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 10

The next morning the ladies were slightly on edge, the night before the males were uptight and didn't eat much if anything. They didn't wake up in better moods, and when a castle full of males was on edge, everyone was on edge. After breakfast they were summoned to the courtyard for the arrival of the taiji ya. They watched as several approached the four lords and bowed.

"We are the best of our clan, my lord," the leader said. "I am Takeshi."

"We have heard of your reputation," Higashi said as he looked at them, "though the idea that you bring kittens is surprising."

"My daughter, Sango, and son, Kohaku, are two of our best," Takeshi said proudly, "though it is surprising to see them here they will be assets."

"The servants will take your men and children to their chambers, we can go to the study to discuss everything so far," Seiji said as the other males nodded. Takeshi nodded and looked to the girl behind him.

"Sango, watch over Kohaku and make sure everyone is settled," he ordered before following the lords and heirs into the castle. Sango bowed to her father before following the maids into the castle.

"So, anyone want to bet she can't actually throw that thing?" Kouga joked after they were all gone.

"Anyone want to bet she hits Kouga in the head with it first?" one of his siblings joked. Everyone chuckled as Kouga scowled and went off to join the males while they headed inside from the warmth of the day.

"I wonder," Kagome said as she and Nikki sat in one of the gardens, " does this mean they've determined who is to die and who is to live?"

"I don't know," Nikki answered softly as she stared into a pond, "I haven't asked about the inquires. I know they were upsetting yesterday, and they only spoke to the guardsmen. I'd presume no one is fighting their crimes or their need of punishment, though I'm sure there will be protests when it's declared they are to die at the hands of taiji ya." Kagome nodded in agreement as they noticed the girl walk by in a simple kimono. "It's odd having so many humans here, though mother is human and certain nights so are we, humans don't usually visit us here."

"Nor do they at our castle," Kagome said in agreement, "though I'm sure it's not because they are unwelcome." Nikki nodded and sighed as she thought. "Do you think she can throw that large weapon?"

"Yes, and I'm certain if her father brought her boasting her to be one of his best, she can do it with precision." Nikki answered as she leaned back a little. "Which means none of the youkai here should lose their tempers while they're here." Kagome chuckled in agreement as they fell back into silence.

Since their arrival at the castle, Kagome had tried to befriend Nikki to the best of her abilities. Beyond not understanding the youkai royal systems as well as Nikki probably did, it was a lonely job to be a royal member. Most humans shunned her for agreeing to mate a hanyou, the rest were just plain scared of her. It didn't help that Inuyasha was quite possessive of her, so a friend was a rare commodity and Kagome was hoping that's what they could become.

Meanwhile, in the study the males were in deep conversation. "So, there are four youkai guardsmen and so far two of them are condemned to murder?" Takeshi repeated as he understood the situation. "Were their crimes that serious that their lord would hand them to humans to die?"

"They imprisoned and tortured my daughter," Higashi answered softly. Takeshi nodded as he thought about it, the amount of strength not to go into the dungeons and kill them himself must have been great because he knew if anything like that happened to his daughter he'd destroy anyone connected to it. "The final guardsmen is to be questioned this afternoon, and then my mate."

"Are we to punish her as well?" Takeshi asked confused.

"No, she is human and we have certain punishments we must use against royal members," Minami answered smoothly. Takeshi nodded as he thought about it, he didn't really want to get into the whole business with the family members bit. He could easily take care of the guardsmen without much issue.

"When you are ready for us to take care of them, we will," he said with a shrug. "How soon do you want this taken care of?"

"Before the first snow falls, otherwise we won't be able to continue this until after spring," Higashi answered. "And I'd rather not have to worry about feeding creatures suffered to die in my dungeons." Takeshi nodded in agreement, a sensible request honestly. As a maid came in to announce lunch, the men got up and left the study.

At lunch everyone seemed almost jovial about the newcomers joining them, not really noticing they were human. Joking and goofing around, lunch was quite relaxed despite the next set of business for everyone that was involved with the trials going on. Higashi watched as his daughter remained silent as she ate. His fondest memories were of her goofing off with her brothers at the table. He wished those times would return.

After lunch the females and younger males went off to do their own things as the males reluctantly made their way to the throne room. They didn't really want to hear anymore from the prisoners, they were still moody after what they heard the day prior. Higashi sighed as he sat down, watching the next guardsmen be brought in after the signal to start was given.

"State your name and rank," Minami ordered the guardsman. He trembled a little and the chains rattled as he looked around at all the faces looking at him.

"I am Fusao, I was one of Lady Mai's personal guardsmen," he answered timidly.

