At What Price

SUMMARY: Kagome turned to the taiyoukais in the room and gave them a bow with Rin still in her arm. “Will you gentlemen please excuse me and my little cherub. I promise that there will be no more distraction from now one. Well, maybe one more.”

Author’s Note: I don’t own Inuyasha, or anything associated with it. A BIG THANKS TO ALL THAT REVIEWED. YOU ARE WONDERFUL!!!

Chapter 25: A THREATENED BEATING
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Sesshoumaru raised a hand commanding silence. Their staring was making Kagome a little nervous and she unconsciously reached for Sesshoumaru’s hand. Kagome's fingers intertwined with his, gripping his large firm hand tightly. Yet, Kagome couldn’t still one nervous twitch, her thumb was making small, light circular motions on the top of Sesshoumaru’s hand.

“Great Lords, allow me to introduce my fiancée, Kagome Higurashi.” This statement made the elders go deathly quiet, or at least for a while.

“Is this some sort of joke, Lord Sesshoumaru?” Someone asked, but Kagome wasn’t sure who.

She didn’t know where she found the courage to speak came from, but she answered before Sesshoumaru did. “Gentlemen,” she smiled, looking them square in the eyes. “I assure you this is no joke.” Kagome held her left hand up to show them the engagement ring.

Rayen, was skeptical by nature, knew something was up. ‘That ring,’ he thought cautiously. ‘Why does that ring look so familiar. Oh well, I will think on it later.’ Rayen was not stupid, but how, in less then one month of Inutaishou’s passing, did Sesshoumaru get engaged? Rayen smelled a very well devised plan in the works. He smiled. ‘I’ll get to the bottom of this.’

“Oh, well then, congratulation are in order, are they. Let me have the honor of introducing ourselves. I am Rayen, this is Enyo, and he is Lakou.”

Kagome gave a respectful bow to each of the great taiyoukais in her presence. “I am honored to meet you honorable lords.” She was playing the regal and yet formal fiancée, for now anyways.

They returned her gesture.

“So, allow this poor old man to ask, how did you meet Sesshoumaru?” Lakou asked in curiosity.

“You, Lakou, are not poor,” cracked Enyo. “Perhaps feeble, but not poor.”

This question took Sesshoumaru back. He never once had discussed with Kagome the story plot that they should use when asked any questions about how they came to be. ‘Should I lie?,’ Sesshoumaru’s body tensed over so slightly. No, lying had never been his style, besides it was beneath him. Although, Before Sesshoumaru could give the subject any more thought, Kagome surprised him with her answer.

“Well, you could say that Sesshoumaru found me.” Kagome answered in a blissful sigh, it was like she was remembering that wonderful, no more like, fateful day that Sesshoumaru entered her life.

‘Yeah right, Kags!’ The voice snorted. ‘It was more like breaking and entering. Oh, and lets us not forget, attempted murder.’

When she finished with a viable, short answer, Kagome was very pleased with herself. She hadn’t lied, but merely gave half of the truth. It was best, if they didn’t know the entire story.

“That’s a vague answer.” Enyo said, in response to Kagome. He knew the Lord of the West never had such a simple way of things. So, when Kagome answered him with such shortness it troubled him.

“Vague? Hardly,” Kagome defended. “I was singing at a friends club, one night and Sesshoumaru was there, I must have made an impression because as soon as I arrived home there he was.” Kagome continued to weave the half truthful story about how they met, but left out some of the more violent parts, to save face. ‘Can’t have Sesshoumaru looking desperate now, can we?’

Sesshoumaru wasn’t going to let Kagome make it sound like he was a obsessive little boy, who had to have her, and then stalked her all the way home. No. He would set her straight, and she would comply. Why? Because he too, could tell halve truths.

“No dear.” He finally spoke. “I believe it was you who ran into me.”

It was Kagome’s turned to him and raise an elegant brow. ‘What are you up to?’

