Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. The story and characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. All I own are my characters including, but not limited to, Asami.

Chapter 2 –

Sesshomaru sat in his council room listening to the same argument being made for the third time. His counselors were almost evenly divided on whether to wage a counter attack on the Northern lands. Ryuji, the arrogant and foolish son of Ryukotsusei, had crossed into the Western lands and destroyed two border villages. He seemed intent on starting a war to seek revenge on the Inu yokais for defeating his father. Sesshomaru knew not to underestimate the dragon, but his patience with the conversation was wearing very thin. He looked out the window at the stars twinkling in the distance, an exasperated sigh escaping his lips as he realized he'd spent the whole day cooped up in this room. His thoughts drifted to his Kodama and how she might be faring her first day in the shiro. Although he knew Reiko would have handled all arrangements for Asami's care, he longed to be by her side as she trekked through her first steps of court life and to enjoy the quiet solitude of their upper rooms of the castle tower. Thinking on their shared hot springs fed bath and the first luxurious futon they've had to sleep on ever had Sesshomaru becoming antsy for altogether different reasons. As the arguments circled back around for the fourth time, the Inu Daiyokai let out a huff of impatience and a low growl rumbled from his chest, causing the whole room to freeze in apprehension.

Cold amber eyes glistened in the lamplight as he stared down each counselor, one by one. "These arguments are becoming stale," he said as he crossed his arms and sat back. A scowl formed on his mouth and each counselor bowed in submission. "Half of you would have me roll over and do nothing in response to these attacks," he continued, "and the other half would have me wage a war for which we do not have the ready forces nor resources." At the blank, owl-eyed stares of his council members, Sesshomaru sighed, "Send out two regiments to secure the border and gather further intel about the North's current actions." With a final glare, he stood and began walking out.

"My lord," one counselor timidly began, "we also need to discuss— ." Without a word, Sesshomaru turned and narrowed his eyes at the speaker. "I-In the m-morning then," the council member stuttered with a low bow.

The night air was refreshingly cool upon Sesshomaru's face. He turned his nose up and breathed deep, taking in the scents of home. He could just make out the scent of his beloved on the wind and his body warmed at the thought of taking her in his arms. A smirk played across his face as he took a few steps towards the castle tower. He would surprise Asami with one of the rare blooming night roses that grew in the upper gardens. Just then, a shock snapped through his aura, alerting him to danger. In a flash he rose into the air. That shock hadn't come from him; it had come from the bond he shared with Asami. On a snarl, he sped towards her scent, his eyes blurring red and feral as he reached for Bakusaiga.

Asami's eyes grew wide and her breath caught in her throat. She glanced around, quickly assessing her surroundings for possible weapons or escape, but found none. Raising her chin, she narrowed her eyes at the dark figure before her, "What do you want Hakuto?"

"My little Asami," he stepped up and wiped away the vestiges of tears still remaining on her cheek, allowing his finger to trail down her jawline. She flinched and stepped back, bumping into the shoji behind her. Instantly her aura flared into a shining red and green orb around her, the power of her bond with Sesshomaru protecting her. Hakuto's lips spread into a cold, cunning smile as he stepped right through the barrier. "I simply want you to realize how pointless it is to try and live within yokai society," he said in a syrupy, empathetic tone. Her eyes widened in horror at his complete indifference to her barrier. It hadn't even made him flinch. He drew close enough for her to feel his breath upon her cheek. His hands slid down her arms, causing her to shiver in repulsion. "The way you were treated today," he continued, his tone soft, "belittled and humiliated, all for simply being new to the yokai world." Despite herself, Asami's lip trembled at the memory of the day's events. Hakuto's eyes flickered amusement, pleased that he had struck the right nerve, "The decorum, the fashion, the backstabbing…we are above all of that."

Slender fingers captured her chin and drew her up to meet his eyes. Looking into the red orbs, Asami didn't see her own reflection, she saw the forest. The nostalgia of the life of a Kodama briefly froze her attempts to pull away. Seeing her hesitate, Hakuto continued, "We are the last of the Kodamas, Asami. Only we can correct the current imbalance spreading across the land."

