Author's Notes: Welcome to chapter 3!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha, if I did, let's face it, the male demons would have less cloths on.

Krista hummed to herself as she and Rin dance along in front of Sesshoumaru. He watched them as if he was in a daze. "Krista. Rin." Both stopped and looked to him smiling. He turned into the woods away from the path and they followed. Although the ground looked uneven and rough, Krista didn't trip. As they continued the air shimmered around them and a bright palace appeared before them. Rin squealed and ran on ahead. Looking back Krista could clearly see a path to the road.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, a minute ago there was no path in the woods, now there is. What happened?" Krista walked calmly to his side.

"My father enchanted this place. Only those of the house of the moon can see the path at all times. Since you are near the castle, you can see it as well. If you move too far away, it will disappear again." Sesshoumaru led the way to a huge set of double doors. He would have easily been able to fit inside of them in his other form. Although she could see no guards or servants, the palace looked immaculate, no dirty or dust to be seen.

"This will be your room, while we are here. I will bring you decent clothing." Sesshoumaru slid open a door to the most beautiful room Krista had even seen.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, this is amazing." Slowly walking in Krista looked around.

"If you need anything Rin's room is next to yours. This Sesshoumaru sleeps across the hall." Sesshoumaru turned and walked away. Krista tried not to blush. She had been sleeping with Sesshoumaru almost every night since her nightmare, but it just seemed more intimate now that they were indoors. True to his word Sesshoumaru came back, Jaken following behind carrying a trunk, almost as tall as himself. After setting down the trunk Jaken scurried away.

"Dinner will be in an hour. This Sesshoumaru expects to see you in more suitable clothing."

"Sure, thanks for the change of clothes." Krista smiled brightly and Sesshoumaru turned and left. Krista opened the trunk to find kimonos and obis in every color imaginable. Krista's cheery grin faded away. She only had a vague idea how to get into a kimono. She got up and knocked on Rin's door.

"Rin?" the door slid open and Rin grinned up at her. "Rin, I need your help with something."

~OOO~

Sesshoumaru paced the dining hall. Where were they? He had told both Krista and Rin dinner would be ready in an hour, that was an hour and a half ago. He stopped his pacing and turned as the door slid open. Rin walked in with the biggest grin he had ever seen on her face.

"Sorry we're late Sesshoumaru-sama." She bowed before taking her seat. She looked too the door, when Krista still hadn't come in. "Krista! Show Sesshoumaru –sama!" she called. Krista slowly walked into the room. She was wearing a red kimono with white blossoms going down one sleeve. The obi was black and had more of the white blossoms stitched in it. Her hair had been brushed and pulled into a simple knot at the back of her head. Sesshoumaru could only stare at her, she was beautiful.

"Sorry Sesshoumaru-sama. We had a little trouble getting me into a kimono." Krista blushed and looked at the floor. Sesshoumaru was at her side in a instant. He gently lifted her face and stared into her eyes.

"It was worth the wait." He answered softly, his eyes turning into a liquid gold the longer he stared into hers. His claws reached behind her and undid her Hair letting it flow freely. Her blush darkened as he led her seat. Both looked up at the sound of dishes clattering to the floor. Jaken stood in the doorway speechless looking at Krista.

"My lord, those colors!"

"That is enough Jaken. Clean up that mess and bring a suitable replacement." Sesshoumaru sat at the head of the table.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, did I pick something wrong?"

"Red and white are the colors of the house of the moon. By wearing them in such a way it was you belong to this house."

"I'm sorry I didn't know. I'll go chan-"

"You will sit and eat. After dinner we train." Krista sat open mouth staring at him.

"Train?"

~OOO~

Following there meal Sesshoumaru led the way to the Dojo. Krista stood and looked around the room. She had never seen a dojo before. One minute she was looking around the next, she was slamming into a wall, a hand at her throat. Looking up she saw a very angry Sesshoumaru, his eyes glowing red. He growled down at her. She started to shake, what had she done to earn this? Maybe she should have chosen a different Kimono to wear. Slowly her hair lighted until it was silver white, fox ears unwound from her head, a bushy tail pushed its way out of a small hole in the back of the kimono. Pulling a strained of hair forward so she could see, Sesshoumaru growled down at her.

