A/N: Please check this story out on Ao3, as there are several art pieces that go along with it. They're stunning!
Considering what she knew of the queen, which was, in fact, very little, Kagome was surprised when the retelling of their adventure became a production. She'd thought they'd be swept away to a back room to talk in private, but after he led her to a lavish seat at a table with his mother, Sesshoumaru took centre stage in front of the court and began to recount their tale.
She'd also thought it would start when her uncle had magically appeared at the top of their clock, but it went back further, soon causing Kagome to lean closer to the queen for clarification. "Who's Inuyasha?" she asked.
The queen sighed, the snap of her fan making Kagome jump. "My dear son's half-brother." When that didn't answer Kagome's gnawing curiosity, she continued, "Youkai do not adhere to human norms when selecting a mate. Wolves thrive in packs, as do phoenixes and dragons."
"But not inuyoukai?" Kagome asked, interest peaked. Her eyes never left Sesshoumaru as he reenacted a previous battle against his brother. He was so fluid in his movements, fashioning details with nothing but a swirl of his body. She couldn't even tell he was missing an arm when he spun.
The queen paused, giving her a knowing look when Kagome finally met her gaze. Heat rose to her face, but she straightened her shoulders, and the royal chuckled. "With our extended lifespans, it is more likely that we will choose a single partner."
"Likely, but not a guarantee," Kagome said, catching on.
The queen got a faraway look on her face, her eyes moving past her son to the horizon, peeking through a large bay window. "There have been a few circumstances when a second mate is chosen, though it must be agreed upon by both parties, as they will be shared." Melancholy, soft and fleeting, surrounded her aura, leeching away any warmth from the morning sun, and Kagome automatically covered the queen's hand with her own.
There was a spark of power and a flash of raven hair and expensive silk as sombre eyes appeared in Kagome's mind, her other hand flying to her mouth in shock. "Iza—"
The queen's hand flexed, and she tried to pull away, but Kagome latched onto the connection, holding her hands against the table to avoid bringing attention to themselves. Taking a breath, and hoping she wasn't insulting royalty, she inclined her head. "She misses you too, Your Majesty," she said softly.
Golden eyes narrowed. "You dare to assume—"
"I don't assume!" she hissed, keeping her head bowed. "I've tried talking to her, but she has been just as lost the entire time I've known her. She—" Kagome bit her lip, casting a fleeting look at her beloved nutcracker. "If I'd known this was where we were going, I would've brought her to you. She misses you," she emphasized.
The queen's chest continued to rise and fall, giving away none of her inner turmoil, and she slowly withdrew her hand. "As well-placed as your heart is, it would not have been possible. Humans cannot survive here."
Kagome stiffened, the wariness clawing at her insides since they arrived expanding into icy dread. She'd wanted to believe it wasn't a dream, but the longer she spent amongst the sweet-smelling castle walls only served to remind her that she would eventually wake up. "I'm here," she whispered.
"You are no mere human," the queen replied, leaning back in her chair.
Desperation growing, Kagome tried a different approach. "Uncle Touga could help," she said, keeping her voice low. "His magic—"
"Do you not think he has tried?" the queen countered. "Even being mated to her did not save her from Onigumo's malice. Inuyasha remains cursed due to Touga's arrogance."
"And Sesshoumaru?" She almost didn't want to know, but his story unfolded in front of them against her will. Onigumo sought complete domination of the Lands of Sweets, poisoning as many minds as he could, including Inuyasha's. The younger brother had shifted into something unrecognizable, and even Sesshoumaru hadn't remained unscathed, though he managed to subdue him.
His claws cut through the air as he leapt and spun, recounting the victory, though he didn't view it as one. Due to their diminished capacities, Onigumo struck again, using Sesshoumaru's poison against him to keep him separated from his comrades.
Touga had no choice but to transform his sons.
Tears swam in her eyes as she watched, her power reaching out to him, but a sudden smack of the queen's fan against her arm had it snapping back like an elastic. "Watch yourself, little one. You would not want to bring any unwanted attention to yourself." Kagome straightened, glancing around the room for anyone suspicious, but a snort had her returning to the queen. "They would not be so bold as to invade court after their master was vanquished."
"I thought you said humans couldn't survive here."
"So I did," the queen said with a nod. "But, if you remember, he is capable of manipulating many creatures." She waved an elegant hand toward the crowd. An involuntary shiver crept up Kagome's spine at the memory of the orchestrated rats and shadows.
Looking around, she suddenly remembered Sango and Miroku, eventually finding them seated at another table. She opened her mouth to question it, but the queen beat her to the punch.
"They, like you, delve into the supernatural and are not full-blooded humans." She rose to her feet, cutting off any response Kagome might have with a bout of applause for her son's performance. "It seems you have been holding out on us, dear son. I have never seen you dance with such vigour before this day."
His gaze unabashedly met Kagome's, hand clasped behind his back as he bowed. "Perhaps I had no reason to before today."
