***The greatest compliment you can give a writer is to tell them you want them to write more. I must be doing something right if you guys keep demanding updates. Truly I want to thank all my readers you guys are amazing. Every favorite and review I get means the world to me! I will do my best to keep my story up to everyone's expectations. ***

Chapter 5

Akemi woke for the second day in a row in the lap of luxury. As much as she hated to admit it the Western Castle was comfortable. She could stay in her big comfy bed all day if anyone would let her. But it just wasn't meant to be.

Hana bustled into the room all smiles and cheer. "Good morning! My lady, you have become quite the talk of the castle last night!"

Akemi jerked upright and stared at her maid stupefied. The talk of the castle? "What?" she gasped out.

Hana let out a chuckle as she moved to set out her clothes for the day. "Oh yes, my lady. Apparently you were the only lady allowed in his gardens last night. The other two ladies only saw him in the great hall before dinner. I heard from my sister that Lady Minako was most upset with the lord after he blatantly ignored her! I wish I could have seen it! I also heard from Kyo this morning, that Lady Aimi dulled Lord Sesshomaru nearly to tears. According to my other sister Raina she is most tedious and will never win our lord over. So far you seem to be in the lead my lady! Isn't that exciting? You are also quickly becoming the castle favorite."

Akemi flopped back onto her mattress and groaned. How was this happening? She wasn't even trying to get Lord Sesshomaru's attention! All she wanted to do was hide out and then slip away when all this courting business was over. How was that supposed to happen if she was catching his interest? Most importantly what time did everyone wake up in this castle to have all the gossip this early?

Hana, oblivious to her mistresses' distress, chattered on as she tidied the room. Akemi tried to ignore her as she climbed out of her bed and made her way to the wash stand. But it was hard to do as Hana dropped another bomb on her.

"Oh I almost forgot my lady but I was told to inform you that Lord Sesshomaru asked you to share lunch with him today. I have it on good authority from my own mother that she was asked to pack a picnic basket for him first things this morning. I don't think I have ever heard of our lord taking anyone out on a picnic except for young Rin. No doubt it will be the talk of the castle by dinner!"

Akemi nearly dropped her wash cloth in shock. Kami help her, how did she get herself into such things? Why couldn't Sesshomaru turn his attention toward one of the ladies that actually wanted him? Not that she found him unattractive or unsuitable but she had a mission to accomplish. She didn't have time to go chasing after him.

The next thirty minutes were a blur to her as Hana readied her to go down to breakfast. Hana had decided to pile her hair artfully on top of her head with tendrils hanging down framing her face and caressing her neck. The silver kimono with blue cherry blossoms on it brought out her coloring and made her look soft and inviting.

She had to admit that Hana certainly knew her stuff. Where Akemi had always been happy with her looks, Hana seemed to transform her from pretty to enchanting. No doubt this was the opposite of what she needed to be doing to make Sesshomaru loose interest in her, but she couldn't help but enjoy it. It felt nice to feel like a woman rather than a young girl.

Sliding on matching blue silk slippers she allowed Hana to escort her down to the great hall for breakfast. She was greeted by glares from the other two ladies already present, but smiled when she noticed Rin at the other end of the table. Taking the seat next to Rin she gave her a warm smile and allowed the waiting servant to place food in front of her.

When the servant moved away, Rin leaned in close and whispered to Akemi, "Lady Kimi, I would not turn my back on those two if I was you. Before you came down they were saying very mean things about you. They would like nothing more than to scratch your eyes out. "

Akemi wanted to laugh after hearing Rin's words. Great now she could add two new names to her enemies list that was growing alarmingly fast. "Thank you for warning me Rin. I have no intentions of letting either of them have at me." But she sure as hell would be ready if they tried.

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After breakfast, Akemi headed straight to her room. She needed to do some serious strategic planning. Things were not going as she had thought that they would. Now she had to reassess her options and decide the best way to move forward.

Strategically speaking she could not go head to head with Sesshomaru. He was older and had more experience in the game. She also didn't know nearly enough about him to know how he would react or counter move against her. The only thing she knew for sure was that he would not like being made a fool of. Finding out that he had been duped and essentially used would not sit well with him. He was a prideful demon.

