"You wished to see me, sir?" Kagome asked as she stood before the lord of the West.
"Kagome, when you call me sir it truly makes me feel old." He said sardonically as he relaxed behind his desk.
"Believe me when I say that seeing you with a grown up son makes me feel old." She quipped. "It was bad enough when your father grew up, I have known far too many of you dogs."
"Just how old are you?"
"It is seen as rude to inquire after a lady's age." She said turning up her nose. "Now, you had business with me?"
"Well yes. It's about Sesshomaru." The Taisho watched Kagome visibly stiffen at his son's name. "What happened earlier-"
"The matter is forgotten." Kagome said with a wave of her hand, "He is in heat; I understand that he was not in his right mind at the moment." The Taisho frowned; he didn't think that Sesshomaru was out of control when he had kissed Kagome. Sure he may have been more forward in his actions, but he was almost certain that his son harbored feelings for the girl. Just as he was certain that Kagome was aware of those feelings.
"Kagome, you should speak-"
"My lord, I believe there are more pressing issues to attend to at the moment than my relationship with your son."
"Very well." The Taisho finally relented. "Now that Sesshomaru has reached adulthood we will be hosting a coming of age ceremony for him beginning the next new moon. It is typically the duty of the mother, my mate, to host the events but I ask that you aid her in the preparations as you have the most experience."
"That is certainly true." Kagome said dryly. "I suppose I should meet with your mate soon then. In the meantime, draw up a list of people you would like to invite and I will incorporate it into the guest list." The Taisho sat amused as he watched Kagome begin to mumble about meals to plan and lodging. She had organized his own coming of age ceremony and he was excited to see what she would do for his son's. Though he wished there was something he could do to push the two together, he knew of the chains that still held her bound. In his own experience he had been unable to save her and was been forced to move on by his duty to the lands. The Taisho could only wish for a better outcome for both his son's and Kagome's sake.
"I will consult with my advisors and inform you when I have completed the list." Kagome nodded brusquely before turning to leave the room. "Oh! And Kagome?" She stopped at the threshold, looking back over her shoulder at the sadly smiling lord, "Please enjoy yourself."
The lady of the West was quite easy to track down having taken up permanent residence in the sitting room that overlooked the water gardens. The relationship between the two women had been strained at first, the lady of the West having known that her mate harbored feelings for the girl when he was younger. Yet, as time when on, they became quite close; bonding over the many trials that came with being an acquaintance of the lord of the West. The lady particularly enjoyed hearing about her mate's childhood embarrassments.
"Would you rather Sesshomaru have a traditional inu ceremony or one of the more modern ones clans have been hosting recently?"
"Would you consider my mate's ceremony modern?"
"Yes." The lady furrowed her brow, as far as she could remember his ceremony had remained unaltered from past generations having attended the Taisho's ceremony herself.
"What is the difference then?"
"The modern ceremonies, as you are aware, consist of a ball, hunt, and some show of strength; usually in the form of a mock battle. At the end, there would be a final feast before the guests left. In all, the celebration usually only takes a week or so; it really depends on how long the hunt is."
"Yes, that how the ceremony has always been done."
"Recently, that is how it has been done recently." Kagome stressed. "The ceremony changed when the Taisho's grandfather came of age. Prior to that, the coming of age ceremony had been deeply spiritual and would last a complete lunar cycle. Traditionally, the rite was composed of six parts.
"First, the family would hold an acknowledgement festival. The first half is very solemn; each of the guests would come before the host family to recognize the child coming of age. This is also when gifts are presented and relationships are cemented. Following this, the guests are all invited to feast and the festival part begins. Entertainment is brought from all corners of the land and all celebrate through the night.
"At midnight, on the night of the acknowledgement festival, begins the call of the hunt. All inu in attendance participate in the call and the child coming of age will transform into their true form and begin the hunt. The hunt typically takes two days and the game must be presented to the alpha upon return. The greater the prey, the more auspicious his rule will be. There will then be a second feast where the game is feasted upon and gratitude to the person coming of age is shown.
