"Milord, Lord Akinori wishes an audience with you." Sesshomaru raised his gaze from the scroll he was looking over containing a new law that the council of demon lords wished to pass across the Four Corners of Japan. He gave a faint nod to the servant who had announced that Akinori, the Lord of the Southern Lands, wished to speak with him.

"Very well, I shall converse with him in the meeting hall," he replied, picking up a brush and dipping it into the ink well before blotting it on a piece of cloth and proceeding to place his name at the bottom of the scroll to indicate that he agreed with the law before rinsing the brush and rising to his feet to go and meet the other Lord.


"Rin, slow down, you're going to fall and hurt yourself!" Kagome rushed after the young girl quickly in the gardens surrounding the palace that Sesshomaru called home. She laughed as Rin slowed down just enough for Kagome to wrap her arms around her waist and tackle her to the ground, though as they went down, Kagome turned them so that she was the one hitting the ground to avoid hurting the child in her grip. It was hard to believe she was only 8 years older than the girl currently on top of her, Rin seemed so much more innocent, especially for someone of this time period. Kagome figured that it must be Sesshomaru's influence. Being an immortal demon, he probably still treated Rin as if she were only 7 years old.

"No fair, Kagome!" Rin exclaimed, giggling as the miko actually began to tickle her at this point, though their fun was interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat.

"Oh, we're sorry, we didn't realize you were there," Kagome explained, getting up off of the ground and offering a small bow to the demon standing near them. She wasn't sure what kind he was, but his aura seemed rather substantial in comparison to most demons Kagome came into contact with. It reminded her, in a way, of Sesshomaru's aura, so this man must be quite a powerful demon.

"Do not feel the need to apologize, human. Continue on with your previous actions," the demon responded before he turned away, following one of Sesshomaru's servants into the meeting hall where Sesshomaru himself was just arriving and seated himself on a slightly raised portion of the floor on a red cushion. He gestured for the other male to take a seat as well, and so he did, situating himself across from Sesshomaru. "Lord Sesshomaru, it is good to see you again, and in such good health."

"Get to the point, Lord Akinori, this Sesshomaru has urgent matters to be tended to." Sesshomaru wasn't in the mood to dance around the business that the southern Lord had come to speak about. He tended to think that such banter back and forth about health and weather was simply a waste of time.

"Ah, ever to the point, Lord Sesshomaru," Akinori responded with a slight smile to his features, though if the cold look to his eyes could be read, one would not think this smile had anything to do with amusement. "A village here in the west, apparently, has been stealing horses from a village in the south beyond my boarders. I come here to request your cooperation to allow me to exact payment."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed ever so slightly at the other lord's presumption. "Denied. I will, however, go to this village myself and demand that the horses be returned or proper payments made to the previous owners," he stated matter-of-factly.

Akinori's expression did not falter, though his smile seemed a bit more strained. "That is not acceptable, Lord Sesshomaru, after all, how does this Akinori know for certain that Lord Sesshomaru has, indeed, done as he has sworn?" He narrowed his eyes before his smile grew into a smirk. "Fine then, forget the horses. I shall call things even if you give me the young miko you have enlisted for your palace. I find myself in need of a new spiritual advisor and she will do nicely."

This time, Sesshomaru was on his feet. "Denied. You will leave my palace immediately, Lord Akinori. I told you I will handle the matter of the stolen horses, and if you have issue with the settlement that I instill, then you can come back and speak with me again, until then, may your lands be fruitful and your rivers never dry," he growled out formally before turning and moving towards the door. "Jaken!" he shouted, and the small demon suddenly burst forth into the room. "See to it that Lord Akinori reaches the southern border before night fall."

"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru, right away!" Jaken screeched, rushing to the Lord's side and lightly prodding him with his staff. "Let us be going then, Lord Akinori, we have a long way to go before the sun sets!"

