Thanks to SilverDragonsTail, KnightOwl247, NaeNae2905, and Rebecca Frost for the lovely reviews. Everyone feel free to review other chapters if you have not already.

I own no doggy demons.

Short, boring chapter, sorry.

Melissa slowly opened her eyes. Sesshomaru was beside her, asleep, and the room was dimly lit by a single lamp. Her shoulder still burned, but not as bad as it had before. She gazed at Sesshomaru, sleeping soundly beside her.

She knew he slept, but had never actually seen him sleep before. The only time she had been awake while he slept she had been pinned against his chest with her head tucked under his chin. His lashes fluttered as his closed eyes followed some unseen movement. He made no sound but his lips moved slightly, as though he spoke with someone in his dream.

He was flat on his back with one arm around her. The other was resting over her hand on his stomach. His hair was sprawled around him with one strand over his face. She let her eyes travel the length of his body and saw he was pitching a tent.

She didn't think he'd mind being woke up, he had woken her up the morning before after all. And they still had unfinished business as he put it. She began nibbling on his neck and moved her hand to push his yukata out of the way and gently stroke his morning wood. His arm tightened around her. A moment later his free hand moved to cup her face, directing her to look up so he could kiss her.

Once the kiss broke she gazed into his eyes and swung a leg over him to straddle his waist and began riding him. He loved it when she rode him. He reached up to untie her obi and let her yukata fall open as he gazed up at her body, watching her take control. He stroked her thighs then moved his hands to cup her bouncing breasts. She grabbed his hands and he allowed her to pin them down on either side of his head.

She rode him hard until they both came then laid on top of him, his softened cock still inside of her. He held her and stroked her as their heart rates returned to normal. He licked her head and she sighed in contentment. Then his dick in her warm body started to harden again and he rolled her over onto her back to ride her.

"How is your shoulder?" He asked as they cuddled together, finally satisfied.

"It still burns." She told him slowly, careful to make sure she said each word.

"Your Japanese is getting better everyday." He told her as he pulled her sleeping yukata from her wounded shoulder and undid the wrappings. She nodded but said nothing. He began to lick her wounds and she was surprised that it eased the pain.

Once he had licked her shoulder and rewrapped the wound she snuggled against him and fell back to sleep. He'd had enough sleep and once she'd nodded back off he stood and dressed. Morning was still a little ways off, but he wasn't going back to bed. Instead he took the opportunity to look around his chambers, their chambers.

She had set her geode pieces in one of the niches in the wall that held art pieces or flower arrangements. He knew there was incense in the room somewhere, he could smell it. Near the windows was a box with a piece of silk and odd arrangement of items. An incense burner, a cup, a rock she must have found interesting, and her dagger, amongst other things. He could feel that she had put her energy in the items and was curious about the contents of the box.

He hesitated only a moment before removing the items and opening it. They were to be married after all. She belong to him and he belonged to her. Plus she lived in his childhood room. He had a right to know what she had brought in in his absence.

She had incense wrapped in wax paper in tightly sealed boxes that didn't quite keep the smell contained, at least not from his nose. A small stoppered bottle of sesame seed oil she'd infused with herbs. And several pieces of paper, covered in strange characters he could not understand.

He couldn't help but feel a little proud, his betrothed could write. It wasn't Japanese, but it was writing. It would not have been surprising if she were noble born, but he knew she was not.

She also had a small stack of small, stiff pieces of paper. Each piece had an identical design on it. She must had had a wood printing block made, he'd never seen this design. He turned a few over and found the reverse decorated with various hand drawn designs, each seeming highly symbolic. She had language, etiquette, and kendo lessons, but she also had found time to honor her beliefs and her roots. His little miko had been busy.

He shuffled through the cards looking at the images and one slid out of the deck. He picked it up and examined it. It bore an image of a bright yellow sun surrounded by an orange and red corona.

He heard her get up from the bed and walk up behind him, when he turned she looked annoyed. "Not supposed to touch witch's altar without... um... I think word is permission." She informed him.

"Autaru? Do you mean this box? I did not realize it had any significance. I could smell incense and was curious. I will not touch it without asking again. Will you tell me about these papers?"

"Called tarot cards. I use tarot to know future." She replied sitting beside him. "This one jump out?" She asked taking the Sun card from his hand.

"It slid from the middle of the stack as I was examining them."

"It is good omen. That means you will be happy."

He put the deck down and pulled Melissa into his lap. "I already am." He informed her. He licked her cheek. It was morning, he could hear birds waking up outside, but far earlier than she usually rose. He supposed she was up so early because she'd gone to sleep before dinner was finished.

They sat snuggled together and talked until he heard footsteps in the hallway. He informed her he heard Granny approaching and she stood up, knowing he disliked public displays of affection. She put her things back in the altar then greeted Granny as the old bear entered.

As they entered the dining room Daichi grinned at them. "I see the lady was well enough to wake up and close your chamber door for you, I didn't hear a thing last night." Sesshomaru scowled at him and they sat down to eat breakfast.

Melissa was surprised when her food was set before her. It had always looked and tasted good, but this morning it was absolutely amazing! She barely spoke, preferring to focus on eating. She wasn't suppose to speak unless spoken too anyway.

"You seemed to enjoy your meal this morning." Sesshomaru observed once Daichi and his children had left. They were now in the study waiting for the tutor. Now that their guests were gone the normal routine would resume.

"Was really good! Is always good, but this morning was best."

"I thought it might be."

"Why? Because it was last day of Daichi's visit?" Melissa asked.

"No. Your food is different, it is prepared separately. You were the one Shino meant to please with the meal."

"Why?"

"Because you have redeemed your kind. We trust Shino to prepare your food because her loyalty to the family is absolute and she takes pride in her work, but she has never cared for humans. She fears your kind, believing you to be cruel and heartless.

"She was a kitten when humans slew her family, leaving her an orphan who would likely have perished had mother not found her. She brought her here and placed her in the care of a nursemaid, then offered her a job in the kitchens when mother deemed her old enough to work. She fixed your food well because she loves mother, but she has always hated you, until yesterday. Yesterday you were injured and poisoned defending her kitten."

Sesshomaru's mother came in the room with a guest, Kiyoshi. "Speaking of Kittens, Kiyoshi has asked to speak with you, Melissa."

Melissa nelt down to address the little boy but before she could speak he held out a bouquet of dandelions. "Thank you for stopping that lady from hitting me, Merissasama. I picked these for you."

"I'll get a vase." Granny told her, grinning at the child's gift as she left. Sesshomaru watched Melissa with the child and once again hated the gods for killing her children before she could even hold them. The tutor arrived and Kiyoshi was sent out to play. Kimiko dragged Sesshomaru off to help her with the duties he, by all rights, should have already taken over so Melissa could concentrate.