It has been such a long time...but here is chapter 5.

Chapter Five Prince Stipulation

InuYasha walked slowly to the Conference Hall. His thoughts filled with inquire over the man whom is about to meet and the women he had already met. He could fell the cool megaliths stones against his bare feet. The castle always is drafty. It always had wind whipping throughout. It ruffled his hair. The candle light flickered. He kept to the shadows deep in thought.

He walked near the wall. He could easily walk in the middle of the hall and not feel the cold stone but he preferred to walk in the shadows. He didn't like being brought into the light. He didn't like being out in the open. He knew the servants kept their heads down they would not look upon him but he still couldn't help himself.

He is a half demon. He didn't belong with humans. He didn't belong with demons. He felt awkward where ever he was. He just didn't belong. He felt awkward until he met that girl. He felt her possession against his chest. It is over his heart.

He didn't know if she would accept him for who he is. He knew humans feared demons. He was only half but it was more than enough for him to be feared. Could she be first besides his mother and father to accept him? His golden orbs wavered. He sighed inward. It didn't matter their social status made it impossible for them to have any sort of relationship. He yearned for something still. Those in his social status would never accept him. He would never let on that he wanted companionship. It was a battle that had no fight in it.

He clenched his fists and cursed his name. Blood dripped from the impressions his nails made. Why was he born this way? Why did the love his mother and father have become a sin? Why was he a sin? Why didn't the demons accept him? Why wouldn't humans? His heart ached with pain. He took a deep breath trying to subside it. He had been through much worse then loneliness. His mother is dead. His father gave him a sword even though it was useless. He lived almost two hundred years alone he could easily live another two hundred years alone.

InuYasha sighed again. Why did this girl make him come to such thoughts? Why did he have such wishes? He didn't know if she would accept him but he wished it still. It made no sense to wish for something that could never be. She could never accept him. He had to let it go. He growled. He changed his thoughts and released his nails from piercing his skin.

Naraku is an intriguing demon. He had to be a demon. No human would dare fight against his father. His father is a powerful demon. His true form could shake continents and make volcano's erupt. His roar sounded like thunder. A single step would flatten a village. If Sesshomaru and InuYasha stood upon his shoulders in his true form they would appear to be fleas. Why would a demon want to fight against that?

His father had a soft spot for humans. Maybe Naraku thought his father was weak for this. Maybe Naraku wanted to start a war. He smiled according to the girl a weakness would make his father stronger.

InuYasha growled. He thought of the girl again. He hadn't meant to but it was the first time he spoke to someone without prejudice. Her smarts was actual logic something he wasn't used to. None of the demons that he had met were capable of their own thought. They all wanted destruction. It was simple. It was there instinctual need. He doubted Naraku would be any different.

He neared the Conference Hall. He couldn't put off meeting the demon any longer. He knew Naraku would act like all the others would. It made him stronger. He wouldn't let them know that though. It did sting. He wouldn't tell them that either. He also had her. He grumbled to himself. He was fine before he met Kagome he would be fine afterwards.

He stretched out his right hand. It touched the elegant door and stopped walking. He pushed against it with his demon strength it was easy to move the heavy door. The door swung on its hinges and opened into the vast hall. The hall is exquisite. It has high arches and larger pane windows.

A group of demons stood near a desk discussing something. They all turned to him as he walked in. He could feel all but his father's hateful eyes upon him. The hall was no longer grand. It reeked with the stench of full blood demons. He said nothing just walked over to them.

"It's nice of you to finally join us," Inu no Taishou said to him. He put a hand on InuYasha's shoulder. He squeezed it as if to give comfort to the boy.

InuYasha grunted.

"This is my second son, InuYasha."

All the demons nodded to him acknowledging his presence. InuYasha found this amusing then he gave them a smirk knowing full well what message he sent out with it. He knew the others picked up on the message to. He assumed they were all playing nice to him because his father was there. A demon would not dare to confront the Lord of the West's son right in front of him. He had to enjoy this opportunity. Why hadn't he gone to one of these meetings before? Oh yeah, Sesshomaru was there. The only one to give him a disapproving hate filled look. He normally would return the favor but he knew here wasn't the best time or place to do so. He never knew when he would meet one of these demons outside of his father's presence. Any action from him would mean a lot more 'play fighting' which was really getting bullied.

