InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Another Opens... ❯ The Punishments ( Chapter 21 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Namiyo11 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Drama / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 04.27.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 173 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Drama / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 04.27.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 173 | Status: Completed
Chapter 21- The Punishments
Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, not me.
Recap: Everyone’s back at the Keep, and Sesshomaru and Inuyasha had found out the cost of their rescue. What about the wolves? Read on!
A thin, cold rain pattered down out of a leaden sky as it had all day. It poured in thin runnels down the worn, bare rockface of the foothills he crouched in, pockmarked with damage from the quake...and dripped off of a tiny overhang. Kouga hardly noticed. He sat on his heels beneath it, instinctively keeping his arms tight around his knees to try and stay warm.
He hadn’t noticed when it washed the worst of the blood away as he’d staggered here...anymore than he’d noticed much of anything. If he looked into a still pond-he would not know himself now. They had not been gentle. A hand still clenched the Goraishi, though...he had managed to keep it, even if he was no longer truly fit to wear it. The blades were intended to be worn by only the greatest of leaders and warriors of his people. A great warrior, perhaps-or he wouldn’t still be alive. But a leader? No. Never again.
Mere days ago, he’d been a Prince of his people, ruler of the packs. He’d been about to take a worthy mate, bring his Tribe more power and prestige than ever before in an alliance in which he planned to be the dominant partner. In so doing, he’d bring them to a height unassailable by any enemy...and now he was outcast. Left here to die, barred from the mountains he loved forever, cut off from his people. The mountains no longer promised freedom to him, only death at the hands of his former brothers should he dare return.
They had turned on him. Ginta and Hakkaku were dead. Events just kept replaying in his mind as Kouga struggled to face what had happened.
***
The battle had been a debacle for his Tribe. No, a true disaster. In his pride, he’d brought most of the warriors down to claim his dower property. To repay Yotogi for his insolence to him, and by extension to his pack and Tribe. The truth was...he had planned to slay the entire pack if she wished it or not, and show Kagome his power as she had shown him her own. As proof of his fitness to keep the hounds in line.
Then the Dokueki came.
After facing more of them at once than ever before-barely half of his own had stumbled home. Most were dead or dying of the venom filled blood and fangs of the snakes. They could not even bring the dead home, much less keep the badly wounded alive. Instead, they’d fled in shambles after fighting free, barely being able to give them mercy. Haunted, horrified, he’d led them home to discover their lesser brethren, running ahead, had alerted the packs to the scope of the losses already.
The Elders had been waiting for him at the caverns he called home. Had called home-because they were being driven into poorer territory, having shown themselves unworthy of such prime hunting by choosing to be led by a weak, unworthy leader. They had delivered that news, and more. The Inu bastards had killed his packbrothers as soon as Kagome and himself had left. Executed for assisting in the attempted abduction and offering insult to the Lead Female of Sesshomaru’s pack...by the likely order of Lady Atae. She was not one to show mercy to mere wolves-or to allow enemies to roam free.
The wolves running near the Keep had seen their heads hanging over the gate.
To make matters worse, Ayami’s old youkai allies had taken advantage of the weakened defenses and wiped out two small packs. He had failed the Tribe utterly. There was only one way to express their displeasure and disappointment. He’d been dragged into a circle as they looked on-and the packs had been turned loose on him. Kouga had been unlucky because he had survived, instinctively fleeing to save himself...and had been deemed unworthy even of being hunted seriously, only followed to ensure he left their territory.
Unlucky, because it meant exile. To be as Ayami had been, to have no pack, no kin, to not exist. All for the love of a mortal girl who’d caught his heart with her brave, stubborn loyalty, a loyalty he believed could be turned to him alone. Such a fool he’d been, believing that he could win her heart and her hand. A loyalty she’d already given to others...that meant she could never be his. Blood still seeped sluggishly from his wounds as he sat there, lost, driven by only one thought.
Kagome. A name that had once been a song of comfort-now was branded into him, leaving scars deeper than the wounds he bore ever could. He still loved her completely, utterly. But she had never loved him, and he knew it now as certainly as he had refused to believe it before. Knew she only had room in her heart for another. For the muttfaced bastard.
A damned hanyou, who had been beneath her as a mortal, and now she was his. Had been his, once Kouga had told her of his claim. The mutt had known of his claim on her as well-and ignored it, rejected it. He’d let Inuyasha live all of those times like an idiot, wanting his woman to admire his strength and control, wallowing in the pride that had always told him that Inuyasha was no real threat to his courtship.
