(Okay...so I'm back alive and kicking!...thank you all so much for the reviews and stuff...I still can't believe what happened er what's going to happen...eerrr...wat ev...n e ways hope you keep on it!)

Newcomers
The killing sprees had lessened throughout the week. The attempted abductions had completely ceased since that incident at the waterhole. Kagome attended classes sometimes, other times she hung out with the girls, but most of her time was with Sesshoumaru. They became more popular than Inuyasha and Kikyo. Of course Sesshoumaru never admitted it out loud, in a way he couldn't even admit it to himself, but it was an understanding from everyone that there was something going on whether he liked it or not. Today, like any other day, was absolutely normal. Except every other day wasn't normal so today wasn't an absolutely-normal-other-day. Sesshoumaru sat at the stands an unusually cool breeze slid past him; he looked down at Kagome, who was one stand before him. She sat there with her beautiful smile talking to Kanna about Kouga. From what he'd heard she still didn't tell him about her crush. Little hints were given but Kouga still had his eyes on someone else. Miroku was whispering love words with Sango. He whispered something just then that made Sango smile brilliantly. While Sesshoumaru pondered as to what he might've said that would make such a person smile the Geredian Knight Rhiannon entered. The class became silent altogether. His appearance only proved for bad news or good news given the circumstances.

"Good morning! How's it going?" He asked, his eyes scanned the room. "Well, you've all heard about the war at hand? Yes?"

Tension grew, many heads looked up and nodded. Others stiffened. Inuyasha grunted and rolled his eyes. Kikyo lay her head on his shoulder.

"Yes, I thought so." He continued. "Well, we're all going to die!"

A shock ran through the crowd. Then a burst of laughter from Geredian Knight Rhiannon. "I'm just kidding! I'm sorry couldn't help myself."

Papers, furballs, and sticks were thrown at him.

"Alright, alright! The truth is since your exams are coming up so quickly we decided to make this year a little more interesting. The war is at hand almost...sort of not really but we still need fresh people. Killers, anybody to help. Schools such as these have been trying to come up all over the lands and kingdoms. Demons and priestess coming together. As a way of uniting all of these...uh...people...we've decided to hold a huge tournament. Us versus them versus themselves versus ourselves and all that good stuff. When they arrive we shall hold a ball. Afterwards is the tournament. Then another ball to honor the winners." The class began to take this in.

"What makes you think we're up for it?" Sesshoumaru asked. "I know I can beat them I have no reason to prove it to anyone else. If they get in my way sometime later I'll just kill them and that'll be their proof for all to see."

"Yeah, what's in it for us?" Kouga asked, Kanna blushed at his voice.

"I'm glad you asked! Third place will recieve a metal. Second a trophy. First place holders will win ten thousand rubles and an automatic 'A' passing you straight to Knighthood. In which, you can choose the name you are knighted with and that shall be the name you are called for all eternity." He smiled proudly. At the mention of Knighthood Sesshoumaru became hooked.

"But if we pass the exams-" A blonde boy began.

"My dear boy, there are no more exams. The tournament is your exam. As is your behaviour at the ball so keep your wits about you. That is all. Oh no, one more thing. Classes for students with their priestess's will now add on an extra class. Ballroom dancing. Three of you will be chosen to dance the first dance. So bring your dancing shoes. Now, dismissed." Geredian Knight Rhiannon walked away with a satisfied grin. Kagome blushed as she imagined Sesshoumaru and her dancing in the twilight.

Confusion
Kill him...you know you want to...your deepest desire is it not?

Go away! Leave me alone! I love-

Hahahaha! Pitiful! That's what you are! You show him affection and all he does is ignore you...you hate the man...I know you. You loathe him with every inch of yourself for what his father did.

What does his father have to do with anything?

My dear child...poor, sweet, child...set yourself free and your memories will come...Sad you don't even remember your mother...

My mother?

What about my mother?

Hahahaha! You are simply foolish...you have all the answers...I am simply a reminder...A piece of yourself that is trapped behind this inferior mind! I am what you wish to become. I am what you desire. What ever I say you shall do...And so I tell you, you will kill him! You will kill him!

