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Unexpected Endeavors	By : Scottishfae Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Sessh?maru/Kagome > Sessh?maru/Kagome Views: 70550 -:- Recommendations : 4 -:- Currently Reading : 5
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Unexpected Endeavors
scottishfae

a/n: end of an arc with only two more to go (in six chapters). woot woot! please remember to vote at my blog (ellafae.blogspot.com) for my next project~!

for those of you curious about the baboon-pelted man--who said it was Naraku? hmmmmmm? Naraku ends up as an accumulation of lots of youkai and I’m grabbing that idea and running with it--this isn’t Naraku; it’s one of the youkai that has come to *be* Naraku in the “present.”

Let’s see--how many more antagonist do we still have to take care of?

Arc 5: Omiai
Chapter 30: Kotowari

The long-disused dojo was again alive with the sounds of training. Sesshomaru was frustrated and went to the large building of his father’s to work some of it off.

Despite his hope, Tamara hadn’t canceled the omiai. Her mood had changed drastically though, and he had noticed, she kept to herself more and her smile was rare.

There was a crack as the wooden dummy broke off and fell to the floor. Scratches and shallow cuts were already healing on his hands; he paid no attention to it.

“Little frustrated, are we?” Haru commented.

He had been leaning in the corner for a bit now.

“I am not having any luck.”

“I’ve seen.”

Sesshomaru turned to look at his brother. He had shed his Western style clothes for something more traditional. The blues and blacks of the kosode looked brilliant on him.

A servant had brought in a tea setting earlier. Sesshomaru motioned for Haru to come further into the dojo and sit with him. “We have other guests coming,” the younger inyoukai commented as he joined his brother.

Sesshomaru nodded, sitting down next to the tray. Haru did as well, pulling at the tray and setting out five cups. The Taiyoukai would never pour his own tea--at least not with other people of lower rank joining him--so Haru poured the steaming, green liquid into each cup.

“How long will they be?” he asked as he grabbed his cup and drank it outright.

“Not long--though if more than thirty minutes you may need to go take a bath,” Haru teased. “You smell.”

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes. He put his cup back down and it was refilled. He left it there for now.

A comfortable silence fell between the two, Haru sipping on his own cup as Sesshomaru lost himself in thought.

Both of their attentions was drawn to noise outside. The shoji doors slid open and Hanao slipped in. He had a smile on his face, obviously amused by the two behind him.

“Do you two do anything but bicker?” Sesshomaru asked.

The oldest of the inuyoukai laughed. “I hardly believe you have any right to say anything.”

The elegant man approached the two, bowing lowly for the Taiyoukai, and then turning to sit himself next to Haru. There was an awkward exchange from Haru, though Hanao continued to smile pleasantly. He was happy to be near his son.

“I’m not bowing for you, asshole,” Inuyasha said as he approached.

“Of course not, you have no etiquette ,” Sesshomaru replied.

“Here’s some etiquette for you,” he replied, flicking him off with both hands.

Koga, for his part, did bow, but it was more a show for Inuyasha than anything else.

“I glad you could make it,” Sesshomaru replied honestly to his youngest half-brother. “The last of the omiai meetings come tomorrow and this all must end.”

The hanyou took an offered tea cup and gulped it down. He handed it back to Hanao--having taken over the pouring of the tea upon his arrival--who refilled it quickly. Haru laughed at the similarities between the two sons of InuTashio.

“So you think it’s going to come to a battle?” Inuyasha asked, his mood serious and somber.

“I hope not.”

“Sai-dono and Amaya-ue are in this together, and of course Sai-dono has Kai-dono in his pocket,,” Haru interjected. “And obviously Ichimaru-dono will not be happy to see his daughter slighted. You have no one to back you up.”

“I only need myself,” Sesshomaru vehemently claimed. “However, I won’t let my pride lead me into a possible death-match--”

“Good thinkin’,” Inuyasha mumbled.

Sesshomaru reached into his haori and pulled out the ring Kai had given him. He placed it carefully on the floor between the men. There was surprise amongst the people who knew the Southern Taiyoukai. The ring held the emblem of the South and was a declaration to all that Kai supported the one who held it.

“I’m surprised,” Hanao began. “I did not believe it was in Kai-dono to stand up against his brother.”

“I believe my mother’s actions was the final straw; he addressed his dislike of bullying to me as he gave this to me.”

