InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Kagome: Goddess of Japan ❯ Sesshomaru & Rin ( Chapter 6 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Kagome: Goddess of Japan

Chapter 5: Sesshomaru and Rin


Kagome's mouth twitches up in a smile. She bends over and kisses
him on the mouth.

He grabs her, squeezing her and kisses her back.

‘Do you still love me?' she telepathically asks.

‘Yes, I just wish . . . '

‘I know.'

They break their kiss.

Whispers sweep the people observing them.

"Go on to breakfast, Kagome." Inu-yasha orders, "I'll be along as
soon as I've made some new orders."

Kagome nods, smiling.

She, Kiyoko, Hoshi and the others follow her as she heads for her
breakfast.

A few minutes later.

The door in front of Kagome slides up automatically. She enters
the room.

Two people are standing in the room.

The room is a simple, if large, room. Instead of the small group
in it, the room could comfortably accommodate twenty people. The
walls are covered with art. The theme is such that it makes the
room seem to be transformed into a flowery meadow. Any doors, of
course, are hidden by the art.


Sesshomaru, the Lord of the Western Lands, turns, and bows to
Kagome.

The years have not changed him. His white hair, his expression,
his eyes and the lines around them have remained the same. He is
wearing his traditional clothes, and he is wearing Tenseiga and
Tokijin, both are at his side.


Rin, the Lady of the Western lands, bows to her best friend.

Rin appears to be a beautiful young woman in her late twenties.
Like Kagome, her black hair is long, straight and brushes the
floor when it is let down. This morning, however, her hair is
already made up into a complex, traditional hairstyle. (She slept
in it overnight, and then her servants this morning fixed her
hair, which is fairly common for such a hairstyle. It does take
hours to create.)

Her kimono appears to be a heavier weave than the one that Kagome
is where. It is decorated with cats, of various sizes and types.
(Rin's kimono has, like Kagome's, has a spell on it that changes
the patterns on a daily basis. The theme of Rin's kimono is
animals, not plants like Kagome's however.)

In the center of the room, is a low table, with some silk
cushions placed around it. The table is oak, with a gorgeous
lacquer finish.

The door closes behind Kagome, allowing only Hoshi and Kiyoko to
enter. Kagome's eyes flick to the cameras. They have been turned
off by Sesshomaru. Of all her companions he is the one that least
liked them, and in deference to him, she allows him to control
the cameras around him.

"Sesshomaru." Kagome says, with a smile, as she walks to him and
gives him a kiss on his nose. "I'm glad to see you."

He nods. A smile twitches on his lips. "Kagome."

She then moves to Rin and hugs Rin. Rin hugs her back. "Is
something up?" Rin whispers.

"Yes." Kagome whispers back, "but, it can wait."

Hoshi and Kiyoko stand next to the door after they entered. The
rest of the aides and servants that were following Kagome wait
outside the room.

Kagome releases Rin, glances at Sesshomaru, who raises an
eyebrow, but doesn't do anything else.

She turns to Kiyoko and waves her forward. "It has been awhile
since you've met your uncle, Sesshomaru, Kiyoko."

Kiyoko steps forward and bows, "lord of the western lands." She
says in a serious voice, with just the hint of nervousness.

He nods. "Kiyoko, daughter of Kagome, possessor of the soul of
Sango."

Kiyoko grimaces at that but stands up straight.

Rin walks over and hugs Kiyoko. "It has been a couple of months."

Kiyoko smiles and hugs Rin back. "Yes, it has." Kiyoko has a good
relationship with Rin. When Kagome is gone, traveling, which she
is a good portion of the time, Rin, will arrive and take Kagome's
place in many ceremonies. So, the two of them have a good
relationship.


"How much blood is Inu-yasha showing?" Sesshomaru asks.

Kagome replies, "not too much, he agreed that I can protect
myself."

His eyebrow raises, "even with the forbidden ammo?"

"Even from the forbidden ammo."

Rin grimaces, "so, the rumor of a strike team was real."

