Betrothal of the Warrior Hime

Stepping down from the stair case the onyx demoness began to hum the same eerie tune, glancing only offhandedly at the dragon lord before her, her eyes looking all-around to take in all advantages. In this courtyard there were none, the ground was flat, and only the air itself could house refuge from an attack. Finally making her way to the dragon lord, she looked him casually in the eyes, though her face was emotionless, her eyes danced with the delight of killing him, mercilessly. A small grin played across her face as she took in the site of the soon to be dead demon standing before her, she wouldn’t even grace him with the idea that he would survive this day, for she knew he would not.



“Are you ready to die?” she asked with a commanding fierceness, giving the lord time to laugh with mirth.



“I am at least glad to see you so proud filthy mutt, but I shall not die this day, and if I let you live, you will suffer everyday for the rest of your pathetic life.” Ryuumaru finished. Taishou and Sesshomaru’s gaze hardened on the lord, neither knowing that both were on the same thought, ‘if you harm her I’ll kill you,’ only Shin’s throat ripping growl stole both demons from their own thoughts, as he wrapped tight arms around his sobbing mate, his eyes scorching with fury while looking upon the lord, who only scoffed at their attention to him. It was Kagome that really stole the moment though, her eyes flashed a brief and almost unnoticed bright crimson, without a word unsheathing her sword. The clear ring of the blade Tenmaru, singing loudly for all to hear, caught all’s attention, causing the once laughing dragon lord’s gaze fell upon the girl.



Kagome’s fighting stance to the dragon was laughable, she looked as though she might fall over with a single blow, but it unnerved him to no end. How could this thing kill my clan? He thought. She only smiled, knowing what she was doing to his mind was a great joy, deceive him with site until able make the move to kill, she thought inwardly. Ryuumaru set himself in a battled hardened stance ready to kill her, taking his own blade from his obi he lunged first at her, to attack. ‘Wrong move, attacking first’ she thought dodging his attack with ease. Ryuumaru had expected this much but he was alarmed at her speed, the female had barely any time to see him move and yet she had moved so fast he hadn’t seen it happen, and the smile still plastered on her face irked him to no end. She seemed to dance upon air, upside down or not in motion even though he’d never admit it, she was a beautiful deadly site.



Kagome stood there and looked at him with the most bored look, she had really wanted this fight to be fun, and now with his first move he’d told her all she needed to know, that this fight would end fast with his death, and that she would regret not being able to really be able to flex her claws. Kagome yawned intentionally, drawing rage from the new lord, with a battle cry he lunged again at her, again she easily dodged seemingly floating in air as his blade rounded and missed her again, but this time she hit him with the hilt of her blade in the back as she passed her. Ryuumaru was able to pull himself up fast enough to turn and swing his own blade down upon her from behind, knowing he would land the blow, he was enraged at the clank of metal her heard as the blade came down upon her. Her arms pulled behind her, flushing her ample breasts up, suspended in air, though hidden by armor, her female figure was still very viewable, and to one inuyoukais eyes she looked delicious in battle.



“Your pathetic, to attack someone from behind, it’s a cowards move. Thank the gods I won’t be your mate, I’d be so disgusted with you…. I‘d kill myself.” She said with a cold bored tone. With that she turned into the lord bring her blade up throwing his own off hers and then into his side. The blood splashed forth coloring the cold stone flowing of the courtyard into the first but not last hues of the warm liquid. Finishing out her rotation, she slung Tenmaru free of the revolting blood, splattering more of the ground. Her stance now told the dragon lord everything, she had fooled him into a false security, and now a warrior, battle hardened stood before him, and for the first time he felt fear.



