Hi, my faithful readers ! *grin*
Hope you are all fine !
Well, ENJOY !
Disclaimer : No, I don't own InuYasha in any shape and form. Why God is so cruel with meeeeee?!? *sniff*
Still no beta.
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Previously, in the chapter 5
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When the Lord of the West was sure that her nightmare had passed, he stopped and sighed again. He looked up but couldn't help a chuckle at what was awaiting him... The dumbfound faces of his two sons. Though, Sesshomaru regained his composure rather quickly. « Yes, I was shocked too that this technique work on her, when it's happened earlier. »
« I through that didn't work on human…That never work like that on Mother. » Said the still dumbfound the youngest demon.
Scratching his forehead, InuTaisho tried to explain. « I can't explain that fact either InuYasha, my son, I really don't know. She is a little curiosity. A strange woman, indeed. »
This time, Sesshomaru couldn't help a growl escaping his perfect lips.
« Sesshomaru, don't act that way. » Said his father in a deep and cold voice, narrowing his eyes at his eldest.
A knock came from the closed door of the office, interrupting them.
« Come in. » InuTaisho said a little louder.
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Chapter 6 : presentation
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A second later, an old woman opened the door and bowed deeply in front of InuTaisho.
« You ask for me, my Lord ? » She asked as she was rising back up, taking care to not look at the demon Lord in the eyes.
« Yes, Kaede, come. »
Kaede walked in and bowed at the two sons of her Lord after closing the door behind her. She stood, facing the Lord InuTaisho and took a peek at the young woman with her good eye, human woman she noted distractly, in his arms. Kaede was the head of the servants and one of the rare humans that had ever had the privilege of living in the Western Lands Lord's stronghold. But she wasn't just a simple 'old hag', like InuYasha loved to call her, but a miko. When she was still young, she assisted the Inu no Taisho when his second wife fell ill. She learnt the respect of the others servants with difficulties, but now, it's more or less settled down. She didn't succeed in saving the life of Lady Izayoi, though.
Even if she was more respected, some are still whispering behind her back because of her humanity though, thinking that she wasn't aware of the fact, but she was just ignoring them. They couldn't do a thing against her anyways. She was under the protection of the Lord. In her earlier years, some jealous servants went after her but each time, if she didn't kill them herself, the Lord did it without a second thought. That's why everyone stayed clear from her path now, knowing that by attacking her it was like directly going against the Lord himself.
The Lord of the West broke the silence and exposed what he knew. « So, this young woman come from the South and need protection. »
« But Father, you said you found her in the woods. » Said the young demon, a puzzled expression on his face.
« And, InuYasha ? (sigh) Like I was saying, before being rudely interrupted, this young Lady is from the Southern Lands and like you can see by her clothes, she is nobility. »
« How can you be so sure? » He asked again. In the background, his elder brother rolled his eyes at his brother's stupidity.
InuTaisho sighed again. How is youngest can be so dense? Slowly, he moved Kagome a little around and tried to easy her grip from his haori. And, without waking her, he opened her coat.
Walking closer, the old Miko talked. « What is that embroidery, my Lord? (She bent down to take a closer look) Hm. The symbol of the Southern Lands? »
« Exactly, Kaede. »
« But she must be from a really important family in the South to have that kind of clothes, Lord InuTaisho. Even more so since it is just sleepwear.» She deduced.
« Hai. However, she doesn't want to be found. Something important must have happened to make her flee her lands and home but she hadn't wanted to speak about it. She was afraid that somebody could recognize her in the people who had already travelled to the South in the past, the court most likely, if we keep her as a guest here. Words circulate more quickly than we can control. That's why I proposed to her if she could pose as a servant of some sort at the Western Lands' service. Nothing complicated and where we can keep a constant eye on her. She accepted, which surprised me to be honest, but I don't know, she would most obviously have difficulties with authority, which is not so surprising. »
At this moment, as InuTaisho just finished his sentence, they heard a moan and turned all their attentions towards the young human on the couch.
Slowly, she opened her eyes but closed them rapidly, hiding her face in InuTaisho's chest, groaning her discomfort.
« Who left my windows opened? Stupid windows, stupid sun and stupid servants who let it open. » She mumbled in her still half-awaken state. Why was she so tired? She could not remember what could have tired her so much.
She heard chuckles and without trying to open her eyes again, feeling that the window and curtains were still opened, she growled under her breath. « Saya, Yumi or whoever it is, it's not funny ! Close those curtains immediately!»
