All characters, unless stated as original creations or additions, belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Media and Shogakukan. Blame them. I'm just taking their characters' concepts to a different place. Also, feedback would be appreciated.
"Your brother was understating things when he said you two didn't get along. I'm surprised you haven't killed him. Maybe … you secretly care about him!" Tōran wasn't really talking to Sesshōmaru in particular since the Demon Dog Lord had fallen back into his "Ignore Tōran until she shuts up" mood. She was trying to see how the human girl holding onto Sesshōmaru's mokomoko-sama fit into the picture. Rin was humming along as if this was perfectly normal for a teenaged human girl. When she heard Tōran's words and the mocking tone, Rin leapt to her master's defense.
"Sesshōmaru-sama is very kind! Even to those he doesn't like! It would take more than Inuyasha being rude to make Sesshōmaru-sama kill him!"
"How ironic. They say man's best friend is a dog. But this dog's best friend is a girl," Tōran's teasing continued.
"It is a vassal's duty to protect her lord's honor from … from…" Rin struggled to find the word she was looking for. Her studies in language were still incomplete.
"Enough, Rin. She is only trying to get your attention, in the same way all felines do," Sesshōmaru said, turning his head to speak to Rin. She deflated visibly and pouted. Tōran just laughed as if it was all a grand joke.
It did not take them long to reach the clouds and Tōran spoke again.
"You know your brother and …sister-in-law are following us." Sesshōmaru remained silent. There wasn't a question in the Panther's statement. She was just trying to get a rise out of him for using that term. Tōran's terminology wasn't as irksome as the what the human girl, Kagome, used but it still grated with Sesshōmaru that he had to formally acknowledge some tie, even if by marriage, to her. He wondered how he would explain such circumstances.
Inuyasha would always interfere. Of that fact, Sesshōmaru had no doubt. He felt that everything was his business if it involved fighting. Therefore, there was no point in trying to stop him. Not until he ran into a barrier which he could not force his way past.
As they broke through the clouds into the moonlit sky, a giant castle loomed large. It sat tall upon the clouds, lit by torches that did not flicker in spite of the snowy winds. Rin's face lit up with recognition and she tried waving to see if any of the distant figures waved back. In the very center, a tenshu rose above the three tiers of walls and secondary keeps. Guard towers rose from the walls at regular intervals, offering clear lines of sight to its occupants. They landed at one of the large gates and the winds, which had buffeted them in flight, suddenly ceased.
"Impressive. The magic used is ancient and complex. Too bad it smells of dog…" Tōran commented drily. Above them, a sentry challenged their arrival, recognizing who the newcomers were.
"Sesshōmaru-dono, we cannot allow you to enter with …"
"You will permit the Panther and three following us entry. The hanyō is my half-brother and the girl is … useful. There will be fewer deaths if you let them in and escort them to me," Sesshōmaru interrupted the guard.
"Y-yes, my lord! We will open the gates now." No sooner had the head guard said that when the sturdy iron gates swung open to admit them.
Tōran whistled her appreciation. "Just like a dog. Obedient to its master!" she teased both Sesshōmaru and the guard.
Rin let go of Sesshōmaru's mokomoko-sama and looked up at him. Sesshōmaru stepped forward and led them into the castle. Rin and Tōran followed Sesshōmaru through the castle, winding through the courtyards and guard posts to the main keep. Tōran continued to make comments but neither Rin nor Sesshōmaru replied. Sesshōmaru chose a deliberately convoluted route so Tōran would not know the most direct path to the main keep. Each guard they passed straightened and stood on edge as the Panther passed them by, smiling innocently at them as though she were mistress of the castle.
"We're visiting your mother to make sure she's safe?" Rin asked with concern etched on her face.
Sesshōmaru scowled as he heard Tōran's ears prick up and the inevitable heckling form in the impossibly devious feline mind. "We're visiting your mother? Why, I didn't think we were so far along that introductions were called for! Of course, I've met your father and didn't like him. I suppose you could say the same about mine, come to think of it."
"Nor did I," came a new speaker. The lady of the castle descended the stairs from her throne room to meet them, flanked by two well-armed guards behind her. "I suppose there's a reason for bringing a cat to my home, Sesshōmaru?"
"She has business with us. As, apparently, do they," her son replied.
"Three guests of Lord Sesshōmaru. One claims to be the bearer of Tessaiga," a guard called from behind as Inuyasha, Kagome and Kirara were led to the same staircase. Inuyasha was snarling at the guards, who ignored him.
"I will never understand your family's fascination with humans. Foxes, Panthers, and humans. This castle is not a menagerie, Sesshōmaru. We do not simply let anyone enter who claims to have a demand on our attention. Stay there, however. I wish to ascertain two things." His mother seemed to glide down the stairs and was standing before Inuyasha and Kagome in an instant. He recognized her scent but also caught traces of another, older yet familiar scent. Before the half-demon could react, she had drawn Tessaiga out of its scabbard and held it in her own hands.
