Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha. All rights are reserved for Rumiko Takahashi.
She watched from the shadows of the room as everyone conversed. Her presence in the shadows had only been acknowledged by some of the higher up demons, but that just meant that they glanced in her direction to clarify what their senses told them. They couldn't see her though and thought nothing more of it.
Lord Sesshomaru had advised her to watch over Kagome in case Kananmaru stuck his nose where it didn't belong, which he usually did. Kagome was standing at the outskirts of a social group as she waited for Sesshomaru who was answering questions and discussing business with the invited lords and ladies.
She growled quietly when she saw Kananmaru leering at Kagome. Just what they didn't need, another fight. She watched Kananmaru approach Kagome before she realized that she would not recognize the danger she was in because she had never met Kananmaru before. She stepped from the shadows, startling a few people, and tensed for the attack.
I felt like a wall flower that hadn't quite found it's wall yet. A flower that was drifting through a sea of people. I glanced uneasily around the room until my eyes met a pair of serious dark eyes. At first I thought it was Mana, but a double take showed that it was a man with brown hair pulled back into a single braid. He was watching me.
After he saw me make eye contact with him he began to walk towards me. I searched the room for Sesshomaru before the demon was upon me.
"You must be Sesshomaru's mistress." He smirked at my shocked face. "I can see why he picked you."
"For your information I am not his mistress," I said to him while narrowing my gaze to a glare.
"So you are not the human woman, miko I believe they call it, that has spend multiple nights with Lord Sesshomaru behind closed doors?" He asked with an evil grin crossing his face. "Honestly I think he could do better."
"How dare you!" I growled at him.
"Do not defy me girl. You have no idea who I am," he growled back before raising his hand. I closed my eyes tight and waited for his hand to make contact with my face, but the blow never came.
I opened my eyes slowly and was shock to see Mana grabbing his wrist out of midair and, in one swift move, knock him back into a near by wall.
"Why if it isn't Mana of the shadows? Protecting humans now are you?" He asked while righting himself.
"No. Protecting friends, but you wouldn't know what that's like now would you, Kananmaru?" She glanced back at me then scanned the crowd that was now backing away from the scene. All except one person. Sesshomaru was making his way to me as Kananmaru started towards Mana.
"You little bitch! You'll pay for betraying your own people!" Kananmaru charged at Mana who easily dodged and deflected his attacks. He was very unfortunate when his attacks were met by Sesshomaru.
"Lord Kananmaru, you will act appropriate while in my castle." He spoke in his deadly serious voice as he glared at the man.
"At least I'm not the one bedding a human." He smirked at Sesshomaru. "I bet you'll have many half-breed mutt children."
And that was the last thing he ever said for Sesshomaru was on him faster than even he could blink with one clawed hand through his heart. I looked away from the bloody scene until my eyes were dragged back to look at Sesshomaru.
"For anyone foolish enough to question this Sesshomaru, you shall meet a similar fate." And with that said he appeared before me and grabbed my wrist gently with his unbloodied hand. "Forgive me if these dense-minded demons offended you."
"It's no big deal," I assured him followed by a few nervous laughs. I turned to Mana now. "Mana what did he mean by that 'betraying your own people' bit?"
"I used to be apart of his clan's family. And they were going to use me as a weapon." She answered me while she watched the battle replay in her head. "Sesshomaru happened upon me after my sister was hung and Kananmaru was trying to break my spirit."
"It is true that I found her crying in the shadow of her sister." He informed me.
"I hid from Kananmaru in the shadows until he finally gave up and then my lord came along. End of story," she lowered her voice when she saw people getting closer to try and overhear the conversation. "Otsuoi is better fit to be the lord of the east anyway."
"If you will excuse me I need to go get cleaned up." Sesshomaru lifted him bloodied hand and graved me with a small smile.
"I'll be waiting," I replied and smiled back.
"Hey Sesshomaru, you know it's not a good idea to kill your guests right?" Inuyasha said smugly and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Do you wish to join Kananmaru, Inuyasha?" He growled as he turned his piercing gaze on him.
"Go ahead and try it," Inuyasha growled back and drew his sword. Before Sesshomaru drew his sword Inuyasha made his move.
I watched his sword inches away from hitting Sesshomaru and in that moment something snapped, or more like unlocked. The next thing I knew I was standing in front of Sesshomaru with my hands out and yelling, "Stop!"
Inuyasha couldn't halt his sword at this point, but he didn't have to. I looked up to see a barrier placed around me and Sesshomaru, which Inuyasha's sword simply bounced off.
"Kagome why the hell are you protecting that jerk?" He was outraged now as his balance returned.
"Because I love him Inuyasha!" I shouted before I could stop myself. I covered my mouth with embarrassment coursing through me. The eyes of the crowds had turned a mixture of shock, disgust, and disapproval. I turned to the one person who mattered most to me at this point only to find his eyes unreadable.
I turned to run and, half way through the parting crowd, Mana appeared next to me. She kept her eyes straight ahead and held out her hand to me.
"Grab my hand," she told me calmly.
"Why?" I asked, my emotions still going haywire within me.
"Because... I'm about to show you the other side of a shadow." And with that I grabbed her hand because at that moment I wanted to disappear like she did. I held my breath as we neared the shadows of the room. I wanted to hide in those shadows to avoid the one confrontation of the night I knew would be coming. I bit back tears as the shadow consumed us...
To be Continued...