Want to start off with the thanks. Thank you Tina-Chan 0 for your very interesting picture. Sorry if I offended you, byakugan-master93, but in most cases it is better to put "his" rather than "her" if you are insure. To Kaihaku No Iroke I must say you are probably right, but I won't let them off that easily there has to be some more confusion. Review.
CHAPTER XIX
AN UNWANTED GIFT
Kagome smiled when they finally returned to the garden only a few hours before sunset. She felt honored to have heard, and seen, so much about Healo, Sesshomaru, and Inuyasha. Most of it was very revealing and helped to make sense out of many of their characteristics. However, she still thought that there was something else that was being hidden from her.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the children's cheerful greetings when they found them sitting near the edge of the lake. Shippo stood quickly and said in a worried tone ", Kagome, Sesshomaru said that he wants to talk to you." The miko hesitated, turned to her friend, and asked ", Why would he want to talk to me?" The demon lord frowned as he answered ", I have no idea. Perhaps he wants to know what all I have told you."
The miko nodded accepting the answer ", That makes sense to me." Rin spoke up quietly ", He said that he would be waiting in the West wing." Kagome smiled and said ", Thanks Rin." She quickly turned and made her way out of the garden. Kagome heard Sulam say curiously ", Shouldn't someone go with her, Father?" She heard the older demon respond seriously ", My son, you should never press your presence upon a lady. If she had wished for me to accompany her I would have."
The miko shook her head as she thought ', Could he be anymore chivalrous? I suppose it's better than Inuyasha's cursing or Sesshomaru's silence.' She laughed softly to herself as she imagined each of them. A few minutes later she arrived at the Western wing. She was not surprised to see several solemn guards at the entrance, but before she could speak one of them said neutrally ", You may enter."
By now thoroughly confused the young woman obeyed and found herself in a spacious hallway. Standing only a few feet away was the lord of the palace. He regarded her in silence through his golden eyes as Kagome struggled to keep quiet herself. After a short pause he spoke calmly ", Lady Kagome I wish to speak with you for a moment." He then turned and opened the door on his right. 'No please?' she thought in annoyance, but she said nothing as she followed him into the room.
The room was large enough with a huge desk near one end of the room, but with a marvelous view of the Western Lords navy through spacious windows. Kagome noticed that the desk was cluttered with many different reports, but she was interrupted when Sesshomaru spoke in a slightly mocking tone ", Despite how my brother may have portrayed it, the majority of a lords duties involve nothing more exciting then paperwork. Please sit."
Though still annoyed, the miko did not dare to reply as she meekly sat in a small rigid chair in front of the desk. The demon lord eyed her coolly from across the space then spoke brusquely ", I have heard some very…interesting things about you." Kagome's feelings sank as she said quietly ", Really. What?" The demon replied in a calm tone ", It is true that you are a miko?" The girl nodded slowly thinking this was rather obvious.
The demon smiled slightly and asked ", How many are there in your family?" The miko was confused as she said ", Me, my brother, my mother, and my grandfather." His eyes flashed as he asked quietly ", Are there any members of your family, past or present, who have been barren?" Her eyes narrowed as she said ", No." Sesshomaru smiled wider and asked ", Is it true? Women from your land are as well educated as the males?" Kagome smiled a little and replied ", Yeah. Many are smarter."
The demon lord said softly ", Good. When we leave for the tower, which may be tomorrow, I wish for you to be dressed properly." Kagome smiled sheepishly and replied ", Well, I don't think I have what you have in mind." Sesshomaru nodded and said ", That is easily remedied. I will have my servants prepare appropriate attire for you, and I wish for you to carry this with you." With this last statement he pulled up a small slender object.
The miko gasped when she saw it. It was about a foot long, had a sapphire crescent on one end, and was plated with gold. She was solemn as she asked ", What is that?" The usually cold demon smiled softly and replied ", It is a symbol. The one who bears this is under the Western Lords protection. I know that Inuyasha has already sworn to protect you, and I am sure that Healo will do the same, but I wished to extend my own promise to you."
Kagome was in awe as she answered ", Thank you very much." Sesshomaru nodded stoically but the miko saw a gleam in his eyes as he said ", Very well. That is all." Kagome grasped the precious object and quickly stole out of the hall. When she arrived back at the garden she smiled slightly at the sight. The three children were all gazing at Healo in wonder as he spoke to them earnestly. The bits and pieces of the conversation that the miko overheard indicated that he was telling a story about some war he had fought in.
