XXII.

Rumors, Bargains and Lies

In the last hour of darkness, in the cold, grey minutes before dawn, Sesshomaru sat in silent meditation and watched his sleeping mate. She had retained her human habit of sleeping every night, but he himself had no such habits, no need for slumber.

He took advantage of this time to observe her, to try and come to terms with the pulse of internal awareness that was her, to take deep breaths and struggle with his own soul. He was tempted by her closeness to a complete release of the heart he had forced into a chained slumber. Part of it was just Kagome herself, the openness of her...and part of it was the destruction wrought by her waves of feeling. Sturdy walls, long fortified, were breaking under the pressure.

Mate...

Restlessly, Kagome turned in her sleep, pushed the furs aside and turned her face out of his sight. The warm autumn days had come and gone; the air was cooler now, especially at night, the breeze through the window finally losing its harvest scents to the piquant chill of winter.

Sesshomaru found himself breathing slowly, deeply, to Kagome's unconscious rhythm. Sleepy calm moved through his muscles and into his chest, became a weight on his eyelids. He let them drift towards closing; suddenly, he found himself without the willpower for anything else.

After a while that felt like a long, long time, he was watching Kagome through barely open slits of eyes. The air came into his lungs like water, thick and cool – drowsy thoughts meandered through his mind and he knew that they all poured from Kagome's direction, but he was not bothered.

Kagome's fingers were moving, tightening, digging into the furs. He reached out, and took her hands, held them, and the touch opened the inner awareness, let it expand outwards...outwards...and in.

He was drifting deeper and deeper into a fugue-state that was like a trance, becoming less and less aware of the outer world, until it was almost beyond sensing.

Am I dreaming…am I asleep?

If it was a dream, it was clearer than any he had ever had before, as clear as his waking life, but it was of nothing he had ever seen.

Sesshomaru saw buildings made of metal, not stonework, like glass stairs reaching up into the clouds, built high and magnificent. Temples, shops, houses – and people, human, every one of them human, walking and running through a flat maze of black-floored corridors where there should be plains of grass.

In his thoughts, there was an acknowledgment of the fact that these images, this dream, belonged to Kagome - and that she had been telling him a truth that he could barely comprehend.

The future!

Without warning, the construction of streets and walls, people and place disappeared, fell away, and there was such loneliness in the darkness, such abandonment….

His own voice was echoing in his head, and the strangeness of it, the accompanying pain, was so great that his eyes blinked open without warning; Sesshomaru found himself staring blankly at the wall beside the bed.

"...the sleeping Beast in your flesh Awakens, never again to be silent!"

He remembered the words, remembered saying them, but the feeling that came with them – that was not his own feeling. And the dreamscape of that strange city – that did not belong to him either.

How can she feel joy and terror as one thing – how does she feel so much?

Sesshomaru reflected on the nature of the dream. It was a sharing, a vision that did not belong to his own thoughts. He knew what had happened, even if why, if how were beyond him, but Kagome – what would she think?

She does not know the meaning of mate; a season, almost more, and she still thinks it is desire, the pleasing things. When I tell her, when she knows, will she understand? Everything is changed, everything – but not the look in her eyes. What does that mean?

He frowned. It was in his nature to worry, though he hid it well. But a streak of brighter dimness had cleared the edge of the windowsill and he stood, stretched and turned to look out at the dawn as it drifted up into the sky. With an effort of will, he tried to clear his thoughts, tried to focus on the coming day. It had been reluctantly that he had sent messages of invitation to his Kin, and those few who owed him bond that were trustworthy...by nightfall, they would all be here, seven youkai lords - and...

Mother.

He growled very low. It had been some time since he had been forced to be in his mother's presence; for any lesser reason than the presentation of his mate, he would not have bothered to summon her. In this instance, he had no choice, but he found himself hoping that perhaps she would believe the rumor of Kagome's humanity.

She would probably stay away out of pique.

His eyes slid away from Kagome for a moment, focused out the window, and then returned.

He had told Kagome that his kin would be coming for her, but he knew that like everything else, she did not know what that really meant.

Now the trouble is growing, just as I thought, and still – I would change nothing. I still want her, and…more than want.

