I must apologize to all my wonderful reviewers for not updating, but my computer really has been pretty weird lately.

Oh well.

I'm watching "The Others" right now.

Actually, I'm just kinda listening to it as I write.

Heh.

This movie always gives me nightmares.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Chapter #7

Kagome glanced around.

It was her first official work day, and she wanted to use it to her full advantage.

She had been here a whole twenty-four-hours, and she had seen a total of four people: Shippou, Miroku, Myouga, and Inuyasha.

This was a huge castle: there had to be more people.

If Kagome was going to be stuck here for a while, she might as well find out what was going on, right?

Truth be told, so far she had found a total of no one.

Then again, with all the chores Shippou and Miroku had heaped on her, Kagome hadn't exactly had the chance to spread out her search.

"Miss?" a small girl in an apron approached her, and gave a sloppy curtsy. "I'm Rin, Miss, and I was wondering if I could help you?" She stared up at Kagome in undisguised curiosity.

"Oh, uh, no thanks Rin." Kagome squatted down, bringing herself to eyelevel with the small maid. "I'm just looking around. Do you want to give me a tour?"

Rin's forehead wrinkled. "Wasn't Shippou supposed to do that?"

"He did," Kagome admitted. "But he only showed me the places I needed to clean. Do you think you could show me the rest of the castle?"

Bobbing another curtsy, Rin grabbed onto Kagome's hand and started dragging her around.

Coming to a dark red room, Rin put her finger to her lips, and loudly shushed Kagome. "Kagura needs quiet when she works."

"Kagura?" Kagome gently dislodged her hand from the girl's, and attempted get a better look into the room.

A beautiful woman was leaning over an impossibly stunning dress, and humming as she picked the needled and thread in and out, in and out.

"Hello." Gracefully, the woman rose and bowed. Kagome gave a clumsy bow in return. Why was everyone being so...so formal? Polite? "I am the stream stress of this manor."

"Castle!" Rin corrected the woman.

Shooting her a warning look, Kagura turned to Kagome. "Are you not the new maid?"

Smiling, a bit unsure of herself, Kagome nodded shyly. "Yes."

"Hmmm," Kagura bent down, took out a measuring tape, and held it up to Kagome. "Purple would look nice on you...silver too. But I think you're more of a blue, or a green? Now what would go best with your face?"

Kagome backed up, flustered. "E-excuse me?"

"For your dress, silly girl," Kagura said in surprise. "What else?"

"Dress?"

"You mean you haven't heard of the upcoming ball?"

Kagome's head whirled. "Ball?"

"Yes. Every year we have a ball. It's simply an annual excuse to get dressed-up and have fun." The corners of Kagura's mouth turned up. "So, you see, I need to get started on your dress."

"Kagura's the best at dresses," Rin informed Kagome. "She made mine! It's pink and soft and nice!" She made a cute-sy face at Kagome.

Awww....

"You are going to the ball," Kagura ordered Kagome, waving her fan in the girl's face. "And I am going to make your gown. And you are going to like it. Got that?" Kagome nodded, wide-eyed. "Good."

Rin glanced from one grown-up to the other. She knew how scary Kagura could be when she got those needles in reach, so she gave Kagome's hand a yank, and started for the door.

"Bye-ya Kagura!"

Next, Rin decided to herself, they should go to the stables. Kagome could meet Sesshoumaru!

Yay for Sir Sesshy!

Leading Miss Kagome outside, Rin pointed out the large wooden stables.

Kagome had to admit it was beautiful...but wouldn't last long in a fire.

"You can meet Sir Sesshy now!" Rin informed her.

"Sir Sesshy?"

"Him!" Rin pointed to a tall man brushing out the coat of an even taller horse. A man who bore a strong resemblance to Inuyasha.

"Hello," he said coldly.

"Hi." Kagome shyly stayed behind Rin. "Are you related to Inuyasha?"

"I'm his elder brother."

"The nice one!" Rin confided loudly.

Kagome gulped. If this guy was the nice one, how bad could Inuyasha get?

"So!" Kagome smiled brightly. "Are you the stable master?"

Sesshoumaru glared. "I am the war general for this castle. As the eldest—and strongest—I take care of both the horses and the soldiers, should a battle ever arise."

"Okay." Kagome kept her perky expression.

Silence.

"Well, I guess we'd better be going now!"

Half-dragging, half-carrying Rin across the front stairway, Kagome bolted from Sesshoumaru.

Wow. That guy gave new meaning to the term "awkward silence."

"Kagome!" Shippou rushed up to her. "Are you having fun so far?"

"Yes!" Miroku agreed, coming up next to the short boy. Miroku, Kagome noticed, had grown tiny dog ears...a bit like Inuyasha's, but black.

Rin, meanwhile, had tiny little elf-ears. Like Shippou.

Was it getting dark already?

"I'm having a great time," Kagome assured the two of them. Then something she hadn't noticed before caught her eye. "What's that?" Kagome pointed up the flight of dark stone stairs.

"Oh nothing, nothing, nothing!" Miroku assured her hurriedly. "Just the West Wing."

"Oh," Kagome nodded wisely. "So that's the West Wing."

"Nice going," Shippou hissed at the stunned demon.

Miroku cringed. "Er—did I say West Wing? I meant...uh...Best Wing!"

"No, Mr. Pervert," Rin said. "You're wrong. That's the West Wing. The one where Inuyasha's hiding the—" Shippou wisely stuffed a cookie in her mouth.

"I wonder what he'd hiding up there." Kagome stepped past Rin.

"Hiding? In-Inuyasha is hiding nothing!" Shippou stationed himself in front of Kagome.

"Then it wouldn't be forbidden."

"Wait!" Rin, always the resourceful little one, cried. "Shippou! Mr. Pervert! Let's show her the gardens! Or...or the library!"

Kagome stopped short.

"You have a library?"

As in books?

As in stories?

As in something to finally keep her company?

"Yes!" Miroku agreed, jumping right back in. "Forests of books! Mountains of books! More books then you'll ever read in a lifetime!"

Shippou nodded furiously. "You'll love it!"

Rin squealed in joy. "Come on Kagome! Come on Shippou! Come on Mr. Pervert! Let's go!"

Blabbing on, the three went off, relieved to find something to occupy Kagome with.

The only problem, you see, was that in their excitement they kind of left Kagome behind.

Standing there in front of the West Wing.

All alone.

Honestly, if you can't see where this is going, you have no business reading this.

Gripping her coat tightly, Kagome slowly began to climb up the stairs.

Followed silently by a watching figure.

So how was that?

I made it longer then most of my chapters, as a way to say: OH, HOW SORRY I AM FOR NOT UPDATING! PLEASE FIND IT IN YOUR HEARTS TO REVIEW!!!

Or something like that.

I'm still watching "The Others."

That grandma lady is so creepy.