Hi xD

More than one month later here I am to update the seventh and last part of Mating Policies!

Guys, it's so difficult to write a final piece for anything. I'm struggling with this chapter since this weekend and gods bite me, it's was one hell of a ride!

I'm not very sure about the outcome, but I shall let you be the judge of that. As this chapter is already too big in its own (+9200), I won't keep my first AN that big. Let's chat a bit more in the second AN, shall we?

Remember English is not my first language and I've just finished this chapter, so some mistakes will surely pass.

Disclaimer: Takahashi owns InuYasha, I own this plot and some of the OC mentioned here.

Happy reading!


Mating Policies

VII – To outsmart a Demon


The sun was slowly vanishing in the cerulean sky when an acute and pained howl was heard in the entire Compound. Strong and otherwise loyal hands held the demon in place, preventing him from going mad and causing havoc in the place. A-Un and Jaken were taken and chained as well.

He did not speak to the lower soldiers; most of them did not know him at all. He kept silent till Hibiki, his first in command, came to him. He had a defeated look on his amber eyes, but he did not apologize, nor tried to let his master go. Behind him, Hideki, the head of the council, watched his very movements with a predator gaze, he knew not to go against.

Sesshomaru growled at him. A low warning that promised nothing but pain, in case he thought to disobey. However, how could him? To free his Lord was the same to go against the rules and Hibiki learn at a great cost, centuries before, that he should never disobey.

Their laws were clear: if there was a challenge — even if during the mating ceremony, such a cowardice, something so low that could only come from those who made the laws and not the ones who fought Wars —, it had to be accepted — no matter whose lives were at stakes.

He lowered his eyes, not daring to stare at his Lord and, at feeling the hand of the Head on his shoulder, he bowed dutifully and left.

With a devious smirk, Hideki watched Hibiki retreating; a regretful look on his eyes. It was somewhat stunning how Sesshomaru managed to have so many loyal to him. He was not his father that inspired loyalty. On the contrary, he was ruthless and uncaring, he was not worried about his soldiers; unlike the great InuTaisho, Sesshomaru saw them as mere pawns in the big game, to lose their lives was not only expected, but necessary. The right course of life.

Yet, there were so many loyal to him, they even thought to break the rules Sesshomaru himself kept and harbored for so many years.

What a pity.

His smirk only grew as he watched the powerful demon clinging to the bars in the dungeons, the soldiers threw him into. If he was with his usual strength, those bars would be easy for him to turn into dust, however, given the mating ceremony and his weakened condition, they were too strong for him.

He growled once again in frustration.

"How does it feel to be imprisoned, Sesshomaru-sama?"

As an answer, another growl.

Hideki ran his claws on the bars, creating a deafening noise. He watched with some amusement as his Lord's sensible ears bleed; his hearing more than damaged for the time being.

"I am quite excited for the fight to take place," he began, still smirking. "I do wonder though… Will Rin-sama be able to win? I head she is with child…"

There was another growl. A low and warning sound that would have everyone on edge. It promised blood and pain to everyone who ever heard it. If the situation was any different, Hideki himself would recoil in fear, however…

"I told Michiko she underestimated you, but it seemed I overestimated you," he spoke more to himself than to the caged demon in front of him. "I never thought someone as grand as yourself sink so low to the point of mating a ningen..."

"This Sesshomaru shall have your head, Hideki."

His words were not met with an apology. Instead, there was a low chuckle. His uncle's chest reverberated with his laugh.

"You will probably hold a head between your hands very soon, Sesshomaru-sama, but I can assure you it shall not be mine."

With a victorious smirk, he turned on his heels. But as he walked to leave the dungeons, his sharp hearing caught the hissing of his Lord.

"This Sesshomaru shall have your head before the night ends, Hideki."

This I vow.

#

If she wants to see the pup growing inside her womb…

Pup…

Inside her womb…

Pup…

Pup…

"I am with child…" Rin whispered to herself as she walked two steps behind her Ladyship. Her hands automatically fell to her unchanged and soft belly, caressing it in slow movements, as if trying to soothe the pup that could not even understand the whole situation.

She was painfully aware she could very well not see her unborn pup. It is… She was realistic, she knew she had no chances of winning. She was a human. A weakened human, whose mate was locked somewhere away from her.

It did not mean she would go down without a fight.

If she had a reason to fight before, it is without saying she had one more now. The news of her pregnancy came with surprise for both of them. In his current state, it was no surprise that her Lord — mate, getting used to the term now seemed useless — could not smell their pup growing inside of her.

"I am with child…"

"Yes, you are with child!" InuKimi turned all of sudden, causing Rin to bump into her. "You are a very boring ningen!"

Her harsh words — surely unexpected — made Rin's already big eyes widen to the size of saucers. InuKimi narrowed her own and let out a tired sigh. Even though the betrayal was to be expected, she could not say she was at ease with it. Even for a someone as smart — honestly, she had yet to see a being more intelligent and sharp than her, cunning — as she herself, she knew there were three lives at stake if she ever failed.

Needless to say no one would ever harm her son — the only heir to the Western Lands —, but her pretty neck was on the line and there was nothing the Lady of the West hated more than having her precious skin intact.

She turned left and stopped abruptly when she sniffed the air. Her golden eyes were mere slits as she looked ahead. From the shady corners of the Compound, the General popped up.

"Hibiki."

He looked dejected — as a traitor like himself should look — and smelled of regret — however late it was for such useless feelings. InuKimi scoffed. What would be of the Western Lands if it were not for her?

"InuKimi-sama…" He bowed dutifully. "My Lady."

"Hibiki-sama!" Rin exclaimed, happy to see a familiar face. He was one of the few her Lord trusted to be around her — to teach her how to handle the bow, for he never agreed with her fighting.