Kagome turned again, and Sesshomaru reached out for her pale arm, the curve of her shoulder, one pink, crinkled nipple. He smiled, watching the flush rise under her skin, her mouth falling half-open.

He bent close and let his tongue touch the double-crescent mark of his teeth, no more than a tease. The hot scent was rising in her skin, deeper than usual, more heady, and he breathed deeply. He had held his own desires tightly, afraid that she would be afraid, that she would close her eyes to him and turn away if he gave her too much at once– but she was his mate.

I told her…the truth. She wanted me – that has not changed. And she is warm...

Nothing had changed, but his own sense of his own feelings was disturbing and the closeness – the closeness, too, unsettled him. What did it mean, that he could dream her dreams but that the strangeness of such things was nothing next to his want of her?

To keep her as my mate, I would give...much. Not everything, but much. And I would give more to see the same feeling I have in her; I would know then what it is.

For now, though...

Gently, he woke her with his hands, his mouth. Kagome blinked herself awake, and he stayed still, watching, waiting, until she reached for him, pleaded with him in a tiny whisper.

"Don't pull away, don't stop – you can't, you can't…."

It had grown cold in the dimness after sunset, and the breath of winter was thick in the evening air before they all had come – five Inu, lords under Sesshomaru who had owed their first allegiance to his father; Togusa, Bear-lord, watcher of the Wild Border where human and youkai territories overlapped - and the kitsune, Yozei, the son of the Nine Tails, who would not come himself out of fear or arrogance.

His mother had not deigned to respond to his invitation, and he was relieved and angered at the same time - her presumption, always!

She is the most irritating person I know of, but her absence will raise questions if it is noticed. I may have to go to her myself, and make sure she comes to the presentation.

Sesshomaru had counted the possible objections of those he had summoned a thousand times since the moment he had made his decision. He was beginning to believe that the strange-moving rumor would work for him, more than against him. Shock could be a powerful ally, a revealer of many truths that might otherwise escape unnoticed...and all that was needed to induce that shock was merely a glance at his mate.

It seemed simple enough, but he found himself growling, fighting an instinct with which he had little experience.

They are few, but still enough to be dangerous. Do I know them? Do I know their honor, their commitments, well enough to risk her?

He was drawing heavily on his reputation, on his own vaunted strength. Since they had come back from the human village he had been building his power, storing it, saving it for these moments.

They were waiting now in the Silent Pavilion, and he was waiting for Kagome, using this time to draw out their suspicions into open speech among them. He could hear chatter through the windows, quiet voices.

Kagome was watching him from around the corner of the corridor. She could just see into the room where he was standing. Her gaze tracked the sweeping movements of his eyes, the long steps of his pacing, and she took a deep breath and walked - almost marched - into his presence.

Shyly, she wrapped her arms around his waist and held him still. She was becoming bold with him, not afraid – not that she had never been afraid, but even her caution was slipping away from her now.

He covered her hands with his own, holding her still, and looked down at her with surprise and pleasure. She had been dressed in his own colors, white and red and yellow obi; the veils he had requested shared the design of the obi, but they were hanging loose at the side of her face now, the silver fastenings undone.

"I've never seen you act like this before, Sesshomaru. Is there something wrong with the people who came earlier? I can hear them talking..."

He eyed her for a moment in silence and then glanced back towards the open window.

"They have come for you, Kagome; I told you that they would. They have come to see you, and probably to judge you. Someone has been spreading rumors of you, not only of your presence but of your - "

He paused.

"Of your previous nature."

She looked up at him quizzically for a moment, and then blanched.

Oh -

"You mean they think I'm human."

He nodded.

"Yes. Foolish - but it disturbs me because I do not know how that information might have moved. Only Kinawai knew you were here, and Kinawai is the only person I have ever trusted to keep my secrets - as my father trusted him. I cannot believe..."

He shook his head; Kagome saw an opening for a question that had been plaguing her since the beginning.

"Kinawai was your father's friend, then? Did you know him when you were small? I couldn't figure out how someone would get close to you, come to know you."

Sesshomaru's eyes widened a little, and he leaned down until he was close enough to feel her breath on his lips.

"That is something you think you need to know, mate? But you are already close to me, closer than anyone else."

A little laugh slipped out of her, caressed his ears.

