After this chapter, this will start to get a bit more interesting! ;) Hope you guys like it.

PS: I made two images for this chapter. Unfortunately, I can't upload pictures here. So, if you want to see them, you'll have to go to Dokuga website! 3

22º - Ball part 1

(*)

With all the things that had happened since Kagome joined their pack, Inu no Taisho had completely forgotten about the ball. So now life in the castle was an absolute mess. Since Inu no Taisho had realized that the ball to celebrate the eight hundred years of peace between the kingdoms would be held in his castle, the servants had started their preparations since everything would have to be ready for that special event.

The clothes for his pack members would have to be made according to his family colors. The rooms in the guest area of the castle, which were intended for the other two lords and respective pack, would have to be cleaned. As for the rest of the nobles, they would need to find a place on their own, or return to their own homes the same night. Inu no Taisho would only offer shelter for one night to the other two lords as a gesture of trust.

The food would also have to be prepared and adjusted for all the different types of demons who would be attending the ball. The ballroom would need to be aired and decorated. And all these preparations for more than five hundred guests were all due in one week's time. This was when the strength and velocity that only demon servants could provide would come in handy.

(*)

One week later.

Finally, after an infernal week with Aimi supervising the preparations and Kagome revising all the proper formalities of a high class ball, the Western castle was ready to receive its guests. And just in time. The first family had just arrived that morning.

Kagome was standing in front of a mirror, in her room, trying to understand how the kimono Aimi gave her that morning was supposed to be tied. And she was failing at it miserably. Her thoughts were still on Sesshomaru and on the cold treatment that she had been giving him since that fateful night. The problem was that she wasn't scared of him; she simply didn't know how to react in front of him. He was still the same, and at the same time, he wasn't.

Now, every time she saw him she would find an excuse to run in the opposite direction. 'I can't keep acting like this. I need to face him.'

"You are still not ready, Kagome?" Kagome was so deep in her own thoughts that she never saw Aimi entering her room until she was already inside. "Let me help you with that." Aimi didn't wait for a replay. Instead, she just met Kagome in front of the mirror and started fixing her kimono.

"Thank you," Kagome said with her head low from embarrassment. "I guess dressing in a kimono is not one of my strongest points."

"You are welcome, pup." Aimi didn't feel that helping Kagome getting dressed was an obligation but a pleasure. In fact, it almost felt like a dream come true to be able to help one of her pups getting ready. "Our first guest has just arrived. Since he is only a nobleman, it is not required of you to present yourself. As part of a ruling family, you will only need to do it for the other two ruling families." Kagome nodded, remembering what she had learned during this last week.

A few minutes later, Aimi took a step back and looked at Kagome. She was perfect, and the white and red colors of the West made her beauty stand out even more. She then moved Kagome to a chair nearby and told her to sit down. It was time to fix her hair and her makeup; however, when Aimi was applying the red lipstick, they were interrupted by a knock on the door. With a command from Aimi, a servant girl entered the room and made a deep bow.

"I am sorry, mistresses. Your mate, Lord Inu no Taisho, has summoned you. The first lord has arrived, and they are waiting for both of you at the castle's main gate." With a nod from Aimi, the servant girl made another deep bow and left the room.

"Well, you are ready, pup. Shall we go?" Aimi asked after leaving the lipstick on the table. Kagome didn't want to be the reason for their delay, so she promptly followed Aimi.

(*)

Aimi and Kagome found Inu no Taisho, Hideo, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha standing near the castle gate already, waiting for the Lord of East to make an appearance. From what Kagome had studied, the Eastern family consisted of wild cats. The books also talked about their cunning skills and abilities to defeat enemies by confusing their enemies senses. It was said that the Eastern family was overall friendly to their allies and deadly to their enemies. Hisao, the ruling lord, was mated with Kin, and together they had given birth to four children. Toran was the eldest of the four and, therefore, the first in line to the throne. 'She would probably be a perfect match for Sesshomaru. Wait, why am I thinking that?' Shaking her head, she tried to focus on the present.

