Chapter 23

We walked like that, hand in hand down the corridor, and all around me everything seemed to stop and watch us, and just barely outside the realm of my hearing, I swore I could hear whispers, directed at us. I lifted my head a little higher, and walked proudly. This surge of pride surprised me, and thrilled me at the same time. We stopped in front of the large sliding doors that I recognized from dinner the night before. A servant knelt beside the door and slid it open. Kei walked in first and I followed just behind me. Sesshomaru sat before a pile of scrolls and for a second I had a double vision of him dressed in a suit, with a pair of glasses, going over business papers and it seemed just as natural. I blinked in surprise, and my vision cleared.

Kagome and Inuyasha knelt nearby on cushions and as we entered they looked at us, down at our hands, then each other with a shared look. I blushed, and expected Keitaro to move his hand, but instead he gripped it tighter. I felt a surge of warmth flood through me then, and something else, excitement. He had just acknowledged me in front of his parents. I squeezed his hand in return, and sat beside him, opposite his parents. I noticed that his hand never left mine, even as we waited for Sesshomaru to look up from his scrolls.

"Um, excuse me," I whispered, "Are we waiting for the others?" Kagome nodded and as if on cue, the door slid open and Maeko, Naoko and Kaemon walked in. I smiled at them and while the first two returned my smile, Kaemon did not. His eyes locked on my hand, and he gave his cousin a glaring look, but said nothing, taking a place next to his brother. Maeko carried Mistero, the black fire cat we had found in the forest. I chose the name, and had taken to calling him that in my own head. In Italian it meant mystery, and for now, that's what he was to us, a mystery. He looked better, and I noticed that Maeko had removed his bandages. Kirara walked at Maeko's heels and when they sat, she instantly took a seat next to Mistero, who didn't seem to mind in the least.

It was a few minutes before Sesshomaru spoke again, finally looking up.

"I have recently received word that there may be someone who can help you in your search for the origins of these creatures," he said firmly, "There is a witch, who lives high in the mountains to the north, who is said to be the wisest being in the land, and that she may have the knowledge that you seek about these beings." "To the north," I whispered, and images of snow blew over me, a white curtain of cold that I felt in my skin. I looked up, and saw in the distance, slabs of cold grey stone, rising up from the drifts of snow, rising so high I could not see the pinnacle. I looked around, and all around me, all I saw was snow. I took a step back, and something brushed my foot, and I looked down. The withered, weather tanned skin of a human skull grinned up at me from his snowy grave, grinned maddeningly at me. There was a wild mess of hair that was tied atop his head, and just beside the scalp, I saw the glimmer of metal. The wind blew harder, and the snow flew away to reveal an arrow, embedded in his temple. I screamed.

"Francesca!" I heard and blinked. Kei was kneeling beside me, his hands on my shoulders, "You're freezing!"

Kagome hurried over, and looked me in the face, and in a strangely calm voice asked, "What did you see?"

"See?" Kaemon spoke up, "But I thought she only felt things, now she can see things?!"

"Shut up," Keitaro snapped at him, before looking back at me. I couldn't stop shivering, I could still feel the cold of the snow around me, the chill of that death. I felt something warm fall on my shoulders and saw Kei had removed his haori, and wrapped it around me.

"I saw-" I shivered violently, "Snow, lots and lots of snow, and stone, and a dead man." I closed my eyes, and pulled the haori tighter around me.

"When I touched one of those creatures, I saw flashes of something, I thought it was snow, but it passed by so quickly I wasn't sure, I think I just saw something more."

Kagome looked at me, "Perhaps your experience with the creatures has touched you deeper than you may have realized. After all, they are creatures that feed on emotions, and you are a woman who can sense them." I shivered, the thought that they could have left their mark on me frightened me more than the vision.

"Mother, enough. Can't you see she's upset," Keitaro said angrily, and I could sense his presence trying to wrap itself around me, protect me from everything.

"No Kei, I can't ignore this, its something that will help us," I said, my voice shaking from the rattling in my jaw as I turned to Sesshomaru, who had not left his seat.

"You said to the north, did they tell you where?"

He nodded, "She lives near the peak of one of the highest mountains, a place where most men dare not go. It is said that she is mad from the things she knows, so much so that she can even see into the future. She has withdrawn herself from the world, because she cannot bear to see their fate."

I nodded, "Then after the feast tomorrow we will leave," I said with a finality to my voice that told them, if they didn't agree, I would leave them behind. I couldn't wait any longer than that, no matter what they wanted. If I had to, I'd go alone, but something inside me was burning, burning to get out there and stop these things, before anyone else could get hurt.