"That...maybe thatis true, but I do not…I do not know you, Sesshomaru…mate."

That last word came out so softly even he had trouble hearing it, but suddenly he was even closer to her, speaking against her throat.

"Yes, you know me. You do."

It was barely a whisper, but she felt his smile against her collarbone, and then his teeth, deep, not pain, the complete opposite of pain. She tilted her head back, back, exposing more of her throat, responding to his growl, the demand for submission. When she was limp in his hands, her eyes closed, when he could feel her as a warm essence in the flesh of his thoughts, he pulled away, and held her until she was steady on her feet.

"You must come with me now, and say nothing until it is time."

He reached out for her veils, and lifted them over her face, fastened them carefully, securely.

"When will I know the time, Sesshomaru?"

"You will know – and then we will have trouble. You will see."

There was only grim amusement on his face now; his emphasis disturbed her, reminded her of the Sesshomaru she had first come to know. But she reprimanded herself for her thoughts.

Just because she knew more about him, her first knowledge had not become suddenly invalid. He was Sesshomaru-sama still; she had seen his bloody intentions revealed often enough that they should no longer surprise her. Even against Kinawai, who he said was his friend; who he said had been his father's friend.

And these were his kin, he said, so maybe he does not...maybe he won't do anything bad to them.

It was a thought with a vain hope behind it, and she knew it; after all, she had seen how he was with his own brother. Still...

These are youkai, full-blooded. Maybe he feels differently about them.

"Come with me, Kagome; quickly now, and as quietly as you can."

His words were half-challenge, issued with a twitch of a smile, but she took their spirit to heart.

Sesshomaru led the way, and she followed in his footsteps as precisely as she could manage, focusing on the tiny noises of her feet, trying to erase them completely. It was harder than she thought, but before they had crossed half of the courtyard towards the pavilion, she thought she was managing to do a pretty good job.

Take that, oh Master-Of-All-That-Is-Youkai!

While she had been studying his scrolls, he had made fun of her in his subtle, sarcastic way, telling her how much like a pup she was, in need of so much training. She had shut him up by being able to read his Dragon-characters with very little help; they were an ancient script of cursive Chinese, more convoluted than any she had ever seen.

Being raised by her mother and grandfather in the most traditional manner possible for nine years of her life had finally come in handy, and besides that she had a funny feeling that she'd seen characters like these before, anyway.

She was tempted to shake her head to clear it.

Focus, Kagome! Concentrate on the present!

She took a deep breath, and then another.

But those are youkai lords waiting down there, lords who have come to judge me...and then probably kill me if I don't live up to their expectations -

Suddenly she was almost hyperventilating; she caught her breathing and reached out almost instinctively for Sesshomaru's hand.

Sesshomaru looked down at her in surprise and saw that her pupils were wide and dilated. The fingers gripping his hand were shaking.

"Kagome -"

His voice was lower than a whisper, a bare movement of lips.

Kagome shook her head and took a deep breath, squeezed his hand. She answered him in the same low tone.

"I'm alright now. Just - nerves."

She flashed him a smile that he could not see through the veils, but the tenseness around her eyes was relaxing, the wide, solid band of golden color in her eyes restored.

Quickly now, Kagome found herself whisked along beside Sesshomaru until they had passed around the east side of the fortress - and then she let out a gasp of amazement.

"There, Kagome."

She could only stare.

The Silent Pavilion had been built out over the water of an artificial lake, all dark wood but set off by raw crystal in giant force-fitted chunks, like window glass. The rising moon reflected light down through the crystal that fractured and doubled and danced in strange patterns on both the wood and water.

Sesshomaru enjoyed her reaction, but he did not allow her time to express her astonished pleasure.

"Do you see them?"

She shook her head; the reflections in the crystal were confusing, distracting - but she could hear them.

"I hear voices; the words, they -"

"Yes, they are talking about you. But be silent now, and follow closely behind me."

He saw her nervousness begin to reassert itself, and squeezed her fingers.

"Remember, Kagome - you are mine."

She was surprised at how much better his soft words made her feel.

On light feet, Sesshomaru brought down the walkway to the pavilion; his steps were blindingly fast, and her own feet didn't even touch the ground. There was a collective gasp from the lords who were muttering among themselves as he appeared; they stood suddenly straight-backed and almost shame-faced, like children found spreading rumors on the playground.