"Rin-sama…" He looked down, unable to face her cinnamon and trusting eyes. Of course she was unaware he was the one to chain her mate. Of course she would not believe even if he was the one to tell the truth himself. Such a silly girl.

"I have a proposition."

InuKimi scoffed.

"A proposition? I was never informed you could think, Hibiki."

Rin's eyes were widened at the way the Lady Mother treated the General. She did not know she hated Hibiki so much. It is, why on Earth would anyone hate him? He had never shown nothing but kindness since she was brought to the Western Lands. Apart from her personal maid, no one had ever treated her so kindly right away.

"Lady Mother…" He bowed once again, showing not only respect, but vulnerability. If InuKimi saw fit, she could take his very life and he would do nothing but comply.

He lived to serve.

"You have two minutes, Hibiki."

The General lost no time to direct both of them to a wall passage in which a small office was located. He opened the shōji door and lead them inside.

"One minute left," InuKimi warned. This made the young demon let out a heavy sigh and walk up to them.

She thought he would reach out for herself, and beg for her to save the Lord's life or anything as pathetic as that. Even raised with Sesshomaru, Hibiki had always been a pathetic pup who showed his feelings too much. She recalled to this day he was the one to cry when Sesshomaru — his older brother — got hurt.

"We can run away together, Rin." His voice was soft as he held her small hand between his clawed ones.

InuKimi scoffed.

"Sesshomaru-sama cannot protect her," he stated, his golden eyes not leaving her cinnamon orbs. His voice was softer when he traced the inside of her wrist. He could hear her heart beating faster. He could smell her sadness. He could smell the pup growing inside of her. He pursed his lips into a thin line. "I can."

"You can't break the laws, Hibiki-sama." She removed her hand from his and he immediately missed her warmth.

"I can." He was firm. He would not give up. Rin would see other night. If it depended on Rin, both Rin and her unborn pup would see other nights. Plural.

InuKimi snapped her tongue.

"It is funny how you can break the laws to protect a ningen girl, but you could not do the same when you imprisoned my son."

"Hibiki-sama!"

None of them paid her any attention. Her dejected face and strangled voice were but a nuisance as General and Lady Mother stared at each other fiercely. InuKimi would never forgive him for locking up her son. He knew that. What made he think she would let Rin — her son's mate and the mother of his first grandchild — in his hands?

Hibiki bared his neck in submission, catching both women off guard. When he looked back at the Lady of the West, his eyes shone pleadingly. "She will die."

"Probably."

He snarled. The Lady Mother looked at ease as if losing Rin and her unborn grandchild meant nothing to her, which was probably the case. To him though — to Sesshomaru — losing Rin would be like losing his own life.

InuKimi smirked — then she laughed. It was funny how dejected Hibiki looked at the ningen refusal. In the past, it was very funny how the young pup followed Sesshomaru everywhere and later how he took a liking to everything Sesshomaru owned and eventually bedded — it was no surprise to know Hibiki had taken as a lover someone her son dumped; or to share a lover with him. As he could not bed Rin — Sesshomaru would never share his human ward, not even with someone he considered a true brother — he fell in love with her.

"Tsk…" She snapped her tongue. "Which one do you love?"

Hibiki went pale at his Lady's question.

InuKimi paced in the small room and looked at him through narrowed eyes. "Let me rephrase it… Which one do you love more?" At his confused stare, she almost rolled her eyes. "Sesshomaru or Rin?"

"InuKimi-sama!" Rin's widened eyes made her stare at both of them as understanding flooded in her very veins.

"I see…" She turned on her heels and gestured for the ningen to follow her with two fingers. "Let's go, Rin. You have a fight to win."

Realization drowned in him. A small smile took upon his lips and his heart beat more at ease.

"What would you have me do, Lady Mother?"

InuKimi smirked.

"Staying out of my way would be a good start."

#

"I do not want to fight her," Kaoru held her head high. Her voice, even though soft and demure, showed no weakness. She was firm in her resolution.

Hideki growled low in his chest. He did not have time for such nonsense. His mate, however, seemed intrigued by the girl refusal. He pursed his lips into a thin line and walked to the window. The moon was up in the sky and if he concentrated a little bit he could hear Sesshomaru's desperate howls.

He smirked. He should pay his Lord another visit soon.

"I will not fight her."

"Why not?" Michiko asked, a bit doubtful. It seemed obvious that anyone would — if given the chance, of course — fight a pitiful ningen for the position of the Lady of the Western Lands.

Well, she would not deny she would. To fight Rin would be as easy as taking a candy from a child. Needless to mention the excuse of a Lady was currently weakened — and she had only the mating ceremony to thank for it — and pregnant — if the news were right.

When Michiko heard of the damned pregnancy, she knew she had to act. She could not risk having the Western Lands ruled later on by a pathetic hanyō. It was horrible enough that the current Lady Mother seemed to find it acceptable to have a ningen asher son's mate — as if that weakness did not run in the family blood; as if she had not been disposed of and had her rightful place taken by one… as if she had not been disgraced by one — she would not allow the Elders to agree with her — and they already did.

Her excuse of a speech convinced them that day. At last that wretched Hiraku seemed convinced she only had her son's best interest at heart. Tsk. Michiko knew better. All InuKimi wanted was to dismiss her sister-in-law. She would never accept a ningen in her hateful heart.

"He…" Kaoru wetted her lips. "Sesshomaru-sama loves her."

Her words seemed to surprise Michiko, who could barely contain her laughter. It was not a mirthful one, however. Where did she get those ideas from?

"My darling, he does not love her." Michiko brought the girl to her arms, caressing her silver locks lovingly. It did not go unnoticed by her mate; his eyes so narrowed they were no more than suspicious shadows to spy over her. "He is bewitched by her."

