All questions shall be answered in time.. (and the answer might not be what you think it is!) and don't worry, I have no intention of dropping this. (might be a while before the next update tho.  Exams are coming up, and you know what that means..)

Hopefully you understood that funny "map".  Ah who cares?  It's only gonna last another chapter or two.

Those of you who really hate Kikyou.. sorry for making her Kagome's sis.  But hey, it just works better.. (I guess I could have made her Kagome's cousin.. if I get enough requests I may just change that.. o wait, provided I get reviews. hinthint

Disclaimer: Inuyasha.. MY Inuyasha!  points to her desktop, where there is a lovely background of.. you guessed it!  Inuyasha!

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Kagome was again, fidgeting in her lap.  She was bored.  To death.  In fact, she was so bored, you could almost see the boredom surrounding her.

Tonight she was supposed to meet all her possible suitors.  There were a lot of them.  The dining room was jam-packed with people and food, the air heavy with the delicious aroma of the many dishes to come.  Right now Kagome was waiting for the food, and so she played with her fingers, the only thing she could do to not stare at the hordes of people around her, and concentrate on something else other than the tantalizing smells.

There really were tons of people.  So many nobles, their wives, and their sons.  A few had brought their daugthers along as well.  She hoped she would be allowed to talk to some of them later; maybe she coud make a few new friends.  Not to mention, some of them had really adorable baby siblings.  Maybe not.  There were too many eyes on her.  She noticed some of the stares – some of them came from the nobles and their wives, studying her, judging her.  And some of the stares came from the sons, scrutinizing her every feature.  She dipped her head just a little lower, letting her bangs shift a little more to cover her face.

Beside her, Kikyou was as calm and cool as ever.  Nothing ever seemed to penetrate her dignity.  The miko looked at her sister sympathetically.  I am glad I am out of reach of these men.  Even if some of them are nice, and handsome.

Dinner passed slowly for Kagome.  She wasn't allowed to eat much, since ladies must not show themselves to be gluttons.  And besides, she must keep her slender figure!  As if she cared.  She would gladly have dug into the food right now, but was forced to nibble the tiny portions set on her plate.  A small appetite will attract you a better husband.  That's what Mom says.  I would gladly eat all the food on this table if it means I won't attract a husband at all!  But.. I have no choice.

And finally it was over.  Now they would move elsewhere, into the courtyard, where lanterns had been strung up and musicians waited in a corner.  Kagome followed Kikyou, and and one of their little cousins tagged along.  "Kagome, you look so pretty!"

"Thank you!"

"Are you really gonna get married?"

"Ehh…" sweatdrops

"Don't bother Kagome.  Go see how Uncle Higurashi is.  He hasn't seen you all evening, and I'm sure he would love to see his favourite nephew."

"I'm his only nephew!"

"Of course.  And also his favourite."  Kagome had to hide a smile.  It was true, in a way.  They only had one boy cousin, but girl cousins they had aplenty.

"Whee!"  Kikyou and Kagome watched as their cousin dissappeared out of sight in the throngs of guests.

"So what will we do now?"

"It's your wedding, your funeral, Kagome."

sweatdrop  "I know that."

They found a nice spot to sit, under a tree laden with sakura blossoms and lit by the many lanterns hanging in the courtyard.  Around them, the guests milled about, although Kagome did notice one thing..

Someone was talking to her parents.  A really cute someone.  She recognized him as one of the wolf lords, although he was wearing more uh… civilized clothing than wolves normally wore.

I wonder.. is he asking for my hand..?

It was a strange thought.  She didn't even know the guy.  Actually, she had a headache now, and she wanted to go away somewhere quiet and just make the headache go away.  Unfortunately, she couldn't even do that, because as the focus of tonight's grand dinner, she couldn't just up and dissappear.

Fortunately, she was saved from her headache by the appearance of a giant, floating pink bubble… which popped right in front of her to reveal a small kitsune child with a mop of bright orange hair.

"You must be Kagome!"

A kitsune child with a really high-pitched voice, no less.

"Yes, I am.  And you are..?"

"My name is Shippou.  I'm a kitsune!"  Without any further ado, (or even permission), he hopped up into her lap, staring into her face with an adoring, idolizing gaze.  "I didn't know you were so pretty!"

"Ohh.. thank you..?"  Kagome looked helplessly at Kikyou, who merely glanced over, sighed, and turned her eyes elsewhere.

He is adorable.  Kagome petted Shippou on his head, resulting in a giggle from both of them.

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Now the crowd had dispersed a little, with many of the older nobles conversing around the edges, and the younger nobility paired, dancing to the soft music.  A handsome young man came over to where the two sisters were sitting, and Kagome watched as Kikyou rose and was soon dancing.

Kagome was lonely.  She usually wasn't, since she was usually in the presence of at least one other person.  And the now-sleeping kitsune child in her lap didn't really make her feel that much better.  And even that slight warm fuzzy feeling was gone when, several minutes later, a kitsune lord came and took Shippou away.

So Kagome just sat there, looking on wistfully at the other girls, almost all of whom were dancing blissfully in the arms of some handsome noble.

Just when she was contemplating simply falling asleep, and her eyes were closing on their own, her mind numbing with boredom..

