Good morning. Today is Tuesday, but I heard that this site is acting up. Doesn't that suck? So if this is late, it is the site's fault. -LFF
How do you always find a way to pin the blame on something else? -DW
Just lucky, I guess. -LFF
The way I see it, you're lucky you're alive. -Trunks
That wasn't nice. Natalie! Your boyfriend's being mean. -LFF
What am I supposed to do about it? -Natalie
I don't know…find some way to punish him. Or at least make it so his mouth is occupied. How about kissing him. -LFF
That's a good idea. *starts kissing Trunks* -Natalie
Lilfrozenfire…would you care to grace me with a kiss? -Youko
Dragon Woman…I would like a kiss, that I would. -Kenshin
Kagome…come here. -Sesshoumaru
I feel so loved. *starts to kiss respective boyfriends* -LFF, DW, Kagome
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Disclaimer: There you go. The makeover was a success. You now look like Rumiko Takahashi. -Artist
Ok. NOW I own them. *face drips off to reveal her real one* Never mind. Now I don't. She does. -LFF
There you go. We no own…you no sue. Got it? -DW
Yeah. The richest of all of us is Sesshoumaru. -LFF
Don't get me involved in this. -Sesshoumaru
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Chapter Ten
Over the next week, Soyokaze continued to teach Kagome self-defense and Uingu taught her magic spells. During one such lesson, Sesshoumaru came in.
"I want you to try the spell of invisibility," Uingu was saying.
"Okay. *Qu'est-il vu, quel est inaperçu. Qu'est-il senti, ce que n'est pas senti. Qu'est-il entendu, ce que n'est pas entendu. Faire qu'est-il vu, inaperçu; qu'est senti, n'est pas senti, qu'est entendu, n'est pas entendu," Kagome said. With the last word, she disappeared without a trace. Sesshoumaru couldn't smell her or hear her. (*translation at the bottom)
He raised an eyebrow as Uingu said, "Very good. As you grow more proficient, you won't need the words."
He was slightly surprised as his hair started to braid itself. Uingu looked up and started to laugh. "Kagome…do you think it's wise to play with Lord Sesshoumaru's hair?"
A piece of rice paper, an ink well, and a quill picked themselves up and started to form a message. The paper then flew over to Uingu, who then read it out loud. "'No. I don't think it's wise, but it's fun because he can't hurt me until I make myself visible.' Kagome, do you have a death wish that I don't know about? No…don't write it. Become visible. If you fear what he's going to do, you can do it behind me."
Behind Uingu, Kagome's form appeared. She looked at Uingu and smiled. She then looked over at Sesshoumaru and sighed wistfully. "How is it possible that a male can have better hair than I do? I would kill for hair like his."
Uingu started to laugh and Sesshoumaru chuckled. Kagome looked confused. "It's true."
"Dear Kagome, we know that you're serious. I'm laughing because of how you would look with white hair," Uingu remarked between giggles.
That seemed to set the demons off again. Kagome crossed her arms and tapped her foot until they stopped laughing. "Why are you here, Sesshoumaru?" she asked bluntly. She didn't think that was the only reason they were laughing and it ticked her off that they were laughing at her expense.
"I am in here to talk to you about proper conduct at the ball tomorrow," he stated.
Uingu got up and bowed to them. "Please excuse me, but I have to talk to Soyokaze about a kimono for you, Kagome. If you would meet us in your room after lunch." And she left.
Kagome turned around to face the demon lord. "Okay…what kind of proper conduct?"
"Since you will be attending the ball with me, you will have to act like the hostess. We will have to lead each dance. Do you know how to dance?"
"I took lessons when I was younger. Does that count?" she answered.
"It will have to seeing how I have neither the time nor patience to try and teach you."
"Jerk," Kagome muttered. "Why do I have to be stuck with arrogant poodles?"
He ignored that remark, silently making a note to find out what a poodle was. He continued to instruct her on proper conduct until lunch.
