Two Weeks Later
The courtship month was well underway and the West was a frenzy of activity. Kagome was constantly hounded by suitors, and there wasn't a day that went by without Sesshomaru getting challenged. Thus far, the couple had managed admirably. It was now time for the group involved with Akira's death to appear before the Demon Council for a formal hearing.
Sesshomaru glided into the large atrium with his usual arrogant grace that set even the members of the Demon Council on edge. It seemed as if he was completely unfazed by the loss of his limb. Lady Mizuki hid an approving smile behind her fan. No son from the House of the Moon should ever appear weak.
Kagome and the backup team filed in behind the demon lord and settled down to await the start of the hearing. Tension crackled in the air as facts leading up to the demise of the Eastern Lord were slowly revealed.
"You lie! Lord Akira would never assist that fiend, Naraku!" A kitsune on the council hollered. The disbelief and rage were manifesting as lightening bolts of youki directed at Sesshomaru. They skittered across Sesshomaru's youki harmlessly.
"This Sesshomaru does not lie," he coldly replied. "Akira was not merely 'assisting' Naraku. He created him through corruption of a former human bandit."
"Peace, Daichi," Tetsuya cut the kitsune off before he could rebut. "You know this atrium is bespelled such that none standing before the Council can lie."
"Easy for you dogs to dismiss. Akira was my kin! My second cousin! You are condemning the Golden Fox Clan!" Daichi shouted.
"No one will condemn your entire clan for the folly of one. Unless your clan was involved?" Tetsuya pointedly remarked.
"Of course not," the kitsune scoffed.
"Then cease your protests," Tetsuya soundly shut down. It had been close to three weeks since the incident with Naraku and Akira, and during this time, the Council had labored nonstop to glean evidence and cross check witnesses. All the evidence supported Sesshomaru's claim.
Daichi growled one more time before sitting down. Just because the Council had found nothing to disprove Sesshomaru's statements didn't mean he was completely innocent. Akira was well loved by many, and Daichi did not want to believe the easy going kitsune could commit such heinous crimes.
"What of the Shikon no Tama?" Lady Mizuki diverted the subject.
Kagome stepped forward calmly, trying to imitate Sesshomaru's cool confidence. "This Kagome, Lady of the West, has contained most of the effects from the jewel within a barrier. As long as my person touches it, the jewel will remain pure and free of madness. However, the ancient magic used to create it will not break so easily." She parted the top of her kimono so all could see the now pendent sized jewel resting on her breast bone. It sparkled with mesmerizing pink purity and pulsed with power. The now dull pull would only affect low level demons.
"You expect me to let the West keep such a powerful artifact? Those souls were bound to this plane by an ancient magic, and strengthened by Akira's own. It should belong with the Golden Kitsunes," Daichi once again objected.
Lady Mizuki narrowed her citrine eyes at the fox. She was not one to be interrupted. "Hmm. And you kitsune have the power to hold the Shikon no Tama without corrupting it?"
Daichi bristled at the challenge and came toward Kagome.
Immediately, Sesshomaru was in between the two, blocking Daichi's view of the miko. His face was as impassive as ever, but his protective stance brooked no compromise.
"Stand. Down." Daichi had enough of insolent pups. He was over a thousand years his senior.
"You will not touch this Sesshomaru's mate," Sesshomaru quietly threatened. Kagome was no longer jumping at every male aura to brush up against hers, but that didn't mean she was over the trauma. He would protect her from any unnecessary discomfort.
A deathly silent staring match ensued. Their auras rose and crackled against each other. The oppressive forces brought the younger members of the backup team to their knees.
"Lord Daichi! Stop picking a fight with the whelp," Tetsuya boomed.
"Please, Sesshomaru," Kagome pleaded and wrapped a hand around his arm. Sesshomaru's youki faltered and fizzed out in the face of her crystalline blue eyes.
However, Daichi had not lightened his aura. Sesshomaru tensed, preparing for the slap of youki now that his own was reigned in.
Kagome's reiki swelled with frightening speed when she noticed the still roaring youki from the kitsune intent on maiming Sesshomaru. Her anger spiked and she flung his youki back and smothered it within the kitsune's own body. Glaring at Daichi, she bit out, "Have you no honor? This one's mate has withdrawn in deference to the Council. Yet you continue. Lord Sesshomaru submits to no one."
