Author's Note: Yay! I got 100 reviews! (well, actually just 99 but details aren't important!) I now have a grand total of 90 followers and 54 favorites! Thanks all you guys and gals for the support and those of you who take time to review, too! Looking forward to another 20 chapters+! Now without further adieu, enjoy chapter 20! TvT

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or affiliated with Inuyasha, however this particular story is M-I-N-E! :)

Wool Over the Eyes

"Grrr! How much longer!" Koga grumbled on the back of Kirara as the party made their way up the mountain path. "Why can't we just fly there!"

"Because Koga, we would never find our camp if we took to the skies. Kitsune are masters in the art of deception and illusions, and I'm sure they have a barrier set up that hides them from any who come from the sky," Miroku explained calmly, stopping to catch his breath. He looked at the ever-winding path ahead and sighed heavily.

"Stop complaining pup," Sesshomaru called over his shoulder, his companions lagging behind him.

"Yeah, well—"

"Please, I'm too tired to deal with you guys arguing," Sango interrupted Koga, gripping her side and panting from the exertion.

"Oh, what I wouldn't give to have our peacemaker Kagome here!" Miroku sighed in longing.

"Shut it, taijya!" Sango sent him a warning glare, and the man held up his hands in mock surrender.

"Hey, stupid perv! We've been walking for hours but it doesn't look like we're any closer!" Koga grumbled again.

"Yes, it sure does seem that way, Koga."

"Didn't you say that Kitsune are good at tricking people?"

"Yes, I did."

"Then couldn't they have set up an illusion that makes us walk in circles or something?"

The company came to a complete stop, and none of them said a word as the reality of their situation set in.

"DAMN!" Sesshomaru roared as his youki spilled out and pushed against the illusions barrier. The landscape around them rippled, and the group found themselves walking in the opposite direction of their intended path.

"Well, it seems we have once again underestimated our opponents." Miroku crossed his arms.

"I am to blame for this. I had forgotten that we were dealing with the Ukitake of the Kitsune. She is one of the few who could rival my father in power."

Miroku whistled low, "That is quite something! Then we should be extra careful from this moment forward."

Sesshomaru looked up at the top of the mountain and clenched his fist in determination.

Hang on just a bit longer, Kagome. We are on our way!

"Now if you two would join me in my quarters, we will settle negotiations!" Ukitake smiled brightly at the girls, then turned a patronizing eye on Shippo. "You will accompany us, Shippo. I believe you could use a lesson or two in diplomacy," she raised her nose in the air, and gracefully whirled around in a flurry of silks.

Shippo grumbled a bit, but held back his intended retort when he looked over at Kagome. A blush rose to his cheeks as he quickly looked down and motioned for the girls to precede him.

Oh, he is sooo cute when he blushes! My Shippo has become such a beautiful man! What girl wouldn't find him attractive?!

A sharp jab in the side quickly shook Kagome from her musing, and she looked up to find Kikyou giving her a critical eye. She shrugged and gave the girl an apologetic smile before following Ukitake to a large cave carved into the side of a mountain. With a flick of the woman's wrist, the cave was alight with white fire, giving the place an eerie glow. A small castle stood before them, and an emblem of a white nine-tailed Kitsune surrounded by fall leaves hung over the large double doors.

"That is the emblem of our tribe. Grandmother added the leaves as her personal touch, cause she's clan leader and all," Shippo whispered in Kagome's ear.

"It's beautiful!" Kagome whispered back.

Ukitake led them inside the elaborate mansion, where tapestries of various Kitsune lined the walls. Kagome and Kikyou gawked as they were led down a long corridor to a set of glass doors with Ukitake's emblem painted in the middle. If possible, the lady's room was even more extravagant than the rest of the mansion. Silk curtains were hung around a throne of cushions, and leaves littered the ground. Kagome could smell strong incense burning, and a fine layer of smoke hovered in the large room.

"Grandmother spares no expense when it comes to her comfort," Shippo whispered and rolled his eyes.

"Hehe…I see," Kagome whispered nervously.

Ukitake strolled over to her throne of cushions and motioned for the two of them to sit on the floor. Shippo crossed his arms and leaned on the wall next to the door, keeping and ear out for anyone curious enough to eavesdrop.

