{Chapter Five}
I awoke up stretching out looking to see the sky colors beginning to change as the sunrise began. I smiled as a soft knock was heard and I opened the door after putting on a robe finding Jobe on the other side. The Shadow demon had become a quick friend and was the head of the kitchen, he made it a habit after my first morning here a week ago of bringing me a morning cup of tea. I functioned on caffeine and it was only natural the first thing I did was find a source of it.
"Thank you so much Jobe" I said smelling the cup and sighing "Caffeine is heaven"
"Of course, Lady Elessandria" He said softly before chuckling "Go watch the sunrise, I shall go prepare the morning meal"
"Okay, thank you again" I said happily taking a sip of heaven in a cup
I slowly drank the cup of hot tea while relaxing watching as the sky came alive with color as the sun rose. I always enjoyed watching the sunrise and sunset, it was a habit I picked up from my days as a soldier. I happily went back in and changed into one of the training outfits that had been made for me dropping off the empty cup before heading out for a ten-mile run as I did every single morning. I was on my way to the training grounds when Rain appeared before me.
"Lord Sesshomaru has requested to see you in study Lady Elessandria" Rain said with a bow and I nodded in understanding
"Please led the way" I directed never being there before slightly nervous at why I was being summoned there now
Rain stopped outside the door and I swallowed thickly before knocking softly. I entered after I heard his barked command and paused in confusion seeing that Juntao was there as well.
"You requested to see me Lord Sesshomaru" I said softly, and he nodded motioning for me to sit across from him
"This Sesshomaru would like to offer that you become an official ally of the west" Sesshomaru stated across from me
"Perhaps, I would like to know what it is that it expected of me" I said honestly knowing I would fight either way, but if I was fighting under the western lands then there were sure to be conditions
"You would pledge to the West and follow the laws of this land" Sesshomaru explained looking at me hard "You would respect this Sesshomaru"
"Have I disrespected you unknowingly Lord Sesshomaru?" I questioned seriously trying to think on how I could have done so
"You have yet to offend this Sesshomaru" He said impassively, and I nodded in relief
"I shall attempt not to Lord Sesshomaru" I said honestly before sighing deeply "I will do what is needed of me, it is not the first time I have fought for a country. I will learn the customs to the best of my abilities, but I am not of the west. I can ensure that I will protect them either way consider that Kagome's happiness is very important to me. I have learned many things and will offer everything freely to the west" I said seriously before pausing and looking at him hard
"Then you shall be an ally to the west" Juntao said with a smile and I nodded in agreement
"Yes, I will help the West either way" I said honestly before pausing "However, there are some clarifications you need to be made of before I agree to be an ally to the west"
"Very well" Sesshomaru said with what sounded like disappointment
"As you are aware I am not from here and have a much different background then most, even Kagome. Where I am from Freedom is provided not earned and is something I need to survive. I have strong core values that I will not allow anyone to compromise and have a code of honor that I will not betray. I will do my best to listen and understand what is being asked of me, but there may be times that I don't understand or cannot do. In those situations, I will not act out by yelling or screaming since it is not in my nature, but I will question those commands. Sometimes I will not be able to blindly follow or will have to refuse something you attempt to command of me" I explained seriously willing them to understand
"This Sesshomaru understands there is much different about you compared to that of females in this time" Sesshomaru replied and I could have sworn there was amusement in his eyes "This one shall attempt to avoid such commands and shall discuss it with you should the need arise"
"Thank you Lord Sesshomaru, then I will gladly become an official ally to you Lord Sesshomaru" I said in relief as he motioned to his General
"This is for you" Juntao said with a smirk handing me a large box much to my confusion
I gasped in awe as I opened the box seeing a battle outfit for me. I gently pulled the plated armor out of the both amazing at the detail and how light weight it was. The symbol was the three stars on my forehead showing clearly and I ran my fingers over the image in awe.
"It is made of demon bone and is stronger than any armor you had ever had before" Juntao explained with a smile
I nodded setting it aside gasping at the beauty of the actual clothes. The design was like Lord Sesshomaru's but silver and green that matched the color of my eyes. The symbol of the west was on the shoulder showing me an ally of the Western Lands. There were boots that were like the camo boots from my days as a soldier but no where near as heavy. I wouldn't even want to fight in this outfit since it was so beautiful
"Thank you Lord Sesshomaru, this is…" I whispered in awe choking back emotion looking into those golden eyes that softened slightly and he nodded in acknowledgement
"You didn't need to do this, Lord Sesshomaru you have already done more than I could ever repay" I said honestly overwhelmed by everything
"This Sesshomaru does not expect payment, you are a worthy Ally and shall be treated as such" He explained causing me to smile softly at the statement
"I shall do my best not to disappoint you" I said honestly placing the items back in the box
"You are trained in battle?" He questioned seriously, and I nodded in confirmation "What form of training have you received?"
