A/N: Life. Busy. Been Dumped. Working. Class Trip. Life Sucks. Reviewer responses because I want to get back in touch with my fans. And it cheers me up!
For Nikhilita: I'm baaaaaaaaaack!
Lover4Inuyasha: I don't know why they aren't real. Please don't die, I want you around to review!
Raji the Stoic: Thank you.
Sakurakitsune14: Sorry for the cliff hanger. I like cliffhangers because it guarantees you'll come back for the next chapter. Here is the next installment, enjoy!
Amaterasuoomikam: (that's a mouthful) Don't taunt me and just tell me who you are.
Enchanted-blood-rose: I've read a couple stories that have some elements of mine. I just felt like writing one for myself, giving my own spin and touch to it. I try hard making my ideas unique, but other people copy them anyway, so I figured I'd give new life to an old idea. Also, feel free to tell me any dreams you like. I might put one of them in my stories, if that's ok!
Sarah: E-mail is too complicated for a lazy person like myself. What's your screen name for instant messenger? (I have MSN and AIM)
SeaBreeze: I love when you stick around for my stories! Here's an update for you, hope it's up to standards.
JadeCatseye: I must say that I am honored that you'd read my humble work. I've heard nothing but good things about your stuff (which I am ashamed to admit that I haven't read because I barely have time to write anymore, let alone read…) I'm glad you're liking this so far. I have great plans for this story, even if it doesn't seem so grand right now. Also, I know that you took a liking to Tainted Blood so you'll be happy to know I am desperately trying to finish up the next chapter! (I have lost my beta reader and am suffering for it)
CrazyFORvampires: I'm glad. Here you go!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I'm just a high school senior, sitting in my basement, wrapped in a blanket, writing fan fiction the night before senior cut day.
Self-less
Chapter 3
Miroku
I have always considered myself a lover of women.
Now, I don't talk about just Daemon women, as some of my kind are wont to single out. I refer to women in general. Fey, Daemon, and human alike. Each blessed with their own unique beauty, inward or outward, either of which I can easily discover. A gift and a curse.
I come from a long line of men who loved women. One could say that this fact is my family's greatest flaw. It could be said that my family is remembered for their brilliance, or their wisdom, or even their mystical powers, all of which were extremely honed for service to the Daemon crown. But alas, when anyone is questioned about my family, our one imperfection is what makes us infamous.
The Dark Prince, my master, friend and favorite victim, has time and again expressed to me his opinion on the matter of my habits. I try his patience and temper, neither of which has much restraint. He truly believes that it is within my powers of control to stop!
Despite his annoyance with me, I was still made his personal advisor some years ago. Secretly, I believe this reason was more for his own comfort than for my skills at politics. The two of us grew up alongside one another in the stone palace, the younger son of a king and the advisor's heir. There are not many who can speak with him as I do, not many he can confide in.
Inuyasha finds peace in my company, and we share a trust. Something not easily given in times of war. Especially in the dark halls, where there are always ears to listen and eyes to see.
It is not always easy being the advisor to this stubborn, quick-tempered prince. He was always pig-headed when we were boys and not much changed in him as we grew to manhood. He, the Dark Prince, the second born, took to soldiering while his brother, the True Prince, the original heir to the Daemon throne, took to politics. Inuyasha has always been better at talking with his claws than with his mouth.
A primitive trait in most circles of nobility. Personally, I found it comforting. A true leader should be more than brilliant--and though Inuyasha might not be the brightest candle in the holder, he's far from idiotic--he must also be a warrior.
I suppose that is why our people have faith in him, our new King.
He scowls at the title, though I think it fitting. A Daemon is only crowned a king during his wedding ceremony. A tradition that was instated to our people even before the war began.
The other law, the later law, came because of the war. That a king must produce an heir within a year of crowning, or it passes to the closest relative. So that there would always be a king, or queen, to come if our present monarch was dethroned.
It's just one more obligation in a long line of obligations that fall upon the shoulders of our new ruler. And yet another thing that I have to remember to remind him of.
Being an advisor is not as glamorous as one might think it is. I am given the wonderful tasks of keeping the King's schedule, making him aware of all the happenings in his realm, helping him make decisions, helping with the planning of battles and strategies…the list goes on. It's quite a bit of work, to be honest.