Kagome assumed her position on Aimi's right and waited for the family's arrival. A few minutes later, in a mist of sakura petals, six demons appeared. All of them with markings on their faces, clearly identifying their status as rulers.

"Inu no Taisho, my old friend." Hisao stepped forward and took Inu no Taisho's hand. "It's been far too long." Before Inu no Taisho could replay, Hisao looked directly at Kagome, grabbed her hand and, after kissing it, said, "A new pack member, I see. Well done my friend, well done."

Hisao's nature was obviously relaxed and Inu no Taisho knew it. Because of that, he didn't take offence to the other lord's forwardness towards Kagome. The Lord of the East was friendly overall and was the kind of demon who was easy to talk to. Now that Inu no Taisho thought about it, Hisao's personality reminded him more of a dog than a cat. With a few introductions on both sides, the families started to move to the ballroom.

As for Kagome, she was feeling furious. As soon as the Eastern family had arrived, she noticed a beautiful demoness wearing a light blue kimono and walking a few steps behind Lord Hisao. That could only mean that the beautiful demoness was Toran, the heir of the East. However, Kagome didn't miss the look full of lust that she sent towards Sesshomaru. It was clear that this demoness was after him, and the only thing keeping Kagome in place was the fact that Sesshomaru's face was as cold as ever. He was clearly not interested in her. 'Wait! Why do I feel annoyed with this situation? Better yet, why do I feel happy when he is being cold towards Toran?' Kagome knew the answer, but she couldn't admit it. Not even to herself.

In the meantime, the families kept walking, but before they could reach the ballroom, Inu no Taisho felt another powerful source of energy coming from the South. It could only mean that the other lord was coming. "Hisao, please follow the servants inside. We will greet Lord Naraku and meet you soon after."

Hisao nodded his head and followed a servant towards the ballroom, where other nobles were already waiting. As for Inu no Taisho, he returned to their previous position near the gate. This time, he took a step closer to Sesshomaru, and in a whispered voice told his eldest son to protect Kagome from "indiscrete eyes".

Sesshomaru understood what his father meant and walked to Kagome's side. Putting a protective arm around her waist, he whispered in her ear. "Stay close to me, and whatever you do, do not leave my side."

Kagome saw his intense gaze and decided to go along with it. His proximity, however, was messing with her heart. His arm around her waist, his hot breath on her ear… 'God, don't let me go." Too soon, he released her and turned his back on her. Because of that, she never saw his red eyes.

Sesshomaru was now fighting with instincts. When his protective instincts kicked in, his arm had found her waist automatically. Now that he finally realized what he had done, he also became conscious of her soft body against his. When he whispered in her ear, he wanted to bury his nose in her neck and ravish it. But when the scent of her arousal reached his nostrils, all bets were off. She was responding to his touch, melting under him, and getting excited with their proximity. It took all his determination to release her.

"Sesshomaru, you ok?" Inu no Taisho asked. The last thing he needed was for his eldest son to enter into a state of full lust.

"Fine." His voice sounded normal, and in a few seconds, his eyes were back to their honey color.

Sesshomaru was indeed a mystery. Inu no Taisho had seen many demons lose their minds after finding their fated mate. Yet, here he was. After months, he hadn't lost his posture once. Unfortunately, right now, time was against them. The Lord of the South and his family had just arrived, coming out from a cloud of black smoke.

"Greetings," the Southern Lord greeted Inu no Taisho. Meanwhile, Kagome felt her skin crawl. The Southern Lord's voice was disgusting and sounded full of malice and evilness. Kagome looked up and tried and see the Lord of the South, but Sesshomaru was in front of her, blocking her view.

"Lord Naraku. A pleasure to have you here." The disdain in Inu no Taisho's voice was absolute. It had been made clear that the Southern Lord was not welcome here. The question was why? What could have happen between them? However, Kagome had to agree. She hadn't seen the Southern Lord yet, and she was already revolted with his voice.

