The Fang and the Flower
Chapter 06: Do Not Squander This Opportunity
The following morning, a messenger delivered a letter bearing the seal of Lord Ryūji from the House of the Mizuchi. Its symbol, five claws instead of three, marked him as a descendant of the imperial dragons. A servant placed the letter on a lacquered tray and brought it to their master, the Lord of the Western Lands.
He was in the middle of partaking breakfast with his sister and their houseguest inside the pavilion by the pond. With the tip of his claw, Sesshōmaru broke the letter's seal. As he began to read, his eyebrows slowly rose into an arch.
"Your serendipitous encounter is becoming more and more planned, Oiran," he said as he re-folded the parchment and set it aside, lifting his head to look at Kagome. "Lord Ryūji has requested a formal introduction to Shōri at the Dragon Boat festival this evening."
"The Dragon Boat festival?" Kagome repeated. "Is it that time already?"
Sesshōmaru nodded.
The Dragon Boat festival was a tradition of honouring the River Dragon God, held on the summer solstice every year at the Watanagawa River. There would be boat races as the different dragon houses pitted their best racers against each other. It was meant to be a friendly competition in good sportsmanship, and so there would also be merry festivities all around.
"Will you grant his request?" She asked.
Sesshomaru looked up to glance at Shōri, who sat as quietly and demurely as anyone could expect a finely brought-up young lady from a noble yōkai house would be, and nodded his decision.
"It will be good timing and good occasion," he said. "The Emperor and Empress will also most likely attend the festivities. They will lend an air of formality to the introduction."
For the first time since the letter arrived, Shōri lifted her head to speak.
"Will Mother be there?" She asked.
"I doubt it, as she finds these things silly. I will, however, send a message to the Moon Palace to inform her of our attendance."
Sesshōmaru observed his sister a little more carefully. A faint scent of uneasiness emanated from her, though he believed it was merely nerves born from her youth and inexperience. Shōri had grown up in a very sheltered environment, unlike his own upbringing. As a young pup, he had accompanied his father on visits to the human realm, as it was an essential part of his education as the heir to the Lord of the Western Lands. Back then, he was more familiar with the nomadic lifestyle of following his father around, trying to learn from the General as much as he could. As a result, he hardly ever spent time at Inumura Castle.
But, when he was tasked with raising Shōri in his parents' stead, he decided a stable environment for the babe seemed crucial. Thus, she was raised within a ring of steel, always protected. Her lifestyle, unfortunately, did not allow her a wide range of experiences beyond the confines of the estate.
Sometimes he did wonder: did he make a mistake?
No, not a mistake, he reminded himself. It was a choice.
"Shōri, this is an auspicious chance for you to perform your duty as the daughter of this house," Sesshōmaru said. "Do not squander this opportunity."
There were a few beats of silence before she replied.
"Yes, Ani-ue."
She did not raise her head.
… …
When Sesshōmaru asked if he could accompany her for a stroll after breakfast, Kagome accepted. She had initially thought he wanted to talk through their strategies for the meeting with Lord Ryūji at the Dragon Boat festival tonight, but she was quite mistaken.
"It is another matter that I would like to discuss with you," Sesshōmaru said. "Unrelated to Shōri."
That quickly earned her attention. "My Lord?"
"Your young fox friend Shippō has expressed interest in seeing you," he explained. "I know it has been a while since you saw him last. If you are amenable to it, he may come and visit."
"You would welcome Shippō to stay at your estate?" Kagome asked, taken aback by his generosity.
Sesshōmaru frowned. "Shippō is a full kitsune yōkai, and yet he has never stepped foot in this realm. He needs to see the lands where his forefathers hailed from. I have no objection to him staying here during his visit. Surely, this estate can handle the addition of one small child."
Kagome pursed her lips in thoughts as they continued to stroll in silence. Truth be told, she was hungering to see Shippō again. She had been close with the young kit, up until she left the village after her divorce, at least. He had begged her to take him with her. But, unsure of where she was going herself, she could not give in to his request.
"In that case, my Lord," Kagome replied. "I would like to see him, very much so."
Sesshōmaru seemed to have expected her response. He simply nodded.
"The next time I travel to the human realm, I will bring him back with me," he said.
He excused himself afterwards to go to his study and deal with the numerous tasks left behind while he was away in the human realm. Kagome stared at his retreating figure, his white and silver figure a stark contrast with the profusion of summer flowers blooming around him. The soft white pelt swayed in the gentle morning breeze. The offer to let Shippō come and stay at his estate had surprised her. The kitsune's visit would not bring Sesshōmaru benefits in any way. In fact, it might end up being an inconvenience. For him and the estate staff, and yet he offered it nevertheless.
