Chapter 2:
Kagome watched as her mate's office emptied out. The creature had not risen from his position, nor did he seemed inclined to move any time soon.
Sesshoumaru walked around the genuflecting Kirin to stand in the center of the room. He didn't even glance back when he asked, "What use do I have for your throne?"
Kouki raised his head, confused. "You would be king."
Kagome sighed. Obviously, the Kirin didn't quite understand, "Kouki-san, what he means is-" A quick glance from her husband quieted her.
"You offer me a throne, yet disregard the one I have now." Sesshoumaru turned. "This throne has been in my family for generations. From the time of my grandfather's grandfather's great-grandfather. Eight generations of Inu Lords have governed the West. Nearly 8,000 years, has my family fought and protected our domain. My fore-fathers have shed their life's blood for these lands. Thus, I ask yet again, what use have I for your throne?"
Kouki stiffened. He knew the great youkai before him would be forced to give up his home if he accepted, Kouki never realized just how important this particular home was. He remembered how Enki had explained that his king was a taika and Lord Shoryu had been relieved to have his own kingdom.
"The throne I offer comes with immortality," he informed his chosen king' hoping to entice him.
Sesshoumaru barely managed to contain a snort. " As powerful as I am, the only death I have to fear is in battle."
"You're wife is human. Would you not lose her to time?"
The Inu Lord gave a frighteningly feral grin. "As if This Sesshoumaru would allow something as trivial as time take his mate." His grin grew when he saw his little mate's blush. His eyes bled red as his youki pulsed, steadily growing stronger. "Kagome belongs to me. This Sesshoumaru would enjoy the blood of any who would seek to take her from me."
Ichiro shifted just enough to remind his little nephew to restrain himself. Ah, but if he wasn't proud! The pup had truly gone and found himself such a worthy mate, blushing at his possessiveness. The adorable little miko had the poor pup wrapped around her deceivingly delicate fingers. The heavens knew she was just as horrifying as her mate when he wasn't looking. She was horrifying when he was looking too, but she preferred to act demure and allow her most terrifying husband defend her and Ichiro couldn't help but be amused at the endearing couple.
Sesshoumaru gave his uncle a glance from the corner of his eye and allowed his bloodlust to dissipate. He held back a smirk as he watched his mate's blush deepen. She always did look mesmerizing when she flushed such a delicious red. He looked back to the Kirin only to see him hunched over, clutching his chest.
"You would promise me a throne, and yet, you cannot even breathe in my presence."
Kouki used what little of his strength he could to push himself off the floor; his arms shaking with his weight. Never had he felt so week; never had he been so terrified. This man – this Youkai – was not like the bloodthirsty youma that decimated his home. The horrible creature that sought to destroy his home were less than nothing in the face of such terrifying power.
Kouki studied, truly studied, the youkai before him. Doubt started to creep into his mind, clouding it. Had he picked the right person? Had he reacted on impulse after witnessing the way others bowed to his might? He looked at Kagome. Surely, she would have been a better choice, with her compassionate nature. The very same nature which had prompted her to help him when she had no reason to.
Looking back to Sesshoumaru, Kouki asked himself again what had prompted him to choose such a terrifying being. A flash of his desolate country popped into his mind. The lands barren, the people starving and dying, the youma running rampant, and the ministry officials pocketing all the gold that should be helping the people. This Sesshoumaru had the will and the power to protect his people and destroy all who opposed him.
Ichiro sighed. Yes, these lands were his birthright, but even now, the pup was eclipsed by his father's shadow. Much as Ichiro was pained to admit it, almost 500 years later and the Elders still brought up Mamoru; second guessing Sesshoumaru's decisions because "Mamoru-sama would have been more understanding." Ichiro truly believed Sesshoumaru and Kagome's first daughter to have the best chance at taking her father's place. Yukiko had just enough of her mother's compassion and fierce temper to balance out her father's stoic one. His charming little niece had managed to out-stubborn her father on occasion, much to everyone's amusement.
"Sesshoumaru," he called out, "though all that's needed is experience, I believe Yukiko to be ready to take your place, should you decide to go through with this." Ichiro tilted his head as he turned to Kagome. "And with your mate's power to create portals, visiting should not be a problem."
Kagome startled at being mentioned, then frowned. "Ichiro-dono, I don't have that kind of power."
Ichiro furrowed his brow, "Kagome, you have been creating portals, though small, for the past 70 years. Though they open for no more than a few heart beats, they are there." At her widening eyes, he continued, "The portals usually show a shrine of some sort or a rather impressive staircase."
