Chapter VIII

It was around late in the afternoon that Inuhime and Sesshomaru found their mother with those bitches and their male relatives. The twins looked at each other and inwardly groaned. They walked in the sitting room where they were all drinking tea. Inukimi looked at her pups with a proud smile. She couldn't have asked for two perfect pups as them.

"Mother, we need to speak," Inuhime paused and looked around the room. "... in private."

Inukimi nodded and said, "Leave us." The potential mates of the twins bowed to them and left them alone. After a servant slid the shoji door close, she put up a sound-proof barrier. "Alright, pups, you may speak." The twins nodded.

"Mother, I need to ask you something." She paused 'til the Lady Mother motioned for her to continue. "Are you trying to get this one mated as well as Sesshomaru?"

Inukimi smirked, which gave her answer away. "Yes. I know I should had told you, however, if this one did, you would had runaway..." She paused. "... again." That time Inuhime smirked. She knew that it was the truth.

"Mother, what if we found that those idiots are unworthy," Sesshomaru said hypothetically. Inukimi shrugged.

"Also mother, this Inuhime would like to suggest that we should have a confidant of sorts." She gave her mother a look that clearly says, 'go along with it.'

"And who would the lucky ones be?"

"Kagome for Sesshomaru and..."

"Hikaru for Inuhime," Sesshomaru finished. He saw how his twin blushed prettily when he said his general's name. The blush was also noticed by the mother. Inukimi smiled inwardly.

"Do as you wish, my pups." The twins bowed to their mother and left the sitting room. She chuckled and thought, "Inuki, you are a sneaky one. However, my dear daughter, careful when playing match-maker." She sighed as she stood and went to a window to look at their guests. "Someone's heart isn't something to be played with."

Meanwhile Sesshomaru and Inuhime went to the study and sat down at opposite ends of a table, that have scrolls here and there.

Sesshomaru inwardly sighed. He knew what he had to do. He wasn't ready to share his sister with another male. He scowled whenever he thought about it. The look on Sesshomaru's face didn't get unnoticed by his twin. Inuhime smirked.

"You're not ready to part from me, little brother?"

"Hn, no, but it seems to me that you are."

Inuhime giggled. "So not true, especially, to those unworthy, mistrustful harlots."

Sesshomaru chuckled. "And I as well, sister. Those uncouth, filthy males are only using you to get to me. Hoping beyond hope that they would kill me and take my land and titles."

His twin snorted at that. She sighed. "Hikaru, huh?"

Sesshomaru nodded. "I trust him." Inuhime nodded as well. "And I as well, brother."

"Kagome... why?"

Inuhime knew he would asked her. "I told you this before." She sighed. "It's simple. She's a good judge of character. Plus with her reiki, she could easily sense falsehood."

"Hn." Sesshomaru couldn't denied that, but still the company she kept with her were... both unacceptable and acceptable. Mostly due to their little half-brother's behavior. Speaking of... "What about Inuyasha? He won't let Kagome be near me for a second without him around."

She smirked. "Yes, he would definitely disapprove it, however, he has no claim to her or to keep her from doing what she wants to do, whatsoever."

There was a moment of silence.

"So... are we going to ask our perceptive confidants or what?"

Sesshomaru regarded her for a moment. "You asked Kagome because if I do it... It would come out like a command. I wish not to anger her. After all, I do want her on my side; not those harlots."

Inuhime nodded. "I believe that would be best. However, whenever she asks you a question, please answer her." She stood up and before she left. She said as an afterthought, "Also don't treat her as if she were beneath you. Like dirt under your feet. Open up to her."

Inuhime saw her brother nodded with a scowl. She chuckled because she knew that he doesn't like to talk very much. She also knew that he would inform Hikaru about his new position at least until this is over. "This is going to be a very, very long month."

Kagome was watching Rin and Shippo playing tag. Clearly, Shippo has an advantage over Rin, since he was a youki. However, he'd greatly reduced his speed. Kagome was grateful about that. She also could tell that Shippo would let Rin catch him every once in a while. Inuyasha was griping about when could they leave and blah, blah, blah.

