Inuyasha

Love's War

Chapter 4

Revenge

August 27, 2018

"Hello Mother." Hotaru said silkily as he walked into his Fathers office knowing she had taken it after his death.

Tatsu looked up surprised to see her son standing there in the doorway with his swords on his side and in full armor. "Hello son, you're not due back till the end of the week." She said standing up noticing the armed soldiers behind her that she had sent with him 10 years ago to keep him safe during his stay with her parents. She noticed that she hadn't sensed them approach which meant they were keeping a tight reign on their powers for some reason and she didn't get a warning from her guards stationed on the perimeter.

"Oh yes mother that's what I wanted you to think." Hotaru said as he walked into the office. "I see you've taken over Fathers office." He said with a slight twitch of his right eye as he looked around it looked like it had always looked when his father had the office, little did the boy know that Tatsu was the one who set up the office for her mate centuries ago.

"Where are my parents they were to come with you for a visit?" Tatsu asked watching her son curiously as he walked away from the door. He was now over by the window beside her several feet away when she heard the door close and she turned to see the other men had came in as well then shut the door. 'He's up to something and I don't think I like where this is heading…' she thought as she got the desk between her and Hotaru with her back to the other window glancing constantly to the other men at the door now spreading out, so they could use weapons easier.

"Oh, I killed them months ago, you've been talking with me mother. I needed time to plan." Hotaru said as he turned to look at her with a vicious smile on his lips showing his fangs, and an evil light shinning in his eyes. He was enjoying this he was going to make her pay for everything.

The sound of steel hissing out of their scabbards drew her attention to the door for a split second every man there had drawn their swords and now the sound again drew her attention as her son did the same thing. "You plan to kill me, do you?" she asked as she instinctively reached for her sword to realize it wasn't there on her side. 'Damn it its up in my room…' he thought narrowing her eyes at her son he had her cut off only one doorway out of her office.

"Yes, mother I shall avenge my father, take my place as Lord, and get my revenge on an unloving mother all in one fail swoop." Hotaru said as he grinned wickedly and started to advance on his mother.

"I've always loved you Hotaru." Tatsu said shocked as she backed away from him noticing the other men didn't move to interfere he wanted to kill her himself she noticed.

"Right 10 years of banishment from my own home. Punishment for following my father. You hated me, you always hated me, you wanted my throne for your own ADMIT IT!" Hotaru started out talking but ended out yelling at his mother.

"You were not banished, you were still in the Southern Lands with the intent that you would take over as Lord once mated as the law of our lands states. You needed to get away from your fathers one thought process you needed to see the world as it was meant to be that's why you were sent to do all that training." Tatsu said glancing back to see how far the window was from her slowly retreating form.

"LIAR!" Hotaru screamed then started running after her with his sword up and ready for a killing stroke.

Tatsu turned mid step and dashed for the window covering her head with her arms crossed she dove through the window then bend landing on her shoulder and rolling to absorb the impact with the ground. Then she was up and running towards the guard house to get a weapon.

"Kill her!" Hotaru yelled out of the window as he watched her running across the court yard towards the garrison house.

Tatsu noticed that men laying prone behind the battlements now stood tall with bows in their hands aimed at her and the garrison house was opening to see her own guards either unconscious or tied down with more men pulling swords out and advancing on her.

"My Lady!" an older guard said as he jumped down from an upper floor of the castle directly above her with shattering glass raining down against the castle itself. He ran over to her with five other guards all in the standard Royal guard armor, weapons, and shields. "Get down My Lady." He said as the five guards surrounded her. The sounds of thrums sounded then a sickening steel on steel screech as arrows skidded off the shields.

"Damn it you said you had all the one's loyal to her!" Hotaru screeched as he jumped out of the window and started over towards them.

"My Lady we must get you to safety." The old guard said as he passed her sword back to her.

"Right you all clear the way I'll hold off my son." Tatsu said as she stood up tall and proud again facing her on coming son putting her sword at her waist then pulling the weapon from its sheath.

