Back by popular demand! The Miko's Man has been updated!

Yummy, yummy! Reviews!!!! ^_^ (Authoress pulls out spectacles that are glass-less and starts to sort through reviews she has received) Well, I like these! In fact, I love all I get!

Blazingsunstar: Short. Review. But. I. Like. It. (I'm a little wee bit sarcastic. Can you tell?)

Oracle of the Stars: Thanks for the support! I always love to hear that my work is appreciated. (Smile)

Kizuhari: Did you review anything else of my stuff? I recognize your name. Maybe it's something else. (Reads review) Gah! Did you just write what I think you wrote??? (Tears form in corners of authoress's eyes.) You really think I'm good? You like my poor demented story????? (Well, maybe not demented, but I usually think down about my stuff . . .) (Grins like a maniac) Thank you so much!

ChristyKay: Nice to see you again! ^_^! To tell you the truth, I read your reviews and started to laugh, you know, the laugh you get when you see this totally uplifting cool thing that you just can't help but feel good about when you see it? You know, the laugh when you are certain what you got is totally cool. Sort of when I finished reading The Return Of The King and started to laugh happily. It's hard to explain, but you made me happy! Thanks so much! ^_^!! Oh, and about the length, I have no clue how they turn out so long. They just do. *Shrug* Happy New Year to you too! Mind if I call you buddy? *Singing rather loudly and brashly* Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind. . .

Enough of that. (Not really, I can't get enough, but I know you're bored) So, here comes the next chapter: Courting By The Hanyou's Rules. Gotta love my chapter titles, eh? So very creative.

Oh, a piece of information. At www.inuyasha.org, I think, there is a picture there that is so cool. I mean, it's a real life Inuyasha pic! The people in it are real, and the claws look pretty real. I can't tell if he has yellow eyes, but it's really cool! I think it's called Inuplay or something. I like it.

GAH!!! Scalp tingles! I honestly felt something crawling on my scalp! Never mind me. . .

(Freezes in shock) I FORGOT A DISCLAIMER LAST CHAPTER!!! (EEP!) So, I didn't own it then, and I don't own it now. Got it? Good. Okay, all is well with the world.

Go ahead. Read on.

__________________________________________________________________

She was still shaky from her attack, but Kagome was recovering quickly, even though it was only days later. And though he forced himself to despise it, he allowed himself to stay beside her every minute she asked him to. That included her meals, her free time, every thing.

"Kagome, dear."

Inuyasha glanced up as Kagome did, looking to her mother. The woman gave Inuyasha a glare and then turned to Kagome. "Dear, I wish to talk to you, ALONE," she said, her eyes still focused on Inuyasha. "Will you let her be alone for just one moment?"

Inuyasha grudgingly nodded and watched as Higurashi-sama led Kagome to the TV room, and closed the door. She could be alone, but there was no way that he was going to let them be alone completely.

"Kagome, dear, I know it might sound early for you, but you need to find a suitor."

"What?" Kagome cried. Inuyasha noticed that she did not sound too happy; he was not too happy either. A suitor? His mistress? Never. Not while he lived.

"You will be asked to marry in less than three years, Kagome, dear, and you need to start looking. As a miko, they ask more of you, and they will ask for a child before your twenty-first birthday."

"But, Mother!" There was a short silence before he heard Kagome sigh. "Fine. But I really don't like it."

Inuyasha was in the room before they knew what was going on. He got a glare from each of them, but he ignored them. "I should have some say in who you are to court," he snarled, his finger in Kagome's face.

"Whatever in the world are you talking about, Inuyasha?" Higurashi-sama snapped. "You are a simple slave and should listen to my orders!"

He sighed. "I am Kagome-sama's servant, Higurashi-sama, not yours, and that means her orders come above yours. And since I am her bodyguard, and my main goal is to stay near her, her orders are above yours. And I have claim to her courtship because of that very reason. I should be allowed to protect her by watching who she courts."