Taishou and the others had been watching, wondering if she would be able to fight to the death, in that one perfect graceful moment all wondering stopped, she had been testing him to see where his fighting levels stood, no true warrior would allow anger or emotions to cloud their judgment in battle, Lord Ryuumaru was doing just that and now Kagome would be his executioner. Looking over the rest of the motley audience, and he was surprised to see the looks on their faces, like himself, Sesshomaru and Miyako looked somewhat amused, Shin and most of the direct family looked aghast, it seemed none truly knew this side of their Kagome. The lords had an odd unreadable look in their eyes, with that Taishou turned back to the battle at hand to watch the rest.



Ryuumaru was enraged, flexing his muscles the battered kimono he’d been wearing, the one that now seemed to be shredded thanks to the attack from Kagome, fell from his vestige. His bat-like leathery wings unhitched from their place and spread, to a lesser youkai he’d have looked intimidating, but to Kagome, it was just something more to cut off. The young lord still bleeding freely as though the wound would not heal, it had only been her first cut, which had been far deeper then he’d admit to, took to the skis, the upper ground usually meant the win, and he had no intention of losing. THE COWARD!!!, roared Kagome’s insides, before she smiled again at the lord’s back, “If you wanted to die off the ground all you had to do was ask my lord.” she taunted.



With that Kagome too was in the air, hearing the gasps from the audience she ignored them and went for her prey. Inu youkai were usually not able to fly in their humanoid forms needing ki clouds to assist in such a feet, Kagome’s lack of gravity was shocking to most, stepping on air as though ground itself where beneath her, she danced into battle smiling. Coming up on the young lord her quickness was unreal even in youkai standards. Bringing Tenmaru down upon the lord, he came up short to stop the blade, the slash she made was deep and from his shoulder across his chest and down to his abs, only a little more and his entrails would be exposed. Giggling more to herself then any, she watched as the lord grabbed his own body, baring fangs and cursing her, he made to attack again.



Clinks and clacks could be heard as the battle really began and sword met sword, she wasn’t trying because there was no need to and that pissed her off, he was so weak, minutes passed as she gracefully moved out of one swing and away from another, nothing was happening for her, no joy, no pain, he hadn’t even landed a blow on her yet, she was toying with him and growing tired of it. Going nowhere fast she made a fatal blow, cutting him from the shoulder straight down to his navel only curving when she crossed his spine severing the link to his lower half and cutting near his heart. He fell from the sky, not able to hold himself up, the thud was thick and dull the sound of dead weight, slowly she walked to earth down from air as though she had all the time in the world.



He would go no where, for she had made it so, a weak demon and an honorable way to die, she would at least grant him that. Blood curdled from his lips as he watched her walk towards him, no sign of remorse from her, no sign of care on her face, only a sick delight played in her eyes, as she looked at him coldly. Walking over to him with a predatory sway in her hips, her onyx hair and mokomokosama swaying behind her form as she came to a stop before him, looking down her nose at him. Sniffing the air she leaned down to him, close enough so she could speak directly into his ear, her scent of sakura blossoms and tea wafting over him, the scent of death clinging to him as she came closer. Above them the sky faltered and cracked with lightning that would not fall, holding rain that would wash away his blood, and the last vestige of the old North.



“I want to tell you something.” she said knowing he could not answer as he slowly choked on his own blood, his gaze fell upon her as his body slowly convulsed. “This sword is named Tenmaru. It is the fang of my clans great great great great grandmother. She was the daughter of a god, it is a sword of destruction, as is this,” she placed a hand on the inky black hilt of Tenmiki. “Tenmiki, she was also made from the same fang, another sword of destruction, but a sword of life as well.” Pausing for another moment she looked upon the dying demon. “I tell you this because I want you to know. Tenmiki has the power to undo only her brother’s kill, I want you to die knowing that I and I alone could save you, and that that moment will never come.“ She said standing and still looking down upon the fallen lord her gaze hardening into a hateful stair. His family had killed one of her own, laid claim to her life, caused her father to fear, and lock her away. They had taken her childhood and replayed her with a warrior, and she’d kill every last one of them for it. She had no remorse for their slaughter, only wishing she could do it over again.



