A little note: As seen on Dokuga. Originally this was a interconnected drabble collection created with the prompts from dokuga_contest. However, since dokuga_contest is no longer running, I'll update as I see fit with prompts I select myself.

Disclaimer: I am not, in any way, affiliated with the creators or producers of Inuyasha. No profit is made from this writing.

Princess of The West

Breakfast, like all the other mealtimes, was tense. Nohime was in a constant sour mood, and it put a damper in the whole atmosphere of the room. Kagome desperately wished the woman would just leave already! This morning, however, breakfast was even more tense, if that was even possible. Nohime's servant, a young male youkai, possibly a hanyou like herself, had somehow appeared out of nowhere and was sharing the meal with them. His presence was ignored by Sesshomaru, but Kagome and Tsukiko watched him, on edge. Why had he joined them?

He seemed unaware of the stares he was receiving, and instead the servant ate in silence, his gaze constantly flicking towards the Lord of the fortress. Nohime noticed, and nudged him in the arm with her elbow. He gritted his teeth and looked back down at his food. This raised even more suspicion in Kagome and Tsukiko.

Completely ignoring the obvious tense atmosphere, Sesshomaru cleared his throat, all eyes suddenly turning to him.

"My Lord?" Nohime was the first to speak. However, Sesshomaru ignored her; his gaze fixed on Kagome. Tsukiko, very aware of what he was about to do, smirked.

Kagome blushed a deep scarlet when Sesshomaru's gaze flicked to her cup, then back up to her face. He motioned with a slight tilt of his head to approach him, so she took her cup and did. The whole room's eyes were on her as she moved to sit on his right hand side. Tsukiko had explained to her in fine detail what would happen if Sesshomaru was to accept her 'claim'. She knew what would happen, but the nerves still bubbled in her gut. Her heart beat wildly in her chest when Sesshomaru moved to fill her cup, exposing the small patch of skin usually just covered by his collar as he did so. After her cup was filled, he placed it in her waiting hand, then very gently caressed the skin just below her cheekbone.

Nohime jumped up, her body tense and her face clearly showing her rage. Sesshomaru's gaze shifted to her, and she opened her mouth to say something, but quickly shut it when she saw his intense glare. Her servant looked baffled, but when he noticed his mistress was angry, his expression soured.

"Sit, Nohime," Sesshomaru ordered, his fingers still tracing circles on Kagome's cheek. She felt like a puddle, everything had melted under his touch.

"No!" Nohime protested, her fists curled. "I will not allow you to take this any further! If you accept that vile creature as your mate, then I will lose everything!"

"That does not concern me," Sesshomaru brushed her off nonchalantly. "And this 'vile creature' you speak of is now Princess of The West, so I'd suggest you address her accordingly."

"She does not become the Princess until you have given her the first mating mark," Nohime argued. "I can call her whatever I desire!"

"You need the physical proof that she is my chosen, do you?" Sesshomaru asked, a small playful smile on his lips. He grabbed Kagome's wrist and pulled her closer. "Very well."

Kagome glanced at Tsukiko, alarmed. The demoness simply nodded and mouthed: 'Do not flinch. He will take that as rejection.'

Panic flared within Kagome. Was she truly ready to be marked, binding her to Sesshomaru as his betrothed? She swallowed the lump in her throat as she looked up into his intense golden stare. He wasn't moving; he was just sitting there, his grip on her wrist firm, but not painful and his eyes watching her. Why wasn't he moving? She glanced at Tsukiko again.

The demoness mouthed again: 'Do you honestly think he will mark you without consent?'

Oh. He was waiting for her confirmation. She could still say no if she wanted to. But as her gaze returned to his, she couldn't bring herself to do so. Because she wanted this, she wouldn't have gone along with Tsukiko's game if she did not desire to be his mate. So she nodded, and moved her head so that he had access to her neck.

She did not flinch when his teeth brushed against her flesh. Nor when a pinch of pain passed through her body. And so she officially became Princess of The West.

Although that would change to Lady eventually.