Guardian Ang...err...Youkai?!

Co-written by Angel and Glitter Dust

Disclaimer: We do not own Inuyasha or the cast from both the manga and anime. We do own our own characters and as such you'll know them when you see them.

She was a normal girl with a normal life. Then the oddest "accidents" started to happen and she didn't seem so normal anymore. On top of that five mysterious men come into her life, demanding she choose one to marry, and claiming to be able to protect her. All she wanted was to be normal, how much more of this madness can she stand?

Chapter 11- Surprise Date Night


The next day Kagome was found wandering the village with Yuki. Sango had yet to be seen, but they had figured with the party the night before she was well beyond in need of recovery. Kagome was quite surprised as youkai and people would stop and bow to them as they passed by. She looked at Yuki and watched as she smiled at a child and pat another on the head.

"They really like you," Kagome said to Yuki as they walked. Yuki smirked and shrugged.

"They also know there is no messing with me," she replied as Kagome looked at her confused. "My blood sister is a taiji-ya, we were trained in each other's ways, and my father is one of the four great lords." Kagome looked at her in surprise. "Courtesy of him, I've been trained to fight better than most people. Like my brothers, I am fully capable of leading an army."

"Is that why they sent you and Sango to guard me?" Kagome asked curiously. Yuki nodded as they walked. They watched as people set up for a festival. "Is something special going on?"

"Yeah, tonight there is a festival," Yuki answered as Kagome looked around. "If you didn't have your surprise date tonight I'd say ask Inuyasha to take you."

"What are we doing?" Kagome asked her. Yuki shrugged as they walked. "Yuki..."

"All I know is to get you dressed properly, I don't know exactly what you're doing, nor do I want to. While you two do you thing, I am spending time with my mate," Yuki answered honestly as Kagome smiled and nodded. "I'm sure Sango is somewhere making preparations."

"It's odd that we haven't seen her yet today," Kagome said as Yuki shrugged.

"The thing about the sake last night is it's stronger than normal sake," Yuki said as Kagome nodded and listened as they walked. "Sango, as odd as it sounds, may have had too much last night."

"I haven't seen Kouga either," Kagome said as Yuki just grinned at her. They wandered around for a bit longer before heading back to the castle for lunch. There they found Sango and Kouga as they were getting congratulated by several others, to Kagome's confusion as Yuki grinned even wider at her blood sister.

"Really? A youkai? Taiji-ya, you're insane," Yuki teased as Sango blushed while Kouga chuckled. Sesshomaru appeared and Yuki pointed at them. "We're not the only ones waiting on our ceremony." He mutely nodded, though she knew he'd be discussing everything with Kouga later on anyway.

"Mate, let's go eat," Sesshomaru said, obviously not impressed. Yuki sniggered behind her hand as Sango just shook her head and they all sat down to eat. "How was your walk?"

"Good," Yuki said as Inuyasha sat with Kagome, "they're setting up for the festival tonight." Sesshomaru nodded as he looked at how much food was on her plate.

"Eat more," he instructed as Yuki rolled her eyes.

"Mate," she growled as he just looked at her. "I know how much I need to eat to sustain myself." He just seemed to sigh and nod as her father chuckled. She just eyed her father as he looked at her amused. "You're not helping."

"He's just trying to do right by you," he said amused as she sighed and nodded. "After all, it's a mate's duty to make sure his female is healthy and strong, otherwise there's no guarantee you'll produce strong...err...pups? Or is it kittens for you two?" Yuki shook her head as her father just smirked at them amused.

"Pups," Sesshomaru answered as he ate, "mate you need to eat." She sighed and nodded before taking a bite of her food. "I have an idea of what we can do this evening, though if you're interested in the festival we can go."

"No, but what were you thinking?" Yuki asked as he just remained silent. "I think, Kagome, we are going to end up both getting a surprise tonight." Kagome nodded as she smirked at her friend as the two went back to eating.

"After lunch we'll go to grab a bath and we'll start getting ready for tonight," Sango suggested down the table as Kagome nodded in agreement. Yuki winked at Sango as she blushed and laughed a little.

"We get to see Kouga's mark," Yuki teased as Sango laughed and shook her head.

"Yes, before you know it there will be a multitude of ceremonies," Nishi said nodding as Yuki and Kagome looked at him. "At least three of them."

"I don't think any chickens should be counted on before they are hatched," Yuki said with a smirk before continuing to eat. Sesshomaru just eyed her as his father chuckled while Inuyasha remained silent. Kouga looked rather pleased at the idea of a mating ceremony but didn't say anything.

"Come ladies, I think it's time to get Kagome ready for the evening," Yuki said after they all had eaten. Sesshomaru nodded as she looked to him, knowing if he didn't feel she ate enough he'd keep her at the table. Sango nodded and kissed Kouga on the cheek before following the two out of the hall.

They walked into the bathroom, Yuki having ordered a maid to bring Kagome and Sango's clothes to her room. They each relaxed in the hot water as they soaked and cleaned themselves.

"What about Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked Yuki curiously.

"He's fine, he knows we'll be in there preparing," Yuki answered carelessly.

"We could prepare in my room," Kagome offered as Yuki shook her head.

"Its fine, he knows we'll be there, he had suggested it last night when we were preparing for bed," Yuki said as Kagome nodded and sighed. "Besides, this will take the longest, the dressing and such won't. You're not getting makeup or the like because it smells and really youkai don't like it. But you'll be prettier than a flower when we're done with you."

"This is nice," Sango sighed pleased as she soaked.

