Chapter 1 – The West Speaks
She looked out at her land. She was the second woman to ever rule the kingdom of the east and she feared she would be the downfall of the east. Hers was a land of mikos, humans, and demons…or rather the land of half breeds as some knew it. She found it took extra effort to manage, but it was worth it. Now, as she tried to see beyond her limited scope to the very edge of her borders she wondered how long it would be until it was all gone.
Naraku was gaining power as well as popularity in the north. He wanted to cleanse the land, he said, and make it balanced once more. Humans on one side and demons on the other with no cross over. He didn't want to stop at that. He wanted to cleanse the world of half breeds and mikos because he felt balance could only happen with a two sided coin. If there was one thing Kagome knew it was that he wouldn't stop until the only thing left was him. He could spew his propaganda if he wanted, but she knew what he was.
"My Lady, a letter has arrived," she heard her maid call from inside.
She gave one last long look to her beautiful land before she turned and walked back inside. She sat at her desk just as her maid laid the letter before her. Kagome picked it up and almost dropped it. Just then Sango walked in.
"What is that?"
"I believe….this is a letter from the west," Kagome said in awe.
"Truly? So he finally speaks," Sango grunted.
Kagome smiled at her moody friend, but she also felt her frustration. She sighed as she ripped open the letter and began reading. It didn't take long as the man was a man of few words. She read it twice before she set it down and turned her wide eyes to Kagome.
"He is coming here." She was stunned.
"That's what the letter says?" Sango answer just as surprised.
Kagome looked at her general trying to figure out a puzzle that she didn't have all the pieces too. They had been in talks for months now about what to do about Naraku. Lord Kouga's response came hastily, as was his nature, and his strategy was less than ideal. However, at least he responded. His general, Ginta, seemed to have a little more sense about him, but he wasn't much help still. They had managed to assemble a couple times, all in the same room, but the only thing they agreed on was that nothing could succeed without Lord Sesshomaru of the West.
Now, she stared at a letter with the west's seal on it. He was coming to her. The only time he had reached out was to demand she keep him aware of the conversations being had in his absence and decisions being made which was none.
"He has never…"
"I am very aware of that," Kagome sighed.
"I suppose we should let Inuyasha know," Sango grimaced at the thought.
Kagome laughed, "I will do it obviously."
Sango sighed in relief and squared her shoulders once more, "I will get things in motion for his arrival…which will be?"
"2 weeks."
Sango just nodded and left the room without another word, but Kagome knew what she was thinking. Two weeks would not be enough time to ensure all her secrets would be kept.
"Well one issue at a time I guess," she sighed again as she stood up and adjusted her robes.
She walked out of her modest home and into the forest behind it. There at the heart of it she found the familiar little hut. He already knew she was there, but he was never one to go out of his way. She smiled softly as she walked to the door and let herself in. He was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed.
"Stop faking," she laughed,
He grinned and spoke without opening his eyes, "You could knock."
"Fair point."
"What's up?"
She sighed, "We finally heard from your brother."
He opened his eyes and frowned, "Yeah…so."
"He plans on visiting…"
"Visiting!? Here!?" He shouted as he sprang up.
"Inuyasha, please, remain calm."
"Kagome you can't let that maniac come here!"
"We don't have a choice! We can't make a move without him and you know that."
"What did Sango say?" He snapped back.
"She isn't thrilled, but she didn't argue," she snapped back.
"Kagome, he isn't like us and he doesn't trust you. He never has. He has questioned you from the start."
"We don't have the luxury of consulting only friends at this point. Can't you feel it?"
Inuyasha's ears dropped, "Yeah I do."
"He is getting stronger everyday now. His number increasing. This isn't about beliefs or politics. Sesshomaru is many things, but stupid is not one of them. Even he would have to understand that his kingdom will not go untouched."
"Yeah, but his kingdom is pure ain't it," he spat.
She sighed for what felt the hundredth time, "That doesn't matter. We've discussed this. It's not balance Naraku wants, it is control."
Inuyasha growled as he stormed past her and walked out of his hut. He hadn't reported to his brother in 20 years and he was ok with another 20 passing before they met again. He felt Kagome slowly step out of the hut as she got closer to him.
"Kagome…I can't protect you from him. He is too strong."
"I don't need you to," she said softly.
He sighed and focused on her face. She really was beautiful, he forgot that sometimes.
"What I need from you is support. Please, just trust me," she pleaded.
"Feh, it's your kingdom," he shrugged.
She smiled knowing she had won. She'd known him for 30 years and he never was a gracious loser. She knew how hard this was for him. She walked up to him and gently touched his cheek.
"Everything is going to be fine," she whispered.
He grunted, but didn't move away from her touch. He looked at her and suddenly he could see the young girl he found so many years before. Even then she had a way of always being right. He had to trust that.
"Come," she chirped as she gave his face one last pat, "let's go get some food!"