"The third event is what has been known as the War. Though the hunt may have been a test in the inu's strength, the War is a test of intelligence and endurance. This exam will last seven days in which he will battle hordes of men, utilize war tactics against his tutors, and exchange in physical battles against all in attendance who wish to fight."
"Has anyone ever failed the War?" The lady of the West inquired.
"Of course," Kagome laughed, "When it is a lord's heir that is coming of age, all the lords must be invited; often times participating in the battle themselves. There will be a difference in skill and experience between the new adult and the cardinal lords. There is no penalty for losing the battles other than losing face which is quite dangerous itself."
"I see." She said frowning, "What is the fourth event?"
"The fourth event is the Wild. For seventeen days, the inu will live with his kin in the wild. There he will develop a spiritual awareness of what his existence is and how to live in harmony with nature. He will learn his land, every rock, stream, and crevice. He will come to understand his role in life and begin to define what he will accomplish in the future.
"Upon returning, he will be brought before an oracle. The seer will then prophesize his future which will serve as a guide for him; a riddle to puzzle.
"When this has been completed, the closing ceremonies will commence and the individual will be recognized officially as a man in the eyes of demon society. The closing ceremonies tended to vary from being a formal dinner to a more sexual initiation with numerous prostitutes."
"Sexual initiation?"
"Yea, it was this huge orgy. You have no idea how crazy your mate's great great great grandfather was." Kagome said dryly.
"Did you…?" the lady hedged slyly.
"No!" Kagome objected quickly. "I wasn't there."
"But if you weren't there then how-?"
"So would you like Sesshomaru to have a traditional or modern ceremony?" Kagome interjected, "The modern one will be simpler to accomplish, but the traditional one allows for him to showcase his abilities on a larger scale. Personally, I recommend the traditional." The lady looked like she wanted to say more but the smile on Kagome's face was cool and the lady felt slightly threatened by her dark aura.
"I will defer to your opinion in this matter then." She said bowing her head, "I believe that Sesshomaru would prefer that version as well. However, I will not permit any form of… sexual initiation. We will host a ball for the closing ceremonies; this will bridge the modern and the old."
"Very well." Kagome agreed, "Let's move onto the guest list then, invitations will need to be sent out today in order for all the guests to arrive on time."
He knew that he may have acted rather rashly, that what he had done could potentially harm his relationship with Kagome. However, remaining in seclusion for weeks without knowing what she had thought of the kiss was driving him mad! Sure Kagome had said "I know" when he was leaving, but what did that even mean? Was she simply recognizing that he was an adult or did she mean something else?
He didn't even know what he had meant by kissing her. It just happened. One second he was listening to her talk about how their relationship couldn't progress past where it was, then next thing he knew his stomach was in knots and he was kissing her like a starved man! If I could just talk to her… Unfortunately, that was not an option at the moment.
Every day his father would visit with him and tell him what had been happening around the citadel and the Western lands. He had come to loathe these visits. Each time his father came, he seemed to be dripping with satisfaction and was covered in his mother's scent. Not only was that disturbing for Sesshomaru, he was annoyed that his father could seek relief during the women's heat when he was locked up in a corner of the castle. His father never spoke of what had happened with Kagome and Sesshomaru didn't ask. He didn't want to have to go through his father to speak with Kagome. When he was released and this heat was over, they would sit down and have a long talk about what had happened between them.
Though, he suspected that with his coming of age ceremony soon that the conversation wouldn't be happening for some time. The earliest guests would be arriving even before he was free from his seclusion; the new moon coinciding with the night of his release. Sesshomaru had the sneaking suspicion that his father was extending his incarceration needlessly; already he no longer felt the pull towards the females bringing him meals. He remained only because his father had greater experience with these matters and he chose to defer to him for the time being.
"Though, it is quite lonely." He said to the ceiling above. Rolling over, Sesshomaru resigned himself to studying for the remaining days. Though he was not anxious about the exams his tutors would be giving him, it never hurt to be fully prepared. The event was titled the War for a reason after all.
