The next week had been a form of quiet hell for Kagome. Every time there was a knock at the door, every time Jaken brought a letter into the hall she felt her heart flutter, only for it to stutter with a small sad frown and slight shake of the butler's head. Everyday she had written a letter to the Colonel, but received no response. In her desperation, she had written to Kouga of all people several times to see if he had any information about Inuyasha's whereabouts.

And yet he had not responded to her in any way either.

"Why does he not come?" She whispered, her nose pushed against the window to scan the street.

"Kagome, come away from the window." Sango's voice was soothing as she took her sister's arm and pulled her away from the window.

"I do not understand Sango, he is in town, I know he is." Kagome sighed as she dropped into a chair.

"Give him time, dearest." Sango smiled faintly. "I am sure that the Colonel is a busy man, he may not have been home to see your letters."

"Oh the Colonel is quite the busy man, I do say," Kaede chuckled, her face showing her amusement as she sipped her tea, quite entertained by the young sisters. "He seems to only be able to relax at Tessaiga, here he is always out and about or at the palace at Queen Charlotte's command."

"Busy… yes…" Kagome whispered as she drew her bottom lip into her teeth. She knew she was being silly, just because she had realized, or started to realize, what she wanted did not mean that Inuyasha knew or felt the same… she only hoped he could feel the same. "Busy…" she murmured again, as her eyes went wide.

Oh she was being a fool. Inuyasha would not want some childish girl for a wife, who demanded his attention at all times, no, he would need someone who could stand on her own, to step in when he was busy or at the Crown's disposal. Someone… someone like…

"Sango!" Kagome gasped, her head snapping to look at her sister's suddenly concerned eyes. "I was wondering if…"

"Excuse me, ladies." Jaken's high voice interrupted, and as the trio of women turned he gave a small bow, presenting a silver platter with a letter.

"Is that…" Kagome jumped from her chair only to pause at the slight shake of his head.

"It is for the Mistress Kaede, Ma'am."

"Well, then, let's see this." Kaede took the letter and opened it, taking a moment to pursue its contents. A smile began to grow on her face. "Ah, now here is something, Rin and Kohaku are back from their trip, and they have arrived in London with the Miss Metzgers. And Oh, they have asked us to join them at an evening assembly this evening." Her eye twinkled as she looked up at Kagome with a shrewd glance, taking in the young girl's face. "You can expect that the Colonel will be invited," she bit back a chuckle as Kagome's face snapped up, her eyes wide, "and I would expect that your "Mr. H" will be in attendance as well if he is in London, it seems everyone who's anyone will be there." Her gaze slid to Sango, just to see her cheeks pale at the words.

"Oh come on Sango, we need to prepare." Kagome gasped, grasping her sister's arm to drag her out of the sitting room.

"I…" Sango started, only to stop, the ball of ice she had hoped had eased suddenly back in her stomach.

Shima Metzger and Miroku… in the same room.

She had never dreaded an evening more in her life.

London gatherings, even the 'small and intimate' function that Kaede claimed this was, greatly exceed anything they had seen at either Shikon or in Devonshire. There must have easily been more than 200 people in the grand home as they made their entrance, Kagome's eyes darting about to take in everything, Sango's focused on the floor, afraid to look up.

"Oh it's beautiful," Kagome sighed as she leaned against her sister's arm.

"Yes, quite." Sango responded half-heartedly.

"Now now my dear, none of that," Kaede teased as she took Sango's other arm. "One never knows what they will find at a soiree like this."

Sango let her eyes rise from the floor to sweep the room, briefly catching a glimpse of long white hair and golden eyes in the corner that were focused on her sister as she looked around the room, but never saw the man she was seeking.

"Ah, there is Rin, please excuse me girls." Kaede patted Sango's hand before crossing towards her daughter and son-in-law.

"And then there were two." Kagome whispered, and Sango let herself smile at her sister's words.

"Oh, Miss Higurashi, Miss Kagome!" A feminine voice had Sango's pausing, her eyes going wide a moment before a glove-covered hand touched her shoulder. Sango's back stiffened as she turned, her eyes catching the brown that had been tormenting her dreams for the past few weeks. Botan continued on, not noticing the tension that now filled Sango. "I dare say that London is very full of smart beaux, though I do declare that some of them have been quite rude and naughty." Botan wrapped her arm through Kagome's, pulling her from her sister to whisper loudly, "Look how they preen and ogle at us here on the side, waiting for their moment to pull us into a dance."

"Oh I do hope you will stay by my side then Miss Higurashi," Shima said as she took the place that Kagome had, capturing Sango's arm with hers. "Oh I am in such a fever of anticipation that I do fear I will faint."

"Oh, well, I…"

"Oh, Lemonade, come Miss Kagome, we absolutely must have some." Botan cried, dragging Kagome with her across the room, Kagome's eyes meeting Sango's beseeching her sister for help only to lose sight of her in the crowd.

