Chapter XII

The next morning, Sesshomaru, Kagome, Ayame, and Yuki were in the dining room eating breakfast. Yuki was very nervous because she was here, by herself; without her half-sister. She knew if Setsuna were to find out that she had breakfast with his lordship, her sister would be furious and she would get punished. She had no earthly idea why it was only her and Ayame... well, even that miko bitch was able to eat a meal with Sesshomaru and not her. Yuki sighed. She really doesn't want to be here. Kagome could tell if something was bothering Yuki. Kagome being Kagome asked, "Are you alright, Yuki?"

"Huh?" Yuki was surprised because she'd never expected to be spoken to. Kagome repeated the question to her. "Why you care, miko?"

Kagome sighed. "Look Yuki. I know we had our differences and also got off on the wrong foot, but I am willing to let bygones be bygones. I care because I do."

Ayame said, "That's Kagome. She cares about anyone or everyone unless she finds you as being a threat to either herself or those she cared about and love."

Sesshomaru, surprisingly, added, "Indeed." He said that as in agreeing with what Ayame said. He went on thinking, "Kagome's also has a forgiving heart; and very patient seeing how she put up with my half-wit half-brother."

Yuki sighed. She really doesn't want to find an enemy from a miko. So she confided slowly and quietly, "I don't want to be here." She looked at Sesshomaru's face and quickly added, "It has nothing to do with you, Lord Sesshomaru. I was forced to come by my father, Arashi." She said most of that statement sadly, but when she said her father's name. She had venom in it, which made Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow behind his bangs.

Those around the table, except for Yuki, had a little shocked expression on their faces because a child/pup of a lord wouldn't call out their parents' names so formally in front of company and without using his/hers title if they'd had say it for some reason or another. Now the question is: Why is she being forced to be there in the Western Lands? To Sesshomaru the answer was simple. The reason being was a greater chance for the North to join the West as an alliance or perhaps conquering it from the inside. Sesshomaru guessed the latter. He almost growled out loud.

Then Sesshomaru's twin, two of her suitors, and Inuyasha walked in. "Good morning, everyone," Inuhime exclaimed in a singing-like voice. "How's everyone this morning?"

Sesshomaru did his signature, "Hn." Kagome and Ayame smiled at her. Yuki had her eyes on the table like it was the most interesting thing in the world. Inuyasha grumbled, "Feh, don't know why I have to be here."

"Oh, hush, little brother. You knew as well as we that you must come to break our fast this morning."

Inuyasha put his arms in the sleeves of his fire-rat haori. "Keh!"

Inuhime looked at her two suitors: Kouga and Hikaru. She cleared her throat to get their attention. Only Hikaru, of course, responded by pulling out her chair. In return, she thanked him by giving him a peck on the cheek. after he sat down next to her as Kouga sat on the other side of her. Inuyasha sat across from Kagome, which were at the ends of the table. Usually, one of those ends was where the lord would have sat down to dine, however, not this particular occassion. Sesshomaru sat between Ayame and Yuki. Ayame sat across from Kouga and in between Kagome and Sesshomaru. Yuki sat next to Inuyasha and across from Hikaru. Inuhime sat across from her twin.

A few minutes later, the servants brought out their breakfast, which include steamed rice, miso soup, tamagoyaki*, and green tea.

Afterwards, Sesshomaru, his confidant, and his 'suitors' went out to an arena, just outside of the palace's dojo, followed by his twin, her confidant, and her suitors. To avoid suspicions from the other would-be suitors, the suitors came a little bit after Sesshomaru, Inuhime, and their confidants. The reason being is because some of the others were already outside. They include: Setsuna, Arashi, Kazuo, and Minami. Konami, Ryutaro, Ryu, and Inukimi came after them, a few moments later.

Inukimi cleared her throat to get their attention. Once she had them, she said, "Good morning, everyone. I assume everyone had a good breakfast." Most said 'yes' while the other ones just nodded in agreement. "Good. I bet you are wondering why are we here at the arena." All except for a few nodded. "Well, Sesshomaru and Inuhime's suitors along with their confidants will be in small competitions like archery, dagger throwing, and the like. Whomever wins will have their first meeting with their would be intendeds."

