Title: Of Betrayal, Hope, and Learning to Love Again
Author: The Jade Sabre
Email: TheJadeSabre yahoo .com
Beta Reader:Kotomi Kusanagi
Genre: Drama, Romance, Angst
Rating: M for blood, violence, language, mature situations, and some sexual content
Summary: Dark fic. Higurashi Kagome has changed drastically; betrayal by friends can do that. Searching for the shards, she enlists the assistance of one she assumes will not affect her and has similar mannerisms to her own, but hope can come in strange people. S/K
Disclaimer: I do not own Inu Yasha.
Chapter: Third Tome
Comments/Responses: The Answer to the quiz is Tadamichi Kuribayashi. He was the (Lieutenant) General in charge of defending Iwo Jima and who was hand picked by Emperor Hirohito during World War II.
To 1kenshinlover: Yay, you're back☻! Well, you know the answer to the quiz (look up). I feel obligated to write longer chapters just because that is what I like to read. Similarly, I love words and the English language, if it's used right. A beautiful picture can be painted if used properly and I love the art. Thanks for reviewing.
To BrucesGirl: O my gosh, I think you gave me one of the best review/complement a writer could ever receive. Trust me, I don't take any offense to your comment. In fact, I heartily agree with you. Most high school students can't write with great imagery and creatively; they are so used to guidelines, rubrics, and analytical essays that when they do try to write some sort of "freelance" fiction, they have no idea how to go about it. And about your story, lets just say I now know why you liked my work so much. Honestly, I thought I was reading my own work at first. Thanks so much for your support.
To DarkendInu: THANK YOU! You were able to tell me something you didn't like, which is so helpful. You have to understand that for certain points of the sorry to work, Kagome needs to be completely betrayed and not just by Inu Yasha, though I promise that Shippou will be coming into the story. I'm glad that you like it so much.
To Darktemp: I'll try to update, but someone needs to add another six hours to the day, so to speak and I just started drivers ed so I get home at six o'clock three days a week.
To Flame Ivy Moon: Yay I have a returning fan! Trust me, unless I end up in the hospital again, I will be updating more than once a year. It'll probably be more like once a month.
To gurl-of-togas-older-son: Well, I have this habit of writing long chapters, hence why I don't update so frequently. I'm glad you liked the comments about her ex-friends (check out the second paragraph, I think you'll enjoy). I thought it provided some comic relief, but it also showed how much they hurt Kag. I'm glad it humored you as much as it did me.
To inugurldemon: okay I don't really understand what you wrote. Remember reviewsentencessubject and predicate.
To Kotomi Kusanagi: You know the answer and if you don't you don't deserve it.
To LynGreenTea: I will
To Megan Cosoer: I'm ecstatic that you like it, but no I'm not going to update any more so there.
To MidNite Phoenix: First of all, can I just say that I love your penname! I hate when Kagome gets betrayed (why else would a write about it). But more importantly, don't go putting yourself down like that. It doesn't matter what grade you are in or the level of your classes, you can still always find stuff out. I wouldn't have known it if I didn't read Flags of our Fathers by John Bradley (READ IT IF YOU HAVE ANY REMOTE INTEREST IN HISTORY OR JAPAN OR WORLD WAR II! READ IT! ) I personally enjoyed the book. To make the little hearts, open Microsoft Word, Click insert and under that click symbol; you should find it in there. Oh, and I'm known to be horribly blunt and sarcastic.
To Okane-Tsuki: Thanks.
To Queenanneus: Secrets, yes secrets, lots of secrets, like what Kagome is keeping from Sesshoumaru (more specifically her time in the monastery and life with Hime). The great thing is that I can type this and you'll be the only one who knows because no one ever reads the responses to other people's reviews. Oh and thanks.
To Skitzoflame: Thanks, you make me blush. I really am happy with the number of review I get currently. While I wouldn't mind getting more, I am perfectly content getting the review I have, which are mostly full of sustenance. I can't wait to find out what comes next either. I'm serious, I don't know what I'm going to write, I mean I have a basic idea, but maniac highs causes one to think, a lot (though most of it's really random), and certain classes (ahem Christology and PreCalc) leave much time for yours truly to let her mind wander, so things end up getting rewritten, and I kinda change major ideas.
