The next day, Haruko went to the council chamber to see the men gather once more before her.

"I wish to bring up for discussion the topic of my Courtship." Haruko announced

"So my lady has finally come to her senses and decided to choose a proper mate for herself so who is the lucky young demon so that we may contact his family. "

"I believe you are wrong, my Lord Tiger. I have not chosen any such demon, because they have never proven to be suitable at defending me seeing as my father has trained me, in every form of combat as a Alpha needs to be taught, and I am assuming my Alpha status right now. You ever disrespect me again, I will personally see to it that your whole bloodline is wiped from our Empire. I hear tiger stripes covers are in fashion this season." Haruko states "I have chosen Daichi as my Second as he will act in my stead as leader of the empire, while I travel across the universe to search for the one, who is worthy of myself."

Daichi came and stood at his best friend's side, he would see that the Empire would not suffer and he was a loyal pack-brother.

"What! This is unheard of as the leader you can not just go gallivanting around the space way like some lost little girl, your responsibility to our people."

"If you gentlemen have causally forgotten Lady Haruko is within her right to replace each and every one as she sees fit. But she looks to you as you were her father's council to advice her, not dictate her." Daichi states

"I am doing this for the benefit of our people, you can't force me to mate with someone, you forgot what it means to be Demon. We are the predators not the prey, we are strong, we do not bow before anyone, and I will not be made into a mouthpiece of the Council." Haruko responds. "Think of your daughters, granddaughters, sisters, nieces would you allow them to be shackled to someone, that they do not have affection for, for the rest of their lifespan?"

The councilors continues to protest her actions as she knows that her people would surely never accept a non-demon to be their ruler's mate and also the fact they had no ships available to even leave their star system.

"Silence!" Haruko snarled as she stood up placing her hands on the table.

The councilors all fell silent at her voice.

"I am tired of being a proper little Lady, I am the ruler here, not you. I've given everything to this Empire, I am a servant to my Title the least you could do is grant me your blessing to find a love-match or at least affection of someone else." Haruko states "None of those suitors want me as Haruko, they just want the title and wealth, of my station."

The youngest of the Elders finally spoke up. " My lady, I for one have always felt that you should have the opportunity to find love and say you should do as your heart wishes so with at least the blessings of the wolf clan, i approve of your wishes."

"Thank you, youngest son of Koga and Ayame, and I am truly sorry for your loss of both your parents. As the rest of you forgotten." Haruko states

The other all looked shamed faced and slowly they all gave their consent to allow her to do as she wished.

"Mark my words, councilors. When I return with or without an intended there will be changes that will shake the very foundation of our Empire's history." Haruko states "This meeting is adjourned." she turned and walked out of the chamber, with Daichi following in his place as Second.


Once they were behind closed doors and far from everyone's hearing, Daichi broke down laughing. "Oh my Kami, Hari that was the best thing ever, the look of those fossils when you told them your plans was priceless. I wish I had a recorder to just play it over again." He reached over and place a hand on her shoulder. "well anyway i just want to wish you good luck on your journey."

"Remember, Dai, you are my pack-brother, you and I are best friends, and I'm trusting you to keep things in order, I chose you, as you are the only male that has never tried to get my hand in marriage." Haruko states, as turned on one of the bigger view screens.

"Oh please as if i could you know I keep this bunch in check even if i have to shorten them by a head or two."

"Well you already know what I was planning on doing, and your instructions." Haruko states, as she went and grabbed her baggage. She looked at the view screen as Picard was waiting for the word. "I'm ready, Captain Picard."

"Very well I'll meet you in the transporter room." And closed the signal..

before Haruko knew what was happening, she was not in her outer chamber. She was on the starship.

"Welcome to the Enterprise Lady Haruko i hope your time with us will be pleasant." Picard greeted her as she stepped of the transporter pad.

"While I am here, please do me the honor of dropping the Lady." Haruko, "if I called any Ladyship, My Lady, or anything such thing, I might bite someone."

