A/N: Thank you for reviewing, fifi, naddynads, Allies with Caution, Nychell21, whatdouthink, Reesexxoo, Guest, Mz. Kimi-Wimi, FOODISMYBAE, MamaLegba, Kairi09, Whitesunflower21, andGuest.

Replies to Anonymous reviewers:

Guest: That is really close to what I had in mind when I wrote that! Thanks so much for sharing that image…it's really encouraging to know I was able to bring my vision across to my readers

Guest: Hehe I was afraid I was going a little overboard with the details so thanks for that.

whatdouthink: Thank you so much, and sorry about the slow updates :(

fifi: Not planning to abandon this fic! And thank you for stopping by to comment ^_^

Special shoutout to the magical Kairi09 who managed to review chapter 12 like a month before it was posted and scared me into updating this story because I don't mess with no witches.

I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 12 – The Castle of the South

Inuyasha was fidgeting with the sleeves of his black haori, sitting on the floor of his Master's elaborate carriage, when it drew up to the gates of the Southern Castle.

It was a cold night, and Inuyasha was already more anxious than he was expecting to be and the sudden scent of hundreds of powerful youkai, a large number of them daiyoukai, set his instincts off all the more. Although he'd been preparing himself for this ever since they'd met up with Jaken, and although Jaken and the head of the team of servants who had come on this trip had coached him on how to behave, he didn't feel ready yet.

His Master's youki next to him was steady as ever, and it was the one thing that he could hold on to in this scary new place. So he stayed as close to his Master as he was allowed to be, and took a surreptitious deep breath when the door of the carriage was opened by a footman.

Inuyasha climbed down out of the carriage on all fours, his bare hands and feet flinching a little from the feel of the cold earth beneath them. Inuyasha had his head lowered respectfully as was expected of him, but as his bangs covered his eyes, he was able to quickly take a look around.

His keen ears had already picked up the sounds of soft gasps and low murmurs the moment Lord Sesshoumaru stepped out of the carriage but the sight before him still created a pit in the bottom of his stomach.

Youkai, more richly dressed than he had ever seen in his life, stood around in the courtyard where the carriage was drawing up. There were subtle lights up in the beautiful garden-like space and most of the people had delicate flutes of crystal in their hands, holding various drinks. When the beautiful, gold accented carriage drew up, people automatically stopped what they were doing to stare.

Inuyasha scrupulously avoided the staring eyes and instead focused on the others present in the clearing.

Next to the richly dressed youkai, were various creatures dressed in black, clearly pets or slaves, in various mostly scanty dresses, standing or kneeling or crouching with their heads bowed. Inuyasha would have almost mistaken them for inanimate objects for how absolutely, deathly still they remained, until their Masters interacted with them in any way. With a nervous gulp, Inuyasha realized he was supposed to meet up to that standard as well.

The combined demonic energy in the place was enough to make his mouth run dry. Near him, he heard an almost inaudible whimper from Jaken and knew the toad demon was feeling something similar, although he'd been much more excited than Inuyasha to be coming here.

And to make matters worse, Inuyasha spotted their host but a few steps away, smiling easily in their direction.

Lord Sesshoumaru wound Inuyasha's leash around his hand once and walked forward to where Hiten was waiting to welcome them, leaving Inuyasha to crawl behind him. Jaken hurried forward at his side, one step behind.

"Lord Sesshoumaru," Hiten greeted, his customary cocky smirk on his face. "It's a pleasure and an honour to have you here."

Inuyasha's heart was thundering in his chest being in close proximity to this man, as his master returned the greeting calmly and politely, without the slightest indication of the bad blood between them from earlier.

"Pardon my brother's absence," Hiten said. "Manten was unavoidably detained elsewhere and will be joining us later."

Hiten looked down at Jaken a little bemusedly. He was dressed in brown, which indicated he was not a pet, but his bulbous eyes and disproportionate features brought little else to mind. Sesshoumaru introduced him as his advisor, and Hiten only just managed to conceal his contempt, until Jaken began to speak. Then any doubts Hiten had about Jaken's capabilities were assuaged; the toad demon spoke politely in perfect courtly language, one which even some outstanding members of the rulers' court found it difficult to carry on any length of conversation in, and Jaken responded as was fitting for a lord to the subordinate of another ruler.

