Chapter Six- Darkness Unveiled
-Afternoon Ceremony-
A few days had passed since the episode with the 'Mu' ranked demons. Kagome knew that all the scholars were looking for her and would bombard her with questions on how she knew of such 'advanced' numbers. Unprepared to answer all the questions, she tried to hide from all of them.
Now standing before the ceremony hall, a slight frown appeared on her face. Her maid had just informed her that ceremonies would now be sometimes held in the afternoon and evening. The first few months would hold many ceremonies and then eventually die down later in the year. Kagome still felt pale after hearing that the Hime Tradition lasted almost a year! But, now was not the time to process the information. Avoiding the 'Mu' ranked scholars was her main priority for now. Kagome shook her head to shake away the shock she received from the news. Scanning the crowd of demons, Kagome saw a flash of silver hair catch her eye. As a grin appeared upon her lips, her footsteps quickened towards Sesshomaru. However, as the distance between her and Sesshomaru lessened, she saw the dark aura emitting from him.
There on a chair that almost looked like a throne, Sesshomaru sat with his usual stoic expression.
Kagome observed a chubby demon and what looked like his daughter speaking to Sesshomaru. Pacing a bit slower towards Sesshomaru, she overheard a bit of what the chubby demon was saying.
"Lord Sesshomaru, it is such a great honor to finally meet you! I have heard so many good things about you, Milord! Your strength truly compares to no other! Rumors share that your power has surpassed that of your own Father! Of course I believe it can only be true for you are so great!" the chubby demon voiced as Kagome saw spit splattering out from his mouth. Kagome felt the emptiness behind the demon's words as a brief expression of disgust crossed her face.
"What business do you have with this Sesshomaru?" She couldn't help but shiver from the iciness that covered his voice.
Detecting the chubby demon gulp down his fears, Kagome watched him pull his daughter closer to his side while saying, "Ah, Well, you see, Milord, this is my daughter!"
Seeing Sesshomaru raise a brow as if unimpressed, Kagome's heart sank finally understanding what the chubby demon was trying to do.
"My daughter is truly talented in everything and anything. Your mother would really really like her if she got to know my daughter!" the chubby demon began spitting out again.
Kagome glanced at Sesshomaru to see his golden eyes hollow a bit more from the demons comment. Her heart dropped as she realized that the chubby demon was sucking up to Sesshomaru in order for his daughter to have a higher chance of winning the title of 'Hime'. She figured out the moment Inuyasha told her that Sesshomaru was the host of the Hime Tradition that he had something to do with choosing the 'Hime'. Her assumptions had been correct as she saw the chubby demon trying to flaunt his daughter. But what pained her the most was the fact that the demon stated such hollow words to use Sesshomaru's status for his daughter's benefit.
Stoic eyes remained hollow and hardened.
'To grow up surrounded by so many fake and empty words,' her heart whispered in pain.
Sesshomaru stared at the fake smile and empty words that came from the demon in front of him. Supposedly a lower noble that ruled a small part of the Southern Lands, he couldn't even care to dispose of the demon.
No, the feeling of emptiness only expanded within him.
Knowing this feeling too well, his heart only hardened.
Used to centuries of greedy demons trying to use his status and strength,
Used to the two faced demons that surrounded him,
He would not let anyone near.
They were all the same.
Boring his golden eyes at the demon that was still sprouting empty lies, Sesshomaru thought,
'Pathet-'
"Pathetic," Golden eyes widened as he heard the exact words he had thought being said by a female voice. Looking to the owner of the voice, his golden eyes locked with the Miko's stormy blue eyes.
"What did you just call me!?" Kagome heard the chubby demon shout towards her.
Lifting up the drink in her hand that she was given, she stated, "The drinks are pathetic, Sesshomaru."
A smirk formed upon her lips as she saw the chubby demon tighten his lips as his cheeks turned red from embarrassment. The chubby demon thought her words were not directed to him, but she was, just indirectly.
