Rin left Tadao's room wide eyed and shocked. The news of Shin loving Tadao had definitely been a wake up call for her. She didn't answer Tadao but merely stood up and bowed. Like an idiot she walked out, and simply left him there hanging. She walked into her room, and fell onto the bed. She screamed into her pillow as loud as she could, a high-pitched screeched that emanated through the castle. Takumi who was downstairs jumped, as she heard the scream. She dropped what she was doing to see if Rin was okay, however Tadao was at the top of the steps.

"What's wrong with her?" Takumi pressed.

Tadao shook his head, "I told her about Shin," he simply replied walking past Takumi. His mood was turning sour, knowing that he had been toyed with by Izumi made him angry. He'd settle things with her once she returned.

Takumi herself had known about Shin for awhile, she simply stood there feeling like she needed to scream as well. Takumi sighed, "Well that explains a lot." She muttered under her breath.

-0-

"Lord Sesshomaru," Izumi's voice rang through his thoughts, "What is that region called by the castle?" They were returning to the castle, flying on Ah-Un, Sesshomaru who was much to annoyed to deal with Izumi tried to tune her out of her pointless conversations.

"Katawaki," He simply replied.

"Do humans live there?"

"Yes."

"Then it's the perfect place to wipe out! Why don't you?" Izumi asked smiling.

"My Lady," Jaken interrupted, "We have an alliance with them,"

"An alliance with humans?" She scoffed mockingly, "Lord Sesshomaru I would've thought you would've wiped them out by now." She said in a sick loving way as she wrapped her arms around his waist. He narrowed his eyes and ripped her arms away from his body.

"Lady Izumi!" Jaken protested in shock.

"Don't touch me." He said with venom in his voice. Izumi looked shocked, but didn't reply; not wanting to push the matter anymore.

They safely touched down on the castle entrance, where Toru and Shinto bowed respectfully.

"We are happy to see your return My Lord," Toru said taking Ah-Un's reigns.

"Your servants just arrived back My Lord," Shinto said, "Kagami will be back the day after tomorrow."

Sesshomaru nodded in approval, Izumi looked at them with an arched eyebrow.

"Very good, keep up the good work!" Jaken exclaimed, happy that they had satisfied his Lord.

"Why are they your messengers?" Izumi asked, "Don't you have your own?"

Sesshomaru ignored the question, but Jaken defended his lord.

"How rude! They are perfectly fine!" Jaken argued, but Izumi laughed darkly. She shrugged her shoulders, "Whatever you say little toad."

"I'm not little!" Jaken yelled, becoming furious.

"Jaken, shut up." Sesshomaru commanded, Jaken jumped up. "Yes of course My Lord."

-0-

A few valleys away where the Peach Sage's hidden liar was located, Taro, Io, Cho, Shin, and Aimi surrounded their eldest sister. The Peach Sage was an ancient demon with vast knowledge of herbs, and healing. He was Sesshomaru's personal doctor, and took care of his staff. No one knew why the peaceful sage took on such a task for the Western Lord, but it was most likely out of respect for him. He was a tiny demon, with large eyes and was about the size of Jaken. He was constantly tripping over his long white hair, and had a hunch back from pounding herbs all day.

"Sister, how do you feel?" Aimi asked in concern looking at her sister who was lying down. Her eyes had been wrapped in herbs and had been bandaged up for the past couple of days.

"I feel fine, the herbs really do work." Kagami said smiling reassuring her sister. "I can smell Io, Cho, Shin, and Taro.." She trailed off, "Is anyone else here?"

"Nay," Taro spoke up, his musky voice sounded stressed, "They had to stay back. Rin for lessons, Takumi for cooking, and Lord Tadao sends his regards."

Kagami simply nodded and smiled, "How is everyone?"

"They're fine, Rin threw a huge fit." Cho replied as she fidgeted with something in her hand.

"Not as big as Shin's tantrum." Io chided in sarcastically looking at Shin who had been silent the whole time. Shin turned red, "Shut up Io." She hissed. Kagami sighed, her shoulders slumped.

"Did you tell Rin?"

"No," Shin replied, "I was very careful not to tell her."

"Good," Kagami replied, "I wouldn't Rin want to push Izumi. We don't know what that crazy girl is capable of."

"True," Taro said, "She even scares me."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Aimi grabbed Kagami's hand, swiftly "Do you need anything?"

"No, no, I'm fine, you guys should run off now. Get the errands done," She said happily, "I'll be back home soon, the Peach Sage is very kind to me."

"We should get going," Cho said looking outside, "But we can stay for a while longer."

"We wouldn't want you to be lonely." Io commented brushing Kagami's hair out of her face.

"I said don't worry," Kagami said in her annoyed tone, if they could see her roll her eyes she just did.

