dinner was a grand event.

everyone was having fun. they were all talking, laughing and just getting along.

to those who knew him well even sesshomaru lightened up. and that was a big deal. a VERY big deal.

after dinner they all sat around talking. eventually music started playing. sesshomaru was just about to ask kaida to dance when kaze got in first.

as she was drawn out of her seat, she threw an apologetic glance sesshomaru's way and then got ready to dance.

"so are you going to finish telling me what's going on?"

"no there are too many people here. and all will be revealed later."

"are you sure you won't tell me?"

"positive."

and with that the music ended.

before someone else could ask her to dance sesshomaru took her into his arms.

"we should tell them soon." kaida told him.

"soon." he agreed.

"kaze is starting to ask questions. he knows something is up, but i haven't told him anything yet. but if he keeps questioning me i will have to tell him. i can't stand up to interigation from him for long. anyone else, fine, but not him."

"I understand." sesshomaru said nodding as everyone cleared the way to watch them dance around the room, like they were the only two there. "I believe it's time."

"Yes."

After the music finished and everyone cheered sesshomaru signalled for the music not to resume.

"I must make an announcement regarding Lady kaida's position here at my castle."

This drew everyone's attention to him as kaida also came over to stand beside him.

"Lady kaida will be remaining here no matter what happens."

"In english please lord sesshomaru." called lord ryu.

"what he means father, is that...

kaida was cut off by sakaki running into the room.

"my lords, lord seiti and the northern family have just arrived."

kaida looked at sesshomaru "this is not good."

"I know, but we must be polite hosts."

"at least until they do something to offend you or the ones you love."

"that means you, so lets make sure they start to offend us, shall we?"

"sounds like a plan."

reaching the front door the guests came face to face with people they really didn't want to know,

"Introducing, Lord seiti from the continent, Lord Haruto of the northern lands and his son Lord Kiyoshi."

After the polite pleasentries Seiti and Kiyoshi took kaida for and walk.

Then Kiyoshi started to talk...

"we know what's going on here kaida. we know what you've done."

"well then maybe you can tell me so i can go."

"don't play dumb with us."

"kiyoshi's right. it doesn't suit you lady kaida."

"don't call her a lady. she nothing but a whore."

"i am not a whore."

kiyoshi slammed her against a wall.

"don't play dumb. we know you're sesshomaru's whore. why else would he keep you around if it wasn't for...entertainment."

"because unlike you to i can back my words up with actions," kaida kicked him in the gut and elbowed his back causing him to fall to the ground.

"gah!"

"see, unlike most of the women you two know, i am no whore who stays to be mere entertainment."

looking around kaida noticed haruto, ryu and sesshomaru were all standing there watching.

flicking a peice of loose hair out of her face kaida walked off.

"well i've seen all that i need to." said sesshomaru as he walked after kaida.

haruto turned to ryu, "i don't want my son mated to someone so violent, the deal is off. Maybe you should try mating her off to sesshomaru. then watching the domestics would be a blast! HA!"

"maybe i should. you never know."

---meanwhile---

"kaida wait."

"not now."

"kaida, please. tell me what happened."

"they called me your whore." she told him with tears in her eyes. "they said that the only reason you kept me around was for entertainment."

she basically spat the last word out.

"is that what's bothering you?"

kaida nodded.

sesshomaru pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead.

"you have no need to worry about what they said. i keep you around because i want you around me. not because i think of you as entertainment. you meen much more too me then that."

suddenly a voice from the shadows said, "is there something you wish to tell me?"

they turned around and saw lord ryu.

"father!"

"lord ryu!"

"yes, so what do you want to tell me?"

"um, dad. there is something we need to tell you, in fact we tried to tell you earlier except we had that surprise visit."

"let me guess kaida, you to have fallen in love?"

they both nodded, it was all they could do.

"well then daughter, i have some even better news for you."

"..."

"i was just talking to Haruto, he told me that he no longer wants his son to mate someone and i quote, as violent as you and that i should try to get you mated off to lord sesshomaru!"

kaida and sesshomaru looked at each other with shocked looks on there faces.

it took a while for the news to properly sink in.

kaida didn't have to mate kiyoshi.

ryu had found out about kaida and sesshomaru.

and it almost seemed that lord ryu had given his blessing to their relationship.

the silence just seemed to go on and on and on. at first it was just one of those stunned silences, but somehow it had almost turned into an awkward silence. someone had to break it soon but no one wanted to be the one to break it. finally ryu spoke.

"well then, this has been awkward enough. i'm gonna go over here now." and lord ryu left.

kaida who was still too stunned to say anything just once again turned to look at lord sesshomaru who merely put his arm around her shoulders and started to lead her back to the castle.

"you do know what this means don't you?"

"I fret the thought of it."

"you threat the thought of becoming my mate? do you hate me that much?"

"it's not that, if anything i'm loving the idea of that, but it's what comes after that i'm worried about."

"and what might that be?"

"talking to your adopted daughter, because if i become your mate, then i become her mother and remember what she said?"

"Yes, well. if anything i fret telling her for fear of her reaction."

"you don't have to tell me, i know."

kaida and sesshomaru turned to see none other then rin standing there with a look on her face that seemed to say...

what are you two still doing up?

"rin! what are you doing there?" asked a very surprised kaida.

"well spying seems to be the only way to find out anything around here. so when are you having the union?"

"i don't know."

"am i going to get any brothers or sisters?"

"maybe oneday but not anytime soon."

"have you two actually done anything yet?"

"none of your business."

"i like this girl, you choose well daddy dearest."

"if only you would do the same, daughter dearest." said sesshomaru.