By: Inuyasha4ev
Chapter 3
"The rules have clearly been stated. The battle will not be over until one opponent either submits or is killed. There will be three battles today. Yura and Sango. Kagome
-Kuro and Kikyo. Kagura and Ayame." Jaken yelled loudly for everyone in the arena to hear. "Yura and Sango, you will begin when the bell is rung. Get into your
positions and check your weapons."
Doing as told, the two stepped into the circle and inspected their weapons. Yura combed through her hair as Sango studied her boomerang. They got into battle stance,
leaping into action when the bell was rung.
Sango leapt into the air. "Hirakotsu! (sp?)" She threw the large weapon, watching as it struck Yura and caused her to fly back. She caught it before sending it back. This
time, however, Yura was prepared. Spreading her hands apart, she knocked the weapon off course with her invisibly thin hair. Realizing that her weapon would not be
returning, Sango drew the katana at her side and rushed at Yura, stopping when she felt the hairs wrap tightly around her left hand. She quickly cut the hair, continuing on
her sprint and nicking Yura in the side.
Sneering, Yura jerked her hands toward her, smirking when her hairs cut into Sango's battle suits, cutting her body all over. -Foolish human.- She thought, licking her lips.
She had been so distracted, she didn't notice Sango running in another direction until,
"Hirakotsu!" Sango grabbed her weapon and flung it at Yura, making a gaping whole in the hair demon's stomach.
"Ah!" Yura flew back, thinking, -Th-that human? How did she manage to? Oh.- She crashed into the ground, wincing with pain.
Sango hovered over her, "Do you submit or die?"
Yura pressed her hand to her stomach. "Submit to a human. Or die by a human? Which is more disgraceful? I shall die."
"Your wish." Sango thrusted her sword into Yura's chest, being sure to pierce her heart. She removed the sharp sword, and backed away, bowing as the audience
applauded.
Jaken ran away from Rin, the flowers she had placed in his hat flying in a trail behind him. "Next fight will be Kagome-Kuro and Kikyo!"
Kagome sighed softly. -They dishonor me by giving me such a weak opponent. But I will humor them and entertain myself.- When the bell rang, she stood, waiting to see
who would make the first move. She smirked when she realized that Kikyo was doing the same. "It is your move, human."
"No. I will allow you to go first, half demon." Kikyo chuckled when Kagome's eyes flashed crimson. "I am very powerful. I want to be kind and allow you a head start
before I finish you off."
"Big talk for such a small human." Kagome criticized, sizing Kikyo up.
"One of you must move sometime!" Jaken screeched.
Kikyo smirked. "I'm trying to be polite and give this bastard hanyou a chance! She's too ignorant to take it!"
Kagome's eyebrow ticked. Jumping up, she planted her feet on Kikyo's chest and jumped away, effectively throwing the miko back. As she landed, she noticed Kikyo
notching an arrow and filling it with spiritual power. Quickly, she put up a barrier, disintegrating the arrow immediately. Each time Kikyo sent another, she simply
dodged by leaping to the left or right. When Kikyo closed her eyes to summon all of her powers, Kagome leapt behind her back and kicked her, causing her to fly to the
opposite end of the arena and crash into the stands. As Kikyo lay unconscious, Kagome sat on the floor, her chin on her fist as she waited for signs of moving.
Kikyo awoke five minutes later, fuming. Her aura flared around the room, stiffening the hairs on the demons necks as they felt her power. "You hanyou bitch! How dare
you?! I am going to purify you to hell!" Lifting her hand, she emitted a large attack. The bright purple light was so intense that no one was able to see. When the light was
gone, she dropped to her knees from exhaust.
Everyone stared where Kagome had once stood, but the only thing there was smoke. -She is dead.- Many thought, that is, until the smoke cleared, revealing a calm
Kagome.
Kikyo's eyes widened. "You hanyou! How are you alive?!" She fell over onto her back.
"I am not a hanyou, wench." Kagome placed her foot on Kikyo's throat. "I have the powers of a miko as well as those of a demon. Now, death or submission? I suggest
you submit. I do not wish for my children to see me murder someone."
"Fine. I submit. You are my superior." -But watch your back, wench.-
Removing her foot, Kagome nodded and walked away from her to her children. "I thought I told you two to stay in the room."
Shippo and Rin stared at their feet. "We wanted to see how good you were. You were great!"
"Arigato." She replied, sitting down and putting them each on her lap.
Jaken got up again. "The last fight of the day is between Kagura and Ayame."
Kagura glared at Ayame. "This fight will be over before you can say, 'what'."
The bell rang and Ayame said, "Wha-" In less than an instant, she was on her back, Kagura's fan at her throat. "I submit."
"Very well then." She got up, bowed at the applause she received and left. -They applauded and cheered for that Kagome wench more than they did me. I finished in
seconds! I will see two it that we are the final two.-
Jaken cleared his throat. "The survivors of the battle, Kagome-Kuro, Sango, and Kagura will battle in two days to see who will be the last two to battle. Until then,
participants, rest."
