InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Harem ❯ Chapter 10

DISCLIAMER: Inuyasha belong to Rumiko Takahashi and not to me. The AU world this story is set in, the plot and any additional characters do belong to me though, and so please don't try to take them without my permission. I make no profit of this story, and am doing it only for my own enjoyment (and hopefully yours too).

 

WARNING: Chapter contains LEMON

 

QUICK AUTHOR'S NOTE: Reading back over the chapter I realised I hadn't made the time frame of this chapter clear until we were well into it. Since I didn't want to have to rewrite the beginning of the chapter, I'm letting you all know right now that this chapter takes place the very next morning after King Inutaisho's birthday party from the last chapter. I hope this takes care of any confusion that might otherwise occur.

 

CHAPTER 10

 

The sun had been up for some time now, its light filtering softly into Inuyasha's room through the closed silken curtains that covered the doorway to the balcony. The prince in question was already awake and had been for some time, but so far had declined from leaving the bed. The reason for this was lying next to him, still asleep and using his chest as her pillow.

 

Inuyasha smiled as he watched Kagome sleep. He knew he would have to get up before too much longer, but he couldn't quite bring himself to wake her yet. She looked so happy and peaceful and beautiful asleep like this. He'd woken up many times in the last few months to this site, but still he never tired of it. He loved looking at her at anytime of the day or not, and this was no exception.

 

Kagome was completely different in Inuyasha's mind from any other woman he had ever met and affected him in ways he had never dreamed anyone could. In the short few months he'd known her he'd come to see her as irreplaceable, though if asked to give you a reason why, he would have been hard pressed to do so. She was beautiful, but no more so than any of his other concubines or any of the various noble bitches who kept trying to flirt with him whenever they were at the palace. She was sweet and kind, but then so was Rin and Sango and even little Shiori and he never thought about them in this way. He wasn't even sure what `this way' entailed anyway, whatever this feeling was he had yet to put a name to it as he had never felt it before that he could remember. There were a couple of things that were certain though. One, it was a very nice feeling and that Kagome was the only woman who could inspire it in his heart. And two, whatever this feeling was it certainly helped ensure that Kagome would be remaining his favourite concubine for the foreseeable future, and most likely long after that. None of his other concubines could hold a candle to her in his mind, for she had everything he could possibly want all wrapped up in one very attractive package. Dalal and Muna he'd lusted after (and that lust for them seemed to be fading the longer he spent with Kagome), but that was all there had been between them. He could never talk to them seriously about the things on his mind and he didn't enjoy spending time with them as they spent whatever time they did in his presence trying to flirt with him or find inconspicuous ways to draw his attention to their rivals' flaws. All in the hope of gaining his favour, not realising that all they were doing was trying his patience and lowering them in his mind. Sango had been different. Sango was his friend and he enjoyed spending time with her, but he'd never lusted after her as intensely he did Kagome. Sure, she was attractive, that much was obvious but Inuyasha didn't know, there just always seemed to be something missing. While he'd certainly considered her a beautiful woman and had immensely enjoyed the sex, she'd never been able make his blood race the way Kagome could with just a look. Kagome was different, she had both lust and friendship on her side and more. She was also a much better fuck than any of his other concubines, and she had become an even closer friend to Inuyasha than Sango had ever been. Add in the fact that she loved riding and horses as much he did, could be extremely funny when she felt like it, and had a braver and gentler heart than anyone he'd ever known… well, was it any wonder he adored her so much? Inuyasha didn't think so.

 

Inuyasha sighed to himself. As much as he hated to wake her, he knew he had no choice. He had a lesson with General Asad starting before long and the General really hated it when he was late. Then again, seeing how the most honoured General in all of Inu was taking time away from his own busy schedule to train him in fighting techniques and the art of warfare, Inuyasha guessed he probably shouldn't complain and just turn up on time whenever possible.

 

“Kagome.” Inuyasha said while, gently shaking her shoulder. “Time to get up now. Kagome?” Kagome tried to resist waking up, but now that she'd been disturbed she didn't really have much choice in the matter.

 

“Urrr.” Kagome moaned after a few moments, still more than half asleep. “W'at was that?”

 

“It's morning Kagome, time to get up.” Inuyasha said, barely resisting the urge to smile. She looked so cute right now looking all confused, but then again he always thought she looked cute. At least when he didn't think she looked hot.

 

“Morning already?” Kagome repeated, trying to snuggle back into his chest but finding that he wasn't letting her. “It can't be morning, it still dark.”

