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.
The Inu no Kimi led the group to a little-used part of the castle. Sesshōmaru, Tōran, Jaken and Rin followed her. Tsukiyo had been instructed to escort the others to their respective rooms. As Sesshomaru understood, this wing was used to entertain guests. Given the Demong Dog Clan's seclusion, it was little wonder that the wing was rarely used. However, it was still immaculately maintained. Torches hung from braziers along the walls, providing light in this part of thwe castle.
"This is where your grandfather and father negotiated for my hand and the line of succession. It seems proper for you to do the same here." The room was long, obviously meant for two nobles and their retainers to sit across from each other. At the far end, a raised dais with cushions for the two heads waited invitingly.
Jaken carried scrolls of paper, a jar of ink and two brushes so as to record the agreement between the two demons. Rin plodded barefoot between Sesshōmaru and Tōran, looking up at one then the other. "So Sesshōmaru-sama is getting married now?"
"No, you silly child! These are the negotiations for a bonding between them. There won't be any marriage!" Jaken loudly behind her. Rin just looked confused.
"But Kagome-san said that if a man and a woman are together," Rin put her two index fingers together to emphasize the joining, "then they get married. And then they have children." Her voice trailed off and she started to feel embarrassed.
"Marriage requires love. To love means to value another over oneself. I do not think either of them are at that place. They just want something from the other. What little Tōran wants from my son piques my curiosity." The aloofness of Sesshōmaru's mother made Tōran smile.
"You do your son too little credit. I see a lot of you in him," the younger demoness as she stepped in and walked besides Sesshōmaru to the front two cushions. They sat, Sesshōmaru impassive and Tōran smiling knowingly. Jaken unfurled a long scroll of white paper on a small table and set down the ink and brushes. The imp then rolled back his sleeves and sat. Rin plopped herself besides him to watch Jaken write. The Inu no Kimi sat quietly to the side.
"What are your terms?" Sesshōmaru demanded. Jaken began writing with swift, crisp strokes which mesmerized Rin.
"First. Our relationship will be considered two halves of a whole." Sesshōmaru held up his hand to stop her there.
"Why? What is your game, Tōran?"
She chuckled and replied, "There is no game, Sesshōmaru. Do not deny we have the same goal. Supreme conqueror of all the lands! It has a nice ring to it. How many times have we faced each other? In a duel, you and me. Have any of them ended conclusively?" His silence was her answer. "How can you conquer all when you can't beat me? How can I do it when I can only fight you to a draw?" I actually gave it a lot of thought. Three months ago, I came to the only answer which allows both of us to achieve our goals. Neither of us needs to worry about the other if we are conquering the world together! But how to do it so that you must accept me? I had no answer for that until two weeks ago. The Northern Trolls are poor neighbors compared to your clan. So now we have a common foe and one which you will struggle to defeat alone. I want you, Sesshōmaru."
There was clapping from the corner where the Inu no Kimi lounged. "You have been outmaneuvered, Sesshōmaru. The girl from next door is as greedy as her father. I hope you have a worthy counterattack." Tōran pulled her hair back with a purr.
Rin poked Jaken for an explanation. The imp was seething at the way his master had been manipulated from the start. "That … that cunning snake!"
"I thought she was a Panther, Jaken-sama," Rin pointed to Tōran's tail
"It's a figure of speech, Rin!" the imp snapped. Rin nodded, more confused than before.
The Demon Dog Lord stared at the smiling Panther Demoness. Her words had no meaning, the logic slid off his brain as if it was never there, the idea of them working together to conquer the world too ludicrous for him to comprehend. All he could think was that this was the Tōran! The one rival, his only undefeated adversary, the one female who matched his power and skill at every encounter. Why her?
"Admit it, Sesshōmaru. You'd be bored by someone inferior to you. Nor is there a demoness who is superior to you in skill and power whom you'd be happy with. If we are going to do this, our realms must be as joined as we are." Tōran looked hard at him now with those familiar eyes. He had seen them up close often enough but this was the first time he saw sincerity in them.
Sesshōmaru kept his eyes locked on Tōran's as he wrestled with his thoughts. Why did he hesitate now? Was he afraid of something? No. It wasn't fear. Sesshōmaru never felt fear. But he was uncertain and doubted Tōran. He distrusted her. But then, she had no reason to trust him and yet, here she was proposing an arrangement which would bind them together and force them to trust each other. It was a gamble and that, he realized, was why he hesitated. Sesshōmaru hated gambles.
"Agreed," he finally said. Tōran's shoulders seemed to relax just a little. "Anything else?"
"Oh yes. As we will be mates, some mating will be required." Jaken sputtered out loud in scandalized horror. "The details we can resolve … later. But let us agree no more than twice a day unless mutually agreed upon."
"Once a day," Sesshōmaru countered. "Or until both of us are satisfied."
