Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or anyone associated with the show.

Untitled

Chapter 9

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Previously…

"No Inuyasha…I cant face him. Can't we just eat breakfast in our room? Even better, lets leave. Please Inuyasha!"

Everyone looked towards the hallway, which Kagome's voice came from.

"No Kagome. Plus… the quicker we eat the quicker we leave"

Miroku watched as Inuyasha came into view, with Kagome in tow. He smirked, as Kagome's painfully red face was getting clearer.

"How was your guy's morning?" Sango asked. Kagome timidly hid behind Inuyasha refusing to look up. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha looked at each other and smirked. Sango, Rin, and Shippo didn't get it, but Miroku did.

"Yes, how was your morning?" Miroku asked with a sly grin on his face

"Don't even ask…" Kagome said with deadly quiet venom in her voice.

---

Everyone was silent. No one spoke a word during breakfast. Kagome was playing with her food, Inuyasha waiting for more food, Sango timidly eating, Miroku eyeing one of Sesshomaru's maids, Shippo coloring with Rin, and Sesshomaru sitting at the head of the table, observing everyone.

"'Bout time…" Inuyasha grumbled as a woman brought him his meal

"Inuyasha!" Kagome exclaimed as she slapped his shoulder, "I am sorry. I am sure he did not mean to be so rude. Please accept my apologizes." Kagome said to the woman, as she bowed down at her. The woman was baffled. She could see the miko's aura, much stronger than her own.

"Why do you bow before me…" the woman said. Kagome lifted her head, only to see the woman on her knees bowing to her, "When I should be bowing before you?" the woman finished. Kagome was astounded. She looked over at Inuyasha. He had no clue what was going on either. He grabbed Kagome's hand, and looked at the woman.

"Why are you bowing at Kagome?" Inuyasha asked. The woman looked up.

"For this woman's aura is far greater than mine…" she said. She saw Inuyasha's hand entwined with Kagome's. Her face lit up in sheer bliss. "And for she will be Lady of the Western Lands."

Inuyasha stared at Kagome, her eyes wide. Kagome turned look at Sesshomaru.

"Sesshomaru…what does she mean. Why would I be the next Lady of the Western Lands?"

---

Kagome sat on the edge of the bed, her legs dangling. She heard a knock on the door. She stared at the door for a bit, only to pull herself up off the bed to open the door. Rin who held out a tray with two cups and a teapot pleasantly greeted her.

"Would Kagome-sama like to join this Rin for a tea party?" Kagome's heart melted with one look at the young girls face.

"Of course I would…" Kagome said as a smile graced her face. Rin's eyes lit up. Kagome leaned towards Rin and took the tray out of her hands. Rin threw herself at her. Kagome was startled, but soon balanced the tray in one hand and began to stroke Rin's hair.

"This Rin is very happy…" Rin said. Kagome smiled as she knelt to be eye level with Rin.

"Where would you like to have this tea party Rin?" Kagome said in a gentle voice.

"I will show you." Rin said excitedly as she pulled Kagome's hand, guiding her to the unknown destination.

---

"Rin…this place is…beautiful," Kagome said. She had no other words to describe this place. Rin smiled her toothy smile and looked up at Kagome.

"This Rin knew that you would love it." She said. Kagome turned at full 360° so that she could take it all in. She placed the tray on a small iron table, set for two. Kagome deeply inhaled the welcoming scent of all the flowers. Lily's, orchids, irises, and her favorite, gerbera daisies. There was a small pond flowing through the garden, and a pond on the other side. Kagome smiled contently and plopped herself onto the chair. Rin ran after a butterfly, laughing as she did.

'I remember when I used to be that carefree' Kagome thought to herself.

"Kagome-sama. Look what I caught!" Rin shouted excitedly. She opened her hands a little to reveal a little butterfly.

"My, what a pretty butterfly you have caught. It is almost as pretty as you." Kagome said as Rin blushed, "Why don't we let it go. I'm sure its friends are all worried about her." Rin nodded and opened her hand, kissed the butterfly's wing and watched as it flew away.

"I wish I could fly. Then I would be able to keep up with Lord Sesshomaru…" Rin said in a singsong voice. Kagome smiled at Rin

'She really does love Sesshomaru. And I now that he loves her too.'

"How about some tea? How does that sound?" Kagome asked. Rin nodded her head in excitement.

"Oh, yes please!" Rin exclaimed. Kagome carefully poured out the tea, filing up Rin's cup, then her own. She sat there starring at her tea. She stared to play with the kimono she was wearing. It had the Inu-Tashio crest on it. She was the next Lady of the Western Lands. She closed her eyes, as she tried to remember everything that had happened.

Flashback (this starts off after she asks Sesshomaru why she would be the next Lady of the Western Land)

"Demon Slayer, Monk, Youkai, Rin, please leave the room." Sesshomaru said. They all exited the room. Kagome gave a nervous glance towards her friends. Miroku nodded.

"Don't worry Kagome…" Miroku said as he vanished along with the rest of them. She looked back at Sesshomaru who was standing now.

