A/N: Another chapter that I wrote quite fast, in comparison to others. I'm not completely pleased with it, but I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that the past chapters were so action-driven and this is much more low-key. Sesshoumaru doesn't appear in this chapter, although they discuss him quite a bit. Don't worry – he'll be in the entirety of the next chapter (if all goes to plan).

The Broken Miko

Chapter 19: In Confidence

Kagome groaned as she opened her eyes, her pupils immediately constricting to adjust to the bright light. Two figures were leaning over her, murmuring in low tones, but the rushing sound in her ears wouldn't allow her to listen in. She couldn't summon up the energy to speak, to tell them to take their conversation elsewhere, so she attempted to roll over onto her stomach.

One voice suddenly stopped and the figure reached out, pressing her back into the soft cushion she was lying on. "Do not move, Lady Kagome. The poison is still in you."

The hanyou groaned again, trying to protest. When the power of speech evaded her, she relaxed once again, wondering why she kept waking up in strange places lately. For a fleeting moment, she thought she might be in heaven, or more likely, hell, but the dull ache in her body told her that she was still very much on the mortal plane. It was highly improbable that Sesshoumaru would have let her die anyway, for she remembered the conversation she had had with him in the grove about their child. He still hadn't decided if the baby was going to be his heir, but until he did, he certainly wouldn't have let any injury come to her. It was a strangely comforting thought.

As she rested, the haze slowly began to lift and she began to recognize her newest quarters. She was in Jun's infirmary, not three beds away from where Ukon had threatened the old healer's life. She and Washi were the ones hovering over her, watching with interest as Kagome became aware of her surroundings.

"Mama? Can you hear me?"

Kagome nodded slowly. "You fixed the floor," she said with some surprise.

Jun smiled. "It was a simple matter when you have soldiers at your door night and day."

The hanyou nodded again. "What happened to me?"

Washi shrugged. "You just kind of passed out as soon as we began to fly west. I was worried, but Sesshoumaru-sama said that nothing was really wrong. His poison knocks people out sometimes." He smiled a bit wider. "But he did go faster after you went unconscious. We got here in just a day."

She looked over at the old healer. "I was out for a whole day?"

Jun nodded and checked the bandages wrapped around Kagome's chest. The hanyou noticed that her torn clothing rested on the table beside her bed. "Yes, my lady. It was your body's reaction to your injury. You slept while it tried to repair the damage. There is nothing to worry about."

"What about…" Kagome trailed off, only moving her eyes to where her hand lay upon her stomach.

"The child is fine," Jun assured her, pushing her long hair behind her pointed ears. It was silver like Sesshoumaru's, but Kagome could tell it was from age and not her natural color. "Lord Sesshoumaru made sure of that."

Kagome frowned. "What do you mean?"

The healer smiled warmly at the young girl. So young and so naïve, she thought offhandedly. "I have been practicing my art for centuries, my lady," she explained, "but I cannot trespass into the bond between the baby and the male who fathered it. Only Lord Sesshoumaru can sense the child at the moment and how it fares."

"When do I become aware that I'm pregnant?" she asked, rather indignant that the mother was apparently the second to know. That was backwards, in her opinion.

Jun shrugged. "It is different with every female. It should be quite soon, though, I'd imagine."

Kagome turned her head and ruffled the eagle demon's hair. "Would you do me a favor and fetch a yukata from my wardrobe? I think my slayer outfit has had it."

"Sure, Mama!" He raced off.

The healer laced her fingers together and pursed her lips. "Are you thinking of leaving my care, my lady? I should warn you that the poison might not yet be drained from your body. I advise you to stay for another day or so."

Kagome pushed herself up into a sitting position, trying to ignore the wave of dizziness that accompanied it. The bandages were wrapped around her torso to give her some modesty, together with a pair of white pants that seemed to be the typical 'hospital issue'. "No, I'm fine. I'll rest in my own room."

"I must ask that you come to see me tomorrow then," Jun commented, gathering her supplies from the edge of the bed before Kagome knocked them down. "And every week for the duration of your pregnancy."

The hanyou folded her elbows across her knees and sighed. "If I stay here, then yes… I'll come to see you."

The healer nearly dropped the ointment and bandages she carried. "Stay?" she repeated. "Surely you would not consider leaving Lord Sesshoumaru before the child is born?"

"Why not?" Kagome tried to suppress the irritation in her voice. "He tells me I'm pregnant and then he promptly informs me that the child might or might not be chosen to be his heir. I'm not stupid, Jun-san. I know he doesn't want to take me as his mate and if he doesn't, the child will be illegitimate anyway. What kind of life would it have here?"

Jun walked across the gap between the beds lining the walls and began to arrange her tools in her cabinet, keeping her back to the hanyou. She had heard that Sesshoumaru had chosen another female for his mate, but quickly decided that it was a matter for the two of them to discuss. "I admit, it would not be an easy life, my lady, but to leave a youkai with its child is much more grievous. Lord Sesshoumaru will undoubtedly want to keep his child close by, no matter what the circumstances. Most youkai are fiercely protective of their offspring, even if the other parent is not their mate. To take the child away would be condemning my lord to centuries of worrying over the safety of that child."

