Young Lord Kagewaki Hitomi walked down the long hardwood engawa and stopped in front of an amado. He slowly slid it open and peered in quietly. An elderly woman that sat beside a young, sleeping girl, looked up.
"How is she, Mamotu?" The young lord walked in silently.
"Doing better, Lord Kagewaki." Mamotu nodded. "Madame Mikazuki has really used up her energy this time, it will take longer than usual for her to recover. She is now in a deep sleep to concentrate on healing."
"Has she taken any food?"
"As you've ordered, my lord Kagewaki." Mamotu bowed her head respectfully as Kagewaki sat down on the grass-woven sleek floor. He held his sleeves as he reached down and gently brushed her bangs away, before laying a hand on her forehead. Then, he sat back and sighed.
"I have forbidden her to exeunt out of the palace alone and have warned her to stay away from any demons that are wounded. But Mikazuki refused to listen. She's never listened to my heeding."
"She is still young, my lord." The old woman smiled. "She has much to learn."
"She has the heart of a miko, but is hasty in making her decisions." Kagewaki continued, looking disheartened. "If she would only paid more attention to her lessons, she will become a very powerful priestess yet."
"The young is always hasty, as you were once, my lord." Mamotu smiled.
"Yes, but she's blossoming into a young woman, she must have the proper training of a miko." He sighed again. "That was also her mother's last wish."
"Ah, the Lady was a gracious one. And her daughter will be just like her when times come." She patted the twenty-three-year-old prince fondly. "I know how fond you were of her, Kagewaki. You have never gotten over her death, have you?"
"No." He shook his head and said softly. "One of the reasons why I must protect her daughter from further harm."
Lord Kagewaki thought back to the nameless lady that had stumbled across castle entrance with her child that dark raining night, faint with illness. Upon the late Lord Kagewaki's orders, they took her and her infant daughter in, giving them the best medical care. Kagewaki Hitomi was only eight that time, but he could never forget the first feeling of motherly love from the ill woman.
He remembered little things about her, such as the wonderful way she smelled, like flowers after the rain, and the way she smiled at him, with such love and kindness in her eyes. He remembered the warmth and tenderness of her hug, but all of those memories, treasured they were by a boy who had lost his own mother. Never knowing his own mother, Kagewaki accepted Mikazuki's mother as his own and appointed himself as Mikazuki's own personal caretaker.
But the Lady, as they called her, were not with them long. She never got over her illness and soon passed away, leaving her daughter solely to Kagewaki.
We are brother and sister, Kagewaki thought as he reached and brushed a strand of ebony hair from the finely featured face. The closest of playmates and friends, role of father and daughter, guardian and ward, young man and young woman, there really is no words to describe our relationship.
Mikazuki walked along the open-aired porch that was used as walkway toward Kagewaki's room. The skirt of her kimono rustled as she walked. Her kimono was not the traditional kimono. It was more like a heavy, full white skirt and a violet sleeveless over a top with long, white sleeves and gauze shawls hanging about. It was layers of clothes over lapped and put on that turned into elegance. Because of her being brought up in nobility, most of the style of her kimono was more based upon grandeur rather than traditional.
"You must study harder, Madam," She grumbled to herself as she remembered what her teacher had said. "You must master the skills of a priestess, for it is Prince Kagewaki's wish." She pushed her heavy hair away from her face and sighed, shaking her head, as if clearing if of all unhappy thoughts then reached up and pulled out the flower kanzashi from her hair, letting down the most luscious raven black hair.
Mikazuki tucked away the tiny flower pin that held her hair together and looked back at the waterfall of hair that trailed behind her like a train of a dress. Her hair was almost double her height, and her trademark beauty. Kagewaki had never allowed anyone to cut her hair ever since she was an infant. Because of the Lady, he had explained, her mother's hair was just as long as hers was now. Anyone could fold the hair up at her ankle and the tip of the hairs would still be able to reach the top of her head. The princess of the castle tousled her hair as she walked into Kagewaki's room.
