Welcoming

Disclaimer: I own nothing except, well, my Garage ™ shirt and my pretty Urban Behaviour ™ purse. I wish I owned more.

Sesshomaru stepped into the small space between the two huts. Quick as lightning, he pointed his deadly fingers at whoever was coming. He wasn't quite used to reacting with his sword anymore, in case he was mistaken, but his fingers were used constantly.

A young lady, around twenty, who was very pretty, was in front of him holding a dried clay pot filled with peaches. She was quite pretty, with long black hair which surprisingly was completely straight for someone of that early a time. Her complexion was a little tanned, but pretty and her eyes were almond shaped with soft blue irises. Her clothes were a deerskin tunic pinned at the shoulder and below it. She was nothing more, nothing less than a beauty.

Kagome was slightly jealous. This woman was very pretty. I wish I was so beautiful. She looks like one of those collectors' dolls you see in store windows for ridiculous prices. I'm just, well, just normal. Kagome thought. She was so caught up in her beauty that she forgot she didn't know the woman.

Sesshomaru, on the other hand, was all politics, not about to be sucked into beauty. "Who are you and what business do you want with me and my companions?" He asked coolly.

The girl laughed, her soft lips curling attractively. "Oh, my name is Shikiyoku. Just call me Kiyo, though. Everyone does. I don't really have much business. I'm just interested in yours. I've never seen a white-haired man or such fine clothes." Kiyo said in a flirting tone. She blinked her eyelashes multiple times at Sesshomaru.

Kagome wanted to cringe. What a slut, she thought. I bet she thinks Sesshomaru's rich from his clothes and wants his cash. What a, aargh! Kagome hated those types of girls.

Sesshomaru had thoughts along the same lines as Kagome. He was disgusted by this Kiyo and her flirty actions. "Our business is that your men attacked us and I was forced to slaughter them." He said calmly, though still Kagome noticed he sounded a little sad.

Sesshomaru cringed mentally. Why did I have to sound so inexplicably sad? He thought. I'm a little depressed that Kagome thought that I would kill all those people mercilessly, like I could've done in the Feudal Era, but it's no big deal, right?

Kiyo blinked a few times in surprise. "Oh, my; that sounds rather troublesome. I take it they're our army men. The rest are guarding Doushi-chin-kouei, our leader. Most of them are, actually." Kiyo sounded a bit flustered, but unusually calm.

Sesshomaru was steely with her in tone; in words he was plainly political. "May we speak to Doushi-chin-kouei or whoever leads you now?" Sesshomaru asked.

Kiyo gave him a flirty smile. "Well, only if you promise to come see me later! I'll make dinner." Kiyo winked at him.

Kagome had to refrain from groaning and followed Sesshomaru, who followed Kiyo. Sesshomaru looked emotionless from afar, mouth set in a line and eyes staring with a bored expression, but Kagome knew the truth. One of Sesshomaru's white eyebrows was tilted in the slightest motion downwards in annoyance. His posture was stiffer than usual. All were signs of annoyance and Kiyo was the root of it.

They walked through the village, bustling with activity, just like any other, with primitive huts, and somewhat primitive people. They seemed to function well, though. They came upon a large mud brick palace with a hole for a door and a straw curtain to keep out the light.

Kiyo lightly pulled aside the straw curtain so that the three and Kiyo herself could walk in. Sesshomaru walked in first, seeing a throne, he guessed at the politics of the village and bowed, though he could not see, in the darkness, who he was bowing to. Kagome and Riku followed.

"Ah, so I see that our reigning city has visitors? No doubt from another city jealous of our wealth." A booming male voice said from the almost invisible throne. He stepped forward.

It was the Doushi-chin-kouei. Kagome could tell because it was written across his arm in bold red ink. He was not at all what Kagome had expected him to be. Rulers, or so she had seen and learned, were supposed to be well-built or at least smart looking. The Doushi-chin-kouei was not all that. He was round and plump, with his bright colour almost reminding her of an apple. His cheeks were dimpled and plump, like all of himself. His eyes were beady, small and slanted, his deep, dark brown irises faded into his pupils. His lips were thin and long, the curve of his smirk accented by his stringy, curled moustache. He was not at all pleasant looking.

The Doushi-chin-kouei laughed in his deep, booming voice. "Do not worry, it is only a joke. I have not seen clothes this fine that were not on me like the ones on yourselves and my court. Nor have I seen a white haired man with gold eyes. A demon, perhaps, but you seem too proud."

His comments were only jest, but it irritated Sesshomaru. What right does he have to mock demons? A toad demon would be more attractive in appearance than him. Sesshomaru thought bitterly.

Riku had similar thoughts, though he had ignored the prejudices and focused on looks. He loved to mock at every chance. What a smirking beast. That grin of his… it drives me up the wall. Ugly thing, he is. Riku smirked and adjusted his posture.

"Beg pardon, Great Doushi-chin-kouei, but these are guests." The speaker was Kiyo, looking a bit flushed as she stared at the ground. "Please allow yourself to treat them like your own loyal subjects. Their hearts seem so pure." Her bright blue eyes were downcast in both a respectful and embarrassed manner.

The Doushi-chin-kouei nodded, still with his sick smirk. "Ah, good Kiyo, your heart is as pure as you say these people's are." He directed his focus onto the trio. "May I ask your names and your business?"

Sesshomaru spoke again, knowing more about politics than the other two put together. "I am Sesshomaru, the woman is Kagome, and the younger male is Riku. Your men tried to attack us on our way here. We are former royalty, our land stolen by the people we were at war with. I knew it was smarter to let them take our land and recapture it when our city once again flourished, than destroy them, losing many lives in the process."

The Doushi-chin-kouei nodded, understanding. He must have been an expert on politics, being a leader. "We will gladly take you on. However, each of my subjects' families' has room for only one more. "Sesshomaru, you shall live for the time being with Aiitsumo. Riku shall live with Kiyo, the pride of our village," At this Kiyo blushed and bowed tastefully. "And the woman shall reside with the strongest man in our army, Seiryoku. He shall surely protect you." The Doushi-chin-kouei finished and waved them away. "Off you go, I hope the residence I have placed each of you in fits well."

They filed out of the tent, first Sesshomaru, Kagome, Riku and lastly Kiyo, who rushed to catch up to Sesshomaru after backing out.

"Kiyo, come back!" The Doushi-chin-kouei voice boomed, calling Kiyo.

The blue eyed girl rushed back into the tent. Sesshomaru, Kagome and Riku started walking, knocking on random doors.

oOoOoOo With the Doushi-chin-kouei and Kiyo oOoOoOo

"My sweet, I trust you shall 'take care' of these people? Take out Sesshomaru, then Riku. Seiryoku will finish the wench."

"Of course, master. I only live to serve, do I not?"

"You do, girl. Inform Aiitsumo, your sister of her housing of Sesshomaru, the man. Do you not think he resembles a demon?"

"I do, oh, I do. He is far too handsome, though. It would be a pity if he was."

"Now, let us begin…"

To Be Continued…

Author's Note: