Chapter 14

Contention


Sierra frowned in confusion as she took another involuntary step in retreat. 'Why do I smell like . . . Toga . . .? What is he talking about?'

"So you're the one my son's been toying with," Sesshoumaru said quietly as his eyes narrowed just a little bit more. "I smelled you on him . . . faint enough. It will fade, of course."

"I'm . . . Sierra . . ." she informed him slowly.

"You do not belong here. You don't belong with Toga."

"Is he . . . here?"

Sesshoumaru's golden eyes narrowed just a little as he regarded her. "You should leave. My son is here at his sister's request. It is not for the likes of you."

"Father?" Toga stepped up beside Sesshoumaru and muttered a curse as he pushed past him to hurry to Sierra's side. "What are you doing?"

Sierra shook her head and glanced up to Toga only to see that his question had been directed at his father. Glaring at him with his lips pulled back in a grimace, Toga didn't back down from Sesshoumaru's obvious irritation. Sierra stayed behind him, letting him shield her from his father's blatant hostility.

"Toga!"

He ignored Sesshoumaru's harsh utterance and stood his ground. "No. I told you how I feel about this. I'll tell you this, too. If you ask her to leave, I will go. I will not bend."

Long moments ticked away as the two men glared at each other. Neither looked like they were willing to budge. Finally Sesshoumaru nodded once. "So be it, Toga. We shall discuss this further after the wedding." His cold gaze shifted to Sierra, half-hidden behind Toga's back. "Enjoy the hospitality of my home." With that, he turned and strode away.

Only then did Toga look down at her. "Are you all right? I thought you couldn't come."

"He doesn't like me at all," Sierra managed to say as she forced a smile for Toga's benefit.

He winced. "It's my fault. I didn't tell him much about you. I didn't know . . . I was worried . . . I tried to call you, and you didn't answer . . . ."

"I-I t-tried to call," she stammered. "You didn't answer, and the only flight I could get---The phone on the plane was broken, and my cell phone said you were out of range . . . ."

"It's fine," he assured her though his smile was dim, his eyes troubled. "I'm glad you came."

She shook her head. "I just got here . . . I thought . . . I should have tried to call again."

"No . . . my father was rude, and I'm sorry."

Sierra frowned as she finally got a good look at Toga's clothing. Dressed in much the same manner as his father, the only real difference was that the shoulder and arm embroidered design on Sesshoumaru's clothing had been an orangey-red shade while Toga's were jade green. Her frown darkened as she leaned back, raising her hand to touch the . . . blanket? Why on earth was he wearing that?

"Toga? What's going on?"

He sighed and shook his head, leading her out of the way as the first of the guests arrived. "I'll tell you everything after the wedding, okay?"

She nodded slowly. "All right, but why are you wearing your blanket?"

He made a face. "It isn't a blanket. It's called Mokomoko-sama."

"A . . . what?"

He waved off her question as he muttered a greeting to some of the newly arriving guests.

Sierra blinked in confusion. Almost all of the people were dressed in a similarly archaic manner, like Toga and Sesshoumaru. But why? "I . . . maybe I should go back to the hotel," she offered with a wince.

Toga chuckled. "The damage has already been done. My father will honor his word. You're welcome to stay."

She wasn't sure if she should feel worse because of the feeling that she was completely unwelcome or because she had a decent idea that whatever trouble there was between Toga and his father, she'd just made it so much worse. "It's okay . . . I'll just go back."

He shook his head stubbornly. "No. I meant what I said. If you go, then I will, too."

"But it's your sister's wedding. It's her day, and she wants you here."

He shrugged. "And I want you here. Forget it, wench. You're staying."

Sierra's rebuttal was cut off when a loud male voice interrupted. "Damn it, Kagome, get off me, will you?"

Sierra peeked around Toga to see another version of the two silver haired boys she'd met before---Toga's cousins? This one was being trailed by a petite black haired woman with shining brown eyes that were, at the moment, centered on something in the man's hair. What surprised Sierra, though, was the crimson red outfit he wore. 'MC Hammer pants,' she thought with a bemused grin. She wasn't sure why that idea popped into her head, but it seemed fitting . . . . And just why was he wearing a sword on his hip?

At least the woman was dressed in more modern fashion. The crimson silk kimono-style dress matched the man's clothes perfectly, and when she caught Sierra's questioning gaze, she smiled and let go of the man to hurry over to the two of them.

"Is this her?" she asked, leaning up to kiss Toga's cheek as Toga leaned down to let her.

"Yes. Aunt Kagome, this is Sierra. Sierra, this is my aunt and her husband . . . my Uncle Yasha."

