In his chambers, the air shuddered as waves of reiki rolled off the miko. "That back there…," her voice quieted as she clenched her hands. "That was a setup?"

Hiten tried to appease her. "Let me explain. I did this to keep my siblings safe. If I was the only one left, I wouldn't care. I'd take out as many humans as I could. They nearly decimated my clan. There are only a few of us left. My parents were some of the more recent casualties. With them gone, the clan passes to me, along with raising my younger brother and sister. If it wasn't for them, I'd probably still be attacking any soldier I saw. Sesshomaru told me about what you two are doing. If it was anyone else but him, I wouldn't believe it. I barely believed it when it was him. If he says your marriage will help me protect my family, I trust him."

The miko disregarded Hiten's rationale. Her icy glare was fixated on Sesshomaru. He did not understand her anger. The incident with Hiten had gone better than anticipated. Not only had her reaction showcased the level of power she wielded, but by coming to her aid, he had demonstrated compassion. Was that not the point of this entire exercise?

"You lied to me."

"Nothing I said was false," he pointed out.

"Hiding the truth is just as bad!"

"I did what was necessary to increase the legitimacy of our relationship. If a war can be won in a single battle, would that not be the most effective course of action?"

"You think that stunt you pulled will solve things? You made it ten times worse!" she cried.

Sesshomaru scowled. "My plan was executed flawlessly."

"Your plan is a load of garbage!" the miko shouted. "It was not flawless. It was a train wreck! Do you realize what you did? You pitted a human against a demon at an event meant to foster peace and acceptance. By provoking me, you started a fight."

"Which you won," Sesshomaru reminded her.

Kagome's gaze hardened. "No one won. When people argue, those on the outside of the disagreement always take sides. Some people may agree with you, but I'd bet you that most of them will see this as a prime example of what the divide between our worlds existed in the first place."

"She's got a point," Hiten remarked. "I heard a couple of the elders questioning how this would work long-term. They seem to think your marriage won't last more than a decade."

Sesshomaru glowered at the yokai.

"I'll give you two a minute." He excused himself to the courtyard.

Kagome didn't wait for him to shut the door before she continued. "Our wedding was supposed to be the first step toward lasting peace. Our guests were going to remember it as the moment when our people came together— not as enemies but as equals. Now, thanks to you, the only thing people will remember is the fight that broke out. All because you couldn't stand to spend a few minutes shaking hands and putting on a smile."

"Your emotions are clouding your judgment."

"My judgment! You can't be serious!"

"I am entirely serious. You, however, are approaching hysterical. Go rest. You will feel better after a good night's sleep," he advised.

Sesshomaru expected her to appreciate his concern. He was treating the miko the best way he knew how. No other had ever been held in his confidence or placed under his protection the way she had. Dozens of court ladies had vied for his attention, but Sesshomaru had chosen to embrace Kagome publicly. She should have been grateful for his generosity.

Yet, she was not.

Her steady look was frosty with fury. "You really are a jerk! A big, arrogant, selfish, lying jerk! No wonder Kikyo didn't want to marry you! I can't believe I agreed to it! I thought you were changing. I thought we were on the same page, that we were friends. But no! You don't see me as your equal. I'm nothing more than a stepping stone for you!" She stormed past him into her adjoining suite, making sure to slam the door as loudly as possible.

Sesshomaru shook his head. He crossed the room to his private chambers, eager to dispose of his formal garments.

The second he set foot in his room, he ripped the tie from his hair. He preferred his hair loose. When Sesshomaru wore it up, he resembled Touga. Being compared to his father was not unwelcome. The Great Dog Demon was a prominent member of society and the one yokai whose power exceeded Sesshomaru's own. Pride demanded that he differentiate himself from his father. Sesshomaru wished to be seen as himself, not Touga's offspring.

Music drifted through the palace. As he changed his attire, Sesshomaru wondered how late the reception would run. If fortune was on his side, his parents would still be sleeping when the time came to leave.

He glanced over at his desk. The route had been mapped out days ago. Seiten and Kujaku had assured him that a direct path would be the easiest on the miko. She had expressed her discomfort at having to ride in the envoy's carriage. Sesshomaru had considered alternative measures. None were as secure as keeping her contained within the wooden wagon. It was doubtful that her mood would improve when she realized that was how she would be traveling.

