A/N: Ladvarian is actually a Brown and White Sceltie dog! Sorry for the confusion! strokes Queen of the Darkness Just finished reading it AGAIN... eh eh...moving on!

Chapter 10

Naraku's Dilemma

"What do you smell?" Daemon stepped out onto the balcony, studying Inuyasha's form perched on the railing, his nose sniffing the air curiously.

"Sesshoumaru is back,"

"Did he really ever leave?"

"He wasn't too far away," Inuyasha murmured, still sniffing the air. "But something is wrong,"

Daemon shifted behind him, sending out a psychic probe throughout the estate. "Lady Rin isn't here,"

"Exactly,"

Daemon joined Inuyasha at the railing, lighting a thin black cigarette and inhaling deeply. "What do you suggest, Lord?"

Inuyasha looked at him, an eyebrow raised slightly. "Steer clear of Sesshoumaru and keep any mention of Rin to a minimum if possible. She could be in some kind of trouble or they just ran off to share a night away from the rest of us. Either way, it's probably a sensitive subject,"

"Understood," But Daemon didn't leave. Inuyasha waited, but knew the man was smarter than the average human, Blood or otherwise, then he'd ever had to deal with other than Miroku, who seemingly knew when something was wrong and when there was more to something than what Inuyasha actually told them.

"There's a scent that I vaguely recognize in the garden...Rin's scent is also very strong there,"

"Could this scent be of an enemy?"

"No, whoever this was is Blood, that much I know,"

Daemon's golden eyes narrowed. "Friend or foe?"

"I don't know,"

"I didn't sense anything unusual. It could have been one of the Kindred from the woods."

"It wasn't Kindred, their scents are different,"

Daemon looked out towards the woods taking another puff of his cigarette before putting it out. "The walls remember,"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Inuyasha snarled as Daemon readjusted his shirt sleeves and hopped over the railing, sailing gracefully to the ground. "He moves like a damn cat," Inuyasha muttered, following him closely, his nose sniffing the air again. Daemon reached the bench first after Inuyasha had muttered a gruff, "Over there," upon entering the garden in question. Daemon's slender fingers traced the oak of the bench and paused over a particular spot. "That explains the familiar scent you mentioned. Surreal had been on this bench,"

"You can sense that?"

Daemon nodded, disturbed that whatever memory had been present of the conversation the two women must have had was now gone. Was it a personal matter that Surreal had chosen to wash away, or was it something else?

It wasn't long at all before they realized that Jaenelle had joined them, looking mildly grim. "Lady Zhara is holding a ball this weekend in Amdarh. She's requested our presence there,"

Daemon growled, turning away from the bench to face his wife. "Why?"

"Because Surreal is going," That midnight voice rolled over the both of them, sharpening Inuyasha's senses. Something about Surreal being there made Jaenelle want to be there as well.

"So what?" Daemon asked, shrugging. But Jaenelle's sapphire eyes didn't waver, neither did that midnight voice.

"We need to be there," Jaenelle said sternly. "Surreal has a new playmate in her life that could present quite a stir."

Daemon's eyes instantly narrowed. "Who?"

"Zhara says his name is currently unknown, but that she's seen Surreal with him and invited them both,"

"That doesn't mean he's a problem," But Inuyasha paused at the sharp look he received from those sapphire eyes.

"I believe that he is," Which was enough to make the air around him suddenly go thirty degrees colder. Inuyasha glanced at the ring of ice at Daemon's feet and chose not to make too much of a move. Daemon was the reason the temperature had dropped suddenly.

"Lord,"

"Yes?" Inuyasha asked cautiously.

"You'll need a change of clothes for this. I suggest you tell your brother that he will be joining us as well. He's diplomatic and will be greatly respected by Lady Zhara's court. Kagome and Sesshoumaru will accompany us to the ball."

"What!" Inuyasha leapt forward, astounded. "And I?"

"You will keep watch from outside of the ballroom. If something goes wrong, it is you and Lucivar that I trust to handle it. The matters on the inside will be dealt with by myself, my Lady, and the other members of the coven."

"And Kagome?" Inuyasha growled, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

"She will be the distraction amongst the court. If our enemy shows his face there, Kagome will provide the cover necessary for our actions against him," Daemon looked dead at Inuyasha and all protests from the hanyou were silent. So was this what Lucivar had meant by Daemon going cold?