 

“That's because you've got your eyes closed.” Inuyasha said, sitting up and forcing her to come with him, despite her growing protests. “Come on, we're going to take a bath and then I've got to go meet General Asad.”

 

“A bath?” Kagome repeated, suddenly wide-awake. “Why didn't you say so, come on.” Almost before Inuyasha could blink, Kagome was off the bed and through the door to his private bathroom. The sound of splashing water followed a few minutes later.

 

Inuyasha shook his head in disbelief as he continued to stare at the spot on his bed where Kagome had been just a few moments ago in something close to disbelief. `All that hassle just to get her to wake up and all it takes is the word `bath' as she's up and running?' He wondered getting up and moving towards the bathroom himself at a much slower pace. `Damn, but that girl is obsessed'. Kagome truly adored the bathing facilities available at the palace, especially in his private bathroom because there she didn't need to worry about the added annoyance of trying to convince the grouchy maids that she really didn't need any help washing herself. You'd think as much as they complained about how much work they had that they'd be happy to skip a duty like that, but apparently not. Anyway, Inuyasha liked being clean as much as the next guy, but Kagome's love of bathing seemed rather over the top to him.

 

Then again, bathing with Kagome was an experience not to be missed, Inuyasha remembered suddenly. The sight of all that water running across her body was as erotic a vision as he'd ever seen, and for the last few weeks despite Inuyasha's distain for bath attendants, he and Kagome both had discovered that there was great pleasure to be found in the bath simply by gently washing your lover's body while sitting side by side. They'd found this out a about two weeks ago when Kagome had been having trouble reaching a piacular spot on her back and Inuyasha had taken over and washed it for her. Since then they'd been engaging in more washing of each other growing bolder and bolder as time went by, leaving Inuyasha to wonder just how bold they might become if it kept up, and why the idea of having sex in the bath had never occurred to him before. It certainly had now, and from Kagome pretty and, if he guessed rightly, lustful blushes the last few baths they'd had together, it had to her too. Maybe this time they would try it, Inuyasha though lustily as he quickened his pace for the last few steps.

 

As was to be expected, as soon as Inuyasha entered the room he was greeted by the sight he been just dreaming of, Kagome sitting into the middle of the sunken bath, water dripping down her front and caressing her breasts in way that Inuyasha found to be wholly erotic and mesmerising. Smirking he moved to join her, noting with pride that her eyes seemed to lock onto his own naked form as he did so, despite her efforts to look away in some, in his own opinion, silly attempt to be proper. If Kagome wanted to look at his body, then as far as he was concerned by all means look. He was certainly looking at her with absolutely no intention of looking away after all, and he found it rather a big ego boast that his concubine found his body as pleasing to the eyes as he did hers. But every now and then Kagome still got these silly ideas about what was or wasn't proper stuck in her head and acted on them despite everything they'd already done together and no doubt would do again; at least they would if Inuyasha had anything to say about it!

 

Settling into the bath, Inuyasha reached out and gently took hold of Kagome, pulling her to sit in his lap facing away from him. Kagome initially let out a small squeak of surprise, not expecting the move, but quickly calmed down when Inuyasha took the wash cloth she'd been previously using out of her hands and gently started to wash her back. By the time he was finished with her back Kagome was so relaxed by his gentle administrations that she was practically boneless in his arms. Not wanting this to end, Inuyasha then pulled her backwards so that she was resting against his chest before moving onto washing her front. Her made special care to make sure that her breasts were clean, getting somewhat high on the soft moans Kagome tried to stifle as he did so. Inuyasha groaned to himself, her soft moans of pleasure making him harden at a rapid rate. It wasn't the first time he'd done this, nor was it the first time such an action had received such a reaction, but this time he decided he wanted more. Much more. Dropping the washcloth, Inuyasha's hand trailed down her body through the water to gently rub at her womanhood, while at the same time his mouth started attacking her neck with small nips and kisses. Kagome gasped with surprise at the double pleasure, but soon couldn't stop herself from reaching down to pry her lower lips apart, to give him better access. Grinning, Inuyasha took this as an invitation to thrust his fingers inside her at a steady rhythm, emphasising each thrust with a kiss or nip on the back of her neck. As her cries of pleasure became louder and louder with each thrust, Inuyasha smirked to himself as he wondered why he'd waited so long to do this. He'd been thinking about it ever since that first time he'd washed her back. Oh well, too late to worry about that now, especially when he had his fingers inside a gorgeous girl he adored who was reacting so beautifully to his touch. It wasn't much longer before with a final cry Kagome reached her peak and collapsed back against him, panting slightly.

