InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Just A Moment ❯ Chapter 11 ( Chapter 11 )

AN: And here we go again! This story is a lot longer than I had first planned! Hope everybody likes it!

Chapter 11

Kagome and Erin walked into the dining hall slowly, staring all around. Kagome realized the place had been decorated and set up since she had been in here. Banners hung on every other wall, each signifying what she guessed to be the four lands. She walked in slowly, suddenly finding Sesshoumaru at her side. He silently offered her his arm and she tried to look elegant and take it, finally aware of the amount of people here. At the lower end there was a table with people who were dressed nicely. It was the upper table, which they were apparently headed that caught her attention. Five richly dressed people… no, youkai, sat up there, all watching her either with an air of friendliness, or aloofness. Three of them she guessed were the lords of the three adjoining lands. The other two seemed to be their mates.

The lord without a mate was older and seemed aloof from her. One was a dappled gray horse youkai that had hooves at the under the table instead of feet. One of them with a mate looked to be a hawk youkai, his mate also a hawk youkai, with their human faces, clawed feet and wings. They were beautiful to see. They had deep intelligence in their beady-eyed looks, but it was not hostile. The other mated pair was mismatched, different types of demons; it drew her attention to them as surely as a magnet. The male was a remarkably handsome Alaskan Wolf youkai with the most beautiful light violet blue eyes she had ever seen. His hair was black with strips through his hair that matched his eyes, light, but bright blue. His attire was similar to Sesshoumaru's, but in sky blue, complementing his dark looks. There were little white intricate designs all over his kimono, like Sesshoumaru's. His mate was half dragon demon, and something else that was very familiar… Miko! She was half miko! The woman had medium purple eyes that were not cold, but held little emotion. They studied her just the way she was studying them. She had shoulder length blonde hair with lighter highlights. She wore a purple dress, its skinny straps elegant and refined. It came only to her thighs, showing off her crossed shapely tan legs. She wore a silver choker and her aura carried all the way from over there. She was powerful for being a hanyou, probably a lot more powerful than herself.

Sesshoumaru led her closer to the table and they all stood to receive them. Kagome blushed, flustered by the attention she was getting. They bowed and were bowed to in return, and then everyone faced them for introductions.

"Kagome, this is Lord Tatari of the southern lands," he said motioning to the dark horse youkai that nodded tartly to her. She smiled nervously and nodded back. He sniffed and she had the feeling he did not like being introduced to a human, like she was inferior to him. And maybe she was in strength, but not in status. Stuck up asshole…

"This," Sesshoumaru now motioned to the dark Hawks who gave her cool smiles, "is Lord Numari and his mate Lady Aratisha, of the eastern Lands." The lady nodded and smiled, not warm, but not cold either. The Lord also smiled and nodded, a little warmer than the lady. They seemed pretty nice, at least compared to Lord Tartari.

"And these are my friends and allies of the North, Lord Jax and Lady Riasha." The lady stepped forward and took her hand, smiling, before letting go and steeping back to allow Jax his turn. Kagome blushed at being treated so warmly by them and smiled back brightly. Then Jax kneeled in front of her and took her hand, kissing it and smiling up at her. She giggled and smiled, not able to help but be affected by the youkai's ineffaceable charm. He stood and smiled warmly at her, drawing a smile to her face. She blushed and looked down, not sure how to act around him.

"Jax! Stop it! Your making the poor girl blush all the way to her hair roots!" Lady Riasha playfully punched him in the arm and he grabbed it, looking mockingly hurt, but not really. She laughed musically, filing the hall with the rejoicing noise. Kagome had the urge to laugh as well and kept it to a twitter.

