Cycle of Mating
Summary: On the first day of the mating season, every demon and half-demon must go out into the world and find their future mate. It's been a tradition passed through species for thousands of years. Now the humans are more openly involved in certain mating's. Including the almighty Sesshomaru, prince of the Western Lands. During the next few months of the mating season, both him and his human mate must go through the trials and the forces of the demon council. Consequences are dire to them both if neither goes through with what was destined for them. The question is, will Sesshomaru give up everything to get out of having a human mate? Or will he just accept it?
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha Characters.
"…" as for talking.
"…" as for thoughts for both humans and demons.
Italic: flashbacks, letters and dreams.
Bold: demon's instinct or demons talking to each other.
Bold/Italic:Demon language, humans do not understand. (Will be explained later on)
Chapter Fourteen: Consequences
"Ahh Rin, I see the lovely Lady Sienna has wasted absolutely no time to meet you."
Izayoi joined shortly after Sienna's introduction. Sienna knew it was her time to disappear for a while, she needed to talk to Inu Taisho before continuing her examination on Rin. Her time with Rin was critical, she needed to be completely alone with her, the first few hours of meeting destined mates were crucial. During that time trust would be built.
Sienna truly just wanted Rin alone to discuss the vision she caught a quick glance at. She wanted to see how open Rin would become with them being alone, just the two of them. There were pieces of Rin's past that intrigued Sienna, she wanted to learn more to why this human girl mind was clouded with dark memories. But the connection the two have made so early on interested her.
Surely neither of the two would ever admit it in front of each other. From what she witnessed from Rin with Sesshomaru around, she was obedient, but she sensed a bit of disobedience from her as well. It could only mean Sesshomaru has already requested, no demanded for the girl to submit to him and she's held her ground. Sienna could feel Rin's emotions even with being five feet away from her. She watched as they approached her in the beginning, there was an awkward tension between the two, not to mention, she felt Rin's nervousness.
But she also could see that the dog demon was the reason behind Rin's glow. He ignited her and she enticed him.
This would be the best choice the council has made for the dog demon.
It wasn't long before Izayoi's presence became too much for Sesshomaru, he growled before transporting to his balcony in a white orb. Sienna knew she had too gotten under his skin and she loved it. Although it was never her true intention to create a scene or to enrage him in anyway. But the irony was too great to resist. And to know that he had let his guard down and kissed his human mate interested her further.
Rin allowed her to see what she wanted, she only saw the kiss, not the reason behind or the actions that lead up to it.
Her abilities have evolved immensely since she became an elder, although she was able to look into other minds before the council made her an elder, to be able to feel everything her victim felt changed. At one point she used to only be able to open short channels into one's mind and the connection could only be held open for so long. Feeling others emotions drained her and almost killed her.
Now she could keep any channel open for as long as she wanted, of course like all demons, using a certain ability for a long time, drained her and also left her vulnerable. Leaving herself open put her at risk of others channeling in her own mind. That has only happened once before Rin and Sienna swore to never allow it to happen again. Until now.
Her curiosity sparked to learn how Rin broke her barrier and channeled her mind while under Sienna's control. She would find out soon enough.
The power to feel others emotion came from the council when they added her, they cursed her with this power.
Since once upon a time she ignored the council and abandoned her duties as a princess. She left to be with her human lover and when the council found out, her human lover died, not before forcing Sienna to feel every ounce of his pain up to his death. Now Sienna used her curse to evaluate pairs.
"This has been the first time I have ever been able to truly smiled and really mean it." Sienna remembered the last thought Rin said to herself before the channel closed. She was referring to the kiss. There was no doubt about that.
"This girl, I can see a definite future for her. I can tell the young lord has softened since meeting this girl, what power does she hold over him? Attraction, love, perhaps wisdom?" Sienna disapproved if Inu Taisho's choosing for a future lord, his own son. She felt it was wrong to use the girl to get what they wanted from him. No human nor demon should be used as a ploy in a game between the council members. "Sesshomaru has never shown emotions to anyone since his parents separated. He's kept everything bottled up and soon ignored them all together. Now this girl has walked into his life and sparked something in him too. I'm intrigued to see how this turns out."
