HELLO !
Even if the chapter 18 of « captured and trapped » ALMOST killed me, I was able to produce a new chapter for « consequences of a selfless act » ! yeah me! *grin*
Hope you will like. Most have been wondered what the hell was wrong with Sesshomaru…right? Well, to all of you, the answer is finally in this chapter! ^^
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha…well, my life such but what can I do about it!
Well maybe I can…
*look to the right* no one. *look to the left* no one either.
*bend over to whisper* I'm going to set up a commando group! One of this days, we will kidnap Sesshomaru and keep him for ourselves, that's for sure! But shhhhh, you didn't hear anything from me…
*disappear in the night*
lol
This is an edited version of the chapter. Thanks to Roos and Kayelyn for their respective corrections.
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Chapter 4 :
I am !
…..
The tension in the clearing was almost suffocating. Kagome didn't know exactly what was happening, but something in her stomach was twisting painfully. She knew she shouldn't be there, spying on Sesshomaru and those two other youkai but her body refused to leave. She realized that the situation was grave but she just could not will herself to leave, even when it was obviously not her problem but the demon lord's.
The young miko held her breath, not wanting to miss anything from what will be said.
…
The old dragon observed the young Inu in front of him. Yes, compared to his grand age, the actual demon Lord of the West was a mere pup, powerful but still really young.
Ryuuichi still remembered well the day Sesshomaru was crowned Lord of the Western Lands after his father's demise.
As a pup, Sesshomaru had always been reserved, a cold front protecting him from the outside world, and the old demon couldn't blame him. From the day he was born, the boy had attracted the jealousy of the court. His father, by his power alone, had climbed to the Western Lands throne, crushing anyone who would dare to oppose to him and his power. When the time came, the Inu no Taisho mated with the most beautiful and powerful female of their race, the princess of the moon clan. From this mating, came Sesshomaru. Even when he was just a few years old, the young pup had surprised everyone with his strong youki, making the others youkai fear and hate him.
The old dragon had lost count of the number of attempts on his life, forcing the young pup to close off his heart and keeping everyone at arm's length, even his own parents. However, when you have a father who is that powerful, it is very difficult to be able to get out of his shadow, and Ryuuichi had never seen any young person train as much as Sesshomaru did. With time, young Sesshomaru had gained the fear and respect from the others, destroying anyone who thought differently. This also gained him the poisonous admiration of the female population, wishing to put their claws in his title, his wealth, in him. But the only thing he craved for deep in his heart was the recognition of his father, and for that objective he trained even more. But the previous Lord of the West, for all his power, did not see this need in his son. The Inu no Taisho had pushed his son, his heir, to become the strongest, most perfect assassin. However, when Sesshomaru became what he wanted, the perfect destroyer of life, the Inu no Taisho realized his mistake and rejected him.
Sesshomaru had waited all his life to prove himself to his father but when he was so close to the goal, his father had changed, brushing him away for the 'love' of a human and later killed for this 'love'.
When Sesshomaru had been proclaimed Lord of the West after the demise of his father, the young Lord, just an adolescent at the time, became the cold and calculating being he was now. All his life, Sesshomaru had waited to be able to win in a fight against his father, to prove his worth and his legitimacy to the throne but the premature death of the previous lord had stolen him his objective. The pup had shown no sadness upon the demise of his Lord father, at least not openly, but anger. Anger because he would never prove that he could surpass his father.
The Inu no Taisho, while he was a worthy opponent, almost unbeatable in battle and a smooth talker to the female population, was unable to talk to his own son. After many centuries, the Inu no Taisho had finally found himself and what it meant to have the ultimate power, the power of love or rather, to have someone to protect. However, he was unable to convey it to his son. It was no surprise, when the young Sesshomaru had been pushed to become the ultimate assassin since pup hood, you could not change him after centuries with a few words.
The great Ryuuichi sighed, feeling the weight of his age and what he was obliged to do.
"Sesshomaru-sama, to make sure that you understand the gravity of the situation, this Ryuuichi will remind you the 250 years' rule and its consequences."
Sesshomaru nodded, knowing what was going to be said and happen.
