Hello Everybody, Here is, what I suppose, the prologue to the sequel of My Beloved and My Despair. I haven't gotten an interesting summary yet so the one currently on here is really just filler. I hope you enjoy! Read and Review Please 333

Ryura swallows as he stares at her from a distance. Her long white hair was pulled into perfect pigtails, like always, and she sat perfectly on the edge of the chair; like a proper young lady should. His lips trembled at the very thought that such a beautiful creature would be his wife. He could barely sum up the courage to speak to her, let alone do whatever it was he was supposed to with a 'wife'. Quite frankly, he wasn't sure what a wife was, but from what his father told him, she would be all his and he would not have to share her with anyone, and he like the sound of that. He clears his throat and takes a couple of calming breaths. He had to talk to her at some point. She was his wife after all. He tries to pull the size small shirt over his size large belly, but it simply refused to cooperate. He licks the corner of his mouth nervously and tastes chocolate. Quickly, he slides the back of his arm across his face and a streak of brown appears on it. He frantically wipes his mouth clean with his hands and rubs the excess chocolate on his pants. She flicks one of her pigtails over her shoulder, and he begins his slow waddle towards her.

"It's coming." He hears a girl to her left whisper. His heart begins to race realizing that She was not alone, but surrounded by her friends. Her mean friends. "Careful, Lizzy. He might gobble you up if you make him mad." The girls giggle and She tries to hide a smile behind her hand. "I don't know, Ruka, Lizzy might be safe. He looks so winded from those few little steps." That time they all laughed, and his face grew warmer.

"H-hello" The girls struggle to contain their laughter as she turns towards him, her lips pressed into a firm line as the corners of her mouth twitch in the struggle, "Hello." He was struck by the beauty her amber eyes as they pierced in to his red ones, "I….I….I'm…"

"Hungry..that's no surprise." The girls burst in to laughter. She looks away from him laughing as well. "I…I'm Ryura." She looks back at him and smiles, "That's nice." She says and continued to laugh no longer able to hold it in. He bit down on his lower lip as rage boiled within him, "yoursuposedtointroduceyourself…." "I beg your pardon?" "I said…I said….you're supposed to introduce yourself." "I don't want too." "Well….well you're supposed to….its lady like." "But, I don't want to, so there. Now go away." "thenyourenotalady." The laughing stops and the smile falls from her face. "What did you just say?" "…..I…..I said…I said that you aren't a lady." She blinks at him as if unsure of how to handle that comment and a girl behind her growls, "And what does a fat little lard like you know what it means-" The girl stops at the raise of Her hand, and She sits up a little straighter. A cold smile bleeds across her face.

"I see, so because I am not interested in having a conversation with you, that means I am not a lady. Well then, let's evaluate you shall we?" Her amber eyes slide over him quickly, and a look of disgust forms on her face, "What type of man lets himself get so terribly out of shape, hmm. Can you even fight? I doubt it. I mean look at you, even your shirt wants nothing to do with you." The girls burst in to laughter, and his fist clench in anger, "Not only that, but what sort of man would let a couple of ladies degrade him so in public. The other boys have no trouble asserting their dominance and making sure we are in check, and yet you can't even say hello without s-s-s-stu-stuuu-stuttering." She flips a pigtail back, "I mean, when I think of a man, I think of someone who is LEAN, ASSERTIVE, HANDSOME, and STRONG. You are FAT, SUBMISSIVE, UGLY, and WEAK. The exact opposite; therefore, ladies, when you think about it, what is the exact opposite of a man."

"A WOMAN!"

"Precisely! So you see dears, she was not wrong in questioning whether or not I am a lady, because she is, in fact, a lady herself, and who knows what it means to be lady-like better than…well…a lady."

She flicked her hair back once more and gives him a bright smile, "Now then, why don't you roll back to the little pie you came from, blueberry."

"AHHHHHHH! HE DOES LOOK LIKE A BLUEBERRY!" The kids around them begin laughing.

BLUEBERRY BLUEBERRY; BLUER THAN THE SKY! BLUEBERRY BLUEBERRY; ROLL HIM IN A PIE!

BLUEBERRY BLUEBERRY; BLUER THAN THE SKY! BLUEBERRY BLUEBERRY; ROLL HIM IN A PIE!

The glass shatters in to the sink as Ryura glares at his broken reflection. The pain in his fist pulls him from his memories and back in to the present.

