Kimiko reclined on her patio, enjoying the gentle touch of a chambermaid brushing her hair while another set down a platter laden with fruits and delicacies. With graceful movements, she fanned herself using an uchiwa, a painted fan, keeping the warm breeze at bay.
"How is our protege faring?" Kimiko inquired of Fuyuki, alluding to the human girl who had been working under her dominion for almost the past fortnight.
From behind her, Fuyuki, an amami demoness, meticulously perused her daily reports. "She lacks strength but possesses determination," she succinctly commented.
Kimiko did not further ponder Fuyuki's assessment. She fell into a pensive silence for a while, leaving her attendants only able of speculation of the myriad thoughts traversing their mistress' inscrutable mind.
"Are all the arrangements for tomorrow complete?" Kimiko abruptly shifted the topic.
"Yes, milady." Fuyuki affirmed with a nod, though Kimiko's gaze was elsewhere.
The Sesshoumaru house had been preparing for an imperious meeting between the different clans and lords of the most esteemed demon lineages. Traditionally, each spring, at the onset of mating season, lords would converge from the mortal realms for a grand assembly. The Sesshoumaru clan hosted an informal gathering, with the subsequent day reserved for a formal meeting led by the reigning Inu no Taisho, largely centered around politics.
Despite her relative youth by demon standards, Kimiko had adeptly overseen these annual events for many years in her parents' absence. Her hospitality was unparalleled; guests consistently reveled in luxurious dining and exceptional entertainment. Well-aware of the strain the official clan gathering at the Inu no Taisho's mansion could induce, Kimiko endeavored to ensure her guests dined and drank to their hearts' content and felt at ease the preceding evening.
"Very well. Just make sure that our protege keeps out of the way tomorrow," Kimiko instructed, signaling for Fuyuki's departure. Acknowledging the directive, Fuyuki resumed her hectic preparations.
Toga's footsteps echoed as he restlessly roamed his chambers, anticipating the arrival of a guest.
It had been years since he last saw his older brother. Growing up, the two had been inseparable. Toga idolized his brother, following his every move. Their mischief knew no bounds, yet his brother's affable demeanor and gift of gab often saved them from most troubles. He was renowned for his magnanimity, winning over countless hearts, even when their antics crossed the line.
However, their paths diverged in adulthood. His brother began defying their father's edicts, earning him notoriety and disparaging whispers. He was an exceptional swordsman, with a keen strategic mind. Yet, his disinterest in territorial disputes and controversial associations cast a shadow over his repute. Despite his congenial nature and the camaraderie he inspired, his steadfast loyalty to dubious allies, particularly those from inferior demon classes, sullied his standing among peers.
True to form, no servant came beforehand to announce Toga's guest before the guest himself barged in.
"Well, there's a sight for these sore eyes!" his brother boomed jovially, his laughter echoing, while an overwhelmed servant scrambled to formally introduce him. Before Toga could react, he found himself ensnared in his brother's exuberant embrace.
"Onii-sam—ugh!" Toga's breath was squeezed out of him, his ribs compressed by the forceful embrace. He lightly tapped his brother's back, hoping he'd lessen the crushing grip.
"You little bastard, you've bulked up since we last saw!" His elder brother remarked with gusto, delivering a hearty slap on Toga's back.
Although Toga was the younger sibling, he stood a tad taller. But when it came to sheer physical prowess, his elder brother remained unmatched. Ever since pups, the brothers had enjoyed competing in brawn and the skills of their swords. A habit that had not died as they grew up.
Taking a step back, Toga cast a scrutinizing glance over his brother's attire. "What, in the world, have you draped yourself in?"
The older inu youkai gleefully spun around to showcase his garb. "Impressive, eh?"
He was dressed in a jarringly bright suikan, its vibrancy a testament to his flashy, distinctive style.
"It's... very red," Toga admitted shortly.
"Crafted from hinezumi," the elder brother declared with pride. "It's fireproof, resistant to blades and claws, and self-mending. Far superior to the cumbersome armors you wear. Comes in a smashing color also, yes. If you fancy, I can introduce you to a skilled demon sartor." He poked Toga to his side. "Mark my words, these will be the rave in a few millennia."
Toga flashed a toothy smile, but diplomatically declined the proposition. Such flamboyant attire seemed tailored—literally—for his audacious elder brother.
Shifting gears from their playful banter, Toga decided to address the looming issue of the familial drama surrounding his brother's reemergence. "So, you're back on father's good side?"
