Chapter ten:
Naruko barely could keep her mouth from falling open in awe as the Western palace was revealed. The castle was a vast towering structure of creamed marble and silver that sprawled over a couple of acres. The grounds were neat and obviously well groomed, here and there it sported smaller buildings that merely added to the impressive size of the Palace.
A sideways glance at Sesshomaru had her brow twitching in annoyance; the bastard was smirking at her.
''I take it you approve?'' he questioned with veiled amusement.
''Well, its so big, it just makes me wonder if you are compensating for something.'' she retorted with a innocent grin.
Suppressing a twitch. He leaned forward so that his lips barely grazed her ear.
''You'll find that compensation isn't necessary.'' he murmured huskily and unexpectedly licked her ear.
Unable to suppress a blush she jerked away from him with a huff while trying to rapidly fading composure. Stupid hormones!
Sesshomaru quickly resumed his cold demeanor as his steward, a regal looking man with orange hair, approached and greeted him with a low bow. He soon found that he could barely pay attention to Ryou as he tried to bring him up to date on the management of the estate. A sideways glance took in his mates childlike curiosity at her surroundings as her blue orbs rapidly scanned the grounds of his ancestral home.
He was definitely enjoying baiting her, more so than he should. It was rather refreshing to converse with someone who wasnt afraid that he could gut them in less than a second. Even more enjoyable would be her reaction in the bedroom...
Naruko felt a little out of place in the glamorous palace and as the day drew to a close so began her nerves to rise. This was all so new to her. For the first time in her life she didn't know what to do, no spur of the moment plan, just blank.
''Shizuka, escort my intended to her rooms.'' Naruko jerked her gaze upright as she heard Sesshomaru speak, meeting the gaze of a solemn looking mouse demoness before she was ' escorted' to her rooms. More like dragged, probably thinks I will try to escape. Ass.
Naruko sighed as the mouse demoness shyly showed her around the suite unknowingly picking at a old wound and rousing memories of her close friend Hinata.
Shizuka, hearing the sigh, took the moment to observe her new mistress discreetly. While the demoness was undeniably beautiful ,there was a aura of peace that surrounded her that seemed to make her glow. But despite the small smile that continuously graced her lips, Shizuka caught a glimpse of sorrow in her blue eyes. A sadness so haunting that for the brief moment she witnessed it, she felt her bones grow cold.
Naruko collapsed on the silken sheets and closed her suddenly heavy eyes as the door to her rooms closed with a quiet click. Just for tonight, let me not dream...
A/N just for the record Ryou and Shizuka dont really exist in either anime and are just random filler characters that arent really important.