Kimi groaned as the sunlight shined in her face. It couldn't be morning already... could it? She rolled over onto her side. She wanted more sleep. With Sesshoumaru gone on his journey, she had to take on his daily tasks along with her own. She softly sighed as she tried to let sleep take over her again.

Giggles were heard down a hallway; a pair of footsteps chased by another. Kimi braced herself. It happened every morning for the last two years. The door to her and Sesshoumaru's chambers slammed open.

"Don't do it! Mama is sleeping!" An older voice warned. Rin; now older, protective and her new adopted daughter. Kimi counted down from three. Once she hit one, she felt something slam onto her body.

"Mama! Wake up! It's time to get up!" A younger voice called. Kimi let out a sigh before she sat up. Her golden hair was dishevelled from her sleep. Sitting on her lap was a young pup, five years of age. She had blonde wavy hair, which she got from her mother. The pup pouted, staring up at Kimi with golden eyes, which she got from her father. Kimi couldn't help but smile inwardly.

"Mizuki… How many times have myself and Rin told you it's not polite to awaken someone from their sleep so rudely?" She questioned with a stern look. Mizuki blinked twice before crossing her arms over her chest.

"One hundred." The young demon confirmed. Kimiko couldn't help chuckle at this. Rin skipped over to her mother and gave her a hug. Kimi placed a kiss on both of her pup's foreheads before shooing them to get up so she could dress. "What are we doing today, mama?"

"Why don't you and Rin play in the gardens? I have a lot of work to get done." Kimi thought out loud as she finished dressing. Mizuki and Rin groaned.

"But mama! You always work. Please play with us today!" Rin pleaded with her large chocolate eyes. Mizuki nodded in agreement. Kimi stared at the two children. They gave her their biggest smile; hoping to win her over.

"Alright… go get dressed you two. I'll meet you in the gardens." Kimi said defeated. The two girls cheered as they raced out of the room. Kimi shook her head as she headed out to the gardens.

Once she got to her favourite tree, she sat down and basked in the warm sunlight. She closed her eyes and smiled. She was happy. She couldn't believe the way her life changed. After the night Sesshoumaru and she mated, he kicked Akiho out of the castle. Kagome was overjoyed to hear the news Kimi brought to her and claimed InuYasha and herself were officially together as well. Rin was initially worried and depressed. Did that mean Rin had to leave? Kimi assured her that was not the case and that she was now her daughter. Rin vowed to love and protect all of her siblings!

Natsuko came out of hiding after two weeks. She went back to her full duties as Kimi's advisor. She was surprised by the position but was happy because she was with her friend and not some dumb fox pup (her words, not Kimi's). She wasn't over Kouji's death but she couldn't stay locked up forever.

Kimi's father was displeased with the news. He wanted her to mate with Lord Ichiro. He tried to convince her to leave Sesshoumaru but she would hear none of it. Besides, it wasn't like she could undo the mating. Their mating marks bound them for eternity. Kimi hadn't seen or heard from her father since that argument.

When Kimi found she was pregnant, Sesshoumaru was beaming… well as much as his eyes would show. After Mizuki's birth, he became obsessed with defeating his enemies, not wanting them to use his pups as leverage. After Mizuki's third birthday, InuYasha and Sesshoumaru found Naraku's location. Sesshoumaru decided that he would journey until he defeated the devilish demon. Kimi pleaded with him not to go but Kagome assured her they would be fine and return home in no time. No time turned to two years.

Kimi let out an agitated sigh at this thought. She worried over her mate's safety but when he returned she would give him a piece of her mind. He knew she hated being in the palace, much less doing Sesshoumaru's paperwork. A soft smile then appeared on her face… he waited for her so she could wait for him.

"Daydreaming again?" A familiar voice asked. Kimi kept her eyes closed. She smelt her advisor from a mile away. When one is bored with the castle life, they practice their skills as Kimi had done.

"It's a nice day to daydream." Kimi mused with a chuckle. Natsuko took a seat beside her. Kimi finally decided to open her eyes when she heard laughter in the distance. Mizuki was riding on Rin's back. Kimi was happy that the two got along well.

"I love that the palace is filled with their laughter. It brightens everything up, don't you think?" Natsuko chuckled. Kimi nodded in agreement as her two pups stopped before her. Mizuki handed a flower crown made of lilies to her mother and Rin handed a lily bracelet to Natsuko.

"For the beautiful queen!" Mizuki shouted as she jumped off Rin's back. "Rin taught me how to make them."

"They are beautiful." Kimi complimented as she pulled her youngest down in a hug. She then ran her fingers through her long silky hair. Mizuki struggled. Rin sat by Natsuko laughing.

"What's wrong?" Rin asked with a giggle. Mizuki stopped her struggle, crossed her arms and pouted.

"I don't want to brush my hair."

"Typical child behaviour." Natsuko laughed. Kimi nodded her head in agreement when she suddenly stopped brushing the blonde hair. Mizuki looked up confused. "What is it?" Natsuko asked now alert. Kimi slowly stood up with her eyes closed. It couldn't be. She raced off with the trio trailing behind.

She raced to the front of the large palace. She followed the scent she was tracking. Earthy and rich. She had been without that scent for two years. It couldn't be. She had to see him; hold him. She stopped once she reached the two guards. There stood in his magnificence the Lord of the West himself. She could feel her eyes well up once her emerald ones found his golden ones.

"Papa! Papa's returned! Papa's returned!" Kimi heard from behind her. Soon Mizuki whizzed past her with Rin following. The pair stopped a few feet from Sesshoumaru. They curtsied before racing to wrap their arms around him.

