(Untitled)
Sleep came the second that Yuufa's head hit the pillow that evening. The young princess was not used to such physical activity, and, coupled with long hours in the hot, demanding sun, the ordeal had put quite a strain on her young body. She was out cold, despite Yutaro-san's constant nagging that she should rehearse the speech she planned to give
( Read more... )
The youkai lord found himself acquiring a sense of distaste for the proceedings... though it had nothing to do with the girl who he presumed would be doing the majority of the speaking. No, rather, it was the girl's people as a whole, those who would take one as meek as she and attempt to use her as a political pawn. Those who can, do. Those who cannot should not even be allowed the position of ambassador. His thoughts went back to what he had overheard not too long before, when the one called Yutaro had mentioned marriage between his mistress and Sesshoumaru. The inuyoukai could not help but feel insulted that the Lady of the North believed he would give half of his posessions to a mere child through bonds of marriage.
These thoughts did not surface, of course, as Sesshoumaru moved gracefully from the window to the chairs in the center of the room. Stepping towards one particularl chair, it's slight embellishments proving that it would be his seat, he made a small gesture towards the other chairs in the room. "Quite ready," he uttered, waiting for them to sit before he himself made any movements.
((OOC- Please pardon the suckage of this post; just trying to keep things moving even though I'm a bit swamped.))
Reply
Pale lips pressed together in a thin line as Yuufa looked at Sesshoumaru and willed herself to remember the flawless, opening line that she'd been fed. After the talks began, there would be little she had to save listen to Yutaro's advice and respond to Sesshoumaru's inquiries. Hopefully, the youkai lord had more tact than to flat out say that he'd heard their discussion about the marriage, but, then again, Yuufa wasn't one to talk about tact, was she?
"...I am certain that you aware of the nature of these talks. Th-though our two lands have never been at war with one another, Mother... has come to unite nearly all of the territories in the Northern Lands, and, as such, she wishes to establish good standing with you, as you are the Lord of the West," Yuufa began, managing just a few stutters and uncomfortable pauses as she spoke. Black eyes darted to look at her aide for approval. Though Yutaro looked as nervous as she, he didn't seem to be giving her that pained look that he so often did when she was messing up terrible. "... As... her youngest daughter, the Lady of the North has sent me to you as... as a symbol of trust in these negotiations. I hope that you trust in our sincere desire," she finished, her chest heaving and her heart pounding as a soft flush spread across her cheeks. Yuufa knew the proper words, but getting them out was always so difficult. If only she could sound as she did in her mind...
All she could do now, however, was await Sesshoumaru's judgement. She despised these missions and jobs, and, in that moment, the princess truly wished that she were not so burdened with such a lifestyle.
Reply
With such thoughts in his head, Sesshoumaru could not help but form an image of contempt for the people of the North. Oddly enough, these feelings did not extend towards Yuufa. She was not born to be a leader, and she did not attempt to act as one unless forced to, which is an oxymoronic concept to begin with. His disdain, instead, lay towards the Northerners who were willing to trade one of their nobles in exchange for guaranteed peace. In exchange for an image of power over lands that did not belong to them. In exchange for Sesshoumaru's dignity. Did they really think that one such as himself would allow himself to mix politics with something as base as emotions? His father was a fool for the emotional nuances of humans; such a characteristic did not lay within the younger lord seated at the table that day.
"I have no interest in the North, neither as a conquest or an ally," Sesshoumaru finally stated coolly. "To have no standing with me is better than to have bad standing, and so there is no reason to wish to establish any other sort of relationship. As ambassadors from your land who have let me know of your coming, you are welcome here so long as you respect and adhere to my wishes and to the ways of my land. I would expect the same if I was ever brought to the North. As for you representing a symbol of trust, Yuufa-hime, there is none that I fully trust, and so your presence is only necessary as a means to communicate with the Lady of the North herself. As we are not in conflict with one another, there seems to be no solid reason for an accord of sorts, and so I would hardly think that terms for such an accord would be needed. However, if you believe otherwise, I am willing to listen to what you may have in mind."
Surprised that he had said so much when he was usually reticent, Sesshoumaru awaited a response. If they were still going to attempt to pursue the Lady's wishes for a union between himself and her daughter, it would be initriguing to see the slight, nervous girl attempt to bring it up.
Reply
Yuufa's black eyes darted nervously from side to side, trying to catch Yutaro's gaze and, hopefully, some suggestion of what she was to do in the situation. Sesshoumaru-sama had, in so few words, destroyed any chance she had of establishing diplomatic relations between their two lands. Had she said something unpleasant? Truthfully, Yuufa had thought she'd done rather well, considering her usual performance when charged with such tasks. What more could she say to him to get him to reconsider.
