Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Inuyasha but my plot.

Changing Winds

Chapter13: The Chase

Eri and Yuka waited outside Eri's parents flat. The early evening was perfect. The sky was just beginning to turn black and street lights slowly turned on in the darker allies. A cooling breeze had begun to blow across the hot pavement, sending shivers down the girls' arms. The only sound along the quite block was birds and the usual din of cars passing by. That was until Inuyasha came barreling down the street in his flashy red car.

"Hey ladies, were are you going all dressed up?"

Eri flashed a huge smile, "Inuyasha! Wow, I love the car!"

Inuyasha loved to impress, "Thanks. Though it's nothing as special as the two of you look tonight.", he said as he got out of the car and made his way over to the sidewalk.

The girls giggled a little. They knew Inuyasha had been a 'badass' when he was 'dating' Kagome, but they couldn't help but think that his comments were still very sweet.

"Thank you Inuyasha, I was going for stunning!", Yuka said, "I hope you don't mind if I catch a ride with you. I'm meeting Ronin at the club."

"Naw, hop in."

Inuyasha opened the passenger side doors for the girls before running around to get into the drivers seat. "All set?"

"Yeah, let's go!", the girls said in unison as Inuyasha put the car in gear and sped off. He couldn't wait for the conversation he would have with the fox. He simply loved winning the first hand.

000&&&000

At the club chairs were being set down from tables, the DJ was setting up on stage, the VIP section was getting set up with customer requests, and Kagome watched all this happen from her perch on the bar. She sat calmly with a clipboard in hand as wait staff and bouncers alike came to report on conditions of the club.

There was a ripped bench seat in one of the lounges. The VIP section in the back had missing light bulbs, and the bouncers found a broken pane in one of the upper windows. Kagome would fix all of these concerns before the doors opened without even a ripple in her schedule.

She lived to serve, a miko trait. One that fit this job to a 'T'. Oddly enough, in all the years she worked for herself or the brothers, she always felt at home among large groups of people. She had worked with whole villages for so many years that a huge club full of pumping music was a 'safe' place for her. Her work had become the only sure thing in her long life, especially now.

"Momma!", Shippo said behind her as he leaned on the bar.

"Yes Shippo.", Kagome said as she slowly swiveled her head to look down at her son.

"We have some under lighting out on the far side of the bar, and for some reason I'm short an ice scoop."

"I'll have maintenance fix the lighting right away. As for your ice scoop I think we may have to start using tethers to those things.", she flipped through her clipboard, "It's the fourth one missing this month."

"I think some of the younger customers are stealing them as 'souvenirs' when we're busy."

Kagome smiled a little and looked Shippo in the eye., "Well perhaps if the two of you weren't flirting with every girl in the club you would notice the scoops being taken." She winked at him.

Shippo rolled his eyes and went off to finish preparing for the night. Before Shippo could get too far away, Inuyasha came grandly in the door with Kagome's two friends on each arm.

"Oi, Shippo! How about getting these fine young ladies a drink?", Inuyasha yelled halfway across the bar.

"Why don't you get them one yourself, dog breath!", Shippo yelled with a half-hearted smile on his face.

Eri giggled a little as she spoke, "Oh, don't go through any trouble for us we'll just wait for Ayumi to get here."

Shippo turned around and leaned on the bar, "Oh, so your other friend is coming too?"

"Yeah", Yuka said, "I hope you don't mind but the three of us are nearly inseparable. Oh, sorry Kags."

She looked down a little ashamed of having to admit that their other best friend really hadn't been around enough to become part of the 'fearsome three-some'. "It's ok Yuka.", Kagome smiled, "I just wasn't around enough these last few years."

"Well we for one are glad that you are finally well!", Eri chimed.

Kagome smiled sheepishly, "Uh, yeah. I think finally being out of school has really let me focus on me."

Shippo and Inuyasha could barely contain their giggles at Kagome's friends incorrect assumptions. Kagome just gave the boys a quick 'I am mother, don't cross me' glare. And the two settled down.

"Come on", Kagome said to the girls, "you guys can help me with the rest of the rounds before the club opens. OH! And I can introduce you to three young girls that are like nieces to me!"

