Dealings of the Heart

Summary - In response to Bitterchoco20's challenge...Sesshomaru and Kouga, lords of the western and northern lands, have made an alliance against Lord Naraku. But their "alliance" doesn't exactly like the idea of mating to Kouga. KouInu

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Dealings of the Heart
By - ChibiInuTai

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Chapter 1: The Alliance

He ran a hand through his wavy black hair as his blood red eyes studied the servant before him. His piercing gaze made the servant cower in fear. No one had ever-crossed Lord Naraku and lived to tell about it, or so it was said. Naraku had become lord of the southern lands forty years ago and was a very dark and violent ruler. The laws his people lived under were so brutal and terrifying that no one dared even speak his name in fear of death. His brutal behavior had him rightfully nicknamed 'Dark One' and Naraku secretly enjoyed when people called him that.

Lord Naraku was just one of three powerful lords. Lord Kouga, a wolf demon, controlled the northern lands along with his pack. The wolf lord treated all his charges fairly and gave justice where needed. His compassion gained him the name of 'Pure Wolf'. Lord Sesshomaru, a powerful Inu demon, had control over the western lands. He cared nothing for those in his lands and saw them as "lesser beings" but he was not brutal towards them. Sesshomaru had once controlled the eastern lands as well but Lord Naraku had claimed the eastern lands from the grasp of Lord Sesshomaru some twenty years earlier.

The servant before him was one of his strongest warriors, but a great fool. Little known to anyone in his lands, Lord Naraku had created this demon from his own flesh and blood. The man that bowed before him went by the name of Muso and was almost identical in appearance to Lord Naraku. Muso had been leaking his secrets to Lord Sesshomaru and for his treachery he would pay dearly.

"Muso," Naraku's deem voice boomed throughout the throne chamber, "do you know why I have called you here?" Naraku held back a smirk at Muso's quickly covered surprise and couldn't help but chuckle in his head at Muso's newly found "confidence"

"No, dark one," Muso answered curly, yet respectfully, "I do not know why I have been called to the presence of a great one such as yourself."

"I have heard some things," Naraku stated calmly, "some very disturbing things. Do you know of what I speak, Muso?"

Muso's confidence faltered slightly but he quickly recovered. Bowing respectfully before his lord he answered, "many rumors have been spreading of late my lord. If you would be so kind as to tell me of which rumor you speak." Muso looked up when he heard Naraku chuckling

"Kukukuku...You truly is a brave man aren't you? To lie to your lord like that," Naraku stood from his place on the throne and walked slowly towards Muso, "I know of your treachery, Muso. I know you have been leaking secrets to the lord of the western lands. I know of the payment you have been receiving from him. And I know of..." Naraku stopped in front of the now fearful servant and chuckled again, "your love for that servant girl of his, Kagome."

"I d-don't know of what you speak, d-dark one!" Muso stuttered, fearing for his life. Deep inside he knew it was all over but he wouldn't give up without a fight

"Do not lie to me Muso," Naraku spat bitterly and kicked Muso across the chamber, "remember Muso, I have spies everywhere. You of all people should know not to betray me." Naraku walked calmly over to the coughing servant, "Kagome is no ordinary girl," Naraku chuckled at the look of shock that crossed Muso's face

"No! No, she can't be!" Muso whispered

"That's right, Muso. She is one of my many spies." Naraku said coldly, "She has been working for me for a very long time." Naraku kicked Muso hard against the stone wall and left him coughing up blood. He slowly walked over to one of the metal knights and took a battle-axe from its frozen grasp. "Now Muso...I shall teach you what I do to those who betray me..."

The haunting screams echoed throughout the castle but it bothered no one. Everyone was used to the torturous screams that came from the throne room and everyone did their best not to anger their lord. The lord was not to be taken lightly and those haunting screams could be heard throughout the castle at lease three times a day

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Silver hair billowed in the wind as he ran as fast as he could around the castle courtyard. He loved the outdoors and couldn't seem to find enough time to just run everyday. Being prince of the western lands is tough business. Well, that's what he thought. All he really had to do is sit on his ass and give orders but he wasn't that kind of person. He didn't like giving orders and that's why their father gave his brother Sesshomaru the title ‘Lord of the Western Lands’ when he had passed away

"Inuyasha," his brothers' cold, monotonous voice reached his ears, which twitched slightly at the sound of irritation in his brothers' voice. Inuyasha's golden eyes darted to see his brother standing in the entrance to the castle. Like Inuyasha, Sesshomaru had long silver hair and amber eyes, but his seemed to hold no emotion. The only physical differences between the two of them were that Sesshomaru had two purple stripes on each cheek and a blue crescent moon on his forehead and Inuyasha had dog ears on top of his head.

