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Flash

Boom

"What?" I said as I opened my eyes. I looked around and instantly became confused. I was in my room when I knew I had fallen a sleep in the training field. Another thing that confused me was Nasuku was sitting in the corner near my futon. His sword was in his lap leaning on his shoulder and his head was bowed.

I got off my futon and walked over to him. I squatted in front of him. His breathing was even and light. Indicating he was a sleep. He looked so peaceful. I smiled, but the smile didn't last long.

Nasuku's hand swiftly grabbed my neck. Choking me. I grabbed his wrist.

"Na…su...ku." His eyes snapped open. Then he quickly let go of my throat. I rubbed my neck. "Sheesh. Why are you so jumpy?" I'd snuck up on Nasuku many times while he was asleep, but never had he choked me.

"Sorry bout that pup." He said smiling. Then his face turned serious. "But you really shouldn't sneak up on me."

"Sneak up on you? You're in my room!" I yelled. Then my mood softened. "You were the one who brought me back inside weren't you?"

He nodded. Then laughed. "The smell of rain was thick in the air and yet you still fell asleep."

"I was tired." I replied.

"You're not kidding." Nasuku said.

"So why are you in my room anyway?" I asked. "Was it the Nata guy?" Nasuku looked away. "It was, wasn't it? You were afraid he would come back, and hurt me." He nodded. "Sheesh! Have so faith in me! I can protect myself!" I yelled.

Nasuku looked at me, his face serious. "Do you think you really could have fought him off, pup? He's a very powerful demon."

"And so am I. I could have fought him off." I said holding up a fist. Nasuku just shook his head. His face clearly showed his amusement. "So you knew him Nasuku?"

Nasuku face lost all amusement. "He's a trader. He mysteriously disappeared in the middle of a war. Then in the next battle I spotted him on the opposite side. He was killing whoever came after him even his friends. I was disgusted." Nasuku replied. I could tell he didn't like Nata.

"Why didn't you just kill him?" I asked. "Isn't it law that traders are to be killed?"

"Believe me I wanted to, but every time I came into striking range he would move away. I cornered him once and he changed into an owl. So I finally let it go. Sooner or later he's sure to get killed in battle." Nasuku smiled. "Problem solved."

"Yeah I guess." If I were Nasuku, I would have killed that son of a…

"Your father's here." Nasuku stated before I could finish my thought. "He's probably soaked and pissed, so if I were you I'd stay away from him."

"I'm not that stupid! What makes you think I even want to see my father? He could pretend I don't exist for all I care!"

Nasuku stood up. "One should not raise their voice to a teacher." He said.

I instantly recognized that as a line from that damn book. I stood up. "Will you just shut up?"

"Don't tell me to shu…"

"General Nasuku, Lady Reeka?" A gentle voice asked from the other side of the door.

I walked over and opened the door. Yoko stood there smiling at me. I smiled back. "Yes?"

Yoko said the words I'd hoped to never hear. "Lord Sesshomaru wishes to see General Nasuku and yourself in his study."

My jaw tightened. I nodded to Yoko. She bowed lightly and walked away.

"Well we better get to Sesshomaru's study before he gets mad." Nasuku said as he walked past me into the hall.

"Damn it! The last person I want to see is him!" I said as I ran to catch up with Nasuku. I matched his pace. "So what do you think he wants to talk to us about?"

Nasuku didn't answer. I looked at him, and was instantly confused. He had a very serious look on his face. He knew what was going on. I jumped in front of him. Making him stop.

"What's going on?" I asked. Nasuku just shook his head and tried to walk by me. I put out my arms. "You know what's going on. Tell me." I demanded. Nasuku tried to push past again, but I wouldn't let him. He had had enough of this. He grabbed my arms and pinned them to my sides. I struggled to free my arms but failed.

When I finally stopped fighting him, Nasuku said, "You are about to find out what is being hidden, but I warn you now. You won't like it, and nothing you do is going stop it. So stop demanding what's going on!" I was a bit startled by Nasuku's tone but nodded anyway.

Nasuku released my arms and pushed past me. Just by the way he pushed past me I could tell he was pissed at something, and when Nasuku was mad, people got hurt. I made a mental note to stay clear of Nasuku for a while after this meeting with my father. Then ran to catch up.

Nasuku was about to knock on the door to father's study when a familiar cold voice said, "Enter." Nasuku walked in without hesitation pulling me along with him.

I spotted father first. He was staring out the window. I noticed for the first time the rain had stopped, but it was still dark. Father, to my surprise, wasn't wet like Nasuku said he would be. Then I noticed mom kneeling on a pillow next to father's feet. She was smiling, probably happy because father had returned.

Sometime I wonder how such a kind, caring person could end up with such a cold-hearted demon. But right now wasn't the time to think about it.

"What do you want?" I asked narrowing my eyes. Father and I had come to a silent agreement. If you don't mess with me, I won't mess with you. And at this very moment father was disobeying it.

"The North has declared war." Father replied without turning from the window.

Mom gasped a what? Obviously mom didn't know.

I crossed my arms. "I know that, but why the hell do I care?"

"Reeka." Nasuku warned. I ignored him.

"What does it have to do with me?"

Father turned to face me. "You are going to war."

"What!" Mom and I said at the same time. So that's what Nasuku was hiding from me.

"Feh, that's what you think. I'm not going to get involved in no damn war." I stated. Me of all should of known not to say no to the Lord of the Western Lands. In an instant father had me by the arm and lifted me off the ground. (He was taller then me and easily did so.) His grip was so tight I was afraid he would break my arm. Not to mention the pain in my shoulder from the sudden jerk.

I winced at the pain. Then looked at him. Father's eyes narrowed at me. "You will go to war." Then he looked at Nasuku. "She's to dress as a boy and hide her identity." This just didn't sound like my father.

"Sesshomaru-sama, please you're hurting her." Mom said from her spot on the floor. Father glared at me once more before dropping me to the ground causing me to land on my hurt shoulder. I yelled out in pain.

Then father tossed a two glass bottles at Nasuku. He caught them, and bowed to father. Then put the bottles in his pocket.

"Come Rin." Father said before exiting. Mom quickly stood up and ran after her master.

The second father and mom left Nasuku kneeled next to me. "Can you move it?" Nasuku asked. He didn't have to identify what he was talking about. I knew he was talking about my arm. I tried and nearly cried out in pain again.

Nasuku sighed. "I told you not to get mad." He said as he put his arm under me and leaned me against him, so he could get a better look at my arm. "Disconnected." He stated. "This is going to hurt." Before I could even respond he gripped my arm just under my shoulder, lifted up, and pushed in. I unconsciously buried my face in his chest. It really did hurt.

"There. You should be able to move it now." Nasuku said. I stood up and stretched it.

"Thanks."

"You should really listen to me, pup. I know what I'm talking about." Nasuku said as he stood up as well.

Then I remembered the bottles. "What were those bottles my father gave you?" I asked.

"One's to cover up your royal markings and the other's to mask your scent." Nasuku replied.

I looked at Nasuku. "You might as well get rid of them. I'm not going to war." I stated.

"What? You have to. Your father ordered it." Nasuku replied.

"Well that's to bad." I said about to leave but Nasuku grabbed me by the arm.

"You'll only make things worse Reeka." Nasuku said. I pulled out of his grasp.

"So be it." I turned to walk back to my room.

"Think about what's right Reeka. Base your decision on that." Nasuku said. "And when you've decided come tell me in my room." With that Nasuku stormed past me towards his room.

I stared in the direction Nasuku had gone for a while before turning walking back to my room. I had some thinking to do.


What's Reeka gonna do? Find out next time.

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