Turning her back to the downed almost dead demon in an ultimate sign of the fight being over, she bowed elegantly to the audience and turned back to the northern lord, steping closer to him and rotate again Tenmaru in her hand, she sliced the demons head from his neck, the object bobbling off and rolling a bit from the body. Slinging the blade again, the blood freed its self from the blade and she sheathed the dark kitanna, its hum singing in her ears as she again picked up her eerie song. She sighed outwardly knowing that it was not over, she would have to fight Inuyasha, and manage to not kill him for her sisters sake, and then what? She wondered. She would have to survive what was thrown at her and if everything worked out, learn to become a proper mate for the one she knew she would end up with.



Tenmaru and Tenmiki hummed to each other calming the other while calming Kagome, her annoyance at the prospect of a good fight had been lost so quickly, and had put her in a foul mood. Walking passed the group of watchers only Miyako made to move in her direction, she smiled at Kagome as she walked passed flanking her, following her through the halls of the palace. Covered in blood that was dry enough not to drip she felt degusting, it clung to her and she wondered if she’d ever be able to stand such a horrid stench of the dragon blood. Her bag was at least enchanted and held back the strong scents, while she figured the clothing on her back would need to be burnt and her mokomokosama would need to be cleaned immediately.



Finding her way to the bathhouse again, she drowned the blood off her body turning the pool an unhealthy looking pink, taking the salts out she cleansed the water, and rested upon the bank of the pool.



“You wasted much time” Miyako said handing her bathing soap and oils. And pushing her bloodied cloths away from them for the horrific stench of the dragon blood.



“I wanted it to last longer, he was pathetic.” she said rather disappointed sad way.



“Hn.” was her only answer as her grandmother attended her, leaving Kagome to relax, the same girl from earlier that morning taking the clothing and pelt, to be cleaned returned to the bath house, it seemed she was to be one of their personal servants while at the home of the Taishou. “Burn the clothing, and wash the pelt.” Miyako shot at the woman. “And bring a fresh kimono for Kagome.”



“Yes mistress.” She said leaving the pair alone.



“You shouldn’t be so mean to her, she only doing her job.” said Kagome from the pool as Miyako began to wash her hair.



“I was not being un-kind but I have no reason to be nice to her either.” Kagome knew fully that her grandmother would only be kind to those who she respected, and they would have to earn that from her. Kagome let the clawed fingers of her grandmother work their way through her scalp, it had always been odd, Miyako was a difficult female to be around let alone train under but after every fight Kagome had, when she was pleased with her granddaughter, Miyako would attend her and send all others away. Kagome never questioned it openly but it was a time when they could bond, she realized a long time ago, after another hard won battle that she would do this with her pups one day, if she had any, she would reassure their bonds again and serve them, wash them and take care of them. Sighing audibly she opened her sky blue orbs and looked to her grandmother, a small smirk playing off her beautiful face.



“What?” asked Miyako.



“I’ve always wondered why you come after every won battle, only when your pleased it seems.” she mused aloud.



Miyako thought for a moment before speaking. “I have only birthed one pup in my life, your father, these things I could not do for him, I do for you, because you let me, and you deserve this. Because it is a way of bonding when I cannot bond with you as a mother could.” her lips were open as though she would say more but closed slowly, Kagome nodded understanding the words pleased she’d always been right.



“Thank you Miyako-sama.” a slight heated blush came to Miyako’s face, Kagome had not called her that in almost seventy five summers. They allowed time to pass in a comfortable silence enjoying each others company. Kagome finally stood in her full glory her hair soaked at the ends, the cool air kissing her bare skin, causing her nipples to perk, it had been a morning fight, and it was over quickly but now it was lunch time. She’d worked up a good healthy appetite, but she would grace them with a lady’s presence not a warriors, Kagome knew very well to leave ’that Kagome’ on the battle filed. Stepping out of the hot spring her calm relaxed face was replaced but and impassive inu youkai’s. “Tenmaru?”



