A few months pass and Mizuki has hardly warmed up to Haruki and still was angry at him for knowing she is no longer a mystery, or far as she can see. 'In what ways am I still mysterious he has seen me with emotions, laughing like a little girl, smiling, and getting angry and why can he make me show emotions; how and why does he make me forget to be emotionless? It irritates me that I don't know and I don't know if he thinks I'm still so troublesome. Wait why should I care and I shouldn't after all he is beneath me.' Mizuki sighs as she sets low in the warm bath allowing her eyes to be only slightly above the water.

She hears a knock on her bathroom door; she glares knowing who is behind the door, 'Is he really worried that I'm taking my time?' and sighs again "Yes?"

Haruki talks from the other side of the door, as he looks off "Um you have been in there for about fifteen minutes now, you have to start you new lessons today and if you don't hurry you'll be late."

Mizuki huffs and grabs a towel putting it around her torso and then another one using to put up her white hair. She then grabs the underwear for her kimono, putting it on and then puts her hair in a ponytail until it dries. She then comes out, her face has had no expression on it since the day he saw her smile and had many expressions.

He looks at her and watches her put on her other two layers that go over the one she is already wearing, he huffs and leans against the wall as she puts on her perfume and make-up. Secretly there was just something about her that was different even thou she was the second youngest she acts the most mature and there was something about her scent he loved, even without the perfume. He looked at her in mirror "Hey you are ready now, right?"

She stands up and doesn't look at him "Yes, are you going to be there during my lessons?" She walked out of the door first and then he followed not far behind "That is my job, is it not?"

She sighed she hated that fact she hardly had any privacy or time to herself anymore, she looked behind her "Well then why not walk up here and do your job even better, and that way if I talk to you then I don't appear to be talking to myself."

He then walked up to be at her side and walked nobly and obediently then looked down at her "Yeah if people saw you doing that, people might begin to wonder things." She turned at him and had a heartless look "some already wonder things about me."

He looked down at her and then looked back down the hall as they walked side by side, and into a small room with her grandmother it was often her teachers were actually her family members. Her grandmother walked over to her and narrowed her eyes "You're late."

Mizuki didn't have a real strong bond with her grandmother the honest truth was she just never really liked children, so they weren't around each other much. Mizuki sat down at a nearby table with Kimi and Hoshi "A thousand pardons." Haruki stands at a nearby window and watches outside and occasionally looks at her to see if she is paying attention.

Kasumi was going over special events that the three girls would do at the ball that their fathers would throw to announce the fact that they are no longer girls, but young women now ready for mating. Kimi, Hoshi and Mizuki were drawing on their paper when they should be taking notes; Hoshi and Mizuki thought their grandmother was a bore while she gave a long lecture while Kimi just fell asleep.

Kasumi had her back to them and was looking at a picture of the first Inu Youkai royal family. She sighed "Your fathers will soon prepare a ball where they will announce to other high ranking demons that you are no longer little girls, but young women available to mate with. Male heirs will come from near and far it would benefit their families if you were to mate and join to their family. You needn't decide who you would like as a mate at this ball you can think about it for a bit if you wish, mating is a secure bond that allows two to become one, so that you can't ever love another while the male will be the same way. . . however they are sometimes allowed concubines if you don't mind."

Just then Kimi interrupted and got a glare shot her way but just ignored it "But why did you allow grandfather to have Lady Izayoi while he was with you?"

She glared angry then calmed "Good question, as you all well know I don't essentially like pups, he wanted another son and since I told him I wouldn't provide him another he asked for Lady Izayoi I saw no problem after all Inuyasha wouldn't assume the throne so I was fine with it."

She turned back to the painting and then began to speak once again "Anyways you will all have to do a series of events such as presenting a painting that will show you have learned about nature, beauty, and patients. You will also do a little dance to show grace and lastly you will present a talent or specialty of yours that is unique."

Kasumi looked directly at Mizuki "Oh and you will also be presented, but as you well know you will not be able to choose your own mate. Your father and mother have already picked him and will tell you later when you are ready."

Mizuki looks off and supports her head with her hand "Of course, and if someone asks for my hand I will simply refuse if I'm correct?"

Kasumi nods and looks at the other two girls "And both of you I expect you both to wear astonishing kimonos understand you will not inherit this palace, you must mate with a proper lord and inherit another empire that deserves your overseeing. Also what do the both of you plan on wearing?"

