"Queen Kagome, how did the challenge go?" Lon asked,

"Well." Kagome replied with a smile, making the room laugh, and she shook her head, "I was worried in the beginning, and then in the middle when Lord Richard changed into a dragon."

"The strike on your side is a nasty one." Kazuhiko said.

"Yes, I wasn't happy after that."

"How did you defeat him?" Emiko asked.

"My sword did an attack—well, it isn't really my sword. It is the sword of the slaves." She said, looking to William who smiled, "The attack was enough to crack his dragon hide, and then I was able to imbed my reiki infused blade into his chest."

"You do not give yourself merely enough credit, Lady Queen." Ghazi said with a frown, setting down his drink, "I was there. And I have been there when others have challenged Lord Richard to the throne. He never had to transform once, and this tiny miko I had only heard about, managed to do it within moments. Richard truly feared, and he was right to." Ghazi smiled, "I thought she was going to be a weak little ningen when she killed him, but then she ate his heart."

"The entire thing?" Emiko asked with a smile.

"I blame you for telling me in the first place, I would have rather been ignorant to yokai customs." The table laughed at Kagome's comment.

"You are truly an amazing swordswoman, Lady Queen. I had never seen someone fight against Lord Richard so strongly."

"I had good teachers." Kagome said with a grin.

"I think this student may have surpassed her teacher." Emiko said with a shake of her head.

"I'll settle for one out of two." Kagome said with a laugh.

"Who was your other teacher?" Ghazi asked.

"Sesshomaru-sama." Kagome said softly, though she tried not to, and she squeezed his hand. He squeezed it back before nodding.

"What inspired you to train a ningen, Lord King?" Jasim asked.

"Kagome can be quite persuasive when she puts her mind to it." Sesshomaru responded, making Kagome laugh loudly.

"I don't remember it like that at all." She said, teasing, "I remember a very stubborn and overly protective inuyokai insisting I would perish as soon as I stepped on the battle field if I didn't take lessons."

"Inuyokai are never over protective. They do what is necessary." Sesshomaru replied, and Kagome laughed again.

"And you can't call anyone over protective." Kazuhiko said to her with a shake of his head, "That's only the pot calling the kettle black"

"Hn." Kagome replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Sorry Mom." He said with a smile.

"She can't be your Mom." Jasim said.

"She may not be my biological Mom." Kazuhiko said with a shrug, "But she's my Mom."

"Very eloquent." Ghazi said.

"I don't have a better way to say it other than that." Kazuhiko said.

"It's the same way she is my Mama too." Shippo said with a smile, nudging his Mom.

Kagome blushed, looking down at her food before smiling back at Shippo.

Kagome walked up to her room like she was walking on air. Everything was finally coming together. She had to convince a room full of people to let them mate, and Sesshomaru—if he would agree.

She thought he would.

In her room, she could finally take a deep breath. Her heart had been racing the entire dinner, and it felt like she had run a marathon. Walking to her dressing room, she went over to her vanity and sat down. Staring at herself in all her Queenly garb, she felt like she was looking at a stranger. Taking a deep breath, she started taking off her jewelry. She started with her fingers, putting them into a bowl and then, took off her bracelets.

Carefully, she pulled off her crown and set it down.

When his fingers touched the back of her neck to take off her necklace, her eyes closed. He unclasped the golden necklace and gently placed it on the vanity. When he was leaned over, his breath passed by her ear and he, ever so tenderly, pressed a kiss behind her ear.

The scent mark of a mate.

"Please tell me you are real." Kagome whispered, her eyes still closed, "I've woken up from this dream so many times."

"I am real." Sesshomaru said deeply, was his voice always that octave? She couldn't remember, "But are you?"

Her eyes opened, looking at him through the reflection. She turned around as he knelt beside her chair.

Because he knelt only for her.

Tears were in her eyes as she leaned forward and pressed her forehead to his and she wove her fingers through his short hair. His breath was on her lips. But even this close to him was too much for her. Her entire body was shaking uncontrollably. She didn't know how long they sat there.

"Sesshomaru." She managed to whisper.

"Please," He whispered back, it sounded nearly desperate. He never sounded that way, "Please." He said a bit more forcibly, "Don't leave me again."

"I won't." She swore.