Everyone glanced at each other, and nodded, "Yes, we have been sitting here far too long," Kaemon agreed, and I smiled gratefully. Kagome looked nervously at Maeko who in turn glanced at Naoko. His head began to move when she answered, "Yes, at first sunrise we leave."

Kagome sighed faintly, "If you are all decided to leave again, then I give you all my blessings for a second time for a successful and rewarding trip." She stood and left, Inuyasha following behind her. Maeko bit her lip and quickly followed her parents, leaving me with the men.

"I wish to speak to Francesca alone," Sesshomaru said in that deep commanding voice. Only Keitaro hesitated moving until I gave him a reassured look, to which he frowned but nodded and left. I knew he wasn't far from the door.

"What is your wish, after this journey has reached its end?" he asked me plainly and I glanced down at my hands, noticing the red material covering them.

"That is a difficult decision to make. If it was asked of me perhaps a day earlier, I would have been easily able to give you an answer, but now things have changed, greatly."

"So he has told you," he asked and I blushed. "Hai, he has."

"And you have an answer for him?"

I nodded, "Hai, but I plan on giving it to him tomorrow night. I don't want my answer to influence his decision of your answer any. It wouldn't be fair to him." He nodded, "A wise choice, I look forward to seeing his reaction." I blushed, "So do I, but I have to ask your permission for something."

He nodded again and I whispered, "He has asked me to dance for him, as a gift. I agreed, but I thought I should inform you that the dance may be viewed as inappropriate by some of your guests."

He looked thoughtful for a moment, "Well, if it is a gift, they cannot argue too much, because it is not meant for them." I smiled and bowed, "Thank you Sesshomaru-sama". He picked up one scroll and motioned with his other hand for me to leave, which I was glad to do. The door slid open before I could touch it, and I saw Keitaro leaning on a supporting pole across the corridor, his arms crossed before him.

"Well, what did he want?"

I smiled, "Just to ask me more questions about what I saw." He stepped forward to take my hand and I shook my head.

"I have some things to take care of Kei, but I'll speak to you tomorrow, I promise." He looked surprised, "Tomorrow?" I nodded and quickly stepped forward on my tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the lips, before hurrying off down the corridor, the feeling of his shock, and complete contentment at the kiss trailing behind me as I ran.

Maeko had not returned to the room, and I carefully shut the door behind me. I had a lot of work to get done, and not much time to do it in.

The rest of that night, and most of the next day, I simply ignored the world around me. Maeko returned later that night, telling me Kohana was disappointed I hadn't spent any time with her, so I told her that she could bring her by tomorrow, but other than that, tell no one to disturb me.

True to her word, she brought the very excitable Kohana to the room, who immediately leapt into my arms.

"Nee-san, I missed you!" she chirped and I smiled, "But you saw me yesterday."

"Only for a minute, are you going to dance tonight?"

"Hai Kohana, and I still need to practice, will you be good and watch me?"

"Hai!" she said excitedly, and I smiled, "But no telling your brother, this is a big secret till tonight, alright?"

"Alright Nee-san" she said and true to her word she sat there as quiet as a rock as I rehearsed the dance I was going to do. Her eyes grew as round as saucers as she grinned and clapped her hands.

"Oh Nee-san, you sound so pretty," she said cheerfully and I blushed. "I'm not as good as the real singer, but I hope it will be good enough."

"Oh, I know you will be, Keitaro is gonna be so happy!" she squealed and jumped up, "Sing something else, so I can dance too!" I laughed and thought, then began singing in Italian the theme song to a cartoon I loved when I was little, about a volleyball player ((AN: I don't think ANYONE knows what I'm talking about, but in Italy it's called "Mila e Shiro, due cuori nella pallavolo". I loved that cartoon!)) It was light and happy, and easy on my voice, which I had to save for tonight. Kohana spun around on her toes, trying to copy the way I had danced and I blushed.

"No Kohana, you shouldn't dance like that," I said softly and she looked confused, "Why not?!"

'Because your parents would have my head,' I thought and smiled, "Because it's a dance from my land, and only for grownups. Promise me you won't dance that anymore." She blushed and nodded, "Okay, but how do you dance to this song?"

I grinned and quickly lifted her up in my arms, spinning her around and singing the theme again, swaying back and forth, improvising that with a waltz style step, and she laughed cheerfully.

A knock on the door cut short our merriment, and Kohana jumped out of my arms to answer it. The servant I recognized from my visit with Rin the other day stood there, a small package in her hands. "Lady, it is finished," she said with a glow of pride and I stared at her in amazement.

"Already?! You must have worked all night-" I began when I noticed the lines beneath her eyes. She had stayed up all night to finish it. She blushed, "It was nothing Lady, I took great joy in this work, because it is something special for you. You are a kind heart, and I am happy to make this for the one who will be our Lord's mate."

