A/N: Some regular reviewers to thank: blackdame, Taraah36, Esha Napoleon, ILoveInuyasha4Eva, and xxdarienchibaloverxx. Also, thank you to all those that have added this or its author to your lists. Okay, there still seems to be some confusion about Harou and Kai. They are new characters to the series. Remember, this is a previously written story so their appearance is sudden. They were an important part of the plot so it was easier to include them then to try to work around them. If you still have questions about them, either make sure your PM function is enabled so I can message you back or go check out my profile, I've added some character descriptions for them.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al.
Family Reunion
Ch. 8
Kagome was once again with her mother when she got the council summons three days later. Curious as to why her presence was even needed, she quietly sent a query to her brother-in-law. "Kagome-chan?"
"Everything's okay, I think. About two hundred years ago Sesshoumaru established a council of humans and demons to oversee the blending of the two races. He and a representative for the government are the chairmen while an equal number of humans and youkai reside on it. There is always one half demon on the counsel as a swing vote just in case a stalemate occurs. Inuyasha served in that position until about twenty years ago. Ai, the youngest of the children from Horai Island, now has it. Anyway, a meeting has been called and I've been told my presence is needed. I haven't served on it in over a hundred years."
"There's no need to explain, dear. You go if you have to. Tell Inuyasha I said hello."
"Thank you, Mama, I will."
Arriving at the council chambers, Kagome was surprised to find her whole family there. Shippou was dressed in formal wear, something he'd always had to be forced into since he was a child, as was her husband. Father and son stood silently next to each other, the auburn hair contrasting sharply with silver-white. They were of a similar height although Shippou's full demon blood had given him a centimeter or two advantage.
Since Shippou was a member it didn't surprise her that he was here and while Inuyasha was no longer sitting as the tie breaker, it wasn't too shocking for him to be hanging around for moral support either. However, his state of dress was. Like his adopted son, the half dog demon didn't dress up if he could help it. "Anata?"
"Harou attacked Yuki. He's being tried for treason although there's no doubting the outcome. Sesshoumaru made it a law a long time ago about what would happen if anyone harmed his children. Once the judiciary panel is done, everyone will bear witness to his fate."
"Is she all right?"
"Yes, I have a feeling she did more damage to him when she used her poison claws than when he struck her. Best go put on your priestess' clothing, Kagome," he finished, handing her the white and red outfit. Kagome nodded, accepting the clothes. She joined Miroku and some of his students after changing. Those with spiritual powers would be charged with carrying out the punishment unless there were special circumstances. Sango stood next to her husband, Hiraikotsu leaning up against one of her students. Still early in her pregnancy, the demon slayer was allowed to pick up the weapon for limit amounts of time.
When they were called into the room, Kagome's eyes were drawn to her brother and sister-in-law. The royal couple stood flanked by their children. Shiro, a replica of his father except for the ears, stood tall next to the demon king. Yuki held her mother's hand and the miko couldn't tell who was supporting whom. Kohaku and Rin weren't present and she could only assume it was because they couldn't get away from their respective jobs at the moment. It would have looked odd if every Taisho clan member took off without explanation. Akiyo wasn't present either but that was because he was in school and too young to be attending something like this anyway. Kai Nakamura, a close friend of Shiro's stood next to the crown prince, ridged in the face of what was to come.
The Taisho pack took their places and waited for the final judgment. "Begin," Sesshoumaru ordered. What little patience he'd managed to collect over the centuries was at an end.
"Harou Kenji, you have been charged with treason for assaulting the royal youkai princess Yukitenshi Taisho. As this is purely a youkai issue, the humans of this panel have deemed it up to the demons what punishment you shall receive." An older woman lowered her glasses and stared at the young dog demon in disgust.
Her youkai counterpart next to her cleared her throat, of an equal opinion. "Hitting a woman is never acceptable, Kenji-san. You understand that striking one of the royal children is considered treasonous. Others have given eye-witness testimony, as has Princess Yukitenshi herself. Therefore, you are found guilty of treason. Stand," the earth demon said.
"There was never any doubt, was there?" Harou sneered. "I was found guilty before I ever set foot in this room."
"Silence!" one of the male demons demanded. He was a wolf elder of Kouga's tribe. "Your punishment is to die. However, as a challenge fight had already been scheduled, you shall have your chosen method of death should you win in honorable combat." His eyes drifted to the demon emperor. "Is that acceptable Lord Sesshoumaru?"
"Indeed. Harou Kenji and Kaimu Nakamura will fight each other. Prepare the chamber."
Kagome gripped Inuyasha's hand tightly. As many times as she had seen similar sentences over the years, she could never get used to them. She understood the necessity, the need to protect the world from youkai who would harm humans and weaker demons but in her heart, she never wanted anyone to die. "Shippou, take your mother home."
"No, I'm okay," the priestess protested.
"Kagome, none of the pregnant women are staying, not even nee-san. It's too dangerous. This is one condition Sesshoumaru won't budge on."
"Then have Shippou stay. I'll go with Sango back to the shrine."
Sesshoumaru came alongside him, Azami next to him. "Take Azami as well," he said, briefly placing his hand on her stomach. He watched with narrow eyes as three women of his pack left. Satisfied that they and their unborn pups would be safe, he returned his attention to the problem at hand.
Kagome arrived at the shrine in time to meet Souta coming home from school. "Nee-chan?"
"Hello, Souta. I'd like to introduce you to Sango and Azami."
"Sango…Sango…oh! My ancient weapons instructor. Cool!"
