By the Swing of the Sword

Chapter 2. Sweet Sorrow

A/N: Regarding ages.. as Youkai ages are dificult to describe. Sesshoumaru for example could be 786 years old, but seems to be roughly the equivalent of a 25 year old. Inu Yasha, Kagome and Kikyo are all 15ish. Carine's about 20. In the scene when they're children Sess is about 10. I won't refer to ages in years ever in the story because I don't know the Youkai to human age ratio, if there even is one.

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Kikyo stood beneath the gnarled god-tree, her face turned upwards towards the sun that peeked through the leaves. She could feel the warmth on her face as she let it dry the tears on her cheeks. She had cried enough for now, her tears could not change this, and her father would not be pleased to see her moping. And she must take extra care to not displease him, or even call attention to herself now. He had been all to eager to auction her hand in marriage off before, and now, not only was Carine not here to skillfully change the topic, but she was the main heir. Her father was probably well aware of this, a little voice whispered in her ear. Why else would he be so willing to let Carine go? The only value her father alloted to women had to do with how well he could use them, so to him her older sister had meant very little at all.

She noted the sun's position in the sky, realizing she had been gone for sometime. As tempting as it was to stay here all day, it probably was not wise. Though her body felt shakey, inside she felt calmer. As three demonesses with similar gifts, she and her sisters often took strength in each other's presence. Last night they had slept all wrapped up in the same aura, calming their spirits more than words ever could. Even now, in this place she felt their presence, and was heartened.

She turned back towards the palace and her father, sending a silent prayer on the wind for her sisters. They would it hear it, she knew.

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Carine held herself steady against the swaying of the caravan. The litters she and Kagome rode were fastened atop wagons for now, to free the soldiers accompanying them to act as guards, making the ride a bit less perilous, but much faster.

BuMp...BUmp....buMP... How they managed to hit the same rock with three wheels, Carine would never understand.....

The draperies behind her parted and Kagome climbed in, her finest over kimono and headdress left behind in her own litter.
"This is fine for now but once we reach the Western Lands you must remain in your litter fully dressed."

Kagome nodded "That's what I wanted to ask you about. What do we do when we get there?"

"Stay in your litter until told otherwise. Do not speak unless addressed directly, and do not look Lord Sesshoumaru in in the eyes. His brother you can get away with, he is more your station, but the Lord himself will probably take offense. And above all, no tempermental outbursts, no matter what is said. There will almost definately be some disparaging of the family's honor, hopefully most of it will be directed at father."

Kagome nodded again, looking slightly paler. "Are you planning on following your own advice?"

Carine's lip twitched, and the familiar old spark flashed in her emerald eyes. "I am planning on it. If things do not go well, though... do not do as I do, Kagome."

"I know better." She laughed, then scampered back to her litter. Carine smiled after her youngest sister. Perhaps she would be lucky and the young prince would become enamored with her. She certainly had enough distant admirers back home. Poor Kouga would go on for hours about her spirited demenor, long raven tresses, and sparkling blue eyes, if given the chance. Carine herself, had no such admirers.

Well, perhaps that was not entirely true. It was far from a wise thing to show too much interest in the heir to the throne. Far to many princesses ran off with men beneath their station, an embarassing and polictaly dangerous situation easily avoided by simply killing the over-eager suitor. Something her father would definately do readily.

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"If you're not going to agree to a truce anyway, I don't see why you are even bothering to grant Hiragushi's people and audience." Inuyasha grumbled as he followed his older brother down the corridor to the audience hall. "His forces are not that strong, we've routed them easily in the last few battles. If we press harder we could crush them."

"Ah, my little mutt-brother, with all that human in you there must not have been enough room for both demon cunning and blood-lust. I am hearing what Hiragushi has to say, not because I actually care for his offerings, but because of what it will tell. Exactly what he is willing to offer will tell us how desparate he truly is. If it is a mere token gesture then we know he has something else up his sleeve. But I don't think it will be. And then you will have the battle you so crave"

"Feh, doesn't take that much brains to figure that out. And you're not fooling me brother, you like a good fight as much as I do. You just think it's more fun to destroy your opponents with words first."

Sesshoumaru's eyes glinted in amusement, as he turned towards his brother before sinking into his throne. "Ah, not as dense as I thought, eh? Perhaps that mother of yours gave you some intuition after all."

"Bring them in".

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Kagome forced herself to breathe normally as she felt the litter rise and sway beneath her. She squinted at the gazy curtain in front of her, trying to see through to Carine's litter, to see how she was sitting. She forgot to ask about that, and she didn't know what to do with her hands. And this kimono made her fell awkward. Elaborate court dress was not her thing. She liked to be able to move about. Carine and Kikyo had always been better at sitting still than her.

She could make out the shapes of the doors to the Palace of the Western Lord now, swinging open to reveal a great dark maw of an entrance hall. The dim light made it harder to see through the curtains, though it seemed to be brighter farther in. The doors clanged shut ominously behind them as they made there way down the length of the hall towards the bright spot that seemed forever away.

