Disclaimer: i do not own Inuyasha.

For the next few days Kagome avoided Sesshoumaru. Yumi however, was a different matter. As her handmaid, they had daily contact. This she limited by speaking only when it was necessary other than that, Kagome refrained from talking to her altogether. This had greatly bothered the other inu female but knowing that Kagome needed her space still, sheallowed for her privacy.

"Ohayoo gozaimasu, Kagomesama!" greeted a tanuki with a cheerful smile.

"Ano, what happened to Yumichan?" asked the still sleepy miko-demoness.

"There was a commotion in the foyer this morning Kagomesama, she was stopped by Jakensama on her way here so she asked me to look after you this fine morning."

"Wow, I never knew she had such power in Sesshoumaru's court."

The tanuki laughed heartily, "Kagomesama, you do not know do you?"

"Oh I know all right, she's Sesshoumaru's intended, is she not?" huffed Kagome irritably.

Wide eyes slanted in merriment as an explosive surge of laughter filled the room.

"Shitsureishimasu!..(she bowed respectfully)... You misunderstand Kagomesama. Yumi is Sesshoumarudono's governess since he was born, she had always looked after him like a son. Especially since Sesshoumarudono's mother died early."

Kagome processed the new information in her mind quickly. 'Oh kami! I wronged them both so much. I gotto make it up to them somehow."

She was interrupted when the shoji screen practically flew out of it's hinges when a female figure barged into her quarters abruptly.

"Kagomesama, forgive this suddern intrusion.. (she nods to the tanuki girl as she is dismissed).. chaos has loomed in the grand meeting hall, all the inu elders are here regarding you."

"Heh? What do I have to do with some inu elders. I'm pretty sure I haven't offended any one of them as of late.." she contemplated.

"They are here on behalf of Iesudono's proposal, it seems he had asked permission from Sesshoumarudono to court you but he had adamantly refused. Now he sought out the elders to overturn my lord's decision. Jakensama had held them off as he could but even he cannot prevail against them. It took a turn for the worse when your companions joined the foray and one of them, my lord's half brother, threatened to bite off one of the elders' head." wailed the distressed Yumi. "This is beyond my capabilities, although I am governess to both lords, I have intreated the two to atleast get a compromise at the meeting a couple of days ago, but both are proving stubborn and will not hear each other out."

"What! Those damned blockheads!" Kagome pushes her sleeping yukata sleeves up her arms past her elbows angrily. "Where is Sesshoumaru?"

"He had left earlier this morning Kagomesama. He journeys to Matsudono's domain to oversee the first trade run smoothly between both lands."

"This is not good. But what can I do?"

"The fact that Iesudono has appealed to the elders and since Sesshoumarudono is not present means that you would have to accept his request to court you."

"What about Inuyasha? He is still his half brother. Can't he speak on behalf of Sesshoumaru?"

"I am afraid not, though they are of blood the fact still remains he is hanyou hey will not hear him out."

"Can't I refuse? I mean the guy is hot but I barely know him. Who knows he could be a mental case deep inside." panicked Kagome, scenes of the psycho movie flashes in her mind, when the disturbed young man stabs the girl in the shower while the high pitched music accentuates the stabbing motion graphically. Kagome gulps nervously, cringes. "Oh kami! I won't die by Sesshoumaru's claws, or of a mental breakdown by his gorgeous body, I'll be stabbed to death by a knife-wielding psycho with a fine ass!" she blurted out.

"Kagomesama? You like Sesshoumarudono?"

"Huh? ... errrr... I said that out loud didn't I?"

"Hai, you did. Demo (But) I am glad! You may not have seen it but you have started to bring back the old Sesshoumaru I nursed as a boy." cried Yumi wiping tears off her eyes. "Besides I have always though of you as a daugher and now that I know you have feelings for Sesshoumarudono I could not be happier!"

"Uh, well could you ..(wheeze)...at least show that happiness by ...(cough)... not ending my life and squeezing thebreath off me."

"Ggomen Kagomechan, it's been a while that we have talked like this."

"Iie (no), it is I who should apologize to yo Yumichan,.. you see I kinda thought that you and Sesshoumaru are .. uh.."