But I do enjoy it.
Mostly because I can indulge in my favorite activities all I want. Flirting with courtly women, annoying Inuyasha, and being nosey. I was born with an intense sense of curiosity, which makes me wonderful at finding out all kinds of information for my King.
For this very reason--and because I had to satisfy my own curiosity--I had to witness the arrival of the princess of Fey. My friend's future wife and my future Queen.
The train or carriages from the golden hall arrived on the far side of the lake, opposite our camp. The ceremony would take place on the lakeside, on the boundary separating our kingdoms from one another. Fey were buzzing around hectically, preparing for her arrival.
The princess was in the final carriage of the train, pulled by four snow white stags. It halted before the largest of the tents. I moved in for a closer look, thankful for both my human-like appearance and the flightiness of the Fey, since no one noticed a Daemon moving among them.
Attendants raced around, unpacking trunks of luggage and opening the doors. From within first came the Queen of the Fey. Aged, but still beautiful. She was dressed regally, holding herself straight and arrogant as she accepted the hand of a driver and stepped down. Her manner didn't fool me, though. I could see the redness of her eyes and the set of her shoulders. She mourned the loss of her daughter.
The second to step out from the carriage was like a sucker punch to my gut. Robed in a deep earthen brown, a graceful, willowy figure stepped to the grown and surveyed the camp. She shook back the hood of her cloak, allowing a long fall of dark hair to surround her shoulders. All ivory skin and fluid movements.
It took some seconds before I felt my breathing return to me. I thought for sure that she was the princess herself, though she dressed more like a scout than a monarch. Her head turned in my direction and her gaze met mine for an instant before she turned back to the carriage. I felt the air crackle around me when our gazes had connected. An intense feeling of domination, a silent communication.
She knew what I was, and I had better not try anything.
I knew then that she wasn't the princess. She was a guard, a very beautiful and intimidating guard.
When she turned back to the carriage, she held out her hand to the final rider. The princess of the Fey.
She was smaller than I though she would be, and much more beautiful. I felt the very air around me still as all the Fey turned to see their princess arrive. One by one, they fell to their knees in respect and welcome. I hid myself out of sight and continued to watch.
There was no great speech or gesture. All she did was smile to them, a smile that would make the moon herself envious, and bid them rise with a nod of her elegant head. A dark-haired Aphrodite, I though to myself as she walked past her people and into the large tent to prepare. She didn't hold her head high because of learned manner, or move with a jerky rhythm of practice.
There was intelligence in her eyes, as well as kindness. A princess of worth.
Not only was I a judge of beauty among women, I was also a judge of character. I saw she was of a gentle nature, but the set of her jaw and the curve of her spine showed she did not easily submit. A fine wife for my friend, if I would be so bold. He would need one with spunk.
Her guardian hovered a space or two behind her, scanning the area again for danger. Our gazes met once more, and this time she was more menacing with her quiet meaning. I watched until she disappeared, then headed back for my own camp.
Some other of the Daemon had snuck to the Fey camp to catch a glimpse of the Fey princess, and each of them, I could see, came away with a newfound impression of her. Great beauty often clouded a man's judgment.
My father once told me that even the strongest and smartest of men can be swayed by a woman, and I think no truer statement has ever been spoken. I just hope that my prince--my King--will be swayed for the better by this woman, instead of the worse.
Once I was in camp, I burst into his tent, throwing the flap aside. "My prince!" I exclaimed, as protocol demands. He jumped and whirled on my entry.
"What is it?" he demeaned, a growl in his voice.
I only smirked--he still thinks now and then that he can intimidate me--and said, "I have returned from the Fey camp."
"You've seen her?" he asked, curiosity alighting within him.
"I have," I said, seating myself across from him. "And I can honestly say that you have nothing to fear in her."
"What does that mean?"
"It means she is exceptionally lovely. A walking goddess," I said as clearly as I could. "And in a few minutes, you'll be married to her."
"I told you before--"
"And she's no idiot," I injected, cutting off his protests. "Trust me when I tell you that this woman will be more than enough for you, intellectually."
He narrowed his eyes at me. "You're smug," he stated. "Why?"
I grinned easily. "I saw your bride before you, why shouldn't I be smug?"
