Chapter 21

Kagome had just gotten out of the shower when she felt a sharp pain hit her at full force. Just as she was about to fall to the floor, she felt something help her stay up. As she tried to catch her breath, Kagome found it rather difficult to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. 'What the hell is going on? Why…why am I so sad?' Kagome thought as she walked out of her bath room and into her room only to face a very worried Sango.

Sango had heard and felt Kagome's sudden raise of energy and grew worried. As soon as she had heard the bath room door open, Sango turned to find a tear stained Kagome walking out of the bath room in a blood red tank top and black jogging pants. "Kagome? Kagome what's wrong?" Sango asked as she walked over to her.

"I don't know…I just can't stop crying…I don't know why but I feel so sad." Kagome whispered as she tried to get her tries to stop before Inuyasha found out.

"Don't worry, I'll put a spell up so that no one will notice or see your tears…come on…lets go meet up with Rin." Sango said as she quickly helped Kagome walk toward the door.

"I just…I feel so sad…Sango make it stop…this pain…it hurts." Kagome cried as she tried to get a hold of herself.

Without a second thought, Sango locked the door behind her and blinked to Rin's room. Rin had just finished getting all of the maids out of the room, when Sango blinked in with a heartbroken Kagome in her arms. As soon as Rin had sealed the door, the two of them were at her side to try to help their friend. After a small while of letting Kagome cry out, Rin looked at her friend in a worry and asked, "What happened to you? How hurt you?" in a serious voice.

"I…I don't know…no one…it just…it hurts." Kagome whispered as she slowly began to fall asleep.

"Shh…it's ok…don't worry Kagome…we're right here…we won't let anyone hurt you." Sango whispered as she tried to get her best friend to fall asleep.

"We're right here…safe and sound…go to sleep…we'll take care of you this time." Rin added.

"Sango…Rin…" Kagome whispered as she slowly fell asleep.

As soon as she had fallen asleep, Sango and Rin carried Kagome over to the small couch that was in the right side of the room and laid her down. Once they were sure that she was alright and that it was just probably some old and hurtful memory, the two of them began to get the supplies they would need to get Kagome ready for the ball.

It had been a little over two hours since she had fallen asleep and Kagome had yet to wake up. Just as Sango and Rin were about to call for Inuyasha, Miroku and Sesshomaru, Kagome began 

to wake up on her own. The only thing that they had no idea if they were seeing things or not was that Kagome was in a neko hanyou form instead of a inu demon hanyou form. Not wanting to make her panic, the two of them looked at Kagome and asked, "Are you feeling better now?"

"Yeah, sorry about that but I just don't know what came over me." Kagome answered as she stretched out her tight muscles.

"Don't worry about…now come on…we have to get ready for the ball." Rin said as she offered Kagome a hand to stand up.

"And there is lots to do hurry up and get up." Sango added as she also offered Kagome a hand.

"Thanks." Kagome replied as she took both their hands.

Rin and Sango watched as Kagome went back to her inu demon hanyou form in a blink of an eye. Once they were sure that she was not going to transform again, Rin and Sango led Kagome to a mirror to see what they were going to do about her hair. Since Kagome and Sango could use magic, the three of them decided to use magic to put on their dresses that way they would have more time to work on their hair and makeup.

"Ummm….I still think that my hair down would be just fine." Kagome growled as she shook her head so that the small bun Rin had made came undone.

"Oh come on…you have to at least fix your hair in some way." Rin replied as she tried to pick Kagome's hair up again.

"Not in a way that I don't like. I'm not saying that it should be completely down but I don't want anything fancy either." Kagome growled out.

"I got it…Rin move over." Sango was heard as she walked over to the two of them.

"What are you going to do?" Kagome asked.

"Just keep your head still…Rin make sure she doesn't open her eyes." Sango was heard as she began to lift up Kagome's hair.

Knowing that she would end up regretting it if she didn't listen to her friends, Kagome did what she was told and waited for them to finish fixing her hair. 'Once we're done with this, they're going to want to do my make up next…just great.' Kagome thought as she felt some light pulls on her hair. Just as she was about to ask if they were done, Kagome let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding in when she heard Sango ask, "How about this?"

"You'll like it this time for sure." Rin added as Kagome turned to look herself in the mirror.



"Now this is better." Kagome said with a grin on her face. Kagome's hair was neatly and formally tied back with a silver ridden that allowed her to keep a formal look while still having her hair in a low, causal pony tail.

"Good, now you can help me do Sango's hair." Rin said with a grin.

"Uh, how about we work on your hair?" Sango suggested.

"No, you had me go first so I say you go second…Sango." Kagome replied in a sweet yet stern voice that left no room for arguments.

"I'm glad she's on my side." Rin mumbled.

"Just wait until your turn." Kagome replied as she sat Sango down.

With a grin on her face, Sango allowed Rin and Kagome to start working on her hair. Meanwhile, Inuyasha sat high in the forest trees. He had no idea that it would hurt so much after he had said that. He had no idea that he would feel his own sadness plus the sadness of his former mate. As he tried to get his tears to stop, Inuyasha looked over to his enraged dragon knowing that he was probably blaming Kagome for his sadness. "Don't worry boy…she's got nothing to do with this…it's all me." Inuyasha growled as he griped the scale he was going to give Kagome.

