A/N: Sorry guys. I came down with a bad case of the flu [scared of shots so I refused to take my vaccination] and ended up not being able to get out of bed. I slept for 20 hours one day! And my fever was really high. I was scared I was going to die. But now I'm on my road to recovery [slowly] and decided it was time to write again. But it seems my mind is still on vacation…so I stop and go at the speed of a snail. So sorry about this chapter's choppiness. Bear with me.

Disclaimer: *long, withering glare* I hate to admit this…but…I AM A MAN. Lol. Jk. What I meant to say was I do not own a man like Inuyasha. *long, withering sigh* I also don't own the song I used partially in this chapter. It is "real Emotions" belonging to Koda Kumi…so ya.

Behind the Masquerade

Kith and Kin

She wiggled her toes gleefully. The salty waters withdrew and Kagome sighed as she stared at the golden, blinding reflection of the late sun. It was absolutely beautiful to be able to be here---in her opinion anyway.

Lacing her fingers behind her back, Kagome inhaled a deep scent of the salty air and water around her. Closing her eyes as she exhaled, she could feel the glow of heat on her face. She smiled with delight as she kicked at the ocean's waves. It washed over her feet in return and Kagome beamed even brighter when she felt the water run between her toes.

Evening was slowly rolling around, and so did the demand of her stomach, but she ignored it. Running back to dry sand, she slowly sat down on the tiny particles of grain. She didn't really mind if it stayed on her because that was what a bath was for, so she gently played with the stuff.

It ran through her fingers like silk and Kagome giggled, staring out at the endless blue ocean. It sparkled, it glimmered, and it was absolutely amazing to her eyes. The magnificence seemed to stretch on forever, as if reaching towards the horizon and continuing endlessly.

She never saw a place like this back where her parents were, and for sure, she knew she would miss the ocean the most when she was forced to return.

Ignoring the grumbling down in the bottom of her stomach, she propped an elbow onto her knee and used a fist to support her chin. Still smiling lightly, she watched the massive sphere gently sink below the horizon, only making the view more captivating and enchanting. Its orange rays grazed over the ocean, as small fluttering butterfly-like sparkles twinkled brightly above the water.

"Beautiful…" Kagome whispered breathlessly, feeling the gentle breeze play with strands of her ebony hair. Letting the serenity run through her body, she finally began to do something she hardly ever did…She began to softly sing a fast-paced song to herself.

ano hi kokoro no kanata ni egaiteta basho ni iru

tohou ni kuretetari suru keredo mou modorenai

yume ni mita katachi to wa

nanimokamo ga chigau

genjitsu ni wa... memai sae suru--

[[I pictured myself somewhere far in my heart that day

It becomes dark in the distance, but I can no longer return

The shape I saw in my dream

Is different from everything

I become dizzy from reality---]]

Kagome stopped when she heard someone step on a seashell behind her. Snapping her head back to see who the intruder was, her eyes widened a little when she eyed warily that it was only Inuyasha.

She frowned instantly.

Turning to gaze at the ocean again, she held her body stiffly, the scowl still gracing her face. She wasn't happy…

He had heard her sing.

Inuyasha cussed fluently in his head. Wasn't it just perfect that he had to step on a shell at the perfect moment? It wasn't that the girl sang well---but he didn't imply she sang badly… although he also didn't mean it was something to boast about. She sang with a voice…a voice…

Inuyasha grimaced when he realized his train of thought.

'Oh screw it, she sings pretty damn well,' he thought, gazing interestedly at the girl sitting on the sand. 'Not that I'd ever tell her.'

He watched as the wind blew her shiny tresses over her shoulders while she continued to stare out over the ocean. Inuyasha could feel his own hair swaying with the air as he flexed his claws instinctively, taking in a deep breath. He could smell the ocean, as always, he could smell the evening air, he could smell the food cooking up in the castle and he could smell the girl's scent.

Snorting, he leapt over to the girl, sitting down next to her, although he was mindful to keep his distance. Looking over, he could see the creases multiply on her forehead as she noticed his presence next to her.

