InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Intended Mate ❯ Battle of Wills ( Chapter 16 )

I had dreams on and off all morning about this chapter. There is a certain scene in there that was debated to show up or not and I suppose my constant dreams were in agony over this indecision. Indecision brings delays, and I could not do that to you, my readers, or whoever reads this (laugh).

So here you are, the night of the Banquet. Things are coming to a head so to speak, but go on and read. And please review!

 

Honored place for reviewers:

Inugrrrl, your words please me everytime! Thanks thanks THANKS so much again for your wordy thoughts!

Andrea Moon dog , big howl to the moon and the mailman! I hope you enjoy this next one ^_~

Sapphire Blade, You tell em, sweetie! Don't worry, it'll all end out okay. Just enjoy! (and hide the bleach!)

Chirsten, aka Cherished Agony, you're the best! That's all I can say ^_~

 

FF.net: Cobaltsky, you are a new one. Don't worry, the clash will happen very shortly. I just like to end on a cliffhanger if it's at all possible lately and I'm lazy today. But I hope you continue to keep reading.

Inuyasha's Only Miko, yeah more reviews! I'm greatly enjoying your responses.

Inu-Osuwari, (laughs) were you offline today? Because I posted very quickly again…

And Dchan3. You are a new one as well. Those were interesting thoughts and I thank you for sharing. We'll have to see is all I can say….

Lady Kcassandra, Kawaii Bell, Hitomi Daremo, Silver Magick 131, thanks again!! Luv ya guys.

 

AFF.net: Chio, thank you for your kind review. I'm pleased to see a new name here!

Romantiq, thanks again for taking the time! I'm glad you liked it.

InuSango, I only hope to please you with this chapter and the next. Probably not this one (Sweatdrop)

 

If I forgot anyone, I fully apologize. But my real inu wants to be taken for a walk (laugh) so I must hurry!

 

Disclaimer: Penpaninu does not claim to own Inuyasha, in any way, shape or form, but does claim to be Inu.

 

While there are mates, there can still be Intended….

 

“Intended Mate” chapter sixteen

Battle of Wills

 

The day of the banquet started with a gaggle of giggling maids and attendants forcing Kagome from a deep content dream, forcing her up and awake to ready herself for her day as the Lady of the Western Lands. Kagome yawned and tried to resist the young demon women, but they were deceptively strong and laughed through her attempts, saying she must be nervous, but a human could gain strength if she wished. And Sesshomaru-sama was a certain way to this, they hinted with wistful sighs.

 

Kagome gritted her teeth and barely got away to rush to the washroom to be physically ill at their words. She moaned and rubbed her flat aching belly.

 

“So you object to this too, hmm?” she whispered, talking out loud to her very young unborn child. Her belly throbbed in response and Kagome rose to shaky feet, to be led away by the simpering demon maids once more. Why did she feel so badly today? Her morning sickness had her woozy, and her head ached.

 

Kagome walked past a small brazier of musky incense burning just inside her bedroom door. Funny, that must be new. Why would the maids think this would help soothe her belly? It smelled just awful, really….

 

Kagome closed her eyes as her maids garbed her in a new kimono, tying and wrapping it expertly around her hurting body. She needed her concentration to ward off Sesshomaru's sure advances for today, and she couldn't do that if she felt ill.

 

Kagome was more than certain today that she couldn't sleep with Sesshomaru while her neck still held Inuyasha's marked kiss. Her dreams gave her confusing glimpses of her lover, and while those dreams weren't new, this one was more urgent in coming to her attention as if reminding her the reason for holding out. It was very strange, but you would think Inuyasha wasn't even dead, the bond was still fresh….

 

Kagome sighed and hugged her middle when the maids were done. She would stay Inuyasha's…she had to. Even if she saw him die at Naraku's hand, she had to stay true to him.

 

“His lordship requested your presence for the morning meal,” the youngest maid suggested prettily. Kagome barely nodded.