Kagome had betrayed him by lying with another, with him! He had been betrayed when she allowed another to caress her, to mark her, and he was fool enough to trust her afterwards! Trusted her blindly, and led his people to their doom, lured by her merest glance. Led Hakkaku and Ginta to their ends at the hands of a headsman, not even in clean battle. Led to his destruction by a damned hanyou bitch.
He deserved exile and worse for it, as she had said-he’d put himself before the Tribe, ignored his duty, and had paid for it. Now she would. She deserved death for her betrayals. It was that simple. He would kill her, and follow her into the other world. No choice, and that-and that alone, kept him moving. He would rest, recover, and slay the matchless, magnificent female he loved most in the world. If he could not have her, no one would. A fitting punishment for both of them...
***
Elsewhere, another was contemplating punishments...
Sesshomaru regarded Tenseiga at it sat mockingly on its rack in his bedchamber. Lying on his mat, he scowled, allowing himself the indulgence of his annoyance in private.
He was home, with his child and pack safe, but the cost his packsister had racked up to do so. The wolves would avenge themselves. Sesshomaru knew it-and did not care. Let them try. His people could handle such creatures. Kouga, should he survive, might be more troublesome, but again he had little doubt they would slay him. He lay on the double mat, and sighed. The other half of the mat would undoubtedly stay empty for some time.
Another thing he missed, another punishment for his past actions. Sesshomaru had sent away his bevy of Inu concubines when Rin had become his ward. It was unwise to allow anyone to know he had actually adopted her, and there was no keeping such secrets from your concubines. Too much temptation for them to pass it to their respective packs, it would invite the open scandal that only lurked now. That was his fault.
His punishment for his own pride, really, having to publicly conceal his affection for his daughter. That he had a daughter, even. A wonderful little girl that he adored. But by declaring the human blooded had no place in the Clan, he had set precedent that had remained in place until Kagome had proved herself. If he had publicly gone back on that order for a mere mortal child who brought no powers, no advantage in having her here-he would have lost face.
That was an impossible situation, it would have shown weakness. So she stayed as his ward, a small matter of honor only. He did not care if she lived or died as far as his Clan was concerned, only that he fulfilled his unpleasant duty to her. Sesshomaru did not explain what that duty was-nor did any ask. Let them wonder.
Then came Kagome.
His dear little sister, the one that he had been able to give the affection to that he could not give to his own blood. So easy to love when she’d come to be a part of his family. If he had not disowned his younger brother, had brought him here as Father’s old advisors and Yotogi had urged then-it would have been a simpler matter when she and Rin came into his life. Kagome had had to bear up under the duels that proved he was right to accept her, to bring hanyou into the Clan, arguing her place was offered because he wished to gain mastery over his half-brother and use her.
Her strength had won that place, fighting the battles that he should have fought himself years before when Inuyasha was small. As his Father had not needed to, being strong enough to go unchallenged when he presented a mortal woman as his mate. He should have done as Izayoi had begged and taken him and his Father’s widow in when Inutaisho had died-and damn the consequences. Too angry back then, too insulted on behalf of his own Mother.
His pride had indeed led him to this place. As it led the Panthers to their doom. As it led Tohan away...eyes closed. Tohan. A remarkable female. Wise, clever, lovely...powerful and of noble blood as well, a fitting match for him. But his Father and hers had not been allies, they were blood enemies. They’d met on a battlefield, and it was love at first sight for both of them as they’d fought that day so long ago, with neither of them wishing to kill the other. Quite the opposite.
It was acknowledged and accepted by both, and that was it. Too much blood had flowed between them for more. Kagome knew of his feelings for the Panther, he had spoken to her of it as he had not to another living soul. She believed he ought to court Tohan. But then, she had also believed it was possible to marry Inuyasha and live with him as a mortal woman. She was a creature of hope. But Sesshomaru, was a realist to the bone. He could not have the one he loved as his Lady. Too much blood, too much time had passed. Impossible.
It seemed fitting he could not even use Tenseiga’s new power now. Kagome had given her word to Totosai not to teach him it’s secrets. Though it angered him, perhaps it was fair that he had more to pay for before he was granted the knowledge. In that at least, he was not alone. Inuyasha-he too was denied that, as he had been much else. He rose, and gave orders to the guards, who fetched in Miroku and Sango. Some punishments were unwarranted...and in his power to alleviate as well as to inflict.