"InuYasha," Inu no Taishou said to him breaking into his thoughts, "we are discussing over a problem in our countries. As you can see there has been an infestation of lesser demons within each of our realms. It's getting too much for our human soldiers to take care of." He gestured at the parchment on the table.

InuYasha eyesight glanced down taking all that he could in before he returned his sight back to height level. He didn't feel and think he should leave himself open even if his father was there. He never would trust the people in the room. So far two of the four kingdoms military and royalty have gathered.

The paper was of the four kingdoms and the towns within them. He knew enough from his studies to not have to stare at it for long to get the gist to what was going on. Across the parchment there were several demon figures. Most were of lower status such as snake, worm, centipede, rat, and many lesser creatures. They were all bunched together showing their present locations across three of the four kingdoms. Only information from the North was missing.

The yellow aged paper had several demons of a slight higher class also such as raccoon, badger, hair, bat, spider, and others more biologically and mentally complex then the lesser demons. Some had a few of the same statues displaying they had some type of social network maybe even a colony. Others were all alone like Yura the hair demon. Her nest of hair on the side of the North Kingdom but it was within miles of West Kingdom border. He had gone to school with her and more times then he would have liked he had to dodge her comb. She was a nasty demon who collected hair of those she killed making a nest out of them with heads still attached. A worse demon then Yura was in the Kingdom of the South, a centipede and half woman demon. She loved destruction and power. Nasty bit of work she did on villages getting in her way.

There were statues of course of the royalties. The barrens or dukes all had their place in the cities they governed. His father's kingdom is the West much larger than the rest. These were of canine. Sesshomaru, InuYasha, and Inu no Taishou each had a statue sitting on top of the royal castle. Koga's family had the shared Kingdom to the East, his father was the second Kingdom present. He looked like an older version of Koga except for having more scars probably due to the constant battling he did for the East Kingdom with the bird demons. This Kingdom had wolf and bird statues mixed throughout the towns. The Kingdom to the South had the figurines of cat demons. Cat demons are annoying creatures with curious eyes. Finally, the Kingdom of the North was missing all information and the statues of the Moth demons which once were present there. It lay empty. Moth demons are much more of a nuisance then anything.

"If the demon slayers village in our kingdom hadn't been destroyed and them killed off then maybe this swarm of troublesome demons would have been taken care of," Inu no Taishou said.

InuYasha glanced back down at the parchment. His eyes landed on the village called Se-fu Machi. It was once the demon slayers home but now it was empty with no human figurines. There were only a few human statues that had ever pocketed a place upon the map. All that was left was a few demon extracting priests, monks, and mikos (priestesses).

"That is too bad," Ookami, Koga's father said but he really didn't mean it. InuYasha suspected it was partially because of his tribe had neighboring tribes had fallen victim to the demon slayers. It had earn a spat or two with Inu no Taishou of how he 'allows' such humans in his domain by the opinion of Ookami. Of course nothing came of it because the wolf demons were too busy trying to take out the bird demons to bother to go to war against the dog demons. It would be foolish to do it anyway because of how powerful the dog demons are especially with Inu no Taishou at the helm.

"It is," Inu no Taishou replied ignoring Ookami's tone. "They were obliterated three months ago by a rather organized group of demons. Too bad all of the spider head demons were killed off by the remaining demon slayer so the chance of finding any new information is slim."

"There's a demon slayer still left?" Ookami asked in a surprised tone.

"Yes," Sesshomaru answered for his father, "in fact she is working inside this castle." There was no hiding his disapproving tone.

"Really? Inu no Taishou what are you playing at?" Angered that Inu no Taishou hadn't told him before.

"Nothing. She needed work and answers. We needed protection and this is the best place to obtain answers. It works out best for all those involved."

"She's just working as a maid," Sesshomaru said in a flat tone. InuYasha suspected it was his "happy" tone.

"Heh. That's where she ought to stick to," Koga said then laughing at his own idea of a joke along with his two best wolf demon goons, Ginta and Hakkaku. Of course much of the wolf demon dukes, barrens, and general laughed also.

"Very right my boy," Ookami said clapping the back of Koga while chuckling.

"Wrong," InuYasha answered. "What better way to hide a demon slayer for protection then within the people?" He didn't mean to reply but he hated when demons said anything wrong about his father even if it was a demon as great as Ookami. Of course if their parents weren't there Koga and him would get into a few good tongue lashing but for now he choose to bite his tongue on the wolf breath wanting to escape.

