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It was the moment of truth, time to face their fears. They'd both been waiting for this day it seemed for a very long time, although in all actuality it had been a mere two weeks, but the dread and uncertainty surrounding this meeting made the time passed slowly with the enormity of the dire consequences that would no doubt be the culmination of all their actions.
Be brave his eyes told her as he peered into her glowing orbs, holding her hand closer as they stepped through the wide oak door.
The silence was deafening as they made their grand entrance into the great hall of the council room. Quiet chatter receded into a dead calm and an eerie silence seeped into the atmosphere, only their soft footsteps could be heard as they walked royally hand in hand and took their places at the other end of the table facing lady Harumi.
She looked them over a split second and came in contact with proof of their mating bond, by the prominent crescent moon affixed in the center of the priestess's forehead, and for the briefest instance she was genuinely alarmed. For how could this be? Sesshomaru was already tied to Siera, she had ensured its success with powerful magic. Sighing "Mmmph" in irritation very softly she thought. 'After today my son, you will no longer be the main player in the decisions of the west.'
The look of shock was quickly replaced with indifference, all this went unseen by the pair with its swiftness, when they at last looked at her, the grand lady's mask was in place and she did not look at them with disdain; she had instead an air of unconcern that in an odd way exuded her confidence.
The eye lock did not last for long as a voice that they were all too familiar with sounded "Keh," the half demon prince named Inuyasha made his entrance and doing it noisily, flinging the door wide open, and then closing it in the same manner. Sesshomaru smirked as his brother acknowledged him with a nod and to no one else, then rudely turning away and slumping over a chair near the door way and away from the main table and its occupants.
Sesshomaru was quite aware that Inuyasha's lack of decorum had nothing to do with breeding, and everything to do with annoying and grating on the nerves of the prejudiced and stuffy old fools who sat amongst them.
Kagome smiled at Inuyasha when he was seated and he returned the gesture wholly. Refreshments were served, and the windows on the easterly walls of the council room opened by the dutiful and efficient servants, letting in the chilly December wind in the mid afternoon. Kagome was grateful for the respite that the thick robes offered her in defense of the cold air.
The atmosphere although calm was thick with tension as the minds and hearts of its inhabitants were divided. Still he was their current ruler and lord and he could not just walk away. The woman by his side and on his arm was looked upon in derision, because now that their days were numbered and he as their leader had taken unto himself a human wife, and by her scent the members could tell that they were bound together, caused the ugly memories to resurface.
Their former lord had committed political suicide when he chose a human princess over his own kind, who birthed him a hanyou son who now sat in this room, and subsequently his demise when he saved them from dying. And now it would seem that the young lord Sesshomaru was undoubtedly walking the same path as his sire.
The sentiments of distrust and disloyalty were felt as the members who sided with his mother and her totalitarian beliefs gazed at his mate with hatefulness and malice. Kagome looked upon them with pity as she could hardly believe the might of the hate coming her way, because she was only trying to help them as a species to survive into the future.
How can hers and Sesshomaru's gracious efforts could be viewed as anything else? Was power more important than a peaceful existence? She wondered, because here they were trying to decide which way to go when the answer should be obvious; a peaceful existence between both species was the most favorable and yet some nobles here today could not see that point of view clearly.
The members conversed amongst themselves, while enjoying the refreshments after the novelty of the priestess and Sesshomaru their esteemed lord's mating had worn off. Everyone here today had their own agendas and motivations for the choices that they have made. It was no secret that this day would end with bloodshed and a new leader if their present one was not mentally and physically strong, to defend his title and hold firm to his beliefs.
She rose with glass in hand and tapped it carefully getting everyone's undivided attentions. Sesshomaru's feelings for his mother had become more perplexed as he'd matured, but now it was so much simpler, and as he looked at her standing and was about to make the introductions starting the meeting it was defined.
She was his enemy and he did not harbor any feelings of love or devotion towards her. Such feelings were lost with his boyhood, and as a mature male he would exercise the right of killing her and ridding himself of the thorn in his side. But for now he would have to wait until she made her move, securing his son's life was the most important thing he had to do today.
Her voice was calm and poised when she spoke. "I want to welcome you all to this monumental occasion, but before I get into that I would like to send my condolences to lord Miffoon's family. My dear friend and our comrade was assassinated in his bed four days ago. And I have only heard the sad news since yesterday."
There were mixed reactions to the announcements because Miffoon was not a much liked individual, he was devious and untrustworthy. However, his first son and a former friend of Sesshomaru, and now lord of his father's territory hung his head down and thought of his sire. 'I am sorry Hajime for your loss," she said as sincerely as she could from her cold heart, and he looked up and at her without saying a word.
The introductions were made but strangely enough she did not acknowledge Sesshomaru as her leader, she left the statement hanging. "I will not play games here today, for most know what this meeting is really about, so I will leave it to a vote. All who support my wayward son move to his side of the table, and all who is in favor of me come and stand behind me," she said authoritatively and waited for the divide.
Sesshomaru stood at this point and leveled his gaze at his dam and responded. "Are you challenging me for the throne of the west, and if you are what is the reasoning behind it?" He asked her as calmly as he could, keeping in mind his child.
"That is a strange question coming from you," lady Harumi answered. "Because I am sure that you are quite aware of the position that I have taken on your leadership or lack thereof." He wasn't surprised at her rebuttal but he had to stall for time, make her reveal her hand so that he could rescue his son. "You are right mother, I am aware of the vulture that you are and I would suggest that you find another flesh to pick at."
Lady Harumi had not the slightest interest in her son's opinion of her. What concerned her was to seize control from him, so she disregarded his statement and repeated hers. "Follow me and live to see a future with our kind in it, or follow my son and his whore who will definitely lead you down a path that is filled with deception. His woman is a human and yet he would want us to believe that she would betray her race to save ours, how foolish does he think we are?"
It was enough, her remarks started the divide as the members got up and took their places on the side that they aligned themselves with. In the end they were almost dead even. She had five followers now with the death of Miffon, and one of the members whom she thought was with her gave his support to Sesshomaru making it four in favor of the demon lord.
The only member who had not voted was the new lord Hajime, and he sat and looked around knowing that his vote would decide the fate of the current lord or the challenger lady Harumi. Expectant eyes watched and waited, lady Harumi exuded over confidence, for surely a son of her former friend and confidant would most definitely vote for her.
However, her hopes were dashed to pieces as the male got up and went to stand behind Sesshomaru. She screamed in frustration. "Aaagh!, if your father was alive today he would have been so disappointed in you," she said giving Hajime a hateful look. Then she laughed out bitterly. "My son," she said gravely and turned to him. "I was hoping that we could have resolved this peaceable," Sesshomaru gave her an incredible look, because she must be quite insane.
Nevertheless, she continued, "That is not to be our fates," and as she said this; the snowfall came soft and hushed, as soothing as the whisper of a summer wind, as quiet as a gentle silence and the falling of a passing star. It was beautiful as the snowflakes fell white and fluffy to the ground like small balls of cotton.
Now, eager with anticipation he studied his mother and waited on her to do her worse, while Kagome clings to his hand and side. Hajime's vote had turned the tables making it a deadlock, five on five. She could walk away but he knew her spite and malice ran deep and she had his son.
What was she going to do now? She could not win in an all out war, but Sesshomaru knew that his mother was very resourceful. And while he waited he knew and felt that the worst was yet to come as the daylight dimmed suspiciously, blocked by an enormous creature coming at full speed towards them.