Chapter 1
Sesshomaru stood on the wall of his castle and surveyed his lands. The battle with Naraku had been over for four years now and Rin was reaching an age where it would not be long before she went off to start her own family, he would miss her. Humans grew so quickly that he was contemplating finding her a youkai mate that could bond with her extending her life. But the decision would be left up to his ward. All he ever wished for was her happiness.
Sesshomaru knew he was of an age that it was time to secure a worthy mate and produce an heir. He had begun preparations over the winter to set up a mating challenge. A mating challenge was a sacred tradition only used by powerful youkai to attract a powerful mate. The women who answered his call would compete for three days against one another. It was a test of endurance and skill. The winner or the winners would then compete for his attention and place as the Lady of the Western Lands.
The call had already ben sent off and by the end of the day all the participants would be caged by wards in his woods. He would of course monitor the events from above. He would need to gage their ability to fight and strategize. Some might die, but it was a risk they all knew of going into the challenge. The allure of being Lady of the Western Lands tempted them beyond reason. And once they were sealed into the forest there would be no coming out until the barrier dropped at the end of the third day.
Lifting his face to the spring air he breathed in deep. He could already smell them gathering. Let them all come and see who thought they had a chance to win a place beside him. He would not mate just any demoness, she would have to prove her worthiness and appeal to his beast. They would soon see if any of the youkai gathered had what it took to be his. Let the games begin.
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Akemi was exhausted she had been running for hours or was it days? The satchel over her shoulder felt heavier and heavier. She would need to stop soon and rest. She had no idea where she was. If she could just make it to her cousins in the East, she could hide there until she was ready to make her move.
Unfortunately when one was on the run, you couldn't go straight to the one place your enemy would look for you first. So she had traveled south and away from the east until she was sure it was safe. Her uncle may be a bastard but he wasn't a complete idiot.
Spotting a small cave in the forest she made her way to it, using her youkai to seal the entrance shut behind her. The cave wasn't large but it was big enough to sleep in. She pulled a small blanket out of her satchel and set it on the floor of the cave to sit on. No need to ruin her blue silk kimono. Akemi sighed, it felt so good to sit she nearly cried with relief. Pulling out some water and bread she wolfed it down. With food in her stomach, she began to feel sleep weigh down on her and drag her under. She curled up on the wool blanket and let it claim her.
It was thirty-six hours later that she woke to the sound of fighting. Frowning, she stayed hidden until the sounds subsided and whoever was outside the cave moved away. Leaving her satchel hidden in the cave, she went to scout her surroundings. It was a pretty spring day and the forest she was in seemed to be bombarded with youkai women. Frowning she used her inner wolf to sense their positions in the area. Why were so many youkai gathered here? And why was the scent of blood so heavy? Had she walked into the middle of a war?
Using her stealth she made her way around the clearing and saw the dead body of what looked to be a Inu youkai slashed to pieces. The poor woman didn't look like she had stood a chance against her attacker. Her garments had literally been ripped to shreds along with the rest of her. Moving deeper into the forest she kept her senses alert and ready for anything.
It wasn't long before she came upon another set of women fighting. Peering through the bushes she watched a wolf and neko youkai in battle. Both clearly had skills and it almost looked like they were dancing. Their stylish kimonos swirled and floated around them as they attacked and dodged one another's attacks. Claws clashed in a symphony of sound even as blood dripped thick and dark to the ground.
Akemi stared eyes transfixed on the battle. The neko youkai ended the battle victoriously moments later, as the wolf failed to dodge a particularly nasty attack. She winced in sympathy and went to creep away from the scene before her. She nearly cursed out loud when she stepped on a twig alerting the neko youkai to her location.
The woman was on her in an instant. Akemi leapt back out of range and called for her to stop. The neko looked at her like she was the crazy one. "Little girl you are in a mating challenge there is no stopping or running away until that barrier comes down. You are stuck in this battle whether you like it or not, and I will be the winner." And with that she came after her with claws and fangs bared.
Akemi was frozen in shock and received a kick to her stomach launching her into a tree. It was a move her uncle would be proud of. She scramble to her feet, ignoring the pain, and started dodging the fierce neko after her. She might not have the neko's grace but she knew how to dodge attacks.
