Happy birthday to me! Well, sort of. As unprepared as I was (and am) to turn 30, I welcome this coming decade of life as I have the others before it...with hope. Again, I would like to thank ALL of you who took the time to comment in the reviews! Your encouragement has lead me to actually WANT to continue writing. I go into each and every chapter with one thing in mind...keeping you, the readers, interested and entertained! Thank you all again! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters.

When Sesshomaru had said the wedding was 'out of town', Kagome had asked where it was. When he had told her it was on the other side of the country, she had made herself ready for a long trip, but she had no idea just how long the flight would seem compared to the actual time it took to get there. It was made to feel all the longer because the toad-man, Jakken, rarely seemed to leave the immediate vicinity. He was always hovering, and always casting glares in her general direction. Having Sesshomaru sign this, answer that, approve this form. It never seemed to end. Thankfully, Sesshomaru seemed to notice her silent exasperation at the toad's presence, and he would send him away once in a while with the excuse that he and the lady would like some time together to talk. Jakken would, begrudgingly, wander off, mumbling under his breath.

It was during these, much appreciated, respites that they had worked out the story they would use with his family. And much to Kagome's relief, it was simple enough to remember.

They would stick, mostly, to the truth. They met at the gourmet coffee shop, that she owns and operates, about a year ago. They have been seeing each other, exclusively, ever since. And should his parents ask why she had not been brought to their attention before, the answer would be simple: the two of them were unsure if she would be fully accepted by his family, so they were nervous about the first introduction. But they both felt that this wedding, being a happy family event, would be the perfect time for it.

Simple, thought Kagome, good and simple. She was certain to be able to remember that. Anything else, Sesshomaru assured her, could be made-up at a moments notice. She agreed that the plan was a good one. Though, as she tried desperately to relax in the soft leather seat of the jet, she began to fidget with her fingernails. One of several bad habits she had acquired as a child growing up. After a few more moments of staring off into space, she was brought back to reality by Sesshomaru placing a gentle, reassuring hand on both of hers, keeping them still as he looked into her eyes. Kagome could feel her breath catch in her chest again.

He smiled softly to her, kindly, and gave her hands a gentle squeeze of reassurance. "Don't worry. It will be fine," he said. "Besides, my parents are not as stern as all that. Granted, my father used to be, but ever since he met Izayoi, he has become a different man."

Kagome nodded and smiled softly to him in return. "You look up to him a lot, don't you, Sesshomaru?" He nodded back and sighed a bit, leaning back again and looking lazily out the window of the plane. "I do. Ever since I was very young I remember wishing, beyond anything else, that I would grow up to be just like him one day."

There was a hint of longing, almost a sadness in his voice when he spoke of the past. Although she couldn't quite put her finger on it, Kagome could sense something...regret, perhaps? Or something else? Deciding it was better not to press for more information than he was willing to give, she resumed her gaze out the window as well.

Soon Jakken had returned and informed them that they would be landing soon, although he spoke more to Sesshomaru than anything. Soon after that, they had landed and, after they reached the main terminal, were ushered into a waiting car. It was only now, seated beside Sesshomaru with his arm around her shoulders, and Jakken staring daggers at her from the other side of the car in the seat facing them, that she may very well be in way over her head.

...

The only words to describe how she felt, while looking up at the building in front of her, were 'awed' and 'dumb-struck'. She knew, of course, from their conversations, that Sesshomaru came from what some would call "old-money", but she had not truly realized what he meant until she saw this house!

It was an enormous manor-house, sitting on a picturesque lot of land that extended for acres upon acres in every direction. Pristine, green lawns sprawled on and on, only to be met with many different varieties of leafy trees. She even thought she could make out the shimmer of water in the distance. A pond maybe? But viewing the lands surrounding the palatial estate would have to wait for some other time, for at that moment the front doors were being opened for them, and both were ushered inside.

Upon entering the manor-house, Kagome and Sesshomaru were greeted by a man who bowed deeply to them. Kagome could only assume this was the butler, as he then took their things and proceeded up the stairs with them, excusing himself and assured the pair that "The Lord and Lady will be down in a moment." It took a moment for those titles to register with her, but once they did, she had very little time to react. For at that very moment a man and woman, both very neatly dressed in close to matching attire, descended the grand staircase, arm in arm.

Kagome was completely taken aback. The man looked almost exactly like Sesshomaru, in fact if she had not known any better, she might have even guessed that he was a much elder brother, rather than his father! The same flowing waterfall of silvery-white hair, pulled back neatly into a long pony-tail. The same taste in clothing, though perhaps a bit more business-like, with black trousers instead of the denim pants Sesshomaru normally wore. He donned a light blue, buttoned shirt that accented the silver in his hair. There were clear, almost blatant, similarities between father and son. The same eyes, skin, same basic facial features...This was the father he looked up to so much. If it had indeed, at one time, been Sesshomaru's goal in life to emulate this man in front of her, he was well on his way to doing exactly that.

