A/N: Eee! I'm so happy right now! I'm so close to getting one hundred reviews! Thank you all for reviewing! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! So, I'm not going to trouble you with too long an Authors Note today. n.n You people rule. Peace out!
P.S. This chapter may be a little boring, because most of it is letters. Gomen.
P.S.S. I'm also going to change the little notes I have before I change to a different scene, I'm not going to say who it is at first... sometimes it just sounds a bit odd to say it so much...
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, I just like putting the characters into uncomfortable situations.
Chapter eleven: Touches of Affection
In her new home, Kagome really didn't have much to do. She would wait for letters, news from father, normal praises from Kouga. And... there was the messanger boy! She sat up quickly and sped to the door, throwing it wide open and grinning largely at the boy, "Hi Suké!" She said a bit overly-bright. He smiled meekly back and handed her the letters. "Thank you!" She then waved and closed the door lightly before shifting through it.
A letter from Father.
A letter, um, letters from Kouga.
A message from the Western Lands.
... Wait! A message from the Western Lands? Kagome nearly dropped all the mail as she stared at it, eyes wide as saucers. Inuyasha! Or... Sesshoumaru? Oh, how she wished it were the latter. With a small squeak she set the letter in a desk drawer, and decided to read the other letters and try to ignore the nagging feeling that the letter was from Inuyasha, and that it was right there.
She opened the letter from Father:
Dear Daughter, Lady Kagome;
I'm so glad you've accepted the proposal from the Eastern Lands! I'm so proud of you, even if it did take a small amount of urging you...
Small amount? Kagome scoffed. More like hours on end.
Well, our Lands are to be joined legally in a few days. I've gotten many requests on where the "wedding" shall be held. Where would you like it to be, Kagome? We can have it anywhere you like. The Western Lord has given permission for it to be on his Land, even!
Kagome held her breath. Had Inuyasha persuaded Sesshoumaru, or had he done it of his own free will? Maybe she'd have it there, for Sesshoumaru, he'd be sure to be proud...
Well, since you seem to like news the best of all my letters, I guess I shall give you a peice of news:
A young fellow by the name of Hojo was killed by a hourde of demons! I suppose it might be normal, but they didn't even eat him. Just killed him and left. Dreadful, really.
With a sigh, Kagome folded the letter and set it down on the table, before looking through the three letters Kouga had sent. And... wait a minute, who was this? She looked at the letter quizzicly. Ayame Hunte. It was adressed as in a scrawl, (Future Ayame Wolfe). And, intrigued, Kagome opened the letter:
Dear Lady Kagome;
I appriciate you forming an alliance between the Southern and Eastern Lands, Lady Kagome. Oh, I have not formally introduced myself. I am Ayame Hunte, future, or to be, Ayame Wolfe. Yes, you've read correctly, Kouga promised to marry me when we were kids!
I'm sorry if this comes as a bit of a shock, but you cannot marry Kouga, for he has already been promised to me. Although he objects, I'm sure he'll come around. So I urge you not to try and marry Kouga, for the result will be disasterous. Oh yes, I am very greatful, yada, yada, yada, and this letter will soon come to a close. Kouga Wolfe, in turn, is mine, always will be mine, and will not be yours.
Sincerely Ayame Wolfe.
Kagome blinked slightly. But what about the alliance? Hmm, no way was she going to listen to this crazy woman! She was to marry Kouga, and she'd go through with it...
But her gaze caught on the desk drawer. Maybe something would stop her?
She shook those thoughts out of her head, for she knew them to be false, and, instead decided to open the two new letters from Kouga:
#1.
Dearest Kagome;
If your Father has not yet told you, the joining of our Lands will be in naught a new days. I'm also to say that our "wedding" will be held in a week.
Kagome shifted. Why did everyone keep putting quotations on wedding? She sighed.
I cannot wait to meet you! Everyone says you've grown into quite the Lady. Your Father also says that even through all of that, he's sure you're the same old Kagome underneath. I'll send you another letter regarding my pack, and, uh, many other things to keep you up to date on "things"...
