Back again, time for another chappy in the story. Hi everyone! ^___^ Glad to see so many people luff this story. A/N:

1) Again, I don't own Inuyasha.

2) Happy Superbowl Sunday! ^___^ Lol, if you're like me, have fun watching the commercials! (or the halftime show if I feel like it). -_-

And now, here's the next update for this fanfic. Enjoy!:

~~~***~~~

The guards led me to a practice area near the castle. Several bull's-eyes were scattered around. One of them handed me a bow with several arrows. "Your arrows, my Lady." He said. I sighed—this wasn't the exact thing I wanted to do right now, but I supposed I needed the practice. I took a spare arrow and began some shots.

To the side, I noticed a man lock and unlock a door, carrying all the equipment. 'That must be where they keep everything.' I thought. If I could get the key, I would be able to arm myself properly when needed.

After the training (and honestly, I can say my aim was better than it was before) I walked into the castle with the intention of visiting Sesshoumaru to see his condition. I went up some stairs and into the bedroom. I noticed several nurses, who looked happy to see me. Sesshoumaru himself was sitting up in the bed and drinking some soup calmly. Judging by his face, I could tell he didn't want to be cared for like a child. I approached him.

He was about to say something, but one of the nurses interrupted. "His Highness is recovering just fine, my Lady. At this rate, he'll be able to attend the party later tonight."

Demons could recover even faster than I thought! But then, I stared at her. "Uh…party? There's going to be a party?"

She looked at me funnily. "Don't you remember, Lady Kagome? You've been planning this for weeks!"

Of course, I had no knowledge of this, but I played along anyways. "Oh, er…all of these recent events must've caused me to…uh…forget." The nurse nodded understandingly. "So um, what kind of party will it be?" I pictured in my mind a boring and drowsy evening of tea chats and lectures with a room full of government officials. Definitely NOT my type of party.

"It's going to de a dinner party, with a little dancing afterwards. My Highnesses have planned this for a while now. Many residents of the castle have been invited in order for everyone to have a good time and forget about the troubles we face."

"Oh." I said. "Well, that makes sense." I glanced at Sesshoumaru, who was still sipping the soup calmly. Did he hear all that? I supposed that this meant I was expected to dance with HIM. His face showed no expression.

"Well," the nurse continued, "for now, we've done all we can. I'll leave you alone so you may have a few words with him, Lady Kagome." She said. I cringed, and tried to convey to her with a face that I did NOT want to do that. I'd be too embarrassed! I mean, what would I say to Sesshoumaru, anyways? 'Hope you feel better? Glad to see you're recovering? So how about that romantic encounter we had the other day?' I sighed and watched all the doctors and nurses leave the room.

I turned to Sesshoumaru timidly. "So, um…how are your wounds?"

He set his bowl down and looked at me for a while without saying anything. Eventually he replied, "They're fine, Kagome. Don't worry about me." He paused, and then added, "You weren't here when I woke up. You went outside the castle again."

I nodded. "Yes, you're right, Sesshoumaru. I needed to visit Kaede again." My head fell a little. "I'm…sorry for not telling you before I left." I wondered if he thought I had left him for good after the evening we had yesterday. Perhaps when Sesshoumaru woke up he thought I left without saying goodbye because I didn't want to be with him any longer.

…Wishful thinking…

He shifted in the bed. "You shouldn't go outside. It's…dangerous. We don't know what else is out there. Assassins have come and gone in this area. I was not there to offer protection for you."

I stared at him. What was he trying to say? "…Sesshoumaru, you're wounded-"

"-Small scratches. They've already healed." He insisted.

I sighed. "Will you be able to walk around by this evening?" I moved over to the window and looked out. "A nurse told me just now we're supposed to be having a party later tonight."

He grumbled. "Humans and their useless parties." I smiled—yet again Sesshoumaru was trying to hide his feelings with a remark over humans. I moved back over to him and felt his forehead. He seemed like he was about to make a protest over this 'needless treatment,' but something inside of him seemed to warm up, and he relaxed, allowing me to check his condition. I rolled down his shirt gently. His abs…oh GOD his gorgeous abs…I scolded myself immediately. Slowly, I touched Sesshoumaru's bandages.

I felt a hand stop mine suddenly. I looked up at Sesshoumaru, his eyes glazed over. "Please Kagome, don't." He whispered softly. "They might reopen if you lift the bandage away." My eyes widened, and I nodded quickly. His face looked like he wanted me to continue, I thought. But then again, did I?

Before either of us could say anything, there was a knock on the door. I set Sesshoumaru's robe in place quickly and cried "Who is it?"

Two people entered. The first one was my favorite little girl here, Rin. She rushed forward happily and leapt with energy into her father in bed. He gave a loud 'omph,' clearly from the new pain in his wounds. She hugged him tightly, and it was obviously to me that Sesshoumaru was not used to holding small children.

"Rin," I said in a stern voice, "Daddy's wounds still need a little healing left to do, okay?"

She nodded happily and leapt off him again. "Sorry, Daddy!" Rin turned to me. "Mommy, there was a strange little man waiting with me." She looked to the door and hid behind my robe in a cute manner.

At first I didn't recognize him, but the hobble he always had and the green skin was familiar enough. Jaken saw us looking at him, so he stumbled forward awkwardly. He was wearing a small, scholarly-looking robe that had a red color. He was peering at Rin angrily. "I was trying to explain to her why I'm here, but she just ran into this room instead!"

"Rin," Sesshoumaru said quietly, "This is Jaken. He's agreed to watch over you around the castle so you…don't get into trouble. I've taken him out of our jail for this purpose." He glared at Jaken with a look that could kill. "…And if he fails to do this, tell me." Jaken cringed at these words, and nodded as fast as he could.

I smiled. "That's a wonderful idea." Admittedly, I felt a bit out of place. These were Sesshoumaru's two followers in the real world, but I was here too. "Jaken, I'm sure you'll do just fine when watching over her." I turned and ruffled Rin's hair, adding "…But keep two eyes on her, okay?"

He hobbled over quickly. "Yes yes, I promise I'll take good care of her." Jaken answered fearfully. "You can trust me, my Highnesses! You may leave her in my hands without worry!" He squeaked. Jaken bowed quickly, and Rin giggled.

"…Very well." Sesshoumaru said. "You may leave, Jaken."

He bowed once more. I patted Rin away and she followed Jaken out the door. What a truly odd bunch, I thought.

When they left, I turned back to Sesshoumaru. "…You don't have to sit here all day, you know." He said to me. "I'll be fine by this evening, I promise, Kagome."

I nodded. "Okay. Call if you need anything." In the inside, I was reluctant to go, although I didn't really know why. However, I imagined that all morning Sesshoumaru was surrounded by nurses and doctors, never getting a moment to himself to think out any thoughts. So, I brought him a new glass of water and left. I glanced at him one last time before exiting the door. He took the water carefully and smiled. I raised an eyebrow, for I had only seen him smile once before. I didn't think it was possible, but just then Sesshoumaru looked even more handsome than before. I blushed at these thoughts and hurried away.

