All characters from Inuyasha is owned by Rumiko Takahashi. OCs are mine.

Ganlu Shrine

With eyes closed, and hands brought together, she can only sigh as she resigned her fate to the divinity in front of her. She almost laughed to herself, oh the irony. Praying, to be denied of a blessing. She never was a believer of such a thing as fate, but as the days whisked by, the thing she never believed in was the one seeming to be toying with her. She had a whole lunar cycle, just one, before she will forever say farewell to her freedom. That is, if she will be chosen. She knew what she had..the nobility and high standing of her clan, the looks, simple yet eye-catching, and the intellect.

In fact, many maidens in the capital are just the same, but to be part of the Final Choosing, it is unthinkable, even to me, she thought.

Emperor's Hall

The attendant paced back and forth outside two large cherry wood doors. The night breeze was cool, but sweat was beginning to form on his forehead. He gripped the wooden tray as the Empress Dowager's warning reigned in his brain and a new wave of anxiety hit him.

"Make sure he flips a board tonight, or the next three month's salaries will be forfeit. I want grandpups."

He let his eyes roam over the heavy gold painted boards that were written with different names. It had been 15 days since the emperor last visited the harem, what difference would tonight make if he doesn't go again, the attendant thought. But the words of the Empress Dowager, is not to be taken lightly, or he will only be eating rice and dried fish for the next three months. So with a firm resolve, he entered the emperor's office with a big smile on his face.

"Out." The big smile was melted to a big desperate frown as the attendant kneeled in front of Touga Inu Taisho. Touga didn't even remove his eyes from the scroll unrolled in front of him as he wrote. The sound of brush strokes the only sound in his office until the attendant's whining broke the peace.

"but Emperor, it has been half a month since your last visit. Empress Dowager will surely punish me if a name isn't flipped tonight"

"you talk too much Jaken."

Another attendant rushed to his office as he continued to write on.

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager is here."

Bringing his brush down, he let out a sigh. He knew he couldn't escape his mother. He hadn't been visiting his mother for a while because of political affairs, how much more the harem? But his mother had grown restless. It had been years since a pup roamed the domain. And his mother has grown weary. A few thousand years are long, even for an immortal which regards a day like a second.

The Empress Dowager strides into the room, a view of regality, chin up with her human hand maiden following suit. Jaken automatically lowered his head and kneeled, still holding the wooden tray in front of Touga. Hiding the intentions if her visit, she sits in a chair as she waits for her son to greet her.

Kneeling, Touga greeted his mother. "Greetings Mother."

After the greetings, the Emperor's attendants walked out and Touga took a sit in front of his mother.

"The weather has been warm lately. I asked the kitchen to cook some cold mung bean and lily bulb soup. It is late, but I know you were still awake."

"Mother, you should've slept already. But I am grateful for the food."

"Runa, arrange the food." The hand maiden arranged the food that Empress Dowager brought as the Emperor and the Empress Dowager engaged in a conversation.

"Empress Dowager Sayuri handpicked the finest ingredients this morning your majesty and prepared it specially for you." Runa informed.

"Jaken said you've been reading reports until midnight yesterday. If I haven't brought this soup, who knows how many hours you have continued working. I bet this is the only time you had a break for the entire day." Sayuri reprimaded.

Empress Dowager looked at his son, the worry evident on her serene face as Touga fervently sipped his soup.

Touga resembled her husband and mate more than her. His long silky hair was courtesy of their race. While his father had violet glowing eyes, which symbolized the dark side of the moon, he had inherited his mother's golden one, symbolizing a glowing bright sun. His jagged blue marks on his cheekbones, he inherited from his father. But Touga can be charming sometimes, and he inherited that from his mother of course.

She sighed wistfully as Touga's very image reminded her of his mate. When they first met, she thought he looked heavenly. He was typically stoic, just as she expected. But he was proud at the same time humble, strong yet soft. He was elegant. Touga was the same as him, and yet more than him. When Touga was young, he was often mistaken as a girl, but now his features are hardened by war and time. He is in his prime, and yet, he buried himself in work. By the time Touga reached a hundred years old, he had already surpassed his father, in appearance, strength and in power, and named him as his heir.

