Chapter 10: Courting, confusion and Catastrophe part 1

Last time: "WHY MUST EVERYONE ALWAYS SEND ME OFF TO THE DUNGEONS?!!! I DID NOTHING WRONG!!!!

Lady Nefertiti: Chapter 10.


-With Kagome and Sesshomaru- (his chambers)

"So you do not like this Sesshomaru?" he asked trying not to sound hurt.

"No. It's not like that…It's…." Kagome started. How did she land herself in this situation? She was like 'with' Sesshomaru now. No wonder the demoness at the dinner table were looking at her with anger and an intent to kill….a human no less. Of course they would never think lowly of Sesshomaru. Oh now. He was their goal to becoming lady of the lands. It was probably that human wench that put a spell on their dear Sesshomaru. How ever could they blame him?

"So you do like this Sesshomaru." He said.

"You. You stop putting words in my mouth! I… okay….look. I like you as a demon. you are a kind but still dangerous.. uhm…companion sort of….and you are….are…nice?" Kagome stopped. That was the lamest explanation in the world and she knew he'd see right through it.

"Hn." He said. Kagome looked irritated. It was his fault that he put that hickey on her neck! And he was asking HER for an explanation?! Damn all dog demons for being dense! "KAGOMEEE!!!!!" a yell came from nowhere. Kagome raised her eyebrow.

"Why is Inuyasha calling me? Did you send him off to be tortured?" Kagome said.

"This Sesshomaru did no such thing. Perhaps the pup deserved it." Sesshomaru said defending himself. Kagome didn't look convinced.

Kagome was having a thought and then wondered about her other friends…. Her human friends…this castle wasn't exactly human friendly and then looked at Sesshomaru suspiciously. "Where are Sango and Miroku?" Surely her so-called 'mate-to-be' (who had just given her a damn hickey) hadn't had his demon guards have her friends for dinner.

"Probably walking in the gardens…do not worry they are together." He said with a 'Sesshomaru-amused look' on his face.

"That is a reason to worry too Sesshomaru." Kagome said in an exasperated voice. Truth be told, she was jealous…not a bit a lot in fact that she had competition with all those other demonesses. Sesshomaru had chosen a Miko. Of course no one would dare think ill of him, less they fear his wrath or think that she, Kagome had messed with his mind somehow. She didn't want to look worried, Sesshomaru hadn't caught it yet and that Hanabi…she looked like she was going to come across the table and slice her head off luckily Sesshomaru and Hanabi's brother was present otherwise she was one dead Miko. And to think she wanted to befriend Hanabi, it could happen though, she was always one to give the other the benefit of doubt. Hanabi just hated her because of Sesshomaru otherwise they'd be okay right? Yeah but how to get Sesshomaru out of the picture? She couldn't exactly make him disappear. And she didn't want Sesshomaru to kill Hanabi either since she might challenge her for a duel to the death to be Sesshomaru's mate. It's not like Kagome hadn't heard of it before. Sango had told her all about it…demons, their way and mating rituals. She hid her blush. She couldn't tell Sesshomaru about Hanabi…and the way Hanabi looked at her. It would be like tattling and Kagome could take care of this herself. More importantly did Hanabi know that Kagome had a courting mark? She'd go freaking ballistic on her.

-Sango and Miroku-

-Sango-

They were on their way back inside from the gardens. Thankfully Miroku hadn't pulled any moves on Sango while they were in the gardens, alone, in the dark….yeah so maybe he was learning? Yeah right. They'd heard Inuyasha yell Kagome's name…for help that is and shook her head in amusement. She knew Sesshomaru wouldn't kill him he just liked to torture his 'baby brother.' Kagome was probably with Sesshomaru doing god-knew-what (at this Sango smirked). Kagome would fight Sesshomaru to the end even though Sango knew that Kagome liked him…liked him better than Inuyasha. Odd how things turn out sometimes and Sango stared at the starry sky sighing happily. It was time they both had a girl talk. It'd been a while and Sango knew that Kagome had something to share. She was acting weird and stared at the side of her shoulder then looked guilty…WAIT…..if Sesshomaru marked her then other demons would've sensed it, that Hanabi would be chasing Kagome with a sword and Inuyasha would be after Sesshomaru's head and Sango and Miroku would try to resolve matters and make peace. So maybe it was her imagination.