And then, of course, there was the woman at his side.

She moved almost fluidly, like a goddess brought to life. So graceful and elegant. Her hair, unlike her husband's, was jet black, but just as long. Where he wore his in a pony-tail with a simple tie, hers was braided in loose plaits, up and over her right shoulder, so that it draped in front of her. She wore a royal-blue blouse and black pencil skirt that stopped a few inches above her knees. A silver chain with a blue and silver crescent moon hung around her neck. And then she smiled. The smile caught Kagome off-guard almost as much as the house itself had. The lady beamed to them both and let go of her husband's arm, trotting down the rest of the stairs and stopping in front of them, only to lean forward and give Sesshomaru a welcoming embrace while the man chuckled from the staircase.

"Sesshomaru! Welcome home!" He gave her a gentle hug back and she stepped back again, still smiling, and turned to look at Kagome. "You must me Kagome!" She beamed to the girl, who suddenly felt incredibly inadequate for this family, even if she was only pretending to belong there. "Sesshomaru said you were going to be coming with him," she extended a hand in greeting to her, but upon clasping hands, pulled her in for a hug as well, "It is so wonderful to finally meet a young woman who was capable of catching this boy's eye." She pulled back again and smiled over her shoulder to her husband. "Is it any wonder, dear? Look at her!" She motioned to Kagome, moving her hand up and then down again. "She is beautiful!"

Sesshomaru's father had joined them at the base of the stairs by this point and nodded, with a grin on his face as well. "Indeed she is." He turned to his son and shook his hand. "Son, it is good to have you home again. It does my heart well to see you. And your companion as well." Somehow he managed to wedge himself in between his wife and Kagome, took Kagome's hand, and brought it to his lips, kissing it graciously. "A pleasure to meet you, at last, Miss Higurashi. Welcome to our home. I hope you enjoy your stay with us. If I may repeat my wife's earlier sentiment, it is wonderful to meet a girl who may have finally swayed my wayward son from his bachelor ways." She was quite certain that the last comment was his way of giving his son a friendly poke in the ego.

This fatherly nudge did not go unnoticed by its intended target. Sesshomaru cleared his throat, so as to regain some of the attention away from Kagome, who, by this point, was beginning to look totally overwhelmed and was feeling more than a bit uneasy.

"My apologies, father, but it has been a very long trip. I think Kagome and I would like to rest and freshen up before dinner. Would you excuse us?" Both hosts nodded with gracious smiles, and bowed gently to the pair. Izayoi was the one to respond. "Of course, I had nearly forgotten that you both had such a long flight here." A young woman appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, at her right hand side. "This is Selene. She will show you to your room. Dinner will be at 7. So you have a couple hours to rest and refresh yourselves." She smiled to both of them, but her eyes landed on Kagome. "I look forward to getting to know you more at dinner. I know we will become great friends, Kagome." Her smiling gaze fell onto Selene now. "Remember everything we discussed, Selene."

The maid bowed and motioned for Kagome and Sesshomaru to follow her upstairs. "If you will follow me, please. I will show you to your chambers."

Follow her they did. At one point during the stroll through the extensive hallways, Sesshomaru asked what the instructions from his stepmother had been. "I am to assist Miss Kagome with anything she may need while you both are here. I am her personal maid and assistant for the extent of your stay. She is my charge, my Lord Sesshomaru." He merely nodded, but Kagome didn't know what to think about any of this.

She began to wonder if anything at all about this weekend would not take her by complete surprise. Everything was just so out of her league, and she was having a horrible time trying to wrap her mind around it all. Then the thought occurred to her. This life...she could never be a part of it. She was a fool to believe she could have ever had a true chance with him. But for now, at this moment, she would pretend, for his sake. They would make it through this weekend, go back home, and she would go about her life, and try not to let her crush progress further than it already had. She could never be part of this world he came from.

Of course, she reminded herself, that in her own defense, she at least liked him before she knew about his family or his background of money. She had to give herself credit for that at least. Most girls she had known in her life, the current set of close female friends not withstanding, would have gone after him for his money...the gorgeous looks would have been a bonus to them. They would have treated him like a trophy. And then here she was...ready to just walk away and do her best not to think about him at all after this weekend.

This thought made her sad, but it also made her smile to herself. She had to mentally chuckle at her own situation. She truly was an odd duck. Going against the grain, ever since she was little.

But soon she found herself being taken from her inner thoughts, once again, and drug back into reality. They had reached the end of the long corridor and in front of them was a set of large, dark wooden french doors. Selene took hold of the handles and pushed the doors open, into the room beyond. She then beckoned them both to come in.