Disclaimer: Need I even say it?
Summary:Chapter three! Huzzah! Well, you all know the creepiness factor just got turned WAY up in the last chapter w/ Naraku? oooohhh...(Melissa Y:NARAKU IS MY BITCH! Kayli: SMACK! Melissa Y: ... Kayli: Mmmyea... . .. . ..) lol NEwayz, Sesshoumaru wakes up in the lavishness of his(or his father's) estate with the others nearby. Planning ensues as Kagura creeps closer...
Chapter Three
The Geisha
Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed open, his breath short and heavy from the dream he'd had the night before. He gave a slight moan as he tried to remember what had happened. He glanced about, finding himself in the master bedroom of his estate, which had once been Father's estate. His vision was blurry, his mind lost in a passionate haze. He found himself naked beneath the sheets, his pale skin glistening with sweat. Shocked and horrified with this, he grabbed the nearest haori and pants and put them on--a light blue haori with red flower prints upon the sleeves' ends. He sat upon the great bed, his head dizzy and confused. Nobody had been with him, nobody was there... A dream?
"Damn!" he cursed at himself in a whisper, realising that a certain time had come. He would be in heat soon. He mustn't leave the grounds until the Heat is over, otherwise he'd jump the first female he would see. The last thing he needed was for it to be that human girl, that Jesira... She was charming, yes, and her voice was very pretty, but the last thing he wanted was to mate with her--a lowly human woman.
He then remembered it all. They were home, now, all four of them. Sesshoumaru had led them all to his lavish estate, to his lands in the west, all enchanted or cursed with demonic aura and magic. His castle, his palace...it was all their home too. He had remembered coming here after the big storm, giving Rin his old room, and Jesira a room just down the hall from the master bedroom, so Sesshoumaru might be able to keep an eye on her, though he doubted that Naraku would be stupid enough to come to his estate and attack. Jaken was in a room adjacent to Sesshoumaru's, which had been a servant's quarters beforehand. Now, the sun was shining through the shojii screens of the windows, curtains drawn to the sides. He stood upon shaky legs, the cold of the floor to his bare feet giving him a slight chill. He left the haori jacket open as he walked across the floor, out of the room and into the hallway.
It was early, still, and a slight chill from the recent storms still in the air. Sesshoumaru did not go to Rin's or Jaken's rooms, but walked down the hall until he reached the room where that human girl, Jesira, was sleeping. Gently, he knelt at the shojii screen and slid it aside. There she was, lying on the grand bed, beneath several layers of fur pelts and blankets, her hair all in disarray. Her cheeks were flushed from the chill in the air. She was dressed in strange clothes, as usual, and seemed to be sleeping quite peacefully. This would be the first night of peace she had since she'd out of the sky that day.
He cocked his head gently, letting a few strands of silvery white hair run over his semi-bare shoulder. She's...beautiful, thought Sesshoumaru, instantly horrified by the thought. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of any 'feelings' he could ever have for this human, no matter how beautiful she was. He looked down at her again, gingerly reaching to touch her neck. His breath stifled as the back of his fingers felt the skin of her cheek, tiny jolts of electricity running up and down his arms and thighs. He then remembered what that dream had been about. Suddenly his face was flushed red with embarassment. He rushed hurredly out of Jesira's room, closing the screen and leaning against it.
"Sesshoumaru-sama?" Jaken was there, just a few feet of him. "Is all well, my lord?"
Sesshoumaru regained his composure immediately, cold and proper, like always. "Jaken," he said, "see to it that the entire staff knows of both Rin's and Jesira's presence. Inform them to treat them as ladies of the house, and anything less shan't be tolerated." With that he walked off to his room again. "Oh, and Jaken, see to it that Jesira finds more...suitable clothes."
"Y-Yes, my lord..."
As they were talking, Jesira was waking up to a lavish and beautiful room. She straightened her big Jackie Brown t-shirt as she sat up on the big mat, looking about on the polished floors, the perfectly structured architecture of the palace, of the time. She was actually in the Muromachi period in Japan... She was a part of living history--or more a living faerie tale. Though Sesshoumaru-sama was a far cry from Prince Charming, she had to admit that he was a very generous man. After all, he had taken her in out of the goodness of his heart--inviting a perfect stranger into his home. How thoughtful, he was, to have done this.