"No." She was restless. "I have seen them both… I have seen…" She closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip. The mere image made her want to cry. "I will never have such love."

"Love?" Hideki bit back a smirk. He could not help but scoff, however. "What is love?"

Before any of them could answer, he turned on his heels and walked to the door, holding it up for them to follow him shortly after, even though they would head in different directions.

"Love is but a weakness. You should know that by now, Lady Kaoru of the Southern Lands."

"Hideki." Michiko's tone was icy as she stared at her mate. "You should never speak to a Princess in such disrespectful way. Apologize."

If he ever paid attention to what she said, he gave no indication. On the contrary, he narrowed his eyes a bit more and turned on his heels to face them.

"And you should never lie to or hide such an important secret from your mate."

As Michiko visibly paled, her claws buried in her delicate hands, Kaoru stared at both of them in utter confusion. When did the conversation shifted to such topic? The girl could not help but hold her hand between hers, hoping to soothe the only person who has shown her more kindness than her own family.

Hideki walked back, till he stood tall and proud in front of Michiko, and held her chin between his clawed fingers. He would have spoken inside her mind, if he ever learned that — if she ever allowed him to strengthen their mating bond.

He smelled both of them and smirked proudly as he caught no great similarities between their scents.

Clever woman.

"I shall not take your betrayal lightly, mate," he spoke as he kissed her temples in lovingly fashion — as lovingly as someone unfeeling as himself could ever muster.

Michiko stared at him with her eyes widened to the size of saucers. When his lips descended to hers, she could not help but gasp. He was not to be treated lightly.

If she could, she would have held onto his wrist and kept him with her. Hideki was a good strategist and all she could not have now as him thinking… Thinking badly about her. If he stayed with her, she could remove such crazy ideas from his mind.

"For now…" he announced, walking back to the door. "I shall pay Sesshomaru-sama a visit." He smirked, but the gesture did not reach his cold and expressionless eyes. "I want to see his face when Lady Kaoru's blade pierce that pitiful human's heart."

#

"Did you understand, Rin?"

The ningen sat back on the zabuton and looked at her hands. They were shaking as was her need to puke. The information she had just received did not sit well in her stomach. She ran her hands soothingly over her belly and drew in a sharp breath.

"Did you understand, Rin?" InuKimi asked again as she handed the girl her daggers. Very common blades. When it all ended, she would have Sesshomaru ordering a powerful weapon made of one of his fangs especially crafted for his mate — and later on for his child… or children.

With a bit of luck, Rin would do just fine with this old — even if good enough by human standards — sword. It is, if she agreed to follow her instructions, which did not seem to be the case.

"I cannot do it."

It seemed unfair even for someone like InuKimi to suggest such a course of action. She did not understand that Rin did not play by the same rules as she did.

At her indecisiveness, InuKimi rolled her eyes. The girl was moral — something she found rather annoying in any person. Her late mate was moral too and usually, mainly after he fell in love for that pathetic moral who mothered the half-breed InuYasha — and she hated them for it.

InuKimi was not a woman known for playing fair and if anyone thought she would learn to play by the rules now, they were mistaken — and would be sorely sorry.

"You must."

"I can't."

Narrowing her eyes and drawing a sharp intake of breath — she would have hit the girl if their situation was any different —, she kneeled in front of her and held her hands between hers.

"Your morals are boring." Her remark should have been accompanied by a laughter. It would have, but given the circumstances. "Listen girl, if you want to protect the pup, you must."

When Rin did not move, not to comply or complain, she rose to her feet and walked to the door shaking her head. Why did her son have to fall for such a righteous and innocent woman?

She glanced at the ningen wearing the light armor and could not help but think how small she looked with the fighting clothes on. Well, at least she would know if her acquired skills learned in their lessons were up to a test. A real one.

If everything went wrong… Well, thankfully she had a plan B thoroughly prepared under her sleeve.

#

Cinnamon and Golden.

Or thousands of golden. It is, Rin could not count how many golden pairs of eyes stared at her and Lady Kaoru — whom she had never met — and chanted enthusiastically.

It seemed the entire West was there — even though there were just a few there, the Elders and the servants — to watch her fall. And how quickly she would fall. But the laws were clear… And what her Lady wanted her to do was low. So despicably low, she could barely think of it.

However… What Lady Michiko and Lady Kaoru of the Southern Lands were doing was also low.

To challenge someone for the position of mate during the Mating Ceremony was very cowardly. How could someone do that to their Lord? To challenge her was the same to say they did not think him able to choose his own mate — which, to be very honest, she did not think they crazy. What would she do if she had been raised to mate him and then watch him being taken from her arms all of sudden? By a ningen none the less.

It was easier for her to think it was natural to love him — and to have him — because she was the one he chose to mate with; because she lived her entire life with him, because she loved him since… since ever. She could not think of day in which she did not love her Sesshomaru. It may have begun as an innocent love — one in which he was her hero, the one who saved her, the only one she could ever follow and pledge her life to —, but it was love nonetheless.

She tightened her hand around her daggers and bit her bottom lip. To fight for him was only natural, right? Lady Kaoru was in her true right to do it — no matter how cowardly their act seemed, it was provided by law, their law.

But to fight for her life — for the life of her unborn pup — was more than natural. It was necessary. And in the absence of strength to fight a being more powerful and skilled than her, she could resort to such… tricks.

Her mind drifted to Lady InuKimi and their eyes met. She was watching everything from her place with her sharp golden orbs. Nothing ever escaped her. A small smirk tugged at the corner of the demoness' lips as she could easily read the battle inside Rin's mind.

"You may commence."

