She noticed it as she was playing. When the tide of her emotions ebbed and the band of Western musicians accompanied her in her performance flowed around her.

The atmosphere was fluctuating wildly.

It was something so subtle like the slightly too high placement on a violin string, turning it sharp in a way that only the trained ear could hear. That was the fluctuating. But she couldn't pick out exactly who was off-key in the symphony.

Then she stopped playing, and the atmosphere stilled. It was eerie, yet recent in its familiarity. It was exactly what she felt when she had spoken to Inuyasha in the hall long not too long ago. Was it Inuyasha that was causing this feeling?

She would not get the answer at that moment as an elder walked towards her.

"Higurashi Kagome has proven herself before us. We find her strong, powerful and skilled. She is now open to receive mating proposals into consideration as per demon laws and traditions." A gasp rang out at that, someone else choked. "Now, Higurashi Kagome, you have two packs that claim you: the Lord Kouga's wolf pack and Lord Sesshomaru's pack. Neither chooses to relinquish you. Which do you choose as your primary pack- or would you rather form your own?"

Without missing a beat she answered.

"Then let it be known throughout the Demon court that Lady Kagome's primary pack is Lord Sesshomaru's."

The crowd cheered in the polite way that royalty did. But Kagome paid them no mind. She instead focused on the returned fluctuating atmosphere. It wasn't as wild as before, but it trembled with anticipation. Like it was counting down to something that was to happen soon. The errant string on a movie scene before something scary, dire happened in the movie. It made her involuntarily tense around her neck and shoulders and she shifted off her heels.

Still, no one noticed the charged atmosphere.

Was she going mad? Was it just some of her own nerves manifesting and she was simply confusing it with the atmosphere around her? As fast as the idea came up she dismissed it.

She might have been able to dismiss it as a manifestation when she was in the hall finally expressing her utmost hurt and disappointment at Inuyasha. But this feeling was external and distinct. The note played in the string section slightly too sharp and can't be heard by untrained ears. She couldn't pick out exactly who was off-key in the symphony.

Kagome raked her eyes across the people she could see and there was nothing in the faces before her that gave it away. The guests in no way seemed agitated.

The elder turned away from her towards Jaken (at some point he waddled on stage with an ornate lacquered box and a scroll on a red and white cushion) who had been grumbling about serving someone other than Sesshomaru. With a lot of pomp and circumstance the elder picked up the box and placed it in her hands. With a strange reverence, she slowly raised the lid to peer inside. Idly she noted how her hands shook, probably an after-effect from playing several pieces (that she had been composing over her time at the Palace) with several different instruments.

Inside lay an ornate ogi bira kanzashi in silver. The crest on the fan was the West's, however, instead of red it was lacquered in black and had these blue leaves dangling from it. It was beautiful and made Kagome lament two things: that her hair was not in a style that she could wear it and that it did not match. But it was beautiful.

Her eyes flitted to Sesshomaru's as a silent "thank you" as she closed the lid before turning back to the elder.

"Lord Sesshomaru has written here how she must be addressed in informal settings." The elder reached for the scroll.

The atmosphere began to build as the elder began to unroll the scroll. As it built, Kagome began to pick out exactly who was off-key in the symphony.

Sesshomaru.

His face was impassive and gave no hint of the wild fluctuations of his aura. His own body was tensed. He leaned forward on his seat as he prepared to leave at a moment's notice.

"Lady Higurashi Kagome of the Western pack."

He was staring intently at the elder. His aura builds more.

"Shikon Miko."

It wasn't the elder, it was the scroll he was fixated on. He was waiting for something. But what was there to anticipate? There shouldn't be anything new. Unless he was waiting for the elder to finish so he could slip away.

Her eyes returned to the elder.

"Inukimi. And..." The elder's face fell and they faltered.

And? There shouldn't be any 'and' there. What was going on here? She dragged her eyes back to Sesshomaru and she had to stifle a gasp. His golden eyes were now fixed on her face intensely. Even from this distance, it made her nervous. It was the perfectly blank face he put on when he was going to do something he knew she wouldn't like.

"And regent and the heir's primary caretaker upon his death..."

He simply nodded his head at her and got up, making his way out the hall. She could see some of her pack following him and trying to speak to him but he ignored all but his son who he whispered something to. She tried to follow him as well but she was crowded by nobles who were already trying to foist their sons and nephews on her. They appeared to not notice the morbid declaration either because of the libations or acts like that was commonplace (which she seriously doubted).

It took 3 minutes for her to break away from the crowd and out of the hall. Like a stray arrow ricocheting off a surface, a memory returned unbiddenly.

"Think of this as a gift in advance for something you will do for me in the near future and onwards."

Regent, this is the favour he wants her to do. It meant he knew of his probable, imminent death. Maybe not the reason why it was happening, but that it was happening.

"Don't!" she heard Yasuhiro yell from the garden with her gazebo and she raced for it.

But she was too late. All she saw was Sesshomaru's hind legs of his transformed state leap into the sky away from the Palace.

"Kenta we have to follow him. Now," Yasuhiro said at once. His eyes were wild and he refused to look at either Kagome or Ahmya,

"Why? What's going on, Yasuhiro? " Kenta asked worriedly.

"Yes," Ahmya interjected, "Tell us what's happening and don't you dare lie. Why does my son think he's going to die?"

"Because he is dying. Its a long story that I can't tell you everything because he doesn't want me to but he's dying. And the longer he stays in that state the more it worsens. It's going to more than just me to get him"

"Then I'm coming. I can help him," Kagome insisted

Then with the worse timing in the universe, Ichika gasped. She held her stomach in one hand, her eyebrows were knitted together and the front of her kimono began to dampen. She was beginning the long process of youkai labour, which took at least 48 hours where she must be cared for by healers.

"Mother?" Ichiro asked concerned

"Shit." Kagome wasn't too sure which of them said it.

She couldn't leave. Ichika needed her, but so did Sesshomaru. But if she left, Ichika would have no one to care of her in a personal sense since Yasuhiro and Kenta had to leave. She promised Ichika to be there for the entire birth the way she was there for Kagome's. And her state was already precarious (she could die).

"Go. I'll take care of this, please take care of him" Kagome pleaded as she rushed to the princess and Ichiro.

Kenta hesitated for a moment, warring if he should stay with his mate and witness the birth of his first child or go after his dying cousin and ultimately choosing Sesshomaru. Most likely if Kagome wasn't here, he wouldn't have even considered leaving. He transformed into his true form and Yasuhiro jumped on his back and they jumped into the night. Following in the direction that Sesshomaru went.

Ahmya had already gotten a guard to get the healers and they were lifting her into the gurney to take her to her room.

"'Gome, what's wrong with mother? "

"Moonbeam, she's about to give birth to your little brother or sister."

"Really"

"Mhmm" she hummed as she brought him inside, following Ichika's gurney to her room.

A mournful howl ripped through the sky. Its low, melancholic, minor melody shattered something in her heart and soul inexplicably.

"Father?"

She could pick out who was off-key in the symphony.


Happy early Valentine's.

A nice sad chapter. I thought about waiting until Sunday, but nah. This is way too sad for Valentine's. I'm thinking that I have 5 more chapters left in this story, according to how I pace. But be prepared for angst.