The Four Kingdoms :

Kagome was starting to show, her belly rounded out and it was only the end of the second month of her pregnancy. Her belly looked like she was about six months along in human nature and it was only halfway through her entire pregnancy since she was carrying twins.

The pups were moving around more, becoming active, pushing against her back, her ribs and her bladder, causing her discomfort half of the time, yet SesshoMaru gave her back rubs each night before they go to bed. She was endlessly surprised by his kindness and caring affections toward her, each day; it was always something new and surprising. She found herself looking forward to the next day to study her mate to find his hidden secretive affectionate.

One of her favorites would be when he would be working with the other court councils or the daimyos, he would look over at her for a brief moment while in middle of talking or listening, he would give a tinniest smirk then return to attention to whatever he was doing, his mask back in place. It warmed her heart to no end that she knew he was thinking of her. Another times, he would sometime search her out in the palace, either finding her with Shiroginko and Sango or alone in the library, bringing her snacks when she was starting to feel hungry and had not called for the servants to bring food to her.

Every little gestures he gave, little gifts and bringing foods to her pleased her to no end. With the pregnancy hormones, she became endlessly horny and each night, when he give her back rubs, she would become very aroused and they end up romping the sheet in the bed, exhausting each other out and sleeping peacefully after that. His mood had considerably changed for the better, he was more patient and kinder to the other, yet still stoic as always but one could notice his behaviors. He was also spending time with InuYasha, building their lost brotherhood bonds, training with him, taking him on short patrol near the palace and teaching him lordship each day.

Shiroginko and InuYasha were becoming closer more and more each day. InuYasha also mimicked his brother's behavior, trying to come up with different way to court her, giving her flowers, spending times with her, surprising her with sweets and listening her read to him. He had found her company very calming and comfortable, he looked forward to each time he would be with her, and he loved her soft touches to his ears, little kisses they shared and their time alone together.

Kagome was endlessly happy for the two hanyous and looked forward to their union soon. InuYasha had not asked for a date yet, so they had no idea when they would officially mate. She was excited for the ceremony and couldn't wait. She was glad that InuYasha had someone already so soon, she did not like to see him depressed and moping around after Kikyo and herself.

She was being helped into the sedan, being pulled by Ah-Un. SesshoMaru also helped Shiroginko in the sedan after Kagome and climbed in along with InuYasha in tow. The children were being left behind with Sango and Miroku at the palace while the four of them went to the central palace where the four lords meet.

They were going to the central because of the changes in the lands and new lordship and many other reasons and it was necessary for all of the four lords to gather with all the Daimyos and Court Councils to confirm the changes and add or remove the laws that was bestowed upon all the four lands. They were going to be gone for about a week.

The ride was peaceful as Ah-Un pulled the sedan in the air, taking them to the Central. SesshoMaru allowed Kagome to rest on his Mokomoko-sama, holding her close to him as she napped. He rested his hand on her belly, feeling the pups within move slightly and their heartbeats echoing in the womb against his hand.

InuYasha watched them in silence as he held Shiroginko's hand in his own, who were looking out of the window, watching the scenery passing them by. He had a small soft smile upon his lips, he realized, two months ago, he was afraid and worried for Kagome's safety in SesshoMaru's hands and now, sitting before him, they were happy and content together, a new future lying in Kagome's belly, causing her to glow with special glows. He never thought he would find someone so soon and glanced over to Shiroginko, studying her profile; she looked back at him and smiled before returning to the window.

He felt his heart jump at her simple smile. It was becoming often that his heart would jump at every sweet gesture she gives him and he knew, he had to keep her forever. He squeezed her hand softly and turned to look out of his own window, watching the scenery as well.

The trip wasn't very long and they reached the Central Palace. Kagome found hundreds of guests already at the Palace and it were rather a very grand large palace, to house all the four kingdoms' governments. They were being directed and led to the West Wing where they would remain. They went in their chamber, had their supper, took a bath and dressed, prepared for the first meeting of the night.

Being led by SesshoMaru, she walked alongside him, her hand hooked in his arm. He led her toward where she would sit with InuYasha and Shiroginko in the main meeting hall. She found that the hall was built like a perfect square, unlike the usual rectangle, each wall were reserved for each kingdom with sitting audience along each wall. In the center of the room was a sunken floor was a very large map of the Four Kingdoms drawn on the stone floor. She was surprised to see such a design which was not found anywhere else in the future. As Kagome took a clear view of the entire map in the center of the room, she was surprised to find that Japan was a small part of the Four Kingdoms; the entire four kingdoms covered the known world of the era. She knew once someday in the future, the entire world would be added to the Four Kingdoms.

