Betrothal of the Warrior Hime

“Oh! Father!” exclaimed Kagome, with an odd sweetness that caused the remaining males to gawk at the dark beauty. “I’d almost forgotten, I have yet to prove myself worthy of mating. I should leave at once to honor the traditions of the Inu mating.” Shin’s brow rose as did Taishou’s and Sesshomaru’s. Kikyo exchanged glances with Sayuri, who saw that Miyako had only grinned.



“It is far to late in the evening to find lower youkai this close to the Palace of the Moon, little one. You would have to search all night, this year may not be the right time for you.” Said Taishou trying to save face for the girl, to which her brows grew together, but before she could voice her displeasure Sesshomaru voiced his.



“Obviously, Father, she is an honorable female, to think of such things even now, so she will not be unworthy for her future mate, whom ever he might be.” Shin growled slightly but was unheard by everyone except Kagome, and his mother Miyako.



“Indeed, she won’t be worth much if she can’t fight, now will she?” voiced Miyako, with a suspicious grin playing across her face. There was silence in the great hall while Taishou made up his mind, behind him Hatsumomo and Inuyasha stood and waited for news of what he would do, while Sesshomaru felt confident he knew his father too well. Shin would not voice his opinion to his general, and Sayuri with Kikyo only looked worried, only Kagome and Miyako seemed un-phased by the uneasy quiet.



“So be it, you have until dawn to return with proof of your kill, make haste.” Said Tasihou, obviously not happy with the situation. With that Kagome sprinted up to the room she and Kikyo were to be sleeping in that night, changing quickly she reappeared looking much as she had upon her return. Her onyx crown of hair held back in a ponytail at the back of her head, allowing the sides of her long tress to move freely around, her emotionless mask in place she gazed upon the world through what seemed a bored haze, while her eyes blazed a scorching pale iced blue almost crystalline in color. Her black kimono sleeves billowed in the wake of the air pressing passed her small taught body, while her long black boots to her caves made her also black hamaka’s look puffed right below the knee. Lastly, billowing in her wake, the pelt of a warrior, her onyx mokomokosama dancing in the wind she made, seemingly delighted at the idea of going on a hunt.



Reaching the grand hall she’d left most of her family in, as well as the royal’s she bowed respectfully and made to leave, only stopping her hurried exit at the sound of Miyako’s quiet, “Ahem.” Turning and taking her grandmother into site, she still wore robes fitting for the evenings events, her layered kimono’s where colorful, but simple and regal, she was not true royalty but one could easily forget that looking upon her. Her hair was wrapped in many elegant onyx buns, with ribbons of hair placed strategically to heighten her beauty which was never necessary, having left only one lone lock in the back dangled nearly to the floor. Kagome came to her grandmother’s side, while changing she had noticed Miyako’s presence leave the group but it had returned shortly before she hand, she wondered what her trickster elder hand in mind. Now in front of her granddaughter, Miyako not knowing what the evening held in store, presented her granddaughter a gift.



Wrapped in a thick shiny black silk, decorated with pale sakura petals, Kagome took the gift, unwrapping it her eyes beheld her grandmother’s blade, the blade that she’d weld for more then one thousand years, Tenmiki. Its long black hilt covered much the same as the one her brother carried, only his had an ivory inu on it, while her’s had a sakura inu on it. Taking the blade and re-sheathing it, she placed it into her pale silver blue obi, bowed to her grandmother, and swooped out the front gate. Her ki cloud forming darkly at her feet, she took to the air, heading towards the North.



“Sesshomaru. Go.” was all the General said, with that his eldest seemingly vanished, while Taishou turned to Hatsumomo and held his arm to her to take it, finding his locked arm they left the room without much else being said, only nodding to Inuyasha to follow which he had. Shin too took Sayuri’s arm as well, the look upon her worried face was upsetting and he knew he’d be up most if not all of the night waiting for word that the hunt went well, knowing that he would be comforting his mate most of the night. Finally out in the main hall only Mugen, Kikyo and Miyako remained, being a gentleman, Mugen offered his crooked arms to the ladies of his family, and escorted them to their rooms.



