Mermaid Saga, Chapter 2

She was furious.

The guards cowered, watching in horror as the woman snatched down anything she could from the walls. All the clothing lining the closets were torn out, lying along the ground in large piles. Several paintings and other forms of decorations had been pulled down the same as the apparently 'human' female continued her raid, seeming desperate as tears streamed from her eyes.

"He cannot keep me here!" She began circling about the room to tear down something else. The kimono she adorned had begun to slip d her shoulders, nearly falling halfway off of her slender frame. She had been destroying her current room in hopes to gain the attention of the taiyoukai. He was holding her against her wishes, after slaughtering her family and clan. She'd have no part in whatever he was planning to do with her.

Her legs were still relatively weak, since she hadn't taken the time to learn how to walk correctly. She was stumbling about, but that didn't deter her from breaking everything she could get her hands on.

"Witch of the sea!" Jaken squawked loudly. His lord was going to be highly displeased to know that members of his elite guards were unable to contain one measly female, though even the strongest of warriors were wary of sea dwellers and their supposed magic. How were they sure that she'd not transform into a giant sea serpent or something equally as frightening?

"They have no resolve." Were Sesshomaru's only words as he paced his way down the long halls that led to the east wing's sets of bedrooms. He couldn't allow more commotion to disturb the castle. Already were scores of women pouring in from all regions of the land. Servants were absent, tending to the rest of the castle and the guests, and now he walked along the empty halls in silence, minus the room in which he had kept the siren.

As soon as the guards caught a glimpse of his white and red haori, they began to scramble, some sinking totheir knees. He dismissed them for now, pressing his powerful form forward into the room where the woman was fumbling about, almost as if she had gone mad. Jaken was squawking commands at her, though she wasn't obeying.

Taking a swift glance back at his cowering men, he extended his hand, releasing a stream of yellow energy, one that ripped through the hesitant men like a whip. His arm drew upwards in an arch, allowing the whip to spread in width, tearing the men up until their bodies lay sprawled out in various sections, their blood splattering about the hall's walls. They screamed, but he seemed to think nothing of it, leaving Jaken to observe, his mouth ajar. They didn't even see it coming.

The woman could no longer find her voice. She had begun trembling, watching in horror as he took the lives of his own men.

"Serve you weaklings right!" Jaken huffed, gripping his staff tightly, though he figured that he'd be next. He scuttled out.

Ignoring his head minister for the time being, the demon lord steadily approached the trembling woman in the center of the wrecked room. He could see the absolute rage, hate, and pity she held for him. He could tell from her posture that her legs were going to give weigh beneath her, though she remained standing, struggling to do so.

"You're an evil monster! My sisters…" Her voice quivered; her eyes still glazed over in unshed tears.

He bore into her with his passive orbs, his visage unreadable. He was lost in thought.

For once, the taiyoukai was honestly perplexed.

Her scent had changed.

He neared her, and she held her ground, surprisingly, despite the heaviness of his demonic aura.

The smell of fear spiked in the room, only causing his movements to grow bolder, yet the woman abruptly leaned forward, beginning to beat her small fists against his armored chest in frustration as she screamed, wanting to hurt him as much as he had hurt her.

She was beneath him and had not yet realized it.

Catching the woman by the base of her slender throat, his grasp firm, he darted forward, shooting across the room in a blurred half-second, effectively pinning her against one of the walls.

Her hands tightened around his wrist, sinking her blunt nails uselessly into his flesh as she struggled to breathe. Her lungs began to burn for air, yet her antics were for naught. No longer did he look at her with fierceness. His eyes were curious.

A sweet, soothing aroma was being emitted from her.

The riddle finally came together. 'Pure, yet not of the pure, maturation is the difference.' Mermaids indeed had the power to heal, yet at a small price to pay.

When both mermaids and sirens reached a certain age, they either went into heat or gained the abilities to take more grotesque forms. That was what set them apart, and Sesshomaru had often times resisted the lure of demoness in heat, however the scent in the room had become… intoxicating. His inner youkai demanded to take control.

His grasp around the woman's throat steadily weakened, the prick of his claws leaving her briefly before it was placed around her wrists as they were pinned by single palm of his above her head.

She felt helpless, exposed underneath his steady and feral gaze. He was so close that she could feel his breath against her flesh. His eyes seemed to take on a glow of crimson. They merely bled of his true intent to have her lithe form writhing beneath him, his name leaving her lips as he brought her to bliss.

He was no longer in control of himself.

His head lowered, his eyes growing heavily lidded as his lips brushed so softly the base of her throat, even allowing her to feel the prick of one of his fangs as it grazed her flesh.