Kagome nods. "The ghosts of the city, and Inu-yasha spies both
confirm it."

Rin grimaces, "unless they are caught before they can harm
anyone, this will probably force a war."

Everyone in the room nods, although Kagome and Sesshomaru share a
glance at each other as they do.

"Although, I wonder why they choose now," Rin continues, "I know
that the talks with Europe and the Ottoman empires about stopping
their pollution and population growth have gone nowhere for
years, and you have warned them that your patience is running
out. Still." She pauses and she looks at Kagome. "And, ever since
you destroyed that mountain near Vienna, they haven't been
working on forbidden technologies."

"They do have forbidden ammunition." Sesshomaru replies. "That
would imply that they have been working on it, my dear."

Kagome says, drily, "They are working on those technologies.
They've just spread the labs out, and buried them deeper. But,
that attack did kill their best scientists, so they are going
slower than before."

Rin frowns, "Ah, I see. I was thinking that the ammo might be
leftovers from before we struck. Still, I wonder why today."

"Its mom's parade today." Kiyoko says, trying to show that she
has been paying attention to world events.

(She is Kagome's daughter, and no matter how much she might
dislike her mother, in the future, she will in all likelihood
have an important position within her mother's empire, so she
should show that she can do an important job.)

Kiyoko continues, as everyone looks at her. "There are how many
extra millions of people in the city this week, especially today?
This would be the best and easiest chance to get someone close.
How many legitimate visitors from Europe and the ottoman empire
are in the city today, especially compared to normal?"


Kagome, Rin and Sesshomaru share a look.

Hoshi, after a glance at her hand-held computer, says, "there are
a little more than one hundred thousand from Europe and the
Ottoman empire, directly. If you add in people from our nearby
provinces, the number increases even more."

Rin nods to Hoshi, politely accepting the technical knowledge,
and then she smiles at Kiyoko, "I know that, my dear, I should
have phrased my question differently. An attack, successful or
non-successful today, means that Kagome," She nod to Kagome and
continues, "Has the opening she needs to declare war, now."

Kagome nods. "Not that I really needed an excuse to declare war."
She says. "They are in violation of the treaty of Paris that
Europe and I signed close to two hundred years ago. That treaty
placed limits on how much pollution that they can make, and they
are breaking it, and have been for decades."

The door opens and Inu-yasha enters the room. He sweeps the room
with a glance, grunts, and announces, "Where's breakfast?"

As if that was a signal, which it was, one of the wall sections
slides back and a couple of servants enter and begin to place
bowls and plates of food on the table.


Sesshomaru, as everyone is sitting down, remarks, "Where will you
be during the parade, little brother. Waiting and watching at the
end of the parade as planned?"

"With her." Inu-yasha replies. He looks at Sesshomaru and Rin.
"Do you want me to add you two? There is room."

Sesshomaru and Rin exchange a glance, as he says, "no. we will
remain at the receiving end of the parade. There are a large
number of dignitaries there, and some of us need to be there."

Rin nods.

Once everyone is sitting down, and ready, there is a pause, then
Kagome says the traditional Japanese word "Itadakimasu" before
they begin to eat.

As she says it, Rin, Hoshi and Kiyoko share an amused glance
between them. Kagome's personal breakfast, or any meal she
attends, really, is always strange, when compared to normal
meals. A recent addition to the traditional custom is to add to
that word, a few another short sentence/prayer thanking Kagome.
(It's by no means common throughout the empire, but it has been
gaining in popularity.) And it's something that Kagome,
personally, can't do.


As they eat, Kagome activities her personal telepathic link with
Sesshomaru.

‘Sesshomaru?' She mentally says to him, ‘is there anything?'

A pause, then he replies. ‘A genie has informed me that there
might be two teams. But, since genies are known for twisting
knowledge and information to fit their desires, not the truth, I
am hesitant to fully trust him.'

Kagome pauses. ‘Yes. I see. I can see him making something up, as
well. Ever since that incident with that lawyer genie, they
haven't liked me.'