Needless to say that Kagome won all competitions, which pissed off those bitches, except for Yuki and Ayame, to no end. Hikaru won all competitions, which didn't bode well for Inuhime's other male suitors. Hikaru was determined to win all as Kagome was determined to win to prevent those bitches to have any time with Sesshomaru. Much to Sesshomaru's relief and Inuyasha's surprise, beside from archery, that Kagome could threw and aimed well at the intended targets.

They retired after dinner. It was both exciting and interesting day.
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The next morning Kagome was awaken by no other than the annoying retainer, Jaken. He told her to get up, get dress, and then go the Lord Sesshomaru's study as soon as possible. Kagome wasn't a morning person. Ever. Period. She groaned when raised herself out of her futon and when to her private bath. At first, she was extremely annoyed because someone woke her up. For what? Oh, it better be good or... then she remembered that she won all the competitions yesterday and the prize for all said competitions was a day with Sesshomaru. She smiled a little as she finished rinsing the soap off of her body. She wondered what they would do today. She hoped it isn't a whole day in his study.

Sesshomaru wake up that morning thinking about yesterday's events. He was relieved that Kagome won all competitions. He didn't understand why she was determined to win. She wasn't obligated to win for his sake, but he was thankful that she did. Being his 'confidant' doesn't require that she would had to keep his so-called suitors away from him; only to be there to help and guide him to make a good decision and give him her opinions about the suitors before making his decision.

He knew that he wouldn't choose either of the demonesses that were there. He doesn't find them appealing. Yes, they were beautiful, but he wasn't only looking at outward appearances, if he had than he would had already chosen years ago, when he and his sister had to go to some gatherings similar to this one. Of course, Inuhime and Sesshomaru had no interest in being mated to anyone at the time, so, they either ran away or purposely losing to competitions. Yes, that was hard. It was because they hated to loose, but they made an exception when it came to these sort of gatherings. He really hated them. Sesshomaru can't really believed that Inuhime agreed to having this stupid gathering. Was it because she was ready to mate? No, that couldn't be the reason. There's has to be another. At first, he found that she wasn't part of this gathering meaning that it was also for her to find a mate. He smirked thinking that his mother was a cunning one while Inuhime may had outwit the old female daiyoukai. Why? Because his mother wanting not only him to mate, but also Inuhime.

Sesshomaru made his way down to his study thinking on what he and Kagome could do. He wanted to reward her for winning all the competitions to keep those bitches away. However, he had no idea what. He could asked Inuyasha. Would he help him? I mean they'd never have gotten along.

Speaking of the devil, he came up to his rooms. Sesshomaru knocked. Of course, he being the lord of the house didn't have to do such a thing, but he hoped that it would be a good start. Inuyasha slid the shoji door with more force than necessary.

"What do you want, bastard?" Obviously, Inuyasha wasn't going to be civil with him easier.

"This Sesshomaru has seek advice from Kagome's protector?"

Inuyasha was dumbfounded. "You want advice from me? A lowly, pathetic half-breed?" He sounded incredulous.

"That is correct, Inuyasha."

"Advice for what?"

"Kagome?

"What about Kagome?"

"This Sesshomaru imagined that you heard that she won all competitions from yesterday."

Inuyasha nodded, "Yeah, what of it?"

"This Sesshomaru has no idea how to reward her. Should I give her gold pieces? A fine, silk kimono?"

"You're serious, aren't you," Inuyasha said as he raised an eyebrow.

"This Sesshomaru is very serious."

Inuyasha hm-ed as he was actually thinking. "Kagome doesn't want any fine, silk kimono or gold. Knowing her, she would rather have your friendship than any material things. She's a very sweet person. She's beautiful, caring, intelligent, and down right stubborn. She has a quick temper. Her emotions confused the shit out of me, though. Anyways, Kagome values things like friendship more than anything else. Is that all?"

"Hn. Yes, thanks, little brother."

With that said, Sesshomaru left a dumbfounded Inuyasha to go to his study. Once he arrived, he sat down on his chair with his fingers intertwine one another. He put his chin on his hands while he pondered on what he and Kagome were to do. He sighed. He doesn't know anything about females especially human females. He thought about what Inuyasha said about her not wanting anything like gold coins or some fine kimono. He vaguely remembered what his father said about woman, youkai and human alike, do want something, but that something differs from one woman to another. For instance, his mother and Izayoi were easy to please, just give them jewelry and they will receive it. He needed a woman's opinion on this manner. He doesn't want to go to his mother about this. So, he used his own youki to summon his twin.

