Masquerade

Chapter Twelve- Who Shut Up the Sea Behind Doors

The Southern fortress was nestled deep in a mountain range, surrounded by an impenetrable wall and rushing rivers. There was only one road to the lord’s home, and a barrier surrounded the property for three miles in each direction.

Sesshoumaru insisted they flew.

Masao argued it would be best if they walked.

Kagome… sat by and watched their argument, greatly amused.

“Sesshoumaru-sama, I insist. If we walk we will attract less attention, and we will be able to gain entrance through the gate in a conventional method.”

“Our time will be cut in half if we take to the skies. Clearly my decision is best.”

“Um, Sesshoumaru-sama?” Kagome waved her hand in the air a little.

Sesshoumaru turned to her with narrowed eyes previously focused on Masao. Kagome cringed. (But it was only a little!)

“Didn’t you say you were merely on this trip to supervise my truthfulness?”

Sesshoumaru blinked, then turned away from them and began walking. “Fine. We will do it your way.”

Masao and Kagome smiled at each other victoriously then set off after Sesshoumaru in stride. “Masao-kun?”

“You keep switching.”

“What?”

“You keep switching between Masao-kun and Masao-san.”

“Oh. What would you prefer?”

Masao winked at her; “Masao-kun is fine, as long as I may call you Kagome-chan.”

Kagome scowled and crossed her arms. “Masao-san it is.” Those flash backs of her old school friends crowding around her screaming “Kagome-chan!” were frightening enough.

“Now, what did you want to ask?”

“What happened next? Between you and Leiko, I mean.”

Masao looked ahead and smiled a dreamy, distant smile. “Well, our first meeting was definitely my favorite…”

The train of horses containing the future mate of Masao was both extravagant and colorful, the announcement that royal dog-demon blood was in the Northern lands spread quickly and many villages rejoiced at the future union between the young Masao and Leiko.

Masao was less than eager.

But he had plans, and plans to back up those plans, and plans to back up the back-up plans! Why, he had so many plans he-

“Masao! Stop trying to produce ominous monologue!” His mother scolded.

Masao looked around innocently, “I was saying that out loud?”

“Yes. You were.” His father said calmly, nodding at his mate. After the lady looked away he leaned down to his son’s level, “Don’t worry. You’ll get it right one day. I did.”

Masao grinned and looked out at the courtyard, swinging his arms back and forth. “Mother, father? Can I show Leiko to her room personally?” He asked, feigning blamelessness.

Ume looked down at her son, smiling warmly. “Of course! Oh, I’m just so happy for you!” She squealed, pinching his cheeks.

Masao smiled weakly.

Tatsuharu looked away, chuckling deeply.

Ume remained oblivious.

Eventually the carriage holding Leiko and her parents pulled up. Masao watched anxiously, his eyes jumping to his mother and father every now and then. Eventually both Jouichirou and his mate, Yuzuna, stood in front of them, exchanging greetings and smiling at him.

Leiko exited, and Masao stopped breathing for a brief moment. Her hair was bound, her face unpainted, and she was scowling down at the decorative kimono while tugging her sleeves up her arms with an irritated huff each time they fell back down.

Masao was in love.

Leiko looked up at the small boy, and blinked. His white hair was braided, his purple orbs glowed, and his dark skin was adorned with small, glittering markings. He was dressed in an outfit similar to his father’s, and his eyes were fixed on her with a dazed expression.

Leiko wasn’t amused.

He looked stupid and immature. Leiko rolled her eyes and stalked to her parents, offering the lord and lady of the Northern lands a bow and polite smile, before glowering once more at their son.

Masao watched as the beautiful girl stared at him in an unconvinced manner. She was so pretty and graceful and-

Sticking her tongue out at him.

Officially shaken out of his reverie he scowled back and crossed his arms, blinking only when the wind blew his bangs into his eyes.

And suddenly Leiko was much more amused.

“Masao?”

“Yes mother?”

“Are you going to escort Leiko to her room?”

Masao shrugged and started walking.

“Wait!”

He turned to the small demoness, “What?”

“You forgot my bag.” Leiko said, looking at him expectantly.

Masao glanced up at his parents, both of whom gave him an eager look, and grabbed the bag, grumbling quietly.

Masao was exactly twelve years old. Leiko was nine.

Masao was a cat. Leiko was a dog.