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By the time lunch came, Kagome was irritated. She learned how to pour sake the proper way, how to eat, how to address the demons, how to walk, how to breathe, and a refresher on dancing. Needless to say…she was ready to mar Sesshoumaru's perfect face.
Thankfully, Soyokaze and Uingu managed to put Kagome in a better mood. Instead of ruining Sesshoumaru's face, she just snapped at Lady Emerarudo when she commented on Kagome's messed up hair.
"It seems humans can't even keep their hair neat," Emerarudo snidely commented.
"Well, Lady Emerarudo, if you actually worked, I doubt that your hair would be so neat. Of course, chances of you working are as likely as you telling Lord Sesshoumaru that he looks like a pig. VERY slim," Kagome said crossly.
"Come on, Kagome. Let's go pick out a kimono for you," Soyokaze said with a glare at Emerarudo.
"Yes. Something stinks in here and I don't think it's a human," Uingu remarked, looking right at the cat demon. Emerarudo looked like she just took a large bite out of a lemon.
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"There you go. All done," Soyokaze said, patting Kagome's hair.
Kagome turned around to face the mirror. It was the day of the ball and Soyokaze, Uingu, and Kagome offered to help each other get ready. Soyokaze had on a layered kimono that was different shades of blue. The sleeves were embroidered in silver and there was a white raindrop on her back. The obi was a shimmering white and her hair was in an elegant bun with silver chopsticks holding it up. She was wearing a silver necklace with a diamond raindrop.
Uingu had a kimono layered with different shades of green. It had dark green vines embroidered on her sleeves and the bottom of the kimono. The obi of the kimono was a deep emerald green. Her hair hung down to her shoulders and framed her face. There was a golden sun on her back and she was wearing a golden necklace with a pearl sun.
'There is no way I can look as good as they do,'
Kagome thought enviously as she turned to look at the mirror. Her kimono's layers alternated between black and blue with the top layer being blue. It had black paw prints along the bottom and sleeves. The obi was black and she had her good fan in her hand. On her back was a white dog. She was wearing a silver pencil with a sapphire crescent moon. Her hair was braided with a blue ribbon."Kagome, you look great," Uingu said in awe.
"You're just saying that to be nice," Kagome replied.
"If you want…we could get Lord Sesshoumaru in here to give his opinion," Soyokaze said mischievously.
"Never mind. I believe you," Kagome assured them hastily. Unfortunately for her, the lords had appeared to escort them to the ball. Emerarudo was there already, dressed all in green, hanging onto Lord Kantou's arm. She looked surprised as she looked at Kagome. Lord Hiryuu smirked at Kagome, Lord Aranami smiled, and Sesshoumaru actually smiled sincerely.
She noticed that the ladies and their escorts had the same colors. Sesshoumaru was wearing a black outfit with a white dog on the back and blue paw prints along the sleeves. His hair was down and clashed wonderfully with the black.
"Lady Kagome, since you don't want Lord Sesshoumaru's opinion, I will give you mine. You look radiant. If I didn't have a mate, I would probably court you," Lord Hiryuu stated dramatically. When Sesshoumaru growled, his smirk turned into a grin. "Unfortunately, I have a mate and Lord Sesshoumaru is your escort. Shall we go, milady?" he asked Uingu.
"I suppose." She grabbed his offered arm a little too hard judging by his yelp. She turned to grin at Kagome. "I'll see you there, Lady Miko." Kagome rolled her eyes and took Sesshoumaru's offered arm.
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The lords and ladies stood outside of a set of doors Kagome had never seen. "This is the ballroom. Lord Kantou and Lady Emerarudo will go in, then my mate and myself, then Soyokaze and Lord Aranami, and then you and Lord Sesshoumaru," Uingu explained. After she explained it, Lord Kantou and Emerarudo went in. "Have fun. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." With that said, she and Lord Hiryuu went in.
"See you in a little bit, Kagome," Soyokaze said. She then leaned in to whisper, "Don't worry. Nothing can happen to you with Lord Sesshoumaru with you."
