Title: Another's Name, But My Heart

By Lady of the Ink

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, but you knew that. I hope. But I do own this plot and all the twists that it takes.

General Reminder: All references to Kikyo mean Kagome unless that section is in Kaede, Kagome, or the real Kikyo's POV.

Chapter Eight

Who Invited You

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Several weeks had passed since Inuyasha had become a husband, and each one had seemed to him to take a year. It hadn't been difficult to keep his distance from Kikyo. As much work as needed to be done with his new lands, he was busy from before dawn until well after everyone else had retired for the night.

The people were taking the transfer of power much better than he had expected. Many were willing to work with him once they were reasonably sure he didn't plan to have them for dinner. Some had even seemed relieved at the change of rulers. From some of the things he and his men had heard, there had been quite a bit of unrest long before he had come onto the scene. From the state of some of the homes and the people who lived in them, he could see why.

And therein lay the problem. The people spoke of their ruler as hardhearted and selfish, someone who cared more for herself than any of them. He had heard more than one tale of men losing work just because they had happened to make a request of her when she was in a bad mood. They also spoke of high taxes and numerous rules they felt she imposed simply for her own amusement. Punishments were harsh and rewards for jobs well done were unheard of.

They painted a picture of a cold and unfeeling woman, someone who thoroughly enjoyed the misfortunes of others. He was having a hard time believing it was the same Kikyo who had put aside her fear to care for a small scratch on his side. She had been willing to disregard her unease just because he was injured. That spoke of a kind of person willing to help others before they helped themselves.

As he did everyday, Inuyasha was sitting in the great hall, awaiting the arrival of people come to plead their cases. Some wished to marry, other wanted to expand their plots of land. All needed his permission. It was a boring task, but necessary to maintain order and his knowledge of what was going on around him.

The number of villagers coming to him was small on that particular day. Seated in the Lord's chair, he had plenty of time for thinking about the inconsistencies between the wife he had interacted with and the one his new people spoke of in hushed tones. He was grateful when one of his men arrived with the news that someone was approaching from the direction of the Western Lands. Embracing the distraction, he rose from his place and went out to greet the new arrival.

He remembered his father's promise to come soon, and found himself eager to greet the older demon. His father had been married to his human mother for many, many years, and Inuyasha was hoping that that time would have given him some insights he could pass on to his youngest son. Inuyasha dashed to the gates, then stopped to wait, unwilling to appear too eager. After all, he was on his own now. It was time to let his father come to him.

All thoughts of being mature and lordly vanished the instant he saw the visitor's identity. Spreading both feet into a fighting stance, he aimed his fiercest glare at the unwelcome sight in front of him. His voice was mostly growl when he spit out his words of "greeting".

"What are you doing here?"

Kagome sighed as she looked down at the needlepoint resting in her idle hands. While she normally liked sewing, this morning the simple task was just reminding her too much of her mother. Every few minutes she would find herself drifting into memories of the life she had been forced to leave behind.

Setting the piece aside, she climbed to her feet. She had been spending the past few weeks following Kaede around and learning all the tricks to running such a large household. But on that morning, the older woman had gotten a message from someone in town about a woman in need of medical help. Since she was well accomplished in the healing arts, she had left immediately with a pouch full of herbs and potions she had retrieved from a small room filled with such things.

Due to the fact that she couldn't be seen in the village for risk of being recognized by people who knew her, Kagome had had to be left behind. She had spent the morning drifting from one activity to another, all of which were quickly abandoned as boredom set in. It wasn't even lunchtime yet and she about to start screaming just for something to do.

Crossing to the window, Kagome gazed outside, squinting to see if she could make out her old home from where she stood. It was an impossible task, since the houses in the village were too far away to make out and even if she were closer, all the roofs looked alike from her vantage point. But she still tried, knowing it was because of her longing to reclaim something of what she had lost.

She was just conceding defeat for the time being when a group of people by the gates caught her eye. Inuyasha was easily identifiable, dressed as he was in his usual red outfit. One of the soldiers who had stood inside the church during the wedding stood by his side, which wasn't an unusual sight. What was unusual was the person at whom they both appeared to be staring.

He was tall, a fact which she easily made out even from her distance. His hair was just as white as Inuyasha's, but lay more smoothly down the back of his pristine garments. A sword hung at his side, and one hand rested easily on the hilt. He looked more like he was posing than being threatening, but something about him made Kagome shudder. She leaned farther out the window, hoping to get a better look. Inuyasha appeared to be talking to the new arrival, and the soldier seemed to be . . .cowering? That couldn't be right. The few times she had been in his company, he had struck her as the hardened fighter type. If the man in white troubled him, then she should probably be hiding under her bed.

