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As A Courtesan	By : MiserablySweet Category: InuYasha AU/AR > Het - Male/Female Views: 2166 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 19
- 20
MS- (so.. Tired... and..... busy... [dies])
Climax chapter! It's a lot longer than all previous chapters, mainly because I couldn't find a right place to stop... and I wanted to repay everyone for the long wait.
Enjoy this chapter!
-- Many thanks to KrazyRunya for beta-ing! (she's so awesome *giddy laugh*)
As a
Courtesan
MiserablySweet
Chapter 20 - Fate
Previously�
"Goodbye..."
Sesshoumaru's eyes dilated, the white in his eyes now covered with crimson red blood, 'No! I refuse to say goodbye.'
Sesshoumaru growled and clawed at his friends who restrained him. He watched helplessly as she disappeared inside the long corridor. His beast whined helplessly as the massive wooden doors began to close, cutting him away from his Kagome. Sesshoumaru let out a mighty roar that shook the palace walls.
"We will meet again� my love..."
.
Present...
"Where are you?!" Sesshoumaru barked out with agitation etched in his voice.
He was looking for the only being that could save Kagome: Miroku. The prince needed Miroku, who had somehow disappeared after the council shut them out of the room, now more than ever. He was the only one who could reason with the Lords.
It was funny how he never considered Miroku as someone who could save a life. Sesshoumaru would've never imagined himself, the mighty prince, asking a human for help.
Sesshoumaru sighed; he often belittled human existence wherever he went. But Miroku never thought much of it. At least he never complained and instead laughed alongside with the rest of the group. Now, karma came back biting Sesshoumaru's bahookie. He had to ask a human for help.
Would Sesshoumaru thank him after the human succeeded? Perhaps. Would he reward him? Again: perhaps. But will he treat him any different after this favor? Most probably not. Maybe he could describe it as using him. Yes, he was going to use him. But it was to save a life: Kagome's life.
"Miroku!" Sesshoumaru spotted Miroku talking to Kagome's friend.
Miroku looked mildly surprised. "Yes milord?" He bowed slightly, showing his sign of respect for his prince. "Is there something I can help you with?"
He knew what his prince wanted. He wanted to help Kagome as well. But the Lords of Council are Youkais who have little respect for humans. Even with his reputation, Miroku could only help so much.
"This Sesshoumaru would like you to reason with the Lords of Council to prove Kagome innocent," Sesshoumaru firmly answered.
"My Prince, I can't," Miroku bowed apologetically.
Sango gasped in shock, "Miroku! You have to save Kagome! She... She hasn't seen her family in days!" Her legs suddenly grew numb and weak. Sango sank on to the floor, sobbing. "It's all my fault."
Miroku had told her what had happened to Kagome, and what would happen to her afterwards if the Council proved her guilty. Sango couldn�t help but take the blame all on her. If she hadn�t told Kagome that Yuko and Yuki wanted her at the brothel permanently, Kagome would've never tried to escape. Then her family wouldn't be abducted by cat demons, and so on...
"It's all my fault." she repeated.
Sesshoumaru was bewildered by the human girl in front of him. 'What has she done that makes her carry the blame on her shoulders?'
He watched patiently as Miroku wrapped his shoulders around the hysterical girl.
"Sango... shh, it's alright. It's not your fault." He coaxed her slowly back to reality. Miroku sighed. "I want to help your friend, Sango. But there is no way the Council would listen to me, a mere human!"
"You have to try! What if they really prove her guilty? They're going to kill her! You must try!" Sango gripped the collar of Miroku's kimono tightly. Her whole body was trembling. Sango didn't understand why she felt so strongly about Kagome.
Something had happened to her; she felt herself changing when she had agreed to escape the brothel with Kagome. Even though it had only been a short time since she had met Kagome, well... Kagome changed her life. She showed her that not everything goes as planned, as desired or wanted. Meeting her was something she thanked the heavens for every night. Meeting her allowed her to escape the dull life she had in the brothel; it allowed her to live in a big palace and to meet Miroku. She would never be able to live peacefully if something happened to Kagome.
'Are they... in love?' Sesshoumaru questioned himself.
Miroku had his arms around her shoulders protectively, almost lovingly.
'It's impossible! They have met each other for several days... and now they're in love?' Sesshoumaru was surprised, how can someone fall in love so quickly?
'You and Kagome are in the same situation Sesshoumaru,' Sesshoumaru's beast spoke out of nowhere. 'Ironic, isn't it?'
Sesshoumaru snorted and ignored his beast. 'I have no time for you.' He quickly turned his attention back to the couple on the floor. "Miroku, we must hurry."
Miroku hesitantly straightened his back, "I'm not quite-"
"Please Miroku. Kagome must not die!" Sango looked into his violet eyes. She desperately wanted to see Kagome again.
Miroku sighed and nodded, 'I guess it can't be helped...'
