A/N: Aldana ruth managed to get another review in before this chapter appeared, so thank you. The end of the story is near, folks. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al.

One Hanyou Too Many

An Omiai To Die For

Kagura read the letter in her hand twice before fully comprehending the implications. She'd known that Naraku had been meeting someone on the sly, but she hadn't realized it was Sesshoumaru's mother. The last time they'd seen each other, he'd barely said two words before flying off in the opposite direction. If he'd ever had any romantic feelings for her, surely they'd long since disappeared.

Her so-called "father" was constantly trying to kill him, and his half-brother. Dog demons were a rare bunch she'd learned. Even if Sesshoumaru hated Inuyasha, if someone besides him were to kill him, Kagura didn't like the odds of that person getting to live. She often had to pretend to try, but these days it was a half-hearted effort at best. Perhaps that had endeared her to him, and he just wasn't letting on so that Naraku didn't take it out on her. He had a nasty habit of squeezing her heart when things didn't go his way. Was his mother acting as a go-between?

"A rare opportunity, isn't it?" Naraku asked casually. He was busy preening and Kagura had to hold back the urge to roll her eyes.

"The chance to meet actual demon nobility and get recognized by them, or get engaged?" She asked flippantly.

"Either, both," he returned, finally turning to face her. "The Lady of the Moon is an interesting woman. I do not believe I've met anyone quite like her."

"Are you not suspicious?" the wind sorceress asked. "She is Sesshoumaru's mother. You've tried to kill her son. I don't think she would have taken too kindly to that."

"That's what makes her unique. One would think a mother's rage would have caused her to lop off my head, or at least try. She's rather cold where her son's well-being is concerned."

"Is she?" Kagura asked. Perhaps the woman was just biding her time.

"She is; and it appears she holds no affection for Inuyasha at all."

"She isn't his mother," Kagura pointed out dryly.

"True. That means that despite their kind's rarity, she will not mind if I kill both at some point."

"You would make me a widow so soon?"

"Well, perhaps we should wait until the marriage bears some fruit first. You'd be in a better position if you were carrying the heir to the Western Lands and the House of the Moon."

"Gee, thanks." Kagura raised her fan so that he couldn't see her expression clearly. "She is offering much. What does she ask in return?"

"A simple bauble. Your heart, to control as she wishes."

"You would give it to her?"

"I would loan it to her, yes. It's a simple matter to take back, after all, she is only a woman."

Kagura pretended to ponder things, the putrid smell of the chamber they were in making her want to gag. "It does have merit," she finally answered.

"Another way to twist the knife into those brothers as well. The lady says her son knows nothing of this proposal."

She highly doubted that. "If this fits in with your plans, I see no reason not to follow through. I can pretend for the sake of the grand scheme of things. It's only until I conceive, after all. Shouldn't take too long."

"Very well. Farsighted of me to make you a fully functioning woman."

Kagura pulled a face behind her fan and excused herself. The Hell Wasps followed, and she had to bite back the urge to destroy every last one of them. Kanna waited out in the hall, her mirror reflecting what little light there was. "Congratulate me, sister, it seems I am to be a bride."

"I wish you joy," the mirror child said without emotion. "Does Master have need of me?"

"Eh, you'd better go see if he wants anything. He and I have a trip to prepare for. You and Kohaku are going to have take turns guarding that heart of his." Maybe with some luck, she could convince her future mother-in-law to allow her to slice it in two at some point. The smaller youkai bowed and entered the room to see if she could help her creator. Kagura watched her go, a slight frown on her face.

It might be the last time she saw her alive.

Sesshoumaru and his mother were in the same position waiting for Naraku and Kagura as they had been to welcome the four generals. Their clothing was formal, but they were not armed for war as they had been before. "He is near," the demon lord sneered. The disgusting stench was unmistakable.

"He is," his mother agreed.

"Kagura is with him as well."

"It only remains to be seen whether he came himself, or if sent a golem."

"He would have been smart to do the latter, but you have intrigued him, I think."

"Like a fool he underestimates women. If we are to have any power in this world, we must snatch for ourselves when the opportunity arises. I have been on this earth for many centuries and have learned how to put men in their place."

"I do not underestimate females. You should be wary of Kagura. She might hate Naraku, but there is no guarantee that she will side with us when the time comes."

"If she believes that there is a chance to have her heart, I believe she'll play along for the moment."

"I bow to your wisdom," the young Taisho said just as their enemy came into sight. His brother and company were well hidden, as was Rin and Yukari. The generals had made sure to keep them out of danger. It would be a careful balancing act until they could rip both Kagura's heart and the shard of the Shikon Jewel Naraku possessed away from the insidious beast. Byakko had left for the moment, but he had promised to stay near. If he were there, Naraku might catch on that this was a trap. The Four Cardinal Beasts did not show up for simple weddings.

Naraku had once again "improved" himself from the last time Sesshoumaru saw him and it was clear that simply slicing him in two was not going to be an easy feat. He had some sort of armor around his chest, as if he has something to protect. "My Lady of the Moon, I was most honored by your invitation."