"I simply cannot help it if every woman is effected by my charming ways. But Sesshoumaru, I think I know why you chose her for a mate, she may be human, but powerful, her aura is indescribable. Not to mention she is exquisitely beautiful." He smiled in his knowing way that seemed to draw her and she swore she blushed so red the heat would fry an egg. Riasha gave him an exasperated look and rolled her eyes hopelessly. Sesshoumaru led her over to the head of the table, where there was a seat for her to the left of Sesshoumaru and next to Riasha. Sesshoumaru pulled out the chair for her and she sat, blushing again as she pulled the chair in. Something Jax had said disturbed her; too bad she couldn't put her finger on it. Sesshoumaru's face showed nothing, but she could feel how anxious he was. Wait, anxious? Sesshoumaru? Those words did not fit together! Sesshoumaru sat, glancing at her, but before he could speak, there was a bang and some crashing noises. Then the unanticipated happened, for Kagome at least, though Sesshoumaru had expected it.

Kagome turned her head quickly, almost giving herself whiplash, to see what all the loud, echoing noise was about. She could have found out without looking, for a loud shout was heard.

"Sesshoumaru! What did you do to Kagome?!" Inuyasha burst through the wall and came to land 20 feet from the table, his eyes flashing. The golden irises had the slightest hint of red to them and Kagome realized that he would turn demon if provoked and not calmed down. Kagome stood suddenly, unaware of her rudeness, and rushed to him.

"Inuyasha! I'm okay, it's okay. I came here of my own free will. Sesshoumaru has done nothing to me." Inuyasha calmed quickly and drew Tetsusaiga. Kagome brought her hand to her mouth. Not here, please not here!

"I think it's time we had it out Sesshoumaru." He looked ready to charge his brother, who hadn't moved from the table. Kagome saw him tense up to run at his brother and her voice came out of her throat before she could stop it.

"Wait!" he glanced at her with impatience, finally taking note of how nice she looked, how proper. "Inuyasha, why don't you see what your brother has to say, first. You don't want to do this in front of all the lords of the four lands, anyway." Inuyasha's head snapped to the table, and he registered that it was true, they were all here. What he wanted to know was why? There were very few things all four lords would get together on, including making new laws for all four lands, trading, and mating. This was too proper an occasion for the first two, so it must be…

He sheathed the sword and nodded at Sesshoumaru, whose face was more unreadable than ever, and not even because of Inuyasha. It was because of Kagome, saying what she had. How did she know that he had something to tell his brother, unless she was getting signals, from their bond… but she hadn't marked him yet! It was only the strongest of bonds that the mate would be able to detect what the other was thinking when they hadn't marked them. And they hadn't been bonded but two days and one night! They must really be meant to mate, to have such a strong connection. He shook off these thoughts to speak with his brother and try to sound civil, though all the lords knew his feelings on his hanyou brother.

"I am glad you made it, Inuyasha. As you can see, I have invited all the lords here for a meeting, and you also needed to be here." Inuyasha was confused. Was that the only reason he abducted Kagome, because he needed him to be there for a meeting? It didn't seem logical, there was more to it than that. He let his guard drop another notch and watched as Sesshoumaru beckoned Kagome back over to her seat. Without a second glance to him she went, as though it was natural. Bitch! What the hell did she think she was doing?

"I have another seat reserved for you, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru pointed to the chair next to Lord Jax. Inuyasha looked surprised to be invited to the high table, then suspicious. Just the same, he strutted over and took the seat, looking annoyed and unsure. "Your friends may have the table on the side there, if they would like to sit." Sesshoumaru nodded at a table straight in front of her, to Sesshoumaru's right. It put Lord Tartari, Numari, and Lady Aratisha with their backs to her friends. Which she had just noticed. Sango was slowly standing from a crouched position, poised next the Kirara to throw Haraikotsu, and Miroku held his staff ready in front of him. She smiled and waved to both of them, who stood straight and looked at each other. Kirara untransformed and Sango picked her up. They headed wearily to the table Sesshoumaru had pointed to and sat next to each other, facing Kagome.