Higurashi-sama blinked wildly before she smiled. "That's wonderful! You are a wonderful slave for my daughter!"

Inuyasha nearly fell to the ground in shock. "Is . . . is it all right then?"

Higurashi-sama smiled. "Oh, yes! If you care about who she courts, then you really will be wonderful!" Inuyasha grimaced. Was it just him, or did she use the word "wonderful" too many times for comfort? "Oh, of course, we will have to ask Kagome. Dear?"

Kagome was not a happy camper. First he refuses to help her with a drunk, and now he insists on having a say in who she will court. Who did he think he was? A free-lance bodyguard who only worked if it fit his mood? But if she agreed, she would have Inuyasha to help if the man hurt her.

She sighed and nodded grudgingly. "I guess, if it is for my best interests."

The women left the room, and Inuyasha followed Kagome. He muttered profanities to himself as he walked. Inuyasha was beyond furious with himself. He was irate, indignant, and trying to strangle himself mentally. Why would he care who in the world she courts? He was just a servant, meant to protect her.

But does that mean heartache and abuse?

Inuyasha tried to shut off the voice that so suddenly spoke, but it would not allow that to happen. 'You know that if she were to get hurt, you would never forgive yourself.'

'And how would you know that?'

'You fool, I am you. Your instincts are taking over, claiming her as a part of your pack; she is the alpha, you are a simpleton beta, but you would protect her, though she needs not your help.'

'Will you shut up? I don't need you telling me about my instincts too.'

'Too? Ah, yes, Sesshoumaru was lecturing you about them before you were brought to the Tokyo slave yards.'

Inuyasha muttered under his breath and purposely ignored the voice. The hatred was still raging, but only because he fed it enough fuel.

_________________________________________________________________

Commercial break!!!

Would anyone like to try a challenge fic? I've got ideas for challenge fics, hundreds of them, so just ask for it with a review and I'll send one to you! Yes? Just ask!

Commercial break done!!!

__________________________________________________________________

One week later, Inuyasha was still angry at that voice and never listened to it, until it told him that if he had been listening, he would have been prepared for what Kagome told him that very day exactly one week later.

"We're going to a formal party."

Inuyasha felt his entire body stiffen. "A . . . party?"

"Yes. A formal party."

He was certain his heart was flying out of his chest and he knew his eye was twitching as he turned back to look at Kagome, one ear turned to listen to where he was going. "A party? Am I going to have to go?"

"Of course. You are, as you so obviously put it one week ago, my bodyguard and will have to join us."

"Us?"

"My family and their guards, and the makeshift guards Sayuri and Keiki will be."

"Will I have to dress up?"

"Yes. I don't see what is so horrible about a party, Inuyasha! It isn't that bad!"

"Easy for you to say, wench," he muttered before opening his mouth to say the very question that had been plaguing him horridly. "Will I be forced to dance?"

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Of course not!" He let out a sigh of relief and turned back to the street. He could not dance for beans, and he knew it. But he was going to save his dignity as much as he could.

They were quiet for a while as he led her down the street, her just slightly behind him. "When is it?" he asked, trying to get rid of the silence between them.

"Tonight, of course."

"Tonight?" he screamed, turning on her, stepping out of the current of people, taking Kagome with him. "Why wasn't I told of that?"

Kagome narrowed her eyes at him. "You were. I've been telling you all week, baka!" Inuyasha grimaced at the term and snarled. "I don't know why you just don't listen to me," she added, her voice low as if she did not want him to hear it.

Inuyasha chose to ignore the statement. She never really caught on the idea that he could hear anything she spoke aloud, even those that were muttered so low she could not hear them, and he would prefer to keep that a secret.

It would provide nice blackmail eventually.

_________________________________________________________________

Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably outside his charge's room. He preferred his hakama and haori to the formal kimono he had been pulled into, and his scalp still hurt from where Sayuri ran the brush the wrong way. She could pull when she wanted to!

