Disclaimer: Inuyasha is sooo not mine.

Chapter 11

The next evening found Kagome and her friends at the swankiest party in Tokyo. It was held in an enormous mansion in the country. Kagome learned that it belonged to one of Kouga's and Shippo's oldest friends.

During the limo ride to the party, Kagome took time to survey her friends' attire. All the men in their party looked devastatingly handsome while Sango was positively radiant.

Miroku, sitting next to Sango, looked slightly uncomfortable. He had never really worn such constricting clothes before. Sure, he was used to jeans and trousers, but these things called tuxedos were murder.

Kagome nearly laughed out loud when he saw Miroku grab Sango's hand and fiddle with her fingers. The poor houshi was nearly white with anxiety. He'd also NEVER been to a fancy dress ball before.

Sango herself wore a beautiful sapphire and silver gown, the top of which was held up at her neck with a sparkling diamante choker. The filmy material flowed over her breasts, leaving her smooth, creamy shoulders and back exposed. It was cinched slightly at her small waist before falling in a shimmering dark blue cascade to the floor, where her little pink toes, encased in matching blue open-toed slippers, peeked out. Her hair was done up in a simple bun at the back of her slender neck. In her hair were a pair of matching diamond and sapphire combs, courtesy of Kouga.

Kagome turned her attention to Shippo, who was leaning back against his seat, eyes closed and seemingly completely relaxed. He, of course, had been to these sorts of gatherings for over a century now and was probably pretty tired of it. He was dressed in the usual black and white, but his long, beautiful auburn hair tied back with an emerald green ribbon.

'Ooh! How eighteenth century!' Kagome thought with glee before turning to study Kouga.

Kouga was dressed impeccably as always. And like always, he had to dress differently than the others. He wore the usual tuxedo coat and trousers, but his shirt and tie were both made of a shimmery, satiny blue material that matched his eyes. His silky black hair was now down to his back, only because Kagome wished his hair to be. She had told him that she loved his hair when it was really long. He had smiled at her and said he only wanted to make her happy. The next day, he wore his hair up in that high ponytail she loved so much.

Tonight, however, he wore it down like Shippo, although his hair was held back by a slim black band.

Kagome thought that he had never looked so hot.

A tall, extremely beautiful taiyoukai stood in a secluded corner of the ballroom, watching the well-dressed men and women stream in through ornate double doors. He sipped, but did not taste his glass of champagne. He cared nothing for any of them. He was waiting.

SHE would arrive, he knew. The okami's company was throwing the ball and no doubt he would attend with her on his arm.

Sesshoumaru felt his youkai grow restless. She was coming. She was very near.

His perfect body tensed. Women, old and young had come up to him, trying to draw him out of his little corner. But he had ignored them all. He did not want them. He was not in the least tempted by them. He wanted only one woman. He wanted Kagome.

His golden eyed gaze never wavered. He knew she was in this very building.

New arrivals now entered the ballroom. A couple, rather young, came in together. The man was tall with dark hair pulled back into a short ponytail. He was accompanied by an attractive young woman in a sapphire and silver gown, who held on to his arm and seemed to be reassuring him.

Sesshoumaru frowned inwardly. These two ningens seemed strangely familiar.

Behind them came a young-looking kitsune youkai. 'Ah yes, the young Shippo,' he thought smugly. 'It won't be long now.'

At last, Kouga himself entered. Beside him, her arm hooked in his, was Kagome, clad in gown of emerald and gold.

Sesshoumaru felt his world stand still. Kagome looked so...perfect, so angelic. The shimmering gown she wore showed off her lovely body to perfection, hugging every sweet curve. Around her golden ivory throat, hung a teardrop shaped emerald on a simple gold chain.

His eyes moved to her silky hair. She wore her hair swept up and it was held by a diamond and gold hair clip. Two wispy tendrils framed her lovely, glowing face.

She had grown more beautiful, if that were possible, in the time since he had last laid eyes on her.

"Exquisite, isn't she?" a low, sultry voice whispered in his ear.

Sesshoumaru turned to look upon the owner of the intrusive voice. "Who are you?" he asked irately.

The young man beside him gave a low, mocking bow. "You may call me Yuki, your highness."