"There is more to it," he pressed. Then his eyes widened. "You met a Fey maiden, haven't you?"
"What?"
"Don't play innocent with me! I know that look. You've decided on a new conquest, and since you've only been to the Fey camp and back, and since you've been at this camp all day without finding anyone to your satisfaction, it has to be a Fey."
Sometimes I have to applaud him. He's a sharp one, my Dark Prince. "Your princess is guarded by the most exquisite creature I have had the pleasure of looking on," I told him. "A warrior woman, and a beautiful one at that."
"You'd best be careful then," Inuyasha commented, turned away from me. "She might be too good a warrior, and cut off your solider if you bother her too much."
I winced slightly at the thought and fixed him with a heated expression. Well, I fixed his back with one at any rate. "I don't intend to attack her," I grumbled.
"Of course not," he shot back. "You'll just grope her a few times, then ask her to bear your children, as you do to every other woman you meet."
I brooded now. This meeting was reversing on me and I didn't like it. Inuyasha turned to look at me and gloat. I glared back, rubbing my wrist as I did so. His eyes fell to see the movement and sobered.
"Does it hurt?"
"What?" I asked.
"Your arm," he clarified. I looked down, barely realizing I had been touching it at all. I looked at my hand, the covered hand, and felt the old hollow feeling in my chest.
It was an old wound, one I was given on the death of my father, who received it on the death of his. A curse, passed down from male heir to male heir in my family when one died. It began as a punishment, I believe. The story about it's origin are very old, and not all pieced together when my father explained it to me. (He was not a historian.)
A man in our family tried to banish a very powerful Daemon from the stone palace when he made an attempt on the King's life. The Daemon turned on my ancestor. Now that the Daemon was banished, his life would be spent in an abysmal state of loneliness and nothingness. In turn, he visited that upon my ancestor, cursing him to carry a small piece of an empty void with him the rest of his days.
It began like a pin prick, but it grew with each passing year. Growing larger, consuming more of his hand until there was nothing left. Until he was nothing left. And when my ancestor was eaten by his own curse, it was passed to his son, and then to his son, down through the family. Until this day. Until me.
As far as I'm aware, there is no cure for it. No reversal. Eventually, the curse will consume me as well. All I can truly do is live the life I have. Perhaps I won't have a son, and let the curse die with me. Perhaps I will have a son and the choice will be given to him.
Another part of the story says that, as a taunt, each member of my family will find love and have a male heir to carry on the curse. The choice is left to each of us. Love, or martyrdom? Since I haven't found love, I consider the latter.
As of this time, all I can do is try not to agitate my curse into spreading faster. Already the hole is the size of a walnut. The larger it grows, the smaller my lifespan. A frightening thing, really.
"No, it doesn't hurt." I looked up at Inuyasha, who watched me sadly. I was moved to pity. He had lost so many people around him, and there was the knowledge that I would, too, be lost. He would be alone then, and it made me sad for him.
"Good," was his grumble. Never would he let on how much he would miss me, but I know. I've always known.
"My lord," a voice from outside called.
"Enter," Inuyasha called back. One of the servants from outside entered, bowing.
"Forgive the intrusion. We received the missive from the Fey camp, my lord. The princess is ready to begin. The priestess is ready on the banks. Shall we proceed with the ceremony?"
A tense second past when the air grew heavy. The final moment of truth. What answer given now was the final truth, never to be undone. He would marry tonight, or he would not.
"Tell them I'm ready," he said firmly. "I'll be to the bank shortly."
The servant bowed and left. I turned to Inuyasha and stood. Walking over, I helped him smooth the wrinkles from his formal clothing--which hadn't been worn since his brother's wedding and coronation--and adjust his appearance.
"I believe now is the time," I said to him with a sigh. "Come, I will stand with you."
"Will you?" he asked, the tone of his voice betraying the doubt he had.
"Of course, my prince," I grinned. "I wouldn't miss the look on your face when you see her for anything."
"Sometimes…I truly hate you," he grumbled, and we were off. To the wedding centuries in the making.
A/N: R & R people. It's what gives me a happy and makes me write! (P.S.: Forgive whatever spelling and/or grammatical errors there are in this chapter and the rest of the story. I have lost my beta reader and I'm pretty much hopeless without one for input and proof-reading)