During the pursuit of the Shikon jewel shards and the battle that ensued with Naraku, she had not known him well. They were reluctant allies, and they never conversed on a personal level. She had always assumed he cared not a whit about the things not of his concern.
Twenty years, she thought. Perhaps, some things do change.
For tonight's events, Kagome and Anafune dressed Shōri very, very carefully.
A perfumed bath was drawn; fragrant flower petals were scattered over the warm water. They washed her hair with soapnut tree extract, then slathered it with rare almond oil and rose essence that Kagome knew came from a faraway land.
From Shōri's extensive wardrobe, Kagome chose a royal blue silk skirt embroidered with silver threads and studded with pearls, and a fitted top made from silver gossamer fabric. A royal blue silk ribbon tied her top closed, decorated with silver and jade tasselled pendant that swayed gently with every step she took.
She and Anafune debated long and hard about how they should style Shōri's hair. An elaborately braided and fixed updo with a plethora of hairpins was the current popular style amongst the young yōkai ladies. ButShōri's hair, just like her brother's, was so luxuriously rich and silky that it seemed a shame to put it up.
In the end, they settled with a style somewhere in between: a half updo in which the upper portion of her hair was gathered and twisted into a braid while the rest spilled around her shoulders. Anafune had threaded delicate blue ribbons through the braids and set them loose to stream down her back to mingle amongst the glossy silver tresses.
Through it all, the female inu sat straight-backed and still, not uttering a word while Kagome and Anafune fussed over her. While they adjusted the folds of her outfit, fiddled with her belt and her ribbons, Shōri was silent. While they re-braided her hair multiple times and poked her head with several hairpins, she endured them all without a complaint.
As Kagome fastened a jade and silver hairpin onto Shōri's updo, she happened to look up at the mirror and saw the young female's face. Shōri looked quite nervous; the smooth visage appeared even paler. An image of a lamb to a slaughter flashed in Kagome's mind.
"What an exciting time this is for you, Shōri," she said, attempting to lift the female's spirit as they stared at each other's reflections on the looking glass. She smoothed the shiny locks of silver hair down Shōri's back, playing with the ribbons threaded through the silky tresses. "And how beautiful you look. No doubt, you will enchant so many tonight."
Shōri smiled her usual resplendent smile then, and everything seemed well.
"What more can one ask for?" The female inu spoke softly.
The festival was in full swing when they arrived.
Long wooden boats, each tipped with a large decorative head of a dragon, moored on the pier. They were all brightly painted in festive colours of red, green, yellow, azure, and gold. The sides of the boats were hand-painted to resemble the dragon's long, lean body with elaborate motifs of multi-coloured dragon scales, wisps of fire, and even flowers. The tail curled at the other end of the boats, studded with spikes.
Each boat had a flag, fluttering on the wind, dyed in various colours and embroidered with different insignias. They represented the various dragon houses that participated in the race.
Paper lanterns, lit with yōki fire, floated in the sky, illuminating the water's surface. Dragons flew overheads, their snake-like bodies undulating as their navigated the sky. Their scales shimmering underneath the glow of the lanterns. Open-air pavilions had been built over the riverbanks for guests to watch the boat race. All the noble houses, including the House of the Crescent Moon, had their own pavilion.
When they climbed the steps up to their pavilion, Kagome saw Sesshōmaru's servants had furnished the area with chairs upholstered in silk and plush embroidered cushions. She saw a side table ladened with lacquered boxes and a lavish array of edibles and refreshments. From previous experience, she knew the boxes were filled with glutinous rice dumplings, which were traditionally consumed during the Dragon Boat festival. Those glutinous rice balls were filled with a variety of sweet or savoury fillings: red beans, date paste, candied chestnuts, minced meats and mushrooms, or salty egg yolk. Then, they were wrapped in bamboo leaves and steamed in giant baskets until the rice was cooked and the fillings turned fragrant.
The saké was plentiful, nigh to overflowing. From the sounds of it, the guests in other pavilions had a head start already. Boisterous laughter and dins of conversations rang from every corner.
Kagome noted that their pavilion was situated across the imperial platform with a direct view of the dais where the Emperor and Empress would be sitting. She had seen them only once in a procession many years ago. They were both Genbu, black tortoise yōkai, one of the four celestial animals.
The Emperor and Empress arrived, clad in their black and gold ceremonial outfits. When they took their places on the dais, the crowd fell silent as a sign of respect. They might appear young, but Kagome knew they had reigned for over two thousand years.
