In the middle of a twirl-ey dance move type thing, Sesshomaru spoke. "This Sesshomaru has remembered where he has heard your name before." he said.

"Hm? Where?" Kagome asked, hiding her unease.

"This Sesshomaru has a half brother, a…hanyou. He travels with a pack of ningen: a miko, a houshi, and a taijia. This Sesshomaru believes that they call the miko 'Kagome'." he said thoughtfully.

Before Kagome could reply, a tap on the shoulder made Sesshomaru turn.

It was Youko. "Can I cut in, Sesshomaru-sama?" he asked. Sesshomaru bowed slightly, moving away.

"Hello again." Youko said cheerfully. "You looked rather distressed, so I thought I'd come to your rescue, Kagome-hime." Kagome snorted.

"I'm no hime." she said in disdain, thinking of all the spoiled, helpless himes they had saved as the Inu Gumi.

"How'd you get roped into this, then?" Youko asked, sounding genuinely curious.

"Sesshomaru-sama saved my life yesterday. It was the very least I could do to repay him." she replied softly.

"Hmmm…" Youko murmured. "Then, word of advice, one kitsune to another. Get out, while the choice is still yours to make."

"What?" Kagome asked, puzzled. Youko smiled sadly.

"A cage is still a cage, no matter how pretty or alluring, little bird. Leave, before someone thinks to close the door on your lovely prison."

At that moment, Koga slid between the two kitsune. "I don't believe we've met." he said to Kagome, completely ignoring Youko. "I am Koga, Master of the Ookami tribe. And you are Kagome, the lovely kitsune beauty that is the talk of the gathering."

Youko shrugged his shoulders, rolled his eyes at the back of Koga's head, and mouthed 'Think about it.' to Kagome, before shoving his hands in his pockets, and wandering away.

Koga flirted awhile with her, before Ayame- furious as hell- appeared out of nowhere to drag him away, glaring at Kagome, as if it were her fault the entire time. Secretly relieved, Kagome once again retreated to the sidelines.

"How very odd." an icy voice commented. "A kitsune who is not enjoying a gathering." Kagome looked at the speaker. He was handsome, in a cold cruel way, with fathomless black eyes, and wine-gold hair of medium length, pulled into a horse-tail.

Kagome shrugged. "You don't seem to be having such a great time yourself." she replied.

He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I must admit, my evening looked up when Sesshomaru-sama walked in with you on his arm, pretty kitsune."

She frowned. "My name is Kagome. Not kitsune." she corrected him.

Another cold smile. "My apologies. I am Sozin-sama, of the North." he introduced himself. "And who are you, Kagome, that you consort with lesser lords, such as Koga-san, and thieves, like Youko Kurama?" He picked up two fluted goblets from a passing servant, and handed one to her.

She raised it to her lips, but before she could take a sip, she noted the flash of excitement, quickly hidden, in Sozin's eyes.

Slowly, she smiled, and lowered the glass. "I associate myself with Koga-san and Youko Kurama, because I do not shun people just because others seem to see them as inferior." she replied.

"Ah, then what you must think of us." Sozin said. Her smile widened.

"Not at all, Sozin-sama." she reassured him. "I just haven't had the opportunity to become acquainted with many people here."

He smirked at her, revealing wickedly sharp canines. "Then, perhaps, we should go someplace more private, and…ah…acquaint ourselves better."

Kagome's smile faded, and to avoid answering, she took a sip from her goblet, absently noting that Sozin had maneuvered them into a rather dark, deserted corner of the ballroom.

Yes, this was a bad idea.

No, she didn't see this coming.

The effects of the drug Sozin had slipped into her drink hit her almost instantly. The entire world dimmed and tipped, but she could clearly see Sozin's face before her, clear, cruel, and malevolent.

"Oh, dear." he said in mock concern. "It seems that poor Kagome-sama is about to disappear. I doubt that anyone be able will find her."

***~~~***

Message from Goth lolita!

Thanks you, everyone who reviewed! This one isn't actually all written down yet, so I'm working on it every spare moment I get. 'Spare' meaning the most inopportune moments I can manage. Like my Trig class. And they wonder why I'm failing...But this is not the point!

To Cosmic-lover- I'm so glad you like Fluffy's character. He's one of my favorite characters to write about, but it's so hard to get his attitude just right! And I absolutely adore Youko and Kuronoe! Which is why they're in this. It was supposed to be a normal, non-crossover fic, but obviously, my plot bunnies had other plans...Oh well...

Restless-soul1- Sorry the chapters are short. They look so much longer on paper, then I type them up, and I'm like 'Woah, where'd all my words go?' Glad you like the story, though!

CrimsonCrystal1230- This is going to be a SessxKag pairing, but when I put this as a crossover, it made me choose a YYH character. It's just that Youko will be playing a semi-major part, not that he and Kagome are going to end up together. Sorry if you were looking forward to that.

merlyn1382- All in good time, my friend, all in good time.

DramaDitz- Thank you so much! I try to write like I talk... Except, this is a toned down, non-perverted me talking in the story. And, AWWWWW! I totally got a visual of a chibi-Kagome-kitsune! So cuteeee!

Solaria- Hehehe, emotionally constipated...Somehow, I don't think he'd enjoy that lovely mental picture...

Well, that's all for now! Read and Review!