Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha. All rights are reserved for Rumiko Takahashi.

He'd grown more irritable since he came back into the room. I focused up him trying to ease his annoyance, which was hard to do with everyone calling on him at once. Rin had come to visit and Mana appeared again to tell us that Inuyasha was running rampant around the castle again wanting a rematch. Even his second in command of his army and leading officers wanted to speak with him.

"They can wait to speak to him," I said to Mana as Rin jumped up and down in my lap. "He needs some rest- mental not physical!" I explained to the demon lord who glared at me for implying he was in a weakened state. His glared subsided when I smiled at him.

"Very well. I will explain this to them, but I'm sure they will not be pleased." Mana gave me a cautious glance before she left the room. I guessed she didn't like the feel of my pure aura.

"Kagome, will you play with Rin in the garden today?" The little girl smiled up at her with hope in her eyes.

"Yes but it will have to wait until after lunch ok? You better go see Jaken before he gets angry at you for running off for so long." She jumped up, smiled at me, and then rushed for the door.

"I'll see you later Kagome!" She called from the door and then left.

I could still hear her giggling and the sound of her little feet running down the hall from where I sat for a few moments after she left. I glanced over at Sesshomaru who was standing over his deck looking down at some papers. I stood up and made my way to him slowly. I placed a hand on his back and waited for him to face me. His eyes were calmer now without so much commotion in the room and they were also contemplating something. I smiled at him softly as he snaked a hand around my waist and pulled me closer to him.

"You would send people away?" He asked quietly. "Haven't you grown tired of me yet?"

"Grow tired of the great Lord Sesshomaru? Impossible." I smiled at him and kissed his cheek. As always, a little kiss was not enough and lead to heavy kissing. A shiver ran through me as his hands explored my body, tracing the sides of my torso and then down to my hips. "Sesshomaru?" I said when we parted.

"Hn?"

"What did you do to Suina?" I asked carefully.

"I killed her." He replied flatly.

I guessed her punishment would be severe, but I didn't think he'd actually kill her. That's Sesshomaru for you, he always likes to get his way. "Are you going to do the same to Yuma?"

"I haven't fully decided yet." He said while playing with a loose strand of my hair. "Seeing as how he is not very gifted in strategic battle, it would be no great loss if he died."

"Are you sure he has no redeeming qualities?" I asked, hopeful to find an alternative fate for him.

"He is a fairly good swordsman. That is all I could say for him."

"You should let me talk to him before you decide to kill him," I told him calmly while forming a plan in my head.

"And why should I do that?" He gave me a curious look that demanded answers at the same time.

"I want to make a deal with him." I could tell he didn't much care for the idea himself.

"Miko, I do not want to see you get hurt. Therefore I will tell you straight out that that man is not going to be good for your health at this point. I do not want you to speak with him alone." He was serious now as he held me in his arms.

"Fine. I won't go to him." I said quietly, faking defeat. Now he only had to come to me. "Do you have a library?" I asked while gently tracing his chest.

"Of course," he replied while watching my hands.

"I'd like to take a look at it, see if I can learn some useful tactics." It was partly true, but I was counting on Yuma to approach me first.

"Very well," he said while pulling me towards the door. He escorted me down a few halls until we reached a propped open door.

When I entered the room I gasped because it was a big and extremely beautiful. There were shelves upon shelves of books along with paintings that decorated the little empty wall space. I scanned the shelves for a suitable book to read and when I turned to find a chair I noticed Sesshomaru had already found one and was beckoning me over to him. When I reached him he drew me into his lap and proceeded to open the book I had in my hands. After a few hours of reading together we were interrupted by earlier forces determined to disturb our peace.

"Oh how cozy…" Mana appeared from the shadows again, this time with her arms crossed as she looked us over. "Sorry to intrude my lord, but your people are getting restless with the wait."

"Fine. Inform them I will be there shortly." He lifted me from his lap effortlessly and then send me back in the chair carefully. "I will see you at lunch, miko."

"Have fun," I said and hid a smile as he scoffed. When he left I continued to read for a little bit until I heard footsteps.

"Woman." He said quietly as he entered. "I wish to make a compromise with you."

"Hello, Yuma. I must admit I didn't think you'd come to me so fast." I stood from my chair and set the book I was holding down. "I hear you're an amazing swordsman." Ok amazing might have been a little overkill, but I really needed him to become my friend. Enemies were not something I liked to collect often.

"And I shall teach you on one condition," he said while wearing a guarded expression. I raised an eyebrow at him and waited. He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Convince Lord Sesshomaru…"

"Not to end your life?" I mused for a moment and then turned serious. "I will do my best to prove your usefulness."

"Thank you." He sighed gratefully.

"But from now on call me Kagome please." I didn't really like to be addressed as woman all the time.

"Practice will take place in the sparring chamber. I will send for you tomorrow." He paused and, as he turned, added, "Kagome."

Inuyasha was still throwing his temper tantrum when he arrived. Once Inuyasha spotted him, his barking became louder. Sesshomaru growled as he made his way to his little brother.

"Quiet Inuyasha." He was not in the mood to deal with the mutt right now so he was going to make this quick.

"Sesshomaru you bastard! Where's Kagome?" He was asking to be killed.

"I've come to strike a deal, Inuyasha." He smiled inwardly as his brother became silent. "We should not waste our strength fighting each other. I suggest we work together until Naraku is dead."

"Then we can kill each other." Inuyasha added. "Fine. I accept, but you better not do anything to Kagome or I'll be forced to break this deal."

"I am not so foolish to hurt someone who is dear to me, unlike you Inuyasha I have self control." He smirked at Inuyasha before leaving him to think about his troubles. This was as good as a compromise he would ever get.

To be Continued…