A/N: Few quick updates about this story before we continue.
I went back and did some revisions for the previous chapters, fixing certain plot inconsistencies and grammar/spelling mistakes. Some major updates included:
1. In chapter four, the 3 border lords were listed as Lord Asano, Lord Kusakabe, and Lord Raikuji. This was a weird gaffe on my part. Instead of Lord Raikuiji, I meant to write Lord Onigumo. Raikuji is actually Ryūkotsusei's first name in this fanfiction. Sorry about that!
2. Rin has her comb again! When I first outlined this story, I intended for Rin to keep her mother's comb all throughout the story, but when I wrote chapter 5 I was in such a rush that I forgot to write in a detail about it being on her person when her hut was destroyed. I tried to fix this by saying that it simply got destroyed with the fire, but I'm going back to my original concept of it surviving.
3. Also, Tōga's ~official~ name is now Takeshige Tokudaiji — Tōga is just a nickname. This will be explained in the future.
Another thing: If you received an email about an update regarding an author's note, it was because Fanfiction was spazzing out the other day and redirecting people to the account information page of someone else, so I thought I had been hacked. Of course, this has been resolved.
I'm sure you guys are ready to read the nearly 7000-word chapter, so there's a more substantial author's note at the end of this chapter!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inuyasha: A Feudal Fairytale. This story is merely for fun and practice.
SONG OF THE WEST
an Inuyasha fanfic
ix.
Lord Asano's audience hall was large, and, though not as lavish as the reception room of the castle at the Western capital, still quite praiseworthy, even in the young Lord Sesshomaru's eyes. Delicately painted still-life scenes of the local flora and fauna adorned the fusuma, the walls, and the ceiling, only separated into scenic panels by the dark, polished wooden support beams that held the structure together above them. Along these walls, just a few meters away, the Asano servants had been instructed to lay out various dark lacquered tables and zabuton for the men to take their meals, leaving a large space in the midst of the hall. Towards the front of the room on the raised tatami dais was another table, slightly larger than the others, no doubt reserved the most important man in the room.
The noblemen – the Imperial Lord of the West, the young Lord Tokudaiji, and the lords of the Asano court – met to dine together at the Hour of the Monkey, just as the bell tower began to chime its seven strokes. Despite the grand occasion, the summer sky has begun to grow dim, signaling a coming storm. Each of the courtiers entered singled file into the large reception area in order according to their rank, with the junior courtier entering first and Lord Motozawa, the late Lord Asano's most trusted senior advisor, entering last. A servant loudly announced each of their entrances. After Motozawa, the servant announced the young Lord Tokudaiji's entrance—Sesshōmaru took the table right across from Motozawa, closest to the dais right side.
Finally, the servant announced Imperial Lord Tokudaiji with great flourish. The other officials in the room and their accompanying servants bowed accordingly as he walked down the empty space, his boots heavy against the floor. When the Imperial Lord sat down on the dais, the other officials were finally permitted to sit as well, as per courtesy. Soft rain was falling steadily against the wooden building by that time.
"There's no need to be so formal, Lord Motozawa," Imperial Lord Tokudaiji smiled. Sesshōmaru recognized his father's expression instantly: it was the smile the Lord used when he was slightly annoyed but wanted to maintain some veneer of civility.
Lord Motozawa inclined his head in response. "It isn't often that Your Excellency pays a call to Asagawa," he explained. "Your humble servants wanted to make your and His Grace Young Lord Tokudaiji's stay as elegant as possible."
Sesshōmaru cocked his head slightly, bored. If anything, Motozawa sure knew how to charm.
Motozawa adjusted his sleeves and clapped to signal the beginning of the meal. Servants dressed in the dark grey colors of the Asano clan flooded the room in an orderly fashion, each one holding bowls of food or drinking cups. When Sesshōmaru's table was set, he could see that Motozawa had put incredible effort into this last-minute meal. There was rice; a summer soup made with lotus root, cabbage, ginger, and wild boar; salted salmon; dried, thinly slice pheasant; sliced raw carp and trout in vinegar sauce; fermented sea squirt; seaweed in aemono; and an assortment of nuts and fruits, such as dried chestnuts, pine nuts, and loquat. For drinking, the noblemen were given the choice between sake and umeshu.
"Lord Motozawa, you've outdone yourself, gathering all of this on such short notice!" Lord Inoue exclaimed.
"I didn't think I'd ever see a meal better than the banquet Lord Seikanji prepared a week ago," Lord Kode said, fanning himself.
"A banquet?" Lord Tokudaiji perked up.
"Yes, with wine and dancers galore!"