"But My Lady…" the old guard started then his protest ended still born on his lips at the look she gave him. "Of course My Lady, let's go we've got a job to do." He said turning from Tatsu to his four men then motioning towards the gate house.

"It would be easier to get over the Western wall." One of the guards suggested noticing there was hardly any guards there. His comment had drawn the others attention to that wall and a smirk came over Tatsu's lips. They were out numbered here but Hotaru didn't have as many men as he was letting on.

"Do it!" Tatsu said just before stepping forward to face her son. She moved in to close quarters with her son blocking his sword stroke with one of her own. "You've gotten stronger." She said pridefully as she smiled at the boy he was young, brash, and stupid with youth something she had been hoping he would grow out of while with her parents.

"And you're the same. No longer any match for me." Hotaru said with a wicked smirk then sent overhand, underhand, side slash, overhand, overhand, back slash, point stab at her in quick succession all of which she managed to block or deflect.

"How could you have possibly been in the care of my parents for ten years and still not know your place in this world?" Tatsu asked stunned as she unleashed her own set of attacks on the boy. Underhand, side slash, overhand, side slash, back slash, overhand, point stab, underhand he deflected the last with his sword and a twist of his body to where the back of his elbow slammed into her nose blinding her with pain for a brief moment.

Horatu followed up quickly to take full advantage of her moment of weakness with a quick point stab to which Tatsu just barely was able to get her sword up in time to deflect the attack. Quickly he kicked out with the flat of his foot hitting her right arm pinning it and her sword across her chest. He laughed victoriously as he shoved with his foot taking her off balance and stabbing with the point of his blade again catching her in the right shoulder.

"My Lady!" the old guard said as she charged in making Hotaru back away from his mother.

"You dare defy me, Lord of these lands?" Hotaru said eyeing the old guard curiously he was a master swordsman and caution was required with this one.

"I will defend My Lady, rightful ruler of the Southern Lands with my life if need be. Even against you, Prince Hotaru. Until you are mated you are no Lord you are a usurper to the throne." The old guard said standing there with Tatsu at his back. "Go My Lady." He whispered back to her.

"Be careful he's better than he used to be Oji." Tatsu said then took off towards the western wall of the palace.

"Willing to die for her old man…because that's what you're going to do." Hotaru growled out at his old mentor narrowing his eyes at him and getting into a defensive stance.

"Pup I'm not the one on the defensive." Oji said with a smirk then lashed out at the boy with faster moves than the eye could see keeping Hotaru on the defensive and backing away barely getting his sword into position in time to save his life.

"Oji now!" Tatsu yelled as she ducked over the side of the wall and out of sight.

Oji dropped down swipped Hotaru's feet out from under him then had his sword at the boy's throat. "As you are the Southern Prince I shall spare you. My Lady would not wish for your death, but I will not be so lenient the next time we meet if you insist on killing My Lady." And with that he was gone without a trace following after his leader the Lady of the South. Only thing that told anyone the old guard had been there was Hotaru sitting on the ground his sword a foot away and he was propped up on his hands panting hard frozen like a sword was still pointed at his throat.

~*~*~*~ In the Western Lands ~*~*~*~

It had been almost 4 weeks since Shippou's return home to the west and Kagome walked around the castle with a little more ease her body having gotten used to the pups growing inside her. But she wasn't sure if they were Human, half demon, or full demon having no real hope of ever conceiving again she had no idea what the pups would be. She assumed they would be half or full demons because she just couldn't see humans taking that much energy from her all the sudden.

Sesshomaru for his part fussed over her like a mother hen not wanting her to be wearing herself out. If he sensed her roaming the castle he would drop what he was doing and make his way to her no matter how important his duties were at that moment. He would stop midsentence and walk away leaving his staff watching after him with sly smiles as they patiently waited for his return or had gotten enough out of their Lord to know what he was wanting done.

