literature

The Hime Tradition- Chapter Twenty-Four

Deviation Actions

Sesshomarus-Secret-A's avatar
Published:
589 Views

Literature Text

Chapter Twenty-Four – The Mark

-Dream-

"Do you love him?"

Though she couldn't see his expression from the darkness, she could clearly hear the tremor in his voice.

'No, I love you,' she wished to answer so badly. But as if another was in control, the words 'I love him' naturally slipped past her lips.

'No'.

"The answer is yes." Yes, the title of Hime would protect Inuyasha.

'No'. Giving her such an answer meant she had to mate Inuyasha.

'No'. She watched as Sesshomaru let go of her wrists and turned to walk away.

'NO!' Her heart screamed. His figure grew more distant, while her heart tightened with fear.

'You misunderstood, Sesshomaru. I love you…' Her hand twitched as she slowly lifted one to reach for him.

'You can't do that,' a voice resounded in her mind. Her stretched out hand froze. She glanced at her hand with wide eyes and quickly pulled it back towards her.

What was she trying to do?

'You know you can't go to him,' the voice reminded her.

Gazing at her hand that longed to stop him from leaving her, blue eyes shed a wistful look.

"I've hurt him though," she whispered.

'And Inuyasha might die if you go to him,' it argued.

"Inuyasha is strong…" she said with a hint of anger.

'The demons within the demon society are not as weak as the demons we fought before. And we do not yet know how strong the person behind Inuyasha's assassination is. It is better safe than sorry.'

"But…" Kagome trailed off. The garden scenery melted away, leaving the dreamscape to remain pitch dark.

Unable to see anything, Kagome only heard, 'You know that if Inuyasha had been the one ambushed instead of Sesshomaru, he wouldn't have lived. Inuyasha wouldn't have been able to defeat the dark magic or heal quickly enough.'

She bit her lower lip. What was being said was true.

'You know this…'

Clenching her eyes shut, she tried to cover her ears as well.

'Now we have the answer…if titled Hime…we can protect him…'

Her hands could not cover the sound of the voice that stated true words.

'Do not give excuses to break the promise.'

Her legs gave in as she slumped onto the ground.

'We can't break our promise…'

Lowering her head downwards, strands of her hair began to cover her face.

'Inuyasha is our precious friend.'

Defeat.

-End of Dream-


Blue eyes slowly opened to unveil a look of defeat. Kagome positioned herself to sit up and looked out of her bedroom window to see that it was already the afternoon. She needed to get up. She needed to get dressed. But, her body didn't seem to move or listen to her.

"Kagome!" she heard Inuyasha yell past her door. Suddenly seeing it swing open, Inuyasha walked in with a grouchy expression.

"That crazy mother of his did it again!" he grumbled, "She just announced that there will be an evening ceremony tonight."

Still affected by her dream, Kagome forced a slight smile on her lips. However, Inuyasha quickly noticed that her smile didn't reach her eyes. As he walked to sit on the edge of her bed, his eyes caught the red mark near her neck. He smirked at this and immediately thought they were now a couple. But shifting his gaze to see her expression, he only saw sadness. Leaning against her bed post, he asked, "Aren't you supposed to be happy?"

"What are you talking about, Inuyasha?" Kagome said coolly.

"Well, you met with Sesshomaru last night, right?" He said.

"So?" She responded like nothing happened.

Narrowing his eyes, he voiced with frustration, "So didn't he say anything?"

"Nothing happened, Inuyasha."

He was SURE Sesshomaru revealed his intentions to court Kagome, since the red mark was proof. Why was she acting as if nothing happened? He had a clue as to why Kagome was acting this way and felt even more frustrated.

"Aren't you supposed to be in love with him?" he blurted out angrily.

She looked away from his gaze and replied calmly, "What are you talking about, Inuyasha. I intend to mate you."

Inuyasha scoffed as she said those words with a sad expression.

"I hate it when you act like that," he grumbled. Glancing to see her face full of shock, he explained, "You always get so stubborn during the times you should just let go."

Although he admitted he was a bit slow at noticing things, he at least knew that Kagome's flaw was her stubbornness. When things were obviously not fine, she would always deny her feelings for the sake of others. Just like the time when they found out that the well was closed forever, she convinced herself that it was fine so that he and the other gang didn't have to worry. Now, she was obviously hiding her feelings for Sesshomaru because of their promise. He could tell her that it's okay to cry after the well closed, he could try to convince her to break off the promise, but she wouldn't hear it.

He hated it.

"I do not!" she retorted back.

"Cause you're too stubborn to see it!" he growled. Frustrated, he stomped out of her room.

Just as frustrated, Kagome threw a pillow at the door the moment Inuyasha closed it. She blew away the strands of hair that were in the way.

She wasn't being stubborn.

Flopping down onto her bed with a huff, she pulled the blanket to cover herself.

She couldn't possibly be.

Clenching her eyes shut, she felt doubt begin to sink in.

