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 11

Nikki didn't leave her room for the rest of the day after being informed of what had happened when they questioned her mother. Higashi and the boys didn't leave much out, they wouldn't lie to her like Mai had in the past. They didn't know how to console her either though. Sesshomaru remained with her through dinner, though she joined Kagome and Sango that evening in the baths.

"Inuyasha told me how the trial went," Kagome said softly. Nikki just nodded as she washed. "I'm sorry."

"There's no sense in being sorry, it's in the past," Nikki said softly as she seemed to fall lost into thought. "Put the past where it belongs or we'll never move beyond it." Kagome and Sango nodded as they listened. Sango winced a little, though Kagome shook her head at her, when she saw Nikki's scars when she turned her back to her. "I'm sure everyone's excited to get home after all of this."

"Yes, but more because Izayoi and Nishi are worried about the kingdom, they left a vassel in charge but he's been known to get a little power crazy before," Kagome said nodding as Sango smirked. "He's just a peculiar little imp, worships the ground Nishi and Sesshomaru walk on, but shuns the rest of us. I'm not sure why they keep him there." Sango chuckled in amusement at the thought.

"So, how much does that boomerang weigh?" Kagome asked her as they walked out of the bathhouse.

"It's heavy," Sango said nodding as she thought about it, "but I've practiced with it for so long that it's just a part of me." Kagome nodded as she thought about it.

"Kouga doesn't think you actually throw it," Nikki said as Sango looked at her surprised, "the prince from the Northern Lands. He's a bit arrogant when he wants to be, but he figures you're a female human, it's either extremely light or a shield." Sango shook her head as she thought.

"And here I thought he was attractive looking," Sango said as Kagome giggled at the thought. "Maybe I'll show him next time we're all outside." Nikki shrugged and nodded, knowing exactly what she did there. She wasn't trying to distance them, she knew Kouga wanted to see her throw the boomerang, Nikki felt she had just arranged it. Kouga would fawn over any female he thought strong enough to handle him. Sango was probably that strong. "I hear that Nikki is one of the best swordsmen in the castle."

"The last time I saw her train, she was the best in my castle," Kagome said nodding as Nikki shrugged.

"I haven't trained since my father joined Nishi to help against the rebellion," Nikki said as a reminder. "So, I'm probably not the best."

"Maybe one day you'll have to show us," Sango challenged her. Normally Nikki would jump on that bait like an eager fish, but now she was so busy questioning what she did before she just shrugged and nodded.

"Maybe," she replied as she noticed the healer by her bedroom door.

"Princess, I wanted to look at your back," she said when they approached her.

"It's all healed," Nikki informed her as she opened her door. "I'd rather you not." The healer sighed and shook her head.

"I just want to see how it healed, I wasn't sure it was going to because of your venoms," the healer informed her.

"I'm healed, I just washed my back," Nikki replied. "Everyone needs to stop gawking at me." The healer walked away, muttering and shaking her head as Nikki walked into her room. Kagome sighed as she walked along with Sango.

Later that night Nikki was relaxing in her garden, the castle was quiet, most of the human occupants were in bed and asleep. The youkai and hanyou occupants were a different matter, but for the most part if they had a human counterpart they were in bed as well. Nikki looked up as she noticed someone join her, relaxing as his scent hit her before his shadow even approached her.

"You should be resting," he grumbled as he sat down beside her.

"I'm not a child," she replied softly. He nodded as he sighed and scratched the back of his head.

"I know," he said as he thought about it, "I guess at times I forget that all of my kittens are grownup..."

"Not too grownup," Nikki said as he chuckled and nodded. "You should be resting as well."

"Too much to think about," he grumbled at her. Nikki nodded as Higashi seemed to sigh as he fell into his thoughts. "I know why you like it out here now, it's a perfect paradise during the day or at night." Nikki nodded as she pulled her knees up and sighed as she wrapped her arms around them. "I know Kagome invited you to the Western Lands for the winter."

