Three days later, Lord Ryora of the North and his youngest daughter Kagura arrived at the Western citadel. They sat in two lavish palanquins amidst a majestic procession that displayed the lordship's wealth and might. Rows of servants carrying mounds of jewels, and glamorously armored soldiers marched in perfect formation through the streets to the castle. It spoke volumes of Ryora's control over the dragons to be able to produce such less than a year after winning the throne.
Servants evenly uniformed bowed to the Northern lord's procession. At the top of the stairs, Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, Seri, and Kagome awaited the lord. They were all fully decked out in exquisite silks that told of their place in Sesshomaru's pack.
Sesshomaru wore a more finely woven and textured version of his gleaming white haori and hakama. The family crest was in a deep royal blue with a silver moon and flowers. Over the emsemble was an elaborately embroidered long vest jacket of matching royal blue with thin veins of silver. White boots rimmed with silver reaching mid calf secured the billowing hakama legs. He wore no armor in deference to theLord of the North, but Tenseiga and Bakusaiga were proudly strapped to his side. All in all, he fully looked the part of his royal blood. Kagome thought he looked like a warrior god, untouchable and incomparable.
Lord Ryora stepped down from his palanquin in his full glory. He was wrapped in fine silks stained in the solid colors of his house – sky blue and fern green. Ancestral dragon claws drapped around his shoulders, the equivalent to Sesshomaru's pelt. A sapphire diamond adorned his forehead and his lightning blue hair was pulled back in a high braid. Ryora was terribly beautiful, just like the other demon lords. Cold maroon eyes locked on Sesshomaru's golden ones. They studied each other, gauging strength.
Finally Ryora smirked. "Greetings Lord Sesshomaru. I'm glad our first meeting is across a table instead of a battlefield," he confidently boomed.
"This Sesshomaru welcomes Lord Ryora and his progeny to the House of the Moon," Sesshomaru formally addressed. The rest of his pack bowed slightly in unison at his words. "The members before you are This Sesshomaru's pack. Inuyasha, second son of Inu no Taisho, and beta. Kagome, high miko from the Holy Village, and palace healer. Seri, elder of the Eagle Owl Clan, and palace healer."
Ryora's eyes widened as he listened to the woman get addressed before the elder demoness. The order of introduction meant the miko was alpha female! He barely caught himself from blurting out the question circling through his head. The only thing that stayed his tongue was the icy glare Sesshomaru leveled at him when he openly stared at the miko. Clearing his throat, Ryora tore his eyes from the mysterious miko and continued with introductions. "I present to you Kagura, youngest and most powerful of my daughters. She is sired through the late Lady Kimiko, the most powerful heiress of the Wind Dragons."
Kagura stepped forward and curtsied gracefully. She was beautiful. Her wavy hair was piled in delicate curls above her head and laced with small gems that brought out her swirling dark pink eyes. Those entrancing eyes were set in a pale, peach-shaped face with blood red lips. She was swathed in luxurious colors of the north patterned in broad diagonal stripes. The silks only accented her perfectly shaped body. Her dainty clawed hands held a large gold fan with a sky blue dragon painted on the upper right edge. She was a vision to behold and Kagome felt a twinge of jealousy.
Sesshomaru glanced at the flawless demoness and nodded in acknowledgement before focusing back on the lord.
"Follow Jaken to your rooms to rest. Negotiations will begin tomorrow. A banquet in your honor is being held tonight. The servants will see to all your needs. If there is nothing further, we will recommune at dinner," Sesshomaru directed.
When everyone dispersed, Kagome's heart was heavy. There had been talk among the servants that the Northern lord was bringing his daughter as part of the peace negotiations. Kagome had ignored the gossip, denying the possibilities that such a demoness entailed. However, after seeing the gorgeous demoness, reality finally caught up with Kagome. She wasn't stupid. Kagura was royalty born from pure, strong demon bloodlines. She was the perfect match for one like Sesshomaru. Given the war that almost broke out between the two lands, a mating was the easiest way to calm the waters.
Kagome thought she had buried her hopes to be with Sesshomaru. She was wrong. Just seeing Kagura had made her want to scream her heartbreak and bring down the heavens. Instead, she used the entirety of her will to keep her aura even and mask her emotions. Now inside a tight barrier in her room, Kagome collapsed. She curled herself on the bed as tears silently streamed down her face. Hadn't she told herself that being near Sesshomaru was enough? When had she become so greedy as to want Sesshomaru completely to herself? Hadn't she known this was coming? How did her resolve become so weak?
