Ch. 13 What just happened

She was nervous.

It's not like she hadn't already dealt with the Inu no Taisho several times already. But having to go eat dinner with him and Sesshoumaru made her really uneasy. What if he was still the mean guy she had talked to those few times? He hadn't approved of a human woman, a miko no less, to be dating -let alone considered mate material- for the young daiyoukai, even if she had proved her worth.

Hmm, knowing that she had in fact proved herself to everyone did make her feel a little less worried. She, Kagome Higurashi had won the right to be with the inu, she had defeated fierce youkai opponents and won.

The priestess smiled.

Maybe this dinner wouldn't be so bad after all.

_xXx_

Sitting next to Sesshoumaru, opposite his father, Kagome silently fumed. Yes he hadn't written her off or anything, but being ignored was no better.

This was an informal gathering and as such they were seated on comfortable cushions right across from each other in the low table. However, she still felt uncomfortable and on edge having to be right in front of the powerful inuyoukai who seemed he couldn't even be bothered to glance her way, too busy speaking to those around him.

Eating with a few more strange demons she had never seen before, and who were also silently ignoring her as they talked to the daiyoukai, only added to the awkwardness.

Sesshoumaru, surprisingly had initiated a conversation with her, obviously feeling her unease, and the miko had a hard time concentrating on what he was saying at first.

Nevertheless, the fact that he had even started a conversation with her to begin with, and as it only seemed to be 'small talk' she couldn't deny that this was something quite rare. Of course this was the younger, easier going version of his tight lipped future self, so Kagome joined in on this rare event almost immediately forgetting about his father all together.

She was rather surprised with how effortlessly he spoke with her. He brought up topics about war, food, the weather, and even about the demons around the castle and their duties. It was all rather fascinating and quite interesting.

Not to mention that when he spoke, he showed such a different side of himself. He was obviously intelligent and cunning, but his face seemed all the more handsome as there was actually some animation and feelings there, unlike the mask of indifference he always wore in his future.

The young woman couldn't help but wonder what had changed him, or what events had taken place in his life for him to become so emotionless. However, she knew those questions would have to be answered later, with more time, she thought as she continued to watch him, noting how he even used his hands when conversing with her to make his point. They were quite elegant too, his claws deadly, while the stripes that wrapped around his arms were rather appealing. She could only wonder where else he had stripes on his body.

She must've been staring at him starry-eyed, she noted, as he suddenly stopped speaking and gave her a small smile of male satisfaction.

The priestess blushed….hard.

Sitting next to him, and having him so close to her while he smiled was making her nervous.

"What….may I ask are you going to do with the youkai female you gave your protection to miko?" the daiyoukai Lord sitting across from them suddenly questioned, making the two young ones turn to him in surprise and embarrassment as if they had been caught doing something inappropriate.

"Erm…"

"Her father wishes an audience with her protector you see," he continued, "and he is not to be easily dismissed nor taken lightly."

"I -I don't know what you mean Touga-sama. What is it that I'm supposed to do? I just don't want her harmed that's all. I thought, that maybe," the miko paused trying to gather her courage to speak up as he so obviously intimidated her, his intense stare unnerving her, as well as those of the other demons seated with them. "Well I thought that she could remain here for a time, until she finds her way I suppose."

Why was she supposed to come up with all the ideas anyway, the young woman thought in rising frustration. Wasn't he the great Inu no Taisho? Surely he had some ideas too right?

"Father," Sesshoumaru spoke trying to assist her, "was Kagome to let the female be killed by her own kin, by her father no less? Even we do not condone this type of behavior among our kind," he added showing his empathy and making said miko truly want to know what had happened to him to change him into the cold uncaring beast he seemed to be in the future.

"Perhaps not Sesshoumaru," the older male answered, "but we do not interfere with the lives of others, offering our 'protection' to everyone in need. We do not know if this situation between them would have resolved itself in time. Now however," he gestured with a hand, "it seems your miko has gotten more than she has bargained for."

The young woman didn't know what to do, however she knew she had to stand firm in her decision and not look weak in front of everyone. Even so, she really didn't know what to do. The priestess supposed all she could do was offer her protection for the time being, then…..then….

She frowned.

"I will talk to her father of course," the raven haired woman added seeing no other way.

"I will stand by her side," Sesshoumaru immediately offered making the young human woman smile.

She knew now was not the time, but the priestess couldn't help but want to kiss him again. She wanted to know if she had indeed become stronger in her miko abilities to withstand sucking on his poisonous tongue…without passing out.

Shaking her thoughts, she tried to focus on the conversation that was beginning to escalate.

