Inuyasha
Love's War
Chapter 19
Revealed
March 11, 2023
Lady Hoshi of the Northern Lands sat in this third story room of the Western Castle seriously confused and irritated. It was the middle of the night in the early morning hours after the ball. "I want to know exactly who you are." she said while staring at this older fox suspiciously.
"Lady Hoshi, you need to speak with your mate about this subject." Hiro said politely in his normal soft voice. He had no wish to harm Kuro or his family, but his actions were required to stop Kuro from beginning another war so soon after exiting the last war.
"I have, he refuses to speak on the matter." Hoshi said exasperated with a huff.
"Then maybe Lady Hoshi, you should drop the subject." Hiro suggested with a small frown.
"I have no idea who you are, nor am I scared of you like my mate. Tell me what I want to know. Who are you?" Hoshi said angrily as she glared at this Fox who dared to tell her what to do.
"I am not someone to fear, Lady Hoshi. I mean you no harm. Let's just say your mate and I have a past." Hiro said with a small sigh, he really didn't believe this line of logic would work but he was running out of ideas.
"I am Lady of the North, I have every right to know my mate's past. Especially when it shows up out of the blue turning him into a coward." Hoshi said as she stood up tall and elegant releasing a small amount of her aura to prove her point.
"Fine. I am the rightful ruler of the North." Hiro said with a frown on his lips as he leaned back into his chair putting his quill down and looking up at her.
"The what?" Hoshi said shocked as she sat down looking at this fox confused. Her mate is the rightful ruler of the North, the second son of Lord Koji, the first had been murdered long ago. "You are lying." she accused.
"I am not. I am Hiro, first son of the former Lord of the North Koji and Lady Emiko." Hiro said as he just continued to sit there and watch her for her reactions. He could feel Sesshomaru and Kagome heading for him due to the release of Hoshi's aura in his room.
"He died. He was murdered." Hoshi said with tears building in her eyes, this couldn't be happening.
"I was attacked in my sleep, but I got away from my attacker." Hiro said vaguely not wanting to reveal his brother to his mate this way.
"My mate is the ruler of the North. The only ruler of the North, there is no other line of succession." Hoshi said defiantly willing the truth to be false.
"Your mate is the Lord of the North." Hiro said nodding to her as his door opened to reveal Sesshomaru and Kagome.
"Hiro are you alright?" Kagome asked curiously glancing between the two of them worried.
"I am fine, thank you for asking My Lady." Hiro said with a sad smile on his lips.
"I don't understand, why does Kuro fear you? I have never seen him like this?" Hoshi asked after glancing over at Sesshomaru and Kagome then returning her attention to Hiro.
"Lady Hoshi any answers you receive from me will not make your life better, happier, or complete. Can we please let the matter rest?" Hiro asked hoping that Hoshi would drop the matter, but knowing that she wouldn't be able to, the answers she required would ruin her whole understanding of her mate.
"No! I must know what is happening! I can not help my mate if I don't have the answers. Why is he terrified of you?" Hoshi said agitated she didn't understand why everyone was denying her the answers.
"Very well, as I stated earlier, I am Hiro, first son of Lord Koji and Lady Emiko. There was an attempt on my life while I was sleeping one night." Hiro said then sighed. "What I have been unwilling to reveal to you is your mate, my younger brother, was my attacker." he said sadly then watched as the emotions crossed behind her eyes.
"Kuro attacked you...Kuro tried to kill you..." Hoshi said in disbelief as she looked at Hiro trying to decide if he was lying. "Why?" she asked softly.
Hiro sighed again and looked up at the roof for a moment. "He said I had taken his life from him." he said sadly then looked back down at Hoshi.
"I don't understand. What was taken?" Hoshi asked confused.
"I am several decades older than him, but somehow his mind had decided that he should have been the next in line. That my position should have been his. He wanted it so bad he was willing to kill me to take it, so I left and let him have the position, I didn't want to see him killed. It would have broken my parents to have to put him to death for trying to kill me." Hiro said with a sad look in his eyes. He had never intended on revealing this information to Hoshi or his nieces but having to step in last night left no real options.
"So, your threat to return North was..." Hoshi said as she looked at him totally devastated. She knew her mate was conniving but never suspected he was capable of killing his own brother.
