Chapter 8

Hey guys I'm back. So the health thing went down hill and I had to go in for surgery. I was so out of it afterwards and on some serious pain meds, but I'm off the heavy stuff. I had all kinds of crazy ideas for the story so I shall try to write down all my dreams that fit the storyline.

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and story belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, this is just a fan fic.

Ward of the Western Lands. It certainly had a nice ring to it, and it certainly made Kagome and Sango squeal when it was bath time. The Monk seemed to be keeping his distance and Inuyasha had a smirk every time he looked at Elish and Sesshoumaru, but it was Jaken and Rin that had the most violent reactions. Rin was violently ecstatic and joyfully believed that Lord Sesshoumaru had marked Elish as pack; she practically was sleeping in Elish's sleeping bag now, and Jaken was violently shaken and visibly afraid that Elish had somehow be-spelled Lord Sesshoumaru. Elish herself knew that Sesshoumaru hadn't changed his behavior from before, he was still silent and deadly, but knowing that he had pledged to watch over her had completely messed with her psyche. She was deeply conscious of his presence. There was no way that she could not be, if it wasn't for Rin and Shippo constantly occupying her day she would not have been able to think straight. But it was the fact that she was his ward, reduced to equal status with Rin that sobered her up.

After a few days things calmed down and everything was back to normal, well as normal as when traveling with demons. About five days out from Kouga's territory, Kagome began to feel the tell-tale sign of the gentle pull of shards rushing to greet her. The group halted and Inuyasha was visibly pissed. When Elish asked Sango why the tension, she received the cryptic reply that Kouga was coming and this normally pissed Inuyasha off. Oh, the infamous Kouga that had professed his love to Kagome on numerous occasions and had declared that she was his woman. Elish was curious as to what this new demon would look like as all the demons that she had met, besides that evil stag, had been breath taking. After a few minutes of waiting, a dust cloud blew into the clearing.

Kouga had whisked into camp and bee-lined straight to Kagome because he knew it would piss Inuyasha off, but before he could grab her hands and profess his love and how much he missed her he caught sight of Elish. Never had he seen a demoness as pretty as the golden haired beauty behind Kagome. She turned her big doe eyes to his face and broke into a radiant smile. He was captivated.

Elish stared at Kouga for a moment and sized him up. He was certainly cute and a bit wild. She blushed when she realized he was wearing a loin cloth, but she cleared her throat and smiled and asked for an introduction.

"Is this Kouga that you spoke of Kagome?"

Elish's innocent question shook Kouga out of his stupor and he smiled large and grabbed Kagome in a hug.

"Hey Kags, how are doing? Who is your lovely friend here?"

Everyone in Inuyasha's party was shocked! This was the first time Kouga had failed to declare that Kagome was his woman. All eyes turned to Elish, and Inuyasha broke out in a huge grin. Finally, he didn't have to worry about the flea bag making the moves on Kagome. Plus, she was a ward of Sesshoumaru's, so good luck in starting a relationship with Elish, Inuyasha thought with glee. Kagome too was surprised, but she quickly recovered and made introductions with a small smile on face. It seemed that Kouga had found someone else to shower his affections on and she was kind of excited for Elish. Perhaps there could be something there.

Sesshoumaru had taken a stand by a tree at the end of the clearing near Rin when the miko had announced that the Eastern Prince was entering the camp. He didn't want Rin to be afraid, but they had to meet with Kouga. He had assumed that the miko and Inuyasha would get the information out of the wolf and they would continue on together until they arrived to fight with Naraku over the possessed wolves. What he didn't expect was the wolf fanning over the other futuristic girl. He didn't know why but the wolf's sudden interest rubbed him the wrong way. They were talking and introducing themselves and the conversation was innocent enough, but the Western Lord knew that the wolf would make a play on the girl soon. He didn't know why it bothered him. Elish was beautiful he had admitted that, but nothing more to him than his ward. But yet. Sesshoumaru let the droning of the group's voices filter through his mind taking note of important details as his eyes moved to Rin's face.

He had expected a bit of fear to etch across her face, or caution, what he didn't expect was open hostility. Rin was watching Kouga like a hawk and when ever he addressed Elish, or smiled her way, Rin visibly grew tense. Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. Rin had grown attached quite quickly and apparently she saw Kouga as a threat to her relationship with the girl. Sesshoumaru turned his eyes back to the tawny-haired girl and saw her blush at a complement from the wolf. It irked Sesshoumaru, so much so that he moved to end the conversation and start the journey again.