"It was simply something I put together as a belated summer celebration," Lord Seikanji grew sheepish. "Naturally, this is better!" He gesticulated. "As Lord Motozawa said, nothing but the best for our Imperial Lord!"
Seikanji raised his plum wine in toast. The others, as courtesy, did the same. With a polite wave of his hand, Lord Tokudaiji accepted the toast, and the group returned to eating and small talk.
And that is how the majority of the dinner would continue: the Asano courtiers made small talk with each other, then clamored in an attempt to regal the Imperial Lord with tales of their accomplishments in their fiefs – good harvests, increased tax revenues, and the like. Infrequently, a courtier or two would grow brave and turn their attention to Sesshōmaru, essaying to gain the young Lord's favor in anticipation of his incumbency. As was his wont, Sesshōmaru responded to the courtiers with terse words that, though inoffensive, displayed no particular hint of favor towards the men, allowing him to stave off over-eager grandees and avoid any reproachful looks from his father.
Soon enough, the conversation switched idle prattle to more interesting matters: politics, and of course, the Imperial Lord's attempted assassination. It was always fascinating how quickly news could travel in spite of the country's treacherous terrain.
"Allowing poison to slip through their city gates with so many noblemen in the city. Absolutely irresponsible!" Lord Abe declared.
"Treacherous, too," Lord Iwashite joined in, "Lord Kusakabe willingly participated in this ruse, then slew himself out of cowardice to avoid the consequences of killing one of the Emperor's closest vassals."
Tōga's hand ever-so-imperceptibly tightened around his cup.
Lord Higashikuze chuckled lightly as he rolled a dried chestnut between his ringed fingers. "Are you surprised, Lord Abe? Those Northern lords have always been a witless bunch, and this matter concerning our Imperial Lord has only proved this fact more so."
"It seems to be a top-to-bottom issue," Abe started once more. "Look at the influx of peasants with Northern parlance we've seen these past few months, some from as far as Hyōkusui, eager to escape before the next winter. Such a horribly managed territory all around."
"And it'll simply get worse when that son of his takes Imperial Lord Katsushika's place. Thankful are we to have two such a competent clan leading this Western domain!" Lord Fujii said, preparing for another toast.
"Even if Imperial Lord Katsushika could manage to pull himself away from his feasts, his cups, and his whores for the rest of his lifetime, he'd still would not be half as good as our Imperial Lord Tokudaiji!" A voice announced from the door.
The nobleman turned their gazes to the fusuma, where an older man stood alongside the servant who was meant to announce him. He had a shock of long, salt-and-pepper hair, dark eyes, and a serious look on his face.
"Lord Ikeda," Lord Tokudaiji said lazily, "you're too cruel."
"And you are late," Motozawa chided, motioning for the servants to prepare the older man a place to sit. "I was not aware that you were coming. Why didn't the servants announce you?"
Lord Ikeda took a seat at his own table and zabuton. "I changed my mind at the last second. And the storm that's coming is something fierce. As for the servants, I didn't want them to interrupt such a jovial conversation!"
"It's good you've come to ground us. I was afraid we were beginning to be too unfair towards the Northerners. After all, consider our own Lord Kikkawa, so dedicated to his work that he could not even join us tonight. His father and older brother are Northerners, yes, but he's just as dedicated to the West as his mother and his uncle Lord Asano," Lord Koide pointed out.
"Excellent news, seeing as he will become the next Lord of Asagawa the longer Lady Asano staves off a marriage," Sesshōmaru said casually.
The atmosphere in the room seemed to grow tense at the young Lord's words.
Lord Tokudaiji cut his eyes at his impatient son. "Not that I have made a final decision in regard to this succession matter, yet. Nevertheless, as the heir to a border court, Lady Asano cannot afford to wait too long."
The courtiers nodded in silent agreement.
"Marriage offers for our Lady Asano still arrive in steady streams each day," Motozawa said. "We're taking great care to advise her Ladyship as she weighs these options."
"In addition, her Ladyship's current emotional and physical condition makes things difficult," Koide noted. "She's still racked with grief."
Ikeda sighed. "How unfortunate to hear. Still, she cannot hide in the Inner Chambers forever. It's these transitionary periods that are the most fraught."
Thunder crackled loudly above the heads of the noblemen, as if seconding Ikeda's statement. It seemed to rattle the now empty bowls and cups scattered across each courtier's table and on the platters that the servants held.
"See?" Ikeda gesticulated with reference to the weather. "Fierce. Just as I said."
Lord Tokudaiji stood from his seat. The other men stood as well, with due ceremony.
"If we're done here, we should all return to our rooms before the storm gets too strong," he said. "The young Lord and I will leave first."
