1Disclaimer: blah blah I don't own inuyasha...I just borrow him sometimes.

A/N: umm...I have nothing to say but I am sorry for the looooonnnnnggg wait. I'm getting ready for college now and for those who are in it already or are also preparing you know how tiresome the whole process is.

So here we go again right?

I hope you guys still love me? Or at least like me? I wuv U!! - -

Chapter 16– Dangerous Encounters-Part 1

While sitting in his chair, Sesshomaru attentively watched several seamstresses and a stylist groom his expectant mate. He had told the seamtresses exactly what he had wanted. He also added that if the attire was not to his or his mate's liking that he would see to it that they would be seeking a new profession.

So far, Sesshomaru was pleased with the results. But his opinion mattered nothing to him. He wanted the approval of his mate. He wanted everything to be perfect for her. The banquet was only a few hours away. He had gotten his clothes made two days before since the tailor had all of his measurements already. He donned a silk kimono, similar to his traditional one, trimmed with gold along the edges of the sleeves and collar. Lana was now being fitted for her own custom made kimono that would be worn especially for the celebration.

Of course, being who he was, Sesshomaru didn't allow anyone notice the good mood he was in. If he was anyone else, it could be said that he was dancing on clouds. But not this Sesshomaru. He would not risk the chance of his mate being aware of his true reason of joy. Besides, Sesshomaru walking around with a smile on his face might scare people if anything.

Meanwhile, Lana was very irritated. A frustrated sigh escaped her as became annoyed with the poking and the turning and all the damn primping. "Sesshomaru! How much longer must I sit here? I'm starving." she complained.

"Ah! And now we are done!" shouted the stylist.

Lana took a moment to scan herself before turning to look at Sesshomaru. "Well?" she asked. The silk kimono was trimmed in gold along the edges of its long, wide sleeves. The cleavage of her breasts were slightly exposed while a gold lace material were covering the remainder of her chest below the kimono.

Sesshomaru simply watched her before rising from his seat and signaling for the servants to leave the room. "You look perfect....as was expected." he commented as he leaned his head down to place his lips upon hers.

Lana quickly pulled away."Is there anything else you can think of." she laughed playfully. Lana walked over to a mirror and gasped as she looked at herself. "Bangs?" She now had long bangs that made her look more demure and innocent.

"I think they make you look more refined." Sesshomaru stated.

Lana arched an eyebrow. "Oh? Is that so?" she asked as she placed her hands on her hips. "And...does that mean I didn't look so refined before?" she said smirking. Suddenly a knock was heard at the door.

"You may enter." said Sesshomaru.

Jaken entered the room and bowed before his lord. "My lord, all of the preparations are done and everything is set up for tonight."

Sesshomaru nodded his approval. "Very well Jaken. Inform me when almost half of the guests arrive."

"Yes my lord." Jaken then left the room.

Sesshomaru turned around and saw his mate gazing out of the window at the sunset. He walked towards her, wrapping his arms around her thin waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. "Lana, is there something that is troubling you?" he asked sensing that his mate was a bit tense.

Lana frowned at his words. "I'm fine." she whispered almost inaudibly. She knew that he wouldn't leave it at that. Especially when he could sense a lie before it ever left her mouth.

He abruptly turned her to face his gaze. He lifted her chin so that she met his eyes. Sesshomaru didn't like that she would so blatantly lie to him. "Do not feel that you need to lie to me. I will not tolerate you doing so. Besides, it is obviously pointless. I want the truth."

Lana hesitated at first. The truth? He wanted the truth? Somehow, Lana doubted that he would be at all happy to hear the truth. The reason why she was so nervous was due to what happened a few days ago.

------------Flashback------------

Lana had been outside in the garden playing with Rin. They were playing Rin's favorite game, hide and seek. Rin hid while Lana counted aloud. She was counting to fifty while leaning her head on a tree.

"Forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty!" Lana shouted. "Ready or not here I....". When she turned around she gasped at what she saw. "You!" A pair of fiery-red eyes stared into her ice-grey ones.

"Forgive me for once again startling you my dear." said none other than Prince Ifrit. He took her hand in his own and placed a kiss on the back of it.

Lana blushed at his actions and pulled her hand away. "You shouldn't be here. I don't think Sesshomaru will be too happy with you being here."

He simply grinned at her and advanced towards her, making her step back into the tree. "Sesshomaru isn't here." he replied as he continued to move closer to her until he had pinned her between himself and the tree. "Which is why I have graced you with my presence today."