Knowing that what his master said was true, the silver dragon took to his master's side and waited for him to stop his unwanted tears. The two had grown together since birth. While Inuyasha was five years older than he was, Drake would stand by his master until the bitter end. Once he was sure that no one would be able to tell, not even his brother, Inuyasha climbed aboard his dragon and made his way back to the castle to get ready for the ball.

Kagome, Rin, and Sango had all just finished getting ready when there was a knock at the door. Knowing who it was, Sango let out a long sigh as she walked over to the door. She knew that it didn't matter if Miroku saw her first or not but he could not see Kagome or Rin before their mates did (intended for Kagome). Just as she reached the door, Sango asked, "Who is it?"

"My lady, Lord Inuyasha, Lord Sesshomaru, and Master Miroku are all gathered and waiting for your arrival down stairs." A servant girl was heard.

"Thank you…we will be right down." Sango replied. 'Why didn't he show up before now? Does he hate me?'

Noticing their friends sadness, Kagome and Rin walked over to Sango and said, "Don't worry."

"I'm sure he is just being kept there by my mate." Rin added.

"Yeah, that has to be it." Kagome replied.



"Yeah, come on…their waiting for us." Sango said in a low whisper.

Just as they began to walk out of the room, Kagome froze in place as she heard a familiar voice say, 'You must hurry…or all will be lost.'

As soon as they noticed that Kagome was not following them, Rin and Sango turned to ask her, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing…I just need to go to the bath room real quick…you guys go on ahead." Kagome answered as she backed away from the door. Unlike before this time her dragons were not blocking anything as the sense of fear consumed her.

"Are you sure?" Rin asked.

"We don't mind waiting at all." Sango added.

"Yeah I'm sure…just tell Inuyasha that I'm sorry for keeping him." Kagome said before she ran into the bath room.

Worried about their friend, Rin and Sango walked up into the bath room door and said, "We're going to tell him to come and get you."

"That way if you are still feeling sick he can help you." Sango added.

"Thanks…sorry about all this." Kagome mumbled back as she slowly splashed cold water over her now sweaty face.

Once she was sure that Rin and Sango had left the room, Kagome looked up to see herself in the mirror only to be scared shitless. Instead of her own reflection, Kagome saw a beautiful woman looking back at her with sad and worried eyes. As Kagome took in a calming breath, she closed her eyes and regrettably asked, "Midoriku?"

"Kagome, we do not have much time…I am Midoriku but you must hurry and remember." The old miko answered.

"But I don't even know why I can't remember a damn thing. Hell not even m y friends are telling me anything." Kagome growled as she took to her true form.

"You must defeat the great evil before the end of the night. You must take your role and full fill your responsibility." Midoriku stated as she began to fade away.

"Wait…how do I remember?" Kagome asked in a panicked voice.

"Find your brothers." Was all she heard as Midoriku completely disappeared?



Inuyasha stood outside the bath room door in shock. Not only did he have to give her the necklace now but he had to make sure that she would not remember that fact that they were once mates. 'I'm so sorry Kagome…but I would much rather see you die in peace.' Inuyasha thought sadly as he quickly blinked out of the room so that he could knock on the door.

Just as Kagome walked out of the bath room, she heard Inuyasha's unmistakable voice ask, "Are you alright? Can I come in?"

Not wanting to worry her new boyfriend, Kagome put on a fake smile and said, "Yeah, I guess I'm just a little nervous." as she saw him walk in.

"Well are you ready to go?" Inuyasha asked with a smile as he offered her his hand.

"Only if you're willing to take me as your intended Lord Inuyasha." Kagome replied in a mocking tone.

Before she knew it, Kagome found herself pinned against the wall. As she looked up to meet his cold gaze, Inuyasha looked down at her and growled out, "Never call me Lord Inuyasha or lord anything. I'm yours…your equal."

"All…alright…I won't…my Inuyasha." Kagome whispered as she quickly bared her neck to prove to him that she would do what he asked,

"Good." Inuyasha growled as he pulled away from her. "Now come on, we're already late as it is and I don't need my brother getting on our asses about it."

"Oh come on inu…you know Sesshomaru wouldn't do that." Kagome said in a playful tone as she easily blinked them to the court yard.

Knowing that this would be his only chance, Inuyasha turned to Kagome and said, "Before we leave I have something to give you."

"What is it?" Kagome asked in an excited voice.

"This." Inuyasha answered as he pulled out the dragon scale he had took from his dragon. Inuyasha had turned it into a necklace by making a whole and putting a strand of his hair as a chain.

"It's beautiful. Thank you Inuyasha." Kagome whispered as she allowed him to put it on her.

Knowing that she would not be able to find out his hidden spell, Inuyasha summoned his dragon and waited for him to arrive. Meanwhile, Rin, Sango, Miroku, and Sesshomaru all sat down in the table that had been set up next to King Amon and his family. Just as Sesshomaru was about to excuess himself, Queen Kirara turned to Sesshomaru and asked, "Lord Sesshomaru I am happy to see that you were able to make it. However your brother is not here? Where is he?"