"K!", the two said together.

"Later Inuyasha.", Eri winked. Then the girls were off beside Kagome as she went up the stairs to the office loft to call the maintenance man, and find the wolf sisters.

Inuyasha waggled his eye brows, "oh yeah this is going to be the best century yet."

"Just watch out there puppy, we all know that when it comes to women you are not the smoothest inu ever.", Shippo retorted.

"Feh, we'll see. I don't plan on losing, the bet or the girl."

"Well while you are in your little fantasy why don't you see if we can order some tethers for our ice scoops. Kagome seems to think that we flirt too much to notice patrons steeling them. If she finds out that's really true we'll be in the dojo every morning for the next month."

"Mn. I'll go call the supplier now!"

OOO&&&OOO

Sesshoumaru walked down the length of the hall in slow measured steps. He had no want to talk to her, had no need to see her in any hurry, and he most certainly didn't want to be alone in a room with her. Yet here he was going to her rooms in anticipation of the fact that she would send away her priestess in training while they talked.

Life in his own house was more complicated with her around, especially with Kagome living here now. Sesshoumaru could remember growing up with Miore around. How she would teach him hard lessons in the dojo from early in the morning until lunch, then his father would give him lessons in controlling his youkai while she watched with a critical eye. Nights as a child was what he lived for.

Miore would become the one person he always had wanted to be around. She would tell him great ancient stories, perform a little 'magic' for his child eyes, and would always let him polish her prized swords. The dynamic between them in his youth had been one of pain and absolute joy.

That all changed after his demonic change. Sesshoumaru had begun to look at the High Priestess differently. He realized that the change had brought on emotions that would always be hard to hide from her, and to make matters worse the woman was incredibly adept at reading his thoughts just from the emotions that would flit across his face. It was why he no longer held much emotion in his features. They were 'as close as thieves', as the saying goes. Right up until the day that she had left.

He had known that she wouldn't be around forever, she never had been. However, Miore hadn't left the Western Lands after only a few years her very last visit. She had stayed for so much longer that he had thought for sure that she would finally stay. Let this be the place that she found rest and peace, and love.

Sesshoumaru frowned. No one had made him feel, actually feel such great emotions since her. That was until Kagome came into his life. It was why he had waited, why he never rushed anything with Kagome. He was afraid of Love. Afraid that once he gave all of his love, all of his heart, she would have to leave. He had lost his heart once to a woman, he refused to be cut down like that again. Sesshoumaru knew that Kagome would never be the kind of woman to intentionally hurt him, but the world has a way of interfering in plans. He had hoped that once they had reached the time that she had come from that any obstacle that could have torn Kagome away from him would be abolished. How the hell had he managed to be so wrong?

Miore's door now loomed before him. It was his favorite guest room, mainly because it was Rin's. It held a beautifully carved hardwood door that was a deep dark color. It was wide and tall with an arched doorway. Carved into its' face was a Plum tree in full bloom, it seemed to rise from the floor and get lost in the door frame. He gave a ghost of a smirk at the thought of how Rin used to sit and stare at it on the worst of winter days. Then she would crawl into his lap at night and tell him a story she had dreamt up while looking at this very door.

It abruptly opened. "You may enter Lord Sesshoumaru.", Eveline bowed as she swept a hand to the interior.

Sesshoumaru didn't hide his sneer, 'how dare Miore ruin every good moment I have in this life.'

Eveline could sense his hatred for her intrusion on his thoughts, but the High Priestess had said that she was to open the door 'immediately'. So against her better judgment she had. Eveline wasn't going to hang around however to see if her Lady needed anything more, she took his look as an order to leave and did so swiftly.

After the young priestess closed the door Sesshoumaru turned his attention to the woman standing across from him against the large open windows. She was clothed simply when she took off her outer dress and weapons. The High Priestess looked harmless in her kelly green cotton dress. He knew she was far from harmless. "What troubles you young inu."

"You."

She quirked a brow at him as she moved closer, her almost floor length hair flowing behind her on an imaginary breeze. "Why have I troubled you."

