Author's Note: Happy New Year everyone. I hope that this new year brings wonderful things for all of you.
Also, you will meet Sesshomaru's mother in this chapter. I have changed her personality to better fit with her role in the story, so there should be no confusion about how different her personality in this story and in the manga/ anime is. If there is, feel free to message me.
Reviewer Shout-out: Ankwhat, Nikkie23534, and Release Me
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Last Time on Mates to Lovers
We walked down the hallway until we reached a large room with tons of scrolls.
"This is the library. This was our father's favorite place in the whole palace. He loved to come here and read. I believe that, before he died, he was able to read every last scroll in this place. This is where he taught me how to read and write. Before you were born, all he talked about was bringing you here to teach you too." Sesshomaru explained.
"Whoa. Our old man must have been really excited for my mother and me to move in, huh?"
"Yes. I have never seen father so excited about anything other than when I was born. Would you like to see a painting of father?"
"Sure."
Sesshomaru moved over to a nearby wall and pulled the curtain string. The curtain separated to show a tall man with long white hair and armor similar to Sesshomaru.
"Wow. That's him?"
"Yes. You resemble him more than I do. I look like my mother, unfortunately." Sesshomaru said before moving to touch the painting. "I miss him. Despite us having our differences, he was a great father and leader. I have many regrets with him. But, there is nothing I can do about the past. I have moved on. It is just shameful that you will never get to meet him. You would've loved him as much as he loved you."
"He sounds like a great man. Thank you for showing this to me." InuYasha said softly.
Sesshomaru nodded before closing the curtain. Without a word, I followed him out of the library and to the garden. It was beautiful outside. There were pedals everywhere and the wind was gentle against my skin. The sun was shining brightly. Overall it was a beautiful scenery.
"InuYasha, tell me… how were you sealed to that tree all those years ago?"
"Why do you want to know that?" I asked.
"I tell you stories of our father, my mother, and even your mother. And yet, I never heard anything about you from you. So why don't you tell me a story for a change." Sesshomaru said before moving to sit under a tree.
"Alright. Well, you already know that I was alone in the world after my mother died. I spent the majority of my life fending for myself since I was not accepted anywhere. After years of living this kind of lifestyle, I learned not to trust anyone. That's when I met Kikyo. She was the high priestess of the village. We didn't get along at first but after a while, I soon fell for here. Little did I know that she was taking care of a man named Onigumo, or who you would recognize as Naraku. To separate us, Onigumo tricked both Kikyo and me by pretending to be both of us and attacking the other. I went to steal the Sacred Jewel after he attacked me as Kikyo. That's when the real Kikyo pinned me to the tree with an arrow before she died. That's where I stayed for 50 years until Kagome released me. And the rest is history."
"Hmm. So Naraku has been causing trouble longer than I thought."
"Yeah. He was a nasty son of a bitch. I'm glad he's gone."
"Agreed." Sesshomaru nodded. We stayed silent for a few moments. I was enjoying more of the scenery when Sesshomaru called out to me. "Would you like to learn how to read and write?"
"Are you offering to teach me?" I asked as I moved to sit next to him.
"I can only teach you on rare occasions, but I will bring someone here that will cater to your educational needs daily."
I was shocked by his offer. "Fine than. I'll learn how to properly read and write. Thank you for the opportunity."
Sesshomaru nodded. "Come. I need to teach you about The Mating Ritual." I got as close to him as possible while also giving him some space. He opened the scrolls and laid them in front of us. "The process is a very simple on. There are different outfits and traditions that need to take place in order for both participants to be ready when the time to mate comes. Usually, there are is not courting that happens because love is not present when two people become mates. The alpha can decide at any time to woo their beta, but that is for their own choosing. Before a beta is presented to their alpha, they must bath in the purest of scents and herbs. By doing that, they are washing away any sins and past deeds done in their past. These…" He said as he pointed to the pictures of different kimonos on the scroll. "are the traditional kimonos that we must wear for and after the ceremony."
"Ok, so what happens during the ceremony? And how do we become mates?" I asked.
"During the ceremony, a priest will read the traditional mating vows that we must uphold before we bite into each other's collarbone. Once that is over we return to my room where we will mate with each other for the first time. By doing this, we will be connecting our two demonic auras and souls together." He explained.