"Do you understand the crimes of which you are charged?" Kouga asked him. Fusao nodded silently.

"Yes, my lord, I do," he replied softly after a few moments. "I wish I didn't..." The last part was more whispered than spoken aloud.

"Didn't what?" Nishi asked him.

"Didn't do what I did," Fusao replied, "I didn't know they were going to torture the princess... I helped capture her the night we did, I admit that, but I didn't see the first two months of torture, I wasn't here." The males around him murmured a little. "I was injured, I had been during training, I was home healing with my mate. I was always considered bad with a sword, I'm afraid." Minami looked at him surprised as some of the younger males fought not to chuckle.

"No one mentioned you missing for two months," Inuyasha observed.

"Really the only ones to really notice would have been the queen and Akihiko," Fusao replied. "I was replaced by Kurou, he had informed me of what was going on when I returned. Immediately I had spoken with Lady Mai, she didn't seem so upset about learning that her daughter was suffering in the dungeon. She even made a comment about avoiding her face so that she could meet with heirs if she learned to behave." He shuddered and shook his head. "I was trying to acertain what had happened when I was gone. The queen had lost her mind with the lack of suitors for her daughter. She had even considered selling her before Lord Higashi returned..." A few of the males both listening in and in the judges looked livid at this. Mai was looking more and more lost to everyone.

"Fusao, why did you help capture the princess?" Nishi demanded.

"Lady Mai had come up with the idea one night after a particularly bad argument with the young princess," Fusao answered, "she was furious. Princess Nikki had refused another suitor, she refused her mother's teachings, and even threw a note book with everything her mother had dictated or even wrote out for her into one of the fire places. Lady Mai just...snapped... She was pacing her quarters as she tried to come up with a plan to punish her for what she had done when Akihiko suggested that if the princess wanted to act like a wild animal, then she should be treated as such."

"Akihiko suggested what, exactly?" Inuyasha asked him.

"Lady Mai said that she couldn't understand why the gods punished her with a disgraceful daughter who was more wild than civilized. Akihiko told her the best thing for the uncivilized was to be thrown into the dungeons and removed from everyone else's way. If he ever had a daughter that was a disgraceful as Princess Nikki, he'd put her there himself." Fusao seemed lost in a daydream as he spoke. "Lady Mai's eyes lit up when she heard that. I suggested allowing the princess to lie low for a while before resorting to something brash but it was too late, the damage done. She ordered us to capture and put the princess in the dungeon, I protested but was told if I didn't I'd join her."

"And you conveniently got hurt after that? Or was it from a wound the princess could have inflicted?" Minami asked him. "Akihiko did report that the princess did in fact fight back, despite being woken up by you."

"The princess wasn't asleep," Fusao said confused. "She was writing something when we walked in. She did look exhausted, which is the only reason I can think we succeeded in capturing her, but she wasn't asleep."

"How exactly did you capture the princess?" Inuyasha asked him.

"We walked up to her room, it was strange because the two guardsmen that were usually there to protect her were gone." Fusao said as he thought about it. "Akihiko didn't even seem to notice, he was already sliding the door slightly to see into the room. I knew a candle was still lit, because of the slight amount of light coming out the door, but I didn't know what the princess was doing. She should have been well asleep by the point we had gone to get her. When we entered she stood up, knocking over a jar of ink, and looked furious. At first she cursed the two that were supposed to be guarding her, calling them idiots for abandoning their posts, then told us to get out and if her mother wanted her for anything at that hour than it could wait until morning." Fusao grew a look of dawning on his face. "She didn't suspect us because she didn't know what was going on, Akihiko did though. He told her she'd shut up or get shut up, and grabbed her arms to keep her from poisoning us. Yes, she kicked and thrashed about, but she was already fairly subdued by him, I merely opened doors so he wouldn't get scratched by her. She must have been so tired, she didn't fight as hard as she normally would."

"Did she smell normal?" Nishi asked him.

"No, but Akihiko blocked her for the most part from view, just kept telling me to get the doors and not to worry about the princess..." Fusao said exhaustively, "I didn't know it was her human night."

"That explains why Nikki keeps saying she was weak..." Seiji said to his father softly. "She'd never admit she got waylaid while on her human night." Higashi nodded in agreement, it made him angrier to know his mate took advantage of that night. The males before them must have made the same guess as to Nikki's silence that they waved for Fusao to be returned to the dungeons and for the final criminal to be brought up.

"Father, we may have to question the princess," Kouga said to Kita. Kita sighed as he thought about it.

