A/N - I do not own Inuyasha

Chapter 7 - The Plot Thickens

With a devious glint in his green eyes, Shippo lined up his throw. Kagome crouched; muscles tensed to leap into the air. The tips of Shippo's fangs flashed in the late-afternoon sunlight.

"Throw it, already!" she yelled.

He laughed and tossed the frisbee so far over her head it was obvious he had intended to do so. Kagome groaned out loud. It had landed, once more, in one of the mimosas trees the park they had come to had been named for. "You know he is getting sick of your gambit to get him to play. Sesshomaru is here; be grateful he has not beheaded us. I think his finger twitched twice the last time he had to retrieve the frisbee from the tree."

Shippo sniggered then ran up to leap into her arms. "I can go get it," he innocently offered.

Kagome ruffled his hair then tweaked his nose. "As if. You could break your neck. This is it, though," she continued with a firm voice. "Seriously. We need to know who that lady Youkai was and Sesshomaru's patience is at an end. I get that you wanted some adventure, but fun time is over. We played Frisbee. We paid out the nose to have pizza and mochi delivered from Complete Foods. Sesshomaru even helped us find a way to get music over his Wi-fi enabled car though I still don't know how Youkai cars can pick up Wi-Fi all the way out here in the middle of nowhere even though my darn phone quit at the first sign of trees. I danced with you until my blisters have blisters."

"This one concurs. Enough stalling, Kit. Give the description of the female," Sesshomaru ordered from the log he had seated himself on as soon as they arrived in the small park that was a part of a larger conservation area. He had only bestirred himself from it the few times Kagome had threatened to run off to the authorities to retrieve Shippo's Frisbee. He flicked his pointer finger and a green, glowing whip of his power flashed out to hit the frisbee. Two smoking pieces fell from the tree and melted into the ground next to a brown sack of trash. The leftovers from lunch.

Darn Youkai and their ability to eat three times their weight. Kagome had barely gotten a taste of the peanut mochi before both Sesshomaru and Shippo had devoured it. Thinking back on the long-ago dinner, Kagome inwardly sniggered. Perhaps Sesshomaru had not been that demented in his planned repast for her visit. The male loved peanut butter the way she did chocolate on the first day of her cycle.

Speaking of which… When was her last cycle? She frowned in thought and held her fingers up to count back, missing the shared looks of confusion not even Sesshomaru's stoicism could hide between the two males.

Shippo cleared his throat from the cradle of her arms. "You kept your promise," he began, almost pompass, "So I will keep my side of the deal. And I won't tell anyone else, either. Promise," he vowed, two fingers raised. "The lady was taller than Kagome. Probably to your chin," he told Sesshomaru. "She had on this old kimono too. The one no one wears anymore except for festivals or if they work at older hotels. She kept swinging a fancy fan around and her eyes were red. I thought that was weird, though, because she didn't look out of control."

Sesshomaru hissed. Literally hissed. Kagome blinked. Shippo hunched further into her arms.

"Um," Kagome ventured, "I am guessing you know who she is?"

"Kagura," Sesshomaru supplied. "A grasping, tedious waste of Youkai blood."

"Well, that's a bit strong. What did she do?" Kagome inquired. She was genuinely curious. Gossipers had a special place in hell, she knew. That did not stop her from leaning in even further to gather every juicy tidbit he spilled.

He snorted and eyed her askance but still answered, "This one is a much sought-after mate. After ignoring Kagura's rather obvious attempts at seduction, this one was treated to her attempts at manipulation. She entered the mountain domicile for this one's clan after the return of the Inu No Taisho and attempted to place a highly-illegal drug in the water supply while the clan was there for holiday to celebrate the return of my father." His tone and narrowed eyes implied he had not been in a very celebratory mood.

"Uh, that's a bit more than manipulation. Try illegal as heck and horrible. What was the drug? The whole water supply?" Kagome squeezed Shippo until he squirmed and then jumped down to pace in front of the pair.

"Rapture. A Youkai compound that can induce false desire and forceful mating," the Daiyoukai revealed with a sneer. "Kagura is a wind demoness. She did not know this one would scent the impurities. Even if this one had not, through Hisaki's blood, the drug would not work. Kagura used the entirety of her remaining inheritance to buy off the inquiry into wrong-doing and she was sentenced to counseling and remanded to a posh clinic rather than face imprisonment in a Youkai cell. This one was not aware she was released from her punishment and allowed to travel freely about the District. Yet another failing of the new Head the Inu No Taisho appointed."

Shippo spoke up before Kagome could, "She smelled mad. Really mad. There were two other guys with her. Youkai. One of them looked like he was full Youkai but was on the lower scale of power 'cause his head was all deformed. The other one had a blue cross on his head. They just laughed at Kagura, if that's who she is. But she scented of blooded anger when they talked about you two mating."

"Hiten," Sesshomaru supplied thoughtfully. "The deformed one is his brother."

"Huh," Kagome huffed out. She slapped her arm. Darn mosquitos were coming out in droves. "I didn't know Youkai could be deformed. I know hanyou can be."