Pacing before her window, Akemi began to lay out what she did know in her mind. She had been missing from her uncles for nearly six days now. No doubt his men had searched every inch of the North by now looking for her. If they were smart they would search the East next. Her cousin Kouga was a prince and Alpha of the Eastern wolf tribes. He was the one person she knew could help her get her birthright back.

If they searched the East and staked out Kouga's pack looking for her it would buy her a few more days before they turned their eye to the West. Unfortunately it also meant that she could not risk sending Kouga any letters explaining her situation and asking for his help. If one of her uncles men got ahold of any letters she sent Kouga they could easily trace them back to her.

As things stood right now, as long as no one knew her true identity or gave her uncle or his men too good of a description of her, she was relatively safe. Anyone who asked about a Lady Akemi Chiyo would get nothing. Hopefully none of her uncles men would think to look for a Kumiko. She only needed to buy eight more days. After that it would not matter who found out what.

The tricky part was going to be how to get her cousin to Sesshomaru's castle with out telling him why he was actually needed there. She couldn't just ask Sesshomaru to invite her cousin to the castle. He would realize then just exactly how she was related to Kouga and who she really was. Leaving a very pissed off demon on her hands. No, she needed to find a way to get Kouga to the castle, then manage to find a way to get him alone and explain her predicament to him. Akemi had no doubt that once she explained everything to her cousin he would help her find an adequate solution.

So how the hell was she going to trick her cousin into coming to the West? She had a small window of space in which to work in before things began to get too risky. The closer it got to her birthday the harder her uncle would try to find her. If he found her she had no doubt he would drag her back home and force her to marry that nasty old demon lord.

She also had to issue of how to get out of this damnable mating challenge. She was honor bound to stay for fourteen days and be courted by Sesshomaru. If she ran away it would be seen as a great dishonor and would bring shame onto her house. What she needed was some kind of loop hole or a way to get Sesshomaru to choose another woman other than her. Perhaps if she could get a book on mating challenges and study the rules and traditions of them she could find something that would help. She would have to be careful of course to make sure that no one saw her with the book or knew she had it. The less others knew about her at this point the better.

As for finding a way to divert Sesshomaru's attention away from her that would be easier said then done. He was smart and a strategic genius. He would see any move she made from a mile away. No doubt that would make him even more curious about her. And it wasn't like she could coach the other two challenge winners in how to capture his attention when she had no real idea how she was doing it in the first place.

Resting her head against the cold stone wall of her room, she let out a frustrated growl. This was one of the few times she had wished she had more social experience. Spending twenty years locked in a castle didn't do much for helping one learn how to wiggle their way out of awkward social situations. Then add to that, that winters were longer and colder up North so most tended to keep to their homes in the winter. So even though she had been taught social graces she had never been able to fine tune them and learn how to deal with the underlying agendas of others.

She was quickly learning though that everyone had an agenda and they were livid when you upset them. No matter how accidental it was. She had upset her uncle's agenda and now the two demonesses she was currently stuck with in this castle. How would Sesshomaru react when she ruined his? Sooner or later he would realize she had no intentions of mating him, and every intent of heading back to the North. Shivering, she shook off that thought and walked to her window.

Looking out over the courtyard she began to wonder just what Lord Sesshomaru had planned for her today. Taking a woman out on a picnic did not seem like something the intimidating Lord Sesshomaru would do. Picnics were an intimate ordeal in Akemi's mind. She had only ever been allowed to have them with her family. Her father had once told her that it was a picnic that had allowed him to woo her mother into mating with him, so she wouldn't be allowed to go on one with a male until she was old enough. Was Sesshomaru really trying to woo her? Or perhaps was he saw her as a mystery to solve?

So many questions and not nearly enough answers. She supposed she would soon find out what Sesshomaru was planning. The only thing she could do until then was to keep alert and ready.

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Sesshomaru didn't know how he let Kyo talk him into such foolish things. But he had since they were pups growing up together. He had let Kyo talk him into taking Lady Kimi for a picnic. Kyo had been adamant that young ladies loved them. No doubt she would enjoy the picnic and Sesshomaru would have to hear Kyo go on and on about how he was right.