Lord Aranami smiled and said, "Good luck, Lady Kagome." Then he and Soyokaze went into the room.
"You seem to have become popular among the other lords and ladies," Sesshoumaru commented.
"I guess. They are all nice. Well…most of them. I don't think Lady Emerarudo likes me very much. But, for some reason, that doesn't really bother me." Kagome shrugged. She then got an evil smile on her face. "So, I hear that she tried to mate you. I wish I could've seen that. That must have been funny."
Sesshoumaru didn't answer. Instead, he said something she didn't expect. "You look wonderful tonight. Emerarudo is just jealous."
Kagome's face felt hot as Sesshoumaru led her into the ballroom.
Her breath was taken away by the number of demons there. As they walked in, everyone stopped what they were doing to look at them. Some of the females glared while others smiled at Kagome. Everyone started to talk. Kagome could only catch some of the conversations. "Is she human? She doesn't seem like it. I wonder if she has a mate." "Look at that tramp. I bet she thinks that she can get into Lord Sesshoumaru's bed." At that comment, Sesshoumaru tensed up a little. Kagome just walked with her head held a little higher.
They made it to where the other high nobles were. Kagome noticed that she was the only human there. "You seem to be a highlight of conversation, Kagome," Lord Hiryuu said with his eyes twinkling.
"Yes she is. And most of it isn't good," Lady Emerarudo sniffed. She then shrunk back as Sesshoumaru leveled his gaze at her. Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru and noticed a light red haze coming into his eyes. She raised her other hand and laid it lightly on Sesshoumaru's arm.
There was some mingling to be done before supper would be served. Kagome was talking to a horse demon when she heard someone calling her name. She turned around to see Kouga making his way through the crowd towards her. She turned to the horse demon and excused herself.
Kouga finally made his way over to her. "What are you doing here?" she asked him.
"I'm the Prince of the Northern Wolf Tribes. I'm supposed to be here. What are you doing here?"
"I'm here under Lord Sesshoumaru's request."
"Is he your escort?" She nodded. "Nothing more?" She shook her head. "Good. I don't want my woman to get mixed up with him." He wrapped his arms around her.
Kagome got a little mad. "Kouga. I'm not your woman. I'm your friend. Okay? And why do you not want me to get mixed up with Sesshoumaru?"
"Because whoever he is courting is off limits to everyone and you're mine," he replied, completely ignorant to Kagome's rising temper.
Before she could answer, however, Sesshoumaru showed up. "I believe she said that she wasn't your woman," he said revealing absolutely no emotion.
It seems that even Kouga knew better than to tick Sesshoumaru off even more. He let go of Kagome and grabbed her hand. "We will continue this conversation later, Lady Kagome." He then kissed her hand on the knuckles and left.
"Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama," Kagome said, using respect to try to placate him. "Kouga is nice enough, just a little dense."
"He is an idiot," Sesshoumaru growled, but he did seem to lighten up a little. He offered her his arm and led her over where Soyokaze and Uingu were talking to a dog demon.
"Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands and Lady Miko Kagome of the Inuyasha's Forest Territory, this is Lord Kagemusha of Shinimori Territory," Uingu said. Lord Kagemusha had hair so black, it was almost blue in a high horsetail that would reach to mid-back if it was down. He had blue eyes and one light blue mark on his left cheek. He was as tall as Sesshoumaru with a rougher build. He smiled and bowed. Kagome bowed in return and Sesshoumaru nodded his head.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Kagemusha," Kagome said.
"And I you, milady. I have heard many things about you," he replied in a deep voice.
"Please. Just call me Kagome. 'Milady' makes me feel old." Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow.
"As you wish, Kagome. If you'd please excuse me. I see an associate of mine over there." He bowed and walked towards the horse demon Kagome was talking to earlier.
Kagome's stomach growled and she blushed when the demons by her looked at her. "Is supper ready yet?"
Soyokaze and Uingu giggled as Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. "I hope it's done, too. I am also hungry," Uingu assured her.