"Funny, I don't remember asking for any favors." she said, not trying to hide the sarcasm in her voice. She looked up at him, noticing that his eyes did not hide the hint of lust that he had for her. She turned away from him when he attempted to kiss her on her mouth, causing him to kiss er cheek instead.

He sighed at her action. Actually, he found it very cute. "Lana. At the banquet, will you be ready for me to take you away?"

His words made her head snap up at him and she stared at him wide-eyed. "You're not serious? Look, I'm flattered that you're...trying to be a hero, but it wouldn't work. He'd kill you before–

She was cut by his lips descending upon hers. His action left her immobilized. She was utterly unprepared for the kiss and before she could push him off her he pulled away. "I will be the one who kills him."

"But you can't!" Lana shouted. Prince Ifrit was taken back by her sudden outburst. She too was surprised with herself. "And why not? You mean to tell me that you have feeling for hm?" The fire demon felt a sudden surge of anger and jealousy. He had thought she had been acting a bit strange since the last time he had seen her. Almost as if she were trying to avoid him.

"I don't know. I don't know anything anymore." she confessed, turning from his stare. "We've...been getting along fine lately and...and I can't allow you to just...just kill him!" Lana stumbled on her words. She was shocking herself by defending him. They normally never went through a few days without arguing and that sometimes ended her up in bed with him. And yet, in all their bickering, this was the only relationship that she had ever had that an argument ended in such a way. She couldn't help but admire his strength and not to mention his fierce libido. When they were alone, normally after one of their passionate moments, he would reveal his soft side. They'd talk, she even managed to get him to crack a smile when she had told him what happens when Kagome tells Inuyasha to sit. Even a few nights ago, he began to rub her belly, although she hadn't a clue as to why. No, she didn't want Ifrit to kill him. She may not love Sesshomaru, but Lana knew that she no longer only liked him.

"I'm sorry I can't allow you to do this." she said finally, pushing the prince away from her. The expression on her face displayed her firmness. "If you continue in your attempt to kill Sesshomaru I will be forced to inform him."

Prince Ifrit's eyes narrowed and then softened upon hearing her words. She was falling for his arch-rival. However, she was unsure of her feelings and he decided to use that to his advantage in the future. "So you do care for him. But does he feel the same?" He noticed her wince so he pressed on. "Tell me, aside from his kisses and caresses, do you actually believe that if you were no longer demon that he would keep you around? He won't even allow you to appear in your human form. And from the way he treats his hanyou brother, I doubt that he'd willingly allow himself to sire a hanyou child. I would accept you Lana. I know that your demon blood is not your only strength. I–

"Leave." Lana interrupted. All the words that he said were the words that she herself had said, and hearing the words had affected her emotionally because she knew the truth behind those words.

"Excuse me?" he asked while raising an eyebrow.

Lana took a deep breath. "Did I stutter! I said leave! As in get moving! Or I will let Sesshomaru know that you've been here! I won't just stand here and listen to you...to you.."

"What? Tell the truth? You can tell yourself otherwise all you want...but you can't change who he is." he said before turning and walking away from her. He stopped and looked at her shocked expression. "At the banquet, if you change your mind, I'll be there with open arms Lana. Farewell, my love." And he was gone, leaving Lana to think his words over.

"Lana! Lana!?" shouted Rin.

"Huh? Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry Rin" Lana apologized.

"I know! I had such a great hiding spot right?"

Lana nodded and smiled. "You sure did."

---------------End Flashback----------------

"Lana?" Sesshomaru called out and shook her lightly.

Lana snapped out of her thoughts as she looked into a pair of golden eyes. "Sesshomaru?"

"Hmm?"

"If...I no longer had my demon blood would you still want me? Or would you abandon me?" she asked, not knowing if she wanted to hear his answer or not. His usual cold, expressionless face and his silent reaction to her question confirmed Lana's fear. He would get rid of her. Or was she wrong?

Meanwhile, Sesshomaru was...struck. Her question had caught him off guard. He was about to respond when Jaken had entered the room and had announced that the guests had begun to arrive early.

"Very well Jaken. We will arrive shortly." Sesshomaru replied.

"Yes my lord." Jaken said and then left.

Sesshomaru turned to Lana and stretched out his hand to her. "We will discuss this later. For now let us enjoy ourselves. Have you forgotten the surprise that I have for you?"

