"Have you all calmed down enough to discuss today's events?"
Kagome, seated behind Sesshoumaru on a plush cushion, hid a grin as her fingers deftly worked through the strands of his long silver hair, weaving them into a neat braid. There was something undeniably amusing about this scene—an imposing demon lord holding court like an imperious headmaster while his unruly charges sat across from him like chastened students.
In front of Sesshoumaru's grand desk sat Katsu, Makaira, Masaru, and, inexplicably, Shinobu. The young bear demon had insisted on joining the meeting, claiming he was there to support Masaru. However, the way he squirmed in his chair suggested he hadn't anticipated being included in what felt like a formal reprimand.
Makaira, her arms crossed and her green eyes still flashing with lingering irritation, as if daring anyone to provoke her further. Katsu, by contrast, sat stiffly, his hands clasped in front of him, exuding a mixture of resignation and discomfort. Masaru and Shinobu, both younger and clearly out of their depth, exchanged furtive glances, their expressions caught somewhere between guilt and apprehension.
Kagome tugged lightly on Sesshoumaru's hair to stifle her laughter. "You know," she whispered teasingly, "you're really leaning into this 'disappointed father figure' vibe."
Sesshoumaru tilted his head slightly toward her, his golden eyes flicking to the side in a silent acknowledgment of her comment before refocusing on the group. His presence alone demanded attention, and when he finally spoke again, his tone left no room for argument.
"Let us begin with the most pressing matter," Sesshoumaru said, his gaze sweeping over them. "General Katsu, do you understand the gravity of the responsibility that has been asked of you?"
Katsu nodded. "I do, my lord. But my loyalty lies with the West and I will not take on such a role without your command to do so."
Makaira rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath that earned her a sharp look from Sesshoumaru.
"And you," Sesshoumaru continued, turning his attention to Makaira. "Your concerns are valid, but disrupting the hall served only to undermine your mate and embarrass your family and mine."
The demoness clenched her jaw, but she dipped her head in acknowledgment, a begrudging concession to his authority.
Kagome finished braiding Sesshoumaru's hair and tied it off neatly before sitting up and resting her chin lightly on his shoulder. "Don't go too hard on them," she said with a smile.. "They're just trying to figure it all out."
Sesshoumaru gave a nearly imperceptible sigh, his expression softening for the briefest of moments. "Masaru, Shinobu," he addressed the two younger demons, "if you wish to take on ambassadorial roles, you will need to prove your capabilities. This is not a position for sentiment or personal gain."
Masaru's blush deepened, and Shinobu sat up straighter, both nodding in unison.
"Good," Sesshoumaru said, his tone final. "I want this matter settled as quickly as possible so we can be rid of our guests. General, we will spare at dawn and speak more then. For now you are all dismissed"
As the group filed out, Kagome pressed a quick kiss to Sesshoumaru's cheek. "You're such a softie," she teased, earning her a low growl of warning that only made her laugh.
Sesshoumaru pulled his Little Goddess into his lap, wrapping his arms around her as he buried his face against her neck. His warm breath brushed her skin as he released a heavy sigh. "I suspect Makaira will challenge Katsu's decision, and they will choose to remain here."
Kagome tilted her head, resting her cheek against his as her fingers absently traced the delicate curve of his pointed ear. "Do you really want him to leave?" she asked softly. "Being Warden of the South might be a temporary position, but it could keep him there for decades—maybe even centuries."
Her gentle touch earned her a low rumble of approval from Sesshoumaru, followed by a playful nip of his fangs against her shoulder. "Of course, I do not wish for him to leave," he admitted. "But should it become necessary, I could deny the dragons their request and appoint another in the General's place. It is within my rights to claim the South—and the East, for that matter. If I desired, I could raze both lands to ash and make their struggles irrelevant."
Kagome pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, her brow furrowing in disapproval. "There's no need to be so dramatic," she scolded.
Sesshoumaru's lips twitched, an almost imperceptible smile forming at her reaction. "Dramatic? This One merely speaks of possibilities."
She scoffed and moved away from his touch, though the corners of her mouth quirked upward. "Well, your 'possibilities' sound more like a supervillain monologue than actual solutions."
"Supervillain?" he echoed, raising a brow.
"It's a future thing," Kagome said with a shrug. "But let's focus on what's actually important here. Do you trust Katsu to handle the South? And if you don't want him to leave, why not tell him that?"
Sesshoumaru tilted his head slightly, his expression thoughtful. "Trust is not the issue. Katsu is capable, and his presence will ensure stability. However, his absence will be... noticed."
Kagome smiled softly and cupped his cheek, her thumb brushing over his markings. "Then tell him that, Sesshoumaru. You're his lord, but you're also his friend."
Sesshoumaru leaned into her touch and closed his eyes. "Perhaps you are right."
"Of course I'm right," Kagome teased, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss to his lips. "Now, no more talk of burning things to the ground, okay?"
He hummed in response, his hand slipping into her hair as he deepened the kiss, his earlier frustration melting away under her touch. "You have a way of silencing even the most destructive thoughts, my Little Goddess," he murmured against her lip.
Kagome smiled against his mouth, her fingers slipping into his silver hair. "Good. Then let's keep it that way."
The clash of swords echoed across the rolling fields of the Western lands, their metallic song piercing through the dawn. Sesshoumaru and Katsu moved like specters in the mist, their figures blurred by sheer speed. The sun had barely crested the horizon when they began their sparring, but even as it climbed higher into the sky, painting the morning with soft golds and blues, the two warriors showed no signs of slowing.
Atop a nearby hill, Kagome and Makaira sat on a thick blanket spread across the dew-kissed grass. A tray of tea and fresh fruit rested between them, untouched. Their attention was fixed on the scene below—two males locked in combat.
