A/N: Heh heh, I've been sick, but have been writing like mad. I'm ready to update all my stories -snicker- thanks for the reviews! ^_^

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha... if I did then Kagome would end up with Kouga or Sesshomaru.


With every day the duo was getting closer. Taking long walks together was frequently becoming a habit. Her kimono made little rustling noises as she walked alongside Kouga. It was so odd to see him wearing actual pants and not just any pants but silky blue pants. He dressed as regally as a king at her palace even though she knew him to prefer running around in a fur skirt with nothing but armor over his chest. Truth be told, Kagome preferred it as well. "Kouga, why do you dress like this here but not at your home?"

"If you haven't noticed wolves are a bit more rustic than dogs are Kags," Kouga stated with a shrug of his broad shoulders as he prowled beside her. The way he moved could never be simply walking, it was always with the manner of a wolf. "Besides, Sesshomaru left quite a reputation for adhering to the rules of formal dress, he rarely wore anything comfortable. Or at least what I consider comfy. My pack is known for being rustic so we may wear what we wish, we hunt animals therefore we wear them. Your fine lands are full of villages that can make silk and so you wear them."

"Why don't you wear what you want here Kouga?"

"Because it wouldn't properly befit the queen here and I wouldn't want to shame her name by dressing like a heathen," he said, pausing to look down at Kagome. She flushed very prettily under his gaze. Kouga was growing more and more confident that she would be his soon. With every blush that coated her cheeks it was like a baring a flag of victory with his emblem on it. She only flushed so beautifully when she was with him.

"You could never shame me Kouga. You fought with me," Kagome said, her hand trailing over a scar on his arm that she'd remembered being placed there from the battle with Naraku. Kagome brushed past him leaving Kouga open mouthed at the little minx. Kagome was slowly becoming surer of herself, partially from her new role and partially from Kouga's influence with his own cocky behavior. The alluring scent she left behind her, wafting to his nose was delicious. Being around Kagome so much was making things harder for him to leave her for he knew he would have to this week otherwise he wouldn't be able to stop the demon within him that wanted its mate.

Kagome's fingers laced together as she thought about how she was going to broach her question. "Kouga, I know I'm being nosey," she said, snapping Kouga out of his train of thoughts, "but what happened to make you leave the north pack? I heard that you were its former prince." And there it went; something she'd heard between some of the maids. She'd briefly wondered how it could be that he was the north's prince and wondered if mayhap he had indeed courted Ayame at one time.

Kouga walked up to her and laced his large fingers with her own frail ones, tugging her along beside him. "I was," he said nodding his head at the truth. He'd never tell Kagome a lie. Above all else he needed Kagome to know that he cared for only her. When they settled into a nice pace he finally spoke up. "Ayame's grandfather, Chourou, rules the northern pack. I was originally part of that pack and for a very long time I grew up beside Ayame. Well, there are different stations with wolves…"

"The gatherers, hunters, healers, and guardians," interrupted Kagome listing off the roles she remembered from training. It had been drilled into her head after all of this time with Jaken and Ayame that she listed them as if she were to be quizzed at any moment. Kouga grinned a bit at her sure fire answering and the fact that she knew about his race. Kagome was really fit to rule. She could fight, she was smart… smarter than any woman he'd ever met, and she had courageous heart that desired do what was right. The world needed more lords and ladies to rule their land in the just way than their way. It didn't hurt that he thought Kagome was the most beautiful creature he'd seen in the entirety of his long inhuman life. The very smell of her made his beast want to come out and he often was actually guarded around her suppressing the beast from being released, though Kagome never noticed.

"My mother's a hunter and my father was a guardian, the guardian in fact," spoke Kouga. The guardian meant that Kouga's father guarded the ruler. It was a very honorable role to have and only the strongest of mind and strength to protect the ruler of the pack should anyone try to maliciously kill him without a battle. Murderous plots were often halted before they'd even had a chance to act upon leaders because of the role of the guardian. "Well, fifty years after I was born Ayame was born. Our parents always thought that it would be a good match for Ayame and myself. I looked about…" He wrinkled his brow in thought, trying to put an age frame for Kagome to what he appeared and what he would've been considered if he were a human. "… ten when she was born. So her grandfather had dubbed me the prince of the group, I was ten so I didn't understand what that entailed." Kagome barely halted in her walk with Kouga at the fact that he was 50 and looked to be 10, but her eyes did widen considerably as she wondered how old that made Shippo. And then she wondered even more so at how old Kouga really was. Her hand had slid out of his own as she aptly listened to the story, letting him trail a bit ahead of her.