Sesshoumaru did not like having all these humans and lower blooded beings polluting his castle. Rin was one thing, and Kagome was almost good enough to be deemed better than those creatures. Now there were too many with his hanyou brother and their human friends. It would have to be; it was necessary for this to work. He sighed, and tried to inhale only Kagome's scent, but his nose also filled with the disgusting scents of the others. Even Inuyasha, only half blooded, smelled horrid. Sesshoumaru decided to freak them all out and left his face blank while taking Kagome's hand in his. Inuyasha looked ready to kill him and Kagome looked stunned. He brought her hand close to his face and kissed the palm, reveling in the sweet scent of her skin, smelling her wrists. Her hands were soft to the touch. Kagome's breathing rate had increased, along with Inuyasha's thought for totally different reasons. He managed not to smirk at the ugly look on the hanyou's face and gave Kagome back her hand gently. The other lords had surprise in their eyes as well, but did not let it show in their faces, except Jax, whom he had known for a long time. Riasha was smirking, while Jax looked utterly satisfied. Now that he had all their attention, and it was obvious what the meeting was about, he decided to start with it.

"I have called and tricked you all here for a specific reason. Many of you have guessed it." His gaze found Jax's, who looked smug. "I am in need of a mate and an heir to the Western Lands. I have been, in the past, very… careful, of who I laid with." There was a grin from Jax and a twitter from Riasha. Kagome looked shocked. He continued, his voice as cold and steady as ever. "I never planned to follow in my fathers footsteps, and I am not. He chose a weak mortal to be his mate, a woman with nothing extraordinary to offer. I have chosen a woman who is strong of spirit and has proven it many times, in my eyes. She has patience, and courage beyond most humans. She is also a miko of great, but untapped power. I have chosen Lady Kagome to be my mate." He finished.

Dead silence leaked through the great hall, all there stunned by the words that had left Sesshoumaru's mouth. The great and mighty merciless youkai of the Western lands had claimed a human girl to be powerful, and courageous, and worthy of him. Sesshoumaru, the feared, human hating youkai of his lands, had chosen a human mate. The three lords and their mates were all too stunned to say a word of objection. Inuyasha's mouth hung open in total astonishment. All the years he had been picked on for being weaker and filthy, and his brother does this. It was unexpected to say the least.

The most stunned of the whole hall was Kagome. Sure, she had seen his softest side, with Rin, and then later when they were alone. She remembered with acute warmth how she forgot everything when she was with him, how she had been unable to stop herself. Now, she knew this was just lust, but what about all those times she thought of him, instead of Inuyasha? He was courteous to her, gentlemanly. She felt he would give her the world if only she knew how to ask. And she felt she would try for him. Hearing those words of praise from his mouth, and his intention to mate her said publicly, was more than she could bear. Slowly the shocked feeling wore off and a new feeling replaced it, love. She was sure now, that was what it was. Joy she had never known before filled her and her eyes were wet, glowing with unshed tears. She could not refuse, as much as she had loved Inuyasha, sometime, somehow, she had given up on him. The hollow feeling of being unwanted would never fester in her breast again. She would not have to feel her heart ripped out time after time when Inuyasha went to see Kikyou. It would stay right where it belonged, to the youkai lord. Sesshoumaru…

"I don't know what the hell you're trying to pull, but you ain't fooling me." Inuyasha growled from his seat, leaning forward suddenly. His face held a scowl, and he turned to Kagome. "You don't believe none of that shit he just spouted, do you?" His voice was more demanding than questioning. Kagome fell out of her reverie and turned to look at Inuyasha with none of the warmth, none of the love she used to feel for him.

"I believe every word, because unlike you, when he says something like that, he means it." She snapped at him, letting each word hit him hard. His face took on a look of absolute shock, then rage.

"Fine! Have it your way, bitch! I always knew you were a traitor!" he stood abruptly, but Kagome shook off the feeling of paralysis.

"SIT!" She yelled. Inuyasha fell mid-stride and splatted on his face. Jax almost laughed outright, but thought better of it as Kagome pushed from the table. She stood so quickly, she almost lost her balance, but regained it quickly and stalked over to the spellbound hanyou.

"Don't you ever call me a traitor! You have taken off with Kikyou, and twice I saved you from ending up in hell with her! Still you went, and I stopped trying to help you! And then the witch tried to kill me, and you still took her side! You dirty bastard, I loved you, and you never even saw it! If I am a traitor, it's because I learned it from you!" With that she huffed and attempted to regain her breath, having become fast from all of her yelling. His ears had twitched and she knew he heard every word. Two little tears rolled down her cheeks that she could not stop, and she wiped them away quickly. None followed that pair of wet drops, her face looked proud as she swept to the table and stood by Sesshoumaru. She looked at him with deep warmth in her eyes, and he was startled to see such great affection, was unused to it. The only other one who showed him any affection was Rin.

