OtherWorld 01
Chapter 7: Inu-Yasha
Fortunately, the alliance did not break. She realized that Sesshomaru did not like her either and was probably glad she had refused him. But she still did not have a third male. All this for nothing.
As they traveled back home, with Youko Kurama riding beside her, a thought occurred to her and the asked the Fox. "What is the younger brother like?"
"Who?" Youko Kurama asked.
"Sesshomaru's younger brother. He mentioned that he had a Hanyou brother."
"Ah, InuYasha. I had heard that at the end of his life, Inutaishou fell in love with a human and had a half human son. The son was was born here in Otherworld and lives a few days from here. He isn't accepted by Demon World and probably isn't accepted by the humans who live in Otherworld either." he turned to the Princess, "Why do you ask? You can't even consider a half-breed for a mate."
"Why not?" she exclaimed. "Hiei is half fire Demon and half ice Demon."
"But he is all Demon. InuYasha is half-human, a Hanyou. If you think your sisters tease you now about Hiei, try bringing a Hanyou into your bed and see what they say."
She turned from Youko Kurama angrily. "Haughty fox!" she thought. "I will do what I please!" And she commanded them to turn from the path home and go to where InuYasha lived. Youko Kurama sighed, she was so stubborn at times.
And so in a few days time, they came upon a small village that was protected by Kaede, a healer and Miko priestess. InuYasha lived in this area and had been seen just a few days ago. But no one seem to know him or had ever spoken to him, except for Kaede and then only a few times. The Princess set up tents just outside the village as her lodging and sent both Youko Kurama and Hiei to look for the Hanyou. Bakura stayed with her to protect her.
"He reminds me of Hiei." she mused.
"Who does, Princess?" Bakura asked, his hood down on his shoulders since they were alone.
"InuYasha. He seems like he has no one. Everyone fears him because he is half-Demon or thinks little of him because he is half-human. He is trapped in the middle." she looked at the blue Demon. "Bakura, you are not horrible to look at." He blushed (dark blue rather than red because of his skin tone), and shook his head. She reached over and touch his hand. "You are really quite handsome." He blushed even more, withdrawing his hand and turning away from her.
Sighing, she gave up and turned her thoughts to InuYasha. What was he like? Was he cold like his brother? Was he a wild animal like the villagers seemed to think?
It was late afternoon when Hiei came rushing in. "I found him." he told her, always of few words.
"Is he here?" she asked the Fire Demon.
"He is coming after dark. He will not come to the village during the day. I think they have not treated him well." Hiei said, a touch of bitterness in his voice. He remembered well how he was treated by humans. He learned early that it was better to be feared by them than to be hunted by them.
"What does he look like?"
"Umm…" Hiei thought. He didn't actually stop to look at him that well. He just delivered the message that the Princess wanted to see him and got his reply and then returned to the tents. "I guess he looks something like his brother in coloring. White hair. Dresses in red."
Night fell and the Princess had the best food available prepared to welcome InuYasha. It was very late when he finally arrived, looking around guardedly, full of mistrust. She went to meet him, wanting him to feel welcome, and guided him to the table filled with food. He was similar to his brother, long pure white hair falling free to his waist and golden eyes, the pupils long slits rather than round ones. He had ears like Youko Kurama but they were smaller, and fortunately no tail. She was not fond of Youko Kurama's tail. It always seemed to be in the way during their lovemaking. She even braided it once, much to Youko Kurama's chagrin. He was so upset about having his tail braided, she never did it again.
The Princess sat InuYasha next to her and tried to ply him with questions. But he gave only grumbles as answers, giving all his attention to the feast spread out before him. His manners and demeanor was far from his brother's. InuYasha did not have the refinement of Sesshomaru, but she could sense that his heart was warm and good. She really liked this half dog Demon. His face was sweet and his golden eyes warm.
Was she actually considering taking him as one of her males? Remembering Sesshomaru, she decided getting to know him better would be prudent. But how? He was not talking hardly at all, just stuffing himself with food. "How do I get to know him?" Touching him had not worked. He didn't have emotions like Hiei bubbling beneath the surface. He had accepted his lot in life and had made the best of it. What she felt most from him was resignation.
InuYasha had no idea why he had been summoned before one of the Princesses. What did she want with him? She was beautiful indeed, but that frightened him. No one of her bearing or class had ever talked to him before. He was shunned by most.
He remembered when he was only a young child and his mother was still alive, people turned from him even then. He didn't understand why no one would play with him and ran to his mother's arms. She cried for him, knowing that he would always be alone. And when she died, a few years after that, when he was only six, he was alone. He lived in the village at first, in the home he shared with his mother, but no one talked to him. Finally, he left, the happiness he had known in his mother's arms only a memory. Since that time, he had lived in the forest, keeping away from people and Demons alike.
