I can't believe how long it took me to get this chapter up! Work has been killing me! I'm VERY sorry to all of my reviewers and everyone who reads this story. I didn't mean for this to take so long! Once again I'm sorry! Ooooh, I have to apologize for the length of this chapter as well! It's pretty short, like all of my chapters, *rolls eyes in exasperation* but I really just wanted to get something posted for you guys. ^^; Sorrrrrryyyy! P.S. I'm giving Youko a power he doesn't actually have in the show…just thought you should know and I'm letting you know that I know he doesn't originally have it. lol. Nice little mouthful, huh? Hehe.

Here's chapter 5

Disclaimer: Nope! Not mine.

Thunder rumbled across the sky, slicing through the still air like the deep growl of a hungry beast. The mercury flash of lighting lit up the gray clouds, the electricity charging the humid air and stirring up the once sleeping animals. Weeds and grasses whipped viciously against the sides of the shoen as the calm night air gave way to howling winds. Emerald vines slithered silently up the sides of the estate, enfolding the handles of a shoji door in a white-knuckle grip to ensure it didn't move. Frosty eyes the color of the afternoon sun oscillated, taking in every detail of the deserted hallway. Elegant clawed fingers curled around the handle of the thin shoji door and with one last glance down the hallway, slipped it open.

Youko Kurama slide into Kagome's room, merging with the shadows with the grace of a predatory cat, his eyes narrowed with determination and thought. His deadly handsome features were set in collected calm, every muscle in his body taut and ready incase Kagome awoke unexpectedly. His mind raced as it re-evaluated his plan for the last time.

He'd gotten into the woman's room easily enough. All that was left was to walk over and erase the memories of their encounter in the gardens so that, in her eyes, he had an unblemished canvas…so to speak. He wanted to get to know this enigmatic girl better and if he was to do so he couldn't have the memory of his attempt at seduction keeping him at arms length. She would be wary both of him and while in his presence, always ready to bolt if something went even slightly in the direction of being alone with him. That would not do.

Yes, he wanted to get to know her but those were not his only plans for her. As his eyes roved over her sleeping form his kistune imagination kicked in and other plans of what he could do with her now that he was in her bedroom sunk into his mind. Shaking his head to clear his mind of the not-so-distasteful thoughts he ran a hand through his milk colored hair and shifted his weight to the balls of his feet. With the fluid grace of a stalking predator Youko slowly and carefully crept up to the lavender sheeted futon. His silken platinum tail swished in anticipation and he couldn't keep the glitter of excitement from crawling into his eyes. Shadows caressed his alabaster face like slim protective fingers and his eyes seemed to glow in the darkness as he crept up to the side of the futon.

Staring down at the peacefully sleeping woman, so blissfully unaware of his presence, Youko's pale lips upturned in a protective and predatory smile. A woman with so much haunting beauty should belong only to one of his status and worth, any other would be a waste of talent and possible skill. Ghostly tendrils of burning lust and need swirled in his shining orbs at the thought of teaching her such secrets, of stroking the tiny flickering flame of skill into a roaring, seductive mastery of arts meant only to be used behind closed doors. Once again he was forced to shake his head and clear his jumbled, inappropriate thoughts. Being a kistune had its downfalls, especially being a fox as beautiful and undeniable as himself. He was not one to be turned down nor was he one who was often avoided and run away from. The fact that this slip of a girl had done all three in one night made her almost unbearably sexy and charged what would have been a controllable attraction with sizzling electricity. His inner beast demanded that he claim the one female with enough will to deny him and why should he argue?

Youko grinned deviously and gave a smooth chuckle at his thoughts. His nostrils flared as he took a deep breath to clear his mind and push back his emotions, mistakes were both unwanted and unneeded. He clenched his right fist once before a glittering silver light surrounded in creamy blue swirled and danced around his fingertips. He slowly put his middle and pointer fingers together, clenching the rest of his fingers and raising his glowing hand to Kagome's cool forehead. His eyes slid closed in concentration as second after second of their encounter disappeared from Kagome's sleep numbed mind. When every millisecond of the memory was gone Youko pushed a new scene into her mind, one of her sitting at the fountain and staring at the stars only to go in and fall back asleep after the few uneventful hours alone. His sun kissed eyes slipped open when the deed was done and just as quickly and quietly as he came, he left.

