Ceremonies were obnoxious.

But seeing as it benefitted him in the long term, Sesshoumaru supposed that he could deal with a day of pomp and circumstance. Of dealing with his mother and all other sorts of youkai lords. Of not being with her.

Kagura was not allowed to attend the inaugural proceedings, it was reserved for the lords and their mates. And as the process dragged on, it was something that was beginning to grate on his nerves, he could feel his mother's eyes watching him. At least her scent would have calmed him some, distracted him from the monotony, or at the very least make it easier to bear.

And then it was done. With one last stamp of Inukimi's finger, the Western Lands and all its people's were under Sesshoumaru's jurisdiction. All except one.

.~*~.

This was getting far too ridiculous, Kagura sighed. The daiyoukai in attendance were using this first gathering in at least a hundred years as an excuse to drink themselves into oblivion, it seemed. Many of them were already on their fifth or sixth bottle of sake, red in the face and stuttering, the food hadn't even been brought out yet! Kagura turned away, letting the screen fall closed, slightly disgusted by the coarse behavior of lords. She held her wrist out to Hotaru, who was applying a salve to the small nicks upon her skin.

"I'm still surprised, well, maybe not really," the kitsune giggled, watching as the tiny red lines lightened and disappeared. "that he's rough."

Kagura rolled her eyes. "Just make sure they're gone before Kamiko has another fit."

Hotaru nodded, moving on to the other wrist, while Kagura went back to watching the festivities. She took some pleasure in knowing that Sesshoumaru, seating in the place of honor and flanked by his mother and Jaken, was most likely more disgusted by the behavior than she.

He didn't let it show of course, his expression cool as usual as he sipped a small cup of sake. A small smile graced her lips as she remembered that he had actually listened to her, and the second night there had been a bottle of the stuff waiting, though neither of them had bothered touching it. It was true, though, that he had been getting… rougher, with her. Kagura probably wouldn't have asked him why, even if he had been there in the mornings, but the increase in cuts and bruises was getting obnoxious. Especially when Kamiko had nearly screamed at the sight of her bruised neck this morning.

Maybe it was just his nerves, and tonight, and the next, she could look forward to less blood. Just relish his heat and pretend there was more behind his kisses.

Gold eyes met hers and she let the screen fall again.

.~*~.

Sesshoumaru understood the point of socializing, he did, the point of diplomacy, of keeping longstanding loyalties. But he didn't understand why he had to tolerate the drunken fools when he could easily kill them all and take their land. Why he had to listen to their daughters prattle on and offer him more drink. That was pointless.

He had caught Kagura watching him, and quickly turned his gaze back to the woman playing the koto* in the center of the floor. It was the same one that had upset the wind witch so many nights ago, and his attempt at distraction failed.

But she had been smiling, something she had been doing less and less of the last few days, something he felt somewhat guilty for, but saw no reason to atone since she would be gone the next day.

Another bitch held the sake bottle out to him when he set the cup down, Sesshoumaru didn't acknowledge it and she took that as an affirmation to pour. He didn't bother stopping her – one of the Northern lord's nieces, Aki? Ayu? Ayame? He didn't care enough to remember – and why should he deny the drink when none of the others had.

Noriko's song ended to a few hoots and cheers from the men closest to her, while a few towards the back merely nodded their appreciation. The girl bowed and then stood, retreating back behind the screen while a man removed the instrument from the floor.

There was a rustle behind the curtain, and he expected another one of Kamiko's girls to come forward, but instead it was the wind witch herself.

She looked strange, but no less beautiful. Her hair pulled back into a large bun a top her head, and then left to spill down her back. They had taken her usual style to the extreme, the feathers in her bun framing her head like a glittering crown. Her earrings as well, had been replaced with three chains, each ending in feathers. Sesshoumaru was surprised that she had allowed them to whiten her face, and it only made her lips and eyes redder than usual. A violet robe was held loosely around her shoulders, the collar of her blue kimono was pulled low to reveal an unmarked neck…

Sesshoumaru reigned in the sudden rush of blood to his head, especially since he had just noticed his mother's cool gaze on him. He kept his head level and his breath steady.

But it angered him, that these men could see her like this. Most of them had grown quiet, hungry eyes on Kagura.

Kagura smirked, avoiding the inu-youkai's stare. When she had come to the center of the floor, she did not bow, and he was proud of this. Sesshoumaru saw no reason why she should show her submission to these wretches.

"Ah! Kagura! Sesshoumaru-sama, why is she-"

"Shut up." He didn't feel like listening to Jaken complain.

He didn't avert his eyes as Kagura sunk low into a crouch, her fan outstretched to her right. It was larger than her usual one, and he realized that it was also made of feathers, the paper replaced with the wings of whatever youkai they had caught. Kagura lowered her head.

