Love and Politics in Feudal Japan

Disclaimer: I still don't own Inuyasha.
The group continued on their way after Kouga left and arrived at Inutaishi's palace just as the sun was setting. As they neared the palace itself, Sango and Kagome gasped. It was huge!! The palace was as tall as a mountain and as wide as 30 inuyoukai in their full forms with dark blue roses climbing the walls, balconies on every level besides the ground floor, and flowers of every type imaginable were surrounding the walls into the castle grounds. The castle grounds also held a variety of flowers, trees and plants. A large fountain of glass shaped like an inuyoukai stood in the middle of the grounds while several others in different shapes adorned the rest. Benches were also placed here and there inviting someone to sit on them.
As soon as the group approached the castle doors, several different types of youkai surrounded them and bowed as Tai made her way inside. An inuyoukai stood at the doors waiting as Inutaishi approached then bowed, "Inutaishi-sama, Welcome home. You have received several messages. They have been placed on your desk in the study. Your mother is also here and would like to have a word. She is in the foyer at the moment. The rooms for your guests have been prepared as ordered. The hot spring has been prepared for you and Sesshoumaru-sama. The guest springs have also been prepared as ordered. The doctor is awaiting you in your bedchamber as requested. Derenti-sama, his mate, and family are waiting in the foyer. The royal messengers should be here within the hour and dinner will be ready in two. Is there anything else you require, Inutaishi-sama?"
"Yes, Mitsuki," Inutaishi stated, "Please inform Derenti, his family, and my mother that I will see them at dinner as I have several things to attend to beforehand. See our guests to the hot springs and be sure they take a bath. Push them in if need be. Also, have them change for dinner. Tonight is extremely important and I would like for them to look decent. Inform the doctor that I will see him after my bath. Tell the messengers that I will meet them tomorrow morning at sunrise in my study. That's all."
Mitsuki bowed and left to give the orders. Inuyasha and Kagome were dragged down the hall to Tai's left while Sango and Miroku were dragged down the hall to her right. Rin, Shippo, Kirara, and Jaken followed Inutaishi and Sesshoumaru straight then were dragged through a door on the left while the couple went through the door at the end of the hall.