Sesshomaru didn't have to wait long for his sister to arrive. He watched Inuhime walked in and sat down in a seat that was in front of his desk, with full of grace. He watched put her sleeves inside of her haori.

Inuhime smiled at her brother and waited for him to begin. He said, "Were you with Hikaru?"

She smiled again, but didn't give him an answer. Sesshomaru knew his sister well enough to know that when she stayed silent, like she was, then she was more than likely that she was indeed with her suitor.

"Sister, you must take precaution especially around those dragons. I heard that they were very displeased with the outcome of the competitions." Inuhime smiled and then shrugged. She knew that Sesshomaru was trying to avoid the conversation. She also knew that he gets very annoyed if she doesn't answer his questions... verbally. He sighed again. "I need help. I want to reward Kagome for winning the competitions yesterday, but I don't know what to do. I actually asked Inuyasha about what I should do or give to her." He noticed a shock and surprised expression on her face. He chuckled. "Yes, I asked our little brother, nicely." To that, her facial expression changed from shock and surprised to happy. "I need your advice on this. I know that you know some things about human woman. So, please, what should I do?"

Inuhime looked straight in his eyes and said, "Kagome is a total different woman. In my opinion, I believe that she's an independent, caring, loving, forgiving soul, but has a temper which is not so desire to be around. What did Inuyasha say to you?"

"He just said that she values things like friendship than material things."

"Ah, so you want to reward her with something?"

"Yes, but I..."

"Little brother, giving someone something like is special to you is sentimental. It will show that you really appreciated her by doing what she did. I know that you know that you wish not to mate with none of those bitches. Brother, your beast will guide you. Let your beast guide you. He'll know what to do or what to give. Tell me something, Sesshomaru, do you have any feelings for Kagome?"

At first, he wanted to scoff, but he knew that he does have some feelings for Kagome. He just can't to interpret them. He, then, heard his sister laughing softly at him.

"I take your silence as an affirmative, Sesshomaru. What you are feeling is real. You should pursue her."

"Pursue her? She's human. The council will be displease and will cause havoc. I wish not to do that."

Inuhime snorted. "You worried about the council? Since when did the Great Sesshomaru worried about the council or what the council would say or anyone else for that matter? Or are you afraid for her? If you are then, you shouldn't." Inuhime stood from her seat and then turn to walked out of the study, but before she left. She said from over her shoulder, "She's no Izayoi, Sesshomaru."

Sesshomaru pondered about what to do and what to give to Kagome. He sighed in frustration, then he heard a knock and had given permission to the said knocker. It was...Hikaru. Hikaru walked to his lord's desk and bowed. "My lord, a thousand apologies for interrupting you, but I am looking for Inuki." Sesshomaru rose an eyebrow after he told his general to straighten up and watch him do as he was told. Hikaru saw the look on his lord's face. He laughed nervously and said, "Her Highness and I are playing a game that Rin told her about, Hide-N-Go Seek. I was wondering if his lordship has seen his lady sister."

Sesshomaru thought. "Is that what they are doing for today? Playing such a childish game." He must had made a face that made Hikaru said as he scratched the back of his neck, "It was Inuki's idea." Then Sesshomaru thought, "Ah, that makes sense. Inuki had always been a puppy-at-heart."

"This Sesshomaru's twin was here a while ago, but he's unaware where she went afterwards."

Hikaru bowed and was about to leave, but Sesshomaru stopped him by his voice. "Hikaru?"

"Yes, milord?"

"Have you gave anything to this Sesshomaru's twin?"

"Well, milord, I gave her what my father gave to my mother. It was an heirloom passed down from generation to generation." Hikaru paused for a moment. "May I ask his lordship a question?"

"Hn."

"Is there a special someone that you are planning to mate?"

"Hn, if there is or isn't, its not any of your concern."

"Another thousand apologies, milord, but may I make a suggestion?"

"Hn."

"I suggest you let her decide what to do for today. After all, you are wooing her."

