Note- wow, first day back and updating and I got 18 new reviews on the first day. sniff u love me, u people really love me. So here's a chapter to show my appreciation. Oh and sesshoyasha, I know Rin's parents were killed by thieves, but for this story, I made them killed by wolves. I'm not even sure why. Alright? Everybody happy? Good on with the chapter
Chapter twelve- Meaning of the youkai ball
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!"
Koga was very surprised to see Kagome in a demon castle "what are you doing here?"
She gave him a nervous smile, still stocked at seeing him there in the castle "I-I'm here staying with Sesshoumaru for awhile, what are you doing here?"
He smiled "I'm just here to update Edoksu on what's going on in the area and I'm guessing now Sesshoumaru too, well it does mean one less trip for me"
"You mean you have to go to all the lords homes to update them?" she asked.
Koga nodded "yeah" he then clicked to what she had said earlier "what are you doing with Sesshoumaru? Hasn't he tried to kill you in the past?"
Kagome nodded "well, yeah, but him and I worked out a deal" she went on to explain Inuyasha, Kikyo, and striking the deal with Sesshoumaru "I was suppose to leave after Rin had learned all I could teach her, but now, according to Sesshoumaru, the northern lord wants to meet me and Rin at the youkai ball"
"The youkai ball?" he raised an eyebrow "you're going to the youkai ball that's in 2 days?"
Kagome slowly nodded "yes, are you?"
Koga nodded "yeah, to find me a mate. That's what the ball is all about"
"NANI?" she freaked.
Meanwhile Koga looked like it was nothing at all "well yeah, the northern lord, Naylor, holds the ball every few years to help single youkai find mates"
Kagome stared at him, looking for any signs that he could be lying "then why are humans invited to go?"
"Some youkai like humans for mates, Naylor tries to provide everyone's wants. If you were invited by Naylor then he probably has heard something about you and thinks you'd make a good mate for some demon"
"Koga! That's enough" came a male voice. Kagome turned to see Edoksu, who didn't look happy "are you trying to scare my guest?"
Koga shook his head quickly "no Edoksu-sama, forgive me, I was just having a civilized conversation. You see, Kagome and I have already met"
Edoksu, the eastern lord, looked at Kagome "is this true?"
Kagome nodded "hai, it is, we met 2 years ago"
Edoksu nodded and looked at Koga "let us go to my study and you can update me on what is happening" he looked at Kagome and bowed "forgive us on our departure, but we must attend to matters"
Kagome smiled "that's alright; I need to go speak with someone any ways"
Kagome left the lord and Koga to search out Sesshoumaru {I can't believe he didn't tell me that the youkai ball was practically a dating service!} she screamed in her head, over and over. It didn't take her long to find Sesshoumaru, sitting in the library, as he seemed to do so often.
Sesshoumaru was looking for a book to read when he heard someone enter. He turned around to see Kagome. He stared at her for a moment, his face emotionless "is there something you need?" he asked finally after some silence.
Kagome glared at him "why didn't you tell me what the youkai ball is about?"
Sesshoumaru just stared at her with the same face and spoke in the same emotionless tone "what do you mean?" even though he had a full idea what she was talking about, he decided to see how she would act towards him.
"You never told me the ball was used for youkai to find 'mates'. I don't want to go if that's what it's about" she stated "I don't want any youkai or hanyou or human trying to be with me"
Sesshoumaru glared at her "you're going"
Kagome shook her head "I don't want to"
Sesshoumaru walked up to her "you don't have a choice; you've been requested by the northern lord"
"So what!" she shouted, "I've heard why he probably wants me to be there, to be a potential lover to some demon!"
"Whom have you been talking to?" he ordered, getting a little angry he was arguing with a human, but at some level he was liking it.
Kagome wasn't sure if she should say that it was Koga or not, she didn't want to get him in trouble. She was silent for a moment "a friend told me, okay, what does it matter? I'm not going"
"You will go, that is an order"
Kagome folded her arms and stomped her foot "forget it! I don't want some youkai to think that I'm there looking for someone when I'm not!"
Sesshoumaru growled, "You are acting very childish" he thought for a moment "fine, at the youkai ball if any youkai tries to come on to you then you will simply stay by me. No demon in their right mind will try to sway you if they know you are acquaintances with me, is it a deal?"
Kagome thought for a moment before slowly nodding "alright, it's a deal" she then gave a half smile "thank you Sesshoumaru, that makes me feel a little better about going"
Sesshoumaru said nothing, but nodded and watched her leave. He was so very confused. Why on earth did he make that deal? All he had to do was order her to go, but no, he made yet another deal with her. He shook his head {something must be wrong with me} he thought before going back to look for a book to read.