 

“Tell him I am unable to attend,” she said. The maid looked horrified but hurried out. The barrier went back up, fizzing lightly in Kagome's ears. How she could never have noticed that until she tried to step out at night, could only be seen as negligible. She knew it was there now, and the youkai supplying it could only have been observing her since she had first arrived.

 

“I won't lose. I have to escape!” Kagome thought. She sat on the bed and waited for Sesshomaru's sure arrival. She would be ready for him either way.

 

* * * *

 

Inuyasha and his friends forced their way up through the mountain paths to Sesshomaru's palace with exhausted vigor. They had slept only a few hours the night before, pushing hard to reach a palace Inuyasha had never set foot into.

 

“But I know where it is!” he insisted.

Koga commanded Hiko and Ginta to watch out for `the humans' as sharp mountain winds whirled around everyone, forcing several to watch their footing.

 

“Eeek!” Shippou yelped and clung to Koga's shoulder, hanging on for dear life. Koga looked at him and shrugged.

 

“Just hang on, cub. We have less than a day to go,” he suggested. Shippou clenched his fists and nodded, face determined.

 

“I'm okay,” Sango insisted, but a sharp current swept her back against Ginta's chest, stopping her from quite a fall. She paled and looked back over her shoulder.

 

“Then again…thanks!” she insisted. Ginta gave a crooked easygoing grin in response and patted her waist.

 

“I'll be here to catch you if you fall, so for now let's hurry!” he suggested. Sango shook her head and laughed, carrying Hiraikotsu over one strong shoulder. Koga's wolf brothers really were sweet after all!

 

“Are you all right?” she called over the wind to her fiancée. Miroku and Hiko locked elbows and moved forward against the current as one.

 

“Just fine, Sango!” Miroku assured her. Hiko grinned as well.

 

“This human does all right!” he teased. Sango shook her head, good-naturedly.

 

“All right, keep it moving!” Koga barked behind them. Shippou nodded his agreement from his shoulder.

 

Ahead of everyone, Inuyasha's shoulders slumped but his legs held strong as he battled the current blowing directly against them. He could smell Kagome more and more as they came further up the mountain. His mate….his Kagome…he was so close to her, he could almost taste it, and he knew he had to hurry. His heart warred betrayal as they moved closer and closer to his family's ancestral home.

Feelings of loyalty and love still warmed him and sped through his blood like wildfire. He would hurry. It would prove to be a shock, as Kaede had said he had died in front of her, but he would show himself and take her back with him! Kagome would be overjoyed, and they would get away.

 

And if Sesshomaru had done anything to her, Inuyasha would exact the suitable revenge on him. Lord of the Western Lands or not, he thought grimly. The very mountainside quickened, pulsating almost beneath his bare feet. He had never set foot near his family's palace, but he had a feeling the land wasn't wholly against him visiting.

 

“Hang on, Kagome, I'm coming!” he thought.

 

* * * *

 

Sesshomaru was brooding again. That could only be the suitable description Rin could think of as her lord dared not show emotion at all. But he was agitated, and she could feel it.

 

Rin carefully walked up to her Lord on soft slippered feet, trying to sneak up on him. As before and always in her knowing him, Sesshomaru-sama sensed or smelled her and greeted her without turning.

 

“Rin.” He said simply as before. Rin sighed and stopped behind his tall form, her head coming up barely to his waist.

 

“Sesshomaru-sama,” she began slowly. Her child's heart was troubled and she hugged herself for strength. “My lord….”

 

Sesshomaru's eyebrow quirked, out of view of his ward. Her tutors were starting their lessons well, apparently. She must really have something to say to him.

 

“Yes, what is it, Rin?” he inquired after a pregnant pause. Rin's small childish exhalation put his heart momentarily at ease.

 

“Sesshomaru-sama, I want to know…will Kagome-sama be happy here?” she asked in one hasty breath.

 

Sesshomaru didn't move. “Explain yourself, Rin.”

