Betrothal of the Warrior Hime

An eerie silence fell over the two warriors, for them Miyako’s words were not heard, and fell on deaf ears as the dark female lead the way to the center of the courtyard, while the bright inu followed passively behind her. Inuyasha would not know that rain brought out both the best and worst of her when they took their fighting stances, Kagome on the other hand could smell the rain in the air, as it excited her, and for once she actually feared it. Rain brought out so much emotion, so many memories, wonderfully morbid whimsical memories. She reminded herself of the words she had heard her grandmother say so long ago, ‘Pain is both your enemy and your lover, it hurts you and makes you realize just how very alive you are and how relentless you can be.’



As time seemed to slow down for the two about to fight, Shin turned to his own mother and in a low almost vicious growl said, “What have you done?!” the whites of his eyes were slowly receding into crimson, as he thought of the horrors his own mother had forced upon his youngest pup. Miyako scowled at her grown pup, it didn’t matter if he was the second to the Inu no Taishou, or that he was the father of one of the battling inu’s, he was still her pup, and she replied with a vicious tone all her own, one that commanded attention, and spoke more volume then any words she might say.



“I have done what you never could, she asked for the knowledge I held and I gave it. Like a sponge she absorbed all that I could teach and when we were near completion I held back.” She paused there to remember what it had been like.



Forty years prior…



“Teach me!” Pleaded the younger of the two dark females.



“I have taught you all you need to know, what else have I to teach?” said the older.



“Miyako-sama, we both know there is more, teach me. Please.” The younger said, while the older inu eyed her scrutinizing her worth and attempting to make her own mind up. “Please.” Said the younger.



“And what if I do? What will you do with this knowledge? Unlike the rest of my teaching it gives no skill in battle. There is not a pace, rhyme of reason other then to teach it, only perspective, resolution, and peace of mind can be gained from this lesson.” Finished the elder of the two.



“One might say that perspective, resolution or peace of mind could be the difference between winning and losing the war, and if it is to be learned, it should be I, Kagome, that has the say in it, and not one who’s opinion of the matter that says I can or cannot handle this type of training.” Said Kagome hoping she’d won Miyako’s argument. The elder demoness huffed hearing this, Kagome knew her grandmother far too well, and in the pursuit of becoming a great warrior, she would do even this to her granddaughter, it was with a heavy heart, though it was never seen on her stone like stoic face, she did not want to put Kagome through this training. The final act of her training was the hardest, not because of the effort Kagome would need to put into it but the simple fact that it tested your resolve to live, and fight through everything because pain was nothing more then a reminded of life.



“In two days, I will put you through what will be the last of your training, it will either make you stronger, or break you.” She said with her cold eyes on Kagome watching for her reaction, getting nothing upset Miyako made to leave while saying, “I had hoped I would never have to do this to you. I hope when it is over you can forgive me.” Kagome stiffened in the tiniest bit, because of this statement; Miyako did not want to finish Kagome’s training, this for some reason did upset Kagome but she was determined, and her grandmother knew as much.



The two days passed by as all the others had, slowly… a feast was held for Kagome, that she would begin the last and final leg of her training, when it was over she like many had over eaten the wonderful foods that the castle cooks had fixed for the occasions. Going to sleep late in the night to the sounds of merriment, she never saw her grandmother coming. Miyako had been missing from the events that had unfolded that night, Kagome figured as always she was being moody and it might be wise to leave her alone seeing as how she pressed her into getting the training.



Miyako with a stealth that could only be learned over a millennia, came upon her sleeping granddaughter, Kagome’s eyes were closed and Miyako had been so quiet that she hadn’t heard a sound, which was a surprise because Kagome was just as good as she. Miyako pounced her granddaughter and knocked her unconscious, Kagome could feel that she was being moved, turned and tugged, she was not happy to say the least, she knew when she awoke she’d kill anyone that touched her for this. The air on her skin was getting cool, even though it was late spring, and soon she heard the sound of crashing waves as they broke against jagged rocks on the cliffs near the castle. Fluttering her lashes opened and Kagome finally looked around to see what was going on.



Her body hurt all over, and not in a normal pain that the warrior demoness was accustom to, her limbs felt heavy and her back overly sore, her knees throbbed as her blood pulsed throughout her body telling her she was alive. Kneeling over while sitting on her feet, Kagome realized quickly tall grey pillows bound her wrists in heavy chains help up tightly. Her mop of inky black tress cascaded out in the wind that whipped savagely at her exposed back, hiding her face from sight. She felt abused, mistreated, and overly wrong, something was horribly wrong, her breathing was heavy, and labored. For the life of her she didn’t know what to do, every time she tried to lift or pull the chains, they sent a shock through her body, her powers seemed gone again, or more so suppressed. It was then that Kagome heard her grandmother.



