Goodnight Lover by Ancient Chinese Proverb
Chapter One
Disclaimer: Nope. Not mine. But if Rumiko Takahashi ever decides to give up Sesshoumaru, you'd better believe I'll be in the front of the line, attempting to beat off the rest of the fangirls with a rusty dinner fork.
Author's Note: Yeah...I know. "What the heck are you doing when you have another story that you need to write?!" Honestly, I can't answer that with a sane response. But I guess you can't truly blame me, since it's not entirely my fault.
This one is a request, based off a book. Cookies to whomever can identify it. I'll give clues to it and reveal the book after I finish the story (if no one guesses it). Although, I'm not sure if the book itself is that popular, it was done by a pretty well-known romance author. Was that the first clue? I think so!
At first, this was going to be originally an Inuyasha/Kagome story, however, it was requested later that it be Sesshoumaru/Kagome. I think I like the idea better, since it'll be more of a challenge that way. Seriously, having the dog-eared hanyou as the lead would be too fricking easy and...well, I'm not an easy girl. ^^
The other story's (Sacrifice) new chapter is still in the making. As I noted in my profile (FF.net), I only have about 3 pages done so far, but it's still in progress. Just give me a bit more time.
Uh...what else? I think I covered all the bases...enjoy!
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`~*~`Chapter One`~*~`
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The fires of the hearth burned brightly, but did little for the room's occupant. The gold and ginger colors merging together to create the illusion of heat, but refusing to offer it in any shape or form.
He couldn't care less. The temperature in the sitting room of the manor was the least issue on his mind. He took another sip of the brandy in his glass.
How could this be? One moment, he had been settled in his comfortable chair in his personal study, reviewing signed contracts of his capital's public utilities and then the next, a royal messenger had been announced at the doors of his mansion bearing an order for him to return home as swiftly as possible.
The confusion had plagued him for a long while, but he had not asked any questions, trusting that he would not be wasting his time. His father would not beckon him for something trivial, of that he was certain. But the requests to return to the palace manor had never before included a time limit. He was no fool; whatever sparked the summons was serious and he had not expended any time making his way back into the heart of the Western Lands.
He closed his eyes in deep thought, his thin chrome-hued brow furrowed.
"Father..."
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"Father..."
The older man turned towards the voice. Upon seeing his eldest son, a chuckle escaped him and turned his eyes towards the luxuriant canopy above. "Don't tell me you're going to start bawling your eyes out too. Inuyasha was in here earlier."
Sesshoumaru moved from the doorway to the bed in the center of the room, his face etched in its stoic visage. "I have control over my emotions, unlike my pathetic brother," he said, ignoring his father's glare. He gracefully sat on the edge of the bed, looking into his father's face. He was silent for several moments before asking, "Why was I not informed of your illness earlier?"
"What could you have done, Sesshoumaru? The best doctors have been here already, and none of them have done anything productive to the situation." Inutaisho shifted. "They say I only have one...maybe two months to live, can you believe it? Two weeks ago, I was feeling fine, but now...I can't go an hour without coughing up blood."
A pause befell as the son grasped the information. Inutaisho watched him before continuing. "Technically, in two months, you will become the official ruler of the Western Lands. However, I don't want to wait that long. I'd rather see you settled in before I kick the bucket." He chuckled lightly, attempting to improve such a morbid topic.
Sesshoumaru's brow rose slightly as he couldn't help but wonder what his father was getting at.
"You are aware of the conditions of your coming into power."
At that statement, the younger male sighed marginally. "You wish for me to wed an annoying wench that will undoubtedly be spoiled and foolish?"
Inutaisho let out an exhausted groan. "We have been through this countless times now, Sesshoumaru," he said. "The members of the Higurashi family were the original rulers of the Western Lands before they were murdered in an attempt to trigger a revolution within the Head Council. Only their daughter remains from the disaster and was immediately taken and hidden outside of the lands from the chaos for safety reasons. After they appointed me to the throne, it was agreed that my first born son would wed her before the reign was passed down, in order to keep the original blood inside the royal family. For the last and final time, you do not have a choice in this matter, Sesshoumaru, so quit trying."
"I do not see why Inuyasha cannot wed the wench himself. She would be in the bloodline then."
"True. However, she would not be amongst the crown royals. Besides, she has been raised as a princess since she learned how to speak. All you have to do is retrieve her."
Sesshoumaru never liked being forced into situations, and had the circumstances been any different, he would have argued with his father until they had reached the understanding that he would not yield. However...