"Kagome, are you fucking listening? I want to go home, now!"

Yes, she was hearing blah, blah, blah from Inuyasha. He kept on bugging her about leaving since they'd arrived earlier.

"Inuyasha, sit!" A hard thump was heard. "I, for one, am not ready to leave!"

Miroku said in his usual calm manner, "Lady Kagome, we need to return to Edo. Our kids must be driving Lady Kaede crazy by now."

Kagome forgot about Miroku and Sango's children. How could she forgot about them? She sighed.

"You're right Miroku. I am sorry for not considering them."

"Kagome, why don't you stay and we'll leave," Sango added which surprised Kagome and Inuyasha who was now out of his body-shaped crater.

"Oh, hell no! Kagome isn't staying here."

Suddenly Rin stopped playing and yelled, "Auntie Inuki!" She ran across the garden. Inuhime couldn't help, but to kneel down and embrace the dear girl.

"I apologized for not coming out here sooner, Rin, but our lord and I were having a match."

That caught Inuyasha's attention. "Oh? Who won? No, let me guess. The bastard, right?"

Inuhime chuckled at her little half-brother. "No, little brother, we came to a draw." To say that Inuyasha was surprise was an understatement. She chuckled at his dumb-struck face.

Miroku decided that it was now or never to say...

"Lady Inuhime, may I speak."

"Yes, young monk, you may."

He cleared his throat. "Well, you see, Sango and I have children waiting for us. And..."

Inuhime raised her hand for him to stop talking. "This Inuhime understands. You may go as you wish. Kagome..." She paused to look at her. "I must have a word with you..." She then looked at Inuyasha. "... alone, if you will."

Kagome nodded her head and started to walk to her, but Inuyasha grabbed her wrist. "Inuyasha?! What the hell are you doing?!"

"Kagome, I want to go home!" Kagome put her thumb and forefinger on the bridge of her nose. "Inuyasha, I will be just a minute."

"Inuyasha, brother, I wish you to stay for awhile at least. Let us get to know one another. Think on that as this one will speak to Kagome."

Inuhime pulled Kagome to a walk 'til they were out of hear shot. "Kagome, I need to ask you for a favor."

Kagome quirked her eye brow. She swallowed a gulp. "And what will that be, Lady Inuhime?"

"Please, it's Inuki." She took a breath of air. "I want you to be a confidant to Sesshomaru."

Kagome's eyes widen. "A what now?"

"I know you heard me correctly, Kagome." Kagome laughed nervously.

"What does that consists of?"

Inuhime shrugged. "Nothing too major. Just be there for him."

"That's it?"

Inuhime nodded. "What about Inuyasha? He'll have a fit."

"So, is that a yes, then?"

"Um, yes, I guess so."

Inuhime smiled. "Leave Inuyasha to me."
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Inuhime and Kagome had a moment of silence. They were enjoying the breeze blowing around them. Their hair was flowing around them. They heard the wind brushing against the leaves of the trees.

Suddenly, Inuhime yelled, which startled Kagome, "Jaken!"

Jaken stopped what he was doing and waddled his way to the Lady Sister. "Y-yes, milady."

"Jaken, take Kagome to Lord Sesshomaru. He's currently in the study."

"Yes, milady. Come human filth."

Inuhime narrowed her eyes at Jaken and said coldly, "Jaken."

"Yes, Lady Inuhime."

"You best treat Kagome with the upmost respect or you will live to regret it."

"Please forgive this lowly one, Lady Inuhime."

"Do as you are told, Jaken."

"Yes, right away, milady. Come Lady Kagome." Kagome followed Jaken out of the garden.

Inuhime watched them leave. She then wanted to find her younger brother... half brother. She followed his scent deeper in the garden until she came upon him at a little bridge that went across a small pond that was full of Koi fish. Inuyasha had his feet in the water as the koi was swimming around them occasionally as he kick his feet around. Inuhime smiled at the bitter-sweet moment. It reminded her when he was just a young pup. She remember him doing the very same thing at his human grandfather's estate. Yes, unbeknownst to him, his mother, and his other human relatives, she went to see him from afar. She and even Sesshomaru would check on him from time to time. Of course, Sesshomaru would never admit that he did in fact watched over him when he was a young pup.