The song that began was an old one, one that Sesshoumaru knew by heart. The sharp whistle of the flutes, then a dull thud of drums. It was the song of his mother's house, a song of conquest and power. He found it strange that they would choose this tune of all of them.

The wind witch's movements were slow and precise. When she raised her head the smirk was gone, and she brought the fan to slide open before her face, the only thing visible being her crimson eyes. A foot came up and she rose slowly, another fan revealing itself from inside her sleeve.

Taking several small steps forward she held one fan flat before her, the feathers splayed as she moved it from left to right. The other held upright, moved in the same way, coming to cover her face once again. She brought both fans before her, using them like a mask as she sunk back into a crouch.

Suddenly, the song changed, different than what he remembered. Kagura snapped both fans shut, the smirk wide across her face.

The violet robe was cast off her shoulders, thrown high above her head with a gust of wind. She swung the fans down, sending another gust low across the floor, setting off several candles and leaving a litter of feathers falling across the room.

The robe fell, covering her completely, until it reached the floor and collapsed. With nothing to keep it upright, it fell into a messy heap upon the floor.

Sesshoumaru let his eyes fall closed, seeking out her scent. There were several growls from a few, surprise at her disappearance.

He was the only one who knew where she was, the only one who knew her scent well enough to find her in that form. The others turning their heads and searching in vain. Sesshoumaru could feel when she wrapped around him, the wind that tousled his hair.

"Congratulations, Heika*," her breath was hot on his ear, but he knew she was merely playing games. "How does it feel to be lord of the west?"

Sesshoumaru opened his eyes only slightly, and when he did so he felt the tip of her fan come to tap his chin, lifting his face towards her. Kagura had reformed before him, crouched on the table. He let out a growl, how dare she touch him so in public-

"Ho," Kagura smirked, withdrawing the fan, the amused eyes all he could see above the feathers.

The fan was brought down upon his head, breaking apart easily and scattering the feathers around him, leaving them stuck to his hair and clothes. Within the flurry of white she transformed once again, coming back to her original position in the center of the room. The smirk remained as the robe was again thrown into the air, spun above her head several times, before with the last beat, it disappeared in a quick twirl, along with the troublesome woman.

The growl was lost amongst the cheers and guffaws of his peers, as Sesshoumaru was left to clean himself of the downy white.

"That was quite a performance, was it not, Sesshoumaru?" Inu no Kimi asked, plucking a stray feather from his hair.

"Hn." he wouldn't fall into whatever trap his mother was setting, she wasn't the type to make idle conversation.

Inukimi watched him from the corner of a golden eye, and when he said nothing else she let out a sigh, setting down her cup. Sesshoumaru almost turned to see what had caused it, but decided against it and kept his eyes forward.

"You know, Sesshoumaru, I never loved your father."

This time he did turn, eyes widened slightly at this. "Is it not a little late for confessions? They hold no value for this Sesshoumaru."

"Of course it doesn't. But I felt that you needed to know it." She chuckled. "He was much like you when he was young, he sought power and conquest. He needed an heir to these lands, and I gave him one." She hadn't been drinking this much.

"Haha-ue-"

"We were not miserable, but we were not happy, either." She kept her eyes on the table. "He met the human woman, she loved him, he loved her, he died for her. I was bitter, because he was my mate." Her eyes narrowed and she took in a sharp breath, "But maybe, had I loved him, I would have saved him."

Sesshoumaru hadn't known then, that his mother possessed the ability to raise the dead, but he did not fault her for withholding the ability. He hadn't gone to aid his father, either. "What is your point?"

Inukimi shrugged and shot him a smirk. "Hn, nothing," golden eyes looked him over before she turned away. "Do not concern yourself with the ramblings of an old woman."

She stood, patting down her robes and adjusting her furs, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some other business to attend to." she leveled another smirk at him. "Just remember, don't be a fool."

And with that she turned away, leaving Sesshoumaru to wonder just what exactly had been in that cup.

*A koto is a stringed instrument that is similar to the Chinese zheng, you know, the giant thing with a lot of strings that you pluck and stuff?

*Heika: "your majesty"

Ugh, I'm getting so bad at this, guys, sorry. I keep distracting myself with ideas for other fics… I'ma get this one done before I start another one, though, cause this shit is too redic.

Alright, so I'm super lame and I actually had a song in mind when I was writing this, it's just Sesshoumaru and Kagura's theme songs put together. Not in a cool way, just in a "this took me two seconds" kinda snip-snip way. But it made me happy, alright? If you actually want to hear it, (self ad-ing coming up) you can check out my tumblr at gingerberteau, it's under the "Haha, music" page on the left.

Samreenk: thanks so much! And for some reason I always say it in my head with way too many vowels and Zs.