Chapter 13

A bath can be the most relaxing thing in the world or the most troublesome. Right now, Kagome rushed to scrub the long hair that had surely grown even longer during this sixteen day trip. Although it may not have been entirely accurate, she sure felt its length now. The miko had regularly kept it trimmed with every trip to modern Tokyo, not wanting it to get in her way while battling Naraku. But, that was then.

Scrubbing over her bruised stomach and scarred arm, she wondered how much she could tell Inuyasha. What would send him off to attack his brother, the danger or the romance? No, she couldn't speak of the romance with demonic ears listening about, but the failings to protect her, his subject, would also spread like wildfire. Kagome scrubbed harder.

Even after the unpleasant, speedy bath, the miko couldn't find the half demon anywhere. She moved her belongs back into the room that she had stayed at the beginning and wondered around the old palace in search of him. Servants greeted her with bows and "My lady" but quickly hurried on to their jobs.

Kagome found herself in the part of the palace that she had not even tried to venture before. It was an enclosed Main Hall with the typical throne standing proudly at the end of a stone floor. Large scrolls hung down parts of the walls; they showed white dogs tearing apart enemy or howling to moon. One portrayed a limp serpentine dragon hanging within the jaws of said white dog.

Next to it hung the last scroll before the throne. The scene showed that same dog amongst clouds while another stood proud on the cliff below. Painted in black ink Kagome leaned in close to read the old writing. She wasn't sure, but it might have said, "Proud ascension."

"Weird thing, to go from knowing nothing about the old man to seeing paintings of him everywhere." Inuyasha calmly commented with his arms casually crossed.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome jumped in surprise. He had stood behind her to see what she was looking at.

"What'cha yelling for? I'm right here woman." His bitter response was forgiven due to the poor sensitive dog ears. "Want to see him?"

"What?" She blinked.

"You know. Do you want to see the 'not dog' him?" Golden eyes sparkled with the excitement of being able to show her something new, but he still acted bashful about it. "There's more paintings hidden around the place."

The miko grabbed his hand and smiled, "I'd love to see them, Inuyasha. By the way, Inu no Taisho was his title, right? So, what was his name?"

"Keh, hell if I know."

Together, the two walked around in search of those hidden paintings. Of course, many of them portrayed the old lord in a vague and mysterious way that hid his features. Although a little childish, they started a small game to guess if he had features more like Sesshomaru or Inuyasha. Mind you, both of them had seen a visage of him for a short moment back during the So'unga incident, but neither really could recall details of his face anymore.

"You think his brows are all thin and girly like Sesshomaru's?" Inuyasha asked as they left another vague painting.

"Nah, they probably looked more like yours if not bushier." Kagome giggled, "You remember Jotsu's eyebrows?"

"The farmer with the kid?"

"Yeah. Those super manly brows." They laughed as the old villager did have quite the sizeable brow.

They stood in front another one which barely showed the side of Inu no Taisho's face, but it did portray his single, indigo stripe. And that hit Inuyasha in an odd way, "I had a stripe when I lost control of my demon blood right? Do you think it looked like his?"

Kagome paused as she thought back to the not so great memories, including her rough first kiss. "I think it didn't look as thick as his, like Sesshomaru's mother's stripe instead."

"Sesshomaru has a mother?" The half demon asked in part shock and part sarcasm. "Don't tell me I look like 'his' mother! That's just weird." With a punch to his arm, the miko walked on, laughing.

"Wait." Inuyasha grabbed her arm at the scar and she froze instantly. "There's one in here I saw."

Kagome quickly figured out that he planned to drag her into Sesshomaru's office or whatever they would call such a room in this time. For now, she would call it his office and offices were private. "Inuyasha, we shouldn't go in there." She whispered to not draw any attention. It was too late; they were inside and so was the lord.

The miko looked away as her cheeks reddened at his eye contact. Sesshomaru, however, took his time staring at the two intruders and the familiar grip his little brother had on the girl. The hand that held a poised brush made no movement as the miko got dragged further inside.

