The Scent of Sandalwood and Sage.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha; all credit goes to Rumiko Takahashi.
Note: Set in an Alternate Universe with non canon events! Trigger warnings for noncon/dubcon, child abuse, drugs and extreme gore for later chapters. Reg flags flying everywhere! You've been warned, so please continue at your own risk!
Syn: Follow the tale of the young outcast chosen to marry the beloved son of a prestigious family. Finally, she can escape her tragic upbringing and live how she wants.
However, being stranded during a demonic mating phenomenon lands her into the clutches of a cunning demon lord! Can she resist falling for him, even as he makes her body burn with forbidden passion?
Chapter 1. The Bastard and The Golden Magnolia.
The sun stretched over the purple mountains, touching over the green province of Musashi. The countryside teemed with ornate rice paddies, dense forests, and cascading rivers surrounded by majestic Chichibu mountains.
At the base of the majestic purple Mount Mitake stood the upscale village of Naohara. This famous trading town was known for its large open markets, which wayward travelers and wealthy nobles frequented.
Naohara was initially famed for its abundantly beautiful orchards of flavorful persimmons and other exquisite fruits. The town's attraction recently exploded with the emergence of rare golden magnolias.
The stunning Yulan yellow bird magnolias, imported from China, produced a one-of-a-kind perfume that only highly wealthy families could afford. They were one of the prime reasons the small village fared so well compared to the others in the outer countryside.
The magnolia nurseries belonged to the wealthiest family in the small village, the Himawari family. With deep-rooted ties to the monastery and monetary advantages, they controlled much of the town's trade flow.
Today, the grounds of the lovely Himawari Estate buzzed with excitement. A most promising letter had arrived that morning, and soon after, the head of the family called for a mass audience.
Hyuga, the patriarch of the Himiwari family, sat at the centerfold of the audience room with his family's men. To his right sat his eldest son, Guijao, next in line for head of the Himawari family—lastly, his handsome grandson, Kirihito, of seventeen summers.
The patriarch's somber robes did not match the warm, welcoming seasonal colors worn by those around him, making him stand out.
Hyuga sat calmly in his seat as his son and the others around him talked. He sorted his thoughts awaiting the children he summoned.
From the main hall came the sound of pattering feet against the wood. Not a moment too soon, the shoji doors to the outside slid open, and Guijao's eldest daughter of seventeen summers arrived.
Kikyo, Kirihito's twin and one of the famed family beauties strolled into the room wearing a heavy emerald floral-patterned kimono and many shiny accessories.
Her maids arranged her hair in a half-updo, allowing some long, dark hair to flow down her back. She looked as if she were a hinamatsuri doll that came to life.
"Kikyo standing before Grandfather as summoned," she said as sweetly and delicately as she could muster.
With the help of her handmaiden, Kikyo knelt respectfully before the house elders. Her many hair ornaments rattled against each other at the motion.
Hyuga slowly glanced toward her father with disapproving eyes. Guijao's head quickly lowered in apology to him. The elder ignored him and waved the girl off, having seen enough.
Guijao looked at his daughter with great disappointment when their eyes met, terrifying her. Her twin quickly signaled for the attending maid to remove his sister, and she did so obediently.
Kikyo glanced away from her father, hiding her nervousness behind her sleeve as she rose. Her maid helped her into one of the empty ornate seats nearby.
Next came the younger sister, Kaede, of fourteen summers. She seemingly replicated her sister's actions. The girl wore her black hair in intricate buns with hanging glass flower ornaments.
Her overly bright pink kosode annoyed her grandfather and father. She, too, was waved off by the elder and received an angry look from her father, which horrified the girl and sent her to her knees.
She felt relieved when her elder brother came to her aid and gathered her from the floor. Kirihito gently guided Kaede to the chair beside their sister, who looked indifferent.
Once Kirihito returned to his seat, his father approvingly gazed at him. Guijao knew his daughters had dressed that way upon the instruction of their sickly mother, Kasumi.
His wife had caught smallpox from a Korean merchant passing through the country. Though Kasumi has survived the horrid affliction, she could no longer care for the children.
Guijao raised their children to be prideful and resilient in her absence. Their daughters believed only their beauty and feminine charm would bless them with many wealthy suitors.
Kirihito grew up to be his father's shadow, holding to traditionalist values and acting as a financial advisor to the family assets. Like his father, he was outwardly cruel to anyone who didn't respect his ideals.
The other male family members seemingly ignored Kirihito's arrogance because his father was the next head of the house.
The family outcast, Kagome, of sixteen summers, was the last to arrive at the hall. All conversations immediately stopped once she entered the room.
As the product of a coupling between her late mother and a traveling vagabond, she was often looked down upon by other family members as a bastard.
She walked gracefully down the stretch of ornate tiles despite the judgmental gazes weighing on her. Many women snickered and whispered about the worn straw sandals on her tabi-covered feet.
She came dressed in her traditional priestess robes because the maid had summoned her without proper notice during her morning service to the shrine.
