Landlord of the West

Dog demon Sesshomaru. He was the son, heir of the Landlord of the West, the great dog demon – Inu No Taisho. Under his land lordship fell the Forests and Human Villages in the Western regions. It was during those times when humans and demons coexisted, although the latter were considered to be of the superior class. Yes. Humans were deemed to be inferior to demons. Many regions even had racial discrimination. Pathetic. But true. However, the coexistence was celebrated by both races, considering how troublesome enmity among them would have been.

Sesshomaru was indeed very strong; proud and arrogant; devilishly handsome; worships fighting; abhors women; tolerates humans even though he felt that humans were inferior and weak. But he was basically just and kind to both demons and humans, which he expresses more in actions than words.

That was why he endures the presence of his half-breed, half-brother, Inuyasha. Inu father lost both his first and second wives, the latter one being human. The sons were deprived of their mothers’ love. Sesshomaru was always indifferent while Inuyasha was short-tempered. ‘Love’ in any form was difficult for both to express.

All three men lived in their palace together. Sesshomaru bore a grudge against his father when he fell in love and took a human - of an inferior race for a mate. Quite often he indirectly shoots vengeful remarks at his father. One day, unable to bear more of the prickling statements of Sesshomaru, Inu father bellowed, “someday, someone WILL come to shatter your pride and conquer your arrogance; on that day, you’ll comprehend my situation; you’ll regret every single word of hatred you fired at me!”.

To the surprise of Inu father, Sesshomaru laughed! a long laughter! Inu father was shocked beyond words; because he never laughs; he rarely smiles. His infrequent laughter was like music to the father’s ears, although it was a laughter of mockery. But his eyes were red with revulsion; lips curled in disdain. “Such injudicious statements! Not expected of a demon leader; the landlord of the West!”.

The father’s eyes widened at such stinging words. With that Sesshomaru scoffed and left.

---

Sesshomaru was sent to a human village nearby, by his father in order to negotiate for some landholding issues. He was staying in the Manor of his demon cousin, Kagura till his business gets through.

“Aaaaah!.....” a cry of his close sub-ordinate, old human woman hit the ears of Sesshomaru.

Before he moved, his assistant Jaken came.

“What was that?” Sesshomaru inquired.

“They say a young woman carelessly shoved the old woman to the ground. She didn’t even apologize, it seems. I didn’t happen to see her though” Jaken said.

Sesshomaru immediately rushed to the old woman.

There was human girl standing beside the old woman. Sparkling brown eyes. A little ponytail tied up part of her hair at the side. All-smiling pink lips. round face slightly tanned by sun. She did have a cute face. For some reason Sesshomaru found only childish innocence in that face, rather than conceit. She had an attractive and a reasonably tall frame. But Sesshomaru was not one to fall for external beauty. He loathed the girl in front of him; his face scowled and eyes narrowed at her in disgust.

The girl blinked at him in confusion. What’s up with him?

“You there. Carry this woman’s things to her hut” and that is your punishment for your insolence.

The girl blinked once; twice. She looked around wondering if he was addressing someone else.

“I’m talking to you, girl. Do not make this Sesshomaru, repeat himself”

*Blink* She pointed her forefinger at herself, “Who? Me?”

“YES! IT IS YOU! Now follow Lord Sesshomaru’s orders before he loses his patience”, Jaken yelled.

*Blink*

“OKAY!”, the girl said cheerfully and shot them a sunshine smile.

Sesshomaru was indeed taken aback at the radiance of the smile. He couldn’t remember the last time when someone shot him such bright, lively and sincere smile. Unbeknownst to himself, he lightly blushed for a moment. But he dumped his heart’s words and sought to his mind’s reasoning.

Such insolence! She didn’t even feel guilty of her ill-behavior with the old woman.

The old woman shivered, “Th-th-that wouldn’t be necessary, Milord. I will carry them myself”

“Do not spare her, Lady Mino” Sesshomaru said. Even though the woman was his sub-ordinate, Sesshomaru had good manners in treating his good-hearted, loyal assistants. Jaken cunningly took one the lightest baggage. Let her carry the heavier one. It is her punishment after all. Jaken mused to himself.

That left the girl with the heaviest one which was left. If she was not there Sesshomaru himself would have assisted the old woman.

“WHOA!” the girl was about to fall, as she took the baggage, before she balanced herself with her foot. “What a heavy load! What have you gotten in there Lady Mino?”

Before Mino could answer Sesshomaru shot a glare at the girl, which silenced both the women. Audacious girl! She had the nerve of not apologizing to the woman after here mistake. She’s asking foolish questions. DAMN HER PARENTS! What were they doing? Having raised the girl with ill-manners! What were they doing instead of raising her well?

Sesshomaru walked towards Mino’s hut while the other three followed him.

They entered the hut where the baggage were unloaded by the carriers (i.e. Jaken and the girl)

“Thank you very much child. You have not only helped me up after the fall, but you also helped me with my bag”

The girl smiled brightly.

“You have not only helped me up after the fall”? Sesshomaru’s common sense questioned. But the words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop,“Do not thank her, Lady Mino. She deserves the sentence”. He was in a bad mood that day that his words were harsher than usual.

Both the women blinked. “What do you mean, Lord Sesshomaru? Why is such a sweet girl being chastised so?” asked Mino.

“Do you need to ask, Lady Mino? It was this insolent brat who pushed you to the ground and didn’t even apologize” said Jaken in Sesshomaru’s stead.