"They've been at it for hours," Kagome murmured, her voice laced with both awe and concern.
Makaira chuckled, reclining lazily on one elbow. "This is nothing for them. If anything, they're just warming up." Her emerald eyes sparkled. "You should see Katsu when he's truly unleashed."
Kagome glanced at her with a raised brow but said nothing, turning her gaze back to the fight. Sesshoumaru's strikes were precise, almost surgical in their elegance, while Katsu countered with raw, unyielding force. The ground beneath them bore the scars of their duel, but neither seemed to notice or care.
As the sun climbed higher, a soft breeze carried the faint rustle of silk. Kagome turned her head just as Lady Luanling and Lady InuKimi approached, their movements annoyingly graceful as always.
"Ladies," Makaira greeted with a smirk, sitting up straighter. "Come to enjoy the show?"
Luanling smiled, her mercury colored eyes flicking to the sparring men below. "Indeed. It is rare to see such a display of power and skill. Your mates are... enthralling."
Kagome flushed at the phoenix lady's bluntness, but Makaira's grin widened. "Oh, they're more than captivating, Lady Luanling. You're just seeing the tip of the iceberg."
Luanling tilted her head slightly, her white hair cascading over one shoulder like a shimmering curtain. "Dog demons have a certain… masculine dominance that my kind lacks. Phoenix males are slender, often flamboyant, more concerned with elegance than ferocity. Witnessing such unrestrained strength is… refreshing." Her gaze lingered on Sesshoumaru for a moment too long much to Kagome's dismay.
InuKimi let out a soft laugh, her fan snapping open with a delicate flick of her wrist. "Toga was much the same. Playful at times, but roguish and wild when provoked. It's a quality unique to our breed, I suppose."
"I-I think Sesshoumaru's strength is more about control than being wild," Kagome stammered, trying to redirect the topic.
Makaira, however, had other plans. Leaning in with a devilish glint in her eye, she said, "Control, huh? Oh, sweetheart, let me tell you something about control." She paused to watch as her mate removed his haori to reveal his chiseled physique before continuing, "Push a dog demon too far, and that so-called 'control' flies right out the window. Katsu's beast makes sure I know exactly who's in charge. Let's just say there's a reason I wake up sore after being kept on my hands and knees all night."
Kagome choked on air, her face turning an even deeper shade of red. "Makaira!" she hissed, mortified.
Covering her mouth with a delicate hand, Luanling's laughter was light and melodic like a songbird. "What a… vivid picture you paint. How delightfully bold of you."
"Makaira is merely stating facts. I'm sure my dear Kagome has already found that Sesshoumaru has a similar... inclination when provoked." InuKimi teased.
Kagome wanted to disappear into the earth. Her face burned so red she could practically feel the heat radiating from her skin. She buried her face in her hands and groaned. "Why are we even talking about this?"
Makaira leaned back, completely unbothered, and gave Kagome a teasing nudge with her elbow. "Oh, come on, it's all part of being mated to a dog demon. Consider it a rite of passage."
Kagome muttered something unintelligible into her palms, vowing to never let these three sit together unsupervised again.
The sun now sat high in the sky and while Lady Luanling was describing in vivid detail Lord Homura's mating techniques, Sesshoumaru and Katsu stood a few feet apart with their swords lowered and breathing steady despite the hours of relentless sparring.
Sesshoumaru regarded Katsu coolly as he sheathed his blade. "What have you decided?" he asked with a bluntness the General was used to.
Katsu wiped the back of his hand across his brow, smearing a streak of dirt across his face. Despite his exhaustion, he straightened his posture, his hazel eyes meeting Sesshoumaru's without hesitation. "I would be honored to take on the role as Warden of the South," he began. "But not without your approval, my lord. If you wish for me to remain here, I will. Without question."
The demon lord didn't respond immediately. He turned his head slightly, his gilded gaze drifting toward the hill where the females sat. Their soft laughter and the occasional sound of Kagome's voice reached his ears, even from this distance.
His eyes found her easily, sitting among the others with her legs tucked neatly beneath her. She was blushing furiously as she stared at her lap, avoiding the amused gazes of the women around her. It was clear their conversation had taken a turn—one Sesshoumaru could easily guess. InuKimi's fan snapped closed as she chuckled, and Makaira's shoulders shook with laughter as she no doubt added more fuel to the fire.
For a moment, Sesshoumaru allowed himself to consider an alternative path. If Kagome were not here—if she were not part of his life—he might have commanded Katsu to stay. It was his duty, after all, to the West and to Sesshoumaru himself. That was the way of things, as it had always been. Loyalty was absolute; deviation was weakness.
But then his gaze returned to Kagome. She was so out of place in this world of power struggles and ancient traditions, and yet she fit perfectly. Her presence had disrupted the flow of his life, unraveling the rigidity he had clung to for centuries. And despite the turmoil, she had brought something unexpected with her: change.
He had once resented the very idea of it. But now? Watching her laugh and blush among his kin and allies, he couldn't deny that change had brought him more than he had ever anticipated.
"Do as you please," Sesshoumaru finally said.
Katsu's eyes widened, surprised by the uncharacteristic lack of command in the statement. "My lord?"
Sesshoumaru's gaze returned to his friend, the corners of his mouth tilting upward in the barest hint of a smirk. "You have the West's full support. If you choose to accept this role, know that you will always be welcomed back."
Relief and gratitude washed over Katsu's and he bowed deeply. "Thank you, my lord. Your trust honors me."
Sesshoumaru gave a slight nod and turned, signaling for Katsu to follow. Without a word, they began walking toward the barracks, leaving the echo of laughter behind them.