Last Time on My Devotion:

Over the next couple of days, their allies arrived. Sango, Miroku, and Kirara arrived two nights later. Heron and Takachi came early the following morning, with many of their finest warriors in tow. Everyone waited, holding their breath for the arrival of their saving grace, the Demon Council. But, eventually, they had to make plans for the coming battle. Rin had cook make a special dinner, knowing very well that it could be the last for any number of them.

She had just explained their plan to everyone present when a guard begged entrance.

"Enter," Sesshoumaru responded."

"My Lord," he said with a slight pant, bending to one knee. "You have visitors. They say they are here to assist you."

Sesshoumaru's hand went to Tokijin in anxiety. Clearly this was not the Council. "Show them in."

The Calm Before the Storm

"Bring them to my study," Sesshoumaru amended, excusing himself. Rin apologized to their guests and followed her mate. She knew that he had not invited her. But neither would he turn away her company or ask for it if he did want it.

Sesshoumaru walked behind his desk and remained standing in case he needed to behead someone quickly. Rin hurried to his side and rested her hand on top of his with a slight shake of her head. When Kitani as escorted inside by one of the guards, his hand clenched around his sword. However, his practiced indifference did not escape the demon before him. Her eyes darted down to his sword arm and back to his face.

"I am Kitani, queen of the jaguar demons. I have arrived with warriors for your cause. I trust you received the message via my nephew."

Sesshoumaru merely stared at her. As if being a relative of cat demons was not bad enough, she had the gall to appear before him in his lands without invitation. Rin glanced between the two of them before clearing her throat. If he wasn't going to be civil, the least she could do was be diplomatic.

"Yes! He did come here…" She trailed off, not sure how to broach the subject of his imprisonment.

"I have not heard from him for quite some time. Can you explain this?" When no one offered an explanation, she continued, "I sent scouts to find him. Needless to say, their results were less than satisfactory."

"You sent scouts? So that was why I had so many uninvited guests nearby as of late."

Kitani bit back a smile. "Forgive me, but it's bad form to let a crowned prince go unaccounted for. So where is he?"

Rin spoke up, afraid that Sesshoumaru, for all his better qualities, would not show finesse to ease the progression of this conversation.

"Unfortunately, we were forced to," she coughed "imprison him."

Rin expected Kitani to be livid. She expected her to scream, her aura to flare. She expected something. What she did not expect was the amount of calm and indifference Kitani was able to convey. When she thought about it further, the problem was that Kitani wasn't feigning indifference. Rin dealt with that on a daily basis from Sesshy. But behind that cold exterior you could see a warmth or rage in his eyes. There was a tenseness in the lines of his body. Kitani had none of that. She merely asked a pointed question.

"Why was that necessary?"

"He did not show the proper respect. It is difficult to trust words of peace coming from someone with obvious hostility."

Kitani considered that for a moment. "I do not fault you. He and I do not often agree about what is right for our clan, but he is one of few that I trust to follow my orders. Especially when it is dangerous. He is supremely loyal to me. I respect that he has his own opinions, but he has not learned everything of being discreet in his affairs. I apologize for him."

Sesshoumaru's hand came off the hilt of his blade, mollified by her humility.

"Do you know Besammit?"

"I know of her," he responded. "Why?"

"She is my cousin. She is a little crazy, to be honest. I fear it is exactly this mania that has led her to propagate the hostile energy against you and yours," she explained, acknowledging Rin with a bow of her head. "I fear my reasons for offering you my assistance are purely selfish. I will not behave as if I care about the well-being of anyone here. All I want to do is thwart Besammit. Whatever, she has planned, I do not trust that it is to the benefit of anyone."

Since Kitani was not going to make a nuisance of herself, Sesshoumaru figured she could stay. He didn't trust Besammit any more than she did, so the fact that their interests aligned could only be a benefit. In any case, he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. With or without Kitani's help, they would still be outnumbered. But, he wasn't stupid enough to turn down assistance that would give them any sort of edge. If she wanted to commit her clansmen to a veritable slaughter, that was her prerogative.

"Do as you wish," he said in his same impersonal monotone, brushing past her. The guard had remained and knew well enough to see her out.

"Come, Rin," he added.

She followed him slowly, giving herself enough time to address the queen personally.

"Do not mind him. I want to thank you for your support, whatever your reasons. Would you like to come to dinner? I prepared a special feast for our allies."

"No, my lady. I left my warriors outside your walls as a sign of good faith, but I must return to prepare them for what lies ahead."

Rin was a bit upset, but understood. "Of course. Thank you, again," she offered before hurrying to catch up to her mate.

"Your Highness," the Western guard prompted. Kitani allowed him to show her out. Her new captain, Micah, was waiting for her at the gate. They walked in silence back to the encampment. When she reached her tent, she motioned for Micah to follow her inside. Now that the time was growing closer to the conflict, she needed to tie up some loose ends.

"My Queen?" her captain asked, uncomfortable with being in her tent alone.

