Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all of it's characters are property of the brilliant Takahashi-sama and I claim no ownership of them. Only the story belongs to me.
Pairings: Inuyasha/OC, Sango/Miroku, Sesshoumaru/Kagome.
Follows: The Anime and movies.
"spoken" 'thought'
Special thanks to my betas PockyThief , TheMikoShivae and Kiyota .
Chapter 13: Fate of the court
It had only been three weeks and already I wanted nothing more than to strangle a certain toad demon. I know he was just trying to help, but he was constantly under foot, never allowing me to raise a single finger and I am quite sure that if he had gotten his way I would never be allowed to leave my futon. As it was I had to remain sitting in the living area all day, every day.
I wasn't ungrateful, I just wanted to have some room to breath and Jaken seemed to think that would be a bad idea. Okay, I understand now that half-demon pregnancies are hard and you have to be extra careful, but I somehow doubt that no exercise at all is good either. I wasn't allowed to cook, bathe myself, answer the door or even get up to hug my friends.
Jaken did all of the cooking, unless Sango came over to help and than he would hover around her the entire time to make sure she cooked everything properly. Whenever I wanted to take a bath Sango, Kaede or Madoka would have to be with me the entire time. I am pretty sure that if I had let him get away with it, Jaken would have insisted on joining me for my baths.
Even for something as small as opening the door, he insisted I remained sitting while he did it. My friends had to come to me for hugs as he wouldn't allow me to stand to greet them. And what is even more annoying, Inuyasha agreed with him. That's not how it works. Inuyasha isn't supposed to agree with Jaken, he's supposed to agree with me.
I stop myself from growling at a certain half-demon I know, who isn't even here at the moment, and catch Jaken glancing over at me from the fire where he was making lunch. “I know that I am more often than not getting on your nerves Kagome-sama,” he began as he stood and headed my way with a plate of food, “but I would never be able to forgive myself if something happened to another one of my charges. Enjoy this time, let yourself get pampered. It is going to be a hard birth and will take a lot out of you. Relax and enjoy the simple life while you can.” Giving me a slight smile, he placed the plate in front of me and sat down, starting in on his own plate.
“I know Jaken, and I understand you are just trying to help and make sure there are no complications. But I need room to breath, to move around. I won't do anything strenuous but I do need to be able to get some exercise. How about we compromise, I'll come up with somethings for me to do and if you don't think they are too risky, I do those?”
“I would have final say on the activities?” he questioned after thinking for a moment. I nodded, giving him one of my best smiles. “Alright come up with some ideas and I will let you know. However, if I am not 100 percent sure, then the answer is no,” he warned, and after giving him an enthusiastic nod, he went back to eating.
The harsh winter winds blew through my alabaster locks causing them to lift up behind me, only to cascade down around my shoulders as the wind passed. I stood motionless, staring down at the grave marker at at feet. No emotion could be seen on my stoic face, but inside I was seething. Still I am unable to find her killer.
I thought it unfair of the world and of the Kami that beneath my feet lay the body of an innocent girl, one far too young to have died, twice even. Was fate truly that cruel to steal away her future merely because of her association with me? She should have had many more carefree and filling years, not be buried beneath the cold and unfeeling soil.
But that is how it was, and nothing I could do could change it now. But I will see her avenged, her murderer brought to justice upon my claws. Her soul will be given life anew with the pup growing in the priestess's womb. This daughter of mine will never know pain or sorrow. She will be sheltered from the things I could not protect Rin from.
I place my hand down on her gravestone, my own silent goodbye, as I feel the presence of my court coming behind me. I know not what they want of me now, but I know it will not be good. It never is when they seek me out. “Speak,” I command to them, not bothering to take my eyes off of the grave to turn around to them.
“Lord Sesshoumaru, in light of recent events, the court feels we must remind you, that you must name another heir. We must know who is to become lord, should anything happen to you,” Hajime (beginning) spoke up, seemingly for the court as a whole. It had been just over a cycle of the moon and already they were asking for a new heir.
