Hello once again my dear readers. I am really sorry for not updating for so long. Yeah today has been over one week since I last updated. Since today is Memorial Day I'll update today. Ugh, listen to me, wasting your time. Well here goes nothing, here is chapter 6.

The girls all entered the room to find a huge crowd awaiting them in the ballroom. The most interesting thing though, was that there were youkai and humans in the room and they were mingling peacefully. The room itself was enormous. From the ceiling there hung sixteen crystal chandeliers. There were expensive dark blue and silver silk ribbons hanging from the ceiling. The room itself was spacious and it easily fit everyone inside without them bumping into one another. The walls were still very tall and along the edges was golden crown molding. From the entrance to the rest of the room there was a set of 15 steps going down, so that whenever someone came in they could be seen by everyone occupying the massive room.

Of course the ballroom was for dancing, yet it was also the place for everyone to gather before the feast. The feast was in celebration for the death of Naraku, and little did a certain miko know that she was the guest of honor. After the feast everyone was going to return to the ballroom and actually dance. (Ya I know, I was gonna say cut a rug but that is really not my style of writing. ;p)

"Wow," Sango said in awe as they finally got to the bottom of the stairs. Kagome just smiled, that was her first reaction too, but this wasn't her first time seeing the ballroom.

"Yeah it's prettier than I remember. It's amazing what demons can do in such a short time," Kagome commented. Yes she had seen the ballroom before just like most of the hallways and rooms in the Palace of the Moon. After all she had stayed in all four castles when she gathered the four leaders, and she happened to receive a tour of all of them.

"Miss Kagome!"

"Kagome!"

Suddenly a blur of pink and black hurled itself towards Kagome's legs before tightly hanging on to them, while another blur of red, black and white went to her stomach. Kagome just grinned and said,

"Hey Shippo, (pats his head) Rin (smiles down at her)." She let go of both children and once they were apart Rin said,

"Rin thinks that Miss Kagome's kimono is really pretty. It matches the decorations!"

"Yeah, Kagome it looks like you belong here," said Shippo.

"Thank you both. Though I must say you both look great. Rin you look like a little princess!"

"That's the look I was going for," said Asami. She had stopped from a quick pace jog to keep up with Rin and at the moment was a bit out of breath. Rin giggled and twirled around. Her kimono was a hot pink with light blue and pink butterflies decorating it. Rin's hair was up in a bun near the right top of her head. A pink ribbon was circling it and she had a little curled piece of hair to each side of her face. Kagome smirked as she turned to Shippo and said,

"And look at you Shippo. Why don't you look like the little gentleman? I swear if you were wearing armor you'd look like a warrior!" Shippo puffed out his chest in pride and smiled. Shippo was wearing a traditional black hakama with a white haori. The sash around the center was grey with silver and gold designs on the ends. Shippo had changed over the past 2 years so now his auburn hair was to his waist and was now braided down his back with his new bangs hanging in his face like always. He had gotten rid of the ribbon when his hair had stared growing and now it was tied off with a simple black band from Kagome's time.

"He cleans up good," a deep male voice said, "Of course with a little training he could be an outstanding asset to the battle field." The girls turned to see General Nobuo approaching them with a steady even stride. Harumi's face flushed a hardly-seeable pink at the sight of the western general without his armor. He stopped to stand beside Shippo and patted his head. Natsuki and Asami giggled as they looked at their dearest friend's attempts to look indifferent and calm, which by the way she was failing at.

"Good evening," Nobuo said while giving a nod.

"Now dear cousin, now what mess have you gotten yourself into now?"

"Natsuki, do I always have to be in trouble if I came to talk to you?" Nobuo asked in a hurtful tone.

"Knowing you, yes."

"Pardon me for interrupting your obviously important conversation, but does anyone know where everyone else is?" asked Sango while scanning the crowd for the people in the inutachi.

"Actually yes I do know where the other members of your group are. Though sadly you will not find them here," said Nobuo.

"Then where pray tell are they?"

"You're talking about the monk, the neko youkai and milord's younger half-brother right?" Nobuo asked. After getting a nod from Kagome Sango and Shippo he said, "They are currently occupying the presence of Lord Sesshomaru at the moment. Everyone else can be found here, including the other cardinal rulers. The celebration doesn't start till milord appears though. He is the last to enter the room yet he is also the person who will host tonight's events."