Sesshomaru gave a nod of his head before Hikaru took his leave. Then this was a time when his beast decide to have his say.

"Master, we should take his suggestion on letting her decide on what we'll do."

"Yes, however, what about she has no suggestions on what to do today, Beast?"

"Then, we'll think of something. We must give mate what father gave to mother, when they were courting."

"Hn." Just when he was about to stand and retrieved the said gift, he smelled Kagome's scent at the door. "Hn, we might have to hold on to the gifting idea, Beast."

"Hn, agreed."

When Kagome arrived in front of Sesshomaru's study door, she was nervous. She didn't know why, either. "It's not like you will be his mate, Kagome. Just calm down." She took a couple of calming breaths and knocked.

Sesshomaru smelled nervousness in her wonderful scent. He wondered what she could be so nervous about. He shrugged, when he heard a knock.

"Enter, Kagome."

Kagome opened the door and then closed it behind her. She smiled and said, "Good morning, Lord Sesshomaru." Sesshomaru smirked a little which surprised Kagome. She gulped because that smirk usually meant death to those who he was smirking at. "You summoned me, milord."

"Yes, Kagome, come and sit." She did what she was told. "I want to thank you for winning all those competitions. I don't know what I would do if I have to be with any of those gold-digging bitches."

She smiled, "You're welcome, milord."

After an awkward silence, Sesshomaru and Kagome began to speak in unison. Kagome laughed and Sesshomaru smiled. Yes, he smiled. A REAL smile. Kagome noticed his smile and without thinking, she said, "You should smile more often."

Sesshomaru stared at her, afterward, but not very long. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable. Kagome said, "Is it true?"

Sesshomaru furrowed his eyebrows, "Is what true, Kagome? Be more specific."

Kagome giggled. "Sorry. Is it true that you and your inner self are separate?"

"Yes and no. All youkai such as me have a separate self, yet we are the same person. He's more instinctual and act more on instincts as I am more likely not act on them unless I deemed it necessary.

"Oh. Could he talk? I mean, could you talk in your beast form?"

He smiled at her curiosity. "Yes, he could talk verbally if I let him have control of this body. No, he and myself couldn't talk in our beast form. We can't speak verbally, but we could communicate using telepathy."

"Okay, do you think he remembers me? I mean, your beast and I met not in a pleasant way. Will he believe me to be an enemy and attack me?"

Sesshomaru could understand her reason to question about his beast. He and his inner beast remembered quite well how they met. He reassured her by saying, "Yes, he remembers you quite well." He stopped to watch her reaction. He'd seen her gulped. "No, he won't believe you being an enemy and attack. May I ask why are you interested?"

Kagome blushed. She tried to hide her face by looking down. She didn't want Sesshomaru to know why she was interested. It would be humiliating, if she confessed and then he insulted her and leaving her in tears. She couldn't risk her heart being broken once more. Sesshomaru noticed her blush and her feeble attempt to hide it. He inwardly laughed. In a blink of the eye, he was in front of her. She flinched when she felt him lifting her chin to met his eyes. There was something in those golden orbs to the soul that was indescribable. She saw warmth in those eyes.

"I don't repeat myself, Kagome."

"I... I... um... could we go out to the gardens?" Kagome had to change the subject.

Sesshomaru thought before answering, "So, she thinks she'll get out of it, hmm." "Yes." He put out his hand for her to take. Kagome hesitantly took a hold of his hand. "Her hands are small, soft, and delicate." He closed his hand around hers. They made their way to the gardens just outside of his study. Kagome looked around and gasped at the beauty of the garden. "I don't recognize anything in this garden."

Sesshomaru was pleased that this garden is to her liking. "That's because this garden is my private garden. It's separate from the main one on the estate, where everyone goes to. This is my solitude. I come here to relax when I get frustrated with paperwork or for just having a bad day. It's also connected to my bedchambers. If I wanted to come out here in the morning, I could just do so without going through the hallways."

"Hmm, how convenient. By the way, this is totally unfair."

"Hn, why is that?"

"Because maybe some of your guest, like myself, would like their own private gardens to walk outside and enjoy."