‘The law you made was vague. And he took advantage of it's
wording.'

‘The substance and meaning of the law is plain. I left the
wording vague so it could be adapted as best fits the specific
situation. He twisted the words around, into something that I did
not like or nor intend to happen.'

Sesshomaru doesn't reply.

Kagome sighs, ‘Please, Sesshomaru. Do not be like this. Not
today, please. Be my consort, not, the lord of the western
lands.'

A pause.

Sesshomaru flicks his eyes to Inu-yasha and Kiyoko, who are
talking animatedly about a scheduled extended (three month)
schooling trip for Kiyoko to the plains of the Serengeti in
Africa.

"The first time I saw those plains and the herds of animals that
cover them was," Inu-yasha says as he quickly begins to dominate
the conversation around the table, as he tells old stories.

Rin, and occasionally Hoshi, will interject real-life facts and
history, when Inu-yasha's enthusiasm gets the best of him, and
he, to be polite, ‘gets the facts fuzzy.'

‘Even if it means changing your plans to be with Inu-yasha,
alone, later this evening?' Sesshomaru asks.

‘Of course.' Kagome replies, instantly. ‘He won't like it, of
course, but once I explain to him, why, he'll understand.'

A pause. ‘Do I tell him that I will be, alone, with you?' she
asks.

Another pause.

‘Sesshomaru?'

More silence from the telepathic link.

‘Please, Sesshomaru, let me change my schedule. Let me be with
you.' kagome asks in a begging tone. ‘I don't remember the last
time I had to beg, please.'

‘I'll decide later.' Sesshomaru finally says, as he breaks the
link.

Kagome conceals a sigh, as she thinks, ‘I had hopes. But, now, I
don't know. I made sure that he knew that Inu-yasha and I had
plans to be alone tonight, and I thought that he would want to
force me to change my schedule. He's always gotten some pleasure
from knowing that I've chosen him above Inu-yasha.'

She purses her lips, ‘perhaps, a suggestion to inu-yasha? If he
asks Sesshomaru to be with me tonight that might do it. I know
that he will not like it, but, he knows that Sesshomaru and I
need more to spend more time together.'

She mentally nods her head, ‘yes, during the parade, I'll mention
it. And, then, during this evening's ball, Inu-yasha can tell
Sesshomaru.'


Kagome, due to her thoughts, is slowly picking at and eating her
food. Her breakfast is, today, a fairly traditional Japanese
breakfast, then only major exception is a few, non-traditional,
crackers. The amount of food before her, though, is very small,
compared to traditional amounts.

Rin, who has noticed that Kagome and Sesshomaru, are both more
subdued than normal, asks, "Kagome? Is there something?" (Both of
them would have added jumped in, correcting Inu-yasha, especially
Sesshomaru, but neither has done so.)

Kagome smiles, "Oh, not really, Rin." She quickly replies in an
upbeat tone. "I was just thinking about the algae crackers." She
picks up one of them.

"I've had factories built, that grows this bio-modified algae and
process it into crackers." Kagome begins as she turns her cracker
over and over.

The conversation between Kiyoko and Inu-yasha stops as everyone
listens to Kagome.

"These crackers, with some added vitamins and flavoring, can give
a person all the nutrition that is needed. I've tried to make
them part of the daily meal for the empire." She pauses.

"You also built those factories underground, so the surface can
be given back to nature." Hoshi remarks. "The more algae crackers
that people eat, the less land that needs to used for growing
food."

Kagome nods. "And, in parts of the world, I've succeeded." She
smiles, "even some of the very traditional Chinese will eat them.
Not as much as I would like, but they do." She sighs, "but, here
in japan, in the very heartland, I've had the least success."

Kiyoko jumps in with, "They're boring, mom. Even with the
flavoring."


Kagome's eyes narrow, she smiles, "yes, they are, I suppose."

"You bet!" Kiyoko exclaims. "Just a few days ago, Sanura and I
were talking about them."