She moaned again, but it was at this moment that she felt as if something was amiss. It didn't feel like her bed. Her father had procured her with the best bed of the Lands. So much that it was Hell to convince herself from getting up every morning. However, it did not feel as comfortable as she remembered. The only explanation was that she wasn't in her bed at home at all. Her eyes shoot opened, and she looked around. No, it wasn't her room and definitely not her bed. It was feeling more like if she was in an almost sitting position against something hard and warm. A chest, maybe. A really fine chest may that be but still the chest of someone, not her usual comfy mattress. She gulped. Where the hell was she? She raised her eyes slowly, her body filled with worry, to identify who this someone chest owner was. And, she came face to face with a really amused InuTaisho. She eeep-ed and jumped out of his arms to the opposite side of the sofa.
Her hand flied to her chest. Her heart was beating wildly against her ribcage, almost painfully. « Kami. » She took a deep breath. « I apologize, Lord InuTaisho, I-I forgot myself. I thought… »
« That you were still at home ? » the demon Lord proposed gently, a smile still playing on his lips.
« H-hai. » She blushed. « I almost forgot the events of the past few days. » She said quietly, looking at her lap.
« What's your name, child ? » Came a slightly raspy voice.
Kagome turned her head towards the source of the voice and saw the friendly visage of an old woman, human, she noted. The old Lady may be friendly but the problem was that the young woman hadn't the slightly idea of how answer her question. What was she suppose to say? She could feel numerous eyes on her, waiting for her answer. She cleared her throat, like to gain a little time to come up and think about a response.
« I…hmm…It's better to call me Saya…? »
« You said this name on your sleep, human. It is, obviously, not yours. » Came a deep voice to her right. It wasn't as deeper as InuTaisho but there was something cold in this one and smooth at the same time. Difficult to put words to explain it, she shivered lightly.
She looked at him and noticed another person standing beside him, who looked younger, with the cutest ears on top of his head that she never saw. She looked at the three men around her, and saw the common traits. Must be family, she thought to herself. Then she finally noted the cold gaze upon her and decided that it was perhaps better that she answered the question before she froze right at the spot. Yep. If look could kill, Kagome was sure that this young DaiYoukai could perform it and it would not be pretty. Even if the cold and disrespectful treatment against her person was making her blood rage in her veins, she tried to rein her feelings. Back straight, as any of her stature should, she spoke.
« Yes, my Lord. Saya was… is the name of one of my personal servants and one of the people who help me to …run away. »
She stared straight at him unflinching. It was a first. Beside his father, no one had the guts to look at him in the eyes, not even InuYasha can stand it more than a second. They kept their staring contest during a moment. Kagome felt like hypnotized by his amber eyes. They were so cold that she shivered at their intensity, but she refused to back down. She could feel the challenge and she was not about to back down. His eyes narrowed.
« Why are you staring at me as such, human? » He said coldly and growling. The nerves of that woman to fix him like that and not breaking eyes contact!
She immediately flushed of embarrassment and anger. She bit her tongue to not snap at him. « I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. It is just difficult to not look back when someone is gazing in your direction so strongly. Hmm, you must be Lord Sesshomaru, the heir of the Western Lands, mustn't you? »
He stopped instantly his growling and as everyone looked at her, shocked, almost forgetting her unwavering well place answer to his previous less than courteous question.
« Did I say something wrong? » She asked, shyly, all assurance leaving her.
InuTaisho cleared his throat to attire her attention. « Not at all, young Lady, you are quite exact, in fact. Did you deduced his identity the same way you knew This InuTaisho's name? » She nodded, understanding that he meant if she knew the name of the heir as word has reach her that the name of the Lord of the Western Lands was InuTaisho. « This is effectively my oldest, Sesshomaru and beside him it's InuYasha, his brother. »
« Half-brother. » Added at the same time the two young demons. She looked at InuTaisho, puzzled. Something was bothering her, it was evident.
« What is it, young Lady? » Asked the Lord, curiously.
« He is hanyou. » She said, stating the obvious.
« Hai. My second wife was human. » He answered gently.
« Feh ! And you have a problem with that, wench ? » the said hanyou said, grouchily, crossing his arms on his chest in a defiant way.
She smiled a little forced, trying with all her might to stay calm. Those sons of the West need to learn some manners ! Diplomacy, think diplomacy, Kagome, and breathe deeply. « Not at all, Lord InuYasha, just curious. I never heard about a second son or a hanyou born in the Western Lands, that's all. However, I would prefer that you refrain from calling me with any full name in the future. »
His ears twitched on his head. When he didn't answer but look down, she giggled, her nerves calming.
« What now ? What's so funny ? »
« Nothing, my Lord. It's just I like your ears. I never saw a hanyou up close before. I found them rather cute. »
Hearing her comment, InuTaisho chuckled at the expression on the face of his son. Kaede had some difficulties to hide one too, but succeeded with a light cough.
« Feh ! They are not cute. » Said indignantly InuYasha, glaring at her as his cheeks flamed with a light pink.
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The silence fell for a moment. That was until the voice of the old woman, whom just remembered something, broke it.