Sincerely Kouga.
Now Kagome didn't really want to find out why everyone was putting quotations around wedding. She decided to find out later on, and just skip over to... "the" letter, from the Western Lands. She walked over to the desk, and pulled out the letter before opening it and glancing over the letter with wide eyes...
He vaguely wondered if Kagome had gotten his letter yet while he was in lessons.
He still wondered if Kagome had got the letter while he was watching Rin.
He wondered still if Kagome had gotten his letter whilest beating on Jaken.
And finally he could take it no more. He burst into Sesshoumaru's office and started pacing, Sesshoumaru looking amused all the while.
"Do you think she's gotten the letter yet?" Questioned Inuyasha.
"I don't know," Was all Sesshoumaru offered. Inuyasha was quiet for a span of three minutes before bursting out again, this time louder than before,
"Now?"
"I don't know."
And this went on until Sesshoumaru kicked Inuyasha out of his office... literally. Inuyasha rubbed his backside, "Jeez, he didn't have to outright kick me, I would've left if he'd asked..." Although, the fact that Sesshoumaru had asked him to leave about five times, was lost to the hanyou. He grouched for a bit, before deciding he'd go find Myouga and question him to a few things.
The thing is, Myouga found Inuyasha before Inuyasha found him, and already had news for the disturbed nineteen-year-old.
"Master Inuyasha!" Yelped the flea, jumping up and down beside the library doors. Inuyasha stalked over and glared down at the old man, who stopped frightfully, then continued. "There is a letter from Lord Miroku!" The flea stated most anxiously. Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"So?"
"It's most urgent!" Inuyasha walked into the library and spotted the opened envelope.
"Didn't I tell you not to open my letters, Myouga-jiji?" The flea sort of shuttered, then looked down.
"Yes," He squeaked. Inuyasha looked with disinterest at the letter, before opening it up:
Inuyasha;
It seems that Lady Kagome is marrying Kouga Wolfe. Never would've guessed.
Of course, from my reliable sources it seems that you're not too happy with this arrangement.
Inuyasha scowled. Who were his "reliable sources" anyhow?
Well, the "wedding" is in a week, so you must hurry if you want Lady Kagome for yourself. I can think of many things that wonderful woman would be good for...
Inuyasha growled low in his throat, "Perverse Monk..."
Well, it seems I have to go now. Take care.
Miroku.
Inuyasha crossed his arms, "Seems the Monk is up to more than I thought this whole time he was laying low." Inuyasha muttered, "Spying on me as one of his hobbies, obviously."
She lay on the satin-covered bed, gazing up at the ceiling, a soft, touched look on her face.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure you could tell by now that the letter was from Inuyasha.
With a resigned sigh she flipped back over on to her stomach and looked over the letter. "Well, Inuyasha, it seems that, no matter how hard I try, I'll not escape you." Part of Kouga's letter floated to her mind,
I cannot wait to meet you! Everyone says you've grown into quite the Lady. Your Father also says that even through all of that, he's sure you're the same old Kagome underneath...
He can't wait to meet me... She thought absently. Why should I let him down? There's no reason, and he seems to really like me... I don't want to hurt him... but, Inuyasha...
"Oh, what do I do?"
"A perfect start to a seemingly perfect day!" Miroku said with a gulp full of air. "Ahh, the ladies are out, my groping minus slapping has been higher than usual, and I've spotted the most beautiful lady!" He steathily crept towards her, before reaching out his hand, getting so close to her beautiful hindquarters, and then she whirled and grabbed his wrist, much to his dismay.
"Aha!" She yelped, her grip so tight he'd thought his hand would fall off. "You're the pervert who keeps groping all of the woman here!" For some reason, Miroku figured that this woman was one of few who was not to be meddled with. He slipped his wrist away, bowed, and grinned a lecherous grin,
"The one and only. Miroku's the name, Miroku Hono," He took her hand and kissed her palm, to which she blushed furiously at, and swiped her hand away. It was only then that Miroku took to heart her whole appearance and not just her wonderful backside regions. She truly was a beautiful-looking woman. He smiled at the flushed taijiya - of which he'd figured out that she was - and bowed his head. "And what might be your name, beautiful bird?" She turned a deeper shade,
"S-Sang-go Odorokubeki," She stuttered.
