Chapter Eighteen: Assassination
Kasumi fiddled with the fabric in her hands, feeling the texture against her palm. It was smooth like silk, and the lines were even and precise. It was a perfect mixture of red and white. She smiled warmly at the sight of the two blossoms next to each other, flowing together in perfect harmony. Peaches and cherry blossoms.
"M'lady, aren't you going to wear it?" Usui asked, watching Kasumi look over the kimono she finished making.
"I will. There's a time and place for things like this, and I want to wear it when he comes back." Kasumi explained, folding the kimono and handing it off to one of her new court ladies to take care of. She looked up at the group that had congregated around her, and a smile graced her lips. It had only been a month, and already she had court ladies following her around, even after Kasumi told them they didn't have to. They insisted they wanted to, because they enjoyed her company. Two of them were moth demons, Harue and Etsudo. Sisters, from what she remembered, though the two looked nothing alike, what with Harue's earth colored hair and eyes, and Etsudo's raven locks and bright eyes. Then there was Sachiko, a fox demon like Kasumi, though full blooded and not from a daiyokai lineage. She had red hair and blue eyes, and a tail that rivaled Kasumi's own. The last was Tatsuo. A quiet dog demon that followed orders with dark brown locks and emerald eyes.
"My lady, you sure do care an awful lot about Lord Sesshomaru," Sachiko pointed out, taking the lady's new clothes.
"I-It's not that I care about him… it's just…" Kasumi trailed off, her cheeks turning a bright shade of pink as she tried to deny the claim. She couldn't find the right words to display her feelings, and eventually gave up and sighed deeply, causing the girls to giggle and making her blush even deeper. It's not like I can tell them I don't care, even if I do I don't but I don't care about him in that way… She looked down at her worn fingers, gently rubbing them each with the pad of her thumb. Maybe I do care a little more deeply? She questioned herself. The robes she made certainly suggested she did. She combined the two house symbols, her fathers and Sesshomaru's. The entire robe was red, a reverse of Sesshomarus, with white stitching's of cherry and peach blossoms on the end and on the shoulder. It was silly of her to make something that could be considered so intimate, but once she started on the robe, she couldn't stop herself. And there it was, in Sachiko's grasp, in full view of the others, her supposed feelings engraved into every stitch. "J-Just take it," Kasumi stammered, trying to hide her face. Sachiko giggled lightly before one of the guards poked their heads in.
"Lady Kasumi, I was just informed that lunch has been prepared, if you would like to move to the middle of the house for your meal." He said.
Kasumi smiled up at him, hint of pink still in her cheeks, and it made the demon guard flush himself. He was like Usui. An oni, but unlike Onaga who was blue skinned, or Usui who was dark skinned, he looked more human, horns protruding out from beneath his dark hair line that were as black as his eyes.
"I'll do just that, thank you, Ginjiro." She stood up.
"Always a pleasure, my lady," he bowed to her, and stepped aside to let her and her group by, and then escorted them all to the middle of the estate where lunch would be served.
"My lady," a second guard was standing outside the doors to the eating room, a fox like her and Sachiko with pointy ears and light brown hair. He was a little more like Tatsuo, quiet and loyal, and followed orders. But he always smiled at Kasumi when they were around each other. "You're just in time, we have a guest today. He just arrived."
"A guest?" Kasumi felt hope rise within her, her tail wagging. I was hoping he would return today. Since Sesshomaru's absence, she was once again counting down the days until the month passed, waiting for the daiyokai to return and see her progress. Daichi, the fox guard opened the door and revealed the inside of the sitting room. At the head was a man she had never seen before, and her hope quickly deflated and her ears fell flat against her skull.
He wasn't an elderly man, but he looked to be about middle aged, with graying hair. He was wearing armor over his robes, something Kasumi was quickly realizing that most demon lords did in the house.
"You must be Lady Kasumi; I've heard so much about you from Lord Sesshomaru." He said, giving her a warm smile. She was apprehensive at first, but slowly entered the room and sat to his right. Her court ladies filed in as well, all sitting around her, and the two guards came in to stand behind her.
