Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the InuYasha series, only names and characters from my own imagination. The creation of InuYasha and those associated with him by either manga or anime belong to Rumiko Takahashi, VIZ Media, Shogakukan, and others who have either invested in the series of books and episodes, or in the company itself. I do not make a financial profit from writing this fan fiction. Only profit I receive is from knowing that my writing has either touched someone deeply or brought joy to someone's day.
Summary: He was a prince from the West. She is the princess of the East. When an accidental death causes war between these two kingdoms, can they save their country from ruin or forfeit the lives of the innocent?
Honor: Chapter 3
HE SAT IN the deepest part of a cave on the highest peak of Mount Zanei. Dark lengthy hair covered his head. Granite colored eyes watched the nothingness that surrounded him. He had a straight nose, full lips and a strong jaw line. He was clad in a neutral yet raggedy kimono, and his sandals were tattered and worn.
A woman approached from behind. Her feminine features almost matched his own. One could mistake her as a sibling of sorts. Her clothes were a tad better than his. They were not the best garbs that money could buy, or that one could wear, but they were not in the same condition as that of her mate either.
"Have you any news?" A course voice asked out.
"Yes, it will not make you happy." She replied. "I could have sworn that we took care of the problem."
"The problem? Out with it already woman!" He growled at her. "My patience is wearing thin."
"The kingdoms have called a truce and united. Kikyo did not finish her job and failed to destroy Prince InuYasha. He has only been in hiding. He is to mate Princess Kagome from the Eastern Kingdom tomorrow, and mate her the same night." Her voice was shaky. Her hands equally so. She took off her outer Kimono. This would not be pretty.
"So, Kikyo has failed us has she?" Rumbling began in his chest and reverberated out into words. "Nothing we can do about it now. She is long past dead and even if she were alive, there is no way we could get her past security again." A growl. The woman flinched. "You smell of me. They would kill you on sight.
"What then? What shall I do?" She asked as harmless as she could, though she should have never asked at all. Do not speak unless spoken too, that is what he has always said. But it was to no avail. Her mate let his temper the better of him. He rushed her and slammed her head into the side of their cavern.
"Do not question me, bitch!" he roared.
"I am sorry, Naraku! Please forgive me, it will not happen again!" She begged. There she went, speaking yet again. He had not asked her a direct question, and she had to open her stupid mouth. Anger and fear consumed her. He slapped her anyways. Pain shot through her to the very core. Blood left her mouth as she cried out. Naraku let her go and sat back down.
"Naiyumi, after you have healed go to my brother. Tell him that I am in need of his assistance. Until then go sit, and think of what you have made me do to you. Consider what you could have done differently."
"Yes, Naraku." When he turned his head away from her, dismissing her, she found her usual seat along the wall of their cave and sat to attend to her wounds. What could she have done differently? She already knew, and she was not sure is she would do it again or not.
'One day, Naraku, my love. One day you will get what is coming to you, whether you like it or not. You will be the downfall of this family. Your pride and disrespect to the Emperor and his bloodline will destroy us all. One day.'
IT HAD BEEN a long day for Kagome and InuYasha. A long stressful day indeed. When court commenced, everyone was eyeing them. She could feel their stares burning into her flesh. Their comments laced with poison.
"Another human." They said. "Like father, like son."
InuYasha's ear ticked in annoyance. He could smell it on her too. "You can leave if you wish to do so." He mumbled under his breath. "They can be harsh at times."
"No, this is now my kingdom, and I am now Princess of the West, or soon will be. They must learn to love and respect me, and the only way that this can be done is if I am cut with their words, but I show them that it does not harm me in any way." She mumbled back to him. Kamisho, Sesshomaru and Taikei looked over at her. This girl had heart; even Taikei herself had to admit. She was not one to back down from a fight, they could tell.
Kamisho smiled one of his rare smiles, though it seemed common for the day, and stood. "Brothers and sisters of the West." He began. "Today is a good day indeed. My cousins, the foxes and the wolves. I appreciate your coming. If we have caused you any inconvenience, I would like to ease your troubles with an announcement."
InuYasha stood, and helped Kagome up herself during Kamisho's moment of silence. "My son, InuYasha, and Princess Kagome, from the Eastern Kingdom have decided to mate. Their wedding will commence tomorrow at noon. I have called you all here, our family and our friends to attend this ceremony."
Everyone clapped. "She is just like her." They said. "No good for him."
"Emperor Kamisho, may I say something?" Kagome asked quietly. Kamisho hesitated, as did InuYasha. Looking towards his mate, Izayoi nodded, having faith in the girl.
