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Sesshomaru picked up his pup and took her to her bed so she could sleep well.

~ Back in The Council's Prison ~

A woman walked down the halls and to the cell she came to the cell holding Onigumo she sat next to him saying, "I have two options for you, we can even intertwine them as they are similar but merging them has risks. The first choice is to go back in time to change the past by purchasing Naomi from her parents and grooming her to be your mate from a very young age. The second would be complicated which is to create a fight between Sesshomaru and his mate. Where he wishes, they never mated ultimately reversing time to before they met. Or I could make it so that the second only goes into effect if the first doesn't happen before your sentenced but both must be joined to do so which may alter the spell slightly."

Onigumo smiled replying, "Make both, so I refuse to be subjected to my punishment."

She nodded her head taking a letter with his seal on it with her sending it back in time to herself before casting the spell. Once the spell was cast, she said, "I will be here at the sentencing if nothing has happened by then the second spell will take effect." She then left the cell returning to her home to wait for the day of sentencing if it ever happened.

~ Back With Sesshomaru ~

Sesshomaru returned to where his mate was, and sighed at the sight of his staff surrounding her. Many of them were her friends and were totally loyal to her. They were, of course, loyal to him as well but some of the loyalty had increased from the things she had done in the past by helping him see that mated servants were happy servants. He watched as Kikyo was at his mate kneeling on the floor sobbing into her lap over what her mate had done to Naomi. Just as he had expected his mate was providing the female with comfort and understanding. He moved next to his mate as she tried to comfort Kikyo telling her, "I don't hold you responsible for what he did. I just wish he would have come, and talked to me I could have prevented his needless death."

When this didn't comfort, Kikyo Naomi took her hand and stood up. Kikyo looked at the Western Lady oddly as she moved around the room. Sesshomaru was confused what exactly was his mate doing? He continued to watch until she reached the male guards at this point he decided he would join her even if he didn't know what she was up to. She let go of Kikyo's hand and told her, "You stay here for me would you."

Sesshomaru watched curiously as his mate moved the guards around the woman creating a circle her. His mate then stood next to Kikyo and had each male step forward and then back as the two turned to face each one. Soon his mate had dismissed all but six men she looked at them sternly asking, "Introduce yourselves."

Each one stepped forward stating name, rank, and status. Half were mated, and Naomi dismissed them. Of the three that were left one interested Naomi he had been mated before, but his mate was no longer alive. Naomi knew he would understand as she did the only thing she could think of she pushed Kikyo into him. Kikyo stumbled into his arms looking at Naomi confused saying, "My lady I don't understand" before turning to the person holding her saying, "I'm sorry sir."

Their eyes met Kikyo only then noticed that he was the most handsome male she had ever seen causing her to blush. He looked at his Lady as she turned around simply saying, "Request granted."

He smiled this was what he had asked his Lady for before she had left no one knew but him as he had done so privately. He looked at Naomi confused saying, "But I was told your memory was lost. Not that I am ungrateful for the gift." He looked at the female in his arms she was quite beautiful his Lady had chosen well she'd make an excellent mate for him.

Sesshomaru now holding his mate asked, "What had you asked her for before she left?"

Kenji smiled replying, "I lost my mate many years ago my Lord and I asked her to help me find a new mate that would understand that I would always love the first."

Sesshomaru looked at his mate asking, "Are you sure?"

Naomi nodded as it finally sunk into Kikyo, and she looked from Naomi to Kenji to Sesshomaru who finally said, "I won't object to it. Perhaps he will help her be less emotional and more productive."

Kikyo felt herself be patted on the back by Naomi before she said, "You have always been a faithful servant Kikyo, and I do believe its way past due that you stop paying for your mate's mistake. I feel it's time for you to put it behind you, and move forward with Kenji."

Kikyo was stunned Naomi always seemed to know what was needed and when it was necessary. It was only then that she realize that she was still in Kenji's arms. She also noticed that they were warm and gently wrapped around her at her waist. He could have quickly set her straight and let her go it had been long enough for her to regain her balance and for him to recover from the shock. She turned to Kenji who only said, "I owe Lady Naomi a great deal, and unlike your previous mate I hide nothing from her. If Naomi thinks, we will make a good couple I believe that we owe it to her to at least court each other, and see where it leads."

Kikyo had nodded at a loss for words before she blushed saying, "I think I don't wish for a long courtship as I have never felt as comfortable with a male as I do with you."

Kenji had hoped she would say something like that truth be told his beast had already claimed the female as there's, and it was going to be hard to keep from claiming her too soon.