Kurome walked through the halls of the palace, having just dropped off Kimiko. She was beginning her training in magik with the Inu no Taisho, so Kurome left her with Yukinobu and wandered outside. She needed to clear her head, but she wanted to go for a long run. Seeing a servant, she asked that they send word to Kimiko that she would return by the time her lessons were down, then sprang up onto the roof and took off. Heading for the nearby woods, Kurome ran through the trees and smiled as she weaved in and out of her obstacles. Her legs had been aching for a good run since they arrived and thankfully the lands of the West were well protected.

Stopping near the lake just south of the village, Kurome looked around and found a perfect place to set her things and go for a swim. Stripping to nothing but her underthings, she dove into the lake and resurfaced just a short distance from the shore. She swam around for a bit, silently gliding through the water before she made her way towards one of the outcrops of rock rising above the surface of the lake and leaned against it. She sighed contently and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath of the cool air.

Nearby, Sesshomaru had sensed her youki and gone to find her. He only came out this far from the village to get some free time away from the noise and the commotion, but he always came alone. Following her youki to the lake, he saw her leaning against one of the outcrops. Stepping closer to the bank, he gave a short spike of his youki to alert her to his presence and smirked when she looked over, blushing.

"Sesshomaru, what are you doing here?"

"I came for a bit of peace of mind. What are you doing here?"

"I needed to stretch my legs. I found myself here and felt like a swim."

"May I join you?"

Kurome blushed. "Sure."

Sesshomaru began stripping off his armor and his clothing, smirking when Kurome turned away with burning cheeks. Slipping into the cool water, he dove under the surface and swam until he reached the outcrop where Kurome rested, popping up just across from her.

Kurome glanced at Sesshomaru, blushing when she saw his bare chest, muscular glistening with water as his silver hair pooled around him in the water. She couldn't help but stare when he took his claws and combed back his hair from his face, but then she caught the glint of metal and her eyes were drawn to the pendant at his chest and she smiled. "You're wearing it."

Sesshomaru looked at her. "It was a gift. Why would I not?"

Kurome blushed and looked away, her arms crossed in front of her. "I wasn't sure if you would like it or not..."

Sesshomaru smirked and a soft chuckle came from him, causing Kurome to look back at him. "It is acceptable, Kurome. Thank you for the gift."

She smiled and relaxed a bit, though her cheeks never ceased their burning. "I- You're welcome."

They sat the for a while, enjoying the cool water as the sun beat down over the mountains, but when the clouds grew dark and a low and distant thunder echoed, Kurome's ears perked up and she sat up looking at the sky. "There will be a large storm coming. I hope we make it back in time before it reaches us."

Sesshomaru glanced up, then looked back at her. "Kurome, about your penalty..."

Kurome looked at him. "Oh, right. You never told me what you wanted for winning."

Sesshomaru pushed away from the outcrop he had been resting against and made his way towards her, stopping when he was just a few feet from her. Reaching up to touch her cheek, he looked down at her and met her icy blue gaze. "I wish to collect."

Kurome blushed and tried to move away, more embarrassed to be so near him whilst being nearly naked than anything else, but he stopped her and his hand slid gently to the small of her back- drawing her in.

Sesshomaru cupped her cheek in his hand and leaned down, pressing his lips against hers as he pulled her in closer- her hands the only thing keeping them separated. When he drew back, he smirked at her surprise and the profuse blush upon her cheeks. "There. Perhaps our next sparring match will result in such penalties again."

Kurome touched her lips, her eyes never leaving his as a hot sensation ran through her body. 'He... He kissed me...'

The crack of thunder grew louder and Kurome felt a jolt of familiar and unwelcome demon energy. "Oh no... That youki is headed for the village..."

Sesshomaru sensed it too, but while it was powerful, it was nothing up against his father. "My father can handle it."

Kurome swam back to shore, thankful that her hair was long enough to hide her backside as she hopped out of the water and got dressed. "That may be, but I cannot expect your father to protect my family and his people. I need to be there to protect Kimiko and the others."

Sesshomaru swam to shore and quickly got dressed, then looked at her- smirking when he saw that she had turned away again. "Come, we shall travel by orb." He offered her his hand, then pulled her close to him when she took it. "This may be unpleasant at first." He warned, then enveloped them with his youki in the form of an orb.

The orb took off with lightning speed towards the village, but what they would experience later that night would change their futures forever.

A clamouring in the main hall of the Inu no Taisho's palace grew among those gathered. Members of the inu tribes, the northern wolf tribe, and various other youkai that were allies or friends to Norimoto and Yukinobu, all spoke with alarm, disgust, apprehension, and many other feelings as they glared and stared at the intruders.

"Where is Kurome?" one of the intruders said, stepping forward.