Inuyasha, Shippou, Sesshomaru, and Himeko were now doing daily boarder checks in rotation so that the other three were always at the castle to defend if necessary. They weren't taking Hotaru's return lightly, the boy had been an absolute menace over 10 years ago and they wanted to be sure of their security. The other two lands seemed not to care that Hotaru was due to return they seemed to feel that his training would be enough to stamp out his more nefarious thoughts.

Lady Tsubaki had returned to the Western Castle and taken her son's mates jobs from Himeko to make sure the castle ran smoothly. She had been surprised to receive her son's summons with news of Kagome's pregnancy she had been under the assumption that Kagome would absolutely never be able to conceive again. She chalked it up to Kagome being a powerful Priestess as to why she had been able to bare children again.

Hikaru's training had progressed fast with four different teachers pressing him four times a day. He had learned quickly and had progressed to real weapons faster than Sesshomaru would have ever wanted for his son, but it was a necessity to make sure the boy could protect himself and Kagome if it came down to it. Hikaru was no master but he could now hold his own for several minutes with each of his teachers; Inuyasha, Shippou, Himeko, and Sesshomaru himself. Albeit they weren't trying to kill him.

Kagome was currently overseeing the cleaning and preparation of Princess Sachi's room in the Eastern Wing of the castle. The Princess's guards would naturally be roomed in the guard house, but the young boy Sora was to be housed in the room beside Sachi at Shippou's request. Sachi was due to arrive at the Western Castle tomorrow. "Be sure to wipe everything down." She said to a couple of the servants in the room as she surveyed the cleanup.

"Yes My Lady." One of them said as they bowed to her then continued their chores.

Kagome had chosen this room specifically for Sachi because of the Sakura tree right out side the window and the amazing aroma of the ten rose bushes around one of her favorite sitting areas' in the garden below on this side of the castle. It also was the closest room to the flowing hot spring within the castle walls "This is going to be perfect for her." She said to her self as she stood at the open window and smelled the air blowing into the room ruffling her hair lightly.

"My love you should be resting." Sesshomaru said as he made his way into the room with a slight frown on his face ignoring the glances of the staff cleaning the room.

"I'm fine Sesshomaru they are doing all the work while I enjoy the fresh air." Kagome said with a brilliant smile on her lips as she turned and looked up at him. She was already stating to show with twins she was expecting to show early but this early seemed ridiculous to her.

"You are one to never be tied down for long." Sesshomaru said softly as he brushed her hair back away from her face, so the wind would blow it around to her other side.

"That's normally true but these two are tiresome." Kagome said with a soft giggle as she laid her hand on her belly then leaned up on her tippy toes and kissed him lightly on the lips. After ten years he had at least gotten used to the idea of public displays of affection if only in his castle. It was a step in the right direction give her another 100 years and she'd have him whipped into shape.

"All the more reason for you to rest." Sesshomaru said as he turned and led Kagome out of the room to take her back to their main suite.

"Worry wort." Kagome said with a huff as she allowed him to lead her away from the guest quarters but the whole time she thought of him as the sweetest man on the earth with a smile on her lips.

"You wanted to see me Sesshomaru-Sama?" Shippou asked as he topped the grand stair case to see Sesshomaru leading Kagome down the hall way. A smirk touched his lips for a brief moment he knew that as soon as Sesshomaru was busy again Kagome would return to the guest quarters she was determined that this first stay in the West for Sachi was going to be perfect.

"Ah yes, Shippou I need you to take the supplies down to the southern border guard house." Sesshomaru said as he stopped there at the top of the stairs with Shippou.

"But hauling all that down there will take a day and a half Sachi will be here in the morning." Shippou said shocked as he looked up at his father figure wanting so bad to tell him to have Himeko do it instead but refrained knowing Sesshomaru would not allow him to dictate who got what assignment.

"Then I suggest you get started." Sesshomaru said flatly then turned and walked away leading Kagome into the West Wing.