Sesshomaru's hair was standing on end at the sudden and awesome display of power from his mate. Pride, and something softer, swelled at her defense of his person.
Meanwhile, Daichi was trying to overcome the shock of being put in place by a little human. His youki wouldn't harm himself, but having it forced back was akin to having a breath cut short. He was still trying to recover without appearing been stunned.
Lady Mizuki smirked. 'I'm pretty sure my indomitable son had just submitted to you,' she thought, gazing at the riled miko.
"Kagome," Sesshomaru simply said.
The wild reiki was immediately sucked back. The sudden absence of energies made some stumble.
'And you to him.' Lady Mizuki's smirk turned into a wide grin. "Lord Daichi, why don't you test containing the shikon with your youki. Lady Kagome, release the barrier."
Kagome glanced over at Sesshomaru for approval. "Jura, take the soldiers outside and await our return," he ordered before nodding at Kagome.
As soon as the orb was unsealed, it expanded to its original size and hovered in the air above Kagome. The souls could now be clearly seen roiling around angrily. All except Sesshomaru and Kagome averted their eyes from the overwhelming energies.
Daichi quickly formed a barrier and began constricting the powerful artifact. However, the orb immediately started absorbing his youki, requiring him to constantly supply energy to maintain the barrier. The more youki it soaked up, the darker the orb became. "It is evil!" Daichi growled. Afraid of forcing the issue and possibly corrupting the shikon irreparably, he dissolved the barrier.
Greatly perturbed, he stepped back from the abomination of souls. "Take the filthy thing. The Golden Kitsune Clan wants nothing to do with that corrupt jewel."
Kagome wordlessly reinstated her purity barrier and returned it back to her necklace. The fox was wise to have seen the orb for what it really was: a burden. Besides, Kagome wouldn't have been able to part with it even if she wanted to. Within the shikon was half of her soul. Sesshomaru was the only other person to know this fact. She hid her defect well under all the barriers, but truthfully she was greatly weakened with half her soul trapped in the orb. She could still release a substantial amount of reiki, but now lacked the stamina to maintain high output. Sesshomaru was helping her closely guard this secret.
"Well then, I believe we are finished here. Do keep the Council informed of any progress with the shikon. The Council will continue researching the matter. It must be dealt with as soon as possible," Lady Mizuki concluded.
"Watch yourself, Dog. You will not get off so lightly for another transgression," Daichi added venomously.
Sesshomaru didn't deign to acknowledge the fox's presence. He was already exiting the building with Kagome tucked closely to his side.
Final Day of the Courtship Month
Kagome sighed and leaned against the basin in the bathroom. It was just after lunch, and she had already entertained five suitors. The last one had really drained her with his speed. Thankfully for Jaken, each only had about an hour to make their suit. She had developed a new appreciation for the toad as he punctually and diplomatically maneuvered her through the buffoons eager to steal Sesshomaru's position. His loyalty truly was to Sesshomaru.
"Lady Kagome? You still have five more suitors before the day ends," Jaken called in his warbly voice.
She heaved another sigh. 'Just five more. The day's almost over,' she mentally consoled herself. "Lead the way, Jaken," she resigned.
"The next suitor is Menomaru, grandson of Hyoga, leader of the moth demon tribe within the Western Lands. Centuries ago, Lord Hyoga had wanted to expand his control and was expectedly dealt with by Lord Inu no Taisho himself. His grandson has not displayed such ambitions yet. He will be presenting himself in the forest."
They were barely at the edge of the forest when Kagome felt the telltale sign of youki. 'Great, another pushy one,' she thought. Jaken quickly deposited her and retreated before the glittering purple youki could coat the glen.
The moth demon soon emerged with lacey cerulean wings fully extended in an impressive display. Like all the suitors before him, he was barely clothed. A pleated skirt of translucent silk swished around him, and a whispy scarf fluttered around his neck and exposed torso. He was otherwise completely bare, and Kagome wrinkled a nose at his manhood peeking out between the strips of fabric everytime he took a step. 'Gods, even if he is well endowed, he doesn't have to show it off so obviously.' Mercifully, by now, she was well accustomed to demon courtship.