"Young Lord?! Is everything alright?"

Ryura examines the back of his hand in mild irritation, before grabbing the nearest towel and wrapping his hand with it. It took him years of endless diets, brutal workout regiments, and countless bloody fights to finally rid himself of that accursed nickname. And as a result, girls swoon when he enters the hallways and boys tag along where ever he goes trying to learn his secrets. He was respected amongst his peers, but more importantly, he was feared, and with good reason. If he so much as thought someone said the word blueberry in his presence, they would quickly find themselves the target of his uncontrollable rage. Male, female, adult, child, it mattered not to him.

"Young Lord?"

"IM FINE!"

He glares back at his fragmented reflection as he tried to wrap his mind around the situation he currently faced. He changed. He became what he was supposed to be, and it was because of her. He did not fault her for that moment at camp because she was right. He was a disgrace to his father, his species, and most importantly to his sex, but now…..now she was the one who had become a disgrace. The image of her with that human made his blood boil.

What was she thinking going to a public place with him?! Did she not care what others would think? Did she not care about her reputation…about his?! She would be starting school with him in the fall, and yet she reeked of human. He drummed his finger on the edge of the counter, his nails creating a soothing rhythm as he searched his mind for the recipe. Even if he could get everything he needed, she would have to start it today for that scent to wear off before school begins.

Ryura snatches the door open and immediately the lizard maid rushes to him, "Young Lord, your hand… I thought you said you were ok."

He snatches his arm from her, "Do you remember that recipe….the one where it neutralizes your scent?"

She blinks racking her mind, "Ah, yes sir."

"Make it….make a lot of it." He walks over to his walk in closet lifting the flawlessly pressed dress shirt and pants from the hook.

"May I ask why, sir?"

He remains silent as he examines the deep green material of his shirt.

"Sir?"

"I've given you an order, and yet you're still here. Perhaps father could make my wishes clearer to you."

A panicked squeak escapes her as she bows low, "My apologies, sir. Right away, Sir."

He hears the door quickly slam shut and shakes his head, "The pretty ones are always useless."

He frowns crumpling the shirt up and tossing it behind him, "Fucking hate this shirt."

Ryura glides down the stair railing and jumps off before reaching the end.

"Good Afternoon, Young Lord." The maids say in unison as they form two parallel lines on either side of the stairs. As he walks between them, they lift the lids exposing several selections of demon delicacies for his choosing. He casually by passes them all and stops at his favorite maid. A small mousey looking neko who's uniform seemed to swallow her whole. He flashes her a smile and her face becomes in gulfed in red.

"G-goof….g-good a-a-fa-afternoon, s-s-sir…"

He leans towards her ears, "Now Miku, what have a told you about calling me Sir….it's Ryura."

"S…s…s..s…sorry, sir….uh….R-r-ryura….."

He looks down at her tray and frowns at the steaming purple ruka nut…. He hated ruka nuts, but he still hasn't seen Miku out of her uniform, meaning he would have to put up with whatever she had until he grew tired of her like he did rest.

He grabs the warm textured nut that barely fit in the palm of his hand and winks at her, "Thank you beautiful."

The poor girl could barely gather the nerve to look him in the eyes resulting in a fierce nod as a response. The maids disperse and Ryura walks into the dining room.

"About damn time." His father mutters tossing the newspaper to the side and signaling to maid to take his empty lunch plate. "You know it's rude to keep people waiting. I've got other things to do besides waiting on your slow ass."

"Who spit in your food?" Ryura asks cracking open the ruka nut with his nails.

"Didn't Toru tell you I needed to see you immediately after you got dressed, and where the hell are the clothes I told Toru to set out for you? You look like a fucking idiot."

Ryura glances over at his faint reflections in the glass of the grandfather clock, "Yeah, because grey slacks and a dark blue button up is the official uniform of the village idiot."

"What I picked out would've looked better on you. Seventeen and you still can't fucking dress yourself. How many times do I have to tell you that appearances are everything? If you don't put any effort in the way you look, that tells people you don't put any effort in your work, and if you don't put effort in your work-"

"Fuck OK! I'll change. Shit!" He flops down at the table and continues breaking the ruka nut in to smaller pieces not really wanting to eat it. "What do you want that's so fucking important, anyway?"

His father glares at him, but chooses to address his tone at a later time, "I want to see how far you've come along with this whole Elizabeth thing."

