I disclaim everything that needs to be.
Bold means a change in location and/ or time or time period. Italics are thoughts or Sesshomaru's inner demon talking, or flashbacks
Note: The court system the Demons have is more Tudor-European than Japanese. Which is why Kagome doesn't need much training because she's studied it and kinda knows what's up.
Chapter 17: Observe
The dining room was filled with laughter as Kagome and Sesshomaru entered. Shippo, Rin, Sango, and Miroku were sitting and laughing at Inuyasha as ramen dripped down his face. Kouga, Ayame, Lord Choro, and Lord Jahari were nearby, talking amongst themselves. They'd just started lunch, servants scurrying to set places for Kagome and Sesshomaru as they reached their seats.
"How were morning lessons, guys?" Kagome asked, settling in as a plate full of food was placed in front of her.
"Mama they were so fun! Tali Sensei is so cool! She showed me lots of cool tricks!" Shippo's face was animated and mischievous as he looked at Inuyasha, the sure target of his new tricks.
"oh, Shippo," Rin grinned when he looked at her, "we have to show Jaken too!"
Sesshomaru smirked, entertained by the children's targets of chaos. He would encourage their mischief, if only on Inuyasha and Jaken.
Kagome again took the attention of the children, "Rin, what'd you learn in the greenhouse today?"
Rin smiled as she set down her mug of tea, "Mama, Leore Sensei taught me the best way to plant the orchids."
Kagome beamed, "That's your favorite, Rin! How exciting! I can't wait to see how they bloom."
As they chatted, Sesshomaru's attention was taken from the conversations to the sound of the door opening. Lord Cali sauntered in, his lead aid scurrying behind him. For the first time, Kagome got a good look at the brown bull demon behind Cali, skin shades darker than his leader. He'd been trailing almost directly behind Cali every time she saw him, obscuring her view of his face. He was almost as tall, with large eyes that spoke to his youth. It seemed like he wasn't much older than Inuyasha, and he looked almost as stubborn.
"Oh, Lord Sesshomaru. We are glad to have caught you. I was worried we would miss your afternoon meal and have no idea where to observe the young Princess' lessons."
"Thank you for joining us, Lord Cali. Please, introduce us to your companion before you settle in for our meal." Kagome's voice was sweet, commanding. Sesshomaru slid his hand under the table, reaching toward the hem of her dress in affectionate praise. Her hand met his before he could slide his hand under, and she held it, slowly adjusting her sitting position to drape her legs over his. He moved seamlessly to support her new position, sliding one hand under her ass and one underneath her dress to settle between her thighs.
Lord Cali squinted in an attempt to stop his eyes from rolling, "It would be my honor, Lady Kagome. This is Hayako," He stepped aside to let the younger demon through, "My middle son, and my personal aid."
Hayako stepped forward, bowing low, "Hello Lord Sesshomaru…Lady Kagome."
Kouga's head snapped up from his conversation at the tone in Hayako's voice when he said Kagome's name. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha shared a brief, similar look. This was…...interesting.
"Welcome to our home, Prince Hayako," Kagome smiled, unfazed, "I hope you find something to entertain you here in the West, and if you need anything please let me know."
Sesshomaru squeezed her thigh as he spoke, "Indeed, Hayako. Know that your father's consistent annoyance has no effect on your status here."
Hayako stood and smiled, "My Lord, my father's tempers are his own."
Sesshomaru nodded once, turning his attention back to Cali, "You may be seated. Afternoon lessons will begin in one hour."
As everyone returned to their meals, and the chatter in the dining room resumed. After a while, Sesshomaru tilted his head upward toward Inuyasha and Kouga before standing, kissing the top of Kagome's head before slipping out of the dining room toward his office. It wasn't long before Kouga and Inuyasha stood and left, at different intervals, talking about "needing to ask the servants about something".
Kagome raised an eyebrow and looked at Sango, who moved to sit closer to her in Sesshomaru's absence. She leaned into her whisper.
"Kagome, Hayako was looking at you…like Kouga does." Sango explained.
Kagome sighed, "Oh, that. I saw that look too, I'm sure its innocent. I should go talk them down, shouldn't I?"
"I wouldn't, Lady Kagome" Miroku said softly, "I'm sure Lord Sesshomaru will update you when he can."
"The Little Lady may need to remember that not all matters of the court are her concern." Lord Cali snickered, watching her friends come to her side in her mate's absence.
Kagome looked up, "Lord Cali, you may step forward." Her voice was cold, sweet. The room stilled around it, all eyes following the coming interaction.