The Asano courtiers gave their bows of respect as Lord Tokudaiji walked down the wide aisle, with Sesshōmaru behind him.
On the other side of the fusuma, servants waited for the powerful men, umbrellas in hand. Storm clouds had fully overtaken the evening sky, casting everything in dark grey gloom.
Lord Tokudaiji took the umbrellas, passed one to his son, and then waved the servants.
Once they were a safe distance away, Sesshōmaru spoke wryly: "What was accomplished this evening?"
"Not much. But political maneuvers are hardly ever exposed at the dinner table," his father hummed. "Where's Rin?"
"In the room," Sesshōmaru replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Lord Tokudaiji clicked his tongue. "For someone who was so concerned about decorum just this morning, you sure are reckless! Don't you think it's improper that you hide a servant girl in your room while everyone else was being served by theirs?"
"I'd rather her not make a mistake that could expose her," Sesshōmaru replied impudently.
"You give her too little credit," the older man sighed. "Come; we'll wait for Lord Ikeda to come out."
The courtiers trickled from audience hall just as slowly as the had entered. Eventually, Lord Ikeda appeared and, unknowingly walking in the same direction as them, arrived upon their station near the garden.
"Your Excellency, Your Grace! Still out in this storm?" Ikeda asked, surprised.
"It takes more than a bit of rain to harm us, Ikeda," Lord Tokudaiji said. "We were waiting for you."
"And to what do I owe the honor?"
Sesshōmaru looked towards the crowd of courtiers and their personal servants, who were still trickling out of the audience hall. Ikeda seemed to take the hint.
The three men proceeded to walk forward, away from the crowd.
"Asano's court lost a great mind when you decided to retire, Lord Ikeda," Lord Tokudaiji stated.
"I don't typically enjoy flattering myself, but I'm afraid you may be right, my Lord," Ikeda replied. "Lord Motozawa is strong and loyal, but he lacks the…shrewdness necessary for certain situations."
"Then he's been carrying out his duties normally these past few weeks," Sesshōmaru surmised.
Ikeda hummed. "You two are here to investigate Lord Asano's death, then. I admit, I also find the circumstances of his death a bit dubious. Unfortunately, whatever trail there might have been seems to be cleaned up by now."
"You've been investigating then?" Lord Tokudaiji's brows quirked.
"Here and there, yes. Nothing that entirely connects anyone to Lord Asano's death," Ikeda stated, "but still nothing I'm willing to mention here. My Lords, you've both seen it—this castle has been crawling with courtiers and their servants since Lord Asano was declared dead. Spies too, good ones, hidden amongst the guards and the serving girls. But I'd be glad to have you both over for tea tomorrow, if the storm has let up."
Lord Tokudaiji chuckled. "As long as it is less ceremonious than our dinner, I'd be delighted to join you."
Ikeda nodded, and departed to return to his carriage.
"You're certain this is not another trap?" Sesshōmaru asked, suspicious.
"Ikeda is a man with no motive to kill me."
"You nearly died last you thought that."
Much to his son's annoyance, the Imperial Lord let out a laugh. "Ikeda retired to get away from all this. He wouldn't involve himself unless he suspected something serious. And, even if it is a trap and I die by some miraculous chance, you'll be here to alert everyone and raise a small militia to avenge me."
Sesshōmaru rolled his eyes, and the two men continued down the stone pathway.
Soon, the warm brilliant light that filled the gorgeous gardens and long wooden corridors of the Asano estate was replaced by a cool, grey fog as the roaring summer storm that Lord Tōga said would come finally. To Rin, the rain that fell was soft and steady, the natural's world cradle song, enticing its wards to rest. As she sat with her legs stretched out on the engawa of the room that faced the gardens and watched the rainwater roll off of the viridescent leaves to create ripples in the brook, the young girl took the time to reflect on her training as a maid, as well as the strange mission she had agreed to take part in, that she truthfully knew very little about.
After they left the gardens earlier that day, Rin and Sesshōmaru were led by Asano servants to the room where Sesshōmaru would be lodging for the night. The guest room was spacious and well-furnished, not unlike the Grand Inn in Yobetsu, with tatami flooring and shoji that slid open to reveal an opulent overlook of the colorful gardens. The fusuma that led to the hallway had been delicately painted with the image of the mountains nearby. In the very center of the room was a padded zabuton with a kyousoku armrest immediately next to it, along with a small, short-legged wooden table. On the room's right side was a large tatami dais with a futon, where Sesshōmaru would sleep once the day was over. And on the left was a byōbu folding screen, portraying against a gold background birds flying over dark-pink blossoming plum trees in the spring. They reminded her of her mother, who adored plum blossoms and the sounds of the little birds that took residence in them. She thumbed the wooden comb hidden in her sleeve.
