My number one voted. I wrote this chapter two different ways but I liked this chapter better. I hope you like it too!
"Actually Lady Mother, I do not break treaty." Jamila said ignoring the welcome. "The treaty states that the coast is neutral territory though the two clans are not to be on it at once without formal arrangement. I…was at the coast first. And a runner had been sent to your home to inform you that I, and my servants would be here. It is a pity they did not reach you in time."
Sesshomaru's mothers stepped up and pushed Mui back towards her sisters ignoring Jamila's own statements. "My cousins children. Young and foolish but I'm afraid I must agree with them. Sesshomaru would not marry a cat without some trick on your part."
"You truly believe My Lord Sesshomaru is so weak as to fall under a trick of another? You underestimate my lord." Jamila growled.
"Yet you do not claim we overestimate you." His mother noted.
Jamila said nothing to that. She could feel the approach of Sesshomaru and fears the womans reactions to his appearance. I swear if they fawn on him I'm going to really kill them.
"I, Lady Kiku, challenge you."
Jamila focused on her mother in law and raised an eyebrow calmly. "On what grounds?"
"By mating my son you have become Lady of the West. That was my title. I challenge you to prove you deserve it." Her voice was haughty and cold but Jamila could see the desire for a fight deep in her eyes.
"Accepted." Jamila stated and felt Kumi tense behind her. Kagome however was fully relaxed. "To third blood or death?"
The hunger for a fight increased at the option of killing the cat without repercussions but Kiku settled for third blood. She shed her formal outer kimono and was left in a simple shorter kimono with a red tie.
Sesshomaru's colors.
The runner did tell them I was going to be here. Jamila decided and handed Kagome the sheaths to her knives and the chopsticks in her hair letting it hang loose. She gently fingered the missing chunk of her ear and handed Kagome one of her knives as well.
"You sure?" Kagome asked very gently.
Jamila grinned cattily and nodded she'd only need the one if that. She moved back to the center of the cove and felt the wind pick up carrying their scents to the approaching Sesshomaru. "Ready?" She asked quietly.
At the woman's nod Gen and Kumi began to count down. Before the word 'go' had finished echoing Jamila was gone from her spot.
Kiku blinked and Jamila was gone. She closed her eyes trying to sense where Jamila was going to come from. At the last second she managed to block the downward swing of Jamila's knife on the steel edge of her fan.
Jamila used her falling weight to bring more pressure onto the fan and used the force to slide the blade towards the ladys hand just breaking the skin.
"Blood one!" Kumi yelled out.
"Damn!" Gen shouted in astonished anger.
Jamila leapt back as her mother in law swept her claws at her and landed a few feet away very calm while she could hear her mother in law's heart racing. In excitement not fear. She noted. I'll change that. Jamila smiled and crouched low. Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, and Xanthus entered the cove just as his mother flew at Jamila.
"What is going on?" Sesshomaru asked his eyes narrowing in naked fury.
Mui, Gen, and Gin and their bodyguards bowed low afraid to answer. Kumi and Kagome bowed slightly but it was Jamila who calmly answered dodging his mothers attacks.
"Your lady mother challenged me to third blood." Jamila replied bending under the outstretched fan and arm. She twisted her body around and slammed her foot into her mothers elegantly striped cheek sending her crashing to the side.
"Blood two." Kumi called out.
"On what grounds?" Sesshomaru growled his eyes red with his demon blood rising.
"Your lady mother claims Lady Jamila has seduced you into mating her and is undeserving of the title Lady of the West." Kagome chirped up smiling.
"Why are you smiling miko?" Gin growled making a move to step forward. She was stopped by a glare from Kagome, one almost as cold as Sesshomarus.
"Don't make me put you in another barrier." Kagome threatened. "Lady Jamila has no need for tricks. She is as strong a demoness as ever lived."
Gin and Gen laughed but as they watched Jamila slide under another hit and make a deep cut into her mother in laws wrist.
"Blood three." Kumi called out smugly.
Jamila tossed her blade towards Kagome who caught it hilt first. She moved to bow low to Sesshomaru and he kissed her hand giving her a proud look.
"Sesshomaru!" His mother called out angrily.
When he tore his eyes away from his mate it was to give his mother a very cold glare. "Lady Kiku."
"You mated a cat! After the war they started with your father?" Her eyes moved to those who stood at his back. "And your new company! Your fathers bastard offspring, a malformed demon, a weak horse, and a priestess! Have you no demon pride?!"
"I keep close those who are powerful Lady Kiku." He replied omitting their blood ties to tell her she was on thin ice. Jamila could feel the fury boiling under his skin, hear his beast roaring in her mind. "Blood makes little difference to power." He said, admitting something he'd only truly accepted recently.
"Sesshomaru!" She growled warningly.
"This is obvious if you only look to your own company. Three Inu princesses were unable to defeat a cat, a miko, and a horse. As were you." He pointed out.
"My lord." Kumi bowed her head and at his nod continued. "After Gen and Gin attacked Lady Jamila Mui attacked from behind and Kagome was able to hold Gin, Gen and the bodyguards inside a barrier."
Inuyasha gave a sharp barking laugh and at Sesshomaru's look he grinned. "They bark so hard and their bite is so weak."
"How dare you half-breed!" Kiku snarled snapping her fan open.
"It would be unwise to attack my brother." Sesshomaru said before his mother was able to take a single step.
Jamila almost felt sorry for the woman at the pained expression that crossed Kiku's face at Sesshomaru's acknowledgement of Inuyasha as kin, but not quite. "My Lord let us retire. The day has been long and you have traveled far to join me."
Sesshomaru nodded and the two of them began to walk away from his mother and the others showing them disrespect by turning their backs on them. Inuyasha, Xanthus, Kumi, and Kagome stepped up to walk slightly behind them as good bodyguards did and snuck smiles at each other as they went.
"You bitch!" The scream echoed and Jamila moved quickly pushing Kagome to the side to protect her from the attack Kiku sent flying towards her regardless of who was in the way.
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Also: I am going to write 'A Christmas Carol' Inuyasha style!! Please look for it when it comes out! I know it has probably been done before but I got really into a Christmas mood today and I'm going to tweak the ending a bit so be ready!!!! It will be sweet!