Those bright golden eyes darted over her quickly enough. Sierra couldn't help but feel like this Uncle Yasha had just made quick work of garnering an opinion of her, and that the opinion wasn't likely to change, no matter what it was. "So . . . you hit her dog?" Uncle Yasha asked, folding his arms together under the cover of his billowing sleeves.

"InuYasha!" Kagome gasped. She made a face and leaned toward Sierra. "Ignore him. He's got the manners of a mongrel."

"And you love it, wench."

Kagome blushed as two faces Sierra did know stepped up behind InuYasha and Kagome along with a very pretty silver haired girl. "Mother, looking lovely, as always," one of the twins greeted with a loud kiss on his mother's cheek. "Sierra! I wasn't expecting you, though it is a very nice surprise . . . . I hope you are enjoying Japan?"

"Feh! Step aside, Kich," Ryomaru said as he shoved his brother out of the way to greet his mother and Sierra. "Nice to see you again, Sierra."

Sierra blinked in surprise. Her interactions with the twins hadn't been quite like this. They almost seemed . . . formal?

"Told you the act differently when their mother is around," Toga muttered in her ear. Sierra nodded slowly. "And that is my cousin, Gin, who is absolutely nothing like her hentai brothers."

"Hentai?" Kagome echoed as she peered over her shoulder at her sons.

"What does that mean?" Sierra asked, unfamiliar with that term.

"Perverted," Toga remarked as InuYasha turned to eye his sons, too.

Ryomaru blinked innocently. "I don't know what he's talking about, Mother," he assured Kagome.

"Must be all the pollution in Chicago. It's affected his brain, and he's starting to mutate," Kichiro joked.

Gin shook her head. "Bakas," she mumbled as she offered Sierra a little grin. "Ignore them . . . they were an accident."

Toga suddenly coughed. Sierra turned to look at him curiously. "Something in the air," he remarked, dropping his fist away from his mouth.

"Has that bastard of a brother of mine met your friend yet?" InuYasha asked, arching a black brow in a pointed manner.

Toga sighed. "Yes. Yes, he has."

Sierra shook her head in wonder. It was obvious that Toga's infamous Uncle Yasha didn't care for Sesshoumaru? She didn't have time to wonder why as Kagome slipped an arm around her shoulders and led her away from the men. "Let me introduce you around, since Toga's not seen fit to do it, himself," Kagome remarked loud enough for the men to hear.

"Oi!" both Toga and InuYasha hollered after them.

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Ignore them. So I take it you haven't met Toga's mother?"

Sierra winced and shook her head. If Sesshoumaru's greeting was anything like what she should expect from the other parent, she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to, either.

Kagome led Sierra deeper into the huge mansion, through the dining room---which was absolutely immense---to the kitchen beyond. A very regal-looking woman dressed in about a dozen layers of silk fabric with an overlying kimono of white silk with embroidery that must denote the family, since it was nearly the exact same as Sesshoumaru and Toga's, was directing caterers with the authority of an Army general. That was Toga's mother? Sierra reigned in the impulse to turn and run.

"Kagura . . . look who I found outside," Kagome joked as Kagura turned and smiled at them both.

Her smile dimmed a little as she stepped forward, but it didn't disappear completely. Sierra stared at the woman's magenta eyes. She'd never seen such a color, and the first thing thought that came to mind was, 'Those have got to be contacts . . . .'

"This is Sierra . . . the girl Toga's mentioned," Kagome supplied.

Kagura nodded. "Pleased to meet you. Welcome to my home. I'm Kagura, Toga's mother."

"Thank you."

Kagura's smile widened again as she leaned her head to the side, regarding Sierra critically. "What a lovely girl . . . Where is Toga? I think I need to speak with him before more guests arrive."

"Out side with InuYasha," Kagome said.

Sierra watched as Kagura swept from the room. "That went better than meeting Toga's father," she remarked.

Kagome made a face as she led the way back through the dining room and toward the living room. "Don't worry about Sesshoumaru. There aren't many people he does care for. Besides, Toga's the one who matters, and he likes you just fine, right?"

Sierra smiled. "Yeah, you're right." Staring at Kagome so close up, Sierra frowned. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

Sierra shook her head slowly. "You don't look old enough to have full-grown children."

Kagome grinned and shrugged. "Toga hasn't told you much about his family, has he?"

"A little . . . I know he's been at odds with his father lately . . . ."

Kagome nodded. "Well, there's a bit more to it than that, but I think Toga ought to be the one to tell you everything."

Sierra digested that in silence. Just what was going on, anyway?


--0--0--0--0--0--


"We've always thought he was pretty hideous, too."

Sierra jumped at the soft voice beside her and turned to stare into the shocking amber eyes of the bride, Toga's sister, Aiko. Silvery hair twisted up in an ornate convolution of curls and spirals, the girl was absolutely stunning. Sierra managed a smile as she fought down a blush that she had been 'shamelessly ogling' Toga, who was dancing with a tall bronze haired woman. Willowy and elegant, she looked nice, dancing with him. Sierra winced inwardly as she remembered the strange undercurrent to Toga's behavior around his father.