Sienna smiled and blew a kiss to everyone as black smoke begun to surround her and within seconds she disappeared with the smoke dissipating as well. With Sienna gone, that left Izayoi alone with Rin, who was shocked to see Sesshomaru just leave her there.
When word came that Sienna was gracing the estate with her presence, Izayoi became concerned for both of the girls. Sienna was no threat, she kept herself mutual in the council decision. Although she was nowhere near mutual when they removed Sookie's mark and allowed Inu Taisho to mark Izayoi. Though she understood the council had great respect for Sookie and had known her since her birth. Any-who, Izayoi knew Sienna grew particularly close to certain people. She knew if Sienna has surfaced this soon, so would the other council members and that worried her.
She knew Sienna was only a decoy, sure her approval sparked the council's interested in each pair, but she knew it was only a matter of time before Auzume and Nayru followed.
Through Izayoi's experience, Nayru was the hardest member to impress, her thoughts and views on how future mates act to one another goes back centuries. But she also could see through people's deceit, so her thoughts on this mating between Rin and Sesshomaru would surely spark interest in her. There was no doubt in her mind that Nayru wouldn't come to love Rin, but to truly agree with her mating with Sesshomaru. The pair would have to put on one hell of a show to convince her.
Nayru's decision affected the entire council. Her decision was final, no matter what the other members of the council believed.
Izayoi's main concern wasn't any of the female members, but the other male council members. Ryuu and Bonseiga made her uncomfortable for Rin and Kagome in the later future.
Ryuu, the younger brother to Inu Taisho and commander of the wester army. He shared something similar with Sesshomaru beside their blood line, but their hatred for humans. He had come to accept them, but never learned to respect them. They were useless beings to him, nothing could come from their species, other than their death.
Bonseiga, he was far different from the two brothers. He grew so much hatred for Sesshomaru ever since he denied his daughter in front of everyone years ago after they hooked up a few times. Sesshomaru broke his daughters heart and now he wanted nothing more than to break Sesshomaru's.
She knew Bonseiga would do anything to destroy Sesshomaru's mating with Rin just to be spiteful and avenge his daughters broken heart. His reward is to watch Sesshomaru suffer. His decision would cause problems for the council, but if Rin wowed the rest of them, Bonseiga's decision would be overridden.
After everyone parted ways, Izayoi decided to take Rin to her study to discuss some things she should know about Sienna.
In the east wing of the estate, Izayoi had her very own study, she led Rin through a pair of oak doors, she hoped Kagome got her message and met her there. To her surprise Kagome was sitting on the window seat staring out the window. Izayoi's study overlooked the driveway.
"Izayoi who was that woman?" Kagome asked, her voice a bit shaken. Rin knew whom she meant.
She sat down in one of the recliners in the middle of the room. Rin followed, but when Kagome got up from the window, Rin sat down with her knees to her chest, making herself comfortable. Rin had much on her mind and no time to really think to herself. "Her name is Sienna; she is one of the seven elders. She has come to evaluate both of you."
"The mating season has barely started, isn't it early to be meeting the elders I thought we won't meet them for at least a few months?" Kagome asked, she too curious as to why Sienna has decided to show up now.
Izayoi nodded her head, "Sienna has emerged earlier than plan, that only means the others are soon to follow." Rin's mind was all over the place, she barely paid attention. "She's the first of the seven elders you will meet with Although you've already met Inu Taisho, you'll still meet with him under certain circumstances." Izayoi glanced over at Rin, her head was turned to the window, her arms wrapped across her chest. "Sienna determines whether your mentally or even emotionally capable of being mated, and since Inuyasha and Sesshomaru are of royal bloodline, you will be evaluated rather closely."
