Water-Rose: This chapter is dedicated to evil-gnome-empress for being such a great friend...and because she asked me to.
The Engagement Part II
The men were lead to a large bedroom. They had been shown the entire castle. It was very large and richly decorated. There seemed to be a room for everything. There were rooms for rooms…okay, not that big but still. They were impressed. The room had four individual rooms inside of it. Okay, so the place did have rooms inside of rooms…Anyways, it was big. Everything in the room and was made of silk fabrics, there were rugs, dressers, and kimonos…
"Um, is this supposed to be our room?" Kenshin asked as he stared at the kimonos.
"Why of course!" Akako exclaimed. She clung onto his arm affectionately.
"But, why are there women's clothes in here…?" Sanosuke gulped.
"Oh!" Toyo shouted. "Well, you'll be sharing rooms with us silly!" She latched herself onto Sanosuke's arm.
"So, you four share two rooms and we get two rooms?" Sanosuke questioned.
"No…"
"You get the four and we get this big room?"
"No…"
"You get three and we get one?"
"No…"
"We get three and you get one?"
"No…"
"We get all four?" Kazuki asked.
"No silly! We get to share! I can share with…" She hugged onto Sanosuke tighter. "My Sano, Akako with her Kenny, Chika with her Miroku… and Meia with her Kazuki!" She laughed nervously, "I can't think of pet names for them."
"That's not really your job…now is it?" Chika said monotonously. She fiddled with a pendant around her neck. "Why don't we have the cooks make something? It's rude to have hungry guests." She kept her same tone.
"That's a good idea sister!" Toyo exclaimed. Boy she was of the enthusiastic sort…
The meal was humongous; they didn't even eat half of it. It only had the finest foods and there were servants to meet your every demand. The guys didn't want to be rude so they ate. They decided to be EXTRA polite and make sure to eat a lot…and like pigs…
"May I ask why you want to get married so soon?" Kenshin said out of nowhere. The girls looked at him shocked then lowered their heads.
"Well you see, our father is very sick and he will die soon. Our mother died some time ago, and these lands belonged to her father. Of course her father didn't like ours. So he said that his land and fortunes would become ours when we married…" She paused and sighed. "Our grandfather died but the villagers make sure that father doesn't take complete control. But recently father has become terribly sick…and…if we don't get married, ALL of us, thanks to our grandfathers particular choice in words, if we don't get married we will lose our land…and the villagers promised they would leave and join another village."
"Shit happens…" Kazuki mumbled through a mouthful of food. He stabbed his chopstick into a roll and munched on it while he still had food in his mouth. He swallowed and looked at them. "So why do WE have to marry you?"
"Because you dimwit, once again our grandfathers choice in words comes to mind. It has to be someone outside of the village, and it has to be soon thanks to father's illness." Akako explained angrily. She bit into a roll and glared at him.
"In other words the villagers don't trust women to run the place…" Chika added before taking a sip of tea. "Not that I blame them…" Her sharp eyes looked at each of her sisters before she took another sip.
"You guys must be tired and you all look like you could use a hot bath! Why don't we all go to the hot springs?" Toyo chirped. She smiled her caring smile and grabbed Sanosuke by the arm. "Let's go everyone!"
The servants lead the men to another room that was built over a small hot spring. Kazuki looked at the group nervously. "Guys, um, when were swimsuits invented?"
"When were what invented?" Sanosuke asked staring at him like he was the stupidest person on earth.
Kazuki's face turned hot red as he saw Toyo start to undress. "No! Wait!" He shielded his eyes. "Um, wait, isn't there separate rooms?" He peeked at the other guys who looked nervous as well but certainly they were more comfortable then him. Everyone was in the water except for Kazuki.
Miroku looked at him dully. "They don't bite, would you get in, for someone who looks at…"
"Stop right there!" Kazuki screamed. He could hear the girls only giggle. "Why are you all so comfortable dammit?" There only response was a shrug, which Kazuki couldn't see.
