A/N: It's gonna be a little dark but hopefully not too much... My mind likes dark and I tend to forget it can traumatize other people...

Even through the miasma that surrounded the rotten palace, Sari could see the sun beginning to fall in the sky. She hadn't seen Naraku since their talk the day before but she knew he would be there soon to demand an answer. She suspected he already knew it, but he seemed to like the dramatic flare of being a villain. Still, he'd had the mind to send her meals that she refused to touch.

Myoga had returned to her, remaining in her company for a short time before exploring the grounds. He had a reputation for being a coward so Sari was mildly impressed with him for taking the initiative to scout the grounds. She supposed it was because he was small enough to hide almost anywhere and not get caught. He'd returned the following morning, after checking in with the wolves to gauge her family's progress. They were closing in, but he was unsure if they would make it in time to help her.

"It's alright, Myoga-san. I'm prepared to accept what happens. Not to say that I'll go down without a fight," her eyes sharpened with determination.

"Princess, I only wish I had the power to help you!" Myoga sobbed into his arm, feeling moved by her strength.

"Hide," she whispered, hearing footsteps coming down the hall.

Myoga hopped away in a flash, leaving her to stare out the window as her door creaked open.

"Lady Sari, I see you've not touched your lunch," Naraku commented while she turned to face him.

"You're a bit early. The sun hasn't set yet." He chuckled, stepping up to her.

"Come, let's take a walk. I'm sure you wish to get out of this room," Naraku offered his arm, gesturing for the door.

"I don't wish to play your games," Sari spoke.

"It's no game. I'm sure I know your answer. I merely figured you might like to see what you would be missing out on," he said, stepping toward the door. "Since you'll be here for eternity either way, a tour seems only appropriate."

Sari said nothing, stepping past him and out the door. She glanced to each side, seeing a long corridor in both directions. Naraku followed out and stepped to the left, gesturing that she follow along.

"The power of the miasma that shields my castle from unwanted visitors takes it's toll on the outside of the palace walls, but the inside, as you can see, remains fairly well preserved."

She looked around cautiously, refusing to let her guard down. He was right, though. The interior of the castle was more together than what she could see of the grounds.

"Is this your way of explaining you're beautiful on the inside even if your exterior needs improvement?" she asked, hearing him chuckle.

"Not at all. I have no need to lie, presently. I'm only attempting to show you what you could have as my wife and mate. Forcing you to obey me has it's merit, but it would be endlessly more fun if you were to stay voluntarily. You're just a bit feisty and it's..." she saw him pause, subtly licking his lips. It was difficult resisting the urge to shudder in disgust. "Enticing."

"You find repudiation to be alluring?" The lecherous look he gave her sent shocks of fear and loathing through her entire system.

"You may mock me now, but it will not be forever. When you are my puppet, know that your thoughts will remain your own, even if you cannot refuse my will. Though I prefer that you be willing to bearing my children, an active partner even, I have no issue using your womb without your consent on achieve my goals," he said, cupping a hand under her chin and seeing the fear seeping into her eyes. Sari remained silent, hearing him chuckle as he let go.

Naraku walked her to the front of the castle, showing her the army of demons that remained at the gates.

"I'm certain your family is coming for you. Sesshoumaru doesn't seem the type to allow his pup to be taken without a fight. I certainly cannot make you change your mind about me, but I might be able to persuade you to change your mind about your choice." She turned to him, her gaze dark and focused.

"What are you saying?"

"Your family will be hurt, at the very least, if they come to save you. Agree to stay with me, willingly, and maybe we can reduce the casualties. Once we are mated, even your parents cannot go against demon customs to try to take you away. But I can certainly let them leave my land alive."

"What must I do?" she saw the sinful demeanor that overtook his face.

This was the moment of truth. It was too close to sunset to wait any longer. Sesshoumaru stared at the wall of demons that guarded the gates to the insect's castle, hearing his sibling's growl of frustration.

"Are we going to help her or what? Some of us are on borrowed time here!" he spat, gesturing between the sky, himself, and Seiya.

"He's right. We have to make our move quickly," Seiya said, glancing up at the sky himself before looking back to his father.

"Sesshoumaru, you should charge through with Kagome. Leave the vermin to me, my wife, and the mutt. Yoru, go with them and stay by her side so that Sesshoumaru may focus on that gross insect."

