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Unexpected Endeavors	By : Scottishfae Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Sessh?maru/Kagome > Sessh?maru/Kagome Views: 70551 -:- Recommendations : 4 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

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Unexpected Endeavors

scottishfae

A/N: sorry, a bit impatient, I guess; here are more chapters!

Arc 3: What Little Girls are Made Of

Chapter 21: Sugar & Spice

“I know the house of Inu has always proven to produce such powerful children in the past—but really they have become so very watered down. Such fools my sons are—and yet so much like their father.”

“Perhaps this is more a fault of your bloodline than InuTaisho’s—after all, Inuyasha is proving to be quiet a force to reckon with,” Ichimaru expressed.

Red eyes pierced his but the Northern Taiyoukai ignored it. He had about enough of scheming women. “He is a hanyou,” she spat. “And what self-respecting youkai ruts with a human?”

“Your husband,” Ichimaru pointed out. “And both of your sons.”

Amaya wanted to scream, claw, and kill Ichimaru at the moment, but he outranked her—and his cooperation was still vital in her plans. The omiai was coming along perfectly, the Northern Tai having already chosen the appropriate nakoda, but he could still cancel everything.

“If you’re done insulting me in my home, Ichimaru-dono, may I begin with the reason I convened the Court here today.”

Ichimaru said nothing, but motioned for her to continue. It was time to address the Lower Court. There were four Lower Courts, each important only it their directional territory. While the High Court could make any decision involving multiple territories without the consulting the Lower, decorum and custom dictated the inclusion of the lesser nobility. And so she did.

“Since my honored, eldest son seems to fallen to weakness of mortal flesh, I—and the Higher Court—have agreed that an arranged marriage is best. Ichimaru-dono has agreed in the uniting of our own Sesshomaru-dono and his youngest daughter, Tamara-san.”

There was a quiet stirring as the Court began springing to life in discussion. Marriages between the Taiyoukai families were rare; movement in rank was usually restricted to each territories courts. The Western Lower Court was a buzz: many just curious about this new addition, and others disappointed and upset that their own daughters had been overlooked for such an honored position. Amaya recognized some angry looks from her own extended family who had hoped Sesshomaru’s first wife would be, like herself for InuTaisho, chosen from their ranks. It was a risk angering them, but a calculated one.

“Tamara-san, some may know already, she has been staying at the palace to accustom herself with our Court. I would like to introduce you, formally, today. The omiai is currently planned for two moon cycles from now.”

There was a shuffle to Amaya’s left and the rustle of fabric. “I object to this,” a deep, male voice called.

The woman was surprised to see Shinobu standing. Silver hair was elegantly pinned up at the nape of his neck in a vertical, but shallow u-shape. His clothing always leaned more towards the feminine styles. This day he wore a simple, white kosode; the small obi holding it closed was a deep red that set off his complexion nicely. He wore another kosode, this one black with red and gold embroidered petals decorating it completely, over the other. His sky-blue eyes shimmered with anger.

What surprised Amaya by this interruption—because she was certainly expecting some disagreement and had thus planted her allies to help convince them otherwise—was that it was Shinobu. He was one of her favorites. His actual status was of very low birth within the Lower Court. If it hadn’t been for his looks, he would have been ignored altogether. However, Amaya had discovered him long before her marriage with InuTashio, and had continued acquittance long after it too. His current status was all due to his place in Amaya’s bed, and the child that had come from it.

“Shinobu, sit down.” Amaya commanded; not amused at his outburst.

“Absolutely not. It is one thing to arrange a marriage for Sesshomaru-dono, but it’s entirely different to bring in someone from a different Court to do so.”

“This marriage would be advantageous to everyone involved, including our Courts here. Or are you challenging the honored tradition of arranged marriage in the Western lands?” she challenged.

“Yes. For once, I believe, we should allow a marriage of love, and not of duty.”

There was a gasp. The sound of fans being rapidly fluttered as the court ladies whispered amongst each other. It was a declaration, and they all knew it.

Amaya looked to the doors at the fall end of the meeting hall; she motioned with her hand for the palace guards there to remove the man from the room. They went about their task immediately. “If you cannot behave in the manner of the court, Shinobu, you shall not be allowed here. Now, leave and only return when you have permission to once more.”

The beautiful man turned at the guards’ touch on his arms. He pulled away and, with head held high, he practically floated across the room and out of the hall.

“Are there any other objections?”

There were none.

“Good, then let me introduce you to Tamara-san,” she said sweetly.

