Hello once again my dear readers. Well first off I apologize for not updating since Monday. I hate finals! I swear those tests have nearly totally roasted my brain. Anyway time to cut all the blabber and introduce chapter 5. Also thanks for the reviews everyone!

Just so you know Kagome's swords can talk to her through thoughts like Sesshomaru's beast.

Asami-morning beauty

Nobuo-faithful, trustworthy man

Natsuki-summer hope

Kagome bent down to pick up Youta and had resheathed him. As she was cursing Sesshomaru out in her mind both her swords got more annoyed (not really) by the second.

'Well, that was an interesting turn of events," Youta thought.

'Shut up!'

'Now Mistress Kagome, cursing is not ladylike even through thoughts,' Mikyako commented.

'Yeah well how'd you feel if you were in my positon Miyako? The guy gets all mad at me and just when it seems like he's about to end my life he goes and kisses me! He's got some nerve!'

'Well-'

'On second thought don't answer that. Just let me fume in silence please.'

'Okay.'

'Whatever. Women and their moods.'

'What was that Youta!' Miyako said in a threatening vioce.

Meanwhile somewhere else in the palace...

*BAM* A wall met a hard clawed fist. Cracks appeared in the wall itself.

'Damn it!'

'Wow Sesshomaru I didn't think I'd live to see the day that the great lord of the west got all flustered by a woman. Let alone a human woman, that's irony for you.'

*sigh* 'Of all practical times you could have chosen to speak with this Sesshomaru you choose now.' thought Sesshomaru as he went to sit in the chair at is desk his the study. A mountain of paper work awaited him. As he was searching for Naraku he left the paper work off till the vile half-breed was destroyed.

'Well yes,' his beast responded, 'There was no reason for me to speak till now because you have now found our other half.'

'The miko is not our other half. She isn't worthy to stand at our side!'

'Oh really? Then let me list all the things I see when I see our miko. I see a kind mother figure, a loving soul, a capeable protector to herself and to the children, a natural leader, a level headed thinker, an intelligent mind, a bright personallity, a quick witted sratigic thinker, the sunlight in our day, a prideful person and last but definatly not least a loyal mate.'

'She is human.'

'So? So is our daughter Rin.'

'She isn't ours.'

'She could be.'

*silence*

'I got you didn't I?'

*silence*

'Fine, play Mr. I'm-ignoring-you. But know this: this conversation is far from over.'

Much later just before sunset.

"Come on Miss Kagome and Shippo-chan! It's time to get ready for the ball!" an excited Rin said while she dragged Kagome up to her room along with Shippo. Kagome smiled at the little giggling girl in front of her eagerly dragging her by her left hand up to the second floor west wing (royal wing).

"Clam down Rin,' Kagome said playfully, while Rin let go of her hand to run a good 10 feet in front of Kagome who had Shippo clinging to her neck.

"Rin can't calm down. Rin is so excited for the ball tonight! This is the first time Rin can stay up till midnight like the adults."

"Really now?"

"Yes, Rin has turned 7 summers old 5 months ago, so that means that Rin can go!" Rin turned a sharp corner and literally bumped into 2 ladies dressed in grey kimomos and blue obis. Rin looked up to see two familiar faces.

"Oh, sorry Harumi-san, Asami-san." Asami was a grey inuyoukai. She stood about 5' 6" and had light brown eyes and light green eye shadow. There were no markings on her face though her hair was grayish-black and fell to the mid back point.

"Miss Rin, we have been loking for you," said Asami, "It's time to get ready."

"By any chance have you seen Ms. Kagome and Shippo-san?" asked Harumi. Harumi was also an inuyoukai though she unlike Asami was a black inuyoukai. She was about 5' 8" and had light purple eyes and deep grey eye shadow. She too had no markings though her black hair sported deep blue highlights and it fell to her waist. Though her hair was always kept in a braid.