~~~***~~~

I wandered around the castle, not sure what to do. After exploring everywhere and learning where the various rooms to the castle where, I found a magnificent bathroom not to far from the bedroom. The walls, the sinks, the tubs, everything, was made out of a shiny marble. It was quite beautiful. I saw a sign to my right on a door that read "Lady Kagome." It must be for me, I thought. I glanced around quickly, and then closed the door. After a moment of undressing, I hopped into the enormous bathtub. I SURE could use a bath, I thought to myself. I sighed in content, and, laying there, reached sleep slowly…

~~~***~~~

"Alright, we're here. Now hurry up, will ya!?"

My brother carefully examined the different materials one by one. "…Hey, don't rush me, alright!? If I don't pick the right things this project won't work." He turned back to his examination.

"Hmph." I turned away in frustration. WHY did my mother force me here!? She KNEW I had important stuff to do today! As it was, I had already been late to meet Inuyasha and the others so we could look for more shards. Now he would REALLY be mad at me, with the time this little brat was taking! I sighed impatiently.

Sota sensed my annoyance with him and said, "Alright, alright. I just need one more thing…" He looked to the left casually. "Say Kagome, isn't that a guy from your school over there?"

I shrieked a little and peered my head out cautiously. It WAS him—Hojo! My eyes widened, and I ducked behind my brother. Oh NO! I told him we were going on vacation today! I groaned. Under no circumstances could he see me…otherwise I'd never hear the end of it!

"Hurry UP!!" I hissed to Sota.

He looked at me suspiciously. "What's gotten into you, Kagome?" He glanced back at Hojo, and a lightbulb practically appeared over his head. "Ooohhh…"

I blushed. "Be quiet! Listen, I told him we were going on vacation today so he wouldn't bother me. We can't let him see us! He'll never leave me alone!" I looked around. "Eep! Quick, hide!" I grabbed my brother and dove into another aisle. I peered through some poster board and saw Hojo walk by casually. I held my breath.

He looked around. "I must've been hearing things, but I could've SWORN I heard her voice…oh well. He walked away and into another aisle.

My brother suppressed a chuckle after witnessing this. "You are SO paranoid, Kagome. Why don't you just come clean? He doesn't seem like a terribly bad guy."

I sighed. Yeah, Hojo was a great person. In fact, he was TOO great. Where was the imperfection? The bad side of him? I hadn't seen it, and for some reason unknown to me that made Hojo less appealing.

I explained this to my brother. He rolled his eyes. "…I don't understand you, Kagome. I don't think anyone does."

"…Whatever." I replied. "Are you done yet? Can we go?"

He brushed himself off indignantly. "…Yeah, I think I have everything I need. Let's go."

We walked up to the cashier, paid quickly, and left. Now I could finally go to the Feudal era, I thought happily…