I blushed deeply, "How do you know this?"

She smiled, "All the servants love Lord Keitaro, some of us have grown up with him since he was a boy. He is a kind man, and we are happy to know that he has found the joy he deserves. So of course when we see he has brought a young woman with him, one that he looks upon with such eyes, we are excited for this event."

I looked down at my hands, "I appreciate all this effort, but there is a chance that he may not become the new Lord, and there is a chance I may not become his mate. I am not from this land, and I may have to return to my home." The servant's face fell and I heard a gasp. 'Oh no,' I thought as I turned to see Kohana, tears streaking down her face.

"You will leave me Nee-san," she whimpered, and before I could say anything, she took off running out the door.

"Kohana!" I cried for her and ran after her as fast as I could. I knew I was no match for her speed, so I only hoped I had something on her endurance, after all, she was still a small child. She also left a clear path to follow through the foliage of the garden, and I finally caught up with her, beneath the limbs of a tall tree, curled up in the dirt and sobbing.

"Oh Kohana," I whispered and she turned to look at me with angry eyes. "You lied to me nee-san, you said you wouldn't go away, but you're going to!"

"Kohana, I might have to," I said gently. I couldn't lie to her, it wasn't fair and would only make the truth hurt more later.

"But why? I thought you loved Kei-oniisan, I thought you loved me!" she cried and I fell to my knees beside her.

"I do love you Kohana, and I do love your brother, but I love my own oniichan too, he's back where I come from, and I know he misses me too. And my ottosan and okaasan, they must miss me terribly. I don't know if I can go back at all, but I don't know if I can stay either."

She sniffled and turned to curl up in my arms, "I don't want you to leave!" I sighed and kissed the top of her forehead, feeling the pain in my heart grow greater. "I know, and I don't want to leave either, but I may have to. I hope you won't hate me if I do." She looked up at me and shook her head, wiping her eyes, "I can't hate you nee-san," she said shyly and I smiled, picking her up in my arms and made my way back to the room, where the servant was still waiting. I carefully laid Kohana down on my futon, for she had fallen asleep crying in my arms, and sighed. It was difficult, I felt like I was being torn in two. The love of my family of blood, and the love of the family I had joined here pulled at me from opposite sides, and I wished I knew an easier way to deal with it.

The servant pulled out the outfit and carefully held it up for me to inspect. I fingered the delicate stitching and smiled, "This is wonderful, thank you! I have just one more request, I need a plain cloak, something that will cover me completely." She smiled warmly and nodded, "I have just the thing, I will fetch it for you." I gathered the outfit in my arms as she whispered, "Good luck tonight Lady," before walking out the door. I carefully folded the outfit and hid it in my bag just as another knock caught my attention. There stood the man I recognized as the leader of the musicians. He smiled and held out my Discman, "We are ready, would you care to come and sample our talents?" I smiled and nodded, and followed him to the room where they were practicing. He sat down amongst his companions and were about to play when I stopped them, "What if someone hears you?"

They smiled as one turned to me, "The walls have been sealed, no sound comes in or out, it was a special favor by the Lady Kagome." I nodded and closed my eyes as they began. The stringed instrument had been altered so that when he began plucking on the strings, they were brassy, almost exactly like the sounds from the CD. They had a percussion instrument, that began on the beat, and a rattle type instrument that another shook. Another man played a pipe, and cued in precisely. At my part, I grinned and began to sing. I could see the look on their faces that they were impressed, and I blushed, but kept my concentration on the song, keeping my tone as close to the original as I could. They were truly amazing, improvising sounds for instruments I knew they didn't know. A string instrument had been altered to produce a violin type style for those parts, and a snare drum style instrument as well. As the pipe faded away, they all looked up at me. I felt flustered, and excited. It would work, it would work perfectly

I bowed to them, "Thank you, all of you. That was perfect! I cannot thank you enough!" They smiled and bowed in return, "You are very welcome," they replied, and I hurried back to the room. Everything was falling into place perfectly. I turned a corner just as something large and black appeared before me. I fell backwards to avoid running into them, and looked up into the ice cold eyes of Megahna.

"Oh, it's you," she sniffled, "I should have expected such foolish behavior from a creature like you." I stared at the floor, refusing to rise up to her challenge, refusing to let her ruin my good mood.

"It seems that Keitaro has taken a fancy to you, or so the servants speak in the halls. A pity though," she said clucking her tongue.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you know how dogs are, enjoy the attention while it lasts. Besides, if he foolishly accepts the offer my husband is giving him, he will be become quite the alliance tool. Whether they like it or not, the youkai lords of the other lands will be parading their daughters under his nose for his choosing, and men are so fickle, youkai men in particular. They cannot resist a woman in heat, no matter how they feel about her," she laughed coldly, "Oh, perhaps you are fortunate that he is only a hanyou, perhaps that horrible human blood in his veins may save him yet."