Kimi smiles looking up "I plan on wearing a red kimono with a white layer over it and a red belt at the waist over them both, the white layer on top will have red roses all over it and my hair in a is in a high pony tail and it goes to the middle of my back."

Kasumi nods with approval and then looks over at Hoshi, and she thinks then speaks "I will wear a light blue kimono with sliver white butterflies on it and a yellow belt over it, with two under layers beneath it a yellow one and a white one. I shall also have my hair in a side braid to my belly."

They all look at Mizuki and she finally speaks "I will simply wear this but have my hair in a bun and a pink fan, I feel it would be only right to wear the kimono I have on now, I think it would show others I am the heir and also it becomes me quite well."

Kasumi nods and then looks at Haruki "And you, I know you are to watch her; but you must watch her even more closely and always be on your toes. In the past every ball has been a complete disaster first a male tried to steal Lady Rin as his own mate and then the last ball Lady Rin, Lord Ichiro and Lord Takeo were all poisoned while Lady Hoshi was kidnapped. Also Kimi you and Hoshi will be guarded by your brothers and this ball is just as much for them as it is for you, but they needn't show they are worthy."

They all began to stop paying attention until she glares at them "Also your homework is paintings so choose what you want to paint now, and lay out your kimono's and think of your dance, and the ball will be tomorrow morning to tomorrow night that way you can learn about the many lords and ladies. Even perhaps spend moments with them so see if you would like to consider them as a mate." She then gets up and leaves the room without another word.

Kimi stands up and looks at the other two heiresses "What are you going to paint?"

Hoshi smiles and then begins to think then looks where Mizuki was sitting only to notice her and Haruki already left, "Huh?"

XX Garden XX

She has her guard at her side and doesn't say a single word while Haruki just enjoys the outside "So what is it you plan to paint?"

Mizuki looks down at her mother's garden and imagines her family there, she thinks of her mother and father on the bench by her grandparents while, all the children except her and Ichiro are playing with Inuyasha and Kagome ; and her and Ichiro are picking flowers and looking at their beauty.

She then looks up at him "Can you get a guard to get me some painting supplies and a chair."

He nods and sees a servant tending to the garden "Go get Lady Mizuki painting supplies and a pillow."

The servant nods and runs to get the supplies requested and sets them up for Mizuki.

Mizuki then sits on her pillow and paints upon the white canvas, slowly and gracefully strokes the brush up and down painting the calm and playful scenery "I'm panting my family and how I remember things, like being in the garden altogether I think is what I enjoyed mostly as a pup."

Haruki smiles within himself she hasn't opened up this much to him before, he was a little pleased; he began to like guarding her he like the feeling of protecting her. He sits beside her "I see . . . I enjoy it as well, I never knew my family only General Tadashi."

She looks at her picture as she finishes her picture in no time at all, "That must be hard in some way."

He looks off and sees Sesshomaru and Rin walking side by side to see how their daughter is doing. Rin smiles and hugs Mizuki while Sesshomaru just takes a quick glance at Haruki 'Rin our son is guarding her well he is even wry of us.'

Rin smiles and looks at the painting "Mate you must see what Mizuki painted."

Sesshomaru walked up right behind his daughter and slightly smiled, Haruki stood a few feet away he has never seen him show such emotion.

Mizuki stood up gracefully and smiled back then hugged her parents and pulled back . . . "Father, Can you tell me who my soon to be mate is"

He shook his head while Rin simply smiled "Mizuki you seem so anxious to meet him."

Mizuki looks off somewhere else "I suppose I just want to know what if he is one of the males at the ball."

Sesshomaru pets her hair and then walks off and puts his arm around Rin's waist "I assure you he won't ask for anyone's hand, and he also doesn't know you are his fiancé." He turns around with his hands at his side and begins to walk off.

Mizuki grabs her father's sleeve when he turns to see her face she is angry "How is he supposed to take interest in me and not anyone else, if he doesn't know who I am."

Her father smiles she looked just like her mother when she was angry it was so cute "Because he was told he wouldn't ask anyone."

He smiles and looks at Rin and she hears his thought and smiles she then looks at her daughter "We will tell him that you are who he is destined to mate with . . . however you will have to figure out who he is yourself, you see we want you to take an interest in him first before we tell you."

Mizuki turns around and begins to walk off with her painting "Very well." Haruki soon follows after her and they go to her room to relax until dinner.

Rin and Sesshomaru walk off and Sesshomaru sends her a thought 'We will bring in Haruki to my office as well as General Tadashi, so it will be easier on him when we tell him. Also why don't I tell Aoi and Ryuu that they have to watch her that way he thinks she will be guarded.'