NO! NO!

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

"STOP!" Kagome yelled, Sesshoumaru placed a hand on her shoulder. Tears were filling in her eyes again. She got up and ran away. Sesshoumaru stood and walked the opposite way. Kouga, Miroku, Miko, and Inuyasha followed along. Kanna, Sango, Kagura, and Kikyo followed after Kagome. Everyone else loomed with quizzical looks.

"It happened again!" Sesshoumaru said.

"What do you think he says to her?" Kouga asked.

"I don't know! I don't know! But I swear to God I'll make him pay for every word!"

Ever since their fight Kagome had been acting weird. At first Sesshoumaru figured it was something Naraku did to annoy, to confuse her. But as time progressed he noticed that she seperated herself from him. Kagome began to avoid him. She couldn't look him in the face. Kagome never told him any of what went on inside her head. She hardly spoke to him. Those light walks they had they spent laughing. He liked seeing her happy. He caught her one day banging her head. She was crying horribly. Afterwards he'd confessed to the guys. Miroku, Kouga, Miko, and Inuyasha were the only ones who knew other than himself and Kagome.

"Kagome! What's wrong!" Sango asked, running up to her.

"I'm fine!" Kagome yelled, a burst of her power illuminating her aura. The girls stopped. She was usually mad and wanted to be left alone when she got like that. Kagura and Kikyo backed away. They didn't bother when others didn't want to be bothered. Sango stood her ground and Kanna walked up slowly.

"I can help you." Kanna raised her mirror. A numb feeling filled Kagome's body. It was just her and the mirror. A handsome man appeared behind Kagome. She recognized him from somewhere but she wasn't quite sure where. A voice was heard in the distance.

"Naraku! What are you doing here?"

"She's watching I can feel it!"

"Who is?"

"Kagome." The words pulsed within her. Who were these people? Why did Naraku want her so?

"Cottage grove."

"What?"

"Tell her to come to Cottage grove." A woman's face appeared in Naraku's place. "Tell her to come and see me...her mother..." The word echoed. Something inside Kagome's mind triggered. She began to fall. The scene of Sesshoumaru's father's death played again. The woman on the floor...the dead woman...it was this woman...it was her mother...

A slight thud shook Kagome as her body hit the ground. Confusion amongst the girls loomed. Sesshoumaru had finally appeared, having been convinced my his friends that he should stick by Kagome instead of leaving her her space. Sesshoumaru took her to her room.

"Why won't you tell me?" Sesshoumaru asked the unconcious Kagome.

"Mother..." It came out a small whimper, but he heard it. She had said mother. What was Naraku putting in her mind? He grew aggrivated and went to his room to think.

The New Gang
For the next several weeks ballroom dancing was the new hottes class. Kagome seemed a lot normal after the last incident. And Sesshoumaru was actually looking forward to dancing with Kagome. The Ball was only three days away. Being such the other-younger-students were on trips. Servants were taking care of the decorations. And Sesshoumaru was being forced to pick most of everything. Even though he was not Knighted he was still heir to the thrown. As such he was allowed such services as party arrangements. He had to make up most of his ballroom dancing classes because he was needed for the guest list, decorations, food, and other nuisances that troubled everyother mind but his. It got to the point where Sesshoumaru made all the servants cry when they asked him where he would like to be seated. Kagome being of sound mind-finally-took over for him. He didn't mind. He enjoyed it. Sesshoumaru was still confused about his attraction to this human girl but he began to be aware of how attracted he was.
It happened on the day the newcomers began to arrive...

A pale boy with bright orange hair walked in. A nice brunette followed in after him. They looked around and split up somehow. The girl ended up in the maze, while the young man ended up in Kagome's room. As far as the boy knew it could've been his dorm. Kagome came out of the shower and was surprised to see this strange, cute looking guy there.

"What are you doing here!? Get out!" Kagome began flinging objects. The man evaded them easily, being the skilled fighter that he was. Kagome decided to kick it up a notch. Throwing kicks, punches, and power balls. The man took out his sword and fought back. In two moves she was pinned to the floor. "Let me go you perv!"

