A Sister's Gift

Chapter 40 – Entering the Arena

Kagome, Kikyo and Tokie, all said farewell to their protector’s, as they were not allowed to accompany them to further. They were forced to watch from the sidelines, which wasn’t going over too well with the males. The distance between the inner circle of the arena and the spectator seating was far to wide for their comfort.

Kagome quickly tried to sooth Sesshomaru’s worries. He was being overly protective once again, and unfortunately she didn’t have the time, or privacy, with which to properly calm her mate. Instead she wrapped her slender hands around the back of his neck and pulled his head to her. When her blue crescent moon, centered delicately on her forehead, touched her mate’s she said softly, “Please don’t worry for me, my love. I will return to your side shortly.”

Sesshomaru growled in frustration. Her words were somewhat calming, but there was something amiss here. Something wasn’t sitting right with this whole event. What was the purpose in dragging the competitor’s to the arena?

He sighed, and gave in to his mistress. He really had no choice in the matter, but that did not mean that he had to feel comfortable with the situation. “Be safe, my mate, until I stand by your side once more.”

Kagome smiled warmly and released her mate. She looked to Kikyo, who was currently dealing with a frustrated hanyou. Inuyasha was making it very clear that he didn’t like this one damn bit, but like Sesshomaru, it was not up to him. Tooru was taking a different approach, with Tokie. Kagome could actually hear the ookami whining as he pleaded with his mistress to bow out of the competition, or at least allow him to accompany her. Both pleas were not really options, though, and Kagome felt a little sorry for the wolf. She wondered once again, how deep the relationship between Tokie and her protector ran.

All three miko’s were called once again by the young assistant miko, Ani. The young girl, who had proven so helpful since their arrival in this city, was calling to them to hurry, with a huge smile. The smile ended at her mouth, however, as her eyes held something akin to regret.

Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, and Tooru entered the doors leading to the spectator area. The guards placed there directed them to be seated in the section reserved for slaves, which proved to be very far away from the center of the arena. The Youkai Protector’s emitted angry growls, as they made their way to their seats.

Once they were seated, Sesshomaru surveyed the whole of the arena. On the opposite side, sitting just above the high wall was the royal booth. Sitting there was Prince Hasun, his cousin Onigumo, and behind them a slue of Imperial Guards. On the right of the Prince was the daisaiin, Senshi.

Seeing Onigumo so close to the center of the arena only served to make his blood boil in anger. The slime of a man, should not be so close to his Kagome.

Beside Sesshomaru, Inuyasha was seething. They were stuck in the nose bleed section while the ‘Prince’ was placed nice and close to where Kikyo would make her appearance. It took all of his reserve not to storm into the inner chamber and snatch Kikyo away from them all. How dare they keep him from her!

Sesshomaru sensed Inuyasha’s anger rising. He had ignored the whelp’s foul temper until now, but it seemed that the hanyou was becoming irate, which would only lead to trouble. “Inuyasha. Control your temper. While I do not like this any more than yourself, we must not dishonor our mates by interfering needlessly.”

“Do you think I don’t know that!? But I’m telling you Sesshomaru, one wrong move on their part and heads are gonna roll! Something ain’t right about this. I can feel it in my gut.” Inuyasha spat through clenched teeth.

Tooru listened intently to the conversation between the half-brother’s. He felt an unease as well. Something was going to happen, and they were not going to like it. The ookami placed his hand on the shoulder of Inuyasha, “If you go in, I will be there to back you up.”

Inuyasha felt strangely touched by the ookami’s offer, and nodded his acceptance, then returned his eyes to the circle below them.

Sesshomaru heard the declaration of the ookami. It was a brave, if not stupid thing to do, but it appeared that he and Inuyasha were ready to do battle, which he would not be excluded from. “If you both will agree to only attack if I give the word, you can count on me to destroy my fair share of the enemy. Neither of you will touch the prince, however, and I will have the pleasure of taking the head of Onigumo.”

“Now why in the hell would we agree to that!? If you get to kill Onigumo, then I should be able to kill that fuck-up of a prince!” Inuyasha barked.

Sesshomaru’s patience was wearing thin. His nerves were stretched by the situation at hand, and now he had to listen to the hanyou’s bickering. “Because, Inuyasha, the prince is no threat to any of us. Onigumo is. There’s something sinister about that one, I just haven’t figured out what it is just yet.”

“Sesshomaru is right, Inuyasha. Killing the prince would bring great trouble on you and your miko.” Tooru said, before turning his attention to Sesshomaru. “I must say the same thing of his kin, Onigumo. By killing him without just cause you will bring much trouble to yourself and your miko, Sesshomaru.”

Sesshomaru grunted, but knew the ookami was right. Unless Onigumo done something to warrant an attack, he would have no cause to slay him. “As much as it pains me, I must agree with you Tooru. I will stay my attack on the scum, Onigumo, unless reason comes to light.”

Inuyasha issued a ‘Fey’, then said, “Fine, we move on Sesshomaru’s word.”

Tooru spoke up, “Agreed”

With that solved, the three of them settled down to watch the events now unfolding.

Twenty guards marched through the doors first, followed by Kikyo, Kagome, and Tokie, who held their bows in hand and their katana’s strapped to their sides. They each looked wary, and unsure of what was happening.

Just then the daisaiin stood up and motioned to a man who ran to the center of the arena, just ahead of the three miko’s.

The man was obviously an announcer. “This event will require the subduing command to be issued by all miko’s having youkai protector’s!”

“No fucking way!” Inuyasha leapt to his feat, followed by Sesshomaru and Tooru.

“This is unacceptable,” Sesshomaru snarled viciously.

Unfortunately, before any one of them had the opportunity to move forward, their miko’s issued their commands of subjugation. “Stand Down!”

Sesshomaru couldn’t believe this was happening. He could clearly see the hurt in Kagome’s eyes. She did not want to do this, and neither did Kikyo or Tokie, but it was done, and the taiyoukai now had no choice except to accept the command issued by his mistress. Never had he wished to rip the damnable necklace from his body more that at that moment.

Inuyasha was reduced to a snarling bit of seething fury. His ears lay flat to his head and his fangs were bared as he displayed his displeasure.

Tooru sat down in shock. This was bad. This was very bad. These people were about to put his mistress in danger right before his very eyes, and he could do nothing to prevent it. His breathing was coming in rapid pants and a snarl played on his handsome features. “If anything happens to Tokie, I will have my revenge!”

Kagome and Tokie were then hearded back through the huge doors and out of sight, leaving Kikyo to stand all alone to face whatever fate awaited her by the hands of Japan’s highest leaders.