He bowed to Sesshoumaru, "After you, my Prince." Sesshoumaru nodded. He was secretly thankful and grateful to Sango. If it wasn't for her, Miroku would not have agreed to aid Sesshoumaru.
"How do you plan to get in the council room? They will not let anyone other than the Lords in," Miroku questioned. 'Knowing you, milord... I bet you already have something planned.' he added to himself.
"The palace has many hidden passages; one of them must lead to the council room," Sesshoumaru nodded towards his father's study and they swung open the heavy doors. They searched every crack and nook for that hidden passage. Books were thrown off the wooden shelves, rugs were flipped over, parchments, scrolls and documents were discarded around the floor. They intensively searched the large room, but... nothing.
Sesshoumaru growled in frustration, "Where is that blasted passage?"
They just lost around ten minutes of time, which, by the way, was against them. In ten minutes the Council could've sentenced her to greet death. The Council would not send word out until after the execution...
'For the love of the heavens,' Sesshoumaru sighed. It was hopeless. Was Fate against him? Did Fate plan their meeting, make them ache for each other, only to then tear them apart in such a horrible manner?
Sesshoumaru didn't want to give up, not one bit. How would he get inside the room without having gone through the hidden passage?
"Hmm, when you said hidden... you mean really hidden," Miroku laughed softly. He wanted his Prince to relax a little. "Rushing to find that passage will not work in our favor," Miroku mentioned wisely.
Sesshoumaru merely raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?"
Miroku nodded, "The passage will appear in time." Sesshoumaru groaned in frustration, "Miroku, time is something we do not have. Time is against us. Time is not working in our favor." Sesshoumaru felt his beast struggle against his mental chains. He was worried about his chosen mate; he wanted to see her. They both wanted to see her. Sesshoumaru inhaled deeply, trying to settle his frustrated beast.
Miroku gasped, "Sire...?" He wasn't afraid of his Prince. That he wasn't. Something had caught his eyes.
Sesshoumaru detected a hint of excitement in the human's scent.
"What is it?"
Miroku smiled broadly, "There!"
He pointed towards the northern corner of the room. Behind a large bookshelf was an outline of the edge of the passage. Sesshoumaru rushed over to the bookshelf and ripped it from the walls.
And there it was� the hidden passage that they were so eager to find.
"Quickly," Sesshoumaru whispered. He pushed the sculptured passage door into the pathway. The massive block shifted slightly and slid into the passage walls, clearing the stone tunnel for Sesshoumaru and Miroku. "We have no time to waste."
Miroku nodded and hurried in after his Prince.
'I pray we will get there in time.' Miroku thought.

-0-0-0-0-0-

"Yuna, can you check where Kagome is at as of this moment?" Naraku called out behind him.
Yuna nodded mutely and materialized her mirror in her hands.
Ken and Souta watched with amazement, they had never seen such acts of magic before. Ken thought there was something odd about this youkai in front of him. It was something highly familiar, but he couldn't put his tongue on it.
The mirror crackled and hummed against Yuna's palm. She gasped inaudibly, her eyes widening a small fraction. She clutched onto her mirror with her small hands tightly, as if fearing that if she released her grip on it, the mirror would fly away.
Ken sensed something was wrong, so he shoved Souta behind him, shielding his son with his own body in case the mirror was to explode.
Naraku sensed the sudden surge of power from Yuna's mirror. "Yuna?" He narrowed his eyes. 'What is going on back there?'
Yuna let out a breath of relief when her mirror's unexpected reaction ceased. She grew numb and confused as reality began to set in, 'My mirror has failed me...' If she was an ordinary youkai, then it wouldn't have been a big deal. But over her decade of life, her mirror was her best friend, her guardian. It never failed her since she started to use the object. So, why did it fail her now? Yuna scanned over it for scratches. 'Maybe it is damaged.' To her dismay, its surface was perfectly fine. All that was missing was its the glow. Yes, something was definitely wrong.
But could it be that her mirror was faulty? Or perhaps it was the subject she was trying to view?
Yuna inhaled deeply. "Show me Prince Sesshoumaru."
She held her breath, hoping her mirror would bring the image of her prince. The mirror hummed softly, and the glass began to emit a soft glow like it had before. Yuna forced her eyes to stay open, fearing if she blinked, her mirror would fail her. And there it was: Prince Sesshoumaru with Miroku scurrying in the hidden passages.
Yuna closed her metallic eyes and sighed in relief. 'It is not my mirror that is faulty.'
There is no magic, no aura that is more powerful than Dark Magic. Her being and her mirror were created from the Dark Arts. It would only be natural to call the power of her mirror Dark Magic. So why was it that her mirror had failed her when she asked to view Kagome?
"Show me Kagome," Yuna whispered to her mirror.
Like before, her mirror crackled and hummed with great intensity before it settled into nothingness. Yuna confirmed her fear. There was only one way to block her mirror's magic: The Lords of Council...
