AN: I want to Thank each and everyone of you… I actually cried over some of your responses. You are all amazing… I will try to be better at adding more detail… I just don't want to over do it.

To all my Non-English readers.. I am thankful that you responded. I had to go to Google Translate and that is fine by me, I seriously don't mind having to look up reviews :). English is the only language I know… English and bad English… I was never taught a second language… (old school as I am often told…)

I will be continuing the story as is. Though I will try to add a bit more detail… some of you have given me some great advice… thank you so much for everything…

If anyone has questions I may not have answered to date please let me know what they are so I can make sure that they are answered within the story content.

Chapter 38

The sun was just cresting the horizon found Touga walking through the gardens. It had been so long since he simply enjoyed nature in all its beauty. Though the scents of some of the flowers were stronger than others, it was still a pleasant walk. The birds were just waking from their nights rest. The trees seemed greener and more fragrant than he remembered, the stone under his feet was clear of debris and weeds.

He had been thinking of all the things that have come to pass, in the short period of time since his return. Seeing his now former mate was unexpected, but then again, she always did the unexpected. He had been avoiding her. He knew, that he would have to talk to her sooner or later. He needed to know what she had planned, he would not allow her to harm or kill Kagome. The Fates made that abundantly clear.

He also needed to make sure that any supporters that remained loyal to him, didn't cause too much trouble. Though Sesshomaru had every right to kill him during the challenge, he was left alive. He would have to make sure that his supporters knew that Sesshomaru won his right to be lord and that it was not handed to him.

Then his thoughts drifted to InuYasha and all that he needed to teach his youngest. He would need to break the pup in order to rebuild him. He was not looking forward to those lessons. Let alone teach him his proper place in the world. His feet had carried him to one of many arched bridges that spanned the gardens, the sounds of slow moving water, relaxed him. That is until he was driven from his thoughts.

"What are you doing alive?" InuKimi sneered, at seeing her former mate. She had come out here to clear her mind. She would be heading out for a day or so shortly. She hoped that the insipid girl followed her orders.

"It is good to see you as well, Kimi." Touga deflected, he really didn't want to explain the details of his return. His relationship with Kimi, had always been stressful. Though she was still beautiful, her long white hair pulled into a bun, with most of it cascading from the center. Her golden eyes, with her small jagged stripe on each cheek and the red on her eyelids, held all the arrogance and disgust he remembered. Her kimono was a simple three layers with her fur pelt wrapped around her petite shoulders. No Kimi wasn't tall, in fact she was about the same height as Kagome and possibly the same basic body structure.

"Contrary to what you believe, I do not feel the same." InuKimi growled, she was still more than livid with her former mate. She has never forgiven him, for his indiscretions and the fact that he sired a hanyou, disgracing them both and their lines.

"Do you intend to challenge Kagome?" Touga asked, he needed to know, where his little one stood.

"I am unsure as of yet." InuKimi was not about to inform him either way. If Akemi won, then the miko would be dead, and if Akemi lost, then she would challenge the girl. She was not about to let some ningen pest have her son or the West.

"You do realize that if you lose a battle of this kind, you will lose much more than the title of Lady of the West?" Touga stated, looking in to the golden eyes of his former mate, seeing all the hate the female held towards him and ningens.

"As if a ningen could defeat me. My claws are as sharp as they have always been." InuKimi stated with all the arrogance she was born into. She would gladly tear apart anyone, that thought that they were better than her, that even included her son. He was rejecting everything that she had tried to teach him.

"Hm." Touga hummed. "An interesting female you have presented for our son." Touga decided to change the subject. He didn't want to give Kimi any information on Kagome's abilities. It would be a sure way of getting the girl killed.

"She will make a fine Lady of the Western Lands." InuKimi defended. She was not about to let her former mate, know how angry the female has made her. As long as Akemi won the challenge, she would still remain in control of not only the girl, but her son and the West. She was too accustomed to her life and the power she held.

"I see." And he did. He knew Kimi would attempt to place a puppet of her own, keep control of Sesshomaru. Yes, he had made many mistakes with his former mate and son. He knew he had done wrong and put more importance on his younger son and ignored what he needed to with his elder. He knew deep down that he had been hard on the boy, but he didn't know much about raising pups. Kimi did most of that and with a strict hand. She wanted perfection and accepted nothing less.

"You see what exactly?" InuKimi demanded, she wanted answers and he was playing games with her.

Smirking the former lord looked at his former mate. "Is she really the best, that you could have found to match our son?" Touga wanted to laugh at the look on Kimi's face, as she abruptly turned on her heel and stormed off.

~TBaM~

Akemi woke bright and early, having the servant dress her, as the Lady Mother had ordered, she hurried out of her rooms and headed towards the miko's rooms that she shared with the disgusting kitsune's. She was going to put the miko whore in her place, it was bad enough hearing her intended's howl of completion and knowing that he had bedded that miko whore, but the wench thought that she was above her.

