InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Angel ❯ Falling Apart ( Chapter 63 )

Chapter Sixty-Three:

Falling Apart

 

 

Large, clawed hands traveled over the globes of her rear end, the claws scratching lightly along her flesh bringing her groggily from her semi-sleep state.

She knew those hands, was familiar with the hardness pressing against her lower back.

Her mate was awake and heavily aroused.

She felt his desire like a physical caress. It was intense, potent and all consuming, flowing along her skin.

Her stomach fluttered with stirring desire. At four months pregnant, her hormones were ragging more than usual. Sexual satisfaction had become important on her list of things she needed everyday.

His palm made its way over her belly, caressing gently and lovingly briefly, then moving on to the other parts of her anatomy. Kagome gasped aloud as his hand capture her breast. Skillfully he plucked at the hardened nipples, pinching hard enough to make her catch her breath before soothing the abused bud with the pad of his thumb.

The sweet torment was slowly but surely driving her insane.

Of their own accord, her hips moved, back against the hardness at her back. Sesshomaru's hiss of pleasure filled her ears. With a hungry growl, he attacked her neck and throat, kissing and suckling, biting and licking, his own hips moving in a frenzied pace against her bottom. His other hand moved, parting her sleeping kimono.

A loud moan escaped her lips as his hand found the sensitive nub between her thighs and began a deliberate slow, circular caress.

“I'm going to fuck you, mate,” he whispered, nipping hard at her earlobe.

Kagome rotated her hips against his finger, his wicked dirty talk filling her mind, turning her on even more.

“I've seen you, Kagome. Talking to that diseased wolf,”

Distantly Kagome was aware of the anger and jealousy that coated his voice, but the continuous motion of his fingers on her breasts and pussy was making it so damn hard to focus on his words. She didn't want to talk about Sarinji right now; all she wanted was the orgasm that was just beyond her reach.

“You are mine,” he growled, “Not his,”

“Sesshomaru,” she moaned gently, grinding in earnest against his fingers, “not now…”

She was on the edge, so very close. The pressure, the motion of his fingers, it was the right combination, hitting just the right spot.

Her orgasm was coming; she could feel it, currents of pleasure traveling through her body.

“Yes now,” he rumbled out, pulling away his hands.

Kagome nearly screamed in frustration. Without a thought she reached back and punched him right in the arm, trembling with intense need and hunger.

He ignored the hit.

Gripping her arms, Sesshomaru bore her down onto the futon, covering her body filly with his own though careful not to lie heavily on her large rounded belly. Leaning down, his nose brushed her cheeks softly, his hips pushing against her own.

“You belong to me, woman. What need do you have to be in his company so frequently?”

Kagome forced herself to try and think past the blinding pleasure he was creating with the hardness pressed between her thighs.

She licked her lips before speaking.

“I've told you Sesshomaru, something is going on,” she squeezed her eyes shut against the pleasure as his mouth descended on her throat once more, “He's the only one besides me and InuYasha that aren't affected,”

His hands adjusted her clothing, letting her feel the hard heated length of him against her tingling core.

Her mouth opened and a moaned escaped. Her legs came up, holding him in place as he ground his naked flesh against hers. The hot friction, the wet slippery slide was enough to send her into an orgasm.

As she came apart, he nipped at her ear, licking at her neck. Her nails dug into her palms as the orgasm washed over her senses, sending her mind spinning out of control. His name rolled off her lips as spasms broke over her body.

As she came down from her intense peak of pleasure, he began to speak again.

It took her a moment to focus on his words. His hips were still moving against her own, the sensation making her body jerk with every stroke against her sensitive flesh.

“And I've told you, woman, you speak of nonsense. I see nothing out of the normal happening,” he growled out, “I see only my woman spending an excessive amount of time and communication with a male of low consequence,”

Releasing her arms, he moved downward, parting her sleeping kimono and kissing the exposed flesh.

Pleasure tingled down her spine, pooling low in her belly and spreading throughout every nerve ending in her body. She shivered as his tongue caressed her thigh, nipping softly at the smooth skin with sharp fangs.