"And could this be Inuyasha?" Hiten asked once the pleasantries were out of the way, and Inuyasha's puppy ears lay flat on his head. He lowered his head a little more in response to being paid attention to, as Jaken had taught him was appropriate for his station.

"I do believe this is the longest you've had a toy, ne Sesshoumaru-sama?" Hiten asked casually, turning his gaze away from the half-demon.

Inuyasha felt the spike of anger in his Master's youki but outwardly, there was no indication of it.

"I don't keep track," Sesshoumaru answered, slightly more brusquely than was strictly polite, but then Hiten's question had also been skirting dangerously on the border of being rude.

"Come, I must introduce you to some new members who will be joining us this year," Hiten said, escorting the youkai prince away. Inuyasha followed on all fours, glad to not be eyelevel with all the new people.

He paid attention to the first few names that were mentioned, but soon could not keep up. At his Master's other side, however, he saw Jaken listening carefully, digesting every bit of information presented to him, and paying keen attention to everyone's mannerisms and bearing.

As they moved slowly through the crowd, Inuyasha was very aware of all the eyes trained on his Master, all of them gauging, judging, and considering. A few eyes glanced at him a few times, some of them lingering on his puppy ears, and Inuyasha immediately ducked his head low, thoroughly uncomfortable.

It seemed Sesshoumaru already knew most of the people there, with the exception of only a few new people here and there who, from what Inuyasha understood, were rulers of lands that had recently fallen into new hands.

He immediately picked up on their youki being more unsteady than those of the people the demon Lord already knew; although they appeared composed on the outside, their inexperience in these sorts of things, as compared to those of old royal blood, became apparent both in their mannerisms and their language.

"And this is the newest member among us," Hiten said, walking up to a gorgeously dressed woman.

The woman turned around, and blood-red eyes widened instantly in recognition as they met Sesshoumaru's.

"My lady is the ruler of a kingdom up in the mountains of the north," Hiten said. He neglected to mention the bloodshed and carnage she had left in her wake to become a ruler powerful enough to merit an invite to this event. Nobody knew where she had come from, but all those who associated with her reported of her absolutely ruthless, cut-throat nature and her ability to do whatever necessary to gain what she desired.

Hiten frowned in surprise at the blush dusting her cheeks as she stared at the demon prince.

"We've - met before," she mumbled. "I – don't know if you remember me, Sesshoumaru-dono?"

Hiten's eyebrows almost disappeared into his hair at this woman's audacity of addressing the prince of the Western Lands this way. *

"Kagura-san," Sesshoumaru replied, and Kagura could not entirely hide her surprise. "Of course."

There was a flash of something in her eyes at being addressed with a simple -san, rather than the title of 'lady', but she let it go; the youkai prince knew her true origins, after all.

Next to her was a beautifully dressed young woman with long hair that Inuyasha recognized as Kanna. Her lowered head and posture marked her as a servant or pet. If she recognized Sesshoumaru, her blank face gave no indication of it.

Hiten carefully watched them, but Sesshoumaru's emotionless countenance gave nothing away. Still, Sesshoumaru was the first one he'd met so far who seemed to know this woman, and he resolved to ask him about it later.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" the happy female voice raised a few eyebrows and Inuyasha glanced up in time to see a lovely young woman hurrying through the crowd in a most undignified manner.

Large, warm brown eyes sparkled adoringly as a familiar face that came barely to his Master's chest, grinned.

"Rin," Lord Sesshoumaru said, "I trust you have been well?"

"Well, I will leave you to catch up," Hiten said, apparently not surprised. "Sesshoumaru-sama can find me around here if he needs me."

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin gushed, as soon as Hiten was gone. "It's so good to see you again. Toru, Toru, look, it's Sesshoumaru-sama! We'll get to see each other for so many months to come! Isn't that wonderful!"

A young man, slightly taller than Rin but shorter than Sesshoumaru appeared at her elbow. His orangish eyes and clawed hands distinguished him as a youkai.

"Oh! Oh yes," Toru said in a dismayed tone of voice. "It's an honour to see you again, Sesshoumaru-sama."