The room's mood grew somber, but his elder brother didn't flinch at the straight-to-the-point question, having anticipated it. "Seemingly so, but for how long is anyone's guess," he sighed, but not his jovial demeanor never wavering. "I wouldn't bet on a lengthy stay. Dad is probably anxiously waiting for me to fuck up so that he can finally remove me from the family tapestry." Another rumbling laugh erupted from him. To an outsider, it may have sounded like joke, but Toga knew he spoke earnestly.
"Do you need a place to stay at?" Toga offered. The rift between father and son was still apparent, placing the two men in close quarters could possibly brew new conflicts, or exacerbate old ones. Furthermore, Toga was aware his elder brother had long renounced the ownership of his own mansion in the demon realm. Mainly because he had been expelled for much of the time, but also because of his reputation – he had a hard time finding a staff willing to work for him.
"Much appreciated, bro," came the appreciative response as the elder sibling settled comfortably near the fireplace.
"Are you going to attend the gathering at Sesshoumaru's tomorrow?" Toga queried, fully aware that the assembly was likely the primary reason for his brother's return. It was a time-honored tradition for the clans to convene annually. The day prior to the formal summit, an informal soiree was held. However, attending such an event, considering the disdain many held for him, demanded audacity. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, his elder brother possessed that trait in abundance. He was a man who didn't shy from harsh stares or cower from viscous tongues.
"Hey, since the old man's not coming anyway – it's a night of free booze and an opportunity to cause offence among the snoots. Of the fucking course I'm going," the elder declared with a cheeky grin.
Toga sighed, weariness evident in his voice, "I'm not particularly in the mood for festivities. Are you certain about attending solo?"
His elder brother chuckled, "Since when have I needed you to hold my hand, otouto?" The stress was given to the last word.
Feigning indignation, Toga retorted, "Indeed, onii-sama. By month's end, you'll surely find yourself banished, yet again."
A brief, intense stare-down ensued, culminating in shared mirth as both brothers succumbed to laughter.
"Hurry, hurry! Where the hell is the broth!" Fuyuki yelled, maneuvering through the chaos of servants who were shouting, running, spinning, and huffing. She was a whirlwind of motion and frustration, darting from one servant to another, issuing orders with an impatient wave or pointed finger.
"You there!" she commanded, pointing at a visibly terrified weasel demon. "Did you take the water to the washiki already?" She didn't wait for an answer, her attention already shifting to a servant holding a serving platter. "Akiko! Did I not tell you to reheat that genmai? You are certainly not serving our guests cold rice!" She barked at the hunching servant who was trying to peep back an answer.
The commotion continued unabated, with Fuyuki at the eye of the storm, desperately trying to maintain some semblance of order. A panicked servant tried to approach her.
"WHAT!" Fuyuki fumed and pushed another servant out of her way.
"Fuyuki-sama..." The squeaking servant trembled, terrified of her superior's reaction. "There's a problem in the kitchen..." She dared to continue even though Fuyuki's eyes were already looking like they could pop out of her skull any second. "The fox fire is acting up; it's not heating the kamado."
"What in the abomination... Use regular fire then!" The amami rabbit bellowed and tugged the tips of her flattened ears in frustration at the idiots she had to deal with. And on a such important night as this!
"Yes, but-" The servant was cut short when a hall servant came in to announce that the guests needed more sake. The hall servant herself had her hands full with empty cups and vessels.
The amami rabbit grumbled under hear breath trying to scout an idle servant nearby. They were understaffed since Houkou-jiji, the head chef, had fallen ill with moss fever and was out of commission. It took several other servants to compensate for his skills in the kitchen. Houkou-jiji was the most vital part of the staff, right after Fuyuki; so it was the most unpropitious time for him to fall ill.
Amidst the frenzied scene, Fuyuki caught sight of Kagome who was tucked away in a corner, diligently collecting scraps off the floor.
The human had been explicitly told not to show herself to any of the guests or touch anything going to the main hall. Fuyuki had made great efforts to try and hide her human smell, not wanting to risk the exposure of her presence.
But at this time of the night, when there was only dessert to be served after the guests had finished their main courses, most of the demons would be probably too intoxicated to take notice if a human quickly delivered more booze. Fuyuki would do a quick reinforcing spell to mask her human scent and aura. It was her only choice.
"Princess, don't just stand there! Make use of yourself!" Fuyuki bossed while wailing her hands at the rest of the servants. Kagome was startled at the sudden bark at her and looked at Fuyuki with wide eyes.
"Take that platter to the main hall." Fuyuki quickly chanted something and waved her hands around, pointing at a side table in the preparing room.
The young girl apprehensively approached the direction Fuyuki had pointed at. There was a round, ceramic serving plate which was full of little cups, filled to the brim with spirits. The amami demoness glanced at the human who carefully attempted to lift the enormous plate off the serving table.