"I think it was over here." It was like Inuyasha complete ignored the owner's presence. That is, until he randomly asked, "Oh yeah, do you know dad's name?" TINK! The ink jar shattered and black ink poured over silver hair and red fabric.

"To think you've walked this world for two hundred years and not once thought to ask for your father's name?" Sesshomaru stood from his seat, livid. "Disgraceful."

"I didn't ask my mom cause it bothered her and you weren't there, so fuck off." The hanyou replied more or less calmly but he positioned himself for a fight.

"Wait, you're two hundred?" Chirped the forgotten miko, "I thought you were like seventy and that's with your fifty year nap."

"Keh that bastard over there is probably pushing a thousand. Look close and you might find wrinkles." He sneered until a good right hook knocked him through the door. "What was that for, you prick?" Inuyasha yelled from the hall way floor.

Said prick now stood beside the miko who merely watched in amusement, "He's five hundred and sixty-five." Kagome easily recalled. "Right?" Amongst the familial bonding she forgot those moments with the man in front of her, those sweet and heated moments.

The baritone hum of approval distracted her from the sneaky claw. It looked as if the lord simply plucked the hair tie from her head but his claws were just that sharp. A wall of black poured across her back as the dark screen fell well past her rear. She glared in disbelief to its length.

"Does it look longer to you?" She outwardly wondered to either the brother climbing out of door fragments or the one barely an arm's length away. They both looked. One commented, "Its hair, Kagome. It grows." And the other simply hummed his way out of a proper response.

"Well yeah, but no, guys!" She huffed, "Humans don't normally grow a full hand length of hair in two weeks. Two months maybe, but not two weeks. Maybe it's because Asase Yaa… never mind." The miko lowered her gaze to the floor at the slip up.

"A saucy yeah?" Inuyasha sarcastically questioned.

"Inuyasha" Blue eye twinkled with a dangerous look, "sit." He froze, hunkered in a position of panic and waited for the dragging to come. Even Sesshomaru looked mildly amused as the spell never happened. "Just kidding." Kagome giggled innocently as the poor hanyou remembered the beads were gone.

"What business had you interrupting this Sesshomaru's work?" She didn't miss the casual movement of her broken, elastic ponytail holder disappearing into his sleeve. But, if he was going to keep it then Kagome could forgive him.

"We were looking for a picture of Inu no Taisho." She replied.

"For what purpose?"

"Um" She started but Inuyasha pitched in, "You don't have to tell him anything Kagome." To a degree, he was right. The raven haired woman didn't need to explain herself, but she also wanted to see that painting. "I want to know your family, Sesshomaru. We're pack after all, right?"

While the hanyou suffered a fit of confusion and questions, the lord suffered in his own way. She saw it in the mild brow lift and glance to the side. Of course, one could not cover his reaction with another 'hn' and function accordingly.

"Kagome is your pack?" Inuyasha managed to ask. A pained sigh came from Sesshomaru as he skimmed over old scrolls.

"As unfortunate as it is, we are brothers" "Half brothers" "and though it was assumed you would mate your alpha female and bring her into this Sesshomaru's pack, you didn't." Then he stopped speaking. Both Kagome and Inuyasha were waiting impatiently for him to continue, but the lord took his time to pull out the correct scroll. The miko vaguely wondered if it still had the hanyou's smell on it from his first discovery.

"So you went ahead and just made her pack?" Tried Inuyasha; he guessed correct. "What was that about 'alpha female' and how do you just make someone pack?"

Gold eyes stared as he handed the scroll to delicate, human hands. She could tell he was uncomfortable saying all this and wondered if it was usually taught to kids. Kagome's eyes widened as she saw the demon lesson for Shippo. If he had only 99% of her focus before, then it was surely completely locked on him now.

"Who told you where to go?" Sesshomaru leisurely returned to the short table to sit. He looked much more like a busy lord from behind it, with all that paperwork. "Who made sure the group was fed and rested?"The miko inwardly smacked herself for getting distracted so easily, but she really did like seeing him at a table. He could be approached there; he wasn't as tall and intimidating. "Who wrapped your injuries, little brother? If one does all this then surely they hold a level of importance to the group. That is alpha. This Sesshomaru is alpha; this Sesshomaru is her alpha."

