'For something ( or someone) to be lovable, it must be already inside one, or we must want it to be inside.' ~Adam Phillips~

"Talking"

Thoughts

Ethereal Voices/Beasts/ Spirits

Apocalyptica:

Chapter 6:

Irony at its Best

Modern Day, Tokyo:

It had been weeks since he helped the whelp rescue the Higurashi girl. Weeks of endless research and dead end leads. She had taken over his life and not even realised it. All at the demand of his father and the promise he had made to the Higurashis'.

Sesshoumaru Tashio threw the current papers he had in his hands down on his desk in resignation. He had employed all his tactics and skills into research about the narcotic trade and the importance of the Higurashi girl in the trade. All he has come up with is the Drug Lord Bai Chung Li in China's involvement with the Lord of the North and son and it looks like the Northern Lord is supplying the Continent with the Drugs under the pretence of opening an alliance with the Chinese Tiger in the labour industry, however he had no follow ups or paper work to prove such claims. The Taiyoukai Prince was getting very frustrated. His current report from Toran proved no different, he had sent her to China to see if she can dig up any kind of dirt on the Tiger. What she had managed to come up with is the name Quin, a Panda Youkai that works as one of the Tiger Lords lackies, running errands for him, and his current involvement in something called 'Operation Takedown.' He could tell something was cooking there from her report, but once again just words and ghosts, nothing concrete to move on. To top things off very badly, he had the Manten brothers breathing down his neck, inquiring as to his involvement with the break in the narcotic case that happened the night of the captured Higurashi and the Queen's Warf sting. His alibi of the business meeting with the Singapore Official was not enough to dissuade the Thunder brothers detectives off his bloody case.

He looked at his clock again, it read 7.45 pm. He had a business dinner gala to attend with his father that night in tribute to the closed deal with the Four Tigers of Asia, effectively pinning the Tashio Corporation onto the world map as a leader in innovation and power. He had an hour to go home and change before the dinner at 9. With that, he shut down his laptop and left his office, quickly donning his jacket, he made for the elevator.

A the ding of the lift, he got into the glass box and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He was getting a headache, something that rarely affected him.

As the elevator opened to the car park, the hackles on Sesshoumaru's back rose, something was off. His senses on alert, he made his way over to his car, bleeping the alarm off, he opened the driver door and spun around, grabbing the offensive Youkai by the neck, almost crushing the windpipe in fury at the audacity of the intruder to sneak up on him Sesshoumaru Tashio. A snarl was ripped from his throat as he closed his fingers slightly and spoke in feral tongue.

" Your insolence shall be your demise, Wind Witch. What is your purpose in sneaking up on this Sesshoumaru?"

Kagura gulped and wheezed a reply as she was picked off the ground, dangling in mid air as the Taiyoukai Prince addressed her.

"Be warned, Son of Inu No Tashio, there is a threat that must be dealt with at the hands of my master, know the name Tsubaki...know the prophecy..."

She coughed out. He squeezed her neck again for good measure then dropped her to the ground, knowing full well who the wind witch's 'master' was he questioned her again, red seeping into his vision.

" Why do you come and warn me of this, whore of Naraku?"

Holding her now bruised throat from her sprawled position on the floor, she looked up into the eyes of the older Tashio.

" He is my hell and I seek redemption before my death..."

She replied, looking away, not capable of looking the Lord in the face in the admittance of her vulnerability.

The Inu then sent his acid whip flying, effectively slicing the wind witches head clean off its shoulders, as it rolled to a stop just before his feet, he addressed her again.

"Do not seek redemption and honour through one such as me, witch, Izanami awaits you at the gates of hell."

With that he got into his car and drove to the Tashio estate.

Little did the Inu know that a few moments after he dispatched the wind witch to the afterlife, her flesh began to knit back together, and in the painful process of regeneration, she was whole again, unable to face death as her master holds her heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sesshoumaru greeted his father with the same grunt he always did, he found his father getting ready for the gala in his dressing room, standing before the 3 panelled mirror as the tailor fitted the last trimmings on his dinner jacket.

" Sesshoumaru, my son, how was your day?" Yasashii greeted with a warm smile.

" The usual father, no leads."

" Aah, in any case, Kagome is faring well, she is adapting to her new powers in leaps and bounds, Kaede seems to think that she may either be Inu or Fire elemental as she posses a keen nose and a very powerful fire power."

