Chapter 7: Arrival at the western palace

Last time: "What happened to my Haori?" he asked her.

"I'm keeping it! and there's nothing you can do about it." Kagome said victoriously. like she'd won a prize in a battle or won the lottery. 'Okay then.' Sesshomaru thought shrugging. He'd had hundreds more. She could keep this one if she wished.

"Well let's go then!" Rin said. This adult staring was getting boring. Seriously the both were staring into each other's eyes and it was annoying her.

'Oh yeah....' Sesshomaru and Kagome thought. They forgot they had Rin here otherwise they were damn sure things could've been different...less rated G more rated M.


-Inu-tachi-

"Damn it! I know something is up at that spring!" Inuyasha said jumping right in front of Miroku who looked like he knew nothing at all. He was probably still upset that Sango his beloved broke his hentai radar. "I'm gonna yank Kagome's ass back here whether she's naked or not! Hell we are close to my bastard brother's lands that she could be in danger for all we know!" Miroku still acted as though he knew nothing and just merely nodded. For all he knew Inuyasha would sense Sesshomaru at the spring and make his way towards the western lands without a warning and without making a plan. Sesshomaru didn't exactly like his company and perhaps Kagome would be alright. What had they been up to at the spring anyway? Kagome was wearing Sesshomaru's shirt. Hmm…maybe his hentai radar was working after all! He gave Sango a rare grin and she just blinked blushing and looked away.

She saw Inuyasha's retreating back and sighed. For a second, just for a second she wished that Inuyasha were more like his brother, Sesshomaru. Had the Baka pup grown up with manners, self control within the palace and less if a 'potty' mouth under his father's influence he wouldn't have to cause Kagome such heartache. He thought he knew women, appreciated the fact that Kagome said it was okay for him to see Kikyo but he was killing her slowly. Faithless demon…

-Sesshomaru and Kagome- (with Rin too)

He liked her in that shade of blue. He wondered whether she knew that only ladies of the high court, youkai royalty could wear and afford the color blue. She probably didn't and her slayer friend probably hadn't even mentioned it since she thought it was not important for her to know. She would demand respect from his guards, staff and servants not to mention that they would feel the powerful aura that surrounded her as well as her Miko powers. Not to mention she liked to put people in their place if she got pissed off…..well it seemed rude to some but it turned his inner beast on. His inner beast nodded vigorously and looked at him with hopeful eyes that perhaps they could keep the Miko. Sesshomaru said nothing and his inner beast grumbled wanting to claw Sesshomaru.

This 'period' of her's that she called still wasn't over and he wasn't so keen on taking her to the castle yet, which was full of demons…..and it was only a matter of time before his little brother found out that his miko was missing. He growled at his thoughts. His Miko? Not even. He ran after the dead Miko like a 'dog' who lost his favorite chew toy (lol...) well he could have her. Sesshomaru gave him his full approval and blessings but this one was off limits now….His inner beast nodded happily. Good. His master was finally thinking.

-Rin-

She hoped her Sesshomaru-sama wasn't too cross with her that she came looking for him. But she was worried about him. And it wasn't like she crossed the western borders or anything! The western lands were protected and there were guards stationed in various hidden places around the lands too! She gave him a side a look but he was looking at Kagome-Chan with a thoughtful expression. Hmm…

-Inu-tachi-

He marched himself over to the spring and saw nothing. Dammit! Did that wench run away from the group? They were much too far from the well that she couldn't run home. The only way she could run was west…but GASP! She'd be killed cause she was human and there were guards posted in various areas of the lands! They wouldn't take kindly to a human because their master loathed humans! Who cared if Kagome was a Miko or how much she would plead her case?! She was from the future and she wasn't afraid to be rude to anyone! And the ones that were posted weren't your average everyday guards! They were bloody assassins and sentinels trained to be the best by generals! Sure he didn't live in the western lands but he knew a thing or two about his previous home. Wow Inuyasha…we didn't know you cared so much…..