"Ah! And what a lov-er-ly name you have," Miroku pronounced, twisting the words to make it humorous and appealing at the same time.
"T-Thank you Lord Monk..."
"Oh no, you must call me Miroku," He said with a smile that truly reached his eyes, "For you to call me that, would make me emmensely happy for your untimely appearance may have been the best thing that has happened to me all day!" Indeed, it was, and with Sango blushing scarlet, and the Lecherous Monk grinning, who knows what could happen... or... do we know?
"You PERVERT!"
"Lord Sesshoumaru?" Rin queried, to which he glanced up with a what's-the-problem-this-time look on his face, "Rin would like Lord Sesshoumaru to meet the Pretty Lady who came earlier to help Rin with her studies!" Sesshoumaru's look travelled to the door where an impeccably-dressed woman stood on the threshold.
"Uruwashii, Kagura." He stated simply.
"Tashiou, Sesshoumaru." She replied just as easily. Rin's smile never faded,
"Pretty Lady and Lord Sesshoumaru know eachother?"
"Kagura Uruwashii," Sesshoumaru corrected Rin. "And yes, we know each other." Kagura smirked and nodded in responce to Rin's question and Sesshoumaru's answer.
"Yes, we know each other well." She purred, before taking Rin's hand. "Let's go finish up with your lesson, Rin." She chided, pulling her out of the office. Sesshoumaru slumped into his chair. Damn woman, waltzing in here and bringing old memories back with her. Who hired her, anyways? Well, someone was going to get the beating of a lifetime, the next person who came through that door would -
"Lord Sesshoumaru?" A voice that belonged to Jaken - obviously - came floating down the hallway. Sesshoumaru smirked and stood, cracking his knuckles. Ah yes, the toad would suffice...
With a defiant gleam in her eye, Kagome swished her sword through the air, catching the smithy's-owner off-guard when doing so. The sound of metal colliding with metal struck through the air, before both dropped to the floor with audible gasps of short-winded breaths. Kagome grinned to the man-in-disguise. His old appearance was an "irixyu-jon" so to say. She pulled out her strip of cloth from her raven hair and pushed the strands that had escaped back into a ponytail. She stood and offered her hand to the oni,
"Time for a rest, eh, Tôtôsai?" The youkai, however, grabbed her hand and pulled her down, fastening an arm around her waist and laughing melodiously at her flustered face.
"Don't worry, Kagome dear, I'll only do anything to you if you want me to." He let her climb to her feet, and then got up himself, Kagome excusing herself, muttering something about herbal tea along the way. "Woman are so easily shaken," Stated Tôtôsai with a small grin. This man, er, oni, was much like Miroku in a few-too-many ways to make a few people uncomfortable with his actions.
"Do you want tea, Lord Tôtôsai?" Kagome called from the supposed kitchen,
"Yeah!" He called back, "And just call me Tôtôsai, no such formalities."
She was silent until she came back from the tea, obviously well-recovered from his earlier stunt. He took his from her greatfully and took a thoughtful sip. "You have a view from this place?" He wondered aloud. Kagome smiled softly and nodded,
"Yeah, I have yet to go outside but - " Tôtôsai interrupted her easily,
"I think it's about time we went and explored then."
And without further noticed, he snatched Kagome's hand and pulled her out the door like a child who'd discovered a new toy to play with.
With a sigh, a certain icy-eyed youkai stopped to look back and wait for his men. "Ginta! Hakkaku! Hurry yourselves up!" He yelled in their general direction, his gaze only turning when he thought he smelled the familiar scent of a certain smithy-worker. Tôtôsai. The other was a general smell of pine, spices, and jasmine, and a soft, feminine scent that could only be narrowed down to Kagome. ... Kagome! Jumping with exitement and inthusiasm, he sped off just as Ginta and Hakkaku had reached the corner.