" Hnn" He replied, making his way over to the chair that was off to the side of the dressing room.

"I have made the amendments to the will as Izayoi asked; you will find the copy on your desk tomorrow affirming you as the new CEO of the company. The Swords will still be entrusted as I see fit my son."

"Indeed."

Sitting in the chair, he sighed again, his headache mounting, the eerie feeling of conquest of the business deal dying with the visit from the wind witch. The feeling of dread still encompassing the Inu.

" Father, do you insist on going?"

"Do you intent to stop me, Sesshoumaru?" He answered, adorning his bowtie.

"I will not stand in your way."

A frown marring the features of the older Inu, he could see the power struggle within his son over his decisions in the will.

" Do you desire power so much? Why do you seek power, my son?"

"The path I walk is the way of Supreme Conquest, and it is power that will reveal that way for me."

"Supreme Conquest..." His father repeated, having fixed the tie and now donning the jacket, he turned to face his son. "Tell me, Sesshoumaru, have you someone to protect?

Silence filled the dressing room; the tailor bee lined it out the door at the heavy tension that hung in the air from the question, making the room rather uncomfortable.

" Protect?" Sesshoumaru questioned, examining his claws contemplating the question. He looked up at his father again. "The answer is no, I Sesshoumaru have no need of such."

With that the Inu Prince got up and left the dressing room, making his way over to his own quarters where he can get ready himself.

His father called out to him again as he walked away.

" Shall we go in the same limo son?"

Sesshoumaru paused to answer the question.

" No, you go on ahead father, there are some things I need to take care of first before I join you."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the other side of Tokyo, a very disgruntled Bankotsu sat, bow tie undone in the Higurashi estate, waiting for his partner to finish faffing with his outfit.

Jakotsu, his partner, popped his head out of their bedroom quarters again for the third time in the space of 5 minutes, holding what looked like a puke green tie and a shiny studded black bowtie.

" Bank, which one do you think compliments my face the best? The green because it brings out my eyes, or the bowtie?" He said, holding both close to his face for his partner's inspection.

" Jak, seriously, the green one looks like baby poo and the bowtie looks like you stole it from a Mick Jagger concert..." He huffed. Theatrical tears brimming in the queens eyes at the harsh tone of his partner's reply.

" You don't have to be so mean! I just want to look good for you! I think I'm going for the bowtie, its retro with the studs on it, makes me stand out more." He stated, heading back into their bedroom.

Realising his harsh words would put the outrageous queen in a bad mood for the rest of the night; he got up to rectify the situation, and headed into the bedroom to see what his partner was doing. He found Jakotsu finish tying his bowtie, and donning a matching sequined dinner jacket.

" If you wear that you will stand out more that Dolly Parten in drag at a Tina Turner cabaret show." Feigning outrage, the glittering queen grabbed his white gloves and matching clutch and wacked the handsome warrior with the dinner gloves lightly on the shoulder in small reprimand.

" Well at least I'll outshine all these other posers there tonight. It's such a pity Kagome wouldn't allow me to go in drag; I would have been the belle of the ball..." He stated whimsically as he helped Bank with this bowtie.

" I think she would of been doing you a favour darling, knowing how 'in character' you like to be..."

" Speaking of Kagome, we better shake a tail feather so we can meet her down stairs, don't want to be late for the gala..."

" Kami alone knows why she insisted on us coming along with her to this..."

" Because she knows how I like to dress up, and she needs her best men for support, you know this is the first time she will be seen in public after that transformation..."

Both men made their way out the door, Jakotsu looping his sequined arm around Bank's as he escorted his partner down stair to meet the Higurashi party.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hana Higurashi made her way down the elaborate stair case, careful not to step on her blue satin evening gown, her small baby bump showing.

Kei came and met her at the bottom of the stars.

" You are positively glowing tonight." Hana blushed at the compliment and took the offered arm of her husband.

As they made their way towards the entrance hall, they heard a high pitched scream and the sound of something breaking against the wall.

" Sound like Kagome still isn't ready..." Kei stated, looking up to where the noise had come from.

Hana sighed, she looked at her husbands tentative face.

" I know you are anxious to get to the gala considering you are one of the prime investors in the business deal and it means so much for Yasashii..."

Kei looked at his wife in the eyes.

" I'll go and sort Kagome out, you go ahead and we will join you there as soon as we can."

Kei kissed his wife on the temple and rubbed her tummy. " You are wonderful, what would I do without you?"

