A/n: After getting a lot of requests from you wonderful reviewers, I have decided to add a short Sesskag moment in this chapter. It will be very mild but nonetheless, it would be there.

Some of you reviewed that you guys were heartbroken due to my previous chapter's authors note. To make you guys really happy, I will say this; I have decided to extend the romance scenes between our fav couple: Sesskag. But then again, I'll once again say this; the romance would be slow paced because I'll have to mix it in between the political drama and all. So my kind readers please don't flame me for the slow romance part. I'll sneak the romance parts in between so that none of you guys get bored.

Happy reading~

Sesshomaru looked down at her. The girl, she never seized to amuse him. He bent down on his knees and sat beside her unconscious form. Molten amber eyes; the color of honey traced each and every detail of her face, the glowing skin, the intricately carved expanse of eyelashes, the delicate nose and the soft plump lips. His eyes softened. He had no particular thought running in his mind at the moment. He realized, he was happy for some unknown reason and a small smile almost unseen, graced his lips.

He lifted a clawed hand and removed a lock of her hair which was mischievously hiding his view of her cheeks. He noted, she had quite the soft skin and unknowingly brushed his lethal fingers across her cheekbone. A cut formed on her skin as it broke against the claws. He withdrew his hand in a whiplash motion and held it in front of his eyes. His eyes narrowed and it glared at the hand for having its own mind. He would be damned if anyone would have noticed his obscene behavior. Sesshomaru was ashamed!

He looked down at her once more and decided to call a servant to carry her away. But something stopped him from doing so. Without a second thought, he unfolded himself in a fluid motion and picked her up gently. Cradling her form near his chest almost like a possessive man, he made his way to her room.

He felt that the distance between his study and her room would never end and would grow longer. Maybe he unconsciously wanted it to grow longer?

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Sesshomaru stopped in front of her chamber. He took an uneasy step towards the door. He knew Inuyasha would be inside and he would not be happy to see his mate in another man's arms.

He shifted her to one arm and lifted his other hand to knock on the door. Before his knuckles could even make contact with the door, the door was flung open. From inside emerged a furious Inuyasha. Sesshomaru was prepared for the mindless provocations of the hanyou but he was tired. So, without a second word, he disposed Kagome into Inuyasha's arms and strolled away with his scratched dignity.

Sesshomaru was annoyed at himself for not being able to control himself. He was a lord and had better control over his actions. But, something about the humans; Rin and now Kagome always hindered with his control. He was somehow powerless before these females. He scoffed. He was no weak human compassionate lord, he reminded himself. He was strong and these mistakes would never happen again. Or so, he hoped. He was tired after the long day and quickly moved into his chambers to take a much-needed rest.

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Inuyasha looked down at the form of his future mate, breathing softly in his arms. His face which had been previously scrunched up in anger softened a bit. It had been a long time since he had cradled Kagome in his arms. He walked up to her makeshift bed and gently sat down. He placed Kagome on the side she usually slept in. He looked at her face, bent down and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead.

It had been a long time since Inuyasha had played with her hair. He took the opportunity and picked up a lock and twirled it around his finger. It was then that he noticed it, the reminiscence of a certain demon lord's touch on her skin. A certain blood trail probably created with his claws and the Youkai oozing out from the cut on her cheek. Inuyasha knew that Youkai very well. It was after all of his dear half-brother.

Inuyasha was furious in a minute. He was back to seething in anger. He gritted his teeth tightly and his eyes flickered between red and white. His insanity rising, Inuyasha struggled to gain control on his youkai blood. This had been happening quite often after he has entered the western palace. Like all the other times, he struggled to move towards the innocently standing Tetsusaiga.

Don't…..don't let it take over…..protect Kagome…

He continued to remind himself. He had to protect kagome and be her cherished mate. His head pounded ragingly and his control threatening to spill, he reached the Tetsusaiga somehow and clutched its metal body like a lifeline. After what seemed like almost an eternity, he calmed down and slipped into a soundless sleep.

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Morning came with the bright sunlight filtering through the window in her chamber. Kagome woke up as soon as the warm light hit her sleepy eyes. She stretched her arms and her toes. Massaging her shoulders she eased the sore muscles. When awareness came to her fully, she realized that there was a small bump on her forehead and a local pain in the area. She touched it gently and then winced as her fingers brushed over the bump.

Kagome sighed as she recalled the events of the last night. She was surprised that she was still inside the palace. She had half expected for Sesshomaru to dump her into Inuyasha's arms and then to literally kick them out from his humble home. But, it seemed that he had been overly generous and had allowed them to stay the night.

There was a knock on her door. She sighed, the dreaded breakfast time. She really hated this time. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha being a kin dined in Sesshomaru's perfect dining hall. She had to be present as well for some reason completely unknown to her. She wondered as to how he managed to even dine with half-breeds and humans in such a prejudiced backdrop. Then again….he is Sesshomaru and well, he is capable of making everything possible.

She got out of her bed and went about with her morning rituals. Once she was ready in her royal blue and floral kimono, she brushed the ends to plain them out. She looked at herself in the mirror. She sighed, she had put on weight. She was eating delicious meals after all. Provided that she only got fruits and vegetables like some leftover scraps, still, she was having enough to put on weight. She smiled a bittersweet smile. It was not like she enjoyed their humiliation but she was a stubborn girl and her determination was her salvation.

I will not let my chance go in vain. I will do something and make into the councils….

Satisfied with her own motivation, she smiled with a determined look and left her room in a swish of royal blue silk. She was becoming quite the elegant lady.

Mama would be so surprised.

She released a suppressed giggle and made her way to the dining room.