"You are here, along with all the trouble you bring."

"Trouble?", she quired as she ran a hand across his back while she circled him slowly. Finally stopping right in front of him and dropping her hand to her side. "Or perhaps they are feelings?"

He narrowed his eyes at the woman before him. Her dress was sleeveless showing off her well toned and lean muscled arms as well as the leather wrap she always wore on her left arm. It was the only adornment on her without her outer dress of leather and coarse weave.

Sesshoumaru stared for a moment at the leather wrap stamped with her heritage. He knew why she wore it. He grabbed her left wrist and held her forearm out to him. "Perhaps...perhaps there are too many things between us." He looked into her eyes before he dropped her arm.

Miore held his golden eyes with great intensity before letting her own gaze fall to her leather clad arm. "You don't want me around Kagome. That is one of the reasons you hesitated to tell me about her in the first place isn't it. Otherwise you would have sent word that you had chosen a mate, and would make her yours in due time."

"It is a small reason."

"Mn.... I can tell that you love her greatly. I will never be able to fully understand why you have kept her so far away from your heart youkai. All I do know is that you will need to let your heart come out to her fully, for if you don't, you will lose her. The council still has to approve your union, though that is not the hardest part. If the Abyss gets too close, Kagome will always choose the life of innocents. If you do not give her your heart Sesshoumaru, she will leave. She will chose the path that I chose from the moment I was given reign to do so and serve the people."

She rested her hands on his upper arms. "I know you do not want to lose her, and you waited all this time for her. You let her serve the people so that you would have time with her now, but she will always have an evil to fight. Kagome is stronger than any other immortal outside of myself. She will always have the will to serve the people. If you don't want to lose her now you must give her your heart, regardless of the consequences."

"You are setting me up again High Priestess and I will not be led on and broken by you again."

The High Priestess looked at him with slitted eyes. She had spoken to him more in the last few minutes than she had in the last few centuries and he still doubted her intentions. She was furious! Her hair whipped wildly around her as the very air was seemingly sucked to her person. Creating almost of vortex of wind that left Sesshoumaru breathless, and it was meant to.

"How DARE you.", she said in an all too calm voice full of power and menace. "How can you punish her heart with an unjust anger towards me. What evil have I ever bestowed on you that would lead you to keep away what she most desires from you?" The force of wind in the room making Sesshoumaru's hair whip up in the air and cover his golden eyes.

"I have kept my heart from her because you took it the night you left me!"

The once turbulent air stopped abruptly as the room became as still as stone. Miore's eyes were locked solid on the youkai in front of her as her face held one of slight confusion and a little regret.

"Sessh."

At the sound of his childhood nick-name that only she used, he turned cold faced towards the door and walked quickly out.

Miore was left in the room alone to bear the pain of the look on his face at his words towards her. 'How could I have missed that? Have I once again failed the mighty line of the Taisho's?' But before any more concerns could be raised the castle bell tolled the arrival of one of the council members.

"This is the life I chose for myself, the path I gladly walk. I have never been one to regret a decision, and I will show him that he should not have regretted that one." With a vow confirmed to herself she walked out of her rooms towards the lower garden to great the first arrival.

OOO&&&OOO

Kagome opened the door to Sesshoumaru's office loft and was blown away by his scent. 'Dammit I hate being in heat.' She composed herself the best she could as she walked over to his desk on the far end of the office. It was situated facing the entry doors with the wall of glass observation windows on the left and lounge chairs on the right.

"Have a seat while I call our maintenance guy before he leaves the hardware store."

"Wow Kags this is so cool!", Eri said as she looked out of the windows to the club below.

"Yeah!", Yuka chimed as she plopped down on one of the leather seats. "I can't believe you work in a place like this with that hot boyfriend of yours, I mean yaow!"

Kagome smiled, "It really is a dream sometimes how lucky a girl can be." She dialed the number and waited for the man to pick up. While the phone began ringing on the other end the wolf sisters came laughing through the door in a very loud fashion. "Hold on Ty", she said into the receiver, "Shhh..", she mildly scolded the girls before returning to her conversation. 'Boy they are just like their father!'

