~Ameki~

Sesshomaru's eyes held a fog that Ameki was not used to. The following days since Ameki's encounter with Nimka had been a blur. There was no longer pain each time a new mark presented itself onto her palm. It was nearing nightfall on the day the mark for 80 came forth. Ameki somehow felt as if they had just been travelling blindly, no longer following any certain path or destination. Sesshomaru had been quiet most of the time as they had descended to the ground and continued on foot. Kohaku and Hotaru quietly discussed scenarios and possible reasons as to why the young priestess had disappeared. Ameki could gather that it did upset Kohaku. Why wouldn't it if he cared about the twins? Sesshomaru's train of thought however, was a mystery to her as it usually was, but this time felt different. It had seemed as if the great Lord had been intentionally avoiding her, or at the least distancing himself.

Ameki's dreams had found a calm she hadn't felt in quite a while either. Her dreams consisted of cloud-like substances and fond memories. A huge beautiful specter that watched over her in her sleep. It calmed her sleeping mind, and lately she hadn't even noticed any shadows in her dreams. Invading thoughts, or protrusions like she had before. It was just sleep. She could tell the dreams were still a long shot from what she had been accustomed to before her life changed, but it was a well needed break from the horrors she had witnessed, and for that she was grateful.

The night was going to be cold, and Sesshomaru, probably against his better judgment, had stopped in a clearing and gazed out across the horizon. The setting sun in the west illuminated a bustling village that lay against the eastern mountains. Ameki glanced up at Sesshomaru, watching him as his eyes scanned the view before him. It was odd for them to cross a human settlement. Sesshomaru had seemed to evade them before, why now?

"Care if we get some supplies?" Kohaku's voice sounded from behind Ameki. Sesshomaru nodded without looking away from the village.

"We can probably dig up some information here as well. We might find a trail or something, being so close to Echigo."

Sesshomaru's eyelid slightly twitched as Hotaru spoke. If Ameki didn't know any better, she would have thought Sesshomaru to be tired. Maybe even exhausted? His hair was a bit more wind swept than usual. Even after they had descended to the ground he had neglected the stray strands that sprung outward. His movements weren't as stoic as she remembered. Each step he took was not as delicately placed as the Lord in her memories. The twitch of his eyelid had been most uncharacteristic of him, and simply brought on by the sound of Hotaru's voice. Something was wrong, she was almost sure of it.

Ameki felt a twinge of pain as she accessed Sesshomaru. Yes, he was a great and powerful demon, but maybe even he had needed some rest. He seemed to be on a never ending journey. Even long before they met with the war raging between him and Yakunan. Ameki had seen Sesshomaru give Ah-Un numerous breaks on their travels, much like the one they were currently on as they traversed the terrain instead of travelling through the open skies. Who had allowed Sesshomaru to rest though?

"Stay in the village tonight." Sesshomaru's voice was low, but clearly audible and demanding. Sesshomaru glanced at her, the first time she had noticed in the past day.

"My Lord?" She questioned. She had heard him, but wanted an explanation.

"Jaken, the currency." Sesshomaru stated, turning his gaze to the imp that instantly began fumbling with his robe. After a few awkward grunts his clammy hands produced a jingly pouch heavy with coin. Sesshomaru grabbed the pouch and effortlessly tossed it toward Kohaku. He instantly reacted, catching the pouch with almost just as little effort.

"Arrange to accommodate Ameki. Price matters not." Sesshomaru's voice was as cool as the wind that lightly caressed Ameki's warm cheek. Kohaku raised a brow.

"I could cover the cost of our stay if you'd prefer to save your coin." Kohaku suggested.

"It matters not to me. Give the currency to Ameki and let her browse the market." Sesshomaru turned to walk away but Ameki intervened.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" A bit of curiosity had entered her tone, but mostly laced with hidden panic. Sesshomaru seemed to have caught on rather quickly and halted for a moment. Catching her gaze. She tried her best to plead with her eyes. Needing an explanation of some sort.

"Where will you stay?" She asked.

"I'll be close." He answered.

"Purchase some warm attire. It is cold in the northern regions." Was his only reply as he disappeared into the wooded area with Ah-Un and Jaken at his heels.

The market district was busy and maybe even a little crowded. Ameki definitely felt claustrophobic in some areas of the cramped streets. She could feel the panic begin to set in as her two travelling companions, Kohaku and Hotaru, pulled ahead finding a clearing as she still struggled to get by a few of the heavier patrons that crowded a stall dedicated to sweet treats. If Ameki hadn't been trying to keep up with the other two, she herself might have stopped and inquired about a few of the sweet delicacies. The streets were a bit warmer to her than the outskirts of the town had been. Maybe it had to do with the amount of people that clustered in the streets. Many of the market stalls steamed with fresh food still warm from cooking. Some vendors even cooked over open flame. Or maybe it was just the closeness of the buildings that lined the streets that blocked the chilly wind that she had experienced outside of the village.

Ameki broke Free of the sometimes smothering crowd and caught sight of Kohaku and Hotaru heading toward a rather large looking tea house. Of course it would be the kind of tea house to house travellers for the night. The many floors of the building were illuminated by candlelight as the night hours approached and the sun's rays disappeared. Ameki had to wonder if they had even noticed her struggle behind them. Sesshomaru would have and maybe even Jaken.

Something caught her eye though halting her from following the two men to their accommodations. A large stall littered with fabrics and clothing adorned the opposite side of the street from their destination. A young woman occupied the working area behind the stall. Ameki watched as she practiced her craft. Actually as she watched the young woman expertly weave material through the loom like device, she thought more of someone fine tuning their passion. This woman clearly wasn't practicing anything. She had it down pat. She removed the finely put together piece from her work station, and began stitching it together with another piece she had laid to the side. This woman's wares varied in colors, sizes, designs and taste. It was clear to Ameki that she let her customers watch as she created such beautiful masterpieces. That intrigued Ameki and her astonishment only grew as she watched the woman work.

"Interested in my wares?" A serene voice pulled Ameki from her trance.

"They're all so amazing. Your craftsmanship far surpasses anyone I've ever met." Ameki's compliments didn't fall flat thankfully. The woman beamed a smile at her.

"Thank you. I come from a long line of tailors. I've been working with fabric since I can remember. I was probably born with a spool of thread in my hands." She jested.

"I honestly don't doubt that fact. You have just about everything to choose from. And they're all your work?" Ameki inquired.

"Mostly. A few of the pieces here belong to my mother. She tends the stall in the morning hours. We take turns tending the stall and my younger siblings. It's a busy life but honest work and we both have a passion for it so that helps." Ameki nodded at the woman's answer.

The woman tilted her head slightly. She was taking in Ameki's appearance. She felt a bit awkward under the woman's gaze. Like she herself was being appraised by a master Craftsman. The woman clearly was looking for her flaws. At least that's how she felt under her gaze.

