Chapter 9

Tsuin's Sickness

"Stupid Katsu," Aoi muttered as she started to put away Kagome's now washed kimonos.

"Is something wrong Aoi?" Kagome asked while lying on her bed.

"Nothing its just your daughter," replied the blue haired servant.

"What did Miyori do this time?"

"She didn't do anything. I just have to do more work because her servant passed away, and Katsu is never around."

"Well she needs to spend some time with her family it seems like."

"Family is not an excuse for this. She has taken work here right months ago and has only shown up eight times."

"Once a month?"

"Exactly."

"That's strange, but how about this…you can take care of Katsu's shift while I can start tending to myself."

"Nonsense Lady Kagome, Lord Sesshoumaru would have my head and besides you won't need to be tending too as much as usual anymore."

"Oh, and why is that?"

"You are scheduled to be in the library every afternoon for your lessons."

"My lessons?"

"Your lessons on how to act like the proper lady of the Western Lands."

"Are you serious? So that jerk is actually making me do this?"

"They can't be that hard, and Rin I believe will be taking them with you."

"Why? Just because were humans?"

"I guess, but it is a wise choice its not as though you and Rin can do what Miyori can."

"Oh I see. So basically he compares us to Miyori."

"I guess."

"Well I got news for that jerk. It has been awhile but I still have the power of a miko and am not no damn weakling."

Kagome knew though that it wouldn't be good to ever get into a fight with her three-year-old daughter. Not only had Kagome became a little rusty, but she feared that she was loosing her miko powers for good, but that still didn't explain Miyori being able to purify the shards while Kagome couldn't. She thought that the only she reason she was able to purify and collect the shards in the first place was because she was Kikyo's reincarnation. She never knew it was possible for anyone else to learn how.

"Aoi where is the jerk?"

"I am sorry my lady, but I don't know the language of Atlantis."

Atlantis? Why did Aoi think she was speaking Atlantian? What made Aoi think there was an Atlantis? Then it hit her. She had a flashback to three years ago to when Kagome had to pretend she was Sesshoumaru's mate so he could get out of a marriage deal. Not only did she have to tell them that she was a full youkai, but she also had to make up a background story so no one knew that she was from the future.

She ended up just telling everyone that she was the youkai princess of Atlantis before the country sunk. Obviously Sesshoumaru was still telling people that story. Why? Because he cared about this safety of her friends and family and he showed it by not telling any youkai about the well? Or was it because he secretly wished she was some kind of princess instead of an average woman from the future who had to eat uncooked ramen noodles and couldn't pay the heat bill.

"Well here is a lesson in Atlantian," said Kagome, "when I say jerk I mean Sesshoumaru."

"Oh that's what I thought," responded Aoi, "he is in his office."

"Thank you," Kagome mumbled as she made her way out of the room.

- - - - - - - - - - -

"What are you doing?" Tsuin asked his elder brother who was hiding behind the staircase.

"Is our dad around?" Koinu asked looking around to see if the coast was clear.

"No he is in his office," Tsuin explained, "why?"

Koinu came out and made a sigh of relief, "because I don't think I can survive another training session with that maniac."

"Its not that hard," stated Tsuin, "well not for me and Miyori. I guess because we have been doing it our whole lives. It will eventually get better though."

"So? He could got a little bit easier on me…"

"Its probably only hard because he wouldn't be able to stand having another son who is unable to defeat his young daughter, you have a lot of catching up to do, and you still have that rock in your ear."

"For the last time it's my stud and why do I have to deal with everything? Why can't you defeat Miyori and I just sit there at third place?"

"I lack the physical condition that both you and Miyori have. Trust me if I had the power I would bring her down, but doesn't really matter because I have been trained to be more of a strategist. My armies could fight off her armies any day."

"Interesting…I don't like that so called sister of mine that much, but I do think from what I have seen she is strong and if this place is really in a war then she is needed."

