The procession continued to the gate where they were stopped and Kagome dismounted making sure Naruto was behind her. Jaken walked to the front and sqawked something to the guards. The gates opened and Kagome walked through, as they were walking she felt Naruto stop. She turned to see him staring at the palace his mouth wide open, at the current moment he looked more like a fish then a fox.
"Naruto, you'll catch flies if you stand there like that all day." Kagome yelled back to him, Naruto blushed and ran to catch up with his mother. They were escorted past strong oak doors that led to stone halls, with thick black marble doors. They reached one door that was made of green jade.
"Now when you see the Lord and Lady you must bow like I showed you until he tells you to rise, there will be a lot of other demons there so don't be intimidated and Naruto don't talk unless your spoken to." Kagome instructed she waited until Naruto nodded and she nodded to the dog demon at the door.
"Lady Kagome, the Shikon Miko, and her kit Naruto of Konohagakure." Kagome smiled down at Naruto then her face became cold as steel and she walked past the doors, Naruto followed his mother, all the while watching what she was doing. Her head was held high her eyes showed no emotion and even though her kimono wasn't perfect, after all she had changed into it and had traveled in it, she looked stunning.
Naruto looked around to see other demons, who wore far more extravagant outfits then they did at the current moment. Kagome coughed into her hand grabbing Naruto's attention as she bowed, he flushed following her example and knelt onto the ground his head down low.
"Rise my sister, Kagome." a deep voice said in front of them. "You too nephew." the voice said and Naruto looked up to see Sesshoumaru in all his lordly glory with a beautiful inu demoness was sitting on a cushion lower then him. She had amber eyes and long black hair that demanded respect.
"My lord brother you I apologize for my appearance, we have traveled far and with your permission I request to be excused to refresh." Kagome stated.
Sesshoumaru nodded and Kagome rose indicating for Naruto to follow, they backed walking backwards only turning to walk properly when they were no longer in front of Sesshoumaru. As soon as the jade doors closed Kagome sighed in relief and kissed Naruto on the head.
"I'll explain it all later Naruto, and don't worry you won't have to do that again while were here. But for now let's go to our rooms and clean up." Naruto nodded and followed his mother they walked up what seemed to be an endless amount of stairs. Naruto was surprised his mother could walk this long, finally he was lead to a bedroom with green walls and picture of forest painted on the walls, "This was Shippo's old room, he liked it quite a bit." Kagome said smiling down at Naruto.
"I like it too." Naruto said Kagome smiled, "take a bath and stay in here then we'll talk. I know its been a long day." Kagome said and left.
As she walked down the halls Kagome felt a strange sense of deja'vu she had done this so many times before, and she was glad it only happened once every couple of years, she walked into her room and disrobed walking into her hotsprings and sliding into the tub. She felt so at ease, she knew she would have to keep her guard up.
After her bath Kagome walked into her room wrapped in her towel to see a servant pulling out a white and pink kimono for her, the servant was a butterfly demon. She bowed to her and Kagome smiled, "May I ask your name?" she asked as she stepped behind her dressing screen putting on her undergarments and the under parts of the kimono.
"I am Shin," the servant said, Kagome nodded and stepped out from behind the screen. "Well Shin-san it is nice to meet you." Kagome said and allowed Shin to dress her, "It is a pleasure to meet you too my lady." Shin said
"you must call me Kagome." she commanded and Shin grinned at Kagome as she fixed her hair. "Of course Kagome." Shin said and bowed. Kagome got up thanking Shin and left her room to check in on Naruto.
Naruto was standing blushing as a spider youkai tried to put on his kimono, he was trying to be kind but he was so embarassed. Kagome couldn't help it she laughed, Naruto's head turned to her and he ran over to her hiding behind the folds of her kimono.
"Naru-chan you haven't hid behind my skirts since you were a child." Kagome teased. Naruto blushed as his kimono top fell off his shoulders. Smiling Kagome turned to the youkai who was bowing to her.