"Prince," Jaenelle murmured, bringing that cold stare away from Inuyasha and back to herself. "Inform Saetan of our intentions. I'll fetch Kagome and send for Rainier. In the meanwhile, I would suggest warming yourself." Her voice changed then. "There's no way I'm snuggling against an ice cube tonight,"

Inuyasha glared at his brother's back, annoyed greatly by the fact that he even had to deal with his Youkai brother at all and by the fact that Sesshoumaru would be dancing with his Kagome throughout this entire ordeal. Kagome hadn't been too happy about the news, but wasn't willing to argue the issue. She was too emotionally drained to bother putting up a fight anyway.

But Inuyasha was ready to argue that issue every chance he got. He didn't like that idea one bit. Not because he didn't like his brother because he didn't, but because he didn't trust his brother. At least, not with Kagome.

"What do you want, half-breed?"

Inuyasha scowled, baring his fangs. "Daemon has a job for you,"

"Does he?" Sesshoumaru smirked as he turned and faced his Hanyou brother. "It must be something of importance if he didn't ask you to do it,"

"He believes," Inuyasha snarled, glaring. "that you are more diplomatic and the 'court games' as he so delicately put it, would be more suited to someone like you. I can't help but notice the blatant similarities between the two of you. Of course, when Jaenelle has her moons blood, he doesn't go running with his tail between his legs."

Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed crimson red for a brief moment before they returned to normal.

"Delicate subject, Sesshoumaru?" Inuyasha asked, his voice steady and taunting. "It just kills you that you're turning out to be like our father only he embraced his love of humans openly. What a waste, I say. Rin actually thought that she could change you, but she was wrong."

Sesshoumaru growled again, his claws piercing the skin at his palms. "Get on with it, brother,"

"Just go see Daemon. He'll fill you in, I'm sure," Inuyasha turned, smirking at having flustered his brother. "And by the way, Rin has gone missing."

"Oh, but..." Kagome fidgeted nervously as Jaenelle dragged her into the large ball room. "I don't know how to dance..."

"You will," Jaenelle said gently, smiling. "Rainier will teach you,"

A rather handsome looking warlord bowed to her, kissing her knuckles. "You must be Lady Kagome,"

Kagome blushed, nodding hastily to avoid any kind of embarrassing speech. "Dancing for court isn't as complicated as you might think. But I'm afraid that you're going to be dressed rather fancy so it might seem a bit difficult. So I shall teach you the steps in casual clothes and then move on to trying it in a dress and heels."

"Heels?" Kagome paled, groaning. "I hate heels..."

"Come," Rainier smiled, leading her out into the center of the room. Jaenelle selected an appropriate music crystal and activated it, watching as Kagome awkwardly let Rainier lead her in a simple, less complicated dance. Kagome, entranced by Rainier's skill and blatant chivalry, blushed fiercely as she stumbled through the dance. "Step, 2, 3, 4," Rainier chanted evenly, adjusting Kagome's arms as he continued the simple dance with her.

Inuyasha growled, leaning against the wall with a look of distaste on his face. Jaenelle giggled at him. "You've nothing to worry about, lord Inuyasha. Rainier is...well...he's not a ladies man."

"Excuse me?"

Jaenelle just grinned. "Rainier is an excellent dancer, as are many males in the courts, but like a few others, while he adores entertaining and dancing with the ladies, his sexual interests lie elsewhere,"

Inuyasha choked suddenly, avoiding her eyes. "Great...Maybe he'll make a pass at Sesshoumaru,"

Jaenelle laughed, shaking her head slightly. "Well, perhaps he will after Daemon gets Sesshoumaru fitted for a tux,"

"A what?" Inuyasha just stared at her. A moment passed in silence before Inuyasha hit the floor, rolling around in laughter. Unfortunately for him, Kagome had stumbled at that exact moment, heard his laughter, and had taken it as an insult towards her terrible dancing. So, of course, only Inuyasha seemed surprised at the sound of that too familiar command as it bounced off the walls. "SIT BOY!"

Rainier chuckled at the sight and was able to regain Kagome's attention once more to try the dance again. Karla, rolling her eyes, stepped over Inuyasha's floor plastered form as she came into the room.

"Well, darling, how is it going?"

"So far so good. There isn't a living being in all the realms that Rainier can't teach to dance. Save for the dragons maybe, but then again he does love a challenge,"

Karla snickered as Inuyasha pushed himself upright again. "I wasn't laughing at her..."

"Kiss, kiss," Inuyasha glared at Karla, his arms folded over his chest.

"Feh,"

"Meow..." Kilala had found her way into the room, choosing to sit in Inuyasha's lap to watch Kagome learn to dance.

"How's Shippo?" Inuyasha inquired, looking down at the two tailed demon cat in his lap. She looked up at him and meowed at him, her eyes turning back towards Kagome and Rainier.

