The days progressed slowly as we stayed at the palace.
I spent a lot of time with the children of the village, they made me so happy and they distracted me from the turmoil that was building inside me…
I couldn't touch Sesshoumaru and it was killing me… we do spend time secretly together by the pool up at the palace or down here in the woods when I stay in my brother's house but as the days progressed my need to touch him and be held by him grew and grew until I couldn't even have him near me or I'd be in so much pain…
I don't think it was any easier for Sesshoumaru… He began to avoid me unless it was our time together at night. It hurt me a lot to have him avoid me but it hurt more having him so close and not being able to touch him…
Why don't we just give it up and tell my father…? I asked myself for the hundredth time. He'd kill me… he's not ready for me to be married…
Though… Many of the villagers kept asking when I would settle down. I was eighteen and I should be married and have a family and have a house with a nice husband who provided for me. My sister was already married and I was going too old soon and not be very attractive to the men.
Ugh… I heard it all the time now… Some tried to even hook me up with their sons… all of which I have known since I came here and there was NO way I could marry ANY of them.
"Kaori-dono!!" the children screamed as they ran over to me. "Come play!!"
I smiled and stood up. "What are we going to play today?" I asked as I put my hands on my hips.
"Tag!!" one of them yelled.
I laughed. "Well then you better start running!!" and I began to chase them around the village.
I chased Washi around laughing. "I'm going to get you!" I called.
"No!!" He laughed as he ran faster.
I smiled. "I'm going to— Ooff!" I slammed into someone and fell back onto the ground.
"I'm sorry…" I mumbled as I stood and brushed the dirt from the back of my kimono.
"Stupid half breed…" mumbled the man.
I gaped and looked up at him.
"I'd watch who you're talking to!" called the children; the villagers were coming out to see what was going on.
"It's alright children… I don't mind…" I murmured as the man sneered at me.
"Disgusting..." grumbled the man. "Which way to the palace, we were brought here by the Lord."
"This way sir…" I said as I bowed my head and lead them to the stairs. "It's up this way."
"Well?" the man began.
"Well what sir…?"
By now Sesshoumaru had joined us at the bottom of the stairs.
"You know what! You're supposed to show us the way!" he snapped. "Stupid half breed woman…" He muttered under my breath.
I gritted my teeth and placed a warning hand on Sesshoumaru's arm when he began to speak. "This way sir…" I answered through my teeth and began leading the way up the stairs with Sesshoumaru by my side.
As we walked in silence the man and his entourage began to grumble and groan and whine.
"Why does he live so far?" one muttered.
"Why are there demons in this village?" asked another.
"What a pathetic village… full of half breeds…" mumbled some.
"She looks healthy… I bet I could get her into my room for the night…" laughed another.
Sesshoumaru stiffened as I tried to not turn around and throw the man off the side of the stairs.
"Why are you stopping half breed!" belted the man.
I bit my tongue and continued up the stairs to the palace.
When we finally reach the top I lead them to the waiting room and then left with Sesshoumaru to get my father and to get dressed to meet the men as the lord's daughter and heir.
"How could they treat you like that?" Sesshoumaru asked as he leaned against my closed door as I changed.
"They don't know who I am… Our children are treated the same if they're not in our village… Half breeds are frowned upon… You did the same koibito…" I murmured then blushed as the word slipped from my mouth.
Sesshoumaru had opened the door, slipped inside quietly and shut it behind him as I spoke. "Koibito…?"
I yelped and turned around. "Sesshoumaru! Don't scare me like that!" I hissed.
He smiled and placed his hands on my hips. "You know I can't help being beside you…" He murmured as he leaned down and kissed me softly.
I blushed and smiled. "I can't help it either…" I turned around and picked up the silk kimono the ladies had sown for me with wing slits. "Now…" I smiled at him over my shoulder. "Help me put it on…?"
