Chapter 2

Sesshomaru stood on the stone steps of his castle, and watched as his guard escorted the three winning demonesses through the gates. Time to get this over and done with, he had other matters to attend to. Over the next two weeks his little spies would let him know the true heart of these women. They had already proved that they were strong and cunning, but he needed to know their integrity and honor now.

Sesshomaru had already seen that three of his most trusted servants would serve the women and see what they really were behind closed doors. He was no fool to take them at face value. They would never show him what they truly were deep down. No doubt they would all fawn over him most irritatingly. But he needed a mate, so the game would be played.

The first woman that approached him was tall and slim. Her black hair hung down her back and stopped short of touching the ground. Her big brown eyes stayed on the ground as she bowed to him. Kyo stepped forward to introduce her. She was Aimi, daughter of a lesser lord in the West. If he recalled correctly, he had met her thirty years ago at her introduction to court. He wondered vaguely why she wasn't mated already. Motioning for his servant Raina to come forward, he had her take Lady Aimi to her room.

The next to be introduced was a tiny fox, she followed in much the same manner. Her fiery red hair was braided down her back and twinkling green eyes moved no higher than his feet. Kyo introduced her as Lady Minako. She was from the East and her father was of notable decent. Sesshomaru watched her bow gracefully to him before following his servant Niina to her own room.

The third and final winner stepped before him and bowed, but she did not take her eyes off his own. Sesshomaru felt the urge to smile but squashed it. She was an interesting little thing to be sure. He was actually pleased that she hadn't perished in the challenge. Her white hair was loose and hung down to her rounded hips. Her glacial blue eyes held intelligence and just a hint of wariness. Her pink lips were quirked in a rueful smile. It made him wonder just what was going on in that mind of hers. The blue stripes on her cheekbones marked her of a very noble bloodline much like his own. Height wise she seemed to fall between the other two challenge winners.' She was very nice indeed', he thought

Kyo smiled as he watched his lord examine the wolf in front of him in a way that he hadn't done with the others. Interesting. Stepping forward he introduced her, "My lord, I give you Lady Kimi of the Northern Kumiko House."

Sesshomaru nodded, motioning for the final servant Hana. "Lady Kimi welcome to my home. Hana will see you to your room." Turning he headed back to inside and to his study. Kyo following close behind. They had much to discuss.

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Akemi followed the brown haired demoness in front of her. Sesshomaru, apparently took care of his servants. The Inu youkai demoness wore simple but clean garb in a lovely shade of dark blue. Her hair was neat and tidy, tied back with a silver ribbon. Her uncle's servants hadn't looked as nice as Hana in years.

The servant guided her down a long hallway to a gorgeous room. Akemi turned in a circle to take it all in, as Hana shut the colorfully decorated paper screen door behind them. A large well stuffed futon lay in the corner on a platform. It was pilled high with soft pillows and furs. Tapestries depicting the honor and glory of the Western Lords hung on the walls. A beautifully carved trunk sat against the wall for her clothes, along with a wash stand. The pitcher and bowl were porcelain and painted with an intricate design.

Hana moved forward to unpack the bag that one of the guards have given her. She pulled out a beautiful kimono that Akemi's own maid had packed. It was in a blue that she knew matched her eyes, and covered in delicate silver snowflakes. Hana's eyes widened, "My lady this is very lovely I will have it hung so the wrinkles will fall out before dinner. Lord Sesshomaru will be fitting you and the other ladies with attire to wear during your stay, but none will be as fine as this."

Akemi smiled and nodded at the taller woman. Were all Inu's so tall? "Thank you, Hana. It was once my mothers before she passed away. I have never worn it before. There should be two silver wolf combs in my satchel also. If it wouldn't be too much trouble I would love to put my hair up with them tonight."

"No my lady, it will not be any trouble. I am instructed to take you to the bath house and see that you are thoroughly scrubbed. Lord Sesshomaru insists that you all be pampered before brought down to the feast."

"A feast? I certainly would not deny a good meal after three days in the woods!" Her words were said with so much delight that Hana laughed. Joining in with her laughter Akemi let lose a genuine smile. It felt odd on her face after many years of not having anything to smile about.

Hana smiled at her lady. She rather liked this demoness so far. She wondered how her sisters faired with their ladies. Quickly she unpacked the rest of the bag. There wasn't much in it which surprised her. Most of the women that had traveled from afar for the challenge had brought trunks with them. Lady Kimi brought only a single kimono, a brush, and hair combs. It was obvious she was of noble birth so where were the rest of her things? Filing that away for later thought, she set about readying her lady for dinner.

Two hours later, Akemi had been scrubbed and brushed until she fairly gleamed. It felt so good to be clean and taken care of. She would most certainly bask in the glory of it for the next two weeks. For when Sesshomaru decided she didn't suit him, she would be on her way to the East.

