Title: Inutaisho's Weakness

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha or the characters. If I did, Sesshomaru, Koga, Naraku, Bankotsu, and Miroku would be chained up in my closet with nothing but censor signs to wear. grin

Rating: T, for Violence and Language Content

Genre: Drama/Romance

Pairings: Inutaisho x Izayoi

Summary: Izayoi was always lonely. As a Daimyo's daughter, she was to be married only to the richest and most influential of men. While picking flowers in a meadow, a powerful dog-demon saves her from a lesser oni. What will happen when a pair of golden eyes begin to haunt her dreams?

A/N: Okay, this part will be sorta like a time-skip. Izayoi will have a couple flashbacks of the last chapter, because it's further in time. If you have any questions, just review and I'll be glad to answer them! Also, I did make Inutaisho a little less serious in the last chapter. For those of you who didn't approve, I sincerely apologize.

Last Time:

The dog-demon, Inutaisho, stepped forward again, and the movement was so sudden it sent Izayoi into a fit of panic. She stepped back, the hem of her kimono catching under her foot and sending her falling back. Before she could hit the ground, the princess felt a pair of strong arms catch her. She looked up into the dog-demon's sincere gaze and nearly melted. As Inutaisho stared down at her, a small smile graced his lips.

"You have no reason to fear me, maiden." His face broke out into a grin, bearing sharp canine fangs. "I won't bite."

And in that moment, Izayoi realized that she did believe in love and happily-ever-afters.

Inutaisho's Weakness, Part 2: Entwined In Love

Izayoi remembered that day. The day that Inutaisho had entered her dull, dramatic life. Years ago, it seemed, but it was only months. Spring had melted into summer, and the princess had yet to return home to her father. Instead, the Lord of the Western Lands had given her a place to stay in the house of another Daimyo, apparently whom he'd established an alliance with. She was treated as royally as if she were their own princess, though Izayoi didn't much like getting treated like she was made of glass. Fragile, and delicate.

Inutaisho came to see her often, each visit more enjoyable than the last. He was usually dressed in his common attire; the white kimono, the maroon obi and the spiked armor. Some times, though, he would be dressed in a simple, baby blue yukata and dark blue hakama. His lack of defenses around her showed not only trust for her, but comfort. It seemed to Izayoi that the demon had grown fonder of her, for she always seemed to catch him staring at her when he thought she wasn't looking. And, in return, golden eyes and silver hair always haunted her dreams, while his deep, smooth voice lulled her to sleep.

Izayoi walked along the banks of a shallow stream that bordered the northern side of the Daimyo's palace. She was wearing a lavender yukata, and had worn her hair up in a messy bun to keep the back of her neck cool. 'Inutaisho…' Izayoi had never felt so free and comfortable since her…friendship…yes, that's what it was…with the dog-demon. Past visits from the demon had involved them getting to know each other, over tea, or just talking out in the palace gardens. She had often wondered why a demon of his rank even bothered with a human girl such as herself. She had asked him once, but he just gave her a soft smile and said that if she thought there was anything wrong with it, that she should tell him. She then proceeded to apologize, much to the dismay of the demon. "No apologies," he would say. "And none of your respectful talk, either." Izayoi sighed softly and pushed a strand of her onyx-hued hair behind her ear.

"What are you doing out here all alone?" Izayoi gasped and whirled around, slipping on the grass and falling back toward the stream. In a blur of blue, Izayoi found herself in the arms of the mighty Inutaisho. He was wearing his summer yukata again, which explained why the blur was blue, and not the usual white. His silver hair was pulled back to the nape of his neck and braided down his back. Trying to hide her blush, Izayoi looked at her feet. "How many times have I pleaded for you to stop sneaking up on me like that, milord?" Inutaisho set her back on her feet and sighed.

"And, Lady Izayoi, how many times have I asked you, begged you even, to not called me 'milord?'"

"It is in a princess' nature to be respectful and obedient," Izayoi said. To spite him, she added quietly, "milord." Inutaisho seemed thoughtful.

"It is in a demon lord's nature to destroy all who oppose him," he said, "and yet you refuse to comply with my wishes."

"That is different," Izayoi huffed. "Your wishes are unreasonable, and you could not destroy me." Inutaisho raised an eyebrow at her statement.