Sesshomaru frowned. “Though, once the omiai is canceled, I need to apologize to Tamara-san for some bullying I did the other day.”

“You know, this is just weird,” Inuyasha complained. “I can see it’s you. You still look like the cold-bastard I’ve know for years, but every once in awhile it’s like Kagome is speaking through you. It’s creepy.”

Haru and Hanao laughed at the comment. “He has certainly changed,” the older inuyoukai said. “It makes Amaya-sama so angry. You are becoming so much like InuTaisho-dono she has become truly scared.”

Inuyasha snorted. “Yeah right, she can be scared?”

“She’s scared of you.”

The group looked at Hanao intently. Sesshomaru’s brows furrowed, “you’ve never told me this before.”

He shrugged. “I thought it was obvious. You, Inuyasha, are a product of everything she wanted from InuTaisho-dono, and yet could never have. While her marriage was one of political means, almost all the women of the court were madly in love with your father. In the early years of their marriage, a passionate life and love was all Amaya-sama wanted. But InuTaisho-dono was wild and young and he did not see the marriage as anything but a duty to produce an heir. By the time he began to look to Amaya-sama for the passions of a mate, she had long since given up on him. And then, of course, he found Izayoi-sama,” he paused to give Inuyasha a wink. “And we all know the passions those two felt for each other.”

The hanyou screwed up his face. “I could have lived without that last added part.”

“This makes your presence here all the better,” Haru commented. “If you want to make her nervous, Inuyasha being here is definitely a great way. Kagome-chan being the only better person and that is obviously out of the question.”

All of the men agreed, though Hanao expressed his want to meet the woman in the future. Sesshomaru nodded and said he would see what he could do. There was a smile shared between the two men before they began to plan out their next move.

“You know,” Koga said. “Technically Inuyasha could be your family representative. I mean, he has InuTaisho-dono’s bloodline and Amaya-sama doesn’t.

Sesshomaru looked up at the wolf youkai then to his half-brother. “He’s right. They might try to contest your human heritage, but the House of Inu runs through our father’s bloodline, not our mother’s. Your presence and decisions could easily supercede hers.”

“You would be opening yourself up for some nasty verbal attacks,” Hanoa said.

Inuyasha shrugged. “I’ve dealt with that ever since mom and I moved back with her family.”

“I would say a great deal longer,” Hanoa added. “It’s just Sesshomaru-dono always protected you from all of that while you were here.”

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes. “To get back on subject, will you be willing to do this, Inuyasha?”

The hanyou looked at his elder brother. “You trust me to do this?”

“Yes.”

There was no hesitation or doubt--the Taiyoukai knew that his brother would be a perfect wrench into the process and knew he would play the part so well.

“Then I’m in.”

“Good, with Inuyasha there I have means of objecting formally. If they put a further fuss to it, I will use Kai’s alliance.”

“That will probably be enough,” Koga said. “Ichimaru-dono seems uneasy about Amaya-sama now--if there is a way for him to back out without losing face he will take it,”

A devious smile crossed Sesshomaru’s face. “Then I think we have our agenda for tomorrow.”

()

The three brothers had gotten to the general meeting room early and had sat at their side of the long table. Inuyasha had taken Amaya’s previous spot--making it very obvious what they were doing.

Sesshomaru just wanted to smile, though he wisely chose not to. Kai had been filled in on the details of the plan, and he happily went along with it.

And now they awaited patiently for their other guests.

“You know, I believe I owe you Haru,” Sesshomaru commented.

“You owe me a lot of things, but what are you specifically addressing?” Haru replied with a laugh.

“Kin.”

The smile faded and Haru nodded. “Yeah--I’m afraid that boat has sailed.”

“We shall see.”

Haru’s eyes narrowed and he was about to ask what the elder brother meant when voices approaching the door brought his attention back to the matter at hand. After all, they could talk about this on the trip back to home.

The door opened and Amaya stepped in. She was talking to Sai and didn’t notice the new addition. Kai stepped in and smiled. “Ah, Inuyasha-san, it is so good to see you again,” he greeted jovially.

Amaya’s head snapped up. Fury radiated her being as she started at the hanyou.

The hanyou in her spot.

“What is he doing here?” she growled.

Sesshomaru allowed himself a condescending grin. “Inuyasha has been summoned here as the representative of my family.”