"It was my pleasure, dear sir. Kagura, is that you? My, you do clean up well, don't you?" The Honorable Mother smiled in approval of the wind sorceress' wardrobe change. The girl was definitely playing the part of the expectant bride perfectly.

"Thank you," the younger demoness said. She was not at all comfortable in the tight-fitting kimono, but they were guests in someone's home, and it was supposed to be her marriage betrothal. Kagura bowed as low as she could and rose to find gold eyes twinkling at her. Turning to Sesshoumaru, she noticed that her was studying her more closely than usual. "How are you this day, my lord?" she asked politely, just to see how he would react.

"I am well," her old nemesis stated. "Naraku, Mother tells me she has proposed a marriage between Kagura and me. What is your decision?"

"It took some consideration," Naraku began.

No it didn't, Kagura thought.

"However, I believe given the benefits of such a union, that it is best for both families. Battling you, and your half-brother, has become tiresome. With this marriage we could put that aside."

"Inuyasha is not a part of this family," the Lady of the Moon snapped, as if she had not already laid claim to him. This was the worst part of the whole scheme. She had made sure he understood that she would have to act like she hated him as much as Sesshoumaru always claimed to, but that she most definitely did not.

"Oh, so if I were to kill him, it would not matter?" Naraku asked, eyes narrowing.

"What you do to him has nothing to do with the House of the Moon," the Honorable Mother declared. Technically that was true as he wasn't blood. Sesshoumaru was the only link between her family and their father's.

"I see. Very well. It is still advantageous, wouldn't you agree?"

"I did proposed it, Naraku. It is time my son marries, in any case. An heir for both houses is needed and his wandering needs to come to an end. I believe a wife such as Kagura will do him good."

"Then we most heartily accept. As a token of our appreciation, I will give you Kagura's heart now," Naraku decided magnanimously. He held out a hand with a bright red orb in it and waited for the Honorable Mother to take the small object.

"You would play games with me so soon, Naraku?" the lady asked, one brow lifted. "I am a dog demon, you know. Our sense of smell is second only to bear youkai. That is not Kagura's heart."

"So it isn't," he murmured, as if it had been an accident. "My mistake. Here, the real heart of my daughter. Do take care of it, it is fragile." Outmaneuvered, Naraku had no choice but to give her the real beating heart. Kagura held her breath beside him as she waited to see what the other woman would do with her heart.

"Excellent. Jaken, I know you're there. Go tell the servants to prepare a feast. Your lord is engaged; and tell that blasted record keeper to finish preparing the marriage contract." Myouga had been kept away from the fray as well since he might be recognized as Inuyasha's servant. The whole thing would come crashing down if that were so.

"Yes, my lady," the green imp bowed, and rushed inside. His voice carried, making it seem as if he were really lighting fires under lazy people. It was one of the only roles that they could give him as he wasn't a particularly good liar.

"Now then. Tonight we will feast in celebration, and I will introduce you to the four generals. These daiyoukai are the cream of the crop, Naraku. I trust you will be on your best behavior. Any slight and they will shun you without hesitation. Even if you reach your goal of becoming a full demon, they will not think twice about murdering you for your insults."

"So soon?" Kagura asked, as if she were hesitating.

"Do not worry, my dear. The actual wedding will not be tonight, although it may take a week. We have some finery to prepare and others to invite to the celebration. Travel in the north can be so iffy this time of year." The Honorable Mother tried to sound soothing and excited. Naraku was watching her closely, so she had to be careful of how she reacted to the wind sorceress.

"A week is acceptable," Naraku answered for his "daughter." "The betrothed pair should have a chance to get to know one another off of the battlefield in any case, don't you think?"

"A most excellent suggestion, dear sir. I do appreciate a man with a brain," she complimented and swore she saw his chest puff up at her words. Really, he was too easy. Why had the others not thought of this before? "Sesshoumaru, do show Kagura around the castle. It will be her home soon."

"Yes, Mother. Kagura?" the demon lord gestured, hoping she would go ahead of him into the castle. The wind demon did and waited until they were out of sight and hearing before stopping and turning to face him. Instinctively she looked for the wasps and when she found none, breathed a sigh of relief.

"What is really going on," she demanded. "I cannot for the life of me imagine your mother wanting you to marry one of Naraku's incarnations."

"Hn, is it so inconceivable that I would want to marry a strong demoness? I have few requirements."

"Oh, really?"

"You are a full demon, despite how you were formed. You are powerful, and you can bear children. In battle we have often come to a standstill."

"Hardly. I imagine that if you were to go all out, I would be dead. My question remains. You cannot honestly think Naraku will allow your mother to keep my heart."

"She has no intention of keeping it," he told her honestly. "She has only need of it a short time. You would do well not to underestimate her. The Lady of the Moon is a daiyoukai of immense power who once beat my great and terrible father in battle. Naraku stands little chance of harming her if he tries to take back that which is not his to have."

