Act One:

"Kagome!" Mammy Keade cried through the open window. "Kagome you come back inside before you catch your death!"

"No!" Kagome Higurashi- O'Hara cried at her old nanny. "I'm going to find Grandpa!" The young debutant picked up her skirts, and through her family Estate of Edo, trying to hold back furious tears. Earlier that day, her sisters had told her a horrible rumor that Kagome's sweetheart, Hojo Wilkes, was going to marry his cousin, Songo Hamilton, and that the marriage would be announced at a barbeque tomorrow at the Wilkes Estate, Musashi.

"It's not true!" Kagome told herself. "Hojo loves me! He has ever since we were children! He can't possibly marry that goody-goody, Songo! I won't let him!" She passed the fields of flowers, and saw her grandfather riding his splendid horse up to the palace. She wiped the tears from her cheeks, and waved to her grandfather, who waved back as he jumped the high fence. Kagome raced to the old man, who chuckled a himself as he dismounted.

"Grandpa, you know Mother doesn't want you jumping over those fences. You nearly broke your neck last time." Kagome scolded him.

"Are you to tell on me, like your sister Yuka? I doubt it a bit". the old man tokk Kagome's arm, and they slowly walked back up towards the palace.

"What have you heard from the Musashi palace, Grandpa?" Kagome asked sweetly.

"Oh nothing. Just that Hojo Wilkes is going to marry his cousin, Songo."

"What?!" Kagome exclaimed, her heart shattering.

"Oh yes, it's the talk of the town. The official announcement will be made tomorrow at the barbeque after party."

"It's not fair!" Kagome shouted. She let go of her grandfather's arm, and stomped back to the house in tears. But her grandfather soon caught up with her.

"Don't tell me you've got eyes for Hojo?" Kagome's grandfather asked her. "You known his family always marries their cousins. And Songo is a good girl. Why, she and her brother Kouga are always speaking well of you. Why, just this afternoon, Kouga Hamilton asked me how you were doing."

"He thinks he owns me because I'm the only one who's nice to him," Kagome pouted. "And I hate his stupid sister! She's taking my Hojo from me."

"You don't mean that," Grandpa said. "Why, I have it on good authority that Songo wants you to be her maid of honor."

"That's just adding insult to injury. I don't want to be her stupid maid of honor! I want Hojo!" and she threw herself into a fresh convulsion of tears.

"Now, now, Kagome," her grandfather hugged her and comforted her. "It'll be alright. I have high hopes for you. Someday you'll marry a young man who'll keep you after a fashion you deserve, and one day… I will leave Edo to you."

"I don't care Edo or palaces," Kagome shouted, "All I care about is-!"

"Don't such a ridiculous thing!" he grandpa chided. "Of course you Edo. Land is all that matters, all that's worth fighting and dying for, because it's the only thing that lasts."

"Oh Grandpa," Kagoime rolled her eyes.

"It's true young lady." Her grandpa said. "And some day, you'll realize it."

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Kagome rushed about her room, grabbing her parasol, her shoes, and her fan as she hurried to get ready for the barbeque. She was already running late, her family waiting outside in their buggy.

"Lady Kagome," Keade said firmly, as Eri brought in the girl's breakfast, "You are not leaving until you've had at least something to eat."

"I'll do all my eating at the barbeque," Kagaom insisted as she put on her shoes. She tied her bonnet on her head, and headed for the door, just as Keade shoved a piece of toast in her mouth. "Huh?!" Kagome exclaimed with her mouth full.

"You will eat." Keade said sharply.

"You're getting back at me for wearing this dress," Kagome said, taking a quick swallow of tea.

"Of course," Keade said. "It's not proper or you to show so much skin so early in the day."

"Fiddle dee dee," Kagome pouted.

"Kagome!" her grandfather shouted from outside.

"Kagome," her mother called, "If you don't get out here right now, we're leaving without you!"

"Coming Mother!" Kagome shouted out the window. She pratically jumped down the stairs, for she hatched a plan. Today, at the barbeque, Kagome was going to Hojo that she loved him, and therefore win his heart.