Higurashi Kagome placed her hand on the well, easily removing the seal that Kikyou had placed on the well to keep her from returning to the past; weak seals that any miko worth her salt could remove and replace. They were however, very faint in order to keep the youkai from noticing them.
'And of course, the clay pot didn't think that I would stay here, imbecile. She was too fucking stupid to think that I wouldn't be able to survive on my own; she thought I was too fucking weak. Oh Kikyou, never underestimate your opponents, especially when they're your reincarnations; you know how you act and I share your soul and you possess a piece of mine; do the math. Kami-sama, oh how I wish that I could be around when your stupidity becomes your downfall. Pride comes before the fall, bitch, and you have more pride than I ever thought possible. Revenge will be sweet, Kikyou, even if it is not delivered by me.'
It was nearly a ritual, the cursing of Kikyou and/or Inu Yasha and occasionally Miroku and Sango before she traveled to the twenty-first century; the litany helped keep her calm and focused. Traveling home was hard for her now, harder than it should have been, but the memories were still there: the fights with Inu Yasha, the good byes to Shippo, the reasoning of Miroku, the sits, not to mention the close proximity to Kaade-san's village.
Quickly she hopped over the edge of the well with a speed that would make any professional track star would be proud. It was the kind of skill that, if she was a regular girl in Tokyo, would be rather handy for sneaking out to see a boy. Unfortunately, the only boys she chased were demons with shards.
'C'est la via.'
Kagome sighed as she let the familiar pink light to surround her body as she returned to her birth time. She sat at the bottom of the well for a moment, staring at the ceiling. It was nice to be home. There were no crazed youkai here, no one after her life, a roof over her head, food, real food, her family. Climbing out of the well, she replaced the seal Kikyou had placed on the well.
The mid-day sun shined overhead; at least it would have if rain were not falling from the sky. It was amusing, worthy of a chuckle really, that it could be sunny in one time and pouring in the other. Hurrying out of the rain, she slipped her sandals off, leaving them in the threshold before entering the dwelling.
"Mama, I'm home; jii-chan, Souta, anybody here?"
"Kagome, welcome home, dear child," cried her grandfather as he ran from the embracing her. "How is my granddaughter?"
"I'm fine Jii-chan, just a little exhausted. How is everything her in the good old twenty first century?"
"Busy; three school tour groups today, THREE. Kagome, you're going to lead the next tour in fifteen minutes, okay."
"Hai, jii-chan," she said monotone, bowing deeply. She did not wish to argue with her grandfather and it really was not that big of a deal to lead a group of primary level students through the shrine; she certainly knew enough.
She placed her cloak on the table. While the tours were not a hassle, but she would have preferred to warm up some oden, take a long hot shower, curl up in front of the television, and go to bed. The children were bound to have tons of questions, that was just the way kids were and she wouldn't have it any other way, but she really wanted that shower. It had been two months she last had one. Hot springs were nice when they were available and the few heated baths in the inns she visited, but nothing could beat the enjoyment of hot water pouring down the body, and her shower had killer water pressure.
Sipping a cup of hot chocolate, she removed the sais from her obi, and tried to decide whether she should leave her bow and quiver with the swords. It would provoke many questions, but they were part of a miko's attire. Leaving the quiver on her back, she removed her tussled hair from the samurai knot and running her fingers through it to attempt to tame it, though personally she didn't care; she was too exhausted to care.
"I need coffee," she mumbled into the table, which was currently acting as a very uncomfortable, but convenient, pillow.
Dragging herself up she headed over to the counter and was very pleased to see there was still coffee in the coffee pot. Smiling she pulled out one of her sayings mugs, which one; today's model was bright pink and said black calligraphy 'Hi, I'm Life and I'm a bitch.'
Coffee was a happiness she had discovered while still traveling with Inu Yasha-tachi. The faster traveling had taken a toll on her and she was barely able to stay awake while she was home. But then the ambrosia that was coffee entered her life. Yes, that was a good day. Her mother noticed how her regular tea could not keep her in the realm of consciousness and offered her a cup of her own caffeine-enriched beverage of choice and there was no turning back after that. Sure she enjoyed her tea, but nothing could beat coffee when one needed a jump-start.