A quick shared look had Kagome in a tizzy of emotions. He had said that he was her "alpha dog now" but this felt less playful; it was downright possessive. On one hand she thought "who does he think he is?" but on the other, "he really wants me." It was like, in that moment of their eyes meeting, he was telling her how important she was. All these different thoughts and feelings didn't help rid her cheeks of the pink tinge. How could anyone have this effect?

"She don't belong to anybody." Inuyasha made his own interpretation, but definitely pouted at his brother's claims on his Kagome. Said miko stayed silent while trying to turn his words back into something she could teach Shippo, but the weight of the scroll reminded her of their original intrusion.

"She is under the protection of our 'family', is she not?" The word family did not slip out without a good deal of effort from Sesshomaru. It seemed only Inuyasha could really get the quiet lord to argue and his patience was already worn thin. Kagome, the object of this spat, opened the scroll and walked away.

"Damn straight!" The hanyou barked, "Wait, no! She's under 'my' protection; not yours, you selfish prick. Go find your own damn miko." Of course she could still hear Inuyasha down the hall as she stared at the detailed painting. Something Sesshomaru said led to another fist fight between the two. The half demon's yell and more crashes alerted her of this, but it was almost a normal interaction now.

Perhaps it wasn't permitted for her to just leave with this scroll, but Kagome found herself chewing on some rice as it stretched across her own table. It was indeed a picture of Inu no Taisho in his humanoid form, but also Inukimi and Sesshomaru as well.

Upon tan paper, white robes and fur mingled in a family portrait. Lord and lady stood next to each other as the young Sesshomaru stood in front. This was the face she saw with So'unga and this was the face she saw at the Palace of the Wind. And this, this small scowling face was the face of her lord. Kagome smiled, pleased.

At some point, amongst her staring, the miko started to drift off. Rolling the scroll up, she pulled out her letters of invitation from the yellow bag. "Jakken!" Kagome called out with her head barely sticking out of her quarters. "Jakken, you there?"

Little tapping noises along wood floor told her of his haste down whatever hallway he came from. "Yes, my lady?" He croaked, but happy to be of use.

She bent down and handed him the small, rolled letters of fresh, bright paper. "These are to be sent to the corresponding contestants." Then, she carefully gave him the larger, old scroll. "And this needs to be returned to Sesshomaru. Ok?"

He bowed and nearly jumped with urgency, "Right away, my lady! Right away!" His little form ran back down the halls and quickly vanished around a corner. Watching him disappear, Kagome dragged her tired form into bed. She had no problem sleeping that night.

The next day, the trained miko rose with the sun. She had her morning tea and went back over the plans for the next day. There were to be two tests of sorts: a match and a questionnaire. A couple hours passed noon before she headed down to a place that resembled military barracks. Sesshomaru's soldiers were a sight to see while busy in their vigorous training, but the miko had some business to take care of. She needed to find either the general or first lieutenant or whoever it was that would give her permission to use a couple of the troops.

There, one soldier saluted to a taller demon. There were no obvious features suggesting a species but he looked like he was probably mammal. Sharp, angry brows and a pointed nose turned her way as he caught her looking.

"Is there a reason a human priestess is here amongst the lord's soldiers?" His voice was deeper and gruffer than Sesshomaru's, but she figured that came with the large, masculine chest.

"Yes, I am Sesshomaru's…" What was she supposed to tell the general public? "I'm helping Sesshomaru with a very important errand and I was wondering if I might have the assistance of five of your men tomorrow afternoon?"

After a moment of uncomfortable staring, the demon laughed at her. It was much harsher than a genuine laugh so she recognized the insult. "Why in all hell do you think I'd waste good men on you?" He snarled with fangs and lengthening claws.

Taken aback, Kagome stepped forward in an offensive gesture. "It is for Lord Sesshomaru." Her simple miko garb of red and white contrasted against his detailed, bone armor and colorful kimono sleeves. Its colors of blue and yellow gave a more joyful look than the one's he sent Kagome's way.