******

The silence of Kagome's room was swiftly shattered by the sultry feminine voice of an extraordinary beauty.

"Miss Kagome…miss Kagome, it is time to rise, Breakfast is being served shortly."

Kagome's eyelids fluttered briefly before she let out a loud moan of protest and shoved her head deeper into her fluffy coal colored pillows. With a giggle that spoke of class and high rank in society the woman reached out her small hand and, all at once, pulled the blanket away from kagome's body and lifted her by the shoulder out of bed and propped her on her feet. With a shocked squeak of protest Kagome grabbed desperately for the edge of her futon as her right knee gave out under her unexpected weight.

"W-what is going on?!" Kagome grumbled in a surprised, sleep-slurred mumble. Another sweet laugh met her ears and Kagome's electric eyes slowly rose to take in this newcomer.

Eyes the color of copper with the tint of ocean blue gazed at her, dancing in merriment. Her naturally coffee colored skin glowed with both health and the electric sizzle of power. Full bronze lips were upturned in a good-natured smile and long, luscious ebony hair cascaded down her back, stopping just below her shoulderblades. Her shapely hourglass figure was covered in a warm golden yukata decorated in strange black and red catlike figures that spoke of ancient Egypt and mystery. Her trim waist was accentuated by her blood red and silver laced obi and a slim jet-black tail hung gracefully behind her legs. Her slim wrists were encompassed by large golden bracelets and around her neck was a thin silver chain that held a small copper teardrop. Looking her over one last time Kagome saw the icy golden teardrop on her brow and the thick black eye markings on each eyelid. The markings went from the middle of her eyelid, starting in a thin jet-black line and as the line continued, got thicker and at the very end, a little passed her actual eye, they curved slightly upward.

"I was sent by Lord Sugimi to wake you. Why he sent me instead of a servant I will never know."

Kagome only groaned in confusion and rubbed at her eyes with the back of her fists. Blinking one last time to get rid of the sandpaper feel of her eyes Kagome said

"Okay, now what am I supposed to be doing?" The beautiful woman's response was only laughter as she grabbed Kagome by the wrist of her right hand and led her toward her mahogany wardrobe. Slipping the doors open she looked over her shoulder at Kagome and said

"Choose one to wear to breakfast."

Kagome's mouth at that moment resembled that of a fish out of water as she took in the array of shimmering silk and bright colors.

"Are all of these mine?" Kagome gaped. The woman's intriguing eyes only gazed at her with laughter and patience as she answered.

"Yes, of course. I know there are not that many as of yet but the Inu no Taisho will fix that as soon as he sees which size is yours."

With a raised raven brow in the woman's direction Kagome said in astonishment

"Not that many? There has to be at least one hundred kimono in there!" The woman only looked at her with a blank expression and said

"Yes…like I said, there are not that many as of yet, but more are to come."

Kagome just shrugged her shoulders and stepped closer to inspect the many yukatas and kimono in her closet. Chewing her lower lip in thought she finally decided on one and pulled out a platinum colored yukata.

"What a wonderful choice Miss Kagome."

Kagome's eyes glanced in the woman's direction for only a second before she went back to taking in the yukata she'd decided on. The entire yukata itself was metallic grey that shone with even the slightest hint of light. On the gorgeous silk were blood red and gold sakura blossoms floating on a pink, delicately embroidered breeze. The obi was also blood red laced in sun kissed silk and the sleeves were long and flowing, almost touching the polished wood of the floor showing her status as a young and unmarried woman. The slippers that came with it were mostly gold but the soles and the outline of the shoe was dark onyx.

"Hurry and get dressed, we are going to be very late if you take much longer."

Kagome "eeped" in surprise and worry at the thought of being late for her first breakfast in Lord Sugimi's castle. Before she disappeared behind a screen to dress Kagome looked over her shoulder at the woman and asked

"Ummm…what is your name?"

The woman gave her a warm smile and said

"My name is Bastet…now please get dressed."

