A/N: Holy freaking God you guys are fricking awesome! I'm serious! I don't think I've ever had this much positive feedback before on anything, let alone my stories! I'm soooo glad (even though originally this was only for Lynn's benefit) that all of you enjoy my work so much. I've had a total of 536 people view this story alone and 272 visitors to this story as well. I'm not entirely sure how many have favorited either me or my story and or followed either but I'm super happy for it! With that in mind, I'd like to say thank you to Stuff2Eat, luna2121, and Angel-Of-Life1990 for your wonderful reviews! I'd also like to say, that if you don't already view the A/N at the end of my stories, at the very least, at the end of chapter 4 you should. It has the links for the entire outfit and makeup and polish Lynn will be wearing at the Mating Ball (which incidentally pushed me over to 15 pages instead of the 14 I was aiming for). Seems like with each chapter the number of pages keep increasing though, lol. The last chapter was 15 MW pages, though on that one I was aiming for 14. I don't know how many I will do on this one, but let's get started shall we? Thanks again, all you lovely readers!
Previously: They had left several days before in order to get to the Western Palace on time and were near about there now. Kurama and Fury had been going over things that she needed to know and reminding her of things that she had already been told, making sure that she was ready to meet all the nobles of all four lands. She listened with half an ear, fidgeting with her hands in the long sleeves of the red kimono, long enough to cover her hands so they wouldn't be immediately obvious that she was flicking her nails in nervousness. It was the same kimono that she had the seamstress sew an intricate design into with black thread days prior. "We're here," she heard her father say suddenly and she looked out the carriage window that they had taken and felt her eyes widen. "Oh…my…God…"
Lynn felt her eyes widen in shock. The Western Palace was huge! Bigger than even some of the mansions she had seen in her time. Not to mention more elegant than any she had seen. The entirety of what she assumed was probably the Palace village and possibly it's market place and God only knew what else, was surrounded by a huge wall, for protection most likely, though what idiot would dare attack someone who was as powerful as every said Sesshomaru was, she hadn't a clue. The gates themselves were huge and looked extremely heavy. She could only imagine what kind of demons Sesshomaru had working for him that could move those gates, either on their own or with the help of wheels and pulleys.
She literally gaped, much to her father and Kurama's amusement, at the market place as they passed through it. She could see rows upon rows of people selling things, be it food, silks, clothes, boots, weapons, jewelry, potions-you name it, it was probably there. "Wow," she found herself muttering. And it only got better from there.
After several minutes they found themselves in the village itself. Even the houses outside of the Palace were relatively big, most likely housing huge families by the look of them. She shook her head in amazement. "This place is crawling with people. And are those humans I smell? I thought he didn't like humans." Kurama chuckled and Fury smiled, but it was her father who answered. "Lord Sesshomaru doesn't hate them per se, but he isn't very fond of them. However, his father, Lord Inu no Taisho, was rather fond of all people, as long as they didn't try to harm what was his. Humans and half-breeds alike. So yes, there are a few humans here that are brave enough to live in a mostly demon village, as well as a couple of half-breeds. Lord Sesshomaru tolerates them because they were here as part of his fathers' people even before he was born, and as ruler of the West, it wouldn't be very prudent of him to send them off merely because he doesn't have a fondness for them."
"So because they were his fathers' tenants before, he lets them stay here?" Fury hummed out an affirmation, seeing as how Lynn was busy admiring the village and its occupants. The houses themselves were mostly made like those of her village, only they seemed…better. "Father, what's up with the houses? They look like ours but different." Fury smirked a bit at that. "That would be because they were built with far superior wood. While they look the same, the people here have the material to make it sturdier, as well as more appealing to the eye. We do not have those particular supplies, as they are rather expensive, so ours are a bit more…primitive I suppose you could say."
