Title: Light of My Life
Author: kazeko
Series: Inuyasha
Rating: M-15 or so
Archive: Sesshoumaru/Kagome
Characters: Sesshoumaru/Kagome, Inuyasha/Koyama, Sango/Miroku
Summary: A powerful prophecy brings mortal enemies together, but prejudice may well tear them apart and spell the end of all inuyoukai.
Disclaimer: No ownership.
Chapter 7: To Name a Pup
Sesshoumaru strode into the dining room, making eye contact with the lesser lords of his domain gathered for the feast. The Alphas of Matsurika's Cloud Mountain Clan, Shiori and Kazuhiko, were present, beaming at the Lord of the West, thinking of their good fortune to have grandpups that belonged to him. Sesshoumaru knew that they would try to use the relationship to their advantage. He nodded at the other three High Lords, identifying each in his mind as Jaken announced them. The Kitsune Megumi and Taro of the Seven Petals Tribe ruled the East and had ever been close allies. Though Kitsune were not pack animals, they maintained strong familial bonds as leaders of their lands.
From the North was the Neko leader Chiasa, a spotted female pregnant with her latest litter. The neko were confusing people who rarely sought alliance with other species, but they abhorred war and never attacked their neighbors as long as respect was always granted them. Powerful warriors, the female-led neko youkai rarely had permanent mates and never brought them to banquets or anything related to ruling their lands. The males were kept for breeding purposes and to fight small familial squabbles. Sesshoumaru could never understand how the males could be content with their position, but rumors of the females' prowess in bed and gentle nature to their males helped explain it. Chiasa, though a female, was still granted the title of Lord as respect for her position.
The last High Lord was Yoshikazu of the White Wolves from the South. His mate and his children were long gone in the battles that befell the ookami often, but his heir, the young redhead Ayame, sat by his side. Whichever ookami lord or lord's son married her would rule the South, and it was well known that Ayame favored Kouga of the Brown Wolves, who sat by her side. Miharu and Ken'ichi of the Red Wolves hoped that one of their sons would be able to win the princess's favor, but Tsukiko and Shin'ichi of the Black Wolves had no interest in power. They were content with their holdings and the current strength of their Clan.
Jaken then began the onerous task of announcing each Lord and Lady of the Lesser Clans in each area. He started with the ookami of the South since they were the least in number, then he moved to the inuyoukai of the West. He announced Shiori and Kazuhiko of the Cloud Mountain Clan, omitting their relationship to Sesshoumaru's pups, and the other five taiyoukai smiled at the scowl that covered Kazuhiko's face. He was arrogant and often a bully among the males of his clan, and no one wanted him to have any power with the taiyoukai of the West. Tentei and Kosame of the Fire Stripe Clan were next, and Jaken made a point to announce Sesshoumaru's thanks for the addition of Koyama into the Crescent Moon Pack to care for the motherless pups. He gave Kosame power with that proclamation, and Kazuhiko's scowl grew. Kosame inclined her head, smiling regally, but Tentei's eyes were dark with worry. The female who hated him now had power in his lord's pack, and his days might be numbered.
Chiyoko and Kenshin represented the Morning Leaf Pack, Yayoi and Yoshiro led the Gold Lightning Pack, Kumiko and Daichi led the Green Mist Pack, Tsukiko and Takeshi led the Flower Storm Pack, and Shinju and Hitoshi led the Dark Forest Pack. The six Lords and Ladies of the East were announced next, the kitsune dressed in finery to rival the other lords. Mika and Eiji led the Six Crescent Tribe, Hibana and Yuji led the Five Stripes Tribe, Junko and Jiro led the Four Swords Tribe, Emi and Shinji led the Three Streams Tribe, Kimiko and Koji led the Two Feathers Tribe, and Kotono and Keiji led the Clear Star Tribe. The Neko Lords were announced last, but they never took offense. No matter the occasion, they were announced last because they chose to have few ties to the other Lords. All nine Neko queens were pregnant, it being the middle of the fall breeding season, their dresses colorful and elaborate to praise their coming litters. They sat in order of decreasing power in the North, with Mitsuko of the Silver Claw seated beside Chiasa and Mizuki of the Red Claw beside her. Next came Meika of the Green Claw, Amami of the White Claw, Hasuko of the Black Claw, Fuyuko of the Blue Claw, Natsuko of the Maroon Claw, and Mameko of the Pink Claw.
