***I love the reviews! I can't believe how awesome you guys are! Sorry it has taken me so long to update but between my midterm and clinicals I just haven't had time. Anyway here is the awaited chapter I hope you guys enjoy it.***

Chapter 4

Sesshomaru missed the days of wandering freely over his lands. These days he felt hymned in. He knew his duty to his lands and people came first, but he missed the taste of freedom. He missed just spending time with Rin and Jaken. Rolling his shoulders, he finished reviewing Rin's lesson plans for the week.

He knew everyone thought he was insane for educating a human female more than most demonesses were. But he knew that it was a smart move on his part. She was essentially his daughter and any daughter of his would be well educated. Knowledge was power, and the more Rin knew the more she could protect herself.

Rising from his desk, he walked to the window and looked out over his private gardens. His private wing all faced the gardens and was the only way in and out of the garden, other than the warded gate. He had the gate constructed as a safety precaution when he had finally brought Rin to the castle. He wanted to know that when Rin was in it she was safe. No one could enter without being invited in by one of them.

Soon he would be walking through those same gardens with an intriguing female. He had decided to take her to his private gardens because out of the three women he felt she would appreciate them the most. For the fox and bitch he believed the great hall would suffice. He had no particular urge to go anywhere even vaguely intimate with either of them.

How two women could get his staff to dislike them in only twenty four hours baffled him. Lady Aimi had already garnered the reputation of being standoffish, and the fox had a penitent for tricks. Only his staff didn't seem to find them so funny. It did not bode well for the next 13 days of their stay at his castle. He might very well have a riot on his hands if by the end of it.

A knock on his office door drew him out of his thoughts. Kyo stuck his head in and gave him a devilish smile. "Hana tells me your lady is heading this way for her walk in the garden. Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Sesshomaru sighed, he really did give Kyo entirely too much leniency. If anyone else had spoken as he had just then, they would find themselves missing their head.

Deciding things would go easier if he just ignored his second in command, he simply nodded. After Kyo slipped back out, Sesshomaru straightened his garments and strode out the room. It was time for him to start unraveling a mystery.

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Kimi was shaking in her slippers but the hell if she would show it. She was the picture of calm cool confidence. Her every step held grace, even as her mind was racing. She was about to spend time alone with Lord Sesshomaru. It was a dangerous yet necessary move on her part. She could not avoid spending time with Lord Sesshomaru, but in doing so she was risking being found out.

Kimi knew he would ask questions and she would need to answer as closely to the truth as possible without him actually figuring out just who she was. She had come too far to unravel now. All she had to do was keep reminding herself of what was at stake and what she had already been through to make it here.

The people of Winters End deserved to be free of her uncle. A lord who horded the wealth of his people and let them go without had no place ruling. Her people had already lost many of their loved ones to the sickness that had swept through the North twenty years ago. Only to turn around and be ruled by a heartless lord. Now she had a chance to help set things to rights, and by all that was holy she would.

Hana stopped her at a set of heavy double doors. Kimi looked at her questioningly, but got only a smile in return. Hana knocked twice on the doors and stepped back. A large Inu guard opened the door and stepped aside to let them enter.

Hana smiled warmly at the guard and gave him a hello as they walked past. Hana's cheeks flushed pink as the guard reciprocated and murmured her name huskily. Akemi arched an eyebrow but kept silent. Looks like romance was in the air.

She couldn't blame Hana for being taken with the guard. He was easily over six foot and had broad shoulders. His hair and eyes were a matching whiskey color that set off a handsome face. Hana most certainly had good taste in men. The man looked strong yet gentle, no doubt the two would make a handsome well matched pair.

Hana continued down a long hallway with many doors until they reached a terrace of sorts at the end. And there stood Sesshomaru looking regal and perfect. He was really more handsome than any demon had a right to be. His silver hair shined in the soft evening light and his eyes gleam with what looked like anticipation. What exactly was he anticipating?

