A/N: never thought I would update so soon, but the ideas are just flowing. Anyway R/R!

Disclaimer: I own nothing T.T

The next day Izayoi and Shigimaru arrived at the castle of Setsuna. Izayoi looked up at the gate, she was sad to be away from her real home, but glad to be somewhere familiar. They heard a voice announce their arrival.

"The princess has returned!"

Izayoi walked into the courtyard and saw Takemaru standing there.

"Where are all my men?" Takemaru looked surprised to see only one samurai with Izayoi. Shigimaru spoke first.

"We were attacked by demons; I and Izayoi-sama are the only ones to survive." Suddenly Takemaru looked very concerned and a little panicky. He turned to Izayoi and took her shoulders in his hands.

"Izayoi-sama, are you alright?" He had genuine concern in his eyes. She felt bad.

"I am alright Takemaru-sama, Shigimaru took care of me." It was a lie, but Shigimaru took the credit anyway.

"I did my best my lord."

"Thank you Shigimaru for looking after her."

Shigimaru returned to his usual post.

"Izayoi-sama, are you feeling alright? You must have been so frightened."

But Izayoi had a protector, she was not afraid anymore.

"I am fine now my lord. It was scary, but I am feeling better." Takemaru took Izayoi's hand. She walked with him.

"How was your time with Kameko Izayoi?" Wonderful, she thought, more wonderful than all of her time with Takemaru.

"It was wonderful Takemaru-sama, I really missed her." He smiled a little.

"Good." He paused.

"Izayoi-sama, I am sorry about this but, I will have to ask you not to see your aunt anymore for a while. I have been thinking about this even since before you got attacked, but now it is even more important to me. The great dog general has been seen in Setsuna for a while now; I don't know just how safe it is out there for you anymore." Izayoi's heart sank; she did not want to be separated from her dear Kameko.

"Takemaru-sama, please don't keep me away from Kameko! I missed her so much." Izayoi could feel her tears coming back. Takemaru turned to her and took her face in his hand. Izayoi was shocked, he was never so gentle.

"Izayoi-sama, I promise it is only for now. I would like to meet this mononoke and kill him myself. I would like to kill all demons that threaten you."

Izayoi was stunned, he was being very protective. She did not want him to hurt Inutaisho. She hoped that he never could.

"I must leave you Izayoi, for now. I have some business to take care of; you may do as you wish. I will see you at dinner." He rounded the corner of the building and was gone.

It was late that night before Izayoi got to go out to the garden. Takemaru had told her that he had some more business to take care of before retreating to bed. Izayoi was so happy that he seemed so busy lately. It gave her more of a chance to meet Inutaisho. Izayoi practically ran to the garden, she looked ahead to the bridge, hoping to see him. It seemed a while but Izayoi did not see Inutaisho. What happened to him? She began to get worried. Was he somehow delayed? Suddenly she heard rustling above her, her heart jumped at the sound of it. She looked up to see two familiar golden eyes staring down at her, it was Inutaisho. He jumped from the tree and landed next to her with no effort.

"Hello Izayoi."

Izayoi smiled, she was so happy to see him.

"What have you been doing?" she asked him.

"I have been hunting, Ryukotsusei is prowling these lands."

"Ryukotsusei?"

"He is a daiyokai like me, but he is a dragon. He has been my enemy for centuries." He said the last part darkly.

Ryokotsusei sounded so frightening to Izayoi.

"Have you found him yet?" Izayoi asked.

"I am getting close; I have an idea as to were he might be hiding."

Izayoi wondered what kind of things Inutaisho did. She had heard stories but that was when she was a child, at least fourteen years ago, but then again he was much older than her.

"Izayoi." Inutaisho said.

"When I first met you, you were crying. You never told me, why where you crying?"

Izayoi pondered telling him the truth, she did not want to. It really did not seem like a big deal, but something in her warned her against telling him.

"I-I, I was crying because—"

Should she tell him that she was a wife? To a man she did not love? To a man who would take her when he pleased? Izayoi felt very sad, she did not want to let Inutaisho know of her tragic life, only enjoy her company.

"I was crying because, I had to sleep with my husband."

Inutaisho was surprised at this.

"That is not a bad thing Izayoi, why would you cry about such a thing?"

"I do not love him, we were arranged to be married. Neither of us had the choice, and now I am stuck—" Suddenly Izayoi's voice cracked as she began to cry. She could feel Inutaisho place his hand on her shoulder.

"Izayoi, do not cry. Many do not get the chance to choose, fate has things in store for us that we cannot often see."

Inutaisho felt bad for the fragile little human, she had become his friend more than a possible wife. He knew now that he could never take her away from her union.

"Izayoi, you may think that you are weak, but I see different. I see a spark in you, one that is ready to come out. You are stronger than you realize. I will be your friend if you ever need one, and I will protect you if you ever need it. You have my word."

Izayoi looked up, he seemed to care so much about her. How could a demon care about a human so? I was a thing to marvel at. Inutaisho turned and began walking away.

"Inutaisho! Please come back to visit me again. I-I want to see you again."

He looked over his shoulder.

"I will Izayoi, soon."

As Inutaisho flew through the night sky he thought about her. She was married, she was not his, but he could no deny his feelings. It seemed like the more he saw her the stronger it got. He knew the danger for both of them in a union, but could he deny his heart?

A/N: Please R/R