"Ka-go-me, the other school group is arriving," cried her grandfather from the depths of the shine gift shop.
"I'm coming, jii-chan."
Kagome expected to find primary school children, children no older than ten; she did not expect, nor particularly wish, the group of junior high students, most likely entering high school in the fall. A frost fell across her face, removing the warm features that were reserved for small children.
'Thirty, thirty of them, great, just fucking great. Kami-sama, they're only a year or two younger then me. This is too fucking perfect, Kag; how the hell am I supposed to control them? And by the looks of it, most of them would rather be milking snakes than tour a shine.'
Kagome sought out the teacher, who was not hard to find; he was a young guy, tall with blond hair. He seemed rather enthusiastic about meeting her. "Hello, um…"
"Kagome-dono," she supplied.
"Hai, hai, hello Kagome-dono. My students have been studying the legends of the warring era and as an end-of-the-year trip, I brought them to a shine built in the age. I'm sure you know much more than me, working in a shine and all."
"Yes, I do; and sensei, I live here."
"Of course, miss, please forgive me for the mistake," he said smoothly, flashing his pearly white teeth.
Noticing his subtle flirting, she withdrew herself even further than she already was. "Sensei," she addressed the teacher, specifically stressing his title, "What exactly have the children been studying?"
"Oh, a little of this, a little of that really, though we did just finish up a rather large unit on youkai; perhaps you could touch on that."
Kagome groaned inward. 'Again, great, just fucking great; I come back here to escape to my 'day job' and I have to lecture a group of brats on the very topic. What to tell them about? The possessiveness of inu-youkai or perhaps the insanity of ookami-youkai, or just maybe about the stupidness of hanyous; oh the possibilities are endless. Just shoot me now, then get Sesshoumaru to revive me with the Tensaigua, the kill me again.'
"I can do that." Turning from the man she turned to speak to the group. "Good afternoon." She was met only by noise.
"Good afternoon," she reiterated, raising her voice a little, but received no results. "SILENCE! Thank you for finally listening. I am Kagome-dono and this is the Higurashi Shrine; we welcome you. Before we start the tour, let me lay down a few ground rules; there will be no talking while I am; do not touch anything; and pay attention. I reserve the right to act upon breaking these rules, understand?"
She received nods from the group, and then turned to go, leading the adolescent's thought the shrine. She noted that they obviously had little to know background on the subject of youkai, or rather the inaccuracy of the information they had. She, however, had to be careful with what she said and thoroughly briefed them on what exactly they had learned as to not revealing more information on the species than was needed.
"Ok, who can tell me the difference between an elemental youkai and an animalistic youkai?" she asked, noting how no one raised their hand or even answered at all, before randomly pointing to a boy in the back. "You, with the iPod, come here."
The black-haired teenager begrudgingly came up to the front, trying desperately to dispose of the iPod nano. Kagome grabbed the devise before he could hide it and gracefully stored it away in her sleeve. Setting her icy glower him, she asked, "The answer is?"
The boy squirmed under her eye as he tried frantically to generate the correct reply to her inquiry. "The answer yes, well, the answer is…um… well…umm… it is…um…"
"Exactly," she breathed. "Elemental youkai retain a humanoid appearance as their true form most of the time. They have the ability to control a certain element. For example, a wind sorceress would control the wind. Animalistic, or beast, youkai have the true form of the creature they are tied to, such as a dog, fox, or toad. The strongest are able to appear in humanoid form while still retaining certain aspects of the demon they are. Characteristically, they are notable for pointed ears, claws, fangs, and tails. Facial markings are common among higher ranked youai."
'Kami-sama, I just described Kaugra and Sesshumaru. Shoot me, please?'
The rest of the tour went by much easier; the students paying much more attention to her and the information she was spewing, but she could not have been more thankful to Kami-sama when the hour was over and she led them into the gift shop.
"In here, you can purchase different replicas of many of the objects and topics discussed on the tour," she told the group, and then turned to their teacher, removing a small device from her sleeves. "I assume the mishap with the iPod will be dealt with?"
"Of course Kagome," replied the teacher, allowing his hand to brush hers as he took it from her hand.
