Chapter 30
Morning came in the west and with it came the changes that had been foreseen by the inner most members of the head pack of the west. After Kagome had woken up and spoke with Sango and after she had promised her that she would come and speak with her after she got things settled with the pup that thought she would be the next Lady of the West, she had gone to collect Ayame before the two had began to make their way to a privet room that she had not sealed off from the rest of her brothers staff. Once they had entered the room and after Kagome had ordered a guard to go and collect the child in question, she turned to Ayame and asked, "What do you think about everything that my brother had to say?"
"I found that it really did piss me off however if it's one thing that I have learned while growing up with demons, me being one helps, is that you do not question the alpha, no matter how much he pisses you off."
"Well I wasn't born a demon and while I still have a few things to learn about demon culture I do know this, you do not question an alpha and you do not piss them off. I am an alpha, I was named alpha since he needed the help with the growth of the Western lands and I agreed with the condition that he would always be honest with me. He failed and he will regret it." Kagome growled out as her aura flared.
"I suppose in that regard you are correct but I'm afraid that I'm more worried about what the east has planned. They are gathering a bit of allies yet no reason was given. It worries me."
"Alright out with it, just what is it that you heard that your mate did not hear or pick up on?"
"While they have been telling many that they are worried about the dragons of the north I have heard that it is not something that they should be worried about. There is no threat, whatever the reason may be they are gathering many allies yet they are not sharing their secrets with their allies. Their reason is a lie."
"I see, were you able to get anything else?"
"No but," Ayame began but was cut short when a knock at the door signaled that they time alone to talk had finished.
"My Lady we have Lady Akuma here to see you and Lady Ayame." The guard called out.
"Another time," Ayame mouthed over to her before she had called out, "Bring her in, I'd like to have a few words with the pup myself as well."
After being brought in and left with the alpha and beta of the west, Lady Akuma quickly and silently showed them her submission as she had promised her brother she would do and waited to be spoken to as she had promised. Of course that did not mean that she wasn't completely upset or enraged by the way she was being talked about and treated. She would soon have to be out in the filed with the rest of the females and the males that were being trained for the army of the west and she did not wish to be late. 'I will not piss off my brother again…I don't like it when he is angry and after the anger he showed last night it is not something I wish to see again.' She thought as she stood where she had been left in the middle of the room.
With a grin on her face, Kagome was glad that Akuma had made no move to sit herself down or to approach the two when she had not been asked to do so. She was also glad that she was keeping her head down but her neck exposed which was a clear sign of her submission. Once Ayame was sure that she had been ignored long enough, she nodded at her friend while taking a sip of her tea. Kagome then turned to the pup and said, "It would seem that you have learned some manners since your lack of them last night, tell me Akuma are you now aware of your actions?"
"I am, aware of my mistakes Lady Kagome and am prepared to give a proper apology." She quickly and calmly answered.
"I see, and your new change of heart would have nothing to do with your elder brother getting evolved would it?" Ayame asked as she looked up to lock eyes with the pup that had disrespected her.
Knowing that they would be able to tell if she lied or tried to lie to them both, Akuma took in a deep breath and answered, "I, yes, a part of my reason for this apology would be credited to my brother my Lady however, I also realized that I had much to learn and that I was out of line."
"I see, and will you listen to what you are told to do and ask no questions?" Ayame growled out in an annoyed filled voice.
"I will." Akuma answered in the same calm and collected voice she had used before.
After a small moment of silence, Kagome let out a long sigh and said, "I don't believe it, while I will take your apology and I do believe that you seem to mean it this time I do not believe that you will let go of your ways. Thus you will be escorted to and from every trail. You will speak when spoken to and you will not, and I mean it pup, you will not cling to my brother as if you have already been named his equal. Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly my Lady," Akuma whispered as she kept her head down.
"Good, I trust that you both will have no objection to my orders and I also trust you to lead your daughter down the right path from now on." Kagome stated as she looked past the child in question to lock eyes with the two Inu demons that called themselves this pups parents.
"We understand my Lady however do you not think that you will be putting her in a disadvantage with the other females?" Akuma heard her mother's sweet and smooth voice ask in an innocent manner.
'Mother you foolish woman…can you not see that the hanyou bitch can see you for what you are?'
"I would have thought that was the point, it is her lesson to learn and if she should truly be the Lord of the West equal than it should not matter." Ayame growled out in an annoyed voice. "It would only farther prove that she is his equal."
"Of course my mate realizes this but she only worries for her child, we both do." Her father was heard say.
