Chapter 7

Kagome opened the door to sessomharu's study, unaware if he was alone or not; she opted to use formality.

"My lord, are you in here?"

Sessohmaru looked up from the conversation he was having with the Southern lord, he was thankful she had used formalities so he didn't have to repremad her. He didn't want to do anything further to jeopardize the start of his relationship with her then he has already. Not only has she claimed Rin as her own unconsciously but had also taken to her role as the alpha bitch quite nicely when her pup was in danger without knowing that she had and she had saved his daughter, if she hadn't been here he knows he would have lost her.

"Yes, you may enter"

The door had opened fully to a sight that had taken both the lord's breaths away. Kagome stood in the doorway. The light from the sun setting over the horizon made her look like an angel with the way she was dressed. The hairsticks she wore to decorate her hair he noticed were his mothers, he smiled inwardly not once removing his stoic look. Kagome walked to sesshomaru's side and bowed deeply to the visiting lord that stood in front of her intended's desk.

Sesshomaru snapped out of his daze though he and his beast were in agreement yet again over the tiny human that stood in front of them, they sure did miss her shapely legs.

"Lord Asahi, this is my intended Lady Kagome"

The southern lord had grabbed Kagome's hand and kissed the top of it above her knuckles; it did not escape either of them the growl that had escaped sesshomaru's chest.

"My lady, you are as enchanting as my late wife. I have no doubt that she would have approved of sesshomaru's pick for lady of the west."

Just as he had finished his sentence the wind blew through and he caught the scent of human, his nose wrinkled in disgust.

"On the other hand. My dear please amuse me for my sniffer isn't the same as it use to be in my young years..but do you by chance happen to be human?"

Kagome blushed softly

"Yes my lord, i am a human miko."

-*ok. So what if I'm human..that doesn't mean a thing. Watch it you old windbag*-

The look of disgust deepened his old features and he pulled his hand away and shook his head

"Oh my boy. What would your father think if he knew of you trying to mate and bear pups with a human no less but a miko..the shame would befall him to see how low the almighty killing perfection has fallen to allow hanyou pups to rule after your demise."

That was it. Before sesshomaru could object and remind the lord standing before him where his place was in this castle, Kagome had beaten him to the punch. She saw the southern lord not paying attention to her and pushed him up against the wall, a hair stick fueled with her miko energy pointed to his neck. You could smell the burning of flesh.

"Listen you old windbag. I don't care what lord you are nor do I care what you say about me. You are as entitled to your opinion as I am to mine because in the end I will show you and every lord after you that no matter what species I was born into I am not as weak as you think, and neither will my pups be. But the thing you absolutely will not do is disrespect sesshomaru in his home after he so graciously invited you into it, nor will you insult him or his late father. Am I understood?"

*-look at this. She is defending your honor. Maybe she will be worth keeping around.*-

Again kagome yelled as loudly as her voice allowed her, despite the protest of both of the inu men before her

"Am i understood!?"

She pressed harder, he swallowed roughly before nodded his head

"Yes my dear, i understand you loud and clear"

She still stood there with the hair stick against the offending lord's neck, blood dripping down the stick and her hand. Sessohmaru as much as he enjoyed watching her anger at someone other than him walked over to Kagome, he wrapped his arm around her waist the other laid on top his hers his hand wrapping around her hand he slowly pulled her back and put her hand down. His chest rumbled with puurs meant to soothe the anger that burned in her core. He felt when she relaxed against his chest, he took the stick out of her hand, cleaned the blood off before sticking it back into her hair the way she had it. He reached her ear.

"Easy koi. The threat is over. Everything will be alright."

She nodded her head signaling she had heard his words. His eyes darted to the southern lord who now was trying to reclaim his breath.

"If i were you, i would watch how you speak to myself or my intended. If you dare insult this sesshomaru again or my late father then it will not be she who will take you to your late wife, I will have the pleasure of doing it myself. You may leave now and retire to your room until this evening meal"

The lord nodded and bowed deeply before he left the room.

Kagome after hearing the door shut and the footsteps receid began to tremble in her intendeds arms, tears fell down her face. Feeling her shaking violently and the smell of salt he looked at her; neither of them had moved an inch.

"What's the matter kagome?"