The Empress' amethyst eyes scanned the crowd. Finally, her gaze fell and latched onto Shōri. She unfolded her gold fan and leaned over to whisper something in the Emperor's ear, which prompted him to seek Sesshōmaru's attention.
The Lord of the Western Lands roused and whispered in his sister's ear. "The Emperor and Empress would like to meet you. Come."
"Let's take your hat and veil off, Shōri," Kagome said as she unpinned the headgear from the top of Shōri's head. "The Majesties will want to see your face."
Shōri's cheeks were slightly flushed under the veil, but perhaps it was a good thing, Kagome thought. Her blush only added to her charm and showcased her innocence, which to some males might prove irresistible.
The crowd broke into hushed whispers as Sesshōmaru led Shōri across the river and towards the imperial platform. In front of the dais, before the eyes of an avid crowd, Shōri sank into a graceful, perfectly executed bow.
"Emperor, Empress, may I present my sister: Shōritomohime of the Crescent Moon."
From across the river, Kagome watched, her chest brimming with more than a little pride. There was not one female in the entire crowd who could match Shōri's beauty and grace.
"My Empress spied an unfamiliar face in the crowd, and she wants to meet this beguiling creature." The Emperor spoke normally, but his voice was magically carried through to every corner of the festivities. "You resemble your mother very much, my Lady," he commented, smiling amicably. "Though you inherited your father's chin."
A comely blush came upon Shōri's cheekbones. She inclined her head.
"The Emperor and Empress are too kind," she said.
"What a beauty she is, my Lord. Why have we never seen her at court?" The Empress asked.
"She has just recently come of age, Your Majesty," Sesshōmaru replied. "And I had been preoccupied with other matters in the human realm, I have not had the opportunity to introduce her to society."
"You have employed the service of a Tayū, I see," the Empress commented. She nodded at Kagome in acknowledgement. "A little unorthodox, perhaps, but considering the service you and your mother are doing to protect this realm and everyone in it, I can understand the need for extra help."
She smiled gently at Shōri. "Still, a pearl should not be hidden inside the clam forever," the Empress said. "You must take her to court some time, Lord Sesshōmaru."
"The Lords of the realm will vie for her attention tonight. What a triumph," the Emperor noted, his eyes briefly glancing upwards. "Enjoy yourself tonight, my Lady. The Empress and I look forward to seeing you with your brother at court."
Just as they were returning to their pavilion, the Emperor's call stopped Sesshōmaru in his track
"Lord Sesshōmaru, do visit to the palace at your earliest convenience. I would like to hear your thoughts on the unauthorized breach into the human realm and why it has been happening more and more lately."
When Sesshōmaru inclined his head in assent, the Emperor looked around and smiled. "Enough of sombre talks," he declared. "We will reserve the rest of the evening for merriment."
As soon as Sesshōmaru and Shōri returned to their pavilion, they received a visitor. Lord Ryūji, riding a majestic silver dragon, hovered in the air in front of their railing.
"Lord Sesshōmaru, greetings," he said. Then, as was the norm, the two males spent brief moments conversing on neutral topics before Lord Ryūji steered them to the real reason he was there.
"I am grateful you decided to accept my invitation, Lord Sesshōmaru. May I have the pleasure of a formal introduction to your sister, if it pleases you?"
Sesshōmaru nodded. "Lord Ryūji. May I present my sister, Lady Shōritomohime." He extended his hand to Shōri, who took it and let her brother usher her closer to the railing.
"Shōri, this is Lord Ryūji of the Mizuchi. Be sure to greet him properly."
"My Lady," the dragon lord said, bowing his head. "We meet at last."
Shōri bowed back and murmured her greeting, keeping her head inclined.
"Lord Sesshōmaru," Ryūji turned to their host. "May I have your permission to take your sister for a short ride? The view of the boats and the pavilions from up there is incomparable."
Sesshōmaru, maintaining his expressionless façade, was silent for some time.
"What do you think, Oiran?" He finally asked. "Should I permit Lord Ryūji to show my sister around?"
Kagome hesitated. It was a little risqué, but they were already formally introduced. It seemed too good of an opportunity to miss to determine if the two would be a good match. Perhaps it would be acceptable since they were out in the public eye and not in a clandestine situation. She doubted Lord Ryūji would try anything underhand in the presence of the Emperor and Empress.
She turned to Shōri and asked: "Would you like to go, Shōri?"
The female inu stared back at her with a hard, determined gaze in her golden eyes.
"Yes, Ane-ue," she said.
