Author's Notes: Thanks for all of the great reviews everyone! I'm really happy all of you enjoyed that chapter…even though I'm still not quite sure about it. But since so many of you did, I guess I'll leave it. Anyway today my computer class was cancelled so I actually had time to write this chapter. Let me know what you all think!

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Chapter Four: Acceptance

Sesshomaru stormed into his father's office after his father and slammed the door shut. "What the hell do you want this time!" Sesshomaru exclaimed slamming his fist on the desk sitting between him and his father.

"You should be thinking of your future, Sesshomaru. You should not be fooling around like a child," his father lectured. "That girl…she is beneath you."

"So was Izayoi when you married her!" Sesshomaru shouted. Sesshomaru's father jumped to his feet and grabbed his son by the collar of his shirt.

"Listen to me, Sesshomaru! I am the head of this household! You will do as I say! It's fine if she's with Inu Yasha, he is only my second son…but you…you are my first son and will represent this family whether you like it or not!" He said throwing Sesshomaru back in a chair.

Sesshomaru got to his feet and leaned onto the desk. "Whether you like it or not…I love Kagome with all of my heart and will protect her from you. It is our choice whether we get married, not yours!" Sesshomaru shouted in his father's face. His father raised his fist and connected it with the side of Sesshomaru's face, but Sesshomaru remained where he was. He did not flinch or look away, his eyes continued to meet his father's.

"And when are you going to tell her, Sesshomaru? Have you even told her that you love her or that you're a youkai, for that matter? Have you or your brother ever told her that you have youkai blood running through your veins?" His father asked. Sesshomaru's eyes said it all. He had never told her. In fact, he was scared to, but he knew that one day he and Inu Yasha would have to. The older man got up from his desk and walked over to the mini bar, pouring himself a drink. "I'll make you a deal, Sesshomaru. If you can tell her what you really are and she accepts you, then you have my permission to marry her. However, if she rejects you…you will do as I say, you will marry who I tell you to, you will take over the business, and so on. Got it?"

Sesshomaru nodded, but was uncertain about the deal. He had never discussed anything close to this with Kagome before, but they had been best friends since they were little... Kagome…

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Kagome sat down in the TV room with Inu Yasha silently. She had been thinking about Sesshomaru and Inu Yasha's father and the way he acted towards her. "I-Inu Yasha?" Kagome asked softly. Inu Yasha looked over at her and saw the stressed look on her face.

"What is it, Kagome?" Inu Yasha asked with concern.

"W-Why does your father dislike me so much?" Kagome asked curiously.

Inu Yasha sighed and looked away. "Father is just concerned about the business. Sesshomaru is supposed to take it over when he's old enough, but that was decided when Sesshomaru was an arrogant jerk. Now, I think father is afraid that since he's been hanging out with you, Sesshomaru will not want the job and will leave the family to do something that he would consider to be frivolous," Inu Yasha told her. "Don't worry though, Sesshomaru can handle him."

Just then, Sesshomaru entered the room and sat down next to Kagome. Her eyes widened when she saw the large bruise on his cheek. "Oh my god, Sesshomaru? What happened!" Kagome gasped. "Inu Yasha, can you go get me an ice pack and a cloth to wrap it in?"

Inu Yasha nodded and hurried to the kitchen. "I'm fine, Kagome. It's just a bruise," Sesshomaru told her.

"But it looks like it really hurts. Did your father do this?" Kagome asked.

Sesshomaru shook his head. "I ran into father's bookcase when I was leaving his office," Sesshomaru lied and he could tell by the look on Kagome's face that she didn't buy it, but she knew well enough to just let it go. Just then, Inu Yasha returned with the ice pack wrapped in the cloth and handed it to Kagome. Kagome took it and pressed it to Sesshomaru's face. He flinched at the sudden feel of ice to his cheek, but he smiled at the look on her face. She was worried…for him, and it made him feel warm inside. He took the ice pack from her hand and continued to hold it on his cheek. He then pulled her into his lap and smiled down at her. "C'mon, let's just watch the tv."

Kagome smiled back up at him and nodded while Inu Yasha turned up the volume from the other end of the couch.

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Bankotsu sat at his desk doing homework when there was a knock at the door. "It's open," He called without looking up from his homework. The door opened and Suikotsu walked in.

"Brother, I've got the pay from today," Suikotsu said setting the briefcase of money on Bankotsu's bed and opening it. Bankotsu finished what he was doing and turned around to see the stacks of money sitting in the container. His face lit up and he walked over to his brother.

"Ah…money. It's so beautiful," Bankotsu said as he picked up a stack and looked at it.

"We were also given a new job, Bankotsu," Suikotsu said pulling out a file from the top half of the briefcase. He handed it to his younger brother and watched him read it. "We have one week to respond and then a month to carry out the job."

Bankotsu looked up at his brother with a confused look on his face. "Who the hell is our dear business partner, Suikotsu?" Bankotsu asked.

Suikotsu shrugged. "He's some business man…that's all I know," Suikotsu said.

"Do you at least know his name?" Bankotsu asked.

"I believe it was Naraku," Suikotsu answered. "Why?"

"This girl is a miko…" Bankotsu told him, as he showed his older brother the file. In it, there was a picture of a young girl about the same age as Suikotsu dressed in miko-attire. But that wasn't what concerned him the most.

"So? What's the problem with her being a miko?" Suikotsu asked.

"N-nothing… Where's Jak?" Bankotsu asked as he closed the file.

"Down in his room," Suikotsu said and watched his brother walk out. He had never seen the horrified look on his brother's face before. What makes that girl different than all of the other's we've killed?

Bankotsu walked down to Jakotsu's room and knocked. "Come in!" Jakotsu called and Bankotsu entered the spotless room. Jakotsu pulled away from his computer and turned to see the very distressed look on his younger brother's face and immediately became concerned. "What's wrong, Ban?"

Bankotsu handed the folder to Jakotsu and his older brother took a look. His eyes widening when he saw the picture. "Is that…Kagome!"