Taro sighed, he took her hand in a firm grip. "We'll be back tomorrow, we promise Kagami."

"Don't worry Taro," She soothed him, "Everything is fine, now head back to the castle before Lord Sesshomaru gets angry. Everyone bid Kagami farewell and rose to leave. Aimi and Taro got onto Ah Un, while Cho, Io, and Shin transformed into their dog forms where they took off from the cave. Kagami waited a moment until she could no longer here them, where she sat back and finally relaxed a bit.

"They really do love you," The Peach Sage's voice came in, "Though their souls seemed so ruptured. Like Lord Sesshomaru's."

Kagami nodded, "I know, we are."

"That girl that lives with you, she has such a pure soul." He said, Kagami could hear the smile in his voice.

"Thus it is, by the way, could I have more pain killers?"

"Of course."

-0-

Izumi walked along the castle gardens, admiring the scenery. She scrunched her nose, this palace reeked of human; it made her sick. She had remembered the last time she was this close to a human, when her father had met with a general in a near by village. She never liked their smells, it reminded her of cooked flesh. She came across a delicate rose bush, where she ran her fingers over the soft pedals. She admired the color of. She looked around a bit more, it was her last day at the castle, she wanted to make sure every moment counted. She sighed a bit as her thoughts ran through.

"Report to me, how Sesshomaru reacts to you taunting the human and his servants." The Lady of the West commanded.

"What?! But My Lady, you have already asked me to leave Tadao, how could you ask more of me?" She pleaded. "You promised to spare Tadao's life if I told him I wouldn't marry him."

The Lady of the West narrowed her eyes, "Yes I did, but this will complete your mission. In a few days Tadao will come her to receive a scroll from me. You will be mated to Sesshomaru and become the new Lady of the West like you've wished for."

"I wished that before, but that was before I met Tadao!" She exclaimed tears welling up in her eyes. "You promised me!"

"And I am keeping my promise! If you dare reprehend me, you will die along with Tadao." She replied icily. "Observe Sesshomaru's actions towards you, and towards her. You cannot let a human succeed me, I will not allow it." Izumi looked down in shame, she sighed. "Yes My Lady."

"You're like a flower you know," Tadao's voice came from behind her. She looked back and smiled.

"Tadao, what a pleasant surprise." She said as she picked the rose from the bush. She held the rose to her lips and took in the sweet smell of it.

"Yes, it is," He said narrowing his eyes as he crossed his arms, "Do you know why you're like a flower Izumi?"

"Tell me," She said, "Educate me so that I understand." She said twirling the flower within her fingers. The wind blew through Izumi's hair, as silver danced in the summer light. Tadao clenched his fists and teeth, "You were the most beautiful thing I had ever laid my eyes on," He began, she rolled her eyes at him.

"The one to shatter my cold heart," He continued, "You were the sun that warmed my life. You were everything to me, and I was ready to spend eternity with you."

She laughed out loud, "You didn't even want to know my name before." Keep your promise Izumi, you want him alive.

He ignored her, "But then, you rotted. You began shriveled and dead, the light in your eyes disappeared and was replaced by cold stone." Her heart broke at his words, the cruel words that he shot at her. She couldn't help but feel like the guilt was becoming too much.

Izumi crossed her arms, she rolled her eyes, "If you came out here to tell me that, are you done Tadao?" She shot out. Tadao scoffed, for once he was a bit angry, "Leave, you have tortured us enough."

"Do you really want me to leave?" She asked mockingly. Please don't..

"Yes."

"Well, as you already know I am to marry Lord Sesshomaru." She said smiling darkly, "I have no need for your interference or anyone else's. Once I am married to him, I will make sure that no human survives in the Western Lands."

"That's what you think!" Tadao shot back, "Even if you do get mated to him, Rin will always be his advisor."

Izumi narrowed her eyes, "She'll be the first one to go."

Tadao rolled his eyes, "Lord Sesshomaru will kill you before you could even lay a finger on her head."

"Sesshomaru isn't always there with her," She replied icily, "I don't see the significance in his life anyways. She's just a human."

"More or less," Tadao began, "Rin will always be stronger than any human I'll ever know. She's the strongest one, she's kind and open hearted unlike you."

"Don't compare me to her!" Izumi hissed coldly, "The Lady of the West will be interested that the whole palace is fantasized by a human."

"You go ahead and do that." Tadao said, spinning around to go back inside the castle. He was so furious, he couldn't even think straight.

She watched him go, her heart ached a bit, but she wouldn't dare cry. She had a mission; she had to keep her promise.

-0-

Hey guys, super short chapter this time, I know you guys have been waiting for this. Nice twist isn't it? Well as a quick spoiler, Izumi isn't evil. And I would like you guys to review as much as you guys can! Thank you XD