"It's strikes me weird that she has come now. A week is not enough time to connect…"
"That is not why she is here. Her job is to make sure your healthy, your progress in your mating will be evaluated as to how well it's going. But her main job is your evaluation."
"She's very interesting." Rin stated out the blue. She paid little attention to her friend and Izayoi. In the five minutes she was in Sienna's presence, she learned Sienna was very opinionated, but seemed sincerely genuine. "She's not afraid to voice her opinion, but she was genuine."
Kagome scoffed, "How can you know that, you only just met her? She's a demon, they are very good at deceiving and putting on an act." Kagome didn't believe after one meeting with this woman, that Rin would know she's genuine.
Rin looked away from the group, she began withdrawing herself from the two. She glared at the garden and trees, "I just know…" She then glanced down at her necklace and took it into her hands, it glowed pure white once again, "her aura was pure."
"Lady Sienna is someone you should not seem threatened by. She is not your enemy. Her job is to evaluate everyone and make sure everyone is in this for the right reasons, aside from being chosen for this world." Izayoi explained, "Your mental health as well as emotional and physical health will be determined during this process with her. Any self-infliction or mating mark of another man will come to light and they will know your darkest secrets."
Kagome's eyes shot open in shock, "Physical examination, you don't mean like a pap smear?"
"That's one way of putting it. But it's deeper than that."
Rin pulled her knees to her chest and buried her head into her arms. She shrunk in her spot, she hated showing her body, especially the scars she would be questioned about.
Kagome knew the physical would be the hardest for Rin. Rin had no problem discussing her parent's death, but to show her part in it depressed her. Her friends have only seen her scars a few times when Rin was careless and undressed directly in front of them. When they question her about it, she'd cover up and ignore the subject all together. "Rin?"
Izayoi watched Rin curl into a ball in the window seal, what could possibly be troubling the girl. She knew she had a dark past, but not proof of it. "Is everything alright Rin?"
Rin nodded, it was slow and hesitant. "I'm just uncomfortable showing the scars of my past."
Grand Hall
"It hasn't been a week yet and you've already showing your face?" Inu Taisho stated as he signed off on a shipment that just came in. He didn't even try to make eye contact. Somehow Sienna always knew what he was thinking before he even opened his mouth. "To what do we owe this honor?"
Sienna giggled, she stepped out of the shadows. Her presence today was to make sure the sons of the great Inu Taisho were doing what they needed to. Connect with their mates. "That girl is very interesting." She said as she came walking slowly to his desk. Her hand waving in the air, swirling a black ball of smoke around her fingers.
"Rin?" Sienna only nodded. He dropped his pen and looked up to her, "You've already introduced yourself to both of the girls? Why? This is your normal protocol, what happened to shadowing them then introducing yourself later?"
She cleared her throat, "First off, I'm allowed to switch things up, according to my own preference. Secondly, I have yet to meet your youngest son's mate. I just so happened to run into Rin in the drive way, it'd be rude for me not to introduce myself." Sienna smiled, "It was only right for me to say hello." She tapped her free index finger on her cheek while looking to the ceiling. "Sesshomaru didn't think so though."
Inu Taisho knew that Sienna was up to something. This playful act was only a distraction. "What are you planning Sienna? You cannot compromise my son's connections for your own agenda."
"Who said I had an agenda, not me?" She decided to take a seat, crossing her legs, she cleared her throat once more. There was much to be discussed about her findings, "Say Inu Taisho, were you aware that Sesshomaru has planted an Ownership Mark on that poor girl? It's at least a few days fresh."
Inu Taisho growled, why hadn't he realized it? Why has he not smelled the change on Rin? From the disgruntled look on his face, Sienna could tell he knew nothing about it. But knew he'd pretend he had. "I've been aware they were growing closer, I could sense it, better yet smell it."
"I do not doubt their connection is strong." Sienna said, but she clenched her hair as she spat the next sentence out form her mouth, "I do however doubt his agenda toward her."