He wanted her complete submission. He parted his lips and ran his firm tongue over her pulse until it throbbed as her heart beat increased. He could have taken her life easily if he wanted to.

Her fear became suffocating. Too afraid to scream and too afraid that the screaming would only excite him further, she whimpered faintly, her tears falling. She knew she was in danger, and his inner youkai was enjoying taunting her, enjoying the thrill of having prey cornered by its predator.

Lifting his head, he pressed their lips together in a bruising, devouring, and yearning kiss. He had begun to ache for her and wanted to savor the feel of her flesh against his own.

Nothing around them mattered.

Her eyes widened, feeling as her lower lip was taken between his lips in a rough suck, almost as if he were trying to bruise them on purpose.

She didn't want this.

She bit him.

A snarl broke from his lips, and he sunk his fangs into her upper lip, drawing blood.

She screamed, beginning to thrash, though he only gripped her by her wrist, sinking his claws deeply into it as if he'd break if she defied him again. She slumped onto her knees, whimpers leaving her lips as his grasp tightened. Any more force, and her wrist would have crumbled.

He was fighting to regain control of his inner youkai. If he lingered anymore in the girl's presence, he'd mate her forcefully. His trembling fingers released her wrist, and she immediately tugged it against her chest as she fumbled away from him until her back met the nearest wall.

Almost as if the scene didn't transpire, he left, not acknowledging her further.

Xx

"I haven't even caught a glimpse of him yet" Yura pouted her full lips. "It's a shame really. I've never seen him either."

"Hmph, you might not get the chance either." Toran added. "He'll only take a woman of noble blood." She snorted faintly, eyeing the female in disdain.

"Not if I have other assets to compensate for it." Yura rolled her eyes, passing a glance in Kagura's direction. All of them were allowed to do as they pleased until the ceremony, and they had all chosen to reside in the Garden of Inukimi, Sesshomaru's mother. It was a sea of various colors, each flower unique. It extended a few miles or so, a lake even present at its center. It was one of the several wonders of the Western Lands, having said to be created by the very tears of The Lady Mother once her husband had taken another mate.

"How does this work anyway?" Kagura idly tapped her fan against her chin, her red eyes rolling to the above in thought.

"You have a series of preliminary tests, those consisting of strength and intelligence. Our lord won't govern those himself, he does not care for that nonsense. Princess Kaguya will." Abi broke into the conversation, casting her gaze over each of the standing three women.

"I'll be glad when it's over." Ayame gently guided her fingers over one of the few withering flowers. "Sometimes I wish that I could just marry someone closer to home." She came down from the Northern Mountains all the way to the Western Lands.

"Wolves run in packs, Ayame" Souten added, lifting her brow, "That's the only reason you're feeling so lonely. I felt the same way after my brothers died, but trust me, as the mate of Lord Sesshomaru, you needn't worry about loneliness.

"That is if she makes it that far" Toran passed a hand through her partially frozen hair, "Only a panther possesses the cunning Sesshomaru is looking for."

"A panther?" Abi rolled her eyes, propping her hands on her hips, "If you are weak, who cares about how smart you are?"

"I see." Kagura murmured. "But Sesshomaru isn't that conventional. If I were you all, I'd fear for my lives more than anything."

Xx

Kaguya, Totosai, Myoga, Jaken, and other advisors were currently seated around a large table, their lord at the head. Before them were current maps, battle manuals and strategies, and so far, they were tossing ideas around of where their lord should have begun his expansion of the West.

Sesshomaru himself sat silently, more so wrapped up in what he had done earlier than the meeting he was currently in.

What had come over him?

He didn't ever feel such a strong desire to claim a mate. In that instant, the woman was nearly the bearer of his pups.

A knock on the door broke them all from their musings. A servant nearest slid it open, revealing the rather awkward and fearful form of Rin. She knew that she wasn't supposed to walk in on his meetings, though the taiyoukai was feeling lenient. He missed the sounds of her running up and down the halls.

Seeing who was at the door, Jaken scowled, turning in his seat to scold her, "Rin, get out! We are dealing with important matters!"

"Yes but-" She began, but was soon cut off.

"No, you are not supposed to be in h-!" He began to rant, but Sesshomaru snapped his name, which silenced his actions immediately.

Smiling, Kaguya leaned back in her seat, folding her arms across her chest.

Rin scuttled her way over to the side that her lord occupied, worrying her lower lip. "Sesshomaru-sama?" she began, searching his face for signs that he was paying attention. He nodded, to her satisfaction. "Can Kagome and I go outside? I wanted to show her the pretty flowers." By now, she was on her toes, trying to pull her arms up on the table that happened to be too tall for her.

