Help! My world is upside down!

Finally! The most expected chapter! Yes, it is!!! It's THE PARTY!!!! YAY!!! I hope it's up to your expectations. But I asure you! There is a lot more to come, so spare me! And don't forget to tell me what you think of it!

Chapter 14. The Party

A long procession of elegantly dressed beings walked up the carpeted stairs to the manor. Some had stopped midway to greet prior acquaintances or business partners, some of them had even been past enemies as Inuyasha kept informing her.

Kagome walked beside Inuyasha, one arm linked with his own and the other gently holding her metallic purse. Jak had lent her that purse; he called it the final touch. As he said, you can transform a plain dress into something casual or into a wedding outfit, depending on the accessories you adorned it with.

Inuyasha noticed how nervous she was and squeezed her hand to catch her attention. He kept gossiping with her to keep her distracted and informed at the same time. He told her about the people they crossed on their way into the manor, and she didn’t miss the looks of curiosity she received.

“Why are they looking at us, Inuyasha?”

“Because you look astounding” She blushed and Inuyasha brought her fingers to his mouth, kissing them tenderly. She was about to smack him on his arm and tell him to stop flattering her when someone interrupted them.

“So, there you are! I should have known by all the commotion you two are causing!” Shoja came to greet them with a huge smile, “And there sure is a reason for it! My Kagome, you look adorable!” Kagome blushed a deeper red and averted her eyes to the floor. Inuyasha put his hand on her back and guided her into the manor.

“Stop it grandpa. You’re making it worse for her, can’t you see?”

Shoja took Kagome’s hand and brought it to his lips. “My Lady, will you give me the honour of dancing with me?” Kagome laughed shyly and answered “Of course Shoja.”

Kagome looked at Inuyasha. “Will you be alright?” Inuyasha nodded and brought her gently to his chest kissing her softly on her temple and then released her. “Don’t worry about me; there are some people I want to talk to. I’ll be alright.” Kagome smiled and nodded.

Shoja put his hand on her back and took her to the ballroom that was adjacent to the main hall. The main hall was so crowded with people, both youkai and human, that Kagome barely noticed the decoration. The youkai had dropped their concealments and were showing their true appearances. She started when she saw some of the guests didn’t have human features like the youkai she lived with. Shoja noticed how Kagome had stopped on her tracks and her wide eyes were focused on a seal youkai.

“Now, dear, it’s quite rude to stare like that!” Kagome somehow managed to pull herself together, almost shaking her head to realine herself with her surroundings. “That was a seal youkai, as you could tell by the small, dark eyes, but especially by his whiskers.” Shoja explained as they continued on their way to the ballroom.

Shoja kept pushing her, trying to avoid unwanted conversation with venomous beings; he wanted her to be prepared before she faced any of those demons. He wanted to warn her about some of the youkai women belonging to the most powerful families, and the ones that didn’t want to mix with humans. He hadn’t missed the looks she was being given by those youkai, and one in particular Kagome should avoid, Usuza, a panther youkai. Evasion was important due to the fact that the remainder of the female youkai were just under her influence and did whatever she told them to do; all of their opinions were manipulated by Usuza.

Shoja finally stopped pushing Kagome; they had stopped in the middle of the dance room and were surrounded by a throng of dancing couples. The waltz was playing at the moment, and Shoja promptly placed his right arm on her shoulder while holding her right hand with his left. They began to dance to the music, and although Kagome hadn’t danced to that type of music before, Shoja made it so that she could follow him without much effort.

Kagome’s eyes were sparkling; she felt like a princess from a fairy tale, and Shoja was sorry that he was going to be the one to force her out of that dream.

“I’m sorry Kagome.”

She looked at him with a questioningly.

“I’m sorry to be the one to spoil the night for you, but I know you already realise how important tonight is.” The girl gave a short nod, and Shoja proceeded. “There are some things you should know about the people around us tonight. As you have already guessed, not all youkai agree to cooperate with humans, some of them believe humans to be lowly creatures, and a long time ago some of them used to kill them just for fun. Humans ended up retaliating and attacking minor youkai. Some humans became well trained youkai slayers.”

Shoja remained silent for a while remembering those times of constant war. There wasn’t a moment of peace, and strong youkai were constantly attacked by either humans or other youkai attempting to prove their bravery. At some point, his son Toga and he, being adults, realise fights led nowhere and only brought destruction; at some point, they decided to focus on bringing wealth and peace to their lands and the people living in them. Sesshoumaru never understood their decision and had stayed away from them until he finally realized how pointless those fights were.

