The Worth of a Woman by MLMonty
Chapter 1
The Worth of a Woman By MLMonty
A/N: Please read the ‘Important!!!’ section of my profile before reading this story or any others written by me.
This story will be mostly told from Sesshoumaru's pov. I work better with him than the others. ONCE AGAIN I'll be trying for romance....I'm tenacious when I want to be and DAMN IT! I WANT TO WRITE A ROMANCE.....it just might take me a few tries is all.
Anywho, he will be very proper and you'll see a lot of -san and -sama, etc. So let’s review:
-sama meaning mrs/mr but showing great respect toward the person NOT lord/lady despite what you see in ff (you'd use it for your boss or someone else higher in the social scale than you)
-san meaning mrs/mr toward someone equally your social level but still respectful
-chan meaning miss for a FAMILIAR FEMALE person (you don't call strangers chan it's rude)
-kun mean mr for a FAMILIAR YOUNG man (same as above only for males, however, both might be used for children regardless of familiarity)
I also will be using youkai instead of demon. since youkai doesn't translate well into English. The closest definition I can come up with is similar to the Native American's Spirit People... and even that's not entirely right either. Miko does NOT mean priestess people. There ARE priestesses in the Shinto religion and they are DIFFERENT from miko. Miko are Shrine Maidens. I will not be adding 's or s to Japanese words. Romaji doesn't work that way. You don't get to just tack an s on like in English to show possession or pluralization; actually that doesn't always work in English either; think deer, fish or moose (our, my, their, etc. -RG).
Okay, I think I covered everything.... if not, I'll add it later. Let the horror of me begin!
Chapter One:
“Inu no Taisho, you wish to have your son wed my daughter, correct?” the dark haired male said. He sipped his tea calmly as he awaited verification.
“Indeed. Those of your line always seem to breed powerful heirs,” replied the Inu no Taisho.
It was a great compliment from the ruler of the West. It was also the truth. While the Higurashi clan was small, it was also highly sought after for marriage proposals, making it very wealthy and very powerful. With every generation their children, though human, grew more powerful. Physically, they were stronger than other humans, and their spiritual power rivaled most youkai, making both youkai and humans tremble in fear. It had only been a matter of time before the Great Inu no Taisho sought out a Higurashi daughter for his son. Dog youkai loved power, as all youkai did, but they were less likely to be overcome by it, making them exceedingly dangerous.
“You understand, my lord, that, as the head of the Higurashi clan, I cannot allow just anyone to wed my daughter. There are many vying for her hand.”
“My son is not just anyone, he is a prince. You would deny your lord?” The golden eyes across from him narrowed in accusation.
Yoshi glanced over the rim of his tea cup at the three males sitting across from him. The Inu no Taisho sat at the table with his elder son next to him and the younger prince seated a little behind them on his brother’s far side. Looking over the two, he didn’t like what he saw.
The elder son's face was a mask of stone, his thoughts and feelings carefully obscured. Cold was the word that flashed through Yoshi's thoughts. The younger son behaved with arrogant impatience, fidgeting rudely. Yoshi wasn’t sure which child the Inu no Taisho wished to wed to his precious daughter, but he was doubtful that either met the strict criteria required of such a union.
“I will deny you rights to my daughter’s hand if I see fit, my lord. She is the only female in our clan who is unwed and of a marriageable age at present. And as such, any marriage offer must be carefully considered.”
“It is unwise, Higurashi-san, to deny your lord. Besides, from what I’ve been told, she should have been married off years ago. She’s already seventeen winters old. Perhaps it is not that no one has been good enough for your child but that she is barren, weak or otherwise unsuitable for marriage.”
Yoshi could feel the youkai powerful youki filling up the meeting room. The head of the Higurashi clan, however, was not one to be intimidated by arrogant males, be they youkai or human. He would not risk centuries of careful breeding just because a lord felt he was above his clan.
Yoshi noticed the slight tightening of the elder prince’s frame at the insult to the Higurashi’s. Perhaps it was he who was looking for a bride? Or perhaps he had not considered his father’s allegations as the reasons for his daughter’s unwed status. No matter what caused the reaction, it was interesting and bore scrutiny.
“You are indeed brave to insult the person who would grant or deny you permission to approach the female you seek. Traditions are very important in our clan and have guided us without fail for many generations. Fortunately for you one such tradition states that all who come seeking a marriage alliance be granted an equal opportunity.” He could not stop the frown from making its way to his face, however, at having to reveal this.
“Equal? That’s preposterous. Are you saying that if a farmer came here asking for her hand he’d be given consideration? A beggar perhaps?”
“Indeed, Inu no Taisho, that is exactly what I’m saying.” Yoshi ignored the scoff of the younger prince and the lord. The elder prince held his tongue as he had throughout the entire meeting. He had yet to utter a word. “Despite your insult of our clan and the female you seek, you will still be given consideration. Since this works in your favor, I would suggest you not find fault with it, if I were you, my lord.”