Lana's eyes lit up. She would put on an act despite her inner conflict with her feelings. She wouldn't let him see how she hurt. "I don't see why you just can't tell me now. Come on, please!" He silenced her with a finger to her lips. "Ssh. The Lady of the Western Lands should not whine like a child. Be patient."

Lana growled lightly. "Oh alright. I'll be a good girl...for now." Sesshomaru didn't miss the mischievous grin that she made. She grabbed his hand and let him lead her out of the room.

Sitting among all of the other demon rulers and leaders in his fire-red kimono with a black dragon design on it, Prince Ifrit impatiently sipped his whine. He was hoping that what he had said would change Lana's mind, but if not he would do what was necessary. He turn his attention to the being beside him. "Are you enjoying yourself Naraku?"

The figure next to him chuckled. "I suggest, my prince, if you wish for this to work you will address me as Lord Kagawaki." answered the sinister half-demon, without his signature white baboon pelt. He knew that Lana would not recognize him because she never saw him in his true form. He even made sure to suppress his scent so that she would not detect him.

Naraku turned his head in the direction of her scent. She and her mate had entered the room. Naraku chuckled at the change in her scent. "It seems that your beloved wench is carrying Prince Ifrit."

"What are you talking about she's not...." The young demon lord paused and finally noticed it. "Curse him! I have no choice but to kill him now." He was seething. How could he not notice it before? The prince gave a deathly glare, fueled by his hatred and jealousy, towards the couple who had entered the room and began to greet several guests.

Upon entering the room, Lana felt uneasy. Something in the room was making her stomach churn and her breathing began to quicken. It was as if there was something in the room that had directed a mysterious, ominous energy right at her. Sesshomaru glanced down at his mate upon noticing her distress. "Lana?"

Lana looked up at him and smiled."I'm fine. Just a little hot is all. I'd like to go get some air." She dislodged herself from his arm and exited out onto the balcony.

What Lana did not know, was that she had been followed. However, Sesshomaru did notice and if his target could only see the venomous glare that he gave them, they'd probably die of fright or of the intensity of his eyes.

Lana breathed heavily, as if she had been holding her breath under water. 'What the hell is wrong with me?' she thought. 'My powers, something's making them go haywire.' She turned her head towards the room. 'Someone in there is giving off a very powerful, evil energy.' "But who?" she asked herself as she looked up at the slightly full moon.

"But who what?"

Gasping in surprise, Lana turned towards the source of the voice. Her eyes narrowed. "Why is it that you can never come to someone like a normal person?" she said in an annoyed tone. "What do you want now...Prince Ifrit?" Her breath was still heavy and she suddenly became overheated.

Making his way over to her, the prince boldly embraced Lana. "You know what I want! Do be so dense!" He became annoyed with the fact that she had pushed him away and glared at him with angry eyes.

"What the hell are you doing touching me like that! I hardly even know you! And then you have the audacity to hug me HERE?" Lana stepped backwards in an attempt to get away from him. "Why didn't you just go up to Sesshomaru and ask him to slit your throat!" she shouted. She was about to go back inside when she bumped into something solid. Her whole body went rigid upon impact. Her heart began to beat erratically and she once again began panting heavily. Lana slowly looked up and locked eyes with a pair of crimson-red ones. "Who...are you?" Her eyes squinted in confusion. "You seem familiar." 'That energy...'

The dark man took her hand. "Ah. The lovely Lady Lana. I am an acquaintance of Prince Ifrit. My name is Na...Lord Kagawaki." His voice was just as dark as he looked. He gave her a toothy grin turned towards his secret accomplice. "Very lovely indeed don't you agree?" Naraku rose her hand to his mouth in an attempt to kiss it, but a sudden spark of energy stung him.

Lana quickly pulled away from him. "Uhh. Sorry I'm not feeling well and my powers are going crazy...errr...I mean abnormal." She was suddenly grabbed by the waist and pulled into the side a strong person. Lana soon realized that it was Sesshomaru holding her."There is no need to apologize Lana. He should have not touched you regardless for he was not invited by me." Sesshomaru glanced towards the young prince. "As for you being here, our fathers were great allies in the past and I did not wish to disgrace their treaty and honor by disrespectfully not inviting the Great Fire Dog Demon's offspring...since he himself is unable to be present."

Naraku grinned at the inuyoukai. "I was merely displaying courtesy towards the Lady of honor and her new condition, my lord."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed in disgust. 'Arrogant fool.' he thought. Lana looked at "Lord Kagawaki" in confusion. "What are you talking about? My new condition?"