"You know, I have something that would be perfect for you. I know what you're thinking here comes the sales pitch. It's nothing like that I assure you." Ameki cocked her brow, wondering what this woman had meant.

"I have a few winter pieces I'd like to display. Tomorrow I would like to showcase them with it being the first official day of winter. I don't recognize you so I suppose you must be a traveler. Depending on how long you're staying I was wondering if you would do me a favor. In return I could pay you generously and maybe even part with a few of my outfits. They would certainly do better on these cold nights than your current attire."

This peaked Ameki's interest. She could save Sesshomaru's currency and maybe even make a little more. Of course she would want to hear more of this woman's plan, and maybe even know her name.

"And who is it that I'm speaking to that would want to strike such a deal?" Ameki asked.

"Migumi." The woman answered serenely.

"I'm Ameki, and what would you ask of me, this favor?" Migumi smiled.

"Maybe favor was the wrong word. It's more like a job for a day." Migumi shifted her attention to something she had stored under her stall.

"Here I have a collection of outfits I've been working on most of the Fall season. If I'm being honest I started in the summertime. The warmth that summer always brings me inspires me to carry that into the cold months. I have many duplicates waiting to be sold but I need to advertise them. That's what this showcase is supposed to do. However I'm lacking something.. I have a certain line of fashionable design that I think you would be the perfect model for." Ameki pondered her words. She had never been given such an offer. A model for advertising clothes during an event. The woman seemed nice enough and her offer seemed fair. Especially if it were to just be for a day. Ameki didn't seem to care much about the money part but if she could obtain some clothes without spending anymore of Sesshomaru's funds then maybe she would feel less like a burden and more like she was taking care of herself.

"You're very beautiful and I'm sure the options I could lay out for you would only accent that natural beauty. You seem like the type of woman that young girls would look up to. If they see you wearing my clothing and decide to invest in my family's passion it would greatly aid us in extending our business and circulate our wares." Migumi's passion for her craft was admirable. Ameki was caught a bit off guard by the woman's compliment, and it slightly caused a bit of embarrassment. Ameki had never seen herself as beautiful, but she supposed beauty was in the eye of the beholder.

"I would love to help you in your endeavors but I'm not sure how long we'll be staying. We usually don't settle in one spot very long." Ameki answered.

"That's no problem at all. The markets are usually busy in the morning hours and I had already planned to take my mother's place in the morning so I could debut my outfits. We could arrange to start as early as Dawn. The festivities would start soon after that." Ameki thought about this. With Kohaku and Hotaru already heading to shelter for the night, they would most likely set out to buy supplies in the morning hours. They had also mentioned trying to find clues as to the whereabouts of the missing priestess. This could work...but… Sesshomaru.

What would Sesshomaru think? What were his plans? Would he come for them when he was ready to leave? Send Jaken? Or leave it up to them when they were ready to depart the settlement? Maybe Sesshomaru was finally getting the rest he needed? Maybe it was why he had stopped at a human settlement. He probably felt safer with Ameki being surrounded by her own kind when he decided to rest. He clearly needed something.

"I'll do it " Ameki answered, causing a huge grin to sprout across Migumi's face.

~Sesshomaru~

The weathered pebble that lay in the palm of his hand would have seemed normal to a mortal's eyes. The smooth shiny surface replayed a mirrored reflection of himself as the moon's light splayed across his skin. He was irritable, and his appearance spoke volumes. The pebble, he had formed into the likeness of his own crescent that accentuated his forehead. He could feel his demonic powers seeping into the small vessel. It would be his way of trying to protect Ameki's dreams while he was not able to be with her. Much like that night. He would need to think ahead. He wasn't sure how much longer this would last, and there was no way of knowing when duty would call him away from her, or for how long. He wasn't sure if it would work. Or even if Ameki would carry it with her, but he needed to try something. His father had often given him tokens as a pup. Tokens that had sealed his own demonic energy within them. His father had always been gone it had seemed, but he could always feel his father's presence through the talismans and tokens he had left behind for Sesshomaru. Those thoughts darkened Sesshomaru's mood even more. He was resorting to his father's ways, and following in his habits to try and bring himself some solace, and protect Ameki. A mortal woman. Also a similarity he had with his father.

A younger Sesshomaru would have spat on the thought, but this Sesshomaru… This Sesshomaru would adhere to it. It was after all his reality it seemed. Sesshomaru felt the stone begin to thrum with his own energy. That would do. Now to find a way for Ameki to conveniently carry it with her. Sesshomaru had the idea of commissioning a jewel crafter to make a setting for the stone, but the only demon jewel crafters he knew were far away from their current location. He was sure by the size of the market district in the village that the likely-hood of a jewel crafter being present was fairly good. However, this time he couldn't send Jaken to do his bidding. He wasn't sure how he felt about Jaken's awareness of the gift he would present to Ameki. The clothing, food and necessities he had given her he did not care for Jaken to know. He had often sent Jaken to be the one to gather such things.

This time it was different though. It was almost as if Sesshomaru would be giving a part of himself to the mortal woman. For her protection of course but still a part of himself nonetheless. It could be taken the wrong way. Sesshomaru didn't care most of the time the worries and wants of the little imp, but Jaken was indeed his most loyal servant whether he wanted to admit it or not. Having someone that close to him, yet still a dozen arm lengths away from his emotions, trials and tribulations was best. He would have to do it himself. He hated going into human settlements, but it hadn't stopped him before. He seemed human enough and in these days and times the mortal communities were mainly only haunted by the Oni that appeared less appealing to the eyes. He would need to act quickly though. The mortals tended to sleep at night, and the sunset usually signaled an end to their toils and labors for the day. However, you could sometimes get lucky with craftsmen, as they often worked until the late hours of the night readying their merchandise for the next day. With Jeweler's it was even more convenient to find them in their work stations already working on a custom fit for one of their customers. Sesshomaru was willing to gamble on the odds, and headed for the still bustling village. There were clearly less people than there had been before, but the crowd that did linger seemed to pay him no attention.

He didn't like sticking to the shadows, and hiding was not in his nature. He could always make the exception however in this situation given the fact that he didn't want to draw unwanted attention to himself. He didn't want to even be here in the first place. Luck would be on Sesshomaru's side this time it seemed as he came to a small alley which was illuminated. The familiar sound of a grindstone could be heard echoing off of the nearby buildings. He was in the right area at least. Among the many other scents that tangled with each other among the village he could smell the heated shavings of metal, often a smell that was put off by the action of grinding or buffing a metal surface. A practice often exhibited in jewelcrafting.