"At every function I was made to dance with her, fix her plate of food, and watch after her. I thought it was an honor because I honestly thought it was how one got to be a guardian like my pops. At the time I thought of Ayame like a little sister." Kagome could already see where this was going. To look out after a female wolf demon meant something entirely different, it wasn't at all in a sisterly way. "I didn't know though as a pup that this meant we were betrothed. I found out when I was seventy-five, almost twelve-years-old, when a bunch of guys were teasing me and I was pissed." The image burned inside of Kouga's mind at the memory of the children that had harassed him, teasing him and saying he had an 'infant wife.' They taunted Kouga saying he would have to change her diapers, though at the time Ayame had appeared four years of age. "I asked my father how he could do that to me, lead me on all those years without letting me know. He said it was duty, as a guardian and a hunter I could protect her, but I didn't want to protect her. So I was left with an ultimatum, accept the betrothal or leave." Kouga's fists clenched at his sides. His nails dug so into the wood that it was beginning to snap under his fingers. Kagome reached out and touched his arm gently watching as Kouga's tension began to ease away. "Guess you can figure out what happened."

"You were just twelve, not even thirteen," said Kagome astounded that Kouga's father would've done such a thing. Her own hand balled up into a fist and slammed against her palm in anger, her body radiated fury. Kouga turned to look at Kagome curiously; it was always interesting to watch her when she was angry. To be honest he got a thrill when she was angry because her chest would rise with her breathing and this look of fierce determination would come in her eyes that he always admired. She kind of reminded him of a female wolf trying to protect someone she loved.

The little priestess was mad that a father could treat his son like such. Demons were blessed with the inhuman ability to live forever, to enjoy their childhood far longer than humans, and Kagome knew enough to know that the thirteenth year for humans, 80th year for demons, was the year a boy became a man in the tribes. What should've been a time of carefree relaxation before assuming responsibilities had all been stomped upon. Poor Kouga, he went with his father's orders for so long without knowing, Kagome thought. Her brow was bent in anger as she stared down at the ground. "He shouldn't have put so much pressure on you! It was your life to decide not his!" Kagome knew all too well people trying to force you into something, she'd chased after the jewel for so long that she'd finally given into it completely neglecting her life in the future and giving up on it. "How could a father do that to his own son?" Kouga reached out and his clawed fingers slid over her own surprising Kagome, with a jerk of her head she looked up to find Kouga laughing his head off.

"If you keep talking like that Kagome I might think you love me," he teased with a chuckle. Kagome's face tinged pink at this and she jerked her hand out of his. That still didn't explain something else, something of which she brought about as a good subject skipper.

"That doesn't explain the rainbow promise," Kagome stated. She had to know. Kagome needed to know if Ayame's little childhood crush had any merit at all. Things were told differently on each side and she had to hear Kouga's out before she judged him. Ayame was her friend now and had helped her through many things. Hell, she was pack. A pack sister above all else… even if she'd vanished without a word after Kagome's inauguration. And Kagome knew that young girl's in love often fabricated their first loves. Hell, it had taken forever and a day for Kagome to see the light regarding Inuyasha. She needed Kouga's story.

"Oh yeah," said Kouga with a wince remembering that stupid rainbow and how that little wolf girl had turned his words on him. "That happened right when my uncle got sick. I was out doing a patrol on the lands for him when I stumbled across some birds of paradise. They'd cornered a little girl with bright red hair. I remembered her from my father's pack and knew she'd went venturing in the woods playing around as we all do when we're kids. Probably pretending she was on an adventure or a raid. I couldn't let those demons get to her. Besides, when I caught her scent I recognized her as the kid sister I'd always thought her as."

Kouga remembered very vividly the girl shaking where she'd been corned by a cliff. She'd looked terrified out of her wits and tears ran down her face. She had enough courage in her to threaten the birds with the revenge her grandfather would have on them, but it had all been glossy words scraped together to try and save her skin. Kouga by that time had hit puberty where she hadn't and looked every bit a young man, he'd jumped over the rocks and fought off the demons, throwing her on his back and taking off running.