"Why do I have to help you? Can't handle it on your own, you mangy wolf?" Inuyasha taunted with a smirk.

"Let's just see how many demons I kill compared to you, you stray!"

"Boys!" Ayame hit them both on the head, seeing Kagome's nod of thanks for intervening.

"Lord Sesshoumaru!" came Myoga's frantic voice as he rode in on Koko. He hopped off of her and onto the demon's shoulder as the wolf came to a stop.

"What happened?" he demanded, seeing the panicked state Myoga was in.

"Sari was taken on a tour of the castle. I tried following along but I was lost. I fear the worst!"

"We have no time to lose," Kagome said, looking up at her mate.

Sesshoumaru lifted his wife into his arms, seeing Yoru nod as he readied himself to follow. Koga, Ayame, Seiya, and Inuyasha all let out a growl and a battle cry as they began to fight the demons at the gate. They wasted no time clearing a path, seeing the others rush through and jump the gate.

The miasma in the outer courtyard was thicker, proof of that visible from the dead foliage of what might have been a garden. Sesshoumaru was suspicious of the lack of demons attempting to attack them from within the walls, noting Yoru was on high alert as well. Kagome made her mate set her down, drawing her bow as she felt a presence behind the castle doors approaching.

"Show yourself, Naraku!" Kagome called.

"Mama, don't shoot!" came Sari's voice from the door as it was swung open.

As their daughter stepped out from the doors, Kagome felt a moment of relief to see her well. Yoru and Sesshoumaru growled, smelling what Kagome could not.

"It looks like you've noticed! And we were going to make a formal announcement. Pity," Naraku stepped from the shadow of the castle with a chuckle.

"I'm sorry," Sari said, her voice sounded strange, reflecting her feelings of defeat. "You all must turn back. I made a deal with Naraku to spare you all."

"What did you do?!" Yoru saw her close her eyes and turn her head away in shame.

"What's going on?" Kagome asked, seeing Sesshoumaru's eyes bleed red as he melded with his inner beast.

"Your daughter has agreed to become my mate, Lady Kagome," Naraku tugged Sari to him, pulling the cloth of her kimono back from her neck to expose the mark on her shoulder.

Kagome's eyes widened, her bow lowering a bit with her shock. "Mate? You... mated with Naraku?"

"I'll KILL you!" Yoru growled, running and leaping as Naraku with his fist clenched.

"Yoru, wait!" Kagome called, but it was too late. Sesshoumaru watched, biding his time.

Naraku produced four insect limbs, grabbing Sari and leaping to the side as Yoru swung and smashed the ground where they had stood.

"Enough, Yoru. I made the deal. It's done. Go home," Sari said, feeling Naraku tighten his grip around her with a smirk.

"Yes, Yoru. Go home. I wish to enjoy my mate on our first night together," Naraku said, tilting her head up and kissing her, his eyes locked onto Yoru's as he snarled with anger.

Sari didn't notice that the sun had finished setting. Her hair and markings faded away as Naraku's tongue assaulted her mouth. She had to ignore repulsion in her stomach as she made her move. Sari tugged Naraku close, as though enjoying the kiss. He didn't realize she'd swung the pearls from around her neck to his until he heard them clasping at his neck. Before it could disintegrate, Naraku whipped his spider leg out, lashing her across the chest and sending her flying back toward the courtyard wall.

"Sari!" Yoru moved in a flash to catch her before she was crushed by the impact.

Sesshoumaru, seeing Yoru move to Sari, took the chance to assault Naraku. He'd seen the insect legs disappear as the necklace nullified the insect lord's powers, a growl of anger as he glared at Sari. Sesshoumaru normally wouldn't touch such a fowl demon, but the culmination of atrocities he'd committed against his daughter warranted a more personal death. He used his claws and speared through Naraku's chest, seeing his eyes buldge in pain as he spat blood. Sesshoumaru watched the light of life fading from Naraku's eyes. He also saw his smirk as he looked up at him.

"Sari was... delicious," he laughed, choking on blood as Sesshoumaru threw him down, his eyes full of hate.

"Kagome," he called to his mate, seeing her loose an arrow that, as always, hit it's mark.

"Defeated... by a clever bitch... and her... parents," Naraku choked on more blood and chuckled evilly as his body disappeared, leaving nothing but the pearls.