 

Inuyasha smirked all the harder, pleased that he'd apparently managed to bring Kagome so much pleasure, but he still wanted more. Bringing her to her peak had left him rock hard and he wanted nothing more right then than to be buried deep inside her as he reached his own fulfilment. Inuyasha was sure that he startled and confused Kagome when he suddenly stood up, pulling her with him, but she didn't say anything or try to fight him. Moving her to the side of the tub with him still behind her, he paused for a moment to be sure that her legs were currently steady enough to hold her weight before encouraging her to lean forward and brace herself on the edge of the bath.

 

“Inuyasha…” Kagome started to say, before her voice broke of in a wordless gasp of surprise and pleasure.

 

Inuyasha grinning as he fingered her womanhood once again; he was pretty sure she'd figured out his intentions now. She was an extremely arousing sight like this, leaning against the side of the bath in an upside-down L shape, her ass in the air and her exposed pussy just above the surface of the water. If Inuyasha wasn't already fully aroused, just looking at her like that for a minute or two would have done the trick. Part of him wanted to enter her and start pounding away immediately, but another, louder part was determined to wait a minute to be fully sure that she was ready for his coming intrusion. Sure enough, the bath waters had washed away most of her natural juices which could have made it somewhat painful for her if he'd disregarded his concerns and entered her straight away, and Inuyasha was glad he'd thought to check. Fortunately for him and his sanity, his skilful fingers quickly replaced everything the bath had washed away and it wasn't long before she was dripping with desire for him and moaning with her own impatience and need.

 

“Inuyasha' please.” Kagome moaned, thrusting her rear back against his questing fingers. “Just fuck me already. I need you in me. Now.”

 

Inuyasha chuckled, delighted by her forwardness and dirty mouth. It was still somewhat surprising to him to hear such words come out of Kagome's soft and pretty mouth. “Your wish is my command, pretty lady.” Inuyasha purred as he removed his fingers, and instantly replacing them with his dick. He immediately started a hard and fast rhythm, making Kagome all but purr in satisfaction.

 

“Don't stop, please don't stop!” Kagome gasped, thrusting her pussy back against Inuyasha's dick with his everything move.

 

“Damn, Kagome.” Inuyasha panted as he increased his speed even more. “So tight, so hot, so wet. I swear, you get better every time. You feel so good.”

 

“So do you.” Kagome moaned. “Oh Gods, right there, that's the spot! Inuyasha I'm coming, please don't stop!”

 

“No fear of that.” Inuyasha smirked, continuing to plunge himself into her tight, welcoming warmth. “You just hang on for the ride, Kagome.”

 

Kagome did an awfully good job of following Inuyasha's instruction, as she continued to pant and moan with his rapidly increasing thrusts until she couldn't take any more and reached her peak with a mighty cry. Inuyasha continued for a few more long moments before he followed her and collapsed against her back, his arms wrapping around her and gently massaging her breasts as he continued to empty himself into her.

 

After a few minutes Inuyasha realised that if Kagome's legs were unsteady before they certainly were now and that his own weren't much better. With that thought in mind, Inuyasha pulled his dick out of Kagome's warmth and sat back down in the bath, a gentle tug on Kagome letting her know she was welcome and encouraged to do the same. She did so with a long sigh of contentment, sitting next to her prince and snuggling into his side. Inuyasha wrapped his arm around her shoulder to pull her even closer if that was possible. For a good five minutes the two just sat there enjoying the afterglow of their joining and the simple joy they both got from merely being together, until finally Inuyasha's broke the silence.

 

“As much as I'm, enjoying this, I'm afraid it can't last.” Inuyasha said as regretfully moved away from Kagome and towards the cleaning to products sitting on the far side of the bathtub. “I've still got a lesson with General Asad this morning, and I'm likely to be late as it is. I've got to hurry.”

 

Kagome nodded and moved to grab her own preferred soap and shampoo. However, she was filled with regret that her idyllic time with Inuyasha was coming to a close, something which Inuyasha instantly picked up on.

 

“Hey, how about I join you for lunch today.” Inuyasha said suddenly, wanting to cheer her up again. In the last few months, he had come to truly hate to see her upset and would do practically anything to ensure that she was happy. “I'll be finished with my lesson at lunchtime and I'm free all afternoon. Does that sound like a good idea to you.”

 

Kagome instantly brightened. “That sounds great, can we eat with Sango too? It's been a while since we've done that, and I'm sure she'll be happy to see you too.”

