Chapter 53: Attempted Assasination
Darkness cover the Western Lands as the celebrations of the day ended. Lanterns were blown out, drunkards made their way home to their mates or to their rooms with their nightly companions. The halls of the palace were empty minus the occasional guard that was standing alert. The Lords and Ladies were fast asleep and silence reigned at this moment. However it didn't last for very long as a series of knocks was heard in the western tower where Sesshomaru and his newly mated human mate were resting. The Western Lord had just received the best loving experience by Kagome and had planned not to move from her side until morning, but the insistent knocking. Standing he grabbed his hakama pants and put them on before going to the door. Opening the large wooden door he almost ripped it off it's hinges and startling the guard standing there. "Why are you bothering this Sesshomaru on the night of his mating ceremony."
The guard bowed as fear began to scent his person. "Apologies mi'lord!" He cried out with fear. "But Lord Hideki requests to speak to you He claims something has occurred."
Sesshomaru rubbed the bridge of his nose. "What has happened?" He inquired trying to keep his temper in check.
"I-I do not know." the guard stuttered fear of what would happen to him I'd his lord wasn't in a good mood still was making him nervous.
"Hnn..." Sesshomaru growled slightly before turning around and grabbing his haori. Kissing Kagome's temple he turned and left the room following the guard to speak with the minor Lord Hideki. This better be good. was all he thought as he traversed the darkened halls.
Peering around the corner as the Lord of the West passed by, Seiji allowed his violet eyes follow his lordship until the white silks couldn't be seen any longer. Looking towards the closed door to where his mistress laid asleep he vanished in a puff of dark smoke. Moments later the dark shadow Inu found himself in the fire lit room, turning his head he peered over his shoulder and saw his mistress laid out with her mate's fur surrounding her. Her naked form was barely covered. Suddenly his ear picked up a sound coming from the balcony. Hiding in the shadows he vanished from sight, though he was still in the room.
Seiji watched the dark clothed assassin step into the room. A dagger in hand ready to take the life of the new Western Lady. The being took steps closer towards the sleeping woman, raising the weapon to strike only to have the weapon fall from his hands as Seiji hand hit several soft spots on the mans body paralyzingly it in the stance it was in.
The weapon suddenly clanged on the stone floor. Kagome's tied eyes slowly opened. Finding herself on her side with her back to the window she slowly sat up and found her bed empty. However before she could wonder where Sesshomaru was the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Turning she saw the large man standing over her and her instincts kicked in. Kicking out a leg she hit him in the gut, which sent the would be assassin into her bodyguard that stood behind him. She crawled across the bed and in a flash of light her sword appeared in her hand.
Coming around the bed with her sword drawn she saw Seiji on top of the man hogtying the mans hands and feet together behind him. She watched him stand and turn towards her. It took her but a second to realize she was still naked. She gave a slight screech at this realization, dropped her sword and quickly turned and covered herself with her hands. Her face was bright red with embarrassment.
Seiji watched his mistress for a moment as she curled in upon herself and realized she was embarrassed. He smiled at this with kindness appearing in his eyes. Pulling his haori off he placed the garment over her body. "There Miss. You don't need to be embarrassed no more. I am here to protect you." This caused her to look up at him, her blue eyes filled with tears that had yet to fall. Seiji look back at the tied up man and growled. How dare this assassin try to harm this gentle lady.
Sesshomaru entered the large study and found Lord Hideki sitting on the couch with his face in his hands, his sword laid out on the floor and a piece of scroll paper crumpled in a wade. The bear lord had come to the west nearly eight hundred years ago to become a scholar for the west and since then had become one of the best scholars and teachers the west had ever had. Sesshomaru had been taught by this man and had never seen him in this kind of state, though a minor lord, Sesshomaru saw Hideki as a close friend and ally.
"Lord Hideki." Sesshomaru spoke the bear's name but so in tune with his grief he did not answer the Western Lord. Turning he spotted a young female crumpled into a ball in the corner of the room. It was Hideki's youngest daughter, Hikari. Her beautiful chocolate colored hair that was usually filled with decorative combs and chopsticks was in disarray, her eyes red from crying and face puffed up and wet from tears. Something bad had occurred this night. Bending down he outstretched his hand at the young girl. Her eyes looked up at him and his before tentatively placed her in his. Once standing he took the girl back to her father.