"I could not destroy you?" He looked down at her smiling face, feeling his own lips twitching upward as well. "What makes you think that? Are you suggesting that you are stronger than I, the mighty Inutaisho, Lord of the Western Lands?" Izayoi turned to him, her cheeks flushed slightly. 'Gods,' Inutaisho thought, 'she is so beautiful…'

"Forgive me, but I made a slight mistake…I meant to say, you would not kill me." Her chocolate eyes sparkled up at him, and she twirled beside him. "Inutaisho, milord, what brings you here today, I wonder?" Inutaisho's grin faded and he stopped walking, watching her graceful form continue walking a couple steps. He frowned.

"News of your father." Izayoi stopped, frozen to the spot. Memories of her father's abuse flashed through her mind and an unexpected tremor ran down her spine. Inutaisho saw the tremor and stepped forward. "Izayoi…" His voice was soft against her hair as he stood, his chest pressed lightly against her back. "All this time…you still have yet to speak of why you were in the forest that day…why you shed tears…" Izayoi shook her head, turning with a smile plastered on her lips.

"It no longer matters," she said. "What news do you bring of him?"

"He has offered your hand in marriage for your capture and return. There are many human nobles who are searching the area for you." Inutaisho gazed at her saddened face, watching as it transformed first into confusion, then to shock. She stepped back away from him.

"Inutaisho, they will find me here!" She panicked. "I cannot return! I…I cannot! I won't! He'll punish me for running!" The demon tilted his head to the side.

"Your father…he has harmed you…?" His eyes softened, but his voice had chilled. "You may remain silent if you wish, Izayoi…I would like to hear about why I found you sobbing and wounded in the middle of the forest wearing only a yukata."

"For years, ever since my 16th birthday, I have avoided suitors of all sorts. Villagers, warriors, nobles, and Daimyo. I have never felt anything towards these men, especially not love. How can you marry someone you do not love?" Izayoi hugged herself and stared down at her feet. "Eight months ago, my father gave me a choice: to choose a husband in two weeks, or he would choose one for me. I was not ready," she said. "I begged him for more time, but he was still furious. He told me to be grateful that I had suitors who were so rich and handsome." Inutaisho watched the play of emotions on her face, frowning slightly. Izayoi continued, but her voice had begun to tremble. "He had always been a caring and gentle man, but then my mother died…I guess he blamed me for her death. After her burial, he became more aggressive and…and violent."

"You ran?"

"Yes." Izayoi sniffed as tears pooled in her eyes. She looked up at her only friend. The one man that had shown any real caring toward her. She smiled slightly. "He chased me to the edge of his territory, but by then I had already reached the thicker part of the forest, and he had tired out. He might've reached me eventually, but I was saved." Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I do not wish to marry the nobles…I wish to be free to marry whom I choose."

"And whom do you choose?" Izayoi looked up in surprise, her coffee eyes widening as she tried to calm her rapidly beating heart. She looked at him, losing herself in the sincere gaze that seem to melt her heart. She blushed.

"I…" Should she tell him? No, he was a demon lord! There was no way that he would love someone like her…A human girl…

"Izayoi?"

"It…It's unimportant." Inutaisho placed one gentle hand on her shoulder and used his other to tilt her chin up to get her to face him.

"What is unimportant to you may mean the world to another, Izayoi…" Izayoi stared into the amber depths of his eyes and saw passion, understanding, peace, and…love? No, that couldn't be… Inutaisho seemed to find something in Izayoi's eyes, for a moment later he said, "Izayoi, come with me. Back to my palace. You will be safe there."

"What?" Izayoi's heart skipped a beat, and she stared up at him. "Are…Are you sure?"

"I will protect you," he promised. "I love you." Izayoi grinned and threw herself into his arms, reveling in the feeling of his warm embrace. Her face neared his, and it didn't take him long to close the gap between them in a soft kiss: one that poured out all the emotion that both had kept suppressed. They pulled apart, still dazed from the kiss. Izayoi said softly,

"I love you…" Scooping the princess up into his arms, Inutaisho smiled at her.

"Do you trust me?" Without hesitation, Izayoi replied,

"With my life…dearest."

Inutaisho held his fair maiden and ran into the sunset…which happened to be the direction his palace was in. Forever entwined in love, were the demon lord and his human princess…unknowingly creating a future that would change fate forever…

An outraged growl erupted from the throat of a young man that had watched his princess take flight with a demon. He turned away from the sight in disgust, and looked at his clenched fist. "I will not allow this demon to steal away Lady Izayoi…She belongs with me and me only…Takemaru of Setsuna!!"

A/N: How was it?? Nice ending? I'll work on the third part soon, promise! Thanks to my reviewers out there…all three of them…I'm so depressed…I never get more than four reviewers! Oh well! Thanks, you guys, it means the world to me!!