"Sensei, I thought you were a smart man, but apparently I was mistaken, so I must be blunt with you: I have no wish to have any relationship with you, so you will cease your flirting or I will press charges," she spoke icily over her shoulder as she turned to leave, but caught the look of a small girl.
The girl was obviously felling uncomfortable with the group though she appeared to be in the class, judging on her uniform. She, however, was content to wear it as long as she could and did not wish to flaunt her body, which appeared to have just hit puberty. Instead she was satisfied to sit under the goshinboku and read a book she produced out of her purse. Her complete unawareness of that which was going on around her and lack of care for it caused Kagome to head over to the black-haired girl and quietly sit down next to her.
"Thank you for the tour, Kagome-dono," said the girl in choppy Japanese.
"You're not from around here?" she inquired redundantly; her accent already verified that.
"No, baba and I moved here from Beijing in January."
She smiled at the Chinese girl, who clearly would prefer to be speaking her native tongue of Mandarin. "Do you like it here in Tokyo?" she asked her switching to the language she had learned since she was eleven. The girl was noticeably shocked, but in a good way, seeing how her eyes lit up.
"It's ok," she babbled back. "I mean I'm so much younger than everybody else. I'm only eleven and I'm entering high school next year. And I'm teased about my speech and my broken Japanese. They call me hagu-jin.It's not my fault. I try so hard and all I get is cold words from everybody else. Even some of my teachers make comments about me. They say to themselves I must be stupid since I refuse to answer in class or I'm being cheek. I'm not though; I swear to Buddha I'm not."
"Breath. What high school are you going to go to?"
"Yoshida High School in Tokyo. Why?"
"When you go there next year, go to room 46; it's Lao-sensei's room. She also used to live in Beijing."
Kagome enjoyed her smile. The girl reminded her of herself when she was going to be entering high school; stuck in a new place, with different customs and people, who would like to do nothing more than kill her. Of course, for the small Chinese girl, it was a verbal, social, and mental killing, unlike her very literal one. She needed a Shippo in her life, a Sango, a—
No not a Sango, or any of them, though a Shippo-like figure could help her, give her a feeling of importance. Except, sometimes that one lifeline may be cut in the rage of a violent storm. Yeah, that storm was pretty violent. It's ironic how all of her troubles seemed to come from a scar on the tree she was leaning against.
"Do you remember the story about the Shikon no Tama?"
"Of course, Kagome-dono; it is a jewel which has the power to grant a wish; we read about it in class."
"What if I were to tell you there was more to the story? Yes the jewel could grant a wish, but if it fell into the wrong hands it could spell disaster for the existence of both man and youkai, so it was up to a chosen miko, one of the purest of souls, to protect it. Nearly 600 years ago, a priestess was protecting the Shikon. The miko was in love with a hanyou, and in turn, the hanyou loved her back. At this same time, a human took up the name Naraku, who transformed himself into a hanyou, also desired the jewel. In a work of deceit, he pulled an elaborate stunt, which caused the hanyou to believe he was betrayed by his lover and was pinned to a goshinboku in an enchanted sleep. During this time the miko was killed and had the Shikon no Tama incinerated with her body.
"50 years later, the reincarnation of the miko arrived from another time. Seeing the hanyou pinned to the tree with an arrow, she let her curiosity get the best of her and disintegrated the arrow at the touch, reviving the hanyou. The hanyou then tried to kill the girl, who looked like his ex-lover, but failed. In this time, the Shikon no Tama was torn from the body of the girl by a centipede demon, who was promptly killed by the hanyou. A crow youkai grabbed the idol jewel and flew with it. The only possible way to retrieve the jewel was to kill the bird.
"Now it is here where I must remind you of this, the girl had received neither her miko training nor knew how to handle archery equipment. Taken a bow, she fired, but did not kill the bird. Instead, the arrow hit the jewel, shattering it into thousands of pieces. It was then that the woman and the hanyou joined forces to gather the jewel shards, which entailed fighting the minions of Naraku. It would not be until Naraku had been destroyed that the jewel would be able to be purified for the evil hanyou housed about half of the jewel."
The girl, who was captivated by her story, seemed distraught by the abrupt ending. "That's it?"
