Betrothal of the Warrior Hime

Nine years passed and the uneasy truce was still in effect, The General and his family were at the Northwestern border palace of Shin and his family. The general always having plans to deal with had a reason to be there, and it had nothing to due with just visiting for sake of visiting. The younger pups which were Inuyasha, now nine, and Shin’s pups Kikyo and Kagome, now eight, had already left the confines of their home, and were out and about on the palace grounds. Souta and Sesshomaru had been ordered pup sitting duty, which neither of them wanted but being so close to the dangerous border, both knew was necessary.



Soon after, Taishou made his bid to Shin. “Shin, you know I’m not just here to visit.”



“Hmm. Now why would you be here then?” Shin jest.



“I have come to make you a proposition.“ he said wrapping his arm over Shin’s shoulder, earning a raised brow from his second.



“My mate would be hard pressed to allow that.” said Shin with a comical grin on his face, trying to figure out what Taishou was up to.



“Well I dare say your not worth the trouble old friend. But no, this concerns our future. I’ve come to say this, you have two daughters, and I realize its early to start, but I want to make it clear that I’m thinking of them as well.” The mirthful joy that Shin had moments before was gone, this was indeed a serious conversation. “As I was saying, you’ve got both Kikyo and Kagome’s futures to deal with, its time you start thinking of matches for their mates. “



“Their eight!” said Shin feeling a bit of anger seep into his voice.



“Yes well, trust me, time passes by quickly and I’m offering one of them the post of Lady of the West. They would be safe always as Sesshoumaru’s and Inuyasha’s mates, and you could keep them close to home rather then allowing some foreign lord to take them away.” Shin growled at the very idea.



“When?”



“Good Gods Shin I don’t mean any time now, Their eight!” Shin scowled. “No they’ll be the proper age before either is taken, What do you say?”



“I’ll have to talk this over with my mate. She would be displeased if she knew I’d done this without her knowledge.” Shin said taking the idea seriously.



“Sayuri’s got you whipped.”



“I’d like to see you stand up to Lady Hatsumomo.” Shin said with a grin. It was then that both ladies just happen to walk up on their mates and their conversation.



“And why would my Lord and mate, need to stand up to me?” she said her eyes flashing a bit of red. Shin received a nice elbow to the ribs from the General. Before he cleared his throat.



“Well my Lady, it has been brought to my attention, that the Lord, your mate, wishes to have Kikyo and Kagome as mates for his sons.” He said clearly, and bowed to her to show respect.



“Really?” Said Hatsumomo. While Sayuri looked upset, Shin moved to her side, while Hatsumomo moved to her mate.



“They would be taken at the proper time, and it would make a powerful land with their unions.” he said to ease her mind. While Hatsumomo gave her Lord and mate a hard elbow in the ribs as well.



It was then that Sayuri said something, “But whom would be paired with who?”



“Well I don’t know enough about your daughters personalities or Inuyasha’s to pick which would be suitable for the other. So for now, I will leave the pack open to just say ‘both Kikyo and Kagome will be promised mates of Sesshomaru and Inuyasha.’ Over time and many visits, we can make final arrangements when the time comes.” finished Taishou. They all seemed to like the idea, both their families had always been close, and now they would be closer.



Elsewhere….



All three pups had some how made it passed the guards at the gates, unnoticed by their elder siblings that had pup duty until some time had passed, and then both were in hot pursuit. A game was in play, Inuyasha was being chased by Kikyo, who was trying to get away from Kagome who was now ‘IT.’ Kagome had always loved her sister, there were no closer bond she had with family except with Souta, and then her father. Inuyasha on the other hand was hard pressed to like Kagome, Kikyo was fine though, she‘d been like girls should be, but Kagome was nothing like a girl, he thought, she was rough, and hard on him like a boy might be, she was also mean and far too strong for her sex, he thought. There had been laughter and giggles until Kagome realized that the landscape had changed, no longer were they in the lush green lands of the west, instead they’d entered a dark, rocky mountain area, perfect for this game, but Kagome’s untrained senses were going wild, everything in her told her they were being watched and were in great danger. She tried to tell them, but when she got too close they leapt away.



Finally yelling at them in her most serious tone, the one she mimicked from her father, forced the others to stop and draw their attention to her, it was then that two male dragons came into site. Kagome not even thinking ran up to Kikyo and Inuyasha, grabbed their wrist forcefully, while tugging them back to the West. Kagome was no fool, even at the tender age of eight she knew very well that a treaty would not keep them alive and safe, no that treaty would be their death warrant if caught, it would make their father’s weak to save them, and if they weren’t saved they would be dead anyway. With all her might she pulled the other forwards and ordered them to ‘run.’ Inuyasha never having taken orders from her stopped in his tracks, he’d never liked the way she ordered him, and he ha no idea why she was radiating fear in such amounts. Upon stopping though he saw exactly why, the two dragons, were closing in on them, and they would be dead if caught. “Run you Baka!” yelled Kagome a few feet behind him. He’d tuned right then and grabbed Kikyo by the hand and was running as fast as he could, Kikyo chose then to turn back towards her sister. Kagome had stopped and grabbed the closest weapon she could, she was the second daughter, the ‘filthy blip in her family’s proud heritage,’ If nothing else Kagome would die to protect her sister, and the young prince. The closest dragon was baring down on her, while the next went for Inuyasha and Kikyo, Kagome screamed as she some how managed to produce a barrier that forced the dragon to crash to a stop a few feet in front of her, taking the rocks she’d picked up from the ground when she’d stopped she again managed to send an attack at the other demon closing in on her sister and the prince.