"Oh, calm yourself, Micah," she sighed, reclining herself on the mound of pillows she used for her bed. "Your predecessor proved himself inept. Your crown prince had gotten himself imprisoned due to his brashness. To be honest, with that quality, he would not make a suitable leader for our clan anyway. I do not know why he was entertaining the idea. So, it falls to you."

All the blood drained from his face. He felt faint to be under so much direct attention. "W-what falls to me?"

"My dying wish." She put up her hand before he could deny it or offer her promises of false hope that she knew were nonexistent.

"Someone has seen into my future. I know that this will come to pass. There are few people that I trust anymore and I know that the clan has grown weary of me." She laughed humorlessly. "They will not have to put up with me for much longer. I also know that you do not know me that well. You probably feel equal parts fear and resentment."

"Your Highness!"

"No? Then what is it that you feel?" She took his silence and uncomfortable shiftiness to be answer enough. "I thought so. Still, however glad everyone may be when I am gone, you are honor bound to carry out my final wishes, as you would for any member of the clan."

Micah nodded solemnly.

"I warn you that you may not appreciate what I am about to say. But this is fate. You can be its facilitator or work against it. That does not change the fact that this is the way things will be."

The Queen recounted everything of the tale Besammit had told her, leaving out details about where and when she would expire. Without their warriors there to protect them, the clan borders would be infiltrated and they would lose purchase on the last of what had been the home of their clan for centuries. Kitani had alerted the sentinels before their departure with specific instructions on how to lead the women and children to a place far away where they would be safe. If Kitani had indeed aligned herself with the winning side, then the jaguar demons would not only have protection, but a new home, and a new leader who would help them grow back to their former glory.

Throughout the tale, Micah had taken a seat on the ground inside the tent, literally floored by what he was hearing. He wanted to kill Kitani for what she had subjected them to, but there was no point in it now. All he could do was fight for the cause. Because it was only through winning this coming battle that their clan could be saved from the extinction their own Queen had pushed them towards.

"I apologize for placing this burden on you. In exchange, I will grant anything you would ask of me."

"Anything?"

"Anything within my power," she promised. She had avoided his eyes until now. But, when she looked at him, her captain saw decisiveness, and no small amount of remorse.

He thought long and hard about what he should ask for, but he did not seek wealth. That created more problems than solutions in his estimation. He did not seek power as it often corrupts. Even if it did not, his will would never be his own. The one thing he held dear in all this world was his young wife. They were expecting their second child. In the end, there were few things he was wise enough to ask for.

"When this is over, I want an honorary discharge from service of the clan. I also want enough for my family to continue living as we are. And finally, I just want to know why."

"The answer to that is complicated."

"Well we have time."

"Yes, for tonight, I have all the time in the world."

Rin caught up to Sesshoumaru before he reached the dining area again, stilling him with a hand on his arm. He turned his head slightly, looking down at her over his shoulder. She hid a smile behind her other hand when he quirked an eyebrow.

"Come here," she beckoned, pulling him against her body. He didn't need to be pushed any further. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his head atop hers.

"I would still prefer you were out of harm's way when—"

"Ssh," he hushed him, squeezing him tighter. "There is no other way. I have been with you since you gave me a second chance at life. I will not let you abandon me now."

He lifted her chin with a clawed fingertip, then, and kissed her with a passion he had restrained since this conflict had started. But now, the desperation in him would not be held in check. He wrapped an arm tightly around her waist and, with the other, tilted her head so he could kiss her more deeply. Oh how he loved this woman in his arms. He had given her new life, but what she failed to realize was that she had done the same for him countless times. Without her there was no sun, no life.

Sesshoumaru pulled back from her then, waiting for her thick lashes to rise from her cheeks. Her chocolate eyes were knowing, reflecting all the emotions roiling inside of him. She pressed her full lips to his once more, tenderly.

"We should get back to our guests," she sighed, this time leading him on.

Rin bowed her head slightly to everyone in the dining area. "I apologize again for the interruption. Souten, we have had some unlikely allies arrive. Could you find some way to fit them into our strategy? I don't want any surprises tomorrow."

"Of course. If you will all excuse me, I need to think it over and draw up a missive."

"Thank you."

Souten stood up to see to the task just as the Lord and Lady of the land lowered themselves onto the cushions at the head of the table. An expectant silence followed their arrival. Rin nervously picked up her chopsticks after meeting the eyes of several people around the table and realizing that everyone's eyes were on Sesshoumaru and her.

Since the Demon Council had yet to make an appearance or even send a letter acknowledging the conflict in the Western Lands, it was obvious to everyone that they could not rely on their aid. It was a frightening thought. Rin had been counting on their support, but she could not show her shaken conviction, least of all to Sesshoumaru.

"InuYasha?" Rin asked, trying to focus her attention on him. Over the last few days, Kagome's spell had proven to be temporary. InuYasha's pitch black hair was paling back to its normal color. Some of his demonic features had returned as well. She noticed his golden eyes when he raised his head from his bowl and swallowed his overly large mouthful of food.