When Kagome came down to the banquet, her aura and scent were firmly sealed so that they would not change with her fluctuating emotions. The confidence she carried herself with belied the crushing despair that continued to suffocate her since her private tears.
Conversation was kept light through dinner. Kagome couldn't remember a single word. She had been uncharacteristically quiet. She could not trust herself to speak without giving away her sorrow. Thankfully, Inuyasha and Seri were doing enough talking to make up for her silence. Their cordial air loosened the formal atmosphere. Soon, the music took precedence over the food.
"Dancing is customary, is it not?" Ryora hinted to Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru understood the meaning. He stood and offered his hand to Kagura for a dance. It could be construed as an insult if he did not partake in the festivities, but he couldn't help glancing at Kagome when a dance was first suggested.
The two glided across the floor, enchanting everyone in the grand hall. Sesshomaru and Kagura. Both were stunning, with matching stoic faces that exuded dignity, and possessing grace that was unique even among demons.
Kagome's heart constricted further. Kagura was a cool beauty, just like Sesshomaru. She carried herself with a royal bearing, spoke with refined class, and danced like she was born to do it. Moreover, she had great power that was untainted with ambition. Kagome could sense the demoness held no interest in the politics her father was so keen about. Kagura was not evil. Her intuition told her this.
But gods how she wished the demoness was hiding something – like she was actually hideous and merely disguised herself as a goddess; or she was really an evil rivaling Naraku; or even if she was just an unpleasant bitch. Kagome mentally whimpered. 'Gods, when have I become such a deplorable person?' she questioned herself. The dark thoughts she just had of Kagura were terrible. Her parents would roll in their graves if they knew what she was thinking. It only made Kagome hate herself more.
She lifted her gaze to follow the dazzling pair twirling about the cavernous room of marble with anguished longing. It was pure torture. A kind she could stand not a moment longer. Turning away, she found Seri and pleaded tiredness to retire for the night.
Seri knew what was really bothering the girl, and agreed to her pitiful begging eyes. Seri sighed. It seems the miko's love was not meant to be. She was impressed the girl held up so well thus far. Maybe she was stronger than Seri had thought. The old owl demoness sure hoped so. The sooner the girl recovered from this heartbreak, the sooner she could move on. Seri heaved another weary sigh.
Kagome practically ran back to her room. She shut herself inside and erected a barrier as her heartwrenching sobs broke through. A horrible wail tore from her throat only to be stopped by a fit of loud sobs. Kagome cried until she could cry no more, and still the tears continued. It seemed like she would never stop. She clutched a pillow, trying to steady her shaking body.
A thunderstorm was raging outside. "Momma…momma…" Kagome chanted brokenly. The last time she had cried so thoroughly was when her parents passed. She hadn't wanted to feel this level of agony for the rest of her life. Unfortunately, the fates had not spared her.
Kagome didn't know how long had past before she regained control of her body. It was still storming outside. She numbly walked to the desk in her room and pulled out a small blank scroll. She wrote until there was nothing else left. Then, Kagome carefully rolled the scroll back up, set it on the bed, and jumped out her bedroom window into the pouring night.
The next day, Sesshomaru was enclosed in his study with Ryora hashing out the details to the peace treaty between the North and the West.
"What is the meaning of this?" Ryora hissed.
Sesshomaru stared at the dragon impassively. "This Sesshomaru refuses to mate anyone at this time, not just your offspring. This Sesshomaru will be selecting a mate by Demon Rite. If you wish for This Sesshomaru to mate one of yours, then enter her in the rite," he calmly elaborated.
"Then what of our negotiations?" Ryora asked, more puzzled than angry now. Ryora was sure his daughter was most likely the strongest demoness in the lands, and as a good a match as the dog demon was going to find. When a demon invoked demon rite, he would be relinquishing his right to choose a mate. Instead, the demon was agreeing to mate the winner to arise from a bloody competition between all eligible and willing females. It would not matter if the female was horrendous and foul, as long as she was the strongest and could bear healthy young, Sesshomaru would have to accept her. Ryora had no idea why he would risk such when Kagura would have been perfect.
"There should be other resources that should be mutually satisfactory. This Sesshomaru proposes the establishment of a trade route. The trade will be favorable to you as a show of good will. This Sesshomaru is serious about maintaining peace between the lands."
"What commodities are you proposing?" Ryora warily asked.
"The Western lands are known for the exquisite silks. The demonic silk worms only florish in a certain region in the West. There are also several master demon weavers residing in these lands as a result. The fabrics of the West are sought after by all other lands. This Sesshomaru offers to trade silk fabrics to the North in exchange for iron ore. Due to the terrain, the North is plentiful in ores and jewels. The West imports much of these items from elsewhere. This will be a suitable agreement," Sesshomaru explained.