Masao’s name meant righteous. Leiko’s name meant arrogance.

Masao was Japanese. Leiko was Spanish.

It. Would. Never. Work.

As Masao mentally compiled his list of how absolutely incompatible he and the dog were Leiko was restraining herself from touching his pretty, stupid, shiny hair.

“We’re here.” He said, throwing the bag in a corner.

Leiko glared at him and planted her hands on her hips. “Say you’re sorry.”

“For what?” Masao was genuinely surprised.

“Throwing my bag!”

Masao rolled his eyes and looked away, smirking inwardly as she took a step towards him. Just a little more… “Why would I do that?”

She took another step forward. “Because,” And suddenly all the anger and dislike drained from her, “I don’t want to do this either.” She mumbled, looking at him with wide pale eyes.

Masao’s devious side deflated, Curse my conscious. She began to take another step towards him, and his eyes widened with panic. “No!”

Her foot hit the ground, the other following. “No?” Another step and-

Masao tackled her to the floor, staring back as a bucket of cold sake hit the ground behind him. Leiko blushed prettily for a moment, and then grew red in anger. “You- You! You were going to let that hit me!”

Masao looked down at her guiltily and stood up, helping Leiko to steady herself. “I was. But I didn’t.”

Leiko turned her back to him and crossed her arms. “You’ve completely ruined the floor. I’m going to tell your parents.”

“No! Don’t!” Masao grabbed her arm and yanked her back to him, looking around anxiously. “Look, I’m sorry. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Will you please forgive me?”

Leiko eyed him warily but nodded. “Alright. Do you want to start over?”

Masao grinned and bowed. “Uchida Masao. Heir to the Northern throne.”

“Toshikazu Leiko. Daughter of Jouichirou, Western advisor.”

The two bowed and smiled at one another.

Friendship, check.

“You can’t stop there!” Kagome cried indignantly.

“Of course I can.” Masao replied haughtily.

“Please Masao! Please don’t make me try to strike up a conversation with Sesshoumaru. I’ll get down on my knees and beg.” She offered, tugging on his sleeve.

A flash of Kagome on her knees before him flew through his mind, but he brushed it off and smiled at her. “Fine. But only until we stop for the night.”

“Yes, Masao-san.”

“Let’s see, I believe I was sixteen the next time we met.”

“Masao!”

Masao dropped his naginata at the loud call, barely missing his foot. He looked up to the doorway of the dojo, scowling at his father’s ecstatic face.

“Guess who’s coming here tomorrow!”

“Buddha.” Masao drawled, picking up his weapon.

“I wish…” Tatsuharu said quietly, but shook his head and plastered on that smile again. “No! Your future mate! In one months time you will be a married man!”

The naginata clattered to the ground again. In an eloquent show of self-restraint Masao said only one thing. “Huh?”

Tatsuharu smiled and clapped his son on his back. “Leiko, you remember? The beautiful dog-demoness from the West.”

Masao blinked slowly. Who? His brows drew together in confusion as he absently picked up the glaive, running a hand over the flat side of the blade.

A flash of brunette hair, swirling eyes, and pale skin quaked in his mind, and he exhaled. Oh, right. Leiko.

He turned back to his father, his hand wound around the naginata securely. “Tomorrow, you said?”

Tatsuharu nodded.

“A month, you said?”

Tatsuharu grinned.

Masao nodded and exited the dojo, placing his naginata by his father’s katana on his way out.

The shiro was located on the Northern shore, surrounded by the mountains and the endless sea. Masao walked toward the ocean now, jumping gracefully down the jagged cliff edges and jutting boulders. Summer had started a month ago, though the days remained oddly cool. He landed on the sand silently and listened to the crash of waves, staying a safe distance away from the water.

Married.

It wasn’t as if he hadn’t been expecting it. In fact, he was surprised he lasted this long without getting stuck to a female.

A sigh escaped him and he fell back on the sand with a plop.

This time next month you’ll be a lord, a mate, and your concubine halls will be barren.

… Not that he had any concubine halls, but he’d heard of them.

He sat up and scratched at his unbound hair, peeling his sweaty shirt off with a grimace.

Note to self: In dojo, less is more.

Masao shut his eyes and lay back in the sand again, breathing deeply of the salty air. The sun shown almost blindingly and birds passed overhead, squawking loudly.

