There are many things Sesshomaru could be grateful for. One was that after these games he would not be expected to seek a mate after finding every female unsuitable. Sesshomaru had decided that he enjoyed bachelorhood. He could have his fill of any woman without having to be treacherous. Sesshomaru and treacherous did not seem to work in the same sentiment, however Sesshomaru was a dog that became bored easily. In his almost 200 years of life he had not entertained a bed more than thrice concurrently. There were few women he had not grown bored of, and they all shared one trait: he slept with none.

One such of these women was one miko, Higurashi Kagome. She was able to keep his interest with her devious tongue and excitement always happened where she was involved. Usually her excitement spelt trouble for those around her. This morning was no different.

This brought him to another thing he was grateful for. The barrier around the dais made from kitsune and tanuki magic. Not only did it offer near impenetrable protection to those on it, even when he's not there and the hall is full, it creates an illusion of calm upon the onlookers, blinding them to anything contrary, even mad dashes through the hall would become regal strolls if need be. So when the morning debacle happened, none of the would be onlookers were privy to the fiasco. This did not mean that Sesshomaru was pleased.

"Toga, let me go. I need to speak with my son" Harou said struggling with his friend who had him pinned to the ground.

"I would if I knew you weren't going to go on a rampage and kill my new protégé"

He scolded at the two lords. They may have been his elders but their self-control was nonexistent when it was required socially. They wouldn't give him any explanations. He continued to glare at the rest of them. Realising the main people involved were not going to easily divulge information, he turned to his advisor. Miroku was quite forthwith in his explaining of the situation prior to his arrival. Sesshomaru felt partially responsible for the escalation of the situation. Curiosity was in his dog nature and seeing the usually cool tempered northern Lord become so inflamed made him curious as to the reason.

"It seems as though the kitsune prince is receiving the repercussions of his rash decisions last year"

"Sesshomaru, you knew where my son was this past year?"

Yes he did. The moment they had arrived that fateful night he knew who they were. He choose not to say anything because he wanted to see how the night would continue from its spectacle of a start. How would he know that the fox would become her teacher and jump down the well and seal it off.

"Hai"

Lord Haru began to sputter at his answer. His father began to laugh.

"Don't tell me, Natsu was her sensei? Is that why he was missing and came back smelling of her?"

Sesshomaru gave no answer. His father laughed harder letting go of his old time friend who jumped up and in a flash stood nose to nose with Sesshomaru.

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

Sesshomaru's reasoning was simple: they were in the future with no way to access them.

"My Lord may I speak freely? Where they had gone would have taken too long to reach, their shortened route was blocked off and we are trusted to keep the secrecy of her home. I believe that my Lord Sesshomaru thought that you knowing may upset you more and cause you to make rash decisions"

This was another thing Sesshomaru was grateful for. Miroku had the charm and tact; Sesshomaru did not like to talk unnecessarily. The monk as his advisor could smooth over most things with his silver tongue. Since he had joined his shiro and began work as his liaison to the human world there were little problems. He would work well as the male sorter during the games.

"Any questions you may have for the miko, you may ask her in my study, in mine and my father's presence"

He strolled off to his seat on the dais. Almost immediately Kagome and the northern heir returned, passing through the door on the left of the dais. Kagome's anger was palatable on the air; he did not need to look up to see the fire in her eyes as she stalked away from her first teacher to her second, his father. This placed her to the left of him, three seats down next to the lord whom had just tried to kill her. For a fleeting moment he questioned his father's sanity, but compared to sitting next to his mother. He had not informed his mother of his "bond" with the miko and his mother will start to put her through an interrogation, principally due to the stunt she pulled last night. His beast was afraid that his mother might scare her off; his logical side was agitated that they may become friends, like she had with the monk sitting between her and his father.

The seconds ticked by as he waited for the final guests on the dais to arrive. There were still five people missing and breakfast would not start until they arrived. Kikyo entered first. He took little notice of her as she bowed to her betters and sat next to Inuyasha and clung to him. Alive or dead she carried around sickening scents. Today she drowned herself in a cloying sakura scent. The past year she had shown herself to be treacherous. On more than one occasion he heard rumours from the barracks of her exploits. Leading closer to the games she began to drop hints as subtle as the moon on his brow when his brother was not around. He had no use for her. Even now she stole glances at him. She believed he would announce her as the female sorter, allowing her closeness to his person. He would have to be brain dead or morally blind like his brother to choose her. He had someone better in mind.