Sighing, Akemi watched in a hand mirror as Hana arranged her hair. The maid had decided to pull the sides up and pin them in place with her combs. The sapphires in the eyes of the wolves gleamed in the candle light. The rest of her hair fell silkily down her back. She had to admit the style complimented her face.

"There we are Lady Kimi, you look beautiful. I think every man in that hall tonight will be watching you. No doubt jealous that Sesshomaru might mate you instead of them." Hana's brown eyes danced with devilry as she said the last part.

Akemi laughed, and stood to follow the maid to the dining hall. Thankfully Hana hadn't seemed to notice that the laughter was caused by her nerves rather than humor. Akemi didn't want people to notice her. Though she had never been presented to court, she had visited with her father to many of the other lords castles. What if one of them came here and recognized her?

Fighting back a panic attack, she smoothed out her face. It was a trick she had learned quickly around her uncle. It was best to not let him see how much he affected you. The more emotion showed the worse he had been.

Hana stopped when they came to the grand entrance hall. Tables had been arranged so that the lords table was set above the others. Sesshomaru was already at the table with captain Kyo at his side, a small girl on the other, and the other two winners sat across from him. The rest of the tables held guests and his men at arms. A space was left open before his table for dancing later on in the night or any other entertainment.

Hana ushered her into the hall with instructions to take the seat open near Sesshomaru. Akemi held her head high and walked gracefully to the table. She would not let anyone know how scared she was. She was a Chiyo, and a great Artic Wolf of the North. She would not cower, nor would she fawn over Lord Sesshomaru like some love sick pup.

Taking the seat open next to the little girl, she allowed a waiting servant to fill her trencher with savory meats and warm bread. The two other winners were busily chatting with Lord Sesshomaru and Captain Kyo. Akemi ate and listened to the conversation swirling around her. It consisted mostly of them gushing over the lord and his castle.

She wondered if Lord Sesshomaru found the simpering females as tedious as she did. Tuning them out, Akemi looked at the human child next to her. What was a human child doing at the high table of a youkai Lord? She was a sweet looking girl of maybe eleven or so. Her big brown eyes stayed on her plate and she did not engage in any conversation.

Akemi stared for a moment longer, when she would have looked away the girl glanced up and met her eyes. Giving her a gentle smile, so as not to scare her, she whispered a hello. The girl blinked up at her curiously. It was almost as if she wasn't used to being spoken to at the dinner table.

"Hello." The little girl finally whispered back. "I am Rin, Lord Sesshomaru's ward."

Akemi didn't think anything could have shocked her more than hearing that. The great and almighty Lord Sesshomaru kept a human as a ward? The way the tales made him out to be, he would sooner kill them than protect them. Intrigued, Akemi decided to talk to the girl. "My name is Kimi, I was born and raised in the North. Where are you from?"

"Rin, is an orphan. Lord Sesshomaru saved me when I was little. Lord Sesshomaru will always protect Rin. Even when I lived with the humans, he would always visit and bring presents." Rin practically beamed as she whispered that last part.

Akemi's smile grew as she heard that. Maybe there was more to the great Lord than she previously thought. All her life tales had been sung about the Lords of the Western Lands. Everyone knew of their fierceness in battle. To fight against them was to court death, it was said that Lord Sesshomaru had ice in his veins and had never faced an opponent he couldn't fell. Even the nasty beast Naraku fell against him. Many said that he was more his name than any before him, the perfect killing machine that had no heart. But were tales not just that, tales?

Leaning down to the little girl she whispered back, "Then you are a very lucky little girl to have someone that cares for you so. I am an orphan too, but I was not lucky enough to have a wonderful Lord take care of me."

Rin frowned and brushed her dark hair behind her ear. "That is very sad, Rin will share Lord Sesshomaru with you my lady. He is a great protector and will keep you safe! I hope he chooses you."

'From the mouths of babes', Akemi thought. Rin was proving to be a girl with a generous and pure heart. She hoped the girl would always be so, but life was a fickle bitch. If anyone could protect the girl though, it would be Lord Sesshomaru. "That is very kind of you Rin. I doubt I will be chosen for such an honor, but it is sweet of you to try and comfort me. Us orphans have to stick together you know!"

Rin giggled and smiled up at her. The sweet laughter of a child was not something that Akemi had heard in a vey long time. She relished the sound and gently ran a clawed hand over Rin's hair. She envied her, her innocence. What would it be like to look at the world again through innocent eyes? To believe the world a wonderful and happy place? Sighing, she turned back to her food.