Sesshomaru had only ever taken Rin on picnics before though. He was not sure how to deal with a Lady on one. Though Kyo had said it was easy. Apparently picnics made ladies feel relaxed and which made conversations flow easier. Perhaps he could get more out of his little wolf. He knew she was still hiding things from him and that made him want to know what they were even more. But he knew how to be patient. Strategy was something his father had drummed into him since he had learned how to talk and walk.

Sesshomaru knew he had to coax Lady Kimi into telling him what he wanted to know. And to his own surprise Sesshomaru didn't mind putting in the time and effort to do so. She was intelligent, kind, and had a backbone of steel. He didn't feel the need to throw her from his castle after a few minutes in her presence as he had with the other two demonesses. But he didn't like secrets and she obviously had some. That was the only thing that was making him wary of choosing her as a mate.

He hoped the little wolf was ready for her second round against him.

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Akemi was escorted by her maid to the front steps of the castle. She gracefully walked down the steps toward Sesshomaru. He was holding the reins to a two headed dragon with a basket and blanket attached to the saddle on its back. Why did he have to look so handsome doing such a simple task?

Smiling timidly at him she allowed him to settle her onto the dragons back. He kept hold of the reins and led the best out through his castle gates.

Once they were firmly closed behind them he began to speak. "Ah and Uhn used to get more exercise when I traveled my lands more. Rin used to ride them all the time but recently there has not been time for it." He sounded almost wistful as he spoke surprising her. Who would have thought he would miss traveling when he had the luxury of a castle?

They continued on for a while talking about his travels over his lands before Sesshomaru stopped the dragon and handed her down off its back. Akemi looked around her and was awed by the beauty of Sesshomaru's lands. The hill they stood on overlooked a field of wild flowers. A gentle breeze stirred the scent of the flowers and made them sway. Peaceful and serene were the words that floated in her mind, and Sesshomaru had wanted to bring her here.

Akemi felt like she was in a dream. Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands was spreading a blanket out beneath and ancient tree and placing a picnic basket on it. In what reality did this really happen in? Feeling slightly off kilter Akemi sank down onto the blanket and watched Sesshomaru unpack the basket.

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Sesshomaru knew he wasn't the only one out of his element as lunch progressed. Lady Kimi looked a little lost as she tried to work her way through lunch with him. Oddly enough it made him relax, not that anyone would have been able to tell he was otherwise. He was a master at hiding his emotions.

He had learned long ago that emotion was weakness for a man of his power. His fathered had shown it for his human female and had forfeited his life. Sesshomaru would never endanger the people he cared for. Even the notorious Naraku had learned the hard way not to harm what was his. In Sesshomaru's mind if he could exterminate him no one stood a chance against him.

Relaxing back against the tree behind him he stretched out his long legs and crossed them at the ankles. He observed his little wolf as he sipped on the wine his cook had packed. She ate gracefully and looked almost relaxed, but Sesshomaru knew her back was stiff. Smiling to himself he decided to ask her something that he had been wondering about. "You said that you had elemental powers. What exactly can you do?"

He of course had seen her use some of them in the mating challenge but he was curious as to what else she could do. He had a feeling she had more power than she let on to.

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Akemi blinked owlishly at Lord Sesshomaru. He wanted to know about her powers? Up until this point their conversation had been easy and well more revealing on his side than hers. But she had known that would last but only so long.

Setting down her plate, she took a sip of her wine and tried to explain. "They really are not that special just rare. I can send a blizzard to freeze my enemy solid, or I can choose to just blow a freezing wind to hold them frozen in place until the ice melts. I can even send shards of razor sharp ice through my enemies."

Sesshomaru arched a brow as though he didn't really believe her. Feeling a spurt of mischief run through her, she gave Sesshomaru a wicked smile. She took secret pleasure in watching the wariness come over Sesshomaru's face. Kissing her palm she blew gently sending a current of freezing air rushing around him.

Laughter erupted out of her when Sesshomaru looked down at his pristine person to find his body covered in a thin sheen of frost. Never before had she played with her powers on another person. Her father had always preached that she should not use them outside of training unless she was defending herself. For some reason though she felt like the all-powerful demon lord before her could use some levity.

Besides the look on his face was priceless! She wondered if even as a pup he was always this calm and composed. It would do him good to be a little rumpled once in a while. Perfection surely put too much pressure on a person.

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Sesshomaru was less then amused with his little wolf. He had asked about her powers not for a demonstration. Now his person was covered in frost that was quickly melting leaving his clothing damp and limp. Still he had to admit her control was impressive.