Inuyasha and Kagome followed the two wolf youkai in front of them all the while trying to remember the way they came. The halls seemed to go on forever constantly twisting and turning which the wolves said was an excellent line of defense, an enemy gets in, they don't get out. The wolves stopped in front of a door and opened it pulling Inuyasha and Kagome inside before they could protest. The wolves circled the two for a moment, then began to undress both of them. Inuyasha tried slashing at them but they dodged and one jumped on Inuyasha while the other finished undressing him. The one holding Inuyasha picked him up just as Kagome was done undressing, and carried him to the hot springs. Once there Kagome slipped in to the water and relaxed briefly before realizing the wolves had gotten undressed and were bringing a VERY uncooperative Inuyasha into the spring with her. The wolves dunked Inuyasha in the water and climbed out quickly, sitting on the edge of the hot spring with their backs turned to the hanyou and miko.
"What the fuck was that for and why do I have to bathe with her?" Inuyasha was pissed. He was naked in a hot spring with Kagome. He thought she'd sit him for sure. Sure enough, "Inuyasha, Osuwari," Inuyasha landed face first at the bottom of the hot spring. The wolves dove in after him and pulled him up.
"Gomen, Kagome-sama, we had to pull him up. Inuyasha-sama would've drowned," one of the wolves said as both bowed and returned to the edge of the springs. Inuyasha was getting furious as the other said, "You're going to bathe, Inuyasha-sama. Even if we have to bathe you ourselves. We have our orders. No one and I mean no one defies Inutaishi-sama's orders."
"Fine, but why can't we bathe separately and why are you two still here?" Inuyasha asked as he grabbed the soap Kagome handed him. Taking a mental note of the way she smelled and the sight of the blush on her cheeks, she truly looked lovely like that.
"You can't bathe separately till you two make nice and we're still here to make sure you bathe. Then, we'll dress both of you and take you to the dining hall," one of the wolves said.
"Fine," Inuyasha said as he turned to Kagome, "Now why did you sit me?"
Kagome looked at him and sighed, "You act like I disgust you or something. What's so wrong with the two of us bathing together?"
Inuyasha froze. Did he really act like that? He finally decided to tell her, "Kagome, you could never disgust me and there is nothing wrong with us bathing together." He approached Kagome slowly and took her into his arms, "Truth be told, I love you, Kagome. I want you to be my mate, if you'll have me."
His body was trembling, his eyes were fearful yet loving, and she knew she could deny him no longer, "I love you too, Inuyasha. I would love to be your mate."
The two kissed feverishly as the two wolves slipped quietly from the hot spring and waited in the hallway.
Meanwhile, Sango and Miroku followed the two inuyoukai in front of them along at least 6 different hallways until they reached the door to their room. The inuyoukai pulled the two into the room and began to undress them. When the inu undressing Miroku didn't try to undo the beads holding the Kazaana, Miroku became suspicious and asked how he knew that the beads were not to be removed. The male inu responded that Inutaishi had informed him of it.
Once the two were undressed, the inuyoukai led them to the hot spring. "Get in," the female said and smiled. "What? Do you mean both of us together?" Sango turned beet red when the male nodded. Miroku was already in the water, "Come on Sango, I don't bite unless you want me to." Sango glared at him, but didn't move.
"Sango-sama you're going to bathe. Even if we have to do it for you. You are going to bathe with him. Now either get in or I'll throw you in,” the male stated and lunged at her. Sango dodged, but forgot about the female who shoved her straight into the spring. Unfortunately, Sango landed on top of Miroku and they both froze.
For the first time that she could remember, Sango saw love, unconditional love shining in Miroku's eyes and she kissed him. He kissed her back. The two of them started touching one another and Sango gave in.The two inuyoukai smiled at one another and left the room to wait in the hallway for their new charges.


The dining hall was huge. The hall was big enough to fit 50 inuyoukai in full form with a dining table that could probably seat 400 youkai comfortably no matter their size. The room even had a stage and dance floor. The Eastern, Western, and Southern walls and the ceiling of the room were made of glass. The massive garden was visible from all three sides of the table and looking east, the mountains could be seen in the distance. It was truly a beautiful room.
At the head of the table was Tai, to her left, Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Rin, Shippo, and Tai's latest human ward, Matsu. On her right, her mother Mai, the dragon youkai Derenti, his mate Kourin, their sons, Nakatsu, Misao, Nishi, and their daughters, Mana and Kita.
When Sesshoumaru and Tai came to the table nearly twenty minutes after everyone else was seated, Derenti smiled at the new mates and looked at his mate curiously who smiled as well. This took place as everyone in the room stood and bowed to the Taiyoukais of the East and West who nodded as they took their seats.
Inutaishi looked to Derenti and his family, then her mother, and stated, "Before we begin dinner and before I inform the other lords and Rasha, I have an announcement to make here and now. What I tell you is not to be revealed to anyone until the official meeting in Ishigawa four days from now, understood?" She glared at everyone in the room who nodded, "Alright, due to the fact that most of you are youkai, you can probably already tell but for those of you who can't, Sesshoumaru-sama of the Western Lands and myself, Inutaishi-sama of the Eastern Lands have mated and are expecting a pup in five months time. The table is now open for opposition or support, either way, if you have a problem or not we would like to hear it now."
Kagome, Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Rin, and Matsu looked totally confused. Kagome looked at Tai and asked, "Umm, why is it that you are asking this to begin with? My friends and I don't really understand. If you love one another then it really shouldn't matter what others think, should it?" Derenti, Kourin, Inutaishi, Mai and Sesshoumaru all chuckled at the group who became even more confused.