He glanced up and across the hallway where Sayuri was leaned on the wall, near the door of her charge, Souta-sama. She caught his eye and grinned at him. Somehow, he knew he would never understand how, she had pulled her hair up to cover both of her ears and still draped most of it down her back in a braid.

Keiki was near her, her mouse-like face painted heavily, which only caused Inuyasha to wince as she smiled. It was horrible. He had already seen Higurashi-sama with Kouga walking down the stairs, and she had the face paint they called make-up on as well, not as obviously as Keiki, but obviously enough. Sayuri had absolutely none, mainly because she did not need any, and also because she was simply too stubborn.

Inuyasha heard the door next to him open and he turned his head to catch a look of his charge, but not before seeing the look on Sayuri's face. It was a look of silent pride and joy.

He saw Kagome and gasped. 'I don't think my eyes can take it!' he thought desperately as he struggled to tear his eyes from her. She was gorgeous. Simply, unexplainably gorgeous.

She was wearing the face paint; he could smell it under her light perfume, but it was blended into her face so well that it was not at all obvious. The make-up only enhanced her natural beauty instead of adding to it as Keiki and Higurashi-sama had attempted with their make-up.

The formal kimono fit her body modestly, but it still showed her curves, as if teasing the eye. Her hair was done up in the traditional miko style, elegant and yet modest. Her entire ensemble spoke of childish modesty and womanly tease.

She was now looking back at him and he swallowed and forced his eyes away. He was a servant; servants did not stare at their masters so. 'Slaves usually did not have masters like her, though, Inuyasha no baka.'

"Do you like it?" Inuyasha steeled his emotions and turned back to her. He had to answer that question or possibly suffer restraint. He was, after all, her slave. 'And she is mine.' Inuyasha slapped himself mentally and struggled to answer her question.

"Yes. You look," he paused and thought of what to say, but his instincts started to offer ideas that did not appeal to him. Another part of his mind started to finish his sentence when he did not immediately, 'like an angel, like an enchantress, like a princess . . . '

"You look nice."

'You baka.'

Kagome smiled at him and held out his arm for him to escort her. He looked at it, simply staring before he glanced up at Sayuri for help. She smirked and mimicked grabbing an arm and walking down the stairs.

Slowly, gingerly, he took her arm and led her down the stairs, as a true gentleman would. This was going to be a long night.

Sayuri smiled after them. She could not help but smile. That was the first time she had seen the young hanyou speechless, and she was even more amused when he looked to her for help.

"Sayuri? What are you smiling at?" Sayuri turned to Souta.

"Nothing, Souta-sama. You look very nice, Young Master."

_________________________________________________________________

At the party, Inuyasha left Kagome where he could keep an eye on her and then went off on his own. Tonight just was not his night. Not only did he totally embarrass himself in the hallway, but also he found out on the drive over to the house the party was at that Kagome was coming to her time of the month. That meant she was, at this point in the month, holding a rather large sign to the youkai that said she was fertile. He knew most youkai in here could restrain themselves, and what could not would be driven away with her scent of power. The scent of her power reeked worse than a human who had not taken a bath for months, but not in a disagreeable way.

He soon found Sayuri, who was relaxing in the back of the large room, her eyes following Souta as he found other youngsters dragged along by their parents. "Why did you not tell me that her time was here?" he snarled, and Sayuri looked at him curiously.

"Sorry, but does that matter to you?"

Inuyasha wanted nothing more than to strangle her at that time. "YES! Do you realize how embarrassed I felt the whole way over?"

"Yes. Kouga and Raidon were talking about it rather loudly. They are not affected by it, it seems, but your embarrassment scent stinks horribly. I'm going to hope the car is aired out before we leave."

Inuyasha huffed and stomped away, only to run into the most unlikely couple he ever saw. What was even weirder was that he could never see the Huntress in a formal kimono.

