Title: Tides Against Time
Rating: M (Language, Violence, and Adult Content)
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the Little Mermaid. All rights should go to Inuyasha Inc. Disney and Hans Christian Anderson.
Music: The song I have selected for this chapter is: "Beethoven - Symphony No. 7 in A minor op. 92 - II Alegretto." I love to listen to music on YouTube while I read to add to the atmosphere. You are welcome to listen along with my music selection if you want. It is not required. When you see these marks (***) that means to begin to play the selected song. When you see (xxx) this means to stop playing the music. It is important to pay attention to these marking as there is more than one song for this chapter. I do not have credit for these recordings or channels but I think it adds to the story.
NOTE: There are added characters to this chapter from the Inuyasha Series. I have no writes to them but if you wish to google their names you can see their descriptions and help you better picture who is speaking.
Tides Against Time: Debating Fate
Naraku strutted into the boardroom and settled into his seat. He positioned himself directly across from Sesshomaru so he would have front row seating for the battle that was soon to commence. He couldn't wait to see him beg on his hands and knees like the dog he was. Looking about the room he catches his eye with every one of his informants. Each and every one of them gave a subtle glance in return. All were filled with as much deceit as his. Hearing Sesshomaru bring the court into session he waits patiently in his seat as the court recites their national anthem and pledge of allegiance to the Spanish crown. Once they were done he drifted off into his own thoughts of what he was going to do first with his new kingdom. Looking about the room he notices the blue tapestries and banners around the room and the rich blood red carpet lining the boardroom floor. Their national symbol was woven throughout the room and the rich marble pillars showed the country's power and wealth. Despite the crescent moon reminding him of where he was, the overall ambiance of the room pleased him greatly. He knew that once his daughter was in charge of the maintenance and design of the castle he could easily slip in his family crest and remind those who served in the court who they truly swore allegiance to. Yes, he would enjoy this new source of power and wealth greatly.
Seeing a servant slip into the room he turned his eye to see what he was up to. He watches him make his way over to Sesshomaru and deliver a scroll with a red waxed seal on it. Curious to what it was he watches Sesshomaru carefully so not to miss anything. Not surprisingly his face remains stoic as ever and even when he motioned for Jaken to give the scroll to Saya he didn't get the chance to look upon the symbol embedded in the seal. To his add to his annoyance Saya held the scroll's seal away from him in his hand. Almost as if purposefully keeping it from his view. He was frustrated that he couldn't see it. Looking over to Takemaru he notices that he had his back to Sesshomaru. By his guess he had not seen the scroll be delivered. He only hoped whatever it was, Takemaru wouldn't be an idiot and over look it. Hearing the court mallet finish the debate that had been happening while he was watching Sesshomaru he refocuses his attention to the center of the room and catches Takemaru's eye. A wicked gleam flashes across them and he couldn't help but slightly smirk in anticipation. At last the order of business he had been waiting for had arrived. It was time to settle this contract for good.
(*** Beethoven - Symphony No. 7 in A minor op. 92 - II Allegretto ***)
"Before we being our last order of business by voting on the contract the court needs to review its contents. Need I remind you that all allegations and evidence in regards to the investigation was needed to be brought forward before the meeting and all evidence presented at court that was not properly reported and documented before hand will be unacceptable." said Takemaru as he looked about the room. "Will each house please step forward and review over the contract before we begin?"
After that each house stepped down and looked at the contract. Sesshomaru sat in his chair and watched as each member of his court looked over the contract. Seeing a few members of his house including Miroku give disapproving glances at the document he knew something was up. Keeping his face as stoic as possible so not revealing his suspicion he looked over to the Duke and about the room to see no one looking at him. He slowly pulled out a yellowed envelope and place it on the desk in front of him. He had a feeling something was going to happen so he was prepared. Seeing everyone make their way back to their seats he looks over to Miroku and the other five members of the court who had given question and saw their concerned reflecting in their eyes. Jaken then brought out all other forms including their voting document, notarization form, stamps and one form he could not make out. He could only guess the form was the medical investigation form Miroku had arranged.
