Note: Eek! Everyone is getting mad at me for one little spelling error. Alright, u win! I surrender, I'll start spelling hanyu, hanyou. Tho if you read newer chapters and I spelt it wrong, don't snap, it was a mistake. Wolfy- I say this now and to anyone else who thinks this. Sesshoumaru does not have a tail! Check ep. 7. Fur is over right shoulder. He transforms, has extra fur over right shoulder. So that's what it is, extra fur or pelt if that's what u wanna call it. He doesn't have a tail. Though now that people know it's not a tail and just fur….he really does deserve the name fluffy now. Lol. HieilovesBotan- arigato, I am honoured to be placed in ur favourites stories list.

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Chapter eleven- Day of Learning

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Kagome paced around in her and the children's room. 2 Days, it was two days until the youkai ball at the northern lord's castle and she was not looking forward to it. Kagome didn't want to be placed in a room full of youkai, not to mention she had no idea what to expect at the ball. She was snapped from her thoughts when a knock came at the door. She then walked up and opened it to see Ecaro, the eastern lord's son "oh hello Ecaro-sama"

He blushed and then bowed "greetings Kagome-chan. Sesshoumaru sent me to get you for lunch"

Kagome had gotten to know Ecaro and he was very nice. She had gotten the impression from Sesshoumaru that all youkai lords were icy stiffs, but Edoksu, the eastern lord, and Ecaro, the eastern lord's son, were very laid back youkai. What amazed Kagome was that they were related to the icy stiff known as Sesshoumaru. She smiled "I thought it was a servants job to do the running around for lords"

Ecaro chuckled and shrugged "well actually I offered"

Kagome gave a nod "very well, it would be an honour to walk with you to lunch Ecaro-sama"

Ecaro blushed again "I'm not a lord yet, Kagome-chan, so please call me Ecaro"

Kagome gave a nod "but you'll have to eventually get use to it"

Ecaro nodded and then held out an arm for Kagome to wrap her arm around and together they walked to the dinning hall. Kagome already knew that Rin was with Sesshoumaru because she wanted to be with him for a while and Shippo was hanging around Rin, so Kagome had some time alone. But to tell truth, she didn't want it; all she was doing was worrying about the youkai ball.

"What troubles you Kagome-chan?" came Ecaro's voice

Kagome looked up at him "nothing"

The young soon to be eastern lord raised an eyebrow "I can sense lies Kagome-chan, now speak the truth"

Kagome sighed "oh alright, I'm just worried about the youkai ball"

Ecaro gave a nod "you worry about your safety, do you not?"

Kagome nodded "yeah that's part of it, but I also worry about what is going to happen there"

Ecaro smiled "socializing, dining, and dancing. Possibly even a few theatre performances"

"Well that doesn't sound too bad" she said, "I always thought…well that demons…uum" she didn't really know how to finished her sentence.

"Didn't know how to be civilized?" Ecaro finished. He chuckled when Kagome nodded "it is true demons are murderous creatures, but there are some in the youkai order that are refined"

Kagome shook her head "it was dumb of me to even think there weren't"

"How many demons have you come across Kagome-chan?" he asked.

Kagome thought hard as they continued through the halls "quite a few now that I think about it"

Ecaro gave a nod "now tell me, how many didn't try to kill you?"

"Almost every single one, I've even made friends with some though" she answered

"So that gives you some hint that not all youkai are murderous" he smiled and gave a wink "just most of the population"

Kagome giggled, "I'll remember that"

Ecaro nodded "so, do you feel any better about the ball?"

Kagome nodded "thank you Ecaro-sama"

"Kagome-chan, call me Ecaro" he insisted "no sama"

"Alright…Ecaro, but you can call me plain Kagome"

Ecaro nodded "deal" they stopped out side the dinning room door "do not worry so much about the ball…Kagome, everything will turn out fine"

Kagome nodded before Ecaro opened the door and escorted her to her seat. Kagome thanked him when he pulled out her chair for her to sit down. Unknowing to her Sesshoumaru watched the whole thing.

Rin smiled at Kagome "did Kagome-chan have a nice time?"

Shippo nodded "yeah, I hope you didn't feel like we abandoned you"

Kagome only smiled "nonsense, everybody enjoys a bit of peace and quiet now and again. Though I have to say it did give me time to sort though my thoughts"

Rin grinned, "We had fun with Sesshoumaru-sama," she said as the servants brought out their food. Normally Rin knew they never really talked during mealtime, but the eastern lord had insisted that people talk when they had something they wanted to share "we got to see him train with Edoksu-sama"

Kagome nodded "and how was that?"

Rin's eyes went wide with excitement "Sesshoumaru-sama is stronger than Edoksu-sama. Edoksu-sama gotten thrown into a wall by Sesshoumaru-sama"

Edoksu, the eastern lord, laughed, "I must admit that wasn't one of my finer moments"

Shippo could even help, but laugh a little. He had started to hate his youkai heritage because it was demons that killed his parents, but he had to admit he liked Edoksu and Ecaro.

