Chapter 1: Disrespect

Months passed since the battle she had with Naraku. She hadn't known that it was going to be so easy, otherwise she would have fought him sooner. His incarnations had been freed of him upon his death. They had come with her to the palace of the and Byakuya had sworn loyalty to her because of her strength, Kanna had offered forth her services for freeing her and Kagura. Kagura still despised Kagome, more so when she had smelt Kagome on Sesshomaru. She had a perminent scowl on her face but didn't dare say anything, especially since the servants seemed loyal to Kagome.

Sesshomaru had become upset over the fact that he was not the one to destroy Naraku. He glared at Kagome and had "lectured" her about running off on her own, like she was some child. She snarled at him, stating that what she did was none of his business. He insisted it was his business, since she was to be his mate, which led to an even bigger argument and more glaring from Kagura. Kagome still refused him and insisted that he "allow" her to return to her own chambers. By "allow" she meant, "I am changing rooms and there is nothing you could do about it." That same day she and the twins were moved to the opposite side of the castle. It was mainly Kagome's doing, stating she refused to have sex with his pompous ass ever again.

Kagura's hatred grew when she found out that Kagome had slept with Sesshomaru and gave him children. Kagome did not hate Kagura, but advised against Kagura mating Sesshomaru, boldly stating that she did not care if Kagura had sex with the inu, but it was strictly forbidden to mate Sesshomaru. Kagura scoffed and said she would do as she pleased. Sesshomaru refused her so far.

"Kagome-sama," Hiro greeted. "The lords and ladies of the east, south, and north are here for the yearly meeting."

"Has Sesshomaru been informed?" She looked to Hiro as she finished pulling her hair into an elegant do.

"I had tried to inform him, but he had locked his chamber door and refuses to answer." Kagome nodded and stood, slipping into her tabi and geta.

"I will entertain them in his absence." She walked towards the nursery and the twins looked at her. They stood and went to her, both quiet as they grabbed her hands. She smiled down at them, her nine tails swaying softly. "Come now, my little ones. The lords and ladies are here." The two nodded and walked with her down the hall. The other lords and ladies were waiting patiently.

"Kagome-san, it is nice to see you," Toran greeted with a smile. "And look at the twins. So cute and grown." The two blushed shyly.

"It is nice to see you as well, Toran. Any luck with finding a mate?" Kagome was honestly curious.

"Not yet. The search still continues." Kagome nodded.

"It is nice to see you again, Lord Hiro and Lady Yumi." She bowed to them and they bowed back. "Yoko did not come with you?"

"He's around here somewhere," Lord Hiro replied. "You know us silvers."

"Don't I?" She smiled and turned to the last group. "You are looking marvelous, lady Ami."

"I feel marvelous," she replied with a smile.

"And Lord Jyuga, you look quite happy for once. Last we saw each other, you were trying to take off my head, figuratively speaking, that is."

"That was then," he commented as he held an adorable little girl in his arms. "And this is Aiko. Ami has her twin, Kyo."

"Well, they are just adorable. And look at Kechi. He's gotten taller."

"Yes, he's hit another growth spurt. All he seems to talk about now is you. I think he has a crush on you." He chuckled at his son's blush.

"Well isn't that just adorable." She smiled at the little wolf. "It is your birthday soon, isn't it, Kechi?" He nodded shyly, a red blush on his face. "I thought so. I got something for you." She reached into the sleeve of her kimono and pulled forth a dagger. "You are getting older so I figured you could use something like this." She held the dagger out to him. "I had Totosai craft it from one of my talons. When you hit maturity, it'll shift into a sword." He took it and smiled up at her.

"I swear I'll protect you with it," he said, a blush still lighting his face.

"That is sweet of you." She looked to his parents. "I had these crafted for the twins." She pulled two necklaces from her neck, and placed the first, a light blue stone interweaved with red spider demon silk and dark blue feathers, around Aiko's neck. It shrank down to fit her size. She placed the second, a dark blue stone interweaved with blue spider demon silk and black feathers, around Kyo's neck. It shrank as well. "Those are made to protect them from harm."