She giggled at the show of affection. " Let's never find out..."

"Tell Souta to be good..." He said and donned his jacket and left to the awaiting limo.

Hana watched him go out the door as she rubber her bump where Kei had just had his hands.

" You are going to be one luck boy... my Souta." As she turned to go back upstairs, she met Bank and Jak on the stairs.

"Oh boys, you two look lovely..."

" Oh my, Hana, you have gotten so big!" Jak exclaimed, rushing over to the mother and rubbing the bump. "Hes going to be a big boy when he's ready to meet the world..."

" Yes he is." Hana agreed. "Kei has gone on ahead of us we seem to have a-" She was cut off mid sentence by a feral growl that echoed into the entrance hall and the sound of another crash and shattering of something meeting the wall.

" A Kagome problem." Hana finished.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been weeks since Kagome's ordeal with the kidnapping, and according to Kaede, she was coming along nicely.

Kaede had become a mentor to the young girl, she had scheduled daily teachings to help Kagome with her developing powers, and help her with the emotional turmoil of her change, adapting from human to Youkai.

Her crash course in Youkai behaviour had been a shaky road, she had learnt to control her breathing that helped her deal with her strong sense of smell, she had learnt when to open her sense to take in the different smells and when to switch it off, just allowing her to breath. Her sight had been the easiest; she had taken to wearing glasses when outside as to help with her photosensitivity, but even her tolerance there had grown. She had learnt that her ability to feel the person's energy signature was not that common amongst the Youkai community, but she had honed her skills, even to the point of seeing them herself. Kaede had called them auras, an energy signature that all living beings give off, each one different to the other. Kagome had learnt that hers was a light blue, and changed depending on her mood, fluctuating from deep purple when using her Youkai abilities to a clear blue when content and happy.

She had tried several times to speak to Megumi through her book again, but the blue light from the pages did not light up and the words she wrote were still the modern kanji she was use to. By now Kagome had read over the last few pages of the inscription, over and over again, trying to piece together the last information that Megumi had bestowed upon her.

You shall be visited by a special being, she will help answer your questions... bewares the red eyed spider Kagome...

Her mind had been doing circles upon circles to try and figure out what her previous life was warning her about. She decided to put it to the back of her mind for now and concentrate on her new abilities before she tackled the issue of her book. So not having breathed a word to anyone, she continued on her normal routine, well what had become her normal routine.

Most of all over the last few weeks she had learnt that her instincts where more primal, they often came to the surface of her behaviour, and help guide her, particularly when it came to using her new found powers. This had happened on more than one occasion, where she would be in a deep sleep and her anger would rise to the surface, and her eyes would glow an eerie blue and her hands would become extremely hot, and tingly like she had shoved them into an open flame, and then fire would burst from her palms. Her bed suffered the most in these occasions, turning the wooden structure to dust and activating all the fire alarms in the house.

It was then that Kaede took her to the dojo and riled her up to such an extent that she shot a fire ball at the old baba, singing her robes as she dodged the ball of anger. What Kaede saw that day, was not her usual purple fare of her aura and the Youkai energy that rose to the surface coating her skin in its flammable power, but rather a bright blue that flashed, mixed in with the purple, and the flaming ball of power that Kagome had shot towards her in anger, was not completely Youkai, but possessed a core of spiritual power as well, the purifying power of the Miko. The old Miko's good eye grew wide in realisation, not yet ready to inform her student, she decided to keep the matter to herself until she had such knowledge that would help the young Youkai, when her emotions, particularly her anger, where more in check. This resulted in their latest finding.

Earlier in the week she had been at one of her meditating meetings with the old Miko that she had scheduled at 5 every morning, and upon her deep breathing and relaxing, Kagome could sense something lurking in the folds of her unconscious, she informed the Miko of this. To which Kaede has said.

" Relax child, see if you can identify the presence."

So, using the visualisation she had been taught by the old bat, she tried to coax it out by talking to it nicely. It did not respond, instead it felt more restlessness in the back of her mind.

She then tried a clicking sound in her head, one you make like calling an animal to see if that would gain its attention, brought on my her instincts. Suddenly, Kagome had slumped over from her meditation pose and was holding her head as if in agony.

Kaede has rushed to her side to see if she was ok, and when Kagome had looked up, her eyes were a bloody red, and her fangs were elongated and she sneered at Kaede's touch. Kaede then backed away and tried to read her aura. It was a purplish blue, different from what Kagome's aura normally looked like.