"Follow Me," he commanded. Kagome nervously got up, still holding Inuyasha's hand. She looked up at him. His face was expressionless. That worried her.

"Inuyasha? Are you ok?" she asked timidly. He did not reply. She loosened the grip on his hand. She felt alone, like she was going to have to deal with this on her own. The reached a large door, with a crest on it. Sesshomaru pushed the door open, revealing an old room with what looked like books and records. There was a desk in the middle, covered with books and dust. Kagome sneezed as she entered.

"Sit." Sesshomaru ordered. She sat. Inuyasha looked around, examining the books. Sesshomaru looked at him, but left him be.

"Miko. You must listen closely to everything I say. You will be the next Lady of the Western Lands." He said

"Why me?" Kagome said in a soft whisper.

"Because. In fathers will, it stated that once Izayoi, Inuyasha's mother, has deceased, the woman with the strongest aura in the castle must become Lady. But that is not all. Because Inuyasha's demon side has recognized you as his mate, fathers will also stated that the first woman to win one of his son's heart will become the Lady."

Kagome nodded, working it out in her head

"So because I have a strong aura, and because I love Inuyasha and he loves me, I have to become Lady? So that means Inuyasha will become lord, right?"

"No." Sesshomaru said

"NO?" Inuyasha and Kagome both bellowed out at the same time

"Why would Inuyasha not be lord?" Kagome asked. Sesshomaru sighed

"I would still remain lord because I am older. But…" Sesshomaru stopped speaking for a moment.

"But what? Tell me Sesshomaru. Why else would Inuyasha not be lord?" Kagome demanded. She felt her heart beating faster and faster.

"Because. In fathers will, the first female with the strongest aura must mate with the first son. But there is an exception. If the female loves the other, then the only way for her to not have to mate the first born, the first son must already have a mate, or must be in love. Yet, if the first son has no one, the female must become the first son's concubine. This means that whenever…"

"I know what a concubine is…" Kagome whispered, "Is there anyway for this not to happen? Do I have to be the Lady? Why can't someone else be the Lady? Why can't you wait until Rin is old enough? She could be the lady…" Kagome said. She looked at Inuyasha who had his back to her and Sesshomaru, looking out the window.

"Miko, I have no control over what happens…" Sesshomaru said. Kagome could hear a hint of compassion in his voice.

"Inuyasha…?" Kagome said timidly. Inuyasha did not reply, and left the room. Moments later they heard something crash. Kagome winced as she heard the noise. She looked at Sesshomaru.

"Sorry about whatever Inuyasha broke." She said timidly.

"Miko, listen to me. I do not agree with fathers will, but his orders are his orders."

"Sesshomaru, I have an idea. I know that you have a soft spot for Rin, and I know that you two will end up together, but what if you said that you wanted to mate Rin. She is 12 years old now and she will soon be 13. You can mate her. But until then, I can pretend to be your concubine, for a little while. Then once Rin comes of age, then I will no longer have to be your concubine. Would that work?" Kagome asked. Sesshomaru thought about it in his head.

"That will do. Now, you must wear this…" Sesshomaru pulled a kimono out of a chest. It was a pale turquoise with a crest on it.

"The crest is the Inu-Tashio crest. This will show that you are the lady of the Land. You will also wear this kimono when you are inside of the castle grounds. It was Inuyasha's mothers. For today you must wear the one with the crest. But after that, you must change and make sure you are in the proper kimono at all times. It is also help people know if you are in danger. If you are outside and in the pink kimono – Izayoi's- then people will know to help you and vise versa with the other kimono. Here you are. Tonight, you will have to come into my room. But I will have another bed for you."

"Alright…"

End Flashback.

"KAGOME-SAMA! KAGOME-SAMA!!!!!!!!!!" Rin said as she ran towards her. Kagome's head shot up in surprise.

"Yes Rin?" Kagome asked

"Inuyasha – sama said that you are pretty!" Rin said with excitement in her voice.

"Huh?" Kagome said bluntly

"Well you see, when you were…what did Inuyasha – sama call it…day dreaming, that's it, when you were day dreaming I showed him a flower and asked him if her thought it was beautiful, and eh said that it was. And then I asked him if he thought that you were as pretty as the flower, and he said that you were 10 times prettier that the flower! " Rin said with excitement in her voice. Kagome blushed.

"Did he now?" Kagome said

"Yes but he seemed sad when he looked at you"

"Really?" Kagome questioned. She knew exactly why Inuyasha was sad, but she wanted to know if he had said anything else.

"Yup. And Kagome-sama?" Rin said

"Yes?"

"He is right behind you" Rin said giving thumbs up to the shadow. She saw a hand rise up and give Rin thumbs up. Kagome watched as Rin skipped away and then slowly turned around.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome breathed.

"Why are you wearing that?" Inuyasha said with anger in his voice. Kagome turned away, ashamed and unsure of what to say

"Answer me Kagome. Why are you wearing that?" Inuyasha spat, the venom is his voice strong enough to burn.

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Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Sorry this chapter is so short, but I think if I kept on going it would be to long. Anyway…

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