Love and Politics in Feudal Japan

One problem remained, Kohaku. The group knew that removing the shard would kill him, but they didn't have a choice. Sango looked at her brother and mumbled that she was sorry as she removed the shard in his back and he fell to the ground. The group looked downtrodden until Sesshoumaru pulled Tenseiga from its sheath and swiped it over the boy. Kohaku took a deep breathe and sat up rubbing his eyes as if he'd just awoken from a very long sleep. Sango hugged him and Miroku hugged both of them.
Inuyasha gathered Kagome in his arms and turned to Kikyo, "Kikyo, I've made my choice. I choose Kagome. I love her for who she is and you need to return to her body now. Gomen." He nodded to Tai who cut Kikyo in half. Kagome's soul returned to her and she kissed Inuyasha as the two of them headed for the castle.


Kagura and Kanna still stood there as Tai turned to them, "I can find positions for you two at my home if you wish. However, you will abide by my rules. That's all I ask, but defy any of my orders and I'll kill you both, understand?" Tai smiled at the two as they nodded, " Good, I'll have Mitsuki give you the rundown of rules and regulations then you'll receive your assignments."
Inutaishi began to walk towards the castle, but became extremely dizzy and started to fall forward. Sesshoumaru caught her before she hit the ground and looked at her concerned. "Gomen, Fluffy, I'm just tired and need to rest now," Inutaishi apologized as she snuggled closer to him and fell asleep.

Four days later, the group found themselves in Ishigawa. All types of youkai, hanyous, and humans could be seen here living peacefully with one another. As the group made its way down the street with Inutaishi in the lead and several hundred lords, ladies, and servants following behind her, the streets began bustling with excitement as the procession proceeded to Saikou Akuroporisu, the fortress within Ishigawa, where the meeting was to be held.
Kagome felt like her neck was about to break as she looked around Ishigawa, there was just too much to take in at once. "Wow, this place is HUGE!! I feel like my neck's going to break from trying to look at everything," she said as she looked at Sango, Miroku, Inuyasha, and Tai.
Tai chuckled before turning around to face Kagome while walking backward to keep the procession moving, "Don't worry, Kagome-chan. You'll be able to see more of Ishigawa later."
"Umm, Tai-chan, you should probably turn around. You may run into something while walking backward and fall," Inuyasha looked at her with concern, but was taken off guard when Tai laughed.
"No, I won't, Inu-kun,” she stepped to her right to avoid a child and proceeded down the street backward, "See? I'm good at avoiding things. Besides, I can't just stop or else the lords, guards, and servants will have to stop as well and we'd end up blocking the street. Ah, we're here." Inutaishi said as a bell rang throughout Saikou Akuroporisu, announcing the group’s arrival. When the group approached a castle like structure, Tai stopped and smiled to Miroku, Sango, Kagome, Inuyasha, Kohaku, Shippo, and Kirara. Waving a hand in the direction of it, Tai explained, "Sonotaku no Youkai, The House of Youkai, the tallest building in Ishigawa and the official meeting place for Derenti, Rasha, Sesshoumaru, myself, and all the minor lords of the four lands. This very palace resides on the exact point where the four lands connect. Thus, making it an ideal meeting place."
As soon as Tai finished, a nekoyoukai approached them and bowed to Tai as she said, "Welcome, Inutaishi of the Eastern Lands, I'm Kai. I was appointed by Atsuko-sama to insure peace during this conference and accept your pledge of honor as is tradition."


