Back on the dance pad, with half an hour left before they had to be back to the green room for the contest, Kyle and Daniel were in the final round of the video game room tournament. There was a huge audience around them, hooting and cheering for one of the two while the music kept playing and they kept racking up the combo chains. At this rate, they'd probably go into a sudden death round just to figure out which one of them was going to win.
"Just give in and eat the dog chow!"
That was all Daniel needed to shift gears and drop back to use his hands while moving about on the pad and rack up Perfect after Perfect. He had a big grin on his face when Kyle suddenly slipped on a step and lost his chain, while the combo chain on Daniel's side was still growing. "You're better off stickin' to grabbing girls' butts, Monk!" he exclaimed as he hit the last step and finished up the set. It was no contest then who'd won the last round.
Kyle was rather sore about it, having lost by just one step, but, even as Daniel was handed the joystick trophy, he decided to applaud his friend. Better to cheer him on rather than be bitter. He'd take him down next time, anyway.
That's when his cell phone rang. Kyle fished it from out from under his costume, flipped it open, then hit the talk button. That number was one he didn't recognize. "Hello?" he greeted, then went wide-eyed as he glanced to the others and gestured for them to join him. "Taishou-sama, this is a surprise!"
"Is Daniel with you?" came the reply. "I need to speak with him before you all go to perform in the contest tonight." A pause. "Preferably in private. It deals with his heritage."
His eyes shifted toward the hanyou. Did Sesshoumaru know who Daniel's parents were? That was the obvious reason, and at the very least, he would know the identity of Daniel's real father. "We'll send him over right now," he answered before mouthing to the boy that he had best get to Sesshoumaru's room. After hanging up, he turned to the fourteen-year-old and frowned. "Call me as soon as you're finished," he said while they all left the game room. "Something feels funny about this."
His ears were on edge, but Daniel nodded and headed off while leaving his Tetsusaiga with the group. Just what did Sesshoumaru want to speak with him about? And why before the costume contest? If it wasn't very important, couldn't it wait until later?
Best not to ponder. Sesshoumaru was, by all means, now his employer. His parents had called earlier and let him know that Sesshoumaru had paid them a visit to work out the contracts and such. Damn, that man was fast. From what he could gather, Daniel was the first one officially signed, and the only one whose parents had so far been personally visited by the taiyoukai of the Western Lands of Japan. Then again, he was the entire reason this was actually happening.
About five minutes later, he knocked on the room door, and was greeted by the oddest sight; a tiny green creature of a little man, about two feet tall, who was dressed in a business suit and wearing a cap on his head. It took a moment for Daniel to recognize those features and large amphibian yellow eyes. "Jaken!" he exclaimed just moments before the imp ran out and pushed him into the room. "Whoa, you're-"
"You know about Sesshoumaru-sama," Jaken replied while glaring at the boy. "You know what you are, and yet you doubted my existence! How ignorant and-"
"Jaken! That's enough."
The imp turned and bowed to his lord, then scurried over to stand by Sesshoumaru's side. That earned him a swift kick had him crashing into the bed. "Sesshoumaru-sama..."
The youkai lord said nothing to his vassal. His attention was on Daniel. "I suppose you are wondering why I have called you here," he stated while moving toward the closet. Daniel quickly moved aside. "You no doubt were informed by your parents that all arrangements have been agreed upon, and the contracts signed." A pause as he pulled out a box which was bound shut by a series of sashes. Now walking around to the bed, he set it down and gestured for Daniel to open it. "While the costume you're wearing now is a well done one, I think perhaps this would better suit you."
He blinked, unsure what to think of this. Surely, Sesshoumaru hadn't had his new costume made already. And the box looked old, not to mention the sashes that tied it shut. He carefully undid the bindings, then slowly lifted the cover to stare in shock. If this was what he thought it was... "I-I can't accept this," he said, stuttering as he set down the box lid. "This has to be hundreds of years old, and if it belonged to who I think it did-"
Sesshoumaru held up his hand. He had to consider how to word this carefully. Daniel wasn't ready by any means to know who he really was, not yet. "Consider it a loan for tonight," he replied softly. "You resemble my late brother enough that it would only be fitting for you to wear his kimono for your first performance."
