Chapter 3: Disposition

It took weeks for me to feel normal again after having my daughter, Kohana. Due to the fact that gods carry so much power in them, it takes longer to recover from birthing one. My father and Mercury mostly kept to themselves during this time. My days mostly consisted of watching and caring for Kohana for the mornings. Sachiko and Inukimi would keep me company while Sesshomaru was out sparring with his father and attending lessons. I knew this peace couldn't last forever it was only a matter of time before they would try to either destroy my daughter or me.

I turned overlooking the kingdom, the moon's aura turned all of the buildings to a beautiful pale white. Off in the distance in the sky a solitary planet called Earth shone. My family knew there was life there. We originally came from there before my great-grandfather grew tired of life forms called mortals. They were always starting wars over such simple things and had average lifespans of only 50 years. One day they discovered the existence of youkai, they grew afraid and started slaying them. With that my great-grandfather could not take all the senseless violence, he rounded up youkai and inuyoukai and led them to the moon. Then the Moon Kingdom was formed, a safe haven for demons with gods to rule them.

Or at least that was the intention, there were other gods on different planets. None of which had seen or even heard of youkai. They feared the prosperity of our budding kingdom. We existed for 1,000 years in peace and quickly flourished as we all lived and worked in harmony. Then came the Inner War, a clash of gods, Jupiter verses my great-grandfather. In an unfortunate turn of events my great-grandfather and his son lost their lives and became part of the universe. Jupiter and his clan had forged a weapon that could send any other god or goddess back into the universe with no way of returning. It was practically a death sentence. We called this terrible weapon the Shosaiga. Mercury is Jupiter's son and to keep our kingdom alive I was forced into a marriage I never wanted.

I sighed somehow I would have to get Kohana away from this life and to somewhere safe. As much as I wanted to be around my baby girl I couldn't risk her safety nor her chance for an ordinary childhood. I knew probably sending her to live with the inuyoukai may be the best thing for her. Could I really live with such a decision? No, I couldn't she was my only child and my last rememberance of my happiness. Ashitaka, if only I realized some things earlier you could have been saved. I am so sorry my love. It felt like pins dug every which way into my heart, even breathing was excuiating. I still woke up some nights crying louder than Kohana, due to this Sachiko's room had been moved right next to mine. The pain didn't get any easier as everyone had said it would. How could it when all my friends were inuyoukai and time went by much faster for them? I am a goddess, an immortal, now I am damned to spent the remainder of it with someone I despise. Sometimes I wondered what it would be like if I could just shove the god killer right through me. Some days are worse than others and I would rather die than get out of bed.

A gentle knocking on my door broke me from my enticing thoughts of death. My handmaid stepped in. She was dressed in the standard black kimono that servants wore with a white hakama tied in the back of her waist. Her face was grim and she didn't make eye contact with me, she never did.

"The lord wishes to speak to you my lady," she said, "He awaits you in the council room."

"Heh, very well then." I curtly replied, very much aware of her thoughts of me mixing with one of her kind. She retreated out of the door.

My father wished to speak to me in the council room. I knew what that really meant. It probably meant that Jupiter was still here and they will decide what to do with Kohana. I had to find Inu No Taisho before I went. That was our rule that we came up with. I didn't even bother changing into something more suitable for my new father-in-law. As far as I was concerned it was his fault that my life now had no meaning, except for my daughter. They can all rot in hell, I practically growled.

As I started towards my chamber doors, I noticed the black cloak I would wear when I snuck out to go meet Ashitaka draped over my favorite chair. I hesitated about to continue towards the doors but I resulted to rushing towards the cloak and enveloping myself in its luxurious comfort. I raised a back part of the cloak up to my nose and sniffed. I could still smell the scent of Ashitaka, mint with a tinge of smoke, which was related to his job as a farmer.

I flew out my door and quickly descended the stairs that were adjacent to my bedroom, which were a set of servant stairs hidden in a nook. I kept going until the very bottom where Inu No Taisho was to be stationed for the night. I turned the corner and then another and he was posted at the servants' back gate. When I came up to him I saw my own pain matched when our eyes made contact. Somehow he had caught wind of every detail of my life since my father practically disowned me. I understood how pack dynamics worked. Ashitaka was practically his brother, that instantly made Kohana and I part of his pack, even if I was stronger.

"Toga," I addressed him by his old nickname, "My father is wanting to speak to me in the council room. I thought I should let you know. If it doesn't go well will you take Kohana to Kisho?"

"Yes I will," Toga looked at me his eyes glistening with anger, "You have to be strong in there. I know you think they are stronger than you but you must fight for Kohana. You can trust Kisho, she is Ashitaka's only sister, but don't let Kohana grow up without a mother or worse."

"You know how this is going to go down. My father will make me relinquish Kohana as my daughter. Then he will wait to see if she demonstrates the family power, if not he will kill her." I said wincing at the fact that my child may not make it to her 150th birthday.

"We will figure something out. I swear on my life that no harm will come to her or you as long as I am able to move. You are my packmate and I will look after you. He was practically my brother, that makes you family as well, sister." Toga swore.

"Thank you for your friendship. You and Inukimi are the only reason I still even feel alive. I love you so much for being the family I always wanted." I started sobbing. Toga pulled me into a tight embrace and I pressed my face into his shoulder. After weeks of holding it in it felt great just to let it all out.

Toga pulled away at the sound of footsteps coming closer. I looked up from the ground and saw Mercury walking towards us. He had the inuyoukai commander at his heels and two inuyoukai soldiers closely behind. Mercury had close cropped red hair and wore the colors of his own planet, yellow and orange. Mercury had a glint of pleasure in his eyes. This was the first time I saw him since Ashitaka's death. I couldn't get the image of Ashitaka's lifeless eyes out of my head. I started to shake uncontrollably and I could barely breathe. I could feel my heart to somersaults in my heart. I didn't know what I was feeling. I felt Toga grab my wrist trying to snap me out of it.

