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Seira hadn't any idea what lady Harumi meant when she said there was something urgent that needed fixing immediately, and by the looks of it the ryu was just as lost as she was, if the glare he pinned on the demoness was any inclination of his thoughts.
What was she planning? The younger demoness thought while gazing at her mother curiously, seeing the harsh lines set at the corners of her mouth. It was nothing new, her expression; because she had seen it many times, and often-times it was a forerunner, a sign of things to come, and it was not always something pleasant.
But the ryu wasn't fooled because he knew the woman to be quite devious. Smiling internally at first he thought on her statement and wondered what kind of twisted game she'd conjured up, and how he would be affected by it? His smile when it came to the surface crinkled the corners of his eyes briefly then smoothed as he spoke. "Stop with the games and say what is on your mind."
The demoness chuckled at his impatience and then faced him as she spoke. "Alright, since you insist, this is what I have to say. I am appointing Seira as my sole heir, and if you Ryoma," and she paused; his name on her lips were spiteful and unfeeling and it provoked and almost brought to the surface the monster that was his nature, a sensation of blood-lust welled up into his heart, because once again the female had not kept her word. Standing quickly and turning away from them he tried and succeeded in calming his wayward thoughts.
When next he looked at the lady it was with contempt. But then for a moment the demoness hesitated, looked deep into his eyes, and the narrow- eyed assessment in his gaze made her flinch back away from it, for there was poison and danger reflected there, as silvery blue eyes turned opaque.
Just what was going through that cold, calculating mind of his? She wondered. Lady Harumi may have finally met her match, but still that thought, or was it fear wasn't enough to stop her. And so she continued. "If you want any part in the aristocracy of the west then you will mate Seira…Or leave and never return." Goading eyes stared at him, challenging him, and for a moment he was stunned him into silence.
"What…?" Seira began then froze as she saw the flicker of annoyance and the cold glare of her mother. However, lord Ryoma still remained quiet while struggling with himself not to kill them both, because such rash and violent thoughts would only spoil his well laid plans. Having emerged from his withdrawn silence at last the ryu seemed determined to continue, although the war that raged inside him to stay unemotional was slipping fast.
Turning to Seira who now stood beside lady Harumi with displeasure clearly written on her face, with her brows crinkled and her mouth turned down in a scowl almost in likeness to a spoiled child, he perused her form; she was pretty and attractive, but he was not attracted to her. Such a dilemma was miniscule he reasoned if he wanted to attain his objectives.
His hard expression softened just a little as he decided to take on the challenges that lady Harumi threw at him. His changed expression almost defeated her, sweeping away almost all the strength that she'd mustered to say no. This was one time that she was going to refuse; she was going to defy her mother.
She actually staggered where she stood for a moment, uncertain fingers clutching at the chair for support. He looked as if he really cared, though she knew it was only a polite mask assumed by social necessity; one that she Seira would soon wipe off his handsome face when she threw her rejection in it.
Lady Harumi intervened when the two only glowered at each other. "Please, the sooner you both agree then the easier it will become for you to bond." And just as she finished saying those words, Ryoma opened his mouth to propose but Seira took the opportunity away from him. "Why in kami's name would I want you for a mate?" She said abruptly, her voice showing the scorn that was so clear in the coldness of her eyes, and the mocking smile on her lips. "You are a dragon and hated among my kind, and I will not dishonor myself by bearing impure offspring's fathered by you."
The wound to his pride burned like an open sore, but he would not insist because like her he did not want to tie himself down mated to someone he had no real affections for. Maybe her rejection would cause the older demoness to rethink her plans.
"I'm sorry you feel that way," he responded softly, knowing that the black fury and resentment that had filled his mind since lady Harumi had gone back on her word, and had come up with such an insane idea had unsettled him, but by the scorn and fury that the younger demoness had spat out at him, he understood perfectly her point of view, feeling a sense of relief as it washed over him, and if that was a weakness he did not mind it too much, because they were both caught up in the same horror.
The impasse continued as none of them would budge, neither wanted the other for a mate, but the elder demoness would have her way regardless.
"Ha-ha," the sound of lady mother's laughter filtered through the silence tightening the nerves into Seira's stomach, twisting sharply and painfully, and making her heart jump into a rapid uneven beat, while the dragon simply directed his gaze to the amused female and waited. "You and you," and she pointed at one then the other and continued. "None of you have a say in the matter, but I am fair and I will say this, if you want the trust and loyalty of most of the council members, make the gesture and form a lifelong union." It was food for thought and they both consumed it.
The long walk back to the house gave her time to think, while Sesshomaru carried the baby and the children followed closely behind. Now that she had her baby, what kind of future would they have? Because now that she was the biological mother of a half demon child, and a replacement mother for eight full demon children, worrying for their future became more profound and she understood very clearly, not that she hadn't before, but the need to ensure their survival grew tenfold. Accepting a future where her mate and children did not exist was not acceptable.
She, Sesshomaru and the few allies that they had would have to find a way to overthrow her mate's dam, but for now they would live on in peace, biding their time and doing what was necessary to repair the relationships between both their kinds.
Finding Shippo was on her need to do list, because he would have been back for several months now, and surely he would have been searching for her. And not even Inuyasha knew where they were. Sighing softly as her thoughts were all over the place, Sesshomaru stopped, gazed at her and then spoke. "Are you well Kagome?" he asked quietly, and with another sigh she responded. "No."