"And what would you have these five men do, human?" He spoke with more vicious sarcasm and minor signals of an impending attack. She ignored them; he wasn't going to scare her.

"I would have them fight the five ladies that will be arriving this afternoon." More laughter interrupted her words, "Without the intent to brutally maim or kill them, of course." Another look down his nose in judgment; he did not like her.

"Of course!" He cackled. Men around them chuckled as well, but the miko doubted they knew what was even being discussed. "Well boys!" The tall demon called out to the sweating trainees, "Who wants to fight some 'ladies'?" The court erupted into laughter and cheers, hoots and whistles.

Kagome grit her teeth in frustration and ran a small hand through trimmed bangs. Another step forward and she was on the man. Her fierce glare leveled on the demon and caused him to halt his chortles. "Mock me all you want, but unless you want to serve a weak, little princess I'd suggest you send five men over to me tomorrow afternoon." With that she spun away and started to leave. Kagome would have stomped out of there if she had been any madder.

"Human, defend yourself!" That deep voice warned from behind as the feeling of an attacking demon caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end. While turning around, a pink barrier came up to repel glowing claws. He had attacked her after all.

The seasoned warrior sent a dangerous smile as he slowly stalked around her bubble. Kagome calmly watched him with her own little human glare. He moved to attack her barrier but she lifted it in time to catch him off balance. It wasn't enough to hurt him, but she pulsed her energy through white palms and sent the large form tumbling past.

A smooth turn and she was ready to deflect another of his attacks. Training with Shippo prepared her for basic attacks like this. It wasn't about blocking him; it was about shifting the attack away from his target. A demon like this would snap her arms if she just grabbed his fist.

Again and again, he swiped and she parried. Kagome would get in a blow to his stomach and he a rip in her sleeve. Faster and faster came the attacks. The miko stepped back more and more until she felt like all she did was retreat or stay her ground. Angry, Kagome stepped forward with more force. She pushed harder and soon he stepped back. A larger burst from her palm sent him airborne.

Just before he crashed into the ground, large wings sprouted and his form took to the skies. A swoop past her could have meant some serious trouble if she hadn't rolled out of the way in time. The whistling of his huge wings slicing through the longer blades of grass warned her of a new danger. Again, he rose to dive at her glowing form and again she just barely rolled in time. The sound of a carriage arriving and the laughing of a familiar female stole her attention. The first guest had already arrived.

Kagome turned in time to see the bird demon diving down for another attack and felt her stress turn to power. "Enough!" She yelled with her hands outstretched before her. In slow motion she watched his form race down; the brown feathers started glowing pink. Blue eyes refused to close as her barrier protected her and stopped him. That is to say, the barrier held the demonic warrior captive in mid air. There was little he could do but struggle under the holy spell.

Haruka spotted the familiar red and white human and merrily walked over. The miko put down the bird demon and released his binds. "Welcome Lady Haruka!" She smiled while turning to face the new guest. "You seem to be the first to arrive today. Would you like me to show you to your room?"

"Are you indisposed?" The golden haired fox teased amongst a melody of laughs and giggles. Kagome did look a little out of sorts after rolling through freshly cut grass and getting new rips in her uniform.

"It's no biggy. Is Jakken taking your luggage in?" She moved to usher the woman inside and away from the battle scene.

With Haruka chattering thoughtlessly to the miko behind her, Kagome turned to look at the demon crouching in the grass. The wings were gone but his claws were poised for striking. In a blink he lunged and she summoned. A pink bubble inflated over his head and knocked him face first into the ground. It popped, he glared, and she smiled, "Five men, tomorrow afternoon."

"Miko?" The fox called from a few steps ahead. The warrior laughed as he watched the victorious human jog away. Kagome released a deep sigh of relief when she heard it, but followed on as if nothing happened at all.

She had not expected the guests to start arriving this early in the afternoon, but once Haruka came, so did the others. Kagome barely managed time to change her top and comb her hair before Keiko showed up in her own fancy carriage.

