A/N: Thanks to my loyal reviewers. =) Your comments really helped keep the story in the forefront of my mind.

Please enjoy and remember I don't own any of the characters.

The Heir V2 – Chapter 3

The soft warmth of down surrounded Kagome, urging her to relax and allow sleep to pull her back under. She was tempted and pressed her face into her pillow, deeply inhaling its lavender scent. Her mind was floating for the first time in years, her arms wrapped around another pillow and clutching it to her chest. She couldn't remember the last time she had been so comfortable or slept without fear infiltrating her every thought.

The sharp screech of metal curtain rings dragging along their rod made her bolt upright. Light flooded the room, momentarily blinding her as her eyes searched for the intruder in her room. "Wake up, deary. It's almost noon!" a bright, cheerful voice called from the window. As the black spots receded from her vision, she saw a short older woman looking at her from the edge of the bed, pulling back the warm covers from her body.

Kagome's eyes were wide as she stared at the woman. "You might want to close your mouth before you find flies in it, deary." With a snap, she closed her mouth she hadn't known was open. The woman's eyes twinkled as she finished tucking the bedding at the end mattress and turned to a chair with a pair of clothes on it.

"Who are you?" Her voice was low, sounding scratchy from her first night of restful sleep in years. Kagome still sat in the center of the bed, her arms wrapped over her chest and middle.

"Oh my," she laughed, the sound was warm and melodious to her. "My name is Kaede, deary. I'm the maid that has been assigned to you while you are at the palace."

Dawning crossed Kagome's features as her mind finally woke up. Her eyes darted around the ancient tapestries, hanging against the Prussian blue and white wallpaper with intricately drawn floral patterns, to the antiques and beautifully carved Hinoki Cypress furniture. The four-poster bed she lay in was covered in blankets, of the same blue as the walls, and was covered by a solid blue canopy, its corner fabric hanging over the bedposts to brush against the floor. It was also high set, only coming to the waist of the woman who was now moving towards her again, this time holding the clothes in her hands.

'It's almost noon', the woman's words rang through her mind. She reached her hand out to feel for Ileana in the blankets beside her, panic gripping her chest. When she'd gone to bed last night, Ileana had been lying next to her cuddling her stuffed turtle.

"Where's Ileana?" Kagome snapped, touches of panic colouring her words. The wrinkles around Kaede's mouth pulled as her lips quirked into a smile.

"Your little one is fine." Her voice was soft, gentle. "She's awake and happy in her room, playing."

Without a word, Kagome bolted from the bed, ran towards the door, and threw it open. Soft gasps could be heard from the maids in the hall she'd startled, but she didn't care. Her head turned swiftly, looking for any clue to her daughter's whereabouts.

"Second door on the right," Kaede's voice called from inside her room.

Kagome's heart was in her throat, blood pulsing around her temples, as she found the door and pulled the door open.

Sitting at a table in the corner of the room colouring, Ileana's hair shone like the moon in the light streaming in from the floor to ceiling window behind her, the beautiful palace gardens spreading out below it. There was a woman sitting across from her, telling her daughter things that made her laugh. At the sound of the door, both looked up at her.

"Mummy!" Ileana called, a bright smile splitting her face as the dropped the crayon in her hand, jumped up and ran to her mother with open arms. Kagome squatted just in time for her arms to enfold the girl's tiny frame. She released the breath she'd been holding and kissed the girl's forehead. Taking Ileana's face in her hands, she kissed her forehead, her cheeks, and then her nose, making her daughter squeal and giggle. "Stop it Mummy!"

"Not until I've had my fill of you," she laughed, the crushing weight of anxiety lifting off her chest now that her precious girl was in her arms. With a smile, she stroked her face and gently tapped her nose. Her eyes took in every inch of her, taking particular note of the yellow, embroidered dress she wore.

Noticing the direction of her mother's gaze, Ileana beamed. "Do you like my new dress, Mummy?"