"Sorry Aunt Kagome", Hana apologized for herself and her sisters as they all gave a smart bow.

Kagome just waved her hand as a way of saying 'I accept.' and kept on talking.

It was then that the sisters noticed her other two friends and smiled in greeting while they waited ram rod still at attention. They may be young and playful, but even a 'Shh' like that from an elder, especially 'Lady Kagome' was still a serious warning in their culture to shut-up and wait. None of the girls wanted to be scolded by their father tonight for being disrespectful.

Eri and Yuka just looked at each other in confusion. Neither of them was quite sure why three late pre-teen girls were standing at almost military attention in really cute skirts and tops! It was a very weird site to behold such serious faces on those so young. Yuka however seemed to sense the mood of dedication and waved Eri down from her intent on introducing themselves. She had become very adept at timing. And now was not the time.

Kagome finished the club orders to Ty and hung up the phone as she began to walk around the huge desk to the wolf sisters. "Everything in order."

"Yes.", they said in unison.

"No trouble."

"No."

"Plan in order."

"Confirmed. And stations set."

"Perfect. Eri, Yuka this is Hana, Kagami, and Inari, the three sisters that are as close to me as nieces."

Yuka bowed but Eri had a slight confused look on her face, "did you train them to talk at the same time or what?"

The sisters burst out laughing despite themselves and answered in turn, "No" , "We just have had", "plenty of practice", "answering with one voice."

"Many think were triplets!", the answer came in unison.

The last statement sent all in the room into a small burst of laughter. The kind that Kagome had longed to hear and was happy to experience again. "Come on you guys let's go tell the DJ what we want to hear tonight."

"Yeah!"

Kagome led the group out into the club. "So Eri you like Inuyasha huh?"

Eri blushed, "Yeah I guess I forgot just how cute he was. I hope you don't mind Kags." Eri looked concerned.

Kagome waved it off. "He is my best friend in the whole world, no offense to you guys, but we have been through some tough times together while I was in school that you girls just would not have understood. I wouldn't let any girl near him if I didn't like it.", She smile at Eri as she grabbed her arm and linked elbows.

"I'm glad to hear I pass! I didn't know that you were in tough situations at home Kags."

Kagome looked far away for a moment before she answered as truthfully as she could. "I was never sick in school. I was a miko for my families shrine, and it entitled me to travel a lot and perform many duties to those who still believed. Inuyasha was the one sent to protect me on my journeys. And I am here to tell you that there are some very weird and dangerous people out there! If it wasn't for him I might have been dead several times!"

The two friends looked at her with a mix of aw and horror. Yuka found her voice first, "you mean to tell us that those few times we actually saw you in a bandage or two was most likely only very mild injuries that you had sustained while doing this?"

"Yes. Being a miko is not as accepted everywhere as it used to be. Some think we are there to only do them harm. It was why I never got the courage to tell you."

"Kagome...I'm sorry....we were such bad friends to always push you like we did.", Eri commented as she frowned.

"No,no..you were only being yourselves. In such a difficult time that was what I needed most from you.", Kagome gave a radiant smile and hugged the two girls close. "K?"

They smiled and returned the hug, "K."

"Hey DJ Blue! We need to see your selection!", Kagome yelled as the group made their way across the dance floor to the stage.

Inuyasha and Shippo looked on at the group of women from the main bar. "Do you think that maybe it really is time for us to start moving on?", Inuyasha asked as he leaned casually on his arm.

"I think our kids might just be right Yasha. Just seeing the sisters almost as old as I was when Rin and I mated is making me think that perhaps we were all just waiting."

"Yeah, waiting for Kagome. Just seeing her with her friends again, being the woman I first met really frees my heart."

"I think we love her too much..", Shippo said reflectively, "..all of us have looked after her well being just so she could get to today. I really wonder if we were even ready to move on ourselves if she didn't."

"You know fox, I hate to admit it, but your right."

"Ya gunna go after Eri, seriously?"

