His new ward

Chapter 3

It had been awhile since Sesshomaru had a headache, and he just knew that dealing with the slayer and the Miko would likely give him many in the days to come. They were both head strong and if they saw what they considered an injustice they would fight tooth and nail to right it.

All this just to get on his brothers nerves.

He had to say it wasn't one of his best plans; but now he was committed, and he had no choice but to go through with it.

After all he was a demon of his word.

He looked toward his door when he smelled General Raiu. Surely the pup and the princeling hadn't recovered yet.

"Enter," Sesshoumaru said when the knock sounded on the study door.

The general entered and bowed to him, "My Lord the hanyou and wolf are just outside your castle. They had a remarkable recovery when told that the Miko was taken by you."

That wasn't too surprising. His brother always over came any difficulties when it came to the Miko. Why he mated the dead one was anyone's guess.

"My Lord, the hanyou and wolf are at the gates accompanied by a monk, they are demanding to see you." Jaken rushed into the room and shouted.

"Let them in and show them to the great hall. I will be there shortly." Sesshomaru turned and left the room. He would make them wait a little while, then he would deal with them.

Because of his hunt for Naraku, the great hall had not been used for some time. He headed to his chamber and grabbed his swordsthen headed to the lowest floor of the castle.

The sound of his brothers voice reached him when he reached the second floor. He truely had the mouth of a gutter rat. As he neared the great hall the voice only got louder; he was surprised that he didn't hear the wolf along with his brother.

When he entered his hall, he was not surprised that his brother tried to draw his sword. "Have you forgotten about the spell father had placed on the castle, brother?"

Inuyasha jumped as his brother entered the room and walked to the throne at the head of the room. He put his hand on Tetsusaiga and went to draw it. He pulled on the hilt of the sword but nothing happened. Then he heard his brother speak.

He had forgotten about that spell.

"You know that only the Lord and his guards are allowed to draw weapons in this castle, unless allowed otherwise by me. Do you really think that I will grant you that right? I may have lost my arm, but I still retain my brain and my arm has been regenerated. So do not think I will hold that against you brother." Sesshomaru watched his irate brother stalk up to his throne. When he reached a certain spot he was thrown back. I guess he had forgotten about the barrier too.

Koga watched the Western Lord and his brother, then walked up the isle and bowed before Sesshomaru. "Lord Sesshomaru I request that you return my mate to me along with her friends."

Sesshomaru watched the wolf. "I didn't know that you were mated, Prince Koga."

"That's because he isn't." Inuyasha walked to Koga's side,glaring at his brother.

"I have proclaimed her my mate, and she didn't deny it." Koga stood and glared at Inuyasha. Mutt face wasn't helping anything. If it wasn't for his loud mouth he might have been granted permission to take the girls, but no he had to open his mouth.

"Prince Koga, the ladies are now my legal wards and as such shall not leave my castle unless they are accompainied by a mate." He saw the two frown at this statement. "In one week, I will be holding court to accept suitors for the ladies."

Koga glared at Sesshomaru. "I petiton you here and now for Kagome to be my mate by right of first claim."

"Prince Koga, you have one week to verify your claim. At that time if you can't verify it then she will be held to the open courting." Sesshomaru nodded to the wolf as he bowed before him.

Inuyasha watched as Koga bowed to his brother again.

"She is not going to be your mate you whimpy wolf." Inuyasha yelled at the wolf. Then he turned to his brother "I petition to be her mate."

"By what right do you petition?" Sesshomaru glared at his brother.

"By the right that she loves me." Inuyasha smirked at the iritated wolf beside him.

"You can't mate her, you already have a mate. What do you think your doing?" Kouga growled at Inuyasha.

"So what if I already have one mate. Nothing says that I can't have two." Inuyasha swung his fist at the wolf.

Kouga jumped away from the hanyou, "That dead woman who is your mate does not want Kagome around. Kagome told me that she tried to kill her a few times before. What do you think would happen if you took her as your second mate. Kagome would end up dead and you know it."

"Kikyou would never harm Kagome. Besides since Kagome is her reincarnation, that makes Kagome mine also." Inuyasha turned to face his brother. "There is stuff you don't know about Kagome. You can't treat her like this, Sesshomaru."

"I can and am. Or do you forget, brother-- and I use that term loosely, that I am the ruler of these lands and as such I can do anything I so desire." Sesshomaru looked at the trio in front of him.

"You may all return in one week. I will let you know my decisions then." He watched as Koga bowed to him then turned and left followed shortly by the monk.

"You can't do this, Sesshomaru. One way or the other I will rescue the girls. Kagome and Sango are needed to help us find the remaining jewel shards. Kagome is the only one who can purify it and wish on it. I will not allow you to delay it's completion." Inuyasha stalked out of the room and then out of the castle.

"Jaken, have the Taijiya and the Miko to meet me in the east wing study." Sesshomaru went to make sure that the trio left his castle.

Jaken watched his lord leave then turned and left to do his bidding.