He chuckled and thought, "Well, if I have it my way, you'll be enjoying this very same garden as me." His beast purred in delight of that thought. "Kagome, would you like to meet my beast. I can assure you that he won't ever harm you." His beast said inwardly with a hentai-ish grin, "More like licking very part of her petite and delicate body." Sesshomaru chuckled at that thought as he wait for Kagome's answer.

Meanwhile with Inuhime...

After she left her brother's study, she knew that she would have a few moments before he arrived there. Yes, Hide-n-Seek, usually, is when one would just hide and stay there until one would be found. However, hiding and waiting was too boring for Inuhime. So, she broke the rules a little by taking off before Hikaru was near enough to locate her. She would have to be distracted just long enough for Hikaru to find her. She would stay a little while until she could feel his youki coming closer then she would gone to the next place.

Now, she was in the dojo, where she found Kouga and Kazuo sparring against each other. Inuhime thought this might be a perfect time to talk to Kouga about Ayame. She would have to hurry before Hikaru comes and find her there.

Whenever Kouga and Kazuo sensed Inuhime there. They thought it was odd, but Kazuo thought this was an opportunity to woo the princess to him. They stopped their sparring when Inuhime cleared her throat to get their attention. Once she had it, she said, "Excuse me, gentlemen, but may I have a word with you, Kouga. It's rather urgent. Kouga and Kazuo looked at each other and shrugged. Kouga walked to her still carrying the wooden sword that he was sparring with.

"Yes, what do you want, princess?"

"Kouga, what are your feelings towards Kagome?"

"I... uh..."

"Kouga, look. I know that you really don't have any feelings for Kagome."

"How do you know who I have feelings for and not? You don't know me. Kagome will be my mate. Once this..." He gestured about this whole gathering thing. "... is over. I'll ask her and she'll accept."

The arrogance of the wolf prince was astounding to Inuhime. "You are so sure, aren't you? What about the she-wolf, Kouga? She deeply cares about you. She loves you. Why not give her a chance, instead of hounding Kagome about becoming your mate?"

"It's none of your business, princess," Kouga snarled. "Stay out of my way or..."

"Or what Kouga? We both know who's stronger here. We damn know it isn't you."

Kouga growled and tried to grab for her throat, but Hikaru, who suddenly came out of nowhere, stopped him before he could reach her. He slammed him against the wall. He was growling fiercely. "Now, Kouga. You shouldn't have done that."

Kouga growled in return at the challenge. Kazuo walked to Inuhime while Hikaru was preoccupied at the moment. "You sure do know how to rile up a male, milady." They watched for a little bit, but Inuhime went to them and said. "Enough, Hikaru." The growling stopped abruptly.

"He attempt to do you harm, milady," Hikaru growled.

"I know. You think me weak, Hikaru?"

Hikaru quickly calmed and said, "No, milady."

"Good, now step aside." Hikaru obeyed, but he stood right beside his intended-to-be. He may be wooing her at the moment, but that doesn't mean he could disobeyed her order. She was still a higher rank than him.

"Listen to me, Kouga, and listen well because I won't be repeating myself," she said in a Sesshomaru-like manner. "I'd seen you and your tribe's future. Lets just say that it's not pretty. If you continue down this route, you and your people will perish. Go extinct. You probably think that I don't know why you are pursuing Kagome, but I do. I'll let you in a little secret..." She was interrupted by Hikaru. "No, milady, you mustn't tell!"

Inuhime looked at her intended-to-be and said, "It's my secret to tell and I will."

Kouga was going to ignore Inuhime until she said that he and his people will perish. However, he knew that already, but what really piqued his interest is what Inuhime said next. "Kouga, I am a miko." Kouga's eyes widen in surprise. So did Kazuo's eyes. Hikaru noticed him and said threateningly, "If you tell anyone, your life is forfeit. If not by me, then by Sesshomaru, himself." He took in Kazuo's response and saw him gulped and nodded his head.

Kouga stuttered, "bu-bu-but, how? Reiki and youki are combating powers."