"She reeks of human, I can tell you that much."

"The whole damn place does, what else is new? That whole family's got that sickness. Have you smelled Sesshomaru? It's really quite shameful, but what can you do. Those kids had a weak father. Can't really blame them for doing what they thought was ok."

"I don't think she's too fond of me though."

"Nonsense, she adored you back at camp didn't she?"

"That was years ago. People change. Sicknesses settle in."

"Then make her fond of you. You're not as you were when you were younger. You're actually handsome. It shouldn't be too hard for you to get her under your control. The girl needs a sensible man in her life, or else she'll get as bad as her father. EAT the damn ruka nut, boy! Quit wasting my food."

Ryura bits down on some of the pulp and flinches.

"We're going to dinner with them again tonight. You need to move things along already. I don't care how, just get her to warm up to you. Her mother is looking for the contract as we speak-so it's not like she can say no- but a marriage where the woman actually likes you is more fun than one where she hates you. Trust me on that."

Ryura takes in another mouthful of pulp and works his way through it as his father stands to leave.

"And if she really hates you like you say she does, try being nice instead of your usual asshole self. It's like that human adage says….uh….you catch more wasps with sugar….or some shit like that. Anyway, be ready to go at six."

His father stops at the door and turns to look at him, "and for god-sake, don't look like a fucking degenerate."

~~ELIZABETH'S POV~~

"Sooooooo, how's life in Alcatraz? Did you make that shiv out of a toothbrush like I showed you?"

"Ha,ha, Iggy, very funny."

"I'm serious, Elizabeth. You need some kind of protection while you in there. You don't wanna become someone's bitch."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Good. So, what's happened since our last weekly phone call?"

I sigh as I rest my head back against the chair. "Well, I am able to go to work now without a chaperone and a body guard. I think the warden is beginning to trust me again."

I glance over at Sesshomaru who was sitting across from me keeping the time.

"That's great, and I take it Bankotsu already knows he can come and see you at work now?"

"YES, I do like being a waitress. It's not as bad as people make it out to be."

"Ah, Sesshomaru is your time keeper today, huh?"

"Yeah, guests can be rude, but not all the time.

"I take it you haven't been able to hit a convenience store to buy a pre-paid phone yet huh."

"I'm working on it, but it's hard trying to memorize table numbers and orders too."

"I still can't believe this bullshit marriage thing. Like, I know some cultures still did it, but I didn't think I'd personally know someone who would have to participate in that. Can't you wait it out till your 18, say fuck off to all of them, and ride off in to the sunset with Bankotsu?"

"Hmmm, that's a good question, but I would have to say demon customers are my favorite. They live by a different standard than humans. They aren't allowed to behave a certain way or do certain things which may seem silly to humans."

Sesshomaru raises an eyebrow at me and I twist my body to the side to avoid looking at his face.

"That's why it's easier for me to serve demon customers. Usually when demon customers make an agreed decision on something….from the menu, its set in stone and they can't really change it. Humans, on the other hand can be fickle and pick one thing, divorce that idea after thinking about it for a while, and pick something else….from the menu. On rare occasions, the demon parents usually pick what their kids are eating and the kids just have to deal with it with grace and dignity."

"So your parents didn't even consult you about it?"

"They do, but usually parents think they know what's best for their kid and, even though they may discuss it with their five or six year old, they always end up ordering something that the kid absolutely hates."

"Five minutes."

I glare over at Sesshomaru, "The warden had just informed me of my five minute mark."

"I honestly think he is jipping you on these thirty minute calls."

"I wouldn't put it past him at this point."

"Right, well before he cuts me off, have you heard about Jewel?"

"No."

"Her parents snatched her out of school saying some crap about their daughter not being in a safe environment. I overheard some of her posse saying her parents got her private tutors, but they're like cloaked in black robes. Some real weird shit apparently."

"Black robes?"

"Yep, or at least that's what they said. I'm not sure how true it is. You know us young people, wanting to exaggerate crap when we don't have all the information."

"Time."

I glance over at Sesshomaru and exhale loudly, "I've got to go."

"Ok, be on the lookout for a cake with a file in it."

"Shut-up." I say chuckling as I hang up.

"We need to talk."

I freeze trying to hold in my sigh. These past few months have been tiring and I already knew what he was going to discuss, "Ryura and his dad are coming over again….for….what, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea and crumpets?"