"Kagome?" Was his only inquiry.

"The pretty one whose room is next to mine. She was crying, and I wanted to cheer her up by showing her the flowers." The child added, saying the words in a sing-song voice.

"…The siren." He had even doubted if she had a name, though, as it appeared, the sea dweller's customs were more similar to their own than they ever imagined.

Rin's large eyes remained focused on his own, waiting for an answer.

"You may."

Xx

The wind sorceress was not willing to die to carry out her father's plan. However, getting another killed was whole heartedly acceptable. She refused to lose her life in the process. She had her own endeavors to complete.

All the demoness present could spot the two human females on the other side of the garden as they weaved the many flowers present in wreathes. One of them was the taiyoukai's young ward, yet the girl at her side was unknown. They only knew one thing: Sesshomaru's scent was all over her, and that sent a small spike of jealousy through the less than confident competitors. Was she some bed slave of some kind, one that he used whenever the occasion arrived?

"Two human females occupy the castle. I'm certain that the ward serves no purpose, but the other." Kagura allowed her tone to die out, casting her eyes on the commander of hair, Yura,

"It's disgraceful to think that mere humans are even allowed in his presence." Yura murmured.

"Have you not even taken note of her scent? She reeks of Sesshomaru." Yura was known to be hot headed, and Kagura planned to use that to her advantage.

"He bedded a common slave, so what?" She spat.

"…that could prove to be a threat. What if he falls for her, Yura?"

"Hmph! Then she'll have to be killed. Kagura, why won't you do it? If you were confident that you'd be able to become Sesshomaru's bride, you would have done her in already."

'…She's not as dumb as she looks.' Kagura added mentally, though she continued, snapping her fan ajar, "If I were to do it, everyone would see. but with those invisible hairs of yours…"

"I see what you mean…." Were Yura's only words, her eyes falling partially lidded. "Very well…."

Xx

"A Forget Me Not?" Kagome murmured, twiddling the small, purple and white flower around her fingertips as Rin began to explain to her.

"Yeah, I always pick them for Lord Sesshomaru." The little girl nodded promptly, cradling the flower against her chest, "I never want him to forget about me…"

"Oh..." She gently prodded her split upper lip with her tongue. Despite her small injuries, she at least felt a sense of peace now that the demon lord was currently absent. The aroma of the flowers was also quite soothing, as was the babbling child at her side. She never thought she'd see a little girl around the castle and never believed that she'd be the demon lord's young ward. Their time together would have gone smoother, had it not been for the gawking demoness several yards away, so far that their current conversation couldn't be heard.

Kagome attempted to ignore them. Whoever they were, they were indeed beautiful, dressed in the finest of silks. They all varied in size, shape, color, and height. A part of her observed them in envy. They came and left as they pleased and did as they wished. They even returned home whenever they could. Her vision grew blurred with unshed tears.

"...Kagome?" Rin tilted her head, eyeing her suddenly quiet companion, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine…" She forced a weak smile. Her hardships were not meant for Rin to endure, but Kagome wished that she knew the taiyoukai as the man Rin was previously telling her about, a kind and loyal being, supposedly. She only saw a wild beast, one that enjoyed torturing innocents, someone who cared nothing for others, not even those that served him.

A soft sigh escaped her lips.

Xx

"The south will be taken first. The spider is audacious, though he cannot ward of my hand…" Sesshomaru spoke the words bluntly, standing before one of the numerous balconies lining the castle. That night, the ceremony would transpire, but his mind was taken by the thought of conquest. His armies would be virtually unstoppable, that was if no one else caught wind of the mermaid he had acquired. That was the sole reason why he had just ordered the total destruction of the lake. Not a single siren could escape.

"Naraku is crafty. You believe that you do not need to fear death because of one siren, and the Tenseiga?" A mocking voice followed suit and the woman's red lips drew into a mischievous smile, "…do not be foolish."

He glanced back at her.

"You are no god. Do not make special provisions in order to avoid your inevitable fate, Sesshomaru. Destroying the Koro is an unimaginable feat. It descends for an eternity. The merpeople will forever be among us…"

"The Tetsusaiga-" He began, though she cut him off. No one dared to do that while he spoke, no one but his mother.

"The Tetsusaiga is Inuyasha's. The barrier rejects our kind. The half-breed does need it more than you do, my son. Also, you prompted my visit from the skies for the mating ceremony, I believed, not talk of heirlooms."

