Matsu's jaw looked like it should hit the floor while Sesshoumaru sat there as if there was nothing different about me. When asked if it bothered him he just shrugged saying appearance isn't everything.

Matsu… well… Matsu still couldn't get his mouth to close.

"H-h…" Matsu had finally snapped out of it. "I don't understand HOW…"

I cocked my head to one side. "What do you mean how? My mother was a Haibane herself so it's only natural that I am at least half Haibane…" my tone stating 'it's obvious how'.

Matsu shook himself. "I don't mean to sound rude but I know for a fact that Brielle was not your real mother and that she has been gone long before you ever looked like this."

I blinked. "Does that mean that you can't marry someone who looks different…?"

Matsu shook himself. "That doesn't mean I can't marry you just because you're different, it just means I can't grasp HOW you became different."

I sighed heavily. "Lord Matsu… The Haibane Renmei were a hidden clan… a clan that helped both demons and humans… but since their persecution many centuries ago we do not fully understand everything about them… My mother was the last of her kind and she was not able to tell us everything about her and her people… We all can only assume that the love that she felt for me was as real as it would have been for any mother and daughter and that is how I became who I am…"

Matsu stared at me, debating whether I was lying or not; he knew I had always been a horrible liar. What he didn't know was that I had gotten a lot better since learning I had to keep a huge secret.

After his thorough inspection to see if I was lying he still looked confused. "What about the oldest child? Why is he not like you?"

"I was the first child." I stated simply knowing that Matsu knew full well that I was Brielle's first adopted child.

"I still don't fully understand…" Matsu mused.

I smiled at him and stood. "This is why I said it would be the last question for the day; so that you and Lord Sesshoumaru would be able to process what I have told you. Now… If you will excuse me I shall go get ready for dinner…" I bowed to both of them, only receiving a nod back from Matsu, and left.

Mai slipped in, grabbed my michiyuki, and then followed right behind me, signaling to women as we passed. "You did great Kaori-dono!" she beamed.

I smiled back slightly. "I suppose so…" I answered quietly.

Mai understood exactly what I had meant. "Oh Kaori-dono… don't worry! If he loves you as much as you love him he will do EVERYTHING in his power to make SURE he wins!" She smiled brightly again.

I smiled back again, bigger this time; you couldn't just not smile at Mai she was always so bubbly. "So Mai-san…" I started, smirking at her mischievously.

She eyed me carefully. "There is no way you're getting out of going to dinner with the men so you can just stop that right now."

I pouted. "You're no fun…"

She laughed as she led the way into my room.

In a matter of moments the women had me stripped down to my silky nagajugan, with my hair freed from the twisted knot. They had me in my new kimono, a multi blue colored one where the lightest blue started on the bottom and blended all the way up into the very dark blue that was on top, with the top section of my hair pulled back in an interesting rope-like braid in seconds after they had stripped me.

When they tried to hand me another michiyuki I declined.

"They have already seen them, if they cannot handle how I look then they are not the right husband." I told them determinedly.

They reluctantly gave up and let me go as is.

Dinner was completely uneventful.

Both men were totally boring; neither of them wanted to speak or look at me.

As I finally got back to my room the women stripped me of all my clothing, including the silk nagajugan, leaving me standing stark naked when they finally left.

I grumbled and pouted and pulled apart my room yet again; it was becoming a daily thing now. I finally ran out of energy so I grabbed a random nagajugan and contemplated my next test for my two "suitors".

Honestly I don't know what I need to do… I really don't want to marry Matsu, he's as old as my dad and THAT would just be extremely uncomfortable for me, even if it's a natural thing, but what could I do to make him give up…?

I sighed and flopped backwards onto my bed. "I guess I could always make them spend time with the people in the village…" I murmured as I stared up at the ceiling. I rolled over onto my side, laying my head on my arm, and puffed out some air.

I guess we'll see tomorrow…