~~~***~~~

I knew it was time to wake up in the bathtub when I started coughing up a small quantity of bubbles, which quickly woke me up. I choked a little and reached for a towel. What a great alarm clock THAT was, I thought. I looked around, wondering what time it was.

I dried off in a distracted manner. Ah, what an unpleasant trip to the store that had been. I shuddered. Something I had always preferred NOT to do was to think about Hojo. Or Sota for that manner. Both were annoying in their own respects. Sighing, I put my robe back on and walked outside.

Various people were running back and forth in the hallway. They were carrying everything, from forks to banners to flowers to chairs. One of the ladies running around noticed me suddenly. "Lady Kagome!" She exclaimed. "What're you doing here? You need to get ready, my Lady! The party is going to begin shortly! Everyone's preparing for it! Hurry, you have a half hour!"

"Ahh!!" I had forgotten! Of course, the party! I quickly thanked her and flew back to the bedroom.

Sesshoumaru was sitting on the bed quietly. I ignored him, lost in my own thoughts. 'Thank goodness I already took a bath; otherwise it'd be too late. Oh, but what do I wear!? What sort of things do Queens wear at parties? I don't know! And what about my hair, for that manner? How should it be done? And jewelry—all Queens wear jewelry to parties, right!?' I scrambled around. "Well, I'm the leader of this castle, after all! I can be…fashionably late!" I said with confidence. Suddenly, I whirled around. I was the first time I noticed he was in here. "…Sesshoumaru? What're you doing just sitting there!? The party starts soon!"

He tilted his head to the side. "…Why should I go? I see no reason to. I have never been to a human party before, and I don't intend to start now. Besides, I wouldn't know how to act. I'd be an embarrassment to everybody there."

I rolled my eyes. "Sesshoumaru, you're probably going to be the ONLY demon there! It's okay if you don't know how to act—quite frankly, I don't know how either! But it doesn't really matter, does it? We're the King and Queen of this place. We can say or do whatever we want and nobody will mind."

I felt his impatience level rise slightly, and then fall. "…Fine." He said. "…If I don't have to talk to anyone." He looked at me. "I'll only do this because I don't have much else to do. Besides, I need to hear any news about the demon land. I haven't heard anything about it since my injury. I'm sure Naraku has heard of this and is planning something far worse off in his own territory." He stood up and went to go look for a change of clothes in the closet. I smiled happily, and thought to myself if those were his real reasons for going. I chuckled slightly. I didn't quite know why I wanted him so much to be there, but I DID know one thing, that I'd choose Sesshoumaru over some scary stranger for a dancing partner any day. I wondered if he remembered that little aspect of the dinner. I smiled evilly and went back to choosing everything I would need for the evening.

Review Responses:

Vegetas4Life: Umm…the number of chapters is up for my readers to decide! ^__^

ChibiTenshi5: Aww, thanks! *hugs* well what can I say, I aim to please! Lol

bloodbunny: *paranoid* uh oh…*runs from the bunnies*

Peanut Gallery - Alaska's own: Haha, well he's not the only one denying stuff in this fic, if you follow. ;)

fruity: Alrighty, tell me when you do…lol.

Cali1043: Alrighty then, hope you enjoy this update!

mandyfanforevr: *paranoid* Holy crap…uh, uh, well I'm glad you could follow it fine…even though…you don't know what Inuyasha is…lol

Rabid-Inu-Girl: You're welcome! ^__^

Dark Angel-Justice: Heh heh, arigato! Hope you can read this next chappy!

Satu-Chan: Kaede's not in the castle anymore because she's retired, and she wants to leave peacefully away from it. There was an alliance between the two lands because, um…there just was. Lol

shiva2007: Yeah, I'll tell the rest of Kaede's tale later on, soon in fact.

…And that should be all. The next chappy will be up soon! Let me ask you guys this: What would you rather see first, the other part of Kaede's tale or the first lemon of the story? Give me your thoughts and I'll write it accordingly. R&R please! Arigato! Ja ne! ^____^