Taking a deep breath she steadied her nerves and bowed to Sesshomaru. "My lord," she murmured demurely. Straightening she looked him in the eye and waited for him to make the first move.

Sesshomaru arched an elegant brow and offered her his arm, and she took it uncertainly. Sesshomaru either didn't notice the hesitation or didn't care to comment on it, instead he issued a quick order for Hana to come back in one hour and dismissed her. Hana nodded and slipped away no doubt to go flirt with the guard. Oh how Akemi wished she would have stayed near for support.

Following Sesshomaru's lead, she walked along with him silently. He pointed out statues and exotic flowers as they walked but had yet to pose a question. The farther they walked the more Akemi's nerves jittered. Why wasn't he asking her anything?

Sesshomaru finally lead her to the bench that she had ran across earlier in the day with Rin. He offered for her to sit and she graciously accepted. Once settled she eyed him warily waiting for his next move. He didn't disappoint her.

Sesshomaru could smell her scent around the bench and this particular section of the garden along with Rin's. He liked knowing she took a genuine interest in Rin but was curious as to what they had talked about so he asked. "You were here earlier with Rin. What did the two of you talk about?"

His voice was deep and mesmerizing. How had she never noticed that before? "We talked of flowers and female things, my lord." She wouldn't betray Rin's confidence in her and knew that Sesshomaru wouldn't dare enquire into the female things they had spoken of. Men didn't normally care about female things.

Sesshomaru nodded, before posing his next question. "I have looked into your family line but haven't seen anything current on it. Why is that, my lady? I know it is a long and distinguished line so I had thought there would be more knowledge on it than there currently is." He kept his gaze steady on hers and patiently waited her answer.

And so it begins, Akemi thought, Let the game commence. "You are right, my lord. The Kumiko line has always held an elemental power that has set it apart from the other wolves. We hold power over ice and snow which made us valuable and sought after mates. But the Kumiko's have always been private people and not much for the political arena. So not much would be known other than prominent marriages and the battles the Kumiko's have fought in and one."

"Then twenty years ago a sickness swept through the North. It started as a fever that quickly escalated and wiped ones strength. After catching it most died with in days of showing the symptoms. Whole villages were wiped out before a cure was found. My family tried valiantly to help as much as they could but perished. I am all that's left of the Kumiko line. But I would gladly give up all the wealth and lands my family possess if it meant I could have them back."

Akemi clenched her hands in her lap. She hated thinking about all the death that she had seen. She hated knowing that the sickness had taken her happy family from her. But she knew that she had told Sesshomaru what he needed to know without lying to him. She was the last Kumiko.

Sesshomaru had heard of the sickness that had swept through the North but hadn't realized just how much damage it had done. He preferred the warmer climates of the Western lands, so he did not often travel to the North. He felt sympathy for her, she had lost her parents at a young age. He knew all too well the pain of losing a parent, but to loose both and your family? That he could not fathom. He still had his mother and as much as he hated to admit it he had Inuyasha and Kagome too.

Still there was one question that had been nagging at his since dinner last night. "Who has been taking care of you the last twenty years? You can only have recently turned old enough to take control of your estate."

And that was the question that Akemi had been dreading. How to answer that one without lying or giving away her identity? Carefully. "I had a rather absentee guardian, my lord. I have never been outside of the North so I decided to see what else there was to the world before heading home to take control of my lands. My maid packed me a bag and now here I am."

Sesshomaru could not detect a lie but something definitely felt off. Deciding to leave it alone for now he asked her about her lands and people. That she answered with a warm dazzling smile that startled him. She went from being lovely to radiant. Her sapphire eyes sparkled and her smooth cheeks flushed with pleasure as she spoke.

Akemi looked out over the gardens dreamily as she talked of her home. "It is beautiful in the winter. Everything looks so pure you almost hate to walk anywhere and ruin it. In the summer everything is green and lush, leaving you to wonder if it had really ever been winter. The snow in the mountains melts so the streams and rivers have cool water perfect for quenching your thirst on a warm day. And the people are all wonderful. Everyone works together to make the lands successful. My maid Kayo has been with my family for as long as I can remember. I miss her. She stepped in and took care of me after my mother died."