Sesshomaru moved back into the room he used as his private study and moved to the small balcony which overlooked the gardens. He watched as Kagome chased Rin around one of the trees planted in the garden. His eyes fell to the young girl who had been his loyal traveling companion for years and the sheer joy on her features. No, he couldn't give Kagome to Lord Akinori. With a hint of amusement flaring through his mind, Sesshomaru realized that Kagome might not even allow herself to be given to someone else.

He turned his attention then towards the southern gat where he could hear Lord Akinori arguing with Jaken about his departure, though just as Sesshomaru knew he would, Jaken was refusing to allow the southern lord order him around. But now, he had a matter of stolen horses to deal with. With Jaken gone, there was no one else he trusted to leave the girls with, so they would simply have to come with him. Moving up onto the railing of the balcony, he stepped down off into the garden, reaching out with his right arm to snag Rin around the waist as she came around the corner.

"Oh! Lord Sesshomaru! Have you come to play with me and Kagome?" Rin asked, grinning up at the large male as Kagome stopped a few feet away.

"Kagome and I," Sesshomaru corrected automatically of the young girl.

"Right, right, Kagome and I," Rin stated, unfazed by Sesshomaru's correction of her grammar.

"No, not right now, Rin. There is a disturbance to the south and you will both be accompanying this Sesshomaru to settle the matter," he stated matter-of-factly that allowed for no argument or questioning. With that, he began walking towards the eastern gate. They would take the long way to the village to avoid a confrontation with Lord Akinori. At the gate, he turned his head and whistled sharply.

From the edge of the forest not far from the road leading to the castle, a certain two-headed dragon made their way from the forest. He raised a hand, gliding his fingers over the scales of the large beast. "You will carry the miko and Rin, we are going south." With that, Ah-Un walked forward and knelt down so that Rin and Kagome could climb on.

Kagome was still confused about the whole thing, why were they leaving so soon? Had they not just gotten there the previous day? But she supposed that she had nothing better to do, why fight it? After all, there was still much of this Japan that she had not seen, and she would have to go back eventually, she knew that. After all, eventually, she had to go home, didn't she? So as she watched Rin climb onto Ah-Un's back, she slowly moved up behind Rin, arms moving around her to take the reins so that Rin wouldn't fall off as Ah-Un began to follow Sesshomaru.


A few hours after Sesshomaru had departed with his human female companions there was a rather large commotion at the eastern gate of the palace.

"You cannot enter. The Lord is not home at present time, come back when he has returned and request an audience with him." Though I doubt he'll make time in his busy schedule for a hanyou and a bunch of humans, was the thought which completed the command from the gate guard.

"Damn you! I know he's got Kagome locked up in there, and I'm not leaving until I get her back!" InuYasha shouted as he drew out his Tetsusaiga. "Sesshomaru! Come out and fight you coward!" he shouted.

There was a flurry of movement beyond the palace walls as the soldiers who guarded the outer wall moved into formation. They could not let this intruder into the palace! The Lord of the West was not known for his forgiving nature! He would kill them all if they let this filthy half-breed cross through the gates while he was not home. As InuYasha stood ready to take down the gate with his Windscar, behind him, Miroku and Sango sat astride Kirara with Shippo, wondering if they should help InuYasha or not.

"InuYasha, why don't we just make camp nearby in the forest and wait for Sesshomaru to come back?" Sango called down to the half-demon.

InuYasha growled, glaring up at his comrades. "You honestly think Sesshomaru is just going to let us waltz in there either way? The only way to rescue Kagome is by force! I will take down this whole wall if need be!" With that, he raised the mighty Tetsusaiga and brought it down with great force. "Windscar!"

The explosion was quite significant. Even from the air, Sango was not able to see the extent of the damage caused to the western palace for all the dirt and debris which obscured her view. There was no way there would not be an all-out war from Sesshomaru now.


A/N: Thanks to all of you who are reading my story! I'm glad you all seem to be enjoying it. I'm not entirely sure where this story is going to end up, I tend to just write and let it go whichever way it wants to, but if any of you have suggestions, I'm glad to take anything under advisement! Please review!