"How dare that wench come in those temple rags! How classless!" She heard Kikyo whisper to Kaede. The sisters snickered at her as she passed them, but she didn't falter in her duty.
The peerless beauty arrived before the elders and paid her grandfather's respect by kneeling and lowering her head accordingly.
Her forehead touched the floor while her lengthy, low-tied ponytail rested behind her feet.
"This filial granddaughter humbly greets grandfather."
Hyuga smiled at the humility his favorite child displayed. He was pleased by the purity of her immense spiritual power and calming presence.
Guijao, however, gazed at the girl calculatingly. Kagome had been a thorn in his side all his life. Under his father's watchful eye, every attempt to rid himself of her in early childhood failed.
Kirihito glanced past his father, staring shamelessly at his cousin. As a child, he was always fascinated with Kagome. As time passed, his quiet feelings for his cousin came to the forefront when he reached sexual maturity.
Her ceremonial clothes did not downplay her alluring body. Kirihito observed the heaviness of her breasts, and she performed the customary greeting. He couldn't ignore the curvature of her plump backside in those red skirts.
Unimpressed by her cousin's resounding beauty, Kikyo rolled her deep cinnamon eyes. She sneered when the latter took the vacant seat beside her. She turned to the group of elders and addressed her father in a sweet voice.
"Papa, I heard we received a most promising letter from a prestigious family. Tell me, is it true?"
Guijao turned to her with a nervous expression.
"Yes, my morning dewdrop. A letter has come from the Takeda family," he revealed carefully.
Just then, the head of the family glanced over at his son and scoffed. He lifted a paper from the table and chuckled at his granddaughter's enthusiasm.
"I have a fortunate marriage proposal between our house and the Takeda Clan! The wedding is of Lord Kuranosuke and a daughter of our house!"
After his utterance, the room filled with whispers and gasps. Kikyo's eyes sparkled, and her heart fluttered within her breast at the idea of being Shinya's bride.
Like her sister, Kaede grew excited by the news. Kirihito was surprised but noticed his cousin's reserved expression didn't change.
Kagome's lack of reaction pleased him, as he knew no man would ever want his family's bastard child for a wife.
The only future that awaited a girl like her was to be a courtesan to some rich man or die as a withered old temple hag.
He smiled in deep memory at the things those pleasure women did to him in Yoshiwara, which made him go crazy.
The idea of forcing his lovely cousin into the same sexual servitude made his member harden within his trousers. He'd be more than willing to be her private sponsor if she offered her body to him.
"Oh, how I have prayed night and day for such a letter to arrive! It is truly a blessing to our most humble family!"
Kikyo didn't notice the discomfort growing on her father's face as she leaned back in her chair, smiling joyously in light of the news.
Hyuga, however, looked distant despite the entire family's excitement.
Kirihito suddenly spoke, "It would be foolish of us not to accept the proposal! The Takeda Clan has more trade influence than the first letter from the Tokijii family. The influence and resources from our unity would be most prosperous."
One of the uncles sitting beside him agreed.
"Quite true, Hito. We must tie our family to strong ones to grow our status among the trading circles and expand the distribution of our magnolia products across the regions!"
Guijao nodded at his family members' murmurs of agreement. He turned his eyes to his brooding father, wondering what was going through his mind.
The patriarch withdrew from his thoughts and met his eldest son's concerned gaze with bemusement.
Hyuga then turned to Kikyo, staring at the young beauty calculatingly. He calmly stroked his long, frayed white beard and considered his words before regarding her.
"So, Kikyo, you heard what your brother and uncles think. You are the lady with the most court insteadence. Do you favor this union between the two families as well?"
Kikyo rose from her chair and came to her grandfather, falling on her knees before him. Her straight black hair fell over her shoulders, and her brightly colored skirts spread out on the floor under her knees.
She didn't mind the dust ruining the expensive kimono and prostrated before her elders. She knew her father would buy twenty more like it if she wanted, for she was his most favored child.
"I humbly beg Grandfather to accept the marriage agreement! The gods shall smile upon your wise dictation over our family," she complimented.
The patriarch nodded his head at her words. Once he'd heard enough, he dismissed her with a wave of his hand and sat back with a sigh.
"My such honeyed words; I pray that the aftermath of my decision does not leave your tongue bitter, my dear."
Kikyo gave him a coy smile, holding her arms for the servants as they assisted her standing. She smirked at Kagome in passing, knowing the simple girl could never come close to her radiance.
Kagome's expression remained unbothered by her cousin's theatrics as she waited to be called upon next. The sooner this was all over the faster she could visit her mother.
Finally, Hyuga's aged blue eyes shifted in her direction. Kagome lowered her head respectfully at his attention. She waited for his instruction, and he smiled at her obedience.
"And now for you, Kagome, my gentle flower, raise your head and let me hear your thoughts."
