"I know it will work. I've seen all the possible circumstances. The only thing is the right rank. Watch the water demons. They're to close for comfort," Tsuki said sitting back.

"It is getting late. We should all be leaving before it gets to dark," the northern demon lord said.

Tsuki stood by the door, shaking hands. She realized she had proven herself to the men. She smiled at every one.

"I'm going to bed," Shin kissed Tsuki after every one left. "I'm so proud of you."

"Night. I'm going to help clean up before I go to bed," Tsuki said.

"You are talented," a cold voice said after Shin left.

"Why, Sesshoumaru, what brings you?" Tsuki said calmly picking up some trash.

"I'm here to take back my property," Sesshoumaru said.

"What does Shin-sama have of yours?" Tsuki raised an eyebrow.

"He has you. Now lets go," Sesshoumaru grabbed Tsuki roughly.

"I'm not going with you," Tsuki pulled away.

This made Sesshoumaru angry. He grabbed Tsuki so hard that her arm started to bleed. She stopped struggling. She looked coldly at Sesshoumaru.

"Let her go," Shin said angrily walking in. he had smelt the blood.

"Why? She is nothing to you. Is she the one your planning on taking as a mate? You remember what I said about not getting to close?" Sesshoumaru said coldly.

"Yes, I remember, but I've fallen in love. You, my ice prince, wouldn't be that cold hearted as to take her away from me?" Shin said moving between Tsuki and Sesshoumaru.

"You say you love her. Have you told her about your past? How you killed your own general, and your father so you could rule?" Sesshoumaru said disgusted by Shin's actions.

Tsuki looked at Sesshoumaru. Then at Shin. "Is this true? Tell me."

Shin answered her with silence.

"It's true, Tsuki. Come to me," a voice said.

"Shinta," Tsuki ran to her sense.

Kari was standing by Shinta. Tsuki ran into Kari's open arms.

"Shhh. It's okay baby," soothed Kari.

"Take Tsuki to the carriage. I'm sick of Shin and he's not going to hurt another poor girl," Shinta hissed.

"No, I will do this for you," Sesshoumaru said.

"Sesshoumaru…." Tsuki whispered, looking at Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru looked at Tsuki. She could have sworn that he had a gleam of sadness in his eyes.

"Leave him and lets go home. I owe him for the happiness he did give me," Tsuki said.

"As you wish," Sesshoumaru said feeling the pain coming from Tsuki.

As Sesshoumaru headed to the three people Shin said, "Tsuki, are you really going to leave me? The one you love."

"I'm not leaving the one I love. I'm leaving the fake man I met," Tsuki said coldly.

Shin fell to his knees. "You saw right through me, and yet you still let her come. Why?"

"Because I want her to be strong and to learn. She can't always be there stumbling in the dark," Sesshoumaru said leading Tsuki, Kari, and Shinta outside.

"Kari? Shinta? Why are you leaving your Lord?" Shin muttered.

"Our lord died a long time ago," Shinta said.

Tsuki noticed Sesshoumaru had no general. That explains why all the other lords and generals avoided him. He was lord and general of the west. She thought about asking why, but stayed quiet any ways.

They rode quietly all the way back to Sesshoumaru's palace.

"Kari, Shinta, they're two beds in my room. Fallow my sent and go rest. I'll come shortly," Tsuki ordered quietly.

They obeyed without a word.

"Sesshoumaru, as I understand it, you set this up," Tsuki said coldly gazing at Sesshoumaru.

It scared Sesshoumaru that Tsuki had no more emotions to show.

"Yes," he said simply.

"Why? Do you enjoy tormenting me?" Tsuki asked.

"No. I wanted to see if you could see past what you want to see to the truth. It seems you did. You were just denying it. Come," Sesshoumaru said holing out his hand.

"I.. I… I'm so sorry. I mean you were helping me and I hated you for it," Tsuki started.

"No, don't be sorry," Sesshoumaru commanded. Why is she always so different?

"Night, mi lord," Tsuki said submissively.

"Night. Meet me in my study at exactly 9:00am tomorrow," he answered.

"Yes," she bowed then went to her room.

"Are you okay?" Kari and Shinta both said as Tsuki walked in.

"I really don't know," Tsuki said sitting on her king size bed.

Shinta and Kari sat on ether sides and held her like a child.

"We will always be there for you," Kari said.

"We will train and tutor you. We will be the parents you never had," Shinta assured her.

Tears fell, yet Tsuki's breathing was steady and even. There was also no sound. They fell asleep like that. Tsuki was the first to wake. It was 8:30. She hurried to get dressed

"Mi Lord," Tsuki bowed walking in the study at exactly 9:00.

"Sit," he retorted putting papers to the side.

Tsuki sat in front of him quietly diverting her eyes. He threw a knife at her. She caught it between her teeth. She had extraordinary reflexes. They far exceeded a normal human's.

"So you aren't human?" Sesshoumaru asked.

"I am human. The only difference between me and others is that I've trained all my life," Tsuki said fiddling with the knife.

"I want to know what you've learned about Shin," Sesshoumaru said coldly.

"I learned he's with the enemy and his people hate him. Plus they're all coming here tonight. Well.. They heard about what happened, and they decided to make me their new lord. I received a letter from them this morning," Tsuki said shyly.

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow, "Do you know what to do? Who said you could have them come here?"

"Oh. Please Sesshy-sama?" Tsuki said sitting on his desk.

"What are you doing?" asked Sesshoumaru.