"They say that he is here tonight," Shima whispered, her eyes scanning the room.

Sango swallowed, the ice growing in her stomach. "Whom do you mean?" She squeaked out, knowing propriety demanded it.

"Why, Mr. Hoshi of course."

"Are you sure?"

"Quite! I was told for certain he would be here." Sango could feel the slight tremor in the other girl's arm and felt the ball of ice churn into nausea.

"Sango?" Sango turned at the voice, starting as she looked into the eyes of her sister in law. "Oh it is so wonderful to see you out and about in true society."

"Yura," Sango gave a slight curtsey, however Shima at her side stayed upright.

"It is so hot and crowded in this room is it not?" Yura continued, "I do wonder how I would be able to stay even just a moment longer." A young man with black hair tied at the nape of his neck stepped up beside her, a glass of lemonade in his hand. "Oh, Sango, I do not believe you have met my younger brother, Mr. Bankotsu Hoshi. Bankotsu, allow me to introduce Miss Sango Higurashi."

"Miss Sango, I am delighted to meet you." Bankotsu gave a broad smile as he reached out to take Sango's hand, leaning down to give a bow over it. "My brother Miroku has spoken very highly of your beauty, and while I say on the whole he is a very poor judge of women, I must say that in this instance, he was absolutely correct."

You.. ah…" Sango stuttered, the man's forwardness taking her aback. "You are very kind, sir." She turned to Shima, noting the distress present on her face. "May I present Miss Shima Metzger."

Bankotsu's blue eyes turned to Shima, darting over her figure before he nodded, a small smile on his lips. "Charmed, my lady."

Shima gave a small curtsey, her cheeks flushing pink as her gaze darted back to Sango. "Is your brother going to be here tonight, Mr. Hoshi?" She asked, her voice coy, and yet the sound of it made Sango's stomach turn.

"Miroku? Oh God no, I swear our brother shuns society. He may be my older brother, and I hate to speak ill of my own relatives, but Miroku is truly something of a hobbledehoy, he would much rather prefer to be alone than among others."

"Oh, Mr. Hoshi, how unkind you are to say that." Sango struggled not to roll her eyes at Shima's words and how… simpering she sounded.

"Sango!" Kagome's loud whisper had Sango turning a moment before her sister grabbed her arm, pausing only to curtsey to Yura before dragging Sango away, not even waiting to see if Yura had responded.

"Kagome? What is it?"

"Kouga," Kagome responded as they weaved through the crowd. "He is here."

"Kouga," Sango's eyes darted around the room until she saw the figure of the wolf in the other room. "But I thought you did not want to see him."

"We are still friends, or so I thought, and I thought he may know more about where Inuyasha has been." Kouga turned at the words, his blue eyes meeting Kagome's for a moment before his face turned into a grimace and he turned away.

"I do not understand, why does he act that way?" Kagome murmured. No, she was not in love with the wolf, but still his actions seemed rude to her.

"Kagome, please, let it go. I'm sure he has his reasons."

"I do not understand…" Kagome murmured, her eyes trailing the wolf as he climbed a slight set of stairs into an adjoining room. "Sango, I have to find out if he knows anything."

"Kagome, he will know you are here, and if he is able he will come and find you."

"I… but Sango, he may be able to tell me if Inuyasha is still in town or away."

"Kagome…" Sango cried as her sister pulled away, dashing towards the second room. A firm hand caught her around her waist as she started to stumble, and she caught another brief glimpse of long silver hair before Inuyasha disappeared into the crowd in the direction her sister had gone.

Kagome struggled through the crowd of the ton into the other room, her eyes scanning for sight of either Kouga or, she hoped, Inuyasha. A bark of laughter caught her attention from a corner, and her gaze turned to see Kouga, his back towards her, surrounded by what looked to be a group of wolves.

"KOUGA!" Her exclamation came just as the musicians had slowed their playing, and her voice carried through the rooms, causing all conversation to pause.

Kouga's shoulders tightened for a moment before she saw them drop and his head shake slightly. A woman with bright red hair and a deep green dress turned to eye her, one brow raising as she lifted her fan and made a comment that Kagome could not quite make out, but had those in her group chuckling.

"Excuse me." Kouga set his jaw as he stepped away from the group, his steps slow towards Kagome. After several long moments he stopped and gave a slight nod. "Miss Higurashi…" he let out a soft cough as if clearing his throat, "your mother is doing well, I hope."

"Yes, sir, thank you for asking." Sango responded after a few moments of silence.

"That is…" Kouga coughed, his blue eyes darting momentarily to Kagome before fixing on the wall behind the sisters, "good. Have you been long in town?"

"Good god Kouga, what is going on?" Kagome interrupted, her brown eyes puzzled with the man's stiff posture. "I have been writing to you but received no response, were they delivered?" Kouga's shoulders stiffened at the words, his eyes flashing back to Kagome's, and she almost swore she saw a mixture of anger and pain in them, however he stayed silent.