"Agreed. Oh! And you will kiss me, on the lips, each morning and compliment me once a day. Even if you have to lie." Now Tōran was grinning her familiar mischievous feline smile. Well, two could play that game.
"Only if you accept my conditions. We leave open the possibility for a formal marriage at a later date. You and I agree that the point of this union is procreate. And, absent an heir of the body, Rin will be made heir to both realms."
Tōran listened with a confused look. She noticed the mother's eyebrow arch in surprise. Truth be told, Tōran liked this bold and audacious Sesshōmaru more. If nothing else, he was more fun to play with. She turned her attention to the little human girl who looked around in bewilderment after hearing her name. The attention everyone was paying to her was causing her to blush crimson.
Such a small thing and with so little time. The short lives of humans, their fragility and physical weakness in comparison to demons made them obvious prey to demons. Yet there were many more of them. Tōran could not deny that Rin seemed undaunted, though extremely self-conscious, about the sudden elevation of status. Maybe. Just maybe. If she was successful, Tōran could tease Sesshōmaru about how a little human girl domesticated the whole Demon Dog Clan. Otherwise, she could still tease him about something else.
"Deal," she said, laughing at the hilarity of what could happen.
"Sesshōmaru," his mother said, sounding serious, "Does this mean… Am I to understand that you wish for her to be recognized as your daughter?" Tōran saw her face struggling to control the emotions.
"If that is how you interpret my designation of Rin as my… our heir, then I will not disagree," her new partner said.
"I congratulate you on the way you have forced me to take personal care of her," she said with no small of amount of chagrin. "Though I admit, it is a brilliant if eccentric stroke."
"Um… Sesshōmaru-sama, what am I…" Rin started to ask when he raised a hand to interrupt.
"Listen and learn, Rin. I understand the humans have taught you some letters. Jaken will complete your tuition."
"This Jaken is honored to be appointed to such a high responsibility," the little imp smacked his head against the floor.
"Now, Tōran, what is your next move?" Sesshōmaru asked her.
Tōran twirled a lock of her blue hair in her right index finger as if contemplating. "To maneuver you to my bed and see how long it takes to be … mutually satisfied with our new arrangement."
Jaken coughed loudly. "Lord Sesshōmaru," the sycophant said, holding up the long scroll of paper upon which he had drafted the agreement. "Both of you will need to stamp the document with your blood for it to be binding. Most demons bite their right thumb."
Both demons shrugged and bit down on their thumbs with their sharp canines. Small blobs of dark crimson blood formed and the two demons walked over. They pressed their bloody thumbs on the far left end of the scroll, rolling them to make a clear imprint. It was more than a formality. To demon clans, such documents were sacred bonds and to renege would result in a blood feud.
When they were done, Tōran and Sesshōmaru looked at each other to see if the other had something to say.
"You suck each other's thumbs now. It's the unofficial tradition," the Inu no Kimi pointed out. That tradition seemed to be just a sentimental formality to both of them. But everyone else in the room watched them so intently, neither felt they could decline unless they were ready to lose face.
Sesshōmaru took Tōran's right hand and brought it to his mouth. Realizing she couldn't fall behind, Tōran did likewise. Each put the other's thumb in their mouths simultaneously, licking the wound.
To Sesshōmaru, it felt childish. But the salty bitterness of Tōran's blood made his adrenaline pump and he began to yearn for something more vigorous. The touch of her warm tongue on his thumb sent an electric shock through him, like a call to hunt. From the way Tōran looked at him, she was feeling the same thing. Slowly, each pulled their thumbs out of the other's mouth.
"And following your attempts to maneuver me, what else do you intend?" he asked her.
"I was thinking we might cuddle, plan some war strategies in bed, convince you to go back west with me to inform my tribe, and then see if I can tempt you for more … mutual satisfaction."
The Inu no Kimi rose to leave, shaking her head as she strode past. "I told him he shouldn't stopped at the father. He should have wiped out the whole tribe when he had a chance…" she lamented aloud. Tōran laughed triumphantly as her mother-in-law exited the room.
Author's Notes
1) Ah, innuendo.
2) Tōran really is a greedy cat.
3) Chapter 10.5 will be posted probably at the end of the month. I have not started drafting it yet since I wanted to complete this and fulfill some of my promises. As I mentioned in Update #2, it will be a separate story thread as I need to put an M rating on it. It will explore the more intimate arrangements of our two protagonists. It should be a one-shot.
4) I will stick to this system of drafting each chapter on paper so I can set ideas and structure down then typing it up so that I can add more details and edits later on. I found it more helpful than doing simple outlines with this chapter. That means a slower rate of updates but, hopefully, equates to higher quality writing, ideas, and details.
5) All constructive feedback is welcome. If you criticize, please also include what you would like to see or what you think I should do instead.
6) I really am not sure if I should name Sesshōmaru's mother or not. Using her unofficial title is becoming... tedious and repetitive. Though I don't see anyone calling her by name, either so... kinda stuck on that point.