Kagome ran to her daughter, gasping in horror as blood pooled around her as Yoru supported her neck. Sesshoumaru saw the pearls break at his feet before he leapt to kneel at his daughter's side.

"Oh no! Princess!" Myoga cried, appearing on Yoru's shoulder. "She was hit as a human! This is bad!"

"Hey, did you beat him?" Inuyasha called as the rest of the group ran up up them. "The demons dispersed-" he stopped, growling as he saw Sari's condition.

"It reeks of Sari's blood," Koga said, seeing Seiya run past, abandoning Ah-Uh who had been tolerating him for the moment, to kneel at her head.

"What happened?" Ayame looked down at Sari and gasped. She quickly ran to Ah-Un and grabbed a bag of first aid supplies from his saddle bag.

"We have to stop the bleeding. Yoru, hold her up a bit more." He obeyed, hearing Sari's cry of pain.

"I'm sorry, Sari. I know it hurts but you'll be okay-" he saw Ayame start to open her robes and turned his head. He turned it back as his eyes widened. "The mark is gone!"

"It was not consummated," Sesshoumaru said, seeing Kagome's face fill with relief for a moment before focusing back to he task at hand.

"Sesshoumaru, take Sari and fly ahead and get her help."

"We'll take care of the rest of your family and be right behind you," Koga said, seeing Sesshoumaru nod before lifting her into his arms.

Sari cried in pain and coughed up blood, her eyes cracking open for just a moment to look up at her father.

"Pa...pa..."

"Don't talk."

Kagome gave her a kiss on the forehead before nodding to Sesshoumaru, seeing him take off in a flash to soar through the sky.

She was running. She could smell the foul scent of rotting flesh mixed with toxic fog. The smell was unbearable, but was the least of her problems.

The beholder of the scent of poisonous death was chasing her. She felt his eyes upon her, her skin turning ice cold under his gaze. She stumbled on her kimono and fell to her knees. Instantly she was stuck to the floor by a foul black ooze. Her arms lifted but snapped back to the ground with the power of the sap-like substance.

"You thought you could escape?" The voice crawled over her skin like a horde of spiders. "You are mine now. No one is going to separate us, my pet."

She turned as much as she could, seeing nothing behind her. Confused, she turned back to the floor to fight the sticky prison she was in. Naraku's face formed from the goop. She gasped, in both shock and fear, feeling him shoot toward her from below to capture her lips.

Sari shot up in a cold sweat, her chest rejecting her movement as she felt lightning piercing her bones. She grit her teeth and hissed in a breath, crossing her arms over herself.

"Just relax, kid," she heard someone say. Her brain was buzzing from her dream and her chest felt like it was on fire. "You're healing now that dawn has broken. It will hurt but you'll be okay in a minute."

"Uncle... Inu... yasha?" She struggled to say, feeling him help to lay her back, though her body protested the movement.

"Stop tensing or you'll make it worse!" Inuyasha scolded, wetting a cloth in the basin beside the bed. He rung it out and laid it gently on her forehead.

Sari decided to listen to him as she felt her bones realigning. The crunching and popping sounds were nauseating but she breathed through it. A few minutes later, the sharp pains turned to a dull ache and she released a final sigh of relief.

"Better?" he asked, seeing her nod gently before sitting up again. Inuyasha pounced onto the bed to crouch before her and stare her down. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!"

Sari jumped at the volume of his voice as he yelled in her face.

"Stop screaming at my pup, Whelp," came her father's voice from the door.

"You would yell too if you knew how to feel, you icicle!"

"Not in the medical wing. If you insist on fighting, take it outside!" Kagome yelled, stepping between them and pointing to the door.

"Mama," Sari felt such relief to be home and seeing her family acting normal. She jumped up and ran past Inuyasha to bury herself in Kagome's arms. She was pleasantly surprised and hugged Sari close.

"That's called emotion, Sesshoumaru. You should try it sometime, feh," Inuyasha spat. "I'm starving!"

Sesshoumaru merely glared at him as he walked past and out of the room.

"Sari, you're shaking," Kagome said, pulling back to put a hand on her head. "You feel like ice! Come lay down!"

"I need to bathe.I can still smell Naraku," Sari said, pulling back and clasping her hands together to attempt to calm her shakes. "I can't bare the scent any longer."

"I'll have a maid draw the bath in your chambers," Kagome said, seeing Sari nod her thanks. She shared a look of concern with her mate before calling for a servant from the hall.