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Sesshomaru wanted nothing more than to ignore the women talking away at him. Yes he knew how lovely his castle was. He had lived here all his life hadn't he? Yes the tapestries and portraits were incredible. They showed the history and lineage of his family did they not? So why did these women feel the need to speak of these frivolous things?

All except for the little wolf. She had chosen to sit next to Rin, not across from him as the other two had. Sliding his gaze over to her, he watched as she began to speak to Rin. Shutting the other women out for a moment, he focused on Lady Kimi and his ward.

He was surprised to see her talking so gently to a human child. The other two demonesses had scarcely given Rin a glance, much less talk to her. Yet here sat this woman who not only noticed Rin but paid attention to her. He could practically smell her sadness as she heard Rin's story of how she came to be his ward. A demoness that cared about a human child's woes was a rare thing indeed. But what surprised him most was hearing her proclaim to be an orphan too, and how Rin was lucky to have him. Who had she been given to he wondered? And why had they done to her to make her so sad?

His little wolf was growing to be more of an enigma by the moment. He rather enjoyed puzzles. Sesshomaru wondered, how long would it take to unravel this one? A wolf of a noble house, who had no living parents, apparently no honorable care giver, and winner of a mating challenge that she apparently had not meant to enter into. He desperately wanted to delve deeper into the mystery that was Lady Kimi. Soon he would.

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Akemi was more than relieved when dinner was over and she could slip quietly back to her rooms. As much as she had enjoyed talking to Rin, she desperately wanted to stay as far away from Lord Sesshomaru and the other two winners as possible. She just needed her safe haven for two precious weeks. Surely the fates could grant her that.

She had gotten lucky tonight and she knew it. No one in the great hall knew who she was. Lord Sesshomaru and the other had scarcely talked to her all night. No doubt the other two winners were more that happy to dominate Lord Sesshomaru's time. She could see their minds spinning over the knowledge that she wasn't fighting for the Lord interest. They had practically written her off by the end of dinner.

Good. She didn't need them snooping around her, trying to find her secrets. The less they saw her as competition the better. Lord Sesshomaru would focus on them and leave her alone. Then at the end of the two weeks she would be released. At that time she would be of an age to take back her inheritance.

If she could make it to her cousin in the east she would be safe. He would see her safe and help her gain her land and people back. Her claim would be stronger if she took a worthy mate of course. Perhaps her cousin could help her in that regard. He would surely know of strong and honorable men that would make her a good mate. Someone who was not old enough to be her father or grandfather.

Letting out a breath she hadn't even known she was holding, she glided down the hall and back to her room. Hana was waiting and helped ready her for bed. The maid must have sensed how tired she was because she didn't bothered with trying to pry details of the night out of her. Instead she simply helped her change and climb into bed before slipping from the room.

For the first time in years, Akemi went to sleep easily. Perhaps her luck was finally changing.

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Shigeo was furious, his blue eyes were hard and cold as ice. His niece was gone and he had a very angry lord that wanted a young pride and her money. When he found his niece he would beat her like he never had before. He would show her no mercy. She would dare try and run from him? He would find her soon, he told himself. She could not hide for long.

Bellowing for his captain on the guard, he stewed. Daisuke came forward and bowed before him. "Yes, my lord?"

"Bring me my niece's maid. I would like to question her again. I know the bitch has to know where the girl went." The look on his face was harsh and mean.

"Yes, my lord. I will bring her to you." Daisuke bowed and strode out of the great hall. He hated serving this poor excuse for a demon, but he was not stupid. If he refused the lords orders he would loose his head, and he rather liked it where it was. He felt sorry for old Kayo. The lord was not going to be gentle with her. She would be lucky if he didn't kill her for helping the girl escape.

Not that he blamed the girl of course. He didn't imagine any young girl would want to marry a disgusting old lord. He probably would have found a way to escape too if he was in her shoes. He only prayed she was smart enough to stay hidden until she could reclaim what had been stolen from her.

Sighing he reached the old maids quarters. She sat in a chair next to her bed, her eyes red from crying. She clutched an old book of prayers to her chest. A lot good that would do her now. She should have ran with her mistress.

"Kayo, Lord Shigeo would see you in the great hall. I am to escort you there."

"We both know you only 'escort' me to assure I don't go turning up missing too. I don't know how you can carry that old fools orders out. He isn't worth half of what his brother was!"

Daisuke shook his head, the old bat was right but he didn't have a choice in the matter. "Just come with me and take your punishment. You knew what was going to happen when you helped Lady Akemi escape."

Kayo looked at him mutinously. "You are damned right! I would do it again in a heartbeat. Her parents would never have wanted for her to be sold off to some old pervert."

Doubtless the woman was right, but it wasn't his place to say so. Gripping her arm gently he took her to the main hall. May the gods have mercy on this woman because Lord Shigeo would not.