« My Lord ? »
« Hai, Kaede ? »
« I was told to inform you that the necessities for your travel were almost done. »
The Inu no Taisho looked at the old miko for a second, like if trying to understand why she was speaking about travel and preparations. Then, it hit him.
« Right, I forgot about that. »
He risked a glance down at the young woman. Kagome started to panic a little at the thought of being left alone in the castle of the West during the Lord absence.
« You, you are leaving ? » Her voice sounding like a squeak. Kagome was panicking. What will she do if InuTaisho was leaving?
« Hai. I have a visit programmed to see the Lord of the North that I cannot cancelled and… » He paused when he saw the face she was doing when she heard where he was going. « What is it, young Lady ? »
« Hm ? Oh, I'm sorry. It's nothing. » She was fidgeting, feeling the weight of his gaze on her. She felt obliged to add what was in her mind. « It's just… I don't like him. »
« Hmph, like if you, lowly human, you could know him. A creature as yourself have no right to judge and speak ill of one of the cardinals Lords, human. » Sesshomaru spat at her as if disgusted by just have to breathe the same air than her.
Immediate anger raised inside her, making her blood boiled. She couldn't contain her temper anymore. The young DaiYoukai had passed the limit of what she could support. Standing, she talked. « Don't you dare to speak like that to me ever again." She said coldly. "I have every right to judge him, AND I know him. Lord Yosomitsu thinks that because he is Lord and youkai, it gives him the right to be a pervert and let his hands travel everywhere he sees fit on me! During an official meal at my home, in front of my Father, on top of it! Your species and titles don't give you the right to act out of place, never forget that. Or you will be looked down upon. And if it wasn't enough of a disgrace, the heir, Renji, is worse than his father, making comments and allusions 'below the belt'. Tsh, and after that, he had the gut to play the perfect choice for me in front of my father. Then he had the nerve to be offended when… » She stopped net. Fear exploded in her like a firework. Maybe she'd said too much now. Her and her temper. What if they suspect who she really was? After all, one of the greats Lords doesn't have the use to dine in a peasant's house of other lands like that! They will never let her stay and hid like a servant in their palace if they learn of her identity. She knew the protocol. To avoid any diplomatic incident, if they knew that she is the heir of the South, the law said that they had the obligation to announce her presence in their walls. If they were to do that, she was as good as dead and the people that risked everything to send her here would have suffered for nothing. If she is discovered before the time come to reveal her true identity, everything will be lost, the South will be lost.
She cleared her voice to try to hide her embarrassment for, during a moment, her laps of control on her nerves. Totally un-Lady like, would say Yumi… but so much like her. She gulped, her anger dissipated.
« So-so I think I have answered your inquiry, Lord Sesshomaru. Effectively, I know them, and I would add, even a little too much for my liking. » She ended, crossing her arms on her chest, with an air of confident…Totally broken by her still burning red cheeks.
At the little display, InuTaisho smirked but didn't comment upon seeing the still impassive face of his son but eyes burning of rage. The old Inu contained himself but, on another hand, InuYasha couldn't help it. « She had you there, bastard! » He said, laughing at his face.
Wrong move, you could have guessed. Sesshomaru hit him on his head, pretty hard, while snarling his discontentment.
« Hey, what was that for? » said, whining, his younger brother, as he was nursing the new bump which appeared on his head.
Kagome giggled at their antic. She couldn't help it. They were rather violent with each other but it's still funny to watch. InuYasha looked at her before ending everything with the traditionally. « Feh. », still sending a glare at him brother who sent it back ten times more.
InuTaisho cleared his voice, hiding his own amusement. « Kaede, may you prepare a room in the servants' quarters area? However, I want it a little outside of it, since our 'guest' never live in this type of conditions. And she must have an individual bedchamber. Nobody has to know that she isn't a real maid. » He turned to Kagome. « Do not worry, lovely one, even if I will be away for a few days and InuYasha for a couple, you will be well take care of. »
Kagome looked up at his deep golden eyes and nodded timidly when she saw his sincerity. She had no choice anyways. InuTaisho made a sign to Kaede.
« InuYasha and Kaede will now show you the sleeping quarter you will be using during your stay or at least until you can come back 'in the light' and announce you true identity to the world. »
« Hai »
InuYasha was about to protest but was shoo towards the door before he could speak by the old Miko.
The three, then, walked out of the office, leaving the Lord of the West and his oldest son, alone.
When the door closed, InuTaisho turned around to face his son. The temperature in the office seemed to have dropped severely. The Lord of the Western Lands was about to spoke to his eldest, but before he could open his mouth, the answer rang in the room clear and high, cold like a winter day.
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*grin* end of the chapter 6 !
Thanks for your reading.
Take care,
Sweetest Angel.