"I'll say," Yuki agreed, "I'm sure after last night you need this more than we do." Kagome just blushed wildly as Sango laughed a little. "Kagome, you're too innocent, you blush so quickly."

"You're talking about sex," Kagome said as she blushed. Sango and Yuki laughed hysterically.

"Kagome," Sango said amused, "you're too naive. In the end, this is what's going to happen. Inuyasha is attempting to court you to mate you."

"I know," Kagome said as she sighed. "I guess it's just...hard to believe..."

"I know, you're scared of the idea," Yuki said as she got out and started to dry off. "But don't be afraid, just follow your heart. You'll know when you're ready. For now let's just get you dressed and ready for a simple date." Kagome nodded and climbed out of her tub and dried off as well. Sango followed in suit and once all three were dressed they headed towards Yuki's room.

Kagome looked at the three kimonos in the room and was surprised by how they looked. She watched as Yuki walked up to her and pulled off her yukata before handing her the under garments. Kagome got changed as Sango pulled out the brushes and such needed to do her hair. Kagome smiled as she slid into her kimono, the two wrapping it around her and affixing the obi.

"These are such pretty colors," Sango said as Kagome sat down so that her hair could be done. Yuki nodded in agreement.

"Yes, I figured she should have something that stands out," Yuki said as she got dressed while Sango worked on Kagome's hair. When she was done Kagome looked in the mirror impressed, it had only taken an hour after getting out of the baths to get dressed. Yuki and Sango were finished shortly thereafter and they all headed to the main entrance.

"Kagome, you look great," Inuyasha said surprised as Kouga and Sesshomaru swept their mates away. Kagome blushed as she took his hand and allowed him to lead her away. She followed him out the gates and towards the main part of the village. "I figured you've never been to one of our festivals, so you'd enjoy this one." Kagome smiled and nodded as they headed into the village. She looked around as dusk was turning into night and all of the lanterns glowed as they hung from the buildings and ropes that crossed over the streets.

"It's beautiful," she said as they walked up to a vender's stall.

"Are you hungry?" he asked her as they lined up. Kagome smiled and nodded a little as Inuyasha bought two of what the vendor was selling.

"Oh! Takoyaki!" Kagome said as he paid and they continued on. Inuyasha chuckled amused as they looked around. "It's so beautiful here, and clean."

"Yes, we strive to keep it clean," Inuyasha said as Kagome nodded. "This was one of the first villages that was developed that humans, youkai, and hanyou resides in. The multitudes of clans sent their leadership here so that we could have a peace and live together in harmony."

"That's amazing," Kagome said as Inuyasha nodded. "So you grew up here?" Inuyasha shook his head.

"We have a castle in our kingdom as well, in the Western Lands," Inuyasha told her as Kagome nodded. "Just like Yuki can always return to her father's castle in the Eastern Lands, so on and so forth. We come here when the lords need to meet together for whatever reason." She looked around as they wandered.

"Would I have to move here? Away from my family?" Kagome asked softly. Inuyasha seemed to hesitate as he thought about it. Really, he didn't think they'd have to as Sesshomaru and Yuki were the heirs to the Western Lands anyway.

"No, I think it'd be no big issue to live in the human world," he said as Kagome nodded. "Sesshomaru and Yuki would be the reigning heirs for the Western Lands, Yuki's brothers are taking over the Eastern Lands, Kouga and Sango would rule the Northern Lands one day, and Shinta would take over after his father in the Southern Lands." Kagome looked at him as she thought, he had answered her other big question; all of her friends would be here without her. She seemed to fall silent as she thought about everything he told her.

"And I'm holding them up from their happily ever after?" she asked softly as Inuyasha looked at her surprised. She knew they didn't care, they said as such, but it still hurt to know they had to wait.

"They cannot have their ceremony, that is true," Inuyasha said as Kagome sighed. "I wish I knew how to calm your fears." Kagome looked at him surprised. "I mean, you're right, just meeting it'd be stupid to mate. I know nothing of you and you know nothing of me. I know your scent is nice."

"My scent?" Kagome asked surprised. Inuyasha blushed a little and nodded.

"Yeah," he said as he touched the side of his nose. "Ironically, the nose knows." Kagome laughed a little as he smirked. "Your scent has what most youkai would refer to, the markers of a mate. Father used to go on and on to Sesshomaru and me about it."

"Oh?" Kagome said interested. "What are some of the markers?" Inuyasha blushed as she looked at him curiously.

"Let's just say, I'll never lose you in a crowd," Inuyasha said sheepishly. Kagome smiled and blushed a little as they headed in a new direction. "Not that I'd lose you to begin with. I'm not Sesshomaru." Kagome looked at him confused.

"He lost Yuki once, he freaked out for a few days only to learn that she had been home the whole time." Inuyasha said as Kagome laughed a little. That was genuinely sad to hear but still very funny to learn. "I can't laugh now, I'd freak out too if I were in the same situation." Kagome blushed as he took her hand.

"You would?" she asked uncertainly. Inuyasha's blush stayed on his cheeks as he nodded. He led her into a garden and they sat down on a bench under one of the cherry blossoms as it bloomed. He took her hand and kissed it.

"I'd probably tear the town apart," he said as she smirked.

"I'm not worth a town," Kagome said as he chuckled.

"You're worth the world," Inuyasha said as Kagome smiled and shook her head. "You're my world." She looked at him surprised, blushing wildly, as he leaned down and kissed her softly. He smiled at her as he pulled away a little.

"Inu…yasha…" she said softly as she gently touched her lips.

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself," he said gently. She shook her head with a smile. She took him by surprise when she reached up and kissed him softly in return.