Lady Kimi's words resonated with him. He felt the same sort of wonderment and pride in his own lands. It was his home and his responsibility to care for. He loved his lands and had a respect for the people that worked the land and helped keep it all going. He had always known this was his place in the world. Lady Kimi knew how to appreciate and love her people and lands when many ladies took them for granted.

Sesshomaru thought of the first time his father had taken him around the Western Lands. "I remember the first time I really saw the Western Lands and realized that they would one day be mine. I was in awe. Somethings just reverberate in you."

Akemi gave him another smile and knew he understood. The connection you feel when you look out and see the beauty around you and know it is yours. Just a few more weeks and I can go home, she thought. It felt like forever away.

"If you were stretching your legs, as it were, then why enter a mating challenge?" This was the second question that had been nagging at him. A young beautiful girl of her lineage had no need for a mating challenge. She should have suitors chasing after her.

Akemi almost laughed. Almost. She knew exactly what he was thinking and she also knew he had probably been told of her accidently getting stuck in it. "My lord, I mean you no insult but I had no intention of being in one. I fell asleep in a cave and awoke to fighting. Imagine my shock when I ventured out and find women trying to kill me. But I am from a noble family and know the importance of these challenges. Winning it is not something I take lightly. Even if I am one of three to do so."

Sesshomaru didn't know what to think. She really had accidently gotten involved in the challenge. He could not remember this ever having happened before. Surely there would have been something about it if there had been one. He briefly thought of letting her out of her obligations as challenge winner and discarded it just as quickly. It simply was not done and he honestly didn't want to set her free. He had her for twelve more days and intended to fully capitalize on the situation.

"I find no insult in the truth Lady Kimi. You are obligated as a challenge winner to remain in my home for two weeks until I have made my choice. I will do my best to make the next twelve days as painless as possible." Though he said the last part with a straight face, Akemi felt as though he was jesting with her. She blushed and gave him a rueful smile.

Sesshomaru wanted to stay outside and spend more time with Lady Kimi, but knew that he had two more women to meet with tonight. As much as he hated to he offered her his arm and guided her back to the terrace. Hana stood waiting for them with a smile on her face.

Hana managed to wait until she was halfway back to her room before asking her how her first meeting with Sesshomaru went. "Really Hana it was nothing out of the ordinary. He just asked me about my family and lands. I am more interested in finding out just who that guard was you were flirting with. Is he a suitor? He was quite handsome!"

As Akemi had intended, Hana blushed and rambled on about her guard. "My lady, he is a friend but lately things have turned toward the flirtatious side. You see he is a little older and I have only been of age to mate a few years now, so he felt he should give me time to ripen before he made a move. I have secretly had a crush on him for years and had no idea he fancied me!"

Akemi laughed and smiled at her maid. "He certainly sounds like a smart man. So what is his name?"

"Yukio is his name. It means 'Get what he wants'. And let me tell you he most certainly fits it. He has a single minded tenacity that would vex a saint. Lucky for him I do not mind as I have my own tendency to be stubborn." Hana flashed her a mischievous smile and ushered her into her room to ready her for dinner.

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Sesshomaru met his second lady of the evening in the great hall before a low fire. Though spring was in full effect the nights tended to be a little chilly still. Lady Minako sat elegantly across from him. She was not bad looking. Her fiery hair hung over her shoulder in a French braid and she wore a kimono in the same shade of green as her eyes.

It was the ever present look of mischief in her eyes that made him wary. He never had been one for jokes and tricks. He had been raised as the heir to the Western Lands, so he always held a serious and regal bearing. He had no time for such silliness.

