Chapter 9
The next morning found King InuTaisho in his meeting chamber with the members of the inuyoukai council. There were five in all, of differing ages and blood lines. Their leader was an older inu male by the name of Okudo.
It was he who sat at the head of the table, presiding over the meeting. "We are pleased with the progress the Western Lands have made under your hands, InuTaisho. How goes the training of your sons?"
"Sesshomaru is ready to take over ruling at any point. He knows the ins and outs of holding the throne. I am very pleased with him. Inuyasha-"
"Has he found a mate yet?" the lone female on the council interrupted.
InuTaisho frowned. He was irritated at the way the council always seemed to disregard his younger son. "Sesshomaru has made great strides in that area, Mitsuko. He is courting a young woman right now, in fact."
"Excellent. The Taisho bloodline will continue it seems. Who is she that he has chosen?" Okudo queried.
"She is from the Southern Lands. As you might know, Princess Yukami was visiting us a few weeks ago."
"He's courting Princess Yukami?" Mitsuko exclaimed.
"No..." InuTaisho answered. "He has chosen Princess Yukami's lady in waiting."
"Oh, a minor noble. What type of youkai is she?"
InuTaisho hesitated. Lying to the council was just something you did not do. "Kagome...is not youkai. She is a human woman."
Silence reigned in the room as the council absorbed that news. One of the younger males, Suteki, laughed. "Sesshomaru would not choose a human. He despises humans. Why would he choose to spend and share his life with one?"
"He loves her." was all InuTaisho would say.
"This is unacceptable!" Okudo thundered. "The heir apparent to the Western Throne cannot mate with a human. It will taint the bloodline. We looked away from the whole Izayoi debacle because you already had a pure bred son. There cannot be an abomination like your half breed on the throne. We will not allow it." The other council members nodded their agreement.
InuTaisho tried to keep his anger from showing on his face. He was not as good as Sesshomaru at appearing emotionless, the boy got it from his mother, but he could hide anger. "Please," the king began, hating to ask the council for anything. "Just meet the girl. See the two of them together before you decide."
Suteki frowned. "This is not about them being a cute couple, InuTaisho. This is about the continuation of a strong leader. What would happen to these lands if some cowardly hanyou tried to rule. It would fracture and fall into civil war. It is that we want to prevent."
"Wait a moment, Suteki, Okudo." Mitsuko said softly. "While it is true that we know Sesshomaru's character well, we have never laid eyes on this Kagome. Though she is a human, she could be possessing a spirit that will make their child stronger than other hanyous."
"Do you really believe that, Mitsuko?" asked one of the other council members.
The demoness shrugged. "Stranger things have happened."
Okudo sighed and looked at his fellows. They all nodded, agreeing. "Fine, InuTaisho. We will meet this Kagome. Have her and Sesshomaru present themselves to us after the banquet tonight."
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A bright shaft of sunlight fell over Sesshomaru's face and his eyelids fluttered open. A feeling of peace like he had never felt settled over him and he turned his head away from the dazzling light. Golden eyes landed on raven colored locks that were spread out over the pillow next to his. A few strands of silky silver from his own head were mingled in with the black.
The prince gazed at the young woman that was sleeping next to him. Her skin looked like tinted porcelain as the morning light hit it. They had talked all afternoon and then parted briefly so that Sesshomaru could gather dinner for them and Kagome could get some things from her room. They ate and then went right back to talking until they both fell asleep.
Having a sudden idea, Sesshomaru wrapped a dressing gown around himself and went out into the corridor. He had a word with a passing servant and then returned to his room.
Kagome was sitting up and yawning when he re-entered. She smiled at him but then looked worried. "We didn't..." she trailed off.
The prince smiled back. "We did not do anything that would cause any sort of scandal." he assured her. "You fell asleep and it would have caused more talk for me to carry you back to your rooms after hours, so you remained here."
Kagome nodded. "What do I tell people about where I was last night? I mean I have that maid that your father assigned to me and she's bound to have noticed that I didn't come back."
"It is not her place to ask." Sesshomaru replied. "Furthermore, every youkai and hanyou in this castle will be able to smell your purity. No explanations are needed."
The young woman's face flushed a little at his words. "So what are the plans for today?" she wanted to know.
"There will be a banquet honoring the council tonight. Even though they gave us no notice to their arrival, my father will no doubt have a stunning soirée set up by the end of the day. It might indeed be a night to remember."
"Oh really?" Kagome said. "And who will be accompanying you to this banquet? Surely a youkai of your stature cannot arrive alone."
Sesshomaru leaned in to her. "I was hoping that a certain lady from the South would arrive on my arm. But she is the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on, so there might be a queue of eligible men who want her with them."
"Then it is fortunate that she only has a eyes for the prince of this place, isn't it?" Kagome murmured back. She tipped her head up and kissed him gently on the lips.
"Wonderful." Sesshomaru returned. "Then there is one favor I would have of you." The lady cocked her head quizzically. "Tonight you will dress in the colors of the Western Lands, for if I get my way you will soon be the future Queen of them."
Kagome looked startled. "Sesshomaru I-"
The prince cut her off with a finger over her lips. "By agreeing to remain here, you are already a Lady of the Western Lands. By loving me, you will be looked upon as my future mate and therefore the future queen as I am the future king. I am by no means trying to pressure you, Kagome. But the council is here, and they need to see a united front. They need to see your loyalty to me or this may never work."
The young woman wanted to protest again, but the serious look in Sesshomaru's eyes let her know that he needed her to cooperate. Kagome nodded. "Fine, I'll see what I have in blue and white."