He rose from his spot on the bed, moving towards the door. "It is your last request from me, therefore I shall honor it. This does not, however, mean I will enjoy it. You have condemned this Sesshoumaru into being miserable for the remainder of his lifetime."
At that, his father smiled. "As a father, I can expect no less."
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Footsteps broke his contemplation. Sesshoumaru's eyes strayed from the fireplace to the doorway where his younger sibling stood. They remained on him for a minute before returning to the flames.
"When'd you get here?"
The heir shot Inuyasha a look. "What do you care?"
His brother turned his nose in the air. Honestly, he didn't care, but felt the need to make small talk, even if it was with his wretched brother. Inuyasha had been understandably depressed ever since he had received word that his father was dying. His father was his hero, his role model, and now that he was due, he found himself questioning what life would be like without him. "I was just wondering why the rest of the household hasn't run for the hills. You have that effect on people, ya know."
"Hn," his older brother commented offhand, swirling his drink in the still almost full glass.
Inuyasha immediately realized his brother was also troubled by the news, although he couldn't hide his surprise at that particular information. He had always thought Sesshoumaru would be glad at the moment their father passed, since he would be getting the title of king as well. Sesshoumaru had never shown any affection towards his father at all--at least never when Inuyasha was around. So it was tough to believe his usually uncaring brother actually felt grief.
"Wanna talk about it?"
Sesshoumaru gave a semi-snort. "With you? Only if I ever manage to lose all sanity."
'Now that's the Sesshoumaru I know...' Inuyasha mused.
"Why are you still here? You dislike staying inside the palace for too long," the older man stated. "Do not tell me you are actually considering spending the night here?"
Inuyasha plopped down in the seat opposite from Sesshoumaru. "With father's condition, I don't mind." He reached for the snifter of alcohol and frowned when his brother slid it across the table, away from his grasp. Shrugging his shoulders, he continued. "Besides, we're not going to be here long anyway. Don't we have some broad to pick up?"
"'We'?" Sesshoumaru asked, brow raised in a half-amused, half-irritated expression.
"Yeah, as in me, you, Kouga, and Miroku."
He narrowed his eyes. "I do not need you or the others accompanying me. This is a simple task, and will not take long."
Inuyasha smirked at Sesshoumaru's annoyance. "Sorry, but Dad wants us there as witnesses. Actually, he told only me and Kouga to come...but spending three weeks with you is torture as it is. I'm making Miroku come with us to talk me out of killing you during the trip."
"You are surely dreaming, dear brother. You do not have enough strength to best this Sesshoumaru, a fact in which I have proven in the past immeasurable times."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah...save your stuck-up speech for someone who hasn't heard it a million times. When are we leaving?"
Sesshoumaru sighed. There was no way out of it, it would seem. "...Tomorrow evening."
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"Sango! I need three more mugs!"
The woman in question nodded briefly before completing the order quickly. As she set the drinks on the tray, she gave the woman in front of her a once-over. "You hanging in there, Kagome-chan?"
Kagome smiled. "Yeah, but it's so busy tonight! Usually we get only half of this, and it's not even the weekend."
Sango nodded as she placed a few glasses into the wash bin. "It's because of Kagura. She's performing tonight and I see too many regulars for me not to think that it's a coincidence."
"Yeah, you're right. Just my luck that the first day I'm in charge of the tavern, we get one of the busiest nights we've ever had," Kagome sighed.
She really couldn't complain, however. The young woman enjoyed her profession ...well, in most cases, anyway. Myoga had made her work ever since she was a small child, although it was mostly cleaning and maintenance. What she once used to hate, she now loved, as it gave her a good opportunity to meet new people and socialize while she did her job.
Kagome set the drinks down on the surface of the table for the people who had ordered them, taking note of all of the yells and cheers of the men around her. 'Kagura must be starting,' she thought.
Kagura was from another providence, but had come to work for the tavern shortly after vacationing in the area. Myoga had convinced her to stay with the prospect of more money than she was used to receiving from her job in her homeland. She was really the sole reason why the tavern was doing as well as it was. The patrons were mostly all male, anyway, either regulars who were fans of Kagura's dancing or men who had heard of her from others. The other competing bars had tried to steal her away from them, but she had stayed because she enjoyed the people she worked with. Regardless, it was what kept the cash flowing and customers happy.