Knock Knock.

"Go away, Inuyasha!" she yelled.

"It's Emiko, Milady."

Sighing in relief, Kagome got up and answered in an apologetic voice, "Oh, come it, Emiko."

Her feet felt heavy as she walked towards the full length mirror. Emiko at once helped undress her in exchange for new fresh clothes. Glancing into the mirror, Kagome noticed Emiko's cheeks grow red. Tilting her head, Kagome asked, "What is it?"

Emiko, with her cheeks flushed with red, said shyly, "Prince Inuyasha is so bold. He must really love you!"

Raising a brow in confusion, Kagome wondered what Emiko was talking about.

Emiko explained, "The mark, Lady Kagome. I speak of the mark near your neck."

Kagome unconsciously ran her hand across the mark and noticed it for the first time. Still feeling the burning sensation of his lips upon it, she asked softly, "What does it mean?"

"It is a mark to tell the world that you are his beloved one."

Shock was quickly replaced with a painful realization. She remembered how tenderly he kissed the mark.

"A mark that tells his beloved he wishes to mate her."

Her heart wrenched as a gasp fell from her lips.

"One cannot explain it in words, Milady, for it means so much more than love."

Feeling a warm drop of liquid splatter onto her hand, Kagome looked down to see what it was.

"Milady! Are you alright?" Emiko's surprised voice rang in her ear. Glancing up, her eyes widened in shock as she captured her own reflection in the mirror.

Uncontrollable tears trailed down her face.

Sorrow clearly portrayed past her blue eyes.

Her lips trembling.

Another hand clenched over her heart.

Staring at her reflection, she could no longer lie to herself. How could she be happy or even make Inuyasha happy when her heart longed for another? Inuyasha had been right. She was being stubborn.

'No, what of our promise?' the question echoed loudly in her mind. Her grasp over her heart tightened as she whispered, "I can't…I can't do it."

An unbearable pain tugged at her heart; pain caused by realizing how much she's hurt Sesshomaru.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha called out, bursting through her door. Shocked to see her on the floor crying, he asked Emiko, "What's wrong? What happened? Is she hurt!?"

Just as flustered and confused, Emiko stuttered, "Sh-she was fine a w-while ago! I just told her the meaning b-behind the m-mark on her s-sh-shoulder."

Realization flickered past his amber eyes. Releasing a relieved sigh, he crouched down to Kagome's level and began to awkwardly pat her head.

"I'm sorry, Inuyasha," she managed to say past her sobs.

"Keh, so you finally noticed you were being stubborn," he said with triumph. Kagome nodded her head.

"And you admit that I was right?" he bragged. She nodded again.

"And that it's really stupid to mate another when you're in love with someone else?" he said to prolong his victory. Too immersed in feeling victorious, he didn't notice that her tears had stopped and was replaced with annoyance.

He said with a snort, "I told you so."

Hearing a growl, Inuyasha looked to see Kagome glaring at him. He gulped knowing what was coming next.

"SIT!" She yelled angrily. Inuyasha slammed into the floor and grumbled out a few curses for his forgetfulness. He had totally forgotten about the subjection necklace. Suddenly, the sound of Kagome's laughter rang in the air. His ears twitched at the sound and got up from the floor. Even though he was still grumbling curses, a smirk began to tug on his lips.

Between laughs, Kagome wheezed, "I…totally…forgot…I could…do that!"

"Keh, don't start using it all the time like you did in the past," he said with a grimace. Her laughter continued, which made him feel relieved. He had noticed that ever since they entered the Western Castle she had been laughing less and less. His eyes softened as he said, "Good to see the cheerful Kagome back."

As her laughter died down, a content smile remained. Inuyasha rubbed the back of his neck and asked awkwardly, "So…uh…are you gonna tell Sesshomaru that you're not mating me?"

"When I have the chance," she continued, "But my main focus right now is to find out who's the one scheming to assassinate you."

His hand fell away from his neck as amber eyes looked downwards. A small secret smile tugged on his lips. If it was anyone else, he was sure they would run into Sesshomaru's arms the moment he let her do so. But not Kagome, she would make sure he was safe before finding her happiness.

"But, Inuyasha, even if we find the culprit…you will have more enemies in the future," Kagome voiced seriously as blue eyes looked straight into his.

"I know," he folded his arms as he continued, "And you'll watch me defeat each and every one of them."

"No," her gaze towards Inuyasha softened. He heard the care in her voice as she said, "We shall defeat every one of them."

-The Evening Ceremony-

Adorned in the color of pink to indicate her title of Hime, Inukimi stood proudly with a stoic expression. She scanned through the crowd in search for her son only to notice his absence. Her brows slightly scrunched in annoyance because it was terribly rude for the host to be missing. Perhaps her sudden demand to have the ceremony tonight had angered him? Scoffing at the idea, Inukimi wondered what could possibly make his son ignore his responsibilities.