“Nonsense, I am your mother--as your closest family member that is my role.”

“Actually, no,” Koga jumped in.

He had come in with Keita, the other members of the party slowly filtering in, and now standing at their parts of the table. “Due to the positions of the individuals involved, the blood of the House of Inu has highest rank. Since you are from a branch family, Inuyasha has more right to sit as the representative.”

Amaya faced wrinkled in rage--her eyes beginning to bleed red and her claws extending.

“But he’s a hanyou,” Sai spat. “How can someone with human blood have any right to discuss the matters of a youkai court.”

“The future heir of the Western Lands will be a hanyou,” Sesshomaru pointed out. “So I would drop that old-fashioned way of thinking, Sai.”

“I take it you are here to withdraw your family’s support of this union?” Ichimaru said.

He was still standing, Tamara behind him, all but hiding, and looking down at the others. He didn’t look angry.

“Yeah,” Inuyasha said. “No offense, but I’ve found a better candidate.”

Inuyasha, in typical behavior, crossed his arms, puffed out his chest, and waited for anyone to protest.

He didn’t have to wait long.

“You are not a Taiyoukai, you cannot decide on this matter,” Sai said. “All Taiyoukai must agree.”

“No, all Taiyoukai must agree or more than one must contest,” Sesshomaru corrected. “And I contest.”

“And you are only one.”

Sesshomaru made eye contact with Sai before reaching out and gently placing the ring on the table. “I do believe, we contest then.”

The Eastern Tai looked down at the table, his eyes widened with confusion then anger. He turned on his brother. “What are you doing? You useless idiot.”

Kai waved him away and pushed past the two seething youkai. “I believe this match would be wrong--both for Sesshomaru and Tamara-san--and therefore I stand by the Lord of the West and contest it.”

The smile on his face was practically glowing. Haru and Inuyasha chuckled.

Ichimaru looked across the table and nodded. “Then that is that. Sesshomaru, Kai, as my peers, I recognize the contestation of this omiai. My daughter and I thank you for your hospitality; we absolve our part in this whole mess and will return to my lands presently.”

Sesshomaru stood and gave a deep bow to the other man. “I apologize for my family’s involvement in this--and I especially apologize to you, Tamara-san. You are a very kind person and I did not mean to treat you so poorly.”

Ichimaru nodded. “We take no offense to your actions; you worked within the means you could with your hands tied. I do hope that we will be invited to the celebration of your heir--for his mother must be something spectacular,” he paused to look at Inuyasha. “I have no doubt I will find her of the same quality as Izayoi.”

Ichimaru gave a nod of the head, Tamara giving a more proper bow before they left the room. Keita, having no purpose there anymore, excused herself as well and Koga escorted her out.

“You ingrate!” Amaya screamed. “You idiot, imbecile--you are just like your father. Fooled by a pretty face; thinking with your dick!”

Sesshomaru looked at his mother with contempt. “And you think with only yourself in mind.”

“No, I think of how to keep this family in power and respected. You think a dirty hanyou is going to keep the House of Inu in favor? No! As soon as a hanyou heir is declared every youkai who can raise an army will be marauding at the borders. It will be our ruin!”

“Jaken,” Sesshomaru called.

The toad youkai came in, looking nervous.

“I have a proclamation--Kai, will you be my witness so it may be declared into law immediately?”

The kappa nodded, curious.

“Until the day this Sesshomaru sires an heir, Inuyasha--second son of the late InuTashio-dono--will be the heir to the Western Lands. Also, he shall be the steward of these lands should something happen to me before my heir becomes of age to take over the rule himself.”

Inuyasha’s eyes had gone as wide as Amaya’s. Jaken had scribbled it all down and handed it to Kai to sign. He did so with delight.

“Now, mother, where are these hordes coming to take my lands from me?”

The female inuyoukai stormed forward, intent on slapping her son, but she was stopped by Haru. She looked at him with hurt and betrayal. She recoiled from the three brothers and approached Sai.

He was addressed next. “Sai, I would ask you to leave my lands at once,” Sesshomaru said. “If you try to return without my express permission--not my mother’s, but mine--I will treat it as an act of war.”

“And war is so demanding on one’s resources, isn’t it brother?” Kai spoke.

Sai’s didn’t speak; though he was definitely pissed.

“You don’t have the right,” Amaya again spoke.