Sesshomaru glares.

"And you want me to be on my best behavior, and act like a happy newly engaged teenager right?"

"Elizabeth…."

"Well, I'm not. I'm not going to like him. I not going act happy or appreciative. I'm going to continue to be bitter and hateful until the day I die. I'll hate the wedding. I'll hate the kids-assuming that will even happen of my own free will, and I'll forever hate you and mother and father for putting me up to this. So please, stop giving me updates on when they are coming over because my behavior will not change."

"Are you finished?"

I cross my arms, but say nothing more. He stands and reaching in to his pocket pulling out a blue cell phone.

"I understand this is not easy and to you this may seem like an archaic tradition, but whether you like it or not, this is for the best."

I scoff and roll my eyes, "Says the man smashing his human maid."

"Elizabeth, I am trying." He holds the phone out to me and I glare at it.

"Is it really mine, or do you have a tracking and recording device on the inside?"

"If you do not want it, I'll take it back."

I begrudgingly take the phone and slip in to my dress pocket. "….thank you…."

"Our guest will be here around 7."

I nod solemnly and turn on my heels. I make my way to the stair case, and Rin gives me a low bow as we pass each other. I ignore it completely as I make my way up to my door less room.

I clicked quietly though the phone trying to figure out how to turn off the block so that I could add more numbers on to it. "I know there was a catch to this stupid thing." I toss it on the floor and glare up at the ceiling. My mind races through several things in the silence from Bankotsu to Ryura to Jewel.

It was about three weeks in to summer vacation and the only thing Sesshomaru has allowed me to do was get a part time job at the diner where me and Bankotsu usually met. My mind wandered to a few days ago when I finally told Bankostu the news.

~~FLASHBACK~~

Bankotsu sat on the park bench glaring at nothing in particular as my voice trails off. He didn't bother looking at me and I could not tell what was going through his mind.

He closes his eyes and lets out a long sigh, "I'm failing to see the problem here. All you have to do is tell them to shove that damn contract up their ass."

"I can't do that."

"Yes, you can. Just say no, and if they protest add in a 'fuck you' too."

"You don't understand, Bankotsu. I can't say no."

"Oh fuck that. You tell me no all the damn time. I doubt your mouth can even form the word yes, let alone speak it."

I try to keep my temper in check and exhale slowly, "I can't say no in THIS situation."

"Are they threatening your life?"

"No"

"Are they going to ship you off somewhere if you don't agree?"

"I don't think so"

"Is anyone in your family being threatened?"

"…no"

"Then what is the problem. You can say whatever the fuck you want to say. You can do whatever the fuck you want to do. They don't control you."

I could hear the irritation rise in his voice as he continues to glare at the pond.

"IF you go through with this, it's because you want to, not because they are forcing you."

"That is the most ignorant thing you have ever said to me. Do you honestly think I WANT to be married right now?!"

"Well, it's not like your life is on the line if you don't, and by the sound of it, it's not like your putting up much of a fight against it."

I stare at him in disbelief before shoving him hard off the bench. He manages to catch himself, unfortunately, and I glare at him.

"It's so damn easy for you isn't it!? You get to do what you want when you want with no fear of repercussions and no real responsibilities. Well guess the fuck what, not everyone's life is a GREAT as yours! I don't have the leisure of just doing whatever I want because I feel like it. I can't say whatever I want just because I don't have my damn filter on. I wasn't fortunate enough to grow up a neglected street orphan with a twisted view of the world like SOME people were. My parents raised me to believe that my family's reputation was more important than any other life accomplishment I could ever make, and EVERYTHING….EVERY LITTLE THING I do should bring nothing but pride and honor to my family. Do I like it? No! But guess what, that is all I know! So just like you can't change being the impulsive self-satisfying jack ass that you love to be, I cannot change being the way I am."

I exhale harshly before turning away from him and glaring at the pond. Bankotsu readjusts himself back on the bench and I could feel his eyes on me.

"Do you like him?"

"No. He's a bigger asshole than you are."

He chuckles, "And you really don't want to go through with this?"

"What 17 year old would?"

"…..Then you don't have to."

I roll my eyes in utter disbelief, "I just said, I can't say-"

"I'm not saying you have to say no. That goes against who you are. I get that. I'm saying," He pulls me close to him, "I'll say no for you."