Jaken, the little imp, was still holding out the wooden tray infront of Touga,hoping the emperor would turn his attention to the boards when Runa signalled him to go out. Jaken stood and kneeled a final time to Touga and Sayuri, and walked out.

Outside the Emperor's Hall

"Stop with the long face. Get used to it. It's like this everyday, no big deal. " Jashu, the head attendant of the emperor comforted Jaken, as Jaken wiped the sweat off his forehead.

"It had already been a year since Emperor's coronation, but we can count his visits to the harem with one hand in any given month. Even Empress Dowager is worried" Jaken exasperated.

"It is natural for Empress Dowager to be reproachful when we House of Internal Affairs has less to do."

"Royal Attendant Jashu, please, I hope you can bring this issue to His Majesty's attention on my behalf. The Young Mistresses expects His Majesty's presence."

"Alright, we have said enough, but His Majesty is very busy with state affairs lately that he can only manage to sleep for 4 hours. We wish to remind the Emperor to visit the harem, but how do we even begin?"

The two servants sighed tiredly.

Emperor's Hall

"If Empress Dowager is bothered by the heat, I will have some servants bring ice to her palace." Touga stood closer after he stopped eating and looked at his mother.

Runa placed a stool behind the emperor making him sit.

"The heat isn't bothersome, now that I'm old. What worries me is you, Touga."

Touga sighed. He knew this was coming.

"You are always busy with state affairs. If not state affairs, you would tirelessly deal with military affairs. You have Sesshoumaru, he has grown. He can handle our men."

"I understand. Inuyasha can help him."

"They don't get along though. Have you looked over 4th Prince's lessons?"

"I studied Inuyasha's work a few days ago. His calligraphy is coming along, but his knowledge of the economy still leaves much to be desired."

Sayuri sighed.

"The previous emperor had 17 sons, including you" Sayuri started

"I am not blessed with many pups. I only have 3 sons. I am sorry for making you worry about me"

"The previous emperor had more consorts, so naturally, more children as well. You only have 5 consorts, not including the empress. You also don't have a mate yet. Now I won't ask you why you haven't chosen. But Inukimi, Mameha, Kagura, Nazuna, Hana and Chihiru, they are no longer young. It would be difficult for them to give you children. Even though some are youkai, the decreased fertility rate of our species must be considered."

"I am also concerned that my pups are few" Touga sadly informed.

"It is the Imperial Family's duty to have many pups. Only then can a dynasty see a long succession on heirs. It is for this reason that we need to do the Choosing every 8 years, to fill the harem. But in your long time as a prince, you've never chosen your own women. Every woman was arranged and chosen for you, and if you don't have a reason to deny them, you've just resigned to accept them. You haven't even visited Chihiru and Hana for 3 months now."

Touga nodded. "I know mother."

"Then have we agreed to hosting a Choosing this year? The preliminary choosing is done."

"What? You haven't informed me of this."

"I took the matter in my own hands with Inukimi's help."

Touga sighed. "Alright. For your peace of mind mother. I will do everything according to your instructions, but I want Kagura to help."

"Of course. Kagura is already a 1st class Consort. Let the house of Internal affairs choose a propitious day. On the Final Choosing, some women will become your consorts and concubines, human or yokai. Maybe you'll even find yourself a mate."

The emperor chuckled.

"I doubt."

"Let me dream Touga, please. I will be waiting for my grandchildren. I know you've favored Kagura for years. But your affection should be shared equally in the harem, especially Kagura, who had grown a bit arrogant for a while."

"I'll watch her mother. But I have just one request."

"What would that be?"

"Since we are hosting a Choosing, I do not think it is necessary to host any more in the future. Every 8 years is much too wasteful. I have always believed in the sensibility and will of humans, so this time, I would like to choose more females from the human race. They are capable of bearing more pups than yokai in their lifetime."

The empress dowager released a breath of air. Humans are inferior to yokai but Touga really developed a liking to them. After Izayoi, I can see why.

