It took another 2 weeks and some days for the sit down to occur. Why? If you boiled the problem down to its root, the problem would be that almost everyone involved was children. Putting Inuyasha in a room with either Sesshomaru or Yasuhiro resulted in a physical fight with the former and a verbal spat with the latter. In between that, he kept seeking out Kagome so they can speak alone or trying to get Kaori's attention. Kaori, for her part, had been enfolded within the court's seamstresses, cloth makers and weavers who, in turn, shielded her from Inuyasha's pursuits.

Kagome's relationship with Sango had practically deteriorated into ash. It was inevitable, of course. Somehow or the other, Sango placed the majority blame for the broken relationship on Kagome's shoulders. To be fair to Sango, She also placed some of the blame on Kaori (strangely enough) and just a little on Inuyasha. Inuyasha was wrong for cheating on Kagome, Kaori was more wrong for being in a relationship with a man already in a relationship and, not being able to tell that he was in one, and opening her legs for a famous demon without knowing anything about him and Kagome was the most wrong because none of this would have happened if it wasn't for her decisions. If Kagome had not tolerated him going to Kikyo, he would have never thought it was okay to seek comfort with another woman. If Kagome insisted on marriage instead of the stupid mating once she had returned to them he would have had more commitment towards their relationship. If she was not here in the West "playing house" with Sesshomaru and whoring herself out to the Southern Lord ("There are other ways to pleasure a man without losing one's virginity") she could have moulded Inuyasha into the man he needed to be. And if Kagome had any sense she would hear Inuyasha out because he has a plan to fix things.

Essentially, Sango was Team Inuyasha and if the children weren't in her music room with the two women Kagome would have beat the living shit out of Sango instead of giving her a powerful verbal thrashing on her ignorance and banning Sango from any of Kagome's sanctuaries. They've been avoiding each other since.

She had been spending a lot more time with Miroku over that time. He fought with Sango over what she told Kagome. He did not side with Inuyasha, which meant she was not siding with his wife (as a good husband should). It blew up when she thought withholding sex would be enough to sway Miroku. It did not and now Miroku slept with the children and spent some time getting to know Ichiro his godson.

Shippo had been spending time with Sesshomaru, shadowing him and discussing kami know what.

Kohaku and Rin, who arrived with the gang, refused to get into drama. Well, that drama. They got into their own drama. Upon learning of Sesshomaru's little time left with them, Rin convinced Kohaku to elope with her (she wanted her father figure to see her married to the man she loved). Sesshomaru found out and nearly killed Kohaku for even thinking of doing such a thing. After all parties were calmed, and Sesshomaru was reminded that Rin was not beholden to youkai rules because she was not pack, they were able to organize a small wedding that Miroku officiated.

It was after this wedding that Kagome had an epiphany. Sesshomaru could not be in love with Ichika. Logically, it made no sense. Her stress addled mind came to that conclusion because, tangentially, the clues led her to that assumption. But if it was true, he wouldn't have this moment. He'd be dead for 6 years now. He would have died not too long after his cousin mated Ichika. Possible, the trigger for his Hanahaki Disease was learning that he may not be able to pursue the one he wanted.

So the question became why didn't he?

It plagued her for the rest of the night into the next day when the mated couple presented their beautiful daughter, Sayuri to the pack and family. She barely blinked at the invitation that had arrived after the wedding to compete at a music festival in Fujisawa. She almost did not respond to Takashi continuously trying to gain her attention.

"Later Takashi. I'm kind of...preoccupied right now."

A blush appeared on his cheeks, so light that most would not see it. Kagome did not. "Okay, later. We'll talk later. After you talk to Lady Ahmya. Your pack went to the study."

She hadn't noticed that everyone involved (or believed themselves to be involved) had left to go to the study. She knew that once Ahmya got an indication of the discord in her family she would quickly try to deal with it, but she hadn't expected it to be so soon after Ahmya arrived.

"Oh, are you going up?"

"Yes, Lady Ahmya asked me to be there to be an unbiased party. I was just waiting to escort you there." He held out an elbow for her.

"How gentlemanly of you. Are you looking for an excuse to grope me?" She asked while gingerly taking his arm.

"I'll explain later, but I'm turning over a new leaf."

...888...

"Inuyasha, are what they are saying true? Have you done these things?" Ahmya asked after getting the CliffsNotes versions of everyone's romantic encounters with the hanyou.

The room was tense, stiffingly so and the look on Ahmya's face matched it.

"Basically," he mumbled.

Ahmya took a moment before responding.

"I want to say your father would be disappointed in you, but I can't. You must really be his son because this is the type of nonsense your father regularly engaged in. Kami! You grew up without knowing him yet you make these same terrible choices as him. But he did it for lust; why have you? For the fun of it?"

"No! Of course not! Nothing was supposed to happen like this. I didn't mean to hurt all of them."

"Yet, you have and I need to know your reasoning for such. From the beginning; after you left this Palace."

He gulped and licked his lips, "Not too long after leaving here I met Kikyo for the first time. It was my human night and some Marseilles had jumped me. Kikyo passed and nursed me for those two nights. Even when she was young she was beautiful and I felt drawn in. I told her how I wanted to get stronger for the boy I liked. She told me that was not a human feeling; a human man could never have feelings for another man. That my yokai was corrupting me to make me feel these immoral emotions and if I truly wanted to become stronger I had to choose a side of me. And no matter what, I could not have affection for a male because my human side would revolt at the immorality."