"Yes," she simply stated, for she was unable to continue on with the story without allowing old emotions, which she had wrapped in lead, to resurface. Standing, she found herself running her hand over a particular scar in the trunk of the ancient tree; a marked left from the piercing of an arrow, where Inu Yasha's body had once rested in it's enchanted sleep.
'If only I didn't release that arrow, if only I didn't revive him. If only I didn't let myself get captured and a piece of my soul given to Kikyou. Things would have turned out so different and I wouldn't be in this situation. It's funny how so many things; so many injuries could all be traced back to one arrow. Kami-sama, I hate the power he has over me, even now; Kami-sama—'
Prehaps it was a good thing that she felt the tap on her shoulder since she was so close to the edge as it was. "Kagome-dono, thanks."
Kagome returned the bow the girl gave her, forcing a smile. She watched the girl board the bus, and then watched it pull away. It was only then she truly let the pain she had been repressing manifest itself. Sinking to her feet, she was reduced to tears, which did not stop even after sleep took her.
The sun was well up into the sky when Higurashi Kagome awoke with much disgruntle, covering her head with a pillow in an attempt to keep the rays of light out of the eyes which would rather be left in the dark. Out of habit, she groped around aimlessly for her alarm clock despite the fact that it was not even going off. Finding it, she gave the snooze button a redundant slap. Peaking an eye out of the darkness, she drew her eyes to the glowing red numbers.
"AAAYYYYYAAA!"
She was late, exceptionally late; the demon-like red glow told her that she was now officially an hour and a half late for classes. Scrambling out of bed, she hastily grabbed a uniform from a pile, not taking the time to notice that the white blouse had a few red stains on it and a large rip on the sleeve. Scrambling, she found herself brushing her teeth, arranging her hair, and donning socks. It was weird, for this morning she had shown nearly as much passion in ten minutes as she had displayed in two months in the Feudal Era.
Running downstairs, she searched frantically for her bag. Looking at the kitchen table, she flopped on a chair and proceeded to bang her head against the hard surface. Breathing deeply, she regained her composure and let the façade return. She had dropped out as of yesterday.
It had been quite a surprise for the administration went she had walked into the main office. The principal, Kikaku-sensei stared openly, while a dark-haired stranger kept his reaction under his control and nearly unreadable to the naked eye, though his shock radiated off of him in waves.
"Higurashi-san, how wonderful for you to join us," said the dark-haired man in a honey-laced voice.
"I'm glad to be back."
"Kagome," said Kikaku-sensei, "This is Bashô-san, a truancy officer in Tokyo. He has been quite concern with your multiple absences over the past two years."
Kagome looked the man in the eye. "Bashô-san, over the past two years I have been having trouble with my immunities and therefore have contracted may diseases. And because of my lack of immunities, it has taken me so much longer to recover."Bashô-san reached into a briefcase and pulled out a manila folder, which was quite full of papers. "Higurashi-san, do you know what this is?" he asked, causing her to shake her head. "This contains an extensive list of all the times you were absent and reasons why. 'March 3rd to March 11th: cold; March 16th to April 8th: avian influenza;' the list goes on. What really caused us to wonder is when four months ago, your grandfather called saying you were attacked by a dog."
"I was. It hurt."
"I fail to see how a dog attack could keep you out of school for four months."
"It clawed me in the back."
Judging by the color creeping in to the face of Bashô-san, Kagome knew he was beginning to loss his patience. "Higurashi-san," he began, "I fail to see how dog scratches could cause wounds that would require four months to heal."
"Four months and counting," she corrected smugly.
"There is no need to be arrogant. Honestly you should be a little more worried; you are facing criminal charges for your truancy."
His complacency caused her to see red. Turning her back to them, she lifted up the baby-tee she was wearing and chuckled when she felt the spike of their ki, as she revealed the five parallel scars on her back. Ok, so theoretically, they were not from a dog, but who cared. Bringing her shirt back down, she turned to their gasping faces. "That's what I thought, Bashô-san. Please correct me, but I assume that receiving wounds like these would give me an excused absents."
"Hai, hai, Higurashi-san."
"I thought so."
"Kagome!" exclaimed Kikaku-sensei, surprised at her arrogance and trying to change he subject. "Why don't you get into uniform and talk to your teachers about the work you need to make up?"
