then nodded for the maid to dress her. First came a thin linen nightgown-like sleeveless garment followed by a corset made of thin flexible strips of steel covered with fine silk, with steel hooks down one side.
Kagome stopped talking to get used to being four inches thinner, the inability to expand her rib cage, and having her breasts pressed flat. Over the corset went a long sleeved, loose linen shirt embroidered with black thread, and an intricate design worked into the extended collar.
"Give me a moment to breathe girl!" Kagome hissed at the maid, red faced from more than anger and still breathing shallowly.
Since Kagome refused to wear more than two more layers after this, the farthingale was put aside for today's ensemble. Kagome crossed to her closet and gazed with narrow eyes into it before laying out three different outfits. The first had a black silk under dress that flowed around her form in an A-cut with a crimson brocade overdress cut in some places for the black silk to accent it.
The dress' neckline was extremely low, and cut so that cleavage was easily seen, though not indecently so. There was no fabric back from her waist up. A feat that had been hard to accomplish, but the seamstress had managed it. Crimson strings could be fitted into her newest corset, one that had no back except for the strings. The crimson strings could then be woven easily across the back of the dress as well, attach the dress and corset together, leaving those who looked to wonder if she even wore such a garment underneath.
The next dress had a perfectly cut, gold silk under dress that was floor length at the front, but trailed on the floor slightly in the back when she went without shoes. An emerald green brocade overdress went atop this. The colors together were magnificent. The neckline was in a low V, but came up into a high collar that had been stiffened with materials unknown to her to cover the sides and back of her neck. At the moment she merely cared that it looked magnificent on her. She had been told so many times, though the red dress complimented her coloring more.
The final dress was her favorite. She had been complimented on this one many times as well, and she looked the best in it out of all the others. The torso was completely formfitting and came low on her cleavage. It had the same back design as the red dress but the overall style other than these two things was different. The dress had a silver under dress of heavier silk than that on the two former dresses. A purely obsidian silk brocade went over this that was so thin the silver shined through, causing it to shimmer from obsidian to black as she walked.
The two former had had tight sleeves, where as this one was cut from elbow to the end of the already slightly butterflied sleeve to create an interesting effect. She looked over each of them with a calculating expression, then turned to Sango with a wicked grin plastered on her face.
"Kouga is a wolf youkai. He's also horny, obsessed, and stalker material. Lets give him a little goodbye present, ne?" She didn't elaborate as of yet. "Inu-Yasha, I believe, is an inu-hanyou. I have heard that he is brash, aggressive, assertive, and takes no feelings into consideration. It's possible he is shy as well as childish..."
She then met Sango's eyes as a feral grin came to her face. "Then there is Sessho-Maru. The so-called heartless inu-youkai of the Inu-Clan of the Western lands and set to inherit his father's lands as his heir. The perfect prospect for father to want me to have, he is infamous as being emotionless, stoic, heartless...well I could go on, but you have heard the rumors as well. I would wear the green for Kouga...but I'm afraid I will enjoy torturing him. I can't help that I enjoy the game, so I will go for the red. The mere color with my hair will make him forget all else, except my chest of course." Sango's eyes widened as she gasped.
Soon, however, both were laughing and had to take a moment to come themselves. "Inu-Yasha is childish. Hmmmm...I don't have any preference for that. Though he is probably one of those immature adolescents obsessed with sex. I'll wear the Emerald dress just for him. It's the most subdued. Which leaves my obsidian and silver dress to distract the stoic inu-youkai. A nice little challenge for me, ne?"
It was obvious Kagome was not pleased with any of her prospects, no matter what their landholdings were. Unfortunately, it didn't change the fact that she would have to choose one from the bunch. It would be from the Inu-Clan, both knew, unless somehow both sons proved worse than Kouga. Was that possible?
She motioned for her maid to press them and then chose one of her other favorites. A silk, lavender, under dress complimented the deep purple brocade over the top. They were to have guests at lunch today. It seemed even when she was to be betrothed she was a prize to be shown off. As if she was hanging just out of reach of whichever of her father's friends wanted her. No matter, she loathed them all. She considered herself too young to be married. Definitely too young. She also had no crazy hormones tormenting her to find a mate. Yet.
Sango was grinning wickedly. "Oooo Kagome...Hojo is coming!"