"Yeah, what do you want?" Inuyasha asked

"Get in here right now, a messenger from Lord Kouga of the northern lands is here to see us about the alliance," Sesshomaru replied curtly. Inuyasha however ignored him and kept on running. Seeing his brother's refusal to respond Sesshomaru moved with great speed towards his brother and caught him by the throat. "If I hadn't promised father not to kill you...you would have been dead a long time ago," Sesshomaru growled out dangerously as he half dragged his brother back into the castle

Sesshomaru finally released Inuyasha when they stood outside the study, one of Sesshomaru's favorite rooms. Sesshomaru loved to just sit down and read a good book when he had the time and he seemed to have a lot of time for that. Sesshomaru opened the door to reveal a young woman standing in the center of the room, patiently waiting for them to arrive. She had fiery red hair, tied up into pigtails, and emerald green eyes. She was wearing a white wolf fur and strong looking metal chest armor. She bowed respectfully as they entered the room

"Lord Sesshomaru, Lord Inuyasha" the girl stood up strait before speaking again, "my name is Ayame, and I am sister of Lord Kouga"

"Humph, what kind of lord sends his own sister on his errands?" Inuyasha muttered as he slouched down in one of the chairs away from where his brother now sat

"Actually, I volunteered to come" Ayame told him, "I wanted to get a chance to meet you." Ayame gave him a quick smile before sitting down with the two other demons. Ayame turned to Sesshomaru, "Lord Kouga has agreed to the terms that you supplied. He was very happy about it in fact,"

"I see," Sesshomaru turned to his brother, a slight smirk playing upon his lips. "Inuyasha..."

"Hmm?"

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"HELL NO!" Inuyasha yelled for the hundredth time that night. Sesshomaru sat calmly on Inuyasha's bed while Inuyasha paced around the room.

"It's for the alliance," Sesshomaru told him, frustration and anger slipping into his voice

"No! I will NOT be that wimpy wolf's mate! I refuse!" Inuyasha fumed as he glared at Sesshomaru for even thinking that he would agree to this. "I WILL NOT be his mate! I don't have to listen to you either!" Inuyasha made for the door to his room but was stopped when his brother suddenly appeared in front of him

"You will put your personal matters aside Inuyasha! You can and you WILL be his mate!" Sesshomaru grabbed his brother and threw him non-to gently onto his bed, "I will not jeopardize this alliance because of your foolishness! Now get to bed you leave in two days time and you had better be ready or there will be hell to pay!" With that said Sesshomaru swept out of the room closing and locking the door on his way out

Inuyasha ran to the door and tried to open it but was surprised when he felt a jolt shoot up his arm. He quickly let go of the door, "DAMN YOU SESSHOMARU!" Inuyasha yelled at the top of his lungs

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Her long raven black hair flowed behind her as she walked through the forest behind the castle. Her chocolate brown eyes scanned the forest ahead of her for any signs of her master. She walked into the designated meeting area and looked around for her master who usually stood waiting for her. The sound of rustling leaves didn't disturb her, as she knew it was him’ her master, Lord Naraku

"Kagome," Naraku's cold voice reached her ears as he appeared in front of her with a bundle under his arm. He unraveled the large bundle and unceremoniously threw the broken and bloody corpse of Muso at her feet

"Naraku," Kagome spared a quick glance down at the corpse before walking passed it to Naraku. She stopped in front of him and brought a hand up to his cheek and caressed it. "I bring some interesting news, love."

"Oh?" Naraku wrapped his arms around the girl before him, "more interesting than Muso's betrayal?"

"Yes, love." Kagome pressed her body against his and gave him a chaste kiss. "It seems Lord Sesshomaru has promised Lord Kouga his brother as a mate in return for an alliance." Naraku's eyebrows rose in surprise, "I thought you might like to know. Maybe you could find a way to use it against them."

"I already have something in mind," Naraku chuckled

"Oh do tell!" Kagome leaned even closer to Naraku

"Patience my dear Kagome," Naraku leaned down and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. Naraku broke the kiss and blood red met chocolate brown eyes, "but for now I need you." Naraku brought her into another kiss as they began to undress. The only witness to their actions was the decaying corpse of the traitor, Muso.

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Inuyasha ran paced back and forth in his room, desperately trying to think of a way to escape. He had tried the door several time but got shocked each time and the window was the same way. He stopped pacing and turned to look out of his window. "How do I get out of this? Damnit!" Inuyasha punched the wall beside the window in frustration, "DAMNIT!" he yelled again

Inuyasha stared longingly at the forest behind the castle, wishing that he could be out there, running freely. Suddenly his eyes caught sight of someone sneaking out of the forest towards the castle. His eyes narrowed as the cloaked figure made it's way through one of the side gates. The figure ran across the courtyard and stopped near the main door

The cloaked figure threw back its hood to reveal none other than the servant girl, Kagome. Inuyasha gasped in surprise and watched her make her way inside the castle. Inuyasha had always thought that something was odd about the girl, but going out into the forest at night? No one in the castle was that stupid..."unless she's a spy..." Inuyasha whispered

"Unless who is a spy, Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru asked

Inuyasha spun around to find his brother once again sitting on his bed with a serious look on his face. Inuyasha turned back to look out the window, "did you know that the girl, Kagome, who you hired those two years ago goes into the forest?" Inuyasha asked

"She always goes into the forest," Sesshomaru informed him, "why?"

In the corner of his eye, Inuyasha could see that the door stood open. An idea quickly came to mind for escape, "even at night?" Inuyasha asked

"At night? When was this?" Sesshomaru asked edgily

"I just saw it tonight..." Inuyasha suddenly bolted out of the open door he had inched himself towards. Inuyasha could hear his brother curse to himself as he ran though the labyrinth of hallways. Inuyasha burst through the main door into the courtyard, 'Yes! I'm going to make it!' or so he thought Inuyasha was running and about to jump up to the roof when a rock came out of no where and knocked him unconscious

Sesshomaru stepped out from his spot behind the Sakura tree in the garden. "Inuyasha you idiot," Sesshomaru sighed as he picked up his little brother and hauled him back off to his room.

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A/N: So what did you think? Good or bad? Well, tell me what you think in your reviews!