Inuhime agreed with his statement. "Yes, they are, however, only inuyoukai had these combined powers; not any other species. You see, centuries ago, my ancestor mated a powerful miko. They were so much in love. Their love story became legendary. It was known in all youkai and holy people's societies. Of course, centuries down the road, the holy people had forgotten and turned against the youkai. They said that her mate was the one who raped the legandary miko and impregnate her with his seed, but that was false. They twisted the story for their own purposes saying that a miko must stay celibate to keep them pure and their powers wouldn't be no more if they chose to have intercourse. However, a male could have sex and procreate as many children as they wished. What fools they were."

Kouga doesn't like it when people tell their stories and don't get to the point. It reminded him when he was a young wolf pup. He thought his father's stories were boring. He was about to say something sarcastic, but the look that Hikaru gave him made Kouga think twice before speaking. "With all due respect, Lady Inuhime, but what's the point of the story?"

"In a hurry, are we? Well, the point is that love is the only way for a miko and a youkai mate and procreate pups without any complications. Also produce full breed pups. You see, in our history, there was a few; not just inuyoukai, but other species as well, who tried to force themselves on a miko. Without love the pups became disfigured or had died by purification still inside the womb. It was a way for a miko to punish the youkai. If a miko was stronger than the youkai, who attempted to force her, would be purified in an instant. That's why it's unheard of now for a youkai mate a miko. Kouga, Kagome doesn't love you in a romantic way. It's only platonic. Do you want to loose that, too, Kouga?"

Kouga hung his head in defeat and shook his head, 'no'. He looked at Inuhime. "I still don't understand how and why only inuyoukai have reiki?"

Inuhime smiled, "Well, it's not just any inuyoukai, Kouga. Since my ancestor, who was a Silver Inu, was to fall in love with a miko and had that love felt in return. No other inuyoukai or any other youkai species had a miko to love them in return. They all had forced themselves on them."

"I see. Is... is there hope for the ohkamiyoukai?"

"Yes, the answer was in front of you this entire time. The one who has beautiful red hair and sparkling green eyes is the answer to your dire situation."

Kouga smiled. He knew it. He was just afraid. He knew that Kagome didn't have any feelings for him. He didn't have feeling for her, either. However, he liked bugging Inuyasha. It was fun. He sighed, then nodded that he finally understood. Kouga rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess I should go and talk to Ayame, huh?"

Inuhime chuckled, "Yes, that would be a good thing to do, Kouga."

"Yeah. Look, I am sorry about the whole neck thing."

Inuhime waved a dismissive hand and said, "Nah, no hard feelings. Now, go to Ayame!" She turned Kouga around and forced him out of the dojo. Then she pushed him out. "Ayame is at the gardens. Go." She sighed in relief. She noticed that Hikaru gave her a look. "What?"

He sighed. "You kept on evading me." He was referring to the game they were playing. She chuckled. "I'm sorry."

He snorted, "No, you're not."

"No, I'm not." Then they heard a throat being cleared. They turned to the person. Kazuo said to Hikaru, "Hey, how about a rematch from yesterday? If I win, I get to spend the rest of the day with Lady Inuhime. If I lost, then I won't pursue the lady anymore and returned home. How 'bout it?"

Hikaru looked at him, weighing the options. Then he looked at Inuhime to gauge her reactions or feelings on it. He saw her shrugged. "Alright then." They shook on it and gathered the wooden swords and stood in their fighting stance. They were awaiting for Inuhime to tell them to begin the rematch.

The rematch between Kazuo and Hikaru was over in a flash. Hikaru won, again. Kazuo, begrudgingly, left. Inuhime smiled at Hikaru. "I knew that you would win."

"Did you now?" She nodded her head as he closed the gap between them. "This Hikaru will win you, milady. No other male will have you but me."

"Of course, no other male would have me, but you. My heart has already chosen you. No other will come close to you, my love."

Hikaru grabbed her hand and place on his heart. "You feel that, milady." She nodded. "My heart races every time this one sees you; feels you. I won't have no other than you. Even when you die, this one won't have another." He was so close to her face that his lips were barely brushing against them when they heard a clap from the entrance of the dojo. They turned to where they heard the clap to see who interrupted their romantic moment. It was Arashi and his two sons, Ryutaro and Ryu, who were standing there beside him. They were starring at Hikaru with such hatred in their eyes. Their eyes were glowing, ominously. Once they seen them, Hikaru pushed his intended-to-be behind him. Inuhime could feel the hatred. She shuttered. "What do you want, Arashi," Hikaru growled.

