Disclaimer: Inuyasha plot and characters do not belong to me

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Chapter 27:

Kagome supervised the servant's healing and help as much as she could. She had a brief report that Sesshomaru's next potential match was being formerly introduced and they would be having Lunch privately in the demoness' room. Kagome hid her scowl carefully and nodded her thanks to Jaken , who bowed lowly before returning to the children who were playing just as they were, much to his surprise.

It was late afternoon when she finally left the infirmary and as she made the short journey to her room she was stopped by many servants with many problems that she found a quick solution to. Others stopped her just to ask how Mina was doing, and it wasn't long before the guard she had talked to her the other day approached her. She gave him a calm and expecting smile and he bowed lowly to her, it happened often but it never failed to surprise her and make her a tad uncomfortable.

"Thank you Lady Miko, " he said lowly and took his hand in hers he turned her palm upwards and dropped two leather pouches into her hand. He turned her hand over again and laid a chaste kiss to the back before straightening, "My brother and I are ever grateful, but we are unsure what we should do now. We cannot stop the plan that is in motion, not without risking you milady and everyone else."

"Worry not Daku," Kagome said lightly touching his shoulder as a sign for him to rise, "I was aware of the plan from the very start there is nothing we can do but allow it to follow through and work from there. When their plan is complete and Sesshomaru is dethroned vanish and do not return until Naraku's demise."

"He says that there is only one person that can defeat him and that she is dead. How-"

"He was told by a misinformed woman that I had returned here and immediately lost my life, I am not dead but that fact must be hidden."

"You have my word that Naraku shall not see me again." Daku bowed again laid one last kiss to the back of Kagome's hand and walked away.

"Who was that?" Susuki walked up having witnessed the ending of the encounter.

"A demon who needed help," Kagome answered before turning and continuing her walk to her bedroom.

"Well Sesshomaru needs your help now, seems as if the girl is already getting on his nerve." Susuki glancing at Kagome suspiciously who merely nodded her head and turned down the hall opposite of the one leading to her room. She bit back her sigh as she nodded to Susuki that she could leave.

Kagome paused at the door shook her head and knocked once before entering the room. The girl was continuously rambling and Sesshomaru looked like he was about to lose his composure and bash his head against something. Kagome momentarily indulged herself in that brief fantasy imagining that the blow he delivered himself caused pain unlike he'd ever feel, she shook it away and pretended like she didn't want to throttle him for not allowing her a moments rest.

"Milord it seems there is some development on that issue," Kagome said trying to seem particular devoid of emotion Sesshomaru's gaze instantly leapt to her and he raised an eye brow.

"Is it urgent Miko?" he asked and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Indeed," she gritted out but to the young prospect it seemed as if she was merely speaking lower for the powerful demon lord, who looked amused at the moment, "Life and death one could say," she continued.

"Hn." He said and stood.

"I would not tear you from such a promising prospect if it were otherwise," she said lightening her tone, and Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes while biting back a scowl.

Sesshomaru walked out the door and Kagome followed him calmly in stride, "Miko," he growled out but she did not respond, "Miko," he addressed again in his normal low and devoid tone.

"Milady," said a servant they were passing spoke up and Kagome acknowledge her, which made Sesshomaru growl lowly in warning, "It seems the Lord is addressing you,"

"Was he now?" Kagome asked raising her eyebrows in what Sesshomaru was mock surprise, and as he inhaled her scent there was no hint of deception she was genuinely surprised and he couldn't figure out how she was surprised, "I didn't hear my name pass his lips. I thought he was thinking about some miko that has been giving him trouble since that is all he growled out," Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed dangerously and his growl grew in intensity.

"Are you not a Miko, milady?"

"Indeed I am, however that is not my name and that is not how a pack member, even alpha, is going to gain my attention. You see those who call me miko are like those who call me milday. Important but unrelated to me. You call me milday because addressing me otherwise would be considered rude, do you know why?"

"Because we are do not have that kind of relationship,"

"Correct. It would also be considered rude of me to request you to call me by my given name but it would not be rude to you but to Sesshomaru here, right?" the servant nodded, "Can you tell me why that is?"