"The 250 years' rule is a law that every Lord, from little to large lands must, without failing, follow. That law states that one of the most important duties of a Lord is, beside protection, to provide his lands with an heir. It also states that a Lord must be mated, or at least have an intended before his 250 years of rule. If the Lord does not find a mate in the 250 years' limit, the council will give one last chance to that Lord: the members of the council will choose a female and propose her as a possible mate and if the Lord refuses that woman, then the Lord will have no other choice but to renounce his rights to his lands and his title. Do you understand what this Ryuuichi is saying?"
Sesshomaru nodded again.
The old dragon sighed. "You know that it is this Ryuuichi fifth visit? Every 50 years, this Ryuuichi has come to ask you a question and will ask you a last time this same question. You understand the importance of your answer?"
….
Curiosity and trepidation were eating at Kagome at the thought of what will happen. She had listened attentively to everything that came out of the old demon's mouth. Fear took root in Kagome's stomach. It seemed like Sesshomaru had to be mated or he would lose his lands. She couldn't believe her ears. It was not like the demon Lord was old, even less in youkai terms, so he had the time to settle down and find someone to share his life with. It was ridiculous to expect him to settle down already, so early in his life.
Kagome watched silently as the other youkai finally stepped out from behind the old one. Kagome's eyes finally fell upon the other youkai as he wasn't hidden anymore. However, to put it bluntly, Kagome would have preferred not to.
It wasn't that he was hideous or horrible to look at. In fact, if Kagome was honest, she would say that it was quite the opposite. The young youkai was rather handsome. He had flaming red hair and an equally bright crimson fluffy tail. From the appendage that was twitching excitedly behind him, Kagome assumed that he was a fox demon, the same as Shippo.
He wasn't as tall as Sesshomaru but had the same lithe physique, quite the opposite of the large and muscular type like the old dragon.
He might not be as beautiful as Sesshomaru, but he was still a handsome youkai.
However, it had the opposite effect on the young miko. Kagome could not prevent a shiver from traveling down her spine when her eyes fell upon the Kitsune. The young woman was rather good at analyzing people and every cell of her being was warning her to beware of this particular youkai. If she was to compare, she would say that he had the same type of dark and venomous beauty as Naraku. Even from where she was, she could see the maliciousness on the kitsune's face while looking at Sesshomaru.
She really didn't like this youkai and by the reaction, as infinitesimal as it was, of the demon Lord of the West, he did not like him either.
The miko had previously laughed at the idea of Sesshomaru having a girlfriend, but now, she was praying with all her might that he had one up his sleeve, just to rip off this smug expression from the kitsune's face.
….
Sesshomaru had dreaded the arrival of this day since the first time he had heard about the 250 years' rule, when he had stepped in his father's place as the Lord of the Western Lands. He knew very well what was awaited from him.
The Daiyoukai closed his hands in fists, trying to stop himself from slashing the irritating Kitsune's face off of his head. Sesshomaru had never been able to stand the youkai from the day of their first encounter all those years ago. He had been obliged to support his presence however, only because his late father had respected him because of his battle prowess.
The Kitsune, Kurai, had been one of the generals of his father during the Great War, fighting off the mainland invaders. Kurai had always treated Sesshomaru with disdain behind closed doors and with false care in front of the others. But then, the Kitsune had to face the evidence that the actual demon Lord of the West was stronger than him. It had been clear that Kurai had not taken it well.
But everything worsened after the demise of Sesshomaru's father. When his father died, Kurai had been sure that the council would choose him to step on the Western Lands throne, seeing that Sesshomaru was rather young at the time. To his surprise, it hadn't been the case. He had protested of course because never had a youkai so young stepped on the throne of one of the cardinal lands. But the council had just sung the praise of Sesshomaru and hushed his protest. The Kitsune had not taken the news well. He had then shown his true colors, revealing his hate for the new Lord of the West.
Sometime later, Kurai had been promoted to a chair in the Grand Council. As the years passed, the Kitsune's feelings had only grown stronger. Kurai had done his best to convince others members of the council of Sesshomaru's inadequacy and unfortunately found supporters.