"Just a threat to make him act right." Hiro said as he leaned up out of his chair. "I have no intention of making you or my nieces pay for his sins Lady Hoshi. I have never stepped foot in the North since he attempted to murder me. I may deal with him one day, but I shall do so without endangering you or your kits. Not that he needs to know that." he said honestly as he watched her closely.
"Everything has been a lie." Hoshi said as she leaned back into her chair. Her eyes moving rapidly as her mind ran through every conversation she had had with Kuro about his elder brother.
"Lady Hoshi." Hiro said as he stood up and walked around the desk and grabbed one of her hands as he squatted down beside her. "You have made him a better man. I believe had he met you before my departure the event would never have happened. He genuinely loves you and your daughters. I didn't want to see your lives ruined which is why I have stayed in the West." he said softly.
"I have much to think on." Hoshi said as she looked up at him. She stood up and made her way to the door. "And you knew all of this and just let my life play out in a lie?" she asked harshly of Sesshomaru and Kagome.
"I assure you Lady Hoshi my mate and I found out last night after you and Kuro left my study." Sesshomaru said as he watched her impassively.
"I had no idea that any of this was happening. I was shocked a couple of hours ago when this all came to light." Kagome said as she looked at Hoshi standing in front of her.
"And the courtship agreement, what will happen now? With him here as your weapon you can destroy the North with just tossing him back into the North." Hoshi said holding her head high as she changed her attention from Kagome back up to Sesshomaru.
"Hiro is no weapon of the West." Sesshomaru said reassuringly. "I have no intention of intervening in the courtship agreement. Shippou and Sachi will decide for themselves if they are a good fit. Your opinions on the matter are always welcome." He said he was hoping to alleviate her worries.
"So, either way the West takes over the North. Very clever Sesshomaru." Hoshi said with tears in her eyes then began walking by them out into the hallway.
"Lady Hoshi." Sesshomaru said as he stepped out into the hall behind her to get her to stop and look at him. "I have no claim on the North nor do I want the Northern Lands. If Shippou and Sachi agree to be mated that is their choice. If that happens and Shippou eventually becomes Lord of the North, he will be just that Lord of the North. I have no wish to rule the North, Shippou will always have the support of the West there is no denying that, but I will not run his lands for him." he said as he stared at her impassively.
Hoshi looked at him for a moment then glanced at Kagome beside him then gave them a sad little nod before turning and walking away.
~*~*~*~ Later in the Morning~*~*~*~
Sesshomaru and Kagome had seen all the other Lords and Lady's off before breakfast, unsurprisingly Lady Hoshi and her two girls left not long after daybreak taking the guards with them leaving Kuro here in the West for several hours alone. He had left just a few minutes ago. He was very subdued but eager to leave, glancing back up the stairs, noticing Hiro at the top of the stairs staring at him.
"You know Hiro, I'm unsure how during all these centuries you have remained hidden from them?" Kagome said curiously as she walked over to the stairs to look up at him after Kuro left through the doors.
"My Lady it's easy to avoid someone when My Lord here refuses to do balls because they are a waste of time and energy. Since your arrival it has been harder but as you know I can hide my presence, a talent that Kuro never even tried to learn. I just avoid his presence while remaining in my room until he is gone." Kuro said as he made his way down the stairs to her.
"And showing yourself now?" Sesshomaru asked curiously with an eyebrow raised at the old fox.
"Young one, you and I both know had I not we would yet again be at war. We just got out of a 6-month war, Demon energy and stamina is great but not infinite, a war would have been a pain in the ass for our own warriors. Apologies My Lady for my language." Hiro said over to Sesshomaru then turned and bowed his head to Kagome.
"I've heard worse Hiro but thank you." Kagome said with a bright smile on her lips.
"We were trying to avoid that possibility." Sesshomaru said impassively glancing over to Kagome, she had dealt with his impossible brother for years before he, for lack of better words, grew up. The boy had cussed constantly around her.
"Well time for Sachi and Shippou to begin their courtship here for the next week, I guess." Kagome said with a bright smile glancing at Shippou walking into the castle from his morning training.
Shippou stopped and looked at everyone standing at the bottom of the stairs looking at him. He looked back to make sure there wasn't someone else they were looking at, which there wasn't. "What?" he asked curiously looking down at himself to make sure he wasn't filthy or something.
