The Mischievous Lady by Maria-Salvatore29

She Attacked the Lord of the West

Chapter 5: She Attacked the Lord of the West

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

-x-X-x-

-Kagome-

I took Sango to the corner, trying to calm both of us down. Rage and victory made me edgy and my youki seemed to crackle with such emotions. Such a small victory I attained but an important one. Asserting myself right from the start might gain me enough respect to last me a few weeks.

Lost within the raging of my youkai heritage, I barely noticed when a demoness crept beside me. "That was quite brave of you," a demoness whispered to me.

I looked at her. Confused by the casualness of her manner. Doesn't she disdain me? But I replied anyway. "Thanks."

"Lady Kagura, that dragon youkai, is already acting as if she is already crowned as Lady of the West," she huffed almost indignantly.

Grinning at her, I nodded in agreement. "Yup! She's absolutely irritating."

We looked at each other with wide grins before laughing together. When our laughter died down, she curtseyed and introduced herself, "I am Lady Ayumi from the Southern Land."

"I'm glad to meet you. I'm Kagome from the East," I replied, though, she must already know my name.

Two other demonesses of the same kind as Ayumi appeared beside her. They also offered a smile at me. "May I introduce my cousins from the South, Lady Eri and Lady Yuka.” Lady Ayumi said with a gentle smile.

I inclined my head slightly, smiling warmly at them.

"Pleasure to meet you, Lady Kagome," they greeted in unison, giving a graceful curtsey to me.

"I have heard a lot about you," Lady Eri remarked enthusiastically.

"I must be so popular in your land then," I teased.

They chuckled softly. "You do not seem horrible at all," Lady Yuka blurted. "Everyone kept telling us that you act like a beast!"

Biting my lip, I replied with a wicked smile, "I do. Most of the time."

"Lady Kagome is just teasing, my ladies. She might be playful but she has a compassionate heart," Sango told them politely. This is the first time that she talked after the Kagura incident. I looked at her with a frown. Why is she saying such kind words about me?

The Southern ladies smiled politely at her.

"Actually, she is a joy to be with," she added with a fond smile. As if we have known each other for a long time.

Lady Ayumi lifted her gaze at me and remarked, "Your maidservant worships you, my lady."

I offered a weak smile. Sango has no reason to be kind, though. Or perhaps, kindness was just too limited in my life that it was shocking to receive it.

Lady Yuka opened her mouth, poised to ask another question, when a loud voice caught our attention.

"My Ladies!" In the elevated platform placed at the end of the courtyard, Elders of the Inu-Youkai Council emerged. Servants were arranging seats in front of the stage as well as preparing the seats of the Elders onstage.

When the loud chatter of the demonesses died down, the Elder spoke again, "I am Lord Daichi, an elder from the inu-youkai council. I wish you all a pleasant afternoon. Please, have a seat." He motioned for the seats in front.

Many demonesses rushed towards the front and most of the seats were quickly taken. "Come sit with us, my lady" Lady Yuka invited me with a sweet smile.

I nodded. At least, there are people who are nice here.

When everyone was already seated, an inu-youkai with silver hair settled on his daïs in the middle of the Elders. He looked powerful. No, he felt powerful. His youki seemed massive even if it was obviously held under his perfect control.  I wonder if he is the Lord…?

I stared at him for a while because there was something familiar about him. Then, as if sensing my gaze, he glanced my way and we locked eyes for a moment. Those eyes…I know those eyes…

Tearing my gaze away, I put a hand over my wildly beating heart. He shared the same golden eyes with someone I knew from my childhood.

Inuyasha. I shakily gulped more air. Inuyasha. Someone I always held close in my heart.

I startled when someone put a paper in front me. Looking at the elder, I heard him say in a dismayed tone, "Please answer the question in those papers we gave to you. The question is the same for everyone. Your answer shall determine whether you are qualified to be part of the twenty-four Chosen Ones. You may begin."

Taking the brush in my hand, I read the given question.

If you become the Lady of the West, do you believe that you can lead the people?

I finished scribbling an answer after a minute and put the brush away. Someone immediately collected my paper and submitted it to the lord with golden eyes, the one they called Lord Toga. He must be the father of the reigning lord of the west, since from what I can remember, Lord Toga was the Great Dog General, but I could not seem to recall the name of the current lord.

"How come? Are you already finished?" Yuka whispered to me.

"Yep," I replied distractedly because I was trying to compare Lord Toga with Inuyasha.

"Wow. That was fast!" She murmured to herself, her eyes wide with awe and fear.

Is she already seeing me as her rival here? Impossible. I'm not good enough to compete with them.