Before Sesshomaru could answer her, they were all surprised when a well dressed Kagome stood next to a very formal looking Inuyasha. Without even making eye contact what so ever, the two bowed before the Queen, King and Prince at the exact same time as Inuyasha said, "I am very sorry for our delay my Queen. However my intended was not feeling well."

"It's alright." Queen Kirara replied as she turned to face Kagome. "If you're still feeling ill please do let us know."

"I will let you know as soon as I feel ill. Queen Kirara." Kagome answered as she allowed Inuyasha to lead the way.

"Well it would seem you found yourself a good mate Inuyasha. Your father would be proud." King Amon stated as he waited for the introduction.

"King Amon, this is my intended, Kagome Higurashi." Inuyasha introduced.

Kagome walked up to the King and bowed down before saying, "It is a pleasure to meet you, King Amon."

"I see she has good manners, tell me child. What coven are you in?" King Amon replied.

"I have no coven my lord." Kagome answered before Inuyasha or Sesshomaru could say a word, "I am being raised by mortals. I have taught myself everything to this point."

"Amon." Kirara hissed. "Please forgive him my dear; my husband just doesn't know what or how to ask some questions in the right manner."

"Its alright." Kagome said with a smile on her face.

'Wow…sister…she is really beautiful.' Sota thought as he waited for Inuyasha to introduce him to his long lost sister.

"Kagome, I would like to introduce Prince Sota, the heir to the underworld." Inuyasha announced as he pulled Kagome to stand closer to him. 'If they notice that she looks like Sota there will be trouble.'

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Prince Sota." Kagome replied with a smile.

"Indeed." Sot answered as he turned to face his parents. "When will this ball being?"

"Now that all of our guest have arrive, this ball will begin." King Amon answered as he announced as the music began to play.

While Kagome and Inuyasha took their seat, the King and his family all stood before their guest and began their speech. While Inuyasha had to argue with his brother, Kagome sat next to Sango and across form Rin and the three began to talk. It wasn't until the King's speech was nearly 

over that Kagome realized that Miroku was nowhere to be found. After looking around and trying to see if she could find Miroku with her sight rather then sensing him, Kagome turned to Sango and asked, "Hey, where did Miroku go? He was sitting right next to you when we got here."

"Oh, he had and go check up on something." Sango answered. "But he'll be back soon."

"I guess…hey Inuyasha…what are we suppose to be doing here?" Kagome whispered to her intended as she turned to face him.

"We're going to eat and then we will dance, that is basically it." Inuyasha whispered back as he took hold of her hand.

"Alright then…um…am I going to have to meet a lot of people?" Kagome asked a bit louder.

"Oh don't worry about that." Rin answered. "It's not that bad and besides, you'll only have to meet those that we of the dog clan trust."

"I suppose your right, well then shall we begin?" Kagome as some part of her told her that she could do this without any problems.

Meanwhile, Inuyasha turned to face, Prince Sota only to receive a short nod from the prince. After making sure that Sesshomaru would look after Kagome and the girls, Inuyasha excused himself from the table and made his way to where Miroku was. Once he was sure that no one had followed him out of the main area, Inuyasha entered the room that they had prepare for tonight. It was then that he found, Miroku standing alongside, Dai and Roku. He wasn't surprised when he heard Koga's voice say, "You're late."

"Yeah well you try getting an overly protective mate off of your back." Inuyasha growled back.

"it's what she does best." Ayame replied with a smile on her face.

"Especially when it only hurts her more." Dai added.

"So is everything ready?" Inuyasha asked.

"Just about…only we're going to need Sota to lead her here." Miroku stated.

"I thought I was going to be able to bring her here." Inuyasha growled.

"Well that was the plan." Roku answered.

"But you see your needed in order to put up the barrier that no on will be able to sense." Dai added.



"That way Naraku won't remember anything when we give Kagome back her memories." Koga finished.

"It's the only way." Ayame added.

"So then when is she going to meet all the important nobles? If she doesn't meet them Inuyasha and sister would end up looking really bad." Dai asked.

"Uh…just give me about two hours…I'll then leave and then I'll have Sota bring her here." Inuyasha growled as he turned to leave.

"Are you really going to do that to sister?" Roku couldn't help to ask.

"Do what?" Ayame asked as she began to get angry.

"Nothing, and no…I want her to remember me." Inuyasha growled out in anger before storming out of the room.

Miroku turned to look at the two neko brothers and asked, "How did you two know what he was planning on doing?"

"When he put his heart to it, sister cried so much. She was hurting so much." Dai answered as he turned to look out the window.

"It was the first time we were able to feel what she felt since we were born into this life." Roku added.

"What was he planning on doing?" Ayame asked.

"Inuyasha was planning on sealing Kagome's memories of him and her." Miroku answered. "That way she wouldn't be as sad when she did what she would have to do in order to end all of this."

A/N: Well that's it…its getting close to the end of the fic. Please let me know what you think.

Darkiceone