Grunting huffily, he collapsed onto his behind and stuck one foot out, staring at the ocean like the girl was. Feeling his own scowl lessen as the magic of the sunset washed itself over him, he asked, "What was that song you were singing?"

Kagome glanced a long, withering gaze over at the hanyou, but did not say a word.

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow when he didn't hear a reply from the girl who he usually spent his time arguing with ever since she arrived. Glimpsing a fleeting look at her from the corner of his eye, he realized she had transferred her attention back to the sunset.

Why wasn't she talking to him?

Picking up a stray rock, he lazily gave a flick of his wrist and it was sent bouncing on the surface of the water for a long time, before finally sinking under the waves. He smirked when he saw her gaze following the trail of ripples and something shift behind her eyes.

"Is there a reason you're not talking to me?" he questioned, picking up another rock and repeating his action.

Kagome's reply was only to turn her head away.

Inuyasha looked confused, before something clicked in his head.

One side of the hanyou's lips coiled up as he finally figured out what she was trying to do. "You're trying to ignore me, so that I would leave you alone, right? Well you know, that doesn't work with me. You can't ignore me for three weeks."

Kagome finally let out an aggravated grunt as she swung her glare to the hanyou, figuring Sango's 'suggestion' wasn't as brilliant as she thought. "Has anyone ever told you, you are frustratingly annoying?" She crossed her arms across her chest.

"I suppose," Inuyasha muttered, intertwining his fingers behind his head and lying down, looking up at the darkening skies. "But you are just as frustratingly annoying to me."

Kagome exhaled rather loudly again. "Then why do you bother me?"

Inuyasha twisted his head to look at her beside him a few feet away. "Maybe you'll go away."

Kagome turned to look at him, a long gaze as an emotionless glaze ran over her eyes. She finally whispered, "Maybe I will."

Inuyasha snorted. "As if it would be that easy."

Kagome couldn't help but smile a bit. "Yea, you're right. I won't leave till it's my time to leave. I'm like weed, okay? I'm annoying, I'm stubborn and I can survive just about anywhere. You can't get rid of me this easily."

Inuyasha made some incoherent grumble as he closed his eyes in relaxation, listening to the ocean's waves and the gentle breathing of the girl next to him. He heard her say something and against his will, his ears swiveled to listen to her words.

"Don't tell anyone you heard me sing, okay?"

Inuyasha didn't say anything as he listened to his own breathing, acting like he hadn't heard her talk.

"I know you're listening, Inuyasha. Don't tell anyone."

Inuyasha mentally rolled his eyes. What was the big deal if people knew she sung? Geez…women…he opened his mouth to speak.

"Yea. Whatever."

Kagome looked at him, seeing his eyes closed and his ears pivoted towards her.

She realized it was so much better to talk…even argue…with him than to just ignore him. He just had that thing; The kind of thing that made it impossible for her to ignore him---and the way he infuriated her---for long.

She could feel her heart soften as she saw the almost tranquil look he had when he was relaxed.

And she smiled.

*~*~*

She sauntered down the corridors, her eyebrows knitted together in frustration. How hard could the task be? Biting her lower lip, she looked from left to right, but could not find a clue.

It figures.

Tapping her right foot on the ground, she exhaled in an annoyed tone. "I don't even know where to start," she mumbled, feeling a migrane begin to develop. "This is harder than I expected."

Running a slender hand through her long hair, she took in a deep breath to stabilize herself. "I guess I'd really have to take the long way around then…" she grumbled in exasperation, rolling her eyes and moving over to the window.

Her lips curled into a wicked smile when she eyed the object of desire on the beach---Inuyasha. Her smile wavered when she noticed that he was with her little sister. 'Those two are getting too friendly…if this goes on, I'd never find out what I need to know.' She huffed indignantly, as she swept her skirts from behind her, ready to go down to the beach and break the couple apart, but not before running into a servant.

The servant blinked her eyes rapidly, before bowing in apology at the princess and hurriedly said, "M'lady Kikyou, dinner is being served now. My queen requests you be there."