Miroku noticed him and called out, moving over to him as well as dragging Sango with him. "Well, Inuyasha-san! Fancy seeing you here! Where's Kagome?"

Inuyasha snorted. "How much did you pay her to come with you?"

Miroku looked hurt and dramatically put a hand over his heart. "Ay me, what a horrible idea, Inuyasha! I never thought you to be so cruel!"

"It's good it's not me you insulted, or you would have been eating cement already," Sango muttered angrily, stroking her pet distractedly. "Even if Kagome is not here, you would have eaten cement."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and glared out across the room. There, above them, on a staircase that split elegantly and wound to the first floor in two curving arcs, was the hostess of the party. Kaede-sama. A political leader of the local area.

She was saying something, but he had no care for it. His eyes narrowed as he found it hard to see over the people. Where in the world was Kagome? He started to worry as he went over to where he left her. She was not there.

He also caught a stench he had hoped he would never smell again. Naraku. He snarled aloud and searched out Sayuri with his eyes. Over to the side. With a quick bound, he landed at her side, startling the children next to her, but she was not fazed by his sudden appearance.

"What is it, Inuyasha? Lose Kagome?"

Inuyasha snarled at her pleasant tone. "Yes-"

"She'll show up."

"I'm not done! Naraku's here!"

Whatever he was expecting for her to do, he was not expecting her to chuckle. "I do believe he's learned his lesson."

"I don't think so," Inuyasha muttered.

"What you think and what is going on are two very different things."

Inuyasha fumed and then went back to the spot where he had left her. She had gotten up to leave, and walked to the right . . . Tracking when she had shoes was hard, but he was not going to suffer the indignity that would come to him if she was Tasted.

_______________________________________________________________

Kagome sighed, glad she had gotten out of the stuffy house. The main room was filled to brimming, and she was tired. Well, out in Kaede's personal garden, it was cool and peaceful, and quiet.

"Kagome-sama."

Kagome stiffened and spun around, suddenly fearing for her life. Behind her, dressed in a black formal kimono with his long hair pulled back in a high ponytail, was Naraku. If not for the fact that she knew he had tried to Taste her, she would have thought him rather handsome.

"It is a lovely night, is it not?"

Kagome slowly felt herself nod, and his tone soothed her startled nerves. "Very pleasant," she murmured, not turning her eyes from him. Naraku looked up at the sky and sighed.

"Where my new master is, it is so much easier to see the stars. There one can see the band of stars humans call the Milky Way."

Kagome looked up at the stars uncomfortably. "It's a bunch of flaming gases. I don't personally find them that wonderful this night."

Naraku smiled at her, and she actually noticed that his eyes softened adoringly. "You are uncomfortable around me." Kagome nodded slightly. "I gave you good reason too, I understand."

And with that, he burst into a long-winded talk about his new master, his new home, and his new duties. Onigumo had dragged him to this home tonight to use his cooking skills for Kaede, and Onigumo was a rather nice master it seemed. The house was larger, with more stairs, but Naraku was managing with an elevator. Kagome actually felt a stab of jealousy when she heard that, and that was when she noticed that sometime during his talk, he had sat on a bench, and she had down next to him.

What could it hurt? He was just talking, and he had not once touched on the subjects that had ended up on him sold.

Suddenly, Kagome noticed he was becoming rather close. "But, so many times, I just wonder," Naraku murmured, his face centimeters from her own, "what it would have Tasted like. Sweet or salty?" Kagome felt herself shudder. "Sour or flavorful?" Kagome started to move toward the end of the bench, but Naraku rather firmly trapped her with his arm moving to hold her waist, holding her close to him.

"Get off of me!" she snarled. "Back!" It did not work. 'Of course, Kagome no baka! He doesn't belong to your family anymore!' Naraku smiled knowingly at her.