Sesshomaru reviewed the map once more, checking the terrain they would cross to reach Wakkanai. The quickest path was to follow the northern trade route. They would cross several provinces on their way. Their travels would take them through the northern wolf pack's territory. There were also several significant human settlements along the route. Sesshomaru had noted which houses held sway over legal proceedings and other impactful decisions.

All of those families had attended the wedding. They had witnessed his vow of fidelity at the ceremony and a chivalrous display during the reception. Sesshomaru was confident they would agree to an alliance. Kagome's concerns were unwarranted.

There was a bang as she slammed her bed chamber door open, followed by the sound of boots marching along the hardwood.

Sesshomaru exited his room. The miko had changed into her guard's uniform. Her tanto blade was strapped to her hip and her bow was strung across her shoulders. When he emerged, she froze for a split second. Then, with a shake of her head, she reached for the main door.

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

"Have you forgotten there is an event going on? What if you are seen?"

She rolled her eyes. "No one is going to see me."

"You do not know that."

"Actually, I do," she said waspishly.

Sesshomaru moved to intercept her. "Kagome—."

"Don't," she snapped. "Don't touch me. I don't want to be anywhere near you right now."

He stared at her, stunned by the venom in her tone.

She fixed him with her cold blue eyes. "Don't follow me." With another slam of the door, she was gone.

Sesshomaru remained frozen. He had seen the miko angry and annoyed. He had heard her cheerful laughter and seen her gracious smiles. Kagome expressed each emotion with fervor, never holding back the passion she felt. The way she looked at him now was something he had never seen from her before.

Indifference.

"I'd suggest a fresh kill to demonstrate your ability to provide for her, but something tells me that won't work with your woman."

"Are you still here?" Sesshomaru questioned.

Hiten crossed his arms over his chest and propped himself up on the door frame. "We had a deal. I kept my end. Now it's your turn to do the same."

"Fine," Sesshomaru returned.

He strolled into his bed chamber. Hiten followed close behind.

"You know what's interesting about her? She didn't lash out when I insulted her. I know what females like and I know what they don't. I made sure to be extra cruel to gain the appropriate response from her. And she was mad. Don't get me wrong. I thought she was going to obliterate me for what I said, but she didn't. She only struck me after I badgered your brother."

Sesshomaru's brows lifted. "Inuyasha."

"He saw us arguing and came to check on her. I taunted him. I said some stuff about his parentage and about how weak hanyos are. That was what provoked her. She defended him," Hiten revealed.

Sesshomaru knew Kagome's compassion was her greatest weakness. Despite the way his half-brother treated her, she was compelled to stand up for him. He expected his parents to speak for Inuyasha. The miko was not required to shoulder the same burden yet she had risen to the occasion without hesitation.

Perhaps that was why she was angry with him. She was frustrated with him for not intervening sooner to protect Inuyasha.

He scoffed. What a humorous notion. Inuyasha did not deserve his attention, especially after how he had reacted to Sesshomaru's decision to marry the miko. Whatever Hiten had said to Inuyasha was necessary. If his half-brother could not endure a few calloused remarks, he would never be able to lead as their father did. Inuyasha had to learn to put his pride aside for the benefit of those he served.

Sesshomaru had. It was why he had sought out Hiten for assistance. The number of thunder demons was dwindling. Without support from a powerful benefactor such as the Taisho clan, they would likely go extinct.

The price for Hiten's services had required research but it was not a significant purchase. Sesshomaru had been able to acquire the item through one of his merchant contacts.

"Here," Sesshomaru said, handing a leather pouch to the thunder yokai. "As discussed, one red dragon egg. It should hatch in time for your sister's first name day."

Hiten accepted the parcel and knotted the cords around his belt. "Thanks. Let me know when your tour plans to pass through the Raimei Valley. I'd be happy to host you and your bride at the castle."

Sesshomaru waved him off. "There will be no need for that."

"Why not?" Hiten questioned, studying his stiff posture. "Is the almighty Sesshomaru jealous?"

"You possess nothing that I have reason to envy."

Hiten smirked. "I wouldn't be so sure about that. I'm not the one your miko is mad at. Maybe she'll ask the human ruler for a different mate or maybe she'll seek out your brother instead. She seems overly fond of him."

