Chapter 5: Alone…

Authors note: Alright everyone here we go! I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter and are READY for this one! Here we go… and…

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha or any of the characters… except the ones I create.

Midori laid peacefully in her room unaware of what was going on around her. She had no idea of her fathers, once more, taking of absence. Nor did she know of the instructions he left behind for her. Even though her mother was leaving, she was not allowed to… she did belong to him by blood. She was at this point his only heir, and the only thing he had left waiting for him. So no matter how much she hated him, she was to stay until she was wedded.

"Lady Midori," a servant walked in holding a note. Midori rolled over tiredly unaware of the servant laying a note down on her pillow. Midori yawned as the servant walked out leaving her to do as she pleased.

'What's this?' Midori asked picking up the letter addressed to her. She slowly opened it, her eyes still adjusting to the light of day, and began to read it.

Dearest daughter,

I regret this, but I must leave again… and so I know I can not work things out with your mother. She will be leaving for I cannot keep her here against her will, my heart will not allow me to do such. So I take my leave tonight, so you will get this by morning when I am gone. There is trouble heading this way, and I must take care of it to insure keeping my land and the safety of my people and you.

Though your mother is leaving, you and I struck a deal and I expect you to keep to your word. You may not leave until the day you are wedded, and I know you must be angry at hearing this, but know that it is with selfless intentions. I am only thinking of your future. So I have written out a schedule for the time you are to spend with Benjiro so that you don't spend too much time together. I have a strict schedule on the way I want things, and Jaken is going to keep notes to make sure you are doing what your supposed to. I will not ask a lot of you, and extra time with him you choose to spend is yours. But you have one task a day, and I have sent this list of tasks to Benjiro also. He seemed rather interested in this, so I will expect you to be on your best behavior Midori. Be the princess that your mother and I… raised you to be. I know what your thinking, that I wasn't around often enough to raise you… but I promise that will all end soon. And to make sure of that you will not have to marry Benjiro for six to eight months so that we can spend more time together.

I will return hopefully with in the next few months, maybe sooner if things go the way I plan them to do. But plans fall through, this is a lesson you will learn as you grow older… and a lesson your mother and I have learned of recent. I wish her the best of luck, and I am leaving you with the knowledge that I love you Midori. I wish I would have said it more, and I wish I would have… it doesn't matter. What matters is what will happen when I return.

Your father,

Lord Sesshomaru

"Couldn't he at least not thrown in the lord part?" Midori asked out loud letting out a sigh. That was the most loving thing her father had said or done in, well, since she could remember. A knock came on her door and it startled her from her thoughts, "come in!"

"Midori?" Juro asked walking in his hand over his eyes.

"I'm not like you Juro I sleep fully clothed," Midori said snottily making him laugh before playfully throwing a piece of cloth at her, "are you ready for practice? What's wrong?"

"My father left me this letter," Midori said holding it up for him to see, "he has left… and my mother is leaving. I am not allowed to leave with her, however I've bought time on having to marry the prince Benjiro."

"What a stupid name," Juro threw in making Midori laugh before throwing the piece of cloth back at him, "Midori Sesshomaru Benjiro… or will you lose the Sesshomaru? Sounds stupid to me, then again you have to wear it for the rest of your life."

"You ass!" Midori said throwing her pillow at him making him laugh as he caught it, "actually it would be Midori Akemi Benjiro Queen of the West."

"Oh," Juro said watching her a moment as she sat up tall saying it with pride, "so you do plan on marrying…"

"Lady Midori?" a voice came around the corner stopping at her door. Benjiro stood there not looking too happy with another man in his betrotheds room.

"Oh Lord Benjiro what are you doing?" Midori asked pulling the covers closer to her. Juro looked to Benjiro with a look of dislike.

"I came to find you," Benjiro said in a deep voice, but it was slightly… soft and kind. Midori actually got a glance at him, and realized he wasn't bad looking at least. Juro would definitely have competition with the ladies. Only difference was Benjiro was fully blood youkai, which was slightly intimidating. He had long light brown hair with deep rich green eyes that were striking. So was Juro's whose eyes were blue mixed with a honey brown which were interesting… and different.

"Why is that?" Juro asked turning to fully face him.

"No concern of yours hanyou," Benjiro said a little irritated with his obvious challenger.

"Yes it is," Juro said defensively, "actually we have plans…"

"Well reschedule them I am taking my betrothed out like her father requests," Benjiro said making Juro growled.