Then Kagome's voice, feral in nature, came booming from within.

" GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"

As if nothing happened, her eyes returned to their normal blue, and Kagome was left panting on the floor.

"Kaede what was that?" She questioned after a few intense moments, sensing the old Miko nearby.

" I do not know child..." was her weary response.

Since then Kagome's temper had flared on an hourly basis, over the littlest things, and no one could offer an explanation why.

Now Kagome was getting dressed in her room for the Gala her father had informed her about, this would be the first time she would be seen in public after her transformation, still not completely transformed, but well enough to make an appearance. She now sat on her bed, her eyes trained on her best friend who stood in her door way with Kagome's dress in her hands, holding it up as some form of a shield to protect herself from the flying objects Kagome kept sending her way.

" Kagome, please, just put the damn thing on..." Sango tried coaxing again.

" NO Sango, it makes me look... fat." Was her angry and somewhat dejected reply.

" Kagome, how could you look fat?" She was met with another hairbrush that was flung at her head, to which she automatically ducked to avoid.

Sango's temperament was being tested today. She love Kagome dearly, like a sister, and could only imagine the emotional turmoil she must be going through right now with her transformation and the stress of her first public appearance since the kidnapping, but enough was enough, Kagome was being far too stubborn and needed to at least put the damn dress on.

Determination in her eyes, Sango marched up to the Youaki sitting on the bed and slapped the girl right across the cheek. Leaving a red print in her wake, which stayed there for a minute before the rapid healing of her Youkai powers kicked in and made it disappear. Kagome turned towards her best friend, eyes flashing red, she snarled at her for her audacity.

Sango then flicked her on her sensitive nose, like a puppy, to which Kagome tentatively retracted from the hand, tears brimming in her eyes as she looked at her best friend again, going from anger and mirth to hurt and guilt.

" Enough Kagome! You are beautiful, you were beautiful before, but now... you are just stunning! I am so sick of your mood swings..." Taking a calming breath, she carried on. " Now, put the damn dress on so we can go to this stupid thing, please? You mother called me specifically to come and give you a hand as she knows you are stressed, so please... will you let me help you?" Talking in her best friends words, a lonely tear leaking out her sapphire eyes, and still holding her sensitive nose, Kagome offered her friend an affirmative nod.

" Good." Sango handed her the dress and Kagome took it and proceeded to put the red fitting dress on. Readjusting her strapless bra, she turned to Sango to let her do up the back zip and she helped Kagome smooth out the kinks in the fabric. She them turned to Sango and brought the young girl into a bear hug.

" Thank you, Sans." Kagome said into her hair as she squeezed her best friend in a show of emotion.

" Ugh Kagome, I still need to breath..." Blushing at her inhuman strength, Kagome let the girl go.

" Sorry, I'm... I'm..."

"It's all good, I know you are still adjusting...Now, let's have a look at you..." She said, taking the young Youkai over to her full length mirror.

Kagome's sapphire eyes scanned her form, taking in all the differences of her appearance. Her black hair was pulled to the side in an off the shoulder bun, exposing the left side of her neck, with the other side having the her hair cascading down in tumbling curls. She could vaguely make out the bluish tint to some of the strands of hair, something Kaede reckoned as part of her transformation.

Her now sapphire blue eyes stood out even more with the Smokey eye makeup that Sango had done for her, enhancing her facial features were the twin curled stripes of deep plum that came above her ear and ended on an elegant point just below her eyes. She turned a little, tracing the plum coloured markings over her left ear and down the side of her neck onto her back where they opened up into a more intricate pattern of swirls and twirls. Kagome then looked at the dress, a fitting strapless gown that boosted her derrière and showed off her now slightly wider hips, she took in the small plum pattern that swirled just underneath her collar bone, leaving a triangle of skin exposed just above her breasts, a kind of visual point of focus. She then scanned her legs, watching as she shifted her weight in her high pump sandals, the deep red wine colour of the dress faded to a gentle red as it flared a little and came down to her feet with a small train following her. The high slit on the side of the dress exposed her lower thy and left calf and the plum patterning that decorated the outside of her legs all the way to just above her ankle, where the strappy sparkling red pumps offered her long legs a leaner look in showing them off.

Sango took in her friend's appearance from behind her, and even she had to admit to a small bout of jealousy that flared in her lower belly at the sight her friend presented. She quickly snuffed it out.

