GOOD NEWS, I passed my Generals exam, which now means I am a PhD candidate. To celebrate, here is a new chapter. Enjoy

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Fear ran through me, making my body shiver. Every hair in my body stood as I read the words carved into the skin of my arm, "KILL R"

…

My body froze at the sight of my carved skin. Every fiber in my body, screaming for me to run, to get away. My leg slightly shook as I stole a glance behind me, his presence evident. I knew that although his eyes were not on me, his senses were feeling my every move.

Okay, get it together. I let the rest of my kimono slip down my body. With a deep breath, I let my body get submerged. The cold water felt rejuvenating, like I was awakening once more. I focused my yokai on my skin, erasing any trace of the carved letters.

Okay let's think through this. You woke up with a message to kill someone with the letter R. Could that be Rynold. But if he is my mate to be, why would I want to kiltl him?

Uggghh, nothing made sense.

With all my will, I concentrated, trying to grasp any pieces of my memory that I could. Come on…Come on stupid…remember……

….

"Kagome! What are you doing up there?"

My eyes fallow the source of the voice. There, bellow the tree on which I sat upon, was a tall red-haired man. No..not just any man. Rynold.

"Looks like you found me again" I let slip sarcastically, returning to gaze at the view before me. Soon after, he jumps up and joins me on the branch.

"You know, it's not appropriate for a lady to run off like this" he said, trying to catch the attention of my eyes.

"It gets quite boring in the palace. Don't you wish that you could be out there? Experiencing everything that this world has to offer?" I said, hopefully looking back at his eyes.

His smile gave me some hope, but his next words took it away. "Don't worry love. Once you become my mate and have your hands full with our pups, you will find palace life more entertaining."

"Yes of course" I smiled, returning to gaze at the view before me.

…

Uuuggghhh I screamed, an intense headache striking me, causing tears to slide down my eyes. "Kagome?!".

Arms wrapped around me, pulling me out of the water. It was hard to focus on anything as the feeling of a blanked surrounded me. I let myself be dragged around. Memories began rushing through my head. But something was wrong with them, there was a haziness to some of my memories, as if a phantom was lingering at the edges of my mind. I could feel it, something was missing.

Snap out of it My beast roared at me. Looking around, I found myself now sitting in front of a campfire.

"Here are your clothes, you should dress. We must head home, there's no time to waste" he says, placing my discarded clothes in front of me.

"Why are we in such a hurry?" I reached for my clothes and pulled them tight against my chest.

"Don't you remember my love? Once home, we shall finally become mates" the joy in his voice was evident. "My elders will be ecstatic to hear that your father has finally given permission for the mating to occur".

No, not mate! My beast screamed at me.

I could feel the desperation of my beast. I need time…time to figure out what is going on?

"Rynold, why don't we rest here for today? Clearly, my mind is still a little shaken, but maybe some rest will help" I placed my hand over his, giving him a sly smile with my next words. "I already remembered some of the times we shared at my father's castle. I'm sure some rest could bring back more memories of our times togethers"

That seemed to appease him, new excitement showing on his face. His right hand moved to the side of my face, each finger brushing against my skin. It took everything in me not to listen to my body and move away, but I needed to be smart. His face started to move closer, the look in his eyes making clear where his thoughts were at. Cold lips fell upon mines, his tongue teasing for entrance.

I let my hand gently push back on his chest. "Please Rynold", I said faking the look of a blushing bride.

"My apologies, my love" his eyes moved over my body, showing that he was not apologetic at all. I felt so exposed and vulnerable.

With a kiss on my forehead, he stands and announces, "put your clothes on while I go gather some food, otherwise I won't be able to resist you". Shivers ran down my spine at his words, but not of pleasure. Once he was out of sight, I quickly rushed to dress. Not wanting to feel exposed in his presences once he returned.

Okay… think Kagome…clearly, Rynold is truly your intended. But why? Why does his touch feel so wrong?

Suddenly, a wave of yokai energy rocked my body, giving me a feeling of euphoria. It was new, yet so familiar. I wanted to lose myself in it. Before, I could analyze this feeling further, Rynold busted through the tree lines.

"WHERE IS THE BASTARD?" He looked around, eyes red with range. He frantically searched the area, his claws extended and ready to strike at any moment.

"Rynold…what..who do you mean?" I asked, slightly moving away.

His furious eyes settle on me, his voice coming of more commanding than ever before "Forget resting, we go home now!" His clawed hand grabbed on to my wrist, threatening to pierce my skin.

I couldn't tell what came over me. I knew I should listen to him, after all he was my mate to be. But being ordered around, rose this anger in me. A anger that I felt before and always held back, but something was different in me. I refused…I refused to simply lower my head anymore!

"NO!" I screamed back at him, starring back fiercely.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxXXXXXXXXXXXX

USELESS…what is all this power worth if I can't use it to protect my mate…I just watched. Watched as she was stolen away from me, and now I couldn't move a muscle to protect my own pup either. Useless.

"You know its quite a shame. You are so handsome, too bad I didn't meet you first" She smiled at me, as she approached the bed on which my pup silently lay upon.

PROTECT PUP. With all my will I commanded my body to move, but for the first time, my orders were defied.

She moved down, and evil smile on her face as her hand extended down to pick Yasu up. I closed my eyes, angrily trying to rise any yokai energy from within me.

All of a suddenly, a wave of energy blasted around the room. I opened my eyes to see the wind witch had been thrown against the wall. A very angry look now adorned her face.

'Sob…sob" The crying sounds of my now woken pup permeated within the room. That's when I felt it, my yokai. My yokai was still within my pup. Perhaps I could summon it.

I waited as the wind witch approached my pup once again. Once I felt my pup's powers rise, RISE I commanded.

With that, a powerful blast came from my pup. Yokai energy releasing all around us. Wave after wave, my yokai escaped and flooded the area. Taking advantage, I let some of the energy fall back into me, fueling me. Power rushed through my veins, causing my fangs elongate, hungry for blood. Red bleeding into my eyes, I'm going to tare that bitch limb from limb.

"Rarrwrr" My beast roared. My eyes pining down the hole in the wall the witch had be thrown through.

"Fuck" Starring back at me were scared eyes. Before I could lunge at her, she moved her fan disappearing in a gust of wind. My body was getting ready to rush after her, wanting to rip her to shreds, but the sound of my pup moving stopped me in my tracks

My eyes widened in shock…. there on the bed was no longer a newborn pup…but a long white-haired toddler. Golden eyes looking helplessly back at me.

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Until next time.