An Ostentatious Encounter

A/N: Updated 30/06/2015

Kagome waited patiently while Lord Sesshoumaru ordered one of his many servants to tend to Ah-Un. Memorized by the young girl who kept her blazing red head down at her lord, Kagome thought of Shippou. Lord Sesshoumaru didn't acknowledge the futuristic Miko stood waiting for an explanation, she looked away irritated. The teen wondered if Shippou would be alright with her disappearance, hopefully the annoying imp had already reached her friends, and told them where she was and that she was safe.

"If you are quite finished inspecting this Lord Sesshoumaru's help. Would you care to follow?" He politely urged Kagome to start walking towards the overbearing building.

'Why must he talk in that irritating manner?' Kagome grunted mentally; fingers digging into her palms, before she began to stomp towards the main house.

Sesshoumaru was slightly taken back by her scent as she stormed passed, he had recently come into close proximity of the Miko's scent many times now. Something he was not too happy about. Stopping that train of thought his attention went onto her strange attire, the thin cotton like pants a very uncommon site on woman inn his domains. He was not so favouring of her thin white material that only just covered her shapely frame. Only just hidden by a loose rag resembling an outer haori, but he was sure she would call it something else. He was so very thankful Rin had given him the idea to fill her wardrobe with fine Kimonos. At least she couldn't disgrace him in his own home.

Her futuristic dress didn't go unnoticed to his subjects either. Each guard she passed stared, the presence of their lord however stopped their ogling as they bowed their heads down in respect.

Kagome was amazed by the sheer size of the main building, her innocent eyes taking in so much. The house was obviously traditional, with sliding doors painted in elegant blossoms. The whole place was as elegant looking as its Lord. Sesshoumaru was now curiously watching the Miko's reactions, he could sense she was in awe over his home, particularly the garden he had commissioned for his human ward. Cleverly placed directly below his study.

Sesshoumaru was now instructing another servant, an older woman who had a certain presence about her, clearly someone Sesshoumaru payed highly. Kagome silently tried to lip read what he was saying to no avail. The women Sesshoumaru had been speaking to sternly, began waltzing over to Kagome, who was standing uneasy opposite the demon clad in white.

Kagome stared at the Inu Youkai as he spoke softly, tearing his gaze away from those pleading eyes.

"You will go with this women" he looked back towards the demon servant, "Answer any questions she may have, once the other matters are sorted you will bring her to me" The older women bowed her head, her ghost like façade was similar to that of Naraku's detachments, the void child Kanna. Kagome reflected back to the poor child, how she was so uncaring until her premature end. The women's eyes held much more character than that of Kanna's however.

Sesshoumaru had almost darted off in the opposite direction. Her eyes had unsettled himself and his inner beast. It was unclear to Sesshoumaru if this was a lustful hunger for the human or that she was making him hungry. He was determined it was the latter.

Shaking his thoughts away he concluded her Miko heritage only angered his beast because she was his mortal enemy. But curiously she didn't hate demons, she was unusually impartial. And she apparently loved the Kitsune like a son. On several occasions he had noted she had risked her own life trying to save the small orange bundle.

The same feeling from before sprung up the aggravated ice lord like goose bumps, he decided he would use this rare opportunity to observe the human out of her usual comfort zone.

On the other side of the building the two females had set off down many corridors. Kagome had settled her nerves, yet she began to feel more like a lamb to the slaughter.

"That boy, you'd think he would show a little more compassion to the woman who raised him" Kagome almost jumped at the sudden outburst, the woman smiled warmly before flicking her hand telling Kagome to follow her.

"I'm sorry, can you just rewind, and repeat that" Kagome stuttered, the other female chuckled flicking her creamy locks backwards, before speaking again.

"Certainly, I said; that boy, you'd think he would show a little more compassion to the woman who raised him" Kagome was shocked, this demoness had raised Sesshoumaru!

A hundred questions flooded her mind about the stoic lord; this woman could easily carry some blackmail worthy material. The teen decided to ask relevant questions only.

