Inuyasha
Love's War
Chapter 18
The Ball
March 2, 2023
Everyone was busy getting the dining room set up as the ballroom again, it was a lot of work for the staff, but they didn't mind. It wasn't often that they could show off their skills in this fashion, Lord Sesshomaru didn't like all the traditions and expectations of these events. Sachi has been moved to the Master suite to keep her away from any prying eyes as the guests begin arriving, and Hiro's unique skills are once again being used to keep her concealed from being sensed.
"I hate to be such a burden." Sachi said with a frown on her face.
"Not to worry my dear." Kagome said with a bright smile as she sat on the floor playing with the newborns Hinata and Natsu.
"I've never heard of a Human and Demon in the same pregnancy. Is that normal for inter-species mating?" Sachi asked curiously as she watched, with a smile on her face, the two pups enjoying their time with their mother.
"Not that I've ever seen. It should be impossible for a human and demon to be born from the same pregnancy. But my mate is special." Sesshomaru said standing by the fireplace also watching the pups enjoying the play time with their mother.
"Actually, it's the babies that are special, not me." Kagome cooed as she tickled both babies and made baby noises to them.
"You won't get an argument from me." Inuyasha said then laughed as he dodged the pillow Kagome chucked at his head.
"Don't be an ass." Kagome said with a huge grin on her face then caught the pillow he tossed back to her.
"Mother when do I have to get dressed?" Hikaru asked as he sat down in the chair opposite his mother.
"At least an hour before Hikaru. We've went over this already." Kagome said looking up at him with a raised eyebrow, a special gesture she had acquired over the years from Sesshomaru.
"But those clothes seem so stuffy, and I can't have my sword." Hikaru groaned as he slouched into the chair.
"If I can do it kid you certainly can. It's not forever you will survive, besides it's not like you're allowed to just walk around with a real sword anyway." Inuyasha said and shook his head and shrugged at the boy.
"But why do I have to get dressed up? I didn't pop out pups or mate." Hikaru groaned out as he looked up at the ceiling.
"Hikaru." Sesshomaru said making the young man stiffen and sit up properly in his seat.
"Yes father?" Hikaru asked knowing he just stepped over some invisible line that he didn't know was there.
"Hush." Sesshomaru said just staring at the boy.
"Yes father." Hikaru said then looked over at Inuyasha to see him sniggering.
"Inuyasha, you can hush too." Sesshomaru said which caused Kagome to laugh.
"Hikaru it's not just a celebration of the pups here or the mating of Inuyasha. But also, a celebration of the end of the war and now the courtship of Sachi and Shippou dear. There is so much to be happy and thankful for, dressing up for this event is the least you can do." Kagome said sweetly as she looked up at her eldest son.
"Yes Mother." Hikaru said with a small smile over to her.
"Wow." Sachi said softly to herself.
"What's up?" Shippou asked curiously from beside her.
"This…" Sachi said motioning around to everyone in the room. "Would never happen in the North. It's extremely strict, do as you're told and don't ask questions. None of this joking around and having fun. This close to an event everyone would be so uptight and at least one of us would blow up at someone before the ball." She said in awe of this family.
"Outward appearances have always mattered way too much to Kuro." Sesshomaru said, to be honest before Kagome events like this just wouldn't happen in the West and he tried hard to avoid the other lands events.
"It's something you and Shippou can change together." Inuyasha said poking Shippou with a sly grin on his lips.
"You're a pain you know that?" Shippou said swatting Inuyasha away with pink tint on his cheeks.
"Yeah, but it's fun." Inuyasha said with a laugh.
~*~*~*~ Later that Night~*~*~*~
Kagome had come down to the ball wearing her base white Kimono, next was a forest green with a golden peacock embroidered around the kimono, and a dark blue kimono with bright pink roses on her shoulders and down both arms. The rest of the layers had to be dressed down in the ballroom again with all the traditional layers.