The girl blinked blankly, while the old woman gaped. Both were confused.

“B-but, Jaken. It was not HER who did it”, Mino finally said.

Both demons froze. Jaken gaped like an idiot while Sesshomaru’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean?” Sesshomaru managed to ask.

“This girl rushed to me right after I fell. She helped me up and even gave me medication for my minor bristles and bruises. It was not her who pushed me, Milord”

Sesshomaru felt as if his face was getting smeared by mud. Great timing to tell the fact!

“Why didn’t you tell us earlier, Lady Mino?” asked Jaken. He has been with Sesshomaru for so many years to understand his thoughts so well.

“I-I am very so-sorry, Milord!”, Mino stuttered and mumbled, “you didn’t let me to”

“But still-” Jaken began to argue.

“Jaken”, Sesshomaru interrupted. He just couldn’t get himself to meet the girl’s eyes. For the first time in his life, he was at loss of words.

“Then who was it anyway?”, Jaken’s curiousity got the better of him. He wouldn’t have asked if he had known what reply he was to behold.

“Th-th-that was….. I do not know, Milord”, stuttered Mino.

It was very apparent that Mino knew but is not telling them. Sesshomaru’s eyes narrowed, “I know that you know who it was, Lady Mino. Tell us”

“No, Mil-”

“if you respect me” Sesshomaru blackmailed.

“It….w-was your cousin, Kagura” Mino said weakly.

Now Sesshomaru felt as if his face was getting smeared with charcoal. That must have been the most embarrassing moment of his life!

Jaken fainted.

The girl gasped.

“Jaken!” Mino called.

Sesshomaru’s mind was too busy to notice the commotion. He had shot insulting remarks at his own uncle and aunt in his mind, without knowing. He shut his eyes as awkwardness overwhelmed him.

“Oh! Was she Lord Sesshomaru’s cousin? No wonder she was so beautiful!”

The girl was rubbing salt to his wound. He couldn’t face the girl and his face reddened for two reasons. First one was obvious. Embarrassment. The second one was because, she indirectly praised that he was good-looking.

The girl giggled.

Sesshomaru’s curious eyes involuntarily touched her face.

She shot the brightest smile of the day.

Sesshomaru’s eyes widened. He couldn’t help himself from blushing. His mind was telling him to avert his eyes. But his eyes were not listening. Nonsense! What am I doing? He finally averted his eyes when his mind recalled the embarrassment.

“Lord Sesshomaru!”, another servant called. He went to see who it was.

By the time he came back, he only found Jaken woken up by Mino. Where is she? His eyes searched the small hut.

As if she read his mind Mino said, “She left, Milord. She said she was already late for an errand she had to attend to”

And that is because of me…..

“D-Do you know who she is?”

“Er…..No, Milord”

“Her name? Whereabouts? Anything?” Sesshomaru couldn’t believe his own desperation.

Mino shook her head in regret.

And I didn’t even get a chance to apologize. He humiliated the girl for not apologizing for a mistake, she never made. Now he has committed a mistake but has failed to apologize.Sesshomaru felt his insides twinging. Guilt. Shame. What not?

Jaken stared at his Lord. Till date he had never seen such an expression in his face.

Sesshomaru left immediately.

Later that day, he went to visit the head of the Village for the negotiation. His mind was still wandering around the girl for some reason he knew not.

“Welcome, Lord Sesshomaru, Master Jaken”

“Master Kenji”, Sesshomaru acknowledged him in his own style.

The three men took their seats.

“I request both of you to stay in my Manor-”

When Kenji noted the demons' hesitation, he went on, “at least for the night”.

Sesshomaru was here for making an agreement. He did not want to disagree with the first thing that was brought up in their meeting. He agreed. Kenji signaled one of the servants.

“It is known that the humans and demons in this village are not in the best of terms. I have come to represent on behalf of all the demons. Let us discuss the terms now, so that we may settle them”.

Sesshomaru started bringing up the stipulations. He was confident of a positive agreement between them in the end, because Master Kenji was the Village’s head; a man of great social standing and political influence in that Village. Humans in that Village blindly follow his words.

In the end, Master Kenji seemed convinced, but he said, “Pardon me, Milord. But when it comes to matters like these, I always discuss this with my best advisor and decide. Kindly allow me some time in it”. When Sesshomaru nodded, he smiled and signaled another servant who nodded and exited.

Jaken’s eyes widened at the compliment and at how Master Kenji relied upon his advisor for such vital issues of the village.

‘Best’ advisor? He must really be an intellectual one. Definitely experienced for decades to be proudly acclaimed as such. Sesshomaru pondered.

“What is it, father?” a familiar woman’s voice brought Sesshomaru back to reality.

Sesshomaru’s eyes widened; His face paled, if that was ever possible (‘cause he normally looks almost pale). Mouth slightly fell open.

“Lord Sesshomaru, Master Jaken. Meet my ‘BEST ADVISOR’; My daughter, Rin”

Rin. Rin. Rin. Rin. Rin. Rin………. Sesshomaru’s head began spinning as her name echoed in his mind. It’s the same girl!!!

“Pleased to meet you, Lord Sesshomaru; Master Jaken”, Rin bowed; her face smiling the same bright smile.

*THUD*

Jaken fell on the ground in shock.

Sesshomaru was wrong earlier. Only THIS was the MOST EMBARRASSING moment of his life. Can this day get any worse!?!