'You never know the demon lord could be listening in' she giggled softly to herself.

"That is amazing" Kagome confessed, childishly. "If you don't mind, can you answer some questions please?" deciding it was probably best to be respectful to the woman, she would be considered an elder in her time, despite the fact she only looked in her thirties. The older woman side glanced Kagome, displaying a mature smile.

"I was ordered to do so, what is it you wish to know? Something about the lord's childhood perhaps, I have many stories he'd surely punish me for telling you" her eyes glinted mischievously. Kagome laughed nervously, shaking her head in response.

"I was wondering why I was 'Summoned'?" adding force to the word summoned. By now they had walked up the long corridor, turning to walk up some wide stairs.

"My Lord Sesshoumaru will answer that particular question soon." Kagome sighed. "You are not in any trouble, you may rest assured" Kagome opened her mouth ever so slightly; she had most definitely put this whole 'summoning business' into the very bad side of thinking. The older woman felt her discomfort ease, "Do you have any more questions?" Kagome thought hard, twisting her mouth as she began to sort out other question in her brain. Kagome sprung out of her long thinking, she had one.

"Where are you taking me? I mean, we've been walking up many staircases." Once again she laughed nervously.

"Ah, of course, sorry I should have told you sooner, a room has been prepared for you." The servant began chuckling to herself "That boy put you in the royal wing" She eyed up Kagome closely. "You're not his concubine are you? Being a Miko I would find that almost sadistic of our lord" Kagome paused, her hands signalled a no-way,

"No!" she spoke defensively, crossing her arms. Her cheeks flushed at the thought.

"Forgive me, I was only teasing" however Kagome kept her head bowed embarrassed with the assumption,

'What is it with this time? Why do I always have to be someone's concubine?' Kagome's eyes drifted to the tatami mats below. The rest of the walk was left in silence. Another corridor, another staircase, 'just how high are we going?' Kagome sighed silently. After a good few minutes more; the silence was broken.

"This is the royal wing" The sound of doors sliding effortlessly snapped Kagome to look up. As the other woman pulled the door back, the usual bamboo mats were changed by plain wood. There was only three doors. One door held small child paintings on the front, Kagome smiled, thinking of her own adopted child drawings. "That is the child's Rin's room, yours is directly opposite, and my lord's is the last door in the far corner" Kagome blushed at the thought he would be on the same floor, practically next door.

"If you need anything I will be just outside. My name is Amaterasu" she spoke pushing the girl through the doorway gently whilst pointing to a spot outside in the corridor, once inside Kagome mimed the older woman's name,

'She who illuminates heaven' the teen smiled. 'The name fits her perfectly.'

"Thank" she pivoted but the door closed quickly

'You' Kagome finished, gobsmacked at what her eyes were showing her. Firstly the room was huge; there was a wooden wardrobe like structure set in the middle of the right wall, with an elaborate cherry blossom design on the front. Directly opposite a large wooden table, and the floor was covered by a thick futon, placed upon a wooden shelf filling the vast floor space.

"This is bigger than a king sized bed by far" Kagome exclaimed to herself, on each side of the futon were small bedside tables. And each had a plain lantern set upon already lit. The sound of heavy footsteps startled her out of her wondering.

"Child, you can't just…" Amaterasu called, she was some distance as her voice was very quiet. The sliding doors flew open, revealing a strangely dressed Rin.

"Lady Kagome, Rin is so happy you are here" the small child ran straight to the futon climbing onto it effortlessly, a large smile from ear to ear accompanied by the swinging of her legs. How innocent children are, the action warming Kagome's heart. "Your bed is bigger than Rin's" the small girl pouted, causing Kagome to giggle.

"It's great to see you to Rin, What a lovely dress?" Kagome said looking at the small emerald green silk gown very much like traditional Chinese dresses, the green silk with golden filigree stitched into the hem was obviously of the highest quality. She noticed the green faded out towards the top, and down the arms into a paler green. A piece of pale golden fabric was placed over the green very much like an obi, cinching together all the layers by a long golden cord, but worn much higher than a typical obi. The child's hair was full of golden chains and ornaments added into a small side bun.