It had taken most of the night for her wrist to heal, after Sesshomaru had broken it. It still ached a bit, but she would manage. She would just have to get her intended to be more careful on how he handles his mate. She didn't like a rough males. She knew her intended's reputation. Everyone knew he was the killing perfection, but he needs to handle his female more carefully. She giggled at her thoughts and how she so wanted him to touch her and how she would love to train her male.

Upon entering the hall where she had followed the miko's aura and scent, which she found utterly disgusting, she noticed the two female guards standing to either side of the door, she noted that one was a high ranked general, it was a no wonder, why her intended had put guards on the wench. She was probably to weak, to be able to protect herself. Unfortunately they were blocking a clear passage into said rooms, but she was undaunted in her quest.

"Lady Akemi." Akahana stated blandly, she wouldn't call the female 'my lady' as it would infer her as her Lords, intended. She had seen the necklace the miko wore and knew exactly what it meant, hell anyone with eyes would know, if they bothered to look. The necklace was her Lords claiming.

"Stand aside. I wish to speak to the miko." Akemi ordered, she was to be the Lady of these lands and these people needed to learn to listen to her orders and follow them without question. The only one that had more say than her was her mate.

"I need to ask the Lady, if she wishes to see you." Akahana stated. She was there last night and had witnessed what this female had done at dinner. Personally, she thought it was disgusting, but also extremely entertaining. Akemi was so not a Lady fit for these lands. Hell she wasn't even sure that the miko was either, but she was given orders and she would follow them.

"How dare you. Do you have any idea who I am." Akemi growled out. "I am the intended mate of Lord Sesshomaru. I have every right to access any room I desire and I desire to be admitted into this room. Now remove yourselves."

"We are well aware of whom you are, Lady Akemi, but we are under the orders of our Lord." Akahana stated in a condescending tone.

Just as Akemi was about to threaten the guards. Kagome opened the door, looking none to pleased. She had been listening to the female and her arrogance. She had been getting her kits ready for the day, when she heard Akemi's voice and the attitude that she used with the guards, that Sesshomaru had left her. How dare that female think that she could just enter any room she wanted, without announcement. She was liking her guards more and more, even is she really didn't need them. Her barriers would actually do better, but she relented, just to ease his mind.

"Lady Akemi." Kagome bowed slightly to the female. "What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Or not so pleasure of. Akemi thought to highly of herself, but then again, most nobles did.

"I need to speak with you." Akemi said snidely, pushing past the guards and Kagome, to gain entry into the rooms.

"Please come in." Kagome said as she nodded to the guards and whispered her thanks, before reentering her rooms, leaving the door opened a crack, even though she knew that the guards would be able to hear everything either way.

"What can I do for you?" Kagome asked sweetly, in her quiet tones, seeing Shippo holding Takara to keep her safe and away from the angry female. Kagome had asked Shippo to keep her safe while she dealt with the female, that was now looking around her room with distaste.

Yes, their rooms were not as opulent as hers mostly like would be, but she was more than pleased. They had a fireplace against one wall, with some throw cushions, a large futon off to one side, a low table and cushions. The art in the room was beautiful as it depicted different locations around the West and it coast, the shoji doors leading out to the balcony were open to allow the fresh morning air into the room.

"How dare you humiliate me. I am Sesshomaru's intended and I want you out. Sesshomaru is mine. He was promised to me, by the Lady Mother." Akemi sneered, while she growled at the little miko.

"Please enlighten me, as to how I have humiliated you?" Kagome baited. She had a feeling as to what she would say, but honestly, didn't she see that Sesshomaru didn't want her. Kagome had to fight the blush, that wanted to cross her cheeks, as she remember what she and Sesshomaru had done the night before. What could she say, she had to stop Sesshomaru from mating her and that was the only thing that came to mind, but from what Sesshomaru explained before and reminded her, is that technically they were already mated without the mating part, as their was a strong bond growing between them.

"The whole damn palace heard his howl. How dare you bed a taken male, you whore." Akemi screamed, as she let her hand fly, intending to slap the miko. She wasn't counting on said female to be as strong as she was or quick enough to stop her hand, from connecting.

As it would happen the wrist that the miko now held in her grasp, was the same wrist that Sesshomaru had broken, just the night before and now the miko was squeezing it, with little effort. She screamed as her wrist was broken yet again.

The guards standing outside the door rushed in to see the Lady Akemi on her knees, before the Miko, whom had a grip on the others wrist. They had heard the snap of bones and the miko's cold words.

"Don't ever, raise your hand to me or call me names. You know nothing." Kagome's cold tones even had Shippo shivering in fear and wanting to step back. He had never seen his mother like this before, but he knew he couldn't interfere, the female came here to provoke a fight and drive his mother off. "You are supposed to be a lady, act like one, have some pride and dignity." With that Kagome pushed Akemi the rest of the way to the floor, causing her to land on her behind.

