Chapter Ten: Decisions, Decisions

The silence weighed heavily on Yuki's heart; heavy with information, with sorrow, and most of all with betrayal. How could Sesshomaru have held this from her? The man had gone ahead and married and impregnated her all the while knowing that he was already assigned to wed another woman. Why did he do it? Why did he keep this from Yuki?

Suddenly Yuki felt the need to sit down as her legs became just as weak as her heart, so she went to one of the armchairs that were placed in front of the empty fireplace, trying to catch her breath. Her purple eyes finally widened with surprise as she stared down at the floor, not able to look at her husband as she tried to sort through the millions of questions that raced through her mind. Lady Kazumi was Sesshomaru's alleged fiancé and she apparently had been for years, maybe decades. Yuki thought that something like that would have been mentioned long before the engagement.

The worries and concerns that Yuki felt were overwhelming. What would happen now? It was as if she was trapped in a whirlwind of fear and it was thrashing her about, shaking her to her very core. She was so distracted by it, that she was only pulled out when she felt something touch her hand. Yuki slowly turned her head to look at her husband, who was now crouched down by her, looking into eyes with a world's worth of apology portrayed in his eyes. "Yuki…" he called her name softly, "Are you alright?"

It took Yuki a moment to find her voice, but once she did, it was one that started out slightly breathy. "Alright?" she repeated as her eyebrows shot up onto her forehead, then her voice grew a little stronger, "Alright? I just found out that my new husband and my babies' father has been hiding a fiancé from me and you ask if I'm alright?"

And the stronger Yuki's voice grew, the more Sesshomaru pulled back from her, knowing perfectly well that the fireworks were coming. "You weren't planning on telling me this, were you?" she exclaimed as she jumped up from her seat, "What were you thinking, Sesshomaru? That if you just ignored the entire ordeal that it would go away? You of all people should know that that's not how it works in your little world of 'politics'!"

"Yuki… please calm down," Sesshomaru replied as he arose and placed his hands on Yuki's shoulders, "Can we just talk about this?"

With this, she seemed to settle a bit, the eruption calming as she just now seemed to be simmering with rage, her arms folded and her eyes narrowed. "Fine," she answered, "Let's talk. Why didn't you tell me about her?"

"I don't know…" Sesshomaru answered, his eyes straying away, "I suppose… that I was hoping that she had forgotten."

For the next few moments, Yuki could only stare at the stupidity of Sesshomaru. "You were hoping… that she had forgotten?" she confirmed, "What in the fiery rings of hell made you think that a woman could ever forget her betrothed?"

"Well, I didn't think that she could forget," came the defense, "I just thought that she might not care anymore. That she would let it pass."

"Sesshomaru…" Yuki groaned as she collapsed into the chair once again and hid her face in her hands, "You know, for an immortal, you're really stupid."

No response was returned. Sesshomaru didn't want to say anything that might upset Yuki anymore than she already was. And so the woman waited another couple of seconds, letting out an exasperated sigh, and looked up at him. "So what will you do?" she asked him, "Will you marry her?"

Sesshomaru returned the look and stared at his wife, searching her eyes for the answer that she wanted to hear so that he would know what to tell her. Unfortunately, he found none. "I am not sure," he answered, "But the logical decision now is that I do what she asks. Otherwise, I know that she would go as far as to wage war."

"She would really do that?" Yuki questioned, finding it hard to believe that a woman could ever be so determined to get the man she wanted.

"Apparently so," Sesshomaru nodded, "I daresay that her admiration has endured the years unaltered. That sort of dedication would not be cast away or denied so easily. I surely know that I would do the exact same thing for you."

This comment brought a smile to Yuki's lips. "Really?" she asked, her worries forgotten for that moment, "You would?"

"Of course," he replied, "You are the only woman that I could ever be happy with… which makes my decision all the more difficult to make. How could I ever marry Lady Kazumi?"