"You are a silver kitsune. Look." When she continued to shake he pulled her to a mirror and forced her to stand in front of him, his hands on her shoulders preventing her from turning away. "Look!" Krista did look. She was completely confused. Where her reflection should be, there was a demon just as beautiful as Sesshoumaru, shorter in stature, with fizzy ears, wearing her kimono, starting back at her. As her wonder grew, her fear diminished and her form shimmered back into her human form.

"How did you do that?"

"You did that. You are not human. Do not forget that. Tomorrow it will be time to practice staying in your demon form."

~OOO~

Krista's Scream woke Sesshoumaru that night. He was in her room before her scream finished. She was sitting up in bed clutching a blanket to her very naked chest. Her hair silver, her tail puffed out to twice its normal size. Sesshoumaru sat next to her and pulled her to his chest. Her growled softly and rubbed circles on her back. He could feel scars up and down her naked back. Krista began to relax into his hold.

"Tell this Sesshoumaru what is in your dream." Krista stiffened at his words. Sesshoumaru pulled back slightly to look in her eyes.

"In my dream I'm a child, smaller than Rin. My mother dresses me in dresses and long coats to hide my tail and hats to hide my ears. She keeps telling me to act like everyone else, and hide what I can do. But I can't and I'm taken away from my mother and tortured." She whispered.

"Whit a knife?"

"Yes, and slips of paper that burned. How did you know?" Sesshoumaru held her tightly against him, growling again.

"You have scars when in your fox form. I do not believe these nightmares are dreams, I believe they are memories." Krista started to shake in Sesshoumaru's hold. "You are safe, this Sesshoumaru will stay with you this night. Rest Krista." Krista blushed as Sesshoumaru leaned against the wall and held her close to his chest. He wrapped not only her blanket around her more securely but also wrapped her in his fur. She snuggled into his chest and was lulled to sleep by his soft growls. Krista never notices his eyes were red.

~OOO~

Rin peeked her head in Krista's room the next morning, only to be meet with the pair of crimson eyes of her lord. In his arms appeared to be Krista. "Sesshoumaru-sama is Krista ill?" Rin asked softly. Sesshoumaru shook his head once. Rin entered the room and sat next to Sesshoumaru. "Can Krista stay with us forever?" She looked innocently up at Sesshoumaru. He nodded once at her. Rin smiled brightly up at him. Before she hugged him. Krista stirred in her sleep and snuggled into Sesshoumaru's chest.

"Offspring, go play." Sesshoumaru's beast rumbled softly at Rin, she smiled at the pair and bounced out of the room.

"Sleep mate." Sesshoumaru's beast rumbled down at Krista's sleeping form.

~OOO~

Sesshoumaru stood facing Krista I the dojo. "Think of your dream. Remember it." He called. Krista nodded and began to shake at the memory, her form however remained human. "Remember the feel of the knife, the feel of the paper." He growled at her. His inner beast howled at him, demanding they protect their mate, not force her to relive her torture as a child. Sesshoumaru ignored his beast. Krista closed her eyes an focused on that memory. The air around her shimmered and Sesshoumaru watched her shift into her demon self.

"Feel the air around yourself; remember what it feels like when you drop the human illusion." Sesshoumaru called softly. Krista shook and sweat beaded on her brow. "Now, remain as you are, but let go of that memory." Krista nodded once at him. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around. Her tail swayed gently behind her. She took a step, her tail instantly balancing her. She smiled up at Sesshoumaru before her eyes rolled back into her head and she collapsed, reverting back into her human disguise. Sesshoumaru caught her before she hit the ground. His beast growled at him for pushing her too far.

Author's Notes: Review please! Let me know if you want to see more of Sesshoumaru's beast!