"If he knows I love him," Kagome said to herself as she ran outside, "Then can't marry Songo.

Later, as the Higurashi O'Hara family entered Musashi, Kagome scanned the large entrance room for her beau. She spotted Hojo walking down a set of stairs, looking handsome and dashing as ever.

"Hojo!" Kagome called in a sing song voice.

"Kagome," Hojo said, happily, "I've been wanting to see you!"

"You have!?" Kagome said, her spirit rising.

"Yes. I want to tell you that I'm going to marry Songo."

Kagome's spirit flopped down as she snarled, "I know that already."

"You do?" Hojo asked. "Oh, yes, I guess you do. It is the talk of Tokyo. Anyway, Songo wants to talk to you, too." Hojo said as he and Kagome walked around to an antechamber.

"Do I have to?" Kagome grumped.

"Oh, please, Kagome," Hojo said, "Songo looks up to you."

"Huh? Up to me?"

"Yes. Oh, there she is. Songo!" Hojo called. Songo, dressed modestly, but still lovely, in brown floated over to them with grace and ease- much to Kagome's despair.

"Hello Kagome," Songo said cheerfully, "Thank you so much for coming."

"My pleasure," Kagome lied. "I wouldn't miss this barbeque for the world."

"My brother has been sick with longing for your company," Songo said as she leaned on Hojo's shoulder.

"Oh really?" Kagome strained, "How nice." Just then, one of Hojo's friends came running up to them.

"Oh, Nobunaga," Songo said, "How wonderful to see you."

"I wanted to congradulate both of you," Nobunaga said, "And wish you both happiness."

"Thank you," Hojo said.

"And, I wanted to say hello to you, Kagome," Nobunaga said, blushing.

"Oh thanks, Nobunaga, but.. Uh…"

"Yes Kagome? What is it?" Nobunaga said, his eyes filled with the desire to please.

"There's a monkey on your head," Kagome said, pointing to the little monkey that was balancing plates on Nobunaga's head.

"Yes, Kagome," Nobunaga said sadly. But standing at the entrance, Yuka and Ayumi were gossiping about their sister.

"Look at her!" Yuka said. "Throwing herself at every guy here." They now saw poor Kouga Hamilton, acting like a lost puppy, following Kagome around, and begging her to eat barbeque with him. And she giggling away to all the men who paid attention to her.

"Well," Ayumi said, "Just let her have her fun. She'll get bored with all of them, and they'll see her true colors."

"Uh oh," Yuka said, "She's after your beau, now." Ayumi gasped as she watycched her sister flirting with Miroku Kennedy, the only guy she'd ever wanted to marry, despite his reputation.

"Ah, Kagome and Songo," Miroku said, "How wonderful to see you two lovely ladies today." He walked behind them, and placed his hands firmly on their bottoms, and squeezed.

"Remove your hand, sir," Songo seethed with anger, "I'm engaged."

"Oh, of course," Miroku said, removing his hand immediately. "And you, Kagome?"

"Ahem," Ayumi coughed, coming up to the, She grabbed Miroku's hand off of Kagome's butt, placed it firmly on her own, and walked off with Miroku, who was grinning from ear to ear.

"Well, sis, having fun?" Yuka asked Kagome, leading her upstairs.

"Not really," Kagome answered truthfully. "Nothing here matters. My heart is broken."

"Oh, give it a rest," Yuka said. But by now, Kagome felt a sensation like eyes were staring at her. She looked down to the bottom of the stairs, and saw two young men looking intently at her. Both had flowing white hair, and mesmerizing golden eyes. But one had a look of quite refinement, while the other fanged grin, like he was thinking something very dirty.

"Uh, Yuka," Kagome whispered, "Who are those two guys looking at us like they know what we look like on the buff?"

"Oh," Yuka said, "That's Sesshomaru and Inu-yasha Butler. And they probably do," she said, blushing. "They've got a rep sheet a mile long. Sesshomaru's said to have lost his left arm in a duel, and Inu-yasha rumored to have been born out of wedlock."

