a/n: :^) This is a short one; I hope you all enjoy it!
DISCLAIMER: I very obviously don't own Inuyasha: A Feudal Fairytale.
Edit: 01/14/21 - Grammar, spelling, minor plot detail.
SONG OF THE WEST
an Inuyasha fanfic
vii.
The journey to Asano castle was long, just as Lord Tōga had said it would be.
Rin didn't mind, though. Watching the beautiful verdant hills and the crystal-clear rivers inch past as she rode through the countryside with two of the most powerful men in the country was far more preferable than her typical morning routine of fucking the men of her village for food and praying that they, or their wives, didn't murder her in the process.
A small part of her wondered how the villagers were faring now that she was no longer there for them to force their hatred or perversions upon.
The more sensible part of her didn't care.
She was free. As free as the tall trees that swayed gently with each puff of air; as free as the great blue expanse of sky, stretching on forever and ever towards the ends of the earth.
It felt amazing. Rin nearly smiled into the back of Lord Tōga's yukata. The conversation was pleasant, too. Back at the village, she often went days without talking to people. What she did never required many words. It was always a grunt, a gasp, or a painful whimper whenever she felt stretched too thin or filled too much. And every once in a while, it was a bashful look after being caught in the act or lambasted as a whore.
The Imperial Lord of the West was different. Anything she asked, he would answer. His mind was somehow filled with endless knowledge about cultures and locations, like what flowers grew where, which battles took place in a particular valley, or what creatures of folklore haunted the local villagers at night.
Seiten would chime in occasionally as well, filling in when Tōga asked him to, stopping to scold the dogs when they veered too far off the path or threatened to trip up his horse.
Rin was curious as to whether or not Sesshōmaru knew as much about the land and its people as his father, but she wasn't going to ask. Every time she so much as breathed, she could feel that deadly golden gaze stabbing into the back of her head.
As long as she was with Lord Tōga, though, she felt secure.
Unfortunately, this arrangement could not last forever. As soon as it became apparent that Sai Hu needed a break from riding double, she was moved onto Sesshōmaru's horse.
This was unenjoyable for both of them.
"You've grown quiet!" Tōga laughed. "Are you finally tired?"
"A little," Rin lied.
It was easy to talk to Tōga from his horse, but with Sesshōmaru in the midst of the conversation, it felt like walking on eggshells. Now and then, he would remove his hand from the reins of his horse in order to adjust where hers met around his waist. He cared little about her comfort, so much that, unlike his father, he didn't even both to push his hair over the front of his shoulders, allowing it to tickle her nose and obscure the view of the path before them. But his hair was soft and smelled good, so she didn't mind that much.
Her head was beginning to lull against his back by the time they reached the city.
"Wake up," Tōga called softly. "We're in the West now."
Slowly, Rin blinked away sleep. Sure enough, people were beginning to notice the small group of nobility that had entered their city, and a crowd was beginning to form.
Asahiri was much like Yobetsu, only less mountainous and, as a result, with wider streets, allowing it to be busier without the same claustrophobic atmosphere. Vendor stalls and merchant's shops lined the main road, their goods glittering in the midday sun for all travelers to see. At the sight of food, a small storm began to form in Rin's stomach.
Just as in her old village, at the sight of the Imperial Lord of the West and his heir, people stopped in the streets, baskets and all, to stare. Some citizens flocked from builds, while others simply gathered in their windows, hoping to get a glimpse of the Imperial Lord and his son without being caught up in the large crowd. Some were even cheering and waving.
Lord Tōga flashed an awkward grin and waved back.
Sesshōmaru huffed. "Don't act so coy now."
"It's busier than usual," Seiten said from the back. "Wasn't their festival two weeks ago?"
"People love to linger," Tōga shrugged.
But they weren't just looking at them, they were looking at her, too. Not with disgust as she was accustomed to, but with curiosity and respect. It was truly strange, being in a new land where she was no longer known as the whore, the thief or the cursed girl.
"Sesshōmaru," Lord Tōga called, "how long do you think it'll be before we hear from the castle?"
"An hour," Sesshōmaru drawled.
"Are you willing to lead the way home if you're wrong?"
"I'm not agreeing to some wager."
Tōga let out a disappointed sigh and stroked his horse's mane. "Sai Hu needs a new shoe," he explained to no one in particular, "and we still need time to prepare Rin for the task ahead."
Rin shifted nervously but said nothing. The journey there had been so peaceful that she had nearly forgotten her role: to pretend to be a maid and spy on Lady Asano. She couldn't even pour a cup of tea properly, never mind bow or stand on ceremony.
Once they were deep enough into the city, Tōga instructed the small caravan to turn off the main road. Eager citizens still lurked on this little pathway, but it was significantly less crowded than the rest of the city. Rin could hear the familiar whinnying of horses that had lulled her back to sleep in the stables so many nights ago.
An older man stumbled from the building and prostrated himself on the ground before the entourage. "My Lord!"
"Stand," Lord Tōga commanded softly.
The man, who Rin assumed to be the stable master, obeyed. He was an old man with a slightly greying head of hair and a mustache. His dialect was unlike the people of her former village in the North: "How might I be able to assist you, Your Honor."
"My horse needs to be reshoed on his left hind leg, and my dogs need a place to stay," Tōga dismounted his horse as he spoke, his movements strong and swift. Seiten followed after him. The stable master gave another deep bow before grabbing Sai Hu's reins.
