Sesshomaru heard the bedroom doors open behind him and he glanced over his shoulder to see Ayame, Touran, and Kaya come out with evil glints in their eyes as they grinned at him before sitting down around the low table. Nova came into view and he felt his beast roar in pleasure at the sight as a soft gasp escaped his lips. It took everything in him to keep his beast locked away and not jump her right there in front of the three demonesses around him.

"Beautiful," Sesshomaru breathed and she smiled at him, a light pink blush tinting her cheeks, as she moved to kneel on the pillow across from him.

"You need to dress now," Kaya spoke as she pinched his arm. "They are waiting for you two."

He nodded and went into the bedroom to dress. He dressed in his white hamakas and kimono that was mostly white with a red and white cherry blossom flower crest across the collar and sleeves. He slid his black boots on before pulling on his armor that was a missed weight over the years and his Mokomoko across his right shoulder. He opened the black case that held two blades, the Tenseiga and Bakusaiga, both only for show, now that the times had changed. The blades, along with his armor, were only worn during these gatherings since it was the only time he didn't conceal his youkai form. He removed the silver ring that hid his features and tied it to the tassel of his Bakusaiga. He returned to the common area and internally smirked at Nova's stare as his silver hair flowed around him.

"Great, now you two need to go," Kaya spoke as she got to her feet and pulled Nova to her feet and pushed her towards Sesshomaru as Khendon jumped to his feet and followed. "Keep yourself in check, dear cousin. Without your ring it will be harder to control your inner daemon."

"It is not as it was in the past," Sesshomaru spoke with a nod as Nova wrapped her left arm around his right and the doors opened and Sesshomaru led Nova down the halls.

"It is different to see you dressed like this," Nova smiled gently as Khendon walked to her right, the side of his body constantly brushing against her skirt. "I'll admit that it is a little intimidating."

"As the Ice Lord of the West, this was a normal appearance, but now that the times have changed, it is merely a formality," he spoke gently as he led her down the corridor of the fourth floor. "You look very beautiful Nova. That look suits you well."

"Thank you, my lord," she whispered as they past several demoness who walked past them. They stopped before a set of doors with eight guards outside and he glanced down at her. "Here goes nothing."

"Don't lose your calm, no matter what they say or do," he whispered as the doors opened.

"Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands and his guest in question," someone announced as they entered the room.

Nova noticed four thrones around the room in a loose half circle. The floor mural was of a large compass while the windows were stained glass of blues greens and reds. The throne to her left was empty while right before her was Kouga, wearing a brown wolf skin over his left shoulder over his black Hamakas and Kimono, giving her a sympathetic smile and two unfamiliar men to her right.

The first who was right next to Kouga had flaming red hair to his waist with orange streaks and deep orange eyes. On his brow was an orange sun while single black stripes graced his high cheekbones. His kimono was black with orange suns with red flares with black pants. A single blade sat at his waist and no armor.

As she focused on the second man who was on the far right, she felt her body go cold as she stared at a very familiar face except that his eyes were sky blue instead of green. His black hair was cropped short, buzzed on the sides and sticking straight up on top. Three purple tally-like marks sat on his brow but no other marks were visible. He wore black hamakas and a royal purple kimono that had swirls across the sleeves and collar. A spear rested against his throne within reach and a blade was at his waist as well.

Nova lowered her eyes immediately and knelt in the center of the room, keeping her head lowered and her hands stayed in her lap. Khendon laid down next to her, not even uttering a sound, while Sesshomaru stood behind her. The red-haired man came down from his throne and crouched before her, grabbing her chin gently to make her look at him. She felt her heart drop in fear at his intense gaze as it started to pound against her chest in her anxiety and fear.

"You definitely look like him," he spoke after a minute as he backed up and returned to his throne. "I am Ryze of the Eastern Lands, it is a pleasure to meet you my dear, but please tell me your name for it seems to slip away from all rumors."

"Nova Draik, daughter of Dimitri and Amelia Draik," Nova spoke as she lifted her head proudly.

"What lies," the last male that looked so much like Cayto scoffed.

"Kishi, even I can taste the false of your claim," Kouga snapped.

"You are not immune to this situation, Lord Kouga. You knew of the child's existence as well and that also is threat to punish you for aiding the Western Lands in breaking our laws," Kishi sneered.

"This child is no human, so no rules were broken," Nova bit out, trying to control herself from getting angry at the fact that they were acting like she wasn't even there as she stood up. "Must I be the one to put out there, Lord Kishi, that it was your brother who technically broke your laws? My entire life, Touran of the Panther Tribe has constantly updated a seal upon my body to make me keep forgetting about the Daemon World, in an effort to try and hid me from Cayto who has been hunting me down my entire life because me in your past injured his pride. It was Cayto who killed my father and mother, and it was because of him that the feline seals on my body kept fading."

