Note: Some people think I have forgotten about the shikon no tama. I have not. From what I've seen of the show. Naraku has most. Kagome has another chunk and Koga has his three. So don't worry I'll be getting to everything. Just don't snap at me, I'm workin as fast as I can with skool and everything. Oh and Mystic Hanyou, I do know the proper way to spell 'school'. I was just too lazy to put the ch. Well people, enjoy the chapter.

'thought'....the way I normally do thought wouldn't work for some dumb reason, so I'm gonna have to fix the previous chapter so you people know what was thought.

Chapter fourteen- Rules and Dancing

Sesshoumaru growled, "Go play with Jaken" the kids looked at him "I must speak with Kagome alone"

Kagome watched as the kids ran off to find Jaken and torture the poor unsuspecting toad. She then looked at the lord of the western lands and saw him glaring at her, which caused her to gulp 'I think I'm in trouble'

They stayed in silence, which Kagome thought of as torturous hours, but in all reality it was actually only a couple minutes before Sesshoumaru spoke "we have a problem"

Kagome's eyes went wide "duh, what was your first clue?"

Sesshoumaru growled and walked closer to her "I do not care for your humour"

Kagome stepped back a bit and frowned "sorry, I'm just finding this whole thing weird. Things are happening a little too fast for my liking and I really don't like the fact that there are demons out to kill me"

Sesshoumaru sighed. He was not expecting to be spending his time at the dumb youkai ball guarding a human. But he couldn't help but not mind too much. Kagome was not as bad as other humans to be around. She was very different from the humans of this time and for some reason he could tolerate her presence and not other humans. Sesshoumaru figured it must be because she had been spending so much time around him that he got use to her, but deep down he knew that was a lie. He had been use to her presence since the first day she bumped into him and he got to examine her closer. 'Am I ever going to figure her out?' He asked himself.

"Things are going to have to change," he stated

Kagome blinked "huh?"

'Then again maybe the reason I can't figure her out is because nobody's at home' Sesshoumaru thought as he gave a small growl for her to pay attention "since Naylor will be telling everyone at supper that we are potential mates, we are going to have to act like it"

'Oh boy' Kagome thought 'how is this going to turn out I wonder' she cleared her throat "how are we going to do that?"

Sesshoumaru took a seat on a near by bench "you will have to sit by me at meals, be escorted by me anywhere you want to go and at the dance tonight you shall have to dance with me first above all others"

Kagome gulped. She would have to be spending more time around the taiyoukai than she wanted to "okay I get what I have to do, but what do you have to do"

Sesshoumaru stood up "reframe from killing you"

Kagome glared at him "that's not funny"

"It wasn't intended to be" he replied.

They continued to discuss how they should go about to look like they were a couple, but not have to kiss each other or anything like that. Actually it was Kagome doing most of the suggesting and every now and then Sesshoumaru would say his piece. It wasn't long before a servant came out and told them it was supper. Kagome gathered Shippo and Rin and Sesshoumaru escorted them inside.

Kagome was a little nervous when she saw the very large dinning room already filled with youkai. As she followed Sesshoumaru, her arm wrapped around his only arm, she noticed there were some humans and she felt a little more comfortable knowing she and Rin weren't the only ones.

Sesshoumaru had been a little grumpy when he knew he'd have to look like he was courting Kagome. He had to be even nicer to her than he already was, but in some ways he didn't mind. Sesshoumaru figured that if they had to act like a couple she would have to talk with him and make conversation, which meant he could learn more about her and try to figure her out. Normally he could figure every human out the minute he saw them he had thought he had had Kagome figured out when he first saw her, but apparently he did not and she only continued to further confuse him and he did not like to be confused by a human.

Sesshoumaru told Shippo to sit down before getting Kagome to, then him and then Rin. He made a small growl when he saw his 2 cousins and uncle come in the room, but he knew they heard.

Once every lord was seated and the servants brought out the food and drinks, Naylor, the northern lord, stood up "I would like to propose a toast to Sesshoumaru who has found himself a prospective mate already" he smiled "I would like Sesshoumaru and his probable mate to stand up so everybody can see"

Sesshoumaru would have glared, but he knew that if anyone else saw they might realize the whole thing was a fake. So he stood up, face emotionless as always as he turned to Kagome and motioned for her to stand up as well.

Kagome was a little nervous, but she stood up and smiled. She could hear as everyone started to talk and she felt herself grow more nervous 'no way is this idea going to work' she kept thinking 'I'm going to kill Edoksu for suggesting this idea!'

After a minute they sat down and everyone in the room started to eat. Shippo would strike conversations with Kagome every now and then and sometimes Kagome would try to strike just one conversation with the western lord. Of course he'd give the shortest answer possible. As supper was nearing an end Sesshoumaru felt a tug on his sleeve and he turned his head to look at Rin.