This had become a normal, frequent occurrence for the two of them. Sesshomaru waking her with caresses and sexual pleasure, then expressing his anger and jealousy over Lord Sarinji in some masculine need to make sure she realized she belonged to him and not to the Eastern Lord.

Just one of the many behaviors he had demonstrated over the past week and it seemed to be getting worse, more intense and explosive.

His emotions were so close to the surface now that Kagome feared they'd explode at any moment.

“Sesshomaru…” she breathed softly, reaching down to gently brush her fingertips over his sensitive ears.

Her breathing grew labored as his hot tongue traveled upward, dangerously close to her heated core. Kagome held her breath in restless anticipation and erotic expectation.

At the first soft lick, she nearly exploded.

He lapped at her gently at first, bring her desire to a simmering boil.

“You are mine,”

Waves of pleasure shot through her at the guttural words spoken against her core. Her hands clenched in the furs beneath her as his tongue suddenly speared deep and rough, plunging in and out at a frenzied pace.

Her back arched high, a scream of ecstasy erupting from her throat.

Her trembling thighs squeezed his head tight, her toes curling. Blackness overtook the edges of her vision as his tongue did some sort of wicked trick, caressed a place inside her that was so sensitive it sent her spiraling into another, hot, intense orgasm.

Her body jerked, clenching and unclenching beyond her control.

Just as she was sure she was going to die from the intensity of it all, he moved, wedging between her thighs and driving himself deep inside her wet, contracting channel.

She came again, her nails digging into his working ass, hanging on tightly.

She was screaming, could hear herself but could not stop. It felt so damn good, too damn good, bordering on the edge of pain. Rough clawed hands grasped her beneath her thighs, pulling her legs up and open. The new position allowed him better access, pushing his hard cock deeper and deeper.

Pleasurable pain took over her body as he sank balls deep. She thrashed, a silent scream on her lips as she came again, crying out his name over and over.

Sesshomaru grunted as she clenched him tightly inside of her, his hands gripping her thighs even tighter, uncaring of the bruises that would be left behind. His eyes closed as his body tightened and snapped. He came hard and long, loud groans erupting from his throat.

He stopped, teeth clenched as she gripped him tight, milking the cum from his twitching dick.

Leaning his forehead against her own, he basked in the after ripples of his own orgasm. Her hands gently ran down his strong sweaty back as his hands released her raised legs, letting them slide back down to their bed.

Kagome sighed deeply and contently as he slipped free from her body, leaving behind the wet residue of their lovemaking.

She felt so tired and sleepy, adrift on a weightless cloud of ecstasy.

Sesshomaru rolled to the side, pulling her possessively into his strong arms. Kagome didn't protest. She felt too drained to stop him and to tell the truth, she didn't even want to. Cuddling was the best part after sex.

As she lay in his quiet embrace however, worry infringed on her peace of mind.

His behavior was getting out of hand.

Not only his but everyone else's as well. It was like their emotions were reaching their limits and Kagome had a feeling that it was all about to explode.

Sango was a complete wreak, pushing herself to be everything Miroku seemingly wants in a woman though it made her unhappy and had sent her into a deep, gripping depression.

Kagome could never recall ever seeing her best friend so sad.

It was heartbreaking.

She cried, she sobbed, she wailed, and moped but in seconds could go from deep sadness to blazing unnecessary anger at any and all that crossed her path. All the while, Miroku seemed to be oblivious to her sadness and was hell bent on flaunting his new intended bride to anyone that would spare him time.

Shusui seemed to have lost control of herself completely, falling prey to her desire for Sinjaku, though Kagome had the suspicion that that fox girl, Yuki had had a hand in bringing those two together.

Yuki made them small pastries every afternoon and offered the food only to Shusui and Sinjaku. After consumption, the two adults would find themselves too hot for their clothing. Kagome had walked in on the two engaging in sexual activity like a couple of hormone ragging teenagers on more than one occasion in more than one public place.

And to make matters worse, they seemed completely oblivious to her disapproval of public sex or simply didn't care enough to stop their activities.

Whatever it was, she feared her caretaker would end up pregnant at this rate.