As she took in these new sights and sounds, Sesshōmaru, as she now realized was his wont, slipped away without a word to spare, shutting the fusuma behind him with a loud thud had brought her back from her memories. Rin sighed, but didn't follow after him. She knew that he didn't trust her to tell her right from her left, and honestly, who could blame him? Though Lord Tōga and Seiten undoubtably provided her with some expert advice, she hadn't had much time before to practice before she was, as Lord Tōga had stated, "sent off to war." In all sincerity, if she were in Sesshōmaru's position, Rin wouldn't truth herself either.
Even so, she at least deserved a chance to prove herself, didn't she?
Lightning flashed over the canopy of trees in the forest far off into the distance, and thunder roared along after it. Rin's hands gripped the wooden zori that had been sitting in her lap ever since her feet grew tired of them. This would be her first thunderstorm in an establishment that didn't leak or threaten to blow away completely with the slightest bit of wind. Still, she knew that storms meant trouble, and she couldn't shake the habitual anxiety that roiled within her at the thought of one.
Rin allowed her mind to drift back to the men she had found herself accompanying these past few days. She could now perfectly grasp Lord Tōga's laidback, patriarchal nature, and even Seiten's gentle-giant persona, though she had known him for less time. But Sesshōmaru was still a mystery to her, as impalpable as a cloud. His behavior ranged from wittingly apathetic towards everything and everyone, to flagrantly hostile towards her. By now, Rin was no stranger to sentiments such as his. The townsfolk of the village near Yobetsu treated her horribly most of the time. She still bore the bruises and cuts from their mob assault on her back as a constant reminder of their hatred. But at least they had pretext for their ill will. The Young Lord had simply hated her the moment he laid eyes on her.
If only Sesshōmaru would be more like his father! Lord Tōga, another man far superior to her, had extended his kindness without pretense. Unlike the men of her past who had inveigled her into sexual favors with false promises of basic necessities or threats of violence, Tōga had given her food, money, care, clothing, and even allowed her to join them on their journey.
If Rin asked him about Taro's matter, would that be testing his kindness? After all he had done for her already, it felt improper to ask him for a favor as weighty as this, especially when he had more important state matters to tend to, as evident by this visit. But her brother was the primary reason she had sought Lord Tōga out after her eviction from the village, instead of simply continuing her sad life in a new location. If anyone could find Taro, it would be Lord Tōga.
Sesshōmaru, of course, would be the greatest obstacle. Rin shuddered at the thought of his reaction. She'd just have to approach Lord Tōga when his son wasn't around.
There was a quick, short rap on the fusuma, and then a woman's voice:
"This servant comes with food for the Young Lord!"
Hurriedly, Rin put slipped on her tabi and zori and walked back inside towards the fusuma. Just as Lord Tōga had said, she remembered to kneel down onto the floor, with both legs underneath her thighs, before sliding the beautifully decorated panel open from the bottom. Behind the sliding door was another older woman, a real servant, with tanned skin and greying hair, wearing a plain kosode dyed with the black and grey of the Asano karamon. Her hair was tied back in a simple ponytail. She, too, was kneeling with both legs beneath her thighs. Two trays of covered food were on either side of her.
The old woman bowed, and Rin bowed in return. Truthfully, she could feel her heart skipping beats out of nervousness.
"His Excellency the Great Lord of the West ordered these platters for His Grace," the old woman explained emotionlessly as she began to hand the trays to Rin one by one. Rin found them incredibly heavy but tried to appear as unagitated as possible in front of the senior servant. Once the platters were both over the threshold of the guest room, the older woman nodded, stood, and retreated down the darkened hallway.
Rin released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. That was easy enough, I guess. She slid the fusuma closed and began the task of trying to carry the trays from the door to the small table in the middle of the room. She could smell the meat, vegetables, fruits, and other items as she carried them, causing her stomach to roil beneath her obi.
As soon as Rin set the platters down on the small table, there was another rap on the fusuma. Rin sighed and repeated the decorum, kneeling down and sliding open the door. This time, the visitor kneeling behind the door was a young servant, about Rin's age, with pallid skin, black hair, and brown eyes. She also wore the deep black kosode customary of the Asano retainer's, but with finer fabric and delicately embroidered silver waves around the collar and near the hem of her billowing sleeves. In her hands was a fine white and blue ceramic platter, which matching teapot resting on top.
