Sesshomaru and His Love CXIII

Chapter CXIII: The Declaration of War


Everything seemed peaceful until reality slapped them in the face. A servant came running to the study without knocking. He quickly bowed down to his knees and said, "A thousand apologies, milord."

Although, Sesshomaru wasn't please to be interrupted. He sensed anxiety and fear coming from him. "Rise." The servant stood up straight. "Now, for your sake, pray tell this Sesshomaru why you came barging into this one's study."

The servent gulped nervously, "Well, milord, we found this letter attached to the entrance's gate."

"And?" Sesshomaru wished he got to the point. The servant continued, "And the guards told me to give this letter to you, milord. This lowly one hadn't opened it."

The powerful lord raised one of his brow. "Give the letter to this Sesshomaru." The servant obeyed. The lord opened and quickly read the letter. "Go get Hikaru and the Lord Father! Now!" The servant nodded and left his study.

Sesshomaru ran his claws through his hair. The letter was from Akira. He re-read the letter several times before Hikaru came into his study.

"You called, milord." Sesshomaru looked at his general and gave him the letter. When Hikaru finished, he looked at his lord. "What are your orders, sir?"

"Go gather the army. We are going to war."

"The family, sir?"

Sesshomaru nodded his head. He knew what he was asking. "Return to the study for a family meeting. You're dismissed." Hikaru bowed and left to do his lord's bidding. "Jaken!!!" The little imp came wobbling inside his master's study.

"Y-yes, milord?"

"Go get all the family and have them come in here. NOW!!"

Jaken squeaked and ran out of the study as fast as his little legs could carry them. He ran into the Lord Father. "Par-pardon me, milord!" Jaken went on his way.

InuTaisho walked into the study. "You summoned me, son?"

"Yes." He gave the letter to his father for him to read.

"Are we going to war, my son?"

"Yes," he paused. "We will have a family meeting as soon as everyone gets here."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, the ladies of the household were in the gardens discussing several topics like what flowers should be planted and whatnot.

"I haven't done a rose garden in years," Inukimi happily said. "Of course, it is up to Kagome. This is hers now, after all."

All the ladies looked at Kagome. Kagome seemed to be mentally somewhere else . "Kagome? Kagome? Did you hear what I just said?" It was Inuhime that tapped on her Lady Sister's shoulder, which made Kagome looked at them. Kagome just smiled. "A rose garden does sound like a great idea."

Kagome was only half listening to them talking about gardening and many other things. She was worried about the upcoming war. She was worried about her mate, her pups/children, her in-laws, her best friend, and her many youkai friends that she had made over the years of jewel shard-hunting. She was worried about the youkai in general, too.

The pups were playing tag with Inuyasha... well they made him played with them.... The pups were running around and laughing, all except for Natsume. She was sitting underneath a cherry-blossom tree. She had her knees up to her chest. She also had the side of her face laying on top of her knees. Her arms were wrapped around the calves. Her whitish-silver hair was catching the light breeze. The only one who noticed her odd behavior was none other than Inuyasha. He asked Shippo about why Natsume wasn't playing. He simply told him that she wasn't feeling too well to play. Inuyasha discretely sniffed the air. His black eye-brows furrowed and noted that she doesn't have any illnesses. He then told Shippo that he was going to take a break. Shippo nodded as Inuyasha wasn't even certain that he heard him. He shrugged and walked to where Natsume was sitting.

"Hey, 'Tsume. Why aren't you playing with us?"

It was all silence with an exception of the wind blowing. Inuyasha wasn't the most patient being in the world, but for his niece, he'll try. A few more moments passed before Natsume finally spoke as she was still in her sitting position. Inuyasha immediately noticed that Natsume's speech was no longer childish as before.

"I don't feel very well, that's all."

Inuyasha scowled. "That's not true. I smell no illnesses from you. Now spill before I get your mom." Just then, Natsume looked at her uncle and narrowed her eyes at him.

"I wish not to talk about it, okay! Geez, just leave me alone!" She faced away for her uncle. Inuyasha looked around and noticed that her little outburst wasn't heard.

"'Tsume, you know you could talk to me, right?"

"You sound like mom. I wish to not talk about it."

Natsume reminded Inuyasha of himself. Perhaps that where she got it from. "Nah," Inuyasha thought. "She definitely got that from either her mom or her ice asshole of a father." He sighed in defeat but he didn't leave. "Keh, whatever," he said as he put in hands inside his red, fire-rat robes. "But I am not leaving," he said stubbornly.

"Whatever."

Inuyasha heard a noise and looked to where he heard it from. He saw a very nervous looking servant came across the gardens and whispered into Kagome's ear. He doesn't understand why he was being discreet because all of them, except for the humans, could overheard what he was saying. He said, "Lady Kagome, his lordship said that you and family must go to the study for an emergency family meeting." Inuyasha saw his best friend's eyes widened. She nodded in acceptance. She said to everyone that they must go to the study.

"I am not going." He heard Natsume said softly. She hoped that her stubborn uncle didn't hear her, but he certainly did. "Get your ass in gear now Natsume or else."

She narrowed her eyes and growled, "Or else what?"

"Or I will carry you over my shoulder. I don't care if you scream, kick or whatever. It will not faze me." He then added before she retorted. "I am sure that would grab the attention of your mother and father. You know how they are. They wouldn't relent until to fess up what's bothering you."

"Fine!" She quickly stood up and ran into the palace without a glance. She was at first to arrive in the study, followed by Inuyasha. She looked at her father and grandfather and then walked to the most isolated spot in the room. Her father's back was to her and her view of her grandfather was blocked by her father, which she was grateful for. Inuyasha sat by her, which made her growl in annoyance. She wanted to be by herself. She knew, however, if she moved elsewhere he would follow. So she stayed where she was. With any luck, her parents would sense that she was there and that would be enough. She hoped anyway. She wasn't ready to tell anyone anything yet, especially, her annoying uncle. She knew that he cared. She just wanted some space to think, but with him around it would be difficult.

Everyone seemed to be there except for Hikaru. So they must wait til he arrived to began. A few moments later, Hikaru arrived and said to Sesshomaru. "They await for your orders, my lord." Then he walked and sat down. His mate was still standing and looked around the room. She was mentally checking to see if everyone arrived. They did. She nodded to her twin for him to begin as her mate made her sit on his lap. Kagome sat near her mate as he stood. Inukimi, too, sat on her mate's lap. Zokushi sat near Inuhime with Kahōmono on her lap. Miroku, Sango, and Kaede sat beside Kagome. As for the pups/children, they were sitting or laying on their stomachs coloring or drawing. Inuyasha was still sitting in his signature sitting position near Natsume. She had her legs bend against her chest and her arms were wrapped around her knees. Her head was down with her long silvery white hair covering it. She wish not to have people looking at her. Period.

Sesshomaru was standing, double-checking to see if everyone was indeed there. Not that he doubted his twin, it was merely a precaution. Once he was satisfied, he started the meeting. Since he was surrounded only by family and very close friends, he dropped speaking in third person.

"I just received a letter this morning. Not that long ago. This particular letter is a war declaration by Akira and her fellow allies. She'll be here in a matter of weeks. Her allies aren't just my enemies, but the enemies of other Cardinal Lords/Ladies.This is going to be an all-out war. This war will most likely change our lives. Forever. We must stay strong. We will win this war."

As Natsume was overhearing her father speaking, she could feel her tears flowing. She knew she couldn't stay quiet any longer. It wasn't until she heard father said those last few words, when she yelled as more of those hot tears flowing from her blue eyes, "NO! We won't win!"