Seeing the spirit flash in her eyes brought out his own roguish side. Without giving her warning he growled and made a grab for her. Only to be surprised at how quickly she could move. But Sesshomaru was not one for giving up easily. Plus it gave him a chance to gauge her one on one.

Lady Kimi gave a shriek and danced away from him staying light on her feet. He followed just as swiftly but deliberately let her move out of his reach, just before he grabbed her. He wanted to learn her movements not just watch her as her kimono swirled around her. The Lord of the West couldn't take a weak mate after all.

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Akemi was shocked at the growl she heard from Sesshomaru. Had she stepped across a line with him? What had she been thinking to antagonize him no matter how playfully it had been intended?

Moving quickly she danced out of his reach. Assessing him quickly she planned out her steps. Within moments she realized that he hadn't unsheathed his claws or use all his speed for that matter. Was he toying with her? And if this was toying then just exactly how fast and powerful was he?

Unsure of what he was doing she kept out of his reach and dodged his grabs. Then it finally hit her. He was playing with her. He wasn't angry or upset but playing with her the only way he knew how. Grinning in anticipation she stepped up her game and made him work harder. She whirled and twirled her way down and into the meadow below them staying just out of his reach.

She had worked her way to the middle of the field when Sesshomaru gave a burst of speed and tackled her. On their way down he turned his body to take the impact of their landing. His strong arms came around her and held her to his chest keeping her safe. Her heart skipped a beat at being so close to a male not of her family.

Even though she was a little unsure she couldn't help but laugh at their game. But it didn't last long as he rolled her under him and pinned her effortlessly. She sucked in a breath and stared into the golden eyes above her. She would have sworn they were dancing with his own laughter. People may say he had no emotions but she knew it was only because they did not see the real Sesshomaru. This Sesshomaru, right here before her had a playful side dying to get out.

She had a feeling he did not let many see who he really was often. Not that she could blame him. Everyone knew that when it came to taking out your enemy you always hit where they were weakest. Letting people close to you left you wide open for attack.

Calmly, Akemi watched and waited for Sesshomaru to make his next move. She figured he would make some remark about him being all powerful but he continued to surprise her and do the unexpected. Something in his eyes shifted and softened for the briefest of moments. Then she felt his smooth warm lips caress hers, sending a ripple of sensation through her. When he did it again and she knew what she was feeling was pleasure at his kiss.

Her first kiss was in a meadow with the Lord of the Western lands. If anyone had told her this would be happening six days ago she would have laughed in their faces. Instead she was frozen in shock and amazement. Just when she thought she couldn't get herself into any more trouble she went and got the daylights kissed out of her by Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands.

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Shigeo stared at his guard. He only had a small contingent of men that he knew beyond question were loyal to him. With no sign of Akemi in the North he knew it was time to move their focus elsewhere. Shifting his gaze from his men to the map before him he tapped a spot on it.

"The East is our next best shot at finding her. I have distant cousins that live there. I know her father was close with them. I want to monitor Prince Kouga's comings and goings. I want to know about every message that goes in and out of his home. If she went to him for help we need to nip it in the bud before he can do any real damage to my plan. Got it?"

His men nodded. Smiling evilly he dismissed them. The little bitch might think she could out smart him but sooner or later he would corner her in what ever hole she had crawled into. He had eight days left, and with his wolves slowly narrowing down the search on the places she could run to, it was only a matter of time until they found something.

When he finally got her back in his grasp he would relish in handing her over to Lord Tomo. He hopped the old bastard made her miserable for years before he kicked the bucket. Laughing, Shigeo opened another bottle of wine and sat before the hearth watching the flames dance. Soon he would have what he was destined to. He should have always been heir not his silly brother. It was about time everyone recognized him as a Lord not a second son.

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Mwuhahahaha I love cliff hangers don't you! I have the next few chapters planned out so I hope to be able to update a little faster than I have recently. Don't worry though Sesshy is going to have to work to get his girl. I wont make her fall over stupid after one kiss! I have lots of good stuff planned for you guys! I feel like this chapter wasn't as easy to write as the others but I am hoping the next few flow better. Let me know what you guys think!

XXXX's OOO's,

Sunshine