"Well reschedule yours because she has a lesson," Juro growled angrily his deep eyes hidden under his burrowed eye brows.

"A lesson on what? What could a stupid Hanyou teach her?" Benjiro said having the same obvious dislike attitude for hanyou's.

"Enough!" Midori yelled angrily tired of their bickering, "just for the record Lord Benjiro I too am a Hanyou."

"Well, I, knew…" before he could finish Juro interrupted.

"Scoring points already I can see," Juro laughed making Benjiro glare at him and Midori throw him an angry warning like glance.

"Enough milord's behave civilly, at least do so in my presence. Juro is right I have a lesson, but if it is not something that can wait this ONCE I will allow these plans to interfere with my lessons which Lord Juro happens to be a GREAT tutor," Midori said getting out of her bed in his white night dress and grabbing the robe by her bed and quickly pacing it on.

"It is not important milady if you so wish to have your lesson first," Benjiro said looking to her surprised in the manner and authority she spoke.

"Very well then can we switch for a later time today?" Midori said her features softening at how easily he would make things work for her.

"Yes Lady Midori," he said respectfully, "you may seek me out when you are ready."

"Right," she said stunned a moment when his eyes locked on hers. He bowed before turning and walking away his weapons clinking against his armor.

"What a dumb ass," Juro rolled his eyes before noticing that Midori looked a little taken back for a moment, "are you alright?"

"Hmmm? Yeah, yes, yes I am," Midori said shaking it off a moment, "I'm just a little over whelmed, it's nothing."

"So I've noticed," Juro said rolling his eyes, "if you would rather spend your time with that…"

"No, no, no," Midori said not wanting him to think such things, "leave the room so I may dress and then I shall be out shortly so we may begin practice."

"Yes milady," he said sarcastically before leaving the room. Midori rolled her eyes before walking to her closet and choosing a dress. She carefully picked it out ready to go and find Juro. Once she was ready she tied her long golden brown hair back into a pony tale and then took off out her door and down the stairs. Juro was waiting outside for her, and so it took her a moment to find him, "HEY!"

"Huh? Oh! Juro," she said walking to him and following him to the stable.

"First lesson is going to be how to talk rude," Juro said climbing onto his horse. Midori climbed up on her following his movements.

"That won't be hard for you to teach," she laughed making him shoot her a glare. She just smiled at him until he turned and lead her down a path and into the forest that got them into a lot of trouble. When Juro found a nice spot sitting in a meadow near another river as frost covered the ground. He set up a fire and then tied his horse to a tree before sitting beside it, "What are you doing?"

"I am thinking Midori," he said his eyes closed as he was taking in the warmth of the fire and the coldness of the winter.

"You do that?" she chuckled making him open an eye at her making her place her hand to her mouth to cover her mouth.

"Yes and you should try it some time. It might do you some good, OW!" He shouted when a rock hit his shoulder, "what was that for!"

"You were about to be an ass again," Midori said sitting down on the opposite side of the fire as she stabbed at it with a stick.

"Well you were being a…" he stopped before saying something that would piss her off again, "be quiet and let me think…"

"What needs thinking?" Midori said looking up through the flames at him as his eyes held their closed position.

"You know I don't think I will need to teach you how to be annoying," he said trying to hold back a smile knowing she was probably frowning.

"I try," she said still poking at the fire.

"You try to be annoying?" he asked not opening his eyes his hands folded in his lap.

"To you yes," she smiled still messing with the fire.

"Well you are very good at it we may just skip that lesson," he said trying to hold back his own smile as he opened his eyes and watched Midori through the flames which seemed to get higher.

"AH!" she screamed as when she stabbed at the fire and ember flew out and caught the bottom of her dress on fire. She screamed again trying to put it out, but the flame was starting to grow bigger and spread on her leg. Juro jumped up and ran to her patting her dress viciously as she whacked at it herself. Once he finished getting the flame out he sat there a moment trying to get his nerves down, but for some reason he found himself staring at her. She was so close to him… and he could feel her breath through the cold air on his face. Midori swallowed nervously before slowly raising her eyes to meet his gaze. She wanted to say something, but didn't know what to say.

"Are you alright now?" he asked his nerves finally settling down.

"Yes," she said swallowing again then looking down to his hand on her thigh, "you can remove your hand now. I am sure the fire is out," Midori said shaky as he grabbed the bottom of her dress, "what are you doing?!"

"Come down Midori, don't you trust me by now?" he asked looking up at her.