"You've already evaluated her mental state?"
Sienna only nodded, "Only a small fragment. Only what she allowed me to see and let's just say that girl will prove herself to be a great mate. But will he?"
"You dare insult my son." Inu Taisho growled, Sienna was walking on thin ice.
"I dare speak the truth." Sienna spat back, Inu Taisho of course would defend his son, but who would defend the girl of this demon lord that will only one day break her heart. "Did you or did you not tell Sesshomaru that he' lose his inheritance and his role as future lord of the west if he didn't corporate with mating to that girl?" Inu Taisho remained silent, knowing if Sienna reached over and grabbed his arm, she would surely be able to see the truth. "I thought so, that being said, Rin may be a tool in your game to punish your son, however this mating may just work. Your son has shown improvement."
He braced himself, he couldn't possibly understand what Sienna spoke of. But of course even he didn't know that Rin had been marked this entire time. "How so?"
"You know the rules; I will not reveal anything that girl has shown me. I will only say this," she rose from her chair, "she is falling in love with your son and he too is growing feelings for her, whether he accepts it or not."
"You know this how?" He asked, but Sienna remained silent, "Did you really only come here to tease my curiosity?"
Sienna shook her head with a smile, "No, I've come to tell you if this blows up in your face, that girls pain will be on you!" She headed toward the door before whispering one last thing that Inu Taisho barely caught. "Much like Sookie's pain was on you many years ago."
He knew she only said that to hurt him.
"You cannot possibly understand the depth of her emotions and how she feels. No she's not at the point of saying 'I love you', but she has feelings for the young lord and the truth will only hurt her." Sienna spoke to herself as she disappeared.
Inu Taisho only sat there with much on his own mind. He didn't know how to take Sienna's news, she barley said anything to him, yet he felt like she just spoke a whole book to him. What bothered him the most was her interpretation of Rin's memories and mind. What could she have meant by Rin is falling in love with Sesshomaru? It's only been a week; they haven't spent enough time for her to be catching feelings.
Izayoi's Study
"My parents we murdered eleven years ago and the night they died, I suffered critical wounds as well." Rin finally spoke, she has never told the full story of her parent's murder to anyone other than her best friends. "I hate admitting that these scars of my past still bother me."
She held back her tears and rubbed her knees as she continued. She found herself rocking back and forth subconsciously, "I watched my mother's life disappear as she died and the despicable vermin that murdered her came after me while I hid in the closet. Although they never found me, one managed to cut me deeply on my waist, deep enough to admit me into the hospital for a few days."
Flashback
Three days came and gone. The shaken and scared child laid still inside the closet with her head buried between her knees.
The dark absorbed the mood of the room. Two loving bodies laid lifeless in a bedroom drenched with blood, tarnished with destruction. They just laid there. Rin could see her mother's face from a crack behind the boxes. She heard her take one last breath right before she accepted her death. Trying hard not to look, she covered her face, but she couldn't help but keep her eyes on the closet doors incase those men came back to hurt her.
Rin remembered her mother's last words to her before she walked out to her death. Stay hidden in the closet, don't come out she said. She would obey until the day she died, while shouldn't be too long, since she's lost quite the amount of blood.
Time turned slowly, one hour turned to two and eventually three days went by. Rin rocked back and forth, her lips were cold, pretty sure they were pale. Her stomach was nonstop growling from hunger. Death couldn't come quicker for her. She was ready to be with her parents again. Tears poured down her face, whispering sweet nothings to get her by.
"Momma, papa…I'm cold, I miss you." She cried, she couldn't handle not being able to hug her parents. No child should suffer the pain of watching them die.
A familiar voice rang through the halls of her family home. She was certain she knew whom it belonged to, but was uncertain if it was a trick. Demons played tricks all the time, they could manipulate you. She feared the men would come back and finish what they started while pretending to be someone she knew. She couldn't trust her ears. In retaliation, she grabbed the sharpest thing near her to protect herself. A pen.