"Please escort the lady to her rooms, so that she may freshen up." Kagome stated to the guards, she didn't care which one did what she asked, as long as they removed the female.

"Sesshomaru will hear about this! I will have you beheaded, for your assault on his intended!" Akemi screamed, as one of her guards lifted the disgruntled female from the floor by her good arm, dragging her from the room.

"Is everything alright, my lady?" Akahana asked, not really caring, but it was after all her job.

"Yes, everything is fine, thank you, General. I'm sorry that you got stuck, babysitting my kits and I." Kagome stated sincerely, she knew that youkai didn't like ningens or miko.

"If I may be so bold, my lady." Akahana waited for the ningen to give her leave. It would not due to get on the wrong side of her Lord. She had talk with her mate after the miko had gone to sleep. She wasn't happy about having to guard a human female, especially after the mess the former lord had made, with bedding and siring a hanyou.

Amadeus had tried to reassure her, that this time it was different. Izayoi was only a human and the lady that Sesshomaru had chosen was a powerful miko and for someone like Sesshomaru to pick her, she had to be able to hold her own. She wasn't much assured of it. Ningen females were especially weak and expected others to protect them, hell even most youkai females looked for a male to protect them.

"Speak and you don't have to call me so formally. I would much prefer the use of my name, which is Kagome."

"It would be most improper, my lady, given that you are the intended of my lord." Akahana watched as the miko huffed. Strange, most humans thought that they were better than youkai kind. "You are a ningen female." Kagome glared that the she wolf. "It is known that humans do not train their females and they are only good for breeding and laborers." Akahana didn't see Shippo's reactions to her words, as he stepped back and shook his head, though Kagome's glare got deeper. "When the former lord had… involved himself with the ningen hime, it had caused endless strife within the Western Lands, because of her our lord was eventually killed by ningen." Akahana didn't realize that her tone had grown angrier and more hateful with her words. "Even the Lady Rin and her kin needs protecting. What makes you think that you are any different?"

Kagome could understand her upset, but she was far from a 'normal' ningen female. "I understand your anger at ningens, but I am far from normal."

"You are miko, as such it makes things even worse for my lord and the West. He would have to have you protected from everything. You will be the target of many assassins. Even the servants here, let alone everyone else." Akahana was angry. "You will constantly require Lord Sesshomaru's protection and it will lead to his death."

"Do you want to put your words where your mouth are and fight me?" Kagome was angry herself. "Don't worry, I won't use my powers against you, but you can bring yours full to bare. Let's see whom is the strongest." Kagome challenged. She needed to prove herself. She didn't care that she already had a standing challenge. She needed this guard to know that she would not risk Sesshomaru's life, like Izayoi did to Touga.

"Momma?" Shippo wasn't happy about this, and he could almost bet that Sesshomaru would be pissed as well. Though he didn't really want to see his mother get hurt. He knew that Sesshomaru's guards were the best, as he only demanded the best.

"She and the rest of the palace needs to know that I am not Izayoi and that I won't risk Sesshomaru's or anyone else's lives." Kagome said, not even looking at her kit, as she kept her eyes trained on the guard in front of her. Akahana was a bit taller than her, but that wouldn't matter, if she could pit herself against some as tall and built as Sesshomaru, this female would be easy to handle.

"If you win, General, I will walk away from Lord Sesshomaru and the West, without a fight. If I win, I want your support."

Akahana thought about it, she knew she was going to get herself into all kinds of trouble with her lord and mate. She was supposed to protect the ningen, but here she was facing a challenge from that same ningen. She couldn't not take the challenge, it would state that she feared her lord's wrath, in which case she did, but more importantly, she needed to know that this miko would be able to protect her lord and the West. The miko had also said that she wouldn't use her powers against her, so she would be at a disadvantage, but she couldn't pass up the opportunity to test her skills against a miko. The miko didn't stand a chance of beating her without her powers.

"Agreed." Akahana agreed, a smirk on her face. She knew that she would win and that Sesshomaru would be free of the miko and the worry that a ningen mate would bring, let alone spawning hanyou, that was different story all together.

"Give me a moment to change. Then we will go to the training grounds." Kagome said, as she walked over to her bag to grab her training clothes. She knew Sesshomaru was going to be angry at the both of them, but he would get over it.

Shippo stood there waiting for his mother to come out from behind the changing screen, Takara looked up at him. "Um… Shippo?"

"Yeah?"

"Is this going to be like before." Takara asked, she was wondering if this was just training or a real fight. She had watched as Kagome and the scary Lord sparred and she was wondering if this was going to be like that or was it going to be like when Kagome trained everyone.