"You know Lord Sesshomaru?" She questioned, and the man nodded.
"Yes, of course. I'm one of the lords under Lord Sesshomaru's rule. I am Utada Hikazemon." He introduced. "I hear you are becoming his mate?" He looked at her, watching for her reaction.
Her cheeks blazed red, and she looked down at her lap. "I… yes… Lord Sesshomaru has declared me as his intended mate… however I am not sure what that really means."
"That's why I'm here. My lord sent me to educate you. I thought starting with a meal would be a good way to start. I apologize for not announcing myself sooner, my lady." Utada apologized, and Kasumi quickly shook her head.
"N-no, it's okay. Please, if you are here to teach me, then teach me. I wouldn't want to insult or embarrass him." Kasumi said.
"Excellent!" Utada said, just as servants brought in the food. Trays were set down in front of the court ladies as well, and before the lesson started, Kasumi began eating, and then her court ladies, and then Utada.
"Oooh, it's so good." Kasumi said happily. "Onaga has gotten better at making that fish, hasn't he, Usui?" Kasumi looked back at her court lady and friend, and the oni laughed.
"He won't quit until he gets it just the way you made it, m'lady." She said, smiling at the thought of her over exuberant father trying to impress the lady.
"You cook, Lady Kasumi?" Utada questioned, and she nodded.
"Yes. It was one of the few things I was allowed to do, even though father disapproved." She explained.
"I disapprove of this as well, my lady. It's highly inappropriate for a courtesan such as yourself to be in the kitchen. It's dangerous." Utada furrowed his brows.
"I wouldn't call it dangerous, m'lord-" Usui started but the lord cut her off.
"And its rude to have a court lady speak out against a lord as well." He said, and Usui pressed her lips together in order to keep herself silent.
Kasumi frowned, putting her chopsticks down. "Well, my lord, I'm afraid I agree with Usui. It's hardly dangerous, and I am well trained in cooking."
"It seems your age is showing, Lady Kasumi." Utada put his chopsticks down. "A courtesan in the kitchens like that is an easy target. Any one dressed as a servant can sneak in and attack you."
"I see your point, my lord." Kasumi said. "However, lord Sesshomaru was the one who said I could go in there and cook for myself if I wanted to."
"Well, lord Sesshomaru is too proud to admit he doesn't know everything." Utada chuckled, and Kasumi smiled and laughed with him, only for the pure truth of it. "Or he must not care enough about what happens to you." His words fell flat, and the atmosphere grew tense.
I don't like this man… Kasumi swallowed slowly, trying to keep her food down as her nerves began to swell inside her stomach.
"He hasn't even taught you proper table manners, my lady."
"He hasn't?" Her ears went back, and Utada nodded his head.
"No, I'm afraid he hasn't. I'll explain it so you and your court ladies both know. A woman never eats before a man. That's how it is with human houses, correct? So you see, my dear, the alpha eats first, then the mate, then the pups, and then the guests. No one must ever eat before the alpha. In this case, the lord of the house." Utada was explaining.
"You mean all this time; I've expressed rude table manners to him?" She felt all the color in her face drain at once, leaving her feeling a little frigid. All those times she had private meals with Sesshomaru, and not once has he told her she wasn't allowed to eat before him. He must think I'm some ill-mannered girl. No wonder he sent a man like this to teach me.
"No, you haven't been." Sesshomaru's voice broke through the panic in her mind, and she looked up as he entered.
He's home, he's finally home. And Sachiko-! Kasumi quickly turned her head to face the fox court lady who held her robe, only to see she had hidden it from Sesshomaru for her, a knowing smile on her lips as her eyes dropped onto her lady. Oh thank goodness… it would have been embarrassing if he saw that.
