Total Eclipse of the Heart

Total Eclipse of the Heart

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this fanfic except for certain characters such as Liana, Aya, Aki, etc. The characters of InuYasha are not mine; they are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. I make no profit from this fanfic.

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A/N: So, I am very pleased to see that this story is doing so well. I’ve been really touched by the reviews I have received on the three sites that this is on. The last chapter was especially hard for me to write and I’m so happy you guys liked it.

Ok, for those who are thinking that taking Kagome’s powers away is a bad thing…well, you’re right. I totally believe in the Ying and Yang of Miko and Youkai so please trust me on this! I’m not going to do something extreme…and I hate when storylines go that way!

Also, I want to give HUGE thanks to Monti who was very kind enough to draw Hisao for me! You can view him here:

http://www.paperdemon.com/art/view/23889

Please be sure to tell Monti what you think of her work!

Thanks Monti! *BIG HUGGLES!!!*

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Chapter Ten: The Youkai Decision

The room was deathly silent as many eyes followed the graceful form of the Western Lord. He simply walked around the miko, studying her small form, almost as if he had never laid eyes on this particular mortal before. He flicked her hair to the side at one point and watched as the young woman shivered. Curiously, there was no fear in her eyes. At least, not fear of harm from his person; he swirled to a stop behind her and moved his eyes across the lords and ladies in the room.

Kagome gulped rather loudly than she wanted, and she was sure Sesshomaru had heard it, nearly giggling when he shot his eyes over to her before looking back to the Youkai Court. She blushed at his short glare and gasped within herself at her actions.

Why in the world am I acting this away? Kagome pondered for the moment. Ever since Sesshomaru came and got me from Kaede-baba’s village, I’ve had this strange feeling growing within me. In fact, I’m starting to notice some outward changes happening to Sesshomaru! Her eyes shot behind her to Sesshomaru, who was still looking to the Court members and remaining very silent. I mean look at him; that jerk! He won’t stand up for me! Who are you kidding, Kagome? This is Sesshomaru we’re talking about. This is the demon who loathes humans. There’s no way-

“This Sesshomaru believes the miko should be allowed to keep her powers,” he stated and was certain he heard a squeak from the young girl.

“What?” This exclamation had erupted from everyone in a very shocked tone. Even his uncle had his eyes wide at the Western Lord’s statement.

“Hn,” Sesshomaru simply responded. He walked from behind Kagome and stood in front of her; almost as though he were protecting her. This caused most of the lords and ladies to look at one another. Lord Masanori raised his eyebrow and placed his feet on the floor to lean forward in his seat. “I had been there when this miko defeated Naraku. She has stood up to many demons, hanyous, and humans alike, but it was always in a way of protection for my insolent half-brother and the rest of their pack.”
He turned to look at Kagome. “This young miko has even stood up to this Sesshomaru; a thing not many have dared and survived.” Kagome rolled her eyes quickly and luckily, only Sesshomaru caught the small action and raised his eyebrow at her. “She had raised her arrow at me, threatened me, but this Sesshomaru believes she would have never harmed me, nor will she ever.” He turned back to the council.

“Whether or not that is true, Lord Sesshomaru, this Kagome has the power to kill any of us in a single second,” Lord Masanori questioned.

“It is unmistakable that this miko holds power, this is something even this Sesshomaru cannot deny, but it is unnecessary for the youkai to bind her powers.” He took a few steps toward the council. “Mikos are born with the power to kill youkai. We are given the power to kill them. We are NOT within our rights to take away a miko’s powers. By doing that, the miko’s should be given the same liberty to take away something just as important to us whether it is our youkai or our immortality.

“Council members, this Sesshomaru is not denying that there must be precautions taken with this miko. However, taking away her powers is something that we cannot and must not do,” he finished, glaring at them in an almost in a threatening way.

Kagome stared at him in awe, wanting nothing more than to rush up and hug him from behind. But she was sure that if she had done something like that, Sesshomaru would more than likely kill her for ‘touching his person.’ Why is he standing up for me? She thought to herself. Why? What do you have planned Sesshomaru?

