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AN: The ceremony that I described in this chapter was not meant to be or is to be taken as a traditional Japanese wedding ritual. Don't want to offend anyone. I wrote it the modern way simply because it suited my purposes for this story.
Jade selected three beautiful sheer robes and brought them to the princess to make a final decision on the one that she wanted to wear, while Heaven fitted the exquisitely designed royal hair ornament around the top knot of her hairstyle. Dangling from the jewel were polished crystals and rubies, whilst the circular head piece was encrusted with sparkling diamonds.
The three said nothing as they listened to the others prepare for the grand occasion. Her mother greeted someone further down the passage, but the exchange was too softly spoken for individual words to be understood.
Footfalls approached the bedroom door. Maemi's mother knocked discreetly before opening the door slightly and pushed her head in. "Daughter we leave in five minutes, make haste your brother and the others are waiting."
"I'm almost done," was the princess's soft reply.
"Good, I will inform them," she said and closed the door just as quietly as she had opened it and then left.
When there weren't any more footsteps to be heard, princess Maemi got up from in front of the dresser and acknowledged Jade with a slight nod of the head, who held up the silky garments for her perusal once more.
She mulled it over in silence for several moments. Finally Maemi said, "I will wear the one with the pink and white patterns."
Jade smiled pleased by the princess's choice. Secretly she had hoped that her cousin would have chosen that exact piece of clothing.
Princess Maemi didn't put on the expensive outer attire immediately. Instead she approached the mirror glumly and looked at herself carefully as if she saw the image for the first time. Her companions looked on bemused and wondered what she felt as she stared listlessly at herself and frowned.
Seeing her reflection filled her up with despair. She was dressed in the traditional white shiro maku for her wedding, she should be happy, but sadly she wasn't. This was not what she wanted, and if she was to be married this was not how she envisioned it would be either.
A marriage to her had always meant that both person involved wanted it; not rushed or thrown in the midst of chaos as a tool to ward against animosity. They should have spent time prior to the nuptials with the specific purpose of getting acquainted with each other. She should feel free and alive where anything and everything was possible and the future seemed bright. Her wedding day should signify the beginning of happiness, security and love.
Sadly today's event held none of those appeal, consequently she recognized its significance and had her part to play. She sighed with frustration, although she'd told herself many times since she was first told of her marriage to the demon lord that she could go through with it, now that the moment was here she greatly doubted that she had the strength to pull it off.
With a sigh she turned away from the mirror. It was too late now anyway to change her mind. There was no going back, the treaty was already signed, the guests and her betrothed waits at the temple. Before she let desperation set in she summoned the courage and took the silky clothing from her cousin and draped it around her shoulders.
She spun around quickly two times and asked. "How do I look…Do you think he will be impressed?"
Her cousins drew nearer because like her they too were scared, but in spite of that they tried to be brave. Heaven smiled through the bleakness seeping in the room and offered her cousin some support. "You look stunning and he would be a fool not to notice." Jade nodded to show her approval.
With her mind more at ease she took up the lacy silk veil that hung on the back of a chair and gave it to Jade, who pinned the upper portion of the fabric to both corners of the crown jewel on her head. Now she was finally ready.
sksksk
Billowy clouds moving swiftly overhead by the rising air currents blocked the sun's ferocious glare. Sesshomaru's hand dropped to his side as there was no more need to shelter his eyes from the heat as he watched the carriages drove away with all his children except one to the capital for the wedding ceremony.
He looked wilted, and not only because of the heat. His face was gaunt as though the present situation had weighed it down with guilt. His wretched demeanor was that of a male who had sold his soul to the devil and had no hope of ever reclaiming it.
The joys in his life stolen away, he seemed particularly downcast as he made his way inside the house and towards his youngest child's room. By contrast she seemed worse than before he observed as he stopped at the door. It's been days that he'd last seen her, she had shouted at him then, displeased by his choices and had stormed out of the house in tears.
At the door he thought of the best way to approach the situation and found that he lacked the skills necessary to deal with a petulant child. It wasn't a habit of his comforting his children, but he wasn't a brute whereas he would refuse to do so if it was required of him. He hadn't thought about it extensively up until now, but his mate's presence would be sadly missed.
The little things that she did easily and with so much love was not something he was good at, yet she made it look so simple. How was he going to cope with a house full of adolescent pups without their mother? He sighed feeling physically ill as Aiko turned on her stomach and willfully dismissed his presence.
He felt awkward, not quite sure what to do. His daughter's behavior differed a great deal to what it had been five days ago he realized to his dismay. Whereas she used to be expressive, loved to talk and took liberties with his person, always hugging and kissing him affectionately, attitudes none of which his older children displayed so frequently and openly, now she remained in her room and conversed with no one except Taizo.
