A/N: Hi guys! I'm glad you love the story! I hope your holiday season is going well!

Anyhow, I don't own any of the characters. And I hope that you enjoy the story!

7

The next morning an envelope made out of heavy black paper passed under her door. Kagome hadn't slept well the night before and had been out on the terrace with a cup of tea watching the sunrise when she heard it glide under her door. Scooping up it up, she quietly opened it and read the note inside:

Dear Kagome,

I will be gone today on business and may not return for a couple of days. The servant's will not be servicing your wing while I am away to give you some privacy. I hope this message finds you well and I will see you when I return.

Sincerely,

Prince Inuyasha

Excitement rushed through her as she read and reread the Prince's beautiful cursive handwriting. She would be able to take Ileana outside of the room today, even if it was only in one wing of the palace. Luckily, there was a sitting room with a television in one of the rooms looking onto the terrace that they would be able to relax in without being seen. Her next sip of tea tasted like ecstasy in light of her recent discovery. Smiling, she settled back in her chair on the terrace and waited for Ileana to wake up.

About two hours later, Ileana began to stir in the covers. "Mummy?" She called out sleepily when she didn't see her in bed with her. Without warning, Kagome scooped Ileana out of the bed, earning a squeal from the little girl as she kissed her stomach and blew on it.

Bringing her upright, Kagome smiled vividly at her daughter. "Guess what, Ileana."

"What!" She asked excitedly. Her toothy smile brightened her green eyes as her silvery hair cascaded to her waist.

"We're going to go play and watch television, out there." She said pointing to the door. Ileana had only seen glimpses of the palace through the blanket that was always covering her head.

A squeal of pure delight echoed through the room as Kagome set Ileana on the ground and watched her turn circles around the room. She didn't know that she was in danger; all she knew was that she was going to get to play and be a child of her age.

Kagome felt truly blessed as she watched her frolic and smile around the room. Blessed that her child never once questioned her rules, blessed that she was alive and healthy, and even more blessed that she had her in her life. And blessed she was so light that it didn't hurt her injuries too much to lift her. Pride and happiness surged through her at the sight of her daughter's smile.

"Alright then! Let's get ready." Slyly, she picked a dress up from the top of the dresser in the room. "I even have a pretty new dress for you to wear."

"Really?" Her eyes were wide as she took in the beautiful shimmering red dress with a tight top and a billowing gossamer skirt that would hang to her knees and still allow her to play in. "Mummy, it's so pretty…" She said with childlike wonder.

Giggling, she helped her get into it and combed her hair down, placing a little bow in it to complete the outfit. She looked stunning, but all she knew was that she was wearing a dress fit for a princess. Idly, she pat the dress down and felt the material with her little fingers.

"Ready to go?" She asked her warmly, holding her hand out.

"Mhmm." She rushed forward and hugged her mother tightly. "Thank you Mummy."

"You're welcome baby." She kissed the top of her head and took her little hand in hers. Together, they opened the door and stepped out into the hallway bathed in sunlight.

Laughter erupted out of Ileana's tiny body as she let go of Kagome's hand and sprinted down the long hallway. "Ileana! Wait up!" She called following after her with a smile on her face.

The smile didn't last long though as she saw Ileana smack into a pair of tall, darkly clad legs. Slowly, she tilted her tiny head up to stare up at the man she had collided with. "I'm sorry, Mister." She said timidly. Backing up slowly, as if he was going to bite her, she turned and ran back into the safety of her mother's arms.

Hiding her face in her mother's hair, she peered out meekly as Kagome's eyes met those of the mysterious man in front of her. "I don't believe we've met before." His voice was deep and silky all at once, matching his appearance. He had the same long silver hair and golden eyes the rest of his family had, immediately marking him as a Takahashi. He was taller than Prince Inuyasha and his hair hung straighter and longer as well; his eyes mimic those of his father, cold and as hard as steel. She instantly recognized him from her time at the palace and family portraits of the royal family.

Curtseying, Kagome smiled at him so as not to appear rude. "I don't believe we have, Prince Takahashi. My name is Kagome Higurashi." She felt his cold eyes travel over her and land on Ileana in her arms.

"And the girl?" He asked, slowly slipping a hand into his pocket. His features betrayed nothing of what he was thinking, but she knew he was curious because of her silver hair.

"Your niece." She smiled sweetly at him. Although she hadn't wanted anyone to see her, he already had and she couldn't wipe his memory to make him forget it. "Ileana Izayoi Higurashi."

His eyes narrowed minutely, almost as if he didn't believe her, but they both knew her silver hair proved otherwise. "My brother's?"

She nodded. "Yes. He still has yet to meet her." Bringing a finger up to her lips, she winked at him. "So please don't share."