Lord Tōga looked to Seiten. "See to it that this gentleman receives his proper payment."
Seiten nodded and whistled. Yua, Tai, and Shui all sat at attention.
Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, Tōga looked to where Sesshōmaru and Rin still sat on their horse. "You two will be with me."
Asano castle was breathtaking.
It came into the traveler's view upon their departure from Asahiri, as the ascended the small mountain that separated the castle grounds from the populous city that shared its name. Asagawa was a sleek, grand property, perched high on a cliff overlooking the crystal-clear river below, with a magnificent view of the sea. Its smooth stone foundations, along with its numerous yagura, each black with white trim and glinting silver shibi, made it seem even more imposing. A portion of the gardens was also visible, completely awash with the red leaves of the emperor maple.
Rin, seated on the back of Seiten's horse, could do nothing but hold her breath as members from Lord Asano's personal garrison, their armor bearing the wave-shaped crest of the Asano clan, led their group through the forest to the large black and silver karamon that protected the fortress from the outside world.
"If you're amazed by this," Seiten chuckled, "just wait until you see Inugawa for the first time."
The thought of the Tokudaiji castle being superior to this was much more than her imagination could handle.
With a wave of the lead guard's hand, the gates slowly swung open, releasing a loud, echoing creak as they did. When they were fully ajar, the group started down the long, paved pathway that led to the main hall of the premises.
A crowd of nobility, dressed in a similar fashion of the wealthy crowd that had judged her at the Ishida inn trial, but this time with women, had formed in front of the main hall to greet them. From what Rin could observe, none of them, in particular, wore clothing that was any fancier than the rest. But the women were all beauties, their hair ornately fashioned atop their made-up faces and held together by various hair combs and pins. She wondered which man was Lord Asano, or if he was even present, and which Lady was Lady Sara.
Once the small group was close enough, a palace servant declared:
"Now presenting His Excellency the Imperial Lord of the West and His Grace Young Lord Tokudaiji!"
The group of people all bowed simultaneously in deference.
"Stand!" The Inu no Taisho commanded, his tone much less amiable with them than with the stable master in the city. As he dismounted from his horse, a servant boy ran to relieve him of Sai Hu's reins.
Sesshōmaru and Seiten also dismounted, with Seiten helping Rin down from his. Two more servants, both dressed in plain yukata, came forward to take their reins and lead the horses to the castle stables.
One nobleman stepped forward from the crowd. He was middle-aged and slightly shorter than the rest, with a long black mustache and beard and a full head of salt-and-pepper hair neatly tied back beneath his black tate-eboshi. His ko-nohshi was a dull red, matching neatly with his dark grey sodetsuyu and kosode. He spoke in a cultivated, upper-class dialect that Rin could barely understand, his voice deep but soft and slow:
"Good day, Your Excellency, and what a pleasure. We were not aware that you intended to visit."
"I am just returning from the summer festival in Yobestu," Lord Tōga responded in a similar manner. "I thought it only proper that I stop by to pay my respects and see how everything is faring in Lord Asano's absence."
The man smiled and nodded. "Of course." Then, he turned to look at Sesshōmaru. "It is nice to see you back so soon as well, Young Lord."
Sesshōmaru gave him a blank stare. "Likewise, Lord Motozawa."
By his expression and tone, that statement was meaningless.
Another smile, another nod, and the dark-haired man named Motozawa turned back to the current Imperial Lord of the West.
"I apologize for Lady Asano's absence," he said, giving another penitent bow. "She has been in a bad way since my Lord's sudden passing."
Tōga dismissed this with a simple wave of his hand. "Perfectly understandable. I can only imagine how traumatic it is to lose someone you love so suddenly."
Motozawa hummed in agreement. "I am sure she will be willing to join us in the future. My Lord, if I may ask, how long are you planning to stay? We can certainly prepare some rooms for you and your party."
"It depends," Tōga started. "From the speed of the wind and the look of the sky, there seems to be a storm coming from the East. If so, we may have to stay a night or two before departing."
If Motozawa noticed anything unusual about this sentence, he mentioned nothing. "It would be an honor to have you stay on the premises, Your Excellency."
Tōga nodded and took a deep breath. "Now, I would very much like to pay my respects to Lord Asano."
"Of course, Your Excellency," Motozawa bowed again and turned to face the rest of the noblemen. As if on cue, they clear a path towards the stone steps of the well-decorated main hall. Two more servants ran ahead of them, getting on their knees to slide open the fusuma, which were delicately decorated with a depiction of the waves of the distant sea, matching the Asano crest.
Lord Tōga glanced back at his party with a determined glint in his fierce golden eyes. Sesshōmaru crossed his arms. Rin shuffled her feet nervously.
The operation had begun.
a/n: The months sure do fly by when you're procrastinating.
I have to admit, the stress of college and my fascination with other shows *coughcough*MyHeroAcademia*coughcough* nearly made me drop this fic altogether. But I continued to get really lovely reviews here (thanks for 101!) and on Ao3, so I decided I couldn't just leave you guys hanging, especially when I basically have the entirety of the first and second acts of this story outline!
Also, I've decided to experiment with shorter chapters. The big problem with long chapters like the previous one is that I'd have like 6000+ words ready to be published but wouldn't release it due to something super minor such as a weird plot detail, a one-off description, or a piece of dialogue that I didn't like. 2000-3000 words might be best for all of us (this chapter is around 2000).
Until next time!