Yakumo leaned against the wall of the castle, trying to steady her breathing while playing with her long silver hair, but the weight on her chest remained.

He was coming home.

Sesshomaru had been gone on his travels for nearly twenty years. Between seeking the sword Tessaiga his father, the great Inu no Taisho, had left behind and killing Naraku, he had just never returned home. During his lengthy travels his retainer, Jaken, would return to the castle and keep the household in check. The politics however, were left to the few ranking members of Sesshomaru's council, directed by Sesshomaru through his letters home by way of Jaken.

Not that he cared.

No, the great dog demon had only a few things on his mind the last two decades and Yakumo knew his home had not been one of items on the list.

She had not been on the list either.

When Yakumo and Sesshomaru had first met, they were only a few decades old, still small children. Yakumo's father was one of Inu no Taisho's greatest advisers. The two were more like best friends and it was only natural to them that their children be taught together.

"But she's a girl!" the young Sesshomaru exclaimed, sticking his tongue out in disgust.

The little silver haired, blue eyed beauty in front of him promptly returned the favor and turned away from him with her arms folded across her chest.

"Now children, we expect you to become companions. Learn together, teach each other, and eventually, the two of you will continue the strong lineage of the great dog demon clan," explained Inu no Taisho.

Of course, at the time, the last comment had gone far over the small children's heads. Eventually they accepted one another and sat down to begin their studies with the various tutors their father's provided.

Sesshomaru and Yakumo had been the only children in the entirety of the Western Fortress of such high noble ranking. Protective of not tainting their status, their fathers and mothers kept them secluded from the other, lesser born children, leaving the two of them only with each other. Yakumo sniffled at the memories of their young childhoods. They spent hours at a time reading old scrolls to each other that put in detail their father's many battles and victories together. They learned the history of their families and clan together. Even meals were taken together.

Yakumo came to lean on Sesshomaru for all of her needs, even ones as simple as comforting her during a storm. Late at night she would sneak into his bed chamber and lay down next to him. At only ten in the human life span, Sesshomaru thought nothing of the 8 year old's cuddling and simply let her lay beside him, chattering about their anticipated lessons the next day while they drifted to sleep.

"Sesshomaru?"

The young demon lord looked over at his little companion and sighed. He'd never finish these writing lessons if she continued to interrupt him every 5 seconds. He made sure to sound as bored with her as possible as he responded, "Yes, Yakumo?"

"Are we best friends?" she questioned him, with serious ice blue eyes.

Taken aback, he paused before answering. Unbeknownst to the young girl, his father had began giving him lessons privately. One day he would replace his father as lord of the Western Lands and his father felt it important he understand the gravity of his birth right. He was learning about allies, wars, and politics. Recently he was feeling the weight of his destiny, though still so young.

But another part of his responsibilities his father had explained, was protecting his pack, especially the women belonging to it. He did feel very protective of Yakumo and desired to please her as much as he could.

Did this make them best friends? He wasn't sure, as he had no other friends at all. But he saw the gleam in her eye and knew what answer she desired.

"Yes," he answered simply, and returned to his writing.

Yakumo beamed, offering a nod and leaving him alone to continue her own work.

Now the girl slumped further into the wall remembering their conversation as children. They were so young then and had no inkling of what the future had in store for them.

"My lady?" a girl's voice called out gently, attempting to break Yakumo from her trance.

Yakumo whipped her head up. Her lady in waiting Uri stood before her, a concerned frown etched into her gentle features. Uri was also a dog demon, but had little yokai power. Her hair was black, styled into a big bun on the back of her head. Her green eyes stared at her mistress, wanting to ask a question, but not daring to do so.

"Oh, Uri, forgive me. I had become lost in my thoughts," Yakumo explained, trying to put on a sweet smile.

"My lady, Master Jaken has requested your presence," Uri explained with a slight bow of her head.

Yakumo sighed in frustration. Jaken was not an easy demon to deal with. His squawks of demands always gave her headache. At his first appearance, Yakumo had felt relief for he had come bearing news of Sesshomaru. Now Jaken returned periodically from their nomadic travels to give updates, directions for the staff, and to garner any supplies needed to continue their expansive journey.

Straightening out her light pink Kimono and smoothing the obi around her waist, Yakumo put her best diplomatic face on and linked her arm through Uri's, leaning on her for support. Uri raised an eyebrow at her lady's sudden weakness but kept silent as they walked to the sitting room Jaken now waited in.

When her father had died alongside Inu no Taisho in the battle against Ryukotsusei, her mother had left with the equally distraught Inukimi. She and Sesshomaru's mother simply vanished into the castle in the sky, leaving Yakumo as the sole lady of the house, responsible for the mundane tasks her position required. One of these tasks was planning social events and keeping the castle guest ready.

"Master Jaken," Yakumo called out, smiling sweetly at the little green imp.

"Oh! My lady!" he exclaimed, giving her a deep bow.

If Yakumo could say one good thing about the little toad it was that he certainly knew his place. She did always appreciate the respect he gave her.

"I hear our Lord plans to return in the near future," she ventured, letting the statement hang until Jaken picked up on her hint to elaborate what his master's plans happened to be.

"Yes my lady. He will arrive by tomorrow night. I have come early to prepare the council for his arrival and to ask that you prepare a feast in his honor and in celebration of his victory over Naraku," Jaken explained, giving her a nod.

"How unlike Lord Sesshomaru," Yakumo started,"to want a party or to have any fun at all," she finished, keeping a smile on her face.

The toad shook his head at her, "I'm not sure his intention is to have fun," Jaken retorted with a shrug, "In any case, I have reported the information to you he requested, I'm sure you will see to it that things are to his Lord's liking."

Yakumo scoffed at his statement but nodded. How like Sesshomaru to toss demands at her for something he wouldn't even care to attend.

"Bastard," she whispered before exiting the room gracefully.