To Covet

Rating: M

Anime: Inuyasha

Pairing: Kagome/Sesshomaru

A/N: As always, all reviews are welcome! What are you thinking so far?


If the Inu clan sensed something was afoot, they made no verbal mention of it. But the physical signs of unease were there. Inuyasha was looking around constantly, white ears twitching, and he shifted his positioning on the floor cushions often, as though he were restless. Inukimi, a tinge of pink across her cheeks from the sake she was ingesting, leaned against her mate with half-lidded eyes. Touga himself swept his eyes occasionally to the room's entrance, as though he were making sure Kikyo wasn't just waiting to be beckoned inside.

Kagome couldn't help but keep her eyes glued to the table in front of her and she continued to sip her sake. She could feel a pair of eyes burning into her, and she knew if she were to look up, she would be met with the cold gaze of Sesshomaru. He would not stop staring at her and she knew her face must be flushed as well. She was not sure when her mother would bring up the missing bride, but it was as though Sesshomaru was waiting for Kagome to burst and confess that she was nowhere to be found.

Kagome glanced over to her mother and looked at her with pleading eyes. She couldn't take dancing around the topic any further. Satomi gave her daughter a tight-lipped smile in return, also sensing her daughter might at any moment slam her hands on the table and blurt out something they all would regret. It was time to discuss what was on everyone's mind.

Touga noticed the shared look between the two, and he sighed, taking another hearty gulp of sake into his being before gently placing the cup down and putting on his sternest of faces. "Lady Satomi, I must ask. Will your eldest daughter not be joining us tonight? My mate grows tired, and we should begin to retire soon to recuperate from our travels."

Satomi nodded respectfully and met his gaze before carefully choosing the words that next came out of her mouth. "My lord, I do not wish to raise concern, but it seems my daughter is missing."

There was a heavy silence that laid thick in the air. Inukimi remained glued to her mate's side, but raised her arm up to her face, the fabric of her kimono concealing the lower part of her jaw, perhaps hiding a yawn. Inuyasha's ears swiveled and remained in a pinned back position, while Sesshomaru had finally moved his gaze from Kagome to his father for any reaction. Kagome almost sighed in relief as his attention was removed from her.

"And how do you mean…missing?" Touga carefully questioned back, his brow furrowed in confusion. The single purple stripes on each of his cheeks seemed to twitch as he frowned.

"Our servants have not been able to find her. They're still searching the grounds, but I'm hopeful she'll turn up tonight. This is very unlike my eldest, you know this Touga. She takes her duties very seriously and would not just run away. I'm afraid she may have been kidnapped." Satomi fought to pull on any inner strength she could find to blink back tears that began to form as she vocalized her concerns to those before her.

Inukimi sat up after the confession and although her cool eyes held little emotion, she reached a pale hand out to place on top of Satomi's across from the table. While offering the Higurashi matriarch silent comfort, she turned to look into her mate's eyes.

Lord Touga sighed deeply, contemplating the situation. He looked up at the small group that surrounded him. "My soldiers will help in the search. Our sense of smell is unmatched and I'm confident we will be able to find her, wherever she may be." He paused and looked back to Satomi.

"Is there any possibility that she may have run away? Would there be any place outside of your home you could recommend my men to search first?" Touga gently asked, aware that his questions may raise tension within the room.

Satomi raised her chin defiantly in the moment and took a sharp inhale, offended at the idea. "She would never, not Kikyo. She knows better than that."

The Demon Lord took another moment of silence and sip on a glass of wine a servant had poured him only a moment ago. He placed the glass down and looked at the Higurashi Matriarch who sat across from him. "Lady Satomi, I would love nothing more than to continue our alliance and offer up protection of the Western lands. I fear however, that our enemies will try to attack without a more concrete bond - without a marriage."

Satomi nodded in agreement; her brows furrowed now as well. Ideally her eldest would be found soon, but if she wasn't…Inukimi glanced up from sipping her sake, and laid her cool eyes on Kagome, before making eye contact with Satomi, saying so much and yet nothing at all.

"If Kikyo isn't found within two moon cycles, my youngest daughter, Kagome, shall be the one to marry Lord Sesshomaru." Lady Satomi declared, somewhat confidently.

The silence in the room was deafening. Souta's mouth hung open as he leaned forward to get a better view of his sister's reaction. Inuyasha's golden eyes widened in surprise, and he immediately went back and forth between staring at his older half-brother and Kagome.