Asami's world dropped from under her and she tore her eyes away from his enchantment. Ducking under and away from him, she created some distance as she tried to understand his words. "We are the last?" she asked, her voice starting to shake.

As twisted smile spread across Hakuto's face, "I needed to develop my power if I was going to be successful in correcting the errors of nature."

Icy fingers of dread slid down Asami's back, "You – You didn't?!" He couldn't possibly have destroyed their entire race in his crazed quest to wipe out humans and 'reset the balance of nature' as he put it. Sure he was an Elder, but weren't the other Elders just as powerful? She couldn't suddenly be alone.

A breeze lifted his ebony locks, whipping them around his shoulders. He looked out into the distance with a smug expression, "The trees have been rather quiet lately, haven't they?" Hakuto turned to Asami with a knowing expression. "But then there's you, my special Asami" he reached out and caressed her cheek. Asami was too stunned to move. "The only Kodama to have been created with the powers of a demon," he continued, shifting his hand to the back of her neck, "You astound me. With you by my side, we can control life and death and shape this world to be as it should have always been: a haven for the forest and its creatures, free from the tyranny and hate of humans, from the stench of yokai society and their arrogant ways."

"No," she said, snapping back to the reality before her. "I won't go with you," she said more assertively as tears sprung in her eyes again, "I won't destroy this world". Asami wrenched herself free and put some distance between them.

Hakuto sighed and shook his head, "Asami, Asami…I so wanted you to come to me willingly." He drew a large, jagged sword from the scabbard at his hip. The blade pulsed with an unearthly, red glow.

Asami's mouth dropped open as she shied away further from this menacing blade. Without her weapons, she was at a severe disadvantage. Her only option was to try and maintain distance and look for an opening or a means of escape. Faced with a balcony that circled the top floor and empty rooms beside her, she was at a loss of what to do. Her fists clenched tightly until her knuckles turned white and her nails bit into her palm. "Sesshomaru," she cried softly as she took another trembling step back.

Hakuto's features darkened as he watched his prey slink slowly away. "Now, now, Asami," his deep voice crooned, "I'm not going to hurt you…much." He took a few menacing steps towards Asami, his black books clicking against the wood. Fear settled into the pit of Asami's stomach as she turned to run. The fancy slippers she wore though were designed for fashionable court life, not escape, and she slipped, hitting the wood flooring hard. Hakuto bared his teeth as he hefted the large sword up into a great arc, swinging it down towards Asami.

Instead of the expected pain of impact, Asami was wrapped in a sea of white fur as sparks rained down from the force of two swords striking. She looked up to see Sesshomaru before her, shining a brilliant white in the pale moonlight. His eyes were blood red and his muscles rippled as he seethed with rage. Bakusaiga was raised to meet the fearsome sword Hakuto wielded, but something was wrong. Instead of dissolving, Hakuto's sword glowed more vibrantly as the two swords fought for dominance.

Slow and deep, growing louder and more hysterical, a laugh erupted from Hakuto, "So the dog shows up. I hope you didn't expect to defeat me so easily with that poisonous sword of yours." He shoved Sesshomaru back with his blade. His eyes gleamed red, almost glowing the dark, challenging Sesshomaru to come at him again.

Taking the reprieve to evaluate the situation, Sesshomaru called over his shoulder, "Asami, are you hurt? Are you alright?" His voice was strained with anger and he kept his focus trained on the enemy before him. Still, he reached out through their bond to assess for himself if Asami was harmed.

"I'm alright," she assured him, clutching to mokomoko. "He's – He's Hakuto. The Kodama Elder I told you about," her voice cracked and a shiver of fear ran through her body. A snarl rumbled from Sesshomaru's chest as he adjusted his hold on Bakusaiga. In a flash of white, he slashed at the dark haired figure before him.

Once again the swords cried out in a clash of steel and sparks. Hakuto seemed to have Sesshomaru matched for speed and strength, meeting him for every attack and strike. The clang of swords echoed through the night as Bakusaiga repeatedly hammered into the jagged blade, but for all of the direct strikes, Bakusaiga's poison seemed to have no effect. A single slash from Bakusaiga could disintegrate anything it touched, but Hakuto's gleaming red sword didn't even chip. Sesshomaru's brow knit in concentration as he once again appraised his enemy.

