Chapter nine: Dinner
Inuyasha was sitting on his bed, watching the stars and moon outside from his open balcony.
He wished the journey was longer; being around the castle made him the grouch.
Not that, that was a bad thing, he enjoyed tormenting people and playing with their emotions. It was only last week that his father had brought in a suitor and Inuyasha had decided he didn't like her so he tormented her and twisted her mind. She ended up leaving the castle in under a week saying she didn't feel well and it was probably the different air here.
Inuyasha chuckled; she was such an ugly thing too.
His mother had arrived home not long after himself and Yasha, complaining about people not sending messages when they were traveling. Obviously who ever she had gone to see, wasn't there, making his mother grouchy and snappy.
His father was happy to see him, and straight away gave him some paperwork to do to ease his own load.
And his older brother was no where to be seen, not that, that really mattered, probably off with some woman, he seemed to have a knack with the opposite sex.
Inuyasha stuck his tongue out, imagining his brother and a random woman doing anything passionate made him want to throw up.
He was just reaching for his book when he heard the dinner bell ring from the kitchens below him.
He sighed and sat up deciding to go pick Yasha up, he liked her company, and the thought of that kiss, even though it didn't mean anything made him grin.
He walked down the hallway, hands in his pockets walking to the far eastern room, the only one suitable for a guest.
Inuyasha whistled while he walked and when he reached her door, rapped sharply on it twice and stepped back. Yasha opened it not much later and smiled when she saw him, "Good Evening my lord" she said, leaning against the door.
Inuyasha scowled at her, "Don't call me that, just Inuyasha" he muttered. Yasha's smile grew larger, "Okay then, Inuyasha" she paused, "What can I do to help you?"
Inuyasha grinned, "Dinner's served"
Yasha nodded, "I'll see you after then"
Inuyasha mentally slapped himself and sighed, "Yasha, you're joining me and my family, you're a princess remember?"
Yasha's eyes widened, "Oh! I forgot all about that!"
Inuyasha grimaced and cocked his head to one side, "Obviously"
"Just let me grab my white shirt" she said hastily just as she spun around and looked around for her shirt.
"Is the room okay?" Inuyasha asked as he stepped in and looked around, last time he was in here was to put a toad in Lady Usagi's bed.
"Yes, the room's beautiful" Yasha answered, slightly breathless from getting up to quick. Inuyasha looked around, "Do you have many garments?"
Yasha frowned up at him, "I have two, what are you my mother or something?"
Inuyasha grinned, "I like to think more along the lines of fairy godmother"
Yasha snickered as she pictured a white-gowned Inuyasha in her head holding a wand and crystal ball.
"So, who will be at dinner tonight?" she asked.
Inuyasha thought for a moment while they walked down the hallways and stairs, "Well, we usually have dinner with the whole court but because mother has just returned I think it will just be the six of us"
"Six?" Yasha asked, wondering about siblings.
Inuyasha knowing what she was questioning about laughed, "Yeah, my father, mother, older brother, possibly his courting partner, yourself and I"
Yasha counted them off on her finger as he said them, "You have an older brother?"Inuyasha grunted in response, "Sesshomaru"
Yasha bit her lip to keep from exploding, she remembered that name, she was almost sure it was her friend now. "You don't like him?"
Inuyasha's head bobbed from side to side, "He's alright I guess"
Yasha nodded, deciding that he wanted the conversation was ended."Hey. You never showed me what was under that thing." he smirked, pointing to her head.
"Oops. Sorry." She untied the silk strip of cloth, "There. Happy?" she grinned as she wiggled sore her ears freely. "That feels much better."
Inuyasha was drop-jawed. It was a perfect match. Left ear black, right ear white. Exactly how he remembered his friend. "What is your last name? You never told me."
"Yoshikimura."
"I knew it!"
"Then why'd you ask?"
"Smart-ass." he grumbled. "If I'm right, you are Yasha Yoshikimura princess of the kingdom Kyushu."
"I can't believe it. It's really you..." she whispered, and a tear of pure happiness slipped down her cheek. Yasha threw herself into his arms and whispered in his ear, "Who knew I'd end up with my best friend as a master. And if I could change it, I wouldn't have it any other way."
They stood there for a minute, neither of them could speak.
Inuyasha stepped outside a large oak door, "Ready?"
Yasha smiled and nodded. Inuyasha grinned, "Ok then, here we go"
He swung the large doors open and strode into the room, already sitting at the table he saw his parents and smiled.
Yasha stood not to far from the table her hand clasped in front of her.
Inuyasha kissed his mother on the cheek and briefly hugged his father around the neck.
He was about to sit down when he remembered Yasha, "Mother and Father I would like to present to you Princess Yasha"
Both their gazes fell to the 'princely' dressed beauty over near the door.
Yasha taking this as her que bowed deeply, "Good evening my lord and lady" she said quietly but clearly.
Inuyasha's mother stood up and walked over to the girl lifting up her chin to look at her face clearly, "My what remarkable eyes you have" she whispered tilting Yasha's head from side to side. Inuyasha stood behind his father, his gut twisting around in knots.
His mother went and sat down again.
"Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha looked down at his father and was surprised to see him smiling, "Yes father?"
"Is this your knew courting partner?" he asked.
Inuyasha stared at him for a moment then at Yasha who was still standing there like a nit-wit with that dumb little smile.
He nodded slowly; this would act as protection on both their be halves.