"Calm down! I didn't know! I'm one of the people sent here for the tournament." Kagome quit struggling. "Honest look."

He retrieved a small pass from his pocket. It read:

This pass allows the holder

Ichigo

to enter the school in the Asterisk Kingdom

and participate in the Tournament.

Kagome eyes skimmed over it.

"You're Ichigo?" The orange haired boy nodded. At that moment Sesshoumaru entered Kagome's room. From his point of view of Kagome in a towel, naked, and wet with a boy on top of her things didn't seem right for him. "Sesshoumaru!"

Sesshoumaru's eyes went red, his claws grew sharp, and jealousy clouded his judgment. Ichigo went on the defense again and Kagome was trying to stop the feud. In one swift movement Kagome kicked Sesshoumaru in the shin, squeezed his shoulder, and twisted his left wrist. Sesshoumaru couldn't move all his joints were locked tight.

"Kagome!"

"It's not even what you think you perv! I fought him to get out he pinned me down. When you came in he had just identified himself. Everything was an accident!" Ichigo grabbed his sword and walked out.

"This is going to be a fun Tourny. Catch you later!" Ichigo disappeared into the school. Ever since then Sesshoumaru stuck by Kagome and met all the new comers by her side. He hung out with some of them keeping Kagome close to show them who she was with. Many didn't care, others hardly noticed, but there were some that creeped Kagome out competely. Kagome got tired of meeting so many people. There'd be plenty of time later to meet. So she got excited when she found out she could help with the decisions. The new gang running around the school being popular was Ichigo and his friends from where ever he came from. Kagome didn't care. They'd lose either way.

The Ball
Friday afternoon:

The guys were picking their suites. The girls were picking up their dresses. And Kagome was still trying to decide the color.

"Yeah, I got red and purple." Sango said, showing off her ruffled dress. It was very beautiful.

"I got white and blue." Kagura squealed.

"Mine is hazel. It almost looks green." Kanna whispered. "He's actually excited to go with me. He told me so."

The girls squeeled and laughed. They were so excited. Kagome tried to be as happy but she still couldn't help the fact that she didn't know how she was going to wear her hair, didn't have a dress, and Sesshoumaru had hardly spoken about going. Sango turned to her.

"Let's see yours!" Sango chirped. Kagome looked out the window.

"I don't have one! I'm not going!"

"Yes you are!" Kagura asked. "Even if you have to go with me."

They all laughed.

"He hasn't asked me, I have no dress, and I don't feel like going anyways!" At that moment Sesshoumaru entered the conversation as well as Miroku, Kouga, and Miko. Loud talking and laughter kept on until Sesshoumaru cleared his throat.

"Ahem...Kagome. You've been very busy with preperations. So...in order...er...I mean...for...thanks...Oh, here! I hope it fits." And he stalked out of the room. Kagome stood befuddled. Was it an act of kindness or just 'thanks'? Opening the golden yellow box she took out a beautifully decorated green dress. It came with shoes, earings, and an emerald necklace.

"He went all out for this one!" Miroku pointed out. "It should fit.We had help from the ladies."

Kagome looked around, she was so happy. She would go to the Ball.

Somewhere outside Asterisk Kingdom...
Naraku stood. "What do you think? The purple robe a little too much? I don't want to seem over bearing."

The woman smiled. "You look marvelous, but she won't be taken today. He has grown too fond of her. The day is coming and you are losing her a little more everyday."

"Don't worry about the girl. She is falling into place. Sesshoumaru is nothing more than a pawn. He is as naive as his father was."

"Hmph...Sesshoumaru is more ruthless than his father. He would kill you without hesitation."

"No, if his precious Kagome was in question he would hesitate. He is just like his father. His fondness for the girl will be his downfall."

The woman stood. "I'm ready."

"Do you remember your part in this?" Naraku saddled his horse.

"Of course. I get to play follow the leader."

"Well off to the Ball we go."