" See Kagome, you are going to make every man drop dead." Her friend encouraged.

"Haha drop dead from horror..." Sango rolled her eyes at the remark. "Kagome, you are like a pregnant woman on steroids, you need to hone in on the mood swings, and you look really good, promise." She tried again.

Kagome smiled at the insult, she knew that her best friend was just trying to make her feel better, and after hibernating in her home for the last couple of months, it was time she faced the world again... She just wasn't sure if she was ready for the world again. She was looking forward to seeing all her friends again, she missed Inuyasha the most, and she still needed to thank him and Sesshoumaru for saving her.

A new determination in her eyes, she turned to face her friend.

" You look better Sango, but thanks."

She offered her friend a warm smile and they both hugged again, just then, Kagome's mother and came through the door.

" Kagome, what was going on in here?" Her mother questioned at the door, gesturing to all the broken bottles and hair ornaments on the floor by the entrance of Kagome's room.

Embarrassed by her mother's appearance, she apologised.

" Heh, sorry mom, got carried away again..." She offered, heading over to pick up the broken pieces of what was her makeup and perfumes from her vanity. Kagome's nose twitched and she looked up to see her other two best friends in the doorway.

" Jak, Bank, I'm so glad you could make it!" She rushed over and picked up the queen in a hug and gave him a small squeeze.

"Oh My Kagome, you are beautiful!" Jak exclaimed upon seeing her before he was swept up into her hug.

" Kagome... air..." Blushing again at her strength, Kagome put her friend down.

"Sorry I still haven't quite gotten use to it..." She offered.

" No need to apologise, I love it when Bank hugs me like that..." Jak offered with a wink, Bank blushing a little.

" Now turn your sassy ass around, I want to see what they did to you..." Kagome obliged the outrageous man and did a quick twirl, Bank offering a wolf whistle as she did so.

" Kagome they made you more irresistible! You look gorgeous darling!" Bank offered. Leaning in to give her a peck on the cheek.

" Wowee and look at those eyes! You can drown in those blue oceans!" Bank said, holding the sides of her face to examine her. " And look at those markings... how far down do they go?" He asked, letting her go and giving her a once over.

" All the way down my body to my ankles.." she showed them, exposing her left calf and her pump to the two males.

" OOOe my it's like playing a maze puzzle, it's rather sexy... do they go all the way to your womanly bits?" Jak asked, running a hand over Kagome's calf.

Kagome blushed even more at the attention.

" No they end just above it."

" The end of the maze no doubt..." Bank jibed with a wink to Sango.

" I wonder what kind of Youkai you are to have those?" Jak asked still touching her markings and following the swirling patters down her leg.

" No idea..." Kagome shrugged.

" You do look very lovely my sweetheart." Hana complimented from her position next to Sango. Sensing a possible mood swing at the topic of her Youkai origin, she tried to change the subject.

" Yes you do, but look at these shoes!" Jak cut in, bending lower to look at her pumps.

" Do you think they would fit me? They would be perfect for my Red Riding Hood skit..."

All the girls giggled at the queens antics, Bank rolling his eyes again.

" Of course you can borrow them Jak. " Kagome offered, trying to gain back control of her foot from the glittering male.

" Now then, Kagome you are all ready love, let's get you down stairs and into that limo..." Jak looped his arm with hers and Banks and headed out her door, followed by a laughing Sango and Hana.

" It was a very good Idea to call them Sango, she hasn't been this... normal in ages..." Hana whispered into the brunet's ear as they looped arms to walk down the stairs together.

" It's my pleasure Ms Higurashi, it's the least I can do for Kagome." Sango said, glad to see her friend light hearted again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Naraku Onigumo stood before his mirror, adjusting the bowtie he had on for the second time in 5 minutes as he spoke.

" Have you made the arrangements?"

" Yes, master, they are all in place and timed to your orders." Was the reply of his henchman, Hakudoshi.

" You know I would not entrust such a task to any other. You are aware that everything must go to plan?"

" Yes, Master. All shall be done as you asked." The blue haired child like demon answered his master with a bow.

" Good." He gestured with his free hand for the demon to leave. He then addressed the other presence in the room.

" Kanna... where has your sister gone off to? She was supposed to be here when I got ready..."

The void girl, showing no emotion answered her master.

" She has gone to run an errand... Master."

Wearing a contemplative look, Naraku turned to face the girl.