"Now, let us begin our voting by…" Takemaru began to say.
"Excuse me Head Councilmen, but before we begin I would like to question the authenticity of the contract." High Priest Shinsen said earning side-glances and murmurs from others around the court.
"Yes, I too question the document." said Councilmen Shako.
"I as well." said Advisor Miroku.
"Well, having such strong objects to the document do pray tell the court what has drawn your concerns?!" Takemaru said surprised.
"There is a section of the contract I have found to be altered. Part of our investigation was drawn off of this particular section and it concerns me that it is no longer present. We would not have investigated this section of the contract otherwise." said Miroku.
"Yes, and I question the authenticity of our Lord's signature. As secretary it is my job to maintain the documents that Jaken files in our court system. I have experience with signature recognition and there are some angles and formations of the signature that concerns me." says Shako.
"And I do not detect his demonic signature within the document. Our Lord made sure to secure each and every one of his documents with a special seal that contained a signature of his demonic aura. That way his allies could always recognize his word against those who tried to impersonate him." says Shinsen.
"Is that not the original document? If not who's copy does this one belong to? asked Elder Sennin looking about the room while pointing to the contract in question.
"I assure you it is not mine for my copy is right here on my desk." Sesshomaru announced from his chair.
"Then who does this copy belong to?" asked Elder Sennin.
Hearing no response Takemaru turned his attention to the castle's retainer.
"Jacken, how did you come by this document?" Head Councilmen Takemaru asked.
"Well… I uh retrieved it from our castle library where all of our legal documents are filed! It was in my file I put together yesterday needed for our meeting today so I assumed being that it was in the file this morning that it was correct. With that said… all of the members of the court have access to those documents so someone could have easily switched something." said Jaken to the court nervously.
"Yes… this is very true. Lord Sessomaru? You say you have your Father's copy of the contract?" asked Takemaru trying regain his footing in the court.
"I do." Sesshomaru said as he passed the document to Jaken for him to place on the table before the court.
"I would like to compare the documents High Councilmen. If this document is indeed altered we will need to investigate the origins of the document and press charges for tampering." said Shako.
"Very well brother councilmen Shako." Takemaru said as he motioned towards the table in the middle of the boardroom.
"Jaken, could you please retrieve my eye glass and three documents with Lord Inu no Tashio's signature on them? I wish to show the court my concerns." asked Shako.
"Yes, and please make sure those documents have his seal on them." asked Shinsen.
"Of course! I'll retrieve them right away!" said Jaken as he bowed and left the room.
"How is it you came by this document my Lord?" asked Takemaru questioningly."I thought all of the items from your trip were lost at sea?"
"It was sent with a messenger separately from our ship so not to be lost." said Sesshomaru with no signs of being intimidated.
"I see…" Takemaru said questioning glare.
Before he could ask another interrogating question Jaken returned with the documents in his hand. As he made his way towards the table Shinsen, Shako and Miroku made their way down to the floor from their seats. Taking his eyeglass from Jaken Shako leans over the contract to inspect the signature more thoroughly. Looking at each signature closely he notices three imperfections in the signature. Looking at the document Sesshomaru gave him he see's a perfect impression. Pulling the three documents Jaken brought to compare he looks at each one. To the naked eye they all looked identical, including the document in question. However, with his trained eye nothing got passed him. Satisfied with his evaluation he stepped aside to allow Shinsen his turn to look over the documents. Shinsen didn't even need to look. Comparing the document in question to the other documents on the table including the copy Sesshomaru gave there was no comparison. It was a fake. No doubt about it! Satisfied with his findings he stepped aside to allow Miroku to arrange the document to show which section he questioned. Once he had found what he was looking for he too stepped back from the table and the three of them looked up from the table to the court to present their findings.
"If those who desire to observe our findings or question our intent please step down to the table." Miroku stated the court.
Twenty representative from around the house stepped down to get a closer look. Shako laying the eyeglass close to the contract in question begins to share his concerns.