Sesshomaru's nostrils flared. "Get out."

Hiten held up his hands as his smug grin grew. "Thanks for the invite. This was fun. We should do it again sometime." He opened the window and leaped out into the night.

Not likely, he thought, irritably. Sesshomaru walked over to watch the thunder yokai leave. Hiten claimed to trust him. He did not reciprocate the sentiment.

Sesshomaru waited until his guest had disappeared on the horizon to close the window. He proceeded to do the same with the courtyard doors and Kagome's bed chamber window.

Her room was littered with the remnants of the flowers that had adorned her hair. Crumpled petals were scattered across the floor. Her anger was evident in the deep creases etched onto each one.

Sesshomaru frowned. He would speak with her in the morning. Once Kagome calmed her emotions, she would see reason. They would be able to continue as before. Tonight was merely a minor setback. He would not allow it to derail their plan.

As he left her chambers to summon an attendant to clear away the mess, a thud sounded from the corridor. Sesshomaru opened the door to find Jaken leveraging his staff for support.

"L-L-Lord S-S-Sesshomaru," the imp wheezed.

"You are late," he reprimanded while his vassal waddled inside.

"Apologies, my lord. Avoiding the other clan leaders during my travels proved to be more challenging than anticipated."

"You were not seen, were you?" Sesshomaru questioned.

"No," Jaken immediately replied.

He would have considered the swift answer as false if it were not for the imp's unwavering loyalty. "What did you discover?"

"The temple has never trained a miko by the name of Kagome, my lord."

"Perhaps she was tutored in private?"

Jaken shook his head. "The temple has never bestowed the miko title to any woman they have not selected. I do not believe she has ever received any formal training."

Kagome's mannerisms and opinions were unorthodox for a priestess yet her spiritual abilities could not be questioned. Sesshomaru did not believe she had not received any training. Even though she let her emotions rule over her, Kagome's power had no parallel among humans or hanyos. Even some lesser-skilled yokai could not compare to her.

"What of the village?" he questioned.

"No one in Edo is familiar with a woman named Kagome."

"What about the surrounding areas?"

Jaken shook his head. "I checked every town on my way to the temple and along my return. No one has heard of her."

Sesshomaru considered his vassal's findings carefully. He suspected Kagome's origin would not be a simple matter. Sending Jaken to unearth her secret had been a gamble— one that had not paid off. He was left with a single option to discover the answer.

"Your services are no longer needed this evening, Jaken. You are dismissed."

"My lord, where are you going?"

"To the source."


Compared to the post-ceremony chaos, the courtyard was a silent sector of solitude. Kagome walked out into the night air, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She was overwhelmed by the sensation of spinning. Her emotions were a swirling tempest built from lingering nerves and exhaustion. Rage fueled the spiral. At the center of the storm was Kagome at her most vulnerable.

The hurt from Sesshomaru's betrayal had carved a hole in her chest. Her frustration was like a tiger stuck at the bottom, thrashing and clawing in desperation to get out. She couldn't be sure which one was worse. The anger and pain were braided together like an impenetrable cord. Kagome felt it tighten around her throat, choking the breath from her lungs. She wanted to scream but no sound came out.

Tears rained down instead.

There wasn't a single night that went by when Kagome didn't miss home. Tonight was one of the worst since she had arrived in the Sengoku Era. More than anything, she wanted to run into her mother's arm and cry. Mama always knew when she needed to hear words of encouragement and when she just needed someone to be there.

Her mother wasn't here now. Hina and Jinenji were at the wedding. Her handmaidens were assisting with the party. Kujaku and Seiten were on guard duty. Kaede was gone. And the person Kagome thought was on her side had deceived her. Kagome had no one to talk to. She was alone. Her throat constricted as the second wave of tears fell.

The worst part wasn't discovering that Sesshomaru had planned the confrontation. It was how his behavior reminded her that this was all an illusion. Nothing that had happened today was real— not the wedding, not their vows, and not their feelings.

Well, not his feelings. Hers were very real.

Kagome sunk to the ground, dropping her head into her hands. She had gotten caught up in the act. Kagome had let herself believe that Sesshomaru cared about her,— that he liked her —but she was wrong. He didn't see her as anything other than a means to an end. Once Sesshomaru got what he wanted, he wouldn't need her anymore. Their arrangement would be over and she'd be sent back to Edo.

