Tender Love

'inner thoughts'


chapter 5

Finally, they could see the shoreline of Nagasaki coming into view. Inuyasha sighed with relief. She stood on the deck of the Dawn's Glory beside Totosai. She could see a flurry of people moving about on the dock, and she strained to see if she could make out lord Sesshomaru Aoki. The only thing Totosai said about the demon lord was that he would be very noticeable and that he was an extraordinary looking man. Well, Inuyasha only saw common folks and dock workers. No extraordinary looking demon there.

"You look very nice," said Totosai smiling. As ordered by his lord he had taken the silk kimonos that Inutaisho had ordered specially made for Inuyasha. She wore three layers of kimonos. The first was a simple white kimono. The second was a pale pink kimono with silver leaves stitched into the fabric. The third and final kimono was a crimson red with cherry blossoms scattered on it. And stitched in the back was a great silver dog baying at the moon. The outfit was held together by a gold obi. Knowing that her companion might complain, Totosai had gone out and bought her a plain dark green kimono with a yellow obi. "Lord Sesshomaru will be very pleased with you. I am sure."

"I am a bit nervous, Totosai. Do you think I will truly like living in this new land?"

"Inuyasha, I am sure you will love it here and come to love your mate as well."

"I certainly hope you are right," said Inuyasha bitting her bottom lip nervously.

He patted her on the shoulder smiling. "Well, it seems that our journey has reached its end." They watched the dock workers tie the mooring lines to the docks. "Are you ready to meet your new mate?"

"Where did Sya go?" Inuyasha questioned him looking around for her.

"Not to worry, Captain Arita is leading her off the ship.”

"Well, in that case I suppose we should join them," said Inuyasha deliberately speaking in a strong voice to cover her nerves. Totosai nodded his head once, smiling and then escorted her off the ship.

xxxxx

Lord Sesshomaru Aoki was in a nasty mood the morning he went into Nagasaki to meet his future mate, Inuyasha Yamamaru. He had never been more furious with fate than he was at this time. He could well imagine the kind of woman his father had chosen to be his mate. She would probably be homely looking and up in age, the type of woman his father thought would keep him in line. And as if this whole mating was not bad enough, she and her companion had to be kidnaped by that bastard, Naraku.

Sesshomaru could feel his blood run hot at the thought of Naraku. He could well imagine Naraku's laughter at the good luck he had come across at having Sesshomaru's future mate in his clutches. He could just picture the usage of the two women in his hands,and now this Princess Inuyasha is to come to him as his mate. The thought of having this woman in his bed after she had shared one with Naraku repulsed him more than he could bear. Then also there was the money for the ransom. Sesshomaru knew he could well afford the amount, but it burned him to the core at Naraku having one coin of his money.

Sesshomaru and Naraku had been enemies for almost ten years now, and Sesshomaru had swore he would kill Naraku the first time he laid eyes on him again. He could remember it as if it were only yesterday. He had been going almost nightly to a geisha house in Nagasaki, seeing a beautiful young woman named Rin. She was young and had an innocence about her which attracted him. Although the girl was human and it was true he did not like humans. There was just something about her that made him come back to see her every chance he could get. Although he had not been in love with her, he had grown very fond of the hyperactive little thing and had enjoyed her company immensely.

They had shared a very good relationship until the one night when Sesshomaru had visited Rin earlier than usual and had left early to attend to some business he had to settle with one of the neighboring domain. This had been the worst of nights for Sesshomaru to have had to leave early. For shortly after he had departed, Naraku had made a visit to this same house and had somehow found his way to Rin's room. Sesshomaru had searched his mind again and again trying to figure out why she would have allowed him in. every woman in Nagasaki knew of the cruel treatment Naraku dealt out to the women he took up with. But it did no good now for Sesshomaru to wonder why she would have entertained the black hearted monster, for on the next morning another girl had found the dead body of Rin, brutally murdered. The only reasonable explanation he could come up with was that Naraku had forced his way into Rin’s room.