Norimoto felt his hair bristling, Yukinobu's fur doing the same at the youkai's tone. "My daughter is busy elsewhere. She has no need for a disrespectful ingrate such as yourself."

The youkai scoffed at that, his ears twitching. "I've come to collect the bitch as she was promised to me."

Norimoto stood abruptly and growled, but Yukinobu stood with him and placed a firm hand on his friend's shoulder. Norimoto looked at the Inu no Taisho as his youki flared and became visible in an attempt to scare the whelp senseless.

"You will not speak of Lady Kurome in that manner." Yukinobu said. "She is an honored guest in my home and I will not tolerate such disrespect from an ingrate child."

"You don't scare me, old man." the youkai scoffed, sneering at the Inu no Taisho. "I don't care what reputation says, I am here to collect my prize."

"Hamuro!"

The room grew silent as the crowd, the intruder and his men, and the two daiyoukai lords turned to see Sesshomaru and Kurome entering the main hall. Whispers began to erupt as the two strode forward, heads held high, walking in sync with each other whilst side by side.

"Ah, there you are! I came to collect you, Kurome. It's time to return home with me." the youkai said, looking her up and down like he wanted to devour her. Noticing Sesshomaru, however, and the look of murder in his eyes as he glared at the intruder, the youkai huffed. "Who is this? You gone and bed another man?"

Kurome growled as the youkai circled her, sniffing around her. "Hamuro, watch yourself." she warned. "I am no one's prize."

Hamuro of the Ikeda Southern Wolf tribe glared at her. "You are mine, my dear sweet Kurome, and yet you smell of this pampered pretty boy!"

'Pampered pretty boy?' Sesshomaru repeated in his head, clenching his fist. "You will watch your tone, whelp, when in my presence or that of my father and our guests. If you wish to see a 'pretty boy', let us see how nicely your blood will look painted all over your face."

"'Sho, don't." Kurome warned, her hand gently reaching up to touch his arm. "I will handle this."

Sesshomaru looked down at her, ignoring the staring of their audience. "I will not allow you to be disgraced by his words, nor by his presence. Allow me to remove him at once."

Kurome blushed a bit, but shook her head. "This pungent fool needs to be taught a lesson once and for all and it is far time that I did."

Hamuro laughed. "You? Teach me a lesson?" He bent over laughing, his men joining in. He took a moment or two, then began to stand up and wiped his eyes. When he returned his focus to Kurome he found her charging at him. He made to dodge her, but was too late in reacting and her fist met his solar plexus, resulting in him keeling over and falling to his knees. "Bitch..."

Kurome stood proudly in her familial offensive stance. "You will leave here immediately, Hamuro. I am not your prize, nor a promise to you. That contract was voided when your grandfather and father betrayed my tribe so long ago, costing my people more grief and suffering than they ever deserved to bear."

Sesshomaru took a step back, watching as Hamuro stood like a fool and spat blood onto the floor like a mongrel. He glanced at his father and Norimoto, seeing them just as much on edge as he was. Looking back to Kurome, he stood ready to come to her aid if needed.

"You bitch... You're mine..." Hamuro sputtered.

Kurome took one step to the side then vanished, reappearing behind Hamuro in less than the blink of an eye. "Get this through that thick skull of yours. I am not yours, I do not belong to you, I do not belong to anyone. Who I choose to give my heart to is for me to decide, not my father, not my tribe, not my best friend, not my allies, and certainly not you." She had her dagger pressed to the side of his throat, her free hand raised to strike with readied claws. "If you will not leave me in peace, then I challenge you to a duel. I win and you will leave me, my family, and the rest of my people alone in peace and never return. Should you return, I will kill you on the spot."

"And if I win?" Hamuro asked, gasping as the dagger's point pierced through his flesh.

"I will go with you on your oath to leave my family and my people in peace." Kurome said, her eyes shifting to Sesshomaru. She felt his youki singing to her and she got the sense that he was asking her if she knew what she was doing. She nodded and tried to push a reassuring wave of youki his way, seeing if the connection with his pendant would relay her message. She smiled a bit when he gave her a curt nod and took a step back. "Are these terms agreeable?" she asked, returning her attention to Hamuro.

The wolf youkai whimpered a bit and nodded. "Fine, fine."

Kurome released him and stepped back. "Meet me in the southern field just outside the village's main gate in one hour. Use that time wisely to prepare yourself." She walked back over to Sesshomaru and stood next to him. "I suggest you take my advice, Hamuro. Prepare yourself."

The wolf youkai glared at her as she walked away with Sesshomaru at her side, joining her father and the Inu no Taisho as they made their way to prepare themselves. The audience dispersed save a good number of Yukinobu's guards, many of them heading out towards the field to wait anxiously or to spread the word of the duel.