***
“Kongoukessou!” A swing-and swearing again. Inuyasha scowled at the blade as he stood in the small courtyard. It pissed him off. It did it. He’d seen it. It turned sort of translucent and then shot out those shards of what looked like diamonds.
But not apparently for him.
Because that shit Totosai had decided he wasn’t ready for it! That baka wench had fucking agreed. Kagome...that was a mess he didn’t know how to fix either. Sesshomaru said to order her to explain-but he couldn’t. Not about the Sword, or the bed things, because he was too scared of what she’d say. Inuyasha just didn’t know how to deal with this. Sheathing it, he bounded to the top of a nearby tree, glaring around over the keep. He saw-oh goodie. Onjou coming his way, still self-conscious in his new role as Captain of the Guard.
“My Lo-er...Inuyasha,” the short Inu bowed deeply as the hanyou jumped down, belatedly recalling he did not like being referred to by title.
“You know what? You can call me Lord, Onjou.” Inuyasha decided aloud, eyes hard. He’d rather kill the fuck who’d dared read that crap out loud, but he didn’t get to, anymore than he could use his own damned blade fully!
“As you wish, Lord,” Onjou answered, bowing again. He understood completely, and sympathized. He wouldn’t want to be anywhere near someone who’d delivered such a message either. But-he had his duty. “My Lord Sesshomaru bids me fetch you into his presence as soon as possible, attired as befits a packsecond, my Lord.”
“Fine. Let’s go,” Inuyasha replied. After a moment, though...he did ask, “what the hell does he mean by that?”
***
Elsewhere, another guard had just ordered the same thing to Kagome. She too complied, puzzled, still hurt a bit, but feeling much better. Dressed in her troll robes and clan breastplate, hair dressed, she walked to the doors of the Audience Hall that slid open as she approached, held by the impassive Guards. But someone else was standing there with his arms folded into his sleeves. She actually had to look twice as her jaw dropped, and when he saw her-he looked very uncomfortable at her expression.
Red firerat kimono, yes. But with additions. Like the glittering black and metal armor he now wore! Save for color-it was the same as Sesshomaru’s. A sash of white and scarlet the same shade as the firerat was around his waist. Inuyasha, her Inuyasha-was wearing the formal armor of a youkai noble of the western Inu, as she was, as Sesshomaru did...Kagome was utterly speechless. Idly, she’d admit the black suited him...and ok, those were black shoes she saw. He scowled at her, and together-they went in.
Sesshomaru was seated in the place of honor. Yotogi and Lady Atae were both there along the sides, she saw, as was everyone who had been in on the rescue. But-so was Rin! Rin was never brought here! Not a clue as to what was going on could be found in their faces. Numb, completely thrown by the strangeness of the scene, she knelt and bowed, showing throat. Inuyasha-he knelt, he bowed stiffly-but no ritual chin lifting. Screw that, he’d done it once, it wasn’t happening again. Jaken scuttled forward, staff in hand as Sesshomaru snorted inwardly. He could accept that, actually.
Besides, what he was about to do to him was sufficient repayment.
“Lady Kagome. You have been summoned to hear the punishment decreed by the mighty Lord Sesshomaru for your despicable actions!” Jaken announced, and Inuyasha scowled.
“I am willing to accept my Lord Sesshomaru’s judgment, and throw myself on my Lord‘s mercy,” Kagome managed nervously, bowing again from the waist as she knelt.
“You offer no defense for your disobedience to me in a matter we discussed on the very day you came into this Clan?” Sesshomaru asked, golden eyes blazing in a fine display of fury.
“My lord...? I don’t understand,” she admitted, and he frowned.
“Do you not? Your acceptance of the courting of the wolf. Do you deny it?”
“Kouga??” Flabbergasted, Kagome stared at him in bewilderment. Everything else she’d done-and he was mad about that??
“You dared contravene my orders regarding your marriage, to take a suitor I did not approve of...Lady.”
“Please forgive, my Lord. I never intended to wed Kouga. Nothing happened, I swear it! It was just a trick-honest!! You know that, all of it was, the letter, everything! I had to!” Hands clasped in front of her, eyes huge, it was clear this was the last thing she expected.
“So you say,” Sesshomaru noted. “I have decided to attend to matters. A fitting punishment will be inflicted for your choosing to disobey me. You will not leave this Keep without permission from myself...or Lord Inuyasha.”
