Well...Here's Chapter 2 of Youkai Masquerade. It's a new story I've been working on as of late, and my friend Megan is going to help me put in more detail later on in the chapters, so I will give credit to her now! She's also read what has been written already, and she likes it...so I hope you all do, too! This is Nar/Kag/Sess...but there'll be more Naraku and Kagome scenes than Kagome and Sesshomaru...just because there aren't that many stories out there with Naraku and Kagome paired...and even less with Naraku, Kagome, and Sesshomaru. I really hope you all like this. But don't worry...I'm not neglecting Soulmate! Chapter 12 will be up and running soon! So enjoy Chapter two...I just uploaded the story today....!

CitrusSeverus

"You invited your brother and his friends."

A deep voice came from the library as a man with long, wavy black tresses, wearing a purple shirt that read "Tokyo U" and dark jeans sat in a green velvet chair, talking on a cell phone.

"Hai. I was forced to. I would rather not lose my job, Tanaka. If that's alright with you." A baritone voice replied.

"I see. Well. And who is Inuyasha bringing?" He asked sarcastically.

"A few friends. As far as I know, his wench Kagome and two others I have not truly been acquainted with."

"Hmph."

"Who else besides those we have already invited?"

"That's it. No one else. Your cousin Kikyo is coming, I trust?"

"Hai. Why, Taisho?" The voice sounded slightly angered.

"I was just curious."

"Keep it that way."

"Why so protective?" Sesshomaru chuckled, although it sounded more like a growl.

"I'm not."

"Sure. I have to go, Naraku. I'm getting my car detailed."

"Whatever. Don't be late for the party."

"Whatever."

CLICK.

Naraku Tanaka leaned back in the cushiony chair, thinking about the party that was only hours away.

"So. Inuyasha is bringing that delectable wench of his? Interesting."

A smirk laced the features of his face, making him look slightly villainous.

"I will have to get to know her, then."

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Sesshomaru sat in the waiting area of the car detailing shop, where his car was being painted metallic silver. A crescent moon would be placed on the hood of the car, where the emblem for the brand of car would normally sit. Pure silver, it was to be envied. But the crescent moon was the symbol for his family…his heritage. His demon heritage. Most did not know what he was. He and his half-breed brother, who, if he did not properly disguise himself, would have two silver-colored ears placed symmetrically on top of his head. When he was a child, before he attended school, Inuyasha was taught how to mask his identity. And he had, ever since.

'The baka prefers to be known as a human. It is pathetic.'

Sesshomaru only masked his appearance when he knew he was going to be present in front of humans who would not accept what he was…who would no doubt try and attack him. He did not want to disgrace the family name, and therefore, chose to hide himself at certain times for the better.

A thought popped into Sesshomaru's mind.

'Surely he has told his wench and her friends of his origin? Because tonight…will reveal everything…if not.'

The party would be swarming with demons of every kind that night. Element, neko, inu, and ookami…the list was endless. Sesshomaru and Naraku threw the best Halloween parties each year for the demons of Tokyo and the surrounding areas. Inuyasha had never been allowed to go, because of his age and immaturity. However, at the age of twenty-one, his father had promised him that he would be allowed to attend.

And that was this year.

He only hoped that things would go as smoothly as he thought they would.

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"Well…what do you have left, then?" Kagome asked the clerk at the costume store, irritated because the only costumes left were not what she and Sango wanted.

"We have a miko costume and…" The young man was interrupted when Sango came running up behind him, holding her demon exterminator costume for Kagome to see.

"I found it! It was in the very back…he didn't see it!"

"That's great. But I don't have any options, Sango. As far as I can see, I'm either going to be a ghost—scratch that—a white sheet, a lion, a tomato, or a miko."

"Hey…where's the miko costume?" Sango asked.

"It's in the storeroom, miss. It's been here for years. As far as I know, it's not really a costume. The clothing is authentic."

"Is it for sale?"

"Of course it is. For a price."

"How much…" Kagome sighed.

"Twenty-seven thousand yen."

"WHAT?"

"Kags…take it. You don't have a costume, and the shops around here close early. Take what you can get. That is, unless you'd rather wear a toga or go naked. Inuyasha won't even speak to you. Take the miko costume."