She hugged her knees to her chest. The added pressure did little to relieve the pain. Kagome had never hurt like this before. One second, her chest felt as though it would crack open and the next she wanted to stab one of her arrows into the daiyokai's chest. Of course, thinking of him only made it worse. Picturing his face sent her tumbling back into the realm of pain and the pitiful cycle started anew.

How could I be so stupid?

"There you are. I was looking for you. You two sure know how to make a scene."

Kagome wiped at her swollen eyes. Even with her back to him, she knew who had entered the courtyard.

"Look, I know I haven't been the nicest to you, but I wanted to say thanks for standing up for me. You didn't have to do that. I— hey, are you going to turn around, or are you going to make me come over there?" Inuyasha demanded.

She stiffened.

"Why are you sitting like that? Are you okay?"

She didn't want him to see her crying. That would lead to questions that she couldn't— or didn't want to —answer. Kagome rubbed at her face, trying to clear away the evidence of her tears. She was running her sleeve on the underside of her chin when a figure blocked out the moonlight.

Inuyasha cursed and immediately crouched down to place his hands on her shoulders. "Why are you crying? What happened? Did that asshole come back here? Did he hit you?"

Kagome shook her head. Her vision was so blurred from her tears that she couldn't make out his face.

"Do you want me to call one of the attendants or fetch that hanyo kid, Jinji?"

"Jinenji," she corrected, voice cracking.

"Whatever. Do you want me to go find him or what?"

Again, she shook her head.

"Fine." He dropped into the dirt next to her.

Kagome tried to find her voice. She wanted to tell him that he didn't need to sit with her. They weren't friends. They had barely spoken since the night she had shattered a teapot over his head. She cleared her throat, ready to ask him to leave, but he cut her off before she could.

"I won't tell anyone." Kagome stared at Inuyasha, confused. "If you want to sit here and cry that's your business," he clarified. "No one else has to know."

"Thank you." The words were raw both in sound and meaning. His unexpected kindness had her crying again. She pressed the heel of her palm to her eyes, willing the tears to stop.

"I'm not good at comforting people," Inuyasha said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess it's because I'm not good with people in general. Growing up, I knew my parents weren't a typical pair. I just didn't realize how different they were."

She swallowed thickly, looking over at him through wet lashes. His eyes were on the ground but what he focused on wasn't anywhere near them.

"Sesshomaru never wanted to play with me. He was always too busy training. I didn't know any other kids my age so my mother suggested playing with her attendants' kids. She gave me a ball and sent me outside. When I approached them, they ignored me. They didn't want to be around a halfbreed like me."

Inuyasha flicked a nonexistent piece of dirt off his robe. "Later, my mother asked me how it went. I lied and told her we spent the whole day playing, instead of the truth— that I climbed a tree so no one would see me cry. It went on like that for years, until I was old enough to sneak out of the palace." He stood up and balled his hand up into a fist. For a moment, Kagome worried he was going to punch something. Then, slowly, his fingers uncurled. "Hiten was right. I am pathetic."

"That's not true," she told him. "Being different from others doesn't make you any less important. It's not a comparison of good or bad. Differences make people unique. They should be celebrated."

"Maybe in your world, but that's how people see me."

"Well, that's their problem. You can't let a bunch of bullies ruin your life."

He studied her. "You don't get it, do you? Most people aren't like you. Being half demon and half human is awful. There isn't anywhere in this world for someone like me to exist. Whether I'm with humans or yokai, I'm always on the outside looking in. I'm never part of the group."

Kagome did get it. Though their experiences were different, she could relate to Inuyasha's frustrations. Kagome had been lumped in with a subset of humans considered powerful because of their spiritual abilities, yet she knew very little about their teachings or culture. What she did know about them wasn't flattering. They were prejudiced against yokai without reason. They didn't see yokai as individuals. They saw them as adversaries. Kagome didn't agree with that. She didn't want to be called a miko. Considering the way Kaede had glared at her, Kagome doubted the girl thought of her as one either. She was an outsider too.