His father clapped his son on the back, "I see you have my eye my son, what a startling woman"
Inuyasha nodded slowly as he led Yasha to a seat and pulled the chair out for her.
Yasha nodded her thanks and stared at the bowl in front of her.
Inuyasha was grumbling about something with his father when the door burst open again and a tall young man with long silver hair down to just above his knees entered, escorting a tall and elegant brunette.
Yasha watched as they took the chairs opposite herself and Inuyasha.
"Good evening mother, father . . .Inuyasha" he drawled.
"Good evening to you too Sesshomaru" his father replied, "as to you Lady Kagura"
The elegant lady smiled and nodded, "Good evening my lord and lady"
Waiters came around placing small dishes of different food in front of them. Yasha sat with her back straight, neck tall and hands in her lap, exactly how her father had taught
her.
The food was delicious and the wine was exceptional, they ate I silence with only the occasional thank you as a meal was placed in front of them.
After the meals were finished, Inuyasha's father leant back in his chair, "So, Lady Yasha"
Yasha looked up and placed her napkin in her lap, "Yes my lord?"
The man smiled, "Tell us a little about yourself"
Yasha's mouth opened slowly before she closed it abruptly and she glanced at
Inuyasha who was to busy looking into his wine goblet.
Oh dear."My parents were Lord Kijen Yoshikimura and Sakashima Yoshikimura of the Kyushu district" she began slowly careful of where she was putting herself. The lord frowned slightly, "Yoshikimura?" he repeated.Yasha nodded slowly."Didn't their daughter disappear 10 years ago?" he asked, leaning forward and staring at the girl intently.
Yasha who was looking at her lap looked up and matched his gaze and nodded.
"How could you be their daughter? They said their daughter had disappeared with out a trace" he said slowly, obviously thinking she was a liar and traitor.
Yasha looked at Inuyasha who was watching her with mild curiosity; evidently she wasn't going to get any help from him was she?"I don't know where you heard that my lord, I was taken away by a wolf demon and only recently returned to my position" she said slowly.
Inuyasha's father nodded, and she could feel all eyes upon her. When she looked up she saw his mother frowning slightly at her and Sesshomaru and Kagura watching her closely. Inuyasha noticing the stale air, "Perhaps father would like to hear about your hobbies and skills . . . Yasha"
Yasha snapped her gaze to face him, her cheeks blushing violently.
"Yes, do tell us" his father said, leaning back once more and watching her closely.
Yasha nodded, "Well . . ." she began slowly, "I enjoy writing, forms of combat, and horseback riding" she said slowly.
This got everyone's attention.
"Did you say combat my dear?" Inuyasha's mother asked unsurely.
Yasha nodded, "Yes I did"
Sesshomaru decided it was his turn to speak up, "What forms do you prefer?" he drawled.
Yasha watched him wearily as he took a sip from his goblet, swirling it slightly before doing so."My lord, I prefer archery, swordsmanship, and hand to hand battle" she said
quietly.
His eyebrows shot up, "And how far do you exceed in these forms?" he asked quietly.
Inuyasha was watching her, "Very well my lord" she answered quietly. Sesshomaru nodded, "Interesting..." he trailed off.
Inuyasha turned to his father, "On our journey here we were attacked by over sixteen bandits"
Everyone looked at him sharply, "Sixteen?" his mother repeated in a whisper. Inuyasha nodded, "We were racing and Yasha had sped ahead and was attacked way before I arrived" Everyone looked at Yasha who shrank away slightly and blushed furiously, "Inuyasha . . ." she whispered.
"Is this true?" Inuyasha's father asked, watching for her answer.
Yasha looked up and nodded, "It is"Inuyasha smirked, "She would have been raped and killed, but she attacked, killing one straight away"
Sesshomaru raised his head slightly and stared at the girl, "How did you do that?"
Yasha looked up, "He had a knife on his hip, I took that and drove it into his heart" she said quietly.
Sesshomaru nodded, something didn't make sense here.
"That was when I arrived she took on some and I took on some, she ended up killing another, which is two, and seriously injuring another" he finished.
Everyone gazed at Yasha who just bit her lip."Amazing" Inuyasha's father
breathed.Yasha nodded lightly. Sesshomaru leant forward onto his folded hands and watched her with a scrutinizing glare. Yasha looked up and frowned slightly, really not liking his gaze, "Can I help you Lord Sesshomaru?" she asked coolly.
Sesshomaru smirked and waved his hand, "No, no I was just wondering how you learnt all that practices, after all, it's not everyday that a woman learns a mans trade"
Yasha cocked her head to the side ever so slightly and glowered at him, not liking his attitude towards women, "Like I said, I was removed from a safe environment at a young age, I had to have someway of defending myself"
Sesshomaru just nodded.
"You have an interesting choice of clothing, may I ask your reason for choosing so?" Inuyasha's father questioned her lightly.
"I can't wear a dress well, and they bother me so." she answered.
"May I also ask if you are some form of albino or otherwise?"
"Yes my Lord, I am a hanyou as you may see." she told him as she removed the silk strap once more, revealing her ears. Inuyasha's mother rose from her chair to hug Yasha "Come here my child. I am most certainly convinced that you are the princess. Thank the heavens you are well."
Sesshomaru smiled slightly at his old friend, "Well I'll be.."
later after talking for hours on end...
"Well she's lovely Inuyasha" Inuyasha's mother said quietly patting her son on the wrist, "You've chosen well"