Betrothal of the Warrior Hime

It had been almost one hundred years since Kagome had found her way to the Palace of the Sun, ninety eight years and some months to be exact. Kagome would be one hundred and fifty this years old soon, she would be ready to mate, and what a mating season it would be. Miyako sipped tea watching the morning rise from a window in the Palace dinning room, she had seen so many sunrises, seen many days that brought a smile to her face, days when she’d watched the pup want to grovel and give up but never once had Kagome faltered. She’d watched her grand-pup sleep deeply after many rigorous trainings, and watched as the pup had been torn apart one bit at a time only to rebuild her stronger and more like a warrior hime she was. It was early morning this day that had just been born, and Miyako knew today would have to be the day she returned Kagome to her home. It was late winter, and mating season would be this coming summer, inwardly she hated the idea of returning the regal death incarnate she‘d created, but she knew now, nothing could ever break her pup. As Kagome’s sleepy form came into the dining hall she again thought back over their time together. It had not been easy, both females had a furious temper, and both were born warriors, training had been bumpy at times, so close to death at times, they’d both been at the others throat with sword or claws on many occasions. All and all though, Miyako was so proud of her granddaughter she could hardly stand it herself.



Kagome, though not a morning person, was the strongest of the onyx haired Inus Miyako’d ever heard of or seen. She herself had been the strongest until her son Shin had been born, and though she’d never seen Souta in action she would have thought he’d have been this strong too. But no, now that honor was Kagome’s. Looking to Kagome Miyako smiled, Kagome on the other hand frowned, Miyako’s smile usually meant something bad was going to happen. Seating herself to the table to begin her breakfast, and looking out at the bleak day that was awaking the world she heard her grandmother, “Kagome, it is time to return you to your home. You know fully well how to handle yourself, and you know the laws of our kind like no other female alive. You have been here hiding long enough. You can no longer stay away from your responsibilities, my dear.”



Kagome nodded, and finished her breakfast, getting up and heading to her room to change, looking around Kagome had decorated the small place with many things she’d received or earned over the years, it had her own feel, and spirit, thinking of her past, she thought of her training. Miyako’d insisted on many types of training, the oddest though had been alpha female training. She’d told Kagome that ‘thought she would be a warrior it was no excuse to be rude and barbaric.’ Dressed for the day Kagome walked back to where she’d last smelled her grandmother. “Miyako?” she called out. Looking into a mirror hanging on the wall Kagome could see her form. She was a bit taller, leaner, and more muscular, but still feminine. Her once waist length onyx hair ran down to her knees, the crown of her hair being pulled back into a small pony tail that allowed her hair to still flow free on the sides, her once wild bands, now pulled into that same pony tail. Kagomes icy eyes remained ever so vivid and crisp, and though her lips had not smiled in years, her lips seemed to pout. Those same pouty lips were now tanned pink, like the rest of her, her skin had become dark, kissed by the sun and evenly tanned, unlike her home, here the sun always shined, and she loved to bath in it. Her sister and family might not even recognize her. She mentally laughed at the thought.



Taking one last look, she adjusted her pelt so that it fell perfectly in place, before she noticed her grandmother, for once she was not dressed as a warrior she’d known her to be, but a hime and mistress that she was. In many colorful layers, her dark chocolate mokomokosama wrapped divinely around her arms loosely falling around her. Her shiny onyx hair hung low almost to the ground, while her crown of hair was pulled back in the same fashion as Kagome’s, though unlike her granddaughter, Miyako had ornate jeweled hair pins to decorate her locks. “Miyako?” Kagome questioned arching her brow.



“It is your time now, when we arrive you will take the show, not I.” She said still grinning her mischievous grin.



