(RedDestiny92: More...yes more...what am I talking about? AU welcome in some more characters with a slight change in how life is for them.)

…...

Fourteen

Kagome sighed as she stared out the window listenting to the few demon songbirds that lived in the area. They didn't actually speak but they knew where her blood came from...they were of course much smaller and even cute she didn't mind it but she had a feeling Sesshomaru and Narakur would. Her mother stopped by she asked her to wait for her while she talked first to the others...though she ignored Inuyasha. Hearing that she was getting both she asked a servant to let her know she had to speak to her options privately. She'd been waiting for a bit already before she noticed someone approaching the door. She called to come in, only looking up as a servant pushed the door open a thin woman with dark hair she almost tripped but she was up in a moment to steady her. She sniffed.

"S..Sorry I'm sorry...it won't happen again." she said quickly.

Kagome gave her a gentle smile.

"Relax no harm done."

She seemed unsure as she moved to set the tray down, she had dango and tea.

"After the last house I worked at...I learned well not to make any mistake, we should be seen and not heard." she said nervously jumping she moved to bow.

"Forgive me for speaking at all mi'lady you should be relaxing."

Kagome grabbed her arms carefully and turned her around to make her sit down, there was a time when she had more confidence could defend herself better. Though she was nearly broken she refused to give up many days were harder than others is all. She had things to do still it left her shaken, the past she was used to.

"I can tell you just bleed nerves in scent but I'm not anyone to be afraid of, here Shizu I'm not hungry eat this."

She shook her head.

"I was just asked to bring this mi'lady you don't have to eat it but I would nev..." she paused.

"How do you know who I am?"

"I heard from Shiori." she said with a smile.

Her mouth fell.

"You know my daughter?"

"My mother had a sort of orphanage in our lands it was mostly an empty house that was watched over by one of her people and Shiori was there. When I found out since I wasn't allowed to come here yet I had them bring the kids here to visit. They got food and blankets, fresh water but mother didn't want to attract too much attention to them because the war was light and lootings and murders were the highlight it was before I was legal. Shiori had nightmares one of my skills was going in to soothe them she was so worried about you, but she kept saying no one knew where you were. Everytime we tried to find you it always ran empty, but I made sure she was safe."

Shizu sniffed her gaze wide as the tears started.

"I was kept underground after my husband fell ill...his family always hated me and they resented him for being with a human I was the well kept secret. They bit me...gave me a little blood to keep me youthful and just strong enough so I couldn't be killed as easily. His father wanted the highest punishment he could find for...for sullying his family name as he said.

He told me they killed Shiori...the only reason I even got out was because he wanted to move me and his other prisoners. They crossed through the tunnels that Lord Inutaisho uses and were caught. They brought us here...and I'm grateful but I knew I wasn't anywhere that anyone cared to help. Not all half demons are lucky like Inuyasha...he's so ungrateful he gets everything while others suffer for a fate that wasn't their fault."

Though she spoke clearly the tears flowed freely she refused to give up hoping her husband would get well again there were times she wasn't even sure she had anything to go back to. She wiped her eyes roughly before Kagome handed her a handkerchief.

"It must be another secret that he's not well, your father in law's people aren't helping in the war they are on the other side aren't they?"

She nodded.

"I can try and get to your husband if he's only sick and hasn't passed we could probably help him and I know where Shiori is you will be reunited with your family. So smile even when it's hard your daughter loves you so much her dear mommy who would do anything for her no matter how much she had to suffer, what sort of alpha would I be if I didn't care a half demon is still one of ours after all."

Shizu only cried harder as she let her head fall in her lap, Kagome sniffed rubbing her back as she thanked her over and over.

It wasn't an empty promise Shiori was made very aware that her mother would suffer for her birth not that she just walked off. She knew her father was still alive somewhere but her grandfather made sure it wasn't easy for a traitor to give away any locations. Though if that was something that was too much for Toran and her siblings they wouldn't have been approved as guards.

"I know it hurts, I can tell but you must remain calm okay it's the only way my group can move in the shadows to help." she said softly.

Shize nodded.

"So eat this, I'll have you as my personal maid I have things to do so that's the only way I can watch you properly when you bring food you will eat it and stay close at night understood?"

Shizu swallowed the lump in her throat as Kagome rubbed her arms to soothe her she nodded again trying to breathe evenly. She remembered the first time she crossed the line with Tsukuyomaru when he first built up followers but didn't have enough to make sure it was safe he had similar rules, it was a common set of rules Kagome knew from her lessons. During this time no one would dare approach her and in turn Shizu.

She rubbed her face as the other smiled her gaze glowed briefly and in a moment Toran was bowing outside the door Karan, Shuran, and Shunran behind her as she was the more official leader of them. A simple little connection between guards and their charge. She called them in with the door closed behind them quickly.

She didn't have to use it much but they knew how important it was when she did, she never liked the idea of willing her guards but it came in handy, for these.

"We're at your disposal mi'lady."

"Find Lord Tsukuyomaru, and bring him here he's a prisioner of our shared enemy and don't let anyone see you. Karan watch over Shizu she is not to be bothered and should take good care of herself as well we have a family to bring back together."

"Ma'am!"

