Chapter 18

Inuyasha had gone to the king's study running on nervous energy. His father had been reading a report from one of Myoga's messengers. "Hey…Dad, can I talk to you?"

"Of course, Inuyasha. Come in. Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. I just…I uh…I…I want to get married."

InuTaisho blanched. "You? You want to get married? To whom?"

"Kagome's sister."

The king beamed. This was more than he had ever hoped for. Both of his sons in love? After centuries, both of them. "Inuyasha, that's magnificent."

"So I take it you approve then?"

"Of course I do. The Higurashis are a fine family and the Southern Lands have always been friendly with us. No one can oppose this match with your brother marrying Kagome."

"Feh. Guess I should be grateful to the bastard then. The council ain't going to pull anything with me are they?"

InuTaisho smiled dangerously. "They wouldn't dare. Not with what I know."

The hanyou leaned forward. "What do you know?" he demanded. "More importantly, have you told Sesshomaru? I assume this has something to do with Kagome. Everything does these days." There was no bitterness in his voice, just truth.

"Myoga was able to infiltrate a meeting between this Naraku and Yukami. They were going over their plan with the mysterious contact that Naraku somehow managed to get. Thanks to the flea's quick work, I know who is helping them plot against us."

Inuyasha snorted. "Good to see that old flea is good for something. Who is it?"

"Yes, Father. Who is it that I have to kill?" InuTaisho sighed. He has sensed his elder son coming, but had said nothing. The prince came and stood beside his brother. "Tell me."

"It is Okudo." The king said finally.

Sesshomaru was momentarily taken aback. The leader of the council was that opposed to his marriage? "I see." he replied. "What are we going to do?"

"Ashiteru, Prince Yuri's messenger, is taking a letter to Suteki and Mitsuko. They are the youngest in the council and will be more likely to be on our side."

"How do we know we can trust any of them anymore?" Inuyasha growled. "Okudo is their leader and he's willing to sink this low. What does that for the rest of 'em?"

"Mitsuko at least, has always been wary of Okudo's leadership and has sought a way to overthrow him. I trust her." InuTaisho answered.

"With Kagome's life?" Sesshomaru demanded.

His father looked him in the eye. "You, my son, are the only one I would trust completely with that girl's life. Simply because it is now firmly intertwined with your own. I have taken the necessary precautions in case we will not be receiving help. Both the Western and Southern guards members are ready to mobilize when needed and Myoga is ferreting out more information as we speak."

"Did he report their plan?" the prince wanted to know.

InuTaisho nodded. "Yes. They plan on kidnapping Kagome and holding her somewhere you will not find her. Okudo is helping them find that place. They want to force your hand, making it so you have to choose the good of the kingdom over the girl's life."

Sesshomaru clenched his fists. If there was one thing he hated, it was being manipulated. He was so consumed with rage that he barely heard his father speaking to him. "What?" he snapped.

"I asked if you thought we should tell Kagome of the plan to take her."

"Of course you should tell her." Inuyasha put in. "She needs to be alert."

"No." the prince retorted. "If Kagome is told, she will only make herself sick with anger and worry. I have assured her that everything will be alright, and we shall leave it at that."

Inuyasha and InuTaisho exchanged wary glances. "Sesshomaru, you cannot protect her from everything." the king said gently.

"Watch me."

Kagome was down by Inuyasha's mother's koi pond with her little brother Sota, Koga, and Tsubame. The air was cool and smelled wet, heralding a coming rain shower.

Sota was leaning over the pond, teasing the fish with his fingers, and Koga was flirting hard with Tsubame.

"Would I be correct, Lord Koga, in guessing that you are mated?" the king's niece practically purred.

"Yep." Sota chirped. "To Lady Ayame. She's really nice."

"Hmm." Tsubame responded. "Then if you are already taken, what am I to make of all the promises you've offered me?"

"And what about me, Koga?" Kagome interjected. "I thought I was the only woman for you."

The women burst into laughter at Koga's shocked expression. "We're only teasing." Kagome assured him. "But you can't flirt with every woman you see, you know. Ayame is more than capable of kicking your ass."

"Queens don't say ass, Sis." Sota remarked without looking up and the group burst into laughter again.

"How are you holding up though, Kagome?" the wolf youkai wanted to know.

"I'm not really that worried." the woman answered. "I know Sess won't let anything happen to me."

