With her husband in her arms sleeping soundly Kagome listened to his steady breathing. She rubbed the tip of his ear lightly enjoying the closeness and the quiet.

She loved it so when Sesshomaru actually fell asleep beside her. There were many times that he stayed up throughout the night or simply rested lightly.

On nights like this she felt such an overwhelming sense of calm and tranquility that she had never experienced before, he trusted her.

From a being like Sesshomaru that spoke volumes, more than any words could ever convey. She brushed his bangs aside and placed a kiss against his forehead causing him to lean into her touch.

"My darling." She whispered closing her eyes and falling asleep.

The sound of the door being shut awoke her. "Kagome." Akiko whispered placing a hand against her shoulder.

"Is it morning already?" She asked covering her mouth to stifle a yawn.

"No my lady. Come with me."

"Is everything alright?" Kagome sat up and glanced at the empty half of the futon.

"Please, just follow me. Quietly."

Akiko led Kagome out into the hallway. Silently they padded against the cold stone in bare feet. Kagome shivered pulling her yukata tighter against their chest crossing her arms in front.

Her lady in waiting stopped her by holding her hand up and pointed down a short corridor. It seemed like a dead end. Kagome followed her into the darkness willing eyes to adjust.

Akiko pointed up to the ceiling. Kagome looked up at the darkness not understanding.

Voices could be heard above her in the alcove. She brought her attention back to Akiko who put a finger to lips to shush her.

"Undoubtedly, from what I have observed over the years, the mikos spiritual awareness is impressive." Sesshomarus voice sounded muffled but still discernible.

"If there is to be war then those abilities would be of great use to us." Kurenai stated.

"Certainly with some gentle prodding your mate would be more than willing to use her powers for our battle." Nari laughed out.

"Nari, honestly, it is much too late for such vulgarity." Kurenai chided.

"Agreed." The sound of chairs being pushed out against a stone floor had Akiko grasped Kagomes hand and run her back to her room.

"Akiko, what were they talking about?" Kagome asked uneasily.

"Lady Kagome, it may not be my place to say but I do believe you were simply brought here to have your spiritual abilities used to win a war." She replied.

"That's not..."

"You heard them with your own ears, did you not?"

"Yeah. I did."

"I overheard them talking and as your attending lady I saw fit that you needed to know what they were saying."

"Thank you Akiko. I'm going to go back to bed."

"Yes of course my lady." Akiko gave a curt bow and left the room leaving Kagome alone with her thoughts.

What had she just heard? Kagome shook her head. No it wasn't like that. Sesshomaru would never just use her for her abilities or let anyone else for that matter.

Sitting on the edge of her futon she stretched out her legs and shuddered. She really needed to let her friends know where she was, to let Inuyasha know just in case anything happened.

'What am I thinking? Sesshomaru would never let anyone use me or hurt me, he loves me.' She closed her eyes hearing the door open again.

"Kagome." Sesshomaru said softly closing the door behind him.

"I noticed you weren't next to me anymore and I couldn't fall back to sleep." She lied. It made her stomach flip telling such a fib to her husband, the one person she loved more than anything in the world, but what was she supposed to say? That she was spying on them?

"Ah. I am sorry mate." He replied loosening his robe and sitting next to her. "Political matters cannot wait, regardless of the time."

"I know." Kagome said holding her hands in her lap. Sesshomaru placed his own hand over both of hers and enveloped them.

Leaning closer to her he began to nuzzle her cheek with his forehead affectionately. Kagome closed her eyes and swallowed down the dryness in her mouth. "I'm tired. I'm going to lie down."

"Of course." He brought his hand up to her arm as she laid down and took her hand as he wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her close to him.

Her tongue burned with questions as she squeezed his hand tightly but she chose to keep them to herself as a small seed of doubt began to take root in her mind.