The Kitsune would do everything in his power to get his hand on the Western Lands. He knew that the probability of Sesshomaru being mated was almost nonexistent. He had even succeeded in imposing his sister as possible choice of the council for the chosen female as a last resort for Sesshomaru to conserve his lands. His sister was as twisted as him and giving part of the control of the West in her hands by mating Sesshomaru was as giving it to Kurai. The Kitsune was in a win-win situation, and he knew it. Either Sesshomaru accepted his sister as a mate or refused but in either solution, the West was as good as his.
"Sesshomaru-sama, what is your answer? Do you have a mate?" Kurai had difficulties in hiding in his glee at his near victory. The old demon sent him a disapproving glance but it was just too good. He had been waiting for this for more than two centuries.
Sesshomaru didn't answer. His hands closed into fists, his claws piercing his skin. Immediately, the two other demons were aware of it, as the sweet copper scent of Sesshomaru's blood was floating in the air.
"Well, are you mated?" Kurai asked again, a smirk growing on his lips.
The Inu Daiyoukai looked at him dispassionately, but the rage was evident in his darkening amber pools.
The old dragon looked at Sesshomaru sadly. Really, he appreciated the pup, but the law was the law and even he could not do anything about it.
He would not admit it out loud, but he was praying that the young pup would answer affirmatively. Contrary to the other members of the council, Ryuuichi wasn't fooled by the sweet talking Kitsune and largely preferred the Inu, even if he was rather cold and aloof. He knew that he could trust Sesshomaru; he wasn't the type to stab an opponent in the back. He could not say the same for Kurai.
The old youkai would have preferred to come alone, as he had done in the past, but Kurai had insisted and Ryuuichi couldn't say anything that could prevent it.
"Pup, your answer?" asked Ryuuichi.
"No, I am not." Sesshomaru answered after a few seconds of silence.
The old dragon closed his eyes a moment. He knew that everything was ending for the Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands in this instant. Ryuuichi did not even ask if he would accept the chosen mate-to-be from the council because he already knew that the young Inu would refuse. After all, Sesshomaru was the result of an arranged mating of the same type and had suffered the consequences. There was no feeling between his parents but that did not mean that Sesshomaru's mother accepted the numerous infidelities of the Inu no Taisho. The poor pup had been in the middle of the several fights between his parents and, while he was still a young and naïve little pup, Sesshomaru had confided to Ryuuichi that he will never accept an arranged mating, even if his life was at stake. The Inu had changed a lot since that time, but his resolve in his position had only strengthened.
"Oh, what a shame," retorted Kurai in a faux friendly voice. "You understand the seriousness of the situation, right? Well there is always the solution of the chosen mat-"
"No." Sesshomaru said firmly.
"Really Sesshomaru-sama? Are you sure? Because…" said the Kitsune while faking concern.
"That is enough, Kurai." The old dragon finally said.
Kurai's mouth closed with a click and bowed submissively to Ryuuichi while the mocking smirk never left his lips.
The old dragon sighed. "Lord Sesshomaru, you know the consequences of not having a mate or a mate-to-be at the 250thanniversary of your ascension to the throne." Ryuuichi sighed again, wishing that there was a solution to this injustice. "This Ryuuichi regrets to announce-"
"STOP!"
The scream echoed around the small clearing. The three youkai looked around, trying to find where the sound was coming from. To their astonishment, a young woman stepped out from the dense foliage, running towards them.
They could not feel or smell her presence before she made her presence known and Ryuuichi realized that both her scent and her aura were hidden. "Who was this strange onna? A human?" Her appearance said that she was human but she was provocatively clothed and could use hiding spells rather well. "Who is she?"
Kurai, who had been already celebrating his victory in his head, was the first to react to the woman presence, his elation quickly disappearing.
"What are you doing here? Who are you, bitch?" screamed the Kitsune, cursing the disgusting human for having spoiled his near perfect victory on Sesshomaru.
Kagome went to stand at Sesshomaru's side, not looking at him, trying to catch her breath. Her mind was in pure panic. "Yes, what in Kami's name are you doing Kagome? Breath, don't collapse now, girl!"
It was too late for regrets anyway. She breathed deeply and proudly held her head high as she answered.
"I am Sesshomaru's intended."
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