Right after she said that, supper was announced.
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After supper was dancing. 'Great. Just what I need. All of the female demons glaring at me. With everyone who likes him, I'm surprised Sesshoumaru isn't mated yet,' Kagome thought as Sesshoumaru led her out onto the dance floor to start the first dance.
The small group of musicians started to play a song that Kagome remembered her music teacher saying was written in honor of sakura blossoms. She and Sesshoumaru danced wonderfully together. They didn't step on each other's feet or anything. In fact, it almost looked like they were moving on air.
They were completely oblivious to the demons watching them. Kagome didn't notice the glares and Sesshoumaru didn't notice the males whisper about Kagome. They were too engrossed in each other to notice when the other couples joined the dance. Kagome rested her head on Sesshoumaru's shoulders after the others joined them. He pulled her a little closer and breathed in deeply.
They stayed like that throughout the whole night. They were unaware of Uingu, Hiryuu, Kantou, Soyokaze, and Aranami watching them with smiles on their faces. They also didn't notice Emerarudo glaring at Sesshoumaru from Kantou's arms.
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Kagome stood out in the rose garden. All of the guests had retired to their rooms and she still wasn't tired. She wandered amid the roses, occasionally picking one for a vase of flowers Rin and Shippou picked for her.
She slowly made her way to a stone bench that was by the stone dog fountain. She set the roses down by her and looked up at the sky. It was a half moon tonight and the stars were bright. 'I should go in soon and check on the children. I know that Jaken took good care of them under fear of Sesshoumaru, but I just have to make sure,' Kagome thought. She picked up her roses and walked through the roses towards the castle.
As she passed a rose bush, she heard a rustle of clothes. She reached into her obi and flipped open her fan. The demon stepped out of the bushes and into the light. "It's just me," he said. "You are pretty quick…for a human."
"Thank you, Sesshoumaru. Coming from you, that's a compliment."
"It was supposed to be," he remarked. He then stepped up a little closer to her.
Kagome looked up at him and smiled. She then looked at the sky. "Isn't the sky beautiful?"
"Yes."
Kagome shivered a little. "Are you cold?" Sesshoumaru asked concerned.
"A little," she admitted. He wrapped his arms around her.
"Is that better?"
Kagome blushed slightly. "Thank you." She yawned. "Please excuse me. I have to check on the children and then go to sleep." She seemed to pause and think a moment. She then stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Good night, Sesshoumaru."
He leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Good night, Kagome." He then left the gardens.
Kagome walked to castle, checked on the children, and then went to her room to go to bed. When she fell asleep, she dreamt of white flowing hair and velvet lips.
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*What is seen, what is unseen. What is smelled, what is not smelled. What is heard, what is not heard. Make what is seen, unseen; what is smelled, not smelled, what is heard, not heard. -Translation. The spell is a rough translation of this to French.
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What do you think? Isn't it cute? I would like to thank Natalie for her help on this. -LFF
*mumbles something while still kissing Trunks* -Natalie
Get a room. -DW
*looks at Sesshoumaru and Kagome making out* This is getting really gross. Time to bring in the reinforcements. This is Raven Shi. -LFF
*walks in and looks at all the weird people* I think I'm in the wrong place. -Raven Shi
If you stay, I'll bring in Hiei. -LFF
*grabs at Hiei* MINE!!!!!!!!!!! -Raven Shi
Only if you stay. -LFF
Fine. *crosses arms* But don't expect me to babysit the nympho's over there. - Raven Shi
What can we say. Misery loves company. -DW
Yes, but who said I did. -Raven Shi
Then I guess you don't want Hiei's company. -LFF
He's not company. - Raven Shi
Then what is he? -LFF
Fun - Raven Shi
*rolls eyes as she hugs Hiei* -DW, LFF
So much for your reinforcements. -DW
I resent that. -Raven Shi
*shrugs* Oh well. -LFF
*throws pillow at DW and LFF* - Raven Shi
You notice how they seem to forgot about us? -Youko
That they did. -Kenshin