Undercover Wife
Chapter Two: His Mother's Plan
Sesshoumaru looked around the room and gauged how many police officers knew about Lady Jiang's death, along with his agents. He had to speak to his mother immediately, in case she had to pay off these officers to hush up this incident. Maybe they could create some kind of weather incident or traffic accident so they would be free from political blame. He barely had ideas of his own, but his mother was good at these sorts of things, and he didn't worry because all civic personnel were loyal to the Empress.
Quickly, Sesshoumaru turned to Rika. "Call my mother now before this leaks out and becomes an international incident." Rika nodded and strode off to make her call, a phone conversation that Sesshoumaru was glad his agent did instead. He made eye contact with the police officers who shifted uncomfortably within his presence. "I'm sorry, officers, but you understand we have to properly contain this incident. This is no normal murder investigation."
"Of course, my lord," said the police chief, and his underlings nodded with him.
"Sir, the Empress is on her way," Rika said while flipping off her phone. "She'll be here as soon as she can."
"Good. I will make an informal announcement to put this airport on hold. They need my mother's order in order to officially shut it down." The police began working around them and instructed people to the exits until all gates were virtually empty. The police chief waited for the Empress with Sesshoumaru, and Kagome and Inuyasha fidgeted with worry as they waited. Rika looked pitying at Jiang's body, and she turned to Sesshoumaru and awaited more orders.
"Sir, we still have Kenchi's body. Should we close off that crime seen too?" she asked, and Sesshoumaru nodded.
"We will get some detectives down here to gather evidence and close this scene so the business can return to the airport as usual," Sesshoumaru said. He was sure this would try people's patience, but they had to gather as much data about these killings as they can. However, Sesshoumaru already knew who was behind it all, at least for Kenchi's death. What sort of information was Kenchi brining that cost him his life? How did the Shikon Jewel find out about Kenchi's cover? Sesshoumaru glanced again to Jiang's body and felt a pinch in his gut. Her death was no doubt tied to the information Kenchi lost his life to bring him.
"She's here," Rika said, pulling Sesshoumaru out of his thoughts. His mother strolled imperially through the gate, and she had a relaxed smile on her face.
"Well, well, this is a strange predicament, indeed," she said with a flutter of amusement; however, her mood shifted more seriously when she looked at the body on the ground. She turned to the police chief and airport managers standing by. "Please dismiss all civilians and non-essential personnel and seal this place up. Treat this as a crime scene like any other, but do not leak the victim's identity. If the media asks, her name is unknown, and we have yet to find out her background." She turned to Sesshoumaru and smiled. "And there was another murder as well?"
"Kenchi, my informant," Sesshoumaru said, clenching his jaw. He was angry by her calm attitude toward this situation, but he could only assume she had a plan.
"You did not tell me Lady Jiang would be arriving here so soon," Sesshoumaru intoned.
"I assure you I did not know she would be here either," his mother replied steadily, and she leaned down and looked under the velvet cloak at the body. "Hrmm," she mused aloud. "Someone knew she was a wolf youkai and shot her with an enhanced silver bullet." She sniffed. "There is strong miko energy at work here."
Sesshoumaru nodded in agreement, but he proceeded to the point. "How do we even begin to tell the Fang Commonwealth that their princess is dead? In our country?"
His mother rose slowly from the ground and approached him with a confident smile. "Did I not tell you that I knew Lady Jiang was beautiful?"
He scowled at her. "What does that have to do with anything now?" He followed his mother's gaze to Kagome, and met her golden eyes again.
"We will not be informing the Fang Commonwealth of Lady Jiang's death. I wonder if they even know of her absence. The political atmosphere over there must be in turmoil," she said. "No, I have a better idea, one that does not endanger our own political name. The very last thing we need in Inu-sukai is war and a dissolved partnership." She sighed bitterly. "This is still troublesome anyway. Lady Jiang was the last pure youkai of royal blood that you could mate with."
