Chapter 20

Just as he had finished writing out all the letter that were to be delivered to all of the noble men and their families of his village and the outer villages as well, Sesshomaru looked up when he heard his brother enter the room. Before Inuyasha could say or ask what it was that his brother was doing so late, waiting to see them, Sesshomaru raised his hand and motioned for him to wait just as finished the last of this writing. Unable to hold back his grin when he heard his brother's annoyed filled growl, Sesshomaru let out a long sigh and said, "To think your mate would have taught you how to wait by now."

"Patience was never his strong point, besides I love him as he is. Why would I wish to change him?" his sisters voice was heard as she entered the room in the robes and armor he had had made for her when he had chosen to hand over the title of Lady of the West over to her.

"Feh I told you we had time." Inuyasha growled out as he pulled her into his lap in the seat by the fire.

"Regardless since he is back so quickly I have a feeling that what he found is not something we'll come to like." Kagome stated as she took not of the seals and letter that Sesshomaru held in hand.

"I found nothing to the rumors or of what Jaken has claimed to have heard. I did however come to a realization and thus agreed to my mother's request." Sesshomaru explained himself as he stood so that he could go and join them at the table that had been placed by the fire place.

"Something tells me that I am going to have a few choice words for your mother when I see her next." Kagome mumbled under her breath.

"Oh and just what is it that your mother has asked of you that you could not ask us for help." Inuyasha asked in a confused filled voice.

Sesshomaru ignored his brothers question and chose to turn to face his sister and said, "I will need you to adjust your seals and spells so that strangers will only be allowed in certain parts of the castle, we will be having guests over in a few nights time and you will have to agree to do as I ask in this matter."

"Just what the hell have you agreed to brother?" Kagome growled out in anger as her power began to fill the room. While she had been turned into an Inu hanyou by the demons that had been left in the Shikon jewel, Midoriko had blessed and willed what power she had left into the miko as she had been turned which only added to the power she had already been gifted as a human.

"My mother has requested that I find a mate of my own so that I may start a family of my own now that we have a proper pack and a system that would not fail the west should any of us ever be killed." Sesshomaru explained in a calm filled voice as he kept his eyes locked with his enraged sister. "I will be inviting any and all that wish to prove themselves as my equal to stay and fight on another and my guards so that I can see for myself if they are truly what I need at my side."

"Is this because of Rin and her recent death?" Inuyasha asked in a confused filled voice as he looked at his brother for any signs that he had been forced into this. "Just because she is gone does not mean you need to find someone so soon, we all feel the loss and we all know that it's going to take some time."

"This is not about Rin," Sesshomaru growled out in slight anger, "My mother would like to see me a happy man and wishes for me to find a mate that is not only my equal but that would be my true soul mate. She believes this would be the best way for me to meet my one true soul mate."

"If you swear to me that this has nothing to do with her, look me in the eyes and promise me as the Lord of the West that this has nothing to do with my daughter than I will let you do as you have been asked to do and will adjust the seals and spells that I put all around the castle." Kagome growled out after a short moment of silence.

Having already prepared for such a thing, Sesshomaru kept his eyes locked with those of his sister and growled out, "I give you my word, as Lord of the West that this has nothing to do with my dead ward Rin, it has to do with the fact that I wish to start a family of my own, to expend our pack."

While Kagome had liked what she had seen in his eyes, she let out a long sigh, kissed her mate and quickly left the room so that she could get to work on the seals and spells so that the section of the castle that was hardly used, that had used to belong to Sesshomaru's mother would be the only part of their home that the females and the family that they came with would be allowed to explore. Of course she refused to ask if the dragons would be invited, she hoped that they would not show but if they did they would not be welcomed by her and they would answer all of her questions. 'So help me god if he is hiding something from us he will regret it…Lord of the West or not you do not hide things from family.'

Once the two had been left alone and after Jaken had came to collect the letter that would be sent off that night, Inuyasha let out a long sigh and shook his head as he said, "I have no idea what you are planning or what it is that you are really thinking but if you get caught you do know that I am not going to get in the middle of whatever it will turn out to be between my mate and you."

"I would not ask you to try to chose, whatever comes to pass it will be because of my own actions and choices. Actions and choices that I can assure you I would not have regretted." Sesshomaru stated as he stood to leave.

"So you are hiding something from us." Inuyasha growled out in an angry filled voice.

"And if I was?" Sesshomaru challenged his younger brother.

After a tense moment of silence, Inuyasha looked away and let out a low growl before saying, "While I love Kagome and trust that she knows what she is doing the loss of Rin is affecting her. I am trusting you with whatever it is that you have planned will help the pack instead of harming more than what it has already been damaged."

"You have my word brother," Sesshomaru stated as he made his way out of the room and toward his own wing of the castle, "What I have planned will pull the pack together and make it whole once more."