Inuyasha glanced over at her out of the corner of his eye-damn was she ever squirming! Something to this pack business, he reflected, wanting to wriggle from the uncomfortable armor he was wearing. His firerat was much better than this stuff.
“Yes, Lord Sesshomaru,” Kagome managed, wondering what the hell else was up. Unable to leave without permission? Annoyance was restrained with effort. As for Sesshomaru, he merely looked pleased. The monk was a clever mortal, he would grant him that, since the details had been his suggestion. A pervert, but a clever one. The offspring of the union between himself and the tajiya should be formidable, should she be able to instill her discipline into them. If not...the results could be equally-remarkable.
“As Lady Kagome disobeyed my will...so too have you offered insult, Lord Inuyasha. By rejecting my packsister as mate after claiming her as such,” he intoned. So satisfying to see his brother’s jaw drop!
“What??” he sputtered-and Kagome’s arm suddenly snaked out to grab him before he came off the floor! Seeing this, the Lord was quite pleased under his mask. Fools, the pair of them.
“You will remove the shame by granting her honorable marriage by human custom immediately,” Sesshomaru noted mildly. Both hanyou gasped at the order
He would not order them to be mates, but clearly Kagome was not to be left single for long, and honestly, his half-brother was the best possible choice of spouse for her. However, the Lord wasn’t about to put up with endless mooning over the topic. Rin clapped her hands together in delight, having been permitted here to witness her Aunt and Uncle’s wedding-if they liked the idea of it or not.
A gesture, and Miroku came forward from his place kneeling with the rest. Kagome’s eyes were huge, and Inuyasha’s mouth worked in shock. But Miroku just smiled as Sango looked rather bright eyed. She loved weddings, and frankly it was about time someone simply settled matters.
“Hoshi. Commence the ceremony,” he ordered Miroku-who smiled.
“An honor, my Lord.”
And the deed was done. To both Inuyasha’s and Kagome’s shocks...they were married again.
Author’s notes- Oh, yes! They are married again-like it or not. And yes, Kouga’s going to try and kill Kagome. And yes, Sesshomaru's in love with Tohan. How does this go over afterwards? You’ll have to wait till next chapter to find out! Thanks for reading as always!-Namiyo
Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, not me.
Recap: Everyone’s back at the Keep, and Sesshomaru and Inuyasha had found out the cost of their rescue. What about the wolves? Read on!
A thin, cold rain pattered down out of a leaden sky as it had all day. It poured in thin runnels down the worn, bare rockface of the foothills he crouched in, pockmarked with damage from the quake...and dripped off of a tiny overhang. Kouga hardly noticed. He sat on his heels beneath it, instinctively keeping his arms tight around his knees to try and stay warm.
He hadn’t noticed when it washed the worst of the blood away as he’d staggered here...anymore than he’d noticed much of anything. If he looked into a still pond-he would not know himself now. They had not been gentle. A hand still clenched the Goraishi, though...he had managed to keep it, even if he was no longer truly fit to wear it. The blades were intended to be worn by only the greatest of leaders and warriors of his people. A great warrior, perhaps-or he wouldn’t still be alive. But a leader? No. Never again.
Mere days ago, he’d been a Prince of his people, ruler of the packs. He’d been about to take a worthy mate, bring his Tribe more power and prestige than ever before in an alliance in which he planned to be the dominant partner. In so doing, he’d bring them to a height unassailable by any enemy...and now he was outcast. Left here to die, barred from the mountains he loved forever, cut off from his people. The mountains no longer promised freedom to him, only death at the hands of his former brothers should he dare return.
They had turned on him. Ginta and Hakkaku were dead. Events just kept replaying in his mind as Kouga struggled to face what had happened.
***
The battle had been a debacle for his Tribe. No, a true disaster. In his pride, he’d brought most of the warriors down to claim his dower property. To repay Yotogi for his insolence to him, and by extension to his pack and Tribe. The truth was...he had planned to slay the entire pack if she wished it or not, and show Kagome his power as she had shown him her own. As proof of his fitness to keep the hounds in line.
Then the Dokueki came.
After facing more of them at once than ever before-barely half of his own had stumbled home. Most were dead or dying of the venom filled blood and fangs of the snakes. They could not even bring the dead home, much less keep the badly wounded alive. Instead, they’d fled in shambles after fighting free, barely being able to give them mercy. Haunted, horrified, he’d led them home to discover their lesser brethren, running ahead, had alerted the packs to the scope of the losses already.