"Milady," she heard a maid say to capture her attention.

"Speak," Inkimi said coolly.

As the maid bowed, she informed Inukimi, "Lord Sesshomaru is in his study and said he does not need to attend since you, the Lady of the Western Land, are present."

Snorting, she wouldn't be fooled by her son's excuse. He was purposely avoiding the ceremony. Mischief gleamed past her eyes as she found excitement in trying to figure out why.

"Shall I tell him that you are asking for him?" the maid asked.

Just then, the hall doors opened to reveal the Miko and Inuyasha with their arms linked. Her astonished gaze was fixed upon the Miko. Inukimi watched the Miko's every move as if there might be hints that explained the Miko's actions. She had thought the Miko would break things off with Inuyasha by now. Had she not convinced the Miko enough?

"Milady?" the maid interrupted her thoughts. Waving her hands to shoo the maid away, Inukimi said, "I shall go see him myself."

Found dead near the boarders of the Southern Lands. The cause of death was dark magic.

Golden eyes scanned the report concerning the previous Gon Leader. After the encounter with the ex-Gon Leader, his suspicion of the culprit behind the assassinations was confirmed. The ex-Gon Leader was responsible for dispatching the assassins, yet the assassins had been soldiers from a certain kingdom. He had also requested a list of all the Lords and Ladies that had any business with the ex-Gon Leader. There had only been one main person that mostly did business with the ex-Gon Leader.

Sesshomaru resisted the temptation to scoff at the poor tactics used. The demon behind all this was quite foolish. Killing the ex-Gon Leader would not bury the evidence. Golden eyes narrowed dangerously, he would wait until the coward made a mistake.

"Are you hiding?" he heard a female voice say.

"Are you hiding?" Golden eyes saw the Miko peak from behind the tree.

His eyes widened and quickly glanced to see the owner of the voice. Expecting to see her, disappointment sank in when he saw his mother standing at the doors. He should have recognized it wasn't her voice, yet hearing the same words she said had fooled him.

"Did the Miko tell you about the promise she made with Inuyasha?" Inukimi asked. She assumed that if her son understood that the Miko was being tied down by this promise, he could convince her out of it.

Silence.

"You still have a chance. The Miko doesn't really love-" Her words were quickly cut off by his glare. His expression showed nothing, yet seemed to frighten her. A chilling sensation made her skin crawl.

"Your presence is required in the ceremony hall," he voiced acidly.

Inukimi froze. It was the first time her son treated her as if she was a stranger. Fear began to tug on her heart. What had happened? She was sure something happened between the two. Unable to speak and unable to move, Inukimi could only stare in shock at her son's unfamiliar eyes.

Abruptly, the Western Castle echoed with screams and yells. Inukimi glanced at the hallways and traced the chaotic sound to be coming from the ceremony hall.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" a loud voice echoed down the hallways. The maid finally reached the study room entrance and yelled, "Lord Sesshomaru! Lady Kagome has been poisoned!"

Inukimi gazed at the empty chair her son had occupied. She saw him run past her the moment the maid had yelled out the Miko's name. A relieved sigh escaped her lips as she caught his unfamiliar eyes flash with concern. Her shoulders slightly slouched as she felt a heavy burden rest upon her. She shouldn't have been so surprised by his unfamiliar eyes for it was a reflection of her when she had lost her mate.

'I had hoped we did not share the same fate in terms of love, my son' she thought sadly. Walking out of his study, the echo of her footsteps sounded as lonely as ever.

As the ceremony hall grew louder at the chaos of Kagome's poisoning, two figures silently slipped away.

"What do you think you are doing!?" one figure voiced angrily, "I needed the half-breed to drink that!"

The second figure snorted before saying, "Wouldn't the half-breed will be in more pain if his loved one is hurt, Master?"

"Humph, you better not mess things up because it will be your head that goes if we get caught," the first figure snarled and stomped away leaving the second figure behind.

A sinister chuckle slipped out of the remaining figure's lips. It whispered full of malice, "My head? No, it will be your head, since all evidence traces back to you, Master."

The yells and whispers coming from the ceremony hall made the figure smirk.

"Don't worry, the Miko won't die from this kind of poison. It will just immune her miko powers from healing any type of dark magic from now on," the figure whispered to a fake audience.

"So that the next time I strike…she won't wake up."

Author's Note: Thought I should let my dear readers end the chapter on a good note. I have an idea for a new story. Further details have been posted on my Deviant Journals. The first chapter of the new story should be posted in a week or two.

Thank you for reading,

Your reviews are cherished.
© 2014 - 2024 Sesshomarus-Secret-A
Comments7
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Xepher06's avatar
AH! 1st off, so sorry it took me such a long time to respond. Your awesome-sauce story has not been forgotten!!
Anyway, Kagome! You know what you have to do, now since you were poisoned!! Ermagerd! It nullified her healing and they're planning to strike again...Sesshomaru should amp-up the guard.
On to read the next chapter!!