"I've only ever met one other like you. Kikyo. Even though I tried to steal the Shikon Jewel from her, she never got mad at me. She looked at me with pity." His lips twisted and he chuckled. "Used to really piss me off. I started following her around. I wanted to prove to her that I could take care of myself, that she didn't have to worry about me. Some days I'd accompany her on her travels outside of the village and other times we'd take a break by sitting on the hillside. We didn't do anything exciting. Most of the time, we just talked. She shared with me and I learned to open up to her. Those were some of my happiest days."

"So why didn't you marry her?" Kagome asked.

"She spent hours listening to me complain about my life. It took me a long time to realize that it never bothered her because she felt the same way. She was born to be the Shikon Miko. There was never another path for her. Like me, she felt isolated and alone. There was no one in the village she could talk to. Kikyo never even told her sister about her true feelings. She was afraid they would be disappointed in her or call her ungrateful. All she wanted was a normal life, to be an average woman with the freedom to do as she pleased. I couldn't give that to her. If we had gotten married, she would have been stuck as the face of the alliance." Inuyasha scoffed. "As if being the Shikon Miko wasn't bad enough. The daimyo wanted to make her a symbol. What he really did was sentence her to a life of servitude."

Kagome chewed on her lower lip. Her first impression of Inuyasha had aligned with everything Kaede and Sesshomaru had led her to believe. She should have known that there was another side to the story.

"Why didn't you say anything before?"

He shrugged. "It wouldn't have changed things."

"Maybe not but maybe if you had asked your brother for help, he could have done something."

Inuyasha made a face. "Sesshomaru wouldn't have done anything. He doesn't care about anyone but himself."

"That's not true," Kagome argued.

"No?" He countered, tilting his head. "Then where is he?"

Kagome thought about lying to Inuyasha, partially because she was scared to let another person in on her secret and partially because she didn't want to give him false hope. Kikyo had vanished when she appeared in the Sengoku Era. That didn't mean Kikyo was gone. It also didn't mean she would come back.

"Well, you see, the thing is, uh….," Kagome trailed off, unable to answer.

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, that's what I thought. He's a selfish bastard. Don't mistake his ambition for concern. Sesshomaru only looks out for Sesshomaru. The second you stop being useful, he'll discard you. It doesn't matter if you're a part of our clan or not. Take it from someone who knows."

Kagome dropped her gaze to the ground. She didn't want to believe Sesshomaru was as calloused as Inuyasha claimed but it was hard to ignore after the incident with Hiten. Though Kagome didn't agree with his methods, she still wished he would have told her. Discovering it had all been a ruse hurt. Not only had Sesshomaru intentionally excluded her, but he also didn't see any reason to apologize. He thought his actions were justifiable.

She rested her chin on the tops of her knees. Kagome wondered if Sesshomaru would ever see her— or any human —as a person instead of a pawn. Was he capable of seeing an individual's worth or did he truly consider everyone based on whether or not they could further his agenda?

A hand appeared in front of her. "Come on, get up."

"Huh? Why?"

"Whenever Kikyo was upset, she'd shoot. She said channeling her energy into an activity helped her let go of her worries. You should do the same," Inuyasha suggested, gesturing to her bow.

"I'm not a very good shot," Kagome admitted as he helped her up.

"Compared to her, no one is."

She smiled. "You really love her."

He didn't respond. His eyes took on the same faraway look she observed earlier.

Kagome placed her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure she knows that." Inuyasha arched a brow, unconvinced. "Just because you two broke up doesn't mean that the time you spent together wasn't important. If Kikyo understood you the way you said, then she probably figured out why you left."

"You think so?"

"Absolutely. Love doesn't fade because you are separated," she told him, dropping her hand.

Inuyasha was silent for a moment. "When I first saw you, I thought you were her. You look alike— everything except your eyes. Kikyo has brown eyes. But after talking to you, I see other differences. Kikyo was never as strong as you."

Kagome laughed. "I don't think crying on the ground is very strong."

"You're hurting but you don't let the pain eat away at you. You're still taking care of everyone around you, including me."

"Well, I kind of owed you, didn't I? I hit you with a teapot."

Inuyasha grinned. "Yeah. Sorry for sneaking into your room like that."

"Sorry for attacking you." Kagome held out her hand. "How about we start over? Friends?"

He accepted. "Friends."

As they shook hands, a figure appeared in the doorway. "Was this the reason you requested I not follow you?"