"If you take a look at all of the documents presented we can all agree they look identical." Councilmen Shako began.
"So the document is legitimate?" asked Elder Taigokumaru.
"No, and here are my reasons why." Shako said leaning over the contract making everyone huddle closer so they could see what he wanted to show them.
"If you look at Sesshomaru's contract and the three documents Jaken has provided for us from the library you can see that every curve and angle from start to finish is exactly the same. Every dot, crisscross and loop in the place it should be. If you take a look at the contract that is in question you can see here on the "T" in Tashio, its top crosses completely through the name before looping up at the end. In Sesshomaru's and the other documents the loop doesn't fully cover the "o" at the end but loops back to replace the dot for the "i." Also, the "u" in "Inu" loops into "no" with a small line indicating that he didn't fully lift up his quill when signing "Inu no." However, on the other document in question you can clearly see a small break to indicate the separation in his name. You can also see how dark the ink is compared to the others. The ink is even on every letter were as on the other's is thin and uneven. From my years of experience the gathering of ink indicates a slow hand painstakingly creating each letter where as with the others were formed quickly and with rapid motion. To help prove that I will give you an example."
Shako then took the quill and ink that was sitting on the table for them to sign documents with and pulled a blank sheet of paper out from one of the table drawers.
"I will be signing my name so you can see what I mean. If you watch carefully you can see as I quickly write my name… there are little speckles of ink that scatter near the lettering. If you look at Sesshomaru's document and the other documents presented you can see slight speckling as well. However when I write my name slower like so… the ink is thicker and there are no speckles of ink from rapid motion. Whoever wrote this document you can clearly see they took the time to indicate each letter where as with the others it was done by free hand without concentration."
"So what you are saying is that someone painstakingly forged the signature on this document and the one on Sesshomaru's and the other documents were from someone who was used to writing the name?" asked Miroku for clarification.
"Correct. With the signature having an insufficient "T" that is looped incorrectly, a "u" that doesn't flow into "no" and the impression of concentrated ink with lack of speckling I am of the impression that this document is forged." Shako said earning mumbles and debates throughout the court.
"To continue on that point I would like to point out that Inu no Tashio did not do anything without reason or considerable thought. He was consistent in his actions and was a master planner with everything he did." Shinsen began to say earning nods in agreement of what he was saying.
He then said, "Because of this it concerns me that this document which holds his "signature" and "seal" that it does not contain his demonic aura! This is a very important document and for him to have missed placing his seal and signature on anything of this importance concerns me. He would never "forget" to imprint it upon the document or rush through anything. Take a look at the examples Jaken has brought out for us. We have a farming contract, a letter to a friend, and an invitation for an afternoon luncheon. Each one of them bares his signature and seal infused with his aura. Why would he see fit to seal his aura into them but not both of his sons marriage contract?"
"So we are debating over the quality of a quill and the if's and if not's of our Lord remembering to place his aura in his seal?" scoffed councilmen Byakuya. "I'm sorry but these accusations are subpar. Who are we to say what our Lord was doing in that moment? Can you rule out 100% that something could have happened to where he needed concentration to write his name? Or that something happened when he was placing his seal that he couldn't infuse his aura?"
"No, no we cannot" said Shinsen said earning murmurs around the court.
"I see." Byakuya said as he turned away from the table to return to his seat with a smug look on his face.
As he went a few other members who had been standing around the table as well agreed with his statement and began to turn away. Just before they reached the steps Shinsen spoke his mind.
"However, I would like to point out once again to the court, councilmen Byakuya that our Lord did not rush nor was he forgetful or spontaneous. I as well as many members of the court knew him greatly and will agree your concerns are lacking. You are two summers younger than Lord Sesshomaru are you not?" asked Shinsen.
"I am. Why do you ask?" Byakuya said with a questioning glare.
"To simply remind the court that we should not doubt our fellow councilmen Shako of his experience or to imprint false impressions of our master when you did not know him personally as we elder members of the court did." Shinsen stated plainly.