Myoga had also paid Kagura to teach Kagome the steps of the dance when she was younger, since he had feared the older woman would someday take up one of the many offers she had received and leave. Kagome used to do it with Kagura--dressing in the flashy costumes and veils, performing on the small wooden stage at the front of the pub--and it had been good for a while, until she had started growing up.
The moment the men had turned their attention to the young woman on stage, they had caused her trouble. So much, in fact, that she had to hide herself in order to continue working. She was forced to wear baggy and unbecoming clothes in order to cover her shapely and still developing curves. She also had to wear makeup as well. Not the glitzy show makeup she applied before she performed. She never used the stage paint she wore while working the tables. Instead of enhancing her features, she concealed them with the cosmetics in haggard patterns. Kagome had gotten so skilled at doing it over the years, that most people never realized that she was the same woman that danced on the stage with Kagura.
Of course, a handful some had figured it out, when the drunk men had groped her and felt the empty space between her clothes and her actually slender shape, or if the makeup had been worn away sometime near the end of the day. She regularly refused their advances and most that had made that discovery were forcibly removed by Sango before any damage was done. As a precaution, Kagome carried a long dagger in her bulky left boot, in case Sango was not around to aid her. An opportunity had not arised where she had to use it, but she couldn't say she didn't feel safer with it.
Other than that, Kagome, for the most part, enjoyed working. It was really Myoga's tavern, but she had been a part of it for as long as she could remember. The old man had gotten sick lately and put her in charge of things for the time being. She really wanted to do a good job, since Kagome wished to show him that he could rely on her more often, and leave things to her every once in a while. She would make him see she was an excellent manager, and when the time came for him to retire, he would put her in charge permanently. That was eventually her goal, fully owning the tavern, and she would certainly not pass up a chance to prove to him how skilled she was at her duties.
Kagome glanced up at the stage and watched Kagura dance briefly before starting on clearing tables. She shook her head, smiling slightly as the crowd cheered at the older woman's fluid and lithe movements. She never really understood why men liked the dances so much. They were all just steps and sashays mostly. But whatever worked...
She walked behind the counter and started to wash the tray full of glasses and mugs. "Hey, Sango...did you bring up Myoga's dinner yet?"
Sango shook her head as she filled up a glass and slid it towards an customer who was watching the show, seated near her. "With this rush? I haven't had the time to."
"Hmm..." Kagome said thoughtfully. "I'll go and do it while Kagura's performing. I doubt anyone will notice I'm gone when she's in the room," she joked.
"Yeah, I know," Sango said as she wiped the space on the counter in front of her with a cloth. "I'll take this time as well to take a short break. I still haven't had my dinner yet."
"Oh? Well, stay there, and I'll make you a plate too. I'll be back in a bit."
"Kagome-chan, you don't have to..."
She smiled. "Nonsense. I'll be right back."
It didn't take her long to assemble some sandwiches. After delivering the plate to her friend, she began making her way up the stairs to Myoga's room and knocked on the door softly. Cracking it open slightly, she poked her head in. "Myoga? I brought you something to eat." She entered after watching him sit up in the bed and placed the plate on the nightstand beside him.
"Thank you, Kagome. How is the bar doing?"
"Would you quit worrying about it already?" She smiled at him. "Everything's under control."
"And the new shipment--"
"--Came in this morning without fault." Kagome shook her head. "I told you, it's all up and running. You don't need to worry about anything, Myoga-san." She wiped her hands on her skirt. "Although it's kinda busy right now...I'd better get back down there. Kagura's probably finished for the night." She quickly said goodnight and left the room.
As she had predicted, the stage was vacant as well as a lot of the seats, and there was a whole sleugh of dirty tables waiting for her to clean. She noted Sango cleaning glasses behind the bar counter and nodded slightly. Soon, it would be time to close. Nothing had gone wrong. She had survived one night as boss without any problems.
"Hey, waitress!" another patron called.
"Be right with you, sir!" she yelled as she finished wiping down a table.
The night never ended.
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Author's Note: Well, there you have it. Not as long as I would like, but it was a nice place to cut it. I'm trying my best to deviate as well as stay on the same page as the book. Hopefully it makes sense so far...hehe.
Oh, forgot to mention in the first note...Sesshy and Inu are both human. Kagome isn't a miko. Adding all that to this story would be too complicated, and I'd also have to find a valid reason as to why Kagome didn't bite the dust earlier when Sesshy-sama has a much longer lifespan if I did include those elements in here.
Well? Was it a good start? Or should I just say 'ZOMG...I need to just to stick with writing Sacrifice!' instead? Feel free to tell me what you think!
~ACP