Half an hour had passed with me overthinking everything. From I-was-greater-than-anyone to I-was-nothing-but-a-scandal. Eventually, I felt like ripping my hair out in frustration.

"I'll be back," I whispered to Yuka.

I stood up before she could reply and bid my excuses to the servants surrounding us. Others who had finished answering also excused themselves to get some food and refreshments. Somehow, I found myself exiting the courtyard and wandering away.

Sighing, I put my hands above my heart again. "Same golden eyes…what is their relationship?" I wondered aloud. As I walked aimlessly and distractedly, I saw a dark corridor a few steps from where I was and decided to see where it might take me.

I tread through the hallway, admiring the contrast of dark and white furnishings as well as the creative paintings hanging on the wall. Suddenly, I caught the scent of dirt and grasses. That smell could only be…! "A garden!" I exclaimed at the wonderful sight in front of me.

The Eastern Lands had the most beautiful garden in the country or so I was told. We have the largest and most serene palace garden among ruling youkai clans, and I truly adored exploring that place especially when my heart was heavy.

With a fond smile, I walked in the middle of the garden, basking in the pleasing smell of the flowers. I picked the most beautiful flowers I could see and was completely enjoying myself when I felt an approaching youkai. I clutched at the flowers in my hands.

"Who are you?" A gruff voice asked once he saw me. "What are you doing here?"

I turned to face him and felt a little nervous when two more guards followed him. A feeling of unease filled me. Does visiting the garden without permission forbidden here? "Why?" I asked in a soft voice. "What's wrong?"

The guard who questioned me replied sardonically, "What's wrong? The wrong is you trespassing here. You are not from here so, yes, it is wrong. You—" he halted his ranting, and pointed an accusing finger at me.

"What?" I asked, a little alarmed by his expression and the swirling of his youki.

"You are a hanyou!" He exclaimed with evident disgust.

I huffed, my earlier unease turning into irritation. "How is that connected to anything?"

"What is a hanyou doing here?" He yelled the question at my face, the two other guards glared at me and looked ready to attack.

I grimaced, my temper flaring at his insulting words and reaction. "Why are you shouting at me?" I yelled back at his ugly face.

He seemed taken aback. "You have no place here. Get out!" His gritted order grated on my nerves.

"Don't you know who I am?" I hissed at his rudeness.

"Sorry. I don't care who you are, hanyou," he replied with a shake of his head. The others smirked at me.

Closing my eyes in an attempt to calm myself down, I clutched the flowers harder. But when their hands gripped my arms forcefully. I lost my temper together with my vow for peace.

Snarling in anger, I hit the youkai on my right in the nose and kicked the one on my left in the ankle. They were too surprised that I fought back, making them release me unconsciously. I threw the flowers at the face of the youkai who questioned me and kicked him…uhm…where guys need to be kicked. They tried to take a hold of me again but I already bolted.

"Stop, you abomination!" They screamed as they try to catch up.

Damn, full-fledged youkais are so fast!

I jumped on the tree then to the roof beside it and I seemed to lose them for a while. But they know this place better than I did. They would find me in no time. So I jumped around and ran to wherever my feet took me. I leaped down from the roof and landed in another massive courtyard. I was worriedly looking behind me to see if the guards had traced me when I crashed into someone.

The surprise and impact of bumping into someone unexpectedly threw me backward. I lost my balance and I eventually fell on the ground. "Ouch. That hurts!" I whined when fell hard on my behind and my elbow scratched the rough ground. "Where are you even going?" I hissed, still not looking at whoever it was I bumped into. I was too focused on standing up and looking out for the guards to actually pay attention.

"I should be asking that question," a cold and deep baritone voice hissed back at me.

I turned to look at him and frowned in confusion. "I—I am—g—going to—" I stuttered, then I came back to my senses. Why am I even giving an answer to this stranger? "Well, you don't have to know that!" I told him, lifting my chin defiantly.

He narrowed his golden eyes at me and I temporarily got distracted. Golden eyes are everywhere! "Wait. You have golden eyes too! Everyone seems to have that eye color…" I blurted aloud without a thought.

He just blinked at me as I inspected his eyes but there was a flicker of annoyance in his seemingly indifferent posture. He has impressive youki beneath that lithe body. Get away from him, Kagome!

I raised both of my hands in mock surrender. "Okay! So, you've got issues! You don't seem capable of conversation so…I'm just going to…" I trailed off as I pointed to another direction that was away from him.

I started to walk past him when a hand gripped my upper arm. Tightly. I winced at the rough handling. "Let go!" I told him in gritted teeth.

He gazed me, seemingly inspecting me the way I did with his eyes. "You are a hanyou," he stated impassively, his golden eyes turning into slits.

