Day One, Lessons~
A loud cry caused me to jolt straight up off my bed, slumber still clouding my vision. I tried clearing my vision by opening my eyes as wide as I could. I stiffly turned my head side to side looking for the source of the familiar cry. Daichi let out a loud yawn "You look like a corpse." I jerked my head towards him "Daichi, don't be rude. Where is China." I watched Daichi walk over to where China was sleeping on a firm cushion.
"You have messy hair like an Onryo. You look pale and you have crusty stuff by your eyes and mouth."
I quickly wiped away the crusty stuff he mentioned and held out my arms for China. Instantly I could tell the reason she was crying. Her crying turned into screaming and instantly I heard a knock at the door, "Come in." I turned to the door and saw Sara standing there with her head hung low in a relaxed bow. Knowing why she was here I handed her China and watched as she laid her down and began to clean her up and replace her cloth diaper. I turned to Daichi and went to our closet to pick out the nice new outfit Usaio made for him the day before. I let out a mag incident yawn and grabbed his haori and pants "Daichi?" I said with a tempting tone that quickly snap him out of his sleepiness. I smiled as I saw his eyes light up and he began jumping up and down. He quickly snatched them from my hands, normally I would scold him. But when I saw the genuine excitement I knew he wasn't trying to be rude or spiteful. This is probably like christmas to him. I watched as he stripped of his night clothing extremely quick, my mind immediately thought his speed was so quick he was like a exotic dancer wearing a velcro costume. Scanning the numerous drawers, hangers and shelves I smiled as I picked out colors I've learned to accept and knew looked good on me. Shaking away my sleepy thoughts that frightened even me I grabbed a simple white yi, a rose red Qun. After opening a drawer I discovered a red obi covered in white roses. Tying around the middle in the obi as added decoration was a shining silver sash.
"Done!" Daichi loudly chimed.
Turning around I am not only surprised, but also completely proud, as I looked at my handsome boy. I smiled up at me and grabbed ran over to my closet "Can I pick something for your hair?!"
How could I refuse? Those big round puppy dog eyes. I smiled wide and moved aside "Pick away, Daichi."
Untying my sash and the tiny ties on the inside of my yukata, it fell into a pool around my feet. I glanced over at Daichi who covered both his eyes with one arm and in the other held out a twin pick hair pin with a partially blooming rose with a tiny white pearl in its center, a silver thread attached to the flower held a tiny blue butterfly at it's tip. "Great choice, just let me get dressed real quick." Looking over at Sara I noticed she was feeding China who suckled peacefully, a part of me felt guilty I couldn't do that for her. I may not be her birth mother, but I'm still her mother. If we lived in my original era I would be able to just use formula and make her a bottle. First I stepped into my skirt slowly sliding it on. The soft red silk tickled my skin, putting my arms through the sleeves and wrapping it tightly around my slender form I quickly secured it with it's inner ties and the red obi. I wrapped the tiny decorative sash around my obi "Okay, Daichi you can open your eyes." I had learned a long time ago not to be shy in front of other women and I was never shy when bathing with Shippo. But it's different with Daichi, for one my body isn't hidden by murky or cloudy water. I took the hair pin from Daichi's tiny fingers and searched around for a comb.
As if knowing my struggle I saw Sara standing in front of me with a comb "Mind if?" I quickly scanned for where China was if not in Sara's arms. She was laying on my futon as she just winged happily as she stared at the ceiling. Sitting on my knees with my back to Sara I grabbed my hair around my shoulders and threw it on my back. Daichi ran and sat on my futon next to his drooling sister. I felt my hair being divided into sections and not long after I felt the teeth of a tortoise shell comb run through my hair. I sat there quite content it had been a while since I had someone comb my hair like this. The last person who combed my hair like this was Sango. I never really missed Inuyasha I was quite happy to live without his moody and unpredictable temper. However I always missed everyone else. I missed Shippo's happy and positive energy, he was always trying to cheer me up. Sango was always like the sister I never had, but always wanted. She was the only one to every comb my hair, bath with me and actually listen to my problems with Inuyasha and actually try to give him helpful advice. Miroku was like the hopeless romantic and perverted man I always feared Souta could become. After All Souta the ladies man he is got a girlfriend in third grade! I've never even had a boyfriend. Kirara was Kirara, I don't think much else needs to be said on her behalf. Even to this day I still miss them. Maybe I shouldn't have left… Maybe I should have tried to work things out…
"Done," Sara said proudly.
Standing up I went over to the small hand held mirror and raised it analyzing every angle. Sara had managed to put my hair up in a beautifully perfect puffy bun secured by a single hair pin. "Its perfect thank you Sara," I said with a somber tone, I miss Sango.
