Inuhime, who decided to take on her brother's duties until his courtship with Kagome ended, was in her twin's study, when Jaken knocked on the door.

"Come in."

"Milady, I'd just received a message from the Lord of the Eastern Lands."

She lifted her right eyebrow and said, "And?"

"Uh...well he's coming to see Lady Kagome, milady."

"Who's this Eastern Lord?"

"His name's Kouga, the Prince of the Eastern Wolf Tribe."

"Oh? Who's he to Kagome?"

"Uh...well, milady, I am not certain, but perhaps, his Lordship knows. Should I notifiy him?"

"Yes, be careful, though. He may not like to be interrupted."

"Yes, milady." He bowed and left.

In the palace gardens, Sesshomaru was once again enjoying the gardens with his Kagome. He was happy to note that his twin will handle any affairs th t needed to be handle especially that stupid annual ball that the four great houses would host every year. He hated them with a passion, but nothing could be done with the matter. He sighed with contentment. It was all peaceful until...

"L-lord S-Sesshomaru, uh...I know that you wish not to be disturb, but the Eastern Lord is on his way," Jaken said hesistantly.

"I thought Inuhime is handling the matter. I know that she could handle herself with the usual politics," Sesshomaru said while enjoying laying in Kagome's lap.

"I regards to Lady Kagome. The message says that he wishes to see her."

Kagome's eyes widened knowing who was coming. She thought, "Oh crap! He must heard the news of Inuyasha's death. I hope he isn't coming here for the reason to make me 'his woman'?"

Sesshomaru scent her distressed. He sat up with a questioning expression on his face.

"Tell me what ails you, omae?"

Kagome said, "Well, I guess you wouldn't know since you weren't around with us until the last fews weeks before the battle. Uh, when I first met Kouga, he kidnapped me after he discovered that I could see and locate the jewel shards. For some reason, he thinks that I am 'his woman', which by that way I am not. I told him that over and over again. He and Inuyasha always got into a fight because of that."

Kagome wasn't expecting what he would say after telling him their history. He was processing the information carefully.

"Have you encouraged this," he asked angrily.

"No, how can you suggest such a thing? I never lead him on like that. I told you before that I rejected him every time he called me 'his woman'. I like him as a friend. I will NEVER see him in that way EVER!"

Now furious, Kagome stood up with tears in her eyes. She ran to her rooms and slammed the door. The door slamming was so loud that the whole palace winced. Even the mighty Sesshomaru winced knowing that he caused her doing such.

Sesshomaru went over and over what she said. He knew that she was telling the truth to that question. He shook his head and mentally kick himself in the ass. How can he be so stupid in thinking that? He immediately went to Kagome's bedroom. He smelled the scent of tears in the air. He knocked.

"Kagome?!"

"What?!"

"May I come in?"

"It's YOUR palace!"

He took a deep breathe and entered. She was on her bed cuddling with her pillow. Her face was swelling red with tears streaming down her eyes. He immediately felt guilty. His beast was pissed. It told him to go and apologized. He obeyed his beast. He swallowed hard as he walked towards her bed. He pulled her up into his lap. He started to cuddle her.

"I am so sorry, Kagome. I didn't mean to hurt you like that. I understand that you are angry. You have every right to be. I wish I could take back what I said, but..."

She interrupted him by saying, "You should know that I don't have no one else in my heart, but you, Sesshomaru. For you to question that, it hurt me badly. I guess I should'd seen this coming. Sesshomaru, he's delusional. He just won't listen."

He chuckled and she continued, "And what's so amusing about this?"

"It's ironic that before Inuyasha died. He warned me about a mangy wolf was after you. I had no idea who was this wolf was pestering my little brother was the Eastern Lord's heir before Naraku damaged the lands with his vile existence. He told me this wolf before our last battle against Naraku. Then afterwards, when I visited the village to visit you and Rin. He never told me his name. All he said was that mangy wolf will come sooner or later to try to claim you as his 'woman'. He also said that he was delusional and won't listen to you or even him. Kagome, I apologize for what I said before. Maybe it wasn't the right words, but just the thought of someone out there claiming you as his made my blood boil with rage. It wasn't you that I was angry with. Please forgive me."

Kagome just couldn't stay angry at him like she could with Inuyasha. The tone of his voice and the emotion in his eyes, she knew that it was sincere and plus he said 'please', which was so unlike him.

"I forgive you, anata." They nuzzled each other and laughed.

He, then, said, "Perhaps we should go see my sister. She supposed to handle any or all affairs of mine, while I am courting you. Come, omae, lets inform my twin about this mangy wolf called Kouga."

In the study, Inuhime was looking at some proposals, even mating proposals to the Western Lord, which she had rejected. Some of the proposals were from the lower lords needed help with lower rogue youkai and etc... Sesshomaru and Kagome walked in the study.

"Sister, why did you send Jaken to disturb us?"

"Because I needed to know who's this Kouga is to Kagome."

He sighed and said, "Lord Kouga is so infatuated with Kagome. In the past, he had always 'claimed' her as 'his woman'."