The young woman seemed surprised to see Rin. With a curious expression, the girl took in Rin's blue kosode, fragile frame, and slightly tanned skin. Rin could only awkwardly watch and wait for the girl to finish inspecting her. Then, finally, the servant girl bowed her head and spoke: "This servant comes bringing a gift on behalf of Her Ladyship for His Grace Young Lord Tokudaiji."
Without waiting for Rin to bow back, the servant girl began to peer around the room, searching for any signs of the two powerful men.
"…His Excellency and His Grace haven't returned yet," Rin explained softly, holding out her hands to retrieve the tray. "This servant"—the words felt strange rolling from her tongue—"humbly accepts this gift in their stead."
The servant girl looked at her peculiarly, which made Rin's heart flutter again. Did I say something wrong? The servant held on to the tea tray for a brief moment, as if hesitant to relinquish it, but soon enough, she slowly put the tray into Rin's hands. Then, she bowed, stood, and walked away before Rin even got the chance to bow back.
"How strange…" Rin said to herself as she placed the tea tray next to the food platters on the small wooden table. Did the maid figure out that Rin wasn't what she seemed? The young girl was nervous––she didn't want to disappoint Lord Tōga while doing such a simple task as answering the door.
Rin returned to her comfortable seat outside on the engawa. The rain was a bit harder now, falling down in a torrent instead of a mist, and the wind had begun to pick up. Thunder cracked overhead. Thankfully, the sloped ceiling and the ama-do storm doors on the outer part of the engawa protected her from the harsh elements. Rin was too busy thinking about the servant's words to be frightened of the storm anymore.
Her Ladyship. Rin turned the manner of address over and over again in her mind. One of Lady Sara's servants.
Rin had been able to get a glimpse of the elusive Lady Asano during her stroll through the garden with Lord Sesshōmaru earlier, through the beautiful trees and bushes. Rin hadn't been able to see her face, since the Lady's back was turned to them, but she was able to admire Lady Sara's long brown hair, exquisite flute skills, and her pale green uchiki that trailed behind her and billowed in the wind as she played.
Rin's mind drifted to what Lord Tōga had said a few days ago, about Lord Sesshōmaru and Lady Sara's betrothal. It was clear that, for reasons unknown to her, the two aristocrats were no longer to be wed. But, if this gift of tea in delicately crafted teapot were any indication, Lady Sara still had some fondness for Sesshōmaru, despite their division. The Young Lord seemed to become irritated at the mere mention of her, but there must have been some feelings once, if they were to be husband and wife at one point.
It was this fondness that puzzled Rin the most. What kind of girl did one have to be in order to love Sesshōmaru? Yes, the Young Lord was exceedingly handsome, with silklike hair, a harmonious visage, and striking gold eyes that put the sun, moon, and stars to shame; however, to Rin, at least, all that had been marred by his venomous temperament and overbearing demeanor. And, additionally, what type of girl was Sara that she was able to, albeit briefly, win Sesshōmaru's favor. From what Rin had observed during their journey, even Lord Tōga, Sesshōmaru's own father, received no warm filial affections from the Young Lord, though he indubitably had his respect. Lady Sara either had to be outstandingly alluring, frighteningly sly, or both.
The fusuma opened again, this time without a knock. Rin looked into the room to see Lord Tōga stepping over the threshold, with Sesshōmaru following behind him.
Rin turned to greet them. "Hi, my Lords!"
"Rin!" Lord Tōga called out upon seeing her sitting on the engawa. "Come inside. You'll catch a cold."
Sesshōmaru didn't acknowledge her at all. Instead, he simply closed the fusuma behind him and went to sit on the futon.
After ushering Rin inside the room and away from the torrential downpour, Tōga closed the storm doors and the shoji that separated the engawa from the rest of the room. Then, unhurriedly, he looked all about the room, hands akimbo, until his golden eyes finally fell on the small table that was currently covered in various trays.
"You haven't touched your food yet?" He asked.
Rin blinked, unsure of what he was talking about.
"One of those trays is your dinner!" Lord Tōga explained. "I told them to deliver some leftovers to the room before we dispersed. I think you'll enjoy it."
Curious, Rin moved across the room to the little wooden table and sat on the zabuton with her legs to the side of her. When she removed the cover from the tray, she was great by the overwhelming sights and smells of meat, fruits, and vegetables. Towards the side of the tray was a small cup that contained a golden liquid she had never seen before.
She decided she would try it first. She brought the little cup to her mouth and took a sip. It was both cloyingly sweet and bitterly sour, a discordant mix that confused her tongue and made her set the cup back down with urgency. This displeasure must've shown in her facial expressions as well, because Lord Tōga laughed.
"That was umeshu – plum wine," he explained, picking up the small cup and drinking from it himself. "Of course, it's too strong for you. I forgot it'd be included on your platter."
