Kurome stood waiting for Sesshomaru by the main gate as she had said, thinking about what his father had said to her.

"Lord Inu no Taisho, you have a visitor."

Yukinobu, the Inu no Taisho of the Western Lands and its ruler, looked up and beamed when he saw his visitor presented. "Kurome!"

Kurome smiled and bowed. "Hello, Lord Inu no Taisho. I trust you are well?"

Yukinobu smiled and opened his arms. "Come here, dear girl!"

Kurome's smile grew and she ran to the inu daiyoukai, embracing him. He had been an old friend of her family's for years and she greatly cared about him. "It's good to see you Yukinobu." she said, dropping his title for a moment.

"And you, Kurome of the Rain. Now let me get a good look at you!" Yukinobu said, looking at the young wolf daiyoukai female before him as she stepped back and twirled in a circle for him. "My have you grown! Look at your markings! They are coming in so nicely- oh and those ears!"

Kurome blushed, her cloak swishing behind her. "I'm nearly a hundred and fifty, Yukinobu. Of course I've grown."

Yukinobu smiled. "Well, now it seems that your ears have grown more pronounced as well." He noted, reaching up to touch the pointed edge lightly. "When did you get them pierced?"

"Oh, I did that just after we returned home from the last festival." Kurome said, smiling. "Kimiko has hers pierced now too."

"And where is the young pup?" Yukinobu asked. "I would like to see her as well."

"Kimiko wanted to say hello to Lady Suna down at the inn."

"Ah, I see. Perhaps then I shall see her for dinner tomorrow. I do hope that you and your family will be joining us for our meal as always?"

Kurome nodded. "Of course! If you'll have us still."

"It's settled then. Enjoy the festival and I shall see you and your family for dinner tomorrow." Yukinobu said, ruffling Kurome's silvery blonde hair. "Oh, are you taking Sesshomaru with you again?"

Kurome nodded, her cheeks blushing slightly. "Yes, I asked him to join me by the main gate in an hour."

Yukinobu grinned, a coy and playful look in his eyes. "Good, good. Well, he has been looking forward to seeing you again. He's been working to get his studies and training done quicker as the days until the festival grew shorter. I have postponed any further studies or training sessions for the rest of the festival. It would do you both well to spend more time together."

Kurome blushed and bowed, trying to understand his words. "I'd love for nothing more. I should go ready myself for the festival. It was nice to steal a moment of your time to say hello, milord." She stood and gave him a quick hug before turning towards the door and waving. "I'll let Father know the plan and we'll all see you tomorrow!"

Yukinobu waved back as the young wolf ran out of the room and disappeared. He glanced at his mate, Sesshomaru's mother- Inami- as she scoffed and fanned herself. "You disapprove of my choice?"

"Sesshomaru is an inu daiyoukai. That girl is a wolf. They are too different." She said, glaring at her mate. "He deserves a pure blooded inu as his mate, not some northern mongrel."

Yukinobu turned angrily towards his mate, his demon nature breaking through his charismatic surface. "Inami, you will not refer to Kurome Komatsu or any of her tribe as mongrel whilst in my presence, is that clear?"

Inami shrank away from him, his powerful youki overwhelming her. "Y-Yes, milord..! I d-did not m-mean to o-offend!"

Yukinobu sighed and his youki dissipated. "Kurome of the Rain is the pride and joy of the Komatsu tribe. Her blood line is the most pure of the wolves and as such comes with it great power, just as my own. Sesshomaru is a powerful young pup, much of his strength and prowess streaming from his lineage. A bonding between the Komatsu tribe and our own would benefit both sides and form a powerful pair. Sesshomaru and Kurome, despite their breed differences, would be an ideal match to ensure the continuation of both bloodlines. Not only is this a tactical choice that Norimoto and I have been discussing over the years, but it is also for the best interest of our children." He knelt down and took Inami's hand in his, looking at her with his golden eyes. "My sweet, do you not want our son to be happy? Do you not want to see him sire many pups that would strengthen our line and our stance in the Western Lands?"

Inami sighed and nodded, melting in her mate's gaze. "Of course, love."

"Good. Now, shall we attend to our next guests?"

"Kurome?"

Kurome looked up, her braid swaying softly behind her as she turned to face Sesshomaru. "Hi, are you ready?"

Sesshomaru nodded. "Yes."

Kurome smiled and gestured for him to follow her, then led the way through the streets.

Sesshomaru followed after the wolf, humoring her as she dragged him to each stand as she did every festival. As the night progressed, Kurome finally stopped at a newer stand and stared in wonder at the jewelry laid out before her. They were simple pieces, yet each was etched with elegant designs, each made of a different stone or ore. He watched her lightly touch a pair of silver earrings, bearing powerful protection runes etched into the metal.

"Do you like them?"

Kurome stood abruptly, blushing as her hands hid behind her back clasped together. "They're beautiful, yes."

Sesshomaru as about to ask if she wanted them, but Kurome turned as her name was called.

"Could you excuse me for a moment?" She asked, looking between where her cousin and Sesshomaru were standing. When the young lord nodded, Kurome smiled. "Wait here, I'll be right back!"

Sesshomaru waited by the stand as the wolf ran off to meet with her cousin for a moment and while he waited, he took the time to turn to the vendor- a stout tanuki who looked as though he had just started in his craft. "These items are well crafted for one only just beginning." he noted, taking out his coin purse. "I'll take those." He pointed to the silver runic earring Kurome had been looking at longingly. He handed the tanuki the money as the demon handed him the earrings.

"I must inform you, good lord, that for those runes to work, if you wish to offer her protection then you must be the one to activate them. A simple flash of youki will suffice and its signature- or rather aura- will embed itself into the runes and so long as she wears them, the protection runes will work." the tanuki explained. "These are my best pieces, milord, so I am very pleased the young wolf admires them so. I wish you luck in the future and thank you most kindly for your purchase."

Sesshomaru looked down at the earrings, then at the tankui as he bowed. "You are certain these will protect her?"

The tanuki nodded. "Yes, milord. No matter what happens to you, your youki will survive in the runes and she will always remain under your protection."

Sesshomaru gave him a curt nod and quickly tucked the small package containing the earrings into his pocket as Kurome came running back. "Are you ready to continue?"

Kurome nodded. "I'm sorry, Yumiko just wanted to let me know that my sister rejoined my father safely."

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow as Kurome's stomach growled. "Are you hungry?"

Kurome blushed and nodded. "Could we find something to eat?"

Sesshomaru nodded. "Come, I know of a place." He glanced back at the tanuki who gave him another bow and returned a curt nod towards him. 'I will give these to her later tonight.'