The Cardinal Lords and Ladies were heading for the ballroom, where the event was being held in the palace. Jaken was there already to announce their arrival to the nobles.

There was a balcony, where one could oversee everybody in the crowd. The ballroom was decorated with many floral essences and colorful Japanese lanterns. The balcony was a story high from the first floor. The rails of the stairs were decorate with vines with blossoms. It gives an appeal of Spring, the season of rebirth (i.e. new beginnings). The music that was playing was soothing and relaxing. There were 5 sets of each drum: Odaiko, kotsuzumi, and otsuzumi. Five sets of each stringed instrument: koto, shamisen, and biwa. Also five sets of each flute: shakuhachi, nokan, takebue, and shinobue. Needless to say that it was some orchestra.

Sesshomaru thought, "Inuhime and mother did a wonderful job. If only Inuhime was awake from her slumber to enjoy her hard work."

Yes, mother had it done, but knowing his twin. She had it all designed and planned out as mother made sure it was done in time for the event. He knew that she would be proud.

Jaken gave a silent signal to one of the Odaiko drummers to drum one hard beat sound to signal for everyone to stop any and/or all sound.

After he gave a signal for everyone to be quiet. He walked up the top step of the balcony stairs. He cleared his throat and spoke as loud as he could to announce the arrival.

"Milords and Miladies. The Lord of the Southern Lands, Akuokaesu, and his Lord Father, Akunokeshin."

Akuokaesu was wearing a black kimono with a big spider embroider in fine white silk thread. The kimono has a spider on the dragon, but one must really had to look in order to recognize it. However, Akunokeshin's kimono was purple with a spider in it's web embroider in fine black silk thread. They were kumoyoukai*, after all. So having a spider or anything related to a spider wasn't all that suspicious because the other lords display what youkai heritage that they were representing.

"The Lord of the Eastern Lands, Kouga, with his lady-to-be, Princess Ayame of the Northern Ookami Tribe."

Kouga wore a blue kimono with a wolf embroider on its back in fine white silk thread. Ayame wore a white kimono also with a wolf on it's back in fine blue silk thread.

"The Lord of the Northern Lands, Ryutansei, with his mate, Joseiryuu."

Ryutansei wore a green kimono with a dragon embroider in fine yellow silk thread. Joseiryuu wore a yellow kimono also with a dragon embroider, but it was embroider in fine green silk thread.

"Last, but by all means certainly not least, our hosts of this evening, the Lord and Lady of the Western Lands, Sesshomaru and Kagome, with his Lady Mother, Inukimi."

Sesshomaru wore a red kimono with his true form on the back in fine white silk thread. Kagome, on the other hand, wore a white kimono that had Inuhime's true form instead of Sesshomaru's true form embroider in fine red silk thread. It also had cherry blossoms falling around the huge dog that was embroider in fine pink silk thread. Inukimi wore a blue kimono with her true form in fine pink silk thread. It, too, had cherry blossoms swirling around her true form also in fine pink silk thread.

When Kagome first saw how many demons were there, she suddenly had a foreboding feeling. Especially, she saw the youkai women glaring at her. She thought, "If stares could kill, I certainly be one dead miko."

Sesshomaru could also feel the glares that Kagome was receiving. He could also hear random mummers.

"...couldn't believe the Lady Mother accepted a filthy human."

"...she could be easily defeated..."

"...she could cause the West to fall..."

"...I will kill that bitch when the competition..."

Sesshomaru's eyes were flickering, to and fro, red and golden-yellow. He thanked the Kamis that Kagome didn't have superior hearing. He knew that she was a nervous wreck. All he could do was giving her a reassuring squeeze while he was holding her hand. Kagome looked up at him and gave her best smiles as if she was saying, 'I am fine,' which could be further from the truth. She knew that he knew of her anxiety.

Suddenly, Kagome felt a few calming presence. She saw her friends. Sesshomaru was leading her to them knowing that she needs a support system. Kagome couldn't help, but cry with a smile on her face.

"Oh Kami, Sango and Miroku. How I missed you so much?"

"Well, we missed you, too, Kagome," said Sango.

"But how? When? Oh, who cares! I am just so happy that you are here." They laughed in unison.

"Um...where's Shippo? Rin?"

"Oh, they are with the other lord's pups in a playroom."

"Um, where's Lady Inuhime," asked Miroku.

Suddenly Kagome's smile disappeared.

Sango asked worryingly, "What happened, Kagome?"

"She's in a coma." She saw that look that said 'what's that?' "A coma is a condition that a person goes through if one has a severe head injury, but Inuhime's coma isn't from any physical injury. It's from a blood curse."

"A blood curse," asked Miroku as if what he was hearing was his imagination, but needed a confirmation. His face went pale when he'd said it.

"Yes. Why?"

"Because a blood curse is worst of all curses. If one has such a curse, it could possibly be handed down to her next generation, but it depends on the motive of the sorcerer. Unfortunately, all blood curses ended up being fatal."

"Like your Kazaana."

"Yes, much like that, but that curse was unpredictable. It could had sucked me up as soon as I received it after my father succumb to it, but obviously it didn't. Kagome, I would like to see Inuhime, if I may."

"Um...ok. Let me tell, Sesshomaru."

Kagome looked around to see where Sesshomaru was at. She found him talking to some minor lord. She walked to him waiting for an opportunity to talk.

"Lord mate, Miroku wants to see Inuhime because I told him about the blood curse. So I am going to take him to her room. I'll be return in a moment."

He gave her a slight nod. He watched her go with her friends upstairs.

"So, that was your mate," stated the minor lord.