He fell silent, succumbing to anger as he always did when his younger, half-brother was mentioned, the one who was bequeathed the Tetsusaiga, a sword that could destroy a hundred demons in a single stroke. He had yet to understand his father's judgment in leaving him the Tenseiga, the sword of healing. Despite his brooding, her words grabbed his attention.

The doors leading to their private sanctum burst ajar, revealing Jaken's panting form, "Milord, Milady, we have trouble!"

Xx

'…I never said that the girl wouldn't fight back.'Yura had been purified, completely obliterated by the supposed human female she had attempted to attack. Now, the wind sorceress observed on as armed men stood before the woman, too afraid to touch her, their weapons drawn. They were fearful in approaching her, as they also could have been completely purified. Sesshomaru was going to be summoned, Kagurawas certain of it, and when he exited the castle, she'd make her move.

"Priestess!" Commander Gatenmaru spat, standing before the palace guards, his own blade drawn. Striking her down would have been easy, had it not been for the brat beside her that his lord was so fond of.

"I don't understand!" Kagome stared intently at her slender fingers and the warm sensation they were emitting. "I didn't…I didn't mean to!"

"What is all of this commotion…?" The demoness had since begun bowing, each lowering onto their knees, their heads hung as the taiyoukai began to pace towards the standoff, his mother behind him.

"Milord, the siren, she has assaulted one of your chosen!" Gatenmaru's eyes followed the demon lord as he walked before them.

"She purified her!" Another soldier screamed out.

"…Hmph." Slowly rising from her bowed position, unlike the other women, Kagura plucked a single feather from her hair's tie. Now that everyone was distracted, she allowed her body to dissolve into a small gust, one that easily slipped between the castle's closed doors.

Kagome didn't figure she'd ever encounter the demon lord again, at least not this quickly. Her eyes widened, remaining focused on his form, her entire body rigid. Her anger built at the very sight of him, but she contained it, only glaring.

"Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin ran around Kagome and to the observing demon lord, immediately wrapping her arms around one of his legs once she was near. "The bad lady, she tried to hurt Kagome!"

"Rin, are you well?" He asked as he pressed his thumb gently against the girl's brow.

Gatenmaru visibly sneered. If anything, they should have killed both of the human filth. He didn't understand his lord's fascination with the human child or the siren.

"Preparation for the ceremony should begin shortly." Inukimi spoke blandly, turning back to face the kneeling women behind her, "Be off with you all, into the main hall." No one dared to disobey her, the mate of the Great Dog General. Though she was delicate in appearance, she was powerful in her own right.

Standing slowly, the demoness all rose, before returning to the castle, offering their lord the slightest of bows once more as they left.

"Come." Inukimi murmured, extending her hand to the young girl at her son's side, "We must get you prepared as well."

"Okay!" She released the taiyoukai and took hold of Inukimi's hand. She wasn't weary of her, seeing as how in her travels with her lord, they had visited her several times. "Bye Kagome!" She waved back at the older girl as she was led into the castle.

"Sire, do you require more of our services?" Gatenmaru asked, eyeing his lord's back.

"Leave, before I decide to kill you."

"Yes, milord." He kept the sarcasm in his voice down, glaring heatedly at the silver-haired male's back. He directed the small squad of guards away, their intention to return to their posts.

As it was before, it was now just the two of them, though she was sitting, staring intently up at the beautiful taiyoukai.

"Explain." The words fell from his lips as any other did, smoothly, with an underlining hint of venom. The female who had died had deserved to, if she couldn't take a weak dosage of purifying energy. Her death was of no consequence, yet he was more intrigued to learn of how those purifying powers manifested themselves within the siren. He read no such thing within his father's logs.

She felt as though she owed him no explanation. She disliked him, entirely, but didn't wish to provoke him again. He acted as if he hadn't tried to come on to her period, almost as if he had truly forgotten that he had tried taken her as a mate. She swallowed a growing lump in her throat, staring up at him from underneath her thick lashes. He was not angry, though it didn't mean anything. His actions were always unpredictable. She spoke, her tone calm for once, "I was sitting and before I knew it, she was standing over me…and then….then…" She was at a lost as to what happened afterwards. Suddenly, the woman had bursted into a bluish light, her form crumbling into dust.

The girl was unaware of how she did it, which was indeed dangerous. He couldn't have her merely purifying demons accidentally.The siren was harm to everyone in the castle, as it seemed. "Rise."

Her legs were still relatively weak, though she did so, never ceasing to glare. She wanted him to know how much she disliked being in his presence.

"The dark priestess Tsubaki will be summoned to hone your power. I do not need you to cause me further trouble." He slowly turned on his heel, "Use the lake as you see fit."