AN: As you must have noticed by now the fast updates. Well I have made a committment to post a new chapter everday or night as the case maybe until the story ends.

He was still trying to figure out the grave misunderstanding within his family late the following morning, having finished with the business that had originally brought him to the fortress. He made his way to the inner harbor, on the fringe of which was a compound that housed the unused barracks built during his mother and Ryoma's reign.

He'd never meant for the situation to get out of hand quite like it did. He knew that Kagome would object, be displeased with his decision because it would affect her on a personal level. Regardless of that he had thought that with the dire state of affairs which was slated to begin in a measly forty years, she would grasp collectively the risk that he took by putting his family's happiness on the line.

He sighed in frustration and stood still for a moment looking out yonder on the docks, hopelessly trying to figure out why Kagome had turned on him.

Most certainly she must know that he would have considered all parties involved before making any decision…His mate must think he's a monster if she believes otherwise he thought, trying to sort through the reasons for her emotional break-down, which had started to annoy him.

He was neither at this moment nor any time throughout his life been dishonorable. Alone he'd been distant, unattached and would often times enlist the aid of others if it suited his purposes. With ties he'd changed drastically, putting his energies in assisting others if they were worthy. But with children and a mate he had always put them before himself.

In the interim nothing had changed, it was for them that he was willing to sacrifice his happiness to see them survive to the future. Maybe his methods would be considered unconventional by some, he could lose the respect of his mate and children, but hopefully with the passing of time they would begin to understand his fortitude.

He hissed through clenched teeth when the image of his mate and distraught children would not leave his thoughts no matter how hard he tried to dismiss the memory. In retrospect he thought that he could have maneuvered the situation a little more delicately. But how could he have known precisely what their reactions would be and made preparations for it.

The last thing he'd promised her before he'd left for Osaka was that they'd be together no matter what; he should not have made such a promise. He should have known that she looked for assurance, because like him she could feel the cool winds of change dancing on her skin.

It was a misguided attempt on his part to make her comfortable, make her forget the lingering irritations of the still vibrant prophesy. With his ceaseless fixation on the incident he continued on his path. There were things that he needed to see get done, also he'd invited lords Shun, Aburame, Inuyasha and Kouga to liaison with him at the compound.

The barracks was purposefully placed on a sloping hill topside a bustling town overlooking the eastern end of the ocean. The locals were busy performing tasks that would garner a profit from their trade, it was routine, they fished and farmed, and the market buzzed with activity as peddlers advertised their wares as he passed by.

He continued his walk away from the town square and towards the entrance of the garrison. About three hundred yards from said entrance, he felt the distinct bite of an insect below his right ear; instinctively he swatted at it and brought his hand forward to observe. His eyes widened a fraction, because there in the middle of his palm was the flattened form of the old flea Myoga which was a bit surprising; he hadn't seen him in over thirty years.

With quick, deep inhalation of air the flea puffed himself up and blinked at Sesshomaru who watched him suspiciously.

"M-y l..ord", he stuttered, as the unblinking gaze of the demon who held his very life literally in his palm bore down on him, he gulped when nervousness threatened to overwhelm him. "It is my pleasure to grace your presence again," he finished off quickly and waited.

But the glare that held him captive with its inauspicious presence would suggest that he should explain why he was here, and he'd better do it quickly lest his time on this plain be shortened.

He felt as Sesshomaru flexed his claws and it provided him with the courage that he lacked hastily.

"My lord I was in the company of lady Kagome and the fox child, please forgive me but I've been made aware of the troubles that has afflicted you."

He was graced with an even sterner expression and a closing palm at the end of his little speech. Myoga realized with terrible clarity that Sesshomaru meant him harm, this was not like the other times, and he would kill him if his answer was not suitable. He closed his eyes tightly and waited for the end to come because he could not get the right words out in time.

After a long moment and he was consciously still among the living he opened his eyes again, only to see that irritated orbs had softened a bit. For the time being he felt mildly at ease but still glanced around looking for a painless exit.

"Why do you seek me out?" Sesshomaru asked suddenly startling him.

Myoga shift his head back in the lord's direction and swallowed thickly; something Sesshomaru noticed but paid no mind to because the flea was rather cowardly.

He smiled weakly and responded. "May I be forward and give you some advice Sesshomaru sama?"

He watched the Daiyoukai's face timidly, looking for signs of displeasure; however, there was none as his emotions were carefully disguised. A simple nod of the head was the only answer that he would get.

The Daiyoukai could harm him for his forwardness when he replied, but for once he was willing to chance it, and if the lord was going to hurt him he would have done so already he reasoned with skepticism. He couldn't know for certain what his reactions would be, at times Sesshomaru tend to be quite ruthless and unpredictable.

Myoga hesitated a few moments before he answered to the annoyance of the demon lord who flexed his claws once again in warning.

"My lord lady Kagome is a very kind and compassionate soul," he began tentatively, "I know that your mate is none of my business, but as one who has observed her over the years before she became yours, I can tell you that she needs to feel she is worthy in your eyes."

He paused briefly and then continued while the lord stared down on him dispassionately, one could never tell that he cared for those words, but he listened with interest.

"Your brother Inuyasha had made her doubt herself in the past and she has never quite gotten over it, and although the Kagome of that time no longer exists, I believe she feels useless and abandoned by you. She is of the impression that she serves little purpose to you at the moment…Tell her the real truth why you accepted the terms of the contract."

It was a dare, Sesshomaru realized, Myoga knew enough to know what marrying the princess and getting the emperor to sign over the kingdom to her meant. He was well informed, but sadly he could never tell Kagome.