"Oh, I never thanked you," Tsuki smiled evilly.

Sesshoumaru's eyebrows rose as high as they'd go. "Fine they can come. Just get off my desk. I have work to do."

Tsuki smiled and left Sesshoumaru to his work.

"So what did you do this time?" asked Kari.

"Oh nothing much," Tsuki smiled.

"You really got him to let you have the ceremony here? That's not like him at all," stated Shinta.

"I think he likes you," teased Kari.

"No, he doesn't. He has an ice heart. Besides we have other things to worry about," Tsuki smiled.

After all the generals and lords arrived Tsuki stood. "Hello, I am happy you all could make it. I have some news… I am to be the next lord of the north."

"A women can't be a lord," yelled a drunken demon.

"There are no rules against it," Tsuki said.

"You can't be. There is all ready a lord," retorted a demon.

"The people of the north don't agree with him, and if he refuses to give me power. Then I'll take it from him," said Tsuki fiercely.

All the people shrank back in fright. They watched as Tsuki icily gazed over the crowd.

"Do any one of you cowardice men challenge me? Or shall I assume my seat?" Tsuki said deathly cold.

"I challenge you for my title," said Shin.

"Fine," Tsuki led the way to the battle arena. Why does he have to make this so hard on himself?

Sesshoumaru took his place in the middle of the arena. He gave disagreeing looks at Tsuki. He yelled for every one to stand back. He said the rules, but no one listened. They could all fill the tension. Tsuki took slow calming breaths, clearing her head.

Okay, this is it. I can't let these people down. Maybe if I gain control Kogome and the gang will come and find me. Then I could get home and forget all of this Tsuki thought.

"Begin!" Sesshoumaru's voice said.

The only thing louder than the crowd was her heart beat. She saw him come at her. He seemed to be in slow motion even though it was only a secant. He swung his sword down. Hatred backing it up. Tsuki's eyes filled with tears. She still loved the man she knew to be some where in that beast. She silently let the tears fall as she went diagonally upward.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered in his ear as he fell forward.

"Thank you," were his last words.

Tsuki slowly stood, his blood dripping from her. She stood there for a minute, not knowing what to do. She was confused and using all her energy to hide behind a mask of ice.

"The winner and new lord of the north, Tsuki," announced Sesshoumaru.

Every one clapped as Tsuki passed.

"Mi Lady, will you take us home?" asked a little child running up to her.

"Yes and you'll all be free when we get home," Tsuki smiled sadly remembering what Sesshoumaru said.

He took babies and children from their parents to train them as servants. Sesshoumaru had said explaining why every one hated Shin.

Why is he so evil and yet so kind? Asked Tsuki hiding her emotions.

I don't know, Tsuki. Was all Sesshoumaru had said.

"Tsuki!" gasped Kari and Shinta.

"It's not mine," she said bowing her head.

"Come, lets get you cleaned up," Kari said pulling the numb Tsuki behind her.

About an hour later Tsuki laid down to relax her muscles.

"How is she?" Sesshoumaru asked walking into Tsuki's room.

She had fallen asleep on her bed.

"She is having an emotional battle," Kari said lighting incense.

"She will recover," Sesshoumaru said like he knows everything.

"You don't know what your talking about, Sesshoumaru. You need to just stay away from her," Shinta snapped.

"You dare tell me what to do?" Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow.

"If I didn't you'd make more turmoil," Shinta said calming himself.

"Listen, Sesshoumaru, if you come and hurt her so help me, I'll kill you," Kari said.

"Hurt her?" Sesshoumaru said confused.

"Men," Kari sighed.

"Just leave. If she wants to talk to you, I'll personally get you," Shinta said pushing Sesshoumaru out of the room.

"Mama…help…" Tsuki murmured.

Kari and Shinta watched Tsuki sleep.

"Wake up, Mama, Papa. Its time to leave," Tsuki said standing.

Shinta and Kari smiled as they fallowed Tsuki and the little child home.

"Wait, lady Tsuki. I have a letter from Lord Sesshoumaru," a breathless messenger said walking away.

"So what's it say?" asked Kari.

"On the out side it says do not open till your ready. I wonder what that means," Tsuki said as they headed home.

"It's good to get a break," Tsuki said.

It seemed to her that there was endless work. She had arrived two days ago and did nothing but paper work.

"You done, mi lady? That's great," Kari smiled from her cleaning.

"Mi lady, what is wrong?" Shinta asked walking in.

"What do you think Sesshoumaru is doing? I mean who could stand being all alone with this much work?" Tsuki said lifting up the letter.

"Lady Tsuki, don't start that again. He doesn't mine being alone. Come on if he really cared he would have friends," Kari stated.

"Yeh, you're right," Tsuki sighed standing.

There was a nock on the door.

"Enter,"

"Lord Tsuki, letter for you from Lord Sesshoumaru," a messenger said bowing.

"Good. You are dismissed," Tsuki opened the letter.

"What is it?" Shinta asked.

"There is to be a meeting of lords tomorrow. He has something important to tell us. Do you think its about the horrible rat demons?" Tsuki put the letter down.

"Maybe, have you finished your plans?" Shinta asked.

"Yes, I just finished," Tsuki grabbed a bag and filled it with an assortment of papers.

"Mi Lord, there is a group of travelers here to see you,"

"Let them in,"

"Wow.. Tsuki you're here for what? About a month? And you are a lord. That's so cool," a girl said walking in.