"Then, we instill commoners," Sesshoumaru said. "And I do believe Sweden has a half tiger and half bat youkai princess of age in two years."
Sesshoumaru's mother made a sour face and stuck out her tongue. "Ugh, I would rather you marry a human than that deplorable ugly harlot. Besides, she has children out of wedlock littered around the world already. Don't tell me, Sesshoumaru that this is the kind of woman you prefer?" Sesshoumaru heard Inuyasha snicker behind him, but he was so angry with his mother he paid no mind to it.
"Be reasonable. This arranged marriage was your idea, not mine," Sesshoumaru said in a barely controlled voice. "This marriage is no longer the issue here. What I want to know is, mother, why you think you can cover up such a travesty? When Lady Jiang does not return to her country they will look our way and come to investigate." Sesshoumaru shook his head. "You cannot keep this concealed forever, and you cannot cover it up completely with bribes. So...I ask, what are you planning?"
Her smile grew wider as she peered into her son's eyes with a devious edge. "You think little of me, I know, my son. But yes, I do have a plan." She strode over to Kagome, and Sesshoumaru watched as she grabbed the girl's chin in her clawed hands. Kagome made a cry of protest, but one look from his mother silenced her, and the Empress continued to speak. "With a little make-up and some potions to give her a demon scent, your brother's fiancée would have an uncanny resemblance to the late Lady Jiang." Sesshoumaru turned to Kagome's shocked expression and felt appalled. "Yes, it may not be easy to fool in person, but on camera and video, she is Lady Jiang's double, and she will be our salvation from potential political chaos." Her voice turned chipper as she looked hopefully at her son. "What do you think?"
Before Sesshoumaru could voice his opinion, Inuyasha vehemently objected. "Oh, no you don't! Whatever you think you're going to do with Kagome, you get it out of your head right now!" He stormed over to the Empress and jabbed his finger in her face. "Kagome is not posing as Lady Jiang, let alone as... as his fiancée!"
"Inuyasha, dear," his mother cooed softly, but Sesshoumaru sensed a sharpness to her warning, "I am the Empress of this land, and you will do what I say. Your father left me in charge, and I forgave him when he told me he had another son with one of his mistresses." Inuyasha was still fuming, standing his ground and unwilling to give into her. Sesshoumaru thought him a fool, knowing that he wouldn't be able to defy her no matter how he tried. She would take him on physically, if she had to, and that would be one decision his brother would surely regret.
His mother held out her arm to him and cupped Inuyasha's cheek; his brother went rigid from her touch. "Do not defy me, or you will pay a heavy price." Inuyasha opened his mouth, but his mother put a finger over his lips and shushed him. He glanced at Kagome, who was still white with shock at his side. "If you are worried about your intended mate becoming attached to your brother, than put your mind at ease. You know your brother will never marry a human, and all of this is a temporary show anyway. Once we get the Fang Commonwealth to trust us and go through with the wedding, we will fake Lady Jiang's suicide, and you will have your mate back in no time." Her hand stroked his cheek lovingly, moving upward to tug playfully on his ears. His brother's temper lowered to a simmer, but his expression was still disturbed as the Empress coddled him into submission.
"Your country needs you, Inuyasha," she said, and she turned to Kagome, "and you as well. Once this is over, I will give my permission for you two to marry." She gave Kagome a knowing smile. "Isn't that what you want, dear?"
Kagome nodded slowly, and Inuyasha snarled. "Fine, but I really don't believe you can dupe everyone in the world." He crossed his arms in a huff. "I wonder if you even have it in you, Empress."
His mother's hand jerked up, catching Inuyasha's ear and pulling it as his brother squealed. "Such little faith." She pulled his face down to her level and whispered in his ear. "Just wait and see, my darling."
Kagome continued to pale at his mother's behavior, and Sesshoumaru could only sigh, trusting his mother knew what was best - even if it meant pretending to marry a human woman that would take Lady Jiang's place.
to be continued...