"You know." Kagome says in a musing tone, interrupting her
daughter, "I do want more people to eat them. And, Kiyoko, since
you have, occasionally, complained that I've not told you want I
plan for you in the future."

Everyone looks at Kagome in surprise.

Kagome's smile grows. She holds up the cracker, looking over it,
at Kiyoko, as she says in a super-serious tone. "Perhaps, I
should have you become, say, a creative advisor to the council
that controls the distribution and sale of the crackers."

Kiyoko stares at her mother, an expression of horror appearing on
her face at the thought of being forced to go to very boring
bureaucratic meetings, in which the highpoint of the day is
listening to hours long presentations of dry facts and figures .
. .

Inu-yasha slaps his thigh as he begins to laugh, "She got you!"
He says between the laughs.

Kiyoko turns to face Inu-yasha.

Kagome allows a giggle to escape her.

Kiyoko turns to face her mother. "You!" she exclaims.

"I won't," Kagome says, between her giggles.

Kiyoko breathes a sigh of relief. Hoshi reaches over and gives
her a pat on her back.

"Although, I should." Kagome says.

Kiyoko jerks as if she was stung by a wasp.

"You do need to have some hands on experience dealing with
bureaucrats, whose purpose in existence, is to keep everything
the same. Bureaucrats hate change, and so even if a good plan
comes up, they will delay and obstruct it, if for no other reason
then they didn't come up with it, and if it succeeds, someone
else will get the credit."


the horrified expression on Kiyoko's face grows . . .

Inu-yasha, Sesshomaru, Rin and Hoshi all nod at that statement.

Kagome sighs, "Of all the battles that I've fought." She looks
around at others. They all nod. "Of all battles that we've
fought, that is the one in which we've succeeded at the least."

"You mean lost." Inu-yasha grumbles.

Kagome nods. "Yes, I mean lost. That is one battle that cannot be
won."

The end of the chapter 5


Authors' note: crackers

Developed for the space station/travel. Massive underground
factories have been set up under most major cities where the
algae are grown and processed.

It's not the most cost-effective food to make, but Kagome wants
to return part of the earth's surface to nature.

All of her temples have it and give it away, free, to pilgrims,
tourists, and people in need.

Also: Kagome's meal's.

Since people like to know what she is doing, her meals and the
recipes are also known. And since she knows that people will
imitate her, she and her dietary scientists use that to help
people maintain a good diet. Her meals are well-rounded and
nutritious.

However, the serving sizes are smaller than needed, so that
people can add in their own personal touches. (Basically
traditional cultural foods for the area that they live in, etc.)

Also, to reflect the large number of cultures within the empire,
her meals change each week, highlighting a different culture.
This week, since it is her anniversary week, traditional Japanese
meals are eaten.


Authors' note: I had a reviewer asked why I emphasize the sexual
side of the characters, and especially the non-traditional types
of sex.

1. Because sex is what is different about their lives. Kagome,
Inu-yasha, Sesshomaru, Rin, Shippo and others, spend hours upon
hours in meetings, doing paperwork, as they run/control most of
the world. They don't have a lot of time for entertainment,
especially when they are together, so, once the ‘official'
business is over . . .

They do have public balls, go to the Kabuki/Noh or other types of
theaters, and other entertainment, but, when they do, they are on
stage, as much as the entertainers are.

They can't let down their hair and relax all that often . . .


2. Kagome has a different view on sex then is standard in the
real world. To her sex is part of the life and is to be enjoyed.
(Yes, there are limits, orgies can be fun, but you can't do that
all the time. You have to other duties, jobs, etc., and that has
to be done.)

Sex is part of life, and in the proper place/time it will be
done. How much? That depends on the person/couple. For some
people that is maybe, once a month, for others it is, at least,
once a day.

Kagome and Inu-yasha have about the same sex drive, and they both
try to have sex on a daily basis, Sesshomaru and Rin, don't have
that strong of a sex drive, so they do it about once a month.
(You put Kagome with Sesshomaru, and her sex drive will feed his,
and that will increase the number of times he has sex.)