As he was setting the cup down, Lord Tōga's eye was caught by the pretty white and blue tea set towards the edge of the table. His brow rose. "Now, I didn't order that."
"A different servant brought it," Rin explained, picking up a downy yellow oval-shaped fruit. It was deliciously sweet, and when she bit into to it, the juice began to run down her arm. "She said it was a gift from Lady Asano for Sesshō––"—the man in question gave her a sharp look upon hearing his given name ––"the Young Lord."
Lord Tōga poured some tea into the matching blue and white yunomi and took a sip. It was earthy and mild, with subtle traces of sweetness. "Biwa cha," he deduced, putting the cup down. "Sesshōmaru's favorite tea. How thoughtful."
Suddenly, Sesshōmaru stood and moved to where Rin and Tōga were sitting. He reached down on the floor and picked up a small, folded piece of parchment.
"It must've slipped from beneath the pot," Tōga said. Then he added mirthfully, "What is it? A love letter? An invitation to a moonlight tryst?"
Sesshōmaru was too busy reading the note to respond with any witticisms. In that same moment, the fusuma opened once again to reveal Seiten. He looked circumspectly down the hallway before sliding it shut behind him.
"My dear friend, you seem exhausted," Lord Tōga stood and offered Seiten his seat at the table. Seiten accepted it and went to eat from his own decadent food platter.
"The servants were of no real help," Seiten started after taking a sip of his plum wine. "But they don't seem to think Lord Asano died of any natural cause, at least. They kept talking about yūrei and goryō and whatnot. One old woman insisted that Lady Asano returned to this world as an onryō, take Lord Asano's life as revenge for her death in childbirth."
Rin's eyes widened slightly at this sudden news. There was a ghost in the castle? Would she have to worry about maintaining this servant façade while watching out for a murderous spirit?
Seiten noticed this, and chuckled. "It's not real, Rin," he said in an attempt to quell her fears. "Simply a folktale."
"A onryō?" Lord Tōga asked dryly, raising his brow. "Well, if I see it, I'll believe it."
He took another sip of the plum wine he appropriated from Rin and glanced at his son, who was still poring over the little secret letter.
"Nothing too significant came from the dinner either," Lord Tōga announced. "The courtiers clearly aim to marry off Sara to themselves or one of their sons, which I suppose is motive enough to dispose of Lord Asano, but that does not help us narrow down a suspect. None of them seemed too afflicted by Lord Asano's death, either. In fact, Seikanji Yoshisue threw a grand feast just one week heretofore."
Seiten blinked. "When the mourning period hadn't yet ended?"
"Yes, with wine and dancers galore," Lord Tōga mimicked. "I don't know too much about the personal lives of the Asano courtiers, but I do know that Seikanji is famous for gambling and arrears. How coincidental is it that when Lord Asano unexpectedly died, Seikanji suddenly acquired a large enough sum of money to throw a feast?"
By this point, Rin found herself completely fascinated by the men's conversation, briefly forgetting about the large portion of food that remained on her plate.
"It's incredibly suspicious," Seiten said, tapping his plate with his utensil absentmindedly. "But how will we get proof of wrongdoing?"
The Western Lord hummed. "Careful observation, naturally. Moreover, Lord Ikeda showed up, much to everyone's surprise, and privately invited me to his manor for tea. He was Asano's wisest courtier, before he withdrew due to his age. He's bound to have some sort of theories about Lord Asano's death and Seikanji's sudden fortune, if he too thinks Asano's death was unnatural."
"At any rate," Lord Tōga continued on after taking a brief breath, "we must keep an eye on the other courtiers as well. Though Lord Motozawa seems to be the only court official with no desire to wed Lady Sara, I'm not ready to declare him innocent, since he seems so intent on keeping her sequestered in the inner manor among the court ladies. The girl may be ill; however, as acting Lady, she'll have to accept an audience eventually."
"Lady Sara isn't ill," Sesshōmaru announced suddenly, his rich timbre capturing the attention of those in the room. He had finally finished reading the letter and had folded it back into the neatly folded square that it was sent to him as. Still, he didn't move from his spot near the fusuma and instead stood against the wall with his arms folded and his eyes directly on his father.
"Oh?" Lord Tōga exclaimed. "So, you've met with her already?"
"You were able to hear Evening Calm from Lord Asano's study," Sesshōmaru said, a statement rather than a question. "I've never known a sick girl to play the flute."
Lord Tōga nodded. "So, that truly was her, then, a not another woman of the court. That figures. You two learned how to play that song together when you were children, and now she's using it to send you a message."