The image almost made Kagome laugh out loud, and went a long way towards dissipating her tension, but she was grateful for the concealing veil.

Sesshomaru had become Sesshomaru-sama, the person she had first known, the one for whom killing was as instinctive, as easy as breathing; she could see in his face.

"So, you are the honorable ones? Kinawai told me I should seek allies among my own, and we spent time determining the names of those we thought trustworthy. Tell me, how wisely did we choose?"

Without further preamble than his appearance, Sesshomaru moved among them, immediately dominant. A swell of power moved with him, a palpable aura, even though he walked slowly and offered no obvious menace.

Kagome stepped silently behind him, her eyes and ears open, examining the pavilion and the waiting lords, the different reactions to Sesshomaru's glance. She did not see that they were all watching her, too - unsure as to her place, as to who she might be – they had heard only rumors, and the rumors were dangerous, threatening and impossible. They were stranded on 'what if'.

Sesshomaru searched faces, looking for betrayals, for secret decisions, for fear or trust or intelligence. Kagome, too, was examining these new potential allies - she had more than a little practice in judging youkai intentions, even if those intentions were deadly more often than not.

In only one face did she see anything like trustworthiness, or resolution, and her eyes flickered quickly in Sesshomaru's direction.

She could feel that he, too, had noticed, but he remained disdainful, distrustful to all outward appearances; he was waiting for one of them to make the first move. It was the one with the trustworthy face who stepped forward first, tall and silver haired, obviously Inu - but his eyes held no gold, only the green darkness of the deep ocean.

"You are Akira."

Sesshomaru spoke as few words as possible.

"Yes, Sesshomaru-dono."

Kagome's eyes widened a little.

Sesshomaru-dono? What...what kind of lord is he, if these other lords address him like that?

Sesshomaru inclined his head slightly, cast an appraising gaze over this Akira.

"You are the son of my father's younger brother; you are welcome here. Do you know why I summoned you?"

"Yes, lord."

There was shifting amongst the other lords now. They had expected a fight, accusations and death. Sesshomaru's courtesy left them out of their reckoning. Encouraged by Akira, another spoke out.

"I am also kin, Sesshomaru-dono. I am Katsu, of the west forest. I came with authority to pledge my House; the Twin Fangs are with you, lord, if you need us – but why do you need us? Was there reason to call us before the presentation?"

From the corner behind the others, the Bear, Togusa, spoke, enforcing Katsu's questions.

"Yes, Sesshomaru-dono, I think that is a good question. What is so important that it means you must bring us all here before the necessary time?"

And he smiled, revealing his nature at the same time, its warmth and its viciousness.

"Although I should not complain; your wine is good."

There was silence after that, all of them watching Sesshomaru expectantly. He wasted no time; it was not in him to do so.

"You know the rumor that is working its way through every level of every house, every tribe. I am confused as it to its origin, but I find it...annoying."

He smiled, and a collective shudder moved through them.

"Kagome."

He beckoned, and she stepped forward at his gesture, looked around silently. Seven lords stared back at her, dissecting her, more confused by her presence now than they had been when they first saw her.

"Is she – she is Inu, lord? Of what House?"

The words were startled out of Katsu's mouth.

Sesshomaru looked at Kagome and smiled suddenly for his own reasons, baffling those who watched him. He had been awaiting this question, and worrying about it; but since she had told him of her origins he had been quietly awaiting the consternation that was sure to follow her words. She could tell the truth, and it would be as incomprehensible to them as the most complicated falsehood.

"Well, Kagome? How would you introduce yourself?"

Her own smile was faint as she caught on to how this game was being played. He had told her some of what to expect, but the reality was less threatening than she had thought it would be.

"Introduce myself?"

Her eyes darted at him, then turned back to the expectant faces.

"I am Kagome, daughter of Mai. I am a miko, protector of the shikon no tama...and I am Sesshomaru's mate."

Broad of shoulder, his eyes green and alight with cunning, golden-haired Yozei stepped forward, words startled out of him.

"You? You are his mate? But -"

Kagome felt Sesshomaru's growl vibrate against her back.

"But? What did you expect? Did you really believe that I would take a human for my mate? I, Sesshomaru?"