Her maid put on a teal layer which was embroidered with white, blue, and black flowers with stems all around the bottom, next was Coral with blue, pink, white and yellow flowers down each arm and along her right shoulder also covered the entire bottom half of the layer. "I hate that all these layers are required." Kagome said as she rolled her eyes. She was only halfway through so far with the layers. "You all have it easy, change your pants and add just one layer." She said with a small huff.
"Just as we told Hikaru this morning, you will survive." Sesshomaru said with one of his rare mischievous grins on his face.
While talking a white layer that faded to black at the bottom of her sleeves and bottom hem with white flowers and black stems had been put on her. Next was a light blue with soft pink fans with gold edges. Then came the yellow layer with a soft pink several inches wide along every edge seam. Purple was the next layer with huge pink and blue peony flowers embroidered. "We're almost there My Lady." The maid said with a bright smile as she slid on the bright green layer with pink, red, purple and yellow butterflies. Next came the black layer with beautiful small white flowers and flecks of gold throughout almost resembling the night sky. Then finally the red layer with red, white, and pink sakura blossoms all over outlined in gold thread.
"Hiro put all these intricate patterns on all these layers, it's a shame people will only fully see the top layer." Kagome said and relaxed as best she could with all the layers on.
"Your appreciation is all I need." Hiro said with a grin as he walked Sachi into the ballroom to place her behind a screen that was set up several feet behind Shippou, which was supposed to be to keep the nursemaids out of sight during the introductions, but for now it will keep the Princess out of sight as well.
"And you have it." Kagome said with a bright smile over to him.
"I thank you My Lady." Hiro said with a bow of his head to her.
Sesshomaru stood tall and elegant with his normal attire on with a slight alteration he now had on his base white hori on then a red one, next was his normal white hori with his normal onbi around his waist and lastly, he had on a longer black almost like a jacket with white and red sakura blossoms on it. His hakuma pants were changed from their normal white to black.
Hikaru was dressed in a base white hori, then a green hori, and a red hori on top with the sakura blossoms embroidered along his sleeves across his right shoulder and across his upper back. He has on a dark green onbi that transitions to bright green for the last several inches. Then he has on black hakuma pants. He was standing to Sesshomaru's right.
Rin being the adopted daughter of Lord Sesshomaru was also present. She has on a basic two-layer kimono with a white base the next layer is a lovely shade of orange with cream-colored flowers and a green onbi. Kohaku standing beside her as her Fiancé with a base white hori and an orange hori on top but instead of flowers it was embroidered with very small likeness of his weapon all over making it look at a distance to match Rin's flowers. His onbi was black that transitioned to red at the tips and black hakuma pants.
Shippou standing to the left of Kagome and one step behind had on a basic white with a dark green hori on top with teal leaves all over it with a white circle directly in the center of his black with red, white and pink sakura blossoms, his hakuma pants are black, then his onbi and hair tie are teal.
Then lastly Inuyasha has on the basic white then a fire red hori with a sakura branch stitched up his right arm with the blossoms spreading across his shoulder upper chest and across his back, his onbi is red then the last foot of each end fades from red to a small amount of orange to a bright yellow, and he had black hakuma pants on.
Himeko standing beside Inuyasha has on the basic white, with a more natural red Kimono on top, her kimono has beautiful Sakura pedals spread across like they were falling from the tree in the breeze. She has on a beautiful yellow onbi with a red tie.
As the family got into position the doors were opened to let in the higher-class demons that didn't require an entrance announcement demon generals, military staff, families, and the local demon villages. Also, the human's that had arrived such as demon hunters, priests, priestesses, and local villagers who wished to attend came in but stayed together towards the back of the hall.
Sesshomaru made one last look back to Sachi and Hiro to make sure they were secure behind the curtain he then sighed and reluctantly said softly to his family. "Alright here we go." He nodded over to the announcer at the door to start the introductions.