 

Inuyasha nodded. “Sure.” He answered. In truth he would have preferred to spend some more time alone with Kagome, but maybe it was better that Sango was invited too. She'd been his friend for a long time and he'd been neglecting her these last few weeks in favour of Kagome, Inuyasha realised with a pang of guilt. She seemed okay with Kagome having his sole interest in bed these days, but Inuyasha knew that Sango still liked to talk and hang out with him on occasion, something they hadn't done much recently. Besides, Kagome and Sango were good friends something he couldn't help but want to encourage. Too often harems were lonely places for the concubines within them, with all the concubines distrusting and plotting against each other. He was glad that Kagome and Sango had found a true friend in each other, something Inuyasha could only want to encourage. They both deserved friends, they were two of the greatest women he had ever meet, with the possible exception of his mother. “I'll meet you two in the central garden at lunchtime, how does that sound?”

 

“Great.” Kagome said, smiling that wonderful smile of hers at him as she finally found the lightly scented ginger and cinnamon shampoo she liked.

 

With that, the two continued the rest of their bath in companionable silence, this time mutually deciding to wash their own selves. They might not get out of the bath before noon otherwise.

 

***

 

Sango couldn't help but laugh as Kagome told her the story of her first party with the court. The two were sitting at their preferred table in the garden waiting for Inuyasha to turn up to have lunch with them as he'd promised. He was running a little late, and the maids had delivered all three plates already. Lunch today was a spiced chicken meal that smelled as wonderful as everything else served in the harem and had been doing a good job at making both women's mouths water. Neither of them wanted to start until the prince arrived though and so the delicious smelling plates remained untouched. In an effort to distract them both from the mouth-watering aromas, Kagome had started talking about the King's birthday party the night before. So far, if the loud laughter was any indication, it was working.

 

“Rin said that Prince Sesshomaru was a God in the sack?” Sango repeated, laughing all the while. “And other people heard her? Then she asked you how good Inuyasha was and called out that answer too. Oh Gods, how I wish I could have seen the looks on those noble snobs' faces. It must have been priceless. Hell, never mind that, what did Prince Sesshomaru's face look like? Hot damn, I used to think nothing would be able to shake that statue's composure, but if anything could it would be that. Come on, tell me Sesshomaru looked flustered. Oh please tell me that I'm right. On please, oh please.”

 

Kagome chuckled. “Well, Prince Sesshomaru seemed to be pretending to ignore Rin when she said that, but I'm sure I saw him blush anyway.”

 

“I so wish I could have seen that.” Sango said with a snicked. “Sesshomaru blushing, it's got to be one of those `only-once-in-a-blue-moon' things. And she said that she believed those rumours about Sesshomaru liking men before she came to be part of his harem?”

 

“Yeah she did.”

 

Sango laughed again. “Oh, I'm sure Sesshomaru must love that idea.” She cried with mirth. “The mighty Prince Sesshomaru, Heir to the throne of Inu, feared by all in the land, and his favourite concubine used to think he was gay? Oh, that is just too good.”

 

“Inuyasha found that very amusing too.” Kagome said with a smirk that would have made the aforementioned prince proud. “I still can't believe that Rin just blurted that out in the middle of all those people like that, though.”

 

Sango nodded, finally getting her giggles under control and looking somewhat more serious. “She's always been pretty blunt and shockingly open, but from what you've told me she's gotten even worse since the last time I saw her, about two or three months ago before you arrived. I forget when exactly, some feast being held in the palace at one time or another which Inuyasha needed a date for, I forget which one. Anyway, I'll have to be even more careful about what I tell Rin in the future, if I want to avoid the whole world knowing it. Sweet girl, but can't keep a secret to save her life. I suggest you do the same.”

 

Kagome nodded ruefully. “Believe me, I learned that lesson last night.” Kagome said, remembering Rin's exuberant cries proclaiming Inuyasha's skill in bed to what had felt to her to be the entire banquet hall. While it might be undeniably true it still made her blush.

 

Sango smiled. “Well, aside from Rin's loud mouth, did you have fun at the party last night?”

 

Kagome nodded thoughtfully. “I guess it was okay. It was a lot better than I thought it would be anyway. It was nice hanging out with Inuyasha like that. Even Rin was okay for the most part. Accept for those snotty noble girls gossiping about Inuyasha and me, it was actually pretty nice. Well, them and Lady Aliah that is. I still can't believe she called Lady Izayoi a whore to her face like that. Even if she was a concubine in the past, she's the King's favourite wife now and should be respected, shouldn't she?”