"Things available in this era, Archery and Swordsmanship" I explained thinking on it "On top of being a soldier I also grew up surrounded by soldiers since my dad is a general. I was taught pretty young about all the strategies of war such as tracking, infatuation, defense, and linguistics on top of many others"
"Linguistics?" Juntao questioned in confusion and I sighed
"I can read and write many languages. Linguistics is identifying messages and decoding them as well as seeing if something is forged by someone with the attempt to mislead. There are many things to it. I learned Hostage negotiations from it as well, that is talking with someone to get the release of the captives or holding them off till rescue is possible" I explained as best as I could
"How many Languages?" Sesshomaru questioned with interest showing in his eyes
"12" I said with a shrug of my shoulders "I am a quick study"
"Impressive" Juntao said with wide eyes "Are all females so educated?"
"No" I said chuckling shaking my head "I just love learning as much as I possibly could. I have done nothing but itch to read everything in this room since I walked in here"
"You are more than welcome as long as this Sesshomaru is in here as well" Sesshomaru offered and I almost squealed in delight
"Are you sure?" I questioned, and he nodded in confirmation "Thank you"
I was delighted looking at the thousands of books in the study that I had inched to get my hands on since I walked in here. I itched to immediately begin reading as Rin walked into the room smiling brightly at me.
"There you are" Rin said happily almost skipping towards me
"We were just about to depart to allow Lord Sesshomaru to return to work" Juntao said behind me making me jump in surprise not having felt him move
"Has anyone given you both a tour yet?" Rin questioned happily as I shook my head in denial "Please allow me to show you the Palace"
I smiled as I took the arm that she offered me trying to figure out how to carry the box as well when Sesshomaru's voice rang out surprising me
"This Sesshomaru will have it brought to your room" Sesshomaru said causing me to tilt my head to the side in confusion
"You can't read my mind, can you?" I questioned seriously causing him to smirk at me
"Something you don't want this Sesshomaru to hear?" He questioned in a rare show of emotion causing me to blush
Rin giggled and pulled me out of the study quickly as I starred at Sesshomaru with wide eyes in complete shock. I hadn't known him that well, but he didn't appear to be someone that openly joked with anyone. I followed as she walked me around the palace for a few hours telling me stories and asking me questions about my childhood. The palace was truly the most marvelous place I had ever been before, so detailed and unique. I smiled at the others as Rin led me to the gardens where they were relaxing.
"You should see the new battle outfit I just received as Ally to the west Kagome" I said in awe remembering it "I haven't ever seen anything like it"
"You know Lord Sesshomaru is a lot different then I remember him being" Kagome said softly to the others "He was still pretty cold when I left"
"Rin changed him" Inuyasha said softly before messing with the hair on her head "After I moved here it took a while to understand him, but she always did and still does understand him better than anyone else"
"Father was always this way, he is a lord" Rin explains with a bright smile "You just have to be able to understand him"
"He hides behind a mask, but his eyes show his emotion if you look past the mask" I said in understanding, my father was the same way and I could read his eyes without a major problem
"You understand?" Rin questioned happily, and I nodded in confirmation "This is good"
I blinked in confusion as Shippo smiled brightly "Indeed" Shippo relied before looking at me "He has changed, he has grown at lot with everything. He now has a pack on top of the West, it took some time for him to accept. He isn't as harsh as he uses to be"
"From the way Kagome described him, I thought he was the beast" I said in amusement as Kagome laughed loudly confusing everyone else
"You know that makes sense" Kagome said giggling looking at me "but like the beast there is more to him then meets the eye. I never expected him to be so nice to you"
"Oh, he has a reason" Inuyasha said with a smirk causing me to look at him in confusion before Shippo hit him in the head "Ow, what was that for runt?"
"I understand that he is repaying me for saving Rin, even if I think that everything he has done is way more than I can expect of him" I said honestly before turning to Rin "I think I am actually going to take him up on his offer to read"
"Very well, do you need help finding your way back?" Rin questioned brightly, and I shook my head knowing my way around now "I shall see you later then Lady Elessandria"
"Thanks, and Rin, it is just Ellie" I said causing her to nod in understanding before I twirl around to go back to the study
"Inuyasha" Rin said behind me "Father would be upset if you interfere"
I blinked continuing my way to the study in confusion at the statement, interfere with what? I didn't like secrets or things being hidden from me. One of the main reasons I stopped fighting for my country was the shadow of doubt I had when I wasn't given all the information and innocent people were harmed because of it. I sighed continuing to the study pushing the thoughts aside knowing that there was nothing I could do about it now. I was looking forward to reading and maybe learning about some demon customs.