 

Rin sighed and tugged at her kimono. “She seems so sad, my lord…. Will she truly be happy if you make her your wife?”

 

Sesshomaru was certainly not pleased at her voicing her train of thought. He was by far used to people telling him what decorum demanded and what he himself would have wanted to hear due to his position. While in the past travelings, he acknowledged his human child liked to chatter and voice whatever thought went through her young head, and enjoyed it almost as it seemed to upset his goblin retainer to no end, now he wished she would learn her lessons a little better.

 

“Rin. You know this Sesshomaru's plans for today,” he said sharply. Rin swallowed and dared to stand at her lord's side, looking up at his strong jaw and profile.

 

“I know, Sesshomaru-sama! I just…want you to be happy.” Her small hand touched Sesshomaru's claws gingerly and Sesshomaru could count surprise upon his face for maybe the fifth time in his long life.

 

This child he adopted from the wilderness knew the strength and venom in those claws and dared touch him there, and try to ease the anger in his heart. She could not know the internal war that burned between him and the human miko for this day, but still she tried in her own young way to soothe the final outcome.

 

`She cares for me.' Sesshomaru sighed and looked down at her. Rin brightened at his merely looking at her and Sesshomaru's heart sank further. How he could inspire such devotion and love from someone he barely chose to speak to, but let tag along at his feet.

 

He snuffed lightly in response and gently dared to pat the top of her head.

 

“It is not in the way of the Lord of the Western Lands to be happy…” he began in title and Rin watched him, smile shining. “But this Sesshomaru wants to make Kagome-sama happy.”

 

In his own way, he wanted her to enjoy her life here with him. But he had to make her submit to him. It was the way of an Inu lord to make his mate submit herself to his will and Sesshomaru did not intend to lose.

 

“Go to your lessons, Rin,” he retracted his hand from her warm hair. “I must see Kagome-sama.”

 

“Yes, Sesshomaru-sama!” she chirped and ran off. Sesshomaru took long moments to gather his shattered composure and swept along the hallways, polished and regal as before.

 

The maids were gone from Kagome for the moment. He looked at his hidden shugenjas and nodded. The barrier went down and he stepped through.

 

Kagome watched him warily. “What do you want?”

 

So her old tongue was back. He should have known the meek gesture she displayed upon departing for bed last night was a ruse. He was a fool for letting her procrastinate what had to happen.

 

Sesshomaru stepped up to the bed and pulled open his kimono expertly with just one arm. Kagome watched his pale muscled body disrobe before her in shock and a hint of disgust.

 

“So it's going to be like this, no warning?” she declared. A slow growl rumbled from Sesshomaru's chest.

 

“Woman. You knew how it was going to be as you waited until this day,” he commanded.

 

* * * *

 

Kagome glared openly at him, holding the lapels of her robe tightly closed in her small fists. He moved closer to sit on the edge of the bed, partial erection bobbing and Kagome turned from him in disgust.

 

“Don't touch me,” she demanded, small sparks sweeping over her form. Her miko powers heightened and Sesshomaru's ears twitched, feeling the energy. He looked at the brazier of foul incense his shugenjas placed near the door and cleared his throat. At his silent command, the cloud of scent wafted towards Kagome stronger than before.

 

Kagome looked pale and held her middle. She leaned forward and Sesshomaru took her in his arm, steadying her. “Lean on me, Woman. I will hold you always,” Sesshomaru vowed.

 

Kagome pushed on his chest sharply, gaining control of her body quickly.

 

“I told you not to touch me!” she flared. Sesshomaru smirked as the incense gave no control over her. This could prove to be fun.

 

He traced her cheek with his claws softly, watching obvious sparks react from his youki to her skin. The small sparks hurt by he would not let it stop him. This was between the both of them now and they both knew it.

 

“I will touch you, now and whenever I please,” Sesshomaru purred, turning her face up for a kiss. Kagome spat and bit him. Sesshomaru growled and moved to disrobe her. Kagome fought and wriggled in his hand.