"Is that all?"
"Yes. There is nothing else required of either of us when this ceremony is complete."
"So it's basically like a wedding, right?" I questioned.
"In a sense yes. I guess you could say that this is a demon version of a human's wedding." He answered while rolling up the scrolls.
I nodded at him a few times. "So now what?"
"I would say that it is time for lunch. Gather the children and I will tell the cooks to ready our lunch." Sesshomaru said as he stood up.
"Ok." I stood up and watched him almost reach the door when I said something. "Sesshomaru?" He stopped and turned toward me. "Thank you for everything… I really appreciate it."
He nodded towards me before entering the palace. I sat on the ground for a little while longer, thinking about my future. I will soon be Sesshomaru's mate and my new life will begin soon. Was I ready for this? Will I ever be? Am I going to be truly happy with my new life? The answer to those questions will be discovered later, I suppose.
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Onto the Next Chapter
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Chapter 8: Wrath of InuKimi
Normal P.O.V.
"Try again Shippo" InuYasha called out.
"Ok!" Shippo said before crouching down.
In front of him was a mini group of butterflies. Shippo focused on one of the butterflies as he crouched a little further. Once he was ready, Shippo began to crawl along the ground. He steadied himself when he was close enough. And when he was ready, he pounced. He cupped his hands as he fell to the ground. He cracked one of his eyes open as he looked into his fisted hands.
"Papa! I caught one!" Shippo cheered as he ran towards InuYasha.
InuYasha looked inside of Shippo's hands and smiled when he say the butterfly. "Good job Shippo. You passed your final test." InuYasha smiled as he put his hand on Shippo's head.
"Final lesson? You mean, you won't be training me anymore?"
"I'll still train with you, but there is nothing else for me to teach you."
Shippo was about to open his mouth when someone called out to them.
"Papa! Shippo!" Both InuYasha and Shippo turned to see Rin running towards them with Sesshomaru and Jaken trailing behind. "Shippo. Are you done training yet? I'm ready to play."
"Yeah he's done. Go have fun."
"But papa~"
InuYasha squatted until he was at Shippo's height. "We'll talk more about it later, kid. Go have fun for now." He smiled as he tussled Shippo's hair.
Shippo nodded before following Rin.
"Jaken, go with them. You are in charge." Sesshomaru commanded. Jaken was about to protest but Sesshomaru's glare put a stop to it. When Jaken and the kids were out of earshot, Sesshomaru spoke. "What is the matter?"
"Shippo passed his last test." InuYasha sighed.
"I do not see where the problem lies."
"I've run out of lessons to teach him. I could only teach him the basics of how to survive. He's a fox demon. He needs help with his fox magic and all that other stuff. Stuff that I can't help him with." InuYasha sighed again as he rubbed his hand over his face. "What do you think I should do?"
"You are letting me help you decide what happens to your son?" Sesshomaru asked with one of his eyebrows raised.
"Well yeah. I mean we're going to be mated pretty soon. It only makes sense that you have just as much say so with the kids as I do." InuYasha informed with his arms crossed in his sleeves.
Sesshomaru nodded. "I will start looking for a trainer for him. I am sure you would want someone to train him in the palace instead of sending him away. The separation would not be good for any of us, no?"
"You would do that for him?"
"I'm doing it for all of us. I said that I would like to be a part of their lives as well. I will do what's best for everyone." Sesshomaru explained.
"He's going to be excited to hear that."
InuYasha was about to call out the Shippo when Sesshomaru stopped him. "Let them play. We'll tell him at dinner. Come. Walk with me around the garden."
InuYasha nodded before they began to walk around the garden. The children were playing with Jaken. Birds were chirping. Butterflies were fluttering around without a care in the world. InuYasha and Sesshomaru were in the middle of a conversation when Sesshomaru suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?" InuYasha asked.
"Do you sense that?"
InuYasha closed his eyes and focused his senses one a new presence. "What the hell is that?"
"Gather the children." Sesshomaru said as he moved to the center of the garden.
"Shippo! Rin! Get behind me!" InuYasha called out.