And then there was the developing, explosive love triangle between InuYasha, Yui and Jolicia. While Jolicia and Yui seemed to be ready and willing to tear each other limb from limb, InuYasha seemed genuinely torn between the two females which was causing a lot of friction between him and Yamiko.

As far as Yamiko was concerned, InuYasha shouldn't have any trouble choosing between the two.

His sister was prettier, smarter and a hell of a lot more desirable than the young fox female Yui. Of course, InuYasha wasn't comfortable with discussing his feelings for Jolicia with her brother, and as a result, their conversations ended in fierce arguments and physical fights.

Now this wouldn't have been so unusual for the two males if not for the murderous energy that radiated off of Yamiko.

Kagome feared that soon, Yamiko would do some serious damage to the hanyou.

Beside her, Sesshomaru stirred.

His arms unraveled from around her body as he rose from their bed. Kagome watched as he disappeared into their bathing area. She lay in bed as he bathed and dressed, feeling too lethargic to do anything other than listen to his movements and contemplate the various problems they were facing and probably had yet to face.

He reappeared a few moments later, dressed in his normal silk clothing and armor.

“Are you going to train with the soldiers?” she asked as he moved around the room.

“A hearing of villager disputes has been scheduled for today,”

As he sat down on the edge of the bed to pull on his boots, Kagome hesitated to ask her next question. She knew he would be agitated by what she wanted to know, but she felt she had to ask.

“Will your father be there as well?”

He paused briefly, his entire body tensing before continuing his task.

“Yes,”

Kagome felt her heart clench. The situation between him and his father had become so very explosive that she was so afraid of having those two alone in the same room without anyone there to cool their tempers.

If Kagome wasn't there to do it then no one else would.

Lord Toramaru had essentially turned his back on both his brother and nephew; stating that he would no longer waste his life trying to mediate between the two.

No matter what she said to him, he would not change his mind.

He had left peacekeeping entirely up to her and Kagome was worried that she couldn't keep up with the two busy males, let alone keep the peace. She tired easy now days; the pups were in the middle of another growth spurt and from what she had learned from the books and scrolls in the library she was in the month where most of their development would be taking place.

The extreme growth was sapping her energy, making her tired and sleepy.

Despite all of that, she knew she still had to try.

“Sesshomaru, I know you and your father don't get along, but-“

“We have had a good morning together, Kagome, do not soil it with talk of that male,” he said with a bit of irritation coating his voice.

Sitting up, Kagome wrapped the fur around her body, scowling at him.

“I'm only trying to stop you from doing something you'll regret later,”

“If harm comes to him at my hand, you may be sure that no feelings of regret will follow,”

Angry energy crackled, turning her stomach at the intense rage behind it. This is what scared her the most; how fast and easy his emotions raged out of control and how strong and potent they had become. Everything he felt was magnetized and amplified, washing over those nearby in crashing, crushing waves that sent chills down one's spine.

“Sesshomaru-“

“Enough, woman. I'll speak no more of it,”

Kagome watched silently as he stood from the bed, walked over to the door and stormed out, slamming the door behind him. In the silence after his departure, Kagome struggled not to vomit at the malice he left behind.

The energy was suffocating, lingering on the air.

She rose from the bed, unable to bear it a moment longer. Quickly she bathed and dressed and left the room. In the hallway, the energy still lingered, like a bad smell she couldn't get rid of.

Dread crawled up her spine. Over the past week, she had noticed the steady build of the heavy air left behind by those that were affected by whatever disease was plaguing the inhabitants of the Western castle. At first it had been just a small lingering disruption, nothing that made her feel ill, but now it was as thick as a heavy fog.

She was scared.

Scared that something was about to happen, scared that whatever was effecting her guests, family and friends was about to reach its climax and when that happened, more than one person would end up hurt, physically and emotionally or worse.

It had to be stopped, something, anything had to be done.

Kagome turned and went in search of Lord Sarinji, the only other person that seemed to be in his right mind. The fear receded a bit as she walked. As long as she had at least one person on her side, she felt a little less scared, but what could two people do in the face of all this chaos?

What could they hope to accomplish when they didn't even know what was wrong with everyone?