"And silver and gold. Do not forget those colors."
Kagome grinned up at him. "I doubt I will ever be able to forget those colors." She said, staring into his eyes and running her fingers through his hair.
They kissed tenderly and then the prince pulled away. "I have asked for breakfast to be set out in the garden. Go get dressed and then do me the honor of meeting me there."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
As Sesshomaru predicted, InuTaisho had the servants working double time to have a perfect evening ready for the council. After their breakfast, the prince sent Kagome to go see her waiting women about helping her prepare. They shared an extra sweet kiss, knowing that they would not be able to see each other again until the banquet and then they would have to be on their best behavior.
Once Kagome was gone, Sesshomaru went off in search of his father. He found the king in the banquet hall overseeing the setting of the main table.
"Father, you have workers to do this for you." the younger youkai said.
InuTaisho turned around. "Yes I know, but this is the council. If the least thing goes wrong then I will get blamed for not being here to supervise." The king scrutinized his elder son's face and then broke out into a grin. "You love her." he said.
Sesshomaru rolled his eyes. "I believe we have already established that, Father. On a related note, however, I am having Kagome dress in Western colors tonight, as the future Queen of the Western Lands."
"That is presumptuous." InuTaisho replied. "But smart. The council was all for removing our family from the throne after the discovered you intended to mate a human. But Mitsuko convinced them to wait until they actually meet Kagome. I think that the more she looks and acts the part, the better chance the two of you will have."
The prince nodded and contained a look of distaste as Inuyasha walked over to them. "Half breed." he greeted.
"Prick." Inuyasha returned. "Father, I have stationed extra men at the front gates as you requested. There will be twenty armed youkai here at all times and another ten will be in the throne room when you receive the council formally and all that. They will follow you here and once you all are seated, they join the others at the walls and windows."
"Excellent." InuTaisho praised. Even Sesshomaru was impressed. His half brother may have been of inferior breeding, but he was good at his job.
"Where would you like me to be stationed?" the hanyou asked.
"At the head table." InuTaisho replied. "You are my son and you deserve to be treated as such. I'm sure Okudo will throw a fit though, so we will just say that you are there as Lady Kagome's personal guard. As such you will sit on her right hand."
Inuyasha looked stunned. He was never invited to sit at the head table for important functions like this. "Y-yes, Father." he stammered.
"Wonderful." the king grinned at both of his sons. "This will be quite the night."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Kagome stared at herself in the mirror with a look of disbelief. If she hadn't known better she would have thought she was looking at a prettier version of her sister.
She had returned from breakfast with Sesshomaru to find a tissue wrapped package on her bed. There was a note on top of it, written in a careless scrawl.
Kagome, it read
I figured you'd need something in Western colors for tonight. This was my mother's. She never got to be Queen. You might.
The note wasn't signed, but the young woman had a pretty good idea of who had left the gift. She pulled back the wrapping and gasped. Inside was a deep blue gown of the finest silk. A sleeveless sheer white over gown accompanied it. Silver pearls were beaded along the hemline of the over gown and gold threads were woven through the sheer material. It was one of the most beautiful things Kagome had ever seen.
She was wearing it now as she looked at herself. The gown fit perfectly, hugging the right curves and showing off a respectable expanse of her bosom. Her hair had been left down, and one side was pinned back by a silver comb that had belonged to her mother. At her throat was a necklace made of woven silver threads and citrine jewels shaped like tear drops.
The banquet would be beginning in less than an hour and she was waiting for Inuyasha to come and collect her. She had been informed that her hanyou friend was going to be acting as her personal guard so that he could sit at the head table with the rest of his family.
A knock sounded on the door and Keiko, the maid, went to go answer it. "Lord Inuyasha awaits you in your sitting room Lady Kagome." she said when she returned.
"Thanks Keiko." Kagome smoothed her skirts and took a deep breath. This was her first function as a lady of the West, and furthermore it was the first time Sesshomaru would be acknowledging her publicly as his love interest. Satisfied that there was nothing more she could do, Kagome walked out to meet Inuyasha.
The hanyou looked dashing in blue and white with red trim to show his station. His hair was the unruly mess that it always was, and the fluffy white ears were standing at attention. Amber eyes widened as he took in his friend's appearance. "You..." he trailed off. "Nice dress."
Kagome knew that was as close as he would come to telling her she looked good. "Thank you, Inuyasha." she said with warm sincerity.
The captain blushed and looked away. "Let's go. Your precious prince will think I tried to steal you away or somethin'." He stuck his arm out awkwardly and Kagome smiled and laid her hand on it. Inuyasha gave her a look when he noticed how damp her grip was.
"I'm nervous." the young woman explained. "At home I didn't have to do this kind of stuff. Kikyo was the beauty that everyone came to see."
Inuyasha snorted. "You can kiss that life goodbye." he told her. "You were chosen by the heir to the Western throne. It's your beauty people will be flocking to see." The hanyou flushed again and led Kagome from the room before she could figure out that he had called her beautiful.
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A/N: That seemed as good a place as any to end this chapter. I was going to continue with the banquet but then I thought it would be better as a separate chapter. Especially since I'm not sure exactly what I want to happen yet. Anyway, I promise I haven't forgotten about It Takes a Village. I am working on another chapter of that story right now. For some reason To Marry a Prince just flows from me and I have to struggle more with It Takes a Village. But I am not giving up. If you haven't read that story or Nineteen Years which comes before it, then check them out. I could use the feedback.