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Sesshomaru raced to where the slave trader's set up was, but all that was there was the equipment. He sniffed for Naomi's scent it went across the border to the North. He growled loudly he didn't have a treaty with the North so he couldn't cross the border without permission or prior notice without an all out war. Now he was annoyed he'd have to return home and send a messenger to get authorization to enter the Northern lands as a war would only make her harder to find. He made his bubble and heading off to the Western territories. He was now annoyed as he landed at his home, and took his quill to a scroll making out his request to the Northern Lord, and sending it by his fastest messenger.

~ With the Northern Lord ~

He was impressed with how quickly he had received notice from the Western Lord about what had occurred, and his request to search for his taken intended female he knew he couldn't deny the Western Lord, but he saw this as an opportunity to strike a deal with him. He immediately went to the underground slave trade he knew this Miko would be there as very few would deal in the sale of such a creäture. He jotted a response on the scroll before taking off to the underground slave trade he arrived at first light. He calmly walked in until he found the Miko in an enchanted cage he sized up the male next to her before asking, "How much do you want for her?"

Kiku recognized the Northern Lord saying, "All I want is enough for a whore house, and a few women to start-up." The Northern Lord tossed him a large sum asking, "Will this do?"

Kiku picked up the pouch, and felt the weight before nodding his head, and leaving. The northern lord asked, "Would you happen to be Naomi?"

Naomi looked at him strangely replying, "I am can I ask how you know me?" He smiled replying, "Your intended Lord Sesshomaru requested permission to retrieve you. Now can I take you out of this cage, and to my home?"

Naomi replied, "I will go with you so that I may be returned to Lord Sesshomaru."

He unlocked the door and watched as she gracefully exited the cage he could feel her holy aura bloom once she was free of the cage. He smiled at how clever she was no wonder why Sesshomaru had an interest in her. He turned to her saying, "I am Lord Hansuke I will be taking you to my castle until Lord Sesshomaru arrives. However, I regret to tell you I will have to keep you locked up. This will be for your protection as many will want you killed as a threat against them. Miko's typically aren't kind to demons, and many would attack simply because of not trusting you because you're a Miko."

Naomi replied, "I want to heal your sickest patient after we get back as there is someone here I need to see." She followed her nose until she got to a cage where a male was whipping a demon chained up to the wall. She asked, "How much do you want for that demon."

The male stopped turning to her saying, "Are you sure you want this thing miss?" She nodded her head making Lord Hansuke sigh he looked at him saying, "What's your price?"

The male replied, "1,000 yen, and it's all yours." The Lord looked at the man oddly but tossed him the 1,000 yen. Naomi rushed in as the guard was removing the shackles she whispered, "I am Naomi I am going to heal your back, please don't fight it."

She saw a nod, and she placed her hand on him, and his back healed in an instant restored to look as if nothing had happened. He said, "Thanks, Naomi I am Jakotsu I don't know how I would ever begin to repay you."

Now that he had them he escorted the two back to his castle, but the healers wouldn't let Naomi near anyone, so she got put up in a room with Jakotsu with some food. She sat in the room and sighed Jakotsu asked, "What is the problem my dear perhaps I can help."

She looked at him replying, "I have fallen in love with Lord Sesshomaru, but I fear his heart is too frozen over for even me to thaw."

Jakotsu patted her shoulder saying, "I have had a thing for Sesshomaru myself as you can tell by my dress I like to dress as a female, and am attracted to men. I, however, know that Sesshomaru only has an interest in women so I was looking for a male mate when I was captured, and once they realized I was male, I was sentenced to whippings until I mated a female."

Naomi hugged him saying, "I think you should mate with whatever sex makes you happy." It was several hours before the door opened, and there stood Sesshomaru with Hansuke asking, "So do we have a deal Lord Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru nodded signing the scroll before taking Naomi's hand saying, "You both are to come with me back home."

Jakotsu said bowing, "I thank you Lord Sesshomaru." He growled replying, "You will be working as her personal servant to pay back your debt to me. No making passes at me, or I will not hesitate to kill you."

Jakotsu nodded as Sesshomaru grabbed them both, and formed his bubble heading quickly back to the Western castle. Upon landing, he said, "There will be a ball tomorrow announcing you as my intended where I will give you a courting mark. Jakotsu I expect you to help her dress in the formal gown that she will need to wear."

She watched as he walked away, and Rin ran up to her hugging her saying "Naomi I was so worried I am glad that you are back."

She hugged Rin back comforting the girl saying, "No worries Rin I care for him too I couldn't stay away if I wanted to." Rin whispered back, "I think he likes you too but is afraid that stating his feelings will make him appear weak."