A/N: Heh, been awhile, hasn't it? I'm hoping to be an update machine today. We'll see how that works out. Anywhoodle, go read, enjoy.
Disclaimer: Still not mine.
Chapter 12: Hatred
One year, six months
In the past four months, not much has happened. It is so boring waiting for father to make a decision. He still spends much time in the company of that ningen, and the mere sight of them is driving me mad. She takes all of her meals with us, sleeps in my father's chambers with him, and has ceased to be a servant. My father has lavished her with gifts; grand kimono and obi, commissioned paintings, and is now in the process of designing and redecorating her own personal quarters.
Gendo keeps reminding me that it's nothing to be concerned over, but his face belies his words of comfort. All in the council seem concerned, their expressions revealing the tension they feel over this dilemma. None cared when he took a servant girl to bed, but this is going beyond a standard affair. Abunai and I have discussed it, and he believes my father to be courting this onna. He has agreed to attempt a discussion with my father. Perhaps he will listen to reason.
Today, while tending to my mother's shrine in her garden, I smelt her. That ningen. The overpowering scent of sakura and jasmine. Does she not realize that strong perfumes assail our senses? That any scent, no matter how sweet, if applied too liberally is disgusting? I tried to ignore her, focusing on the clean scent of earth as I lit incense and filled the sake basin before the shrine. I bowed and said a silent prayer, asking my mother for the strength not to kill this ningen that had invaded our family.
As I stood and turned to leave, she spoke my name. How dare she have the audacity to speak to me?! What makes her think that she is entitled to speak my name, with no bowing or honorable terms injected?! I glanced at her, allowing the repulsion I feel for her to fill my eyes for a moment before hurrying past. She had been smiling, her head tilted slightly to the side. My father may allow her free reign of the house, but that does not mean she has the right to address me as if she were familiar with me.
I then hurried to our family dojo, eager to exercise away my anger. I summoned Jaken, and focused on evading attacks today, having him attack me physically and magically with his two-headed staff. I refused to stop until he collapsed on the floor from exhaustion. The sun was setting, and it was almost time for dinner. I ordered Jaken to have my meal brought to my chambers as I headed to the hot spring to bathe.
While soaking, I remembered better times. I filled with despair, thinking of Rei. How I missed our times together. Thinking of Rei only brought back my last image of her; deathly pale, blood oozing from multiple wounds, her clasping my hands, eyes begging. This then brought on thoughts of Rinsuke, and my promise. It has been so long, I hope she remains alive. I know not how I shall get her back, and every time I bring up the subject, my father says he has not yet come up with a solution. I have not bothered to reiterate my former suggestion.
After my bath, I returned to my room physically and emotionally drained. I felt pleasantly numb, looking forward to a solitary meal. Imagine my surprise when I found I was not alone. Jaken stood sentinel by the door, a look of fear frozen on his face. A steaming tray sat on a side table near the fire. And on a chair next to it, was her. How dare she?! I could not believe the nerve of this onna. I felt my eyes flash red for a moment, and she saw it. Her calm demeanor wavered for a minute, a small gasp escaping her lips. And then I smelt it; fear. Red hot and pulsing, so intoxicating. She feared me, and so she should. I was so distracted by her scent that I almost missed her words.
"Sesshomaru, why do you hate me?"
I could not even dignify that with a response, but I could not contain the small growl that rumbled in my throat. Apparently, she is a very stupid ningen, for she kept talking.
"I do not desire us to be enemies. I realize that you may not understand how your father can care for someone so soon after your mother's death. I am not attempting to replace her. I care for your father very much, and will be with him as long as he allows me to. I want to be friends, Sesshomaru. Will you not be my friend?"
"That is Sesshomaru-sama to you, ningen!" Jaken burst out. "It is also proper to bow when speaking to a Lord."
I could feel her eyes, hot on my face, and smell her sadness, but I refused to turn my head to make eye contact. I just continued to stare into the fire. The scent of salt reached me, along with the breath of a whimper, before she fled from the room, the long sleeves of her kimono flailing behind her. I made her cry. Now perhaps she will leave me alone.