The demon Lord gaze on the young man was severe, and that Toru seemed quite uncomfortable did not seem to bother the demon prince in the slightest.

"Toru," the Lord Sesshoumaru said finally and Inuyasha could practically see Toru break out in a light sheen of sweat.

"A-as you can see, Rin is – I mean everything is fine, my Lord," Toru gushed, and Inuyasha could swear he saw just a hint of that sadistic smile he was so familiar with tugging at his Master's lips.

"Good," Lord Sesshoumaru said, his deep voice making Rin's eyes sparkle just a bit more. "We can speak at leisure once the formalities are out of the way, Rin, Toru,"

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin said cheerfully, and Toru bowed his head slightly as the demon Lord turned away from them. Rin cast a warm, friendly look towards a surprised Inuyasha who itched to ask his Master some questions, but knew he had to hold his tongue until they were alone.

The rest of the introductions were tedious and uneventful until they had made their way almost through the entire party where they were met with a familiar, easy face and sharp blue eyes.

"Sesshoumaru," Kouga boomed, grinning at the man. "Glad you made it safely."

"Good to see you again, Kouga," Sesshoumaru said.

Inuyasha watched the exchange between the two, knowing it would have been far less civil had it been any other setting.

Kouga glanced at him once but said nothing.

Hiten found them once again when the personal meetings were done.

"Please do not hesitate to let me know if there is anything at all we can do to make your stay more enjoyable," Hiten said as they prepared to end the evening. "The formal meetings won't convene for another three days, so until then, please rest and allow us a chance to serve you; you have travelled a long way."

He called two servants, who were standing carefully close at hand, to show them to their lodgings and gave him swift instructions. One of them led Jaken to a different way, while another accompanied Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha. The servant was at once, charming and obsequious, as was expected and appropriate of servants of high-born lords, and led the way through the castle.

As they finally headed inside, Inuyasha was left with the uncomfortable feeling of being at once, invisible and far too exposed.

"I hope my Lord finds the rooms acceptable?" the servant, whose name was Yuki, asked.

Inuyasha couldn't help but stare. The first impression Inuyasha got of the room in front of him was of marble and gold. There was nothing quite so ostentatious in the Western castle; most of the furniture had what seemed like pure gold arms and legs. The walls and the floors were of beautifully polished marble. There was a dark- wooden mantle over the marble fireplace, and a gold chandelier hung from the ceiling. The floors were richly carpeted with different kinds of rugs, and in the. Unlike the almost floor length windows back in the Western castle, though, the windows here were relatively small, and heavy-looking velvet drapes, tied together with golden ropes, framed them.

"They're fine," Sesshoumaru told the servant, looking around in a way that Inuyasha knew meant he was already familiar with them.

"Very good, my Lord," Yuki bowed low.

"Should my lord desire, there are separate accommodations for black-level retainers," Yuki mentioned tactfully.

Inuyasha almost ignored this statement, until he saw his master throw him a considering glance.

"Take him to them," Lord Sesshoumaru ordered at length, and Inuyasha looked up, startled. Realizing he was being impertinent by meeting his Master's eyes without permission, he quickly lowered his head.

Yuki bowed, and waited for Inuyasha to follow him.

Very reluctantly, Inuyasha followed Yuki, a lump forming in his throat from the thought of living away from his Master in this strange place.

The servant accommodations were in a different wing of the castle, removed from the main wing, but not too far from it.

It was basically one large room divided into small sections by curtains. Yuki led him to his, and Inuyasha found a simple bed, a small wardrobe, and a small side-table there. The room was simple but clean. Some of the curtains were already drawn while some were open and black-clad creatures sat on some of the beds; they looked up curiously as Inuyasha entered.

"If you need to find your way around the castle, please ask one of the guards to help you rather than wandering around yourself," Yuki told Inuyasha. "The castle can be dangerous to outsiders."

Inuyasha nodded, and muttered a thank you, and then Yuki left, leaving Inuyasha with a tight knot in his stomach.

He looked around at the little corner that he would be living in for the next many months, but his mind hardly registered what his eyes were seeing. All he could think of was that Lord Sesshoumaru had never mentioned they would not be living together as always.

