-While the Cat's Away-
Lana yawns stretching her arms above her head; this trip was taking way longer than she'd thought it would. She looks down at Jaken who lay unconscious in her lap, she sighs.
"Even he's tired…."
Lana raises a brow when Mio turns to her wearing a somber expression.
"Lana, this is torture." She whispers laying her head against Rin's back, Rin looks back at them with a smile.
"It won't be long now guys!" She says brightly.
Mio groans, this wasn't the first time she'd heard that in the last few hours. She now wanted to be home, where she could curl up in front of a warm fire and fill her aching belly. Mio's eyes travel from her chest to her belly when it roars at her.
"I'm so sorry belly, I am sorry to leave you this way!" She cries grabbing her stomach. Lana shakes her head at Mio in disbelief but partly in sympathy. She goes to close her eyes but then she remembers something.
"Ah, I know what we can eat!" She cries going into the small satchel on her back, she sets it on her lap before thrusting her hand into it. She presses her tongue against her upper lip as she begins fishing for her small treat. She grins when her fingers brush a small plastic casing.
"Wha-what is it!?" Mio asks sitting up, Lana drags the item out and Mio's eyes widen.
"Candy!"
Lana tears open the plastic that held them away from the candy; Mio reaches over despite Lana's shrugs to push her away.
"Let me…let me get some!" Mio shouts when she manages to stuff her fist into the bag, Lana's eyes widen when Mio begins grabbing at the candy.
"You're gonna take it all!"
These kids…their going to be the end of me….
Aya walked behind the group watching Lana and Mio fight over a small bag of candy; she folds her arms across her stomach shaking her head in disappointment.
She looks up at the sky; the smell of the castle was everywhere. The danger of traveling was now over, no Demon would dare attack them so close to Sesshomaru's castle. She yawns into her hand.
I'm a bit tired as well…what time is it…about 2am.
She glances over at Inukimi who walked ahead nonchalantly; she didn't even care to look at the girls who fought right next to her. Aya's eyes drift to the Meido Stone and almost immediately she's angry again.
What a bitch.
Aya looks up when the smell of sweat and human men fill her nostrils, she raises a brow when she sees a train of men circling a large expanse of field before her.
"One two three four," the man in the front calls, "move those legs!"
Aya bites her lip looking at their hardened bodies, she clasps her hands together.
Now this…is something worth traveling for!
The leader of the group skids to a halt when he notices them standing there, he salutes Sesshomaru before bowing at the waist.
"Mi'lord you have returned." The man says bowing his head.
Sesshomaru nods, Aya looks over the grassy clearing for a familiar landmark. Soon she sees the frozen fish pond, her face falls when she thinks back on what happened there.
I fell for it.
The man looks around Sesshomaru at Inukimi who stares off into the distance with boredom wrought on her face.
"Lady Inukimi nice to see you again." He mutters bowing to her as well, he then turns to Aya who smiles.
"Ah you must be Lady Aya, nice to meet you." He says once again bowing, Aya nods to him.
"Has there been any news?" Sesshomaru asks while looking over the group.
The man nods.
"Well, there has been multiple attacks on villages in the surrounding lands," he says folding his arms, "small human villages."
Sesshomaru frowns and the man puts his hand to his hand as if thinking.
"Oh, and…you may not want to hear this Mi'lord but…your brother's child has been born, he whispers lowing his head, "a baby boy Mi'lord.
Rin gasps hopping off of Ah'un's back.
"Oh Lord Sesshomaru we should go and visit him!" She cries clasping her hands together. Aya smiles when Sesshomaru sneers at the man, he looks down at Rin whose eyes turn in saucers.
"We're going there anyway."
"Yay!" Rin screeches hugging his arm.
Aya folds her arms, Inuyasha and Kagome with a baby…it was strange. Inuyasha was still so childish himself, but a good father he could be. Sesshomaru looks at Aya before beginning to walk to the castle, Aya grabs Ah-un's reigns pulling him along behind her.
As they grow closer to the castle Lana and Mio's eyes grow wider and more awake.
"Oh my goodness," Lana breathes looking up at the majestic castle, "this is…wow."
"Huge right?" Aya whispers to her, Lana gulps wagging her head in agreement. Mio suddenly jumps off of Ah-un running over to the heavy front doors, she pushes at them but they do not budge. She turns to Sesshomaru with her hands on her hips.
"Is there some sort of magic word or…some sort of code?"
Sesshomaru raises a brow about to speak but the doors fly open to Mikado, she gasps.