"Expensive?" she asked, looking to Fury. "But if it's so expensive, then how is it that these people are able to afford it? They can't all be nobles can they?" "No," Kurama spoke this time, trading an amused look with Fury at Lynn's wonder to the Palace village and it's wonders, "some are nobles. About a quarter of the village population, to be exact. Though there are some elsewhere throughout the West. The ones within the Palace walls have their homes closer to the Palace, to make for easier passing to and from the Palace itself, as there are many things going on daily, like council meetings or births, deaths, other things like that. Even Court, though usually the remaining judgment is left for Lord Sesshomaru, upon his return if he isn't here for the original verdict. The rest can afford to live here either because they themselves are employed by Lord Sesshomaru or their mates are, or they have a stall in the market place and sell both to those who live here, or visitors passing through, including the nobles of the East, South, and North."
"Seriously? How the hell much do they charge people to live the lifestyle here? This is something you'd see like in freaking Las Vegas or something!" Fury and Kurama exchanged confused looks before brushing it off. Lynn had a habit of saying weird things related to her time more often than not, and most times she was able to explain, but there were others where she felt that it was too soon for them to know about it or she didn't know how to explain it herself. Lynn, however, realized what she said, and elaborated. "Las Vegas is a city or village in a place called Nevada, in America, the place overseas that I told you about, that is for people who are rich mostly. They live lavish lives there and spend money on gambling or prostitutes, or even high brand clothes or food." "Ah," Fury said in understanding. "I see. But as I haven't bought anything from here recently, I haven't a clue how much anything here is, though we are not lacking for money, so if you'd like, we can go to the market place closer to the Palace later this evening before the Ball starts to see if you'd like anything, love."
"Really?" she said shocked. "Of course, Feara. After all, I have nearly twenty-four years of spoiling to make up for," he said with a smile. Lynn squealed and launched herself at her father, nuzzling his cheek happily, even as Fury laughed and hugged her close. "Wait," she said after a moment's thought. "You said a market place closer to the Palace. Just how many market places are there?" "Quite a few, love. There's the one at the gate we passed through, which was the West gate, as well as one at the North, South, and East gates. The one closer to the Palace isn't as grand as any of the ones at the gates, being as its mostly necessity things for the Palace itself, and Lord Sesshomaru tends to be overly generous with them, especially on a good day, but the best one here is the Grand Market that we're coming up on now."
"Grand Market?" Lynn said and scooted away to look out the window again. She gasped in awe. "Holy shit…it's even bigger than the first one! And look! They even have a fountain! How the hell did they manage that one?!" she said in shock. All around the fountain and the courtyard it was sitting in as well as extending down the pathways that came from the other directions were tons upon tons of stalls. "This one is bigger because lots of times we'll have foreigners who like to come and trade and sell here. They'll stay at the Inn close by for a discounted price and be here for several days or until they sell all their products. Occasionally they'll find it to their liking and find a home near here if possible," Kurama said, smiling at his cousin. Obviously there was still much for her to learn about demon society, but she had learned a great deal while she was training. Though she'd yet to see a Palace or its surrounding village till now.
Lynn looked on in awe, occasionally pointing out something that looked interesting in excitement as they passed through. It was another few minutes before they got through the last of the stalls of the Grand Market. Lynn pounced on her father's lap again, literally bouncing with energy. "Father, can we come to the Grand Market after we get settled in? We can eat the mid-day meal there and look through the stalls before the Ball starts can't we? Please, father, please?!" she begged, giving Fury the best puppy dog pout and eyes she could. Kurama chuckled at the slightly panicked look on his Uncles' face as Lynn pouted prettily. He already knew that his Uncle couldn't say no to her, both because he loved to spoil his only child rotten and because no one could say no to that cute pout of hers, made ten times worse in her Fox form.
Sighing in mock exasperation, Fury nodded his head. "Yes, Feara, we can come to the Grand Market later. But first we must meet with Lord Sesshomaru and at least let him know we won't be eating the mid-day meal at the Palace and get our things to our rooms in the Palace and then we can go." "Yay!" Lynn squealed and glomped her father, though it wasn't much of a glomp considering she was already in his lap and there wasn't much room for a tackle hug in the carriage. Kurama and Fury both laughed at her excitement.