"I don't know you could be very useful. I have been watching you during your first training sessions. They won't admit it, but you are way faster then both father and Miyori. Must be thanks to our mother."

"Our mother? I have lived with her all my life and I have never seen her run fast or do things like you and dad do."

"No, but she is a miko and as you can see males don't inherit miko powers, especially if you're a male youkai. So instead it mixes with our blood and enhances one of my skills. That is why you can run way faster then father and me and luckily even Miyori."

"What was your enhancement?"

"Must be my mind I guess…even though Miyori could easily kick my ass in battle things would be much different if our armies were to fight each other. I am a way better strategist. So anyways what have you been up too?"

"You know that Corlee girl?"

"The female wolf demoness who is daughter of Prince Kouga? Yeah I know her…after all her older brother won't leave Miyori alone."

"I was meaning to ask you about that…I thought that since Miyori was the little favorite dad would actually care about who proposed to her…when Uindo was causing his little display dad didn't seem to care."

"Uindo can't just marry Miyori even if Miyori liked him, that's not how things work for female youkai and Miyori knows that and father knows that Miyori will not go by that."

"Come again?"

"In order for Miyori to become Uindo's mate Uindo would have to mark her…and he can't just ask her he needs to just take her, but that can't happen because Miyori is stronger then him. Basically what I am saying is that the male must always be the dominant one and unless Uindo gets some skills really fast it will never happen. Father knows this so he isn't worried."

"What if Miyori was too ever fall in love with this Uindo and was willing to let him bite her no matter how much strength she had?"

Tsuin then began to laugh, "Miyori falling in love with something other then the battlefield is unlikely, but I guess if it did happen father would find out and put an end too it."

"Seems like a very controlling guy, but anyways I don't think Corlee looked that good in all blue when her eyes were such a bright green so I am making alterations on her wardrobe she is trying on my outfit design right now," Koinu then noticed a strange look on Tsuin's face, "what's wrong?"

"I thought you were my older brother not my older sister."

"Not funny. You see where me and mom come from we have only one source of entertainment and that is something called the TV…well my mom was having problems so she had to sell it. I didn't have my music working yet so I needed to do something and that something turned into sewing and getting ideas out my mom's magazines."

"Well that sounds special…"

"Sorry that didn't live in a castle getting whatever I want when I wanted it."

"Oh really? You think that's how it's been? You're free to live the life me and Miyori has had…all I have too do is run to father's office and tell him that your eager to get back to training."

"No that's okay, but anyways I better go and check up on Corlee."

"Do as you wish just make sure you stay far away from-

Tsuin then started hacking and coughing. Koinu really didn't notice until Tsuin was on his knees grabbing on to the staircase trying to catch his breath. Koinu moved to help his younger brother, but he was beat there as in a blink of an eye Miyori rushed to her brother and let him lean on her shoulder.

"What's wrong with him?" Koinu asked urgently.

"Don't just stand there," Miyori snapped, "go tell father!"

Miyori helped Tsuin on to his feet while he leaned on her shoulder before Miyori glanced at Koinu again.

"Please," she said gently before she turned around and headed into the hallways with Tsuin.

Koinu nodded as he quickly dashed into the hallway that he remembered his father's office being in. That wasn't something he was expecting. First Tsuin collapsing and then Miyori's reaction. When she told him please it was almost looked as though she was going to cry. Maybe Tsuin and Miyori had some kind of bond that he was unaware of. He then remembered that Miyori and Tsuin were twins and grew up together so it could be possible.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"What is your problem now?" Sesshoumaru asked Kagome while doing some paperwork.

"You ask me that as though you were expecting me to rush in here," replied Kagome sitting down in the small chair in front of Sesshoumaru's desk.

"You have become pretty predictable as of late," he added still not looking up from his work.

"Imagine how it will be when I take those classes and I am trained to do the same dull things day after day," she stated.

"So that is what this is about," he said looking up at her, "the answer to your question is no. I want you to do this."

