Disclaimer- I do not own Inuyasha or the characters of the sow.
Chapter 11 Plans Change
Through the long, lonely night he had sat up all night thinking about the girl he believed he loved. He thought about all of the times he had caused her pain and had made her cry. He thought of his past love and how she had been ripped from him. For the first time in his entire life, he began to cry. He cried for his father, for his mother, for Kikyo, for Kagome, and even for his poor relationship with Sesshomaru. No one was there to see his pain no one was there to see his tears or to ease his suffering. He was alone as he had been for nearly his entire life. He wondered if he would always be alone or if perhaps there was someone who would be with him and complete his life. He knew in that instant Kagome would never be his. She was meant for his brother and as much as he hated to admit it his brother was her perfect mate. It was time to move on. Kagome would never be able to fill the whole in his heart Kikyo had left and he would never be able to love Kagome the way she deserved to be loved. He knew what he had to do and as much as it killed is heart he had to do. Inuyasha rose to his feet and strode from his room making his way to his brother's study. With every step he took he grew more and more. Inuyasha was slowly starting down the path of his life. If he continued the way he was going he would one day become the man he was meant to be.
XXXXXXXXX
Everything was going according to his plans. Kagome was being a good miko and staying her rooms as she had been ordered to do, he was slightly surprised that she would stay there. He only had to clear up the little matter of Akito and then all would be well in his world again. Yes, all was perfect in the great inuyoukai's life, or so he thought.
And then his perfect dream came to an end as he was reminded once again of the existence of his hanyou brother. The shoji screen was pushed aside and then slammed shut with a reverberating click by said hanyou. The little whelp then walked across the polished wooden floor to his desk.
Inuyasha had just entered his study without knocking and now he had the audacity to drop his worthless body onto a silky fluffy pillow before Sesshomaru's desk without his permission. Before Sesshomaru could evict him from his place Inuyasha began to speak, for once it seemed he had thought about his words before speaking. Inuyasha knew his words had a rehearsed feel to them but they came from his heart and he had come here to say them. He had not wished to start a fight with Sesshomaru so he had rehearsed what he would say. He felt a momentary need to flee from the truth; however, he pulled in a deep breath and plunged into his speech headfirst.
"I understand that you have chosen Kagome to be your mate. I understand that you will be a much better mate to her then I will ever be. I have also realized that while I do love her, I don't love her the way I should love her. When I found out she was with you, all I wanted to do was rescue her and bring her back because I felt like I was loosing another woman to forces I couldn't control. I couldn't accept that and I confused my emotions for my friend for the emotions of my love. I know before you even say it, Kikyo and Kagome are two different people but when Kikyo was alive she was so much like Kagome and I keep seeing Kikyo in Kagome. All I wanted to say was, even when she's your mate I will still be her friend and I will still come to see her and if you hurt her I swear I will kill you." Having said all he came to say, Inuyasha stood up and sketched a small bow to his elder brother and prepared to exit the room when Sesshomaru's cool unwavering voice stopped him.
"Perhaps for the miko we should work through our differences and become better acquainted. I believe she will still wish to see you after we are mated and having discord in the palace will only make her uncomfortable." Sesshomaru's blank exterior never faltered, however, Inuyasha knew how much that had cost his elder brother, inviting him back into the Palace of the Moon meant acknowledging him as his brother even though he was a hanyou.
Inuyasha looked at his brother with complete understanding and a new sense of respect. He would do anything to make Kagome happy, now she just had to accept it. The youkai lord had been dangerous before but now he had a mate to think about and would become a single minded protection machine, which made him even more deadly. Youkai were extremely protective of their mates emotionally and physically, an inu youkai was twice as protective and vengeful should any harm befall their mate. Not only did Kagome have an inu youkai mate, no matter if she denied him now Sesshomaru would get what he wanted, she also had the Taiyoukai of the Western lands, the Killing Perfection himself, as her mate. No matter what she wanted she would get it, any situation that would upset her would be avoided, anybody she cared for would be protected and cared for, and anyone who angered her or hurt her would die a slow painful death. Now and forever more, Kagome would have the silent Killing Perfection shadowing her every step, protecting her from the harsh realities of the world around her. Inuyasha was glad he fell into the category of people she cared for. He would not like to be the person who angered her for real. Sesshomaru would not perform the punishment where she could watch but he would punish said person until they died and then he would probably use his Tensiega to revive them and then kill them again.