After all of the introductions had been made, Sesshoumaru stood and gestured toward the empty seats to his right. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice. As you know, three and a half weeks ago my female Matsurika whelped seven pups. Three days later, a pack of coyotes attacked them, killing Matsurika and one of the male pups. I was able to destroy the remaining coyotes, but my injuries were severe. My pack is small, but the other son of my father, Inuyasha, child of Izayoi, heard my female's cries and came to see what had happened. He and his mostly-human pack saved me and the pups and he found a nurse from the Fire Stripe Pack. Koyama has been a great boon to the Crescent Moon Pack. Though the pups are barely four weeks old, it is time to show them to you and declare their names to the Spirit of the Pack."
"The Spirit of the Pack," the other lords echoed.
Two servants opened the door to the dining hall, and Inuyasha led the rest of the pack into the large room. Each of them carried the pup they had named, the toddlers dressed in silk finery representative of their station. Inuyasha stood next to Sesshoumaru, one chair between them, as Koyama, Sango, Miroku, and Shippo lined up behind the seats beside him. Kagome took the empty spot between Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha, slightly higher in pack hierarchy due to the Alpha Pup she nursed. Kagome held the female in her arms, trying to get the pup to stop squirming, as Inuyasha began. Over the past few days, he had been trained intensely in proper etiquette and royal speech, and he tried his best to omit his usual exclamations, growls, and rough words as he addressed the lords. From their expressions, they were suitably impressed to see the infamous hanyou brother of Lord Sesshoumaru behaving himself so well.
"In the tradition of the Crescent Moon Pack, we decided that the pups would all have three-character names, a very auspicious number. In accordance with the fortune-teller of the palace, we have ended each male pup's name in –maru, like their father's name, a kanji that will give them power in the future. Shippo will begin."
Shippo, so small he had to stand on the chair, held his pup up for the gathered lords to see. His was the smallest, even smaller than the kitsune, but soon all of the inu pups would be larger than him. He had green eyes like Shippo, and his hair and fur were a dark bluish black. "This is Tatsuyamaru, named because his markings reminded us of a dragon, so he must have some great power inside him that will manifest itself as he grows older. Tatsuyamaru will be a powerful inuyoukai."
"Tatsuyamaru!" the lords echoed, holding their sake glasses in the air.
Miroku was next. His pup had golden eyes like his father, but his hair was black with bright gold and silver highlights. The fur on his tail, which he kept wrapped around his leg, was black with gold ticking on the tips. "This is Raidenmaru, his temper as fierce as the thunder and lightning and his joy as cool and gentle as an afternoon rain. He will learn to control his emotions as he grows, but his temper will ever shake the earth."
"Raidenmaru!"
Sango held her pup up and smiled at the boy with light brown hair highlighted in red. He had gold eyes, but his tail was tipped in his mother's red. "This is Katsuromaru, ever the victor in his family squabbles. He never loses, as cunning as he is quick, and he will carry his family's name victoriously forever."
"Katsuromaru!"
Koyama's pup had golden hair and a golden tail, though his eyes were a pale blue color. "This pup, though not the fiercest fighter, is the leader among his brothers. When they are in the mood to explore, he leads and keeps the others safe. He was the first of the male pups to change into this form, and he makes sure that he is always the first to eat. He is ever happy, his joy shining from him and lighting our lives, and he tries to follow his father wherever he goes. He is Akihikomaru, and he will ever be a prince among his fellow inuyoukai."
"Akihikomaru!"