“If we are to agree with what you have stated Lord Sesshomaru, then we must come to another agreement on what that precaution is,” Lady Tomoko stated as she tossed her hair to the side.

“Bind her to a youkai,” Hisao suddenly stated as his eyes met with Sesshomaru. The room once again erupted with arguments but Hisao turned to them and slammed his fist on the table, causing poor Kagome to jump. “Listen to me! When we agreed to allow my brother to mate with that human we had her bind to him in a way that a youkai mate is.” Most of them perked up at this idea; Lord Masanori snorted at it.

“Binding this miko to a simple youkai isn’t the answer, Lord Hisao,” Lord Masanori commented, holding up his chin in a defiant way.

Hisao smirked at the young snake lord. “I was not stating that we bind her to a ‘simple’ youkai, Lord Masanori,” he replied coolly.

“Then elaborate,” Lord Masanori mocked.

“Kagome will mate with a strong youkai,” Hisao responded quickly. “Possibly a youkai lord.”

“What?” the room exclaimed, including Kagome.

“Binding her to one of us?” Lord Masanori hissed. “You’ve gone mad, Lord Hisao.”

Sesshomaru let out a dangerous growl and raised his clawed hand toward Masanori. “Do not threaten those of my bloodline, Masanori.”

“Have you taken a liking to the idea, Lord Sesshomaru?” Lady Setsuko questioned, standing up and glaring to her eyes.

“What?” he growled at her.

“Oh come now; you are the son of your father, are you not?” she teased cruelly and was met with deep red eyes as well as claws around her throat. Though, these claws were not from the same hand as Sesshomaru; these were from Hisao.

“Watch with what you say bitch,” Hisao warned with a dangerously low tone. “You will NOT speak ill of my brother.”

“She’s only stating the truth Lord Hisao,” Lord Masanori stated with a smirk on his face. “You were referring to Lord Sesshomaru as Kagome’s mate, were you not?”

“Why not you, Lord Masanori?” Lady Naoki suggested and Masanori snorted once more.

“With that human? What a disgusting idea,” he admitted. “I will not taint my blood with hanyous. Even this miko’s powers would not be able to produce a full-blooded youkai. Whoever mates with her will have youkai children. Do we truly want that for any of us?” The room was silent at this question.

Kagome’s head was spinning. NO! Inuyasha’s going to be my mate! We’re going to get married the second I come back and we’re going to have a bunch of beautiful kids together! How could any of them agree to something like this? Do they really expect me to go along with it too?

“Don’t you dare call her disgusting Masanori!” Kouga exclaimed, standing up. “Any cub born of Kagome will be very powerful! I agree with Lord Hisao. I will take Kagome as my mate and we will bind her to me. She will still have her miko powers but I will keep them in check to make sure no harm comes to any youkai.”

“It’s Lord Masanori to you ookami,” he hissed. “You human lover. So quick to stand up for this mortal? You don’t deserve the title of being one of the council members!”

“THAT IS ENOUGH!” Lord Kazuhiro slammed both of his fists – that were also holding the ancient scrolls – onto the table and stood up. “Kagome, I apologize on behalf of this council. As much as you have helped us with the Shikon no Tama, the biased emotions against humans is still very strong.” She nodded her head but the frown on her face did not go unnoticed. “Lord Masanori, you will learn to respect the Shikon Miko. And Lord Kouga, you will remain silent until I see fit.” Both nodded their heads and lay back in their seats. Lord Kazuhiro’s youki was almost suffocating the entire room and his dark eyes were deadly to look at. Everyone shook off the small shiver that ran up their spines. Kazuhiro was not the kind of demon you wanted to piss off. “Now, regarding this matter I will also agree with Lord Hisao,” He held up his hand as some of the ladies began to argue, “but it will be with a youkai of our choosing.”

“The miko is promised to my half-brother,” Sesshomaru stated and was positive that he heard Kagome sigh in relief behind him.