She had no idea, but still, they had to try and do something.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kagura sighed in great relief as she rose into a sitting position in Ensei's bed.

Ensei had left a while ago to train with the soldiers. He had been slacking off for a week, he'd said, and needed to make sure he didn't get lazy because of it.

It was fine with her; there were things she had to take of anyways.

Of its own accord, her hand moved upward to lovingly caress the mating mark nestled in the hollow between her shoulder and neck. It seemed to be a dream and everyday she feared she would wake up from that dream.

But when she pinched herself and realized that this was reality, her heart once more swelled with overwhelming love for her new mate.

This week had been the happiest time of her short life. She and Ensei had spent everyday and every second together; making love, arguing and then making love again. He was so different at sex than Naraku ever had been.

He didn't hit her, nor did he do things she didn't want to do.

He was tender and gentle, so much so that at times, she would feel the heavy pressure of pain in her chest that she felt whenever she wanted to cry.

Of course she was not able to cry tears, she cried in her heart. She cried in her heart at the beauty of him and their love, and how fortunate she was at being able to be loved by such a male as General Ensei.

But this morning, the honeymoon was over.

Waking up without Ensei nestled beside her had brought back the importance of her mission. In order to keep Ensei, to retain the happiness she had found with him, Kagome's pups had to be dealt with. She felt better about her decision now that she knew what life would be like with her mate and she was more than ready to set about ensuring their future together.

As she dressed, a stillness came over her, an emotionless cloak that blocked any other emotion she might feel regarding the dark deed she was about to commit.

Her heartbeat slowed, and her blood ran slowly thorough her veins.

Sitting down at the vanity, Kagura brushed her short black hair gently, staring at the coldness in her own crimson eyes. Such frigidness had never been there before, and yet, had she been able to think clearly about it, she would have realized that her eyes seemed almost identical to her master.

The comparison went unnoticed by her.

Standing, she left Ensei's bedroom, grabbing her fan from a bedside table as she left, instantly going in search of Kagome.

She found the young pregnant woman speaking in hushed tones with Lord Sarinji in the library. She pulled back from the open door before they could see her and stood outside the door, her back to the wall as she listened to the conversation.

“I'm not sure there is anything we can do, Lady Kagome,” Sarinji was saying, “I have no idea what is going, nor do I know how to stop it,”

“I know, but things seem to be escalating at a frightening speed and I'm afraid that something bad is about to happen,”

There was a slight pause.

“Have you had a vision of something bad happening?”

“No, it is just a feeling I've had for a few days,”

“I see,”

Lord Sarinji sighed before speaking again.

“The only thing we can do is to try and keep anything too terrible from occurring,”

“I've been trying to do that but its getting to be too much for me, with the pups going through a growth spurt, its draining a lot of my energy,”

“I understand. Is Lord Sesshomaru still exhibiting intense disdain for his father?”

“Yes, and he's meeting him today and the two of them are going to be hearing the complaints of the villagers and I'm afraid that something is going to happen if no one is there to keep them from becoming too agitated with each other,”

“Can you not convince Elder Toramaru to step in as he has done before?”

“No, he won't budge. He says that he has wasted too much of his life standing in the shadow of his brother and making sure that his sons were happy. He said that he would no longer waste his time trying to keep them from killing each other,”

“Allow me to step in and try to keep things civil,”

“I'm not sure if that would be wise. Sesshomaru isn't exactly…fond of you, and with everything that's going on he may not tolerate interference,”

“Let me worry about that, my Lady. He has every right to feel animosity towards me. I behaved in a most inappropriate manner after your mating with Lord Sesshomaru. I understand that now, I ask now that you allow me to do this as a way to make amends,”

“Are you sure about this?”

Kagura poked her head around the corner to see the male nod. Kagome sat on the window seat while Sarinji stood before her.

“I am quite sure, my Lady. Let me do this, let me make things right,”

After a brief hesitation, Kagome nodded.

“Okay, but please be careful,”

“Of course,”

Kagura slipped away from the doorway and ducked around the corner as Lord Sarinji left the room. She turned and walked back towards the library doors, pretending as though she had not been listening in at the door only a moment before.