In a flash, Sari found herself sitting on a stool in the corner of her washroom, scrubbing away at her body. Her mother had given her the space she'd asked for and went to choose a yukata for after. She couldn't help but still feel so unclean.

Her focus was on the juncture of her neck and shoulder, where Naraku had put his mouth on her, among various places, to mark her. Even if the mark had not been consummated, Sari felt disgusted with Naraku and herself, for a secret shame she couldn't speak of. She scrubbed and scrubbed away at the mark, her mind going into a fog as she began to see visions of his body close, the rotten stench of his compiled form suffocating her sensitive nose as he took his time, tormenting her.

"Milady! What are you doing?" a maid asked, dropping a bucket that held fresh herbs for the bath as she knelt next to Sari.

"What do you mean?" Sari asked, blinking as she came out of her haze, seeing Kagome hurrying over the her from the door.

"You're bleeding, Princess!" the maid cried out, grabbing a nearby clean cloth and pressing it to her shoulder to staunch the blood.

"How did..." she looked down and saw her claws covered in blood. She'd began carving the feeling of the mark out of her shoulder and hadn't realized it. Blood was dripping down her chest onto the towel and some even on the floor. "I've made a mess..."

"Would you get me a fresh towel for her, please?" Kagome asked the maid, taking her place to apply pressure to the wound.

"I didn't mean to. I was just trying to scrub the feeling of the mark off," Sari looked at Kagome, swallowing hard over the emotion she was holding back.

Kagome pulled the cloth back to check the damage. The bleeding had slowed to an ooze as the wound was already closing.

"Sari, let's get you washed up again so you can relax in the water," Kagome smiled gently at her, seeing how her daughter trembled.

Sari nodded, letting her mother help her as she struggled through her thoughts and feelings for what felt like the millionth time. As she stepped down into the freshly herbed water, her wound having closed while rinsing off, she saw her reflection suddenly change. Naraku was staring back at her, his signature smirk on his face.

"Sari, what's wrong?" Kagome asked, seeing Sari look over to her and blink. She looked back at the water, seeing nothing but her own face this time.

"Nothing," Sari sunk into the water and took a deep breath as the waters helped to warm her nightmare chilled body. Her mother sat beside her, letting her enjoy the soothing heat of her personal bath for a few quiet moments.

"I know you're feeling a lot of things right now," Kagome started, seeing Sari turn to look at her once more. "What's going through your head, Sari?"

Sari swallowed hard again. There was so many things. How could be pick one to talk about?

"I'm having a hard time finding the words," she settled for quietly, fisting her hands together below the water.

"Whatever is on your mind-"

"I never wanted Naraku to touch me!" she said suddenly, feeling a flush of shame washing over her. She brought her hands to her face and took a slow breath.

"Oh, baby," Kagome's heart broke for her. "I know that. He forced you-" she stopped with Sari shook her head.

"He didn't. Naraku gave me a choice. Letting him..." she took a breath, still hiding behind her hands, feeling the shame course through her once more as she recalled both how he touched her and the dark secret she wasn't even ready to admit to herself. "Letting him mark me was to gain a modicum of trust. He had to trust me enough that I could shock him. It was the only way to turn the necklace on him. I had to rely on you, though, Mama," she slid her hands down from her eyes as she stared into the water with an intense stare, damp with emotion. "I knew you would be able to finish him. But..." she sobbed into her hands, closing her eyes that were pouring tears. "I was so scared," she whispered.

Kagome moved to hug her daughter to her, feeling her tense for a moment, then fall into her embrace to cry. Her breakdown this time was much calmer, not full of loud, childish cries, but deep, heartfelt sobs.

"If you hadn't shown up on time, Naraku would have-" she cut herself off, shaking her head violently to rid herself of the gut wrenching thought.

"Sari, what you did was reckless. It could have ended badly in so many ways. Your plan was risky and selfish, young lady. If his mark had been permanent, we would have lost you. That is unacceptable."

"You know I didn't want to let him mark me, right?" Sari asked, her voice slightly hoarse with tears. It was as close as she could come to telling her mother the secret that weighed heavy on her heart.

"Of course I know that!" Kagome answered, pulling back and letting Sari relax into the water once more as she calmed. "No one is stupid enough believe you wanted anything to do with Naraku."

"I'm sorry, Mama," Sari said quietly, feeling spent.