Then, the presentation commenced. Menomaru twirled and flitted before Kagome in a way that kept her eyes on his sleek form. He rose to the sky and continued weaving his dance in the air. All the presentations were like this, designed to show off the male's form and attract the female on the basest physical level.
When he finished, he landed with his back facing her. If a female was enticed, she would favor the male by approaching and showing her interest. The more aggressive ones would test the male's degree of commitment by clawing him. A steadfast male would stay still and take the abuse. The more passive females would simply rub their scent on the male to show they were aroused by the presentation.
Kagome did not move from her spot, indicating her disinterest by ignoring the male. The next stage was the hunt. An acknowledged male would wait for a request of game by the female. However, an ignored male could either end the courtship, or continue with the hunt in an attempt to sway the female. The hunt was his chance to demonstrate his abilities to provide for her.
To her dismay, Menomaru faced Kagome in indication that he'd continue to pursue, and then disappear into the forest. She was nearing the end of her one month mandatory courtship period, and not once had she acknowledge a male. However, not a single one had been dissuaded.
"Waste of animals," she mumbled under her breath. They always brought back either extravagant amounts of common game, or a single rare delicacy. Regardless, she could not accept without encouraging the male.
Fifteen minutes later, Kagome found out Menomaru was the former kind. A pile of ten boars were placed at her feet. Per protocol, she turned her back to the offering. Again, the male had a choice to leave, or continue.
Predictably, the moth demon proceeded with the third and final stage of the courtship: the mating dance. At this stage, the male would display his prowess and attempt to scent mark the female. If he succeeded, the female would be forced to acknowledge his suit, though she'd be under no commitment to mate if she could find a champion to chase off the other male. In a willing female, the male would dominate the female and mate her.
Rounding to her front, Menomaru began zooming around her, displaying his great speed and agility. Kagome readied herself for the assault to come. This was the part she dreaded the most. 'Nothing like an attacking half-naked demon to soothe my fear of males,' she sarcastically thought. Her anxiety in the face of an approaching male was still disproportionately high, but she could now suppress it when mentally prepared. Ironically, this courtship month was remarkably good at desensitizing her fear.
The moth demon blurred toward her left side and was promptly buffeted by her reiki. Hissing, he haphazardly retreated and resumed circling her.
Menomaru glared down at the light burns coating his hands and forearms. 'The stubborn bitch is too strong!' He couldn't get within striking distance of the haughty female that dared to reject him at every turn. However, he was a patient demon. He knew his chance would come.
Again and again he attacked her reiki barrier. 'If nothing else, he is definitely tenacious,' Kagome dryly thought. Even with half her soul trapped away, her reiki barrier was strong, and would not break under any normal barrage. A strong demonic sword could do it, but luckily these courtships forbid use of anything other than natural weapons. She just had to keep it up for another 30 minutes until Jaken came to retrieve her.
But therein laid the problem. This far into the courtship month, Kagome had depleted her reserves. The constant stream of suitors forced her to expend more reiki than she could regenerate with her incomplete soul. It was now to the point where she could only keep up a strong barrier for minutes at a time.
Trying to minimize the strain, Kagome switched to a more conservative defense. Instead of engulfing herself entirely, she only shielded wherever the demon attacked. It required higher concentration on her part, but significantly less power output.
Menomaru smirked triumphantly when he saw the miko lift the protective bubble. He had purposefully placed his suit so late to take advantage of such fatigue. He would not waste such an easy opportunity to rise to a cardinal lord. His grandfather had been a fool to challenge the Inu no Taisho head on. He would not make the same mistake.
Unbeknownst to Kagome, the air began tinting with his powdery youki. It was like fine pollen clinging to every surface touched by air. Still, Menomaru continued the assault without missing a beat.
Kagome grit her teeth against a particularly strong attack. She needed to get away. Her reiki wouldn't last another 20 or so minutes until Jaken came.
She gathered her reiki close to herself, preparing for the moment he rebounded after an attack to trap him in a barrier. It would only last a few minutes, but it'd probably give her enough time to hide herself. It had to.
CLASH! Reiki flashed against youki.
Kagome took in a deep breath as she felt, moreso than saw, Menomaru's youki bounce back. 'This is it.'
Suddenly black billowing miasma swallowed the glen. The air caught in Kagome's terror constricted throat, and her muscles froze. There was only one being she knew with this kind of miasma.