"I know you will Sesshoumaru, as will I," added the daiyoukai, "however this is a serious situation, and one both of you do not seem to understand. Her father is not one to easily send away. He was willing to kill the female if she did not win the fight and become the possible next future Lady of the West. He is obviously willing to go to great lengths to get her into our dominion. Do you believe that he will easily acquiescence knowing that a human girl has slighted him? And all in the name of our house? I would not be surprised if he decided to declare war on us."

Kagome inwardly groaned. She hadn't thought it would be this bad. Yeah he would probably be pissed off or something sure, but declare war?

What was she doing? She was only supposed to be in this time to possibly fall in love with Sesshoumaru, nothing else. She wasn't supposed to be the cause of a war and she wasn't supposed to change the past, or the future, even further.

Great. No matter what was about to happen, the miko knew she was going to have to go back to her time…and soon. No more delaying the inevitable.

She needed to go home or risk changing things forever. Besides its not like she would never see Sesshoumaru again. Sure he would be different, but hopefully for the better. If not…well Kagome knew that there was still a possibility that she could remind him of who he was.

"Umm, when -when does he wish to speak to me Touga-sama? She questioned hesitantly, wanting nothing more than to find the bone eaters well again.

"On the morrow miko."

She knew she wouldn't run away from this, but as soon as she fixed everything with this tiresome youkai, she would definitely find her way home.

_xXx_xXx_

The next day came all too quickly.

Kagome made certain to dress appropriately. However she couldn't help but fidget, her nervousness rising with each hour that passed by.

What was she going to say? How would she make it better?

Was there really some way she could fix this without harming everyone's future?

Without warning a small youkai maid came into the room bowing low, however more out of respect to the one who sent her than to her, making Kagome wonder why the Inutaisho had even sent her to begin with. Looking at the interesting demon's hair did take some of the nervousness away though, if even for a moment.

"I will assist you with your clothing miko-sama," the servant reported as she began to fiddle with her obi and make certain she was properly dressed.

Of course Kagome had learned how to dress in these times but she was no expert and barely managed without Sango's help which was usually rare as they were almost always together. But dressing up a bit more to the daiyoukai's style and taste were not her forte so she allowed the maid to do as she pleased without a word or argument.

When she deemed her ready, the servant walked out of the room informing her that her 'masters' were waiting for her in the war room, making the miko cringe in distaste. Why bother to argue with the foolish? She thought, so she instead choose to ignore the insult.

She lifted her chin and followed the small stout youkai all the while trying to figure out what she would say to not insult those she was about to speak to, not escalate the situation, or change the future horribly.

The priestess inwardly cringed as she tried rubbing her sweaty palms on her beautiful kimono, all the while trying to keep up with her small steps since the thing was so heavy and wrapped around her like seaweed.

Taking a deep breath and feeling the many auras about her -many of which seemed quite aggressive- she entered the grand "war room' slowly, keeping her eyes upon Sesshoumaru who was seated on a small raised dais next to his father.

They looked quite regal in their dark attire of deep blues and purples with sakura blossoms sprinkled in various sizes throughout. Not wanting to look anywhere but at them, she kept her eyes forward and let her peripheral vision do the rest.

The few youkais she could see from the corner of her eyes, were seated on the right and left before the two dog demons. She recognized a few of them as the ones she had been to dinner with the night before. However, others were unknown to her but she could and would not look around even if she was extremely curious.

Seeing Sesshoumaru stand and take a step down from the small wooden platform they were seated on, and come towards her almost made her want to run toward him in sheer relief.

Not only were her nerves on edge but she could feel her priestess powers just beneath the surface of her skin as she tried desperately to keep them suppressed.

But Shesshoumaru did not come to hug her only to stand beside her as another rose and stepped forward to speak the daiyoukai.

This had to be the female's father.

His sneer and look of disgust gave him away.

While not very impressive, short in stature, thin and balding, his midnight colored hair reaching his calves, Kagome tried to keep a straight face and not sneer in return.

"My Lords," he began his obviously rehearsed speech. "I wish to bring formal charges against this human, against this, this enemy of our kind, a priestess. Her profession is to kill those of our kind, to torture or maim our children and families, and now, she has bewitched us all by pretending to want one of our own," he added looking at Sesshoumaru distastefully as well.

"My daughter," he continued walking around the room making a grand show to those present, "would have won the right to marry the young heir of the West, had she not been duped and bewitched into thinking she should give up the fight and bring shame to her family."

Kagome wanted to interrupt his pompous speech but she dared not, for no one else spoke either, so the jerk kept talking.

"Therefore on this momentous day, let it be said that the insult this human brings to our kind, to my subjects, and to my daughter cannot be ignored. And seeing how it is done in the name of the west," he spat looking at the Inutaisho with obvious dislike and hate, "I must demand that either you hand her over to me for proper punishment or….I declare war upon your house."

Kagome inhaled audibly in astonishment.

Sesshoumaru's audible growl joined her.

They wouldn't just hand her over….would they?