"Oh?" she heard Sesshomaru voice. Silently referring the drinks to the chubby demon's empty words, Kagome glanced at Sesshomaru to see if he caught on. Noticing the flash of amusement behind his stoic expression, Kagome's smirk widened.
Taking a sip out of her drink, Kagome asked the chubby demon, "Yes, it's very tasteless, an empty taste that makes you dislike the drink. Don't you think so too?" Staring at the chubby demon, Kagome waited to hear his response.
"O-o-of course, why, I was just about to bring that point up! Lord Sesshomaru, the drinks from my region are much more delicious! I've tried the drinks that were served here today and as the Shikon Miko pointed out, they have no taste. They should be immediately thrown out!" the chubby demon exclaimed without realizing Kagome's intention behind her question.
Struggling to hold in her laughter, Kagome continued, "See, Sesshomaru? The drinks are pathetic after all, and should be thrown out!" Witnessing a slight smirk appear on his stoic face, Kagome's heart lightened. She was glad to see his hollow eyes replaced with amusement.
"Indeed," Sesshomaru voiced with a hint of mirth. Narrowing his eyes at the demon, Sesshomaru ordered coldly, "Leave."
Satisfied by the scent of fear coming from both the demon and his daughter, Sesshomaru watched them scramble to leave as commanded. Glancing at the Miko from the corner of his eye, he caught her smiling towards him. A calming feeling seemed to fill the hollow hole within him.
Comforting.
Was he being comforted?
Grimacing at the realization, Sesshomaru ignored the tingling feeling against his chest. How the Miko managed to know what he was thinking and feeling, he didn't know. Feeling his brows slightly furrow into a frown, Sesshomaru waited for anger or disgust to arise. Yet, the Miko's smile and actions to comfort him only caused a soothing sensation to flow through him.
"Hn," he mumbled before turning away from the Miko to exit the hall.
He hoped that the odd sensation she caused within him would die out if he placed some distance.
How wrong he was.
Watching Sesshomaru leave, Kagome noticed several scholars walking towards her. She held back a groan. However, just as she was about to greet the incoming scholars, a crowd of demonesses blocked her view of the scholars. Looking at the demonesses, she noted that they were from the 'Tsu' rank. But from the frown and glare on each of their faces, Kagome didn't know if she should feel relieved that the demonesses prevented the scholars from interrogating her.
"We have a few words we'd like to discuss with you, Miko," the demoness in the middle sneered. Straight brown hair tied in a high pony tail flowed down to her waist. Wearing a dark blue haori, the color made her violet colored eyes look unique. Figuring that this demoness was the speaker for all the 'Tsu' ranked demonesses, Kagome slightly furrowed her brows in deep thought as to why they would wish to speak with her.
Kagome followed behind the five demonesses while observing their unique kimono. The kimono revealed their long legs by the high slit cut up to the thigh. With the kimono exposing from the bare shoulders, the cleavage line was clearly seen. Nothing was left to the imagination. Reaching the gardens, the five demonesses turned to face her.
"Stay away from Lord Sesshomaru," she heard the brown haired demoness voice sharply. Kagome's mind blanked for a second after hearing the demoness' comment. Switching to confusion, she didn't quite understand why she needed to stay away from Sesshomaru or why the 'Tsu' demonesses were angry because of this.
Voicing her confusion, Kagome asked, "Um, why?" Noticing that her question only made the demonesses angrier, she mentally smacked herself for the slip.
"He will become Lady Kura's mate!" yelled one of the other demonesses. Assuming that the brown haired demoness was 'Lady Kura', Kagome felt her heart growing heavy again.
A low growl came from another demoness as she shouted, "Then he will make Lady Kura gain the title of 'Hime'!"
She knew the moment she felt her heart drop.
The 'Tsu' ranked demonesses were only after a higher ranking mate.
They were only after power.
No love involved.
No affection involved.
Just plain cold business.
And it was Sesshomaru that was surrounded by this cold world.
"No," Kagome responded calmly. She struggled to maintain a calm appearance when her heart ached for Sesshomaru who was surrounded by so many fake and greedy people.