Once the lords were joined together, their auras would emit such power and peace, it could surpass dark magic. It could only mean one thing.
Yuna hurried to the carriage's window, "Naraku-sama... The trial has begun."

-0-0-0-0-0-

'It is so dark in here...' Kagome squinted in the darkness.
The candles that once illuminated the room were dimmed down to a tiny speck of flame and some were extinguished. Kagome shivered; the cold stone floor was stealing every ounce of warmth from her body. She wrapped her arms around her torso, attempting to salvage what little warmth she had left. The dark room was eerily quiet. From what her human eyes could make out, there were several chairs aligned side by side not too far away from her.
Kagome sluggishly steadied herself on her feet. She was reluctant to head towards the series of chairs. She knew her trial was about to start, she knew the odds were against her. However, Kagome just couldn't help but fear that she would never see Sesshoumaru again.
'What is it about you that makes me forget everything that's important to me?' She felt tears well up in her eyes.
With every step she took, with every breath she took... Kagome just couldn't understand why thoughts of Sesshoumaru plagued her every waking and slumbering moment.
I love you, Kagome remembered she confessed to him on the night he roughly took her in the dungeons.
'Love...' Kagome knew she had this conversation with herself before, as oddly as that sounded. She kept thinking what love truly meant. Was love something you want so dearly your whole physical being aches for it? Or was it something so light and carefree, it makes your whole world light up once you see the person you love? She sighed softly. Kagome knew she loved her prince. But... who actually knew the meaning of that cryptic word? Did it matter if she loved him at this moment in time?
Here she was, walking towards her death. Kagome had no choice but to take part of the trial. But why did it matter anyway if she loved Sesshoumaru or not? Either way, she was going to be proven guilty. Either way, she was going to die.
'Fate is unkind,' Kagome shook her head. Fate... is something cruel indeed. 'Was it Fate that brought Sesshoumaru-sama and I together?' she pondered.
Malitzou said she was the Princess of the Eastern Lands. He said she was to be wed to the elder Western Prince when the time was right. So why is it that she was heading to her untimely death?
'Fate is cruel. To bring us together only to tear us apart,' Kagome allowed her tears to cascade freely down her eyes.
"MORTAL!" a sudden, loud voice crackled the silence like thunder in the dark room. Kagome jumped several inches back, nearly loosing her footing. Her hand flew up to her chest; her heart was pounding so incredibly fast she thought it would stop on her any second now. She, with her heightened senses from the sudden adrenaline rush, heard clothes rustle and feet pattering on the stone floor in the background.
Kagome saw shadows moving along the side of the room, shielding the candlelight from her eyes. She could feel her fear increasing and crawling up her spine without her consent. It was the last thing she wanted. Kagome didn't want the Council to think she was a lowly human who fear youkai; au contraire, she was actually in love with one.
The shadows along side of the room suddenly shifted; Kagome saw a sudden glisten, a reflection of light on metal. She heard metal scrap against the stone floor for a split second.
'What is going on?' It was eerily silent once more.
Suddenly, a synchronized clash of metal on stone echoed within the room. The candle light flared up in high flames, illuminating the room brightly. Kagome's heart pounded mercilessly in her chest. The shadows Kagome saw move in the darkness were soldiers carrying long metallic spears. They looked like they were ready to battle at any given moment.
Two figures in white cloaks emerged from the side and swiftly sat in two of the three heavily gemmed and decorated thrones. The two cloaked beings drew back their hoods, revealing two male pure youkai. Kagome couldn't help but stare both of them. The youkai sitting in the middle had piercing magenta eyes and a blue jagged strip along side of his cheeks, one on each side. The other youkai had kind emerald green eyes with two golden jagged stripes on each side of his cheeks.
"Human, cease your ludicrous stares on our being immediately," the magenta eye youkai stared down at her. She quickly bowed her head, avoiding eye contact. Kagome shivered at the coldness of his voice; it reminded her of Sesshoumaru's tone the first night she met him. But of course, this youkai's tone was much, much colder. Kagome couldn't help but feel like a plebeian. She was dressed in Sesshoumaru's kimono top, and they... they had elaborate golden threads woven in the collars of their kimono.
"Lord Shinken. Lord Yorokobi," Kagome heard a soft, familiar voice greet the two Lords. Kagome lifted her head high enough to see what was going on. The two lords greeted Inu Taishou in return, and nodded towards Malitzou who was trailing behind Inu Taishou in chains. Behind him was his Kagai, but Naraku was nowhere to be found.
"Human, you do not bow to your lord?" Lord Shinken, the youkai with piercing magenta eyes growled. Kagome gasped softly and dropped down on to her knees, and bowed, her forehead touching the ground lightly, "My apologies milord."
"SILENCE!" Shinken barked back. He hated humans who thought they could weasel their way out of punishment through lies and dirty actions.