" Aah, see to it that she comes to me when she returns..."

He made his way over to the door where his evening jacket was hanging, he removed it and donned the jacket and turned to the mirror, giving himself a once over.

"How do I look?" He turned to face the demon girl again, she did not answer him, merely nodded at the question. He turned back to the mirror.

" Yes, tonight shall be a night to remember, as I say goodbye... father."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inuyasha was almost as giddy as the day he had experienced his first snowfall, his heart was racing and he had a goofy grin plastered across his face. He was whistling a very dorky rendition of YMCA, when he entered the kitchen. His mother looked up from her place at the kitchen island and upon seeing her son so happy, a smile broke out on her own face as it had been ages since she had seen him smile this big.

" Inu, what has you in such a happy mood?"

Pausing by the refrigerator and grabbing the bottle of orange juice, he turned to her, not even noticing that she was in the room.

" Keh, nothing Ma, am I not allowed to be in a good mood for once?" He gulped a few mouthfuls of orange juice down then made to put the carton back in the fridge.

" Of couse you are allowed to be in a good mood darling, If you put that back in there Inuyasha, I swear you will live to regret it." Her tone changed from light-hearted to meaning business as she watched the half Inu almost place the orange juice carton back into the fridge.

Ignoring the threat, Inuyasha sat down at the island with his mother, the carton still in his hand.

" Keh, what you doing here anyway? Arn't you suppose to be getting ready for this Gala thing tonight with Dad?" He questioned, taking another swig of the juice.

" I am almost ready, I was just going over your fathers speech for tonight, fine combing the last details..." She answered, looking back at the paper in her hand. " Why are you not getting ready to go? You are coming, are you?"

" Sure as hell I'm coming, have to support Pops and Icicle Butt in their shindigs."

A glint of something appeared in Izayoi's eyes. " Oh I thought you were only coming to see Kagome again?" She questioned, feigning boredom.

Inuyasha almost choked on the last part of the juice as she asked her question.

" Well, I am excited to see Kags again, but that's not the only reason..." He trailed off, a rosy red staining his cheeks.

His mother smiled again, her son was so easy to read.

"Very well, we are leaving in an hour, I suggest you get dressed..." His mother said, getting back to the speech.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Limo upon limo were lined up at the entrance to the Grand Plaza in the middle of Tokyo where the Benefit Gala was being held. A great gold and red banner was hung up across the second floor balcony, the read 'Tashio-Sing Gala', the new name to their joint adventure. The entrance was carpeted in red, and all the paparazzi and news crews were cordoned off to one side of the carpet. Each limo had paused at the red carpet to drop of the guests for the evening, people from all over where invited to the event, the members of Youkai Council, the Human president, the Emperor, the Singapore Council for the Four Tigers power house of business, people from each company, celebutants, charity organisations, the works, if you were important in the eyes of Tashio Enterprises, you had your name on the guest list.

The guests paused for a brief interview and photo session outside the entrance to the Grand Plaza, once that was complete, they made their way inside, where they were greeted with their own personal usher that took their coats and jackets and showed them to their seats in the Great Hall, where they would them enjoy a full five course meal during the presentation for the announcements and acknowledgements. Once the formalities are taken care of then, the guests would be left to mingle and socialise in the smaller hall.

One of the first to arrive was the Tashio party, Yasashii emerged from the limo first, then offered his white gloved hand to his wife, Izayoi, who, dressed in a black Gucci ensemble was the picture of elegance. Inuyasha followed them out the limo, where his hands kept reaching for the uncomfortable bowtie, that his mother had won the fight in the limo over him wearing. Next to emerge were the dignitaries of the Sing Company and their entourages. Lastly bringing up the rear was Kei Higurashi, alone, he stepped out the limo with his personal assistant in tow, he made his way on the red carpet to the entrance hall.

One they were inside, Kei made his way over to Yasashii and party.

"Yasashii, my friend, you have outdone yourself again." Kei greeted the Western Lord with a quick pat on the back and a firm handshake. The Dog General's laughter could be heard throughout the hall.

" Kei, it's good to see you, where is Hana?" He asked, amusement glittering his eyes.

"We were having some... Kagome issues, before we departed..." Kei stated.

" Aah, I understand..." The Dog General answered. Kei lent in to kiss Izayoi on the cheek and pay her a compliment about how she looked.

"Is Kagome coming?" Inuyasha questioned Kei as he shook his hand.

