Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi has all rights to INUYASHA as well as noted affiliates.

Author's Note: Characters may be OCC since Kagome will not be immature nor unintelligent in her actuations, and I have the privilege of changing some canon details to suit my creative needs. No smut for a while.

Chapter 7: Quixotic Temperaments

"You call it passion,
Consideration, generosity;
But it was all deceit, and flattery
To win a woman in her own despite,
For love is war, and there is hatred in it..."

William Butler Yeats 1865-1939, Irish poet, playwright. "The Shadowy Waters."

Kagome opened her eyes, startled at the dull ache which encompassed the swollen area on the back of her head. It had formed to a painful knot.

"Owie…" muttered the miko-demoness, tenderly massaging her skull, trying futilely to relieve the pain.

"Do dress, I will not have my mate and the Lady of the Western Lands dressed in rags," scoffed Sesshoumaru, staring indifferently into the paling sun.

"What time is it?" questioned Kagome, annoyed at his unflappable nonchalance, and the fogginess which seemed to encompass her mind, preventing her from reasoning clearly.

Sesshoumaru lifted one smooth elegant brow, and returned to his intense contemplation of the sun before speaking again after an intermediate period of silence.

"You will be in charge of the servants, and you will make sure all of the rooms are suitably presentable for our guest. You will be a serene hostess, and do insure that you ameliorate and not hinder my political relations. Seeing as you did not bring any properties, monies, or connections with you should be honored that I married someone whom is inferior to me in every way." Sesshoumaru coldly stated, preening in self-thought as he touched his silvery-white hair.

Kagome held her tongue waiting, as rancor unbidden came unbridled through her. Oh she knew men were imbecilic bigots, but to this caustic degree?

Sesshoumaru continued smoothly, after allowing his mate a brief moment of introspection in order to appreciate his inordinate efforts, "You are allowed to manipulate my allies and enemies to our convenience-if you have sufficient aptitude to do so. Which I doubt, and have only informed you of said matter because every mate of the Western Inus has that right. You will never disrespect me in public, and will always be impeccably dressed. Henceforth I shall expect all of my mandates to be obeyed, and for you to follow governing laws. Which being an uncivilized barbarian I doubt…you are from the coastlands, are you not?" he asked coldly.

"Na-" Kagome started, fulminating in ire, as she hastily donned the proffered silky robes.

"Oh yes, you will bear me twelve heirs; six males and six females. As a miko-demoness you have the power to decide the sex of the child. The children will also be immune to your miko powers and may even gain them. You have the option of bearing them all in one litter in your Inu-youkai state, fully transformed, or individually one by one in your humanoid appearance. I grant you the right to choose, that is all. I will not repeat myself in these matters." Then Sesshoumaru reclaimed his calm repose, and remained silent, again looking away from her and into the brilliant lit sky before the pompous Lord of the Western Lands walked placidly away, sure in his power and dominance over the miko.

Unfortunately, Kagome had actually been introduced to the idea of women's rights, and had been an avid supporter and activist. As her mate was about to discern…

"Kutabare Fluffy! Like seriously, as if I would condemn myself to a life of drudgery with you, playing the weak little haus-frau!" Kagome exclaimed disgusted. Goosebumps trailed along her nape from the very appalling thought.

"Aren't we forgetting something Miko?" Sesshoumaru snarled sibilantly, angered at her rejection.

Looking around Kagome asked what was more predominant in her mind, "Have you seen my thong? I mean silk is all fine and good but I prefer a slight buffer between me and it."

"That thing does not sufficiently cover you," Sesshoumaru finished quietly. His eyes took on a slightly glazed look as he reminisced over the torn cloth.

Rolling her eyes in a Lohan-esque fashion Kagome retorted, "Whatever, now cough it up snookums, I mean you were great for a night of fun and all, however unwilling I was at first, but you're really delusional if you think I'm just gonna shack up with you after one night of mutual pleasure. But I really must be going, Inuyasha must be furious!"

She really didn't care whether Inuyasha was furious or not, but she did care about arriving on time for her morning Literature class. Graduate classes really were a bummer, she might have to take them online, Kagome thought despondently.

Sesshoumaru's amber eyes burned with suppressed fury. The gall, the utter gall of that wench.

"Ah, here it is!" Kagome exclaimed happily, putting it on before collecting her belongings.

Sesshoumaru continued to glare at her, not daring to move lest he strike his mate.

Stopping, Kagome blew him a seductive kiss, and said, "Now don't feel too bad hon, you're not the only demon who has wanted to mate me and not succeeded!"

Sesshoumaru decided to probe for a less vague answer, so that he would know specifically whom to castrate. His rivals would not touch his mate, and as she was unaware of her present situation she would be much more forthcoming. As if he, Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands, would ask a title-less wench whether she wanted the honor to mate with him. Without legal guardians to barter allegiances and alliances there was no need to discuss matters. Not that she understood this presently.