"My lord, you're back already?" She asked, feeling a relaxed smile form. His eyes drifted to hers, and her heart leaped into her throat at the sight of the smoldering amber. He growled at her, and she felt her stomach fluttering at the sound. He seems angry. It has to be because of my rudeness. I should apologize, quickly. "I'm happy to see you've returned, my lord." She tried smiling wider, hoping it would hide her shame in her behavior. "I've learned an awful lot while you were gone." She started, and kept her hands folded on her lap to hide their shaking. "I'm so sorry to have behaved so rudely to you before, my lord…" Her words fell, and her ears dropped. What kind of lady doesn't have table manners…?
"I let you eat first, because you are weak, and sickly. You needed to hurry up and get stronger. It was easier to make sure you ate if you went first." He explained, and the shame and guilt she felt building within her released suddenly, and she relaxed.
"Thank you, for worrying about my health, my lord." She said, her cheeks turning pink at her embarrassment. So he cares about my health. I suppose that means it's okay if I care about his? She looked back up at him, only to see he had left the room, and Utada was following him.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Lady Kasumi." Utada looked behind him before he reached the door, and Kasumi smiled a little at him
"It was an honor, Lord Hikazemon." She stood up to properly bow to the two departing lords, and then heard the door slide shut behind them.
She waited a few minutes before sitting back down, feeling her stomach churn. "I wasn't expecting Lord Sesshomaru to return so early." She said.
"He did say a month. Last month he left before noon. So he has gotten here a little later than a full month." Usui pointed out, and Kasumi rolled her eyes at the girl.
"Schematics. I wasn't expecting him to come back yet." Kasumi muttered.
"You were hoping he was." Usui pointed out, and the girls giggled. Kasumi elbowed the oni, receiving only more laughter. The group went back to eating, and Kasumi sat staring at her food, feeling a queasiness settle within her that made the food appear unappetizing. Everyone else ate upon her insistence, but by the time they were done, Kasumi could feel herself fading fast, her temperature sky rocketing.
"Usui, I think I need to lie down. I'm feeling a little ill. Would you mind taking me back to my room?" She looked up at Usui, and the oni stared down at her, surprised.
"Of course, m'lady." She said, and moved to help her stand up. Kasumi wobbled at first, but once she had found her balance she was able to stand and walk on her own. She walked to the sliding doors, and opened it, revealing Utada's back. It looks like they didn't go far…
She heard a noise, as if something splattered against skin, and she felt warm, thick liquid on her cheek. She touched it, pulling her fingers away to see them stained in red. Her skin went white, and sweat dripped down her spine. She looked up again at Utada, prepared to ask him if he was alright, when she saw claws piercing through the back of his neck. They were ripped out of him swiftly, demon blood flinging down the hall, on the walls and doors, some of it even getting onto her pretty kimono. Utada dropped, and in front of him stood a red eyed Sesshomaru, his fingers and claws dripping with the other lords blood. As she stared up at him in horror, his terrifying eyes changed back into the amber she loved. She got a whiff of regret, but couldn't place the source as he took a step towards her. She backed up, feeling Usui behind her, and then she swiftly ran down the hall, a hand clamped over her mouth as she felt bile rise in her throat.
She didn't even register her fear until she was almost at the family wing, where her lunch and breakfast promptly made itself known onto the wooden floors.
"M'lady!" She heard Usui's feet slapping against the floor, and then felt her arms around her.
"Lady Kasumi!" In unison, all six of her new followers called after her, and she hid her face in Usui's robes.
"I-I'm sorry, I threw up on the floor…" She said, and Usui rubbed her back, pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Don't worry, m'lady." She soothed.
"I'll make sure it gets cleaned up for you, Lady Kasumi." Etsudo offered, and all Kasumi could do was nod as Usui picked her up and carried her off to her rooms.
She clung to her all the way to her rooms, even as she struggled to put down her futon. Once she had it laid out, Usui changed her out of her robes, and laid her down. By the time her face was moved away from the oni's robes, it was clear to see the fox was in tears.
"He killed someone." She said through a broken voice. "He killed someone in front of me."
Usui watched as her lady cried, and moved her hair from her sweaty forehead. "I know… m'lady. I'm sure there's a reason behind it."