He ran towards camp and started barking out orders that his bastard brother took Kagome and that he was going to torture her, make her a bed-warmer and when he got tired of her give her to his guards to play with. Sango just shook her head knowing that he wouldn't do that. She had studied about Demon lords after all but perhaps going to Sesshomaru's castle would give them a much needed break. Miroku had a knowing inward smirk on his face. Leave it to Inuyasha to worry about Kagome when she wasn't with him anymore. Well it was a slap on his face. Overwork and overuse someone and they will tire and walk away from you, so to speak. He whistled a tune as he helped Sango pick up camp, let the fire die down as Inuyasha tapped his foot and muttered about slow humans. Suddenly he felt a sting on his cheek.

(SLAP!)

Sango glared at him and pointed at him then said, "That's (poke) why Kagome isn't (poke) with you! You hurt her and insult her and backstab her you BASTARD!!!" And with that she stomped west and Miroku just shook her head following her. Why must he have such a violent wife in the future? Inuyasha just gaped at her back and wisely decided to be silent as they made their way west. Damn Sango was scary sometimes. He didn't think that he'd ever fear females. He grumbled and walked behind the pair, arms crossed. He did not want to be here. In these lands, they brought bad memories; they reminded him of his past and of his damn bastard brother! Gah! Even seeing him once in a while, when he came round to give his usual death threats was more than enough! But this was for Kagome but he didn't even know if she was here to begin with. Sango turned around to see Inuyasha with his head down like he was deep in thought. She knew he wasn't happy about being here.

Well it wasn't as if she wanted to be here either! She shook her head as she turned back around. She'd been taught about demons and their murderous ways, that they were killing machines…. but had she been taught correctly? Dare she doubt her village and their teachings? There were so many good ones she'd come across…brash and rude but with good hearts…

Kouga…

Ayame…

Inuyasha…

Shippo…

And a certain Demon lord…Sesshomaru. Daiyoukai. Aristocratic Assassin. Western ruler. He was intimidating yes…but fear? Did she fear for her life? Kagome once had told her a story when she and Inuyasha had been in Inu-Taisho's grave that Kagome threatened him that she'd 'cut him' if he came close to her/tried to take the sword. Of course Sesshomaru didn't listen to anyone and he had come close to her and looked down into her blue eyes while she looked up into his golden ones. Love at first sight?

Suddenly arms wrapped around her waist and stopped her thoughts as well as stopped her in her tracks. Miroku? He seemed to tense a little. She looked up and saw a couple of demons standing in front of the inu-tachi, blocking their path and she sighed. Great…just what she needed. More demons…not that they were bad looking...hmm…but they didn't seem so amused to see the group. Both were blonde haired and blue eyed and wore the western uniform with the western seal on their shoulders signifying they were soldiers from the west.

The guards had been watching them for a while until they decided to make their presence known. 'Humans: A Miko and a Monk, A demon-slayer, and a hanyou' Great. This was on their master's do-not list. He wouldn't be at all amused. The silver-haired hanyou was Inuyasha-sama though, his half-brother. "Oi!" Inuyasha began and was about to pull his sword out when….

(BONK!)

Miroku wasn't taking any chances with Inuyasha's rude attitude, no telling what these demons would do and hit him across the head but didn't knock him out. "Please forgive my friend's rudeness…he is not well versed in manners." The demons said nothing and Sango's eyebrow twitched. "Hello, my name is Miroku and what my friend wanted to say was that we are not trespassers, we are just here to collect our friend, who we believe has been taken here." Miroku said in a calm tone.

"I see and who might I ask is your friend?" one of the demons asked in a deep voice. Sango blinked. 'Ooh…I like his voice.'

"She is the Shikon Miko…" he started but when Inuyasha looked like he was going to say something, Miroku hit him again.

'……..'