For a moment he seemed to grow and the pavilion darkened into shadows as if on cue. There were clouds passing thickly overhead, luminous grey through the crystal windows, and Akira reached out, gripped Yozei's shoulder warningly. Sesshomaru's eyes flickered back and forth among the assembly, but none of them dared to meet his gaze for more than a moment.

"She is Kagome, and she is my mate. If you think she needs a House to give her worth then you are foolish - but my mate claims lineage from the House of Fire."

The others, though, standing around Yozei, were frozen in place. They had been standing so since Kagome had begun speaking, and Sesshomaru's words were not enough to unfreeze them. It was Akira who finally broke the silence, reaching forward almost reverently with a hand that he retracted as soon as Sesshomaru's gaze touched on it.

"I sensed a strong power, but I did not imagine...you possess the shikon no tama? You - you are miko?"

He stepped back, and knelt, bowing low.

"My lady; Kagome-dono."

The kitsune, Yozei, no longer restrained by Akira's hands, took another step forward and braced himself against the growl that erupted from Sesshomaru.

"You're an idiot, Akira!"

He turned his words toward Kagome, ignoring his danger.

"If you are miko, if you come of the House of Fire, that means you must be Dragon - but no Dragon would ever mate into the House of Blades except for base purposes. Once I swore loyalty to the Inu no Taisho; it was dragons who killed him, dragons who opened the passage for his death. Perhaps you mean to do the same!"

Against all caution and common sense, he took another step forward.

"Sesshomaru, this female - you must kill her; she must not stay here! She does not belong in your House!"

Sesshomaru's hands snatched Kagome back to his side, away from the possibility of confrontation, away from the Kitsune's snarling face. His voice emerged empty, emotionless, terrifying for that reason.

"I will tell you this once, and never again. To threaten her, to speak of her in such a way, is to threaten me. Is this how you have chosen to end your life?"

Cold, taut, hungry, a thrill moved through Kagome's body, hearing him speak that way, hearing possession in his voice, the casual offering of death as though it were a glass of wine.

For me! He really does care. But anyway, what is it that this Yozei has a problem with? He reminds me of those stupid punk-kids in school, always playing at being yakuza. It's like...it's like he's scared of me!

Every time her eyes focused on him, she saw him flinching away. Suddenly, like an explosion in her brain, she recognized the origin of his fear.

It isn't because I'm youkai - it's because I'm miko! He's afraid of my power, afraid of my ability to purify!

Sure of her own assessment, she took a few quick steps forward, moving between Sesshomaru and Yozei, felt Sesshomaru's hand on her wrist and tasted bitterness which was a scent she knew for certain without being told. It confirmed everything she had been thinking.

Fear! Okay, Kagome, time to put this to work!

"Are you really a lord of youkai - Yozei, that is your name, right?"

Dumbly, he nodded; there was a hint of snarl, like an afterthought, attempting to accumulate on his face, but she drove that away almost immediately.

"I can smell your fear, Yozei. I can taste it - and you are a lord?"

Sesshomaru let go of her, could not believe his ears. His quiet Kagome, so soft-spoken and gentle – could she have such a venomous tongue?

"I am the son of the Nine Tails, Kyubi-no-Kitsune; I am not afraid!"

"You are not afraid? You are the son of the Nine Tails?"

Her voice was soft, on the edge of mocking, and her hands were near his throat now. Half-praying, she reached inwards for power and found it easier than she had thought, to focus the light at the tips of her claws. It was like pulling out power for an arrow, without the shock of release.

The scent of fear spiked another notch, and now it was coming from all those around her, only Sesshomaru standing aside, watching her, openly amused.

"You are nothing but a kit like my Shippou, Yozei. What are you doing, trying to play rough?"

Like she did to Shippou when he was very naughty, she tapped him on the nose, hard, and fixed him with a stern expression.

"Bad!"

With an affectation of disdain, her glittering fingertips a hairsbreadth from his pulse, Kagome turned away, and he reached out, claws deadly, as she had known he would. She sensed Sesshomaru's movement behind her but turned before he had a chance to help.

