It has been a long journey and there is still a long way to go. Thanks.
Chapter Twenty
After a long night Kagome woke and went to the private hot spring. She washed off and then went to the Dining hall to meet everyone. As she entered she noticed that her mate had not come down yet. Sesshoumaru either was still asleep or was eating in the study. She was certain it was the second thought but went to check.
She walked into her room and saw the Taiyoukai just waking up. He looked at her dressed and bathed for the day. He raised his slick eyebrow. She spoke one word.
"Breakfast." It answered his unspoken question and he got dressed and followed her to the dining hall. Everyone saw that him and figured she brought him down from the study. But Inu Yasha ruined that idea.
"You could have bathed brother." He said the brother in a mock tone of his. The others laughed at the joke. Kagome giggled slightly.
"Now Inu He was just waking up when I found him. I said one word and he rushed to get ready. Be nice or I will be certain you get punished." She said and Maniko smirked. Daring him to step out of line. She appreciated a good joke but would not put up with dishonoring Sesshoumaru.
"Thank you." Said a tired Sesshoumaru. He would bath after his breakfast then move to the study where he would be locked away till lunch maybe even dinner. He eat with one hand and the other was occupied with signing a paper till he heard a annoyed growl from be side him. He looked to see his mate talking and when he began to work again she growled.
"Eat first then work." She said and went back to the discussion with Kikyo. She was talking about the whole guy thing with the guys there. But he noticed she seemed interested in one of the guards in the room. This was a new discovery. Kagome seemed to notice and got up. She walked to the guard who bowed. Then she whispered in his ear. Kikyo was blushing as if knowing what Kagome was doing. The guard nodded and left to do something.
"What are you doing?" Asked Sesshoumaru after Kagome told Kikyo to follow the guard. He seemed interested if there would be more trouble.
"I'm helping a friend with her problem. Plus that same guard complained about being the only male unmated amongst the guards in the palace." Said Kagome. As she saw her friend return happy. Kagome smiled.
"So is that what you wanted?" Kikyo nodded and returned to eating. They all had a peaceful morning and the kids were either with the ones they loved or playing with the snake in the ponds. Kagome rolled her eyes. On of the snakes became a friend to Shippo and he now had a follower if he took over the north or the east.
"Master Shippo!" Called the snake and Shippo came into the garden.
"I heard your cousin is about to lose all rights to the throne." He hissed out. Shippo quirked his eyebrow. He would need to talk to his dad and see if this was true. He knew that would be a good sign for the other lords. Shippo may not be a lord but he could go to the meeting and not get yelled at.
He approached the meeting and knocked before entering the room. He was looked at by Kouga. Kouga about opened his mouth when he was silenced by the Northern Lord.
"To what do we owe the pleasure of your presence today Shippo." He said with a smiling.
"I heard I might be taking over for my cousin here soon. I was coming to see if this is true. If it is I need to know what is going on and all. So I came here." He said and Kouga was shocked.
"Your cousin to that bastard kit." Said the annoyed wolf. Shippo nodded sadly.
"Unfortunately. I have to be nice though he is friends with grandpa. I will allow my cousin if he is loosing his spot as lord to remain. Only if he is willing to be a advisor and not try to take over." Said Shippo and the others laughed.
"He is losing his spot. He has yet to mate and apparently Kikyo is in love with a guard here. Sesshoumaru was about to say he had an heir. But the council knew of you and is sending for you and your mate. You have a week to get everything packed and ready to move. I believe you need to say goodbye to your mother and siblings." Said the northern lord.
"Okay but that can wait I need to be told everything there is to know what about what is going on from what I heard Naraku is between our to lands and is allied with my cousin. So I can believe he will be going to his ally for help." The others were shocked they just discussed that and Shippo already knew. They explained to the young lord what was happening in his lands and then went over who was what in his lands.
"Kagome I am worried." She turned to her niece and had a confused but concerned face.
"Why?" she asked honestly wondering why and what for was she concerned.
"I wonder if what the snake said was true. Shippo has yet to return and he said if he didn't it meant it was. I am not ready to be lady of lands yet." She said and then heard Ayame and Kagome laugh.
"No one is ready to take over the job. I wasn't Kanome. Neither was Ayame. But we took the job because if we screwed up we could fix the problem. Don't worry we will all be here for you. Plus you know no one will get mad. Me and Ayame know you and anyone dares challenge you we will take them on." Said Kagome and cheered her up. She was well on her way to giving birth to the child.