 

“Yeah, she should be respected, but Lady Aliah doesn't like that idea at all.” Sango said with a sigh. “Lady Aliah's hated Lady Izayoi ever since she was a concubine from what I've heard, and it's only gotten worse over the years. Lady Aliah doesn't really give a damn about the King., but she does give a damn about her position as first wife to the King and is worried about that, if that makes any sense.”

 

“It doesn't.” Kagome said, frowning in confusion.

 

Sango sighed and started to explain. “The position of First Wife to the King, is one of great respect and great comfort. As long as she continues to be First Wife, Lady Aliah has her every whim catered for and is respected and envied by women everywhere. Even more prestigious is the position of `Mother to the Heir of the Throne', which she also is by being the mother of the King first born son, Prince Sesshomaru. After he was born, she was ensured that the King would never be able to divorce her as long as she didn't actually break any laws against the throne, thus securing her future comfort. That was all she cared about, so after Sesshomaru was born she didn't care what Inutaisho did.”

 

“That is, until she realised that he felt more than lust for one of his concubines, the Lady Izayoi. Even worse was when Lady Izayoi feel pregnant with the King's second child, thus making a rival for her child. The final nail in the coffin as it were was when the King actually married her, bringer the two of them to equal standing in the eyes of the court. Lady Izayoi had always been Lady Aliah's inferior, even when they were children. Lady's Izayoi's Great-Grandfather was a common general who was awarded the rank of Lord for extraordinary service in battle, making her family extremely low in the ranks of nobles, while Lady Aliah's family was one of the oldest noble family's in all of Inu, second only to the Dukes of Rajar and the Royal Family itself. Having someone who she had always considered little more than a commoner suddenly on equal standing to her was something Lady Aliah couldn't stand. Inuyasha's birth made it even worse, or course, because that meant that the King could legally choose to give the crown to Inuyasha instead of Sesshomaru, since he married Izayoi within a year of Inuyasha birth thus making him completely eligible. If the King hadn't married Lady Izayoi, or had married her after the year was up, Inuyasha could only have taken the throne if there wasn't a son born from an actual wife. Even after the King made it clear that Prince Sesshomaru was to remain Heir to the throne Lady Aliah still viewed him as a threat. After all, the mother of a prince lives in luxury, but the mother of a KING lives like a goddess.”

 

Kagome nodded thoughtfully, thinking over what Sango had said. Put like that, Lady Aliah's bitterness and rudeness made more sense, but it still seemed rather petty to her. The King had no plans to throw her aside or take away her son's right to the throne, so why could she just be happy with what she had? She certainly wasn't that hard done by or anything. Kagome didn't think she'd ever really understand and she wasn't sure she wanted to.

 

The two were silent for a few minutes after that, until the smell of the food started to effect them again and both started searching their minds for something else to talk about. They never got a chance to think of anything though, as it was at that exact moment that Inuyasha turned up, jogging through the gardens towards them and still wearing his training clothes from this morning.

 

“I know I'm late, sorry.” Inuyasha panted slightly as he collapsed into one of the two remaining chairs ate the table and pulling the third plate of food closer towards him. “General Asad made me stay late because I didn't arrive on time. Have you been waiting long? Man, this food smells great, how were you able to keep yourselves from eating it until now.”

 

“It wasn't easy, believe me.” Sango said with a grin as Inuyasha started on his own plate. She and Kagome started eating as soon as they saw Inuyasha sallow his first bite. “So, how was your lesson with General Asad?”

 

The three of them talked for a long time, long after the food was all gone. They started by listening to Inuyasha's talk about his lesson with General Asad, with the two women occasionally asking questions (when it got to the part where Inuyasha started describing the mounted portion of his lesson, Kagome in peculiar asked a number of questions). After that they moved on to the party the night before, with Inuyasha going on in more detail about things Kagome had missed or skimped over. After that they moved onto life in the harem in general and whatever else came to mind. The conversation flowed easily between the three of them, each enjoying a true friendship with the others rarely seen in a harem or even the palace in general. It was nice, and helped reinforce in Inuyasha the fact that he wanted to keep Sango in his life far more than he had recently. He might not want to sleep with her anymore - or at least not very much he wasn't yet ready to write off the possibility of fucking her at some point in the future completely - but he certainly wanted her in his life. She'd been his friend for too long not to want her around anymore. He'd miss her too much if he did.

 

The three had been talking for over an hour, when they received a surprise visitor, escorted by one of the harem guards.