Sticking her hands in her kimono sleeves, Kagome began to leave the stadium when someone grabbed her arm. Turning with a glare, she greeted, "Oh, hello, Kagura."
"Do not 'Hello' me. You will die by my hands, wench. I am sure of it. After I beat that wench Sango, I will kill you."
"I'm sure you will. And when you wake up, you can tell me all about it."
"Why you-" Kagura was cut off my a threatening appearance behind Kagome. "L-lord Hiroshi. Hello." She bowed.
"Kagome, may I hold audience with you?"
Kagome stiffened when he rested a hand on her shoulder. -No!- She wanted to yell her denial. Kami, how she prayed that she was wrong about what she thought. Their markings weren't exactly the same a hers. So perhaps Hiroshi wasn't her father. but her mom had said he was a demon lord. But that had been years ago. She was nineteen after all. So another demon lord could have died. Yes. That's what she wanted to believe. "Of course, my lord." She allowed him to lead her out into the garden before noticing a basket in his hands. "A basket, my lord?"
Lord Hiroshi smiled and nodded. "The others are eating. I assumed you would be hungry as well, so I packed a meal for us to digest as we speak. Ah, this is a nice spot." He spread out a small blanket before sitting and gesturing for her to sit. He watched silently as she admired the flowers around her. "You like the flowers, do you?"
Kagome looked at him in surprise, having forgotten that he was there. "Ahem, yes. They are quite beautiful."
"Yes. Inutaisho planted these long ago for my visits. He knows how much I like these beautiful flowers. Would you like one?"
She shook her head, waving her hand. "Oh no. I couldn't possibly."
"Nonsense. Think of it as a gift for my idiotic sons. That bush behind you may be yours." He stared at her for a moment. "You are quite beautiful. And I mean that in a fatherly way." He chuckled when she nodded. "You honestly do have no emotions. We will have to change that by the time I leave. Here is your first lesson. When you are complimented, you blush and giggle." He laughed.
Kagome cocked a brow. "There is no way I would ever blush or giggle, Lord Hiroshi."
He held up his hand. "Call me Hiro."
Kagome nodded briefly. "Hiro."
"You fought well, even without using any weapon or strength at all."
"Arigato." She nodded her thanks when he sat a bowl of rice before her. Eating slowly, she watched him and listened to him speak. He was nice to talk to, she concluded She felt as though she could confine in him, as though she could trust him. No. This man wasn't her father. Her father had left. He had wanted her dead. But this man enjoyed her presence.
Hiroshi looked up at the sky. "It is getting late. We should go inside."
Kagome's eyes dimmed. "Oh." She didn't want to go inside. She wanted to speak with him. He was like her courted male. Well, in the aspect that he made her feel things. She had smiled. She had even giggled silently once. There was nothing she wanted to do more than remain outside with Lord Hiroshi. Or Hiro, as she called him. "I suppose we should."
"Do not sound so disappointed. We will speak again tomorrow." He plucked a flower from the bush then began on their way back to the house. Once inside, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you for your company, Kagome-chan."
"Thank you for yours, Hiro-sama." She gasped soundlessly when he placed the flower in her hair and stroked it. "Arigato."
"You are welcome." He whispered.
"Ahem." Katsu and Katsuro looked at their father questioningly. "What were you two doing?"
Kagome turned to them. "Katsu and Katsuro, forgive me for not properly accepting your apology the yesterday. I was upset."
They blinked at her, then smiled. "Good. We thought you'd hate us forever. What were you doing with our dad?"
"We conversed. I have made it my mission to make her feel." Hiroshi said proudly. "And you boys will help me help our little girl pup." He ruffled Kagome's hair.
"Cool. Come on, Kagome. We'll be like best friends."
Sesshomaru entered the hall and cleared his throat. "Kagome, would you follow me?"
Kagome nodded stiffly, "We will speak tomorrow." She told Katsu and Katsuro before following Sesshomaru.
"You think he likes her?" Katsuro asked his elder brother.
"I don't know." But he didn't like the idea of Sesshomaru liking her, and he knew that his brother and father felt the same. It wasn't jealousy. He didn't know what it was, but it felt like instinct.
--
"Is there something wrong, Lord Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked softly as they walked through the halls. She was exhausted, having not slept well the past two days. Using her control to keep from yawning, she kept walking until Sesshomaru came to her room and opened the door. She was happy to see that her children were already asleep. Wait. Happy? She wasn't supposed to feel. Darn it!
Sesshomaru led her inside and, being considerate to the sleeping children, whispered, "Are you aware of the ball tomorrow night?"
Kagome shook her head. "No."
"It is to announce the true partakers, you, Kagura, and Sango. My father wishes for everyone to arrive with a date. Would you like to accompany me?"
"I do not usual attend these types of things. I wouldn't know how to act."
"Follow my lead. I will show you everything."
She hesitated, considering it within her head. "Alright."
Sesshomaru nodded, a small smile playing on his thin, fine lips. "Good. A seamstress will be here in the morning to measure you for your kimono. A servant will dress you, do to your hair what you wish as well as your face. Thank you for agreeing. Goodnight." He wrapped his tail up in hers to distract her then kissed her cheek before vanishing.