Her claws met the claws of Yozei, and the sparkle of light became something like purple fire. It moved along her fingers to his fingers, and then up to encompass his arm. Smoke curled in pale wisps from his flesh; she spoke with her eyes turned away, forcing herself to seem as casual, as relaxed at the idea of death as she had seen Sesshomaru be.

"I told you not to play rough, kit."

She paused for a long moment, and then flexed her fingers.

"Will I have to kill you?"

"Kagome-dono! Let me go, I meant…I meant nothing, nothing!"

She dropped his fingers. The skin was burned away from his hand and his wrist, the red muscle bloody and blistered in its exposure, but the wide fear in his face overrode the pain – he was looking at her with a terrible gratitude.

She had left him his life.

Easily, with a flick of her fingers and a wince of pain that she kept to herself, Kagome opened a shallow cut in her wrist and held the flow of blood out over his half-purified flesh.

"If you meant nothing, then I'm sorry."

As she had seen twice now, threads of light reached out of her blood and into the swollen burn. For a long moment, there was light, and silence, the other six lords watching and Sesshomaru standing nearby, his eyes narrowed in confusion and surprise. Her show of strength was appropriate and well aimed – he had not thought she would understand so quickly that violence might be required of her, nor perform so well – but to heal him after? What purpose did that serve?

Sesshomaru shook his head slowly, and let out an inaudible sigh.

I should have remembered. She fought with Inuyasha, even against me, even when she really had no hope...but more than she knows, I remember that arrow. She has always been capable of violence. She must have learned how to deal with our kind, or she would have died long ago. And even so, she is still miko, and she is still...Kagome.

The light faded as the wound was healed, and Kagome took a deep breath and dropped his arm. As she dropped it she turned away again, and Yozei did not move.

Sesshomaru took a deep breath and stirred from his silence, reaching out again to bring Kagome back beside him, secure in her closeness.

"I will put aside all doubt now, for those of you who may still harbor...difficulties. My mate was Dragon, and according to the power of her kind, she is Inu now, succumbing to my strength, my power as her mate. If some among you do not remember the way of that change, it is the doing of your own poor Records, and forgetfulness. Do not hold me responsible."

Slowly, Akira lifted himself from his bowed position and finally met Sesshomaru's eyes.

"Now I see, lord, why you have called us. Even among those who should offer you undivided loyalty, there is strife over this mating. Did the lord Kinawai counsel you further – beyond bringing us together first to see the one you mean to present?"

Sesshomaru almost laughed out loud, hearing words that worked with his own thoughts so perfectly.

"The lord Kinawai counsels me that since I have Chased her to make her my mate, I should follow tradition, and bind her to my House according to the old Way and the conclusion of the rite. I agreed with this, so on the night of no moon she will be marked by the burning Ink; she will show she is mine before the lords of Council."

"And we were called to prevent Challenge – is that what you want?"

Sesshomaru nodded.

"That is the way of it. Those that I can trust, you who are my kin, or who were my father's trusted counselors – you are only a few, to spread influence among many. The full Council will ask the questions he asked, and with even less finesse."

His eyes darted towards Yozei, and away. A low chuckle moved towards him, but he could not identify who the sound belonged to.

"What matters is that she belongs to my House now; that she belongs to me. I want no other female, and that, too, should be made known. Some of those in the Council…some of them have offered daughters to me, and sisters, but none of them is her equal. After her, if ever there was after her, that still would be true."

Sesshomaru's gaze flickered over a few of the Inu who had not spoken, but he was surprised by a question from Togusa; the bear sounded impatient.

"What about the shikon no tama? What does your mate intend with such a prize, Sesshomaru-dono?"

Kagome saved Sesshomaru from words that might have brought more blood.

"The jewel remains in my hands alone. It is the task of a miko to guard it, until it can be purified."

She spoke lightly, but with warning; she had been waiting ever since she had come amongst youkai for someone to make a grab for the jewel.

It seemed, however, that a barrier had been broken; now that Togusa had spoken, the others who had stayed silent were less reluctant to offer their opinions.

As they talked, they turned away, no longer looking at Kagome - as if her part was now played, as if she no longer required notice.

They are still afraid. Being miko - I'm glad I didn't lose my power, glad, glad, glad. I need the edge!