Something in those eyes raised a red flag in Kagome's mind, though she could not decipher it at the time. She reached out to squeeze Shōri's hand.
"If you would rather not go," Kagome whispered. "Lord Ryūji will simply have to understand."
The determination wavered. Shōri wet her pink lips before the resolve solidified.
"I will go," she said.
Kagome watched Shōri climb onto the silver dragon with Lord Ryūji's assistance, and off they went.
"Do you think she's really going to be okay?" Kagome asked.
"I will make sure it is so," Sesshōmaru murmured. His vigilant eyes followed the movements of Lord Ryūji's dragon. "We will observe them."
"What about his vendetta on behalf of his uncle, Ryūkotsusei?"
"Hnn. I doubt he would exact his revenge here, in front of the entire yōkai nobles and under the watchful eyes of the Emperor and Empress. If he tries anything underhand, it will give me the right to eviscerate him where he stands."
Revenge notwithstanding, it was rather clever — or perhaps sly — of the dragon lord to whisk Shōri away, Kagome noted with amusement. A slight turn of her head confirmed that other young lords were already lining up in front of the steps to the pavilion to request an introduction from Sesshōmaru, though there was not much he could do while Shōri was on an excursion with Lord Ryūji.
Sesshōmaru placed Kazuhiko on watch duty while he went down to have a word or two with each young buck hoping to court his sister. Of course, most of them would never have a chance to do as much as hold her hand, but he still took the time.
It was rather strange to witness Sesshōmaru performing his diplomatic role, as she had never seen him in such capacity. His expression was no less severe than while battling a foe, but he was indeed more restrained and notably more polite.
Slightly.
"If there is so much interest," Kagome said when he returned to his seat. "Perhaps you should hold a banquet."
Sesshōmaru looked at her with something akin to horror in his eyes. He turned up his nose at her. "Oiran, this one does not hold a banquet," he stated.
"And you will not?" Kagome asked. "Even though a banquet will give her a chance to meet all potential suitors altogether, in her own turf, and on her own terms?"
"Hnn. Perhaps not a banquet, but a hunt," he said after a pensive pause. "The game animals in the northern side of my territory need culling. There will be plenty opportunity for those who wish to court my sister to display their sportsmanship."
"Followed by a feast of some sort?" Kagome supplied helpfully.
Sesshōmaru frowned. "Can I not send them home with a kill or two and be done with it?"
"You must have some sort of a feast, my Lord," she said, somewhat exasperated. "It would seem inhospitable otherwise. And you must give Shōri a chance to shine where her grace and charm will show to the best advantage. Somewhere other than the hunt, where she will not be covered with blood and entrails."
The crease of his brows looked thunderous, but he said no more on the subject. She fanned herself, smiling inwardly. Even though he looked displeased, she knew he would begin writing invitations when he returned home.
… …
Lord Ryūji was correct. The bird's eye views of the sparkling river, the illuminated pavilions, and the colourful boats were magnificent. The silver dragon provided a smoother ride than she ever thought possible, weaving through other air-borne yōkai with ease.
"Have you ever ridden a dragon, Lady Shōri?" He asked from behind her. His hands were controlling the reigns expertly.
"No, my Lord," she replied. "Only Kai."
"Kai?"
"My pet. He is an inuyōkai without a humanoid form, and he has been with my family since the day I was born."
The scoff, though faint, was unmistakable. Shōri turned around to inspect the handsome male sitting behind her.
"He sounds too dangerous a beast to be permitted to be near a fine lady such as yourself," he commented.
"Kai is not a dangerous beast. He is my friend."
"What could your brother be thinking, allowing you to keep such lower-level beast as a company? But of course—" His lips twitched into a sardonic smile. "Lord Sesshōmaru does as he always wants, without any regard to others."
The tone, and the words, stung. She clenched her fingers into fists. "Do you perhaps… dislike my brother, my Lord?" She asked.
His aquamarine eyes flickered, and they briefly landed on her before he looked away.
"Many find Lord Sesshōmaru difficult to like," he replied after a lengthy pause. His gaze returned to her when he felt her moving and shimmying around, maneuvering herself to get off her ride.
"Lady Shōri. What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I am doing?" She asked him back. "I am about to jump off this dragon and fly back to my family's pavilion."
His silver eyebrows rising. "It is not a good idea to jump off a moving—"
"I make it a habit to not be in the vicinity of someone who slanders a member of my family," she stated, her voice arching in dislike. "Thank you for the ride. It has been most edifying."
She was on the cusp of launching herself when he caught her wrist.
