Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I DO own Gin-Hitomi, and Mikato is owned by one of my friends. Katsueki and Seron are also owned by someone.

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Recap:

"Like I've told you a hundred times." Mikato said coldly. "No one touches my horse."

Kagome smiled. She was sure she'd get along with Mikato just fine.

Friendship, Betrayal, Lust and Love

Chapter 8-The Ball and Katsueki

Kagome had spent the morning training with Gin and Mikato. Mikato had turned out to be an excellent fighter; leaving Kagome tired enough to take a nap. Once she had awoken, she had eaten lunch, and then had been pulled into her rooms by several female servants, who ordered her to undress and get into the tub.

After she was clean enough for the servants, they had begun their hours of preparation for the ball, and Kagome had realized that Gin and Mikato were going through the same process when she heard Gin yelling something at the top of her lungs two doors down from her.

Kagome smiled when she made out some of the yelling. Gin was apparently NOT pleased about having her ears pinned back. To put it plainly, she was pissed, and expressing herself in the most verbal way possible.

Kagome wanted to listen to her friend yelling, but at the particular moment, one of servants shoved Kagome behind a dressing screen and helped her undress. Once she was in proper underclothes for a ball, a beautiful kimono was handed over the screen to her. Kagome gasped.

The kimono was silver with a white dog embroidered on the back. The sleeves of the kimono had a design that looked suspiciously like an 'S', and Kagome had a strong feeling that Gin had done that on purpose.

Kagome was just about to leave her rooms, when an angry hanyou burst through the doors, trailing servants like a tail on a kite. Gin stomped up to Kagome as the servants started chattering to Gin, telling her to return to her rooms.

"Look what these pansy's want me to wear!" Gin brandished a blue silk kimono embroidered with white cranes on it. Kagome didn't know what to say, but tried to look shocked.

"I think I look much better like this, don't you?" Gin asked her, twirling. Kagome smiled and nodded when she saw what Gin was wearing. It was a black kimono with wavy red lines embroidered all over it. The lines seemed to have no particular destination, but made sure to weave themselves everywhere. Her obi was of the finest red silk she had ever seen, and had a similar design to her kimono, only in black. There was a deadly black silk shukusen tucked into her obi.

"Ready to go?" Kagome asked Gin, who nodded. As they were leaving the rooms, Kagome was handed a white silk shukusen, to tuck into her black obi. Gin led her to a room, which was tucked off to the side of the throne room, which was where all major events took place.

They stood side-by-side at the doors, and were joined by Mikato a few moments before the trumpets blew and they were announced. The doors were pulled open, and the three ladies entered to a large crowd who all managed to fit comfortably. The crowed all bowed politely to the princesses, who nodded, and proceeded to make their way up to the throne's, mingling slightly on their way.

As they made their way up to the throne's, where the king and queen sat, dressed in their formal wear, the king in silver, the queen in purple with white designs, Gin seemed to be on pins and needles, so to speak. Kagome noticed her friend's nervousness and sent her a questioning glance. Gin ignored her and continued to search the large crowd.

When they got to the thrones, Gin immediately asked her mother if she had seen someone named 'Katsueki'. No sooner had the words left her mouth were the main doors to the room thrown open, and in walked a girl Kagome and Gin's age with midnight blue hair with silver tips. A gasp went through the crowd.

The young lady was dressed in black leather pants, and a black leather top that was most inappropriate for a ball. The leather strips that went in an 'x' pattern across her torso just barely covered her unmentionables, yet her back was completely covered. The entire progress had gone silent at her arrival, and the lady looked around.

"What?"

The progress seemed to break out of a daze, and went back to chattering, carefully avoiding their eyes from the young lady. Kagome guessed that this was Katsueki, because immediately after her arrival, Gin looked relieved. The lady had started making her way up to the thrones, only to be stopped partway by a male her age with slightly shaggy black hair and a scale pattern on his skin.

The male serpent youkai, who Kagome recognized as Lord Seron, had come with Mikato. Kagome had met him just a few minutes ago, during their mingling. Seron looked Katsueki over with dark, cold blue eyes and smirked.

"Your outfit is inappropriate, young miss." he stated maliciously.

Katsueki threw out her arms and said loudly and dramatically; "WHAT DO YOU MEAN MY OUTFIT IS INAPPROPRIATE?"

Kagome, wide-eyed, turned to Gin, who was shaking her head and muttering something that sounded suspiciously like "Here we go again."

"I mean that, for an unmated lady, you should be more conservative." Seron told her.

"Since when are we bringing politics into the conversation? I thought we were talking about my apparel. Maybe you should try staying on subject, it would make you seem a lot more intelligent."

Seron's eyes narrowed. "A lady should know her place." he said dangerously.

"So should a male." she retorted.

"Is that a challenge?"

"It is, unless you have cold feet?" she asked innocently.

"Were not getting married." He told her.

"No, that would only occur in your wildest fantasies." She retorted.

