Chapter 23

The room was completely quiet. No one knew what to do or what to say. There in the center of the dining hall sat Kagome, with her new son and Prince Inuyasha. Why the prince was eating with the two they did not know nor did they want to ask, the only thing they were currently worried about was if they should join Kagome like usual. Before anything could be decided amongst them, Kagome took in a deep breath, looked up to face her friends and said, "You really should worry about it, Prince Inuyasha is only here to eat with us. Please just take your regular seat."

One by one, they each took their seat as Shippo continued to eat his meal. Inuyasha however, tried as best as he could not to snap at the people that were currently just staring at him in wonder. Just as Inuyasha was about to say something, Kagome turned to one of the riders and asked, "Eri, how are you doing?"

"Oh, um…I'm alright, thanks to you. I've been training a lot more with Dante." She answered.

"That's good, when is your next mission?" Kagome asked.

"Feh, we're not going to send out any more riders until the month is up." Inuyasha answered.

"That's right, we all just have to train." Eri added.

"Has Ayame got back yet?" Kagome asked.

"No, but from what I heard she should be back by tomorrow." Yume was heard as she took a seat next to Kagome.

"Feh, hopefully without that flea bag." Inuyasha growled.

"You do not approve of Lord Koga Prince?" Yume asked.

"Why would I approve of that…" Inuyasha stopped once he saw that Shippo was looking at him with innocent eyes.

"Well that's enough of that, is there anything anyone needs, I'm going to the market tomorrow for a few things." Kagome stated as she finished what was left of her meal.

Before Inuyasha could ask what she was going to be doing in the market, he was surprised at all the lists that were given to her. What he didn't understand was that the list was handed to her without any money to pay for what they were asking her to bring back. Before he could ask how she was going to pay for everything, Kagome smiled as she heard her son say, "Oka I'm done now…can we go play like you promised?"

"Alright, let's go, Prince Inuyasha thank you for joining us but I must get going, I have a promise to keep to my son." Kagome stated.

"Feh, I'll walk with you, I have to go back to the castle and take care of a few things anyway." Inuyasha stated as he got up as well.

"Thank you for joining us here today Prince Inuyasha." The servants called. "We hope you will join us again someday soon."

"I look forward to it, if you all will please excuse me." Inuyasha replied before following Kagome out of the dining hall.

"What do you think?" Eri asked Yume.

"I don't know but I sure hope that he's the one that will finally get her to smile more, that girl needs to look forward to the future and stop living in the past." Yume answered.

"What do you think Sango will say if we told her what has happened here?" Eri asked.

"I really don't know, but I think she would like to know if the Prince began to like her sister." Yume stated with a large grin on her face.

"Shall we?" Eri replied.

"We shall." Yume added before the two ran out of the dining hall.

Meanwhile Kagome and Inuyasha walked along side each other in silence as they kept a good eye over Shippo. Kagome knew that it would only be right if she allowed him to run around and get us to the forest around them. 'He will need to know how to track once we are in my home land…I do not want him to get lost.' Kagome thought sadly as she tried to keep her thoughts to herself. Just as she was about to ask something, Inuyasha grabbed her hand and said, "You and I need to talk you know."

"I suppose but about what? I thought you would be trying to speak with Lady Kikiyo later on tonight." Kagome stated.

"Feh, I already have a plan for her, but first I need to ask you a few things and serious say a few things." Inuyasha answered.

'This is not good, Naraku will surly find out soon and will have me do something soon. My dearest daughter, please forgive me.' The undead miko thought sadly as she walked away from the two knowing that she would not be found out.

"Alright, do you want to meet…" Kagome trailed off as she turned around to look to see if someone was watching them. 'Someone was watching us…I don't have much time if he already has someone on the inside.'

"Kagome? Kagome what's wrong?" Inuyasha asked as he reached for his sword.

"Nothing, so do you want to meet tonight in our spot?" Kagome asked.

"Sure I'll be a bit late if you don't mind. I will have to explain myself to my parents as to why I wasn't at lunch today." Inuyasha answered.

"I'll be waiting…Shippo use your fox fire, I want to see where you went." Kagome called out as she began to look around her.

"Alright, then I'll see you tonight." Inuyasha stated as he watched Kagome walk over to her son and picked him up.

"Can I come too?" Shippo asked.

"I'm sorry honey but you're going to have to stay with Helios and Dante tonight, I promise we'll do something tomorrow morning." Kagome replied.

"See you later." Inuyasha called.

"Bye Otu!" Shippo accidently called only to freeze in fear.

Kagome quickly looked up to see if she would have to apologize for her son or if he would not mind if her son saw him as a father. Inuyasha froze in his place as he tried to figure out what to do. If he allowed Shippo to call him his father, that would make Kagome his intended. That thought didn't seem so bad to him. With a grin on his face, Inuyasha turned to face Shippo and Kagome and said, "Later runt, and make sure your Oka wears something warm, it's going to get cold tonight."

With the biggest smile she had ever seen on him, Kagome watched as her son smiled at Inuyasha and said, "I will Otu. You can count on me."

'Wait…does that mean…no…why would he chose me after all?' Kagome thought as she began to make her way to her room so that she could finish the last page in the book.

'I have got to go and find Miroku.' Inuyasha thought as he tried to settle his beating heart.

Just as she had reached the edge of the forest, Kagome looked up only to be met by Sango and Emeri. As soon as Emeri saw the look in her eyes she knew that it was now her time to leave. After taking a step forward, Emeri looked at the princess and said, "Princess Sango told me you might need some healing herbs however it would seem that you are perfectly fine."