"Plus you know how many times I screwed up in meeting in which the Ladies are allowed to attend. A lot. Kagome here thought when she took over she was human. Now we know she isn't. We don't expect you to be the perfect Lady. We do expect you to ask for help." Kagome smiled and called to the other children.
"We need to help Shippo and Kanome to pack they are taking over for Kyote. Lets help them get ready." Said Kagome. Everyone was busy till dinner. Lunch was short and every one went back to work. Shippo learning the ways of his land and what to do. Kanome packing and learning about being a lady. Both Shippo and Kanome thought the others job to be easier but was corrected.
"Neither job is easy. I used to think so till I was informed of Sesshoumaru's job. I saw his desk after being in there all day. He the next day had his desk covered again in papers. In all that paper was treaties and reports. Reports of the land and the reports of the military force we have. Treaties with the other lands. News on the other lords and so on. It is no easy job. Plus he has to deal with complaints from his subjects. While training his son to take over." Kanome was shocked it was hard.
Her mate had to do all that. Plus help rid the world of Naraku. That had to be impossible. Shippo on the other hand was corrected by Kouga. Sesshoumaru would have but Kouga had beaten him to it. He was being told about the job of his mate as lady of the lands.
"They may be here to support us but that is not all they have to do. They organize social events such as balls and harvests of the crops. Festivals for the people human and demon. Raise the children and make sure all kits for you are safe and well. Keep us sane which at times is hard enough by its self. I know you watched your mother all the time. As mate to Sesshoumaru did that seem easy? I bet she made it look easy." Shippo nodded then remember asking her after a long day she sad it was hard. Sesshoumaru nearly lost it. "See they have it just as heard. You may still fight about who has the easiest job. But believe me. They win. We may keep a lot more control over the people but they build the relationship with the servants which they make sure don't anger us. So there job is harder then it sounds." Said Kouga and the others nodded. Sesshoumaru winced remembering the numerous fights they had over which job was harder. He knew hers was but it was when he was on the brink.
"Dad what you thinking about?" Said Shippo and Sesshoumaru smiled even though they both were lords now Shippo was still calling him dad.
"The last fight about the job. I knew from square one she would win. The one card that stops me was always you guys. The children. If it weren't for her I would only have Rin. Plus I would never be doing so well. Shippo this thought should keep you from to many wars over who has it harder. I kept this in mind since my father never figured it out. I will pass this to you. She is the reason anything goes right. I f the people respect you because of you and the knowledge all you do is for them. It is the Lady of the Lands doing so. If your children are well behaved and don't annoy you while you work. It is her keeping them in check. Don't ever forget this. For that may cause you to have more fights then need be." Kouga and His grandfather nodded.
"Why do you say that?" He asked generally. His grandfather answered.
"Because while you are busy in the study running through the reports. Your mate will be making sure everything else is running smoothly. That the children report to studies that the servants are cleaning your room the way it should be. That the cooks are making tea for tea time or lunch is not always the same. That the festivals preparations are on time. This knowledge will remind you she does more in one day then you do. On occasion the rules switch place and you will do more then she. Those will more then likely cause a fight. But if are the only times you fight that is the best. She makes sure that everything in the house runs smooth will you make things run." He said and laughed. It was true. The lords made the business while the Ladies made the business run smoothly.
"Okay I get it so I start the fire she keeps it going." The lords nodded. They smiled and went to dinner. Shippo noticed that the girls weren't down yet.
"It looks like we have proof to our conversation. Dinner has been delayed do to your mother making sure you are ready to go." Said His grandfather. Shippo was confused.
"Why?" Sesshoumaru smiled at the easy question.
"Because she knew there was much to do. She is also probably having your mate get used to bossing the servants around. She controls most of the servants If not all. Head of them all but never think of her as such. She is your mate." Said Sesshoumaru Kouga answered the unasked question for Shippo.
"Quickest way to start a fight and lose yourself a good mate. I have yet to do that because I had a good example. My Father did that to my mother. After I was old enough to not have her around. She left and never returned. My father said she was his slave. I knew then he saw her as his servant. His sex slave and she could not take. To this day I never spoke to him. I have found my mother. I have three step siblings and she is happy with her mate." Said Kouga and patted Shippo since they heard the women.
"Oh I thought you would take longer. All well the dinner should be done. I will go check." Said Kagome and disappeared behind the doors. Shippo gawked. It was true the female made sure that the house and lands ran properly according to the way the male wanted it. But how would they know. He would find out later.