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As usual, his dining room was tingling with the sparks of holy power but today, the presence of a youkai pressure was also there. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes in annoyance. This was a first, Inuyasha was on time! He had a bad feeling settling down in the pit of his stomach. He gave an arrogant shrug, he Sesshomaru, was deterred by nothing. With his back straight and head held high, he pushed the door of the dining hall open and entered with the grace of a proud lord, which in fact he was.

As soon as he entered the hall, he took his place at the head of the table. As if things were playing on his suspicion, he sensed the irritation in Inuyasha to reach its peak. He slammed a hand on the table; a rude gesture. Baring his fangs at his younger brother for his disrespect Sesshomaru allowed his eyes to flash threateningly; an order to submit. Inuyasha knew better than to cross the pack policy and let the matter cool down for the time being. But that stopped neither the heated glares directed at his elder brother nor the occasional growls which slipped his mouth whenever Sesshomaru as much gazed at kagome.

Kagome was totally clueless about what had just transpired between the brothers. She was very much minding her own business; playing with the hem of her kimono sleeves when all of a sudden Inuyasha banged the table with his fist. She almost jumped out of her skin in shock. She looked upwards with anger filled eyes, her mouth ready to utter the submission spell but stopped when she noticed the way in which Sesshomaru's eyes flashed and the way he bared his fangs with a hissing sound escaping his mouth. She gulped a lump in her throat and felt it dry up. She had almost forgotten how much threatening the demon lord could be.

Nervous eyes scanned the room as she felt the temperature in the room to drop. A shiver ran down her spine, the barbaric and savage behavior of the demon lord was making her scared. She thought to herself, this was the true nature of a demon?! At that moment, Kagome was thinking about giving her mission a second thought. She watched as Inuyasha quieted and settled down in his place. She relaxed and unconsciously released a sigh of relief.

Sesshomaru was furious when Inuyasha made an attempt to be disrespectful. His inu rose in challenge immediately and if Inuyasha would not have submitted on time, he knew not what his instinct would have done to the disobedient pup. He settled down in his place, sipping tea from a luxurious teacup and his gaze moved towards the center of his attraction. It felt like she was quickly becoming the center of his attention, whether it was during the day or during the evening. He was disturbed by the discovery. It left a sour taste in his mouth; the thought of making a human the center of his attention was terrifying enough. He had not forgotten the death of his father yet and he could never in his life.

Despite all the internal battles, he had to admit that she was an eye catcher in the royal blue kimono. Unknown to him, his eyes softened and a smile formed behind the teacup.

"You will stay Kagome," Sesshomaru spoke softly.

The words were enough to bring on about a chain reaction all at once. Kagome gasped and squealed in delight while Inuyasha rose from his place, his bangs covering his eyes in a dark shadow. With speed he thought he never possessed, Inuyasha moved and pulled Sesshomaru roughly by the collar of haori, face to face with himself and his transforming face.

Sesshomaru's eyes widened slightly. He had not expected his brother to do something this….foolish. He looked at his red eyes and jagged demon markings. With a burst of his youkai, he removed Inuyasha from himself and threw him across the room. Inuyasha hit the opposite wall and blacked out immediately, sliding down to the ground. Kagome shuffled to Inuyasha quickly and held his head in her arms, her face devoid of any colour and troubled. Sesshomaru scoffed.

"Take the disgrace to his room and make him rest. You may stay but the half-breed shall leave." Sesshomaru's angry voice boomed throughout the hall as he spoke to Kagome.

"Sesshomaru, he might be a half-breed…but, he is no disgrace" Kagome's eyes flashed in anger "don't insult him like that," she said in an edgy tone "if I stay, so does Inuyasha." Kagome turned around, looking challengingly into Sesshomaru's eyes.

Sesshomaru had no idea as to why he agreed. Was it the anger in her eyes or was it the way her lips trembled in fear? He would not know. But that day, the lord really wanted the miko to stay back and so he agreed.

"Keep the half-breed away from my path and you might stay." He walked away with a cold face and left behind a shocked Kagome.

Kagome for herself could not decide what to believe in. The cold unfeeling Sesshomaru or the warm-hearted forgiving Sesshomaru. She decided to give believing both of his sides a try and she smiled a knowing smile. A smile which marked the beginning of the melting of the cold façade of the demon lord, for the demon lord stood outside the shoji door like a guilty child and stood entranced by the beautiful smile of a raven-haired woman in a certain royal blue kimono.

She is breathtaking….

Preview

Kagome ran down the palace with the palace guards chasing her. She was downright frightened and exhausted. She had to keep moving, the discovery made by her was priceless. She had to inform Sesshomaru right away.

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"Kagome, you must be mistaken. That is not possible" Sesshomaru said in disbelief.

"But you will have to believe me…. I am speaking the truth." Kagome's face was distorted in frustration. She wanted him to believe her.

"Your allegation could get you killed" he declared without turning around "are you ready for that?" he asked her in hopes that she would back down.

Kagome swallowed a thick lump nervously. Curling her hands into a fist on her sides and setting her face in determination, she held her head high with dignity,

"Yes, if that is what you require to let the innocent go…then so be it….. I would not allow the death of an innocent." She declared with the most confident voice she could master.

Sesshomaru turned and looked at her.

What is she? Such compassion!

"Very well miko then let the hunt begin." His fangs peeked out as his lips upturned into a predatory smile.

Kagome nodded with a satisfied smile on her face.

Indeed, let the hunt begin!

She felt relieved. At least he would be beside her, in the fight for justice.

There, I gave you guys more. Now bye… I'm sleepy *yawns widely*.

Man, I'm tired but happy as well. This chapter ended up giving me butterflies. I had decided to give some adventure but the adventure was lost on the account of the sweet couple. Lol. Don't worry my adventure lovers. The next chapter would surely be an adventure.

Enjoy reading!

Read and review.

~celestial,