Eternal wishes

Battle lines are drawn

Ritsuo paced around his throne, kicking the dead body of his general as he passed the corpse. It was unfortunate that the general had to deliver the news that not only is the noble family of the west alive, but that Ayame never fully transformed at all with the spell. They had successfully approached the castle in the dark of the night, and placed the volatile clay pot under her window. When the spell had taken over her, they had left. Now that they had failed, the walls of the palace would be impenetrable. Ritsuo thought little of the West, but he knew they were not stupid. Upon hearing his lost chance at crumbling the empire, he struck down his general, almost clean in half.

Hideo, his counsel, kept his head bowed almost to the floor, not wanting the same fate.

"It will have to be full on war, no more games..." Ritsuo growled, "Hideo, you will gather the army, and be ready in a few days' time for battle. We will use what we have in the East, as well as what Ayame had gathered for me. The only greater tool to make a man fight than anger, is fear..." Ritsuo finished his statement, then swung a claw and shattered his stone throne, throwing chunks of rock onto Hideo.

"I hear you have troubles at home..." Koga asked Sesshomaru as they sat in the Lord's study, discussing the best way to handle the East. Sesshomaru had left Ayame in his bed that morning when he was informed that Koga and his army had arrived before dawn. He had Inu Kimi sit with Ayame, who had yet to stir, and informed her to let him know the moment she woke, they had much to discuss.

Turning his attention to the wolf demon in front of him, he felt distant comradery with him, knowing the wolf clans had helped in times of war for centuries, as well as the dog clan helped them when trouble arose in their territories. "Nothing I can't handle." He answered to the question Koga had asked.

"Hhmmm...I feel your pain." Koga said with a knowing look on his face, having been subjected to a recent mating ritual himself. Koga did not know the details to Sesshomaru's recent bond, but demons can sense when another is mated, and being it happened in the past week, it was obvious it was hurried.

For over the next few hours, they came up with a plan on how to attack, and when.

Looking at the sun through the window in his study, he felt the need to return to Ayame and relieve his Mother's post. "I take my leave Koga; I have someone to check up on." Sesshomaru explained to the wolf, making his exit.

"Heh, no one would blame you." Koga stated with a smirk, thinking Sesshomaru wished to continue a nights' revelry. Sesshomaru let a grimace show on his face as he exited the study, he still didn't know if said mate would want to rip his head off as soon as she awoke. Koga had no idea...

Entering his personal chambers, he saw that his mother was seated next to Ayame's resting form, a serene look upon her face. As he made it to his mother, she stood and looked at Sesshomaru, "Don't think the worst son, make her understand, she is not completely unreasonable. She has started showing signs of coming to, but has not fully awakened as of yet." With one last look of concern, Inu Kimi walked out to give them privacy.

Sesshomaru sat as his mother had next to Ayame, studying her sleeping face. He reached over and ran two claws gently down her cheek. Upon his touch, she stirred and blinked her eyes open, a dazed look overcame her, she didn't recognize where she was, never having been in his room before. She quickly sat up, blinking her eyes rapidly, trying to get her mind to come into focus. Her gaze flew to Sesshomaru, who had his mask of indifference up, waiting for her reaction, and ready for the worst.

As she turned to study him, she reached up to her right shoulder and let out a groan at the pain that was caused by his fangs. She moved her kimono to the side, and realized what had been done, picking up on their mingled scents at the same moment. Her gaze shot back to Sesshomaru, a look of horror upon her face. He stayed silent, waiting on her questions, or her claws, whichever she decided.

"Why?" was all she croaked, not trusting her emotions to ask more at the moment. She was claimed, and didn't even know how or why.

Sesshomaru explained all that had transpired the night before, leaving nothing out, not even his Mother's wounds. As he talked, she rose and slowly walked to the window, one hand still on her right shoulder, as if the pain it caused kept her grounded, kept her in reality. Once he had finished telling her the events, he became silent and stood, coming to stand a few feet behind her. He let her digest the new turn of events, and what they meant. She had become the new Lady of the West, whether she wanted it or not. Her sense of wanting a choice, battled with her sense of her new responsibilities. She knew what her new station entailed; she had accompanied Inu Kimi when the Lady wanted help with the household, or just her company. She understood what it meant to be mated to the Lord of the West, at least she had that going for her.

"Does Inu Kimi hate me?" she asked, her unshed tears and shock making her voice raspy.

Her question gave him pause; he gave her a wide-eyed look directed at her back. He just told her of their forced future together, and she asked if his Mother hated her for something she couldn't control. Clearing his face of surprise, he closed the distance between them and placed two fingers under her chin, raising her head so she would look at him. A silent tear rolled down her cheek, dropping onto his wrist.

"No, she does not hate you, she understands you would never harm her were you in your right mind..." he whispered. Her demeaner was surprising him by the minute, he expected her to be angry, but she was reserved and accepting of her fate. "You are not angry?" he asked, needing to know the direction of her thoughts. He sensed sorrow through their bond, but not much else. Until he fully claimed her, their silent communication was a hit and miss.

With her chin still held in his hand, she closed her eyes, seeming to reach within herself to find out exactly what she felt. A moment later, she shook her head no in response, and reopened her eyes. "I'm thankful for your sacrifice, you are as much of a pawn in how this played out as I am... all I ask, is that I be on the battlefield, giving me a chance to slit Ritsuo's throat..." she finished with a growl, her eyes turning hard as ice.

Sacrifice? He released his hold on her chin and contemplated her. She was definitely a complicated woman...

"So what now?" she asked, holding her breath waiting on his answer.

He shook his head, not knowing if she meant what to do about Ritsuo, or to finish the bond.

She knew they were left in lingo, without having completed the physical part of a mating, as well as her not saying her vows back. She swallowed hard, nervous at what she was looking forward to. But it would be selfish for her to keep them in this position, as if half of their souls were missing. The magics of their world demanded completion, and he had made one large sacrifice already, no reason to prolong the difficult. She wasn't selfish enough to not realize not only are her options now taken from her, so was his, in a bid to save her and his family... she made her decision.

She looked into his eyes, and repeated the age-old vows; "My mind and heart to comfort you, your enemies become mine. Let the winds of the West guide us, two souls combine. This bond will not be broken, good or evil, no one will prevail. I take you as you are, for a lifetime..."