Inuyasha
Love's War
Chapter 2
Northern Castle Life
July 18, 2018
Shippou stayed in his room for the rest of the day until a servant came up to inform him of dinner and that his presence was requested in the dining hall. He was guided down to the dining hall quickly, he looked at the table to find the empty seat provided for him which was naturally beside Sachi. The head of the table was Lord Kuro on his right was his mate Hoshi then Sachi and Shippou. The other side had Ryoko the middle girl and Katsumi the youngest girl.
"So how was your first day here in the North young Shippou?" Kuro asked curiously glancing over at the young prospect for his eldest daughter.
"Fine sir thank you for asking." Shippou replied almost robotically as he looked down the table to the Norther Lord without catching Sachi's eyes.
"So, you're big brother Shippou." Katsumi said happily with a big smile across her face. "When you mate with Sachi where will you live?" she asked curiously looking between the two oblivious to the tension between them.
"Katsumi!" Hoshi said sternly with a harsh look on her features, one which all mother perfect with their first child within a couple years.
"Nothing is set little one." Shippou said sweetly with a soft smile on his face. A child would always ask the most inappropriate questions and always at the most inopportune times he knew this, so the question didn't bother him at all.
"We are only courting Katsumi we are a long way away from that." Sachi said as she watched Shippou curiously, he seemed to be extremely patient with kits.
"Lord Kuro I always get up early to practice is there a place I can do that in private here in the North?" Shippou asked curiously wondering if he was expected to spend every waking moment with Sachi.
"Of course, I will have a servant show you the training facilities tonight before bed. Do you believe you can find your way back or would you like an escort again in the morning?" Kuro asked curiously this was the perfect opportunity to see if his rank was accurate and if he would be able to protect his daughter properly.
"I shall be fine with just the guidance tonight thank you." Shippou said with a small nod to Kuro. "Oh, I almost forgot Lady Hoshi, Lady Kagome wishes you well and is wondering how you and the girls are doing." he said changing his attention from Kuro to Hoshi.
"That's sweet of her, I'll write her in the morning and give it to you to take back with you." Hoshi said pleasantly it was nice that Kagome had thought enough to ask about her and the girls.
"Very well Sora show Shippou here how to get to the training area then back to his room tonight." Kuro said as he stood up ready to end dinner tonight. Everyone at the table stood up and waited for him to leave then they filed out of the room quietly. Shippou understanding that Sora would have to wait for the others to leave the room before he could, so he just waited patiently by the door.
"This way Master Shippou." Sora said bowing slightly to him with the door open. It was a young kit around the age of Shippou when he first met Kagome. A small boy with silver grey hair hanging about shoulder length, his bangs hanging down framing his light blue eyes which seemed more mature than Shippou's at that age.
"Thank you." Shippou said as he followed the young fox boy out of the dining hall and down the hallway leading to a side exit of the castle.
"No need to thank me Master Shippou for doing my duty." Sora said hiding a small smile as he leads the way out of the castle and along the side heading for a large dojo.
"Lady Kagome taught me that saying please and thank you wouldn't harm me in anyway but would make others' lives more enjoyable." Shippou said with a smile and a small nod to the boy when he turned to look at him surprised.
"She's the Human correct?" Sora asked curiously as he turned to watch where he was going.
Shippou glanced over at Sora slightly annoyed assuming Sora meant ill against his surrogate mother. "She is." he said harsher than he had intended wondering what the problem was with these Northern Foxes they seem nice enough to his family when they are around.
"She sounds nice, I'd like to meet her one day." Sora said as he looked up at the stars overhead as they walked up to the dojo. He sighed lightly figuring it would never happen then turned around to face Shippou. "This is the dojo Master Shippou. Here beside the dojo is our outdoor training area so you have two ways to train depending on your style." he said motioning with his right hand to the dojo then the training field beside it.
Shippou stared at the young boy for a moment slightly shocked that his assumption was wrong. "Well...perhaps I can arrange for Sachi to bring you along with her next month." he said awkwardly as he smiled at the young boy.
"You mean it Master Shippou?" Sora said excitedly almost bouncing around on his little feet totally forgetting his etiquette when dealing with the royalty or guest of the castle.
