His new ward

Chapter 15



Kouga could hardly believe that Kagome would soon be his. He had waited for this for years. It was all he could do not to stand up and yell.



"Thank you Lord Sesshomaru for accepting my claim," he said softly.



Sesshomaru just looked at the pup before him. Better that the miko goes to him than to my brother. My brother has brought enough shame on my house. "I ask that the miko be mated this evening and for it to happen at the Northern Palace. I only ask that it be done by this evening because my brother is acting quite strange lately. It is for her safety that I request you take her to the Northern Palace. You are aware of the kit that travels with her. You will be required to take him also for I fear the miko will not leave him behind. He is considered her pup so I guess that makes Kouga his father now. I will go inform the miko of my descion now." Sesshomaru turned and left the room



"Well son not only do you get a mate but a son also." Koona turned and saw that his son was quite pale. "Are you OK Kouga?"



Kouga nodded his head yes. He had to mate Kagome tonight. He knew she would object but he would see his end of the bargain with Sesshomaru through. "I am fine father. I just thought that he would put up more of an argument about it."



"Well if I were you I would not complain about him not doing so. Now lets go wait for your new pup and soon to be mate." Koona walked out of the study and to the foyer to await his daughter-in-law. He sent a guard after a carriage that he could borrow to return to his palace in so that it would be ready when it was time to depart.



Kagome returned to her chamber and sat down on the bed. So what would Sesshomaru decide. I hope I don't have to wait to long before I find out. I don't like being held in suspense. Especially when it was something that concerns my future.



She jumped when a knock sounded on the door. "Come in"



Sesshomaru entered the miko's room and found her sitting on her bed. "I have chosen your mate, miko. You will travel to his family home to be mated this evening. If you do not go through with the mating this evening I will return you back here tomorrow. Do you understand?" He saw the shock on her face as she nodded her head. "You and the kitsune are to depart immediately."



Kagome got off the bed and grabbed her pack and headed for the door to retrieve Shippo but was met by a servant holding him. "My lord may his collar come off now?"



Sesshomaru shook his head no. "I will give the key to Prince Kouga. He may unlock it when he sees fit."



"May I say good-bye to Sango my Lord?" Kagome really didn't want to leave without saying good-bye to her sister.



"You have no time for that now. I am sure you will see her again." Sesshomaru escorted her out of the east wing and to the foyer. He stopped before Kouga and took Kagome's hand and put it in Kouga's. "She is yours now unless you fail to do as I requested. Then I will retreive her tomorrow." With that warning Sesshomaru showed the wolves, miko, and kitsune outside to the carriage. As Kouga went to step into the carriage Sesshoumaru grabbed his hand and placed two keys onto his palm. "These keys are for the collars around their necks." He watched as the ookami prince entered the carriage and shut the door behind. He was glad when the carriage departed out of the gates. Sesshoumaru turned and entered his castle. Now only one more human to go. Plus he had to deal with his brother and the undead miko.



Kouga watched Kagome pet the kitsune on her lap as the carriage started moving. What I wouldn't do to change places with the kitsune. "Kagome may I introduce my father Lord Koona."



"Hello My Lord. My name is Kagome and this is Shippo. He is my pup." Kagome petted Shippo some more. It calmed her when she did that.



"Kagome, you are with friends now you can relax. Hello again Shippo. I am glad that Sesshomaru let you come with Kagome." Kouga smiled at the fox demon.



Shippo stared at Kouga in shock. "You are?"



"Of course I am. Kagome has gone through enough without having to loose you too." Kouga smiled at him again.



"Are you sure your not just saying that so you can give me a false sense of security before you eat me?" Shippo frowned at Kouga.



"I would never eat you Shippo. When Kagome became my mate that made you my son. And wolves don't eat their pups." Kouga laughed when he saw the kitsune sigh in relief.



Shippo jumped off Kagome's lap and onto Kouga's shoulder. "Does that mean I get to call you dad?" He saw Kouga shake his head yes. "You are not going to hit me on the head all the time are you?"



"That is not one of the ways we wolves punish our pups, Shippo." Kouga patted the kitsune on the head.



"So how do you punish wolf pups?" Shippo asked Kouga.



"Well it all depends on the crime they commit. Sometimes pups just get growled at and other times they are shaken by our mouths or bit on the nape of the neck. Other times it may be going to bed without food, or being restricted to the cave for the day denying pups something they like. Do you think you could live with those punishments?" Kouga lifted Shippo off his shoulder and held him out in front of him so he could look into his face.



"That's alot better than getting knocked over the head. Well most of it is any ways. Yes I can live with it." Shippo smiled at Kouga as he placed him back on Kagome's lap. He took out the key Sesshomaru gave him and unlocked the collar from around Shippo's neck. After Shippous collar was off he handed him to his father. He took Kagome's hand and pulled her onto his lap. Kouga gently moved her hair away from her neck and found the lock on the collar. He undid the lock and caught the necklace as it fell off of her. He held it in front of her face for a second and then crushed the necklace in his hand until nothing but dust remained. He put his hand out the window and let the dust blow away with the wind. He leaned down and whispered in Kagomes ear. "You won't be needing that with me."



Kagome couldn't believe the way Kouga was acting toward Shippo. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes she would not have believed it. Maybe being with Kouga was going to be a good thing. As she was lost in thought she was shocked when Kouga pulled her onto his lap. She hastily glanced toward his father and Shippou. The heat radiating from her face told her that her face had to be turning red. She couldn't help but jump when she felt his hands move her hair away from her neck. What did he think he was doing. It only took a few seconds before she felt something slide down her chest to be caught by Kouga. She watched as he destroyed the magic necklace that Sesshoumaru had given her. Then she felt his breath on her ear and felt an unknown warmth settle in her stomach. Surely he wasn't planning on doing anything with his father and Shippou across from them.



Kouga felt her body stiffen when he whispered in her ear and he drew back away from her. He didn't want to scare her. He took in a deep breath to steady himself and almost groaned out load when a spicy scent assaulted his nose. That wasn't the smell of fear radiating off of her. If she got that excited just because he whispered in her ear he couldn't wait till tonight. He watched as Kagome yawned and he pulled her against his chest. The motion of the carriage soon had Kagome sleeping in his arms.



Koona couldn't believe how his son talked to the kitsune. He watched the girls face to judge her reaction to Kouga's words. She appeared to be in shock. Well she would have a lot to get use to in a short time. He hoped she was strong enough to do it.



Kouga waited till Kagome fell asleep then he ran his fingers through her hair. He had never thought he would live to see this day. This was the happiest day of his life.