Kagome sniffed and looked away. "I doubt it. I doubt that Sesshoumaru worries about anything except how to get more power."

"He worries about more things than you know," said Jun, turning back to gaze at the hanyou.

Something in her voice made Kagome look up again and raise an eyebrow. "For example?" she prompted.

"For example, the way my lord refused to move from the foot of your bed until your wounds were bandaged and until he could determine the safety of both you and your child," Jun responded in a rather clipped voice. Her gray eyes softened a bit as she took a breath. "Despite the fact that he needed to rest and was barely conscious when he landed with you and the eagle demon."

The hanyou lowered her eyes. She had forgotten how much blood was in his clothes and on his armor, blood that she had caused to flow. "Forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive," Jun said briskly, walking back to her bedside. "You are so young. It is expected that you would be overwhelmed by what has happened. Expect to be overwhelmed many times more before this is over. You will survive though."

"I'll try to remember that." She shivered a bit and pulled the covers around to cover her back. "Where is Sesshoumaru now?"

The healer shook out the blanket on the foot of the bed behind her and draped it over Kagome's shoulders. "He was exhausted. Such wounds and then he used all of his energy to fly the three of you back here! I'm surprised that he didn't send you all crashing to your deaths. Anyway, he used up so much of his demon energy to get you back that his wounds weren't healing properly. He allowed me to bandage them but he never stays here to recover." She frowned and furrowed her brow. "If he knows what's good for him, he should be in his room resting."

"I'm sure he will follow your advice, Jun-san," murmured Kagome.

The old demon sniffed. "I'm not. Never have I met a youkai so difficult to heal. He never stays in one place long enough!" She gave the hanyou a wry smile. "That baby of yours will be a handful, as the child of Lord Sesshoumaru."

Kagome shook her head. "As long as the kid doesn't have Sesshoumaru's temperament, we'll get along just fine."

Washi ran into the room, tearing down the length of beds and skidded to stop beside Kagome. "Here you go, Mama!" he panted, his face flushed. The hanyou guessed that he ran the entire way. He handed her a spring green yukata.

Inwardly, Kagome grimaced, knowing that it would clash with her hair and make her look like a youkai Christmas ornament. But she smiled at the boy. "Thanks, kiddo. Just wait in the outer room and catch your breath. I'll be along in a second, okay?"

With Jun's help, Kagome struggled into the yukata and managed to not tear her bandages. It was amazing how constricting they were, although the healer assured her that it was very temporary. Her demon healing had taken care of most of the hard work already.

Easing herself out of bed and thanking the old demoness, the hanyou padded down the room to the entrance in bare feet. Before she exited the room, she turned back to look at Jun, who was changing the linens on her bed. "Jun-san?"

"Yes, my lady?"

"Did he really wait until he was sure I was okay?" she asked, wincing at how much she sounded like a lovesick high-school girl.

"Yes. He would not let me touch him until you had been taken care of," Jun answered. If Kagome had been closer, she would have seen the knowing gleam in the healer's old gray eyes.

The hanyou smiled. "Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Goodbye, my lady."

Kagome turned the corner and took Washi's hand. "Ready to go?" she asked the boy. His face was closer to his natural color, although she could smell his sweat. He would need a bath tonight, she noted mentally.

He grinned. "Yeah! I haven't seen Rin yet."

They walked out into the barracks and headed towards the gate that connected it to Sesshoumaru's backyard. "Maybe you should rest and wash first. You're still not completely healed up."

Washi shook his head. "I'm fine. I just want to say hi to her and then I'll go to the bathhouse, okay?"

Kagome nodded to the guards, who let them through without question. "That's sounds alright. Just make sure a couple of the guards go with you. We don't want you to get kidnapped next."

"They would have taken me before if I was worth anything to them," he answered, suddenly sullen. "You're the one they wanted and I couldn't do anything to stop them. I even helped them."

The hanyou frowned and looked down at him. "Hey, come on, don't be like that. It wasn't your fault. You didn't know. And besides, what were you supposed to do against a full grown half-demon and a priestess? You would have gotten yourself killed and then I'd have been very sad. I don't want you to leave me, kiddo."

"I guess so…"

She swept him up into her arms and hugged him tightly, ignoring the stares of the guards in the tunnel. "No, no doubting me. I don't blame you and you shouldn't blame yourself either. Come on, you don't want Rin to see you crying, do you?"

The salty scent of tears faded and he brought his head up to look at his mother. "No, I don't."

"Well, then! That's settled," she said, putting him down again. She knew that it wasn't over, that he would have nightmares and reflect on it time and time again, but she had to let him come to peace with it on his own. He had done the same for her, after all. "Let's go see everyone again."

They opened the door and had only begun to wend their way through the gardens when two voices called out in unison. "Kagome-neesan!"

Two wolves appeared from behind a thicket of trees and ran to embrace their pack sister. She dodged them neatly and spun around as they passed her by. "Listen, guys… I'm happy to see you too, but I'm injured!" she cried, trying to prevent another attack.

Hakkaku and Ginta stared at one another. "Oh yeah."