“Do not worry, tomorrow morning will be interesting if I know my Kagome.” Miyako said with a smile, that Kikyo could not help but feel that her smile brought unforeseen doom. The two parted leaving Kikyo alone for the night, Mugen in his own room, and Miyako in her own, all who’d remained after the ball would be awake long into the night, Sesshomaru on his own hunt, Kagome on her’s, Shin, Sayuri, and Kikyo, all up worrying, While Mugen would feel only unease that his sister and a prominent male were out alone together for all he knew. Miyako seemed at ease though, her main concern was how much death this night would bring about, she knew Kagome far too well, they thought too much alike, and Miyako knew what she would do on a night like this, she only wondered if Kagome would do the same. Onyx hair whipped wildly in the wind as the a dark form approached and a thunderous ki cloud headed towards the North. Sesshomaru followed with her ease, she did not seem to be looking for a youkai to slay, almost as though she knew where her kill was hiding, what kind of a kill could she be going for? he wondered. Feeling his presence behind her she cursed like a pissed off male child. Her father, or Taishou, had sent Sesshomaru and he was fast on her trail, men are such meddling creatures, she bellowed inwardly. Kagome was no delicate flower, and tonight would prove that, her kill would be grand, it would make any think twice upon stepping against her. Vaguely she wondered what would be the outcome of her night of premeditated bloodlust, deciding it would not mater either way she laughed to herself.



Kagome formed an energy orb around herself as her thunderous ki cloud fell and dissipated, going near the speed of light she quickened her race to her destination, stopping at the Palace of the Northwestern Border, she made messages ready to go to the cardinal Lord. “Pardon this humble creature for disturbing you, but a new Cardinal lord will be challenging me for the rights to mate, as I am honor bound to uphold traditions, I will battle, but as am sure your aware, the law says that if a cardinal lord battles for the right to mate, then the other’s most be present, or show representative for said battle. The desired location, will be the Palace of the Moon, at dawn today. Apologies for the lateness of this letter.“ Her scent had lingered here long enough, Sesshomaru would still be able to follow her but he would arrive too late to stop her. With that she sent messengers off to the lords, only pausing for a brief moment when the feeling of Souta’s sword pulled at her heart, “Soon.” she whispered taking to the skies again.



Over the palace walls and into the North, it had been the first time she’d been here since that fateful day, the earth was still dead and barren, having been killed by ungrateful masters. Hiding her aura to that of a weak youkai, she continued until she reached the Palace of Fire. She had done her research, knowing fully well that there were only five living youkai in the dragon clan, and that Ryumaru, the one that had laid claim upon her would be out guarding the lands to the east this night. Their people only following them out of fear, feeding them when they went unfed, they sickened her to no end to think that these ungrateful, spoiled youkai thought she would be a perfect addition to their clan, that she would assist them in repopulating such wastes for space. Her blood nearly boiled at the idea, but quickly cooled knowing what she sought to bring that very clan tonight, revenge, so cold and so sweet it was bitter. Tonight she would kill them, all but one, and he would have the honor of dying at dawn, smiling she gained sight of the first marked for death, marked so very long ago when a claim was made on a child.



A wicked grin flashed upon her face, as she went in for a fast kill, the first being Gotinmito, the weak brother of the ruling Lord Ryuu. Gotinmito had not been able to see or smell her coming, dragons were blessed with sight like Inu’s were blessed with scent, but her onyx hair and black attire meshing her into night’s cold embrace, and aided in the slaughter of the vile dragon. Coming up behind the lord’s filthy brother she sliced his throat, no screams my unlucky pawn, she thought as the blood drained from his pale greenish face. Her grandmother had always said she could have been a perfect assassin and tonight she was proving Miyako right, his blood gushed out wildly spraying her forearms and coating her in the scent of slow death, but even the weak like Gotinmito had some strength. He cut his tale around her trying to land a good blow, his wings thrashed about to trying and cause a ruckus. Growing annoyed Kagome finished him, slicing his head from atop his pretty shoulders, where it fell to the ground with a healthy thud, and her grin grew wider.