Lord Cali stood, Hayako squeaking out of his chair to follow. As the two approached the grand table in the middle of the room, where Kagome and her friends sat, Kagome spoke again, eyes narrowing.
"Hayako, please be seated. Enjoy your lunch."
He stiffened, before bowing quickly and going back to his seat, blushing. Cali glared up at her, annoyance clear.
"Now, Lord Cali, in my mate's absence, it is I who leads, correct?"
He nodded once.
"I'm sorry?" Kagome asked, "I didn't hear you."
"Yes, Lady Kagome. That is correct."
"Hmm," she mused, "Wonderful. And tell me, do you see my mate in this room?"
"No, Lady Kagome. He's stepped out."
"That he has," Kagome smiled, "and upon his return," the dining room door opened and Sesshomaru stepped in, Inuyasha and Kouga behind him, "he shall be informed of your comments. So we may decide on what is to be done about your consistent disrespect, together."
Kagome cleared her throat and moved to address the room, "As I am the Lady of the West, all matters of the court are of my concern. This is the land of my mate, and my family, as well as myself. The land of my people. To say otherwise," she sent a pointed look at Lord Cali, "would be a violent act upon our lands. I will tolerate none of it."
"Well said, Lady Kagome," Sesshomaru said as everyone's heads whipped toward the door, Lord Cali paling at his presence.
"Interesting that you choose to speak your filth to the Lady when This One out of the room, Cali. Something will be made of it at the council, no doubt." Sesshomaru mused, taking his time walking back to his seat.
"Seems absolutely necessary," Lord Choro spoke up then, "I feel like the council would have a lot to say on the matter."
Lord Jahari nodded, eyes boring into Cali. The room stilled around the bull demon's silence.
"And so it is," Sesshomaru confirmed as he slid into his seat next to Kagome, "Jaken, alert the council. Tell them their presence is needed at the request of the Lord and Lady of the West."
Jaken nodded before scurrying out of the room.
"Lucky for us the Lady Mother remains in the castle, one less member of the Council to summon," Jahari mused.
The Council of the Dai was the lead government of the demon world. The oldest of all the demons, and the founding members of the original ruling families. Through time, they passed down their lands and oversaw the grand peace of them all. Sure, there were wars, but every act between kingdoms was known and approved by the council. Six DaiYoukai made up the council. InuKimi held the position on the council that his father would have obtained when Sesshomaru became Lord of the West. The other five heads were the forefathers or chosen heirs of the forefathers of the Demon Lands, including the Celestial.
Cali walked back to his seat with his nose turned upward. The last thing he wanted was a Council Tribunal, and that's exactly the mess he'd gotten himself into. His eyes narrowed when he saw the amusement glow in Hayako's eyes.
"Now," Sesshomaru turned to Rin and Shippo, "are you two ready for your afternoon lessons?"
Rin grinned up at her father, "Yes! Mama Kagome said we could sit in the library!"
"Then let us go," Sesshomaru nodded and stood, motioning for everyone observing the lessons to follow.
The group, which included Lord Choro, Lord Jahari, Lord Cali and Hayako, were led to the library by Sesshomaru, Shippo, Kagome, and Rin. The foursome settled at a table in the center of the room, surrounded by the walls and walls of books.
"Now, Lady Kagome," Choro started, "it is said that you have created a wing in the library for the studies of the future. Is that the part of the library we're in now?"
"Mmm, no." Kagome looked around, pointing to a section to the left of them, "the books I've brought are over there."
The lords murmured, shuffling toward the books.
"Sit, we await Lady Kagome's instruction," Sesshomaru commanded, before nodding at his mate. The lords nodded, shuffling instead to their own table.
She smiled, turning to Rin and Shippo, "well guys, we're doing geology today. Rin, you wanted to know more about volcanoes?"
Rin nodded excitedly, "yea! What kind of rocks are those?"
Kagome walked to her section of books and selecting three elementary level books on volcanoes. Spreading them onto the table, Kagome unraveled a map on the table next to them.
"Now, volcanic rocks…." Kagome started her lesson as the Lords watched. They studied her incredibly closely. Eyes burning into her as she taught her children.
Lord Cali scowled as he watched the other Lord murmur their awe and praises at Kagome's intelligence. She was exactly as they'd hoped, if not more. The children were captivated by her lesson, and Sesshomaru sat nearby with interest. All was really throwing a wrench into Cali's plans, and souring his mood.