Of course, there was the other option, but the thought of even bringing it up to Sesshoumaru in so many words was positively mortifying. The youkai lord had possibly overhead their intentions already, but how could she, Yuufa, be expected to flatly bring up the offer when she was so certain that he would refuse?
Yutaro seemed to sense the girl's apprehension and noted as she froze up on the spot. The aid cleared his throat, bowing his head in an outward sign of respect, so as not to offend Sesshoumaru-sama by speaking.
"Yuufa-hime, I know that you have not be feeling well as of late, so, with your permission, I will speak more clearly on the matter at hand?" he offered, feigned humility just dripping from his voice. The princess nearly nodded to her adviser, willing to do anything to save herself the humiliation of the task that was to come.
Luckily, realization hit her before she could actually could allow such an offense to grace her lips. Her eyes lifted to look at Sesshoumaru again, and the young youkai bit her lip, hands clenched in her lap.
"No, Yutaro-san, I am well enough to speak," she forced quietly, intelligent enough to realize what an insult it would have been for her to allow an adviser to speak to the lord that SHE, as princess of the North, was to be having negotiating with.
Of course, that left the terrible weight of proposing a marriage to one such as this youkai lord herself...
Why was I born a noble? Fate is too cruel...
"Of course, there are... other matters to speak of. Perhaps I was not clear enough," Yuufa began, forcing the words slowly out of her mouth as she warily observed Sesshoumaru-sama's reaction to her speech. "The Lady of the North, my mother, wishes to... to form a bond of sorts between our nations, one that both of us could benefit from." Oh, how easy it was to beat around the bush is so many words... "M-mother wishes to... to..."
Oh, just say it! Be done with it!
"Mother wishes for me to form a bond with you, so that our two lands will benefit in such times of strife and war!" came the words, rushed out of the young princess' mouth so swiftly that they could hardly be discerned even by her own ears. As it was said, Yuufa managed to keep her eyes locked on Sesshoumaru, though her shoulders slumped considerably and some small degree of color rose to her otherwise pale cheeks.
If it were possible for one to die of embarrassment...
Reply
And yet, her stumbling and stuttering fell upon his ears as little else but noise, and his irritation grew; still not wholly towards this girl, as she was but a puppet of her mother's. Loathing a pawn would do nothing; it was she who tried to move the pawn in her favor that deserved such detestation. The pain that this young noble was undertaking just because she was commanded so... pain that all but the Lady seemed to know would be fruitless.
After the girl let her rushed words escape her mouth and seemed to shrink, a strange feeling overtook Sesshoumaru. Compassion? No. Pity. Unlike humans, youkai are not moved to acts of compassion by pity. Instead, they are disgusted; digusted by emotion, disgusted by weakness... disgusted by the aspects that made humans the disgrace they are.
Sesshoumaru maintained his gaze upon Yuufa's eyes. It would be below him to simply state what he thought of the girl's mother, but he was coming very close to not caring. "I do not desire to bind myself to any woman, any country, any thing at this point in my life, especially not for reasons of the political nature." He made a movement as though to stand and end the talks, but quickly paused, his eyes now cast down towards the useless sword that forever hung at his side, a memento from his father.
In a lower, calmer voice, he added, "Strength comes from independence, and independence may only be wrought from the self. Your mother should not look towards others for power, Yuufa-hime." Sesshoumaru looked up, his golden eyes as solemn as always, but somehow softer. "And neither should you."
Looking towards the others in the room, his voice became cool and level once more. "Was that the only other matter of business, or is there more?"
Reply
It would have been silly to think one such as this Sesshoumaru would even consider such a deal. Even upon first meeting the lord, the princess knew that she should have expected as much from him and simply abandoned her futile quest.
Sesshoumaru's next words caused Yuufa's head to jerk up, looking at him almost in wonderment. Was he offering her advice? The young youkai nodded, biting her lip, and truly taking his words to heart. Independence was such an alien word to her, and she truly wondered if one such as herself could possibly achieve something like that. She wasn't strong like Sesshoumaru, nor did she have a powerful will or spirit. Could she ever grasp something so opposite her nature?
"No, Sesshoumaru-sama," she managed, her tone considerably less timid and defeated than she'd assumed it would be. In fact she almost felt the corners of her lips tugging up into a small smile. The princess stood, not caring about political etiquette as she brushed a stray strand of ebony hair out of her eyes. "I think that will be all. Thank you for your time, and I assure you that I will leave as soon as my part is prepared." As Yutaro began to leave the room, Yuufa hesitated a moment, looking back up at Sesshoumaru.
"...Thank you," she said softly.
Reply
Leave a comment