It wasn't much later that they arrived at the Palace itself, and Fury and Kurama found themselves laughing softly at the awed look on Lynn's face as she craned her neck to look at the gigantic Palace. While the Palace itself was only one story, it towered over them as if it had three stories in it. And that was only the outside. From what she could see, there were several wings, one on either side, and the grand door itself that looked as if it could let a huge animal pass through its doors no problem. The doors themselves were open, though how they opened the doors without a wheel and pulley system she didn't know. Kurama apparently could tell what she was thinking because it wasn't moments after thinking that that he spokes. "Huge, isn't it? The Palace itself was made so that Lord Sesshomarus' Father, as well as Lord Sesshomaru himself, could enter in their humanoid form as well as their true forms."
"True forms?" Lynn asked, confused. "Yes. They are dog demons. The Lord Inu no Taisho was known far and wide as the Great Dog General because he was strong and cunning, as well as kind and lenient to his people. He preferred to give people the benefit of the doubt, even if it cost him dearly in the end, but if you did something grievously wrong and he knew that you didn't feel the slightest bit of remorse for it, look out. His temper is as legendary as his cunning. He had no problem ripping you limb from limb if necessary. He was a great leader, as is his son, the Lord Sesshomaru. Though Lord Sesshomaru rules quiet differently from his Lord Father," Fury answered before Kurama could.
"This Sesshomaru is pleased that you are happy that you think I am a great leader, Lord Youko Fury of the Silver Fox clan," came Sesshomaru's voice, surprising them all. Kurama and Fury had been distracted by the past and Lynn was just enthralled with the story and Palace in general. Fury turned from Lynn and addressed Sesshomaru. "My Lord Sesshomaru, it is good to see you again," Fury said with a bow. Kurama, who had changed into his Youko form at the gate to make it easier on himself, bowed as well with a murmured, "Lord Sesshomaru." Lynn, not knowing what else to do, bowed a bit herself, but didn't address him. Sesshomaru's golden gaze slipped from Fury to Kurama. "Ah, if it isn't the legendary Youko Kurama the thief. This Sesshomaru hopes that a warning doesn't need to be said about stealing anything of mine during your stay here."
"Of course not, My Lord. I am well aware it could be considered treason to steal from ones' Lord," Kurama said with a vulpine grin. "Though I'm certain that if a few things missing from the neighboring Lords and Ladies won't be missed." "Hn," Sesshomaru hummed out, barely withholding a smirk. It was rather well known that he didn't care for the Lords or even the Ladies of the neighboring directions. "Let it not happen while they are here. I would prefer not to have my ears talked off with how scandalizing it is to have their things stolen while in the Western Palace," Sesshomaru murmured, not at all opposed Kurama stealing from the opposing lands. "Of course not, My Lord," Kurama said with a bow.
Sesshomaru actually did smirk then at the look on Kuramas' face. He wouldn't be at all surprised if he got letters concerning missing items a few days after the Mating Ball. His smirk fell a bit when he noticed the female with them, tilting his head a bit to the side and curiosity. "Ah. So it's you," he murmured as he eyed Lynn up and down. "I was wondering if you'd appear in front of this Sesshomaru again." Lynn bristled, not sure if she was being insulted or not, and started to retaliate, but Fury, knowing his daughter as he did, quickly jumped in. "Oh, yes, My Lord. May I introduce you to my only child, Youko Feara?" he said quickly, making Lynn blink, realizing that he was covering for her in fear that she would upset Sesshomaru. Her ears pressed back into her hair in despair.
Sesshomaru himself was rather shocked. "Your daughter? I wasn't aware that you had any children, Lord Fury." "It's quite a long story, My Lord. Needless to say, my child is returned to me, and I am very happy for it. I must also apologize, My Lord." "Whatever for?" Sesshomaru asked, his face showing nothing but his normal stoic expression, but his voice was laced with curiosity and confusion if you knew him well enough to notice. "I was made aware by my nephew Kurama that my daughter attacked and insulted you. I ask that you forgive her, My Lord, as she wasn't aware of who you were at that time." Sesshomaru looked to the girl in question, noting her dejected look that even reached her tail and eyes.