Ryora considered the offer. It was true that the north seriously lacked silks and silk weavers. The skill of the western silk trade was evident in the attires Sesshomaru's pack had donned. They were like nothing Ryora had seen before, and much finer than what he and Kagura had been wearing, despite it being their best silks. As a dragon demon, he was easily swayed by wealth. Iron ore was worth less than food in the barren lands of the North. It was definitely a trade benefitting himself more than Sesshomaru. The trading will also create a more reliant and amicable relationship between the two lands, thus satisfying the peace treaty.
"This would be acceptable given the terms are generous. Your refusal of a fitting mating is bothersome," Ryora hedged. "Kagura could defeat any other demoness. Are you dissatisfied with the dowry amount? Dowries from Demon Rite are known to be extravagant in order to secure a prominent position should the demon have multiple mates. Do you desire a greater dowry?" he asked, curious.
Sesshomaru held the growl that threatened to spill. He did not have to explain anything to the dragon. But for the sake of future support, Sesshomaru replied, "Strong bloodlines can only be secured by strong mates. This Sesshomaru will follow demon tradition to find one most worthy of the title. It is more prudent to resolve issues of politics without personal influences. Should the mating prove unsuccessful, would you want it to dictate how relations between the two lands develop?"
"Your point is a good one. I accept the refused mating proposal in favor of the trade route. Although, you should be prepared for Kagura's entry into the Demon Rite. Let us discuss the logistics of such a deal," Ryora conceded.
Sesshomaru mentally smirked in triumph. He was able to avoid the mating without damaging the peace negotiations. The only issue was that he locked himself into a Demon Rite. It was the only way to get Kagome by his side, but it came at a high price. If Kagome entered, her life would be at risk. Sesshomaru wasn't sure if he could stomach that possibility. He had known of Demon Rite since before his search to find a way to keep Kagome. But he had avoided it for this very reason.
For now, whether the miko entered the Demon Rite did not matter. He had been unable to find any other alternative after scouring the library, and if Kagome did not enter, he did not care who else won. Judging by the level of power Kagura was emitting, it would most likely be her. The demoness was not unsuitable. 'But she was not Kagome,' his heart whispered. Sesshomaru shook himself from his musings. He had to focus on the peace treaty first.
The next hours were spent detailing the quantities, route, and timing for trade. Protection personnel would also be needed to ensure proper delivery and other means for short orders. The two lords continued well into the night, only stopping to have meals brought to them.
It was close to midnight when Sesshomaru emerged from his study. He stalked straight to the miko's room. Her presence had been sorely missed over the last day and a half. He craved the calming nights when they shared each other's company, often under the cherry tree. Maybe he could discuss the Demon Rite with her tonight. He knew the miko cared for him, but wasn't sure if she'd go so far to mate him. It made Sesshomaru's gut flutter in strange nervousness.
He stopped in front of Kagome's door, pausing to force his heartrate down to normal. Why was he so unsettled? He was unaccustomed to the feeling. Giving up on calming his nerves, Sesshomaru knocked. Strangely a barrier was in place. He brushed off the concern. The miko was probably being careful since the lord of the north was here.
Minutes ticked by. Was the miko asleep? However, his instincts told him otherwise. Dread slowly started seeping into his bones. When was the last time he saw her? How had she been? Something had been bothering her at the banquet, but it didn't seem that serious, and then he'd been distracted by the treaty. Sesshomaru knocked louder. Something was wrong. His instincts were screaming at him.
Sesshomaru swelled his youki and busted through the barrier on the room. Suddenly, he knew what was wrong. Her scent was old in the room. And her presence, which he thought had been hidden behind the barrier, was not there.
Sesshomaru's eyes were quickly bleeding red. He howled, long and low, summoning the rest of his pack.
Seri and Inuyasha burst through the unlocked door. "What's wrong?" Inuyasha snarled, his red eyes were darting across the room.
"Where is she?" Sesshomaru rumbled in the coarse voice of his semi-transformed state.
Seri gasped as understanding dawned. "Oh no…"
Sesshomaru let loose a deafening growl, demanding to know what Seri knew.
Seri fell to her knees. "Kagome had retired early last night…s-she was devastated. This morning when I found her room barricaded, I decided not to push matters. She needed time to heal, and wouldn't want an audience to her tears. Forgive me. I should have suspected this," Seri rushed out.
"You make no sense, old hag," Inuyasha rounded on Seri. "What the fuck are you talking about? Where is Kagome?"