Wasting no time for surely she would be found soon, she bagged the head and went for the next hit on her list, Gotinmito’s mate, Genza. Genza was if nothing else a nasty piece of work, she was far too old to rear any young but she was mated to the lord’s younger brother, making her lowest female in this clan, and much meaner. Finding her, Kagome Was greeted with the shock of the purpled skinned dragon her eyes were an unhealthy sad acid green, the shock had been written on her ugly face. Kagome had little trouble dispatching her but not before the rest of the palace was alerted of her arrival, the sounds of the guards coming told her time with Genza was up, without further delay Kagome spun dodging an attack of claws, severing the her from life at the base of the skull Genza’s head came clean off, the look of rage still etched on her face, her blood flowing wildly and spurting on Kagome. She had the faint scent of death clinging to her, covering the sweet smell of moonflowers, and sakura, the night air breezing through the grounds, causing her to pause and take in such a moment. Closing her eyes, she felt excitement boiling over, The guards were almost there, and her night of may lay was still in high swing. Bagging the prize skull as she had with Gotinmito’s, the guards had watched in horror as the little black female inu wrecked havoc upon their lords castle and home, her eyes glowing a fierce white but still had the hue of blue twinge within them. As she smiled closing her eyes in the sceen of such horror, many had looked upon her, she looked as though she were a beautiful bitter sweet death brought to life upon them, many fled her while some, stupid ones, she thought, tried to stop her out of duty.



Waking from her momentary basking glory, her eyes shot open to the sounds of the approaching guards coming to a stop, She could smell their fear, and it delighted her. Kagome moved with a swiftness like the very deviled night wind itself, black death reigned upon those who would oppose her taking their heads. Blood flowed like rushing water that night in the Palace of Fire, its walls crimson before she came, would be brown with dried blood tomorrow and smelling of her kill and death, following her nose she found the bitch, Hibari, mother of the one who slew her brother, sitting upon a thrown. “Your going to die!” Hibari venomously spat while Kagome only gave a lop sided grin, her fangs bright and pearly white hanging over her pouted lip, she took in the sight of the one who would be dead in a few short moments. Hibari’s personal guards flowing from unseen passages into the room, they all arranged to protect their queen, sneering at the little Inu, they had no idea what horrors she would deal upon them.



“I pity that you serve ones so unworthy, your deaths will be honorable at least.“ Smiling as they advanced upon the dark inu, she brought forth her blade. Tenmiki roared to life and joined its new master again. The sword loved the feel of hot blood sliding down its blade, the caress its master held it with, and the feelings of life passing into death, the sword and master were one. Kagome swung her sword around by her wrist, slinging the mass collection of bloods at all who stood before her, the clashing of swords and wild moments brought a quick death to the guards.



Hibari, always being one to retreat, the COWARD!, Kagome roared inwardly had tried to run for her miserable life. Commotions could be heard outside, orders being given to ‘stop the intruder,’ only made her chuckle, catching her with ease, Kagome threw her into a knelling position before her with the blood soaked Tenmiki to Hibari’s maroon skin “I want you to know my name, before I send you to hell, Hibari. Your clan took something away from me, someone precious to me. It was about one hundred forty years ago, and I was only nine summers old when I watched your oldest son kill my beloved brother. I exacted my revenge then, but you and your master laid a claim upon my life. Now your feeling my vengeance for your stupid selfish ways.” she paused to lower her face next to Hibari’s, whispering sweet death into her ear before she readied her for hell by sinking her poisoned claws into her hair. “I want you to know that this is not for a treaty, or for peace, or for any other reason then the fact that I wish to rid the world of your kind. The name of your messenger death is, Ka-go-me.” She said pulling Hibari by the hair, and lopping her head off clean through the neck.



Bagging the third head she went out to outside to the sounds of screams and the sent of fear and panic, she felt so utterly aroused by it all. Blood clung to her clothing and hair, as she walked out of the main hall down into the main courtyard, it tried miserably to dance in the wind, but the heavy blood kept it in place. “Ryuu!” she bellowed. “This fight is yours alone, do not send your brave men to their deaths. For if I have to cut through a forest to reach the you, I shall scorched the earth in blood and death to bring you down.” Ryuu might have been the oldest of the dragon clan, and his fire the hottest, but he was never one to fight his own battles. This dark female inu had come into his home, unseen and un heard, and laid a death plague upon his house in the name of her blade. Their blood sickeningly clung to her, dancing with her own aroused pleasant scent, and made him nauseous to think of it. His brother, and mate were gone, only he and his son remained, and he shuddered to think what she would do to Ryuumaru. Knowing he would not win he spat the order, and sent his guard to greet death.