Kaori snorted rudely, "What a load of horsecrap. Did this Kikyo person really study at a temple because of she did she would know how common it is for people with the same parts to like each other. I'm sure the monk could verify from his personal experiences. He must have tried at least one dick"

Miroku shrugged, neither confirming nor denying. Kagome knew that he had tried dick before, but he always insisted that it was arse. It was all semantics to Kagome but she got the point. Miroku told her that he was curious but realized after one time that it wasn't for him. By the way Sango was sputtering at the mere idea meant that Miroku never told her.

"I didn't know that. Kikyo was so strong and smart for a sixteen-year-old that I believed every word she said. I didn't see for the next eight years and we all know what happened in the end. One minute I'm staring at an oncoming arrow, the next moment I'm looking at an incompetent Kikyo who's dressed like a cheap whore."

Inuyasha admitted to never having romantic notions towards her. He liked the attention and easygoing trust she lavished on him. And he revelled in it. She was the first person that told him to fully embrace both his sides; that there was where his strength lay. She never gave up on him. She always believed that he would find a way.

There had been moments when he thought he loved her but it was just confusion of his strong platonic feelings for her. Or at times, him placing his love for Kikyo on Kagome, which he knew wasn't fair to her. He knew that it may not be a good thing to continue a relationship with her. It's why he didn't want to tell Kagome about mating and raise her hopes up for nothing to come of it.

It was just that she looked so similar to his Kikyo with the similar attitude of Yasuhiro. A perfect combination. The idea of letting her go felt like letting Kikyo go. During the three years, Kagome had been gone, Sango kept reminding him that his place was with Kagome, that they were made for each other and that he owed it to her to stay after all Kagome had done for him.

"And then I met Kaori. She... was like a breath of fresh air. I didn't mean to take her virginity; I thought she had already lost it. But I knew I loved her when I did. And I would have mated her when she turned 25 but I kept thinking of my obligation to Kagome. Then I got the idea to mate them both. I would wait until they're both 25 and mate them and either lives two separate lives or bring in Kaori when she gets pregnant and Kagome isn't able to.

"Then everything went to shit because Miroku saw Kaori and me, and you left me. And it took you confronting me on your birthday to even begin realising how messed up I was saying all this out loud makes me realize that my plan would have never worked in a million years.

"I'm sorry, Kagome, Kaori and Yasuhiro. I never meant to hurt any of you. I just hope that one day you all might forgive me." Inuyasha hung his head in shame.

After an admission like that Kagome knew she should feel angry. That she should feel hurt that he thought that she would accept something like that. But she didn't. She just felt hollow. A part of her just wondered if she didn't have her part to play in this affair. What may have happened if she had left him 6 years ago when she had doubts? There's little doubt in Kagome's mind that he would have mated Kaori and would have been glad to have the situation be out of his hands.

But that doesn't excuse what he did and who he has hurt.

"You could have just talked to me Inuyasha. I would have understood and told you that you had no obligation to be with me. The heart can't help what it wants- or doesn't want." Kagome said with a flat voice.

Distantly she heard Kaori accepting his apology and reaffirming her love for him yet she refused to mate him. Not yet. He had to re-earn that privilege.

"If you are so sorry, Yasha," Yasuhiro began, standing up from his seat and stalking towards Inuyasha, "I want back my promise." He held out his hand

Inuyasha hesitated for a moment before sighing in defeat. Gingerly he picked up one of the fangs that were strung on his beads of subjugation, the one that hung over his heart. "I. Yasuhiro no longer has to keep his promise." The fang glowed for a bit before eventually losing its hue.

"Thank you. Now," Yasuhiro turned to her and Sesshomaru (she managed to end up between Sesshomaru and Yasuhiro), "I want to make it known my intention to court Lady Kagome."

A chorus of gasps accompanied Kagome's cry of "What?" Quickly she scrambled from to her feet. "What's going on?"

"If he is stating his intentions then I will too. Kagome, I think if you gave me a chance we can be good for each other," Takashi jumped up.

Kagome took a moment to blink at the two men before breaking out into nervous laughter. She couldn't help herself as she began to make her way out of the study. Surely, there must be some joke.

As far as Kagome knew, Yasuhiro never seemed to be romantically interested in her. As for Takashi, he was a rake that preferred to jump from bed to bed. Unless this was the new leaf he was trying to turn over, but why with her?

She left the room without a backwards glance.

"Miko," Sesshomaru called. he had followed her into the hallway.

"What, Sesshomaru?" She answered not even bothering to either look back or break stride.

"This Sesshomaru wants you to accept their offers to court you."

As it turns out, I had 2 holidays this week. Today is Corpus Christi and Monday was Indian Arrival Day. If you are wondering why Kagome is an idiot, it has to do with her own preconceived notions. She can not fathom it being her because the symptoms began before she took a big place in his life and because she forgot the fact that the disease is caused by unrequited feelings- imagined or true. Her quietly loving Sesshomaru would not make it go away.

Anyway, sorry in advance