He kissed her with a tidal wave of force. It was completely dominating and she surrendered. His tongue pushed into her mouth, and though his fangs hurt her, she didn't flinch. She wanted passion. She didn't want light kisses. She wanted to feel with every fiber of her being how much he missed her. It was as passionate as it was messy. She forgot how wonderful he tasted, or how she loved it when his hands pulled her all the closer. His kisses were pulling back as he gently licked her split lip from his fang. Her chest was heaving as he sat back.

"We can't." He said, then took a breath, "I cannot have sex with you without mating you. It was extremely difficult before—and now—" He dragged off. She knew how much it took for him to admit his weakness— to admit that he was run as much as anyone by instinct.

"I don't think I could handle it anyway." Kagome said with a laugh that nearly sounded like a cry because all of the tears running down her face.

He still gripped her face, his molten golden eyes meeting hers. It was the most distraught she had ever seen him. He had tears in his eyes, so she didn't feel bad about hers.

"You—you must know. You must." He murmured.

"I do. I know." She said back, and he pressed his forehead against hers. He brought her into his arms tightly, and then stood up, "Where are you going?" She asked.

"You need pajamas." He said

"I'm not sleeping naked? We always do." She said confused.

His eyes flashed red as he backed away from her, "I—I am—"

"I'll put on pajamas." She said with a smile, he didn't want to admit it out loud that he wasn't in control of his instincts not to take her. Kagome thought it was incredibly sexy that he couldn't resist her, but he probably thought it was humiliating, so she didn't say anything as she went into her closet and changed.

When she walked out of the closet, he was sitting on her chair. He looked relaxed, and he was open enough to look exhausted.

"You look tired." She said.

"Hm, I have been fighting a war." He said with a lift of his eyebrow, and she smiled softly.

"And you cut your hair." She said, still standing in the doorway.

He stood up, "You weren't around to tell me no." He said with a smirk as he moved in closer. His hand slipped around her waist and pulled her in close. He breathed in, his nose buried in her hair and she knew he was taking in her scent.

"I miss this." She murmured, and then she laughed softly, "I miss the sex too. But I just miss being near you. I miss the banter." She let out a breath before looking up at him, "Before I left, I wanted so much." She had tears in her eyes, "But when I was gone, I would have settled to just be in the same room." She looked away from his gaze that was threatening to burn her from the inside out and pressed one of the folds of his shirt.

He didn't say anything, but when she looked up she knew without a doubt he felt the same way. So gently, she took his hand and led him to her bed.

"Do you think you could push your limit a little bit?" She asked with a smile.

"What are you suggesting?" He asked, amusement laced in his tone.

"You take off your shirt." She said with a grin, turning back to him.

"I was planning on sleeping in my boxers, I didn't bring pajamas over." He said.

"Oh, I get it. You're allowed to sleep practically naked—it's just me."

"Kagome." He said, he was using his patient tone, like a teacher reminding a student.

She giggled, waving for him to strip as she pulled back the covers and climbed into bed. He breathed out as he climbed into bed soon after her.

"You stripped fast." She said, her tone teasing.

"I haven't gotten any in six months." He growled, pulling up the covers as he settled in bed.

"And you aren't tonight." She said smartly.

"I know." He snarled jokingly, pulling her tightly against him. She relaxed instantly into his hold, burying her nose into his chest as she held him tightly. Though she wanted to run her fingers down his markings, she knew not to push him.

"Just make sure all of you knows." She retorted, using the same line she used all those months ago. He gripped her all the tighter for it, "If you squeeze any tighter I'm going to pop." She joked.

"It would be a shame to get you back only for you to perish." He murmured, burying his nose into her hair. She giggled, squeezing him tight.

"Goodnight Sesshomaru."

"Goodnight Kagome."

"Mom?" She heard Kazuhiko call for her.

"No." Kagome murmured, burying deeper into the warm comforter and closer to the heat.

"Come on, Mom." He said with a growl.

"Tell Kagura I will be in later." She murmured.

"You have a meeting with me, Miko." His voice caused her to stop, and she suddenly realized she was on a warm chest. Her eyes blinked awake as she pulled away and looked up at Sesshomaru. Tears came to her eyes as she choked up and turned away from him as she began sobbing.

She didn't see Sesshomaru send away Kazuhiko before sliding closer to her and wrapping his arms tightly around her. Wiping her eyes vainly, she turned into his chest.

"I thought I was dreaming again." She said between sobs.

"I am here, Kagome." He whispered, "I am here."

And then he said it again and again until she finally responded. Until she finally reached out and hugged him back. His hands went up and down her back softly. She curled up in his lap and let herself cry, let herself be vulnerable.