Tai nodded, "I, Inutaishi, the Taiyoukai of the Eastern Lands, swear on my honor as a taiyoukai, that if myself or a member of my party do not comply with the peace agreement forged centuries ago, the offender will receive punishment, based on their actions, from either myself or one of the other Taiyoukai of Japan. Also, should anyone in my party disagree with the terms stated in this accord, I will personally see to it that he or she be escorted from Saikou Akuroporisu and not be allowed to return." Tai looked to her party, who bowed fully at her feet in silent acceptance of the terms, and nodded, "The pledge is stated, does Atsuko-sama's representative accept the terms?" She turned to Kai.
"I, Kai, representative to Atsuko-sama accept the terms and conditions of the accord presented by Inutaishi-sama of the Eastern Lands. You may now proceed to Sonotaku Youkai. Enjoy your stay," Kai bowed to Inutaishi and left.
Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and Inuyasha walked up to Tai, "What the hell was all that dribble, Tai-chan?" Inuyasha asked as the group followed her into the building.
"Just what you said, Inu-kun, dribble. No one in my party would be stupid enough to start anything. They would face the 'Great Wrath of Inutaishi-sama', as Mitsuki puts it, " Tai laughed as she rounded a corner and bumped into Sesshoumaru. He caught her before she hit the floor and stood her upright as she said, "Arigato, Sesshoumaru-sama. I'm surprised you're here already."
Sesshoumaru looked at her with the ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "This Sesshoumaru has been here two days already, but never mind that, we have a few things to discuss before dinner, Inutaishi-sama. Would you accompany this Sesshoumaru to his quarters?" his voice was cold, but his eyes held a hint of mischief and Tai nodded before taking his arm.
Turning to Inuyasha and the others, Tai smiled, "Mitsuki would you please show Kagome, Sango, Miroku, and Inuyasha to their rooms. Remember, the girls have to share a room here. The guys do too. Gomen, Inu-kun, Houshi-sama, but until you and the girls are married, you won't be allowed to share a room. The children will also have to share a room. I'll see all of you at dinner." Sesshoumaru nodded to them and pulled Tai along with him.
"What happened to Sesshoumaru? When he left the Eastern Lands three days ago, he was smiling and his voice was full of emotion, but just then he was nearly like his old self again. The only difference was his eyes," Sango voiced to no one in particular.
Mitsuki turned her head and answered, "Sesshoumaru-sama has to be that way here. He immediately gained respect from the other lords after he fought and won against the rebellion that arose after Inutaisho-sama mated with a human. If Sesshoumaru-sama's demeanor faltered, even once, then it could be used against him and he would be in danger of losing the lands he fought so hard to keep. Therefore, he never shows emotion around the other lords." "I see," was all Sango said before entering her and Kagome's room and shutting the door.



Sesshoumaru and Inutaishi walked down the halls toward Sesshoumaru's quarters in total silence. Both had their icy demeanors firmly in place as they opened the doors to Sesshoumaru's room and found Derenti, Rasha, and their families already seated around the table. Tai and Sesshoumaru sat across from one another pretending to glare at each other when Derenti spoke, "Come on now, your masks can be removed. We're only here to observe and ask a few things."
Tai nodded and yawned before placing her head on top of her arms, "What do you wish to know?" Her attitude may have been relaxed, but her senses were on high alert in case her icy demeanor needed to be put back in place. She smiled tiredly to everyone in the room as they thought of something to ask.
"I would like to know how you will divide the lands between the two of you," Rasha stated as he glared at Tai, "Also, I would like to know why you broke the treaty your father established with me. Inutaishi, you were arranged to mate with my son, Daisuke, yet you've mated with Sesshoumaru and I'm not too happy about it, however, I do not see any reason to wage war against the Eastern Lands over something so trivial."
Tai looked at Rasha and growled, "The treaty my father established with you became void after my father's death. I reviewed the treaty myself and found that it would only be valid if my father resided over the ceremony and since he is no longer living, the treaty is meaningless now. Also, Sesshoumaru and I have decided to keep and patrol both territories together. Thereby, forming a new alliance between the Eastern and Western Lands. It's been 60 years since the old alliance diminished and the time has come for a new one."
Derenti and Rasha nodded. Then Derenti remarked, "If memory serves me right, the two of you never did tell us why the alliance between the lands seemingly crumbled to begin with. Mind indulging us?"
Sesshoumaru merely glared at the other lords and answered in his iciest tone, "No. That matter is between Inutaishi and myself. There is no need for others to be involved." Tai chuckled at the tone which caused Sesshoumaru to look at her and smirk, "Think its funny do you?" Tai nodded and started laughing so hard she had tears coming from her eyes. He smiled a full smile and started chuckling at her, "You know, you look beautiful like that, love." Tai smiled as she gasped for breath and laid her head back down on her arms.
"Gomen, Fluffy-sama, you just sounded so much like your old self that I couldn't help it. Well, not exactly your old self, but the self we saw at the last meeting a year ago. You know, the 'Don't touch, speak, or look at me or you shall suffer the Wrath of the Ice Prince of the West' one," Tai said in a snobbish voice as she sat up straight, crossed her arms over her chest, and stuck her nose in the air.
Sesshoumaru, Derenti, Rasha, and the others started laughing so hard the room itself shook from the sound. Just as the laughter died down, a bell rang indicating dinner was ready. The lords stood and took the arms of their significant other as they proceeded to the dining hall.