Kagome added, "He kidnapped me cause he discovered that I could detect the jewel shards during the time when Naraku was recking havoc across the land. Then out of the blue he said that he was in love with me and wanted me be 'his woman'. Since then, every time we crossed paths he would had claim me as 'his woman'. He and Inuyasha would fight and/or argue about it. At first it was flattery, then it turned ridiculous. I told him from the first time that he had claim me as 'his woman' that I wasn't his woman. He just won't listen to me or to Inuyasha."

Inuhime said, "I see. So, you think he will come to try to claim you once more."

"Yes, I believe that he will. I just don't want him or anyone else gets hurt because of me."

"Kagome, in youkai culture, when it comes to courting or mating. They have a right to challenged the courtship and make a claim to a female. However, if the challenger wins the female, she has a right to reject the winner. Of course, there's a down side to it, though, if the female rejects the challenger, she wouldn't be allow to return to the loser of the challenge. Although, the rejecting the challenger is rare among youkai, since all female youkai want the strongest male."

"But what if the female and the loser still want to be together regardless of strength?"

"That's a really good question, Kagome, which we as a whole has no answer to such question. It had never happened before."

"Fret not, omae, he won't win and take what's mine," Sesshomaru said as his eyes were beaming red and golden yellow, which made Kagome shiver.

"Yes, don't worry. We can't jump into conclusions, now, should we?" They both shook their heads.

A few hours later, Jaken announced, "Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru and miladies, Lord Kouga has arrived. Should I send him here?"

"No, I will speak to Lord Kouga in the sitting room. Have the servants bring tea, there," said Inuhime.

"Yes, Lady Inuhime!"

"Brother and Kagome, I will seek what his intentions are, while you wait here."

"Wait a minute, Inuki. I appreciated what you are doing, but I am not afraid to speak to him."

"Kagome, I know that you aren't afraid of him. I am, as of today and until your courtship comes to an end, that I will handle all of his Lordship's affairs, whether it relates to him or not. You, my dear, are part of that."

With that said, she headed out of the study and walked towards the sitting room, where his Lordship, Kouga.

Inuhime entered the sitting room. She unexpectedly saw two wolf youkai sitting instead of just one. She cleared her throat.

"Hello. I am Lady Inuhime, sister of Sesshomaru, the Lord of the Western Lands. I, at the moment, am acting as overseer of the affairs of my brother. I had received your message that you wished to see Lady Kagome. Am I correct?"

"Yes, Lady Inuhime, I am here to see Kagome. I didn't know that Lord Sesshomaru had a sister."

"Yes, it was a well-kept secret. Enough of that, I wish to know what business does his Lordship have with Kagome?"

"I just wanted to give our condolences and to invite her to Ayame and mine mating ceremony. We've been courting since after the fall of Naraku."

"I see. Well, I will personally escort you to Kagome, who's in the study as we speak."

They stood and walked to the study. Ayame and Kouga were looking at some painting of the past Lords and Ladies of the Western Lands. They were awe-inspiring artwork. They noticed that there isn't no portrait of Sesshomaru.

Ayame asked, "Um...Lady Inuhime?"

"Yes?"

"I was wondering why Lord Sesshomaru doesn't have a portrait on the wall like his ancestors?"

"Well, usually, the artist would show up as soon as the new lord had been claimed in the courtyard. My lord brother, declared when he would had a portrait made is whenever he would find a mate."

"Oh."

"Well, here we are," Inuhime said as she opened the doors to the study. Kagome was reading a book that she got before she returned from her birth era.

"Kagome. Sesshomaru. We have guests. Lord Kouga and Princess Ayame," said Inuhime as she walked to her brother's deck and sat down.

Kagome gasped when she saw Ayame. She wasn't expecting her, but she was relieved that he wouldn't be claiming her as 'his woman' anymore. Sesshomaru was also relieved. I mean, not that he was worried about not winning. He was in a good mood, although, it wouldn't show on his face.

Kagome hugged both Ayame and Kouga. She said, "Congratulations on going to be mated! I am so happy for the both of you."

Kouga said, "Thank you, Kagome. We are also here to give our condolences on Inuyasha's death. We would'd been there, but our tribes were in a situation."

" You're welcome and thank you for your condolences. What kind of situation?"

"Oh, a lot of rogue youkai that needed to be vanquished. You know the same old thing."

Sesshomaru cleared his throat.

"Oh, Lord Sesshomaru, forgive us. We didn't mean to ignore his Lordship. How have you been doing?

"Good."

Sesshomaru had never been a conversationallst, but he wasn't shy either.

"We are having an annual ball on the new moon this coming month."

"We are having our mating ceremony on a full moon this coming month. You and Kagome are invited."