Sesshomaru cleared his throat to get her attentions, Aiko did not budge. Carefully he lowered his tall form in the sofa chair by the bedside and gently tapped on her shoulder. He waited a long time before his daughter turned around and faced him with red puffy eyes. All of which signaled to him that this was much more consequential than being late for his own wedding. He felt the muscles in his chest tightened as the child gaze at him with bitter resentment for a brief period and then started to cry.
Up until now he had not realized the depth of the child's pain. But these substantial changes in her moods made him nostalgic for the way things used to be. He longed for his mate and the way in which everything and everyone seemed to come alive around her. He even yearned for one of his daughter's wide smiles and crushing hugs.
Aiko nibbled on her lips uneasily after she had stopped crying, and looked thoughtfully on her father's hand on her shoulder as he rubbed it soothingly to console her.
"Father," she said after awhile, her voice breaking with the effort, "couldn't you have found some other way to save us…I don't understand, why did you do this and hurt mother so much that she had to leave us? I cannot accept that this is the only solution."
She stared at her father seeking something else other than what she knew. Perhaps this was a dream and he was here to wake her up. But even as young as she was she was not that naive, she lowered her head after her father's mood had changed.
Sesshomaru was startled by the raw edge of grief and accusatory mischief in his daughter's tone as he gazed at her. Suddenly caught up with the memories of his mate's crying eyes as he looked at Aiko, he got up quickly feeling a mix of down-heartedness and remorse.
He clenched his jaws tight. He had lost a treasured mate and would gain a wife, one that he did not remotely desire, and of course he had lost the respect of his children and had earned a disharmonized house instead, and yet for all of his troubles his children judged and sentenced him as an unfeeling monster.
His eyes narrowed upon his daughter in irritation. "Do you honestly believe that I would have caused your mother and you pain because I care not for your feelings?"
The child looked up quickly and stared at her father, it was strange, he did not sound much like himself. In fact he looked tired and his body sagged a little at the shoulders, his sparkling liquid golden eyes were lackluster as if the shine had vanished from their midst. He looked sad and a permanent frown crinkled his forehead.
She had never seen him like this; he was always so strong, powerful and seemingly invulnerable and intimidating to others. Her eyes dropped to the sheets after silently observing him, she needn't answer the question; it was rhetoric. Her father did what he thought was best and now he too suffered as they did. He just hid it better. The sudden realization that blaming him was no longer valid made her feel even worse.
She sighed unhappily and rested her head back down on the pillow. Her father had always been ruthless, no surprise there, he had used cold hard logic to make his decision. How sad it was that his victory came at such a terrible price.
She shifted her head up and met his eyes again. "Father I am sorry for ever doubting you, I am sorry that mother has left us, and as I am tired I must rest," was the child's muffled words of resignation against the soft pillow.
He watched as his daughter pulled the silken sheets more closely around her form. He watched as she closed her eyes, and eventually before she fell asleep he rubbed her back slowly until the rest she sought was hers.
No sooner had he exited his daughter's room the male-servant and Jaken came to find him. "Sire we need to hurry and get you prepared or you will be late for your own wedding," the attendant said hurriedly.
Sesshomaru paid him no mind and walked leisurely to his room, such words were meaningless, because in his heart and soul he was already married to Kagome. He was in no hurry to hasten or please destiny, this was his territory so let them wait. And furthermore, it was their deceit that breathed life in the current situation. He did not care how they felt, fuck protocol, he would do as he pleases, here he was king.
After taking a bath and feeling refreshed Sesshomaru entered his bedroom. Jaken immediately scurried in his midst followed by the attendant with several garments for him to make a selection. As he looked at them he could tell that they were of the finest quality, each just as impressive as the next one.
His hands moved without thoughts, this was not a happy occasion and it never would be. He wasn't too surprised when his eyes focused on the selection that he'd made and it was a black tunic with silver grey bottoms.
He dressed himself in the elegant black tunic with wide sleeves and covered buttons of teal which ran down either side of the garment to the waist. The silken gray hakamas were loose fitting but suited him gracefully. To finish off his attire Jaken presented him with a silver sash that he knotted loosely to the side.
The attendant approached him timidly, he stared at him and wondered why he had suddenly gone mute which was not his usual demeanor. The very feminine demon servant fidgeted with his hands and then spoke softly. "Sire your hair needs attending to for the grand occasion," and just as quickly as the words left his mouth he looked down on his hand holding onto the hair brush.
Sesshomaru frowned but sat down just the same. All this fuss over a union he didn't care for he thought. Kagome wouldn't have mind, she had loved the natural flow of his hair from the very beginning and the way he wore it unbound.