With that Kagome hurriedly got dressed and brushed her hair and then they headed out of her room. Looking over at the gorgeous woman beside her Kagome said

"Your name isn't Japanese so….ummm…what is it exactly?"

Copper eyes swimming with blue glanced in her direction as she parted her lips to answer the question.

"My name is Egyptian like myself. My father named me after the cat goddess Bastet and I find everyday that more and more traits of mine match hers"

A smile full of secrets upturned her lips as she said the last part of her answer to Kagome. Once again Kagome looked this amazing woman over. Her being emanated mystery and intrigue, secrets that could only be answered by the sly woman gliding next to her. Her eyes held every answer to every question and yet she had a way of hiding them in plain sight, unable to be solved even with the answers staring at you from liquid catlike eyes. Kagome had never met someone so completely and utterly amazing…and she hadn't even really met Bastet yet!

"Wow, that's amazing! I've never met an Egyptian before." Kagome said, squeaking like a child opening a long awaited present. Bastet only let out a soft tinkering laugh and kept moving swiftly on. The walk to the dining area was, at least to kagome, very long and confusing. They had been walking for almost fifteen minutes and they still weren't there. Being who she was Kagome had many questions but one in particular kept bouncing around her head like an annoying ping pong ball, so much so that she just had to let it out.

"I've met many new youkai at this palace in such a short amount of time…ummm…why exactly are so many lords and ladies from other lands gathering here? What exactly is happening?" Kagome asked.

Glancing at her without turning her head in her direction Bastet answered her question.

"Well, there has been a disturbance in the Southern lands. The lord of the South has become corrupt, or so we suspect, and if this is the case we must be prepared to relieve him of his position quickly. There have also been numerous attacks on all of our lands by hoards of lower class demon, they have been doing a great amount of damage. Lord Sugimi has called the lords of the North and East here to think of a strategy we all agree on."

Taking a quick breath Bastet continued.

"After this business is done he will invite the lord of the Southern lands and other lower ranking youkai, though not common of course, to the palace for a small celebration so there is no suspicion. There are few occasions when all of the lords meet, most of those occasions being in times of war. We must make the others believe we are meeting for reasons that are far more...pleasant. Lord Sugimi is the one who should have spoken to you about this matter, I will say no more."

It took a moment for Kagome to digest the new information she was just fed, her hand unconsciously wrapping around the large chunk of the Shikon no Tama dangling from her neck. Being a neko-youkai with an abnormal amount of curiosity in her system Bastet was instantly interested in the gorgeous purple-pink jewel Kagome was now playing with.

"My, that is quite a beautiful jewel. Where might one find a gem like that?" Bastet asked, her voice quiet and intense, her eyes fixated in the glittering jewel. Snapped out of her reverie Kagome glanced at Bastet quickly, her eyes questioning.

"I'm sorry, what'd you say?" Kagome asked, her tone apologetic.

"I asked where it is you found that glorious jewel you are playing with."

Glancing down at her hand so innocently fingering the Shikon Kagome gasped and shoved it quickly beneath her top.

"Ohh,…there's only one of these jewels and I'm afraid I can't give this away. It's was a...present." Kagome stammered.

Bastet narrowed her eyes at the lie Kagome was trying to force down her throat and only gave a small, forced smile and an "oh." Glancing around at their surroundings Bastet saw that they were coming up to Sugimi's study and she unconsciously picked up her pace. She knew that womanizing fox was in with Sugimi and didn't want any type of encounter with the sly devil at the moment. Kagome noticed their quickening pace and couldn't help the question that slipped from her lips.

"Why exactly are we practically running down the hallway all of a sudden?"

Bastet's head snapped in her direction and she put her finger to her lips in the all known gesture to shut up. Kagome's eyes widened at her almost cruel demand but did as she was told. Too bad for both of them all youkai had extremely sensitive hearing.

**

Sugimi's hard golden eyes stayed fixed on Lord Youko, his demand coming easily to his lips.

"Until we know more about this woman Kagome you are not to try to seduce her, become too friendly with her, or court her. I do not know how much clearer I can be other than to say that she is off limits to any males including yourself. Am I clear?"

Youko's large fox ears flattened against his skull and his features melted into a sad, dejected mask.