“I remember a very distraught woman running out of Inu-Research Inc. right into my arms.” Sesshoumaru said, in a bored tone as he corrected Kagome, however; he smiled when he saw a blush rise in her cheeks.

’So that how it’s going to be? Fine, I will play it your way. For now,’ Kagome thought.
“Oh, yes, how could I forget?" She wanted to scream, but fought the urge. "That was the first time I really met you, however; in my defense I didn’t see you until it was to late and I ran right into you. But, even in my state of condition, I didn’t get your name or who you were until much later.” Kagome replied in a placid manner. ‘Stay calm Kags,’ she chanted over and over.

Rayen watched the couple with guarded interest. His companions, however, were infatuated with Sesshoumaru’s fiancée and the story of how they met. “Isn’t Inu-Research Inc. your brother’s company?” Rayen asked. “What, if you don’t mind my asking, were you doing there?”

’Danger, danger! Proceed with caution.’ The alarm siren went off in her head. “I work for his brother, Inuyasha.” That was all she was going to give him.

“What had you so upset that you ran out of the building?” Lakou asked, obviously not taking the hint that Kagome didn’t want to talk about it. The fates must be trying her today.

Kagome turned away from Sesshoumaru to look at the three taiyoukais before answering. “I had received some distressing news about a close personal friend of mine. I was told that she had lost the love of her life.” Kagome had a mixed emotion coming through her voice, which when added with the sad forlorn look about her, made her semi-truth all the more believable. "It was a freak accident, really. So, I ran to get to my car as fast as I could. I wanted to help her over come her grief." Her voice cracked a little. ‘Damnit Kags, keep control of your emotions,’ she scolded herself.

Sesshoumaru had to commend Kagome for that lie. She said it with conviction, that he almost believed her himself, and Kagome said it without blinking an eye. Sesshoumaru decided, that he would have to talk to her later about that.

Rayen saw the sorrow in her eyes and believed her. “I am sorry for you and your friends loose.”

“Thank you.” Kagome mumbled, as turned and went back to stand in front of Sesshoumaru. Grief and confusion went through her body, and before she knew what she was doing, Kagome wrapped her arms around Sesshoumaru’s waist and hugged him close.

The demons must have sensed her upset and begged forgiveness for bring up such a sore subject. But, what Sesshoumaru did next floored all of them, even Kagome.

Sesshoumaru brought his arms around Kagome’s waist and placed a kiss on top of her head.

Rayen was surprised by Sesshoumaru’s show of affection, especially to a human women. ‘Maybe,’ he thought, ‘maybe.’

The sound of crashing glass brought everyone out of there pitied stupor. Then the next sound that followed the crashing glass was that of the little heinous toad like man. It was worse then nails on a chalk board. Rin came running into the study with a pure look of shame on her face. “Sesshoumaru-sama?” Rin cried weakly.

Sesshoumaru moved away from Kagome and looked at the young child that he had adopted two years ago.

“Rin?”

Tears started coming down her own cheeks. Kagome felt her heart break for the little girl. ‘What did that jerk do to her?’ Kagome fumed.

“Jaken threw Rin’s dolly up on the desk in the, um, …”

Kagome ran past Sesshoumaru to the little girl’s side and picked her up in her arms and hugged her tight in her embrace. “There, there Rin.” Kagome said in a consoling and gentle tone. “Kagome will help you. It will be alright sweetheart. Let’s go get your dolly my little cherub, and if it makes you feel any better, I will go beat up on Jaken for you.”

Rin smiled through her tears and nodded while gracing everyone with the biggest grin.

Kagome turned to the taiyoukais in the room and gave them a dignified bow, with Rin still in her arms. “Will you gentlemen please excuse me and my little cherub. I promise that there will be no more distraction from now one. Well, maybe one more.” Kagome turned to look at Sesshoumaru fully in the eyes. She almost lost her train of thought peering into those amused liquid pools of honey.

“Was there something else, dearest?” Sesshoumaru asked coolly.

“Will it upset you if I beat that little man?”

“No.”

With that Kagome bowed again and left the study.