"Yes, I haven't decided if I'm going to go or not," Nikki said as she sighed and thought. "It's a good idea, get me out of here for a bit, and learn how to prepare a mating ceremony for someday." Higashi nodded as he thought about it.

"I don't know if he spoke to you," Higashi said hesitantly, "but I know Sesshomaru was thinking of asking you to be his mate."

"He did," Nikki replied as her father looked at her, "we aren't going to get mated right away, we're not ready. He even said, we're not ready. And he has to figure out his quest for supreme conquest." Her father nodded as he listened, they weren't being unreasonable. He knew his daughter didn't like Sesshomaru's quest, she had made that clear before, but Sesshomaru seemed more to settle down around her than he did when they were separated from each other.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Higashi asked her after a bit of silence.

"Would you be?" Nikki replied uncertain how to answer. Higashi nodded as he thought about it. In all honesty, no he wasn't, and if he had been in his daughter's shoes he doesn't think he'd ever get over it. "I don't know if alright is the proper word."

"Tomorrow is a big day," Higashi told her as Nikki nodded as she listened. "Kagome is a priestess and will be removing your mother's mark tomorrow before she is punished." Nikki sighed and nodded. "You don't have to be there."

"I should be there," Nikki said as he looked at her surprised. "Mother loved the idea that I was beaten by her, I don't want her to think that in her last moments. I want her to be sorry for what she did, remorseful. She'll never change if she thinks she won." Higashi nodded, she was right. "Plus, it's not like I'll be alone. Sesshomaru wouldn't leave me alone for that." Higashi nodded again, plus he knew his sons would be around her for support.

"I worry, kitten," he said as she nodded in acknowledgement. "You've been so depressed, and it's not uncalled for, I just wish for you to be happy. I know before you were happy." Nikki looked at her father in the moonlight. She understood why he was concerned, but she also knew it was time for her to grow up.

"I think I'm going to get to bed," Nikki said as she got up. She kissed him on the cheek before going inside. Higashi sighed, he knew his family would survive but it hurt to know it had to get through this.

The next morning the castle was in a fury as guardsmen, maids, royal members were all running around in a flurry as they prepared for the day. It wasn't unusual for them to be present for the deaths of the prisoners, and when word got around that Nikki would be there for all three, everyone wanted to be there. Sesshomaru sat beside her at breakfast, she wasn't dressed spectacularly and was extremely quiet as she ate. He wanted to demand what she was thinking to go to the executions, but he knew that was dangerous.

"I'll meet you by the front gates," Nikki said as she got up from eating. Sesshomaru watched her leave before sighing.

"Where's she going?" Seiji asked Sesshomaru after she was gone. He shrugged in response.

"She hasn't told me what she's planning," Sesshomaru said as Seiji looked back at the doors confused. "Maybe she's figured out what to wear?"

"Nikki never was one to fret over clothing options," Seiji said as he sighed, "but I'm sure she is doing what she feels is best. Nikki's intuition was always quite good." Sesshomaru nodded as he ate silently, attempting to relax like the others the deaths they were all about to witness.

Nikki stepped into the dungeon doorway with a heavy sigh. She was hesitant about doing this, though she knew it must be done. She stepped slowly and carefully down the steps, they felt so much more narrow than they had before, she almost didn't know how to large guardsmen could drag her down here in between them. She stopped at the bottom and looked to her left, knowing the cell door to her right hid no one.

"Princess," Fusao said looking at her terrified, "I'm so sorry for what I've done to you...for how I've helped...I didn't want you harmed, I didn't want you down here..." Nikki looked at the youkai sniffling on his knees sobbing in terror, it was obvious no one told him who was to die and who wasn't.

"Fusao, you weren't around for a few months, I know," Nikki said softly, "but it's not you I'm here to see." Fusao looked down the tiny hallway, towards the direction of the cell she wished to visit.

"She is not your mother anymore, princess," he warned her as Nikki sighed heavily and nodded.

"I know Fusao," Nikki agreed and turned and continued to walk down the hallway. She came upon the cell that contained the woman who had been her mother. She was curled up on her floor and holding her shoulder.