Finally emerging from his ordered seclusion, Sesshomaru was met with such a flurry of colors and bustling people he almost retreated back to his room. He would have, if not for his mother who dragged him to his father's chambers where he would be getting prepared for that night's acknowledgement festival.
Sesshomaru stood as still as possible as people clamored around him with various fabrics piled high, quite fed up with the whole affair. He felt utterly violated at the way they were poking and prodding his being; he didn't even want to remember what had happened in the bath, effectively blocking that experience from memory. Sesshomaru was even more annoyed at the finished product; he looked the same as he always did.
The Taisho couldn't help but chuckle at his son's predicament. Of course he would look the same as usual, his son had always been more aware of his appearance and was fastidious about remaining immaculate regardless of the situation. The only difference from the norm was that Sesshomaru's hair was pulled back and bound in a fashion similar to his own; a fact that clearly annoyed Sesshomaru. The moment the staff was dismissed from the room, he tore out the hair piece and began to run his clawed hands through his hair. This ceremony would define his adult hood and he did not wish to rely on the reputation and image of his father, he was his own person.
"Have you studied the portraits of the guests and their relationships with the West that Kagome prepared for you?"
"Of course, Father." Sesshomaru replied as he continued to adjust his appearance. When he was satisfied that the reflection in the mirror was his own and not a shadow of his father, Sesshomaru allowed his father to lead him from the room. The halls were now deserted, a stark contrast from the chaos they had held the past few weeks; the servants busy preparing the meal or tending to the needs of the guests. The wood floors and beams were polished to perfection and the screens had been replaced. Dashes of color kept the halls from being too plain and various plants or banners adorned the nooks and walls.
The acknowledgement festival would be held in the great hall which had been tastefully decorated with seasonal flowers, tapestries depicting the valiant inu clan, and sashes of red and silver. The room was awash with light from the many candles placed throughout. A low set table in the shape of a great 'U' followed the boarder of the room; comfortable plush pillows had been placed along the outside where they would later dine. The table itself had been masterfully crafted and ornamented with gold center pieces and candles. In all, the room was inviting while maintaining a professional and stately aura.
"Mother has outdone herself." Sesshomaru commented while he was led to his seat at the apex of the table. Other than him, his father, and a few servants making last minute adjustments the room was empty.
"Indeed. She supervised every step of preparation for the ceremony from tasting food to overseeing the arrival of guests. Kagome was a great help as well, her expertise certainly eased your mother's mind greatly."
"Kagome has been to many of these gatherings?"
"A fair amount I'd say. Did you know that the first time I met your mother was at my own coming of age ceremony? She was just a child at the time, far too young for her mother to be pushing her onto me." The Taisho grumbled as he recalled his mate's very forceful mother. "These events provide the greatest opportunity for mothers to push their daughters on unsuspecting men. It's quite unsettling."
"I'll be on my guard then." Sesshomaru said solemnly. His father nodded.
"That would be wise, my son."
As if speaking her name had summoned her; the lady of the West swept into the room. She was clothed in a traditional jūnihitoe. It had a mix of vibrant colors and the patterns embellishing the various layers were exquisite. The outermost layer, the karaginu, was a deep red with silver chrysanthemum twining up the sides. In her hand was an ornate silver fan decorated with red geometrical patterns. Adjusting the mo layer behind her, she knelt at her mate's left.
"How are you this evening mate?" The Taisho said as he leaned over, placing a sweet kiss on her powdered cheek.
"As well as any person who is drowning in twelve layers of cloth would be." She said smiling patronizingly from behind her lifted fan. "It is due to Kagome's sacrifice that I am here with you. She is still with the staff being primped."
"So you used her as a decoy." The Taisho concluded.
"Only the strong survive." She replied cryptically. A few moments later a butler assisted a fuming Kagome into the great room.
"I cannot believe that you abandoned me to fashion obsessed, gossiping old ladies!" Kagome huffed as she glided around the table until she reached Sesshomaru's side. "I only just escaped with my life!"
"You calling them old ladies is like the pot calling the kettle black, dear."