Kagome fell to her knees as she covered her mouth. Eyes watering, she felt her husband's arms around her. After the well had been destroyed, Kagome had been devastated. She had exhausted herself multiple times trying to pour her spiritual power into the well, hoping to get it to open after having been rebuilt. Having no way of returning home had sent her into a spiraling depression that only the cold inu had been able to get her out of. No one was quite sure how any of it had happened, but it was this help that had caused her to fall in love with stoic inu.
Ichiro's eyes softened. "If you practice this gift, I see no reason why you can't go on to better things. Yukiko is ready and after you've secured your reign, you can always visit. Though I do suggest, Kagome, that you create an anchor so that you may always find your way back."
"I can go back. I can visit mama, grandpa, and Souta. I can introduce you to my mother." Kagome whispered as she cried into her husband's shoulder, "I can visit my mother, Sesshoumaru. I can visit my mama."
Sesshoumaru held his mate just a little bit tighter as he spoke into her ear, "When you have mastered your new-found power, we will take a couple of weeks to visit with her, my mate. I would be honored to meet your mother." He knew there were times Kagome missed her mother terribly, and it affected her more than she let on. He knew being able to see her mother after all this time was exactly what she needed. He was just sorry the opportunity to see her mother hadn't happened sooner.
Kouki tried not to fidget at the emotional display. He felt any small movement would interrupt the incredibly intense moment between the two. He did feel awkward as he didn't have a mother, but seeing Kagome did have him wondering, if only for a moment, what having a mother felt like. It also made him miss Lady Gyoukusei something fierce.
"Honorable Uncle-"
Ichiro sighed. "Nephew, you know, even after all these years, you still live in Mamoru's shadow." At Sesshoumaru's grimace, slight though it was, and he only noticed due to having helped raise the pup from infancy, he continued, "After your mate has perfected her ability, go. Do not let the West tie you down and prevent you from something truly great. Yukiko is more than ready, despite her youth, and This Ichiro will help her when she needs it. I will not let my brother's lands fall, nor will I see Yukiko fail."
"Ichiro-dono." Kagome whispered when she finally calmed down.
Ichiro smiled softly. "Kagome, you and your mate should go. Take the youngest of your children and leave the eldest to support your daughter. As I said, you can always visit."
Sesshoumaru frowned. "My goal for so many years-"
"Now you will have something even your father never had: A kingdom of his own, to make in his own image, to make your own laws and traditions. You will have a country that is entirely yours, in a land your father has never touched. I know you are getting increasingly frustrated with the elders. They will not be able to control Yukiko as they've tried to control you."
Ichiro closed his eyes as he sighed. Opening them once more, he regarded the young couple in front of him. "I gave up my right to lead the West as I did not see myself as a capable leader. My brother proved himself the better choice when he took the reins; a much better choice than I could ever have been. As I said before, This Ichiro will not let Yukiko fail. This Ichiro will make sure she succeeds, as will Hironori."
"My Eldest, my should be heir-"
"Prefers the intrigues of court to ruling, making him a far better Master for your daughter than he would a Lord of the West."
Kouki stood and positioned himself by the desk Sesshoumaru had been sitting behind. Knowing his death would come should his king deny him, he composed himself as best he could. "I shall take my leave, so you may make your decision."
Ichiro nodded. "I, too, shall take my leave and have a room prepared for the Kirin with a guard just to be safe." Before the young Lord could interject, he raised his hand. "The guards will be hand picked by me. There is no need for any to know more than their assignment. Have no fear, nephew, I shall house Kouki-san in my guest quarters.
Sesshoumaru studied the Kirin from the corner of his eye one last time, before giving one final, albeit slow, nod.
Ichiro gestured for Kouki to follow him through the door. He released the slightest flare of youki to call the captain of his personal guard. He felt the young creature startle and held back a chuckle. The young were always so entertaining! He could only hope the pup took Kouki up on his offer so Kagome could amuse him with tales of her mate's adventures. The pup truly rubbed people the wrong way. The best part was when others couldn't tell when the younger inu was needling them! Truly, this new world wouldn't know what hit them, when the chaotic duo and their crazy pups were unleashed upon them!
They barely made it down the second hall when a youkai with hair as black as a raven's wing appeared. Though the initial appearance surprised Kouki, this being didn't instill the same level of terror as the silver haired Lord from before.
The black inu bowed upon their approach. "You summoned me, Ichiro-dono."
Ichiro gave a shallow nod. "Hiroki, we have a guest. Have a servant prepare one of my guest rooms. This One would like Takeo and Mizuhiko to be posted outside his doors. After which, I would like you to meet me in my office. We have things to discuss."
The inu known as Hiroki gave a sharp nod before vanishing entirely to do as ordered.
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As soon as the doors closed, Kagome flopped onto one of the chairs.
