In His Arms

All previous disclaimers apply.

Author’s Note: Very short chapter. Sorry. More coming soon.


“Does anyone else feel like we’re on display?” Kagome laughed quietly as she sat on the comfortable cushions placed in the open air gardens just inside the defensive palace walls, her needlework spread over her lap, and the other concubines surrounding her, each doing her own small works. The Great Gathering had begun. Today all of the Great Lords, their ladies and children, their generals, and honor guards had all arrived in Nishi. Now, exactly at midday, they were all formally processing into the castle grounds while Sesshomaru watched from the grand entrance of the castle as according to tradition. The Great Lords walked side by side. Kagome could see the Eagle Lord of the North. Just next to him was the Dragon Lord of the East. She couldn’t quite see the Wolf Lord of South because the Dragon Lord was so very tall, but she imagined that he was as elaborately dressed and holding his head just as high as the other two. Just behind the Lords marched two generals for each, along with the heir should one have been already named, then the honor guard for each lord surrounding the lords’ wives and young children. Kagome was not as fascinated by the Lords and their parties as she thought she would be. Perhaps it was because Sesshomaru had been so blasé to the point of dislike about the Great Gathering that she found more interest in the daily workings of the castle than she did in this special event.

“But, sister,” Akina giggled, flipping her long hair over her shoulder expertly so that it was not in her way as she leaned over the doll she was making for Rin to scrutinize the visibility of the stitches, “We are on display.”

“I’m sorry?” Kagome nearly dropped her embroidery in surprise, “We’re what?”

“On display,” Hoshiko smiled at Kagome’s dropped jaw, “Close your mouth, sister. You are not a fish.”

“During the Great Gathering it is customary for the hosting lord to offer his concubines to the other lords and their generals should they require female companionship for the duration,” Cho giggled identically to her twin.

“Do not fret, little one,” Hiroko’s laugh was a deep, wonderful sound. They did not hear it often, so it brought smiles to all of their faces, even Kagome’s, despite her current shock.

“No one will be touching you, sister love,” Aiko almost sang her words as she continued gently playing the lap harp she held, “You are Lord Sesshomaru’s favored. Not even another Great Lord is allowed to touch you. It would be as if they were touching Lord Sesshomaru’s Lady.”

“An offence punishable by death,” Etsu put in before turning to smile discreetly at one of the Eastern Lord’s generals. The last Great Gathering that had been held in Nishi, there hadn’t been a night they hadn’t spent in each other’s company. It had been a good and memorable time. She hoped it would be repeated. Judging by the look on his face, it would be.

“Should someone touch you, the lords are required by ancient law to see the offender punished, even if he is another Great Lord. No one dares to break ancient law,” Kaida reached over and rubbed Kagome’s wrist comfortingly, knowing how a familiar touch could have a very soothing effect, “Relax, sister love. Ancient law aside, Lord Sesshomaru would kill anyone who dared to touch you simply on principle, and I think you know that.”

Kagome just smiled and looked over at her lord, standing in the doorway of the castle, Rin hanging onto his hand. She caught his eye and gave him a wide smile. Very soberly, he nodded at her. From anyone else, it would have been as if they had shared a conspiratorial wink, so it pleased her greatly. Yes, Sesshomaru would tear anyone apart who dared to touch her. Somehow, that fact satisfied her beyond what she could say.


“Who is that?” The young eagle yokai, Tsubasa, could not take his eyes off of the raven haired beauty seated on the cushion in the middle of Lord Sesshomaru’s concubines.

Hayato, the most trusted general of the court of the North, followed his young lord’s gaze, “That is the Great Miko, Kagome. She is Lord Sesshomaru’s most favored concubine and the subject of many tales of great power and generosity. She was travelling with his hanyou brother, Inuyasha, until recently. No one is quite sure how she came to be here.”

“She’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen,” Tsubasa couldn’t help the dream-like quality that entered his voice.

“She is quite beautiful, but have a care, young lord,” the general allowed his voice to take on an edge, “Do no more than look or your life is forfeit to Lord Sesshomaru and not even your father will be able to protect you. Do you understand what I tell you?”

“I understand,” Tsubasa said automatically, then vowed silently to himself that the Great Miko would be his before he left the Gathering. He felt the front of his pants tighten when she threw her head back and laughed, exposing her unmarked throat. He could only imagine what it would feel like to sink his fangs into that beautiful ivory column, marking her forevermore as his own. And with her by his side, he would be the most powerful Taiyokai ever to rule the North.

Soon, my beauty, he promised silently, I will take you away from Old Man Sesshomaru and you will be mine.