Tai responded, "No, it wouldn't matter if Sesshoumaru and I were of lower status then what we are, however, because the two of us are the Taiyoukai of the East and west, we have to ask for approval from both families and all of the lords under our rule as well as the Taiyoukai's of the North and South. If we don't, it could cause a war to erupt. Therefore, tonight we are asking for Inuyasha, your and my mother's approval of our union. Thereby, preventing any wars between families from occurring in the future. Kami knows how many have occurred in the past."
Kagome was even more confused, "Why do you need my approval?"
"Not just yours, but Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Rin's as well. You are Inu-kun's mate. Sango, Miroku, and Shippo are his pack which to any inuyoukai, full or half, is extremely sacred. Therefore, we must have approval from all of you. As far as Rin and Matsu go, Rin must accept me as Sesshoumaru's mate and Matsu must accept him as mine. Otherwise, the children run the risk of getting on either his or my bad side and could get killed, " Tai took a breathe and continued, "As for Derenti, Kourin, and their children, they have until the official meeting of all the lords to observe Sesshoumaru and myself then make the final decision at the meeting. However, if none of the lords approve then Sesshoumaru and I will be forbidden to see one another outside of Ishigawa and the pup will go to the older of the two of us."
Derenti nodded, "That's true. However, I do not have any problems with the union at the current moment. In fact, I believe you two should've mated years ago." Kourin and their children nodded in agreement as Tai smiled.
"I have no problems either, Tai-chan," Inuyasha added as Kagome, Sango, Miroku, and Shippo nodded in agreement. Rin looked at Sesshoumaru, "Does this mean that Inutaishi-sama and Sesshoumaru-sama will be Rin's okaa and otou?" Tai smiled softly, "If you want us to be Rin." Rin nodded vigorously. "Mine too, Inutaishi-sama?" Matsu asked hopefully. "Of course, Matsu. You need an otousan in your life anyway. Hopefully, I can be it," Sesshoumaru responded.
"Well, Okaasan, we still need your approval," Tai stated looking to her mother who burst into tears, "Okaa?" Mai smiled softly at her daughter, "I just wish your otousan was here to see this. He and Inutaisho-sama both knew you two would end up together eventually. They always hoped they would be here to see you two mate, wed, and have your first pup. You both have my blessing and approval. As well as your fathers'. "
"Very well then. Mitsuki, did you get all of that?" Inutaishi asked the inuyoukai who seemed to pop out of nowhere. "Hai, Inutaishi-sama. Approval was met by both sides. I'll place this scroll on your desk for you," Mitsuki said as she bowed and left the room.

Several youkai came in after that and sat dinner in front of everyone. "Umm, Tai-chan, why do you, Sango, and Kagome have more than the rest of us?" Inuyasha asked as he looked at everyone's plates. Sesshoumaru rose in his seat to hit his idiot brother, but Tai grabbed his arm and giggled, "Fluffy, don't. It was a legitimate question," he sat back down as Tai turned to Inuyasha, "Inu-kun, I guess you really don't have a taiyoukai's sense of smell because if you did, you would've noticed that Kagome and Sango are both with pu... umm... child. Therefore, the three of us need more in order to insure a healthy growth for our pups or umm children." Tai smiled as Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango and Miroku turned pale.
"A…A...Are you s.s…sure, Tai-chan?" Kagome and Sango both stuttered. Inutaishi smiled, took a deep breath, and replied, "Positive. An inuyoukai's nose never fails. You two are pregnant. Kagome's is a boy due in eight months time because of the youkai blood provided by Inu-kun. Sango's are a boy and a girl. Twins, due in nine months time as is normal for humans. My own is a boy due in five months time as is normal for taiyoukai." She smiled and began eating.
Kagome and Sango looked at one another then to the other youkai in the room, then to Inuyasha and Miroku who looked to be deep in thought. The two girls shrugged and began eating. Kagome finished and realized she was still hungry. Not two seconds later, another plate of food was sat in front of her and she looked up to see one of the wolf youkai from earlier. He smiled and said, "Here you are Kagome-sama. Thought you'd want some more." Kagome looked shocked, " But how did you... and why does it seem you are keeping an eye on Inuyasha and me?" "Inuyasha-sama and you are in my and my sister's care. If either of you need anything, call for either Kazuki or Mizuki and we'll be there to assist you," Kazuki bowed and left.
Sango looked up as another plate was placed in front of her and glared at the female inuyoukai from earlier, "Why are you waiting on me? Also, why did you shove me into the springs earlier?" "Ah, forgive me for that Sango-sama, but I had my orders. I wouldn't dream of defying Inutaishi-sama's orders. To do so, would bring death to myself and my mate, Detera. I'm Violia; by the way," Viola bowed to Sango, "Also I'm waiting on you because you and Houshi-sama are under Detera and my care. You also need as much food as you can handle considering your condition, Sango-sama." "Umm, well thank you, Violia-chan," Sango stated and blushed as Violia walked away.
Just as dinner was finishing up, the doors to the dining room burst open and Mika and several guards ran inside. Mika, bowing quickly, reported, " Inutaishi-sama, we have intruders heading this way from the Northeastern border. There appears to be several hundred youkai lead by a hanyou in a baboon pelt. They have already taken out several human villages and appear to be heading here. Do you wish the castle to be put on lock down?"
Inutaishi stood and approached the general, "Not just the castle, but any village surrounding the castle. No one in, No one out. Someone bring me my weapons and armor. Round up the troops and have them prepare for battle. Take the children to their rooms. Mika, I want you to go bring Kaede here. We may need her assistance. Someone track down the resurrected Kikyo. Bring Inu-kun and the rest their weapons. Prepare rooms for the villagers. Resupply the food stocks. We have half an hour before this hanyou arrives. Get moving."