"All the more reason to accept that you are ignorant and accept counsel from one who is not," Sesshomaru dead-panned. At her narrowed eyes he shook his head then looked at the sky. "When a Youkai mates with another Youkai there is an exchange of power. If the exchange is not balanced there can be consequences for the youngling conceived. A dame of greater power than the sire will result in the egg fighting against the genetic information contained in the seed of the male. Deformities or miscarriage will be the end result. A male of too much strength will often result in a sterile pairing. That is why this one is the only offspring of the mating between the Inu No Taisho and this one's dame."

Shippo nodded sagely. "My father told me that is why my mother died. He had a power surge from defeating a long-standing challenger after I was born. She was attempting to gather more power so she could bear again and was killed by one of her challengers."

Kagome's head swirled with the influx of information. "Wait, what?" she finally blurted out. Power from a challenger?

Sesshomaru gestured to the car. "This one has the necessary information. It is time to return the kit to his caretakers. There will be plenty of time on the drive for the incessant chatter of the kit to fill your ears. After he is returned, this one will handle the matter of Kagura. The brothers will be left to the Inu No Taisho to handle. They are under his employ."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Just like that?" she asked while getting into the car and buckling up. "You will drop those two in your dad's lap and walk away? You don't even know why they were outside the Council meeting. Nor how they are connected to Naraku."

Starting the car, Sesshomaru pulled out of the gravel space that barely passed for a parking area and turned the nose of the car south. Toward the only large city near their location. He pushed the cell button on his steering wheel and motioned both Shippo and Kagome to silence with a wave of his hand rather than answer her.

The truth was, Sesshomaru did not care to aid his sire for two reasons. One being that, as the Inu No Taisho, he should be able to handle his own affairs. The older male had certainly not asked his opinion on the subject of his actress. One does not make arbitrary, terrible decisions that affect the whole clan and then expect loyalty in return. The second reason, Sesshomaru did not want to examine too closely. Something was not right. If Kagura and Hiten were involved, the Council itself was suspect. Hisaki and his sire and grandsire were all on the Council. Of seven seats, three belonged to his clan. What were the odds that they were completely in the dark as to the actions happening just outside their hallowed doors?

"Speak, and your excuses had better be good," came the hard command over the speakers inside the car.

Noticing the wince coming from the Miko next to him, Sesshomaru discretely dialed down the volume. Her shrieking voice could shatter glass if she was sufficiently roused. He had no desire to spar with her over the damnable headaches she claimed Youkai voices gave her lest he suffer the same.

"Father," he replied laconically. He refused to take the bait and become angered. Nothing the Inu No Taisho could do anymore would anger him. Inspire disgust? Yes. Disturb him on a deeper level? Many times. Irritate, confuse, or any combination of the two, indubitably. Anger? No. After abandoning all honor many years ago, then exponentially compounding the matter by then also running away with his tail tucked between his legs and leaving Sesshomaru to take over the mantle of leadership as well as the responsibility to the hanyou son Sesshomaru was not prepared to raise? He, who had not even taken a mate?

No. Anger was reserved for those who deserved it. Those who inspired strong enough emotion within him were the only ones whom he allowed such power over him. His sire had no power left to him. Inuyasha, his hanyou brother, frequently caused rage within his heart. However, while he would never admit it at large, Sesshomaru was no liar to himself. His feelings were inspired more from the knowledge that he had failed in the raising of the whelp. It did not matter that he had not sired him. He, Sesshomaru, was supposed to be the master of all he attempted.

Inuyasha was a brash, hot-headed, glaringly obvious personal failing Sesshomaru could not avoid noticing.

"Well," the Inu No Taisho demanded. "Where are you? You know this was not a part of the plan. The whole Council is in an uproar. Kouga is declaring he is the victor by proxy since you kidnapped her and did not follow protocol. He is ignoring his own mother and is demanding mating rights."

Sesshomaru's hands tightened on the wheel and he shot a hot glare in Kagome's direction to shut her up before the words he could feel simmering beneath every inch of her feminine form could burst out. She glared right back but held her silence with lips thinned into a hard, flat line.

Higurashi was as hot-headed as his brother. At least she had learned the benefit of cognizant silence, Sesshomaru allowed.

"You cannot force her to mate one not of her choosing," Sesshomaru coolly stated, eyes on the road but senses trained on Higurashi. She needed to be aware that he was the only one she could trust in this matter. Otherwise this was a waste of time. He, Sesshomaru, did not allow his time to be pissed away.

The Inu No Taisho snorted over the speaker. "You know there are ways to procure a Miko's vow. Your mother found one. I am sure Kouga knows it as well. He is brash but he is not stupid. Not when it comes to this. You know he has been leveraging to take over the entire southern borderlands. He is not powerful enough. If he has the Shikon No Tama and Naraku's compliance he will simply take it by force."

