Sorry this chapter is a little shorter than normal everybody. It is kind of a set up chapter for the events to come, but I felt it was necessary. Hope you enjoy anyways!
As always - "Parenthesis" are spoken words, italics are thoughts, and AAAAAA are a scene shift.
Shout outs are in bold at the end of the story.
Disclaimer- I really wish I did own this entire series. I could make sooooo many chapters!
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Kagome awoke nervous with her stomach tied in knots. She had enjoyed watching the regal and grand looking youkai arrive the night before from the safety of the balcony. She knew they hadn't even noticed her presence. She had learned to mask her aura and scent long ago in her training. It was one of the first things she had been taught to do, both by her miko trainer and father.
Sighing she rolled out of the bed and gently woke Shippo. They would have to be ready for breakfast soon and after that was her official presentation. She had to look and act the perfect youkai princess.
After a quick bath for the both of them, servants arrived to help both her and Shippo dress for the morning. She would have to come back and get all glitzed up for the grand affair in the main ball room.
The family was to eat breakfast in their little dining hall while the guests ate at the formal dining hall. None of them were allowed to see Kagome until the presentation and that was just fine with her. She wanted to stay in her ningen form until the very last moment.
Breakfast was quiet and uneventful. Apparently they were all a little nervous about today's events. Kagome went through her checklist and timeline mentally while eating on autopilot.
Get all dressed up and change forms for formal presentation.
Make sure that Shippo is dressed properly to show his station in the castle.
Drop Shippo off to area where other young youkai will be for the day.
Meet Lili, mother, and father at the side door of the main hall for entrance.
As soon as she finished her meal she gathered her kit in her arms and took the dreaded walk back door the corridors that lead to her chambers. She dropped Shippo off to his room, which was next to hers even though he could rarely be found in it, to be dressed by his maids. They would return him to Kagome as soon as he had been pampered.
She entered her own bed chambers to find a few female servants already waiting patiently for her return.
Although, her mind kept returning to one very powerful Inu youkai in particular. She couldn't help but feel at least a little bit nervous due to the fact that she would soon be facing Sesshomaru in person. She knew he would not recognize her, but still did little to calm the butterflies that were building in her stomach.
She kept picturing Sesshomaru in her mind while she was fussed over and her hair set to perfection. She tried to put every detail of his face and form into the picture in her mind, but found it harder to do than she thought.
She realized that although she had been near him several times, she had usually been too busy to actually study him. He had, after all, tried to kill her.
No big deal, girl. Who could blame you for not gaping at him when you were either trying to save yourself or Inuyasha?
Lili had come to help her prepare, as she had promised. She entered the room with a small bundle in her hands. It was the kimono that her parents had commissioned for this special occasion.
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Sesshomaru watched as the sun peaked over the horizon to wake the world with its glow. He hated these affairs but at least he had Rin to return to when the annoyances of the day were over. He held great affection for his little ward, although he would never tell anyone else that. It would not do to let others think he had gone soft. He had a reputation to uphold.
He skipped breakfast but made sure that Jaken had taken the little girl down to get the proper nutrition her human body needed. He waited until Rin had returned and been dressed for the day. Children were not allowed to attend formal presentations or balls in youkai society. There would be a few hours in between the events, however, and he was glad for that small miracle.
He dressed in his usual attire for the presentation. It was regal enough and the other lords already knew how he was, so he saw no need to change.
"Come."
Rin jumped happily to stand just behind her lord. She had been told that she would be left in an area where all of the young ones would be for the day. She hoped that maybe she could find someone to play with instead of being stuck with Jaken.
She liked him, she really did, but he complained too much and NEVER wanted to play.
Sesshomaru arrived at the Main Hall of the Northern Lands shortly after leaving Rin in the care of Jaken. He was announced at the entrance as usual with all of his titles preceding his name. He was used to this. Quite frankly, it bored him.
He floated through the entryway smoothly with his stoic mask firmly set. He nodded in recognition to the families of the East and South. The Northern family would make a grand entrance together as it was for their young one's presentation to youkai society.
He took in the lush, thick draperies that hung around the room in the colors of silver and light pink. The colors represented the nature of the female to be presented. The silver represented that this female would be reliable and intelligent. Very good aspects for a mate in his breed. The pink represented her purity and innocence as well as love. He wondered if she might be an inu, but highly doubted it.
The hall was a very large room with large oak doors engraved skillfully with scenes of battle, love, and peace. The high vaulted ceilings made the room appear even larger in size. Beautiful stained glass windows that began at the floor and reached the heights of 7 ft. tall sparkled in the sun light and filtered beautiful colors into the room.
He strolled through the room to take his place in front of the thrones of the hosting family. The other members of court would be the first to meet the unmated female. They would aid in finding a proper male for a royal female to mate when the time is right. Each would select the best among their own lands to present for the Northern family to consider before courting could begin.
Sesshomaru was soon joined by the Lord and Lady of the East and South. He would be the last to meet the female. He would prefer to be the first, but only because it meant he could go back to doing what he wanted all the sooner.
After a few moments, the silence between the royals was broken by the Eastern Lord.
"I was not aware that Lady Lili was of age to be mated. I was certain she still had at least 100 years left until she reached full maturity."
Sesshomaru left his mask in place but intently listened to the conversation that had started. He had wondered the same thing.
The Lady of the South seemed to consider something, somewhere near an internal conflict, before speaking. "The young one being presented is not Lili."
She stated it as if it was a simple fact that the men should have already known. She knew they hadn't known, but let her lip curl in a small sign of satisfaction that the men of the houses had been left ignorant of a secret the women had shared.
Lady Aiyana had been communicating with the other Ladies in secret for a while now. She had not given them all of the information that she possessed but had told them enough to ensure their cooperation in this matter.
Her mate was the next to speak. You could see the shock and then annoyance of being left in the dark flicker across his eyes as he turned slightly to address her.
"What do you mean? If Lady Lili is not to be presented, then who, my mate, would it be? The Lady and Lord have no other fawn."
She gave him a sly smile and her eyes sparkled. "You shall see."
As if on cue, a servant cleared his throat to hush the gathering. In a loud booming voice, he announced the arrival of the hosting family.
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Sesshy's Mate2012- I know everybody wants some action. I promise it will come. First some lovey dovey and then sparks fly!
Estelin- Thank you very much.
Mevneriel- Thank you. Don't worry. Eventually I will reveal all.
Trelweny Rosephoenixwolf- I know. Who would have thought that lord with a stick up his butt would ask anyone for anything. But he is being rather sneaky about it!
Failuresnot2try- Thank you so much! I am glad everyone is enjoying the story. As far as Koga is concerned, he is in the story, just not yet. Evil wink
Sesshomaru2004- I soooo love Shippo. He is so cute! Sesshy is in for a surprise in the next few chappies though.
Safuuru- OMG! I hadn't even thought of that, but yes. It would definitely be hilarious if they sleep walked to each other!
LadyNorth76- Thank you. I am having a good time writing it!
ThePandaHat- Trying. I swear!