Maiden of the Sword
Ch. 8
Natsuo adjusted Kagome's bow.
"Is that too tight, Kagome?" the princess asked softly.
Kagome shook her head, "I'm fine. How do I look? Do we look alike?"
Natsuo stepped back to examine her handy work. She tied Kagome's hair in a simplistic updo, concealing her dog ears.
"I think that'll do it, girl!" Natsuo said in glee, moving to makeup. She painted Kagome's lips ruby red before powdering the half-demon's the cheeks in blush, "You really should wear this more often, Kagome. You look great."
"You really think so?" Kagome asked almost timidly. She turned to Inutaisho and Sesshoumaru for reassurance.
"You look wonderful, sweetheart," Inutaisho cooed.
Sesshoumaru snaked his eyes in the woman's direction, "Do we really have time for lies?"
"We certainly don't have time for any ugliness, Sesshoumaru," his father chastised.
"Sorry Kagome. It looks like we have no time for you," Sesshoumaru answered with a smirk.
Kagome lifted up her thigh and threw the pillow she was sitting on at the Prince, "Shut up loser. Your jokes are getting old."
Sesshoumaru scowled at the woman, but allowed his gaze to soften ever so slightly, golden irises flickering from curiosity as Natsuo completed her application. The likeness seemed uncanny, especially after Kagome's ears were covered. This ruse could actually work.
Inutaisho's ears perked up at the sound of drums in the distance, "I believe Asaka will arrive soon. We best get in position. Kagome, meet him outside."
Kagome released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. With one final look, toward the group, Kagome left. Natsuo ushered Sesshoumaru and Inutaisho to a hidden room by sliding door. Two small holes had been created for the purpose of spying. Sesshoumaru settled himself in front of one of the holes.
"Natsuo, tell me. Is there anything we should know about your betrothed?"
Natsuo crouched behind the dog demons. Her eyes remained focused on the small peepholes.
"I can't think of anything extraordinary. I've never met him in person, but we've corresponded through letters and I have drawings of him. Asaka is just an average human man, a bit of a flirt and I've heard he can be a little arrogant, but most men are."
Sesshoumaru sniffed the air and narrowed his eyes. He knew Asaka was near, but couldn't smell him.
'Why is this human able to hide his scent?' Sesshoumaru wondered. He froze. If Asaka was able to hide his scent, could he detect that Kagome was doing the same with hers? Inutaisho placed a hand on Sesshoumaru's shoulder in comfort.
"Are you alright? Just remember this is a ruse, son. Don't take it to heart if she kisses Asaka today as you two kissed a few nights ago."
All notion of color drained from Sesshoumaru's face. He saw!
'Of course he saw.' Sesshoumaru lamented silently, biting back a curse. Inutaisho had always had the unfortunate gift of catching Sesshoumaru at his most embarrassing moments.
Inutaisho snickered, covering his mouth. Natsuo pointed at Sesshoumaru with a teasing grin.
"You two kissed? I knew you liked her. I was trying to tell Kagome, but she didn't believe me. I knew it!"
"SHE kissed me. I wanted no part of that," rebutted the prince. At their disbelieving smiles, he added, "Besides it was only my cheek and too brief to even be considered a kiss."
"It looked more like your neck to me, very different from your cheek, and an important distinction for us as dog demons," Inutaisho answered swiftly.
"And brief?" Natsuo added, "So you wanted the kiss to be longer?"
"Enough! I hear them approaching!" Sesshoumaru hissed, cutting off the two.
An overexaggerated laugh from Kagome drew a silence in the room as the duo approached. Sesshoumaru settled into place, peeking through the eyehole once more. Kagome walked in slowly, most likely due to the shoes she had to wear. Sesshoumaru grinned. It felt like two of their three days were spent acclimating Kagome to walk and serve like a true lady.
"Asaka, my dear, would you like some karinto with your tea? I remember you writing it was your favorite?" Kagome asked with a bow before pouring the tea.
What she lacked in grace, she made up for in knowledge. Sesshoumaru would never tell the demoness this, but he was actually impressed by how quickly she could disseminate information to play her role. She remembered more about Asaka than Natsuo did!
Asaka took off his sandogasa hat and the prince's eye's narrowed. He turned to his father, wondering if the Lord thought the same thing. Gold met gold as father and son shared the same thought.
'The hat he wears is a traveling hat for samurai, not a noble. What is he up to?'
