Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters owned by Rumiko Takahashi.

I was running along the ravine. I knew that if I hurried, maybe, just maybe, I could get away.

I am the Lady Shiara Koshuniki. The disowned daughter of the late Lord Honi Koshuniki. I remember him not, and have no wish to. He threw me out of his house when I was only a young babe of 7 nights, for I was not the long awaited son he had prayed for. I lived with an old man, I was his slave, he whipped me sometimes even when I had done nothing wrong. Although not married, he wasn't innocent, harlots warmed his bed every night, their sounds of contentment echoed through the walls.

Although I was merely his slave, I lived like a noblewoman. Addressed as Lady Shiara, heir to a small village, then, at 6, I was thrown out. Yet again. I faintly recall those hard years, and although I despised him, I am grateful that I knew who I was.

After I was thrown out I lived with a young couple, although poor they softened my hard heart. Then they died. Disowned the third time, I headed out, as a young woman at the innocent, youthful age of 12. I was determined to provide for myself after that. To remain detatched, to never marry.

Then in the village of Firo I did the one thing I had sworn to myself to never to do. I fell in love. Now, what's a 12-year-old maiden to do with such a useless emotion. It made you swoon, and stumble. The very emotion troubled your every night with empty promises of affection and starry-eyed dreams. But I was in love with him, he was in love with me. Out of all the women whom he could have chosen, he chose me, Shiara. Of course I was flattered. I was won over by the glory of first love, I did everything I could to please him. I learned to be civilized, in the way that he saw it. I completely altered my very existence.

One day he left me, simply by telling me that he no longer felt a passion for me. He turned then, and went to the forest, to make love to his whore. He didn't even see that I had followed. Of course, when I learned of his intentions for why he had fled to the deepest parts of the forest, I did what any dignified lady would have done. I turned, and ran, blinded by hurt and consuming angish. A group of bandits approached me then. I kept running. I was running along the ravine. I knew that if I hurried, maybe, just maybe, I could get away.

One man, he must have been drunk, he was so shaky on his feet. However, he managed to slash me across my back. Those cowards then fled, I wondered what their intentions had been. I fell over, moaning in pain. That was how he found me. Lying on the ground of a ravine vulnerable, and weak. I glared at him. He was staring me down, he must have been demon. Humans didn't look that way. He reached over and turned me over so I was on my back. A jolt of pain shot through me. He put his foot on my stomach, I felt something pulse through me. He must have been surprised by what he saw, because the next thing I knew he grabbed me, pulled me into his arms and a cloud formed under him as he whisked me away.

The next thing I knew we were floating over a castle. Once we reached the ground I realized what was happening and I began flailing my arms which hurt my back. Then the demon half dragged, half led me into the castle. It wasn't like anything I had ever seen.

The castle demanded attention. With its pearly white walls and grand doors. I felt like a fairytale princess, servants bowing to us. I really did feel like a princess, the man who had enslaved me had kept a very straight sense of my authority, servants merely got out of my way, I had never thought much of it, until now, when I could see what power felt like. Still, I didn't feel very secure.

The demon dropped me in a room that I could only describe as his bedchamber. Then he spoke, his voice deep and rich. "You have been chosen to become this Sesshomaru's mate. You are to submit."

I watched him, wondering if his intentions were so honorable. He looked like a man of honor, but should he not be – I had best be careful. Men could be serpents sometimes, silent and invisible in their approach, but with a single touch, would immediantly be lethal.

Then I remembered who he was. That face, portrayed so many times in portraits of wistful artists who had hoped to earn a pretty penny. This was Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands. I became engulfed in my own fear. I couldn't raise myself high enough to look him in the eye. "I want you to stay inside this room, I shall send my servant to assist is your name?"

For fear of being killed I answered, "Shiara Koshuniki."

He said, "Very well." With that, he touched my forehead, I felt something burning on me and fainted.

Pitiful.

When I woke up, I was lying on the bed and once again moaning in pain, I had a throbbing headache. Then a small voice said, "My lady, you have awaken." She curtsied.

I looked her over, she must have been that servant that Sesshomaru had been talking about. I turned to face her, wondering if she knew who I was yet. If she did not, I would play on her doubts, if she thought me a noble lady, I would do nothing to convince her otherwise. "What is your name?" I asked, the authority ringing within my tone, demolishing any doubts I was who she thought me to be.

