Ok, I realize that Sesshomaru was a bit out of character in the first chapter. Well, if you lovely readers would be patient enough to read this chapter, you will be happy to see that there is an explanation (but it is relatively small). Also, I have had some questions on my aging. OK!

In human standards, Valandil is about 13, and Sesshomaru is about 16. The way i made this is that demons, for the first 13 years of her life age at the same rate as humans, but past that age, their aging becomes slower. For every ten years they age 1, which makes Sessho-kun about 43 years older than Valandil. Soooooooooo, if we follow the 50 year span that will come later, those of you that are good at math can calculate that Valandil will be 18 and Sesshomaru will be 21!

Chapter 2: Check Mate

After the initial (successful) visit, for the next few years, whenever their parents felt it necessary, Sesshomaru and Valandil would visit with one another, whether it be for a few hours for tea, or for a month (a rare occurrence).

Since there was thirty years left, quite a short amount of time for an immortal demon, until Valandil would be of marrying age, it was crucial that they see each other often so that the marriage would be matchmaking would be deemed successful and the plan followed through.

This week was one of those weeks. During this time in which their parents thrust their lives together, Sesshomaru and Valandil spent most of their time wandering the grounds, chatting with each other or simply enjoying each other's company.

However, Valandil's father reminded her even though she had company, she could not neglect her studies in such a way as she had. When she thought about it, she realized that she had not trained any of her powers since the day that Sesshomaru and the Taiyoukai arrived.

So, the next day, instead of finding Valandil in her chambers or out in the meadow picking wild flowers, he found her…absolutely nowhere. He calmly searched for Valandil, and found that he could faintly smell the star jasmine that was her scent, heading towards the back end of the property, where a medium-sized dojo was placed. Of course it surprised him that someone as perceptive as him could have missed such a building. Then again, he had been uncharacteristically distracted. Now that he thought about it, he had been totally out of his normal demeanor in the past week or so, being kind, conversational, and even smiling from time to time. He wondered what this young girl was doing to him. She was so different from many of the other demon girls he had met.

Of course, when meeting the all of the other hormone-crazed girls, he mostly just dismissed them without any thought.

'Then again,' he thought, 'it is quite easy to dismiss someone who's squealing was enough to make one's ears bleed.' He winced, unconsciously rubbing his sensitive ears.

As Sesshomaru was thinking, he was able to cross the rather large grounds to the front of the dojo where he could feel Valandil's presence. He entered the dojo to see a blur of white and blue fly by him, as towards a stationary demon. He was amazed at the speed at which Valandil attacked her father, trying to land a kick at his chest. He was also amazed at the speed at which her father caught her kick, beginning to spin, keeping Valandil's body directly in front of him. He then threw her, but, with the reflexes of a feline, she switched her hips, and was able to land with her feet on the wall, completely parallel to the to the floor. The muscles in Valandil's legs sprang her forward at her father in a blink of an eye. She began her attack directly, but to her father's surprise, she switched directions, heading down to the floor, and then pushing her body and her fist up, straight into the demon's jaw. Her father stumbled backwards at the force of her blow, holding his jaw and grinning at her, while she stood, her shoulders tense, fists clenched at her sides, her breathing rapid and deep.

"Well, Valandil," her father said, testing his jaw, "You certainly have given our young lord a great performance." Valandil's eyes widened, her head immediately snapping towards the dojo entryway, realizing that she had an audience. Sesshomaru's normal, cold façade immediately melted at the sight of her to give way to a small smile.

"Sesshomaru-sama, would you like to join us?" Valandil's father asked. This time, Valandil's eyes were saucers, and her head snapped so fast, her silver braid smacked her cheek.

'Father, you cannot be serious!' she relayed to her father, who only smiled.

"I would enjoy that," Sesshomaru stated, moving towards the center of the dojo.

"B-but…" Valandil stuttered, trying to find an excuse, any excuse to not fight him, "You have no training uniform!" Not only was it a good excuse, it was true. She had no intention of damaging such expensive robes.

"Actually, I have one in my room. I will go change," with that, Sesshomaru left the dojo in a blur, and was back within ten seconds in his training uniform. He walked so he was facing Valandil, who finally accepted defeat and was in a fighting stance.

"Okay. I have designated myself as the referee of this fine duel," Valandil's father announced, his eyes twinkling, while Valandil's were ablaze with an inner fire.

"Fighters, ready? Set. Fight!" the two fighters did not immediately run at each other, but instead circled one another, looking for some weaknesses. Valandil seemed to notice one first, and sprang towards Sesshomaru, claws exposed. Sesshomaru immediately went into a defensive sort of stance, though he moved very little, because he soon transitioned from defense to offense, for as Valandil came towards him, he pulled back his right hand, which began to glow a bright green.

Valandil immediately reeled backwards on her heel, not wanting to be onslaught with corrosive poison. Sesshomaru unleashed his poison whip upon her; though slow enough so she could dodge it…with at least minimal damage. He noticed that she had not made any attempt to dodge it, and that her jaw was set in determination. She swept her arm in front of her.

'What is she doing? If she doesn't move, she will be seriously injured.' But he need not worry, because a barrier, which seemed to be made of water, swept in front of her, neutralizing his whip, and creating her own. Sesshomaru now had a reason to be worried because if he kept going easy on her, she would end up kicking his ass. She may seem slightly childish and sweet outside of the dojo, but while fighting, she was a blaze of fire and a typhoon that he was absolutely pleased to fight. He had not had a challenge like this in quite a while. Though she was able to defend herself and half-attack him, Sesshomaru could tell that Valandil was a bit off of her center of balance. He took this opportunity to show her his speed, disappearing completely from her visions and appearing behind her. She had just enough time to whirl around and face her attacker, when he knocked her flat on her back with a check of the shoulder.

"Give up, already?" Sesshomaru taunted, a smirk adorning his lips. Looking at the girl, one could not tell that she was acting. She was half on her back, with her hips turned to one side her legs spread straight out. Sesshomaru came forward, with all honest intent to help her up. He didn't think that he had hit her that hard. As he stepped between her legs, he realized his mistake when she spun her hips and her legs, effectively catching him in the gut and at the knees, bringing him down hard to the ground.

"Ouch," muttered Valandil's father, who wasn't actually watching, but more heard the sound of Sesshomaru hitting the floor.

Valandil clambered on top of the winded Sesshomaru's back, pinning his shoulders down.

'Victory!' she thought to herself, immediately regretting the jinx, when Sesshomaru flipped her onto her back, pinning her hands above her head. She was breathing hard and was slightly flushed, not only from the amount of exercise she was getting, but because of their close proximity.

"Check…" Sesshomaru whispered down near her ear causing Valandil to involuntarily shiver, only to have the tables turned again when Valandil smacked her forehead against his, making him fly backwards. Sesshomaru noticed some liquid warmth running down his forehead. Bringing his clawed hand up to touch the fiery substance, he brought it to eye level and realized he was bleeding. He then looked up at Valandil who wore a victorious smile on her face, hands on her hips. She also had the crimson fluid flowing down her forehead.

"Mate," she finished, smiling down at him.

ok ok i know it's moving sorta slow, but i'm a strong believer in character development! R&R thank you