Of course, it wasn't Inuyasha's place to presume; slaves or pets did not always stay with their Master, but Inuyasha had grown accustomed to doing so on journeys. Perhaps it was because he had been a child when his Master had bought him, or maybe it had just pleased his Master to have him at hand on all the trips they had taken, but looking around at this little place, Inuyasha had a cold, sickening feeling that something had changed, and he didn't know what it was.

"Hello?" a small, timid voice said, and Inuyasha looked up from where he was sitting on his bed.

The speaker was a small youkai with large bunny-like ears, dressed in what looked like black strips of clothing that barely concealed anything. Metal manacles were around her wrists, and her face held the haggard look of someone who had seen too much too young.

"I'm Sayu. And this is Aki, Tana, and Doku," the bunny youkai said, pointing to other youkai in the room. "Are you new?"

Inuyasha nodded hesitantly. "Yes. I'm Inuyasha."

Doku's features were difficult to make out for how disfigured his face and body was. Inuyasha just made out a pig-like snout, and small, pink hands, but they were covered in what looked like gashes.

"Are you alright?" Inuyasha asked him. Doku gave him a vacant smile and said nothing.

"Who is your Master, Inuyasha?" Sayu asked.

"I belong to Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands," Inuyasha answered, hand automatically going to the comforting feel of the collar around his neck.

Aki, who seemed to be a racoon youkai, dressed in a short, dress-like outfit, looked up sharply, and Tana, a youkai Inuyasha couldn't immediately tell the species of, let out a small gasp.

"I sympathize" Sayu said softly. "We're here for you, Inuyasha. If you need anything…"

Inuyasha frowned at Sayu. "Sympathize? What do you mean?"

Sayu exchanged an odd glance with Tana. "Lord Sesshoumaru is your Master, yes? The son of the Lord Inu no Taisho and Lady Tsukiko?"

Inuyasha nodded, looking from one to the other.

"We have been coming to these gatherings for many years now," Sayu said softly. "We have met any of Lord Sesshoumaru's -"

"How dare you?" Inuyasha demanded harshly. "What gives you the right to speak of him that way?"

Sayu's eyes widened to saucers. "Oh!" she said softly. "Of course… I'm sure – I'm sorry, we're sorry, Inuyasha, we didn't mean to offend."

Inuyasha turned away from her and angrily wrenched the curtain closed around his bed.

"My Lord," Yuki said, head bowed low before Sesshoumaru where he sat in the gold-accented armchair near the beautiful fireplace. "There will be guards and servants at my Lord's disposal night and day, and Inuyasha-san is but minutes away if my Lord desires his company."

It was the host's duty to provide servants to see to all of their guests needs, particularly one as distinguished as the representative of the entire Western lands. But Sesshoumaru, like most of the youkai who had come to this place, preferred to have his own servants to see to his needs. The nature of these meetings was peaceful, but with so many youkai gathered together, there was always a small chance someone would try some foul play, and it was more sensible not to have unfamiliar servants particularly in one's chambers and handling one's food and drink.

"You may go," Sesshoumaru said to Yuki, looking around at the room he knew well. Inu no Taisho and Lady Tsukiko were strictly against such ostentation, but this was one thing Sesshoumaru had always liked about the Southern castle; they did not hold back.

"Thank you, my Lord," Yuki said. "If I may be so bold, I have arranged for… entertainment in the night if my Lord wishes to unwind. They await only my Lord's word."

"Hmm," Sesshoumaru contemplated, putting his feet up on the velvet ottoman set before the armchair. There was the lazy sound of wine falling into a crystal glass as Sesshoumaru's own servant filled up a glass and handed it to him.

"Send them in at midnight," he ordered Yuki.

"As you wish, my Lord," Yuki said, bowing out of the room.

*Kagura's use of -dono: 'Dono' is a term of address that was popular during the feudal era, but is considered more or less outdated now. It more respectful than -san, but while 'sama' at once humbles the user while elevating the person being addressed, dono doesn't imply the user putting themselves down. Kagura, being the arrogant badass that she is, I think would not use '-sama' lightly for anyone, just for the sake of convention.

A/N: Let me know what you think! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Any ideas, prompts, are all welcome. I may make a moodboard for this chapter. You can find me on Tumblr for more Inuyasha content which isn't proper fics.

Thanks for reading! ^_^