Kagome smiled at her and nodded. "You make it look even more beautiful, sweetheart." She absentmindedly fingered the skirt's tulle before smoothing the blue, velvet bow around her waist.

Happy with her mother's compliment, Ileana giggled. "Can I go back to play with Ms. Kaname?"

Kagome's eyes jerked back up to the woman she had seen when she'd entered but forgotten about in her haste to hold her daughter. Ms. Kaname, as Ileana called her, was younger than her and looked at her with a warm smile on her face.

The woman rose from her position on the floor and walked over to them. "Good Morning, Ms. Higurashi," her lively voice welcomed. Her brown eyes were warm as she smiled down at them. "My name is Kaname Kururugi. Prince Takahashi has left Ms. Ileana in my care," Kagome's eyes narrowed at her, but she rushed on before she had a chance to speak, "I promise to take care of her as my own, ma'am."

Kagome wavered, her grip loosening around her daughter as she stood up slowly. She looked over the young woman in front of her, taking in her straightened posture and hands held in front of her. She nodded hesitantly at them, unsure of what to say. Ileana took this as permission to continue playing and, after squeezing her mother's legs once more, spun around, taking Kaname's hand and pulling her back to the table under the window. Kaname laughed and smiled down at Ileana, her focus entirely on her charge.

A soft hand on Kagome's back pulled her away from the emotions rising in her chest. "The little one will be safe with her nanny." She turned her head and saw Kaede standing beside her. "And you'll probably feel more like yourself once you've dressed and eaten."

Dressed? The word brought a flush to Kagome's cheeks as she looked down at herself for the first time that morning, remembering, to her shame, the silky, cream, chiffon negligee that she wore.

Last night, after scrubbing off the mud and dirt clinging to her storm-soaked body, Kagome had emerged from the shower to find her duffle bag had not been brought up to her room. Instead, she found a black box sitting on the bathroom counter. She had lifted the lid and pink tissue paper to find the cream negligee tucked delicately inside with a pair of matching lace panties. At first, she had refused to wear it, but found the clothes she'd previously worn gone. With a huff, she'd donned the outfit and gone to bed, her hand gently running over the chiffon as she dozed off.

Without missing a beat, Kaede covered her in a silk robe before leading her back to her room. Kagome clutched the fabric tightly around her, the redness on her face still evident. With the door shut safely behind them, the older woman grabbed the clothes she'd laid on the bed to follow after her and held them up.

"Where is my duffle bag?" Kagome asked in a choked voice as she looked over the designer dress hanging from the hanger in Kaede's hand. Under different circumstances, she might have considered wearing the dress, even though she thought spending so much money on something so trivial absurd. Today, however, she simply didn't wish to feel like the Prince's doll.

Looking closely at her face, Kaede saw there was no budging Kagome's decision. "In the armoire," she sighed, pointing to it before turning to hang up the dress.

Still pulling the robe closed around her, she quickly moved to where the older woman pointed and pulled open the antique armoire's ornately carved door. A smile split her face as she saw the familiar tattered duffle bag. Digging through it, she found a worn pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and her softest t-shirt bra.

Turning to go into the ensuite, Kagome saw the bed and her mind latched back onto Ileana not being in her room when she woke up. "Kaede," she asked tentatively.

"Yes, deary?" Kaede stopped fussing over the small wrinkle on the dress's skirt and looked over at her.

"Why wasn't Ileana in here this morning?" She looked at the older woman imploringly.

"The little one woke up at dawn ready to play, deary, and the Prince had given explicit instructions for Ms. Kururugi to move the girl into her own room and take charge of her." The woman's answer was matter-of-fact, as though it was the most common-sense decision in the world.

To Kagome, though, it twisted at her that Prince Inuyasha had made a decision regarding Ileana without consulting her. "Why didn't anyone wake me?"

"His Highness made it clear we were not to disturb you and allow you to get your rest." The corner of Kaede's lip lifted, as though she was privy to some secret Kagome wasn't.

Without knowing what to say, she turned on her heel and went into the bathroom to change.