The tensional atmosphere was interrupted by the arrival of Lord Leviathan. "Ah! So here they are! What are you two...excuse me...four, doing outside? Are we not suppose to be celebrating inside?" Lord Leviathan offered his hand to Lana. "Shall we go inside?" he smiled at her. Lana returned his smile and took his hand. Lord Leviathan glance towards Sesshomaru for a moment. "Excuse us Sesshomaru. I shall escort your mate to the dinner table. We shall await your arrival." he said as they left the balcony.

Sesshomaru was hesitant at first. He knew exactly who this imposter was. The evil hanyou Naraku dared to enter his home. Sesshomaru didn't want to tell Lana that it was really Naraku who was standing before them, so he sent the half demon a warning. "You do not fool me. I'm sure that you are scheming some devious act. I will not make a scene in my home by fighting you here and now. Thus, it is in your best interest to stay away from my mate." He turned to go inside but stopped briefly. "Naraku."

Naraku grinned ear to ear as he watched Sesshomaru go inside. 'So what?' he thought. He was not afraid of the demon lord, however, even he was smart enough not to push his temper. But Naraku did find Lana's confusion and distress amusing. Her miko powers were reacting to his aura. 'Yes, this will be a very interesting night.' He went inside followed by Prince Ifrit, his grin never falling off of his face.

All of the Demon Lords and Ladies were gathered at a huge table in the center of the room. At one end of the table sat Sesshomaru and Lana beside Lord Leviathan and Lady Siren. On the other end, sat Prince Ifrit and Naraku. Sesshomaru had his eye on them the entire time, sending silent warnings with his piercing gaze. Lana looked around, still feeling on edge. Someone in this room was giving off that familiar energy. But who?

"Sesshomaru is that ice woman here?" she looked up at him. Sesshomaru answered her, never taking his eyes off of the two demons on the other side of the table. "No. I have no treaty or ties with Lady Shiva so I simply did not invite her. Lana responded with a mere "Oh". 'Then it couldn't be her.' she thought.

After about ten minutes, several servants entered with a variety of dishes and placed then in front of each demon. Soon people began to eat, but there was an obvious tension in the air that put everyone on the edge. Sesshomaru noticed that Prince Ifrit was staring at Lana and he broke eye contact and glimpsed at her. Her face was sweaty and she was panting heavily. "Lana what is it?" he asked concerned. "You haven't eaten a bite. Perhaps you are ill."

She forced herself to smile at him. She didn't want to alarm him or get him uptight and cause a fight. "It's nothing. I'm just a little tired." Lana noticed that the lord that had came with Prince Ifrit had suddenly gotten up and left the room. "Then perhaps you should turn in for the night." She refocused her attention on Sesshomaru. Lana contemplated for a moment and nodded. "Yes. But, do you promise me to tell me about the surprise that you have?" Sesshomaru smiled warmly at her, surprising her at bit that he'd actually smile in public. He leaned his head down and kissed her softly on her forehead. "You have my word." Lana pulled back and stood up to leave.

Naraku smirked as he watched her leave the room. He decided to have a little fun and sent her a mental message. 'Hello Lana. Long time no see. I see you are doing quite well since the last I saw you. Lovely banquet, by the way.'

Lana was in the middle of the hallway, directly outside of the room, when the voice entered her mind. "What the?" she whispered. She turned around slowly in the direction of the room. She knew that the person was in there. 'Who are you?' Back in the dining room, Naraku chuckled to himself. 'Oh? I am offended that you do not recognize me. I wanted to tell you that I found it quite heroic of you to sacrifice your life for that of Inuyasha's wench when Kikyo killed her.'

Lana's eyes widened in horror. 'That voice. It couldn't be.' Then she heard it. That distinct laugh that only belonged to one being. A laugh that she could never forget. 'Kukukukukuu. Tell me Lana. How does it feel to lose someone you cared about? Would you like to experience it a second time.'

With that small threat, Naraku closed off the connection. He wished he could see the look on her face as she realized who had been talking to her. Prince Ifrit noticed Naraku's smug expression and became curious as to the reason behind it. "What is so amusing?" Naraku ignored his question as he felt the powerful, burning stare of the Demon Lord directly across the table from him. Everyone else was involved in chatter, gossip, and deep conversation when the room began to shake.

