Finally got over my writers block...Hopefully i manage to get this fic finished before it comes back. I think i'll bring Inuyasha back in the next chapter. He's had enough time to grow up...maybe. We'll see.

Disclaimer: If I didn't own Inuyasha in the first chapter, then I definitely don't own it now...though I can dream.

Ch. 10: Guests and Denial

The day finally arrived. The other three lords arrived at Naomi's mountain compound. Naomi stayed behind Sesshoumaru, but refused to bow her head. This was her home and no one, not even a Demon Lord would make her bow here...Except for Sesshoumaru, but she lived within his domain so that was only proper. It helped that he was Lord Inutashio's son.

"Lord Sesshoumaru," greeted the oldest of the lord, Ryuu the Dragon of the East. He had a relaxed air about him that came from wisdom and age. Despite that age, he had the appearance of a human in their thirties.

Next to him stood his mate, Lady Ruka, and his son. All three of them had a flame mark on their forehead, the symbol of the Eastern Lord. Lady Ruka was also a dragon with long dark hair and piercing eyes. Like her mate, she had the air of someone who'd seen her share of life. She also had this kind look to her that made Naomi hope that this demoness wouldn't look down on her. The son - what was his name again?...Hayate?...That was it- Hayate, was about Sesshoumaru's age and had his parents' dark looks, but lacked the aura of wisdom.

"Lord Ryuu," Sesshoumaru returned, nodding his head with slight respect.

"I didn't know you had such an expansive compound," Lord Kenta of the South commented as he looked around.

He was just a century older than Sesshoumaru. In contrast with his counterpart to the east, the lion had lighter look to him with golden hair and eyes. If Naomi remembered correctly, he was unmated and would probably be looking for one during the festival. She doubted he'd have trouble finding one. Like Sesshoumaru, he was excessively attractive. On his forehead was three parallel claw marks.

"It's not my compound," Sesshoumaru replied gesturing for Naomi to step forward. "This is Naomi, and she has volunteered to allow me to use her compound to host the mating festival."

"Greetings" Naomi said politely, thinking that this was the most she'd heard Sesshoumaru say when he wasn't angry. It would seem that even he was capable of holding a conversation now and then.

The lords all turned their gazes to her. She didn't even flinch. Naomi had spent her life learning to hide it when she was bothered or afraid. Even her scent didn't give a single clue about what she was thinking. Until she looked at Lord Akira of the North. There was a flicker, but only for a second, of her hatred and fear of him. And, only Sesshoumaru had been close enough to notice.

"A hanyou," Lord Kenta commented as he examined her.

"Yes," she agreed easily enough. "A wolf specifically."

"And this compound is yours?" Lady Ruka asked, looking around as the gardens.

Naomi nodded. "And the surrounding forest."

"We appreciate you allowing the festivities to take place here," Lord Ryuu said with a small bow of appreciation.

Naomi gave in at that point and returned the bow with one of her own. She still refused to give the other lords that show of respect. Not until they gave it to her first. On that, she was very firm. As she expected, one of them challenged her on it.

"That is the first time you've bowed to any of us," Hayate, Ryuu's son, pointed out a little indignantly.

She looked at him with bored sea foam eyes. "Yes, it is."

"You should show your betters more respect," he reminded her coldly. Her bored look turned to irritation instantly.

"And just who are my 'betters'?" she asked him a little too sweetly. She left it up to him to realize she was saying he wasn't better than her.

"Watch yourself, Hanyou," Lord Akira growled, baring his wolf fangs.

Her eyes narrowed. She was tired of pretending to be nice. "Look. I am not going to let you walk all over me just because of my heritage. I'm a hanyou, but I'm not any less than you for it." She met each of their eyes with defiance. "If you have a problem with it, I'm more than happy to fight with any of you. Otherwise, deal with it."

With that, she turned and walked off towards the willow tree. Which reminded her. She looked back at Sesshoumaru. "My lord, please don't forget your promise to me."

He nodded, knowing she was talking about the safety of that tree.

She faced him fully and gave him a bow. Mostly to show that he at least had her respect. Then continued her way to the tree.

"That hanyou should know her place," Akira said, his orange eyes narrowed in agitation.

"This is her home," Sesshoumaru said, defending her actions. She was under his protection, he reasoned with himself. Why did that feel like an excuse? With a sigh, he shifted to include all of the lords in his gaze. "She has requested only one thing from us in exchange for her hospitality."