“He has been resealed, again only you and I will have access to him.” Answered Miyako with a grin, in truth she truly loved her granddaughter, even more when she got down to business.



“Good, I will not allow him to take Him back when he no longer belongs to him.” Dressing quickly and throwing her hair up into a fast but some how elegant bun, Kagome finished the look with a pair of jeweled hair pins. The pins were a gift from Miyako, one of the few gifts not intended to be a weapon, Kagome looked at her reflection, perfection, she thought, until she heard a knock on the door. Miyako opened it and saw the small servant girl from not long ago return with Kagome pelt, a small and almost unnoticed grin played on her face.



“What is your name?” Asked Miyako.



“It is Sakura, milady.”



“Thank you Sakura.” answered Miyako with a small bow before she lead the way for Kagome and her to go to the dinning room for lunch. Kagome closed Sakura’s still open mouth, smiled and winked at the young servant, who was obviously shocked that she’d been thanks. Like Miyako her onyx mokomokosama draped lovingly and loosely over her arms and down her back over his top kimono, the pair looked more like sisters, then grandmother and granddaughter, both held their head high and without thought of any submission. No male owned either, even Kagome was free of her father’s hand, and only followed him from what little respect she had left for him, but she knew deep down she was Miyoka’s girl through and through.



Entering the dinning room they seemed to be the last to arrive, and all feel quiet as they were sat and served. None seemed to know how to address Kagome, and none dared to address Miyako. Breaking the silence that was so thick it could be cut Kagome looked to her grandmother, who presently sat next to her. “It seems we may have been the topic at hand.” She quirked a brow and grinned.



“Indeed.” Answered Sesshomaru, who gathered Kagome’s full attention. “I was wondering Lady Kagome, How exactly did you seem to step on air it self? That training has been lost to the ages and only I and a few others have acquired it through sheer will.” Arching her brow further into her forehead obviously annoyed at the heir, she placed her chopstick down and look directly into his eyes, a sign of a direct challenge.



“I assure you, Sesshomaru-sama, the training is not lost, and I have in fact completed it. To walk on air is something I have acquired with ease.” Miyako seemed smug and proud of her prodigy, she would always love how Kagome could put even the high and mighty in their place. Royalty had always bothered Miyako, most were warriors and those who were died too young to ever catch her attention, only one who could prove their worth in battle and survive to live later, mattered to her. Sesshomaru looked rather hotly at the young female that dared openly challenge him, narrowing his eyes towards her, had it not been for the interruption he would have barked her retort sooner.



“Lady Kagome.” Said the young Eastern lord Kouga “I wish to fight you for the rights to mate.” For split second, Kagome’s eyes widened in disbelief maybe one of the first shows of emotion since she‘d entered this palace, a wolf asking for an inu to mate, it was unheard of, and just as quickly a low threatening growl echoed through the dinning hall, it was anyone’s guess from where it came, it could have come from the father, the mother or even the grandmother, or possibly his father, Kikyo, or even Kagome herself, let alone Taishou or his sons and mate, either way the answer he received was the sight of Kagome standing and bowing politely, turning her back on the whole party to leave.



Looking back over her shoulder she said, “As I’m sure you are aware, I cannot deny you, nor shall I. Tonight at sunset we battle.” With that she left followed by and annoyed Kikyo and Miyako immediately, and then an upset Hatsumomo and Sayuri, leaving just the males in the dinning room.



“What the hell were you thinking boy?!?” roared Kogomaru. A devilish grin played upon his son’s complacent face.



“She is powerful and could rear strong young, besides she isn‘t bad on the eyes.” Kouga said sounding more like his own father then he’d ever truly wanted to sound.