"To him it would be insulting your position."

"What is my position again?"

"His Alpha female."

"That means we have a close relationship correct?" the servant nodded, "and what kind of privilege accompanies a close relationship?" the servant hesitated to answer and Kagome smiled, "if you were thinking the right to call me by my first name, you are correct. To call me anything but aforementioned name would be?"

"Rude?"

"Correct. I do not answer to those address me rudely and since we are not strangers or enemies any longer it is rude to call me miko." Kagome smiled at the servant who was almost smiling from shock, "Thank you very much, why don't you take a break now?"

Kagome continued on walking beside the pissed lord of the manor and as they passed servants they would stop and stare at the calmly smiling miko walking fearlessly next to a murderous Taiyoukia. Kagome went to follow Sesshomaru into his study but he closed the door quickly behind him, Kagome's aura raised a notch as anger coursed through her. She forced it down and walked out into the garden where the two children were running around playing. She smiled as she calmly walked up to sit beside Jaken.

He nodded his head to her but remained where he was since he had yet to be dismissed. Kagome sat for a few minutes before the children noticed her, and she was slowly dragged into playing as many games as she could think of. She smiled at Jaken and nodded her head giving him permission to take his leave.

Kagome played for them the rest of the afternoon and into the evening where she ushered them inside after seeing Sesshomaru walking around the gardens with Masami. Since their lunch had been interrupted their scheduled 'alone' time it was rescheduled to now. Kagome almost scowled as she thought Sesshomaru actually seemed to be interested in this one, which was good since that would speed things up. It wasn't good since the fox would not stand up against her, unless- Kagome stopped herself before she actually suspected of Sesshomaru being interested in a female other than those already in his care.

Kagome help the children prepare for dinner before finally retiring to her room to prepare herself for dinner. She would make an appearance to keep up a steady image and retire early to check on Mina and spend some time alone in Sesshomaru's Library.

Walking down the stairs gracefully she heard the servants whisper about their Lord's apparent interest in this new female. They voiced their worries about him taking this one as his mate. She was not the strongest and they whispered about already feeling her wrath.

Something in Kagome sank lower. If Sesshomaru was actually interested he would resent her for fighting to her fullest, but if she didn't then he would hate her for showing that kind of weakness. She didn't want to mate him and he didn't want to mate her so if it is this woman then the best course of action is to resign her position. Yet that would let so many others down if what the servants were saying were right. She was the only thing in the way of Masami completely ruining them.

Kagome shook her thoughts to the side already feeling even more drained then before. She smiled at everyone gathered and took her normal spot next to Sesshomaru. She noticed how he stiffened and almost sent a scowl towards her, but since they were in company he bit it back and reigned in his anger. Kagome rolled her eyes ever so slightly at his antics; he was acting like a child who had his favorite toy taken away. That toy just might be Masami, and once again Kagome shook her thoughts away. She ate little and noticed that others were staring at her, clearly sensing something was bothering her.

Even Sesshomaru continuously glanced at her, and when he caught himself doing so he turned his gaze away abruptly only to look back a few minutes later. The dinner was tense and half way through Kagome excused herself. She had ignored their inquiries and somewhere in the back of her mind she could here Sango saying she was heading towards the infirmary.

Sesshomaru expected that since the object of his anger was no longer present that he'd be able to relax. Yet he could not, there was something about the small woman that had him concerned, not just him but almost everyone present. However he could not go ask her himself since that would send the wrong message to the other lords. It would seem like he cared more for her then his possible mates and they were trying to stall the plan as long as possible, but if these first girls were any indication he didn't want to stall.

The woman he was forced to spend time with today was far more annoying than any other female he has yet to come in contact with and that was saying something since most of the women he was forced to interact with were annoying. The only reason why he agreed to a rescheduling was because it was becoming apparent to the lords he wanted nothing to do with the women he picked. He had even had to fake being interested since he was being watched carefully.

