I have edited and added to Chapter 9. I think I added an entire page to it, so if you've been reading this before you may want to go and reread chapter 9. I've also fixed a few typos and replaced chapters 1 thru 8, fixing the format mostly.

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The next morning Inuyasha awoke to find that Kagome was not in the bed or even in the room, a quick search of the entire suite showed that she was anywhere within. Frantic with worry he rushes throughout the entire castle searching for her; he is stopped by his brother as he nearly blurs past his study.

"Inuyasha, is there a reason you are rushing about the castle." Sesshoumaru frowned slightly at his brother as he spoke.

"Kagome's missing! I woke up this morning and she was gone." He didn't shout but his voice conveyed his frantic worry to his brother.

Sesshoumaru nearly sighed, his brother was hopeless at times and this human princess seemed to be bringing it out more often. "Calm yourself Inuyasha." Inuyasha's glare was interrupted as Seshoumaru continued, "The princess is safe. You were late getting up for breakfast so we ate without you and the princess is now in the garden with Rin, Kirara and her servant."

"Servant? I thought you weren't going to trust any of the others with her?"

"I wasn't the servant is a human woman that your friend brought back from his patrol."

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xxFLASHBACK to that morningxxxx

When Kagome had woken up she saw Inuyasha asleep against the wall of his room. She smiles at him gently as the door slides open quietly.

"Kagome-hime, it is time for breakfast." Kirara was standing in the doorway quietly waiting for Kagome to move to follow her.

Kagome glances over at Inuyasha for a moment before turning to Kirara, "Thank you, should we wake Inuyasha...?"

Kirara noticed the glance and smiled a barely noticeable smile, "No, he looks to be very tired. He can get breakfast later, when he wakes."

Kagome nods in hesitating agreement before leaving with Kirara.

When the two arrive at the dinning hall they hear the sound of a commotion. A woman's voice is screaming obscenities at someone on the other side of the sliding screen door. Crashes and the sounds of things being thrown through the thin rice paper walls could also be heard.

Kirara sighs and Kagome looks to her with a questioning look. "Late last night Miroku brought back a human that had come to find you. She is now a prisoner, but being who he is Miroku is attempting to prevent her from being locked in the dungeon or killed."

Kagome still looks confused as Kirara looks back at her. "Miroku is notorious for wandering hands and being extremely lecherous. His intentions are anything but pure. For the moment though Sesshoumaru-sama is letting Miroku get away with what he wants, with some limitations. The woman is to be your servant while the two of you are here, Sesshoumaru thought you might be more comfortable with a human companion to talk with."

Understanding comes to her face and she smiles. "I must thank him then, for his kindness in sparing her and his consideration for my comfort."

Kirara then continued to open the door and admit the two to the dinning hall where an angry Sango was through various dishes and food stuffs at Miroku. Her shouts became clear also, "You lech, you'll keep your hands to yourself. And also, you said the princess would be here. Where is she? You monsters didn't eat her did you?!"

"Sango!" Sango stops in her tirade and turns toward the door to see Kagome wearing a green silk kimono with blue and purple herons and flowers embroidered onto it with great care. Beneath it she wore several layers of finer silk, each layer adding color and contrast to the green on top.

"Princess Kagome!" Sango runs to her as tears spring into her eyes. She wraps her princess in a tight hug, "I'm so glad you're safe. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you, I should have doubled the guard in the garden or made you stay inside. Are they treating you well? If they aren't then I will make them sorry they mistreated you..."

Kagome cut off her friend and bodyguard by placing a finger to her lips. "Sango I'm perfectly fine. The youkai king has been treating me more as a guest than a prisoner."

This seemed to calm Sango greatly as she released Kagome from her tight grip and relaxed slightly, though she stayed near Kagome through out the meal.

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xxxEND FLASHBACKxxxxxxxxxx

Having been calmed down by his brother Inuyasha was now heading towards the garden terrace where Kagome and the others were. Its not that he didn't trust Rin and Kirara to keep Kagome safe, its just that he didn't like the idea of anyone keeping her safe other than himself.

Reaching the terrace he truns the corner and saw the four women sitting and gossiping as they viewed the spring garden. A breeze blew lightly tossing hair into the air and mingling it with pale pink blossoms were alighted from nearby sakura. Not that Inuyasha noticed any of the others, his eyes were entirely focused on Kagome and his eyes had started to glass over slightly when Kagome saw him and called his name.

"Prince Inuyasha, did you sleep well?"

Shaken out of his daydream by her question he nodded before looking slightly angry, "Why didn't you wake me before leaving? What if you had been attacked by someone, or hurt or or...?"

"But Kirara said we should let you sleep..."

Kirara gave Inuyasha a teasing grin at his outburst as he turned glaring eyes to her. "Why Inuyasha-sama, you make it sound as though the castle is dangerous to our guest."

"I..." He stops before saying more, grumbling to himself as he takes a seat at the edge of the circle the women make. "Not all the youkai here are as tolerant of the idea of human

prisoners."

Kagome shifted nervously while Sango moved closer to her. "No one mentioned that to either of us."

Kagome turned away from Sango so as to avoid her gaze, "Um actually... King Sesshoumaru mentioned it when he asked Inuyasha to allow me to stay in his room. So that I would be safe from other demons."

Sango gaps at Kagome, "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Wait, STAYING IN HIS ROOM!?" Sango turns to glare at Inuyasha. "That is completely immoral. She is a young woman, a princess, for her to share a bed with an enemy prince..."

Inyasha glared as Kagome blushed and interrupted her friend. "He was a complete gentleman and even slept on the floor so that I would have the bed Sango."

"Why didn't they have you stay with Lady Kirara or Lady Rin?"

Rin smiled slightly as Kagome turned slightly more red. "Sango-san, I doubt that Kagome would want to be in my Lord's chambers with us." Sango realizes what is being implied and blushes herself. "As for why not with Kirara. Kirara shares a room with several others, my ladies in waiting. It is possible that one would want a midnight snack."

Silence reigns for several long moments after this statement and the two humans shift a bit uneasily.

"Sango-san, I do believe that for your stay you will be sharing a room with Miroku." Kirara pauses, "Rin-sama, should I get her a stick or something. You know how Miroku gets."

"While it is not normally advisable to arm prisoners, even ones that are being treated as guests, we should ask my Lord for permission. Perhaps a frying pan from the kitchen."

Sango just looks at the two as they chat about the demon that had brought her in. She paled slightly at the thought of having to sleep in the same room as the lecherous demon and turned pleading eyes to Kagome. Kagome catches the look and shakes her head sadly, there was little she could do to help her in this situation.

"Lady Rin?" Rin and Kirara stop talking and turn to Kagome, "Lord Miroku would not do anything to harm my friend in any way, would he?"

Rin smiles softly, "No, Miroku is a known lech, but beyond his wondering hands he is a perfect gentleman and would never force a woman to do anything, let alone harm one."

Sango sighs slightly and relaxes, having tensed up at the thought of an immoral demon having his way with her. She still wasn't happy with the sleeping arrangements but she had to admit that if she was in the same position as King Sesshoumaru she would do the same.

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Hey everyone. Just thought I would mention that there is a difference in how Sango and Kagome say certain names and how the demons are saying the same names. This is because the humans live in a society very similar to European middle ages or renaissance, where as the demons have a society more like Japan. They speak the same language, they just used different honorifics. The demon palace is set up like a Japanese mansion or castle, with sliding screens for walls and terraces that surround the house so one would have a place to sit and watch the gardens. Japanese gardens are meant to be viewed like a painting, not walked through like we are used to seeing gardens.