The servants scrambled to carry out Tai's orders, Mika left, and Tai growled as some servants began to put her armor on her and handed Tai her swords, "This is an outrage. NO ONE and I mean, NO ONE attempts to invade my lands. I will not stand for it. Then this damn hanyou, no offense Inu-kun, goes and kills some humans in MY territory. I'll have his damn neck!!"
Inutaishi was so pissed that her eyes were red. She'd clenched her fists so hard that her palms began bleeding. Her whole body was shaking with rage as she turned and walked out the door of the dining room, turned left, walked outside to the grounds and proceeded to the outside of the castle walls. Sesshoumaru, Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Inuyasha, Kirara, and several hundred of Tai's guards followed silently, afraid to say anything that would have Tai's rage directed at them. A few minutes went by and several hundred villagers were seen in the distance as Mika and Kaede landed in front of Tai. The villagers proceeded into the castle as Kikyo arrived a few minutes later. Derenti, Kourin, Mana, Nakatsu, and Misao soon joined Inutaishi and her troops.
The air went still as several hundred youkai appeared on the horizon and paused. The hanyou in the white baboon pelt raised his arm signaling the youkai to charge. The battle had begun. Tai's troops charged at the youkai, clearing a path for their leader and her companions as Tai, Sesshoumaru, Kagome, Inuyasha, Miroku, Kaede, Sango, and Kikyo charged at the hanyou. As the group approached the hanyou, he raised a barrier causing Inutaishi to laugh at such a feeble attempt at protection. "You expect to keep me out with that pathetic excuse for a barrier, Naraku?" Tai drew one of her swords and ran at the barrier slicing through it as though it were a piece of paper. She dodged several wind blades from Kagura and jumped back as the rest of the group approached.
"You truly are a skilled fighter, Inutaishi-sama. Much like your mate, Sesshoumaru-sama. It seems I'll have to fight you myself, " Naraku said as he removed the baboon pelt and extended his tentacles towards Tai who easily dodged, "Not bad for someone in your condition, Inutaishi-sama." As he spoke, Inutaishi managed to get behind him and say, "No not bad at all." When the swings from Inutaishi, Sesshoumaru, and Inuyasha's swords, arrows from Kagome, Kikyo, and Kaede, and a boomerang from Sango were launched simultaneously, it was over. Naraku had been slain. The youkai vanished, Kohaku, Kagura, and Kanna were freed, Miroku's Kazaana was gone, and the nearly completed Shikon no Tama was back in the hands of Kagome. They had done it.

A/N: I suck at battle scenes, sorry!! T_T