Being a demoness of such high caliber, Kimi had never known illness a day in her very long life. The wretch currently simpering at her feet was doing his best to change that.
After Sesshoumaru's departure she had quickly made her presence known in court. Allowing herself to project the sense that she was holding back the tide of emotion and bearing up under a heavy strain, she mixed in with the assembled courtiers.
Everyone had sensed the missing Miko, and their Lord's distressed aura. There was no other topic of note to be discussed. Kimi wandered among them, listening to the whispers and rumors, and saying just enough to fuel the ones that served her purpose. (Namely that the lord had not survived the loss of his human mate.) And always with a face held carefully neutral, or covered by her fan to give the impression of hiding her emotions to keep order in the wake of tragedy.
Kagome had long ago proved her strength and ability to stand as Lady of The West. After a few foolhardy loudmouths had earned a taste of her purification the majority of them had accepted her leadership after that. Some had chosen to leave and were given free passage.
But of course there were always the few who felt they knew better how to run things or, like Jaken, bore a misguided and twisted loyalty to the former status quo. Those were the catch Kimi was trawling for and it didn't take long at all for the prize eel to land in her net.
Jaken had given her the name of the yokai behind it all and she wasn't sure whether it was good or bad fortune when he had almost immediately appeared, groveling at her feet.
Yukotsu was a low tier brown inu who had always been the sort to think smarmy compliments and fulsome niceties were a good way to ingratiate himself. She always felt the urge to bathe after being forced to speak to him.
"Oh, esteemed Lady Mother!" She swore the words literally oozed from his mouth as he dramatically bowed before her. "How terribly unfortunate this all is. I was only too sad and sorry to hear of our dear Lord Sesshoumaru's misfortune."
Kimi had to fight not to sneer at his obsequious attentions. His trite little mouth spouting the exact same tired sympathies as every other wretch in the place. Pushing that aside she inclined her head graciously as he rose.
"It is, indeed, something I would have happily lived my long life without experiencing."
"To be sure, my lady, it is a tragedy indeed that you have been forced to endure such egregious trials. If only your son had shown more prudence. Such a terrible shame. I only wish I had been in a position to be of more assistance before this all came to pass."
'Self-important little toady.' "Hn, that is a topic upon which I myself had many discussions with my son before he claimed his little human mate."
"Aaah, such a wise and loving mother. I cannot imagine what you have suffered these years since he chose to cast that wisdom aside. Truly your strength is to be commended my lady. To have borne up under such duress and ignominy for so long. And to do it all without a steadfast partner by your side. You are truly a paragon of majesty."
How could he stuff so many words in his mouth without gagging on them? Kimi wondered. He had since risen from his bow and was now standing far closer than she wanted, with an expectant gleam in his eye.
Kimi was grateful for the fan that currently hid her features as she couldn't fight the grimace that he inspired. Schooling her face into an expression of reserved but gracious solemnity she spoke, "You flatter me sir, but in truth I fear my strength is lacking this day. I cannot bring myself to face the court any further today. Perhaps a walk in the garden would do me some good."
As expected he pounced upon the opening she left. Bowing again he reached for her arm saying, "What an excellent notion, my lady. Please allow me to escort you, that I may be on hand to assist you should your ladyship require anything."
As his hand grasped her arm to guide her towards the gardens Kimi inwardly seethed at his touch. Sesshoumaru owed her for this one. All through the halls and out into the garden Yukotsu continued to pour sycophantic platitudes out of his mouth with every breath.
He kept up his inane chatter until they had made their way deep into the garden, away from any other courtiers. Kimi was expecting to have to carefully steer the conversation in order to get any useful information out of the man, but to her surprise he suddenly stopped walking, stopped talking, and released his grip on her arm.
Glancing over at him she realized that he had also dropped the obsequious demeanor he normally wore, trading it for something far more self-posessed and calculating. With a shallow bow he spoke again.
"Thank you Lady Kimi for providing us with the chance to at last speak privately. Though I am accustomed through years of long use, I do not find the mask of that banal persona comfortable. It is a relief to speak openly at last."
One slim eyebrow arched high. "Indeed, Yukotsu? And what is it you wish to say to me that cannot be said within the halls of the palace?"
"Nothing, I suspect, that you have not already surmised. While my condolences were sincere, for this entire situation is indeed a tragedy, there is yet merit to be found in the situation.
"Your ladyship has made no secret of your opinion regarding your son's choice of mate. There are many in the court who agree with you, myself included. The Miko may have been powerful but still she was just a human, with human weaknesses. In no way fit to rule over such a noble house as this."
Kimi tilted her head, acknowledging nothing but encouraging him to continue. Never interrupt your opponent when they choose to monologue.
"I was pleased when Sesshoumaru took over the rule of the West. He seemed to have learned from the mistakes of his forebears and looked to be a promising young leader. As such I was content in my role, despite being a lower ranking member of the court. For a strong leader elevates all. Though of course I took care to maintain that most important air of cordiality between us, lest we should drift apart."
