Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Inu Yasha characters, they all belong/are located in the genius mind of Rumiko Takahashi so dont sue me!
AN: HEY ALL! well here it is! chappie two! i mean personally i wasn't expecting to write another chapter but u no ppl actually reviewed and that made me happy enough so yay! well ne way hope u enjoy the chapter! READ AND REVIEW!
The Youkai's Bride
Chapter One
15 years later...
It was going to be a clean, uncomplicated kidnapping.
What was somewhat ironic was in the eyes of the demon court it would be a completely "legal" kidnapping.
Unless you counted the fact that he might get charges under the breaking and entering but that wasn't really significant in his mind at the moment.
Sesshomaru Taisho, Lord of the Western Lands, was fully ready to use whatever methods he deemed necessary to gain the success he needed.
If the gods smiled upon him, his "victim" would be sound asleep.
If not... well, there was always the object called a simple gag that would silence any protest from the victim.
Sesshomaru knew one way another, whether she wanted to or not, he would collect his bride.
Sesshomaru refused to act the part of a gentlemen when he really didn't deem it worthy. If his bride didn't accept his attitude now, she would have to learn to accept it later.
Besides time was running out.
Only six weeks were left before he would be in a true violation of the marriage contract.
He had not seen his bride since that day when the contract was read 15 years earlier, but his image that he had painted of her wasn't exactly fanciful.
He had heard of the women from the Higurashi-miko clan turned out to be.
They weren't exactly the pick of the litter. Excuse the pun.
They were known to be pear-shaped, with big bones, bigger derrières, and, if the stories were not exaggerated, appetites to put a sailor to shame.
The thought of having a wife such as that by his side was about as appealing as him strutting around naked in the streets but Sesshomaru was prepared, as much any youkai could be, to deal with this woman.
Sesshomaru rubbed his temples slightly, a habit he had picked up from his father. Perhaps, if he put his mind to the problem, he wouldn't have to spend time with his annoying miko bride and still keep the conditions of the contract.
Sesshomaru was a silent man and didn't like to receive counsel from any youkai or man. Only his somewhat trusted friend, Miroku, was privy to his thoughts.
Though the fact that Miroku, himself, was from a well-known monk family and was human should have bothered him, he had slowly gained his begrudging trust.
Still the stakes were too high for even Sesshomaru to ignore.
The amount of money offered after one year's cohabitation with the miko, Kagome, was more than enough to make up for any repulsion he might feel for her appearance or any personality disorders she might have.
The money was enough for him to gain new lands for his own and still have enough money to help support a small shipping business that he and Miroku had started awhile back.
The reason was simple enough to understand.
Both men were tired of living the life of always looking over there shoulder. The money would help lift a huge burden off their shoulders. They'd fallen into the business of pirating quite by accident not that long ago and done fairly well for themselves but both of them decide it was becoming to risky to be living the way they were. And the day they gave up there pirating names was the day that there shipping company was born.
Though Sesshomaru had made quite a name of himself as the pirate, Silver Blood. The bounty for his head was ridiculously high even for someone as rich as himself. It would even cause a saint to consider turning traitor for the bounty.
The number of enemies he had was enough to cover his whole castle.
But that was beside the point, the point was how to get his bride out of his way while still getting the money from the contract. He let out a slight growl of aggravation as he glanced at the clock on his desk.
The very man that had just seeped into his thoughts had insisted he needed to talk to him about a matter of great importance at the offices of their small shipping company.
Usually he would refuse such a request because he detested the smell of humans that he could smell strongly the minute he stepped out of his estates.
He could barely put up with Miroku himself but he had told him that this information was a matter of great importance.
Sesshomaru almost snorted at the thought of it actually being something worthy of his time.
Not a lot of things were.
It was probably of the matter of Miroku doing something completely moronic with his finances again getting his short-tempered wife, Sango, beyond furious with the insufferable man.
Therefore once again leading to him being kicked out of the house.
Yes that is probably his "urgent news." That he needs once again to stay in my estates until his wife has cooled down and he can go crawling back to her, thought Sesshomaru, with a slight look of disgust, as he stood up, brushing a piece of imaginary lint of his shoulder.
As if anything could ever be that urgent that it would surprise him.
If possible he had even better control of his emotions then he had had when he first was forced into the marriage with the human girl.
With that thought in mind he stepped out of his study and prepared himself for the event.
----------------------------------------------------------
Sesshomaru's legendary stoic mask was in full evidence when he walked into the office of his business partner.
His so called partner known as Miroku was lounging in a wingback chair with his feet propped up on the desk in front him.
Sesshomaru noted with disgust that his shoes were on top of the many books of shipping payments that he had just finished the other day.
He could not hold back the dark scowl as he turned his narrowed golden eyes at the black haired man in front of him.
