Okay so warning time. Sesshomaru might seem a little OOC in this chapter, but I am saying here and now that he is not. He is opening up to another being in a way he never has before so yeah, he's gonna seem different. I personally like what he is becoming, but if there are enough of you that don't, I can change it. Let me know, after you've read this.

Chapter 4

InuTaisho looked up from his paperwork as his elder son entered his study. The king smiled at the prince and put the document aside. "Sesshomaru." He greeted.

"Father. You wished to see me?" The younger youkai sat down across from his father. "Is this about last night?"

"I saw you leave the ball earlier than I would have liked, but since you did actually dance with the princess, I can't be too upset. What I wanted to speak with you about was your brother."

"Half brother." Sesshomaru immediately corrected.

"It's been years, Sesshomaru, are you really still that bitter?" InuTaisho asked sadly. "He is your flesh and blood if only through me. I wanted to ask you about the relationship that he has with Princess Yukami's lady in waiting. He seems to like her and I assume, knowing you, that you were only dancing with her to be polite."

The prince stiffened. He was not sure how he felt about Kagome just yet, but he knew that he didn't want her and Inuyasha having any sort of relationship. "Why do you ask, Father?" Sesshomaru replied, keeping his voice controlled. It would not do for his father to guess that he was intrigued by the young woman.

"I feel bad for Inuyasha." The king answered. "There is so much that he misses out on simply because of his blood line. If he had a companion he might be happier."

That simple sentence struck something within Sesshomaru. His father wanted him to mate so that he could keep the Taisho bloodline on the Western Throne. His happiness was not nearly so important. But Inuyasha only had to find love for the good of himself. The prince had never thought of it like that before. He stood up. "I do not know how the half breed knows the lady. I know nothing of their relationship, but I will inquire if that is what you would like."

InuTaisho was startled. He wasn't expecting it to be that easy. "I…would appreciate it."

Sesshomaru nodded and walked out. Before he really knew what was happening, he had walked to the guest wing of the castle and was standing in front of one of the doors in Yukami's suite of rooms. I am only here to do as my father wishes, the youkai told himself. He raised one clawed hand and knocked on the door.

One of the princess' bodyguards came to the door. Her brown eyes widened when she saw who her visitor was. "Y-your Highness, what can I do for you?" she stammered out and then gave a shaky bow.

"I am looking for Lady Kagome." Sesshomaru said in his best regal voice. "Where might I find her?"

"Her room is next door." Sango answered. "She should be in there."

Sesshomaru gave the woman a curt nod and moved on down the hall. He knocked on the door that Sango had indicated and waited. "Come in!" Kagome's musical voice called out. The prince pushed open the door and walked into the sunlit room.

The entire place smelled like the young woman. It was a soothing mix of water lily and lavender that rolled off her skin and infused all that she touched. His clothes from the night before still held lingering traces of her scent. Instead of soothing him now, the smell keyed him up, reminding him that he had no idea what to say to this girl.

Sesshomaru could tell that Kagome was in the adjoining room, humming something. He sat down on her neatly made bed and ordered himself to relax.

Kagome came around the corner and squeaked when she saw the prince on her bed. "Your Highness." She tried to curtsy but then remembered that she had put on pants that morning and bowed instead. "What are you doing here? Not that you don't have the right to be here, it is your palace…I just meant that I'm surprised to see you. Not unpleasantly surprised! Just…" she trailed off as Sesshomaru stood up and walked closer to her.

"What has happened?" the youkai demanded. "You have never been this flustered in my presence before."

The lady flushed. It was true. But she would have rather died than admit to the prince that she had been replaying their dance together in her head right before she walked in. "Just startled to see you here." Kagome murmured.

"I can hear your heart racing." Sesshomaru commented, his voice soft. "I am…sorry…if I frightened you."

Again, Kagome could not admit the truth. Her heart was racing because of how very attractive Sesshomaru looked just then. His silver hair was pulled back into a low ponytail and he was dressed in casual clothes. "It's alright." The young woman said finally. "Is there something that you wanted?"

"You know my half brother." Sesshomaru responded. "I wish to know how that happened."

Kagome grinned, her confidence returning. "Are you jealous?" she teased.