The course material of the hair brush scraped along his forehead and into his hair without finesse, the attendant hurried for he knew the time would soon pass for the lord to be early. Jaken on the other hand slipped away silently only to return a short time later with a wooden box covered with purple velvet.
Sesshomaru eyes narrowed upon the box in confusion. He knew what it contained but never thought that he would ever have a reason to use them. The attendant tugged on his hair as he scooped bangs and all into one central ponytail and secured it with a thin blue grey ribbon. When he was finished he backed away slowly.
Golden eyes focused on the box as Jaken opened it, and there in the case sat his grandparent's crowns, simple in design but elegant. They were made of the highest grade white gold, with intertwining vines along it expanse, while the center pieces were conjoined crescent moons two inches high set with tiny stones that glittered in the sunlight.
"Master pardon me for being so bold, but I think it would be fitting for the occasion, you should definitely wear it," the little imp advised and interrupted his internal assessment of the diadems.
He hesitated at first, those crowns heralded a time when demon-kind ruled the earth, long before mankind's existence. However, he nodded and took the larger one from the case and advanced to the vanity where he placed the headpiece around his forehead, it fitted as if it was made especially for him. He wouldn't give the humans the satisfaction of thinking that his kind lacked etiquette and were uncultured barbarians.
He heard the royal guards assembling at the palace gates, waiting to escort him to the capital city and turned away from the mirror. Before he left the room his mind conjured up images of his mate as she used to brush his hair at nights so tenderly, and playfully kissed him on the ears, it was an action that caused his ears to twitch, something that she found quite amusing.
As long as he lived in this house he would always remember, pieces of her were stamped not only onto their hearts but on everything that she'd touched, be it lives or inanimate things.
The long drive to the city soothed his nerves and gave him time to think, it wasn't an unpleasant thing to do, but when all your thoughts were centered on one incident then it became tiresome easily.
He couldn't stop thinking about his mate and how agonizing their parting had been, and to make matters worse he would hurt her even more when he dishonored himself with a woman who could never be a true mate to him.
He sighed unhappily as the upcoming events consumed him with wretched reality. The nearer he journeyed to the city, a burning as hot as an inferno spread throughout his being, it burrowed deep and painfully held him captive, imprisoning him in a cavern of ice and of fire. He gasped in an undignified manner as pain so intense grappled with his heart.
He shuddered as the carriage came to a halt, and was surprised to see his claws spread firmly over the space above his heart, as he continued to feel the pain. He understood clearly what this was. No longer was their bond peaceful as Kagome slept, because even as she slumbered she grieved immensely and he'd felt her sorrow, and the combination of his woes and hers felt like a huge boulder had smashed into him, it suffocated him.
As he entered the temple he saw that it was filled to capacity. He held his head high with dignity and reluctantly glanced at his children who sat in the two front pews on the left. He did not want to see their sad faces and the obvious disgust and disappointment they felt.
He was slightly irritated by the empty seats adjacent to his pups as the princess and the human royals had not arrived. Those three sets of front seats were reserved for them.
The irritations lingered and clung to him depressingly as the need to get his obligation over and done with consumed him. He could see no point in prolonging their pain; it served no real purpose at all. He sighed with his thoughts and continued forward.
As he came to the podium the officiating priest was present and looked a little perturbed. He couldn't decipher the monk's feelings, but if he had to guess he would think that the man was nervous in his presence.
The sound of the trumpets and drums signaled the princess's arrival, he stiffened a bit before inhaling deeply to calm the wayward pulse at his temples. Could it be that he was nervous? No, never, he merely grew irritated with the unneeded pageantry and excitement.
He heard hurried footfalls and then the guests stood as the emperor and his entourage arrived. He remained as he was and ignored their presence. The music changed to a languid and serene one as the harpist played a beautiful song.
The change of music indicated that the bride approached. He heard quieter footsteps that belonged to females, four in total coming along the aisle. He knew the princess was one, but didn't care for the others.
Princess Maemi walked in sophisticated elegance up the aisle while her cousins walked closely behind, and her mother a few feet in front. She saw the back of her betrothed and marveled at his intimidating presence; although from here all that she viewed was his impressive height and beautiful hair. She inhaled deeply, almost a gasp of sound as she became anxious yet again.
When her companions reached their seats she was left alone to walk the remaining distance. She sighed feeling flushed and uneasy but continued on just the same. Her movements ceased when she was beside her fiancé.
Their nearness unnerved her even further and she swallowed hard as her throat became dry; through the nervy sensations a cool wind blew and stirred the air, and it brought his scents to her. It was a mix of the unknown laced with his masculinity and pinewood. He smelled clean like the forest after a cool burst of rain. She smiled. At least he smells as good as he looked, she thought.
The sound of the priest's voice took her out of the mild trance that his closeness brought.
"Who gives this woman to this male for marriage?"