"If you're going to ask if I'm okay to fight tomorrow, don't worry about it. I've been training and I can make a few wind scars without getting tired. I wouldn't let everyone else have all the fun."

"Oh. Well, we have discussed tomorrow thoroughly. We all know our roles and I have complete faith that everyone will do their part to the best of their ability. You are all such great friends to come to our aid in our time of need. So what do you say we enjoy this evening of each other's company?"

Everyone present raised their glasses in salute and agreement. Even though the tension was still there, Rin's friends got to know each other and form new friendships. They enjoyed what little peace they had left, because the future was uncertain. The present would just have to be enough.

Lord Daiyami watched the assemblage of demons converge in the clearing he had made for the first meeting. He could not keep his eyes from flaming as he watched them from afar. They disgusted him with their unpolished manners. In his mind, they were all expendable. They were a sordid mark on the face of the earth anyway.

Daiyami remembered what it was to be a Lord in the true Demon Council. It was better than being royalty. You had dominion over more than just your own clan. You had control over the whole demon population and, by extension, the humans as well. These imbeciles would never know that kind of life. You were born into it. The demons before him were merely a means to an end. He almost shuddered at the thought of having a demon council with them in it.

Daiyami had sent his own scouts into the Western Lands. And that dog demon was too incompetent to even be aware. However, it did help that the Jaguar demons also had their scouts around to deflect suspicion. When he had first been informed of the Jaguar demon presence in the Western Lands, he had been surprised. Then the Lord of the Shades had remembered how violently Kitani had reacted to Besammit's presence. Not that he blamed her. The Cougar witch did have a very polarizing personality. But the time had come for action and he needed to address these demons before him.

Flanked by two of his most trusted advisors, he made his way into the center of the clearing. The makeshift army was so uncouth that they did not even quiet when he arrived. He allowed his advisors to get their attention and held back from rolling his eyes.

"I thank you all for being here today, ready to lay down your lives to protect our way of life. For those few of you that perish in the oncoming battle, you will be remembered for your sacrifice. But we shall prevail tomorrow. I have received word that though they have amassed a small army of their close allies, the Demon Council has chosen not to support the lord and Lady of the Western Lands. We have them outnumbered and we shall overcome them and exterminate the abominations they have conceived of!"

A raucous cry went up from the group. He waited for them to quiet on their own, allowing the morale to grow before continuing with his final remarks.

"Sleep well tonight, men," he advised them. "Tomorrow we march on the Western Lands. Tomorrow, we take back our destiny!"

Daiyami allowed them to clap him on the back and to cheer for his speech before he again retreated to the outskirts of the clearing. He could not stand to be so close to their unsophisticated ways, much less among them. He watched them from a distance, sipping on a cup of sake. And all the while, he had but one thought.

'Fools. Fools the lot of them.'

Souten walked to where the Jaguar demons were camped in order to give them their battle orders. She had already run everything by Sesshoumaru and Rin and they had agreed to it wholeheartedly. Now she just had to get the Queen on board. She really was in no mood for disagreement. The night was growing late and Souten wanted to be abed before tomorrow came.

She was confronted by a few guards on watch but, upon explaining her reason for being there was escorted to a nearby tent. She was announced and heard a calm voice urge her to enter. The guard held back one of the flaps when she ducked her head and walked inside.

Kitani was sitting in a pile of cushions and seemed to be drinking heavily, though by her alertness, you couldn't guess it. Clearly something was more sobering than the alcohol was incapacitating.

"So you have come with our role for tomorrow?" she murmured with a certain measure of indifference.

"Yes," the Thunder Demon replied. There was a low table near Kitami, laden with small fruits and cheeses. Santen pushed it aside & spread out the scroll. The large field near the gates of the Western hands had trapezoidal figures painted upon them.

"Because you are so few, I wanted to make the best as of your talents. I also did not want to force you to fight amongst us. it could create confusion, you see." Souten pointed out the gates on the map. The figure closest to the actual castle, she explained, would be the majority of their forces, comprising all of the original allies. Farther to the sides out of theme of sight were two other figures.

"The plateau here is ideal. The way this will work will be much like corralling cattle. They will come up the plateau to fight us. When they come in far enough, it will be up-to your clan to close off their only safe escape route."

It was not lost on Santen that the Queen of the Jaguars did not seem to be focusing completely. In fact, she kept staring at Souten. She could feel her gaze upon her face.

"Is this going to be a problem?" she asked, irritated. "Or are you just going to keep staring at me?"

Kitani smiled, still searching Santen's now open face. "No, I think this will do perfectly."

The Thunder Demon nodded, mollified trolled up the scroll. "It would be helpful if you could move your troops to your positions as soon as possible. Preferably before dawn."

"It will be done," Souten bowed and started to leave. "Thank you. I appreciate this. More than you know."

Souten's brow furrowed in confusion, but she nodded deferentially. What did she have to be thankful for?

Read and review. We are coming to the end soon. Also, I was thinking about going back and fixing typos and inconsistencies. If anyone wanted to help me out with that, it would make things a lot easier for me. PM me if you are interested.