Somber Twilight

Princess of Ikana

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the works of InuYasha. It belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

Prompt: Dancing

Miyuki noticed that Sesshomaru was distracted and she frowned, she had been told this whole ploy was a political scheme by her father who needed to strengthen their alliance with him and they were willing to play underhandedly. She understood that this was an arrangement that most likely wouldn't produce a mate, but she would have a child, hopefully, and either force Sesshoumaru's hand by allowing her to raise the child in the North but it would be heir to the west or even better she would be the next Western Lady. The problem was she noticed how he seemed quite close and doted on the Shikon Miko who was recently just widowed by his younger Hanyou brother InuYasha.

They had a history together, she had heard about their reluctant alliance against the half-breed Naraku… There was even a time where rumours spread about him and the wind demon Kagura before she met her end…

Mhh maybe Kagome wanted Sesshomaru because he was the next best thing after her husbands' untimely death… would Sesshomaru follow his kin's weird inclination towards taking a human mate and produce more Hanyou's?

Speaking of her… Miyuki glanced around the ballroom and found no Miko in sight, perhaps she had been afraid to show herself after walking in on them and having her heart broken or so it seemed.

Looking around for the maid she assigned to mess with Kagome's drink, she might have to dismiss her if Kagome actually decided not to show.

Arriving late, they announced Naoki's arrival with Kagome on his arm.

Everyone turned to see the Northern lord escorting the Shikon Miko who took all the attention. Whispers grew louder as Kagome was just as lovely as Rin.

A commotion started towards the entrance and Sesshomaru guided Miyuki with him. They got to the front of the crowd and saw Naoki had finally arrived, with a raving beauty… wait, that was Kagome!

Naoki and she walked up to Narumi who personally greeted them before congratulating them on becoming another Western/Northern alliance couple, neither corrected her statement…

Sesshoumaru's blood boiled, for Kagome belonged with him…

Narumi knew that Kagome hadn't actually accepted Naoki's interest, but she grew tired of watching her son flounder around and deny what everyone else saw, he adored Kagome and she felt the same way and she was on her way to becoming the next wife of a Western Lord, course he was running out of time to declare that, if that was the future he wanted, so she was helping him, best to declare this week before Miyuki discovered if she was pregnant and make them look sloppy for deciding to be with human Miko after sleeping with a demoness… politics… Sesshomaru needed a reminder of his place and although he could have cared less of what anyone thought… there was still a way of doing things, even if he still thought he was superior to literally everyone…

Glancing back towards Rin who was staring at him with an exasperated look. Willing him to speak to her as soon as possible, Sesshoumaru excused himself from Miyuki before escaping outside to gather his thoughts.

Rin was dancing with Itsuki and he gave her a questioning look as Rin made an interesting array of expressions as Sesshoumaru fled the room, in his aloof fashion.

"My dear?" he asked softly.

"I'm sorry Lord Itsuki, but Milord is being ridiculous, I've already told you my thoughts on him being with Lady Kagome, and if he doesn't say something to her tonight, he's probably lost her… and worst-case scenario I suspect that Lord Naoki will swoop in and swoon her if he hasn't already… it's not fair, I would love to intervene but of course, I have to worry about myself at the moment" She complained quietly as they took another turn around the room with the introduction of another song.

"Well perhaps during dinner you should direct the conversation towards them in a diplomatic way so they follow it?"Itsuki suggested trying to help.

"I already thought of that, unfortunately, I cannot interfere tonight, it would make us look bad in the eyes of society and add insult to Lord Naoki." she replied regrettably.

"If you don't mind Milord, I plan on keeping all the attention on me tonight, at least give them that time to decide what they want… the rest is in their hands," she said before wandering over to the musicians to request some performance songs she could sing too, pulling more attention away from the feuding pair.

Kagome was having trouble being the centre of attention, used to fighting for some limelight in comparison to the legendary Kikyo, mystical and most powerful priestess in feudal Japan after Midoriko...she was used to playing second best and being an underling, fighting demons and never encountering many others a second time after a battle. Now she was impersonating an interested party in becoming the next Lady of the Northern lands, even though she truly wanted a different lord.