"Very well then. Tread lightly." He allowed.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Western Court. Thank you for coming here today to celebrate the union between the Eastern and the Western Kingdoms. My name is Kagome. Princess of the Eastern Kingdom, as Emperor Kamisho stated earlier. I understand that you would rather InuYasha mate another demon, or at the very least, another hanyou. I know that you question, why me. Why a human girl from a kingdom that we have been warring with for centuries. The answer is simple. Peace. I know you all wonder if this match will be the ruin of your kingdom, but I can assure you that it will not." Kagome looked over at the Emperor yet again.
"I have heard that your word is your honor." She continued. "Well trust my word that I will not allow anything to happen to you and your people, and I will try and prevent another war between the two kingdoms so long as I shall live. Just as I will protect the Eastern Kingdom from such catastrophes. Take it as you shall, but this wedding and mating ritual will commence. I am sure you are tired of your loved ones dying, as I am, as we all should be. And this unity will provide a shelter as such. Thank you for giving me a moment of your time and listening to what I have to say."
The chamber was silent, and stayed that way for a long moment of time. Days seemed to pass before people began to chatter amongst themselves again. InuYasha did not look at the girl. No one did. Had she done something wrong? For not even Izayoi looked the girl in her eyes. Slowly she sank back onto her cushion.
'I have not been here for a day, and I have already disrespected and dishonored this court.' Kagome thought to herself. 'I have possibly caused war to erupt again with my inability to keep my mouth still. Souta should have never sent me here.'
Throughout the day, the officials, their mates, and their children left slowly. Finally the royal family was alone. Only the guard stayed, as they did the entire day. Kagome stayed silent. Not attempting to eye her new family.
"Very well said, Princess Kagome." Kamisho stated out of nowhere. "I could not have done a better job myself. InuYasha should be very proud to have a mate like you on his arm."
Kagome kept quiet.
A servant quietly entered the hall, and bowed, acknowledging everyone except Kagome. "Dinner is prepared."
InuYasha called a guard as soon as the servant girl left. "Punish her. She has dishonored us."
"Yes, Prince." He said and hastily left the room. Fear spiked in Kagome. Was she to be punished for her crimes against the house? Had her speech offended InuYasha so badly?
"Calm yourself." InuYasha spoke to her holding out his hand to assist the girl. "You are not to be punished. You spoke as if you were queen, and if the time should come, you will make a very good one. It was for the servant. When she came in she did not acknowledge your presence, and I will not have a thing happen in front of me. Nor shall I have it behind my back."
Nodding, Kagome allowed his assistance. Slowly her troubles eased as she made her way to the banquet hall for their evening meal.
THEY ATE DINNER in silence. Not one word was spoken between either couple, or either man. She was not used to this. In her family they spoke out to each other. Asked about their days. Shared each other's sorrows. They smiled. They laughed. Apparently here it was not the same. She made a mental note to learn their ways. And to make matters worse, she had to relieve herself. She would have to wait though. All to fit in.
After they finished the final course, Izayoi and Taikei rose. "Come with us dear." Izayoi stated before exiting out of the dining hall. Kagome rose, thanking everyone for a wonderful meal, and following suite.
"What is to follow?" Kagome asked.
"Why is that dear?" Izayoi responded.
"I need to…" Kagome hesitated. "Relieve myself."
As Taikei mumbled something about how weak humans were in holding their bladders, Izayoi laughed. "You could have gone anytime, Kagome. I should have told you."
"May I go now? I have been holding myself since court."
"If you ever need to go, for any reason," Taikei spoke out, "Your maidens are behind you at all times. They are never seen by the men, though. They stand behind the wall and all you need to do is lightly knock on the wooden floor, and they will slide the door open for you to make your exit and your entrance."
"Oh, I did not know." Kagome uttered sheepishly.
"And I did not expect you to know." Taikei scoffed. Kagome eyed her.
"Go now, your ladies will take you to your chambers. There, the kimono maker is waiting for you." Izayoi smiled. "You may use the robes that Taikei and I have left in your quarters until your gowns are ready. We wake when we wake here. There is no set schedule. But tomorrow you must make yourself ready early. You are to get married."
"Y-yes, I understand." Kagome stuttered.
"Oh, and before you go Kagome, know that InuYasha will be there in just a bit." Izayoi smiled again. "Get to know each other. You will be mates tomorrow." Kagome paused. She realized that she would be princess of the Western Kingdom come this time tomorrow. Unsure of herself she turned around to see Sango and the others waiting.