"Oh?" Lord Kenta asked, raising a golden brow. He expected something dramatic or costly. "What would that be?"

"That under no circumstances is the willow tree to be harmed."

Lady Ruka gave a soft smile. "Such a simple request. I'm sure we can manage that."

"Why is the tree important?" Lord Ryuu asked curiously.

Sesshoumaru shrugged indifferently. "I'm not sure. I only know that it is irreplaceable to her."

"We, as the leaders of our people, will see that this one request is met," Lady Ruka emphasized, giving each of the demon lords a hard look. "Right?"

"Of course, Ruka," Ryuu agreed easily. He had no trouble with the fact that his mate was a bit strong willed. In fact, it was one of the many things he loved about her. He also knew his son would need someone just as strong to beat him into shape. Hopefully, Hayate would find that someone during the mating festival.

The other two lords nodded in agreement.

"Where is your daughter, Akira?" Lord Kenta asked.

"She will arrive tomorrow," the Northern Lord replied easily. He looked around the compound again. "Where will we sleep?"

Sesshoumaru gestured and Jirou stepped up from where he'd been silently watching. With a bow, the Jirou said, "I'll show you to your rooms."

Naomi sat on a bench next to the willow with her eyes closed. Kagome and the children were in a secluded part of the compound, so everything was very quiet at the moment. The lords were probably being settled into their rooms by Jirou right now. She wished she hadn't agreed to this. Why had she again? Oh right. She had conflicting emotions when it came to Sesshoumaru. Something about him that she just couldn't put her claws on.

"I'll figure it out eventually," she murmured to herself. Her wolf ears twitched as she heard approaching foot steps. Cracking an eye open, she saw Sesshoumaru. "Greetings, my lord. What brings you here?"

He looked at the tree. Truth be told, he was curious about it now that Ryuu had questioned its importance to Naomi.

She saw him looking. "Your father made me plant this tree just hours after I buried my mother and then ordered me to tend to it for the rest of my life." She glanced back at the tree. "That simple command saved me from myself."

He turned his gaze to her. She was giving the tree a very fond look as she patted its trunk. Turning her gaze back to him, her eyes became more serious as she straightened.

"I have a gift for you, by the way," she informed him.

He tilted his head slightly.

Her gaze landed on his empty sleeve. "I can give you back your arm."

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed slightly. "You can?"

She nodded. "I can and would like to."

"Why?"

"Because..." She fidgeted a bit. "...I made a promise."

"To who?"

"Your father."

He sat next to her. "What promise?"

She sighed and decided she might as well tell him everything, because he would insist on it. "The night your father died, he asked me to do one thing. Look after you and Inuyasha. I promised I would."

The Western Lord considered her for a very long moment before nodding. "Alright. What do you need?"

She gestured towards the stream that ran next to the willow. "Let's sit next to the water. I'll need a lot of that."

Once they were settled next to the stream, she took a deep breath to settled herself. It would take a lot of focus to keep from paying attention to his body rather than what she was doing. Once she was sure she had herself controlled, she said, "You'll need to take off the shirt."

Slowly, Sesshoumaru began to remove his armor followed by his shirt.

Naomi closed her eyes and took another breath. With precise and fluid movements, she summoned water from the stream and directed it to attach to Sesshoumaru's stubbed arm. He suppressed a winced when the cold water met his bare skin. With another deep breath, she focused her powers and the water began to glow and formed into the shape of an arm. Slowly, inch by inch, she moved her hand down his arm. With each moment the pain doubled and Sesshoumaru actually began to growl. Despite this, he refused to lose control. That would have been too degrading.

After what had to be hours, she reached his hand. Her progression only slowed more as she formed the fingers and bones of the hand. He growled again. Sweat trickled down her face and her breath was coming in gasps. It took at least another hour before she finally dropped her hands and laid back on the grass.

"Done," she managed between gasps.

Sesshoumaru looked down at his new left arm. He flexed the fingers. She had gotten every detail correct, even the strips around his wrist. The skin was still very tender, but she told him that would pass.

"It also won't be as strong as your other arm," she informed him as she sat back up. "But a little exercise will fix that."

He nodded as he stood back up.

She smiled. "There. Now I have a clear conscience." The demon lord offered her hand which she refused with a shake of her head. "No thank you, Lord Sesshoumaru. I need to stay seated until I recover from the healing."

