His new ward

Chapter 7

Koona and Ghanna approached the gates of the Western Lord. They listened to their driver talk with Sesshomaru's guards. As their driver neared the front door of Sesshomaru's palace he stopped then came to help his mistress down. Koona was not surprised to find Sesshomaru waiting on them at the top of the stairs. Koona bowed his head to him and watched his wife do the same.

Sesshomaru watched the wolves get out of the carriage. After they bowed to him he returned their bow. "To what do I owe the priveledge of this visit Koona?"

"My son came home last evening anouncing that you had his mate. My mate and I would like to meet the girl if we may?" Koona walked up the stairs to join Sesshomaru.

"If he proves his claim I have his mate. If not then I will find another for her." Sesshomaru saw the wolf youkai nod his head.

"We understand your decision, Sesshoumaru, but you have not said if we may be permitted to meet the girl?" Koona didn't like the fact that Sesshoumaru had not answered his question yet.

"Lady Ghanna can meet her now if she wishes. I have some other business that I would like to discuss with you first if you do not mind." Sesshomaru motioned to a female guard. When she bowed before him and the wolf youkai he spoke again. "Take Lady Ghanna to see the Miko, Kagome. And my lady do not be afraid. She can not harm you with her powers in my castle."

Ghanna bowed to Sesshomaru then to her mate before following the guard out of the lobby. "Why are you taking only me to see the girl?"

The guard didn't stop walking as she answered the Lady behind her, "Only women may enter this wing of the castle. Lord Sesshomaru can, but he don't want to unless it is necessary. He says the humans smell so he avoids them."

Surely Kouga wouldn't want a human that constantly smelled bad by his side. When would the humans learn to bathe. "Why did he take them on as wards if they smell?" Ghanna kept walking behind the guard.

"You would have to ask my Lord that question My Lady. Beside the two humans he took as wards smell rather nice for humans. And from what I have seen since they have resided here they are very clean. The miko bathes more than any youkai that I know. You will find the miko in the garden with her kitsune cub and the taijiya." The guard opened the door and waited for the Northern Lady to enter then turned and left.

"Thank you." Ghanna entered the garden. Kouga hadn't informed them that the miko had been mated before. Why else would she have a kitsune pup? She sniffed the air and looked around the gardens. I don't smell any humans here. Maybe the guard was wrong. Ghanna heard a weak sound of walked around the garden until she finally heard the sound of laughter. She found two humans sitting under a tree while a kitsune and a neko played with Lord Sesshomaru's ward Rin.

Rin spotted her and ran and latched onto her leg. "Lady Ghanna have you came to visit me?"

Ghanna looked down at the child in shock. When did she stop speaking in the third person? "Not today Rin although I am happy to see you. Today I here to meet someone named Kagome."

"Ri-- I mean I will introduce you to her." Rin grabbed her hand and pulled her to the girls by the tree. "Lady Ghanna this is Sango, she is a demon slayer. I am not sure what that means but Lady Sango told me she would tell me when I was older. There is another word for it but Ri-- I can't say it. But don't worry she won't hurt you. And this is Kagome. She is a miko but she is different than the one in my old village. Kagome likes demons and she doesn't care about me being Lord Sesshoumaru's ward because she said she was too. And she likes to play. It's lots of fun to be around her. "

Ghanna listened to Rin as she spoke and studied the miko before her. Then she turned to the taijiya "Lady Sango, will you escort the pup and the neko along with Rin out of the gardens so that I may talk with Lady Kagome?"

Kagome was surprised and somewhat weary of the demoness. What did she want to talk to her for? Not to mention she was being really nice. She had met very few demons who were nice. Unless they wanted something and with that thought in mind she stood and warily faced the wolf demoness in front of her. She stared at the demoness for a little while. She lookes so familiar. At least her eyes did. She knew she was a wolf youkai but she had never met any female ones before beisdes Ayame. Maybe she was Ayame's mother. She nodded her head to Sango telling her it was ok and then kissed Shippo and Rin good-bye and watched Sango walk them out of the garden. "We are alone now My Lady what did you want to discuss with me?"

Ghanna looked around the garden and spotted a bench not far from where they were standing. She walked over and sat down and patted the bench beside her.

"Come and sit, Kagome. I won't bite at least not yet. I just want to get to know you a litte."

"No offense my Lady but why would you want to get to know me?" Kagome walked over and sat down beside the demoness but stayed prepared to run if she felt the need.

So she is wary. That is good she would need to learn to keep her guard up around the pack. Life in a pack was hard and she would face many challenges in her future. "My son has petitioned Lord Sesshoumaru to become your mate and as such I wanted to meet you."

"Who is your son?" Kagome looked over at the youkai beside her.

"Have so many wolves claimed you that you do not know who he is." Ghanna couldn't believe that her son wanted to mate a woman this dense.

"Well to tell you the truth I know of only three claims on me. One by my friend Kouga a wolf demon, The second by the inu-hanyou Inuyasha one of my traveling companions and the third a wolf prince of the Northern Lands. How he came to know me is anyones guess." Kagome couldn't believe the lady. Did she think her some loose woman who was claimed by everyone? "Kouga was the only one with enough nerve to claim me to my face. And even then he got slapped for doing so, but it never detered him any. So to answer your question I know of two wolves who claimed me."

Ghanna smiled at the girl now. So Kouga was the only one to claim her to her face. "And of the hanyou's claim?"

"I can't control all who make a claim and like the Northern Princes claim that claim was not made to me but Lord Sesshoumaru. At one time, I would have wanted him to claim me but I would only be a second mate to him, and I will not live like that for him or anyone else." Kagome stood up and stalked a little bit away from the wolf demoness trying her best to control her anger and her tears.

"I didn't mean to upset you Kagome. Please understand I am a mother meeting the woman my son loves. I just wanted to see how you felt about him." Ghanna walked to the girl and led her back to the bench. "I may be nosey but just remember that I have my reasons. Now tell me how you feel about my son, Kouga?"