Shoja returned from his musings in time to notice Usuza standing in a corner of the room; she was watching them and talking to her companion, a snake youkai.

“Do you see that panther youkai over there?” He pointed with his head.

Kagome carefully looked to were he was signalling and noticed a woman with furry black ears that sprouted from her head and green eyes that each sported a vertical dark pupil. She nodded.

“That is Usuza; she is a panther youkai, and a very powerful one. Now, listen to me carefully.” He watched her intently, wanting her to pay attention to what he was saying. When he was sure he had all her attention, he proceeded. “Please child, be very careful with her. I don’t want you near her alone. Be careful with what you say today because she has many allies, and she could easily use those words against you.”

Kagome gulped. She had realised before today that she would be watched and judged, but she never knew she would actually know her judge. She was a tall, lean female; she wore very elegant attire. From her lack of knowledge of high class fashion Kagome could tell she wore a very expensive piece of cloth, probably made especially for her, for this very occasion, a unique piece to make her stand out amongst the rest. Her hair was done in a very complicated bun and had tiny beads and glitter sprinkled here and there. One could tell, without being a distinguished psychiatrist, that Usuza neede to stand out from the crowd, as well as the fact that she needed to have everyone’s attention. Kagome could tell by the loathing look Usuza was sending her way that she was her next target. Now she would have to know what the older woman was going to do to continue being the centre of attention.

“So, that is the ningen everyone talks about?” Usuza was talking to her best friend, Aoi. “What is so special about her, anyway? She looks quite plain to me.” Usuza gave a look of disdain to an oblivious Kagome who had her attention focused somewhere behind her.

“Auntie Usuza?” Usuza turned around to meet her best friend’s daughter.

“Kagura, dear!” Both women kissed each other without making contact. “You look astonishing, just as always!” Usuza squeezed Kagura’s hand before she noticed her companion.

“Auntie Usuza, I want you to meet Sesshomaru Taisho, my date.” They both bowed in respect.

“I’ve known you since you were but a cub. You’ve grown into such a handsome male. It runs in the family, your father used to be a very coveted bachelor, just like you.” Sesshomaru cringed under the look of lust Usuza was sending his way. Kagura frowned and excused them, she loved her mother’s best friend, but she hated her man eater’s side.

“Auntie Usuza, please excuse us, Toga Taisho is over there, and I wanted to greet him.”

“Of course, baby. Go on, I will see you later.”

Kagura took Sesshomaru’s large hand in hers and pulled him behind her through the crowd until they reached Toga and his companions. Kagura would regret her decision later as she soon was involved in business conversation.

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“Please Shoja, Koga is over there, and I bet Ayame is not far off. Do you mind if I go with them for a while?” Shoja kissed her hand and smiled. “Of course not, child; you go ahead, they will protect you.”

Kagome, sorting through people on her way to Koga, came upon a hard chest. She raised her head to apologize, and she stood frozen on her spot. Bright golden eyes were piercing her skin.

“Sesshoumaru” She whispered, his warm look disabled her ability to speak any louder.

Sesshoumaru followed Kagome’s figure with his eyes, without noticing it, he licked his lips. Who could have thought that such a nice figure lay under the conventional dresses she usually wore? Who could have thought that, although she stubbornly insisted on wearing none feminine clothes, she was so curvy and sensual.

A cough tore him from his musings.

“Sesshoumaru, who is this ningen?” Kagura couldn’t mask her despise of human beings from her voice. Kagome stiffened, so this was one of the youkai Shoja had warned her about? Well, the woman had done nothing to harm her, so she would be polite. Kagome swallowed her pride and bowed to the red-eyed demoness respectfully.

“Hello, I am Kagome Higurashi, and I am pleased to meet you.”

Kagura, half turned, glanced at Kagome over her shoulder. “No one has asked you ningen!” she hissed. Kagome blushed and chanced a questioning look at Sesshoumaru, had she messed up again? Sesshoumaru finally reacted.

“Kagura, please excuse my rudeness. This is Kagome Higurashi. Not only is she under my employment, she lives in the manor under the protection of both my father and grandfather as well. She is also a part of our pack. I’m sorry I hadn’t told you about her before. Please forgive me.”