He smiled, took the kimono and slid the slits carefully over my wings. "It's a lovely color… it's perfect with your hair…" he murmured as he kissed my cheek.
I smiled, pulled the silk kimono around me and wrapped the obi around me. The black silvery color of the kimono did look lovely against my red hair and the white obi stood out wonderfully against the dark kimono.
"Here…" Sesshoumaru said as he took the ends of the obi from me. "Let me tie it…"
I blushed. "Thank you…"
"Ready?"
I nodded and walked out of my room and headed back to the waiting room to enter it from the partition behind the platform.
"Ah… I see my daughter is ready to join us…" My father said as he saw my shadow pass behind them. "Kaori-san…?"
"I'm here my Lord…"
"Very good. Is the other visitor with you?"
I blinked then realized he was talking about Sesshoumaru. "Yes my lord… he is standing beside me. Shall I let him in first…?"
"Yes Kaori-san."
I turned to Sesshoumaru. "Sit on his right…" I murmured as I slid the partition open, still hiding behind it, to let Sesshoumaru through first then slid it closed once he walked through. I sat there quietly as I waited to be addressed just like my mother had taught me.
"Why is he sitting next to you?" sneered the other man.
"Why he is the Lord of the Western Lands and he saved my daughter's life when she was very ill." My father answered smoothly.
"WHAT?!" Shouted the other man. "That… THING beside you is a DEMON?!"
I was surprised that Sesshoumaru didn't say anything and it made me extremely happy.
"Are you truly surprised that he's a demon? Have you really not spent time in our village? Kaori-san has he not spent time in the village?"
"No my Lord…" I answered softly.
My father stifled a laugh. "Well let me introduce my daughter… Kaori-san please come grace us with your presence."
I bowed my head, slid the door open, stepped through and sat on my father's left after closing the door again.
"Pleased to meet you, I am Kaori Ogensai…" I said as I bowed placing my forehead lightly against my hands.
"Is this some kind of joke?!" Screeched the man.
I rose up but kept my eyes firmly on the floor and my hands.
"What do you mean?" My father asked.
"You brought me here to meet your daughter and you bring in that… that thing… that… that half breed and expect me to BELIEVE that it's your daughter?!" he jumped up.
Sesshoumaru finally snapped. "If you're going to be so rude to the young lady of this village then I suggest you leave until your attitude's changed." He growled.
"How DARE you!!" the man yelled. "Don't you DARE speak to me like that you… you MONGREL!"
I shot up, I couldn't handle it anymore. "Don't you dare treat him like that…" I hissed; the floor began to vibrate. "I kept my mouth shut the ENTIRE time you treated me lower than dirt and when one of your men began to talk about trying to get me to his room to have sex with me but as soon as you treat our honored guest like you've been treating me you've crossed the line." I was seething now and the room had begun to shake.
My father stood now. "Kaori-san…" My father warned.
"I'm sorry father, but Sesshoumaru-dono is an honored guest and this… wretch should know how to treat another Lord" I turned to the man in question. "Be the guest human or demon…" I whispered venomously.
"Kaori-san you are quite right but if you don't control yourself you'll tear this room apart and I can't have that."
I blinked and finally took noticed to what was happening to the room; I was stunned. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly trying to contain my anger.
"Lord or not I will not be subjected to be in the same room as that… demon." The man answered as the room slowly began to stabilize. "I was brought here in terms of becoming the lord of this village, not some husband to a half breed!"
I was stunned, I forgot about my anger as stared at the man in front of me. "What is the meaning of this father…?" I asked as I finally turned to look at him.
He sighed. "I brought the lord here at first for hopeful peace arrangements between our villages. I didn't know if that meant having to marry you off to him or not, and I wanted to see if it was even possible… But I see now that he can't become open minded about the people who live here or the people who visit. So as far as I'm concerned this arrangement is out of the question. Guards…" He turned to the door as one of the royal guards opened the door. "Please see to it that this man and his entourage has room and food and tomorrow he leaves without ever seeing where our village is…"
"WHAT?!" The man protested. "You bring me here in order to marry your daughter so we can be allies and now you tell me I'm leaving tomorrow?! You must be joking!!" He stormed over, grabbed my arm and yanked me to him.