"Sesshoumaru, I would love to be your mate and bear our children, uh, pups. But…" She looked around at all the other people sitting there and found she did not want to say this openly.

"Speak without holding back, none here will be offended." He gave her a little smile, which was more than any of them had ever seen on the lord's face. She had seen it enough times now to get over the daze his smile put her in rather quickly. When she trusted her voice, she spoke.

"Aren't we already mated?" His smile disappeared as the other lords almost gapped at her naivety. It was not her fault though, she just did not know. He sighed and motioned or her to sit. Inuyasha was getting up off the ground and as soon as he could, he took off out of the castle. Sango and Miroku were still to stunned by all that had happened to move. Kagome sure had changed drastically over the past few days.

"We are, partially mated. But you have not yet marked me, and the mating will not be complete until then." He said the words so easily, and for her it was so embarrassing. A blush crept up on her cheeks and she said a small and quiet `oh'. Then she thought of something else.

"So I'll be able to talk to you even better through the bond after that?" A few who had followed the conversation looked surprised, for to even hear of a human and youkai bond being strong enough to hear ones mate was uncommon. But for it to happen with only one of the pair marked was unheard of.

"Yes, you will hear me better. And I, you." She smiled happily at that. He smirked at her smile and tried not to shake his head.

"So your saying she can hear you even though only one of you is marked?" Lord Numari asked incredulously. Sesshoumaru nodded, and the rest looked at Kagome with a new respect. This was an obvious show of power, for her to hear him. They accepted it now, that what he said was true, that she was much more powerful than first thought.

"Do any of us object to the mating of these two?" Jax looked around the table, but saw that everyone except Lord Tartari seemed quite pleased about it. But he did not object. "Okay! So the lords have accepted the mate of Sesshoumaru, and the heir of the Western Lands should he be injured or killed. Any questions?" Everyone looked around to each other, this was by far one of the most exciting and haphazard meetings they had ever been to. They hoped the next few proved to be just as stimulating. "Good!" Jax clapped his hands together and stood. Sesshoumaru stood with them and put his arm out for Kagome to take. She did and blushed for the millionth time that night.

"I am sorry to see that you will not stay the night, but you say duty calls, and I must not keep you from it." Sesshoumaru had been addressing the lords of the east, and South. Now he turned to his friendly northern lord. "I will have servants show you to your rooms, Lady Riasha and Lord Jax. I hope you find them still acceptable." Jax grinned and Riasha smiled politely. They were just about to call the servants to take the Lord and Lady to their rooms when a startled and awed looking Sango stood up and gapped.

"Jax, is that really you?" Sango had on such a look of hope and warmth, Kagome was unsure of what was going on here. Did Sango know Lord Jax? She studied his face and found his visage was not it's usual joking and relaxed manner. He was whiter than normal, almost pale, and his eyes were wide, eyebrows high in astonishment. His gaze was locked on the youkai exterminator who now took a step forward. Kagome could only guess what was going on here, though she had an inclination of what it was. If she remembered right, Sango had fallen in love with a demon before, could Lord Jax be the one?

~**~

AN: I love the cliffy's cuz their so, delishy! Gotta have cliffys!

(Remixed from the goldfish song.)

All right! That was one hell of a cliffhanger. I hope you liked how things went, you Sess and Kagome fans. You asked me to put them together, and you got what you wanted! Inuyasha is so pissed off! I haven't yet figured out what he's going to do. Maybe just go and see Kikyou and follow her like a puppy dog. Noo… We'll see. Depends on what comes to mind. Hope to see LOTS of REVIEWS!

RyuuAngel

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MOMENT:

PEOPLE WITH MONEY ONLY WANT MORE. PEOPLE WITHOUT MONEY WANT SOME. AND PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT MONEY ARE CRAZY.