Because she could with him.

The feelings she kept back the entire time she had been strong for Kazuhiko, bubbled to the surface: the forced smiles, the almost insane dedication to work and training.

"I don't know if I am crying because I am happy or sad." She admitted with a slightly delirious laugh before leaning back on his shoulder. He kissed her cheek.

"Your grace?" Cala called with a smile that quickly faded as she walked into the room, "Sorry—I will go."

"Be outside, she will need you momentarily." Sesshomaru ordered with a deep and unshakable tone. Cala nodded before quickly left the room and Kagome stood up, wiping away tears.

"I will see you soon." Sesshomaru promised.

"Okay." She said with a shaky nod.

"Kagome." He hummed his comfort.

"I know, I will be there. Looking much less like a hot mess." She said waving to her face.

"I will take you either way." He said, kissing her forehead before leaning down and grabbing his clothes.

"I'm sure Cala will never recover from seeing you nearly naked." She said as he put on his pants.

"You were sitting on my lap."

She giggled as he smirked, kissed her lips chastely before sneaking out the window.

"Cala?" She called, and the dragon yokai entered.

"Milady, if you mated everything will be lost—

"I know what is at stake, Lady Cala." Kagome growled.

"We got this close and—

"Lady Cala, while I respect your opinion, you are not without your place." Kagome said evenly, "I did not mate him. That is the end of the discussion."

"I'm sorry, your grace. I know how hard you have fought to have Sesshomaru-sama by your side."

"You know?" Kagome asked condescendingly as she went into the closet. There was no way Cala knew what they had suffered. How many people they had to rebuke because of their differences of yokai and miko.

"Well, maybe not entirely." Cala admitted as she began to pull things out of the closet for Kagome to wear, "I didn't tell you the entire story of how William got me out." She said, handing her a blue dress.

Kagome's face softened, "What happened?"

"I was going to be mated." She said with a smile, "Dragon yokai are different than inus. Inu are known for being impatient, rushing once they have found their mate." She said with a smile as she helped Kagome into her clothes, "Dragons take time. We have hundreds of years to be together, so we prolong the dance." She smirked, "I was courting a man at court. A general. Lord Richard saw me, and decided he wanted me for his own. So he had the general killed on bogus charges. I was in such a state of shock, I didn't know where to run. William came up to my room that morning and slipped me out past the guards at my door."

"That is not giving me near enough credit." William said from the door, and Kagome turned to look at him with a smile as Cala clasped a massive golden belt that went right below her breasts. It synched the blue dress together. The drop in the neckline went all the way down to her golden belt, "I had do drag and carry you half of the time, you kept staring at me.

Cala blushed, "I was in shock."

"The blue brings out your eyes, Queen Kagome. You look beautiful." William complemented.

"Stop being such a suck up." Kagome said with a wave of her hand, finding that it was being held by Cala as they began to put jewels on her fingers and arms, "Stop, I don't need so much"

"Lord Richard wore three times as much." Cala argued.

"And he was at least three times the ass hole."

"That is a conservative estimate." William said.

"Lady Queen." Ghazi said as he entered

"Yes?" She asked.

"Neil is—having issues." Ghazi said.

Kagome swept up to Neil's room wearing her crown. Ghazi was right behind her as they walked into Neil's room. Neil's room was in a mess of shredded fabric and pillow stuffing.

"Come on, Neil." Edward said, Kagome had forgotten about the second son. He was a bit younger.

"Lord Neil, what is the problem?" Kagome asked. Meeting his eyes was actually terrifying. It was as if something took charge of him. Kagome could tell immediately that he was mentally off balance.

"It is prince." He growled.

"Prince implies you are in line for the throne. And you are not." Kagome snapped.

"Bitch." He hissed, his nose starting to transform.

"I will keep him under control, Lady Queen." Edward said with a bow, covering his brother and pushing him farther back into his rooms.

"Lord Edward, I expect you in your brother's place in a meeting after breakfast."

"Yes, Lady Queen." He said with a bow.

Kagome walked out of the room with Ghazi by her side. He was only wearing pants and shoes with a golden necklace and bracelets.

"Lord Edward is a better choice, Lady Queen." Ghazi said as they walked.

"I forgot about him." Kagome admitted as they walked down the stairs.

"He doesn't have the arrogance of his father, and is much more stable. Neil got used to the servants and the luxury, it was what Lord Richard admired about his first son."