Kagome laughed. "Now, come here and hug me. Just do it gently." She embraced them each in turn and then gave them a suspicious glance. "What were you two doing back in the garden anyway?"

Ginta blushed, brushing his claws through his short gray hair. She was pleased to see that both of them no longer wore any of their bandages, although Ginta's voice was still a bit raspy. "Um, yeah… well… there's this girl."

"You guys have a crush?" Washi spoke up.

The wolves' eyes widened. "No! I mean… she's pretty, but she's not a wolf. Our clan has taken too many hard hits to not have a wolf mate, right Ginta?" asked Hakkaku.

"Right."

Kagome smiled. "But you still like her, anyway? That's sweet."

Hakkaku scratched behind his ear. "She's a servant though. Her name is Asa."

"The gardener!" the hanyou cried, causing both wolves to jump back. She laughed. "I know her. She's a bit odd, but nice. And she is beautiful, I must admit. Although I never thought I'd say that about someone with orange hair and yellow skin. A bit like sherbet."

Ginta grinned. "Yeah well… she's like, a flower demon or something, so it wouldn't really work out. But it can't hurt to look, right?"

Kagome exchanged a look with Washi. "Right… well, I should be getting inside. Jun-san would kill me if she knew I was standing out here in bare feet."

"We'll come with you," offered the white-haired wolf.

She nodded, feeling as if she hadn't seen them for ages. "So what trouble have you two been in while I was gone?" she asked, as they fell into step with her and Washi. They were in the main part of the garden now, away from the thick stands of bamboo and Japanese maple trees. Kagome was sorry to see that Rin's flowers were beginning to die and hibernate for the winter.

Hakkaku shrugged. "Not much. Talked to people, walked around, ate. That sort of stuff. You were only gone five days, you know, nee-san."

"Five days? Really?" She counted backwards. "Yeah… I guess so! Wow."

"We did talk to your friend several times, Kagome-neesan."

She looked sharply at Ginta as they turned onto a smaller cobble stone path. "Which friend?"

The wolf turned an uncharacteristically serious eye to her. "Nami-san."

Kagome sighed. "Oh, wonderful. So I'm guessing you know the whole story then, huh?"

Hakkaku made a soft sound of dismissal. "Neesan, we knew that whole love triangle thing before you even left. Guards don't shut their mouths when they're off duty, you know, and now everyone knows."

"Oh Kami."

"Don't worry though," Ginta responded, picking up where his brother left off. It always amazed Kagome when they carried on conversations in that way. "Machi had a fit when she heard about it and attacked Nami-san. Of course, she picked an inopportune time, since Nami-san happened to be surrounded by the rest of the elemental demons in the castle. Machi is in the dungeon now, awaiting Sesshoumaru-sama's judgement and she has been the newest source of gossip. You were all but forgotten."

"Except by us," added Hakkaku.

"Machi's imprisoned, eh?" snickered Kagome. "Well, my day is starting to look up."

"Neesan…"

"What?" She looked at Ginta again and held up her hand. "Don't tell me. You're going to talk about how sorry Nami is for what she did and how she's a wreck now and all of that, right? Well, save it." She sighed and lowered her hand. "It's not like I didn't do anything while I was gone. I thought about it a million times and I've decided to speak to her. I was so cruel to her though, that she might not want to talk to me."

"She does!" assured Hakkaku.

"She feels terrible," his brother chimed in. "She had no idea that it would hurt you."

"You guys must really have hit it off, huh?" Kagome gave them each a sly glance. "I thought Asa was the girl that you two were going to be bickering over."

Ginta rolled his eyes. "Neesan, don't be ridiculous. Nami-san is a friend. She needed one. Something's been really bugging her the last day or so too. She wouldn't tell us though." He brightened a bit. "Maybe she'd tell you!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Kagome held up her hands. "I tell you that I'm willing to speak with her again and you assume that we're automatically friends again? When I said I was cruel to her, I really meant it. And it was totally unfair of me too."

"Was it?" asked the wolf. "I mean, she did sleep with Sesshoumaru-sama."

"Not in front of the kid, Ginta!" Kagome moved to cover his ears.

Washi pushed away her hands. "It's okay, Mama. I knew already."

She crossed her arms and glared at the boy. "How?"

He grinned sheepishly. "Rin and I heard the guards talking about it the morning we left to go east. That's why we were late."

Kagome sighed, making a mental note to order the guards in the east wing to keep their traps shut around the kids. She turned to Ginta. "It was unfair of me. The first time we met she told me about her mother's ambition to have her daughter be the Lady of the Western Lands. And I gave no indication about my feelings towards Sesshoumaru." She looked pointedly at the wolves as they started to grin. "Feelings that don't go beyond friendship, I assure you," she lied. She clearly remembered realizing exactly how deep her feelings went for the taiyoukai before getting captured in the forest. In about seven months, she'd have to remember to apologize for hedging the truth a bit.

The wolf brothers still looked suspicious. "Yeah well… Wolves always make sure no one has laid a previous claim when they take a mate." Ginta sighed and looked at her rather reproachfully. "Why can't other youkai be the same?"

"Hey! It's not like I have a choice in the matter."

