Ah thankyou everyone again for leaving the positive comments ) I'll try to make longer chapters and stuff, but usually what I do is just post two-three shorter chapters at the same time.

anyway, on with the fanfic. it's not like people actually read what the author writes here anyway lmao

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Kagome followed Sakura down the hall and gazed at the walls since there wasn't really anything else to do. Even though it was so dark that she could barely make out the paintings, one caught her eye.

"Hey, Sakura," At this, Sakura turned around and followed Kagome's gaze to the painting.

"Yes?"

"Who is that?" Kagome asked, pointing at that painting. It was of a beautiful woman with long, silvery hair, golden eyes, and a crescent moon on her forehead. She was basically an even more feminine version of Sesshomaru.

"That is Sesshomaru-sama's mother." She replied simply. Kagome looked over at Sakura and found that she was staring dully at the painting, as if there weren't anything more boring than that.

"Isn't she pretty?" Kagome asked, marveling at the woman's beauty.

Sakura once again stared blankly at the painting, then glanced to another portion of the wall.

"I suppose so. But she had much less kindness than beauty," Sakura said coldly. After scrutinizing the painting again, she noticed the cold gaze in Sesshomaru's mother's eyes-the same cold gaze that Sesshomaru had. 'So it isn't just him,' Kagome thought.

"Kagome-san, we should go or we will be late for dinner." Sakura briskly set off again at a more quicker pace, and Kagome glanced one more time at the portrait of Sesshomaru's beautiful mother.

They reached the dining room sooner than Kagome expected, but she would've felt better if they hadn't. 'What should I say? I have no experience in formal dinners..' Kagome thought nervously, toying with the sleeves of her kimono.

"Kagome," Sakura said, and turned around to face her. "Don't be so nervous. Lord Sesshomaru will not expect more than necessary from you." She said.

'More than necessary? What exactly is necessary?'

Sakura opened the doors to the big dining room and Kagome saw Rin smiling at her, already seated.

"Kagome." Sesshomaru acknowledged, slightly inclining his head.

"L-Lord Sesshomaru," Kagome stuttered. Sesshomaru looked at one of the seats, the one that was directly in front of Rin and gestured for her to sit there. Kagome walked over as Sesshomaru watched her. 'She's nervous.' He mentally noted.

"Kagome! Why are you shaking..?" Rin asked. Kagome mentally slapped herself.

'I guess he's noticed too, then..' Kagome thought, then finally sat down. She watched as multiple servants brought in piles of plates filled with many different foods. Kagome smiled as Rin whispered a prayer then happily grabbed her chopsticks and started to eat. Kagome glanced over to Sesshomaru and saw that he, too, had picked up his chopsticks but was staring at her. 'Why did she smile?'

Kagome quickly turned to face the table and picked up her chopsticks.

The dinner was delicious. As the servants took away the plates, Kagome waited for Sakura to come into the room again, signifying that the dinner was truly over. But she didn't. Instead, Sesshomaru said, "Rin, you may leave now. But Kagome and I are to discuss a.. Plan."

Rin jumped off of her seat and waved goodbye to Kagome. "Bye, Sesshomaru-sama," she said, then left the room.

Sesshomaru now had his full attention on Kagome, which made her nervous. It wasn't everyday that she was stared at by a full fledged dog demon.

"Now," he started, "I would like to discuss what we are to do to rid Inuyasha of the shikon shards." Kagome nodded slowly, trying not to pry her eyes from his gaze.

Sesshomaru smirked inwardly. Was this girl really that scared of him even as an ally?

"We should take half of the shards from Inuyasha and the other half from Naraku. But we must do this quickly-if one or the other has all in his posession, he will be unstoppable."

Kagome pondered this for a moment.

"Will we have to.. Kill Inuyasha?" She asked, nervously wringing the hem of her skirt under the table.

Sesshomaru smirked. "Why not? Do you still love him even after he betrayed you for the clay miko?"

Kagome shuddered. Those memories were coming back to her now and she didn't want to start crying in front of Sesshomaru-it would just make him think she was even weaker.

Sesshomaru watched as Kagome trembled quietly in her seat.

'She still loves him.'