The Heir and the Spare

The Heir and the Spare

The Continent of Japan is in danger; humans and demons are engaged in a deadly war. To avoid calamity Princess Kagome, a human, finds herself betrothed to the heir of the demon-dominated Western Lands, Prince Sesshomaru. Too bad she finds herself falling for her future-husband's younger brother, Inuyasha.

.xx.

Kagome was seated beside Inuyasha and an empty seat. She learned that that seat belonged to her future husband, Sesshomaru. Unfortunately, he had to leave for an important trip. She swore that underneath his breath Inuyasha hissed something that sounded oddly like keh. She sipped daintily on her butternut squash soup and, occasionally, bit into a ladyfinger biscuit.

Beside her, Inuyasha seemed to be downing a bowl of what looked like noodles… Is that a meal meant for royalty? Kagome thought, surprised. It felt strange to be surrounded by so many demons, all of which that were part of the canine family. The only other human, apart from Sango, that was present was the Lady of the West, Izayoi. She was the human mother of Inuyasha and had married Lord Inutaisho hundreds and hundreds of years prior, before any hostility existed between humans and demons.

"How are you enjoying your visit thus far, Princess Kagome?" Izayoi inquired softly midway into dinner. Kagome smiled politely.

"It is rather different from the atmosphere that I've grown up in."

Izayoi smiled in a rather maternal manner. "I know exactly what you mean. When I came here I was very much taken back by how the demons existed so differently than the humans."

Kagome fidgeted and Inuyasha looked at her before replying on her behalf. "Mother, Princess Kagome is here to get married to stop the war between our race and hers. I don't think her situation is anything like yours."

Inutaisho choked on his soup as he tried to contain his laughter and Izayoi simply rolled her eyes. Kagome gasped as she looked between Inuyasha and his mother, wondering if she should apologize on behalf of her future brother-in-law. "I want to be here." She said for the sake of not looking like marrying Sesshomaru was the last thing she wanted to do.

Even though it actually was.

Inutaisho chuckled. "You don't. We can smell it in you."

Kagome froze, her eyes locked with Inutaisho's. Izayoi smacked her mate on the shoulder. "Inutaisho! Do not frighten the poor girl. It's bad enough she was sent here to stop a war that has been going on since before she was born, and now you're telling her you can smell her emotions?!"

Inutaisho raised both eyebrows. "Darling, she's bound to find out eventually."

As his parents bickered, Inuyasha leaned over to Kagome and whispered in her ear: "They fight. Always."

"No we don't," Inutaisho shot without looking at his son before continuing to bicker with his mate. Inuyasha snickered.

"And dog demons have hypersensitive hearing too."

Kagome could only nod; she was unsure of how to react or what to even say. These were her future in-laws…

"Mother, father, are you two quite done?" Inuyasha inquired. The Lord and Lady of the West looked over at their son before Izayoi gasped and apologized to Kagome for "acting out of hand." Kagome only giggled and said it was quite alright; she loved how natural they acted.

"So when do you think your brother will be back?" Inutaisho asked. Inuyasha shrugged nonchalantly and in a rather non-royal kind of way. Kagome turned her attention back to her soup, keeping her ears trained on the father-son conversation.

"No idea, he just said dogs were dying and he had to go help."

Izayoi sighed. "I will give that boy an earful when he gets home."

"I'll rip his ears off when he gets home." Inutaisho amended and Kagome giggled. Inuyasha threw his head back and laughed at his father's threat, he was so looking forward to it. Whenever his parents threatened to hurt his elder brother in any way, shape, or form, it pleased Inuyasha. Throughout his childhood he always was on the receiving end of punishment. It was refreshing to see his elder brother being the subject of his parents' wrath.

"I apologize, once again, on behalf of Sesshomaru." Izayoi said kindly to Kagome. The young princess did not know how to react; many members of the royal family (including Inuyasha) apologized to her on behalf of Sesshomaru. What else could she say? It's okay, I really don't mind not seeing the demon I'm supposed to get married to?

In truth, she really was happy. She'd rather not face her destiny, not yet at least.

She was quite content in being able to gather her thoughts, spend some time with Sango (who was with actually given a spot at the formal dining table. Queen Izayoi thought it would be rather uncomfortable for Sango to dine with demon servants), and even get to know her future brother-in-law. Apart from informing her of his parents' habit of bickering, he hadn't said anything else to her all throughout dinner.

And Kagome couldn't forget the electricity that sizzled up her fingertips and down her spine when she slipped her hand into his, earlier, when he escorted her to dinner.

"What are your plans after dinner, Princess?" Inutaisho inquired and Inuyasha answered for her again, seeing as Kagome really didn't know what she was going to do.