00000

Folded into a chair on her bedroom's terrace after tucking Ileana in, Kagome looked out over the calm sea in front of her, the storm from the night before all but forgotten. The fading dusk light was breathtakingly beautiful as it danced across the waves. However, they did nothing to distract her from the thoughts running through her head.

After storming out of the parlour the night before, Kagome had yet to hear from Prince Inuyasha. Will he allow us to stay? she wondered, just as she had last night as she stood rubbing Ileana's back. For an hour she had been rooted in the same spot, watching the door, waiting for the final blow to drop. For him to waltz back in and throw them out, leaving them to the mercy of his enemies. It wasn't until the butler had entered and informed her that the two of them were to follow him to their room did she feel she could move. Her panic subsiding.

Today, she had spent her time with Ileana and kept herself occupied until it was time for the little girl to go to sleep. As she'd walked back to her room, she felt the panic creeping back. Kagome still wasn't comfortable leaving Ileana alone, even though she was just down the hall. She had hoped looking at the ocean would calm her shaking hands, but it had only made her anxious mind run through every possibility, every interaction, that could shape their future. For now, though, she knew Ileana was safe.

A soft knock on the door pulled her gaze across the room to find Myoga standing in the frame of the open door. "Ms. Higurashi, I need you to follow me."

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A few minutes later, Kagome's heart pounded inside her chest as she followed Myoga into Prince Inuyasha's private living space. She held her head high as she was lead into the room, her shoulders back, her fingers fidgeting with the ring on her finger. The room was an elegant mixture of Oriental architecture with intricately carved wooden arches reminiscent of the Qing Dynasty, priceless artworks, and antiques. Above her head, a large, ornate, metal, Japanese lantern chandelier cast light throughout the room.

The doors behind her clicked shut and she whirled. Her knees trembled as her gaze locked with those of the man striding towards her from the adjoining room. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips as blood pounded at her temples.

Prince Inuyasha's broad shoulders were pulled back, his tall body encased in an ornately formal uniform. A red sash crossed from his right shoulder to his waist, cutting across the dark navy uniform studded with gold. Rows upon rows of medals and ribbons lined the left side of his chest in a colourful display. A sword strapped to his side.

With his eyes locked on hers, he lifted his hands and pulled off first one white glove and then the other. Kagome wet her lips again as he pulled off the dark navy officer's cap, his silver hair spilling loosely around him. Unceremoniously, he dropped the hat and gloves on a chair. His golden eyes trained on her.

"What happened to the dress I left for you?" His eyes were hard as they raked over her plain green t-shirt and faded jeans.

"It was a bit excessive for wear around the house." Kagome stood tall, she would not let him make her feel bad about her choice of clothing.

There was a dark look in his eye's she couldn't place. "What do you anticipate happening, now that you've brought the girl to my attention?" His voice was cold.

"Protection. Whatever that means. I do not wish for money, nor do I wish for you to claim her." She had mulled over her answer for years. What did she expect from him? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

His golden eyes sparked. "Why do you not wish me to claim her?" The fury in his voice was barely concealed.

"I don't want to trouble you. I don't want to impose on your new bride and other children." She didn't know how many children he had, but she knew, from gossiping maids, that he was engaged to a foreign Princess.

The expression that crossed his face made her stumble over her sure response and step back nervously. Rage, disbelief, frustration – all crossed his face in equal measure, his posture rigged as he stared down at her. "I have one child, Kagome. Just one, and you have kept her from me." Kagome stepped backwards on shaky legs as he moved towards her. Her back hit the wall as his hands slammed on either side of her head.

"Impossible." She whispered, her mind turning the information over in her mind. She knew Shikon's succession law inside and out and had counted on Ileana being one of many…. "No. I don't believe you."

In the last year she had seen so many different announcements regarding his children in the papers. All accompanied by photos of his newest 'companion'. She had heard the castle gossip. Had seen the pitying looks.

He learned in close to her, his voice a hiss. "Have you ever used that brain of yours to consider the gossip rags might be lies?"

