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Chapter Three
The Well
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Sesshoumaru sat in silence during breakfast the next morning, casting an icy glare to Izayoi whenever possible. Unfortunately for him, she was busy talking to Kisara, while at the same time actually getting the child to eat. Kisara never ate much, preferring to play or talk, so this was a bit unusual. Sesshoumaru grit his teeth, she was already changing things around here! He was only ten years old, but Sesshoumaru was extremely intelligent.
"I'm finished." He stated, standing and walking words the shoji doors. One of the guards standing by the doors followed him, making sure that the young heir wouldn't get into any trouble while their master was away.
Izayoi stared at the empty seat, the meal untouched. She had a sinking suspicion that Sesshoumaru would never except her here. "Lady Izayoi?" Kisara questioned, looking up at her from the pillow so close to hers. This brought the smile back to the human's face, in any case, at least Kisara would love her. She suddenly noticed the child had her hands on her wide stomach, a smile playing out over her innocent features. "Is there really a baby in there?" She questioned.
Izayoi placed a hand on Kisara's head before answering with a warm smile, "Yes, that's going to be your little half-brother or sister in a few weeks." Kisara scrunched up her nose in confusion, "Half?" A little flicker of pain raced through Izayoi's heart as she replied, "That means that you will only be related by your father, that you have different mothers." Kisara nodded, "I see." Removing her hands from Izayoi's belly Kisara asked quietly, "When's daddy gonna be coming home?"
The raven haired woman resisted the urge to embrace the child, responding in an equally soft tone, "Don't worry…I'm sure he'll be back soon." "That's good." A small smile returned to Kisara's face as she stood up, the meal now complete, "Can we go to the Gardens Lady Izayoi?" Kisara asked, for the moment ignoring the fact her brother was most likely in his rooms seething.
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Sesshoumaru sat near the window in his chambers, his guard outside the entrance doors, the sharp ears of the eagle youkai making sure he was all right, not attempting anything that would not be permitted otherwise. His window faced the more wooded side of the Western Provinces, a long forest stretching out to grace the bottom of the majestic forms of the violet mountains in the distance. There was the lightest trace of salt on the air, a sign that the sea was only a mile or two away, for the most part, everything smelled relatively the same, like trees.
His golden eyes were still narrowed, though he seemed to be relaxing somewhat. Sesshoumaru didn't know why he disliked this woman so, perhaps it was the fact that she was supposedly intended to replace his mother, or the fact that Kisara would rather spend time with her, or maybe, it was because she was so nice to them. Any other youaki Lady would have immediately disowned the children, they were not hers, and that was the way of youkai…but Izayoi treated them like her own flesh and blood…The golden orbs slid shut. It was all too much for him to think about right now, he had other worries approaching. "My lord, it's time for your exercises." Came the sharp voice of the eagle youkai at attention behind the door. Every dog had to be walked, and he was no exception. His lessons were tedious, unbearable, and even painful. He was first given a book to read and write a report on in less then an hour, then an entire hour devoted to fighting skills, then back to books. It went on all day, him only receiving a lunch break to spend time with anybody.
It was a terrible thing to do to the pup, but standard training for taiyoukai heirs.
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3 ½ weeks later
"You can enter now you two." The female cat youkai said, her voice soft with emotion. Their lord had still not returned, and although all the palace employees were worried, the birth of the Second Taisho son had distracted them for a moment.
Kisara ran through the doors, her eyes still a bit red from the crying she'd done, scared that Izayoi was dying in there. Sesshoumaru had known better, and comforted Kisara s best he could, though only proof would dispel her doubts. Inside the room it was hot and sticky, a bit like the hot springs, she noticed. Reaching the side of the bed, She fought the urge to climb up with Izayoi as she saw the bundle the woman held.
Sesshoumaru stood by the door, only the tiniest bit curious to face his new sibling for the first time. Kisara on the other hand, had once more given in to her instincts, and was perched by Izayoi's elbow on the large bed, her bright blue eyes sparkling with wonder as she gazed down at the newborn pup. His face was a bit red, but his blindblueeyes were already halfway open. They wouldn't open fully until later tomorrow, however. Though he was just born, there was already a distinct patch of white hair atop his head. What Kisara loved most about him were the two furry ears still clamped to his head, not yet ready to take in the noise of the world.
She looked at Izayoi, who was also gazing down at the pup. "Are his eyes going to stay blue?" she'd remembered Izayoi explaining to her a few things about pups, mostly how they needed a lot of sleep, so she'd have to be extra quiet, but also that their eyes changed colors. Izayoi looked over to the child with a smile, "No, I'm afraid not. In a few weeks they'll most likely turn yellow." "Oh." Was all Kisara had to say.
She suddenly realized her brother was not here to see this, and in a heartbeat has scurried of the bed to grab him by the hand, pulling him over, whispering, "'C'mon, you've got to see him! He's so cute!" Taking up her spot once more as she ran back into the room, Kisara's gaze shifted from Sesshoumaru back to the newborn pup, trying to see both at once.