Sesshomaru approached the illuminated shed. It had been made into a workshop. A small forge area with a built in smelter sat to the side that was most ventilated with half the wall missing, a table displayed chunks of ore that had been extracted from stone and other materials exhumed from the earth. A few rough and raw gems sat in a pile on the back wall of the shed. The mortal man worked with his hands and grind stone. His foot pumping the pedal that aided the round stone in its motion. The grazing sound began again as the man lightly placed the metal in his hands against the turning stone, ever so gently letting the metal catch in more rough spots.

Sesshomaru halted his advance and stood still, waiting for the man to turn his attention toward him. The man seemed to be enthralled by what he was doing and didn't even notice Sesshomaru's approach. Sesshomaru cleared his throat as the rhythmic sound settled, and the man turned his way. Catching notice of Sesshomaru could have been a gamble. Whether he was surprised by Sesshomaru's appearance, or was merely startled that someone had been standing there, those were the bets of said gamble. The man's eyes scanned Sesshomaru up and down, as a small smile formed on his lips

"How may I help you sir?" The man's greed could be seen through the small smile that increased into a full grin. He had assessed Sesshomaru's wealth long before he met his eyes.

"I need a setting made for a custom stone." The man rose from his position on the wooden stool in front of the grindstone, setting down the metal he had been working with.

"Ah, I'm capable of making a wide variety of settings. Do you have said stone with you?" He inquired, searching Sesshomaru's being once more.

Sesshomaru pulled the smooth stone from his sleeve, slowly bringing it into view of the Jeweler. His eyes widened as the shiny surface glinted in the lantern light.

"Very Unique, and quite the symbol. A family symbol of some sort? Like the one you sport on your appearance? Nobility I assume?" The tirade of questions in one sitting irked Sesshomaru. He was already bothered by his circumstances and this wasn't helping. The jeweler gathered the stone in his own grasp, Sesshomaru wanting to instinctively pull away as the man's skin made contact with his own.

"Very nice texture, was this years in the making discovered stone or did you use heat to aid where the elements failed?" Sesshomaru thought of staying silent, but he needed this done as quickly as possible.

"I've had the stone for a long time. It's a special stone, not like that which you can find in riverbeds. It may appear as such, but it has more significance than that. So do not suggest I replace it with something of your own. I merely wish to have a setting made." The Jeweler pulled back with a raised brow.

"Very well. I can have it done by tomorrow evening." Sesshomaru was not satisfied. He could intimidate the man, or try to speak a language he was sure the man would understand. Sesshomaru pulled a few pouches from his armor that were weighted with coins. Tossing them onto the counter, Sesshomaru spoke.

"I'm going to need it sooner than that. Much sooner." The jewel looked at the coin pouches and then back to Sesshomaru. He grabbed the pouches and slid them to the edge of his counter, opening one. His eyes gleamed with want and need.

"I have a few I can modify quickly. That is if your time limit can permit a few hours instead of a day?" Sesshomaru nodded at the man's change in mind. He would have the setting tonight. Sesshomaru already eyed a few of the metal chains and necklaces that dangled from one of his unfinished displays in the corner. Probably prop jewelry.

"I will also need something fitted for…" Sesshomaru paused.

"Something well fit to a female's physique." He finished.

"What would you prefer sir? A bracelet, something to be worn around the neck, or a hair piece, maybe even a ring?" Sesshomaru had already settled on the thought of a necklace. Something that hopefully wouldn't irritate Ameki while she was trying to sleep. Hopefully solidifying the notion that she would keep it on her persons.

"I need a comfortable piece for the neck, preferably not metal." The Jeweler cocked his head glancing at his stand.

"I do have a wire neck piece, much more comfortable than the chains due to the fact that they have a layer of silk material intertwined with them. It's most beautiful as well, very pleasant to the eyes, and a comfortable fit for any woman. You simply need to choose the color." The Jeweler observed the direction of his collections. Sesshomaru had already spotted the one he wished for the stone to adorn. A deep royal purple much like the stone itself, the silver wire embroidered through the purple silk gave it a gleaming accent, much like his own silver strands of hair. It was perfect.

It took the Jeweler a little over an hour to set the stone in a makeshift setting. Sesshomaru's sharp senses immediately picked up on the rushed work in the tiny setting, but it wouldn't be visible to most if any. He was pleased as well, because what he had imagined would be thrown together looked as if it had been made by a master. It was truly stunning. The Royal purple that matched his own crescent and the stone glinted with the silver, softening it to the touch. He hoped that this would suffice. Now he just needed to worry about how he would present it to her.

Finding her in a crowd would be a much harder task for him, and more than likely just bring more unwanted attention. This would be a job for Jaken. He would return to where he had left Ah-Un near the crater of Wijiu on the outskirts of town.

Sesshomaru wasn't much for family history, but the crater did hold a place in it. Sesshomaru's mother, InuKimi, had once ruled over these lands before his father had come into her life. Her family's past had raged many wars and finished those that had not been their doing. Landing her as the Lady of the Western Lands. InuKimi had often tried to scare the young Sesshomaru with the legends of his great grandfather, Inu Baku Son. A fierce dog demon that had been rumored to be even more cold hearted than the younger Sesshomaru had been. His death had resulted in the crater that now scarred the earth there. It was said that when he had fallen from the sky his stone heart along with his body shattered into what is now the strange stones that litter the crater. Mortals stay away from it because of the ominous demons that lurk around the forests, but in reality Illusions were put into place to keep any scavengers away from the resting place.

Sesshomaru was an exception though. He knew the stone within the crater would be the perfect item to transfer his powers into. Something that would hold his very life essence and not let it fade. The remains of his great grandfather. The stone that was now in the shape of the crescent on his forehead, was what Sesshomaru had gone after. The jeweler hadn't needed to know the details, and so Sesshomaru had lied.

Upon returning to Ah-Un and Jaken, the scared little imp that hid in fear of the apparitions that taunted him, Sesshomaru spoke.

"Jaken. Your service is required." Jaken straightened out his ancient frame. Ready to take on whatever it was that his lord commanded. Sesshomaru was pleased.

"Bring Ameki to me where we last parted on the outskirts of the village. Then return to make sure that no one has followed you." Sesshomaru spoke with no room for reasoning. His word was law with Jaken.

"Yes my lord. Right away my lord!" He squealed all too eagerly. Sesshomaru took to the sky, as Jaken did with Ah-Un.

He waited, and waited… and waited. It was clear to him that Jaken must have gotten lost in the rather sizable village. It was much larger than the village in which InuYasha resided in, but it wasn't huge like some of the human settlements he had seen before. There was a palace, which would explain the reasoning for the sizable settlement. The castle was built up into the east mountains, and the settlement sat at the base. A mortal Lord probably resided within its walls along with all of his servants, wife, children and harem.