For a moment Yoshi swore he saw the elder prince smile slightly, though he wasn’t entirely certain.
“Now, as our tradition dictates, I first need to know who is seeking my daughter’s hand. From there he must answer several questions to deem if he is worthy of being considered as a potential husband. If he is deemed to be worthy, then the two of them will be allowed to court but not wed until it is proven that their marriage will be prosperous.”
“What nonsense is this? My son is a prince; he is more than worthy! First, you tell me you would not only consider denying your lord while you would equally contemplate a beggar’s suite, then you advise that there are even more conditions? Order the female to marry my son and be done with this! What could be more prosperous in a marriage than heirs?”
The more the youkai lord spoke, the more Yoshi was convinced that he would leave in a pique or perhaps attempt something foolish, like stealing his daughter away. It had been tried before the first time a request for marriage was denied. The fool didn’t live long enough to move her more than a few feet, and only lived that long because she was caught off guard while bathing. Yoshi was also positive that the son, whichever it turned out to be, would fail the requirements.
“Father,” the elder prince finally spoke and Yoshi gave him his full attention. “If you desire this female to join our family so much, would it not be wise to follow her clan’s traditions instead of mocking them?”
The Inu no Taisho ignored his son’s reprimand and glowered at Yoshi. Fed up with the posturing and insults Yoshi resolved to move the meeting along. He had no doubt this potential suitor, like the others, would be denied.
“So it is one of your sons you wish to wed my daughter, very well, but which one; the one who wears a mask of ice or the one who cannot mask anything?”
“I seek the woman for my younger son, Inuyasha,” the Inu no Taisho said frowning.
“Very well, the rest of the questions will be answered by he and he alone. His eligibility depends on his answers. Neither you nor your other son are to assist him in any way. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Inu no Taisho assented with a nod. The elder prince, too, gave a slight nod to signify his acceptance.
Yoshi focused on Inuyasha until the boy began fidgeting again. It seemed he didn’t like being singled out. Yoshi decided to spare him at least some discomfort, but the questions would be invasive and potentially embarrassing.
“Now, Prince Inuyasha, I will be asking you several things, some of a personal nature, and it is vital that you answer honestly. Do not give me false answers that you believe I wish to hear. I will know and dismiss your suite. After I am finished with my questions I will allow you to ask any of your own, but will withhold any answers that are clan secrets. Agreed?”
“Feh, just get on with it, old man,” Inuyasha replied gruffly.
Yoshi frowned. While the boy was ruggedly handsome, unlike the more sophisticated appeal of his sire and brother, he was egotistical and impulsive. Though, perhaps, he had other qualities to make up for these.
“Why do you wish for my daughter’s hand?” Yoshi started.
Inuyasha glanced at his sire briefly and Yoshi frowned in annoyance. “Do not look to your sire. He is not to assist you in any way. Not so much as a nod of his head or lifting of his brow or your suite will be dismissed.”
Inuyasha shifted on the plush cushion before focusing back on Yoshi. “My old man says that the Higurashi clan don’t judge based on species; that you consider all suitors, no matter if they’re youkai, human, or hanyou. I don’t want a wife, but I’m second heir and Sesshoumaru will have an easier time finding a wife, since he’s youkai and the next ruler. Even as a prince I’m hanyou so no youkai will consider me. We both need wives, but my old man considers me a priority.”
“Understood, young prince, many are blinded by prejudices against things that cannot be changed and that do not matter in the long run. Tell me what is your view on women? Are they to be considered possessions of their husbands? Are they unwise children who should obey their husband in everything? Should they be treated as intelligent equals by their husband? Tell me your desires for a wife.”
“Feh, well, she should listen, ya know. No one wants a wife who talks back. It’s not like they have anything important to say anyway, so they should just keep their mouths shut. As long as she gives me children, that’s the only thing that really matters.”
“Indeed,” Yoshi said. He nodded his head as he listened to the young prince. It seemed that the boy was relaxing around him since he was being allowed to speak his mind and Yoshi didn’t judge him based on what he was. This was good; it made things easier for Yoshi in the long run. “Now, I’m afraid the next questions are a bit more personal and, if you wish, we can allow your father and brother to visit the gardens while they are asked, to spare you any potential embarrassment. I strongly encourage you to go this route, though the choice is yours. The questions often cause discomfort among potential suitors and they are uncomfortable speaking about them much less doing so in front of family.”
“How bad can it be?” Inuyasha asked his ears twitching in curiosity and apprehension.
“Most embarrassing, I assure you, young prince. I will be asking questions regarding your most personal life. Things that most young men do not wish their fathers and brothers to know in detail.”
Yoshi’s answer was the deep blush that covered the prince’s face. Bowing politely he asked the other two youkai to wait in the garden through the shoji door that led outside.