While Sesshomaru and Kagome were socializing with Kouga and Ayame, Inuhime was reading a parchment, that was the last inventory report, that Jaken made earlier. She was pleased to know that they had more than enough to provide for the guests and themselves until the appointed time. She remembered helping her mother with this in the past, even though, they didn't get long with each other. They do made a great team for planning events such as this ball. She wondered if she would do it again. She does want a relationship with her mother or at least try anyways. She thought, "Well it won't hurt to ask, right? I wondered where's my cowardly flea youkai is? "

She was flared her aura to the tiny demon, which it turned out that he was there. He begun to suck her blood. She hit her right side of her neck.

"MMM...her blood tastes like the blood of her father," he thought to himself.

"Well, well, there's my loyal, yet cowardly friend?"

"Hey, I am not a coward. I mean if you were as tiny as I am, then you would know how dangerous a flea's life can be, milady," he said offendedly.

"That's true. I apologized, then."

"You're forgiven. What may I assist you with, milady?"

"I want you to go to my mother's to give her this message."

He gulped, "Your mother?"

"Yes."

He sighed and thought, "This will be the death of me one day." Then she said out loud, "Very well, milady, it shall be done."

She gave him a light, but small piece a parchment, that was rolled up. Then he called his bird. He jumped on it and started to make his way to the Lady Mother's palace.

Kouga looked at Inuhime and then at Sesshomaru and thought, "Are they twins? They looked almost alike. I mean their face, their eyes, the length of their hair, the color of their hair are exactly the same. The differences that I seen so far is their crests on their cheeks and also their color. Sesshomaru's crests color are violet and her's are blue. Obviously one is male and one female. I wonder what her personality is like. I hope it isn't like that of Sesshomaru's personality. I really hope not. One Sesshomaru is enough."

Ayame broke the silence.

"Are you and Inuhime twins?"

Sesshomaru actually had made a face expression as it was saying, 'isn't it obvious.' One has to really look before he put his emotionless face mask back on his face. Finally he nodded to her question.

"I thought Inuyoukai could only birth one pup out of one time."

Sesshomaru responded, "It is very rare for a inuyoukai bitch give birth to twins or any other multiple births."

"I see. I wonder if we, ohkami youkai, are like that. I had always assume that we could, but I wasn't certain. I'd never asked my grandfather before he passed on. I would like to have as many cubs as I could possibly can."

Kouga chuckled and said, "I will be happy to oblige your request after we, officially, mated."

Ayame blushed and Kagome giggled and said, "Humans could give birth up to 9 babies, also known as a nonuplet, out of one time, but it's unlikely that they could live past their first week of life. Although, it's very rare for humans to have that many children in one pregnancy. Human women are more likely be pregnant with twins than any higher multiples in one pregnancy."

She laughed as Ayame's, Kouga's, and even Sesshomaru's eyes widened and their mouths opened. The expression on their faces were priceless, especially Sesshomaru's face expression.

Ayame said to change the subject, "Kagome... Are you being courted by Sesshomaru?"

Kagome blushed and said, "Yes, I am."

Ayame and Kagome both squealed with excitement.

Sesshomaru and Kouga just shook their heads thinking 'females'.

Kouga said, "Wow! Is this too soon, Kagome? I mean it seems kind of sudden, don't you think?"

Sesshomaru said, "I am not rushing her to mate with me. She knows that I won't even coerce her to do such."

"Yes, Kouga, I know how it seems, but this seems so right, you know. Sesshomaru is being patient with me. I really appreciated it that he is. Sometimes I do wonder what Inuyasha would'd think about this."

Kouga said, "Oh, he would probably bitch and raise hell about it like he did when I was claiming you as 'my woman'. Thinking back about it now. I was such a jackass. I really made a fool out of myself, didn't I?"

Kagome giggled as Sesshomaru snickered. Kouga glared at them.

"Don't give us that look ohkami. You're the one who said it; not us," Sesshomaru said.

"I know." Kouga smirked.

Kagome asked, "Kouga, why you'd never said anything that you were a lord's son?"

"Uh..well, it had never came up. At that time, however, it wasn't relevant."

"Well, I guess it doesn't matter now. Past is the past. It's time to move forward."

Inuhime spoken up, "Forgive me for interrupting, but Lord Kouga and Princess Ayame if you please go with Jaken. He would be honored to show you to your rooms. You must be exhausted from your journey. You could freshen up and relax until dinner. Jaken if you will."

Kouga said, "That will be great, thank you, Lady Inuhime."

Ayame said, "Yes, that sounds wonderful, thank you, Lady Inuhime."

"The pleasure is all mine."

Jaken said after he murmured underneath his breath, "Come and follow me I will show you to your rooms." Jaken hated following Inuhime's orders like she own him. His loyalty is with his Lord Sesshomaru; not his sister. They bowed and left the study.

A few moments later, Inuhime turned and said to Sesshomaru and Kagome the same thing. They left the study leaving Inuhime behind in silence. She was grateful for the silence. She let out a long deep breathe that she was unaware that she held back. Maybe she, too, would go to her rooms and freshen and relax until dinner. That sounds like a great idea. So, she, too, left the silent study behind.

Inuyasha (c) Rumiko Takahashi

Fanfiction & OCs (c) ladytari