Kagome groaned. She would be stuck with Hojo if she liked none of them. At least, Hojo was truly kind. Ah well...she shoved Sango over, sending the laughing tigress-youkai a glare before racing downstairs. Sango loves to torment her friend and mistress whenever she got the chance. Hopefully Hojo would take Kagome's mind off of the betrothal. If she didn't fall asleep listening to him. Sango grinned. Hojo was just too boring for Kagome!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
His eyes widened as his father spoke to him. "Really!? Kagome!? And I am to see her today?"
Kouga's grin widened confidently as his father sighed in exasperation. He absolutely adored Kagome to the point of calling her his woman. Though some might call him obsessed, he just called it determined love.
"I shall make her fall in love with me...within a day!" he declared.
His father shook his head slightly, an exasperated look on his face. Obviously this had been going on for a little while, and it was definitely not the first time his son had been ranting about Kagome being his and loving her and such.
"You are not her only prospect. Two from the Inu-Clan have a chance as well," his father told him. "Sessho-Maru and Inu-Yasha if I remember correctly."
Kouga growled at this thought. He and Inu-Yasha were not exactly on good terms. He doubted he would have a problem with Sessho-Maru. No one could like that block of ice. Besides, Kagome loved him. She just hadn't told him yet. He snorted. _His_ Kagome with an inu!? Ridiculous! She was a wolf like him. They were meant to be together!
His father interrupted his thoughts. "If you don't leave now you are going to...."
He cut himself off as Kouga blurred out of them room. Shaking his head with a sigh. What an annoying, exasperating, cocky son he had begot.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I REFUSE! I AM TOO YOUNG TO BE BETHROTHED TO SOME WOLF BITCH I DON'T EVEN KNOW!" came the bellow the inu-hanyou and younger of the two half siblings, Inu-Yasha.
It was directed at Inu-Taisho, his father. Inu-Taisho sighed in an obviously exasperated way. His younger son had a rather large temper. Tai- Maru sighed.
"Inu-Yasha, shut up. Let father finish speaking and then you may argue. After I leave."
The order came from the infamous Sessho-Maru, the older half-brother and full- blooded youkai. His father glanced at him before continuing as Inu- Yasha fumed.
"There are three prospects. You two and a wolf youkai. She has been forced into this as well, remember that." Then his grin turned knowing. "Besides, do you want Kouga to win ehr over you?"
Inu-Yasha silently fumed. He wouldn't let that wimpy wolf beat him at ANYTHING. EVER. Sessho-Maru arched a slender brow. "Don't be cocky enough to assume you'll be the one chosen, hanyou. She may not even like you."
Tai-Maru sighed, as if he could read his son's thoughts. Well he could, as they played across Inu-Yasha's face. His face screwed up in amusement as he looked at his older son. Sessho-Maru's face was emotionless, stoic, and cold as usual. Did he really expect a reaction to show? Sighing he waited for Sess's objection.
"Alright, get it over with, Sess," he said.
The elder son's eyes flickered red for less than a second at that so-called nickname. Then his voice drawled out coldly. "She will not wish for me. In the event that she does, I will raise my objections or merely deal with it. It is for the clan, which I will inherit. So be it if I make the sacrifice. Since I do not foresee this as a problem I see no reason to waste idle breath now."
Tai-Maru sighed in relief as Sessho-maru left the room, his youngest son following him. All was as it should be. Who would get the lovely wolf hanyou's hand? He sweatdropped and wondered.
Tarnished Armor
Chapter One: Announcements and Preparations
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"No." She thought her voice sounded very composed, if defiant. To him it sounded half pleading, half afraid, and definitely pissed off. He smiled to himself, she would be a hard one to control having inherited his independence. He frowned suddenly. A trait that was to his misfortune, however, for she rarely did as she was told, and could possibly scare any potential mates away. She was the perfect daughter for this scheme. She was kind, intelligent, young, beautiful, and blissfully unaware of it. She also possessed what it took to rule. He gazed back into the fiery blue eyes. They were so expressive, and it was rare for him not to know what she was thinking. He noted her defiance and scowled.
"Hai, Kagome, you will choose among the three prospects. You will do your duty as my youngest daughter and provide us with grandchildren and allies. Your sister Kikyo is long betrothed, now it's your turn. Kikyo didn't get a choice, be happy you have been provided with one!' Hyouga glared down at his daughter as he hissed out the last part.