He knew her to be all those things that the flea demon described, but he himself wasn't quite sure what he was going to do when the human kingdom falls into his hands.

It was a risk he knew, he'd gambled with the love of his woman and children, but it was a chance he was willing to take. Perhaps Kagome would never forgive him for the betrayal, but he would be satisfied if in the end giving her up meant that they would all be safe.

He was guided by instincts to protect what belonged to him; maybe that was the reason why the kamis had chosen him to be the leader in this war. Those instincts were magnified a hundred times over because he had something to protect. Never in his life were those sentiments more insightful.

It was impossible that he was even considering this, but wanting the love of a good woman was nothing to frown upon; unfortunately the cycle of their separation had started. Maybe it was for the best he reasoned, because having her around would only compromise his convictions. He had and needed to be cold, frozen to the core to get the job done.

Telling Kagome now what he planned on doing would serve little or no purpose. She would never agree with the course of action that he'd taken from a moral stand-point, using the princess to ensure their survival was a small price to pay for his discomfort. After all, it was the humans who'd deceived him first.

He'd gone to the human rulers as his mate had instructed him to do...But unfortunately they'd made a grave mistake in undermining him. Their error had summoned his killer instincts, and although they'd rejoiced in the erroneous belief that he was defeated so easily, he'd offered them no transparency. Let them dawdle in their own interpretation.

His only other regret apart from his mate and children was the princess. He'd tried to prevent it from happening, but the human aristocrats had been inflexible and would not listen to him. And now she would be caught up in the cross fire, and he had no way of preventing the fires from spreading to her.

All the emotions that he felt as he thought on his plight flashed across his eyes, Myoga watched him carefully as he struggled with his conscience, and saw a demon torn by principles but driven by instincts. He saw as the latter won the battle and was saddened. Sacrifices had to be made, and in the end they would all suffer even if they won.

He wondered who to feel sorrier for; Kagome, Sesshomaru or the unsuspecting princess, at the end of his reflection he couldn't tell. Sesshomaru brushed him aside with a gentle wave of the hand and carried on to his destination. He looked on silently for awhile then flew away awkwardly as he thought on the issues.

Four demons parted at the top of a hill without exchanging a word as they saw him enter through the wooden gates. They came forward and saluted him with slight bows.

"I have assigned some local men and women to clean the barracks and maintain it, they begin tomorrow at dawn," lord Shun said.

It was imperative that the accommodations were suitable, the barracks would be the new home of the five hundred soldiers that would accompany the princess; the west would become their new home. The soldiers were a gift of protection from the emperor to his sister.

"Sesshomaru sama, why the fuss over this place?" Kouga asked. "And why are we here?"

He sighed inwardly thinking of the best way to tell them. Kouga and Inuyasha were friends of Kagome, and even with the explanation that he would provide them with, he could bet his life on it now that it would not go over well with them, just thinking on it was bothersome.

sksksk

Kagome had fallen into silent depression, how could she not when she loved her mate dearly and was about to lose him. Pretending would not assuage the hurt and bitterness, and she recognized also that she could not relate to him now. The children were hurting just as much as she was. They all wanted to leave with her, however, that was something she would dissuade them from doing. Although she may not like her mate very much right now, he needed them to make the alliance work. She sighed unhappily and moved a long arm from across her abdomen. All the children have taken up residence in her bedroom, and who couldn't successfully stake out a space on the bed slept on the rug covered floor.

Kagome frowned but said nothing as mother and son exchanged a meaningful look. Akiyoshi couldn't help but to wonder if his mother would ever be the same again. She seemed so lost and broken because of his father.

He had a feeling that his father was not the cold and unfeeling being everyone in the house thought he was now. He recalled how emotional he had been by the slight trembling of his hand, the ache in his eyes and the sorrow upon his brow when he'd gazed at them and saw how hurt and angry they were, and it was all directed at him.

That was he thought, not the actions of a person who was selfish and cruel. There must be another plausible explanation, and if his father would torture himself and make them all miserable just to keep his secret, then it was fair to assume that he would not tell him what the truth was. He also knew that his father would never lie, but his silence could reveal so much more.

The thought frustrated him and he sighed and shook his head, it was his mother's hand on his arm rubbing up and down soothingly that eased his troubled mind.

"I am going downstairs to make lunch," she whispered, and encouraged him with her sad eyes that he was welcomed to join her. The next couple of days before the princess's arrival were going to be trying. None of them knew at this point if a happy ending was even possible, however, as a family they would ride the rough waves together.

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Exhausted, princess Maemi dropped on her bed and sighed heavily, her well ordered life had morphed into a circus. She had to stand for hours on end as the seamstress nipped and tucked, striving to perfect her wedding attire. Her cousins helped with the packing, it was as if they were moving the entire empire to the west.

Smiling softly she couldn't help but to feel a little bit pleased that she would be leaving soon to get married, but peeved when she remembered the things that the tutors had taught her about pleasing her husband. Her cheeks flamed in embarrassment instantly.

She stalked past her vanity without taking a look, she felt hot and sticky, just the thought of sinking her tired body down into the tub had her smiling with glee. In a short time she peeled away the offending clothes and sat down for a lengthy soak, she sighed in bliss, but her mind wandered to the west again as it was pre-occupied with it...

In three days time she would have have arrived at her new home and met the demon she was to marry, and the following day she would be newly married. She only hopes that her husband will be kind to her. She closed her eyes with the thought, too tired to even think anymore, and in no time at all she was fast asleep.

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