Inuyasha nodded his head to his brother and then felt as if such a statement deserved a verbal answer "I would like that Sesshomaru and so would Kagome. If you will excuse me, I need to look in on my companions." Inuyasha exited his brother's study with a new perspective of his brother then when he had entered.
Yes, everything was going according to plan. Sesshomaru watched his brother leave and truly believed he was in complete control of the entire situation and was even patting himself on the back for his accomplishment. Once she learned her place she would make an excellent mate, he did occasionally have an inner battle with himself over her humanity and his new resemblance to his father; however, she was a miko. The pups she would produce would be half youkai half human miko; they would be incredible especially with him as their father. The Western lands would benefit from his mating with the miko in many ways, who in their right mind would attack Sesshomaru when he had the Shikon Miko at his side? She would be a calming and loving influence to his lands, she would offer the emotions he could not to the people of the West. He grudgingly admitted to himself she would benefit him as well, her scent calmed him and she filled the empty spot in his heart and made the warmth spread through his whole body. In short the little miko completed him. It truly was ironic, he, the great Sesshomaru Lord of the Western Lands a youkai who could not stand the sight of a human, was taking as his mate not only the one thing he was said to hate but also the one thing that could do him serious damage and maybe even kill him. In the middle of Sesshomaru's visions of his greatness, Sen knocked on the outer wall of his study seeking entrance. Sesshomaru found this odd as he should be well into his lessons with the miko now.
"Enter, Sen. Why are you not training Kagome?" Always straight to the point, Sesshomaru began questioning the kitsune before he even entered the room.
Clearing his throat the kitsune began to explain the new situation to his lord "I cannot enter her rooms my Lord and she will not willingly leave them. She has placed some sort of barrier over the room. I thought it best to inform you of this development."
Sesshomaru could not believe it she was continuing to defy him even now. The woman would cause him to lose years off his life span. Rising to his feet he walked swiftly out of his study and up the stairs to his private wing to deal with the defiant miko. Outward he was calm and collected on the inside he was a seething ball of anger, she would be punished again and this time more drastically.
Upon reaching his private wing, Sesshomaru was greeted with the sight of his brothers pack gathered outside the miko's room concern for their friend etched into the lines of their bodies.
He distinctly heard Inuyasha's voice "Kagome remove the barrier. Sen went to tell him and he is going to be really pissed off when he gets up here and finds you have locked yourself behind a barrier."
"It is too late for that, Inuyasha. As you so crudely put it, I am already pissed off." Everyone in front of the door slide to the other side of the hallway to get as far away from the angered Taiyoukai as they could, Sesshomaru looked more than pissed he looked ready to tear the walls down to get to Kagome. When he stopped in front of her door, Sesshomaru was met by a breathtaking sight. Before him stood Kagome, wearing yet another silk kimono adorned with crescent moons. This kimono was made to accent not only her features but also his when she stood at his side. The kimono was a deep dark black, as dark as the night sky during the new moon. The crescent moons were embroidered in silver silk and shimmered in the light pouring into the room through the windows. Her obi was also shimmering silver and was caught at her waist in an elaborate elegant bow. A maid had obviously been able to enter the room earlier because Kagome's hair was pulled up into a bun at the back of her head and was dressed with a silver comb carved into the shape of a moonflower. Several tendrils of hair were left to hang down her body in long curls and added a sense of elegance to her features.
"Remove the barrier Kagome and let me in." In her mind Kagome saw the fairy tale of the three little pigs play out.
"Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin." Sesshomaru looked at her as if she had lost her sanity, not understanding what she was speaking of. He only understood one thing, his mate was a few feet from him and yet he could not get to her because of her disobedience and he desperately wanted to get to her and teach her who the alpha was before he lost his sanity.
"Even if I could lower the barrier, I would not do it." At this statement Sesshomaru lifted a find eyebrow.
"What do you mean even if you could remove it? You cannot remove the barrier?" He looked at her and dared her to say that was exactly what she meant.