"Sesshoumaru-sama" she yawned and rubbed her eyes "I'm getting sleepy"

He nodded and turned to Kagome "Kagome, I believe it is time to turn the kids in for the night"

Kagome looked at him before looking past him to Rin and then looking at Shippo, who looked ready to fall asleep in his food, before returning her gaze to the taiyoukai "I think your right"

"I shall escort you" he replied before standing him and he looked at Rin "let's go"

Rin nodded "hai"

Edoksu saw his cousin get up "where are you going?"

Sesshoumaru glared at him "to escort Kagome to the children's room so they can be put to bed"

"Make sure you come back" the eastern lord raised an eyebrow "after all, your potential mate has to dance with all us lords before you or her can retire for the night"

Sesshoumaru growled, but yet for some reason he did not mind hearing those words 'potential mate' and knowing Edoksu was talking about Kagome. He mentally shook his head from the thought 'I suppose after all this is over with and she is back with Inuyasha I will have to start looking for a real mate' he concluded. After all it was time he started to raise a family of his own. He shook himself from his thoughts and looked at Kagome before holding out his arm for her to take "let's go"

Kagome walked with Sesshoumaru until they finally reached the kids bedroom. Shippo and Rin yawned the whole way and kept looking like they would fall face first into the floor at any second. Kagome had Shippo sit on her shoulder while she picked up Rin. Sesshoumaru waited by the door and watched as Kagome put the children in their beds, tucked them in, and walked back to him. Kagome took another glance back to see the kids were already sleeping "and they didn't even say good-night to me" she giggled.

Sesshoumaru leaned against the doorframe "we must go back" he took a glance at her clothes "after you change into proper dressage"

Kagome nodded in agreement. Her clothes were fit for supper, but not for dancing. She walked across the hall to her bedroom and quickly changed into a more suitable kimono that the servants had left her.

Sesshoumaru waited patiently out in the halls, lost in thought about different things. Mostly he thinking how he got himself stuck in this predicament. He was dragged from his thoughts when he heard Kagome's door open and he turned to see Kagome wearing a light navy blue kimono made especially for dancing "are you ready?"

Kagome nodded "hai"

Sesshoumaru gave a nod and offered his arm, which Kagome took and they both headed off to the dancing hall where the music could be heard. Neither spoke a word to each other during the whole walk to the hall.

When they entered everyone glanced at them then there was a bit of talk. Sesshoumaru of course heard practically everyone. They were saying to each other "doesn't Sesshoumaru-sama hate humans?", "why would he pick a human?", "I wonder what that girl did to win his heart"

Kagome could see the people glancing at her and chatting among themselves 'this whole idea of Edoksu's was a mistake' she thought. She smiled though when she came into the presents of the other lords. Edoksu told her that she would have to call the lords by proper title when in front of everyone else...and even called Sesshoumaru by his proper title.

Naylor smiled "it seems everything is going well so far"

Edoksu nodded "it does, would you agree Sesshoumaru-sama?"

Sesshoumaru gave a curt nod "indeed"

Edoksu grinned, "Well Sesshoumaru-sama why don't you go dance with Kagome so we can get a chance to dance with her"

Sesshoumaru growled at his younger cousin, but nonetheless took Kagome on to the dance floor. It happened to be at that moment that the music band happened to start to play a slow song. 'Curse my luck' he silently growled. He also silently wondered how he was going to dance with Kagome with only one arm.

Little did Sesshoumaru know, Kagome was thinking the same thing and wondering how they could make this work. It was then an idea came to her and she was a little nervous to see if it would work. Kagome took the taiyoukai's hand and placed it on her waist while her hands went to rest on his shoulders.

Sesshoumaru blinked at Kagome's boldness to take his hand without permission and place it on her waist, but he had to admit, even if it was to himself that what she did worked and he even felt comfortable about not having his arm.

Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru's amber eyes 'he's such a confusing demon, so cold and hard to understand 'she thought 'I wonder why that is, I wonder if something happened when he was younger to turn him so cold or perhaps he's just cold towards people he doesn't like'. Her mind tried to think of all the reasons why he could be so cold hearted that she didn't even hear the song end.

Sesshoumaru was also busy in thought that he had never heard the song ended and soon they were dancing into another slow song. His eyes watched Kagome's brown ones she looked normal besides how she dresses, but yet she seems so different from other humans. 'I wonder if I'll ever figure her out' he wondered.

Both Sesshoumaru and Kagome were brought out of thought at the sound of someone clearing their voice. They turned their heads so see Edoksu "may I cut in?"

Sesshoumaru stopped and pulled away from Kagome a bit. He said nothing, but bowed to show approval before leaving to be near the other lords.

Edoksu turned to Kagome and bowed before taking her hand and placing his other hand on her waist while Kagome's free hand went to rest on his shoulder. They swayed to the music, silent for a moment before Edoksu spoke "so did you and Sesshoumaru-sama talk about anything during your dances?"