Inuyasha held the last male pup up, grinning. The boy had rich burgundy fur on his tail and head and dark green eyes. "When we found the den and the small male dead, I thought at first that two of the pups had been killed in the attack. Something told me to check again, and I found that this pup, though weak, was indeed alive. He always manages to get out of mischief just before getting hurt, so his name is Kichiromaru."
"Kichiromaru!"
Kagome was last, holding the small female up for everyone to see. The female had silver and gold fur and hair, and her eyes were a pale ice blue. The gathered lords bowed their heads briefly at the blue crescent on her forehead that marked her as the Alpha Pup, her dress covered in the same symbol on a silver background. Kagome was giddy for a moment with the thought that she had been able to name the special pup and that her choice would forever affect the Crescent Moon Pack. If this was the greatest power a female inuyoukai had, she understood why Koyama wanted to have pups of her own to raise and name. "When the pups came to us, this female chose me to nurse her, before Koyama joined the pack to nurse the males. She changed first, she declared herself Alpha, and she will be a powerful member of her pack. She was hard to name, more so because I am a human and lack the most sensitive organ that inuyoukai possess, but even I can tell that she has a gentle, sweet scent that calms her brothers and other youkai when they are troubled near her. When I am sad or Inuyasha is angry, her scent can calm us both. I imagine that it is part of her youki. In any case, she is Kiyokaoriko." The pup grinned at her name, wagging her little tail, and the lords stood as they repeated her name.
"Kiyokaoriko!"
Sesshoumaru leaned toward Kagome, touching his daughter's head. "It is a good name, miko. I am amazed that you were able to detect her scent."
"I've always had too sensitive a nose."
Sesshoumaru nodded as a group of servants appeared to collect the children and return them to their room so the feast could begin. Everyone sat down and began to introduce themselves to Kagome and the other humans, even greeting Inuyasha despite the youkai prejudice against hanyou. Kagome sipped at her drink, watching Inuyasha talking to Shinju of Dark Forest Clan. She smiled as she recounted stories of her father's exploits with Inuyasha's father, treating the hanyou like a beta inuyoukai. Kagome's blue eyes widened as she came to a realization and turned to Sesshoumaru. "You've taken him into your pack already. Before I asked for my condition, you had already accepted him."
Sesshoumaru shook his head. "It might be hard to explain to a non-inu, but Inuyasha offered his services to protect my pups, placing himself in a beta position to me. He had to be of Crescent Moon in order to bring a female to nurse the pups while I was unable to travel. He chose to submit to me in order to protect the pups, putting himself in the beta male position of my pack. I accepted your condition as it extends beyond his choice to be part of my pack and will protect him for as long as you live. He will probably join a pack of his own in about fifty to seventy years now that he has once been part of one, and after that he will forever be protected. This Sesshoumaru no longer desires the Tetsusaiga."
As Sesshoumaru turned back to his meal, servants entered with the main course, which consisted of a large variety of red meat, birds, and fish to cater to all tastes. There was also an assortment of vegetables for the humans and kitsune who consumed both meat and plant material, and some of each type of meat was well-cooked. Kagome's eyes widened when the plate placed before her consisted of some vegetables and a great deal of seared meat, just cooked enough for her human palate but rare enough to satisfy her current cravings. She smiled gratefully at the youkai lord as everyone began to eat.
"Well! This is certainly a spread!"
All sound in the dining hall ceased as a tall youkai female with long silver hair, magenta stripes, and golden eyes entered the hall. The dark blue moon on her forehead marked her as an Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, and her eyes were almost as hard and cool as Sesshoumaru's, but Kagome caught a flash of amusement in her gaze. Sesshoumaru stood, bowing to the inu as a group of servants hastily moved a few chairs to give her a seat on the lord's left hand, the humans and hanyou on the right watching intently. Rin, sitting beside Shippo, moved to stand, wondering about this woman who looked so much like her lord. Holding out his hand, Sesshoumaru led the woman to the empty chair and let her sit, a rare half-smile gracing his features.
"It is good to see you again, Mother."
To bo continued . . .
