~First Story Ever! So please be kind in reviews! Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Kekkaishi or any of the Characters. I do own Kiriko and any other OCs!

It was an early summer afternoon and I was having to spend it indoors in a stuffy Council of Twelve meeting. A woman, more demon than woman in reality, was standing behind me, brushing out my knee length snow white hair. I hated my hair. I hated how it, along with my ruby red eyes, marked me as a Ward. I hated what I was, hated that I was born into a lifestyle that would ultimately be the death of me, one way or another.

I shifted as the demon woman twisted my hair and began pinning it up in an intricate bun, the ornaments jingling as she continued to pin and clip. After a few more minutes she moved away from me and stood.

"It is finished Milady," I nodded my thanks and stood, moving to my bed where the kimono I was supposed to wear was laid out and scrunched my nose in distaste. I was really tired of living as I was. I wanted to be nothing more than a normal twenty year old girl but I knew that was never going to happen.

'Oh well, not like I have any other clothes here. I would rather have something I bit lighter since it feels like the surface of the sun in here but like that's going to happen,' I thought as I slipped on the floor length kimono. The primary color was black but it had numerous white lotus petals stitched on the front and back. The bottom was a deep blue with lotus flowers nestled here and there. I tied the sleeves on my upper arms, also decorated with white lotus blossoms. I made sure the deep blue obi was tied tight enough and the kimono was smoothed out before I headed out of my room.

I walked along the halls, my feet carrying me to the room the Council held their meetings in.

'Twenty… I'm twenty, why appoint me a Protector now? Was there a threat against me? No, I would have been informed if there was. Besides, I don't think anyone knows The Shadow Organization has a Ward. Not many outside the original Council knows about me.'

I retreated from my thoughts as I stood in front of the door that would lead me to Council. I really did not like the Council of Twelve. Most were humans that, over the years had become more like demons than humans; much like my main handmaiden.

I took in a deep breath and raised my hand to knock.

"Come in Lady Kiriko."

I closed my eyes, resisting the urge to roll them as I slid the door open. I walked in and sat at the end, between the two rows of Council Members.

"It's good to see you're doing well Lady Kiriko," the voice of the leader sounded from behind the screen.

I kept my eyes to the ground as I greeted the Council members that were present. Looking at the empty seat nearest me on the left I questioned, "Where is the Seventh member? Has tragedy befallen him already?"

"Actually I'm just late."

I turned my head to see a quite attractive young man in the doorway; he was wearing something that looked reminiscently like a uniform and a robe along with an obviously fake smile on his face.

"I see," I turned back, facing forward, as the young man said his apologies before sitting down.

"On to business then," the voice behind the screen continued.

"I would like to introduce to you Lady Kiriko, the Ward of The Shadow Organization. She is what keeps the protective barrier around us up and secure. It is because of her that we are kept safe and protected for the last seven years and will be for the next four."

"Why? Is she under a contract or something? If she's doing such a good job I don't see why we should let her go," a large man with a bag looking thing over his face commented.

"You don't have very much knowledge of Wards, do you? Each Ward is different; they each are born with a unique symbol that belongs to a generalized class of Ward. Lady Kiriko is a Guardian, a powerful one it seems since she is able to make and sustain barriers to cover our entirety. They are born to be used by whoever is able to assert power over them; Guardians are easy to overpower because they don't have much fighting prowess as the other classes. Due to that, there are not many left alive. However, unless they are released from or pass on the duty to the next generation before they are about twenty four years of age, they die. Wouldn't you expect that keeping a barrier up around a place as big as this twenty four hours a day, seven days a week would be taxing on the body?" a woman on the other side of the room spoke up.

The man behind the screen cleared his throat. "To be exact, she still has three and a half years of service left to us but the Kokuboro has discovered that we have a Protection Ward and have been caught trying to sneak in. We assume it was to either kill her so they would be able to attack or to kidnap her and use her for a barrier of their own."

My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. 'What? Who is the Kokuboro? Why would they want me dead? If they're trying to take me by force, I don't think I would like to protect them at all.'

The man that came in late studied me closely. 'A Ward huh? How interesting. I wonder if she could be useful.'

"I have called this meeting to appoint one of you as her Protector. Usually one would have been appointed when she took the role of Head Ward at thirteen but there was no need for one. She was still a secret to everyone in the Organization outside of the Council at that time. I have no idea who has leaked that we have a Ward living among us but it matters not now. What a Protector has to do is simple: keep the Ward alive and as unharmed as possible; be ready to give your life to ensure her safety."