"Lord Naraku is grateful for you invitation, my lord." At that precise moment, Kagome's heart skipped a beat. She knew that voice. She had heard it somewhere but where? This time, she raised her head and tried to see over Sesshomaru's shoulder. She saw him at the same time he saw her. "What a lovely flower you have here, my lo—"

Kagome didn't hear what the men said afterwards. In front of her eyes, images were running wild. "What a beautiful flower we have here… Tell me… Do you have a name?" Screaming, death, blood, fear. Kagome couldn't understand the images she was seeing. It was almost like someone was showing them to her, but it was coming too fast and out of control. She couldn´t make sense of any of it. "Izayoi… is the name of the person who WILL SEND YOU TO HELL!"

'Izayoi? But who was th—'

Kagome couldn't take it anymore. Her head was spinning with images of people she had never seen before. Names, screams, pain and torture. She felt confused and scared, so her mind gave up, and the last thing she saw was Sesshomaru's arms coming in her direction.

(*)

Naraku's private guard, Shishinki, looked at Kagome, and Sesshomaru felt his blood boiling. Shishinki was known for his violent nature, so Sesshomaru felt an urge to protect Kagome from him. Yet, he managed to see her and was now trying to engage in conversation with her. What he didn't expect was to see his intended mate looking like she was about to pass out. He had only enough time to extend his arms and grab her before she hit the ground.

No one said a word. Everyone was staring at Kagome, trying to find a reason for her reaction. Until Shishinki decided to take a step closer to have a better look at Kagome's face. When Sesshomaru saw him approaching, he released a low growl to keep the demon away. But it was too late.

Shishinki saw Kagome's face up-close and said, "She looks very familiar." The friendly tone was gone, and his voice was now low and dangerous. He was up to something, and Sesshomaru didn't want to give him time to consider it any further. Lifting Kagome into his arms, he told his father that he would leave Kagome to rest in her room and would meet them all in the ballroom.

(*)

When Kagome woke up, she was alone in her room. She felt a bit disoriented, and the headache she had was killing her. She remembered feeling dizzy in the courtyard, and Sesshomaru's arms grabbing her before she hit the ground. 'They probably went back to the ball.' She tried to remember once more what had caused her to pass out, but she couldn't.

Due to the noise coming from outside, she presumed that the ball was still going on, so she got up from her bed and looked over herself. She was still presentable; her makeup and hair were still in place. So she decided to join her family in the ballroom. Her behavior had not been acceptable, and she was feeling ashamed for it, so she wanted to apologize.

When she entered the ballroom, the room was so full of demons and demoness' that no one noticed her. Drinks were being served, and in the middle of the room was a dance floor. The music was calm and slow, almost like a waltz, and the dance floor was full of pairs melting into each other in a romantic embrace. She imagined herself dancing with Sesshomaru. His strong arms around her waist, while her head rested on his broad chest. Her face was getting red just imagining it, and the thought of him and her together has making her nervous. Which reminded her, where was he?

She made a quick scan of the room and found him near a window… with Toran standing beside him. His expression was cold and uninterested as usual. He was clearly giving the demoness all the signs that he wanted her to leave him alone. But apparently, that wasn´t enough. Kagome's felt her rage grow to epic levels, but she didn't understand why. After all, Sesshomaru and her weren't in that type of relationship. And yet, the thought of a demoness putting her paws on him made Kagome furious and sad and… dare she say, jealous?

Yes, she was jealous. She wanted him to look at her and only her. To embrace her, protect her, kiss only her. She could see it now. She loved him. These last few days without him had been pure torture for her. And in that same second, she made the decision that she would tell him how she felt. 'He may not feel the same towards me, but I'm going over there and telling him.' She started walking in his direction. ''I'm going to tell him that I love him and th—.'

But she never reached him.

"Kagome? Is that you?" She knew that voice too well. She looked around and saw her biggest nightmare. Her former master standing in front of her, blocking her path.

(*)

*A big thank you to my beta, BelovedStranger! She's absolutely amazing! 3