Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters related to the story of Inuyasha.

Author's Note: Okay, this is going to be it until I start getting reviews. I'm going to keep writing, but I'm not going to update til I get a few reviews. I want to know if you like what I'm doing or not. Give me the good and the bad, okay? Well, here we go.

Chapter Three

It had been several months since Nyria's brush with the Western Lord. Since that time, she had taken to wandering about her own lands, telling her father she was tired of staring at the walls of his fortress. He had given her his permission, as long as she checked in with him every now and then. She was able to roam freely, no disguise necessary for the first time since her mother had been killed, and she was thankful for her father's trust in her. She made sure to check in with him once every month.

However, this particular month, things did not go as smoothly as she would have liked.

"Father! I'm home!" she cried as she streaked through the hallways, too fast for any of the guards to stop her and warn her. She was excited about seeing her father and telling him of all the things she had seen in the past few weeks since her last visit. She was earlier in the month than normal; that was her first mistake.

As she crashed through the door of her father's office, she screeched to a halt. Oh no, please, let her be seeing things. That couldn't be him, not here, not in her home. "Oh, Nyria, I didn't expect you home so soon," Haruki said, rising from his seat behind his desk, frowning slightly.

A blush colored Nyria's cheeks as she looked from him to his silver haired visitor to the visiting lord's guard. It was him. And he had the same kitsune guard that had been with him that day. Where did all this rotten luck come from today? The kitsune had looked up when she made her entrance, smirking slightly at her obvious discomfort. She made a low, quick bow, before straightening up once more, returning her father's frown, "I'm sorry, father, I was unaware that you had guests," she murmured, thoroughly embarassed at the spectacle she had just made of herself.

Finally the visiting lord stood and faced her, recognition dawning on his face. He had caught her scent coming down the hallway, remembering it from their last encounter. His eyes fell on the color that had risen to her cheeks and he shook his head, "So this is the daughter you have spoken of, Lord Haruki. Full of life, isn't she?" His voice betrayed no underlying emotion, if there was any there at all to begin with, no teasing lilt to his speech.

Nyria just glared at the dog demon, blowing some hair from her face. She wasn't in the mood for his veiled wise cracks at her. Haruki just laughed at him, used to Sesshoumaru's personality, or lack thereof, as it were. He nodded, "Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru, this is my daughter, Nyria. She's taken to wandering around on her own, adventuring, I suppose, while I am still around to take care of all the responsibilities." His own voice was light, jovial, almost the complete opposite of the icy demon standing on the other side of his desk. The entire time, the kitsune guard sat watching, amusement clear in his eyes, though he said nothing.

Pretending to have never met the man in her life, Nyria bowed once more, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Sesshoumaru," she purred, trying very hard to keep the sarcasm from her voice. It apparently worked well enough to fool her father, but not Sesshoumaru.

A frown flickered over his lips, barely there, then it was gone. He had the strongest urge to roll his eyes at the girl, but instead simply nodded, "As it is you, Lady Nyria. Perhaps next time, you will proceed with more caution. Your father is a busy man with many responsibilities, ones you will some day have to shoulder." He was scolding her, in her father's study. Was he serious? Her cheeks stained red, anger boiling through her blood, but before she could say anything in her defense, Sesshoumaru looked back towards her father, "This has been a very productive meeting, Haruki. I think it is time for me to take my leave, let you catch up with your daughter."

The two bowed to one another, then Sesshoumaru flicked his wrist at the kitsune. Sesshoumaru brushed past Nyria without a word, the sleeve of his kimono brushing her arm. The kitsune smirked at her and bowed before excusing himself around her to follow his master. Oh, that Sesshoumaru got under her skin in more ways than anyone else had ever done before in her life. Stupid dogs.

Nyria sighed and turned to her father, smiling sheepishly, "Sorry about that. Want to hear about my time on the outside?" she asked him, grinning when he nodded his consent. She rushed forward and settled into the chair that Sesshoumaru had just vacated. She could smell the light scent of dog, mixed with the sweet smell of rain. She shook her head and started in on her tales, her hands moving with her words, while her father sat, watching his young daughter with a father's adoration on his face.

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Author's Note: Okay, that's it. I may work on another chapter tomorrow, but it's almost 12:30 now and I need to get to bed. I will post another chapter when I get some reviews, so hurry up and get to it, okay? 'Night!