Kagome giggled. "It's time for your courtship to begin here, I'm sure Sachi is in the dining hall eating breakfast." she said as she motioned him towards the dining hall.
"Right." Shippou said nervously as he walked over to Kagome who had stepped away from Sesshomaru and Hiro waiting for him.
"Shippou." Sesshomaru said causing both Kagome and Shippou to turn and look at him curiously. "I expect your duties to continue as normal during her stay." he said impassively looking at them wondering if Kagome would object to this, surprisingly Kagome didn't.
"Yes sir." Shippou said looking up at him with a small smile on his lips. Then he and Kagome turned and continued into the dining room. "Good morning Sachi." he said with a slight pink tint on his cheeks.
"Good morning, Lady Kagome good morning Shippou." Sachi said when she looked back to see them walking into the room. "Lady Rin and Kohaku here has been lovely company this morning." she said motioning across the table to Rin who was sitting between Kohaku and Hikaru.
"And you Hikaru?" Kagome asked curiously with an eyebrow raised over to her son.
"I just arrived a few moments ago mother." Hikaru said looking up at her worried he wouldn't believe her.
"Hikaru your father and I have been standing at the bottom of the stairs." Kagome said tilting her head slightly wondering why he would lie to her.
"Lady Kagome Hikaru did just arrive." Kohaku said looking between the two curiously.
"It's true Lady Kagome." Sachi said quickly, wanting the boy to feel safe and believed.
"Hikaru came in through the kitchens." Rin said brightly over to Kagome.
"Very well." Kagome relented seeing she was outnumbered on the topic. "Rin dear has Sesshomaru finally agreed to your wedding date?" she asked sweetly as she sat down at the table.
"No." Rin said with a huff and a frown.
"I shall work on him some more dear Rin, not to worry he will come around." Kagome said with a bright smile.
"You're getting married? Is that the right term for human mating?" Sachi asked curiously looking around at everyone in the room curiously.
"Yes, that is the correct term. And yes, she's getting married to Kohaku here if Sesshomaru Sama would ever agree to a date." Shippou said over to Sachi.
"Does he not like the idea?" Sachi asked curiously wondering if this boy had made Sesshomaru mad somehow.
"He doesn't like parts of the idea. The Father giving away the bride is a human tradition, and he's not quite thrilled about the idea." Kagome said with a small giggle. "Nothing against you Kohaku he completely approves of you dear. Giving away Rin isn't something he wants to do." she said noticing the worried look on his face.
"Is that the problem?" Rin said with tears in her eyes. "He doesn't want to give me away?" she asked with a small smile on her lips. "I thought he had decided against our marriage." she said grabbing Kohaku's hand while staring over at Kagome happily.
"Oh no dear, he adores you and approves of Kohaku. He just needs a little nudge to get him through the ceremonial parts." Kagome said with a bright smile then a small giggle at how happy Rin and Kohaku seemed in that moment. silence enveloped the table for as the breakfast was being served to Kagome and Shippou.
"What are we discussing?" Sesshomaru asked curiously as he walked into the room then over to his seat at the table.
"Rins wedding." Hikaru said happily finally able to say something in the discussion.
Shippou snorted as he looked away from everyone at the table for a moment. "So Sesshomaru Sama do we have a date for said wedding?" he asked once he regained his composure and looked back up the table to his father figure.
Sesshomaru took a moment to glare at his mate who completely ignored him and continued eating her breakfast unfazed. "I will revisit the date in question at a later today." he said looking back down the table at Shippou.
"Sesshomaru Sama please, we would like to start our lives together." Rin said, looking up the table at him.
"Once married will you still live here in the castle?" Sachi asked curiously with a quick glance over to Sesshomaru.
"Oh no I will be living with Kohaku in his Demon Slayer Village. But I'm sure Sesshomaru Sama won't mind me stopping by to see my family and of course during war myself and our future children being safe here within the castle walls is a reassurance for me." Rin said using this conversation to beat around the bush that she would still be his young ward.
"Well of course, this castle will always be your home." Sesshomaru said impassively as he began to eat his breakfast as well.
"Where's uncle Inuyasha?" Hikaru asked curiously looking over at Inuyasha's empty seat.