"I took her and took off running like a bat out of hell. We lost them when I went through a passage near the falls. I walked that whole night through that passage, it was so long and our tribes only used it when hiding from other demons." He could vividly recall Ayame crying into his shoulder because she was scared of the dark. "We made it outside, by the time it was already dark, and the cave came out to a stream." Where there was water there would be civilization, so he trailed after it until he could get his bearings. He remembered that they'd padded along for a while before the little girl actually began to talk. Kouga found Kagome's hand and pulled her to a bench to sit as he told her the story that had brought Ayame to be the most annoying demon.

"I'm a disgrace to my grandfather. I get lost all the time and always need someone to protect me," whispered the little girl, not realizing yet that this young man was the one who'd been her friend when they were small children.

"Everyone gets lost," replied Kouga as he hefted the girl up higher on his back. Kouga paused briefy to look around their surroundings. "When I was your size don't think I was able to take care of myself either. Soon you'll grow up and you'll be able to take care of yourself Ayame. Especially since you're Chorou's granddaughter."

"Do I know you?" The little girl squeaked leaning back. She didn't remember him much because it had been so young in her childhood when she'd met Kouga.

"How could you forget such a charming guy as me? It's me, Kouga," he said tossing over a smirk at the little girl whose green eyes widened to the size of saucers.

"You were my fiancée," she cried out indignantly. The little girl beat on his back with a small fist. "You left and you were supposed to marry me!"

"No, I wasn't!"

"Yes you was!"

"No, I wasn't your fiancée brat!" Kouga snarled a bit and ended up frightening the little girl. He was a little irritated at himself for having done such and so from there on the trek was silent. It was quite some time before Ayame finally spoke up, wanting to speak to Kouga. She hadn't seen him in so long and remembered him now as a kind of older brother. At the same time she went to speak so did he, for Kouga felt the awkward moment had lasted too long.

"You going to train with that flower up in the mountains?" Kouga had asked her and Ayame just nodded her little head explaining that it had the same name as her. He sighed and decided to lighten the mood by teasing her, "Alright, don't overdo it. And when it gets to be too hard don't you worry, one day I'll treat you like my little wife Ayame and put you to work so you can train to be a good wife and maybe marry off some little demon wolf."

"You were teasing her," spoke up Kagome. "And your words-"

"Completely different from the ones she remembers. Then again, as a kid things get kind of blurry so she must've made up her own thoughts over what I said," he stated as he scratched his head. Kagome still punched him in the arm. "Ow! What was that for?"

"You were going to make her into a little housewife! Women can do more than cook and clean," she said, hands firmly on her hips. Most men dealing with Kagome would've known that her hands on her hips signified instant trouble. Kouga just thought it made things even cuter riling her up since he was the only man who knew how to turn the tables in his favor easily.

"Oh, do they?"

"Yes they do. We can hunt just as well as men and wear hakamas and just because I'm great at cooking doesn't mean I like doing it all the time-" He leaned in and blew a puff of air against her neck watching Kagome jump and her skin color. With his nose so close to her neck he could smell the heat wafting off of her skin and even more delicious the scent of something that would be coming soon. His inner beast approved of being in such close proximity. And soon his inner beast was purring and worming its way to be let out. He couldn't stop his clawed hand from raking gently across the back of her neck sending a shiver of goose pimples across her skin at the action. Oh, to know that he was the one causing her heartbeat to pick up. And that smell! It was wrapping around him like a heady scent, he felt like a hungry boy sitting before a buffet, trying to decide whether to gorge himself or take his time.

"Is that so? How about you tell me the things a wife can do with each room? Let's start in the bedroom," he said, his voice taking on a suggestive tone. Kagome immediately backed up, mouth sputtering at his words. When had Kouga gotten so, Miroku-ish? There was a faint tinge of red around his eyes and blue stripes were trailing his cheeks. Kagome's eyes widened. It appeared that Kouga's beast was showing and she had no idea whether to be frightened or try and be calm in this situation.

"Kouga," she whispered with her voice jittery. Kagome actually felt scared of Kouga and the look he was giving her. She took a small step backwards, her heart thudding in her chest. After being thoroughly taught all about demons she knew what could happen when a demon male's beast came out around the woman they wanted for their own.

"Mate is mine," said Kouga taking a step forward. His nostrils flared taking in her delicious scent that was quivering with fear.

Yo! You're scaring her, came Kouga's voice within his body, trying to steady the beast that was showing on the outside. He was inwardly cursing that the beast was out and was now trying his best to reason with the more animalistic side of him.