The leader paused as he let the news and information settle over the other Council members.

"Is there anyone that wishes to volunteer for the job?"

I tensed when the giant man with his face covered stood, "I, Ichirou Ougi, will volunteer."

I turned frightened eyes to him, feeling an evil aura radiate off him. To be honest, all of them had less than desirable auras save the one that had come in late.

As if sensing my apprehension, the man that had come in late shot a friendly smile at me as stood, "I, Masamori Sumimura, will volunteer to be Lady Kiriko's Protector."

My hand shot to my mouth as a murmur ran through the other Council members. 'Sumimura? Of the Sumimura's that guard Karasumori? His clothing... A Kekkaishi uniform! He's a trained Kekkaishi but why is he part of the Council of Twelve?'

"Lady Kiriko," everyone went silent as the leader spoke and I stood, waiting for his decision.

"Since there has been more than one that has expressed interest in becoming your Protector, I think it fitting that you decide on whose hands in which you place your life."

I blinked in surprise and faced the two men that had volunteered, already knowing my decision.

I stepped in front of Ougi and gave a little bow. "I thank you for volunteering Sir, however," I straightened and stepped in front of Masamori, "I have decided to allow Masamori Sumimura the honor of being my Protector until I die."

"Then you are all dismissed," the leader spoke before his presence disappeared.

Another murmur went through the Council members before Ougi spoke.

"You would choose someone as weak as him to be your Protector over me?" he snapped his fan closed and grabbed my arm. Startled, I took a step back.

"You should really learn how to take rejection," Masamori's smooth voice rang out as he grabbed Ougi's hand. "Release her so that I may escort her back to her room please."

Ougi growled and released my arm. "You'll regret this decision, both of you," he said in a harsh whisper as he passed by the two of us, bumping Masamori's shoulder as he went. Soon all the members had departed, leaving me and Masamori standing in the meeting room.

I took a deep breath and turned, walking out the door. Half way down the hall Masamori ran up beside me.

"So what exactly am I supposed to do as your Protector?"

I stopped walking and turned to look at Masamori. "Were you not listening in there?" Without waiting for an answer, I continued, "You have to protect me from the Kokuboro and whoever else tries to harm me for the next three and a half years." I brought my hand to my forehead as I continued walking and talking to myself.

"What- I- Ugh, I just had to pick the cute one instead of the one that knew what he was getting into."

"You think I'm cute?"

I flushed as I shot Masamori, who was once again at my side, a glare. The rest of the walk to my room was silent until we were outside my door.

"Will I be moving in your room or are you moving in here?"

My question seemed to catch him off guard. With widened eyes he asked what I was talking about. I rolled my eyes as I slid the door to my room open, beginning the explanation.

"The leader said that you have to make sure I am safe. In order to properly do that the Protectors of the past moved their Wards to where they were staying. You don't live here so how do you plan on making sure the Kokuboro doesn't kill me in my sleep? As all Wards, I am trained to defend myself should something happen to my Protector but I can only do so much if I don't have a weapon. Now, will you be moving here or will I be moving to where you are staying?"

I faced Masamori from the middle of my room. Even from his place at the door it was obvious that my small room would not be able to hold both of us. Running a hand over his face, Masamori motioned me to follow him. Once we were out of my room and walking back down the hall he spoke.

"I will have the Vice Chief come and over see that your stuff is packed and brought to my room. You'll be with me at all times, even when I go out on missions. Understood?" When he saw me nod he continued, "What sort of weapons are you trained to use?"

I gave him a side long glance as we exited the building, heading towards the mountain of stairs. "The battle fan, sais and daggers."

Masamori nodded again, "I see. None are very good when it comes to defending for very long. How good are you with each?"

I brushed a few strands of hair that had slipped from their clips, "I mastered the fan and dagger by the time I was sixteen. I mastered sais last year."

Masamori glanced at me. "Impressive."

I sighed and looked out over the trees as we alighted the last step, "Not really. The Guardian before me had mastered all by the time she was eighteen."

Masamori hummed to show that he had heard me as we turned and continued walking. The rest of the trip was silent. Mostly because I was studying the wildlife and greenery we were passing and Masamori studying me. I could feel his eyes on me almost the entire walk. Had he never seen someone with white hair before? At least, someone his age with naturally white hair?

After several minutes of walking in a somewhat tense silence Masamori and I came upon several buildings connected with small porches.

"How quaint," I commented, giving a small smile.

Masamori chuckled and offered me his arm, "Indeed it is. Shall I show you around?"

"You may," I said with a small laugh, a light pink gracing my cheeks.