"Touché High Priest Shinsen but regardless of me knowing him or not the point that there was still a chance that it could have happened needed to be addressed." Byakuya defended while glaring at him and making the court grow painfully quiet.
"(Clears throat) Anyways if I may High Councilmen Takemaru, I would like to show the court our final concern regarding the contract." said Miroku trying to redirect the court back to the task at hand.
"Please proceed Advisor Miroku. The hour grows late and I know we all need to begin preparing for the celebration tonight." Takemaru said with a hint of impatience.
"Of course. (Clears throat) If you all can think back to our last meeting we withheld from commencing the vote due to allegations regarding the contract. One of those allegations came from Content B in regards to the conditions for participants. As you can see from Sesshomaru's copy lines 3 and 4 state:
* Bride and Groom must be of age of maturity and bride must be of whole purity before marriage consummation.
As well as,
* Bride and Groom must be clear of any other mating mark or marriage contract.
On the other contract, these lines are missing! If these binding conditions were not of value I would not have issued a health and wellness inspection this afternoon to check if the Ladies were of purity or not and could bare our Lord and Prince strong heirs!" Miroku defended.
"YOU'RE DOING WHAT TO MY DAUGHTERS?" shouted the Duke angrily. "Who are you to invade their personal privacy?! I do not recall seeing any document requesting any such allegations or going through me first?! They are unmated women of society and deserve some respect!"
At his outburst the court erupted in yelling and arguing. The Duke continued to shout as Takemarue tried to retake the floor.
"(KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK) ORDER! (KNOCK KNOCK) ORDER IN THE COURT!" he shouted over his mallet.
After a few more shouts and knocks from his mallet the court settled back down enough for him to respond to the new development.
"Advisor Miroku! I am surprised!" Takemaru said while shaking his head. "If your investigation felt the need to request such a scandal you should have properly came through the court system! Now these poor Ladies will have to face social humiliation for our insensitiveness and we as a court will have to make a public apology. Thus only further embarrassing them!"
"Need not worry High Councilmen! I assure you our investigation proceeded with the highest care and privacy. We also made sure to report our investigation and claims accordingly." Miroku said while walking over to the table, picking up his investigation request and then handing it to Takemaru. "If you take a look at this document it bares the signatures of two members from each house as well as a time stamp with Jaken's signature to insure it was presented before the court accordingly. It's also legally filled out for both countries laws and regulations."
Takemaru nearly ripped the document out of his hand and quickly looked it over. Sure enough he had done everything legally. Taking a look at the details of the investigation it required both Kanna and Kagura to participate in a full body examination to determine if in fact they were of purity and could properly bare strong healthy heirs. Not to mention their inspection by now had already been completed while they were in the meeting. They had already missed their chance to stop them. He did not see this coming.
"Is it all accounted for High Councilmen Takemaru?" asked Elder Taigokumaru as he extended his hand out to look at it.
"It is." stated Takemaru as he passed him the document. Murmurs and whispers spread across the room as the document continued to be passed around.
"This is completely uncalled for! You go behind the back of England by keeping us in the dark so my daughters cannot have a say so over their own bodies?" shouted Naraku angrily.
"Actually with the contract requiring both of your daughters to be of purity before their marriage consummation, the court had every legal right to investigate. We had to secure Spain was not being weaseled out of any false claims." Miroku stated impassively. "We made sure to take great care in securing the best medical care our country could provide and maintained extreme privacy to keep your daughters investigation in the dark. Which is why many of you had not heard of it. No one outside of the court will know of your daughters results thus securing their standing in society."
"So this contract in question, did not list this binding requirement you were investigating?" asked Elder Sennin.
"That is correct Elder Sennin. We would not have investigated their purity if we had not read on Sesshomaru's contract saying it was a binding requirement." Miroku said.
"By the sounds of it, this document that no one here know's how it came into our possession is leaning towards fraude!" shouted Advisor O-Yakata.
"Yes! Faulty signatures, lack of demonic seals, unknown origins and missing content! It has to be true!" agreed High Priest Mushin.