"Sessh-"
"Mate-"
Kagome watched her husband sink into a chair opposite of her. "As much as I know you don't want to hear it, Ichiro is right." She watched him carefully. "The longer you're in charge, the more they compare you with your father. They refuse to let him go and honestly with the way they constantly question you, it seems like they don't accept you." She sighed. "Sesshoumaru, my love, my life, they are slowly killing your spirit and that kills me."
Sesshoumaru looked at Kagome sharply, but allowed himself to slump. "Kagome-"
"My love, that they cannot see how great you are, nor how hard you work for your people, is their failing, not yours. You've done so much for them over the centuries and they still can't see you."
"Kagome," he began, "do you really think Yukiko will have an easier time dealing with the elders?"
Kagome watched her mate carefully. His defeated posture angered her and she did everything in her control to not unleash a hurricane of her reiryoku. Her brilliant, strong, loving, and deadly mate being reduced to second guessing himself never failed to infuriate her. That they would dare to destroy the spirit of one of the most beautiful souls was a travesty!
Taking a deep breath, she thought about her answer. "It's not that I think her more capable than you, it's more that she gets something from me that you will never have." At his adorably confused look, she elaborated, "A rather homicidal urge to punish those who would try to destroy you." Her demented smirk had him doing a double take before letting out a deep laugh. "I wouldn't doubt, with both our tempers, she'd have to decide on burning them with acid or purifying them with holy energy. Truth be told, I don't envy the tough choice she has to make," Kagome said as she shrugged her shoulders.
His deep laugh grew and Kagome gave a soft smile. His laugh was precious to her. It had taken years for him to truly let himself go in front of her. Centuries of carefully guarding his emotions from everyone had created a nearly impossible barrier to overcome for their family. Even then, he only allowed himself to show such expressions behind closed doors.
After he laughed himself out. He put his hand to his head. "I have been fighting to protect our ancestors' lands since InuYasha was born. To be Lord of the West was all I'd ever wanted for so long. To be as great, or greater, a Lord than my father ever was." He dropped his hand and turned to his mate, who had switch chairs sometime during their talks. "Do you think I should take his offer?"
Kagome cradled his face in her hands. "I think that in a century or two, if you are still here, the elders may defeat you in spirit. Yes, going to Kou will be a battle in a similar war, but I believe the only difference is they are complacent in their power. The others will not challenge you to take your power, but to see how much they can get away with. They already know they will never rule, or it would have happened for them. They know they will have a ruler. Here, they seek to destroy you in the hopes of claiming your lands for their own."
"And if they try to foist their sons on our daughter?"
Kagome gave a not so lady-like snort. "Then they will no longer have sons."
Sesshoumaru gave a small chuckle. "This is true."
It had happened once before and said elder had found himself a son less when they wouldn't take no for an answer.
He sighed, "Being Lord of the West has been my life for as long as I can remember. I was raised for this."
Kagome brushed her thumbs along his crests. "Oh, Sesshoumaru." She looked into eyes that always reminded her of molten gold. "Have you decided?"
Sesshoumaru kissed her hands as he gathered them together. "We leave as soon as you have mastered your new power. In the meantime, I shall train Yukiko to take over my place as Lady of the West." He sighed.
"I understand your hesitation. Yukiko is rather young, but she takes after both of us with her brains. All that is left is for time to temper her temper."
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And so time flew. Six years after the arrival of Kouki, the Taihou of the land of Kou, Sesshoumaru of the West handed over the reins to his daughter Yukiko, Lady of the Western Lands.
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"Make sure you keep that in a safe place." Kagome muttered through her tears.
"Don't worry, mama, everything will be okay."
"Yeah, mom." Haruhiko interrupted, "Won't you be back in like 10 years anyway?"
Shippou bopped his younger brother on the head. "That's not the point. Mama hasn't gone that long without seeing all her kids. Besides, 10 years is her earliest guess. They might be gone longer depending on how long it takes papa to clear his lands." He looked back at Kagome, "Don't worry mama, I'll do my best to keep the runts safe."
Shouts of "Hey!" and a random thrown rock or five were his siblings' responses.
Kagome gave a watery laugh before kissing all the children she would be leaving behind on the forehead.
Checking to make sure the youngest of their children were properly situated, Kagome and Sesshoumaru gave final goodbyes before creating a barrier around them so Kouki could open a shoku to what would become their new home.
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A/N: Hello everyone! I know I have been gone for a really long time. I do apologize for that. Life does happen and I can only thank you for the incredible amount of patience you have shown me. It may still take me a while to upload more chapters to my other stories, but I have not forgotten about them and you!
Thank you again
~Demented and Milkshake-sama
*Shoku – a magical storm that connects the 12 kingdoms to Horai (Japan) and Kan (China)