A strong wind picked up and began to blow within the garden. Everyone's hair whipped around violently as the wind picked up. The kids ran as fast as they could. When they reached InuYasha, he bent down and wrapped his arms around them.
"What's going on Sesshomaru?!"
Sesshomaru didn't answer him. Instead he focused on the presence that was falling out of the sky. The glare on Sesshomaru's face told InuYasha that whoever was coming was someone Sesshomaru greatly despised.
After a few moments, a lady standing on a cloud began to descend into the garden. From what InuYasha could see, she looked just like Sesshomaru with her hair tied into two ponytails. Using this, InuYasha could guess that it was Sesshomaru's mother. When she landed, the wind died down, but the atmosphere was thick and tense.
"Sesshomaru…"
"Mother… Is there a reason you have come here?"
"Yes, I have my reason. I am very disappointed in you, son. I have heard that you have a mate now. Is this true?"
"What business is it of yours?" Sesshomaru glared harder.
"You are my son. Everything you do is my business. Now tell me, do you have a mate?"
"… Yes…"
"And is your mate that half-breed over there?" She asked.
"Yes. That is InuYasha, my half-brother." Sesshomaru answered.
She looked over to observe InuYasha. "So, you're the son of that bitch who stole my mate. Interesting…"
"Hey, you watch your mouth! You WILL NOT talk about my mother that way!" InuYasha growled.
"You have your father's spirit." She said before turning to Sesshomaru. "And you have his personality. Turing traitor on your own family and kind. How sad. I blame him for your corruption."
"What are you babbling on about now, mother?" Sesshomaru glared harder.
"First you adopt the young human girl. Now, you have decided to mate with a half-breed. All for what? To keep your throne? Oh Sesshomaru, why didn't you pick someone from our side of the family? There are plenty of inu daiyōkai that would make a better mate than the son of a human whore."
"Alright, that's it! I've had just about enough of your shit lady! I'm going to shut you up right now!" InuYasha yelled as he pulled out Tessaiga.
"How rude! You will address me by Lady InuKimi, half-breed." She glared.
"It won't matter when I chop you into little pieces what the hell I call you! Just know that you're dead!" InuYasha growled before running towards her.
He swung Tessaiga, but she disappeared. Confused, InuYasha looked around.
"You're a bad puppy. Looks like I'll have to put you down." InuKimi growled before summoning her Poison Whip.
She whipped it at InuYasha but he jumped out of the way. She came at him again. This time, InuYasha was on the defensive. She kept using her whip to strike him. InuYasha used Tessaiga to protect him, but there were some times where he was hit along his sides. InuYasha hissed when she struck him on his sides. When his right knee buckled under him, she used her whip to wrap around Tessaiga. With all of his strength, InuYasha tried to hang on but it ended up being flung out of his hands.
"I've got you now, half-breed." InuKimi smirked as she moved towards him. She was about to strike when Sesshomaru appeared and grabbed her by her hand. "Sesshomaru, you will unhand me right this instant."
Sesshomaru glared as he pushed her back. "You will not lay a hand on my mate, mother."
"How dare you speak to me in that tone. I am only trying to do what is best. If you mate with this half-breed, you will bring shame upon your name, these lands and our family. Do you not care about any of that?"
"It's time for you to go, mother." Sesshomaru ordered.
She scoffed before shaking her head. "Mark my words, son. I will be back to right all of your wrongs. Starting with that miserable half-breed." InuKimi said before summoning her cloud and disappearing.
"Papa!" Shippo and Rin yelled as they ran over to InuYasha.
"Are you alright?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Yeah I'm fine. No real damage. Man, your mom is such a bitch no offense." InuYasha said as he put Tessaiga back in its sheath.
"I am sorry for all of that. I promise that it will not happen again." Sesshomaru said before walking away.
Confused by what just happened, InuYasha figured that Sesshomaru needed to be left alone. For the rest of the day, InuYasha stayed with the kids so Sesshomaru could have some space. Tomorrow, InuYasha would try and talk to Sesshomaru about what happened today. But for now, space is what everyone needs right now.
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To Be Continued…
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Next Time on Mates to Lovers
The mating ritual