"Mate can't be scared," said his beast and all at once Kagome knew that he was having a conversation with himself. She'd heard of such things from Sesshomaru and had wondered many a time if the great dog demon had ever needed to have a conversation with his beast. From what she heard the beast in a demon was at most times insufferable and never listening, always rash and doing what it wanted… which made Kagome scared as hell. Oh, Sesshomaru had told her only once, he was a man of brief words, that she need not worry of his beast. Kagome wasn't so sure about others. She was praying that Kouga was winning over his demon. While he was distracted she skittered a few steps backwards. Her eyes glanced back towards her new home and she had a short-lived thought about running, but knew that to run would incite him to the chase of pursuing one's mate.

Oh the hell she is! She's scared as shit! Look we've got more control than that dog-turd Inuyasha ever had. Her mate right now is Sesshomaru and until she submits I'm not going to force her into anything, Kouga practically growled out. He'd never had to deal with his beast in this manner. Then again, he'd never been around Kagome for so long a time nor during that time which a woman becomes more appetizing to the demon who wants her.

"I can make mate submit," snarled the beast, blue markings becoming more prominent. If Kagome were in any other situation but this one she might've actually walked towards Kouga and traced the stripes on his face. Despite her curiosity Kagome reigned herself in. Now was not the time to make any motions that might appear as advances towards Kouga's beast.

Oh no you won't! It'll be much better for us when our mate comes to us on her own. After all this wait, the time we've spent following after her, don't you think that'll be more satisfactory when she comes begging to us? Kouga knew his words would strike at his beast, because that's honestly what they both wanted. Kagome coming to them on her own free will, desiring to be with him. "Mate will do this," agreed the demon, nodding his head, and suddenly his claws covered his face and he groaned as Kouga took back over his body. His caws shrank back in, resuming their normal length, and when he pulled his hands from his face his blue stripes had faded away.

The wolf looked sheepishly at Kagome and murmured, "Sorry about that." Kagome took a step towards him, but Kouga threw up his hand. He might as well address the center of this problem now, he didn't know if being in her presence would help anymore. He just had to find a way to properly explain the situation. So rather embarrassed Kouga began, "Kagome… once a month a woman… begins her cycle." Kagome's brows bent down as she wondered why on earth Kouga was talking to her about something she learned in sex education at school.

"Yes Kouga, but what does that have to do with-"

"For her intended mate its hell because he wants to pup her during that week," said Kouga in a quick breath throwing it out there to the wind without pausing. He needed to warn her because every glance she was giving him now was tempting. Heck, when she bit her bottom lip he was tempted. Or right now when she was rolling her hip to the side like that to put her hand on it. Dammit. She's seducing me! And she doesn't even know it!

"Oh?" Kagome said, tilting her head with eyes wide like an owl. She still had no idea where this was leading. She'd learned many things with Ayame, Jaken, and Sesshomaru… but she was trying to remember anything that had to do when a woman was on her menstrual cycle.

Kouga groaned when he saw her innocent eyes still watching him. He covered his face with his clawed hand and shook his head as he muttered, "Kagome I can smell you. You're going to start soon." Kagome's eyes widened as an 'oh' expression swept across her face and she took a few more steps back. This time she was the flustered and tongue tied one. A light bulb had gone off in her head as she'd remembered how Ayame had once vaguely mentioned how during their heat the single women went away for a week in a secluded area.

"I'm sorry about that. Well, I'm not sorry since its natural, but you know what I mean."

"I was planning on telling you that I'm going to leave soon. I was going to leave tonight, but now I'm thinking I'd better leave now that I got a good whiff of you." Kagome's back straightened at his words.

"I'm sorry if I stink," she said briskly, turning on her heel and facing her back to him.

"You silly human," he chuckled, pulling his hand from his face, his eyes dancing with mirth. Kagome glared over her shoulder at him and then stuck her tongue out for calling her silly. "You smell mouth-watering Kagome. If I described what I was smelling right now you'd be embarrassed for the next five years at how graphic the details would be." Kagome made an eeping noise and further distanced herself. He really was a wolf, his eyes weren't leaving her even though she knew he meant her no harm now, and he had that fanged smile that all wolves got when they'd cornered something delectable.

"How long will you be gone?" She couldn't help but ask. Kagome didn't like the idea of having Kouga away. It was so odd how quickly these feelings were revealing themselves to her, but she'd grown so used to his company and was honestly beginning to fell her heart beating faster when he neared her. She was glad that she had her back to him now. She didn't know if she could take that cocky grin of his without turning crimson.