Rin hugs him with a little tear in her eye, 'Finally we will be able to have our son know who we are I hope he will be able to except this.'

XX Mizuki XX

Haruki and Mizuki are in her room and each of them are doing their own thing, they have learned that they each need some time to themselves in order to get along. Haruki was sitting on her bed reading a book while she was going through and organizing her closet and make up. Soon she went to take a bath and relax some when she came out she noticed that Aoi and Ryuu were there she looked emotionless in her kimono and a towel around her hair, she liked it when she was with Haruki at least he was quite when these two would just talk and talk if they were able. She also has to make up a dance and think of a talent to show everyone. She came out and sat on her bed while Aoi was by the door and Ryuu by the window she sighed and picked up a book, "Aoi where is Haruki?"

Aoi smiled and folded his arms "Why are we not good enough?"

She looked up and said coldly "No, you both know you weren't all that good when I was a child, do you think you can handle me now?"

Ryuu smiled and nodded "Course we can."

She sighed and began to read again 'There's no way I can think with these idiots staring at me.'

XX Sesshomaru's Office XX

Sesshomaru was sitting at his desk with Rin standing right beside him and General Tadashi by the book self on Sesshomaru's other side. Haruki was sitting in a chair in front of Sesshomaru's desk looking calmly at all three of them, but noticed General Tadashi wasn't looking at him. His father General Tadashi was looking off in another direction 'Why is he avoiding to look at me? . . . Why am I here'. , Sesshomaru looked at Haruki and sighed looking with an unemotional gaze, only a select few could understand his expressionless face. The only ones who could were Lady Rin, Jaken and three of his pups, but not Haruki or the general, his gaze remained stern and yet in a way softened too as he sighed "Haruki."

Sesshomaru thought to himself but he knew his thoughts would be instantly shared with his mate, he sighed inwardly to himself 'I'm unsure on how he will react … will he resent us will he accept us?' Rin smiled and held his strong clawed hand with his own delicate one, and smiled her famous smile he had grown to love 'It'll be fine and I'm sure he will understand our reasoning.'

Haruki sat straight up in his chair as nobly as he could, being in front of the lord and lady of his clan and who he works for ; and they are also the strongest lord and lady in all of Japan . He looked emotionless just as his father had taught him he could even recall how he worded it when, Haruki had tripped and began to cry. Tadashi looked at him at the time Haruki was about one and looked three, his father said in a stern and yet caring voice 'Don't show any emotion, keep in within your own thoughts… you mustn't show weakness because enemies as well as allies can use that against you.' Then his father smiled and lent him a hand 'Now get up.'

Haruki looked his Lord and Lady who thought his features were remarkable, his father and mother were shocked he had aged into a handsome and promising young man. Haruki spoke in a calm and monotone voice similar to that of his father's Sesshomaru and that of his adopted father Tadashi "Yes Lord Sesshomaru, May I ask why you have summoned me?"

Sesshomaru nodded and looked at him "You do not know of this arrangement you have with my daughter Mizuki."

Haruki looks at Sesshomaru and listens 'What arrangement?' Haruki is quite intent on listening to his lord's words, but relaxes a bit in the chair "It is my job to guard and protect her is it not?"

Rin smiled and nodded, Sesshomaru felt her hand on his shoulder and covered it with his own "Yes it is, but not as her guard originally." He slightly smiles and looks at the slightly baffled Haruki "As her future mate."

Haruki stands up with shock and then looks at them all "Why me, and she doesn't even like me."

Rin smiled and spoke "If that is or is not true I do not know, but she will soon if you give her a chance and now try out your new and secret role. Mizuki has no idea who you are to her and with that in mind it might prove a little difficult, but just try to relax around her and I am sure she will do the same."

General Tadashi catches his attention next "This is not an option of yours, but your duty you were born into and that's why your parents gave you to me to raise. They thought you would be safe and so far their judgment is correct."

Haruki sits back down and looks at General Tadashi with a slightly confused voice and look upon his face, "No, they died you told me so."

Sesshomaru smiled and shook his head "No, I personally know your mother, and your father are alive and well. Also you even have grandparents, an aunt and uncle, cousins and siblings. Out of your siblings you're the second youngest, and you are to inherit the duty of taking over your family empire with your sister. You are to be her mate, you have been decided this fate since your very birth."