"Didn't your mother ever teach you to respect your elders?" Kagome said raising a haughty brow. "You used to be such a sweet little girl too."
"You look lovely this evening, Kagome." The Taisho cut in.
"Hn." Sesshomaru agreed. Kagome, like his mother, was wearing a jūnihitoe. However, Kagome's favored more earthy tones than the strong colors of his mothers. Her outer layer was black with a golden willow tree stitched up the back. The hanging vines hinted at her figure hidden beneath the many layers of fabric. The gold of the branches and leaves seemed to glow from the light cast by the candles, catching the eye. Her face was miraculously clear of the white powder and red paint women seemed to favor at the moment. She had also somehow convinced the women preparing her to pull her hair into a complex series of twists and knots rather than leaving it down as was common. In her hair were what looked like golden branches with blooming plumb blossoms woven in to create a more artistic and exotic appearance. For Sesshomaru, he found his gaze following the golden leaves up to her slim neck, a few stray hairs that had fallen from her up do further accentuating the beauty of her neckline and posture.
When Kagome turned her blue eyes to him he found himself suddenly inhaling, having forgotten to breathe since seeing her enter the room. It had been too long since he had last met with her and he suddenly panicked when recalling what he had done, nervous about her reaction and what she thought of him. She smiled kindly, her laugh lines crinkling.
"Congratulations Sesshomaru."
"Thank you." He found himself saying. Her smile widened and she took her place at his right. His father, mother, and Kagome chatted pleasantly for a while until they were told that they guests would be making their appearance soon. Sesshomaru was still unsure where he stood with Kagome, was she happy with him, angry, disappointed? He felt a sudden wave of exhaustion overcome him. He was acting like a pup. He should just approach her honestly as he always has. She would respect that.
The grand doors of the hall opened as the first guest made their way into the hall. As per usual, the guests would be introduced according to rank; the cardinal lords first and lower nobility last.
"Introducing the Lord and Lady of the South. Accompanying them is their heir, Enok and daughter, Enak." The master of ceremonies announced from the door as the family entered.
Sesshomaru had met with the lord of the South on a number of occasions while negotiating territory disputes and trade agreements with his father and was pleased to see that they had brought along their twin children. The Southern lands were ruled by the falcon clan, they were known for their foresight and thirst for knowledge. Their territory was riddled with libraries and record keeping sanctuaries. Appearance wise, they were rather unique. Their frames were tall and their nails were hooked and just as sharp as their talons are while in their true form. Their skin was a light golden tan setting off the stark black hair which was uniformly shoulder length and windswept behind them; a few feathers woven into the single braid that hung behind their pointed ears. Their clothes were thin, almost so sheer that they were translucent, and gently hung of their frames. They wore a simple colored sash tied around their waist which demarked their social rank. The Southern lord stepped forward and nodded his head in acknowledgement to the inu family, his own following suite.
"The Southern lord welcomes the Western heir." He said solemnly as he made a fist over his heart. "We bestow upon him gifts of our land." The Taisho had already discussed the gifts that were to be given by each of the guests and had them moved to one of the empty chambers in the citadel. The South had given a number of silk rolls, trunks filled with precious jewels, various weapons, and a collection of books on legends and history.
"The Western lord thanks the Southern lord." The Taisho said returning the gesture. The Southern lord's eyes flickered to the lady of the West, Sesshomaru, and finally rested on Kagome. Though she was hidden behind her fan as was required of the ladies of court, he had recognized her. A small smile spread across his lips and he placed a fisted hand over his heart before bowing discreetly to her. Kagome did not return the gesture, but then, the Southern lord did not expect her to. He turned and led his family around to their position beside the lady of the West. The two young twins, who could not be more than three hundred, pulled at their mother's robes.
"Mother, that was-" Enak whispered.
"Hush child, you must not speak of such things." The lady of the South scolded.
"You got us in trouble, stupid." Enok blamed his sister.
"Did not!"
"Come." Their mother said as she forced them to take their places at table.