Their family was a good one. It was a hanyou and ningen family, so the girl was lucky to be offered even two youkai mates. Not that those two had had a choice either. Kagome was a wolf hanyou, which made her marriageable to any of the three species. She was also a miko. Kikyo was a ningen miko, inheriting more from her mother.
Kagome's black wolf like ears flattened against her obsidian locks. He could not make her. Her mind tried to reason. He _would_ not. But she was fairly frantic because she knew that it was just wishful thinking. She didn't want to leave home, she loved the forests here, the people, her family. She just loved... everything. She had been dragged to her father's study before she had time to dress so her locks were pulled into a fast braid, revealing a face of scarlet fury.
Her claws dug into the table, where many other such marks marred the surface from past arguments. Fangs bared, she let out an unearthly howl of anger before storming from the room. Just outside the door a tigress youkai fell into step behind her. Her name was Sango and she was Kagome's bodyguard disguised as lady-in-waiting. She was also one of her best friends and she was worried about her.
Kagome stormed into her room, her aura almost black, but she managed to contain it to a small crackling area around her as she explained to Sango the cause for her anger this morning, that she was being forced to marry, while she stood and stripped down as her maid came in. Slipping on undergarments first, she then nodded for the maid to dress her. First came a thin linen nightgown-like sleeveless garment followed by a corset made of thin flexible strips of steel covered with fine silk, with steel hooks down one side.
Kagome stopped talking to get used to being four inches thinner, the inability to expand her rib cage, and having her breasts pressed flat. Over the corset went a long sleeved, loose linen shirt embroidered with black thread, and an intricate design worked into the extended collar.
"Give me a moment to breathe girl!" Kagome hissed at the maid, red faced from more than anger and still breathing shallowly.
Since Kagome refused to wear more than two more layers after this, the farthingale was put aside for today's ensemble. Kagome crossed to her closet and gazed with narrow eyes into it before laying out three different outfits. The first had a black silk under dress that flowed around her form in an A-cut with a crimson brocade overdress cut in some places for the black silk to accent it.
The dress' neckline was extremely low, and cut so that cleavage was easily seen, though not indecently so. There was no fabric back from her waist up. A feat that had been hard to accomplish, but the seamstress had managed it. Crimson strings could be fitted into her newest corset, one that had no back except for the strings. The crimson strings could then be woven easily across the back of the dress as well, attach the dress and corset together, leaving those who looked to wonder if she even wore such a garment underneath.
The next dress had a perfectly cut, gold silk under dress that was floor length at the front, but trailed on the floor slightly in the back when she went without shoes. An emerald green brocade overdress went atop this. The colors together were magnificent. The neckline was in a low V, but came up into a high collar that had been stiffened with materials unknown to her to cover the sides and back of her neck. At the moment she merely cared that it looked magnificent on her. She had been told so many times, though the red dress complimented her coloring more.
The final dress was her favorite. She had been complimented on this one many times as well, and she looked the best in it out of all the others. The torso was completely formfitting and came low on her cleavage. It had the same back design as the red dress but the overall style other than these two things was different. The dress had a silver under dress of heavier silk than that on the two former dresses. A purely obsidian silk brocade went over this that was so thin the silver shined through, causing it to shimmer from obsidian to black as she walked.
The two former had had tight sleeves, where as this one was cut from elbow to the end of the already slightly butterflied sleeve to create an interesting effect. She looked over each of them with a calculating expression, then turned to Sango with a wicked grin plastered on her face.
"Kouga is a wolf youkai. He's also horny, obsessed, and stalker material. Lets give him a little goodbye present, ne?" She didn't elaborate as of yet. "Inu-Yasha, I believe, is an inu-hanyou. I have heard that he is brash, aggressive, assertive, and takes no feelings into consideration. It's possible he is shy as well as childish..."
She then met Sango's eyes as a feral grin came to her face. "Then there is Sessho-Maru. The so-called heartless inu-youkai of the Inu-Clan of the Western lands and set to inherit his father's lands as his heir. The perfect prospect for father to want me to have, he is infamous as being emotionless, stoic, heartless...well I could go on, but you have heard the rumors as well. I would wear the green for Kouga...but I'm afraid I will enjoy torturing him. I can't help that I enjoy the game, so I will go for the red. The mere color with my hair will make him forget all else, except my chest of course." Sango's eyes widened as she gasped.
