A/N – A reviewer pointed out to me that there are some similarities between this and the novel/film, A Golden Compass. However closely related the similarities are, I assure you it was not intended and I claim no credit for that film/book or its characters.

Chapter Five:

"Look at that gown!" came a scandalized whisper.

"Look how she flaunts that guard of hers….so disgraceful for a demon. Reki demon or no, she's too humanlike!"

"She's probably only here to try and steal Lord Damascus from us. Ugly foreigner…"

All these whispers and more made their way to Kagome's ears and she had to bite back a grin as she eavesdropped. If they only knew what she was really after, no doubt they'd pounce on her in a heartbeat. Because the Lord she was after was worth ten times as much gold as the one they were after.

At her side, Nao shook his head and pressed a warning hand against the small of her back. "Careful, My Lady." The words were a mere whisper, loud enough only for her to hear. "These ladies are chomping at the bit to get a piece of you, considering you likely knocked a few of them out of favorable positions in this court, with your arrival a few days past."

Allowing him to lead her across the court, Kagome nodded. "I understand. I just find it amusing that they could actually think-"

"Think what, Lady Lyra?"

She tensed and instinctively took a step closer to Nao, to her own detriment. Turning, she watched the predatory smile grow on his face at her show of fear, even as she thought quickly to cover the conversation between herself and Nao. "My guard and I were merely reminiscing about my Court's reactions to my departure; they think me spoiled for taking leave of my family to travel. What say you?"

He was still smiling as he took yet another step closer to her and set a hand on her arm as music started to play, signaling another dance. "I'm afraid I concur with them, my dear. Setting out on your own, abandoning all the creature comforts you were lucky enough to be born with; rather selfish, don't you think? As if you were seeking more than what you were already granted at birth." He turned toward Nao and his eyes went from predatory to condescending. "I'll be taking your Lady for this dance, guard."

Without giving either of them the chance to object, he tightened his grip on Kagome's arm and dragged her out to the dance floor. Holding her as close as the dance allowed but with a tight, dangerous grip, he spun her into the dance. Kagome closed her eyes as the music played and tried her best to ignore her partner, but instincts had her opening them again in time to catch Damascus studying her bit too closely for her liking. Worried and angry but unable to allow either of those emotions to show, she willed a coy smile to form. "Do you find my features so fascinating, My Lord?" It was disgustingly easy to let herself drift back to modern society niceties, which included shameless flirting even if you didn't like the person you were attempting to flirt with.

"On the contrary, dear Lady, your beauty is not what holds my interest." He smiled and though it was still predatory, there was also a charming bit, like an evil prince working his way towards something sinister. Leaning closer to her, he whispered in her ear. "Rather…it is the jewel you keep so cleverly hidden." His grip on her tightened even more and Kagome was certain there would be bruises before the day was over. "You will tell me where it is."

o.O.o

In the past seven days, he had been to fifteen doctors and all provided the same measly answer. With the permission of her mother, whom Kagome had appointed as medical proxy, he had given the doctors copies of the girls CAT scans. She had garnered so many head injuries throughout her time in the Sengoku Jida that she would eventually lose all short term memory and worst case, long term as well.

Snarling, he paced up and down the practice room, hands in tight fists. Why hadn't she told him? Surely, even back before she had disappeared, the miko had known. Would it be fair to add it up to yet another secret kept, yet more trust withheld? Silently, her mother sipped from a bottle of water and watched him. Her presence was the only reason he had not lost total control; there was just enough of the miko's familiarity there that the beast within was soothed. "Why did she not confide in this one?" he demanded, turning to the woman, fierce golden eyes narrowed.

Nadoka smiled gently and set the water aside. She had been watching him for a long while now as he paced holes into the floor, inwardly amused that her young daughter could cause such strife in so powerful a being. "I do not think it was intentionally undisclosed, Sesshoumaru-san."

He snarled and pinched the bridge between his nose, frustrated as the youkai within howled in rage. "How can keeping that knowledge to herself be unintentional? Why does she continually distrust this Sesshoumaru?"

It was the woman's turn to frown and she stood up, setting her hands on her hips as she settled into her lecturing mother tone. "Stuff that anger out of the way Sesshoumaru-san and listen carefully. My daughter has never been one to burden others with what she sees as her weaknesses. She does not like to cause worry and alerting others to her condition would do nothing but. Do you honestly think she likes keeping these things to herself? And what would you have done then, in a time with little to no substantial medical knowledge, to help her? It would have been for naught and from what Kagome told me, she was still learning about you." She glowered at him but was unable to hold the look for very long and instead offered up yet another gentle smile. Stepping forward, she set a hand on his arm and squeezed it reassuringly. "Do not think that Kagome does not or did not trust you. After the fiasco with Inuyasha, she keeps her heart well guarded. It is up to you to break past that wall, if you wish to badly enough."

o.O.o

Sesshoumaru,

I saw you tonight and you scared the hell out of me, coming out of the darkness like that. I suppose it was my own fault for listening to music instead of my surroundings but it was another bad day and I've told you before how much the sounds soothe me. I wasn't able to talk about what was really bothering me, not then, so I left and did not give you an explanation but I know you deserve one.