"Perhaps." The prince said softly. "It would depend on your answer."

The young woman swallowed hard. "Well, I met Inuyasha nine years ago, when I was about ten. He came to our lands with gifts from your father. I lived in the palace then with my mother and Inuyasha stayed in a room close to mine. I haven't seen him since then."

"Do you have feelings for him?"

Kagome shrugged. "I suppose it would be very easy to." she responded. "He's got the looks that obvious run in your family and he's probably really brave and strong since he's Captain of the Guard. But I've always had what we lesser nobles call 'the Lady's Fantasy.'" At Sesshomaru's questioning look, she explained. "It's the lady's fantasy to travel to a castle in a different land and catch the eye of a prince."

"I see." the prince remarked. "Would you have any interest in going on a walk with me. Lady Kagome?"

"I'd like that. Are you sure it's okay though, I get the feeling that you should be spending time with the princess, not her lady in waiting."

"I am the prince here and I can decide who I want to spend time with. You seem to be a much better companion than your princess. Where she talks at me, you talk to me. It is much appreciated." Sesshomaru stood up and held his hand ot to her. "Come."

Kagome placed her hand in the prince's and allowed him to lead her from the room. To her surprise, he kept her hand in his all the way down the corridor and out into the courtyard. The two strolled along, not saying anything.

Sesshomaru led them to one of the benches that were in the garden Kagome seemed to love so much. They both sat down and the young lady took a deep breath, then smiled at her companion. There was a look on his face that made her smile falter and she removed her hand from his and lowered her eyes.

"What is the matter?" Sesshomaru wanted to know.

"I'm being silly, again." Kagome answered. "I swore to myself that I would never let a man that I didn't know well into my heart. Not after..."

The prince slid from the bench to kneel at the lady's feet. He slipped two clawed fingers under her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. "Tell me." he ordered.

Kagome opened her mouth to tell the royal to mind his own business, but she couldn't. Perhaps it was the sight of a prince on his knees in front of her. Or maybe it was the fact that for once someone was paying attention to her and not Yukami. Whatever it was, Kagome suddenly found herself telling Sesshomaru something that she had always kept hidden.

"My mother died four years ago from a severe fever. I never knew my father, so it was just her taking care of me, my younger brother and my elder sister Kikyo. Before my mother died, I was betrothed to the eldest son of the Lord of the property that neighbored ours. His name was Hojo and though I cannot claim that I loved him, we were close. But when my mother died, Kikyo as the eldest child, got all that we owned. Hojo decided that it would better for him if he married her instead. I went to be Yukami's lady in waiting and my sister married the man I had been engaged to since I was thirteen. He didn't even say anything to me. I just got a letter announcing that he and Kikyo were getting married. I don't think I've ever cried so much in one year."

Sesshomaru was silent, surprised at the wave of anger that washed over him. He wanted nothing more to find this Hojo and remove his head from his body. The prince had never felt that for anyone. "I too lost my mother." he found himself saying. "I was much older than you, since that is the nature of youkai and she was killed by a human man."

"Why would anyone want to kill your mother?" Kagome asked quietly. She was grateful that Sesshomaru had given her something else to think about.

"It is the fault of my father." the youkai answered a little bitterly. "After being mated to my mother for nearly a century, decided that he needed a change. So he took up with a human woman who was lady of property in these lands. It seems that there was soldier who was also enamored with this Lady Izayoi. In revenge for the woman he loved being taken from him, he killed my mother."

"That's awful!" Kagome exclaimed. "What happened to this man?"

"He is no longer a problem." was all Sesshomaru would say. "Lady Kagome, I am not a human, never think for a moment that I am. Youkai do things differently than humans and such injustices are not allowed to stand. But one thing is true. When we find one that we truly love, youkai would rather die than let them go." The prince got fluidly to his feet. He kissed Kagome's hand and the strode purposefully away, leaving the young woman alone and very confused.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

A/N: Of course Sess would just leave it like that. He has much to think about, no? And yes, Kikyo is in this (hehehe). She will not interfere with the Sess/Kag action, that would be too cruel. Anyway, if you skipped the author's note at the beginning, go back and read that. I need your feedback! Oh and thanks so much for the flux of reviews. They make me so happy!