Inuyasha's ears perked when he heard Inuhime moving towards him.

"What do you want," he asked rudely.

Inuhime sighed. "Inuyasha, there's no need to be rude." She paused to sit by him and put her feet in the water; not caring if her fine kimono would get wet or not. "To answer your rude question, Inuyasha. I want you to stay here for awhile. I want to get to know my little brother. I was forbidden to have anything to do with you when you were a pup, but things change and changed for the better. My mother was foolishly jealous and angry; also she was in mourning. She hated and loved our father. It took her awhile to get over it, but now I am free to see you whenever I wished."

Inuyasha was confused because he sometimes ran into Sesshomaru whenever he was younger. "But I don't understand something. Why Sesshomaru could see me or whatever and not you?"

"Sesshomaru and I were divided. Sesshomaru wanted to get rid of you; not because of you're an hanyou, but a potential threat to lay a claim on his lands. Mother was my alpha and I must obey or face the consequences of disobeying her, which wasn't pretty. I assure you. I had to be patient and prayed to the Kami that one day I get to know my little brother."

"Feh, like I would want his stupid lands and titles. He can have them for all I care."

"You know, I knew that you would feel that way. So, I told him that you'd never want the lands and/or titles that goes along with it."

Inuyasha glanced down at the water watching the koi swimming around. "You aren't nothing like Sesshomaru. How are you even related?"

Inuhime giggled at his comment. "We are different, yet we're the same." She shrugged.

Meanwhile, Sesshomaru was in the study looking over some missives. His general, Hikaru, knocked on the shoji door.

"Enter."

"You summoned me, milord?"

Sesshomaru looked at his general for a moment. "Hn. You will be your lady, Inuhime's confidant until the month is over."

Hikaru looked at him; a little perplexed. "Confidant, milord?"

Sesshomaru nodded. "May I ask what for?"

"You are going to give her your opinions of the matter of her chosen mate." That really caught Hikaru's attention.

"Milady is looking for a mate, milord?"

"Yes."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. "Enter, Jaken."

"Milord, this one was told to bring you the filthy human female." Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes and then he threw a paperweight at Jaken, which knocked him out cold. Sesshomaru sighed as he saw Kagome at the entrance of the study.

"Come in, miko, and have a seat." Hikaru looked at the human female and then at his lord. He inwardly smirked. He could tell that there was some attraction between them. He could tell by looking at his lord's eyes. He cleared his throat.

"Is there anything else, milord?"

"No." Knowing that he was no longer needed, Hikaru bowed and then bowed to Kagome and left the study to find his lady.

It seemed like forever when Sesshomaru asked her to sit down. She nearly blushed under his stare, but she didn't want to make a fool out of herself. So, she tried to hide it. 'Try' is the keyword here. Sesshomaru could tell that she was trying to hide a blush from him. She would lower her head with her hair in the way. He smirked. He cleared his throat, which in turn startled Kagome.

"Miko, this Sesshomaru trusts that his Lady Sister had asked you to become this one's confidant, is this correct?"

Kagome nodded. "You are aware of why, miko?"

"Um, not really," she answered uncertainly.

"Hn, then this one will enlighten you." He took a deep breathe and then continued, "The council, the court, and the Cardinal Lords are pressuring me in selecting a mate. This Sesshomaru isn't particularly want a mate at this moment in time. However, to get them off of mine, my sister's, and my mother's back, this one had decided to indulge them. What this one needs from you is your opinion on any or all of the females here. My sister trusts you to help me and so will this Sesshomaru. Are you sure you want to be my confidant? To be honest with you, this one may take out his frustration out on you. So, this one must want you to be certain that you know what you are going into. Those females will also believe you to be a rival for my affections. If they threaten you in any way, this one wants to know. Is this any way unclear, Kagome?"