Inu Taishou sighed softly. "Now. Now, Lord Shinken. We have a trial to conduct."
Inu Taishou took the chair in the middle, while Shinken sat to his right and Yorokobi to his left.
"Malitzou and Kagai, take your place on the floor beside Kagome," Inu Taishou ordered.
Kagome heard Shinken growl discontentedly. "Lord Inu Taishou, why do you treat deceitful humans with such kindness?"
"She is my heir's beloved," Inu Taishou replied without hesitation.
The two lords stiffened in shock. Was their comrade serious?
"Now, my friends. We have a trial to conduct."
Shinken nodded. "And so, we begin."
"Malitzou, were you conspiring against the Western family?" Yorokobi questioned, his tone rough. His kind eyes had hardened into doubtful, uncertain eyes.
Malitzou laughed. "Why Lord Yorokobi, why must you ask such an absurd question? I have never conspired against the Western Family." Malitzou openly lied, knowing they couldn�t detect his dishonesty in his scent.
'Kagome... what a noble act, my dear girl. You shall be punished when I get my hands on you.'
"Kagome, was it? Did you hear of Malitzou's supposed conspiracy yourself?" Yorokobi's tone softened greatly. He sympathized for the girl. He knew something was odd with Malitzou; from his sudden ascend to the Eastern throne to his annoying laugh.
Kagome swallowed. 'Yes. Yes! He told me himself!' She wanted to say that. Oh, heavens did she want to tell them the absolute truth. 'Blast Malitzou and his obedience potion!'
Kagome wanted to break down and cry, she opened her mouth to attempt to tell them the truth.
"No..." she gasped. Kagome clenched her eyes shut. 'I knew it.' She couldn't break free of his obedience spell; she... was trapped.
Yorokobi heard Inu Taishou's sudden intake of breath. "Lord Inu Taishou?" Yorokobi and Shinken, the dragon youkai and tiger youkai respectively, detected dishonesty rolling off her scent.
"Kagome, tell us the truth," Inu Taishou firmly said.
He was sure Sesshoumaru told him that Kagome said she was conspiring against them herself; why was she lying now? "You must not lie, Kagome. Only the truth can save you."
The three lords were shocked to say the least to see Kagome shedding tears. "I can not say what I want to say."
Shinken let out a sharp laugh, "Of course, human. Your scent is heaving with lies. I assume you were blinded with the Western Prince's wealth and you wanted to inherit it, didn't you?!" Shinken accused without proof.
Kagome shook her head, "No! Such thought never occurred to me! I have never been unfaithful to Sesshoumaru-sama!"
Inu-Taishou narrowed his eyes on Kagome's being, 'Didn't she bed Naraku after that night's dinner?' he thought.
Malitzou laughed sharply, his voice overflowing with mirth and excitement.
"Kagome, tsk tsk tsk, my poor girl. Have you forgotten you bedded my son Naraku after finding out about Sesshoumaru and Kagai's marriage?" Malitzou was relaxed. He didn't have a thing to worry about. No matter how much Kagome would try to defend herself or try to tell everyone the truth, the odds were still against her.
"No! That wasn't me! Malitzou, you were there! You held me against my will in your shadow barrier!" Kagome turned her attention to Malitzou. It was safe to say that to him.
Kagome hated Malitzou. She hated him like she hated herself for falling in love with Sesshoumaru. How can he frame her like that? Infidelity is a crime punishable by law. Kagome had never looked at another male being like she had when she first saw Sesshoumaru.
'If I am to die, you are coming with me,' Kagome silently pledged.
Malitzou growled softly; his being tensed.
How was she able to reveal the truth of that night? Didn't he specifically say she was not to tell anyone the truth? Was his obedience potion failing him? He heard the strange growls and sharp intake of breaths from the other lords when Kagome mentioned his shadow barrier.
'I can't let them know the truth. They will only thwart my plans in conquering Japan...' A sudden plan formed up in his head. He knew Lord Shinken hated courtesans...
Well, Kagome would work in his favor. "You are talking insanity! Have you slept with too many men? Have you moaned so loud under them that you can't remember a truthful detail?" Malitzou smirked at Kagome's sudden paleness. Her face as void of any color; she was as pale as she could be.
"How can you say such thing?!" Kagome was beyond embarrassed and insulted. She had never slept with anyone other than Sesshoumaru, her prince. Kagome could sense Malitzou was planning something. She saw the twinkle in his eyes. Yes... he was planning something.
"How can I not? I only speak the truth. You are a courtesan when you first bedded Sesshoumaru, were you not?" Malitzou smirked.
Yes, victory was his. The attention would be directed to Kagome, and he would be free. Kagome and Japan would soon belong to him.
Lord Shinken's eyes harden immediately on Kagome's figure. 'Is she really a courtesan? She lacks the poise and speech of a courtesan... why does Malitzou accuse her of being such an immoral human?' he thought.