"Let us first get through Mai's questioning," he said softly behind him, "I honestly don't think that necessary because of what the last guardsman told us. He didn't seem to lie, he wasn't overly confident that the queen would get him out of it like Akihiko and Itsuo." Kouga nodded, that was obvious as the nose on his face. Fusao was terrified of them, obviously not the greatest of guardsmen, but was more useful otherwise. It was apparent that Higashi didn't put him there to actually guard his mate, but for other reasons. Everyone fell silent as Mai walked into the room, her head held up, and though her kimono was a disgrace she acted like it was a fine ball gown.

"State your name and rank," Minami told her.

"I am Lady Mai, Queen of the Eastern Kingdom," she said proudly.

"Do you understand the crimes of which you are charged with?" Kita asked her.

"No, my lord, I do not." She answered, which caused a murmur from everyone around her. The males looked around and quickly silenced everyone as they faced her.

"Do not lie to us, Mai, we can tell when you're lying," Kita warned her sternly.

"I would never do such a thing, just like I would never harm my own daughter," Mai replied coolly. "You're going to take the word of four sniveling guardsmen over me?"

"We have four stories that are too close to deny," Minami told her.

"I'm sure," Mai said sourly as she crossed her arms and looked away annoyed. "And now you want to hear mine, I presume?"

"No, all we want to know is why you threw your daughter into a dungeon and had her tortured," Kouga answered simply. Mai looked at him furiously, though it didn't seem to frighten the youkai like she wanted.

"I didn't throw my daughter into the dungeon!" She snapped at him. "I punished my daughter for being an insolent little disgrace! I punished my daughter for rebelling against what she is supposed to do!"

"By throwing her into a dungeon, having her beating, ordering to have her killed, and considering selling her?" Inuyasha snapped. Mai did her best to look affronted at the ideas that he threw back at her.

"My daughter..." she started.

"Was found hanging in your dungeon," Minami replied coolly, "beaten and almost mentally broken. Your daughter was treated like a wild animal."

"My daughter was a wild animal!" She screamed back. "My daughter is better now than she has been in years because of my punishment! She is finally starting to act like a proper lady because I won! And you think you're so much better than me because she ended up in the dungeon to get there. She is finally a proper lady, will find a proper mate, and raise her kittens to be proper because I took a risk to get her there."

"What is your daughter's name?" Inuyasha asked her. Mai looked at him stunned. "When is her human night? Hell, tell me when her birthday is."

"What does any of that have to do with anything?" Mai demanded.

"Your daughter trusted you," Inuyasha replied, "and you treated her like she was an abomination."

"She was," Mai spat back. "I have six hanyou children...Six! My mate thought it best they all learn how to fight because of what humans and youkai think of them, he turned my daughter into a wild creature under the guise of protecting her! And look how well he taught her, she was still captured and thrown into the dungeon! She was still beaten within inches of her life, tortured horribly..." Mai just glared defiantly at them as she remained standing. "She wasn't my daughter then, my daughter was a good, obedient lady...not some wild beast."

"I've heard enough!" Nishi bellowed at her. Mai backed and cowered at the dog lord as he stood before her, waves of anger flowing off of him. Even Higashi couldn't help but be in awe of him, knowing his friend was defending someone who couldn't be defended because the accused didn't think she did anything wrong. "Throw her back in the dungeon, she's lucky she's human or I'd throw her to the taiji ya myself!" Mai blanched at what he said. Mai got pulled from behind as she tried to figure out what her next move was, but there were none left.

"All that is left is to determine who is to live and who is to die," Minami told everyone present in the throne room. The other males nodded in agreement, they knew who they thought was better off being destroyed and who deserved heavy sentencing from their lord.

"The guardsmen to meet with the taiji ya are Itsuo and Akihiko; Higashi we will leave you the other two to deal with. It's obvious in the case of Fusao that he wasn't being used as a guard..." Inuyasha said as Higashi nodded.

"My mate has been acting off for a while now," Higashi said as his sons nodded in agreement, more hurt and stunned by what their mother said than anything. "I had put him in with her personal guard for a while now. He will be punished, but not as severely."

"Higashi, I don't think there is much else of a choice," Nishi said softly, "I think the best fate for Mai is death. She shows no remorse, in fact I'm fairly certain she's proud of what she's done to Nikki, and there is no reasoning with that." Higashi nodded in agreement as he sighed and thought. "Kagome is a priestess, she can remove Mai's mate mark so that her sentence can be carried out."

"Thank you," Higashi said softly. "If you'll excuse us, I think it should be my sons and I who inform Nikki of what's going to happen to her mother." The other males nodded as they watched them leave.