"Who?" Sesshoumaru questioned, staring intently at her, wanting to kill any foe whom dared to challenge his regal claim.

Moving her head from side to side in thought she finally spoke quiescently, "Prince Kouga, Lord Kanaestis of the North, Lord Hiro of the South, and the Duke of Cumberland," finished Kagome.

Glowering malevolently Sesshoumaru asked, "Is that all?"

Kagome shook her head, "Well and Naraku as well apart from any lesser demons whom randomly tried to mate me if you count them."

"You will no longer converse with or see any one of them again. Is that understood miko?" Sesshoumaru demanded, already planning on ways to mutilate and kill his opponents.

Sighing Kagome asked, "Again?" shaking her head she interposed, "Why must you delude yourself into thinking you own me. As far as you know I belong to your brother!"

Not the smartest thing to say to a jealous husband, err mate, Kagome rationalized belatedly.

Deciding to end their tiring discussion before he physically reprimanded his wife, Sesshoumaru collected himself.

"You are MY mate."

Kagome floundered for a moment at his righteousness, or was it the sureness in which he said it that made her doubt herself?

"Surely we've been over this already? We had fun and-"Kagome started on her lecture, musing to herself that dogs truly are ornery and cantankerous.

"Enough!" cut in Sesshoumaru, angry for once. How dare his mate disrespect her alpha and mate. If she weren't already pregnant with his pups…

"Geesh, no need to shout. Although this does prove the validity of my point that we can't get along. Now calm down, and let's part ways amicably, alright?" Kagome asked softly, slowly trying to get away from the irate TaiYoukai whom had started to lengthen his deadly claws. Toxic green poison had started to drip warningly from said fatal claws. Not the place where she wanted to be right now.

Glaring hotly at his recalcitrant mate, Sesshoumaru bit out icily, "I have already marked and bonded with you, you are already with pups. There is nothing which is up to debate, miko."

Moments later…

"It was all a nightmare, a horrible, horrible nightmare!" muttered Kagome, almost incoherently.

Clearly, his words tinged with frostbite, Sesshoumaru broke her reverie.

"You shall collect your possessions which you deem important from camp, and inform your pack of your changed status, and start to assume your duties tomorrow."

"Sesshoumaru, even though I find the idea of us being m-m-mates daunting, I think that we're being too drastic in our pronouncement of this unwarranted situation. Like isn't there something legal which can terminate our bond? Like divorce, or an annulment? Can't we go to the courts and petition for a separation, or whatever stands for courts in this backwards place…?"

Kagome enthusiastically continued, twirling her silken hair nervously between her graceful fingers.

"You could claim that I'm an incompetent mate and have the mark removed before it expires from its transitional stage and becomes permanent!" Stopping she glanced a look at her partner and angered at the indifference she saw, "Are you even listening to me? Here I am trying to come up with a way to resolve the delicate situation you have placed us in and all you care about is remaining solemnly silent again?"

"I think not miko," hissed Sesshoumaru angrily, sounding more like an angry viper than a growling dog, "Or have you forgotten that we are not like those Gengin foreigners who are not rule appropriately by the Royal courts?" Sesshoumaru was taking a risk here, he was not sure whether what he said was true since he had never left Japan or bothered to acclimatize himself to foreign cultures believing conceitedly is superiority to all.

Rubbing her neck tiredly Kagome resignedly asked, " Well is there anything we can do?"

"No, there is no way, and your life force is permanently tied to the Western Lands just like mine." Sesshoumaru finished curtly.

Kagome gasped, "You mean I'm stuck in this primitive era without running water, and electricity!" Her mind already fumbling with the repercussions.

Scowling Sesshoumaru snapped, "You will be able to leave but you may derive power and use the inherent power of the lands to either aid you in any endeavor, or satiate the needs of the land."

Calling Ah-Un telepathically, Sesshoumaru waited impatiently for his dragon to appear. A least Ah-Un knew how to obey his orders. Quietly he hoped his mate would not recall the matter of her pregnancy. It was not that he feared his mate's rage over that fact, but silence was above all golden in his mind.

Definitions

Kutabare: fuck you

Haus-frau: house wife in German

Nani: what

Gengin: foreigners, non-oriental

Damare: shut up

Preview of Next Time

"It's, it's...BEAUTIFUL!" Kagome exclaimed brightly, jumping up from the veranda to hug her so termed Ice Prince.

Kissing his cheek with desultory lightness she sighed, "You really shouldn't have, after all this is a marriage in name only, and this necklace looks like it cost a lot. Not that my mind could make an accurate conversion of your money to mine, but still, it looks uber expensive."

Staring impassively at his mate, and hiding his inner glee, Sesshoumaru intoned, "Come to me."

And she did.

"SESHOU-" Kagome started, cheeks flushed in anger even as she moved to comply with his wishes.

"Damare."

Smirking like a Cheshire cat Sesshoumaru proceeded to their rooms. After all it wouldn't do for him not to enjoy his wedding night.