"I'm not getting my information from them!" She brought her hands up to push him away, but he caught them and pinned them above her head.

He seemed to hover on the edge of control as he leaned close to her ear. "Then who, Kagome?" His breath was warm against her ear, sending shivers down her back.

"The staff-" She hated that her voice shook.

His laugh was short. "You obviously have never been the victim of those vultures." His breath fanned across her throat. "Looking for anything to pick apart to use for their entertainment."

"The pictures-" She protested weakly.

His other hand moved quickly from the wall to grip her chin in his bruising grasp, silencing her as he pulled back. "My friends, my lovers. Your protests are futile, Kagome." Prince Inuyasha's eyes burned into hers. "I have one child. Ours."

Her face paled, the realisation sinking in. In the back of her mind, she had known he had no other children, but she couldn't face that reality. "No." She strangled a sob in her throat. "She can't be."

"She is." His voice was gentler as he loosened his hold on her chin, moving to softly brush across her cheek.

Kagome's legs gave out beneath her, if not for his firm grip on her wrists she would have collapsed. She was still fighting the truth of his words. They answered so many questions, but their implications were terrifying. "She can't be the heir." She whispered, her voice trembling.

In her mind's attempt to detract from the feelings overwhelming her, she latched onto another point. "I will not leave her, Inuyasha." Her jaw clenched as her expression hardened.

"I'm not asking you to." His mouth twitched.

"I won't have her raised by your wife. She is my daughter."

"Our daughter," He hissed, "will be raised by my wife."

Fury coursed through her and she found herself bucking against him in an attempt to free herself. Arching her back, she flexed her body forwards, her hips rubbing against his – and his arousal.

Inuyasha growled.

Liquid fire raced through her straight to her core, her tongue darted out to wet her lips.

"If you continue doing that, Kagome, I will show you what I want to do with that mouth of yours." His pupils were dilated, the gold molten, his muscles tensed.

She wanted him. God, how she wanted him. His proximity was clouding her thoughts and she struggled against him again, not trusting herself to stay this close to him.

Inuyasha's groan rocked her. "Stop moving, woman. Or we will finish this in the bedroom." His words were laced with promise.

Yes please. Her mind screamed, but she fought against her body's urges, instead focusing again on what he'd said about Ileana's rearing. She needed to be able to think clearly. "Let me go."

"As you wish." Releasing her wrists, he stood back. She rubbed her wrists gingerly as she tried to regain her balance on shaking legs.

"I won't allow you to replace me in Ileana's life, Inuyasha." Her mind was starting to clear now that his cologne wasn't infiltrating her every breath.

"Who said anything about replacing you?" The infuriating smirk he wore was back.

She balked. "You said she would be raised by your wife. I have no intentions of -"

"Think, Kagome." He cut her off, his gaze unblinking, his hands on his hips.

She couldn't process it. Not replacing me… Raised by my wife…

"No." The words tumbled from her lips before her mind reached its obvious conclusion.

"You seem to enjoy that word tonight." Amusement lit his eyes.

"I refuse. No. I do not want this, Inuyasha." Tremors wracked her body, threatening to topple her.

In a quick stride, her chin was caught in his grip again. Breathing was becoming harder. "I own you, Kagome. Ileana and you are mine." The possessiveness in his voice shook her.

"I belong to no man, Inuyasha." She growled, squaring her shoulders and lifting her eyes defiantly.

His knuckle grazed down the side of her cheek. "Would you rather be back on the street, without Ileana?" He whispered, playing his trump card.

Stay strong, keep moving, weakness will get us killed. Her chant slammed into the forefront of her mind. Kagome knew that Ileana, as the heir, belonged to the Crown. She couldn't fight centuries old legislation that was designed to protect the line of succession.

Kagome knew her feelings were second to the Crown's plans.

Why am I surprised? A single tear slid down her face.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I won't lie and say that I haven't adapted scenes from other stories I've read, but it suited the scene and Inuyasha's character. We'll start getting into more plot points soon!

Please remember to review!