 

In their struggling, Kagome was pushed on her back and Sesshomaru knelt over her, laughing. She had him stiff with anticipation and her struggles only heightened his arousal. Kagome spit like a kitten and twisted in his grasp. With only one arm, he could make her feel he had a thousand!

 

“Get off of me!” she hissed, fighting him. Her hands flashed white and burned his chest. Sesshomaru watched her, surprised, but did not move. He growled deeply and his shugenjas outside of the room jumped, and worked sutras to aide their lord.

 

Kagome gasped, eyes rolling back as her miko's purification fled from her, dissipating to nothing. Sesshomaru smiled and kissed her neck, lathing long swipes of his tongue over Inuyasha's mark.

 

Kagome tried for more purifying blasts, but her body was so weak and drained. Low singing and chanting toned outside of her chambers and she was furious, struggling feebly with her human's strength.

 

“You coward!” she yelled, pushing against Sesshomaru. His eager mouth roamed down her chest, over her breasts and across her stomach. His hand held her wrists above her head and his strong legs kept her from kicking.

 

Kagome fought and struggled as things took a horrible turn for the worst, her chest rising and falling desperately in angry breaths. Sesshomaru's small purrs of passion infuriated her and she tried to keep her legs closed from his body's closeness.

 

Sesshomaru laughed in response and worked a knee between her thighs, opening her to his stiff passion. She was weakened and she would submit to him. She hissed and cried, arms held strongly under his hand. Her whole being rebelled against him, but he would be the victor here. His knees kept her thighs open to him and he pressed against her core.

 

Kagome's eyes flashed angrily up at his, a hint of fear behind them. Sesshomaru watched her, hazy in passion as he probed against her. The human woman screamed as he thrust in hard, taking her body as his.

 

* * * *

 

Inuyasha went down stunned as his heart seized and almost stopped. He was barely aware of his knees digging sharply into mountain rock, his eyes wide and unseeing and the faint exclamations of his friends ringing dimly in his sharp ears.

 

“Inuyasha!….Inuyasha! Breathe!” someone commanded and Inuyasha gasped, his lungs pulling at air sharply. He coughed and spit, leaning over in disgust. His heart throbbed and ached, drawing air in pain.

 

“Oh I knew it was too soon!” Shippou wailed, son's concern gone hysterical. “His body's damaged itself! We have to take him back to Kaede…”

 

Sango and Miroku both lifted an arm of the hanyou and brought him to his feet between them. Koga only watched knowingly as he batted them away from his sides.

 

“I'm okay, you idiots!” Inuyasha hissed. His eyes held hints of red and Sango moved away slowly. “We have to get there NOW.”

 

“Why? What happened?” Miroku asked quietly. Inuyasha's palm slapped onto Tetsusaiga's hilt and the red fled his large eyes.

 

“Kagome is in pain! We have to get her now!” he howled.

 

Koga leaped forward to stand next to him.” Now you're talking sense! Hurry up, this all comes down now.”

 

The group moved to leap and run with renewed conviction. The winds parted and lift them with a clear path. Inuyasha only frowned and continued on. The mountains were welcoming each step from himself and it puzzled the hanyou. Mystery or no, he couldn't dwell upon it. He had a clear path in mind and he ran to his beloved.

 

* * * *

 

The chanting of the shugenjas decreased in volume and Kagome winced as her miko abilities were open once more. But she was too weakened and shocked to seize the opportunity. Sesshomaru thrust into her steadily, finding pleasure in her apparent submission. He was very pleased but her lack of response was something to be improved on. He growled as he neared his end, sinking his fangs into her neck, decidedly over Inuyasha's mark.

 

Kagome closed her eyes tightly, body sore, and tears leaking from her eyes as she felt her life force swept away by Sesshomaru's tongue. He was feeling her….when he offered her a bite mark from his own arm to taste, her body rebelled and she could only get a drop down. Sesshomaru groaned and filled her with his seed, satisfied at her small yelp.

