Chapter #14

Kagome looked excitedly around the ballroom.

Surrounded by glittering lights, beautiful music, and happy couples all…staring at her?

That was most defiantly odd.

"Kagome!" Panting loudly, Shippou darted up from out of the crowd. "Kagome, I have to tell you about Miroku and Sango's plan! They got Sir Sesshy and they're on their way here to—"

"Shippou!" Miroku emerged from the crowd, also panting. "Oh, darling child." He forcefully picked up the tiny demon by his poofy tail. "Please, come with me. I need to stuff you in a closet."

"Ahhhh! Kagome! Ka-go-meeee!"

The two disappeared.

This was defiantly weird.

"Kagome." A voice made the poor girl jump. Oh. It was just Sesshoumaru. For a guy with such nice hair he sure was creepy. "Please follow me."

"O-okay." Kagome lifted the hem of her dress from the floor, and walked after Sesshoumaru with a clearly disappointed look. She'd barely been at the ball five minutes, and already she was being dragged off. She hadn't even gotten the chance to seen Inuyasha.

Not that she wanted to see him, of course. Frankly, as of late he'd been kind of scaring her. Awkward silences filled most of their conversations, and she'd been having more and more nightmares. And she couldn't forget what happened with her mother.

Sesshoumaru led her outside to one of the gardens. "Now," he told her. "You will stay here and look pretty." He leaned down so they were eye-to-eye. "If you don't, by my fluffy scarf, I swear you'll pay."

Kagome gulped.

"Okay."

She sat down on a stone bench, and watched Sesshoumaru leave.

What the heck?

Our Favorite Perv Greets Inuyasha…

"Inuyasha!" Miroku held his arms up excitedly. "The food's coming out. Just wait'll you see what I arranged to pop out of the cake." He winked and tried to keep a strait face.

It didn't matter.

A red-faced Inuyasha was up and running before the giggles could set in.

On to the EVIL Scum (And Naraku)…

"So she hates him."

Kikyo sighed. "If not now, then very soon."

"Perfect." Naraku smiled quietly. "She breaks his heart, he leaves, the curse is fulfilled, and then we come into power."

"There's a bit more to it than that."

"Killing the bastard once everything's done?"

"My spell," Kikyo said testily, "will run it's course. We won't have to touch Inuyasha."

Cows Are Sexy AN: You know you agree.

Inuyasha fidgeted nervously.

There was Kagome, sitting on a bench. Alone. Dressed in a black velvet dress with diamonds splattered like stars over the bodice.

Wow.

What was he going to say?

Hey Kagome.

Lookin' good, Kagome.

Nice dress, wench.

Hello, Miss Kagome.

"Hi Kagome!" Not exactly creative, but not a horrible opening line.

She gave a small jerk of her head, and smiled a bit shyly up at him. She started to tuck her hair behind her ear worriedly, but then stopped when she remembered it was already pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck.

"Hello Inuyasha." Jeez, what was with her lately? Acting all distant and everything. She looked at him seriously. "Inuyasha." She winced as something pulled tightly in her head. "Inuyasha, I have something important to tell you."

He stood up stiffly. Was this it? Did she was she really going to tell him she loved him?

Kagome didn't notice Inuyasha's suddenly still figure. Something was wrong. Something wrong was going on inside her.

"Inuyasha." She put her hand against her forehead.

"fear him

--now--

hate him

--soon--

kill him

--then--"

Her fingers curled around a stone on the bench.

When had that gotten there? It was so sharp.

Kagome looked up at Inuyasha, and remembered her dreams.

"What is it Kagome?" He looked gentle. Afraid. Like he could be broken so easily.

Kagome gripped the rock, and with a choked voice, confessed, "I think something bad is going to happen now."

She thrust the rock into his chest.

Miles away, Naraku and Kikyo laughed.