"Those are just mere details, alright. I see no problems. As long as you agree to add to the harem. But don't forget the existing consorts and concubines either."

"I understand."

Palace of the Virtuous

Inukimi wanted to stuff her nose. Even from a hundred meters away, while Kagura was still sitting pretty in her sedan chair, Inukimi can already smell the strong incense from Kagura's palace that clinged to her clothes, now that she's here in front of her, she wanted to barf.

"My apologies for asking you to come at this hour Consort Kagura. I must have interrupted your afternoon nap."

Kagura sipped at her teacup, the kanzashi and hair ornaments clinking as she moved her head and let her red glowing eyes roam in the Empress's dwelling. Although Inukimi's residence is elegant, it is a far cry from hers. Her Palace of Wind is much more elegant.

"Unfortunately, I don't have the empress's good fortune to enjoy so much free time." Kagura informed, chin high, emitting air of arrogance. "May I inquire what business the empress have with me?"

The empress smiled serenely and knowingly, enduring Kagura's attitude towards her.

"The choosing's final round preparation is almost finished, tomorrow his majesty will choose women who will serve him. It had come to my attention the emperor also appointed you to help in this matter. So how is everything?"

The matter Kagura had been trying to avoid and forget had been reminded to her again by the Empress. New women for the Emperor. Kagura didn't let her irritation be evident on her face.

"Rest assured Empress, everything is fine. My cousin who is in the house of internal affairs assured me that everything is in place."

"Thank you for your troubles 1st class consort Kagura-san. I have ordered some new pastries to me made, please do have a taste." Inukimi nodded to her handmaiden.

Her handmaiden clapped her hand once, and servants came out to the receiving area and kneeled in front of Kagura. Bowing their heads, they let Kagura study the trays where various pastries rested.

"Pick anything you like."

Kagura just stared on.

Inukimi laughed quietly, feeling uncomfortable.

"Or maybe you've had enough of these. Hinata, just bring the peony rolls to 1st class Consort Kagura."

"Yes Empress."

"Let me. Kanna." Kagura smiled to Inukimi and nodded to her handmaiden, Sangbin.

"Yes Kagura-sama." Kanna forwarded, and reached the peony rolls from a kneeling servant when the plate slipped from her hands, the peony rolls scattered on the carpet. Immediately the poor servant kowtowed to the Empress.

"Please forgive me Empress! Please forgive me!" Kanna repeatedly saying, her head rising and falling as she kowtowed.

"Have you no manners at all? You wasted the Empress's kind intentions. What would I expect, you're half human after all." Kagura reprimanded.

"Kanna is your servant from your maiden home, she doesn't need to do trivial tasks such as serving food and tea. Fucha." Empress called for a maid.

"Greetings to Empress and 1st class Consort Kagura." A pretty maid of 15 years curtsied to Inukimi and Kagura.

"She is newly selected by the Internal Affairs as a handmaiden. Why don't you have her? She is actually a bit intelligent." The Empress urged Kagura.

Kagura smiled. "Kanna is a bit clumsy, but the Palace of Wind has plenty of servants already. Why not you?"

"I heard the palace of wind's servants are competent, Fucha should learn from them."

"Of course Empress. I will take my leave." Kagura stood up and curtsied a final time before stepping out. She stared disgustingly at Fucha as she walked out. Inukimi could already sense the jealousy of Kagura. Fucha was a pretty girl, if one looked hard enough.

"I wonder how the Choosing is going. The harem needs new faces, so his majesty can finally have more pups." Inukimi said to Hinata, knowing Kagura is still by the door.

Kagura stopped walking, her irritation and anger now evident on her face. She swallowed her emotions and walked out as her servants followed.

She sat on her sedan chair the moment they stepped out of the Empress's Palace gates and was hoisted up by her men.

As they walked the road to her palace, she contemplated about the Choosing. Her anger being fueled much more as she noticed Fucha, walking beside her. She looked at Sangbin and signalled her.

"Go away! Such audacity to think you can walk beside Kagura-sama. Go follow us from behind." Sangbin said as she pushed Fucha aside.