The Races

Chapter 6

Inside the Limo, Mia asked, “So Kagome, how was your first day of school?”

Kagome looked at her, “I didn’t kill any one,” a pause, “today.” was her reply.

“You will refrain from doing such, I will not have you ruining my name with such a display of unruliness.” Tasukie snapped.

Kagome just rolled her eyes and looked out the window as they lapsed back into a round of silence.

After about twenty minutes, the limo came to a stop and the driver got out to open the door. Tasukie got out first followed by, Mia, their mother; Tasukie offered her his hand for help. Next Shippo got out of the limo
and in turn offered his hand to Kagome.

“Oh my.” Was the only thing out of Kagome’s mouth when she stepped out of the limo to look up at the house. If she thought her house was big this house was huge. It was a friggen castle; it was so big you could fit her house, her old house, and the in it school three times.

“Yeah, the first time I seen it I had about the same reaction but once, you see it a dozen times, it’s ok once, you’ll get use to it.” Shippo whispered into her ear as the walked into the house behind his parents.

Inside there stood a little green, what Kagome assumed was to be a toad, but it was the ugliest thing she had ever seen. She briefly caught him mumble about filthy half-breads in the house and how the master of the house has fallen from grace letting more Halflings into their house.

“You know little toad, if your masters heard you speaking like that you would be reprimanded.” Kagome said while letting her aura slip out a bit.

“Of course mistress, please forgive this lowly servant.” He asked and he shook and bowed to her, he started quivering when she started to let out her aura and it surrounded his completely with little to no resistance.

“For give what, Jaken?” Inu No Tashio asked as he walked into the entry way to greet them. Looking at Kagome, “I believe that you scared him enough to steer clear of you for the night.” Then he turned to Tasukie, “You never said she was a miko, a class five at that.”

“Class five?” Tasukie shouted in disbelief. He turned to Mia then to Kagome and Shippo, “You knew?” He asked as he looked around a got a look of confirmation from every one.

“Yes, oh powerful one, I knew, hello, it’s my power.” Kagome said sarcastically.

“Yes, I thought mother had told you father.” Came Shippo’s reply.

“I’m sorry dear, I thought you would be able to tell.” Mia said.

“I see, so you didn’t know, well this opens new options for that deal then.” Inu No Tashio said optimistically as he turned and walked into the sitting room. “The boys will be down in a couple of minutes, make yourselves at home I am going to go find out where my lovely mate is and bring her in to socialize.” He said before he departed from the room.

“I can’t believe none of you thought that it was worth telling me.” Tasukie was a bit pissed, well, beyond pissed, “Level five. I mean God you could lose control and kill us all with that power. That is one of those need to know things.” He said rather heatedly.

“Um… I didn’t get to be a level five from sheer power alone it has taken me the first fourteen year of my life to get to where I am right now. I will not lose control over some stupid matter or because I simply want to fry my step-father.” Kagome added sarcastically. “As fun as that would be.”

“That is not funny Kagome.” Mia said. “You neither Shippo.” She said as she turned to see Shippo doubling over with mirth.

“It would appear that the party has started.” Rin said as she entered the room elegantly.

“Indeed.” Was the reply that came from Sesshoumaru as he followed her into the room. He had heard the conversation in the entry way ‘Hm… level 5 that is interesting.’ He looked around the room and seen Kagome, she looked stunning in the dress, she wore it was as if it were made just for her. He closed his eyes to regroup his thoughts so that nothing was displayed on his face.

Rin looked at the people in the room and ran over to Mia and gave her a huge hug. “Hello Aunt Mia! Yasha said he would be down in a minute, after he and Kikyo found their pants.” She said and Mia and Shippo blushed red.

“Ha, that sounds like Inuyasha,” Shippo said to the room, “He can’t do any thing unless Kikyo is there to hold his hand.”