“Ah, Kagura,” he greeted as they drew closer to one another, “Congratulations on your recent mating to my General. He is a good male,”

Kagura paced a smile onto her face.

“Thank you my Lord,” she said sweetly, “Have you seen Lady Kagome by any chance?”

“Aye, she is in the library,”

Kagura bowed slightly at the waist.

“Thank you,”

Without another word, Kagura walked passed the male and into the library. Kagome was still seated on the window seat, her hands caressing the large swell of her belly.

Kagura could not help glaring at the large tummy.

Those mongrel pups residing inside that expanded stomach were the only thing keeping her from living the life she wanted, the life she deserved, the life that Kagome was trying to keep away from her. Anger lapped at her mind, nearly blinding her.

Kagome turned, sensing the hostility in the room.

For a moment, the two stared at each other, and something passed between the two; a silent message of discontent from one woman to the other.

“Kagura,” Kagome began hesitantly, “Is something wrong?”

Kagura felt her lips twitched, threatening to spill every unkind thought, every feeling of resentment she harbored towards the pregnant female.

`Is something wrong?' she mocked in her mind, sneering mentally at the question, `Something is very wrong indeed, but I will make it right, very, very soon,'

Instead, her lips stretched into a smile that did not reach her eyes.

“No, there is nothing wrong. I just came to see if you wanted to have tea with me,” she said, “I know I've been a bit…strange lately, but there is a reason. There have been some changes in my life. Changes I'd like to speak to you about, if you wouldn't mind,”

Kagome smiled in understanding as she stood with just a tad bit of difficulty. Kagura walked over to help her to her feet.

“Sorry, with my babies growing so rapidly I've been gaining a lot of weight, very quickly. It's inhibiting my movements,” she said, “Of course I'd like to have tea with you,”

Kagura smiled as Kagome preceded her out of the room. She could feel Vishious on the edge of her mind; watching and waiting in pleased anticipation, having already read her plans in her mind. Though she was surprised to admit it she was glad he was pleased with her for once.

His pleasure was damn sure preferable to his displeasure.

As the two headed upstairs to a private room, Kagura gripped her fan tightly, feeling that emotionless coldness once more wash over her.

She was ready, more than ready.

Today she would take her future in her hands and live the life she had always wanted.

And nothing and no one was going to stand in her way.

Not now…

Not ever…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vishious barely spared look at the beast pouring his Demon Blood into his goblet. At the moment, his entire focus was on his woman and his creation Kagura.

The mirror gleamed before him, filled with the image of Kagura following his woman for `tea'.

He was pleased beyond belief.

Finally, the worthless woman was going to do as he commanded. Had he known the effect of the green liquid on Kagura, he would have poured it down her throat long ago. The selfishness, the evilness, buried deep down in her heart had come to the surface.

The change was both startling and unexpected.

He had had no idea that his `daughter' so resembled him in temperament and desire. She had the same look he wore when he was about to do something that was less than the right thing to do, and her single minded determination to do whatever it took to secure her own happiness was a trait he claimed proudly.

His heart was bursting with what had to be `fatherly pride'.

He laughed aloud at the notion, paying no mind to the curious looks some of his other pets were sending him.

Fatherly pride indeed.

Ha!

The idea was ridiculous. He was merely pleased that his woman would be rid of those diseased mutts she called pups.

It was almost too good to be true.

“Master….we are hungry…”

Vishious looked over at the male addressing him. The being that had replaced Khaos and bore his resemblance looked up at him with pleading eyes.

Next to him, Ensanity and Mahdness fought over shiny jewels found in one of the destroyed villages they had visited the day before. It seemed that both of the beasts had developed the affliction of greed.

Tourcher sat in a corner, touching himself, lust consuming him like a wicked disease, while Ahgony watched him with growing anger. Of all the afflictions of his little pets, Ahgony's was the most fascinating.

Wrath.

His anger was always near, always so close to the surface. He was always angry that Tourcher was so filled with lust, he was always pissed off that Mahdness and Ensanity were so greedy and he was mad that Khaos ate so much and hoarded the food.