"Rin…Lady Ay!"
Mikado runs over to Ah-un grabbing Rin and pulling her into her arms, she closes her eyes holding Rin tightly in her arms.
"You had me so worried."
"I'm…I'm sorry Mikado." Rin says in a muffled whisper, Mikado places her on her feet.
"No dessert for a week!"
Rin gasps about to protest but she sighs lowing her and nodding, Mikado walks over to Aya grabbing her arms, she lifts them as if looking for something.
"You are not at all hurt." Mikado mutters walking around her now, Aya sighs.
"I can take care of myself alright," Aya says closing her eyes, "I've done it for this long right?"
Mikado looks up at her with a dulled expression, she turns to Sesshomaru smiling.
"I knew that Lord Sesshomaru could do it!" Aya gasps when Mikado rushes over to him with bowing deeply.
"Are you ok Mi'lord?"
He nods looking at the Mio who slowly edged her way into the castle, he clears his throat and she pauses mid-step. Aya laughs and Lana sighs.
This is going to be fun.
"Let the child go in Sesshomaru," Inukimi mutters walking past the group and into the castle, "someone should have some fun around here!"
"Mikado, take the children inside and get them bathed and dressed." he says looking back at Lana who slides off Ah-un with an sour expression, " and send Nobuo out for Lady Harumi. Mikado nods taking Lana by the wrist.
"Who is Lady Harumi?" Aya asks cocking her head.
"You'll see," Sesshomaru mutters walking into the castle, " I don't want you running off yet."
Aya frowns looking at Mikado who smiles before making a zipping motion at her lips before taking the kids inside. Aya sighs looking at Ah-un who looked as tired as the kids.
"You should go to bed Ah-un," she whispers stroking his necks," it seems the lord has plans for us."
Ah-un lets out a heavy breath pushing his heads against her shoulders; she nods to him before patting his side and walking into the castle.
Mikado stood at the bottom of the stairs with her arms folded, Aya yawns as she sits next to her on the bottom step.
"What is wrong Mikado?" She asks looking up at her, Mikado shrugs.
"It just seems that the castle is changing…and I'm not changing with it." She mutters shrugging, Aya frowns.
Mikado walks around her before plopping onto the stair with her.
"Where are the kids," Aya asks looking around.
"Bathing, the other women helped me get them rooms and a bath." She mutters looking down at her hands.
"Ah." Aya nods her head, Mikado sighs.
"Who are they anyway, the two other girls?"
"My…they are to me…what Rin is to Sesshomaru," Aya says looking ahead, "adopted them almost.
"Oh…ok," Mikado says nodding her head, "are they staying as well?"
"Yes."
"Are you and the lord…," Mikado whispers looking at Aya.
Aya smiles.
"Yes."
"That's wonderful." Mikado sighs shrugging her shoulders, Aya frowns.
"Mikado, you always have a place here-"
"And that's the problem," Mikado mutters looking at her, "I always have a place here…while other's learn and grow I'm here.
"I'll never get married nor have children while I'm here, or even real friends." Mikado says shaking her head.
Where is this coming from?
She balls her fists shaking her head.
"You haven't been here as long as I have and…you wouldn't understand what it's like to be someone's slave, Mikado whispers wiping away tears, "your life is not your own…you live day to day for someone else."
Aya sighs looking at the ceiling.
"I've seen Lord Sesshomaru change and Rin grow, I've seen him find love…I've seen it all and I've been happy," she cries lowering her arms, "but when I look in the mirror I'm the same Mikado.
Aya grimaces
Feeling left behind.
"I want to be happy too and not just happy to serve someone but I want to be happy for me." Mikado sighs looking down.
"I haven't even seen my father and brother in three years," Mikado says looking at Aya, "or my grandmother…for all I know she can be gone.
Aya looks at her and Mikado shakes her head.
"I…understand Mikado…how about this," Aya says turning to her on the stair, "I'll talk to Sesshomaru about you going to visit your family for a while, Mikado's eyes widen.
"No-no Lady Ay I can't ask that of you!"
Aya nods.
"Yes you can, Mikado I'm soon to be Lady of the Western Lands…I have ways of persuading Sesshomaru." Aya says rubbing her hands together; Mikado sniffles while nodding her head.
"Ok but…I don't want to make the Lord angry." She whispers bowing her head.
"No-no-no do not worry about that," Aya mutters taking a deep breath and looking ahead again, "now…about this Lady Harumi.