Before Ayame could growl out her anger and disapproval at their boldness, Kagome turned to Akuma and said, "They will be meeting soon, I suggest you do not get left behind and that you do as you are told. I will now have a few words with your parents and after you are done with the tests I will speak with you again without the interference of your parents."
"Of course my Lady, as you wish it." Akuma answered in a surprisingly submissive voice before quickly walking out of the room. 'I am no fool; I could feel that woman's power around me. Should I have over stepped once more she would have purified me to teach me a lesson. Stupid hanyou miko bitch.'
"Kagome?" Ayame called in a very confused filled voice.
"Don't worry Ayame, all is well. Why don't you go and find your mate, I'll wish to speak with him soon as well." Kagome stated in a very sweet voice.
'Shit…I do not want to be around for this.' Ayame thought as she quickly stood up and said, "I understand, we'll be waiting for you in our privet dining area."
"Thank you." Kagome stated as she turned her full attention to the two Inu demons before her.
Realizing that they had angered the Lady of the West and unsure of what they should do or say so that they could gain her approval once more, the mated pair moved forward until they were stopped by a powerful barrier. Before they could even ask what it was that she was thinking the two Inu demons realized that they were completely surrounded by a powerful barrier that was sure to try to purify them should they try to break free of the barrier they were sure to be seriously harmed. Once she was sure that they would stay where they were Kagome let out a long sigh and said; "Now I will only say this once so I do hope that you do not ignore my words for it will not do you well."
"How dare you do this to us? Do you have any idea how long we have served the great Lord of the West? Child you have no idea what you have done."
"Child? You dare call me a child?" Kagome growled out in anger as she allowed her aura alone to fill the room. "I would think again of what you say for I can tell you now that my brother will be on my side."
"You are a child, you have no idea on how the courts of a demon work, you were a human child before you were turned into a hanyou by the jewel, you could have been more but,"
Faster than they had ever seen their own lord move, Kagome appeared within the barrier and held her bow to both their throats. While she mostly used it for her spiritual powers and to keep her demonic blood sealed, the string was just as sharp as any blade and could be used to split a man open without the need of her powers. Once she was sure that they would remain silent Kagome let out a low growl and forced them to submission before she said, "I do not care for how long or what it is you think of me so long as you show me your respect. I knew when I agreed to aid my brother as the alpha female of the west that I would not be welcomed by all but I will make sure that I am respected never the less. You are nothing more than common demons that have no power over anyone. If I so chose to I could have you killed by the very hands of your son however it would not be just since it would seem the only one in your family with any brains is my current Lord General. Now I will say this once so listen closely."
The two Inu demons barely nodded their heads in agreement when they felt the sharpness of the string as they felt their blood run down the side of their neck. Knowing that she had finally gotten them to bend to her will, Kagome removed her bow from their throats and knocked them down to the ground, Kagome walked toward the door and said, "I do not wish to see either of you from this moment on. I do not want to be called and told that you are plotting things and I sure as hell do not wish to have to see you again. I trust that even you two fools can understand these simple instructions. Now take your leave for I have much more important matters to tend to."
As soon as she had pulled her aura back and released them from the hold she had over them with her miko powers, she watched the two grown Inu demons take their leave at record speed. While a part of her wished to do more than just fill them with fear, she knew that it would not earn her any favor from those that were still uncertain to her claim and title in the west. After making sure that the room would be cleaned up, Kagome let out a long sigh as she began to make her way over to her privet area of the castle to meet with the rest of the pack. Sango would be the first person she would talk to after they all got a chance to sit down to eat. That was of course if she would not be needed to hold court and to handle matters since her brother was doing nothing but uselessly watching the females that stood no chance to gain his approval since it was her daughter that he was waiting for.
"If things really went that bad than you are only in store for some more bad news." Sango's calm yet upset voice was heard.
"Please don't tell me that sister, it is the last thing that I wish to hear now." Kagome stated in a tired filled voice.
"Did he really let you sleep sister or were you both up all night?" Miroku's teasing voice was heard say.
"Oi, monk watch it." Inuyasha's low warning growl was heard.
"Well I'm glad that everyone is up already, where is my son and Kohaku?" Kagome asked when she noticed that only Ayame and Koga were already seated.
"They, well Shippo went after him, said he wanted to spar as well just in case we had to go and get his little sister out of the dragons nest." Miroku answered as he held his two daughters.
"Kohaku, he didn't take the news very well. He thinks that we are being tricked and that they just brought her back from the dead in a manner that is similar to the way Kikiyo was brought back." Sango explained in a worried filled voice.
"If Shippo is with him than you have nothing to worry about." Kagome stated in a sure filled voice.