"Please just go away." Rin whispered as tears poured out of her eyes and onto the carpet.
"Mileena?"
After hearing the woman's voice and a blood curling scream following, she knew it had to be her aunt. After a minute the screaming stopped. The sound of footsteps heading toward the closet frightened the girl. She clenched tight to the pen in her right hand while keeping a firm hold on her left side with her left hand.
The boxes shifted and some thrown to the ground. A soft sigh of relief escaped her aunt's mouth. "Rin… there you are sweetie!" Mimi dropped to the ground in tears, the little girl looked up and jumped into her aunt's arms. The pen dropped from her hand.
Like a monsoon, both the little girl and her aunt cried. Rin didn't even realize as soon as she jumped into her aunt's arms her wound had reopened. At that very moment all she knew was she was safe.
Mimi gripped her niece tighter to her body and let her tears downpour. With the bloodshed in the bedroom and the look on Rin's face, she could only imagine what occurred. She rocked the small girl in her arms and whispered in her ear, "It's going to be okay Rinny. I promise you, it'll be okay!"
She was now considered an orphan. Sure Mimi would take her into her home, but Rin will now grow up without the two people that meant the world to her.
"Aunt Mimi, it h-hurts…" She whispered faintly, as she slowly succumbed to her wounds. Her lips were incredibly pale and her skin felt cold. Mimi panicked, she didn't understand what she was talking about. That is until she noticed the wet cloth soaked with blood. She looked around and noticed she was sitting in a small puddle of blood. It never occurred to her that her niece too suffered injuries.
"KANE! I NEED HELP!" Mimi screamed in the mist of her tears. She cradled her niece's body in her arms and ran out of the room in search of her husband.
At that moment, her mate came running into the room with his phone in his hand. He had been calling the police when he heard his mates scream. "The authorities are a few minutes out… what happened?"
"She fainted, there's so much blood."
Within minutes the house was surrounded by five police cards and three ambulances. Mimi knew it was too late to save her sister and brother-in-law., but not late to help her niece. When the medics came rushing into the house with gurney's, Mimi informed them of the scene. She laid Rin down on one, brushing her hair out of her face. "She said nothing, only that it hurts and then she fainted. I di-didn't notice anything at all." Mimi cried as the medics attempted CPR on Rin in front of her. Her pulse was low, but there.
"Ma'am were going to need you to stand behind the perimeter tape. This is a crime scene."
Mimi obeyed, she followed the paramedics outside to see what was being done about Rin. They stripped her of her clothing to get a better look. An inch and half cut went across her waist. Blood still gushing out of the wound, but they managed to control it.
A tall man dressed in a black uniform walked over to the ambulance. He had a clip board and pen in his hand. He took off his hat as he dropped his head. "Ma'am, my name is Officer Osaka, can you tell me how familiar you are with the owners of this home?"
"The woman Mileena is my sister, and that's her mate Crestafallen." Mimi sniffled as she held Rin's hand. "This is their daughter Rin."
The man nodded as he jotted a few things down. "I assume she was here during the attack?" Mimi simply nodded, "Such a terrible thing to witness. I am very sorry for your loss Ms…"
"Sanako, Mimi Sanako."
"Mrs. Sanako, can you tell me the last time you talked to your sister or even seen her?" The officer asked all of the necessary questions needed to complete his investigation.
Mimi started to think back. She spoke to Mileena three days prior, right before her appointment with her doctor. "I believe about three days ago. My sister was six months pregnant. I called her that morning before her doctor's appointment. Maybe around nine."
"I hate to ask this Mrs. Sanako, but it's standard policy," he stated, Mimi knew what he was going to ask, "we've estimated Mileena and Crestafallen death to have occurred around 10 pm, three days ago, where were you between the time of the attack and the moment you found their bodies?"
Mimi cried, she knew they were just following policy, but to think that they would question if she committed the crime. "My mate Kane and I have been at the hot springs for over a week. We were celebrating our anniversary. I can give you the address and the springs managers information to validate my story."