“Is this true?” Lord Kazuhiro asked as he turned his gaze to Kagome, his eyes were a lot calmer now and he was slowly sitting back into his seat.

“Yes, my lord,” Kagome replied with a nod of her head.

“Has he marked you yet?” he continued to question.

“Mark?” She tilted her head slightly at the question.

“Has he bitten you yet miko?” Sesshomaru rephrased, looking over his shoulder.

“No,” she said in a shocked tone.

“Then he is no threat,” Lord Kazuhiro stated. “Kagome, it is in my opinion that being paired with a full-blooded youkai will be a better match for you.” She began to protest but Sesshomaru turned to her and glared at her, shutting her up immediately.

You CAN’T be serious! Kagome exclaimed in her thoughts.

“Adding to what Lord Hisao has suggested, I will also make another note on the precautions with Kagome,” Lord Kazuhiro continued. “Lord Masanori is unfortunately correct that Kagome will never be able to bear full-blooded youkai. With that said, I say that we will not take away her powers but she will be forbidden from bearing any children from the youkai she is mated to.” Gasps began to fill up the room.

“I cannot allow anyone to agree with that,” Lady Kameyo exclaimed. “How dare you say that we forbid a woman from bearing pups? That is ultimately a cruel idea!”

“A hanyou cannot rule,” Lord Kazuhiro replied coolly. “It is an ancient commandment that has been passed down since the beginning of the youkai. If a miko and youkai were to mate, the hanyou would be quite powerful and their powers are always uncontrollable. To forbid Kagome from having hanyous with a youkai will be not only saving any future hanyous from her but will also be saving her the risk of bearing one. We have witnessed from many human woman the horror and pain they go through when bearing a hanyou.”

“But Kagome is a miko,” Lady Kameyo argued. “She can handle it! I for one will not agree to that!”

“I as well,” Lady Miyoko agreed. “I cannot stand the idea of taking away the gift of bearing for any female, be they youkai or human.”

“I cannot agree too, Lord Kazuhiro,” Lord Hisao stated. “Lady Kameyo is right; it is a cruel punishment for any female to have.”

“Nevertheless, it must be done,” Lord Kazuhiro stated. He looked towards Kagome and saw her head hanging low with soft tears floating in her eyes. She was trying hard not to cry in front of them but her aura was very sad and it was starting upset most of the females in the room; they wanted desperately to comfort her with this.

“We will take a vote,” Lady Tomoko stated. “All those in favor of the Shikon Miko mating with a strong youkai, possibly a youkai lord, please raise your hand now.”

I can’t believe they’re doing this, and that they think I’m actually going to go along with it. Kagome was horrified, upset, and incredibly angry about the whole ordeal that was taking place against her will. There was no way she was going to stand there and let this happen and yet, she was. Sesshomaru continued to stand there and glare at her, daring her to make a move so he could stop her. She wondered whether or not he was actually paying attention to what the other council members were saying with the stare this youkai held on her.

However, the young miko’s mind drew to a blank when the first hand was raised. It had been from Masanori; his action causing some people to gasp at his decision. Following his hand, was Lady Kameyo who winked at Kagome in a reassuring way. The miko was a bit dumbfounded and angry at this, but remained silent. Lord Hisao, Kouga, and Naoki were the next ones to raise their hands, Kouga seemed extremely happy to be raising his and grinned at the young woman who simply rolled her eyes and crossed her arms across her chest. Kazuhiro slowly raised his hand and avoided eye contact with her. He was a bit sympathetic for the miko, but he could not deny her power or the danger she held against his kin.

All eyes then fell to Sesshomaru as he slowly raised his hand. Kagome’s eyes widened at this and met his fierce gaze once more. He was just as emotionless as he had been the moment they had first met outside of Inuyasha’s forest. A couple of mumbles went about the room but Kazuhiro and Hisao’s deathly glare silenced them immediately. Once the vote was counted, the hands fell.