The Elders had been waiting for him at the caverns he called home. Had called home-because they were being driven into poorer territory, having shown themselves unworthy of such prime hunting by choosing to be led by a weak, unworthy leader. They had delivered that news, and more. The Inu bastards had killed his packbrothers as soon as Kagome and himself had left. Executed for assisting in the attempted abduction and offering insult to the Lead Female of Sesshomaru’s pack...by the likely order of Lady Atae. She was not one to show mercy to mere wolves-or to allow enemies to roam free.
The wolves running near the Keep had seen their heads hanging over the gate.
To make matters worse, Ayami’s old youkai allies had taken advantage of the weakened defenses and wiped out two small packs. He had failed the Tribe utterly. There was only one way to express their displeasure and disappointment. He’d been dragged into a circle as they looked on-and the packs had been turned loose on him. Kouga had been unlucky because he had survived, instinctively fleeing to save himself...and had been deemed unworthy even of being hunted seriously, only followed to ensure he left their territory.
Unlucky, because it meant exile. To be as Ayami had been, to have no pack, no kin, to not exist. All for the love of a mortal girl who’d caught his heart with her brave, stubborn loyalty, a loyalty he believed could be turned to him alone. Such a fool he’d been, believing that he could win her heart and her hand. A loyalty she’d already given to others...that meant she could never be his. Blood still seeped sluggishly from his wounds as he sat there, lost, driven by only one thought.
Kagome. A name that had once been a song of comfort-now was branded into him, leaving scars deeper than the wounds he bore ever could. He still loved her completely, utterly. But she had never loved him, and he knew it now as certainly as he had refused to believe it before. Knew she only had room in her heart for another. For the muttfaced bastard.
A damned hanyou, who had been beneath her as a mortal, and now she was his. Had been his, once Kouga had told her of his claim. The mutt had known of his claim on her as well-and ignored it, rejected it. He’d let Inuyasha live all of those times like an idiot, wanting his woman to admire his strength and control, wallowing in the pride that had always told him that Inuyasha was no real threat to his courtship.
Kagome had betrayed him by lying with another, with him! He had been betrayed when she allowed another to caress her, to mark her, and he was fool enough to trust her afterwards! Trusted her blindly, and led his people to their doom, lured by her merest glance. Led Hakkaku and Ginta to their ends at the hands of a headsman, not even in clean battle. Led to his destruction by a damned hanyou bitch.
He deserved exile and worse for it, as she had said-he’d put himself before the Tribe, ignored his duty, and had paid for it. Now she would. She deserved death for her betrayals. It was that simple. He would kill her, and follow her into the other world. No choice, and that-and that alone, kept him moving. He would rest, recover, and slay the matchless, magnificent female he loved most in the world. If he could not have her, no one would. A fitting punishment for both of them...
***
Elsewhere, another was contemplating punishments...
Sesshomaru regarded Tenseiga at it sat mockingly on its rack in his bedchamber. Lying on his mat, he scowled, allowing himself the indulgence of his annoyance in private.
He was home, with his child and pack safe, but the cost his packsister had racked up to do so. The wolves would avenge themselves. Sesshomaru knew it-and did not care. Let them try. His people could handle such creatures. Kouga, should he survive, might be more troublesome, but again he had little doubt they would slay him. He lay on the double mat, and sighed. The other half of the mat would undoubtedly stay empty for some time.
Another thing he missed, another punishment for his past actions. Sesshomaru had sent away his bevy of Inu concubines when Rin had become his ward. It was unwise to allow anyone to know he had actually adopted her, and there was no keeping such secrets from your concubines. Too much temptation for them to pass it to their respective packs, it would invite the open scandal that only lurked now. That was his fault.
His punishment for his own pride, really, having to publicly conceal his affection for his daughter. That he had a daughter, even. A wonderful little girl that he adored. But by declaring the human blooded had no place in the Clan, he had set precedent that had remained in place until Kagome had proved herself. If he had publicly gone back on that order for a mere mortal child who brought no powers, no advantage in having her here-he would have lost face.
That was an impossible situation, it would have shown weakness. So she stayed as his ward, a small matter of honor only. He did not care if she lived or died as far as his Clan was concerned, only that he fulfilled his unpleasant duty to her. Sesshomaru did not explain what that duty was-nor did any ask. Let them wonder.