I ate my meal in blessed silence, focusing my eyes on the flickering flames before me. I did not feel up to attending council this evening, so I sent Jaken to make my excuses and to bring me a bottle of sake. When he returned, he hesitantly cleared his throat to gain my attention, obviously aware of my dark mood.
"Sesshomaru-sama," his voice wavered nervously as he spoke, throwing himself to the ground and groveling before me. "I bring a message from your father. He hopes that you will feel well enough to join him in his quarters following the council meeting. He says he has a proposition for you."
A proposition, eh? That peaked my interest, and I raised an eyebrow at the quivering kaeru. I told him to return to my father with my consent to the meeting, then ordered him to stay out of my sight. I snatched the sake bottle from his clawed green hands, taking a long drink. I am unsure how long I sat there, drinking and staring into the flames. Before I knew it, I had drained the bottle. I was just considering ordering Jaken to bring me another, when I felt a tingling sensation on my left ear.
"Sesshomaru-sama," a voice whispered in my ear. It was Myoga, one of my father's vassals. Although his minuscule nomi size granted him no great strength, he was a perfect agent for recording information. "Your father has requested your presence in his chambers at your earliest convenience."
I thanked him, sending him back with the message that I would be there momentarily. I have to admit, that sake was potent, and standing up was not something I wanted to attempt at that moment. But when the Lord beckons you, you heed his call. So I stumbled myself down the hall to my father's quarters, knocking on the framework of the shoji doors.
"Enter," my father's voice called out to me.
The servant standing there slid the door open for me, revealing my father's inner sanctum. I had not been in his room for some time. He stood with his back to me facing the fire, his hands clutched behind his back. On a table nearby stood a bottle of sake and three cups. My eyes scanned the room to reveal her, sitting straight-backed in a chair a little removed from the fire. I had to bite my tongue to keep from asking my father why she was there. I am not an imbecile, and I had quickly learned that she had become a sensitive point in conversation with him.
"You summoned me, father?" I asked him, ever the respectful son.
He turned to me then, the fire glinting off of his golden eyes. I saw sorrow in those eyes. A moment later he blinked and it was gone. "Yes, son, I did. I do not want you to believe that I have forgotten about the promise you have made. It merely took me time to think of a proper plan of action. I know that you wish for no more bloodshed, as do I. We," here he glanced at the ningen, smiling, "have come up with a solution. My dear, if you would be so kind?" he asked, gesturing to her.
I nearly vomited from the endearment, struggling to restrain myself from the violent outburst that built in my throat. How could he call her 'dear'? How had this evil ningen wormed her way into my father's heart? I turned to look at her as she stood to speak, asking this question with my eyes. She ignored my gaze and spoke.
"I have written to my uncle since your father told me of the girl. He wrote back, informing me that Rinsuke is alive and well, although she continually asks for you, as well as someone named Rei. She has not been mistreated, and is working as a servant in his house, much as I have here. It took some convincing," here she smiled sheepishly, her gaze flickering toward my father, "but he has agreed to return her to you, as part of my dowry."
My elation at the news of Rinsuke's return distracted me momentarily from the last part of her statement. I sobered as the last word sunk in, and I repeated it aloud in question.
"Yes, son, dowry," my father smiled at me, crossing to the onna and resting an arm on her shoulders. "We are to be married. She will become my mate." At these words, she turned her face up to him, smile beaming.
My brain reeled in shock. Married? Mated? But... What?! No, absolutely not! I must have stood there for a minute, emotions chasing each other across my face. I had settled finally into outraged anger when my father cleared his throat to regain my attention. They both looked at me, she nervously, he expectantly. I next did something I had never done in my life before. I questioned my father's decision. I screamed at him, asking if he had lost his mind. Had he told the council? Had he told our family? How would the other tribes react?
"Now, Sesshomaru," he scowled at me, his eyebrows knitting together. "I am your father, and a grown man. I and I alone have the right to choose who I desire to be with, and I love this onna. I care not whether she be youkai, hanyou, or even ningen. I love her for who she is, not what. I don't want to speak to you again until you have realized what truly matters."
Without another word, I retreated to my quarters, ordering Jaken to bring me another bottle of sake. Tonight, I feel the need to do some drinking.
A/N: That's it, people! I wrote a nice long one this time. Hope you liked it. Let me know, ok? Ja ne, minna!