She glanced around and noticed there were several Court Councils that were not of Japanese descent but from the other countries, as well the Daimyos. She wondered why the Four TaiYoukais were of Japanese descent and kept in mind to ask later. She sat, watching as SesshoMaru left her side and to join the other three Lords on the map in the center. They greeted each other silently and waited for the room to fill up with everyone. She took this time to study and she realized, SesshoMaru's style and feature was not purely Japanese, but rather, general oriental. His styles of clothing were partly Japanese and Chinese from her knowledge of the future. Indeed, his feature was godlier in oriental fashion, yet his skin was pale like the westerner. The Eastern Lord, the wolf youkai, Kouga's father, did have the feature of the far western Chinese, the Mongols.

The meeting had begun when the large gong rang from somewhere, she assumed from the outside of the room and the large hall became silent. SesshoMaru started his speech, introducing himself to everyone in short brief and turned to Lady Tadako, introducing her and her mate, Lord Ichiro, explaining of their background and why they were being named the new Lord and Lady of the South.

The meeting went on, as each Taiyoukai introduced them and gave brief summary of how their lands and people were faring. The issues were mainly brought up about the change in the lands of the four kingdoms. Three servants came out; one went and used a bucket of water, pouring on the stone floor of the map, washing the charcoal lines that divided the four kingdoms away, mostly the lines between the West and the South. Another went about quickly drying as best he could. The third handed a long stick, much like a walking stick with charcoal attached to the end to Tadako.

"I am giving part of the Southern Land in thank and payment for help to Lord SesshoMaru, to add to his Western Land kingdom." She said as she moved across the floor, drawing a new border line for the south and the west, adding more land to SesshoMaru. Kagome noticed Tadako was careful to draw the line along the river and the landmarks.

The Eastern lord looked surprised and asked, "Why give SesshoMaru the land, he had mentioned he did not want any more lands."

SesshoMaru turned to him, "Indeed. But it was a gift and payment, I accept in honor. I will not receive any more lands under conquest but as a gift or payment." The East looked apprehensive and became silent. SesshoMaru turned back to Tadako and bowed, "Thank you, Lady Tadako. If anything, you have my alliance."

Tadako and Ichiro bowed as well, "thank you Lord SesshoMaru." They both walked off the stone floor and took their seat at the South Wall, having finished their part in the meeting. They wanted nothing more, no arguments or objections from the others. Their actions by sitting down had clearly shown the others they had firmly decided.

The Northern Lord, Shoujun bowed and gestured for the servants to wash the border of the west and north. He announced to the entire room, "I'm in my old age, I feel death upon me soon and I have no heir of my own. Thus, I name SesshoMaru as my heir, for he is considered as a son to me. I give him the entire Northern Land."

The entire room gave loud collective gasp and murmurs. Lord of the East looked furious and interrupted, rising his voice to drown the noise, "giving him the entire northern land makes him the most powerful Taiyoukai! There has to be four Taiyoukai as it was given in the law created by the Kami!"

Shoujun nodded, "I am very aware of that, who else am I to give to? I only trust SesshoMaru." He gestured for SesshoMaru to take the floor.

"Be calm, Lord Kohroami. I have been informed of this before tonight. I have already planned to divide the land back to their original as Kami had made so before." He took the charcoal stick and moved about, drawing new lines dividing the lands. By the time he was done, the Western Land returned to its original size as it was once when Kami had divided the land in the beginning of the time. "This land," He stood upon the section where the Southern had given and part, creating where it was once originally belonged to the Southern, "Will be given to one of my heir that mates with the Southern's heir in the future. I had drawn up contract for the betrothal for their heir and my heir." Everyone turned and saw the Southern nod their heads in agreement. SesshoMaru moved to the Northern, "I will hand this land back to the North, when another heir of mine is of the age, to become the Lord of the North."

Then he stepped over to the remaining land between the West and the Central, "This is now currently given to my half-brother, a small part of the original Western Land." He stood over Edo, where the future Tokyo will stand. "Lord InuYasha now is the Lord of this land." He turned and gestured to his brother in the Western Wall stand. InuYasha looked surprised and quickly composed, standing up and bowing to SesshoMaru. "There, the four kingdoms will return to original in the future. My mate," He gestured to Kagome in the Western Stand. "Foretold that the Four Kingdom will expand farther than it is now seen here." There were quiet questioning murmurs in the audience.
Lord Kohroami narrowed his eyes, "How can you be sure you will have enough heirs for all the lands? Lord Shoujun lived nearly ten thousands of years, producing heirs, but none of them stepped up to take the land and he had to give it to you. How would you be sure that your children, if you will have any, seeing you have none now will take the lands?"

