Welcome to Nyratar II: Brief Glance of Culture

"An extermination," his friendly tone grew serious. "We are in a dire need to rid our land of this existence that has been spewing death all over Yanira's work. I, no… we need you and Sesshoumaru to kill this one called Curome."

'Curome? Why does that name sound so familiar?' Her body grew numb and a foretelling shiver shocked up her spine. "Do… we really have to kill that person, your highness? Stopping someone from hurting is one thing, but killing?" She closed her eyes and turned her face away from the king and whispered solemnly, "Killing is such a horrible deed. I've… shed too much blood in my lifetime."

A hearty laugh rumbled from the Elven king, "Haven't we all, my dear girl? In order to take our first breath, something… someone must die and transfer their energy to us." He walked over to the ornate glass window of his private study and beckoned her to stand by him. "Tell me, what do you see?"

Kagome studied the immaculate span of greenery and houses in the large valley. In the distance, she spotted villagers, young and old going about their daily chores. At a closer distance she spotted the palace garden and the gardener busy tending to his task. "I see… that it's lively. Everyone seems like they have something they're supposed to do."

The King nodded, "That you are right. Everyone, including you are predestined to overcome certain obstacles. Your tneik is much brighter than the common folk. The brighter the tneik, the more weigh you have in this world."

"Tneik?"

"It is aura, of sorts. Healers and mystics must train for decades to attain this ability to see one's predestined aura and of course," he spread his arms out and smiled, "the members of the Royal family are gifted with this sight."

"Ah, I see. But why is mine brighter? Is it because I'm the reincarnation of another miko?" Kagome glumly questioned. 'It seems… even after her death, my life is intertwined with Kikyou's.'

"That is for you to find out, Kagome. Your heart is heavy with regret and darkness, isn't it?" He peered deeply into her eyes—searching and successfully finding her dirty little secrets locked deep within her head.

Kagome's eyes widen, "W-what? No! Of course not. I don't have anything to regret! I'm happily in love with Inuyasha… I love him. Truly." She pressed her hand to her chest to show her sincerity, but the Kadin just smiled knowingly.

"You must be tired. Tiika will show you to the dining hall and to your resting chamber. The details of your upcoming journey will be further discussed with Sesshoumaru in the morning." The Kadin summoned for Tiika, an elven watermaid who appeared almost instantly by the ornate door.

"My liege, how may I be of service?" Tiika bowed her head in respect, her silver hair sliding past her shoulders.

"Give this little one a tour of the castle and then show her to her resting chamber, and perhaps enlighten her about our culture," the Kadin waved his hand in dismissal and resumed his devious task of reading through scrolls on his desk.

Kagome absently bowed her head and followed Tiika. This was all still too much for her to take in. From leaving Inuyasha, to traveling to Sesshoumaru, to meeting elves that were utmost not Keebler elf looking whatsoever. She let out a troubled sigh, 'This will be a long week.'

-0-

"Do you have any questions, milady?" Tiika smiled at her master's guest.

For the past hour, the two ladies have visited countless rooms of the palace. There were the necessity rooms like courtroom, dining hall, kitchen, the spar room and bathing rooms… and then there were those odd rooms for skill honing like alchemy, magic, flying and even mind reading. There were so many questions reeling in Kagome's mind that she couldn't phantom what to ask first. But there was one thing she was very curious about though…

"I'm sorry. It may be rude to ask… but why are affections between male and female so… open around here?" Kagome flinched at her harsh question and fidgeted slightly, 'Dang it. I hope that doesn't sound too snobby. I should've thought it over!'

Tiika laughed merrily turned to face Kagome and pulled her into an embrace and slipped one of her hands under Kagome's chin and lifted her gaze to meet her own emerald ones. "It is not limited to only male and female, sweet lady," Tiika whispered softly and brushed her lips against the corner of Kagome's lips.

Kagome gasped with shocked wide eyes and leaped back, "What! What did you do that for?" Her face flushed red and how she wished she could just die at that moment. "You're very beautiful, but I only like men!" She blurted out.

