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 8

The next morning Nikki had returned to her garden, she wasn't trying to be difficult to find but needed some peace in a very crowded castle. She sighed as she relaxed under one of her trees, losing herself to thought as she enjoyed the peace. She was never one to enjoy huge crowds, now she really wasn't comfortable with everyone here for the reason they were and her being a part of it. Sesshomaru found her out there as he walked by for breakfast. He watched as she sat under one of her trees, relaxing and thinking and all he could think was how beautiful she looked so serene. He walked into the garden and at some point, all thoughts seemed to stop as he approached her.

"Sesshomaru," she said surprised as he scooped her up into his arms. He motioned for her to stay quiet before softly kissing her. At first Nikki didn't quite know what to do, she wasn't expecting anything like this, but then she softly kissed him back. When they parted, Nikki blushed and looked away.

"You wish for me to be yours," she said softly as she resumed sitting under her tree. Sesshomaru said beside her and took one of her hands. He marveled at how small and delicate it looked knowing it could rip him to shreds in her anger.

"One day," he replied with a nod. "When we are both ready." She nodded as she listened and thought.

"I wasn't sure you wanted me," she said softly. She looked away as her self doubt seemed to creep up again.

"I don't know why, there was no reason to question it," he said as he watched her.

"With everything that's happened..." she started.

"Everything that has and will happen are not reasons to doubt what my intentions are," he said as he watched her look at him curiously, a spark of her old self coming to light. "I had fully intended on asking for your hand when you agreed to write me after the last ball. That was my surprise after we took care of the rebellion."

"It'll be a year in a few months," Nikki said as she thought about it. Winter was almost upon them and though the trees were beautiful in their colors, they were preparing for the snow that would soon fill the air.

"Yes, soon we'll be locked inside together to endure the winter," Sesshomaru said amused. "Think you can handle me locked up in a castle?" Nikki chuckled a little as she thought.

"I see there is no sending you home with your family," she admonished with a smirk. He shook his head as he kissed her hand.

"No," he said bluntly as she looked at him mildly surprised. "I have no reason to go there, father will be there, so all I'll be doing is sending some poor runner through the snows to write you and continue to pester you." Nikki nodded as she thought, the lingering self doubts were still at the back of her mind as she tried to act normal and happy that everything was happening.

"When should we tell the others?" she asked softly.

"When we are ready," he said as she nodded while thinking. "I don't want to rush things, we both have been enjoying our freedom to do as we wish, though I don't think our mating would hinder that."

"I don't think so either," she agreed, "we seem fairly content to do whatever when together." Sesshomaru nodded in agreement as he thought about it. Once announced he was sure the families would want the details of the ceremony quickly, much more so than the two were willing to share just yet as they still needed to sit down and discuss them. Plus, he had to inform her father and brothers that they were engaged so the group wouldn't jump her for her opinion.

"What..." she started as she thought, but hesitated asking. He looked at her curiously, partially upset that she wasn't just asking out right like she always does.

"Go on," he urged when she didn't continue.

"What about your quest?" she finished her thought, looking slightly relieved but still perplexed.

"What about my quest?" he replied. "It will not be an issue for our mating."

"It's not a quest with an ending," she said softly, "there will always be another youkai, another fight." He nodded as he listened to her. "So even though you say it won't be an issue, if you made your views clear when you said it was a quest you were not backing away from." He understood her point of view, it was always going to be an issue, always her waiting and worrying as he fights, always the concern of someone coming after him for revenge. It was more of an issue than he was allowing it to be for her.

"It will not be something you have to worry about," he said as she sighed and nodded. She would trust him to take care of those issues, it wasn't like they were getting mated tomorrow. "Come, you should have breakfast." He got up and helped her up before leading her to the dining hall. Everyone else was also stumbling into the room exhausted from the day before. A few of the males were dressed ready to go outside and train with the troops after breakfast.

"We will be interviewing everyone downstairs," Minami informed the table, "this afternoon, after lunch, if you wish to view or not. I would advise avoiding the throne room until we are completed around dinner time." Kita and Nishi nodded in agreement as Higashi nodded in approval.

"Yes, we should get this started, you will have access to the best of my most loyal soldiers to help control and contain them," Higashi said as Minami nodded in approval.

"Not that we are not enjoying your hospitality my lord, but we would like to be home before the snows fly," Kouga said as the others nodded.

"Oh I understand completely," Higashi said with a chuckle. "Even we get stir crazy being locked in this castle all winter long." The lords all chuckled as they resumed eating. As everyone finished up they headed to the courtyard to watch the soldiers and those who would join them train.

"Nikki," Kagome said as she and Chiaki sat with the Eastern princess, "I was hoping you'd return with us this winter, I'd love your help with the preparations for the mating ceremony." Nikki smiled as she thought about it, it would be good to help Kagome since one day she'll be doing the same for her and Sesshomaru.

"I actually agree that is a good idea, Kagome," Nikki said as Kagome beamed at her, "would you be helping as well Chiaki?"

"I have not yet decided," Chiaki answered pleasantly. "But I am happy to see you looking more cheerful, princess."

"The healer said I need time, the more I work at this the better I'll be," Nikki said as the two nodded in agreement. "I'm just taking it a day at a time."

"While they're in this afternoon dealing with everything, we should figure something fun out to do," Chiaki suggested as she thought about it. "Maybe we can have the seamstress start suggesting kimono ideas for the mating ceremony?"

"We can," Nikki said in agreement, "I'm sure she'll love the work. We haven't used her in a while." The other two smiled and nodded as Sesshomaru listened in not too far away. He looked at Nikki's father who was also obviously listening. The two of them were going to be in the throne room during the interrogations so that they can start the trials.

Side note! As I reread this, it seems to be moving quickly, but it's not as quick as it seams. The ball from the preceeding story was held around June, it would have been after "mating season" for the youkai. I will be holding that special, animalistic time, in the spring (I think that's traditional in the fan fiction world...). Anyways, with the ball in June, the 'revolution' took a few months to stomp. Nishi asked for help about August, so it's around October/November for them now. Kagome and Inuyasha's mating ceremony will be held in mid March. Nikki and Sesshomaru's engagement will be around a year long with the trials and everything else they have to endure (both in and out of this story).