 

The InuLord pulled out of her with a content grunt, watching his large bite mark take dominance over Kagome's neck.

 

`She's mine now. No one can deny it,' he thought, warming her with his body. Kagome cried softly, face turned away.

 

“Don't cry, Kagome Woman,” he purred, stroking her body with his hand. “We're one now. You'll learn to love me in time.”

 

Kagome merely lay there still and Sesshomaru sighed. He sat up and reached for his discarded kimono, tying it sharply around his waist expertly.

 

“I will require your presence at the banquet in an hour's time,” he commanded. Kagome's face pressed into her pillow away from him. As he turned to leave, his blood boiled and went still. He could not feel Kagome anymore. He turned to look at her.

 

Kagome sat up in bed, holding her robe to her breasts, eyes wide in wonder. She felt her neck gingerly, surprised at the familiar bond with her first mate. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed as his own large bite mark vanished beneath his gaze, Inuyasha's inferior one taking precedence and marking her from him.

 

“What has happened!” he demanded, stalking back to the bed. Kagome whirled upon Sesshomaru, tears streaking her face.

 

“I'm not yours!” her fingers tenderly traced Inuyasha's mark and Sesshomaru's blood throbbed hotly in rage. “You couldn't mark me, `my lord'. I never wanted to be yours so leave me alone!” My dream came true! Her mind insisted wildly.

 

Sesshomaru grasped her neck in his hand and sniffed her closely. He hissed in rage when his scent, just spent inside her moments before, faded away.

 

“What is the meaning of this, Woman??” he growled. Kagome hugged her robe to herself and broke away.

 

“I don't know! But you had better not touch me again!” Kagome yelled back. Sessshomaru's eyes tinted red.

 

“You are my mate! I will touch you when I want!”

 

“My mark speaks otherwise,” Kagome laughed wildly, feeling her link to Inuyasha. “I'm not your Lady to order around!”

 

Sesshomaru spun out of her room, furiously. His shugenjas peeped from their hiding places meekly as he looked around for them.

 

“M-my lord?” they stammered. Sesshomaru gestured to Kagome's room.

 

“Mask her! Make my scent wash over her,” he ordered. He would need to show her off as his Lady to his dignitaries shortly. That a marking didn't do this for him infuriated him to no ends! Had Myoga withheld information from this Sesshomaru??

 

“Yes, my lord!” the shugenjas jumped and scrambled all over each other to vanish into Kagome's room.

 

Sesshomaru stalked off in a rage.

 

* * * *

 

Kagome lay on her side, hugging her middle, warmed at Inuyasha's familiar link. She could almost think he wasn't dead, keeping Sesshomaru from canceling out his mark… She sighed and cried softly at what had just happened as her door slid open and several small youkai sped in and surrounded her bed.

 

“Hold still, Kagome-sama,” they urged softly, beginning their chants. Kagome sat up, tears staining her cheeks.

 

“What are you doing?” she demanded. Sesshomaru's disgusting scent washed over her and she gagged. Her stomach rebelled and her neck throbbed angrily.

 

“His lordship commanded you wear his scent and dress accordingly to meet him at the banquet!” one small toad like shugenja explained sharply.

 

Kagome laid back on the bed, trying not to breathe too deeply. “I am not his, and I will not do as he says!”

 

It took a legion of youkai maids and attendants to wrestle Kagome into her kimono and force her down the hallways to the large settling of youki in the audience chambers.

 

Sesshomaru smirked finally allowing some old confidence to return to his body. She had been forced to come after all. He had won her body before, but she would not win the battle of wills.

 

“This Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands, high Inu of the Western Islands,” Jaken added to himself a longer list of noble titles mentally across the room,” welcomes the Lady of the Western Lands, the Woman Kagome to his side.” The gathered youkai looked around curiously at Sesshomaru's practiced words and watched the slim human walk into their midst.