"My lady are you feeling well?"
"Yes, of course. Now-" A loud percent knock caused me to stop. "Sara coul-," she was immediately at the door opening it. Standing in the doorway was an old man, his skin was heavy wrinkles and sunspots. He was nearly bald, the little hair he had was thin white. His once blue eyes are now more of a deep grey. Be wore and all white uniform like all the other mortals, except he had a blue obi and loose jacket with a long wooden cane. "Lady Kagome, I presume?"
Before I could even answer he led himself in "I will be your educator, Miroku Kusato, you may address me strictly as Kusato. I am here to educate nothing more nothing less."
Miroku?! He's old! And extremely rude and unfriendly. "Understood," I said with as calmly as I could. Don't yell! Don't laugh! I told myself. I watched as Daichi hid behind Sara. Turning around I smiled Sara could you follow me with my children.
"Children in the library my lady. No. No. No, children are loud and disruptive," he stated not only loudly, but rudely as well. He closed his eyes and began to nod repeatedly " Very good, my lady I knew you could not be a simpleton even though you are a mere mortal."
Trying my best to ignore his rude tone, I forced a smile "Just because I understand does not mean I will obey. I am YOUR Lady, I obey no one and that includes you Miroku. My children will accompany us to my lesson and they will not so destructive that it will deter my focus. I have always studied best in loud or stressful situations, since I have grown accustomed to them."
"Well you are no true lady of mine until you wed and bed the lord, you mere mortal." He fiercely started with a huge huff."
"Also what do you mean saying by mere mortal? Are you not a mortal yourself?" I spat back!
"Are you blind?! Of course I'm no mortal! I'm a Yokai! A Hiyoribo to be exact," He stated with enough pride to choke even the likes of Inuyasha.
He's a Hiyoribo?! Am I blind? The real question is, is he blind? He is not yokai by any means, but he is truly entertaining. Well whatever… Lets just get this over with. I refuse to obey, but I can comply. A few more sentences were exchanged, all of which I can not remember. The next thing I knew, I was sitting quietly at a low table in the middle of a wide but lifelessly library. Staring down at my table I was surprised to see there was nothing. No papers, No ink, No brush, how will I ever take notes? Guess I'm not. I looked up from my empty table and up at my so called teacher. He paced shakenly back and forth, somehow making it about five feet before spinning around and pacing the other way. I watched him repeat this time and time again and then he paused and walked up to my desk, tossing down a white handkerchief with a sakura blossom. I Picked up the silk and glanced at it before looking up at my teacher again.
"Lady Kagome, tell me you thoughts about what I just gave me." I looked down analyzing the silk square in my hand. I stared down at my
"Your clan's symbol is a cherry blossom, traditionally white. The cherry blossom signifies natural beauty, strength, and simplistic style also display the humble nature we invoke. The Lords of the Tashio clan have always held pride but not such an amount that would cause unnecessary enemies or troublesome situations."
Looking over my shoulder I saw Sara keeping China and Daichi happy and quiet. Daichi was sitting quite content with an ink brush and stack of papers. He stuck his tongue out as he had a fist around the brush. He has so much passion, I wonder if he'll become and artist? I hope he makes me something. Where would I put it though? I don't have a fridge, well no one in this world has a fridge. No picture frames either… Well can't be too hard to make, just some wood and glass. If he were a painter he would make a good living if he became good at it. A loud slam caused me to jolt, seeing Miroku in front of me his decorative cane on my desk. "Lady Kagome! Focus! This is information you must know as Lady of the west, the fifth lady if I'm being exact."
"I was."
"No you were daydreaming. If you were paying attention what topic was I educating you on?"
"The symbol of the Ta-"
"Wrong just as I expected. I was educating you on history of Inu no Tashios. I'll do my best to summarize what I have already said so your tiny mortal brain can keep up."
"How dar-"
"Do not interrupt or I will tell the Lord about your lack of respect and obedience."
I bit the sit of my cheek and balled my hands inside my sleeves. My knuckles were no doubt white by the pressure I was squeezing them I to fists.
"Lord Touga is the fourth Inu No Taisho while you are the fifth Lady of the West. The Inu No Taisho was Kazumuren, his sister Sayuki became not only his mate but also the first Lady of the West. Very little is known about their rise to power or their peaceful millennial reign. This is due to the fact that literature was not yet established in Nipon. Their first born son Mutsuki became the second Inu No Taisho with the second lady of the West, his third sister Shina as his mate. It is said after eight centuries of their reign mortals first became curious of Nipon and began settling on the surrounding islands. Lady Shina gave birth to a daughter named Chizuki who other than Lord Touga was the only Tashio member to ever love a mortal. The growing number of mortals within the lands caused them to create their own hierarchy similar to ours. A mortal clan settled within the West taking land that was not theirs and disrespecting the Inu No Taisho. Lady Chizuki was said to have snuck out as a child one night and had been safely returned by a mortal boy. Many years later the two met on the battlefield and where Chizuki took the life of the man she loved. She later became the mate of her third cousin, Lord Inushio, the third Inu No Taisho. They had one son and that is Lord Touga, his lover and fourth Lady of the West was Izayoi, the two of them had Lord Sesshomaru and Lord Inuyasha. Now you are to be his wife and mate, the fifth Lady of the West."