"The lady schemes," Kagura guessed.

"Mother has been known to plot now and again," Sesshoumaru agreed.

"She beat your father?" Kagura asked, allowing herself to relax. Perhaps she had been right, and his mother had been biding her time so that she could kill Naraku herself.

"If the opportunity arises, I will tell you one day." Sesshoumaru took her through the main rooms, stopping at what would be her bedchamber. "You will sleep here while at the castle. I will show you the back courtyard if you are not tired from the journey. The wind is usually better there."

"I am the wind, and the air is much thinner on this mountain." She would appreciate the wind through her hair. The stupid ornaments Naraku had insisted she wear were starting to pull on her scalp.

"You get used to it. Hell Wasps are unable to survive at this elevation."

"A plus." Sesshoumaru wasn't telling her everything, but he wasn't lying to her either. Whatever his mother really wanted from Naraku, she had ensured that the fiend could not punish Kagura for it later.

"It is," the demon lord agreed.

"Perhaps it would not be so bad to be your wife."

"Hn. Dogs either make terrible husbands or devoted ones," he warned.

"And which one would you be, my lord?" she questioned, a twitch to her lips.

"I do not know," Sesshoumaru returned seriously. He had never thought of marrying anyone. He was only nineteen in demon years and the notion that he might need or want a wife and heir had yet to enter his head. His Path of Supreme Conquest was all that had filled his life until his brother was freed from the God Tree and Naraku had reared his ugly head.

"Do you think we should explore that? I am not certain I would make a dutiful wife for demon nobility. I desire only freedom."

"Mother and Father ruled together but they were not constantly at each other's sides. Father often fought battles away from here and Mother stayed to tend to her duties as Lady of the Moon."

"They must have been together at least once, they had you."

"Mating season for inuyoukai comes twice a year. I was the necessary heir. It did not take much to conceive."

"I am not a dog demon," Kagura pointed out.

"It would not be difficult to find out when you are fertile. A dog's nose knows," he shot back. They had never bantered like this before and he rather like the back and forth. The only one to challenge him thus were his brother and mother.

"I see. A word to the wise, Naraku intends to kill you as soon as I do conceive," Kagura warned, seeing as he had been truthful with her so far.

"He can try. I would expect nothing less. He is always scheming."

"He is rather predictable."

"We know," Sesshoumaru informed her. They had accounted for his betrayal from the outset.

"Naraku thinks little of women. He will try to treat your mother as if she hasn't a brain in her head."

"Then he will lose his," Sesshoumaru informed her. He would anyway, but he wasn't quite ready to trust Kagura with everything.

Kagura studied the dog demon as she took in the wind in the back courtyard. She sensed unfamiliar youki in the air but did not see any strangers aside from the guards. He had been rather forthcoming with her and perhaps he had decided she wanted freedom more than the chance to kill him. He would be right.

"What do you think they're discussing now? More marriage negotiations or small talk?"

"I believe Mother was intent on informing him on manners. He has no notion of how daiyoukai are supposed to behave in the company of others. There is protocol to be adhered to so as to not start a war."

"He will not enjoy that," Kagura mused. Her "father" thought people would just accept him as he was now that he had most of the Shikon Jewel.

"He craves the title of daiyoukai, does he not?"

"Until now, I would have said he had not thought of it, but he accepted your mother's invitation readily. This would be the final piece to his power grab once he gets his wish."

"If he gets his wish," Sesshoumaru informed, seeing a shadow out of the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he caught sight of a hell hound bounding off into the distance. "He must live to get the whole jewel."

"Naraku has hidden his heart away; I do not know where. He no longer trusts me."

"I do not think we have to worry about that. He can hide it, but it will not stay hidden forever." Sesshoumaru gave the hell hound until dinner. The shadowy creatures, once on a scent, never had trouble tracking down their prey. His mother's "pets" were truly frightful creatures and he hated that she needed to use them. Rin was too vulnerable around them, as was the slayer's brother. Either could be carried to the Underworld if they weren't careful. Hopefully, his mother had instructed the creature to leave Kohaku alone.

Kagura heard the confidence in the demon lord's voice and allowed herself a small bit of hope. It seemed that the dog demon clan had a plan to rid the world of Naraku. The man at her side wasn't ready to give details, but she had to trust they knew what they were doing. "I see. Shall we return to our respective parents?" she asked, although she hated to use that term to describe Naraku.

"I would rather not," Sesshoumaru remarked.

"Whyever not?"

"Mother is probably flirting."

"Flirting? With Naraku?"

"Indeed."

"Eww, that's just… Gross. No, thank you." Kagura shivered in disgust.

"Exactly." Sesshoumaru allowed himself a visible grimace.

"I'm out," the wind demoness declared, reaching for a feather.

"If I must stay, so do you," Sesshoumaru said, grabbing ahold of her arm.

"Must I though?"

"I have sake," he bribed.

Kagura hesitated a moment before giving in. "Fine."

"The support of my betrothed is reassuring."

"Che."