 

A few sniffs from the more inquistive of the demons assured them Sesshomaru had his mark upon her. His scent was all over her. Kagome walked in, stony-faced, as a maid lifted the long train of her kimono behind her. So she wasn't pleased. That made two of them.

 

“My lady,” he said imperiously, gesturing her forward. Kagome reluctantly placed her hand in his, eyes furious meeting his.

 

“I hate you,” she whispered. Sesshomaru's mouth twitched.

 

“You make me want you,” he hissed back.

 

As the formal meal dragged on, Sesshomaru sought out his flea vassal. His stony eyes alone made the tiny demon rethink a retreat and he hopped up to his lord as the dignitaries enjoyed themselves.

 

“Sesshomaru-sama?” Myoga stammered, at Sesshomaru's sleeve. The Inu Lord looked down at him boredly.

 

“You have some explaining to do,” he murmured pleasantly. Myoga watched the poor human woman endure the evening with forced grace and looked back to his lord.

 

“Y-yes, Sesshomaru-sama,” he demurred. He knew what Sesshomaru was talking about and he already knew the answer. It could only mean Inuyasha-sama was alive.

 

“My lord! Sesshomaru-sama!” a line of youkai guards marched in and bowed low. The dignitaries murmured, turning their nose up at the apparent scandal. Kagome watched them curiously.

 

“What is it?” Sesshomaru murmured. The guards pressed lower to the floor.

 

“There has been a disturbance at the palace gates,” the captain of the guards, a large bull youkai, explained, keeping his eyes lowered. Sesshomaru regarded him blandly.

 

“What sort of disturbance?” Sesshomaru's tone hinted at mild disapproval at having to ask.

 

“A group of exterminators have fought to gain entrance to the front yard,” the captain went on obediently.

 

Sesshomaru stood fluidly, kimono whipping around him.

 

“My guests, this Sesshomaru regrets to ending our evening short. My lady,” Sesshomaru commanded, holding his hand forward. Kagome ignored him and walked ahead of him out of the hallways.

 

The lords and ladies bustled about this apparent lack of respect to Sesshomaru and talked amongst themselves. They did not know what to expect of their Lady of the Western Lands so far. The evening was rife in surprises already.

 

* * * *

Sesshomaru kept Myoga locked tightly in his fist as he stalked along with his guards.

 

“You know what I ask, so answer me this instant,” he growled lowly so the lesser youkai couldn't hear. Myoga squirmed and panted in his grasp.

 

“Well, my lord! When a widowed mate is…taken..and marked…the new mark will erase the old! Unless…” a tight squeeze from Sesshomaru squashed the poor flea nearly in half.

 

“My half brother is alive,” Sesshomaru said quietly. Myoga began to sweat again. His quiet tone always heralded death and he had no wish to be here for it!

 

“M-my lord! I beg you! I had no way of knowing if Inuyasha-sama was….” Myoga wheezed and went still as he was flattened.

 

“My lord! The interlopers have reached the inner courtyard!” The bull-like captain rumbled behind Sesshomaru.

 

Sesshomaru opened a window and looked out across his palace grounds. Flashes of red clothing and white hair whipped around an enraged halfling. His idiotic comrades had gained extra points in bravery, or stupidity following him here to his own home.

 

“Sesshomaru!!” Inuyasha screamed, looking up and catching sight of his brother.

 

Sesshomaru stood motionless and uncaring.

 

“Inuyasha…” he purred.

 

End for now

 

Yes, that was horribly mean of me. Ending on a cliffhanger, AND writing that scene in the middle. I realize I'm going to catch a lot of hell from you guys for that, but I could think of no other way to let Kagome and Seshomaru know Yash was still alive.

Rest assured, you'll get your battle in the next chapter! It won't be a pretty sight (whistles)

Like it? Hate it for a certain scene? (wince) Have a question? Go ahead and review! Reviews are good, they are your best friend. And they make my day ^_~

 

Most sincerely yours, penpaninu 10/01/05