Suddenly the doors of the ballroom closed and locked. The two men standing to either side of the door blew their trumpets and everyone turned to look at the ballroom entrance. Standing there was Lord Sesshomaru himself. Inuyasha was standing to his right, Miroku was standing to his left and Kirara was sitting contently on Miroku's left shoulder.

"Speak of the devil and he shall appear," commented a smiling Nobuo.

Sesshomaru was wearing a different kimono for the event. Instead of wearing his usual white kimono with red sakura blossom petals on it he was wearing a pair of dark blue hakama and a matching haori. The haori had a silver crescent moon on the left side over his heart and Sesshomaru sported a silver sash with golden outlining. Seeing this was a ball he wasn't wearing his armor and swords.

Inuyasha's outfit was surprisingly not his traditional fire rat robe. Instead he was wearing an outfit similar to his older brother's. His kimono was nearly the exact opposite of Sesshomaru's. Inuyasha had on a pair of silvery-grey hakama and haori, his sash was black with little dark blue stripes on the ends and over his heart on the left side of his kimono there was a red outline of the waning crescent moon symbolizing that he was the late Inu-no-tashio's second son. Inuyasha was also wearing a pair of black boots, not dissimilar to the one's both his brother and late father had worn.

Miroku wasn't wearing his purple monk robes to tonight's occasion. He was wearing a pair of black hakama and his haori was a deep purple. The sash he was sporting was a pure white color with little silver stripes on its ends. He was also wearing a pair of simple black shoes. (You know like Bankotsu's.)

"Doesn't Miroku look fancy and really handsome, Sango?" whispered an inwardly grinning Kagome. Sango blushed lightly and whispered back,

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure you don't. You keep telling yourself that my friend," Kagome replied. Then Sesshomaru raised his arms and announced loudly,

"Welcome my honored guests and allies. Tonight is a very special night for the inhabitants of Japan, for it is a night of celebration for us all. Tonight we celebrate the death of our greatest enemy, Naraku. May he burn in hell for all he has done. We are here to rejoice in his defeat and for the new peace that has settled itself upon our lands. I thank all those who helped us put a stop to that vile abomination. Now let us enter the dining hall for the hero's feast." Sesshomaru had made his youki open the double doors to the left side of the ballroom and everyone gradually entered the highly decorated eating area.

There were three tables that were set. Two of them were very long and parallel to one another and the other table was shorter plus it was curved and was situated at the top of the other two. It was on a raised platform that had two steps upon it and it was perpendicular to the other tables. (Kinda looks like this but the two parallel tables are twice as long: C=) The top table was for the cardinal lords and ladies as well as the most honored guests. From the front table the table to the right was for all the minor lords and ladies and the left table was for the ranking officials in all four armies.

'That has got to be the longest I have heard Sesshomaru talk,' thought Kagome as she made her way to the head table. She found her seat to be the seat left to the seat in the very center. How could she miss it? 'Really Sesshomaru? Ugh, you just had to go and engrave our names into the back of our seat in golden calligraphy characters.' Once everyone was seated Kagome found out that Sesshomaru was sitting on her right in the seat that was in the center of the table and Sango was on her left.

(If anyone was wondering, the seating of the head table from left-right from the back view of the chairs [like if you are standing behind them] is like this: Rin~Shippo~Miroku~Sango~Kagome~Sesshomaru~Inuyasha~Isamu~Toshiko~Chieko~Kouga)

Sesshomaru stood and clapped twice. Suddenly several dozen servants came in and rapidly set food on the tables, then as suddenly as they appeared they vanished into the several doors.

"Let the feast begin, "Sesshomaru announced and then reseated himself as many conversations sprang up all at once. On the table there was several types of (still kinda bleeding) meats for the youkai and there were many types of food for the humans. While everyone was enjoying the food and eating to their heart's content (especially Inuyasha) a conversation began at the head table.

"Sesshomaru-sama you sure know how to throw a feast. Pardon my boldness but I don't see you doing something such as this. I mean you even went as far as to let the human lords and warriors attend," said Miroku.