Soon, however, both were laughing and had to take a moment to come themselves. "Inu-Yasha is childish. Hmmmm...I don't have any preference for that. Though he is probably one of those immature adolescents obsessed with sex. I'll wear the Emerald dress just for him. It's the most subdued. Which leaves my obsidian and silver dress to distract the stoic inu-youkai. A nice little challenge for me, ne?"
It was obvious Kagome was not pleased with any of her prospects, no matter what their landholdings were. Unfortunately, it didn't change the fact that she would have to choose one from the bunch. It would be from the Inu-Clan, both knew, unless somehow both sons proved worse than Kouga. Was that possible?
She motioned for her maid to press them and then chose one of her other favorites. A silk, lavender, under dress complimented the deep purple brocade over the top. They were to have guests at lunch today. It seemed even when she was to be betrothed she was a prize to be shown off. As if she was hanging just out of reach of whichever of her father's friends wanted her. No matter, she loathed them all. She considered herself too young to be married. Definitely too young. She also had no crazy hormones tormenting her to find a mate. Yet.
Sango was grinning wickedly. "Oooo Kagome...Hojo is coming!"
Kagome groaned. She would be stuck with Hojo if she liked none of them. At least, Hojo was truly kind. Ah well...she shoved Sango over, sending the laughing tigress-youkai a glare before racing downstairs. Sango loves to torment her friend and mistress whenever she got the chance. Hopefully Hojo would take Kagome's mind off of the betrothal. If she didn't fall asleep listening to him. Sango grinned. Hojo was just too boring for Kagome!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
His eyes widened as his father spoke to him. "Really!? Kagome!? And I am to see her today?"
Kouga's grin widened confidently as his father sighed in exasperation. He absolutely adored Kagome to the point of calling her his woman. Though some might call him obsessed, he just called it determined love.
"I shall make her fall in love with me...within a day!" he declared.
His father shook his head slightly, an exasperated look on his face. Obviously this had been going on for a little while, and it was definitely not the first time his son had been ranting about Kagome being his and loving her and such.
"You are not her only prospect. Two from the Inu-Clan have a chance as well," his father told him. "Sessho-Maru and Inu-Yasha if I remember correctly."
Kouga growled at this thought. He and Inu-Yasha were not exactly on good terms. He doubted he would have a problem with Sessho-Maru. No one could like that block of ice. Besides, Kagome loved him. She just hadn't told him yet. He snorted. _His_ Kagome with an inu!? Ridiculous! She was a wolf like him. They were meant to be together!
His father interrupted his thoughts. "If you don't leave now you are going to...."
He cut himself off as Kouga blurred out of them room. Shaking his head with a sigh. What an annoying, exasperating, cocky son he had begot.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I REFUSE! I AM TOO YOUNG TO BE BETHROTHED TO SOME WOLF BITCH I DON'T EVEN KNOW!" came the bellow the inu-hanyou and younger of the two half siblings, Inu-Yasha.
It was directed at Inu-Taisho, his father. Inu-Taisho sighed in an obviously exasperated way. His younger son had a rather large temper. Tai- Maru sighed.
"Inu-Yasha, shut up. Let father finish speaking and then you may argue. After I leave."
The order came from the infamous Sessho-Maru, the older half-brother and full- blooded youkai. His father glanced at him before continuing as Inu- Yasha fumed.
"There are three prospects. You two and a wolf youkai. She has been forced into this as well, remember that." Then his grin turned knowing. "Besides, do you want Kouga to win ehr over you?"
Inu-Yasha silently fumed. He wouldn't let that wimpy wolf beat him at ANYTHING. EVER. Sessho-Maru arched a slender brow. "Don't be cocky enough to assume you'll be the one chosen, hanyou. She may not even like you."
Tai-Maru sighed, as if he could read his son's thoughts. Well he could, as they played across Inu-Yasha's face. His face screwed up in amusement as he looked at his older son. Sessho-Maru's face was emotionless, stoic, and cold as usual. Did he really expect a reaction to show? Sighing he waited for Sess's objection.
"Alright, get it over with, Sess," he said.
The elder son's eyes flickered red for less than a second at that so-called nickname. Then his voice drawled out coldly. "She will not wish for me. In the event that she does, I will raise my objections or merely deal with it. It is for the clan, which I will inherit. So be it if I make the sacrifice. Since I do not foresee this as a problem I see no reason to waste idle breath now."
Tai-Maru sighed in relief as Sessho-maru left the room, his youngest son following him. All was as it should be. Who would get the lovely wolf hanyou's hand? He sweatdropped and wondered.