The taiyoukai would not stand for this fool's disrespectful manners. "Do not come near this Sesshoumaru again," he stated icily, glaring at the man. He sniffed the air slightly. This person was neither youkai nor ningen. What the hell was he?

Yuki righted himself and smiled lazily at the taiyoukai. "You'll never have her, Sesshoumaru. She may not have killed off her youkai, but it is now completely free of your influence."

Sesshoumaru stared emotionlessly at the golden haired bastard. It was quite obvious to him that this being, whatever he was, wished to be careless with his life.

"What are you going on about?" Sesshoumaru asked, curious.

Yuki ran well-manicured fingers through his sun-kissed locks. "Come now, my high and mighty lord. If you don't know the answer, just say so. Look, you may think that since YOUR youkai responds to her presence, that doesn't mean her youkai will remember you or come when its called."

Sesshoumaru bared his brilliant white fangs at the annoying know-it-all. "She is MINE," he hissed. "This Sesshoumaru has waited over 500 years for her. We will NOT be denied."

With that, he growled menacingly at the man and walked away, ignoring the baka's laughter.

He watched as first Shippo, then Kouga lead Kagome out onto the dance floor. She looked so beautiful out there, dancing and laughing with her partners.

Sesshoumaru waited until she was finally alone. He watched her slip away through the crowd, heading out of the ballroom and out through a side door.

He followed her.

Kagome made her way out side into some gardens and went to a bench, where she sat down tiredly.

She was finally alone. Kouga and Shippo hadn't left her for a moment. She was growing weary of their concern for her tonight. When she had seen her chance for a moment's peace, she took it, making a dash for the nearest exit.

She leaned back against the bench and sighed. Something was bothering her, although she did not know what. It had started the moment she walked into the house. It was almost as if something was waiting patiently for her...

With something like a growl, she got to her feet and started walking away from the house with its numerous and noisy occupants.

What exactly was it that was bothering her? She wanted to know, but was afraid to know what it was that was waiting there...watching her.

The night was beautiful, warm and soft...a night so meant for lovers. Kagome walked on a stone path that meandered through some trees and close to a large koi pond, complete with waterfall and lily pads.

The moon hung overhead, pale and perfect, its milky white rays seeming to caress her skin.

Kagome looked up and closed her eyes, enjoying the warm, fragrant night. She never even heard the black-clad figure approach.

"Good evening, my mate."

Kagome's eyes flew open. She drew in a harsh breath and whirled around.

To her horror, she saw Sesshoumaru leaning against one of the trees closest to the koi pond.

Even in the faint light of the moon, she saw he was as elegant and beautiful as ever, clothed completely in black. One lock of wispy, silver hair hung over his shoulder.

"I...I am no longer your mate," Kagome managed breathlessly. Her heart pounded furiously in her fright.

Sesshoumaru began to advance slowly towards her. She could feel his gaze move lazily up and down her body, assessing her.

"You look divine, my love," he said quietly. Sesshoumaru gave her a grin.

'How creepy,' she thought, uselessly.

Kagome backed away from him. "S-stay away from me, Sesshoumaru," she hissed, sounding braver than she felt. But the taiyoukai continued to move towards her.

"I am sorry, but I will not stay away from you, my Kagome. I have done so for far too long."

She tried to turn and run but he caught her in his powerful arms.

Kagome stared up at him. "Iie!" she cried, struggling against him.

Why she even attempted to struggle against this youkai was beyond her. She knew she could never free herself from his iron-like grip, so why did she even bother?

To her utter horror, she saw his perfect, silver head lower itself to hers.

"Iie! Please, don't!" she whimpered. Her cries were silenced by his hot, sweet, champagne flavored mouth.

His soft lips moved insistently against hers and she felt her body betray her. She wanted him. IT wanted him. It had been craving his touch since the night he took her.

She felt her traitorous arms reach up and wrap themselves around his neck. As much as she hated to admit it, she liked her arms being there. It was as if they belonged there.

Sesshoumaru pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. His youkai was howling with pleasure. It had never been so happy.

But something inside Kagome cried out. 'Don't let him do this Kagome! He will only hurt us again!'

Never again, her mind intoned and she began her struggles anew when she heard deep, guttural growls.

