AN. : Hy. In spite of the amount of work I have to do I have found time for my muse and my story. Here is the next chapter ... hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I do own Inuyasha, nor do I own the characters.

As soon as he was out of the room, Liu entered. To say the sight in front of her eyes surprised her would be an understatement. She was expecting to see a fragile human girl, not a white Inu youkai female, with the marking of the Goddess of Fate on her forehead. As soon as her mind registered this information, Liu dropped on the floor, bowing deeply, her brow touching the ground.

Kagome didn't have to turn to know someone entered her room. With her keen hearing and senses, she knew there was another person there, so she turned on her heels and looked at the poor servant youkai on the floor.

'Please stand up.'

At hearing her speaking, Liu stood, head bowed in respect.

'Goddess, I am your personal maiden. Ask everything and I will bring you. Also I will tend of your every need.'

Kagome eyed the demoness in front of her. She was pretty, her big round eyes had the color of honey, and her hair was white with black highlights in. Her ears were pointed, as hers and Sesshoumaru's were.

'Right now, I do not need anything but to get into the dinning area. As disrespectful as Sesshoumaru was with me, I do not want to be late. Tell me … umm, what is your name?'

'Liu, my Lady.'

'Liu, tell me please. What kind of youkai are you?'

'I am a white tiger youkai, my Lady.'

'Ok. Liu we have something to settle here. First, I am no Goddess, so do not give me the respect one should receive. Second, I am no Lady either, so please don't call me that. My name is Kagome. Please use it.'

'But, my Lady, Lord Sesshoumaru has given you the room only his intended Lady should receive. Therefore, we are bound to call you that. And if I only use your name, I will be punished by our Lord for not showing the respect you should receive.'

'Trust me, I am not Sesshoumaru's intended. He never said anything like that to me. I am here for he offered to teach me how to spare.'

Liu's eyes widened for a second and then a smile graced her lips. She knew which were the steps of an Inu youkai courting a female, and this was the first of them. If the female were to accept the training session, it meant she had accepted his courting. 'But she was a girl yesterday when she was brought. A human girl. She couldn't know the Inu youkai's courting rituals. And how exactly did she turn out to be a demoness and have the marking of the Goddess of Fate, the Protector of the House of the Moon?'

'Lady Kagome, may I ask you a question?'

'Of course, Liu.'

'I-I-I- … well the question is this: how come yesterday you were a human girl and today you are a demoness who has the marking of our beloved Goddess of Fate?'

'Ahhh. I though you might ask that. Well you see, my body was too frail to house my miko powers and the holy powers that were awakened when my memories were returned to me. For you see, I am, or better said was, the Goddess of Fate. But last night, before my change was complete, the Goddess of Foretelling came to me and awakened my memories and my powers and told me to choose: go back home amongst the Kamis, or remain in this realm. And I have chosen. I suppose being a white Inu youkai was the best form for the great amount of power I wield. The marking remained with me because I have long since I became Fate itself. I still have the element inside me and I can see everyone's fate.'

At her words, Liu bowed deeply in respect and stood there, rooted to the floor in awestruck. This being in front of her has chosen to remain between mortals and demons instead of returning in the holy realm.

'Liu, please help me find the dinning area. I do not want to be late.'

'Yes, Lady Kagome. But, your Lady, your claws … have blood on them. Are you injured? I do not sense any injury but I am only a low servant. Do you not want to wash them before you go down to breakfast?'

'Oh … yeah I forgot about that. This is not my blood. It is Sesshoumaru's. I will be right back; I'll go and wash it off.'

'She has clawed Lord Sesshoumaru? And he did not strike back? But after all she is the Protector of this House, so I guess she deserves an even greater respect than our Lord.'

'I am ready. Please show me how to get to breakfast.'

Liu motioned her for the door, so Kagome exited. 'Why are you walking behind me? How are we supposed to find the dinning area if I am in front? I do not know how to reach it.'