Oh boy. This was not the kind of situation they needed right now. They'd built their own costumes, it wouldn't be right for him to wear the real thing. "I'm honored you'd let me use this," he stated, almost choking. "But, I think it would be better if I just stuck with what I have now, since the contest is about our own work. I'm flattered, but..."
Sesshoumaru was going to chew him out, no doubt about it. Daniel braced himself for a verbal lashing, but instead, Sesshoumaru merely placed a claw under the rosary and examined it. "I wonder," he intoned while fingering the necklace carefully. "How did you find a genuine subjugation rosary out here in this country?" A smile was creeping across his lips now. "I suppose that Lily would have you by a rather handy leash if she could wield its power."
That was all he needed, to be reminded of how much he was under his girlfriend's thumb. "Actually," he began, then paused, not sure if he wanted to reveal that she could punish him with this damned collar. Better now than later, however, especially if she decided to use it on him for the contest. "She can make me 'Sit'...we still can't figure out how or why, and none of us can get this thing off me."
One white brow went up in response. That was interesting. Lily was obviously no miko, nor was she from any Japanese bloodlines. Kyle, on the other hand, most definitely was. The results of that genealogy check had proven Sesshoumaru's suspicions about the older boy of the troupe, and not only that, a few of his own descendents had married into the Miyamoto family. But why this girl? Clearly, some force was at work here that made sure she and the hanyou before him were a couple.
Daniel was right though. If they were only entering the normal costume contest, then it was rather moot to have him wear the actual fire-rat's fur kimono. Better to let them be judged on their own skills and merits. "We shall wait then," he stated while closing the box and re-binding the sashes. "I advise you return to your friends, since you have not much time before the contest." A glare to Jaken again. "I shall be watching, and I wish you luck tonight."
The boy gulped, bowed, and headed out the door while Sesshoumaru now picked up his imp servant and glared at him. "I told you," he hissed while the youkai trembled. "Do not treat the boy as if he were a common peasant. He is of royal blood, both youkai and human, and you know well that extends to both sides of his family."
The imp rapidly nodded. Mind you, he actually preferred to see when his master was obviously angry. For Sesshoumaru to smile when he should be seething was a frightening sight for Jaken. But right now, he wished he hadn't angered his lord. "My apologizes, Sesshoumaru-sama! It's just that...he resembles your late brother so much that I felt my old habits return."
He released his hold and dropped the imp to the floor, where Jaken landed with a hard thud. "Make sure there are no disturbances tonight," he ordered while he went to prepare himself for watching the contest. Something a bit more casual than normal, but not too casual. Yes, that would do perfectly; virgin linen, white button down silk shirt underneath and canvas deck shoes on his feet. He frowned as he glanced in the mirror at his hair, then snapped out his cell phone and made a quick call. Having taken his true humanoid form last night had also undone some of the styling work he'd had preformed before coming to this convention. Fortunately, his hair stylist was very able to make long distances in a matter of seconds.
And moments after he hung up, the brown haired kitsune appeared in his room. "You really have a talent for messing yourself up," she intoned while seating him and breaking out her tools from the bag she'd worn around her shoulder. "Honestly, you pay me enough to make sure it looks right, and then you go and let it fall to pieces."
"Not now, Gin," he stated calmly while she went to work redoing his hair. She was like this, and for a youkai, his stylist had very much adopted the human obsession with fashion. Half the time, she tried talking him into wearing his hair in a braid since he insisted so much on having it this long. Obviously, he'd bluntly refused. Haut couture was one thing. He'd always kept up with the fashions of the time, but there was still a sense of tradition to his tastes. However, some youkai were far too fascinated with human culture at times. Besides, he had to keep some features hidden, like his ears. Too many people with that trait was going to raise questions, and there were limits to his shape shifting abilities. "I don't have much time before I am due to watch the contest."
A brow went up while Gin was spraying his hair with water so she could get it styled better. "The hanyou kid?" she asked, now giving his hair a thorough brushing. A few snips to get rid of those split ends. His hair used to be such a nightmare to fix when he'd first employed her services. Knots like nobody's business, hordes of split ends, it was amazing it managed to look decent. She'd fixed that. "He's cute, but a bit young for my taste. Should I use the sakura scented spray, or the strawberries?"