With a shrug, Sesshoumaru left her. She smiled at his retreating form. He didn't thank her verbally, but she knew he was grateful. It had been in his eyes, which for some reason were very expressive considering his icy demeanor. Naomi frowned a little as she realized she was getting just a little too fond of the Western Lord for her health. That had to stop for obvious reasons.

She stood then looked at the willow. "Well, my old friend, it's a good thing I'm excellent at controlling myself."

Turning, she made her way to her training grounds. There Kagome was learning archery from Hiroto the Bear Demon. During the training, Kagome's skills had only improved under Hiroto's patient tutelage. With that improvement came confidence that Kagome had previously lacked. Something the miko had desperately needed in Naomi's humble opinion.

Not far away, Shippo was meditating as Naomi ordered. She wanted him to learn to keep himself centered, because it was then that he would become aware of the world around him. Emotion was all well and good, and showing it was even better. But, when Shippo got emotional, he stopped paying attention. That was, to put it bluntly, bad.

Suffering with him, because misery loved company and she was a caring girl, was Rin. Both of the breathed deeply and kept their eyes shut. Shippo's ears twitched. Naomi put her fingers to her lips when Kagome would have greeted her. Slowly, she came up behind Shippo.

"Hello, Naomi," Shippo said, his voice held his excitement and his tail swished.

"Naomi," Rin cheered, standing up. She wrapped her strong little arms around Naomi's leg.

Naomi grinned at the young kit as she placed a gentle hand on Rin's head. "Congratulations, Shippo."

He stood and turned. "I'm finally getting it. I can hear things and sense things I couldn't before."

"That's what happens when you learn to pay attention," she informed him with a huge grin. "Now you and Rin can go play, but stay away from out guests. I don't want you to be hurt."

He nodded. "I'll look after Rin."

Naomi smiled warmly at this comment. He was learning responsibility quite by accident being around the younger more vulnerable Rin. It was good for him.

"Don't stay up too late," she reminded the children as they rushed off. "The sun is going down already."

"We won't," they promised, laughing.

With a shake of her head, Naomi turned to smile at Kagome and Hiroto. "I'll be in late tonight. You two should probably also avoid our noble guests."

Kagome nodded in firm agreement. "Don't need to tell me twice. One Sesshoumaru-like demon is enough. I don't want to deal with four of them." She hesitated then asked, "Have you seen Inuyasha lately?"

Naomi debated with herself then answered honestly. "Yes, and I think the space is doing him good as well."

The miko nodded then turned towards the house. "I think I'm going to bed early tonight."

"I will as well," Hiroto said, gathering the archery equipment. He was staying within the forest with the other demons here for the festival.

Naomi watched them go without comment. She had other plans for part of her evening. Once she had everyone else taken care of. For the next hour, she visited her mother, then when to put the children to bed. Finally, she checked on Sesshoumaru. He was sitting in her library discussing things with Lord Ryuu. With gave them both a bow before heading back outside to yet another secluded part of her compound.

In one corner, hidden by trees and shrubs, was her hot springs. Stripping down, she stepped in with a sigh of relief. Nothing like a good hot bath to ease tension. Seeing Lord Akira, her father, had made her feel very tense. Actually, that was probably an understatement. With a deep breath, she dived under the water. When she surfaced again, she let out a deep moan of pleasure. This was just what she needed. For a moment, she stilled. She'd thought she heard something. A quick glance told her no one was there. 'Probably just jumpy because of my father's presence,' she consoled herself.

Sesshoumaru had finished talking with Ryuu, so he went for a brief patrol around the mountain. The mating festival could get very rowdy, and he wanted to make sure no one destroyed Naomi's home. Had had promised her that much.

On his way back, he happened to run across the hot springs. He noted a pile of clothes and towel on some rocks near the edge. Someone was in there. He looked around but didn't see anyone. Suddenly, Naomi broke through the surface of the water. She threw her head back and water sprayed around. He could only stare. The moon light seemed to give her a silvery glow. Her thick, dark hair flew back and seemed suddenly dry. Then again, she could control water, so it made a little sense. His golden eyes watched as water trickled down her bare skin.

Suddenly, he jerked around and walked away quietly. This was not happening, he told himself. She was a hanyou. Therefore, he would never, not even for a moment, think of her as beautiful. Never. 'So why couldn't he get the image out of his head?' a small voice in the back of his head demanded. 'And why had his demon blood demanded to be released so it could claim her?" He ignored the questions, deeming them pointless and unimportant. He would never be attracted to a hanyou. Not even one as strong as Naomi was.

This chapter is finished. I'll get the next one up as soon as I can.