He bit his lip in an attempt to keep from laughing, but he failed. "I always knew he was bound to make an illegitimate heir." Stepping forward he held his hand out, his eyes softening. "My name is Sesshomaru, and I'll keep your secret safe."

Kagome smiled up at him and took his hand with her free one. "Thank you." She had known of his cold reputation, but something about Ileana had seemed to soften him toward her. She was nervous to be so lighthearted with him, but if he was willing to keep her secret she could extend a little bit of trust toward him.

"Why don't we sit in the parlor and you can tell me how you've come into such a predicament." Nodding, she followed him the rest of the way down the hall to the large parlor that looked out over the West Wing gardens. In the corner tucked away was a television.

"Ileana, would you like to watch some cartoons while me and this man talk?" She nodded her head in her mother's hair; still unwilling to show her face to the tall, scary man she had bumped into. Setting her down on the couch facing the television, she handed her the remote and kissed her head. "I'll be right over here in this chair, just call me if you need anything."

Sesshomaru was already sitting down in the chairs facing the gardens when she turned back to him. "Come sit Ms. Higurashi." He said as he gestured at the chair next to him. Tentatively, she obliged and looked over at her daughter to make sure she was okay. Cartoons played across the screen and she knew Ileana was completely immersed in the pictures on the screen.

"I'll apologize in advance for my aversion to you, Your Highness." She said as she turned back to him.

He shook his head. "Nonsense, I would have an aversion to my family as well if I was smart." She chuckled at him. "And please, call me Sesshomaru from what I hear you'll be on a first name basis with all of us soon anyhow."

She groaned. "I take it you've heard of your father's ultimatum then?"

His smile saddened. "Yes, and I don't completely agree with him. It's not your fault my brother couldn't keep it in his pants."

Rolling her eyes she laughed again. "It's not ideal, but I don't hold hard feelings against your father." She looked at him. "It's what's best for Ileana, and I'm starting to see that more and more. Even if you're brother doesn't care for me, at least she'll be taken care of."

"Don't count him out, Kagome. You two are all he's talked about since he found out about her. I actually think father's idea came from the wish to shut him up." His eyes were hard as they looked into hers.

She sighed inwardly and slumped her shoulders slightly in defeat. She didn't know what to think about the man who fathered her child. Every piece of information she received contradicted how he acted around her.

"But enough about my brother. Tell me about the little one." She knew he was curious about her and she giggled softly at him forwardness. "Is she always this shy?"

"Not around her grandmother and me. She hasn't exactly gotten to meet many people as her hair prevents us from going out. Like I said earlier, you're the first one of your family to actually meet her." She glanced over at Ileana to make sure she was still doing all right and relaxed a bit more when she saw she was content.

"I can imagine it must be tough to raise the heir of the Takahashi family without the walls of the palace to protect you." His eyes gauged her reaction to his question, seeming to be holding back asking something.

"You have no idea, Sesshomaru. Especially not with the familial trademark."

"Have you been contacted by any enemies of the crown, Kagome?" He asked, unable to hold himself back from asking. It has crossed him mind the first time he had seen Ileana run toward him in her red dress. The mob must have contacted her if they knew of her daughter's existence.

She met his eyes head on, answering without wavering. "Yes. The mob contacted me shortly when she was six months old. One of their informants saw me grocery shopping with her. Her hair has always been long, and when she was younger it was hard to completely hide it in hats as she liked to pull them off."

"Did they ever try to find you after that?"

"I wouldn't know. I moved to another suburb two days later, and then another six months after that." Her eyes were far away as she thought of all the moves her and Ileana had made in her tiny four years of life.

Sesshomaru softened toward the woman in front of him. He couldn't imagine being on the run with a child, "It must have been hard on you, and on her."

"Luckily she wasn't old enough to understand it most of the time, but now she knows when something isn't right. It's hard to keep her in the dark sometimes where her safety is concerned. I'm truly blessed she doesn't ask too many questions and trusts me when I ask her to do something. Not many children her age are capable of that." She looked out onto the gardens with a faraway look in her eyes.

"I'm sorry for what you've gone through to protect her. I know the mob is a vicious force to be hiding from. I work with the Bureau of Investigation to track the mob's activity. The reason I asked you so many questions was because about three years ago a section of the Onigumo mob changed their MO for a while. One of our undercover agents said they were all sent to patrol for a child with silver hair around the suburbs of Japan."

Kagome's head snapped to face him in an instant. "You knew about Ileana all this time?" She asked incredulously. The information about the mob was nothing new to her; she had assumed they were on a hunt for Ileana.

"Not exactly. I had my suspicions but I figured the mob was just making excuses to search for someone with Takahashi blood. It wasn't until Inuyasha came home a few weeks ago with news he had sighted you two that I started to put two and two together." Kagome instantly relaxed. She didn't know if she could handle that much shock. It wouldn't have really mattered though if the Crown knew of her or not in the past. They were under their roof now and that was honestly all that mattered.