"Well I refuse too. Its stupid, basically your just trying to say you don't like how I am so you want to change me."

"If I didn't like how you were I wouldn't have marked you now would I have? It's the Western Lands that your current attitude and duties are unacceptable for. I have to do it for my lands."

"What does me watching over the servants and learning how to host parties have to do with the Western Lands?"

"A lot more then you think. Just like I represent these lands so does my castle, if someone comes here while I am gone and see that it is a mess it would be your fault because your in charge of the servants, but not as much as my fault. Anything caused by you makes me a target because I picked you as a mate. If you turn out too be a bad choice then the ones who serve under me will be believe I have impaired judgment. Same things for parties…it is just your chance to represent me."

"Represent you? The only one I ever want to represent is myself and classes doesn't help me do that."

"Like it or not you have too its all part of being Lady of the Western Lands."

Kagome then pretty much gave out a laugh of annoyance after that comment, "yeah and like becoming the Lady of the Western Lands was my choice."

Sesshoumaru's glare to her now turned into a sharp dangerous looking one, "your right, it was my choice. Are you unhappy with my choice?"

"Well I don't know. I sort of like being near my children, well at least two of them, but anyways this is way better then me just getting them every once in awhile like our original arrangement, but if I remember right I wasn't happy when you first did it. You never asked for my permission and you didn't even know if I felt the same about you. You seem to think that since you did that without asking me you can also make me take classes and everything else without asking me."

"Sorry I guess I forgot to explain it too you, when a male youkai wants something and the prey is weaker then him…he takes it. I took you. No one ever ask permission so neither did I. Now me as the mate with the upper hand command you to take these classes, keep fighting me about it and I won't reward you with any jewel shards for it like I was planning too. Speaking of which meet me three hours after dinner when I am done with Koinu, I have another one for you earn."

Kagome then thought about something. Sure she was fighting Sesshoumaru a lot about this one, but not enough as she should have been. It was because she was trying to earn the jewel shards, but then she really couldn't remember why she wanted them. When she had first came to the feudal era all those years ago originally she wanted to complete it for Inuyasha and then she started to do it to make sure Naraku didn't. Things had changed. Inuyasha would never be able to use the jewel and Naraku was dead. She didn't need the shards anymore; it wasn't her responsibility any longer.

"What if I don't want the jewel shards anymore?" Kagome decided to ask.

"Then I will have to force you to do these task I guess," he answered looking back down at his paper work, "we can talk about all of this later."

Kagome was about to say something else, or rather scream something else, but there was an urgent knock at the door. (ah she was almost about to snap…it will happen next chapter I promise)

"Come in," said Sesshoumaru, "and it better be important your disturbing me and my mate."

It was Koinu who came charging in. Before Kagome had found out about Sesshoumaru's plot this time Koinu had been hiding to avoid training. If Koinu and basically came to his father then something was wrong.

"What is it Koinu?" Kagome asked in a motherly tone for the first time since they had come to the castle.

"Its Tsuin," responded Koinu, "he is with Miyori right now."

Kagome stood up and faced her son and was ready to ask him what he meant for she didn't understand what he meant, but then she seen Sesshoumaru head towards the door. Why didn't he ask? Wasn't he concerned? After following him into the hallway along with Tsuin that was when she realized that it was the opposite of what she thought. Sesshoumaru seemed to have a pretty good idea about what was going on.

"Sesshoumaru what is it?" Kagome asked him trying to catch up with him.

"The same thing that it always is with him," he responded in an irritated tone.

They all then stopped in front of the door that Koinu recognized as Tsuin's room. Sesshoumaru opened the door and led the other two inside before studying the scene in front of him. Tsuin was lying in his bed and Miyori stood over him. Miyori turned her head to look at her father for a second. He gave him the same look that she gave Koinu back in the hallway. A look of sadness and concern.