"Inuyasha and Himeko was assisting in escorting Lady Hoshi and her other two daughters home, he also wanted to check on Priestess Hitomeko and the old Miko in Edo Village Kaede." Sesshomaru said over to his son.
"I believe he wanted to show off his mate to Kaede." Kagome said with a small grin and wink over to Shippou.
"That makes sense, they've been friends for a very long time." Shippou said with a nod of approval.
"Do you all seek out Priestess' to befriend them?" Sachi asked curiously, this was an odd demon family for sure.
"It's a very long story." Shippou said with a small laugh. "Inuyasha fell in love with Kikyou the Priestess guardian of Edo village and the Shikon jewel. Her sister is Kaede, Kagome falls into their family line somewhere. Then Hitomiko we helped rid her village of a very powerful demon on our travels to retrieve the Shikon shards. It took a lot of help to rid the world of that evil demon." he said glancing at Kagome when she coughed slightly. He had come up with this story a long time ago to conceal Kagome's true lineage when asked by his future mate.
"Wow, you've done a lot in your life so far. I've lived in a castle then was captured and held prisoner. I've not really lived I guess." Sachi said looking down at her plate.
"We did what we had to do to survive, Sachi." Kagome said with a small smile over at the girl.
"You carry a sword, Lady Kagome; do you fight with it?" Sachi asked curiously looking over at her.
"Yes, when I must. I prefer my bow, but I am well trained with my sword." Kagome said as she pushed her plate away from her showing she was done with breakfast.
"I would like to learn to defend myself better, so that I am not a burden later on in life to Shippou. Would that be possible?" Sashi asked hopefully looking at Kagome with eagerness.
"That is something that must be discussed with your father." Sesshomaru said taking over the conversation quickly before his mate could step into another sticky situation.
"Oh, he'll never agree to that." Sachi said looking down at the table sadly.
"We must begin our days." Sesshomaru said as he stood up from the table officially dismissing breakfast.
"Shippou wait a moment please." Kagome said as she reached out and grabbed his wrist. "He will be with you shortly Sesshomaru I must discuss today's events with him." she said glancing over to Sesshomaru who had stopped to look at them curiously.
"Very well, everyone else get on with your day please." Sesshomaru said then turned and continued out of the room without a care in the current discussion, if Kagome wanted him there, she would have asked him to stay as well.
"Now for lunch what do you have planned I must get it into motion once I've made sure the castle is running smoothly." Kagome said glancing back at the door to make sure her mate had gone while stretching her powers out ever so slightly to make sure he was out of ear shot. After so long together she had a pretty good idea how far away he needed to be inside the castle for her to have private discussions. "Have you thought about sharing your training time with Sachi? Even if it's just for her to watch?" she asked slyly with a small smirk on her lips.
"Kagome." Shippou chastised quietly with the same small smirk on his lips.
"I mean I can continue her dagger training specializing in defense against a sword." Kagome said with a glint in her eyes while looking up at her adopted son.
"You sure know how to stretch the rules. What will Sesshomaru Sama say?" Shippou asked curiously glancing at the door nervously like just saying his name would make him appear.
"Psh. I'll deal with him if need be." Kagome said with a wink and a dismissive wave of her hand.
"Really?" Sachi asked excitedly looking between the two of them.
"To be honest, once we were mated, I was going to have you trained with a sword and if you wished a bow." Shippou said with his cheeks and bridge of his nose turning red. "I must return to my duties. A picnic lunch in the garden I believe would be best." he said then turned to leave the room.
"Did i say something wrong?" Sachi asked curiously looking over at Kagome.
"No dear, making statements about being mated makes embarrasses him, you two are still quite young for Demons. He's not quite sure how to handle embarrassment yet so he just cuts off conversations and walks away." Kagome said with a soft smile. "He'll figure it out, not to worry." she said as she stood up then motioned for Sachi to follow her out of the room so the staff could get the room cleaned up.
"Yeah it's definitely a change." Sachi said honestly with pink cheeks.
"You can enjoy the gardens, explore the castle, your room, or join me in the library. I must begin Hikaru's studies for the day." Kagome said with a soft smile on her lips.
"I believe I will explore the castle." Sachi said with a small bow of her head then walked up the stairs.
"Just stay out of the West wing dear." Kagome said up the stairs and when she received a nod from Sachi she turned and walked down the hall past Sesshomaru's study to go into the Library.