"Fine."

'Whew…I'd better be glad Mom and Gramps sent me that money for my birthday…and that I actually saved it for once!' Kagome thought as she waited for the clerk to retrieve her costume from the storeroom. It seemed like he took forever, but by the time he brought it back, the wait was worth it. The costume was beautiful. The pants were a bright red. The cloth was not even stained. The shirt that came with it, wrapped around the person's waist—whoever was wearing it—and was a clean, stark white. Kagome smiled and exclaimed, "I'll take it!"

She paid the clerk her money, and then she and Sango left the costume store and headed to the mall to buy their hosts a few gifts.

"Do you even know what you're going to get them?"

"No."

"Then why are we…"

"Because it's the nice thing to do. They didn't have to let us come along, you know. But it gets us out of the house. You know we have school on Tuesday. Thank Kami we get Monday off. Probably because all the professors know that we'll be partying until three in the morning."

Sango laughed.

"Okay…but seriously. I have no idea what to get Sesshomaru…or…what's…his friend's name?" Kagome thought Inuyasha had told her, but she couldn't remember.

"Um…Nar…Naraku?"

"Hai! That's it!" Kagome smiled.

"Maybe you shouldn't get them anything, Kags."

"I know…but I want to."

"Well…I guess. Um…where to?"

"Let's go to that one store…the one with all of the…occult stuff in there. I know that Inuyasha said they have a lot of that stuff around the mansion."

"Right." Sango shivered. She had never liked the occult very much. And that store in the mall had everything she had dreamt of…in her nightmares. Black candles, spellbooks…you name it, they probably had it.

"This is going to be great! I hope they like what I'm going to get them!"

Kagome ran inside the mall once they arrived, dragging Sango behind her. Then, up the elevator and to the second level, Kagome found her store sitting on the right hand side, at the very end of the walkway.

"We're here!" Kagome puffed.

"Ye…ah…" Sango couldn't catch her breath.

"Come on, Sango!" Kagome urged.

"Uh…I'll stay…out here."

"Why?"

"Don't…like that store…"
"Fine. Be that way. I'll be out in a few minutes, 'kay?"

"Yeah…"

As Sango went to find a bench, Kagome entered the store. She was overwhelmed with incense as she stepped in, and smiled to herself.

'This is sooo cool!' She thought as she waved kindly to the storeowner, who was standing behind a cash register, waiting for someone to make a purchase. She waved back.

"Can I help ye with something, miss?"

"Oh…well…I guess! I'm trying to buy some gifts for these two guys who invited me and a few of my friends to their Halloween party."

"Ah. I see. Well, perhaps ye should choose one of our figurines. We have quite a selection over there." She pointed to an isolated part of the store, in which stood a few shelves full of different types of gory sculptures and odds and ends.

"Ooh!" Kagome squealed when she walked over and looked straight at a sculpture of a white dog that had ruby red eyes, with mist swirling about its body.

The storeowner walked over and began to explain to Kagome what the sculpture meant.

Kagome noticed as she spoke, that she had a nametag placed on the lapel of her shirt.

'Kaede…where have I heard that name before?' She thought for a moment, before snapping out of her thoughts and listening to the elderly woman.

"This is supposed to be the depiction of a great demon lord who existed many centuries ago. I do not know his name. However, I have heard stories that he still exists today. I wouldn't doubt it. Demons live quite a long time."

"Wait a minute…you actually believe all of those stories about dog demons and everything?"

"Hai, young one. I do. And there are more than just dog demons."

"Really." Kagome raised an eyebrow.

"Ye need not believe me. The stories, however, are true. Whether ye choose to accept it or not…" The elderly woman inched closer and spoke low. "Ye will find out soon enough for yourself."

"Huh?"

But the storeowner had already gone back to the register, and was waiting for her to make a purchase.

Kagome grabbed the dog figurine, and a carving in wood of a wind witch, floating on a feather.

"Ah. A fine choice. Kagura, the Wind Witch, and the figurine of the great demon lord. That will be three thousand yen, please."

Kagome pulled the money out of her wallet and handed it to the woman.

"I thank ye for your purchase. Have a nice day."

