Chapter Three - The Prince's Death

Prince Iroke watched the dancers, as they twisted and turned for his pleasure. He let out a sigh. He was bored. One of the guards entered the room and made his way to the young lord. "What?" he asked, hoping something interesting was going on.

The guard bowed low. "I beg your pardon my lord, but there is a woman asking audience."

The prince sighed once again. It was probably something even more boring but the man gave his leave for the guards to admit her.

Akisame followed the guard into the room she was glad that her borrowed kimono covered her mating mark. Rin held her hand, being quiet as Sesshomaru had asked her to be. As they entered she noticed the dancers and the bored expression on the young prince's face. Her ever increasing size made it difficult but she knelt and bowed to him. She noticed with pleasure that Rin had copied her movements.

Iroke watched the woman cross the room, noting the child at her side and that she was obviously expecting another one. He rolled his eyes, expecting whatever it was that she was going to say to not be very exciting. He wished his father would return so that he would not have to deal with the runnings of the lands. "What do you want?" he asked none to gently.

Rising she met his gaze, "My lord Prince, my husband has recently died." She watched his eyes roll but continued, "As you see I have a small child and another I must now provide for. I come to offer my services to you. Before I married I was a servant in the local damiyo's home, I would greet each guest. As a telepath, I am able to read the minds of any I touch, I was able to warn him of a guest good or evil intentions. I would be honored if you would in exchange for my abilities, provide a small room and food for my children and myself."

He cocked an eyebrow at her. Maybe this woman would prove interesting after all but could she do what she said. "I believe I would like to see a demonstration of this before I make a decision," he replied.

"Of course, my lord prince." She tried to gracefully rise to her feet, but those days were quickly becoming a thing she would not see for a while. Walking slowly towards him she extended her hand. "May I have your hand, please."

The prince reached out and placed his hand in the woman's, waiting.

As their skin touched, she felt the flow of his memories. She kept her expression carefully neutral as his memories sifted through her mind. Releasing his hand she took a moment to process the memories, she had to be absolutely sure. Yes, there was Sesshomaru with Akari, strangely seeing him, even though she knew that he had a mate before her, kissing the woman hurt. Then she found it the memory she was looking for. 'So this was the reason she had denied him. Well if he couldn’t have her then no one would.' Opening your eyes she spoke, hopefully he would think the pain in her eyes was sympathy for him. "My lord Prince, you were recently searching your lands for a wife. You came across a woman in a nearby village she was protected by a hanyou, her name was Akari. Yet she chose to love a youkai over you. You felt betrayed by this, I also see the woman was murdered and you grieve for her still." Conveniently she left out that he had ordered the murder.

At hearing her words he began to regret letting her read his mind. What if she knew what he had done. When she finished speaking he decided that she didn’t. "Very well, I..."

He was cut off by a commotion by the guard rushing in once again. "My lord prince!"

Irritated now he turned to the man, "What is it now?"

The guard bowed once again. "A taijiya and a houshi, my lord, demand to see you. They say it is urgent my lord."

Sighing he waved his hand, "Very well let them in," turning once again to Akisame he continued, "you will prove useful woman."

The taijiya and houshi were escorted in. "My lord," the taijiya began but was interrupted, "I am sorry to disturb you but I had to warn you."

"Warn me of what?"

As Sango spoke, Miroku edged himself a little closer to Akisame. "There are two youkai camped not far from your castle my lord."

Anger flared. "Youkai?"

"Yes my lord."

Now might be a time to put his new servant to the test. "Prepare my carriage, we will meet these beasts!"

Akisame carefully watched the Prince. Moving to soon on her part would jeapordize the plan. As the young prince brushed past her she pretended to loose her balance praying that the monk would have the decency to catch her.

Miroku saw Akisame begin to tip over and reached out to catch her.

Sango followed behind the prince, telling him what she had seen.

As Miroku righted her she sent the thought quickly, 'He ordered the murder of Akari. He doesn't know about Kagome.' "Thank you Houshi-sama" she said bowing her head.

Miroku nodded. "You are welcome, my lady. Just be more careful in the future." They both heard the prince yelling for his newest servant and they hurried to join them. Once outside, Miroku, before climbing into the carriage with the others, looked to the tallest tower where he saw a flash of red and silver-white. He gave his friend a nod, letting him know what Akisame had shown him. He then took a seat in the carraige while Iroke fumed about the filthy demons and what he was going to do to them.

Sesshomaru paced the clearing. When would they get here? He was worried, had everything gone as planned? Where they discovered? Kouga stood with him, but the inu taiyoukai paid him no heed.

From his position in the tower he watched as Miroku exited followed by Akisame, Rin at her heels. At Miroku's nod he took off, using every ounce of his speed he reached the clearing within moments. His hands resting on his knees he took deep ragged breaths. Looking to his brother he nodded, unable to speak.

"Thank you, brother. Be ready to take Akisame and Rin away," Sesshomaru attempted to calm himself. He did not want the Prince to be suspicious right away. He was certain Iroke had seen him with Akari and would know him.

