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"Talking"
'Thinking'
:Inuyoukai language:
Chapter Six
Duties
The rest of the week passed without any more issues from the couple. Kagome was not seen outside of the room again and Sesshoumaru only came out to get their meals. The rest of the castle had gone into a tense routine that helped them avoid confrontation with the newly mated couples room. The aura was still red and pulsing and would lash out at those who ventured too close.
It had been exactly a week to the day since Sesshoumaru and Kagome had been mated. Lord Touga, Lady Izayoi, and Inuyasha waited outside the couples room waiting for the two to emerge.
"Come on." Inuyasha griped. "Do I have to be here?"
"As pack you have to be here to acknowledge your new pack sister. Or do you want to be at the receiving end of Sesshoumaru's ire when he gets upset with you spending time with his mate?" Lord Touga asked sarcastically to his youngest son. "You will be patient."
"Inuyasha honey." Lady Izayoi soothed. "Don't antagonize your father. You know very well that you need to be here. Don't get him upset when you're just being selfish. You can play with your friends later."
"Mother, I'm too old to play. Miroku and I have War Games. That is not playing!" Inuyasha groused back, crossing his arms over his chest.
Lady Izayoi just smiled as she grabbed one of his ears and started rubbing them. "Do not be a baby Inuyasha. Your father and I have raised you better." She gave his ear a sharp tug then released it.
The groups attention was refocused on the door in front of them as the barrier disappeared with a loud 'pop' and the door began to open. Sesshoumaru stepped out first and was then followed by Kagome. Sesshoumaru's eyes had not yet lost all the red but his beast was no longer in control. Kagome had her head lowered and stayed slightly behind her mate.
"Welcome to the family Kagome." Lord Touga said as he opened his arms towards her. Sesshoumaru gently took his mates hand and pulled her forward allowing her to enter his fathers embrace. Kagome kept her head down and placed her head under Lord Touga's chin. Lord Touga's eyes widened at the blatant sign of submission. The Kagome of a week ago would not do such a thing without a fight.
"I'm so glad that I have a daughter now. You have no idea the things that I have planned for the two of us to do together." Lady Izayoi said as she stepped up to embrace her new daughter in law. Kagome embraced the woman as she was released from Lord Touga's embrace. She still kept her eyes averted from her mate even as he watched her closely.
Touga smirked to himself. 'She is completely submissive to him, yet open to us. I wonder how Sesshoumaru managed to pull that off.'
"Keh. Enough of this sappy shit. It's not like we've never seen her before." Inuyasha said as her pulled her into a fierce hug that belied his harsh tone.
"Respect tradition Inuyasha. There is a reason for this small ceremony. No other males but those present are allowed to touch my mate without my permission. My youkai needed to see this and imprint it into my senses again. Do not be ignorant as well as a fool brother." Sesshoumaru's cold voice filled the air as he finally spoke to those present.
"Thank you Inuyasha. Now I do feel like family." Kagome's soft voice whispered into the hanyou's ear.
"Keh." Inuyasha said blushing. "Whatever, breakfast is calling my name. I'm gonna get some food." He said as he quickly hurried out of the hallway.
"Well done mate. I am most impressed. Now if you can continue to behave this well I will see what I can do about your request." Sesshoumaru said as he pulled his mate back to him.
"What request Sesshoumaru?" Asked Lady Izayoi as she watched a blush appear on Kagome's face. She certainly didn't like the arrogant smirk that appeared on her son's face.
"Don't..." Kagome was stopped as her arms were lifted and on her wrists were two red stripes. On Sesshoumaru's wrist there was one.
"Extreme measures my son." Lord Touga said as he shook his head.
The stripes were a collar of sorts. If the female were to disobey her mate she would feel a burn on her wrists. The intensity of the burn was a reflection of the intensity of the mates displeasure. This method was only used in extreme cased when the female is in danger and still resisted the males protection.
"It was needed." replied Sesshoumaru as he pulled Kagome's sleeves back over her hands. Seeing her scowling face he chuckled slightly and kissed her brow. "Now mate, do not become upset, I said I would consider your request did I not?"
