Kagome quickly came down the stairs, and found her way into the kitchen. Dai Onna was sitting calmly, peeling vegetables for the dinner. She glanced over to Kagome and laughed.

"You look terrified. You need to relax before you go out there." She gestured to the door that lead to the dining hall. "If they smell your fear, they'll eat you alive."

"They? As in more than one?" Kagome took a deep breath. "I don't know if I can just stand there coolly."

"Just relax. Have something to drink." Dai Onna gently set a cup in front of her and continued. "I do not believe that Master Sesshomaru would let anything happen to you. The fact that he gives you such freedom means he cares, right?"

Kagome hesitated, not sure of the answer. After a long moment, she shrugged. "Either way, I don't really have much of a choice…"

Dai Onna looked sympathetic. "If you need anything, let me know."

Kagome nodded. "Thank you."

Kagome walked out of the kitchen. Resigned to her fate, she decided to pace the hallway. She ran through all the possibilities in her mind and became unnerved by the different scenarios she had thought up in her mind. She started to feel uneasy and began making her way to the courtyard. She moved quicker than she thought she could, and before long she was in the courtyard.

Kagome took in the beautiful scenery, relaxing bit by bit. She sat on the stone bench, slowly calming herself down.

After calming down, Kagome stood to go back to the dining hall where she was requested. She took a step forward and found her dress to be caught on something. She looked for the source of the snag and found Kirara curled up under the bush beneath the bench, her claws grasping the edge of Kagome's dress. Kagome immediately felt a sense of dread. She knew Kirara was fiercly loyal to her owner, Sango, and would never abandon her. Seeing her confirmed all her fears. She felt a tear roll down her cheek as she thought of all her friends being slaughtered. Blinking away more tears, she scooped up Kirara and began making her way towards her room.

She made it to the top of the stairs and was inches away from her room when she was stopped by Jaken.

"What are you doing here? You are supposed to be in the dining hall, anticipating Lord Sesshomaru's guests." He put a hand up to push Kagome along, and Kirara growled. "What was that? Did you bring a filthy beast in here? Lord Sesshomaru will be furious! I will find him, so he can properly deal with you." Jaken called two guards to Kagome's door and pushed her inside.

After a long time, the door finally opened and Sesshomaru stepped in. "What is this Jaken is ranting about you smuggling an evil beast into my castle?" He seemed agitated, but Kagome was unsure if it was directed at her.

"It's Kirara. She used to belong to my friend. She wouldn't be here if my friends were still alive…" Kagome trailed off, her mind flooding with gory images.

"Do you wish to keep her as your companion?" Sesshomaru asked, his tone inflectionless.

"If you would allow me, I would." Kagome sighed, relieved she wasn't getting in trouble.

Sesshomaru stood. "I'll send someone up to get her situated. In the meantime, I need you to follow me."

Kagome nodded and left Kirara in her room, and closed the door behind her. She decended down the stairs, Sesshomaru right behind her. She made her way to the dining hall door and hesitated before opening it.

A/N~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am so sorry for the delay between my most recent additions, I just moved, so it's been a little caotic. I finally have my computer and stuff hooked up, so expect more in the future!