"Soak for a bit, then we'll get you dressed and get you something to eat. You need to replenish your energy from healing," Kagome suggested. Sari shook her head.

"I'm not feeling up to eating at the moment. I'm sorry."

"Excuse me, Lady Kagome," a maid said as she entered the room. "The seamstress is requesting some of your time today for a few final measurement. The cook also requested a moment to finalize the menu for the gala."

"Of course," Kagome said. "Sari, I hate to ask, but are you up for a few measurements?"

"Yes," she said quietly, already moving from the tub to dry off. She would rest afterward.

Sari continued the day at her mother's side, getting the measurements, finishing the menu, helping make other decisions for the gala, and general castle maintenance as Lady of the manor. She assisted planning out room and board for the lords and ladies that would be arriving anytime, the few that would stay with them, and even thought to arrange different welcoming bouquets for the different demon types with different preferences and sensitivities.

Kagome was proud but very concerned as Sari refused to rest or eat, despite her pale face and continued trembles. Every now and then she would catch Sari staring off as she fell victim to her own thoughts with a blank face but a terrified look in her eyes. It made her ache for her child.

When Kagome was done with her duties, she walked Sari to her room and told her to rest until dinner. Sari nodded her consent as she sat on her bed. The moment Kagome closed the door, she laid back and shut her eyes, hoping to nap peacefully.

She opened her eyes slowly, sitting up as she saw it was dark. She must have slept longer than intended. Strange that no one came to wake her for dinner. She stood up and walked to the door. It wouldn't open. She tugged and tugged but it wouldn't even flinch.

"Hello!? Anyone?! The door is stuck!"

When she heard nothing she sighed and turned around, bumping into someone. Her scream was deafening as she looked up and saw Naraku, his teeth bared as he clamped down on her neck. What should have been a flash of pain felt like-

Sari woke up screaming, once again covered in a cold sweat as her hands shot to cover her mouth. Her breathing was panicked and her heart raced as she fought to calm herself.

The door bursting open startled her as Seiya rushed in.

"What's wrong?" He asked, scanning the room quickly for an external threat before looking her over.

"Nothing. I'm sorry," she said quietly, swinging her legs off of her bed and taking a few slow breaths through her nose.

"Talk to me, Sis. You're clearly not okay," Seiya saw her fight to control her face, sitting beside her and taking her hands.

"It was just a nightmare. Please, don't tell Mama. I've scared her and everyone else enough for a lifetime," Sari's eyes were wet as she looked up at his face with her plea. He was powerless to resist.

"Alright. But if they continue, promise you'll tell me so I can help you?"

"I promise." She didn't intend to let them be a problem.

"You should wipe your face. Mama sent me to get you for dinner."

"I'll be right there," Sari said, turning her head to wipe her eyes on her sleeve.

"I can wait for you outside. Take a minute," Seiya pet her hair back and left to wait in the hall, closing the door behind him.

Dinner was uneventful. Sari was silent, taking a few small bites but unable to consume a full meal. She was far too nauseas for that. Her mother practically stared her down, only serving to worsen her nerves as conversation was casual but fluent around them.

Yoru also watched her, his feelings running wild. He was angry at her for putting herself in harm's way, for letting Naraku put his filthy hands on her. He was worried for her as she sat there with her nerves shot, hands shaking and her pale skin even paler. And he yearned for her. He wanted to hold her tightly and soothe everything away to see her smile again.

Inuyasha had spent most of dinner arguing with Koga, a tradition for them whenever they saw each other. He noted Sari's behavior, as he was sure everyone else did, and was getting more irritated for it by the second. It wasn't in his nature to stay quiet but he also didn't want to hear his brother bitching at him so he kept shut. He was sure Sesshoumaru was thinking the same thing as he stood up to address the table.

"Excuse us, friends. Sari, come with me," Sesshoumaru said suddenly, seeing her nod silently and stand. She bowed to the table and to her mother before following her father out the door.

"Mother-"

"I'm on it, Seiya," Kagome said a quick goodnight and hurried after her mate and daughter. She wasn't sure what he was intending but Sari was in a very sensitive place.

Sesshoumaru opened the door to his study and stepped aside, ushering Sari in. They both waited a moment for Kagome to catch up before he closed the door. Sari stood with her head down, her hands clasped beneath the folds of her yukata sleeves to hide her trembles. He stood before her, staring down intensely as he observed her behavior.

