When I woke the next morning I knew two things. One, Sesshoumaru showing up was not a dream since he was still here sleeping next to me, and two, there was someone at the door.

"Kaori-dono…?" It was Mai at the door.

Sesshoumaru was out of the bed so fast I hadn't even known he moved. I turned around only to get a view chalked full of beautiful bronzed skin; I blushed as I remembered our close encounter to a full mating.

"Uh…" I stuttered, not for the benefit of Mai out the door but because Sesshoumaru just did that to me.

Sesshoumaru glared at me then spun around and dressed quickly, all the while heading over to the hidden panel in my room.

"J-just a minute…" I called over my shoulder as I scrambled around trying to find something to wear; I made a louder racket then usual for the benefit of my escaping visitor. I pulled on my nagajugan a little haphazardly. "C-come in." I called once Sesshoumaru was through the panel.

"Kaori-dono you do remember that you have to meet with Lord Matsu about marrying you…" Mai murmured as she bustled about, cleaning up my mess.

I blinked, I had totally forgotten. "Oh…" I murmured as I sunk to the floor. "Oh that's right…"

Mai looked over at me and panicked. "Kaori-dono…?" She questioned as she came over.

"No, no… I'm alright…" I answered in a daze.

How could I forget about Matsu? Just because Sesshoumaru was finally here didn't mean I got to marry him… He never announced plans to become a suitor… and I had an obligation to fulfill with Matsu…

Mai had sensed my turmoil and knelt down in front of me. "Maybe he will announce it today at your meeting with Lord Matsu…" She suggested.

I tried to smile at her but I knew it was futile. "Maybe…"

Mai smiled and got up. "I will be right back." She turned back to me, still grinning. "Don't try and sneak out on us again." She winked at me.

I smiled at her weakly then turned to the window to hide my pain. The large mirror in my room caught my eye and I turned to look at it, internally cringing at the sight of me. My plain black hair was bedraggled and my dull brown eyes had bags under them.

I sighed; I missed the ruby red of my hair and the vivid orange color of my hair… I had forgotten how long it had been since I had stripped myself of the magic that hid what I truly looked like… I felt like a fake… I felt like the woman staring back at me wasn't who I was… that it was an imposter… I couldn't even remember if I had stripped myself of the magic that had become my second skin when Sesshoumaru was with me…

Sesshoumaru… Just thinking about him brought tears to my eyes… How could I forget that he was not here as my suitor but only as a guest…? I should have known that it was just too good to be true…

As I fought to regain composure Mai had returned with several other women who would be helping dress me.

They had me standing and stripped of my warm nagajugan leaving me standing there shivering while buck naked. They stuck me on an old piece of cloth and began to quickly wash me off with a sponge and scalding hot water. Once they were done then took me off the cloth and toweled me down with it and I was ready to be dressed.

The first thing on was a silk nagajugan and I thought, not for the first time, that a silk nagajugan was a little extreme. Next came the very beautiful, very vibrant silk kimono. I loved this kimono, probably more than I should seeing as I can't wear it often; it was a vibrant jade green color with a lovely bamboo pattern over it in bronze, copper and a sandy brown, the trim was a dark blue. Both colors complimented my original hair and eye color. Lastly came the multi-layered michiyuki, made mostly to hide my wings, but was also essential in looking the part of the Lady of the village. The two layers that stuck out just enough to have their edges seen were the actual colors that naturally occurred on me, ruby red and vivid tangerine, the top layer was a vary dark, but still very beautiful amethyst. And, of course, the whole thing was silk.

After I was finally dressed, in my many layers, the women had me sitting and began to apply the make up and fix my hair. The knot that they finally settled on was extremely intricate, there was no way I would be able to repeat it on my own, and was held in place with a delicate porcelain hair comb. With that they were done; I relaxed visibly.

My relaxed state didn't last long as I was soon dragged out of my room to finally face Matsu…

"Kaori-sama!" Seiji hissed as I came closer to the meeting room.

"Shut it Seiji-san." I snapped as I slid in behind the partition on the platform.

Seiji glowered at me then turn and walked into the room. "Lady Kaori will be with you shortly Lord Matsu."

Matsu laughed. "Tell her she can take her time, she's probably not use to all of this."

I smiled slightly; Matsu was always kind to me. Mai slid open the partition and I walked in with my head held high. As I sat I carefully tucked the silk kimono under me and let my michiyuki fan out around me, making sure it stayed firmly over my shoulders.

"You are quite right in your assumption Lord Matsu, I am not use to all the preparations I must take to meet someone; it's much more than I use to do." I answered as I flashed him a bright smile; Matsu just laughed. "As you've heard from the rumors, I have put all my suitors to a test of sorts; all of which range in difficulty but are what I feel is needed in ruling my village."

"I see nothing wrong with creating tests for your suitors to see if they are the right one to rule such a diverse village as this."

I smiled at him. "Though I probably know the answers to most of the question I will ask you first, I feel it's only fair that I treat you as I have treated the few who came before you…"

Suddenly the partition slid open behind me and Mai knelt behind me to whisper in my ear; my eyes widened.

"Is there something wrong, Lady Kaori…?" Matsu asked.

I shook myself and smiled at him. "No, Lord Matsu, there is nothing wrong." I turned my head to stare at Mai. "You may tell him that if he feels that is what he wishes to do, he has to announce it to me himself."

Mai nodded, trying hard to suppress the grin that was threatening to spread over her face.

No sooner then she left then the door slid open to the main area and Seiji stepped in, scowling.

"Lady Kaori, Lord Matsu, I do hope I am not interrupting but it seems that our other guest would like to address the two of you."

I turned to look at Matsu who just smiled, a hint of mischief glinting in his eye. I turned back to Seiji. "Then let him enter captain, there is no need for him to be shut out and kept from making his announcement."

Seiji turned away and nearly broke the door as he forced it open; I suppressed the urge to laugh.

Moments later he returned. "Lardy Kaori, Lord Matsu… Lord Sesshoumaru…" He stated as he swept his arm to indicate the most gorgeous man in the world.

I had to fight tooth and nail with myself to keep from jumping up and kissing Sesshoumaru but I did it and my voice was even enough to speak to him as if I didn't already know him…personally…

"Welcome Lord Sesshoumaru. I hear that there is something you wish to announce to Lord Matsu and I." I spoke, keeping my voice even and professional.

"I do…" He answered slowly. "I wish to announce that I have also come here as a suitor to the young Lady Kaori."