Kagome shook her head. "No! I mean, yes but Sesshoumaru-sama was the one who took my innocence." Kagome swallowed fearfully at Shinken's sudden snarl.
"A COURTESAN?!" He barred his sharp fangs at Kagome. He turned to his friend, Inu-Taishou. "My friend, you've allowed your heir to bed dirty whores?!" Shinken was furious. He absolutely loathed courtesans; from their revealing attire to their fake charms. A courtesan killed his beloved mate, and he vowed to seek revenge and kill off every single courtesan on his lands. His mind was made up: this girl would die tonight.
"I was a virgin!" Kagome shouted back. She was no dirty whore, she valued her innocence. Kagome couldn't take the fact others were accusing her of committing adultery and sharing her body with other males.
"Silence, human! A courtesan has a heart filled with lies and greed. They will do anything to get money to pamper themselves into disgusting, spoiled, immoral beings. I believe I know why you offered yourself to Sesshoumaru. I understand perfectly," Shinken growled and stepped down from his throne. He walked over to Kagome, determined to prove to his comrades that this female was the mastermind behind the conspiracy.
"You wanted wealth, didn't you? Inu-Taishou said your family was poor. You took the opportunity to offer your innocence for money, isn't that right?" His magenta eyes pierced into her soul.
Kagome shook her head. "Yes... But it isn't what you think! My family is poor and my father was in heavy debt. To lighten the debt, I offered my innocence to Sesshoumaru-sama. But I never-"
"SILENCE!" Shinken lifted his well muscled hand and brought it upon Kagome's cheeks with heavy force. Kagome cried out as her body hit the stone floor.
'Why...?'
"You are a courtesan, what dignity do you have?" Shinken's words pained her deeply, like a thousand knives running through her body.
Kagome shook her head again. "You're wrong...
Yes, I wanted to be a courtesan for one night to pay off my father's debt. Was that a crime? Must I be labeled as a courtesan for the rest of my life in attempt to save my father's life? Are courtesans not females? Do we not give life to infants as any other females do? Do we not carry the same birthing pains and sense of accomplishment as any other female in this world? Do we not breathe the same air, eat the same food, feel the same pain as all females do? If you hurt us do we not cry? If you cut us do we not bleed? If you hurt our pride, do we not defend ourselves? If you tickle us, do we not laugh like every female in the world? Courtesans are females who feel what females feel, what even Japanese noble ladies feel. Why is it so that you segregate us into such vile creatures?" Kagome hated the fact she was labeled as a courtesan just because of one night. She was determined to prove to them that she � no, that all courtesans were like any other female living in Japan.
Shinken, Yorokobi and Inu Taishou were taken back by Kagome's sudden speech. It was true what she had said; courtesans are females that share the same pain and feelings as a legit, moral female does. Shinken stared at Kagome with awe, 'What an intriguing female...'
Malitzou inwardly screamed in frustration. 'She has changed his opinion of courtesans?! Impossible!' He was getting a little restless. If Kagome was capable of surpassing his obedience potion once and somehow convincing the stubborn lord that courtesans are females no more lowly than ordinary humans, she definitely could find a way around his obedience potion. He must do something; something to grab the attention back to Kagome. But what can he do in front of these three lords? Malitzou was confident he could defeat them one at a time. However, with the three lords together, he would not escape unscathed.
Another plan suddenly popped up in his head. He immediately connected to Kagai.
'Kagai, blame Naraku's death on Kagome. They will find his body in her room. Somehow, I'll make sure of it.' Kagai swallowed, she told her father she stashed Naraku's body in her wardrobe.
That was a lie... Naraku was free. The being in her wardrobe was one of her shapeshifters. Kagai prayed he would not find out or else she would have a very slow and painful death.
"Lord Shinken, I believe this trial is about the conspiracy of the Eastern family, not whether or not courtesans are females with rights or not," Yorokobi mentioned.
Shinken nodded, "Very well --"
A loud knock sounded through the room and a messenger came barging in the courtroom. "Sire! Sire!"
Lord Inu-Taishou stood up and greeted the messenger. "What is it Jyunchi?"
Kagome watched silently as Jyunchi swallowed the lump in his throat. "Naraku-sama's body was found in Lady Kagome's room..."
Kagome's heart stopped, what was going on?
"Naraku-sama's dead?" She felt faint. He was dead... and his body was in her room. The lords of the room were shocked; all but Malitzou.
Inu Taishou's eyebrows furrowed greatly, a crease began to make a mark on his forehead. "Was there a scent on him?"
Jyunchi shook his head. "No, the whole room is filled with Kagome-sama's scent... we couldn't find any other..." He closed his eyes. He just further sent his childhood friend's beloved to her death. But he couldn�t lie to his lord and the other lords. How would Sesshoumaru cope with her gone? He witnessed Sesshoumaru's regret when his beast raped her. He witnessed his friend's remorse when he had wronged his beloved. 'Oh heavens, she is beautiful,' Jyunchi stared longingly at Kagome. Her natural beauty was something to be proud of. He bent down to Kagome's level whose legs gave out underneath her.