Sesshomaru thought back to his life in the castle with his mother. Maybe he was too rash with his opinions of her. He too was distant himself, and hated showing emotion. However he supposed that is where the trait had come from. It hadn't always been terrible. Or what Sesshomaru considered to be terrible. He did have some fond memories of her. Memories of her using the Meido Stone to return Rin to him, even after he had already used the Tenseiga on her. Returning her to life that second time shouldn't have been possible, but Sesshomaru's mother had allowed it. Something in her must have felt sympathy for her forlorn Son. Maybe deep inside her stone heart she had a warmth for him. He was after all, her spawn. She had been rumored to be a complacent ruler of the Western lands, until Inu No Taisho came along. Their meeting was fated, but not for long it had seemed. She bore the Dog Lord a Son and shared Reign with him. All of that for Inu No Taisho to turn his back on his mate and fall for a mortal woman.

Sesshomaru was no fool, he knew how demon politics worked. Often Demon's who despised each other would mate as a political advance, just to turn around and collect a harem. Not every union was one of love, but one of power. Sesshomaru had often thought about when the time came for him to sire a child. He held no one in mind particularly. He knew of no demon women that sparked his interest or fueled his sense of power. He always just assumed that his mother would pick a suitable mate for him, and the cycle would continue. He would join as her mate, surrender her to herself, and leave picking up where he left off. Castle life was never part of his agenda, and more than likely never would be. It wasn't for him. He belonged in the real world, not the Castle his mother hid in.

Ameki appeared, Jaken's little figure disappeared back toward the village, just as Sesshomaru had ordered. Her face was flushed with heat. Jaken had seemingly rushed her there to make up for the wait that Sesshomaru had been given.

"Is something wrong?" The worry in her voice was apparent, and from the looks of it Jaken might have interrupted her bath, or maybe that had been what the wait was about. Her hair, barely having had time to dry clung to her clothes, the damp fabric making her shiver. This is not what Sesshomaru had meant to do. He didn't wish her discomfort, but it had been his pride trying to hide his shame that had made him so secretive. He could have just barged in and given her the piece to avoid this.

Her shivers and look of discomfort and worry continued. Sesshomaru stepped forward, releasing the mokomo from around his body. Grabbing his fur he gently placed the warm bundle around the freezing woman. Drawing them closer together. It wasn't intentional, but Sesshomaru allowed it. After all he was at fault for her current state. Her surprise registered.

"Lord Sesshomaru I'm fine I promise." She peered up at him through wet bangs that clung to her lashes. The thin robe she wore would not suffice in staving off the icy wind. He made a mental note to be more precise with Jaken next time. Her shivering frame seemed to calm the longer she stayed in the mokomo's clutches. Her eyes searched Sesshomaru for the meaning of this meeting. He wasn't sure how to begin. Surprisingly though, it was Ameki who broke the silence.

"Have you been resting my Lord?" Her question puzzled him.

"What do you mean?" He questioned back.

"Something has been bothering you." He instinctively found the single….no not single, now there were two white hairs among her ebony crown. Two white strands of hair stared back at him from mere inches away. Their closeness helped to magnify the change. Maybe it was Sesshomaru's cautious nature that made him over think every detail. He was almost certain though that the small changes he sensed in her in previous days were coming from the white hair. They were a part of her, but felt different. He wasn't sure how to explain his change in demeanor. He was sure he did well to hide it, but if she had noticed then he had failed.

"I have no need for rest." He simply replied.

"And yet you make sure that Ah-Un is not pushed too far and properly rests." She peered at him with a knowing look.

"You may not need it as often, but you do need rest too don't you?" Sesshomaru wanted to squirm under her sudden scrutiny. He felt like a child being called out for misbehaving. It was beneath him, but he allowed it.

"It's different for demons of all types." He replied.

"How often do you rest? Actually, what do you even consider rest to be?"

Rest for Sesshomaru had always been the open skies, staring at the stars, laying among the trees and just letting his mind wander, and even letting his guard down. To rest though, he would need complete seclusion. He hadn't rested like he wished for many moons. If it was showing that was why. He didn't need or want to bother her with it, but she seemed far too intuitive seeing right through his guise. Maybe this was why he held such distaste for mortal's in earlier years. They could detect the slightest change because they cared to. Demons cared not for emotions and didn't look for them where they went. Sesshomaru had always struggled with hiding his emotions. It was to the point he acted as if he had none and played the part. Yet standing before him, this fragile mortal woman cared to see the changes in him and it concerned her.

This is why he would protect her. She could see the real him, and she was the only one who could see it, or would ever be allowed to. At this point he wasn't sure he could stop her if he wished it.

"Do you still see my aura?" Sesshomaru asked. Hoping to steer the conversation. If she wanted to talk, he would make it more about her and less about him. He would let her keep her assumptions about him, but he wouldn't feed her the information she wanted, because he knew she wouldn't like it.

Ameki sighed, clearly coming to the same determination.

"It comes in and out of focus rarely. I can't make it happen, and it's happening less often." She answered. Her weight shifting a little closer as if she were intentionally trying to see or feel something, any hint of his aura.

"I've been thinking though…" She paused as if she were trying to form words from a jumbled mind.

"Maybe it had something to do with my vision with Nimka. I relived my experience in a temporary limbo, maybe it was my soul recalling or remembering what it felt like being so close to the afterlife, yet not making it there. The white haired lady sent me away, back toward the land of the living. Just being in a realm of spirits I think made me more sensitive to the things others can't see." She slightly shrugged.

"It's all I can fathom. I'm not educated in these things, it's just the only thing that is making sense to me. The only way I can explain it. When I broke Free I still couldn't see this world. I could feel everything around me, but I couldn't see. When I did it was like a mixture of this world and the one I had been in." She almost looked defeated as she voiced her theory. Sesshomaru could tell she had thought alot about her experience.

"Maybe my senses were just in tune with the other world and that's why I could temporarily see what I normally can't." She finished.

Sesshomaru nodded at her explanation.

"It's possible." He agreed.

That could have explained the change he sensed in her as well. The more he thought of the cycle of life the more the pieces connected in his makeshift conclusion. The differences he sensed in her could have very well been her soul preparing to reincarnate into another vessel, to continue the cycle of life. A different person, but the same soul. Only one detail made him doubt the possibility. Yakunan had marked her, meaning her death would result in a void of his making. Her soul claimed by him to never return to the living cycle. At least that had been what he had learned of the Black dragon's powers. Their hate of the white dragon's had caused them to disrupt the cycle of creation to align more with their destruction. If Yakunan had marked her before death, her soul would not have reached the afterlife or been reincarnated. She would have just been in an infinite limbo. So who had this white haired lady been?

Sesshomaru scanned Ameki's features once more. Shaking his thoughts to clear the way for the reason she was currently there.

"It will make sense in time." He tried to reassure her. A small smile replaced the recent frown erasing any sign of the previous worry lines. Ameki's hand came up to brush back a stray strand of Sesshomaru's hair that had escaped in the breeze. The hair had clung to her own wet hair.