Hiraku's displeased voice reached their ears and Rin gripped both of her daggers in her hand more firmly. She waited for the demoness to move first, but she remained still. In place. Unmoving.

Her golden eyes widened as she titled her head over so slightly. She could distinctly hear two heartbeats. It was not about the scent around the ningen woman — for one who did not know her scent well, the difference would barely be distinguishable —, but the noise of the heart slightly faster than her own made Kaoru's hand around her sword loosen a bit. The blade fell to the floor with a thud.

"Kaoru-sama!" Michiko cried out from her position. The guards did not let her approach the opponents though.

Their laws were clear: no one should interrupt the challenge. Not ever. For no reason. They were to fight till one of them gave up or ceased living.

"I will not fight you."

The small crowd held their breaths. InuKimi went on alert mode and eyed the girl suspiciously — a daughter of her sister-in-law could never be trusted —; ready for any attack.

"Kill her!" Michiko shouted as she tried to move past the guards. InuKimi would have laughed at her inability to fight a mere soldier; she had always been pathetic when it came to art of the sword. And she wanted to be the rightful Lady of the Western Lands… Tsk. Thankfully the West had InuTaisho and now it has Sesshomaru. "Kill her!"

"I cannot." Kaoru replied, anguished at the thought of taking a life. She fell to her knees and thought about her father. He would surely be ashamed of her. Ashamed of her weakness and human heart, as he said more than once. "S-She is with pup."

There was a collective gasp. Even those who already knew it, seemed taken aback by the Southern Princess' retreat. Some thought her weak; some believed she was strong. Not just everyone opposed to Lady Michiko so openly and lived to tell the story.

Rin blinked, utterly surprised and let her guard down. A terrible mistake — she quickly realized — as a blade was pointed at her throat in less than a second. She looked up, expecting to see a smirk in the Southern Princess' mouth, instead, she found the beautiful and deadly face of her aunt-in-law.

She gasped.

"Ready to die, filthy ningen?"

#

She would die.

She was dead already.

If anyone gasped, she was sure it was not her. She could, not even if she wished to, for the blade against her throat prevented her from even thinking straightly. Even so, she breathed deeply through her nose and tightened her hold over her daggers.

She would die.

She was sure she would die.

But it did not mean she would go down without a fight. And if by fighting it meant she would hold onto her daggers and rebel against the very thought of dying while crying helplessly or begging for her life — then so be it. If anything, her Lord taught her early on was not to beg.

Not ever.

It did not go unnoticed by Michiko, who pressed the blade a bit on her throat, drawing blood. She hissed, completely angry at the ningen who did not show fear; who did not bow down and apologized for her very mistake.

There another gasp, this time it clearly came from the Lady kneeled on the ground. Not because of what Lady Michiko did — she could barely smell that small amount of blood — but the scene unfolding before her very eyes was just too much.

Hideki's head rolled till her protector's feet, leaving a trail of fresh blood in its track.

A sharp cry left her mouth, forcing everyone to stare at her. Michiko let go of Rin and faster than a blink of an eye InuKimi interposed between the two. Her sharp golden eyes landed on the very image of her son — battered, bloodied and weak, but standing proud on his feet with his General behind him.

In his clawed fingers there were strands of the purest silver — strands that could only pertain to Hideki; if he acquired them before or after killing him, she was not sure — and a lot of blood as well. His chest — almost nude given the current state of his silken clothes — was stained with his uncle's blood. His General had blood splashed all over him. Although InuKimi could not say if Sesshomaru did the job all by himself, she was sure he was the one to drive the final blow.

He walked to his aunt and before she could even react — for he acted too fast, faster than should be possible giving his current weakened state — he raised her by the throat.

His eyes were not golden. A crimson color dominated them thoroughly. When a smirk curved his lips, InuKimi was sure of one thing: his demon would not leave that very grounds without spilling more blood.

She held her breath when the deep voice — much deeper than customary — left his mouth.

"Ready to die, filthy yokai?"

#

He could not do anything for the Guards surrounded not only him, but his mate and his mother as well. In front of them — leading them — Hiraku stood with a tired expression dominating his features.

"Hiraku."

Sesshomaru did not let go of his aunt. Instead he tightened his hold around her neck a bit more. His sharp claws pierced her skin, drawing deep red blood.

"Let go of her, Sesshomaru-sama."

His words seemed to have reached deaf ears. His hold, impossibly firm on her neck, did not lessen. On the contrary, he not only tightened it, as he let his poison drip from his claws and enter her system very slowly.

"You dare to command this Sesshomaru?"

Hiraku did not tremble. If there was someone who did not fear Sesshomaru in the least, it was him. He had seen InuKimi giving birth to him, he had seen his first steps and first words. In a sense, he had been more of a father to Sesshomaru than InuTaisho himself.

"To kill her is to break the law." He muttered in a low tone. If not for his sharp hearing, Sesshomaru would probably not hear. "Our law."

Michiko smirked.

There was silence for a moment, as if the demon seemed to think over Hiraku's words. A low growl emerged from his chest and the hold over her grew stronger.

"She threatened our mate."

It was clear to everyone around them that the beast was speaking to himself, not to Hiraku or anyone around them. To InuKimi, it was clear that if not for the inner demon, Sesshomaru would not be able to kill Hideki and to hold Michiko so effortlessly. The demon loved Rin as much as Sesshomaru did.

And it was clearer that if she did not act quickly, the Council would deem Sesshomaru's act as one of betrayal and would have not only Rin killed, but him and her as well. The prospect of having her pretty neck on the line for the second time that night made her want to drive her own claws through Michiko's excuse of a heart.

"Now," she said, looking at Hibiki from where she stood, holding Rin fiercely within her arms.