Kagura didn’t know how to react. She could have sworn that Sesshoumaru despised humans. However, although he didn’t seem to care deeply for the woman standing before them, he wasn’t rejecting her either. He treated her with same respect he showed his fellow youkai. She frowned; she hoped she hadn’t ruined her chances with him. She faked her brightest smile and bowed in return.

“Please, excuse my manners. I am Kagura Kyofu.”

Kagome’s eyes were bright with excitement, she had discovered soon after she knew about Koga being youkai that some youkai where named concerning the type of youkai they were, so Kagura’s name meant…

“Are you a wind youkai then?” Kagura gave a short and simple nod for an affirmative answer.

“Wow! I don’t know much about wind youkai, but I’ve read that your kind comes from a very powerful line and that you have a love for freedom.” Kagura and Sesshoumaru were surprised she knew so much about such a rare type of youkai, especially since she was a ningen and youkai were not known by many.

“Where did you learn so much about youkai?” Sesshoumaru was intrigued.

Kagome blushed again under his intense gaze.

“Well, since I knew about Koga and Inuyasha, I was curious about youkai. I asked many questions of both of them until Inuyasha was so fed up with me asking all the time that he gave me a book. It had information of all types of youkai, even the ones who had become extinct.” She stopped and nibbled her lower lip. “I have to say, I had almost forgotten all the information except the one concerning Ookami and Inu youkai, and since I knew about this party, I have been reading the book all over again.”

He had to give the girl some credit; she was really trying her hardest to fit in. Plus the fact that she didn’t seem to despise the ones that were not like her. That explained why his family and that crazy wolf had fallen for her so deeply. She was carefree and gave herself to others so freely; she was an easy target for scum like Naraku. The girl didn’t realize she had to put some barriers up to protect herself from leeches like that hanyou or Usuza. He silently vowed to protect her, once more, as he clearly saw that she wouldn’t be able to do it on her own.

Soon, they were all called to the tables to begin with the evening meal. Inuyasha appeared right by her side to accompany her to the table, and Sesshomaru frowned in disgust. He kept telling himself that the whelp wasn’t good enough for her, and he didn’t wish to mix family with job being that she was his employee, but he had no explanation for the pang in his heart every time she was with another male. Even though he knew there was nothing between her and such males, he wanted her to smile at him like that. Always. Just for him.

Inuyasha offered his arm to Kagome and with a giggle, she accepted it, and they both walked to the table they had been assigned. They saw Toga and Shoja, who were already seated, were their table companions for the meal. They were talking to a male, Kagome assumed he was youkai as well, and she asked Inuyasha.

“Inuyasha, the male talking to your father is a youkai too?” Inuyasha nodded.

“He is a bear youkai, and unlike my father, grandfather, and Sesshoumaru, he is a lesser youkai.” Kagome quirked a brow and Inuyasha sighed, her curiosity could be so annoying! “Powerful youkai adopt perfect human features while less powerful youkai tend to adopt the forms of the type of youkai they are. That man you are asking about, for instance, has fur on his neck, face and arms. His ears are rounded, and his nose is like a bear’s.”

Kagome’s mouth took an ‘O’ like shape, but Inuyasha knew better, more questions were about to fall on him.

“So, the lady over there, by the red column...” Inuyasha followed her directions and nodded. “She has green, scaly skin. Does it mean she is some type of reptile or amphibian youkai?” Inuyasha nodded again.

“Yes, she is a snake youkai. Her name is Aoi, and she is a very nice woman unless she is with Usuza. Be careful with her.” Kagome nodded. Finally, they arrived at their table.

“Hey Kids. I hope you don’t mind; I asked the organizers to sit with us. I wanted to have Kagome near.” Shoja winked at her.

“Oh my god! You are Kagome Higurashi?” The bear youkai was addressing her, his eyes showing amusement. He promptly shook her hand. The girl could only nod and stand. “Excuse my manners, I am
Kurada…” Kagome’s eyes lightened in recognition.

“Kurada-san? From Kurada Entertainment?” The male puffed in pride.

“I believe that’s me! I’d love to have the occasion to thank you personally. Thanks to you, my stay at that hotel was more than pleasant!”

Kagome noticed how the rest of the table remained silent. Of course, they didn’t know how they had met each other. She merely smiled and offered an explanation. By the end of it, they were all laughing.

