Chapter 8
Even though Inutaisho is Lord of Edo, Sesshoumaru is one to be called a "Lord in Waiting." Sesshoumaru does not hold the title of lord but controls what happens in the village and the lands in Edo territory. This reason is why Sesshoumaru was upset for Kagome's remarks; she insulted him by saying that he doesn't care take care of his subjects.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, your father requests your presence in the throne room," calls a feminine servant voice from the hallway.
Sesshoumaru's thoughts are interrupted by the request and leave his sanctuary for the time being. He walks gracefully down the halls with the portraits from everyone in his family line. The throne room is a grand room with red carpet leading to the thrones. Large windows surround the room and there are three thrones near the back of the room. Largest of the thrones is the middle and serves as the Lord's chair; Inutaisho. The second highest chair to Lord Inutaisho's right is his mate's and the youngest son's mother; Lady Nami The last chair also the smallest of the three is Sesshoumaru's chair since he is heir. Inuyasha stands next to Sesshoumaru's left for a short time during events. The room also serves as the gathering room for balls and special events.
"Yes, father," Sesshoumaru asks as he stops short of his father's throne.
"How are you today?"
"Fine but what is your real reason for summoning me her?" impatiently he asks.
"Why is there a human female in the dungeons?"
Sesshoumaru has a look of surprise on his face before he resumes his emotionless mask.
"I know of everything that happens in my castle, Sesshoumaru. Quite frankly, I do approve of this for it is not your place to send subjects to the dungeons. I can only guess that she disrespected you, which is why she is in there."
"Yes, that is incorrect. However it is in my place when she disrespected me."
"What did she say?"
The young heir is a little hesitant to answer for the fear that his father will agree with girl. His mind quickly rewinds to the woman's tattered and patched clothes and dirty face. It is his job to take care of his people and hasn't taken care of her. However, he knows that he cannot lie to his father since youkai can sense a lie.
"She stole some food from a merchant in the marketplace while I was patrolling. I confronted her about it. She replied to this Sesshoumaru that she wouldn't have stolen if she weren't starving. She said that it was my fault that the people are starving."
Lord Inutaisho did not respond for several moments. His hand stroked his chin thoughtfully as he digested what Sesshoumaru told him. In the end, he could only decide upon on thing:
"Guards, bring the human female."
Chapter 9
This treatment is nothing that I haven't endured before. I am strong, I can make it through this time of pain and isolation. All the times that I have dug through the trash searching food has led me here. All the times that I had slept in the snow or rain has led me to this. I will not break down and let him believe that he is winning. I will not break!
Pain lets me know that I am still alive.
Pain gives me something else to think about.
Pain is my ally at the moment.
I will stay strong for Shippo, he won't lose another mother. I promised him.
I continue to sit in the darkness of the cell.
The door opens but this time is two demons at the door. I don't bother to look at them as they approach. Their shadows become closer and one unlocks my chains. My arms are roughly grabbed and I'm dragged through the hallways and corridors and stairs. I never once lift my head; instead, I focus on the stone floor that passes under my gaze.
They take me to a bath where I'm bathed and dressed in silk. I don't mumble anything as the female attendants tend to me. My head remains down the whole time. I don't care what the room looks like or the people in it.
The guards then once again come for me and drag me somewhere else. Sweet smelling food attacks my nose but my stomach doesn't grumble. No, too many years of practice has forced it down. The guards stop, but I don't raise my head. I don't move at all.
They will not break me. They will not break me. They will not break me.
I chant this in my brain repeatedly like a mantra. Nothing can break my meditation. Concentration and patience are the keys to my survival in this place. I feel a breeze so there must be multiply windows in this room and they must big. I store this information for later.
Moments pass and nobody in the room says a word.
Chapter 10
'How do I get beyond these walls," Shippo asks himself. He looks at the tall walls and knows that he can't scale them. They are too tall to jump and there are no trees nearby. Oh, what am I to do? I have to get to her.
Chapter 11
She looks dead; she's stagnant with her black hair covering her face. This will not bode well with father if she is dead. I have never done anything like this before; why now?
"Is she dead?" my father asks one of the wolf guards.
"No, my liege," he respectfully answers.
"Raise your head child," my father commands.
Nothing could have prepared me for the intense look in her eyes. She raised her head quickly, her hair flows down her shoulders, and the look of hatred is evident in her face. If looks could kill, I would be no longer breathing.
For the first time, I actually look at her face. Her skin is pale with high cheekbones and full lips that are drawn in a straight line. Those green eyes are what sticks out the most. They are the deepest green that hold once again holds such intensity.
I think that from the look on my father's face that he is taken back by what he sees. He orders that guards release her. I expected that she would fall to the ground but she stands erect with her fists clutched at her sides. The same look is still on her face and her green silk pants and a top that stops under her breasts does nothing but increase her fiery stare.
"What is your name?" Lady Nami inquires in a gentle tone. Lady Nami appears from the side entrance of the room and is appalled by the young woman's appearance.
She turns her head right to the sound of the new voice. Before her stands a beautiful inu youkai with long white hair, sakura blossom kimono, gentle gold eyes, and firm face.
'Beautiful but is probably deadly when pissed off,' Kagome concludes.
