Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?
Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha or its characters. Say hello to the very talented Rumiko Takahashi who owns him and the entire cast. Hello Rumiko Takahashi. Hehehe! The song 'Shall I Tell You What I Think of You' belongs to 20th Century Fox (It's from a musical).
By: year of the snake (at fanfiction) (aka.) crescentmoon (at mediaminer) And now Opal-Dreams on DeviantArt and Dokuga.
Inu no Taisho sent Sesshoumaru away to a meeting with a with a neighboring demon clan. Sesshoumaru was to go and finalize the treaty that would end with him being a mated demon.
To assure nothing goes wrong with the arrangements Inu no Taisho made one of his employees go with him. Sesshoumaru's personality and non-conceding determination could cost him this treaty. So he commissioned his most diplomatic employee, okay not his most diplomatic but certainly the one Sesshoumaru heeded best, Kagome-sama.
The dark haired miko surely had a way of defusing Sesshoumaru's violent anger, when he showed it. That is provided she tried. Inu no Taisho had once suspected Sesshoumaru of wagging his tail for the girl but when he asked him, Sesshoumaru flatly informed him that he felt nothing of the sort for the priestess. Sesshoumaru wasn't taken to lies so he believed him.
Still it was a father's place to secretly worry about sending his son to sign such an important treaty, particularly in the Dragon Court, with an unattached female. It could be dangerous, but his son was exceptionally strong, the girl was a priestess with a touch that could purify a demon and they were taking a large body of guards and warriors. Under these conditions Inu no Taisho reassured himself that he had nothing to fear.
~~~~
Kagome sat through a rather boring meeting. That is it would have been boring if she didn't have to keep soothing hackled fur and smoothing ruffled scales. Most of what the Dragon Lord said that offended his dog demon guest was accidental. Most of it. Sesshoumaru though, if she didn't know better, was doing it back to keep her busy. To keep her rushing at balm-like words, so she had to pay attention to the conversation. And to keep himself amused. But she knew better.
Still when the Dragon Lord called Kagome Sesshoumaru's servant, it rubbed her the wrong way. “This girl, she is your servant?”
“Hmn.” he answered in a way that affirmed it.
“I will sign the treaty.”
After all the political nightmares they had put her through as peacemaker Kagome was ready to accept the concession. Yet with how easy he was suddenly making it Kagome felt more suspicion instead of relief.
Sesshoumaru asked, “What is the celebratory gift you wish for?” He seemed ready to 'haggle' a bargain.
The other demon's eyes flashed to her. “Your servant is a comely female. I would make her one of my harem.”
Kagome waited for Sesshoumaru to turn him down. It didn't come immediately. She looked at him. Sesshoumaru was actually contemplating it!
Outraged Kagome stormed away. Out the sliding door and up the stairs into her portion of the West's borrowed quarters, aura flashing like a strobe light. She had her own room, something that scared her when they arrived. She had heard horror stories of what could happen to a girl at the Dragon Court. Now she was quite thankful for the escape such a luxury gave.
Little did she know that the Dragon Lord had something more to say about his desire. “Such a fiery spirit, I will enjoy braking her of it. I am sure she will give me a worthwhile fight, for a human.”
Sesshoumaru glared at the man. “You will not have my servant.” He got up to leave.
“Would you risk your treaty and your future mate over a serving girl?”
Sesshoumaru paused, back straight.
“There is a good lad.”
“I protect what is mine. You shall not have my servant.”
“One could argue,” he paused, “that she would be better protected and better cared for in my harem than in a serving girl's capacity.”
“The Western Household takes prefect care of it's servants.” Sesshoumaru stiffly intoned.
“We'll see.” he replied as the door started to shut behind the younger male.
~~~~
Kagome was fuming in her room. Thinking of Sesshoumaru she began to vent, “Your servant! Your servant! Indeed I am not your servant!” Jerking around she hissed at the door, “Although you give me less than servant's pay!” The miko straightened in pride. “I'm a free and independent employe!” Kagome brought a hand to her temple to rub some stress and tension out of it. She corrected her mispronunciation, “Employee.”