“Kill her.” was all she heard before the horde of lower demons rushed her, the smile that had adorned her face now was gone, she did feel pity for them, that they were forced to fight out of fear of death from their lord. But death was a release, a release that ended the hurt and the pain, and took away their fear, she would grant this this honor, to die in battle for their lord even if they loathed the man, the creature he was, but she would grant death without mercy. Cutting through them didn’t take long, their screams of anguish fueled her desire to end their masters life fast, she left a blood bathed path of gore and bodies on her way to the now alone Ryuu. Slinging their blood off of her blade and in the direction of the Dragon king, she scowled at the offending male, and placed the heads of his clan down upon the blood soaked stone floor.



Ryuu stood in shock, she’d killed everyone and everything in his palace, there were no other lords in the North, Ryuu had killed them off long ago, no armies, nothing to stop her now but the heir, Ryuumaru, and she would deal with him in the morning. His line would die, and the North would be given to the one who laid claim to it first. He tried bringing death to her by his molten fires, but she was too fast, next by poisons and acids but again she was too agile, cursing the bitch for her talents, he made one more futile attempt, thrusting his body at her, he tried to kill her with his tail, the razor barbs being poisonous and acid filled would give a nice effect, he thought, but in doing so he was left wide open for attack, and she’d jumped at the opportunity. Bringing the blade from underneath and upwards to the stars she gutted him from his belly to his chin, with one last slice his head too fell from its place, the body falling seconds afterwards with a thud.



Collecting her last prize she found parchment, and delightfully inked with their blood her request, “To the new Lord of the North, Ryuumaru, I have taken everything from you this night, my vengeance having been fed full for the moment, has not lapsed my taste for revenge. Your Lord’s selfish claim upon my life in mating has caused the evenings bloodshed. I welcome you to try and seek your own vengeance, but since we are betrothed by a claim so selfishly placed and in accordance with mating laws I have chosen to have a ‘rights of mating‘, you will meet me at the Palace of the Moon, today at dawn, to face your death or win a mate. Your Claimed Betrothal, Kagome. “ She knew very well that he would back soon and it would give him just enough time to meet at the desired location, smiling slightly she looked upon the Northern stronghold, it had been so weak, and now the Palace of Fire burned, the fire had started some time after her arrival, and had gone unchecked, ironic, she thought as she looked to the once beautiful building. Brushing her hands up her face to wipe the flowed blood from her body she pushed it into her blood soaked onyx mane, she closed her eyes and listened to the peace death brought, only the sounds of the wind and fire cracking through the Palace could be heard. It was that moment that Sesshomaru arrive to see her ‘proven worthy of mating kill.’



She looked gorgeous covered in blood, surrounded by death and fire, he wanted her badly now, but he was the heir to the West and they needed to leave this place now! landing near her, he walked towards Kagome, her eyes shot open revealing to him the clear ice white that shined so brightly with the lust for death, lightly licking her own barely parched lips she grinned a deliciously wicked, sweet innocent grin. “What have you done?” He rasped out taking in the sights all around him for the first time truly, but still not really caring.



“Getting my prizes.” She said in a somewhat seductive voice while walking over to the bag and putting Ryuu’s head within it. “But milord, I think we should leave this place. Ryuumaru will be returning soon, and he must battle tomorrow, not tonight.”



“This Sesshomaru knows nothing of which you speak, what are you talking about woman?” he said wanting to know what she was talking about.



