Um hi? I haven't updated ages I know but stuff gets on top of you… I don't think I've updated since April O.O long time I know…

But here it is! The new chapter of Lady in the Dog's Den

Disclaimer: Oh InuYasha, InuYasha! Wherefor art thou InuYasha? Deny thy demon blood and deny thy power to wield a large overly powerful sword! For what's in those things when I can not have you?

(We're doing Romeo and Juliet at school xD)

Kagome cast a surreptitious glance at the hanyou and wondered, not for the first time, why he seemed to treat her as the more important of his hostages. For the most part he ignored Kikyo, leaving her to the care of the lesser men, when surely as Lord Hiroshi's wife she ensured his co-operation far more than his niece.

As she looked at him she was conscious of a tautness about him, an inner tension that she could only attribute to the approaching meeting with her uncle and the audience with the King he hoped would eventually follow. Obviously it all meant a great deal to him.

She wondered why she so instinctively believed he was in earnest and that this was not all some elaborate ruse for a more sinister end.

She had a vague notion she should feel guilty at wanting him to succeed- Kikyo would doubtless be horrified to know of her sympathy with the hanyou.

Yet what would it matter to her, Kagome, if the King looked favourably on InuYasha? They would have to quit Nightingale, of course, but Washoru would no doubt give them other lands, and if she must live in Shikon one home was surely very much akin to another, and one lot of Shikonean servants much as any other. What did it matter to her? She would marry Naraku and go back to Miro. (Gag)

She was surprised at the feelings of regret that came over her at the thought of leaving Nightingale. Had she grown so fond of it?

Well, perhaps it was only natural. She had lived there for the better part of a year. And because her uncle was always so busy and Kikyo made no attempt to learn the language, the burden of domestic problems and organisation fell on her shoulders and brought her much closer to the Shikonean people there.

Se wondered if InuYasha, who had said that there was little he did not know about that had been happening at Nightingale, knew of Kikyo's meagre contribution to the running of the manor. Perhaps that was why he treated her as he did.

"Do you like what you see, wench?" his voice, though soft, startled her into realising she had been staring at him, and in some confusion she avoided his eyes.

"How a man looks does not always reflect what he is," she said coldly.

"Oh, such wisdom from such a slip of a wench!" There was an edge to his voice which caused her to turn her head a little to look at him. He raised an eyebrow. "You do not like what you think I am." It was more a statement that a question.

"Do you blame me for that?" she demanded. "You have scarce endeared yourself to me!"

Yesterday he would merely have laughed at her, caring nothing. But now there was only a barely perceptible tightening of a muscle beneath the scratches Kikyo had made, and a slight hardening in his amber eyes that she might have imagined, to indicate that he had even heard her.

It worried her. His arrogant remarks and mocking statements was one thing, but this tension that was so obvious in him this morning seemed uncharacteristic.

However, as he was obviously in no humour for conversation, she was unlikely to discover what else troubled him, and with a faint sigh resolutely thrust the hanyou and his problems out of her mind, turning instead to the less unsettling prospect of seeing her uncle and Naraku.

The place arranged for the meeting was, Kagome guessed, about halfway to Nightingale, a meadow where the rough forest road crossed a wide but shallow stream. As they approached, she realised why the hanyou had brought most of his men, for Lord Hiroshi stood grim faced at his horse's head, and behind him his entire entourage, still mounted, were drawn up in three ranks, looking almost prepared for battle, and as hostile as InuYasha had evidently known they would be.

The four of them, the Shikonean and Kikyo, InuYasha and herself, dismounted and walked towards Lord Hiroshi. A few feet away they halted and InuYasha moved a pace ahead. The breath of men and horses alike rose in steamy clouds on the frosty air.

Kagome had never seen her uncle look so angry, but his first words were an anxious enquiry as to their wellbeing.

"We have been well treated, uncle," she said quickly, fearing that with her husband so close, Kikyo might say something the Hanyou would make her regret later.

With a long look, and brief nod, Lord Hiroshi turned to InuYasha and curtly demanded an explanation for his outrageous actions.

InuYasha, speaking Miron, began by apologising that such measures had been necessary, and gave his assurance that no harm would come to either lady. Then he went on to relate his proposals for the king as he had described them to Kagome the day before, and asked that Lord Hiroshi request Washoru to see him.

"There is one thing more I would have you discuss with Washoru," he went on and then paused for a moment. "I wish to marry the Lady Kagome."

There was a shocked silence. Kagome gasped, her face going a bright red, and then slowly fading, leaving her white and shaken. Kikyo's hand closed on her arm, there were angry murmurs and oaths from the Miron men.

"You- wish to-" Lord Hiroshi seemed to choke on the words.

"Yes," InuYasha said calmly. "I am told Washoru favours such marriages, for there is no better way to unite Miro and Shikon. "It's a measure of my sincerity and will ensure my loyalty to Washoru."

Kagome, only her pride preventing her unleashing her enraged temper on the Hanyou, stood trembling with anger, staring straight ahead of her, bright eyed and tight lipped, her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles showed white.

Naraku did not possess such control. He leapt from his horse, drew his sword and flung himself towards InuYasha, but as instinctively as the Hanyou reached for his sword, two Miron men sprang forward and dragged Naraku back. Lord Hiroshi turned and said a few sharp words under his breath which stilled the struggling young man instantly.

Kagome slowly released the sharp breath she had drawn, conscious of a great relief- she did not want this meeting to turn into a bloody battle because of her.

There was a little more discussion before the tow groups parted. Lord Hiroshi had three days to see the King and return with an answer. And if he did not…

The threat was left unspoken.

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Tis done.