Sesshomaru had searched for almost two years for Naraku but had been unable to find a trace of the hanyou. He had heard rumors that Naraku had joined up with a band of cutthroat pirates, but he had not been sure of these rumors until a week ago when Totosai returned, minus his mate, and been told of his betroth abduction. Naraku had not been seen in the past ten years in Nagasaki, but Sesshomaru told himself that the first chance he got he would rip his filthy heart out.

By now Sesshomaru had made his way into the streets of Nagasaki. Although they were not visible, there were four of his best guards milling about among the throng pretending to shop while they stealthfully shadowed his every move. Although he did not need any protection, he let them come with him. As he made his way through the streets, the people cleared a path for him and bowed before the young demon lord. As he went to the dock,he could see the Dawn's Glory had already arrived and people were already descending the landing plank.

Sesshomaru made his way through the mass of people scurrying about and the first person he saw getting off the ship was Captain Arita with a tall, skinny woman on his arm. Sesshomaru could tell from where he stood the type of woman she was and he thought to himself that it was just his luck to be tied to a screeching, nagging shrew of a demoness who would constantly badger him; he knew without talking to this woman that she would be just this type. He would have to let this woman know right from the beginning that she would have no more than his name and his roof over her head. 'Yes,' he thought, 'I will not even so much as touch that scrawny body of hers. I will continue finding my pleasures with the geisha of Nagasaki who had always taken kindly to my attentions. Or I will get myself a concubine. Either way it meant this wench will never know the pleasures my body could give her.'

He decided at last that he had best make his way over to the captain and Princess Inuyasha. Now that his mind was made up about his future mate his whole body seemed to relax with relief. His eyes narrowed slightly. 'Strange, I thought Totosai took the kimonos father had ordered specially made for the princess and she was to wear them upon her arrival as I had ordered. Oh well, doesn't matter anyway. No amount of expensive kimonos will make this drab little mouse look any better.'

Sesshomaru walked over to Captain Arita and was making his greetings when Inuyasha and Totosai descended the gangplank and made their way toward Sya and the captain. Totosai cleared his throat to draw the attention of the small group. "Ah, Lord Sesshomaru, I see you have already met our good captain."

"Yes, I had met him before about a year or so ago," said the western lord in a polite but dismissing tone.

"Well my lord, then may I introduce you to my charges?”

With all his emotions under tight control, Sesshomaru waited patiently for the introductions.

Inuyasha had walked up behind Totosai to get a better look at this man whom the older demon had pointed out to her. This man was very different from what she had expected to be mating. He was so tall and absolutely beautiful. He had long silver hair that hung down to his ankles with two magenta strips on each cheek, his wrists and over his eyelids. And in the center of his forehead was a dark-blue crescent moon. He was dressed in white hakama and haori with red trimmings along the wide sleeves. In his sash were two swords. This was a man any woman would give her virginity to have. Suddenly her face turned a dark red as she realized that giving up her virginity was exactly what she was going to do. He was truly the embodiment of grace, power and beauty.

Inuyasha was pulled from her thoughts by Totosai stepping aside and speaking her name. "This my lord is your mate, Princess Inuyasha Yamamaru."

Sesshomaru stood stunned. He could not believe his own eyes, and he could hardly believe this small, lovely woman could be the one he was to mate and not the other demoness who looked as though she were ready to snap at the slightest wrong word. Sesshomaru had been caught off guard for a slight moment, but quickly found his voice. "I trust your voyage was not too trying of an experience for you," he said bowing.

"Thank you, but I assure you Lady Fu and I are fine." Even his voice sounded powerful and it relaid to her that he was used to giving orders and by the looks of him he was also used to having them carried out.

Sesshomaru raised a delicate brow at her answer; then a thought came to his head. ‘Could she mean that she enjoyed Naraku's attention?’ He knew Naraku's ways and he knew he would never let a woman with her beauty get away from him without sampling her charms.

Totosai called Sesshomaru out of his thoughts. "May I also present Lady Sya Fu, the princess' companion?"

Sesshomaru said nothing only bowed slightly to her.

"I am very honored to make your acquaintance, Lord Sesshomaru," said Sya sweetly.

