A Big Start

By: TrueLoverKagome

~Back at the castle~

Kagome looked around as she walked only a few paces behind the maid that had been there to fetch her. She did not know why she had been called so early in the morning the sun had only rose a few minutes before. However, as she wondered about it she was sure it was due to her father. It was not long that she was proving correct as she brought to the study of her father's. He was sitting there in formal kimono much as the one kagome had seen her mother to be dressed in front of the Demon council. This one was without the family crest though as he stood and looked very regal in the entire outfit. While her father looked to kagome with a smile seeing that she had worn the family kimono of the black with golden leaves dancing about the kimono gathering all together at the bottom, truly looked like leaves had just fallen on the ground at the bottom. Kagome noticed how he seemed a little uneasy but as she walked in and the maid took her leave, he gave her a smile motioning her to seat.

The study was rather large a window right behind the western style desk off to the right of the door was walls lined with bookshelves that needed a ladder to get to the very top. Though in the middle of the far right wall, where there was a break in the bookshelves was a large fireplace that would warm the room through the winter. In front of the massive desk were nice very comfortable looking chairs.
"In a few hours the other lords will be here as well as a few other members of the council. While you will not meet the council, the members that are attending respect are still to be use. I'm sure your mother taught you as best she could," he told her, as she would nod her head to her father sensing he was not finish with his talk. "I want to inform you sensitive subjects to avoid while talking with any of the higher lords. While this might be a lot to take in just keep in mind to watch your tongue," he told her with a smirk as he had told many stories of her quick temper.

"Mother told me of those things even taught me a few things that you most likely didn't even know of," she said to him as her mother had told her of some dirt on a few of the council members just in case they tried to push to the others that she were not worthy enough. It was strange to hear from her mother such things but still her mother had told her information was always key and while she never really seemed to rely on it all the time it was the reason why she always pushed to finish school even while she was in another time trying to save the world.

"Well no offense to your mother but you got her mouth from her," he said with a laugh as he thought about that she got her temper from him. "Now the Eastern lord Hideki of the Wolf clan and his Heir Kouga" he was going to keep going when kagome shot out of her seat knocking the chair back.

"No wait you can't mean Kouga," she said though she was not really making any sense. Taikan was quick to move around the desk taking kagome in his arms as she seemed panicked over something he purred to her as she calmed down she heard him start to speak once more.

"You know of a Kouga it could be a different one," he said to her as she looked up to him she thought about a way to find that out.

"Does he travel about the lands trying to kill a wind witch named Kagura?" asked kagome as she knew that Kouga was very much crazed with the witch and the revenge he so badly wanted.

Taikan was a little more than shocked when she had hit the nail on the head he looked her over and then sighed figuring that kagome knew of the wind witch now just why she was so upset with the fact that Kouga was going to be there soon. "What is it that you don't want Kouga to be there to know of your return and what you have been doing?" Taikan asked his daughter already answering her next question with his.

"He keeps calling me his woman and man if it pissed off Inuyasha" she stopped there thinking if Sesshoumaru would even care as she looked to her dad a little lost. "What am I to do?' she asked him as he seemed to understand now.

"So Kouga kept claiming you while you were with Inuyasha's group, is that right?" he asked as kagome nodded her head leaving out the part that Kouga had actually kidnapped her. "Well as an heir he has right to do so but don't worry about that right now alright tonight you are making your return. That will not be the biggest thing tonight," he said to her as kagome wondered more if sesshoumaru would even care.

Kagome looked up to her father she saw the look in his eyes as she gave a nod knowing he would be there to hold her up even if it meant his death. She could see that all within his eyes, as he loved his daughter just as she loved to be with her father once more. She pushed away all thoughts and doubts as they went back to their seats and he told her the things she was to avoid concerning each Lord. It wasn't all that much she was to avoid the fact that Kouga's father had taken a mistress, the Southern lord's daughter real father; as she looks nothing like the Southern Lord. Other than that and a few other things to avoid all together she knew that she would do just fine though she was growing nervous as they finished he sent her off to be with the children for breakfast and that the lords will be arriving by noon.

Kagome was not very sure what she should say but as she sat in the garden, she watched shippo and Rin play about the flowers it was truly a sight for her to see. She was grateful that her father allowed Rin joins the celebration with the others. She truly enjoyed the child as much as she would even if they were hers. Along with such thoughts, shippo came running up to kagome he was fidgeting and seemed nervous as she looked to the young kit.

"Kagome can I ask you something?" shippo asked his hands fidgeting with one another as kagome moved to pick the kit up putting him in her lap with a gentle smile.

"What it is?" she asked him as she wondered what would have the small kit so uneasy about her. He was never this serious before but after being away from her so long, shippo did not want that to happen again. He had been fearful of asking of this before due to him thinking her human. It wasn't that he didn't love her or that he hated humans but he knew it would hurt her to take him in but to never truly see him grow up, with that worry gone due to her truly being demon there was only the worry she wouldn't want him. As kagome watched him, just shift about in her lap she grew worried.

"Would….would you let me call you…..mama?" he asked stuttering as he looked down to his hands. He was just worried, as most demon women would never take another's pups as their own, kagome had not known of that, as she was very happy to hear the question. She was quick to pull Shippo into her arms tears flowing from her eyes, as she was so happy.

"Shippo I would love to call you my son" she stated to him as soon as he heard that he was hugging her back with tears in his own eyes. She had truly made his life complete as she had truly taken him in without even a second thought.

It was a very touching moment that Sesshoumaru found himself walking up on seeing kagome hold the kit in such a way had this feeling in his chest build up that he just could not pin point what it was. Strange for him as most everything has a reason even reactions had a reason so what was this one. Though he remembered that he had a reason for coming out here as he pushed aside what he was feeling to get what needs to be finished. Slowly he walked up to her; it had been Rin that noticed him there first as she came up running to him. She embraced his leg as sesshoumaru placed a hand on her head patting it for second before turning to kagome who was getting herself together.

"So they're here," she said to him, as she knew the only reason he would come out to her today was due to her having to greet the guests that were to stay about the castle for the celebration. She was not happy that such a formal thing had to do but she knew as an heir she had responsibilities that had to do no matter what.

"Yes go ready yourself dinner will be in two hours," he said to her before swiftly turning around and leaving. Sesshoumaru was being cold once more with her while others were about. It had kagome thinking just what Sesshoumaru was really like at times. Was he the man she took a bath with in the morning or was he the man that just cut things right to the bone? She could never really tell but she still hoped for the first.

Shippo looked to his new mother hearing how Sesshoumaru was speaking to her had him worried but seeing kagome smile had him relax a little as he was still in her arms like old times. He looked to Rin and could see she was just as worried she had grown close to kagome while she had been at Sesshoumaru's castle she did not want kagome to leave them.

"Alright you to its time to get you guys in the bath and ready" she said to them as they wouldn't be going to the dinner but she did want them to be bathed and ready for bed before she went to the dinner herself. She knew it would be important that she did that for the maids would then have to fight with them, as they were truly children.

It had taken kagome only an hour to get the two kids ready for their dinners in their room. They both were upset begging her to stay with them or let them come she promised both that the next one when they celebrate naraku's death they will be allowed to come. Even Rin could not wait to have such a celebration as she remembered the time she was taken all because of him. Kagome just gave each one a hug making them promise to be on their best behavior as she was at the party. They both agreed with a smile on their faces she left to get ready herself. She put on the nicest kimono she had for such an event she even had the servants help her with putting little jewelry in her hair, to make it sparkle a little more, as she had been uneasy about messing it up. By the time, she was finished she looked very much like the princess she was. She gave a soft smile thanking the servants for their help only to have them bow to her before leaving. She knew that things would be different as her father and Sesshoumaru were welcoming the other guests and lords as it had seemed they arrived later than planned, it was not something she did not mind.

However, as she sat down just watching each lord arrive from her window she went over each one that her father had described to her that morning. She had to make sure she did not mix anyone up that would be rude and disrespectful on her part. She watched as a tall Black Panther demon walked up his hair pure white that reached to his waist as he had it pulled up to a high ponytail. Kagome knew from what her father told her that his mate had died some years ago. He was Lord Nobu, while he was the Southern lord she was not to mention his late mate as it was a subject that would bring up old wounds, something about her death that made the lord uneasy with the western lands. Therefore, the tension is there when it comes to the north and west becoming one with him. She nodded her head happy she had been able to pick him out, as she was sure of it that he walked off his hair swayed showing the mark of his lands on the back of his neck. It was a gold water drop that lay on the back of his neck.

From the beginning, she had thought that the marks of being lord of the lands would always be on the forehead but it seems it is truly about what race you were. She now knew that Kouga's mark is on his left shoulder that hidden by the fur he wore as shoulder pads. She had never thought any differently until her father had told her that morning. She was truly ready to see him thinking she had thought of everything he could do but as she sat there, she saw the Eastern lord she was looking for Kouga. However, as she looked the eastern lord over he seemed very much like Kouga his hair down though rough and black his skin tan but the kimono he wore had tapered sleeves that showed the mark on his of the Red sun setting so only half of the sun showed.

Kagome was startled out of her thinking when she heard a pounding at the door she was not sure what to think or do but as she stood up, she started towards the door opening it just to see Kouga there. He looked her over in a gasp, as he had never seen such beauty in a demoness but he soon pushed past her and into the room, she soon shut the door behind her.

"Kouga what are you doing here" she asked as she looked him over he was dressed a little better more like her father as she just couldn't believe what was going on this wasn't like him as he rushed right up taking her hands looking into her eyes.

"It is you I knew it the moment I smelt your scent what happened why are you a demon" he asked as she started to tell him a little of what it was but as she went to tell him that she was the northern lords daughter he grew angry.

"No you need to come with me I can take you back to my clan," he shouted as he gripped her hands a little harder as he started towards the door. She pulled back against him.

"No Kouga I'm staying here what you are doing" she asked him as she shook her head.

"I won't let our love be killed by that monster I just won't!" he screamed at her making her pulled back even more as she heard knocking on her door she grew fearful as she smelt Sesshoumaru on the other side.

"Kagome come with me I'll protect you the eastern lands will protect you" he said as he pulled her close before she knew it she felt lips on her his arms pulling her hard against him as she whimpered out.

A/N: yeah I know I"m mean but this is my first cliffy so be happy with it lol. My goal is to put another chapter up this month so be looking for it