"Yes, I don't know why or how this barrier was erected. I know it is being held up by my powers but I do not know how to lower the barrier. I guess I am just stuck in here and you are thankfully stuck on the other side." A low growl issued from the throat of Sesshomaru as his youkai reared his head, the female was being defiant and it wanted her very badly at that moment of time. It wanted to tear down the walls and take her by force and place a pup deep within her and mark as its mate. The inner beast began to bleed through the cold exterior of Sesshomaru turning his eyes a deep ruby red and causing his markings to become slightly jagged. A growl that demanded her surrender issued from his throat as he placed his claws upon the barrier and began to infuse it with his poison claws. At first he thought he would succeed and get to the female, however, his attack was soon repelled and he was thrown back against the wall in a snarling mess of silver hair and silk. Leaping to his feet, Sesshomaru drew Toujkin and prepared to assault the barrier with the demonic blade. As he advanced on the barrier, a sharp pain in his skull permeated the red haze his mind was shrouded in. He felt himself slipping into darkness and oblivion. As he slipped to the floor, he registered the face of his most trusted assassin leaning over him.
"Forgive me, my Lord. It had to be done." Sen knew Sesshomaru would not be a very happy inu when he awoke but his Lord had nearly lost complete control and his Lady would have been harmed.
"Why did you do that? He's going to be very angry when he wakes up." Kagome was dumbfounded and wanted to understand Sen's actions.
"You were put into my protection, my Lady Kagome. I was given orders to let no harm befall you. Normally I would have to protect you from my Lord Sesshomaru but he was controlled by his instinct and his inu. He could have hurt you unintentionally. He would never have forgiven himself or me if that had happened. We will remove him to his room and then send for the healer to try to fix this small problem." The kitsune radiated a positive attitude and belief that the situation could be fixed when everyone else believed it could not be.
As Sen and several large guards lifted and carried Sesshomaru's unconscious form reverently and with ease, Kagome walked toward the barrier and looked into her friend's eyes.
"I swear I did not erect this barrier. It wasn't my doing. Please believe me." Kagome was becoming more and more distraught.
"I believe you, Kagome-sama." Kagome turned her gaze to the deep forest green eyes of a kitsune youkai. His face was lined with years of laugh lines and a happy glint seemed to be etched eternally into the depths of his eyes. His auburn hair was cinched at the nape of his neck and hung to his waist. He held out long fingered slim hands to Kagome in a peace offering attempting to calm the agitated miko.
"You believe me? Why do you believe me?" Kagome was shocked that a complete stranger would believe her over her own friends and the man who supposedly wanted to be her mate.
"You are an untrained miko who has yet to tap into her full powers. You have been threatened and bullied by Lord Sesshomaru into something you do not feel ready for yet, it would stand to reason that you are feeling defensive and afraid. You are unable to manifest your powers to protect yourself with, so they have manifested themselves to protect you. When you no longer feel threatened or when you need to you will be able to release the barrier." He seemed so sure of his logic and answer, Inuyasha did not believe it for a minute.
"You're trying to tell us that the only reason there is a barrier is because she's afraid of Sesshomaru? She's been afraid before and she couldn't keep any barrier up. So, how can she now?"
"I can only say that perhaps then she did not really feel threatened. Perhaps she believed she could be and would be saved those times. Do you feel alone in this, Kagome-sama?" Looking deep into his eyes, Kagome could not lie to him. He seemed to be able to will her to tell the truth.
"I feel like no one will be able to save me from him. I am deeply afraid. Not of Sesshomaru and being hurt physically by him." Normally, bright, blue eyes were clouded and dark with unshed tears. "I'm afraid of never being loved by the man who I am mated to. I don't want to live alone and unloved. I need to know that I am loved." They all watched with broken hearts as the miko let silent tears slip down her creamy cheeks. A wave of sadness spread from her and rushed through the palace and touched every heart with its melody. A few meters down the hall, an agitated growl came from a still unconscious taiyoukai. Even in his dreams, her emotions affected him.
When Sesshomaru surfaced to the world of the living, his first thought was Kagome and going to her he was stopped by an annoying all knowing voice.
"Let her be for awhile, pup. She needs to rest. She cried her self into exhaustion. Besides your generals are pacing in your study waiting for you so they may go to battle." Sesshomaru knew who the voice belonged to without ever looking at the figure. The old man had been with him on many occasions when he was hurt, physically or emotionally. He was an old family confidant and would never betray the trust of the taiyoukai.