"We thank you for the gifts to our cubs," Lord Jyuga said. "It is very thoughtful of you."

"The twins' birthday is a few months from now. Of course I will be planning it and sending out the invitations. Sesshomaru sees such events as below him and a woman's work."

"This castle would probably fall apart if you were not here to oversee it," Lord Hiro said. "Where is Sesshomaru?"

"He's locked himself in his chambers. He was informed yesterday of your visit, but I guess he was not listening to me."

"He is a stubborn man, and is probably upset that you have refused his suit," Lord Hiro said.

"I have my reasons for refusing him, I assure you," she stated. "Shall we head out onto the veranda? It is a nice day and I had Kiyomi set up a table and cushions for us outside of my chambers for us to use. She should be dropping off the tea and sweet cakes soon." They nodded and followed her towards the eastern wing, Yoko slipping in unnoticed. They moved through a set of doors and into a sitting room. The doors that led outside were open and they could see the table.

"The children are free to play in my personal gardens. The elder Hiro had it commissioned when I moved to this wing of the castle." Kechi and Kagome's twins moved to the garden as Kiyomi set two trays down. One was loaded with a tea set while the other had an assortment of cakes. Small plates were set at each cushion, an extra one set for if Sesshomaru agreed to join them. Kiyomi served the tea and took the twins from the eastern lord and lady to watch after them in the gardens while also looking after the other children.

"Things are more peaceful now," Lord Jyuga stated as he sipped his tea. "It makes me a bit wary."

"Naraku has been defeated," Kagome replied. "There is no army gathering to fight for the lands, and issues between the north and west have been resolved. Why shouldn't it be peaceful?"

"You do have a point," Lord Hiro said. "There haven't been any uprisings and the number of slave traders has gone down marginally. The humans haven't staged any revolts since the last meeting. It's ...nice."

"Hn." Sesshomaru walked in and glared at Kagome. "Why was I only now informed the other lords were here?" Sesshomaru asked Kagome, a glare clearly on his face.

"I had informed you yesterday that they would be here today. You ignored me," Kagome replied as she curled up her nose in disgust. "If you were going to have sex with her, the least you could have done before coming here was bathe. The stench is revolting, and it'll takes hours to get rid of it."

"You should watch how you speak to him, miko," Kagura said from the door way.

"I tried to stop her, Kagome-sama," a guard said. He was blushing as he looked at Kagome. "She attacked me."

Kagome rose to her feet. Her face serious. "You hold no position in this household, Kagura. You were not invited to this meeting, and you should show respect to the one that granted you freedom from Naraku. You have been nothing but disrespectful to the occupants of this castle. You have harmed Rin, which is unacceptable, called my and Lord Sesshomaru's children disgusting names, and have acted as if you are better than me, which is far from the truth. Should you continue to behave in such a manner, I will see to set you straight. Get out of my sight."

Kagura glared, fan grasped in her hand. "Dance of blades!" She threw her attack towards Kagome, hoping to end her life there.

"Fool," Kagome whispered, vanishing from sight and appearing before Kagura. Her taloned hand wrapped around Kagura's throat and forced her against the wall. Kagura screeched in pain at the heat from Kagome's hand. "You have been warned, yet you did not heed it. I have allowed you to sleep with Sesshomaru, who happens to still be mine. I have set up your room, made sure you had food, clothes, and were treated with respect, and you dare attack me? Do so again and you will die, no questions asked." She dropped Kagura, whose neck had angry, red welts and a dark purple bruise. "Get her out of my sight." The guard bowed and dragged Kagura away.

"I apologize. You should not have had to see that." She bowed.

"She made an attempt on your life. Any of us would have killed her for such a transgression, with or without an audience," Toran said. She smirked. "That display was oddly arousing."

Sesshomaru snarled. It was as if he was not even there. This was unacceptable.