In between sobs she tried to voice her apologie

"I..i'm so sorry for acting out of turn like that…i..i..i di…didn't mean to embarrass you or ruin your reputation like that..he just had me so angry i lashed out"

Hearing her apologize and worry about tarnishing his reputation he turned her around to face him, worried golden pools met her overflowing blue. He placed a hand that had rested on her hand up to her chin and tilted her head to look at him

"Koi, you have nothing to apologize for. He was in the wrong, not you. You only acted on the same instinct to protect as any demoness. I only stopped you from killing the insolent fool because you have a pure heart, a death like that would have destroyed you from the inside. You did not embarrass or tarnish my name. You have proven yourself as a worthy mate to him, I myself am actually quite proud of you for holding your ground with him. It is not easy to do with a three thousand and twenty-two hundred year old demon. But you had very easily held your ground, you are a strong kagome, stronger than what you give yourself credit for."

He lifted her head a bit more and kissed her passionately. She did not fight back; she easily gave into the kiss and returned it with just as much heat, want, love and desire.

He resisted the urge to undress her and have his way with her, he broke the kiss much to his displeasure.

"We must go, the other lords will be arriving soon. They may have something to say like Asahi, but keep in mind it matters not what they think. Do not act out of turn, and if you wish we may discuss any of them later in private and I will deal with them accordingly."

Kagome nodded before fixing her wrinkled kimono and hair picks. Sessohmaru had walked out the door and Kagome followed to receive the rest of their guests.

The northern lord was the first to arrive after sesshomaru and kagome had gone into the grand audience chambers. Along with the northern lord was his mate and their two children. If Kagome had to guess they were the same age as Shippo and Rin, she smiled at the children who had eagerly returned the smile. This did not escape the notice of everyone in the room, kagome was warm and inviting the children, human and youki alike were all drawn to her comforting light

"It is nice to see you again old friend"

The northern lord had bowed to sesshomaru as he spoke, sesshomaru nodded

"And you lord Akira, lady Asuka"

The lady had bowed to sesshomaru.

"Allow me to introduce my intended"

Kagome stepped up beside sesshomaru and bowed to the lord and lady that stood in front of her

"This is Lady Kagome. As lord Asahi had already found out, please address her and treat her with the same curitiosy as you would myself while you are in my home."

Akira had raised an eyebrow at sesshomaru's statement

"You'll have to regale me of that tale so i may not make the same errors"

Before anyone else could speak one of the servants had addressed Lord Koga of the Eastern lands had arrived.

*-oh no..this is going to turn into a headache or a blood bath..i hope he behaves*-

Kagome had laid her hand against her face before Koga could walk in.

Koga had walked into the room, his eyes looking over who had already come. He bowed to the lord and lady of the north and then to lord sesshomaru when he had raised up his eyes had darted to kagome, he never thought it possible but she was even more breathtaking then before. Noticing the glint in Kogas' eyes, sesshomaru had wrapped his arm around Kagome possessively and growled.

"Lord Koga, this is my intended Lady Kagome. And you would do well to remember that"

Koga looks from kagome to sesshomaru dumbfounded.

"So kagome you finally got tired muttface. You didn't have to run off to be with his brother you could have came home to me and the wolves"

He started to step closer to kagome but was stopped by a vicious growl, sesshomaru stopped when a gentle hand rested on his chest, he looked down to see the loving eyes of kagome. She turned her attention to koga.

"Thank you for the offer my lord, but the eastern land nor are you my home, i've told you before i hold no romantic feelings for you."

She bowed to the eastern and northern lord then turned and kissed sesshomaru's cheek.

"If you will excuse me my lords but i must check and tend to the children before dinner. Oh before i forget"

she turned to the northern lord

"Lord Akira, Lady Auska if you would allow me. May i take your children with me to play with my own?"

Lady Asuka was the first to voice their hesitation

"Lady Kagome, you have pups?"

Kagome smiled.

"None of my own that i have birthed, i have a fox kitsune that was orphaned a few years ago that i have been raising, and a human girl that is under my lords guardianship"

They both had heard her words

"You see my lady, my children are very dear to my mate and myself. I"

Before she could finish kagome had interjected

"My lady forgive me, but I understand your pups are important. My are just as important to me as yours are to you, even though i had not birthed them but i promise i will care for and protect them just i would my own"

Before the lady of the north could deny the woman her request her children had chimed in

"Pleaseee mother!, we want to play with the other children"

The lady of the north had sighed in defeat

"Very well, be on your best behavior. And Lady Kagome if anything is to happen to my pups, it will be your life that i will take"

Kagome nodded her understanding as she held her hands out for the pups to take. She stooped down to be eye level with the children

"Come, i will introduce you to Shippo and Rin"

With that they had left the lords to their business.