How the hell had she gotten herself into this debacle? She, like any demoness, had wanted to find a strong mate but not this way. She knew mating challenges could get viscous and women more often than not lost their lives. Despite the fact that the rules did not state to the death. All you had to do was show your skills were greater, and best your opponent.
Luckily for her, she was tough. After years of being beaten on a regular basis she could take any beatings these competitors dished out, but she had also learned the art of a well a placed blow. She waited patiently for the perfect opening and planted her fist into the neko's jaw just right rendering her unconscious. Who would have thought her uncles cruelty and abuse would ever come in handy?
Dragging the unconscious woman into the bushes she used vines to bind her to a tree. She didn't want to kill anyone if she didn't have to, so maybe if she tied the neko up she could avoid such an occurrence. Making her way through the forest she found the border and circled around it getting the lay of the land. She had to knock two more youkai unconscious and tie them up but figured they deserved it for being idiots fighting over a man. Really, was it too much trouble to do some old fashioned romancing?
Shaking her head of white hair, she made her way back to the cave to retrieve her water canteen. It needed to be filled and there was a stream in the confines of the barrier where she could do so. It was a little risky if one of the competitors were watching for, or waiting for, someone to come to it. But it was necessary, she could not fight dehydrated.
Scanning the area, she deemed it safe enough and moved in and filled her canteen quickly. Capping it she backed away from the stream and into the safety of the shadows. On the way back to her cave she swore she could feel eyes watching her. Shivering she looked around her for any sign of danger, but found none. Unnerved she shivered, and slipped back into her safe haven.
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Sesshomaru was intrigued by the little artic wolf youkai. She had seemingly appeared from nowhere. He had followed her as she scouted out her surroundings and battled with the other women. She had not killed a single demoness despite the fact that they had been going for her throat. Neither did she lack the skill to take out her enemy, because he had watched as she delivered devastating blows. The woman was most certainly curious.
Watching her disappear back into the forest he sent guards in to remove the unconscious women. They had lost and were not worthy to be his mate. He estimated a total of 6 dead, 3 unconscious, five wounded but still fighting, and seven standing strong. Day two was about to end, meaning that the remaining 12 would have their hands full proving who deserved to walk alive.
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Akemi woke the next morning feeling someone pushing at her barrier. That wasn't good at all. Pushing more of her energy at the barrier to make sure it held, she quickly ate the last of her food breakfast. Normally most youkai couldn't even feel her barrier, much less push at it. Frowning, she made her way toward it and looked through. On the other side was an Inu youkai with dark silver hair and big brown eyes. She was definitely powerful, but Akemi didn't scare easy.
Akemi focused her energy and shot a stream of ice through the barrier freezing her enemy in place. Dropping her shield she walked forward and cracked the ice around the Inu. The woman crumpled to the ground dazed and unable to move. Akemi glared glacial blue eyes at her before grabbing the demonesses limp body. Though she felt it unfair to use her powers in this situation she would make an exception. Letting out a heavy sigh, Akemi drug the demoness away from her cave and tied the woman to a tree just like she had done with all the others. This was getting to be an old yet interesting habit.
Groaning, she made her way back to her cave. She was tired of fighting and dragging stupid women around. All she wanted was to make it through this fiasco and slip away when the dust cleared. As if the fates were laughing at her, another demoness stepped out in front of her ready to do battle.
The little tigress was smiling evilly at her, her green eyes twinkling. Akemi rolled her own eyes and took a fighting stance. The tigress attacked first, without so much as saying a word. The tigresses claws came close to catching her neck as she leapt back. Akemi kicked out catching her in the stomach. Utilizing the moment Akemi brought her fist down on the tiger's temple, rendering her unconscious. The demoness sunk to the ground and stayed there.
Akemi just grunted and grabbed the idiots arm, using it to drag her to the tree she had secure the last demoness to. She was going to tie the tigress up then book it to her cave, and hope she didn't run into anyone else.
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Sesshomaru sat on his cloud above the wolf demoness and chuckled. It was only noon and the little wolf had already knocked two formidable demonesses unconscious with an ease that no longer surprised him. He had to admit her tactics amused him greatly. The woman was attractive as she was cunning. Sealing herself in a cave to sleep and hide was ingenious. Still it concerned him that she looked young.
