Betrothal of the Warrior Hime

Kagome’s first night home had been spent under the stars below a Sakura tree, and on a bed of cream moonflowers that marked her brothers grave. Though she had not made a sound her tears were somber, and silent, smelt by most of the royal family and even her own. Miyako watched was her heart broke, to see her warrior hime shattered so easily was heart wrenching, she wondered how this could have happened, Kagome never spoke of exactly what happened here, just that she‘d been treated as a caged bird with clipped wings and that Souta had died. Shin and Sayuri too had watched their youngest most of the night She was beautiful beyond compare, her mother's looks and her father‘s dark coloring suited her olive skin, the pale silver blue chest marks seemed to shimmer in the moonlight which only glistened the tears off of her skin. Sesshomaru too watched the dark angel, from his own room, her onyx hair cascaded around her like a wreath of mossy tresses, her plump lips whispering in her sleep, she was beautiful. Mugen watched over his sister from the garden wall far from her just on the outside of her barrier. He knew nothing would get in through such a thick barrier, but she was his baby sister returned from nowhere, and he would not allow her to run again. He needed her like the rest of the family had, her leaving had wrecked the life of their home leaving wholes in them that they had never noticed before. From there he could at least watch over her, protect her, even if she didn’t need it. But waiting for her just inside the doorway was Kikyo, her completeness returned at the feeling of Kagome near, she had not felt so light hearted in almost one hundred years. She didn’t, and couldn’t blame her sister for leaving but she like the rest of their family wanted her to remain there and be happy. The early morning calls of birds woke her, Kagome smiled sweetly and bade her brother good morning, she’d had a long talk with him that night. She missed him so much and had never allowed it to show, waking up she felt the cool kiss of her fallen tears on the wind. Standing she dropped the barrier and walked inside finding Kikyo.



Sitting next to her sister she rested her Kikyo’s body against her own, cradling her shoulder under her arm, and humming some unsung song, the moment was sweet, and again so unlike the Kagome they all knew. Unconsciously she twirled a fallen lock of Kikyo’s snowy white hair around her finger, Kagome thought it odd, even though it had been Kikyo who was born first she remember she had always taken care of her older sister. Kikyo was the light to her darkness, and it was one for the reasons she’d always loved her so. Watching from a distance was Shin, Kagome was so unaware of his presence, he thought, there would be no way she’d be ready in time to prove herself for the mating season. “Its rude to spy on someone.” came her whispered calm quiet voice, she’d seen him, felt him, and knew he would think little of her as he seem to have always. Not wanting to wake her sister, Kagome stayed in place but looked to her father with icy cold eyes that seemed to be almost a clear blue, so fierce, he thought. With that Shin left the pair and went for breakfast.



Kagome growled low, and playful, “Sister, dear sister?” she called in a soft sing-song voice, “it is time for my sister to awaken, dear hime.” Kikyo, had always been a morning person, something that had always seemed to go against her own nighttime habits. Smiling as Kikyo yawned herself awake she blinked at Kagome. “You didn’t have to watch me all night. Now that I’m back I will not run again. It is too cowardly, and I will always have to face my battles head on.” Kikyo frowned some at how serious her sister was when she’d seemed so playful just a moment before. “Do not worry, all will be well, I will assure you of this.” Said Kagome pinching Kikyo’s cheek lightly and standing, she helped her older sister up and they joined the rest of the family and guests for breakfast. The girls walked into the dinning room, where all eyes feel upon them, they had been giggling like they were ten summers old, finding the adult stiffness after finding all eyes upon them. They looked so a like, both having their mother’s charming face, their coloring so different, Kikyo looked delicate, almost fragile, while Kagome looked healthy, and femininely muscular. They were different even more now then ever but together they were completely one, one day and the other night.



Winter slowly melted into spring, and though Taishou had to return to the Palace of the Moon, his heir and youngest remained at the Palace of the Northwestern border. Kagome exuded nothing but the most feminine tendencies, polite and kind, and none seemed to be able to figure her out, still there were days that she and her grandmother would seemingly disappear for hours, at least twice a week Sesshomaru had noted to himself, sometimes daily. And when they would show back up they’d always seemed so close, and happy, this was not the Kagome he knew, this was not the one hat had so selfishly demanded a sword, or who‘d attacked her father for his meddling, in her place was a creature just as alluring and even more so for she was an enigma. It was even confirmed that the pair were up to something, when one such morning, they seemed to come down a hall from no where, laughing and giggling about something, when they caught sight of him, Miyako smirked and left Kagome alone with the handsome heir.