Hakuto stepped back out of the striking range and laughed tapping his blade on the railing, "Infused with the shell of the fire turtle. I had it specially made when I learned who my Asami was traveling with." A light breeze swept up his long dark hair as he turned his blade over in his hand admiring the craftsmanship. "It's able to withstand any and all poisons," he added as if reading Sesshomaru's mind.

Sesshomaru seized up Hakuto with a cold expression, his red eyes the only indication of the anger that simmered just below the surface. "You seem to be operating under a misconception," he answered coldly, "Asami is mine. As to your sword, I do not need Bakusaiga's poison to squash a measly little bug like you." He leaped at the Kodama, but before coming down in a strike, he seemed to disappear. An instant later, he appeared behind Hakuto, slashing in a seamless motion and catching Hakuto's cape.

The cape started sizzling as Hakuto quickly tossed it over the edge of the balcony before any other part of his body got caught in the poison. "Well aren't you a swift one," he chided as he spun around. Sesshomaru didn't hesitate, attacking in another flash of movement. The clang of metal echoed in the night air as the two swordsmen fought in a dizzying dance of attacks and parries. Sesshomaru stepped back, sheathing his sword and angling low in preparation for another attack. Hakuto narrowed his eyes, panting. Bakusaiga was drawn in a furious iai style strike that moved faster than Asami could see. When Sesshomaru looked back, Hakuto was gone. "Well, this has been quite entertaining dog," a deep voice called from the rooftop. Asami spun around to see Hakuto sheathing his sword, a strained grin in place. "You don't belong here Asami," he told her again, his eyes boring into her soul, "You belong with me. Next time, you will come." His image seemed to flicker and an instant later there was no sign of him.

Sesshomaru huffed as he returned Bakusaiga to its home. He scented the air, but found no trace of his prey. Asami's knees buckled and she fell in a heap, trembling all over. I'm the last, she thought, No-we are the last. The words kept circling in her mind as her hands covered her face. Slender fingers once again captured her chin, but this time they were warm and gentle. She felt his aura caress hers, easing her fears away with each wave of warmth. Green cat like eyes looked up at Sesshomaru, brimming with tears. His face softened, full of concern.

"You are safe, my love," he whispered.

At his gentle words, Asami collapsed into him, burying her face in his kimono. The smell of pine filled her senses, calming her trembling. Strong arms encircled her, holding her tight. Asami's fingers entangled themselves into his clothing as the fears and shame of the day overwhelmed her. "This whole day has not been right," she cried, her word muffled in his chest. Sesshomaru shifted her into his lap and began stroking her auburn hair. She proceeded to tell him about her day in the castle and the news she learned from Hakuto. "Perhaps he's right," she whimpered, "perhaps I don't belong here."

Sesshomaru tilted her face up to him and leaned down until he was a breath away, "You belong here, my soul-bond, because you belong with me. You are a part of me." Asami gasped as the warmth of his lips crushed against hers, silencing her fears. She felt their bond open deep within her and the connection they had made flowed hot and fast through her veins. Her hair whipped around in the wind their swirling power made and their skin shined like the brightest star. In an instant it was over, their lips pulled apart as they gasped for air, but Asami reveled in the sparkle of his eyes and the tingle left behind by the touch of his fingers. She closed her eyes and nuzzled into his neck, relishing the feel of his skin against her cheek.

"How did he even come here," she finally asked.

"That is a question I fully intend to discover," he answered, his voice dropping as anger swelled to the surface again. "There shouldn't be any way for him to access the castle tower without his presence being noticed. Not without help, anyway," he added darkly. "Additionally, there should have been guards stationed on this floor that would have come to your aid immediately," a low growl rumbled in his throat. Asami reached her hand up and stroked his cheek, her fingers tracing his cheek bone before sliding down to outline his lips. He sighed, calming himself as he breathed in Asami's scent. "Something is not right here, and I intend to find out what," he concluded, glaring out into the darkness.