Arashi smirked. Inuhime hated that smirk. It usually means something bad was about to happen. "This Arashi heard that you gave Prince Kazuo a rematch. We want one as well."

Inuhime had a foreboding feeling. "It was the prince; not this Hikaru wanted the rematch."

"So, we want one as well. We heard that you are second best after Sesshomaru. Lets see who's stronger; This one or you."

Inuhime squeezed Hikaru's arm. He looked into her eyes. She was silently pleading for him to not to give it to them. Hikaru got the message, however, he had never denied a challenge from anyone and he wouldn't start now. "Alright, Lord Arashi. Name the stipulations."

Arashi smirked at that. "Oh, it's simple really. If I win, I win Inuhime indefinitely, no other rematches."

"If you loose?"

"If this one looses, then we will leave just as the Prince of the South had and we won't have anything do with the West, other than business, of course."

Inuhime thought, "Crap! What do I do?" "Lord Arashi, you can't use political issues for this."

"Oh, my dearest, don't you have any faith in your intended-to-be?" Inuhime inwardly growled at that.

"Of course, I do!"

Arashi smiled. "Then you have no problem with this arrangement." He smiled more when he saw the defeated expression on her face. "Of course, she has a problem with it, but what could she do to stop it," he thought, arrogantly. He knew if he played the 'have faith in your mate' and/or 'believe in the strength of your mate' cards, then he had her where he wanted her... well at the moment, at least.

After a moment of contemplated silence, Hikaru said, "This Hikaru accepts."

To Hikaru, that was a hard decision to make. No, he had no doubts in his strength and/or abilities. He, also, had no doubts that Arashi was up to no good, which came no surprise to him and/or Inuhime. He knew that Inuhime would be angry, but he wanted to get rid of this nuance once and for all. When he would win the rematch, the West won't have anything to do with the North, other than business. However, somewhere deep in his mind knew that he would probably not keep his word.

With Sesshomaru and Kagome...

"Kagome, would you like to meet my beast. I can assure you that he won't ever harm you."

Kagome heard the sincerity in his voice and saw it in his eyes. She nodded. He thought maybe his true form would be too much for her, considering what happened last time. So, he did the next best thing, which his beast was mentally wagging his tail. Sesshomaru without closing his eyes let his beast take temporary control. Kagome witnessed his eyes turned from golden yellow to crimson. She thought that she was the first to witness this without being attack. She noticed the difference from the last time this happened. His eyes were softer than before.

His beast said after he swallowed, "Hello, ma... Kagome." She smiled. "Hello, uh... what should I call you?"

He chuckled and thought, "Mate." "Call me by my name."

Kagome mentally face-palmed herself. She blushed in embarrassment. She barely whispered to herself, "I am so stupid." Sesshomaru caught what she said to herself. He said, "You not stupid." She blushed even more if that was possible. "Thanks, Sesshomaru. I don't know why I asked that question. I..."

She quieted when she felt him touching her cheek ever so softly. "Wha... what are you doing?" Sesshomaru didn't answer her because he felt the need to do something. He kissed her which made Kagome gasped in surprise. He took that opportunity to deepen the kiss by french kissing her, which rewarded him a moan from her. By the time he pulled away, he looked at her flushed face. He smiled and said huskily, "I wanted to do that for a very, very long time."

"You... you did," she asked incredulously.

"Hn."

She had to know the answer to this question. "What about your other self?"

"My master and I have the same heart, mind, and soul. He knows what I know; feels what I feel; believes what I believe. He may had taken a long time, but eventually the heart wins."

"So, are you saying that you want... me?"

He chuckled. "Yes, Kagome, I want you. I need you. I love you. I understand that this is unbelievable to you. Knowing that I, for a long time dislike humans, but you... There's something about you that drew me to you."

"But why? I mean I am just ordinary. Average. There's nothing special about me. Plus I am human. You hate humans." She said the last part in a sad voice, which he caught on quickly.

He quickly embraced her. "To everyone else you may seemed ordinary and average, but to me, you are very special; extraordinary. As for your humanity... that doesn't bother me. It did my logical self, but only for a moment."

