Naoko was kneeling on a mat in her room, waiting. She knew, at some point, he would notice. He barged in without even a knock, she did not raise her head.

"I will ask this only once, wolf, where is the Miko."

She bowed ever so lightly "The Miko travels South, my Lord."

"With your brother?" He asked calmly,

"Yes,"

"What was the wolf doing here?" His voice was darker now; she knew she had to be careful.

"I beg your forgiveness, but It was I who sent word to him."

He stepped fully into the room, and the door shut behind him "Stand up."

She rocked forward and then stood, still keeping her eyes down and not moving more than she needed to. But he quickly grabbed her jaw. "I could kill you."

She knew that.

"Tell me why I should not, Naoko?" He graced her with her name, which means he did hold some type of respect for her.

"You are my Lord, and she was my friend. I was merely trying to think of a diplomatic solution."

"To what problem, wolf?" He squeezes, and her eyes finally meet his. "Kagome is a great asset."

"I am well aware of that woman; she belongs to the West."

"Your father offered her freedom to decide, my Lord."

His hand goes slack on her. "What?"

"She was going to leave; either way, I did not want to lose her, so I devised a plan and sent her on her way with my brother."

He released her and turned away.

"In the event you chose me, our houses would combine, and Kagome would still be your asset."

That was actually pretty smart.

"I have not chosen."

"It was a risk on my part but- Then she stopped and tilted her head to the side. "My Lord?"

He looked at her for a moment, and she suddenly wondered, "You didn't return because you were actually considering her."

He turned and walked to her door "I did not return because I was unsure what to do with her; you have solved that problem."

"But my Lord-

"Be silent." He snapped, "Prepare a letter for your brother; our houses will unite."

She gasped, "My Lord-

He turned and glared at her. "Is this not the outcome you planned for woman?"

"Before I knew there was a third outcome to be considered my Lord," She stated quickly.

"I would not mate a human, and I will not mate a sneak," She knew he was referring to Leiko.

"Send the letter." With that, he slammed her door shut.

He walked back down the hall and found Leiko still waiting for him; he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her. "I have chosen; pack your things and depart from the West."

Leiko gasped, but he did not give her a chance to respond; he threw her in the room and slammed the door on her.

Sesshomaru went looking for his father next.

"Whatever plan you have devised, father, I will not fall prey to."

Intashio turned slowly to his son. "Nothing I could ever do would sway your path, my son; I merely offered you choices."

His father looked away. "Life, my son, is what happens when you are busy making other plans, have you ever stopped to think that you might be missing out on life because of it?"

"I am immortal," Sesshomaru stated.

Inutashio breathed in, "Yes, do not forget it, my son; this life and your choices they are eternal to you."

"I would never mate a human, and you knew that,"

His father cracked a smile. "Never say never." He turned his head. "You say that, yet you bed her."

Sesshomaru made a fist at his side as his father turned away again. "Once you have tasted the sweetness of wine, you will never thirst for the bitterness of sake again."

"What did you hope to gain by bringing her here," Sesshomaru asked,

His father turned fully to him. "Life is about give and take, choice and consequences."

"I care not for your riddles."

"You, my son, have nothing to gain, but everything to lose." He walked by his son.

"I have chosen the wolf."

His father paused for a moment. "I stand corrected." His father stated, "You have already lost, but I will not reject her,"

His father walked away, and Sesshomaru stood confused. From his point of view, he had lost nothing and, in fact, stood to gain more than one could hope for. He would have a strong mate, and the West would become allies of the South and acquire a powerful asset.

"Never lose sight, father, of what is truly important," Sesshomaru spoke out loud. Though his father was a ways away, he heard his son's words, and he closed his eyes in silent defeat; his son would never gain the one thing he needed the most.

Love.