"It is of no consequence," Sesshomaru finally murmured. Fury looked at him in surprise. "My…Lord?" he said, shock and confusion lacing his voice and showing on his face. Sesshomaru merely waved it off. "Originally, this Sesshomaru was insulted that a mere human woman, though she smelled of your clan, felt she could get away with insulting and attacking me. However, this Sesshomaru is aware that she had no idea of either who I was or who she herself was. I expect that she now knows who this Sesshomaru is and will keep her tongue in check this time. I will not be so lenient again." Fury bowed deeply while Kurama hugged a dejected Lynn to him. "I thank you, My Lord. As does my daughter."
"Hn," Sesshomaru said, absently accepting the apology while never taking his eyes off the dejected Fox. 'So it would seem she managed for herself very well after I left her,' Sesshomaru mused to himself, surprised that he found her quite beautiful, both in her Fox form and in her human form. Though nothing would come of such thoughts, he felt that there was no harm in admiring from afar. He had no intentions of becoming attached to anyone anytime soon. Fury, who had straightened up a while ago, looked between Sesshomaru and his daughter. 'It would seem,' Fury thought as he eyed the look on Sesshomaru's face, though it hadn't changed much, 'that Kurama was correct in thinking Lord Sesshomaru feels something for Feara.'
"By the way, My Lord," Fury said, drawing Sesshomaru's attention from Lynn, "Kurama, Feara and I have decided that once we have everything settled, we will be going to the Grand Market and spending a good bit of time there today. Feara has never been to a Grand Market before and is keen on going, so we will not be here for the mid-day meal. I just wanted to let you know." "That is fine. Perhaps you should hurry then, if that is your plans. It is nearly mid-day now, and I imagine the Market will be getting rather crowed here soon, what with all the nobles coming for the Ball," Sesshomaru said, his nose scrunching up a bit at the word "Ball", most likely because he detested such things.
"Of course, My Lord," Fury said, bowing again, waiting until he had a nod of approval from Sesshomaru to follow the waiting servants carrying their things to their rooms. Fury grabbed Lynn's hand and pulled her to him as they were walking, hugging her close. "No need to be upset, little love. I am not angry with you for before. It wasn't your fault and you weren't aware. Thankfully Lord Sesshomaru realized this and isn't angry with you either for it. Though it is a good thing Kurama found you when he did. I'd hate to think what would have happened if he didn't." Kurama came up beside her, holding her free hand and squeezing it in reassurance. "Uncle is right, Feara. Everything is ok. No need to feel upset. It's over and done with, and now you know better. Even Lord Sesshomaru has forgiven you."
Lynn knew they were right, but she still felt bad that her father felt it necessary to cover for her mistake, and she nearly made the same mistake not minutes ago when Sesshomaru spoke earlier. She looked up when Fury and Kurama stopped and saw the servants opening a door. She gasped in surprise when she saw the room itself. It was huge! The only thing she could compare the room to in her own time is a private suite at an expensive hotel, and even then, this room surpassed even that. While it didn't have its own kitchen with electronic appliances, the beauty and style of the room was better than any hotel she had ever seen. The first room itself was merely a sitting room of sorts.
She gaped as they walked into the room, the servants ahead of them to put their things away for them. She spun in a circle, trying to take in everything. The walls were decorated with either lavish tapestries depicting battles between giant dogs and gorgeous paintings mostly of landscapes. To her right was nothing but a writing desk and a few chairs to lounge in should one feel like it. In the middle of the room was a small table surrounded by cushions for guests and their friends to sit and drink tea at if they wished. To the left was a huge fireplace and several chairs to lounge in, as well as huge cushions for anyone who wanted to lounge in front of the fire. Tucked away in the upper left corner of the room was a table with two chairs, which looked to have a beautiful chess set on its surface. 'I didn't know they played chess in this time period,' Lynn thought to herself.
