A Sister's Gift

Chapter 26 – Dining with the Daisaiin

“Welcome! Welcome to my home,” said the sweet little old lady. The daisaiin, Senshi, came out of a back room to greet the group. They all bowed their respects to their host. “Come, come, follow me to the garden. We have just a few moments before the other guests arrive.”

Kagome was nervous and excited. Being from a small village herself, Kagome seldom had the opportunity to mingle with important people. Sesshomaru followed close behind. He was very aware of her nervousness, and hoped to calm her by staying close by her side. She was grateful for his comforting gesture, but it didn’t seem to be helping.

“Daisaiin-sama, if I may, who are the other guest?” Kikyo asked. She was very curious now. Especially since she noticed several guards placed strategically around the woman’s home. At first she thought that they were standard guards for such a high figure, as the Imperial Daisaiin, but the number of guards, made her question that. After whispering her concerns to Inuyasha, he agreed that there were more than average. Did they fear an attack from he a Sesshomaru?

Senshi only scoffed lightly at Kikyo’s question. “Relax girl. All in good time.”

Kagome felt like she was at a small festival in the garden of this ancient woman. The entire scene was lit up by finely decorated paper candles. The soft light flickered over the beautiful scenery. The swirling sands and unique rocks were sparsely arranged throughout the lush greenery to create a garden such as she had never seen. It was lovely.

Everyone followed Senshi through the maze of stone walkways to a sitting area, where a tea tray and a young servant girl was awaiting them. After Senshi seated herself, Kikyo and Kagome followed. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha took a seat deemed for their appropriate stations, just behind and to the left of their mistress’s.

The servant girl promptly poured and passed the tea around. Senshi took a drink and said, “Now, why don’t you two introduce me to these fine Youkai Protector’s.”

Kagome nodded, after swallowing her tea, “Daisaiin-sama, this is my mate and Protector, Sesshomaru, Kagome held out a hand towards Inuyasha, and this is Kikyo’s Protector, Inuyasha.” Kagome glanced back to Sesshomaru, who just righted himself from the respectful bow to the daisaiin. She couldn’t help, but smile when she looked at him. He was so very handsome in the white and navy blue silk. His gold obi adorned his waist where Tokijin had hung, before he took a seat. The battle sword lay to his side, and her beautiful taiyoukai was now elegantly handling the delicate china teacup with ease. His regal bearing made her proud.

Inuyasha, on the other hand, didn’t appear to be to adept at handling delicate teacups. He was doing a fairly good job of it, but one could tell that he was not used to being in these situations. Kikyo could see that he was a bit uncomfortable with the whole thing and patted his knee gently in an attempt to calm his nerves.

Senshi took a moment to take in the appearances of the two males with her miko prodigies. The younger of the two was a little rough around the edges, but all in all a handsome individual. The one called Sesshomaru had aristocratic bearing. He carried himself like royalty, which only backed up the description that young Kagome gave her earlier in the day. He was a magnificent creature, to be sure, and even from here his aura was almost overwhelming.

Interesting too, was the sword at his side. It gave her an ominous feeling, as if it held an awesome power of it’s own. The more she learned the more interested she became. Oh, her special guest was going to enjoy this indeed.

Senshi smiled at Sesshomaru. “Tell me taiyoukai, Kagome tells me you were once Lord of the Western Lands?”

“Hai, my lady. I reigned over the lands, as did my forefathers before me...” Sesshomaru relayed until he was interrupted by Ani, the young miko who had been assigned as their guide. She knelt down by Senshi and whispered in her ear.

Immediately the old woman sat her tea down, and made to stand. “Please excuse me Sesshomaru, but Ani tells me that my other guests have arrived. If you will, please follow me to the dining hall.”

Everyone stood and followed Senshi back through the garden maze. Sesshomaru slipped Tokijin through his sash, and took up position behind Kagome. He could smell the additional human scents. Many additional human scents. Something was going on here, but he had no idea what.

As they all filed into the large dining area, Senshi instructed them to line against the wall, between four additional guards. She went to the main house door and slid it open for the guests to enter. After two more armed Imperial Guards entered the room, none other than Emperor Tokugawa stepped in the room.

Senshi and Kagome’s group all fell abruptly to their knees to bow their respect to the shogun. He motioned for them to rise and stepped over to the daisaiin Senshi. “Konbanwa sister, I hope you have fared well.”

“Konbanwa, my lord. Welcome to my home.” Senshi replied.

“Come now Senshi, forgo the formalities this evening. Your brother only wishes to dine with you and meet these intriguing guests you spoke of,” stated the Imperial Lord. He turned to a young man behind him, “Senshi, I brought your nephew, Prince Hasun.”

Senshi bowed once again to the young prince. Who nodded in return. His attention immediately passing from his elderly aunt to the youkai males in the room. He stared curiously, before passing an appraising eye over the females in their company.

Sesshomaru had to fight every instinct in his youkai body not to growl at the young prince who just let his eyes openly roam over his mates form. This was going to be a long evening indeed.