The thought subsided as he watched the man snake his hand up the small of Kagome's back. Kagome stiffened, but steeled her resolve to stay.
"Lovely Natsuo, I'm honored that you remember such trivial matters about me. You'll make a fine wife indeed."
Asaka took his time drinking in the woman with his eyes. His wanton gaze creeped Kagome out and her eyes shifted to the keyhole. A golden eye watched her in plain sight and the knowledge that Inutaisho and Sesshoumaru were watching over her gave her peace.
"Of course, dear. I've read your letters time and time again, etching every line in memory."
Asaka trailed her lips with his finger and Kagome blushed. He was no Sesshoumaru, but the man was attractive in his own right. The pale skinned man donned wavy red hair in a lazy pony tail. His ears had an elfish point, but it complimented the sharp angle of his chin. Most captivating were his emerald eyes. He was perhaps the most otherworldly human Kagome had ever met.
"Now, why don't you stand and let me have a look at you." Asaka commanded smugly.
Kagome balled her fists, rising. 'What an arrogant man! He's even worst than the ice prince over there.'
Her claws dug into her palm and broke through the skin. Kagome hissed at the cut. Asaka gazed down at her palm, his green eyes glittering.
"Did you injure yourself?"
Kagome attempted to wave the man away, "I believe I accidentally sliced myself on a shard of wood. It's nothing to fret over."
Asaka paid her no mind and pulled her hand to his lips. He ran his tongue along the cut, gently suckling the injury. His eyes blazed, piercing holes into the young woman. Kagome sucked in a gasp, frozen in her place. Asaka released her hand; Kagome clutched it against her chest with a blush. Asaka chuckled, partially covering his mouth.
"Adorable thing. Such a simple act frazzles you, Natsuo?"
"I don't really have any experience with men," Kagome answered honestly.
The noble smiled, taking a step toward Kagome. He circled her, complimenting her features. He wrapped his hands around her waist.
"Wide hips, good for bearing children, small waist, and silky hair."
Asaka brushed Kagome's hair away and pulled away her kimono to bare her neck and shoulders. He inhaled deeply. Kagome shuddered, shifting her eyes to the keyhole. Staring back at her was a single red eye and blue pupil. Just as soon as she saw it, it was gone.
Inutaisho pulled his son back, questioning him silently. Sesshoumaru shut his eyes, focusing. His beast snarled at being confined again. Sesshoumaru willed it to silence. It wasn't real, he rationed. Kagome was playing a role and soon this Asaka creep would be married to Natsuo and they would be far away in the Western lands. It didn't make sense why his beast would even care that another man was flirting with Kagome, but there was no time to delve into that. Finding himself back in control, Sesshoumaru peered out into the room again.
"No need to inspect me, Asaka," Kagome purred, breaking away, "I am already to be your bride. I will keep my agreement as long as you keep your agreement. We need the additional land and those demons I spoke to you about are impatient. They have already tried to kill me."
"And yet you live," Asaka murmured.
Kagome frowned, "Would you wish me dead? Are you saddened that I survived?"
Asaka grinned and wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed her back against his chest. Kagome felt his breath tickle her neck as he spoke.
"On the contrary, I'm very pleased. I never imagined to find a bride that matched myself so well."
"What do you mean?" Kagome whispered.
Asaka trailed his fingers along her arm, "You're strong, much stronger than an average princess. I can feel your muscles even under all these robes. You're well spoken and charming with ambition that may match my own. Then of course, there's your tantalizing body and that miko energy."
Kagome stiffened. A cold sweat ran down her brow. She jerked from Asaka's grasp only to be slammed back against his chest.
"What are you talking about, Asaka? You're scaring me."
"Let's not have this ruse any longer. I could taste the miko energy swirling in your blood. Tell me girl, did the real Natsuo scream when you killed her and took her place here?" Asaka asked.
Kagome pushed him away, lining her hands with miko energy for safe measure, "There's no way you're human! Who are you?"
Asaka's grin remained even when his skin burned from the purifying energy. His human skin shed, revealing scales in a pale red hue. His emerald eyes sharpened to an oblong shape with slit pupils. He licked his lips revealing a forked tongue.
"You're right, I'm not human. Though, I'm not the only one hiding my form, am I?"