"Toga . . . there are other guests here," Sesshoumaru remarked as he drew up beside them at the reception. "You will make yourself available, I assume?"

Sierra didn't miss the almost hostile flicker of light behind Toga's gaze. "Certainly, Father. Far be it for me to ignore your guests."

Sesshoumaru's cold gaze settled on Sierra for a moment longer before he turned and strode away.

"Dance with me, Toga."

Casting Sierra an apologetic look, Toga let the woman lead him off like a . . . Sierra snorted. 'Like a dog on a leash.'

She snapped out of her reverie and forced a smile for the new bride. "Toga said you invited me. Thank you."

Aiko shook her head. "He seems happy with you."

"Does he?"

Aiko grinned. "Not saying I know him better than anyone, but it's a close thing. Although, I've got to admit, if it were my man dancing with an ex, I think I'd have a thing or two to say about it."

Sierra's gaze shifted back to the couple again. "His ex?"

"Uh huh . . . Fujiko. They dated forever, but I think it was more to please Papa than anything . . . ." Aiko giggled. "As often as he keeps looking back at you, though, I'd say you've got nothing to worry about." She winked and moved on, leaving Sierra alone to ponder that.

'So that's his ex? He didn't want to be with her?' She shook her head. The woman was gorgeous. How could he not want to be with her?

"Enjoying yourself?"

Sierra stifled a sigh and glanced at the short, black haired woman beside her. "Yes . . ." she replied with a small smile.

"I'm Rin, Toga's older sister."

"Oh, yes . . . he's mentioned you."

Rin nodded. "I wish I could say the same. I haven't talked to Toga since he moved. We miss him."

"He . . . seems like he misses you all, too."

Rin winced as she pushed back a lock of her ebony hair. "Most of us, sure. I doubt he misses Father very much."

"He said they weren't seeing eye to eye," Sierra commented.

"That's an understatement. Father's being pig-headed, and Toga . . . it's about time Toga told him where to stick it."

"Toga doesn't stand up to him often?"

Rin sighed. "Not so much that . . . he's never had a reason to do it. They used to be so close, and now . . . . Well, I guess things change. Everyone thinks Father is being stubborn for no good reason, at least on this. He and InuYasha have fought over it a few times, which doesn't really mean much since they don't really need a reason to fight, in the first place . . . ."

Sierra managed a weak laugh. "Sounds like my brothers."

Rin rolled her eyes and patted the back of her hair. "Guess some things are just universal." She winked at Sierra. "Never mind them. If you make Toga happy, then I wish you both the best."

"Thanks."

Rin sucked in a sharp breath of air and touched Sierra's arm. "I hate to run, but I don't see Kagome, and it looks like InuYasha is about to do some Tetsusaiga shoving. If you'll excuse me . . . ."

Sierra frowned. 'Tetsusaiga shoving?' Watching out the window of the huge French doors as InuYasha started to unsheathe his sword as he stalked toward a young man who had been talking to Gin, Sierra could only figure that his sword must have a name and wasn't just for ceremonial show . . . .

She blinked suddenly and narrowed her gaze, not really believing what her eyes were telling her. She hadn't noticed it before, but InuYasha was outside barefoot in the middle of December?

Turning her attention away from Rin, who was outside trying to restrain the silver-haired man, Sierra sipped champagne as she stared around the gathering. Catching the eye of a woman nearby, Sierra caught the open anger in the woman's features. Slowly turning to look behind, to see if there were someone else that the woman could be glaring at, Sierra turned back in time to see the woman casually walking toward her.

"So you're here with Toga?"

Puzzled over the flash of anger in the woman's violet gaze, Sierra nodded but didn't speak.

"How long have you known him?"

That seemed like a reasonable enough question to her, and Sierra set her champagne glass on the table beside them. "A few months."

"A few months . . . I see . . . he didn't waste time, did he?"

"I beg your pardon?"

The woman offered her a tight little smile. "Oh, it's not important . . . I saw him a few months ago, and he hadn't mentioned you, so I assume he hadn't met you then. It was in Germany."

Sierra remembered Toga's words. 'The last place I was? Berlin . . . .' She shifted slightly. "He mentioned being there."

The flare of something dark and ugly in the woman's eyes surprised Sierra. The woman smiled insincerely, the expression as thin and tight as the subtle lines around her eyes. "I dated him, too, did you know? It was only for a week . . . his father made sure of that."

"His father? How?"