" Hiroshi, how is she?" Hiroshi could read the worry laced into Sesshomaru's normally coolly controlled voice.
"Physically she is fine. She is very concerned; however, that she will go unloved through her life. Her powers have erected the barrier as a response to this fear. She believes you will never love her even if you are mated to each other."
"Love her? Does she not realize that love is an emotion of human invention to pacify their need to classify their need to mate and produce viable offspring?"
"No my lord. I do not believe Kagome-sama sees love as a simple need to reproduce. I believe she believes, like the rest of us who do not have a frozen wasteland for a heart, that there is such a thing as love. She feels a deep need to be loved and I fear that until she does feel that she will remain locked away behind her barrier." The older youaki radiated such belief in his words that even Sesshomaru believed him.
"What am I to do? I do not feel the need to tell her I love her when I am not sure that I do love her? She will produce excellent heirs to the Western lands. Her pups will be strong and an asset to me in the ruling of my lands." Hiroshi looked at Sesshomaru with a look of complete astonishment.
"My lord, whatever you choose to say to the miko do not say any of what you have just said to me. I fear that if you do her wayward powers my purify you and leave the Western lands without a taiyoukai. Then what will we do?" Mirth shined in the green eyes of the old kitsune at his lord's expense.
"Why do you always find my troubles amusing old man?"
"Because pup if I were not here to keep you from saying these things you would have went off in a huff and said them to the miko and gotten yourself killed. You are still so much like you were when you were young. Impetuous, rushing in head first where you should tread lightly, and believing you are invincible these are still you traits. You have not changed." The elder youkai rose from his seat and prepared to leave the room.
"Your generals are still ready to go to war. They just need a great inu general to lead them to battle." With these parting words, Hiroshi left the room and returned to his own herb laced lair deep within the palace walls.
Sesshomaru knew what the true question was in the old mans words, was he ready to lead his army knowing his mate was upset? Could he go and make war and really leave her here? Sesshomaru stood and knew instantly his answer was yes. He would go because he had to go to protect to her. If he did not go Akito may one day get to close to her and cause her and his pups harm.
Striding purposefully out of his room, he did not stop until he reached her door. He stopped only briefly to inform Kagome of his leaving and then continued on to his study. Upon entering his study, Sesshomaru had just one question for his generals.
"Are you prepared to go to war? We leave now." He strode out of the room and into the courtyard where his army awaited him. He gave the signal and the army set out like a great serpent behind him. He went to war to protect her and keep her with him and she doubted his love.
Kagome watched the great silvery blue serpent leave from the gates following their pristine regal leader to war. They carried the crescent moon on blue banners before them
as if to ward off death. Their faith in their leader was impressive. What was it like to have complete faith in someone else? Perhaps she would never know and then perhaps one day she would be like them following him blindly and obediently.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
It had taken three days for the army to reach the valley they would enact their surprise attack in. Three very long days in which Sesshomaru constantly wondered if Kagome had released her barrier yet. She never left his mind. She always seemed to float into his thoughts whenever she wanted to. He seemed to be obsessed with her and try as he might he could not evict her from his mind or the small corner of his heart that had begun to thaw from the gentle warm breeze known as Kagome.
"My lord, the enemy is not coming. Perhaps we misjudged them? Perhaps they would have taken another trial? There is no sigh they are coming this way. My lord?" The young general wasn't for sure if he had Sesshomaru's complete attention. And he did not; Sesshomaru's mind was on another vein of the same topic.
It was true they had not seen or heard from the enemy in the entire three days of travel. They should have had some sign of them by now and yet they had not. It was almost as if they were not coming, almost as if they had chosen a different attack then the one Sesshomaru had for seen. It hit him then and he felt like a massive icy hand had just gripped his insides and twisted them free from their place. Akito had no intention of fighting him but he had every intention of attacking his defenseless castle. Rin and Kagome were in the castle and they were without him and his protective presence. He had left them willing to the devil himself.