"I'm sorry... I-I shouldn't have t-" Jyunchi began.
Kagome shook her head, "No, Jyunch-sama. This is not your fault, not at all. Fate is the only one at fault here."
Jyunchi grasped her cold hands in his large, warm ones. He looked down sorrowfully. "I can hear them Kagome." He nodded towards the three lords at the corner of the courtroom discussing intensely.
Kagome nodded, "Yes... I already know what will happen to me. I... I have no regrets."
Malitzou snorted at their conversation, "Are you sure, Kagome? I bet you would love to be fucked by Sesshoumaru right now." He sneered at Kagome then suddenly smirked.
Jyunchi narrowed his eyes at the eastern lord. 'Something's not quite right with this guy.' He had seen the way Malitzou looked at Kagome whenever she was around. He seemed to long eating her, swallowing her whole.
"Malitzou, cease your degrading comments," Jyunchi growled.
Malitzou�s smirk widened. "Or what will happen to me, you worthless, pathetic excuse of a dog demon?"
Kagome gasped; how could he be so insulting?
Jyunchi had had enough of the older male. Malitzou had been getting on his case for so long; he couldn't tolerate him any longer. Jyunchi launched his fists towards Malitzou's face.
The elder lord smirked. "Oh, the pain! Why do you abuse me so? What have I done? My son is dead and here you are beating me to my death!" Malitzou raised his voice on purpose. He wanted the lords to hear and see what was going on; he needed to gain sympathy from the lords. All was going according to planned.
The other Lords quickly separated Jyunchi from Malitzou's being.
"Jyunchi, you may leave," Inu Taishou nodded towards the door.
Jyunchi reluctantly obeyed and bared his fangs at Malitzou, who smirked triumphantly in return. He took one last glance at Kagome, "God Speed Kagome� God Speed," Jyunchi hurried out of the courtroom, shutting the doors behind him.
Kagome's mind was reeling. Naraku was found dead in her room. The last time she saw Naraku was at the dinner, the Lords couldn�t possibly find her guilty of murdering the eastern prince. Kagome felt all eyes on her; she looked up to find Inu Taishou staring intensely. She knew what he was asking, "No, Inu Taishou-sama, I have not killed anyone. I have not harmed anyone!"
"I wish I could believe you Kagome, but Naraku's body was found dead in your room," Inu Taishou sighed.
His heir would have to find another mate. He looked at Shinken whose eyes were determined and furious. The elder Inu demon knew Shinken hated courtesans. Kagome being one, even just for one night, didn't help her situation. 'It's such a shame... Kimi, what shall I do?' Inu Taishou felt a massive headache stirring up once more in his head. "The trial will proceed." he finally stated.
"Human, why did you murder the Eastern Prince? Yo-" Shinken growled.
"I haven't! Please believe me! I have not done such thing!" Kagome interrupted Shinken. The Northern Lord snarled at her. He lifted his well muscled arm and swiftly brought his hand across her face with great force once again.
"I was not finished. You had everything planned out. Kagai's marriage was interfering with your plan, so you killed her brother, threatening her she would be next if she did not back down from the marriage, eh?!" Shinken was accusing without proof once more.
"No. NO! I haven't!" Kagome placed a hand on her bruising cheek.
Shinken was truly relentless. How could she prove herself innocent now? How could she see Sesshoumaru again? Only Kagai could help her now... Kagome gasped, she shot her head up to look at Kagai, who closed her eyes and looked away. "Kagai-sama, please. Please tell them the truth. I have done no such thing!"
Kagai shook her head. Her words were forced, almost premeditated, "Lord Shinken, I can't bear to look at the face of my brother's murderer."
Kagome's eyes widen; she shook her head profusely in denial.
"No... No! I haven't killed anyone!" Her heart was racing at an incredible rate; her blood pounded in her ears. She was being framed. They planned this. "You planned this, you bastard! Tell them the truth!" Kagome launched her body at Malitzou. She was losing it. Kagome gripped Malitzou's neck as tight as she could. She wanted to wipe that smug look on his face.
"That's ENOUGH!" Inu Taishou ordered the guards to remove Kagome from Malitzou's person. "Kagome, cease your actions immediately!"
"Why are you putting the blame on me?! I haven't killed anyone! I haven't conspired against anyone! Why did you let Malitzou deceive you so?!" Kagome sobbed into her hands. She sank onto her knees, her back hunched over forming an arch. "Kagai and Naraku are sh-shapeshifters! Malitzou wanted to take over the Western Lands and then the other lands. He wanted Kagai to be pupped with Sesshoumaru's child then have Kagai murder him after he ascended the throne. He planned all of this!" Kagome blurted out the truth despite the searing pain that clutched onto her lungs. With every exhale, the grip became tighter and tighter. Kagome cried out in pain. She was suffering. Her head was getting lightheaded; her vision began to blur and blacken. Was she going to die now? 'There... the truth has been told...' Kagome groaned, every second was torture and the pain was unbearable. Death might've been a pleasant escape from the pain she was feeling.
