Snow: Well I am trying to update today because I don't know when I am going back to school.

Rain: It was going to be Wed but now they don't know

Cegali: Which sucks for us.

Zel: Well what can I say?

Alex: Well we will have to see.

Nayoki: Yep well at least we still have Tuesday 9-26

Cegali: Everyone this is our friends from school

Snow: Nayoki (Nah O Key) is a koku youkai (a time demon) she is a fighting healer

Rain: And Alex is an immoral human Alex is the head healer of the Western lands.

Chapter 11

Ahriman Speaks

Do to certain delays Snow had yet to be presented as the Lady of the Western Domain. Snow wanted nothing too big but she would not being getting what she wanted. Sesshomaru said that she would have to deal with more than the numbers at the gathering where she meet and fought Rain for the first time. Snow just knew that was how the other lords and ladies would see her. Laid out with no energy on the dojo floor.

Snow sighed and dropped from her stance. "I am calling it a day, Cegali. Go be with those guys of yours," she shrugged and walked out of the dojo.

Scenting the air Snow found that Sesshomaru was in his study. That was one of the few places Snow tried to stay away from to let him work; but today she would break her little rule. Snow stealthily slide into the room and into the lord's lap. Reading her aura Sesshomaru knew something was wrong.

"Tell me what is troubling you."

"I feel as though I should have never left that human lord's service." Sesshomaru froze.

'Does she have second thoughts about our matting?'

"I feel like I was born to be nothing but a floor scrubber. I don't deserve your mark," Snow said as she tried to get up, feel unworthy of being near him. Sesshomaru stopped her.

"You feel untrue things." Snow starred into his eyes with her cat like gaze. He was telling her the truth he really wanted her there. Snow hugged him letting her pride slide she, for the first time since her parent died, cried.

Later

Sesshomaru was once again cursing his horrid luck. The ball was about to begin and there was no sign of Snow. He sent Cegali, who for once did not know something, to the Fox and Wolf hoping they would know. When she returned with Rain Sesshomaru was on the edge of panic. How was he going to present the lady without a lady?

A sigh of relief threaten to escape when Snow walked into the garden. She looked ill with her pale skin and dull hair. It was the first time they had ever seen the tails touch the ground much less dragged. Something just was not right.

Snow looked up to see her mate and best friends. She did not care she ran up to Sesshomaru and into his arms. This more than her disappearance scared them. Snow never was a big fan of PDA. The couple hardly ever stood next to each while in public much less glomped each other.

"What is it?" Sesshomaru said rubbing her back trying to calm her.

"Come on man answer him," Rain tried.

Cegali set on the grass and opened a link between her and Snow. 'Snow you must tell us so we can fix it.'

'That's just it I don't know. The panther is in pain and it is effecting me like this. I just need to….' Snow was no longer among the awake.

The Ball

Sesshomaru greeted the guest as Snow laid in their bed. He took her there knowing that his scent would calm her like she had always said.

"Well, well, well. Sesshomaru-sama how is that vixen? Does she work as a guard or a whore? Or both? I am sure she could do it."

"Kazuma-dono of who do you speak?" Rain's ears soon was following this little talk.

'Don't say it you dumb ass bird.'

"That little kitty that left my lands to serve her inu taiyoukai, Snow." As soon as the name left his lips Sesshomaru had him in the air hanging by the throat.

"Never say another foul (puns are just great) word about a member of my court again." Sesshomaru dropped the phoenix to floor. 'Rain go check on Snow.'

'Hai m'lord.' She looked over to Cegali who was with Duo and Orphen. She knew that look it was the same one she herself got when Youko was around, Snow with Sesshomaru, and Zel with Dark. A woman in love was a woman in love no matter the race or breed.

When Rain got to the royal chambers she saw Snow sitting up in bed seemly talking to herself. "Snow man you okay?"

"Rai, an unholy matting has taken place. On against the laws of nature and Ahriman."

"Ahriman?"

"The panther, Rai. My sister has matted. She must think I died with the human household. The clan leader most of the time does not have siblings but in case there is any the clan leader's siblings were not to mate or have offspring. It messes with the way the leader is chosen.

"If she breeds it will be this world's down fall. Damn Rai don't look at me like I have lost it."

"Snow are okay?"

"Rai you don't know much about my past and I am the same with you. But know this I am not one to lie about this. I am the daughter of a priest of Ahriman and I know when I am being contacted by the god of shadows. Trust me when I say we are in deep shit."

"I trust you. You may want to get up, dressed and down stairs. Sesshomaru-sama is waiting. He almost killed that Kazuma bird thing from the south. If you hurry you may not miss too much of the fun." Snow smiled at her friend.

Once Rain was out of the room Snow got bathed and dressed. She would not let this effect her coming out party. 'Sesshomaru?'

'Kitten? What is it?'

'I am coming down.' Snow was soon at the top of the steps leading into the courtyard. Everyone froze and looked at Snow as she entered. Cegali and Rain took their place as her guards and Sesshomaru held a hand out to her.

"Lords, ladies, and other honored guests I present the new Lady of the West, Snow heir to the North East Neko Clan."