The small attack gave them the chance they needed to hide, but it left little Kagome to the two now furious dragons. The one on the ground snorted fire from his nose, while the one she’d hit with the youkai charged rocks, now circled from above her, they both charged, Inuyasha and Kikyo heard her scream. Just before they gotten to his sister Souta in an almost rage was fighting the dragon on the ground placing himself between his favored sister and the beast. Sesshomaru had arrived moments later, taking on the one in the sky who became excited at the idea of the death of the Heir. Souta moved with an unequaled grace, he was Destruction at his best, Kagome’s weak barrier faltered, she was still endanger but oddly she felt safe with her brother so near.



The dragon, breathed pure molten fire out, Souta and rolled out of the way in time taking Kagome with him. He placed her out of the way as much as could be, whispering that ‘it’d be okay’ before going back to the battle. Now Kagome felt the danger, she knew something else was wrong, she could feel it, so she began to look for it. Before her on the ground was her cherished brother, he was slashing into the dragon with everything he could. These dragons were young for their kind, like themselves they were ‘pups.’ Above the ground she saw the heir, Sesshomaru. He walked on air as though it were solid ground, his foe was bloodied and dying but refused to stop fighting, if anything Kagome could some how respect that, even if she didn’t like it because it was directed at her loved ones.



Sesshomaru had just killed his prey, the body falling with a thud, as the skin of the dragon seemed to melt away, Souta’s dragon seemed to grow more vicious by the second. The poor creature was bloodied horrible and was dying, but it remained up, even now missing an eye that Souta had gouged out himself. With one final move, the grounded dragon was no more, its own skin melting in the air. Kagome left her hiding place and ran to her brother. “You were amazing!” she beamed at him. Inuyasha pulled Kikyo out of their own hiding place, only seeming to be noticed by Sesshomaru who leapt over to the pair, scenting them for any wounds.



“What were you doing out here?” roared Souta. He took his roll as his sister’s protector with great seriousness.



“We .. We were playing a game.” she said shyly, she could never lie to him, it was not in her nature. It was then that she noticed that some feeling from earlier, but it was too late thought, there had been a third dragon, the strongest, with one swipe of its long tail in true form it cut Souta in half, his blood spurting all over her. Kagome’s world went silent, in that one moment, she looked to her beloved brother, his eyes still twinkled looking down at her he gave her a genuine smile before he slid to the ground in two pieces. Her heart broke, Sesshomaru was already charging towards the dragon, when he stopped dead in his tracks feeling little Kagome‘s aura. He retreated to his own brother and Kikyo, throwing them behind himself and unsheathing his own sword Tensaiga to create a barrier. He thrust it into the ground and held the two pups back, even over Kikyo’s howls to be released. The dragon had rounded and was baring down for the final attack to kill Kagome, Kagome on the other hand had no intention of dying. Her brother had smiled at her, a final gift that she’d always wanted. He hit the ground and a single tear fell from her eyes, eyes that now glowed a fierce white. She grabbed the hilt of her brothers blade, the sword itself almost as long as she was tall, her pulse quickened and her demonic nature took over.



For one so young a transformation or even their own demonic nature should stay dormant until they reached puberty, Kagome’s had been awoken early and it was pissed. With a speed unlike anything he’d ever seen, she danced on air it self like Sesshomaru had, but she was untrained and should not be able to. She attacked the dragon, like her brothers assassin, she landed a single cut, his head felt to the ground followed by his body, and only seconds later Kagome, she landed with the dragon blood covered blade held out behind her. She stood and looked to the dragon, its body still twitched, in one graceful move she swung around and released a ribbon of death at the body shredding it. The technique had no name, she called not title, it was shear instinct. This dragon too was reduced to skeleton as its skin melted.



She walked over to her fallen sibling, and thrust the blade deep into the ground, she fell to her knees give out, and passed out hanging almost over his body. Unconsciously she sobbed, her deep silent tears washing his face. Sesshoumaru was utterly lost for what to say, he felt like his brother was gone, and the rage he held was never going to be able to be released. Giving the two pups a glare, Kikyo began to cry, Inuyasha only looked sad and tried to comfort her. Sesshomaru began to walk over to Kagome, his walking was stopped when an invisible barrier threw him back, and cracked wildly with Kagome’s untrained youkai. His eyes widened and then narrowed. ‘How is she able to do these things?’ he wondered. But now was not the time to think of things like this, he had to get them all away from the smell of so much blood, and the bodies, but how, he was one demon, and Kagome was unreachable.