The young prince gazed upon the youth with what he hoped was indifference, however, he still had a lot of practice before his infamous stoic look was to be achived, and a warm light glowed in his eyes. For possibly the only time that would ever be, Sesshoumaru didn't care if the child was hanyou or not, he was his little brother, and that was all that mattered. He reached out a clawed hand and touched the newborn's nose, a small grin appearing as the baby crossed his eyes, trying to see what had touched him.
"What's his name?" Kisara whispered.
Izayoi thought a moment, finally recalling Taisho's final choice for males. "InuYasha…"
--
13 years later.
"Shut up InuYasha!" Sesshoumaru growled, leveling a gaze with his half brother. The teenager retorted with a cocky glare and a smirk, "Why dontcha make me?" He taunted. Ever since InuYasha passed puberty there had been nothing but arguments between them. For some reason or another, InuYasha couldn't leave Sesshoumaru alone, butting in whenever possible.
The young Lord had only recently in herniated their father's lands, and had his hands full constantly trying to run them. The demons that had been kept away by Taisho did not feel threatened by Sesshoumaru, and had been invading the Provinces for the passed month. Izayoi had passed away a few days after the news of Taisho's death, over 5 years ago. The only reason the lands had not fallen to another lord in the time it took Sesshoumaru to reach the end of his lessons was the fact both son's had received the swords sent in by Totosai, their presence so similar to Taisho's, that it had kept the demons at bay.
Kisara had been in a bad way for weeks after the boy's received their swords, irked that their father had left nothing for her. Little did she know he had, though it wouldn't become apparent for awhile. Also since that day InuYasha and Sesshoumaru had become rivals, Sesshoumaru obviously peeved that he, the new lord, has received (to him) the less powerful of the two fangs.
"No, stop fighting; solve your problems by talking." Kisara said, her voice as deadpan as ever, rattling off the same line every time they'd fought for the pass five years, she knew better by now that her words were ignored, and didn't even bother to look up as the table behind her was shattered.
They were currently located in one of the larger studies, each their for a different purpose. Sesshoumaru was trying to learn how to build a stronger barrier to ward of the intruders, Kisara to read for entertainment, and InuYasha to find entertainment in Annoying his sibling.
As a bookshelf fell to the ground, Kisara packed up, knowing that she would not be enjoying reading here any longer. She left the room quietly, ignoring the plight InuYasha had put himself in, now trapped under the bookcase, Sesshoumaru Holding it down over him with little effort, a cocky smirk now plastered on his face instead. The thirteen year old was no match for him.
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The silver haired girl walked down the hallways of her home, the endless maze no trouble for her to navigate through. Behind her was her guard, the memory troubled Rakuda youkai, Teru. Teru was new to the castle, having stumbled upon the place after being separated from her family over 50 years ago. She'd been assigned at first to tend to the stables, where her aunt resided,then had moved to guarding doors, and had over the years made it to guarding the royal family, a real honor, for one such as herself.
Teru had her quirks, however, that made keeping her position hard. For one she was loud and obnoxious, bad tempered and foul-mouthed, as most camel demons. For another she had an attention and memory problem, forgetting things quickly unless she ground them deep into her brain for storage, however, storage was cleaned out if not used quickly.
She towered over Kisara at a staggering 6'7, and had rather large muscles for a female. Her skin was copper in color, extremely different from the light skinned demons that lived around here. Her hair was a short sandy brown, a large chunk of which hung over one deep brown eye, the other exposed. Under the naked eye there was a strange marking of yellow, a sun with only two rays at top and bottom. This marking was repeated on her knees, stomach, back, and elbows. Unlike most of the castle guards who were dressed in long white kimonos with varied colored hems, she wore a short skimpy forest green kimono with a light green hem and obi. Around her ankles she wore two gold anklets, and from her backside she had a lion-like tail.
She was certainlya sight to behold.
Teru was confused, not knowing why the lady was headed this way, "Excuse me, M'lady, but If I may inquire as to where we're headed?" Kisara turned around to face the tall camel, her silver and blue kimono swirling with her matching hair. "For the last time Teru! We are going to the GARDENS!" The camel blinked. She'd asked before? Oh well, at least she knew now. She'd remember this time.
By the time their destination had been reached, Kisara appeared to have run a marathon with no sleep, no water and ten extra pounds. The hand holding her books was nearly dragging on the polished floorboards as she slouched across the porch, down the steps and into the beautiful gardens she loved so dearly. The camel youkai followed her, her liquid brown eye betraying her emotions, which by orders were to remain indifferent to everything, as was the Taisho standard.