"It does not work anymore, Kagome-sama." She knew that. He did not have to rub it in. "So, will you be willing, or will I have to fight for a Taste?"

Kagome never got a chance to answer. There was a rush of air and suddenly, Naraku was flying across the garden, and a very incensed Inuyasha stood there, glaring at the area that Naraku had landed in. She could practically see the anger in his eyes, but no, his eyes really had changed color to a blood red that sent shivers up her spine.

Those eyes were turned on her and she felt harder shivers run up her back as the eyes did not change back. She could only stare into the eyes, almost entranced.

"Kagome."

Kagome blinked and suddenly saw that his eyes were back to normal. "Did you . . . just say my name?" Inuyasha suddenly seemed to blush and he looked away.

"My apologies, Kagome-sama."

"Wait, no-"

"Come with me. We will want to get away before he comes back," Inuyasha said, and before she could stand, he had whisked her up in his arms, one arm under her knees and the other supporting her back. Kagome sighed, resigning to have gained back the formality in her name. She hated it, but when a slave was forced to speak formally, she was forced to accept it.

"Wait! You cannot just attack a slave, Inuyasha!" Naraku screamed, running to catch up with them. By this time, they had almost reached the door of the house, and Inuyasha chose to ignore him and enter the house, Kagome still in his arms.

"Inuyasha!"

Kagome was glad he chose to ignore the dark youkai and she relaxed to lean back on Inuyasha. Inuyasha, on the other hand, was trying to hold back two forces: his hatred of Naraku and his growing instinctual push as her teasing scent assaulted his nose. Slowly, he set her down where he had last left her, and a young man instantly came up to her.

"Oh, Kagome-chan! Are you quite all right?"

Inuyasha snarled at the boy's address of his mistress, but Kagome's hand stopped him. "I'm quite fine. Thank you, Inuyasha," she said, smiling at him.

"Feh," he snapped. "If it keeps me from being sold," he answered quickly. Instantly, he was angry he had said that. He was really upset that Naraku had tried to Taste her again. It sickened him. But it was worse when it was Kagome. For some reason unknown to him, it was worse when Kagome was threatened of such an offense.

Kagome did not seem to take notice of it, but he could smell the disappointment on her and he sat down beside her as she talked casually with the young man that had come to meet her. He had lost her once before at this party, and he was not going to lose her again.

"Higurashi Kagome."

Kagome and Inuyasha looked up to find Kaede near them, her hands placed behind her back as if she was a general in the army. "I was approached with quite a claim. This young man claims that your slave attacked his slave," Kaede said, motioning with her hand to Onigumo and Naraku just behind her. "Is this true? I doubt it, with you, Kagome-san."

"It's true," Kagome answered nonchalantly.

"Then I would like to ask that you restrain your slave." Inuyasha lowered his head; she was the leader of this district, and therefore there was no way that Kagome would disobey her. This might not hurt horribly, but it would still hurt.

"No."

Inuyasha raised his head in wonder. Kaede and the three men near by stared in shock as she spoke. "Why?"

"Inuyasha was protecting me."

This was obviously a side to the story that Kaede did not hear. "Explain it to me, please," Kaede said, drawing up a chair to sit beside Kagome.

Kagome looked around the drawing room as if looking for something. "Oh, where to start?"

"The beginning," Inuyasha said quietly, and Kagome looked at him. He caught her eyes and Kagome smirked companionably.

"That sounds good," she muttered. "It all started when Naraku was still my family's servant. A week before, he tried to Taste me."

Kaede grunted and glared at Naraku, who tried to smile innocently. Onigumo was now glaring at Naraku, and it was obvious that he had not heard the full story either. And with that support, Kagome told the story, glad for Inuyasha's presence at her elbow, supporting her more than he would know.

Kaede looked at her when she had finished and smiled warmly. "Thank you for telling me that, Kagome-san. Onigumo, I am placing a restraining order on your slave. He is not to come to any public function, is not allowed anywhere near Higurashi-dono, and will not be allowed to this house ever again. You may take your servant now, and leave, Onigumo."