Ahgony was always angry.

Khaos had developed his affliction the other day; gluttony. Feeding was on the forefront of his mind every single moment of the day. Even when he was eating, he was continuously looking for more, acting as though he had not eaten in days.

It was a pain in the neck, but it had its advantages.

Yesterday, Vishious had taken away his food for disobedience and Khaos had begged, pleaded and swore undying loyalty just for a bite of human flesh.

For his sworn obedience, Vishious had granted him two men and a child as a reward.

Control was the key, and he was very good at bringing a wayward servant to heel. Kagura was the prime example of that.

“You have already eaten today, Khaos,” he informed the hungry male.

“We are hungry still Master,”

Vishious contemplated the being a moment, wondering if he deserved to be indulged today. It couldn't hurt to teach him another lesson, just to make sure that his control of the beast was as strong as he wanted it to be.

“Come here, Khaos,”

The being blinked at him, still seated on the floor. He looked over at the others sitting on the floor, wondering if his master was speaking to one of them.

Seeing his confusion, Vishious made himself clear for the hundredth time.

“Your name is Khaos. You are to come to me when I call,”

Khaos nodded, stood and walked over to his master. Vishious leaned in close, nearly nose to nose.

“You can have one human child,” he said, holding up one finger, “If you disobey you will go without food for one week, is that understood?”

He nodded eagerly and hurried off to the dungeon below where hundreds of human males, females and children were imprisoned, kept alive only for the purpose of feeding his beasts.

Vishious turned back to the mirror, taking a sip from his cup as he watched.

Life was good.

Once those pups were dead he would make his move. He would destroy the Western lands and all those that inhabited it, and once he was done, he'd have his female, beautiful, pup free and completely at his mercy.

Ehvil came to stand next to him, unusually quiet today. With their connections, Vishious was certain that the other male knew what was about to take place.

Vishious was very aware that his friend still had some misplaced fatherly affection for his woman and any possible action taken that could potentially harm her made him uneasy and almost unwilling to stand by and watch it happen.

Vishious was understanding of course.

Ehvil had spent many years with her, and had grown attached. Though, had his feelings been other than fatherly, Vishious would have taken his head by now, but with the regard in which he held his woman, it was acceptable for now. As long as Ehvil did not interfere with any of the plans he put into motion, he saw no reason to comment on the emotional attachment.

At least for now.

As the two males watched the activity in the mirror, Khaos returned, munching on a human kidney while dragging a human boy by the leg behind him, smearing the stone floor with dark crimson blood.

He took a seat in a corner and ate with relish.

“The people are beginning to fall apart,” Ehvil commented as the two women in the mirror skirted around a particularly brutal fight.

“Aye, they are!” Vishious agreed delighted amusement, “The green substance is leaving their systems but not before one more explosive display of intense emotion,”

He took another sip of Demon Blood.

“One week is how long the effects lasts, and at the end of that week, KABOOM! Emotions run over, tempers flare and control snaps like a weak human's neck!”

Throwing his head back, Vishious let out a hearty laugh at the analogy and took another deep gulp of the liquid in his goblet.

“The conclusion of this day will be catastrophic,” he said, swirling the contents of his cup.

Ehvil remained silent, his eyes intent on the mirror and the two women entering a private room to have tea and converse.

Though his mouth remained close, his eyes said it all.

He was worried for his daughter, and the heartache she was soon to endure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The room was deathly silent and tense. Men standing before the two males squirmed, uncomfortable with the heavy, open animosity between father and son. Never before had the citizens of the Western lands been in such a situation. Today was the day of the bi-weekly hearing of problems to be solved between the inhabitants of the land.

Usually, during this time the large Hall would be filled with loud arguments and bustling energy. Today, the silence was so thick, so potent that it was hard to breathe. The disgruntled men in the room were too afraid to do anything other than stand quietly and wait for their turn to speak.

Sesshomaru glared at his father seated next to him, his fingers digging into his palms. His eyes flashed green , and the markings on his face brightened in color.

It was getting harder and harder to hold back his hostility towards his father, and from the intensity in the eyes of the older male, Sesshomaru was sure his father was suffering from the same near loss of control.