“Hehehe, Good one shippo.” Rin said as she looked over at Kagome. “I have never seen you before,” She extended her hand to Kagome; “I’m Rin, the baby of the family as they like to say.”

Kagome stood up, “It’s very nice to meet you, and I’m Kagome.” She shook Rin’s hand and she said it. ‘Hm, she handles Rin with ease.’ Sesshoumaru thought as he watched the exchange between the two.

Rin sat down with Kagome and they talked like they were the oldest of friends. “Aren’t you Sango’s friend?” Rin asked.

“Yes. We just met today but yes you could call us friends.” Kagome said as Shippo sat on the opposite side of Kagome and joined in the conversation.

“Really are you new to the school?” Rin asked, Kagome just smiled and nodded her head.

Sesshoumaru stood in the door way and observed the happenings inside the room. Mia and Tasukie sat across the room and he noticed that Tasukie keep throwing dirty glances across the room at Kagome. ‘Hm that’s interesting, the step-father doesn’t seem to like Kagome.’

“Shit, what have I missed?” Inuyasha asked as he walked into the room with Kikyo.

Sesshoumaru wrinkled his nose at them as the rest of the room sniffed then covered their nose, “God, Inuyasha couldn’t you and your bitch have showered afterward, before gracing us with your stench?” Ha sneered.

“Fuck you Sesshoumaru.” He said back, “Is it that noticeable?” He asked in a hushed tone.

“I would not have said any thing if it were not.” Sesshoumaru replied. With that Kikyo and Inuyasha excused themselves to go back up stairs to shower.

Kagome watched them go and let out a sign of relief when they went back upstairs. ‘Thank god because from the looks of things I am not the only one that smelt it.’ “So what is on the menu tonight, Rin?” Shippo asked trying to break the tension in the air.

“It’s a surprise but extra special.” Rin said. To tell the truth it was nothing special but chicken, noodles with creamy white cheese sauce, mushrooms and broccoli. Fedichini Alfredo.

“Dinner is served.” Jaken said as her reappeared in the sitting room.
Everyone got up and followed the toad to the dining room, where they found the lady and lord of the house awaiting their arrival. Inu No Tashio sat at the head of the table with his mate to his left. Sesshoumaru sat to his right and then sat Kagome followed by and empty chair then Shippo, and Rin. Tasukie sat at the other end of the table with Mia, with next to Rin. The two seats next to Inu No Tashio mate were reserved for Inuyasha and Kikyo.

After a bit of talk Inuyasha and Kikyo returned and were freshly cleaned and did not smell of sex any longer. “Sorry we were late father.” Inuyasha and Kikyo bowed in apology and got a stern look from him before his facial expressions relaxed into a softer look, one of forgiveness and amusement.

“Very well, sit, and relax while we await our last guest.” He said as his youngest son stepped forward with his girlfriend to sit down.

“Last guest? Inu, you never mentioned a last guest whom are we waiting for?” Tasukie asked while he looked about.

Inu No Tashio just smirked and reclined back into his dinning chair. Just then Jaken came into the room, “My lord, he is here.”

With a nod he replied back, “Send him in.”

‘Him?’ Kagome thought as she looked towards the door. The only thing she saw were electric blue eyes before she shot out of her chair and across the room.

“Kouga!” She shouted as she ran across the room to collide with his hard chest and muscled body, and nearly knocked him over. “What are you doing here?” she asked with a huge smile.

“Gee and here I thought you would be happy to see me.” He replied with a teasing smirk that played across face.

“You’re such a jerk.” Kagome said as the smile she had on her face grew.

Kouga squeezed her tight before loosening his grip on her to look at her. “Yeah but this jerk helped pay for the parts in that car of yours.” With that he led her back to her seat and then sat next to her.

“Kagome that a very improper behavior that you have just exhibited.” Tasukie reprimanded. “So what are you doing here?” He was not happy to see that the bastard son was involved in the decision.