"How was your lessons today, Mikazuki." Kagewaki greeted her with his usual calm and composed way, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"Fine, my lord." She wrinkled her nose and sat down beside him, taking care not to sit on her dress. Her hair, as usual when it's down, make a thick, space consuming carpet behind her.
"Now," the young prince cocked his head. "I know when you call me that, it means you're unhappy with me about something. Now, what is it you're unhappy with?"
Mikazuki sighed and played with a silky strand of her midnight hair. "I don't want to become a miko. Why do I have to become a miko?"
"Because you're growing into a young lady and because of our regal family title, the peasants all look up to you. You must set a good example. We need a good priestess. And if you simply try harder, you have the power to become the most powerful miko yet."
"Why can't things stay the same…?" She shook her head sadly as her deep amethyst orbs under the thick, long lashes took a mischievous tone.
"Well, we all have to grow up and accept our responsibilities sometimes—" Kagewaki was still lecturing when Mikazuki jumped up and smirked. He looked up at her, surprised, when he recognized the mischievously look she had in her deep dreamy eyes that she always had when she was younger. He groaned and raised to shield himself.
"Oh, God, not this…"
"So I'm 'growing up,' that doesn't mean I can't still whoop you!" She said gleefully as she seized a pillow and started pummeling the young lord with it. "You're getting too old! Always lecturing like an old man. You're still young, Kagewaki!"
"We're too old for this…I'm too old for this, Mikazuki!" Kagewaki was protested behind the pillows. "I'm twenty-three!" The princess of the palace just giggled.
"Then think young!" Finally giving in, Kagewaki grabbed a white pillow himself and the two "big/little" lord and lady began trouncing each other like there's no tomorrow. They didn't stop until a loud "Ahem" caught their attentions. Kagewaki sat up in a hurry and put on his most unexpressive, stern expression. Mikazuki picked herself up from the tatami floor and patted her raven black hair hastily, which had spread even more apart in their tumble and was now just a large cloud of glossy darkness.
"My lord," their main head servant, Soutei, cleared his throat and reported. "There are words that two demons are headed this way. Shall I raise up our defenses and summon the priests?"
"What sort of demons?" Kagewaki stood up, looking concerned. Mikazuki began cleaning up the feathers that had escaped from the pillow. "Do they mean harm?"
"We're not sure, sir, but it would be in our best interests to prepare for the worst." Kagewaki nodded.
"Handle everything the way you think should be planned. I trust you, Soutei. You were my father's best man." The man bowed.
"Thank you, my lord."
Mikazuki sighed after their head servant left. "See, growing up is not fun at all. I really don't want to be a shrine maiden and the commoner's idol. I just want to…I don't know…" She shook her head. "Live a normal life."
"It's your mother's wish that you become a priestess." Her guardian reminded, gently laying a hand on her head. "As for me, I agree with her. You and I, of all people, know that you're nothing 'ordinary' and 'normal'."
"I know." His protégé's voice was a whisper.
"And…" He added. "You have the powers of a miko, which is the safest thing you could be around this environment. That's what our people needs."
"But been dubbed the 'Goddess of the Crescent Moon'? Having people chase after yelling, 'Touch the Princess Crescent Moon's robes and you'll be healed of all your sickness!' I don't particularly like it, Kagewaki."
"Neither do I, it's too dangerous." He sighed also. "But we cannot defy the wishes of fate and destiny."
"We're almost there." Sesshoumaru stated calmly.
"I know!" His brother snapped, obviously nervous. The lord demon looked over at his half-brother and smirked.
"Are you nervous, brother?"
"What do you think?!"
"Have no fear, and leave this all to your big brother." Inu-Yasha snorted.
"Feh. Like I'll leave everything to you? I place no trust in you."
"Then why are you following me like the puppy you are?"
"…Because we're going the same way!" Inu-Yasha huffed and turned his face the other way. "So…" He asked curiously. "What exactly do you have planned when we get there?"
"Of course," Sesshoumaru waved a hand casually. "Blow a hole in the palace to make our entrance, kill anybody that stands in my way, grab the damsel in distress, and make our exit." Inu-Yasha stopped walking.