 

“Miroku.” Inuyasha said, looking surprised. “What are you doing here?” While Miroku was one of the few who had a standing invitation to enter the harem, he rarely showed up uninvited like this, which was probably a good thing considering how much a lecher he was. Miroku was Inuyasha' best friend, but Inuyasha was under no illusions as to the man's habit of flirting with anything female. Were it not for the fact that he trusted his concubines in their loyalty to him - in Dalal and Muna's cases more for their own sake than his, but still he trusted them - the man would never be allowed to enter best friend or not. Anyway, Miroku didn't take advantage of his invitation to the harem very often, and when he did it was usually for some kind of serious reason, although Inuyasha couldn't think of what that might be right now.

 

Miroku paused a few feet from the table and bowed. The guard staying a respectful distance away but still remaining nearby until he received some kind of sign from the prince as to whether he should escort Miroku out of the harem, or simply return to his post. Either was a possibility and he wasn't stupid enough to decide on a course of action until he knew which one. The prince had a nasty temper and little to no tolerance for foolish guards, something every guardsman who worked at the harem learnt very quickly, if they wanted to keep working there that is.

 

“I'm sorry to disturb you, my Prince.” Miroku said, remaining formal while in the presence of the guard. “But I have been sent here by your Royal Father to retrieve you for a meeting which will take place in the Royal Conference Hall.”

 

Inuyasha frowned. “I didn't know there was to be a meeting today, I thought the next one was scheduled for the day after tomorrow.”

 

“I believe the meeting was decided upon last minute.” Miroku said carefully, sounding to Inuyasha like he might know what was going on but didn't want give anything away while in the presence of others. “Whatever the reason for this meeting, your Royal Father wishes for you to arrive promptly.”

 

Inuyasha continued to frown in confusion and a little worry, but he nodded and stood up. “I better change out of my practice clothes, so as not to offend my father's advisors. Why don't you sit down for a minute or two and talk to Kagome and Sango while I go do this. Guard, you might as well return to your post, me and Miroku will be leaving in a few minutes and I trust him and my concubines enough that I seriously doubt anything's going to happen between now and then.” The guard looked a little doubtful about leaving a known lecher alone with a pair of concubines but felt it was wiser not to argue with the short-tempered prince. Besides, like the prince said they would likely only be alone for a few minutes, what could happen in a few minutes? With a quick farewell salute, the guard turned around and walked out of the garden. Inuyasha left and walked a brisk pace in the direction of his room. And Miroku sat down in the previously unused chair, right next to Sango.

 

“So, Kagome, I heard you went to your first palace party last night.” Miroku started the conversation. “How did that go?”

 

“It was okay,” Kagome said with a shrug, “if you ignored the noble bitches gossiping about me, Lady Aliah calling Lady Izayoi a whore, and Rin calling out at what seemed to be the top of her voice that both princes were Sex Gods.”

 

Miroku raised an eyebrow and chuckled slightly. “I'm sorry I missed it then. My father forbid me from going after a… um… a slight misunderstanding with one of the young noble women earlier that day.”

 

Kagome raised an eyebrow at that. Probably tried to grope the wrong girl, Kagome decided, having become well aware of the man reputation in the last few months. She hadn't had much one on one time with the man so far, most of her meetings with him - actually all of her meetings up until now - being buffered by Inuyasha. She hadn't seen much of him, but what she had seen let her know that the man's reputation as a pervert and lecher was well deserved. In fact, Kagome was pretty sure that the only thing that had saved her from the dreaded `hand' so far was the fact that she was Inuyasha's concubine, and as such forbidden by law; both the law of Inu, and the law of Inuyasha's fists. Still, he couldn't be all bad Kagome decided, seeing how Inuyasha trusted him so much. Kagome knew the prince well enough to know that his trust wasn't something that he gave freely, it had to be earned. Miroku must have been tested and passed for Inuyasha to allow the man into the confidence the way he had.

 

“And dear, Sango.” Miroku said, turning his attention to the concubine sitting next to him. “It has been some time since I last saw you. How have you been?”

 

“A little bored to tell you the truth, Miroku.” Sango answered. “There hasn't been much going on inside the harem lately, and Inuyasha hasn't taken me outside it in a few weeks now.”

 

“He hasn't?” Miroku asked, looking scandalised. “Well, I shall have to talk to him about that and see that he corrects the error of his ways. A woman as beautiful as yourself should never be allowed to become bored.”

 

“Still a flatter I see.”

 

“For you Sango, always.”

