Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters.

The throne room was packed. Demons and humans alike were waiting anxiously for the prisoner to arrive. The prisoner's fate was already sealed. This trial was just a formality.

Fortunately, we didn't have to deal with Seiji. He was struck down in battle by none other than Kouga. I heard he made his death slow and painful.

Catching Jaken's gaze, I nodded for him to announce our arrival. I expect a few gasps of shock and angry shouts, they did not disappoint. The demons still held onto old beliefs that half demons were not equipped to rule; that they were beneath them.

Inuyasha ignored the insults and strode over to the throne chair his brother had once occupied. He continued to remain standing as I made my way over to the matching chair beside it.

I caused a few stares of disbelief myself. Instead of wearing the traditional mourning clothes, I chose to honor Sesshoumaru's memory by wearing his colors and one of his haori's was cut into strips, placed in braids throughout my hair.

"Bring forth the Prisoner," Inuyasha bellowed.

He sat down in the chair and I followed suit. Even though my mate is no longer with me, I still must follow demon protocol. Especially with everyone's eyes upon us.

The massive doors opened, revealing a demon's arms and legs shackled in chains. His once shiny, long silver hair is matted and splattered with dried blood. His blue tail drags behind him. It's also covered in dried blood and missing patches of fur.

The two guards push him down onto his knees. He tried to lift his head but one of the guards punched him, forcing him to lower his head.

"Enough," I commanded, glaring at the guard about to hit him again. I heard the guard draw a sharp breath of protest and I held up my hand. "He has not yet been found guilty of his crimes. You go too far."

The guard was taken back by my words. He didn't believe that I would defend the prisoner and that was his mistake.

I waved for him to be dismissed and another guard was brought in as his replacement.

Jaken banged his staff and cleared his throat. He then began to read the prisoner's charges. "Raiden…"

"It's Lord Raiden," he corrects. "I am still Lord until my death."

I restrained myself from rolling my eyes. "You lost that right when you joined Naraku."

"You have no idea who you're dealing with," he growled. "He will kill anyone who stands in his way and I will be laughing in hell as he carries out his plan."

Inuyasha and I both looked at him and then each other. "Actually, we do. We have been fighting him for years." I leaned forward, staring directly at him. "Tell me. How does it feel to be another pawn in his game?"

I could see the muscles in his jaw clenching as he fought to control his anger.

"As I was saying," Jaken continued, huffing in annoyance. "Raiden is charged with treason against the Western and Eastern Lands. He is also charged with the involuntary death of our beloved Lord Sesshoumaru."

Jaken's voice wavered as he talked about his Lord.

Raiden sneered, finally noticing Inuyasha and the other lords standing off to the side. "It must be a sad day for demons when a hanyou sits on the throne, acting like one of his betters. My cousin must be rolling around in his grave."

I opened my mouth to yell at the demon before me, but Inuyasha beat me to it. "At least, I didn't join an evil hanyou and try to kill my own family."

"Demons only care about power and I am no different. Sesshoumaru was the same. He only thought of conquest." He then moved his gaze in my direction. "Well, he did. Until he met that whore and made her his mate."

Inuyasha let out a low growl as he stood up to defend my honor. "Not now," I whispered to him, placing my hand on his arm. "You're playing right into his hands. He wants to see you riled up."

He was silent for a long time after I'd finished, and I couldn't tell what he was thinking. Finally, he nodded and eased himself back into the chair.

"Enough of the pleasantries," I spoke, focusing my attention on the task at hand. "Well, this whore is going to decide your fate. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

Raiden looked me over and smiled. "I like a bitch with some spirit."

I rolled my eyes. "Never going to happen."

"We almost got together before Sesshoumaru ruined the party."

"Oh," I said, tapping my finger against my chin. "Was that the time you tried to force yourself on me? Couldn't get a bitch to sleep with you, so you tried to force yourself on one?"

He only shrugged his shoulders. "You were in heat and my beast told over. My actions would've been overlooked."