Although, if you read the Christian/Islamic anti-kagome stories,
she has hourly orgies.


To Kagome, if a young woman was about to be married, and her only
knowledge about sex, is, say, a five minute lecture from her
mother, as she was putting on the wedding gown, then, That mother
is a failure as a parent.

Sex is a part, and in most marriages a major part, of the couples
life together, so learning only after you get married about
problems as a couple in bed, is NOT a good thing. And that can be
easily solved before marriage, and even before a couple gets
engaged.

Sex is part of life. The human body's primary purpose in
existence is to reproduce. That means sex. To Kagome, if you
don't teach children/young adults about it, you are failing in
your duty as a parent. Sex is something that you will do in life,
you should be able to learn about beforehand, so you don't make
mistakes and more mistakes . . .

Does this mean that there are daily orgies in the street, etc.
No. Life includes more things than sex. But, unlike in the real
world, she does not suppress it.

Does this openness lead to problems? Yes, of course. But so does
the real life policy of suppressing sex. Kagome prefers to deal
with the problems associated with openness, then with the
problems associated with suppression.


Do orgies in the street happen? Rarely, but yes. (During Kagome's
celebration week, the highlight is a major party, like Mardi
Gras, and some towns take that party even further.) Kagome is a
fertility goddess. And sex can be how you worship a fertility
goddess. (It depends on the city/priest, etc.)

Authors' note: Sesshomaru and Rin

Rin born 1540-1543? Still living. Age 455 and more

Wife of the Sesshomaru, the Lord of the Western lands. (That is
the first of her titles, she has a massive list of others.) And
like Inu-yasha, she does prefer to be called simply, Rin.

She is publically very popular. She's even made recent trips to
Europe and the Ottoman empire, where crowds came out to view her
and cheer her. They accept Shippo's presence, since he is the
official ambassador, but like him? No. Not really. Kagome and
Inu-yasha are hated in Europe/ottoman. Sesshomaru frightens
people (all of over the world . . . )

Privately, she is a master assassin/ninja (she learned that from
Sesshomaru during their first trip to Europe. Nowadays, her
skills may not be what they once were, due to lack of use.)



History: late in 1553, Sesshomaru left japan. He went to Europe
to change European history to help Kagome. (His presence at
Kagome's side was NOT helpful. Too many people felt that HE was
controlling Kagome, and the HE was ruling through Kagome. That
made them refuse to help her.)

He left Jakken and Rin behind, even left a note to Kagome that he
wished Rin and Shippo to marry.

But.

Rin, dragging Jakken, behind her, ran away and followed
Sesshomaru. She caught up with him at the Korea/China border.
During this trip she and Jakken had many magical adventures. She
has never gone into detail about those adventures. Jakken's story
changed with each retelling.

During it, however, is when she gained Immortality.

Sess. & Kagome has determined that part of her soul is sealed,
somewhere. Where and in what object that her soul is sealed in,
they don't know. Both assume her soul is in a mirror. Because of
that, she can't be killed, her body will regenerate. And she can
alter her body's shape from anything from a little girl to an old
woman, at will.


On the other hand, it has frozen part of her soul. Part of her
will, no matter how wise/knowledgeable she has gotten, she will
always be the little girl that loves and follows Sesshomaru. (As
she grew older/experienced adding sex to that love, was, to her,
a natural outgrowth of her love.)

Sesshomaru did start to drag them back to Kagome, but at the
Korean shoreline about to board the ship back to Japan, Rin's
crying finally overcame his resistance, and he brought them with
him on his trip.

Sesshomaru and Rin spent from 1554 to 1580 on his trip to Europe
and his plan to change Europe.


(Sesshomaru, although there were the occasional lapses, during
this trip did not give Rin much encouragement in her quest for
his love. His plan was for her to marry Shippo.)