The woman laughed but it was a bitter sound. "Paid my father to move us. I wasn't good enough for him, I guess." She shook her head slowly, shifting those violet eyes toward the dance floor---onto Toga. "It was a long time ago . . . ."

"And you were invited to the wedding?"

She shrugged. "My husband is trying to sell Sesshoumaru his business, and Aiko is an old friend . . . . I suppose I'm not a danger anymore." Turning her gaze back onto Sierra, the woman narrowed her eyes, as if she were trying to see into Sierra's mind. "Is that why you're with him? Because of whom his father is?"

"What?"

"He's rich . . . heir to a fortune . . . makes sense . . . ." She brought her gaze back to pin Sierra, to assess her. Violet gaze flicking over her from head to toe, Sierra couldn't help but feel as though this woman despised her absolutely. "Don't hurt him."

"I wasn't planning on it," she remarked stiffly. 'Fine, she's just concerned . . . . Hold your temper, Sierra . . . .'

"Everyone has a price," she commented cryptically as she moved away. "It's just a matter of time before the almighty Sesshoumaru Inutaisho finds yours."

A million comebacks shot through her mind. Not one of them was appropriate in the given setting. Sierra clenched her jaw, trying to restrain her desire to let the woman know she'd overstepped herself.

"Sierra? Are you all right? What did Lily say to you?"

Whipping around to glare up into Toga's concerned expression, she felt her anger slowly seep away, and she sighed. "It's not important. I'm fine."

He didn't look convinced. "I shouldn't have left you alone . . . forgive me?"

She smiled. "There's nothing to forgive."

"You're sure?"

Her smile brightened into a real one. "I'm sure. Your family is . . . eclectic."

He winced. "That bad, huh?"

She giggled. "No . . . ."

"Oi, Toga . . . so this is Sierra . . . . At least you have good taste, pup . . . ."

Toga rolled his eyes and gestured at the man who joined them. "Sierra, this is my brother-in-law, Shippou. Shippou, this is Sierra. Did you lose Rin? I thought she kept you locked up during the day."

Shippou shrugged. "I found the key."

Sierra giggled. This relative, she decided, was very, very nice.

Shippou grabbed her hand and started to drag her away. "Oi!" Toga hollered.

Shippou waved over his shoulder. "Just a dance, pup! Get a grip."

When Sierra glanced back, Toga was staring at the two of them with a glower on his face and his arms crossed over his chest.

Shippou swept Sierra into his arms with such a flourish that Sierra had to giggle. Shippou chuckled and held her respectfully as he started to dance with her. "So you're the one he chose, huh? Doesn't surprise me."

Sierra blushed but smiled. The way he'd worded that seemed a little weird, but Sierra discounted it as the differences between the Japanese language and English, which everyone had been using around her since they all seemed to figure that she didn't know their language. She was relieved for that. "Chose me?"

He shrugged. "Sure. Inu-youkai mate for life . . . he didn't tell you?" Shippou made an exaggerated face, a very pronounced grimace. "That figures. Just like InuYasha . . . he rubbed his scent off on Kagome long before he ever bothered to mark her . . . ."

She hadn't heard that term before. Shaking her head slowly, Sierra frowned as she asked, "What's an 'inu'---?"

"All right, you've had your dance, Shippou. Step aside."

Sierra stepped back as Shippou raised his eyebrows apologetically before holding out his hand that still had Sierra's clasped in it. Toga took her hand and shot his brother-in-law a dark look. Shippou's grin widened and he bowed slightly to Sierra before ambling away to find his wife.

"What did he mean?" Sierra asked softly as Toga pulled her close to dance. It struck her that even in the strange clothing, he still looked every bit as comfortable as he did in anything else he wore. A sudden thought crossed her mind, a strange sense that maybe she didn't know him at all. His eyes seemed deeper, darker, shrouding some sort of secret that he didn't want to tell her, and if that were true, then what could he be hiding?

He winced and sighed before offering her an apologetic smile. "Remember those things I said I'd tell you later?"

Sierra nodded.

"I'll tell you later."

She didn't answer right away. Positive that there really was much more to this that Toga was reluctant to tell her, she still trusted that he would tell her whatever it was that seemed to be hanging in the air over them like an invisible cloud. "Okay."

They danced in silence for a few moments. Sierra felt as though her head was about to pop. Nothing made sense to her, nothing from the time she rang the doorbell until now . . . . Well, nothing except the idea that being here with Toga . . . . It was where she wanted to be.


A/N:


Final Thought from InuYasha :

I can't believe the pup ran over her dog


Blanket disclaimer for this fanfic (will apply to this and all other chapters in Defiance): I do not claim any rights to InuYasha or the characters associated with the anime/manga. Those rights belong to Rumiko Takahashi, et al. I do offer my thanks to her for creating such vivid characters for me to terrorize.

Sue