He almost laughed at her childishness, but followed as she spun around and began walking back to the house. It was moments like this he wondered how she stayed so young in spirit as the world weighed so heavily on her.
…
That night they sat in the dining hall laughing and talking loudly. Kagome had a formal dining hall reserved only for high level meetings. It was her preference to eat with everyone. She sat at a table with Sango, Inuyasha, and Shippo. Shippo was going a million miles a minute telling her about what he had learned in his tutoring that day. A few solider were laughing behind her. At the same table she smiled at a group of kitchen maids making eyes at those soldiers. Dinner was always her favorite part of the day.
"Kagome are you listening?" Shippo's eager little voice snapped her back.
"Sorry! Go on," she smiled.
"Listen runt we don't have time," Inuyasha spat.
"Inuyasha," Kagome reprimanded.
"You jerk!" Shippo screamed.
He threw some of fox fire and everyone laughed as Inuyasha's ear caught fire. Kagome laughed as she watched them. Looking at them now you wouldn't think Inuyasha was the one who found him. He had been on a scouting mission about 10 years ago and found him at the edge of their boarders. Inuyasha smelled his parents' bodies first, then quickly found him shaking in a bush. Kagome could only imagine how gently he picked him up and wrapped him in the outer layer of his clothing. He had presented him to Kagome and she wept as she looked at his tiny body, he was just a baby not even speaking yet. Now, she watched him talk and laugh and play. He had few memories of what his life was before she took him in as a ward.
"Ok Shippo, settle down," she smiled.
He puffed his chest and sat back down as he continued eating. Inuyasha glared at him as he rubbed his tender ear.
"Brat," he mumbled.
"Oh leave it," Sango elbowed him.
"Sango how are things coming along?"
"We have the guest wing set and ready to go," she mumbled as she eyed Inuyasha.
"You are actually going to let him stay in here!"
"Of course, he is lord of the west," came Kagome's exasperated response.
"Where else would you have us keep him?" Sango shouted.
"There are plenty of homes down river," he mumbled.
"From you!?" Kagome snorted.
"What's that mean!?"
"We can NOT make the lord of the west reside in a hut in the forest, Inuyasha! Be reasonable."
"Fine! I'm staying here too then!"
Kagome rubbed her temples and sighed loudly, "Fine."
Sango almost laughed, "I will have them prepare another room."
Suddenly, Inuyasha slapped his cheek and rolled his eyes. He presented his hand to Kagome where she saw a very flat version of Myoga. He had advised the last 3 generations of rulers of the east and Kagome found him ridiculous, but invaluable.
"Myoga," she laughed.
"Always worth it," he squeaked out.
"To what do we owe the pleasure?"
"Well, my Lady, I've caught wind Lord Sesshomaru will be gracing us with his presence."
"Keh, you got any NEW information for us," Inuyasha shouted.
He ignored Inuyasha and kept his focus on Kagome, "I am here to offer a suggestion."
"Go on," Kagome prompted.
"Perhaps we should also bring Lord Kouga. There's a change we will not be able to ever get the three of you together in one room again."
Kagome sat back and thought to herself while Inuyasha thought out loud.
"Great, now I have to deal with both of them at once," Inuyasha grumbled.
"I think it is smart," Sango responded.
"I guess it's not terrible…I trust Kouga, but he is an idiot."
"An idiot who could piss of Lord Sesshomaru," Kagome sighed.
"All that aside, it is the best choice," Myoga insisted.
Kagome sighed as they continued to debate. She did feel this was the best option, but she couldn't deny all the possible outcomes that wouldn't serve anyone. She remembered the first time she had met Sesshomaru. It had not gone well.
There she was dazed and confused at the bottom of a well, but the well was different now. She looked up at blue skies instead of a wooden ceiling. Then, she noticed her ankle. She whimpered as she tried to assess how bad her ankle was. She was started to panic as her heart began beating hard in her chest.
"Ok, Kagome, calm down," she tried to reason.
She again looked around and up trying to understand what happened. Her head began to throb, that's when she put her hand up and her fingers came back bloody. She had hit her head. Her eyes went wide as she looked at the blood.
"Oh no, Kagome, what happened…no! Its ok! Calm down," she was getting frantic.
"Oi, what's the noise about?" She heard a gruff voice above her.
Then, she lifted her eyes to see a set of amber eyes and a set of white ears. She fainted. Inuyasha had jumped down the well and scooped her up. He questioned her odd clothing, but ignored it as she began to stir. He set her down and backed a few feet away. He could feel power in her. He sat back on his heels and planted his claws in the grass.
Slowly she blinked her eyes open and could tell right away she was no longer in the well. She slowly sat up and grabbed her head as she felt more blood fall. Then, she looked up and saw those Amber eyes again.
He flinched as she screamed, "Hey! Don't scream," she snapped.
She noticed his ears go flat and she tried to calm herself, "Who…what are you?"
"What the hell kind of question is that?" He laughed as he stood up.
She opened her mouth to argue when she noticed someone else walking toward them.