Once the girl was once again in her fathers arms the bear lord looked at Sesshomaru his brown face streaked with tears the two red horizontal stripes under his left eyes seemed to glow with his grief. "We have just received word of the village this one's family has guarded for centuries, having been destroyed by a human warlord and thousands of human samurai warriors." He hardened his eyes at the young Western Lord. "This one's life mate was carrying our next set of cubs and my eldest daughter with her husband were still there. They were all killed by this human." He snarled on the word human. "I want revenge." His claws dug into his daughter's body causing her to whimper. "Tell this Hideki that you are going to do something about this?"
Sesshomaru touched the bear lord's shoulder. "I am." He straightened himself. "This Sesshomaru is already gathering his allies and once we are ready we shall go to war."
The bear's eyes narrowed. "This one shall fight also." He stood at his full height. "I may be old, but there is still some fight left in these old bones." Sesshomaru gave a nod causing the bear to sigh. "I wished to speak to you earlier, but Lord Akihiko told me to wait until later."
"Akihiko?" Sesshomaru inquired wondering what that weasel knew.
"Yes." Hideki nodded. "He's the one that brought me the news." He looked down at his daughter. "I only just told her before you came inside." He looked at Sesshomaru with a raised eyebrow. "May I inquire why you are here at this time of night Lord Sesshomaru?"
Sesshomaru would've raised an eyebrow at this question had he not a better control over such things. "I came because you asked for this Sesshomaru."
The bear cocked his head at the lord. "This one did not call for you." He frowned before his eyes widened. "Where is your young mate? You did not leave her without a guard, did you?"
Sesshomaru felt a moment of panic, something he'd only felt once when he was a young pup when learning how to swim through water before he could form a youki cloud under his feet. He snarled as he realized somebody had tricked him in order to gain access to Kagome and like a fool, he'd fallen for it because most knew he respected the old bear enough to come when he called for him.
Turning on his heel he left the room, vaguely aware that Lord Hideki was following with sword in hand. Upon reaching the door that led to Kagome he was in for a sight. On the floor was a man dressed in black clothing, a dagger on the floor, his mate covered with another male's haori, her sword also on the floor and unknown male standing with his back to him.
Said male turned his head at hearing the door open. He went to one knee and bowed his head. "Mi'lord." He said. "I am Seiji. Mistress acquired me earlier in the day as her bodyguard. Lord Farley warned me of an attack on her person this evening."
Sesshomaru growled. "Did he say who was behind this?"
"He did not."
Sesshomaru clenched his fists. Closing his eyes he pushed his anger to the side and in a blink was holding Kagome to his body. Nuzzling the top of her head before shrugging out of his haori then throwing the one she was wearing towards the man bowing respectably. Lifting her chin so he could look into her eyes he found unshed tears there. Nipping her jaw then rubbed his cheek against hers in apology. Looking over her shoulder at the man tied up he spoke with a deadly tone. "Take that man to a cell. I shall decide what's to be his fate after my time with my mate is over." He watched Hideki help Seiji to drag the man out of the room.
Sesshomaru then turned his attention towards Kagome and began to kiss her reverently, as if to worship her and be thankful to whatever kami was watching that she was safe. However before he could begin making love to her Kagome stopped him just as he was to take her nipple into his mouth and led him to their bed. "Hold me." She whispered as she laid down upon her side.
Laying down next to her, he pulled her body towards his and wrapped her in both his arms and in his fur. "Gladly." He purred into her ear. As he breathing evened out and became deep as she slept Sesshomaru could not find sleep. His thoughts were consumed by what he'd learned tonight. Another ally had lost their home and some family to the warlord and his men. He had people inside the palace trying to kill his mate. He had a murderer that was certain worked for Naraku's incarnations. Then he had the incarnations themselves to deal with.
Closing his eyes he found he had no answer for how to solve all these problems at once. It will take time. He thought. Time this one doesn't have to loose. His arms tightened around Kagome. Tomorrow this one will inquire Farley's assistance in routing out those who would harm my mate. Then this one will deal with the would be assassin and Fa's murderer. He closed his eyes and could see his beast nodding at this idea before finally finding sleep just as the first light of dawn was filtering through the curtains.
M-Angel: A tad shorter than I was expecting but I'm happy with this chapter. Hope everybody's week is going well. Hideki means splendid opportunity and Hikari is a unisex name meaning radiance.