Sesshoumaru watched the whole scene, intrigued. Kagome had just arrived, and she had the whole table interested in her conversation. He wished he was there; he was suddenly curious. He had heard so much about her ability to distract others, to make them feel comfortable. He had heard of how she had appeased the worst youkai without knowing their true nature with just a few words, a gentle smile and some small treats. That bear youkai, Kurada was his name, somehow his reservation got lost and he was threatening to demand the company, the manager had called her and when Kagome talked to him he calmed down a bit, especially because she had given him one of the best rooms available and a free shiatsu massage. He had been thanked for a job well done later by Kurada himself.
After dinner was over, and everyone was having coffee or liqueur, some other important clients came to Kagome’s table to talk to her and thank her. Sesshoumaru later knew that word had been spread of Kagome’s assistance on setting up the party. She had indeed helped with not only the raffle, but the decorations as well. Some knew her in person, but most of them had talked to her on the phone. The clear smell of arousal reached his nose, those males lusted over her! And a deep growl began to ease up his throat. Kagura couldn’t help but notice how Sesshoumaru was more interested in his father’s table than in her, and she frowned. This man was proving to be more difficult to conquer than any other she had met before. She would have to be more persistent.

Oblivious to the hungry looks being sent her way and the intentions hidden, beneath Kagome kept the smile and the small talk. She loved interacting with people, it made her feel alive. Even more she loved to give people those little things in life that made them happy, and she loved the ability to understand the most difficult of situations, like the one Kurada had to endure. One didn’t own one of the most well-known enterprises and not expect the best treatment. That type of person loathed wasting time with lost reservations or luggage or many other things that had occurred and Kagome had solved the problem as easily as one breathes, and without dropping her smile.

At one point, Kagome felt a bit overwhelmed with so much attention. In fact, she never liked being the centre of attention, and she felt she needed some fresh air.

“If you will excuse me, I need to go to the Ladies room.” She stood up at the same time the people surrounding the table did. She retreated to the far end of the room as if heading to the toilet, but she turned to the terrace instead; she wanted to feel the cool air on her skin.

The terrace was semi dark, the only glimpse of light was provided by the full moon. Since the appetizers served before dinner no one had been there, so she was alone. That is what she wanted, some fresh air and a bit of solitude. She did love being around people, but sometimes she needed to be by herself.

“My, don’t you look ravishing tonight!” Kagome gasped and brought her hands to her chest, right on her heart, and turned around. Her eyes widened. No, her ears hadn’t misled her, Naraku was there, in front of her, and his looks promised a long and not at all quiet night. Kagome began to panic, she was all alone.

“I have missed you. So much.” His voice whispering in her ear sent cold shivers down her spine, and memories of the night he had tried to rape her came back full force in her mind. She felt she needed some air. With a gasp she managed to speak.

“Naraku, stay away from me.”

“Never. Again. Keep that in mind. You are mine! You have managed to avoid me for a while, but that won’t last long. Soon I will have you for myself. No matter who protects you, no matter what you do to avoid me, you will end up under my care. You better start understanding that fact because there is nothing you can do to keep me away from you.”

“Stay away from her you scum!”

Naraku turned around to meet a raging Inuyasha, his claws ready to defend Kagome from the damned hanyou that stood only inches before her.

Naraku wasn’t there to fight; he was there to try and see Kagome. He had been invited; although, he hadn’t been informed of the real motive. He just knew that it was to honour all the ningen families that, in one way or another, had been bound to youkai families. Some of the bonds had last for centuries; others were new, like Kagome’s. Naraku thought she would attend, and he had been right. He had seen her the moment she had entered the mansion accompanied by Shoja, and he had watched her the whole time. He was certain at some point she would be left unguarded, and he had been right.

He hadn’t considered Inuyasha would be so close; he was the most passionate of the Taishos, and Naraku knew that Inuyasha wouldn’t mind making a scene and being loud. Naraku was a vile, scheming man, so he decided that he better retreat now and wait for a better moment to get what he wanted.

Inuyasha never expected Naraku to go away. He blinked in astonishment, and it wasn’t until moments later that he noticed how affected Kagome was. He hated seeing her cry, and he gruffly held her tight to his chest. Concern began to show on his face as he noticed how Kagome was holding on to him as if in despair, hiding her face in the crook of his neck.