Love and Politics in Feudal Japan

Later that morning,Kagome, Sango, Miroku, and Inuyasha awoke to a crying Rin and a screaming Jaken. "Sesshoumaru-sama is gone. He left Rin," the little girl cried as she ran to Kagome. "Baka, of course Sesshoumaru-sama left you. You're just a worthless ningen we...," Jaken was knocked to the floor by Kagome's shoe.
"Don't speak to her like that, you ugly toad! Now, Rin, I'm sure Sesshoumaru-sama didn't leave you. He'll probably be back in a little while," Kagome said as she gathered Rin into her arms, "Now how about some breakfast?" Rin smiled and ran to play with Kirara.
"That makes me wonder where Sesshoumaru-sama took off to. He left without his ward or his retainer," Miroku commented quietly,” I wonder if he went to meet someone." *THWACK* *BAM* "STOP THINKING THINGS LIKE THAT, PERVERTED HOUSHI!!!" A fuming Sango and Kagome yelled at a now unconscious Miroku.
After Miroku gained consciousness, the group packed up and headed toward the Northeast in the direction Naraku was rumored to be. Around midday Sesshoumaru came back to the small group and was met with a very angry Inuyasha.
"Bastard, where the hell have you been? We've fought three demons already and I can still smell more. Not to mention that damn toad whining constantly," Inuyasha pointed to Jaken who was bowed at Sesshoumaru's feet.
"Forgive me little brother, but this Sesshoumaru needed to hunt. Plus you smell more demons because you have just crossed into the Eastern Lands. Inutaishi has apparently sent some of her guards to keep an eye on us," Sesshoumaru replied coolly and kicked Jaken in a nearby tree.
"Why would this Inutaishi person do something like that?" Shippo asked, "It's not like we're going to do anything bad."



"I know you won't, kit, but as far as Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, the Taijya, the Miko, and that Monk go, I can't take any chances. Therefore, all of you are now officially under my personal surveillance." A female demon who Sesshoumaru immediately recognized stepped out from the trees in front of the group. She was dressed in a midnight blue kimono with silver crescent moon embroidering and a silver sash. Two swords rested on her left hip, black hair with blue and silver stripes fell down her back past her knees, a black tail with blue stripes rested on her right shoulder, black stripes adorned her face, a dark red crescent moon adornered her forehead and her eyes were so purple that they'd put a violet to shame. She smiled showing her fangs, but the smile held no life to it and her eyes were as cold if not colder than Sesshoumaru's own amber ones.
"I'm Inutaishi, by the way, and you are in my lands. Normally, I would not escort travelers, but I don't trust Sesshoumaru any farther than I can see him," Inutaishi bowed to the group who were glancing at Sesshoumaru wondering what the hell he did to the demoness in front of them, "Do you mind if I ask your names?"
Inuyasha decided to introduce everyone since the rest were glaring daggers at Sesshoumaru, "Well Inutaishi um chan?" Inuyasha gulped and looked at Tai who nodded and motioned for him to continue, "First off, we're headed for your Northeastern border. Secondly, this is Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kirara, and Rin. You already know me, Sesshoumaru, and Jaken."
As their names were said, the group waved or bowed to Inutaishi who did the same. Rin, however, ran up to Inutaishi and said, "Inutaishi-sama is really pretty. What type of youkai is Inutaishi-sama and why is Inutaishi-sama mad at Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Inutaishi looked down at the girl and smiled a true smile, while scaring the hell out of the group and her own guards who hadn't seen her smile like that since her own ward's wedding day nearly 40 years prior. She looked at Rin and said, "Well I happen to be an inuyoukai like Sesshoumaru, but probably stronger. As far as why I'm angry with him, I believe that can wait until later. We need to find shelter now because there's rain rolling in from the west and it should be here in a few minutes. Don't want anyone sick, do we?" Tai turned and glared at her guards who immediately went to find shelter. The guards returned and told Tai about a nearby village. The group started heading toward the village, Inuyasha in the lead, followed by Inutaishi and her guards then Kagome, Sango, Shippo, Kirara, Rin, and Miroku, with Sesshoumaru and Jaken bringing up the rear.
Sesshoumaru was glaring at the back of Inutaishi's head and thinking, 'She doesn't trust this Sesshoumaru? That's ludicrous. How can she not trust this Sesshoumaru?' 'Baka, you already know the answer to that. You scared the hell out of her that day, remember?' 'You again? This Sesshoumaru only remembers fighting with her in the hallway. There was no fear there.' 'Perhaps you should refresh your memory, baka.'