"Yes, I will be fine without them for now, can you please just hand them to me so that I can take them with me when I leave." Kagome stated.

"here you go Lady Kagome." Emeri answered.

"Lady, why did you just say that?" Sango asked.

"It's alright, I'm not a princess here, I'm just a miko." Kagome stated.

"Oka, can I go with Sango to eat with Otu?" Shippo asked in a sweet voice.

"Sure, Sango can Shippo go with you when you and Miroku go and eat with the King and Queen." Kagome stated.

"Sure, I'm supposed to go and meet Miroku soon, are you alright Kagome?" Sango asked in a worried voice as she easily caught Shippo in mid air.

"I'm fine; I'll see you tomorrow for my training." Kagome stated.

Once Sango and Shippo were out of hearing range, Emeri turned to Kagome and asked, "Have you read the last page to your mothers book?"

"No, I'm going to once I have the chance later on tonight." Kagome answered.

"Has something happened between you and Prince Inuyasha yet?" Emeri asked.

"By the sounds of it you have read my mother's book." Kagome stated. "But no, at least nothing big enough for me to break free from the curse on my own without having to use him like my mother states I should."

"It would be better and faster." Emeri replied.

"I know, I have no other choice." Kagome stated. "I know I can find a way without having to use the people my mother listed, I know the spells she left me will help me but the method she wants me to use will not."

"Have you seen something then?" Emeri asked in a worried voice.

"Not for the moment, but I do have an order for you that you must promise to keep." Kagome replied as she locked eyes with her servant and spy.

"As you wish my Princess, you have my word that I will follow your request." Emeri replied in a heartbeat not knowing that the Princess was about to throw all of her planning out the window.

"I, Princess of miko country, Queen of the dragons, order you to stay in this country until I have freed my people. Should anything happen to me and I am not with a King, you are to take the throne." Kagome stated in a calm and stern voice.

"You…you can't." Emeri whispered.

After taking in a deep breath and walking pass Emeri, Kagome whispered, "I believe I can and just did. If you excuse me I have to go and read the final page my mother has left for me." Kagome stated as she took her leave.

'This…this could only mean that something has changed…something that not even the late Queen for saw…what could it have been?' Emeri thought in shock as she stayed where she was until she felt that she could walk.

Inuyasha walked down the halls as he tried to find his mother. He knew that she would not be easy to find but she also knew that she would be the one person that would be on his side. The one person whom he thought would be by his side when he would tell his father that he would not marry Kikiyo but Kagome instead. 'Princess or no Princess, I want Kagome…even if she isn't my true mate, I will protect her and our pup.' Inuyasha thought.

Just as he was about to enter the room where he had been told to go to, Inuyasha stopped in his tracks as his brother, his crying daughter, and upset mate stormed out of the room. He watched as all Rin did was glare at him in anger as she stormed off with her child in her arms. Before he could ask what was going on, Inuyasha faced his brother as he heard his brothers cold voice growl out, "Well brother, I hope you are happy that you got what you wanted."

"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" Inuyasha growled back.

"Just walk in and find out for yourself." Sesshomaru growled back he pushed past his younger brother and went after his mate.

"Inuyasha, dear, please come in here." Izayoi's emotionless voice as heard.

Knowing that he had no other choice but to listen to his mothers call, Inuyasha walked in and closed the door behind him only to freeze when he saw who was at his father's side. Before he could say a word or do anything, Izayoi locked eyes with her son and asked, "Prince Inuyasha, did you or did you not ask this young miko to become your intended of your own free will?"

Knowing that he could not lie to his mother, Inuyasha took in a deep breath and said, "Yes I did however."

Before he could finish what he was going to say, Inuyasha was stopped by his father's words. "Well that that settles it, as of today my son, Prince Inuyasha has now found his intended."

"So say the King, and so agrees the Queen." Izayoi stated yet again in an emotionless voice. 'Inuyasha…my boy, what have you done?'

Beore Inuyasha could say or do anything, Kikiyo turned to him and said, "I'm sorry that it took me this long to realize it that you were right. Please forgive me Prince Inuyasha."

"Come Kikiyo, you will soon be my second daughter, there is no need for you to call my son, your soon to be mate, in such a formal manner." Inutaisho was heard. "Just call him Inuyasha and I'm sure that he will call you by your first name as well."

"Feh, mother can I speak with you in privet?" Inuyasha asked as he turned to face his mother.

"I'm sorry dear but I have some urgent matters to tend to, I will be able to speak with you tomorrow." Izayoi stated before she took her leave.

"Don't worry my boy; she's just disappointed that you saw it my way." Inutaisho whispered.

Once they were alone, Kikiyo faced Inuyasha and asked, "Would it really be alright with you if I just called you by your name?"

"Feh, no but until I am you are to address me as Inuyasha when I am in front of my family. Anywhere else you are to properly call me Prince Inuyasha."

"I understand, Prince Inuyasha and I hope you can forgive me for taking so long in doing this…if you will excuse me." Kikiyo whispered in a sad voice.

A part of him wanting nothing more than to forgive and accept this while another part of him, mostly his demon side was growling and demanding that he go to his father and tell him that all he wanted was to be with Kagome and not Kikiyo. However he didn't have time for this, all he had time for was to go and meet with Kagome before it got too late. Winter was coming and the last thing he wanted was for Kagome to get sick.