Yay! Only about 5 chapters left! Possibly, I think.. it honestly could be more, I'm trying to draw this story out and not end it due to my laziness of not wishing to actually type it.. lol. Horrible I know. At least you had a decent size reading this last chapter. Give me your thoughts if you wish and please if I make any noticeable mistakes please let me know.. I never went to bed and it is now 10:36 am here... probably be a while later when I finish this chapter.

Any who! On with the story before I spoil the chapter!

Chapter 25

She stalked through the shiro, looking for Sesshoumaru's personal sake. It appeared that he has moved it's location since she last broke open his chest. She whizzed in and out of every room in search of the sake she desired to drink with Sango later. The others had yet to return from the suitors ball and she knew this is as good a distraction as any to get to the sake chest. All she needed to do after finding the good sake is to replace it with the other sake, and before he returned. The damn dog acts like he has extra senses that are trained on his sake chest and has a knack for knowing when she is about to drink anything that has the potential to get her even buzzed at most.

A small pout formed on her facial expression as continued her search. She found it ironic that stealing from the lord you live with is a lot harder to do than to steal from lord whose home you have never stepped foot inside of. An idea buzzed in her head, forming a back-up plan, she grinned evilly. She can still get what she desires, even if it isn't from here.

A few of the servants stood off to the side as they watched Kagome whip in and out of rooms, knowing they would get trampled in her search for the sake. They giggled when they remembered why Sesshoumaru had hid it so well in the first place. If they knew where it was they definitely would have told her, but as it is, they hadn't the slightest clue as to where the dog demon could have placed it. Once she had finally passed they continued on their way, straightening up where ever needed, trying to help cover her tracks.

Sesshoumaru, meanwhile, felt a twitch in his eyebrow, knowing someone, somewhere, is causing it. He scanned the room, looking for what they disturbance might be, not finding anything unusual he decided to ignore it for now as he went back to the conversation he was having with the woman with garnet eyes who had captured his attention many years ago.

A thump was heard in the dark corridor. Heavy breathing making it's way to any ears that can hear it as thick, dark lashes open to reveal annoyed sapphire eyes. If the eyes didn't already give away their mood then the grumbling surely would as they cursed up a storm while wiping sweat from their brow. "Where is that damn sake!" Giving up, a critical look fell upon their face until their eyes once more lit up with hope. Getting up they stretched before turning to run down the corridor, heading for the exit of the building they ran of, leaping down the steps outside and into the darkness. "I will get some sake yet!" They thought giddily.

Approaching the domain of the suitors ball, she sneaked inside, unnoticed by the guards as she went in through an open window. She used the shadows to blend into the wall as she sniffed into the corridor for other areas that sake is at other than the ballroom. Remembering the other room that held the food and drinks, she detoured through the halls to get to her destination, avoiding the occasional demon. Sneaking along the walls she found this much easier than looking for the sake at Sesshoumaru's.

The coast was clear as she found the banquet room, the kids in there playing and chatting. She kept her distance, not wishing to be spotted. She watched as another servant came by, holding sake in their arms, remembering the door they came out of, she waited for them to leave before she crept into the room. Sniffing around she walked down a corridor until she came to another room and opening it slightly, ensuring that no one would be in there. She found a trap door in the floor. After one last glance around she crept down the stairs, blending in with the darkness as her eyes widened. The glee that spread through her body was instant as she looked at the large collection of sake.

Not wanting to waste any time she quickly searched the room for the best sake and grabbed an arm full. She knew that she could just go to a bar in town to get some but it is sometimes laced with other stuff like demon blood and such. After having a not so pleasant experience with it, she cringed every time it is even brought up. Looking at the five large bottles of sake in her hand, she grinned. 'Mission accomplished,' she thought to her self. She turned around and bumped into something. Her eyes widening she stepped back on instinct to view the demon that had sneaked up on her, seeing the firm, tan chest of a male, she gazed up into purple eyes.

"Eh? Satoru, fancy meeting you here. What are you doing down here?" She questioned her soon to be teacher.

He raised an eyebrow at her, speaking in a mocking tone, "I believe the question is, why are you here?" He glanced down at the sake in her arms. "Seeing as how the sake is obviously what you came here for, I believe I answered my own question. Regardless, your stealth needs work."

She 'squeaked' as a blush formed on her face, realizing he had caught her sneaking back into the castle to steal their sake. "Well, you see," she fidgeted nervously. She decided to bribe him, "I will share this with you if you help me get more and take it back to Sesshoumaru's." She looked up at him with puppy eyes.

He winced, not being used to people using that look. Looking away from her he thought about it. Grinning he stepped around and grabbed seven more bottles, flashing a fang he signaled that he is ready to leave with their stash. "Follow my lead and try to learn from this," he instructed.

"Yes, Satoru-sensei," she grinned at him.

"I'm not sure if I like that name or not," he stated be fore a wicked grin crossed his handsome features, "I can definitely get used to that among other things," he continued, taking a thorough look at her physique. He then walked into the darkness, leaving her sputtering behind him. "Shut your mouth before something lands in it." He remarked from the stairs. She instantly shut her mouth and followed, watching him intently while remaining aware of their surroundings.

A bottle down and the rest hidden from sight, two hiccups from two separate individuals sounded in the room. A door slid open as a dog demon with a twitching eyebrow stepped into the room, peering condescendingly at the two individuals that sat in what he would assume to be a stare down to see who blinks or turns away first. They both hiccuped again, the smell of sake filtering through the air. 'I knew this twitch meant trouble.' He stared at the empty bottle, not finding any sign of more bottles, but being that it is Satoru and Kagome he is dealing with, who knows what the two kitsunes could have done to hide the rest of it.

Refusing to roll his eyes at the scene he left the room, seeing the maids and other servants cleaning around the shiro, he recalled stepping into his fortress knowing something is amiss. He knew he was right when he questioned the servants and found them to be sputtering idiots, trying to cover up what happened here. From the instant he had smelled the sake, he knew that Kagome had attempted to find his sake once again, and from the smell of the sake, he knew she had failed since he knew that sake did not come from him. He grinned, proud that he had outsmarted the miko-kitsune.

Glancing at Sango and the others, they all proceeded to head to their rooms for a good rest. Hearing a couple thumps and then soft snores, his smirk appeared once again, 'they passed out.' Glancing back inside the room, he found them both passed out on their back from the same spots he had found them occupying before. 'Damn kitsunes.' He then went to his own chambers, happy to know they will be feeling it in the morning.