Seron made to grab her throat with his right arm, insulted at how little respect he was getting. In a swift movement, Katsueki's prized katana was pulled from her leg sheath. An inch before Seron's hand was at her throat her blade was at his. They stood there for a split second, their gazes locked. In a swift movement Seron's left hand had made contact with her face, back handing her as hard as he had permitted himself to. Katsueki's face was turned to the left where she made eye contact with Gin. Katsueki turned around the way she had come and exited the throne room, re-sheathing her sword as she left.

Gin started to walk after Katsueki, stopping on her way to give Seron a warning.

"I would watch my back after what you just did."

.:.In The Gardens.:.

Katsueki stood by the pond in the gardens contemplating what she was to do next. Her silence was broken by footsteps coming up behind her. She drew her Katana again and spun around, only to find Gin.

"Hey." She greeted simply, re sheathing her sword for the second time that night.

"Are you alright?" Gin asked her.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just a little on edge. You know how it is with me, I don't like these types of things but I come regardless." Katsueki told her, drifting off into thought near the end.

"And what of Seron?" Gin asked.

Katsueki chuckled and let a small smile grace her features for a few seconds.

"I don't mind, I was expecting that reaction out of someone." Katsueki told her.

"Yah, but he back handed you pretty hard." Gin replied, slightly concerned.

"Come on, if he thinks I left because he embarrassed me or something then he's dead wrong. Personally, I wasn't in a killing mood, but now I have a different opinion." Katsueki informed, her voice calm none the less.

"Well, please don't kill anyone, this is supposed to be a peaceful ball." Gin told her.

"Yeah, I get it, but, you should get back, I'm just going to stay out here for a bit longer." Katsueki replied, watching as Gin reluctantly walked back towards the castle.

Katsueki watched the water. It seems to dance and shine in the moonlight. She watched her reflection, everything about her being the opposite of what he had wanted. As anyone could tell by the 'scene' that had just transpired, she was not about to abide by the rules anytime soon. Katsueki was so lost in the beauty of the water she didn't notice Seron come up behind her until his slight reflection was seen, marring her perfect scene of water and moonlight.

"Is there something you need?" Katsueki asked, trying to sound calm and non-challent.

"I wanted to know if you were okay, you left the room pretty quick." Seron told, trying to see her face but only succeeding by seeing it in the water.

"I'm fine." Katsueki replied, still not making eye contact with him.

"I didn't mean to insult you." Seron told her, almost in a pleading voice.

Katsueki chuckled and turned around.

"You didn't insult me. In fact you just made yourself look like an idiot. The majority of royal youkai know from experience not to say anything regarding my apparel." Katsueki replied, locking gazes with him for a split second before returning to stare into the water.

"Oh." Seron breathed.

"Just a question, what happened to the arrogant prick I was arguing with in there?" Katsueki asked him.

"I take offense to that. But, if you must know, I was taught not to hit a lady unless they deserved it." Seron told her, his arrogant voice coming back into play.

"Well then, it's not wonder that we don't get along because I was always taught men and women were equals and no man should lay a hand on a women." Katsueki retorted, turning back around to look at him.

"What would you have done if I had of drawn blood?" Seron asked her.

"If you can draw blood, you can draw respect." Katsueki replied.

With that Katsueki walked back to the castle, leaving Seron with his thoughts.

.:.With Gin.:.

Gin had returned to the ball, fulfilling her duties as princess by making all the lords and ladies feeling welcome. The ball was supposed to be something to relax everyone's mind about the possibility of the upcoming war, but it was also for Gin, Mikato, Inuyasha and Katsueki to find their mates at the same time, now that they all were of age. Sesshoumaru was supposed to be on the lookout for a mate as well, but Gin knew that deep inside he was still suffering from the loss of the youkai he had loved and had thought loved him back.

As Gin scanned the crowd, she started reflecting on her friends. Mikato probably wouldn't take a mate; she could rule fine on her own, although she would be quite lonely, as Gin and Katsueki would be with their mates. As Gin's eyes found Mikato's tall, sleek form, she also found her reverse twin brother, Inuyasha, talking to the very interested female. That's when Gin remembered; Mikato had a thing for tough guys and for dogs, and had always tweaked Gin's ears just to annoy her.

Gin also remembered that Mikato liked Inuyasha, and had been able to get him to come back from his demonic state last time she visited, so Inuyasha must have some sort of non-plutonic feelings for her.

Deciding that they would make a cute couple, Gin's thoughts drifted over to her other friend, Katsueki. She would need someone who would respect her, not degrade her, but at the same time keep her from killing anyone who angered her on site. She would also need someone who would argue with her just for the sake of arguing as Katsueki was like that.

Reflecting on her brothers, Gin knew that Kagome, who was currently watching Sesshoumaru as he prowled the room, scowling, would be good for Sesshoumaru. Deep down the guy was kind and gentle, but being the oldest child and heir to the throne, he couldn't show it. That's what Gin liked to believe, anyway. Weather it was true or not was a different story.

As for Inuyasha, well, he needed someone to calm him down when he turned into full-demon, and someone who would either tolerate his tantrums, or not tolerate them and teach him to vent his anger and frustration in a different manner. Knowing Mikato, probably the latter if she didn't kill him first.