Ginta looked as if he believed differently, but decided to steer the conversation back on track once again. He pulled open the door to the castle and bowed them through before saying, "Well, I think that you and Nami-san need a nice long conversation to work things out."

"Or a short one full of apologies on both sides," offered Hakkaku.

She laughed as the warmth of the castle sank into her bones. "Either one would be fine. Do you know where she is?" she asked, amending her earlier plan to go see Sesshoumaru immediately. He was probably asleep anyway. She'd give him a little time at least.

"Probably in the Council Chamber," suggested the mohawked wolf. "That's where all of the ambassadors go to work on their papers. It's right next to the castle library. The one open to everyone."

Ginta nodded and pointed down the hallway where a few demons went through a large set of double doors. "You get into the public section of the castle there. We've been spending a lot of time there, trying to figure out if there's any legal action we can take against that monkey demon that ousted us."

"Any luck?" Kagome inquired.

Hakkaku sniffed and crossed his arms. "No. Even if we did, we couldn't enforce it. I mean, that demon already did something illegal by taking our claim of lordship."

The hanyou gazed at the depressed wolf brothers. "But hey, at least you can make some political connections while you're here, right?" she said, trying to put a positive spin on matters. "And maybe even mates. You said that the females had left once your clan had to move into that cave, so I can't imagine a better chance than now."

"Yeah… that's true." Hakkaku suddenly grinned, his face lighting up like a child's upon seeing their new toy. "There are those wolf sisters. The daughters of the wolf ambassador."

"They're pretty hot," agreed Ginta, showing off his own fangs. "Kinda young, but definitely old enough to take mates."

Kagome rolled her eyes at the near salivating males in front of her. "What's with you two? It can't be spring fever!"

"You brought it up!" they reminded her in unison.

"Besides," Ginta added, "wolves chose their mates in the fall. Then when springtime comes, there will be cubs around. Get it?"

"Yeah, yeah. I got it." She waved at them. "Go and see your wolf girls. They sound perfect for you."

Hakkaku's face fell. "You just want to get rid of us!" he accused.

Kagome laughed and shook her head. "No, I want to get rid of your hormones! Do me a favor though, would you? Take Washi up to the third floor entrance to the East wing. Make sure he gets there without too many detours and eavesdropping." She dropped to her knees and hugged the boy. "Have fun with Rin. Try to be good, okay? And remember to take that bath before dinner."

"Yes, Mama." He scampered off without a second thought, with Ginta close behind. The wolf waved goodbye as he disappeared around the corner. The other wolf, she noticed, was making no move to follow them.

"Hakkaku?" She looked at the wolf with a questioning gaze, wondering why he wasn't joining in the chase. He was usually the brother with more jokes, more moments of being a total airhead, but the expression on his face spoke of deep confusion.

"Neesan, may I ask you something?"

"Go ahead," she prompted, with a bit of trepidation. Could wolves that considered her a pack sister smell what supposedly only Sesshoumaru could sense?

"The little one…" he began. Kagome's heart dropped in that instant. "She seems to like us, nee-san, but she does not come close to us. She acts as if she is afraid of wolves. I don't understand. Have we done something wrong?"

Kagome breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "You're talking about Rin!" she exclaimed with a bit too much enthusiasm. Hakkaku nodded mutely, the skin around his eyes crinkling with confusion and she sobered. "Ah, well yes, I do know why she doesn't like you to come too close. Do you remember the first time Koga and I met? In that village your clan killed?"

She said it with such a dead calm, no emotions as she spoke of the dozens of people they had killed that day. Hakkaku shuddered. "Um, yeah. I remember. We didn't really do that with regularity you know."

"I know you didn't," she answered with a wave of her hand, "but Rin was an orphan in that village. Your wolves killed her."

Hakkaku swallowed. "Killed her? Then how is she alive?"

He was relieved when Kagome smiled warmly. "Sesshoumaru revived her with Tenseiga and she's been tagging along with him ever since. So Rin is rather scared of you, yes, but she also knows that without your clan, she never would have been with Sesshoumaru for all this time." She leaned forward and wrapped her hand around his leather-encased forearm. "Don't worry. You and Ginta are great guys and she'll eventually separate you from that traumatic event. I'm sure of it."

"Thanks, nee-san." He grinned at her, happy to have at least one of his worries off his mind.

"No problem. You should catch up with Ginta though. I need to talk with Nami-san." She turned and walked down the cherry wood floor. In her time here, she had almost exclusively remained in the private section of the castle, staying behind the thick double doors Ginta had pointed out a few minutes before. Beyond those doors, anyone with a valid reason could wander in and take the information they required. It was where Sesshoumaru's audiences were held, where the Councils met, and where the large library resided. She felt a bit out of place as she approached the doors, but she squashed her fears, reminding herself that she was still considered an honored guest of the Western Lord. No one in his right mind would question her here.

She nodded to the guards in thanks as they opened the heavy mahogany doors and she stepped through, gasping. She had seen the public section of the castle only twice, once in the middle of the night and once when all of the city's demons were in the throne room already. Kagome tried to stay out of the way as she took in the amazing sight of youkai life.