" Yes son, have no worry, Hana stayed behind to make sure she was ok, they will be here shortly..." He then turned to the General again.

" Where is the star of the hour? I hope he will be here to accept his new status..."

The General's laughter could be heard again. " Ahhh, yes Sesshoumaru will join us later, he had a few errands to run before he came..."

Kei offered the couple a smile. Inuyasha, bored already from the chit chat, excused himself from the group and made his way over to the Southern Lord's gathering.

~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey Wolf Piss, where'd you guys shoot off to on Kags' birthday?" Inuyasha greeted the Wolf Prince with a pat on the back.

" He Inu-trasha, Ayame suggested we go home and get funky..." a cheeky grin plastered on his face as he answered the half-inu with a waggle of his eyebrows.

" Heard about you and Sesshoumaru pulling the covert rescue on her kidnapping." Kouga tried to change the subject.

"Ha with no thanks from you wolf, I was rescuing her while you were getting you fur wet..." Inuyasha spat at the wolf.

I wouldn't have allowed her to get captured in the first place if she were under my watch..."

"Don't you mean your perverted stare? " Inuyasha questioned with a raise of his eyebrow.

Kouga answered with a roll of his eyes and a shrug of his shoulders.

Inuyasha chuckled at the wolf, "You really are a womanising prat! I'm sure Ayame didn't do shit to get you home."

"Watch it Dog breath, you suggesting that I am some kind of animal?"

" Yes I am wolf turd, there is no way you would skip out on the opportunity to get laid."

The two were neck and neck again, a breath away from each other's faces.

" I am more of a gentlemen than you will ever be..." Kouga growled.

" Haha but I'm more man than you will ever be..." Inuyasha shot back.

"Well at least my mommy didn't dress me..." he hinted, pointing to his now skew bowtie. A growl was heard from the now enraged hanyou.

It was good timing on Ayame and Izayoi when the stepped into the conversation, eager to break up the now agitated duo.

" Will you two quit your pissing competition!" Ayame stated, trying to pull Kouga away from the Hanyou.

" Could you please not do this now, Inu?" Izayoi questioned.

With another growl, Kouga turned to walk away. Inuyasha huffed as he walked away, and shot one last jibe to the wolf before they were ushered into the hall.

" Don't be hating the player, wolf, hate the game..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hakudoshi sneered at the lack of competence of his henchmen. Why did Naraku insist on hiring such useless thugs?

"Renkotsu, have you placed the package?" He breathed into the walkie talkie. Static was heard for a second.

" Yes Hakudoshi, Suikotsu and Kyokotsu are planting the last packages now."

" Good. Does Mukotsu have the trigger?" Hakudoshi answered.

"Yes, he is helping Genkotsu get ready to look like one of the doormen for the wiring."

More static was heard as Hakusoshi turned off the walkie talkie.

He then flipped open his phone and dialled his speed dial.

" Its ready, Master." He breathed into the receiver and put the phone back into his pocket.

'That chemical concoction Mukotsu has invented better explode...'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The last white limo pulled up to the red carpet, effectively making the occupants fashionably late. With a roar of the crowd, Jakotsu and Bakotsu emerged from the limo first, both hand in hand, they made their way down the plush carpet, Jak eager to greet the shutter bugs with his gossip.

Next to emerge from the limo was Sango, squinting down the red carpet at the duo that had gone on ahead of them, she waited for Hana Higurashi to emerge. Hana patted her daughter one last time on her gloved hands and gave them a small squeeze. With a kiss to the forehead, and her comforting words, Hana emerged from the limo with Sango's help.

"You'll be great, sweetheart."

Kagome took in a nervous breath, she could hear her heart beating in her chest like a caged bird, eager to take flight.

'Kami help help us...' she thought as she readied herself to exit the limo, fake smile in place, she emerged. She was assaulted by the reign of blinding lights from the photographers and the news crews, all eager to get the first glimpse of the Higurashi heir after her 21st celebrations.

'Just breathe...' Kagome kept reminding herself as she made her way down the red carpet after her best friend and mother. Somewhere in the back of Kagome's mind, red eyes flashed her warning that left the little hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. Attributing the feeling as nerves, Kagome moved forward...

~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~

End

Old Baba- A rude version of Granny or Old lady.

AN/ This one is for lara5170, thank you for your patience. To all the readers, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and all the best for the New year. Here's to all the celebrations for all the different holidays that take place this time of year!

Magic

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