Sesshōmaru huffed dismissively at that. "Something that was easier done through the letter she sent. She wants me to meet with her tomorrow afternoon in the city."
"An afternoon tryst, then!" Tōga exclaimed.
"It's indecorous," Seiten said. "How does she plan on moving furtively when she's surrounded by court ladies and maids at all hours of the day?"
"That's for her to determine," Sesshōmaru dismissed once again. "She wrote urgently. I suspect she has something to reveal about her father's death."
With this new and intriguing information, Rin began to piece together the reason for their visit. Lord Tōga hadn't decided to stop by to simply pay his respects to a departed vassal – he had come to investigate an assassination. Rin knew of the devastating wars that Lords had waged in the past, taking the lives of many innocent people, btu she didn't realize how often they employed these secret methods of destructions. Her goal of not disappointing Lord Tōga hadn't changed, but the severity of the situation made her determined to set a higher standard for herself.
As if reminding the manor's inhabitants of its presence, the thunderstorm echoed loudly across the night's sky, casting a white light through the storm doors and the shoji and into the grand guest room. Rin startled at the noise.
Meanwhile, Lord Tōga yawned loudly, stretching his long, thick arms above his head.
Seiten glanced at him peculiarly. "Tired? It can't be any later than seven or eight."
"I barely slept last night, and we've been traveling all morning," Lord Tōga reasoned. "And, as much as I'm loathe to admit it, I'll soon be 43. I need my rest."
In one quick movement, the older man stood from his zabuton, the tatami floor creaking beneath his weight. He glanced over at Rin, who had been quiet the whole time and whose plate remained half unfinished.
"Full?" Lord Tōga questioned. She nodded, but before he bent to take her tray, she grabbed three fragrant orange fruits from the platter and sat it on the table as a snack for later. Tōga hummed his approval. Seiten, following Tōga's lead, also stood and grabbed his own empty tray.
"So then, it's settled," he said to Sesshōmaru and Seiten. "I'll be having tea with Lord Ikeda, Sesshōmaru is meeting with Lady Sara, and Seiten will continue to investigate the manor. We'll discuss our findings after dinner, as we did today."
Seiten and Sesshōmaru said nothing, but there was a sense of understood agreement in the air that Rin was now beginning to grasp as their way of communicating with each other.
"Try to get as much rest as you can," Tōga said, now speaking to Sesshōmaru and Rin. "Who knows what surprises lie ahead of us. Until tomorrow."
Tōga slid open the decorative fusuma and walked out of the room with Seiten, who slid it shut. Just like that, the intrigue had vanished, and she was left alone with a young man who could not stand her.
Wordlessly and in just a few steps, the young Lord moved from his post at the entryway to sit on the futon. Rin, still seated at the little wooden table, watched him in awkward silence, unsure of what to say.
It was peculiar how wrought up she was to be alone in a room with a man considering her past vocation. But this wasn't just any man – it was Sesshōmaru Tokudaiji, the future Imperial Lord of the West, who she had seen slice a boy in half with a single stroke of his sword, and who had threatened to do the same to her moments later.
Perhaps I should've requested to stay with Lord Tōga tonight… Rin thought ruefully.
She wished she could pretend to be his father's maid instead. But Lord Tōga had given her a task and she wanted to do it well as to not disappoint him or draw more ire from his son; therefore, she would have to swallow her discomfort, if only for a few days, in order to serve Sesshōmaru in the best way possible.
It would be easier if she knew exactly what he wanted her to do.
Rin stood and began to fidget with her black obi as she watched the flickering candlelight cast a gentle gleam against her faux master's long white hair. Sesshōmaru was now removing his wakizashi, sheathe and all, from his yellow and purple heko-obi. Soon after, he moved on to his boots.
"…Should I help you take off your boots, my Lord?" Rin asked cautiously.
Only then did Sesshōmaru acknowledge her presence. He glanced up from his shoes with a slightly annoyed expression on his face. Now that he was seated, she could finally look eye-to-eye with him–not that she particularly wanted to look into his intense gaze.
"I'm perfectly capable of taking off my own shoes," he deadpanned.
Rin sighed, and began to glance around the room awkwardly.
"You should retire as well," Sesshōmaru said, not looking up from his boots.
Rin knew how to take a hint. Lord Tōga had stated that her sleeping quarters and nightclothes were across the hall from Sesshōmaru. Quietly, she slid open the fusuma and glanced across the hall, only to see a small cranny with an equally small futon in the wall. It was a broom closet in comparison to the luxurious guest room that Sesshōmaru received, but it was certainly better than what she was used too. Rin reached out a single hand to feel the bed's soft padding and smiled.