The miko's thoughts shifted to the Dragon Lord, 'Oh!' she huffed in her head. She had more steam to blow off. “Because I'm a woman, you think like every woman I have to be a slave or concubine... You conceited, self- indulgent libertine!... Libertine! Oh! How I wish I'd called him that right to his face!” She punched one of the many pillows that cushioned the room. Then Kagome proceeded to rage about the room.
“You stupid libertine!” it was immediate, she thought of the surprise she had had when they arrived. She wished someone had thought to warn her of just how numerous the Dragon Lord's wives, concubines and children were.
“And while we're on the subject, SIRE,” she spat out, “there are certain goings on around this place,” Kagome gestured around her richly furnished room. “That I wish to tell you I do not admire!”
Kagome's eyes flashed. She remembered how on the first morning of negotiations the Dragon Lord had had four of his many lesser wives, otherwise know as concubines, attend him. If that's what you can call fawning all over him like they did attending him. One of the first things Kagome managed was to get them dismissed from the room. She convinced the Lord that he might have a sharper mind without the distractions. And he wanted her to become one of them! No way in a million years!
“I don't like polygamy, or even moderate bigamy! I'm a one man type of girl, I expect my mate to be one hundred percent monogamous to me as well!” The priestess nodded firmly to her reflection in an intricate mirror. Kagome wondered how the Dragon Lord would take that statement. She laughed, it sure would have been funny. “I realize that in your eyes that clearly makes a prig o' me!”
Kagome took on a proud stance and voice once more, “But I am from a civilized land under wells, where men like you are kept in county jails! As you should be! She physically agreed with herself again. Then started packing. She would steal away so if Sesshoumaru agreed she could be long gone.
She flung a hand up. “In your pursuit of pleasure you have mistresses who treasure you.” Kagome recalled the sicking way the lesser wives fell over themselves for their lord's attention. “They obviously have no ken of other men, beside whom they can measure you. A flock of sheep and you're the only ram...” she hesitated, a slow, wicked smile slipped and slid across her face. “No wonder you're the wonder that you am!” She chuckled, it must be quite the chore to keep all those women happy.
Then Kagome recalled the quiet, calm women she'd briefly seen, his wives whose job it was to raise and care for all her weaned children. Even they looked at the dragon with love. She paused in her packing. And something in her was suddenly glad she hadn't spoken her mind. “I'm rather glad I didn't say that, not where the women could hear and the children.” Some of the children had taken to Kagome and would follow her around like ducklings when negotiations were done for the day. Particularly one little hanyou princess by the name of Rin. She wasn't yet weaned but often escaped her 'wet nurse', who cared for her after her mother died.
The little girl was a thumb sucker and carried around a ragged blanket. She never talked although Kagome had been told that the girl once had before. And usually her half-brother Shippo, a half-fox, was with her. He felt it was his job to protect his also motherless little sister.
“The children, the children, I'll not forget the children, no matter where I go I'll always see those little faces looking up at me...”
Suddenly remembering herself and what might happen if she stayed to much longer, Kagome snapped back to finish packing.
Once again she spouted out her anger at Sesshoumaru, “Your majesty,” she began sweetly, “Shall I tell you what I think of you?” Kagome blinked in sweet, faked innocence as if he were really there. To bad she didn't know he wasn't too far away and could now hear her rant as he informed his guards and warriors to pack to leave, taking only what is necessary and packing in a way that wouldn't alert their host or his pack.
“You're spoiled!” Kagome barked sharply in her empty room. Then she redeemed the demon she was going on about with, “You're a conscientious worker,” and she was glad for it, “but you're spoiled!” she condemned again. She pictured Sesshoumaru and his many fine qualities with a smile. “Giving credit where it's due, there is much I like in you, but it's also very true that you're spoiled!”
Addressing the problem of both demons she said, “Everybody's always bowing,” the Miko bowed elaborately, “to the lords.” Kagome mockingly and condescendingly bowed until her head was as close to her feet as it could go while still standing. “Everybody has to grovel to the lords.”