They were closer now, and she could see Carine's litter being lowered to the floor in front of her. Kagome's was brought around to the left, and set down, still farther back than her sister's. A status marker. Her father's men were being very careful. She repressed the urged to shiver, the air felt so cold and tense. Up ahead, on a dais she could barely make out sat the two haughty young lords who held their fates in their hands. She closed her eyes and tried not feel sick as she heard the voice of her father's retainer, as he began to squawk like a village merchant hawking his wares.

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Sesshoumaru lounged in his throne, a look of pure boredom on his face as the thin, nervous little demon began his speech. He fought the urge to eye the entourage again, though he was very interested in exactly what resided in those litters.

" ... Great Lord Sesshoumaru, my own Lord has grown weary of war, as you must too, but he knows that you feel compelled by honor to right the wrongs done you by his ancestor so many years ago. Lands and treasures many be lost and gained, but the honor of the Great Tai-Youkais should never be insulted. The Great Lord Hiragushi therefore wishes to repair the insult done to your harem, by sending you two -"

"You're sending a couple whores as a peace offering?!" Inuyasha snorted.

"You will excuse my brother's outburst, but he has a point. Courtesans are hardly an appropriate peace offering. Let alone a replacement for a Queen." Sesshoumaru's eyes were ice, as he spat the words out at the retainer.

"NO, No, no. My Lord, My dear Lord..." the thin demon was visibly shaking now, "not courtesans, never.. and Eastern Lord once stole a Western Queen, that is true, and now My Lord wishes to recitfy this by giving you one of our own. He is sending his daughters... "

"Feh. More likely a couple of scullery maids in court dress. I think I'd rather have the courtesans, eh brother?"

Sesshoumaru smiled very thinly. "If what you say is true, then I might be more inclined to consider your offer. Let us see them."

"Of course my Lord, of course." The retainer almost tripped over himself to reach Kagome's litter. "First, to show that Lord Hiragushi holds the House of West in high regard, he sends his yougest daughter, a lucious beauty, to honor the young Lord Inu Yasha."

He bowed low and pulled back the translucent curtain, revealing Kagome perched nervously atop her cushion.

"How generous of your Lord to remember my brother. What did she do, dally with a guard?" Sesshoumaru asked, boredly.

"My Lord! No-"

Sesshou fixed the retainer with a piercing gaze. "Then I suggest you quickly give me a very good reason why your Lord is willing to through a perfectly good princess to a younger Lord."

"My lord wishes to honor your brother! No, more than he wishes to honor you, of course my Lord.." the little demon practically threw himself over to Carine's litter and pulled at the drapery. "Lord Hiragushi sends you, Lord Sesshoumaru, his eldest, the Crown Princess of the Eastern Lands, the Jewel of-"

"Enough!" Sesshou leaned forward for the first time in interest. "Get that thing off her head."

"My lord?" the retainer stuttered, but Carine had already reached up and unfastened the elaborate headdress that covered her forehead and draped over her shoulders. She shook her head and her long, aburn tresses tumbled free about her slim frame.

Sesshoumaru suddenly had a flash of himself as a small boy.

"Father, what is going on?"

"The Lord of the East has captured one of our spies. She is to be hanged for treason." The young boy looked unblinkly up at his father.

"Why are we here?"

"That is how things are done, my son."

Sesshoumaru glanced out over the field, past the gallows tree to the people watching on the other side. There in the middle, was the Eastern King, the sight of him spreading warm hate through the boy's heart. But his eye caught something else, a bit to the right. A young girl with tearstained cheeks clutched the hand of a very pregnant Lady. A young girl with flowing aburn hair.


Lord Hiragushi was truly using his daughters as barginning chips. His desparation was beyond Sesshoumaru's suspicions. Unless......

"My brother and I have no need for wives. Unless you have something else..." Sesshoumaru made to rise.

"NO! No, my Lord, you misunderstand, they are yours to do with as you please.." the retainer was on his knees now. Sesshoumaru's eyes were drawn from him however, by a swift movement from the litters.

The Crown Princess had dismounted and was approaching the dais, something clasped in her hands. She knelt low before him, and extended her hands. "We would not presume to come empty handed My Lord. I know this is not the largest of the treasures taken from your family, but I understand that it is the most precious."

Sesshoumaru took the necklace from her and glanced at his brother, who looked just as supprised as he felt.

"Lord Hiragushi did not approve that as part of the offering..."

"It is my offering." The Princess' glance silenced the retainer.

"Fine." he muttered." Well, my Lord? Does this offering please you? Would you take the traditional time to consider?"

Sesshoumaru tore his eyes from the jewel in his hand. "Yes. I believe I will. There will be a fortnight's ceasefire while I decide."

"Only a fortnight? Surely, my Lord-"

"A fightight. At the dawn of the last day a messanger will appear on the hill at our border. he shall signal my decision."

"How?"

Sesshoumaru growled in annoyance at the demon. "My displeasure will be shown with both their heads on a silver platter!"

"And if you are pleased?" the retainer pressed.

This time Sesshoumaru laughed. " Then the platter will hold my sword-arm." he commented dryly, before sweeping out.

"Take them away!" he called over his shoulder as the doors swung shut behind him and his brother.


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A/N: amazing, 2 chapter and no smut. Oh, well it's coming, I promise. This story actually has a plot! See where it's going? huh? huh?