The announcer nodded back to Sesshomaru then cleared his throat. "Ladies and Gentlemen, arriving is Lord Kuro, Lady Hoshi, Princess Ryoko, and Princess Katsumi of the Northern Lands." The old announcer said loudly. Four well-dressed foxes walked through the doors and stopped for a moment then began the short trek through the crowd, which has separated to make a path for them, to meet with Sesshomaru and Kagome. It was a brisk greeting once they arrived at the host family then moved off to the side near Shippou.
"Ladies and Gentlemen arriving is Lord Kuzon, Lady Toki, and Prince Shin of the Eastern Lands." The old announcer said as three wolves walked in standing tall and proud. The East's son stood as tall as his father now and looked the part perfectly for the next in line to the throne, so's to say. The three of them made their way to greet the Western family. After a brief greeting, they stepped off to the side near Inuyasha.
"Ladies and Gentlemen arriving is Lady Tatsu, and Prince Hotaru of the Southern Lands." the old announcer said as now the two black inu demons walked into the room stood there for a brief moment then made their way to the Western family. The Southern family moved off to the side between the North and Shippou.
"Ladies and Gentlemen now presenting Lord Sesshomaru, Lady Kagome, Prince Hikaru, Prince Naruto, and Princess Hinata of the proud Western Lands." The old announcer said and attendant behind Kagome handed her Natsu and the attendant behind Sesshomaru handed him Hinata then she and Sesshomaru stepped forward one step with Hikaru. "Now presenting Lord Inuyasha brother of Lord Sesshomaru and his Mate Lady Himeko. Also presenting Lady Rin and her Fiancé Kohaku lastly Lord Shippou and his Intended by courtship agreement Princess Sachi of the Northern Lands." he said loudly to make sure everyone heard every word he said.
Lady Hoshi grabbed her mate's wrist and squeezed really hard nearly drawing blood to keep him from causing a scene when his daughter appeared from behind the screen to stand beside Shippou. The crown erupted into cheers at the announcement of the courtship agreement between the two powerful lords for the young couple.
Sachi smiled brightly out over the crowd as she now stood beside Shippou, her attire completely different from the rest of the Northern Family who was dressed in their traditional winter colors of whites and soft blues. Sachi had on a base white kimono with a bright green kimono embroidered with pink, red, and white fans lined with teal as the second layer. She has on a teal onbi with a yellow tie.
Sesshomaru handed Hinata back to the nursemaid to put her back in her bassinet as Kagome did the same with Natsu. "Here we go." He said over to Kagome with a very soft nod over to the fuming Kuro and happy Hoshi coming over towards them. "Shippou keep yourself between them." He whispered over to the young man as the whole Western Family gathered together.
"Lady Hoshi, Lady Tatsu, Lady Toki how lovely to finally get to see you again. It was a long pregnancy." Kagome said brightly with a sweet smile on her face as the other lands came over to them as well.
"It's wonderful to see you too. Such beautiful babies." Hoshi said sweetly as she kept glancing over at her mate hoping he wouldn't make a scene.
Tatsu and Toki could sense the tension in the air and were curious about it but didn't say anything. Usually, the West and South had a lot of tension, but this was the North, they always got along. Mainly because Sesshomaru stayed out of Kuro's business and Kuro stayed out of Sesshomaru's business. But this tension was almost thick enough to touch between the two families. It didn't take long for Tatsu to notice Sachi wasn't speaking to her own family, and it seemed to her that the Western family was protecting her from them.
Kagome noticed Tatsu's attention was on a certain young princess and decided to redirect her attention. "So, how's Hotaru? He seems well and is behaving so far." Kagome said with a bright smile over to her.
"Yes, he has decided to follow me and adjust his behavior. I am still not completely sure what was said between you and him, but it seems to have given him something to think on for the time being." Tatsu said drawing her attention back to Kagome.
"I have noticed him trying to reach out to Shin recently." Toki said jumping into the conversation eagerly. "Of course, my son is a little leery." She said with a small apologetic smile over to Tatsu.