"What do you mean by 'was'?"

"Milord, you know as well as I do that a human won't be able to survive the duel."

"Hm."

Then an inuyoukai woman walked up to them while Inukimi also made an appearance. That said female wore a red kimono that had true form embroider with fine white silk thread. She had red hair and green eyes. She was a little taller than Kagome. She walked with hips moved from side to side like would entice Sesshomaru. Whatever! Her walk made other males looked at her. She figured that Sesshomaru would be no different.

Sesshomaru inwardly growled at her. He would admit that she was beautiful, but she was no Kagome.

"Milord, do you remember my daughter, Akira?"

"Hm."

"Oh Sesshy-poo, I had been waiting to see you since the last ball," Akira* said as she put her hand on Sesshomaru's chest."

"Remove your hand off of my person," Sesshomaru demanded icily.

"Oh, Sesshy-poo..."

"You heard my son, Akira. It will be your best interest to do what he says or you will lost your hand. Your father won't be able to save you either."

Akira quickly remove her hand off his chest.

"Well, I guess I could wait until I defeat your weak human mate."

Akira and her father walked away. She again walked with her hips moving from side to side.

"My son, should we tell them about Kagome? I know she's currently sealing your powers."

"No, Kagome knows what she's doing. Besides...*dark smirk formed on his face*...it wouldn't bother one bit if she purified that bitch and her power hungry bastard of a father." Inukimi also smirked darkly.

"You're right, son. I would love to see the look on their faces when Kagome will reveal who she really is."

They both chuckled.

Meanwhile Kagome, Sango, Kirara, and Miroku arrived at the entrance of Inuhime's rooms.

"Well, here we are, you guys."

They walked in her rooms and they were surprise to see who was inside.

Sango said, "Inu...Inuyasha, is that really you?"

"Keh, who else would it be," he said with a smirk.

Kagome said, "Oh, I, uh, forgot to tell you that Inuyasha, Kikyo, and InuTaisho were resurrected from the dead."

"Kagome, how," asked Miroku.

"How you asked? Inuhime brought us back from the dead. I don't know how either. So don't ask? We all don't," said Inuyasha.

"I see the same old grumpy Inuyasha. It's really great to see you alive again," said Miroku.

"But how's Kikyo here? I mean, should she be in Kagome's soul," asked Sango.

Kikyo answered, "The Kami are very powerful, if they want to separate a soul from a soul then we could; would. The best part is that I am my own person, now. It was thanks to Inuhime. She gave us a new body for our souls to be in. I am pure flesh and bone; not made from graveyard soil and clay. We are living breathing people again."

"Of course, Inuhime shouldn't get all the credit Kikyo. Amaterasu and Izanami also had a part," said InuTaisho.

Sango, Kirara, and Miroku were surprise. Well the word surprise isn't a word to describe it. I mean not only Kikyo, Inuyasha, but also the legendary Dog General, himself. It was one thing to hear that InuTaisho, Kikyo, and Inuyasha were alive again. It's another thing to see them with your own eyes. There they were standing in front of them. Miroku shook himself off of his shock.

"It's an honor to meet you, my lord."

Sango said the same as Kirara walked up to him, jumped on him, and then purred in happiness.

InuTaisho chuckled and said merrily, "It's like-wise. I am glad to see you still alive old friend. It has been a very long time, hasn't it?"

Sango, Miroku, Kagome, and Inuyasha looked at him in confusion. He chuckled again. "Kirara was the great priestess, Midoriko's partner, when she was alive. Is that right, Kirara?" The nekoyoukai meowed in agreement.

"Wow, Kirara! I didn't know that was you," said Sango.

InuTaisho cleared his throat and asked, "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at the ball? Especially you, Kagome. Does Sesshomaru know that you are here?"

"Yes, he does, Inupapa. Um...Miroku wanted to see Inuhime because I'd told him about the blood curse."

"Oh, yes, I almost forgot about it with all the excitement. Where's she at?"

"She's in her bedchambers. Come," said InuTaisho.

They followed InuTaisho inside of Inuhime's bedchambers. When they saw her, they were speechless. It was really the first time either of them, except for Kagome, had seen her. InuTaisho couldn't believe what he was seeing. He knew that she was laying down as if she were asleep, but appeared as thought she were dead. She was pale as a ghost and her lips were blue like she'd been in freezing weather, which demons like them don't freeze and anything of the sort.

"Dad, are you alright?"

"Yes, son, I am. It's just hard to believe that some curse could bring her down as if she were a lower level demon."

"What do you mean, my lord," asked Miroku.

"Well, full-fledged demons, such as her, are tolerant against all kinds of magic; dark or light, it doesn't matter. A top of that, she's a miko."

All of their eyes widen, except for Kirara's and Kagome's eyes.

"I didn't know a youkai could have any sort of reiki."

"Yes, a youkai could have reiki, but that one must not have no dark intention on any human, youkai, or hanyou. It's also rare for any kind of demon to have all, but youki powers. It's really hard to explain. It's all a mystery. No one knows; not even Bokusenou had no clue how a youkai could even have reiki. He heard it of course, but never could understand how. He said to me once that it depends on the very soul of the youkai. Inuhime is definitely has a pure soul, but when someone does something that not right in the eyes of the Kami. She would take action quickly and fiercely even if it was against her own person. Her retaliation against her mother was a testament to it."

"Umm, I need to return to the ball; so take your time, Miroku. Sango are you coming?"

"Uh, yes, Kagome."

With that said Sango and Kagome return to the ball.

INUYASHA (c) RUMIKO TAKAHASHI

FANFICTION & OCs (c) LADYTARI