"Sesshomaru, I know you are still young but the youkai council demands that you get a mate before you turn five and twenty. I can't change that rule, so your choices are to either find one yourself or letting them choose." Sugimi watched his oldest son. Sesshomaru's amber eyes were indifferent but Sugimi knew his son. Sesshomaru was pissed but still interested.

"I rather choose one myself, those old fools doesn't know a thing about people. I let you arrange how." And with that he left. The inuyoukai sighed. The council asked too much from the young prince. Sugimi himself could still remember the day when Sesshomaru was born, to him that had been like yesterday but in truth it had been years… many years.

"Haku! Send out invitation to every maid in the country! We are going to have three balls after each other; Masquerades. " The king announced to his advisor. The wolf demon, Haku, bowed and left.

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"Tsuki! Get up! I want my breakfast!" The purple-haired woman sat up confused. Who the hell was calling?! She looked up and saw her step-mother standing next to her bed.

"Sorry, step-mother. I overslept." She apologised while quickly getting up.

"I see that! But now you are up! Fix our breakfast and that is quick!" The cat-demon sneered before turning on her heals and left. Tsuki only rolled her green eyes. Stupid bitch! She quickly dressed before she hurried to the kitchen.

This was how her life looked like after that her father had died. She had become a servant in her own house and was bullied by her step-sisters and mother. She hated them all with a passion but had neither power nor will to fight back. Her life was already ruined, what else could she get?

But as she came in with the breakfast to the three bitches something sparked her interest. Dominique was reading a letter from the king out loud.

"Therefore our people invited to the masquerade ball that will start tonight and continue the two following nights! Girls, this is you chance!" Tsuki looked at the two girls. Ino looked more like a pig than a cat and Rose looked like something between a cat and a fish… and not in a good way if there was one. Dominique was wishing for the impossible. But who was she to ruin the surprise?

"Oh mother! We must go! And I need a new dress!" Ino stood up, hitting the table with her hands. "I real one that fits a queen! Prince Sesshomaru must notice me tomorrow night!" Her strong piercing voice made Tsuki cringe inwardly.

Rose stood up, she too, glaring at her sister. "Don't mind her! She doesn't have a chance! I want a dress that makes me look like a demon from hell! That will make the prince fall!"

Dominique shook her head. "Girls, girls! Calm down! Both of you have a big chance, I know you have! I will find you the dress you desire, one for each night." Something then hit Tsuki.

Tsuki stood still while listening. The king had written our people so everyone was invited. Should she try?

The day continued while Tsuki dwelled the question about going to the ball. She doubted that her step-mother would allow it but it did give her a strange feeling in her stomach to at least try. A ball was something that didn't happened often so when the chance came she might as well take it. As the sisters and her step-mother were getting ready Tsuki went to her mother's grave.

She sat down next to the gravestone, still twisting and turning the idea of going. Sure she didn't have a dress…

"Gah! Mother, what should I do?" She asked, laying her head on the cold stone. The Elder bush behind the grave swayed in the wind and something fell down in her lap. Tsuki frowned and picked up a mask… a black mask. She looked up at the bush and saw a beautiful green kimono. Carefully she took it down, eyeing it carefully. What the hell was going on? She looked around and saw no one in sight. Well… since no one was near that seamed to own the kimono she might as well try it? Right? She smiled slightly. It looked like her decision had been made for her.

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Sesshomaru sighed as he watched the people talk and dance. Everybody's scent was hidden and no one was allowed to remove their masks until the last night, at the stroke of twelve. The idea was to find someone that matched once personality, to see beyond the appearance.

His father was mental!

He made his way through the crowed, avoiding all females. He could hear how they talked about trying to find the crown prince. It disgusted him beyond limits! Like he would marry any of them!

His amber eyes scanned the hall once again until they fell on a female that had just arrived. Despite the black mask he could see from where he stood that she was an inu, like him. Her kimono was deep green, but had the white elderflower on it. Her aura was gentle… but cold. As she walked down the stairs he found himself hypnotised. She moved with grace, an unforced grace. Unlike many others in the room she walked normally, grace was like her second name. Her purple hair made her easy to see in the crowd.

He quickly decided and made his way over to her, before anybody else could catch her attention.

"Good evening."

----------

"Good evening." Tsuki turned around and saw a mask. A beautiful white, glittering mask. The owner was tall, at least a head taller than her. His hair was silver-coloured and pretty long. His kimono was white with purple and red stripes on it.

"Good evening, milord." She curtsied. "What brings you over here?" She asked lightly. The demon smiled.

"Nothing but the presence of a lady."

"Oh? Who is the lucky one?" She smirked slightly.

"You."

"Me?" She raised an eyebrow behind the mask. "And what did I do to make you notice me?"

"For starters; your dress, all the females in this room wear the colour of royal family, to show the prince that they are fit to be his bride. Secondly; your aura, it's gentle and true. And thirdly; your movements. You move with grace, with easy unlike any other here."

