These Author's Notes are quite addicting, if I may say so… They make one feel so… important? Yeah, important is definitely the correct word. Anyways. : Thanks for your reviews! Oh, and I have always seen people put up their disclaimers even thought this is a Fan-Fiction site, so naturally, everything originally belonged to someone else. Obviously fan-fiction authors only wish to have a higher word count, but anyways…

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and the basic idea from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice are not mine Enjoy

Chapter 2:

Sipping from the obviously real crystal glass, Kagome stared around at all the fancy people around her, suddenly feeling out of place. I don't belong here…. I'm an educated woman not interested in money, status, or connections.

"There you are, I lost sight of you after you ran off!"

"Sango." Kagome replied, nodding her head as she started swirling the water around in her glass. Promptly the glass disappeared from her hand, and glancing up she found Sango wearing a rather annoyed look on her face.

Looking around, she leaned closer to Kagome, "Its rumored that tonight, the Lord will not only dine, but dance as well. Mother would definitely strangle us if we did not take this golden opportunity."

Kagome waved a hand in the air, "You already know my feelings on said subject Sango, you're not going to change my opinion that easily."

"Of Course." Sango said while straightening, "Dinner should be announced any minute now, and Kagome. Remember your etiquette training! If you're even half as intelligent as you claim I'm sure something as simple as eating and drinking properly is a walk in the park."

A few moments later, the soft, tinkling noise of a bell was heard throughout the hall, and everyone immediately started moving towards two large doors created from stained oak. Kagome and Sango slowly followed, "How do we know where we sit?"

"I… I'm not quite sure where we will sit…" Sango said, glancing around for a servant she could question.

Laughing, a short and balding man suddenly appeared and ushered them to two seats near the end of one the long tables, "You should find these seats accommodating to your standards my ladies." And with a bow, the man disappeared.

The sound of silk shifting was heard when ladies adjusted their dresses to sit and chairs being swiftly tucked into the table. Napkins unfurled and were set upon laps, and excited conversation began to quietly bubble up. "Geez, you'd think these people could never be silent." Kagome muttered to Sango.

"Of course not," Sango replied, running her fingers through her hair. "That would completely ruin the point for these… galas."

Of course, Sango had spoken entirely too soon, for as the two doors on the wall opposite of their seats started to creak open the silence was absolutely deafening. Everyone knew what this meant, even if it was their first time there. The Lord was making his entrance. Rolling her eyes, Kagome began fidgeting with her silverware, straightening her folded napkin, pretty much anything that would provide a distraction from the slowly opening doors and the sudden babble of excitement slowly arising.

Kagome jumped a little when the doors to the hall finally opened at last to reveal Lord and the man from before, Miroku, standing beside him. Lifting her head, she stared at the recently arrived Lord. He wore a stylish black suit with a stiff, white collared shirt underneath. Two magenta stripes were slashed across each side of his face and a crescent moon adorned his forehead. Long, silver hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and even Kagome admitted he was quite good looking… to herself, and swore she would never tell another soul her thoughts.

Everyone started unfolding napkins, picking up silverware, and dishing out food. Kagome and Sango joined in on the noise, and then Sango quietly asked Kagome, "So.. What do you think?"

"About?"

"The Lord? Who else silly."

Kagome glanced at the table where the Lord and Miroku, as well as several other unknown people, occupied. "He looks the same as every other bimbo, a pompous idiot."

Sango laughed, and then started to eat.

After dinner finished, everyone proceeded to the ballroom to dance for the rest of the night. The ballroom was quite grand, in the corner a small orchestral ensemble was set-up to play waltzes throughout the night. The hardwood floor absolutely gleamed in the candlelight from the chandeliers overhead, and through three floor-to-ceiling windows on the wall opposite of the entrance one could see a softly illuminated garden. There was a large marble fireplace on the left side of the room, and pillars lined both the left and right side at equal intervals to each other.

Already the room was quite crowded, and in the center of the room a few couples were beginning to dance. Kagome looked at Sango, "Time for the real fun to begin."

"Kagome, please just be open to the experience at least." Sango sighed when Miroku approached them.

"Lady Sango, you are looking quite bored over here, I believe I have a solution though. May I have this dance?" Miroku asked her, smiling widely.

Huffing, Kagome snapped, "If you'll keep your hands where they belong!"

"Kagome." Sango scolded, "And that sounds delightful Miroku… but if your hands stray, you may not wake-up until tomorrow."

Laughing nervously, Miroku gulped and nodded while taking Sango's hand in his own and twirling her into the other dancers.

Left to her own devices, Kagome sighed in boredom, retrieving a glass of wine and taking a seat at one of the few tables on the sides of the ballroom. Taking a small drink, she disinterestedly tuned into various conversations.

"Lord Sesshomaru may not be the wealthiest of the four cardinal Lords, but he definitely has the most land and rules justly."

Rolling her eyes, Kagome moved onto the next most interesting looking

"Did you know that Miroku is not only Lord Sesshomaru's most trusted advisor, but has his own, smaller fortune and a large house?" "No kidding! So, great connections, wealth, and property, sounds like a well-rounded sort of man."

Shaking her head, Kagome noticed that Lord Sesshomaru, for she only recently had discovered his name was Sesshomaru, was talking with another man nearby. The man had dark hair pulled up into a high pony-tail and bright blue eyes, as they talked the man smiled quite a lot, revealing his canines. He was dressed similar to Sesshomaru, except he had a ruffles on his white shirt.

"Go ask someone to dance Sesshomaru! You're not young forever." The other man said, laughing as he patted Lord Sesshomaru on the back.

