A/N: Tsuki is a word for moon and hana is a word for flower. Tora is tiger and yuri is lily.
Within Darkness
Chapter 2
Amaya did not consciously realize that Sakura was gone until a month and a half had past since Amaya had taken her stand against Sakura. To Amaya, during that time, she felt more calming spirits within and around the palace. She did not know if the others who resided in the Castle of the Moon felt it, but Amaya did not question it. Also in that time span, Amaya had grown close with Sesshomaru. At first, they only spent time together at meals and when Sesshomaru trained Amaya in swordplay. Time went on and the two began to develop a bond that was of brother and sister.
0o
Amaya caught a new scent on the air. SHe knew every scent and who they belonged to. This scent was new so much, Amaya took an active search for its source. She followed it until she found herself at Togaou's office. There she found Togaou speaking with what appeared to be a male in brown wolf fur; he even sported a wolf tail. Amaya studied him for several minutes, not sure what to think of him.
"Amaya, come in. Don't stand there with your mouth open," Togaou spoke.
Amaya had not been aware that she had her mouth open until Togaou said so. She closed her mouth and walked into the office, standing next to Togaou.
"Ichiro, this is my adopted daughter Amaya of the Eastern Lands," Togaou introduced. "Amaya, this is Ichiro of the Okami Tribe. He is one of my allies here in the Western Lands."
"Did I hear you right, Togaou," Ichiro asked. "Amaya's from the Eastern Lands? THey were destroyed nearly two months ago."
"They were. I found Amaya near death when I arrived."
Suddenly, a wolf pup ran into the office. Amaya looked down and saw some resembalnce between the pup and Ichiro.
"This is Koga," Ichiro told Amaya. He knelt down to Koga's level. "Koga, meet Lady of the Western Lands."
Amaya could not hide her surprise. She knew that Togaou adopted her, but it did not actually hit her until just then. She had been told that if a ruling taiyoukai adopted one or more offspring of another, the offspring would accept the titles associated with the adopting land.
Amaya knelt down to Koga's level. Koga shied away behind Ichiro's legs.
"It's nice to meet you, Koga," she said.
Koga went furhter behind Ichiro.
"Koga, be polite," Ichiro instructed. "He's normally not like this, Lady Amaya."
"Nice to meet you, Lady," Koga said.
He had come out from behind Ichiro and presented himself before Amaya.
"Amaya, why don't you show Koga the gardens," Togaou suggested.
"Of course, Father." Amaya stood and offered a hand to Koga. "Koga, want to see the garden Lord Togaou gave to me?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Koga accepted AMaya's hand and she led him from the office with only a look to Togaou. She had a feeling that he wished to speak with Ichrio privately.
0o
"See the tsuki-hana," Amaya asked Koga while she pointed at them. "They bloom only on the full moon. And the tora yuri; they're a gift from the Tora taiyoukai of the Southern Lands to Lord Togaou."
Koga listened attentively while Amaya told him of the different plants in the garden. At first, Koga had been frighten of Amaya. Now it appeared that he took to her with no particular reason. Amaya did not question it, but she had her own theory on that.
"And this is a sakura tree," Amaya said when they stopped in front of a young sapling.
"Why's it so small?"
"All things start off small. The tree, you, even myself. All living things grow from small to big."
"Why?"
Amaya laughed. "It's how nature works, young Koga. It's also how you can gain experience in life. You just can't become an adult and have all that knowledge and experience."
Before Koga could inqure again, both Togaou and Ichiro approached them.
"I see that you two had become well acquanted," Togaou said.
"We have, Father."
"Lady Amaya," Ichiro spoke. "It was a pleasure meeting you. Perhaps one day we will meet again."
Ichiro bowed to Amaya and left with Koga. Amaya watched the two wolves leave the garden then her view.
"Perhaps in time, you will have your own children," Togaou told AMaya.
"I don't see myself having children, Father."
"Amaya," Sesshomaru called. She turned her head to look at him. "Time for your sparring lesson."
Amaya did not look at Togaou when she went to join Sesshomaru.
Amaya ducked and brought Kenkno around to Sesshomaru's waist. Sesshomaru bent at the waist, avoiding the possibly fatal attack. He brough his own sword down on Amaya, who completed the circle and blocked Sesshomaru's attack. Amaya had taken a knee while her other leg and remained at a table top position. Both were not in a stalemate; Amaya had Kenknon above her head holding Sesshomaru's own sword.
"You two have been sparring too much together," they heard a voice say from the door.
Amaya did not recognize the voice, as her back faced the door. She felt the weight of Sesshomaru's sword being lifted from her own sword. She saw a hand and took it. Amaya turned and saw a neko standing at the door.
"I see that you found an antractive youkai for your mate," the medko said.
"This is Lady Amaya of the West," Sesshomaru corrected. "Do well to respect her."
"The Ryuu orphan that Lord Togaou clamed to take on as a daughter? Unlikely."