"Not entirely no," Midori said looking up at him nervously as he gave her a 'come on' look. Midori timidly shook her head yes. So he lifted the skirt of the dress only up to her knees as he looked at the small black spot from the burn on her leg.

"Your lucky its not bad. I will be back do not worry and do not wonder off," he said pulling the dress back over the small burn and running off into the forest. It was about ten minutes before he returned with several plants and mashed them together, "you guys should keep more herbal type plants in your castle…"

"We have plenty," Midori said watching make the lumpy purple and green paste. He grabbed the bottom of her dress and lifted up enough that he could see the burn. He gently rubbed the paste onto the small burn trying to ignore her wince.

"You should be more careful," he said pulling his fingers away and placing her dress over it gently, "and you should pay more attention."

"Well aren't you just full of opinions today?" Midori said swallowing trying to glare at him. But something about the sudden niceness of him seemed to almost stun her, "but we should start the lesson."

"What do you want to work on?" he asked mashing at the medicine not looking her in the eyes.

"You're the teacher aren't you?" Midori asked curiously. He just looked up at her and smiled.

"Yes but you're my pupil," he said making her slump and drop her shoulders, "but the question is what do you MOST want to work on?"

"Well I don't know," Midori said not quite sure what she wanted to learn. She kind of enjoyed just being there with him, "how about…"

"We work on being annoying," he said scratching his head, "you're already good at this, so this will be a quick lesson."

"Oh you…" she said standing up then wincing at the pressure on her leg. He was quick to be at her side. Midori grabbed his shoulder as he caught her.

"Be careful the concoction was simple, but powerful. It's a muscle relaxer and so its going to hurt if your putting pressure on a muscle not really being used. You need to wait about an hour," Juro said setting her down.

"So how do I be annoying?" Midori asked feeling a little down at the fact he found her annoying. If only she knew he didn't really find her annoying… all the time.

"Well you have to make sure you have a comment for everything someone says," he said sitting down beside her, "like if I were to say something about the weather…"

"Give me an example," Midori said sitting beside her teacher. He just sat there pondering a moment.

"Well for example if I were to say… I think that flower there is just exquisite," he said in a silly accent that made Midori laugh, "yes perfect! Laugh at things that aren't funny… which you already do, but yes do more of that. But you would throw in…"

"I don't know," she shrugged making him sigh looking her in the eyes.

"You want to be completely opposite of him," Juro said staring at her, which made Midori kinda, well really, nervous, "and it has to come fast, and quick. So just let it flow, imagine it wasn't me…"

"Hmmm, okay," Midori said closing her eyes trying to imagine someone else, "that flower is plain."

"Yes, well it's alright, you need more detain but that was good. Say it like you believe it," Juro said thinking up a comment, "that flower is so bland, I don't even know how that weed popped up."

"That's rude!" Midori said scowling at him, "but if it's a pretty…"

"RUDE! Exactly… your not trying to be nice," Juro said placing a hand on her shoulder making her look to it. He noticed and quickly dropped his hand and looked away. Midori watched with eyes wide open… where they getting close? Juro swallowed nervously, "moving on… anyways. Okay If I were to say, 'it is such a beautiful day out…'"

"Not really, it's just a normal day out here," Midori said nervously, and not at all sure what to say. Juro smiled at the progress.

"Your holding yourself back," he said standing up, "perhaps a little role playing would help?"

"Maybe," Midori said as he stood up and started walking. Midori was surprised that he didn't help her up, how rude! He never had before, and she knew he was not very respectful… or even polite. Midori stood up a little agitated and walked off after him through the coldness of the morning.

"Okay and I say 'what a lovely day out?'" Juro asked turning back to look at Midori with her arms crossed.

"Actually you said 'It is such a beautiful day out,'" she said with a little attitude making him smile after he looked forward and out of her view, "and I would say that it's not that beautiful out, beautiful would sustain the sun and the warmth… beautiful flowers sprouting out from the soil. This, this is a very unbeautiful day…"

"YES! Perfect… but a little less aimed at me," he said when she walked passed him purposely bumping into his arm rather hard. He knew his little trick at bringing her out of her manners, by being rude and disrespectful himself, would work.

"Hmmmm," Midori said before she stopped and turned around, "well what is next?"

"If I say that I think that those who have not enough means are in that position because they are not hard enough workers," Juro said making Midori mad.