Sesshomaru looked to Kagome out of the corner of his eye. She remained unfazed by the incredible show of respect the lord of the South had just displayed to her and in the presence of another lord no less. What had just happened was tantamount to declaring his loyalty to her. Yet, she showed no outward sign of recognition or acceptance of the Southern lord.
"Introducing the lord of the East. Accompanying him is his heir, Rhys and their…companions."
The Eastern pride had always been a great annoyance to both Sesshomaru and his father. The cats were always looking to start a fight, provoking them by intercepting trade caravans, attacking border villages, and even going so far as to kidnap western citizens for their haram. The ruling lion pride consisted of the lord and his heir along with their vast haram of women they kept themselves entertained with. Though there were certainly other children at one point, Rhys had killed them all to ensure his position as future lord of the East.
The two men sauntered into the room as if they owned it, fanged smirks and hooded eyes causing more than a few of the servants stationed along the walls to swoon. Their reddish orange hair was spiked and untamed creating the impression that they had just had a good bout of sex before gracing the hall with their presence. Rhys' hair was held out of his eyes by a white scarf that had been knotted beside his ear to form a makeshift headband. They wore white haram pants with orange scarves tied at the waist and their chests were bare aside from the single gold collar that draped down their chests not unlike those worn in ancient Egypt. Their arms each had golden gauntlets and cuffs, their fingers and ears adorned with numerous pieces of jewelry. The women trailing behind them wore even less, their single article of clothing being a gauze version of harem pants. Their bodies were covered in piercings and their chests bare. They giggled and gossiped quietly as they followed, speaking of how handsome their lord and heir were.
Sesshomaru grit his teeth in frustration, he hated the East. They were everything the West was not: roguish, undisciplined, offensive, and indiscriminant about who they bedded. Everything about them rubbed Sesshomaru the wrong way.
"The lord of the East welcomes the heir of the West." The Eastern lord drawled slowly, the women behind him preening at the sound of his voice. "We too have brought gifts." 'Oh they had brought gifts alright.' The Taisho thought. He wondered absently what the women would think if they knew the Eastern lord had tried to gift them to his son. Not that he would allow such a thing; there was no telling what diseases they were carrying.
"The Western lord welcomes the Eastern lord."
Sesshomaru frowned when the lord and his son turned their attention to Kagome, forcing himself to swallow his growl when both men allowed their eyes to wander over her lasciviously. Just as with the Southern lord, Kagome paid the men no mind and continued to look ahead. Rhys licked his lips and smirked predatorily. His father chuckled and led their entourage to their spots, much to Sesshomaru's displeasure, beside Kagome. Sesshomaru was sure that the Eastern lord had leaned in to smell Kagome as he knelt beside her.
"Introducing the lord and lady of the North. Accompanying him is their heir Naga."
Power; that was the first impression Sesshomaru had when he had encountered the dragon clan for the first time during a small skirmish along the northern border. They were thickly built demons who valued strength above all else. Their society consisted of a clearly defined pecking order; everyone knew where they stood and would fight to the death to move up in the ranking. Unlike the other three cardinal lords, the position of dragon lord was not a hereditary position, it was an earned one. Naga was not the Northern lord's son; in fact, Naga had brutally murdered the lord's son to gain the position as heir. He could not yet defeat the lord himself but was always looking for the opportunity to ascend to the greatly coveted position.
Their appearance held none of the grace, elegance, or arrogance of the other three ruling families. Instead, they were well muscled with short, economic haircuts that would not hinder them in battle. Their bodies were riddled with scars and tattoos telling of their battles. Their eyes were sharp and contained a hint of bloodlust. Both the lord and Naga were fitted in their battle armor, always anticipating an attack. The appearance did not vary based on gender either, the lady of the North also wore her battle armor and her green hair was cropped close to her skull. Around the dragons' eyes were small scales which were a testament to how close they kept their beast while in their more human forms.
"The lord of the North welcomes the heir of the West." The lord's voice was slippery and held an air of finality.
