Chapter 6: All Things Will Be Set in Motion

Kagura beamed as she saw the small carriage approaching in the horizon. It was being pulled by two flying oxen. Atop it were a few trunks that belonged to her brother. Kagura had been waiting in excruciating excitement for the day that Byakuya would return from his studies. When Sesshomaru offered him a seat on scholar's council he did not hesitate to take the job, so now he would be living in the palace, until he of course acquires his own home.

The oxen landed on the stone landing, followed bhy the carriage that fell with a hard thump. Servants ran forward to open the carriage door and retrieve his belongings. Kagura cast a happy look toward Yura who stood behind her looking just as excited. When she looked back he was stepping out of the carriage.

The yokai youth looked just like his twin sister, beautiful face, with red eyes red lips, and long glossy ebony locks pulled back into a thick plait down his back to his knees. His shoulders were broader and his face seemed more chiseled and masculine. He was dressed simply in black boots and hakama pants. With a black kimono and a deep violet haori tied with a black sash.

He ran up to them with a broad smile and gathered her in his arms for a firm but gentle hug. "My beautiful sister! You look radiant. Pregnancy becomes you."

Kagura hugged him back smiling. "Thank you." She inhaled. He smiled like sweet spices. She missed how good he smelled. "You look good. You've gotten bigger."

"Yes. The college I was at was located in the middle of the Western Woods, so there was nothing to do except study and then physical training." He released Kagura and then caught sight of Yura. He opened his arms to her. "Yura! How are you?"

She went forward to hug her half-brother. "I am good."

"Great. This will be just like old times, just the three of us." He pulled Kagura in so he could hug all three of them.

There was a harsh throat clearing from behind them. There stood Jaken, scowling at them standing beside Sesshomaru who looked indifferent. They all stepped away from each other and Byakuya stepped forward and respectively bowed to Sesshomaru.

"Your highness, I would like to thank you for allowing me this opportunity, and entry into your home."

"Do not disappoint me," was all Sesshomaru said. Kagura sent him a warning glare, which he received and understood. "Jaken, show Master Byakuya to his quarters. I have business elsewhere. I will see you all at dinner."

With that Sesshomaru dismissed himself from the group. Byakuya slowly turned to face his sisters with a raised eyebrow. "He hasn't changed."

"Would you have him any other way?" Kagura asked with her hands on her hips and a cheeky smile.

Byakuya playfully grinned back at her. "Well… I'll just keep my mouth shut. After all he is my new employer."

Kagura nodded and then giggled. She grabbed his arm and gently pulled it. "Come you must see Ai, she will be delighted to see you."

"First I must show Master Byakuya to his chambers," Jaken interjected sharply.

"Later. Right now I wish to spend time with my brother. Have the servants take his belongings to his rooms. He'll be joining me for lunch right now."

Kagura did not wait for a response. She walked off with Byakuya and Yura in tow. Once beneath the shaded cloistered walk space Kagura looked back at Byakuya before grabbing his arm and leaning her head against his shoulder as they walked. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. "I am so happy you're here. It's like this whole part of me has been restored."

Byakuya smiled and placed his available hand on her cheek. "I told you I would come back to you. We are two of the same, we can't possibly leave each other."

There was a short break. "Have you sent word to father?"

He sighed deeply. "Not yet. I was not sure if I wanted to do that just yet. I know he's going to want to talk to me, and I am nowhere near prepared for the conversation he wants to have."

They stopped in front of a stone entry way to the castle. Kagura stood straight up releasing his arm. "I understand. Are you hungry?"

"Not really. I actually am eager to see my niece."

Kagura smiled. "Come."

He followed her into the palace. He noticed how bright everything was on the inside, stone pillars like ivory, marble floors, white stone walls with silver and gold trim. It smelled wonderfully of sweet nectars and flowers. They walked down a long hallway that ended with another archway that went outside. A large square space with low cut green grass framed by ivory pillars. Standing in the center were two fighters, one clearly female based on her dainty stature. She was dressed in all white her hakama pants fit her tightly and her kimono was tucked inside them, and she wore no shoes. Her long silver mane was in a ponytail at the back of her head with a red ribbon.

The elegance of the features on her face made her look delicate, but the hard look in her eyes made her fierce. Her full pink lips were curved into a calm smile, while her honey hued eyes were narrowed dangerously. Her stance was ready to attack with a long sword held behind her, ready to be used.