As the carriage approached the spot, Iroke leaned his head out the window to see the two youkai. His fist clenched when he saw them, standing so casually in his forest. Who the hell do they think they are? As they got closer he recognized the silver haired one. It was the one that Akari had chosen. He settled back into his seat, looking at Akisame. "You will see what he wants and you," he said turning his gaze to Sango, "will not interfere unless I tell you to. I will kill the beasts myself."

Akisame exited the carriage assisted by one of the guards. Rin attempted to follow but was stopped. Walking slowly towards her mate, she allowed no outward show of her emotions. Stopping in front of him she bowed her head. "My lord Prince," Knowing the Prince nor his guard would see it she rolled her eyes, "wishes to know your purpose on his lands." She extended her hand in greeting, knowing he would take it. "I love you" she whispered.

Sesshomaru heard her whispered phrase and when he took her hand his reply, a complete reciprocation of her words, was the first thought he knew she would see. "His lands? These lands were passed to me by my father," he replied, knowing it would infuriate the ningen. "However that is not my purpose here. I merely wish to have a word with him in private."

Iroke waited near the carriage, fuming. He wanted to gut the beast with his sword but he also wanted to see if this woman would truly prove useful.

Miroku peeked from the carriage but quickly ducked his head back inside.. He had offered to stay behind with Rin to comfort the girl if need be. Currently she was sitting on the seat beside him, quiet as a mouse. "Rin, I will tell you Sesshomaru-sama what a good girl you have been. He will be proud of you," he whispered in her ear. Rin just smiled broadly. She had been told to be quiet and that is what she would be.

As their hands touched Akisame felt his reply. There was no need for her to read his thoughts other than in conversation any more. 'Rin is fine, she is being so good. He is the one as you thought.' She tried to stop the sadness and hurt from going through their link, but knew he would, so she explained before releasing his hand. 'I saw her, Akari and you in his mind, kissing.' "I will inform him of your desire to speak with him." Taking a calming breath as she bowed, she rose and returned to the Prince. "He wishes to speak with you on some matter, his thoughts are difficult for me to read. He is grieved greatly by the death of his mate." She told the Prince. Stepping to the carriage she opened the door. "Rin." She opened her arms and the girl came to her quickly. "My lord, this is no site for a child to witness. I will take my daughter and await the victor over the next rise." She started slowly walking away from the coming battle. As she stepped past a tree a voice called to her.

"Oi, Akisame. I'm suppose to get you and Rin out of here." Inu Yasha said softly. He was not expecting his brother's mate to suddenly wrap her arms about his waist and begin sobbing softly on his shoulder.

He stared at his mate’s back as she walked away. She was hurt by what she had seen in the prince’s mind. How could he comfort her? What could he say to her that would ease her pain? He almost followed her but Iroke was coming at him sword drawn.

"What do you want demon?" the prince spat when he was closer.

Sesshomaru felt his anger returning now that the prince was before him. He reached out and grasped the ningen around the neck, lifting him off his feet, much as he had done Kouga the day before, the man’s sword fell from his grasp. Now that he was confronted with a snarling inu youkai Iroke’s bravdo quickly faded away. "Put me down you filthy beast," he cried in an attempt to maintain his dignity.

The taiyoukai’s nose crinkled as the fear scent flowed from the young man in waves, fueling his desire to spill the man’s blood. "You are responsible for the death of both my mate and my brother’s mate," he snarled, "The souls cry for your blood."

Iroke’s hands clawed at the one around his throat as he cried for his guards. The guards however were unconscious thanks to a certain taijiya and houshi. Sesshomaru released the prince, letting him fall to the ground. Immediately the man scrambled for his jewel encrusted sword. Sesshomaru allowed him to get to his feet and the prince charged him with a strangled cry. With a small step, the taiyoukai avoided the attack and with a flick of the wrist his whip of golden light wrapped around Iroke’s ankles dragging him back to the dust. Several more times the prince charged, with the same results. Finally the prince realized the futility of his charges and stood waiting for Sesshomaru to make a move.

He slowly drew Toukijin, it pulsed with its desire to kill. Sesshomaru began to walk slowly toward Iroke. For a moment the prince stood his ground but as Sesshomaru approached he turned to run.

Inu Yasha was never good with a crying female. He didn't know what to do. Luckily Rin helped she wrapped her small arms around Akisame's legs and held tight. If nothing else that broke her hold on his neck. She knelt and picked up the child. "Umm... I.." Her emerald eyes turned to him.

"Why are you still here? Go help him." As Inu Yasha started to leave she continued, "And he's going to want to come comfort me... tell him to take his vengeance, to get it out of his heart. I'll be waiting."

He nodded and took off arriving in front of the Prince right before the coward ran off. "Where do you think you're going." He pushed him back towards his brother.

"Oh Akisame says to take care of this thing first. She'll be waiting."