Tiika laughed merrily, "Sweet lady. You must understand something. Come, follow me."

Kagome felt a cold shiver run up her spine and shuttered, 'Oh boy…' Still shaken from the kiss, she warily followed Tiika to another corridor. Along the way, Kagome received some very intensive stares from male elves. She couldn't help but wonder if something was out of the blue… well then again, at the moment, she is walking amongst elves.

"This is the Nursing wing, where all elven babies are brought to the world… but milady, you should know something," Tiika stopped before the large double door and asked for Kagome's attention. "You must have noticed the stares you've been getting from our males here, is that right?" Kagome nodded. "Well, there is a condition being Elven and… here you will find out," Tiika pushed the ornate doors open to reveal a room filled with… humans?

Kagome gasped, "What in the heavens?"

"Do you see now, lady Kagome?" Tiika waved her hand towards a couple, a male elf and a heavily pregnant human female. Kagome watched in amazement as the male dotted on the females every whim and need and showered her with his utmost affection, and attention. From another side of the room, there was another couple but the female human of this relationship was not too far along into her pregnancy. Everywhere she looked, the pregnant females… were human.

"I… I don't really understand, Tiika. Why are humans in Nyratar?"

Tiika chuckled, "Sweet lady, open your eyes. How is it that you cannot see the beauty before you?" She motioned for Kagome to follow her into the large chamber and up the raised platform located in the center. On it, there laid a pregnant female in early labor. Tiika whispered kind words into the human's ears and she responded with a grateful smile. "You are ready, let us help you begin your destiny," Tiika motioned for two other female elves. "Take her to the labor chambers, treat her well." The two elves smiled and nodded, and gently escorted the human and her mate away.

"I understand the beauty of life and all, Tiika. But why is it that human females here get pregnant? What about the elves?" Kagome's innocent question struck a nerve, but it was all the work of Yanira and Kagome wasn't to blame.

"Because, female elves are born infertile, and we are of rare birth. You see, Yanira gave us the gift of Sight for a reason—it is for our males to find their rightful, pure human mates to continue our existence. For every birth of a female elf, there may have been two to three dozen male elves born. For every human female, she can only birth one once in her lifetime before she too, becomes infertile from the male elf's seed."

Kagome was speechless. Such beautiful beings lived on such a fine line of extinction and yet they are wonderfully peaceful. "Wow… what will become of the human mothers?"

"They are loved by their mates, and will raise the elven children and pass their lives until they are claimed by Yanira of old age," Tiika gave Kagome a sad smile. "If Yanira claims they are worthy to bear elven blood, they are treated with respect and love by their mates. But sadly, elves live twice as long as the typical human life span."

"Are… the babies, half elf and half human? Like Hanyous?" Kagome couldn't help but ask. Are the children treated with respect? Where the human females forced into motherhood?

"I know what you are worried about, dear lady. But we elves do not force our will upon humans. The females here are willing to bear the seed, fully knowing of the consequences. As for their children, they are of full elven blood."

"Why? Is there something special about elven… seed?" Kagome blushed at the topic.

"It is unknown why Yanira has chosen this path for all of us, this is our way of life. You must be wary of your surroundings while you're here lady Kagome. There are small bands rogue elves in the wilderness who kidnap human females and force them to bear their seed, so you must stay near Prince Sesshoumaru at all times possible," Yanira warned with a stern tone.

"That is why we so openly display our affection, because life here is very limited and Yanira teaches us to love all. We, female elves are infertile and are unable to bear… so we do our best to comfort those who are grieving for the loss of their mates, and those who are not chosen to pass on their seed, and… those for fun," Yanira winked cutely at Kagome, who in return blushed madly.

"Come, you must be tired, I'll show you to your chambers."