"I say we put it to a vote!" Councilmen Nanushi shouted earning shouts in agreement.
"(KNOCK KNOCK) Order! (Knock) Settle back down in your seats!" barked Takemaru trying to calm the room back down. He had a bad feeling about this by the sway of their investigation. They definitely pulled the rug out on this one. Even if the contract came back bad he still had the human girl as leverage. After asking for the votes it come out to a slamming 87/13. The fact contract he and Naraku had made didn't work out. Now he just had to pray that the cloaking spells on Kagura would hold up. Lucky for the court, just as they finished voting three medical personnel were escorted into the boardroom.
"We have come to share our findings in regards to the medical evaluation." One of the healers said as she passed over their medical forms with signatures and results.
"And what were your findings? Please speak plainly as you can see we are no medical professionals." Takemaru said to the healer wanting to get it over and done with.
"As you can see from our charts and written results we have found both Lady Kanna and Kagura to be of perfect childbearing condition." she said happily.
"This is wonderful news!" Takemaru said while passing the documents to Jaken to file away.
"Yes but unfortunately Lady Kagura showed signs of resent sexual activity therefore failing in her purity inspection." The healer to her left said remorsefully.
"THEY LIE!" shouted Naraku angrily as he stood from his seat making it fall backwards onto the floor.
"SILENCE!" shouted Takemaru as he turned to look at him dangerously.
Once the Duke had sat back down he turned back to the healers. He could still hear the Duke swearing and muttering under his breath but he just ignored him. The Duke was loosing his cool and if he didn't take the reigns back now there was no hope in saving them now.
"You are certain of this?" he asked.
"We are positive. All three of us have over 30 years worth of experience under our belts and can say without a doubt that our findings are sound. We would not risk our reputations and practice by signing that form otherwise." said the last healer confidently.
"Thank you for your assistance and medical expertise in this investigation. Please remember to abide by client privacy and to withhold from sharing this information outside of this courtroom. Do you swear it under the witness of the gods and the Spanish Crown?" asked Takemaru as he raised his right arm.
"We swear it." the healers said together with their right hands raised, thus pledging their vow.
"Thank you. You may be dismissed." Takemaru said excusing them from the courtroom.
"How could you do such a thing to my daughter?! Now how am I to marry her off? Despite your efforts to keep this quiet, word will still get out and rumors will spread. You have disgraced her to being nothing better than a spinster!" the Duke shouted angrily to Sesshomaru.
"That is not my problem. Your daughter should have been faithful to me as the contract stated." Sesshomaru said uncaring.
"You're one to speak of faithfulness you backstabbing dog! I know of the human whore you keep in the first Lady's room!" Naraku barked back earning gasps in shock and a narrowed glare from Sesshomaru.
"That's right, I know of your dirty secret." Naraku taunted.
"You know nothing." Sesshomaru sneared back angrily.
"So you don't deny it?!" asked Councilmen Byakuya with a mocking shocked face.
"I do not deny I hold a woman in my future mate's bedchambers. The human in question is a dear friend to my brother and I and she has become deathly ill. With the added number of demons in the castle I placed her there as precautionary measures and have been calling her my cousin for her own safety. That is all." defended Sesshomaru.
"What human woman could be of such high importance to have gained such favor within the Tashio residence?" asked Takemaru curiously.
"She is the daughter of the Sea King and has gained my family's favor by saving my Father and I from drowning 50 years ago." said Sesshomaru confidenly.
"How is that possible? She is a human!" argued Taigokumaru.
"She was not always a human. She was cursed by a Sea Witch six days ago and was turned into a human. This curse unfortunately is slowly killing her. She deserves our highest respects for if it were not for her I would not be standing here today. When her sister came into contact with Inuyasha and I on the day of her curse she requested for her to remain in my care. As she is human now she was unable to return to the sea. I felt the Lady's room at the time was the best fit. I wanted to give her somewhere she could be safe and comfortable while I was in charge of her care." Sesshomaru defended.