"Koga has two mounts ready, Miroku. Have you two have an errand to do? What happened to the urgent news that you had pulled me out of my estates just to tell me?" Sesshomaru questioned, his eyes if possible narrowed even more in suspicion, as he referred to one of their shipmates.
His friend let out a bark of laughter as he looked up to Sesshomaru's narrowed eyes evenly with his purple ones that were twinkling with laughter.
"Come now, do you really think I would call you over here just to talk about business? Have I ever really showed THAT much interest in it? Why would I start now? You know perfectly well what those mounts are for," Miroku laughed, a smirk that had broken many ladies, humans and youkais alike, hearts.
Sesshomaru knew exactly what his friend was referring to. He was referring to the point that his bride was in the exact same village as he, yet he had yet to so much as "check her out", as Miroku would say.
Sesshomaru's answer was straight out and he said it without even batting an eyelash.
"No."
"Koga said he would watch the office while we were away," insisted Miroku, standing up to glare slightly at Sesshomaru's tall figure as he turned to stare out the window.
"Miroku, I have no need nor desire to see her before I kidnap her tonight."
"DAMN IT ALL! You need to get a good look at her first." yelled Miroku, clearly frustrated with the calm and collected youkai.
"May I question why I would need to do such a thing," Sesshomaru questioned, turning to look at Miroku with a delicately arched silver eyebrow.
As if what he was suggesting was one of the most moronic things he had ever heard.
"To prepare yourself," Miroku insisted again with a firm nod of his head, crossing his arms across his chest.
Sesshomaru's face slowly showed a hint of annoyance.
"I have no need to prepare myself. Everything is in perfect order. I already know which window belongs to her bedchamber. The tree outside will hold my weight, as i have already tested. There isn't a lock on her window to worry about, and the ship is ready to sail. Whatever do I have to prepare for?" Sesshomaru more stated than questioned, his usual confidence in his posture.
"So you've thought of everything, have you?"
Sesshomaru graced him with a slight dignified nod. "As always."
"Oh?" Miroku paused to smirk. "And what if she won't fit through the window? Have you ever considered that possibility?"
The question got just the reaction Miroku desired. Sesshomaru for a split second looked startled but it was quickly once again replaced with his emotionless mask.
"It is a large window, Miroku."
"She might be larger."
If Sesshomaru was chilled by that possibility, he hid it extremely well.
"Then I'll roll her down the stairs," he drawled in a bored tone, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Like mikos of high stature were rolled down the stairs every day.
Miroku let out another bark of laughter at the image. "Aren't you at ALL interested at how she turned out?"
"No."
"Well, I am," Miroku admitted, which wasn't surprising account of the fact he was a well known ladies man. "And since I won't be going along with you two on your romantic honeymoon, it's only decent to satisfy my curiosity before you leave."
"It's a journey, not a honeymoon," Sesshomaru countered. "Quit trying to bait me, Miroku. She is a miko and you know as well as I the only reason we are sailing is to get her away from her relatives."
"I dont know how your going to stomach it. You can barely stand my so called "stench" for more than a day or two, how are you going to stand hers days on end? Another great reason why you should go see how she smells now so you can get used to it?" Miroku continued as if he didn't even hear Sesshomaru's words.
Sesshomaru felt the incredible urge to let out a weary sigh but held it in as he looked up at Miroku with cold gold eyes.
"You aren't going to let me leave unless I agree to go, aren't you?" Sesshomaru questioned, allowing himself to at least rub his once again aching temples.
"Nope," Miroku said with a grin as he saw the so called "invincible demon" cave in to his demands.
A silence ensued before he saw Sesshomaru's shoulders drop, it was barely noticeable. If he hadn't know him as long as he had he probably wouldn't have noticed it at all.
"I want to stay there no longer than I have too. No longer than 5 minutes, any longer and I will rip you apart with my bare claws, Miroku," Sesshomaru threatened.
Miroku almost shuddered at the thought knowing he would do exactly as he threatened but it was quickly covered by his satisfied smirk.
"Do not worry so much, my friend," Miroku said as he walked past the demon lord pulling on a riding cloak. "I know a certain place in the garden that we will be able to see her clearly at Lady Kagura's party without being seen ourselves. Come now let's go prepare you for your future wife!"
With that he practically skipped with satisfaction past Sesshomaru leaving him behind to glare at the spot where Miroku had stood before.
Did he even want to question how he knew his bride was at Lady Kagura's party?
If his wife was anything like Miroku he think he would kill himself.
------------------------------------------------------------
So that is how the taiyoukai of the west ended up peeking through some rather large hedges with his now questionable friend looking for his bride.
He turned his golden eyes to give Miroku a murderous look.
"Miroku, I feel like a pup trying to chase a bitch in heat. How will we even know which one is my bride," growled Sesshomaru, his eyes almost seeming to be luminescent with fury that promised a painful death for the monk beside him.