Inu No Tashio interjected on Kagome’s be half, “Come now Tasukie, we are all friends here. Besides, seems how Kagome may now be involved in this discussion I thought it best to bring in some one who knows her better, and who better I may ask than her won brother?” They were then served and they ate in comfortable silence with the occasional chit-chat between Rin, Shippo, Kagome, Kouga, and Kikyo.

Kagome was so excited her brother was there that she forgot all about her anger toward her step-father. “Lord Tashio,” Kouga spoke up, he waited until he had his attention. “I would like to thank you for inviting me here to night to eat with you, your lovely family, and my sister, but I am a bit confused as to why I am here.”

“Yes, that will be discussed after desert which is on its way.” He said with a smile.

“Um, Lord No Tashio,” Kagome started. “How long is this going to take?”

“Hopefully not to long, why?”

“Don’t think you are going any where after lying to us this morning about where the two of you went last night” Tasukie interjected.

“For the last time, I did not lie to you I told you the total and complete truth it is not my fault your nose is to weak to detect that I was not lying to you.” Kagome snapped back. Kouga snickered from be side her.

“Don’t encourage her.” Snapped Tasukie.

Inu No Tashio interjected, now interested, “Where were you then?” He smiled. He could tell that the girl was telling the truth but he wanted to know where she and Shippo had gone.

“I already told those two that I went out to race.” Kagome huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.

Inu No Tashio looked at his sons, “The same races as the two of you?” At their nod he turned back to Kagome and said, “You must be the newbie that they were talking about coming in and wiping the floor with the level seven guys.” He chuckled then, “Heck, even Sesshoumaru was impressed with the way you drove even with a passenger.”

Tasukie sat and stared at Kagome in shock, ‘She was telling the truth.’ Finally coming to his senses he remember the rest of what was said, “You raced with Shippo in the car with you, how could you be so reckless as to put your own brother in danger like that?”

“Please, I was not going half as fast as the car could go, and he has driven with me before.” Kagome said as if she were talking about math homework, she continued to eat her food.

Tasukie was silenced and could not think of a good argument back, so he settled for just eating his desert, ‘She’ll get her’s later’ he thought with an evil smirk that both Sesshoumaru and Kouga caught.

After the dinner was cleared away, the families looked at one another in slight confusion. “The reason why our two families are together tonight is to discuss the joining our or two families in alliance. Our families have been friends for so long that we though we would arrange a marriage to finally unite them as one.” Inu No Tashio said as he got up from his seat to walk over to the window to look out at the now night sky. “For as long back as I can remember Tasukie and myself have always been like brothers, always been there for one another in the best and worst of times, we have stuck together, like a lasting marriage between friends.” He paused and turned around with a smirk. “So, we thought to strengthen our partnership in the business world and in the family, we thought we would marry one of our children to the other.”
There was a long silence following this little announcement. “Excuse me?” Kagome voiced. “You want to create an arranged marriage between us kids.”

“Yes.” Came his simple reply.

“Ok, so who did you have in mind of mating off?” Kouga asked, ‘Please not Kagome.’ He was worried and you could hear it in his voice.

“Well we had thought that we could mate Kagome and Inuyasha, but Inuyasha has Kikyo, the next option is Rin and Shippo.” Tasukie said.

“But Daddy,” Rin began to whine.

“Rin.” He said in a warning tone that stopped her abruptly.

Kagome stood up and slammed her hands down on the table before any one else could say any thing, from the looks of things both Rin and Sesshoumaru where about to speak up, “That is unacceptable.” She remembered the look on
Rin’s face when she was with Kohaku, noone should have to right to interject and mess with anyones life like that. And the look on Shippo’s face was one of sheer shock; he couldn’t marry his best friend, who happened to be in love with his other best friend.

“Well seems how you feel so strongly about it, there is always yourself and my oldest.” Inu No Tashio said.