"Yeah sure no problem." Shippou said with a laugh at the boy's excitement, he seemed to be as young as he had been when he met Kagome. "Now how about we manage to get back to my room?" he asked curiously walking back towards the castle.
"Hey, wait that's my job..." Sora said running after Shippou to lead him back to the castle.
~*~*~*~ Next Morning ~*~*~*~
Just as the sun was rising Shippou was up, dressed, armed, and ready for the day just like Sesshomaru had taught him. He was down on the castle grounds by the time the sun was starting to crest over the mountains heading for the dojo. He was taking in the position of the guard noticing them "Standing to" as Sesshomaru always put it having the one whole garrison up on the walls as a show of force to make sure no one foolishly attacked the castle or if they did attack the castle would be defended.
With Sesshomaru's military training in mind Shippou was pleased to see such care here in the North he had expected it but was still pleased to see it. The problem with "Standing to" was that all eyes were facing out away from the castle a flaw most make. If an enemy snuck in during the cover of darkness looking out wouldn't help any. Most demons relied on their senses to make up for this flaw, but it seemed that only the West actually posted guards to look inside the castle walls as well as outside. Kagome had learned a harsh lesson on more than one occasion that watching outward wasn't always the best idea even with demon senses.
Shippou jumped up on the roof of the dojo and looked around making sure all was quiet before he would get to his training. This wasn't the people he grew up with and he wasn't willing to leave his safety to them without his own check of the situation. After several minutes he decided that all was fine and jumped down then went into the dojo to train.
His training had gotten harder as he grew up which is the natural order of things but since he had mastered his inner demon with Sesshomaru's help and guidance the training had gotten harder with more responsibilities tacked on as well. Both of which had made Shippou the most eligible and wanted male in the fox world, females wanted strength for protection, sophistication to survive royal life, and responsibility to prove they could handle life in general.
The first half of his training consisted of meditation and senses training, which usually consisted of Shippou trying to find Sesshomaru or Inuyasha around the castle and using his fine-tuned fox magic to prove he had found them. So, he sat down taking care of his swords, closed his eyes, relaxed letting his senses reach out around him but it was a little different he searched for Sora's power being used to searching for large power levels it was harder than he realized to find the boy down in the kitchen making his way towards the dining hall.
Shippou sensed the boy for half an hour as he made his way through his daily chores but taking care not to focus solely on the boy hence he knew that the Northern Lord Kuro was standing inside the dojo quietly for the last few minutes. But Shippou remained silent it was unacceptable behavior even for a lord to interrupt personal private training which is what Shippou had requested last night. Shippou made him wait for another half hour as he searched for all life within and outside the castle walls.
The Northern Lord watched silently wondering if the boy had realized he was here yet. Interrupting training was unacceptable but so was making a Lord of the Lands wait. He was starting to wonder if this boy's skills were blown out of proportion. "What do you want Lord Kuro?" he heard startling him out of his thoughts and refocusing his eyes on the boy.
"Ah so you knew I was here then why make me wait?" Lord Kuro asked curiously as he moved away from the wall a few feet and crossed his arms over his chest watching the boy stand up.
"I knew there was no danger around, and you knew I had requested private training." Shippou said unemotionally as he turned to face Lord Kuro his hand placed lightly on his swords below the hilt tilting them forward slightly, with his other hand on his hip.
"Ah yes but I had an arrangement to make with you." Kuro said with a smile on his face putting his arms down to his side.
"And that would be?" Shippou asked curiously with a raised eyebrow, he had learned that over the years from Sesshomaru.
Kuro saw so much of Sesshomaru in the boy's attitude and posture it was funny, a fox behaving like a dog was preposterous but here they were. "I would like for you to spend one hour a day with me learning the Northern way of doing things." he said with a small smile.
"Lord Kuro if you would like to change the agreement about your daughter's and my courting then you must make those changes with Lord Sesshomaru." Shippou said indifferently as he stared at the Northern Lord. Sesshomaru had prepared Shippou for this the Northern Lord had a habit of trying to weasel his way around rules and make side arrangements.
"Ah you see I believe this is something you and I can agree on as men." Lord Kuro said as he waved his hands around slightly trying to convince Shippou to agree with him.