"We're right here," said Kagome as she rounded the corner.

"Ahh, Miss Kagome and Shippo-san. There you are," said Harumi.

"Hey, Nobuo found them!" Asami called out. Suddenly a man about 6' 3" came to stand next to the wall. His hair was chin length and black. A single jagged turquoise stripe was on each cheek and the same color was on his eyelids. His eyes were a deep ocean blue. Unlike Harumi and Asami he was wearing a pair of deep blue hakama and his haori was the same color but there were white slash like designs on the sleaves.

"Great. Shippo-san will you come with me? It is time to get you more presentable for tonight's occasion." Shippo looked up at Kagome and all she did was nod. Then Shippo hopped off her shoulder and followed after Nobuo.

"You too Rin. I need to make you into the little western princess for your first ball," said a very excited Asami.

"Yay!" yelled Rin as the both of then ran down the hall leaving Harumi and Kagome. Kagome giggled and said,

"Is it just me or does she seem as excited if not more excited that Rin is?"

"No, Asami is really excited because as you heard from Rin herself this is her first ball. If Rin gets to go so does Asami," Harumi said with humor in her tone.

"So your telling me Asami didn't go to previous balls because Rin was too young?"

"Yes."

"Well that's interesting."

"Yes, yes it is. Anyway let's quit this idle chit-chat. The children aren't the only ones that need to get ready," Harumi said smiling.

"Yeah, let's go."

A few minutes later in Kagome's room she was all ready. After they had gone to her room she soaked in her private hot springs then changed into a black kimono with glimmering sky blue swirls that decorated the sleaves, neckline and bottom. Kagome had brought this kimono from the future a few months back just in case she needed it. Though she had yet to wear it till now. Her hair was let down and it fell to the middle of her thighs. Harumi had brushed her hair to the point where there wasn't a knot in sight and Kagome had applied just a little make-up from her time to her face. The eye shadow was a light blue. Kadome also put on some mascara and some chapstick. She had decided to go for the natural look since her cheeks were already accented with her own natural blush.

"Wow Miss Kagome you look stunning," Harumi compimented as Kagome spun around for her to see.

"How many times have I told you? It is just Kagome."

"Sorry Kagome-chan, but you do look wonderful." Kagome smiled and said,

"So do you. You look beautiful Harumi-chan." Harumi flushed a little in embarrassmant.

"You think so?"

"Absolutely," answered Kagome with a smile.

Harumi was dressed in a light purple kimono with a little white leaf pattern all over it. She needed no make-up because of her markings but she did apply a bit of Kagome's mascara and she had let her hair out of it's confining braid. Her wavy hair fell down her back.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

*knock, knock, knock* Harumi went to answer the door. When she opened it she found two women, one was a kitsune and the other was human.

"Hey Sango, you look great," Kagome greeted.

"Thanks." Sango was dressed in a deep purple kimono with a black rose petal design. Her hair was also let loose except for a little black sparkly comb in her hair. Next to Sango the kitstune demoness was in a grey kimono with a green star pattern on it. She was about 5' 6" and she had green mid back hair. Her eyes were grey and her eye shadow was teal. She had no markings on her face too.

"Hey, Natsuki. I like the new kimono," said Harumi.

"Thanks I bought it a few weeks ago just for today. A girl has got to look good today, right Harumi?"

"I haven't the slightest idea on what you are talking about."

"Sure you don't," Natsuki replied sarcastically then giggled. Kagome walked over to Sango and gave her a once over then walked calmly around her then stopped in front of her friend and smiled.

"What are you doing Kagome?" asked Sango.

"Oh you know, thinking."

"Thinking about what?" Sango asked again but this time more scared to hear the answer. Kagome smirked and looked her dear friend in the eyes and said,

"I'm thinking about how Miroku will react to you. He may faint or grope you even more. Wait scratch that, it isn't a 'may' anymore it is a 'will'. Oh I feel for you Sango, or was that the reaction you were going for, huh?" Sango gave Kagome a light punch in the arm.

