Chapter Nine: Preparation

Disclaimer: NOT MINE!

A few weeks had passed since Sesshomaru and Kagome had admitted their feelings to one another, and things couldn't have been going better. The demon lord now had a constant smile on his face, and he was no-longer the cold hearted ice-prince everyone knew him as. Now, his servants were rushing about, decorating for the Lord's ball that night and Sesshomaru himself was sending out the invitations as called for.

"Lord Sesshomaru!! We're out of decorations Milord, what should I do?"

"Go get more, Jaken! I refuse to let myself be shown up by that damned Kai….him and his stupid 1000 years of perfection…."

Jaken nodded and scurried away to do his lords bidding. The dog demon growled and sent out the last invite before starting to work on the speech he would have to make at the very end of the ball. Sesshomaru had never felt this stressed before. All the other balls, his father had to deal with, it was the first time he had to plan one himself, and it was stressing him out greatly. Kagome knocked on the door of his study before she let herself in.

"Sesshomaru??"

"I don't have time to talk Kagome…"

Kagome moved over behind him and put her hands on his shoulders with a sigh. The demon lord looked at her over his shoulder and then put his quill down with a sigh of his own.

"You're tense…really tense…"

"It's to be expected…this ball is one of the most important events in demon culture….if it doesn't go perfectly…I'll turn into the laughing stock of the lands…"

"That's no reason to work yourself to death…"

He let out a grunt and picked up the quill again before starting to work on his speech again. Kagome watched him for a few minutes, actually feeling his shoulder muscles grow tenser over time. She looked down at him before starting to massage his shoulders and the back of his neck.

"Come on…take a break…just a little one….you might be able to get more done quicker if you do…"

"I can't."

"Ten minutes…just come outside and spend ten minutes with me…then you can work more…please??"

"….alright….ten minutes…but that's it."

Kagome smiled and moved to the door, waiting for him to get up and follow her. Sesshomaru rubbed the bridge of his nose and stood, walking over to the door and then out into the flower garden. Kagome stood beside him and took his hand with a smile before she moved in front of him. He had his eyes closed, body soaking up the warming and comforting rays of the sun, and immediately, he felt his muscles relax.

"See…taking a break every once in a while can do wonders on a tense body."

Sesshomaru opened his golden eyes and gazed down at Kagome, smile on his lips once again. She smiled back and moved to rest her head on the demon's chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, eyes closed again.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"If it weren't for you, I'd still be in there working like a mad man."

Kagome giggled and leaned up, kissing Sesshomaru on the cheek before she gazed into his eyes. They softened and he leaned down, capturing Kagome's lips in a gentle, loving kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her eyes slid shut, the sun still soaking into them.

"I should go finish up my speech…and then memorize it."

"Okay…at least you're not so tense."

He nodded and gave her another kiss before returning to his study and finishing up the speech. Within the hour he had it memorized and went to change clothes. The outfit he now wore was made of dark blue silk with black trim, and a large silver crescent moon on the back. Sesshomaru then exited his room, and when he did, his jaw dropped. There, before him in a royal kimono, stood Kagome.

"Stare too much and your eyes might fall out."

"Ahh…you look beautiful…well, more beautiful than usual anyways…"

Kagome smiled and kissed his cheek before taking his hand.

"Shall we then?"

"Yes…it is time to greet the other lords."

Sesshomaru led her to the castle doors and waited, in nervous anticipation, for the other lords to arrive.

A.N: I WRITE AGAIN!! I HAVE NOT DIED A HORRIBLE DEATH!! I've just been so daggone busy with school I haven't had a chance to write much! BUT HERE IS THE MUCH ANTICITPATED CHAPTER NINE!!