"That is to be expected. My son has acted like a menace during most of his interaction with the other lands. It will take time to fix broken bridges, hopefully he didn't burn them as well during the last several months." Tatsu said unfazed by the information. "He has asked me a favor, and that is for me to ask you Lady Kagome if you would allow him to reach out to Shippou and Hikaru as well."
"Of course, but I will not force a relationship. He must build that on his own. Hikaru will be easier than Shippou, I do believe." Kagome said with a soft smile.
"Understandable." Tatsu said then looked over to Hoshi. "And what of your girls? Sachi, Ryoko, and Katsumi." She asked curiously, these were the two families that had been hurt the most in the last war.
"I agree with Kagome. I will allow contact but will not force a relationship. Now with that said I believe, for now, there will be absolutely no entertainment of a courtship with any of my girls for him." Hoshi said unapologetically.
"Of course." Tatsu said with a small nod to Hoshi, had the tables been reversed she would have said the same. "I believe he is trying to find a mate within our borders for now." She said hoping to ease any fears Hoshi might have with her son contacting her daughters.
Kagome could feel Sesshomaru's irritation and glanced over at him curiously. "Lord Kuro, I have a ballroom full of guests as you can clearly see. We shall discuss anything you wish after the ball is over in my study." Sesshomaru finally said to the old fox and glared over at Kuro.
"How has Shin been recently?" Inuyasha pipped in curiously trying to give them something else to speak on and keep his brother from separating Kuro from his head.
"Shin is doing fine, recently been contacted by Hotaru. It seems that he is trying to mend a few bridges." Kuzon said with a small shrug. The boy was a nuisance and a total pain in the rear the last two wars. "My mate seems willing to allow the contact, and Shin isn't completely opposed to it. Myself, I am more reserved at the prospect since the last two wars." he said nonchalantly.
"I believe the near-death experience at the hands of Shippou and the talking to he received from Lady Kagome has given him some things to think on." Inuyasha said with a small smile trying subtly to rub it in Kuro's face that the West saved his daughter and won the war.
The ball went on for hours before guests finally began dispersing back to their rooms and their homes, Kagome had her maid take her back down to her normal attire before following her mate's aura to his study, where she could feel his irritation and anger. She walked into the room without knocking to hear Kuro ranting and raving about how the West had usurped his authority with his own daughter. She stopped over by Lady Hoshi curiously just listening in on the conversation.
"You had absolutely no right to announce Sachi like that! You did that on purpose! DIDN'T YOU?" Kuro said angrily slamming his hands down on Sesshomaru's desk and yelling at him the last part.
"You will do well to remember who you are speaking with old man and exactly where you are!" Sesshomaru said angrily as he stood up from behind his desk. He would never allow anyone to disrespect him like this especially in his own home.
"You were trying to tie my hands behind my back you deceitful dog!" Kuro said angrily not noticing the stance that Sesshomaru had taken.
"Kuro!" Sesshomaru said angrily almost reaching across his desk to grab this Fox off his feet and shake him so see if rock would fall out of his ears. "We have a courtship agreement in place. That was never changed, I have done nothing that isn't allowed in the agreement." he said after biting this inside of his lip trying to regain some of his composure.
A knock came on the door and everyone in the room looked at it like the person on the other side of the door had to have 3 heads, willingly coming in here with two Demon Lords arguing. Inuyasha just shrugged when Kagome looked at him wondering if he or Sesshomaru as requested someone to come to the room. Kagome could sense confusion from Sesshomaru so she just walked over to the door curiously and opened it. "Now is not a good time Hiro." she said confused just looking at him like he lost his mind.
"I apologize My Lady, but what I have to say is very important to the preceding's at hand." Hiro said with a slight bow of his head to her.
Kagome looked over to Sesshomaru curiously wondering if he had anything to say, she could feel the curiosity in their link, so she just shrugged slightly and stepped back pulling the door open wider. "Come on in." said said softly then followed him back into the room.