The guards were in the room in a flash and Sesshoumaru had left the platform while my father stayed where he was standing.
"What are you doing…?" My father asked slowly.
"She's mine; you and I both know that. That was the arrangements." He sneered as he held my arm pinned behind my back.
"That was never in the arrangements. I did not give her to you as your wife."
The man laughed. "You offered though and I'm taking your offer. She'll make a good concubine… don't you think?"
I was stunned; my eyes probably looked like large plates. I didn't know what to do.
"Let me go…" I whispered; I could see Sesshoumaru's eyes fill with hatred and I knew that the man might not live through the night.
"No… You're mine." He snapped.
I growled now and the room began to vibrate yet again. "I'll only warn you one last time… let… me… go…"
The man laughed and tugged me against him tighter. "I don't think so. You'll be spending the night with me then you'll be returning with me to my palace where you'll wait on me hand and foot as my concubine."
I screamed and energy erupted from my body, shoving the man away, and then collapsed.
Sesshoumaru was there cradling me against him as the guards dragged the man from the room. I passed out.
O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O
The next day the guards had taken the man and his entourage to the front gates, blindfolded them then proceeded to take them from the village with the command that they were not allowed to return to the village straight away.
I stayed in my room and did not see them out of the village…
"Kaori-san…?" someone asked at my door.
"Come in." I answered as I stared at the far wall; I was still sitting on my bed with the blanket over my lap.
"Kaori-san… You should get up… the children are wondering where you are…" It was Seiko.
"Maybe later…" I murmured.
"Kaori-san…" He started, but I didn't answer so he left.
A few moments later my door slid open and closed softly.
"Seiko-san… the children can wait… or you can go play with them."
"But I can't wait…" someone else answered.
"Sesshoumaru-dono!" I yelped as I turned to face him.
He knelt down beside me and cupped my cheek. "You don't need to call me that Kaori-chan…"
I blushed and laid my cheek into his hand more, closing my eyes. "I don't know how much more I can take… I can't stand being apart from you… can't
you ask my father to be able to marry me…?" I opened my eyes and gazed into his.
He sighed and kissed my forehead. "I know how you feel… I'll ask him soon… We just need to let what happened blow over…"
I sighed and buried my face in his fur. "Oh Sesshoumaru…" I murmured.
There was a loud thunk as Sesshoumaru removed his breast plate. He moved my head to his chest as he pulled me into his lap and cradled me.
I wish this would never end…
But of course when everything's perfect something interrupts it…
"Kaori-dono…?" someone asked by my door.
"What is it?" I answered as I slid from Sesshoumaru's lap and he left through the secret panel in my room.
The door slid open to reveal one of the maids that had been my friend for a very long time.
"Kaori-dono… Something is coming…" She murmured.
"What do you mean Mai-san?" I asked as I went over to find a kimono to wear. Mai has the gift to see things that will happen, it only happens sometimes and usually when something bad is coming.
"Many flying demons are coming… They're looking for the village…"
I dropped the colorful kimono I had been holding. "What did you say…?"
She had ran over and picked the silk off the ground and started to help me dress. "Please… We need to hurry… Only you can put up a barrier to keep them from seeing our village from the sky…"
I nodded and pulled the kimono around me and added the obi which she tied quickly. "Sesshoumaru-dono… We need to get Sesshoumaru-dono…" I murmured.
Mai nodded and left the room. "Please Kaori-dono… Please go protect the village and I will tell Sesshoumaru-sama to meet you down in the village."
"Thank you Mai-san." After that I quickly ran through the palace. "GUARDS!" I yelled
The captain ran up to me, falling in line next to me as I ran. "What is it Kaori-san… err Kaori-dono."