"In the morning, where shall I be?" Kagome asked before making her way out of the room. "How and where will I get ready?"
"Taikei and I will meet you in the morning. Do not worry." Izayoi's eye glimmered. This had been the first time she noticed her eyes were more emerald than an ordinary green. She figured that is probably why the Emperor chose her as a mate. Taikei had amber eyes, like InuYasha and his family. Kagome's eyes were just an ordinary brownish grey. Nothing special there.
"Good evening then. I shall see you in the morning." Kagome bowed respectively to each member. The nodded their heads."
"She will have to learn." Taikei whispered.
"One thing about a new puppy, they can learn new tricks. She has time. Now come, we must go."
"I HAVE HEARD word that a woman in the north is asking questions. Rumor has it that she smells on the Koshi clansmen." A deep voice echoed through the now empty hall.
"The only living Koshi is Joku, he is not permitted to bear any offspring. So how is she smelling of the Koshi clan if his mate is Kagura?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Unless Naraku is still alive." InuYasha mumbled. The room became quiet. That was a possibility that neither man considered.
"He was killed; I killed him and his mate with my own hand." Sesshomaru exclaimed after a moment. "I verified his stench and wiped him and his treacherous wife off of the face of existence. There is no way."
"Send out scouts, just to be sure." Kamisho ruled. "I would rather be safe than sorry at this point. The rumors are coming from a town near Mount Zanei. Also send out men to question and detain Joku and Kagura in Voltio Village. Spread news throughout the people. Let them spread rumors that we are coming. The men you send to Mount Zanei should be trusted. Give them each a different word or phrase to prove they are truly who they say they are when they arrive back to report. We will not be infiltrated."
Both his sons sat quietly as they listened to their father. "Yes father," they replied in understanding. This man has already assassinated their grandfather and sent Kikyo to destroy them from the inside. He could not be allowed to live another moment if he really had survived the poisonous hand of Sesshomaru, the fury of InuYasha's Tetsusaiga and flame from the holy fire.
"Afterwards, you may join your mates. Until tomorrow, we have a big day. A day that will not be ruined by this man or his family."
Without word, both men stood and bowed to their father. Both brothers went to their armies to pass on the intelligence and words that their emperor had passed down. Before heading up the main stairs to their own apartments, Sesshomaru stopped his younger brother.
"Tonight, it will be hard." Sesshomaru began. "You will sleep beside the girl. Hold her while she sleeps. Breathe in her essence, and caress her flesh. But you have to restrain yourself. If you bed her before tomorrow night, you will bring shame on our house. You will bring shame on hers as well. And the both of you will lose your heads. Do you understand me, brother?"
"Brother? Not bastard?" InuYasha laughed. "Do you take me for some type of fool? I will not even look at the girl until tomorrow night. And then it still may be hard for me then. She is unruly, and does not know her place as a woman in this court. If it did not displease father in such a way, I would have taught her better earlier this evening."
"Tread carefully, InuYasha. Dangerous words escape your mouth. She knows only what she is accustomed to. As a babe only knows to suck the tit of a mother, she only knows what she was taught. Teach her, and guide her, and give her a chance to learn."
"Oh trust in me this, brother, the wench will learn. Either by me or by her servants. Fuck, if your bitch and my mother choose to teach her, she will learn."
"Careful what you say, bastard." The elder of the two grabbing the other in warning. If InuYasha pressed more, he knew that they would break out into a fight. It was inevitable.
"You are not my emperor, or my father. Therefore you do not have the right to tell me what I can and cannot say within the walls of my own home."
"No, I do not." Sesshomaru straightened. "But lingering ears have do have whispering mouths."
"So they do, Sesshomaru. So they do." InuYasha replied before he made his way up the stairs. "Have a good night brother. Take your bitch into your arms, for soon the fun will begin. After I mate, the race will be on to see who will take the throne when father passes it down. And who knows, we might have to do so amongst a war."
My oh my, I am so sorry guys! I have news for you that I have been hiding for some time now. I am currently in my 7th month of pregnancy (with a little girl). And as some of you may know, I have a son, aged five. Between doctors appointments and quick runs out of the house for groceries and baby stuff along with trying to prepare my son for kindergarten, I have had my hands full. I have come on to work on this story and Beloved chapter 3 bit by bit, and while readers of Beloved will be sad to know that I am only half way through with that chapter. Sorry once again. Please bear with me! I am getting close to my baby coming, and when she comes won't have a whole lot of time to work on stories then either, so it may take longer to pump out chapters.
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