“All opposed?” Lady Tomoko questioned as she quickly raised her hand in the air.
Fool, Sesshomaru thought. It matters not how many are opposed to the idea. Seven out of the eleven council members have just agreed. She is trying to see which is opposed to the idea.

Lord Masahiro was the second one to raise his hand, but his action did not shock the council. He was merely the extra vote; even the silent lord knew that much.

Lady Setsuko and Lady Miyoko also raised their hands, which proved that four out of eleven members were opposed o the idea. Lady Tomoko huffed and wrote the counts down, handing a paper to Kazuhiro who started to write on it as well.

“Let it be said that the Youkai Court has agreed, by seven votes out of eleven, that the Shikon Miko Kagome will be hereby be mated to a full-blooded youkai of the court’s approval. Whereas her powers will be bonded to the youkai to lesson the threat of her existence,” Lord Kazuhiro announced before setting aside the paper he had just scribed on.

“Now on the matter of this young miko being forbidden to bear any hanyou of the youkai she is mated to,” Lady Tomoko stated as she pulled out another piece of paper. “All those in favor of this, please raise your hand now.”

Lord Masanori, once again, was the first to raise his hand. Though this time, his action did not shock the court. Following him was Lord Kazuhiro, who, once again, refused to meet with Kagome’s eyes as he did so. Lady Tomoko and Lady Miyoko were the next ones to raise their hands and Kagome’s head started to drop as she was overcome emotionally by great sadness.

Gasps filled the room once more as Lord Hisao was the next to raise his hand. Unlike Lord Kazuhiro, however, he caught a hold of Kagome’s gaze firmly, telling her that his decision was final and that he was sure of what he was doing. Kagome almost smirked when Lady Kameyo reached over and hit his shoulder lightly; fury filling the youkai’s gaze.

More gasps arose as another hand was raised. Kagome looked about the room at the other lords and ladies, but suddenly noticed that the last to raise their hand was none other that Sesshomaru.

You too Sesshomaru? Kagome looked straight at him and his gaze met back with hers. Why does this surprise me though? Come on Kagome, you know how much he hates Inuyasha. What better way then to seek some sort of revenge than to have me marry a full-blooded youkai and not be allowed to have any hanyous?

“All opposed?” Lady Tomoko asked after she had counted the votes and the hands fell down once more.

Lady Kameyo’s hand was the first to shoot up in the air, her eyes burning with fire. She was completely furious that Hisao and Sesshomaru had both raised their hands for allowing them to take away Kagome’s right to have a pup. She had grown fond of the young miko almost immediately and would be sure to see to it that the famous Shikon Miko would be happy for the remainder of her years. Kouga was the next to raise his hand and some of the court members rolled their eyes at this.

Surprisingly however, Lady Setsuko and Lord Masahiro were the next ones to raise their hands. Though they had been against her mating with a youkai, both couldn’t stand the thought of taking away the right to bear children from Kagome.

The last one to raise their hand was Lady Naoki, who looked sadly at the young miko, for everyone knew what the votes had stated. Lady Naoki really did not need to raise her hand nor did any of the others on the opposing side. Sesshomaru’s hand had been the deciding factor.

Lady Tomoko counted the votes once more and like before, passed the paper over to Lord Kazuhiro. He also began to write on this piece of paper before stating, “Now let it also be said that the Youkai Court has agreed by six votes out of eleven that the Shikon Miko Kagome will be hereby restricted from ever producing a hanyou child with a youkai mate. It is in this Court’s opinion that this regulation be made in effect due to the safety of the child and the safety of the miko.”

Kagome could not take much more of this.

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A/N Continued: You guys are probably asking why Kagome doesn’t stand up to the Youkai Court. The NEXT chapter will be Kagome’s defiance against their rulings and I want you to know that I haven’t forgotten the Kagome we all know and love. I PROMISE…Kagome will have her say, one way or another, in this fanfic!

PLEASE remember to REVIEW! I enjoy reading all of your comments. They help me out when writing these chapters and I want very much to please you guys as much as I can allow!