A little more time passed and the northern wolf princess arrived in her traditional ceremonial garb. A while fur cloak over a black and pink sleeveless kimono with a tight green obi and a white fur skirt. He normally wouldn't take notice but she let out a high pitch squeal upon entering hugging Kagome. Righting herself she greeted the lords before taking her seat next to her supposed mate-to-be.

"Good morning Koga-san" she said in a voice that made Sesshomaru want to roll his eyes.

The male being addressed barely acknowledged her. There was a quick change of emotion that Sesshomaru could not decipher. She looked at the wolf and the wolf looked at the miko who sat quietly on her cushion, seemingly ignoring everyone while in deep thought

"Ayame-san, are you planning to join the two halves of the East with your mate-to-be during the games?" Lord Harou innocently asked. Sesshomaru knew it wasn't so innocent, all the nobility knew that northwestern wolf princess was besotted with the southeastern wolf Prince who paid her little mind.

At the question, Kagome imperceptibly stiffened.

"I would be attempting to"

The atmosphere began to change.

"Attempting to? There is no reason to put it off any longer"

The inhabitants in the hall began to look slightly uncomfortable, fidgeting in their seats.

"I will try... if she allows me to"

The atmosphere got murkier. Bodies became tenser and some eyed exits unknowingly. Kagome's fingers were lightly playing with a star pendant around her neck. Her breathing had changed.

Lord Harou, along with most of the dais turned to look at the miko. Kagome turned to look back at the Northern Lord, but her words were addressing the wolf princess.

"I haw never accepted his suit and I currently have no intentions of giving him mine. If he truly wants me he must follow the games customs and speak to the sorters and my guardian of his intent. Otherwise, you can keep him for all I care."

He watched his father place his hand on her petite shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. The fox taught the miko well. By her stating that she had not accepted his suit meant that they were both free to mingle and allow others the chance to place their suit. The wolf could no longer call her "his woman", a thought that made his beast a tiny bit happy for unbeknownst reasons to either of them. If she hadn't she would be locked into activities with Sesshomaru which would hamper his plans.

All while the debacle happened, the males slowly trickled in and took their seats on the other half of the hall, separate from the women and the mated couples and elders were seated in the middle table. The massive doors opened and the last guests arrived: the tanuki lord of the south and his son, flanked by Sesshomaru's general Eiji, one of the only people he considered a friend. Somewhere during their walk up to the dais the daughter joined. Their arrival cut the tension in the room at once. Greetings passed and everyone was finally seated. The southern lord Yukio was sitting at his cardinal seat, his son and daughter to his right. Eiji took the seat immediately to the right of Sesshomaru and the left of his brother.

"Begin" at his command his servants brought out the food and poured the tea. Chopsticks in hand he took the first bite of his raw deer heart. Receiving the signal everyone began to dine.

...888...

Breakfast was pleasant enough. Until the Northern Lord turned his eyes to Kagome.

"Miko, what is your name?"

The questioning started innocent enough.

"Lord Harou, I believe I said to wait until we are in my study to question her" his eyes hardened as he took in the lord.

"My name is Higurahi Kagome"

If he was a lesser being he would have sputtered. She may not have been there when he spoke to the Northern Lord, but she had just heard him did she not? Wasn't it in her best interest to be in a less public place for this confrontation? And she had just openly defied him in front of the cardinal lords. At that thought, a low growl began to build in his chest.

"Miko"

She turned pleading blue eyes towards him, as if imploring him to understand or accept her decision. But there was something else.

"Please, my Lord, Grant me permission to speak freely to the Northern Lord"

There was a hard edge to her voice that most missed. She wasn't even asking him. While she used words that seemed to be that she asked, she really was telling him that she would speak to him. What she was asking was if he wanted her to openly defy him or not. She was sneaky.

He pulled his eyes away from her and gave a subtle nod to her.

"I am Lord Harou, of the North. May I enquire of your heritage, little one? I have never heard of 'Higurashi' before "

"Otou-san, you should-"

"Hush kit"

"Okay" the fox prince carried on eating like he never interjected in the first place, sneaking glances to Kagome.