SesshoMaru smirked and gestured for Kagome to join him. Kagome made her way down from the stand and joined her mate's side. "Lady Kagome is carrying two of my Heirs right now." He touched her swollen belly. "I expect more children over the course of time." She smiled at him as she nodded, covering his hand with hers.

Lord Kohroami sighed in resignation, "Very well, I will keep an eye on you two, if you do provide enough heirs for the lands. If not, we will meet again and discuss the issues."

"Fine with me." SesshoMaru said and bowed and then made his way back to the Western's stand and helped Kagome to her seat. He sat down beside her and held her hand. The meeting went on, changing subject to the laws and problems that had arisen. It went on for several hours before everyone adjourned to their chambers to rest.

The next couple of days were focused on the territory of the kingdoms, creating new laws and abolishing old laws. It was basically very boring for Kagome and InuYasha, but they had to sit in and listen, give in their inputs and opinions. Lord Kohroami and SesshoMaru had a little spats over several laws regarding humans.

"Why should I give them same rights as the youkai do? They're mere beasts, powerless and imbeciles, all they do is to populate themselves like flea!" Lord Kohroami spat.

SesshoMaru's eyes bled red, glaring at the wolf lord, "You better watch what you're saying in the presence of other humans!"

Kohroami shrugged his shoulders, "Like I care. I want the law to be kept, for popularly control."

Kouga, who had also attended buried his face in his hand and fruitlessly tried to refrain his father from farther getting himself in trouble. "Father… father!" He finally stood up and joined the floor before the audience. "Father!" Lord Kohroami turned to his son in mild surprise. "Father, he's right. We have to change the law regarding the humans. I've met quite a handful of them and they're intelligent and they've beat me several times over. Namely, Kagome and her friends." He gestured to the audience where Kagome sat with InuYasha and Shiroginko.

"What? You wish to abolish this law too? You used to like this law." Kohroami turned onto his son, referring to Kouga's old habit of hunting humans and leaving them to be eaten by his wolves.

"The key word is used to. After I met Kagome, I changed my mind."

SesshoMaru held his head high, crossing his arms over his chest. "You better change the law or else I might have to step in and take over your kingdom."

Kohroami turned fully onto SesshoMaru growling, "What was that, a challenge for my kingdom! I knew it you wanted all the four kingdoms to yourself!"

SesshoMaru sighed and rolled his eyes. "No. the humans would be the responsible party of overthrowing you from your throne and making sure none of your heir takes the throne. They're growing more and more intelligent every day and I can see it in the future they will come back and kill you."

Kohroami scoffed. "Yeah, right, like that would happen." His eyes went wide as something blue whizzed past him and he ducked. He looked to the wall beside him and saw blue crackling energy imbedded in the wall and stared at it. "What the?"

SesshoMaru gave a soft chuckle and turned to the audience who were very silent during the whole exchange. Their eyes were wide as they stared at both Kohroami and Kagome. "Mate, was that necessary?" He asked with amusement in his voice to Kagome who were standing, her hand in the air.

Kohroami realized what had happened. Kagome had thrown an energy ball and missed his head, and then he understood that if it were an inch closer, he'd be a goner. He turned his eyes to Kagome. "What, how dare you!"

Kagome scoffed at the eastern lord. "Get it in your mind, I'm human and if my throw was a bit off, you could have been dead. Luckily for you, I wasn't aiming for that. Now, since SesshoMaru mentioned that I've seen the future, the humans will over take the world and we need to treat them with equal basis or else you'd find yourself dead because you did not treat them right. They are indeed becoming smarter every day."

Kohroami glared at Kagome and huffed his breath. "Fine." He said with seething tone. He turned and went to his seat and sat down. The scribes in the room were furiously scribing down the events and the new law to be created to give humans equal rights as the youkai in the four kingdoms.

SesshoMaru shook his head and went to sit next to his mate, whispering under his breath to her, "Kagome, be careful or else I'll have to defend your life."

Kagome rolled her eyes once more, "I can take care of myself and I'm not worried. If Kouga's like his father, he's a softie in his heart. I've heard a rumor that he's courting a human girl."