"Hand it to the imp once you get to the hall. Don't loiter. Leave as soon as you've delivered it." She further advised with a strict tone. Her lady's orders had been to keep the human away from the eyes of any guests, but there were no other idle hands available to serve the drinks. And Fuyuki knew nothing worse than an inebriate master who had to suffer thirst.
Kagome walked the lengthy way to the great hall, carrying a tray of ludicrously expensive sake. The cups teetered on the platter as she desperately tried to hold balanced. Once she entered the great hall full of chattering demons, the girl lookeded for the imp to offload herself. There were two of the gossiping servants she had seen during her first day nearby her. She heard snippets of their hushed conversation.
"Isn't that the major general?" One whispered from the corner of her mouth while pretending to clean hashioki, chopstick rests.
"Yes. I guess he's back in the good graces of his father." The other murmured under her breath and gave a meaningful gaze to her serving colleague.
'Always gossiping', Kagome knitted her brows and tried to spot the small, green servant she had seen earlier in the evening.
Her eyes wondered about the room and spotted a young man who, unlike anyone else in the room, was not donning a white kimono. It was not the only thing that stuck out about him.
All the tables were packed full of loudly talking and arguing demons, but the man in the suikan sat all alone. It was the only table that was empty – save for him. He was looking bored, blowing air out of his cheeks.
His eyes also studied the hall around him until he turned his amber eyes at Kagome. Their eyes locked at each other, and Kagome hardly even noticed how the platter began to tilt in her arms.
A name escaped her, a soft whisper amidst the clamor: "Inuyasha?"
In a blink, the collision of gazes shattered her concentration, leading to a disastrous spill of the precious liquid and smashing ceramics. First there was an ear-piercing clang and clatter at the root of her feet before the room fell completely silent. All eyes were on her as she stood frozen, in the middle of an immeasurably expensive pool of ruined liquor.
Like by a wave of a magic wand, the imp quickly appeared from tending one of the patrons, weaving his way nimbly through guests and other servants who had all fallen dead silent. He angrily grabbed Kagome by her elbow and pulled her to the side.
"Look what you have done!" He hissed angrily and waved his hands, flustered at the damage by their feet.
Kagome paid no attention to the little fuming demon who was still holding her elbow captive. She could only focus on the figure who had risen from his seat, his face a canvas of confusion that mirrored her own, entrapped in the amber gaze that held her fast. The noise of the room faded as they studied one another.
She could have sworn she was in a dream had it not been for the persistent tug on her arm that let her know she wasn't. It was impossible. He could not be here. Inuyasha wouldn't be born for thousands of years.
All the eyes that had been staring at her, one by one, turned away and a loud chatter filled the room again. All eyes, except his. That man was still staring at her, looking as perplexed as she.
Could it really be him? A figure out of time. Questions raced through Kagome's mind as the world around her continued its chaotic dance. She tried to nudge her hand free of the imp's grip.
"Inuyasha. Inuyasha!" Kagome called him. The man in the red suikan began approaching until Kagome was hoisted away by one of Kimiko's guards that had materialized from somewhere.
"No!" She cried and tried to fight back until a thumb forcibly pressing into her neck made the room dwindle into darkness.
Right after Kagome was forcibly dragged from the room, Inuyasha made a beeline after her. Along his hurried departure, he knocked over several drinks and collided with a few indignant nobles in the grand hall. He didn't care, nor did he care to apologize.
He needed to know who that woman was.
Up until that interruption, the evening had been monotonous. He had yearned for some confrontation, especially after enjoying his share of the good sake of Sesshoumaru's. He knew he was not wanted there and could hear the murmurs about how he dared to show his face there. Despite his best efforts to be on his worst behavior and provoke a reaction — from mocking the lords to being boorish with the ladies — everyone remained painfully cordial. It was evident they wanted nothing to do with him. They'd respond when spoken to but kept their distance, wary of the whispers that surrounded the infamous black sheep of the Taisho clan.
Inuyasha gritted his teeth and stormed into the hallway. Her scent was so strong that he felt he could almost see it lingering. How did she know his name? He was certain he'd never met her before; her captivating, dark eyes had been like a punch to his gut. Something he'd not easily forget.
Following the scent trail, he soon encountered a weasel demon. "Oy!" he called out, stopping the demon in its tracks. The poor creature nearly froze in shock.
"Who's that human girl working for Sesshoumaru?" Inuyasha demanded. The weasel's face went a shade paler, and he began, "I'm... er... not clued up on who-"
Cutting him off, Inuyasha snapped, "Let's just not, okay. You do know her." He pressured the weasel who was visibly growing more uncomfortable by this sudden inquisition.