"I was thinking I'd give Her Highness a tour of the West?"

Inutaisho beamed. "What a wonderful idea. Shall I send Jaken to ready a carriage?"

"Keh," Inuyasha snorted and Kagome almost choked on some bread. He either had a lot of manners, or was a total unmannered fool. Sometimes it was hard to believe that he was the heir's brother. "Do I look that patient to you? I'm giving her a tour the good ol' fashioned way."

Izayoi shot her son a nasty glare. "I won't tolerate any games."

"No games," Inuyasha held his hands up as a sign of surrender. "I'm sure Princess Kagome will be travelling the demon way a lot when she mates with Sesshomaru. Why not get her started early?"

Kagome's eyes widened, alarmed. "Demon way? What do you mean demon way?"

The smirk that Inuyasha shot her both worried and excited her.

Worried because she didn't know what to expect in regards to the 'demon way' of travelling.

Excited because she would be able to spend some time with him.

Worried because she was excited.

.xx.

The head demoness that was in charge of the servants called for Sango, saying that she would love to give the girl a tour of the castle. It worked out perfectly because Inuyasha had spontaneously planned a tour of the West by the unknown demon way. Kagome, who was in her room and changing into something more appropriate (according to Inuyasha, she had to be able to move in it—as if she couldn't move in a kimono), was gathering her thoughts on the situation.

She literally touched foot into the West a few hours prior. She was already attacked by Panthers, saved by Inuyasha, had dinner with her future parents-in-law, and was now getting ready to take a tour through what would be her future kingdom. Kagome was in sheer awe; why aren't I exhausted yet?

She knew it would catch up.

Kagome stared at a pair of peasant garb in her closet. She wondered who arranged for that to happen, but her gut told her it was Inuyasha. He seemed like the kind of guy who would pull a stunt like that. Plus, he told her to dress for movement and apparently none of her clothing would allow a free range of motion. Picking up the outfit, Kagome quickly changed into it alone (she dismissed Sango for the day so she could receive her own tour).

The outfit turned out to be cozy. Examining herself in the mirror, Kagome kind of really liked how the outfit looked. It was a pair of black hakama that had a red band around the waist and the foot of each pant leg, and a red top in a Thai blouse design that had a black band around the hem. Kagome hugged herself in the outfit, savouring the brief moment she had of being just a woman in comfortable clothing.

She knew, in about five minutes, she would resume being a Princess in comfortable clothing out to take a tour of the land.

Her lands.

Taking a deep breath, Kagome opened the door to her room to find Inuyasha standing on the other side, grinning stupidly, wearing a red haori hakama set. "Ready?"

"How did you—" Her eyes were wide.

"Demons have hypersensitive hearing, sense of smell, and sense of everything else." He gave her the once over. "Nice look, Highness."

"Thanks," she put her hands on her hips, "I wonder who put this in my closet, hm?"

Inuyasha snickered. "My lips are sealed."

"That I somehow already knew." Kagome loved the easygoingness that existed between her and Inuyasha. The worst thing that could possibly have happened was that her future family wouldn't greet her with open arms. But it didn't happen—Inuyasha saved her from a panther attack and Inutaisho and Izayoi had dinner with her as if she were family already.

Speaking of the panther attack…

"Thanks," she murmured as she stepped out of her room and fell into step in tandem with Inuyasha.

"For sealing my lips?" He was teasing her.

Kagome giggled. "No, for saving… us…"

Inuyasha crossed his arms and shoved his hands into his sleeves. "Keh," She was beginning to think that that was his favourite word. "Father raised us with honour. Except Sesshomaru seemed to have forgotten the early lessons." Glancing down at her, he winked.

Kagome was drawn to his eyes. They were surreal, a glowing ochre that seemed to be the doorway to another world altogether: Inuyasha's mind. She had seen Inutaisho have the same colour eyes, but for some reason, Inuyasha's was more prominent.

More noticeable.

I wonder if Sesshomaru's eyes are the same colour? Kagome had never been exposed to demons for such a long period of time and she was beginning to wonder about their customs and traditions, their traits, things that set the dog demons apart from the other demons. I'll come to learn all of them in no time.

"What's your favourite time of day?" Inuyasha asked suddenly, moving past the panther demon discussion. Kagome looked up at him, confused.

"Pardon me?"

Inuyasha caught her elbow and took a sharp left, making his way to the giant balcony that overlooked the kingdom. "Favourite time of day? Mine is sunset," he looked down at her. She was at least a head shorter than him; the most perfect height, in his opinion. Her large blue eyes blinked up at him and Inuyasha kept repeating his mantra:

My brother's bride.

My brother's bride.

My brother's fucking bride who's fucking gorgeous beyond life. Fuck.

