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The door flew open nearly ripping off the wall there stood Sesshomaru with his eyes blood red he was close to transforming and losing all control the only thing stopping him was harming the others in the castle. Naomi said, "Slowly back away from me before he kills you."

Kagome and Sango helped her down to the ground, and then both of them slowly backed away. Sesshomaru charged forward growling at her Naomi smiled and rubbed her thumb on the jagged marks on his cheek. She locked eyes with him before asking, "Are you the one that is always affectionate with me?" She had noticed his markings were more jagged whenever he showed her affection. It had taken her a while to see the difference in the markings on him, and she had always wanted to ask.

Sesshomaru's beast was thrilled usually he was locked away, but for now, he was in charge, so he replied, "Yes it is this Sesshomaru's beast that has always shown affection for you, my mate." Naomi looked at him oddly she knew what the word mate meant, and she knew that she wasn't his mate. Naomi asked confused, "How am I your mate?"

Sesshomaru's beast purred she didn't reject the idea even after all she had been through at his expense. He nuzzled her cheek saying, "While we are not mates in the actual sense of the word you're the mate of my heart. Since Sesshomaru and I disagree about who our mate is going to be neither can claim any female. I would, however, like to place a courting mark on you Naomi to protect you from him."

Naomi was confused about why Sesshomaru would be angry with her, but she nodded her head as she felt his claws gently running through her hair it was one of the few places she didn't hurt. She tilted her head slightly, and the beast instantly buried his nose into her neck her scent was still beautiful despite what the spider had done to her. He bit into her neck and took a small amount of her blood knowing she was injured he didn't want to take a lot. He sealed the wound before biting into his wrist and saying, "To complete this you must drink my love quickly before he takes control back. I can already feel him trying to pull me back to where I am usually kept."

He moved his wrist to her mouth, and she sucked until the wound healed she didn't like the taste, but she knew that he wouldn't have bonded with her unless he felt the other half of himself had plans to hurt her. She smiled at him saying, "Convince him to banish me if he becomes angry enough to kill me."

The beast looked at her oddly but could see the pleading in her eyes as he felt his control finally slip away he could only hope the idea would work. Golden eyes returned Sesshomaru grabbed her, and asked growling, "What did my beast do human?" Naomi replied, "He bit my neck, and had me drink his blood." She was careful about the truth she shared with him she didn't want to deal with his wrath for lying to him. She also didn't want to tell him everything either she knew he'd be angry at her if he knew his beast had confessed to her.

Sesshomaru growled louder, "You put my ward in grave danger you are unfit to care for her. How could you send her out alone you should have kept her with you."

Naomi glared at him replying, "The only one who put her in grave danger is you. If she wasn't your ward, he wouldn't have kidnapped her. If you weren't so busy rutting, I wouldn't have had to send her out alone. I guess it's a good thing that Rin liked the survival lessons so much that she chose to do them in her free time."

Sesshomaru slapped her across her face saying, "Don't you dare talk back to me human wench. I have allowed you too much freedom in my lands, and with my ward, I believe you are a bad influence on her. You are never to see Rin again I will not have you corrupt her any further."

She glared at him replying, "You would keep Rin from the woman she considers to be her Mother just because you failed in your duty to protect her where I succeeded. Tell me do you truly think she would have been safer here with me."

Sesshomaru dug his claws into her sides whispering, "You are very lucky my beast shared blood with you, or I'd end you now, and not regret it for one moment. It would be most unwise of you to come onto the Western Lands again unless you wish your death."

Naomi grinned at him saying, "You can't kill me for a year that is how long this mark will last but that doesn't mean that I will give up Rin without a fight Lord of the Western Lands."

Sesshomaru slashed his claws against her stomach turning on his heel while he growled out, "Rin belongs to me, and you will stay away or suffer a fate worse than death." He then bounded out of the castle forming his cloud, and heading back to Rin.

InuYasha said, "Didn't I tell you that he'd try to kill you, Naomi? You should have listened to me, and joined my group when I first asked you to."

Kagome glared at him a moment before yelling, "SIT BOY!" She knew that the last thing Naomi needed was to be ridiculed for choosing to stay to care for Rin she also would have offered to help Rin despite Sesshomaru's nature to kill humans.

Naomi could see Kagura in the hall, and said, 'If I let you keep the castle, and everything in it will you take me to the Southern Lands?" She knew technically speaking since the spider had claimed her she was the Lady of the house and with the Lord dead everything was hers to claim.

Kagura nodded Sango, and Kagome asked confused, "Why don't you come with us we will take you to Kaede she can heal you?" They didn't understand why she wanted to go with the wind demoness.

Naomi replied, "While that offer is very generous I would be dead before you could get me to her. I know Kagura can fly me, and have me in the Southern Lands very quickly. Besides Lord Daisuke has to care for me honor dictates it since Sesshomaru abandoned me, and I was kidnapped from his home."

Kagome and Sango nodded leaving with InuYasha to return to the InuYasha Forest, and Kaede's hut. Kagura took out her feather before picking up Naomi and flying to the Southern Lands.

~ In the southern lands ~

Kagura landed in the courtyard causing guards, and Lord Daisuke to rush out to the intruder. Once she explained why she was there, Lord Daisuke nodded his head, and escorted Kagura to the healers once there she put Naomi down she said, "I completed what I was honor bound to do I will return home now." She then went to the court-yard took out a feather and took off into the sky heading back to her castle. Hopefully, with her new title she'd attract a mate and start a family, of course, she'd have to do some repairs to the castle and grounds first.

Lord Daisuke sighed as the woman left he went to the healers he was stopped outside the door by a woman who said, "My lord we are cleaning her injuries I will come back out when she is decent." He nodded his head saying, "Thank you Sakura I will be in my office." He most definitely didn't want to violate Naomi's privacy humans were very modest compared to demons.

They carried Naomi to a special healing tub stripped her, and cleaned her in the water with special healing soap. She was patted dry a wrapped in bandages before helping her dress, and putting her in bed to rest. Sakura went to Lord Daisuke's office she sighed as she entered she hated delivering bad news. She entered his office saying, "My lord things don't look good for the human I am quite surprised that she is even alive as it seems both the spider and Lord Sesshomaru injected her with toxic levels of poison. I believe at the moment the poisons are fighting each other and not attacking her. I believe that is the only reason she currently lives however I fear eventually one of the poisons will start attacking her."

He groaned as he held his head honor dictated he not let her die so he asked, "Is there anything we can do?" At least if there was nothing he could do he could keep his honor by making her last days as comfortable as possible.

Sakura replied, "For now she is holding her own, but perhaps Lady InuKimi can be of help about what will help counteract her son's poison. As for the Spider Hanyu's poison, his seems to be being attacked by the Western Lords. I am fairly certain Lord Sesshomaru's poison will be the victor in the battle that is waging in her body. So it's only his poison we will have to be removed or neutralized."

He couldn't help but to agree he quickly wrote a note and gave it to his fastest messenger. He could only hope that Naomi would survive until InuKimi could arrive, and help her. If not at least his healer would do her best to ensure her comfort and well being until death claimed her, either way, he'd keep his honor intact having done all he could for the young woman.