He walked up to his study hoping to find some time to finish most of his business, even though it should be left for whatever fool would be taking his place temporarily. He closed the door behind him and almost scowled as he noticed Susuki sitting on his desk, instead he raised an eyebrow at her while walking around the room.

"I thought you and Kagome had a well thought out plan here," she said her voice full of suspicion.

Sesshomaru raised his second eyebrow.

"Neither of you had time to get distracted with romance, not with the world on the line," Sesshomaru froze to his place wondering what Susuki was talking about, there was no romance between them. He bit back an uncomfortable cough and attempted to raise his eyebrows higher, "Stop while you're a head and tell her to get those silly thoughts out of her head."

With that Susuki left and Sesshomaru stayed there rooted to his spot. The silly fox couldn't have possibly meant that the Kagome had developed feelings for him. Although it would explain her odd mood today if she had seen him with the idiot woman earlier today, and with that he sought out the young miko.

He found her in his library pooring over some books and maps and scribbling down a few notes now and then. There were a few closed ones that he recognised from the infirmary, he watched her silently for a few minutes waiting to see if she would acknowledge him. Slowly the raven haired woman lifted her head and glanced at him curiously. He stood there blank for a moment as she stared at him, he couldn't tell what she was thinking or see any noticeable signs that there was an interest him.

"Miko," he started and the woman turned back to her books and he bit back a snarl "Ka-go-me" he gritted out and she raised her head looking at him once again with bright curious eyes, "Susuki said that you've been having thoughts." Sesshomaru started awkwardly.

"What kind of thoughts are these?" Kagome asked looking down and scribbling something, and he was silently grateful she had looked away.

"Romantic thoughts," he said keeping his voice purposely void.

"Who would I have time to have romantic thoughts about?" Kagome asked absently and Sesshomaru contained his curiosity waiting to see if she would explain, "I'm a little more concerned with this whole plot thing, it's a little more serious than we had originally thought."

Sesshomaru lifted his eyebrow and Kagome glanced up when he remained silent for an extended period of time.

"So now you want to know?" she snapped, "Or are you just listening 'cause there is no door to slam in my face."

"It was more than an excuse," he murmured lowly and Kagome nodded her head once. Sesshomaru winced slightly considering he had acted like a pup again when he was insulted, but no one had dared talk to him like that for a long time, "Who's life is on the line then?"

"Yours. So obviously I've been busy worrying about how they plan to kill you."

"I believe Susuki meant you had romantic thoughts about this Sesshomaru, and that I had romantic intentions towards you." if he had been any other demon he would have blushed awkwardly as the young miko just stared at him blankly.

"Well that would be awkward," she droned and turned to her papers again, "No Sesshomaru I do not have romantic feelings or intentions about or to you."

Sesshomaru left silently feeling oddly disappointed and for the life of him he could not figure out why, eventually he found Susuki and she raised her eye's to his questioningly.

"What did you mean?" he demanded.

"Well there are rumors going around that you will choose this fox demon as your mate, which doesn't go according to the plan recently worked out, and I have seen Kagome talking with a guard from one of the other houses. He also gave her something, a courting gift is likely. She accepted it."

Sesshomaru turned around again and walked back to his library. Kagome let out an annoyed huff without looking up at him.

"Susuki says she has seen you talking with a guard, other than mine, who gave you something. She believes he is courting you."

Another annoyed huff came from her and she glared up at him, "Yes I have been talking to one of the other Lord's guards, and yes he did give me something would you like to see?" without waiting for an answer she threw the two pouches next to her at them. She had not been able to purify them, there was a curse stopping her.

He glanced in side and then to her, "Jewel shards?"

"The guard and his brother are the ones that started this plot in service to Naraku. They were tricked into working for him and this was is big plan now that I'm seemingly out of the way. The guard gave me the jewels and informed me that there would be an attempt on your life."

Sesshomaru turned around and walked down the hall finding Susuki talking to one of the servants now. He waited until the servant left and there was not another soul in the hallway. He then proceeded to cuff her on the back of the head, "Baka." Then he walked to his study glaring at the pile of work that could have been done by now.