“But by the gods boy you don’t just go out an say it like that!” Kogomaru was seething, how could his beautiful mate have supplied him with such a whelp as an heir, she’d been an ookami hime, she had been beautiful and smart, the most lovely mate a wolf could ask for, he would beat her into telling him the wolf’s true father when he got home, there was just no way this idiot could be his son. The Taishou’s equally looked annoyed, Sesshomaru looked as though he would rip Kouga limb from limb, Inuyasha looked as though his annoyance was simply the fact of the races mixing, while Taishou himself looked close to being enraged. There was the manor in which the youth had asked, the fact that she was betrothed, and the fact that if he did not damage the boy, Shin would pulverize him, if not Kogomaru.



Kagome had some how shaken the harem of females that had followed her, she knew she’d be facing Inuyasha, and more then likely Sesshomaru, but she’d never had more intention then just these two. Kouga seemed like a loose cannon and that she never liked, the dragons she had researched, even Inuyasha and Sesshomaru she knew, this prince would be the bane of her existence for the time being. Finding a peacefully calm, quiet, and most importantly deserted garden Kagome walked around, finally stopping when she saw a koi pound. Pulling her delicate silk stalking off she placed her feet into the cool water, one bold koi fish tickling her foot, causing a faint but genuine smile, the sight pulling her away from her agitation.



It seemed as though time had passed slowly, when the sound of laughter brought Kagome out of her musing, a small human girl came barreling into the garden, only coming to a stop when she saw Kagome. The little girl was adorable, she wore the colors of the west, her chocolate colored eyes were as wide as saucers as she took Kagome into full view, the Inu youkai smiled at the little girl, and the smile she was greeted back with was massive, a small gap-toothed girl came right over to Kagome. Kagome sniffed her discreetly, she was clean, and held no particular scent, but only that of the young girl, flowers and Sesshoumaru? Kagome wondered, until she heard the sound of the small Lord Shippo following, he too came to a sudden stop, the airs of being an heir were a heavy burden upon children. Their childhoods were usually stripped away for the need to teach and learn the ways of the world.



The human girl had heard the fox kit coming, she dove under Kagome’s mokomokosama, earning a genuine laugh come from the usually stoic, enraged, or passive female. To the young lord she looked like a vision, even though she was not kitsune, her onyx hair was so rare, and her skin so lush and olive kissed, she was beautiful. Her laugh sounded as though happiness was the only feeling he could feel, he melted for her then, and would compare all others to this vision in time. Clearing his throat the young demon looked to the Lady, “Milady, have you seen a young girl? We were in a game of hide and seek, and for the faint scent she smells to have come this way.” said the young lord aristocratically. Kagome had never been one to lie not even to the young lord, replied by shoving her hand into the curled up mokomokosama, and tickling the young girl relentlessly. The sound of her giggle was delightful, and Kagome did love children, they had such an honest and truthful soul, and if taught correctly made perfect fine young demons honor bond in the code and laws of the demon way.



“My dear Lord, might I interest you in a story? And the Young lady?” They both nodded, the young lord sitting close by and while Kagome pulled the young human into her lap. Most demons hated humans, Kagome could care less, they were inferior but she’d met a few that were worth the hassle, this child made her laugh and thought was enough for her. “May I ask your name young one?”



“My name is Rin.” said the small child.



“I am pleased to meet you Rin.”



They spent some time together talking learning things about the other, when the young lord Shippo, asked if they’d like to see his ’fox fire,’ both females nodded and clapped as his display. The young human asked if they’d like to see her dance, and as she twirled again they clapped, it was when Kagome asked, “Would you like to hear a story?” That both children really lit up. “It is a true story and is a bit sad but it tells of my clan’s history.”



The small girl nodded her head and shuck her body to agree to the story, while the young lord only nodded curtly. Kagome could scent them both around even that of Miyako stood near by, the other young heirs watching but she paid them no mind, now was a time for her, and with the sun shining bright with clouds in the air, her feet prancing in the cool koi pond, Kagome told the story of the first Black Inu.



“…After the bloodbath, Kain was enraged to the point were non could take him down.” Rin gasped.