"Feh, there's trouble in the eastern boarder that I have to go and take care of it. Miroku and Sango have offered to come and help me and the pups are going to be watched by Ayame and Koga. They have descried to stay and say nothing to their females so that they do not demand for them to take action or for the treaty between our packs to be broken." Inuyasha explained in a tired filled voice.
"Well that's lovely but understandable. Sango you and Miroku be sure to be careful while helping him and make sure that he doesn't get into too much trouble." Kagome stated in a teasing voice.
"We'll make sure you have nothing to worry about." Sango promised.
"If you need us sister you need only call on us." Koga told her as he and his mate stood so that they could be shown to the human children that they would be looking over.
"Are you leaving now?" Kagome asked in a confused filled voice.
"We are, we would have had more time to talk however you took much longer than I thought you would have with the foolish parents of that pup." Ayame explained in a slightly worried filled voice.
"Um…Inuyasha be safe, I need to get to the courts than if that much time has already past." Kagome stated as she tried to figure out just where all that time had gone.
"Are you alright?" Sango asked in a worried filled voice.
"I'm fine, I just wish that I had thought to bring some batteries with me when I have my watch with me but since they ran out and there is no way to get back to my time I still need to get used to depending on my instincts for the time." Kagome explained with a smile on her face as she avoided her mate's eyes.
"Feh, don't worry wench I'll hurry back." Inuyasha growled as he realized that there was something else that was bugging her.
After she had promised everyone that she truly was alright and after she was certain that they would all do what they had already planned to do, Kagome smiled at her friends and watched as they left her alone one by one. Of course they had not been surprised when Inuyasha had stayed behind and promised to spend some time with just her the moment he returned since he needed to talk to her about something. While he had tried to get him to tell her what it was that he needed to speak with her about Kagome had failed and left him go off knowing that probably get back faster if she just let him be. Kagome had just walked into the court room where she was to hold court and tend to the matters of the day when she watched Jaken make his way over to her.
'Now what…I swear to all that is holy if anything else should go wrong I am going to kill someone…preferably that pup Akuma.' Kagome thought as she made sure to keep full control over her emotions.
"A letter has arrived from your village my Lady," Jaken stated once he had reached her side.
"Was it sent from the guard? Has something happened? Do they need more guards?" Kagome asked in a worried filled voice.
"No my Lady, I have not read the letter since it has been address to you. It is from the head of the village." Jaken answered her as he offered her the letter in question.
"I see…" Kagome mumbled as she began to open the letter that had been sent to her.
"The taijiya and the monk are watching the next phase of Lord Sesshomaru's testing of the females while your mate has gone to settle matters in one of the outer villages," Jaken began to explain as he watched the Lady of the West open her letter.
"Oh," Kagome stated in a confused filled voice as she stopped trying to open her letter, "I thought that Miroku and Sango had gone with my mate to the eastern boarders to see what was going on."
"It was on Sesshomaru's request that they stayed and evaluated the work that the females were showing." Jaken answered as he kept his head down.
"I see, and what is my dear brother up to now," Kagome growled out in an annoyed filled voice as she continued to open the letter, "Never mind, I believe it would be best if I did not know. Uh, I am certain that Koga and Ayame will be around should I need help and I'm sure that Inuyasha has taken some guards with him since Miroku and Sango were unable to go with him."
"Truth be told my Lady, Master Inuyasha has gone on his own. He did not take any guard since there were none available without taking from the guard we have posted in the castle." Jaken explained in a calm voice as he tried to see if she would be upset or calm about his lord given out orders to her pack, "Your son however seems to have run off again."
"I'm sure he'll return once he's convinced Kohaku to come back with him. Sango did after all let me know before I made my way down for the courts," She stated in a tired filled voice as she began to unfold the letter that was addressed to her and her mate, "When they do arrive have them come to me, I might have something for them to do to keep them busy."
"Forgive me my lady however should the young male taijiya wish to do as he wishes?" Jaken asked in a worried filled voice.
"Then I will go for them myself and do what I had promised him that I would do." Kagome whispered her answer as she read through the letter. 'Rin my beloved daughter…you truly wish to come back to us…if they so much as harm you before my eyes I will kill them.'
"I understand, what shall you have me do? Aid you here or go and collect them?" Jaken asked in a calm voice.
Once she was done reading the letter, Kagome handed it back to Jaken and said, "I want you to burn the letter, let no one read this on my order; they'll be unable to hold it either way. After words I need you to go and gather my son and the young male taijiya and take them to my quarters. I need them to do something for me."
"I'll go and collect the two then my Lady." Jaken quickly stated before running off to do as he had been asked.
"Is everything alright my Lady?" a female Inu demon was heard ask as she approached the miko hanyou.