The overly-familiar gleam in his eyes had Kimi fanning herself briskly to keep him from moving in closer. Undeterred, he continued.
"But then came his alliance with that half-breed. Allowing the whelp to roam free in the palace, forcing you to endure his disgraceful presence in your own home. A constant reminder of your lord husband's betrayal."
Did he really think bringing that up would ingratiate himself to her?!
"And as if that weren't bad enough the presence of the half-breed brought the humans. Surely, I thought, surely the young lord will not allow the reputation of the West to sink any further. Even making allowances for his father's blood, any further disgrace surely couldn't happen!"
Kimi fought down the urge to stab him with her fan. He was getting agitated now, forgetting to consider his words, and so long as she gave him enough rope, he would swiftly hang himself.
"But then! Then he announces his intentions of taking a human mate, a miko no less! And those who were brave enough to speak out against the match were murdered, at the very hands of his little human pet!
"This was too much, this was not to be borne! I knew that something must be done, but alas, I am well aware of my own shortcomings. I can admit that. But what I lack in power I make up for in patience. I knew that if I bided my time an opportunity would present itself. And at last it did!
"When Sesshoumaru traveled to the North for the treaty talks he planned to leave his pet in her old village. There could be no more perfect time to strike, and so I did! For you my lady, and the good of the Western lands!
"As much as I mourn the loss of yet another great and promising Lord, I must rejoice at the opportunity we have been provided. For now, at last we may work together to restore the honor of the West!"
His chest was heaving, a manic gleam in his eyes, and Kimi went very still. Her voice carefully controlled to sound coolly curious. Softly smiling she asked; "However did you accomplish such a feat? It would not have been an easy task."
Her seeming acceptance calmed him a bit. Taking a breath he smoothed his hair and straightened his kimono before continuing.
"No, indeed it was not. Much time and many preparations were required, not least of which the methods to prevent his lordship from learning of what we were doing. This has been years in the planning. Happily there are many members of the household who are loyal to the West first and foremost who were willing to help me.
"Your son was very powerful, a fact that I had sincerely hoped would mean he could easily withstand the breaking of the mating bond. Despite everything I truly was deeply saddened to learn that he too had succumbed.
"And while I know how terribly it must pain you to have lost your son, just as his father, to a human, I do hope it will be of some comfort to you to know that I am here and willing to turn my hand to whatever task you may need me to assist you with. No matter how trivial, or how great."
And with a smile dripping with self-satisfaction he took Kimi's hand and bowed low before her again, clinging to her hand as he awaited her response.
'It would be so simple,' Kimi thought, 'to simply drive my fan through the back of his neck and kill him here and now.' But there was still more to learn, and she did not have the right to claim his death.
Swallowing down the bile rising in her throat, she squeezed his hand and bid him to rise, saying,
"Your loyalty to the West and its interests are truly unmatched and undeniable. And your offer of support moves me in ways I cannot put into words, but, it is as you said. The loss of my son and the reasons for it, pain me more deeply than I can say or show. For today, I ask please that you go about your business here as though nothing were changed and I shall send for you when I am better recovered."
With another bow and yet more cloying professions of adulation and partnership (clearly not every aspect of his personality had been a facade), Yukotsu finally left Kimi alone. Kimi went in search of something to kill to relieve her feelings.
For the next few days Kimi invited Yukotsu to take tea with her in the afternoons, using the time to confirm everything Jaken had told her. With silken looks and honeyed words she skillfully pumped him for information on everyone involved in his schemes, from the maids who had gathered the rare fallen hair from Sesshoumaru's chambers, the guards who gave info on Kagome's level of combat training, right up to the oh so loyal retainer Jaken, who provided info on all his lord and lady's doings and where best to enact their plans.
He reaffirmed everything she had already heard from Jaken. Only this time it was worse. The toad had been unlikeable and annoying, but he had truly loved his lord, however misguided and twisted his loyalty had become, Yukotsu cared only for the reputation of the West and his own advancement. And where Jaken's confession had come with humility and regret, Yukotsu's came with bravado and ego.
Still Kimi endured his presence, lulling him into a false sense of security, letting him think he had scored a great victory. Bolstering his ego with promises of a seat of honor at her side when they held the funeral feast for Sesshoumaru. Until at last she felt Sesshoumaru's return.
He had hidden his aura so no one would sense it, but Kimi recognized him when he passed through her barrier, and was eager to return to her family and learn if he was successful in his mission.
It took her another 15 minutes to disengage herself from Yukotsu's dubious company before she was finally able to return to the family wing.
Hurtling along passageways she reached the hallway outside of her chambers just in time to feel her barrier tremble and waver. Her expression mirroring the fear on the faces of the companions waiting there.
Inside the room, two bodies collapsed onto the bed.