Kagome bowed respectfully to the heir, and walked to a window near by overlooking the Western lands towards the Palace of the Moon, the window he’d been looking out of when they came upon him. “What has become of the Lands?” she finally asked breaking the comfortable silence that lapsed time.



“Hn?” he questioned.



“I know it is not my place to speak politics, or things that only lords should deal with, but … I wanted to know what was becoming of the lands. The north has laid a claim upon me, that must be settled and before I’m ripped away from my home I would know of the worlds events.” She’d spoken so clearly and elegantly, so ladylike that he’d almost forgotten this was no lady, that this was in fact the most fury filled female he’d ever come upon. Taking a moment to think his answer over he finally said.



“The West is at peace with all lands but the North. With those lands we are at an uneasy truce for the moment. As are all the lands with the North.” She nodded and looked to him with her cool sky blue eyes that left him unable to read her emotions as he wished so much he could, they held no anger for once, and she seemed to honestly be thankful that someone had given her the truth, but even that he couldn’t be sure of.



“May I ask Lord Sesshomaru? What would the West do if the North fell?” she genially asked, looking to him still with her cool eyes. He seemed to think for a moment before answering.



“We would celebrate I imagine.” he answered honestly without thought. “Though I do not think that will happen in my lifetime.” he added to hide his amusement at the thought.



“Ah, but yours is a long life milord, and wonders never cease.” she gifted him before she bowed respectfully, and walked away turning her head to look back at him with a smirk on her face. Her long onyx swaying in her wake, nearly as much as the sway in her hips. He felt the need he had for her grow, he wanted her, which was unnerving, he was betrothed to her sister. When Kagome ran, it was assumed that she might never come back, and with that the betrothal had been assumed that he would take her sister as mate, for she was the only one left in the betrothal. Kagome was still walking when she heard voices, two voices, her sisters and the man she’d hated for so long, Inuyasha. She turned to looked back, Sesshomaru was gone, her rage towards Inuyasha had not faltered once, she still felt that if he had not led them so far out she wouldn’t have to do so much work to fix life, and more importantly she’d still have her brother. Stopping to listen she came closer to the door that had been left slightly ajar, they were in the southwestern wing of the palace, and this area was rarely used for only the dojo lay on this side of the palace, she figured she’d make sure her sister was okay before leaving the pair.



“Kikyo, I can’t stand it any longer, I’ll challenge him, I’ll win you from the betrothal!”



“Inuyasha, your mad! He’ll kill you!”



“Feh! Do you have so little faith in me?”



“Of coarse I have faith in you, but your father won’t allow it, you know this. And I will not have you causing strife with your brother.” Her sisters salty tears could be smelt, still Kagome was ready to hurt the second heir at this point, only stopping when she saw in the reflection of a mirror in the room, the second heir holding her sister tenderly, lovingly. “Its not fair, but its my duty, and you should respect that. I love you, but I’m no longer yours.” With that Kikyo ran from the room, luckily she ran the other way from Kagome. When Inuyasha came out, he was abruptly pushed by the throat against the wall, pinned by a dark, angry female inu, with soul scorching white eyes. Thinking it was his brother for a brief moment, he was quiet alarmed when he heard her dangerous growl, the one he’d heard so many years before. To say the least, shock was setting in, a female had thrown him up against a wall, and threatening his life, again. “I donot know what’s going on, but so help me if you make her cry again I’ll kill you.” she paused so he could take her words in fully. “I’ll gut you from stem to stern, pull your heart from your chest and show it to you as I squeeze the life from you. I hope we have an understanding.” She dropped him and walked away from him as though nothing had happened. Once she’d finally turned the corner and was safely out of hearing range he scoffed and said low.



“You’d be a perfect bitch for Sesshomaru.”



That afternoon a messenger arrived from the Palace of the Moon, it read. “The annual mating ball, is to be held at the home of the Inu no Taisho Lord of the Western Lands, all heads of station, and unmated youkai are honor bound to attend.” Shin was now worried, Kagome seemed to refuse to prove herself worthy to mate, who would want her if she was unproven, more so, unproven the only one that would take her would be the Lord of the North’s only son, the one that had laid a claim to her many years before. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha left days before them, leaving the palace of the Northwestern Border in peace, only leaving the males now out numbered by the women in their lives, Kagome still seemed distant to him, refusing to deal with needing to prove herself before the season, she didn’t want to or didn’t feel well enough. He knew if nothing else about his daughter she was staling, he could understand why, but it angered him that she was pushing away traditions. So with a heavy heart, Shin left for the ball with mate, his mother, his two daughters and son Mugen, while Jin was left to tend the palace. This would prove to be an interesting night, they all thought.