He nodded. The medics started to say something that motioned the detective to pause his investigation. "Officer Osaka, this girl needs to go to the hospital now. Her wounds are critical."
"Oh my god…Rinny!" Mimi held her hand for a minute before the driver helped her into the vehicle.
Three hours later…
After rushing to the hospital, Rin was placed on a large bolus of fluids and an IV of meds, the doctors finally got the bleeding to stop. They ran a few tests and made precautions to make sure the girl didn't suffer from infection or aa disease from the demon. Mimi waited beside Rin, hoping she would wake up soon.
A woman in a white trench coat walked into the room, her heels clicked as she entered. Mimi who looked drained, lifted her head from her niece's bedside. Kane had just left to get her some coffee and food. "Mrs. Sanako, my name is Namine Raidon, I will be your niece's primary doctor while she's here." She reached out to shake her hand. Mimi accept the gesture. "I would like to admit her for the next night or two. Her wounds were extensive, but we managed to stop the bleeding. I ran a few tests, since it was demons that caused this damage, we wanted to make sure she didn't become infected with a disease or something they would transfer to her."
"Will she be okay?" Mimi whispered, her voice cracked with every word. She was lost, her sister dead and now her niece. So much pain caused in one night.
"Thankfully she has obtained no diseases, her blood work looked great. She has a slight infection, but that will go down with the meds we have her on. Right now we have her on a sedative to allow her to sleep. She is very dehydrated." Namine walked over to Rin's beside and looked at the fluid rate and checked her vitals. "She is stable; we would like to observe her for a few nights just to be sure. She should make a full recovery."
Mimi cried happily. "Thank you so much Doctor."
"I do what to explain her injuries to you so you can be prepared for what's to come over the next few weeks. The demon that caused this inflicted a dangerous poison into her body, her wound does have a few burn marks around the edges of where his claws harmed her. This poison is like acid to our skin." Mimi gasped, Namine reassured her the news isn't all bad. "The fact that she has a mating mark on her wrist simply tells me that her future mate has the ability to produce a strong and powerful poison much like this one. I believe it to be more dangerous, his powers saved her from her immediate death."
End of flashback
Her parent's death strengthened her, but also weakened her.
Rin wiped her eyes dry with her arm, she sniffled as she looked around the room to see two teary eyed women.
Izayoi knew that Rin went through something terrible but didn't know that it extended as far as her witnessing her parents murder. She pitied the girl, mostly because she now had to deal with her step-son. A demon that showed no emotion.
"Rin, I…" Izayoi couldn't bring herself to say anything. She didn't know what to say. Most of her family passed before she turned five. As a princess of the southern providence, she was raised by midwives until it was her turn to rule her village. "I'm very sorry for your loss Rin. I didn't…no, Inu Taisho never told me the extend of your past. Does he know?"
"I'm sure he does." She wiped her face once more, "That was eleven years ago, honestly some days are harder, but I get by."
Rin's one flaw was how much family meant to her. The only family she had was her aunt and uncle. For all she knew they were all she had left. She never had grandparents who came every month with gifts to shower. Before her birth her great grandmother passed and her paternal grandparents were never around, they kept their distance after her father married her mother. They were a high class family, very wealthy and incredibly opinionated.
As for Mileena's parents, they died in a car crash the year after she married her father.
All she could count on was Mimi and Kane. They were all she had and all she needed. They came to her rescue when no one wanted her. Quite frankly if her grandparents ever showed up at her doorstop, she would slam the door in their face.
Rin contemplated the horrific thoughts of whom would be there for her when she was being mated off. She always imagined a simple wedding with her father walking down the aisle, but now that wasn't an option. Yes, he would be there in spirit, and her uncle offered to take his spot.
Thoughts of her future pained her. Who would she go to when it came down to have 'the talk'. Should she wait to have children or start planning as soon as she is mated? When is honestly the right time for her to have sex.