"Tell my father that the village is going to be under attack soon and that I'm heading to the village to see if I can put up a barrier. Gather every bow and quiver of arrows you can find. We'll be dealing with flying demons."
He stopped running so I turned and faced him. "Just do it!" I yelled then turned and ran out the palace and down the steps.
"Kaage!" I called as I ran down the steps.
Kaage flew over to me and mewed.
"Kaage darling… it's time to fly." I murmured.
He growled and fire erupted around him changing him into a larger form.
"Thank you Kaage." I hopped onto his back as he took off. "We need to get into the village fast."
Kaage roared and flew down to the village below.
I slid off his back as he changed back into his smaller form. "Makoto-san! Suzuki-san!" I called as I ran to their home.
"Kaori-san?" Suzuki answered as she walked out. "What is it?"
"I need your bow and quiver quickly and I need you and Makoto-san to go through the village and tell everyone to get inside."
She gaped at me. "What's going on?"
"Mai-san saw an attack coming. Please Suzuki-san… I can't let this village be found." I pleaded.
She nodded, went in to get her bow and returned with her husband. "Here…" She said as she handed them over to me. "Protect this village like our mother did…" She smiled sadly at me as she and her husband ran off to tell the villagers.
Please… I begged as I stood there staring at the sky above my home. Please mother… Help me protect our home… Tell me a spell to put up a barrier to keep them from seeing this village… Help me hide this village…
I began to hum and hold my hands cupped in front of me. "Please…" I whispered.
The air wavered above my hands as energy began to gather in my hands. When a ball grew in my hands I threw it into the air. "Protect this village! Keep us safe from the eyes in the sky! Make them see what is not here! Show them not our village but an empty forest!" The ball shot into the air and spread out to cover the village.
"Not a moment too soon." Sesshoumaru said as he walked up to me. "Look… over there…"
I turned in the direction he was talking about to see a horde of flying bugs.
"Saimyosho…" He murmured. "They're Naraku's hell wasps…"
"Saimyosho…?" I questioned as I readied my sister's bow. "Who's Naraku…?"
"A demon who is looking for ways to gain more power and I'm assuming you've just popped onto his radar…" He growled.
I stole a glance at him and realized he looked like he would tear this… Naraku apart if he actually showed his face. I looked back at the bugs. "There are so many…" I whispered.
"And I'm betting he sent one of his creations to watch over them."
"Well then we'll just have to leave the village to make sure they don't ever find it…" I headed to the front gates.
"Kaori!" He yelled as he ran after me. "You can't go outside, maybe they'll just pass over and not see the village. There's too many for you to handle alone."
I turned to him, determined. "I am not my mother Sesshoumaru. I don't think my barrier is going to be enough to protect this village… it's my home… I need to do everything I can…" I kissed his lips softly. "If you do not wish to help me then please… protect the villagers and I'll stand in defense outside…"
I turned and ran out the gates. "I have to protect my home…" I pulled the bow back and shot at the first bug that came in my line.
Suddenly they turned and headed straight for me… I was doomed.
Instead of running I shot every arrow I had into their ranks killing more than one with each arrow, but it wasn't going to be enough and I knew there was no way I could use any of my gifts against them… It would drain me too much.
"What a foolish woman." Someone called from the sky.
I turned to face the voice only to see a woman flying on a large feather. "I don't know what you're talking about." I snapped.
"Do you think you can kill all these Saimyosho? You're foolish…" She laughed and the bugs swarmed at me.
A quick flash of green light and the bugs that had flown down to attack me were shredded and scattered across the ground.
"Sesshoumaru-dono…" I murmured as I turned to face him.
"I can't just let you die… what would I do…?" he touched my cheek lightly then handed me several quivers.
"Thank you…" I smiled and turned to face the large amount of hell wasps.