The shojii screen slid open slightly, and then all the way open to see a demon maid, wearing the traditional dress in a purple kimono. Her hair was short and pinned back with flowers. She bowed her head and slowly rose from her knees, shuffling to Jesira and offering her a white robe.
"Ohayoo gouzaimasu, Jesira-sama," said she. "Sesshoumaru-sama would have you wear this robe."
"Robe?" she asked. It looked to be nothing more than a white cotton bathrobe. "Doushite?"
"Sesshoumaru-sama has commanded it, Jesira-sama."
Now she was intrigued. She stood up, revealing her legs completely, as she had no pajama bottoms for the t-shirt. The servant girl blushed profusely at the sight of them. "Why has Sesshoumaru-sama commanded anything about me?" asked Jesira, going to her bag and fumbling through it for her hairbrush. "Here it is!" She sat Native American style by the bag and began to brush.
The servant girl stood. "If it pleases you, my lady, I will comb your hair for you."
"Why are you calling me, 'my lady?'"
"Sesshoumaru-sama has ordered yourself and Miss Rin to be treated as ladies of the house during your stay here."
"Ladies of the house?" Jesira repeated in confusion. "You mean...you'll do what ever I ask you to even if it's silly?"
"Yes, my Lady. Sesshoumaru-sama would not have it any other way."
"Hop on one foot."
The servant obeyed.
"Now touch your nose."
The servant obeyed.
"Now bark like a dog."
"Arf! Arf! Arf!"
"A big dog!"
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Jesira began to laugh hysterically.
"This is so cool!" She danced around the room happily. "It's like I'm a princess!" She looked over to the demon servant girl. "You can stop now." She laughed again. "This is the definition of the royal treatment!"
"But you are, Jesira-sama, as long as you are here in this house, you are to be treated like you were Sesshoumaru-sama's mate--"
That word stopped Jesira in mid-releve. "His what? What do you mean by that? He thinks I am his mate?"
"I'm sorry, Jesira-sama, I thought that you were..." The servant girl blushed again.
She sighed. "It's all right... I guess that you're just doing your job..." She stood and stretched. "Any chance of a girl getting a bath around here?"
She nodded happily. "Yes, my lady, come to the bathing quarters. We've been expecting you."
Jesira was led down the hall and down a flight of stairs to a bathroom that was more like a room with several steaming swimming pools. It was more of a bathhouse than a bathroom. The air was thick with herbs and aromatic bathsalts. A fountain-like structure was at the end of the room. Maids and attendants were running about through the thick steam.
"Your bath, my lady." She showed Jesira a great round pool with rocks shaped like armrests. Several younger males brough special oils and herbs.
"Wow!" said Jesira, throwing off her t-shirt, her long hair covering her breasts. "Oh, hey, what's your name?"
"Me?" the maid asked. "Uh... Saiyuri desu, Jesira-sama."
"Saiyuri?" She nodded. "Ok, you're my new best friend. Whoo-hoo!" She jumped out of her underwear and cannonballed into the hot water. "WHOA! Hot!" said she, gasping for air.
Moments later, she was leaning back upon the warm rocks, her hair being rubbed and washed with strange plant oils to make it shine. Servants were scrubbing her all over, though she couldn't quite understand why they couldn't let her do it herself. Everything smelled so good...like ginsing or tea leaves...Jesira felt like she was in a spa! Saiyuri began to comb her hair. Everything rather reminded her of a Hayao Miyazaki film! Everything was perfect and brilliant. In spite of herself and her lonliness for her parents and for Grandmother, she never wanted it to end! If only she could find a way to come and go between worlds like Kagome did...
"Are you enjoying your bath, my lady?" asked Saiyuri.
"Yes, thanks," said Jesira as her shoulders were being rubbed. "Saiyuri, you've been here for a while, right?"
"Since Sesshoumaru-sama was a boy, yes. Of course, I was very young then.."
