Chapter 2: Assignments

Selene POV

I was unaware of how long I was in labor for before a heard my newborn's cries. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. And now comes the time to see if my child will be accepted or rejected by the kingdom, I thought to myself. With much struggle I laid my legs flat against my bed. The midwife that had delivered my baby, took my child to the washing tub that had been placed in the corner of my chambers. Sweat was plastered to my face and my long, plain white gown was soaked in blood from my waist down, a common side effect of giving birth whether you were inuyoukai or god race, like me. I felt a little motion sickness from me sitting up a little too quickly. Katsu, my father, looked at me with a sharp glance, his body language giving off anticipation. Mercury looked back and forth between Katsu and I with a smug look. If the Moon Kingdom wasn't in such a bad recession, we wouldn't need Mercury's kingdom and my father wouldn't be acting so heartless. The power went to his head because he knows he has full control of my father. My memory of the night that he killed Ashitaka was still burned in my head like it was yesterday. For as long as I live, I will hate Mercury.

I turned my head expectantly towards the midwife, whom I sensed was about to turn around. Or the anticipation made it seem like that. Sure enough the youkai turned around, her pale pink hair gathered in a braid behind her black kimono. In her arms was a small child that looked exactly like Ashitaka. It had the same star marking on its forehead and twin purple stripes on its cheeks. Also the same silver hair, she was absolutely gorgeous. My heart knotted in grief, the child would be a permanent reminder of my mistake but would also be an outcast because of my choice. But yet a sure of determination and warmth filled me like it had never done before. I remembered Ashitaka's dying wish regarding the child and no matter what, I would fulfill it.

"It's a girl..." the youkai said. The look she gave my daughter sickened me to my core. But it was the look most races looked at each other of different races.

With a look of regret, and not a word, my father left the room with Mercury trailing behind him. I felt ashamed of my father's disapproval but I would dare not show it to the midwife.

The midwife with the pink hair handed me my child. I nestled my daughter in my arms and laid back against the pillows. Anyone who showed discontent towards my daughter did not deserve to be in my presence.

"Will you send in your apprentice? I'm sure she may prove more useful." Selene said to the impotent midwife.

With a curtsy, since I was still the princess, she left. A few moments later, her apprentice walked to the door and stood there. I turned my head towards her. She adverted my gaze, but she was definitely inuyoukai judging by her long silver hair and her blood red eyes.

"You summoned me, my lady?" the young maiden asked.

"Yes, I did. I need to ask you a few questions. But come on in and have a seat." I patted the bed space next to me and my daughter, whom was snuggled against my chest dozing. She shyly started towards us. I gazed at her kimono, it was tattered at the bottom but was a pretty light gray with red bow designs. She noticed me staring.

"Sorry my lady but when I was walking home from the market in the rain. I then stepped on it and it tore." she nervously explained, clasping her hands together behind her.

"It is alright, as you can see I am in no room to judge." I gestured down to my blood soaked gown and gave a little laugh, hoping to ease her nerves, "I do not look down on inuyoukai, so you have no need to be nervous around me. Obviously I like them so much, I mated with one."

She gave me a small smile and decided to sit next to me but still kept a respectful distance. She watched the child sleeping on my chest.

"She's very pretty and looks like a full blooded inuyoukai," she commented.

"You would think so if you did not know what I am wouldn't you?" I agreed. I turned to her who seemed less intimidated by me, "What is your name?"

"Sachiko, my lady." she said with a grin, which produced a dimple in her left cheek.

"Don't worry about titles with me personally. It's nice to finally get to talk to you Sachiko. Just call me Selene." I gave her a genuine smile but I didn't know if she would accept what I really wanted her to do.

"What did you need to talk to me about?" Sachiko asked, revealing that she doesn't like awkward silence.

I didn't miss a beat, "I would like your help with raising my daughter. By being sort of like a nanny, just make sure she knows the inuyoukai normality and standards while also caring for her when I cannot."

"What, why me?! Surely there are countless other better choices. I'm up for it, but what made you pick me out of all others?" Sachiko stared at me with wide eyes.