"Of course, now what is the first thing that needs tending to," Kagome asked with a grin on her face.
"Well, your mate, Lord Inuyasha, has already gone to see what the trouble is in the eastern boarder but I'm afraid that we do have a few problems arising in our sea boarder with some demons from the northern lands."
"Well, are the leaders of these demons here, or is there a representative that is present?" Kagome asked in a strong, cold, and power filled voice as she got to work to see what needed tending to and what would be easily solved.
It was in moments like these that she was thankful that she had the teachings and knowledge of the future. She was glad that her favorite subject in school had always history. If it weren't for that she would have no idea how to run the courts or an idea on how the lands were looked after during the feudal era. While she got to work and while she made sure to do as was expected of her as the Lady and alpha female of the west, Kagome was sure that her brother, the foolish bastard that he was, would do well to never lie to her again.
Watching the females train and show their endurance as they trained with those that were a part of the western army was something that she was not interested in part taking. After the last war between the cats and the west, one in which she and her pack had been drawn into, Sesshomaru had thought it would be best to gather an army that would not only represent the power of the west but would also be the front protectors of the west. 'If he knows what is good for him the fool will stay away from me until Rin has returned and until I have gotten the chance to get a hold over my anger and rage.'
The great Lord of the west watched as the females that had come to prove themselves to him all worked hard to show that they would be proud and useful members of his army should they be allowed to join. Not that he was against females joining however he knew how the males of his kind were so it would not be something for him to easily allow. Perhaps in time with the help of his sister but since she was upset with him at the moment he would be unable to bring the matter to her attention until after she had calmed a bit and until after he was certain that she would be purifying him anytime soon. Just as he was about to call out to the demon that was leading the training, Sesshomaru turned and locked eyes with his Lord General as he heard him approach. Once he was close enough, he asked, "What is it that needs my attention?"
"The weapon that you entrusted to me sir, I have asked Lady Kagome to seal it in a room for protection. I did not wish for it to be at risk. I wished to inform you of what I had done."
"Oh, did you have reason to believe that it was in any danger of being stolen than General Komainu?"
"I did, however small it was my Lord; know that it is nothing that you have to worry about." He promised.
"I see, has my sister given you any other orders?" Sesshomaru asked in a calm, cold voice as he made sure to hide all of his emotions.
Knowing that it would be far worse to lie to his Lord and realizing that there was nothing he could do to prevent the failure of his family because of his sisters actions and words, Lord Komainu nodded his head and said, "She has, I am to make sure that my sister is always watched by a member of the guard and I am to ensure that she returns to the castle so that she by be presented back to the Lady of the West."
"Lord General, would you care to explain to me what it is that your sister has done now to have angered my sister in such a manner that she would continue to ask to speak with her in privet?" Sesshomaru growled out in an angry voice.
"She disrespected the beta before the hall of our guests; she also seems to have insulted many of the females here by stating that they had no reason to be here since she will be the one named as your mate." Lord Komainu explained in a rushed voice. "I am deeply sorry for her behavior and I have already spoken with her and my parents. I assure you my lord that I have taken care of things."
"Is she that certain that she will be named my mate?" Sesshomaru asked in a surprised filled voice. He had never once given the child a glance and realizing now just how strong she was and how proud she was made him realize that if he probably would have looked at her should he have never found Rin as a potential mate.
"Yes my Lord and I have my parents to thank, I'm sure you would remember them since they have been serving you and your late father for some time now."
"General Komainu,"
"Yes my Lord?"
"Make sure that your parents are present at tonight's dinner, I would like a word with them about your sister and her upbringing."
"Of course my Lord, should I tell them what this is about?"
"No, I would rather you not, and General Komainu." Sesshomaru spoke as he began to take his leave.
"My lord," he answered.
"You need not worry, I am not angered with your family or your parents however I do have a few questions of my own and I'm sure my sister would have already spoken to them by now."
After watching his Lord take his leave, Komainu let out a long sigh that he had been holding in and began to relax bit by bit. He was sure and had known that the Lady of the West had already spoken with his parents. He had realized it when he had met with them just a few moments ago only to find that they would not look him in the eye or even have anything to say to him about the events of the previous night. It had been then that he realized that they did not trust themselves to say a word to him without putting him in a potion where he would have to take action to defend the Lady's honor and right to the title of acting alpha female of the west. 'I did try to warn them about the way they were raising her now look at what has happened. I sure do hope that I do not end up having to leave the lands I am now protecting because of the foolishness of my parents and younger sister.' He thought as he began to make his way toward the group of females that were being trained to announce the short break before they moved on to group sparing.