"You're not serious!"
Sesshoumaru sighed. "Of course not, Inu-Yasha. But you're too dense to realize that."
"Shut up." Came a mumble.
"Relax, Inu-Yasha. You're going to make a bad first impression. And you're going to ruin my reputation."
"I should just cut you into pieces right now!" Inu-Yasha whipped out the Tetsusaiga. "Don't think I won't." What reply he got from his brother was a fist on his head. "…OW…What in seven hells was that for?!"
"Quiet. We're here."
"My Lord Kagewaki," a guard knelt facing the ground in front of Kagewaki. "There are two demons out there by the name of Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, and Inu-Yasha, his brother. They want to be granted the permission to meet you, my lord."
"Inu-Yasha?" Kagewaki's eyes narrowed. I've heard of that name, as well as Sesshoumaru. He nodded and gave a wave. "Let them in."
Sesshoumaru and Inu-Yasha were led in by Soutei.
"Beautiful landscape, Master Soutei." The demon lord remarked like a perfect guest that never loathed humans.
"Thank you, Lord Sesshoumaru." Soutei replied shortly, though pleased. It was not in his nature to trust demons…any demons. Inu-Yasha, on the other hand, was suspicious about Sesshoumaru. Why was his brother making such a big effort? He hated humans, everyone knows that.
"Lord Kagewaki," Soutei bowed as he beckoned Inu-Yasha and Sesshoumaru into the large greeting hall. "Here are the guests."
Kagewaki nodded a greeting, his dark eyes steadily fixed on the pair of brothers. "Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands, Inu-Yasha of…" He trailed off, realizing he does not know what to add to that. Inu-Yasha gave a smirk.
"Heh. Don't bother with all that fancy language. All I care about is girl of yours—" A fist descended upon his head. "Ow…darn it, Sesshoumaru, what the hell!?"
Kagewaki sat up from his divan, alarmed. "Girl…?" He questioned in a dangerously tight voice.
"Lord Kagewaki," the older silver-haired demon said in a soft, chilly voice, too low to be heard by the other people in the greeting hall besides Kagewaki.
"May we request a private discussion…just the three of us?"
A clear, authentic melody softly flowed out into the hallway. The source of the music came from an elegant room near the center of the long wooden hallway.
Mikazuki sighed from behind the intricately-carved koto, which strings she was plucking adequately, so that a delicate, beautiful melody emerged. She looked up from the fragile strings, and sighed again.
"Mamotu," she began.
"Hmm…yes, my lady?" The elderly woman looked up from her embroidery.
"Who is Kagewaki seeing right now?"
"My lord is greeting two demons from far away lands, my lady." From Mikazuki direction came the wrong note of a minor string, causing the whole beauty of the melody to be broken.
"Demons?" She whispered, getting up from behind the instrument. Mamotu looked up and smiled.
"I wouldn't worry, my lady. The prince wouldn't let any danger or harm come near him or the palace."
But that's not what I'm worried about. Kagewaki is smart enough not to be fooled by demons, I know that. But what demons would look for him? The only demons that we've been in contact with recently were…
…those two dog demons that I healed! It has to be them! But if they find me, Kagewaki would know that I've been near demons. He isn't going to be happy to know that, since he's forbidden me to ever get communicate with demons. Any demons.
"Mamotu," she walked to her porch door and slid it open. "I don't feel so good."
"Madam," Mamotu sat up in a rush. "Would you like me to summon the palace doctor?"
"No, no." Mikazuki went on in a hurry. "I'm just going to go and get some fresh air." With that, she grabbed the side of her skirt and jumped off the balcony, landing in the soft grass on her soft slippers, before running for the greeting lobby.
"My lady!"
Huffing, Mikazuki ran into the building and slipped passed the guards. Taking care to hide behind the thin walls that are shielded with paper, she took a peek and nearly fainted from the sight.
Both of them are here! But why are they together?! She pulled back and leaned against the wall. Aw hell, I know trouble when I see it. She tiptoed off. I'll deny it. If I get summoned, I refuse to go.
