Accommodations: Seiryoku and Aiitsumo

Disclaimer: Read the one from the last chapter! I'm too lazy to waste time…

Before Kiyo had come out, as her conversation had lasted for a few minutes, Sesshomaru decided to put his word in about what he thought of the Doushi-chin-kouei and Kiyo.

"I don't think they're trustworthy," Sesshomaru said quickly and quietly, not wanting to be heard by anyone other than Riku and Kagome.

"What?" Kagome said, unable to hear him. She bent toward him closer, her ear turned toward him.

Riku scoffed, unable to accept that if she was as precious as Sesshomaru seemed to think she was – yes, he saw the way his 'grandfather' doted upon her – how she couldn't even hear a whisper? Was she deaf?

Sesshomaru sent a glare towards Riku and the dark-haired man rolled his eyes, but didn't retort. Sesshomaru then repeated what he had said to Kagome.

"Kiyo and the Doushi-chin-kouei, right?" Kagome said, but didn't wait for an answer. "I agree. The Doushi-chin-kouei seems power mad."

At this both Sesshomaru and Riku were surprised. The man had seemed rather odd, but power mad? Well, he did have much more materialistic things than the villagers, well, at least Kiyo. Kiyo did mention something about having the majority of guards protecting him… Kagome remembered that? She must have been pretty smart. Riku guessed that was the reason Sesshomaru accompanied her. It wasn't that Riku liked Sesshomaru; it was that he thought very little of Kagome.

"And Kiyo just, well, disturbs me. She has a crush on you, Sesshomaru," Kagome added, ignoring the surprised looks on their faces before.

Sesshomaru sighed at her statement. "Unfortunately, I know. She's been obvious. Now quiet, she's coming out," He said.

Kagome withdrew her head and pretended to look bored from the wait, twiddling her fingers, Riku sent her a look that said she was an idiot (also a cover-up, but he kind of felt like that), and Sesshomaru was just… stiff.

"Alright, since Seiryoku's house is closest, we'll drop off the woman first, alright?" Kiyo said as she came out, standing beside Sesshomaru and grasping his arm.

They, not really caring (except Kagome, who was annoyed she had been called woman, but more annoyed at Kiyo's grip on Sesshomaru) nodded. They followed Kiyo to a hut that, unlike all the others, had no pots or such out front or steam from the hole in the roof. It seemed to have a lonely air around it.

Kiyo said, "Follow me, I have a feeling he's inside." She stepped through the unclad 'door' and the others followed.

Sesshomaru quickly took in the furnishings of the hut, or lack of. There was a single bed of straw and leaves and a pounded clay floor, like the Doushi-chin-kouei's. The army must be pretty important, since he's the strongest and has the same floor as the Doushi-chin-kouei. I wonder how this Seiryoku will react to having to house Kagome, Sesshomaru thought.

There was nothing else in the room except for a man sitting quietly on his bed, staring at Kiyo. "Kiyo, for what business have you come? And who are these people?" His voice was deep, but not booming. It was powerful, but in a quiet way. Sesshomaru hadn't come across someone with that tone before. How odd.

"These people are guests," Kiyo said, "the white-haired man killed all of the guards protecting the city single-handed." Kiyo took a bright smile at Sesshomaru, who remained stoic, and giggled. "Is he not strong?"

Noticing Kiyo had ended, Seiryoku nodded, not seeming too impressed. "Yes, I suppose, but what business do they have with me?" He asked.

Kiyo giggled. "They need housing, and you have been asked to house the woman," She smiled in a fake sweetness at Kagome.

Kagome, having been called 'woman' too many times in the Feudal Era, and having to make up for her not responding when she had called her 'woman' before, acted instinctively.

"My name is Kagome," Kagome said stiffly, her jaw set. "Not woman, thank you." She glared at Kiyo, her eye twitching in disgust at the woman who had dared not address her by name.

Kiyo laughed at her. "Sorry, Ka-go-me," Kiyo said, mocking her name. "I'll keep it in mind." She said mockingly.

Sesshomaru, too, was now quite angry. Kagome's outburst wasn't that outrageous. Kiyo had no respectful reason to say that. And if she does something like that again, I'll give her something to 'keep in mind', He thought angrily, clenching his fist.

Kiyo said to Seiryoku, "I'm afraid you'll have to live with her." She told him sympathetically, grimacing falsely. Kiyo didn't notice that Seiryoku was now staring at Kagome.

Seiryoku stood up and walked over to Kagome. He was wearing a deep indigo robe, showing that, in fact, he was royalty. His black hair was pulled into a thin braid, bound with dye less cloth that went to the middle of his back. His face was dark and square, temple high and strong brown eyes. He was, Sesshomaru guessed, handsome for this time period. He was handsome to at least Kagome.

"My name is Seiryoku nii Teiichi. I am a distant relative of the Doushi-chin-kouei and the strongest man in the army. It is a pleasure to meet you." He said to Kagome.

Kagome smiled shyly up at him. "It's nice to meet you, too, Teiichi." She said in a dazed tone. Kagome really did think he was handsome.

Sesshomaru glared at Seiryoku as the black-haired man walked off with Kagome in the crook of his arm. That… that… Sesshomaru tried to find something wrong with him to explain his rage but couldn't. There wasn't anything really wrong with Seiryoku.

Kiyo walked out of the cabin with Riku and Sesshomaru slowly trailing after them, though she didn't follow Kagome and Seiryoku to Sesshomaru's dismay.

Kiyo didn't bother to walk with Sesshomaru, seeing he was fuming for a reason she couldn't fathom. She stopped at a house a few houses down and walked through that door, seeming much happier than at Seiryoku's. Sesshomaru and Riku reluctantly followed.

As Sesshomaru and Riku walked in, they saw that the hut had a table with a clay stool and a large straw bed and a fire with smoke coming from the top with a woman tending to the fire while chatting with Kiyo. She was pretty, looking somewhat like Kiyo, but plainer in a way. Her skin was darker.

Kiyo introduced Sesshomaru reluctantly to the woman. "Sesshomaru, this is Aiitsumo, my cousin. You'll be staying with her," She said sadly, then perked up as she said, "But don't worry, I'll stop by every day, good-bye!" Kiyo said. She pecked Sesshomaru on the cheek, whose eye started twitching and knuckles became white.

Riku reluctantly followed Kiyo out, not wanting to be stuck with her. They trekked off to Kiyo's house. Riku had no idea what Kiyo's hut would look like. And he was a little spooked…

To Be Continued…

Author's Note: Ooh, what's Kiyo's going to look like? Will it have Sesshomaru posters plastered all over? Will it have gel to make her hair so straight? Wouldn't that be a shocker?

What do you think of Seiryoku? He's going to be quite the ladies' man, but mostly just Kagome's man. Just kidding! And Sesshomaru's –gasp- jealous? Yes, I like to put a bit of that in every chapter. After all, why not? It's cute!

Did I go skimpy on Aiitsumo's place? My sister's pushing me to get off so she can go on. Sorry if it's not best quality!

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