DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and places are the sole property of Rumiko Takahashi. Any resemblance to any actual events, locales, organizations, or person, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

A/N: I know I missed last week but I got a new game and I was playing it non stop. This chapter is shorter but that's because I got monster on the brain. This is the last update in a while. I'll be too distracted with the game to write for awhile. Give me like 2 weeks. :3

Also, I did a diagram of the western palace if you can't understand the layout. It's on my deviantart. Just go to my profile and the links there. I'm not imaginative so I had to literally draw it out. That's also why it took so long and I felt like I didn't do it justice in my story. );

Now enjoy the story~!

CHAPTER 21

Walking up to the gates, they could only stare and gape in awe. Sesshomaru of course had that blank look but she knew he was just as surprised because she knew she was. In front of them was a fortress. Stone walls surrounding the entire area as its wooden fifteen meter wooden doors had guards already posted around it. There were guards on the wall when they walked in and saw a stone bridge that lead into the building. Within the walls was a moat with only three access points: from the west, south and east. To get within, you would have to cross the stone bridges that led to the palace. Using a level system, there were three levels above water. The first used for guest and the soldiers with a little garden. A stair that leads up to a floor in-between the first and the second. The second consisted of the infirmary and mess hall on the left, behind the training hall as a large garden was in the middle of the entire place. On the level in-between two and three are another set of servant quarters on the left with the royal guest wing on the right. Above all this is the throne room, meeting room with a room for the ladies of court, a private dinning hall, a private gazebo and the royal family wing. From the wall, one would only be able to see the second and third levels. How she built all this in a week? Trade secret.

"So, what do you think of your new home?"

What she thought couldn't be put into words.

"This...is a...very large...home InuKimi. Almost makes me feel ashamed of our palace back in the North."

Nonsense. Your home is lovely but you do not have a large family. I had extra space made for future puppies for the next three generations."

Three?! That's what she called planning ahead. She wasn't even sure how many she'll have in the first but her mother-in-law made preparations for the future. Kagome couldn't tell if she's being thoughtful or forceful. "I do have a question..."

"Then ask away. This is your home now darling."

"Uh...How did you get the water for the moat here?"

"I just had to dig a channel here. It was rather dirty but it made surrounding the palace easier. Rest easy, there is are ponds within the wall and there are still lakes on the outside that are close by."

So...she dug a channel from one water source to another? Does that mean she did it herself? She did say that it was dirty when digging. An imagine of InuKimi in her beast form in all her majestic glory, digging and grunting as she dug her claws into the ground, moving dirt away as water flowed into her face and paws every time she made a new hole. The laughter just came out. Kagome couldn't keep a straight face and neither could Inuyasha because he started laughing with her. "I know what you're thinking and it wasn't that funny."

And here is this proud woman admitting to playing in the mud. Who knew her mother-in-law was a normal woman after all?

Walking pass the bridge, they were greeted by servants as they moved about, taking anything that was considered baggage as they lead the soldiers to the guest mass (essentially a building to house other armies). Giving orders, Sesshomaru told the remaining servants to show where their guest were to stay at and to provide a mapping for the entire structure for his family who have yet to know of his designs on the place. Kagome watched as Sesshomaru would glance around and narrow his eyes in places, as if he wasn't pleased. With everyone off on their own, Sesshomaru along with Kagome followed InuKimi as they headed towards the throne room. It was a lengthy walk but thanks to their demon attributes, they merely jumped the roofs of the smaller building. Some would call it undignified but it was to make sure their demon skills don' get rusty. Kagome felt it was more for InuKimi's playful side, jumping buildings.

When they reached the room, Kagome almost dropped her jaw. The room was divided into three. The room itself was in two, the right being whole with the chairs and a large table in the middle as side chairs and tables were placed around, most likely for the court members. On the left, the area was split in half, the lower half for the lady of court to sit around and gossip as the upper half was used for Sesshomaru's study. The lower room had a screen door that led to a garden on the second level where if the ladies wanted to, they could eat out in the great outdoors as they watch the fishes in the pond swim around. In the middle was a structure (A gazebo of sorts) with interconnections leading to different parts of the throne room and the surrounding building. It was a maze made to look glamorous. Kagome decided that being complex was definitely in his blood because they all wanted to do things the hard way. "Mother..."

"Yes?"

"My plans for the palace...these are not them. Why did you change my plans? It's virtually a different image than what this Sesshomaru had."

"Well of course."

"Why did you change it?"

"It was boring. Plain if I must say."

Boring. Plain. What Kagome wouldn't give to have that right now. The inu blood was definitely something not to look down on.

"Though it is a bit much, I do like it. Spacious and classy."

Sesshomaru didn't say anything but nodded before turning to the incoming visitors.

"Holy crap Sesshomaru. This place is crazy big. I might just decide to live here permanently."

"That would be ideal."

Pleased that everything was as it should, Sesshomaru's chest puffed up a bit. Though he didn't like that his mother made changes to his plans, he loved the way Kagome stared in fascination of their home. He wanted her to love their home because they were going to live there for a very long time. It did his pride justice when it was being praised. Ushering Kagome and the others outside, Sesshomaru announced it was time for supper. Walking out, they headed for the dinning hall. Sitting at the head, Sesshomaru placed Kagome on his left as InuKimi on his right. Beside her sat Inuyasha with the only boy as Rin and Shippo sat by Kagome. The children sat in their laps as Keli sat beside Shippo, Sakura by Inuyasha and Shintaro across his wife.

They didn't wait long before food was being served, the empty table being fulled in mere moments. Each waited for Sesshomaru to take a bit in his food before grabbing a plate themselves. When Kagome reached over to grab something, Sesshomaru stopped her by piling up her place. Embarrassed that he was paying extra attention to her, she sat back in her seat and essentially let Sesshomaru feed her. Ideal chat was made between one and all, anything from what happened on the journey to how the palace looked. By the time supper was done, no one noticed as the plates were taken away.

Rising from their seats, each agreed to go to the second level garden so that the children could play. The garden was beautiful. Stone flooring with red pillars, gold trims and black tiled roof. Four wooden pathways extended from the land to the gazebo within the middle as a round table sat in the middle, sitting on the walls. Surrounding the pond were trees used for shade with glimpses of cherry blossom trees. Flower patches everywhere, fishes in the water as they swim underneath the bridges with the view of the land and the lower palace in sight. It really was a beautiful palace.

Taking a seat, they watched as Rin and Shippo went off to play hide and seek with the children, leaving the adults to smile warmly at the image. All the adults but Sakura. She was still sulking and glaring at Kagome at every other glance. Kagome did her best to ignore it because she wasn't going to let a spoiled child ruin her mood but Sesshomaru was a different matter. He didn't like Sakura and the way she was glaring at Kagome. He need to talk with her parents on the way to raise her or consequences will be made. He will not have his Lady looked down upon.

Inuyasha himself saw this. While he didn't particular like the annoying hawk princess, he didn't want her to get punished or killed. He didn't want Sesshomaru to go to war with the East and the North. Both he and Sesshomaru are strong but two armies together will take a toll on them. Even a demon will weaken under those numbers. Getting up from his seat, he went over to the sulking princess and extended his hand in good gesture. "May you take a walk with me Mi'Lady?"

Seeing that Inuyasha was Sesshomaru's brother and she got scowled for being rude before, she accepted, though reluctantly. Placing her hand on his arm, she allowed Inuyasha to take her away, not noticing the slight nod he gave Sesshomaru.

With them out of sight, business talk started.