Seri narrowed her eyes at the hanyou. "Idiot! It is not my place to say! She left after seeing the impending mating to the Northern Princess," Seri shouted. She grabbed Inuyasha by the ear. "And if I knew where she went, WE WOULDN"T BE HERE!" she shrieked.
Inuyasha was plastered to the floor holding his ears by the end of the owl's tirade.
Devastated? Is that what he was feeling right now? The idea momentarily shocked Sesshomaru enough to chase the red from his eyes. His chest was overflowing with ambivalent emotions. What was this heavy foreign feeling in his chest? He couldn't understand what it meant. All he knew was the unbearable agony that was constricting him into near paralysis. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.
Seri looked to the confused, enraged demon lord with sadness. He really did not know what love was. "That is something you have to figure out yourself, my lord," Seri solemly said.
"She betrayed me! She left me," Sesshomaru roared, his eyes once again blood red. His chest was heaving with repressed rage and sorrow. The rejection was written all over his feral face.
Seri shook her head. "No, my lord. She made a decision for the sake of your own happiness. Would you be able to keep her, my lord? The West would fall if you did. Kagome knew this. And then she saw Lady Kagura. Please think, my lord. Those words and beads she left you. Do they not speak contrary to the actions you witness?"
Sesshomaru finally looked down at the things clenched in his fists. A string of average jade prayer beads and a small scroll. He didn't know what to think anymore. All he knew was the pain that was eating him from the inside, carving him hollow. He unfurled the scroll.
Sesshomaru,
You must find me cowardly and ungrateful to say my goodbye to you in this way. Still, I wish for you to finish reading these last words.
It seems like a lifetime ago since we first met, at each other's throats. I don't know when you became more to me than an untouchable demon lord. But before I knew it, I had found a home with you. You gave me a place where I could belong, and a family I'd die for. Thank you. They are among the happiest times of my life.
However, it is time for me to move on. You may deny it, but one day I will become a burden to you. Let me leave while I still can. Know that my loyalty is forever yours – everything I know of the West will die with me. As a parting gift, I give you my most treasured possession – my father's prayer beads. They are not made of precious stones, but it is the last thing I have of my parents. They are imbibed with my father's will to protect, and filled with my power and desire to see that will through. Give them to your mate, future children, pack. Kagura is a good demoness. I wish for your happiness.
I resign my position as your pack member. You are released from any obligation to me. It is best to part on good terms. Please let me go. It is my last request to you.
Goodbye Sesshomaru,
Kagome
Something inside Sesshomaru snapped. He lept out the window and transformed into his true form. A tormented howl echoed across the lands as he raced blindly across the sky. There was no scent trail to follow, no aura to feel, no lingering presence at the edge of his consciousness from his pack mark – nothing. Sesshomaru howled again in desperation. Kagome's aptitude was improving, but he would find her. She was HIS! Another howl tore through the night.
It was near daybreak when Sesshomaru returned, silently fuming. He had run through all of Japan to search for the girl. Traveling through his light orb usually drained him fast, but he was deaf to his screaming muscles and numb to the dead weight of his pelt. Inuyasha and Seri had knowingly been waiting in his study.
"Dispatch the best trackers, and alert the spies planted in neighboring lands. Inuyasha, you will comb all of Japan for her in This Sesshomaru's place. Do not return until you have found her. Seri, the Owl Clan will supplement personnel in this time of shortage. Naraku is still at large. This Sesshomaru will not take any existing soldiers from their current task of gathering intelligence on the cur. However, Kagome will be returned," he said with grim finality.
"Lord Sesshomaru, is it not better to leave her be?" Seri quietly asked.
Sesshomaru snapped his narrowed gaze to the slumped owl demon.
"The girl. You will crush her spirit if you keep her locked up, or make her your concubine. She deserves better, my lord," Seri pleaded in earnest.
Inuyasha sputtered at Seri's words. "Like HELL Sesshomaru will make her his concubine. I'll mate her before she has to be subjected to that shit," he shouted.
In the next second, Inuyasha was choking, suspended from Sesshomaru's steely grip on his windpipe. "Mine!" Sesshomaru snarled, his irises were flashing turquoise in red orbs as his youki threatened to squash everyone in the room. His sleek silver tresses were flying wildly, being buffeted by the raging winds of his youki. Sesshomaru's claws bit further into Inuyasha's neck as they elongated.
A gurgled protested escaped from Inuyasha's purplish lips. Terror flashed through his eyes as they threatened to roll into the back of his head.
"Lord Sesshomaru! SESSHOMARU! Stop at once! What are you doing? And I thought Inuyasha was the brash one. You're going to kill him!" Seri urgently shrieked. The words fell on deaf ears. Seri trembled under the weight of his terrible youki, dropping to her knees.