The lord took his place at the head of the low table, with the prince seated at the opposite end, everyone else took their seats accordingly, and the servants immediately poured out of the kitchen to serve the guests their first course.

As soon as the soup was served, Senshi made the appropriate introductions. It seemed that Kagome and Sesshomaru’s special situation was a great subject of interest.

“So, Lady Kagome, you are the young miko that Senshi spoke of. A miko mated to a taiyoukai. I can’t believe I have ever heard of such a pairing. How is it that you came into possession of Sesshomaru?” asked Emperor Tokugawa.

Kagome was dumbstruck. She had never even been in the presence of royalty, and here she was seated at a table and dining with the Emperor himself, who just spoke directly to her. ‘Eeekkk!’

The Emperor let out a hearty laugh, at the little woman, who obviously was having much difficulty dealing with his presence. “Come now girl, no need to be afraid.”

“Please forgive me, your royal eminence, I did not mean to be rude. I am only overwhelmed at the pleasure of meeting you and your son, Prince Hasun. It is a great honor. My dear friend, Sango, is a demon exterminator, by trade, and was deeply concerned for my safety during my trip to visit our gracious host. She feared so much, that she sought to ensure my safety by gifting me with Sesshomaru, as my Youkai Protector.” Kagome replied with downcast eyes.

“I see... and now you are mated. So Sesshomaru, Senshi tells me that you were once Lord over the Western Territories. So you are the son of the dog general InuTaisho?” asked the Emperor.

“That is correct, my lord.” Sesshomaru stated. In his mind he wanted to rip the man’s head off. It was his allegiance with the neighboring lord of his lands that lost him the battle, and therefore lost his birthright. If he had met this man before Kagome, he would not have thought twice about taking the ningen’s life, but to do so would be to sacrifice his own. Kagome was too important to leave behind.

The Prince looked over the stoic creature. He didn’t look so tough, but the prince wasn’t stupid. He knew that looks could be deceiving. He studied the young woman at his side. She was a rare beauty indeed. She was lovely in a simple way, but there was something about her that made one take a second glance. Interesting. His gaze moved to the other miko, Kikyo. She also held a rare beauty. The two looked much alike, and he wondered briefly if they were sister’s. The youkai at her side, didn’t seem as refined as Sesshomaru. Inuyasha, they called him.

Prince Husan spoke up. “Inuyasha, is it? Inuyasha, are you full youkai?”

Inuyahsa cringed. He had hoped to get through this meal without being singled out, bat damn if that little punk prince hadn’t just ruined his plans to blend into the background. Sesshomaru was much better at this shit than he was. ‘Damn Miko’s and their damn dinner party.’ “Nain, my lord. I am hanyou.”

The Prince nodded. “And are you part inu?”

Inuyasha answered. “Hai.”

The prince looked at Sesshomaru, and returned his gaze to Inuyasha. “You look similar, are you perhaps related?”

Inuyasha answered again, wishing this guy would pick on somebody else. “Hai. Half-brothers.”

The Emperor looked up from his second course, which had just recently been served. “Is that so? Was your father InuTaisho, as well?”

Inuyasha answered, “Hai, my lord.”

The Emperor found this very interesting indeed. Two brother’s, both Protector’s. “Were you gifted to Kikyo, by the Taijiya Sango?”

“Nain, my lord. Kikyo’s father gifted me to her.” Inuyasha replied.

The Prince wondered if the two women were indeed sister’s. “Kikyo, are you and Kagome sister’s?”

Kikyo answered him, “Nain, we only met during our travels to meet the daisaiin-sama.”

The Emperor and his son found that to be very interesting. “So the brother’s came together during this journey? Intriguing.” Replied the Emperor. “You know, I met your father once, when I was but a young boy. He was a powerful warrior. I still remember the ground shaking beneath his feet from the distance I was stationed to observe the battle. I have to admit that I was in awe. You must have been proud of him.”

Inuyasha, and Sesshomaru both agreed on that note. They were proud of their father. He was a demon to be feared.

The prince decided to take the conversation to a different direction. “Tell me lovely Kikyo, are you betrothed?”

“Married? Nain. My loyalty is to help the poor souls in need, as my miko abilities allow.” Kikyo said respectfully.

Inuyasha didn’t like where this was going. What did this guy care?

The prince looked at Inuyasha briefly, and asked Kikyo, “Perhaps you would honor me with a walk in the garden, after our meal?”

‘Oh shit!’ Inuyasha thought. ‘That son of bitch is hitting on my woman!’

Before he could open his baka mouth and get himself killed Kikyo patted his leg in reassurance. She really had no choice. She and Inuyasha chose to keep their relationship a secret, and that left her in an awkward position indeed, because at the moment she had no choice, but to accept. “Hai, my lord, I would be honored.”

The prince nodded to the young woman. He also noticed Inuyasha’s reaction to his invitation. The half-breed tensed visibly. Could it be that there is more to their relationship? Maybe he could have a little fun this evening after all.