It was neither the giant fang nor the decrepit blade that Inuyasha expected. The Inu no Kimi held a perfect, gleaming sword in her hands and a smile seemed to show on her face. "Still as charming as ever. Unlike your sons," she said, sliding the blade back into the scabbard just as quickly.
"Who are you?" Inuyasha asked, amazed that a demon could draw Tessaiga without harm.
"Really? Did my son simply invite you in without telling you whose castle you were entering? And you were foolish enough to enter? Well, I shan't reward stupidity. Come, Sesshōmaru. We will discuss this where I am more comfortable. Strange though…" she paused. In a swift movement, the Inu no Kimi tugged on both of Inuyasha's ears as hard as she could. "I did not think you would have such … odd ears. These are not his ears and oh, how I warned him nothing good would come of such a dalliance! Oh, what a pity that none of his sons inherited his masculine charms…" She let go of him and turned her back on Inuyasha, ascending the stairs.
"I see where you get your congenial attitude and good looks from," Tōran snickered as Sesshōmaru followed his mother.
"That's his mother?" Kagome blurted out.
"Wait! Sesshōmaru has a mother?" Inuyasha asked incredulously.
"Yes, he does. Unlike yours, I do not intend to die before my son is unprepared for his legacy," the Inu no Kimi asked without turning back. The half-demon growled when Rin cut him off.
"Inuyasha, you have a big heart and a big sword. But your brain is not very big, is it? The last thing you want to do is to insult the one demon who knew your father most intimately," she said pointedly. Inuyasha scowled but kept silent.
"Rin's right," Kagome whispered to him. "You can try to ask her about your father. Just… do it politely. Very politely."
"I see why you keep the girl," Tōran said, floating up the stairs besides Sesshōmaru. He glanced at her without replying, asking if she had a point.
Rin, Kagome, Kirara and Inuyasha followed them to the large, open throne room where the Inu no Kimi lounged on a long cushioned divan, her furry mokomoko-sama hanging loosely over the sides and around her. "So, Sesshōmaru, what have you come to tell me?"
"The trolls are getting restless. I intend to gather what forces I can and destroy them before they can invade. But not all of my subordinates will accompany me. This one," he placed his hand on Rin's head, "needs somewhere to stay." Rin giggled at the touch of Sesshōmaru-sama's hand in her hair.
"And I dare say," added his mother with a bored expression, twirling a lock of hair around her finger, "you thought that since I already had experienced caring for a child, I would be the safest choice. Especially since our entire clan lives here. Are you planning to take any of our warriors with you then?"
"I am not lord of this castle nor its occupants," Sesshōmaru said evasively.
The Inu no Kimi straightened slightly, letting go of her hair. "Only because you choose not to take up the responsibilities. You have already inherited your father's title. Accept the fact that your subjects wish for a lord whom they can serve." A hardness entered her voice, stern as tempered steel yet cool and biting as the winter gale. "You have surpassed your father in ability. Yet you continue to wander and leaving me to do the boring work of leading our clan. But I am not surprised by any of this."
Tōran's brow furrowed at the last comment but she kept silent. "Oh? The cat knows how to hold her tongue. My dearest defeated the Northern Trolls at the time of Sesshōmaru's birth, at great cost to our kingdom. But we both knew they would return. Your father," the Inu no Kimi now turned to speak to Tōran, "convinced them that he would launch an invasion to distract my dearest and once defeated, the lands would be split. As you can see, events did not transpire as planned. So now, they believe to have sufficiently overwhelming force and intend a grand conquest. I would not be surprised to hear they approached you for support. What I am curious to know, however, is why you are here."
Now Tōran chuckled as if her host's icy hostility was a mild-mannered jest. "I came to offer my tribe's warriors and support for your war effort. In return, I want just one thing."
The Inu no Kimi raised a questioning eyebrow but kept silent. Tōran purred in anticipation.
"I want Sesshōmaru as my mate."
Author's Notes:
1) Apologies for the delay. The muse was very unclear for this chapter. Many possibilities arose as I worked on it and I wonder if I chose the best one. Perhaps I'll do a series of one-shots depicting all the hilarious ideas I had for a meeting between the Inu no Kimi and Inuyasha.
2) I am still horribly uncomfortable using Kagome & Inuyasha.
3) Please give me feedback.
4) I want to make it clear that this is not a romance story. There may be elements of it but it is not the central feature. The action, intrigue and machinations of the various characters is what I am aiming for.
5) The theme for the entire work is the same as the title. Threats to "peace," be it Sesshōmaru's relatively-carefree wanderings in search of powerful opponents, Inuyasha & Kagome's married life, Rin's childhood, a potential three-way conflict between powerful demon clans with minor ones (hint hint) caught up in the mix. You know - something a bit more reflective of the actual chaos caused by a period of prolonged on-off conflicts. And no, I have never read nor really watched Game of Thrones and this is not a homage, tribute or imitation.
6) I wish I had a name for Sesshōmaru's mother. To stay true to the source material, I don't intend to make one up.