"KAGOME WOULD NEVER FORGIVE YOU!" she screamed in one last ditch effort.
Suddenly, his oppressive youki was gone and Inuyasha was crumpled on the ground, coughing and sucking in precious air. Already, Sesshomaru's poison was starting to make the hanyou shake. His neck was raw, the skin having long since melted, and his throat starting to swell shut from the poison.
Seri rushed out the door, intent on getting to the infirmary where the antidote to dokkasou lay.
Meanwhile, Sesshomaru continued to glare unblinkingly at his brother. "She is mine," he uttered in a deadly whisper.
Inuyasha quickly held up a placating hand. "Yours…yours," he rasped out.
Finally back under control, Sesshomaru sat behind his desk, wordlessly brooding as Seri rushed back and flung the anti-venom down Inuyasha's throat. The swelling quickly went down, and the hanyou was breathing easy after ten minutes.
"Fuck… c'mon you knew I wasn't serious, least not about the mating part," Inuyasha croaked. His eyes were closed and his head rested against the wall he was propped up against.
Yes, Sesshomaru did know. Inuyasha blushed furiously under Kagome's tender caring, but he would probably resemble Jaken if a real mating was proposed. Kagome was like a sister and mother rolled into one – she was his best friend. Sesshomaru knew all this. But his protectiveness had surged out of control at the mere mention of someone else taking his Kagome. He didn't even know where that bout of youki had come from. He had thought his stores were empty after his fanatic search.
"Damn, you did all that to your beta knowing he was bluffing. I'd hate to see the sorry bastard that'd seriously suggest it. What are you gonna do with her if you won't allow anyone to mate her?" Inuyasha mumbled. Seri gavehim a warning glare, incredulous of his boundless stupidity to broach the subject again after what just happened.
"I will be the one to mate Kagome," Sesshomaru uttered in a deep baritone.
His response was met with two dropped jaws. Sesshomaru continued before anyone could interject. "She will win in Demon Rite thereby forcing the Demon Council to approve of her. With their support, there will be no large scale mutiny. Individuals will be dealt with by me, personally."
"You will be using that archaic method?" Seri pondered. Slowly, the path lightened and she gave a crooked smile. "Oh my, that might actually work."
"What the fuck. Those things are vicious. How can you be so sure some bitch won't claw out Kagome's eyes, or throat?" Inuyasha barked through his raw and scratchy throat.
"She is the most powerful female This Sesshomaru has ever encountered. Although her physical capabilities are weaker, do not underestimate her abilities after this half year of training," Sesshomaru stonily said, hiding the small thread of fear in his heart. Now that is has come to this, he will have to put faith in her. He was a selfish demon, and unless she truly rejected him, he will claim her.
Inuyasha nodded, and then winced at the action. Keeping his head immobile, he asked, "So what happened with that Kagura wench? Should we be preparing for some trouble from the North?" An image of the beautiful demoness flashed through his mind. She was one of the few demonesses that wasn't slobbering all over his brother. That in itself was enough for him to respect her as he had done with Kagome when she first came to the castle.
"The peace treaty was settled with a trade route establishment. Silk fabrics from the West in exchange for raw and processed iron ore, square meter for pound. Dragon fire can temper steel better than other fires, demonic or otherwise. Silk is reproducible, but ore is a limited commodity. While the trade is currently advantageous, the iron and steel will be worth more in a century or two. By then, the unrest will most likely have settled," Sesshomaru explained. He normally wasn't so generous, but the sight of Inuyasha's oozing neck reminded him of the apology he would never vocalize.
"Moron, if you already had everything figured out, you shoulda told us. Kagome wouldn't have run away if she knew," Inuyasha blurted out. He paled when he saw Seri's stricken expression. Stupid. When had he EVER got away with calling his brother names?
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at his insolent brother. And how was he supposed to announce this without first declaring his intent to Kagome? The fact that his own cowardice had prevented him only grated on his nerves more. The idiot of a brother just didn't understand. "This Sesshomaru sees you are well enough to perform your assignment. Be gone before tonight. Contain your uncouth self. Stealth is of utmost importance. If This Sesshomaru finds that your loud mouth has led Naraku to the miko who has succeeded in evading even this one's senses, you will die a slow and painful death," Sesshomaru clipped severely.
Inuyasha gulped before scrambling out the study. He wasn't stupid enough to test his luck any further. Seri followed him out at a more sedate pace, already thinking of the sheer number of demons from her clan she'd have to call upon to blanket the neighboring lands with spies.