Sigh, it just goes to show you that if you judge a book by its cover, you shall never get anywhere. Hm, funny. I never, EVER, do words of...what is it called? Wisdom? Could it even be called that?

Okay, this chapter is based off of anger and hate, mostly because it is reflecting my negative mood today. SOOOOO, I thought I'd add it to the story. After all..

It is the perfect time for a bit of negativity, am I right?

I think my next chapter I'm going to have a lot of hate coming on. It's time I put some action into this story.


Last Time:

"My Lord, the dance and dinner will begin shortly."

"Very well, dismissed," Sesshomaru then held up his arm and Kagome took it with a blush gracing her features.

All the while, she kept thinking:

I can't believe we did that.


Chapter Twenty-Seven - Nervous, Scared, and Everything In Between

Kagome squeezed Sesshomaru's arm as they stood in front of the giant double doors. She was so nervous, she felt like she could pass out at any given moment. The simple fact of knowng they were going to be announced in like this did NOT help.

When they announced them as "Lord and Lady of the House," Kagome's heart felt like it had withered away in happy anxiety.

She and Sesshomaru made their slow, casual way down the many steps that led to the bottom floor in front of MANY youkai. Sango, with a sour Miroku, stood a bit of a ways away from the crowd, and simply bowed their heads for them. Very few of them bowed their heads willingly, which was to be expected.

"So very nice to finally meet you, Lady Kagome," a man said, stepping out from the crowd and taking her hand. He kissed it with a bow and looked up at her. His eyes shined a brilliant green color, and his hair was jet black. His eyebrows were slim, like Sesshomaru's, and his his stature was femininely elegant. "I am Lord Sekai. I rule a small region in the south."

"Pleased to make you acquaintance," Kagome said with a slight bow. "I have only traveled a few times to the south. From which part do you rule?"

"Near the lake on the border of the south and west," Sekai said.

"Are you not mated?" Kagome asked, her head cocked to the side in question. "I was under the impression that everyone who came must have a partner."

"Yes," he said, "I escorted a young woman who wished to be a part of the dancing. So I allowed her in."

"I see," Kagome said with a nod of her head.

"May I have this dance?" He asked.

Kagome looked up to Sesshomaru, awaiting his permission. With a quick evaluation of the male before them, he gave her a curt nod before releasing her arm. Sekai took her arm in his and led her out to the dance floor. The music played and soon enough, they were twirling in circles.

"My, you are light on your feet," Sekai commented.

"Yeah," Kagome said, "I had some help." She was thinking of the night in the forest with Sesshomaru, and with a blush, she added, "I'm not too good of a dancer."

"I must object," he said. Other couples filled the dance floor and began twirling around them. "You are by far the most beautiful in this room." He whispered in her ear.

I suddenly feel like a trapped kitten in a box, Kagome thought, trying to pull away. He held her steadfastly and continued to dance with her. Sesshomaru had his hands full, so he couldn't exactly help her.

Catching a glimpse of her friends, she noticed them bickering back and forth with each other, not at all paying attention to her. Kikyou...she was by herself. Was she...is that a smile? She was smiling at Kagome!

Kagome glared at her before turning her attention to a firm hand on her hips, pressing her against Sekai's pelvis. Kagome gulped, and without thinking, her body took a form of its own and she shrunk. Now a small, black kitten with blue eyes, she turned and ran to Sesshomaru. She zigged and zagged through the throng of people. Unfortunately, her agility was quickly overpowered by a hand that grabbed her by the nape of her neck and held her in front of a face with coal black eyes. It was the same man...but his eyes had changed color. "Ex-miko, you anger me."

Kagome's eyes grew wide with tears of fear. She hadn't yet figured out how to control all of the powers she was gifted with. Panic struck her hard and for a moment, she did nothing but sit there in his hand as he held her in front of his face. He took her to a balcony, and held her over a ledge.

"Oi!" A voice called behind them, "What do you think you're doing?"

Sekai turned to look behind him at several people standing there in the door way. "Getting rid of a pest," he said.

"That is the Lady of the Western Lands, now let her go!" Sango's angry voice said.

"Is it really?" Sekai said, looking at the shaking kitten. She was completely terrified. She didn't really know what to do. She looked at her friends with begging eyes before looking at the drop below her. They were a good twenty feet high. Maybe more. Gulping, Kagome "meowed" a plea before the that held her brought her to his face. "That would mean that if she dies, that palace does as well?"

"They aren't mated yet," Miroku said.

"I see," Sekai said, turning his black eyes to the monk. He then shrugged his shoulders and threw the cat as hard as he could passed the railing.

"Kagome!" They all yelled, and a white blur shot passed them. Sekai managed to get out of the way as Sesshomaru blew by, racing toward his chosen mate.

Then, he disappeared.