"Don't be so surprised monk," said Isamu, "Sesshomaru's father was known far and wide to have the best celebrations and it seems like that is a trait that was passed on to Sesshomaru himself."

"Father enjoyed these things. I find them annoying."

"Ha. That's classic Sesshomaru-sama there. Always the antisocial demon lord," said Chieko.

"Yes antisocial, cold, distant, uncaring, ruthless, unemotional, fun hating-"

"Isamu," scolded Toshiko after she had hit her mate upside the head.

"What? I wasn't done listing them all," said Isamu lifting up his seven fingers.

"And if you want to not have Sesshomaru-sama shish-cabob you, you will never finish that list." Sesshomaru sat there like no one even began to speak.

"With all that aside-"

"For now," interrupted Isamu. Who just got his hair pulled in response from his wife.

"Continue Kagome-chan," said Toshiko.

"Okay...then? Anyway, with all that aside I just can't get over the fact that Inuyasha is actually wearing something on his feet."

"Whz tht suppse ta mean?" asked an offended Inuyasha with a mouthful of food.

"Inuyasha-sama! Swallow before you talk," said Chieko.

"Your parents must be ashamed. Your mother, though human had nice manners and your father had excellent manners. I swear you need to be taught them," commented Toshiko.

"Believe me I've tried," said Kagome, "You loose patience, and hope after 2 years."

"Um-hm," Sango agreed and nodded along with Miroku, Shippo and even Kirara.

"Hey I ain't that bad!" a certain half-demon said when he finally finished chewing and swallowed.

"Yes you are. Plus how many times have I told you ain't isn't a word," Kagome said then took another bite of her food.

"Ain't, is a word. It's coming out of my mouth isn't it? And what's this about my feet! What's wrong with them?"

"I'm sure what Lady Kagome meant was that you are actually wearing something on your feet instead of running around bare-footed," said Miroku.

"What!"

"I'll admit it Inuyasha, your feet are really, really, really, extremely dirty."

"Take that back wench! Ya know nothing about me."

"Don't make me say 'it'. Because I'm sure none of us would appreciate a broken table," Kagome said with a smirk, she knew she'd won. Inuyasha just muttered curses under his breath and found the food in front of him was much more interesting and resumed eating.

"I must say Kagome-chan that kimono suits you," complemented Toshiko.

"Thank you Toshiko-chan. I've had it with me for a while, but I haven't found a suitable occasion to wear it to till now. But I must say, that kimono you're wearing looks very intricate." Oh and was Kagome as right as ever. Toshiko was in a red kimono that had peacocks on it with multicolored swirls. The basic colors were pink, blue, green. orange, yellow and white. Chieko giggled and said,

"Looks like you over did it this time again. *sigh* You always had an original sense of style."

"Thanks. But I do have to wonder, do you only own light blue kimonos with violet designs on them?"

"Personally I think that getting so many kimonos that are all different is a pain. For me it's better to have everything matching so it isn't a hassle to choose something to wear. Besides if everything is the same color you don't have to worry over if everything matches," Chieko said coolly.

(Putting this in here just if anyone cares what Isamu is wearing.) Isamu was wearing a pair of green hakama and a matching haori. There is a violet five-pointed star over his heart and around the edges of the haori and hakama there are two parallel golden bands. His sash was a simple light green and like every other warrior present he lacked his armor and weapons. (You know thinking on Isamu and Toshiko I'm thinking they must look really Christmassy to Kagome. Just saying.)

This next part is dedicated to both LifeandFire25 and Flame of Shadows. Thanks for the inspiring reviews. PS: I'm only going into Sesshomaru's and Kagome's thoughts for now. Please don't be disappointed. We're going into Kagome's thoughts first though. Oh, and keep in mind bold is the other half or the beast thinking.

'Oooo, Sesshomaru looks even more handsome than before. If that's even possible.'

'Not you again," thought Kagome.

'Oh come on just take a look at him. Not that I don't already know that you are trying your hardest not to sneak peeks at him since you saw him come into the ballroom.'

'Out of all times you choose now. Anyway, I was just surprised that he wasn't wearing his normal kimono.'

'Admit it.'

'What?'

'Don't pretend you don't know.'

'I swear, I don't know what you are referring to.'