Inuyasha smirked, "It's a start. Besides, there is just something about Kagome's friends. Even though they may freak out about all of us, I think that they are a very loyal sort. Kami knows we need those of loyalty."

"Yeah...do you think Kagome would mind if we all dated her girlfriends.", Shippo said while looking at the bouncer Ronin who had just walked up to the bar.

"I hope not.", Ronin said in his deep voice, "I really like Yuka, I only hope she isn't afraid of me."

Inuyasha and Shippo nodded. They knew what he was referring to. Most humans were afraid of them once they found out that they were demons, thus resulting in a lost relationship. The true test always came when they were introduced to the reigning lord, who in this case happened to be Sesshoumaru.

Shippo turned to Ronin, "Did you plan on announcing her?". Referring to the meeting of said young lady with their Lord.

"Yes I had. If all had gone well between us as soon as next week. But with the council in town I'm not sure that would go over so well." Ronin being a Sargent for Sesshoumaru had known about the impending council visit since late last night. He would have to spend extra hours at the castle until they left, which didn't leave much time for his new found girlfriend.

Inuyasha scoffed, "Feh, don't worry 'bout it Ronin. You know Kags would love nothing more than a little happiness at this time. Council or not, announce her-if she's willing. It would make Kagome happy."

"If you say so Master Inuyasha."

The music began playing across the club, loud, thumping, and fast. Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "Hey Wench! No one's here yet!" He could see her giggle as she let the music get turned down a little until the club filled up. Then she motioned for the front doors to open so the VIP and exclusive guests could enter first and settle in unaccosted by regular patrons.

Kagome motioned to the girls, "Come on, you can all help me settle in the VIP's while the staff finishes the fixes and setting up for the regular crowd."

"How cool is this!", Eri exclaimed.

"I know!", Inari squealed. "Kagome has never let us stay all night before."

Kagami nodded her head in agreement, "This will be such a great night!" The excited group agreed and arm in arm they marched up the stairs to the front doors to greet guests.

OOO&&&OOO

Miore reached the lower garden just as a perfect ball of flame touched the stone terrace and disappeared in a rush of fiery wind. "Sloane."

A very handsome dark haired man stood proudly before her where flame had once been. He was as tall as Sesshoumaru but with a little more heft to his build. Sloane wore a long trench like coat of dark burgundy that made his broad shoulders stand out and accented his square jaw line. His eyes were the same color as the rest of his outfit, dark brown-nearly black. Like Miore his pants and shirt were of a leather and coarse weave blend, his coat and weapon holsters all leather.

"Miore, it has been far too long."

"It has my 'brother'.", they approached each other clasping forearms and reaching their free arms around the other in a friendly hug, releasing each other enough to plant a kiss on the others cheek.

Sloane looked around the terrace and frowned. "Were is the little immortal?"

"At little Inu and young fox's club."

He raised both eyebrows and her and smiled, "Oh, so young Inuyasha and the rogue fox leader teamed up did they?"

"They have been a team since Kagome took them both under her care hundreds of years ago."

"Really! I am surprised a leader of a clan would have time to hang out with a second son."

Miore gave a short laugh, "Shippo hasn't decided to claim his clan fully. He was the last member, and with his children yet to mate he feels he doesn't have much of a clan yet to govern."

"Well, then perhaps we should go and see this club of theirs' that they seem to have so much time to attend to!", Sloane remarked light-heartedly. He was always one for mischief and fun, wearing freely his feelings.

"We could drop in so you can meet Kagome, but not dressed like that.", Miore stated matter of factly.

Sloane broke out laughing, it was a deep rich sound. "Always such a serious observer."

She smirked, "Furoku...please find High Druid Sloane a room."

Furoku appeared almost out of thin air, "Yes High Priestess, This way High Druid."

The two immortals nodded to each other as Sloane began following Furoku into the castle, paying attention more to her rear than the place before him. Miore gave a good smile, 'Kouga and him will get along fine.' Then she turned heel and made her way to change for their unexpected arrival at Minamoto.

I have been trying to write ahead but my twins turning one has been difficult on my free time. I will try to finish this in a timely fashion now that I have my new laptop.

Thanks for your dedicated reading-J