“Hn.” Kagome said with a nod. Before, so long ago when she came to these lands it had taken her all night and until noon to arrive, she’d been so weak then, laughing at the idea of such weakness now, this trip would take only two hours. It would give her just enough time to ponder what her family would say, the mating season was only a few months away, which meant that she’d have a little while to prove herself worthy to mate, and that would be a site, her father would not be able to stop her now, and though she knew he might feel shamed that she‘d left, she didn‘t care. He‘d given her over without much thought, and she was damned sure he would think twice about it now, not that he could. “Come, milady Miyako.” Kagome said, and for once she was giving the orders. Miyako nodded and followed her protective pup.



At the palace of the Northwestern border…



Kikyo stired from a dead sleep, she’d been washed over with a feeling of completion, a feeling she had not felt in almost one hundred years. “Kagome.” she whispered. Smiling because she could not help it, she woke, it was late in the night for her, she’d been on her own hunt the evening before, proven ready to mate, by the slaughter of unworthy youkai. Their heads as her prize and proof she could kill, and take care of herself. Though that had not been completely true, her older brother Mugen had been there, he was out of sight, but she could still feel his presence near, probably sent by their father, though she hated that he didn’t trust in her, she was glad for her brother to be around. Times were dangerous now, the dragons, or what was left of them, came more often upon their lands, saying that they had a right to because soon Kagome would be their alpha, and she would rear them many young to replenish with.



Kikyo laughed at the thought though, Kagome would gut them sooner then give them young. Still she was certain today would be the day she’d have her sister back, only how much change would there be? She wondered. Already Kagome felt different, in more control, stoic, but she couldn’t know, couldn’t see only able to feel, she could hardly control her own breath for the excitement. Getting up she dressed and bounced down for an early breakfast, still sitting there when her family came in lost in thought, she caught both parents and Mugen by surprise. Kikyo only wished that Jin was here, instead in Kagome’s absence Jin had mated an Inu female, who was the daughter of one of the other lords, named Fuu, she was alright enough but still Kagome was more family then she would ever be. And just as suddenly as she felt Kagome, she didn’t, and couldn‘t. Still she knew why, Kagome was no idiot, she had never been one, she would hide herself until the right moment. Kikyo figured that she was the only one that had felt her aura, had any of the others felt it they would have been on a war path to go to her.



With a smile plastered over her face she bid “gmoring” to her family in a sing song voice, and ate her breakfast. Finally not being able to stand the change in her daughter’s mood so suddenly Sayuri asked what was going on, grinning, Kikyo got up and whispered into her mother ear. “She coming home today. Shhh.” her mother’s eyes were wide and almost fearful as thought her heart would burst if it were untrue. Standing in one graceful movement she looked into Kikyo’s eyes.



“But how can you know? Are you certain?” came her mothers shaky voice. Kikyo only nodded and said ‘shh’ again. Sayuri was completely hushed. She was too excited, preparations would need to be made, without warning his mate hugged their girl-pup and ran off giggling, her excitement running through him via his linked mating mark, Shin growling at his daughter he wanted to know what was going on.



“If you don’t know then I won’t be telling you. You’ll see for yourself.” with that she turned to follow her mother, and left Shin and Mugen still in shock, annoyed. With in the hour they had many unexpected guests, Jin arrived dragging Fuu behind him, having a large grin on his face, Kikyo greeted him first. “You won’t be telling father! Its to be a surprise. And if you do, I‘ll gut you.” she said warningly with a smile and a look that could kill.



“Then you know? You felt her?” his sister nodded and his grin grew deeper. He’s missed his baby sister, Mugen had always been a fine sparring partner but he was nothing like Kagome, he’d lost something when she left. Soon a messenger arrive, baring the sign of the general, and his family. Kikyo again seemed to be the one intercepting all of the info from her father. Deciding this, he needed to know about she took the scroll to him. Opening it Shin read.