"The reason that those whom are without means because whomever rules is not ruling correctly nor showing their people any compassion if they let them get that way. Everyone should help everyone, and some people are just less fortunate then others. It wasn't their choice I was born into royalty, and it wasn't their choice to be born in lower or even middle class," Midori said feeling a little heated.

"Yes but they should be able to make their own money and means, and if they are not doing such they obviously are not working hard enough," Juro said knowing a little of her weakness.

"It has nothing to do with working hard enough, it has to do with the way their leaders handle their finances and business. It's about the trade, and the alliances between their home country and the others. Some people are not as strong as others," she said her fists clenched feeling it was real, "and I would no for I am not as strong as the rulers before me, and I am certainly not a strong person…"

"Yes you are," Juro said staring at her as her body slowly released its tense position and her angry face slowly dropped to one of confusion and shock, "your brave, your strong, and you will make a wonderful queen and ruler…"

"Well…" she didn't know what to say. Surely it must be some stupid joke, "well, I disagree…"

"This wasn't meant for you to debate Midori," Juro said taking a step towards her. The cold dark gray of the day only showed to him her features, and finally he took a moment to look… to notice, to see her. Her long brown hair flowed down her back and her face stood out. Midori stared at him nervously and turned away blushing, which made him snap out of his momentary lapse in reason, "I think we should go back… you have a date."

"Oh… that's right," Midori said peaking around her shoulder nervously and turning to face him, "and thank you."

"Don't mention it. It was nothing," he said walking past her as she stood there watching him for a moment. He didn't turn to look back at her, but Midori wasn't ready to move but forced herself to do so. Juro handed her the horse she was riding home on, but Midori for some reason trembled as she looked at him. He paid her little to no attention, what had changed? She slowly climbed up and followed in pursuit of her… teacher.

--

Midori reached the stables and put back her horse without a word to Juro trying to show him that she was angry with him. He turned to talk to her when she whipped past him not saying a word. He called out her name but it did no good she ran off to the castle. When she was inside she saw her mother walking with a pack of stuff, Midori stopped in her tracks watching her mother with sad eyes.

"Don't go," Midori said sadly watching her mother. Rin looked sympathetically at her daughter.

"I have to," Rin said touching her daughters face, "I am just going to travel around a little bit. I WILL be back Midori. Just promise me you won't settle."

"What does that mean?" Midori laughed.

"It means… don't settle for less then what you deserve. If you want something don't be afraid to go after it, and never regret the choices you've made," Rin said still holding her daughters face, "cause I don't at all. I love you Midori."

"I love you to mother," Midori said hugging her mother tightly.

"I should go I want to get back as soon as possible," Rin said letting go and holding her pack close to her. Midori watched as her mother exited the castle leaving her alone… and finally in control of the castle. She was in charge with both Lord and Lady gone from the castle for more then a night. Midori quickly went to her room to change preparing for her date, and it wasn't long before she got a tap on her door.

"I don't want to talk to you!" Midori yelled angrily, but the tap repeated. Finally her nerves and sadness getting the best of her she stormed to the door flinging it open ready to scold… "Benjiro?"

"Milady," he said bowing and taking her hand in a kiss. Midori let out a small smile before curtsying back, "Are you almost ready for our… well, I don't know what to call it. I would hate you to think or refer to it as a meeting."

"Well then lets not call it such," Midori said noticing how charming of a smile had had, "let refer to it as a… a merrymaking chain of events. A chance to get to know each other. I suppose."

"I like your thinking," Benjiro said making Midori smile before looking at the ground.

"However I have to get ready," she said looking back up at him and smiling.

"I can wait," he said smiling at her in a way that made her feel slightly uncomfortable.

"Thank you," she said before shutting the door and grabbing a new dress to put on. She quickly hurried and met him down in the main entrance of the castle. Together they walked through the gardens talking. But even though Midori was surrounded by people... with her mother and father gone separate ways and Juro acting the way he was. She was feeling LONELY.

Authors note: Sorry it took so long to get this not so great chapter up. I hope you all haven't forgotten about me! I haven't forgotten you! I've just been busy with work… and finding out I'm… PREGNANT. OH HOW SCARY. Long story I shall possibly tell those of you who want to know later. ) Plus I only am able to get on when its really late like now at 2:05 AM and I get like an hour at the most… so I'm sorry for any errors. I am tired when I right… so I am almost always experiencing brain farts lol. Thanks guys! Give me some encouragement to keep going and thank you to those who have! I 3 you guys!