"So by caring for the Sea King's daughter in her time of passing I take it we have gained a new alliance?" asked Shako.
"We have." said Sesshomaru as he relaxed back into his chair.
"This is wonderful! You must invite the lady to the celebration this evening!" suggested High Priest Goryōmaru.
"Yes! Yes! We could make a special acknowledgement for her in regards for her heroism!" agreed Councilmen Shako.
"I'm sure she would love to attend but I am unsure if she will have enough energy to participate." Sesshomaru cautioned.
"But of course! We mustn't push. She is dying after all. It would be a such a shame for something terrible to happen to her at the party with her under our protection." Takemaru said as he returned to his podium.
"Indeed." Sesshomaru said with a question glare.
"Well before we end our meeting we need to come to a final decision regarding our Lord and Lady Kagura." Takemarue said as he prepared for their voting.
"What's to decide?! The contract is void!" argued Elder Saya.
"Agreed, the contract no longer holds true for them. But what of our Prince and Lady Kanna?" asked Advisor Izumo.
"The hour grows late. I say we reconvene our decision for them upon another day. The contract does not state what we should do in regards to a split. This will need to be looked over considerably. However, I feel that at the moment Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Kagura's engagement should be void. They should be freed to choose whomever they decide to mate. If that means they decide to mate to each other despite the contract then we will go from there." suggested Miroku.
"All in favor of releasing Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Kagura from the contract agreement?" Takemaru asked the court while ignoring the mutterings of the Duke across the room.
"All in favor of postponing the contract and keeping it the way it is including Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Kagura?" asked Takemaru.
After taking the final count it came out to be 51/49. It was a close draw but Lord Sesshomaru was finally free from the Duke's demise. The Duke didn't even bother to stay for the closing ceremony for the court. He slammed open the court doors and huffed out of the room cursing for all to hear as he went. Sesshomaru just sat in his chair as he listened to Takemaru begin to close their meeting. A soft curl tilted onto his lip.
"Checkmate..." he thought to himself smugly.
He had beaten the old spider at his own game. Now just to free his brother of his web and they would be good to go. Hearing the final knock of the wooden mallet he goes to the table in the center of the room and picks up his copy of the contract, the medical results and the request form before slipping them into his yellowed envelope. Catching Miroku's eye they exchange quick smirks and then go their separate ways. Looking at the time he sees it was already 6:30. He needed to quickly lock away his copys and then clean up for the celebration. He would never hear the end of it if he didn't make it before his brother after scolding him this morning. Thinking over the courts desire to meet Kagome he thought better not to ask. As much as he would love to spend the evening with her she needed to rest as much as possible. He told himself as soon as he was no longer needed he would make an excuse and spend the rest of his night with her. It was Inuyasha's party, not his. Decision made he slipped into his office, locked his copy away and then quickly bathed, dressed and tied his hair back in a low ponytail. Seeing the sun finally set he slips out his door and makes his way to the banquet hall doors. So much planning and organizing had gone into tonight. He couldn't wait for it be over and for his life to get back to normal. That is... everything but Kagome. Yes, everything but her. Now that he was a free man he would find this Urasue, make her reverse Kagame's curse, heal her and then convince the court that his union with her would be beneficial to the entire Kingdom. As he looked out into the sea of people dressed in the finest while dancing and drinking to their hearts content all he could think about was what his little mermaid was doing and how he wished she were here.
(End of Chapter 32)
(Yay! Serves Naraku and Takemaru right! Will Sesshomaru be able to get in touch with Urasue? What about Takemaru's threat towards Kagome? Will anything become of it? And what about the rest of the contract? Inuyasha is already mated! If they cannot successfully turn him into a merman will he be forced to void his mating with Kikyo and fulfill the contract to Kanna? Also, its Inuyasha's celebration party! Will Inuyasha making it in time and if he does what will be the outcome of his new development? Only time will tell! Be sure to follow along to find out! Thanks again for reading. Let me know your thoughts. More chapters to come!)