CHAPTER 10 - Revised 11/13/18

Kagome had arrived with Inuyasha at his castle. According to Inuyasha, it was much smaller than Sesshomaru's but it was home. He had many youkai, half youkai, and some humans who lived and worked in his castle. They had been casualties from when Naraku was alive. Inuyasha had taken them in and provided, safety, food, and shelter. The castle looked to be quickly expanding as more gathered to this safe haven.

Inuyasha had his own small army of young youkai and humans. Though it was small, they were very skillful. Inuyasha was very proud of what he had built.

After having a bath, Kagome walked down the long hallway looking for Inuyasha. Her long elegant forest green kimono draped along the wooden floor. She looked down every hallway and every room she passed.

A maid stepped out of what looked to be the kitchen. She was a hanyou like Inuyasha. The neko hanyou named Miki smiled. "My lady. Looking for lord Inuyasha?"

Kagome blushed. "I'm not used to the castle grounds yet."

Her yellow eyes shined with amusement. "He is in his study looking over the weekly reports. Lord Inuyasha likes to be very knowledgeable when it comes to his lands." She motioned for Kagome to follow down the hallway. Several doors down, the maid kneeled and slid open the door. "Lady Kagome, my lord." She smiled at her before Kagome stepped inside.

Inuyasha looked up and gazed at her. A lazy smile appeared on his face as he placed his work back on his desk. "It looks good on you."

She blushed matching the pink of her floral hair ornament. Kagome walked over and sat next to him looking at his work. "Anything I can help with?"

He pulled her gently into his lap. "These can wait." He nuzzled her neck where his mark was located. She leaned her head away from him to give him more access earning a pleased growl from her mate. He pressed his lips to the mark. He tongue glided against her delicate skin.

"Inuyasha...we can't." She begged but her scent told him otherwise.

He groaned. Her arousal was intoxicating. "They aren't here yet."

Feet padded against the wood floor stopping just outside their door. "My lord!" A young man called from the other side. "Lord Sesshomaru and Shippo-sama have arrived! They wait in the meeting room!"

The lord growled. Kagome sat up and kissed her mate's cheek before striding over to the door. She gently slid it open and bent down to the young man who was kneeling by the door. He looked up at his lady who was smiling down at him.

"Have someone fetch some tea for our guests." She glanced at Inuyasha who was pouting behind his desk. "We will be there soon."

The man smiled. "Yes my lady!" He stood, bowed, and hurried to the kitchen.

Kagome chuckled. "Come on, Inuyasha. Your guests await."

"Keh."

WWWWWWWWW

Shippo and Sesshomaru sat on the plush cushions in the meeting room. Miki walked in smiling. Shippo returned the smile as she silently served them tea. Shippo took his cup and took a sip of the warm liquid. "I wonder if they are still carrying out their mating ritual?"

Sesshomaru looked down at his cup and elegantly brought the cup to his lips. "Inuyasha should know better than to miss a matter such as this."

"Even if what he has to choose between spending time with his mate and this?" Shippo asked testing the lord. "If it was you...what would you do if it was your mate?" The question was rhetorical. He waited for a rise from the lord. Sesshomaru paused with the cup pressed lightly to his lips. He swallowed the liquid and put the cup on the table. Sesshomaru looked to be in deep thought. The lord had looked like he was going to reply when Miki suddenly opened the sliding door. Inuyasha walked inside with Kagome beautifully at his side.

Shippo bowed while Sesshomaru waited respectfully for them to sit at the head of the room. Miki silently served Inuyasha who glanced at his brother and the kit. Miki finished pouring and bowed. Kagome returned the bow and whispered her thanks as Miki took her place off to the side of the room so that she could serve her lord when needed.

"You do not need to bow to your staff Kagome-sama." Sesshomaru stared at her blankly.

Her cheeks blushed. "I guess I'm not quite used to being a lady yet." She glanced at her mate who smiled at her affectionately.

"Hiroshi is not here yet?" Shippo asked taking another sip of his tea.

"Doesn't look like it." Inuyasha grumbled. He mulled over his meeting with Soten and how she begged for him to save her lady's life. "...I hear he is abusive to his mate?"

Sesshomaru's head snapped to his brother. "What? Where did you hear this?"