The other fighter was clearly male. He dressed just like the female but his hair was much shorter and his white dog ears sat on top of his head. He also had a fluffy white tail coiled at his backside. His skin was a sandy complexion and a single fang poked from underneath his bottom lip, adding to his youthful appearance. His sword was in front of him, and he was crouched down low. Though the boy was clearly hanyo, they looked close in age and similar in resemblance.

After they stared each other down for a few minutes the girl made the first move, lunging at the boy swinging her sword down. The boy dodged her attack. Then the next one and the one aafter that. That girl leaped high into the air and broght her swords down almost on the boys head, but he used his sword to block it just in time.

"Stop!" A stern voice beside them called out.

Both fighters immediately stopped and looked to their instructor. The Inu no Taisho stepped forward. "That's enough for today. Misho, you need to stop running, you're not going to be able to duck and dodge every blow. Sometimes you are going to need to fight back."

The young hanyo nodded once. The King stared down his youngest son with a look no one could quite place before looking to his granddaughter. "Ai, you did better today. Keep improving your skills."

Ai bowed respectively. Misho looked over at her and rolled his eyes. "May I be dismissed?" He asked.

Ino no Taisho nodded. "Very well."

Misho walked away, stopping in front of Kagura to bow, and then left the court. Ai saw her mother and smiled broadly walking over to her. "Good afternoon, Mother." She looked to Byakuya and frowned for a moment. Then her eyes widened with recognition.

"Uncle!" She ran over, faster than they could all see and hugged Byakuya tightly, knocking the air from his body.

"Mph! Glad you remember me."

"What are you doing here? Are you done studying at the college? Are you going to stay here with us?"

"Ai, not so many questions at once." Kagura told her over ecxited daughter.

"Yes, I am finished with school. Your Father has appointed me to be one of his councilmen. So yeas I will be staying. At least until I am able to get my own home in the city."

"No just stay here. We have plenty of room here!"

Inu no Taisho approached them from behind Ai. Kagura gently grabbed her daughters arm, moving her out of the way so Byakuya could greet the King. She knew the Inu no Taisho did not favor her clan, and specifically did not trust anyone with the Onigumo name. even after being married and mated to his eldest son and heir she could tell he still had reservations about her. Being that Byakuya has been away for so long he would be starting at the bottom of the hill when it came to the King.

Byakuya bowed very low in front of the King. "Your Majesty. It is an honor to be in your presence. Thank you for allowing me into your home."

"The decision was not mine. It was my son's and his mates." Inu no Taisho answered bluntly.

Kagura saw Byakuya's jaw tense. She opened her mouth to address the king in a more pleasant manner when she was cut off by a squawking behind her.

"Excuse me your Majesty and your highness, but Prince Sesshomaru has moved up the meeting with the Southern Rulers. I have come to humbly escort his Majesty to the council room."

Inu no Taisho nodded. "Thank you, Jaken." He looked to Byakuya. "I suppose as the Crown Prince's newest councilmen you should come as well."

Byakuya nodded. He bowed to his sister, then his niece, then he waited for the Inu no taisho to walk away following after him. He looked back at Kagura giving him an encouraging smile.

Kagura turned and found her daughter starin at her. She took her chin in her hand and tilted her face up to axamine her face. "Go bathe and get dressed. While the men are in that meeting I am sure the Lady Mother will want all us ladies to get together."

Kagura walked back down the hallway, heading towards the opposite castle wing. "Probably just to talk about that stupid wedding," Ai grumbled.

"None of that today, Ai." Kagura warned.

"I'm just saying why can't they get married and have it be done already? Why does it have to be this huge specatacle?"

"Because, your father is marryin a princess, and princesses always get a spectacle. I'm sure you're wedding will be the same." Ai snorted. "What's that supposed to mean?" Asked Kagura.

"Nothing. I'm going to get cleaned up." Ai ran ahead and disappeared down the corridor leading to her chambers.

Kagura shared a look annoyance with Yura. "I can't wait to have this pup!" She grumbled.

Yura nodded. Once they were back in Kagura's rooms, she quickly changed into a lighter kimono that allowed her more room to move. Kagura lay on her bed and sighed. "I'm going to take a nap."

Yura nodded as she gathered her discarded clothing. "All right. I'll just leave you then." She walked back over to the door and slid it open.