“But I do.”

“No--you don’t. You see my stupid son, while you are gallivanting around the country, I have been here pandering to the court. They will follow me before they ever follow you.”

Sesshomaru allowed himself to laugh briefly. “A fool’s dream, mother.”

“No, a truth. And as the true person with power in this kingdom, I am done with you. You are a disgrace, just like your father, and I will have no more of you.”

“And what do you plan on doing? Kill me? I am far stronger than you.”

“No, I will use the court as only I know how to use it. I banish you. Leave this palace, leave these lands, and do so quickly. The army is at my disposal now and I look forward to hunting down and killing all those you call ‘friends,’” she spat at Inuyasha.

The hanyou stood up, his temper hidden just barely below the surface. It was Sesshomaru’s laughter that kept him from going for her throat.

“Wh-what are you laughing at?” Amaya said, unnerved. “I mean it--leave now!”

Sesshomaru motioned for the room to follow him. He easily walked out of the room and towards the meeting hall. All of the lower court would be there, waiting to hear about the conclusion of the omiai.

Amaya followed, yelling threats at him as she struggled to keep up with his fast pace. Kai stayed with Sai, escorting the other kappa down the halls.

The group entered the hall through the side doors. The court made to bow but Sesshomaru called them off of it. “I have an announcement,” he began. “The omiai is off; the petty plans of my mother will not occur, and now, in her anger, she thinks to banish me. She believes you all will follow her--her strength, her will, her selfishness.”

“I banish you for being a disgrace and for bringing these lands down,” she cried. Looking out to the crowd she addressed them. “He’s already put a hanyou as his heir until another bastard hanyou is born--our lands will be a laughing stock and ripe to be taken. We will lose our ranks!”

“Hey!” Inuyasha interjected. “I’m not a bastard! My mom was legally married to my father. Unlike Haru here.” He turned to the older inuyoukai. “No offense.

“Yeah, little offense taken there,” Haru grumbled.

The hanyou shrugged it off.

Sesshomaru turned back to the court. “Since my mother wants to banish me, I put it up to the court. I am leaving this palace, but I leave it to create a new one for the Western Lands. If I leave, my advisors, my military, and the court leaves too.”

He turned to his mother. “You may stay here mother, with whoever wants to stay with you, but whatever members of the court remain must know that they are no longer a part of these lands and any acts of treason against this Sesshomaru, the lands, and all those I hold dear will be an instant judgement of death.”

Sesshomaru looked back out to the court who were in a state of shock. “Well, pack your things--take whatever you want for we will not be returning to this place. Luckily for us, we have some human allies that I’m sure would love some help expanding their village to accommodate a human-youkai community. We leave by sundown!”

He turned and left the way he came in. Inuyasha and Haru followed; both shocked and amused. “Those villagers are our allies now?”

“I don’t see why not. I’m sure it will make Kagome-chan happy to see youkai and humans living together peacefully.”

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to attend quite yet,” Kai spoke.

Sesshomaru stopped to look at the other Taiyoukai.

“I believe I will need to escort my brother home. He and I have a lot to speak about.”

The inuyoukai nodded. “I am in your debt; thank you for your help.”

Kai waved it off. “No, I was happy to help. Repay me by making your miko happy, she obviously means a great deal to an awful lot of people.”

The two said their goodbyes before Kai led his brother to their quarters.

The other brothers of the inu variety retreated to begin packing up as well; Inuyasha helping his eldest brother.

“You really think she isn’t going to give you hell for this?” Inuyasha asked as servants carried out the last of the Taiyoukai’s belongings.

The quarters that had housed countless Taiyoukai before him were completely barren. It was nearly sundown and the whole palace grounds were lively as the countless amount of people, animals, and material possessions were becoming ready to leave.

“She has no power now. Those that choose to stay with her will not be able to do anything--and I doubt anyone will stay.”

“What about Hanoa?”

Sesshomaru stopped. “I do not know--but he and Haru have begun a true relationship and I’m not sure he will give that up to stay with a bitter woman who will never treat him as he deserves.”

Inuyasha gave a sad smile. He kind of felt bad for her now. “You know, I kind of remember some of this place.”

“You should,” Sesshomaru commented as he began to walk out of the room “You were conceived in this room.”

“What is with everyone making sex jokes about my parents? It’s just gross.”
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Unexpected Endeavors