"I just realized what weird clothes he has…" Toyo said as she stood up to study his pants. The men turned away…well, they peeked a little but still… "What is the metal for? She reached for his zipper.
"AH!" He screamed. He immediately lowered his hands to cover his zipper. His eyes went wide and he nearly passed out. "What the hell! Ah! Don't touch my pants!" His face was redder then red; it was the definition of red. "Do you guys normally do this way back when?"
Sanosuke looked at him dully, "No…but hey, if they're comfortable, I guess I am to." Sanosuke relaxed himself. "Besides, what are you doing letting my woman fondle you?" He joked. She giggled and sat back down in the water.
"Grr, get in here now and talk to Meia dammit!" Akako screeched. She stood up and got out of the water. Now the men had a little bit more of a view then her boobs… "Come here!"
"NO!" He tried running to the door but guards were there. "Holy crap! This is sick and wrong!" He turned around and screamed again. "Gah! Don't chase me! You're fricken naked!" Then the worst thing, well, in most cases it would be a good thing, she pinned him to the ground. "AH!"
Seconds later he was in the springs with his eyes just skimming over the water. Maybe he could drown himself…maybe he could just stop breathing and he would pass out…all this would be over…but no, with his luck one of the women would try CPR and he'd be back to screeching like a little girl. He didn't know what was more embarrassing, the fact he was in a tub with naked women, or the fact he didn't want to be in the tub with naked women…and the fact he made a big scene about it and he ended getting stripped…He just felt…dirty…and the water wasn't washing off the dirt. Why didn't anyone else care…maybe it was because they accepted the fact that they weren't getting out of here any time soon. Maybe they had already thought up of a master escape plan and were playing along. Perhaps they WANTED to get married.
"Are…you okay?" Meia asked as she tapped him on the shoulder.
"AH!" He screamed startled once again. He nearly jumped 3 feet, but quickly lowered himself into the water. "I'm fine…"
"Okay…" She leaned back into her spot and looked down. She was just as flushed as she was. Maybe they were forcing her into this as well…she didn't exactly come off as the most open person in the world.
After a fascinating session of let's sneak peeks at the naked women and pretend we're not, they all got dressed in sleeping attire and were escorted to their rooms and there Kazuki was left alone with Meia…fun…now they would have to share a bed…they would probably have sex because of her grandfathers wishes and in nine months he would be a 15-year-old dad.
"I…can sleep on the…floor…if you like?" Meia whispered staring at her feet.
His jaw dropped, "You don't want to sleep with me?" Wrong way to word it…both of their faces turned red. He decided to chuckle it off, "Ahem, that's not what I meant, you mean you don't want to, er, sleep in the same bed."
"Not…really…" She mumbled. Her voiced was really soft, but clear.
He sighed and smiled, "You sleep on the bed, and I'll sleep on the floor."
She didn't move. She stood there and shifted her feet. "I…I don't want to get married…" She looked at him and her voice got louder, "It's not fair! I don't care what everyone else wants! I don't want to get naked in front of total strangers, and having sex with them is not one of my top priorities!"
Kazuki fell backwards and onto his rear. She blushed and turned Kazuki couldn't help but laugh. It was like a sheep roaring to him. "You're a surprising one that you are…" He smacked himself in the forehead. "I will not do Kenshin talk…" She giggled and he laughed at himself. He stood up and walked over to her placing his hand lightly on her shoulder. "I tell you what, the bed is big enough for two, it'll be like having to share a bed with my brother temporarily again. You won't rape me and I won't rape you, deal?"
She giggled and nodded. He stuck out his hand and they shook. Which was odd for her but she went along with it. They both slid in beneath the covers trying to adjust themselves. "This…is still…quite odd, yes?"
"What the hell…" They both slid to the middle both hitting each other. "The bed…won't stay?" She blushed again and turned the other way. He smiled and turned the other way as well. "G'night Meia."