Amaya subtly tugged at Sesshomaru's sleeve.
"Amaya is also of the Eastern Lands, and daughter of Lord Kiyoshi."
The neko looked at Amaya before he huffed away. Amaya gave a relieved sigh and went to replace Kenkon.
"You were afraid," Sesshomaru observed.
"There was something about that neko that put me off. Who was he?"
"Some minor soldier under Father's employ. Pay him no mind."
Amaya only nodded. There had been something about that neko that bothered her. She moved to replace Kenkno on its shelf and headed for the door.
"Something troubles you, sister," Sesshomaru said.
Amaya had been so wrapped up in her own thoughts, she was not even aware that Sesshomaru had joined her.
"After all this time, I would have thought all had grown accustomed to me being here."
"It will take time, Amaya. It took time for you."
Amaya nodded silently. It had been near six months since she arrived and Amaya had settled into a routine. Morning meal in her private garden alone, then she would have lessons with Togaou on different topics. For her midday meal, Amaya would have it with both Togaou and Sesshomaru.
Amaya left the dojo, stomach growling. She had missed her morning meal. She felt an arm wrap around her waist and looked to see Sesshomaru, who was a good two heads taller than she, there.
"The neko's following us," he whispered.
Amaya felt a spirit, the neko, at a close distance behind her and Sesshomaru. Amaya wrapped an arm around Sesshomaru to help with the facade. They kept the facade up until the neko finally left them. Amaya and Sesshomaru were silent for mere seconds before Amaya let a burst of laguther loose. Sesshomaru followed her lead with the laughter.
"That was fun," Amaya said when her laughter subsided.
"It was."
The two walked along the covered walkways with smiles on their faces. In the six months that Amaya had been in the palace, she and Sesshomaru had developed a bond that could have rivaled the bond Amaya had with her own brothers.
Amaya had managed to grab a piece of fruit from the kitchen to snack on. Togaou was stuck in a meeting and Sesshomaru had gone out on patrol. Even though Amaya and Sesshomaru were separated in age by fifty years, she felt like she had been excluded from much of what Sesshomaru was able to do. Granted she was a female, and last known living spirit dragon, Amaya felt like she could do more than what she has. She had gained skill and speed with her sword training thanks to Sesshomaru, yet Amaya felt like she was missing something.
"Lady Amaya," she heard.
Amaya looked and saw her handmaiden that Togaou had given her when she first arrived.
"What is it, Moriko?"
"The Ryuu daiyoukai and his party has arrived and Lord Togaou is still in his meeting."
Amaya nodded. She followed Moriko to where the Ryuu were waiting.
"Welcome to the Castle of the Moon," Amaya gretted.
The Ryuu daiyoukai turned and saw Amaya. He had heard that Togaou had taken in an orphaned Konjou Ryuu and had hoped to meet said Ryuu.
"Thank you. I'm Junichi. And these two are Mizaki and Kari."
"I'm Amaya, Daughter of the Stars and Chosen Daughter of the Moon."
"Thank you for greeting us, Lady Amaya. Do you know where Lord Togaou is?"
"He's..."
"Right here."
Both Ryuu turned their heads to see Togaou approach them.
"I see that you've already met Amaya, Junichi."
"We have. Quite the titles she has. Daughter of the Stars and Chosen Daughter of the Moon. Care to explain?"
"In my office. Amaya, come join us."
Amaya did not argue when Togaou invited her to the meeting. She saw Junichi's two servants be led off by one of Togaou's.
"My Lady, do you require anything," Moriko inquired.
"Not right now, Moriko."
The tree spirit nodded and went off to perform her other duties and chores. Amaya followed Togaou and took her place where Sesshomaru would be; at Togaou's right side. Behind them walked Junichi.
"Now then," Togaou began when he sat behind his desk. Amaya took Sesshomaru's position at the right hand side. "What brings you here, Junichi?"
"Well, Amaya did. I heard of the destruction and I came to offer to take Amaya."
"That would be totally up to Amaya, Junichi."
Both men looked at Amaya. She was not sure since this was brought up so suddenly.
"I don't know what to say. This is too sudden. I've grown accustomed to living her."
"It would be make sense for you to live with your own," Junichi said.
"I fail to see why I should leave what I've known all my life to live as a mere daiyoukai?"
"What would be the difference between a daiyoukai and a taiyoukai for you?"
Amaya felt anger rise up within her. "I am the taiyoukai of the Eastern Lands, Junichi. And Lord Togaou had adopted me as a daughter of the Moon," she managed to answer.
"The Easter Lands were destroyed eight months ago," Junichi said.
"They were, yet I survived."
Junichi turned to Togaou. "Lord Togaou, as a Ryuu, I request that Amaya come live with myself and my tribe."
"That's not my place to acquiesce to, Junichi. Only Amaya can do that. And fromw hat I've heard, she will not."
"I must insist, Lord Togaou. There's a natural balance to the worlds; and a Ryuu child should not be raised by an Inu taiyoukai."