"Lord Kuro if you would like to change the agreement about your daughter's and my courting then you must make those changes with Lord Sesshomaru as per custom." Shippou said indifferently as he stared at the Northern Lord.
"Oh, my boy this is such a little thing and would benefit you greatly...wait where are you going?" Lord Kuro said then followed Shippou out of the dojo since he had walked by him heading for the front gate.
"Lord Kuro if you persist in this venture I will return home and await your visit." Shippou said not missing a step he was halfway around the training grounds when he heard the Northern Lord shout for him to stop. Smirking for a brief moment he put an indifferent look back on his face and turned. "Yes?" he questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"I'll mention no more about it continue your training I will contact Lord Sesshomaru." Lord Kuro said with a slight huff before turning around and walking back towards the castle. That damn Sesshomaru's training was a pain.
"As you wish Lord Kuro." Shippou said letting a small smirk creep back onto his lips as he turned and went into the training area. The second part of his training was with his swords he normally had a partner either Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, Himeko, or even Kagome but here he was on his own, so he practiced his stances for an hour noticing that Sachi wasn't far away no doubt watching him.
After his training was complete he walked over to her curiously. "Can I help you?" he asked wondering why she had also ignored his request for private training but at least she hadn't interfered with his training.
"I wanted to apologize for yesterday and I've had the servants set up a private breakfast for us." Sachi said as she looked up at him hoping he would agree.
"And your mother?" Shippou asked curiously finding her energy in the garden from the day before.
"She's waiting in the garden I emphasized that my apology needed to be personal, so she agreed to wait for us there." Sachi said searching his gorgeous green eyes with her blue looking for resentment or agreement.
This was also out of ordinary and beyond the agreement with Sesshomaru and Kuro the difference was this was Sachi not Kuro. "Very well." Shippou said as he stepped back for her to lead the way with a motion of his hand then he fell into step beside her as they made their way around the castle to the garden. "I'm listening." he said politely reminding her that she still hadn't actually apologized yet.
"What I said yesterday was rude, ill-mannered, and uncalled for, so I apologize can you forgive me, then let us make a fresh start?" Sachi asked curiously looking over at him.
"As long as you truly understand my family, as different as they seem, are as important to me as yours is to you." Shippou said looking over at her, he had been hoping for this she was a great person he had met her several times over the last ten years this was a change in their relationship something that could last a lifetime. He was still young, but he felt something a very strong pull him towards her, something he just couldn't resist, something that affected him mentally and physically. He had approached Kagome several years ago on how to talk to this woman without becoming tongue tied and stupid, which seemed to have worked perfectly.
"I understand I really am sorry, I never meant to offend you Shippou." Sachi said as they rounded the corner of the castle walking into the garden area.
"I accept your apology. Now for breakfast." Shippou said with a sweet smile as he motioned her towards the covered pavilion where they were supposed to eat lunch the day before.
"I saw your training; do you always train by yourself?" Sachi asked curiously as she sat down at the small table now set up with food ready for them.
"No, I usually have a partner for what you saw outside. What training do you do?" Shippou asked curiously remembering she mentioned training yesterday.
"Mostly my training is being a Lady, I'm being trained to help my mate run the castle." Sachi said motioning towards the castle which drew Shippou's attention.
Shippou swallowed hard understanding that if he mated with Sachi he would be the next Lord of the North. Unless he died then his son if he had one would be Lord. That was a long jump from being an orphaned kit to Lord of the Lands. "Right...Uhm...what about fighting?" he asked trying to change subject from the castle.
"Naturally I'm trained to protect myself and any future kits with my own fox magic abilities. But with the sword as you are no I have a small dagger if it comes to it." Sachi said hoping to alleviate any worry in Shippou about her ability to protect their possible future young.
'Future kits...future mate...future Lord...what did I get into...' Shippou thought as he gulped lightly looking down at his food. "What sort of things do you like?" he asked curiously looking up at her.
Sachi watched him closely he seemed to be embarrassed and she was confused. 'Was he not wanting that info to be sure I was a good fit for him?' she wondered as she ate a few bites. "I like roses, specifically the red ones. Oh, and sakura tree's in blossom, the moon and stars late at night, the sound of water running through a stream and the wind love listening to the wind through the trees feeling it through my hair it's so relaxing." she said with a huge smile on her face as she thought about all the things she liked.
