A/N: I am so sorry it took so long to get this chapter out! I had the first half all written, but it took forever to figure out how to finish it. I still don't know if I'm satisfied with how it ended. And, thanks so much for the reviews! Really, I was surprised there was even an interest in the story. Thanks so much!

Disclaimer: No, not mine!

Summary:Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Honor-bound

Part II: Matters of Prevention

"I-in…in love?" Kagome managed to sputter out.

Surprised beyond belief, it was the last thing she expected to hear from Kikyou. A passionate declaration of love? This could not be her sister!

Almost shamefully, the older girl nodded her head. "Yes."

Amazed at Kikyou's sudden admittance, Kagome wondered how the miracle of love could change even the most unfeeling of hearts. It was certainly beyond her comprehension. She believed in it, of course, but it had yet to happen to her. That is to say…if it even did happen.

"Well…with who?" The younger girl asked curiously.

Kikyou flushed a bright red at the question. Kagome had never seen her sister so animated.

"Uhm…It is embarrassing to say, Kagome. I'm not sure I should—"

"Ne-chan!"—Kagome chided her older sister—"You know you can always tell me anything."

Kikyou sighed heavily. She knew Kagome was right. "All right…but, please…don't tell anyone."

Kagome gave her sister a look that told her she knew Kikyou was only delaying the inevitable. "You already knew I wouldn't. Now, who is it?"

Kikyou then proceeded to mumble something under her breath that sounded nothing close to any sort of spoken language.

"Who?"

"Inuhmmfsha!" she repeated through a closed mouth.

"Who?!"

"Inuyasha!" Kikyou fairly yelled.

Kagome's only reply was a startled "Oh."

Kikyou hid behind her long dark bangs in an embarrassed manner. She wasn't quite used to this new emotion yet and it made her feel ridiculously uncomfortable.

Kagome finally regained her powers of speech. "Oh! I knew it, I knew it, I knew it, I knew it," –She forcefully hugged her sister—"Oh, Ne-chan! I'm so happy for you! You must know he feels the same way!"

"Kagome! Don't hold me so hard." Kikyou managed to escape from her younger sister's death grip and then added softly, "I know…he's told me."

There was a peculiar glitter in Kikyou's dark brown eyes at the mention of a certain hanyou. That was when Kagome knew it was true love.

She vowed then and there she'd do everything she could to help her sister escape her unwanted marriage.

"Ne-chan…don't worry. I'll make sure you get your happy ending, no matter what it takes."

With the thankful sparkle emanating from Kikyou's eyes, Kagome was even more determined to get started on her mission.

She wasn't going to fail, even if it killed her.

Passing through the dimly lit corridor, Kagome accosted the first servant she came across. The chambermaid, catching sight of her mistress, bowed hesitantly. She really didn't like the strange look in her lady's eyes.

"Shiori," Kagome addressed the younger servant.

"Ha..Hai, my lady."

"Have you seen my father?"

Breathing out a sigh of relief, Shiori visibly relaxed. For a moment, she thought she was in deep trouble. For what, she would never be able to guess. "Yes. I have heard he was in the study."

Distracted, Kagome nodded her thanks and made her way to the nearby study. She would need all her strength to convince her father that there were more ways to sustaining the peace than throwing out one's daughter to the wolves. Or in this case, a demon, she thought angrily.

All in all, she didn't know if she could entirely blame her father for his eccentric behavior. Ever since the death of her mother three years ago, he was clearly not the same man. Their marriage, a rarity in the eyes of society, was a great love match. The story was quite well known actually. Her father, a handsome young man from a large prominent family, courted her shy beautiful mother. It was a fantastic whirlwind romance, involving a daring rescue, a high-tailed escape, and eventually finding true happiness in the arms of a loved one. It sounded more like a fairy tale rather than a reality. Nevertheless, there was no doubt it was true.

Kagome had been a first eyewitness to this ever since she was old enough to understand the concept of love. Even if it was just a small gesture of holding hands or a simple glance, it was obviously evident in everything her parents did for one another. She would wait for the one she was destined to be with because it truly made all the difference.

Most of the court's ladies and lords never really held fidelity in high value. It was such a hypocrisy that Kagome made it a point to never conform to their standards. There was such embittered unhappiness in high society's marriages that it was a complete shock no one had gone stark, raving mad yet.

She deeply missed her mother. She would know what to do.

Please Mama…lend me your strength.

Kagome had finally reached the dark wooden doors of her father's study. She noticed that he'd been burying himself in work lately.