Mikado smiles standing.
"I cannot tell you Lady Ay!"
Aya gasps and Mikado runs down the hall.
Aya shrugs before standing to her feet.
Now to search for Sesshomaru.
He never explained how we would do this mating thing….
She smiles to herself as she making her way down the long hallway toward his study.
Not that I need too much direction.
Aya stops at the edge of the door to the study, she could smell him in there and hear the scratching of pen on paper, Aya walks in waving her arms gently at her side, Sesshomaru sat at his usual place writing on his usual stack of papers.
"Sesshomaru," she sings walking behind him and placing her hands at his shoulders, "working again?"
He nods and she leans over his shoulder to see the papers, he looks up at her and she smiles wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
"You know what they say about all work and no play?" She whispers kissing the side of his face; Sesshomaru turns back to his work shaking his head.
Aya pauses.
Is he serious?
"You're serious?"
Sesshomaru nods and Aya groans as she moves around the desk sitting in the seat across from him, Sesshomaru watches as she takes half of the papers from the bottom of the stack, she smiles at him.
"The quicker you're done the quicker I get some fun now let's work." She says taking a pen and looking down at the papers. Sesshomaru cocks his head leaning back in his seat as she puzzles over the papers.
"What…the-"
"You wouldn't know anything about this, it's about the other Lands and their leaders…our agreements and treaties." Sesshomaru mutters when Aya squints at the paper.
"You know…you're right," she says standing and dropping the pen, "I don't even know what kind of deals you have set into place…."
She brings her hands together fiddling with her fingers.
"Just get done quick ok?"
He nods.
Aya turns leaving the study to go rest herself, Sesshomaru sighs before going back to his work.
"When I was just a little girl…I asked my mother what will I be!" Mio sings spinning herself in a circle in the middle of Uryen's ballroom, she comes to a halt curtsying under the moonlight the poured into the hall from a large circular window in the ceiling.
"Why yes, I would love to dance with you." She sniggers curtsying even lower, she turns spinning away only to nearly trip on a bloody mound on the ground, she smiles down at it.
"Wait your turn!" She whispers winking at it.
She looks over the hall again, everything was stained with blood and bodies lay everywhere, she laughs.
"When Master Uryen returns he's going to be so angry!"
She goes to spin again but the ballroom door slams shut, she turns to see Uryen standing there all bloodied himself; she places her fists at her hips.
"Oooh you've eaten and you didn't bring me any?"
He glares at her before tossing her a bloody brown sack; she yelps grabbing it and falling onto the floor with it as she begins to tear it open.
"You've had yourself a party I see," he mutters kicking away a man's hand, Mio nods digging her teeth into a large mound of meat.
"What is my Ay up to?" He asks walking around the ballroom, Mio looks up shaking her head.
"She is not your Ay anymore; she is to be mated to the Demon Lord soon."
Uryen snarls and Mio gasps kicking away with her food.
"So he wishes to have a part of my Aya…no matter…she won't be his for long…." Uryen sighs.
Mio nods pulling her head back as she yanks a large strip of meat from the unrecognizable animal or person.
"I've already set into motion a plan of plans…something that will end Aya for good," he says folding his arms, she will have no other choice but to come to me…here."
Mio looks up in confusion.
"What of her precious Demon Lord?"
Uryen smiles.
"I wish for him to come as well…but what else did you hear?"
She racks her mind for more but all she could focus on was the food in front of her, she shakes her head clear and gasps when she gets something.
"In two days, they are going to visit a woman named Kaede."
Uryen frowns.
"The Miko Kaede?"
Mio shrugs and he sighs.
"That won't do…Mio…you ready to go back out yet?"
Mio shakes her head.
"Lemme finish this first!"
He nods and she scampers out of the room with her meal hanging from her teeth. Uryen smiles looking at the moon through the window.
"Que Sera Sera, he whispers beginning to waltz now.
The next morning Aya is shaken awake by Mikado, Aya moans turning to her.
"You're not Sesshomaru, go away!"
Mikado laughs when Aya turns around going back to sleep, Mikado climbs onto the bed shaking her again, Aya tries to swat her away but Mikado grabs her arm.
"But Lady Ay, Lady Harumi has arrived!" She shouts into Aya's ear, Aya groans covering her ears.
"Dog Demon here Mikado!" She mutters trying wish the pain away, Mikado frowns.
"I'm sorry Lady Ay but Lord Sesshomaru wants you to come downstairs." Aya sits up abruptly.