'In Inu tradition, a servant never walks in front of the master. Walking in front means you are the master, walking next to each other means you are equals and walking behind means you are either of a lower rank, which could be in power or socially, or a servant and you must obey. You see I cannot walk in front of you, my Lady. I will guide you to the dinning room.'

Kagome was bewildered. She never knew that there were so many traditions in Inu community.

'Liu, I want to know more about the Inu traditions; now that I am one of them I have to start acting like one. So I want to know if can find parchments in this castle.'

'Yes, Lady Kagome. There is a library in the northern wing. I will escort you there when you wish.'

'Very well. Thank you.'

A few minutes after this discussion, they were in front of the dinning room doors. Liu opened them for her and she slipped inside. Sesshoumaru was sitting at the table already, waiting for her. They were alone, but her keen ears told her that two pairs of feet were approaching fast. And she was right, for not a minute later, Rin and Shippou came running in the room. They both froze when they saw her. They didn't recognize her.

'Shippou, Rin. Ohayo. Come, let me give you a hug.'

'Oka-san? Is that you?' Shippou asked.

'Yes, it is me.'

'What happened with you? You are an Inu youkai. You were human. How did you transform into one?'

'Pup, it is not the time for stories. Come, sit, we will eat now.' Sesshoumaru intruded their conversation.

They all sat down, Rin first, on Sesshoumaru's left, with Shippou right next to her. But when Kagome wanted to sit next to her pup, the demon lord stopped her and beckoned her to sit on his right.

The servants came in and put plates of food in front of them. Sesshoumaru was the only one whose plate had raw, bloody meet on. At the sight of it, Kagome's stomach gave a twist and she immediately turned her gaze towards her own food. It was human food. She waited for the Lord of the castle to take the first bite, for that was the custom, and took a bite. The rice seemed so dry and had such a bad taste that she immediately put her chopsticks down and said she wasn't hungry. She wouldn't dishonor Sesshoumaru saying his cooks were not doing their job.

But the Taiyoukai could hear the grumble her stomach was making. She was hungry. 'But why isn't she eating if she is hungry? Hmm … maybe she does not like our food. We should punish the cooks for burning our intended's food. The pups eat it. That means the food is well done.' And then it struck him. Kagome was no longer a human, so she would not find the human food nourishing or even tasty.

'Liu'

'Yes my Lord?'

'Go to the kitchen and bring another plate of raw meat.'

'Yes, my Lord.'

With that, she exited the room and went to the kitchen. A few minutes later she was back with a plate of meat and made to give it to Sesshoumaru but he nodded towards Kagome. Liu understood and took the plate with human food and placed the one she just brought.

'What does this mean?'

'Eat. You are hungry.'

'But I do not ear raw meat.'

'Youkai eat it. And you are one of them. You find the human food taste bad and not nourishing, do you not? It is because you are now an Inu.'

'But Shippou eats human food.'

'He is a pup. He will not need this kind of food for some years now. But after he will reach his teens he will start seeking it.'

Kagome couldn't make up her mind. Should she try it or should she not?

'Kagome, eat. You will need strength for your training.' Sesshoumaru said, trying to make her eat.

She took her chopsticks and tried a little piece of meet. It was so reach in flavors and so tasty. She couldn't believe she really enjoyed the metallic taste of the blood on her tongue. She devoured the meet in a breath, forgetting about manners and anything else. Shippou was looking at her awestricken. His oka-san was eating raw meet and she liked it.

After she finished her plate she remembered about the other occupants of the table and raised her eyes from the plate and looked at them. Rin had a casual air about it, but Shippou was pinned to the chair, eyes widened, looking at her. She blushed immediately and turned her gaze towards Sesshoumaru. He was looking at her with a smirk on his lips.

'Gomen.' she whispered. 'I do not know what happened.'

'You were hungry. And you enjoyed your breakfast so much that your eyes turned read in pleasure. Apparently, your youki liked it also.' Sesshoumaru said, the smirk still plastered on his face.