She sighed heavily before knocking and silently waited for a response.

"Enter," a deep, tired voice called out.

Pushing open the doors, Kagome saw her father, sitting in his large chair behind the massive oak desk he worked on. His head was slightly bent down, looking over a stack of seemingly endless parchments. It appeared as if he had been working for a long while without taking a break. Instead of getting straight to the point, Kagome opted to ask about his health first. She was worried that if he didn't get to bed soon, he'd simply pass out from complete exhaustion.

"Papa? Are you alright?"

He finally glanced up at the sound of her voice. His tired eyes warming slightly at the sight of his youngest daughter.

"Oh, my dear, it's you. Yes, I'm quite fine. Just a bit busy," he murmured absently. "Was there anything you needed?"

Not believing him, but not wanting to waste her breath trying to get him to admit what he wouldn't, Kagome decided to forge on.

With a hardened resolve, she decided now the time was better than any to make her case. "Actually Papa, there is something I wanted to talk to you about" –Taking a deep breath, she continued-- "I've heard rumors that my sister is being forced to marry a complete stranger. I've also heard that she's being used as a pawn to appease the turmoil between the demons and humans. And, on top of all this, she's doesn't want to because she's in love with someone else!"

Her father, silent during her verbal tirade, just stared at his daughter until she calmed down enough to breathe evenly. He'd always thought it would have been better if Kagome had been born a boy because then she'd have been able to do so much more with her position. She was always too strong-willed and too determined; she'd never be a "proper"lady. But, that made him love her all the more. She was who she was…and she would never let anyone tell her otherwise. It'd be a miracle to find her a suitor who would agree to be kept on his toes. Kagome would never be submissive.

"Kagome…" Her father began, "There is much about the circumstances you do not know of. It is more than an alliance; it is to save thousands of lives." The Northern lord rubbed his forehead wearily. "More so, what is the cost of one sacrifice compared to a multitude of others? It cannot be helped, I'm sorry, my dear."

"The cost of one, Papa? Weren't you the one to always tell us that fighting for what we believe is right will overcome all else? I don't know how else to look at something that is so obviously wrong," she responded back heatedly. She was astounded that her father would not even begin to compromise.

"Kagome, you know I love you and your sister dearly. There is nothing more I want but for you both to live with the greatest happiness. However, there are others to think of. I'm sure you will understand later."

"Papa, that's not an answer and you know it. You're avoiding what the real problem is. If there is no happiness to fight for, than why even go on? My sister is in love, Papa! I should expect you of all people to know how that feels."

It shot him straight to the heart. His whole demeanor was stricken before he could even think of a response.

Frustrated that his daughter hit such a tender point, he replied harshly. "Young lady, you are forgetting your place. You will refrain from speaking to your father in such a disrespectful manner. I am doing everything in my power to prevent this war and no daughter of mine will put her needs before duty. The decision is final. Sesshoumaru-sama is to court Kikyou, she will accept, and they will wed. End of discussion." Lord Higurashi ended by pounding a powerful fist on his desk as he rose from his seat.

As Kagome stood there, tears pricking from her eyes, she refused to give in. "Papa, I will do no such thing. Unlike you, I will never accept that." With that final defiant statement, she turned and fled the study.

Her father simply watched her leave, finally slumping back down to his chair to deal with yet another problem on the list that seemed to never stop growing.

The following week zoomed by rather quickly, with the whole castle alive with activity. The next ball was coming up soon, and as all the servants knew, it was to be the most spectacular yet. Sesshoumaru-sama would be making an appearance for the first time and everyone who was everyone would be there. If anything, they would be there to catch a glimpse of the 'elusive' lord.

It sickened Kagome how much the mere mention of his name stirred up all kinds of interest. It sickened her that he'd be here soon, where she would have to meet him and be perfectly civil about it.

She honestly didn't know if she'd be able to handle it. The only solace she could find was that she finally had a plan. If her father would do nothing to prevent this, she definitely would take the initiative. In the very least, her sister felt more at ease now that Kagome was helping her.

She'd show the Lord of the West what she was made out of. He was going to be in for an…interesting surprise.

She'd make him sorry for trying to ruin the happiness her sister rightfully deserved.

Kagome only hoped that her plan would work…and that she didn't die a painful death in the process of it.

A/N:Woo, so finally got that out of the way. I promise Sesshoumaru will make his appearance in the next chapter. Don't know when that'll be out, but hopefully soon. Maybe even faster with the proper encouragement (cough -review- cough). Haha, but anyway, thank you for reading!

-Tinkah