"Tell the army to pull back to the castle as quickly as they can. Akito is sieging the castle and making an attempt on Kagome and Rin's life." The young guard turned so quickly he very nearly knocked himself from his feet. The army was prepared to leave within twenty minutes of Sesshomaru's order. He wanted to leave without the army and rush back to his family, but he knew he would need the army to save them.
XXXXXXXXXX
They came the first morning after Sesshomaru and the army left. They were a massive army that carried the banner of the Northern Lands, a model of the northern star on a field of black. They filled the land before the castle with their noise and their siege weaponry. They were completely prepared to do battle as long as it took to take the palace.
Kagome at first watched the battle from her balcony safely within the confines of her barrier; however, their leader, a massive neko youkai began to call for the Lady of the Western Lands.
Hiroshi came to her door to speak with her. "They call for you Kagome-sama."
"No, Hiroshi they call for the lady of this castle and I am not her."
"You are who they seek Kagome-sama. Listen to the rest of what he says and you will know he believes you to be the lady here. Go to your balcony and truly listen."
Kagome eyed the old kitsune with disbelief; however, she walked over to the balcony and leaned out enough to hear the words of the neko. His voice was chillingly gravelly and seemed to send shivers racing across her skin.
"I have come for the Lady of the Western Lands, the Shikon Miko and I will not leave here without her. You will send her out or we will begin a war." Kagome listened could not believe someone was starting a war over her, a small insignificant human.
"What do I do Hiroshi? If I don't go he will attack the castle and many innocent people will die. If I do go with him I am sure he will kill me." Kagome's heart would not allow her to let anyone die to keep her safe, but Hiroshi took the decision from her.
"You will stay within the palace walls where you are safe and await your mates return. The guards will not let you give yourself up for them, my Lady. You do need to come out of this chamber though so you may properly give orders for the coming battle."
"How can I give orders? I don't know anything about warfare. Why would the guards follow me?" Kagome was soon distressed at the thought of giving orders to Sesshomaru's guards.
"They will follow you Kagome because you are the unclaimed mate of Sesshomaru. There are people here who can help you make the decisions you need to make. Your people need you Kagome-sama. Will you abandon them because you are afraid?"
With a deep breathe Kagome walked from her room and into the nightmare she was in now.
The second day after Sesshomaru's departure was greeted by a few crumbling walls in the palace, weary servants, and badly wounded soldiers. No one would give up their post though. Everyone seemed to understand the need for everyone to remain vigilant. Akito had been sending flaming arrows and soldiers with axes at the wall for the last twenty four hours. His main form of attack seemed to be to get as many of his men as he could digging at the wall and then pushing his way though to battle the Western people in their own backyard so to speak. He was doing a wonderful job to, if the people caught within did not find a way to stop them soon the Northern army would slither into the castle courtyards from one of their many holes. Already cracks were developing within the walls and there were not enough guards to stop them if they managed to break through several cracks at the same time.
Kagome was in Sesshomaru's study having a meeting with the advisors and trying to figure out a way to stop the impending invasion. No one saw a way to prevent them from entering the courtyard and soon all were downcast.
"Okay so they are going to enter the palace, right? So, we will have to be ready for them within the palace. We surly know this place better than they do right?" Several heads nodded at Kagome's obvious question. "Okay then. Lets get this rigged up with some traps and get ready for them and lets not be sitting like ducks when they come through the wall."
"What kind of traps do you have in mind, Kagome?" Inuyasha had been amazed yesterday when she came out of her rooms and walked out the wall. He had been more amazed at what she had told the neko youkai. Her voice still rang in his ears "You can just go to hell and take your army with you. No one here is surrendering. I suggest you leave now or there will be consequences when Sesshomaru gets back, and he WILL be back." The neko had merely stared at her with rapt attention and began his assult. Inuyasha was more impressed with every passing hour. She was growing into her role as Lady of the Western Lands.
The fifth day after Sesshomaru's departure dawned bright and clear. The past three days had seen those within the palace walls in a flurry of activity. They had prepared the castle as Kagome had instructed. The hallways floors were lined with a thin layer of wax, weapons were hidden throughout the palace, and servants were stationed at several key locations. They were prepared for Akito's attack as best as they could with the limited supplies they had. They could never defeat the Northern Lord, their plan was simply to hold them off until the army and Sesshomaru arrived to defeat Akito.