"The lord of the West welcomes the lord of the North." The Taisho responded, his voice just as hard. They had shared a rather longstanding border dispute for the last few centuries. Each new Northern lord thinking he could accomplish what his predecessor could not. Northern lords did not last long, often falling to assignations or revolts. The party of three did not hesitate to make their way to their seats, but Sesshomaru did not miss the sneer of distaste on the Northern lord's lips when he briefly met Kagome's eyes.
"Introducing the minor lord…"
Sesshomaru went along with the remainder of the ceremony robotically, his mind elsewhere. The children of the Southern lord kept trying to sneak glances at Kagome and he would be hard pressed to ignore the muttered propositions the Eastern lord and his son were making to her beside him. Then there was the Northern lord who refused to even look at Kagome. Sesshomaru disliked so many people knowing and having relationships with her, even if he did not know the nature of those relationships. She was his pack mate and thus did not need anyone but him in her life. Closing his eyes briefly, he tried to calm his mind. Kagome would hate him if he were to lock her away; she belonged with people where she thrived. He could not take that from her.
However, that didn't mean he couldn't filter the people she spent time with.
He was forced from his thoughts when the human lords began to filter in. Their stench was enough to make his eyes water. The lords were fat and couldn't stop bowing to his father, droning on about how magnificent he was. Many of the princesses were hidden behind their fans as decorum stated but one of them brazenly lowered hers in hopes of catching Sesshomaru's eye. Catch it she did, but only because he was shocked at the extent with which her family went to make her "beautiful." The whole room couldn't look away from the girl before them. Her face was completely white and her eyebrows appeared to have been shaved and painted high on her forehead. When she smiled, Sesshomaru was granted the vision of her teeth which had been painted black. When she was led to her seat by a servant, Sesshomaru observed how she tottered from side to side, no doubt a result of having her feet bound since birth. Humans have such strange customs. He thought idly.
There were a few humans though that captured his attention for more positive reasons. The first was a young woman dressed completely in tight warrior clothing with a large bone boomerang tied to her back. "Defense." The lord she was accompanying had explained. "With all these demons running amuck, one can never be too careful." Though Sesshomaru had quickly dismissed the portly lord, the taijiya, who he later discovered was named Sango, never ceased to relax despite his father assurances that the humans in attendance were perfectly safe. Her eyes were calculating and watchful. Surprisingly, she also seemed to be an acquaintance of Kagome's, a bright smile lighting her face when she spotted the girl at his side.
The second human was a monk by the name of Miroku who was representing the human Shinto religious order. The well-spoken young man had openly flirted with his mother, asked Kagome to bear him children, and told the fortune of the many women the lord of the East had dragged along who somehow all got the same fortune of bearing him children. Yet it quickly became known that he was only there to meet with the taijiya girl who greeted him with a punishing knock over the head for acting out at such a serious function. The monk would not be seeing the remainder of the ceremony.
"The West shows it's gratitude for your attendance on this auspicious day by inviting you all to feast at our table." The Taisho said when the acknowledgements portion of the night had finally ended. Immediately, the servants came forth with vast amounts of food. All at once the guests began to dine and celebrate. Though the less formal dinner was supposed to be the less trying part of the day's ceremony, Sesshomaru found himself burning his palms with his own acid to restrain himself from attacking the Eastern delegation.
"Dearest Kagome," The Eastern lord slurred, "It has been some time since you last visited us. We've been dying to have you back for a visit."
"Indeed, Kagome." Rhys purred, "My bed is so cold without you there to warm it."
"Apologies, but please refrain from saying things that could be misunderstood." Kagome said without looking at them.
"What's there to be misunderstood?" Rhys smirked as he leaned over his father to lick along Kagome's ear. "You need only say yes and I'm yours."
Sesshomaru's eyes instantly bled red and he would have slaughtered the Eastern twerp if not for his father's restraining grip and the knife Kagome was holding to Rhys' carotid artery.
"You of all people here cannot make a scene, Sesshomaru. Kagome can handle herself." The Taisho said quietly to his son.
"I'm fine with a little blood if you want it rough, Kagome. I'll even let you start on top as long as I get my turn too." Rhys said as he pressed against the knife's blade causing him to bleed before continuing to lave Kagome's neck.