At the end of the hall, where Shinobu had just exited, the doors were opened and a girl’s shadow loomed. She wore only a simple kosode, decorated in light pinks and blues. Her obi matched. A fan hid her face as she walked into the room. Her movements were jerky and, while she tried to keep her head held high, it was obvious she wanted to shrink into herself with all the eyes on her.

She walked up the platform and stood next to Amaya. Ichimaru rose and stood next to her as well. He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “Put down your fan,” Amaya commanded.

Tamara did as told. Her family was an odd mix. They were, at the beginning, wolves. And they were now, but as the family had grown into the court, and away from their roots, they were often scoffed at for being ‘wild dogs’ or ‘tamed wolves.’ Neither truly seemed appropriate, but their strength and claim to nobility erased any doubt on their rights.

The wolf youkai was fair skinned, which was her best attribute. Her hair was a medium brown; currently kept short as the younger daughters were given less time with servants and thus had less time to be doted upon. Her eyes were a light brown with flex of orange set off by light. Her mouth was small and she smiled sweetly. Her smile was nice though hesitant. With her moderately thin body, it proved Tamara was one thing above anything else: average.

There was just nothing spectacular about her. When she bowed, almost falling as she did so, and addressed the crowd formally, they were still not awed. Whispers took over the hall once more.

Amaya motioned with her hand for silence once more. “Now that you have met your future Lady, be kind and help her through her stay here until she is married to my son, your Lord. You are dismissed.”

The Lower Court, together, bowed. The Higher Court, as tradition stated, left first. First Ichimaru, Sai, and Kai, then Amaya with Tamara. “Come,” she whispered to the girl as they left. “We have much to continue discussing.”

She nodded.

*

Tamara fidgeted; it was getting cold and she wanted to go home. “Keep still,” Amaya hissed at her.

They were standing just outside of the outer barrier; within a pocket barrier the Lady made herself to keep the guards from finding her. They waited.

Then, as with every third night in the past month, a small girl ran out of the barriers and towards them. Amaya plastered on a kind smile and sunk to the ground. She held out her arms to collect the small girl in a hug. “How are you Rin-chan?”

She gave the inuyoukai a small smile. Stepping back, she looked over and bowed to Tamara. She, in turn, gave her a large, kind smile and bowed back. A fan hit her on the arm. “Don’t bow to humans, dear,” Amaya said; her usual malice disguised.

“Tell me, Rin-chan, how are things within the compound, especially with the miko?”

“They were talking at breakfast a couple days ago,” she whispered.

“Oh? About?”

She frowned, recalling what Jaken had later explained to her in more details. “Kagome-san is going to have Sesshomaru-dono’s son.”

Tamara gasped, bringing a sleeve-covered hand to her mouth. Amaya’s mouth drew into a thin line. “She is already with child?”

Rin nodded. “Cho-san confirmed it, they said.”

Amaya stood up and paced the small area within her own barrier. “This is worse than I thought.”

“What is?” the human asked.

The Lady looked at Tamara with trepidation. The younger youkai looked away. “I’m sorry, Rin-chan, it’s just that…when the miko has the child, Sesshomaru-dono will no longer have room for you.”

Rin gasped and stepped back; tears were coming to her eyes as she frequently asked the truth behind the statement. “I’m sorry dear, but you know girls are not valued and when the miko gives Sesshomaru-dono his son, he’ll no longer want you around.”

“No,” Rin moaned, sinking to her knees.

Amaya looked pointedly at Tamara. The other youkai walked forward and sunk to her own knees. She wrapped her arms around the little human. “Don’t cry, Rin-chan. I would never throw you out.”

Rin shifted to press her face into the expensive, silk kimono. Tamara cringed as the girl clung to her. “Rin-chan,” Tamara tentatively said. “You know I’m to marry Sesshomaru-dono?”

“You are?” she sniffled.

“Yes, though the plans are being interrupted by the miko, unfortunately.”

“I’m sorry,” the girl said in response.

“If the miko was out of the picture,” Amaya continued. “Then Tamara-san could wed Sesshomaru-dono, and you could stay with him.”

“Really?”

She brought her head out of the fabric to look at the older youkai. “Yes,” she answered.

She too sunk to the ground and put a clawed hand on the girl’s face. She ran her fingers down the tanned, smooth cheeks. “I can tell you what to do, to make that happen.”

Rin thought about it a bit, chewing on the inside of her cheek. “W-what do I have to do?”

Amaya smiled, her eyes lighting up dangerously. “Good girl, Rin-chan. You will be a good addition to our family, officially. All you have to do is…”
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Unexpected Endeavors