All she wanted was to see them again, just once. See their face, hear their voice and know they have crossed over peacefully and are happy.
Rin found herself lost in her thoughts, she didn't even realize when Izayoi started calling out her name. "Rin honey?"
No answer.
She gently tapped on her shoulder. She knew Rin needed closure. Izayoi and Kagome were both concerned with her. "dear are you alright?"
'No!'
"Ah yes… I'm sorry, I was just…I just have a lot on my mind."
'Be strong, get yourself together. We must stay strong for each other.'
"I do hope in time you will come to me." Izayoi walked over to her and sat down next to her. She grabbed Rin's hand and clapped it with her other hand. "I know we've only been introduced for a short period, and I am still a stranger to you. I just hope you know you can talk to me. You have suffered a great loss. I can never imagine the pain you're in or have felt, but I'm here."
"You are very kind Izayoi. Thank you!" Rin stated.
She didn't want everything they talked about to be just about her. She was ready to get on with the rest of the day. Only one thing interested her at this moment, what Sienna saw in her mind and what she was going to do with that information. Her kiss. Would she tell Inu Taiho about it or tease Sesshomaru about it
"there is something I would like to clear up with you girls." She patted the empty seat next to her, issuing Kagome to come sit next to them. "This lifestyle we uphold, we go through many trials and face obstacles that the council members throw at us. Sienna won't be the last council member you'll meet, in fact she's the least threatening one of the seven. These trails becoming very exhausting, they expect so much from you."
The girls only listened, "They will try to break you and make you doubt yourself, especially Bonseiga and Ryuu." Rin only read of the council members in textbooks. They frightened her but also interested her. They were once normal demons and on day were granted with the ability to control their fellow demon's fate. "There are a few rules I know Sienna will go over with you as well as the schedule of your meetings and what to expect. If the council doesn't approve of your mating to either Sesshomaru or Inuyasha, they will declare an immediate dismissal of your mating. There is a trail they will hold for your mates to defend you and your mating, but it's almost futile."
"What happens when there is an immediate dismissal?" Kagome hesitantly asked.
"There will be a no contact order issued. Consequences for disobeying them is extreme. I've only heard of a few to have ever occur." Izayoi explained.
"No contact, why?" Kagome asked, in hopes of not becoming disgusted with Izayoi's answer.
"It's to make sure neither of you run off together. You can go as far as you want, but the council will always find you. It's issued for compliance, under harsh consequence, they want to see if you can handle obeying orders, commands and submit to their will."
'Submit.' Sesshomaru used that word a few times since their meeting. 'Dog demons demand obedience, submission is one way they obtain it. Do women really submit, just like that?'
"To further explain the no contact order, you won't be able to interact with anyone your mate has been in contact. Any friends associated with them will be held under a direct order to distance themselves."
Rin shook her head as she chimed in, no associating with her long-term friends because their connected to Sesshomaru. "How fair is it to disrupt someone's entire world, because of a mismatch?"
"It's for safety reasons Rin. The council are not selfish beings; they only wish to protect the future of their tradition. Their logic I believe is wrong and unjust, but it's their decision." Izayoi opinionated the council, her mate explained everything to her the night they decided to mate, but it seemed wrong to her. "And of course there are severe consequences if their rules are not obeyed."
"Consequences?"
Izayoi took a deep breath, your memories will be wiped, you'd be forced to forget everything that has happened between you and your mate. Your connection, memories, everything. You won't remember your mate, the court, the council, your friends, me or even each other. The council will remove you completely from each other's lives for good." She sat stiff, "It'll be like you never existed, you never met."
One thing puzzled them, "And the marking?" Izayoi looked up in confusion, "The markings that have already been made, what happens to them?"