The lion was suddenly forced back to his seat by none other than his father, the Eastern lord. Sesshomaru was surprised that the lord would take such initiative and for the first time found himself pleased with something the lord had done. That is until the lord began to admonish his son.
"As alpha of our pride, it is my right to have any woman I choose before you." Rhys grumbled for a moment before getting over it and turning his attention to the naked women beside him. Satisfied that his son had been disciplined, the Eastern lord decided to pick up where his son left off. His clawed fingers traced along the golden branches Sesshomaru had been admiring hours before, slowly making his way to her neck and then down to her breast. "You've kept me waiting for some time now Kagome."
Kagome quickly batted his had away from her person. "I have told you and your kin time and time again that I will not have any part in your extracurricular activities."
"You told my father that. He wanted you too, you know." The lord said as he reached up to pet her hair. "He was planning on forcing you; he couldn't wait to chain you to him so you could never return to the here." Kagome shuddered at the implications in that statement and the Taisho had to dig his claws into Sesshomaru's arm to prevent him from attacking. "I killed him though, for you." The Eastern lord whispered as he twirled one of Kagome's stray locks around his finger. "That means you belong to me now, Kagome."
"How dare you speak to one of her station in such a way?" The Southern lord said from his position beside the lady of the West. His violet eyes bored into the Eastern lord's red ones, promising immense pain and suffering. "You are not worthy to lick the ground she walks on."
"I'll leave licking the ground to you," The Eastern lord bit back evenly, "There are far more enjoyable parts of her I can lick."
"Swine!" The Southern lord snarled as he rose from his seat; his children chirping fearfully at his feet.
"That's quite enough." Kagome said calmly as she placed her chopsticks along the edge of her dish and turning to address the Eastern lord. "My lord, should you persist in your actions, I will be obliged to take extreme measures against you."
"I love it when you talk dirty to me, Ka-go-me." He purred dodging her knife by mere millimeters. Smirking, he taunted, "Quick as ever, Kagome. But I prefer it slower, harder…" Once again he found himself narrowly avoiding her knife.
"Those were warning's," She said coldly, "I don't recommend chancing it again." A playful light lit the Eastern lord's eyes but before he could say anything more, the Taisho spoke.
"You will not abuse those of my household, cat. Do I make myself clear?" The Taisho had always been the strongest of the cardinal lords and, although the Eastern lord did enjoy messing with the dog, he did not fancy meeting him head to head on an equal playing field. Raising his hands in surrender, the Eastern lord returned to his seat. But not before pressing his nose into Kagome's hair, inhaling deeply one last time.
"There's nothing quite like it." He mussed before calling over one the women in his pride to feed and pleasure him.
"Disgusting creature." The Southern lord muttered, also returning to his seat.
The Taisho closed his eyes and tried to will away the headache that he could feel coming on. His son's body was shaking in suppressed rage beside him and he was ever so grateful that the cat had backed off otherwise he would not have been responsible for Sesshomaru's actions. Already he was worried about what his son would do if left alone with the Eastern lord.
Sesshomaru saw white. Though he knew his eyes were feral, his mind could not comprehend anything past the fact that a cat, a fucking cat, had been licking his Kagome. His claws were secreting poison which was dripping onto the floor below and his mouth was salivating at the prospect of ripping into the Eastern lord and heir's throats. How dare they disrespect his pack mate in such a way? She was his.
Trapped in his world, lost to all reason he felt a spark emanate from his hand. Looking down he saw a small hand peeking out from black sleeves. Slowly, warmth began to spread up his arm and into his chest. His eyes followed the hand past the elbow and the shoulder until he saw her face smiling reassuringly up at him, telling him that what had happened did not bother her and that she was stronger than that.
Sesshomaru never felt such shame as he did in that moment, looking into her eyes. How could she be ok with what had happened? What kind of cruel and abusive existence did she have in the past to make her grow accustomed to such treatment? He is her alpha. It is his responsibility to protect her from such darkness. Yet he had failed her. Clenching his jaw he turned, unable to continue looking at the wonderful girl beside him. 'I'm still not strong enough to protect her.'