“It is said then that the skys opened up bringing a cold rain, and a Kami to the earth.” Shippo’s eyes widened.



“The kami calmed him and said ‘that he could not hate Kain for what he’d done, not when it was his fault that Hitmoi died that way.” both children hissed.



“Kain questioned him, ‘why would a Kami care what happened to a demon?’” They both wonder the same thing.



“He answered, ‘Hitomi was my daughter my pup, as you and your brothers are my grandsons, she did not know it but any power she had as a dimi-goddess, are now your own.’” Both children gasped again.



“The god continued, ‘It is why you are faster stronger, and wiser then all. it is also why your wrath is like hell opened upon the earth. My child I will teach you to control your birthright‘. And Since then it has been said that within ever generation since that Kain, there would be at least one, one that has held that same power or more, as the first black inu.” She’d finished her story, the human Rin looked amazed while the young lord seemed to have questions, questions that would have to answered later as they’d just been interrupted by the heir of the east.



“That was an interesting story milady, but you don’t believe that rubbish do you?” he said with a laughing tone in his voice. “Black inu’s are trash among their own kind, surely they would know you have the blood of the divine. With my people you would be treated as a true goddess, quit this silly fight and give yourself to me.” Kouga finished arrogantly. Kagome looked at the wolf as though his head had just exploded, in the distance Miyako stood teeth clenched and claws digging into her palm drawing blood, only the sound of the deadly growl ripping air itself and the scream of two demons and a human child bringing her out of her growing bloodlust. Sesshomaru too had been listening to the story, believing like the wolf, that surely the inu would know of such blood and would seek it out, Inu’s were usually power hungry demons, for they above all, lived life to its fullest, even when taking and gaining power.



In the garden Miyako and Sesshomaru arrived just in time to save the young lord of the east from deaths doorstep. The small in comparison female inu had the young eastern price pinned to a tree, her eyes stark white and fury flying wildly in her aura, as it cracked in the air around her, her fangs bared and a scowl even Sesshomaru could appreciate gracing her perfect face. “I will show you divine forgiveness for now, and divine wrath when we battle, wolf.” Came Kagome’s hatefully cold voice. Dropping the prince unceremoniously upon the ground Kagome calmed herself quickly and bowed to the ones around her. “My lord Shippo, thank you for your time this afternoon, it truly was a pleasure, and milady Rin, thank you for staying with me this afternoon, I enjoyed spending time with you as well. Lord Shessomaru,” she nodded her head to him. “Milady Miyako,” again she bowed her head to her, “Wolf.” she said not bothering to show respect for his status. She made her way out to leave but stopped and looked back at the motley audience, that she’d been aware of the whole time.



“Wolf, I’d make peace with the gods before we battle if I were you, you will not receive any mercy from me now. Until sunset.” She said with a mischievously knowing grin plastered upon her face, as she left.



“You are a foolish whelp, Kouga. She could have killed you just now.” spat Sesshomaru.



“If she doesn’t kill you tonight you’ll be lucky, do as she said, make peace with your place in the world and prey your mother can create a new heir for the east.” Miyako seethed viciously at him before leaving as well. He’d insulted her clan, her history, and the god that had sired them all, if Kagome didn’t make him pay then she surely would. It was almost time for the battle and she knew she’d find her granddaughter in the hot springs readying.



Meanwhile, Sesshomaru looked at his ward, “Come Young lord Shippo, Rin, we must leave Prince Kouga to regain his composer before he battles the female.” he said with no emotion at all, the children followed him out of the garden and down the hall, but Kouga could still hear the question the girl had asked.



“Lord Sesshomaru! What happened to lady Kagome, she got mad really quickly it was scary! Is she really going to battle that wolf guy?”



“She felt insulted. And yes she will battle Price Kouga later tonight.” was his answer, and the idea made Kouga winch, if he won her, he’d pay for that comment.







reviews are fuel please let me know if your liking this story. - r0o