Chapter Two
Stranger
"Everything is so strange! Paper walls? Sliding doors? A bed on the floor?"
"Have you never been to Japan, your highness?" Aya asked politely.
"Please, if it's just the two of us call me Callisto. I've been to Japan once but I was so young I don't remember much. It's all so lovely but I'm not sure how long it will be until I miss home." Callisto came out from behind a privacy screen in a new informal kimono and obi. Aya had pulled down the covers on the bed and looked at Callisto with a strange crooked smiled. Not thinking much of anything, Callisto fell onto the bed and was impressed to find it was so soft.
"Could I ask you a question?" Callisto asked innocently.
"Of course."
"Is Inutaisho… obsessed with humans?"
"Why would you say that?" the wise demon narrowed her eyes in distaste.
"Inutaisho reputation proceeds him and so do rumors. I often hear people talk. That is all. I didn't mean to offend," Callisto replied honestly. Aya nodded carefully to the young princess.
"I will leave you to your rest now, Princ…"
"Callisto."
"Callisto," Aya corrected uncertainly.
Callisto heard her exit the room with a soft swish of the sliding door. Shutting her eyes, she melted into her pillows and blankets. Callisto had no idea she'd been asleep for a few hours when her hearing picked up the sound of her door reopening. Oddly enough, she felt the presence of royalty similar to that of Inutaisho. Laziness got the better of her and instead of looking, she took in a quick scent of the air. Male, full-grown, dog demon, royal, her mind went through the similar was sleeping on her side now so she peeked one eye open only to be surprised to see all white. The stranger was right next to her. She lifted her head from the pillow and strained her neck to get a glimpse of the new comer. A gasp escaped her lips at the lovely color of his golden eyes. If he was flattered, he didn't show it. His eyes told her he was older than her but nowhere as wise as an elder.
"I was sent to come wake you for dinner," he drawled. She immediately decided she liked looking at his face more than she liked the arrogance of his voice. Callisto sat up slowly and rubbed her still sleepy eyes. The stranger didn't move but continued to look down at her with a bored expression. The spell sleep had on her was wearing off and her better judgment was screaming at her to not just lie on the bed. Standing up, she stretched her arms over her head avoiding his gaze. His aura seemed to engulf her from being so close. She took a noticeable step away and felt less uncomfortable.
"I need to change," Callisto announced awkwardly looking for any sign of Aya.
It was then he looked down to meet her gaze with one delicate eyebrow raised. Callisto's cheeks betrayed her and she blushed more than she already was. She turned her eyes away from his completely embarrassed. Confused, she wanted to know who he was but without warning he gave a slight bow and exited the room. Aya came in a second later but the stranger seemed to have vanished.
"Who was that?" Callisto asked Aya but her mouth was full of hairpins and her arms carried generous amounts of silk. Aya could only gesture with her head for Callisto to go behind the privacy screen so she could start getting her ready for dinner. Callisto frowned worried he was someone important and she did something wrong.