At the upper portion of the room was two large doors that were opened and led into another room. At her father's urgings, she walked into the next room and gasped anew. 'This room is fucking awesome!' Lynn found herself thinking. She spun around looking at this room, making herself dizzy with all that she was trying to take in. The bedroom was huge, the same size, if not bigger, than the sitting room. On the left wall was two huge four poster beds, big enough to fit at least five people into each one, with nightstands on either side of each bed. They both had sheer drapes of silver hanging from the top. The covers on the bed were silver as well, with gold threaded into swirls decorating the majority of it. Which was gorgeous in her opinion, and kind of reminded her of Sesshomaru with his silver hair and golden eyes.
At the upper portion of the room was two open doors that led outside to a balcony that overlooked a gorgeous garden, full of every type of flower and blooming tree imaginable. Lynn wondered idly if there was a way to get to the garden but dismissed it for now in favor of looking at the rest of the room. To the left from bottom to top was a screen for changing behind in the corner, a door that seemed to be a walk in closet from what she could see, an armoire between the closet and the next door, which she could only assume led to the bathing room. In the upper corner sat a good sized fireplace, currently unlit as it was rather warm out at the moment. "Man," she said to herself, "Sesshomaru must be loaded if all his rooms look as good as this one."
Fury and Kurama chuckled, ignoring the servants who frowned at the lack of respect that Lynn showed towards their Lord. "Considering the products made and traded here, I'm quite sure he is," Fury said, laughter in his voice. "Yes, it is well known that the entire Palace itself has many priceless things in each room," Kurama added, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Don't even think about it Kurama," Fury warned. "Don't worry Uncle, I won't be making that mistake. Even if I did manage to get away with anything of value, Lord Sesshomaru would hunt me down to the ends of the earth for daring to steal from him."
The servants left them to their own devices as they set about getting ready to go to the Grand Market. "Hey, Father, do I have to wear this kimono to the Market? I think I'd rather wear my fighting outfit if I'm going to be in the Market until the ball starts. When does that stupid thing start anyway?" Lynn asked, looking at herself in the full length mirror she found in the armoire. "I don't think it will hurt to wear your fighting clothes to the Market, however, I don't think you'll be able to hide your toys with it. And it starts as soon as it gets dark," Fury said in amusement. Lynn frowned a bit, having not thought of that fact. She had her throwing knifes hidden beneath her kimono strapped to her leg with a pouch that she had made with the help of the village blacksmith and her Warrier strapped inside the sleeve of her kimono, strapped to her arm. It was true that she wouldn't be able to hide them with it.
She shrugged lightly, deciding that she didn't need it. "It's all good. Since Kurama taught me how to use plants for weapons and how to hide them in my hair no matter what length it is I can just use them if I need to. I don't think I should need it in the Market place, but at least with that I can use it to my advantage should something come up. Then I'll kick major ass!" she said enthusiastically, striking a pose, causing Fury and Kurama to laugh. "Well then, Princess, by all means, get changed into your fighting clothes so we can leave," Fury laughed out.
"'Kay!" she said and closed her eyes, concentrating her Youkai and changing her kimono into her white slippers, white pants that were cinched at her ankles and tied with a white sash at her waist, and her white sleeveless kimono length yukata with slits in each side and tied closed with another white sash that was knotted at the side, leaving the ends of the sash to hang at her side. She left her hair down, it hanging just below her butt in a mass of silver. Twirling and causing said hair to flare out as she twirled, she smiled. "Ready!" she said and skipped over to the door, much to the two males' amusement.
Fury and Kurama followed a newly happy Lynn out of their room, following the directions from nearby servants to the main entrance and out into the mid-morning sunlight. Sesshomaru was still outside greeting the arriving nobles and literally stopped talking mid-sentence-not that the three Foxes paid any mind to it-and stared at the now energetic Lynn skipping ahead of her father and cousin towards the Market. The nobles he had been talking to looked to see what he had stopped talking for and found themselves gaping. They were from the south, dragon demons to be more specific-though their alliance with the west was shaky at best. Lord Take and his son Draco (yes, I totally just borrowed J.K. Rowling's Draco-the name at least since it literally means dragon-or so I've heard) of the dragon clan stared at the beautiful Foxes. While Lord Take was partial to either sex, his son merely gaped at the female of the group.