To be polite he asked her of her family and the happenings going on there, but listened with only half an ear to her. His mind kept drifting back to Lady Kimi. Her hand had been soft and gentle on his arm. Gentleness, he believed to be her nature. She obviously had a back bone of steel hidden under that softness, but at her core she was sweet. And her eyes were so damn blue. If a man was not careful he could get lost in them.

The sound of a throat clearing brought him back. He glanced at the woman before him and knew she had every right to be irritated with him. Only he just couldn't make himself care. Giving Lady Minako his patented emotionless look he apologized and made some comment about pressing business on his mind.

By the look on the ladies face he could tell she didn't really buy it and was furious about being ignored. Was it his fault he found her utterly uninteresting? And if she gave him one more coquettish look he might pitch her head first out of his castle. If she thought she could seduce him into picking her as his mate she was sorely mistaken.

Where time had flown by with Kimi it was edging by with Minako. There was a million other things he would rather be doing than sitting here listing to her and simultaneously fighting off her advances. When their time was finally up he was relieved, at least until he realized he had to make it through an hour with the viper.

Lady Aimi walked into the hall looking elegant and sleek. Her hair was loose and hung down her back and her pointy chin was held aloft. She gave him an elegant curtsey before taking the seat that Lady Minako had just vacated.

Lady Aimi sat poised and reserved as any lady of court would. It was startling for Sesshomaru to realize that she was essentially his female counterpart. Cold, distant, and aloof. At court she would be a shark. She held enough power and skill to win a mating challenge and she was of noble birth. The last thing Sesshomaru wanted to do was mate himself. Well a weaker female version of himself. Either way it was disturbing.

He suffered through his hour with her exchanging in polite stiff conversation. He had the distinct feeling that she thought she had the advantage over the other ladies. No doubt her being a dog demon from the west and of perfect pedigree, giving her confidence. To bad she was already ruled out and didn't even know it. Too bad he couldn't weed her out until at least the end of the first week.

When there was more than one winner the Lord was given the option of narrowing the field at the end of the first week. All ladies had to be given equal time the first week but in the second if a female was clearly found to be unsuitable he could send her away to focus more time on the ones that were.

In all actuality Sesshomaru could send both Lady Aimi and Lady Minako home in six days. The idea pleased him greatly. The only drawback was that he would be basically be declaring Lady Kimi as his chosen mate. While this pleased him he knew his little wolf was hiding something and until he found out just what that was he could not yet make the decision of cutting anyone.

Stretching his long legs out before the fire he stared into the flames. This was shaping up to be quite the game of chess. He had all his pieces in place now all he had to do was sit back and see how the game played out.

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Shigeo grew more furious by the day. Where had the little bitch gone? It was as if she had vanished without a trace. His men had found neither hide nor hair of her and they had been searching for days. No one recalled seeing her and none of the places he thought she would run had turned up any clues.

Last night Lord Tomio had sent him word that he had heard of her disappearance and was wondering if it was true. Considering the amount of money Tomio was paying him for Akemi, Shigeo had assured him she would be ready to go for her wedding day. Then promptly set out to find who had leaked the news of his niece's disappearance.

Akemi had been gone for five days now, and for five days he had tortured those closest to her. Not one of them had so much as given him a hint as to where she could have gone. But he wasn't a stupid man. Someone had helped her escape and he was sure it was that damn maid of hers. Unfortunately she said the least of all. No matter what he threatened her with or how much he beat her she never said a word. She just glared at him out of her wrinkled face and told him she could not tell him anything she did not know.

Throwing his cup against the wall he surged drunkenly to his feet. Why couldn't the bitch just have stayed until he married her off? She would have been lady of her own castle and her mate would have died in a few years anyway. Then she could have been a wealthy widow and he could have stayed in charge of both her families' lands.

He was so close to having everything he ever wanted. He was not about to lose it now. He had nine more days until her 150th birthday and her arranged wedding. After those nine days if he had not found her she could legally take over her lands. He would not allow that to happen. He would find her and Kami help her when he did, because it would not be pretty.