“Shin, I have felt an overwhelming power heading form the ocean towards your home, I had prepared to stop ‘power’ before attacking the West but it only seemed to be heading your way, we will arrive shortly to assist you, may you need it. -Ino no Taishou”



Moments later Shin was at the gates of his palace, arriving in order were the general, the heir, and the second heir. All arriving via energy orbs, the generals seemed to be whitish blue, Sesshomaru’s and had been bluish purple, while Inuyasha’s seemed to be crimson in color. Shin greeted the general first, then the heir and then the second heir. All three seemed to go right into war mode, followed by Mugen. Decked out in full war regalia, pelts and all, they awaited the aura. Jin, Fuu, Sayuri, and Kikyo on the other hand were not so worried, well their family wasn’t, Fuu was getting rather upset, her family was not as prominent in war times as Shin’s, his family lived war, breathed war, and dealt war, so it was only second nature. Kikyo cooed her brothers mate like a child, assuring nothing would come from this.



With a sudden jolt, all fell quiet, an aura, so strong that it seemed to weigh gravity down itself, began to come towards them, Kagome had arrived. She was not showing off, just allowing it to be felt, to show her presence, had she been showing off none would stand before her, all would fall. Needless to say now everyone seemed a bit freaked out, all but Miyako, who by now, was completely used to the awesome aura of her granddaughter. Looking to the sky Sesshomaru saw her first, Kagome seemed to look as though she walked in mid air, floating down on a large thunderously dark ki cloud holding both herself and her grandmother behind her. She touched down on the outside of the gates. She no longer felt like this was home, so she felt she would enter like an guest, through the front gates.



The large gates opened leaving the three families to look at their Kagome. “Kagome.” had been whispered by more then one mouth as they all looked at her in awe. Kagome stood taller and more womanly then she could have ever before, her face was dead locked into a cold stoic bored face, her lips pouted with a healthy fullness, and her eyes looked upon them with an untold emotion, something unreadable, they felt lost in her deep ocean colored eyes. Her pelt billowed in an unfelt wind, cascading it back behind her as though she were flying, her hair too whipping lightly. Her dark armor glistening in the light of the sun, she looked ready for war. Looking back to Miyako over her shoulder, she got an okay in the form of a nod, and took off running towards Kikyo, grabbing her sister in a tight hug, and spinning themselves around happily, a smile plastered over her face for the first time in years, it felt as though they were children again.



“Kikyo. I’ve missed you so much!” she said still hugging her sister, and then seeing her mother, “Mama!” she whispered turning into a hug from her mother. Soon there was a collective embrace from her mother, Kikyo, and Mugen, Jin waited for a while to get his turn and introduce his mate to his younger sister, Kagome’s caring heart would never change, but now they wondered if her fuming wrath had changed for the better or the worse. Kagome embraced her new sister, ‘Fuu‘, she wasn’t like either of them or her mother but she was lovely none the less. By now Shin had made his way over to his mother.



“This whole time.” he seethed venomously, ”She been with you?” he asked, she merely nodded watching the joyful scene. “And you didn’t think to let us know, how dare you?” his mother let out a low growl that got Kagome’s attention, exiting from their audience and before Shin even saw her move, Kagome was between the two growling loud enough for all to hear the threat in her voice ‘take one more step and that will be your last.‘ She said nothing but glared ice into the veins of her father, as her hand found its way to the hilt of her kitana.



“You pup,” Miyako commented, smirking at her son, safely tucked behind Kagome. “Are not my lord. You will do well to remember whom you speak to, for I am still your mother.” Still growling he glared back at Kagome, who didn’t flinch as his actions, if anything the mere threat only made her angrier, her growl deepening into a rip of her vocal cords, as her fangs became unsheathed by her lips.



“She is my pup, mother, yet she defends you against me! Why?” he sneered his mean side showing more then ever.



“Because I let her fly.” her answer was quiet, and none but Kagome and Shin had heard it. His expression changed into its usually stoic face before turning and walking away. Miyako placed a hand on Kagome’s shoulder, telling her it was enough, nodding her understanding, Kagome took this time to be polite and introduce her grandmother. Her roughness and crude defense vanishing into a lovely young female again.



