"I know you are there, show yourself" Sessho-maru called out to the darkness of the forest. Something dropped from the tree directly behind him, he turned to face the devilishly attractive female neko-youkai. Her hair was spun gold and eyes a pale blue she smiled at him with her vermilion lips.

"...Sachiko..." Sessho-maru began.

"...It's been awhile, Sessho-maru, I've missed you the time we were apart" she purred.

"What do you want?" he asked coldly. Her eyes sparkled as she approached him.

"...Why...I want you...lord Sessho-maru..."

She pressed her hands against his breastplate.

"...You asked me to be your mate, once upon a time, I know how much you desire me..." She leaned up, attempting to kiss him. Sessho-maru grabbed her shoulders, wrenching her away from him.

"Sessho-maru?"

"...That was long ago, Sachiko. You were nothing more then my favorite whore, but it seems I have lost my heart to another..." he replied calmly

"Nani?!"

Sessho-maru then proceeded to walk around her.

"...I suggest you stay away from me, for if I see you again, I will kill you without hesitation"

Sachiko watched him go, clenching her fists.

"...This...is far from over...my lord"

"Sessh-kun!" Fawks cheered as Sessho-maru stepped through the main gate. He smiled softly as she came to hug him. Hane, Fawks' attendant, bowed respectfully.

"Don't stay away from me for so long, I get lonely..." she pouted playfully.

"...Forgive me, koi, I was...delayed"

"My lord!" Jaken squawked, "there is a matter that needs your attention..."

"Very well, I will see you later tonight, koi"

Sessho-maru kissed her softly, before following Jaken.

"What was so important that it couldn't wait?" Sessho-maru asked icily. Jaken shook.

"...th...there was a young woman who...said she need to talk to you..."

The scent caught him as they neared the conference room, he threw open the shoji screen to reveal none other then Sachiko. She was dressed in servant's clothing, though, it did not distract from her beauty.

"My lord" she bowed respectfully. "I wish to serve in this castle..."

"...Jaken...leave us..." Sessho-maru growled. The toad swallowed loudly, scurrying from the room. Sessho-maru grabbed her by the throat.

"I warned you about coming here!" he snarled his eyes glowing red.

"...I merely wished to see my competition..." Sachiko smirked. Growling, he flexed his claws.

"...If you kill me...your pretty little mate will die..."

Sessho-maru froze, lowering her back to the ground.

"...What do you mean by that?"

"You know my clan specialize in the ninja arts. I told a few of our choice warriors that if you were to kill me, to take out the girl" She smiled cruelly.

"...How would they know I killed you?" he asked. Sachiko laughed, "Silly Sessho-maru...you didn't think I would infiltrate this castle alone did you?"

Sessho-maru's eyes widened, "...There are others here..."

"...Correct...since you were gone, we could easily sneak in...you know how fast we could kill her, Sessho-maru...she would never see it coming..."

"...What do you want of me?" he snarled. Sachiko smiled her seductive smile, pressing her hands against his chest.

"...Make me you lover...and I will spare the girl's life..."

Sessho-maru gazed hatefully into her beautiful blue eyes.

"What other choice do I have?"

Sessho-maru slid open the shoji screen after yet another night spent with that hateful neko female. He felt disgustingly dirty and was looking forward to a long soak in the baths before heading down to the training hall to work off the frustration he felt with the situation he now found himself in.

As he stepped out into the hall, he heard the quick scamper of feet heading away from him. Looking down he found a number of sakura blossoms on the floor before the door. It had been Hane, he could still smell her scent, but would she tell Fawks?

He knew she loved Fawks like a sister, that was precisely why he had given her such a young impressionable kitsune girl as an attendant. He had known she would be faithfully loyal to his kind and nurturing mate. Would Hane tell her about the affair at the risk of breaking her heart?

Sessho-maru buried his nose in the sweet smelling blossoms, the scent so similar to that of his beloved. He was surprised at how much their love was like this flower, so beautiful and perfect yet so fragile, that a single breeze could freeze and destroy it.

Sessho-maru watched impassively as the acidic poison of his claws devoured the flowers. Their perfect, wonderful, unexpected love, he knew, was coming to an end.