"You do not get to speak of my brother like that. He didn't do anything…"

"Kishi, has anyone ever told you that you are shit at lies?" Ryze interrupted as he stood again. "I have not tasted an ounce of falsity in dear Nova's statement. She has only had access to her hanyou self within the past month and there is nothing but purity from her inner daemon. Sesshomaru, Kouga, I apologize for the hassle of this meeting. Beautiful Nova, forgive me for doubting the claim of your family."

"There is nothing to forgive from you, Lord Ryze. My father worked hard to try and hide my existence because of Cayto, that very few knew that I was alive and related," Nova smiled. "Forgive me if this is an intrusion, but since I am still very knew at sensing other's youkai, may I inquire what you are?"

"Phoenix," Ryze smirked. "Now, I hear everyone gathering in the great hall, shall we dismiss this meeting and join the rest? After all, it is not too often that the many youkai and hanyou are able to gather like this without fear of the humans finding out about our true nature."

Khendon barked happily and Nova scratched his head with a smile.

"I never asked who this is…" Ryze frowned as he stared at Khendon.

"Khendon is my service animal," Nova spoke simply. "Because of the trauma of my childhood due to Cayto, I have severe episodes that cripple me. He cares for my wellbeing as much as a canine can. Sesshomaru can communicate with him and as he teaches me, I will be able to fully communicate with my companion one day. He does not leave my side now that he has been fully certified as a service animal."

"Human nature is so intriguing," Ryze smiled as he stood before her. "Would it be too much of an intrusion to ask if I can escort a beautiful inu-hanyou to the gathering?"

"Ryze, I don't think you noticed the sign of courtship among her jewelry. It is full of Sesshomaru's aura," Kouga smirked as he came down from his throne to stand beside Ryze while Kishi disappeared out of the room. "I never liked cats. Even today's domesticated felines are total assholes."

"Ah," Ryze spoke as his hand touched the hoop piercing in her belly button, his finger tracing the crescent moon. "An interesting place for jewelry, but I guess in being wooed by such a beautiful woman, I did not sense the jaki around the moon. Come, it is time for the Four Lords to make their appearances."

Nova backed away from Ryze and brought her hand around Sesshomaru's arm and let him lead her out of the room and towards the grand staircase where she could hear so many conversations overlapping that she couldn't make out much of anything except faint music from the levels below. Khendon licked Nova's free hand and she heard his growl of relief. Ayame joined them as they passed their rooms, wearing a light gray wolf pelt like a cloak over a black three layered kimono and gave her a relieved smile as Haku cooed at her, in a black footed sleeper with a wolf head as a hood. Two woman joined as well, walking slightly behind Ryze both with burgundy hair pulled up by jeweled chopsticks and wearing red kimonos.

"These are my daughters, Kita and Nakao," Ryze introduced the two women who nodded politely as their names were spoken.

"A pleasure," Nova smiled, as they reached the staircase and headed down. "Where did Lord Kishi go?"

"Probably to go suck by the Sake," Kouga scoffed.

"Oh how far the feline has fallen," Ryze sighed. "He and his brother may have had some diabolical plans, but they cared for each other greatly. He is still mourning Cayto's passing."

"Presenting Lord Kouga of the Northern Lands accompanied by his mate and heir," a voice called out as they reached the second level and Nova watched as Kouga and Ayame disappear into the loud room before Ryze went ahead of them with his daughters. "Lord Ryze of the Eastern Lands and his daughters."

"Presenting Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands and Lady Nova Draik of Northern India," that same voice called out and Sesshomaru led Nova towards the room even though she was reluctant and Khendon rubbed his nose against her free hand. She felt weird being presented as if she had some title but figured as Sesshomaru pulled her gently into the large hall and down the grand staircase into the grand hall, she would have to ask about the title another time.

It became quiet and all eyes focused on them as they descended the stairs. Everyone parted to the sides as they reached the bottom of the stairs and Sesshomaru led her to the far end of the great hall where Ryze, Kouga, and Kishi sat on thrones that held the symbol of their lands. Ayame and Ryze's daughters knelt on pillows around their land's throne and Sesshomaru led her to the last throne and guided her to the pillow besides the empty throne before sitting in it. Nova noticed that no pillows were around Kishi's throne and wondered if he had any family to pass his title down to one day should he die.