I rose to my feet, my hands clenched at my sides, "You say hanyou as if it were a bad thing, but he has twice the power then you could ever hope. You are nothing but an old, dried up, ice cold bitch, who is just jealous that Keitaro is worth more than you could ever be, and that it will be his line, a line of human blood, that will out live yours." I glared at her, and let a smile cross my lips, "You know you will never have children to carry out your hatred, and it drives you mad!" She hissed and reached back to strike me, and I stood there, waiting for the blow, knowing I had no chance to dodge it.

"No!" I heard cried out and saw a small ball of silver fly between us, and grab a hold of Megahna's arm. Kohana's eyes were bright golden, and her hand glowed a sickening green color as she suck her claws into Megahna's arm, causing her aunt to scream and fling her off. I ran backwards and caught her, cradling her to me as we both fell to the floor.

"Nee-san" I heard whispered softly and Kohana was staring down at her hand, which reeked of death and sickness and I quickly moved my hand away from hers. I had see that before, only once. It was the same way Sesshomaru's hand looked when he tried to poison Inuyasha as they fought in their father's tomb.

"Inuyasha!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, and it wasn't long before I heard the rapid beating of feet on wood. He appeared before me, hair flying everywhere, and for a moment I felt the giddiness I had often felt watching the show, the excitement as he fought, or the laughter I felt when he proverbially put his foot in his mouth. He knelt before us and I handed him Kohana.

"Megahna was going to hit me, and she attacked her, and her hand started doing this," I whispered, looking into his eyes, "She has Sesshomaru's poison attack, doesn't she?"

He looked up at me, with those deep golden eyes that I had once loved to see and nodded, "My father had it as well, and it skipped me it seems". He tore a piece of his undershirt and wrapped it around his daughter's hand, careful not to touch it himself.

"Ottosan, I feel funny," she whispered and he shushed her softly, "I know darling, its just your youkai abilities coming out. We're going to talk to you Uncle about this right now, and make you feel better," he said soothingly, carrying her away. The servants came out of their rooms, whispering and Megahna stood there, as her body absorbed the poison, and weakened her. I rose to my feet, and glared down at her, "You deserve it, every ounce of pain, you deserve it." I was so tempted to kick her, but the damage had been done. Instead I went back to my room, to wait. I sat out in the corridor, dangling my feet over the edge when I heard the playful giggle I was waiting for and Kohana came running forward, showing her once again, normal looking hand.

"Nee-san, I'm all better," she said gleefully, and I smiled, accepting her into my arms as she curled up on my lap. Inuyasha walked up to me and took a seat beside me, staring out at the sun that had begun its descent.

"Is she really okay," I asked him and he nodded, "Hai, I knew this day would be coming soon, but I wasn't sure what to expect. Keitaro never showed any sign of the poison attack, he seems to have followed closely in my footsteps, and I had prayed she wouldn't succumb to it, but she has, and now she has to learn to accept it, and learn to use it."

I looked down at Kohana, who seemed oblivious to the conversation, "It is my fault, I angered Megahna, but I couldn't help myself, she was speaking badly of Keitaro."

He smiled warmly, "Nothing you could have said or done would have been out of line. Megahna is an evil woman that not even my brother deserves. She has never thought highly of me, and now she has turned her attentions to my children when she thinks my brother isn't listening. But he most certainly is, and one day she will take the wrong step. I only hope to be around to see the day he finally gives her what she truly deserves." I nodded.

"Well, it's time to prepare for the dinner, and I'm sure the other guests will be arriving soon. I know Kagome and Maeko are probably in the baths right now, you should join them, so they can help you prepare for tonight, I'm sure you want to look your best." He smiled slyly and I blushed. It was very awkward, discussing such things with him, about his own son.

"Alright," I handed him Kohana, and stood. "Thank you again," I said before taking off for the baths.

~~*~~ (Third person)

Inuyasha watched the young woman hurry away, and looked down at his daughter, who simply stared out at the surroundings.

"No thank you," he whispered, "And good luck."

Kohana glanced up at him curiously, "Ottosan, why did you say thank you?" He smiled and lifted her up on his shoulder, "Never you mind that, come on Kohana, you stink and need a good bath." She hit him on the head, "I do not stink!" she said indignantly and giggled as he lead her away.

AN: I know, I promised the song by now, but I got sidetracked at everyone running through the plot!! I couldn't help it!! Anyway, two chapters of 10 pages each should make you guys happy. It's 1 AM I have an EARLY class tomorrow morning and I'm already up much later than I planned. I will try desperately to get the dance scene out tomorrow, I PROMISE!!