"Stay away from Inuyasha."

Yura looked back at her sister whose eyes were already closed. "I will."

"I mean it, Yura."

"I know. Get some rest." She left the room and slid the door shut. As she left the chambers she quickly found another maid to hand Kagura's laundry to and ran away.

It took her no time to get to her room in the servants quarters. She quickly took off her servants clothing and changed into a simple green yukata and combed out her hair. As she exited her room she made sure she took her time as she made her way toward her destination. She was relieved to see that no guards were standing outside the door, not that she expected any, but she could never be too sure. As swiftly as she could she ran inside the room quietly sliding the door shut.

When she turned she saw that the public chambers were empty, but the screen to the private chamber was wide open. Yura took very light steps up to the doorway and peaked her head in. Laying shirtless on his futon was her favorite hanyo prince fast asleep. She bit her bottom lip as she tiptoed into the room, trying her best not to make a sound.

She made it two steps before he sat up and stared at her for a long time. "Close the door," he ordered in a low calm voice.

Yura obeyed before she quickly walked the rest of the way and sat down beside him. He looked down at his lap with tired eyes. Yura reached up and stroked one velvety ear. It twitched and he purred in response. "You look upset." She said, prompting him to open up to her. Instead he said nothing.

Not wanting to spend what little time they had together with him in one of his moods, she crawled in front of him and gripped his face in her hands. "Misho…"

The young hanyo prince looked at her. "It's nothing I just… There's a lot going on right now and it's hard to find a moment of peace." Yura nodded but did not speak. "I feel like… I feel like my father is disappointed in me, because I am not like my brothers."

Yura frowned. She got more comfortable on the bed. "Why do you say that?"

"He looks at me different. Whenever he even talks about Sesshomaru or Inuyasha his eyes light up with pride. Sesshomaru is smart and strong, the perfect heir. Even Inuyasha is surprisingly strong for a hanyo, and he's a great fighter. Then there's me. I'm not that strong, or a good fighter. I'm not that smart."

"That's not true. You are so smart. You are smarter than a lot of people I know!" Misho snorted. "It's true. You may not read a lot of books but you have common sense. Besides whats the point in Sesshomaru and Inuyasha being so smart or so stron when they act the way that they do. No one really likes them that much. You're the people's favorite."

Misho snorted again. "Sure."

"It's true. Whenever you go out, people follow you. Everyone wants to be your friend."

"Because I'm the prince. If it weren't for my title I would be jus another useless halfbreed."

Yura sighed in frustration jumping to her feet crossing her arms over her chest. "Don't say that! What's so wrong with being hanyo?! You should be happy!"

"Why would I be happy?"

"Because! There are so many of us who thought being hanyo was a curse, people like you, Inuyasha, even Kagura, are an inspiration to all other half demon's out there. You make us proud!"

Misho studied her face for a moment then let out a deep sigh. "I'm sorry. I know you don't want to spend our time like this." He reached for her hand and pulled her back down in front of him. She landed on her knees.

"Not really," she grumbled.

"What would you like to do?" He asked kissing the back of her hand.

"Well," she began slowly, with a mischievous grin on her face. "Your father and brother are in a meeting, Kagura's taking a nap, which gives us quite a bit of time."

He smiled back at her. "That does give us quite a bit of time." He pulled her to him, and captured her lips in a sweet, chaste kiss.

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Sesshomaru was so bored. He was ready to tear the Southern King's head off and force feed it to his bratty son, Takemaru. He hated doing dealings with humans, they were so stubborn for no reason. Just saying no to be more difficult and not let the yokai have their way. A very fair contract had been written out for both parties to sign, but Ryukotsu would not sign. He said that he did not agree with any of the terms.

"What exactly displeases you, your majesty," Sesshomaru asked with a deadpan tone.

Ryukotsu's face was red with anger. "Everything! I've already agreed to allow you to trade within our borders, I have given you territories in the South, but you still want more!"

"We are simply asking for any trading the South does within the West gets taxed by the West. How is that unfair?" Sesshomaru growled.

He was growing impatient. He was very ready to just end the entire thing and tell these ningen nuisances to leave and take their bride child with them. He cast a glance at his father who was stoic as ever. He could tell his patience with the ningen King was about done as well. Sesshomaru looked at the Prince who sat opposite to him. He looked just as bored and irritated as Sesshomaru felt.