Sesshoumaru knelt down and nuzzled his pups. They had grown in the time he had left them. He had travelled with InuYasha and his woman to defeat Naraku. It took longer than they had anticipated. But he was defeated. Then InuYasha's woman got stuck in a well. She was unable to return until a year and a half had passed; a possible side effect of the jewel being destroyed. Ryo left no trace to be followed.

He handed a bundle, which was a new kimono, to Rin and a stuffed tiger for Mizuki. They voiced their gratitude's but he had his eyes on someone else at that moment; his mate whom he had been parted from. He could smell the tears that were beginning to fall from her jade eyes. She raced over to him and he tightly wrapped his arms round her. He didn't want to part from her again. His lips hungrily crashed down onto her soft ones. Ecstasy pulsed through his veins.

Kimi closed her eyes as tears ran down her cheeks. Her fingers tangled themselves through his silky hair. How she never wanted to leave him, ever. She pulled away when she heard Mizuki's plea of disgust and Rin's giggles. Kimi stared into the golden eyes she had fallen in love with before she angrily turned from him, crossing her arms.

"We'll be back in 'no time' huh?" Kimi muttered. Sesshoumaru wrapped his arm around her waist as he led her towards the castle. His two pups raced in front of him.

"I will explain." He chuckled; placing a small kiss onto the top of her head.

Akiho stared at the piece of parchment before her… an invitation to Sesshoumaru's return party. She hadn't seen him since he kicked her out of his palace that one faithful day. She remembered it like yesterday…

Akiho had tossed and turned all night. Sesshoumaru was supposed to come into her chambers… he said he would… The sun shone into her fiery eyes. Maybe something caught his attention. She slowly got out of her bed and slipped out of her dark silk gown. Once dressed, she exited her chambers only to be startled.

Maids bustled about excitedly. Akiho raised a slim brow. They were never like this. What was going on? She grabbed a hold of a small maid and questioned her. The maid smiled. "Lady Akiho, Lord Sesshoumaru has finally chosen his mate." At those words, she gleamed. Akiho pushed the maid away as she fixed her hair. It was obvious. He final decided to get rid of that wrench, Kimiko, to settle down with her.

She followed the crowd to the front of the palace where she saw a larger crowd of Lords, Ladies, cooks and maids alike listening the man of the hour speak himself. So he was doing it the traditional way. She never thought Sesshoumaru would go this route as he never liked the crowds; much less professing his love in front of one. Of course Akiho loved attention so he must've been doing this for her!

"…Without any more delay. Please welcome my mate, the new Lady of the Western Lands-"

Akiho started to make her way to the front of the crowd. She nodded her head and waved to several important Lords and Ladies.

"-Kimiko, former Lady of the East." Sesshoumaru finished. Akiho stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes wide. Cheers erupted as the stupid blonde wrench strode up to Sesshoumaru and wrapped her arms around his body. Her body shook. No. That couldn't be right! She watched as the pair was going to kiss. She tried to shut her mouth but she couldn't hold it in any longer.

"What!?" Akiho shouted with clenched fists. Everyone stopped what they were doing to see who would have the audacity to interrupt such a moment. Sesshoumaru's golden eyes landed on her. She could hear the growl that escaped his lips. She could careless. Akiho stomped passed the crowd and in front of Kimiko and Sesshoumaru. "What do you mean, Kimiko?! We were supposed to be mated last night!"

Gasps were heard throughout the either crowd. Sesshoumaru was two-timing? It wouldn't be beneath him. At least he wasn't like his father who went with a human. A small laugh caused the crowd to stop in their gossiping. Kimi let go of Sesshoumaru as she walked up to Akiho with a smile on her face.

"Akiho, you have got to be kidding me, right?" Her emerald eyes sparkled which made Akiho sick. "I have been with Sesshoumaru before I disappeared. We were going to mate back then but now it is finalized." With those words she showed Akiho the mating mark on her shoulder.

Akiho clenched her fists in attempts to stop herself from ripping Kimiko to shreds. When did that happen?! It had to have been last night but she was waiting for Sesshoumaru! Why did he go to Kimiko!?

"A strong love never dies. You can lie and cheat but you'll never win in the end." Kimi concluded as Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around her waist. And that was when Akiho lost it.

She crumpled the parchment and threw it over her shoulder; a fowl taste staining her mouth. She had attacked Kimi but was blocked and banned from his lands by Sesshoumaru. Akiho later apologized, but was not allowed into Sesshoumaru's lands unless it was for business and other Lords and Ladies were present.

Akiho ran her fingers through her fiery head while staring at her reflection in the pond. What a bother. What the hell was the point? She would see Kimiko, want to dismember her and the whole thing would start up again. Even worse, if she saw that nasty creature that was Kimiko's pup... Sesshoumaru would surely murder her. A long sigh escaped her lips as she pouted. "Why don't you do a better job of hiding? Show yourself!"

A man with shaggy blond hair and a stupid smug look stepped out from the trees surrounding her private pond. A part of his face was darkener compared to the rest. A dark jacket flowed with the breeze. "Great senses you have, Lady Akiho."

"Who are you? How do you know who I am?" Akiho growled while she quickly stood up. She knew everyone in her small domain. She didn't recognized this being. The man only smiled crookedly.

"I am Ryo. I have come for one thing only, to make a proposition." Akiho raised a brow.

"Go on..."

"We both have wants that we cannot attain, but by working together our efforts will show fruition." Ryo explained. Akiho cocked her hip to the side. What was this man going on about? Seeing her confusion he continued. "You want to claim Sesshoumaru for your own and I want Kimiko. I have a plan that can make this happen..."

That's when Akiho's scowl slowly subsided. She strutted over to Ryo and slipped her arm through his. She started to lead him to her luscious home. "Do go on. I am interested..."

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Love, Snowy B~