"You should let me comb your hair my Lord." She searched his face for any sign of humor to mirror her own. He kept his same expression. It didn't seem to faze her though. His eyes would give her the response she wanted.

"It would seem you were not afforded the time to comb yours." Sesshomaru stated.

"Jaken should have given you more time to prepare. That is my fault for not being more clear." Sesshomaru could feel his brow pull, his expression darkening.

"Jaken can be kind of ditzy. It's not his fault or your fault my Lord. I should have been more bossy with him, I just didn't know what the urgency was for. I was worried so I rushed." Her answer was simple enough, nothing betrayed her to signify she had fibbed to maintain Jaken's well-being.

" What am I here for?" She asked, realizing they had yet to speak on the matter.

Sesshomaru shifted. It was time. Nerves. Sesshomaru could feel his nerves dancing around his subconscious mind. It had not affected his body, and he wouldn't allow it to. He knew Ameki would catch on easily if he did. He needed to just tell the truth.

"Your dreams. Are they better now?" He asked. She thought about his question, her eyes wandered as if to recall something.

"Yes my lord, they are actually. I'm sleeping well. They're weird dreams, but not bad. I don't see him nearly as much and when I do he usually disappears." Sesshomaru nodded. Knowing why this was the outcome.

"There is something new there though. A terrifying but beautiful sight. It's a large specter. A dog of sorts that seems to keep to the skies of my dreams. I can always hear it in the distance and catch glimpses of it. It does scare me, but I sometimes can't keep myself away from it. I find myself actually looking for it most nights."

Sesshomaru knew full well why this occurred too. His demon roamed her dreams as he let his aura have free reign over her sleeping realm. It had seemed to be the only thing that helped her sleep peacefully at night. Her words for some reason surfaced a strange sense of excitement in him. She searched for him, not even seemingly aware that the great dog apparition that roamed her dreams was him. Without further hesitation he pulled the necklace with the stone from his sleeve, shifting slightly so the mokomo wouldn't pull Ameki off balance with his movement. Her eyes instantly caught the gleaming stone and her brows rose.

"What's this?" She asked as Sesshomaru brought it fully into her view.

"Think of it as a charm. It should keep him away from your dreams…" Sesshomaru paused.

"Even when I'm not able to be around." He added. Ameki glanced up at the great dog Lord. He could see something in her eyes. Almost recognition.

"It's you isn't it? The Apparition I see. Is that your true form?" Sesshomaru didn't answer, but he knew his eyes wouldn't lie to her. He could try, but he knew it would fail. Eventually she would see his true form. Better that it be in her dreams rather than him tearing apart anything that threatened to harm her.

"Yes." He answered.

"I always wondered." She replied.

"What your true form is...that is. I knew that strong demons could disguise themselves as humans. I just never understood why they would go through such lengths to appear to look like something they see as worthless." Her face faltered as if her words had hurt her own feelings.

"This is my true form." Sesshomaru spoke, trying to bring her out of her stupor.

"The other is considered a great and terrible form, my heritage." Sesshomaru was trying to bring some clarity to Ameki's troubled mind.

"The appearance I present before you now is just as much a part of me as the dog apparition that scours the skies of your dreams." Ameki's lip trembled. Her attention was back on the necklace that she now held.

"Help me?" She offered her words lifting the necklace. Sesshomaru paused, wondering what she had meant. He held his hand out nonetheless, letting her set the piece into his palm. She slightly turned, unraveling herself from the Mokomo. It's weight falling between them. Her thin damp white robe made its appearance once more in the chilly night. Facing away from Sesshomaru, she struggled to gather her hair, doing her best to pool the wet locks on the top of her head. She was wanting Sesshomaru to help her put the necklace on. She was going to wear it. This caused his demon inside to awake. This pleased them both.

Her pale hands began to tremble. Most likely from the cold night air that washed over her once more. The sleeve of her robe slipped down, exposing the white skin that lay underneath as she held her hair. Sesshomaru's hands extended almost expertly, weaving the necklace around the front, letting it rest on her chest, and pulling the Silk covered wire to the back. Sesshomaru stepped closer, hoping that the heat from his own body could be felt by Ameki's cold one. He clasped the back easily, and stepped away slightly. Mokomo without hesitation lifted from the ground, wrapping around the young woman's frame once again. Ameki gasped a little this time.

"How did…" A dawning realization entered her features.

"Is Mokomo an actual part of you?" She asked rather embarrassed. Sesshomaru saw no reason to lie to her.

"Yes, it is a part of my vessel.." He stated.

Ameki's face turned a bright red and it wasn't from the cold wind. She almost looked as if she were about to cry or maybe laugh. He couldn't discern this new emotion she portrayed.

"Is it your tail?" Her voice was so small, and her face had frozen in that unintelligible emotion.

"If you wish to call it my tail then so be it." he replied.

"Thats…" Ameki's face continued to distort.

"Adorable!" She exclaimed with a high pitched voice. Both her hands cupped her cheeks as she looked up at him. Sesshomaru was truly confused now. Adorable? His tail, the one feature he retained from his other form was adorable? The great Lord Sesshomaru, adorable?

An unfamiliar sensation swept across his own face. A feeling of warmth as the young woman before him exclaimed that his tail was adorable. A feeling that he instantly wanted to hide by averting his gaze, and turning his head to look back toward the village.

"I'm sorry Lord Sesshomaru. That was uncalled for." Ameki hurriedly apologized and turned her attention back to the stone that now lay against her chest.

"Thank you Lord Sesshomaru. I'll wear it when I sleep if you think it will help me." She smiled. He could see the corner of her mouth lift in his peripheral view. He was too afraid to look back at her, afraid that his sudden decline in maintaining his composure would show. He was blushing. Of all things that could have happened to Sesshomaru, he blushed.

~Ameki~

Sesshomaru's gift was beautiful. The smooth stone looked exactly like the crescent that painted the features of his forehead. She felt at peace knowing that it lay against her skin, just under her clothes. It was so beautiful she fought with the thought of showing it off, but thought better of it. Certain people might have gotten the wrong idea about the token. It was simply Sesshomaru trying to protect her, or so he had claimed. She wasn't sure what power it held, if any. Maybe it was just there to ease her mind. Either way she had accepted it, and would wear it.

The room she resided in was spacious with a washing area, privacy partition, and compartment for all of her personal belongings. It was warm, as was the blanket that caressed her skin. The shadows from the flickering lantern danced across the walls, calming her mind. Her hair was now dry and she held the necklace out taking in each and every detail. She couldn't deny the feelings she had experienced when being with Sesshomaru this evening. Just seeing him so suddenly had scared her. She had been afraid that something had gone wrong, and was so relieved to find out that everything was still alright. As alright as it could be anyways. Nothing had changed. Maybe it was the relief that had caused her confusion in the way she felt. She was unsure of how Sesshomaru had made her feel this evening. It was clear however that she was forming some kind of feelings for him. Stronger than just admiration and respect. Just seeing him had sent her heart into a flurry of irregular rhythms. He was alright, and seemed calm as usual. Nothing about his features had alerted her to anything out of the ordinary.

