By the Swing of the Sword

Chapter 3
And the Plot Thickens...

A/N: much thanks to the reviewers (mmm, good cookie), and I am trying to update as often as I can, but I don't have a whole lot of free time to write. Ah, c'est la vie. And Check and Checkmate will be finished eventually, but this is the story that's screaming to be written at the moment. Anyhow, on with the show!

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The Legend of the Shikon no Tama

Many ages ago when the world was young, there lived a great demon Lord of the Western Lands. He was a dog demon with eyes of fire and ebony fur, so large it was said that he took care to never jump too high for fear he would displace the moon. As fearsome as his true form was, he was equally handsome when in the guise of a man, it was said no demoness could deny him. But in the end 'twas not a demoness who caught his eye, but a comely human lass whom he loved with all his might. But the great Lord had many enemies, and he feared for the safety of his love. So he used his magic to create the Shikon no Tama to protect her. She lived for many long years and bore him many healthy hanyou children, all under the jewel's protective guardianship. After her passing, it became tradition that each new Queen of the Western Lands would be be presented with the jewel on her wedding day, to bring peace and love to her marriage, and protect her and her offspring......


This was a most unexpected turn of events.

Sesshoumaru twirled the jewel in his hand, hardly believing it was truly there. The Shikon No Tama.....of all the treasures the West, it was not the Largest, oldest or most valueable by far, but it was the one of which they were most proud. It was not a symbol of wealth or power, every king had one of those. No, it was a symbol of the pride of the royal family, their clan. They protected their own.

Aware that his brother's eyes were upon him, Sesshou passed the stone to him. He watched his younger brother as he turned the jewel in his hands, saw how careful he was the precious relic that he had only heard of and half-believed in. It....seemed so.......surreal that they should suddenly have in their hands what they should have had all along, what they needed to have, what Sesshoumaru had sworn he would see returned to them, even if it meant his death.

He rose and made his way to the door the chamber. Before he left, he stopped, and addressed Inu over his shoulder. He had never before spoken to his brother of this, or quite in this way, but he was suddenly gripped by the need to make Inu understand. Understand wha the little pink stone in his claws meant, understand exactly what it's return signified. As the door slid shut softly behind him, InuYasha still sat, rolling the shiney bauble in his claws, his brother's words echoing in his head.


"The night your mother died, I was with father, you know....because I was older..........I had never seen him look so old was that night, even when he himself was dying. And he said to me......that all he could think about all night was that there was a way to stop this, that it didn't have to happen.......just like my mother didn't have to die.......and that that was the worst thing in the world. To know that there is a way to save someone you love, and you can not use it. He truly believed that if she had the jewel, you would have had a mother as a child. That is what that is to us, Inuyasha. It is not a mere bauble."

"What does that mean...for the war?"

"It means nothing."


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Carine flipped a damp strand of hair out her eyes has she perched on the rim of one of the wooden tubs in the Royal baths. Kagome was being readied for her night with the Prince Inuyasha, and since she was already dressed, she could hardly sit anywhere in the steam-filled bathing chamber without getting water spots on her silken, outer kimono. So Carine was left to clamber on top of things in order to pile the complicated loops and twists of hair on top of the head or her slightly taller sister.

The ladies that had been assigned to them hovered nervously nearby. Carine's sharp ears had already caught several whispered comments about how they compared to the brother's usual choice in women. Apparently, she didn't stack up too well against Lord Sesshoumaru's past paramours. She hoped Kagome wasn't listening. That seemed quite likely actually, since she was currently muttering what sounded like a calming mantra under breath. They had decided that Kagome would be readied first, since Inuyasha generally retired before his brother, and Carine was glad for that small gift, since her sister obviously needed her support.

"Lord Sesshoumaru has left his audience hall!" sqeaked a diminutive servant as she burst through the doors. "He's done for the day! Where is the girl?"

"I'm right here. Calm youself. I will bathe, and then go to him. Surely he would not begrudge me the chance to rid myself of the soil of travel? Besides, he is probably more interested in a meal or hot bath at the moment than a tumble." The servant looked decidely unconvinced, but she left anyway.

"I'm afraid you should go my dear. Be strong, and be sweet. Perhaps you will win his heart." Carine cupped Kagome's face in her hands.

"I think I'd rather you win your Lord's heart, sister. Then we might both be saved." Kagome whispered, shakily, before kissing her sister on the cheek, and disappearing out the door.


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A/N: Short, I know. And no sex either. What's up with that? Ah well. Maybe a little reader participation is in order. Which should come first? The scene where Kagome goes to Inuyasha, or Sesshoumaru intruding on Carine's bath? I kinda have the S/C scene planned out a bit more, but does it seem like I'm paying too much attention to them? Then again they kinda are my leads........ I dunno. Tell me what you think, I'll try to update reasonably soon. But don't hold your breathe. College is hectic, kids.