The Princess kept on talking to him, asking him about his childhood. Why did she want to know this? Why did she care about his childhood? He stopped eating and looked at her. She seemed genuinely concerned. Why? He could not understand it. No one had every taken an interest in him except his mother. His own brother hated him.
"Why…" he began, "Why are you asking me these things?"
"Because you are so different from your brother. I want to know why."
"You know Sesshomaru?" he asked.
"I just came from meeting him. I - I was thinking of binding him to me as one of my males," she nodded to Youko Kurama and Hiei across the table, "But his heart was cold and I didn't want him."
"You refused Sesshomaru?" he said, amazed. "He is very beautiful."
"But with a heart of ice. I did not want his cold heart in my bed." she said frankly.
InuYasha blushed deep red. He had never had any kind of a relationship with a female and to talk about bedding so openly was very embarrassing to him.
"You are far nicer that he could ever be." she touched his hand, "That is why I would like to get to know you better."
She was comparing him to his beautiful full Demon brother to him and she liked him better? This did not make any sense. He was well aware of his brother's qualities. Sesshomaru was well taught, while InuYasha could neither read nor write. He was cultured and refined, while he slept in trees and ate with his hands, not knowing how to use the other utensils. His brother wore silks while his only clothes were made of fire rat fur and had been patched a hundred times. It made no sense to him at all.
He turned from her, embarrassed and confused, and met the eyes of Hiei, the little Fire Demon. He was also not cultured. Youko Kurama was, but she had also taken Hiei as her mate. And it was rumored that he was her favorite. Was she interested in him? Could she possibly be?
Suddenly he realized she had asked him something and was waiting for a reply. "What?"
"Will you show me your forest tomorrow?"
"The forest is dangerous." he replied, avoiding an answer.
"I will be fine. I hear you have a wonderful sword that can kill a hundred Demons in one stroke."
Sesshomaru had talked about Tetsusaiga? He never talked about the sword; he hated that their father had given it to him. "Ahhh…" he began.
"Please? I will be safe with you. I am sure of it." Besides, Hiei would not let her out of his sight. She would never see the Fire Demon, but she knew he would be close by, watching over her like he always did.
"O -- okay." InuYasha stammered, blushing again.
Princess Aara had made up her mind by the time she said goodbye to InuYasha, when he went back to the safety of his forest. She was going to bind him. Youko Kurama said nothing, knowing that once her mind was made up, it was impossible to change. Hiei only grumbled that InuYasha did not have enough power. She called them both "Silly Demons!" and went to her bed, leaving both of them standing there. They looked at each other, and then went unhappily to their own beds. Both of them would sleep alone tonight!
The next morning, InuYasha came back to the tents to take the Princess to see the forest. As they walked, he pointed out the different trees and suddenly bent down. "Climb on my back." She climbed on his shoulders, clinging tightly. The body beneath her was surprising slender under all those clothes, but she could feel his strength. She felt his muscles tense and then he leapt straight up to the top of the trees and carried her swiftly over the tree tops, leaping from branch to branch in long bounds. It was scary and exhilarating at the same time. To see the forest spread beneath you going by at a dizzying pace was incredible.
After a time, he dropped back down to the ground and before them was field filled with flowers with a stream running through it. She ran through the field, dancing through the flowers.
"It is so beautiful!" she laughed. "Thank you for taking me here." She let herself fall to ground in the middle of the flowers.
He rushed to her side, wondering if she was hurt. But she was just laying there, looking up at the clear blue sky. Happy. She looked happy. She looked up at him and pulled him to her, kissing his lips gently, her hands running down his arms.
"I want to make you mine in this field." she murmured, "In your beautiful field of flowers."
She kissed him deeper and he found himself responding to her, kissing her back. This incredible, beautiful princess wanted him? His heart soared. She had refused his brother, but wanted him!
His mouth found her neck and he began kissing her there. Then he nuzzled her breast. And blushed suddenly, jerking his head up. What had he done!
"It's okay, InuYasha." She uncovered her breast for him and pulled his head down. He began to kiss, then suckle, first sighing in contentment, then making soft little growling sounds. She watched him, seeing the contented look on his face. His mother had been the only person who had ever given him love before, and the comfort she gave was in her arms and at her breast as she fed him. She understood his need better than he did, wrapping her arms tightly around him, stroking his soft hair. "InuYasha." she murmured softly. Her third male. As she watched a gentle wind move the flowers to and fro, she realized that she was completely happy.