The woman bagged Kagome's figurines, and bowed slightly as Kagome left the shop. Kagome didn't just walk, she ran. The old woman had frightened her.

'What was she talking about when she said…that I would find out soon enough for myself?'

She ran to Sango, who had been sitting in a bench in front of the store, staring blankly into space.

"Sango! I'm ready to go!"

"Thank Kami. I was about to fall asleep. What'd you get?"

Sango stood from the bench and stretched. She and Kagome began walking out of the mall, and Kagome waited until they were outside to show her what she had gotten.

"Wow. That's a really pretty dog!"

"Oh. It's not a dog." Kagome said, getting mock serious.

"It's not? Then what is it?"

"It's a great demon lord!" Kagome dropped her serious face and giggled loudly.

"Wha?" Sango was confused.

"This old woman in the store…her name was…Kaede…"

"Wait. I've heard that name somewhere before."

"Huh? That's what I thought too. But then I kind of shrugged it off. I can't remember ever meeting her before, but I…I know that name!"

"Well…maybe you heard it on the radio or something. Or…yeah. That has to be it."

"Yeah…anyways. She said that the dog was really a great demon lord. And she couldn't remember his name. But the weird thing is…she actually believed that demons existed. Not just dog demons. All kinds. I looked at her like she was crazy. She knew what I was thinking. But anyhow…I also bought this…" She pulled the carving of Kagura out of the bag. "She said it was Kagura, the Wind Witch. I bought it for Naraku…or whatever his name is. I don't know why I did…but I just thought it would look interesting."

"Yeah…it is. Just hope he doesn't throw it at you."

"Oh, whatever, Sango. Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean someone else won't!"

Kagome stuck her tongue out at Sango and stuck the figurines back inside the bag.

"So…it's three. The party is at seven."

"So…we should probably be heading…"

"Shut up, Kags! You know we have plenty of time to get ready. But for now, let's do something fun!"
"Like…?"

"Like…erm…"

"Exactly. There's nothing we can do."

"Hey! Let's go in that shop, over there!"
Sango dragged Kagome inside before she could see what store they were going into. However, once she was inside, she recognized her surroundings. It was the car detailing shop her father once worked for, when he was a teenager. When Kagome was little, he would often walk her by and they would look at all of the different designs that were available to put on the cars. And then…he had died in a car accident. Kagome hadn't been back since. It brought tears to her eyes.

"Sango…do…do we have to be in here?"

"Why? Don't you wanna look at all of the cool art…"

She stopped in the middle of her sentence, and Kagome noticed she was staring straight ahead of them.

"Sango…what's wrong?"

"Look in front of you."

Kagome turned her head, and meeting her line of vision directly was Sesshomaru Taisho, sitting in a cushy chair, reading a magazine. He glanced up from the page he was reading and made eye contact with her. She blushed.

"Hey…" She waved slightly and smiled.

He simply raised an eyebrow.

Kagome couldn't move. Simple eye contact turned her legs to jelly. How was she supposed to enjoy anything that night, if he was going to be there? Because the moment he locked eyes with hers, she would melt.

"Kags…" Sango whispered in her ear. "Say something to him!"

"Sango! I have a boyfriend!" She whispered back.

"So? You're not bonded together or anything!"

And with that, Sango pushed Kagome forward. The sheer force and power of Sango's shove caused her to fall forward, and land directly in front of Sesshomaru, on the floor.

"OW!" She yelped. She had twisted her wrist underneath her. It was throbbing very painfully.

"OhmygoshKagomeIamsosorry!" Sango spat out quickly, frozen in horror.

Kagome tried to push herself up, but the breath had been knocked out of her, and she fell backwards, unceremoniously on her buttocks.

Sesshomaru, meanwhile, had been watching the entire scene unfold. And was smiling slightly. He found her clumsiness quite amusing.

And watching her fall again was hilarious. So hilarious, in fact, that he was hard pressed to stifle the laughter that was threatening to pour out of his mouth. But he managed.

Something in that girl made him want to show emotion. And it happened each time he saw her.

Kagome watched his expressions change with great interest. He had so many of them…flickering in his eyes. She was lost in them for a moment, until she realized that he was holding a hand out to her. Hesitating, she grabbed it, and he whisked her off of the floor with ease.