~Flashback 60 years prior, Tai's 98th birthday~
"Inutaishi-sama to see you, Sesshoumaru-sama," the servant bowed to him and then to Tai as she entered the room. Sesshoumaru looked up over the mound of paperwork left after Inutaisho's funeral and motioned for Tai to take a seat at the desk. Inutaishi sat across from him and watched as he put the seal from the Western Lands on a scroll and called for a messenger.
"You must be really busy Fluffy-sama," Tai stated and giggled, "I heard you sent 'yashi and his okaasan to live in a human village. Mind telling me why?"
Sesshoumaru sat back in his chair and looked at her. Something was different about HIS Rosy today, he could tell. "No, Rosy-sama, I don't believe I need to tell you why," Sesshoumaru told her in a low voice and reached inside the drawer of his desk and pulled out a black box with a purple ribbon tied around it, "Happy Birthday."
Sesshoumaru handed the box to Tai who admired it for a second then untied the ribbon and opened it. Inside was the most beautiful necklace Tai had ever seen. It resembled Sesshoumaru in his true form and had a topaz cut in a crescent moon shape on the dogs head. The dog itself was made of diamonds and the chain was pure silver. Tai immediately jumped over the desk and hugged Sesshoumaru thanking him over and over for the beautiful necklace.
Sesshoumaru's amber eyes turned blood red and he tightened his hold on her, "Mine," He declared as he began to kiss Tai roughly. Tai froze, obvious fear showing in her violet eyes, and smacked him across the face leaving a trail of blood from her claws.
Sesshoumaru howled and threw Inutaishi on the floor then jumped on top of her and attempted to pin her down. Inutaishi threw Sesshoumaru off of her and bolted for the door dropping the necklace as she went. Sesshoumaru ran after her and pinned her to the wall in the hallway, however, he neglected to notice that he didn't pin her feet and she kicked him. Sesshoumaru was knocked to the other end of the hall from the force of the kick. He regained his composure and lunged for Inutaishi catching her before she fled through the front door. He caught Tai and fell backwards landing with her on top of him struggling to get away.
Sesshoumaru's eyes returned to their normal golden color and he saw Tai on top of him with tears streaming down her face. She was scared, so scared that he could taste it and he released her.
Inutaishi realized he released her and jumped up, tears still falling, and screamed, "I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!! DON'T YOU EVER COME NEAR ME AGAIN, YOU BASTARD!!" She turned and ran never looking back. If she would have, the sight would've broken her heart.
Sesshoumaru sat in the middle of the floor looking shocked and guilty. He noticed water was dripping on his hands and raised them to his face. He was crying. He'd messed up and lost the only person he ever truly loved. Not knowing what else to do and feeling lost, he let loose a long, mournful howl.
~End Flashback~


'She was scared wasn't she?' Sesshoumaru was so caught up in his memories that he didn't notice that the group had reached its destination. He kept on walking until he saw Inutaishi in front of him and stopped, "What?"
"We're here, jerkwad, or did you not realize that?" Inutaishi glared at him and growled before releasing the fighting stance she'd gotten into, "The way you were looking at me, you must've been thinking of something unpleasant." She smirked at him then turned and went inside the inn to pay for a room.
Sesshoumaru's anger flared when she smirked at him and watched her walk inside. "That woman," he growled and clenched his fists, "Jaken, keep an eye on Rin. I'm leaving for awhile." He transformed and took to the sky once again.

"Wow, those two fight like they're old rivals or something," Sango said in amazement, "I wonder what happened to them?" Sango turned to Inuyasha, "Do you know why she doesn't trust him, Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha shook his head, "No. When I was little, the two of them were best friends. During the summers when she was training with Sesshoumaru and Otousan, I never saw Tai-chan without Sesshoumaru and vice versa. The two of them even shared a room while Tai-chan was there. He refused to let her out of his sight for even a minute. They even took baths together. I wonder what happened."
"Would you like to know 'yashi-kun?" Inutaishi asked as she came out of the inn. Shippo, Rin, Miroku, Sango, and Kagome burst out laughing at the ' 'yashi-kun' while Inutaishi smiled and Inuyasha blushed.
"Tai-chan, I'm not a pup anymore. Please don't call me that," Inuyasha pleaded with her.
"Okay, Okay, Inuyasha, I won't call you that anymore. Now would you all like to know why I don't trust Sesshoumaru anymore?” The group nodded and followed Inutaishi to the room where she told them about her 98th birthday.
"I heard Sesshoumaru howl, but kept running. My mind set on getting as far away as possible. He scared me, but I found out why he acted the way he did when my otousan passed away 42 years ago," Inutaishi looked sad, "I'm just not sure if I can forgive him just yet or if he'd even forgive me." Inutaishi took a deep breathe, closed her eyes, and leaned against the wall. She felt relieved, but sad at the same time.
The group sat there stunned to silence. Then Shippo spoke up, "Why did he act that way and in the hall, how'd his eyes get back to normal when you fell on top of him?"
"Otousan told me it was because I was in heat and since Sesshoumaru was attracted to me to begin with, the demon inside of him was unleashed when I got too close," Tai explained calmly, "In my opinion, his eyes went back to normal because he hit his head on the floor when he fell. Anyway, I believe we need to move to a new subject. Sesshoumaru's back and in a very testy mood from the smell of it."
Just as Inutaishi finished, the door slid open with bang that shook the doorframe and Sesshoumaru walked in. He was soaked from head to toe and was glaring daggers at Inutaishi. He stood in front of her with obvious anger, "Tai," he began and Inutaishi growled at him, but he ignored it, "Tai, we need to talk and this Sesshoumaru means NOW!"