Everyone gasped in surprise as their glasses began to fall and their drinks spilled onto them. Paintings on the walls fell to the floor as did the samurai swords on display. Lady Siren looked at her mate. "What in the world? Do you think that it could be an earthquake?" Lord Leviathan shook his head. "But it is not the season for earthquakes." Sesshomaru grabbed onto the table for balance. 'This is no ordinary earthquake.' he thought. There was some kind of powerful force behind it.

Suddenly the two main doors of the room flew open with a force so powerful everything and everyone in the room was blown back into the walls by the gust. The large table lifted up and broke in two as it collided with the stone wall. Several demons landed ungracefully while several were buried beneath the thrown furniture. Sesshomaru kicked pieces of wood off of himself, debris from chairs and the destroyed paintings. He held his head for a brief moment, hearing the startled gasps and murmuring of the others in the room. He looked to the side and noticed Leviathan holding Siren in his arms, both of them with a terrified look on their faces. An expression that is rarely made by a demon lord and lady.

As he looked around, Sesshomaru noticed that everyone in the room held similar looks. He saw Naraku standing tall with a smirk on his face, staring towrds the door. Sesshomaru followed his gaze and made an astonished gasp. In the center of the two doors stood Lana. Waves of bright blue energy flared from her body, her clawed hands dug into both sides of the frame of the doorway. Her eyes glowed the same bright blue as the energy radiating off of her. Her fangs were bared as she fully returned Naraku's stare but with a dangerous glare that could kill.

Lana was seething with an anger that could be felt. Violent growls were made with each deep breath she exhaled. She took one step forward, never taking her eyes off of the dark hanyou before her. "Naraku." she snarled, as she continued to move towards him. Everyone cleared the path between her and Naraku. They could see the sparks of energy that crackled in the air surrounding her and feared what might happen if they came into contact with her.

Naraku grinned at her. "Very impressive Lana. You've figured me out." In a blink of an eye, Lana had Naraku pinned to the wall, one of her clawed hands clutching him by the neck as he dangled above her. "You bastard." she growled. "How dare you think you could come here!"

Naraku's breath was blown from his lungs as he hit the wall. He smirked for a moment, feelings her extended claws pierce his skin. He awaited for his poisonous miasma to burst from the wounds of her claws, but there was nothing, only a purple liquid form of the deadly vapor running down his neck. He no longer found this amusing as he finally saw the situation for what it was. Her miko powers were flaring madly around them seeking to purify him as they did his miasma. His hands found their way around her wrist in an attempt to free himself but to avail, she didn't budge an inch and he was weak from her powers draining his strength, and now Naraku feared for his life.

Sesshomaru made a move towards his mate but was blocked by a barrier. He felt a brief pain as he was thrown back. Leviathan quickly ran to him with worry on his face. "She must stop Sesshomaru." Sesshomaru looked at him with concern. "If she keeps this up, she will not only succeed in destroying Naraku, but herself as well." Sesshomaru averted his gaze back to Lana. "Then I shall revive her with my sword." The dragon demon frowned and shook his head. "By destroyed I mean obliterated. Her powers will purify her because she has demon blood. There will be nothing left of her to revive my friend." At these words, the dog demon became franic with worry for his mate and unborn child. "Lana! Stop this at once or you'll die!" he shouted, but his words were unheard.

Lana's other clawed hand rose as she bent her arm back ready to strike. She knew that Sesshomaru was saying something but she didn't want to hear it. She was in control. She had the ability to end it all hear. All of the pain and suffering that he caused would be avenged by her. She flexed her claws as she aimed for his heart. "Stop this! You can't! I-I beg you to stop!" Naraku pleaded. A toothy grin formed on Lana's face. "That's funny. I wish the others were here to hear you beg for your LIFE! You pathetic scum! You don't deserve mercy...only painful death." her grip tightened around his neck and he growled in pain. "And that is exactly what you will get when I rip out your heart from your chest!"

Naraku's eyes widened in horror as he watched her claws descend from the air........

A/N: Cliffy! Okay I am basically almost done with my college stuff and I am trying to get over my writer's block. I know what I want to write but it's how I want it to be and be written is what is bugging me! So I can say that the next chapter may be out in no more than two weeks. I just want to say thanks for bugging me to update! All reviews...all nice reviews are welcome...no flames...except for the evil cliffy that I created. Can you guess what happens? Oh well I have SAT's tomorrow and I g2g and study real quick.

L8tr! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO