A/N: Thank you to all who have reviewed and shown support to me these last few months! I will try to start uploading one chapter a week so that hopefully, we can start progressing in the story. I am so sorry that it has taken so long to update and appreciate the understanding! On with the story….

The courtship begins?

Sesshomaru's POV:

Once everyone was seated for the meeting I had called, I decided to start by doing what all had expected.

"How have both of the miko's training gone? Will go around the table and start with Inuyasha's intended's progress."

Immediately to my right, was my mother and she decided to start things off with a question of her own. "Why is your father and his human here? This is about the training all of us have been leading and they haven't contributed, so they shouldn't be here." Mother huffed in anger.

"You will find out in due time mother, now please no more interruptions and only speak of the topic at hand." I stated obvious boredom in my voice.

"Very well, Kikyo has faired well in all her studies. She has tried her best to learn all that I can teach her of our customs and of what will be expected of her once she has mated the young prince."

Next was Sango, "Kikyo is alright in hand to hand combat, but sadly not as well as I would like. She can wield a sword, but I believe she would be better off tending to the wounded or whatever it is that mikos usually do."

Miroku was next to speak up, "Kikyo is well suited in barriers and can tap into her reiki fairly easy. She is an amazing miko and will be able to be of great value tending wounded and protecting others in the impending war."

The Miko's grandmother spoke next. "My granddaughter is an exceptional healer and is proficient with a bow. Ye shall have plenty of use for her and she is more than ready to help."

"Excellent. Now please inform me of Kagome's progress." I tried to sound bored even though her progress is the one I am most intrigued to hear about. If it is anything like the progress I have noticed during our training, she will make a more than suitable mate.

Again mother started the report. "She has excelled. Made more progress than I thought she would. It's like she is dedicated to making herself useful and she has learned more than I could have ever even thought to teach her. I believe that she is more than knowledgeable and no longer needs any lessons from me."

"Kagome struggled at first, but now can wield any weapon you put into her hands. She has surpassed what I thought she would in hand to hand as well. I really do believe that she is a warrior to be reckoned with. She has progressed as fast as she has, partially due to her taking on extra training sessions with both me and Miroku." Sango said rather proud of the young miko's accomplishment.

"I have to agree with Sango, Kagome has surpassed all expectations though I will add that she has the strongest reiki that I have come across in my life. It was a little challenging for her to gain full control of it, but only because of how much she has. She can hold a barrier for at least half an hour. It is large enough to allow for your whole army protection and a chance to rest and recover in the war. Also, while holding the barrier, she can access more of her powers to aid in the healing of others." Miroku chimed in, making me even more impressed with the miko than I already was.

Her grandmother also gave an excellent report. "Kagome is a wonderful child. She is a natural at healing and herbs and such. Learning to use a bow, started out difficult, but she showed much dedication and worked twice as hard as I have seen any work to get to the point that I have nothing more I can teach her. Ye have a powerful weapon in that girl. Use her well."

I was beyond impressed with Kagome's progress and decided then that it was time to address the next topic of the meeting, but there were some that needed to be excused as this was none of their concern at the time. "Monk and Slayer. You are no longer required to be here. You are excused." They both rose from their seats and bowed to the room respectfully and once they left I turned to the rest of the room.

"The reason I have asked Izayoi and father here is because I wished to announce my intention to court and mate with the miko Kagome." The room was silent for a moment. Then father spoke.

"I see no reason you shouldn't. It's about time you have found someone you wish to spend your life with and you have my blessing." Izayoi stated her agreement but decided to leave it at that. She didn't wish to anger my mother.

Mother of course, was more than happy I have chosen Kagome. "She will make a great new lady when the time comes. She is extremely knowledgeable and dedicated to the west and I give you my full blessing. She will be a delight to have as my daughter-in-law."

Next I turned to Kaede, I knew I would have to formally ask her permission and blessing on the courtship and I knew that is exactly what she was waiting for. "Kaede, will you give me the honor of allowing me to court and possibly mate your granddaughter?"

What she said was what I figured would be said, simply because of the person Kagome seems to be. "Whether or not Kagome courts ye is her choice and hers alone. I do give ye permission to ask her, and if she says yes then ye have my blessing. Just know that she has had many hardships in her young life. Some of which even I do not know of. She has a pure soul and ye will not harm her in any way, for she will be able to harm you in return if she so chooses."

I knew that Kagome was strong enough, and thanks to Midoriko, I know exactly what can happen if she gets pushed in the wrong direction. She is more than suitable and I have found that she has started to break through the barriers that I have set up to keep what happened with Midoriko from happening again. I feel like I want to protect her, know her and even make her happy. She is also really good for Rin. She has stepped up in a big way and she doesn't even know it yet. I now know what I have to do. I turned to all at the table and call the meeting to an end. Before we start dinner, I need to talk to Kagome. I need to tell her of my intentions and see how she reacts. I need to know whether or not she feels the same. This is going to be interesting.

As I start walking to where I can sense Kagome, I realize that I may have to do something for her to prove just how serious I am about courting her. I round a corner and then I see her, playing with Rin in a way that only a mother would. It stops me for a second as I have fully realized that I like seeing her this way. She is teaching Rin how to make a crown out of flowers and I can't help but wonder what she will teach any pups we may have in the future. I decide that it is time to talk to her and I walk up to her and casually sit down next to her.

"Kagome, we need to have a talk." I say, hoping that she can not sense how nervous I am bout this conversation.

"What would you like to talk about, Lord Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked looking at me with confusion, but also with some sort of ulterior motive. I could sense she wanted to ask me something too, but I was too oblivious to what it could possibly be.

"I would like to ask you to court me."

Until next time!

A/N: Sorry to end it on a cliffy, but I wanted to break this into two parts because of Kagome's request. Also, I have decided to have more that Kagome's and Sesshomaru's POVs in this story as I find it will make things more interesting. Will try to only have one maybe two person's/people's perspectives per chapter depending on who it is and the significance of the chapter. As always please R&R!