"You said it yourself, Usui. He kills people if they annoy him." Kasumi looked up at her through her tear stained vision for a moment. She closed them again and turned onto her side.
Usui rubbed her back slowly as she sobbed, a little angry with her lord for being so harsh in front of someone so young. She kept her comments to herself though, and gently soothed her lady until she fell asleep.
Sesshomaru sat behind his desk, a mountain of papers waiting for him to sign off on. He had a brush in his hand, was prepared to do what he knew he needed to, and yet, his mind wandered towards the girls terrified face. He had seen plenty of terrified faces just before he killed someone, he was never amused by them, nor disturbed by them. Yet remembering the pale, wide eyed girl, he felt disgusted. Not with her, but with himself, which was a new feeling entirely. He wasn't used to the innocence in fear. Rin only showed mock fear, already knowing true fear, and even death at her age. Kasumi was a new concept to him.
Innocence… He closed his eyes and scoffed. She should quickly get rid of that innocence of hers if she is to stay here.
He turned his attention back to his work, when he heard a rapping at his door. He sighed and sat back, putting his brush away, and deciding he probably wouldn't get any work done at this rate.
"What do you want?" He called out, smelling Kasumi, but knowing it wasn't her.
"May I come in, m'lord?" Usui's voice came through the other side, and he made a gruff sound of his annoyance.
"Fine, what do you want?" He asked again, this time the oni entering the room. She took no time looking around the study, and chose to sit across from him at his desk, her gaze on her hands.
"I wish to speak to you about Lady Kasumi, m'lord." She said, and his eyes narrowed. When he didn't voice an objection, she continued. "I don't think I need to explain to you how dire this new situation is."
"Dire?" Sesshomaru sat forward, glaring at the oni. He heard her hard swallow, and felt himself smirk at her fear. "Nothing about this is dire."
"I-I'm afraid it is, m'lord. Please, pardon me for my objection but I believe it's important for the care of m'lady." She met his eyes, and he was slightly taken aback by the pure red depth of her irises. "Lady Kasumi has taken a great liking to you, m'lord. She has worked tirelessly in your absence. She wishes to swiftly improve the home and further her education, to please you. She has already gained the love and approval for the people around the house. Everyone here adores her; she is unlike any other courtesan. She is diligent, and helps with all the work around the house, even though as a Lady of the House, she doesn't need to. She's quickly gained peoples respect here. And people here are beginning to feel differently towards you as well, m'lord." She flinched when he growled at her. "N-not in that way, m'lord. They… respect you in a new way, in finding a girl like Lady Kasumi as your intended. She works hard night and day. For no one else's sake but yours. She has no other way to prove herself to you as capable. I wish…" She trailed off for a moment before continuing. "I hope that you do not judge her to harshly because of what happened today. She may be proficient in many things, and is able to behave like a capable young woman, she is still a child. One who hasn't seen much bloodshed in her life."
"You want me to forgive her for running away from me?" Sesshomaru questioned, and Usui nodded.
"Yes. I know it's asking a lot of you, m'lord. But she is so terribly upset, and scared. You are the only safety she feels in this place. Please, my lord. Won't you forgive her, and attempt to console her?" Usui looked back up at him, seeing his displeased frown and suspecting that he would not help Kasumi.
"For someone who speaks so quietly, you sure have a lot to say, woman." He narrowed his eyes at her, and she gave an apologetic smile.
"I care a lot about m'lady and her well-being. She doesn't have much right now, and like how you want her to be healthy, I wish for her to be happy. And I will protect her happiness no matter the cost. Even if it angers you, m'lord." She met his eyes with her own glare, and Sesshomaru shook his head at the look.
'It seems the little kit has a knack for gaining loyalty', his beast rumbled within.
Silence, I thought I put you to rest. Sesshomaru said back, and the beast laughed, the sound a mix between a growl and chuckling.
'Those puny demons are nothing. I want that girl. You want that girl.'
"Enough of this," Sesshomaru said aloud, standing up.
"M'lord?" Usui looked up at him, confused.