No one else around them seemed to understand what she meant with this simple word, but alas, she smirked, they soon would. And it would be the greatest shock ever —more than the fact her son chose a human for a mate.

From the sky, demon crows let hundreds of papers fall down and reach everyone around them. Servants and Elders held the small notes and sounds of utter surprise left them.

The scandal of the millennia to reach the Western Lands — even worse than having the great Lord InuTaisho falling for a human and letting go of his pure-blood mate — was out for everyone to comment about.

Lady Michiko of the Western Lands is the mother of Lady Kaoru of the Southern Lands!

Lady Michiko mothered a daughter before she was married to Lord Hideki!

Soon, the whispers became too loud and Rin closed her eyes. The secret — weapon — she did not want to use against Lady Kaoru, was used nonetheless. Even though she had morals, InuKimi did not. She looked up at the Lady Mother and her eyes widened at her smirk.

It was no surprise — not new — to her how people would do anything to get rid of their enemies — what Michiko had done herself was just one of the countless proof of that —, but it simply did not suit her. She had been a diplomat for her Lord for more than a year now and she had seen how demons and humans — they were absolutely not off the hook — would stop at nothing to get what they wanted.

Actually, it explained a great deal why InuKimi was so at ease with the fact her daughter-in-law was to fight for her life when she was carrying a pup.

She looked at her Lord — mate — and watched as he continued to hold Michiko tightly, ignoring the command he received from the Head of the Council. If anything, Rin learned that a Lord did not rule alone — an Emperor did not rule alone, he had someone to respond to —, a demon Lord always had to a Council to back his very decisions and to respond to.

Her eyes turned to the Elders — the entire Council stared at the wife of their Head and did not know what to say — what to think. She had always been one to uphold their laws above everything and to judge those who went against them as well. Who knew she was one to disregard one of their very basic rules?

"As a Council we cannot let you kill her without checking the authenticity of these words." His lips were set into a harsh line. "Without the due proof, they are no more than mere gossip and as such, they cannot be—

His words were cut short as InuKimi placed two parchments in his hands. It was all it took for him to shut his mouth and stare at Michiko speechless.

"As you can see, old hag…" Her sweet pet name was not welcomed with contentment, she did not care though. "She has been planning the Lady of the West's death for a long while and… Of course, asking for her daughter. If it is not betrayal, I cannot phantom what else could be."

With his lips still set into a hard line, Hiraku took it upon himself to nod at Sesshomaru's very actions.

However, before he could act on his wishes, Rin closed her eyes and spoke in a loud and clear voice.

"Stop."

#

Crimson eyes slowly returned to a golden shade, even if it seemed dominated for a few orange freckles as the demon heard Rin's soft voice behind his back. When she touched him, he could not help but remove his clawed fingers from around his aunt's neck and let her fall with a thud to the ground.

A low growl formed in his chest at the thought of releasing Michiko when his every instinct screamed at him to dismember her slowly, piece by piece, till all she felt was excruciating pain. Rin's warm hands around his arm and the very scent she gave off — the sweet smell that was uniquely Rin and something fresh… their pup… his pup — made him stop.

Pup.

A new life.

He never thought he would be a father. He never thought before he would want to be a father. However, the very thought of someone bringing any harm to Rin — to his pup — drove him mad beyond belief.

Eyes taken by crimson once again, he took Michiko back in his hands, crushing her very neck between his powerful fingers.

"No." Her voice had an edge of despair in it. "Stop it."

"Mate."

"Sesshomaru-sama." She was firm in her resolution. He did not retreat, but turned his face to her, red eyes thoroughly focused on her. When she did not back away — did not submit — he growled in warning.

"Rin."

"Sesshomaru-sama, I believe she deserves a trial."

"Rin."

His very being rebelled against the idea. A trial? He could care less if Michiko broke their laws and had a daughter outside wedlock and before her very marriage to Hideki. In truth, they were thinking about very different topics. He would kill — very slowly, he had to remind himself of that — her because she threatened his mate and no one — absolutely no one — would get away with that.

Michiko scratched his hand — or tried to; her strength was nowhere closer to his. If she had trouble dealing with InuKimi before, it was laughable her very attempt to free herself from her Lord.

"Son." InuKimi did not approach him. She was aware how dangerous it was to get near him or his mate in such moment, not that she cared that much though. "Rin has a point."

He growled again.

All he did not need right now was to deal with people agreeing with his mate when everything inside him screamed he should dismember Michiko in a painful and bloody fashion.

"And I believe…" Rin bit her bottom lip and stared at her former opponent. "I believe Lady Kaoru has the right to know the whole truth."

#

"Mother…?"

The word to leave Kaoru's lips was a mere whisper none of them caught — none of them was interested enough to catch. Until that very moment, none cared to stare at their guest; she remained kneeled on the floor and as they decided to carry Michiko inside, to the meeting room, she had no choice but to follow them, her bottom lip trapped between her teeth as she tried to control her tears.

She did not want to cry.

Not in front of those people who barely knew her — who did not care about knowing her. If any, she could pinpoint the human mate of her — and here comes the greatest irony in her life — supposedly mate as the one who cared about her well-being at the present moment at least a little.

As she casted a look behind herself and her cinnamon orbs clashed with her golden ones, Kaoru saw more than worry — there was understanding, pity perhaps. That was shocking news after all. Their entwined glances did not last more than a few seconds, for a clawed hand was positioned on her back and pulled her against a hard chest. Rin's attention was deviated from their guest to her husband — mate.

In that very moment, Kaoru felt ashamed for having ever wanted to her — to be human; to be Sesshomaru's mate. And to think she wanted to have met him first… Rather: she wanted to be human at least once, for he would love her if she were.

She could not be more wrong.