“I shall inform you on the way, milord, but we must leave now.” with that Kagome waited no longer, Even if she did fight Sesshomaru was the heir and could not be hurt or seen here, she would forever disgrace her family is he brought harm to the General’s heir. She grabbed his elbow and formed an energy orb around them, releasing him as soon as he could no longer get out she zoomed them back to the Palace of the Northwestern Border. He scowled dangerously at her, she had dared to touch him, she knew this could be trouble but she was more then enough to stand up to this big boy. Pacing them in the great courtyard, she un-sheathed her sword, and kissed its hilt whispering something he could not understand which caused his brow to rise in question, and wondered what in the seven hells was wrong with her. It was then that the heir noticed the sound of walls being impaled, as if to answer his question, a sword burst through the wall nearest them, a barrier protecting it from being damaged.



“You called to it?” She nodded her reply, sheathed her new blade in her obi next to its sister, and before he could voice another question they were again engulfed in her energy orb. “Why are you moving so fast, what have you to hide from?”



“To hide from? Nothing. But I do like to keep a tight schedule and if we don’t get to the Palace of the Moon in time, I shall have to meet the Lords of the Lands covered in dragon blood. Not that I mind but a lady does like to seem presentable.” she teased.



“The Lords? The Cardinal Lords? You’ve called them to the Palace?” he seemed shocked, but she nodded. “Why would you do such a stupid thing, they are surely going to kill you.” he said rather cold, as if talking down to her.



“Well, I didn’t have much choice, Highness, it’s the law.”



“What law? This Sesshomaru knows of no law stating such.”



“I supposed you wouldn’t know what I’m talking about, because you don’t know the full situation.”



“Explain.” he ordered using his most venomous voice.



Her eyes hardened instantly at the thought. “When Souta was killed, the lord of the North claimed my life as mate for his heir, the claim was never justified but it is there and must be handled before I can mate any other. Honestly I’d have gut him anyway.“ he raised a brow to her and she smirked. “The point is that I’ve evoked ancient inu mating rights, meaning his claim over me is only justified if he fights me, and he wins. Unfortunately for him, all who attempt to claim me have to fight me, and I assure you, I will not lose to such a whelp. The very idea offends me.”



“So why call the other lords?”



“Another ancient law. With the untimely death of his father, Ryuumaru is now Lord of the Northern lands, any challenge, or mating rights battles, must be held in the presence of the other cardinal lords. He has no choice he must fight me. And if he had any idea about just not coming and letting me sit without a mate, have been dismissed with the slaying you happened to witness. He’ll come at dawn when he’s supposed to, that’s why we’re traveling so fast, I have to ready myself for him, he’ll be a bit stronger then Ryuu was.” She chuckled at the idea.



“Hn.” He wanted to smirk at her tactfulness, she was not just a warrior, or a hime, she was wrath at its greatest destructive power, calm, and to the point. More so she knew laws, and it was apparent that she had an education, which hardly any females had other then magic or spells. The more he found out about her the more he wanted her. “The sword we picked up?”



“Tenmaru, brother of my Tenmiki.” She answered gesturing to her sword. “It was Souta’s blade.” looking at the hilt of the sword it came back, he had remember Souta being so proud of that blade, a family item only handed down to the dark inu’s unusable by all but them.



“What makes them so special?” he questioned, knowing he wouldn’t get the full answer for they were nearing the Palace of the Moon.



“Many things, mostly that if your not of the Dark Inu’s blood and color, you may not weld them.”



“What do you mean?”



“If I show you, you have to promise not to get angry at me. It was not my doing and I can not undo it.” He nodded to her, taking his hand within her own she barely placed his finger to the hilt of the blade, jets of electricity jolted into his system, the skin on the tip charred. The edges of his eyes bled red, which did not go unnoticed, taking that same hand she placed a cool kiss on his finger, calming the burn. “I do apologize if it burnt you, it should be fine now.” His eyes had locked upon her lips as the supple things lightly kissed his finger, he wanted to melt into those lips, the thought causing the red to ebb away with carnal want for her touch.



“It is fine.” With that the next few minutes were spent in silence as they landed neatly in the courtyard, having about an hour before dawn. “Go and ready yourself, I will notify Shinosamu and my father of tonight’s events.”



“Sesshomaru?” he looked at her to show she had his attention. “Please do not tell my father, I’d prefer to show him myself.“ He nodded his answer. And left her there.







AN: Yanno, i really love this darker side of Kagome --evil laugh--