"I won't sit here and allow a servant to tell me on how to deal with my intended." He said, walking past her. "I am perfectly capable of dealing with her myself." He opened the door and walked out of the room, heading straight for Kasumi's rooms, and he didn't miss Usui's chuckling.
He pushed open Kasumi's doors, walked through her shōin room and right into her bedroom. She was curled up in her futon, her face hidden under her covers, though the top of her head, ears and hair were visible. The sun had already set, and her bedroom window was open, allowing moonlight to pool through and blanket the kit. He couldn't tell if she was asleep or not, and he debated on turning back when his beast protested at him.
'Don't let the oni brat tell you how to treat your intended!'
Sesshomaru growled at it, and Kasumi peeked out over her covers a bit. When she saw him staring down at her, she squeaked and hid beneath her covers again. He watched as her body slowly began to tremble beneath her covers, and her fear filled the room. He approached her cautiously, her body becoming smaller as she held herself tighter. He knelt down by her futon and reached a hand out to touch her.
"P-Please don't hurt me, my lord." He heard her whimpered plea, and his brow furrowed. He grabbed her covers and yanked them down, revealing her huddled up position.
"Have I hurt you before?" He asked.
"N-no, my lord, b-but you've threatened to..." She trembled.
"Have I ever hurt you before?" He asked again.
"N-No, my lord." She said again.
"Look at me," he ordered, and slowly she turned onto her back to stare up at him. "If I have never hurt you before, why would you believe I would do so now?"
"B-because, you threatened it before…" She repeated.
"I do not threaten people and leave them alive when I am serious." He explained.
Kasumi frowned and slowly sat up, rubbing at her wet cheeks with her hands. "You mean you weren't serious?"
Sesshomaru made a face as if he tasted something sour. "No, I wasn't."
Kasumi smacked his shoulder hard, and he grabbed her wrist, encircling it in his hand. "That isn't very nice of you, my lord." Kasumi said, a bit of a pout on her lips.
"I have been told I am not a nice person." He said. He slowly released her hand, and wiped her cheeks with his knuckles. However, it seems I want to be when around you, little kit.
She smiled softly at him, and he felt the tension in him drain at the sight. "I heard you have been working hard. You have the whole house in the palm of your hands."
"I-I wouldn't say the whole house…" She flushed.
"You even have guards following you now." Sesshomaru pointed out, and watched in amusement as her face grew redder.
"Th-they felt bad for always waking me in the morning…" She stammered. "They aren't so bad."
He smiled softly, and rubbed her head, before he stood, taking her hand and bringing her up with him.
"My lord?" She looked up at him. "What are you doing?"
"You've worked hard. I think that's enough to deserve a reward, don't you?" He asked.
"A reward?" she asked.
He nodded and pulled her towards the window. She climbed out after his insistence and then pulled her into his arm, and the two of them were suddenly in the sky.
She screamed. She was terrified of being on a horse because it was too far off the ground, and now she was flying in the air with nothing but Sesshomarus arm around her as a fasten. She clung to him, wrapping her arms around his body and hiding her face into his armor. She felt the wind fly past her, and her hold on him tightened. She didn't know how long she held him, but eventually, when she realized she wouldn't fall, she peeked out from his armor. Awe stricken, she turned her face skyward, amazed and memorized as the swirl of stars circled overhead. Sesshomaru watched her face light up with excitement, feeling a calm wash through him finally at seeing her relaxed and happy. And safe, too. Utada threatened her life, and with him gone, he didn't have to worry about the bastard trying to kill her off.
They didn't get to fly for much longer, before she was begging him to put her down, slapping his shoulder. She looked pale, and he wondered if he went too far in suddenly taking her for a flight. As soon as her feet were on the ground she ran towards some trees and bushes, and he could hear her retching behind them.
'Yeah, that's smart, make the kit sick to her stomach, that'll get her to like you.'
He growled at his beasts' words and went towards Kasumi, walking through the tree line and finding her on her hands and knees, a pool of bile in front of her.