"Me too." She said softly, looking away from him. Inuyasha arched his eyebrow, the black contrasting with his silvery hair.

"Is it actually?"

Kagome giggled. "Yes, it is. Why?"

Inuyasha pushed the iron doors open that kept the beautiful balcony hidden from the residents of the palace. Kagome was in awe, the scenery was so beautiful. The tip of Mount Hakurei could be seen past a sea of forest. The patches of villages were also visible from where the balcony was situated.

It was like a piece of heaven.

"Demon way refers to travelling by foot, more often leaping from trees." Inuyasha didn't answer her question but rather guided her onto the giant balcony. "You can't see the beauty of a land by only looking at it through a carriage." Inuyasha and Kagome walked up the railing and she glanced down. They were on one of the highest points of the castle.

"You have to see the land from a demon's point of view. It's how our lands were meant to be seen."

Before Kagome could respond, Inuyasha kneeled forward and smirked cockily at her. "Get on my back, Highness."

Kagome gawked. "Come again?!"

"Get on my back. It's time I showed you through our lands our way."

"But…"

"Why do you think I told you to dress for movement? You can't very well hold onto me in a kimono, now can you?" Inuyasha's stomach did a somersault as he realized the consequence of what he was doing: he was asking Kagome to get onto his back… he was going to feel that body he felt not too long ago and he was going to want it.

But he couldn't want it. She was his brother's.

"Is this really appropriate?" Kagome asked slowly. "What would the Royal Highnesses think?"

"Keh," yep, it was his favourite word. "Mother and Father knew I had this planned. Why do you think she told me that she wouldn't tolerate any games?"

Kagome bit her lower lip. "Well…"

"Highness," Inuyasha said slowly, "trust me. Please?"

Kagome exhaled, defeated. Slowly, she climbed onto Inuyasha's back and without word, he launched off of the balcony. Kagome's eyes were wide as she experienced him glide across the sky and swiftly touchdown onto the ground before quickly scaling up the side of a tree and leaping off the highest branch. The air against her face was refreshing and she had to admit, the demon way was pretty amazing.

"That," Inuyasha pointed to a puff of smoke coming out of the forest just a few yards away from where they were, "is where the castle blacksmiths stay. Whenever we need any weapons or we need to repair anything, we call them. Totosai, however, is the head blacksmith."

"Toto-who?"

Inuyasha chuckled. "You'll meet him. He's kind of crazy."

Kagome nodded but knew he couldn't see. She didn't know whether she should concentrate on the tour or concentrate on him. All she could think of was how his hands felt holding onto her hamstrings. Her arms were wrapped around his neck and she could acutely smell him—a mixture of oaky musk that screamed masculinity and a touch of vanilla.

It was alluring.

After a small tour of the Castle Village, Inuyasha managed to climb onto the tallest branch of the highest tree in the kingdom, the Goshinboku. He briefly mentioned the historical significance of the tree: something about a miko pinning his forefather onto the tree and how he was stuck there for fifty years. Whatever the legends have to say, Inuyasha had early on discovered that the tree had healing properties.

"Alright," Inuyasha managed to find his balance on the highest branch and instructed Kagome to get off. "You ready, Highness?"

Kagome, who was holding onto the tree trunk, glanced at him. "For?"

Inuyasha managed to shift their positions so that he was against the tree trunk and Kagome was beside him. She held onto his haori and he had his hand placed gently against the small of her back. It was to make sure she remained balance and, if in the event she fell, he would be able to grab onto her before she realized she was falling.

"For that," he whispered as he pointed to the horizon. Kagome's eyes widened as she saw the most beautiful sunset in her life. The colours of red, orange, and yellow painted the sky and the waters of the Miyaji River were illuminated with the colours of the sun. Her breath was taken away.

"Demons aren't always bad," Inuyasha whispered and Kagome quickly glanced at him before looking back at the sunset. "There are the good guys and the not-so-good guys. Isn't it the same with humans?"

Kagome nodded, unable to speak.

"Consider this a welcoming gift," Inuyasha's voice was right by her ear and there were shivers that ran down her spine. Her fingertips were tingling and, subconsciously, she tightened her hold on his haori. "Welcome to the family, Highness."

Kagome's eyes were locked with the sunset but all her other senses were zoned in on Inuyasha: his body heat, his voice, the way his fingers felt against the small of her back. A nagging voice in the back of Kagome's mind suddenly became the prominent thing she was thinking:

I hope Sesshomaru is exactly like Inuyasha…

.xx.

Hey! Hope you enjoyed this update… I'm fairly liking how this story is turning out. The writing style is unlike anything I've written previously. Hopefully it turns out just as well as I hope for it to.

Reviews, comments, questions, and critiques would be appreciated.