At midday the Northern army broke through the walls of the palace in several places and swept through the courtyard as a plague. Soon the guards stationed outside were overtaken and the Northern army was within the halls of the palace. The guards within the palace and the servants set up a bloody fight.
The Northern soldiers that come rushing in through the massive front doors first slid from the entrance way to the other side of the great hall and met their end at the point of several katanas embedded into a piece of wood that had been affixed to the wall. The next of soldiers were slightly more careful of the floor and their feet. They made it to the second hallway and meet the remaining guards and several well armed servants. A small battle erupted and those loyal to the Western lands seemed to be about to push the Northern forces back, when Akito himself entered the fray. He was fixated on getting to the throne room, he knew that were the Western Lady was stationed as the last line of defense between him and the throne. He would posses the Lady and the lands and then he would kill Sesshomaru with the knowledge that he had taken the Western lords mate before he had.
Akito forced his body through the soldiers and to the great wooden doors leading to the throne room. Just beyond here was the Lady of the Western lands. Reaching out a clawed hand, Akito pushed open the doors and entered the throne room.
She was there standing before the throne and she was breathtaking. She was robed in the finest silver silk. Her obi was a deep dark maroon, the same color as Sesshomaru's markings. Small maroon crescent moons glided around the hem of her kimono and the ends of her sleeves. Her midnight hair was piled expertly atop her head and her dainty feet were encased in satin slippers. In her hands she held a white bow with an arrow notched in it. Her pure miko aura flared around her and made the little hairs on the back of his neck raise up. She was everything he was told and he wanted to possess her.
XXXXXXXX
Inuyasha stood in front of Miroku and Sango. He was the first line of defense for Rin. Kirara was at his left in her true demonic form and fire danced in her eyes. Miroku and Sango stood several feet behind the two demons prepared to protect the little girl at their back. Rin was within the room behind them with her last line of defense, Shippou and Hiroshi. Kagome had insisted that her friends come here to protect Rin and not let any harm befall. She was not to see the battle that would ensue. Inuyasha gripped his sword tighter and prepared for the onslaught. They were more than enough to protect the little one. Rin would come to no harm this day, nor would she even see any part of the battle.
XXXXXXXX
Kagome was not faring very well her arrows had long since run out. She was now down to her seemingly random miko powers for a weapon. It seemed to her she had been fighting for a very long time, when in fact from the time Akito entered the throne room until the moment he wrapped his hand around her dainty throat only fifteen minutes had passed. He held her life in his hands and was slowly chocking her life from her. She began to see small white dots before her eyes when her latent miko powers kicked in and began to purify Akito's hands. He threw her from him and she landed with a thump on the floor several feet away from him, near the door way. Akito smiled with satisfaction soon the miko would be to tired and beaten to resist him and then he would own her.
Neither of the occupants of the throne room paid any attention to the commotion in the hallway or the sound of death. The only thing that grabbed Akito's attention was when Sesshomaru entered the throne room and came to a stop with Kagome at his feet.
They were quite a picture, the miko and the inuyoukai. Sesshomaru's eyes had bleed a deep ruby crimson, his markings stood out deeply against his pale face, and his claws dripped his deadly poison onto the polished floor. Kagome sat at his feet where Akito had thrown her. Her silken kimono spread around her, her midnight hair falling loose from its place atop her head, and her aura shining brightly around her. As Akito watched, Sesshomaru's youkai aura flared and seemed to wrap itself not only around him but around the miko as well. Kagome's purifying aura flared to mingle with Sesshomaru's youkai. Between them the Tensiega flared to life and seemed to pulse with its own power. The Toujkin also flared to life beside its normally dormant companion. Both swords seemed to be adding to the two aura's flaring around the two entities.
Akito looked on in wonder at the two before him and knew instantly in his heart and mind that no one would ever separate these two from each other. They would stand the test of time and he was no match for them. Closing his grey eyes, Akito prepared to meet his fate as he had lived his life. Head on and fighting, it was the only way he knew to go.
Author's note
Okay, I am very very proud of myself! I worked on this for three days nonstop. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. This is not the end of the story; however, I see this story wrapping up in one to two chapters. Please read and review and tell me what you think.
To all of the people who reviewed chapter ten thank you. You made my day with the things you said.
Lady Morganna