Kagome once again followed her guide. It amazed her to learn about their culture, but it pained her to know that Tiika yearned to bear a child, and yet she couldn't because it is the way she was created. She marveled at intelligence of Yanira, the mystical being who ruled the land here. Kagome understood if elves were able to repopulate like humans, they can easily overpower the human population and they would dominate the world, and perhaps the Youkai as well. For once in a very long time, Kagome felt proud to be a human—proud to be herself.

"Ah, here we are," Tiika tapped on the door before them. "Here are your chambers, and if you need me please do use this leaf." She held up a leaf made of silver.

"Eh? A leaf?" Kagome examined the leaf with curiosity, "What does it do?"

Tiika giggled, "You blow on it like so," she brought it to her lips and blew a tune. "It has minor enchantment on it with my blood. It alerts me that my presence is required." She handed the silver leaf to Kagome. "I do wish you get a good rest, my sweet lady. Have a fair night." Tiika bid her farewell and disappeared down the corridor, leaving Kagome on her own in this foreign castle.

Kagome pushed aside the door to reveal an immaculate room filled with wonder pastel colored fabrics, a feathered stuffed futon on a platform, cushions, rugs, mirrors and a short table with what seems to be makeup. She stood in awe at the wondrous generosity of her hosts. She snootily half expected her room to be wooden and hard, but it was very different. 'I should be open minded! When have I turned into such a materialistic person?' She shook her head in disappointment of herself and closed the doors behind her. To her left, she noticed another wooden door leading somewhere else.

"Hmm… I wonder what that could be?" Wearily, she opened the door and was welcomed by a wonderful warm mist of air. It was no other than a bathroom, with a platform tub encased by flat rocks, and under it a pit to put heated coals or firewood. She looked over at what she thought was a toilet and glanced down. "Wow, it's they're version of a toilet…" It may not have flushing water, but the bucket and well pump next to it solved the problem of "flushing."

"Another door?" Kagome crinkled her nose and shrugged. 'It couldn't hurt to find out more, right?' Opening the door slowing, she stepped into another room without a sound of her entrance. The room was similarly decorated like hers, but much larger and filled with vibrant red and black fabrics and décor. And there on the floor, she spotted some scattered clothes and she raised an eyebrow. 'Where am I?' Her eyes followed the trail of discarded clothes and onto the bed…

'Oh my heavens!' Kagome held in her gasp of shock. There laid a half clothed Sesshoumaru with closed eyes and furrowed eyebrows, and with the beautiful Ysahir mounting him with all her beauty exposed. Kagome was frozen in her spot. What was she to do in this situation? She felt her breath quicken from her shock and nervousness and forced herself to take silent breaths. 'Oh dear Kami. Oh my god!' Her gaze was locked onto the elven princess riding Sesshoumaru's shaft and she couldn't help but marvel at the exotic scene before her. Her body grew hot and numb, after just a few mere seconds of watching and was heated. 'I've got to get out of there!' She glanced behind her briefly to assess her position and placed a hand on the door frame, she looked up again only to find Sesshoumaru staring at her with hooded eyes and still being pleasured by the princess. He held onto her gaze, with his uninterested one. A small smirk appeared on his face when he trailed his hand up Ysahir's luscious hips and latched onto an exposed breast from Kagome's view. He pinched her harden nipple eliciting a pleasurable moan from Ysahir—all the while his eyes never leaving Kagome's.

Kagome's body grew numb once again, Sesshoumaru was toying with her. Somehow, she found her strength to break his gaze and quickly returned into the bath chamber, closing the door shut behind her. "Oh dear kami," she mustered and buried her face in her hands. Her heart pounded ferociously in her chest and she… she just couldn't think of anything else to say or do. She shook her head again with her face in her palms. "I cannot believe I just saw that!" She recalls the smirk Sesshoumaru gave her—he taunted her… and that stirred something within her. Something she rather not think about at this current moment. All she wanted now was a bath and some sleep… and she damn will make sure she locks the door to Sesshoumaru's room from the bath chamber.

"Oh my god," she whispered again. "Sango will not believe this."

/

JR- Lol :3 Another somewhat unadventurous chapter, the journey will come soon!