Miroku and Sango moved to intercept the prince but Inu Yasha appeared first. Sesshomaru nodded at his brother's words. He had been ready to turn the prince over to Kouga but now he focused his full attention on the prince. Iroke caught himself, he seemed to have put it together that he had been tricked and his new "servant" had been in on the plan. He didn’t have much time to think about it before poison laced claws dug into his shoulder, throwing him back toward Inu Yasha.

Inu Yasha easily caught the Prince, "Ya know, in truth my brother here has the bigger claim. As his mate was marked, mine wasn't." Taking a moment to slash his claws along the Prince's arm causing him to drop the sword. "So what happened to the big tough Prince that was going to tear the disgusting Youkai into pieces." Shoving the Prince back towards Sesshomaru, "All yours big brother."

Iroke could do nothing as the two youkai passed him between them. He was finally discovering that underneath he was a spineless coward.

Sesshomaru caught the Prince about the neck, once again lifting him in the air. The ningen was beginning to sweat and tremble from the pain of his wounds and the poison now coursing through his blood. Sesshomaru gazed into the human's frightened eyes with his own that were burning red now in his fury. "Now you go to hell."

With his other hand, he plunged deep into the humans chest, searching for the pump of his life's blood. When he found what he was looking for he yanked his hand out with a snarl, pulling the heart with it, the prince's blood ran down his arm in a sticky trail. Slowly, as he stared down at the twitching body his rage drained away. His vengeance had been delivered. He looked at his brother, the taijiya, the houshi and the wolf, all watching him. He wanted Akisame. He started to walk away in the direction she had gone but Sango reached out and put a hand on his arm.

"Sesshomaru-sama....you can not go to them looking like that," she said sofly.

Sesshomaru looked down at his blood stained hands, nodding numbly. "I will return."

Miroku watched the inu taiyoukai disappear into the forest then moved to the heads of the horses attached to the carriage. He calmed the frightened animals. "Come on," he said, "We'll go home."

Kouga had stood by, he knew that all he was there for was window dressing. As the two brothers had fought taking their vengeance he had finally understood. For all his bluster, for all his denials, Inu Yasha had loved Kagome. More completely than he ever could have loved her. Hoisting the Princes body on his shoulders, he started towards the castle. "I'll tell them why. Hopefully they will understand and not send more ningen to die, because of this ones foolishness."

Inu Yasha nodded, something had happened to Kouga. "Kouga," he called, "ya ever need any help or anything, let me know." He saw Kouga faulter and then continue. "Miroku, Sango, let's go home."

Akisame sat waiting her back against a tree. She watched as Rin entertained herself picking the few wildflowers that were near. Only to bring them to her with a big smile. 'Yes,' she thought 'you were Leena's mother in one world. I see her in that smile.'

Rin looked at her new hahaoya, she could feel her sadness. She took the flowers to her and held them out with a big smile. Something was still making her sad. Rin wished Sesshomaru-sama would come and make hahaoya smile again. Until then she sat beside her and rubbed her arm, just like her first hahaoya had done.

The stream had been small but enough to wash away the blood. He found Akisame quickly, the others had taken the carraige and gone a different way home (okay?), knowing he would bring his mate and daughter. He approached them slowly, and knelt in front of his mate. He knew not what to say to her, so he just reached for her, wanting...no needing to feel her in his arms again.

She placed her head on his chest for once not touching his mind, just feeling his warmth. She didn't want to know his thoughts on what had happened moments ago. She only wanted his arms around her. She needed the reasurance that she had not lost him to the memories of his first love. A soft haunting melody rose it's way up from the not to distant past. She began to understand the reason Leena had hummed it that day. Without realizing it she began to hum the melody softly.

He heard her begin to hum the song Leena had taught her. Sesshomaru waited for her to finish the song, holding her against him. Then he gently pushed her back, he stroked her cheek with his hand. "I'm sorry, my love...I had do this, or she never would have left my mind. I would never have been free from her...Now I am," he waited, praying she understood.

She leaned her head into his hand and looked at him, letting the link flare between them. She showed him her understanding of his need and her love for him. "Take us home, husband."

Rin felt the sadness pass between her fubo and smiled at them both. "Rin was quiet Sesshomaru-sama. Rin didn't say a word till Sesshomaru-sama came for his Rin and Akisame. Sesshomaru-sama, why is hahaoya sad? Is it because of that nasty Prince? Rin didn't like him. He was mean. Sesshomaru-sama can Rin call you chichioya?"

Akisame smiled, "Rin, shhh, let Sesshomaru answer the questions you have asked before you ask more."

Sesshomaru hugged her tighter, glad she understood and was not going to turn from him. When Rin began her barrage of questions, he chuckled. He ruffled the girl's hair. "Yes Rin you did exactly as I said. I will have to buy you something special from the market. Do not worry about the Prince, I have taught him a lesson for being so mean. And," he said rising, pulling Akisame with him in one arm and Rin in the other, "I would like it very much if you called me chichioya."

He nuzzled Rin's cheek, causing the girl to giggle. Then he began to run through the forest, letting the cool breeze remove all traces of anger from him, leaving only the love he felt for his family.

fubo = father & mother

chichioya = father

hahaoya = mother

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