"I have not been teaching her the ways of your courts, as I had assumed Kikyo would be in this position, but I assure you that Kagome is a fast learner and has great spiritual prowess rivaling her sister's. She would be an asset to your kingdom if it came to that."

Kagome stiffened at every word that left her mother's lips. She refused to look up from the plate that rested in front of her. Afraid to look up and see what reaction Sesshomaru and everyone else at the table might have. She felt numb, thinking about how she had wished to confess her love for Inuyasha during his last visit to their estate. Would they even feel she was an adequate replacement for her accomplished older sister? She knew nothing of the Western lands' courts and rules. She reminded herself to stay strong as she blinked back any tears. She could cry in her own space later. She wouldn't want to embarrass herself or her family.

Touga nodded and appeared to contemplate the offering. He looked to Kagome. "Are you prepared to potentially become my son's mate and one day ruler of the Western lands? This is a large burden to bear after all. You may speak freely here."

"It would be an honor to do so." Kagome murmured, bringing the attention onto herself again, a light flush over her face and neck. She was suddenly feeling ill. Maybe it was all the sake…

Her mother looked at her, surprised she had agreed but grateful that she had.


Kagome felt as though the rest of the evening was a blur and she was responding automatically to any conversation sent her way. At some point, Inukimi had come to sit beside her and had placed her hand gently on Kagome's underneath the table. She had always heard that the Daiyokai's mate was just as fierce as he was, but in this moment, she felt grateful for her silent support. She was vaguely aware of her mother and Inukimi talking around her, but she did not absorb any of the conversation.

Once the evening finally came to an end, the group began trickling out of the hall. Kagome felt drained and wanted nothing more than to go back to her room and lay down. And perhaps to process what agreement was just made. She made her way alone to the training grounds first, removing her shoes and stepping barefoot on the ground before her. She looked up at the glowing moon above her, the sake in her system making her sway a bit and feel like this moment was surreal.

The sound of footsteps broke her trance, and she looked to her left. She watched as Inuyasha stepped out from the hall of her home, stepping down into the grounds where she stood. His silver hair shone brightly in the moonlight and blew gently around him in the nighttime breeze. He walked into the moonlight and she could swear his eyes glowed in the evening light.

"Kagome, how are you feeling?" he murmured, watching her intently from his position.

"Overwhelmed." Kagome's voice cracked as she confessed, and she placed her hands over her face to cover the tears that began to well up in her eyes. She could hear Inuyasha walk closer until he was in front of her, and he pulled her hands away from her face.

"I know he's a cold bastard, but he would make sure you're taken care of. I'd make sure of it too, of course. On the bright side, if you marry him, you'll still get to see me often. And at least it's not that stupid Hojo boy." He tried lightening the situation and smirked at her.

His words did little to soothe the ache in her chest at this moment. Egged on by the alcohol she consumed, she reached out, placed her hands on Inuyasha's chest and stared up into his eyes. His eyes stared back into hers, both confusion and empathy written across his face.

"Inuyasha…I don't want to marry Sesshomaru, I want to marry you!"

His cheeks instantly flushed, and his eyes widened in surprise. He gently gripped her arms, careful to avoid his claws digging into her kimono, and looked sadly into her eyes. "Kagome…I…"

Realizing the gravity suddenly of what she had just blurted out, Kagome's eyes widened and she immediately backed away from the half-demon. A single tear ran down her cheek, and she turned, embarrassed, and began to walk away. She felt his hand reach out, grasping hers and she tore out of his grip before running as best as she could in her kimono towards her room.

"Kagome!" he shouted after her, but she no longer wanted to hear what he had to say. He had looked at her with such sadness. Nothing could be changed now, not unless Kikyo was miraculously found before the wedding was to occur. And even then, what was she thinking?

She ran until she came to her room, stopping only to slide open her doors and quickly shutting the tatami behind her. She instantly fell to her knees on top of the bed that had been prepared for her and she began to weep.

"Kikyo, I hope you're alright! Please come back to us." She sobbed, rubbing at her eyes and sniffling as she did so. Unable to find the strength to undress, she curled up in a ball and buried her head in her arms. She couldn't fathom actually marrying the cold Sesshomaru! Many emotions were flying through her. Sadness and confusion for her sister, and bitterness for the situation. After what felt like an eternity crying, Kagome fell asleep, exhausted and hoping desperately that her sister would be found the next day.