Ameki's mind wondered as her eyelids followed suit. Their journey downwards was quickly approaching. The knock on her sliding door frightened her back to the realm of consciousness. She lifted herself to lean on one elbow as her alert state calmed. She waited for a moment, thinking it possible that her half asleep state had simply imagined it, like falling off of a cliff and scaring yourself awake. That wasn't the case. The knock came again. She stood up and made her way over to the door. Cautiously she listened for sound on the other side. Another knock came startling her ear away from the thin wood and rice paper covered slats.

"Who is it?" She inquired.

"Sesshomaru." Came the reply in an almost hushed tone. The sound of the rice paper muffled the voice further. Her heart skipped at the sound of his name. Without hesitation she opened the sliding door, but no one was there. She looked up and down the hall, but to no avail. The hall was rather well lit for it being so late in the night. Most rooms had quieted down, and you could only hear a slight mumble of noises from the downstairs entryways and tea rooms. Ameki blinked, a little disoriented at what had just happened. Was she imagining things now? She slowly closed the sliding door, facing her room once more as she leaned against the warm wood and just breathed.

"Am I finally losing it?" She questioned her own sanity. She knew the likeliness of Sesshomaru actually having been on the other side of that door was slim to none. He didn't like crowded mortal villages. She could tell it bothered him to even visit the outskirts of his brother's small village.

Finally, dismissing her thoughts and previous events she turned to latch the sliding door, but not before hearing the creek of floorboards on the other side. She quickly slid the door open once more, coming face to face with Kohaku. His surprise matched her own.

"Did I wake you?" He asked, trying to cover up his obvious startled state.

"No, I was already awake, I just thought I heard something." She replied.

"Me too. I thought I would investigate. This place is littered with people who have consumed more than just tea. I wanted to make sure no one was bothering you or trying to gain unwanted entry." He looked at her questioningly.

"I'm fine, I just... heard something and curiosity got the better of me." She replied.

"Alright. I just thought I'd check. No harm no ill will. Just don't open the door for anyone unless you are absolutely sure of who is on the other side. Even then use caution." He stated matter of factly, turning on his heel and looking back one last time. Ameki nodded in understanding.

"Good night Princess."

"Good night Kohaku."

Morning came in the blink of an eye. It seemed that way to Ameki anyways. The lantern fuel had diminished overnight, the new source of light being the light illumination of dawn through the thin rice paper that covered the slatted windows. Ameki tried to recall her dreams as she had slept, but didn't fare well in the endeavor. She stretched remembering only closing her eyes before waking back up. She shook the fatigue from her limbs and rose. Her morning would be filled, and she secretly hoped to sneak out without catching notice of the demon slayers that resided in the room across from hers. With any luck they would already be out and attending to their own business.

Ameki waited only a few minutes near Migumi's stall when the tailor arrived. She drew a handcart behind her that looked to be filled with crates of what Ameki imagined to be some of the finest clothes she would see in the whole village, maybe even the whole region. Ameki was ready. Ready to get her morning started. Although her nerves began to dance. She began fidgeting with her sleeve as Migumi gave her the rundown of events that would transpire. The first official day of winter was apparently celebrated by the village as a sort of right of passage to the new year to come. It would be a day of festivities and the perfect opportunity for Migumi to sell her winter clothing.

Ameki also soon learned that she would not be the only model to be paraded around for the townsfolk to see. This took a bit of the edge off for her though. She had been nervous to be the center of attention, knowing she wouldn't be the only one had given her some of her confidence back. She could do this and she would. It could be her way of "earning her keep" as Jaken had put it multiple times when the right occasion arose.

Three other women huddle into the small hut behind Migumi's market stall. Women of absolute beauty. Flawless in every way, or so Ameki thought. One of the women kept making snide remarks and critiquing the rest of the women in things they would say or do. She seemed to be a mentor of sorts, or had at least done this before. Either way, Ameki didn't take a liking to her very well. After all they were just supposed to wear Migumi's clothing and show them off to the villagers. You could catch more bees with honey. This woman just seemed to follow her own agenda, reminding her somewhat of a few nobles her uncle had kept company with in the past.

The dress that was chosen for Ameki was a beautiful white flowing Kimono with pastel blue flowers imprinted in the robe folds and seams. The splay of flowers cascaded down the front in a swirl that brought attention to a woman's hips. It was clear to Ameki that the design of these clothes had been carefully thought out and meant to bring attention to a woman's unique shape. The fabric, although thick, was not as stiff as most thicker clothing. It was warm, but had the sway and give that most women yearned for in clothes. The obi fit snug around Ameki's mid torso, giving her a toasty feeling of warmth that helped her stay warm even in the drafty wind. The cool colors of the Kimonos the women wore fit the theme of winter, but the flowers brought forth the memories of a warm summer. Migumi had indeed accomplished that vision in her work.

A more seasoned woman approached the group of women who had lined up beside the stall, ready for their trip through the festivities. Her hair was streaked with gray, but her features still held a bit of youth. Migumi greeted the woman with a smile, introducing her as her mother, and artisan tailor of the palace. Everything made a bit more sense to Ameki at that moment. Of Course such fine work would be put to use by nobles. How could it not? The woman introduced herself to each girl individually. Her name was Sayami. She approached Ameki with all of the visible attributes of a noble in her demeanor. Even her walk spoke of her wealth. She seemed nice enough though.

"Dear, you've missed an important part of your ensemble." She stated to Ameki as she looked her over. Ameki's brows shot up in confusion. All that Migumi had given her was the outfit she currently wore, nothing else.

"Oh how silly of me!" Migumi proclaimed as she rushed back over to the crate and pulled out something wrapped in paper. She rushed over to where Ameki stood with a curious look on her face. A beautiful blue gem hair piece. A comb hair piece that would bring the outfit to completion. Migumi gently placed the comb against the side of Ameki's face and with a sweeping motion she expertly gathered the hair to the side of her face, pulling the tendrils up to the back of her head. It took mere seconds, but everyone was impressed by the look. Even the noble critic from earlier seemed impressed. The comb sat firmly holding the hair in place. It didn't feel loose, but the hair had a seashell type loose wave to it. Ameki admired the look in the mirror. She almost looked like a princess again. It was almost bittersweet looking into the mirror. This is what would have been expected of her. Maintaining her appearance to perfection. This was perfection. Next came the makeup. The noble critic, Ameki had learned that her name was Sashyma, took pride in dolling all of the ladies up to perfection. She herself had taken on more of a geisha appearance, more befitting of her own outfit. The rest of the girls dawned face powders and oils, lip stains and blushes. For Ameki it was subtle, but definitely an improvement in her opinion. It was befitting. Not too much and not too little. Her features felt alive with detail rather than the blank canvas she often sported.