"I am Ikko, my lady. His lordship has instructed me to become your personal maid. He also said that you are not to escape. Lord Sesshomaru has given me this, it's for your ladyship." She curtsied again and held out a piece of rolled-up parchment paper secured with a red ribbon. When I slid it out of her hands, she straightened herself up a bit. But kept her head bowed. I read,

Lady Shiara Koshuniki,

As this Sesshomaru has said, you are to become this Sesshomaru's first mate. You are to submit to his every request. You will bear his heir. In one week, on the night of the full moon we shall be mated. Sometime later we shall be married as well, if it be my pleasure. I have no wish whatsoever to share you with another man. You may plan both the wedding and the mating reception. This Sesshomaru holds the right to have mistresses in his house, but you shall not be a whore. You willl fulfill all the requirements of being the Lady of the Western Lands. Once mated, I will supply you with your very own allowance and your household. Until then, get familiar with your surroundings, you will live here for the rest of your natural life. Unless it be my pleasure move you elsewhere.

-Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands

When I had finished reading, I was shaking in my mind from, holding onto my last shreads of sanity, I continued to play on this charade, I held my composure. The girl said suddenly, "Perhaps her ladyship should take a bath, it shall calm her frayed nerves."

I was too tired out to refuse. So I allowed her to lead me to a door, she opened it and led me inside. It was steaming in there. She pulled my dirty, Chinese-style dress off and undid the bun in my hair. Then she pulled off my undergarments and slid me in the heavenly water. After a few moments I murmured, "You may depart, Ikko." Then she stood, curtsied and exited the room. I just shrugged and continued. Then got out and pulled on the nightgown that she had left there. As I was about to leave, the Lord Sesshomaru appeared, with his seemingly natural expression "Where do you think you're going?"

"Back to my bedchamber." I murmured.

"Our bedchamber." He said something was radiating off of him, if I could just look into his face I could identify it, but I was a stranger to him, I did not wish him to think me uncivilized and unlearned in the art of etiquette.

"My lord." I said simply, swerving to walk around him. I felt his arm wrap around my waist. I looked into his eyes, but saw nothing.

"May I ask you, my lord, if it be your pleasure to tell me, what you are doing here?" I stilted silence after that, not sure if I really wanted to know, I had read all about the terrible thing that demons did to their unwilling mates.

"Why, I'm just here to see what you bear, my dear." His voice menacing and subduing, it was fresh land, considering the stoic appearance he took on before.

With that said, he reached out to pull down my nightgown. I stiffened, wondering if struggles did any good. He pushed me into the water, my head automatically falling down. When he finally pulled me out, I was gasping for air. I could feel my gown severing, and a short while of silence and brooding imaginings, he left. His presence was replaced with Ikko's. She handed me a kimono that I knew was only for the highly wealthy. It was red with a pretty purple, star-like patturn on it. Also there was a blue sash for it. The sleeves opened with rippling texture. It hugged all my curves and since I had never worn anything like it before I was thoroughly amazed by the beauty of it. Marveling in silence.

She took me to his bedchamber.

Now, you all know that I am a woman whose heart has been broken before. I have no intention of ever breaking it again.

In the corridor I saw a woman dressed as handsomely as me. She must have been one of his lordship's mistresses. When she saw me, she smiled and curtsied low, but, I saw a sneer shoot through her eyes. The emblem sewn into my kimono was a definite sign of power, I nodded at her and as I continued walking I asked Ikko, "Who is she, Ikko?"

"That was Vlove-hime, Lady of Firo, the 3rd mistress of his lordship."

When I heard that, I was so surprised. So, this is the lady of Firo. I hoped that the name Firo would not imprison me in my misery everytime it was spoken.

I stepped into his bedchamber. I was disgusted. "Where is the Lord Sesshomaru?" I demanded.

"His lordship is in his study. The Lord does not like being disturbed, however tomorrow he wished to speak to your ladyship for dinner."

I inspected that information thoroughly and suddenly I remembered my own mating. "How will I plan the mating reception?" I wondered broodingly.

"The Western Lord shall speak to you of it during breakfast. For now, why don't you go off to sleep?"

"Well, I am a bit sleepy." I murmured sleepily.

She curtsied, then backed slowly out of the room, sliding the door closed behind her.

In the morning, I woke, bathed, and headed stiffly to the feasting chamber. I hesitated, then nodded to the men who were to open the doors. They smiled and opened it calling out "Lady Shiara Koshuniki."

I stepped through the door, and quietly curtsied before stepping forward.

I glared at the young man and was about to discipline him when his lordship ordered , "Have a seat, Lady Shiara."

I gave him one last glare and turned to walk to the seat that Ikko pulled out. It was to the right to the head of the table. Then he sighed and as if he were reading words off a card he murmured seductively, "You resent this mating, but I'm sure that you'll find this in both our favors. You may receive your household within due time. Our mating has been moved up, it's tomorrow, all the lord are attending, including that half-breed, whether he likes it…or not. You will prepare it."

It sounded more like he was ordering it instead of requesting it. I nodded anyway, I'd rather not get see his black side. "Good," he said, "eat."

When the meal, which had commenced in silence had finished, he ordered "Jaken" to take me to my new residence.

The greenish, toad-like thingy stood bowed, and led me to his chamber. Disgusting.