Author's Note: I am so sorry this has not been updated in awhile. A lot has been going on in my life. On top of all that, I caught Covid during the Christmas holidays. You will need to thank Shastuhh for sparking me back into writing. I went back to reading one of her stories the other day and Musie woke up and decided today was the day to start writing. xD So, here you go.

Now I cannot answer when the next chapter is coming because I think Musie wants to do something with A Jealous Betrayal. So look for that one in the future. :D

In the beginning we were nothing but glad
Those were the best days that we ever had
There's no compassion, all your warmth is gone
Tell me how, oh, how can I keep holding on

Each time you break my heart
I try to put my pride aside
Each time you break my heart
A little voice inside me cries

I see the look in your eyes
I know you're hurting inside
Let me try
To make you love me again
I'll say that I knew you when
You were mine
You were mine

-Each Time You Break My Heart by Madonna

"Of course," Kimi murmured pushing her chair back, placing her hands gently upon the desk, and moving upward to her feet. Her golden eyes swept briefly over the set of judges. Each one of them had been her friend, a member of the Lords of their respective lands, and now they had been drawn here upon the request of both her and her former mate, Toga. Of course, none of them really knew why. Well, not until they were delivered a letter of intent from her. She had made it clear that she would not be sitting upon the seat of judgment but would be part of Kagome's representative.

They, at first, had been intrigued. They had never thought she would have stepped in on behalf of Kagome and yet, on the other hand, they had not been surprised. They had seen the relationship between Kagome and Kimi and knew the bond shared between the two had been deep that they had seen Kimi treat Kagome like her own.

Each one of the judges leaned forward in curiosity as they waited for Kimi to begin. They could already feel the tension become palpable in the air. They could see both Toga and Sesshomaru annoyed by the fact that not only was Kagome not here, but Kimi was. None of the judges believed Kimi had made any indication that she was coming or the fact she had planned to represent Kagome in this messy divorce.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court," Kimi addressed both the judges and those who had come to speculate upon the proceedings, "I come to you on behalf of Kagome, the Lady of the Western Lands, in her resolve to end her mating and marriage to Sesshomaru, the Lord of the Western Lands." She paused briefly and made her way around the table. Her heels clicked softly upon the marble floor. "Kagome could not be here to speak, and she has asked me to be her voice and speak for her. Lady Kagome is emotionally drained and exhausted from the months leading up to this conclusion and is currently being treated by the best medics."

A quick glance over to her son and former mate saw both shifts in their seats. They had no idea that Kagome was pregnant nor would they. Kimi was telling just a little white lie. They would simply believe that Kagome's health is in decline and that it was the fault of her son.

iLet him feel the guilt/i, she thought angrily. He deserved it. She had not raised him to be the mirror image of his father. She had believed that Kagome would be the one who would be everything to him.

He proved that it all to be a lie when he let that islayer/i come in between them.

A knowing smile tugged at the corners of a generous mouth. She could not wait to bring out her secret witness. Oh, the chaos it would weave.

Pulling herself from her thoughts, Kimi linked her hands behind her back and continued, "I am sure most of you had seen the marriage between Sesshomaru and Kagome. A yokai and a human. A relationship many looked upon as the future of yokai and human relations. However, that was not the truth. Behind the scenes, as Kagome sought to give Sesshomaru the heir he craved, he sought out his needs upon another. Never once did he bother to care about what his wife had been going through. Never once sought out the comfort of the woman who was trying everything to give him what he wanted."

She leveled her gaze upon her son before looking away and once more toward the onlookers who were leaning upon every word she spoke.

"Imagine being told you are only worthy if you bear an heir," she remarked coldly. "Told that sex would only be during the times of fertility. Afterward, seeking out the arms of another. Perhaps believing that newfound romance was the answer and the ultimate humiliation to a wife who could not do a simple task."

There was a light murmuring within the court as the galley contemplated her words to one another.

"Kagome had always been in love with her husband. She had always believed she would be his first and last love in this world. Instead, the Lady of the Western lands was tossed to the side."

Licking her lips and realizing that she had made much of her point and could see the effects it had on her son was enough to thrill Kimi to the core of her soul. She wanted her son to hurt as much as Kagome had done. The girl did not deserve any of this and her son needed to be taught a lesson. Let him know the humiliation and despair Kagome had been through.

"All Kagome wishes is for the court to allow the dissolving of her mating and her marriage. She wants nothing from her marriage. This means no alimony and no further contact with Sesshomaru. She also wishes to return to her maiden name and is willing to relinquish her title of Lady of the Western Lands."

Kikyo leaned back in her chair and watched Kimi present their argument to the judges. She was impressed that Kimi could draw the crowd as she did at this very moment. She could see not only the judges but the audience eating up her words. She understood why her sister allowed Kimi to take up her case.

"I must say the other side is not happy," Naraku whispered leaning over his chair. "I have to say that having this front-row seat is everything I could imagine it to be."

Kikyo side-glanced at the other side and smirked. The uneasiness and guilt that plagued Sesshomaru was the icing on the cake for her. She enjoyed how much of a kicked puppy he acted. He had hurt her sister so much that Kikyo had even considered allowing her husband to use his Tessaiga upon his brother.