Kikyou rolled her eyes when the servant wasn't looking. This was such an inconvenience. "I'll be there." She turned around and was about to walk the other way, before a perfect plan formed itself into her mind. She smirked evilly as her eyes turned into dark slit. She laughed mentally…It was all too perfect. It was the perfect way to get rid of her obstacle to Inuyasha and then allow him to tell her what she wanted to know…as long as Kagome was gone.

She turned around and looked at the servant again. "Would you be a dear and go down to the beach and tell Prince Inuyasha and my little sister to make their presence there as well? I have an announcement."

The servant curtsied at the demand. "Of course, M'lady."

*~*~*

Dinner seemed to be tenser for Kagome. She figured it was because her elder sister was joining her now and out of all the dinners she had here, the peas seemed to be so much more interesting this time around.

She chased the green ball around on her plate, as she carefully snuck a gaze up at Inuyasha across the table. He looked absolutely normal, but as Kagome shifted her glance to the seat next to him, she was rewarded with a honeyed smile from Kikyou.

Kagome resumed staring down at the pea.

Looking to her right, she saw Sango eat her dinner awkwardly, as she too was glaring down at her food. No wonder either, for Miroku had been kicked out of his spot at the table next to Inuyasha to make room for Inuyasha's fiancée.

And where had the lecher ended up? Right next to Sango.

Kagome couldn't help but snicker a bit at the irony, before she felt an extra weight dumped onto her lap. Looking down in surprise, she saw Shippou and the 'hungry look' of a child. She sighed.

Forking the biggest piece of meat from her plate, she fed it to the kid. It was the usual thing. Shippou would be off on his own little adventure somewhere in the castle and then when food time came around, he'd arrive, waiting for Kagome to feed him.

Kagome never felt more like a mother than now.

Shippou munched happily on the meat as he found a comfortable position on Kagome's lap, while the girl proceeded to play obstacle course with her pea again. She just didn't have the appetite today. Okay...she did before...but not now.

Lady Komiya looked worried as she heard Kagome sigh for the umpteenth time during the dinner that day. "Kagome, dear, are you alright?"

Kagome froze when she could feel all eyes begin to stare at her. She put on a big smile as she gently looked up at the queen, a sweat slowly making its way down her forehead. "Yes, I'm okay. I'm just not hungry."

Inuyasha's eyebrow rose. "You serious? Okay," he muttered, standing up from his seat and reaching over for her plate.

Kagome leaned back further in her seat as she made a face when he brought the plate back over to his side. He instantly began to devour her---or now, his food like a carnivore and Kagome sighed even louder. "Talk about a one track mind…" she muttered to herself, but judging by the swivel of Inuyasha's ears, she knew he heard. She didn't really care though.

Lady Komiya made a disapproving sound as she looked at her son hopelessly. When she eyed Kikyou's response to seeing her future husband act like this, she found that Kikyou didn't really care as the princess continued to munch on her greens.

The queen shot her glance back to Kagome. "Do you want your dessert early then, Kagome?"

Kagome made a face. "It's okay, really. I'm not hungry."

There was a disgruntled mutter from her lap, "Well I still am…"

"Oh…well…maybe just a bit…" Kagome cut in, giving the queen an apologetic look.

Lady Komiya only smiled knowingly. Motioning for the servant to bring Kagome dessert, the young servant put down a bowl of delicious rice pudding in front of the younger princess. Kagome only sighed again, as she gave the bowl of pudding to Shippou.

Feeling bored and waiting for everyone to finish, Kagome tapped her fingers on the table almost inaudibly. She yawned as she felt sleepy all of a sudden, rubbing her eyes with her other hand.

"Mm..." a voice across the table muttered as she finished her dinner, wiping her lips on the napkin. "Thank you Lady Komiya, King Komiya, the dinner was delicious," Kikyou said as she gave a small smile to her future mother-in-law and father-in-law.

The two smiled warmly at her in return. "You're welcome."

Kagome tapped harder on the table, not sure why she was. It was just so uncomfortable though, having her sister here. That one previous week free of Kikyou now seemed like heaven.

Kikyou coughed importantly, as she made clear that she was about to make an announcement.

Everyone looked up at her, except for Kagome, who was still sighing and tapping on the table.