"Welcome Lady Keiko." She hustled over and bowed. "Jakken and these men shall unpack your luggage. Would you like me to show you to your room?" A new ponytail holder effectively contained the dark mass swaying behind her.

"Yes, please. Thank you, Matchmaker." The dog demoness and identical doppelganger smiled charmingly before gliding into the palace.

Then, there came more hustling and bowing as the next lady dismounted her horse. "Welcome Lady Noriko." This time the bear Daiyoukai wore a formal yellow and brown ensemble with jewelry and the alike.

"Good afternoon, Priestess." She replied. Her bountiful brown hair framed tan skin and almond eyes. She too became swept away into the palace by Kagome and company just as the others had.

Hina made the next appearance, an hour later. She soared over the palace on a cloud of inferno; her flowing orange and red kimono sleeves blew majestically past her golden wings. They only unfurled for a graceful decent before the miko; many servants stopped to behold their beauty. Even that one warrior walked into the yard, if only to lean coolly against the wall in his snooping. The miko stared at him before rolling her eyes.

Oceana casually came in carriage just before sunset. While the others wore more luxurious outfits to this event, she didn't. The blue dragoness arrived in her aqua sari and dripped in gold no more and no less than she had previously. She did, however, greet Kagome with the most fondness. After all, Oceana came because she felt duty bound, not to be favored by the lord.

Dinner soon came around and the miko found herself running down the open hallways in the dark. There were torches and candles to help light portions of the wooden walkways, but with so many new guests the servants just hadn't had the free time. Kagome slid around the corner and found it clear of debris. The door looked completely new as well, so she tested it by knocking. "Sesshomaru, are you there?"

"Enter." His flat tone gave the illusion of boredom, but she liked to believe he was happy to see her.

"Sesshomaru!" The priestess complained as she crumbled to her knees before his table. It took a moment of heavy breathing before she could even lift her head again. She leaned onto the table with her forearms to insure his attention. Slowly the lord lifted his gaze as black hair started to brush over his work.

Perhaps she looked provocative with heavy pants and half-lidded, blue eyes. Once he finally looked at her, Kagome allowed her head to roll to the side in a lazy manner. Perhaps, she knew his eyes trailed along the naked flesh of her neck and heaving chest, but damn was she tired.

"Sesshomaru" She started again, "Why aren't you at dinner?" Still on her knees, the miko stretched her stiff arched back like a cat before trying to stifle a yawn. Her heavy lids slowly blinked as the lord rose a single brow before answering, "This Sesshomaru has work to do, miko."

"But I want you there; I mean 'they' want you there." Slowly the top half her body slumped into a more comfortable position while propped on the table. Kagome had to look up at him.

"Do you want me there?" He smirked at the drifting girl.

Even with eyes finally closed, Kagome smiled and drowsily exclaimed, "You said 'me'!" Followed by the mumblings of, "'course I want you there" and "or I could stay here." She felt the soft caress of his hand against her cheek and a soft hum escaped her throat.

Blue eyes shot open, hands rushed to slap at her cheeks. "I can't sleep now!" Suddenly awake, the miko grabbed the lord's outstretched hand and urgently started trying to drag him up, "Come on Sesshomaru! We gotta go." Thankfully, he complied.

The proud demon let her hold his hand and drag him all the way to the dinner room. Kagome opened the door and used it to pull him inside. "Lord Sesshomaru has arrived." She announced with fake energy before allowing him to take his seat as host.

The women stayed seated but bowed towards him in a chorus of welcomes. Six women sat before him, three on each side while facing each other. Kagome, of course, sat at the position closest to his left. Seven trays of food sat before each of them, though a feast covered the floor on two short but long tables.

Nobody touched the food until Kagome realized they expected some kind of speech. Thinking on the go, she started, "Welcome again, guests of my lord. Thank you for coming." Blue eyes traveled over the different women that stared back at her.

"You are here for the chance of mating Lord Sesshomaru and earning the title Lady of the West. If you have any questions during your stay, I would be happy to assist you in any way I can." The miko paused in thought, "Tonight, you should all rest and think, not on him, but on yourself. Tomorrow you shall each be given a survey, a scroll, to fill out and return to me. Then, after lunch, if luck will have it, you shall each spar to prove you are capable of protecting yourself and your future child."