-Miroku-

He didn't dare try and grope let alone touch Sango inappropriately here. There were too many demon guards, samurai and sentinels protecting the palace. They were everywhere and Miroku would like to keep his arm. After all Sango was Lady Kagome's honored guest/friend and it wouldn't do if someone hurt or touched her inappropriately.....even if Miroku was another honored guest of Kagome's. Sometimes life just wasn't fair.

"Umm…it appears that everyone is asleep so perhaps we should do the same Miroku." Sango said. They walked into the palace and towards the royal wing where they were staying….in separate rooms of course.

"As you wish Sango but before we depart on our separate ways…." He started…..

'Grope'

'Grope'

Slap!

Miroku was now sporting a red handprint on his cheek. Something's would never change.

"Sango my love! This was a good night kiss of sorts!" he said trying to justify his reasoning.

"A night kiss?!" Sango said angrily hissing in the dark hallway. She glared at him and shut the door behind her leaving him sitting on the ground staring at her door. He picked himself up off the ground, never unhappy that Sango had slapped him. It was a 'love slap' to him of sorts. Maybe something was wrong with his brain.

"I love you my dear Sango!" he said and made his way to his chambers, a small smile on his face.

Sango smiled inwardly at his words and leaned against the closed door…so did she….

-Kagome and Sesshomaru-

She was giving him an odd look. He sure was acting weird ever since that courting mark. She had to talk to Sango about it. She knew that Sango probably caught Kagome acting oddly and became suspicious. "Now you look here Sesshomaru." Kagome started from across the bed. Sesshomaru was on the other side of the bed. "I can't stay here with you because I am not your mate. I thought all demons knew that. What would others think? It would ruin your reputation."

"Hn. Others would think it odd that you are not with this Sesshomaru…you are his intended after all." Sesshomaru said coolly looking amused at her confused look. "Apparently your slayer friend hasn't told you everything about the demon ways. Others would think you are my lover or concubine had I put you in a different room." looked like he won.

Kagome gaped at him but no words came out. He planned all of this didn't he?! But he was caring for her reputation as well. He didn't want others to think bad of her. 'No!' she shook her head violently while Sesshomaru just looked at her wondering why she was doing that.

This was his fault after all. She hadn't agreed to all this…gasp! Was she like stuck now with him for the rest of her life? She could not go see her family anymore? Was she going to become a demon? This was all too much to take in and she let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine. But we aren't sleeping together and in the same bed. Since you have a problem you can take the couch mister." Kagome said gritting her teeth and stalked behind the screen to change into a night yukata.

"I beg your pardon?" Sesshomaru said staring at the screen where Kagome had disappeared behind. Kagome grinned as she untied her obi. Looked like she won that round.

-Inuyasha-

"Oi! You aren't going to chain me up in here or something like that?" he said to the demon who was in charge of the dungeons. The demon shook his head at him. Besides Inuyasha was the younger lord of the western lands, a prince of sorts and he didn't dare try to kill him.

"Sesshomaru is a very odd demon with a sketchy agenda…" Inuyasha mumbled as he sat down on the stool next to the wall of the cell and stared out at the tiny window where the stars were twinkling.

-Hanabi-

She saw it…She saw it with her very own eyes…the both had gone into HIS chambers. They better not do anything dirty. Sesshomaru was her's. End of story. Perhaps he was keeping that human wench around as a play toy and then he'd get rid of her. Yes that must be it. She stared at his door in the silence and darkness of the royal wing. Her eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms. Never would he dare to defile the name of youkai for taking a human as a mate…..

Lady Nefertiti: please read and review!