DISCLAIMER- I don't own Inuyasha

Chapter three- A Sweet Embrace

The next time Inunotaishou came by, Izayoi thanked him for the flower when she was able to find him alone. Her father or family needed to know that he had given her a present. She also decided to impress him by taking up a little interest in swords and fighting; just enough to know what was what.

She began to eavesdrop on her three brothers while they trained and discussed battle strategies and what not when she was supposed to be in her court lessons. At first she found it kind of boring but she slowly gained a little more interest over time.

After a few weeks of learning, Izayoi began to ask Inunotaishou of his travels whenever they were alone, which was whenever he had come a little early for a meeting and come to see how she was fairing. He would mostly give short answers and not go into detail, but Izayoi did not mind.

After the announcement of Izayoi's engagement, Izayoi began to avoid Takemaru, in hopes of having him lose interest in her and break the engagement. She had tried all she could think of, but everything she did only made him fall for her more. She knew he was sweet and his heart was in the right place but she could only see him as a friend. However after a while, that sweetness from him became a little annoying.

Now here she was sitting by a lake in the middle of the night in the forest, hoping that a demon would come by. Next month when she's 15, Izayoi would go to Setsuna for a few days to see Takemaru's home and also see where she'll be living in almost two more years. She lay down onto her back and stared at the stars. Just then she heard a twig snap and jumped up to see who it was, secretly hoping it was Inunotaishou out on a walk.

"Hello princess," the voice said.

Takemaru.

Izayoi scowled to herself and turned back towards the water hoping he would take the hint that she wanted to be alone. Instead, he came over and sat down next to her. She did think he was a good man but he just wasn't for her.

"So what are you doing out here so late?" Takemaru asked.

"Relaxing by myself," Izayoi emphasized the last part in hopes of him understanding. He sitting there was not exactly helping her concentrate on her thoughts about her future.

"Now is that anyway to speak to you fiancée?" (I didn't know if it should have been 'betrothed' or not) Takemaru asked with a slight hint of annoyance. Izayoi remained silent but held hidden anger in her eyes. Not many people knew of her temper because it would normally take a lot for her to lose patience, but Takemaru was hitting all the right buttons for her to lose it quickly.

"You know it isn't very lady-like to leave the grounds without an escort or have such an attitude. That will have to change after the wedding," Takemaru said nonchalantly.

"No it won't change, I'll accept that I am to be your wife even if I see you as a friend but I refuse to change my person just because you don't approve," Izayoi said politely but slowly growing angrier. Takemaru stood angry as well.

"Now look here! I am your husband-," he semi-yelled before Izayoi stood up as well and interrupted him.

"You are not my husband yet so you are not to order me around like a child! Now leave me be!" Izayoi yelled letting all her anger out. Takemaru left angry as Izayoi stood in the clearing, shaking in anger and holding back angry tears.

"I never knew you had such a temper," the deep, soothing voice of Inunotaishou said through the trees. Izayoi felt her anger slowly leave her as she turned and saw Inunotaishou sit down by the lake. She walked over and sat down next to him. She brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

"So I see you are not seeing eye to eye with your fiancée," Inunotaishou stated breaking the brief silence between them.

"I do not wish to be engaged to him. I only see him as a friend," Izayoi said looking at the water.

"I see," Inunotaishou responded.

"And the worst part is that I may never see my family again," Izayoi said softly, the tears building up again.
"I'm sure it won't be that extreme," Inunotaishou said looking over at her. Izayoi stifled a whimper.

"You don't understand. Takemaru HATES demons and anyone in connection with them; and since you're one of my parents' connections, when he finds this out I may never see them again. Or you," Izayoi said, whispering the last part hoping that he didn't hear it. He did.

At the thought of not seeing her family of Inunotaishou again, Izayoi couldn't help but let the tears fall and began to cry softly. Maybe it did seem extreme, but something in Izayoi's gut told her it was true.

She released her legs and wrapped her arms around her chest hoping to stop the pain. Then she felt two strong arms around her and felt herself being pushed softly against cool armor and soft fabric. Izayoi let her body relax and melt against Inunotaishou as she continued to cry. Inunotaishou held her and gently stroked her hair until the crying stopped.

Inunotaishou then lifted Izayoi into his arms more as he stood and carried her back to her palace where he stopped at the gate. He set her down and gave her one more tight hug before leaving. Izayoi silently crept to her room and laid down.

"I now have a new reason I can't marry Takemaru," Izayoi whispered to no one.

"I can't marry him because Inunotaishou holds my heart," she sighed and fell asleep.