When Sesshoumaru and Inutaishi reached the doors to the hall, they broke apart and walked in separately. Kai announced the arrival of the Four Supreme Taiyoukai of Japan to their courts who were already seated around six of the seven tables. The hall was the size of 100 inuyoukai in their full forms with fourteen chandeliers hanging over the seven tables, oil lamps running the length of the tables, and elegant tapestries from all four lands and some from abroad adorning the walls. Tai, Sesshoumaru, Derenti, Rasha, and the members of the main court were seated at the head table overlooking the other lords and ladies of their parties. There was a total of ten thousand eight hundred and fifty youkai, hanyou, and ningens in the room, yet not one fight would break out for fear of punishment from the Taiyoukai of the Lands.
The news that some members of the aristocracy had mated spread like wildfire and excitement was buzzing throughout the room, but was immediately silenced when Sesshoumaru stood and slammed his fist on the table. "If you will spare this Sesshoumaru a moment of your time, I have an announcement to make before dinner," He waited till the conversations ceased and continued, "I, Sesshoumaru, the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands have taken Inutaishi, the Taiyoukai of the Eastern Lands as my mate and we are expecting a pup in five months time," the crowd gasped and he continued, " We hereby ask for approval from all aristocratic parties. We have also decided to hold a wedding; I believe it's called, tomorrow evening. If approval is met tonight. My half-brother Inuyasha, the Miko Kagome, the Taijiya Sango, and the Monk Miroku will be wed tomorrow night as well. Their weddings will take place no matter what you decide about Inutaishi and my union as they are not members of the aristocracy and do not need approval from the courts. If anyone has any opposition, the floor is open and we will answer as truthfully as possible."
He sat back down and waited until Tsuki, a lord under Derenti's rule, stood and asked, "What of the Eastern and Western Lands, Sesshoumaru-sama? Are you and Inutaishi-sama forming an alliance then?" Everyone in the room waited tensely as Sesshoumaru spoke, "Yes. Inutaishi and I do plan on forming a new coalition between the lands since the former union was abolished nearly sixty years ago. As far as the Lands themselves go, Inutaishi will still be in charge of the Eastern and I, the Western, however, we will patrol both lands together. If, for some reason, the Eastern Lands come under attack, the Western Lands will assist in defeating the threat and provide protection for those in the immediate battle vicinity. The same goes for the Western Lands." Tsuki nodded and sat down as another lord stood. This pattern continued for nearly an hour with a lord or lady asking a question and either Sesshoumaru or Inutaishi answering.
When the questions stopped, Sesshoumaru stood once again, "At this time, please take the pen and scroll that has been placed in front of you and mark yes or no on Inutaishi and my mating. One mark for yes. Two marks for no. Then pass them to the end of the table closest to the door where a servant will collect them. Thank you." He sat back down and grabbed Tai's hand sensing the nervousness she felt as she awaited the decision.



After the servants collected the papers and took them to be counted, dinner was finally served and a nervous tension filled the room. Everyone was awaiting the final decision. Some approved while others didn't, but they all held their tongues as Kai entered the room with a scroll and approached the head table. She bowed to the Taiyoukai and handed Derenti the scroll saying, "The results of the vote, Derenti-sama, Sesshoumaru-sama, Inutaishi-sama, and Rasha-sama." She bowed again and left as Derenti stood.
"Inutaishi-sama, Sesshoumaru-sama, would you stand please?" Derenti waited as Sesshoumaru helped Tai to her feet and turned to the crowd, "The results of the vote are as follows," he paused again enjoying the tension in the room, "Seven thousand two hundred and thirty-two voted yes, Three thousand six hundred and sixteen voted no. Therefore, as the oldest of the Taiyoukai of Japan, I, Derenti of the Northern Lands declare the unification of Sesshoumaru of the West and Inutaishi of the East permissible. A wedding for the two and the ones mentioned earlier will be held tomorrow at sunset in the courtyard of Saikou Akuroporisu. You don't have to attend, but it would be nice." The room burst into cheers as Tai jumped in Sesshoumaru's arms and the two began laughing as he spun her around. Everyone started clapping for the couple as Sesshoumaru kissed Tai and carried her from the room.