Kagome touched her cheek in surprise. "Did he...No." Shaking it off, she climbed onto her futon and drifted off to sleep.
--
"My, young woman, such a striking figure. Lord Sesshomaru is quite lucky to have such a beautiful young woman on his arm." The seamstress complimented as she pinned Kagome's kimono in the places that needed to be hemmed.
"You speak as though we are mated." Kagome scoffed, lifting her arms for the seamstress to pin.
"You should be. I've never seen two people more meant for each other. You look beautiful together. And I've never seen Lord Sesshomaru smile before, but he did when he came to request me to make you an elaborate kimono of your choice of colors."
Kagome shook her head. "Sesshomaru and I have no relationship. And we are not meant to be together. I am meant for no one."
"Don't sell yourself short, darling. You are gorgeous, powerful, different. You are meant for Lord Sesshomaru. And the sooner you see it, child, the better." Taking the kimono from Kagome's body, she proceeded to hem it where it was needed before handing it back. "I am off to deliver Lord Sesshomaru's kimono. Remember what I said darling. Soon, you will understand."
Disregarding the comment, Kagome observed her kimono with childlike wonder. It was so beautiful. Once again, it was black silk with silver embroidery. The obi was red and black. She held it to her, nuzzling it gently. "It's perfect." Heading to the door when there was a knock, she answered it, "I assume you are the help Lord Sesshomaru sent for?"
"Yes, milady. We're here to serve you." With those words, they began their jobs.
--
"And now we present, Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Kagome!" A guard announced, opening the doors and displaying the couple. He then turned to see why everyone had gasped, his eyes widening.
They were the best looking couple. Sesshomaru's kimono nearly perfectly matched Kagome's. His long, silver hair was in a low ponytail. Kagome was beside him, the very vision of beauty. Her long, shiny, jet black hair was in a high ponytail, rippling down her back with two thick strands of hair hanging over her shoulder. Her arm was linked with Sesshomaru's as they entered the room.
"Why must they stare that way?" It wasn't that she was nervous because or the attention, more like annoyed.
"They recognize beauty." He whispered back huskily, smirking when she turned her heated eyes to him. He led her to the table, kneeling beside her. He nearly growled when he saw his brother, Koga, and Miroku drooling over his date.
"Wow, Kagome. You look more beautiful than usual." Inuyasha flattered her.
"Thank you, Inuyasha." Kagome nodded at him, waiting for Sesshomaru to eat before digging in. After eating, she began to converse with Katsu and Katsuro, her smiles appearing more and more often. She looked up when someone tapped her shoulder. "Lord Sesshomaru?"
Sesshomaru offered his hand to her. "Would you care to dance?"
Kagome took the hand in hers and rose. "Of course. Excuse me, Katsu and Katsuro." She allowed Sesshomaru to lead her to the dance floor, missing the angry looks the two brothers gave Sesshomaru. "Thank you for having me as you date, Lord Sesshomaru. I have actually enjoyed myself."
Sesshomaru chuckled silently. "I am glad. And you may call me Sesshomaru."
Sighing contently, Kagome pressed her head against Sesshomaru's chest. Her tail wrapped around his waist and his around hers, holding them tight together. -This is not bad, not at all.- Unknowingly, she allowed a yawn to pass her plush lips. "Forgive me. I am tired."
He nuzzled her neck. "It is alright. The ball is almost over. I will take you to your room." Taking her hand, he led her off to her room. "As I said before, I am glad that you enjoyed your time with me. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." She was going to enter her room when Sesshomaru wrapped his tail around her, jerked her to him and kissed her passionately. Reluctantly, she pulled away to breathe. "You kissed me."
"I did. And you kissed back." He told her smugly, crushing his lips into her again. -Kami, she tastes so sweet.- "Do you wish for me to stop?"
"Yes. No. Kami, stop kissing me while I'm trying to answer, Sesshomaru." She scowled at him, holding him away. "Goodnight."
"Wouldn't you like to join me in my futon?" He asked throatily, bestowing kisses upon her long neck. "I wish to hold you."
"Let the girl go, Sesshomaru." Inutaisho smirked when his son's eyes widened.
Hiroshi shook his head. "Inutaisho, is your whole family as forward as the two of you are?"
Inutaisho chuckled. "Yes. The boys did inherit that from me."
"Poor girl pup, a victim to you silver Inuyoukai."
Kagome's eyes narrowed. She nudged Sesshomaru away and entered her room, closing the door in his face when he tried to speak.
Sesshomaru growled, turning to face his father with livid, red eyes. "Father, you of all people know better than to interrupt a youkai when he is about to bed his mate."
"Ah yes, but she is not your mate."
"She would have been by morning had you two not interfered."
"Sesshomaru, you can not mate her without her father's consent, no matter how you fill for her." Lord Hiroshi chimed in, looking for any excuse for Sesshomaru not to mate Kagome. The idea made him furious.
"She has no father."
Inutaisho sighed. "A male in her family has to agree to her mating you. As does she."
Sesshomaru smirked. "She will." He nodded, going into his room. "She will."