Thinking of what she'd learned of dog-demon spirituality she secretly told Sesshoumaru, “By your gods you are blessed,” then she flipped back to targeting the Dragon Lord, “by your ladies you're caressed,” she went back to scolding both of them, “but the one who loves you best is yourselves!” Kagome slammed her spare outdoor shoes into the small trunk she was packing. It was a trunk she could carry herself.
Sesshoumaru had to fight making sounds and smiling as he watched her amusing anger manifest itself. He had been there for a little while now and Kagome had yet to notice him at the door.
Kagome again acted out the next thing she said, “All that bowing and cow-towing to remind you of your superiority, I find a most disgusting exhibition!”
She began gathering up her beauty products and healing supplies, a few dropped on the floor as she moved towards her trunk. “I wouldn't ask a simple rat to demonstrate his loyalty,” the priestess bent theatrically to retrieve one of the dropped items beside her trunk, “by taking that ridiculous position!”
Kagome dropped down on her knees beside a low table. “How would you like it if you were a man playing the part of a toad?” Instead of walking around to the other side to retrieve the fallen item she wiggled underneath the table as she continued muttering. “ Crawling around on your elbows and knees.” She grasped the thing and squirmed backwards, it was slower going but she still kept up her rant. “Eating the dust in the road!” Kagome finally popped out from under the table and let out a triumphant, “Toads! Toads! All of your people are toads!”
Kagome marched back to her thunk and began arranging things so it would shut. While she did so she pretended to be a 'yes man' like servant. “Yes, Your Lordship; no, Your Lordship. Tell us how low to go, Your lordship.” She shut the box with a snap.
She began to carry the box to the table. She looked longingly at the things she would have to leave behind. “Make some more decrees, Your Lordship,” she set the trunk on the table.
Then Kagome moved across the room to get the dull green sash she purposefully left out. “Don't let us off of our knees, Your Lordship.” With her back still to her observer she began tying it around her head. She stuffed her untamed hair into it so it wouldn't shine in the sun and warn the demons of her flight. All the while her motor mouth was still going, “Give us a kick if you please, Your Lordship. Give us a kick if your would, Your Lordship.”
Suddenly Kagome jumped and let out a scream that was more surprise than pain. “Oh!” She whipped around. “Sesshoumaru-sama!” She bowed in her shock. Then realization kicked in. “You kicked me!”
He nodded serenely. “As you requested.”
Sesshoumaru walked back to the door and paused. “Grab your trunk Kagome-san, we will not stay in this dishonorable snake's iniquitous den any longer.”
Those words restored Kagome's faith in Sesshoumaru. She gladly hurried to so as he commanded. A bright smile on her face.
(The End! You're probably thinking, no wait, it can't be the end. You didn't finished the song yet. You would be so right, it doesn't end here.)
The Dragon Lord soon discovered the flight of the pretty bird, her guard dog and his army. He was very unhappy his desire was escaping. So he gathered his army and pursued them. The Dragon Lord overtook them and commanded his men to 'slay the dogs!'
Sesshoumaru heard fighting brake out to the rear. Angrily he flew back and landed in a blaze of glory before the Dragon Lord.
“Ah Sesshoumaru-sama, how good to see you.” The Dragon Lord smiled cruelly.
Sesshoumaru just glared at the demon.
“I will order my men to stop if you give me the girl.”
“I protect what is mine.”
“Yes, you've said that before... There is another way I'll still my men...” The dragon's cruel smile turned malicious. “Since you will protect your servant, you could accept my challenge, fight a Duel of Rights with me.” The Dragon Lord knew that the Lordling of the West was still too young to beat him.
“Hmn. That is acceptable.”
“Men, stop killing the dogs. We are to have a Duel of Rights!” A cheer went up on both sides. Soon a wide circle was formed around Sesshoumaru and the Dragon Lord.
“I will have my prize witness my victory. Bring her to me.” hissed the dragon jeeringly.
Sesshoumaru paused to think about it for a moment, then nodded at one of the dog demons who had formed the circle. The demon rushed off to get the only girl in their group.
While they were waiting both men transformed into their true forms. So long before Kagome arrived she saw a giant white dog with large red eyes. He was as big as the tallest tee in the area, which was ancient. Still the dog was dwarfed by the body of a mountainous, sinuous dragon.