 

Miroku and Sango continued to talk about relatively unimportant things for a few more minutes, while Kagome basically zoned them out. She wasn't really interested in most of what they were saying, and it appeared that they'd all but forgotten she was there anyway. Kagome wasn't insulted, Miroku and Sango had known each other for at least a couple of years now but they didn't get the chance to see each other all that often, it only made sense that they would want to talk while they had the chance. Instead Kagome listen and watched them with half a mind, the other half running through a list of activities she could do this afternoon. She'd been hoping to spend the rest of the day with Inuyasha, but now that this surprise meeting had turned up she guessed that idea was out the window so she needed a new plan. Maybe she would continue with that book of ancient Inu poetry she'd found on a back shelf in the reading room. That was interesting but pretty complicated and a lot of it she just didn't get. Or maybe could go to the music room and practice the flute again; but that might make Dalal come in and yell at her about stopping `that horrible noise' again. Or maybe…

 

Suddenly Kagome was brought out of her musing of possible afternoon activities with a shock as it slowly seeped into her mind what she was seeing on Miroku and Sango's faces. She'd seen that look many times in her home village, especially her friends as they grew older and grew apart from her. It was the look she had come to recognise as one that meant her old friends had things on their mind that they considered more important than friendship, and that they were one step closer to becoming true adults. She had just never expected to see it on Sango's face, let alone directed at someone like Miroku or that he would be returning the look as well. But there it was, right in front of her. But… that couldn't be, could it? There was no way, she must be imagining it. But it was still there…

 

And then it was gone, as Inuyasha strolled over and called out to Miroku that they needed to get going. Suddenly both the priest's and elder concubine's faces were devoid of the looks Kagome had been so sure she had seen, Miroku stood up and after giving a bow and bidding farewell to the `two breathtaking young ladies', both the prince and spiritual advisor left the garden and supposedly the harem at a brisk pace, leaving Kagome there to wonder.

 

To wonder if Sango and Miroku's expressions had really held love.

 

Little did Kagome know that another had also watched the exchange and wondered the same thing. Only they also wondered how this might help them.

 

***

 

It was well into the evening by the time Kagome left her room again that day, this time on her way to Inuyasha's chamber to whence she'd been summoned. After her revelation in the garden Kagome had returned to her room to think, telling Sango she had a sudden headache to justify her disappearance. Well, if Kagome hadn't had a headache when she'd gone to her room she certainly had one when she immerged from it. She'd been running circles in her head all afternoon and was even more confused now that she'd started off.

 

Had she really seen love in Sango and Miroku's expression, or had she just imagined it? If she had imagined it, what did it mean. Were they having an affair behind Inuyasha's back? Or were they in a doomed romance that they both knew could never be, never daring to act on their feelings. As that thought occurred to Kagome she felt a wave of sympathy towards the pair, until another thought invaded her thoughts to replace sympathy with sudden panic. Did anyone else realise? Had Dalal and Muna ever seen what she had seen? How could they know. No, don't panic, they can't know, if they did they'd surely tell Inuyasha and the rest of the world. Oh Gods, Inuyasha, what if Inuyasha knew? What if he found out? Doesn't the law demand that an unfaithful concubine and her lover be put to death? Kagome couldn't stand the thought of Sango dying simply for falling in love.

 

And what was she to do now that she knew about it, or at least thought she knew about it? Wasn't it her duty to tell Inuyasha what she saw? But if she did, what would happen? Of Gods, she didn't want to think about it! Besides, she wasn't even sure what she had seen, she'd only noticed their expressions for a few seconds and then they were gone. Could she have imagined it? If so and she told, then what. If she did tell and she was wrong, she would become in the eyes of everyone in the harem no different that Dalal or Muna, scheming for power, only so much worse and willing make up horrible life threatening lies. She would lose Inuyasha's respect and she would certainly lose Sango's friendship; two things she had come to depend on in her time in the harem. And if she was right… well, that was even worse. Sango and most likely Miroku could, probably would, die and Inuyasha would be hurt and feel betrayed. She didn't want that to happen. Actually, she wasn't so sure that wouldn't happen if she was wrong either, she wasn't sure how much proof needed to be brought forward in these kind of cases. Oh, what to do, what to do?