Kagome gasped inaudibly because she'd never ever heard Sesshomaru say her name. It was either: miko, wench, human filth, and etc... It sounded right hearing her name being called by his sensual voice. She nodded again.

Kagome found herself in a very unique situation. Perhaps, she would get him to open up. Hell, she knew it was a long shot, but what the hell. It took a lot of time for Inuyasha to open up to her. She could imagine how hard it would be to have his stubborn, hard-headed of his half-brother to open up.

She inwardly sighed. "So, Sesshomaru, what kind of woman... um I mean demoness are you looking for?"

Sesshomaru pondered her question for a while and as Kagome thought he wouldn't answer because she was going to speak, but he spoke before she could get a word out.

"She'll have to be strong; not just physically, but mentally. A lot of lords and their ladies like to play mind games especially in politics. She'll have to have a maternal instinct to protect our future pups. She'll have to be attractive..."

"Forgive me for interrupting, Sesshomaru, but in case you hadn't notice. It shouldn't be hard for you to be able to find a mate. I mean, all those visiting women here are very willing to become your mate. Also they are all attractive, which is unfair, by the way. I mean, why are you all so pretty..." Kagome kept on talking as Sesshomaru was listening to her ranting. Usually, he wouldn't put up with such disrespectful female for interrupting him... well, except for his sister and mother. "... Also I imagine that they'd do have good maternal instinct and since they'd been raised to be a lady of a lord's house. Then I imagined that they'd know how to play those games. I guess what I am trying to say is how do demons select a mate? Is it by scent? By personality? Or by something else? I am sorry for rumbling on, but I won't understand if you don't give specifics."

"Hn, demons, in general, go by their inner beast. It goes mostly by scent. If the scent is alluring to it then the beast would want to pursue the female. It basically stalks her, but it wouldn't want to hurt its intended mate. Both the beast and his logically self would have to be wanting her in very way; her heart, soul, mind, and body."

"But what if both of you don't agree? What happens then?"

"Well, they would be divided. The beast will denounced its logical self's choice. He wouldn't impregnate her, even if his life depended on it."

"So, if you picked the wrong female, you wouldn't be able to impregnate her and gain an heir?"

Sesshomaru nodded grateful to know that she's a quick learner. "What would the female think or do?"

Sesshomaru frowned as he thought about how to answer her question. "The said female would try to get herself impregnated one way or another. She'll try to pass her offspring off on the said male. If for some reason, she failed in her endeavor, then the council would find her being sterile, even though that may not be the case. The council is very harsh on the said female whether it's her fault or not. It doesn't matter. They would humiliate the female by sending her back to her home. Her family would believe that she would dishonor the said lord and disown her."

Kagome frowned at that revelation. "So, you're saying that, she'll cheat on the male or find a way to seduce the males' beast to impregnate herself, so that the male would believe she's pregnant with his pup. It's because she would know what would happen if she couldn't fulfill that one specific thing, wouldn't she?" Sesshomaru nodded. "How... sad? But what about the male in question? What would he do to the female?"

"The male would divorce her."

"For betrayal? Or for not able to bear a pup?"

"It's, sometimes, both. Kagome..." Once he said her name again, the sound of his voice send shivers down her spine. "... It does depend on the race of a demon. In my case, if a female tried to deceive me by passing her offspring to me, them she'll die for deceiving me and committing adultery. We, inuyoukai mate for life. We find such things dishonorable."

Kagome could understand, but couldn't help but to feel some pity for the said female or male. She was going to ask why his father would stray from his mother with Izayoi. However, she felt now wasn't a good time.

"Sesshomaru, if I am going to be your confidant, then I want you to be mine as well. It's only fair."

"Hn, that's... acceptable." Sesshomaru was surprise that she didn't ask about the reason why his father would stray from his mother, which he was grateful for. Kagome nodded.

"So, Sesshomaru, is there anything you want to know about me?"

Inuyasha (c) Rumiko Takahashi
Fanfiction & OCs (c) ladytari