"Oh you mean the Shikon Miko, Lady Kagome of western lands? Sesshomaru-sama's intended mate? What is her relationship to you?" the other one asked.

"WTF? WTF? WTF?! I'll kill the damn bastard before he even touches Kagome! She's my Miko! MINE! MINE! MINE!" Inuyasha yelled at them, cackled and raised his sword. Sango slapped her forehead and shook her head. They were so dead. The demons tensed at Inuyasha's loud outburst. Sesshomaru-sama would not be happy to heat this hanyou's claims on the Miko. Surely the demons wouldn't hesitate to kill the group, but they weren't so keen on killing women. Even if they were human slayers and Miko's. It was like a bad omen to the demon kind to kill unnecessarily.

"I apologize. But Kagome-Chan is a friend of mine, we are like sisters. We travel together and I, well my group would like to see her." Sango said stepping in before the demon who looked like he was going to end Inuyasha's life, really killed him. Kagome would never forgive Sesshomaru for letting his stupid guard kill one of her friends and then she'd never mate him and then he'd get angry and kill the guard and Kagome would go home and seal the well, never to return and Sesshomaru would die of heartbreak. Yes things would get messy. A chain reaction.

"Very well. But you must keep him away from Lady Kagome. I will not have Lady Kagome in danger from him." The guard said pointing at Inuyasha. Sango nodded. Thank goodness they were getting somewhere. The other one didn't think it was a good idea but he was a newly posted guard so what did he know…..

"You think my woman Kagome will be in danger from me?!" Inuyasha said rudely. Okay this hanyou was so dead…and the guard was about to end his life when Miroku knocked him out and then shook his head. The group walked towards the castle in silence and Miroku dragged a poor knocked out Inuyasha. Damn but he would never learn! They arrived at the gates and Sango took a deep breath. She didn't know how she would take to hundreds of demons being in one place or knowing whether they would attack her. She'd have to stash this boomerang somewhere as long as she was here.

-Sesshomaru and Kagome-

They had arrived fairly quickly and then when they touched down there was a loud sound like a gong sounding, followed by "THE LORD AND LADY HAVE ARRIVED!" okay that was weird. Did this happen every time he came home? Huh? Wait-a-minute. Lady? Lady? Then hell she was a…huh? Was he ignoring her?! "Sesshomaru…" she began her temper starting to rise.

Sesshomaru had told Rin to go and change for dinner and she happily skipped away, happy that her Sesshomaru-sama was back home. "Kagome. Come." he said and started to walk away. Grr…He didn't even hear her! She sighed as she followed him into the castle. His home was nicely furnished, servants and staff smiled and bowed as the both passed by them. They walked into the royal wing and he closed the doors behind him.

He pointed out the room where she would be staying in, the room to his left. For a second she thought he was joking but he wasn't type to. She couldn't possibly stay there! That room belonged to the lady of the west! It was joined with the lord's room, by just a door, had he need to get to the room quickly, if they were under attack or if he was away and she just wanted to be in her own room. Normally the lady slept with the lord and Kagome blushed red.

"Kagome?" he said looking over his shoulder. She'd stopped walking for some reason and he walked towards her and looked down.

"Ah...ha-ha yes?" she said running a hand through her hair. 'Don't panic…no time to panic.' He's just going to put you into a room that is just adjoined to his….

'This is the perfect time to panic! Say something! Yell at his face! Tell him off! Tell him he's an ass to think that…ah Kagome?' inner Kagome said.

"Kagome. Are you alright?" He said whispering in her ear and nuzzled her neck affectionately.

"Su—Suure!" Kagome said. He nodded but didn't mention that her so-called friends were trekking their way through his lands right now to get her back. He'd tell her later, much later. For now he'd put them in the guest wing of his castle. And the hanyou…maybe the dungeons…if he misbehaved.

"I will see you at dinner then Kagome." He said and gave her a gentle push towards the door and closed it. He proceeded to the entrance of his castle where he would meet the group shortly. Honestly Kagome should find better company in the future.