“I see your awake.” She said lifting Kagome’s downtrodden chin to look into her crystalline sky blue eyes.



“What’s happening?” Kagome asked in a rather annoyed voice.



“Your training. You said you wanted it, even though I told you it was not needed. Now my dear, you will survive, or die.” Answered Miyako.



“I don’t understand, how is this training?” asked Kagome. Causing her grandmother to give a sly evil smirk that Kagome knew meant doom.



“I have told you already this training it to built up prospective, resolution, and peace of mind; in the since that pain is nothing, and that even in the pits of battle, there are things far worse then death. Especially for an immortal.” She answered in a cold uncaring voice. Miyako was angry with her grand-pup, she wanted that known, she had never planned to force this training on her, she hated seeing her like this, and it was only the beginning, it would last through the rainy season, and through the monsoon and tsunami seasons. Training like this could kill the one life in this world she held value for other then herself. Miyako trusted her granddaughter though, she knew if any could make it through this training, it would be Kagome, she only hoped that when it was over everything would be okay.



“The chains that bind you pull out your energy, your powers, and leaves you no better then a mere human. The pain in your back, …open wounds from a spiritually laced whip are left open and unable to heal until the chains are removed. They will allow the salt from the ocean to clean and torture the wounds, your cloths, almost nothing more then a heavy sleeping yakata. Before this is over you will long for death, you will cry for it as though it was a long lost lover, but death will not come, only pain, pain that tells you, You are alive, feel me, embrace me, accept my will.”



Kagome looked at her grandmother, she knew she was a hard woman to deal with but this seemed out of place, she vowed that moment seeing the cold muddy blue eyes of her mentor that this would not break her, and that she would embrace pain as a lifeline to reality. She would show her grandmother that though there were worse things then death, pain would be her lover, and it would feed her fury.



The Battle at Hand….



“What do you mean you held back, obviously something has you worried.” Stated Miyako’s pup.



“I taught her to embrace pain, to love it, and allow it to feed her battle.” The dark female stated in a low matter of fact way. As silence fell over the audience, the sound of sword against sword was heard as they watched the youngest of their family’s pups face off against one another. Inuyasha’s sword Tetssaiga was completely transformed, the hilt of the blade held an ivory patch of his father’s pelt, while the blade was made from his father’s fang, the overall look of the kitana was impressive, daunting to anyone that would fear the runt of Taishou. The sight of such an astonishing blade left everyone to wonder what the female who welded the slim lengthy kitana only known as ‘Tenmiki,’ a sword who’s powers were unknown, could do.



Inuyasha and Kagome were battling, he had been far better then Kagome ever remembered him, faster and stronger then she had expected and trained for. He’d come close on more then one occasion in cutting her clothing, or scarring her skin for the hour, but she by far had made contact more times then he. Their movements were fast and graceful in the dance of death, he would swing the large blade around only to have his attack blocked by the female, who everyone now saw as the wiser of the two only for the fact that her blade allowed her to be more agile and faster then the brash male who thought bigger was always better.



Thunder bellowed overhead sounding the fact that soon it would rain, washing away the bloodshed that was to occur; Kagome had looked to the sky for only a moment, when she felt his hand wrap around hers. Inuyasha knew something wasn’t right, he had been battling her for the better part of an hour, and no matter how he tried, she was too fast to cut down, knock unconscious, or even get submission from. He saw her laps in judgment the quick glance to the sky had been all he needed to take things into his own hands, literally. Inuyasha grabbed Kagome’s sword, gripping it tight around the hand that held the hilt, and yanked the blade from her grasp, the result of which sent Kagome flying across the courtyard.



The skies parted and the rain fell, for the smallest second Kagome could hear Inuyasha’s dark laughter at the idea that she might stay down, her body hurt, her lover, pain had returned, and in the next split second she heard his blood curdling scream, Kagome smiled. Her lover had found Inuyasha as well. From the raised dais that the family’s stood and sat upon Miyako’s eyes were wide as she saw the blade taken from her grand-pup, Hatsumomo and Taishou had smug looks upon their faces as they saw their son pull her blade away from her, while Kagome’s family looked horrified, only Sesshomaru seemed to keep his impassive face at the sight of the female being thrown harshly to the ground followed by the scream of pain from his own brother.