Hearing his explanation, Kagome turned an even darker shade of red. She was fidgeting on the chair, not even daring to look up from her lap.

'In time you will learn how to keep your instincts and your youki under control. You have nothing to be embarrassed of.' Here, he made a short pause, as to let his words sink in her mind and then he continued. 'I considered appointing you one of my trusted generals to train you. But then I reconsidered and I decided to train you myself. We start as soon as you are ready.'

'Thank you, Sesshoumaru. I am ready when you are.'

'Very well. Rin, Jaken will come and take you and the kitsune pup outside. You are to listen to him and play together. Do not come and disturb the training.' With that being said, Sesshoumaru stood and said:

'Let us go, Kagome.'

And for her surprise, he didn't leave without her. Never did he walk in front of her, but next to her, Kagome walking on his right side.

'So does this mean you consider me an equal?'

'Hn. Did Liu tell you of the Inu traditions?'

'Some. She told me because I asked her to lead the way to the dinning area so she explained me this.'

'I will tell her to explain you the other traditions also.'

'Thank you. But I already asked her to take me to the library when I finish with the training. I would like to find a book and read about them.'

'You know how to read?'

'What? Of course I know how to read. I told you I went to school. And for 10 years in a row that is. I would have continued it, but I started my adventures with Inuyasha so I had to drop it.'

'Very well. I will show you the library at the end of the training. I can appoint you the parchments that describe our traditions.'

'Thank you. Where are we going now?'

'We are going in the gardens. We will start the training session with meditation. This will help you clear your mind of your emotions, so you can think clear and concentrate better upon what I shall teach you.' Barely had he finished his words that he had stopped. They were in the gardens, surrounded by all kinds of flowers and trees.

Sesshoumaru had chosen a sakura tree and sat down under it, Indian style. He beckoned to her to come and sit in front of him, but Kagome was lost in memories for a second at the sight of the old tree.

'This is the tree I have found Inutaisho-sama that night, when I had come to talk with him, under.'

'I know. I find this tree the most peaceful part of the garden, so it is the best place to meditate.' Sesshoumaru snapped her out of the memories.

Without any other words, Kagome sat down in front of him, imitating his posture and listened his every word.

'Close your eyes and take deep breaths. Concentrate on your inner turmoil and try to calm it down.'

She did what she was asked to. She closed her eyes and concentrated upon her worries and memories. And then she submerged into her memories of past and future, looking for the Taiyoukai's course of fate. And she saw it, under the form of three visions: one from the past, one from the present and one from the future.

In front of her inner eye an image of Sesshoumaru standing on a cliff appeared. And then she saw the form of the Goddess of Choice floating in front of him, telling him something.

'Due to the killings and fights you have involved yourself in, us, the Kamis, have decided to punish you. However, we have also decided to give you one last chance. You are to choose from two options: you either choose to help a couple fall in love, or you find a mate to love and to be loved by. Both way, you will find out what love is and you will start feeling. If you do not accept to do as we decided, your life as a demon will end and you will be transformed into a human, a life as a ningen being the perfect punishment for you. If this happens, your lands will be taken over by worthless youkai and divided. A war will start and more humans and demons will die.'

As the Kami finished her words, the vision blurred and from the rivers of fate another one came. This one was an image from the past night, when she changed and Sesshoumaru took care of her.

As the dawn was drawing in fast, she started stirring. Her beautiful face, still contorted in pain, looked as if the agony would tear her in small pieces at any moment. As the first rays of sun appeared, a pink light engulfed them both. It lasted only a few seconds, but it was enough for the pain to subside to nothing and to let the girl peacefully sleep in the warm water.

What intrigued the stoic Taiyoukai was the marking on her forehead. A black crescent moon adorned her brow, only it was positioned in a mirrored angle with his. His eyes widened slightly in recognition.