"Kouga! Wait! Don't leave us again!" Both yelled out, nearly falling to the ground with over-exertion.
"Nee?" Pondered the raven-haired beauty while talking with Tôtôsai.
"Oh yes, that certainly is!" Cackled Tôtôsai with vigor. "That there's the Blue Mist Flower, one of the - " He was cut off by a sudden gust of wind, pulling his long whitened-with-age hair into the breeze. Kouga appeared with an angry-looking Kagome's hands clasped in his own.
"Hey! Who do you think you are? Tôtôsai was just giving me a lesson on this flower!" She huffed. Kouga grinned wolfishly and impudently,
"I'm Kouga Wolfe, and you're My Woman!"
Inuyasha had trashed the letter from Miroku some time ago. Myouga had tried to give him a lesson on modesty, but he just ended up as being squashed. Now he sat on his very large, and very plain, not to mention very white sheet-covered bed. He flopped down on it, his white triangular ears twitching atop his head.
He was not trying to diguise it, hide it, nor ebb it in any way.
Which is why, when Kagura found him for his lessons, he looked adorably flustered and childishly mad. She smiled and tapped lightly on the door, Inuyasha's ears perking at the noise and next his head lifting to scowl at the offensive woman. He blinked lightly,
"Kagura?" He questioned in disbelief.
"Yeah," She conceded, smile ebbing away gently, as if it were the tide. "I'm here to help you with your lessons, you and Rin, that is."
"Who hired you, gurotesuku Jaken?"
"Inuyasha!" She scolded, "Jaken is not of choice to be grotesque, so lighten up on him." Inuyasha's ears, now flattened in shame.
"Yes, Kagura-misu." Her look softened somewhat.
"Alright, lesson time."
By the time the lessons were halfway over, Inuyasha was figeting in his seat, as comfortable as the over-stuffed chair was.
"Are you listening, Inuyasha-dono?" Snapped Hirowashu, and Inuyasha growled.
"No! This is stupid, I'm leaving Hirowashu-jiji!" He stomped out, and Kagura sighed, rubbing her temples, while the sensei's lips thinned into a line.
"That Inuyasha is such a pain..."
"Yeah, so is his brother."
"Maybe if I hadn't been pushed!" A voice rang out angrily.
"You weren't pushed, you fell! Stop blaming your mistake on me!"
"It was your fault!"
"No it wasn't!"
"Was too!"
"Was not!"
"Wa - "
"Would you two just shut up and stop bickering!"
They shut up. For a short period of time, that is...
The two teenagers, Shippo and Souten fought fang and claw, over the crushed box of writing tools that had been fallen on by Souten. The babysitter at the time - Inuyasha, who was repenting for stomping out of class and insulting his sensei - was quite flustered. He sighed and slumped down further by the wall.
"What is this absoloute chaos?" Questioned Sesshoumaru from the doorway, frowning with disdain for the situation. The kitsune and the youkai-otome of the Ikazuchi hatamata Denkou Kuran both cried out and one of each hugged one of Sesshoumaru's legs.
"He/She broke the drawing stuff!" They both cried out at the same time. Sesshoumaru lifted a finely-shaped eyebrow at his ototo and sighed.
"Ototo, can you not take care of this?" He queried.
"No! You know very well that I can't take care of children."
Sesshoumaru scooped both of them up and left the room,
"Aniki..."
Then Inuyasha heard a shout, no, two shouts of glee in union,
"Itadakimasu!"
He sighed. Why hadn't he thought of that?
A/N: Whew, I really, really didn't want to end it there, but I'd ran out of ideas! Lotsa stuff to do today, also. I'm telling you now that I started this chapter around 5:30 PM and it is now around 6:05 AM. I'm going to start posting the time and date which I stared at the top, and when I finished at the bottom. I'll just do it down here for now:
Starting Time: January 1st, 2005: 5:30 PM -
----- And then...