They were not far into the northern lands, so Sesshomaru did the only thing he could, he called to their parents, and Kagome’s siblings, howling into the sky like a dog on a moonlit night, he cried to them, also giving away their position should anything be looking for them. It wasn’t a minute later that Taishou and Shin arrived taking the scene in for what had happened, a moment later Jin and Mugen arrived.



“What has happened?” Bellowed the general.



“The pups became lost, when we noticed we went to retrieve them. When we arrived, Kagome was trying to fight off two dragons to give Inuyasha and Kikyo time to escape. Souta and I got here just as they went into attack her. We killed both dragons, but a third was flying out of range of our senses, it attacked and killed Souta.” Sesshomaru answered hiding his sorrowful rage.



“Jin, take Inuyasha and Kikyo home.”



“But father?”



“NOW.” Shin hissed venomously.



“Yes father.” answered Jin. Jin silently walked to his little sister, and the young prince forming a ki cloud at their feet and took them back to the palace.



“Mugen, You will take your brother.” Mugen went towards the barrier and like Sesshoumaru was thrown back, only much farther then he had been. Taishou rose a brown and looked to his son, as did Shin. Taking it to answer the questions unasked.



“Kagome killed the third dragon father.”



“What?” Came Shin’s almost broken voice.



“The third dragon came from nowhere, it killed Souta in the manor you see before you, Kagome was right in front oh him. The blood that covers her is his. I barely had enough time to get out of the way of her youkai and protect Inuyasha and Kikyo. Father, I’ve never felt anything like it not even from you and Shinosamu together. It almost hurt.” Sesshomaru finished. Looking up all eyes were on Kagome and Souta.



“A barrier?” said Shin again sounding lost.



“I have no idea, it will not allow me to pass. She had one up when we arrived, and now this, I did not know she was so capable. Even now she’s not conscious, but the barrier is just as strong and throws back all who have tried to pass it.” again answering the questions that ha not been asked. Taishou being the ever arrogant inu, tried to pass into her barrier, and even he was sent back. Shin was in shock as were bother Sesshomaru, and Mugen. Shin then attempted, but Kagome allowed him to pass, he picked up his darling and wrapped her in his mokomokosama, the barrier had not been dropped but with her being moved, it too moved. Mugen then took this chance to pull his hatori off and cover his fallen brother, he’d never really gotten along with either of his brothers but they were still family, and he would never allow something like this to happen to family again.



With Souta’s remains in his hands he too made a ki cloud and was off towards the palace. Shin left silently with his daughter, and was followed by both Taishou and Sessomaru. Days passed and all mourned the loss of Souta, he’d been a stain in their heritage as Shin clan called it, but he’d died an honorable death protecting. Kagome had not woken yet and all waited for the little one to come to, only Shin was able to see her, her barrier had been up for days, even her little hand would not release Souta’s sword. All worried for her, until she woke. Finally her barrier dropped, her mother didn’t care about airs at that moment, she clung to her child and sobbed, Kagome on the other hand let no such tears fall, her once brilliant eyes were now hard and muddy blue like her brother and father’s before her.



She was silent, until they tried to pull the blade from her hand again. “No!” she fumed. “It is mine, and you shall meet your end should you try and take it from me again.” She said with a clarity and coldness so unlike herself. Her eyes glowed white with her untamed fury. All left her room at this point only her father and Sesshomaru remained behind. Sesshomaru was silent, but Shin wanted to know what happened.



“Kagome..?” his voice was soft, and unlike the man Sesshomaru knew. Her eyes avoided him, she knew that some of this was her fault, had she been able to get them to stop earlier enough she could have saved them all.



“Yes father?”



“How did you do all that you did? Who has trained you?” Shin asked.



“I have never been trained father, I did the best I could. But I failed you. I am sorry I am a failure.” Shin could smell the salt of her unfallen tears, He knew she would not show her pain, not in the form of tears, his Kagome was too strong for that, more so even now. She was her father’s daughter, unlike Kikyo, who had not stopped crying since she’d returned home.



“Do not feel shame. He died to protect you, it is an honorable death.” he said patting her head. “But my dear I do insist that you relinquish that sword though. It is dangerous and you do not know how to weld a weapon.” he said rather fatherly.



“Then teach me how.” she said quickly. It was true Kagome and his Mate were the only females that could openly defy him.



“No.”



“Then you will not have that sword. It is mine.” She said rather huffy, but with that Shin leaned over her and grabbed the sword from her. Kagome’s grip was not so tight now. He’d had a feeling since the barrier dropped she would not have that uncommon strength. He figured she’d whine or cry even, he was not prepared for her to growl and attack. Kagome was out of her bed in a second, she’d launched herself at her father, her muddy blue eyes, raging white again. She’d landed a kick into her father’s chest, sending him back, in fact had it not been for Sesshomaru, she might have killed him upon getting the sword back. He’d knocked her unconscious from behind and helped Shin up.



“Thank you young Prince.”



“It would seem she’d got some unforeseen powers.“ Shin nodded while getting up, he offered Sesshomaru the ability to leave first which he did followed by Shin who locked Kagome in her room, taking the sword with him.









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