A/N: Sorry for the wait, needed to brainstorm before continuing. I wanted to try with Inuyasha as a SEME, because there are not many with him as that. Tell me what you think!
Chapter 3: It Has Begun…
After picking himself up from the humanoid crater he made from his 'SITS' Inuyasha and the others made way for Sesshomaru's mother's castle in the clouds. Inuyasha thought it was a dumb idea for someone to have their home in the clouds but then again, she was a dog demoness and she was able to fly.
I still think it's stupid. Inuyasha concluded as he sat cross-legged on Kiara. They didn't take long, for the palace was a huge one. Man, people could get lost in there!
"Sessho's mother always had a taste for flair." Inuyasha heard his father's voice grumble in his head. "I completely agree with you my pup; a palace in the clouds is stupid. I'd rather feel the ground beneath my feet."Inuyasha smirked at his father's tone and discovered that he and his father had more in common than he thought. He always thought his father was prissy.
"I've never been prissy. My mother, your grandmother, always fussed if I got dirty." Inuyasha chuckled at that, imagining a beautiful woman who was barely off the ground and fussing over a muddied chibi version of his father, squawking about getting paw prints all over the palace floors. He would've laughed if he didn't hear his father's light growl in his head. "You weren't too far from the truth." He felt bad, he always thought that he had it bad…
"Oh, those are cute little ears." A sickeningly sweet voice giggled. Inuyasha winced at the volume and turned to look up to see his stepmother. It was a spitting image of Sesshomaru, just female and having pig-tails. "You must be Inuyasha. I was expecting you."
"I'm flattered." Inuyasha said firmly but politely. "I thought I would be killed on sight."
"For your hanyou blood..?" She added. "Which is dying and growing weaker by the day. Hanyou or no you are still my late husband's son. Your friends can remain out here, what I have for you and have to say to you, are for your ears and eyes alone." Inuyasha saw at the corner of his eyes that his friends were tensing for possible battle. Inuyasha was touched but held up a hand.
"Guys, I got this. It's ok."
"Are you sure?" Miroku asked. Inuyasha looked at the monk and nodded. Miroku closed his eyes and sighed, sitting down on the floor. "Alright, we're here and we'll wait."
"Thanks, it shouldn't take too long." Inuyasha said. With that, he turned and followed his stepmother, who led him into the palace. Inuyasha couldn't help looking around and taking note of his surroundings. They were a bit tacky and flashy but he's seen worse.
His stepmother kept looking at him and was taken aback at how much her stepson reminded her of her late husband. The power surpassed his; the resemblance was uncanny, although a bit rugged due to Inuyasha living on his own as a commoner rather than the palace life. His sun kissed skin and battle trained body was just like his sire's, strong and flawless. There was barely a trace of the boy's mother anywhere. Possibly looks more like her when he turns human. She thought. She led him to a room with large white and gold double doors and stopped.
"I kept your father's possessions here." She said. "I haven't stepped into this since Sessho was a pup. You go in first, I shall follow." Inuyasha looked toward the doors and sighed. In that room was whatever his father left him. He was his father's legacy. Without realizing it, all of his life, Inuyasha had his father's favor. Inutaisho was wise not to tell anyone of his intentions, after his vision, the great Dog General risked no chances. Inuyasha entered the room and felt his father's presence. He walked in, his stepmother right behind him. She went to the wardrobe and carefully presented him with a whole new kimono. It was from the richest silk, moonlight white hakama, a wine red obi and juban, the Haori was also white with wine red on the lapels and designed with inu yokai and sakura. Inuyasha raised an eyebrow in question and his stepmother shrugged her shoulders. "They were always his favorite flowers. He told me they always brought him a sense of peace." She also handed him a pair of black boots, mirror polished, rimmed with wine red and gold. He noticed they were a bit higher than Sesshomaru's. He smirked at that. I'm top dog now.
"Before you dress in those," His stepmother said. "We need to groom you and fix that hair of yours."
"What's wrong with my hair?"
"It's a mess and I'm pretty sure it's had a nest or two." She said. Inuyasha's left eye twitched at that. He wasn't too crazy about being groomed like a show room poodle. Sighing in defeat, he followed his stepmother to the bathing room where two male servants bowed to them. One was an older male, a white tiger demon, reminding Inuyasha of Myoga or Totosai and the other was a man in his prime, an inu-youkai who has seen battle more than once.
"Inuyasha, these are Masaki and Jukai-jisan. They have been in your late father's service and are now yours. Jukai-jisan knows about the family and will answer any questions you may have. He is also keeper of your father's will. Masaki was your father's trusted general and knows all about you and is willing to further your training in and out of the battlefield." Inuyasha bowed in respect to them and looked at his stepmother.
"Oh yes, I will leave you to them." She said with a blush. "Be sure to inform me when he is ready."
"Yes my lady." Jukai said sagely as he led Inuyasha inside. Masaki followed close behind, holding the kimono and boots. Inuyasha was baffled by the size of the bathing room and was uncertain about undressing in front of his late father's servants. The men looked at him and laughed heartily.
"Don't worry lad," Masaki encouraged kindly as he set the clothes safely away from the water. "We mean you no harm. We serve you, remember?"
"Oh right." Inuyasha said with a relieved chuckle. "It's just; I'm not used to others, serving me."
"That's understandable." Masaki said. "We've heard so much about you and we know that you are used to doing things for yourself. We respect and honor that and we will never change that."
"I am disappointed that Lord Sesshomaru didn't take the time to tell you of your lineage." Jukai said. This caused Inuyasha to look a bit angry but that didn't shake the older demon. "Your father would not have approved. Hanyou or full demon, he should have told you, you're still family."
"He didn't see it that way." Inuyasha said bitterly. "He said I was a disgrace, a taint on his family."
"Lad, if that was true," Masaki said as he placed a hand onto Inuyasha's shoulder. "'Taisho would never have named you his Heir. He never would have given you his fang." Inuyasha looked up and saw the older demon nodding.
"Precisely," He said. "You see my boy, it was a test; a test to see if you were able to handle Lordship. There is more to being a 'Lord' than being feared, being allowed to get fat and have all the women in your bed." Inuyasha turned when he heard a snicker and couldn't help but grin. Even though he just met them, he liked these two immediately.
"He's right thought, crusty old cat." Masaki said with a slight chuckle. "That was what he tried to teach Sesshomaru. But that boy was a walking, talking, snowball. Frozen to the core…brrr, get's me cold just thinking about that boy."
"The other aspect of being a Lord or Lady is to be able to protect your people, to listen to them, to connect with them. Even though there are demons, the human are your subjects as well. Your father didn't separate anyone; he listened and protected everyone and everything; big or small, demon or no." As he listened, Inuyasha admired his father more than ever. They were similar in almost every way.
"Jukai I think we best let the lad bathe in peace." Masaki said. "I'd feel awkward if two guys I just met saw me undress and all." The older demon nodded and stood up. Masaki left through the door first but the older one stopped at the door.
"We will be right outside this door my boy," Jukai said kindly. "If you need any assistance, do not hesitate to summon us." With that, he left Inuyasha alone. He quickly undressed and slipped into the inviting hot pool and soaked. He put his head back and fell into a deep sleep….
"INUYASHA!" He heard a panicked female's voice call. "MASAKI! JUKAI!" Inuyasha heard the demon males rush in and felt them pull him up out of the water. He felt his body shake uncontrollably and heard his stepmother ask frantically of what was wrong.
"It has begun," He heard the older demon say. "The hour of his hanyou's side's death is near." That was the last thing he heard before his mind and his body completely shut down.
*Will Inuyasha survive? Stay tuned and review to find out*