Jackie: Sorry guys, more build up here. Those of you who are familiar know I have to set the stage, and that the end result is always worth it.

YES you ALL must WAIT for the 'GOOD PART'! ;)

………Two days later………

Chapter 17;

A steady stream of demon vassals was moving into the castle. It had not taken long for word to get out that their lord had returned to the castle. In fact, a celebration was scheduled for the end of the week in his honor. Miyoiki was wearing wraps on her wrists to hide the deep purple bruises that still resided there. Every time she thought on it she growled, and her bruises seemed to feel worse. She could NOT believe he had done that to her, even if she had deserved it.

He was her lord, and she knew that she had been pushing it. Love or no, he had a right to expect her respect. She had publicly and repeatedly disrespected his authority, and it probably was high time she received some sort of disciplinary measure. She had personally seen vassals in other lordships suffer lashings, floggings, and even death for what she'd done. In truth, the bruises where a mild punishment, and one she had made worse by refusing to back down, so what choice had she really given him?

Still, she just couldn't believe it. She watched Rin, writing across the table at her, but Miyoiki's thoughts were not on the lesson. Rin glanced up and whispered, "Are you still mad at Lord Sesshomaru?"

"I suppose I am," She answered honestly.

"Yeah," Rin sighed, "I didn't like it when my father used to discipline me and-"

"He is NOT my father," Miyoiki interrupted, "Continue with your studies. This is an adult matter."

She went back to scribbling and Miyoiki rubbed her head in frustration. Miyoiki looked up at Rin and said, "I'm sorry, why don't we go play? You've done enough studying for one day."

"Hooray!" Rin cheered.

Miyoiki and Rin went to a clearing that Sesshomaru had posted guards around. Almost as soon as demons started to arrive it was obvious that Rin would need a guarded and secluded play area. Even with the new play area, Miyoiki found herself killing at least five demons a day. They played for a few hours, and returned to the castle for lunch.

They spent most of their time in castle Miyoiki's suite. It had gotten out that any demon that entered her suite never left alive, so she was grateful not to have to worry about Rin being accosted there. Jaken would arrive soon with their meal. She had not seen Sesshomaru since that morning two days ago. He's avoiding me…She thought.

"Hey, Lady Miyoiki!" Rin called, "What's this?"

Miyoiki looked up at Rin. Rin had crawled into Miyoiki's bed and was pointing at a large white box with a red ribbon. His colors. Miyoiki walked over and started to untie it as she said, "There's one way to find out."

As soon as tension was released on the bow the box popped open. It was completely stuffed with clothes, all the same outfit. She pulled one of the outfits out and unfolded it to look at it.

The outfit was white silk. The pants where made to hug the hips, so they wouldn't brush against and aggravate the bottom of her wings. They were tighter than one would normally wear for battle but had slits in both side and a modified inseam to allow her to move freely in them anyway. They reminded her of the pants she had been wearing and ruined the day she met him. Up both of the outseams was a repeating chain of Sesshomaru's family seal, except that it was embroidered in silver and blue instead of red.

It took her a while to figure out the top. It had a tie, flared out, gathered, flared out again, and had another tie. After much fumbling she and Rin figured out that the gathered center was placed on the back of her neck. She crossed the flared sections over her chest to cover her breasts and tied the ties around her back between her upper and lower wings. Without further hesitation she put on one of the outfits. It was the most comfortable thing she'd been able to wear since her metamorphosis. She stood back from a floor length mirror and did a few quick appraisals.

"That looks great on you, Lady Miyoiki!" Rin squealed.

"Yes, and it's designed to be comfortable and functional," Miyoiki added, "He really put some thought into this. Let's hang the rest up."

They start hanging; as they reached the bottom of the box they found a note and another package. The note read;

Miyoiki,

I expect you to throw out the rags you have been wearing. My servants are not to be dressed as paupers. This final package is your formal event attire. I expect you to wear it at the celebration.

It was signed with Sesshomaru's seal.

Miyoiki groaned. He had to ruin a truly wonderful gift with such a cold toned letter. She didn't even bother opening the package. She put it on the top shelf of her wardrobe and sat down on the floor. Rin looked thoroughly confused she asked, "Aren't you going to go thank him?"

"For what?" Miyoiki asked, "Making sure I didn't shame him with my rags?"