Sesshomaru, noticing this, cleared his throat delicately, before speaking again. "Excuse this Sesshomaru, Lord Take. I was momentarily distracted. As you were saying?" Lord Take looked back at him reluctantly, though his son was still staring much to Sesshomaru's dismay. "Yes…I was saying that regardless of our former Lords', Lord Ryukotsusei, attacks on your Lord Father and his lands that it shouldn't make us enemies. Though we are natural enemies, I believe that it would be best for all involved if we could form a better alliance with each other. Perhaps with an arranged marriage? Draco is my eldest, but I have several children you can choose from if you wish. Or even nieces and nephews if you so choose."
Draco outwardly cringed at the thought of mating with Sesshomaru, being as he was more attracted to the opposite sex. No one, not even Draco, could deny the drop dead sexiness of the demon Lord before him. But the thought of marrying someone as cold-blooded as Sesshomaru didn't sit well with him, though he knew that if that was what would be required of him, he'd have no choice but to do it. Sesshomaru himself restrained himself from sneering at the dragon before him, noticing his son cringing at his fathers' offer. He himself couldn't say that he would desire a mating with either dragon, or any of his other relatives. While it was true that he shouldn't hold every dragon responsible for his Lord Fathers' death due to his fight with their Ryukotsusei, it didn't make him want to get along with them any more than necessary, even if they would be a powerful ally.
As it was, he was as close as he wanted to be with the Lord of the South, Lord Takai. And he was a mixture of two different dragons, fire and ice, quite literally. That made him quiet powerful in his own rights. Right up on his own power level, and in a fair fight, there would be no telling who would come out on top. Speaking of… "Lord Take, I do hope that you are not bothering our friend Lord Sesshomaru with talks of mating. You know he isn't one for such things," Takai said from behind the two dragons, having just arrived. Take and Draco turned and Take smiled before they both bowed to their current Lord. "My Lord. I was merely suggesting that he take into consideration a mating with a dragon to strengthen the alliance between the West and the dragons of the South."
"Is that so, Lord Take? Well, there is no need. I have no quarrel with either Lord Sesshomaru or even his Lord Father-may he rest in peace-and see no need to further our alliance with a mating unless he finds someone to his liking, which I'm sure he doesn't…at least not among our clan, my dear Lord Take." "As you wish, My Lord," Take said, bowing again, before ushering his son off to settle in their room. "Lord Sesshomaru, how nice it is to see you again," Takai murmured after the other two dragons went on their way. "Lord Takai," Sesshomaru said by way of greeting. "Forgive me if I overstep my bounds, but am I correct in assuming that you've got your eye on a Fox, My Lord?"
Sesshomaru stiffened and frowned mentally. "I should hardly think so, Lord Takai, and you would do well to keep to your own business. If I had intentions of mating anyone, be it a Fox or otherwise, or even courting them, I would have made that clear long before now. I haven't the time for such trivial things." 'Damn that perceptive dragon. If we weren't friends, I'd kill him,' Sesshomaru thought idly. "Now, now, Sesshomaru," Takai said, dropping the formalities. "Don't leave your best friend hanging from a proverbial limb." Sesshomaru arched a brow at the dragons' audacity of both dropping the formalities and calling himself his best friend. Though now that he thought about it, one could say that this was true, even given the animosity between the dragon clan and his.
"I haven't a clue as to what you are talking about," Sesshomaru said, skirting the issue. "Aww, Sesshomaru," Takai said playfully and pouncing on him, much to his surprise, and hanging from his shoulders. "Don't play coy. I saw how you were looking at the female Fox. She is quiet beautiful, even though she smells of a half breed. Though her scent is rather nice, if I do say so myself." Growling, Sesshomaru clenched his hands to keep himself from ripping the dragon draping himself on his person a new one. "Exactly, Takai, she is a half-breed. It's bad enough that I have a sort of alliance with my bastard brother, I refuse to even think about or even contemplate mating one. Now remove yourself from my person or you will be missing a few limbs."