"What kind of castle do you run here Sesshomaru where you let just any of your servants offer opinions on every subject?" Kuro said annoyed as he rolled his eyes throwing his hands up in the air.
"Shut up and sit-down Kuro!" Hiro said heatedly his voice filled with what sounded like hatred, as he glared over at Kuro.
"Now wait just a damn minute." Hoshi said angrily as she stepped forward to walk into Kagome's arm that she had outstretched to stop her advance. Kagome was intrigued by Hiro; he had never acted this way or ever had this tone before.
Sesshomaru had watched curiously as all the color drained from Kuro, his eyes got wide as he slowly began to turn to face Hiro. "You're..." he barely heard before Kuro sat down just staring up at the crazy old Fox from the West. Sesshomaru had confusion written all over his face looking between the two foxes.
"Ignorant old fool, you couldn't just leave well enough alone could you? You just had to waltz in here and make an ass out of yourself." Hiro said angrily as he turned from facing Sesshomaru to face Kuro.
Kuro for his part was now staring down at the floor, leaning forward on his legs with his elbows. "I'm sorry." he whispered as his fingers laced into his hair.
"Idiot!" Hiro said then stomped on the floor making Kuro flinch and look up at Hiro. "You listen well and you pay very close attention to me Kuro. You will never again get in-between Sachi and Shippou for any reason without conferring with me first with evidence of your claim. You will allow the courtship to continue as agreed on from this moment on with no interference from you whatsoever. Do you understand me?" he asked curiously.
Kuro simply nodded then looked back down at the floor.
"I can't hear you!" Hiro said angrily stomping on the floor again as he stepped closer to Kuro, causing Kuro to flinch again and look back up at Hiro looking terrified.
"I understand." Kuro said softly.
"Anything else you want to discuss?" Hiro asked curiously, tilting his head slightly.
"No." Kuro said softly looking away from Hiro and everyone else in the room.
Hiro looked over at Sesshomaru curiously wondering if he had anything else to say to Kuro. When Sesshomaru shook his head, no Hiro looked at Kuro and shook his head at the man. "Get out." he said in disgust rolling his eyes at how pathetic the man looked. He turned to talk with Sesshomaru when a thought struck him. Kuro had grabbed his mate's arm and was halfway across the room when Hiro turned back around. "Kuro one more thing." he said softly but the malice was still very evident in his voice.
Kuro stopped and turned around to see Hiro. "Absolutely no retaliation on the West for this conversation, I know and see everything. If you so much as think about an assassin for me or anyone here in the West or if any harm comes to Shippou while in your care I will deal with you, I will return to the North. Is that understood?" Kuro just simply nodded the fear in his eyes all to evident for everyone in the room then turned and rushed himself and his mate out of the room.
The room was quiet for a moment as everyone just looked at the door disbelievingly. "What in the hell just happened?" Inuyasha asked stepping away from the bookcase over to Sesshomaru's desk to look at Hiro with a huge grin on his face and a nervous laugh.
"I would like to know that as well." Sesshomaru said looking at Hiro quite taken aback by the last few minutes.
"I believe that makes all of us." Kagome said with a small giggle as she walked over to her mate.
"I apologize for messing in your affairs Lord Sesshomaru, but I could put Kuro in his place much easier and prevent a war from starting. My younger brother needed to be informed of my presence." Hiro said with a small nod over to Sesshomaru.
"Younger brother!" Inuyasha said shocked looking at Hiro then over at the door then back to Hiro.
"The eldest boy was killed, I remember hearing about his death as a very young pup." Sesshomaru said confused as he sat down in his seat and looked up at Hiro.
"Your father took me in and hid me from my family after my brother tried to murder me in my sleep. He felt that his birth right had been taken from him by me." Hiro said with a shrug.
Sesshomaru searched his memory for a moment. "They never found the eldest's sons body." he said shocked looking up at his old friend. "Why did you never inform me?" he asked accusingly.