"Good night, my Lord," Rin said gently. The young Lord said nothing in response. Rin slid the fusuma shut behind her and prepared for bed.
Later, Rin was awoken by a flash of lightning and a harsh crackle of thunder. The storm had gotten much worse since she fell asleep—she could hear the howling wind and the hard rain, and the creaking of the grand structure as it fought to hold beneath nature's rage.
Of course it'll hold, Rin thought to herself. After all, this wasn't her little village shanty. It was a huge castle, with many different wings, carefully constructed by the country's most crafted hands centuries before her birth.
But between the intervals of thunder, wind, and rain, Rin swore she could hear something else, something possibly more sinister. Coming from down the corridor was the faint sound of footsteps, wooden shoes clacking against wooden floor. It was far too late at night for any maids to be delivering items, Rin reasoned, and the guards only stood watch on the outside of the wing, not in the hallways. Sesshōmaru, by the looks of it, was still in his room working; the footsteps were too light to be those of Tōga or Seiten. So if it wasn't a guard, or a maid, or one of the men she was traveling with, then it could only be…
Rin's heart caught in her throat, before she willed it to return to her chest. She thought of Seiten's words: It's not real, Rin. Simply a folktale. She had never seen a ghost before in her life, even during the plague that hit her village. Why would one show up here in a castle?
"How silly of me," Rin whispered to herself, curling back up in her futon. "It's probably just my imagination."
But much to Rin's horror, the lightning flashed again. In those brief seconds, a woman emerged from the darkness, veiled only in a white nightrobe, her long dark hair obscuring her face.
Rin bolted up and out of the servant's cranny and back into the guest room, blankets in tow. If she had to choose between a sleeping tiger and a potentially malevolent ghost, she'd choose the sleeping tiger any night.
Or, rather, the awake tiger. As soon as she slid the fusuma closed behind her, she found herself the focus on Sesshomaru's slightly annoyed gaze. To her surprise, the young Lord was still awake and still donning his clothes from the daytime. He sat at the small table; it seemed as if she had interrupted him as he was writing a letter.
"The ghost was outside," Rin said breathlessly before Sesshōmaru could protest her presence.
"A ghost," Sesshōmaru repeated coldly.
"Someone was out there," Rin insisted, the strong tone she had wanted to maintain coming off as more of a whine.
To her surprise, Sesshōmaru, though visibly annoyed at this point, said nothing. Instead, he stood, glided over to the fusuma, and slid it open in one swift movement. When he looked out in the darkened hallway, lantern in hand, nothing was there.
"I don't have time for any games," Sesshōmaru stated. "Go back to sleep."
Rin sat on the floor, equally annoyed and feeling defeated. The thunder roared again, and she jumped slightly. She was tempted to simply sleep in Lord Tōga's room but didn't want to walk there out of fear she might encounter the strange woman again. Sesshōmaru stared curiously at her, but soon went back to writing his letter and paying her no heed.
Eventually, Rin fell asleep on the tatami flooring next to the bed, curled up in her blankets.
A/N: As I read through the chapters to revise them, I realized that I literally apologize for being late every time I update. So I'll spare you guys the excuses this time, lol!
But, wow. Let's review all the wild shit (albeit US-centered) that has happened since I last updated this story:
A pandemic.
Universities and colleges shutting down because of said plague.
A US police offer killed an unarmed man, which led to worldwide (!) protests.
An impeachment.
A super stressful election season and an election that felt like it lasted 10000 days.
Nashville got bombed and everyone brushed it off...
Trump supporters stormed the Capitol with anti-Semitic and anti-black imagery and tried to kill government officials?
Another impeachment….
I don't usually like to bring politics here since this is my form of escapism (I'm black and a college student, so I DESPERATELY needed some this year), but my god…. what a year.
I'm also aware that there's an Inuyasha sequel series out, but I haven't watched it in its entirety yet since I realized that Rin is just stuck in a tree. I was kinda hoping for some substantial character moments from her, but oh well. On the bright side, it did give me an idea for a sequel to this…. but of course, I have yet to finish this story. RIP.
Anyways, I hope you're all safe and that you all had a good holiday season! I took up cooking during quarantine, so I was able to cook for my family for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'm biased of course, but I thought the food was excellent!
As always, thanks for all your reviews, follows, and favorites. I always say this, but I'm genuinely trying to pick up the pace on this story (again…. it's slow burn as hell). What held me back this time was, once again, the politics subplot (which is probably the reason this story feels so slow burn). I have 50 chapters, AND a side story, AND now a sequel that I'd like to see through before 2030. I'm making it my goal to write at least 500 words a day, lol.
Until next time!