Ending Time: January 2nd, 2005: 6:05 AM -
Okay, one thing done with. Now I'm going to search out all of my japanese sayings and out their meanings down:
Jiji : K'dokie, I've used this a few times in here I'm sure. It could be "Grandpa", but I'm using it as a rude meaning for "Old Man".
Taijiya : "Demon-slayer". It's as simple as that.
Odorokubeki : This is Sango's last name (or at least how I wanted it), and it means "Astonishing".
Taishou : Nope, I didn't take their Father's name. Taishou generally means "Boss", or "Crushing Victory", or something of the sort. I thought it sort of suited Sesshoumaru.
Uruwashii : Kagura's chosen last name, means "Lovely" or "Beautiful", I've voted for lovely.
Irixyu-jon : Simply means "Illusion".
Oni : Means "Demon", or "Ogre", this time I'm really striving for demon. n.n;;
Nee : Means, "Is it so?".
Gurotesuku : Means, "Grotesque". In my story it's used as an insult.
Misu : Means, "Miss".
Dono : Means, "Mister".
Sensei : Means, "Teacher", or "Master". In this case, teacher.
Otome: Means, "Girl", or "Young Lady", even "Daughter" and a few others like virgin for instance, but it means girl simply in this fic.
Ikazuchi hatamata Denkou Kuran : Alright, I'll explain this all in one, it means, "Thunder and Lightning Clan". I just saw Souten in one of the Inuyasha ep's with Shippo and they really liked drawing and everything, hence my idea. (I just wasn't sure of the name of her whole "clan" so I called it the Thunder and Lightning Clan.)
Ototo : Means, "Younger Brother".
Aniki : Means, "Elder Brother".
Itadakimasu : It's something said before meals.
To the Side Words:
Smithy : Smithy isn't a japanese word, but if someone doesn't know what it is, I dug up a discription from the dictionary; A blacksmith's shop; a forge. Also called smithery.
Blue Mist Flower : I just made this flower up for the story, it's not real.
Impudently : 1) Another word for help from the dictionary; characterized by offensive boldness; insolent or impertinent
2) Obsolete. Immodest.
Modesty : Freedom from vanity or conceit.
Disdain : Woo, another dictionary word; A feeling or show of contempt and aloofness; scorn.
FINALLY! FINISHED! -Sighs- Well, that sure took a while. First I searched out the japanese words in the story, then wrote down the meanings, and then for the less fortunate who don't have a very good education, or vocabulary, I found some odd words here and there and described them also! I'm sorry if there's any grammar errors, but with this time and all, I'm getting a bit sleepy. But an author's got to do, what an author's got to do.
Review Reviewer :
817: Sess/Rin, you say? Hmm, I'll have to think on it, get some more reviews. I added Kagura just in case. Because, you know, Rin's kind of... young.
shawnainoakhurst (Elizzi James): We'll have to wait and see if Kagome marries Kouga, eh? Hang on there, Elizzi, these few chapters are going to bring some suprises! Including why wedding has quotations around it...
OokamiHanyouGurl: Yesh, I know, poor Inu-kun. -Sniffs- Oh well, it's my story, and Inu will not be sad for too long! (Major spoiler right there for those who get it.)
kougagurl666: I don't understand why everyone has "Gurl" in their name... anyways, to the review of the review! Thank you, I get praised! I love getting these reviews...
And now, for your veiwing pleasure, a small skit!
Sesshoumaru & Inu: ...
Tia: What? Why are you looking at me like that?
Inu: I feel like crying...
Sesshoumaru: I might just show emotion right now...
Tia: -Gasp- I must get the camera!
While Tia is gone...
Sesshoumaru & Inu: Review... please... -Sniff-
One more thing to be said, Happy - the remainder of the holidays - Holidays, and review, and Fluffy-ness shalt come to you! Granted! Oh yes, and I'm reaching the point of 100 reviews! -GASP!- So review, and make me one of the happiest people alive when it says "100" up at the top!
Tia