"I'd listen if I was you, or else your precious intended mate will be caught sleeping with one of us," the 'Lady Kura' snarled threateningly.
Red flushed across Kagome's cheeks caused by the boiling anger that burned through her veins. Fisting her hand, she clenched her jaw tightly to prevent words to fall from her lips. But the moment she saw weary looks flicker through the rest of the demonesses, Kagome's anger ceased. A thought crossed Kagome as to the reason for the other demonesses to look weary.
Pretending to sound doubtful, Kagome asked, "You would sleep with a hanyou?" Though she hated to brand Inuyasha like that, she needed to find out if her assumptions were correct.
"Of course I wouldn't!" Kura said snottily.
From Kura's threat, she thought that Kura was the mastermind behind the revealing clothes within the 'Tsu' rank. She had also assumed that Kura ordered other demonesses to sleep with whoever she needed to gain her favor. Realizing that she had assumed correctly, Kagome was too lost in the feeling of rage to find the words to express her disgust.
A place that used anyone they could to their benefit.
She had found one reason for Inuyasha's hollow expression the moment he entered the Western Castle.
Imagining Kura ordering the 'Tsu' ranked demonesses to sleep with a certain demon caused a piercing pain to shoot through Kagome's chest. Blue eyes, that portrayed the storm of feelings that whirled within her, glared at Kura. A slight flinch shook through Kura.
"Disgraceful," Kagome said, feeling the words slip past her lips.
The smirk that had once graced Kura's mouth turned into a snarl. Kura's elegant features slowly scrunched into an ugly expression of anger.
"How dare you!" Kura shrieked out as she lifted her clawed hand to strike Kagome's cheek. However, noticing Kura's action, Kagome caught her by the wrist in a tight grasp. Kura continued to shriek in anger and struggled to rip away from Kagome's steel grasp.
An unforgivable fury consumed Kagome for Kura's corrupted actions towards other 'Tsu' ranked demonesses. Releasing a small fraction of her purification powers, the smell of burnt flesh began to fill the air.
Violet eyes filled with pain as Kura screamed out, "AHHHHHHHH!"
Kagome unhanded Kura's wrist as she watched her fall to the ground. A red scar remained on the fallen demoness' wrist; a mark that would last a few weeks to let the demoness reflect on her disgraceful actions.
Shifting her gaze away from Kura, Kagome scanned the surrounding demonesses that were looking at her with fear. Softening her gaze towards all of them, she felt her heart cry out for them.
She tried to supress the tremble in her voice as Kagome said softly, "I do not know why you follow her."
Watching all five of the demonesses look to her with bewilderment, she guessed that it had not been an option from the start.
"Treasure yourselves," Kagome whispered tenderly. Looking at the demonesses one last time, she turned to leave the gardens. She did not think her heart could take the pain any longer.
Did the demon society know that demonesses of the 'Tsu' rank were being exploited?
Did they know and chose not to care?
A storm raged within her.
The cold words Kura confessed about using Sesshomaru's status rang through her mind.
She recalled the empty words spoken by the rotund demon.
Panic filled her as she wondered if the demon society could be so cruel.
It was almost as if the hidden beauty she had found within the 'Mu' rank scholars was but a dream; her imagination.
As her footsteps began to quicken, she found herself within the empty hallways of the Western Castle. The memory of Sesshomaru's cold and blank eyes burned into her head. Noticing a maid passing by, she called out desperately, "Excuse me!"
Her frantic blue eyes bore into the maid as she pleaded, "Do you know where Sesshomaru is? I must see him! Please!"
She saw so many hardened hearts, cold eyes, and cruel behaviors acted upon without guilt.
Kagome needed answers.
To know if this was acceptable, if this was normal.
Though she feared the answer to this, Kagome followed behind the maid that led her towards Sesshomaru's study.
Dread filled her with each step.
The small glimmer of hope that hoped to love the demon society had been bigger than she had thought.
-Name Meaning-
*Kura: Treasure House
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