A smirk graced her lips. "Let him feel the pain my sister did," she replied venomously. She folded her arms over her chest and narrowed her dark eyes. "If only…."

Naraku's brow rose upward at Kikyo's soft murmur. He could feel the animosity coming off her in waves and knew that this battle would one of the most interesting he had ever attended.

Leaning against the door of her bedroom, Kagome let out an exasperated sigh. The two boys have been annoying for the past few days. She understood – they were considering the state of her health and that of the baby. They hovered over every minute of the day and never gave her a moment to herself. It had been too much for her that she stormed out of the sitting room and stomped all the way to her room. She needed to get away from their smothering before she went mad.

"I know they mean well," she murmured tiredly, "but I need to breathe without them."

Pushing herself away from the door, Kagome made her way to the edge of her bed and sat down. She had no strength to do anything. Her energy had been zapped from both Inuyasha and Shippo and it did not help her morning sickness had been horrible. Every morning. She would get up and rush to the toilet just to empty out whatever she had for dinner. The slightest smell of certain foods made her nauseous, so she had begun to skip some of her meals and just eat a small snack.

Placing a small hand on her lower stomach, Kagome closed her eyes trying to imagine what her child would look like. Would he or she have silver hair? Would they have days like Inuyasha had when he turned into a human? Would their eyes be like hers or they be like Sesshomaru's golden, amber-colored eyes?

For Kagome, it did not matter. She would love her child no matter which parent they took after. She just wanted the time to come quickly so she could hold them in her arms. It was all she had wanted since she learned she was pregnant.

She had plans.

So many plans that would give her child a normal life far away from both the human and yokai worlds. She did not want her child pressured as Sesshomaru had been. She wanted them to enjoy life…to live as they wanted but their future was thrust into their hands, a life predetermined from the moment of their birth.

Kagome knew she could not hide the child from the world for long. She knew that the Western Lands would call for them…call for them to take up the mantle of the next Lord or Lady of the Western Lands. All she could was make sure their upbringing would be different from their father's.

"I still have not named you yet," she said softly with a smile. "I am not even sure whether you or a boy or a girl. I need something fitting for you. Perhaps when your grandmother returns, she will help me decide upon the perfect name."

Thoughts of Kimi caused Kagome to rise again and move to the window. She could only hope her mother-in-law would be able to persuade the judges to grant her motion, but she could not be sure. She could only fathom that Toga and Sesshomaru would be arguing against the idea, but she knew Kimi – Kimi would never allow her to suffer the same fate she had. She would not allow Kagome to walk down the same path and she would make sure to fight it tooth and nail against Toga and Sesshomaru.

"I hate waiting for an answering," Kagome murmured watching the rain pour down. It had been raining like this for the past week with no end in sight. Not that this mattered. She enjoyed spending time in the vast library of the castle. There were so many books especially the first editions of Emily Bronte and Jane Austen.

Plus, Kagome could order any books and have them delivered to the castle at any time.

This had kept Kagome from literally going insane. It gave her something to enjoy and get away from the problems plaguing her life. The boys even left her alone if they found her in the library, but that had been because she had threatened them the first time they burst into the library.

"KAGOME!" she could hear Inuyasha screaming her name through the hall.

"Now what?" she grumbled making her way from the window and to the door of her bedroom.

"MAMA, INUYASHA WON'T LET ME HAVE –" Shippo's voice boomed.

Opening the door, Kagome narrowed her eyes at the two heading in her direction. Both paused and gulped upon seeing the dark look on her face.

"I think we should back away slowly," Shippo suggested taking a step backward away from Inuyasha.

Inuyasha snorted unafraid of the menacing aura that was oozing out from Kagome's form. He refused to admit the woman scared him more than Kikyo did.

"Feh!"

"This better be important," Kagome said quietly but her tone held a warning for both. "I suggest you both speak it quickly so that it may be resolved, and I can return to resting."

"Heh," Shippo laughed nervously and took another step back. There was no way he was going to bear the brunt of Kagome's fury. Nope. He would let her have Inuyasha. That boy never bothered learning anything when in the presence of both sisters. He could only surmise he was a glutton for punishment. "I think mine can wait."

Inuyasha turned to glare at Shippo the traitor. "She's out of her room and she can step into the argument."

Shippo was shaking his head trying desperately to get Inuyasha to shut up and leave Kagome alone. This was not going to end well and Inuyasha would probably place a hole in the castle floors. This would not be good either when Kimi came back home to find the Inuyasha-sized hole.

"Inuyasha," Shippo spoke nervously and glanced at Kagome, "I-I think we should go. We can ask her for help later."

"The wench can answer," Inuyasha returned folding his arms over his chest. "She's pregnant not dying."

"Inuyasha," Kagome growled.

It was at this moment that Inuyasha knew he had overstepped the boundary.

"Time to run?" Shippo inquired swallowing hard.

"Time to run," Inuyasha agreed.

The two took off before Kagome could make one step out of her room.

Chapter End