Before she can answer, a long sound of a door slamming open is heard behind her. In walks another inu youkai but this looks more easily tempered and probably has less control than the others have. He wears a red haori with matching pants. His white hair looks coarse and needs a good brushing. Jagged magenta stripes are on each of his cheeks and his eyes constantly change from gold with black pupils to purple with blue irises.
"Inuyasha," the Lord scolds while rubbing the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger, "how many times to we have to tell you not to interrupt when the doors closed."
"Feh. I wouldn't have 'interrupted' if someone told me not to. But why can't I know? And who is she?" Inuyasha points to the motionless girl in the middle of the throne room. He walks in the girl and sees a familiar face. He smirks.
"Kagome, what did you do and who pissed you off?"
"Inuyasha, you know this girl?" Lady Nami inquires.
"Of course, we use to play in the marketplace about ten years ago. Her mother took charge and made sure I didn't get in trouble when ditched the guards." His smirk turns into a smile when he remembers a carefree Kagome running around the village causing mischief. Now her eyes hold another story; a story filled with pain.
Kagome face softens a bit when she recognizes Inuyasha. She also remembered the days when they were young but everything change when her mother died. She never knew that he was royalty or that in lived in the palace.
"Where's your mother?" Inuyasha eagerly questions.
Kagome replies emotionlessly, "Dead."
Inuyasha's smile falls when he hears that simple word. Kagome's mother was like another mother to him while he visited the village and Kagome is like a sister to him. 'What has happened to her over the years?'
Sesshoumaru continues to look at the female while not saying a word. The female has sparked his interest a little, as he wonders about her background. She should have born as a demoness by the way that she looks. She is pleasant to look at without all that filth.
Lord Inutaisho decides to break and silence and tells the people in the room that the gardens would be more comfortable. Everyone clears out of the throne room; Lord Inutaisho and Lady Nami, followed by Sesshoumaru then Inuyasha, lastly Kagome with two guards on each side.
The gardens were immaculate with flowers as far as the eye could; roses, lilies, snapdragons, and huge sunflowers. Pathways circled around the entire garden and all the paths eventually led to the middle where there was a fountain. The fountain has a circular base with an inu demon form, looking like it was about to pounce, squirting water from its mouth.
The trope stops a long round stone bench that circles the fountain. The breeze could be felt from the water as it landed. Kagome is seated isolated from the royal family with her guards standing behind her.
Inuyasha breaks the silence by stating that the family should take turns and ask two questions then the next person will ask. Inuyasha asks the first question: "When did Kyoto die?"
Chapter 12
I wonder why I should answer anyone. It is not as if I owe them anything; they owe me. Inuyasha abandoned me and never returned. He left me to fend for myself. I am being stupid; it's not Inuyasha's fault. It's no one's fault; unfortunate events happen, even if it is bad stuff.
I guess that I should answer his question. I look at Inuyasha and jealously makes itself known. He is so lucky to have a family. It's forbidden, Kagome, your family is dead and never coming back. Move on.
"She died when I was seven."
"Where have you living all these years?"
"In an abandoned building forgotten by Edo."
"Why? Didn't you have other family?" This time Lady Nami poses a question.
"No, I am alone in this world. I have for eleven summers fended for myself and taken care of Shippo."
"Who is Shippo?"
"Shippo is a red fox that I nursed back to health when I was eight."
"Why didn't you search for Inuyasha?" Lord Inutaisho softly speaks.
"I did. I even slept outside my mother's evicted home and waited for his return but he never showed."
"When is the last time that you ate?"
Kagome thought a little before responding, "Maybe three or four days."
The company does not say a word and an awkward silence befalls them until the last of family asks his two questions.
"Why did you not get a trade instead of stealing?"
"Sesshoumaru!" his mother yells.
I won't let him get the best of me.
"Many trades in Edo are hereditary and because of my mother's illness I was unable to learn hers. I could have become a concubine for a wealthy man, but I'll die before a man uses my body for his pleasure. I will not dirty my mother's name by lying with multiple men and being a slave."
"So you result to thievery?"
"I ask you this Sesshoumaru-sama, how many homeless people live on your lands? How many unmarked graves are there in the forest? What happens to female orphaned children without other families when no one else will take them in? Do you even care?"
"Why should I?" he arrogantly replies.
"You should since everyone that resides in Edo will be your subjects. I care about them because I am like them. There are 57 homeless people living throughout Edo. There are 587 unmarked graves in the forest surrounding Edo. Orphaned children without anyone else either die or steal to live. I am one of the children that are fortunate to live this long without dying because of the cold or resulting to being a concubine. Don't believe me? Walk into the village and count the homeless. Walk into the forest and count the graves without a name; don't forget the one under the Sakura tree, I buried my mother there. You replied that you don't care, well Sesshoumaru-sama those people will rebel against you and you will fall. Because what is a leader without subjects to lead?"
The tension builds, as Sesshoumaru doesn't speak. I await his answer, wondering if he'll even give one. This is proving to be very interesting. Moments pass and Sesshoumaru does not answer, so I provide the answer for him.
"A commoner; normal, weak, helpless, and powerless. You will fall and never rise again. You might as well be human."
"Insolence!" Sesshoumaru rages and the other three members are shocked into silence with my speech. Inuyasha has his jaw hanging almost to the ground. Lady Nami's eyes are wide with shock while Lord Inutaisho looks proud and amused; what a strange demon.
"May I go back to my cell now?" I ask innocently.