"Malitzou! Is that true?" Yorokobi questioned. He absolutely knew it. For some odd reason, he trusted the girl. He knew she wasn't lying. Yorokobi had always been doubtful of Malitzou, which made Kagome�s declaration perfectly sensible.
"Of course not! She spurs nonsense," Malitzou cooly stated. He was in turmoil. 'How did that blasted girl break my obedience potion?!' He was out of ideas; all but one. Play the mournful card. "She has killed my only son, my heir. She needs to repent for what she did!"
"Do not change the subject Malitzou!" Yorokobi was getting restless. He noticed the heavy pain Kagome was in. Blood trickled down her lips, her eyes bloodshot. She was being suffocated by an unknown force. He rushed down and pressed her back against his chest. He grabbed her wrist and checked her pulse. His eyes widened. Her blood was not of a normal human. Her blood was thicker, was richer than of a normal human. 'Is she of royalty?' he thought.
"Enough Yorokobi, the trial must proceed," Shinken growled. 'Who cares if that girl died? What importance has she?' He pulled Yorokobi back from Kagome. "If she is to die, then let her die. A life for a life."
"What life, Shinken? She has not murdered anyone. I believe her," Yorokobi's voice was firm. He was sure she hadn't killed Naraku. Someone else was planning this. "I believe Malitzou is the master mind of all this. Not this poor, innocent girl here."
Malitzou froze; he knew Yorokobi had his eyes on him the day he had ascended the throne. "Yorokobi, how can you say such things?! You cannot prove it!" Malitzou smirked at their hesitation. That was right; they couldn't prove it.
"I believe... I can," Inu Taishou smirked. He too believed Malitzou was the master mind. Through all this silence during the trial, he was summing up what Miroku had told him. He was getting his information straight before he made any assumption. Now, he was sure. If Malitzou was the master mind, the pebble that was embedded in Kagome's tonsil would react to him. He withdrew the dark magic infused pebble from his kimono.
Malitzou's eyes widened greatly. 'He has the pebble...'
Kagai gasped in shock, "How..."
"Inu Taishou, what is the meaning of this?" Shinken felt the surge of dark magic from the pebble.
"This pebble was found in Kagome's body. My healer, Miroku, extracted this poisonous object from her body. There was an intruder in the castle around seven days ago. Kagome was injured with a poisonous arrow. My best healer Yuna had no antidote for such a rare poison. Somehow, Naraku came back with an antidote of the poison. The vial had a strand of Kagai's hair wrapped around it. The antidote Naraku brought reacted with the poison in Kagome's blood and formed such an atrocity�" Inu Taishou took a minute to allow the others to digest the information.
The scent of Malitzou reeked with fear. Oh, yes. He was losing his composure. He was failing to hold his scent barrier. He knew he was caught now; there was no going back. He needed to do something fast. He needed to save himself.
"I believe the antidote had a source of blood in there. All dark magic potions require the blood of the creator. It should glow brightly if it is in the presence of the owner. The only way to find out..." Inu Taishou got up from his seat and headed towards Kagai. He held the dark pebble in his palm. Kagai sucked in a breath sharply. She hoped her father would find a way to save them, for they were truly in danger now. Oh how the tables had turned...
Inu Taishou tossed the pebble towards Kagai, which landed a few inches away from her feet. The pebble hummed against the cold stone floor. Suddenly, a bright flash flared out of the pebble.
Malitzou spotted a luster shine from Inu Taishou's belt. 'A sword!' But a problem, who was he going to kill? If he engaged in battle with one of the lords he would not escape unscathed, but... if he killed a human... His eyes darted to Kagome. He smirked in the blinding light. She was not worth the trouble any longer. She thwarted his plan and bypassed his obedience potion. Kagome was too much trouble. Yes, his mind was made up. Kagome would die by his hands for the misfortunate events that had happen. He would find another being to bare his true heir. Though she was beautiful, she wasn't worth the trouble any more.
Malitzou snapped his wrist chains and with lightning speed, he grabbed the sword from Inu Taishou's hilt.
"You all shall feel the wrath of my power!" he roared loudly, laughing menacingly.
Inu Taishou's heart skipped a beat when he noticed his sword in the villain's hand. "Malitzou, give me my sword..." Yorokobi and Shinken immediately ordered the guards to stand to defend.
Malitzou cursed under his breath. The blinding light was shorter than expected -- a lot shorter. He didn't have enough time to snatch Kagome. He saw a heavy block of the wall move. Sesshoumaru and Miroku stepped out into the courtroom.