Kagome huffed and turned away from him and looked to his mother. "Lady Izayoi, isn't there something that we should be doing right now? I would hate to waste any more of your time."
Izayoi smirked at her daughter in law and nodded her head. "After breakfast I will teach you what duties you will need to begin taking over for me. It's not that difficult, just namely memorizing names of the royal families and their loyalists." She gave Kagome an annoyed look. "It's social suicide to mix up names or not know the names of any of the royal families and attendants."
"Yes, you two can discuss dinner politics and gossip about the ladies of court after breakfast. But for now," Sesshoumaru grabbed Kagome about the waist. "You need nourishment. I will not let you become sick because of my own negligence." Kagome rolled her eyes but followed the others towards the kitchen.
"Then there is Lady Kai and she is a minor lady with three horrible beasts that she calls daughters." Lady Izayoi was saying after they had eaten. Inuyasha shivered and paled. Noticing this Lord Touga laughed.
"Had a few too many run ins with the women son?" He asked cheerily as Inuyasha paled further if possible.
"Women?! Ha, those harpies think that they are Kami's gift to men. Which they aren't!" He didn't appreciate it as his family laughed harder.
"I must agree with Inuyasha. Those women are terrible. It is a shame that they parade themselves around as elite but act below their station." Sesshoumaru was, for once, in agreement with his brother.
"Well I'm sure they will leave you alone now that you are mated to me." Kagome smiled. "Lady Izayoi I was raised in the court, I do know who these people are. I just don't know all the political intrigues going on around them. That was the one thing I didn't pay attention to." She explained, frowning at the thought that her in-laws thought so little of her upbringing. Sesshoumaru realized this and rubbed the back of her neck.
"My mother is only trying to give you forewarning on the women who will not take too kindly to our mating. We do know you were raised at court, but you were not raised in it as these other women were. You will have few allies to stand by you. Women have deferent politics then men I have been told. Silly creatures that you are."
"Silly creatures?" Lady Izayoi growled at her son. "It was a silly creature that raised you and helps keep alliances between families. Keep your opinions of this lower sex to yourself Sesshoumaru!"
Sesshoumaru's face did not change but inside he blanched. Looking towards his father he saw no help coming from that corner and his brother was trying to control his laughter, lest his mother turn on him too. Looking down to his mates head he could feel her annoyance. Sighing Sesshoumaru returned his gaze to his mother.
"This Sesshoumaru apologizes for any slight that her made to your gender mother. We do appreciate all that our females do for us. I spoke out of turn." Relaxing when he saw his mother nod in acceptance, he decided that he needed to rid some stress in the dojo. "I need to retire to the dojo and then speak with the generals. Mother..." he bowed to her. "Father will you join me?" Lord Touga nodded his head, and Inuyasha left with them, not wanting to be left with the vexed women.
"Cowards." Lady Izayoi muttered.
Kagome smiled at her. Inuyoukai were notorious for valuing their women but not expressing the differences in the sexes well. It had to do with the fact that the males were dominant over the females.
"You can't blame him for being a male." Kagome laughed. "They are always so set in their ways. We have a great influence on them but they never do as we advise. Male pride and all that nonsense."
"Yes Kagome it is. But let me tell you what I heard form one of the human ladies at court and I think it applies very well in these relationships. The man may be the head, but the woman is the neck. And she can turn it any way she wants. Remember that when dealing with their egos. Cater to that, and you can get whatever you want. And if you make it seem like it was his idea, he won't rest until he has accomplished his goal." Lady Izayoi stood up. "Now young lady, let us continue this conversation in the gardens.
Kagome stood with her and they both shared a look and a giggle about the male gender and how easy it is to manipulate them. 'They are so lucky that we love them enough to not misuse our powers.' Kagome thought to herself.
A/N: Ahhh don't kill me. I know this is soo late, and this was more like a filler chapter anyway. Thank you so much for the ideas to help me get over my writers block. I still have it but I'm working through it. We can thank "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" for that last bit. It is so true. I'm working on a one shot right now as well so hopefully that will help inspire more chapters to come out quicker.