With demon carries the letters that had been written by the great Lord of the West had already reached the noble man of his villages throughout the west, including those that lived in his own village. While some were confused by their Lords choice to try to find a mate now of all time when he had only just lost the child that they had all come to care for, there were those that were greedy enough that saw this as the opportunity that they always been waiting for; the chance to increase the power of their families with the help of their daughters. It had been just as his father had finished reading the letter that had been sent to their home that the General of the West had walked in to find his sister smiling and telling his parents that they need not worry, that she was raised for this day and that she would not let them down.

After they had all calmed down enough that the General to the Lord of the West turned to face his father and asked, "What is going on here? What has my sister so happy and my mother making sure to find her the finest of dresses?"

"The day has finally come my dear boy, even if you refused to aid your sister, it would seem that she has finally found her chance to claim our Lords heart for her own." His father spoke which only caused the young general to frown.

"What are you talking about father, and please explain in as short as words as possible, I have much to do and still more in the morning and would like to get at least some rest while I am home."

"He is looking for a mate Anki; he is going to be hosting a battle for those that wish to try to be his equal. But no one will make it, I will hold true and I will be the next Lady of the West like I was born to be." Akuma explained with a grin on her face as she locked eyes with those of her brother. "I have been invited to take room within the castle at the start of the first night of the battles. The night of the next full moon, in just two days time, I will be given the chance to win my Lords heart."

Ignoring his sister and wanting to make sure that he had the right guards in the parts of the castle that would hold so many guests, the young general looked at his little sister with an enraged look t his eye and growled out, "Father, may I see the letter I assume you just recently received to inform you of such news."

"Of course my boy but you must know that you'll have to make sure that your sister here gets the best room and the room that is the closest to our Lord." His father told him in a stern voice as he handed the letter he had only just recently read over to his son.

Ignoring the conversation that his sister was having with his overly excited mother, the young general began to read the letter that had been sent to his home to in from his father of the Lord of the West decision to find a mate. Once he had finished reading the letter, he let out a low growl and turned to take his leave. As she stormed out of the house, he ignored his father questions, his mothers cries for him to return and his sisters angry voice promising him pain should he meddle with something that he had no business in melding in with to being with. Just as he had reached the castle grounds, the General was about to storm toward his Lords aura only to freeze and quickly bow down when he heard his Lady's voice ask, "Lord General, to what should I owe this late night visit to?"

"My Lady, I trust that you have been able to settle in well and to your liking."

With a bright smile, Kagome offered her Lord General a nod and said, "Yes, Inuyasha and I have found that everything was as we had left it. But I must ask, what has you so upset?"

"I just heard news of my Lords recent decision and I wish to speak with him at once about the safety of those that live within the castle and of the outcome that we should expect should he truly house all that will come to try to 'claim' him." The young Lord General explained in a stress filled voice.

After taking note of the letter in the general's hand and after realizing what it was that probably had him so worried, Kagome let out a long sigh and said, "I have no idea what that man is thinking or why he is allowing his mother to influence him in such a way now of all times but you can rest assure Lord General that I have already readjusted most of my seals and spells. No one is to be near our personal quarters will be able to go near that part of the castle should they try."

"So am I to assume that you were aware of his actions when we last spoke," The General questioned in a confused fill voice as he looked up to lock eyes with the alpha female of the west. He had done what been asked of him, had not once shown any form is disrespect to his Lord and Lady which was why he was so confused and wondered why it was that he had not been told of such plans.

"What? No, of course not, I was only just told a few minutes ago. My mate is still speaking with him while I left to come and change my spells and seals now when there were less people around the castle to watch me." Kagome quickly explained in a gentle voice. "Trust me, should I have known about this I would have gone back for my pack on my own with my mate and left you your man to prepare for his gathering."

"So than you are almost done my Lady?"

"Almost, I promise you that I can take care of myself and that all is well. Once I am done here I will be joining my mate and brother to see what details need to be worked out."

"Details?" the general asked in a confused filled voice. As far as he was concerned he knew that it would be the Lord that chose whom he thought would make the best mate for him. No one else would have a say or would get a word in.

"Of course, do you really think that after all I have been though since I was given the title of the Lady of the West that I would just hand it over to someone that has no idea as to how our lands are ran or to a child that thought she was old enough for such responsibilities? You must give me more credit my Lord General, I am not that easily replaced." Kagome growled out in a passion filled voice as she locked eyes with the general before her.

"Of course not my Lady, I know that you value your men, you care for the people, and you have done so much for us already. I have no doubt that you would help to ensure that our Great Lord Sesshomaru finds the perfect mate."

"I am glad that you see what little still refuse to see." Kagome stated in a proud filled voice. "As I've stated I have only a few more spells and seal to alter before I join my mate and brother."