"Inuyasha, I gave you a simple task," came a deep and smooth voice.
"Keh, I know," he barked back without taking his eyes off Kagome.
"Then, what exactly has stopped you from scouting my path to the eastern kingdom," he said calmly.
"Didn't you feel the well?"
Sesshomaru finally stepped into view, "I did, have you not dealt with it yet?"
Kagome watched as Inuyasha rolled his eyes and finally looked over his shoulder. Then, she looked over his shoulder as well and her mouth fell open. What she saw something entirely not of this world. He was tall, impossibly tall, and broad. He had silver hair that almost swept the grass and an outfit that she had only seen the rival of on Broadway. His face was sharp and smooth. He had markings on his cheeks and eyelids, but the moon on his forehead captured her.
"Hm, what do we have here?" He spoke slowly.
"That's what Im trying to figure out," Inuysaha said as he eyed her clothing again.
Sesshomaru could feel something just under the surface, but it was too dormant to really know what. He took in her clothing, scandalous as it was, and her petite frame. Her face was simple and soft, but her eyes were the oddest shade of brown he had seen.
"Well, no need to strain yourself. If she is a threat, kill her and let us move on," he sounded bored.
"We can't kill someone found on her lands," Inuyasha shot back.
Sesshomaru looked sharply at his brother and opened his mouth to retort when she finally snapped out of it.
"Hey! Stop talking about me like I'm not RIGHT here! And kill me!? Are you insane? You can't just go around killing people. My name is Kagome. I don't know where I am or what's happening, but I haven't don't anything to either of you. Why don't you just leave me alone and go on with your lives," her rant subsided with a harsh sigh.
Inuyasha looked at her with wide eyes. He had never heard anyone, let alone a woman, talk to Sesshomaru that way. He almost laughed, but Sesshomaru acted first. He was across the clearing in a second and had her by the throat.
Kagome blinked hard. Her mind couldn't keep up with any of this, but it caught on fairly quick to her strained breathing and her toes just barely touching the ground under her. Both her hands went to the hand at her throat. She set her jaw and looked him directly in the eyes as her grip on him tightened.
"What are you doing?" Came her strained whisper.
"You dare to speak to me like that," he sneered.
"Let go," she demanded.
Inuyasha was in a state of shock as he watched the showdown before him. Sesshomaru hadn't killed her yet which was odd, but the girl wasn't afraid which was even stranger.
Sesshomaru pulled her closer and tightened his grip. Kagome could feel his body against hers which distracted her from his grip for a moment. Her feet were now dangling under her and her head was starting to swim. However, she set her eyes on his face and wouldn't let in. Sesshomaru couldn't believe her stubbornness or will for that matter. He looked at her face noticing a few light freckles and a strange hue of red to her eyes. What was she?
"Sesshomaru just leave her," Inuyasha growled.
"Excuse me?" Came his dangerous response.
"She hasn't done anything and she isn't hurting anyone," he snapped.
"She is defiant and you can't be blind enough to find nothing off about her."
Now, her head was swimming and Sesshomaru could feel her heart slow. For some reason he didn't feel right killing her. He hadn't planned on it. However, a lesson in fear seemed necessary. He let her go and watched as she crumpled in on herself.
"She is your problem Inuyasha. I grow tired of this land already. You may complete this visit to the east. Go on, play ambassador little brother," he sighed.
Inuyasha really couldn't stand him, but accepted the win. He just nodded as Sesshomaru turned around and headed home. He ran to Kagome to check her pulse and she was already coming to. She slowly sat up and watched his silver hair fade in the forest. Then, he turned and leveled her with one last look to which she didn't not flinch or look away.
Kagome sighed again as she came back to her present. That was the first and last time they met. Since then it has been few letters in between and Inuyasha as a mouth piece. Inuyasha resided full time in the east the last 20 years. Kagome was never told if that was a punishment inflicted by Sesshomaru or a request made by Inuyasha.
"Oi, what's it gonna be?" Inuyasha barked.
"Don't bark at me," she snapped.
Inuyasha's ears flattened. From the day he found her there was just something about her that made him soft. He didn't like seeing her helpless at the bottom of that well, it turned his stomach. Then seeing her hanging from his brother's grip. He couldn't explain it then and still couldn't.
"Lord Kouga will join us as well. Sango please prepare his room in the guest wing, but do keep them on separate ends. Inuyasha's room will be next to mine. Now, can we just enjoy our meal," she pleaded.
Everyone smiled and nodded as they picked back up on light conversation. Kagome sat back and enjoyed the chatter. It reminded her of what life used to be like for her. 14 year old Kagome had no idea how good her sweet, simple life was.
Author's Note:
Hey guys! So it has been about 4 years since I wrote something and i am so happy to be back! I am trying to go for something different this time around, but not radically. I hope you all love it. I look forward to constructive feedback of course! Also, one thing you'll notice is less upfront description of the main players because at this point we all know what the cast of Inuyasha looks like haha.
LOVE!