A small silence lapsed between them, but it wasn't awkward. "Kagome, I know it might seem like a terrible circumstance, but it is best for you and your daughter to be here in the palace walls. Onigumo has ramped up his search for you and it wouldn't have been long before he found you. Luckily, no one knows that you two are here at the moment and I've been making sure of that for your safety." He gently took her hand in his. "I won't let them get to you so long as you listen to me and trust me to keep you two safe. I don't want anything to happen to her just as much as you."

Kagome smiled gently at Sesshomaru's kindness. Gently she squeezed his hand. "Thank you, Sesshomaru. I really mean it." His words had explained why he had been so kind to her from the start. He probably already knew all about her from watching the mob track them, giving her an air of familiarity. She had probably also answered a lot of unanswered questions for him that had troubled him.

He nodded before a brief look of concern passed his face, "How are you're injuries? I heard it was quiet the accident."

She smiled her best smile. "I'm fine. It was just a few bumps and bruises." In reality, the pain was barely bearable, but she didn't want anyone to know that, especially not Ileana or his brother. Sesshomaru eyed her suspiciously, not completely believing her words. The black eye that marred her face was still a sickly yellow and green colour, but if it bothered her she didn't let on. He knew she was stronger than she looked better than anyone. Over the past couple weeks, he had followed her life since the day her daughter had come into the world, and what he'd found would have scared the hell out of a grown man. "Ileana, can you come over here for a second?" Kagome left no room for him to ask any more questions about it as she called her daughter to her.

Ileana's little head popped up just above her nose and peered over at her mom. Kagome smiled and beckoned her over with her hand. Shyly, she looked over at her uncle and shyly moved off the couch and walked to her mother. Taking her daughter's hands she bent down to her eye level and smiled at her. "Honey, this is Sesshomaru. He's a really nice man who's taking care of the two of us."

She looked hesitantly over at him and smiled softly. "If Mummy likes you then so do I. I'm Ileana." She twirled in front of him. "Do you like my dress?" It was her first time in male company that wasn't her Uncle Souta or Jii-Chan and Kagome thought it was hilarious that the first thing she asked about was her dress.

"I do. It really suits your hair and the bow in it." He smiled warmly at her, his smile reaching his eyes as he watched her twirl.

She giggled. "Ses-hom-er-u is too hard." She said after a couple failed attempts at saying it. "I'm going to call you Sesshy!" She proclaimed after a moment of deep thought. Kagome erupted in a fit of giggles as Sesshomaru's face puckered slightly before he gave in with a laugh.

"Alright then, but in return you have to do another twirl for me." Obliging, Ileana twirled once more. Her little hands wrapped around a portion of his hair and looked up at him.

"Sesshy, why is your hair the same colour as mine? Mummy and Nana don't have hair like mine." She was perplexed as she looked up at him.

Gently, he lifted her onto his lap and then looked at Kagome. She looked nervous but nodded her head at his unasked question. Sesshomaru gently smoothed her hair and brought it over her shoulder. "We have the same hair colour because I'm your uncle, Ileana and it's a special colour that only people in our family have."

She pondered his revelation for a moment. "So that means you're like Uncle Souta?" He nodded at her. "That makes me happy." She beamed up at him and wrapped her little arms around his neck in a hug. Pulling back she looked to Kagome. "Mummy, can I go watch some more cartoons?"

"Sure honey." She replied with a heartwarming smile.

"Bye Uncle Sesshy." She said warmly as she jumped off of his lap and returned to the couch to watch her cartoons. His eyes were lit up as he watched her walk way.

"She's the most articulate four year old I've ever met." He said in amazement.

"That she is. She was forming words before she could walk and by the time she was three she was hardly ever fumbling over words. It really surprised all of us." Kagome smiled warmly in her daughter's direction.

"It's not that surprising. Inuyasha and myself were speaking at young ages, but we weren't nearly as passive as her. We asked a million questions about everything, but she's just content with her own thoughts." He was truly in awe over her contentment to not ask about every little thing.

"She never has. She's always been content to watch and figure things out on her own. She never tried to touch the stove as a toddler or bite as an infant. I've been quite a lucky mother in all reality to have a daughter as well behaved as her. I think a lot of it has to do with my mother and I always moving her or us not showing any emotion around her, but I prefer to think that she's just a special child."

"Well, she is special especially with that toothy grin of hers. She's going to kill all the boys when she's older." Kagome laughed and smiled at Sesshomaru.

"That she will. That she most definitely will." Her heart swelled as she smiled genuinely with another adult that wasn't family for the first time in ages. Inwardly thanking the gods for Sesshomaru's kindness toward her and her daughter. Maybe marrying into this family wouldn't be so bad if they could be friends.

Stay tuned for another chapter!