Lady of the West, Daughter of the East

By Angel Dust
It's a SesshomaruxOC, InuyashaxKagome, KougaxSango fic! You have been warned!

A few months after the Compass Ball, Lord Nishi of the Western Lands has called in the other lords for help fixing his rebellion issues. This will pull Lord Higashi and all five of his sons from the palace, leaving Lady Mai in charge of both kingdom and their daughter. Nikki has yet to show interest in any males, to her mother's great displeasure at the ball, though is secretly writing Sesshomaru as he is fighting by his father's side. Mai is anxious and willing to do anything to get Nikki to mate, and now that her only barrier (Higashi) is out of the picture temporarily there is nothing to stop her from having her way. Can Nikki survive her father's absence, or will there be one less member of the family at the dinner table from now on?

Chapter 1

Dearest Sesshomaru,

Your last letter was quite interesting. Your travels thru your kingdom sound fascinating, despite the reasons for why you're doing this.

Your battle report was probably my favorite part, the fact that you were able to catch the enemy in such a basic trap seems almost impossible. How did you know that they would cut thru the center if you left it open? Your risk of failure was possible there, but it was done flawlessly, as is expected from you.

Not much is happening here, mother is on another tirade about me not having a potential suitor after me. As such, father has been spending time hiding away in his study attempting to stay out of the argument. She had originally agreed with him on the decision of the suitor and taking my time and something has suddenly made her change her mind...again. My lessons are turning into torture the more I endure what she says. I wish I could go with you thru the battlefields and plan out such offensives, that would be far more interesting than sitting here sewing my dowry together. So far I started on a quilt for my future husband's bed, even though there is no future mate as of yet.

Has Lady Izayoi given birth yet? Maybe we can attend another ball in celebration.

May your travels be safe, even as you march on the battlefield.

Sincerely,

Lady Nikki

Princess of the Eastern Lands

Nikki rolled the scroll up and sealed it, as she always did. She had securely locked away Sesshomaru's letter to her explaining their latest victory over the rebellion. They had cut them off in a forest pass, dividing around the pass and as the rebels cut thru. They attacked and destroyed their ranks, though not all of them. Sesshomaru had told her they were expecting at least two more skirmishes before they were totally defeated and the troops would be able to return home. He had also promised he a surprise upon their victory. Nikki was curious about the surprise, and figure only a few months more and she'd be able to have it, as there is always a hitch at some point in plans and she didn't want to jinx it for him.

She walked out of her room and found the runner that brought her the letter. With a smile she handed it to him.

"Please, take your time recovering from your trip before returning to the Prince," she said as he nodded.

"Many thanks, my lady," he murmured. "Did the Lord give you a scroll for them as well?"

"No, I have not seen my father, was he supposed to?" she asked surprised. The runner nodded as she thought about it. "I'll go find him and see if his response is ready. I'll bring it to you when it is."

"You are too kind, my lady," he said with a bow. "Lord Sesshomaru said your kindness was great." She blushed and looked down at the compliment. She turned and went to the only location she knew her father would be, his study.

"Enter!" he called as he sat back and stared off into his gardens as he thought. Nikki walked in, closed the door behind her, and sat down at her father's feet, resting her head on his knee. "Kitten, aren't you supposed to be studying with your mother?"

"I escaped for a bit, apparently she's punishing one of her maids," Nikki replied with a sigh. "I was ignoring her anyway, she had started going off about me not having a mate again." Her father nodded as he scratched her gently behind the ears. He knew the argument well, he wasn't certain what had caused his mate to decide their daughter had to be mated. "The runner was asking if you had a response for the Lord of the West."

"Oh? Was he wandering the castle?" her father asked surprised.

"No, I found him where he was supposed to be," Nikki said softly as she sighed and relaxed a little.

"Why were you looking for him?" Higashi asked curiously. Nikki stiffened a little realizing she had revealed her secret, but her father was one of the few that would never share what she told him unless absolutely necessary.

"I was writing Sesshomaru, we have been writing each other since the ball," Nikki answered as her father nodded with a surprised look on his face. "He has been telling me about the progress against the rebellion."

"Yes, his father has written me about the rebellion as well," her father said with a nod. He knew that Sesshomaru was interested in his daughter, that was obvious when they had gathered for a ball and Sesshomaru had spent the entire time with Nikki, even if they were arguing for most of their time together. "He wants the lords to assist in a final strike, bring in extra troops so we can corner and finish them." Nikki nodded as she thought about it.

"I'm surprised they're writing for help," Nikki said as her father looked at her confused. "They had just beat a fairly large band of them in a wooded pass." Her father nodded as he listened, his daughter would understand what Sesshomaru was telling her in his letter. "But I guess it's to finish them once and for all."

"Yes, that sounds like the plan," her father said as he handed her his letter from Nishi. She read it silently, essentially calling for what her father had said, wanting assistance with a final blow to the rebellion. "I'm going to take your brothers and half of the troops, I was getting ready to write my reply when you came in."

"Are you leaving one of them behind? I don't really fancy being left alone with mother," Nikki said exhaustedly. Her father sighed as he thought about it, he wasn't certain he wanted to leave her alone with her mother with the new obsession of finding her a mate no matter the cost. He was worried about what the cost for Nikki would be.

"I figured if I take them all, we can go and it would all end quicker with the leadership skills they all have. We don't have many male heirs to fight, they would be used as leaders in the various battalions and groups." her father explained as Nikki sighed and shook her head. "I know it doesn't seem fair."

"No, fair would be taking me with you so I can help, it's torture to leave me here alone with her." Nikki protested.

"Your protest is acknowledged," Higashi said with a nod, "and I would leave rules behind for your mother, as well as a few chores that would keep her heavily occupied, while we're gone." Nikki nodded and handed her father back his letter before getting up. She wandered towards the garden as her father watched, he knew he was leaving her in dangerous hands but he had little to no choice. His oldest friend and ally was looking for help, he was going to assist in all ways possible to make this quick and painless for him so he could return home to his own family. Higashi couldn't imagine being away from his family for several months like Nishi has been. He figured a little time away from home, leaving Nikki alone with Mai, would be worth helping him.

Higashi wrote his response and handed it to a maid, telling her to order the runner to leave as soon as possible. Higashi started to prepare as his daughter relaxed in the garden, preparing herself for what was to come.