Kagome closed her eyes and allowed the cacophony of howls to resonate within her. As many times as she had experienced such a calling, she could never stop the overwhelming sense of unity and strength it filled her with as the countless howls became one. It was the call for a hunt.
All in attendance felt their primal urge to have blood spill beneath their teeth and feel flesh give away under their claws; to experience the ecstasy that accompanied the rush of a thrilling chase. Sesshomaru felt these urges and more. He stood in the courtyard of the citadel, surrounded by his brethren as their voices rose and stirred the still midnight air. All of nature heard the call for a hunt and trembled in fear. Sesshomaru longed to feel the dirt under his paws and the wind through his fur.
The shift into his bestial form was instantaneous. All night, his beast had been at the forefront of his mind, searching for any chance to escape and protect his pack mate; protect Kagome. Sesshomaru's power, which he diligently kept under hidden, as his father instructed him, was released all at once forcing all but the cardinal lords and Kagome to bare their necks in submission. To be able to commanded such strength and at such a young age; he was truly a demon.
He stood proud as the guests cowered in fear of him, his eyes searching; searching for his most precious person. When he finally found her, he could have laughed. Of course he need only look beside himself to find her. Crouching down, he gave her one long, slobbery lick; effectively covering the scent of the Eastern lord. Satisfied that he had reasserted his claim, he nudged her lightly with his nose before turning his piercing eyes on the Eastern delegation.
The Eastern lord had to force himself not to cower from the hatred and promise of death directed at him by the Western heir. He had not been aware that the boy had such strength. All through dinner and their past meetings Sesshomaru had remained watchful but silent, allowing his father to speak while he observed. 'Of course it wasn't as simple as that', the lord thought ruefully to himself, 'Of course they were hiding this beast, training it up to be a monster.'
The communication lasted but a moment before Sesshomaru disappeared into the surrounding forest, encouraged by the continued call of his brethren. After an hour of continuous howling, the Taisho spoke.
"Sesshomaru has two days to finish his hunt and present his prey to me." The Taisho announced. "Please enjoy your stay in the meantime."
At his words, the guests began to slowly make their ways back to their rooms. Kagome, too, found herself before the doors of her bedroom. Exhausted, she collapsed on her futon, too tired to remove the many layers of clothing. She hadn't slept in weeks she had been so busy planning Sesshomaru's ceremony and she was pissed that the lords had created such a spectacle of it. Closing her eyes, Kagome willed herself to sleep, annoyed when it continued to elude her.
She sat up with a huff and wondered what it was that had been plaguing her to such an extent that she was unable to sleep despite how tired she was. Frustrated, she ran a hand through her hair and felt it meet something stiff. Confused she pulled at her hair finding that some strands of hair had gotten stuck together. 'Sesshomaru's slobber.' She mussed fondly.
Glancing toward the door that connected their rooms she felt her chest tighten. It had been a while since she had slept beside him, woke in his arms, breathed his scent. She looked down at her own futon which seemed larger than usual then back to his door. Taking a deep breath, Kagome rose and padded to the divider, slowly opening it to look into his room. She smiled when she found that everything was as she had remembered it. Snuggling into his futon she buried her nose in the soft fluff and inhaled luxuriously before being finally drifting to sleep.
'It still smells like him.'
The sun had yet to hint at rising, the stars lighting the moonless night, when the horns began to blare signaling Sesshomaru's return. Startled awake, the entire household made its way to the front gates where Sesshomaru stood towering in his true form. The crowd that gathered whispered among itself that Sesshomaru had not even taken five hours to capture his prey. The Taisho stepped forward, the three other cardinal lords just behind him. All wondered what prey he had been able to capture in such a time as they could not yet see what he had hunted.
"What manner of beast did you hunt, my son?"
Sesshomaru transformed, fluidly returning to his human form, towering above his now visible prey. He allowed his eyes to wander from his father's to meet those of the Eastern lord.
"I hunted lion."