Onigumo sputtered before Kaede's glare told him it was final. With a glare at his servant, he stomped out the door. Naraku glared at Kagome with a look that promised pain and followed his master.

Kagome slowly turned to Inuyasha and he attempted a smile. "Well, Higurashi-dono, I'm sorry for interrupting you. Thank you for your time," Kaede said, and Kagome executed a formal bow for the elderly woman.

Kagome smiled at Inuyasha, and his smile reached his eyes. "Yes, thank you, Inuyasha," she murmured for his ears. He did not say anything, but not a word was better than what he said last time.

_________________________________________________________________

End of Naraku? Of course not! (Laughs hard) Naraku does not die until the end! (Oops. . . ) I think I gave away the ending, but come on, who doesn't want Naraku to die in the end? Or at least be put away for good?

I'm catching up with myself. Yikes. I'm still working on chapter six. I might be posting farther apart. I've got to finish so many stories! Well, my gundam fics are pretty insured, so go ahead and read those. Maybe you'd like them. Maybe.

I've been looking at my outline, and I think that I'm probably going to have eight chapters instead of nine. Chapter four of eight. Nice, I'm getting there! Nearly done with chapter six, and then it's on to chapter seven! Writing, writing, writing like nuts.

Oh, and I feel really sorry for Striking Falcon, but I promised to solicit her stuff on my fics, and I forgot, so here goes nothing:

RECOMMENDATION:

Unexpected Allies Trilogy: One of the best Sesshoumaru/Kagome fics out there. I honestly love it. So, the first one, Rin has been kidnapped and Sesshoumaru needs Kagome's help to get her out. And so begins this lovely angsty fic of romance and such. By Striking Falcon. Funny notes as well: really recommend reading them as well. There are too many new characters, but they all make sense.

BROKEN: One of the best "what if . . ?" fics of breaking of the "sit" necklace. Inuyasha/Kagome, and so super sweet and angsty. When I need a good dose of romance, I reread this story. Beautiful and touching. I believe it's written by Quickening. Very, very good and comes highly recommended.

BEHIND THE MASQUERADE: Angst, angst, angst at the end. So far. From her notes, I assume that she is not done. Very, very good. Inuyasha has to marry Kikyo, but Kikyo isn't sure she wants to marry him. So, who goes? The little no-good sister of Kikyo, Kagome, to make sure Inuyasha would be a good husband. The only problem is, Kagome falls for her sister's husband- to-be. Cannot remember the author, but it is really good, mainly because it is an Inu/Kag fic and Kikyo is NOT evil, even though she seems to be. Very, very highly recommended.

Would you believe it's been five years since we last had this much snow? Five years since we got to negative forty on the Fahrenheit scale when the wind blows? FIVE YEARS SINCE WE GOT A STINKING SNOW DAY???? You know what's stupid, we got the news at 7:15 in the morning, and school starts at 7:25. Half of the school was there, and then they told us school was out. Gotta wonder about the US school systems. . .

Teaser for next chapter: Courting the Dense __________________________________________________________________

"Please, Kagome-chan, ignore your guardian's horrible idea of sense and allow me to court you!" Hojo pleaded, and Kagome could not help but relent. He was pulling the puppy dog eyes on her, and she hated them, mainly because she could not withstand them for long. Besides, it was just courting. She could always break it off.

__________________________________________________________________

Thank you for reading on the Kay Kylo express! Please make sure you keep your hands and feet near the computer when the story is slowing down. And if you have any comments or complaints or praise, please press the button and leave a note for the authoress!

In shorter words, thanks for reading and REVIEW!

WILL ACCEPT FLAMES! ENJOYS THEM IF YOU HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY!!!

Oh, and for those who think I'm weird, you're right!

~Kay Kylo