"So that woman is down stairs," she mutters clawing her way out of bed, Mikado sits on the bed watching as Aya rushes in out of the bathroom and out of the room.
Aya skids to a halt at the top of the stairs, she frowns when she sees Sesshomaru standing at the bottom with a group of female Cat Demon's and one half breed, she sneers.
I swear I hate the way they smell.
"Um…what's going on?" She asks slowly creeping down the stairs, Sesshomaru takes her hand gesturing to the oldest of the girls.
"This is Lady Harumi, she is the matchmaker of the Western Lands." He says pushing Aya toward her, the woman purrs lowering her eyes.
"What a beautiful canvas for my art!" She says in a velvety low tone.
Aya looks at Sesshomaru who smirks.
"What is she doing here?" Aya asks gently pulling her hand away from his, suddenly Inukimi comes to the stairs and she snarls.
"Ugh, that smell!"
Lady Harumi looks up at Inukimi and she smiles.
"Ah, Lady Inukimi how nice to see you again!"
Inukimi's snarl drops and she shakes her head.
"I want no part in this, good luck Aya."
Aya gasps looking at the woman again.
"She helps brides prepare for their weddings." Sesshomaru mutters when Aya folds her arms.
"Prepare…how does one prepare for such a thing!?" Aya asks throwing her arms up.
"I make sure you are completely ready to take your mate, make sure you are prepared and done to his liking." Lady Harumi
The hell does that mean?
Aya looks up at Sesshomaru for a better explanation but he kisses her on the jaw before climbing the stairs and disappearing down the hall, she turns to the Cat's her eyes narrowed.
"So what will we do first?" She asks cocking her head.
She grimaces when Lady Harumi's smile morph's into a vicious glare.
"You will not speak…look at you…you look horrible," she whispers harshly, "those split end's those fat thighs!"
Aya's eyes widen.
"We-."
She never gets the chance to finish her sentence before the women ambush her carrying her upstairs, Aya tries to pull away but there were too many of them.
"What are you…agh!" She screams when she tossed into a large tub of water.
"Scrub her clean, she's a filthy little mess!" Lady Harumi barks at the women, Aya gasps when they grab her from all directions ripping her clothing away, one of the woman grabs her hair lightly tutting.
"So many split ends." She mutters bringing a pair of shears from her side, Aya screams.
"Close the door," Lady Harumi cries. One of the girls stand rushing over to the door slamming it and locking it, she runs back of taking a rough cloth to Aya's ears, Lady Harumi comes over dipping Aya's head under the water. Aya pulls herself back up and before she could do anything else, thick rose scented soap is poured over her head, as the women begins washing her hair and body another girl comes over prying Aya's mouth open.
She gasps.
"Your canines are so dull…this is what you get for stuffing your face with anything!" She whispers glaring at Aya who tries to fight back but nothing would work. The girl takes a long tool to Aya's canine teeth grinding away at them. Harumi steps away grinning at Aya.
"What? Doggy doesn't like the water?" She coos.
Aya growls but her head is dunked under the water again, Harumi snaps her fingers and Aya is lifted from the tub and covered by the women who now held towels.
I'm going to kill her…and then hurt Sesshomaru.
From the drier she is pinned to the bed spread eagle, Lady Harumi shakes her head.
"Get the strips."
Aya struggles against them as something hot is lined against her inner thigh. The girl below her chuckles before pressing something against the hot spot, she looks up at Aya before yanking a strip of cloth away and sending Aya in frenzy. She slaps the girl on her arm away, the girl falls away crying as blood spills from her face.
"Get off of me!" Aya screams when two more girls move over to hold her arm, the other girl crawls away whimpering.
The half breed….
Aya's thoughts are stripped away with the next piece of cloth.
Lana looks at Mikado who sighs.
"What are they doing to her?" She asks moving away from the dining room table, Mikado shrugs.
"They are getting her ready for something." Mikado mutters pushing more rice onto Mio and Rin's plates, Lana looks at the dining room door with disbelief in her eyes.
Lady Harumi slaps her hands together when she lays on her eyes on her finished project.
"Look at how beautiful she is now." She says putting her hands to her cheeks, the other women make noise of agreement, all except the girl who had bandages wrapped at her eyes now.
Aya shook as one of the woman pull her to her feet, she wore a long white and pink kimono with a black obi that was pulled so tightly she could barely breath, her hair was about six inches shorter and her body was on fire; she no longer had hair anywhere.