She was starting to regret saying yes to Sesshomaru's mother in her grieving state, oh how InuYasha must be laughing at her predicament now.

"Kagome…"Naoki whispered into her ear, trying to bring her back to the present.

"Ah, I'm sorry I missed what you said," she said embarrassed, hoping she didn't make things worse for her Lordly friend.

They were making rounds to varying nobles as they wanted to talk business and with the absence of Naoki's father, he had to meditate on his behalf.

"I was commenting that Naoki could have done much better than a human Miko for a potential mate, the North had strong ties to the Eastern lands, and Lord Hideki is not impressed with your choice" commented a blonde man staring at her with contempt.

Naoki was quick to defend her honour but Kagome was at a loss of words… Yes, what was she trying to pull? These demons didn't need some lowly human interfering in their interests…

Stirring the conversation off of her, Naoki asked about a shipment of scrolls and the like that his father said was late…

Kagome quietly excused herself from the men and strolled off towards an outside balcony.

Narumi had given her one of her best smoking pipes as a gift for becoming a close Western ally, and although Kagome wasn't one for such a bad habit… she decided to use it tonight as she was anxious and needed to ground herself back to what was at hand.

She needed to decide her future tonight, of course, Sesshomaru was nowhere to be found…. Until she looked over at the opposite balcony and saw him staring at her.

He leapt the Terrance and floated over to hers before grasping her hand and kissing it.

"I have been a terrible fool milady and beg for forgiveness" he uttered in a deep mournful tone.

"We need to talk… Can we leave? Would anyone notice?" she replied quietly, knowing anyone nearby could probably hear them.

"I know somewhere more private, stand close, and hold onto my arm," he instructed her while summoning his demon energy cloud.

"Sesshoumaru! Don't' you dare flee your obligation!" Miyuki called suddenly from the doorway.

Kagome stepped away from him and the cloud disbursed.

"Lady Miyuki…" she said bowing to the Northern Princess

Miyuki glared at her, and then ignored her presence before walking up to Sesshomaru and glowered at him to answer her demand.

"Miyuki, I told you… it was a mistake… you caught me off guard and I finally decided who holds my true interest." he declared to her, denying her any further interest beyond tonight.

"Oh yes, I'm aware of your infatuation with her, everyone is… and well you never claimed her and the West needs an heir. For tonight Milord please do your duty to your lands" she pleaded, glancing around to see if anyone noticed the disturbance they were causing.

"This isn't over Miyuki, Kagome and I will reconcile our differences" Sesshoumaru promised, staring at Kagome with apologetic eyes, hoping she would give him a chance to talk things over, properly.

"Don't worry Milord, I promise you will get to speak by the end of tonight but Lady Miyuki is right, it's Rin's night and you are her escort, this can wait till later." she insisted before excusing herself and entering the ballroom again to find her date.

Rin kept an eye on her father who appeared to be in conversation with Kagome when she noticed Miyuki storming her way outside to confront the two.

Sighing she turned her attention back to her current dance partner who was Keisuke.

"Milady Rin?" he asked her, noticing her staring towards outside.

"Sorry, I'm just hoping Milord figures himself out tonight he's got more than one woman interested in his future" she implied sheepishly, giving him her attention again.

Glazing at the argument that was unfolding outside. He grimaced as the shrill voice of Princess Miyuki was heard. Surely what did he see in the demoness, she was such a character.

Chuckling, Keisuke tried lighting the mood between Rin and him with a declaration.

"I bet you Kagome-sama will be declared the next lady of the Western Lands, Lady Miyuki doesn't have any hope of establishing herself in Lord Sesshoumaru's orbit with her bad attitude," he told her whispering, hoping they were far enough away that she wouldn't hear them.

Rin giggled, agreeing with him mirthfully, for she did think so too, Miyuki was all flattery and no personality besides being a bully and coy.

A/N: Happy Tuesday :) Dinner is coming up tomorrow and well we will see if the castle's security is as good as Sesshomaru claims for he didn't want anyone's food messed with XD will Reiko manage to warn someone before that?