Powerful shock now held the Miko silent next to Sesshomaru. He glanced her way. Truly she was ignorant. What were they teaching Mikos these days that she was unaware of her vulnerabilities? "Higurashi will have to be complicit in the taming of the Shikon. Kouga will not have that. She is safe with this one for now. The kit will be left in a city and a call will be placed for the District Slayers to pick him up for protection. Once he is secured, Higurashi and this one will hunt for a party responsible for much grief. You might wish to question Hiten. He was seen outside the Council meeting speaking on the subject of Naraku with some degree of authority."

Silence except for distant sound of hushed whispers, as if the Inu No Taisho was near a crowded area, filled the car's cab. Then, "I told Hiten about Naraku. He is my aide. He has to be aware of all that is happening that could affect the District. Who was he talking too?"

Sesshomaru growled out, "What about secrecy? You refused to disclose the full matter to this one until recently, yet you involved a lowly aide in this matter of clan honor? Who else have you foolishly trusted, Father? Will you never learn discretion or shall our clan face dishonor on a regular basis?"

"Do not talk to me in such a manner, you impudent youngling! I am your father! Alpha of our clan and leader of the District!"

Deciding the call was over, Sesshomaru hit the button to end the connection.

Wisely choosing to keep her words to herself, Kagome's lips pursed. Shippo cocked his head to the side in the back seat, drawing Kagome's eyes in the side mirror. He looked as confused as she felt. Youngling? Sesshomaru had ruled in his father's stead from the time before she was born. It was only in the last decade that Hisaki had taken the Inu No Taisho back and he had resumed his titles. That was all they were. Titles.

Now that she thought about it, Kagome realized that Sesshomaru had really been given a bum deal. He was the one who had acted as the District leader. He had enacted many measures that had incorporated change into both Youkai and human societies. It had been his decrees and personal investments that had begun the Slayers. The program had been so successful other Districts had borrowed it and the world was safer for it.

Kagome's fingers tapped her bottom lip thoughtfully. For an arrogant Youkai with so many issues with humans, he had not allowed them to guide his actions in regard to how he managed the District. Unlike his father who had been blatantly trying to pander to the humans with enough coin to make it worthwhile. She loved Sango dearly, but her father, Raigon, had not earned his position. He had done his duty fairly, to his credit, but the Youkai contender for the position had over two hundred years' experience training others in the pursuit of criminals. He had been passed over on the basis that, since humans out-numbered Youkai a thousand to one, it was more prudent to place a human in charge.

The fact that Raigon had long-standing connections with some well-heeled contributors to the Inu No Taisho's investments had been swept under the rug. Sesshomaru, so far as she knew, had no business interests. He was personally wealthy. She had been bored one day after becoming familiar with him through Inuyasha and had looked him up. Nothing had mentioned businesses or market investments. He did own a few mines, though. Gold and platinum and some gemstones. Extraordinarily rich deposits that were managed over the centuries to maintain the integrity of the lands around it.

Those who worked for him had nothing but kind things to say despite his awful public persona. He paid well above his competition and offered family insurance packages as well as retirement bonuses. She supposed, for those in a position to be digging in a dark hole, anyone who took care of their families and futures could be the largest jerk on the planet and they would be A-OK in their book.

Why hadn't she considered that angle before? She asked herself. Sure, he is arrogant and treated her like refuse some days. But he was not cruel, and he did not take advantage of his greater strength to make her obey his will or anything like that. Kouga sure would have if he could have. Apparently the stupid wolf planned on it.

"You know, in my experience anyone who has to say they are an alpha or a leader usually aren't. Something like that is just understood by everyone around them," Kagome offered hesitantly, her ire at Hisaki and Kouga's planned coercion fading in the light of Sesshomaru's pique. "You make a lot of claims about me and humans in general, but you never declare yourself to be anything other than, well, you. But no one would challenge that you are an alpha in your own right."

"Of course," Sesshomaru arrogantly agreed with a tilt of his chin. "One should not be required to state the obvious. Even in the presence of ignorance," he added with a nod in her direction.

Kagome snorted. "You just lost ten brownie points for that. More driving and less talking, Great Alpha. Shippo, hand me those chips," she thew over her shoulder to the kit. He gave her a guilty look and tossed her one of the snack-sized bags they had bought from Complete Foods for the road trip she had seen him hide beneath the pile of bags. Please. Souta had better snack-hoarding abilities.

Munching on cheesy, crispy potato goodness, Kagome watched Sesshomaru scowl through every crunch with deep satisfaction. Sure, he was a better guy than he let on. That did not diminish her enjoyment of razzing him at every opportunity. He had earned it and then some. Eventually he would learn every arrogant word would earn him equal irritation from her in one form or another.

Maybe, eventually, he would learn. Until then… Kagome giggled and crunched down on two chips at once while Sesshomaru's ears twitched.

A/N - The promised second chapter! Yay me. :) I am making the review video now and it will be posted in about an hour. Thanks all! Love you smooches - then I will play WoW - must have more mana bacon for my mage. (Because of course I would roll a mage.)