We were following the trail of a shard today, per usual. Inuyasha caught the scent of fire and blood though and after he told us about it, I knew we had to go there. What we saw today will be forever in my memory; I do not think I will ever be able to see smoke and fire again and not think of what I saw today. There was so much blood….so many screams. There were children there Sesshoumaru, innocents with their throats…Kami.

So much life lost. So much death. Over 200 graves we dug and over half of them were less than 3 feet long. We found out later it was an orphanage village of sorts, from a neighboring village. Do not think me wrong for what I am about to say but it is times like this why I can understand that humans from this era wish to destroy all demons.

Solemnly,

Kagome

o.O.o

In the back of the court, she smiled. Dark hair curled in ringlets around pale skin to gather against a slender shoulder. Dangerous amber eyes filled with contempt and loathing appraised the scene on the dance floor as she toyed with the strings between her fingers. It was meant to be a toy, a mere play thing to a child but it was so much more entertaining this way. It was so enjoyable to play with all the characters this way. They had no idea who their puppeteer was, who was pulling the strings. She knew every single one of them would think it was one person but they were oh so wrong. Their assumptions would cost them dearly.

Even Damascus, that poor, power crazed demented half breed. He had no idea what her involvement in this production really meant. He had no idea what he'd gotten himself into when he'd accepted the help of the demons who were now merged with him.

Smirking, she pulled harshly on one of the strings and delighted in the spasm of auras around her. There was no way the girl would get out of this alive.

o.O.o

Below the layers and layer of concrete and granite, beneath the slippered feet of graceful women and the music that swept across the ballroom, there were cells. They were long bound with particular magics' to keep its occupants caged, powers useless against the bars and walls, sealing them inside.

In one particular cage, a group had long since lost track of the time they'd spent locked behind iron bars. A red headed child, not so much a child any longer, lounged restlessly against cold stone walls, manacles wrapped around bare feet with pointed claws. His tail was a dank mess of red fur but his vastly sensitive nose had long since become accustomed to the stench of not just his own waste but that of the others in his cell. Often times he wondered if he would ever be able to smell clean air again and if they were ever freed, if his delicate nose would still be able to scent as easily as it had before. This however, was the last thing on his young mind as emerald eyes studied the ceiling carefully, small clawed paws tightened into fists. Licking his lips, he turned to the only other one awake in the room. "She's here," he said softly to the monk.

Miroku, his hand resting lightly in the tangled dark knots of a woman's hair, glanced sharply at the kit, before spreading his own powers. When her aura touched his in a gentle, reassuring caress, he smiled. "That she is Shippou. Would you like to wake the others, or should I?"

Shippou grinned a feral grin and shuffled to his feet, even as he dug into his pockets and pulled out a small toy. His magic did not work against the wards keeping them in the dark cell but it did not stop him from working his yōki within. Tossing it at a certain white haired individual, he smirked, a manic look in his eyes. "Wake up baka-yasha!"

o.O.o

On the dance floor, a woman with tan skin and hair like cream watched the Lord and the reki demon neutrally. Her dark red eyes narrowed as she eavesdropped on the conversation. It had been a long time since she'd heard of that cursed jewel and even just the name of it reassured the young neko of her mission. Taking a step closer to the edge of the dancing, she couldn't help but to prepare herself, cracking long elegant fingers with black tipped claws. She had not seen her mistress in nearly nine years and the beast within her yearned for it, wanted more than anything to rip out the throat of the Halfling who dared hide her. It went against every instinct her kind had to be so long away from their chosen's sides.

Licking her lips, she could not keep her dainty fangs from peeking out and poking slightly into her bottom lip. Behind her, two cream colored tails with black stripes danced wildly in anticipation. It was almost time.

Ch. Fin

o.O.o

A/N – It has occurred to me that no matter what my intentions are, I am unable to follow through. After all, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The problem, I think, is that I've been trying so hard to give you readers such long, captivating chapters that I keep putting off my updating. Part of the reason I do this is because my first introductions to fanfiction were these stories with chapters that were 20+ pages and I loved reading that much. There is a part of me that still wants to give those long chapters, to captivate you as I once was but there is a larger part of me yet that wants to update regularly because I love what I've written and want others to see it too. So, from now one, my goal is to update whatever I have as soon as I can. There will be no more waiting for more words to come. That is not to say that there will not be any more long chapters but that I will post whatever I have; anywhere from a few paragraphs to several pages or more. That said, I sincerely hope you enjoyed this latest chapter of Danced and I look forward to reading any and all reviews!