"Your lands stretch from the here to here. The number of mortals within your lands are …., the average amount of yokai is nearly double that.
"FOCUS!" Miroku screamed as he clapped as loud as he could. I nearly jumped out of my skin before pointing a glare towards my so called teacher. Miroku quickly began pacing back and forth in front of me "Lady Kagome as I was saying you are to be the Lady of the West, Mate of Inu no Taisho, mother to Lord Sesshomaru, Lord Inuyasha, Daichi and China, Future mother to any future children you and Lord Touga may receive."
I raised my hand and expected to be called upon, but ended up holding my hand in the air until I was unable too any longer. I listened bitterly as he ignored me and continued to speak "You will be responsible for handling affairs strictly within the palace walls, Lord Tashio will be responsible for handling affairs typically outside the palace walls and within them if you should require help. You will stay safe within the palace walls, iIt has always been that way and probably always will."
"So I am a prisoner!" I firmly stated as I continued to glare.
He stopped dead in his tracks wiping around, his focus completely on me. He shook his head and smiled, "No. You are a Lady."
"I will be no true Lady of the West. I am a prisoner chained to this palace. A prisoner whose sole duty will only be to produce children," I stated with firmness. I glared him down silently daring him to say another lie to make me believe something else.
"I believe this has been a very productive start. I expect to see you here this time tomorrow. Now if you will excuse me I have other matters that demand my attention," he stated in the most snobbish way possible. With his cane in hand he hobbled away as a series of taps followed. Each tap felt as if it were physically hitting a nerve of mine. I was torn between jumping up and causing a scene or grinding my teeth and acting like the "Lady," I supposedly am.
"Mother!"
I notice Daichi standing to my right, with Sara standing directly behind him with a wiggly China in her arms. He held up a painting of what I could not tell, but the smile he wore told me of his pride. I smiled back and held up the still dripping painting "Oh my this is quite wonderful. What inspired you?"
His face lit up and then dulled a bit "Inspired?"
My smile faded for a second as I tried to find the best words to define inspiration in a way he would understand, "What made you want to paint this." He grabbed the painting and looked at it and then looked at me "You, mother, father, my sisters and everyone back at the village." I
"Wow that many people?" I smiled in surprise as I tried to cover up my heart ache, I had hoped he'd forget… but who am I kidding. How could someone ever forget what that?
"Yeah, it's our village!" He stated with an happy energetic voice as he began to go on and on about how each dot represents someone and whom. I began to zone out and couldn't help but feel only sadness, sympathy, pity and anger. The only happiness I knew since coming to this time was always followed by a negative emotion, like bitter or anger, now however it was solely followed by anger and sadness. Everyone in that village did not question me as Leaders had when I first arrived. They were kind and instantly accepting. I was given a home and people to look after me, in time they gave me a purpose and a job. I made a few friends and was even entertaining the thought of maybe one day starting a family. I was still very indesieve about it and hadn't told anyone about it. But now that I'm being forced into it, I do not want it. I no longer entertain the thought of a family. Being forced to called the murders' of my village my "Sons."
"Mother?" Daichi asked.
His sweet voice of embodied innocent quickly reminding me of his presence. I gave a big smile and nodded "Wow! It is wonderfully done. I hope you will continue to paint, I can't wait to see your next one!" I don't ever want him to lose this kind heart of his or this innocent nature. "Do you want to paint another one? I'll paint with you."
"My lady you mustn't trouble yourself with such a messy and unkempt display."
"He is my children so it's no trouble at all," I stated with a smile.
The rest of our day was pretty peaceful. We went to the dining room and ate our midday meal. Then changed our clothing to plain clothing and painted for a few hours by a large window. We made quite a mess wasting many scraps of paper, two bottles of ink and even got our clothing dirty. We called a maid and began cleaning up ourselves which nearly gave the maid a heart attack and told us we need not bother with it. After that we played within the halls and had a quite dinner.
"Where is Touga?" I asked a servant standing not far from our dining table.
"The lord is attending a meeting and will be absent for an additional day," the servant said.
Understanding we ate our dinner in silence and went to bed.
