Chapter 7

"Kagome!" Yukami shouted. "Kagome!"

The young woman came scurrying into the room looking flustered. "Yes, your Highness?" She had been sitting in her room thinking hard about Sesshomaru's revelations the day before. She hadn't seen the prince since she had run away from him after he kissed her.

"I need you to dress me in my finest. Prince Sesshomaru is coming to call on me." The princess gloated, teasing her hair in the mirror.

"He's…coming here? Is that proper?" Kagome stammered nervously.

"It's his palace, Kagome. Besides, he suggested this meeting. Don't even think about scampering off to wherever it is you go either. I need you here when the prince comes. You add to my consequence."

"Princess…I would prefer…"

Yukami sighed in frustration and spun around to face her lady in waiting. "Kagome, do you honestly think I care what you'd prefer? Ever since we came here you've been forgetting your station. Now go find me a gown to wear or I will think very seriously about dismissing you. Then where would you be?"
Kagome pressed her lips together and crossed to the princess' wardrobe. She flicked through the multitude of gowns until she found one in deep purple embroidered with gold flowers. "Go with this." She said to her mistress.

"Perfect." Yukami squealed. She grabbed the garment and headed behind her changing screen. "Get the tea ready while I change."

Kagome grabbed the tea and headed out to the sitting room. She had no sooner placed the tray on the table, than there was a knock on the door. With her heart in her throat, Kagome opened the door.

Sesshomaru was standing outside looking as handsome as ever. He gave her a gentle smile. "Good morning, Kagome."

The young woman lowered her eyes. "Prince Sesshomaru."

A claw slid under her chin and tipped her face up to his. The prince leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. "I love you." He reminded her.

"Yukami's very excited that you've finally come to see her." Kagome said, stepping back.

Sesshomaru entered the room and closed the door behind him. "She shouldn't be. I'm here to-"

"Prince Sesshomaru!" Yukami screeched as she entered the room. "Kagome, why didn't you tell me he was here? Honestly, I don't know what to do with her, your Highness."

"The prince is here, Princess Yukami." Kagome said in a dead voice. "Would you like tea, Prince Sesshomaru?"

"No, thank you." Sesshomaru said. "I will not be here that long. Princess Yukami, I would like to apologize to you. I had no intention of mating with you and I still don't. I've used your presence here as an excuse to spend time with another. As it is, that is no longer the case, so you may leave."

The princess spluttered incoherently and then tried to regain her composure. "Who is this other? I wish to offer my congratulations to this most fortuitous of females."

Kagome closed her eyes; the last thing she wanted was for Yukami to know that it was her fault that she was being rejected. Luckily, Sesshomaru realized that.

"I will not tell you that." The prince replied. "I would however, like to remove the Lady Kagome from your service."

Yukami narrowed her eyes. "What has she done?"

"It is more a matter of what I would have her do in the future."

"You cannot just take my lady in waiting away and not tell me why." Yukami protested. "I don't see why you want her. She's trained as a lady in waiting and there are few females here. What would she do?"

"It's me." Kagome murmured. "I'm the one Sesshomaru is rejecting you for."

"Oh Kagome please." The princess chuckled. "Just because you fancy yourself to have a crush on the prince doesn't mean that he returns the feeling."

"Shut up Yukami." Kagome snapped back. "I am so tired of you stepping all over me. I chose to place myself in your service. Your brother, Prince Yuri, asked me to join his guard instead but I declined. You might fancy that I have a 'crush' on Sesshomaru or that I need you. But I love him and I do not need you. Not anymore. Furthermore, I remove myself from your service and you can still leave."

Sesshomaru cleared his throat. "Kagome speaks the truth. It is her that I have chosen."

Yukami shrieked and stormed out of the room. "Overdramatic wench." Kagome muttered. She looked at her prince. "Now what?"

He held his hand out to her. "Come to me."

The young woman obeyed and clung to Sesshomaru. "I love you." She whispered.

"I'm glad." The prince replied. "Now that you are your own woman, what will you do?"

A small smile graced Kagome's face. "I'd like to stay here." She said. "Maybe teach your guard a thing or two, and…"

"And?" Sesshomaru prompted.

"And be with you." Kagome finished.

The prince smiled and pulled her closer, easing his lips against hers. This time Kagome responded eagerly, her mouth moving with her love's. The youkai pulled back. "What has changed your mind about this?"

She shrugged. "I spent some time thinking this morning. I realized that I had come to hate being in waiting to Yukami and that I should leave her. But then I thought of going back home and that depressed me. I mean, there's nothing for me there except my sister, her husband, and their bouncing baby boy. What would I do? Surprisingly, the thought of leaving here made me saddest of all. The thought of not seeing you everyday was awful and I knew I couldn't do it. I didn't care about what people said. I knew I couldn't leave you."

Kagome's words warmed Sesshomaru's already thawing heart. "So you have decided that you will stay with me?" the prince asked.

"Yes. As long as you want me to."

"Then prepare to be here forever." Sesshomaru replied. "Come with me. We'll need to speak with my father."

Kagome pulled away. "Before we do that, I need you to know that I am not ready for anything serious yet. I can't be your wife or mate. Not yet. Inuyasha was right when he said that I barely know you."

"It bodes well then, that I do not intend to rest until we know each other's souls." Sesshomaru enjoyed the flush that rose in the young woman's face when he said certain things to her. "We still must see my father. He has to know that you are now a member of his household. He should also be informed that I intend to court you until you agree to marry me."

"You certainly seem to know what you want."

"I do." Sesshomaru replied. "And I know how to work to get what it is that I want." The heat in his voice made Kagome shiver agreeably. The prince took her hand and led her to the king's study.

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

Sesshomaru pushed the door open and entered. InuTaisho glanced up and gave his son a sour look. "I hope you're pleased with yourself, Sess. I just had the most beautiful princess since your mother in here screaming at me about loyalty and betrayal."

The prince showed a bland face. "Did you really see me choosing her, Father?"

"Of course not. But then, I didn't foresee this either." The king answered, gesturing at Sesshomaru and Kagome's entwined hands. "I must say I am proud of you, son. You said that you were waiting for a special woman, and you've found her. I was skeptical."

"I never had a choice but to act on my feelings for Kagome." Sesshomaru said. "She entranced me from the moment I saw her."

InuTaisho smiled. "You'll have to tell me how you did that, Lady Kagome."

"I have no idea." She responded. "It still baffles me that someone as perfectly wonderful as Sesshomaru would choose a simple lady in waiting."

"The fact that he chose you, my dear, proves you are not simple. I'll assume that since you are here and Princess Yukami is angry, you have chosen to accept my son's advances and stay with us."

"I have. I hope that's okay."

"It is more than okay." The king told her. "This creaky old place is always in need of new life." He rang a bell and a servant came in.

"Yes, your Majesty?"

"Please have the maids prepare a suite of rooms in my sons' wing for Lady Kagome who will be joining the household."

"Yes, Sire." The servant bowed and scurried out.

InuTaisho stood up and Sesshomaru and Kagome followed suit. The king embraced the young woman. "Welcome, Kagome."

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

A/N: So this will be the last chapter for a while. I'm going on Winter Break in a few days and as you might already know, there is no internet connection at my house. But never fear, I'll be writing more chapters over the break and posting them when I get back to school in January. Until then, Happy Holidays and New Year!