'Perhaps I was mistaken about this woman,' Sesshomaru thought to himself. However, he would all too soon find out that he had been right in his first assumption of this Lady Fu. "Welcome to Japan, ladies. I have brought a carriage to take us home." That was all he said as he turned expecting them to follow him.

"I guess this is where I take my leave," said captain Arita looking at Inuyasha. He looked as though he wanted to say something, but Inuyasha snorted and fell into place behind her future mate.

"Are you tired, princess?" Inuyasha heard the emotionless voice of her mate float back to her. "If you would like, I could arrange for you to rest in one of the inns." Sesshomaru mentally cursed himself for showing kindness for this woman that Naraku most likely bedded.

"No, I am fine," she said softly. "I would like to see my new home."

Sesshomaru grunted and led them to the carriage.

They arrived at the gold-plated carriage that was being drawn by six large,white demon horses with fierce glowing red eyes. The animals stomped and snorted fire, and holding the reins was an elderly wolf demon. Suddenly appearing out of no where, four strong looking dog demons dressed in formal samurai attire walked up to their lord and bowed.

“We are heading back to the palace.” The four demons said nothing as they surrounded the carriage, two in front and two behind.

Sesshomaru stepped into the carriage first and Totosai helped the ladies in afterwards. He leaned inside and kissed Inuyasha's cheek. "I will see you tomorrow." Then he stepped away from the carriage.

"Okay," said the half demon.

The driver snapped the reigns and the horses tore through the streets leaving the docks far behind.

xxxxx

After they had left the city, the four guards had changed into their dog demon forms and were running alongside the carriage. The large demon horses made it back to the castle in record time. Both Inuyasha and Sya stared out the carriage windows at the huge gleaming white marble structure. Inuyasha could not believe her eyes. The palace was like something out of a Japanese fairytale her father used to read to her when she was younger. Except this was no made up palace, it was real and this would be her new home.

As they entered the courtyard, the servants were all lined up waiting to see the new lady of the west. Everyone was whispering in excitement and once the carriage came to a halt, they all fell silent and bowed as Sesshomaru stepped out of the carriage first.

Jaken stepped forward and bowed. "Welcome back Lord Sesshomaru, I have the rooms ready as you ordered." He raised his head to stare at the dark hair demoness his lord was helping out of the carriage and he grimaced. 'Ugh, what a drab looking demoness. My poor lord is being saddled with a nag.' It was the only word Jaken could think of to describe the woman. He was beginning to think maybe his lord was right about his father's choice. "Welcome, to Japan Princess Inuyasha."

Sya became livid. "How dare you you little toad mistake me for that wretch," she said haughtily.

"Jaken! This is the princess companion, Lady Fu. This, is my soon to be mate." He helped out the beautiful young silver hair dog demon princess. Everyone gasped at how beautiful she was. If it wasn't for the fact that her father was from the east, everyone would think they were related. The female demons stared at the hanyou and blushed. She was so beautiful and those ears made every maid hands twitch with wanting to touch them. The male demons stared in wide eyed wonder. Their lord was truly lucky to be mating such a beautiful demoness.

"She's a hanyou," said Jaken.

"And your point," said Inuyasha scowling at the annoying pest.

"Jaken, I will not have you use that word when speaking to my mate," said Sesshomaru in a chilling tone that had shivers running down everyone’s spine. Although he spoke to Jaken, it was meant for every servant working in the castle.

"Yes my lord." Then Jaken turned to Inuyasha bowing to her. "Please forgive my outburst princess. It was not my intent to insult you."

"It's okay. I’m use to it," she said not giving it another thought.

"Can we go inside," complained Sya. "The dust is starting to get into my throat."

"Of course, Jaken show the princess and Lady Fu to their rooms," said Sesshomaru. "If you will excuse me, I have a few treaties and disputes to check into." He bowed to the women and left them in the care of Jaken.