"No, this is more serious." Shippo stated, as he glared at the she wolf. He didn't like that she didn't like his mother. His mother has done so much for these and all other lands and people still didn't understand.

Akahana was surprised at the looks she was getting from the teen kitsune, but what surprised her even more was when the miko stepped out from behind the screen. The only flesh she saw, was her deep blue eyes, even her hair was covered and she had quite the arsenal attached to her body. She had heard from other guards, that they had witnessed a female in all black with a living silk cloak, though she wasn't wearing the cloak, the miko was all in black and her eyes showed nothing of what she was feeling.

"Are you ready." Kagome asked, she wanted to get this done with, she had better things to do than play with the guard that had an attitude. They heading out tomorrow and she wanted to have some down time, for her and her kits, besides she wanted to spend time with Sesshomaru.

"Hm" Akahana hummed and lead them out of the room. They had gotten more than a few stares as the walked, but they all ignored them in favor of their destination, none of them talking or even looking around.

None of them realized that word was spreading on the wings of fire, about what look to be transpiring. They followed behind and out of the palace. Once they stopped at the training grounds, Kagome told Shippo and Takara to sit outside of one of the largest circles of sand.

"The only bit of powers I will use, is to place a barrier around us, so that none can interfere and no one will get hurt. Agreed?" Kagome stated, she wanted to make sure that when things got fierce, no one would be able stop the fight and no one on the outside got hurt. She knew Sesshomaru was going to be pissed and would try to stop the fight, but she wouldn't allow it. Akahana and the rest needed to know, that she could hold her own.

"Agreed."

Once the barrier was placed around the circle, they faced off, circling one another, looking for an opening and wondering which would strike first.

~TBaM~

Sesshomaru, Touga, Rin, Kohaku and their children were all in the dining hall, waiting patiently for Kagome and her kits to arrive, along with InuKimi and her pet. Even InuYasha was at the morning meal, guards standing at his back. Touga had explained that InuYasha needed the lessons in the proper was to behave around others and since it was basically just family, this setting would be helpful. Sesshomaru didn't like it, but had agreed so long as InuYasha had his father and guards. He would not put Kagome in any more stressful situations, than she already has to deal with.

"Do you have any idea what is taking Kagome and the kits so long?" Touga asked, he was a bit concerned, after his early morning encounter with Kimi in the gardens

"No. Do you have any idea where mother and her pet are?" Sesshomaru questioned back, not that he really cared. He wished that his mother would stay out of his business and bring he pet with her.

"No, but I did see Kimi early this morning in the gardens. She was not pleased." Touga's deep voice sounded out.

Sesshomaru beckoned a servant over. "Find Lady Kagome and the whereabouts of this Ones, mother."

Just as one servant went out of the hall another rushed in, bowing low towards his lord, before straightening to whisper in his ear, for only him to hear. Sesshomaru's eyes widened, just before he disappeared from the room.

"Explain?" Touga demanded. He had never seen his son act that way before.

"The Lady Miko and General Akahana are fighting my Lord." The servant bowed repeatedly, before straightening to see the humans rushing after the Lord and the second son, whom were gone from the room, just like Lord Sesshomaru.

~TBaM~

Sesshomaru got to the grounds, only to see Kagome his general trading blows with one another. Neither was holding back, as the sparks from their swords indicated, as well at the dust being kicked up from their footword. He saw the barrier around the training grounds and when he went to touch it, he was zapped smartly.

Looking at his hand he saw the burn, from the strength of the barrier. He growled loudly in displeasure. Akahana would need to be punished for this. She had no right to question him or his choice.

He couldn't take his red rimmed, golden eyes off the battle taking place. He didn't care that Amadeus, the mate to Akahana, his father and brother were standing beside him. He could feel Shippo nearby along with the small female kit.

Ripping his eyes off the battle, he stormed his way towards Shippo. He wanted answers and he wanted them now. The guards and servants in his way moved quickly away from him, feeling his barely contained rage.

His father, brother and general followed in his wake.

"What is the meaning of this." Sesshomaru growled out, causing many more to step back in fear.

Shippo swallowed hard, as his eyes traveled up the tall inu, only to face more red than gold. He wanted to step back from the rage pouring off the inu, but he knew to retreat would only get him hurt.

Until Next Time…

Well Akemi is showing that she is an idiot…

InuKimi is not working with Asuna… She is just a mother that thinks she knows best… We will find out what she has planned… soon… hehe

Kagome and Akahana battle it out… how will win this fight… before you ask Kagome is only using enough of her powers to sustain her muscles or she could have purified the general.

Where is Akemi and InuKimi… stayed tuned and find out.

I will say this again… Thank you all… I have had an overwhelming amount of support from you and some great ideas. Thank you you are all awesome. Over 100 people responded to my AN and you all say the same thing. Keep it the Same…