His fanged smirk grew even broader if that was even possible at the nervous Kagome before him. "A week at most."

"Rin's going to miss you," she said quietly. She was switching from foot to foot, not daring to turn around and peek at him. "She'll be mad that you won't get to play with her hide and go seek tonight."

"Tell her that I promise to play with her when I get back," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. It was really hard to stand here and watch her now, but he was controlling his beast a bit better than he had been and so Kouga began taking a few steps forward. Lucky for him Kagome had her back turned. When she heard the movement of his feet she spun around but was frozen to the spot. For once, Kagome was the one who was entranced with him. His tail wagged and he walked around her, tail brushing against her clothed waist. "Is that all whose going to miss me Ka-go-me?"

She huffed and crossed her arms in a very childish manner. "I guess I'll miss you too." He wanted so much to kiss her right then, but knew if he did so the battle that he'd just won against his beast would be fought for again. His control was waning. Kouga leaned down, trailing his nose against her neck, and then licked at her neck with his warm tongue. Kagome blinked; face blushing as he whispered, "My woman better take care of herself. See yah Kagome." And he was gone leaving Kagome with her tongue plastered to her mouth unable to move. Tentative fingers reached up to brush where he'd licked. She knew that the neck was the spot for all canine demons to lavish attention on, but to lick a girl on the neck meant he was treating her like she was his own mate. And Kagome was trying to figure out at least one reason why it should bother her treating her like she'd already agreed to a marriage, but for the life of her Kagome couldn't think of a single reason to be against it.


Rin was cuddled up to Kagome like a pup to her mother. They always slept with Rin's arms wrapped around Kagome's waist in perfect harmony. Kagome was running her hand through Rin's long strands of hair, unable to sleep because her mind was on a certain wolf demon. She cared for him. She worried for him. And he did things to her that made her heart do flips. For once though Kagome felt an equal with a man. Inuyasha had always belittled her and compared her to Kikyou. And eve though Sesshomaru had been a close friend she'd still felt lower in comparison to him knowing he had all of these years to become the perfect aristocrat. He was so much stronger than her. Even when he treated her equally she'd still felt inferior. Kouga though was as normal as a guy could get in this era, he treated her reverently and still managed to tease her. This was someone with whom she could be normal and on the same page with. And not once did she want to get a rosary placed on his neck so she could control him, which was saying a lot considering her temper rivaled that of Inuyasha's. She had to face it. Kagome wanted to be with him and ever since those kisses they'd shared she'd felt something within her stirring that made her pinken up to the ears. At that moment a quiet voice rose up to her ears. "Mama, I miss him." Kagome sat up a bit against her pillows.

"Who Rin?" There was silence and Kagome felt the unmistakable touch of tears that were wetting her night clothes.

"Lord Sessho-mah-wu," cried the little girl. Kagome wrapped her arms around Rin and pulled her closer to her.

"Shush, I know you miss him honey," whispered Kagome, stroking and petting Rin trying to comfort her. "I do too Rin."

"Can he come back?" Rin asked looking up with teary eyes at her mother figure. Kagome would've given anything to have said yes just to make those tears go away and see Rin happy once more. However, the truth was the truth and no one could bring back Sesshomaru from the dead.


Megumi was planning on bringing her son back to life as soon as she found him. She had searched her medo necklace and still he was elusive enough to hide from her sight. How could she get him out? How? Her mind flickered to that mortal wench. Her fingers tapped on the table rhythmically until the idea hatched itself in her head. If her son cared so much for Kagome than it would be safe to presume he would bring himself out of hiding for her. But how to get that girl trapped in her necklace? At that moment one of her servants came nto the room, bowing profusely. "M'lady the attacks have been carried out." A feral smile crossed over her lips as she waved her hand casually dismissing him.

"And what about you?" Megumi asked her new pet. "Are you going to do your part or have you gone chicken?"

Out from behind her stepped a red haired wolf demoness. Ayame looked at the floor guiltily before she made her gaze meet Megumi's. She was only after the safety of the lands. Even if she'd trained Kagome and had lived alongside her as a pack member she doubted the ruling of a priestess. She was the perfect mate for Kouga. And she was only doing this for the good of their lands. This may help him realize that she was the better choice for surely a child born between Kagome and Kouga would be weaker than a child born of herself and Kouga. "I will do as you ask me." Ayame replied walking past Megumi.