Sesshomaru did not love her because they met first or because she was human. It was not about her species — in fact, he hated humans, he had always hated, or so she heard. So it could not be because it ran deep in his veins, it is, the curse of inu yokais falling for human women.

Actually, it was far from that.

He loved her. He loved Rin, in spite of her humanity, in spite of her flaws, in spite of everything… He loved her. Simply as that.

She bit her bottom lip again and entered the meeting room and was surprise for having the word directed to her for the first time.

"Do you want to talk to your mother?" The girl with the softest of voices said.

Kaoru closed her eyes as the faint smell of new life invaded her nostrils. She felt even more ashamed for having ever coveted her place.

Breeding…

The ningen woman was breeding. The very thought made her gasp slightly. It was a good thing Lady Michiko could not kill her. She could not bear the thought of one going through the pain of losing a mate while still in the mating ceremony.

"Kaoru-sama?" The same soft voice called her name.

There was a low growl coming from Sesshomaru. She was not to address others — surely not above her — with such high honorifics. She was his mate, she was above any Southern Princess — or any other Princess whatsoever.

"She is not my mother," she replied, finally taking a seat near one of the Elders.

Her whispered words — so full of pain and… she could not even say it was hate, but perhaps disappointment — were not missed by Michiko — placed in the center of the room and chained to heavy and magical chains that drew her very yoki, preventing any escape — whose widened eyes filled with tears.

She was not shocked in the last at the death of her mate — more like a husband, as they had never connected like true mates. Yokais have always considered themselves better than humans and one of the reasons lay in the fact human marriage was so shallow… so insignificant… so devoid of meaning — but she could not deal with the fact her own daughter denied her the chance to be the mother she had always wanted to be.

dreamed to be…

InuKimi cleared her throat and looked at her sister-in-law. Her crying face did not arouse her any pity. On the contrary, the smirk on her face grew larger by the second. Usually, she was not very prone to screw people's lives, but Michiko got what was coming her way when she decided to chase mercilessly her son and his mate.

And while she still breathed, nobody — not a living thing — would jeopardize her son's safety and happiness.

They would have to deal with her wrath.

And only the Gods knew InuKimi would stop at nothing when she was angry.

"Before we start…" Hiraku cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. The whispers ceased and the room fell silent. "I would appreciate if the members of the Council apologized to InuKimi-sama and asked her forgiveness."

The Elders seemed unsure of his decision, but neither dared to deny his command. One by one, they all bowed before the Lady Mother and later walked to both Rin and Sesshomaru and repeated his act.

"We swore we would trust your abilities and we swore we would respect Sesshomaru-sama's choice of a wife and mate and we failed."

Hiraku's act was appreciated by Sesshomaru. The Demon seemed pleased he bowed not only to his mother, but to his mate as well. His hold over him tightened. His rage was barely controlled. It was taking all his willpower not to pounce over his aunt and rip her to shreds.

In truth, he was mad at Rin for preventing him from killing the old witch. However, he learned that whatever was going through her mind could not bring any more harm than what she had already been through.

His eyes flashed back at his mother and her cunning smirk made him realize that even though he may not feel Michiko's flesh in his hands as he tore her apart, the Lady of the West could bring her a more painful, slower and fulfilling — for him, of course — punishment.

"Michiko has plotted behind our backs the entire time. She has plotted Rin's death, Lady Kaoru's arrival, even though her Lord has declined the Southern Princess visit, going against his very decisions and statements." InuKimi did not look away from her sister-in-law for a second. The glint in her eyes told how happy she was to finally crush her enemy once and for all. "Lastly, as I have offered proof in the missives she has exchanged with the Southern Lord, she has plotted to remove my son from his position and, if needed take his life. As proved by our late Hideki, it seems the idea was not far away from their minds."

There was a collective gasp. Even Rin gasped. Although she did know they were very much excited to take her life, she did not think they would go as far as to threaten her Lord's life.

"Do you deny it?" Hiraku asked, his voice low and measured.

Michiko remained silent for a moment. All she could do was to look at her daughter's face and her very refusal pained her more than bearable.

She pursed her lips into a thin line; her face battered and her silver strands, always kept in a neat hairdo, falling on her shoulders. She barely heard a word InuKimi or the old hag — she agreed with her sister-in-law on that — said.

"Michiko-sama?" Hiraku called.

"I did!" She hissed, pulling on her chains. "And I do not regret a damn bit. She's human! Are you all blind?" Her pain and anger consumed her whole. Her eyes became red, but even then it was not enough to set her free. "The future heir to the Western Lands shall be a filthy hanyo! A damned half-br—

She was not allowed to finish her words, for her throat was again crushed between Sesshomaru's claws.

He would kill her.

He wanted so bad to kill her.

But Rin's voice ranged again on his head.

"No." She was behind him once again. Her will to save Michiko's life was driving him mad beyond belief. He did not even understand why he stopped at her pleas.

Sesshomaru growled.

"She does not deserve to die, Sesshomaru-sama."

"Rin."

She took a sharp intake of breath. How could she explain it was beyond saving someone's life or not?

"If she has been exchanging letters with the South for so long, it is obvious to me she would have a plan in case anything happened to her."

Her words got his attention. Got the entire Council attention. Got InuKimi's attention. The demoness smirked proudly.

Clever girl.

"Death would be a gift to her, considering everything she has done and planned for future years."

Sesshomaru wanted to pierce his claws so badly in his aunt's heart, he was on the verge of saying he would kill whomever in the South thought fit to plot behind his back. However, he could not deny Rin was damn right in her thoughts.

At the same time he was proud of the politician and diplomat his mate became — he could not forget how simply it seemed for her to suggest InuYasha took her place in an expedition to human's lands — the demon in him rebelled against the idea of letting Michiko leave to see another day.