"Father always has the best interest of his people even though it's by unnecessary needs," Sesshomaru said.

"Still as Inu no Taishou has pointed out the demon slayers being massacred and the recent swarm of lesser demons could be connected," a dog general stated continuing on the conversation from before. He was all decked out in armor and had the royal seal. He like everyone else (if they needed) is all in there more 'human' forms. All the wolf demons except Ookami were not in there original form but Inuyasha wasn't very sure on this. Of course none of the dog demons were in their original form but him. He was half-demon so he didn't have a form besides this one and another one that happened on the new moon which he liked to forget about.

"Could it also be connected with change in kings in the Kingdom of the North?" enquired the general of the wolf demon.

"We…"

"I hope you are not implying that my demons would invade your kingdoms so freely," a voice from the giant doors said. He walked into the room with several demons coming next to him.

Those in the room turned to him. InuYasha finally looked at the man called Naraku. He was in human form but it was hard to tell if he could get out of it. He had long jet black hair that flowed behind him with bangs. He has pale skin and beady black eyes. He is all decked out in grey spiked armor with cloth covering certain parts. At his chest was an eye. He had an air of superiority about him.

Next to Naraku walked a little pale girl with white hair and clothing. Her eyes had a blank stare. She held a mirror in her hands. On her other side was a little pale boy with white hair and clothing with big buttons. His eyes were are grey and hold a deep dark stare. Next to him walked a giant purple horned demon. Then a normal sized man with long purple hair wearing different colored green clothing walked next to the demon. He had a silver glint in his mouth. Another man walked next to this one. His appearance resembled Naraku better than those who came before him. His long black hair was tied back and across his back he harbored a sword. Finally a real woman with red eyes and short black hair in a ponytail with a feather in it walked next to the male with the sword. She had a fan in one hand and wore candy stripped colored clothing. On the other side of Naraku walked the king cat demon for the land of the South.

"Of course…of course not," stammered the general of the wolf demon. He didn't want to start a war with an unknown enemy.

"Don't let it happen again," Naraku said.

InuYasha watched them intently. He didn't like how buddy, buddy that cat demon and Naraku appeared to be. Maybe he was just worrying for nothing but worried lines appeared across his father's face.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet the great kings of the three other kingdoms," Naraku continued on while behind him seven demons and the cat demons general, important barrens, and dukes filed in behind the large group. "I am Naraku, the new ruler to the Kingdom of the North. These are my children." He gestured to those on his right.

"This is Kanna, Hakudoshi, Goshinki, Juromaru, and come on Kageromaru," a little snake like creature with a human head popped out of Juromaru's mouth indicating that it was Kageromar, "Byakuya, and Kagura."

InuYasha couldn't hold back his repulsion of Kageromaru or Goshinki. He silently wondered what these seven children's mothers looked like. He figured there had to be at least three different mothers unless the poor purple demon got the really bad genes in the family. This is one of the reasons he hated demons. Their appearances can always range from what could be said as normal to extreme. Naraku's family was extreme. At least with humans they all had the same basic biological factors. He wondered what kind of demon Naraku was. He twitched his nose slightly getting a smell for this family. He couldn't tell what type of demon because it was a little over whelming smell but he knew Naraku wasn't a full demon. Naraku was at least above half-demon maybe three quarters or seven eighths.

"Well, Naraku, you didn't have to bring them all here," Ookami said.

"They are my most trusted royalties and all quite capable," Naraku replied. "And you are?"

"I am Ookami of the East."

Naraku stared at the man gauging him. "Hmmm, wasn't there another ruler to the East?" He apparently didn't like what he saw.

Ookami laughed. "The bird demons of the East? Hardly civilized and not worth anything. Soon, I will be in control of all the lands of the East then my son Koga." He hid his annoyance of Naraku well as he spoke and rested a hand on Koga's shoulder. Koga could feel his fathers mincing presence underneath the touch.

"Of course the King of the West needs no introduction," Naraku said continuing on. "Everyone in the Kingdoms has heard of your greatness, it's an honor to finally meet you."

"As is you, Naraku, it is quite an accomplishment destroying Menōmaru," Inu no Taishou said. "These are my son's…"

"Sesshomaru and the half-demon InuYasha," Naraku interrupted.