"What about friends?" Shippou asked curiously now that he finally got her talking about herself.
"Friends? I have my sisters...then you and Shin when either of you are around." Sachi said with a shrug as she continued eating. "What about you?" she asked curiously glancing up at him.
"Oh Sango, Miroku, and their kids Ayame and Shizue the twins then Yukio, there is Kohaku who's engaged to Rin and brother to Sango, the old Priestess Kaede, then Shin and Kouga in the East. Oh, and Himeko and Hiro back at the castle along with several others in the staff and those we met in our travels to collect the Shikon No Tama shards." Shippou said happily as he named them all off and remembered the fun they had together. "I've not had an adventure quite like that since." he said with a soft chuckle.
"Wow that's a lot of friends." Sachi said with a slight frown she didn't have friends amongst the staff that was a foreign concept to her.
"They are a loyal bunch. Being friendly with the staff makes life more enjoyable for everyone, you can't get lonely with that many friends around. Besides they help me lose my tails every now and then." Shippou said with a smile and a small laugh.
"Lose your tails?" Sachi asked looking at him like he was absolutely nuts.
"I mean losing Rin and Hikaru when they are constantly following me, and I need some time alone." Shippou said with a small laugh as he put his napkin down done with breakfast.
"Oh, I just order Katsumi and Ryoko to leave me along." Sachi said with a soft laugh at her misunderstanding of him losing his tails.
"And how well does that work?" Shippou asked curiously with a raised eyebrow.
"Not very well most times." Sachi said honestly with another small giggle as she also put her napkin down done with breakfast.
"It is time for your studies Sachi." Hoshi said watching the two happily several feet away, she was happy to see that they had finally gotten past the awkward first encounter as a courting couple.
"Yes mother, if you will excuse me I shall see you at lunch." Sachi said standing up to notice he stood up with her.
"Of course. Enjoy your studies." Shippou said with a sweet smile on his face then he watched her walk away to join her mother.
~*~*~*~Western Castle ~*~*~*~
"My love have you finally agreed with Rin's wedding date request?" Kagome asked curiously with a smirk on her face as she sat in the chair across from her mate on the other side of his desk in his study.
Sesshomaru frowned. "I have not." he said sulkily not taking his eyes off the scroll in his hands but also no longer reading it.
Kagome giggled softly. "You have to eventually agree to one of them Sesshomaru this is the third date they've tried to set." she said trying to stop from smiling at him she knew he didn't want to give her up but she was a young woman now he had no choice, especially since he agreed to the engagement.
"I know that!" Sesshomaru bit off irritated as he looked up from his work to see her obviously trying not to smirk at him. He knew she knew exactly what he was doing, he didn't want to give Rin away which was the Human custom for marriage.
"Come on Sesshomaru you can't keep stalling on this." Kagome said as she leaned back in her chair and raised an eyebrow at him.
"I'll make a decision soon." Sesshomaru said with another frown as he went back to the scroll he was reading.
"How soon? You are postponing her life you know she's Human she doesn't have your longevity." Kagome asked curiously since Rin had asked her to try and speed him along.
"Oh, alright I'll have a decision by the end of the week." Sesshomaru said with a sigh he knew his mate would never relent if he didn't give her some kind of definitive answer.
"Good enough for now." Kagome said with a soft laugh. "If you will excuse me I have things to tend to." she said scooting forward on her chair.
"Of course." Sesshomaru said as he went back to his scroll again.
Kagome smiled at him but shook her head as she stood up and took a couple of steps. "Sessh...omaru..." she said weakly as she began to faint.
Sesshomaru had her before she made it half way down to the floor. "Kagome...Kagome are you alright... talk to me." he said worried as he cradled her to him protectively.
"What...happened?" Kagome asked groggily as she looked up at him confused.
"That's what I want to know." Sesshomaru said as he picked her up bridal style and started out of his study.
"Sesshomaru I have something to discuss with you...wait what's wrong with Kagome?" Inuyasha asked coming down the stairs with Himeko.
"No idea go get the Dr. bring him to our room." Sesshomaru said as he walked past his brother and up the stairs with Kagome in his arms laying her head against his shoulder.