"Scentless will do, it's just a costume contest." Hm, that was another thing. It would be a good idea to have Daniel get his hair fixed up. It had the length, but no doubt it was a horrible mess. Plus, he'd have to arrange for a new wardrobe. Those children would be expected to make formal appearances, since they were going to be in a very public spotlight. Perhaps the Mermaid Ball at the hotel near his beach house that was in the summer. Best to call his daughter and inform her that she'd be hosting the group come July. Blair should be back in the Americas by then. Not that he counted on the changeling doing anything underhanded with Ayumi, but it was a note of importance for the free room in the condo. No doubt Daniel and Kyle did not own tuxedos, that ball was a very formal dress affair. He'd have to have them measured.
Snip, snip. "That girl he's attached to is rather pretty," the kitsune remarked while using the thinning cutters and making sure that she erased all the hair that was falling to the floor. "They seem quite happy. Is she part of the performance group as well?"
A slight nod. He knew how seriously Gin took her work, and even if he was very much her superior in both business and racial standings, he knew better than to irk a woman's wrath, be they human or youkai. "I felt it best to not break their group up. The older boy, Kyle, is a relation of mine through marriage as well."
There was a sound of approval. Sometimes, Sesshoumaru had to remind himself that Gin was still a youth by youkai years. She'd grown up in this human world, saw them almost as her equals because she'd been raised in their realm. She'd even come to the Americas for study before she'd gone into the profession of being a stylist and fashion advisor. No wonder she was so fascinated by the humans. "I think I've seen him before. He's from the Miyamotos, right?" A satisfied smile as Sesshoumaru nodded. "Thought so. I met him when I was going out with one of his cousins. Nice boy, but a bit of a horndog."
Yes, much like his ancestor. "I'm not too happy about that aspect of his," came the disappointed statement. "He and his girlfriend are being a bad example to the younger portion of the troupe."
Gin shrugged and got to spraying in some Rave X6. The whole bottle should be enough to keep that hair in place, unless Sesshoumaru decided to take on his true humanoid form again. That really tended to throw all her work out the window, regardless of what she did. "Sure you don't want the scenting?" she asked again while packing up her equipment. "By the way, teenagers will be teenagers, they can't help that nature made them to be humping like rabbits."
That was very much expected. Gin had, after all, grown up in the modern culture, where sex wasn't such a taboo thing outside of marriage. He'd learned to adjust to the idea, but Sesshoumaru still held to some traditions. If only his more recent children could do the same. At least Daniel and Lily were shy about it, when the boy wasn't in heat. Thankfully, that was something they only had to worry about during the full moon.
"That will be all for now," he stated while standing up and smoothing down his suit. "I'll drop a bonus into your account for your troubles. Also, make some time clear this week, since I'll be having the group see you sometime after the convention. We'll be returning to Japan around Wednesday."
A nod and a bow as she slung her bag back onto her shoulder. "I look forward to it," Gin quipped as she vanished in a puff of blue fire.
Jaken was busy contacting certain individuals to make sure that nothing occured to disrupt things tonight. He didn't really count on anyone being foolish enough to attack a human gathering of this size, but with Daniel's presence, it was better to be safe than sorry. And two youkai lords in one place was a rather tempting target to the right people.
An hour before the contest started. The group was probably sitting in the green room right now, getting briefed on the rules and such. He had time for a light dinner. Perhaps the hotel restaurant was still open.
God, it was getting hot in there. Fortunately, flannel tended to breathe rather well, so Daniel was very thankful for that fact in the construction of his costume. They'd gotten the briefing already, and now they just had about half an hour before they started heading out to the stage. Photos were being taken by some of the big cosplay sites, people were talking, exchanging contact info, the usual things to pass time.
He and the other had already been posing for almost a dozen pictures already in the time they'd been waiting. There'd been a few girls who made a pass at him, only for Lily to growl angrily in his defense. Had this been back when they'd first seen each other again, he'd have been a bit bothered. But, she was his girlfriend now, and she was more than entitled to protect her property, as Kyle had so lovely put it at least once. On the upside, he was required to do the same for her when other guys started trying to make with the sweet talk. That made sure he reacted like his character perfectly; baring his teeth and giving a deep growl from in his chest, flashing those claws...one would almost think he really was getting a bit jealous.
"Down boy," Kyle quipped after Daniel had finished scaring off one prospecting cosplayer. "We don't need you biting their heads off yet."