"Okay It is on its way." Said Kagome emerging from the door and taking her seat next to Sesshoumaru. Kouga was shocked to see such efficiency in the home. Then again Kouga never saw his mate in action. He knew sometime he would. The only time he knew over her work is when the cubs were called in for studies or for food.
The northern lord smiled at his daughter's ability to work under the gaze of her mate. It must be often that they run in to each other they cross paths and he sees her making the house run. It was amazing that she knew exactly how he would want that moment to be done. He would compliment her later.
"Shippo Kilala told me that she was willing to let one of her young go so you could have her with you." Said Kanome
"Really that's great I would love to take one of the kittens she had." Said Shippo and Kanome smiled. He still was attached to the fire neko. Even though she was old. The neko found a willing male to give her children. She had a huge litter and was willing to part with one as long as it was her old friend. Kohaku had one and Inu Taisho had one. Dawn wanted one but she had not spoken to Ginta.
Kagome smiled her son still loved the little neko that was reaching an old age. Kilala had long since found a way to change to a human form. And today she did so to help out. This made Sango happy for now the two were even better friends. Kilala came in and bowed.
"Lady Kagome I have something you need to know." Said the fire Neko. In human form the fire was her eyes flaming red eyes. Kagome walked over to her companion and was informed of something and ran out. She had to work fast. Everyone got up and followed the to. As they approached the gate they saw the miko of there old stomping grounds and some children.
"My Lady Kagome help please. Keade told me of your where abouts and said even though you are demon and mated you would help." Said the miko and Kagome nodded. "We were attacked by a group of rogue Youkai looking for the jewel. Once telling them it was no longer here they attacked. I brought the children here for protection." Kagome understood and turned to the others.
"Kosuke, Tenku, Tiorin! Take the children to the springs wash them up and get a few cloths for them. Dawn, Ginta, Rin, Kohaku. Come with me. I will be back. Shippo you have something's to do and so do you Kanome. Sesshoumaru I have to help Keade's village." Said Kagome and disappeared. As the other's went back to finish up and the ones with orders did them.
Keade's Village
Kagome and the children she brought arrived and were looking at the destruction. Kagome was furious and about to kill some demons. She stood and walked toward the village and then gave some orders.
"Kohaku, Ginta. I will need you two to stay with me and fight. Miko, Rin, Dawn Go find any survivors and take them to safety." They did as was told and then the battle began. Having been long since trained on her miko and youkai abilities. S The battle was not long and the survivors came back one of the mothers was happy.
"Thank You Lady Kagome. Can our children be brought back?" Kagome smiled.
"I will have them checked for illness and injuries then have them returned." Rin got the hint and went to the castle and in formed the healer to check over the children and then she would take them back.
"Okay thank you. I wish there was more we could give. I only ask for protection of the village my lady." Sesshoumaru had arrived at that time with his daughter and the children.
"We will offer it as long as you swear allegiance to the west." The miko and villagers nodded and agreed. He knew the name the village was given by the group and kept it that way.
The group went back to the castle and got there a few minutes before the expected guest arrived and they were informed Shippo was already to go. They said they would be staying for a couple of days to rest and then leave. Also in forming Shippo of the needed information in which the other lords didn't know. That is where hell broke loose.
"You mean to tell me the east is allied with that monster. That will be corrected immediately." Said Shippo and the council was furious their new lord would do that.
"Why?" Shippo informed them of what there "Ally" did and then they understood. Or so everyone thought.
"You just are scared of the lord Naraku." That is when the council was fired by Kagome and she made the snake come forth.
"You will find three others and make Shippo a council that is not retarded." The snake nodded. He left and got some others and they left the next morning and headed east.
"I will miss him but I knew he couldn't stay with me forever." Sesshoumaru and the others nodded. The council was loyal only to lord Shippo and Lady Kanome. It was sad for the Royal Family and Shippo was sad to leave. He gave his mother and family a hug. They watched him till he was gone from sight.
"Well we got him all he needed and he knows we will always support him." They knew that the snake even though it was a snake would be loyal to the end because Shippo had nearly killed him once. The fox fire and a few quick moves and the snake was begging for mercy. Then when it was nearly killed by an attack Shippo saved it. So he owed Shippo his life.
They walked in side and then heard a scream. Turned and saw…
Cliffy okay so I can be evil. Beat you can't guess what happened. Make a guess and review please. Who was screaming and what for?