"I presume the mark removal hurt a little?" Nikki asked as she stood over her mother through the gate. The older woman looked up at her, though it was obvious in her eyes that she was as wild as a dog.

"A little," she repeated before curling back up and holding her shoulder again. "You're not in a proper kimono."

"No," Nikki replied as she kneeled down to get a better look at her mother, "as I will be there for your death, I figured I'd wear an outfit you've seen so many times before." Mai just remained silent. "But that's not why we're having this visit."

"It's not?" Her mother asked curiously. Nikki almost pitied her, something in the older woman's eyes showed fear and yet there was almost no recognition to her voice.

"No," Nikki answered, "I came down here to tell you that you were wrong about me. I was never a wild animal, I just wasn't what you thought a princess should be." When her mother said nothing, Nikki decided to go on. "Despite all that you've ordered done to me, I've survived. My reward for my survival is the very thing you don't know about yet."

"And what was your reward?" Her mother asked wearily.

"Sesshomaru followed father home, he wouldn't leave my side while I recovered, and still to this day refuses to do so," Nikki said as her mother nodded. "It wasn't my punishment that brought him here, it was who I was. Sesshomaru, after I've fully recovered, has asked me to go back with him to the Western Kingdom and when we're both prepared to mate him." Mai looked up startled. "I don't have a lack of suitors, I have one very possessive one that scared them all away. All I had to do when you brought them in was say his name."

"You're going to mate Sesshomaru?" Mai repeated to make certain he heard right.

"Yes, mother, I'm going to one day mate Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands." Nikki repeated before standing up. "Which means all the trouble you've caused was for naught and your death and the death of the guardsmen decided are on your hands." Mai pushed herself up.

"That's impossible, you are unfit for a mate like that," Mai started to bark at her.

"Obviously, I'm more fit than you are," Nikki said before turning to leave. "Goodbye Mother." Nikki left the dungeons, her mother now wide awake and yelling at her what a disgrace she was in her wake. Nikki struggled to close the door, she wanted to prove her mother wrong further but knew this was the best way to show her she did the crime.

"Where were you?" Higashi asked her as she found her father waiting for her by the palace. "And I didn't think I'd ever see you in that again." Nikki nodded with a shrug as she thought about it.

"I went to say goodbye to mother," Nikki told him, "and since she didn't seem to think she was wrong, I wanted to prove her otherwise." Higashi looked at her confused. "I told her about my pending engagement to Lord Sesshomaru." Higashi nodded, that was probably the cruelest thing Nikki could give her mother on the day she was determined to die.

"She must have been throwing a fit when you walked out of the dungeons," Higashi said with a nod. Nikki silently nodded in agreement. "I can't imagine she appreciated the outfit when you told her the news."

"No, she didn't." Nikki confirmed. "Nor did she appreciate that I would be wearing it when I was present for her death." Higashi nodded as he thought about it, Mai was probably furious with Nikki at this point.

"So you will be present?" Her father asked, more as a confirmation than anything. Nikki nodded in confirmation. "What made you decide to go?"

"If I am to move on, as you all fight with me to do, then I don't have much of a choice," Nikki replied, "I'll need to attend all three executions. It will be the start of me moving on beyond this." Higashi nodded as he listened to her. He knew it was time for her to move on and only she would know what would help her.

Later that day everyone was prepard and set up for the executions, the two guardsmen would be killed first and the queen's death would be the final showing. They were making a spectical out of it, which was not something Nikki thought appropriate, but it was something that happened when something so big happened. There were bleachers set up for the locals to watch, a stadium was pretty much set up for all who wanted to watch. There were seats closer to the bottom and more center to the staging area so that the royals who wished to watch and were required to do so were able to in comfort.

"Lady Nikki, you do not have to do this," Lady Kayura said as they noticed Nikki prepare to go outside.

"This is something I must do," Nikki said softly. "If I am ever to move beyond my tragedies I must watch their causes finally end." Kayura looked to Izayoi who seemed hesitant to nod in agreement. "You ladies are just that, ladies of your courts. I would not wish for you to see what will undoubtedly become a rather greusome display of power."