They were instructed to form a line. Sayami looked pleased at her daughter's work. Ameki could sense the affection they exchanged in a simple glance.

"We will begin our walk through the market district, from there the residential, and finally to the castle front. The stairs can be a bit of a climb if your legs are constricted. This will be a test to prove that my daughter's design will give more leg room than your average winter attire. It's the perfect opportunity to catch the eye of the young Lord as well if any of you are interested." Sayami gave a slight wink toward the lined up women. Ameki felt a bit of discomfort, even if it had been meant as a joke. The walk started in the market district. The crowded streets only grew as Migumi called off her unique clothing designs. Women of all strides in life came forward to admire the work. Ameki even noticed some of the men's attention had been caught as well. The market district had been the most crowded thankfully. They had spent a good bit of time there but had finally moved on to the less crowded residential area. Still people followed as the group migrated closer to the palace. Ameki began to feel a bit fatigued. She had rushed out in an attempt to avoid Kohaku and Hotaru, and had forgotten to eat anything. The climb up the steps toward the castle didn't help her state either. Even though the air was cold a slight sweat began to sprout on her brow from the exertion. She was amazed though at how well she was able to extend each step in the clothing. The kimono fit snugly around her waist and thighs, but loosened around the knees giving more range of motion than your average tight fitting attire.

The palace courtyard was filled with nobles that were socializing and doing everything in their power to advance their own status. Ameki hated that she felt this way about people. It wasn't fair to them for her to automatically assume that to be their motives. However, she had been biased by the people she was raised around back at Yamato castle. A few nobles had noticed the arriving entourage and motioned for more to pay attention. The women were instructed to stop in a line and step forward as Migumi announced each outfit. The first was of course Sashyma. She was the beauty that every young girl wished to grow up to be. Her geisha look only seemed to magnify this affect, and it seemed that all of the men had noticed her. Migumi brought attention to the details of her clothing. Explaining in great feats the pros of her clothing and cons of traditional clothes.

This went on for a good while, each woman having her turn until it was Ameki's. She instantly felt her nerves spike as Migumi asked her to step forward. She did as she was asked though, twirling the bottom of her attire, spinning when requested and so on. She executed every move perfectly she believed. If she hadn't Sashyma's critical self didn't betray any disapproval that Ameki was sure would have appeared. Ameki's stomach began to growl causing a bit of discomfort on her part. She could tell this "parade" was almost over and she was looking forward to it. The round of applause signaled the end of their facade and Ameki was more than ready to find some food. That is, until a towering figure stepped into her view. His gaze fixated on her.

"My Lady, may I inquire for your attention?" The man before her seemed to be maybe a few years older than her. He wasn't bad on the eyes, but Ameki didn't find herself ogling him like a few of the other women that surrounded them did.

"You may. Whom is it that I am speaking with?" The lad smiled a coy smile, showing his teeth in an all too rehearsed grin.

"Spoken like a true Lady." He replied, giving a slight bow.

"I am Lord Hiroshi Taowa, Lord of this region." He stated matter of factly. Ameki froze, caught off guard by his simple clothing. Surely a Lord would sport more than just a nobles attire. She surmised by the size of the castle that the Lord would flaunt his wealth and lavish his clothing as finery. She glanced around, all of the women seemed to gaze at her with envy. Maybe this had been a part of the ploy. Let the women see the Lord take an interest in one of the women sporting Migumi's line of clothing. Surely someone would have mentioned such a twist. However, sometimes surprise twists and spur of the moment decisions would bring forth a genuine reaction. One such as the reaction Ameki currently displayed. Surprise and a bit of nervousness as the Lord gazed down at her with a twinkle in his eye.

Ameki looked around, trying not to reveal her anxiety. She looked for Migumi, hoping deep down that she would be given a que of some sort. However, Migumi seemed just as surprised as her. The young woman stood huddled with a few of the other girls, including Sashyma who looked a little more than displeased. It wasn't a surprise twist. The Lord had really wanted to gain her audience. Out of all of the possible candidates why did it have to be her? She had to calm herself down, she needed to reign in control over herself so that maybe she could side step the situation. How did Sesshomaru control his emotions so well? She needed that strength right now.

She felt the cool stone against the skin of her chest almost thrum. It was a weird feeling, and she had almost not noticed, but the small sensation had drawn her out of her panic. She did have something. In reality it may have been useless, but Sesshomaru had still given it to her. It gave her strength with that thought alone. She raised her gaze once more.

"Lady Yamato Ameki." She introduced herself.

The prince looked a bit taken back, surprised actually.

"Yamato?" He pondered.

"That name sounds familiar to me. You must be from a noble family?" He inquired.

"My origins matter not young Lord." She smiled, hoping to draw the conversation back to him, and what he wished of her.

"Ah, I see. A humble Lady that wishes not to brag. I like that." His smile grew even wider.

"Can I interest you in some of our refreshments?" He motioned to a long table that had been filled to capacity with every type of food imaginable. If Ameki was being honest with herself then of course she had wanted some food. However, Ameki had a growing suspicion that Taowa had more in mind than just offering her refreshments. No, he had singled her out for a reason, and the food would be the ice-breaker he needed to continue his conversation with her.

Maybe it was innocent and Ameki was just overthinking things. She found herself over analyzing a lot lately. Maybe he was just being kind and introducing himself to the people he did not recognize. It was common for royalty to make an appearance at such festivals. Making a show for their people was not uncommon, and even in some regions The Lords and Ladies would make a whole day of conversing with their communities. Times were changing, and maybe Ameki had been wrong about the whole situation. The food did look good, and her stomach kept up the uncomfortable churning as it yearned for sustenance. If anything made her uncomfortable, she would just leave.

"That sounds nice. Thank you." She gave a courteous nod toward the young lord as she smiled.

Taowa seemed to observe everything that Ameki took an interest in, having one of the maids prepare the dish for Ameki. They soon found themselves in a shaded area of the courtyard that was less crowded than the front quarter near the stairs. The many people were still in view of them thankfully. Ameki wasn't sure she would have followed Taowa if he had sought somewhere more secluded. The huge willow that grew by the courtyard pond seemed to be in its final stages before dormancy with winter afoot. Ameki's appetite lingered, but her nerves caused her to pick and choose what foods to sample, and what foods to avoid. She jumped all around her plate, trying to keep her mind busy as Taowa seemingly observed her further. She was in the presence of a bachelor, she recalled. A lord bachelor at that. It was important to refresh her mind of the proper etiquette involved in such an event. Even if she were not interested in a courtship with him, it was still considered good manners in the presence of royalty. They talked for a while. Ameki kept to the "small talk" side of the spectrum, and thankfully Lord Hiroshi would indulge her. Half an hour had passed before the conversation, steered by Hiroshi, led Ameki to a sense of discomfort.

