To Consult With Kings
A/N1: Okay my friends, here we are again. The sequel to To Marry a Prince. I do not have this one planned out yet, so bear with me.
"Sesshomaru, I'm going and that's final!" the shout rang out through the courtyard. A passing group of Guards chuckled as they walked by. Their prince was one of the strongest youkai they knew of, but his wife gave him a run for his money. Especially now that she was with child.
It had been nearly a year since the two had wed, and things in the West had changed. Inuyasha had taken Kikyo as his wife the month after his brother walked down the aisle. They had moved to the Higurashi estate not long after. Sanyen and Kuisotenboru became the co-captain of the Guard, and Kagome became Master Archer. Ashiteru chose to stay in the West, and became the miko's assistant.
Now Kagome was three months pregnant, and she was beginning to find her husband a little overbearing. Their argument was about Prince Yuri's coronation. It was in less than a week and Sesshomaru wanted his wife to remain safe at the palace in her condition. She didn't want to hear it.
"Kagome, please." the youkai pleaded, for there was no ordering his princess around.
"I am not missing my oldest friend's coronation, Sess. He came here, after we killed his sister, to be at our wedding. How can I not be there?"
"You are with child. Two children, if your vision was accurate."
"And the safest place for me is at your side. Do you doubt your ability to protect me? Or my ability to protect myself?"
"I doubt neither of those things, but surely you have heard the addage 'better safe, than sorry'."
"And surely you have heard the phrase 'I'm going and that's that'."
Sesshomaru sighed, something he was becoming more and more accustomed to since he had married the mouthy miko. "Alright, love." he agreed. "But you will not leave my sight for the duration of the visit."
Kagome smiled and kissed her prince on the cheek. "Deal." she responded and began to walk away.
"We will also be taking Jakotsu, Bankotsu, your ladies and a selection of the Guard with us." the inu called after her.
"Whatever you want, dearest." Kagome answered over her shoulder.
Sanyen grinned as he walked up. "Mated life still all you thought it would be, Highness?"
"And more." Sesshomaru responded. "Did you need something, Captain?"
"Kui and I were wondering if you had a list of the guards you wanted to accompany you and the princess to the South, other than her personal guards?"
"I want enough to protect us if need be, yet not so many as to seem that we do not trust Yuri's hospitality. From there I leave the numbers and the choices in your hands, Sanyen."
"Very good, Highness. It shall be done." The neko bowed and headed off.
Sesshomaru used the bond they shared to find his wife, and went to her. He wasn't quite done with her yet. The miko was in the garden surrounded by her ladies.
InuTaisho had not been pleased to find out that his daughter in law had no ladies to wait on her. He had immediately assigned four to her. Luckily, Tsubame offered her services and Sango returned to the West with Miroku when they learned that Yukami was dead, to take their places beside their friend. The other to were Kuisotenboru's mate, a fire demon named Rika, and a young neko hanyou named Kaoru that Sanyen had his eye on.
Kagome had to admit that her ladies were useful. They all were trained fighters and were of noble blood, so they knew what was appropriate.
The women looked up and giggled when Sesshomaru entered the garden. He inclined his head to them. "Ladies."
They all rose gracefully and went on their way. The inu prince gathered Kagome up and settled her in his lap with his hands on the protruding bump of her stomach.
"Can you sense them yet?" Kagome wanted to know.
"Their presence is still very faint. It is probable that there are more than one pup, but only one is close to the surface right now."
"Do you think we'll be good parents, Sesshomaru?"
The youkai was silent for a moment. "I do not know about myself." he admitted. "I have positive experiences with children. Inuyasha was the only one I came across and we both know how that went. You, I think, however, will be an excellent mother."
"I hope so." Kagome said. She leaned back against her mate and let out a sigh. "So…" she began, changing the subject. "I've noticed that you've been having a lot of meetings with your father since we married. Nothing's wrong is it?"
Sesshomaru sighed. "I am not supposed to say anything yet, but this affects you as well."
"What's going on?" the miko demanded.
"My father is planning on abdicating the throne in favor of me. I have been getting rather rapid lessons on kingship."
Kagome gasped. "Why is he doing that?"
Sesshomaru shrugged elegantly. "He is old. It is the logical progression of things."
"My butt it is!" the young woman was on her feet and running to the castle before her husband could get a word in.
Concealed guardsmen started after her, but the prince shook his head. "Let her go."
"But, Your Highness, she carries your heir." one of the said.
The prince growled. "Do you think I do not know that? My mate and wife will soon be your queen. You will show the proper deference for her powers."
The guardsmen bowed. "Yes, sir!"
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Kagome banged on the door of the king's study. There was a heavy sigh from within, and then a weary call of, "Come in, Kagome."
She obliged and marched over to the desk. "InuPapa, tell me it's not true."
"That son of mine has no concept of how to keep a secret." InuTaisho sighed again.
"He should not have to keep secrets from his wife." Kagome snapped.
"True, and I am sorry."
"Why are you doing this? You are a good king."
InuTaisho smiled. "And my son will be a better one. With you by his side there's no way he won't be."
The miko sighed. "Right. I'm the key to his success." she said doubtfully.
"You are." the king replied. "Sesshomaru has grown so much in the time that he's known you. It has made him better suited for the task." Kagome frowned and the youkai monarch gave her a gentle smile. "Do not worry yourself over this, Kagome. All will be well. Just concentrate on your pups to be right now."
"Are you going to leave?" she wanted to know.
"I might." InuTaisho said. "Despite appearances, my dear, I am old. The West has had centuries of my leadership and it is time to move on. It's the logical progression."
"Funny. That's what Sess told me."
"Then I have taught him something."
Kagome bowed her head in resignation. "Promise you'll be here when the twins are born, InuPapa."
"Of course I'll be here. I never thought I'd get grandchildren from even one of my boys. It shall be a monumental occasion for the West and for this family."
The miko's senses tingled and she turned to see her husband leaning against the door frame. InuTaisho smiled at his son. "Do not be angry with him, Kagome. I did make him promise not to say anything."
Sesshomaru moved forward and enfolded his wife in a hug. "All will be well, my love." he murmured in her ear.
Kagome rolled her eyes. "It's like you two have the same brain or something." she said. "I'm going to go get dressed for dinner and start the packing for our trip. Don't think for a second this conversation is over." She blew kisses to both demons and left the room.
The king grinned at his eldest. "Ah, that girl. She reminds me so much of your mother with her temper."
"I was under the impression that you would compare her more to Inuyasha's mother." Sesshomaru replied. "She certainly shares her kindness."
That took InuTaisho by surprise. He had never heard the stoic prince say anything remotely pleasant about Izayoi. "Well, yes. But your mother was kind as well. Times were different then. Inyanatzuru had to fight for what she wanted in life and it was not always easy. That is why sometimes she seemed distant."
"I knew that." the prince answered. "I never doubted her love. Just as I will never doubt Kagome's." Sesshomaru turned to leave, but hesitated. "And as Mother will be missed, so will you when you decide to leave here." Without waiting for his father's response, the younger inu walked out.
InuTaisho shook his head. He really was getting too old for all these changes in people.
A/N: Yes, yes, I know. It took FOREVER for me to get this up. Let me just say that college is a bitch and it only gets harder as you get older.