 

These thoughts were still racing through Kagome's mind when she received her summons to Inuyasha's room. They were still in her mind as she walked through the passageway toward the prince's chambers on autopilot, her worry so great she couldn't even bring herself to be excited about spending the night in Inuyasha's bed, experiencing his skilful touch. She did wake up enough to realise that Inuyasha wasn't in the main or bedroom when she arrived though, and to follow his voice out onto the balcony where he was sitting with a bottle of wine and two goblets. Unknown to Kagome, he looked almost exactly the same as he had on Kagome's second night at her harem when he had invited Sango to share a glass of wine with him, her last night in the prince's bed although all either of them did was sleep.

 

Kagome accepted the goblet of wine from Inuyasha buy instead and drinking it, just stared at it for a minute, her mind still racing. That is until she realised that Inuyasha was staring at her with a slightly concerned expression and seemed right on the verge of asking her what was wrong. Instantly coming to the conclusion that she wasn't ready to talk to Inuyasha about it yet, Kagome spoke first quickly racking her brain for a subject besides `what would you say if I told you I think your best friend might be having an affair with your former favourite concubine?'

 

“What was the meeting about earlier, was it something important?” Kagome asked, mentally patting herself on the back for coming up with that so quickly.

 

Inuyasha sighed, and from his expression Kagome figured that might have been an even better topic than she'd hoped as it was clearly something which had been on his mind for a while.

 

“I guess you could call it serious, have you heard of Eriga?”

 

Kagome frowned, as she tried to think about where she'd heard that name before. “Small country to the east of Jiha? Lots of mountains, and produces a lot of glassware?”

 

“That's the one.” Inuyasha said with a sigh. “Well, their King just died and they have no clear line of succession. He was young and hadn't gotten around to having kids yet, so when his horse decided to throw him and he broke his neck in the fall, there wasn't anyone set to take the throne. My father just received a report about this morning. When the messenger arrived there was already talk floating round of a Civil War to crown a new King..”

 

“That's horrible, but I'm not really sure I understand why your father's concerned about that. I mean, Eriga doesn't border us or anything, and we don't trade much with them do we?”

 

“No.” Inuyasha said. “My father and the rest of the council are more concerns about what outcomes might occur from a Civil War and how they might effect us. There's a real chance that Agabre might take a Civil War as an invitation to invade Eriga and absorb it into their growing empire. Their powerful enough and power hungry enough to be a worry as it is.” Kagome let out a `Oh' of understanding and nodded at that. That made sense when put that way. Kagome could understand how the King and his advisors might worry about that. Since coming to the palace she'd learnt far more about the Agabre Empire than she'd ever imagined and most of it wasn't good. Of course the King would be concerned if there was a chance that Emperor Naraku might become even more powerful.

 

“Besides that, some of the more paranoid council members say that this is a sign that Inu must be prepared for the possibility that our own King might die and that Sesshomaru and I should marry and produce heirs immediately.” Inuyasha said, looking disgusted. “Yeah right. Seeing our father's disaster of a marriage to Aliah worked wonders in making us wary of marriage, especially for political reasons. As for an heir, what do they think kids just happen because we want them to? Only the Gods can truly choose when kids come into this world. Sure I'd love kids, one day, but that day doesn't have to come right now. I really don't get what they're worried about. I mean, my father's in great shape for a man half his age, he's not going anywhere any time soon, and there are not one but two heirs perfectly capable of taking over the throne if it comes to that. I wish those old busy body's would give it a rest, me and Sesshomaru will get married when we fell like it, not before.”

 

“Anyway.” Inuyasha said, seemingly coming back to the here and now. “You've barely touched your wine, is something wrong?”

 

Kagome looked down at her goblet in surprise, having honestly forgotten she even had it. The truth was Inuyasha was wrong. Her wine wasn't barely touched, she hadn't touched it at all.

 

“I've never really been one to indulge in alcohol.” Kagome said, truthfully enough. She never had been much of a drinker, not likely the taste of most alcohol beverages available to her in the past, nor the headaches that came as a result.

 

“Well then,” Inuyasha said with a smirk. “How about we indulge in something else.” Kagome barely had time to think `what?', forget about saying it, when Inuyasha's mouth crashed over hers in a passionate kiss which Kagome quickly returned as she made a resolution in her mind.

 

She wouldn't worry about what she thought she had seen earlier today, and she certainly wouldn't tell anyone. Unless she saw further proof of such feelings on the part of Sango and-slash-or Miroku, she would try to wipe it from her mind. As things stood now, all telling anyone what she might, empathise on the might, have seen could only hurt. It was better for now to just forget it and concentrate on other things. Like the wonderful things Inuyasha could do with his tongue.

 

With that thought, Kagome let herself stop thinking entirely and gave herself over to what she was sure would be a most pleasurable night.