Growling lowly, Sesshomaru hit the other man's hand away, "Three reasons… First, do not touch me. Second, you shall address those above your station with the proper respect and titles." Sesshomaru glanced over at Kagome, looking her straight in the eye and smirking slightly before he said his third reason. "Third, there are no acceptable females here tonight."

Staring open-mouthed at Sesshomaru, Kagome knew not only did Sesshomaru know she had been eavesdropping on their conversation, but he had directed his last comment right at her. The gall of some men! I can't believe he would say that! To me no less! Shaking with anger, she was about to march up and give Lord Sesshomaru a piece of her mind when Sango plopped down next to her.

"Oh Kagome, I'm so hot now! This is the first moment I've had to sit down since the dancing started!" Sango said laughing, drinking a glass of water. Glancing at Kagome after she set the glass down on the table, Sango noticed her agitated state, "Uh, Kagome? What's the matter?"

"The nerve of him! He outright insulted me!" Kagome told Sango.

Sango blinked, "Who and what did he say?"

"Lord Sesshomaru! That's who!" Kagome venomously spat, "He knew I was listening to his conversation with another man and had the gall to look me in the eyes and say he didn't approve of any women here because we were beneath him!"

Sango patted Kagome on the shoulder, "I honestly do not see a reason for you to be upset, as even though you were insulted--"

"Unjustly so!"

Sango glared at Kagome before continuing, "Even though you were insulted, you both were at fault. Don't give me that look Kagome! You were eavesdropping on a conversation you were not asked to partake in."

Taking another drink, Sango set down her glass she said, "Kagome, do try and dance at least once. You may find dancing to be rather enjoyable, and you never know, maybe you'll find true love! And Oh! There's Miroku, he asked me for another dance when he saw me getting my drink!" Leaning closer to Kagome, Sango whispered, "I think I am actually attracted to the pervert."

Sango stood up and started walking towards Miroku when she paused, and turned towards Kagome, "When I said you should try to dance Kagome, I meant you had better dance or else. Well, Have fun!"

Grumbling, Kagome took another drink from her wine when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she saw the man that had been conversing with Lord Sesshomaru earlier.

"Excuse me, I couldn't help but notice your radiating beauty from across the room, and I sincerely request your hand in the upcoming Waltz." The man lifted her hand, confident in her agreement, and continued, "I most assuredly hope a true beauty such as yourself shall join such a humble and insignificant man when compared to one such as yourself. I will most definitely be aggrieved if one such as yourself denies me the chance of one dance."

Outright laughing at the man, Kagome almost refused him when she remembered what Sango had told her. Well, here goes nothing… "A dance sounds lovely, Mr.--?"

"Ah, address me as nothing more and nothing less than Kouga my dear mademoiselle." The man bowed low, kissing her hand.

Crinkling her nose in distaste, she said, "Likewise call me Kagome."

Kouga smiled widely up at her and then helping her to stand, he led her onto the dance floor. "This is your first dance of the night, is it not Kagome?"

Kagome nodded, "First and last dance of the evening Kouga."

Gasping in mock-horror, Kouga exclaimed, "But Kagome! Your dancing skills are exquisite and your temperament is most suitable for any dancing partner. A woman such as yourself simply must dance, and dance all night for that is what is every woman of a character such as yourself must do!"

Frowning, Kagome wondered what on earth the man was talking about. He is speaking nothing but gibberish, or at the very least, constantly repeating himself. Despite her opposing thoughts she slightly nodded her head and thanked God when the dance finally ended.

"Thank you for a lovely dance, but I must say I am feeling rather tired and must sit down for a while Kouga."

"Ah, the pleasure of such a lovely dance belongs all to me, Kagome! You are the sole reason for such an enjoyable experience such as this! I do hope in the future we shall dance many more times with each other, that I do!" Kouga said, and then bowed before sauntering off to find a new dance partner.

Sighing, Kagome returned to her original seat, and waited for the night to end.

"Well, I had a rather good amount of fun I must admit!" Sango said, "And, I got to dance twice with Miroku!"

Kagome nodded, climbing after Sango into their carriage. "Yes, I'm glad you had fun."

The carriage door snapped closed, and Sango raised an eyebrow, "Oh? So you didn't have fun with that rather handsome man I saw you dancing with."

"Oh heavens no!" Kagome exclaimed, "It was one of the most horrible experiences of my life! The man truly gave a whole new meaning to 'pompous idiots'!"

Giggling, Sango said, "I'm sure he couldn't have been that bad!"

"You're right Sango, he was absolutely, positively the worst." Kagome told her. "If you ever force me into dancing at least once, I'm requiring you to find a man that won't lower my intelligence quite so much. I know its hard to find a man that'll measure up to my standards, but so long as you find someone agreeable to my tastes I will accept the dance."

"Kagome, you know as well as I there is no Kagome's-perfect-man out there."

"He has to be out there, I just know it!"

Sighing, Sango flicked Kagome on the forehead and told her, "Kagome, have you ever thought that maybe the reason you haven't found Mr. Perfect is not because you have not yet met him, but because your prejudices are clouding your eyes from finding your one true love?"

Biting her lip, Kagome told Sango, "No, He's out there. I'll know as soon as I meet him."

Shaking her head sadly, Sango watched the scenery go by outside the carriage window. Closing her eyes, Sango prayed for Kagome's sake. Please, please, please, just let her prejudices leave her so she may have an opportunity to find true love and happiness.

End Author's Note: These things really are rather annoying and detract from the overall appearance of the story, don't you agree? But anyways… :clears throat: I'll strive to update at least once a week, at most twice. Of course, if I get busy or go out of town updates will be most definitely postponed : (It is summer vacation! I plan on going places, doing things… not at my computer all day lol). This chapter got to the top of the fourth page too ;o :feels proud:

Anyways, See you later