"We will leave this place and hurry to the half-breed and rid him of any jewel shards he possesses and destroy his hold on the wolf tribe; come."

Everyone agreed easily and Kouga placed himself next to Elish as he took the opportunity to extend a wish to be her guide into the eastern lands and to provide her with protection. Elish was graciously thanking him for his attentions and protections when movement from Sesshoumaru caught her eye. He eyed the duo and proceeded to the head of the group and east knowing that the group would follow in his foot steps. Kagome and Sango exchanged a look and walked with Kouga and Elish as the two continued chatting.

Inuyasha was surprised that Sesshoumaru didn't say anything to the mangy wolf. He moved abreast with his brother and stuck his hands in his sleeves as he matched Sesshoumaru's pace. Rin was not happy and she moved to grab Elish's hand and walk in between Kouga and the girl. She hesitated a moment before snaking her hand into Elish's and giving her a big smile; Rin's fear of the wolf was not strong enough to stop her from putting some physical distance between the two. Inuyasha glanced at his brother before narrowing his eyes.

"That's the first time that mangy wolf has left Kagome alone since we've known him."

Sesshoumaru said nothing and continued at a steady pace and Inuyasha grew silent as he listened to Kouga charm the golden girl.

"So what type of demon are you? Your youkai is very faint; I can barely feel it at all?" Kouga asked with a toothy grin.

A tinkling giggle rang through the forest and even Inuyasha and Miroku thought it would be easy to fall for such a woman. "I'm not a demon actually. I… er come Kagome's village, a distant cousin."

Kagome had told Elish that the best story would be that she came from the same village because it would explain the futuristic clothing and articles, and she could just be a distant cousin to explain the difference in features. It was nice that Elish was part Japanese so that this could be some what a possibility.

Kouga was surprised at first that the girl wasn't a demon, but it didn't really matter to him if she was human or not. He had gotten over that idea of mating a human long ago when he first thought about mating Kagome. "So are you mated to anyone?"

"Mated? Like in married, or have a steady boyfriend?" Elish asked. "No. I'm not taken."

Sesshoumaru's ears twitched and Inuyasha noticed that Sesshoumaru paused for a second in his pace. Technically, Sesshoumaru had made Elish a Ward of the West, but he had no further claim upon her person.

She was free to mate, or marry, any that she wished; he had only promised her protection and a place at his hearth if she had ever needed it.

"Well isn't that something." Kouga smiled. "You could be my woman if you liked?"

First, Kagome grew ticked off because Kouga never gave her the option of choosing, he kind of just stated the fact that they were together and now he was playing the same card with Elish. Secondly, Rin huffed and glared at Kouga in challenge. Elish even paused a minute to reflect on the fact that Kagome had told her that Kouga had already made a claim. Perhaps Kouga was just a playboy and his smiles were for even pretty face he met.

"Lord Sesshoumaru won't allow that without his consent. Elish is a Ward of the West like I."

Elish slightly tripped and stared down at the little girl holding her hand. Kouga was already mouthing how another mutt was in the way again when it came to him and his woman.

"Rin what do you mean? Does Ward of the West mean that Lord Sesshoumaru gets to make important decisions for me like that?"

Rin looked up with doubt in her eyes. She didn't know why she said that, but she didn't want Elish with the wolf prince. She wanted her lord to claim Elish so that she could be her adopted mom. Now she had said something that might not be true and put her lord in a bad light with the young woman. Elish looked at the sulking little one and she wondered if Sesshoumaru supposedly had that claim over her now that she had accepted his offer. Elish looked up to find Sesshoumaru was staring at her from the first of the group.

Sesshoumaru didn't know what possessed Rin to make that declaration, but he was feeling a bit easier that it had come from Rin than the traitorous thoughts that were sitting on his tongue when the wolf made his offer. He stared at the golden haired girl and tried to word his response neutrally and without preference.

"Rin is correct in the fact that as your lord, this Sesshoumaru, will advise you in your selection. But the decision is entirely your own."

Elish let loose a small breath that wasn't lost to Sesshoumaru, sand she smiled at Kouga.

"Well that is a nice offer, but I would like to know you better and I would have to be in love before I could ever promise myself to someone."

Kouga narrowed his eye at Sesshoumaru and then turned to the girl in question and made his declaration, "Well we have all the time in the world for that."

Sesshoumaru turned and continued on his way deeper into the east with an upset Rin and his brother's group in tow.

Author's Note: I would also like to thank all of the followers and subscribers, new and old. Check my author page for an upcoming giveaway.