"What is your name?" Kagome asked indicating for the demon to rise. "My name is Misa, mi'lady." she replied
Kagome nodded, "Naruto Misa-san is going to help you get dressed every day, it is how it is done for those of importance, I know its awkward but I know for a fact that she'll make you look very nice." Kagome promised. Naruto was pushed by Kagome toward Misa and Misa continued to dress Naruto while Kagome sat in a chair chatting with Misa. When all was done Misa bowed and left the room.
Kagome looked at Naruto's hair and sighed, she couldn't think of how to fix it so it would stay that way. "Now ask your questions." Kagome said. Naruto sat staring at his mother then shrugged, "what's with all this stuff?" naruto asked.
"Its the demon hierarchy, your uncle is the most powerful demon lord in the world, so every half decade he holds a ball, its to count how many demons are left and to make sure that no one is trying to do evil deeds." Kagome stated
"Didn't you also state that it was like a group date for demons too?" Naruto asked. Kagome nodded, "so are you going to be hooked up with some guy?" Naruto asked his claws cracking, Kagome smiled and shook her head and took Naruto's head into her lap rubbing his hair trying to calm him down.
"Naruto my brother is the Lord of the West. Trust me no one is going to force me to get married." Kagome promised. Naruto calmed down his youki relaxing suddenly he bolted up, "Hey mom how many of these things have you been to?" he asked
Kagome smiled down at Naruto, "Well let's see, they five years after Naraku was defeated and I was blood bonded to your uncle three years after that. The well sealed and I stayed with your uncle.. So I've been to all the ones that were held by your uncle and lets see its been five centuries so every half century."
"10 your mother has been to ten of these gatherings and each time she fails to leave with an appropriate mate." Sesshoumaru said from the doorway. Kagome huffed indignantly, "You know its rude to enter a room without knocking, and even more rude to eavesdrop on a conversation." Kagome stated.
"This is my home I will go wherever I please and no conversation in this palace is hidden from me." Sesshoumaru stated to his little sister.
"That's what you think." Kagome mumbled and rolled her eyes. "I heard that." Sesshoumaru said.
Kagome grinned and winked at him, "Is there something wrong?" she asked wondering why he was here. "My pups, are...." before Sesshoumaru could finish there was the sound of yelling as a three voices were heard yelling a softer toned one followed and the yelling stopped. Kagome stood and helped Naruto up.
"It's time to meet your cousins." Kagome said to Naruto. Naruto got up and Sesshoumaru moved into the room. Two teenage inu-demons entered the room one being male the other female, "Aunt Kagome!" the female one yelled and jumped at Kagome hugging her tightly. "hello Ara-chan." Kagome said and petted the young girl who was now taller then her. Kagome looked to the male raising a brow, "Are you not going to greet me rei-chan?" Kagome asked
Reina-katsumaru, rei-chan for short bowed to his aunt ever as stoic as he was as a child. Kagome shook her head, "this won't do, no not at all." Kagome said and moved her index finger sending a pink spark to rei making him jump and yip like when he was a pup.
"Aunt Ka-gome!" Rei yelped his voice cracking Kagome smiled and hugged the demon, Aine entered the room and the two woman glared at each other staring the other down before both simotaneosly burst out laughing.
"Oh Aine-chan!" Kagome said and they embraced warmly, "I've missed you Kagome-chan." Aine replied, A young demon who looked 10 in human years hid behind his mother's skirt.
"Who is this?" Kagome asked as she knelt next to the young pup. "This is Inu-Maru." Aine said. Kagome nodded in understanding looking at the pup, "Well hello Inu-chan, I'm your Aunt Kagome. You know I knew your brother and sister when they were smaller then you are now?" Kagome said.
"you knew Ara, and Rei when they were pups?" the pup asked in wonder. Kagome nodded, "I also knew your Yuki, Shin, and Haru when they were pups in fact I was there for their birthings. unfortunately this is our first meeting. I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner." Kagome stated shaking the pups hand. Inu smiled up at his aunt liking her already, Kagome stood back and brought Naruto over who was looking a bit left out.
"And now for the newest member of our family or at least the newest addition to mine, this is your cousing Naruto Higurashi-Taisho-Uzamaki." Kagome said ruffling Naruto's hair. "Its nice to meet you." Naruto said his face flushing. Kagome smiled at her kit.