"Excellent," Rainier murmured, smiling his approval as Kagome's steps changed from stumbles to fluid motions. "You're a natural,"

"Not likely," Kagome muttered as she allowed him to lower her into a small dip.

"See?" He smiled, lifting her back up to applause from Karla and Jaenelle and one approving meow from Kilala. Kagome blushed crimson and smiled, waving her arms.

"It's no big accomplishment, really!" She insisted, feeling like an idiot.

"You're absolutely right. The big accomplishment shall come with the heels,"

"Oh please, kill me now..."

Naraku regarded the figure in the chair with muddled distaste for a moment before turning his attention back to Surreal. "My love, I must ask something of you,"

Surreal looked up at him, pouting. "Again? I just got back..."

"I know," Naraku forced a gentle smile as she rose and stood in front of him. "But I must ask you to do this for me without complaint,"

"Oh all right," She sighed, shifting her weight in annoyance.

"I need you to inform Lady Zhara that we shall be accepting her invitation to the ball, however I shall not be the one joining you,"

Surreal's shoulders slumped. "Why not?"

"Because I have business I must attend to elsewhere, my love, you know this,"

"Oh...the girl, I forgot,"

Naraku smiled and hooked her hair behind the delicately pointed ears. "I shall not be long. Hakuuyo will accompany you to the ball,"

A look of disgust passed over her face briefly before she nodded. "As you wish," Naraku smiled again and pressed his hand to the small of her back, turning back towards the figure in the chair a few feet from them.

"I look forward to the party, Lord Naraku," Hakuuyo's brilliant green eyes flashed maliciously for a moment. He cracked his knuckles, brandished his sharpened claws and smiled up at Surreal. "This plan shall not fail us,"

"No," Naraku snarled, glaring. "It had better not,"

Hakuuyo smirked over at Naraku. "You may trust me, Lord. This plan cannot be any more perfect. No one will get in our way,"

"You underestimate Sadi," Surreal said suddenly. "You wear the red, he wears the black. Lucivar has the Ebon-Gray. Your red doesn't stand a chance,"

"Darling, I'm disappointed," Hakuuyo pouted at her, rising from the chair to stand in front of her, his claws stroking the bottom of her chin. She swallowed, glaring at him. "I don't need the jewels for this task, and Sadi is nothing to me. He is easily broken,"

Surreal shook her head, jerking away from him. His smile faded. "You're over confidence is your weakness,"

"And your denial is yours," Hakuuyo snarled, looking back to Naraku. "We have three days left to prepare. Go deliver the message, Surreal,"

She stood her ground, glaring defiantly at him before Naraku's hand found the small of her back again. "Go, Surreal,"

She sighed heavily and nodded, slipping out through the back door of her home. "Males...stubborn jerks,"

"I find your control over Surreal to be disturbing."

"Do you?" Naraku bristled.

"Yes. How is it that she obeys you and no one else?" Hakuuyo returned to his seat and studied Naraku intently.

"She is under my spell,"

"I see that," Hakuuyo murmured, his eyes narrowed. "I can't help but notice that you seem to have become a little attached to the wench,"

"She is a good servant,"

Hakuuyo smirked as he looked towards the rumpled bed. "As I can see," Naraku snarled in distaste and walked away to look out through the window at the moon. "I will not criticize your amusements, Naraku. I would only give advice. Detach yourself from that wench. I have too much riding on this for you to concern yourself with her well being,"

Naraku looked over his shoulder briefly. "You forget, Lord, that if it were not for me, this opportunity would not have even risen. You called for my help, it was not the other way around."

"Of course,"

Naraku looked back up at the moon and felt himself becoming increasingly more worried. He's not as helpless as he seemed when he asked for my help. However, I need him in order to defeat Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru. He can have the Blood, I don't care about them, but the Hanyou and his brother are mine...

End of chapter! I forgot to mention this before, but Rainier, for those who haven't yet read Dreams Made Flesh(the fourth installment to the BJT) is an excellent dancer, yes, he's homosexual. He danced with Daemon in Dreams Made Flesh, it was wonderful! (rofl)

To the reviewers!

LongShadow: YAY! A writer always loves hearing that her work is appreciated! I feel that this is my best written fanfic so far, making me want to go back and redo all the others. Seriously, my old fics are horrible! Thanks so much for the review! More coming soon!

Eyeofevil: Haha! Have no fear, hon, there's still plenty more to come! Thanks so much for the review!

Erialie: (Squeals) Thanks so much! Updates just keep on rolling in!