Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Authoress' Note: I know that it has been forever and I'm sorry. I've been so so busy and this is possibly the first time that I was able to sit down and write. So I hope you enjoy it. And please read the important note in my bio, it concerns pretty much all of my other stories. So check that out. And please review!

Living on a Prayer
Chapter Eleven

"What?!" Sesshoumaru roared, causing Miroku to take a step back.

"They took her sire. They took her."

Sesshoumaru looked at the priest for a moment before storming out of the room and into his study. What am I supposed to do? Our army can't compare with Sparta's…how am I supposed to get Kagome back?

There was a knock at the door and a servant tentatively came into the room, bowing low.

"What is it?!" Sesshoumaru snapped.

"Would his majesty wish me to call for his brother? Or his advisor?" he asked in a nervous voice, knowing what Sesshoumaru was capable of in this state.

"Yes. Make it quick. There is much planning to be done."

The servant bowed even lower and ran from the room, leaving the door ajar behind him. Sesshoumaru leaned forward and put his head in his hands. What kind of emperor am I if I cannot even protect one girl? What kind of emperor am I if I cannot protect those I care about? I just pray Inuyasha or Miroku have an idea that will work, because I have no idea what to do.

The door was pushed open and Inuyasha and Miroku walked in, taking the seats opposite Sesshoumaru at the desk. Sesshoumaru moved things out of the way on his desk until the map of Athens and Sparta was visible on the desk.

"Any ideas?" he asked and Miroku and Inuyasha sat silent, staring at the map as if it would tell them exactly what to do. It didn't.

"Sesshoumaru, if you calm yourself then the ideas will come to you easier. Your mind is clouded and you cannot think straight." Miroku said and although Sesshoumaru knew that he was right, he couldn't calm himself, he was too concerned with Kagome's well being; who knows what they were doing to her in Sparta! They are monsters!

"We need to think before we act" Inuyasha said, not looking up from the map, "Their armies are immense and we stand no chance against them. What do we have that the Spartans do not?"

"Pottery and weaving" Sesshoumaru said with a scoff, for the first time wishing the Athenians were not artisans, but soldiers.

"Do not mock your people Sesshoumaru" Miroku chastised, "Because you are upset does not mean your people should take the blame."

"Do not treat me like a child Miroku. I am the emperor."

Miroku bowed his head, "My apologies sire."

Sesshoumaru shrugged off the apology, knowing that it was not sincere. He turned to Inuyasha, "What do we have the Spartans do not?" he asked.

"Logic. Intellect. We are learned people Sesshoumaru." Miroku answered.

"But being learned people cannot defeat the Spartan army and rescue Kagome!" he snapped, his patience with Miroku growing short, despite the fact that he was the only one with ideas.

"We do not need to defeat the armies to get her back sire" Miroku said, stressing the sire to mock Sesshoumaru's state of mind, "We have the intellectual means to make a plan. We can send in someone to get her. Like a spy; someone to go in without being noticed and get her out without her being missed."

"But who would be able and willing to do that?" Inuyasha asked him, growing just as impatient as his brother was.

"I would" a voice from the doorway called and they turned to see High Priestess Sango standing in the doorway with a servant huffing and puffing behind her.

"I'm sorry your majesties. She rushed in, I tried to stop her! I'll have her taken away immediately." He gasped out.

"No" Sesshoumaru said, "This woman is now a member of my council." The servant bowed and walked away.

"Come. Sit down." Sesshoumaru instructed and Sango walked forward, closing the door behind her and she took a seat beside Miroku.

"What is your name?" Sesshoumaru asked, "I have not seen you before."

"I am called Sango, sire. I am the high priestess of the temple of Athena. I was also Kagome's numpheutria as she prepared herself for you."

Sesshoumaru nodded, "And you are willing to infiltrate Sparta to get Kagome back?"

She nodded, "Yes sire."

"You are a member of my council now Sango. You may call me Sesshoumaru. I am only a man here, not an emperor."

