"Though I do question your lack of communication," his mother continued, pursing her lips. "I was close to going mad before my wonderful friend told me of your little vacations during the winter."
For some reason, Kagome felt heat creeping up the back of her neck, darting looks between the two daiyoukai. Was she to blame for—
"I suppose I cannot be too angry," she said, a smirk tugging at her lips as she met Kagome's gaze. "She is lovely."
"She is spoken for." Sesshoumaru's tone was firm even as Kagome thought to laugh it off, his mother flipping her hair over her shoulder.
"I meant nothing by it."
He raised an eyebrow. "You said the same thing about the princess from Suisei."
She snorted, the tension finally dissipating as she pulled her hand off his chest. "You never had any interest in her anyway."
"Of course not, but Jaken spent the next month reciting her love letters aloud, assuming I was the recipient" Apparently, this was typical behaviour because Emiko chuckled, Sesshoumaru's mother looking unrepentant. Kagome looked at Kagura, but she just shrugged.
Now that the pleasantries had passed, and Kagome was a little more confident that no one was at risk, everyone relaxed, allowing Emiko to fuss over her. She demanded Kagome fill in the details of their journey, especially since Kagura's memory was a little fuzzy after she'd been stabbed.
"Will you be returning to the castle?" she eventually asked, turning her focus on Sesshoumaru.
Kagome had felt herself waning, but she suddenly perked up at the question. "You live at the castle? Are you one of the soldiers?" Was that how he'd known about her father?
His mother laughed outright, smacking his arm with her fan. "I had thought all your secrets had come to light."
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed. "It was not intentional—"
Her fan made contact with the back of his head this time. "I apologize for my son's lack of manners, though I suppose I am equally at fault for not properly introducing myself." She faced Kagome fully, bowing her head. "I am Inukimi, daughter of Shirogane and current ruler of Nishikaigen."