"Isn't it pretty Lady Kagome?" The child said springing up giving the older teen a twirl, before running off towards the wardrobe, "You have one too, see" she sang moving aside revealing the inside, it was filled with different kimonos and something similar to Rin's silken gown.

Rin cocked her head aside, observing Kagome as the older girl held her hand to her face. "Is Lady Kagome ill?" she spoke softly in an upset tone, running up placing a hand on Kagome's forehead.

"Oh no Rin, I'm fine. I was taken back by the lovely clothes, is all." she admitted, how could she lie to that darling face. Rin looked somewhat confused, "I'm not use to these sorts of clothes, so it is a lovely surprise" the Miko elaborated and the child nodded in understanding.

"I understand, Rin was also the same. Rin does not miss the orange and yellow Kimono though. Rin has many prettier Kimonos now." Kagome burst out laughing.

'She is so cute' both girls smiled warmly at one another.

"Hurry up Lady Kagome, the party is almost starting" Rin ran out of the room back to her own, forgetting to shut the door, It didn't matter however Amaterasu was already inside, closing the forgotten door.

"Would you like some assistance?" she asked in the way your mother would. The teen nodded thankful for the much needed help. She didn't even know where to start. Please was all she replied, before the older woman closed the door.

"By the way, Rin was talking about a party?" Kagome spoke softly as Amaterasu laid the gown out onto the futon Rin had messed up from jumping on it earlier.

Kagome noticed the way the woman grinned at her comment, but she just continued laying out all the different layers of the fine dress. Kagome was getting agitated at all the secrecy.

'Is it Lord Icicle's birthday or something? Am I dessert?' she joked sadistically inwardly. The older woman shook her head at the teen who was now frowning.

"Patients my dear girl, Sesshoumaru will explain. But first we need to dress you, I was told you already bathed, we never had the time for all that anyway but it's a good thing you are well prepared." The woman patted the silk, Kagome sighed again biting her lip she asked.

"Which garment goes first?" The older woman pointed at a plain white piece. Kagome picked up the gentle fabric, "Could you possibly…" Kagome wiggled her fingers in a circular motion. Amaterasu turned around giving Kagome some privacy, despite it being an odd thing to request. Kagome pulled off her foreign garments and put on the first layer. It felt so cold but soft. Just as the other bits of fabrics were added one by one by Amaterasu, the door slid open.

"Lord Sesshoumaru is ready to see the Miko" a harsh males voice stated causing Kagome to jump, even though she was covered she felt practically exposed. Amaterasu spoke to the guard explaining they would need a few moments more. With that the man left instantly.

Kagome started to feel like a doll with the many layers. The fabric matched Rin's so she didn't mind that much. Kagome waited as the older woman started creating an elaborate up-do.

"Almost ready, just bear with me a little while longer, you have a lot of hair" the woman laughed beginning to comb through the long raven locks. After a short while it was finished. The pale demoness marvelling at her masterpiece and Kagome agreed with the craftsmanship. Amaterasu must have been well travelled to pull off all this work. Despite the lack of mirrors Kagome could only feel the heavy ornaments and she felt expensive. Rising to leave Kagome took a breath.

'Crap, now to see Mr Emotionless' Kagome shuffled restricted by the fabric.

"Don't fret Miko, It isn't a long walk to the study" Kagome wasn't worried about the distance to where ever Sesshoumaru was and yet, the longer the better.

'At least he didn't walk in when I was dressing' she thought thankfully. Amaterasu stopped in front of another beautifully painted screen. They had arrived.

The Shikon no Tama gulped, completely shaking.

'Come on Kagome, I've fought battles with scary demons, and not the mention Inuyasha.' Kagome had spent less than a moment contemplating to knock or not, before a stern voice teased her senses.

"How long are you planning to just stand outside? Kagome looked at the woman innocently, her hair jingled as she sighed for the last time, before she entered.

A/N: Thank you so much for all your reviews :D (A lot of descriptions in this chapter. Sorry.)