"Any mark given to the female mate, human or demon will be violently ripped and removed from their bodies." Izayoi remembered the story Inu Taisho told about a woman that lost her mate due to adultery, the demon requested that the council separate him from his mate so he could be with his true love. A human princess from the south. After they granted his request, he sat outside the door as he heard the woman's screams and cries. That woman was Sookie. "It's a torturous pain, nowhere near gentle. There's a nasty scar that'll be planted forever on your skin, but you won't have any recollection as to where you got it. It'll feel like a chunk of your life has been wasted and gone missing. You won't know why you don't remember."
"No memory at all?"
"I'm afraid not." Izayoi whispered, "There will be a void in your life, you know you're missing something, but forever not knowing what it may be. Clueless and shamed."
"Does the demon of the pair share the same fate?" Rin asked, she couldn't bring herself to believe that the council could be so cruel.
"Not at all Miss Dearily." A woman's voice answered. Rin glanced up to see a wintergreen eyed Sienna staring at them with her hand over her mouth. "They will be forced to remember, forced to feel the pain and recall the foreign feeling of their exiled mate's last touch. Their scent will haunt them, the sound of their voice whispering in their ear how much of a failure they are." Sienna proudly announced. She hated that portion of her job, but she knew if it was meant to be, then the demon mate wouldn't have failed. "We're not monsters, we understand human emotions and bonding. It's an act of kindness we shed for humans, they continue their lives as if they would have had we never set them up with a demon in the first place. Sure they bare a scar, we show no remorse, no sympathy to our demons. Humans live out their life as they would naturally, nothing changed nor happened, they live normal."
Kagome shook her head in disagreement, "Demons suffer for your amusement, how is that fair?"
"Had they cared for their mates properly and proven we were wrong; they could have stood a chance. Demons don't hold onto emotions like you humans, once it's gone, they let it go."
Everything made sense. The council let humans live normal and healthy lives and made demon's suffer the consequences of their negligence.
After everything was explained, Sienna wasted no time to introduce herself to Kagome. She examined her from afar. She could sense Kagome's emotions from where she stood. Her eyes changed to an amethyst color. Kagome's aura exhausted her, she was bouncy and full of energy, and from Kagome's concern of the consequences of mating failure, she knew she's has connected greatly with Inuyasha. Mentally and physically. Farther that Rin and Sesshomaru. Although Rin's connection is strong, but distinct.
"You must be Kagome Higurashi? Prince Inuyasha's mate-to-be?"
"Prince?" she cowardly asked, both Sienna and Izayoi nodded. Inuyasha didn't tell her that much. "Yes…I-I'm Kagome."
"I make you nervous Miss Higurashi, there's no need. I don't have much time; I have an appointment with Miss Dearily here as I continue her examination. I just wanted to introduce myself, I am Sienna, one of the seven elders." With a quick introduction she smiled, there was little time, she needed into Rin's head again. "We will be seeing each other a lot over the next few months, I hope you become accustom to calling me Sienna." She winked as she looked at Izayoi and browsed her library. "I must say Izayoi your library has become much more sophisticated and astounding since the last time I entered this marvelous room."
"Thank You Lady Sienna, you are too kind."
Sienna clapped her hands together and smiled, "Now if you don't mind, I must excuse Miss Rin from you girls. We have business to attend to and not much time." Izayoi nodded as Rin rose from her seat. Kagome watched as Rin left with her. Sienna whispered one last thing before leaving, "I'll come find you once I am ready to preform my examination on you. Please be patient."
"Of course."
And with that they exited and journeyed across the manor to a secret place she preferred to discuss important matters.
End of Chapter
Author's Note: Thank you for anyone who has held on and stuck by me. School is kicking my butt, but luckily I only have two quarters left before graduation. After the holidays I will no longer be working two jobs and going to school. It'll just be the one job at the clinic and school until graduation. I can't possibly apologize enough about my absence. You will be very proud in the next few chapters I already have half of it written out, since it'll be my favorite chapter and the saddest as well. I've had it on my mind on how I wanted to word it so I spent the time to write it out now before my genius leaves me.
Lady Siyana