He was bluffing and they both knew it. Though Takai did remove himself. He was the only one other than Rin and a few of the older servants that had been there since before his Lord Fathers' rule that were allowed such liberties without fear of retribution, but even he had limits. "Half-breeds aren't so bad, you know. I know you've seen that from your brother. Though I think she is a bit different from Inuyasha, in terms of being a half-breed. I think you should get to know her before you decide she's not worth it." "And who are you to be giving this Sesshomaru advice, Takai?" Takai merely grinned. "Your best friend," he replied before turning and walking off towards his room. He had been there so many times to bug Sesshomaru and become good friends with him that he knew where his room was without asking.
Sesshomaru merely shook his head at his "friends'" antics and continued on with greeting the arriving Lords and Ladies of the neighboring lands. He had yet to see The Lord of the North or East, though he was sure it wouldn't be much longer in coming. If he wasn't mistaken, Koga of the wolf tribe and his mate Ayame was now the Lord of the East. He wouldn't be surprised if Koga had met up with his idiot half-breed brother and was even now coming with him and his ragtag group of friends that he called pack. The Lord of the North probably wouldn't be much longer either. The peacock Youkai was always "fashionably late" as he liked to call it. Lord Kazuya was one of the most sensual people that he knew. Given that he was a peacock Youkai, he was rather surprised the demon didn't have a mate yet, considering that he could do the smallest thing and make it sexual and everyone in the vicinity of him would become instantly aroused, and unfortunately, he was no exception.
Thankfully, though, he was able to control himself enough to not embarrass himself with an obvious erection around the damned bird. Sighing almost inaudibly, he tried to refrain from rubbing his forehead or the bridge of his nose to assuage his oncoming headache. He really hated having to host these kinds of events. He didn't even like going to them though he was required to in order to keep up appearances. He shook his head and looked at the retreating Foxes. Even with his superior eye sight he could barely make them out. If it weren't for their mass of silver hair, he probably wouldn't have been able to tell it was them. 'Get to know her, Takai? You must be out of your mind,' he thought idly.
Meanwhile, Lynn was happily skipping ahead of her father, anxious now to get to the Market, wondering what all she would see and possibly eat. While she could be a picky eater, she found that in her Fox form, pretty much everything tasted better and she liked things that she didn't like as a human before. Kurama and Fury merely talked among themselves, keeping an eye on Lynn. She occasionally contributed to the conversation but mostly she just kept turning to tell them to "hurry it the hell up", at which point they would just chuckle and catch up, only to get separated again as she skipped further ahead.
When they finally made it to the Market, Lynn felt her excitement overflow, which showed by how high her ears stood up as well as her tail standing straight up and swishing from side to side in her excitement. She seriously wanted to run off and look at all the pretty things that were likely to be there. Jumping in place as she waited for her father and Kurama to catch up, she tried to see what all there was without running off. "Go ahead Feara. We'll catch up. Let me know if you find something you like," Fury said when he noticed her bouncing in place. Lynn looked to her father, pure excitement flowing through her. "Are you sure Father?" she asked.
He smiled and nodded and shooed her off with a wave of his hand. Grinning, she sped off. "Just make sure to raise your Youkai if you get into trouble so we can find you!" Fury shouted after her, watching as she waved back letting him know that she heard. Fury shook his head at his daughters' antics and turned to Kurama. "She's something, isn't she?" Kurama smiled and nodded. "That she is Uncle. And you can't say no to her either, Uncle. You're going to spoil her at this rate." "Heh," Fury laughed out. "Isn't that what fathers are for? Spoiling their only child that they haven't seen in twenty-four years?" "Well, yes. Though I daresay that you would spoil her even if she had grown up here a full blooded Fox." "Indeed," Fury agreed.
They spent the rest of the day following the trail Lynn left behind, thinking they caught up with her at several points only to discover that she had already flitted off to another stall. When they finally did catch up to Lynn, she happily took them back to several stalls that she had found something she liked in and asked them to hold onto for her until she could get her father to pay for it. She found many things that she liked, she later told them, but she chose the ones she wanted most and had them hold it for her and tried to keep the prices to a minimum.