She tried to listen for a while, wanting to catch more hints about her presentation, but most of the talk was about other lords, and shifts of power in Council. She did not know the youkai they were talking about, and Sesshomaru hadn't told her very much about the youkai Council yet. She wandered around the edge of the pavilion, and her attention drifted in and out of focus until she caught a name she recognized.

"Kouga will not be pleased to travel here for the Rite. He is young, and impetuous, and he takes his anger seriously. There is no hope in going to him for support, and that means no lord in the south will offer any, either. The best you can hope for is that the Wolf will not protest simply to make trouble. Surely, whatever female you take for a mate does not concern him!"

She heard Sesshomaru answer.

"The messages have already been sent, and answered; the Wolf has not been trouble so far, and if Kouga chooses not to come after all, I will not bother being insulted."

Kagome felt something like a chill, and shivered. She knew Kouga; he was everything they said, but he had promised he would be her friend – your good friend, he had said.

A/N: Another chapter, joy of joys! Everyone is probably disappointed that Shippou and Rin are...well, not here, but I really didn't want to have another chapter with infinite words, so I have set them aside for the beginning of the next chapter! They're already written, so you can look forward to that...oh, and I think Sango and Miroku might make it into the next chapter too! They're sort of fighting with Sesshomaru's mother for space right now - and Kasuka might get in a few punches, too, you never know. Heh. And now...reviews! Let's see...

Raksha65: Much thanks as always!

Mariah's TopFan455: Of course! It would be no fun if they had no pups; after all, who wouldn't want tiny Sesshomaru's?

lunarcat12: Yes! I have fun making him emotionally confused (retarded is probably the more proper word, but we can be politically correct, right?) I feel like Ginta and Hakkaku get no credit for being loyal to Kouga, who is mostly an ass, and also for just generally being amusing! You're right about one thing - it could most definitely blow up in their faces! As far as the presentation goes, though...that's my little secret. Hehe. Or maybe not so little. I have to say, though...there's an ultra-intense version and a light version that have been going back in forth in my head. Youkai ceremonies...heh.

Amutolover09: He would, he would! Thankfully, his decapitation is limited to fictional characters, so I think you're safe :D. Teaching Sesshomaru love is fun, though, I gotta say! And it is, of course, way premature, but Kinawai does get a happy ending! Not until the sequel, though...he's a little tragic for a while.

Kouga's Older Woman: He'll be the awesomest dad! And while I think you're right about Jaken dying, I had this picture in my head of him frantically swinging around the Staff of Heads, lighting the fortress on fire, and then Sesshomaru finding everything all toasty...oh ha!

Ichirei: Sugar high, wow! Don't mind though, I have...not much life? Just this endless rotation of classes and work, and then pretending that the world doesn't exist with anime (or manga...endless manga). So I totally understand! I used to write in school, you know, but I was never afraid of anyone reading it cause I write in cursive and its a scribbly mess that even I can't read sometimes. But still, fluff is good! (Like Sesshomaru...) :D

Little Miss Morphine: Much thanks once again! Sorry the play date didn't make it, but the chapter can only be so long before it starts to just wander off...next chapter, promise!

Chaotic Reverie: It's like you're a post-posting beta! Ha! I don't mind; it helps actually, because after a while of reading something that I wrote myself my eyes start to jump forward because I know what's coming. I have to let it sit for a day or so before I can go back through it word by word. I couldn't find an extra too, though, although I fixed the other bit. I don't even know how I do that, just skip whole words...my brain going faster than my fingers, I suppose! Yay Sesshomaru trying to figure out love - I can just see him with this ultra-serious expression - so funny!

Anime Lady PIMP: He is, he is! And confused. :D He'll figure it out eventually, though!

saymoney22: I think he just might! We never found out much about Shippou, and that always annoyed me - he's awfully young to be powerful enough to sustain a partially-human form constantly, and his dead dad still manages to protect him...interesting stuff to work with :D. I think you're right about the wedding, though - snow might be annoying. Guess that means it'll have to be soon! As for Kagome - I can only say that yes, she will see her family again, but not until the sequel - and even then...eeh, but I can't give away too much. Suffice to say that ,yes, she will see them again - they aren't sundered forever!

Phew! Final Revisions Done! I'm almost caught up with myself, how pleasing! :D R&R, pleasy please!