"My Lady," he said in a strained voice. "I simply cannot allow you to jump off. It is most reckless and unwise."
Shōri glared at the fingers wrapped tight around her wrist, quickly realizing that she was no match to the dragon Lord in terms of brute strength. But, she was not without defences.
She grabbed that offending hand.
"My Lord, unhand me at once," she said, half smiling and half baring her fangs at him as the tips of her claws dug into his armour-clad forearm. He did not release her, not that she really expected him to. Not without a force.
He did not expect her to have poison dripping from her fingertips, or that it was corrosive, capable of melting the metal of his gauntlet where she had dug in with her claws. Soon, the scent of acid and scorched flesh filled the air.
Lord Ryūji flinched in pain and released her wrist before she injected enough poison to melt his bone. She took the opportunity to jump off, giving herself to the air and away from him.
… …
"Is something the matter?" Kagome asked in alarm when Sesshōmaru suddenly rose to his feet. She followed and leaned over the railing beside him, squinting and craning her necks to find the dragon carrying Shōri and Lord Ryūji.
Sesshōmaru peered at the sky, eyes narrowing in consternation. The winds had brought the unmistakable scent of Shōri poison and acid to his nose. Something must have happened to Shōri that she felt threatened enough to use it.
"Kazuhiko," he called. The dependable servant stepped forward immediately.
"There is a skirmish," Sesshōmaru said, his tone grim. "Fetch Shōri-hime at once. Leave Lord Ryūji to me. I will deal with him — later."
Shōri had expected the winds to carry her back to her family's pavilion, but it was Kazuhiko's arms that caught her upon jumping off the dragon's back. The sensation brought her back to the days of childhood when Kazuhiko was always there, keeping her protected and safe.
But… they were not children anymore.
"Shōri-hime," Kazuhiko murmured near her ear, his voice filled with concern. "Did something untoward happen?"
"No," Shōri whispered, unable to stop her cheeks from heating up. "I just… wish to return to the pavilion."
Kazuhiko's arms tightened around her, though he said nothing more. He carried her back to the pavilion. As soon as her two feet touched the wooden floor, he released her and stepped back, giving her a respectful distance.
Higurashi Oiran approached, her blue eyes searching her all over for any signs of abuse, blood, or bruises.
"Shōri." Her voice was tight with worry. "Did Lord Ryūji act inappropriately? Did he touch you, or hurt you—"
"It was nothing like that, Ane-ue," Shōri said, shaking her head. "Lord Ryūji said something I did not like. That is all."
"Something you did not like?" Sesshōmaru came closer. His eyes glimmered with a dangerous glint. "What does that mean?"
Shōri looked uncomfortable, but she did not answer. He did not scent her blood. It was evident that she was not injured, but she had felt threatened enough to have activated her poisonous claws.
"Did he besmirch you verbally? Insult you in any way?" Sesshōmaru tried again, the thumb of his left hand idly playing with the guard of Bakusaiga.
"No, Ani-ue. Please— there is no harm done."
"Evidently, he had said something that had offended you, enough to drive you to jump off the dragon's back."
"It is nothing Ani-ue should be concerned about," she insisted.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes, Ani-ue."
Sesshōmaru shifted his gaze towards the sky, meeting Lord Ryūji's stare from afar. His golden eyes narrowed in suspicion, but he said nothing as he contemplated their next steps.
He turned to the Oiran.
"We are leaving," he said grimly.
"No," Kagome interjected, holding up her hand. "We should not leave now and make Shōri the object of gossip. It will only turn this into a bigger matter than it needs to be. Let us sit down together, just for a moment longer. Once the race begins, there should be an opportunity to slip away with minimum fuss."
Sesshōmaru mulled over her words before he wordlessly returned to his seat. Kagome drew a long exhale of relief, a little surprised because she had half-expected him to proceed with what he wanted to do in the first place. Nevertheless, it was still gratifying to know someone important like the Lord of the Western Lands actually listened to her.
She urged Shōri to sit down and struck up a small conversation with the female inu to resume a semblance of normalcy. She could hear the swell of hushed gossip rising around them. Shōri's exchange with Lord Ryūji up in the air had not gone unnoticed by the spectators, but it was not irreparable. After all, nothing really happened.
As soon as the boat race began, the din of conversations — gossip or otherwise, turned to cheer. Then, Kagome finally nodded to Sesshōmaru, and the latter stood up to signal that it was time for them to depart.
It was not until they had left the pavilion that Kagome noticed: the jade and silver tasselled pendant they had attached to Shōri's waist had been torn away, leaving only frayed threads behind.