"What do you suggest, Rin-sama?"

She took her time to consider her next words. Biting her bottom lip, she touched her mate's arm again, indicating she wanted him to release his aunt. He did not so willingly; his eyes slowly returning to their usual golden color.

He knew the moment the inner demon let go of him completely, he would collapse. His wounds lay opened; his ability to heal thoroughly compromised due to the lasting effects of the mating ceremony. His very being rebelled against the idea of being parted from his mate embrace.

"Let her live."

The simply suggestion seemed to leave everyone a bit confused.

"She should live. Live and seal the best of deals for the Western Lands." She wetted her lips and looked at Michiko's expression of disgust. As she casted a glance to InuKimi and saw her smirking, she knew she was doing the right thing. "A deal she shall not be able to get any benefits from."

"What makes you think she shall stick to the plan, Rin-sama?" An Elder questioned, his golden eyes focused on the ningen woman and shifting to the wife of his former Elder.

There was silence for a moment. A brief moment. Rin did not even have time to open her mouth. InuKimi's clawed hand touched her shoulder lightly — which earned her a low growl from Sesshomaru; she smirked — and she spoke, "Lady Kaoru shall help us as our guest."

Her words made Michiko and Rin gasp altogether.

What she truly meant was basically that they should keep Lady Kaoru as their hostage. If Michiko did not stick to her end of the bargain, they could simply slit her daughter's life. As a mother, she would not let that happen. Not when she was the one to plan the girl's entire life and even her own coronation as the Lady of both the West and South.

"I would rather die."

"Oh, no darling!" InuKimi touched her chin and slowly stroked her full cheeks. "You do not get to die. Not today, not in a long while. It's a gift you shall not receive." She let go of her a bit forcefully. "And when I feel like killing you, please do kindly remind me, I shall not. I will be mostly grateful."

"Her crimes should not go unpunished." The same Elder tried to remind them. He was a loyal follower of the couple and while he was not disgusted at the idea of having a hanyo as a leader in the future — one could not know, InuTaisho left a full-blooded demoness for a human, Sesshomaru could do the inverse, who knows? — the idea of punishing Michiko that much did not sit well with him. Not that he would help her either, he cared too much for his life and his comforts as an Elder.

A few heads nodded in agreement.

InuKimi merely chuckled.

"Clearly, you do not understand the heart of a mother. However absent she may have been, she is still a mother and she will die a mother."

There was another moment of silence as none of the Elders had it in them to disagree with the Lady Mother.

"Sesshomaru-sama, do you agree with this outcome?"

He did not have enough time to voice his opinion, for Michiko's voice became a chant all the while.

I would rather die.

I would rather die.

I would rather die.

Sickened to her stomach to hear that, Lady Kaoru was the first to speak, making Lord Sesshomaru — the man she thought to be hers once, in very childish fantasies — stare at her icily.

"I shall do it."

"What?" Michiko broke out of her mantra. She simply could not believe her daughter.

"I will help."

She looked at Rin and how Lord Sesshomaru looked at her — how he protected her —, his red eyes so full of pride and love, she could not help but feel jealous all over again — would she ever came closer to have someone to look at her that way at least once in her life?

"I will make sure the South and West become the best of partners." She bit her bottom lip and looked at her feet. "I apologize for the interference. It is of my understanding that because of me the mating ceremony was disrupted and the beautiful process became something bloody and tainted."

As everyone heard her words, Rin could not help but want to hold the girl's hand — it was clear to her that Lady Kaoru was suffering —, but Sesshomaru held her back, pulling her against him.

"I sincerely apologize and I hope in the near future you can forgive my father for his acts." She took a sharp intake of breath; the tears on the verge of leaving her golden gorgeous eyes. "I am sure he never meant any harm. The South and West have been partners for years and while a greedy man, he has no bad intentions at heart."

While no one believed her words, none saw fit to disagree with her. The girl demonstrated sufficient emotional intelligence, something neither her mother or her father seemed to have.

Rin smiled encouragingly at her.

"And I do thank you, Lord Sesshomaru, for the stay and Lady Rin for being so kind and…" She breathed hard again, her bottom lip already bruised by her sharp fangs. As she looked up and saw curious faces staring at her — to see a demoness on the verge of tears and being so emotional was surely something new — she widened her eyes. "I-I think that's all." She bowed deeply. "Thank you."

Sesshomaru did not know what to say. He was exhausted and slightly drunk from smelling Rin's sweet scent. As the hours went by, the scent his pup gave off became stronger, affecting the parents a great deal — as Rin was human, she could not smell it. Yet.

Rin wanted to say something. Anything. She wanted to comfort the girl. All she could think was what she would say if she was the one in her place. If the inverse happened to her. She could not bear the very thought. However, before she could even open her mouth, Hiraku dismissed the meeting and asked Hibiki to take Michiko to the dungeons and InuKimi to guide Lady Kaoru back to her chambers.

As the demonesses crossed ways, InuKimi commented.

"The girl has more sense than you, dear sister-in-law."

"She must be crazy," Michiko hissed.

"Better crazy than imprisoned." She laughed and covered her teeth with her sleeves. "See you soon, darling."

And before they could part ways, she mouthed.

"It was fun playing this game with you."

#

In their chambers, back in the hanare room, the first thing Sesshomaru did as soon as he closed the shōji doors behind himself, was to disrobe Rin from the upper part of her kimono.

She blushed beautifully and tried to cover herself, to which she received a displeased grow.

You do not get to disobey me again, mate.

Holding her wrists, he ran his nose over her flat belly, inhaling her scent. Until that moment, he was skeptical she was pregnant, but the more he spent in her company, the surer he grew.