All morning, InuTaisho had dominated the hearing, solving issues as he saw fit, talking over his son completely as though he were the only Lord of the Western lands.

To make matters worse, the people, his people listened to the son of a bitch, bowing to his every command; not once looking over at Sesshomaru to see if he approved of the solution.

Nay, once InuTaisho spoke, they accepted his solution without question and hurried away.

Everything had been fine before his father had risen from his grave. He had never had to sit back as a bystander and let someone else make the decisions, to take control away from him.

He had had more than enough. He could take no more of it. Not one more second of it.

The next man came forward, his daughter at his side. The old man was short and bald, stooped over from years of hard work as a farmer. His clothing was wrinkled and dirty, torn in places and badly mended in others.

His daughter was in much the same state. Quiet and clearly quite nervous, the young woman wrung her hands together anxiously. Her brown eyes moved between the two youkai before her, sensing the dangerous situation the two were creating and wishing with her entire being that she would leave this room with her life intact.

“My Lord,” the old man began, addressing InuTaisho, “My neighbor has been stealing my sheep and chickens late at night from my farm,”

The man pulled his daughter roughly forward.

“She seen em',”

Before InuTaisho could even open his mouth, Sesshomaru spoke up from his place beside his father, capturing the old man attention.

“Where is this neighbor?”

The old man pointed a crocked finger at a middle aged man standing near the double doors. Sesshomaru felt satisfaction spear through him at the raw displeasure radiating from his father. It crackled over his skin like a soothing balm being applied to a festering wound.

“Come forward,” Sesshomaru commanded.

He could hear the crack of his father's clenched jaw. At the sound, his anger receded, extreme amusement taking its place.

The old man hobbled forward, his face whitening as he drew closer. It was painfully clear that old man would have preferred to be anywhere than where he was right now. His hands trembled involuntarily, and his steps slowed with a rapidly increasing feeling of dread and fear.

Sesshomaru waited impatiently for the man to stand before him.

He didn't give a damn about his fear. All he cared about was the man's ability to obey him and only him. If he so much as looked over at InuTaisho, he was not sure if he could stop himself from taking the man's head.

“What do you have to say in your defense against these allegations of property theft?”

The old man swallowed before kneeling down on one thin knee and bowing his head.

“My Lord, I cannot lie, I took the sheep and chickens but I'm poor and sick and old. My land bears no fruit and my animals are diseased and dying. I was starving my Lord; I beg you, have mercy on a humbled old man,”

Sesshomaru opened his mouth to speak.

“You have my mercy,” InuTaisho said, “A sheep and chickens will be sent to replace the ones you stole and you will receive work at another farm,”

Sesshomaru ground his teeth together, anger burning in his veins once more. His fist clenched and rage blinded him, gathering in a frenzied pitch of unparallel volume into the pit of his belly.

No more.

He could take no more. It was time; time to assert himself, to show once and all that he was the Alpha in the Western lands.

Damn the Elders decision and damn his father!

He would not continue on with this Co-Lords non-sense. He needed no help running his lands or his people. He needed no help making decisions, and he damn sure didn't need any help being the Lord of the Western lands.

Sensing the dangerous change, InuTaisho spared his son a look before turning to address the people gathered.

“That is all that will be heard at this hearing,”

The people filed out eagerly, stumbling over each other in an effort to leave before the raging tension and undercurrent of anger exploded, devouring all in its path. When the last person had excited the room and the doors had closed once more, the room fell deathly silent.

Their eyes burned a bright green, before slowly bleeding red. Markings grew jagged and claws lengthened and flexed. Sesshomaru felt his fangs pushing against his gums and lips almost painfully. Energy crackled against energy, and the two men sat stiff and tense in their chairs, knowing what was to come, knowing that they had reached the end of the line.

Claws flexing, green poison tingling at his fingertips, Sesshomaru made the first move just as Lord Sarinji burst through the door, yelling for the two men to stop.

Even as he said the words, one thing was painfully clear.

He was too late…

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Hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Please be sure to review and let me know what you think of the latest chapter!

Laters

~Sessakag