{A/N} the mating seal Kagome talks about is shown as the cover image
"HOJO! Do you have ANY idea of what Sesshomaru might do if I'm not around to keep his beast calm?" Kagome yelled.
"Oh, I'm well aware of what MY LORD, and his ferocious beast is capable of. But you shouldn't worry about me, as long as I have you, he can't touch me. You see, I'm the ONLY one who can open this door."
"If his beast is unchained, he wouldn't need to use the door. He'd rip the house from the foundation itself! Hojo, you HAVE to let me go home. Please."
"But you're ALREADY home, my sweet Kagome."
"No, my home is in the western castle. Oh, I hope the pups are okay.."
"Pups?" Hojo felt anger rise within him.
Kagome smiled ever-so-softly. "Yes... Three WONDERFUL pups." Granted she'd adopted Shippo, but she loved all three of her pups equally. Rin had taken after her, while Inumaru had taken after Sesshomaru.
"You...you have lain with HIM?" His tone seethed with bridled hate for the demon lord.
"Wha-of course I have! but that's none of your business, Hojo! Sesshomaru and I are mates, we have been since I graduated high school!" Kagome snapped. Hojo's comment had surprised her. Back in middle school, Hojo had been a shy, modest boy obsessed with good health and getting her attention. What had happened to that boy?
"Hmph, no matter." Hojo chuckled darkly. His eyes lit up with a disturbing, almost crazed glint. "Oh, look at that horrible rash on your neck. Tsk tsk tsk, we'll have to clean that off before the ceremony can begin."
"Rash? What RASH?! What ceremony?" She was absolutely stunned, had he lost his mind?! She was already mated to Sesshomaru!
"Yes, rash. It's amazing how the body can create them in such strange patterns. Though, this is the first time I've seen a pink and purple one.." He hummed thoughtfully. "It's truly unsightly."
"Pink and-!?" She quickly slapped a hand over the mating seal Sesshomaru had given her all those years ago. It was an array of pink and purple crescent moons interweaved so that they look like a cherry blossom. She loved it so much, especially since it proved, without a doubt that she was Lord Sesshomaru's mate. Nothing in existence can create a false mating seal. What's more, is only a demon is considerably greater power could replace Sesshomaru's seal since it's had so many years to settle. "You're crazy, absolutely crazy!" She took a small step towards the thick metal door, "Hojo...seriously. I NEED to go back to my home in the western castle. If you try to keep me here, Sesshomaru will find you, and when he does...I-..I don't know if I will be able to calm him down before he-"
"Oh, Kagome...sweet, sweet, Kagome..." Hojo cooed, "I'm so happy to hear you're worried about me, but there's no need. We are going to happily live our lives together, every single detail has been planned out for many years. I'm even willing to raise your pups as my own! They will have to be home schooled, but that can be easily arranged!" He said excitedly.
Kagome was stunned. He was serious! Serious, and delusional..
-Morgan and Rossi-
Morgan and Rossi were in the kitchen talking to the chefs. "So you're saying she came in at some time around 4 in the afternoon yesterday?" Morgan asked
"Hai, yes. It was just after dinner, she wanted to know if there was fresh lettuce available for the ducks" A female fire demon nodded. "But we used all of it on dinner the previous day. She thanked me, and left. knowing her, she probably went to go get some. Heh, those ducks are so spoiled!"
"Was there anything that you found off? Perhaps she was in a strange mood, or-"
"Hmm...something strange with Lady Kagome..."
"Hey, Himori! Didn't she say Quacker's birthday was coming up soon?" A spritely water demon chimed in.
"Quackers?" Morgan quirked an eyebrow as he and Rossi exchanged glances.
"Lady Kagome lets the pups each choose a name for one of the four ducks. Then she names the fourth one." The fire demon, Himori, smiled. But the smile soon fell, "I just can't believe someone would be dumb enough to take Lady Kagome, whatever their reason is."
"What do you mean?"
"For fear of his beast?"
"Exactly! EVERYONE in Japan, not just our village knows the story. Most demons even know what truly happened, since they lived during that era."
-JJ & Prentiss-
"Hello, my name is Jennifer Jareau, but all my friends call me JJ." She said, kneeling down in front of a boy with bright orange hair, a poofy orange tail, and fox-like feet sitting next to a little girl with dark raven hair wearing an orange and pale yellow kimono.
"And mine is Emily Prentiss"
"HI! My name is Shippo! And I'm Rin!" They said brightly, but soon a sad look clouded over Shippo's smile. "Are you here to find my mama?"
"Yes, we are."
The door opened, and a male's voice could be heard, "Hmm? Who are you two?"
"You must Inumaru, our friend Doctor Reid told us about how he met you and your mother"
"Reid...ah.. Yes, the man from the seminar on criminal behavior. His lecture was quite fascinating." Inumaru smiled ever-so-softly. "In fact, I think I will be studying in the same field."
"That's impressive thinking." 'A kid his age so interested in behavior analysis? That's a first. Then again, so is meeting a demon.' JJ thought to herself.
"Since you mentioned Doctor Reid, I assume you two are part of the team my father sent for to find mother?"
"Yep, that's right." Prentiss nodded with a smile, "do you mind if we ask you some questions?"
"I can assume the first one. I realized something was not right when I spent an hour searching the grounds for mother. I had promised to feed the ducks with her today."
"Do you know where she went?"
"Most likely she would have gone to the market. When I checked the food storage for the ducks, there was not enough seed, Himori also mentioned that mother had asked about fresh lettuce, which is something I'd often seen her giving to the ducks." Inumaru crossed his arms, his expression a cold mask of indifference, much like his father.
"Do you know what time that was?"
"The last time I saw my mother was at 4. She most likely arrived at the village within 10 minutes or so."
"Do you think she would have had a castle guard with her?"
"Hmph, no matter how much they insist, she rarely accepts the escort, mother is very powerful, and can defend herself quite well. For someone to have taken her without alerting any villagers nor vendors, there must have been a exceptionally well executed blitz attack. Along with the use of a powerful drug, my mother truly only loses a fight when against father and rarely against uncle Inuyasha."
"Inumaru is really smart!" Rin smiled, "He's always reading those big books that don't have any pictures!"
"He's studying all the time even though he's not going to a big university for a whole bunch of years." Shippo said, not even bothering to look up from his drawing.
"It is not STUDYING, it is a hobby, I enjoy reading." Inumaru scoffed slightly.
"Was there anything that seemed out of the ordinary?"
"Only that Mother didn't insist I go with her, she enjoys having her pups join her on trips to the village."
"Hey, Inumaru, do you think you could show us around the village?" JJ asked, smiling.
"I will ask Father if it is acceptable. Is there anything else you wish to ask before I go see my father?"
JJ and Prentiss looked at each other for a moment. Then Prentiss said, "No, that should be good for now."