When they returned to japan, after a few years, Rin and Shippo
were married. Rin did have a child by Shippo. But, the marriage
was more a formal friendship, then a love match. (Rin, no matter
what, never loved Shippo more than she loved Sess.) After a while
the marriage was only a formality and Shippo and Rin began to
look for love elsewhere. (I'll handle Shippo later.)

Rin, of course, always looked at Sesshomaru, and she began
another campaign too win his love.

This time, though, she was successful.

Why? The same reason that Kagome pressed other women onto Inu-
yasha. Kagome knew that she could not, due to her duties give
Sesshomaru the love and companionship that he needed. And,
unlike Inu-yasha, Sesshomaru is/was a lot more picky about his
companions. Rin stepped up, with Kagome's full knowledge and
approval, and gave him that. At first it was just companionship,
then love.

She, formally, divorced Shippo and married Sesshomaru in 1658.

For two centuries 1650 to 1850 Kagome/Inu-yasha/Rin/Sesshomaru
was a very stable foursome. Given their duties, especially,
military duties during this time, whenever possible, Rin loved
Sesshomaru (and in few occasions' Inu-yasha.) Kagome loved
Sesshomaru and Inu-yasha. (And, yes, her friendship with Rin grew
as well.) In case a reader in wondering . . . Sesshomaru/Inu-
yasha never occurred, and threesomes (of any variety) were very
rare.

Since 1850 or so, Kagome and Sesshomaru's relationship (detailed
below) has become strained. Rin, who loves both of them, has/is
trying her best to repair/strengthen the relationship.

Unlike Kagome, Rin has had very few children over the centuries.
1 by Shippo (boy), 1 by Inu-yasha (girl), 3 by Sesshomaru (2
boys, 1 girl). Currently she has no children, nor is she playing
any for at least the next 20 years.

Does she have sex with anyone beside Sesshomaru, especially like
Inu-yasha and his mistresses/wives? No, not really.

Sometimes, on special occasions/encounters, yes, but, if so, it
is just a one-night stand. Her love is reserved for Sesshomaru,
and since he doesn't want her to sleep with anyone but himself,
she obeys him. (Masturbation is something that she is very
familiar with . . . )

Rin's daily duties?

She, of the five major figures (Kagome, Inu-yasha, Sesshomaru,
Shippo and herself), travels the least. She, normally, remains at
Sesshomaru's castle in the mountains west of Kyoto. She, to a
large degree, runs the bureaucracy that Sesshomaru has sent up to
handle the demon/magical creatures that exist within the Japanese
empire.

(She, also, when Kagome is traveling, tends to help out in Edo.
She'll move to Edo, and take Kagome's place in many ceremonies.
Kagome has delegated tremendous powers to Rin. Ie. If Rin says
that 2 + 2 = 5, the government will change the text books, unless
Kagome stops them. Should something happen to Kagome, Rin would
the popular choice to replace her.)

Sesshomaru: a biography

Born unknown. Still alive. Age 600 or more


He is called Lord of the Western Lands, or Lord of the Demons.
(And unlike Inu-yasha, he does care about his titles. He accepts
that not everyone will use them, but, very few people call him
Sesshomaru, ever.)

His formal duties include both military and civilian functions.
Kagome, generally, pays attention to the human side of the
empire. Sesshomaru, generally, runs the demonic/magical side of
the empire. (That is his civilian function.)

He is also a general on the military side, and he controls the
military units that are manned by demons. He is considered the
empire's best strategic general. (Ie his best abilities are not
with the combat troops, but determining their use/placement at a
higher level. Ie pentagon staff general, not someone with the
troops being shoot at.) He has in the past been given traditional
Army command. (He has been uniformly successful, but some the
tactics/plans his uses are extreme.)

History:

As mentioned above, he spent years in Europe trying to change
European history. (Somewhat successfully, but he did not achieve
all of his goals.)

Once he returned to Japan that ignited a civil war against
Kagome. Samurai feared him that, combined with the question of
who will rule japan, The traditional Shogun/emperor or Kagome,
that fueled the war. The shogun fought against Kagome and lost.