The imposter's eyes settled into a dark gaze with a sinister, arresting hue shining through pale lidded sliys. He charged at Kagome, swiping at her chest. Kagome dodged back. The tips of Asaka's fingers were dripping in a poisonous substance. Even its scent was potent. Kagome knew she couldn't afford to get hit. Sesshoumaru grabbed the hilt of his sword. Inutaisho grabbed his wrist to halt him.
"Let's not lose our advantage. Kagome is a fighter."
Kagome pulled off the ties of her kimono, flinging the flimsy the fabric at Asaka. He tore through the fabric and grinned, revealing his fangs. Kagome pulled her hair down and kicked her shoes off to the side. Two dog ears wriggled after finally being free. She materialized her bow and arrow, knotching and aiming at the demon.
"Well, well this is a surprise. I wondered how you were able to hide your scent. A miko with half-demon blood. You're full of surprises. What is your name, girl?"
"Since the cat's out the bag, I'm Kagome. Now what have you done with the real Asaka?"
"I am Asaka, my pretty little bride. I've been in this form for years. Now lower your weapon. That is if you want an explanation."
Kagome lowered her bow and arrow, but erected a barrier around her, "Okay, what's your angle?"
Natsuo leaned forward on the keyhole. "Be careful, Kagome," she whispered. The door creaked under her pressure.
Asaka turned toward the keyhole, eyes narrowed. Kagome saw the direction of his attention.
"Asaka, don't ignore me!"
Asaka held up his hand to silence her and walked to the sliding door. An arrow zipped through the slight gap of the sliding doors, piercing through Asaka. Kagome struck the demon with a purifying arrow and sent him flying back with a kick to the abdomen. Sesshoumaru shot out from the sliding doors and landed in front of Kagome. Inutaisho followed him with Natsuo scrambling behind.
"That so scary, Kagome! Thank god you taught me how to shoot an arrow," Natsuo wheezed.
"I'm glad you learned something, but I wish you would have stayed hidden," Kagome said.
Sesshoumaru unsheathed his sword, "That would have been ideal, but he'd located us before Natsuo fired."
Inutaisho readied himself in position, shifting slightly to Kagome, "Are you alright, Kagome? You did very well."
She nodded, "I'm fine, but keep your eye on this guy."
Asaka stood, pulling the two arrows from his body. He flexed his hands as they dripped in his poisonous concoction again.
"Oh Natsuo, it would seem you are actually alive," Asaka mused, shifting his gaze between the princess and Kagome, "Pity. I prefer the little half-demon. No offense."
Asaka motioned to the door leading outside, "Honestly, I don't care whether my bride is Natsuo or Kagome posing as her. This land and these people will be very valuable to me. Decide quickly. The intruders from before will arrive shortly. Will I have a bride or a corpse by my side?"
"You're the one who owes all this money and sent those demons to attack Natsuo! Why?" Kagome spat.
"Years ago, this land was occupied by my tribe, but we were driven out by humans. They killed us and wore our skins. I knew to seek my revenge; I would have to look like them and walk among them. I took on the form you knew, grew my tribe's land with neighboring outcasts, and expanded. However, expansion comes at a cost. I owe a great sum. Demons like Newut have killed the humans in my land as retaliation for my debt so I told them I was wedding Princess Natsuo and my debt was hers. I realized I could reclaim my land by force or marriage, but the result will be the same."
Kagome snorted, "Give me a break! You're trying to act so high and mighty, like you're the only one who's ever been hurt by people. Just admit it, you got greedy and didn't care that you betrayed your own people too!"
Asaka hummed out a chuckle, "I wouldn't consider myself greedy, I am a noble after all. I'm entitled to live well of the backs of my people."
"You're no noble, you're a fraud!" Kagome shot back.
"It was just a game of dress up, a skin I needed momentarily. You of all people have no right to judge, Half-demon.
Kagome was about to fire out a singeing remark, but Sesshoumaru held his hand up to stop her.
"He is baiting you. We don't have time for this. His comrades will be here soon. He said so himself."
Natsuo stepped forward, "I won't marry you. My land will get aid another way, but we would never be complacent and acquiesce to become slaves to you."
"You fool. You don't even know the treasures you sit on; you will marry me or perish."
Another chapter down. Next chapter will end the Natsuo saga. If you have any ideas you want to see, let me know. In the next few chapters, Sesshoumaru will begin his search to find a mate, Kagome will meet his mother and Inuyasha and Kagome will find out what has to be done to complete the prophesy. Stay tuned!