"Sesshomaru someone else could do that run." Kagome said as she looked back at Shippou to see the sadness on his face. His ears had twitched slightly as he stayed rooted to the spot hoping beyond hope that Kagome could do what he couldn't.

"My Love his duties will always be first priority, the sooner she understands that the better their life will be in the long run especially if he becomes a Lord of the lands." Sesshomaru said knowing that Shippou was still standing at the stairs waiting to hear his answer.

Shippou had to admit Sesshomaru was right, so he just sighed then turned and walked down the stairs. The sooner this was done the faster he could get back. Thinking about it he could be back just before lunch if he pushed hard to get down there and back.

~*~*~*~Southern Lands ~*~*~*~

"Where to My Lady?" Oji asked curiously once he caught up to her and the other guards he had been able to hide during the takeover.

"There is a Western Guard station just over the boarder at least there we would be under Sesshomaru's protection until we can get our barring's." Tatsu said after surveying her palace for a moment with sad eyes. In the last hour Hikaru had murdered three of her loyal guards and hung them from the wall as a clear sigh 'Follow me or die.'

"Running to the West My Lady?" Oji asked curiously it was nauseating to run to another land for help even in their current situation.

"Would you rather go to the Foxes?" Tatsu asked looking over at him hiding a smirk knowing he would hate that plan even more.

"The Wolves would be a fiercer ally than the foxes but their wolf stink kind of negates that advantage… West it is." Oji said with a frown on his lips as he assessed the situation then turned West starting in that direction.

Tatsu laughed lightly then fell into step with her guards. "Thought you'd see it my way eventually." She said with her hand resting on her sword to keep the strain off her bandaged shoulder.

"My Lady do you believe he will start another war with the West?" Oji asked softly as he traversed a narrow game trail to get out of the forest, so they could get to the open fields along the border.

Tatsu looked up at the starts through the canopy silently in thought for several minutes thinking over the encounter with her son wearily. "I may yet be able to talk sense into the boy…but…he's after revenge yes I believe he will go after Lady Kagome and the Western Lands for his father's death." She said then cringed lightly when a branch caught her shoulder.

"So, your choice to go West is two-pronged, protection and warning." Oji said understanding now why his Lady had immediately turned to the West.

"Yes Lady Kagome is a friend of mine she's done much for out society." Tatsu said seriously as she used her free hand to hold her throbbing shoulder.

"She killed your mate My Lady how can you be friends with her?" one of the other guards asked before he was able to stop the words from leaving his mouth, it wasn't his job to question her it was his job to follow and die.

"My mate challenged her as is his…was his right as Lord. He lost which was to his own foolishness. I miss my mate, but he chose his fate. His single mindedness was his down fall challenging a powerful Priestess such as Lady Kagome was idiocy. I do not blame her for his short comings nor do I blame her for fighting for survival. My late mate fought shamefully as he attacked children to try and break through her guard." Tatsu said with a frown it had been a longtime since she had thought of that fight so long ago.

"Why send your son away?" another guard asked sensing his Lady was willing to talk and after this past week he was curious himself after all the talk among the guards.

"Enough My Lady has no need to explain herself to you." Oji said irritated as he spun around on the guards.

"Oji." Tatsu said sadly with a raised hand to tell him silently to stop. "My son needed to learn discipline and a way of thinking that was different from my late mates lest he get killed needlessly over a foolish endeavor like his father. It tore me up inside, but I knew that if anyone could straighten the boy out it was my parents, he wasn't ready to rule then nor is he ready now." She said sadly looking down at the ground she had failed as a mother her son believe she hated him which wasn't true she loved him so deeply she didn't want him to throw away his life she wanted him to live a long life.

"My Lady we need to get to the border before daylight so that we maintain our head start." Oji said softly placing a hand on her arm lightly to drag her out of her self-loathing and get them moving again. He turned when she nodded to him then fell into step behind him with the other guards fanning out around her protectively.