There was a slight shuffle in the front seat as the emperor stood. "I emperor Masayoshi gives my sister Princess Maemi to Lord Sesshomaru for marriage."
The guests observed quietly as the priest continued. He blessed the union and prayed for a long and fruitful joining. Sesshomaru listened keenly to the ceremony and thought why Kagome hadn't insisted that they formed another bond like this as was customary to her kind.
Throughout the ritual he never for one moment thought of the woman by his side, other than earlier when the air had stirred and brought her florally scent to him, one in which he found to be quite pleasing. He was satisfied on that note because it would make it easier to perform his husbandly duties.
The thought of being with her like that was as displeasing as a nasty gash to the stomach. He sincerely hoped that she would not request consummation from him right now; not when the pain and grief of losing his mate was still so tangible and raw, not when he could still feel the driving pain in his heart whenever he thought of her.
He felt when the woman at his side turned; he had not heard the last part of the monk's tedious litany as he was caught up in something else. In due time he turned and observed the princess's veil covered face and saw that she watched him timidly like a cat.
He heard her gasp as she gazed at him and wondered if she was afraid of him. The truth was, Maemi was stunned dumb as she stared at the most beautiful being she had ever seen.
No words entered her mind as she sought to calm her racing heart, it didn't help at all that he looked at her with the keenness of a hawk, with eyes that she never knew anyone could possess.
She held out the wine holder nervously in her trembling hand. He came closer and held her hand making it steady. She gulped as she felt his warmth on her, and stared long at fingers tipped with pointy claws. Now more than ever she was acutely aware that her soon to be husband was not a man at all but a demon. It was frightening, and at the same time enthralling.
She couldn't help but to like him a bit as she could tell that he tried to make her comfortable. She watched as he took a sip of the wine, then gently took the wine glass from her and waited while she undid her veil.
When she was finished unhooking the veil she looked up at him shyly. He hesitated a moment as he saw unusual brown eyes tinted green with the shift of the light, a beautiful face with pouty lips that parted slightly with unease. However, none of that mattered to him; he only observed with a clinical eye what was before him out of habit. He tried to be accommodating so as to get the ceremony over and done with quickly, but he could sense that his bride mistook courtesy for affection.
It was now his turn and he placed the glass at her lips and she took a sip. The monk's apprentice took the glass away and then they faced the priest once more for the final moments of the ceremony.
"Do you Sesshomaru son of the late Inu no Taisho take princess Maemi to be your wife as long as you both shall live?"
He thought the instruction to be contradictory because she would die long before he would, but in spite of that he answered. "Yes."
The same question was posed to the princess. She hesitated a few moments but then acquiescence as well. "I will."
Misora one of Sesshomaru's twin daughters got up and brought the rings to them. Sesshomaru took the smaller of the two bands and placed it around his new wife's finger. With trembling hands she took the larger one and placed it around his finger. The ceremony completed, Sesshomaru approached the princess and kissed her forehead.
He took her hand into his amidst cheers and led her outside to the banquet. Her cousins cried because they were overjoyed for her.
sksksk
It was now nighttime and Shippo flew speedily back to Edo to be with his mother, he assumed that she might be awake now. It had been hours since he'd left her, but he could not stay away. Something inside him wanted to know, or maybe he wanted to know for Kagome's sake.
He'd observed the wedding ceremony from afar and watched until it was over. The reception afterwards was a grand affair. He could tell that the Daiyoukai went through the motions abstractly out of obligation for the nobles and guests.
Inuyasha had kept silent throughout the ceremony and he'd observed when he was introduced to his new sister in law that he barely nodded. The children were all there except Aiko and that bothered him. He wondered if she was coping well and if she was alright. Kagome worried for her the most. He hadn't the time to go visit with her now. He had to make it home quickly, he didn't want Kagome to wake up and find him gone. She needed someone around now more than ever.
sksksk
Tears ran down Kagome's face as she was up for a few minutes and all her troubles rushed in like a tidal wave, blasting her full of unpleasant memories with its force.
Kagome wasn't weeping. Her expression reflected peace, sadness and resolution. She had wept bitter tears for her lost mate before. Now she was far away and needed every ounce of strength that she had to pick up the pieces of her life.
"Goodbye Sesshomaru," was the whispered cry.
He was honorable and would always keep his word, and by now was married to the princess, though she disapproved of his methods, she couldn't fault his motives. She'd grown to know him in good times and bad, his strength and determination. It was difficult to hate someone once you understood them.
It's over. She thought and rose to her feet; it's a waste of energy being angry all the time when that emotion won't change what has happened. It was a useless thing to dwell on.
Shippo arrived five minutes later; he smiled with relief as soon as he saw that she was alright.
"I'm glad to see a friendly face, where have you been?" She asked and approached him.