"Wow! After staring at me for minutes, that's all you can say? How very perceptive of you, youkai."

"Do not mock me," he warned, his grip on my arm tightening, as if he wished to rip it apart from my body.

I struggled away from his hold. "You're hurting me!" I protested.

He did not loosen his hold, gripping even tighter. "Who are you?" He demanded, yanking me closer to him, his nose sniffing.

"That's none of your business!" I exclaimed furiously while trying to get away from him.

"Insolence. What is a hanyou doing in the West's domain? Tell me." His last demand came out as a low growl.

I almost shook from the slipping youki coming off from him. But I continued to struggle against him, all my self-preservation instinct on full alert as I faced an incredibly dominant aura. "I will tell you if—" I halted when I caught the voices of the guards that were chasing me. I looked wildly at him and tried to negotiate. "I will tell you if you come with me. Right now. Come on!" I tried pulling him with me but he wouldn't move, not even an inch.

He released more of his youki and I could not stop a shiver this time. He was so powerful, the weight of his youki was the most forceful I had ever encountered. I can't believe all of this is happening today. First day in the West, and everyone already wanted to strangle me to death.

The guards saw the two of us and their eyes widened in absolute fear. I turned in his grasp and hid behind his fluffy outfit. I chuckled inwardly. His appearance totally contradicts the ruthlessness of his youki. That furry thing draped around his shoulders made him a little less ruthless-looking.

"My lord," the guards bowed low. "That girl—" they pointed at me.

Yanking me from behind him, he asked coldly, "What is this hanyou doing here?"

I blinked in curiosity. My lord? Is he part of the Higher Clan of the Inu-Youkai?

"My lord—"

"I am a servant!" I chirped, a smile forming on my lips. Thinking of the him as Fluffy Lord made me less intimidated of his forceful youki.

"Liar," he rebuked my statement, his cold eyes promising swift death.

"I am really a servant, accompanying one of the demonesses for the Choosing ceremony today.”

He would not smell any deceit in my scent. I had been too used in lying to my abusive father that it had become a shield for me. Lying should be beneath me but sometimes, it couldn't be avoided when one has a ruthless father. After all, survival is a must and sometimes lies helped me to avoid father’s punishments.

Fluffy-sama doubted me. Instead of releasing his hold of my arm, he dragged me with him as his youki swirled around us. Even the full-fledged demon guards trembled at the massive power currently at display.

"Careful, youkai. Or such display of power might put the entire palace on edge. May I remind you that there are guests in the fortress for the Choosing ceremony today? I do not think the Lord of the West will appreciate your temper." I told him, trying to divert his attention so he would loosen his youki around me.

"Careful yourself, hanyou. Or such display of insolence might cost you your tongue," he replied, a small cold smile lifting his perfectly curved lips.

Somehow, seeing that smile on his face put me on edge even more. I realized that I was really dealing with a powerful youkai and he might really hurt me without remorse.

No. No way. I wouldn't allow everyone the satisfaction of seeing me killed my very first day here.

Rage replaced my fear and I struggled with every ounce of strength I had. I won't go down without a fight! I scratched my claws at his face and released a youki of my own. His youki might be stronger but mine is more determined.

With little Shippou's face in my mind, I summoned enough energy to whip at this cruel youkai and he hissed when it burned his skin a little, creating a bleeding wound. He released me on instinct. I flipped backwards and kicked him in the chin in the process. His astounded reaction gave me a head start, and I bolted after offering him a mocking smirk.

Bastard.

Fluffy, handsome bastard.

-x-X-x-

-Sesshomaru-

Today was the day of the Choosing ceremony.

I wanted to end this as soon as possible. I do not want these demonesses inside the Western fortress for a longer time than necessary.

I stood silently in the courtyard at the Western wing of the castle, the residential place for the reigning Lord, calmly contemplating some affairs of the West when a hanyou destroyed the short moment of peace that I was currently enjoying.

I could clearly see the fear in her eyes when I released my youki. She shivered and almost trembled from the aura that a hanyou could not possibly defeat. Despite her fear of such display of power, she still managed to fight me in all the ways that she could. However stupid it was for her to earn my anger, she also earned a bit of my respect. I would choose bravery than cowardice any time.

"M—my L—lord," the guards trembled before me, too afraid of how I would deal with their incompetence.

I glanced their way. The pathetic hanyou insisted that she was a servant to one of the demonesses. That meant she could not get out of the palace and leave her lady. Pride at stake, I commanded the guards. "Find her and bring her to me." As an afterthought, I added, "Alive."

-x-X-x-

Prompt: N/A

Word Count: 2700