"So you're saying," Kagewaki repeated slowly, as if trying hard to digest the idea. "That Mikazuki is actually your sister?"
"Half-sister," Sesshoumaru corrected, but nodded. "But yes. That's precisely what I'm saying."
"Then you won't mind me asking this…" Kagewaki's expression was emotionless. "Why is she not a demon?"
"Inu-Yasha's mother was mortal." The youkai lord waved over at his brother carelessly. "As for Father, I have no idea. Speak to his gene pool." His nose twitched just the tiniest bit.
The pup, she's here. She's listening to us. Sesshoumaru himself wondered why Mikazuki's scent was not one of half-demon, though her scent wasn't the scent of a mere human either. That's what caught his attention in the beginning. His lips curled at the irony. That maiden had fascinated him. But not her flowery perfume, her hair which was as dark as the night and as straight as ribbons, her becoming authentic clothing, and her soft speech—all of which were exotic and beautiful—but the fact that she smelled different. Her aura had burned with a strange fire. Her exotic scent that could not allow even the great lord to identify or determine whether she was a demon or a human.
"Heh." Inu-Yasha scoffed and twisted his head away, obviously detesting his brother still.
"So, Sesshoumaru, what—"
"Look, Lord Cage saké or whatever your name is," Inu-Yasha interrupted. "All we want to do is see her. Take a look."
"And afterwards…?"
"That we'll talk about afterwards." The hanyou finished patiently. Sesshoumaru raised an elegant brow and stared at his brother with disbelief. Lord Kagewaki had lifted his brow and was also watching Inu-Yasha with an air of suspicion.
Sesshoumaru looked back at the young lord. Kagewaki looked as if he was going to reject them and have them thrown out of his castle any minute now. But after a moment, they only heard his voice softly command.
"Soutei, please tell Madam Mikazuki I've summoned her." The old, faithful butler bowed respectfully before leaving for the young princess' quarters.
"But Madam!" The butler protested five-minute later as he was rejected by the heiress in every way. "The young lord asked for your presence to be presented!"
"I'm busy, Soutei." Mikazuki's violet eyes never left the koto and its fine strings. Her love for this horizontal wooden string instrument began at age three and had grown so passionate for its melody that Kagewaki had handmade one for her himself. The one she's playing on now had been the same one that he hand-carved when he was fifteen and its sweet tone was just as soothing as ever, for the hard-learning instrument had been part of her lessons and she had mastered it remarkably, as no women ever had.
"I know my lady is busy with the instrument, but if you please, the young master is—"
"Tell Lord Kagewaki that I'm currently busy with my studies and wished not to be disturbed." Mikazuki instructed, using her most spoiled and superior tone of voice so that she would be questioned and probed no longer. But inside, she worried.
What if Kagewaki insisted? What would I do then?
"My Master," a troubled-looking butler appeared at the front of the door to their room.
"Yes, Soutei," Kagewaki's eyes lit up, but a frown soon replaced it as he saw that Mikazuki was not with the man. "What is Madam Mikazuki?"
"I fear that she's too deeply into her studies to be disturbed, my lord."
Kagewaki's brow went up once again. "Is that so…?" But Inu-Yasha, enraged, jumped up and grabbed the man's shirt collar.
"Drag her out here!" He demanded. "Or I'll ransack the whole palace to find her!"
Sesshoumaro simply sat graciously, ignoring the outburst and pretending he doesn't know Inu-Yasha.
"Sit down, Inu-Yasha." Kagewaki's sharp voice sliced through the air and Inu-Yasha, without knowing why, sat obediently. "I will have no rampaging in my castle. All things shall come in order."
Inu-Yasha mumbled under his breath. Kagewaki took a deep breath and stood up, his elegant kimono rustling. "Now then, I guess I shall have to—"
"Demons, my lord!!" An outcry was heard outside in the courtyard of the palace. A guard appeared. "Demons, my lord." He huffed. "Hiten has returned along with his brother!"
"Send out the men." Kagewaki ordered, raising up to his feet in a hurry. "See to it that Madam Mikazuki's safety is the first priority! Hurry now, Soutei!"