As the last three words escaped her lips, reality gripped tightly at her throat. It looked like a dramatic pause, but Kagome could hardly breathe. No words came out and her dark brows furrowed.

"With the following day there will be a victor." Finished Sesshomaru. The two shared a look that nobody there could interpret. She hurt; he knew. They did not know and could not fathom.

A quick feminine cheer signaled the beginning of the feast. Hands as pale as snow, as tan as sand, and as blue as the sky picked at the demonic meats on display before them. The dishes were prepared especially for small bite sized pieces in case the ladies felt it undesirable to have a mouth full of food. This was another one of the things Kagome had somehow managed to do, plan a demonic feast.

Many compliments on the food were passed along, but over all nobody talked to the miko. She slowly just looked too tired for much conversation. Haruka had no qualms loudly gossiping and meeting the other girls. Keiko and Hina took to her enthusiasm very well, but Noriko stayed pretty quiet. She wasn't shy because when it suited her she spoke up to voice her opinion or fact just fine.

Kagome made a mental note that the most powerful lady in the room was probably an introvert. It was too bad that type of terminology hadn't really been brought here yet; it would have been an interesting thing to see the fox get worked up on such a topic. As it was, Oceana looked tired, Kagome was tired, and Sesshomaru was Sesshomaru. He was the epitome of statuesque.

"Oceana" Kagome quietly called out, not disrupting the theatrical tale of the other women. "Would you like me to walk you back to your room?" Green eyes sparkled for a moment before she nodded in agreement. The light chimes of her gold jewelry tapping against each other reached human ears.

"This Sesshomaru must also retire." Now this did cause some coos of remorse. "Are you sure you need to go now?" "Won't you join us for a little while longer, my lord?" "You'll dream of me, right my lord?"

Kagome cleared her throat and leveled them with quite the glare. "Good night, ladies." She said in subtle warning. "Good night, Lord Sesshomaru and Miko- Matchmaker- Kagome." Noriko sighed as the happy three realized the flaw in their chorus. How silly was it that they all have a different title for her? Titles mean a great deal to demons after all. Lord, miko and dragoness slipped out with them giggling at Kagome's abundance of titles. The poor Daiyoukai would surely not be far behind.

Once Sesshomaru split off, Oceana paused outside her door. "Pyro found Asase Yaa and asked about your blessing." It was so sudden an announcement that the girl almost missed it.

"W-what?" Kagome stuttered, "Pyro found her? What did she say?" Her pale human arms unconsciously wrapped around the 'blessed' lower abdomen. A week had passed since she saw the youngest dragon sister, and to hear that she had gone to find Asase Yaa seemed unbelievable.

"She, Pyro I mean, felt a trip to find the goddess would be easier for her than to visit the Land of Odin right away." The dragoness paused and looked away, "She said that the blessing 'took the human out'."

"Who took the human out?" Inuyasha hopped down between them, probably tired of lounging along the roofs. Kagome paled in terror at his presence but said nothing.

"Lady Kagome's blessing. The goddess Asase Yaa said she took the human out, but even I am not exactly sure as to what that means." Oceana carelessly replied while the miko carefully studied the hanyou's reactions. Her small hands clenched in worry.

"If you took the human outta me then I'd be just demon, ya know? But, Kagome 'is' human." The hanyou actually tried to help when, "I'll just ask the bastard if he knows how to take the human out of a human."

"No!" She cried. Surprised, they turned to the nearly weeping girl. "I don't want to bother him with this. I'm fine, so, just, not yet. Ok? Just not yet." Kagome had no intention of him finding out and really planned on minimal interaction after this. He would be married with a kid on the way. She wouldn't drag him into her life and problems.

Golden eyes stared into her watery blue ones and with a sigh, Inuyasha agreed. "Fine. I can wait a day or two." The miko knew that the victor would be announced by then and nodded.

And with that, Inuyasha joined in the secret of Kagome's mysterious blessing.