Inuyasha could see the intensity in his brother's gaze. Shippo on the other hand was shocked but amused at the lord's response. There was something he didn't know that the kit was very well aware of. Sesshomaru was on the verge of losing face when the door slid open.

A young guard bowed. "My lords, lord Hiroshi and lady Yuuna." The Tengu entered smiling brightly. He was dressed in a extravagant kimono. He must have been given a large dowry for his union. Yuuna who followed behind him was beautiful. Her long ink like hair fell freely around her silken red kimono.

Sesshomaru gazed at the woman before him. Her presence took the air out of the room. She was much more than he had dreamed of from her rouged lips to the curve of her womanly figure.

Inuyasha noticed his brothers eyes as they followed the female inuyoukai as they took their seats on the right of Kagome. The tengu lord stared at Kagome as if he was devouring her. "Hiroshi...welcome." He growled.

Hiroshi smiled at Inuyasha. "Sorry my lord. You have a beautiful mate. How did you acquire such a treasure?"

Kagome stared blankly at the lord. She was more focused on protecting the woman beside him who sat silently as Miki served her. She whispered a thank you to the servant. Miki blushed and bowed her head before retreating. The woman looked kind. Kagome noticed as the lady leaned forward to sip from her tea, she could see a glimpse of a bruise forming on her neck. It was light but there. She had tried to cover it with a fur wrap.

"Kagome was the one who fought by my side against Naraku." He noticed his mate tense. Sesshomaru also could not tear his gaze from the lady. Something was wrong. "Hiroshi, how are you doing fitting in with the inuyoukai of the north?"

"Very well, thank you. Though I had begun to weed out the staff and guards to fit more of my needs but I assure you the tengu will become a strong ally." He lifted his tea to his lips and drank happily oblivious to the tension in the room.

"You mean...the north right? Not just the tengu." Inuyasha corrected.

"Yes! Of course!" The tengu chuckled.

"As well as the inuyoukai… who predominantly live in the North as compared to other races." The Tengu tensed at the comment.

"Yes…" The tengu fixed his gaze on the hanyou. "What are you getting at Inuyasha-sama?" Inuyasha's smirked at the Tengu's challenge.

Yuuna could feel Sesshomaru's gaze on her. She had silently admired him from where she sat. He was more muscular than the boy she remembered. Her skin flushed under his intense gaze. She glanced at him meeting his stare. 'Stop. Sesshomaru.' She spoke telepathically. A gift from her mother that only she now possessed.

Sesshomaru hissed at the gently sound of her voice. The sound had brought his body to life and he wanted nothing more than to hear it again. 'Yuuna.' He called through their connection knowing she would read his mind. She blushed. He was proud he could rise this kind of reaction from her.

"I heard a rumor that you do not like inuyoukai."

Everyone turned their eyes to the hanyou. Inuyasha's could see the shock in all their faces except Kagome who sat emotionless. She was tense and ready for the confrontation.

Sesshomaru glared at Hiroshi. 'The Tengu's mate was full inuyoukai. How could he have such hate if he is mated to her unless…' Sesshomaru glanced at Yuuna. She sat staring at him nervously. She had heard his thought. He growled in his mind. The faint scent of her reached his nose and it was unfamiliar. Perfume? 'Yuuna...you..are not mated…'

Yuuna tensed. 'No...Sesshomaru. Do not start a war.' She begged. She could hear the rage in his thoughts. He should have known.

Yuuna watched the images flashing through his mind. He had come to a conclusion. She began to panic knowing what he was going to do. 'Sesshomaru...you can't!'

Before the Tengu could retort to Inuyasha's accusation, Sesshomaru turned his heated gaze to Hiroshi. "I've decided I will not sign."

Their stares now turned to the inuyoukai lord. Kagome smiled at her mate who stared at his brother as if he grew another head.

"What?!" The Tengu howled. "What have I done to make an enemy of you Sesshomaru? The rumor is false!"

Kagome was about to label the lord as a liar until Inuyasha's stilled her with his hand on her thigh.

"I could care less if it was." Sesshomaru replied.

"Then what is it?" Hiroshi demanded. Sesshomaru returned his glare with a blank stare. Shippo sat still looking between the two lords as if waiting for something to happen. "What is it? Tell me Sesshomaru!"

"I'm going to take Yuuna as my mate."