Kagome placed at semi-puppet on the shogun throne, and created
the post ‘Shogun of the outer lands', for the army outside the
home islands. That post was given to Inu-yasha, and with it, he
has conquered most of the world.

From approx. 1600 to 1725 Sesshomaru spent organizing the various
demonic tribes of Japan. (A much harder task than the Kagome's
human side. She, combined with her friends, had overwhelming
power at her disposal to succeed.) Sesshomaru, although powerful,
does not have that overwhelming power to back him up. Kagome
will/would help him more, but his pride limits the number of
times that he asks for help. And Kagome, as positive person and
trusting Sesshomaru, doesn't press him about things, as much as
she should.

(His marriage to Rin didn't help, but, by that time, the fact the
Rin wasn't a true human anymore was well-known, so it didn't hurt
him either.)

Beginning in 1725 he began to organize the races of the non-
Japanese demons/magical creatures that the expanding Japanese
empire was absorbing. It has not been as easy a task absorbing
cultures on the human side.

Even to the present, there are a large number of demonic/magical
races that, at best, only acknowledge Sesshomaru's rule lightly.
Ie his leadership is very symbolic. ‘Yes, you rule, but you'd
better not ask for anything, you know, concrete to prove it.'
Type leadership.

During the years 1750 to 1850, the empire was militarily taxed to
the limits. He did have occasional field (combat) commands.

To give an idea about his actions: during the war with the
ottoman empire (1805-1808), his command marched across the
northern middle east. For a fifty mile across strip of land from
Kabul to Istanbul, buzzards flew around that strip. Why? Because
nothing remained in that strip that even the buzzards could eat.

Since 1850 or so, he has remained, generally, in the background,
trying to rule the demonic/magical side of the empire. And as his
daily interaction has lessened the legends about his behavior
have grown.

Example: tobacco isn't as popular in Kagome's world as in the
real world. While Kagome has placed massive checks on production
that is not the reason that tobacco isn't popular. (She only
allows a certain, small, amount of the tobacco to be
professionally grown, mainly in Cuba and parts of the NA
provinces, and most of this is shipped to Europe/ottoman empire.)

Why isn't it? Neither Inu-yasha or Sesshomaru's sensitive noses
like it. So, smoking around them, is not a way to get on their
good side. And, of course, since Kagome doesn't like smoking, and
doesn't like Sesshomaru or Inu-yasha to get upset, the people
around her don't smoke. This does limit the popularity, but,
there is also the following urban legend.

The legend:

That Sesshomaru and Inu-yasha have killed people just for smoking
in their presence.

The truth: Inu-yasha has shattered noses, and massively verbally
abused people. Sesshomaru? He has killed people/demons for
disobeying his orders. One of the orders that this has happened
with is to stop smoking.


Sesshomaru, as was his habit, travels extensively. Of the five
major figures, he travels the most.

His relationship with Rin? He does love her.

Does he have a mistress/wives like Inu-yasha? Yes and no. Yes,
there other official wives, even concubines. But, these are
strictly political. Except for the wedding ceremony, he rarely,
if ever, sees them again.


As far as sex with people other than Kagome and/or Rin goes?
Sesshomaru only rarely engages in that type of sex. Although,
there are some demons that require sex to function (ie succubus-
types) and when dealing with them, he does do it.


His feelings toward Kagome? Ah, that is complex.

They still enjoy each other company. She is, if he would allow
her to be, the one person that would fully understand him. Even
Rin, will normally, bows and accept his orders.

But, they have been growing apart.

Kagome, Inu-yasha, Rin, Shippo and a few others are aware of it.
And everyone is trying to keep things together. (Publicly, the
foursome of Kagome/inu-yasha/rin/Sesshomru is firm and stable.)

Why?

Some of it is simply the fact the duties of trying to run the
world places tremendous stresses on any relationship.

Some of it is Rin.

While Inu-yasha has other women in his life, they all age and
die, so, he always has returns to Kagome.