She nodded again, "I am willing to go to Sparta for Kagome, Sesshoumaru."

"But why would you do such a thing? Why would you risk life and limb to get back someone you don't know?" Inuyasha asked, not able to understand Sango's motives.

"Kagome came to my temple the first night she was taken from hers. She was scared and unsure and I comforted her. I felt a connection to her at that moment, not because we were both priestesses, but because I felt as if her spirit were the same as mine. I wish to rescue Kagome because I know where she belongs, and that is with you Sesshoumaru. I will not be suspected, I am a priestess and I could be making pilgrimage to all temples of Athena in Greece. That would be inconspicuous enough."

"But how would you see Kagome?" Inuyasha pressed, trying to find any kind of holes in the priestess' plan and Miroku and Sesshoumaru sat listening intently to the girl speak.

"I know that she makes regular trips to both Athena's and Artemis' temples. If she can find favor with the Spartan king, then he will be sure to allow her to continue visiting the temples."

"But what if Kagome does not find favor?" this time it was Sesshoumaru asking the question, not to find flaws in the plan, but out of concern for Kagome. "What if she is thrown in the dungeon as a prisoner of war and left there?"

Sango smiled, "I know Kagome Sesshoumaru. She could charm anyone; it is her nature to make people happy. If the king so much as sets eyes on her, she will find favor. Is that not how she entranced you?"

Sesshoumaru disregarded the statement and thought for a moment. The plan seemed foolproof. The priestess had thought of everything…except…

"How do you plan on getting her back to Athens?"

Sango thought for a moment, "I do not know right now Sesshoumaru. But I assure you, the gods will reveal a way how once the plan is set into action. I put my trust in my goddess to give me the wisdom and to your god to give me the strength to do it."

Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru and Miroku all met eyes and silently agreed to the plan. Sesshoumaru turned to Sango locked eyes with her, "You will leave for Sparta at dawn."


-Sparta-

Kagome was thrown into a small room as soon as she arrived in Sparta. She looked around her surroundings, it was a small and modest room but it was ten times better than a holding cell in the dungeon would have been and for that she was thankful.

She picked herself off of the floor and moved to the small couch that was sitting in the middle of the room and sat down. There was nothing for her to do but wait at this point and that's what she was going to do. And as she waited, she prayed to every god that could give her aid.

She looked down at the veil that once covered her entire body; it was ripped in places and dirtied with mud. A tear rolled down her cheek as she removed it and attempted to fold it. It had been Sesshoumaru's mothers as well and she knew how important it was, and because of her, it was ruined. Besides staying safe, keeping the veil safe was her first priority. She wanted to be able to return it to Sesshoumaru, dirtied or not.

She heard the door open and her head flew up to see who was entering. A man walked into the room and over to her, he had long black hair, almost as long as Sesshoumaru's, but rather than let his down like Sesshoumaru did, he bound his hair into a ponytail. As he neared, Kagome could see two emotions in his dark eyes, intrigue and power. He stood in front of her and Kagome leaned away from him.

"Why so scared priestess?" he asked in a tone that mocked her fright. He looked her up and down, from the muddy hem of her pristine white dress to her hands holding the veil close to her body, to her scared clear blue eyes and rich ebony hair. She was perfect to him, even with all the fear and dirt.

He reached out to touch her but she recoiled at his touch. "There is no need to be scared of me priestess. No harm will come to you. You are simply here to help me teach Sesshoumaru a lesson."

"Are you…the king?" she asked nervously.

He smiled, "Of course I am. But you priestess, may call me Kouga."

"Why would I be granted such an honor when I am simply a prisoner here your highness?" she asked meekly.

"That's simple" he said, kneeling in front of her so they were eye to eye, "Because I intend to make you my wife."


Authoress' Note: There we have it. The long long long awaited chapter. Sorry again that it took so long but I hope you all enjoyed it nonetheless! Please review!