Suddenly Healo straightened and said joyfully ", Ah! Lady Kagome. What did my brother want to see you about?" She lifted up the exquisite gift and said quietly ", He just wanted to give me this." When she glanced at her friends she was surprised by what she found. Shippo was smiling, Rin looked confused, Sulam was obviously surprised, but Healo was strangely blank. The miko was surprised when the demon lord took the small object from her and studied it carefully.
"Hey! What's wrong," Kagome said as she watched her friends face. His blue eyes hardened as he turned to her and asked harshly ", What did he say to you?" She was scared but told him everything that had been said. After she was finished he glanced back down at the rod and said firmly ", I knew it. Come." Kagome did not get to respond as Healo began to stride quickly back towards the palace.
The miko was surprised when his path took them back to the West wing. However, the guards seemed even more so at the appearance of the Northern Lord. They both bowed and asked ", How may we help you Lord Healo." His face was solemn but his tone was icy as he replied ", You may open the door." The guards hesitated before replying ", You do not have permission to enter this area." Healo surprised them by laughing as he said ", Indeed. I also did not have permission to send for these allies but I did so anyway. Move quickly or I will not be held responsible for anything that happens."
They hesitated for a moment before setting their faces and opening the doors. Healo did not make any response but swiftly entered the area with Kagome just behind him. He did not hesitate before opening the door to Sesshomaru's office and stepping inside. Kagome stood to Healo's left as the demon lord asked calmly ", Why are you storming into my wing?" The miko glanced at her friend whose eyes flashed as he slowly held out the golden rod.
When he spoke his voice was solemn as he asked ", What does this mean?" Sesshomaru's eyes hardened as he replied ", You know what it means." Healo surprised Kagome by smiling grimly and saying ", Yes, but she doesn't. When were you going to tell her?" The younger demon did not blink as he answered ", She would have learned soon enough." Kagome's voice shook as she asked ", Learned what?"
Both demons turned to her but it was Healo who answered. His voice was very grave as he said ", This rod is the property of the Lady of the West. It is a tradition among lords to present a gift to their intended. If she accepts she has agreed to become his mate." Kagome inhaled sharply at the statement as she turned to Sesshomaru and asked ", Is that true?" The demon lord did not hesitate to reply coolly ", Yes. You will be my mate. The ancient lines are thinning. Next to a lady of one of the lands, a miko is a acceptable mate."
The miko said quickly " But I didn't know." Healo responded in disgust ", It doesn't matter. He tricked you, but it is the law. However, there is one way to at least delay this." Sesshomaru spoke savagely ", You wouldn't dare." His older brother replied coldly ", To save her from an unwanted choice? Yes. I also wish to place a claim on the Lady Kagome. Now you cannot mate her unless she chooses you." Sesshomaru smirked as he responded ", You and I both know that she must make a choice within three months. Unless someone of higher a rank than a lord should desire to mate her. Besides she will not choose someone so stained with blood."
Healo's eyes hardened as he responded ", Perhaps, but at least it will give her time. You will be unable to force her to make a choice." With this he quickly turned and left the room, but Kagome was so shocked that she couldn't move. When she finally recovered she shot a glare at the icy demon lord before also leaving the room. 'I'm not ready to become anyone's mate,' the woman thought frantically as she followed her friend back outside.
When they finally left the palace itself Healo turned to her with sorrow filled eyes. His voice was calming as he said quietly ", I am so sorry, Kagome. This is the best I can do for now." Kagome turned away as she asked ", Is there nothing else?" The demon lord sighed as he responded ", Unless both of us die, no. However, I do know of something. If I am the imperial heir, and can prove it, I will be able to circumvent his claim and then release you from my own claim."
Kagome shook her head as she said ", Three months? Well, if we're going to this Tower of the Moon tomorrow maybe I won't have to worry for long." Her friend nodded and added ", For your own good I hope not. I have no doubt that Sesshomaru only wants you as a mate because of your abilities. He will stop at nothing to try to persuade you to accept. Now he also has his rivalry with me to goad him on. This will not be a pleasant journey."
The miko sighed before she said ", I suppose that's ok. It would be strange to have a calm adventure." Healo laughed sadly at her comment as she looked out at the children who were once again playing loudly in the garden. 'Well, I already knew that this family was insane before I got involved,' she thought with resignation.
OK. Another chapter done. Fulfilled my promise and showed the last major meaning with the title. Of course you all see that who Kagome chooses is a large part of this story. Don't think that Inuyasha is going to just take all of this either. But that is later on so remember to review. Next chapter will be either tomorrow or Thursday depending on reviews and my own mood. Sorry about the shortness but I wrote this in less than an hour and a half. Review.