Sesshomaru, though, has Rin. She is with him, so, as he spends
more and more time with Rin, instead of Kagome, his feelings for
Rin strengthen, and for Kagome weakens.

Some of it is envy. Kagome has been, basically, successful in her
human empire. (Yes, there are problems, of course, but, she
can/has solved/defeated them) Sesshomaru, as he tries to organize
the demons/magical beings, has not had that level of success. And
he wishes that he was more successful.

Some of it is from the fact that Kagome is loved, throughout the
world. Her troops will go into battle, and die, out of their love
for her. Sesshomaru's troops, though, hate and fear him.
Sesshomaru is feared throughout the empire, and hated in Europe
and the ottoman empire.

And after centuries of that, he is finding out that where once he
was proud of that fact, now, he is hating it. He has discovered
that there is nothing in hate/fear, where Kagome has something in
love/respect. Changing his behavior would admit that he was wrong
for centuries. His pride won't let him do that.

Officially his problems with Kagome are twofold.

1. Demons/magical creatures are part of the empire and deserve
more power. And he wants more power for them. (Ie when a
problem comes up between humans and demons, Kagome,
generally, will side with the humans.)


2. Kagome's population control laws, includes demons/magical
beings. And, they are, in general, more restrictive for
demons/magical beings than for humans. (These laws cause
problems for Kagome from the human side as well.) And he
wants those laws changed to increase the number of
demons/magical beings.

If Kagome will allow these changes, it will make it easier for
him to organize/rule the demon/magical beings.

Why doesn't Kagome change? Because many demons/magical creatures
evolved from humans, so, to her, human claims are the base to be
judged from. She does try to be fair and even handed, but, a lot
of the demons/magical creatures refuse to see anything but what
they want to see. And they want to see that she is not treating
them the way that they think that she should.

(Humans, by the way, have a similar problem. But, Kagome's
solution for humans. Teach the children about her way and wait,
the people that disagree with her will die. This pattern doesn't
work all that well with creatures that, in many cases, age very
slowly, so generations are measured in centuries, not years.)


But . . . none of the above is what really drove the wedge
between Sesshomaru and Kagome.

The following did that.

In 1847, as the Japanese empire was expanding up the Mississippi.
(The conquest of new Orleans occurred in 1845) Jakken was killed
a suicide attack by Christians in St. Louis.


Kagome prevented Sesshomaru from raising Jakken from the dead.

"When we were younger, we did things, even the wrong things on
occasion. Death is a natural part of life, Sesshomaru." Kagome
said. "Jakken is dead, and he will remain so. He lived a long and
meaningful life, and I will praise him for that."

And when Sesshomaru objected, pointing out the Jakken is an
important servant whose experience would be hard to replace.

"When the archangel Michael killed my eldest son, Sesshomaru. (In
1805)" Kagome said. "I did not raise him from the dead. Even
though Inu-yasha and I came come up with reasons to do so. If I
had raised my son from the dead and then prevented you from
raising Jakken, then, yes, I would be unfair. But, I have not
raised my son. You will not raise Jakken." She paused, then,
said. "Death is part of nature, I will not interfere with it,
like I did when I was younger and more foolish."

(Did inu-yasha like her decision about his eldest son? Hell, no.
that fight was long and loud. Kagome won, by summoning the ghost
of her son, and he, the ghost, convinced Inu-yasha that his
mother was right. She tried a similar tactic with Jakken, but it
did not succeed as well as she thinks.)


Since then, well, the relationship between Kagome and Sesshomaru
have suffered.

On the surface, most of the time, not even Rin or Inu-yasha can
detect any real problems between them. (The arguments about how
powerful the demon races should be compared to humans, and the
arguments about population control pedate the death of Jakken,
and they dismiss them as simply a difference of opinion between
Kagome and Sesshomaru.)

But, beneath the surface. Things are happening.

Kagome is aware of the problems. But, she is, basically, a
positive person and she does still care/love him, so she is
willing to ignore a lot. And, she is not aware of everything.


thank you for reading
jeff shelton