Chapter ten

"Who are they?" Kagome asked softly barely breathing the words.

"Dignitaries from France," he replied. He could feel her stiffen besides him as they sat at a small table just for the two of them. "Father's idea. He didn't wish to insult them by having them left out of such an important event."

"Such ceremonies are for family and close friends," she breathed harshly. "It's an insult to allow others here at our wedding, especially unannounced."

"Indeed, however, it cannot be undone," after a moment's pause Sesshoumaru continued. "I will be forced to introduce you to them. It would be rude to not allow them to offer us their congratulations. Do not mistake my father's actions as lack of respect to your clan by this Sesshoumaru."

Kagome looked at him in surprise before stiffly nodding. It took him several moments to realize that he had always been boldly informal towards her and that she was unused to him displaying proper manners. He really shouldn't have allowed her to think he was so rude all the time but he rarely got the chance to tease someone. If you couldn't tease the woman you were courting, who could you tease?

"Do you know their language?" she asked.

"Only two words: oui and fiancée."

Kagome looked at him for a moment before hesitantly asking, "What do they mean? They're not… inappropriate are they." She frowned at him lightly, "Somehow that would seem like you to learn only so little and have them be inappropriate or insulting."

Sesshoumaru choked down his laughter. He had led her to believe that he was rarely serious and often subtly mischievous. "No, they are not. Oui is merely yes and fiancée is an intended."

"Why those two?"

"The dignitary to my sire left, Verrill Delaflote, is apparently madly in love with his fiancée. He speaks of little else. Oui was easy. They tend to use it a lot."

"Do you know any languages well enough to speak them?"

"Mandarin," he replied without thought.

"From the mainland, right?" she asked.

He had to admit he liked the look of approval and her tone of respect in her hushed words. He nodded curtly trying to keep his smile off his face. Months of being himself around her made it hard to behave appropriately in public with her near. Inu youkai like inu craved affection and were naturally playful… among pack. Youkai like humans liked to complicate things however and his home life prohibited those instincts from being indulged. He had thrown himself into those instincts once he realized he wanted her for his wife, his consort.

Sesshoumaru cut off what he was about to say as people started to come up wishing them a prosperous marriage. Kagome dutifully introduced him to her family as they stopped by their table.

Sesshoumaru growled low when one of the French diplomats had the audacity to reach across the low table and grab Kagome's hand before kissing it. Kagome had blushed furiously beneath her makeup, though Sesshoumaru could feel her fuming, her power flicking around her as she tried to control it in the face of her embarrassment and anger. He enjoyed however when his whelp of a brother had skittishly offered his congratulations and well wishes to the newly married pair. Kagome truly had terrified the unfortunate boy.

It was Sesshoumaru's turn to attempt to hide his fury when he discovered that his mother, consort to his father, was presented behind the foreigners. He fought to keep the fury from his face taking comfort from his mother's calm mien. As always she was the epitome of a proper woman, face carefully blank, displaying none of the insult and humiliation she must feel for being presented behind foreigners, away from her family.

Chiaki bowed slightly to the couple seated on the other side of the table when she approached.

"My honored mother, Chiaki, consort of the Inu no Taisho." Sesshoumaru couldn't keep the obvious favor from his voice or the stop the pride that bubbled in his chest.

"I wish my son and his consort a prosperous marriage full of understanding and patience." The hard gleam in her eyes was enough to tell Sesshoumaru that the words were a warning as well as a blessing. He could feel Kagome tense by his side signaling that she understood the message as well.

"I will strive to accomplish both," Kagome replied softly locking eyes with Chiaki before demurely lowering them again.

Sesshoumaru nearly sagged in relief when the moment passed. Perhaps having two such powerful women in his life was not the blessing he had originally thought. Dismissing the feeling of unease he reassured himself that they only wanted what was best for him and that they both loved them in their own way. The love of a mother toward her son or that of a best friend was nothing to scoff at when true. Pushing the remainder of the unease away Sesshoumaru and his new bride finally rose from their place and made a strategic retreat.

He was already furious at his sire and Kagome was still upset over the kiss. It was best to leave for their new palace, courtesy of Inuyasha, before one of them forgot their place and caused a scene. Sesshoumaru resolutely told himself that it had nothing to do with the idea that Kagome and his mother might not get along and not wanting to find out.

Summoning his youki cloud Sesshoumaru assisted Kagome in settling demurely next to him on the plush surface. The sounds of the Frenchmen making good natured lewd jokes faded quickly as he pushed the cloud onward.