Slowly time passed, but Masao didn’t move. Finally, when the sun began to set in the horizon he rose, drawing his knees up and draping his arms over them casually.

Mated.

In no way before had a word struck him so forcefully.

“Masao.”

His eyes turned to the voice, but his head remained immobile. His mother was looking at him softly, a smile on her painted lips. The wind pulled at her white hair, tossing a few stray strands in her face.

Masao stood and turned to her.

“Are you nervous? Or scared?” Ume asked, looking up at him kindly.

Wordlessly he hugged her, sighing into the oiled hair piled on her head.

She smelt of burning wood, green tea, and comfort. His mother had been ill recently; a plague had spread through their home. She’d been so ashen and weak Masao often worried she wouldn’t make it. Even after the disease had passed, she hadn’t been able to speak for weeks. Often her voice would wane and waver, though she still faithfully completed her duties as Lady of the North.

“Okaa-san?”

“Yes, my boy?”

“If I run away can I still have my inheritance?”

She giggled and smacked his arm, pulling away from him. “What do you think?”

“I think,” Masao began proudly, “That if I held a sake bottle over father’s head he’d give me my inheritance, his sword, the lands, and five horses with a blessing.”

Ume laughed again. “Probably.”

They started up the beach, talking quietly while ascending the stone steps Masao had previously ignored.

“Will Leiko’s parents come as well?” Masao inquired.

“Leiko’s mother and father passed away a while ago.” Ume said quietly. “They were killed by the plague.”

Masao gaped at her a couple moments then calmed himself and looked down at his feet. The haori he’d previously discarded slid over his shoulders, though he kept it untied.

“But Leiko’s a strong girl,” his mother spoke up suddenly, surprising him. “She’s accepted it.”

Masao stopped walking and looked back at the setting sun.

No more freedom.

He shook his head and jogged up to his mother, whistling softly.

Maybe it won’t be so bad.

“Go on…” Kagome said, gesturing with her hands.

Masao looked down at her, then back up at the inu-youkai ahead of them. Sesshoumaru had stopped in a small clearing, and was now sitting silently against a stump.

“What was our deal, Kagome-san?”

Kagome crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “Fine. Whatever you say, Masao-san. But you’re finishing tomorrow!” She stomped forward, sitting down on a log with a huff.

Masao chuckled and followed, his mind miles and miles away.

An eerie glow entered the deserted campsite. Kagome examined the spindly soul-stealer with lowered lids.

Masao and Sesshoumaru had disappeared earlier, for reasons Kagome didn’t bother to find out. It was around midnight now. No campfire was lit and Kagome was alone with a shinidamachu floating around her.

Creepy.

She stood up slowly, a hand on the hilt of her katana.

The soul-collector circled her a couple more times then flew to the right, apparently waiting for her to follow.

Kagome hesitated a moment, took one glance back at the empty campground, and took off after the shinidamachu.

She ran hurriedly through the darkened woods, relying on the glow of the soul-stealer for light.

After half an hour of running she stopped under a towering oak, panting and sweating.

Kagome caught her breath slowly and slid down the tree, taking a seat under one particularly large branch.

“You came.” Kikyou said monotonously.

“Yes.” Kagome responded, closing her eyes.

She heard the soft swish of fabric then silence. When she opened her eyes once again Kikyou was crouching in front of her, watching her blankly. “I have much to tell you.” The undead woman intoned calmly.

Kagome sat up, studying Kikyou with hooded eyes.

“Masao! Sesshoumaru!” Kagome sprinted full speed through the woods, ignoring her burning lungs and aching side. A tree scrapped her cheek, leaving a small red line on her skin, but she ignored it. “Sesshoumaru!”

She burst into the campsite, looking around wildly.

Masao and Sesshoumaru appeared seconds later, staring at her expectantly. “Kagome?” Masao asked.

She turned fully to them, tears threatening to leak from her eyes.

“We have to go to Edo. Now.”

Kikyou: I helped her? I helped her! What- What is this? Don’t you get it? I hate her! I want her dead! She deserves eternal anguish and pain and- Did you just say pocky?

Author: I. Do. Not. Hate. Kikyou. Sorry. I can’t. So, please don’t yell at me because you wish she died a thousand deaths.

Sesshoumaru: What did she tell you?

Kagome: …

Masao: Kagome-san? Kagome! What’s wrong!

Kagome: *faints*