(2 Day later)
Kagome packed up some things they would need. It was time, the day of the youkai ball was here and she didn't feel an ounce bit ready. Kagome looked around the room she had been staying in at the eastern lord's castle. Edoksu had left the day before to help with the preparations for the ball and Ecaro, the eastern lord's son, was off somewhere else.
Kagome shook her head from her thoughts as Rin and Shippo came into the room. She made sure they were ready before a knock came at the door. Kagome looked up to see it was Sesshoumaru.
"Are you ready?" he asked, sounding a bit bored. He noticed she was wearing one of the kimonos Edoksu had left for her so she wouldn't stand out at the ball with her normal clothes. Kagome nodded and he turned around "then let's go"
The four headed outside to where Jaken had prepared Ah-Un. Kagome hopped on the dragon with the kids, Jaken sat on one of the dragon's heads while Sesshoumaru took off to the air on his own.
The trip was long and somewhat silent. Every now and then Shippo and Rin would talk or ask Kagome a question, which she answered. It was nearing close to suppertime when Kagome first saw the northern castle. It was much fancier looking than Sesshoumaru's, but she couldn't help, but feel that she liked Sesshoumaru's castle best. She gulped a bit when Ah-Un started to descend in front of the castle gates.
When all were touching the ground, Kagome jumped off the dragon and turned to help Rin and Shippo down. The castle equally fascinated Rin and she looked to Kagome.
"Kagome-chan? What do you think of this castle?"
Kagome smiled "it's lovely, but a bit to big for my liking. I wouldn't want to live here"
Shippo smiled as he looked at Kagome "well, you will be until the end of the ball"
Kagome frowned. She had learned the ball was more like a mating camp. It would be a couple days before the thing was over and she really wasn't even looking forward to walking in the door in the first place let alone staying for a couple days.
Sesshoumaru walked up to them and glared "stop gawking"
Kagome and the children turned around to look at him, but he did nothing more than walked by them. Sesshoumaru did stop briefly when he noticed they weren't following and shot a stare that told them to follow, which they did. Sesshoumaru saw two lizard demons standing outside the door. Guards. He merely walked up to them and they moved out of the way, immediately knowing he was the lord of the western lands.
Kagome held the children's hands as she started to follow closely behind Sesshoumaru {and to think I could have been at home watching tv, having a normal life instead of going to a demon ball} she thought. Kagome then saw 3 youkai walk up to Sesshoumaru, one she recognized to be Edoksu, the eastern lord.
Edoksu smiled and bowed "greetings Kagome-chan"
Kagome smiled and returned the bow "nice to see you again so soon, Edoksu-sama"
For some reason, Sesshoumaru found he didn't like how close Kagome and his cousin seemed to be acting. He light out a small, hardly noticeable sigh, knowing he'd have to introduce the other two lords to the humans he had brought with him. He looked at Rin who took that as the cue to step forward "allow me to introduce you gentlemen to Rin"
One of the demons that had white hair, amber eyes, crescent moon on the forehead, slightly shorter and chubbier than Sesshoumaru smiled "so this is the human child that has been rumoured to be traveling with you, eh nephew, it's nice to know the rumours are true"
Kagome blinked {nephew? Did that demon just call Sesshoumaru his nephew?} She wondered, but brushed it off when she saw Sesshoumaru shoot his sights to her and she stepped forward.
Sesshoumaru ignored the demon's words and continued with the introductions "and this is Kagome, the one I believe you requested to see Naylor-sama"
"As I call you nephew, you call me uncle Naylor, remember?" said the northern lord, Naylor.
Sesshoumaru growled, "I am too old for this, I refuse"
Naylor shrugged "can't beat a guy for trying" he then turned his sights to Kagome "hmm, I've heard many things about you"
Kagome smiled nervously "I-I hope nothing bad"
Naylor laughed "no, no, but I have been told that there is a girl in strange clothing battling Naraku" he looked at Kagome's outfit, which was a kimono "are you her?"
Kagome blushed and nodded slowly "y-yes"
Edoksu walked up to Kagome and placed a hand on her shoulder "apparently Sesshoumaru forgot his manners, you've already met me, but this is Naylor, the northern lord" he said and Naylor bowed. Edoksu then pointed to the other demon that had been remaining silent "and this is Sabura, the southern lord"
Sabura bowed "a pleasure to meet you" he then looked up and glared "human"
Naylor growled at Sabura "manners nephew"
"Yes, uncle" he looked at Kagome "forgive my rudeness"
Kagome nodded "it's alright"
Naylor then smiled again "well let's get you all settled"
Youkai- demon
Nani- what
Hai- yes
Hanyou- half demon