"You are also a lady of a court, you are being asked to become the lady of another court," Naoko reminded her. "I do not think it wise for you to view such a display." She sighed as she thought about her next sentence. "Your depression has worried us, it is not unwarranted but it does give us cause for concern." Nikki nodded as she listened.

"I understand, and am grateful, for your concerns," Nikki said with a bow to them. "But I will not be viewed as a victim anymore. If I was so valued as I was then the only way to My closure can only start at their ending. I can be traumatized no further, I have already visited with my mother and I know of everything said within her questioning and that of the guardsmen. I've forgiven the two who were not found guilty enough to be executed, I must see it to the end." The three ladies nodded their heads as they listened, she was much more mature than they had given her credit for.

"We will be in the main courtyard if you wish to join us," Izayoi told her softly. "We will not be present, but we respect that you need to do this." Nikki bowed to them before turning to head outside. She found a seat between her father and oldest brother waiting for her and was quite surprised. Usually, as the youngest and a female, she sat at the end of the line.

"The taiji ya are preparing for the guardsmen now," Seiji informed her as she sat down. "The two guardsmen won't know what hit them." Nikki nodded as she noticed the female taiji ya and her younger brother dressed in their full gear among the other taiji.

"Now, Kouga will see her throw that boomerang," Nikki said as Seiji chuckled amused. Kouga looked down the line to see why Nikki had mentioned his name. "That alone is quite a feat, she was explaining the prorperties of it."

As they released the two youkai for execution the crowd cheered to see them minimally armed. Obviously they were going to allow them to attempt to defend themselves. Nikki watched as Itsuo and Akihiko started to move towards the taiji.

"How long do you give them?" Ryo asked jokingly.

"Not even ten minutes," Nikki replied softly. Just as Akihiko started to transform into his larger form they watched as Sango's boomerang flew through the air quickly. The crowd roared with approval as he was quickly destroyed by it. Itsuo just watched, it was obvious he was calculating how to do this. The taiji were ordered not to attack unless necessary or they were attacked.

"Itsuo is dangerous," Higashi muttered to Minami, who was next to him.

"He will be a true show," Minami agreed. "Where did you find such a soldier?"

"His parents brought him to me to use him, he has anger issues, and they thought I could use him in the military it would help him control those issues." Higashi replied as he sighed and thought about it. "It seemed to for a bit." Minami nodded as he listened and watched as Itsuo dropped his sword and still stared at the taiji before him. He turned to the row of royalty before him and shook his head.

"Are you so cowardly, my lord, that you would send human children against me?" he demanded loudly. Everyone just stared at him surprised. "Are you so cowardly that you refuse to face me, knowing you'd lose?" Higashi knew this was bait, he wanted to fight him and he had to ignore it.

"Father," Sango said as he walked up to her and her brother.

"You did a fine throw there, Sango," he praised on her killing the first youkai. "This one is smarter than the second, he's trying to challenge the lord."

"Is he allowed to do that, father?" he boy asked surprised, he was terrified and really wasn't interested in watching a youkai fight if he didn't need to.

"Yes, but it is the lord of the land's choosing to acknowledge it or not." he answered as they all looked to the lord in question.

"It would be wise not to take the bait," Sango said as if instructing the youkai to remain seated. Her father nodded, no good could come from a full out youkai fight.

"Father, he will not go after the taiji ya," Nikki said softly as he sighed and nodded. "You are given the choice, but I think someone must go out there to handle this situation." Higashi nodded again but before he could get up Nikki was standing and walking towards the fields.

"What is she doing?" Sesshomaru barked down the line at Higashi.

"Boy, if I knew what my daughter was thinking I'd probably be dead," Higashi answered as they all watched her. Sesshomaru moved to get up, only to be held down by his brother and father. "I don't think following her is wise."

"She is not fighting," Sesshomaru growled as he fought to get away from the two.

"If you don't let her, you're the one who will face her wrath," Inuyasha grunted when he got elbowed in the chest. His father mutely nodded, though he wasn't struggling as hard as his youngest son was either.