She was standing in a large room with three halls jutting out at right angles. Swarms of demons filtered through the corridors, busying themselves with their everyday tasks. Doors opened and closed constantly, giving her a slight headache from the banging. Groups of youkai moved in packs, murmuring in their own languages about the business of the day. She laughed under her breath as she watched a few canine demons talking to a couple of rabbit youkai, trying and failing to keep the leer out of their eyes. Predatory instincts apparently never retired.

"Was there something I could help you with, my lady?" asked a voice at her elbow, making her jump.

"Oh!" She turned to see the weasel guard that had been rather rude to Jaken a week ago when the wolf brothers had arrived. "Sorry, you startled me. Is it always this busy? This loud?"

The lanky demon shook his head. "No, my lady. We are preparing for war, you see. All of the ambassadors must contact their clans to bring in recruits for the army. And they have treaties to negotiate, since many clans still do not get along, despite all living in the Western Lands. Since the other seven households of the city do not have the proper documents for wartime, they must come here. So this is quite busy for us."

Kagome listened with interest. "Well, that's a relief. I don't know what would happen if this many youkai were always here!"

He smiled. "It is a bit crazy. But was there something I could do for you, my lady?" he asked, returned to his original question. "If you need a scribe, I'm afraid they're all busy at the moment."

"I would imagine," she responded. "No, I'm just looking for Nami-san of the water youkai clan."

The weasel demon frowned for a bit and then lit up. "Ah yes! I recall her going into the Council Chambers. It's the room at the end of this central hallway." He pointed out another set of double doors opposite from where they were standing. "Was there anything else you required, my lady?"

She smiled and shook her head. "No, that's it. Thank you."

He bowed and she began to thread her way through the mass of demons walking back and forth across the room. Many of them spoke their own languages but several spoke Japanese and she gathered that the eight doors surrounding the room held the offices of the scribes, each with a different task. Many of the youkai were thoroughly annoyed at having to shuffle across the foyer time and again to get the proper signatures and papers. She listened to snippets of conversation as she made her way to the Council Chambers.

"…and he said that I needed a signature from the Secretary of War, even though I had…"

"… well, you don't expect them to really care about our interests, do you? They're absolute pigs and…"

"…telling him that his mother was a baboon's waste probably wasn't the way to do it, you fool. Now we might have to see that little toad, Jaken and he…"

"…did you hear that Inuyasha is back? He's furious at the miko…"

Kagome stopped dead and looked around for the youkai who spoke those words, ready to throttle him for the truth. How could anyone know yet? Her heart beat faster as she searched the faces of the passing youkai, but they all seemed to be speaking in their own tongues and it just sounded like gibberish. She sighed and escaped the throng, trying to convince herself that she was not cracking up again.

She smiled weakly at the guards standing at either side of the chamber doors as they opened them for her. She stepped in, expecting to find a similar scene of chaos and was pleasantly surprised that it was quiet once the doors closed behind her, only the hush of papers moving signaling that there was life here. Several youkai were bent over their work, their noses almost brushing against the paper they wrote upon.

Tables with plush chairs were formed to create a large square with a break near Kagome's position to allow demons to stand in the center to take the floor. Many demons were scattered along this hollow conference table with papers scattered about them. Along the edge of the room, several desks with cushioned benches stood for scribes to take notes during meetings. Since each of these had their own lamps, more youkai were seated there, using their brushes with frightening speed.

The scent of water lilies, Nami's understated and gentle scent, came into her senses and Kagome scanned the room. There, in the corner, was the demoness, her blue head of hair making her an easy target against the muted tones of the room. Beside her, the amethyst-eyed Ruri was speaking to her in low tones, her black and white hair plaited down her back.

Kagome made her way quickly across the room, her movement making the candlelight flicker as she passed by. Only when she was within ten feet of the females did they look up, Ruri with a pleased smile and Nami with an expression of guilt and fear. The hanyou gave them her own soft smile and sat down across the table from them, nodding to each. "How are you two doing?" she whispered, happy that no demon were too close by.

Nami looked as if she were about to burst with joy. "I'm fine, Kagome-san. How are you?"

"I've been better, but I've been worse too." She turned to Ruri, covering the skunk demon's hand with her own. "Are you doing better?"

The other female shrugged. "Slightly. It is a difficult thing. I can't imagine how you suffered your losses as you did. I only lost Sen and yet I feel as if I'm standing on nothing with this canyon beneath me, without any visible bottom in sight."

Kagome nodded, all too familiar with that particular feeling. "I know. That will pass eventually. It will get better."

Ruri smiled again. "I'm sure it will." She looked back and forth between the hanyou and Nami, her face falling into a studious gaze. "I'm going to leave you two alone now. You need to discuss some matters. I shall see you later." She gracefully lifted her body from the awkward bench and left before either of the other two could say another word.

The two remaining females looked at each other, smiling awkwardly as if it was the first time they had ever met. Nami surprised the hanyou by speaking first, pushing aside her usually timid personality. "Kagome-san, I would like to apologize again for all that has happened."

"It's okay. We both did and said some silly things. I was especially harsh and I'm sorry for that. I don't want to lose you as a friend, you know."

The water demoness nodded. "I too, would be sad to lose you. I had so feared that you would not forgive me. Things have been so hectic lately and yet all I could think of was your reaction."