He stood and got her out of the spring, wrapped her in the cloth to dry the water and then put the night kimono on her. After he finished with this, he gathered her in his arms and carried her to the bed, gently laying her down. He took an intake to sense her scent and what he felt in it disturbed him.

'Kagome' he whispered slowly.

As the whisper faded, so did the vision and from the depths of future she received another image.

Sesshoumaru and Kagome were standing in front of a massive oak door, waiting to be presented. They were both dressed exquisitely. And then, a deep masculine voice boomed in the room they were to enter:

'Presenting Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands and his intended, Lady Kagome.'

At that precise moment Sesshoumaru offered her his hand and when the door opened, they entered in the great ball room, greeted by none other than the Lord of the Eastern Lands, Hinode-sama.

'Lord Sesshoumaru.'

'Lord Hinode. Let me present you Lady Kagome, my intended.'

With a little bow of his head, Lord Hinode said:

'Lady Kagome. So we finally meet, Goddess of Fate.'

'I am no longer a Goddess. But you may call me Demoness of Fate, for my element did not forsake me.'

'Tell me please, what has Fate in store for my House?'

'Lord Hinode, I will check your stream of Fate when meditation will permit me. But you know I am not to tell you anything, or else its flow will be changed.'

'Still you have told Lord Inutaisho.'

'That I did and it was because I saw it in his fate. As you can see, my fate was bounded with his.' With this, Kagome nodded to the Eastern Lord and passed him, her hand still on Sesshoumaru's arm. They entered the room, both with their chins held high, just as a true Lord and Lady should do, and walked towards the table all the lords were seated at. She could feel all the eyes on her. The females were looking with hate and rage at her, the males with lust and desire.

With that last sensation, the vision blurred again and she emerged from the rivers of Fate and back to the real world. She could pick up the slight shuffle of clothes in front of her and she opened her eyes. She was not surprised to see that in her state of 'unconsciousness' she had erected a barrier around herself and Sesshoumaru.

When he saw she had opened her eyes he said:

'I see you have managed well. Was your meditation calming and soothing?'

'Surprisingly it was. I have seen glimpses of your fate, Sesshoumaru.' She said with a smile.

'You mean you can still see the others' fate?'

'Yes, I can. My element has not abandoned me. I can say that I have become Fate itself.'

'And why only glimpses?'

'Because the Fate reveals itself in three visions. Past. Present. Future. I have seen a scene for each of them.'

'And I suppose you cannot tell me what my future holds.'

'You guess correctly, for if I am to reveal it, it may not happen.'

'Hn.' With that, the demon asked her to lower her barrier for they were to go to the dojo to begin their real training. She brushed her fingers over it and lowered it and they both walked to the imposing dojo, situated in the southern part of the gardens.

When inside the massive building Sesshoumaru took her in the middle of the floor and he stood in front of her.

'First of all I will teach you how to use your poison. I believe you know how to use the claws, seeing that you did demonstrate it in the morning. Now, concentrate on the poison within your veins. When you are sure you can summon it, I want you to imagine a whip made of poison, whip that starts from your fingertips. Do not rush things, take your time and concentrate.'

Kagome did what she was told. She closed her eyes and concentrated upon the foreign substance flowing in her veins. She called it forth at the tips of her fingertips and when she was sure it was under her control and could draw it in her claws, she imagined a whip made from the poison. And when the image was clear enough, she felt her poison taking the form she had summoned and she opened her eyes. The poisonous whip was not something she would have expected, for it was very short, in fact it was that short it would not even touch Sesshoumaru, who was standing several feet away from her.

'You broke your concentration too fast. You should have kept the image longer. Do it again; this time I want you to imagine a longer version of the whip and do it properly.'

She didn't say anything. She closed her eyes and started the tedious process again. When she opened her eyes the whip was certainly longer, but the amount of time it took her to summon it was also too long . So Sesshoumaru told her to try it again, only this time she should draw the whip faster.

They worked, or better said, she worked, like that the entire morning and by lunch time she could draw the poisonous whip in an eye blink and it would have been as long as she wanted it.

