Is He Suitable?

The Lord of the Western Lands prided himself on knowing his staff; he had a steward who was in charge of hiring and firing but no one was accepted until Inu no Taishou had had the final say, and a short but thorough write up of the applicant was obtained and stored. This way a short potted history was always on hand should a query arise about someone's suitability.

In the past it had helped if disputes had arisen between those who might have a long standing conflict between clans. The general would not have disharmony amongst his staff and so he told any potential servants that whatever their rivalries might be, they were left outside his lands. The system worked well and as youkai were in the main very long lived he had a well known and organised staff.

There were few human servants mainly because they had to keep being replaced as their working life was far more limited. But they were cared for and pensioned well; most were gifts from human lords for services rendered and were useful working with the servants' children, as either nannies or teaching the basic education. Others were good at the planting and nurturing of the gardens, their nimble fingers often more adept than some youkai hands with small seedlings.

It was in this capacity that the man who had fallen in love with Izayoi worked; he had only seen her because he tended the herb garden that was close to the Royal Quarter. The Lady of the West particularly found the scent of herbs refreshing as they wafted in the warm breezes and she found their simple flowers delightful.

The General remembered the circumstances of the human, it was only a few years ago and he didn't need to find the documents. Makoto was a third son and had been left to defend the family's small holding when not much more than a child. There had been a raid by bandits and the boy had taken an arrow to the shoulder and a spear just above the knee in defending his mother and younger sisters.

This had resulted in bodily weakness even though he had healed well. However it was going to be a hardship to the family to support a cripple and so they had appealed to their Lord who in turn had asked Inu no Taishou if there was a vacancy on his staff for the brave, but disabled boy. It had seemed a pity to cast out the courageous lad and he had been offered the herbal garden as he had tended his own one at home, and there he had remained quite happy and his leg had strengthened noticeably.

To further make sure that his judgement was not amiss, Inu no Taishou summoned Myouga to watch him until further notice. For one year they watched from a distance and became aware of the two sided attraction; Inu no Taishou was satisfied that Makoto was not trying to entice Izayoi just to further his own interests and he called the man in to see him.

He came straight to the point and asked outright whether or not Makoto and Izayoi were enamoured of each other. Makoto was shocked and concerned that he was now in serious trouble, but he was respectful nonetheless, besides knowing that the dog could smell a lie or prevarication. In any case he was truthful by nature, and told the General that certainly they had affection, but that the Lady had never acted inappropriately and he had also tried to be circumspect.

"You speak well for a human servant Makoto."

"I was not always a servant Sire; I was tolerably well educated at home."

"I know of your disability, it is this that concerns you?"

"Among other things, to offer myself to the Lady as husband and a male near your son; I feel I can offer inadequate protection, besides I have nothing to offer her."

"I believe you stated you would serve Lady Izayoi all the while she lived here?"

"I do my utmost, but I am no soldier."

"I owe the Lady Izayoi a great debt; she saved my life and also birthed my second son. She has no family to object to your union if I agree. If I gave her the suite of rooms near the herb garden, you could continue to work, serve her and mate her. She already has her own personal guard now, but she would like a mate...I apologise, husband. She likes you, if not more, as you do her, you have not been self seeking and I see no reason to stop this romance.

"Be warned however that she remains in my charge all of her life, she will always be due respect and care. I will not give her over to a tyrant or man who feels she is only to bed and birth sons. My son is also too young to be removed from his mother and therefore he also will be around you and your...wife. You do not discriminate a hanyou?"

"No Sire, Inuyasha is often out with me, he likes the herbs and testing how far his sense of smell takes him. I understand the circumstances of his birth and he is an amiable child."

"Very well, you may court the Lady, and the suite of rooms adjoining your work area shall become your home. I think you will find it adequate for your needs." Inu no Taishou just waited for the thanks he was due and dismissed Makoto to seek the hand of Lady Izayoi.

It took nearly eight months to court the Lady properly even though they both wished for marriage; they had to search for the remnants of Izayoi's family and work out who had the final say. No one was found who was the least bit interested in her or her pup. Meanwhile the suite of rooms was prepared to become their home within a home, and a private garden planted so that the new couple would be able to take private walks.

Makoto's family were quite decent and all in all pleased with the situation for their son and brother. Any thoughts they may have had about the girl being a youkai cast off with baggage, were kept private in the knowledge that Makoto had in the main bettered his position. They were not ignorant of the advantages they could glean for being 'nice'.

One week after Inuyasha's fifth anniversary, his mother married Makoto in a lavish ceremony that satisfied all concerning the value placed on the individual couple. Inuyasha was hardly containable in his excitement; he loved his new room that was large and full of his toys, including some new ones to occupy him if his mother was 'busy'. He had insisted that Sesshoumaru come and see and play with him on many occasions while his mama was preparing for her wedding.

Inuyasha liked Makoto but he didn't understand just how much of the man's time would be spent with his mother. For a couple of weeks Makoto had been given time off his work to spend with Izayoi and a lot of the time Inuyasha was with them but obviously there were others when the hanyou was with his father and brother, that the newlywed couple had to themselves.

This so far hadn't been a problem but Inuyasha was still only a young pup and although he was no longer a baby, sometimes he just needed his mama. He was spoiled by everyone and had so far had no competition for his mother's affections. He didn't understand that she had more than enough love to share and he was becoming sulkier.

There had been a few times when Sesshoumaru had awoken to see Inuyasha just staring at him with huge damp eyes because he now slept in his own room and he couldn't hear his mama breathing close by. He had to be told that he couldn't just crawl in with Mama now unless he was poorly, which he rarely was, and that he had to knock first.

Everything was changing around Inuyasha and he was unsettled. He did not often wake in the night but he now always trotted off down the corridors to his brother, where he would wait for Sesshoumaru to awaken. The youkai's senses told him the pup was there and if the older boy wanted to go back to sleep, he had learned that it was better to just let the younger get in beside him and snuggle in his tail. He always waited until Inuyasha stopped snivelling and was snoring instead, before he went back to sleep.

It did not take long however for Izayoi to find out that she was expecting again and both she and Makoto were delighted. Even more delighted was Inu no Taishou who loved children and pups, which was just as well as his own Lady had had the same news for him later that same week. The General was so happy that he called an impromptu holiday with a feast for the entire Palace and he insisted that Makoto joined him in celebratory sake.

The Lady confided to Izayoi that it didn't seem to matter what species they were, now they were both pregnant, there was nothing to choose between their men folk and their pride.

IYQ Community June 2009 Week 2.

We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now. - Martin Luther King, Jr.