'Then 'a kiss in the courtyard' should ring a bell.'

'That was totally unexpected! He has some nerve!' Kagome raged angrily in her head.

'It's not like your taken.'

'What!'

'You fell out of love with Inuyasha over a year ago.'

'That doesn't mean that I'm going to give my love over to someone I hardly know. Someone can't fall in love in the snap of some fingers!'

'So you don't believe in love-at-first-sight?'

'No!'

'Good.'

'Huh?'

'Because neither do I. The fact is that true lasting love takes time.'

'Exactly. If, and I do mean IF, I ever fall in love with Sesshomaru, which by the way is ridiculous, I'd have to know him for a while and actually get to know him. Right now even considering him is way too sudden.'

'Your closer to that idea than you think.'

'I don't catch your drift.'

'Think about it Kagome. Is it really that sudden?' thought Kagome's inner voice then faded away.

'Ugh! Yes you get me all worked up, only to leave me with a riddle,' thought Kagome.

Well here are Sesshomaru's thoughts.

*growl of happiness/contentment*

'You have the worst timings, don't you?' thought Sesshomaru.

'No. You just don't see thing the way I do. Besides who in their right mind would miss a chance like this.'

'This Sesshomaru doesn't see your perspective.'

'Our mate-to-be is sitting less than a foot away from us in a stunning kimono that accents all her curves. Besides I know you didn't fail to notice that her obi is a deep blue. Imagine her in a kimono with the colors of deep blue and silver. She would look absolutely stunning standing at our side. Even tonight our attire matches.'

'A coincidence.'

'No it's fate.'

'You're delusional.'

'Am I? She smells like fresh spring rain mixed with sakura blossoms. There is no offending scents and her skin seems to radiate light and health. Besides I wasn't the one to like the sight of her fighting first.'

'She's an adequate warrior.'

'Hm, now look at you giving her compliments.'

'She is adequate, yet she could still improve.'

'Yes she could even though she was able to hold you off for quite some time earlier. Besides you were turned on by her fierceness and ended up kissing her. You can't deny having strange feelings for her.'

'She...is different.'

'Yes she is. Unlike most humans she doesn't desire a lot of power. She is content with her life as it is, at the moment. She isn't submissive like every other female we've met. She doesn't bow to us and has a very rebellious nature.'

'What is it that makes her so...special?'

'Why don't you find out? After all she is a miko who has befriended half demons and full-bred youkai as well. She doesn't discriminate between races. Our future mate is quite the puzzle.'

'Yes a puzzle I intend to solve.'

'Good luck, your gonna need it. She will, prove to be unsolvable and you will fall for her.'

'Love is weakness.'

"Really? Then why did we fight better when we found, protected and loved Rin like our own daughter?'

'This is different.'

'Yes it is. She will be our mate and her love will change us.'

'Hn. I have no desire to be like father. He was a fool to love a human and he failed to protect her in the end.'

'Is that so? He died for her sake and she as well as Inuyasha lived on after him. I wouldn't call that a failure.'

'Hn.'

'Besides, you can't undo what has already been done,' his beast thought as he faded away leaving Sesshomaru deep in thought about a certain miko.

Back to the normal way of writing with all the other characters. Bye for now thought land.

After a while of laughs, eating and idle chit-chat Isamu stood up and tapped on his glass then raised it into the air. He spoke in the now quieted dining hall,

"A toast to Lady Kagome, the Shikon Miko and our guest of honor for her superior skills for battle and intellect. She was the one to unite us and was the one to give the killing blow to Naraku himself. She is the most powerful miko to ever exist since the beginning of time! Let her live long with many blessings!"

Everyone lifted their cups and drank then went back to chatting while Kagome herself was both shocked and embarrassed to be named the guest of honor as well as the most powerful miko to ever exist. Later Sesshomaru made a toast to a world of peace without Naraku as well.

Later at the end of the feast...

Sesshomaru stood and said,

"Let us dance and enjoy ourselves."

Everyone stood and spilled into the ballroom.

This has been my longest chapter yet! And wow that was pretty long. Usually I try to make it at least 2,000 words but this chapter is over 3,000 words. I don't know how soon I can update, so please review or I'll just put this off till summer. Tell me what you think please! Ja ne.