Kagome raised her head, and her piercing blue eyes surveyed the audience of men before her. She rose from her seat and knelt respectfully before her grandfather, her movements precise and calm.
"My only wish is for the wellbeing of our house and for grandfather to retain humility. While joining the two clans may bring prosperity, the issues in a foundation will only become apparent with added weight."
Some men in the room gasped while others whispered negatively among themselves. She held her head high, ignoring their cruel gazes and judgmental comments.
Guijao's younger brother, Yutaro, rose from his seat and pointed a finger accusingly at his niece.
"Outrageous! Are you saying that our household is not strong?! Are you saying grandfather is without his morals?! An outsider like you dares to speak so callously of our family?"
Kagome glared at the man, immediately ready to take on the repercussions of her own words.
"Don't worry, Uncle Yu! I shall discipline this bastard wench accordingly!" Said Kirihito as he rose from his seat.
Kikyo fanned herself, looking on from her chair with an arrogant grin while her sister did the same. Her twin brother moved down the steps to make an example of the idiot girl before the entire family.
Good boy, Kirihito! Beat that smug bitch! You must learn Kagome and refrain from speaking on matters that don't concern you! Kikyo thought as the scene unfolded in front of her.
"Stop!" Hyuga yelled.
His booming voice effectively halted his grandson as he moved to strike Kagome, who braced herself for the impact.
"Like father, like son! Two lions who don't look before they leap! Guijao, you have raised an incompetent fool!"
Guijao lowered his head before his father, trembling at the man's angry tone. Kirihito quickly presented his hands in a formal fist wrapping and kneeled as a sign of respect to the elder.
"Forgive this one's insolence, father and grandfather! We can't allow This girl to speak freely in the presence of men!"
Guijao turned to his niece, and pointed at her with a tense expression as he spoke.
"The wench must learn to hold her tongue where household matters do not concern illegitimates like her."
"Guijao! It stirs my bile that you've spoiled these weeds while the true flower that grew their shadow has become the most beautiful in our garden," Hyuga reprimanded, banging his fist on the arm of his chair.
Kikyo balked at those words! It infuriated her that her grandfather considered Kagome to be prettier than her. The wench wasn't equal to her in any capacity! She should've been kicked out ages ago!
"Spoiled weeds, that's cruel grandfather! Who is more deserving of becoming Lord Kuranosuke's wife than I?! I am the jewel of Naohara!" The noble lady dared to argue, stamping her dainty foot much to everyone's surprise. Kikyo signaled to her attendants discreetly, and they promptly sang praises of beauty and good fortune.
"This cheap imitation can't even hold a candle to my stunning beauty! You insult our entire clan by not choosing me as the young lord's bride!"
The patriarch remained unphased by her little display. He glared at the singing servants, who shut their mouths and lowered their heads.
"Sit down, Kikyo," Her father snapped. The girl quickly collapsed back to her seat, pouting in the chair.
Hyuga looked over his brood with agitation before flicking his sleeve back and pointing his finger at Kagome.
"Let it be known that this child is the one who was named to be Lord Kuranosuke's wife in the proposal letter! Make no mistake! She has the blood of our family, therefore she is a member of this household and will be respected the same as any of you!"
Kikyo's face fell at the elder's decree and her skin faded several shades. She couldn't believe it! Kagome of all people? How could Lord Kuranosuke choose that dull girl over her exquisite self? She couldn't accept it.
She glared over at her cousin, shaking with fury. Kagome, however, remained unaffected by the news. She simply relaxed into the chair waiting for their grandfather to continue speaking.
"As you've begged so sweetly, Kikyo, I approve of the union! And Kagome, I shall send my blessings and rewards to your pavilion for the success you've brought up on the family!"
Kikyo, her sister, and the maids all made the same expression, horrified by the outcome. Kaede moved to comfort her crying sibling, much to the distress of their father and brother, who could only watch from their seats.
"I, Kagome, will humbly accept this honor. Thank you, grandfather."
Kagome bowed, her forehead touching the floor as her cousin's maids quickly whisked her distressed cousins away on their father's orders.
The young priestess then raised fluidly from the floor and took her leave. She ignored the curses and spiteful glares she received upon deparcher.
Once Kagome found herself alone, she smiled widely. The subtle conversations and lingering glances between her and the young lord had finally paid off.
Kagome remembered when Kuranosuke first visited the temple; she could tell he was instantly smitten with her.
Their attraction grew stronger with the young lord's frequent visits. They shared their first kiss four months ago, and he proposed soon after.
Once she returned to the temple, she needed to consult the head priest about her engagement. Master Reinzo then had to find a suitable replacement for her position.
As Kagome headed to the stables, she cut through the gardens. She felt satisfied with her cruel cousins' distress knowing soon that her revenge was just on the horizon. They would all pay for their crimes.
Upon passing a goldfish pond with ornate topiary, a rough hand bursted from the bushes grabbed her. She whipped around, only to find herself staring into Kirihito's angry eyes.
End.
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Until next time, GR.