"With all due respect, Kikaku-sensei, but you seem to fail to seem the reason I came here today. You see, I came to announce that I would be leaving the school as of today."
Keeping her expression blank, she inwardly enjoyed the reactions of the men before her, flabbergasted at her declaration, though desperately trying to inquire why she was leaving.
"I have been accepted to a boarding school in Osaka and will be attending there from this point forward. Sayonara."
"Higurashi-san, we received no notice from your school," protested Bashô-san.
"You have now."
"Higurashi-san, until a notice from this 'boarding school' is given to the school, your absences will be noted."
Kagome, who was headed to the door, had frozen the second he seemed to claim that she was making up the boarding school, which she was, but that did not matter at the moment. Turning slowly, she gave him a piercing glare that had spelt death to many a youkai. "Are you meaning to say that you do not believe that I am going to boarding school?"
"Well—"
"It is a vocational school of sorts where I can start to earn a degree," she spoke to him, dangerously low and slowly, quite pleased of the lie she was weaving.
"Higurashi-san, I mean no disrespect to you, but we must take your grades into account; they are low and I cannot see how such a school would accept you?"
"Are you implying that I am mentally incompetent of passing an entrance exam, Bashô-san?" she asked with an unspoken threat lacing her voice, which did not go unnoticed by Kikaku-sensei.
"Kagome," he said much appalled by her tone. "What are you doing talking to Bashô-san that way?"
"A fair question Kikaku-sensei, and I know exactly know what answer is expected from an inquiry," she spoke calmly and collectively, giving her full attention to the headmaster. " You would wish for me to apologize to Bashô-san for my impertinence. I would have done just that a one point of my life, but too many things have happened to me to let you slap my left cheek. If you must strike me, I give you my right. I will not let my very essence and erudition be insulted by this man who would like to do nothing better than uproot me from the very ground I stand. Do you understand?"
By the dumbfound look on both men's faces, she deduced that they had no idea what exactly she said. "In similar words, I don't feel like putting up with your shit and am merely defending my intelligence." She turned to Bashô-san. "The school tested me on the subjects, in which I wish to get a college degree. Since you have all my grades on hand, please tell me my cumulative history grade over the past two years."
Fumbling with his paper work, Bashô-san read out the grade, causing Kagome to grin at his embarrassment. "So please do share how an A+ is a grade so low that one could not pass a test to be accepted in a program for such a subject?"
"Oh…well…um…"
"My thoughts exactly. Now if you will excuse me gentlemen, I will be taking my leave."
Sesshoumaru-sama could officially say that he was beyond irritated with the accusations of the two tribal leaders sitting before him. They had been engaged in a heated debated for an hour, volleying insults and accusations, rather than actually presenting their cases to him, and showed sign of ceasing as they were ending day four of these intolerable interrogations. It was comical that the only thing that the two enemies could agree on was there was no leaving him any peace until the problem was worked out.
Leaning his head in the palm of his hand, he tried his best not lose control of his temper and do something he should regret later. However, the only thing he would really regret was the red tape he would have to cut through after two leaders of warring youkai groups were found dead. He, himself, did not care about what would happen to the two poor excuses of youkai power, but their tribes would and he could not afford a civil war in the Western Lands while the threat of Naraku was at hand.
Quietly, he implored a technique his father had taught him many years ago, a type of meditation, in which he not only appeared to be attentive, but also could enter his mind, so to speak. It was an ancient skill that was once widely known by youkai with any sort of power, allowing them to enter a trance-like meditation, which was intended to calm the mind before entering the battles of epic proportions that will forever rest in youkai lore. One of the effects, however, was the ability to look at the ready, if conducted properly, as to cause the enemy to contemplate whether it's potential victim was really meditating or just trying to appear so as to catch his or her adversary off guard.
Slowly he let his mind wonder, drifting from thought to thought, just watching the lips of the two tribes move, until he began to play with the thought of his new ward, analyzing her, for he knew she could become a worthy foe if pushed the wrong way. And so, he began to work on the puzzle, which was Higurashi Kagome.