Sesshoumaru raised his head and what she saw terrified her like nothing else.

His eyes were blood red and his elongated fangs glistened dangerously in the moonlight. He was prepared to mark her.

Kagome screamed, unknowingly summoning the power of the Shikon no Tama, which resided in her chest. It woke at her call.

Sensing the danger she was in, the jewel called out to her protectors.

In the ballroom, Hiro and Yuki were searching frantically for Kagome. But when they heard the jewel call out to them, they knew she was in trouble.

They dashed out of the ballroom, heading unerringly outside to the gardens and down the meandering path she had taken earlier.

The elves could hear the sounds of someone clad in silk struggling against a hard object. They ran into the clearing where the koi pond was.

"Sesshoumaru!" Hiro hissed when he saw Kagome lying limp in the taiyoukai's arms. He had grabbed his samurai sword and held it before him. He really wanted to kick some inu ass.

Sesshoumaru raised his head and turned to look at the intruders. "You dare disrupt this Sesshoumaru from marking his mate?" his youkai snarled menacingly.

"She is no longer yours," Hiro snapped. "She freed you, remember?" His fingers itched to let loose a tornado on Sesshoumaru's pompous ass.

The ground began to tremble with Sesshoumaru's growls.

When Hiro resheathed his sword, Yuki automatically knew the taiyoukai was in for some hard shit. He stepped away from his brother to watch all the fun.

Hiro's eyes glowed a soft blue and he raised his slender hands to the skies. The winds came at his call, whipping and howling around Sesshoumaru and Kagome.

"Yuki!" Hiro yelled. "Get Kagome!"

"I'm on it!" Yuki replied loudly over the gusting winds. He dropped to one knee, his hand grabbing a fistful of dirt.

Black, slimy things shot of the ground and wrapped themselves around Kagome's unconscious body.

"Got her!" Yuki cried, over the now deafening roars of both the winds and Sesshoumaru, whose youkai was infuriated by their actions.

Icy tendrils of air wrapped themselves around the enraged taiyoukai's body and he was yanked away from his prize.

By this time, Kouga, Shippo, Miroku and Sango had all come at a run. Inuyasha was also among them, although no one knew how or when he had gotten there.

They skidded to a halt and was amazed by what they saw. Kagome hung limply, cradled by what appeared to be tree roots. Sesshoumaru was roaring and snarling, trying to free himself desperately from his invisible bindings.

The winds were a positive gale now, shaking the surrounding trees of their leaves.

Yuki rushed forward to free Kagome from the roots and carried her swiftly away, laying her gently on a patch of soft grass.

She woke with a start and looked over to where Hiro stood, arms still raised. His entire body glowed blue.

But Sesshoumaru was now completely beyond furious. His body began its transformation. He grew and grew to his monolithic inu size.

Hiro began to tire. The size of Sesshoumaru had drastically changed and he had been unprepared to hold such a gigantic creature. The winds began losing their hold when suddenly Sesshoumaru attacked, leaping at the elf.

Yuki scrambled to his feet and threw out his hands. A blast of blue energy enveloped the giant inu.

Sesshoumaru fell to the ground, crushing everything beneath his massive body. He was howling with pain. The blue energy he had received was purifying him.

He writhed violently, trying desperately to get away from what was hurting him. His howls turned into screams.

Sesshoumaru's cries woke Kagome, who looked with horror at the agonies he was being put through. "Iie! Don't hurt him! Please!" Kagome yelled. She got up and ran towards Sesshoumaru.

"Kagome don't!" Kouga and Inuyasha screamed at her. But it was too late. She had already reached the thrashing inu youkai.

"Sesshoumaru!" she called out and threw herself on top of him, gripping his fur in her fists, trying desperately to hold on. Her hands began to glow a gentle pink and the youkai's movements lessened...and ceased.

He was panting. So much movement had tired him. He looked up and saw the face of his mate looking down at him with such tenderness.

Slowly, Sesshoumaru returned to his normal self. He was still too weak to move. Kagome had moved so that his head lay in her lap. She crooned softly to him, stroking his silky, silver hair gently.

"Don't leave me," he whispered, feeling his eyes close and sleep come over him.

"I won't," she replied softly.