Miyoiki knew that wasn't fair. Sesshomaru had put a lot more thought into these clothes than he would have for a simple uniform. He had thought of every aspect of her fighting style, personal style, and her comfort. She sighed and said, "Yes… I suppose I should go thank him. You stay here. Jaken should be bringing lunch any minute, and you'll be safe here."

"Yes, my lady!" Rin chimed.

Miyoiki made her way to Sesshomaru's quarters and was about to tap on the door when it slid open suddenly. She froze, her hand still locked in the knocking position. He stared down at her for a moment and finally said, "Well?"

"Well, what?" Miyoiki asked, and added, "My lord."

"Do you approve?" He asked, "I assume that's why you're here."

"You were waiting for me?" She asked incredulously, for once being wrong.

"I smelt you coming," He answered.

"Oh," She blushed.

She looked away from him and said, "I… thank you… for this… gift."

"You are welcome," Was his soft reply, "It… suits you."

She blinked, and looked up at him. His eyes flowed over her. She blushed as his eyes came back up to hers. She nodded and said, "Why wouldn't it? You used my colors, my style, and you designed it with perfect consideration of new developments."

She opened and fluttered her wings for emphasis. She blushed again and whispered, "It's perfect, my lord."

"Yes," He agreed.

"Well, I need to get back to Rin," She said and started to retreat, "Excuse me, my lord."

She walked away and he watched her go. After she was long gone he stepped back into his room and slid the door shut. He had expected her to want to talk to him about the uniforms, but he was completely unprepared for the effect seeing her after a two day separation would have on him. He had felt complete, unadulterated joy. He had even felt the urge to embrace her, and tell her that he had missed her. When she opened her wings showing the prefect fit of the revealing top he had designed he… His face actually flushed with heat. He was not used to not having control over his reactions. She likes gifts… He noted to himself.

Miyoiki drug her feet all the way back to her room. She had just wanted to do the honorable thing and thank him, but she was completely unprepared for her reaction to seeing him. She'd spent the past two days completely enraged towards him, and in that moment that she saw him all of it melted away. She looked down at her outfit again. It was even more evidence of the tender, thoughtful side of him that she so loved.

He was powerful, handsome, and a good, thoughtful man. Who couldn't love that? He had stayed by her side through her transformation and proven in several ways the depths of his feelings for her. He had even once chosen her life over his. How could she continue to deny him?

The truth was that some part of her had lost her nerve. After rejecting him, would he reject her out of spite even if he did love her? Had he already rejected her on the night of her first heat cycle? She desperately wished she could remember that night. She sat down with Rin in her room, but barely touched her meal.

She absently touched her wrists again and noticed that they weren't tender. She untied the wraps she wore on them and saw that the bruises had vanished. Her eyes fixed on her wrists for several minutes. Why after two days of slow healing had the bruises just vanished?

……………………………………………..

Jackie; (Ladie Galadriel) I have four kids and a VERY tight budget. I have a long list of desired items and, yes, the Inuyasha manga is on that list. However, it's going to be a while before I get to buy it. There's lot's of stuff above it on the list. Hopefully the budget will get better. I just got a very promising job, and my husband is supposed to get a promotion this month or the next. Yes, it would be FAR too easy for Sesshomaru to just kiss her and get it over with, but then I couldn't drive you guys nuts. ;) (Telekinetic91) tsk, tsk, don't worry, I've been told I'm really good at writing the 'good part'. It will be worth the wait. (Kawaiibabe14) Well, when you consider the average punishment for insolence was DEATH, probably not. (Trixietrixthetiger) You know one of my nick-names means "Lady of the Tiger". Your nick reminded me of it. 'blush' I'm your favorite awwwwww. 'hands you the "Best brown-noser" award' You're like my favorite fan! You're such a cutie, or at least your writing tone is cute. (shoujo22) Hmmmm, kicking Sesshy in the balls 'contemplates' hmmmm… You may have something there. I wonder if I could write that in and make it believable that he doesn't kill the person that does it… Nope… Probably not. I love kicking arse. 'dad-blasted great' and 'kicking arse'? I do believe I could start to like you, and I have a gift taylor made for you. 'hands you a "can-o-wup-arse"'. (PrincessShadowcat) I love your reviews. You're funny, I'm evil, but as long as you like my work, we can get along. ;) Sesshy… screwed… 'tries to retrieve head from gutter' Dang, I have a dirty, dirty mind.