At the addition of half-demon to his name InuYasha stared Naraku in the eye. He didn't like him and wouldn't back down. He was a half-demon but he also required respect. He wouldn't allow a partial demon like Naraku look down on him, king or not.

"Heh. You are a partial demon, Naraku, do you dare to pretend not to be?" InuYasha interjected.

"It would take a half to know that," Sesshomaru replied. His eyes darkened with distaste for Naraku.

"No why would I?" Naraku asked though his eyes betrayed him. "I was capable of taking over the Kingdom of North. So I am more than capable of ruling a country." For some reason InuYasha couldn't help wonder what else Naraku has done.

"My seven generals have yet to be introduced," Naraku continued on.

"Seven? All other Kingdoms just have one," Koga said.

"I run things differently." It sounded to InuYasha as if he meant better. "They are the Shichinintai also known as Band of Seven."

"Wait the Shichinintai are supposed to be dead," Ookami interjected.

"Not anymore thanks to a witch and myself."

"Who are the Shichinintai?" Koga asked.

"More powerful humans then the demon slayer that stays here," Ookami explained.

Naraku's eyes darkened at the mention of the demon slayer. InuYasha took note of it. It was only flicker but he wondered what it meant. Did he do it? It was all likely. Lesser demons were not organized. Or maybe it was the mention of the name demon slayer in the palace?

"Let's carry on," Inu no Taishou said breaking InuYasha from his thoughts. "We have a lot of business to get through."

"Mmmm….perfect…." The cat demon leader said glancing over at the map of the four kingdoms with the figurines. "Soooo, accurate."

"As you all can see our kingdoms have quite an infestation of demons," Ookami said.

"Hardly worth calling a meeting for, Inu no Taishou. You are starting to look weary. Running a giant kingdom getting to you?" Naraku asked.

InuYasha glanced at his father. The man looked better years ago. He started to look weary. Maybe the combating with the dragon Ryūkotsusei by the sea was getting to him. Ryūkotsusei has tried for years to take over the land of the West for as long as InuYasha has been alive and longer. After his mother's death his father couldn't really fight the dragon no more. Was that why he wasn't stronger? Maybe the girl had a point.

"The demons infestation isn't the only reason why this meeting was called Naraku. You came into power and in order to keep some type of peace it is best we meet." Inu no Taishou paused allowing what he said sink in. InuYasha picked up on a hidden meaning. "Being weary? Yes, after all I have lived far longer than you and you ever will, Naraku. My sons will also. They are both capable now taking over the thrown,"

Naraku sneered at the other king.

InuYasha swelled with pride.

"The final reason I called everyone to my chambers is because I will announce to you all then the kingdom the prince who succeed the thrown of the Kingdom of the East."

"That's easy it's Sesshomaru," Koga said.

"Hush…Koga," Ookami said gripping the demon boy's shoulder.

"I have decided with careful consideration that…" Inu no Taishou continued on.

Sesshomaru smiled.

InuYasha rolled his eyes. His big brother was finally getting the thrown soon and it sounded like it would actually be real soon. He would have to figure out something for himself sooner than he had hoped. After all Sesshomaru finally showed an emotion. Okay it was a smile not a really big deal but maybe for a demon like Sesshomaru it is.

"InuYasha will succeed the thrown and be the next King of the Kingdom of the East."

Everyone was in shock.

"You got to be kidding me," Koga spat out.

"I am serious. I see it that my son, InuYasha, is the best of my son's suited to inherit all that I have worked for."

"Inu no Taishou are you for sure?" Ookami asked.

"Completely. There will be two stipulations for InuYasha to inherit the thrown if he does not fulfill then the thrown will go to Sesshomaru."

"What type of stipulations could you put on a half demon?" Ookami asked not caring wither or not he sounded above his capability. This was too ridiculous thinking a half demon as king.

"Number one," Inu no Taishou said with authority in his voice, "InuYasha will learn to control Tetsusaiga."

"Oh…." Those in the room now understood.

"Tetsusaiga?" Naraku inquired to himself.

"Finally, InuYasha will have to be in love and marry. All this must be complete within a month after my death or Sesshomaru gets the thrown."

"Me? Future king?" InuYasha thought to himself in disbelief. "All I have to do is get this sword to work and find a wife."