"Can you tell me about him? I really must thank him for his hospitality... Can you tell me why he's brought us here?"
Saiyuri shrugged as Jesira came out of the bath. She wrapped a drying cloth about her slim body. "Sesshoumaru-sama is a very complicated demon, Jesira-sama. He covets the Tetsusaiga which belongs to his half-brother, Inuyasha, and that's why he journeys. To become stronger, I suppose, is a high priority for Sesshoumaru-sama. His father was a great demon, and Sesshoumaru-sama was determined to defeat him. Inutaishou-sama died, however, before that could happen. Poor Sesshoumaru-sama has been greiving ever since, though he'll hardly show sadness. He's had such a hard life, you know?" Saiyuri began to comb Jesira's long hair. "When we saw him come with you, we were so happy, and thought that he'd finally chosen a mate so he'd never be lonely again. That's why, Jesira-sama, I thought you were...well..."
She nodded. "I see... Sesshoumaru is lonely?" She sighed with worry, and then with contentment, as young demon boys were massaging her feet and shoulders. "This feels so good... I know I should be focusing on trying to get home, but I just can't seem to figure it out.."
An old woman with long gray hair came in, her eyes a deep ruby red. "Let me do it," she said to Saiyuri, making her rise and walk away. Jesira looked over to her, dressed in fine servant's robes of deep blue. She was holding an ivory box, short and wide, like a checker board box. She smiled, her eyes like red slits.
"Ohayoo gouzaimasu, Jesira-sama," said the old woman. "You may call me Okassan. I am Governess of this house, and I am here to make sure you are treated just as you should be."
"Governess?" Jesira asked. "Does that mean you were Sesshoumaru's nanny?"
Okassan nodded, kneeling at Jesira's feet and massaging them with hot stones. "Sesshoumaru-sama was like a child to me for a long time, especially when his mother left."
"His mother?"
"Hai, Jesira-sama. WhenOkassan no Sesshoumaru-samawas here in this house, she would have me rub her feet every day. Inutaishou-sama was taught that women are most happy when every part of them is content. While you are here, you may have a foot massage any time you like. Saiyuri will give them to you when I am not able to."
"Okassan, please tell me about Sesshoumaru."
She shook her head. "There is not much to tell."
"Why are we here, then? Are we resting?"
"Sesshoumaru-sama is probably here to stop and think, let you rest perhaps. If you don't mind my saying so, my lady, Sesshoumaru-sama seems to be quite fond of you. Either that, or he respects you enough to let you stay here."
"Respects me?"
"Oh, hai, Jesira-sama. Sesshoumaru-sama despises humans, especially his younger brother, Inuyasha. I think that Sesshoumaru-sama is greedy, though, for hating his brother like that."
"Greedy?"
"Yes, my lady. Tenseiga is the sword of heaven, of healing, while Tetsusaiga is the sword of power. Sesshoumaru-sama longs for power, longs for the same power his father had. He is a great demon, but he will never be a great demon like his father, Inutaishou-sama, if he keeps sulking like this. Forgive me, Jesira-sama, I do not mean to speak badly about the young Master."
Jesira sank gently into the water to her chin. Sesshoumaru respected her? What a thought! Though she hardly gave it a thought, Sesshoumaru was a very powerful demon, and a beautiful one at that. She closed her eyes, wondering what his hair felt like when brushed. "I'd love to braid his hair," said Jesira quietly to herself. "I'd love to get to know him. I think he'd make a great character in a musical!" She sighed, closing her eyes at the soothing feeling of Okassan massaging her feet, of Saiyuri combing her long hair. "Maybe it won't be so bad being stuck here... If I could only find a way to get back and forth between the worlds..." She closed her eyes for a moment. "What's in the box?"
Okassan reached for the box and opened it. Inside were combs, hair ornaments, charcoal and face powder. "We thought that, perhaps, you'd like to paint your face."
Paint her face? Jesira thought that her Japanese was a little off to hear it like that...maybe she meant to say...you'd like to put on some make-up. She leaned over and looked at all of the things...it looked just like what Grandmother had in her apartment!