“General-sama, Sesshomaru-sama, Inuyasha-sama, this is Miyako, my Sire’s mother.” said Kagome in a very un-Kagome way, in a very stoic, cold, and mature way. The female bowed her head slightly, and then took her leave to go see Sayuri. She’d never truly liked any of her children’s mates, except Sayuri. They were like old friends and the pair left to catch up while Kagome was left behind, with the general and his sons. Miyako having complete trust that Kagome could handle any of these roughens, hadn’t even speared a glance back, which always caused Kagome to smirk. Devious thing, she thought while watching her mother and grandmother catch up.



“Well you still seem to know how to make yourself known, young lady.” Said Taishou with a broad grin on his face. He’d seen how shocked both his son’s had looked upon noticing just who’s powerful aura it was. Inuyasha’s had been predictable, Sesshomaru’s on the other hand was priceless. His son’s seemed lost for words at the sight of her, she was still as stubborn and more so as it seemed, but there was something else, something so adult and mature about this dark elegant creature, she seemed like a dark muse, or spirit, sultry, and tamed but at the same time wild and unruly.



“Yes, some things never change.” She said delicately with a smile. Extending his arm Kagome grasped it and was led into the palace by her father’s old friend. Though She was young Kagome had not been stupid, she and the general had been followed by both his sons and her siblings, she led the conversation to Lady Hatsumomo, keeping her in mind to make sure the old dog tried nothing with her, it wouldn’t mater if he was lord of the Western lands, he‘d lose a hand if he tried anything. He seemed annoyed but reminded himself it would not be wise to attempt anything, still he could think about it. Leaving his arm with a curt bow, Kagome was taken by her sister Kikyo, who had her other hand on Fuu’s wrist dragging her behind them. Taking them up to Kagome’s room and locking the door behind them, all three females were gone for hours, learning what had happened to the other while gone, and learning about Fuu. Jin didn’t much like that his mate had now been kidnapped by his sisters, but he knew they’d keep her safe.



Hours passed the males of the house, Miyako and Sayuri were holding up together along with Kikyo, Kagome, and Fuu in another room, leaving just the males to wonder around the palace lost for what to do, finally it was time for dinner, and they all seemed to breath a sigh of relief. Shin sat at the Eastern head of the Table while Taishou sat at the Western head of the table, to Taishou’s right were Miyako, and Kagome, to his left were Sesshomaru, and Inuyasha, on the other end, Sayuri, Kikyo and Mugen sat to Shin right, and Jin and Fuu were to his left. Dinner went by without much difficulty, though few noticed how Sesshomaru couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Kagome, were as many noticed how subdued and polite she seemed, it was almost like another youkai was there instead of their sister, she exuded grace and poise, and held her back taught, shoulders back, as though she was full elegance. After dinner, Kagome had excused herself, she’d been there for hours and the one place she wanted to go she had not seen once, she needed no one watching her so stepping into the gardens she placed a thick barrier around the area so that none could disturb her.



At Souta’s grave she saw cream colored moonflowers, for forty years no one had done anything there except herself it seemed, she felt like the world had been lifted off her shoulders knowing that someone had taken care of him in her absence, it would have brought him joy, she thought Looking down at the simple arrangement she knelt to the ground in a very lady like way, her clawed fingers pressed lightly over the etched stone grave marker, a sad smile graced her beautiful face. “I’m sorry I left you for so long brother. I needed to get away,” she whispered and paused as if waiting for an answer. Smiling bitterly again, “I knew you understand. I missed you so very much.“ she whispered. For the first time in ninety eight years she felt a tear slide down her porcelain face, the smell of the salt tingled in her own nose as she let herself cry. Leaning down, she laid upon the ground and fingered the grass that blew in the slight wind of the night, holding some unheard half conversation with the grave of her brother. Finally submitting to sleep to ease the weight of her heart, she still cried, they were silent tears, meant for none but Souta, though many eyes saw her that night, most of them were afraid she’d run off again, while two looked at her as though seeing her for the first time, like she was some wounded unearthly creature, not meant for their eyes to see.