That night at dinner Sesshomaru did not join them. Inuyasha and Sya sat at the table and ate in silence. Every time the door would open Inuyasha would look up hoping it would be her mate to be but alas, it was just another servant. The hanyou sighed and began to wonder why she was hopping to see her mate. All these strange feelings seem to crowd in on her every time she sees the lord of the west. Her heart would start pounding against her chest as her palms become sweaty. There was a strange ache between her thighs whenever she glanced at the handsome demon lord. 'This is to be my mate.' She stared at her plate of food. 'It could have been worse. I could have been mated to someone like that Naraku.' At the mere thought of the pirate's name, an icy chill of dread settled in the pit of her stomach. Turning her mind back to a more pleasing thought, namely her soon to be mate, Sesshomaru. He was truly a sight to behold at the dock. Dressed in white, he was like an angel but the demonic power radiating from him proves that he is anything but angelic. After dinner both women retire to their rooms.

Inuyasha laid in bed tossing and turning. She could not get her mind off of the handsome demon lord or the ceremony taking place tomorrow. It felt like butterflies were in her stomach. No matter how much she tried, she could not go to sleep. Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

The door opened and an elderly fox demon with long scarlet red hair done up in a bun walked into the room. Inuyasha sat up and watched the demon as she entered the room carrying a cup. "My name is Mina. I’m sorry I wasn't here to greet you when you arrived but my grandson had hurt himself while playing with his friends."

"It's all right," said Inuyasha staring into the forest green eyes of the elderly demon and smiled. "I am Inuyasha."

"It is an honor to meet you Princess Inuyasha." Mina smiled. "And you're such a pretty little thing too. Oh and what adorable little doggy ears. They just make me want to tweak them.”

Inuyasha sighed. “Go ahead, tweak away.”

“Are you sure princess? I don’t . . .”

“It’s okay. A lot of people found my ears to be irresistible. I won’t mind.”

Mina raised her hands and began to rub and tweak those silky ears. “They are so soft. My lord will really enjoy petting them,” she laughed. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome."

Then she placed the cup in Inuyasha's hand. "Lord Sesshomaru figured you might not be able to sleep since the ceremony is tomorrow. So, he asked me to bring you a sleeping potion."

"That was very kind, thank you Mina." Inuyasha took a sip of the bitter drink. She handed the cup back to the fox demoness and laid back down. No sooner had her head hit the pillow. She was fast asleep.

xxxxx

Inuyasha was awakened from a deep sleep by the sound of servants scurrying about getting things ready for the ceremony and the guests that will be arriving. The first to arrive was Sesshomaru's father. The tall silver hair demon with twin red strips on each cheek burst into his son's study smiling from ear to ear.

"Well, did she arrive?" He asked. “That vile Naraku didn’t harm her, did he?” The elder demon growled in anger.

"Yes, she and her companion arrived yesterday," the young demon lord said without looking up at his father. “And no, Naraku did not harm them.”

His father nodded pleased. "Well . . . ?"

"Well what?"

"What do you think? Isn’t she exactly how I described her?" He narrowed his eyes watching his son as he placed the scrolls to the side.

"Yes father, she was exactly as you said. I must admit. I could have done worse, like being mated to that companion of hers." He mentally shuddered at the thought.

Inutaisho snickered. "So where is your future mate?"

"Still asleep, I guess. Although it won't be for long. The servants are making so much noise, she should be up by now."

Just then there was a knock on the door and Jaken stuck his head inside. "My lords, breakfast is ready."

"What about the princess?" asked Inutaisho.

"She is having breakfast in her room. She also says she would be down shortly to greet you," said the imp. "The other female has already eaten and has returned to her room claiming to have a headache."

"You mean that wench has already eaten without waiting for her host." Inutaisho was livid with shock. "What a rude creature."

"It's okay father," said Sesshomaru calming the elder demon. "I would perfer not to have here with us being that this is the last breakfast you and I will have alone."

Inutaisho smiled. "People may think you have a heart of ice, but I know better."

Sesshomaru snorted and then turned to the little green imp. "Thank you Jaken, we will be there shortly." Then the young demon put the scrolls away. "Shall we go father?"

"By all means." Inutaisho stood and they went to have breakfast.