"Yes, sir!" The man quickly bowed and hurried away with the guard.
"What is this, Kagewaki?" Inu-Yasha looked around curiously. "Has these demon been threatening the safety of the palace?"
Sesshoumaru also stood up. And though he said and did nothing, his golden eyes darted around, taking in everything that's going around in his surrounding.
"No," the young lord of the castle sighed heavily. "It's quite the contrary. Hiten and Manten are the Thunder brothers, and it seems as though Hiten, the older one, has his mind set on marrying Mikazuki."
Inu-Yasha's jaws dropped against his will. Even Sesshoumaru had turned and was listening with a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"And rather than dangerous, it's been rather bothersome. But we could not get rid of the demon. From his love to Mikazuki's sake, he has done no harm, but we fear that continuous rejection from her, and he might—"
"Don't worry, Kagewaki." Inu-Yasha smirked, drawling out the Tetsusaiga. "I'll take care of this."
"It might not be necessary—" Kagewaki called, but Inu-Yasha already flew out the window into the grass. The master sighed. Sesshoumaru laid a hand on his shoulders, and said without feelings,
"He never listens."
"Mikazuki, my love…" A voice called from outside Mikazuki's room. She looked up, startled for a moment as the voice came again. "My flower, my life, I have come here to claim you…again."
The lovesick voice registered in Mikazuki's mind as she flushed a deep crimson. She stood up, enraged, and threw her door open.
The Thunder brothers floated in the sky right outside of her room. And Hiten, his glinting eyes crimson red and his long hair in a braid behind him, peered down at her with a look that made Mikazuki sick immediately.
"Ah, Mikazuki, my heart, my soul, my darling—"
"Save it, Hiten!" She snapped, loosing the last ounce of her patience as she walked out onto the open walkway. By now, the whole yard was filled with men and weapons, taking a precautionary battle position. However, Mikazuki remained in her own battle. "I told you, Hiten! I'm not interested and I never will be! So go and leave us in peace!"
"Such a fiery temper," Hiten tsked with his tongue. "I love your flaming temper, love. But I must tame that tongue of yours after we make you mine." Mikazuki exploded.
"I will never be yours, Hiten!" She threw out, her amethyst eyes flashing a very dangerous fire. "Never!" From where Kagewaki was standing, he worried. He knew that his protégé has a short fuse and that look in her eyes proved that the rest of her fuse was gone.
"But my moonlight goddess, don't you want to hear what I have planned for our wedding night?" Hiten protested, having no idea that the patience from the love of his life had just burned out.
"You…you…!" Without another word, Mikazuki yanked the flower kanzashi from her hair and threw it at Hiten's flying wheels with a force that no ordinary woman could have done. The small flowered pin flew through the wheel, shattering it. "Take that!" She snapped as Hiten lost his balance with the gravity of the earth and crashed down into the ground. "Like I'll ever marry a arrogant, flying, tub of insolence like you!"
"Ow…" Inu-Yasha muttered from where he was standing. "That must have hurt."
"The fall, or the insult?" Sesshoumaru asked nonchalantly.
"Both."
"Oh…" The fallen thunder demon moan in the dirt where he's fallen.
"Oh no!" Both brothers turned around, only to find Mikazuki, her expression a mask of horror and her glorious black hair streaming behind her as she ran for the fallen demon.
"Mikazuki, wait!" Kagewaki called out after her. "Don't get near him!"
Sesshoumaru's golden eyes widened as he realized what Kagewaki meant. The young princess had already thrown herself down beside the groaning demon and had pushed back her long sleeves.
The whole court gasped as her fingertips glowing with a light, she gently laid the palms of her hand flat onto the breastplate of Hiten's armor. Her lips murmuring a silent prayer as her whole hand began to radiant. Then her arms, then her shoulders and face. Soon, all the people could see was the blinding light and the little current between their ladyship and the demon.
But Inu-Yasha alone wasn't fooled. He had seen Miroku use this trick too many times on girls. And surely, he wasn't wrong. Cause under the light, he could make out the smug little smirk of Hiten's lips and the flashing of his crimson eyes.