"Kagome Higurashi?"

She looked up, and lake-blue eyes met her own.  It was the wolf noble she'd seen talking to her parents earlier!  anybody wanna guess who?

She almost shot to her feet.  Instead, she repressed the urge to jump up and stare, rose to her feet with dignity, and bowed her head slightly.  "I'm Kagome Higurashi."

The wolf lord bowed in return and smiled, barely showing his pointed fangs.  "My name is Kouga.  I am prince of the northern wolf tribes."  He smile widened to a grin, and he held out a hand to Kagome.  "Care to dance?"

She smiled back.  Finally, something to do other than sit around!  "I'd love to."  She placed her hand in his, her slender, lightly tanned hand fitting comfortably into his larger, strong one.

He led her to where the other couples were dancing, as a soft, slow song began.  Kagome smiled as she heard the gentle melody.  "This is my favourite song.."

Kouga smiled as well.  "It is indeed a beautiful melody, almost as beautiful as you.."

Kagome flushed a bright red.  She wasn't complimented often, and certainly not by such handsome young men!  "A.. arigatou.."

The song played on, and Kouga drew her closer, a strange, warm feeling spreading through Kagome.  She rested her head against his chest, closing her eyes and letting herself be carried away on the soft wings of the melody.

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Sango sighed happily as she watched her mistress dance in the courtyard below.  Kagome looked truly content, and if Sango was right, Kagome and this wolf lord looked absolutely perfect together.  Maybe he is the one.. is he?  They look so happy together.. I really hope he marries her!  Sango knew that other nobles were eyeing the lady, but none of them looked like they'd care whether or not Kagome liked them.  Not to mention, some of them were ugly, some of them were known to be womanizers, and some were just too old for Kagome.  Sango could count on the fingers of one hand the men she trusted to marry Kagome.  And one of them was the noble Kagome danced with now.

It's perfect.  It's all so perfect.  The song – Kagome's favourite!  The handsome young noble, everything.  Not to mention, wolves were known to be about as womanizing as a pea.  Once a wolf took a mate, they stuck with their mate for life.

Sango could only hope for such a perfect match.  Not to mention, so romantic a meeting.  Maybe she would!  Perhaps, someday, at another one of these nobles' gatherings, she would meet a man who would be just as perfect as Kagome's suitor was.  And he would have eyes for her, only her.

Sango sighed.  All this was just dreaming, of course.  She was just a handmaiden, after all.  It didn't matter that Kagome treated her as a friend, often as sister.  The fact remained that Sango, though born of minor nobility, still only held a position of minor importance.  She would probably die an old maid.

Then again, better to die an old maid than to be married to someone who doesn't love me!

Down below, the song ended, and the couples dispersed.  Some remained, waiting for the next song, but Kagome and the wolf lord headed out of Sango's sight.

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"Kagome.. you look amazing.  You remind me of some sakura blossoms I saw once; so beautiful, so perfect.  Your eyes.. they sparkle like the stars.  They entrance me, I can't seem to think of anything else.."  Kouga grabbed both of Kagome's hands in his, bringing them up in between them.

Kagome blushed.  Am I dreaming?

"I promise you I'd love you forever.  I know we have only met for a short time only, but it feels like I have known you for an eternity.  I'll protect you against anything, everything."

I can't believe he's saying this?  I must be dreaming..

"I.. "  Kouga faltered momentarily, but tightened his grip on her hands and plunged ahead.  "I asked your parents if I might marry you.  They haven't given me an answer, but if they say yes, I swear to you that they'll never regret it.  I'll hold you closer than my own heart, and you'll be mine.."  Mine only!

…If I'm dreaming.. I seriously hope I'm not dreaming!

Without waiting for her to answer, he let go of her hands and wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close.  He rested his chin on her head, breathing in the delicate, sweet smell of her.  "I promise.."

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"Well, my lord?"  Lady Higurashi looked down at the couple in the courtyard below.  They looked perfect in her eyes, the wolf lord Kouga so absolutely endearing, her own daughter.. well, tonight Kagome seemed to glow with some sort of inherent, ethereal beauty.  "She seems to like him."

"My dear, they've only met for a short while.  And we have offers from other nobles, some of whom we would probably be much better off for having them as a son-in-law."

"Yes, yes.  But just look at them!  They're so perfect together.. My lord, I would prefer someone who cares about my daughter than someone who will just marry her for her inheritance and maybe her looks."  She watched with a small smile as the wolf lord drew her daughter close in his arms.

"So.. shall we tell him yes?"

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yes, this is an InuKag.  And yes, I do actually have a purpose for making Kouga fall for Kagome/the other way around possibly.  And no, it isn't just to do the whole jealousy thing over again.  You'll see. ;)

just to clear things up, in case any of you start getting any ideas.  The cousin.. I originally planned to stick Souta in here somewhere, but realized it just wouldn't work.  And um.. yeah. That whole little episode with the cousin probably won't have any effect in the story.  I was just bored (and had minor writer's block.  What can I say?  Not many good ideas come to mind after you've just studied random biology things.)

dang.  I gotta be the slowest fic writer in the universe.