A/N: Oh my god, I'm like dying here, updating all my stories, rushing and writing and writing. But please, I'm begging you, don't forget to review.

Chapter 5

Now in front of Willoughby manor, he stopped for a little bit and again, looking at the emerald ring, smiled. All this time, he thought, two years of faithfulness to a complete stranger who had married another because of ambition.

He was allowed inside by the guards and a page called "Lord Sesshomaru" before he entered the Dowager Queen of the Border's apartment. She was dressed in silk trimmed with ermine, she was not so fancy and mighty anymore. Ayame looked dull know, and tired but her beauty was still glowing. She stood, then curtsied.

"What does your Grace ask of this poor widow?" he smiled and took her hand. She looked at him bewildered as he opened his beautiful hand and revealed and lovely golden ring.

She looked down to his hand and stood back, she was completely speechless.

"Will you ma-" his voice was cut off by a yell. Ayame had put her hands to her ears and yelled as loud as she could. She was confused? What the hell did this man want? He had treated her like waste before and now he came and presumed to ask for her hand in marriage? Was this the same demon whom she had found in the gardens…what, two years ago? Did he know he was marrying a foolish girl? The impression she had made on him then was of exactly that.

He stood there. Was this refusal? Was it acceptance? Hardly, he thought. The ring was pulverized; turned into bits of metal in his crushing hand. Whom did she think she was anyway?

"You selfish foolish girl" he spat walking over to the shaken figure by the window.

"I have no desire to marry you. I am a widow, have mercy and let me be!" she didn't know why, but she wanted to run away now.

"Your tribe? The north? Your ambitions?" he asked. Was he running out of excuses already?

"Don't you pretend you've been living under a rock, my Lord" she said trying to hold onto the curtsy that must be paid to such powerful demons.

"Don't you pretend you don't know the offer to marry me is quite tempting" said Sesshomaru adding some sarcasm to that statement

"Why should I marry you anyway? The offer is tempting but there's no good reason to do such a thing in the first place" she clarified. What would he say next? Indeed, she did not wish to marry him at all. Should he say, 'My lady I'm in love?'

"I have longed for this moment very long…do not dare deny me of my wish to marry you. It might not mean much to you, I know, but I love you" he cleared his throat a few times, hoping he wasn't blushing. He looked down to his black shoes until he heard high pitched laughter break the tension. It was her. She dared laugh at him? How come such things could happen? He could have not given her a choice in the matter at all.

"My lord…forgive my vulgar behavior…you should have said that in the first place!" she giggled a little

"So this means…" anxiety took over him, but he masked it well, kept cool and waited for a definite response

"I had not thought of marriage to anybody after becoming a widow. But I cannot say yes to your proposal just until I am sure I will not marry another Kriesta of the Borders…I suggest courting if your Grace is willing" she said.

'The temerity of this man is great! Then again, I am in no position to reject such an offer….since when did he want to marry me? How can this be true? Will he accept courting? Ayame Lady of the Western Lands, The North, Former Queen of the Borders…'

"I more than will" he said trying to curb his impatience. She nodded and sat down. What great news was this: The line of wolves is about to flourish, again, and this time to remain there forever.

All good and done, he thought. We will marry, I will have some children…or maybe a little more than some. And best of all I will share my crown with a gorgeous wolf, lacking a bit on the royalty.

He laughed.

Maybe, he would grant her some honors before such things took place. He pondered…the only good enough gift for such a beauty would be a crown. And yet, how was he supposed to go around holding her hand or doing whatever courting means.

The requirements were to ask permission of his own superiors; there was only one though. In order for Lady Willoughby and Lord Sesshomaru to marry was to obtain permission from the Marchioness. And how would he do that?

Industrious begging would take place and reminders of Ayame's lost territories that could be added to both of their lands.

There was a bad feeling in the back of his head thought. Wasn't she an over proud creature? Wouldn't she feel like sending some European Princess or even Queen to Feudal Japan just to have the pleasure of royalty and stronger connections?

"Hopefully not…" he muttered.

…Spain…

"My goodness, how dare you!" yelled a tall girl to a taller servant. Her long waist length hair fell across her back from under the golden headdress. Her arrogance was very obvious and she would not wear the scarlet silk gown, with pearls rubies encrusted around the waist. She could only want the best…and the best was too costly even for her.

"Send the tailor in here at once!" she called in rapid Spanish

When she saw the scarlet…the fur… the jewels, she couldn't believe this! All she wanted as long as she married the handsome King across the seas. The Duchess of Alva smiled and soon the room was filled with the evil laughter of an ambitious woman.

…Austria…

Margaret of Austria was very becoming this way. Her innocence appealed to most men, yet she was clever. Under those big green orbs was a true monarch. Even if there were three of them, how could she deceive herself so?

"I have the favor of Marchioness" she repeated over and over again. And besides, who would not want her rich dowry? Seventeen hundred pounds was it? She giggled as she faced in the mirror, a very small and fragile looking girl.

"Margaret, Queen of Austria. The most noble and humble of servants, at your service, my lord" she said and curtsied properly to her reflection.

...Germany…

"He will not pick me"

"What kind of attitude is that, my dear?" asked her father, imploring for a different tone. Perhaps one that suited the Princess of Germany would do.

"I am ugly. He will not want ugly children and he will not want a half demon" Persisted Perceise

"His brother is a half demon" stated the king simply. She stood quiet and hunched, only to be responded with a slap on the back from her father.

"I will not have this non-sense Perceise! There are two more from Austria and Spain ready to snatch this opportunity from us. We will succeed, we are the mighty Germany, and you will have to marry him.

"We have nothing to lose, you must marry and get children"

A/N: Ooof…that took long to write. Don't forget to review, and let me make this clear:

I have taken tittles of actual noble and royal families for this plot. I obviously do not own these. Margaret of Austria and Eleonora of Castile were at some point alive, but the houses of Castile and Austria are still there.

However, Perceis of Germany is an OC.