"Where is…Sesshomaru?" She utters in a deadened voice.
Lady Harumi snorts.
"You call him Lord!" Lady Harumi scolds, Aya growls going to move for her but she runs right into Sesshomaru.
"You're done?" He whispers kissing her ear, she pushes him away with a grunt.
"Yes done, done with all of this!" She shouts throwing her arms up, Lady Harumi sighs.
"Such a difficult one to dress, she even hurt the little one."
Aya folds her arms turning away shaking her head, she felt a little badly for the young girl.
I didn't mean to hurt the child….
And she's a half-breed…not good.
As Aya goes to apologize Sesshomaru hands Lady Harumi a small sack of money, Aya gasps.
"So you're paying some crazy woman to wash and dress me…why," she asks putting her hands to her hips, "was I not pretty enough for you before?"
He shakes his head.
"It is not that." He mutters looking away as the women begin bowing to him
"Now I can afford the young one a home," Lady Harumi says smiling, "her village was attacked last night almost lost her life."
Aya frowns looking at the bandaged girl.
And now I've nearly blinded her….
Sesshomaru sighs, he clearly didn't want to hear this story.
"Oh thank you my Lord and may you have a wonderful forever." She whispers bowing her head, Aya folds her arms.
I'm no longer in the mood for forever!
Sesshomaru snakes his arm around Aya's waist nodding, Lady Harumi and her group slowly begin exiting the room bowing all the while, Aya turns on him once their scent disappears.
"Are you crazy," she exclaims, "I nearly died!"
Sesshomaru raises and brow and she nods.
"Yes, nearly died!"
He touches her hair which now lay against her ribcage.
"They could have left your hair the way it was," he whispers.
"Are you not hearing me," she shouts, "they tried to kill me!"
Sesshomaru pulls his hand away studying her face before taking a sweeping look of her body, Aya raises a brow.
"Why did you have to call that lady in any way?"
"Its tradition," he mutters dragging her closer again, "I thought that you would like it."
She glares at him and he smiles.
"All women do it," he says almost dismissively, "I thought that once you saw her you would know.
Aya shakes her head.
"My whole body aches!" She shouts stomping her foot.
Sesshomaru nods pulling her into a hug, she sighs.
After all of that does he really think I'm going to go through with this tonight?
Aya yanks away sitting on the bed; she looks away from him when a knock sounds at the door. Lana gently pushes the door open peeking her head in, she smiles.
"Oh you're ok…it sounded like you were being hurt." Lana mutters rubbing the back of her head. Aya shakes her head.
"I'm alright."
Lana nods to Sesshomaru before leaving again, Aya stands.
"I'm hungry…," she mutters walking over to the door, "good bye."
"So you no longer wish to be my mate?"
Aya growls down at the door knob.
"I never said that!"
Sesshomaru walks behind her wrapping his arms around her waist, he presses his nose against her neck making her sigh.
"You know Sesshomaru, you're never this interested in sex any other time." She mutters shaking her head.
"I unlike you know how to control myself and my urges, I know the time and place for things." He whispers nibbling against the bottom of her ear, Aya turns to him.
"It's morning." She says shaking her head.
"So?"
"The children are awake," she whispers when he kisses her neck.
"We'll go to my bedroom."
But…I'm angry.
Sesshomaru pulls her away from the door opening it before pulling her down the hallway.
"Sesshomaru…we…but what if they come looking for me?" She says looking into the direction of stairs.
Say no…put your foot down!
"Mikado can care for them."
Before she could protest anymore he pulls her into his room closing and locking the door, he presses himself against her as he begins undoing the last hour's madness, Aya moans when he kisses her neck again.
"Who has no self-control now?" She whispers when he lifts her carrying her over to the bed, Sesshomaru goes to speak but Aya begins peeling away the layers of his clothing. Sesshomaru yanks her off and soon their both naked; Aya smirks pulling him on top of her.
"Such raw passion!" Mio calls giddily clapping her blood stained hands, she crawls closer to the balcony doors watching as the two dog's consummate their relationship.
"Poor Uryen," she says smiling.
Her smile falls as she watches them yank at and claw at each other.
"What is the fun if there is no blood?" She whispers somberly.
Mio sighs, they looked as if they weren't going to stop any time soon not that she didn't enjoy watching. It wasn't the slow soft act that the human's took part in, it was rough and fast, they were so demanding of one another. Mio climbs onto the balcony railing again.
"Wait until I tell Uryen!" She whispers before disappearing.