Perfect chance:
"The prince!" he shouted. The Lords quickly turned their head to Sesshoumaru's direction. Malitzou smirked. 'Perfect.' He grabbed Kagai and hauled her over his shoulders.
He reached out and snatched Kagome into his arms. Kagome cried out in shock when the sharp blade slit her shoulder. The lords reprimanded themselves for being distracted. When they turned around, they found Kagome in the arms of Malitzou, with Inu Taishou's blade at her throat. Kagome was clearly still in pain from forcing herself to tell them the truth.
Sesshoumaru held his breath; he dared not to speak a word. The sweet, intoxicating scent of Kagome�s blood hung in the room. One wrong move and Malitzou would kill Kagome.
Malitzou smirked at their expressions. "I believe, I have the upper hand here. Let me leave or she shall die."
Kagome shook her head. "No, don't let him leave! You must not-" She grimaced painfully. Malitzou slit her soft biceps with the sharp blade.
"Malitzou!" Sesshoumaru growled loudly, his eyes reddened with crimson blood. His beast wanted to tear him apart for touching Kagome.
"Let me leave or she shall die!" Malitzou repeated, ignoring Sesshoumaru's outburst.
Inu Taishou swallowed; what was he supposed to do? Kagome had been innocent all along; he had to repent for his actions. All three lords had to. How would he be able to choose? Allow Kagome to live but Malitzou to escape or capture Malitzou and Kagome may possibly die�
He had to choose immediately. �For the sake of Kagome and my heir, Kagome must live.�
Inu Taishou opened his mouth to speak, until suddenly
"STOP!" The wooden doors slammed wide open, revealing Naraku. The lords gasped in shock. Behind him, Ken and Souta trotted into the room.
"Kagome!" Ken stopped dead in his tracks when he saw his daughter in danger. At the sight, he started blaming himself. �If only I were a better father� This is all my fault,� he repeated to himself.
"Malitzou, stop this madness!" Naraku growled.
Malitzou's eyes widened in shock, "You dare address me by my name?!"
"You are nothing but merely my creator! You are no father of mine!" Naraku shouted back. "You ordered my sister to kill me, but she set me free. You are malicious and deceptive. I'm ashamed to have such a worthless being as my creator!"
Malitzou roared loudly; he threw Kagai towards a column in anger. "Wretched fools! You shall ALL feel my wrath!" He gripped onto Kagome tighter. "Move aside!" He threatened Naraku and Ken at the door way. "Or I will slit her throat�" he said maliciously in a low voice.
Ken nodded towards Naraku. The two males reluctantly parted the path.
Malitzou smirked. 'Freedom!'
He stood in front of the doorway. "I will make sure all four lands suffer under my ire!" he crackled, his voice filled with insanity. He drew the sword behind him.
"Goodbye, my little Kagome," he whispered into her ear, "... For I shall send you to Hell!"
He thrusted Inu Taishou's sword forward. Kagome arched in sheer agony. The sharp metal pierced through the soft flesh of her back, bulging out of her chest. Her mouth gaped open, unable to make a sound. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head. The pain was excrutiating.
Malitzou crackled darkly, he pulled the sword out of her body and threw it at Inu Taishou's feet.
"You Lose." He then dissolved into thin air.
Kagome crumpled onto the floor in a heap. Blood poured freely out of her gaping wound in her chest. Dark crimson liquid began to pool around Kagome's body.
"Kagome!" Sesshoumaru lifted Kagome into his arms. "Kagome!" he repeated.
Her lips were pale; her face and hands cold and clammy.
"Kagome, don't leave me..." Sesshoumaru's voice wavered. He checked for her pulse several times. Each time he felt nothing but her cold skin.
His beloved was dead; he was too late. Sesshoumaru cradled Kagome's head on his shoulders, rocking her body slowly. "Don't leave this Sesshoumaru" he whispered, closing his eyes. "Kagome," he shook her softly. "Wake up Kagome..."
Ken screamed in agony and sank to his knees as Sesshoumaru pleaded her beloved one to come back. He was too late. He was the cause of the death of his beautiful daughter.
"To bring us together, only to tear us apart..." Sesshoumaru whispered. His heart ached greatly, but he refused to say goodbye. He didn�t believe she was gone. He didn�t want to believe she was gone.
"Fate is cruel..." Inu Taishou squeezed Sesshoumaru's shoulder remorsefully. A small crowd formed around the grieving prince. The guards that were warmed with Kagome's smiles and greetings bowed lowly, showing their respect for her.
Kagome was gone.
Fate was cruel indeed. Just when all seemed to look up for Kagome, she met her untimely death. Fate was something truly uncertain.
Was Fate playing tricks on them? Was this another trial to test Sesshoumaru's love for Kagome?
But she was gone, now�
~FIN~
(OR is it...?)
MS- OR IS IT?!
Review please!
.... hehehehehehhehehehehehe
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As A Courtesan