Then came Kagome.
His dear little sister, the one that he had been able to give the affection to that he could not give to his own blood. So easy to love when she’d come to be a part of his family. If he had not disowned his younger brother, had brought him here as Father’s old advisors and Yotogi had urged then-it would have been a simpler matter when she and Rin came into his life. Kagome had had to bear up under the duels that proved he was right to accept her, to bring hanyou into the Clan, arguing her place was offered because he wished to gain mastery over his half-brother and use her.
Her strength had won that place, fighting the battles that he should have fought himself years before when Inuyasha was small. As his Father had not needed to, being strong enough to go unchallenged when he presented a mortal woman as his mate. He should have done as Izayoi had begged and taken him and his Father’s widow in when Inutaisho had died-and damn the consequences. Too angry back then, too insulted on behalf of his own Mother.
His pride had indeed led him to this place. As it led the Panthers to their doom. As it led Tohan away...eyes closed. Tohan. A remarkable female. Wise, clever, lovely...powerful and of noble blood as well, a fitting match for him. But his Father and hers had not been allies, they were blood enemies. They’d met on a battlefield, and it was love at first sight for both of them as they’d fought that day so long ago, with neither of them wishing to kill the other. Quite the opposite.
It was acknowledged and accepted by both, and that was it. Too much blood had flowed between them for more. Kagome knew of his feelings for the Panther, he had spoken to her of it as he had not to another living soul. She believed he ought to court Tohan. But then, she had also believed it was possible to marry Inuyasha and live with him as a mortal woman. She was a creature of hope. But Sesshomaru, was a realist to the bone. He could not have the one he loved as his Lady. Too much blood, too much time had passed. Impossible.
It seemed fitting he could not even use Tenseiga’s new power now. Kagome had given her word to Totosai not to teach him it’s secrets. Though it angered him, perhaps it was fair that he had more to pay for before he was granted the knowledge. In that at least, he was not alone. Inuyasha-he too was denied that, as he had been much else. He rose, and gave orders to the guards, who fetched in Miroku and Sango. Some punishments were unwarranted...and in his power to alleviate as well as to inflict.
***
“Kongoukessou!” A swing-and swearing again. Inuyasha scowled at the blade as he stood in the small courtyard. It pissed him off. It did it. He’d seen it. It turned sort of translucent and then shot out those shards of what looked like diamonds.
But not apparently for him.
Because that shit Totosai had decided he wasn’t ready for it! That baka wench had fucking agreed. Kagome...that was a mess he didn’t know how to fix either. Sesshomaru said to order her to explain-but he couldn’t. Not about the Sword, or the bed things, because he was too scared of what she’d say. Inuyasha just didn’t know how to deal with this. Sheathing it, he bounded to the top of a nearby tree, glaring around over the keep. He saw-oh goodie. Onjou coming his way, still self-conscious in his new role as Captain of the Guard.
“My Lo-er...Inuyasha,” the short Inu bowed deeply as the hanyou jumped down, belatedly recalling he did not like being referred to by title.
“You know what? You can call me Lord, Onjou.” Inuyasha decided aloud, eyes hard. He’d rather kill the fuck who’d dared read that crap out loud, but he didn’t get to, anymore than he could use his own damned blade fully!
“As you wish, Lord,” Onjou answered, bowing again. He understood completely, and sympathized. He wouldn’t want to be anywhere near someone who’d delivered such a message either. But-he had his duty. “My Lord Sesshomaru bids me fetch you into his presence as soon as possible, attired as befits a packsecond, my Lord.”
“Fine. Let’s go,” Inuyasha replied. After a moment, though...he did ask, “what the hell does he mean by that?”
***
Elsewhere, another guard had just ordered the same thing to Kagome. She too complied, puzzled, still hurt a bit, but feeling much better. Dressed in her troll robes and clan breastplate, hair dressed, she walked to the doors of the Audience Hall that slid open as she approached, held by the impassive Guards. But someone else was standing there with his arms folded into his sleeves. She actually had to look twice as her jaw dropped, and when he saw her-he looked very uncomfortable at her expression.