"I see, I must thank you my Lady for you have made my job just a bit easier. If you could please inform the Lord that I must speak with him at his earliest convenience I would be in your debit."

"It's no bother at all, we were all caught by surprise, should you need help with anything else place do feel free to come and find me or my mate. Also if you could place send out a group to go and join the escort so that Miroku and Sango are informed of the coming guests I would greatly appreciate it. They do not have to stay with them but I would just like to keep them informed."

"Once I have finished gathering the guards for the guest I will personally deliver the message to the rest of your pack my Lady, you need not worry." He answered.

"Well than I will thank you in advance. If you excuse me, I must get back to my mate and brother now. Also should a letter or visitor of the east arrive I do wish that you send them to me as quickly as you are made aware of them. Agreed?" Kagome requested in a voice that left no room of doubt of what would happen to him should he not do as she had requested of him.

"Of course my Lady, I will have them before you in minutes the moment I am informed of their arrival."

Having nothing more to say, Kagome quickly made her way back to her study hoping to find her brother and her mate still in the room and talking. Just as she had reached the privet area of the castle that would allow no one to enter, not even the help, Kagome was thankful to have run into her brother. Before Sesshomaru could ask what it was that she had found or what it was that she had to say to him, he let out a long sigh when she had said, "I just ran into your Lord General, he was upset when the news of your choice was given to them by the form of his father instead of your words. Did you not think about the security that would be needed for all the guests that you will be hosting here for a month's time?"

"I had not thought of it, I will speak with him in the morning, I'm sure that the seals and spells that you have put into place will ensure most of the security issue that you speak of." Sesshomaru replied with a grin on his face as he used some of phrase that she had brought back with her from the future.

With a grin on her face, Kagome shook her head as she walked past him and said, "I also request that should any noble man's daughter from the east arrive that they were to be brought to me immediately upon their arrival."

"What would they have to do with the treaty that their king and queen are trying for with us? They would be here to try to be my equal and nothing more." Sesshomaru growled out as he tried to keep the anger he felt out of his voice. 'If they are taken to her then she will be kept from me.'

"Your choice would not be useful to me if I cannot get them to come and talk to me about the matter at hand. I will not hide my anger or my intent to get some answers brother." Kagome growled out in her own anger and hurt filled voice. "Rin might have started off as your ward but she was my daughter just as Shippo is my son. You cannot expect me to let this go. This may be the anger, the hurt and the loss that is talking and it may be that I am allowing my demonic instincts to rule me on this matter but do not forget that I am also well aware of the rules and the handling of the courts during our time. Do not underestimate me because the last fool that did lost his life."

As the silence consumed them, Sesshomaru approach is brothers mate and for the first time saw her not for who she was or for whom she had come to be but as a woman, a mother, and a demon that was out for blood of those that had wronged her family. Once they were just a few feet apart Sesshomaru locked eyes with those of his sisters and whispered, "Do not think that you are the only one that is truly hurting here sister. I must live the next coming centuries knowing that she died, that her death could have been prevented had I just gone to visit her, had I just been honest with myself and simply brought her to my side the moment I could not stand to be away from her any longer."

"Why didn't you go for her? Why didn't you take her when you could if you knew how she felt for you all of this time? Why?" Kagome whispered in such a low, and sorrow filled voice that he had barely been able to hear her questions.

At her question Sesshomaru looked away from his sister and took a step back so that he would allow her to take her leave. When she would not move and when she had placed a barrier that would not allow him to leave until he had answered her question, Sesshomaru let out a low enraged growl and said, "You have no right to hold me miko."

"I have every right Anki, you gave it to me the moment you announced me as the alpha female of the west." Kagome answered in a cold voice.

Realizing that she was right, that he had given her such power over him, Sesshomaru let out a low growl as he forced himself out of the barrier and growled out, "I did not want her to face the same fear, the same looks, and the same life that my father's mate faced and died with because of my needs. I was prepared to live my life without her at my side so that she would stay safe. You dearest sister do not have to live with it edged into your heart for centuries to come that if you had only followed what your heart and demon told you then she would still be with us now."

Before Kagome could say or get her brother to understand that it was not his fault, that nothing was his fault she watched as he burned himself and broke free of her weak barrier before storming off. While a part of her told her to let him be another part of her told her to go after her brother so that she could make sure that he was not only alright but that he would realize that nothing that could be said now or nothing that would be done would bring back her daughter. Just as she had turned to make her way toward her mates waiting arms Kagome was hit with the sudden truth of her brother's words. He had known all along, he had known the love her daughter had for him and had known what she had been to him. She was his true soul mate; he had lost the other half of his soul and had not been given the chance to be whole before she had been ripped from all of their sides. 'Oh Anki…you foolish man,' Kagome thought sadly as she was driven by the need to be in her mate's arms and stormed off to do just that.