Kagome smiled wistfully. "I don't want you to leave, Nami-san. Is there any way to change your plans? To remain as the water demon clan's ambassador?"

Nami's eyes widened and she pulled back, covering her mouth with her hand. "Oh no…" she murmured.

"Are you okay?" The hanyou's brow crinkled in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"You haven't heard…" The demoness buried her head in her hands. "You haven't heard… Here I thought that you were forgiving me for all that I have done, and my worst sin is still uncovered. I'm so sorry, Kagome-san. I had no idea." She moved to escape, to get away from the horrible situation unfolding before her, but Kagome captured her wrist and pulled her back.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, her brow furrowing even deeper. Nami's scent changed from one of happiness and acceptance to one of utter fear.

The water youkai was beginning to cry. "Please. Please let me go, Kagome-san." She tugged feebly on the hanyou's grip.

Kagome was very much aware that they were attracting the attention of the entire room. She felt the eyes of every youkai boring into her back. "Nami-san," she said softly, "I will not harm you, nor will I yell, no matter what. Let's go into another room, okay? We can talk in private."

Nami nodded weakly and allowed herself to be led from the room into a small chamber that looked as if it were meant for post-council chats. Four low tables were lined up with enormous cushions on each side. It was poorly lit, as the lamps had almost all burnt out, which explained why no youkai were working there.

"This will do." Kagome sat down and guided the water demon onto the neighboring cushion. "Now, tell me what this is all about. What could be worse than what we've already gone through?"

The youkai sighed and wiped at her slightly red eyes. "Many things can be worse, Kagome-san. Please, before I tell you, understand that I had no choice in this."

"Alright…" The hanyou was thoroughly confused, but also intensely curious. "Go on."

"When Jaken-san and the others returned a couple days ago, he sought me out with a message from Sesshoumaru-sama. He told Jaken-san to revoke my request to leave the City of the West, because I was to become Lord Sesshoumaru's mate. He had chosen me." It tore her soul at the seams to know that she was hurting the hanyou once again, for she still believed that the taiyoukai and Kagome loved one another. The pained expression on the hanyou's face confirmed her fears once again. "I'm so sorry, Kagome-san. I have no choice. Sesshoumaru-sama has forbidden any objections."

Kagome laughed softly. "What an idiot I've been…" she murmured. She looked up at the water demoness, who was shaking with fright. "I'm not angry at you, Nami-san," she assured her.

The blue-skinned woman sighed again, letting her shoulders fall in defeat. "I would prefer it if you were angry. Perhaps then I could get rid of my guilt."

"What is there to be guilty of? He has chosen a mate and it's you. Congratulations."

Nami shook her head. "I do not love him and I never will."

"You don't know that," said the hanyou, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. "You can fall in love so easily sometimes that you don't even notice it until it's too late."

"It is too late for me," responded the demoness, bowing her head.

Kagome's ears twitched. "What do you mean? Nami-san, are you in love?"

"I am."

Hope sprang up in the hanyou's chest. "Who? Please tell me, Nami!" she exclaimed, dropping the honorific in her excitement.

The female blushed, turning her blue skin into a lilac purple. "Keitaro."

Kagome grinned. "Keitaro? But he's only been here a couple days!"

Nami's blush deepened, spreading down her neck and underneath the collar of her kimono. "Youkai know when they meet their mates immediately. I have always had a particular… fascination with celestial demons and he was so beautiful and so kind. He sat beside me and spoke to me for hours after I learned of Sesshoumaru-sama's decision, allowing me to say anything that came into my mind. I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him."

The hanyou nodded. "He's wonderful. The perfect mate for you, Nami-san." She grew very serious. "Does he love you in return?"

She sighed and spread her hands out on the table before her. "Yes, but he fears that Sesshoumaru-sama will kill him for that. He is powerful, but a taiyoukai could easily defeat him in battle."

Kagome shook her head, clasping her hands together in joy. "But Nami-san, this is perfect! Sesshoumaru would never force you to mate with him if he knew you loved another! You will have Keitaro as your mate, just wait!"

Nami allowed some hope to color her eyes, but shook her head anyway. "No, Kagome-san. He said he would not tolerate any objections. His word is law."

The hanyou lifted her chin. "Just let me talk to him," she said, confidence lacing her voice, although doubts still plagued her heart. "A lot has changed since he gave Jaken that message," she added, realizing that it was one probably made in anger after she left him.

"I would be forever grateful, Kagome-san!" Nami cried, placing all of her trust in her reconciled friend.

Guilt entered Kagome's heart and she shook her head slowly. "No, Nami-san, I should be grateful to you. I have to confess that I'm not doing this out of the kindness of my heart, but rather as a selfish act for the sake of that heart."

The water demoness suddenly leaned over and gathered Kagome in a crushing embrace. "You do love him!" she whispered with passion. "I'm so happy for you, my friend!"

The hanyou pulled away and looked down at her hands laced together. "You don't understand. It's completely unrequited. You said that a youkai knows immediately when they meet their future mate, but he hated me when we met. He tried to kill me in father's tomb when I got Tetsusaiga for Inuyasha. He hated me until recently and now… now, I know he doesn't love me. He said so."