"No way!" Kagome said. She looked down at the brother again, who both gave a charming wave to her. She squeaked, and walked much faster with the sister to the private rooms upstairs.

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Kagome scurried around, looking for Hojo, and she found him. In the arms of Songo, out by the veranda, looking out over the party goers. She couldn't bear it! Her sweet Hojo, in the arms of another woman! She couldn't bear it. She felt so heart broken! So Angry! She felt she could d anything just then.

"Kagome! There you are," Kouga said, running up to her.

"Kouga," Kagome said, surprised.

"I wanted to ask you, before I went to your grandfather. It can't escape your attention that I've always loved and admired you. Will you marry me?"

"What? Marry you? Uh… It's just that.. This is so sudden, and I…"

"Please Kagome!" Kouga begged getting on his knees. "You're my woman! You've always been my woman! Please, don't keep my heart waiting any longer!"

'Well,' Kagome thought, 'Why not? Kouga's pretty cute, strong, healthy… And it might make Hojo jealous!' "I just have one question for you." Kagome said aloud. "How good are you at it?"

"The best," Kouga bragged.

"Alright then," Kagome said, loudly. "I'll marry you." Just then, she saw Songo and Hojo coming. Kagome jumped up, put her arms around Kouga, and kissed him.

"Does this mean what I think it means?" Songo asked with glee.

"Yup," Kagome said. "I'm marrying Kouga. I've been crazy about him for a long time, and I couldn't wait any longer. Go tell my Grandpa what you said to me, Kouga. I'll be waiting."

"Even about 'it'?" he asked.

"Of course not!" Kagome whispered angrily.

"Okay then," Kouga said, running off to find Kagome's grandfather.

"This is the best day ever," Songo said, "I'm getting anew husband, and a new sister." she put her amrs around Kagome, and started to cry, "This is going to be so wonderful!"

"Yeah," Kagome lied, "Just wonderful…" Songo let go her, and left to trell everyone the joyful news, with Hojo on her arm. He was still quite flabbergasted by what he'd seen. Suddenly, Kagome realized she'd been left all alone. Then, she felt the feeling of eyes on her again.. She looked over and there by the door stood Inu-yasha Butler.

"So, you're going to marry that young wolf, huh?" he asked, walking over to her. "Real shame,"he said, picking up her skirts and looking underneath.

Kagome slapped him hard. "How dare you!?! Do you know who I am!?!"

"You're just about the piece I've ever seen." Inu-yasha said. "Can I kiss the bride?"

"Get away from me!" Kagome yelled. Just then, a whip of light struck Inu-yasha across the back.

"Hey!! Why are you interrupting my fun?" Inu-yasha demanded the figure by the door.

"You have no manners, little brother," Sesshomaru said, stepping into the light. "You must forgive Inu-yasha. He wasn't raised as well as I was." he said, taking a bow in front of Kagome. "He right about one thing. It is a shame that you are marrying Kouga, when you would make such a fine addition to my family. Your grace and elegance and the very manner in which you carry yourself is exquisite." He stepped up close to her, and took in a long sniff of her hair. Kagome blushed and backed out of the room very quickly.

"Well," Kagome said, nervously, "I'd better get going. New fiancé and all that. Nice meeting you, Sesshomaru. And I hope I never see you again, you dog eared pervert," she said to Inu-yasha. Then, she picked up her skirts, and sauntered down stairs very quickly.

"I think that went well," Inu-yasha said. Sesshomaru looked at him, and struck him on the head.

"OW!" Inu-yasha bellowed as a red bump appeared on his head. What'd you do that for?!"

"Father would not approve of you looking up women's skirts," Seshomaru said.

"He wouldn't approve you knocking me around, either," Inu-yasha grumbled.

"Why don't you tell it to Kikyo," Sesshomaru said. "I'm sure she would love to hear about it as you fondle her."

"Kikyo's more fun anyway," Inu-yasha said, "She doesn't slap me when I burry my head in her skirts."

"You are a disgrace to this family," Sesshomaru said, exiting the room. Inu-yasha just leaned back on the wall, and smiled as he thought.

'Real shame about that Kagome girl. She's cute when she's angry.'