"Good night Kazuki…"
Miroku patted the bed, "Perhaps we shall get more comfortable?" He could swear she was stabbing him with every gaze.
"Some monk…" Chika grumbled. "Aren't monks supposed to be romantic, not perverted, and lastly, aren't you supposed to be a virgin or something? I don't know much about monks but something long those lines comes to mind…"
He laughed nervously. "How about we just get some sleep…" They both got into bed and fortunately for the monk the bed didn't have the same problem, for he knew if he touched her she would scratch his eyes out with HIS hands.
Akako embraced Kenshin nuzzling into his chest once again. "Oh Kenshin, You have no idea how happy I am…"
"Um, that I don't…" He dropped to the floor. "Oh look! A comfy floor to sleep on! Good night Miss Akako!"
"Miss? Wait! Kenshin!" She kneeled over and tugged on his arms. "Kenshin wake up!" He remained still and softly fake snored.
"I'm asleep…"
"You are not!" She snapped. She jabbed him in the sides with her foot. He yelped in pain and jumped up. "Kenshin!" She embraced him once again. Her embrace turned into a lock hold. "Don't ever do that again! Let's be a happy couple or I'll make you miserable!"
He looked at her in horror and gulped. "Yes Mi…Miss Akako!" He reluctantly climbed into bed and she soon followed nearly strangling him with her death grip, or, as what some people would call it, 'hug'.
Sanosuke and Toyo entered the room. Sanosuke looked at the room nodding when all of a sudden he was tackled from behind and flipped onto the bed. His 'attacker' was Toyo. He tried to say something but his words were muffled out with her mouth. He stopped the kiss and looked at her confused. "What are you doing?"
She gave him a sly grin and started reaching for the belt of his robe. He protectively grabbed it and scooted further on the bed. She giggled and started slowly crawling towards him. "Oh Sano, I have a present for you…" Her tone was much more different. It wasn't as, well, dumb sounding.
"Wait, I didn't know you were this kind of a girl." He managed to state right before he slid out of her grasp.
She giggled again. "I only put on that act so my sisters don't think I know any better…" She slid off the bed after him cornering him placing her hands on each wall. "I'm really quite smart…ask any of them, I've changed since daddy got sick…" She played with his robes.
He grabbed her hands and looked at her confused. "What do you mean changed?"
She giggled again and went in for a kiss, He dodged by ducking under her arms and he jumped over the bed. She started walking to the other side. "Sano…Sano…sweet…sexy Sano…I've changed so the other girls don't see me as a challenge." She pounced and pinned him to the floor. She started kissing him but he carefully flipped her over and he now had her pinned.
"Why?"
She giggled again, "Is this how we play?" She reached for his lips but he lifted his head. She frowned and sighed, "You know, we're not real sisters, each one of us adopted…Mother couldn't produce children…and she wouldn't dare think of her husband sleeping with another woman…so…" She laughed again and looked at him seductively. "She had four different families killed…not one of our villagers of course. Another village…Akako was four…and Meia just a newborn. Why did they do it like this? Who knows…Mother always was a weird one…"
"You're not answering me." He sat up and stared down at her. "You're completely avoiding the subject."
'Let me finish…" She sat up and snuck another kiss but again he stopped her. "Anyways…She decided to have four children, she named each one of us after her deceased sisters…who had been killed years earlier. Daddy of course never lied to us…he told us the story years ago…" She smiled a wicked smile. "Mother got sick…for some…unknown reason…" She giggled. "Grandfather found out and thought Daddy might have killed her so he could take control, well, grandfather wasn't going to have that, and he really didn't want us to have control, so he made those silly little rules. Villagers already didn't like us…and neither did other villages…" She sat on the bed and ushered for him to sit.
"Continue…" He leaned against a wall annoyed.