From their position, they watched the rest of the battle unfold before them, Kagome got up slowly, as the rain fell upon her, one knee to the ground, and a hand grasping her shoulder blade that was visibly dislocated, her sword arm was taken out, it was only time now. Cold hard pelting rain stung her body and brought back memories from long ago, a sudden bolt of lightening danced across the sky as reality slowed down for Kagome.



Forty Years Prior….



Her grandmother had been there with her from sun up until sun down through thick and thin, she watched with sad eyes as the pup from her son, had her body beaten day in and day out by nature. Kagome struggled daily to free herself, blood forming and crusting over as it dried and more blood flowed, she was relentless to free herself she would do it no matter what. The cold rush of the waves beating into the earth caused splashes threw freezing water high into the air, when it fell it felt like cold hard rain falling down on torn, weathered skin. Kagome hated this rain. She had almost drowned in a tsunami, and the monsoon season had blown her weakened body like a rag doll. Kagome had longed for death, yearned for it, willed it to come to her, and yet her only answer was her lover pain. Hooded glowing white eyes watched as the black-cloaked female came towards her, she growled, ‘stay away from me or die,’ In an ancient language not even known to the inu’s of Japan.



Miyako’s eyes widened at the tongue her pup had used, it was Hitomi’s language, an un-used lost continental language from long ago, lightening flashed once, while dancing across the sky. “Pup calm yourself, it is time to let you out.” Miyako answered in the same hidden ancient language, to which she received a dark laugh.



“Becoming free does not require that I calm.” Stated Kagome with more laughter, while still using the ancient tongue. Her aura began to build, a soft glow of light surrounded her body, and it grew wild, and unchecked; if any were to look upon her it would look as though she was on fire. Lightening crashed down upon Kagome, feeding her power, as her aura called it forth, and with one large surge of energy Kagome broke the chains that tested her, and leapt into the sky in her transformed inu state. The large black inu was covered in rain, rain she hated for it reminder her of the pain that her lover gave her to survive. She knew now that no matter what death was easy, living was hard, and pain made it go on, it sustained, she knew she could fight through anything, for death was easy, living was hard.



The Battle at Hand…



Rich laughter echoed through the courtyard as a blinding aura began to grow around Kagome, all eyes were on her as she rose from her crouched position. “What’s wrong Inuyasha, did my blade hurt you? No one touches Tenmiki but a black inu.” she teased in a cold voice. Inuyasha was now huddled on the ground holding his hand, her blade burned him, seared his skin, leaving the flesh to bubble over and harden quickly, he growled his answer at her.



“Bitch.” he seethed.



“That’s no way to speak to a lady.“ Kagome answered back. She noticed her sword was behind him, and knew what she had to do, her aura flared out and gave her strength to take this battle and through it down his bloody throat. Kagome took off in a dead run heading straight for Inuyasha, he tried to brace himself for her attack and was surprised when she jumped gracefully in the air. He was even more surprised to see how she landed, placing her weight into a turn in air, Kagome forced her dislocated shoulder to land first. There was a bone crunching grind of her bonds as the linked back together causing all there to cringe at the noise, but she kept rolling until she got to her Blade. Tenmiki in hand once again, Kagome gave Inuyasha an evil grin.



“Fuck.” he hissed out as Kagome pivoted on the spot and took up after him again.



This time it was different, Kagome was in full offensive and was not giving Inuyasha any leverage to do anything more then block, to save his life. He was memorized by her aura, with ever stork of her blade it grew and flared to life. She looked like a blazing fire demon. Oddly he thought her to be beautiful like this, her brows were frowned together blazing fury in her eyes. He managed to slip away from her, jumping to the other side of the courtyard, as the rain fell harder and colder, like cold blades cutting into them. They charged each other, in what would be the last attack. Kagome was low to the ground her blade stretched out to the side, while Inuyasha came down from the air hoping to take her by surprise. In one swift move Kagome sidestepped his attack, and turned into him slicing him nearly in half in an upward arch.



Utter silence engulfed the area, all Kagome could hear was the beating of her heart, thumping in her ears, her aura was still wildly floating around her, as she stood, in the distance she could hear faint gasps, as the audience realized what she did. Warm red rain fell upon her, and dull eyes looked out at the skies, “I hate the rain.“ she muttered to her self before looking at Inuyasha. On the ground feet behind her was Inuyasha dying from her inflicted wound. Kagome stood up and slowly walked to him, in the distance she could hear his mother, Hatsumomo was crying loudly, His father Taishou was growling just as loud, promising her death, which caused her own mother and father to growl, while she could hear Kikyo’s soft sobs as well she paid none any attention. Making her way over to him she knelt down to look at him.