"The kit will train with us in the morning Kagome." Sesshoumaru stated. Kagome nodded and rubbed Naruto's hair, "Mom!" Naruto yelled irritated. Kagome looked around and noticed that Shippo wasn't around. Suddenly remembering that she was mad at her brother and her kit she smiled down at Naruto and instructed her nieces and nephews to go out and play. When Rei objected Kagome turned to him, "pup this is not something you want to witness." Kagome said to him making him scamper out of the room.
Aine laughed at Kagome and both woman turned to Sesshoumaru. "Shall we move to your office?" Kagome asked her tone making no room for objection, Sesshoumaru hn'd and he lead the way to his office, "Where is Shippo?" Kagome asked taking a seat on a mat in her brother's office.
"he's off taking reports from his men, he will be here shortly." Aine said and sat across from Kagome, she ordered tea and both women promptly ignored Sesshoumaru talking about their children and how they would never settle down.
"Talking about settling down Kagome, Sess tells me you were with someone the last time he came to see you." Aine said grinning mischievously, Kagome blushed and nodded as the tea arrived and both women nodded to the servant. "His name and please be generous with the details." aine prompted as she poured tea.
Kagome smiled at her sister-in-law, they got along so well. "His name is Hatake, Kakashi, he's 5'9 has gravity defying grayish white hair, he has beautiful onyx eyes and he is such a wonderful kisser, Oh and his body, you could crack a rock against that form." Kagome whispered.
Aine giggled, "So you like him then?" she asked and observed Kagome's blush, "He's a very good man, and I know he can take very good care of me." Kagome said smiling at Aine. Both women shared a knowing look and went back to talking about children.
Sesshoumaru sat observing the two women, they would never find something not to talk about. His eyebrow raised as Kagome leaned in to talk to Aine about something and they both parted giggling like young school girls. Kagome had been talking about that Ningen who she had become attached to. Internally he sighed and shook his head, Aine turned to look at him their bond expressing his worry. She raised and eyebrow but he shook his head slightly promising to converse with her about it later.
She nodded and continued on with her conversation. There was a knock at the door interrupting both women's chatter and Sesshoumaru called for the knocker to enter. Shippo enetered the room oblivious to the fact that his mother was there, "Sesshoumaru-sama, the guards report that there was an attack on kaa-san after all and that she handled it." Shippo stated.
Sesshoumaru nodded and looked to his sister, "Would you like to elaborate?" he asked Kagome, she shook her head and Shippo paled turning around, "Mama. Its so great to see you." he said and ran over to her. she glared at him and he stopped mid-step, "You two sent a small army to come get me. Do you realize the amount of attention that brought to me?" kagome asked.
"We were worried about you." Shippo stated. Kagome raised an eyebrow and smiled at her kit, "It was with the best of intentions." Sesshoumaru stated and Kagome sighed accepting defeat and opened her arms to shippo, "Next time just send five guys not your best generals and some men."
"I cannot promise anything." Sesshoumaru stated and Kagome just nodded knowing that she would be stuck with the two overprotective demons for the rest of her life. "So who's here?" Kagome asked. "Lord Takahama from the North along with his mate Haruka, Lady Tsuki from the east along with her mate Riku, and Lord Ginhabak."
Kagome looked up at Sesshoumaru at the final name and glared at him. "No, I will not be escorting him around this time." she declared, "I wouldn't dream of asking such a request of you, although he may seek you out on his own." he stated.
Kagome sighed and took a sip of her tea, "I'll keep myself occupied with Naruto, that should keep most of them at bay until they find out that I'm not mated." she said smiling at her brother. "And what are you going to do when they find out your not mated?" Sesshoumaru asked.
Kagome's cup froze mid-air and she looked up at Sesshoumaru, "you always have to find a fault in my plans don't you?" she asked. Sesshoumaru simply smirked at her and they both shared a knowing look.
Yeah sorry it took so long, I'm in college now so yeah, um please give suggestions I don't know where to go from here anyways read and review.