My claws gripped the edge of the chair. How I longed to end his miserable life.

He saw my anger and smirked. "With Sesshoumaru out of the way, I am now heir to the Western Lands."

I simply released my power surrounding myself and let everyone in the room, smell the scent of my pup. "The West already has its heir. There is no need for you," I revealed, smirking.

Raiden looked as if he longed to wrap his hands around my neck and choke the life out of me. While the rest of the demons in the room rejoiced at the news.

A hush fell over the crowd as they witnessed the intense stare Inuyasha gave the prisoner. "Your actions have condemned you to death." He waited until the crowd settled before continuing. "To ensure you do not escape, your death will be performed here."

Inuyasha rose once more from the chair and withdrew Tessaiga from its sheath. He strode towards Raiden and was about to reach him, to deal the final blow, when my beast roared with anger.

Moving with a speed I didn't think was possible, I stood in front of the prisoner. "He is mine," I hissed, baring my fangs.

I knew my current actions went against all the rules, but at that moment, I didn't seem to care. I wanted to kill the demon who started it all, the one who was responsible for the death of my mate.

Inuyasha stood his ground and shook his head. "The decision is not yours to make, Kagome."

I tightened my lips. His tone as well as his words felt like a slap to the face. "I am the Lady of the Western Lands," I snarled back at him. "It is my right to kill him!"

The prisoner began to laugh as he watched us banter back and forth. His laugh got on my nerves and I made a welt on his cheek with my blue poison whip. He lifted his hand to his cheek and stared in disbelief at the fresh blood coated in his fingers.

He shut up soon after that.

Inuyasha lowered his sword and I could see the look of defeat on his face. "I don't want you to regret your actions later, Kagome. It would hurt you."

"You forget I'm not human anymore," I reminded him. "I know what the consequences of my actions will be. My beast calls for his blood and I will not deny my instincts."

He smiled, but it was forced. He knew I wouldn't give up until I get my way. My beast was on a rampage and would not settle down until we got what our heart desired.

Inuyasha sheathed his sword and moved off to the side. "He is yours to do as you please."

I smiled at Inuyasha and placed a kiss on his cheek in appreciation.

"What are you going to do, bitch?" Raiden taunted, rattling his chain to break free. "Are you going to use your claws to choke me to death or are you going to cut of my balls and shove them down my throat?"

Chuckling in amusement, I broke his chains and replaced them with pink wrist bands. "Of course not," I informed him, walking around his kneeling form. "That would be to easy."

Gripping his hair from behind, I yanked his head back and relished his yelp of pain. I bent my face down to his and whispered in a menacing voice, "I'm going to burn you from the inside out."

"Um, Kagome," Inuyasha interrupted. "Don't you think that's a little too much."

Focusing my attention on him, I gave him a glare. He was trying to dominate me, and I wasn't going to let him. "You said I could do as I please and I intend on doing just that."

Lowering my lips, I placed them on top of Raiden's. I ignored the gasps and outrage as I continued to force my lips against his. He started to relax into the kiss and that is when I struck. I began to pour small amounts of my priestess powers into him and waited for them to start working.

I didn't have to wait long.

Raiden started to squirm and try to pull his lips from mine. Using my fangs, I bit into the tender flesh and held on as my power continued to flow into him. Regretfully, I released him and stepped back to watch my handiwork. I wanted to swallow every painful scream and moan but watching him die appealed to me more.

He began to glow a bright pink and his flesh melted off his face. His whole body was melting at a rapid rate and I was slightly disappointed it wasn't taking longer. His screams were getting louder and most of the demons covered their ears at the noise.

I smiled as his screams ceased and his body turned into dust.

The other lords stared at me in approval, while Inuyasha stared at me in horror. He would get over it eventually. I'm not the same girl he once knew.

Now that Raiden is dead, we can focus on killing Naraku.

No one knew I already formed a plan on how to take him down. A plan that required on one else getting hurt or dying. The only hard part of the plan is getting everyone to agree.

To be continued…