"My, my, aren't you an observant one?" She asked. It did uneasy her that he said those things. It almost felt like he was stalking her but he couldn't have been.

"Don't worry, I'm just as you said; an observant one. And since we can't relay on scent I use my other senses." He smiled a little and Tsuki couldn't help but notice that he looked his smile was nice.

"Alright… let's say I believe you, then what do you want to discuss since you so quickly took my attention?" She turned to him fully and saw his pleased smirked.

"Well… we are at a ball. Would you honour me with this dance?" He bowed. Tsuki laughed and curtsied.

"As you wish, milord." They danced alright. They dance the whole night away. And as the bell rang two he escorted her out. Tsuki had never felt so happy in her life. The man had been wonderful, despite the fact that she had meet him earlier that evening she felt that she might fall for him soon. Before they parted ways she had kissed him on the cheek, much to his surprise and joy.

She hidden the dress in her room and went to sleep, knowing that the step-mother and her step-sisters weren't home yet. She was safe.

----------

The next day Dominique and her daughters woke up after lunch. The two younger had a headache while the mother was her usual self. Tsuki kept herself away from them after finishing her duties. She took several naps in the stable during the afternoon.

"I think I found the crown prince at the ball mother! I think I was the fifth male I danced with!" Rose announced at the tea. Tsuki gave her a glance. Who the hell cared about the crownprince? She had found prince charming! There was a big difference!

"No way! I found him! He was the second one I mingled with. We talked a lot!" Ino huffed and glared at her sister.

"Girls! Mind your manners!" Dominique scolded them slightly. Tsuki took the tray and left for the kitchen. "Tsuki!"

"Yes, ma'am?" She looked over her shoulder, one hand on the doorknob.

"Where were you last night? You were gone when we left." Her step-mothers voice was cold. Her yellow cat-eyes were narrowed.

"I went to my mother's grave if you have to know. Even a wildcat like you must respect the dead ones." She smirked before leaving. The sisters' gasps after her, but no accuses were shot after her. Even they knew better than to disrespect the tradition of honouring the dead.

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This night she waited until the three left before she changed and headed to the castle, she too. The male inu was at her side the moment she stepped inside and refused to leave her. Tsuki didn't mind at all. In fact she found in flattering that he did everything in his power to keep her attention. She could feel him frown when another male came up and tried to talk to her. He was fast to make sure no one but he danced with her. She couldn't stop the feeling of being special around him.

"Why elderflowers?" He asked while eyeing her dress. Tsuki took a look at it herself.

"My mother loved elderflowers… and the drink you can make of its berries. I think if she could have chosen she would just lie under a tree and smell the flowers forever. But that is was she is doing right now…" She smiled weakly.

"What do you mean?" He asked, taking a step closer to her.

"My mother is dead… she died when I was young. Elderflowers remind me of her…" Her companion smiled carefully at her and nodded.

"Now, do I dare to go and get us something to drink or will more admires come to take you away?" He asked when the clock came closer to twelve.

"They will only talk with me, sir. You don't have to worry." She smiled up at him and saw his glare at the others who was looking at her.

"Only talk, hn? Not likely. I will be quick." He left and the moment he did others came and started to converse with her. Tsuki smiled and answered while she waited for her masked companion but he didn't come. After a while she started to worry and headed out to look for him. She headed out in the garden but stopped at the sound of voices. She knew one of them!

"So you have found a female of your like, Sesshomaru?" A deep voice asked.

"I have father." Father? The air left her but she kept quiet. "Can't you withdraw the spell tonight? I want to know who she is! I want to marry her!" Her prince charming… Sesshomaru… sounded impatient. She put a hand over her mouth. What should she do?!

"No, no son. It will be removed tomorrow. Tomorrow you will find out who she is." Tsuki slipped back inside. She couldn't let him find out who she was. He was a man of noble birth! And she… she was nobody. A servant in her own house, a peasant!

"Hello." She whirled around and saw her prince

"Hi…" Her voice was weaker than she wanted it to be. For the love of god! He was still the man she had talked to constantly for more than twelve hours!

"Is everything alright?" His voice had concern in it.

"Yes… I'm just a little tired." He didn't look too convinced but he let it go and asked her to dance instead. With hesitation she agreed.

This night she headed home at one in the morning. She felt confused, lost and totally unsure. Sesshomaru (God how weird it was now when she knew his name, if only first name) seamed worried about her and suggested that he should accompany her home, but Tsuki had refused.

"If you say so… but I won't let you go without a good bye kiss and a promise that you will come tomorrow night." His voice had amusement in it and Tsuki couldn't help but laugh and gave him his desired kiss. But he moved quicker than her. He kissed her right on the lips and refused to let her go for a few moments. When he did let go; she was absolutely sure that her face was red as a tomato.

"Good night, sir and you have my word that I will come." She whispered and left quickly. This night her mind was working hard, trying to process and figure out what she should do. She couldn't marry the inu! So it was with a heavy heart she slipped under the covers and fell asleep.