"Is it okay if I announce something?" Kikyou questioned, smiling over at the king and queen.

King Komiya made a gesturing hand. "Go ahead, Kikyou."

"Thank you very much," Kikyou replied, before standing up and eyeing the table to make sure she had their full attention, sans Kagome's. "I just wanted to say, I do love it here and yes, although I have only stayed here for less than a day, I really, really do love it here. Inuyasha is sure to be a great husband---" At this, Inuyasha stopped eating and choked, grabbing for a glass of water. "---King Komiya and Queen Komiya are sure to make a great father and mother---" The two said beamed. "--- and Sesshoumaru, although I have yet to really meet him is sure to be a great brother. I really find no reason why we have to continue this month thing, other than me for my childish stupidity a while ago at the ball---and I apologize profusely for that." Kikyou stopped to take a breather as she smiled at her audience.

Sango had an eyebrow raised. Miroku was going in for Sango's lower back while she was busy listening to Kikyou. Sesshoumaru was still eating and Rin was smiling back. Lady Komiya and King Komiya waited apprehensively. Inuyasha was chugging down his water. Shippou was eating his pudding contently and Kagome was still tapping on the table.

Kikyou continued, a glint behind her eyes. "If I agree to the wedding, Lady Komiya, when will it be?"

Lady Komiya looked stunned, but happy as she replied, "At the end of the four weeks time that Kagome is staying here."

Kikyou smiled as she looked over at Kagome, who by now had stopped tapping on the table. She laced her fingers together, as she tilted her head and smiled wider. "Well Kagome…you can go home now. There doesn't need to be another reason for you to stay here, really, unless there is."

Kagome's body stiffened, while everybody else shot Kikyou a confused look. The younger sister gently lifted up her head as she gazed hard at the older sister. Kagome was just as perplexed as the other onlookers as she tried to figure out what Kikyou meant, but she knew Kikyou kept her intentions well hidden.

"What do you mean?" Kagome asked, straightening her posture as she continued gazing over at Kikyou.

Kikyou still had the innocent smile on her face before she made the announcement.

"I'm saying, little sister, that I'm agreeing to the engagement and I will marry my fiancé, Inuyasha, in three weeks time."

Kagome felt a frown knitting itself on her forehead as the familiar hardening could be felt in her chest.

Kikyou laughed a bit and it came out good-naturedly, but to Kagome, it only felt like poison.

"So there really is no more reason for you to continue staying here, until you come back for the wedding that is. Aren't you excited, little sister? You're cordially invited to the wedding of Inuyasha and Kikyou…"

Kagome forced a small smile on her face, although she could hear her heart pounding clearly in her head. She tried to figure out what had just happened. Kikyou…was agreeing to the marriage? That means…she, Kagome, didn't have a purpose here anymore? Then that would mean…she's going back…home?

Kagome could feel the rock grow bigger in her throat. Her heart started beating painfully, faster and faster, as it grew louder and louder.

Inuyasha…and…Kikyou?

Kagome glanced over at Inuyasha, who looked so shocked that he could hardly say anything. Then she slowly gazed back at Kikyou, who was eyeing her ever so carefully.

Inuyasha…and Kikyou…?

Kagome forced the smile on her lips to grow bigger as she fisted her hands in the skirt material next to Shippou, knowing that for some reason, they were shaking. Her smile wobbled, but she coerced herself to be strong.

"Congratulations then…sister."

A/N: (: I am currently knowing that a lot of people are currently mad at me for the currently running plot. Anyway, you found out more about Kikyou's intent on being there [well you know its not good] and you know she suspects that to get to Inuyasha for whatever she wants, she needs Kagome bye bye. Isn't she eeeeevil. :) So, what is Kikyou's purpose for sending Kagome home? How will Inuyasha react when he finds his wits? How will the others react? Can anyone imagine how Kagome must be feeling? Will Kagome go home? Am I that evil? Hehe. Wait for the next chapter guys!

Btw, did anyone catch the two allusions I put in this chapter to other sources? One is to another anime series spoken by a girl, and another is to a video game spoken by a girl again. If you know them, damn, you're good.