“This Sesshoumaru already has it under control, you need not worry about my affairs,” I told them, in no mood to enlighten them about my already having brought about an heir. They are deserving of nothing, seeing as they do not even wish to allow me proper time to grieve before hounding me with looking for a replacement for whom I had just lost.
“If you have an heir in mind, Lord Sesshoumaru, speak his name now so we might bestow upon him our approval. The last thing the West needs is another heir that is unfit to be named such,” Hajime insisted, clearly unaware of how close to death's door he was standing at that very moment. Had I wished to bloody Rin's grave, I would see to his end.
I can feel my blood begin to boil within my veins and know without having to see my reflection that my eyes are bleeding red. Had I not such a tight control on myself, I surely would have transformed into my true form, slaughtering those of the court around me. Fortunately for them, I do not wish to see Rin's grave disrespected or destroyed.
Turning around to face my court, I growled menacingly at them, ignoring their gasps at my blood-red eyes and watch in satisfaction as even Hajime takes a step back from me, fear heavily lacing their scent. “Do not forget your place Hajime, I am the lord here, not you. You are merely my advisors, not my commander!
“For too long you have gotten away with overstepping your place. It ends now. As of this moment the court is dissolved. I have no need nor any wish to take advice from those willing to betray me or my word. I am the lord here, my word is law, if any of you want to disagree I am more than willing to show you the truth.”
With my threat, I flexed my claws at them so they knew not to speak against me again and stormed past them, heading back within the castle. Behind me, I could hear my cousin's words carried on the wind as he spoke to the others. “Come now, you can not be that surprised Hajime; truly, only a fool would believe my cousin would listen to you.
“It is no secret that he follows only his own law and answers to none, save perhaps his late father. Are you truly that foolish to believe he would answer to you? Sesshoumaru would never bow down to anyone's wishes, let alone his own advisors. You must have seen this coming when you decided to demand he name a new heir.”
I could easily hear my cousin mocking my now ex-advisor and couldn't help but agree with him. Only a true fool would think to command anything of this Sesshoumaru. I am the Lord of the West, my word is law and must be without question or these lands would easily fall to ruin. Perhaps I should have gotten rid of them long ago, if they are already believing themselves in charge.
It has been over two moon cycles since I had disbanded my court and still I hear their whispers throughout my home. Questioning my plans for a new heir and disagreeing with my decision to dissolve the court. I ignore them of course, seeing as they no longer have the right to speak openly to me, let alone question my command.
I have not been back to the priestess's hut since I confirmed that she was indeed pupped and placed Rin's soul within the body. With the court being as displeased with me as they are, I dare not risk one of them learning about her or the pup. Thankfully no one seems to miss Jaken, this way I do not get asked questions about his whereabouts.
But now it is time to return to her so I can give her the kimonos left over from Inuyasha's mother. I had found them in an old chest, still in decent condition. Thankfully most of them are not very fancy and questions shouldn't arise with her wearing them. And now that everyone is busy with a local mating ceremony, I have more than enough time to get away unnoticed.
Moving through my home without being noticed, is a lot easier today than it would be on most days, since the servants are all busy with the ceremony. All that is left is for me to make a quick appearance and I can begin toward my destination. They won't think much of me not being here long, I very rarely am as it is. Just never understood why something so personal was done in public.
“Lord Sesshoumaru,” the newly mated male greeted me as I made my way through the room. Giving him a once over, I quickly nod my head toward him, since I cannot seem to place him at the moment. One of my minor lords for sure, but I don't remember appointing him so he is probably the son of one of the ones I did.
'My time is close at hand. Soon it will be I that is ruling the Western land and Sesshoumaru will be nothing more than a bad memory,' a dark figure thought to himself as he silently watched the Western lord slip away from the celebration. Hidden by the shadows, he remained unseen by the very demon he was currently watching.
'Soon Sesshoumaru, I will finish what I began with the death of your pathetic ward. Once you are out of the way, there will be no one left to question my ruling,' the dark figure chuckled mentally before waiting until Sesshoumaru was out of sight and silently following after him, sinister thoughts still running through his mind.
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