They finished the rest of their meal before the servants came to clear the table. Shippo hopped out of his seat and walked up to Kagome "can you come outside an play?"

Kagome nodded "sure" she looked at Rin "are you going to come?"

Rin nodded "hai!" she then jumped out of her seat and they all hurried outside to play. Very soon a game of tag was started and there was laughter outside the castle's west walls"

Sesshoumaru wandered the halls in complete boredom. It wasn't until he heard the laughter from outside that his feet led him somewhere interesting. He found himself in the garden and watching Kagome being tickled by Rin and Shippo. Sesshoumaru watched the kids play with Kagome for a while until he saw Kagome leaving the kids to take a time out.

Kagome breathed hard {they have more energy than I do} she thought as she sat down on the grass and watched Rin and Shippo, stilling running around. She jumped when she saw Sesshoumaru walk up and stand beside her.

Sesshoumaru looked down at her "jumpy today, are we Kagome?"

Kagome shot him a glare. She was starting to get use to him saying her name. Though she had been surprised that he made a sarcastic remark that wasn't intended to hurt feelings "you just surprised me is all"

Sesshoumaru stayed silent, not bothering to give an answer to her statement. He watched the children for a minute "tell me, how is it that you've come to care for the kitsune?"

Kagome shrugged "I'm not really sure. Inuyasha and I found Shippo. The thunder brothers had killed his father and he wanted revenge, so he tried to steal the shikon shards we had. In the end we ended up helping him and he just kind of came with us"

Sesshoumaru nodded "so why does he insist being close to you?"

Kagome raised her head to the demon lord "if you were a child, would you stay near a man 24/7 that always tries to beat you over the head?"

"I take it you're referring to Inuyasha," He stated simply.

Kagome nodded "hai, him and Shippo are always getting into small fights, I think that's why Shippo stays closer to me" she saw Sesshoumaru give an almost faint nod "so tell me Sesshoumaru-sama, how is it you came to have Rin? I've always wondered since that first day I saw her 2 years ago"

Sesshoumaru was a little surprised she remembered "tenseiga had saved me from Inuyasha's kazu no kizu attack, but I was injured. A little girl kept coming back to help me even though I did not want it. I later learned she was mute. After I was better I left, but as I did I smelt the scent of blood and wolves" he heard Kagome's gasp and looked at her.

Kagome couldn't help the gasp that fled her lips. The minute she had heard wolves and knew it was 2 years ago, she instantly knew it was Koga's pack. She saw the taiyoukai staring at her and she frowned "I'm friends with that wolf pack"

He raised an eyebrow "I never pictured you to be friends with demons who would slaughter a village"

She half smiled "actually I became friends with their leader, but that's for another time, please continue your story of how you came to have Rin"

Sesshoumaru gave a half nod. He stored the knowledge of what she had mentioned about the wolf demons for later and then continued with his explanation "I followed the scent for I knew it to be the small child. When I found her she was dead, I don't know what came over me, but I decided to test tenseiga on her. After that she started following me everywhere. Within a short time she started to speak, so I started calling her Rin and now look after her"

Kagome watched Rin for a moment "you've done a good job raising her" she complimented as she looked at him and smiled.

Sesshoumaru stared at Kagome for a minute out of the corner of his eye. Her personality could change so fast from looking sad to being happy; then again she was also a woman…and a human woman at that. Sesshoumaru figured that was probably another reason why he didn't understand her.

Just then a servant came up to them and bowed "supper has been prepared"

Sesshoumaru gave a nod before looking at Kagome "get the children" he ordered.

Kagome gave him a small glare, but then remembered their main deal "hai, Sesshoumaru-sama" with that she stood up and walked over to the children "time to eat"

Rin and Shippo nodded and followed Kagome inside. Sesshoumaru came in shortly after. The supper seemed to be quick and lively with Edoksu, the eastern lord and his son Ecaro.

After supper Kagome had been ordered by Sesshoumaru to put the kids to bed early. She didn't know why and she tried to ask, but he gave a sharp growl and told her not to question him. Once the kids were tucked in and had a story read to them Kagome left the room, claiming she would come to bed in a bit. She wondered the halls for a while until she came near a door where some one had their back turned to them. She could tell this person was nervous and walked closer to them "are you alright?"

The person's head shot up "Kagome?" came a male voice and the person turned around.

Kagome gasped "Koga!"

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Note- okay here's this chapter so u know I'm back from my trip. And there will be a delay on the next chapter since I'm going back to fix my 'errors', but I'll try and get it up a.s.a.p. Oh and just so u people know, my trip was a blast…I'm considering moving back there when I'm done skool which is a year away. Okay, here are the translations

Youkai- demon

Hai- yes

Kitsune- fox demon