"So, before he could make any more rules…he also accidentally got sick." She smiled and shook her head. "There was only one more obstacle in our way…and that was daddy…but it was hard to get to him…daddy was always a cautious man and only trusted so many people with his drinks. I had to act dumb, so he would trust me of course…He enjoyed his tea very much…but then we had to find husbands…of course if we found suitable husbands we would have gained the villagers trust again…and then you all came along. Almost like a fairy tale." She sighed dreamily. "The first one to have a child…gets to be the ruler…" She walked over to Sanosuke again swaying her hips back and forth. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "How would you like to rule Sanosuke?" She kissed his neck. "You'd make an honorable…tall…handsome…ruler…" He grabbed her wrists.
"So you did this?" He growled.
She smiled playfully. "Of course not Sanosuke, I'm dumb and innocent…"
"We're the others in on it?"
"Well…Akako was for it…Chika almost killed herself for doing it…but Meia…she didn't do a thing, but she didn't stop it either. She knew every little detail…but most of it was my doing I suppose…"
"We're leaving…" He began but he heard a large crash outside the door. He exited the small room into the larger room. There was the rest of the jewel hunting gang looking like they were ready to attack anything else that moved. The rest of the men part of the women's ordeal exited their rooms with their assigned woman.
Sango froze when she saw Miroku come out with Chika. She turned red, but not from embarrassment, anger would be a more correct term. "You! You pervert! Lecherous monk!"
Meia hid behind Kazuki. "Demons…" She whispered into his back.
He nodded and glared at the group. "As much as we appreciate your heroic rescue…you're scaring Meia dammit!"
Miroku grabbed onto Sango's hands. "Thank you…Thank you…Thank you…" She was startled by this weird gesture but she ignored it and glared at Akako, who was practically attached to Kenshin.
"What's going on?" Sango hissed, "When did it become alright for people to kidnap innocent bystanders off the road?"
Kenshin writhed his way out of the women's grasp and he stood next to Kagome. "I have nothing to say…but to give you my thanks Miss Kagome, Miss Sango…"
"We get the point, now what's going on?" Inuyasha growled. This was getting irritating.
Sanosuke managed to pry himself from Toyo's grasp and he joined the gang on their side of the room. "Well, we all almost got married thanks to the sisters' plot." He thought for a moment and added. "Meia had nothing to do with it really and Chika seems to have more of a conscious. Oh ya! I almost got raped!"
"You traitorous witch! You agreed that I would be the one to bear the first child!" Akako hissed. "How dare you!" She seethed through clenched teeth.
Sanosuke explained the plot to all of them. Tears rolled down Chika's cheeks and Meia started crying into the back of Kazuki's robes. Akako crossed her arms sticking her nose up grumbling. Toyo stood there, with a smile on her face. There were some servants in the room who were shocked to hear such an atrocity. They cursed under their breath how they would make sure that the girls would never be allowed to come back to the village. Just as Sanosuke finished a servant came running in.
He gasped for breath then managed to sputter out, "Our master is dead…" He gulped and looked at the group, "Sorry, but none of you will become the new master. We shall have no master from now on. I'm terribly sorry, but I am only following orders."
Toyo clenched her fists and bit her lip. "But it's not fair! We went through all this trouble!" She held her head up and looked at the ceiling, "I wanted this place to fall…all of it to burn…who cares if we killed them. They killed our families first." She laughed. "They had it coming!" She continued to laugh.
Kazuki ran over to her and smacked her in the side of the face. Everyone stood in horror. He was panting heavily and he looked more than angry. She fell to the ground and grabbed the side of her face. He glowered at her and spat at the ground. "I hate people like you…" He murmured. He looked down at her and she whimpered while holding her cheek. "I…I'm sorry…" He reached down to help her up but she smacked him.
"DON'T TOUCH ME MONSTER!"
Next time on Inuyasha: Now that the guys have had their little adventure, time to give Kenshin some spotlight time! But first they need to do something with the girls. Since I doubt the village is letting them stay, unless they plan on staying in graves! Kenshin and Kazuki go out to train and guess whom Kenshin gets to fight! Next time on Inuyasha, Sword Fighting 101, have you guessed who it is yet? See you soon!