"Impossible!" a scream came from the back. It was Rhu's mate, Snow knew her but from where?

'Kami-sama say it isn't so.'

"My sister died centuries ago. She does not ever have the markings of my clan!"

"Keira, I will say this once. Your matting is unholy and Ahriman doesn't like it. Trust me I am his outlet. Only evil will come from it. You know the laws and the punishments. I will soon be a lady and ruler to my people. You will have to answer to me and the god's whose mark I hold."

Keira glared at Snow. Her child was to be the ruler and she as its mother would have ruled for it while it was learning the ways to rule.

"You are not Snow. You are some whore that tricked the Western Lord into a matting for his lands. Neko and inu have no right to mate for they are fighting a battle that nature had set up. He is an enemy to the god you claim to have the mark of."

Ahriman's mark glowed on Snow's back. After some pain Snow rose and her eyes leaked shadows of power. Even Sesshomaru took a step back.

"Keira, you lowly greedy peasant. You are not even my priest's daughter. Your mother was just some whore that laid in every man's bed that she could find. You have no right to my mark and you know it."

"Snow what are you talking about?" Sesshomaru asked the one that he thought to be his mate.

"Inu taiyoukai this body may connected to you but this does not concern you in the least." Sesshomaru bowed and answered.

"As you wish. I will not come between you and your followers Ahriman-sama." Sesshomaru ordered Rain and Cegali to stand down.

Snow's lips moved as Ahriman smirked. "Keira you will not die today fate has a path for you and I will not stop you from running it." Ahriman left in a manner much like the way he arrived. He would never tell any one but he was proud of Snow and her power. The fates truly have been kind to her.

"You may play an important role fro now but I hate to be you in the end. Leave, Keira, I want you out of my home. I will return and calm my place as clan leader before the next new moon. Rhu I will deal with you then."

Snow soon was confronted by the crowd. She of course said what Ahriman told her to. She was not going to make a fool of herself in the first night she was the lady of the west in society's eyes.

Cegali got the music started and Rain was hanging out by the punch bowl? 'She isn't..' Snow ordered a cup of punch. When it was handed to her she sniffed it. 'She is sly is she not?' Making a bee line to Rain, Snow talked to many ladies and did the small chat thing.

"So where you get it and why didn't you tell me?" Snow asked about the alcohol Rain had in the punch could knock an expecting youkai out flat.

"Snow-sama I have no idea what you mean."

"Rain-chan you know that lying can be taken as a challenge?"

"Yes, Snow-sama," Rain said as a noble youkai from the east passed them. "I didn't think I would get caught. Pranks normally get me a train sessions with Sesshomaru-sama, m'lady."

"That's why you need a partner. With two of us we will never get caught and if we do we can figure a way out of punishment. Even Cegali will not have a chance."

"We could get more done, m'lady." Rain watched as Snow sipped her drink. "M'lady if you know what is in that why do you drink it?"

"I miss it. I miss being Snow. Sama is just something I don't care for."

"Why would one wish to be normal when one is the Western Lady?"

"Be thrown into the spot light like that and you would know what she means."

"Cegali-chan hello," Snow greeted.

"Snow-sama." Cegali tilted her head to the lady.

'I can't wait until I am Snow again.' Snow created a link using her power.

'This sama stuff is kind of weird,' Rain agreed.

'You only show respect to Sesshomaru-sama,' Cegali added.

On the outside it looked like a lady and her guards but on the inside it three good friends fighting over something stupid. (1)

That Night

Snow walked up the stairs to the royal chambers. Sesshomaru walked into the room as her last layer was pooling at her feet. He watched as she climbed into bed. "Maru if you keep starring you will never get over here."

Again he was caught how did she do it. He knew for a fact she did not read his mind he would know. It must have been that bond but why would she be more in tune then him?

Sesshomaru removed his armor and clothing, climbing into bed with Snow he felt relaxed, he pulled her close and soon they both were in the realm of dreams.

End Chapter

1. Yep you heard it here. Snow, Rain, and Cegali always fight over things like the remote or who is going to record anime while the others are out of town.

Snow: Well I got this one out too.

Cegali: We noticed.

Zel: I wasn't even in this chapter.

Rain: That is because you were at the bar with Dark

Zel: Oh yeah :)

Every one else: Okay?

Kurama: At least you are in this fic

Rain: Your in mine

Snow: As the leading man

Kurama: Whatever

Sesshomaru: (Reading the end of the chapter) Why did you leave it with us SLEEPING?

Snow: Because my Grandmother is here

Rain: Yeah and she is one kick butt lady

Snow: Even if she thinks your cute Maru-chan (Hugs plushie)

All bishi back away

Cegali: but she is the master of the grandma burn

Alex: you said it

Snow: Every one Alex will be in the next chapter

Nayoki: Me too

Snow: This too are non otaku so we will have to be careful with them

Rain: So now that you have read this chapter tell us what you think

Cegali: If you leave a signed review Snow will check out your fic(s) and may read them

Snow: I love to leave reviews. And I love to get them so click the button and just say hi.