Kagome shook her head "no" it then clicked "what do you mean, dances? We only had one dance"

Edoksu chuckled and shook his head "no, you people had two dances"

Kagome blinked "oh, I didn't even hear the first song end"

"Apparently neither did Sesshoumaru-sama" his chuckle soon faded away "so Kagome, where are you from? I never did get a good answer that first day we met"

"I come from the western lands" she replied. 'Well it wasn't a total lie; she just left out the 'I'm also 500 years from the future' sentence'.

Edoksu nodded "okay, but where in the western lands?"

"Inuyasha forest" she replied 'except in 500 years it becomes a shrine' she mentally added.

Edoksu sighed, "Care to be a little more specific? I've visited the western lands once and I've been around Inuyasha forest, but I've never seen a girl that wears the clothes you do"

Kagome shrugged "I'm not sure if I should say where I'm from. Sesshoumaru-sama may not be too happy"

"You might be right" he agreed "so I'll ask him personally, if that's okay"

Kagome shook her head "no, I don't mind if you ask him"

Before long the song ended and Sabura came up "I believe it is now my turn"

Edoksu bowed "as you wish Sabura-sama" he turned and bowed to Kagome "I had a lovely dance with you" and with out another word he walked off.

The band picked up the pace a little and Sabura bowed to Kagome before they started dancing. Sabura didn't talk much, mainly asked Kagome where she was from and how she got mixed up with Sesshoumaru.

After the song with Sabura ended, Naylor came up and took the next dance. They played a tune between a slow dance and a dancing dance song. Kagome found the northern lord to be almost as fun as Edoksu, but still held a sense of pride like Sesshoumaru and Sabura. She could definitely tell they were all related.

When the song ended, Kagome was a little more than grateful. She looked through a window to see it was very dark, which explained why she was tired.

Naylor bowed "I had a wonderful dance with you Kagome"

Kagome smiled and nodded "I enjoyed it as well, Naylor-sama" she tried to fight back a yawn, but was failing "excuse me, but I believe I will turn in for the night"

Naylor nodded and escorted her back to Sesshoumaru. All 3 lords wished Kagome a goodnight and they would see her at breakfast.

Sesshoumaru escorted Kagome out of the dancing room and down the halls to where their bedrooms were. He was about to leave when a hand on his back shoulder blade stopped him. He turned around to look at Kagome.

"I just wanted to say" she smiled "I had a great time with you tonight and I hope you have a goodnight" she started to walk into her room, but stopped to look at him again "goodnight, Sesshoumaru-sama"

Sesshoumaru gave a curt nod "good night as well, Kagome"

Sesshoumaru watched as Kagome went into her room and then he went to his. In his room, he removed his fur pelt, his weapons, his sash from around his waist, and what about to remove his white heori when he felt something was wrong in the room next to his.

Sesshoumaru shook his head 'I am just confused as to why she had the guts to smile at me with no fear and thank me of all people for a good night' he concluded. Still, the feeling refused to leave and he knew the only way it was going to leave is if he checked her room.

He silently made his way to the door that joined his room to hers and slowly opened it. He took a peak in her room and located her bed where Kagome was already fast asleep in her dress. She had not changed, but instead went straight to bed. Sesshoumaru then looked at the demon hovering over Kagome's form, ready to kill her 'why couldn't my senses be wrong for once?' he growled as he quickly turned and grabbed toukijin before walking fully into Kagome's room.

Kagome could feel someone's hot breath on her and she opened her eyes to see Sesshoumaru at the far end of her room, holding his sword, and held an angry face 'what's he so angry about?' she wondered, she then felt like something was standing on her bed, breathing on her 'wait a minute, the kids are asleep in bed and Sesshoumaru is making his way towards me'... fear was quick to grip her so then who is standing above me? She slowly turned her head to see a spider demon and she screamed.

Sesshoumaru saw the spider demon was about to attack and quickly used toukijin to slay the youkai and it turned to dust. He then looked at Kagome "it seems you are in danger even at night"

Kagome slowly turned his gaze to him "arigato for saving my life" she smiled "that's twice you've saved my life today"

Sesshoumaru gave a simple nod "indeed"

"Well I thank you for killing the demon and will now bid you goodnight, Sesshoumaru" she turned to go lay back down and closed her eyes.

Sesshoumaru growled, "I think not"

Kagome groaned and sat back up "Sesshoumaru, it's late and I'm tired. I'm going to bed"

Sesshoumaru walked closer to her bed "it seems that Naraku is trying to kill you even at night, when I am not there and since I have been ordered by the northern lord to protect you, you will sleep in my chambers"

Youkai- demon

Taiyoukai- great demon

Hai- yes

Arigato- thank you