The ceremony was just beginning when he slipped into the room behind his mother. In his young life he'd never seen so many lords and ladies, demons and faeries gathered in one place. The room was awash in the brilliance of fae and youkai energy. It glittered with the colors of magnificent silk kimonos and was filled with the scents of a thousand bodies. Wrinkling his nose at the assault the small child leaned against his mother while his father and older brother remained the center of attention not far away. Smiling serenely, his mother smoothed his hair and settled him more comfortably in front of her to watch as the alliance was completed.

In the middle of the crowd, standing before her father quietly, a child of seven watched Sesshomaru with large and wise eyes. A youth of thirteen, Sesshomaru stood tall and regal beside her, listening as his father and the King of the Faerie completed the ritual that would ally the two peoples and bind him to the child forever. With so many eyes upon them it was amazing that neither of the young children upon whose shoulders the fate of this alliance lay was fidgeting. However, both stood graceful and silent as their lives were changed irrevocably in the name of their people.

Out of the corner of his golden eye, he watched the auburn fire of her hair sway as she glanced around the room.

Hmmm... I wonder what she's looking at? Sesshomaru glanced around, trying not to shift impatiently. I wish this was over. I wish it had never happened. Stupid old hag! Glaring defiantly at the seer who had sealed his fate Sesshomaru cursed her to hell for creating a path for him to follow, regardless of his own choice. I can't believe that Father listened to her. Of all the stupid prophecies. It might not even be about me. It could be about him, Inuyasha, not me. Not me!

As if hearing his silent scream, the clear amethyst of her eyes swung back to his with unerring accuracy. Cocking her head she reached out, trailing her fingers lightly through the bottom of his waist-length silver hair. Grasping a portion of the length gently, she tugged, running her thumb back and forth over the locks marveling at the softness. Awe and wonder lit up her eyes as she played with his hair, ignoring everything but the shining mass of silk within her hand. Startled at the pleasure her touch infused him with Sesshomaru smiled down at her. Looking up at him, she released his hair and grasped his clawed hand. Turning she faced her father and his to complete the ceremony together.

"With the binding of these two, so we join the Empire of the Great Demon of the West and the Royal Court of the Fae." The formal words, recited by their fathers, caused a ribbon of magic to swirl around Sesshomaru and Crystalia's joined hands. The young demon's silver magic and the turquoise of the Fae's merged into an ever-shifting rainbow hue that glowed blindingly before fading into nothing. Squeezing her fingers gently, Sesshomaru drew Crystalia's attention back to himself.

Inwardly grimacing with distaste at the final and most important part of the ceremony he knelt before the child. Thank goodness the mating portion of this ceremony is to be postponed, he thought. At least until she's of sufficient age. Maybe by then I will be more accepting of this...disaster. But first the blood bond must be forged, to damn me to this alliance eternally.

Brushing the hair off her shoulder, left bare by the spaghetti straps of her exquisite silk dress, Sesshomaru smiled as she gazed trustingly at him. A gentle claw tipped her head to the left, running another one down her neck to the place where her shoulder joined with her neck. Quickly he sliced a small shallow cut on her neck, placing his lips over the wound before the blood had time to slip down her skin. Lapping lightly at the blood that welled to the surface, Sesshomaru felt their combined magic begin to heal the small cut. Crystalia made no sound, just closed her eyes and allowed the magic to flow as she played gently with the hair at the nape of his neck. Moments later she tugged at his hair, dragging his attention away from the intoxication of her blood and scent. Locking his gaze to hers Sesshomaru leaned forward and created an identical slice in his own skin. With a giggle Crystalia placed her lips on his throat and made a quick swipe with her tongue at the wound. Wrinkling her nose at the taste she grinned and completed the bonding with a loud smacking kiss. The invisible bubble of combined magic that had surrounded them during the blood bonding became vibrantly iridescent momentarily as the wounds for both were healed, causing those in the audience to gasp. Standing, Sesshomaru leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead before escorting her out of the Grand Hall.

As they followed his father and the king down the aisle, Inuyasha glanced up at his mother. "Mommy, why were Sesshomaru and that girl glowing? And how come he scratched her?"

"I'll explain it all to you later dear one," his mother replied, playfully tweaking his ear.

"But Mom, I want to glow like that? How come I didn't get to be her mate? I want to be part of the alliance just like Sesshomaru." Tugging on her hand Inuyasha leaned closer and in a voice meant to be a whisper that could be heard across the room he stated, "Besides, I'm the same age as that girl and I'm sure she'd rather play with me then with Sesshomaru."

Laughing softly she ran a finger down his soft cheek, ignoring those in the audience who snickered smugly. "You will fulfill a great destiny of your own, dear one, after you've grown big and strong. This path is for your brother to walk and you can help him best by being kind to Crystalia."

"Yes mother."