"Sesshoumaru-sama…!" the woman called. "What are you doing here?"
"Kagura…" He hissed. "Why are you here?"
"Naraku heard of a village that had a powerful princess living inside its walls."
"Well there is no village here as you can see. I think you should leave." He answered as he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me back behind him.
The woman looked enraged and signaled the Saimyosho flew around Sesshoumaru and flew straight at me.
"What a cheap trick Kagura…" Sesshoumaru grabbed me by the waist, jumped into a tree, left me on the branch and jumped down killing the wasps.
"I'm surprised you are helping a half breed Sesshoumaru-sama…" the woman sneered.
Oh that pissed me off and I shot an arrow directly at her back.
She turned and swung a fan she had been holding; the wind kicked up and blew my arrow away from her.
"Stupid woman don't you know who I am? I am Kagura the wind sorceress!" She turned to face me. "Dance of blades!" she swung her fan and large circular shaped wind pieces flew at me.
"Shit!" I jumped from the tree and landed badly on the ground. "Ow…"
"Kaori!" Sesshoumaru yelled as he ran over to me. "Are you alright…?"
I smiled at him. "I'm fine… Don't worry about me…"
Kagura growled and more blades flew at us; Sesshoumaru was quick to respond and move me.
Suddenly something clicked in my mind. "Are you jealous…?" I asked as I stood to face her.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" She snapped.
I laughed. "You are!"
She growled and tilted her fan slightly "Dance of the dragon!"
Several large spiral shaped wind tunnels flew around ripping up trees.
"Sesshoumaru!" I called as I grabbed his arm. "She'll tear up my home!"
"I know Kaori… I don't know how to stop them."
I stood there as the wind cyclones came closer, suddenly it clicked. "Throw me!"
"What?!" he turned to face me.
"Throw me! I know how to stop them!!"
He shook his head. "I can't…"
"It's the only way! Trust me!!"
He sighed and kissed me hard. "Don't die…"
"I won't." I smiled.
He grabbed me and jumped up into a tree and threw me at Kagura from behind.
I landed on the feather and used an arrow to shove into her arm that was holding the fan.
She screamed and dropped it.
"Success!" I cried as I grabbed the fan and broke it in half.
"You little whore!" She yelled as she hit me.
I fell from the feather still griping the broken fan.
Sesshoumaru caught me and dropped into a tree. "You're so reckless…" He murmured as he held me to him.
"Naraku knows…" I whispered.
Kagura growled. "I will get you!" she flew off.
Sesshoumaru waited in the tree until he was sure that she was gone then he headed back to the village still holding me.
"Kaori-san!" My father called as he ran over to me.
I slid from Sesshoumaru's arms and stood. "father…"
"I was so worried!"
I smiled and hugged him. "Father… I have to leave…"
He held me tighter. "I know…"
I moved back. "You do...?"
"Mai already told me… That creature Naraku will be searching for you…"
"I'm endangering everyone in the village if I stay here…" I answered sadly.
He kissed my forehead. "come back to us… Come back and visit once in awhile… and when he's gone come home and stay with us…"
"I will father…" tears slid down my face.
Rin walked up to us with Ah-Un on one side of her and Jaken on the other.
"Are we really leaving Sesshoumaru-dono…?" She asked.
He nodded and began walking out of the village.
"Sesshoumaru-sama." My father called.
Sesshoumaru turned to face him.
"Protect my daughter… she is very precious to us…"
"I will…" he answered then left.
"Seiko-san..." I turned and hugged my little brother. "Be safe always."
"Kaori-san." Makoto called as he walked up to me, he hugged me tightly. "You are in our prayers always."
I smiled and hugged him back, then turned to Suzuki. "Play with the children for me…"
"Of course I will." She smiled back and hugged me lightly.
"Kaage… Stay here and protect the village…" I murmured.
I looked at my family. "I love you all…" I turned and ran from the village so they wouldn't see me crying.