Disclaimer: I don't any of the InuYasha characters, but I do own Ayami and her family.

Protecting Love

Chapter 7

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Last time

Ayami was just finishing brushing her hair, when a bell sounded thru the castle…………

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The dinner bell that is. (TeeHee)

Ayami finished brushing her hair and walked out of her room. She turned left (the way she had come) and headed down the hall. She was starting to get lost. She had begun to follow the scent of food, but now, the scent of food was everywhere.

She had been walking for a while now. It seemed to be hopeless. She was just coming to the end of yet another flight of stairs, when she saw a tall outline in the doorway. It was Sesshomaru. He motioned for her to follow him to dinner. Ayami nodded, slightly blushing.

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Dinner was quiet for the most part.

Rin was the only one talking with Jaken interrupting her here and there. He would murmur rude phrases from time to time as well. Ayami nodded and shook her head to answer questions and smiled too. Sesshomaru just ate like he usually would at dinner at his castle: quietly.

It continued on like that until Rin asked a question of Sesshomaru……

"Lord Sesshomaru, are you going to continue your hunt for Naraku?"

"Naraku? NARAKU! That filthy bastard came pretty close to completely ruining my life and family!" Ayami suddenly burst out, jumping out of her seat.

Jaken became frightened and slid part of the way don his stack of books he was sitting on (so he could reach his food). Rin shuddered as she looked into Ayami's now completely red eyes. Ayami was extremely pissed off all of a sudden.

"You know of Naraku then." Sesshomaru calmly stated rather than asked.

"Know him? Know him!? Of course I 'know him'. He tries to kill my father and almost made my twin his mate multiple times. When Ayuki, my twin, mated with an elemental demon, he tried to kill her. Then, he asked ME to be his mate. When, I refused, he killed my best friend AND her mate. He still hasn't given up on me, and that is two years AFTER he killed my best friend and FOUR years AFTER he tried to kill my twin." Ayami yelled in a rage. Her eyes then turned an even brighter red (if that is even possible).

Everyone sat in silence. They were letting Ayami calm down. They all knew how powerful she was and they didn't want that power turned on them. Finally, Ayami was calmed down enough to have her eyes turn back to their regular light blue.

"Ok. Ok. I'm calmer now. What did Naraku do to you?" Ayami asked in an all too bright of manner.

"He tricked Lord Sesshomaru into trying to kill his half-brother. When it didn't work, he almost killed Lord Sesshomaru. That vile half-breed Naraku, Lord Sesshomaru will kill him." Jaken answered with anger.

"Naraku wanted my father to kill a half-breed and the group he was with. His name was InuYasha and I believe that there were two girls, a perverted monk, and a fox demon kit with him. When I couldn't kill them, Naraku tried to kill my family and me. He sent Kagura, the Wind Sorceress, after us. I wounded her so bad that she could not fly away. We tended her wounds but last week, she broke out and was headed back to her master we think. After that, he got it in his head that he wanted to mate Ayuki." Ayami mentioned, scowling.

Jaken stared dumbly at Ayami while Rin stared down at her food.

"InuYasha is my younger half-brother." Sesshomaru broke in.

"I didn't kill him. I'm sorry I tried though, if he is your brother." Ayami apologized.

"Not a problem. I had planned on killing him myself." Sesshomaru said back.

"Why? Never mind that question. Are you still after Naraku? Maybe we could team up or something. Since Naraku is after me, I could lure him somewhere and we could take him down together." Ayami suggested.

"Lord Sesshomaru doesn't need anyone one like you to help him defeat Naraku." Jaken said.

"Why you……" Ayami started to yell.

"Jaken," Sesshomaru interrupted, seeing the look of anger on Ayami's face.

"Yes, what is it, milord?" Jaken asked eagerly, also noticing Ayami's anger contorted face.

"Take Rin and find out about dessert." Sesshomaru ordered.

"Of course, milord." Jaken said thankfully.

Jaken took Rin and they walked off toward the kitchen. Ayami looked at Sesshomaru and waited for him to speak. Just as she was about to break the silence, Sesshomaru began,

"Ayami, I agree with you. We would be a formidable team against Naraku."

"Great. I'll need to tell my father, but we can do it when we set off for our search for Naraku. Plus, it will be a great chance for Rin to see my castle." Ayami smiled.

"Ayami,"

"Hmmmm?"

"I would like to speak to you privately. If you would come to my room after dinner, I would much appreciate it." Sesshomaru asked.

"Uh, sure. What's wrong with that?" Ayami said.

Ayami blushed slightly and Sesshomaru inwardly sighed. At that moment, Jaken and Rin came out followed by a servant carrying a very large cake.

"Cake! I just love cake!" Ayami yelled with happiness.

Jaken got the -.- look and Rin giggled. Sesshomaru did a sweat drop while Ayami didn't notice. She was too busy digging in to the cake.

And then, dinner was over and it was time for Ayami to meet Sesshomaru in his room.

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All done! Read and review.