He let Kagome pulled away from his embrace. She saw that warmth in those golden-yellow again. She knew that he was being sincere. "You returned?"

Sesshomaru back in his stoic, logical self frowned. "You prefer my beast?"

"Uh... no, I noticed that your eyes return to their normal color."

"Hn. I needed to be back in control again."

"Why?"

"Because my inner beast wanted to ravish you right here and now. I thought that you wouldn't appreciate it."

Kagome was shocked to hear that. She blushed prettily. He chuckled. "You're more beautiful when you blush."

She blushed 50 more shades of red if that were possible. "Thanks Sesshomaru for taking my feelings into consideration. Your right about that I wouldn't appreciate it at all."

"I knew you wouldn't have. However, if you were youkai, we would be mating right now."

"Oh!" She blushed and laughed. "Will you stop making me blush?! Before my face turned red permanently!"

"As I said before, you're more beautiful when you blush."

She smiled and turned away. It was the way he was looking at her.

Suddenly they heard...

"Kagome!" Inuyasha came rushing in as always minus the Tessaiga. Sesshomaru and Kagome was displeased that Inuyasha ruined the moment. Sesshomaru couldn't stop the displeased growl leaving him. Kagome couldn't help, but to say...

"Sit boy!" As soon those words left her lips, he body-slammed face first into the ground making an Inuyasha body-shaped hole in the process. They heard incoherent mumbling as Inuyasha came up of his body-shaped hole.

"What the fuck was that for, wench," Inuyasha yelled as he brushed off the dirt from his fire rat kimono.

"What do you think Inuyasha?! You interrupted us talking."

"Must you always come rushing in, half-breed?"

"Keh, I came to tell you something, bastard!"

"Pray tell, what made you interrupting us, little brother?"

"Yeah, what's so important that you just have to ruin a beautiful moment?!"

"Huh? What moment?"

"Half-breed, focus!"

"Oh right, Kazuo left and now those fucking dragons are challenging that asshole general of yours!"

The couple blinked as those words sank in. "But they aren't suppose to do that. Could they?"

"Hn, as long as the challenger accepts. Yes, they could. All parties including the one they are pursuing has to agree to the match or it would be invalid."

Kagome turned to Inuyasha, who clearly still pissed about being sat, and asked, "How do you know?"

"Well, I was minding my own business when I saw Kazuo and his sisters leaving."

Kagome tilted her head and wondered out loud, "Why would Konami and Minami be leaving?"

Inuyasha growled "Like the hell I know!"

"Oh, I said that out loud."

"Yes," Inuyasha growled in frustration.

She giggled in embarrassment, "Sorry, please continue."

Inuyasha glared at her. "As I was saying, I saw those stupid cats leaving. I was curious to why they were leaving, so I came up to them and..."

Sesshomaru was getting impatient. He growled, "To the point, half-breed!"

"Keh, fine. Kazuo left because he lost a rematch to Hikaru and saw no point on staying. His sisters were leaving because he told them to leave too."

Sesshomaru was relieve to hear that. He really hated felines. He couldn't understand why they would come knowing damn well that they have no slim chance with him and/or his twin. They were dogs after all. Dogs and cats are natural enemies. Sesshomaru shook his head from those trivial thoughts.

"Also, when I went by the dojo to tell the happy couple that Kazuo was leaving, I overheard those bastards talking to Hikaru about a rematch. Inuhime tried to sway Hikaru to turn down the match, but apparently, Hikaru is an arrogant jerk like his lord here because he didn't respect her enough to turn it down."

Sesshomaru growled. "Uh, Sesshomaru?" He stopped growling when he heard Kagome's shaking voice. He looked down at her.

Kagome had a foreboding feeling about this. Inuyasha caught on immediately. "What is it, Kagome," he asked calmly.

Kagome looked at Inuyasha and then at Sesshomaru, who had a concerned face, and then said, "I have a very bad feeling."

"A bad feeling?" Sesshomaru asked in confusion. He doesn't understand how humans could have instincts if they at times ignore them and then suffer the consequences afterwards.

"Keh, you better heed her 'bad feelings', bastard because 9 out of 10 times her 'bad feelings' turned out right."

"Hn. What 'bad feeling' are you having?"

"There's no time. We must stop it now!"

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