"You raised all five of your sisters after your parents were killed in the war and yet you still remain innocent after being swung in darkness." I calmly said, feeling a twinge of sympathy, "As you know there has never been a union of the bloodlines. No one expected it to happen since gods are glorified, but what makes us so entitled and different?"

"I know of no god that is as compassionate about life as you are. It's very unique. We inuyoukai are only the gods' guards and servants, very few of us are among the common-people. Normal youkai fulfill that role. Unless you are orphaned then you would fall to common-people. Such has been the way of life for as long as anyone can remember." Sachiko said, "While it may not be perfect, the god or goddess that reigns, gives the moon the fundamentals of existence for our kind such as food, water, weather, and other necessities just by existing."

"What if there is a way to change that? What if my daughter is the key to changing life as we know it?" I asked.

"As is why a lot of people fear that such a child exists. Life has just been easier and especially with the end of the war, with the brittle state that we are in, people aren't ready for such a change. We need your tie to Mercury's kingdom if we are going to survive. Since your marriage, the resources necessary for survival have began to regrow. As you know we still must heal from the war."

"It was such a pointless war, so much bloodshed. We barely won." I responded exasperated that lives were lost.

"But it was necessary bloodshed that gained us access to the entirety of the moon. While we still haven't expanded and explored all of the new territory, I feel as though it was worth it. Otherwise all those lives sacrificed would have been in vain." Sachiko brought up a good point, no doubt thinking about her parents.

I decided to drop it, "You're right. Well will you accept the position?"

"I will," Sachiko said giving me a full smile.

I gave her a nod. Even though my door was open, I heard a quiet knock. I looked over, careful not to disturb my daughter. My best friend, Inukimi, stood at the door along with her son, Sesshomaru. Inukimi had her hair drawn into her usual twin ponytails with hair framing her face and bangs. Sesshomaru had her same crescent moon marking on his forehead, but he had double stripes instead of just Inukimi's one. He also had the same yellow eyes; he was her spitting image. I felt a pang of jealously that my daughter had not turned out to look more like me, but I was also sort of glad that she looked like Ashitaka. Sesshomaru was only 100 years old and yet he already came up to Inukimi's mid-thigh, unusually tall for his age.

I greeted her with a smile. She didn't greet me with one, but that was her nature. She and Sesshomaru both had an air of coolness around them but both were a little reserved with their emotions. She did come up to my side though. Sachiko quickly got up and stood on my other side.

"Hmm. Do I make you nervous?" Inukimi asked arching an eyebrow while coolly staring down Sachiko.

I knew she took pride in being to do this to most demons, inuyoukai or not, after all I was her best friend. Her pride was one of the great things about her but also one of her faults. Regardless though she was still seen as serene and a lot of inuyoukai strive to be like her. I could tell Sachiko was getting nervous under Inukimi's stare. Sesshomaru stoically took in the scene of his mother staring Sachiko down. I could tell that he wanted that much power after knowing him and his mother. Especially since Inutaisho is part of the elite of the guards of the castle.

"Inukimi, you are here to see my daughter?" I asked her. She knew what I really meant leave the poor girl alone, Inukimi.

Inukimi inspected me and frowned at the sight of blood. Then her eyes traveled up to my chest to where my daughter lay. Her golden eyes softened a little bit.

"She looks exactly like Ashitaka and so pretty," Inukimi commented. She gestured to Sesshomaru, whom came up to his mother's side, "What have you named her?"

"I was waiting for you but I think you already know what I am going to name her."

Inukimi just gave a brief nod, "Kohana?"

"Yes," I said as I looked down to my sleeping daughter, "Her name will be Kohana."

I looked over to Sachiko who nodded in agreement.

"We should let you get some rest," Inukimi said. She would not directly admit that she was concerned, but I could tell.

"Okay, but Sachiko is Kohana's caretaker from here on out." I said but felt a little faint, "Will you guard Kohana?"

"I will, just take it easy and rest." Inukimi said. She then picked up Kohana, walked over to Sachiko, and handed Kohana to her. I drifted off into sleep after seeing my daughter safely in Sachiko's arms.