Ch. 4-

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the characters in it. That honor falls upon its glorious creator. I only own the characters I created.

Katza POV

I could tell father was not happy as we were lead to our temporary chambers. His heavy footsteps and clenched jaw gave him away easily as we continued down the decorated halls of the Western Palace. The décor was in varying shades of gold and silver with portraits and ancient armor adorning the walls along with the occasional pot of flowers on a marble pillar. The simplicity makes me smile, I never have been one for all of the needless fanciness that I have heard so many royals put into their homes.

I have only heard of most things when it comes to other tribes as this is only the first time I have ever been allowed to attend one of the balls that are thrown every year by other ruling families. My father always told me that it wasn't safe yet and that I needed to finish my training before I am introduced to others of royal decent. My parents never tried to hide from me that I was different but I never really knew how until one moon cycle ago.

Flashback

"Katza, can you come in here dear?" My mother's voice was calling me from father's study. Entering the room I was greeted with the shelfs of books and dull brown pillows that my father used along with his low desk, covered with parchments and ink as always. Sitting to my right, on a pair of large beige pillows I can see my parents watching me. "Yes Mother?" She gives me a soft smile as she gestures to the pillow in front of her.

I take my seat and watch them fidget under my gaze. "Katza, your father and I need to tell you something. As I'm sure you know you have been of mating age for a couple years now." She pauses and looks at me so I give her a slight nod to continue. "Well I am not quite sure where to start from here so I suppose I'll start at the beginning. When you were born we knew something was different about you right away but we didn't know what so we had a grand introduction for you. After your introduction party the feeling that something was off with you would not leave us so we took you to an ancient healer to see if he could tell us if there was anything wrong. He looked you over and came to a surprising conclusion. You were not a panther youkai like we had assumed but an elemental youkai." She watched me for a reaction but received none as I already knew what I was. "The elemental youkai have been extinct for generations, being wiped out by many tribes banding together to slaughter them off in fear of the great power they held." I opened my mouth to ask what these powers where but she simply raised her hand to silence me. "The elemental youkai were said to be only second to the silver inu youkai in power and be able to control the elements. Even though most were gentle caring souls many other youkai feared their power and decided to get rid of them before they could turn on any of them. None of the upper level youkai participated in this blood bath leaving the elemental youkai fighting only mid and low level youkai but, being the peaceful people they were they refused to use their mysterious powers to harm those that were after them as it would only prove that they were right. The elemental youkai tribes died that night. Because of that slaughter we knew that if we were to let anyone else know what you were that they would try to kill you for fear that you might seek vengeance for your kind. That is why we had to keep you hidden away from the other youkai until you could finish your training and lessons. We wanted you to be able to beat anyone who may threaten you."

I stared at my mother as I thought about it. All my life father had been brutally training me and forcing me to undergo instruction from a seemingly endless stream of scholars, all of which were sworn to secrecy. The fact that father always made me conceal my scent and aura, and the false scent I was forced to wrap around myself to avoid suspicion. And all the little things that father could never explain, like the vines that arched over my window and framed it with tiny baby blue flowers or when that pond suddenly showed up in the garden brimming with water lilies and fish. It was all starting to make sense. "Mother, Father, I understand now what you are telling me but why are you telling me now? Have I finished my training?" I looked between my parents as they gave each other a sad look. It was my father who spoke this time.

"I'm afraid not Katza. You see I have taught you all I can but, your power and abilities go far above my own so you will be joining us when we leave for the Lords ball in the western lands. No other elemental youkai are alive to train you further so, when we arrive I will be asking an old friend of mine if he will continue your training and protect you until you have completed it." My mother's eyes held tears as father finished.

End Flashback

I know that father will be asking the Western Lord to train me. When we grew close to the western palace I could feel two powerful auras that I assumed belonged to the lord and lady of the lands but when I stepped out of the carriage I was surprised to see that I was wrong.

The Western Lord, though powerful, was not the aura I expected him to be he was the lesser of the two auras and the other was not coming from his mate either. No the nearly overwhelming power was coming from the Western Lord's eldest son. This is, of course, about all I noticed about the western heir as I scanned the Lord's mate and youngest pup. His mate is a human female with a smile and very kind eyes, and his youngest seemed to be a shy but curious pup. Most youkai have a great dislike for hanyou and humans that mate with youkai but I never understood that hate so when I sensed a rabbit coming to welcome me (I can't talk to animals just understand their intentions) I truly did not mean to sadden the pup by pulling away from him.

"Katza! What did you think you were doing associating with that filthy hanyou!?" My father's angry voice brought me out of my thoughts. Raising my head I could see the cool color pallet of our chambers, I do love cool colors. "I am sorry father, but I do not see what I did wrong in comforting a pup." I nearly sighed my reply knowing that nothing I say will help.

"That thing isn't a pup it is a disgrace to all full blooded youkai! Inu No Tashio will one day regret weakening his line with that half breed!" He said thing like it left a bad taste in his mouth and all I could do is sigh. This kind of hatred is what will weaken a line not the love that the lord and lady of these lands have that happened to result in a pup. "Father, stop worrying about her little tryst. I'm sure it won't become a regular event right, sister?"

My elder sister blue eyes shown into mine in warning, she was giving me a chance to get out of this conversation. "Of course." I respond. I know that I will never reject a pup based on their blood but they don't need to know that right now. It will only cause a fight. "Good, now that that is settled let's get ready for the evening meal." My mother's voices chirps as she bustles about. We set to getting ready ourselves, it will surely be an entertaining evening.

Thank for reading. I know this chapter is shorter than normal but it is hard to get the time to write. Don't forget to comment!