Demonesses were kept under lock and key until they reached what was considered as full maturity, at 150 years. If this demoness was old enough then it was just by a hair. She had a delicate budding youthful look, but fought with a strength that screamed hard life. She was a puzzle.
If she made it to sundown then she would be escorted with the other winners to his estate. There he would spend time with each demoness to asses them. He would not abide a woman who treated Rin poorly or that his beast could not tolerate. For the first time since he put his plan in motion, Sesshomaru was genuinely excited about the outcome.
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It was nearly sundown when Akemi ventured out of her cave again. She was desperately in need of a bush and more water. Following the shadows casted by the trees she glided along until she found a bush to take care of her needs. Once done she made her way to the river to wash up and refill her canteen.
The forest was strangely silent around her and no youkai were attacking her. Had they finally all killed each other off? That would mean that the barrier around the forest would drop soon. She needed to gather her things and get ready to make her escape.
Akemi rushed back to her little cave and packed her supplies back into her bag. She could practically taste her freedom. The smile on her face felt foreign and amazing all at the same time. Throwing her satchel over her shoulder, and strode out of her cave with every intention of disappearing.
Fate was most definitely not on her side though. A group of Inu youkai stood waiting for her. The dark blue and silver uniforms they wore marked them as guards of the Lord of the Western Lands. Well crap, it looked like she would not be escaping after all.
All the men stood tall and straight eyeing her appreciatively. The tallest of the guard stepped forward to address her. "My lady, I am Kyo. I am captain of the Western Guard. We will be escorting you to Lord Sesshomaru's castle where you and the other two winners will spend the next two weeks. As is custom you and the other ladies will spend time with my lord to see who will best suit the position as lady of the Western Lands. May I have your name my lady, so that I may inform our lord of who you are?"
Akemi froze, if she told them her real name they could contact her uncle. And she was shocked to hear that THE Lord Sesshomaru had issued a mating challenge, and good lord she had won it. "Gentlemen, I uh really appreciate the escort but I made a mistake. You see I didn't mean to get caught in this challenge. I was just passing through on my way to the Eastern Lands. If you would just let me go I will be on my way." A few of the men laughed at her words, making her frown.
Captain Kyo, raised a black brow at her. "My lady, I am sorry but you have won a mating challenge. You will come with us to our lords castle. No need to be shy or nervous. You have made it this far it would be foolish to run away now. I promise Lord Sesshomaru is not as hard as the gossips make him out to be. Now please my lady, what is your name?"
Akemi couldn't hold his golden stare. There was no getting out of this after all. Looking down she decided to go with her nick name, which would technically not be a lie. "My name is Kimi, sir."
"Kimi what my lady? Of what house are you?"
Shit she couldn't give him the house of Chiyo the artic wolves of the north. Her mother, yes that was the answer! She could give them her mother's maiden name. Her mother had been the last of her line and it was not as well known as her fathers. The Kumiko blood ran in her veins and was not attached to her uncle. "I am of the Kumiko blood line, sir"
"Thank you lady Kimi. If you would follow us we will be on our way." Taking her bag from her, Kyo handed it to another guard. The guards moved to surround her as they left. There was no running she was going whether she liked it or not.
As they traveled to Lord Sesshomaru's castle, she began spinning the situation around in her head. If she could keep anyone from finding out her true identity this could be an answer to her prayers. She could literally hide in plain sight. Her uncle would never think to look for her in the Western Lords castle. Once the requisite amount of time had passed she could leave and head to the Eastern Lands. There was no way that Lord Sesshomaru would chose her as his mate. She could live in the lap of luxury while everything back home died down. Then she would be free to make her way to her cousin.
Some of the weight she hadn't even realized she carried slid off her shoulders. She could do this, she thought. She had been raised as a lady. Had here parents not died, she would have been presented to the youkai court. There she would have had her pick of eligible bachelors. The fates may not have seen it fit to give her that life, but Akemi refused to let the situation beat her down. She would make her own life no matter what the fates hurled at her.