By the time Hiten's hand went up, he was ready.
Mikazuki, on the other hand, had no idea she was being drawn into a trap. She felt her energy being drawn from her soul and through her arms and out of her fingertips into Hiten's very heartbeat. Her pink lips parted to take in a breath of air.
"Please let him be okay." She said silently. "Don't let him die on the account of me. Please—" The prayer died on her lips as the force of a hand behind her head forced her down. Her eyes opened and faced the leering smirk of Hiten. She watched with terror and disgust as he licked his lips. She pushed against him, but the outdrawn of her energy to Hiten's had made her weak in response.
"Ugh…no!" She pushed and struggled. But by now, the Thunder Demon's other arm was up and encircled her waist. "Y-you imbecile, you!" She gritted her teeth and strained against him. There were shouts all around the courtyard but all were too far to do any good before the harm is done.
"Mikazuki, don't move!" Mikazuki heard a shout behind her, but couldn't turn around due to the fact that Hiten's hand was still forcing her to go down to his waiting lips.
"A bit difficult," she cried back.
Inu-Yasha, enraged at the struggled that Mikazuki was going through, swung the Tetsusaiga.
"Mikazuki!" Kagewaki caught the princess before she fell into the ground. The powerful swing had separated his ward with the demon, but had not done either harm. "Come along, now, quickly." He stood her upright. "You hurry along, go inside where it's safer." Handing her off to Soutei, the young prince of the Kagewaki Palace drew himself up indignantly.
"So, you like to play rough with girls, huh?" Inu-Yasha expression was a combination of a growl and a sneer, showing his fangs.
"Ugh! The dog demon, Inu-Yasha." Hiten spat as he jumped up. "So we meet again."
"Yes, and this time, I'm planning to finish you off!!" Inu-Yasha snarled and swung.
"Manten!" Hearing his brother's call, the younger—and more homely—of the brothers swooped down on his cloud.
"We shall meet again, soon, puppy!" Hiten shouted as they flew away at great speed. "And next time, I won't let you off so easy!"
"Easy my butt!" Inu-Yasha yelled back, causing murmurs to break out among the people. "Next time, you'll be dead!" He turned away from the demons, only to face a courtyard of people staring at him with suspicion and doubt.
"What?" He narrowed his eyes, then to his own entertainment, bared his fangs at a random man, who gave a squeak and scurried away. "Feh. Useless fools, all of you." He hopped up the steps to where Kagewaki and Sesshoumaru stood, with Mikazuki in between. Sesshoumaru had his arm around the princess, apparently bolstering her with his body.
"Oi," Inu-Yasha nodded, sheathing Tetsusaiga.
"Thank you—" Mikazuki gave a soft murmur before the young master at her side began fussing.
"Look at you. Didn't I tell you not to go near any demon?" He chided. "Any demons? You look as if you're about to pass out any minute now. Come…Mamotu!" He called, and an elderly woman came forward. "Put Madam Mikazuki to bed, immediately. And see to it that she rests and recovers."
"Yes, my lord."
"Hold just one sec." Inu-Yasha, his eyes caught upon something that glowed beneath her clothing and called a halt. To the horror of all onlookers, the hanyou hooked one of his claws on the neckline of Mikazuki's garment, then pulled. He stared, unblinkingly, at the crescent moon that shone with a luminescence from the shoulder blade above her left breast.
Sesshoumaru stared and coughed.
Mamotu gasped and clasped her heart.
Kagewaki slapped Inu-Yasha's hand away and Mikazuki, her face as red as Inu-Yasha's haori, clutched her top and glared at him with flashing eyes.
"Pervert!" She finally shrieked and brought her hand across his face. Inu-Yasha fell sideways at the unexpected blow and was caught at the collar by Sesshoumaru. His older brother looked down at him and smirked.
"Did it hurt?" The demon prince whispered, undignifying himself. Then straightening up, "Let that be a lesson to you."
Then dropped the collar between his claws.
Inu-Yasha's face met the dirt in the matter of seconds.