"Th…thank you."

"You are welcome, Kagome."

'Ack! He used my name again!'

She blushed again, which did not go unnoticed by Sesshomaru.

"Well…I guess we'd better be going…right Sango?"

"Oh, no, Kags. There's no hurry. I'm actually looking at some designs over here." Sango smiled and waved at Kagome.

"Sango…" She started.

"Yes?"

"You don't have a car!"

"Oh. Well. That's okay. Maybe they can do bicycles!"

Sango hurried off to another part of the shop, leaving Kagome alone with Sesshomaru.

"So…heh…umm…what are you doing here?"

"What one normally does when in a car detailing shop. My car is getting detailed."

"Oh. Right. Heh…yeah…anyways…"

"I trust you are coming with my idiot brother tonight."

"Um…hai. I am."

I can see that you have already gotten yourself a costume. Your friend, as well." He nodded towards the red and white miko costume in her arms.

"Hai. I found this one at the last minute. I got out of bed kind of late this morning, and…" She stopped herself. Why was she telling Sesshomaru about her day? He didn't like her! He didn't like anyone!

He raised an eyebrow.

"Well…nevermind. But the important thing is that I have a costume!"

"I suppose."
"Oh!" She had almost forgotten. The gifts that she had bought for he and Naraku were in a bag, which was clutched in her right hand. She offered it up to him, and he simply stared at it.

"This is for you. And Naraku. I thought I'd get you two a little something from Sango and myself…although mainly from myself…since she wouldn't go inside the store…for allowing us to come to your party!"

"Hn." He lifted the bag from her fingers and pried it open.

"Well?"

"Figurines." He lifted them from the bag.

"Hai! Um…okay…the one on the left you're holding isn't just a fluffy dog. It's supposed to be a great demon lord…"

"I know what it is. Where did you find this?"

"In an occult store in the mall."

"And this one is Kagura, the Wind Witch." Sesshomaru stated, pulling the wooden figurine out of the bag, studying it.

"Hai…"

He stared down his nose at her for a moment.

'What in the name of Kami…she doesn't even realize…what the significance of these are.'

"Kagome. Is there something you would like to tell me?"

"What…what are you talking about?"

"Why did you get these?"

He was sounding very serious now. Almost angry. It frightened her.

"Because I thought you'd like them."

'Kagura was Naraku's creation…centuries ago…before he reabsorbed her. And that…is my true form. And she has no idea.'

"You don't like them, do you…" She asked, dejected.

He did not reply.

"That's okay. I can take them back. I should have known. I don't really have the best sense of gift getting. I kind of suck at that…I just thought that maybe it would be really nice if I got you someth…"

"I will take them back to the mansion with me. I am sure Naraku will like his." Sesshomaru interrupted her.

"Wh…what?"

"I never said I did not like what you bought me."

"Oh…okay…"

Just when Kagome was about to say something else, a short, toad-like man wearing a blue uniform came waddling into the waiting area.

"Mr. Taisho, your car is ready."

"Thank you, Jaken. If you will please give me a moment, I will retrieve my car and make my payment."

"Hai, Mr. Taisho."

The short man disappeared, and Sesshomaru turned back to Kagome.

"Well, I guess I'll see you tonight, then…" She smiled.

"I suppose. Good day, Kagome." He nodded and walked away from the girl, leaving her stunned.

Sango ran up to Kagome after she was sure that Sesshomaru had gone to get his car, and squealed.

"Ooooh! I knew he liked you!"

"Sango…what in Kami's name are you talking about?"

"Kags…he totally likes you!"

"I don't know what you mean."

"You didn't see it?"

"See what? Are you hallucinating, Sango?"

"The way he looked at you."

"And…"

"UGH! Are you that blind, Kags? Jeez! I'm going to have to show you what I mean tonight. You'll see."

"What are you…"

"Let's just go back to the apartment and get ready so that we can get to the mansion early. Is Inuyasha going to drive us there?"

"Duh, Sango. What? Do you think he'd make us walk?"

So they left the car detailing shop and hurried to the apartment, each one getting ready for the party that night.