"My mother's name is Higurashi Ai. I was raised on a shrine far from here with my grandfather and brother"

"What about your father?"

Kagome's face saddened at this.

"I do not know him. His family killed him for loving my mother before I was even born."

The air grew a bit more uncomfortable. That fact was not unknown to Sesshomaru, it came up in one of their early conversations when he annexed his group with hers. It was the reason she so thoroughly believed in love and sought to protect love. It was a flash notion in his mind, but it seemed to keep her grounded in reality.

His father began to gently rub circles on Kagome's hand as Lord Harou continued with his faux pas.

"No father, is that why you decided to abscond with my son last year? To get the male attention you're lacking"

Sesshomaru felt his hackles raise. His inner beast was snarling at the disrespect levelled against Kagome. Kagome did not deserve this type of treatment while she stayed under his roof.

The temperature began to feel hot. It wasn't enough to make him sweat, yet he felt a little of its pickling along his spine.

"I do believe for a Lord, you have no tact. I thought you were the "Wise fox of the East" capable of setting most disputes. It would seem Natsu was wrong" Kagome replied as she continued to eat, not sparing a glance to the offensive Lord beside her.

The heat began to feel slightly uncomfortable.

"Sesshomaru, what is happening?" His mother demanded whispered, her eyes darting between the combatants.

He chose to ignore her. By the look in Kagome's eyes it would soon be over. And no one would see, simply because the fox prince would not allow his student to lose face in front of the subordinates, while also having a sense of self-preservation for himself, so the Fox had already begun weaving his magic over the hall.

"How dare y-"

"HOW DARE YOU!" She exploded on him, the heat was unbearable, her scent smelled of something like diluted ozone, similar to her reiki, "Did you not ask your son or your guard how your heir was with me? Your HEIR approached me. Your HEIR offered to teach me. Your HEIR decided to go to my home knowing he couldn't return often. He NEVER TOLD ME WHOM HE WAS UNTIL THIS MORNING! I had no idea who he was until after we left here and by then it made no sense to send him back"

Her chest heaved behind the force of her rant. She fully faced the stunned Northern Lord, body tense. His father looked awed at her spit fire. Sesshomaru, like her previous travelling companions, found her outburst quite mild. They had seen worse. The only difference was the sweltering heat that appeared due to her advancement on her reiki. The fox prince seemed proud. Eiji and the Tanukis seemed surprised, while the formerly dead looked smug. Taking a breath in he could smell several different arousal wafting in the air. It was time to stop the spectacle.

"Miko" was all he had to say. She took a deep breath and the air was less stifling.

"Gomen for my outburst, my Lords. I should have listened to Lord Sesshomaru and waited until after he announced the sorters." She bore her neck to him to show the extent of her apology, the demon way. For some odd reason his inner beast focused on it and he felt his heart imperceptibly quicken. He drug his eyes away.

"This will be dealt later. Fox, end your spell."

With his usual grace Sesshomaru raised himself from his cushion. Seeing him stand brought attention to his figure.

"I have chosen my sorters. My sorter shall be my human ambassadors: Miroku my advisor and Kagome the Shikon Miko. In one hour the sorting will commence."

He turned on his heel and made his way out the room followed by his guard.

"That's Kagome?" Eiji asked.

He gave no answer as they made their way to Sesshomaru's study. Behind him he could hear the hall emptying.

"She's quite interesting, no wonder you wanted her here"

...888...

Upon reaching her room, Kikyo began pacing. She wanted to break something. Kagome was barely in the shiro for 24 hours and she was taking a position that was here. Dark magic began to raise on her skin. She wanted to scream.

However, this was just one battle the copy had unexpectedly one. There was still the meet and greet and she'd be damned if her copy bested her in favours.

She smirked to herself. Kagome had already creates enemies amongst the cardinals. It was only a matter of time before Tokyo triumphed over.

Sensing movement she turned towards one of the shadowy corners. She saw nothing but a scroll on the ground. Warily, she approached it, breaking off the seal, a white lotus puerced by a katana, after recognizing it. She gave a smile akin to Naraku as she read the only sentence on it.

"I would help you get rid of the Shikon Miko"

It didn't occur to her to question how her new ally knew of her connection and animosity to her reincarnation. All she cared, was that she now had a powerful ally to take her enemy out.