When she arrived at the edge of the circle the terrible looking dragon eyed her with his own red eyes in such a way that it made her shiver. Then the humongous dragon took a flying leap at the dog with a snap of his teeth.
So began an hour long, give or take, battle. Kagome watched the battle nervously. The Dragon Lord had to be at least a thousand, maybe two thousand, years Sesshoumaru's senior. And he'd been a warlord for most of that time. Sesshoumaru had barely reached his thousandth year two months ago. Kagome didn't see this ending well. 'You see Inu no Taisho-sama your son died needlessly in a duel... Oh dear.' she worried in her head.
Remarkably, while he didn't match the Dragon Lord in power, size or experience, the fight was not so uneven as Kagome had feared. Still the odds and all the signs said that the victor would not be Sesshoumaru.
Within seconds of Kagome beginning to seriously despair as it would be the victor's right to declare and carry out the fate of the loser. Sesshoumaru could be murdered right before her eyes.
Yet in too swift for her eyes to view Sesshoumaru locked the dragon in a submission hold. The Dragon lord's giant, snake-like structure thrashed and curled erratically.
Two minutes later the titanous dragon hung limp in the dog's hold. The Dragon Lord's voice rumbled the ground as he growled something Kagome couldn't understand. A cheer rang up from the dog-demons.
Sesshoumaru reacted by dropping the section of the Dragon Lord he had been chomping on like he was an animal proudly presenting a gift to it's favorite person. He disentangled himself from the bleeding body that was the wounded foe. Shortly thereafter both demons returned to their humanoid states.
Sesshoumaru stood proud and tall, even covered in blood and scratches as he was. The Dragon Lord was bowing on his knees to his opponent.
“Vile snake,” Sesshoumaru insulted. “This Sesshoumaru grants you your measly life. Take it and flee. You are never to be seen near these lands nor the lands of the West again.”
“You're banishing me!?!” the Dragon Lord was outraged.
“Hmn. You are not worthy of killing.” Then Sesshoumaru turned and walked away. He showed no signs of injury.
The now Ex-Dragon Lord sneered at Sesshoumaru's back but got up and limped towards the closest border anyway. Yet he paused when Kagome's voice rang out in congratulations, “That was good, Your Lordship! You were amazing, so spectacular!”
He looked down at the bubbling girl. “You will attend me.” Sesshoumaru began walking through the aisle the other demons made for him. He could hear some whispers as he passed.
“What! I'm not a servant!” she yelled as she followed him.
“It matters not.”
Kagome was still huffing as the Ex-Dragon Lord continued on and left the area.
Normally dragon demons with eyes or hearts set on power would immediately challenge the new Dragon Lord. But the powerful dog, young though he was, didn't show any signs that the blows he took injured him. So they slunk fearfully away.
Sesshoumaru had his men make camp instead of continuing on the journey home or returning to the ornate Dragon Palace that was one of his rights as victor.
An hour later Sesshoumaru addressed Kagome, “Come. You will attend my now.” He headed for his tent.
“I already told you I'm not a servant!” Yet she followed him anyway.
For his part Sesshoumaru ignored her complaining and near treasonous words. After entering his tent he sat at the low table that had been provided for him.
For once noticing her surroundings Kagome said, “Uh... Why are we here?”
“I do not repeat myself. Now attend to me.”
Kagome blushed until Sesshoumaru yanked up his dirtied white pant leg, revealing a long, deap gash in his leg. It stretched from just above the ankle to just above the knee.
Kagome was shocked. Somehow Sesshoumaru had managed to walk and stand on his leg without getting the blood that was still pouring from it on his clothes. Or acting woozy.
She began scolding Sesshoumaru for not having it treated right away, for walking and standing on it and for all around being a stubborn dog. Sesshoumaru let her continue her degrading rant, her soft, yet somewhat rough fingers worked on his skin and her busy work was calming to him. So he let her talk as she wished. He knew while she meant everything she said now, later she wouldn't care to remember saying half of it. He long ago learned the sight of bleeding wounds made Kagome nervous, so she ranted to release nervous energy while she worked. By now Sesshoumaru could even find her ranting calming. If she was silent then he would worry.