The sound of the door opening pulled them out of their conversation and stole their attention away to the new arrival. The parties of the couple each had different reactions, both complete opposites for now in the room was Yuki's good friend, Kagome, and Sesshomaru's disliked half-brother, Inu Yasha. "Kagome!" Yuki greeted, instantly brightening up as she arose from her seat to welcome the new arrival, "What are you doing back here? Did you all leave not long after the shower?"

"Well, we did…" she smiled meekly, "…but then we heard about this whole thing with you… and Sesshomaru… and someone else."

"Oh…" Yuki replied, her spirits sobering once again at being reminded of the event, "Yes… That. Well, it's alright. I think we can handle it."

"You hear that, Kagome?" Inu Yasha asked as he took a few steps forward, "They can handle it. I guess we can go now. Let's go!"

"No way, Inu Yasha!" Kagome protested, "This is a big deal and it would be easier for Yuki if she had someone here with her!"

"She has me," Sesshomaru countered as he went to Yuki and placed his hands protectively on her upper arms. He, like the other demon, did not want these two companies to be housed under the same roof if not necessary.

"Umm… no offense, Sesshomaru, but it would probably be best if she had a woman around," Kagome presented as her firm rebuttal, "I'm staying."

"No, you aren't," Sesshomaru argued once again, "She already has a female companion here: Mimi."

"Oh, that's nice. One person. She would be better off with more than just one friend there for her. Don't you think so, Yuki?"

"Well, actually I-" Yuki began, but was cut off by her eternal companion.

"I think I would know what was best for my own wife!" he said, "And having you all here is not necessary! You should leave now."

"Stop it!" Yuki nearly shouted as she pulled away from Sesshomaru, turning on him so that he could see the flames in her eyes. For a few moments he was actually surprised by how she was fuming now, standing with her arms at her sides, hands balled into fists. "If anyone should decide what's best for me, it should only be myself, Sesshomaru," she told him, "Maybe you should think about that from now on… Or at least ask me what I want before you make choices for me."

The room was silent as she paused, waiting for her to go on as they hung on ever word they said as if the next words would tell them their fate. But of course the next phrase didn't do just that. However, it did inform them of her choice. "I want them to stay," she announced now that she had become calmer and more composed, "Besides… I'm going to be needing their help soon now that the children are growing larger and now that you will probably be busier than ever."

"Hah!" Kagome exclaimed, "Take that!"

"But Yuki-" Sesshomaru began.

"Ah!" she stopped him by holding up a finger, "No 'but's."

This rendered Sesshomaru speechless now that he could not say what he so desperately wished. He did not want these people here, running amuck… and he especially did not want his dirty half-breed brother here! Then, in attempt to sway him, Yuki added on thing, "You won't even notice they're here. Okay?"

He still sulked for a moment, crossing his arms and looking off somewhere before turning to the others. "So be it," he finally permitted, "But any trouble from any of you…"

"I will personally send them packing," Yuki finished for him with a grateful smile at Sesshomaru's permit, "Thank you, honey!"

Yuki then went with loving arms to hug her husband, expressing how much she loved him for the sacrifice that he had made for her. It was then that another person entered: a servant. "Lord Sesshomaru," she greeted with a bow, "You are wanted in the Main Hall."

Yuki then pulled away to turn to the girl so as not to be rude as Sesshomaru gave a nod of acknowledgment. "Thank you," he replied, "I will be with them shortly."

Then the servant gave another bow and took her leave. "I have to go," he told Yuki before kissing her forehead, "I will see you at supper."

After this he made his way past his beloved, past the acquainted group, and to the door. "I love you!" Yuki called after him… and strangely enough, there was no response. 'Maybe he didn't hear me?' Yuki pondered worriedly as she stared at the doorway that Sesshomaru had taken his hurried exit. "So!" came Kagome's voice as she went to Yuki, took her arm, and smiled to brighten the mood, "Tell me what you learned about the baby!"

"Actually…" Yuki began, her mind already distracted from present matters.