His mother was right.

Another growl left his lips.

He was not making much sense — more like behaving like a dog that entire day —, but he could simply not control himself.

Later that morning he had an inner chat — a fight with his demon, the very traitorous thing was chuckling at him right now, and he could not think of anything more unSesshomaru, or more out of character than a version of him chuckling — in which he decided he would not have Rin pupped anytime soon. And look at them now.

He ran his nose over her belly again, making her giggle. It seemed he reached a ticklish spot. He did it again and a small groan left his lips as she buried her fingers on his silver strands and yanked his head — in a not so slightly fashion — back.

"Ses-Sesshomaru-sama!"

Her plea did not seem to faze him. He remained where he was, still kneeled in front of her — and he simply did not kneel to any common being — and with his lips pressed against her womb. He ran his claws slowly over her skin.

"You are pupped."

His voice was deep — deep and full of emotions — as he looked at her; golden eyes heavy with worry.

She looked at him and her cinnamon orbs were full of love. A small smile touched her lips as she touched his marks lovingly.

"All will be fine."

"You are pupped, Rin."

This time, his voice had a hint of anger.

Not at her.

She knew he was not mad at her, he was mad at himself. For having pupped her so soon — for having pupped her at all.

"All shall be fine, Sesshomaru-sama. You worry too much."

He even opened his mouth to say something, but she prevented him from doing it — and end up saying something he did not mean at all — by placing a finger over his lips.

"I don't care. I am stronger than you think."

He did not have time to agree nor to disagree for she smashed her lips against his in an overpowering and unquestionable kiss that screamed all her feelings.

With a growl of appreciation, he kissed her back, tilting her head back for better access as he invaded her mouth and dominated her thoroughly.

The kiss had the undeniable taste of love.

The kiss had the undeniable taste of trust.

The kiss had the undeniable taste of happiness.

The kiss tasted of home.

Slowly, his doubts vanished as all he could think of, smell, taste and feel was her overwhelming presence in his arms.

In the beginning — in that morning — he hated the very idea of being mated to her, for he feared what could happen if he ever came to harm her. However, she had shown in that she was

He had hated himself.

He had hated his inner demon.

He regretted what the beast had him doing; what the beast did for him.

But no more.

Not even in a lifetime he would regret what his baser instincts led him to do. What his inner demon forced him to. And now, as he held his mate and thought of the thousands of ways he could make love to her — and thought of days to come, days in which he would hold his firstborn in his arms — he was somewhat grateful his demon took away his choice for him.

Rather: he was glad his mother took it upon himself to teach he was not a God a couple of years back and to teach him now that his pride, if uncontrolled, that is, could be his greatest enemy.

She taught him a lesson she learned a lifetime ago: what is the use of pride if they drive the ones we love most away?

I love you.

This time, neither of them were worried about who spoke the words, because besides truthful, neither were in doubt or ashamed of saying them.


A/N – Well… I'm done! And as I said before, that's it for today and forever in this fic, kids! xD

Weeeeellll…. I know this chapter is not what most of you expected. And that this ending is just sloppy… hehe… but I hope you have enjoyed it nonetheless. I think it helps to say that while I do enjoy realistic endings, I don't feel like writing them. I want happy endings and bunnies in my last chapters. I mean… my characters go through one hell of a ride, so they deserve a happily ever after, don't you think?

I want to say a few things about this ending, though… I know there are some plot holes… Again, this is a shortfic and if I were to explain everything in its details, I'd need a longfic xD So I'm counting on you to fill the gaps and imagine the scene of Sesshomaru escaping. I'd write this scene, I did write it, in fact, however, I thought about dedicating this chapter for our women (Rin, InuKimi, Michiko and Kaoru). I hope you did find their ending satisfying though.

I know some of you wanted a full battle scene between Rin and Kaoru, but I said Kaoru is a sweet demon before (irony totally intended hehe) and I also said Rin is weakened because of the mating ceremony. It would be unrealistic if she, a human (not as trained and strong as Sango or Kagome) in a weakened status could match and win a demoness — however untrained and unwilling to fight she was. And also, I wanted to show women can be strong no matter how skilled they are on the battleground. Most of us are brilliant and strong doing something else that are not related to fights. I hate when I see people diminishing female characters just because they are not physically strong. You don't have to hold a sword to be strong. There are thousands of female characters out there that can fight and are ridiculous all the same. Well… Hope you got my point. Although Rin is not the best of warriors, she is a skilled diplomat and she knows how to hold her ground against the Council pretty well, don't you think?

And I started a new fic. It's in its fourth chapter by now and it's called PS I'm (still not) over you. If you haven't read it yet, please do xD I think you'll like it. Unlike Mating Policies and Mirrored Pleasures, it's a longfic and there'll be many underplots and plot twists and, of course, romance!

That said, for everyone who accompanied this story — added to favorites, followers and reviewed. 130 reviews in 6 chapters for a new author in this category, guys you are absolutely AMAZING! — my biggest thank you. I love you very much and I have no words to express my gratitude. To those who took your time to review all chapters at once — you know who you are — you are the best. And I won't mention each of you from last chapter because I'm almost dying here and because I fear to leave someone behind, however, you are all in my heart — I don't have a mind this hour anymore xD. But thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you so much!

I saw some of you left me PM about this fic and PS, but I didn't have enough time to reply to them. I'm sorry, I think I'll be able to do it this week, though. Sorry, I'm not ignoring you, I'm just out of time xD

As for this final chapter… Would you mind reviewing it for me? I am already grateful for all of you who does.

PS: Should I add an epilogue? I'm not very sure if I should, I think the fic ended well on its on, but if you feel like it…

Take care and see you on PS I'm (still not) over you xD,

Velvetsins