Nikki stood a few feet away from Itsuo as he inspected her as if he weren't impressed, and he really wasn't. He had seen her at her lowest, he would use that image to keep her down. She didn't seem very impressed either.

"I've taken you out before, girl," he sneered as he picked up the sword.

"Yes, while I was chained up to a wall and broken," Nikki said with a nod. "Shame you couldn't test your true strength then, beat the warrior princess on her own field."

"Now will have to suffice," Itsuo charged against her. As fast as he was at her, her sword was out and they had started their own fight. Higashi watched stunned as his daughter, who hasn't trained since the ball really, fought against one of his best fighters and was holding her own amazingly well. None of the males on the field seemed to believe as Nikki fought back and actually hurt Itsuo several times as he charged against her repeatedly, though Sango grew a smirk of almost pride enjoying the show. Nikki was waking up.

They watched as Nikki slammed both feet against Itsuo's chest, throwing him back a few feet to the crowd's cheers. She dropped her sword before shooting darts from both hands at him, hitting him square in the chest. He looked at her stunned as she picked her sword back up and swung it twice before decapitating him. "Guess you really weren't a challenge, were you?" She asked the corpse before holding his head for the crowd. Everyone cheered and celebrated, jumping to their feet as they watched her throw it back down on the body and walk away. Higashi looked at his daughter surprised, no one was sure that kind of fight was still in her, but she had hidden it away until she felt it was safe to show it again.

As she sat down and most calmed down the final criminal was brought out to the field. This execution was a different kind of execution, no one of the royal families was allowed to perform this. As she was human, she was to die in a way befitting a human of her crimes. She had betrayed her family, almost destroyed her own daughter, and didn't see what she did as wrong. There was a block brought out as Mai was forced to her knees.

"For your crimes against the kingdom, your mate, and your family," a crier declared as he read the charges against her to a silent crowd, "you've been condemned to the removal of your mating mark, title of queen, and to death." The crowd watched as she remained silent. "Do you have anything to declare before your death?" Everyone remained silent as she looked around and noticed Nikki cleaning her sword of the blood.

"Why should I die when she is the one who committed the crimes?" Mai demanded looking at Nikki. Everyone looked at her surprised.

"You are saying that your daughter had herself attacked, shackled in the dungeon, and beaten to the near point of death?" the crier asked stunned.

"No, I ordered her into the dungeons," Mai spat at him. "Why is it I die when she is the one who was disobedient of her mother? When she is the one who would lie about having a potential mate? When she is the one strutting around believing she is as good as any male on this field!"

"You should have seen that last execution, she was as good as any male on this field," the crier said as he tried not to laugh.

"I lied about nothing," Nikki said loudly to her accuser. "I did everything I was told to do, to the best of my abilities." Sesshomaru realized Nikki must have told her mother about their plan to mate.

"She doesn't believe we will be mates," Sesshomaru said to her as she nodded.

"She didn't believe me when I told her down in the dungeons," Nikki informed him as Sesshomaru nodded and seemed to be thinking. Everyone watched as he got up and walked down the line to her, pulling her from her chair, and into a kiss that would show there was no lie in his intent to mate her one day. Mai looked at them stunned as she was forced to lay her neck across the block and a rather large human in all black, with a black hood on, came over with a rather large ax. Everyone stopped and watched as he raised the ax and with a single swing and a thud the removal of Mai's head. The finalization of Mai's death slowly dawned on her family as Nikki turned her head not to look at the body. Her brothers seemed to just stare stunned as her ex-mate looked down. Minami put a hand on Higashi's shoulder knowing this was suddenly a much harder time for the family of the Eastern Kingdom. As quickly as they were all out there, the lords and princes of the other kingdoms had the entire family back in the palace so they could mourn and not have to look upon the body anymore.

Sorry it took so long! It took me forever to write this chapter, it went one way, then I rewrote it another...I had a lot of ideas for what I wanted to do for the punishment parts and didn't want them to be too drawn out.