"Listen," Inuyasha said and dug through his pockets. To coax an answer, he pulled out an extremely expensive demonic charm. An item far beyond the reach of a lowly demon servant. The weasel's eyes widened, "You takin' the mick?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with desire. "Spill the beans, and this is yours," Inuyasha proposed, holding the charm enticingly. "Anything you tell me, I never heard from you, yeah?"
Making sure no one was clocking their chat, the weasel quickly snatched the charm, giving it a once-over. Tucking it away, he said, "Her name's Kagome. She's some sort of priestess, innit. Kimiko's dead set on keeping her away from other inugami. Not sure what the fuss is, but she's mint to someone." The weasel rapidly explained, all the while his eyes kept going back and forth trying to make sure no-one was listening to his ratting.
Inuyasha repeated the name, "Kagome," letting it roll off his tongue, almost savoring its taste.
"That's the lot," the weasel muttered, looking to scarper. Without waiting for a nod or a thanks, he dashed off.
Inuyasha continued on, drawn by the faint scent of the intriguing woman. However, as he ventured further, the scent gradually faded. Frustrated, he found himself alone in a dim corridor, softly punching the wall with a clinched fist.
After running into Kimiko's guards and finally abandoning his search efforts, Inuyasha wandered back into Toga's mansion, trying to shake off the effects of his unexpected meeting with the mysterious human woman. What a night had it turned out to be.
So engrossed in his musings, he didn't notice his brother until he entered the common room. "Did you manage to get yourself disowned yet?" Toga's playful remark snapped Inuyasha out of his reverie.
Clearing his throat, Inuyasha responded with a feigned indifference, "I tried my best, but they weren't biting tonight."
Toga responded with a wry chuckle, "Anything interesting happen?"
Seated next to a dim hearth, Inuyasha hesitated. Revealing his encounter with the human woman was risky. For all the shit he had put his family through for his human affiliations, this would be too much. He was on a short leash and if his father would hear that he had as much as been in the same house with a human, he'd surely expel his ass for good. And he was not in the mood for a lecture from his younger brother. Not until he had unraveled the mystery of that woman at least.
"Nah. I was so bored I left early and just wandered around before I came back." It was a truth, but not the whole of it.
Toga, shaking his head in amusement, advised his elder brother to get some rest. But as he turned to leave, he paused at the doorway, glancing back. "It's good to have you back, brother."
Inuyasha managed a genuine smile, watching Toga nod in acknowledgment before wishing him goodnight.
Kagome groggily awoke to find herself in a dim, stone-walled dungeon. The air was cold and stale, causing her to shiver as she tried to get her bearings. The heavy wooden door ahead was tightly shut, with only a small, barred window near the top allowing a sliver of light to shine through.
Rubbing her temples, she rose to her feet and cautiously approached the door. Through the window's bars, she saw a corridor, faintly lit by torches. Attempting to push the door yielded nothing. It was locked from the outside.
Kagome then sought for any other ways out. She inspected the walls, floor, and even the ceiling, feeling for any hidden passageways or weaknesses in the structure. Every so often, she would call out, but her voice only echoed back, emphasizing her solitude.
Her thoughts restlessly darted around as she relived the evening. She parsed through every detail — each word exchanged, every subtle movement, every distinct aroma. She kept returning to the same daunting question, grappling with her senses, and continually reassured herself of her sanity.
The possibility of him being in this demon realm was bewildering.
Recalling their earlier encounter, Kagome tried to discern any clue from their interaction that could give her insight into this mystery. His aura, his eyes, and his trademark attire were unmistakably Inuyasha's. Yet the circumstances of their meeting, the location, and the time... everything else was off.
Kagome pressed her back against the door, sliding down to sit on the chilly stone floor. Her mind raced with questions. She felt trapped, not just within these walls but by the perplexity of her situation.
She took a deep breath, trying to keep her rising panic at bay. For now, Kagome needed to focus on one thing at a time. First, she needed to get out of the dungeon. After that, she would seek out Inuyasha and demand some explanations, preferably with less stone and more comfy chairs.
A/N: I've always said: why make romance simple when you can have your protagonist crushing on her future father-in-law and (possibly?) his estranged brother who is also the preincarnated uncle of the protagonist's past/future/current timeline lover. To whom the protagonist is the reincarnated first love. (Time is highly relative here, depends on who's point of view we're looking at it.)
And yes, both "versions" of Inuyasha are named Inuyasha. This will make sense eventually, and I bet a lot of you already guess why.
Also: Military ranks hardly were the same 3000 years ago as they are today, but since Inu no Taisho is referred as General in the canon by Takahashi, I'm referring to his son as the General Major (third highest rank of ground force while General being the highest).