"Are what Kagomechan?"

"LLL..Lovers ok?"

Yumi smiled sympathetically, "you're feelings for Sesshoumaru really must run deep for you to be bothered by our interaction with each other."

"Uh, actually, it was uh... not so much your interaction as both your 'familiar interaction'." Kagome blushed furiosly while twisting the bedsheets between her fingers. "I uh... saw Sesshoumaru um, kinda like without any clothes on and uh you sorta came in and I ..."

"You thought there was something between us?.. (laughs).. Kagomechan is this what all the days of silence was all about? Do not worry yourself about my reactions you should see the way the other females glare at me because of my close proximity to him. However, it must be said that you owe my lord an apology."

"Must I?" whined Kagome.

"Hai, and you must make it up to him. He may seem indifferent but believe me he will appreciate you more for it."

"That's whats worrying me, the 'appreciation' that he will show... I hope it's not along the lines of spending a week in the dungeon." Kagome mumbled.

BANG!

"..(huffing)..Ka-gome-sama... Yumi-sama... you must come quickly! Things have taken a turn for the worse..."

"Don't tell me Miroku started groping the elders!" exclaimed Kagome.

"Does his perversion extend as such?" asked Yumi.

Kagome nodded sadly.

".. (puffing).. iie, .. Lord Kouga's wolf elders.. are now also demanding right to... court you Kagomesma."

"What is with elders today? You'd think we were running a geriatricconvention for crying out loud!" snapped the now irate miko-demoness.

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"We are the pillars of this land that lend our wisdom forthe land'sbenefit!"cried one inu elder.

"Yeah, yeah, and I'm the emperor of china and that perving ass monk(pointing to a grinning Miroku) is a buddha incarnate!" roared the wild hanyou.

"Your excellencies please... my Lord Sesshoumaru is not here and he is ..."

"JAKEN!"

All eyes focus on the determined face of Kagome.

Paying their respects, all bowed low with the exception of the tachi, however they grinned their greeting.

"I am aware of why you are all here, however, I must decline my answer in preference to that of the Western Lord who is currently indisposed with other matters of great importance." Yumi had instructed her briefly how to address the elders. "Please refrain from further action until his arrival we are expecting him shortly as a messenger has been sent to summon his return."

"Kagomehime, we come on behalf of our Lord Iesu. Beholding your radiant power and strength with our own eyes, westrongly approve andfully back his claim. You would indeed make a most suitable mate for our Lord and give him a strong heir to rule the land."

"We represent Lord Kouga wolf Taiyoukai of the Eastern Lands. We too desire you for mate to our Lord."the wolf eldersbowed again.

'Oh come on! Which institutelet these mental cases loose?' she screamed inside.

"As I stated I am aware of your reasons for coming here but I flatly refuse as I feel I am as of yet unworthy of the role for which you have sought me out. Please do not ask this of me for I am certainthere are others more worthy of the tittle you all would wish to bestow upon me." she bowed respectfully.

The elders stood in stunned silence. Never before had a female refuse the title of Lady of the Land. It was practically being presented to her in a silver platter! Even grumpy Jaken had lifted his head proudly at her spoken words and applauded her inside.

A wolf elder stood up. "My lady, we are amazed at your words and are pleased to find a woman of high virtue and unmatched grace as you are, also imbued with such humility! You truly are one of a kind! Please reconsider your words and allow our Lord to woo you."

"Your excellencies, Lady Kagome has expressed her wish. If you all respect her, please follow through with her request." intervened Yumi.

"We have heard her words but the fact of the matter stands, the only way she will be allowed her wish to remain as she is, is if she is at least spoken for." replied one inu elder coldly.

Kagome, allowing her temper get the better of her snaps. "I am already spoken for!" she booms. Jaken closes his eyes and shake his head at her temper tantrum. 'So much for ladylike manners.' he sighed, as his stubby form slumps.

"And who is he who would have more claim than our Lord Iesu?"

Still unable to gather her scattered thoughts together, Kagome snaps andretorts back angrily,

"Sesshoumaru Taiyoukai of the Western Lands!"