About half an hour later, Inuyasha walking into the dining room. Inutaisho stood up and stared in awe at the lovely young woman. "Inuyasha, this is my father, Inutaisho."

"It is an honor to meet you," said Inuyasha bowing to the older dog demon.

"Believe me when I say the pleasure is all mine." He said beginning to flirt with the pretty demoness. "You know, if you don't want to mate my son. I would be more than happy to take his place."

Inuyasha giggled. "You are incorrigible."

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes and snorted.

"Come my dear, let us take a stroll through the gardens."

"I would like that, but I can't stay out too long. I still have to get ready for the ceremony," said Inuyasha. She bowed to her mate and left with her father-in-law to see the gardens.

xxxxx

It was almost noon and Inuyasha went into the private bath. Earlier when she awakened she infused the water with pumelo, a variety of grapefruit that is used to cleanse her of evil influences. There were dragon and phoenix candles sitting on a small table in the corner. Once she was finished bathing. She lite the dragon and phoenix candles and sat before them. Since Jun couldn't be with her, she had asked Mina to act as her good luck woman. This person mainly attended to the bridal preparations and spoke auspicious words while dressing the bride's hair. Then Mina helped her to get dressed. She wore a white skirt that reached down to her ankles and a jacked that had the embroidery of a male and female dog running toward a crescent moon that was stitched on her left shoulder. She slipped her feet into a pair of white shoes. Then the bride’s face was covered with a curtain of tassels that hung from the bridal phoenix crown. Then Mina led Inuyasha to the family shrine.

Sesshomaru and the other guests waited for the arrival of his mate in the family shrine. The young lord was dressed in a royal blue kimono with matching hakama, and the kimono was held close with a blue obi. He wore a pair of polished black boots, and his hair was in a single long braid that hung down his back. Once he received the word that his mate was coming he knelt before the family altar while his father placed a cap decorated with cypress leaves on his head. Sesshomaru bowed to the stone tablets that were against the wall with each of his ancestors names written on a tablet.

When Inuyasha entered the shrine, everyone gasped in shock as through the tassels they could see the future lady of the west. She was to put it short, gorgeous. Others were shocked because she was a hanyou, but Inuyasha paid them no mind as she kept her gaze on her mate. Once she stood at the altar, she bowed to the ancestral tablets and then to her father-in-law and finally to her mate. There was a small table between them, and they kneeled before it. Placing their hands on the table, Inutaisho tied Inuyasha’s left hand to Sesshomaru’s right hand and Sesshomaru’s left hand to her right hand with red pieces of string. Then Inutaisho placed a large cup of tea on the table between their joined hands. Grasping the cup, Inuyasha sipped from the cup and then Sesshomaru drank from it. They bowed to each other once more. The mating ceremony would end once they are marked during copulation. But for the ceremony, a facsimile mark was made for the guest. Unraveling the string to one of their joined hands, Sesshomaru raised one claw and punctured Inuyasha on her neck. The demon lord licked his lips as he watched the crimson liquid trickled down Inuyasha’s long swan-like neck. Inuyasha raised her claw and punctured him on the neck as well, and that ended the public ceremony.

After the ceremony, everyone returned to the castle for the mating feast. It was the greatest banquet the west had seen since Inutaisho mated Sesshomaru's mother. The guests were laughing, and drinking and eating. Inuyasha had never seen demons wolf down so much food before. There was a bounty of different food. Some were Chinese cuisines also: roast duck, stuff chicken, noodles, steamed stuffed buns, fried meat dumplings, sushi, pork buns, rice balls, and a host of other foods. It was late in the night when everyone finally decided to go home. Inuyasha was leaning tiredly against the wall when Sesshomaru returned. Scooping her up into his arms, she sleepily told him that she could walk to her room.
Sesshomaru said nothing as he continued to carry her. Once in her room he laid her down on the bed. 'I guess I can let you sleep one more night in this room alone.'

"Sleep well, my sweet, for tomorrow night you shall be joining me in our bed." He pressed his lips against her forehead. She sighed and continued to sleep in oblivion unaware of what fate has in store for her the next night.