"Awww look have you chosen another inferior being for me to slay? Do not forget you are my wife now you wench." Mercury sneered at me before fixing his sadistic gaze on Toga. He turned to the inuyoukai commander, Akira, and said, "I hope you can learn to control your mongrels. How well does this one obey?"

Akira gave us a long stare. I knew the conveyed meaning. He was sorry but he had no choice. I shook my head at him. "Without fail, my lord."

Mercury curled his lips and said, "Very good. Command him to bring my wife with us. It is about time we discussed the fate of the half-breed."

"Inutaisho, seize the princess and follow us." Akira commanded him.

I saw Toga's eyebrows knit together as he looked at his superior with a disgusted look. I knew the look, it was one that conveyed coward. Inutaisho kept his grip on my wrist and nodded more towards me.

Mercury had a satisfied look on his face as he started to lead the way towards the council room. Akira followed while the other two soldiers took up flanking positions behind us. I glanced back at their faces and they were just blank. It sent a shiver throughout my body. I snapped my head forward and trudged forward to what was sure to be the most confrontational meeting of my life.

We came upon the large wooden doors. With an eerie squeal the doors were drawn outwards towards us. I saw my father and Jupiter sitting next to the fire. I had never seen my father look so disturbed. He didn't even look at me it was as though I was invisible. Jupiter fixed his cloudy orange eyes on me as we approached. His pupils were an electric yellow, I had never met him before. The rear guards went to hastily close the door behind us. Mercury went to go stand next to my father in a dominating gesture. Akira remained close to me and Toga.

My father started, "Selene, you know why you are here. You have born the first child between gods and youkai. This goes against the god's code and vow. SInce the child is a possible successor to the throne, she will be allowed to live."

I brightened a little bit.

"At least until her 150th birthday. She will then undertake the test to see if she bares the power of the kingdom. If she fails, I will slay her myself. If she passes, she will mate with Mercury or Jupiter provided you can not produce a suitable heir." Katsu finished.

"Produce a suitable heir?" I questioned.

"You will bare him a child. This will signify the full alliance of the Jupiter Clan and our kingdom. It will save our kingdom."

I shuddered at the thought. I had felt it in my heart that Kohana would have our ancestral power but I could not be sure. I looked to my father, then Jupiter, and then back to Mercury. I glared at all three of them, "This is not what our kingdom was founded on! Our ancestors would be disappointed in you father. We saved the youkai from the mortals! Yet we treat them like servants! We were all supposed to live as one, not divided! I do not know what poison they have been putting in your head but they are the type of gods we wanted to get away from also! Any god should have the compassion for all life under them! I refuse to bare these vermin a child!"

I could feel Toga's pride radiating off of him. I knew my words would just get me in trouble but it needed to be said. By this time I was blazing with anger and did not care anymore. I would not let my father hand me over to these gods just like how he handed our kingdom over.

Jupiter rumbled. I realized quickly that he was laughing, "My,my. She has the same spunk as her great-grandfather. We will be sure to squash that. You will bare my son a son, with or without your consent."

My heartbeat quickened. It seems I wouldn't have a choice. My blood boiled that my father would just let them do whatever they want. He beckoned Mercury to come closer and then signaled to Akira. The two rear guards advanced towards me and Toga. I could feel Toga's inuyoukai energy become stronger next to me. I turned to him and I saw his honey golden eyes turn blood red with blue irises. I quickly realized he meant to transform. I put my hand on his shoulder and shook my head at him.

"One of us has to live through this. Go get Kohana and get her out of here. It's me they want and I do not want Kohana to have anything to do with this life." I commanded.

Toga swung his massive head towards me, "I will not let you just go through with this. You know what they intend to do."

I countered, "We waste time arguing about this. Every moment counts. I have someone to protect! Have you someone to protect?"

Toga growled but then nodded, "As you wish princess."

Jupiter yelled to Akira, "Don't let him get away. We can not have him running off with that half-breed child!"

The two rear guards were right behind me. Toga was already advancing towards the other door that led back to the common room, which wasn't as heavily fortified as the one we came through. I didn't intend to let anyone follow him. Akira started sprinting towards him. I summoned what I could of my strength and produced two purple swirling orbs that looked like they had stars in them. I shot them towards Akira's feet. He turned a shocked expression towards me and he looked to me with a new respect in his eyes. He nodded towards me, with that I knew I could trust him. He swiftly followed Toga with a new pip in his step.

Now the rear guards were behind me. My father looked at me somberly. My nose scrunched in disgust of his cowardice. Mercury advanced towards me while Jupiter just remained seated.

"I really hope that you do not believe you can take me on," Mercury bellowed.

"I may have no battle training but I know a defective god when I see one. What kind of man would even consider raping his own wife?" I yelled in defiance.

"You are about to know soon enough. I'm way better than those dogs you mate with." Mercury sneered.

"At least dogs mate for life and love," I chided, "My heart will belong to Ashitaka until the day I die!"

"That day may be fast approaching if you do not give me what I want."

"You know I will never bend my knee to you."

"I figured as much," Mercury acknowledged. I noticed a faint blue glowing from his hand and I realized it was chains. "Are you scared now? You should be, these chains are enchanted to hold unruly goddesses like you. You will let me have my way."

I winced at the thought but I knew I was no match for two gods. At least Kohana would be safe I could endure pain for her sake. I would probably never hold her again or see her markings which were just like her father's. I closed my eyes and braced for what was about to come.