Nami surprised her by laughing softly. "You take things so literally, Kagome-san! It is the youkai's soul that knows when they have met their match. It can take ages for them to act upon it, and sometimes they never do. After all, you've led me to believe that your last mate, Inuyasha, did not declare his love for you until quite some time had passed."

"Four years, yes," she answered. "But I knew he felt something for me from the day we met, even if he did try to hurt me at first. I looked like his first love and eventually, he grew to love me as Kagome. Sesshoumaru was different. He hated me."

"As if that matters! At least Sesshoumaru-sama showed some emotion towards you, which is more than he could say about the vast majority of his opponents. He feels nothing towards them, making it that much easier for him to kill without thought. But you…" She shrugged. "He probably hated you because you were human. He didn't want to love you, so he went to the next best thing."

"You really think so?" Kagome was dubious.

"I really do."

For a moment, the hanyou's smile was brilliant, but then it quickly fell back into a frown. "You don't know the whole story though, Nami-san. And once you do, I don't think you will still believe he loves me."

"Tell me and I will make that decision," she said, once again being uncharacteristically bold.

Kagome quickly told her of how they met Inuyasha in the dark forest, how he had captured and kissed her. And she spoke of Sesshoumaru's jealousy, so obvious that it threatened to paralyze him until he decided to force himself to act and kissed her with passion. Nami listened to the story, gasping and giving her motherly clucks of the tongue where appropriate. She didn't seem in the least bit surprised when the hanyou spoke of waking up in nothing but Sesshoumaru's upper kimono.

"I slept with him," Kagome murmured. "And I was so angry when I realized what I had done that I just turned around and said such horrible things to him. I told him that I only saved him because he reminded me of Inuyasha…"

"Oh, Kagome-chan. That was most unwise." Nami shook her head in sympathy. "And he sent you away?"

"No. He said some hurtful things in return. Told me that he took back his offer to be my mate and then I ran away. I realized that evening that I loved him, but I was so far away by then and I still had that vision in my head, the one Inuyasha gave to me when he kissed me." Kagome wiped away the tears that had spilled down her cheeks. "I just couldn't go back."

"What vision?" the water demoness asked gently.

Kagome choked back a sob. "One in which I stood over the dead bodies of the children and Sesshoumaru, laughing as Inuyasha told me that I had done my work well. It was a vision of the future, or so I thought." She hadn't mentioned a word about her abduction, not knowing how much the taiyoukai wished to be told to anyone. She suspected that he wanted absolute secrecy.

"But he still found you."

"He… he thought I was hurt," she said, dodging Nami's implications with some success. "And I was, so he saved me and brought me back."

"How were you hurt, Kagome-chan?"

The hanyou waved her hand. "It's not important. I was careless basically." She sighed heavily and cradled her chin in her palm. "But I haven't even told you the best part yet."

Nami arched a delicate blue eyebrow. "There's a 'best part'?"

"Oh yes…" Kagome leaned back and rubbed her abdomen. "I'm apparently pregnant with his child." She frowned and looked thoughtful. "Or is it called a pup?"

The water demoness's eyes widened so that the white ringed her iris. "A… a pup. A inuyoukai's child is called a pup," she answered almost automatically. After a moment of stunned silence, Nami jerked herself out of the daze. "But Kagome-chan… how is this possible? A male knows by scent when a female is fertile. He should have known better."

Kagome shrugged. "I have no idea. I guess I'll have to talk to him about that as well. Truthfully, he is the only one who can sense it right now, so I can't even confirm it yet. Jun-san said that it was different for every female."

Nami carefully laid her clawed hand over Kagome's. "You will know soon. My mother knew almost immediately when I was conceived but took weeks to accept that she was pregnant with my younger brother." She smiled with a hint of mischief. "He was unplanned."

"So I have to accept the fact that I'm pregnant before I really know it?" the hanyou asked.

The other female shrugged and sat back again. "That was how it was with my mother. And all of my aunts, come to think of it. But as Jun-san said, it is different with every female." She said the last bit in sing-song voice and smiled. "And he does love you."

"Hmph. Whatever!" She glared up at the ceiling. "If he really loved me, he would make me his mate so that his child won't suffer the humiliation of being illegitimate!"

"Do you really think that this is no shock to him as well?" asked Nami, with a keen eye on Kagome's annoyed expression. "I'm certain this was not on his agenda, my friend, and now he must rearrange his life for this event. It involves many decisions and much thought, even if he does love you."

The hanyou sighed and dropped her hands into her lap. "I suppose so. He's probably still angry too. I did reject him after all."

Nami gave a startled laugh. "I still can't believe you did that, Kagome-chan. I don't think anyone has had the courage to reject Sesshoumaru-sama's wishes since he was a child!" She leaned across the corner of the table and patted the hanyou on the knee. "I would just be patient. He will eventually realize that he loves you, if he doesn't already. He could have killed you and the child you carry, after all. To risk his honor must mean something."

Kagome smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right. His honor means everything to him."

"He will make you his mate for the sake of his honor," said Nami, "but he loves you as well. I know he does."