Red firerat kimono, yes. But with additions. Like the glittering black and metal armor he now wore! Save for color-it was the same as Sesshomaru’s. A sash of white and scarlet the same shade as the firerat was around his waist. Inuyasha, her Inuyasha-was wearing the formal armor of a youkai noble of the western Inu, as she was, as Sesshomaru did...Kagome was utterly speechless. Idly, she’d admit the black suited him...and ok, those were black shoes she saw. He scowled at her, and together-they went in.
Sesshomaru was seated in the place of honor. Yotogi and Lady Atae were both there along the sides, she saw, as was everyone who had been in on the rescue. But-so was Rin! Rin was never brought here! Not a clue as to what was going on could be found in their faces. Numb, completely thrown by the strangeness of the scene, she knelt and bowed, showing throat. Inuyasha-he knelt, he bowed stiffly-but no ritual chin lifting. Screw that, he’d done it once, it wasn’t happening again. Jaken scuttled forward, staff in hand as Sesshomaru snorted inwardly. He could accept that, actually.
Besides, what he was about to do to him was sufficient repayment.
“Lady Kagome. You have been summoned to hear the punishment decreed by the mighty Lord Sesshomaru for your despicable actions!” Jaken announced, and Inuyasha scowled.
“I am willing to accept my Lord Sesshomaru’s judgment, and throw myself on my Lord‘s mercy,” Kagome managed nervously, bowing again from the waist as she knelt.
“You offer no defense for your disobedience to me in a matter we discussed on the very day you came into this Clan?” Sesshomaru asked, golden eyes blazing in a fine display of fury.
“My lord...? I don’t understand,” she admitted, and he frowned.
“Do you not? Your acceptance of the courting of the wolf. Do you deny it?”
“Kouga??” Flabbergasted, Kagome stared at him in bewilderment. Everything else she’d done-and he was mad about that??
“You dared contravene my orders regarding your marriage, to take a suitor I did not approve of...Lady.”
“Please forgive, my Lord. I never intended to wed Kouga. Nothing happened, I swear it! It was just a trick-honest!! You know that, all of it was, the letter, everything! I had to!” Hands clasped in front of her, eyes huge, it was clear this was the last thing she expected.
“So you say,” Sesshomaru noted. “I have decided to attend to matters. A fitting punishment will be inflicted for your choosing to disobey me. You will not leave this Keep without permission from myself...or Lord Inuyasha.”
Inuyasha glanced over at her out of the corner of his eye-damn was she ever squirming! Something to this pack business, he reflected, wanting to wriggle from the uncomfortable armor he was wearing. His firerat was much better than this stuff.
“Yes, Lord Sesshomaru,” Kagome managed, wondering what the hell else was up. Unable to leave without permission? Annoyance was restrained with effort. As for Sesshomaru, he merely looked pleased. The monk was a clever mortal, he would grant him that, since the details had been his suggestion. A pervert, but a clever one. The offspring of the union between himself and the tajiya should be formidable, should she be able to instill her discipline into them. If not...the results could be equally-remarkable.
“As Lady Kagome disobeyed my will...so too have you offered insult, Lord Inuyasha. By rejecting my packsister as mate after claiming her as such,” he intoned. So satisfying to see his brother’s jaw drop!
“What??” he sputtered-and Kagome’s arm suddenly snaked out to grab him before he came off the floor! Seeing this, the Lord was quite pleased under his mask. Fools, the pair of them.
“You will remove the shame by granting her honorable marriage by human custom immediately,” Sesshomaru noted mildly. Both hanyou gasped at the order
He would not order them to be mates, but clearly Kagome was not to be left single for long, and honestly, his half-brother was the best possible choice of spouse for her. However, the Lord wasn’t about to put up with endless mooning over the topic. Rin clapped her hands together in delight, having been permitted here to witness her Aunt and Uncle’s wedding-if they liked the idea of it or not.
A gesture, and Miroku came forward from his place kneeling with the rest. Kagome’s eyes were huge, and Inuyasha’s mouth worked in shock. But Miroku just smiled as Sango looked rather bright eyed. She loved weddings, and frankly it was about time someone simply settled matters.
“Hoshi. Commence the ceremony,” he ordered Miroku-who smiled.
“An honor, my Lord.”
And the deed was done. To both Inuyasha’s and Kagome’s shocks...they were married again.
Author’s notes- Oh, yes! They are married again-like it or not. And yes, Kouga’s going to try and kill Kagome. And yes, Sesshomaru's in love with Tohan. How does this go over afterwards? You’ll have to wait till next chapter to find out! Thanks for reading as always!-Namiyo