The night of the ball….



The sun set as all gathered at the Palace of the Moon for this years mating ball, there had been a peace treaty signed millennia ago, that for this even for these few hours, no war could take place and the world would be at peace in Japan. Shin and his mate along with his children, were announced and Taishou and Lady Hatsumomo stood, before them were the most beautiful females to enter the room all night, Hatsumomo had not seen them both together in over one hundred years. To both their right and left where their sons, heirs to the western lands, and for the first time all night, both males seemed to have leapt to attention. Inuyasha was staring at Kikyo, who wore a bright crimson kimono, with a silver obi, her ivory mokomokosama wrapped loosely around her arms, while Kagome wore a pale silver blue kimono in the same fashion a black obi that shined black silk sakura petals as the light hit it, her onyx mokomokosama, also hanging loosely around her arms. Kikyo lit up at the idea of a ball, having never really mastered the art of masking her face, while Kagome looked out at the crowd of youkai before her with the utmost boredom, a face, that could rival Sesshomaru’s.



Hatsumomo greeted Shin and Sayuri first, then Miyako, then Mugen, and finally the twins, taking them by the hands after all the smiles and greetings were made, she led them to her sons, Sesshomaru could only mask himself not daring to speak for it would give away his want for this dark female. Kikyo was led to Sesshomaru, while Kagome was led to Inuyasha. The elder pair seemed distant, while the younger pair seemed to loath each other. Something was amiss and both Shin and Taishou put an end to it before any could noticed, Shin having pulled the males away while Taishou shuffled the girls into the crowds to mingle, leaving Miyako watching it all with great amusement.



Kagome wrapped her arm around her sister’s and began to charm her way threw the crowd, while many sentinel eyes bore holes into them, Kikyo seemed delighted to let Kagome take over, she’d always hated to have to talk to someone she didn’t know, having always felt like it was forced. Soon Kagome had most of the males wanting her and most of the females hating her, and for her part she could care less, if any wanted to hurt her or have her they would have to fight her, and by their laws no retribution could be taken, she wondered how many new of such a law, the lords would, of coarse, but their offspring? Ha! that was laughable, she thought. She’d slaughter the lot if they wanted her so badly. Taking her sister by the arm yet again Kagome led her to a secluded part of the room, and whisper so lightly in her ear, so no other could have possible hear her. “Tell me the truth, but I want you to be happy and HONEST. Do you love Inuyasha?” Kikyo’s eyes grew larger then saucers, but she nodded nonetheless. “I’m glad one of us will be happy. Look I’ve got a plan, and your going to end up with him, one of us is going to be happy in life, and I’m going to make it you.”



“But Kagome!” she said.



“No! I’ve caused you so much pain, Kikyo. I won’t let you mate someone else if you don’t want them. Don’t worry I haven’t been talking to all of these guys for nothing, I’ve learned a lot this evening. And it makes it all perfect. Just don’t get caught by Sesshomaru.” she winked at her sister. In fact Kagome had actually be putting her plan into action, through out the night she’d learned from most, that the north was on bad terms with the other cardinal lords, that everything built was uneasy and not really trusted to be upheld. She’d even managed to talk to the Lord of the South and East, and all she needed to know was how Taishou felt on the mater and she could take action. Letting go of her sister to allow her free to roam around and find her lover or their family Kagome made a ‘B’ line to Taishou. “Milord, I’ve been wondering, What is the West’s position on the North?”



He was taken aback by the question, making his exit from the current conversation he managed to get far enough away from the others to answer her question. “Do not worry, they will not take you we will make sure of this.”



“Yes milord, but more so what I wanted to know, how the West would treat one willing to rid the lands of the Northern clan itself?”



“Why would you ask such a thing?” he questioned her, holding her arm rather tightly.



“Curiosity.” he seemed to ponder her before answering honestly.



“I have no idea what your planning but if the dragons are gone, the West would not be upset.” with that he left her there, not wanting to know what she might have planned. Hours pressed on and the close of the ball had come. “Ladies and Lords, the evening has come and gone. Hoping that some of you may have had time to find mates, the ball is now at an end.“ It was not the most royal of statements but that was not what Taishou was known for. The ballroom cleared eventually, leaving just the royal family and Shin’s brood.



“Another wonderful ball, General.” said Shin. “The mating season should be interesting judging by the mix of young youkai in attendance.”



“Hn.” was his answer.







AN: Oh and because i haven't said it in a while, The Inuyash Universe and all its Char’s are not owned by myself, but are © to Rumiko Takahashi