Kagome felt a pang in her chest at his actions and continued silence. No, she could be honest with herself and admit that while her affections for the wolf had never been as deep as they could have been, she had been dazzled by his charm and attentions, and his stiffness and… curtness hurt her more than she had thought they would.

"Will you not at least shake hands with me?" she whispered as she extended a gloved hand. "We are still friends, are we not?"

Kouga's gaze held hers for another moment before his shoulders dropped, his expression turning guarded as he reached out to briefly touch her hand.

"I had the pleasure of receiving your letters, Ms. Higurashi, however I…"

"Kouga, who is this?" The titan haired woman stepped beside him, her hand coming to rest on his shoulder as she tucked her other hand through his arm, eyes as green as her gown drifted over Kagome before snapping back to her face.

"Ah, Ayame…" Kouga's smile didn't quite reach his eyes as he looked at the woman who had tucked herself into his side. "These are some acquaintances of mine from Devonshire, I believe I had told you about them and how kind they were to me these past few months."

"Devonshire," Ayame's voice was light as her gaze met Kagome's. "Ah yes, I remember, the poor little family you were trying to help out, wasn't it?"

"I… well…" Kouga cleared his throat, his face taking on a red hue in the candlelight. "Ms. Higurashi, Ms. Higurashi, it was good to see you both again, if you will excuse us."

With those words he turned, drawing Ayame away from the puzzled sisters, however her voice rose as they crossed the room, the words reaching Kagome's ears.

"That was the plain girl that you said you had entertained yourself with?"

"Plain girl?" Kagome whispered, her brow furrowing at the words. "Sango, I… I do not understand?" Flashes of the time she had spent with him coursed through her head, the poems, the forward behavior, the kiss, had he been playing with her the entire time? Had she been that much a fool that a kind word and a bright smile had blinded her to his true intentions? No, he had gone to the council… or at least had said he had gone to the council…

The noise in the room began to rise around her as her knees began to go weak. Had she been so caught up in the flash of what she thought love was supposed to be that she had been no more than a mere distraction for him? Her first true taste of the whims and games of the males of the ton, and she had fallen, well not entirely fallen she would allow herself, but still far enough, into his schemes.

"Sango… I…" All her sister's warnings, all the comments that Kagome had pushed aside, defended Kouga against ran through her mind. Oh what the others must think of her, and that Inuyasha thought she was engaged to Kouga… had she been so blind as to what was going on around her? Her sister was right, she was nothing more than a child pretending to understand how the world worked, and in that moment, she felt everything she had thought she had known crumble.

She took a step towards Sango, her sister watching her with concern in her eyes before darting them just over Kagome's shoulder and back, her arms raising to hold her sister close.

Kagome's legs gave out before they could meet, the shock of the evening taking its toll on her. Not of Kouga's behavior, no, while that hurt it did not cause this reaction, but her view of the world had shattered, taking with it everything she thought she had known.

A strong pair of arms caught her, drawing her back against a firm chest as a clawed hand wrapped around her waist. Loose silver hair draped over her shoulder as Inuyasha curled himself around her back, protecting her and holding her as the room spun.

"Allow me to help you." He whispered, his hand tightening around her waist as he turned to glare at Kouga and the group of wolves he stood with.

"Colonel…" Kagome whispered as she felt herself sink into his heat, the strength he provided her.

"Ms. Sango, please take her hand." Inuyasha instructed, waiting for Sango to reach Kagome's side before he stepped to Kagome's side, his hand still wrapped around her waist. "Come, I will get you to Kaede's."

"Thank you, Colonel." Sango whispered as Kagome sank into Inuyasha's side, letting him be the rock in the whirlwind of her mind.

Sango watched her sister with concern, paying no mind to the ever hawkish eyes of the ton, her ears ignoring all the whispers and speculation. She knew Inuyasha could hear them all, but he did not let them stop his steadfast movements, the care that he showed Kagome, as they made their way through the ballroom. When they made it outside into the fresh air he hesitated to step away from Kagome, only removing his arm when Sango drew her close so he could hail his carriage to the entryway. With sure movements he lifted Kagome into his arms to deposit her in the seat, waiting for Sango to take the place beside her before giving instructions to his driver.

Kagome's eyes never lifted from the floor during the quiet carriage ride to Kaede's house, despite Sango's quiet whispers of encouragement. It was only when the carriage drew to a stop that she raised them, meeting the burning amber of Inuyasha's gaze, churning with a mixture of pride and resignation.

Not even the loud voice of Jaken could pull Kagome's focus from Inuyasha as he squawked about, ordering the servants of the household to see to the young misses, thanking the good Colonel profusely as he gently directed Kagome into the house, finally breaking the connection.

At the door Kagome paused, looking back to the carriage and the golden eyes that watched her every movement for a moment before the heavy wood closed, separating her once again from the man she had wanted to see for days, but when she had, she had not been able to say a word.