"Don't even joke about that stuff Kagome."

"So you were, going for that look?"

"NO!"

"Huh. watever you say Sango," Kagome said as she stepped out into the hall, "Let's go. I'm sure you all don't want to be late."

"She's right," said Harumi as she ushered everyone out then shut the door to Kagome's chambers.

"Oh please Harumi. You just want to make sure you have enough time to find the the western general."

"Shut your mouth Natsuki!" Harumi loudly said as the group began walking towards the ballroom.

"The western general?" asked Sango.

"Yes Sango-chan, General Nobuo. He is Lord Sesshomaru's general as well as an old friend to our lord."

"Wait did you say Nobuo? A black inuyoukai, a bit over 6 feet, dark blue eyes and black shoulder length hair?" Kagome inquired.

"Um, yes."

"We saw him earlier. He took Shippo to get ready for the ball," said Kagome.

"Oh so you ran into him already huh Harumi?" said Natsuki while slyly smiling. Harumi said nothing and ignored the fox. But she did develop a slight blush. Kagome turned to look at Harumi and spotted the blush then said,

"Oh I get it now. Harumi you like General Nobuo huh?" Harumi still said nothing but her blush was now very noticable.

"No not like, she is totally smitten with him yet sadly she is in a terrible case of denial," said Natsuki.

"Oh my gosh that shounds exactly like Sango when we talk about her love for Miroku."

"NO IT DOESN'T!"

"See?"

"What was your name again Miss?"

"It is Kagome, just Kagome. I hate formalities"

"Ha, that is exactly what Sango said to me."

"Your name is Natsuki-chan, correct?"

"Yes, but I'm surprised you remembered after only hearing it twice."

"Trust me if you hear a name yelled you will remember it."

"True."

"Wait if Nobuo is Sesshomaru's general why is he helping Shippo get ready? Isn't that a servant's job?"

"Well, yes. You have met Asami-chan right?"

"Yes. She is Rin's caretaker."

"Well that is true but she is also Rin's bodyguard in a sense. You see she is the highest ranking assassin in Lord Sesshomaru's army."

"Really? I wouldn't have guessed. Wait so that means that General Nobuo is Shippo's bodyguard."

"Yes."

"And let me guess, Harrumi-chan is my bodyguard and you are Sango's bodyguard too." Natsuki smiled and said,

"You are very sharp Kagome-chan. Yes that is true."

"But why would Sesshomaru do this?"

"Well even though fighting and killing is banned from balls my lord believes that it is better to be safe that sorry."

"That's true."

"Yes Lord Sesshomaru is very insightful."

"Wait you mean he came up with that saying?"

"Why yes he did," replied a not phased at all Natsuki.

'Looks like I meet the person who came up with that well known saying. I would have never guessed it would have been Sesshomaru," Kagome thought in wonder. Meanwhile in Natsuki's head she thought,

'Kagome-chan why do you refer to my lord as just Sesshomaru? Are you that close to him?' Then Natsuki mentally gasped and thought,

'What if my lord has finally chosen a mate? Well if I'm correct she checks out with me.' Little did Natsuki know that she was right and Harumi and Sango were thinking along the same lines.

All conversation had stopped when the four girls finally made it to the ballroom doors. They were just as tall as the doors to the palace entrance yet these doors had beautiful carvings that were painted all over them, as if they were a story.

"We have arrived," said Harumi.

"Well time to go in girls. Lets all have fun tonight, for it is the night of a new era without the threat of Naraku."

"Yeah," all the girls responded. Then opened the twin doors and walked into the room.

Ha. Chapter 5 completed. That took me a while. Thank you readers for your reveiews for chapter 4. I was really thinking about discontinuing this story. But for you all I'll keep it going. All I ask for in return is that you reveiw and tell me what you thought about chapter 5.