"I-I'm sorry, my lord… I should have told you… I-I'm terribly sick..." She apologized, not looking up at him. He went to her side and placed a hand on her back. She shuddered at the touch, and looked at him slightly, mouth hidden behind her hand.
"If you are sick, I should take you ba-" He didn't get to finish as she turned back around and once again started retching, nothing but bile coming out again. He looked at the pool forming underneath her, and frowned. It didn't have the stink of stomach acid, in fact it smelled more like blood. He knelt beside her, moving his hand from her back to her stomach. She had her protest on her lips, but he pressed his hand against the flat of her stomach and she vomited again. He cursed, and slipped his hand between the folds of her kosode.
She grabbed his wrist, and looked at him, her face red. "My lord please don't, i-it's unbecoming…"
"I have to." He stated. "Something is in there making you sick."
"B-but my lord," She started, but her vision began to blur and she slid forward, almost into her pile of throw up. He grabbed her, pulling her up and resting her forehead on his shoulder. "P-please, don't look…" She whimpered as he parted the kosode.
"This will hurt…" He warned and then pushed his claws into her torso. She cried out, her teeth clamping down onto his shoulder, as his claws reached inside her. She held onto him, claws ripping his the shoulders and sleeves of his haori.
Sesshomaru gripped around with his claws until he grasped something solid and he swiftly yanked his hand from her stomach. She collapsed instantly onto his lap, and he examined the object.
A little seed that had popped open, a small sprout growing inside. He narrowed his eyes and sniffed it, smelling a hint of Utada on it and growling. "A demon plant…" He stared down at the girl, grateful she was already healing from such a large wound. "He intended to slowly poison and kill her." He moved her onto his lap, keeping her up by using one of his upraised legs as a back board for her, and he opened her mouth, looking down at her teeth and throat.
There was a green moss forming at the back of her throat, surrounding it to a point where her it looked as if her esophagus was closing in on its self. "It's taken a few hours for it to cultivate…" He looked at the kit, her eyes half lidded, dazed from pain. "Utada intended for you to die slowly and painfully." He shook his head and reached down into her mouth with his fingers, and scraped one claw along the soft flesh of her throat. Skin and moss shredded off, the new pain jostling the kit awake enough she cried.
"Keep your mouth open." He ordered as she tried to bite and gagged around his hand. She grabbed the sleeve his kimono as he continued to rip through the vegetation, blood dripping into her stomach the more he scraped off.
When he finished, his fingers were covered in green saliva and blood, some of it even dripping from her lips and the corner of her mouth. When he released her, she turned over and puked again, but this time it was remnants of the moss and her blood. He rubbed her back while she threw up what had infested her body.
"Wha…" she tried asking once she finished, but speaking felt like someone was clawing at her neck.
"It's a certain plant that can only grow inside a stomach. It's considered a demon plant. It grows from your stomach out to your mouth. It kills you slowly from the inside out, and behaves like a minor poison. The more you throw up, the more stomach acid that attaches to your esophagus, the more the moss grows."
"I… ate… something…?" She tried and Sesshomaru nodded his head.
"The surprise visit from Utada. I think someone told him you were there and came with the intention of poisoning you himself."
"Why...? What… about… the others…?" She asked, slowly pushing herself off the ground to sit up a little. Sesshomaru reached forward and drew her bloodied kosode closed, and she flushed.
"It would have hit them already. I think it was specifically planted in your food. It's only about the size of a grain of rice. It wouldn't have been hard to place it."
She coughed, and he saw the tears in her eyes. Such a fragile girl, crying over this…
'But she had the compassion to worry about others after almost dying.' His beast said, and Sesshomaru frowned. He hated how he agreed with his beast on how admirable that was. She was weak, but considered others despite her own pain. He reached for her, pulling her back onto his lap where she eventually curled up.
"No ones…. Tried to kill me before…" She said, and he gently squeezed her to his chest.
"Rest…" he told her, smoothing back her hair after cleaning his hand and allowing the girl to fall asleep in his arm.