"Ah to be stupid and in love." Tsubame murmured. "Do not pin all your hopes on Sesshomaru though. Remember that you have power and strength of your own, for all you are a woman." Her attention span proves short as she turned her head and watched as Inuyasha made his way from the practice grounds to the palace in a hurry.

"Where's that mutt rushing off to?" Koga wanted to know.

"Hopefully to see my sister." Kagome mused. She got up and dusted off her gown. "I'm going to follow him. C'mon Sota."

She grabbed her brother's hand and rushed off towards the castle. Tsubame and Koga exchanged a look. "Aren't we supposed to be guarding her?" the former asked.

The wolf groaned. "I don't want to go watch the punk get all mushy with Lady Kikyo."

"Fine." Tsubame agreed. "I'll just tell Sesshomaru that's why you disobeyed his orders to follow Kagome wherever she goes when you are on duty. I'm sure he'll understand."

Koga paled. "Damn. Fine let's go."

Inuyasha made him way to the rooms Kikyo had been given. He drew in a deep breath and rapped on the door. It was opened by the maid who bowed him in.

Kikyo came out a moment later, and smiled when she saw who her visit was. "Inuyasha." she greeted warmly.

The hanyou strode forward and took the woman's hand in his. He was so focused on the moment that he was oblivious to the fact that there were four people crouched outside the door.

"Kikyo." he said. "I know that we don't know each other very well, and that you could do much better than a worthless bastard hanyou second son, as beautiful as you are. I ain't got much but my sword and my name. But I feel something between us. I…I'd be honored if you would consider allowing me to court you or something'."

A brilliant smile lit the woman's pale face and Kagome thought she had never seen her sister look more lovely. "There is nothing worthless about you and as such I would be very pleased to have you court me, Inuyasha."

A grin split the hanyou's face and he stood there savoring the moment. Without warning he leaned in and captured Kikyo's lips in a sweet kiss. He snorted when he heard a squeal followed by a disgusted growl from the corridor.

Kikyo drew back. "Kagome, it is impolite to sneak around eavesdropping." she said mildly.

"Leaving!" the younger Higurashi sister called. "Congratulations you guys." She got up and walked down to her room. "Keiko's here so you guys can just go. I know you have better things to do that baby sit me."

They didn't even have time to argue before the door was gently closed in their faces. Kagome nodded hello to her maid and walked into the room she slept in. She flung open the large window and stepped out onto the balcony. A roll of thunder sounded and suddenly the sky opened up, drenching the castle grounds with rain.

She saw Ashiteru swoop past people fleeing into the palace and speed straight for the window that opened into InuTaisho's office.

If Kagome was honest with herself, she was afraid. In just a few weeks she had gone from being the nobody second daughter of a barely noble house, to future queen, Master Archer, and miko. I was a lot for her to take in. She looked forward to being useful for once, that much was true, but other than that, she was terrified.

Just as these thoughts were manifesting, something pricked at her senses. There were two large powers in the area. One was familiar to her and she smiled when she sensed it heading her way. The other was foreign and felt slightly ominous.

She peered out into the driving rain, trying to get a better read on whatever was out there. It was gone as soon as it had appeared however, and before Kagome could think too much of it, a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around her waist.

"I really must do something about the fact that I only see you at then end of the day." Sesshomaru's voice murmured in her ear, sending agreeable shivers up her spine.

"What is it that you do all these days?" Kagome asked without turning around.

"I learn about the kingdom, read reports of what happens in places I cannot see. I attend while my father hears people from local villages. Things of that nature. Did you go to Kaede's today?"

The miko nodded. "Yes, Koga took me. Kaede showed me all kinds of rare herbs for healing. I'm getting pretty good at it."

"She teaches you how to heal with your powers as well as with herbs? That is very prudent." Sesshomaru commended. His eyes snapped to the window as a flash of lightning crackled overhead, followed by a roar of thunder. "I do not like this storm." he said.

That reminded her. "Earlier, I sensed something…off. It felt very powerful."

The prince growled lightly. "Kagome, do not move from these rooms." he ordered. "I mean it."

"Where are you going?"

"To send the guard to search for whatever it was you sensed. I will not allow them to infiltrate this castle." Sesshomaru kissed her swiftly. "Do not leave these rooms." With that he was gone.

Kagome sighed and leaned on the rail of the balcony. She sincerely hoped that her husband to be got over the absurd notion that she was someone who always had to be protected.

Suddenly her head shot up. There it was again. That feeling of…it had seemed to be malicious before, now it was just determined.