"But Lord Sugimi, she is a beautiful woman and she is so very intriguing. You can't honestly expect me to do as you ask, it is not in my nature."

Sugimi's mouth thinned to a tense line and he calmly stated

"I am not asking Lord Youko, it is an order and while you are staying in my home you will do as I say."

The spark of a challenge lit Youko's icy golden eyes as he straightened his back and lifted his shoulders, his chin high. His entire being spoke of defiance, he was a lord not some young pup to be told what he could and could not do.

"Do not take this as disrespect Sugimi-sama, but I am no pup and you are not any higher in rank than myself. You have no right to demand I do as you ask."

Sugimi ground out a humorless chuckle, his eyes glittering with an answering challenge as he spoke

"As I said, you are in my home and because of this fact you will do as I ask. If you find this to be distasteful you may leave, either way you will not have your wish to court Lady Kagome."

Youko's jaw clenched in anger as his mind worked quickly for a way to persuade the stubborn dog lord to let him court the enigmatic girl. Youko's lips twitched in a small almost unnoticeable smirk as he answered

"Do you honestly think it is wise to anger me when we are in such a precarious situation? I am behind you against the Lord of the south but such a small detail could quickly change. I will stay behind you in this battle, if there is one, if you would allow me the simple right to court Lady Kagome. That is not much to ask for considering what you could lose, Sugimi-sama."

Sugimi's jaw worked as he thought of his options. What would it hurt to let Youko court the girl, she didn't seem harmful. Then again she was a miko…he could just as easily lose Lord Youko at her hands as his seemed to wander. He also knew Youko would not put their alliance on the line for the right to rut with a human woman. He would not give the conniving lord what he wanted.

"Do not take me for such a simple minded fool Youko. You know as well as I do that if you were to change sides in this battle you and your lands would not survive. And, if you did happen to skitter out of the path of death you would have no living lord on your side, no allies. You would not take such a large risk for a woman, we both know this fact."

Youko Kurama's eyes narrowed in anger, why did he always have to see through his ploys? No other living soul could call his bluffs other than this lord and it drove him mad! Taking a deep breath Youko was about to give into Sugimi's request when the voice of their current argument met his ears.

His eyes sparked at the distraction and what a lovely distraction it was. Without warning Youko unfolded from his position on the mat he was sitting on and was grasping the shoji door handle in seconds. Sliding it open he glided into the hallway, his eyes landing on his current obsession…more so an unsolved puzzle really. Inside the study Sugimi rolled his eyes in annoyance and agitation and quickly followed the overly eager fox out of the study.

**

Kagome let out a small "ohh." When, within seconds of being told to be quiet, Youko Kurama appeared in the hallway. She felt the intensity of his gaze instantly, causing her to blush and self-consciously smooth the front of her yukata.

"My, Lady Kagome you look breathtaking." Was Youko's first sentence to her and it certainly wasn't unwelcome. Blushing prettily once again Kagome said

"Ariagato Lord Youko."

Her answer was a beautifully disarming smile and smoldering golden eyes gazing into her own.

'Good lord, this man knows just how to manipulate a woman doesn't he?' was all Kagome could really think at that moment. Her next thought was 'Thank Kami!' as the smooth baritone of Lord Sugimi's voice broke the strange encounter.

"Lord Youko, would you please escort Lady Bastet to the dining room for breakfast? I must speak with Lady Kagome. Alone."

Youko's platinum head swung to Sugimi angrily and his eyes narrowed, sending him the distinct message that this wasn't over. He only smirked in response and turned to the approaching women. Sugimi nodded his head in a small bow to both women before escorting Kagome into his study and firmly shutting the door behind him. Heaving a dejected sigh Youko sullenly did as he was told.

"Please have a seat Kagome." Lord Sugimi said, taking his own seat. Dropping as gracefully as she could onto her mat Kagome looked expectantly at the Inu no Taisho.

"What is it you had to speak to me about, Sugimi-sama?"

His deep halcyon orbs met her own cerulean depths as he spoke softly

"Many things, but first I must speak with you about Lord Youko."

******
Hehehe. That's all for now. Until next time, JA!! –sesshysgirl08-