"Do me a favor, Souta-kun. Can you carry this up to the shrine for me?" the demon slayer asked, pulling her bone boomerang out of the back of the SUV they'd driven in. It would be interesting to see if he had the strength.
"Sure, sensei. I hope you don't want Gramps to seal it away though."
"Seal it?"
"This is Hiraikotsu, isn't it? A demon bone boomerang."
"That's correct, and no, I don't. Hiraikotsu and I understand each other very well. I can tell that you're going to be a very good student. Besides, if I need anything sealed, I'll ask my husband or your sister."
"That's good because Gramps doesn't have an ounce of power." The women watched in amusement as Souta struggled with the weapon up the stairs. Mama was outside sweeping when they made it to the top. She smiled brightly until she saw the boomerang.
"Kagome, Sango?"
"It's all right, Mama. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru wanted us to leave before the fight. This is Azami, nii-san's wife. She's going to have a baby too."
"Azami-chan, how nice to meet you." The partial faerie blinked back tears when Mama embraced her.
"Lady Izayoi," she murmured before fainting.
"Oh, my, that isn't good," Mama said softly before motioning to her son. "Souta, take her up to Kagome's old room. Kagome, send for a doctor and Sango, get a glass of water and a damp cloth." The children did as they were bid, not even bothering to ask questions.
Azami roused in time to see a doctor that she didn't recognize place a stethoscope against her chest. "Who…?"
"Ah, Taisho-san, I'm glad to see that you're awake. I'm Dr. Wong. Kagome-chan tells me that you fainted. That can happen when you're pregnant."
"Yes, I know. This little one doesn't like surprises. Higurashi-san reminded me of someone."
"That's perfectly understandable. My recommendation is to keep quiet the rest of the day. If these spells continue, I want you to go see your doctor immediately."
"Yes, thank you, Doctor." She lay calmly and still while the doctor finished his exam, waiting until he'd left before rising. Silently she drank the water on the bedside stand, looking around her sister-in-law's room.
Going downstairs, Azami found the others in the kitchen drinking tea. Mama refilled the water glass while getting the demon queen a cup. "I apologize, Higurashi-san, for fainting at the sight of you. I…"
"Don't be silly, dear. Kagome told me. You aren't the first to believe that I'm Izayoi-sama's reincarnation. Inuyasha believes that too, something about my attachment to his ears."
"None since she has added 'chan' to my name. Not even my mentor Satsuki-sama."
"Satsuki-sama?"
"She was a clan elder that was essentially my governess and confidante."
"She sounds like a very interesting lady."
"Lady Satsuki was the oldest clan elder we had. She died during World War II trying to save youkai from the bombings." The three mothers bowed their head in remembrance.
"Not even demons would be safe against bullets and bombs. You learned that the night Inuyasha got hurt saving you."
"I know, Mama, but she did save a great many lives."
Azami finished off the second glass of water and went on to her tea. "Kagome told me a great deal about you, Higurashi-san. I wanted to thank you for raising such an amazing daughter. Her ability to love and accept others who are different makes her cherished by nearly every youkai in Japan. Those that remember her from the Feudal Era simply adore her."
Mama nodded her acceptance but didn't speak. Patting her daughter's hand, she drank her tea. After putting her cup down, she opened her mouth. "I cannot take all the credit. She did a lot of growing up her fifteenth year, with her friends."
"Quests can do that."
"I could do nothing less. I was responsible for the jewel breaking."
"Nonsense, dear. How were you supposed to know what would happen when you shot that arrow?" Kagome conceded her mother the point with a nod. It amazed her that her mother could still be wiser than she was. "So, my dears, what happened that your husbands sent you away? I can't think they'd believe you too delicate for anything they might say or do."
Azami finished her tea before answering. "You are correct, Higurashi-san. However, there is one thing my husband will not allow any woman to attend if she is pregnant whether she is human or demon and that is a challenge or suitor fight between youkai."
"Fight?"
Sango nodded and stood to place their cups in the sink. She would do them later. "Demon slayers first learned of these fights during the Feudal Era. If a female youkai has more than one potential mate, and she has not picked one outright or a male can show just cause for objecting, then the two males may challenge each other to a fight. The winner of the fight has exclusive rights to the female unless she rejects him."
"Sounds utterly barbaric."
"Yes, in a way it is," her daughter agreed.
"Many youkai marriages, which are called mateships, are political arrangements even today. That means there is no love between mates and the alliance only lasts as long as it takes for an heir to reach approximately fifty humans years of age. That is why a challenger can rightfully object. If the challenger is the true mate of the female, he has the right to fight for the woman he's meant to be with. Otherwise, insanity often kills the male whose mate is lost to him."
"You see, Mama, if a youkai of lower rank can show that he not only loves the woman but can also protect her, then there is no reason that can be used to deny the two a happy mateship. A mateship of true love instead of one of convenience."
"I see." Azami tilted her head and looked at Mama. The strange thing was, she actually did understand, the lady mused. "My Kagome and you were lucky enough to find such men, ne?"
"Yes, Higurashi-san. We had some trouble at the start but loved pulled us through."
"It always does." Smiling knowingly, Mama patted her daughter's hand. "The start of any relationship has its ups and downs, right, Kagome?"
"Especially its downs," Sango snickered.
"At least on otouto's part," Azami ribbed. They watched Kagome blush in embarrassment.
"Poor Inuyasha-kun," Mama sighed, laughter in her voice.
"Mama!"
