Chapter 33

Touga looked at the letter in his hand, dread filling his stomach. He had no idea why the council was calling for an emergency meeting. It wasn't something they had done in years. Before the birth of Sesshomaru if he could remember correctly. So why now, and why request something like they did.

"Father?" Sesshomaru held out his hand for the letter, and Touga passed it to him tensely. He watched his son read their demands, could see as Sesshomaru's eyes widened and snapped towards him. Sesshomaru knew this could be no good.

For the council to demand an audience during a meeting, meant they had a reason for that audience to be there. Those reasons tended not to be very good. "What will we do? I do not like this." The council was asking for Kagome to attend the emergency meeting they were calling for. No. They weren't asking, they were demanding her presence.

"We must do as they say. If we do not, we will have more trouble on our hands. They will not hurt her." Even Sesshomaru didn't believe his own words. IF they felt that she was a threat to the demon race, they would act accordingly. Still, if Touga ran off with Kagome, the consequences would be far worse.

"Do you think they know she is a Miko? I have no other idea as to why they would call on her." Touga ran his hands over his face, leaning back in his chair. His stomach was in knots. He had wanted to keep Kagome as far away from the council as possible. At least until after they mated. Now his hands were tied, and he was forced to do the one thing he didn't want to do.

"Perhaps Kikyou opened her mouth." Sesshomaru closed his eyes as he shook his head once. "No. I do not think she has the connections to the council. Someone else has to know Kagome's secret. They would have to be a minor lord, someone who had access to the council."

"Maybe we are just overthinking this. I do not hide that I plan to mate her, perhaps that is why they are requesting her presence?" Touga was grasping at straws, but he didn't know what else to do. He couldn't see this meeting turning out any way that he wanted unless they were just wanting to meet the future Lady of demons.

"It is possible that they do not like you mating a human. She would rule over us, and many would be uncomfortable with that." Sesshomaru also leaned back, still looking over the letter. The council was old fashioned and had not yet converted to technology as the others had. "Assuming will get us nowhere. We have fifteen minutes to collect Kagome and return home for the meeting."

"Go ahead and head home. I will get Kagome and meet you there." Sesshomaru stood, giving his father a warning look. He was telling Touga not to run away with Kagome, and Touga sighed. The thought had crossed his mind, but that wouldn't be fair to anyone.

When Sesshomaru was gone, Touga made his way downstairs. He could run faster than the elevator could take him. Stepping inside the daycare, he was assaulted by the sight of Kagome bouncing an infant on her shoulder. He refused to acknowledge what the sight awoke in him. Babies were not in their future.

"I need you to come with me." He didn't even try to hide the seriousness of the situation. She looked at him with wide eyes and then nodded, handing the baby to Touran. When she reached his side, he wrapped an arm around her waist and enveloped him in his orb. They were at his house with five minutes to spare.

"They have already arrived." Sesshomaru stepped towards his father, and Kagome didn't miss the look of worry Sesshomaru sent her way. "I will head in, Father. You should probably warn her. This meeting spells trouble."

When Sesshomaru was gone, Touga turned Kagome to him, placing his large hands on her shoulders. "The council has demanded a meeting with you. We are unsure why, but it cannot be anything good. I will protect you Kagome. I promise this."

She leaned up on her tippy toes, pressing her lips against his. He took the affection, letting it soothe the worry that had bubbled in his stomach. When he pulled away, he leaned his forehead against hers and took a deep breath.

"We will be okay, Touga." She kissed his cheek once more, and then pulled back from him. With a sigh, he turned to the door and pushed it open. Four new eyes immediately locked onto Kagome, but she held her head high, not letting their beady gaze get to her. Sesshomaru was also watching her, but she saw the pride he had for her not backing down and being weak.

Touga pulled out a chair for her, and only sat down once she was seated. The silence was tense, and she felt it begin to thicken and become suffocating. When it became hard to breathe, Touga finally spoke, breaking the tense atmosphere that had formed. "What is the reason for this meeting?"

"It has come to our attention that you wish to mate Kagome Higurashi." One council member didn't take his eyes off of Kagome. Of course, that was all she could make out. Each member was cloaked, a hood covering their head so all you could see was the glow of demonic eyes.

"We wished to meet the human woman that would rule over us." Another sneered, and they knew from his tone that was not the true reason they were all gathered in that room. It was just the cover-up if any outsiders were to ask.

"Many concerns have come up with the Higurashi woman becoming your mate. Some that cannot be ignored. We wish to discuss those matters now." The largest of the group glared at the others, telling them to reign in their tempers. They would conduct this meeting like any other time.

"Tell us, Kagome." This time a female voice, soft and soothing. "You are human, wishing to mate the Lord of demons. How do you plan to rule on his side, unbiased towards your own kind?