"Our land has a volcano, right Mama?" Rin asked
"Yea Rin! It's Fuji! We went one time!" Shippo squealed.
Sesshomaru looked up to Kagome, "you went to an active volcano? Let's hope it was Naraku-based. That is the only time This One would hope you would commit such a foolish act."
She smiled, "yes and no. We were helping our friend Akitoki Hojo free his family of a curse. He had to toss the Celestial Robe into the mouth of the crater."
"Naraku was there because he was trying to absorb Kaguya, the demon that devoured the original Celestial Maiden." Shippo finished excitedly.
Sesshomaru nodded slowly, "Hojo is a name This One…...recognizes."
Kagome sighed, "He's an ancestor to that one, yes."
"And we imagine he feels similarly?" The question was posed to Shippo, not Kagome.
Shippo nodded softly, "yes. Nobody likes it." The kit tried to soften the news.
Kagome sighed again and turned her attention back to Rin and the book she was reading. The little girl was deeply engrossed in the book about different volcanic rocks that she missed the entire slightly-tense conversation. Once Shippo had finished his initial explanation, she'd zoned back into her reading.
The Lords, sitting at their nearby table, heard the whole thing. Lord Cali's eyebrows were especially raised at the tone in which Sesshomaru spoke about Hojo, it was veiled- but he was unhappy about the boy's presence, even to the point of irritant at his name. It seemed like a wound of Sesshomaru's that he could poke, possibly fester. This could brighten things for him.
"Okay guys, let's switch things up," Kagome interrupted Sesshomaru's next question to Shippo, "Shippo, you said you wanted to study stars?"
The kit's eyes lit up, "yea mama! You said there's names for them?"
She smiled, "yea Shippo, most of the stars have names. And the clusters of stars can make us images in the sky."
"Do they have names?" Rin asked
"Yes. The clusters and the images can have names," Kagome answered, pulling out another book from the shelf behind her, "let me show you."
She opened the large picture book to a page of the night sky with its outlined constellations. Scanning the page, she stopped on one star in particular.
"This is Sirius. Do you remember what I told you about that one?" Her mating mark itched as she felt Sesshomaru's annoyance flitter away into acute interest at what she'd said.
"Papa's star!" Rin nodded excitedly, "You said it's the Star of the Great Dog Demon. The First."
"Yes Rin," Kagome smiled, "very good. What'd I tell you Shippo?"
"The story of the The First and his Human love." Shippo answered, happily taking in the other constellations, "Mama what's this one?"
"Mmmmm, those are the Seven Sisters. A star cluster with a story of seven beautiful sisters called the Pleiades. They are said to be being chased by other constellation, Orion, as he desired them in both life and death. Their father, Jupiter, turned them to stars to protect them. The Seven Sisters are part of a bigger constellation, the Bull charged to protect them, Taurus."
Lord Cali and Hayako looked pointedly at Kagome at the mention. Cali spoke.
"You know of our Great One?" his voice was rough with surprise.
Kagome looked up from the book to meet Sesshomaru's eyes briefly, before looking at Lord Cali, "Yes, Lord Cali. Just as I know the story of Sirius, I am well versed in the story of Taurus."
"oh really?" he scoffed, "what fallacies were you told?"
Kagome smiled, "please correct me if I'm wrong, but your eldest son's name is Aldeberan? That is the name of one of the stars in the constellation Taurus. The Pleiades' father, Jupiter, asked Taurus to protect his daughters, and sent him into the sky to stand between them and Orion. Is that the story as you know it?"
"It is, the story you told is true, as is my brother's name," Hayako spoke softly, "I always loved that story when Mama would tell it. You told it well, Lady Kagome."
"That's such a high compliment, Hayako, thank you." she smiled brightly, causing his cheeks to tint with flattered embarrassment. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed briefly, catching Lord Cali's attention, before returning to normal.
Cali huffed, "fair enough," he stood abruptly, "Hayako! We're off to your training. Just because we are in the West, doesn't mean you are to be lax on your duties."
As Cali and the other Lords filed out of the library, Kagome and Sesshomaru looked at each other, curious at the quick leaving. Happy to be able to finish their lessons in some semblance of privacy, as Jahari and Choro stayed behind. The large library doors slammed shut and Kagome got back to teaching her children about the stars.
*And that's that for now! The next chapters are going to be more court drama and some Hojo discussions. Kagome's gonna start to show, and they'll be traveling in the next two chapters! I'm sorry it's been so long! I'm slowly but surely getting back together on these longer works though! Let me know what y'all think! –Inu'sgurl97 *