I snort escapes me and he frowns, "I'm serious! I saw you first, and I don't share anything. So I'll say no."

I bury my face in to his chest as I continue to laugh, "My brother would literally eat you." I say between chuckles and he pushes me away, offended."

"I could kick his ass no problem." He mutters crossing his arms over his chest. I shake my head as I scan the pond looking for Taco. I finally catch sight of him on the other side of the pond trying to mount another duck.

"TACO!"

Bankotsu looks over and begins laughing.

"Oh yeah, you didn't know. He's got himself a girlfriend."

"SINCE WHEN?!"

"About a few weeks now, she's a slut though. I caught her a few days ago letting some mallard do what whatever he pleased."

"GO stop him!" I whine as I begin pushing him off the bench.

"No way." Bankotsu swats my hands away, "At least one of us should be having some fun."

I smack his shoulder and he laughs as he pulls me closer to him. He buries his face in the crook of my neck and despite my frustration at him, I laugh.

I feel him plant warm kisses on my skin and he trails upward finally reaching my mouth. After a few minutes I break away remembering we were in public, but he continues to kiss my neck and jawline.

"I got you first." He whispers softly, "You're mine, and I'll kick anyone's ass who tries to take you."

~~END~~

A knock interrupts my thoughts and I see Rin in door frame holding sharply pressed light blue dress with a matching hair ribbon. I turn away from her in an attempt to hide my hot face.

"Lord Sesshomaru wished for me to remind you that our guest will be here in an hour." I say nothing as I continue to stare at the wall. She hangs the dress in the hook of my closet door and placed the shoes beneath it. "Is there anything I can get you, young mistress?" I remain silent and she gives a low bow before leaving.

Somedays I miss talking with her.

I brush the lent off the dress before brushing my hair back and swooping it up in to a messy bun, leaving some white tendrils to frame the side of my face. I slip on the shoes and give myself one last half-hearted inspection in the mirror before heading in to the hallway and down the stairs.

"My word Elizabeth, you look more and more like your mother every time I see you." Sesshomaru gives me a hard glare for being thirty minutes late as Jun walks up to me and plants an awkward kiss on the top of my head, "Beauty must run in the family."

I don't bother to smile or say thank you as I take my seat next to Ryura at the table. I caught a glimpse of his venom green shirt and grey slacks, but did not bother to look anymore in his direction. I gently slide my chair a bit away from him, but he grabs the leg and pulls me back.

"So, Elizabeth, Sesshomaru tells me you're working. Where at my dear? Probably at that new demon mall downtown right?" I give Jun a forced smile, "No…..a diner."

Ryura chokes a little on his water and I use that opportunity to slide away from him.

"A diner...Well…. that's an interesting…..choice….." Jun turns to Sesshomaru trying to keep a smile on his face, "Don't you think working at a diner is…..unsafe for a young woman like Elizabeth. I mean, what would people say?"

"And a mall is safer…..how again?"

"Well, at least in a mall you'd be around your own kind, dear. In a human diner…well…there's no telling what could happen to you."

"I've done fine so far. Plus, what business is it of yours where I work?"

I could see the smile falter from Jun's face for a moment, "As my future daughter-in-law, I expect you to do things that are more appropriate. Serving humans is not something I want associated with our family name."

"Then find another girl." I mutter as Rin walks in with dinner.

"I beg your pardon, young lady?"

I say nothing as I lift my fork and stab the pre-cut meat on my plate. I could see a smirk playing on Ryura's lips.

"She said she will take it into consideration, Father, but I don't think it will do too much harm, since they did borrow some money from you a while back to keep it afloat."

My fork stops at my lips from Ryura's words.

"I mean, when the time does come and she chooses not to leave there, you could always call back in that loan. However, from what I've been hearing that may not be something the owner would want right now."

Jun gives a contemplative nod and smiles at me, "He is right, my dear. Despite that extensive loan I gave to Mrs. …..what's her name again…..Harty?, she still seems to be struggling. I'm sure you wouldn't want such a misfortune to befall that fine establishment, now would you?"

I set my fork down, no longer hungry, and rise.

"Pardon me. I've suddenly lost my appetite."

"Be sure to think it over, dear." Jun shouts as I make my way up the stairs, "I have some connections to that new mall. I'm sure I can pull some strings to get you a good job there. Perhaps even at one of those cute dress stores."

This would have been the perfect time to slam my door.