That earned him a razzing. "I'm only doing my job," the boy replied while shifted his Tetsusaiga on his shoulder. Truth be told, he was starting to understand why Lily was so possessive of him. He was hers, and she was his, little questions to be asked. Of course, there was this damn collar around his neck...
"Holy crap! You pervert!"
That would not be Kyle, since most times, he was expected to do butt grabs. As the five turned to see what was going on, they saw a tiny man dressed in loose clothing hopping away from one of the girls. Was that a bra in his hands! And he couldn't be more than two feet tall! It wasn't Jaken though, even he wasn't stupid enough to break his cover. Wait a minute, that looked like...
"Happosai?" the boys muttered in unison. Either the man was tiny enough to pull of one hell of a costume, or there was more to Rumiko basing her mangas on real events and people than they'd thought.
He halted, looked around as if responding, then quickly leapt away just as a pair of girls made a dive for him. The tiny man was lithe, that was for sure. That is, until he found himself with Daniel's fist firmly planted in his face. "Itai!" Rub, rub. "Now who would strike the great Sensei Happosai, Master of Anything-Goes-Martial Arts?"
Pint size neck of dirty old man, meet clawed hand of one very disturbed hanyou. "I should have figured you'd be real," Daniel hissed to the old man. He pulled the bag off of Happosai, then handed it over to the girls who were now running over to retrieve their belongings. "Give me a minute with the freak, then you can go at him."
Squirm, squirm. "Didn't your parents teach you to have respect for your elders, boy!" the little man snapped while Daniel and his group took him to a corner. "I'll have you know that I-"
"You're a rotten little perverted freak, that's what you are!" came the angry retort from the hanyou. Wait, something smelled odd about this tiny man. Youkai? He'd gotten the scent from Sesshoumaru and Kitsunebi enough times to recognize what a youkai smelled like, but why was it on Happosai? Speaking of which, what the hell was this little shriveled flea of a man doing here at an American convention? Okay, the answer to that should have been obvious; the female cosplayers. But how'd he get here?
Bite. "Ow!"
Happosai smirked as he landed on the ground, but was quickly caught by Kistu in the form of a large dog. "Disrespectful cretins, that's what you all are," he growled while looking around for any other way out. None. Well this was going to prove difficult. "Just like that Saotome boy and his sister, don't have any respect for your betters and elders! I should teach you all a lesson right now and-"
"And what?" Kyle now grabbed Happosai by the neck and lifted him up. "Anger the Taiyoukai of the West, Inu no Taishou Sesshoumaru?" Hm, good. The little freak was starting to look worried. He knew of Sesshoumaru, that confirmed the youkai scent from him. "We work for him now, Happosai, and I doubt he'd appreciate you attacking his new performance troupe before they'd even had their first public appearance." Now an evil gleam was in his eyes and he pulled the youkai closer. "Not to mention, Daniel here is an inu hanyou, just like Sesshoumaru-sama's brother."
Well, that was enough to scare the little man. He stopped struggling finally, and Kyle took the chance to hand him off to Daniel. "What do you want me to do so that you won't tell him?"
Hm, that didn't sound like Happosai at all, if his memory of the anime held true. And since he'd been watching some of Ranma 1/2 just last night, Daniel's memory was rather fresh. Happosai was planning something. "How about you bugger out of here, or we tell both Lord Sesshoumaru and Lord Kistunebi." Now the little demon was scared. One taiyoukai was scary enough, but two of them in the same place? Not even this freakish lecher was going to risk that kind of wrath. "And no tricks, Happosai. I know plenty about you from Miss Takahashi's manga, so I know you're planning something."
Toss and punt. It felt good to give that little demon a kick right in the butt and send him flying to the main doors. Quite a few girls were cheering him for that one, and most likely, the staff thought that Happosai had been a plushie or something. The end result was that the little freak was out of there. Man, did it feel good to get that anger out. That or he was starting to get a little too much into character, what with the attitude he'd picked up ever since he'd started hanging around with these people.
There was the call that the contest was starting. Best to get back to their seats and wait to be sent into the back halls to the stage. They'd worked out a bit of a little skit, and of course, it involved him getting planted face first into the stage. Lily insisted that she'd make it up to him, but right now, he wasn't too sure the pain was going to be worth it. At least after tonight, he'd have a chance to find out who he really was. But for right now, he had to be InuYasha, he with the attitude problem from Hell.
This was going to hurt.