"I had no intention of ever revealing myself to Kuro after my father and mother died leaving Kuro in charge. What was the point of revealing myself, it's easier to keep secrets when no one knows them." Hiro said with a shrug.
"Wait he tried to murder you. How, why?" Kagome asked confused, Hiro was the sweetest man and so helpful she just couldn't wrap her head around such an awful thing.
"I was out with father surveying the aftermath of the latest war at the time. We did all kinds of things to help the local villages out as best we could. This particular day was very tiresome. When I arrived home I cleaned up, ate, and went straight to bed. My mistake was feeling safe and comfortable in our home. I left my door open and the window to let the breeze blow through. I remember it was hot that summer." Hiro said thinking back on that night a lost look in his eyes looking at the window in Sesshomaru's study but not seeing the present.
"I was sleeping quiet peacefully. The cool breeze of night lulling me into a false sense of security. I awoke in horrible pain staring up at my brother, whom had just stabbed me." Hiro said pulling down his top slightly to rub against the old scar on his upper chest. "I asked him what in the hell was happening, his response was that I stole his life from him. He again tried to stab me with his sword, idiot had a full sword and was awkward and off balance. We scuffled for a few moments and I gained several wounds before I kicked him off knocking him unconscious when his head hit the floor. I knew I would never be safe, I would always be watching my back so I left. I heard my father searched for me and that my brother had claimed he had tried to catch the intruder that took me." Hiro said then looked back at Sesshomaru, Kagome, and Inuyasha.
"My god that's horrible." Kagome said as she looked at Hiro shocked.
"So you can never return home." Sesshomaru said as he sat up in his chair straighter.
"Well I can, but I won't unless Kuro pushes me to it." Hiro said with a small frown.
"You understand what will happen thought right?" Sesshomaru asked seriously looking up at Hiro worried about the courtship now.
"I understand perfectly young one." Hiro said looking down at Sesshomaru with a sad look on his face.
"Well I don't." Kagome said looking back and forth between the two confused.
"If Hiro returns to the North, Kuro and his whole line with be annihilated." Inuyasha said seriously.
"And that includes Shippou and any kits he would have with Sachi." Sesshomaru said seriously wondering if he should do one of two things that had just popped into his mind. First he could cancel the courtship or second he could kill Hiro right here and now to get rid of the threat.
Kagome sucked in air shocked. "No." she said as she looked over at Hiro worried as he hand went up to cover her lips, she could feel the debate in Sesshomaru.
"I would never harm Shippou, of that you can be assured. I have refused to step foot into the Northern Lands for centuries, even refused to take a mate so that my line and claim to the throne dies with me. I have no intention of throwing the Northern line of succession into disarray." Hiro said understanding the problem Sesshomaru now has. "Young one if you no longer wish to keep my services my life is yours to take." he said staring at Sesshomaru curiously wondering what he would do.
Kagome and Inuyasha also turned to stare at Sesshomaru curiously. "Hn. You've put me in a difficult spot for sure Hiro." Sesshomaru said as he leaned back in his chair placing an elbow on the armrest and placing his thumb under his chin with his index finger at his mouth. He looked away from everyone for a moment thinking then his eyes shifted to Kagome curiously he could feel her anxiety over the matter then his eyes flickered to Inuyasha curiously. Surprisingly the boy had learned much over the last 10 years and he couldn't get a reading on him of his thoughts on this matter.
Sesshomaru leaned up in his seat again. "You have banished yourself from the North. If I allow this courting to continue, you will never be allowed home again. I will not allow you to cause harm to Shippou and my mate." he said looking over at Hiro wanting to emphasis this was his choice centuries ago and now he would have to live with the consequences.
"I understand my boundaries My Lord." Hiro said with a small nod to Sesshomaru.
"Then you may retain your duties Hiro, I would be saddened to see you go." Sesshomaru said seriously standing up to face Hiro across from him.
Hiro had a smile on his lips and gave Sesshomaru a small nod. "I would be saddened as well young one." he said with a small laugh.