Then she took them to several food stalls, trying all manner of different things. After that, she finally calmed down enough to look at the different stalls with them both, occasionally finding things in the different stalls that caught her interest. When they came upon the stall that sold weaponry, she only glanced at it at first, but then she saw something that caught her eye and walked over to it, not realizing that Fury and Kurama hadn't noticed her stopping. She looked at the beautiful sword that was nearly the length of her arm, which had intricate designs of vines and small flowers on the blade itself. The hilt itself was wrapped tightly with violet cloth and looked as if it would fit well into the hand of a female. Considering that the sheath displayed below it was also violet and had the same designs as the blade only with green vines and pink flowers, she was relatively sure it was made for a girl.
Fury and Kurama had only gotten a couple of stalls away before they realized that Lynn was no longer following and stopped, looking around for her. Kurama found her first and nudged his Uncle, pointing her out to him when he had his attention. Fury and Kurama looked at each other before shrugging and walking back over to her. "Find something you like, love?" Fury asked, noticing her fixated gaze. Following her gaze, he found the object of her affection. "That's quite a beautiful blade, Feara," he murmured, approving her taste in weaponry, at least on this front. "This humble merchant is glad to have his work approved!" the merchant crooned when he heard Fury's praise. "How much are you asking for the blade?" Fury asked, startling Lynn out of her stupor.
"Oh, Father, there is no need! You've already bought me so much! As much as I like the sword, it's likely to cost way too much!" "Hush now, Feara. I told you, money isn't an issue." He looked back to the merchant, ignoring Feara's "But, Father," and waited patiently for the merchant to tell him the price. "Fifty-two thousand, one hundred and twenty yen," the merchant said, causing Lynn's mouth to drop. She knew that in terms of money, if it were US currency, one dollar would go a long way in foreign countries, but she didn't know how much, so she couldn't say for sure whether the guy was just spouting an outrageous price or if that was a good deal or not, but fifty-two grand sounded like way too much to be spending on a sword, even if she did like it. "Father!" she tried to protest, but he ignored her again and pulled out a bag from his pouch that held several priceless golden goblets and handed the man three of them. "Will this be enough?" he asked.
Now it was the merchant's turn to have his mouth drop. That was more than enough apparently as he eagerly took the goblets from Fury and waved for him to take the sword. "Father, that was much too much!" Lynn protested again even as Fury grabbed the sword and its sheath and sheathing the blade, testing its weight as he did. Satisfied, he handed her the blade. She took it reluctantly, feeling bad that he was spending that much money on her. "Lynn, dear, really. It's ok. Uncle wouldn't have bought it if he couldn't afford it. We aren't as rich as Lord Sesshomaru, but we aren't dirt poor either. Don't feel bad about it, ok?" "Ok," she said quietly, still rather upset. She threaded the sword between her body and a strand of the sash at her waist on her left side.
When it got closer to night time, they began heading back, Lynn once again bouncing ahead of them full of energy, only this time it was nervous energy. She had never been to a Ball, or even a dance other than Homecoming and Prom in high school, and even then, she didn't dance well. Though she was sure that with the help from Kurama and her father, as well as that of her own Youkai, that she would be fine. She nervously chewed on her lip as they made it back to the Palace and retired to their room to get ready for the Ball. 'This is going to be a long night…'
A/N: Woo! Done! I could have continued to make it a longer chapter to make it 15 pages for chapter five, but the Ball scene is coming up and I'd rather cut it off here and save the entirety of the Ball scene for the next chapter. Tell me how you liked my made up Cardinal Lords-minus Koga of course. I'm not entirely sure Koga is a Cardinal Lord, but he is for this story! Lol! Anywho, I want to say thank you to everyone who reads this, as well as immortal-lover14 who reviewed after I started writing chapter 5, otherwise I'd've said thanks at the beginning and I was being lazy and decided to put it here instead of going all the way back up and put it up there. Heh. Anyway, please read and review! Oh, and Merry Christmas! Or Happy Holidays! Or whatever your holiday religion happens to be!