-Inu-tachi-

They walked into the castle and Kikyo got some evil looks from the soldiers and staff like they knew what she did. She just huffed and followed the slayer like she was as innocent as the day she was born. They looked and saw Sesshomaru standing at the top of the staircase, in his regal white attire and he made their way descending down the stairs towards them, silver hair swaying. Sango was trying hard to hold in a blush. Sure she didn't like him! But he just looked so….so…Miroku raised an eyebrow at her and she coughed violently.

"Welcome." Sesshomaru said in a cool voice as he walked towards them. Sango was curious. Why would he welcome them? When he tried to kill them whenever he saw them? But that had been outside of his home. Was he trying to keep up an impression? And where was Kagome? She just wanted to see her. This was getting aggravating.

Inuyasha had regained consciousness by now and he glared when he saw where he was and growled when he saw Sesshomaru looking down and giving him a smirk from where he was standing. "Looks like you finally found your place in life hanyou." Sesshomaru said from where Inuyasha was sitting on the ground.

"Grr…." And he was about to jump up and punch Sesshomaru's lights out when Miroku caught his arm shaking his head.

"Come. I will show to your rooms. It's time for dinner anyway. Hanyou…It's the dungeons for you if you misbehave in my home." Sesshomaru said and turned his head walking away to the guest wing assuming they'd follow. And then he answered Sango's unspoken question. "Kagome will be at dinner slayer." She smiled and then followed him.

-Kagome-

She'd been assigned a personal maid named Tomaka, not that she hated having a maid do everything for her, but now Kagome was sitting on the bed wearing just an inner kimono while Tomoka was pulling out various and extremely beautiful kimono's from reds to blues and greens and they all looked so expensive. She couldn't wear any of these! Not even rich people could afford these in her time! They had to be really rich! Hmm..so did that mean Sesshomaru was really rich? Wait she wasn't a gold-digger! Never mind. He was just hot. Yeah that's what it was.

"Lady Kagome. You do not want to be late for dinner." She said respectfully. She didn't know why her lady didn't just pick one so she could help her dress. Kagome frowned as she thought that maybe she should just go in her greens school girl uniform to dinner. Yeah but that would look bad on Sesshomaru! Wait, since when did she care about him? People in these times didn't understand why Kagome would wear something so short since only harlots wore this length.

Gah! Maybe she would have to wear one of these after all as she picked up a navy blue one.

"Knock…"

"Knock…"

Tomaka went to the door and was silently talking to someone. She bowed and walked out. Kagome turned around and said, "I think I'll wear this Tom…AHHHHHH!!!!! Where did you come from?!" Kagome screamed loudly and tried to cover herself up with the kimono she was holding.

"Hn. I live here woman. I do like that color as well and do not scream so loud." Sesshomaru said smirking at her blushing face. "Have you forgotten that I have seen you in less clothing? You should be used to it. You do look very ravishing in just my haori. Perhaps better than me…." He said as an afterthought.

"Shh!!! What if someone hears you?!" Kagome hissed mortified.

"They believe we are intended mates…my lady." Sesshomaru said grinning devilishly, walking closer to her as Kagome backed away.

"Yeah about that…" Kagome said trying to look dignified while she spoke to him. He walked towards her when she threatened that she'd purify him if he took a step closer. He just said threats coming from a beautiful lady was very charming and appealing and he told her not to do it in front of other demons, just him. Which got him a glare from her.

"Why are you here anyway?" Kagome said trying to change the subject.

"Hn. I was trying to make something a fact but you're not even dressed yet. I cannot have a slow mate…." He said trying to make her angry. Which worked. She raised her hand, about to slap him when he caught her arm, pushing it away and then before she knew what happened he pulled down the collar of her inner kimono, kissed her neck and then bared his fangs….

Lady Nefertiti: chapter 7. I'll try and update sooner but review!!!!!