Kagome didn't know what happened. One second she was flying through the air, the next, she was being held. Kagome looked around to see several faces in front of hers and jumped into the air, her claws extending and gripping the ceiling. She blinked as they began to laugh.

"It's good to see you're alright," Sango said as she finally calmed down and fell to the floor. She hopped into Sesshomaru's lap and he began to pet her. She purred and laid her head down on his lap. She meowed a reply, but none of them understood her.

"I believe she is tired," Sesshomaru said. They all took the hint and retreated from the room before any bodily harm could be done. Kagome rolled over onto her back and grew in size. Her legs draped over the arms of the chair they sat in and her head rested against his chest. She was shaking.

"I didn't know what to do," Kagome said with a small siffle. "I was scared and I got stuck. I just...I freaked out."

"I do not know what this "freaking out" has to do with anything," Sesshomaru said, "but I understand your fear. You need not worry. He disappeared from the palace and no one has seen him since."

Kagome nodded as tears slid down her face. Sesshomaru clenched his jaw tightly and wiped her tears. Like Rin, he couldn't stand to see her tears either. He first realized he hated seeing Kagome cry when he caught her alone in the forest. He didn't want to ever see that again. The image is permanently burned into his memory - and yet he found her all the more alluring.

Kagome settled down after a while. She relaxed in his hold, but she was awake and alert. Sesshomaru rubbed her arm and back in an attempt to calm her to a slumber, but nothing seemed to work. "I have to patch things up with Sango," Kagome murmured.

"Hn," Sesshomaru replied. He didn't really know how to reply, so instead of a "go for it" or "perhaps you should or shouldn't", he settled for the "hn". Which, if he really thought about it, could go both ways.

"I," Kagome gulped, "I haven't been a very good friend to her lately. I don't...I don't want to become separated from her. It's been a while since we talked and I'm not ready to give her up quite yet."

"What, exactly, ails you?" Sesshomaru asked in a soft tone. Sesshomaru let one of his hands move the loose strands of her hair out of her face and let his hand trail every curve of skin he could, egraving it into his memory.

"I don't know exactly," Kagome said. "I mean, I told you we talked, but when I ended things with her, I told her I had to think about some things. Now that," her face heated up and was smothered in a soft pink, "we are going to be mating, I don't think Inuyasha matters to me anymore. I mean, he matters, just not as much. Do you understand where I'm going with this?"

Sesshomaru shook his head and gave her an apologetic smile, "Unfortunately, I do not."

Kagome let out a puff of air. "Well, okay. I have no infatuation with Inuyasha. That issue has been solved for quite some time." She got up out of his lap and began pacing and counting on her fingers the number of problems she has had and solved. "I have to ask Sango if Miroku knows and if she plans on telling him. Also, I want to know how Inuyasha is coping with all of this.

"As for my son, I feel like ever since we were 'bonded', I haven't had the time of day for him. All I have been doing is preparing the festival, training - both in my sleep and during whatever spare time I have - and I haven't even so much as asked Miroku, Sango, or Inuyasha to watch over him! I must be a terrible mother." Kagome hung her head in shame. "Then, there's the whole mating issue.

"How is this going to work? When are we going to do this? We have approximately two and a half weeks left, and we are trying to deal with a "war" that no one but our team knows about!" Kagome sighed and plopped herself down on a cushion on the floor. "I just...I feel so stressed..."

"Very well," Sesshomaru said, standing and walking over to her. He stood behind her before kneeling down on one knee and then getting down on the other. He then wrapped his arms around her waist and enveloped her in a warm, muscular, and comforting hug. "Tomorrow morning, you will have the day off. You will spend time with my ward and your son. At noon, you and Sango will go have this "woman talk" and talk about it while on a stroll to a neighboring town. You will do some shopping for yourself and her.

"When you get back, you will decide if you wish to speak with Inuyasha or Miroku, it matters not to me for you will talk to both either way. When you finish your talks with them, you will come to my room," Sesshomaru said and got a predatory gleam in his eyes, "and we shall have some fun."

Kagome blushed as Sesshomaru hands snaked down her side as he left butterfly kisses down her neck. He licked at a particularly tender spot before softly nipping her skin and leaving a slight mark there. This would allow any youkai to know that he is courting the young woman.

"Mmm," Kagome said when his hot breath sent chills down her spine. She felt as though she were heaven. "What...What kind of fun?" She asked huskily.

"Mmm," Sesshomaru said, kissing his way up to her ear and whispered, "you will know soon enough."


I know, I'm REALLY REALLY sorry I haven't updated in nearly a week! Truth be told, I sorta kinda...well...had writers' block. I was on a writing breakdown and I couldn't come up with anything whatsoever. Sigh...and I had so many ideas, too.

Anyway...next chapter, or maybe the chapter after that, because I am feeling nice, I will tell you what's coming up:

A LEMON.

Need I say more?