The hanyou stood up and looked at the fading lamplight. "I should go then. Apparently, Sesshoumaru and I have some things to talk about." Butterflies sprang into life in her stomach, making her feel slightly queasy.

Nami grinned as she got up to stand beside her friend. "You'll get through this, Kagome-chan," she said, and the hanyou noticed for the first time that she was using the familiar honorific. "I will help, should you need anything."

They embraced once again with Kagome thanking Nami over and over again. When they finally pulled away, she was surprised to see that tears lined both of their eyes. She laughed and brushed them away. "You should get back to work, Nami-chan. I need to sort this whole thing out." She grabbed the water demon's blue hand. "Please don't tell anyone about any of this. They'll know when they have to."

"Of course." Nami bowed her head, back to the timid girl that Kagome had first met.

Kagome smiled. "You really should be strong like that more often, Nami-chan."

The demoness looked up and laughed softly. "Keitaro said the same. Apparently, I am only bold and stubborn when a crisis occurs." She shook her head. "I don't mind. It's nice to know that I can still surprise those around me."

They walked out of the small room and back into the council chamber, where many of the youkai looked up to stare at the pair once again. Kagome ignored this and said a quiet good-bye to Nami before leaving her to her work and going back into the chaos of the foyer. The demons still rushed around her, snippets of their conversations making their way to their ears, but her nerves wouldn't allow her to listen. Her stomach was tied into knots at the thought of talking with the taiyoukai.

The weasel demon and his partner opened the doors for her again, letting a cool rush of air fan her warm face. She nearly collapsed into the private section of the castle, expelling a breath that she hadn't realized she was holding.

Wandering down the wide corridors towards the East wing, Kagome began to play out her upcoming conversation in her mind. What would she start with? A simple hello? A indignant demand of why he hadn't told her that he had chosen Nami? An assurance that she was fine physically? Perhaps she should walk right in and demand to know if he loved her. She blushed deeply at this last thought. She had no doubt in her mind that she loved the taiyoukai, but she was completely unsure as to whether she was ready to hear his feelings on the subject.

After all, Sesshoumaru was probably still angry, and she had been held captive by Inuyasha for two days. Two days that were still very fuzzy in her memory. It wasn't time yet, she concluded, for any declarations of love. She would discuss the situation of Nami and Keitaro with the taiyoukai and take it from there. Allowing instinct to guide an action had always been more of Inuyasha's forte, but Kagome realized that it was the best way. She had no idea how he would react to any of the news she was about to bring.

By the time she had finally decided on being discreet and warm towards the taiyoukai, Kagome found herself before the doors leading to the East wing. The guards watched her curiously as she approached slowly and laughed when she saw their questioning eyes. "It's strange to be back," she explained, but receiving no answer.

She pushed open the doors and walked across the bridge quickly, shuddering as she stepped in puddles of water. After interminable seconds, she escaped into the warmth of the East wing and was immediately ambushed by two very short attackers.

"Kagome-san!" cried Rin, as she wrapped her arms around the hanyou's waist.

She laughed and put her hands on the little girl's shoulders. "Hello, Rin. I'm happy to see you. How have you been?"

Rin pulled away and bowed, remembering her manners. "Very good, Kagome-san, except that I missed you and Sesshoumaru-sama and Washi. But now that you are all back, I cannot think of a better day I have had."

"Have you been studying your books?"

The little girl's face adopted a slightly guilty shade. "Not as much as I should have, Kagome-san. I was hoping that you would come back to teach me."

Kagome nodded and brushed back the stray hairs on Rin's face. "Well, I should be here for a little while, at least. Perhaps longer, so if Sesshoumaru-sama says it's alright, we'll start your lessons again very soon. Washi too." Rin's presence had momentarily suppressed the raging butterflies in her stomach, but as soon as the taiyoukai's name passed her lips, they began to fly again. She sighed and straightened her back. "I have to go speak to Lord Sesshoumaru now, okay?"

Half of her hoped that the children would wheedle her into staying, delaying her talk with the terrifying inuyoukai, and the other half screamed in protest as Rin frowned. "Alright. Will we see you soon, Kagome-san?"

If Sesshoumaru doesn't kill me, she thought rather distracted. "Yes, of course. I'll try to make it to dinner, okay?" she offered, hoping that her nausea would be gone by then. She patted each child on the head a few times, told them to go play and the garden and walked down the short hallway to Sesshoumaru's door.

Lifting her hand to knock, she hesitated and looked over at the guard standing at her left. To her pleasant surprise, it was the young demon that had defended her against the other guard the morning after Sesshoumaru had slept with Nami. He smiled at her timidly and nodded, his rose colored hair falling into his sapphire eyes.

Reminding herself again that she should mention his loyalty to Sesshoumaru, she smiled at him. "Ever feel so nervous you want to bang your head against the wall?" she asked.

His eyes widened slightly, but he kept smiling. "Yes, my lady."

Kagome took a deep breath and pushed it all out. "Good. I just wanted to know that I wasn't alone in this." She lifted her hand and rapped her knuckles firmly on the door.

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A/N: Next chapter – lots of Sesshoumaru and Kagome talking.

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