Miroku laughed as he kept his horizon purple eyes straight forward. "My lovely wife, Sango, will be walking beside her, I plan ahead just as you." For a second his eyes grew wistful.
"Lady Kagura's parties are always extravagant. I almost wish we could be down there mingling with the rest of them."
The murderous look that followed his statement told Miroku clearly he had NO desire WHATSOEVER to mingle with a bunch of humans.
"Five minutes, Miroku. If you make me stay longer than that time frame you will feel the wonderful feeling of my claws cutting through your flesh." growled Sesshomaru, his eyes promising that exact pain.
"Agreed," placated Miroku. He turned to look at his friend. "You know, she might have been willing to leave with you, Sesshomaru, if..."
"Are you suggesting I send another letter?" Sesshomaru stated, he raised an eyebrow at the absurdity of that possibility. "You do recall what happened th last time I followed that wonderful advice?"
"Of course I remember," Miroku answered as a slight chuckle escaped from his lips. "She was quick to run away wasn't she?"
"Yes, she was," Sesshomaru replied, a hint of a smile in his voice as turned his eyes once again to the party before them.
"I suppose..." Miroku completely lost his train of thought as he spotted his wife strolling toward them. Another woman walking by her side. "There's Sango," he said. "If she would only just move a little to the left..." That remark went unfinished.
Miroku's indrawn breath filled the air.
"Sweet Kami... could that be Lady Kagome?"
Sesshomaru didn't answer him. In truth, he doubted he was even able to utter a single word. His mind was fully consumed taking in the vision before him.
The woman before them was enchanting. Sesshomaru slightly shooke his head to rid his head of such foolish thoughts.
The woman in front of his eyes couldn't possibly be his bride. The blushing miko that was smiling shyly at Sango was simply too beautiful, too feminine, and too damn thin to belong to the Higurashi clan.
And yet he somewhat saw the 4 year old who had clinged to his haori so long ago.
Gone was the short waves of obsidian hair. If possible her hair grew even darker, making it almost make the midnight sky green with envy. It reached her petite waist and seemed to be pin straight except for a slight wave at the ends. Her complexion still was the same ivory shade but it almost seemed to be luminescent in the dark of the night.
She'd grown to be slightly short in his eyes but by human standards she was just about the right size and was only slightly shorter than Miroku's wife. There certainly wasn't anything average about her figure, however. She had rounded in all the right places.
"Look at all the young bucks moving in," Miroku announced. "They're like sharks moving in on their prey. Your wife seems to be their target, Sesshomaru," he added. "Hell, you think they would have the decency to leave a married woman alone. Still I suppose I can't really blame them, if I wasn't married... she's magnificent Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru let out a possessive growl as he watched the eager men, human and youkai alike, chase after his bride. He had an almost overwhelming urge to rip off their faces with their lustful eyes raking across his bride's body. How dare they try to touch what belonged to him?
He clenched his teeth to calm himself over his illogical reaction to his bride. What was this miko doing to him?
Sesshomaru took a step back pulling Miroku with him. "Let's ride, Miroku. I've seen enough."
Not a hint of emotion was in his voice as they started walking back to their mounts. Miroku turned to look at him.
"Well?"
Sesshomaru only graced him with a raised eyebrow that seemed to ask "Well, what?"
"Damn it, Sesshomaru, tell me what you think."
"I haven't the faintest idea what you are asking."
"Lady Kagome," Miroku persisted. "What do you think of her?"
"Do you desire the truth, Miroku?"
His friend took a quick nod.
A slight smirk placed itself on Sesshomaru's lips. "She'll fit through the window."
-------------------------------------------------------------
AN: YAY THANK GOD IM DONE! wow that was long my fingers hurt. i hoped this one didnt seem to drag i tried my best. well ne way hope you enjoyed it!
Review Responses:
bleh: you were my first reveiwer! im glad u enjoyed my story i hope you keep reading
Above the Roof : im glad that some ppl appreciate my story!
anyonomous: ya i no it might seem a little weird but if u keep reading you would understand how it goes, i hope you keep reading and dont let that little fact bother u.
Taiyoukai Lord Sesshomaru: thank u so much! i was really worried that sessho might be a lil OOC so ur review gave me peace of mind! thank u!
ILuvFLUFFYmarshmellows: eeek no one no's how good it makes me feel that ur enjoying my story. hopefully this chapter was good enough for u
aaron: AARON! LYLAB! im so glad you liked my story i was worried u wouldnt like it cause it was a romance but im glad u enjoyed it. i hope u liked this story!
sunstone-dono:GLOMPS U! KITTY!im so glad u reviewed! i was hoping for ur's i hope u liked the chapter! it took me so long huge bags under eyes! lylas!