"He was just fine a minute ago then all of a sudden he started coughing and now he has a bad fever," Miyori explained in the gentlest voice Koinu and Kagome had ever heard her use, "and his temperature just keeps getting hotter."

"I will summon the healer and get some pain relieving herbs in him," replied Sesshoumaru looking down at his son.

"Father you always say that and it never works," Miyori said in a more strange voice then before, this time it was filled with sadness.

"What do you expect me too do about it Miyori?" asked Sesshoumaru, "my sword will only be useful if he dies which he hasn't done yet. The only thing who has anything to worry about is him for it his him who is suffering pain."

Miyori's expression just kept getting sadder and sadder. She clenched her fist as she walked past everyone and headed towards the door. Koinu knew it, she wanted to cry. And from what he knew about her so far she would never do it in front of anyone. Especially him and his mother with their human blood and not to mention her father who trained her to be strong.

"Father," her sad voice then rang out when she opened the door, "I will probably be leaving the castle tonight to check on tomorrow's birthday mission."

"I understand," her father replied dropping a wet cloth on Tsuin's head.

Kagome looked at the position of the wet cloth. It was dipped in a bowl that lay on the desk by Tsuin's bed. Why would something like that just be laying there without a servant picking it up? Did this happen often and it was needed there? Sesshoumaru had mentioned that Tsuin got sick a lot and that was why he was unable to catch up with Miyori in training. Kagome somehow felt as though this was her fault. If he had been like this for all three years of his life then did that mean something could have possibly been wrong with his birth. That would definitely make it her fault, but Miyori came out fine and the only thing she could remember doing wrong was fainting while giving birth.

"Tsuin," Sesshoumaru's voice rang out also in a calm tone, "how long do you think your sickness will last this time?"

"I don't know," Tsuin responded in a weak faint voice, which no longer sounded all Sesshoumaru-like, "I don't want to let anyone down though tomorrow…tomorrow is the day we attack the Southern Capital isn't it?"

"Yes, but if you are too ill to command your armies then I will have to take them and me and Miyori will command them into battle."

"You don't have to do that…I will serve the Western Lands in sickness and in health."

"There will be none of that…I didn't say you had a choice, if you are sick I am taking your armies and that's it."

Sesshoumaru then turned around to leave before Tsuin stopped him, "father I don't think I will get better."

"I could have expected much."

"No I mean, I have felt this way for a long time now…I don't think I am going to make it."

"You will make it, you have made it for the last three years so don't give me that now."

"Don't worry I haven't given up, but I don't think I can be of any use so since Koinu might be the opposite of me I want him to have the Kakosagia."

Everyone looked towards the corner of the room where Tsuin's sword was. It was the same sword that Kagome saw Tsuin use when they were down in the old castle. The sword that had a blade that was able to turn into pure fire.

"Koinu do you want Tsuin's sword?" Sesshoumaru questioned.

"Its his sword…I don't want to take it from him," answered Koinu.

"I want you to have it," Tsuin said, "I never fight anyways and it would be perfect for you. It has the power to burn two hundred youkai in one stroke."

"Thank you I guess, but if you ever want it back then just ask," Koinu told his younger brother as he went over and picked up the sword known as the Kakosagia.

"We will all take our leave now," announced Sesshoumaru going back towards the door.

Tsuin then went back to coughing and coughing hard. Kagome filled with more worry and concern right when she seen blood in Tsuin's palm. He was coughing up blood. This wasn't good at all.

"Don't leave me alone," she could hear Tsuin say between coughs.

"Sesshoumaru I will stay with him," Kagome declared walking to his side, "I know how to deal with the sick and it's the least I can do after leaving him and Miyori for three years."

"Very well we shall continue on with our conversation we were having later and call upon Kanna if you need help," he said as his eyes seemed to travel to something as he once again headed towards the desk in the room.