Naraku.
A mind numbing chill washed through her as she watched the impossible unfold. A shadowy figure materialized from the smog. The next second, a large pale hand shot through the miasma and coiled around her waist. Kagome tried to scream as familiar crimson eyes stared down at her trapped form, and his haunting laughter echoed through the woods.
Her lips opened, but no sound came out. She was completely petrified in his grasp. The thick tentacles she had tried so hard to forget slithered across her clammy skin and twined her tightly to Naraku's chest.
'No.' This could not be happening.
"Dear little miko, did you miss me?" Naraku's silken voice taunted.
'No! He's dead,' Kagome wailed in her shocked mind.
His breath ghosted across her neck, just like before. And just like before, she could do nothing. Her reiki was trapped by her memories of that time.
A cold wet appendage came out to suckle her vulnerable neck.
Tears slipped down Kagome's ashen cheeks.
The cold suction on her neck soon turned painful as he began clamping his mouth down.
"No…no…NO!" Kagome finally shrieked, and began struggling against his iron grasp.
Reiki exploded from her body, and abruptly the miasma and tentacles disappeared, as if they were never there to begin with.
Instead, she heard someone else snarling in rage. 'Where was Naraku?' Kagome frantically spun around looking for the apparition. But all she found was a partially charred moth demon at the edge of her blast radius.
"A hallucination…" Kagome realized, and sank bonelessly to the ground. 'Gods, that was all a hallucination made from that despicable moth,' she chanted to herself.
Meanwhile, a furious Menomaru started advancing on the helplessly weeping woman on the ground. The bitch had done it now. His entire front side, including half of his face and beautiful teal hair, was scorched black and painfully melted. If he had reacted a second slower to the rapidly built reiki, he would have been completely purified. Even as it is, his severe burns would take at least a month to heal. Reiki damaged tissue was not so easily repaired. Menomaru gnashed his teeth.
His hypnosis was the strongest his clan had seen in generations. Once his pollen-like youki was inhaled, he could bring a being's worst fears to life within their own mind, leaving the person completely vulnerable. Menomaru didn't expect the insufferable woman to break through his spell so quickly and violently before he had finished marking her. He had underestimated the human. 'No matter.' He would finish what he started. Menomaru took a menacing step forward.
And that was how Sesshomaru found them.
He had responded immediately to the shrill distress coming from the mating bond. Sesshomaru had been on the far side of the citadel, viciously training to keep his mind off of the courtship he wasn't allowed to interfere with. However, all logic was lost when Kagome's terror spiked through his mind. He arrived at the scene less than ten seconds after the distress call only to find his mate collapsed on the ground with a vile moth demon closing in on her.
The rabid dog demon lord essentially teleported into Menomaru's path and swiped across his abdomen with enough force to throw him through several trees. The moth demon's disemboweled innards didn't even have a chance to spill from the gaping wound.
Resisting the urge to pursue and finish him off, the feral Sesshomaru quickly knelt down beside his trembling mate and gently inspected her for injuries. She was curled protectively into herself, but did not smell of blood. Sesshomaru's irises changed back from turquoise to gold. Tenderly, he shifted her into his embrace.
Then he saw it. On her neck opposite the side of his mating mark was an angry red blotch marring her otherwise beautiful sunkissed skin. The bastard had succeeded in scent marking Kagome. And from the looks of it, the filth had intended to force a bonding.
Sesshomaru had been forbidden to share his youki through the mating bond during the courtship month. Without such defense, and given the miko's weakened state, any injected youki would be able to control her for a short time – enough time to announce a lover. Sesshomaru's eyes flashed red and his aura filled with rage at the detestable, honorless scheme.
Kagome whimpered as Sesshomaru's seething aura saturated the forest.
He swiftly forced his aura to calm, and carefully carried his shaken mate into the castle.
Jaken, who had arrived a while after Sesshomaru, bowed wordlessly in the sidelines as the silently fuming lord swept past with his lady. There were still four suitors the Lady of the West would have to deal with before the night's end. Moreover, the damnable moth would have to be healed and properly hosted, at least until his claim could be negated.
But Jaken was not daft. Even he could tell this was not the time to open his beak and remind his lord of all the objectionable obligations. Jaken shuddered just imagining the wrath he'd incur…