When Jesira finished her bath, she returned to her room and found new, beautiful clothes! Layers of pink and red were lying neatly folded on the bed, and a great and elaborate kimono was hanging from the ceiling like some piece of art. The kimono was made of the finest blue silk, patterns and prints of lilies all over it. Upon the back was a great orange goldfish, swimming in the fabric's threads. "Oh! It's so beautiful!"
Saiyuri nodded and helped Jesira get into the underlayers. "Sesshoumaru-sama ordered it to be brought to you. He said to find you some 'suitable clothes.'"
"This is more than suitable!" said Jesira, running her dancer's fingers all over the fabric. It felt like water! She smiled and breathed in the crisp rural air; it reminded of Grandmother's small house. Grandmother was a geisha back in Japan, before she immigrated in the 50's. Jesira thought fondly of Grandmother, and of her lessons.
'Jesira-chan, that is a perfect bow...for a pig farmer. Here, close your fingers, raise your elbows off the ground--that's it, my hana chibi...'
Grandmother first taught her how to dance, how to twirl fans, how to sing and how to arrange flowers... Pour the tea like this, and press gently against his leg when you sit--but, accidently, of course. She missed Grandmother, she missed her wisdom and their talks...she missed her weekends where she and Grandmother would dress up in threadbare kimonos and pretend to be Geishas together. Jesira was the only one pretending, though, Grandmother was a real Geisha. Even in her old age, she could still stop a man with a single glance--even if it was only in question.
She closed her eyes as Saiyuri wrapped her in the fine silk. Jesira knew what she must do... Sesshoumaru had the power to send her back, and he had the power to find out...she had to make him tell her, she had to become what he wanted her to be...a lady, a friend, a Geisha. Jesira knew that she had to pull up her hair and ornament it with these combs and pins... walk perfectly in those little kutsus and gracefully bow her head...appear at all times to be a moving piece of art. Saiyuri wrapped the obi of bright red around her waist, slightly binding her breasts to her body with its width. She took in a deep breath as Saiyuri tied the bow in the back as she began to pull up her hair with some of the combs at her mirror. Not terribly tight, she thought, but tight enough to show off your bone structure. Leave a few strands or chunks of hair to frame your face, now, because that will add length to your neck...
Saiyuri watched her in the mirror, handing her the white face powder and the brushes as she put white, foundation-like cream on her back and neck where skin would show. Jesira buffed on the powder, paling her complexion, making it even more obvious as to her Asian heritage than before. She put the charcoal on her eyebrows and lined her eyes so the slant was even more defined. Saiyuri put an ornament in her hair, so it looked like a delicate bunch of cherry blossoms were dangling down her face's side. She took the brush and painted the stark red color upon her lips, making it look like she was a doll.
"Saiyuri," said Jesira. "Tell me honestly, will Sesshoumaru find me pretty like this?"
Saiyuri nodded. "I can't seem to think of a reason why he shouldn't, Jesira-sama."
Jesira looked at her reflection. She wasn't shocked, she wasn't happy nor sad...she was very stoic, as if she knew that it was an important day. She took Grandmother's pearls with the Shikkon jewel and placed it around her neck. The delicate pink of the jewel and its pearls gently offset the light azure of the kimono. 'Remember,' Jesira thought, 'be a piece of art.' She felt positively wicked...
Sesshoumaru took in a deep breath as he looked out onto the lake, the crystalline lake out of which the great tree grew from its island. There had been many a night of Sesshoumaru's childhood spent in that tree, watching from the inside at the show of fireflies that danced on the lilies and through the branches. The tree itself seemed to be enchanted by some ancient magic. The cherries, however, the cherries were the sweetest cherries every to be tasted by man or demon. Father had always said that his mother ate the cherries during her pregnancy with Sesshoumaru, and it had in turn made him powerful since birth. Since that story, Sesshoumaru always had the special taste for the cherries, and forbid any of the other servants to eat the fruits from the island oasis upon penalty of death.