"I know demons are different than humans. They have customs that humans could never truly understand. But just because they are different doesn't mean they deserve any less respect than I would give my race. I am capable of being unbiased because I believe we are all good, no matter what we are." Kagome only looked towards the woman. She had been the kindest so far, and the only one that seemed to what to hear what Kagome had to say.

"I am also not naïve enough to not know that every race has a bad egg. Ruling over a race will never be easy, but I am prepared to step up to the challenge and prove my worth to stand by Touga's side. I am not scared of any test that may come with being a lady, and I will pass it with ease." Silence was her answer as the council took in everything she said.

The female hummed and held up her hand. A small pink glass ball was in her palm, and both Touga and Kagome stiffened. Touga knew what the real reason they were all here for was, just by one glance at that small trinket. Kagome had no idea what it would do, but she could feel the reiki in it. She looked up to Touga, seeing his chin moving as he ground his fangs together.

"You are not scared of a test, you say. Then perhaps we can conduct the first test here and now." The woman smirked. They couldn't see it, but they knew it was there. Kagome no longer thought the female to be the kindest. Now she couldn't help but silently call the woman a bitch.

"What exactly will the test do? What happens if I pass or fail, and which would you prefer." Kagome's own eyes narrowed. She made no move to grab the ball, not until her questions were answered. She would not be manipulated into doing what the council wanted so they could twist the outcome to their desires.

"So, you refuse then?"

"Her words are already proving to be fake."

"How pathetic."

The female held up her hand, silencing the others. "Your questions are valid, and very much calculated. Impressive." The woman lowered her hood, revealing slit pupils, and two fuzzy ears on her head. She had whiskers coming from the side of her nose, and a tail that pushed its way up from under the cloak. A cat. "The test is required. You must pass if you wish to mate Touga. Should you fail, you will be banished from his side, and unable to return." She smirked, showing off her feline fangs. "You can not escape, and it is simple. Just touch it."

Kagome scoffed, giving her own wicked grin that had everyone flinching back. Sesshomaru and Touga took a sick pleasure in her ability to have the council on their toes. "I could have sworn my mother died." Kagome leaned forward, cocking her head to the side. "You don't resemble her, so it is logical to assume that you are, in fact, not my mother. And yet, you think you can make decisions for me. Hilarious." She wasn't laughing. "I do not see a need to take a test. Nor will I ever. Touga is the lord of demons, and that means the lord over you. Who he chooses to mate, is of no concern to you."

"If you are a threat-"

"Have I threatened you? As of right now, the only one who has given out any threats is you." Kagome chuckled darkly as the woman winced. "Was there any other concerns, or perhaps we can all return to work and stop wasting time."

"You don't have the right to-"

"As far as I'm concerned, I do. I am to be the mate of Lord Touga." The female flinched again, and Kagome saw something that had her laughing. The laugh sent shivers down the council's spine. It was powerful, and yet threatening. "I see now. You desire my position." Kagome leaned forward, pushing into the feline's personal space. "You want to spread your legs for the lord, and have him fall on you. Unfortunately, that position is filled by me, as I'm filled by him."

The woman hissed, and Kagome stood, her head still held high. "I think this meeting is over, don't you Touga." She looked to the male sitting beside her, trying to fight the blush that threatened at the fire in his eyes. He was more than just a little aroused at her display of dominance, and the entire room knew it.

"Indeed, my little mate." He stood, holding out his hand, and Kagome made a show of taking it. "I would more than desire to continue this meeting in our rooms. Sesshomaru, you may do as you please, this meeting is over."

"Wait!" The female stood, her tail bristling. "Is it true that you're a Miko?"

Kagome looked at the woman, her face pure innocence. "Miko? Do you feel any spiritual energy? I am just Kagome." Kagome turned, leaving the council as the cat screeched her anger. When the doors shut, Touga had his female against the wall, sucking the breath from her as he tasted her mouth.

"They have gone." Sesshomaru stepped out of the room, raising an eyebrow as Touga pulled himself away from Kagome. He looked to the blushing woman and smirked. "I did not know you had it in you, Kagome. You surprise me. It is good you denied the test. Had you touched the jewel, they would have known."

"Yea, I figured. I felt the reiki in it." Kagome shivered, and Touga wrapped an arm around her. He looked to Sesshomaru, nodding his head for his son to leave. When Sesshomaru was gone, he started to guide Kagome back to their rooms.

"Aren't we going to return to work?" Kagome looked up at him, and his molten eyes gazed down at her.

"You already know the answer to that, Kagome. We are going to our room, where I will ravish you. You proved you are the alpha female Kagome, and that is something I am highly attracted to." His last sentence was whispered into her ear, and she shivered. She released her scent, letting him smell her arousal, and in a flash they were gone from the hallway, not to be heard from for the rest of the night.