Kagome frowned, watching as Inuyasha braced his legs further apart before planting his hands on his hips. Even though he was far away, it was clear that he was angry. Curiosity raged through her. Who was the other man, and why did Inuyasha seem so upset that he had come? Just as that thought registered Inuyasha turned on his heel and headed back inside. After a moment's pause, the stranger did the same. The soldier headed off at a run towards the encampment where many of the demon army still stayed.

Moving away from the window, Kagome gnawed on her lower lip. They were probably in the hall or the main parlor, well out of sight from her current spot. She had a choice: remain where she was and rely on someone else to fill her in on the details later, or head down there to find out for herself.

In the end, her desire to know overwhelmed even her sense of preservation and she slipped out of the room. Although her bravery didn't extend so far as to allow her to approach them directly, it did prod her to find a location where she would be more likely to overhear what she wanted to know. The Lady's parlor just off the great hall seemed like the best spot and so she walked as silently as she could towards it. Halfway there, however, the sound of voices drew her steps in another direction entirely.

x

Inuyasha glared fiercely at his brother, feeling his hands ball into fists as he waited for an answer to his question. As was always the case with Sesshomaru, it was a long time coming and less than satisfactory when it arrived.

"Our father sends his regrets."

"Why?"

"Although he said he would come, certain events have occurred that have him indisposed at the moment."

Inuyasha tamped down the urge to growl at Sesshomaru. He knew from experience that the more he made of his brother's deliberate withholding of information, the longer it would take for him to relay his message. "Is something wrong back home?"

"Nothing that Father can't handle. He is, after all, a full blooded demon." It took someone who had lived with him for as long as Inuyasha had to detect the slight curl of Sesshomaru's lip. It was the only change in his otherwise completely impassive face as he delivered the barely concealed insult.

This time he did growl. It was obviously too much for his brother to be civil for a complete conversation, even given the circumstances. He should have expected nothing less from the person who had spent his entire childhood telling him how tainted he was because of his human blood.

Without bothering to say another word to Sesshomaru, Inuyasha spun on his heel and stormed his way back towards the hall. He had no more than flung himself back into the Lord's chair when Sesshomaru was again standing in front of him, impassively eyeing his surroundings. Averting his gaze, Inuyasha noticed the other demon that had come inside with his brother for the first time.

It was on the small side for a demon, with reddish brown fur. A kitsune, if he didn't miss his guess. Although it was very hard to tell, he figured it to be quite young, since it had curled itself into the smallest ball possible and was trying desperately to go unnoticed.

"What's that?" he asked without turning away. The kitsune cringed slightly at his harsh tone.

"A gift from Father."

"What?!"

"His words were 'See not only what is there, but also what might be done.'"

Inuyasha frowned, puzzled over his father's meaning. He had no doubt that there was something important contained inside the bizarre message, but exactly what it was, he couldn't say. It was his father's approach to impart knowledge in such a way that a lot of thought was required before the true point could be found.

Then again, the last time he followed his father's advice, he wound up with a human wife who had more sides than any normal family would. Did he really want to risk getting stuck with something even worse? He eyed the shuddering ball of fur again. What possible motive could his father have had for sending such a "gift"? And with Sesshomaru, no less. It was amazing that the cub hadn't been reduced to a scorched spot somewhere along the way.

The slight sound of slippers on rock had his attention swinging towards the doorway. Framed there was Kikyo, her expression tentative as she paused on the threshold. Her hands were twisting themselves together in front of her, a sure sign of her uncertainty, he had learned. The fact that he knew that disturbed him for some reason, and it came through clearly in his voice.

"Did you want something?"

Her cheeks flamed red as her eyes dropped from his face and locked onto the floor. "I'm s-sorry to interrupt. It was just . . .I heard voices . . .and . . ."

"And decided you'd pop in for a visit?" he asked sarcastically. The sight of his brother regarding her with a detached sort of interest made the hair on the back of his neck rise. In a bout of frank honesty, he admitted that he hadn't wanted Sesshomaru to meet her. Not yet. His reaction would have been the same if his father had come as he had promised. It had less to do with his brother than it did with Kikyo and himself. He had wanted to keep her to himself until he understood her complex nature better.

Of course, Kikyo didn't know that, and must have assumed that his angry tone was directed solely at her presence. He regretted it immediately, knowing it would put still more space between them and a bearable arrangement he was still hoping to find. He lifted one hand as he sought to explain, but she had already turned on her heel and fled, but not before he caught the sight of tears sliding down her suddenly pale cheeks.

"I must say that this is more entertaining than I had hoped. At least the trip was not entirely a waste of time." Sesshomaru spoke as he turned from the doorway, straightening a lock of hair that had dared flutter out of place. The smirk had returned, clear evidence that he found the whole situation an amusing distraction.

His eyes going back and forth between his brother and the now empty spot where Kikyo had just stood, Inuyasha sighed.

"Well, damn."