The two made their way over to the bridge that was suspended over a glittering koi pond. Flowers were in bloom, and the scents filled the senses of both, effectively releasing the tension, and bringing Kisara back into her near-blissful state as she found a comfortable spot on the bridge to finish reading her book. Teru stood off the bridge, looking down at the large fish, poking them lightly with the butt of herspear whenever they ventured close to her. The temperature was a cool 65 degrees, the breeze a bit cooler, signs of fall not too far off. The sky was cloud-free, and nearby the birds warbled a calm song, in this part of the Taisho household, all was at peace, on the other end however…
"Lord InuYasha, please try and control your temper!" A figure next to the red-cloaked hanyou said, his voice clearly laced with exasperation. A dainty sparrow youkai with short black hair and blue eyes was fixing up a broken finger InuYasha had received in his scuffle with Sesshoumaru. "Hey!" InuYasha said defensively, "He had it coming!" Resisting the urge to slam his fist against his forehead, the crocodile youkai who was stationed there as wellsaid in what he hoped was a calm tone, "Lord Sesshoumaru is trying to run the Lands, the less interferences he has, the better it is for everybody, you should know this expecially well, Lord InuYasha."
InuYasha stood from his place on the floor after the sparrow youkai finished her task and had risen. His golden gaze fixed upon the greener gold gaze of his guard, "Are you trying to tell me what to do, Kurashi? The forest headed guard instantly lowered his gaze, "No my lord, I simp-." InuYasha interrupted, "Good." Turning to the sparrow he said in a softer tone, "You can go, Atchi."
The female sparrow dipped her raven head before exiting InuYasha's chambers. "Listen, Kurashi, I think I know what's best for me, ok? So do me a favor and stay outta my life! Now leave!" The crocodile exited quickly, not the least bit intimidated by InuYasha's display of anger. Teenage pups were known to act rashly, such as his late-master had done. If only he could see his sons now...Kurashi took up his place by the door, waiting patiently for an order, chuckling softly to himself.
The new taiyoukai sat behind his desk, one striped hand running through his long silver hair in stress. This was a lot more difficult then he'd first imagined. Servants were putting the destroyed study back together, so that wasn't what was worrying him, It was the fact that he had come up with nothing to stop the invading youkai, other then to send out some of his troops and force them back.This method didn't have much effect, and he was loosing menat a steady decline. If this was allowed to continue, his army would have dwindled down to a meretwo-thousand men.
His golden eyes narrowed as a last resort option surfaced in his troubgled mind,however, if he did this, It may cause a disturbance that could end up costing him twice many soldiers as he was loosing nowif he ruffled the bonds between the other lands and his own any further. He wasn't going to be sleeping tonight either. Damn thoseSouthernbastards, letting their youkai run around like wild boars...The eagle youkai standing outsideshifted unconfortably, the youki that was leaking from the room was almost over-powering in its exsess. The guard standing beside him on the opposite end of the doors was even more worked up, less used to it then he.
Their new lord still had a lot of steeling to do when it came to emotions…
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Kisara looked up from her book a few hours later, surprised at how dark it was getting. "Teru-chan!" She called, "Come on, we should be heading back." The guard, who'd been leaning against the pole that supported the bridge, stood and stretched. Kisara nearly face-planted. Her guard had been asleep...Kisara found it a miricale she'd lived to be this old.While fuming, Kisara noticed how this lack of alertness didn't bother her as much as she thought it would, probably for the fact Kisara knew that no matter how dead-to-the world the camel youkai appeared, her instincts ruled her mind, probably more so then a normal youkai, and camels had a way with fighting...
Suddenly, like a second heartbeat she felt it, pulsing in her chest. Her blue eyes went wide. "D-Did you feel that?" She whispered, the pulse still thrumming. "Feel what?" Teru questioned, her voice the same tone as before, though it seemed deafening to Kisara as she clamped her hands over her ears.
From the pulse Kisara was also aware of a tug, leading her to the other side of the bridge, which led out of the Gardens, close to the castle walls. Ignoring the worried questionings from Teru at her charge's awkward behavior, Kisara moved across the bridge, following the pull, knowing it was something she had to do. Finally she came to the castle wall, a now extremely worried about her sanity,Teru trailing close behind. Kisara's dainty brow furrowed. How was she going to get passed this?
Following her instincts still, Kisara lifted a hand to trace the smooth feel of the wall, amazed when it vanished. Her senses were on edge, the magical barrier that cloaked the castle still active, no demons could pas through, however, Kisara had no trouble. She was no demon. Teru was trapped within the castle, frantic as she was left helpless,and had hurried off to tell someone of Kisara's leaving.
The woman in questioned kept moving, the forest around her a dark blur, though she moved slowly. It was nearly a day of walking before the pull increased sufficiently to let her know she'd found its source. She'd carefully avoided any and all soldiers sent from the castle, not wanteing them to interupt her search. The demons of the foresthad avoided her due to the fact she contained neither human nor demon energies, but dragon, something no demon ever wanted to face. Her bright blue eyes gazed first at a large, towering tree, then at the well she stood before. 'This is it…' she thought, 'the source of the pull.' Not thinking twice, she slid over the edge, letting herself fall into the darkness.
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(( A/N: I know, a cruddy ending, but still. So how do you guys like it so far? I know I kind hurried this chapter along, but I made sure to include all of the living characters that have come into play so far, and even introduced a few of the castle regulars. In the next chapter, Kisara gets her first taste of Egypt.))