"Ryukotsu,"the Inu no Taisho began, "what else would you like?"

"I want you to sell us your weapons."

"Break tie with the East," the Inu no Taisho calmly said.

"We have been allies with the East far longer than we have even been corresponding with the West. We can't just break ties with them."

"The East is our biggest adisary right now. We cannot sell you weapons knowing that you are in allegiance with them."

"Then you should just trust us."

"Unfortunately Southerners aren't known for their loyalty nor their honor."

With that the aggravated king jumped to his feet. "I have had enough of this. Takemaru,, see if you can negotiate with these bafoons! If not then we will just leave." With that the king of the South left.

Sesshomaru and the Inuno Taisho stared down the young Prince, though he clearly was not intimidated.

"Miroku," Takemaru gently called.

His violet eyed assistant sat beside him and pulled out papyrus and a quill with ink. He opened the ink jar and dipped his quill in it.

"Let's write new contract gentlemen." The young prince began. "First off, The Western Kingdom may trade within the Southern Kingdoms territories as long as they have been liscenced to seel within the South. Southern traders paying an additional tax when trading in the West is fine, so long as they are properly licensed as well. Now about weapons."

"We cannot sell you our weapons when you are still tied to the East."

"We have a long standing contract with the East. We cannot just cut off ties. It's their metal that makes most of our armies' armor. Also if it weren't for their fresh produce being delivered during our dry season the South would have surely perished. We owe them. However we could really use the Wests weaponry to aid us, seeing that we have no ways to build strong weapons of our own. How about if the South were to set up an alliance between you in the East?"

Sesshomaru looked towards his father who nodded, then turned back to Takemaru, "Very well."

Takemaru nodded, "Also there is one other thing. The Princess Rin, she needs to be given a title. One that says more than second wife to the crown prince."

The Inu no Taisho leaned forward. "What would you like her title to be?"

"I know the West holds several territories outside of the continent, for example, the Sapphire Isles. Who do you have governing those places?"

"Some nobleman. Why?" Inu no Taisho asked, narrowing his gaze on the human prince.

"Give those territories to Rin and any offspring she may have."

"Why the Sapphire Isles?" Sesshomaru asked pure;y out of curiosity.

"They're close to the South, and should she ever have to leave this place, she will have her own lands to rule and be protected in."

"Very well." Inu no taisho said with finality. He looked at Sesshomaru. "Think of it as a wedding gift."

Sesshomaru did his best not to roll his eyes. "Byakuya, write out the new terms to the new contract please," Sesshomaru genty ordered.

When the contracts were finished written oout each man signeed both copies. Takemaru told the yokai King and prince that he would get his father to sign the contract with no problem before leaving.

Sesshomaru stood and waited for his father before exiting the room. "That took long enough."

"That Ryukotsu is a fool. Lucky for the South their Crown Prince has better sense." Inu no Taisho stated.

Sesshomaru spoke apatheitically. "I am going to see my wife."

Inu no Taisho snickered. "Which one?" Sesshomaru did not amuse him with a response. He walked away not even looking back at his father.

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Naraku stared at the vile of poison in his hand before handing it over to Hiten. "Make sure who ever you task with this makes sure that she drinks all of it. It is crucial that this be done correctly or else all of our plans will be pushed back."

The thunder brothers nodded. The Crown Princess' wedding was tomorrow, as was the beginning of his plans. He had all of his players in position, he just needed to makes sure his first domino was in perfect placing to be knocked over. He had been very patient and careful all this time and was ready to put his plans in motion.

"Don't worry, I know how to make sure she gets it," Hiten answered him.

"Good. I'll see you at the wedding tomorrow. Be ready for anything."

They both nodded before exiting the room."

"Tomorrow all things will be set in motion," he whispered to himself. A shiver of excitement ran up his back from what's to come. "Tomorrow I will destroy the House of the Inuyokai."

Sorry :'( I know it has been sooooo lon and I am truly sorry but writing this stuff is hard sometimes LOL! I never know what to do next! I know this chapter seems kind of random but everything will make sense soon. Anyways are you all excited about the big wedding, hope so because I'll have the chapter done in just a few more days.

Also I'm sure you noticed that i changed the rating to M. I told ya I may do that. I did it because I was thinking about the near future and there are going to be a lot of fights and some more violent than others and I just wanted to be on the safe side.

Tell me what ya'll think!