A buzzing started in her ears, leaving her warm and tingly as he continued to stare at her. "You were beautiful," she murmured.
"Agreed," the queen cut in. "But incomplete." She waved her hands, power swirling around his head, much like the snow fairies, and a gleaming crown sat atop his head. "Welcome home, my son." The crowd applauded, the sound deafening, but Kagome heard none of it, unable to tear her eyes away.
His expression softened, and he extended his hand in invitation. "Join me, and we will show them true beauty."
Kagome flushed but couldn't hide her smile as he pulled her from her chair. The layers of her skirt seemed to have a mind of their own as he led her around the table and onto the dance floor. A hush came over the crowd as they waited on bated breath. Never before had the prince taken a partner.
Royalty akin to gods, both male and female alike, would attempt to catch his gaze, offering jewels and land to sway his hand. But the prince had remained steadfast, expression impassive as colours and chiffon swirled past him.
But not now.
Now, he was leading a dark-haired beauty around the floor as if they were two halves of the same whole, the fabric of her dress curling around him as if it were always meant to do so.
Kagome's head spun as she gripped his arm, using him for balance, though she hardly needed it. She felt weightless, each movement effortless as legs and arms were held aloft.
He was right behind her after a particularly difficult spin, his hand on her waist to steady her before her leg extended well above her shoulder. It had taken her current dance partner almost a week before he didn't get smacked in the face with her pointe shoe. She looked up at him questioningly, and he smirked, turning them in tandem as they moved across the floor.
"You act as if this is the first time I have seen you dance, Kagome," he said, taking care not to ruffle her dress.
"Well, there was that time in the forest, but that hardly seems like—"
"And the night of the party?"
She blinked several times before her face flamed, remembering galloping around the room with him clutched in her arms. "You were awake for that?"
"Hnn."
They leapt away from each other, then spun around an invisible barrier before meeting up again. "One might call that cheating," she whispered.
"One might be mistaken in thinking I would not use every advantage in order to secure your place at my side," he countered. The music fell away, the buzzing in her ears returning as she stared up at him. There was no grand finale, no declaration of devotion, just the brush of his lips against her knuckles. "Stay."
The queen's warning of humans not surviving was quickly squashed by her admission of Kagome's less-than-normal heritage, and she tried to control her breathing as Sesshoumaru turned her hand around to place another kiss in the middle of her palm. He said nothing else, though his eyes were an entire story unto themselves, and Kagome's chest squeezed painfully.
She wanted to. Oh, how she wanted to. Nothing in that moment seemed to matter but him; not her family, not her career, not her need to travel. All she wanted was him.
But she knew she couldn't.
As much as her entire being screamed to stay, to say yes, reality was a harsh mistress. He had just as many obligations to his land as she had at home. The dream would end, leaving her with nothing but a wooden toy.
A chill settled into her heart, but she suddenly realized it was coming from around them. Sesshoumaru tucked her against his side as an ominous mist crept into the room. The queen was instantly on her feet, barking orders at nearby soldiers, and gleaming weapons surrounded them protectively as the courtiers were safely led away.
The sinister mauve smoke covered their feet, nothing like the snow-covered banks that welcomed them into the castle. Kagome wrapped an arm around Sesshoumaru's waist, power sparking, and the mist rippled like waves.
"So much praise for such a measly little thing," someone said, the familiarity of it making both of them tense. "I will not underestimate you a second time." There was a flash, and the queen brandished her fan like a weapon, sending the layer of mist scuttling away. It rolled into a ball, soon taking the form of a man in the middle of the floor, armour clinking in harmony as the soldiers turned in unison.
"Those without an invitation will soon find themselves in pieces," the queen announced, eyes blazing.
The mist stilled, the figure hovering just out of focus before tendrils shot out of it, forming violently purple tentacles a moment before they wrapped around the soldiers' feet. Some of them cried out as they were yanked into the air, spears clattering to the ground before an arrow of light cut them loose.
Kagome stood tall, skirt fluttering as she drew back her bow, ready to launch another. "How did you find us?" she demanded. "How did you survive?"
The mist rippled again, and the figure finally took corporal form in the shape of a man with long dark hair and blue robes. A foreboding crimson eye sat in the middle of his chest, his armour spider-like as spines grew along his shoulders. "The doubt in your heart left a delicious trail, little miko. You were not hard to find."
"You died," she argued. "You were human! We all saw it!"
The man smirked, unfazed by the swarm of soldiers around him. "Perhaps you will remain a little longer next time. Though my human body perished, my darling followers were so disheartened to see me go that they all willingly lay down their existence to keep me alive."
Kagome shuddered, hand clenching around her pearlesque bow. No. She'd seen him go up in flames. His aura had completely disappeared.
"State your name, intruder!" the queen demanded, power flaring. "So that we may speak of it after your demise."
Dark lips pulled back over a row of sharp teeth, crimson eyes glowing with malice. "I am called Naraku."