Sesshoumaru interrupted their morning session there. He was pleased she was a fast learner and she really managed to control the deadly weapon. They exited the dojo and went to the gardens to meditate again.

'Meditation will help you relax and concentrate. You need to have a clear mind if you want to start the sparing lessons.' he told her when she pouted, for meditation was not something she was eager to do.

After another session of meditation, this time no vision interrupting Kagome's concentration and calming down, they reached once more for the dojo. Being youkai, they didn't need to have lunch.

'We will start with the basics. For this, we will be training with two woodened katanas, so no undesired injuries would occur.'

He went to one of the room's corner and produced two training katanas. He handed her one and he kept one for himself. Then he proceeded in showing her the correct stance a sword master should have when fighting. Kagome tried to copy his stance as best as she could, but she made so many mistakes that Sesshoumaru had to come to her and correct them.

She had to put the right foot in front of the other, bent her knees and keep the sword in front of her, its tip parallel with her nose, its hilt next to her right hip, her back straight. Sesshoumaru came to her and gently put a palm on her right knee, 'Bent it more', than his other palm rested on her upper back, 'Straighten your back and shoulders'; with the tip of his sword he touched her left foot 'Bent you knee lower and get the heel off the ground. Only your toes should touch the ground from your left foot.' Finishing with her body correction he looked at the way she was holding the katana. He stepped behind her and assumed the same position she was in, helping her body to keep the right stance, and grab a hold on her sword, palms over hers. He instructed with his own fingers how she should hold the hilt and then he said 'Tighten your hold on the sword's hilt, or else I can take it off from you with the mere touch and you'd remain without any defense.'

Kagome was barely able to concentrate on his words; for his hard chest pressed against her back, his arms embracing her and his warm breath on her neck did the trick of sending her daydreaming about said demon lord.

When he released her and stepped in front of her she almost whimpered for the loss of his body heat and dropped the katana. Too caught in her dreams she didn't even make a move to pick it up, Sesshoumaru having to do it for her. He tossed her the woodened sword and asked her to assume the position he just showed her. Reluctantly, Kagome scoffed at herself and slowly, with as much grace as she could muster, she assumed the position.

'Her body is enticing. I can still feel the tingling sensation on our body when you showed her that position. Indeed, her body is well toned. She looks acceptable. And she is a fast learner. Acceptable? Do you not see how beautiful she is? Her long, wavy silver hair, her black eyes, her well toned body, her long legs, that milky skin of hers and her slim waist. She has potential. Nonetheless, she still needs to work on her body's muscles. Arrogant. I must admit though that it was pleasurable to hold her in my arms and I felt a faint scent of arousal from her too. Ahh … that means she is falling for us. Excellent, excellent. Hn.'

'What does this mean? My body feels the loss of his body heat. I felt as if I had lost a part of me when he released me. What is this feeling in the pit of my stomach? Is it … love? Could it be that I fell in love with him? Normally it is called love. You, my dear, are head over heals for that Ice Prince. Yeah … only that I would never know if he returns the feelings. For although I know what Fate has in its stores for both of us, I also know that the Kamis have told him to find a mate or else he would be punished. Ahh … my dear, but you forget one major thing. The Kamis told him he must fall in love and make the female fall in love with him if he does not want the wrath of the Gods to come upon him. Well he has accomplished half of the condition … for I have fallen for him. Now it is your turn to make him fall for you.'

At her last thought, a bright knowing smile blossomed on her lips. Kagome locked eyes with the stoic lord and assumed the position once more, never releasing his gaze from hers. She would make him fall for her.

AN. : Well this is it. I like the way it turned out, although I know it could have been something better.

I have forgotten to tell you last chapter the translation for the name of Sesshoumaru's mother, Saisho. In Japonese, saisho means 'beginning'. Ohh... and Hinode's name ... it means 'sunshine'.

Thank you to all the reviewers. Keep reading and reviewing guys.

Ja ne.