Conversations picked back up and Nova noticed people dancing in the center of the room and smiled. It was like a huge party and even though she did not know much of her heritage and the daemon world, a part of her knew that she belonged. Khendon rubbed his head against her neck before dashing off towards where the food was at and couldn't contain her laugh as he bit down on a large haunch of meat and brought it back, laying down behind her and enjoyed the treat he stole. She looked up at Sesshomaru and realized that he had been watching her, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"What is it that amuses you, my lord?" Nova asked as she watched Haku crawl out of Ayame's arms and over to her with a huge smile. "He needs a leash Ayame."

"Guess it just means we will have to visit you more often," Ayame smiled as she watched Haku crawl into Nova's lap and pulled her thumb into his mouth.

"More like, we'll leave him with you more and run away," Kouga grinned, but she could hear the teasing in his voice. "I am glad that my son was so well behaved for you, but I have to apologize for how long you were forced to watch him."

"It was no problem, nor was it forced," Nova smiled. "I was glad to be able to help. I hope you were able to take care if the issue that pulled you away."

"Yes."

"Nova, are you okay?" Ayame asked. "You look overwhelmed."

"I am a little," Nova spoke quietly after a minute, knowing that they would still be able to hear her over the noise of the gathering. "I've only ever known myself as Nova Draik, nothing else, but then tonight suddenly I have this huge title and it feels like there's a weight on my shoulders…"

"Your father was Lord of Northern India, and since you are his only surviving heir, you have claim to his lands and businesses," Ryze spoke.

"Who takes care of all that now?"

"Your father's twin brother, Damian."

"What…? Wait... if I had living close relatives in India, why did I get moved to Japan?" Nova frowned.

"Damian was one who was very good at disappearing when there were responsibilities that he did not want to deal with," Touran appeared and sat on the steps to the thrones near Nova. "He did not want to take you in when you were a child. That and since Dimitri had tried to hide your existence because of Cayto, he did not even know you existed until they died. So I did my best to hide you and brought you to your current family."

"I see," Nova whispered dejectedly as she held Haku in her lap. "He can keep the Northern Title."

"That's a lot to give up," Ryze frowned.

"How can I give something up that I never had? And if I accepted all the responsibilities that came with that heavy title, I would not be able to remain where I am now. Besides, why would I be so cruel to take something away from a stranger that has been a part of his life the past decade?"

"There is quite a lot of wisdom in those words child," an unfamiliar voice spoke up and Nova frowned as she glanced up for a second to see a black haired inuyoukai with pale blue eyes and a blue rhombus on his brow, wearing a black tunic and white leggings. "Forgive my manners, thank you my lords for this invitation to be at this gathering. Most do not welcome the nationality of others among their own."

"This Sesshomaru has worked with the Mumbai Corporations for some time, it was an honor that you accepted the invitation Damian Draik," Sesshomaru spoke as he inclined his head towards the man.

"Dear niece, would you give me the honor of a dance?" the man spoke as he offered his hand out to Nova.

"I am afraid that I will have to decline, my lord," Nova spoke, not even lifting her head up to look at her uncle and a huff from her companion and Damian frown. "I am quite weary today and I fear that any excitement like dancing may cause me to faint."

"Your companion says otherwise Nova," Damian spoke. "I would think that you would want to look at your family, not shy away…"

"You didn't want me, so do not talk to me about shying away," Nova snapped as she gave Haku back to Ayame. "I didn't even know you existed until about five minutes ago, so why should I bother when you make it quite clear that even after you learned of my existence, you still wanted nothing to do with me."

"You have Amelia's spirit for sure," Damian smiled sadly as he knelt before her and touched her cheek gently. "Just seeing you, you remind me of them both so much that it hurts. I never made contact with you because I feared that kitty cat here would end up erasing your memories of me if you learned the truth too soon. I do not hide myself among the humans, I have a high political rank in India that they accept my markings without question."

"It does not mean I have to accept you," Nova snarled, bearing her fangs as she shoved his hand away.

"Is it that hard to look at the face of your uncle?" Damian frowned as he stood straight and she turned her head towards Khendon as he moved closer, but she heard her companion growl threateningly.

"I do not want to see a face that is exactly like his that haunt my nightmares. Please leave me alone and take your feelings and title with you."

"Touran," Sesshomaru spoke calmly and the panther only nodded as she stood and wrapped her arms around Nova and pulled her to her feet and pulled her away into the crowd as Khendon followed closely.

"Where are we going?" Nova asked, not fighting Touran as Kaya came into view.

"Back to your rooms. Khendon sensed a possible episode if you had remained there," Touran spoke as they left the great hall and headed up the stairs.

"Thank you," Nova whispered weakly as she felt hot tears fall down her cheeks.

"We will stay with you until Sesshomaru can leave the gathering for tonight. Would you like to have a bath?" Kaya asked and Nova could only nod as she leaned heavily against Touran as they reached the Eastern Wing and entered the rooms assigned to her and Sesshomaru.