"He swore to me after William, Ghazi. I can't forget that."

"Then give him a task, Lady Queen, but not a position of power. He treats royalty well, but he will treat his inferiors like dirt."

"Like William." Kagome said softly.

"Yes." He replied.

"Thank you, General." Kagome said as they entered the dining area again. He bowed as he left her.

"Mom!" Shippo cried out excitedly. She knew it was her son despite his female form. His long hair was tossed carelessly as he smiled up at her.

"Who are you playing tricks on?" She asked as she kissed his head and he immediately transformed into himself.

"No one." He said quickly, too quickly.

"If you get a girl pregnant, I will murder you." She whispered, and he scoffed.

"I can't get a girl pregnant if I am the girl." He retorted, and so she kissed his head again before sitting down. Kazuhiko plopped down next to Shippo. She loved watching them together when they thought no one was watching them. They pushed each other around and laughed.

"How did you sleep, Lady Queen?" Lon asked as she sat down next to him.

"I had a restless sleep." She said dramatically as she grabbed some of the fruit from the serving plates.

"And why was that?" He asked.

"Oh, thinking about what I am going to do for our peace treaty today."

Sesshomaru had eaten breakfast and the first peace treaty meeting was going to happen in a few minutes. He was in his room, gathering the necessary paper work.

"Dad?" Kazuhiko called as he entered, and Sesshomaru turned around.

"How often has she been having night mares?" Sesshomaru asked. He had held her close all night, but when he had let go of her for a moment, a night mare ravaged her.

"They started the first night." Kazuhiko admitted, "The first night we were in the human realm. I attributed them to being away from you."

"This happens with inu yokai—but she is not." Sesshomaru said.

"Maybe she is around us so much some of our instincts rubbed off on her." Kazuhiko said with a shrug.

"Do you know what they are going to ask today?" Sesshomaru asked,

Kazuhiko scoffed, "Mom wouldn't let me anywhere near those meetings. She said she wouldn't make me choose who to be loyal to, because she knew it was the West."

"Was she wrong?"

"No."

"Shippo found out a couple of things."

"What?"

"The list of demands is high." Sesshomaru said.

"Why would she have a lot of demands?" Kazuhiko asked.

"We are going to find out." Sesshomaru said.

Sesshomaru walked into the meeting with a tight rein on his beast. His beast had been nearly impossible to control once he had seen her and completely unreasonable. His beast kept demanding to mate her. The beast was loud about it before, but now his skull nearly shook because his beast was so angry.

MATE CAN'T GET AWAY AGAIN!

Sesshomaru agreed, but still had to be patient.

When she walked into the room, she took his breath away again. Sure, he had seen her at breakfast. But every time he saw her again it was a gift. Her entourage consisted of two generals, both of whom Sesshomaru had fought, the former slave, an extremely wealthy Lady of the land, and one of Lord Richard's sons. She had chosen well, but he didn't want to say that out loud.

Maybe he would later.

He had Lon with him, Emiko, both of his sons, and Jackson.

"Shippo, when did you become an heir to the Western throne?" Kagome asked, noticing his uniform.

"While you were gone." Shippo said with a grin. Sesshomaru didn't miss the look in Kagome's eyes when she turned to him. It was quick and small, but it was there. It was her gratitude of taking in her son as his own.

Of course he did.

Because she did the same.

He watched her as she brought out the heavy list of demands. She did it with a flourish and a small smile. He was barely listening to her, but he was watching her movements.

"This is a steep list of demands considering you did not win this war." Jackson said with a frown.

"We were the first to try to end it." Kagome replied. She took a deep breath to pause, and let the demands sink in for the West. It was a dramatic pause. Their glares were darkening and obviously the West hated the list of demands.

"We do have a second option." The older of her two generals said.

Alonzo scoffed, "What the hell is it?"

"Sesshomaru-sama mate our Queen." The general said looking to Kagome.

Oh she was good.

If he were a lesser man, he would bend her over the table and fuck her now. The outrageous list of demands was just that—outrageous. The simple offer would be to mate.

"What are the terms?" Sesshomaru asked.

"We have agreed to become part of the West." Jasim said, "But that means equality amongst citizens from both kingdoms of the East and West, not the lesser conquered beings."

"Hn."

"We would like a moment to discuss, and perhaps counter." Alonzo said, and Kagome nodded, standing up.

"I will give you some time." Kagome said, standing up and leaving with a nod of her head.