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and focused on the sounds she made, ignoring the words completely. They were of no consequence. Kagome ended up giving him many stitches.
~~~~
Days later he walked into his father's court. “Ah Sesshoumaru, how goes the negotiations with the Dragon Clan?” Inu no Taisho asked after Sesshoumaru bowed to him. Inu no Taisho stood and continued without waiting for the answer. “Am I to congratulate you on your mate-to-be?”
“Hmn. Negotiations with the Dragon Clan are no longer necessary.”
“And your mate-to-be?” Inu no Taisho expected his son to be mated with the Dragon Princess Haruko soon, if, as he took from Sesshoumaru's words, the negotiations went well.
“I have fought for a female and as victor I assert my right to claim her as my mate, according to our laws.”
Inu no Taisho looked at him confused.
“I present you with the title of Dragon Lord as a gift to my liege for allowing my choice.”
Inu no Taisho nodded. “It is acceptable.” Inu no Taisho would have to get the story from Kagome. It was sure to be interesting.
Later that day he sat and listened to Kagome 'brief' him in very excited, detailed words. Inu no Taisho almost laughed at her cluelessness as she related angrily Sesshoumaru's lack of sense about his wounds.
When she paused in her rant Inu no Taisho in an amused tone said, “At least now I know who is to be my son's mate.”
“Furthermore... What?” Kagome looked at him confused and curious. “Who?”
“You.”
“What!? How so?”
“Sesshoumaru said he was going to claim his right as victor did he not?”
“Yes..?” She didn't like where this was going.
“By allowing him to fight on your behalf you've placed your future in his hands, to do with as he likes. He could have chosen to give you to someone else. Instead he wishes to keep you.”
“What! How..! Why..! What!?!”
“Are you going to dishonor my son by rejecting his claim? Even after you appeared to publicly accept it by attending to his injuries?”
“What!?! That sneaky, low-down, stupid, controlling dog!”
Inu no Taisho hid his chuckle. “Shall I take that as your answer?”
Pinch lipped Kagome said, “No, I will not dishonor him. Sesshoumaru-sama didn't give me to that dragon, not even to stop the fighting. He rescued me. I cannot dishonor him.” She sighed. “I will allow him to take me as mate.”
Inu no Taisho grinned. “I am glad. You will be a fine mate for my son.”
As she left Inu no Taisho could almost hear the future. Sure Kagome would accept the mating but she would yell at Sesshoumaru for tricking her into it first. Yes she would definitely be good for his son.
Suddenly Inu no Taisho winced. He was going to have to deal with Sesshoumaru's mother. That confrontation was sure to be a painful one. Sesshoumaru's mother's bite was certainly more vicious than her bark.
~~~~
After they had been mated for a few days Kagome asked her mate, while they were on what we would call a honeymoon, “Why did you mate me?”
“I wanted to.”
“And I suppose you always get what you want?”
“Hmn.” he agreed.
“You're so spoiled!” chuckled Kagome.
“Hmn.” Sesshoumaru hummed against her jawline, agreeing. This incited giggles from his mate.
“Most definitely spoiled!” Kagome grinned at Sesshoumaru.
The End
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AN: This is for Sandreline's Musical Challenge at dokuga http://www.dokuga.com/forum/29-challenges/73698-sandrelines-musical-challenge#73717 .
This took a while to write. I think it turned out well. Ps. I had to change bits and pieces of the song to make it fit. Nothing that would change the meaning though. Please let me know what you think of it! Thank you!
This was the prize at the end of the last one-shot. A person who goes by the name; Kayelyn at dokuga won this. The answer was: State Fair.
I have decided to continue giving out prizes to the first person to guess the musical the songs come from.
PRIZE: The first person to review with the musical this came from will be allowed to request another Sesshoumaru/Kagome song-fic, using a song they choose, from a musical. (Must be a logged in user so I can contact them.) PS. The person who won this prize cannot answer the question, so someone else has a chance, you can't win twice in a row. But I will allow previous winners to enter again. Thank you.