For once he looked at peace, and she knew it would be easy to leave him like this, but that had not been the idea, pulling stray hairs from his face she said to him. “Submit, I don’t wish to cause you farther pain.” He nodded his head for his voice would not come. By now she could feel them coming towards her, Kagome placed a barrier around them both so none could get closer to them then a few feet. She waited until he died, before she stood up and attended her audience, Taishou’s eyes were crimson, Hatsumomo was wailing in her son’s embrace, and this did not make Sesshomaru happy at all. Shin was far from her looking at her as though he’d never see her again, while Mugen and Miyako looked fairly level headed, Kikyo, who was in Mugen’s embrace was sobbing nearly as bad as Hatsumomo, making Kagome growl.



In her hand Tenmiki began to glow bright her aura was being channeled into it. “Remember, he would not submit, so I made him.” was all she said before she thrust the blade deep into Inuyasha’s body. The kitana pulsed, and called lightening forth, in a stunning display, the lightening hit the hilt of the blade and Inuyasha’s body began to knit together, slowly it was whole again. All watched as his chest began to rise and fall, slowly they all realized he was alive, Kagome lowered the barrier and allowed them to pass by to their son. Hatsumomo was there first, while Taishou’s now golden eyes were wide realizing what kind of power she held, Kagome ignored him.



Sesshomaru on the other hand openly gawked at her, but Kagome didn’t care she wanted to get away from this moment, she was just about to take flight when her sister came running forward, screaming “Inuyasha.” a growl escaped her lips as she grabbed Kikyo by the arm and took off with her. In the air Kikyo cried and hissed at her sister, Kagome was hurting her, and she didn’t know why. It was minutes more before they landed on the other side of the castle, only followed by Miyako, when Kagome slammed Kikyo into a wall, by now Kagome’s eyes were a furious scorching white again.



“What in the hell is wrong with you? Do you want to cause a civil war between the son’s of the western land?” Kagome hissed at her sister.



“What are you talking about?” she screamed. Causing Kagome to growl.



“You are still betrothed to Sesshomaru, I have only won my freedom, not yours.” Kagome growled out. She couldn’t believe her own sister, “I’m fighting so I can allow you happiness, would you truly through it away so easily?” she waited for Kikyo’s answer but got none, only Kikyo’s defeated whimper. “They could kill me Kikyo, and I’m fighting for your happiness, and you just about ruined it. I know you had feelings for Inuyasha, but until I fight Sesshomaru you are still his. I have only proved that Inuyasha is not meant for me, not that you are unworthy of Sesshomaru.” Kagome sighed. “When we fight, if he wins he’ll have the right to choose either myself or you. If he loses, then I can chose him or allow him to stay betrothed to you.” she finished.



“What, what if he doesn’t pick you?” questioned Kikyo knowing her sister would understand. Kagome embraced her older sister.



“You are beautiful and kind dear sister, more so then I could ever be, but a demon like Sesshomaru is interested in power. Power I have. I am certain that unless he kills me, he’ll take me instead, which will leave you available to mate with Inuyasha.” Kagome said with a smile, as she ran her fingers through the snowy tress of her sister. She felt Kikyo sigh.



“But will you be happy?” asked Kikyo hardly above a whisper, now feeling her little sister huff as well.



“Yes. I will have someone that can protect me, and you will be happy. Besides, his pups would be ludicrously powerful, it’d be fun I imagine.” she answered with a smile in her voice. “Just promise you won’t show your emotions until after Sesshomaru and I fight, I know he’ll win, but it is still up to him who he chooses, he doesn’t need to know that you and Inuyasha are anything more then in love, Showing such emotion would lead him into knowing there is more then just feelings between you both, he might kill you or his brother for such a betrayal.” Miyako heard all of their conversation, and had stayed out of the way to allow them time to have together, Kagome was right, she would have to keep an eye on Kikyo. Kagome released her sister, and began to walk away, only stopping when she heard her sister voice.



“Where are you going?” asked Kikyo.



“I need to release Some pent up energy.” was all she said with a smile as she took off in a dead run, and leapt into the air, as soon as she was twenty feet off the ground, she transformed into her inu form. She flew over the battle field, and surprised all there, especially the heir who‘d never seen a more beautiful inu in true form, he wanted her, he wanted to know about her, mostly he wanted to be near her for her scent was intoxicating. Heading to the forest she didn’t notice that Sesshomaru in large white inu form was behind her.









haha sorry i didn't mean to be so evil... maybe. i hope this makes up for some of that... - r0o