"Oh, formal introductions are sooo boring, but what must be done, must be done!" Ukitake sighed in exaggerated exasperation and lazily fanned herself with a hand as she sprawled out one her throne. "I am Lady Ukitake, a nine-tails and leader of the Kitsune of the western lands. I am also the one with the highest ranking of all the tribes, blah-blah-blah. You have already met my unreliable grandson, that idiot over there called Shippo. He is a Kitsune with five tails and the one who will inherit my position as the tribe's head…maybe…"

"What do you mean maybe you old hag?! I'm gonna take over this tribe and rule it ten times better than you ever did!"

"Hoho, what a snobby brat I raised! But enough of you, I want to hear from the lovely ladies in front of me, especially you my dear," she said, motioning towards Kagome with a smile.

"Me…Why?!"

"As a Kitsune who has acquired nine tails, I am more spiritually aware than other members of my tribe. I can sense a different aura around you than I can of people in this world." She gave Kagome a sly look that only a fox could give.

"What?" Shippo piped up, turning his full attention to the girls in front of him.

Should I tell her? Well, she'll probably figure it out eventually anyway. Something tells me she's very good at persuasion.

"…You're right. I'm not from this world, but a kind of…alternate universe…or something like that…" Kagome scratched her head awkwardly.

Ukitake blinked, then scrunched her eyebrows and pursed her lips. "Meaning?"

"Everyone in this world has a different role in my world. I guess…the best example would be Shippo! Yeah, in my world he's a little kid who follows us around on adventures, likes candy, and rides on my shoulder!"

Ukitake blinked again, then her mouth twisted strangely and her eyes widened considerably. Suddenly, she started howling in a fit of laughter, holding her stomach with one hand and slapping the cushions with the other.

"HAHAHAHA! HOW DISGUSTINGLY CUTE!"

"Wait…you believe me?"

"Ohhh, how could I not love that possibility! Is he just as cowardly as this one?"

"Well…probably more so," Kagome bit a finger awkwardly. She glanced over at Shippo whose face was strangely blank, but his shaking fists betrayed his anger.

Ukitake sent a sly look over at Shippo and said, "Well, little Shippo, try not to wet the bed tonight, ok?"

"GRANDMOTHER!" Shippo roared, clenching his fists and bearing his fangs. He sent a seething glare to Kagome, his face turning bright red, either from embarrassment or anger; Kagome couldn't really tell. The young Kitsune stormed out of the room, slamming the doors with a resounding thud that left the place silent, save for Ukitake's soft chuckling.

"Poor Shippo," Kagome mumbled quietly.

"Oh, don't worry about that temperamental boy. He's put up with my harassment since he was born, so he should be used to it by now. He just can't stand that I have another piece of blackmail over him, and that someone he has started to like saw him made a fool of."

"Someone he likes? What do you mean?"

"Hmm, I wonder…Oh! I haven't heard what you have to say, little miss over there! You also have a strange aura about you, too."

Kikyou blinked in surprise, then tucked her knees under her and bowed, "I am called Kikyou Higurashi, your ladyship. I am from a time 500 years into the future."

"What a polite young thing! And another interesting story, to boot! I must say, you two are quite the wonder of women!" Ukitake chuckled in merriment, then suddenly sat up, fully alert.

"Tch! And I was having such a fun time too! What a spoil-sport of a dog!"

Kikyou and Kagome exchanged a curious glance before Shippo burst through the door and shouted, "The barrier's been breached!"

Ukitake sighed heavily and rose gracefully, "Yes, yes I am well aware of that! Tell the tribe not to worry. The only business they have is with you and me." She turned towards the girls with a bored expression. "It seems your friends have come for you. Shippo, escort them here immediately before that dog tears up the mountain!"

"Y-yes mam!" Shippo hurriedly scrambled out the door just as a loud roar shook the mountain side, declaring the arrival of Sesshomaru in the Kitsune's camp.

Other Author Note: One of my reviewers was kind enough to tell me that Ukitake is a real name and is used for a famous anime character (that I really should have known about, since he's one of my favorites on the anime)! Gotta admit, that blew my mind in a cool way!