SesshoMaru's eyebrow rose. "Oh really… the day it comes that he mate his little human, I'm going to call him a hypocrite."

"Stand in the line, Kouga's the first one in the line." Kagome giggled and turned her head to listen to the others bring up the agenda.

Nearly the end of the week, everything was nearly resolved and set as the all four lords came to agreement to the new laws being set. The scribes were ready to go out and inform the rest of the kingdoms about them.

Kagome sat up in her bed, frowning as she felt something was off. She hobbled out of the bed, holding her stomach and she grabbed her robe. It was the last night at the Central Palace and they were to leave in the morning to return to the West Hold. SesshoMaru stirred and sat up, noticing his mate was out of the bed and was about to leave the room. "Kagome?" he asked as he slipped out of the bed as well.

"I feel something's wrong." She said as she stood by the door, waiting for SesshoMaru. "I don't know what it is." She said as they stepped out into the hall and walked toward. SesshoMaru noticed Kagome was leading him to the Northern Lord's chamber.

Kagome stopped by the door of Shoujun and touched the door with her hand. She sighed a soft sigh. "Nothing is wrong… it's just…" She said softly and she opened the door. They entered the dark room and SesshoMaru took a single candle and lifted it to the wall where there was a shallow pool built in the wall all around. He allowed the flame to touch the oil and the flame rose around the room, giving the light. Kagome gave a soft gasp as she approached Shoujun's bed.

SesshoMaru realized as the air hit his nose, Shoujun is dead. He died in his sleep. He bowed his head as Kagome sat on the bed, brushing the hair out of Shoujun's face, looking at his peaceful face set in eternal slumber. "He has passed away. At least it was peaceful." Kagome murmured and turned to SesshoMaru, a tear rolled down her face. "Is it possible for the immortal to die like this?"

SesshoMaru nodded, "Hai, when one wish to. He has lived ten thousands of years. There is nothing left for him, he wish to pass on. Yes, it is possible." He said as he helped Kagome up from the bed. "Come, I'll send the others to take care of him…"

Kagome nodded. "I should inform Shiroginko." She said and walked out of the room.

SesshoMaru stood by the bed, glancing at Shoujun, "Be at peace."

AN:

Thank you all for your patience. I was really having hard time bringing this chapter out. I wasn't sure how to put it out and I ended up with this and sent it to my Beta-reader, Crystal, and she returned it saying she liked it. I'm glad it was all right. I had originally planned for InuYasha to propose to Shiroginko in this chapter but decided to not to because of the mood of the chapter toward the end.

Thank you all for your wonderful, wonderful support, I really, really appreciate your reviews, they really made me inspired and motivated. In a way, for those who are Christians and know "The Five Language of Love", you've all filled up my love tank by giving me those reviews! HUGS! Love you all!

As for pregnancy, someone mentioned something about putting in details about Kagome's pregnancy. I thought about it and decided to give my thought input. Pregnancy, I'm a mother of a two years old boy and boy, he's a handful but a blessing. I carried him through 9 months of wonderful and blissful pregnancy, I did not get sick at all, no morning sickness, I went on a week camping trip when I was 8 months along, hiked a lot, went to a lake and hiked all around it, which was about 2 or 3 miles long, waded in waist deep freezing water, that was when I was 7 months along. I walked 2 miles every week to the doctor appointment (didn't have a car then.) and back. Walked 1 miles to the hospital myself to give birth to him. The doctors told me to walk 3 more hours at the hospital to farther dilate my cervix. I had a very easy labor, 10 hours of pain-free labor (epiudral for those who understand) and pushed for 30 good minutes and he came shooting out, literally. Honestly, the doctor told me to rest so he'd turn him over but my dear boy decided it was it, he jumped out. I felt him kick me inside and he just landed right in the doctor's hand. He's an active boy, really.

Anyway, as for Kagome's pregnancy, I mentioned earlier in other chapter, she will have four months of pregnancy since demon develop faster in the womb. Suprise, suprise, she's carrying twins, so by the end of 2 months, she should be looking about four months if she is carrying one, but she's carrying two, so double that effort, she's appearing about six months. By the end of third months, she will be about 8-9 months in appearance and will give birth sometime in the 4th month, from 2 weeks before the end of 4th month to the end of the month. I had it all figured out but I don't know where the notes is. I also figured out the hanyou, the human pregnancy, different combinations of all of them. I'll put it up in my AN in couple of chapters.

Thanks! The next chapter - Union of the Hanyous! Yay! Can't wait to hear from you all!

LKY