"I've never seen you around these parts. Provided I don't get out much, but I think I would remember a beauty such as yourself." There it was. The hope Ameki had held for the Lord's intentions dwindled, almost like a candle light flickering as the last of the wick burned.

"I'm not from here." Was her answer. She stayed calm, cool and collected. She was sure if he were able to feel such emotions, Sesshomaru would have been proud.

"What brings you to my lands?" This was good, and bad. He was keeping the conversation casual, but Ameki was a bad liar. She was sure she could bring forth some of the more deceitful traits her uncle Yuudai had often used while holding court, but that really wasn't necessary. She could just be vague. Vague and neutral were always an option. She didn't want to get into a long winded tail of how she traveled here with her companions to locate a missing priestess...or did she? He could have known something. They were near the Region of Echigo. With as powerful as the priest and priestess were rumored to be, surely the lord would have heard of them.

"I traveled here in search of a priestess. A certain priestess that has recently gone missing." Taowa slightly nodded.

"Would you be referring to Nasami?" Ameki's brow raised slightly. No. She had meant Chiyoko. Maybe he didn't know of the twins.

"No. I'm sorry I don't know who that is. My journey is actually taking me to Echigo. We speak of two different people." She replied.

"Oh, I see. I just assumed that you would be talking about the young maiden that disappeared about a week ago. It's a shame. She was beautiful, and kind. She was very well read in medicine as well. She's fought more than one wave of ailments that these lands have come up against. She and her knowledge will be missed." Something about the way his eye twitched when he spoke made Ameki curious. Maybe even a little suspicious. He seemed to feign sorrow, but something about the display rang false. What had Ameki stumbled upon this time?

"I'm sorry Lord Hiroshi." Ameki's condolence was more out of habit. Something deep inside made her want to dig more on the disappearance of the priestess, but a nagging voice that kind of reminded her of InuYasha said something about letting "sleeping dogs lay." It would have been humorous to her if she didn't feel a darker mood tugging at her mind.

"Did you know her personally?" What are you doing? Ameki chastised herself inwardly after the question came out.

"Taowa, please call me Taowa, and yes but only for a short time." He paused, his face betraying nothing unusual.

"She treated my late father, and before that my mother. They both wasted away to an illness she could not tend it would seem. First was my mother. Each day she seemed to lose a bit more of her mind than the previous. One moment she would be fine, as if nothing was wrong at all. She would call people by their names, delve into her hobbies and attend parties. Then without warning she would be confused, and disoriented, not even recognizing her own son's face." Real grief entered Taowa's features this time. Ameki even felt sympathy for the Lord before her that shared his story.

"My father fell into a madness after my mother died. He was convinced that a demon had infiltrated our castle and deranged her mind." Taowa paused.

"He became a tyrant in his final days, and eventually had to be stopped. I won't go into detail. It's not proper dinner talk." His eyes were shaded. He certainly was a forthcoming individual, but maybe that was the bachelor in him. Seeking that someone he could part his woes with. Seeking his other half.

It still didn't explain the feeling Ameki had gotten when he had regarded Nasami as missing. It felt too rehearsed, and not genuine. It didn't mean that he had anything to do with her disappearance. Maybe he just wasn't as fond of her as others were. Maybe it had something to do with her lacking the ability to save his parents.

"I'm sorry to bring up such memories for you. I didn't mean to pry." Ameki was truly sorry. She didn't particularly like talking about her father's passing after the fact, and imagined it would be tough for anyone. She still wasn't fully comfortable talking about the way her mother had been taken from this world. That certainly wasn't dinner talk either. Ameki didn't know what else to say. She wanted to sympathize with him, she really did.

"My parents are no longer a part of this world either." Ameki found herself talking before her mind could halt the words. It was a part of her mother's caring nature shining through. Rin had always sought to console those around her, and that had rubbed off on Ameki. Most of the time she felt it to be a good thing, but now she kind of regretted it.

"Are you married?" Taowa's face almost seemed hopeful, leaving behind any trace of grief it had recently portrayed. What could she say? She didn't want to have this conversation with someone she had just met. However, in hindsight she supposed they had both shared things previously that were more personal than marital status. Ameki heard a small grunt from one of the nearby maids that had overheard. She wasn't sure what the implication had meant, but it was an obvious distraction for her. The maid was pretty. Her brown hair fell to the middle of her back. Ameki could see her almond eyes cut in their direction, even though she faced forward. She had obviously been eavesdropping. The maid that had served Ameki's food to her was currently conversing with a few other women.

"No. I'm not married. Marriage has never interested me." Ameki gave an honest answer.

"I see." Taowa said thoughtfully.

"Maybe you just haven't met the right person. Someone that can make you see the world differently. Someone that can expand your mind and help you reach past your own boundaries." He slightly smiled at his poetic words.

A few bystanders voiced loudly their interest in the strange attire that approached. Ameki broke eye contact with Taowa, her eyes finding Kohaku and Hotaru. They seemed to be scanning the crowd as if they were looking for someone. Most of the crowd actually seemed to be interested in them as well.

"My Lord. Your Noon appointment will be waiting." The maid with the brown hair and skeptical eyes approached the table. A knowing look seemed to cross Taowa's features.

"Of course. Please greet them and make sure they are comfortable. I shall make my way there soon." Taowa responded, and the maid turned, hastefully making her way toward the palace.

"I wish to do this again." Taowa's attention was back on Ameki. She knew Kohaku and Hotaru would soon find her. A bit of the awkwardness of their previous conversation slipped away at this realization.

"This was nice…" Ameki prepared to lightly let him down.

"However, I won't be here for long. I assume my companions are getting ready to leave as we speak." Taowa's eyes searched her features.

"Your beauty and kindness doesn't belong on those dangerous and desolate roads, but I digress. If you change your mind or find yourself needing an ear to listen. You know where to find me." With that Taowa's hand reached out for Ameki's. He lifted her hand within his own and bowed before her. Releasing her hand, he gave her one last smile and turned to leave.

He was very chivalrous. A bit too straightforward, but he seemed like a hopeless romantic. Ameki couldn't lie to herself. She had felt a bit of a flutter within her own stomach as the Lord smiled at her the last time. Maybe it was just nerves. Or maybe it was the fact that he had shown an interest in her. She was by no means interested in a courtship, but the attention was rather nice. Maybe she wasn't the old maid that Yuudai had often accused her of being. She still had many years of youth ahead of her. Maybe it wasn't her looks that had halted her progression in life, but rather her resolve. Her disinterest in anything amorous. Maybe that needed to change?

She felt the slight tingle against her skin once more. The place where the necklace rested against her chest seemed to be the source. Sesshomaru's gift to her.

Lord Sesshomaru… Her mind cooed.