"Oh, but I have a better idea," said Megumi as she lifted the necklace off from her pristine collar. The idea had come to her almost as son as Ayame had agreed to depart for the palace in the west. The dog demoness dangled the necklace along her fingers and handed the necklace out to Ayame. It slipped into Ayame's hands and she had to hold the weight of it with both hands. That necklace was meant for Megumi, but it would work for Kagome since she was now part of the family. And Megumi was hoping that Kagome's curiosity would get to her more than anything to unlock the necklace's powers. "Take this with you and give it to her."


Kagome rubbed the bridge of her nose as she sat at the council meeting for the leaders of her armies she'd convened to meet. Reports had come in late last night that there were attacks on her villages and so Kagome had roused herself out of bed and ordered a meeting early in the hours of the morning. He's gone for not even a day and I have to deal with attacks, Kagome thought as she desperately wished that coffee were invented in this time period. That or Midol, because true to Kouga's word she'd started within the hour he'd left. Already life was off without Kouga here to help her. But she could do this by herself; this is what she'd been trained for.

"The attacks came quite suddenly m'lady. Only your villages closest to the mountains were attacked," said the survivor as he rapidly ate the bowl of stew before him. He was bandaged up and was finally able to eat, at first her small council wanted to question him immediately but Kagome had made sure he was tended to while they spoke. This man, this Milo, had traveled as fast as he could to safety. Lucky for him the exhausted man was picked up by Salen of all people. Salen sat at the opposite end of the table, his pert nose twitching at the news. His eyes were scanning the map of Kagome's land that was spread across the table. There were small figurines to represent the multiple attacks on the three villages in the area around the mountains.

"Your majesty we must attack," stated the leader over her western army, Micah. There were four of them, one for each of the four winds. They'd been staying at their own villages in the four areas, Kagome considered it a stronghold.

"We can't attack unless we know who we're up against," she replied, eyes meeting Micah. He was the greener of her four leaders, the youngest who appeared younger than Kouga even. However, she knew Micah was more than ready to serve for her and was eager to please. "Are there any signs who is behind them?" The four men shared glances until Salen spoke up from his end of the table.

The cat demon began to play with his "I would think it obvious. The mountains are where the former lady is currently residing."

Kagome bristled. She had no reason to doubt Salen's words. In fact, she should've suspected this. For a moment their ruler was silent a she briefly wondered what would Sesshomaru do. He'd attack. He'd immediately strike down the thing that was in his way. However, Megumi was someone of the line not just some underling demon trying to usurp her. Decorum would dictate that Kagome declare war upon Megumi, which meant possibly fighting within her own lands in a brutal civil war. And Kagome would not do that, couldn't do that against her conscience, without knowing it was positive that Megumi had orchestrated the attacks. "Get the mirror please," commented Kagome, waving her hand to a maid who went immediately to fetch servants to help with bringing out the grand mirror. They waited in silence; Kagome was their lady and therefore needed to explain nothing of what she was doing. Salen was watching with curious eyes. Humans were so intriguing. He'd been lucky to be part of this, it was luck that had him wanting to go see how the former queen was doing when he ran across that village. He'd had for all intents and purposes planned on seeing what Megumi was up to, but that little Milo had prevented him when he'd found him limping to safety. He'd taken the man and thrown him on his back before taking off. Cats were faster than dogs so he'd made it to Kagome's castle within half an hour. It turns out that either way he got his answer for what that bitter queen had been planning.

At that moment servants carried in a long golden mirror and propped it up against the wall. A person stood on either side in case it slipped and fell forward. Kagome stood up and approached the mirror. She was lucky these things existed. They were like your modern day cell phones, however only the most wealthy owned these seeing mirrors. "I wish to speak to Megumi who lies in the winter home of the west," Kagome stated, pacing back and forth. Her council members exchanged glances, they were in view of her. Salen tilted his head as any cat would, leaning on his propped up elbow with his chin in his hand. He was watching avidly as the glassy texture of the mirror seemed to ripple like water and instead of Kagome's image one was unfolded of Megumi who sat sipping tea regally as if she'd been waiting for this. Megumi had indeed been waiting patiently for this since Ayame had left. "Megumi," Kagome gave a nod of her head t the woman. The queen's eyes seemed to glare at Kagome over her tea glass, but she said nothing.

"I will not answer to anything unless it is 'Lady' Megumi," stated the stubborn dog.