"Of course Haruko let me give you a brief tour of the ship and then ill take you to your quarters."

"Quarters first, if you don't mind, I don't want to carry my baggage all the time." Haruko replies

"Yes please just fallow me." He lead her down the hall to a turbo lift and entered "You might want to hold on as this is your first time on one." He called out a deck.

Haruko didn't bother holding on, if he only knew that this form was not her true self.

As the lift doors opened the captain lead her to a door "These rooms will be yours for your time here with us."

"Thank you, for agreeing to assist me. Even if the reasons are a bit selfish." Haruko replies, as she entered and placed her things inside.

"No problem I saw how you were under duress when we talked." Just then his communicator sound off calling his attention. "Excuse me please."

"I think I will just take my time in here." Haruko states

"Of course, just use the intercom here, if you need anything." He point to a small panel set by the door to her rooms.

Haruko went and sat down on the sofa, and put her feet up, she smiled truly. "I'm free." A short time later, the chime on her door went off.

"Enter." Haruko invites

The door opened and a woman entered wearing a doctor's uniform. "Hello Ms. Haruko, I'm Dr. Crusher the ship's chief medical officer and i was wondering if possible you could come to sick bay for a standard exam to create a baseline for your health?"

"No need for a doctor, my kind are rarely sick and the Royal Family has immunity to most illnesses, as well as poisons." Haruko answers "My kind came to the planet Yōkai a bare two generations ago, my Grandfather was an really old dog when he settled into rule his new planet. Grandfather used to live on earth a long time ago."

Dr. Crusher looks her over. "Very well then its just standard procedures. But if you do start to feel any ill affects of travel, please do go to sick bay." With a nod the Doctor leaves.

"Dr. Crusher, do you have a place that can expand to roughly the size of a country estate on earth?" Haruko questions

"Yes you can use the halo decks in fact I'll take to them right now if you want." As she steps out of the was to let her pass.

"Then you must see me in my true form, what you see is a humanoid form." Haruko states

This caught Crusher interest "Oh your people are capable of shape shifting, i would be honored to see this if i may."

"It is not shape-shifting, that is classified as a being having many different forms, we higher leveled Yōkai have one form." Haruko states, "If you recall many of your Federation scientists have been found out when you tried to come to study us."

"Ah yes but for the most part those records were lost or very incomplete"

"That's because we demons like to keep to ourselves. You humans to believe us to be the stuff of nightmares, and since we left earth there are none of your kind able to destroy us. Now the holodeck if you will escort me to it." Haruko replies

"Yes, of course, just follow me." The two went to the turbo lift and went down to the level the holodeck.

Dr. Crusher loaded the program that was roughly the size of the country estates on earth.

Haruko and Crusher went into the holodeck and Haruko told the doctor to stay where she was and then went a good distance away. There Haruko closed her eyes and felt her other self buried deep inside and called it forth and transformed into a large three story dog.

Crusher did as she was told and stood be the entrance to the halo deck. Crusher felt her jaw fall open as Haruko transformed to a giant demon dog. "That is simply incredible and if i must say you look simply majestic."

Haruko grumbled before pulling in her demonic aura, only down side to transforming anyone that was was in Starfleet that is demonic or a trace of demonic blood will have felt her power. Haruko came back to Dr. Crusher. "That is why I travel so well, when one defies gravity as well, space travel is not a problem for me."

Dr. Crusher shook her head to clear her disbelief of what she just saw. "Yes, i can see that now, sorry that i even asked about the check up Haruko."

Haruko smiled "Its the thought that counts, and if Captain Picard needs to be shown that travel aboard his vessel will not harm me, I am welcome to show him my true self when he has the time...and I've never had anyone to show concern about my well being before, its a nice feeling." The two of them left the holodeck, Dr. Crusher insisted on giving Haruko a tour that was irrupted by the needs of the bridge since Captain Picard couldn't.

The tour ended at Ten Forward, where the two were met by Counselor Troi, who insisted that Haruko join them for dinner.