A breeze came, ruffling his clothes and hair slightly in the wind. A strangely familiar scent was carried on the breeze from behind. He turned his head ever so slightly to see who it was; the air evaporated from his lungs when he saw her, the blood rushed to his cheeks and burned with an intoxicated fury. His eyes drank in the sight of this new Jesira, this new woman that had appeared once as a pretty girl, now a blossoming beauty. Her hair was pulled sleekly back, her lips painted red to perfection, her stance like a swaying peach tree with the curvature of her back. She was very different, and yet it felt as if she had belonged here.
She gave an elegant smile. "I've never seen a more beautiful palace," said Jesira in perfect Japanese. She seemed to glide over the grassy knoll as she walked to him. "I never properly thanked you for saving my life, or letting me stay with you, for that matter."
Sesshoumaru shook his head and glanced away.
"Do you know what I am?" she asked in a flirtatious way. "I'm a Geisha."
Geisha, he thought. It was a new word to him..yet he knew it as someone who was an artist. It was more like Jesira had turned herself into a piece of art rather than being an artist herself. She looked like a painting or a statue, but fairer, and certainly more courteous and demure.
"My grandmother was a Geisha, long ago when she lived in Japan. She immigrated to America and taught me everything she knew."
Sesshoumaru looked over to her as she spoke, his eyes wandering her face and body, as if drinking her in. Her voice's hypnotic power seemed even more apparent, now, as did her charm and good looks. Sesshoumaru immediately became horrified with himself--he could never love a human or take one as his mate, no matter how pretty or powerful they were. He was a demon lord, and he would be making a hypocrite out of himself if he were to take a human as his mate. He had to admit, though, she was exceedingly polite and patient with him, and quite gentle for someone of her kind of power.
A thought flashed through his mind--what if this was the kind of girl that Father had been talking about?
He then shook his head. As if that mattered, he thought, this was a human girl, and not even a human from my own time period. Why should I care for her? Concentrate, Sesshoumaru, you must not let your desires stray you from your ultimate goal. You mustn't care how pretty she is, or how well she sings and dances... You mustn't care if Father would have liked her... You mustn't care... You mustn't care.
Just gain her favour enough to use her as bait for Naraku.
Jesira looked up to meet his eyes.
"Your ears are huge," he suddenly blurted.
"You shouldn't wear your hair up, it looks much better down," he then said.
"Was that a compliment?"
Sesshoumaru looked away. Jesira laughed and glided away from the spring, unpinning her hair as she walked and letting it fall down in a sea of black waves. She was very pretty...very, very pretty. He found himself humming a tune he'd often heard her singing in the language she called English. He didn't know what the words meant, but he knew that she felt it when she sang it. Through his Japanese, he struggled to sing the words.
"Don't wish, don't start...
Wishing only wounds the heart.."
He suddenly stopped, feeling his Heat coming again. "Damn!" he cursed. He began walking briskly back to his estate. "Just go back to bed and you'll be fine..." he said to himself.
Naraku watched Jesira through his myasma pool as she walked with Rin, smiling gently. His body lusted and hungered for her touch as it lusted for Sesshoumaru's beauty. He must rid himself of Sesshoumaru and absorb him into his body, he thought, otherwise, her heart will be forever locked with his.
Kagura suddenly appeared, whisking Jesira away on her feather. Sesshoumaru came running soon after, his eyes glowing red in anger. Sesshoumaru seemed different; weakened, warm, almost like he was ill. Perfect, thought Naraku, if he's ill, he can't do much about Jesira being stolen. He gazed hungrily at Jesira's face, fearful and angry, struggling to get free. She was a powerful girl...yes, a very powerful girl. She would be a formidable force once he wooed her into submission. With a few notes, she could lure the hearts of all powerful demons within a hundred miles.
He rose, clothing himself in a deep purple robe, the fabric slipping over his skin and hugging his form gently. "Jesira... I will build you a gilded cage and never let you out."
A thud. Some screams and punches. Kagura's voice. The sliding of the shojii screen and the sound of Jesira's body hitting the floor. Naraku turned to see her, angry eyes that were shaken with fear.
"My Lady," he said, bowing lowly, "might I say it is an honor to view such a sight as you are."
"Wh-Who are you!" she cried, trying to sound more angry than frightened.
"I am Naraku."
Yay! keep a lookout for chap 4! Naraku!