'She's different then she once was; something drastic happened, and there is more to her story than she lets on. She's powerful now, much more powerful; and she's extremely controlled in her movements and actions. She was obviously hurt greatly by her betrayal. She was told she was weak therefore she became strong, and quickly, though it can be presuppose that she did not train under anybody. But if she did not train, how could a human bitch gain so much—'
Unfortunately, he noticed the younger daughter of the acid clan slowly creeping over to him. "What are you doing?"
"Sesshoumaru-sama I am merely trying to explain how my daughter, heir to the entire acid youkai clan, was assassinated by a subordinate of Yohachi-san," stammered Kanehiko-san.
"I was not addressing you, and further more, you are only volleying insults. So explain to me how that supports your claim?" spoke Sesshoumaru in a sangfroid manner.
Kanehiko seemed flustered by the statement and slightly aghast by the inquiry. "Sesshoumaru-sama, I mean no offence, but milord— "
"Enough; I see I was wrong to assume that you knew what a rhetorical question was? You also seem too incompetent to realize who is being spoken to." It was only after noting the youkai's perplexed expression that he added, "This Sesshoumaru was speaking to your offspring."
The girl appeared shocked at the revelation, not think that the great Sesshoumaru-sama would notice her, causing her face to flush a feminine hue of pink. "Sesshoumaru-sama, I mean no affront, but you appeared to not be interested in my sister's memory. I…I miss her so much; surely there is something you could do." Her tears did not fool him, like she intended. Like her sister and almost every other female youkai, Benko was after his bed and his name; all she saw in her sister's death was a way to get closer to the demon lord. "Milord, how can you let her murders sit in front of you like this; they are only trying to overthrow my family. I'm going to be next you know."
"Get off me woman!" he snarled, flinging her sobbing form off of his lap, over to which she worked her way. "Do not do that again."
Looking up from the floor with her doe-like, green eyes, she nodded. "Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama."
Ignoring her, the tai-youkai turned to her father. "Is there a reason that this girl is here? The answer is no, so I expect her to leave; now!"
Banko looked at him in shock, as if silently asking why he wanted her to go. Slowly, she walked past him, letting her long black hair to brush past him as she deliberately swayed her hips as she exited the room. It was only then he turned to Kanehiko. "Why," he asked softly, but certainly still intimidating, "Was she brought in here?"
"She was here to help to explain the death of my eldest; she was the last that saw her."
"She never presented me with any such information; consequently she has no reason to be it the room. Until you demonstrate a more pressing need for her to be present for the proceedings, she will make herself scarce in the north tower. If I—"
Sesshoumaru ceased conversing with the two leaders as he felt a powerful presence approaching the haul. He knew he had sensed this force before although he could not put his finger on it. Yohachi tried to inquire why the tai-youkai had become silent, but a harsh glare quieted him. He did not have any time to contemplate, for the figure had flung the double doors open and was stand in the threshold.
Parting Thoughts: Well, here's the end of the Third Tome. Right now I have a mix of carpel tunnel and tendonitis in my left wrist (resulting from an excessive amount of typing and knitting) and it is restricting my typing. However, I have graduated from mea mater's laptop; I am now writing on by beautiful 17" flat screen desktop named Lucius, my birthday present. Happy Sweet Sixteen to me.
A hagu-jin is an offensive term for a Chinese person.
In Japan, high school is only three years, so entering it at 11, 12 is like entering a sophomore class.
Now about the bible quote (turning the other cheek); I'm sure many Christians have heard of it, but they don't often understand it. In ancient times, most people were right-handed, so to backhand someone you had to slap them on the left cheek to avoid injury. It is also important to remember that backhanding someone was a gesture you would perform for a slave or someone beneath you. When you palmed someone, it was a sign that the attacker saw the person as an equal; and to palm someone without hurting oneself, he or she needed to be slapped on his or her right cheek. Capscite?
And for all you people who loved my previous quiz, here's another, regarding the educators of Kagome. QUIZ QUESTION: Kikaku and Bashô are famous Japanese figures; for what are they famous and how are they related?
One final note; I LOVE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM! Please, you can tell me what you abhor about my story, it is my bread and water. Comments, questions and concerns are welcomed with open arms.
Your responses are welcomed;
Bacci e Ciao,
♥The Jade Sabre♥