Kagome felt her powers flare under her skin. And her anger was boiling. It really didn't help Megumi that she was acting like a bitch when Kagome was on her period. "Bitch Megumi," snarled out Kagome, not caring for the growl that ensued over the mirror. Salen and her council members had no doubt of the reason why the Lady Kagome was being considerably meaner than what was even normal for someone so sweet of her stature. They could all smell her. Unlike Kouga though her council members could restrain themselves because two of them had mates, one an intended, and the other hadn't even an interest in women yet. Salen was attracted to the power radiating from Kagome, but he could restrain himself better than most demons. He was a friend of Sesshomaru's after all. "My sweet mother-in-law, did you attack my villages near the mountains?"

"And what if I did? They rightfully belong to me. Besides, they were flamboyantly celebrating your crowning. Nuisances," replied Megumi with a tilt of her head. She'd become so aggravated with those villages, she could hear them from her castle celebrating the crowning of Kagome. One of her own servants had been overheard whispering how nice their new mistress was. That servant had found that some words could mean death. Luckily, most of the people who served Megumi were true to her and had left Kagome's ruling for her's.

"So you did do it?"

"I did nothing. Someone attacked your villages, now if they were loyal to me and happened to overhear me murmuring aloud that I wished those villages would be silenced… hmm… who knows?" She let her voice trail off, eyes wide and innocent as she shrugged her shoulders carelessly. To this woman a few murdered villagers were nothing with their homes burnt down to the ground. Title was everything. Kagome's fists clenched and she stood straighter on her side of the mirror. There was no overlooking it. It had to be done. Even though Kagome would've rather waited out the emotional stress she was being put under with her cycle, she wasn't going to let this woman undermine her or try to hurt other villages. The buck had to stop here. Megumi smiled sinisterly, her cherry red lips and powdered white skin stretching to show her canines and how pleased she was. Even if this woman was family, Kagome knew Sesshomaru would've done what she was about to do. Megumi resumed drinking her tea.

Kagome glanced down at the floor and nodded her head. She had to do this. She rose eyes up to the image within the mirror. "If you do not stop then I declare war." Megumi's eyes widened and she choked on her tea. This time Kagome was the one with the smile. After Megumi's maid patted her on the back the demon looked up at Kagome.

"On who?"

"On you," stated Kagome wondering who else would she decide to attack when the answer was so obvious.

"You can't declare war on your own house," sputtered Megumi.

"Technically she can," said Salen slithering daintily out of his seat and making his way to stand beside Kagome. "You aren't part of the house any longer-"

"I am the heiress should she die and you'd do best to remember that cat," snapped Megumi, her eyes were livid now. Her tea was long forgotten and slammed onto the table causing some of its contents to slosh onto the pristine little table. Megumi was pitching quite a fit.

"Actually, since you've been gone there have been quite a line of suitors," said Salen, his tail was practically dancing behind him, flickering back and forth. "And from what I hear Lady Kagome has accepted the courtship of Lord Kouga. For all you know a child could be within her womb right now for the Western and Eastern lands." Kagome blushed at Salen's remark, therefore Megume couldn't distinguish whether it was true or false. Kagome could either be blushing from someone finding out or blushing from maidenly chastity.

"I will not let a… a… half breed," she spat, "rule what is mine!" Megumi thundered violently as she stood up, arm sweeping to knock the teacup off and send it shattering. Megumi glared through the mirror at Kagome with piercing eyes. If looks could kill, Kagome knew she'd be dead a hundred times over. It was obvious the views of Megumi on half demons in regards to her mate leaving her for a human and his brat. With renewed fury in Megumi she stood tall, taller than Kagome with the broad height and lithe form of her son, though shorter than many men. The markings on her cheeks were more prominent as if the beast within her was about to let loose any second.

"Then, I presume you won't call off the attacks?"

"I'll declare more attacks until I find if it's true you carry a bastard halfling! I'll crush you whelp under my fingers until you return what is mine." The words were venomously declared.

Kagome took closer steps towards the mirror, one hand gripping onto the golden gilded side as if at any moment she would cross over the mirror and into a room next door to fight Megumi hand to hand. She met the eyes of Megumi with her own harsh blue. "You will gather who is willing to help you fight, but I have my own armies. I will not lose to you," announced Kagome. "Goodbye Megumi." And the mirror instantly faded away to reveal the reflected figures of Kagome, Salen, and her council.