Chapter 7
Sesshomaru
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at the young demoness before him. He wondered how she wasn't able to put the pieces of the puzzle together. His presence made her feel uncomfortable and he knew she could smell his royalty. The last time she was in Japan, she barely reached his waist, ran as fast as she could wherever she went and she kept a pink ribbon in her hair. Gone was the infamous pink ribbon and the top of her head ran level to his shoulders. The color of her eyes would have been a perfect blue but they were muddled with spots of green. The body she hid under her simple kimono was still very lanky but was on the brink of maturity. This demoness before him now could be considered attractive but it wasn't about her looks. She'd produce good offspring and a strong heir. Her impatience read clearly on her face.
"What is it that's getting you down?" he asked coolly. The lady's face turned a nice shade of pink from embarrassment… or anger. With parents like Inutaisho and Kimiko, blushing was a bit of a phenomenon to him. He wondered if it was a European trait.
"That's none of your business! And you didn't answer my question," she put her hands on her hips defensively.
"Ladies of your status should not raise their voice," he stated. His eyes regarded her indifferently as she clearly wasn't sure what to say. Sesshomaru debated how he'd introduce himself to her. "I am well acquainted with your betrothed." He watched clearly as her anger turned to interest.
"How do you know him?"
"Let's just say we are good friends," he glanced back to Aya who was giving him a motherly "this is a bad idea" look. If the servant hadn't been in the family for so long he wouldn't have second thought what he was about to do. However, he was Sesshomaru and would do whatever he pleased.
"Aya, you can return to the princess' room and I will escort her till she wishes to return," he stated to the servant. Callisto's reaction revealed to Sesshomaru her modest upbringing.
"Aya will stay with me! I do not know you and I will not go walking around with you at night alone." She checked to make sure Aya was still there and the servant was smiling at her proudly. "Are you a guard to Lord Inutaisho or Sesshomaru?"
Sesshomaru was highly insulted at her failed attempt to figure out who he was. A guard? How absurd. He steadied himself so as not to show anger.
"No."
"I think I should return to my room," Callisto turned to leave however, he was curious about the girl and wasn't ready for her to leave yet.
"Don't you want me to tell you about your betrothed?"
She stopped and glanced over her shoulder.
"Is he ugly?" she blurted out. Her face was in extreme turmoil. She was that concerned of whether he was attractive or not? She should have asked what his fighting skills were like or what his combat record was or what percentage of his line were men to women to determine what their first born would be. Were all girls so vain as to only think about looks?
"Is that your only concern?"
She blinked a few times and then blushed.
"It's just he seems to be avoiding me. My own father didn't tell me about the engagement. I have this sinking feeling like something is wrong with him."
"There is nothing wrong with… Lord Sesshomaru," in his anger he almost said "me". The effect of referring to himself in third person had a nice ring to it.
"Could it be that he is completely opposed to marrying me?" The sadness in her eyes gave him an unfamiliar feeling.
"Lord Sesshomaru will uphold his duties to his family," this answer didn't seem to give her much hope. "He is… curious about you," this answer set off fire works in her eyes.
"Tell me about him then?" she asked cautiously even though she was now smiling.
"He is powerful with potential to over pass his father. His lineage of power mixed with yours of regeneration and knowledge will created favorable offspring," Sesshomaru noticed her blush the deepest shade of pink for that day. Isn't that what ladies wanted to know?
"Um…"
"Is there something else you want to know?"
"What is he like? Is he… nice? Mean? Friendly even?"
"I wouldn't generalize Lord Sesshomaru in such broad terms. If you are interested in judging your betrothed, you can do so yourself," Sesshomaru remembered why he dealt little with females in his few hundred years of life. They were easily distracted and in turn were easily distracting. However his curiosity wasn't completely waned. He would be connected to this demoness for the rest of his life. She seemed to be tolerable but there was a temper always brewing behind her eyes. He secretly watched her scream her head off in his garden tonight. She had most certainly been spoiled her whole life. Where she studied scrolls and many languages, he had been trained in combat and military strategies.
"I do not wish to judge him… I wish to know him," this comment confused Sesshomaru. What did she mean by "know" him? For him to know a woman meant to mate with her. Callisto blushed deeply earlier when he brought this up and since she wasn't blushing now she must mean something else.
"You are speaking vaguely again."
Callisto rolled her eyes. "I would like to be his friend."
"Friend?" Sesshomaru repeated with a somewhat horrified look on his face. When he looked down at her, she was turned to the side looking away from him. Her eyes were sad.
"Forget it. It's stupid," she laughed but her eyes were still sad. Sesshomaru pondered what a friend meant to Callisto. Surely his mother and father weren't friends. This issue of being 'friends' seemed important to her.
"Doubting yourself is a characteristic of weakness."
Her sadness turned to anger. "You know nothing about me! And you still haven't even told me your name!"
"I am certainly not going to tell you if you keep shouting at me," Sesshomaru said calmly keeping his voice neutral. She glared at him and there was a noticeable rise in demonic aura. He would have been slightly impressed if he weren't entertained by her rage.
"How dare you talk to me as if I were a mere common child!"
"You are still a child," he mused. Her eyes were tingeing on red now.
"You are standing in the presence of royalty and I will not be talked down to by some ignorant servant," her voice was firm and she stood up taller. She wasn't the only one who was mad now. Sesshomaru went from amused to outraged in the passing of a moment. His demonic aura now commanded attention and demanded fear. Callisto's countenance dropped and she stepped back involuntary.
"You're royalty is the only thing keeping me from killing you. You are a stupid girl who does not even know when she is in the presence of royalty herself. Years of studying books and scrolls have done little to train your instincts or your manners. Go to bed before I decide to start a war between your nation and mine," he used his words maliciously. He wasn't sure she had heard anything for she was still frozen in fear by his power. Aya rushed to Callisto's side and gave a quick bow before forcing the girl to come back the way they came. Sesshomaru watched as they disappeared into the gardens. As his anger subsided, he wondered how much trouble he would be in once Callisto realized who he was.
It wasn't till Callisto was in her room did she become aware of her breathing again. Aya was standing very close to her looking anxious. The sudden onset of demonic energy was more than she'd ever felt. Callisto imagined if she were ever on the receiving end of Inutaisho wrath that what she just experienced would be very similar. He had hid his aura so well! She was certain that he was just a guard or a trusted friend of Inutaisho but now she was certain that was Sesshomaru. She felt foolish for missing the resemblance of Sesshomaru to Inutaisho and Kimiko.
"That is my future husband," she choked on the words and cried out but didn't shed any tears. Aya instantly went out to comfort the girl. Callisto pushed her away brokenly. "How could you not warn me?"
"I am sorry miss," Aya fell on her knees and bowed till her nose touched the floor. "It was Sesshomaru's place to say and not mine."
Callisto looked down at her maid who still lay at her feet. She reached down to help her up. "Is he always so cruel?" Callisto felt like crying.
"He seemed in a better mood than usual till you accused him of being a servant. Please understand my lady, Sesshomaru is a proud demon with a strong lineage. He was deeply offended and has killed for less offense than that," Callisto listened hoping Aya's words would calm her. She wasn't quite decided on whether or not she was really calm yet. Did her betrothed now hate her? Was she more concerned about how easily he could kill her?
"Please, sleep," Aya insisted drawing down the blankets of Callisto's bed.
"Sleep," Callisto sighed. She crawled into bed gratefully. Sleeping was something Callisto did well and her worries faded as her eyes got heavier and heavier.