Sesshoumaru then picked up something. Kagome looked at her mate's face and noticed some strange look. She then looked at what she had. It was a piece of paper. It was folded so she didn't know what it said, but she recognized it. It was the piece of paper that Sesshoumaru had scribbled on and gave to Tsuin on the first day of Kagome's arrival.

"Didn't I tell you to take care of this sometime before tomorrow?" Sesshoumaru asked dropping the note by Tsuin.

"Yeah but I didn't want too," responded Tsuin.

Sesshoumaru just shook his head as he turned around and left the room. This time for good because the door shut behind him. Koinu then remembered about the young wolf demon that he was hanging out with before, it would have just been plain rude to leave her abandoned in the hallway so he said good bye to his mother and then headed out as well.

"Why did you say?" Tsuin asked his mother.

"You shouldn't be talking you should be sleeping," replied Kagome, "and why shouldn't I? I am your mother after all."

"I thought you wouldn't care for me that much. I mean after all you don't even really know me…and my sister hasn't been too kind to me."

"I don't care if I haven't seen you in three years I am still your mother and I am going to continue being your mother, and you have never said anything nor treated me like Miyori has."

Tsuin then clutched the note in his hand, "that's because I require your assistance."

(End chapter)

AN: All I can say is…DON'T HURT ME! I know I haven't posted a new chapter since before Christmas but I have an excuse I promise. I even emailed it too some people. You see most of the fics I write I start out writing in paper form at school when I have time. I then type it up on the comp later that night. For some reason during winter break I couldn't think of anything and I thought that if I waited for school to start again I would be better off, but then my kidney got an infection and I got really sick which prevented me from writing longer. And then finally when that was over I had to study for my final exams, but anyways if I was a reader I would say it was worth the wait. This is a pretty good chapter now that I sit her rereading it. The most emotion I have ever used in this story since the last chapter of Baby Blues. After this I am probaly going to update Shadow filled hearts…Castle Captive is saved on my friends comp and I am like there every weekend so I will just work on it when I am there I will try to get the next chapter done sometime in the next two weeks. Also I have decided to actaully use my profile…you can check up with it every once and awhile and see where I am with all my fanfics. I am also going to create a new canon fic that I have been thinking about doing lately. That way I will have 2 Cannons and 2 Alternate Universes and I will feel special.

Flame Ivy Moon: I have never really gotten to thank you for your reviews have I? Well thank you it seems like you have reviewed every chapter meaning you must like the fic.

Wind Witch 555: That's impressive someone actaully wants my rp characther and her mate back into the story…I guess so I just worn you…Tamasha cannot be trusted.

Mewl Neko: She tried in this chapter…but I plan on her snapping in the next one I promise.

Aqua Miko: Thanks for your review…and who doesn't like the word ass? Don't worry everything will work out for Kagome and there will be a happy ending. This will be my happy ending story.

cindamin29: Thank you for your review, and don't worry it won't ever get shorter then this. I try to have every chapter be at least ten pages nine at the minimum I won't go lower then that.

corlee1289: OMG Corlee flamed me, oh well even though I had an excuse for me not posting I still deserved it, for Corlee the wolf demon was mentioned in this chapter, but she never actaully appeared now did she? She will show up next chapter, but at least I explained how things go with Miyori and Uindo and the rules on this. And hey you defintely can't think of Miyori being constipated after this chapter. She almost cried. I am also going to reveal a lot about Miyori in the next chapter. And it is a said thing to say…but I have never seen Pirates of the Carribean, but there is a good thing about you getting a new comp even though you don't have intenet. You can write fanfics and then save them on to a floppy and put them on the internet when you have the chance.

Sesshomaru'smateladySuzume: If you act like that everytime I post a chapter I would hate to see how you reacted when you seen this one come up at long last…please tell me you didn't die of a heart attack when you seen this update. But anyways Razzmatazz is cool I get all of my ideas from caroyla crayons.

SugarCube: Hey after Christmas I got an Inuyasha backpack too.