The color drained from her face, could she really marry Sesshoumaru? Could she risk her life in misery so others would not have to sacrifice their own happiness? She was a miko destine to live her life for others, helping others healing other, but could she give up her total and complete happiness for them? Could she give up her freedom of choice? They were her family and friends, but could she give up the chance to find her own place so that they could keep theirs?

Obviously struggling with herself Kagome remained standing in silence. She looked to Rin and seen the heart broken look on her face from the suggestion that she would mate Shippo. Shippo looked on in disgust, Rin was like a sister he could never touch her in such a way. Next she looked to Inuyasha and Kikyo and noticed how happy they looked with one another, but they looked back at her with concern and worry at the situation. Kouga came next; he was shaking his head telling her she didn’t have to do it. But she did, and she knew it. She knew that if she didn’t she would be condemning her own brother and poor little Rin to a life of misery. Lastly she looked at Sesshoumaru with all his physical beauty, its not like he was hard on the eyes or any thing, its just that well, his personality sucked. Perhaps if he would pull the stick out of his ass he would not be so bad. Ha, not.

Suddenly the room noise resumed and she could hear Rin and Shippo pleading with their parents to not do this. “Neither of you are going to have to get marry to one another.” Kagome said with a stern voice.

Kouga closed his eyes and whispered “No.” He knew it, she was always sacrificing herself for others again, she was always giving away her happiness for someone else. Yet here she was once again getting ready to sign herself away to Sesshoumaru so that her little brother and Rin could live their own lives free. “Kagome you really don’t have to do this.” He stood up and whispered to her.

“Yes I do Kouga, don’t you understand? To make them go through this would be denying my duty as a miko, to always help others even if it is a weird situation.” Kagome said, her eyes were now saddened but there was a determined look. Kouga knew it would be pointless to try and change her mind she was already decided.

Kagome raised her hand for silence, the whole room had erupted into a war zone, they were shouting arguing and fighting, “The two of you want your houses united and you’ll get it. Inuyasha is taken and Rin is a girl so if it is agreeable to Sesshoumaru we will mate after graduation.” ‘So much for not being his bitch.’ She thought as the words came out of her mouth.

Rin and Shippo both let out sighs of relieve, but Shippo looked at Kagome with a look of concern. Kagome looked at Shippo and gave him a reassuring smile. ‘God I hope she knows what she’s doing.’ Shippo thought.

Sesshoumaru sat and did not say any thing all this time even when the arguing had started. Now every ones eye was turned to him. With a nod of his head he said, “That is acceptable,” But as if an after thought, “I wish for Kagome to live here for the remainder of the school year, I wish to get to know the woman I am to spend all eternity with.”

“Fine.” Was all she could say as she looked at her watch and sighed, it was already 8:45 and she was due to race in forty-five minutes.

Sesshoumaru seemed to notice to so he stood and said, “Come I will take you home so you can prepare for the races.” Then he turned to the rest of the room, “You are all welcome to come. Inuyasha I will meet you there.” With that Shippo, Kouga, Kagome and Sesshoumaru left the room.

Shippo and Kouga rode in kouga’s car while Kagome and Sesshoumaru rode in his car. “Why did you except the offer?” Kagome asked suddenly.

He thought about it a minute. Just when she thought he wouldn’t answer, he did, “Because you are interesting and are not a gold digger as you so bluntly pointed out last night at the races and again today at lunch.”

“Heh, well I still can’t believe you conceded so quickly.” Kagome said as she laid her head on the car window and watch the scenery go by.

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“What the hell was she thinking agreeing to something like that? I mean God, it’s Sesshoumaru, the killing perfection.” Kouga seethed as he drove.

Shippo listened but was very grateful to Kagome for her decision and he said so, “Kouga, I am so grateful that she did, I could not marry Rin, it would’ve been like marrying Kagome, Rin and I are like brother and sister. Yes it is shitty that it is Sesshoumaru but if any one can break that iceman it is her.”