Before she could react, there was someone in front of her, balancing on the rail. "Lady Kagome, I presume?" The stranger was a tall young man with a long black braid and a blue marking on his forehead.

"I thought they said she was pretty. I'd look better in that dress." came another voice. Kagome whirled around and on her other side was another stranger. This one with the same black hair in a short ponytail. He was wearing what appeared to be the top half of a gown over a pair of breeches.

The first man sighed. "Jakotsu, we aren't here to see if you can out woman her. We're just supposed to grab her and be gone."

Kagome scowled and allowed her powers to collect in her hands. "I'm going no where with you." Without warning, she unleashed a purifying wave. For a moment everything went pink.

Then laughter cut through the air. "Impressive. Or it would have been if we were youkai." the one called Jakotsu said. "Get her Bank, before we find out what else she can do."

Bankotsu leaped from the rail and held up a vial of some sort of powder. "Lady Kagome, I don't want to hurt you so if you come quietly, I won't have to use this."

"Sesshomaru!" the woman shouted.

Bank sighed again. "Women." he muttered and broke open the vial. He and Jakotsu covered their noses and smirked when Kagome drew a breath to call out to her beloved again. Unfortunately the mysterious powder had spread through the air and entered her lungs. She crumpled to the ground.

Jakotsu shook his head. "I don't like doing this." he remarked.

"What choice do we have, Jak?" Bankotsu asked as he slung the queen to be over his shoulder. "Okudo as good as owns us."

"Damn that Mukotsu. If he hadn't got caught dealing drug to nobles we wouldn't be in this mess."

They leaped into the air where an invisible carriage was waiting. Bankotsu gently settled Kagome inside and signaled to the imp that was driving it, and they were off.

Sesshomaru unfortunately knew none of this. He was busy fighting what seemed to be an army of youkai. Whenever he or Sanyen would cut one down, it would explode in a shower of blood and ink.

"Look, your Highness." one of the guards called out, pointing to the eruption of pink light.

There was no doubt about it. That was Kagome's power. "Sesshomaru!" he cry pierced through his battle haze, and he was off in a second. It really was a shame in this moment that Kagome was such a powerful miko. The lingering traces of her powers prevented, Sesshomaru from getting to the balcony in time to save her.

When it had finally subsided, the girl was long gone. The youkai prince closed his eyes as anguish rolled over him. Kagome's abductors were thorough for he could pick up no trace of either her scent or any other's. He tipped his head back and unleashed one keening howl.

Everyone within the castle and the grounds paused as their prince let his grief be known. It was not a familiar thing and so it was that much more heartbreaking. As the sound died away, the strange ink youkai disappeared and quiet descended on the castle. But there would be no peace.

Sesshomaru allowed his anger to seep into him as sadness leaked away. If Okudo thought he could keep his chosen mate away from him, then he was fatally mistaken.

He strode to his father's study and thrust the door open. InuTaisho looked up with a thunderous scowl for whoever was disturbing him so. "Sesshomaru, what is the meaning of this?"

"They have taken Kagome." the prince answered in a deadly calm voice. "They set up a diversion to get me out of the way and then they took her."

The king could hear the feral note in his son's voice and see the red that was starting to make it's way into his eyes. He knew what his son was feeling. It was the same thing he had felt when his first love had been taken. "Son, we will get her back."

"Yes we will." Sesshomaru replied in the same dead voice. "And I will see the head of anyone who has touched her on a platter."

"Let us not be rash." InuTaisho warned. "We must think about this."

"There is no time for thinking! Do you not understand, father? While you sat here in your study dealing with treaties and selfish nobles, the leader of the very council we heed had my Kagome taken. They came and they took her." The anger was starting to burn away in the wake of more grief. Sesshomaru was not used to such feelings. Not even when his mother had been killed, had he felt such pain in his heart. He had failed her. Kagome was his to protect, and he hadn't done that. He had left her and she had been taken. How would she ever forgive him?

"Kagome is a strong woman. She will be alright until we can get to her." InuTaisho said firmly. "And we will get her. No matter what I have to give up to do it."

A/N: That was almost painful to write. I hate seeing Sess in pain and causing him pain almost made me cry. Anyway, so we are getting to the goods now! I had to throw Jak and Bank in there. I love them! Don't worry, they aren't intentionally bad. As always, thanks for the reviews I've been getting, and please let me know what you think of this.