Lady of the West, Daughter of the East

By Angel Dust
It's a SesshomaruxOC, InuyashaxKagome, KougaxSango fic!

You have been warned!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha or any of the other characters or the original story line. I DO own my characters, they're as obvious as the nose on your face.

A few months after the Compass Ball, Lord Nishi of the Western Lands has called in the other lords for help fixing his rebellion issues. This will pull Lord Higashi and all five of his sons from the palace, leaving Lady Mai in charge of both kingdom and their daughter. Nikki has yet to show interest in any males, to her mother's great displeasure at the ball, though is secretly writing Sesshomaru as he is fighting by his father's side. Mai is anxious and willing to do anything to get Nikki to mate, and now that her only barrier (Higashi) is out of the picture temporarily there is nothing to stop her from having her way. Can Nikki survive her father's absence, or will there be one less member of the family at the dinner table from now on?

Chapter 3

Dearest Sesshomaru,

It is good news that you'll be done this horrible quest so soon! I can only hope those we send will be enough help to do everything you need to to quell the fighting. Father says he is going to join you, as well as take all the boys with him, leaving mother and me half of the troops to protect us.

As for your surprise, I am curious. I can't imagine what it could be, though I'm sure it's something from your travels.

Mother's crusade to have me mated off continues. Last night we were joined for dinner by Lord Hojo from the Northern Kingdom, a minor lord below Kita. Father and I were not pleased, though mother made every attempt to assist in Hojo's wooing of me. It did not work, he was sent home this morning after breakfast. I will probably be punished with a new demeaning task of some kind.

Congratulations on your sister! Rin is a beautiful name, I'm sure your father is quite pleased and doubly anxious to get back to them. Leaving Inuyasha behind was quite wise to do for protection detail for them. I could tell he was almost over protective of his mother at the ball, despite the girl you said was his court being there. Father was telling me when a male is born, there is much drinking and celebrating. When a female is born there is still great celebrating, but also planning and preparing. I guess my parents didn't plan on me being so wild.

I hope this letter finds you well and as safe as you can be.

I highly anticipate your letter of success!

Sincerely always,

Lady Nikki

Princess of the Eastern Lands

Nikki sealed the letter and headed towards the runners. Her father had left with her brothers after breakfast when Hojo left, he wouldn't leave until then. She wanted to have her letter ready so her father could deliver it but her mother had made sure to keep her busy while Hojo was around entertaining him. She wondered what Sesshomaru would say when he learned that her mother was forcing her to entertain suitors she had no interest in. She didn't know her surprise, she hoped for a few different things. She prayed for an escape if this was her life until she was mated.

"To Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Kingdom, please," she said to the runner that had brought her letter.

"Of course, my lady," he said with a bow.

"Finish resting and such first, no sense in going and wearing out," Nikki advised before heading to her garden to relax and read. She settled under a tree and enjoyed the weather, it was getting cooler but so far it was still beautiful to be outside.

"There you are," her mother said as Nikki looked up surprised, "why aren't you inside? You'll look like a farmer if you're out here too long." Her mother turned her nose up to the thought of having a tan. Nikki never minded the slight coloring of her skin after being outside all day.

"It's beautiful out, I wanted to read and enjoy the weather while it was warm," Nikki said as her mother rolled her eyes.

"What are you reading?" her mother demanded.

"Just a story," Nikki said softly as she closed everything up and looked at her mother defeatedly.

"Come inside, I have chores for you," her mother said waspishly as Nikki nodded. She sighed and got up, following her mother into the castle and away from the beauty that was outside. She started to hope her father would get back soon.

By that evening, Nikki was exhausted. Her mother had quite a few chores for her to do and tomorrow was looking the same. Instead of allowing her daughter to rest, Mai had invited yet another suitor for Nikki's hand to dinner. This was a son of a high lord of the Southern Kingdom, his name was Yahiko.

"Mother, I am exhausted," Nikki bemoaned as her mother came to check on her while the maids did her hair and such. "Do I have to meet someone tonight? Can't this wait until tomorrow?"

"No, it can't, Nikki," her mother pressed annoyed. She didn't understand why her daughter was being so ungrateful for helping her. "Now make sure you are presentable and at the table in half an hour. We wouldn't want to keep Lord Yahiko waiting." Nikki nodded as best she could with the maid pulling her hair to put it up. With that, Mai was back out of the room and headed towards her own to prepare.

"Your daughter is still rebellious?" a guard asked her as she walked to her room.

"She is always rebellious, Higashi raised her that way," Mai replied as they walked. "How am I to raise a lady when he insists on raising her like one of the boys?" The guard remained silent in agreement with her. He had protested her leading troops in one of the exercises that Higashi had preformed, diving the troops up into six units and allowing only the kittens to lead. His protests didn't end after Nikki had won the game. Higashi ignored them as if they were truly no concern. "Hopefully she'll take a liking to the young man here and then we can start the preparations for the mating."

"My lady, I hate to ask, but what if she constantly refuses?" the guard asked her worriedly. He was anxious to get rid of a female who thought herself good enough to rule over the guard like her lord. It was embarassing to no end.

"She will say yes to one of them," Mai said with a sigh, "or the highest price will win her as well." The guard watched her enter her chambers, which had been moved since they came home from the ball. Mai was no longer in her mate's quarters, which raised suspicions from her mate but never was there a protest as he was tired of the fighting and being drug in the middle. Nikki fought her own battles, Mai did not.

Meanwhile, at the encampment of troops in the Western Kingdom...

Higashi was not without his own worry for the night, he did not know what Mai would have planned for his daughter. The boys were talking among themselves jovially about various things and the sights they'd see, none really noticing their father behind them distracted. As the night fell they arrived at the encampment that contained the Western Kingdom troops.

"Higashi, welcome old friend," Nishi said as they climbed off their horses.

"Nishi, how are things here?" Higashi asked as he looked around.

"We are in the midsts of planning, join us while your boys get the troops in order," Nishi said as he led his old friend into the main tent. There was a table and seated at it were Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, and Kita.

"Higashi, I'm surprised we beat you here," Kita said as they shook hands.

"I'm not, I wouldn't leave until Mai's attempted suitor would leave," Higashi said shaking his head.

"Mate's at it again?" Kita asked curiously. Higashi smirked darkly at the thought of it all ending.

"She's always at it," Higashi answered, "I fear the day that she stops. Either my daughter has been sold to the highest bidder or ran away." Kita nodded in agreement, his mate was bothersome with the cubs about mates, but to all of them not just the daughters.

"Maybe once you and the boys are home she'll realize she has six kittens and not one," Kita said as they sat down. "Or your daughter will have killed her before your return home." Nishi chuckled with Kita as Higashi looked thoughtful.

"Don't say it, Nikki may try it," Higashi said as he glanced at Sesshomaru to see him staring off into space. He was curious about what the heir of the Western Kingdom thought of hearing about Mai trying to get Nikki mated off to some random male.

"Mates are confusing creatures," Nishi said as both males nodded, "you boys will learn that soon enough." Inuyasha and Sesshomaru just looked at their father as he turned to a map. "But until then, we must worry about this rebellion. The faster we stop them them faster we can return home so some of our daughters don't kill our mates." The men huddled around the table as they learned of Nishi's plan, working out all the details as they waited for Minami from the Southern Kingdom.

Thanks for reading thus far! I know I'm loading them up quickly, I'm going to try to maintain this speed for a bit, about a chapter a day, just because the next story is two parts and a lot of research. Please leave a message about what you like/hate or improvements and such!

-Angel