Rin smiles and nods "Yes the prophecy goes, In the Inu Youkai royal family there will be Lord and Lady who will birth a dark haired male heir, and then will birth white haired female heiress. They will be arranged to mate, if they do mate then they are destined to ensure the faith of the Inu Youkai clan's survival through all of the time. If either one of the Inu Youkai heirs do not mate, also if they mate with someone else then in that generation or the next generation the Inu Youkai Empire's will fall and so will their race, by some great evil and unspeakable force.'

Haruki stands up and walks over to General Tadashi and has anger in his eyes with confusion as well "You found me didn't you?"

Sesshomaru smiles and gets up "Haruki we told him when we gave you to him for him to tell you that, and we are your parents, I am your father and Lady Rin your mother."

Haruki looked so confused then looked at them both "So what am I supposed to do with this information now? Be a lord? Mate with Mizuki?"

Rin went and approached cautiously before hugging him and having tears in her eye "Son I'm afraid nothing not until Mizuki learns to love or even like you we must go on as if nothing has changed, however to speed things up we will have a bedroom for you both to share about twelve doors down from the other children's rooms that way you two can have a little more privacy to get to learn to possibly like each other."

He nods as she pulls away with a slight smile and he looks emotionless. Haruki is also slightly relived in a way he wanted pups and a mate; but thought he would forever be alone and only focus on his job as a guard or a solider. With that thought he walked out of the room and into the hall thinking about what had just happened in a blink of an eye his life changed 'I just found out my parents are alive, they are my Lord and lady, I'm a prince, I'm to mate with Mizuki.'

He walks back to down the hall to Mizuki's room where he would do his job and guard her 'How am I supposed to react to this news how am I supposed to make her want to mate with me? She knows she is a princess and knows not that we are tied to each other by a string of fate, I suppose I need to simply let her have some freedom and trust her perhaps then she will think differently of me. She is beautiful and is entertaining, she acts so much like myself; she hides her emotions and shows them only to those she trusts. If I trust her and show a little emotion here and there, perhaps she will do the same and open her heart to me. I don't want to be her mate if she doesn't wish to be and the prophecy won't work if she doesn't want too . . . I'm confused.'

He looks up to see Mizuki glaring at Aoi and Ryuu who are acting like idiots as they move her things to a room down the hall, she speaks with a death threat in her voice "Don't you two fools break anything, if you do I will do the same to the both of you."

They looked at her and shook with a little fear and were more careful from then on, Haruki stood by her "You look like you're in a good mood."

She glares at him next "Why do I have to room with you anyways, your always in my room so what's the difference?"

He looked down at her and slightly smiled threw his eyes "I know not why I can only guess it's because you parents want to insure your safety."

She watches Aoi and Ryuu move her kimonos, books, bookshelf, and a few other things like beauty supplies and cd's her mother brought back from the modern era and one stuff animal that her mother gave her. She then held her head high and then looked at him again "Why doesn't Hoshi or Ichiro need as much protection as I do?"

He looks down at her and walks with her to their new room "Mizuki let me help you settle in, I wish to make you as comfortable as possible."

She looks at him and walks with him "Alright and I suppose there is no harm in letting you help me, but understand that I am in no dire need of your help."

He walks into the room with her and sits on his bed, 'It's late now. Actually it's time for us to rest since, in the morning we will attend the ball.' He went into the bathroom of their combined room after Mizuki was finished, he sat and relaxed in hot spring bath in the bathroom, he then got up heard some noise in the other room. He quickly dried off and went to see what the noise was, when he went into the other room he saw half of the room was decorated with her things and the other half was his "Is the right half of the room mine?"

She nodded as she moved a painting of her family over her bed, she had a small desk with a tiny book shelf about three feet tall and one foot wide, a small closet for them to share and a chest full of all her other things. He sat on the bed with his night kimono on and looked over at Mizuki "My lady, are you going to bed?"

She shook her head as she sat at her desk "I need to think of how my dance will go."

He looks at her and gets up "No, you know you are gifted and can think of one on the spot."

She glared at him and as she spoke her gaze softened "I know I'm able to do that, but I wish to think of it now."

He picked her up and up her in her bed "You need to have your rest and if you wish you can think of it while you go to sleep."

She was angry he was telling her what to do, but also was unsure of what other feeling she felt it was all new she never felt an emotion quite like this.

He then got into his bed and fell asleep; Mizuki rolled over in her bed and looked at Haruki sleeping in his bed. She stared at him for a while and smiled and then when she turned around and fell asleep Haruki smiled to himself 'Perhaps she has taken an interest in me after all, I just didn't notice until now.'