In a flash they were gone though Karan was hiden elsewhere, while they didn't exactly move through the shadows it was like a subtear within both realms it made it easy for quick escapes or sneak attacks. Again why they were considered suitable guards from a young age. The skill only grew stronger as they got older and developed a close and genuine friendship with her.

A guard that worked for money no matter what was good, a guard that only cared for your well being whether they could be paid or not was precious. Kagome wouldn't allow her mother to employ them for free, she took care of them when they were sick and tried to pretend it was nothing. Though demons, obviously enough, weren't as frail as humans...poison...sickness it had to be very strong to have a lasting effect. They were fine to work for her father though they started as servants, they feared being lost to the war without a proper clan Kagome was the first to show them more than that.

Not a one had a complaint about following her now Shizu shivered feeling a burst of air go through her ears.

"...I..what was."

"Working with them it keeps words silent so only those that should know what is going on do, come now I want you to be careful so no one suspects anything or gets in the way. Why would I give orders with the door wide open? What if a servant I couldn't trust walked by just then, sometimes we worry for nothing but then in these times it's nice to be wrong about danger once in a while." she said glad when she finally accepted the treat.

"...It is...you really think they can help?"

"Of course, my father trusted them with these skills and he doesn't trust many I've trained right beside them, things will be fine I can't promise it'll be an hour job but you just wait I keep my promises."

Shizu nodded her heart pounded just wondering how quickly she could keep it she seemed confident.

She looked at the tea in her hand picture her husband and daughter, praying that she was right in her confidence.

The door opened and Abi finally came in.

"Having tea with a servant dear?"

"She's my maid I'll do what I want with her." she said with a grin.

That line might have sounded harsher in a different setting though Shizu relaxed a little as she winked at her. Abi smirked though.

"That soft spot of yours is impossible, anyways I spoke to them and see that things are working out fine, guess you had nothing to worry about with the plans."

"Not really."

"Inutaisho selected Sesshomaru for the registration here so he'd like to plan for a traditional wedding, but that's his only real requirement for assisting us, I picked out decorations and some locations to look at but they can be saved for Naraku instead. It'll take some time no rush but the assistance is on it's way." Abi let out a sigh of a relief the briefest break in her frown showed how much worry had just been knocked from her shoulders.

Kagome knew that while there were times she could be cold, and uncaring she understood more when it was important for a leader and her mother wasn't all bad. Not that they would be hugging it out any time soon she was just glad to let her mother help with the preparations...twice now.

"Sounds good, listen do you have any of those old books from our home?"

"In storage somewhere."

"I want them, Shizu won't be here forever it may be safer for her to learn more of the modern time for a while, she can study them."

Shizu looked up wondering about that, being that she worked in the main castle eventually things trickled down she knew there was a world beyond what they had that things were very different. She dreamed of going with her family though she'd always wake up and remind herself she couldn't.

"Really...?"

"Of course, this whole situation is as temporary as I can make it, you'll be safe all three of you will and when things settle you can come back here if you want to, just for now you know what you have to do."

Abi cocked her head feeling like she was a little left out of information but for once kept out of it, she wasn't going to say anything but seeing her daughter as an alpha at work, giving off a sense of aura that she had things covered...well she was proud. Let her do what she wants.

"Karan will help you if don't understand something but you understand it's important to at least know how to behave there to keep your place."

"Yes mi'lady."

"Call me Kagome."

"...Okay but..."

"No buts, where are Naraku and Sesshomaru?"

"Just looking over some plans with Inutaisho they will be back soon keep in mind to make these arrangements work it's also good to show a decent image while you're here. Treat them the same don't make it seem like you play favorites demons love to see weakness in a relationship even if it's one like this."

Kagome nodded.

"If everything is alright I'll be heading out to meet you father I'll let him know what's going on."

"Say hi for me." she called.

She waved absently though her smile wasn't missed if she knew nothing else she'd take comfort in the fact that Abi did love her father she was glad they were together that things worked for them like this. She sometimes wondered how long that would last.

…..

Shizu was gone and safe with Karan before the night continued, they settled on a mostly silent bath, the hotsprings were cleaned daily by the servants. Though there was in fact another one that was for the servant's use personally. Kagome enjoyed the hot water it was a lot less awkward than she thought it might be but then it wasn't like she was being felt up there was a peaceful silence, they were sharing a room better to get used to being around one another.

When they were down for bed and the castle seemed quiet Sesshomaru stared up at the ceiling remembering the last time he shared a room with Naraku it had been brief they were children. He didn't think it would ever be more than that though glancing at Kagome snug between them they hadn't met someone like her before either.

"Having trouble sleeeping?" she muttered quietly.

"Not really, just thinking."

"About?"

"I doubt you care what's on my mind."

She laughed lightly.

"We both know what we agreed to Sesshomaru I don't have to pretend, what is it?"

He sighed but shifted to his stomach it was almost a little too quiet for his tastes.

"The past, before either of us would have considered a wife at all."

"Oh childhood memories who knew you had a soft spot."

"I don't."

She scoffed.

Sure he didn't, her demon knew a lie when she heard it, he went on a little bit anyways at some point the silence returned there was a strange sense of peace for the three as they were.

…...