"What is this about, Sesshou?" Kagome asked, a supportive arm around Sari.

"You told me your perspective of what happened in the village before Lord Koga, Seiya, and This Sesshoumaru arrived." He said to his mate. His gaze shifted back to Sari. "Why would you be so foolish?"

"I'm sorry, Papa... but I don't believe what I did was foolish," she said quietly, her head still down in respect but her eyes coming up to meet his.

"You risked your life and put our family and friends at risk to rescue you. You do not see the irresponsible nature of your actions?" he asked, his face carefully blank as he studied her, not used to her disagreeing with anything he had to say, much less something so important.

"The way..." Sari stopped, cutting her eyes to the ground and clenching her jaw slightly. She didn't want to argue with her Papa.

"Speak your mind, Sari," Kagome encouraged, moving to Sesshoumaru to take his hand between hers to soothe.

"The way you summarize my actions deliberately paints me as a foolish villain against our family and friends. I saved Mama and the villagers from Naraku's wrath. I did what I needed to do to protect our people, which is an important job for the Princess of the Western lands. I left Mama in Ayame and Yoru's capable hands in case there were any stray demons that didn't follow us back, not that I believe she needed their help for a second. I lead Naraku, a force of great destruction, off of our lands so he wouldn't be able to harm any more of our people. I formulated a plan to defeat one of the greater threats to all four lands," Sari's eyes dared to look up at her father, full of passion and just a bit of indignation. "Everything I did, whether it was executed well or not, whether you approve of it or not, was for the benefit of the greater good. Yes, it was risky. But it was not foolish."

Sesshoumaru studied her silently for a moment, processing her words and her demeanor. She had made a clear and concise argument to his statement. It filled him with mixed feelings of pride and contrition, something he didn't feel very often.

"Perhaps it was not foolish, upon reconsideration. I still cannot accept that you would put yourself in harms way, and force others to do the same."

"I cannot change what I've done, Papa," Sari said, conviction in her voice, even as she felt her heart pulse with guilt from words unspoken.

"Sari, you have to be aware of how terrified we were for you," Kagome spoke up in the moment of silence they had fallen into. In her head Sari was screaming at them 'I was scared, too!' but she couldn't vocalize it, not to her father.

"I regret putting anyone else at risk, and I regret once again putting you both in the position of having to worry about me, but nothing else. I fulfilled my duties as Princess to the best of my ability-"

"Then do better." Sesshoumaru spoke harshly, feeling Kagome's harsh glare at his side as Sari's face went carefully blank.

"Yes, Sir," Sari spoke quietly, bowing quickly and fleeing out of the study.

"How could you say that to her? Do you have any idea how upset she is right now?" Kagome started, moving to frown up at her mate.

"What else could be said? She cannot continue to put herself at risk, Kagome. Twice this month she could have died from her poor decisions."

"Your support of what she did well might have a better effect on her. She did protect the village from being decimated. She did stop the greatest threat to the country. And she did it after only a week's worth of training between you and I."

"It was impressive," Sesshoumaru conceded. "That doesn't make it excusable-"

"Sesshoumaru, think about it!" Kagome interrupted, frustrated with his single mindedness. "Her plan involve our help. It was risky and self-sacrificing but it needed our help. This is the first time Sari has reached her hand out to us for anything and you stood here to berate her for it! She trusted us, Sesshoumaru. That's a huge step," Kagome finished quietly, seeing him scowl in frustration.

"How do we encourage her for her successes when they involved the risk of losing our pup?" he asked honestly.

"By talking to her and helping her feel how worthy she is, of herself and of our love and affection. Then maybe her first thoughts and actions won't involve tossing her own health and safety out of the window," she stepped into his arms, letting him soothe his frustrations with her embrace. He comforted himself for a moment and sighed.

"Sari always calls me 'Papa'." Kagome chuckled and pulled back to look up at him.

"I was wondering if you noticed that. Our girl is secretly very sassy," Kagome reached up and poked at the wrinkled on his brow as he stared down at her.

"I believe what we just saw is the real Sari," Sesshoumaru said softly, seeing his mate nod, embracing her again as he pondered how he felt about that.

A/N: I decided to leave a bit of vague-ness to this chapter and I didn't go as dark as I wanted to, but I'm not unhappy with how things have happened...