Hello my readers! I know it has been entirely too long since the last update! Between work, a blizzard, and problems with my internet I have not been able to post this last chapter even though it was pretty much done two weeks ago! It is a short chapter but I just have not had the time to write like I used to but I promise I am going to finish this story. It might just take longer than I would like. We are getting close to the end though so stay with me! I will do my best to work on it when I can but please be patient I don't want to rush it.
Chapter 16
Akemi was exhausted and covered in sweat and dirt. Though her servants had been horrified when she had told them that she would be assisting in the rehabbing of her castle, she was after all their Lady and they had to agree with her. So here she was two weeks after her arrival, helping scrub down walls and setting rooms to right.
Surprisingly enough Sesshomaru had dove into the outer repairs with his men. Akemi would never say it out loud but seeing his muscles flex and bulge as he helped repair the outer wall made her positively hot. At the rate they had been making love the last 3 weeks it would not be long before they produced an heir.
Smiling at the thought she made her way to their quarters and the hot bath that was waiting for her. Thank goodness Hana had agreed to come with her. She had turned out to be a saving grace. Her poor Kayo had been in a ghastly state upon her arrival.
Her loyal Kayo had been beaten so bad that she had contracted a fever and her mate had been doing everything in his power to help her heal. Seeing the woman who had helped raise her hurt for protecting her had nearly broke Akemi's heart. Though Kayo had promised that she did not blame her mistress for what her evil uncle had done, a part of Akemi knew that this had all happened because she had run away.
Sighing Akemi opened the doors to her room and began to disrobe. Her tub sat in the corner of the bedroom and steam rose off the water almost as if beckoning to her. Though the castle had several hot springs Sesshomaru had insisted that she not use them without him there to guard her. And since he spent most days working with the men and going over ledgers and other documents to all hours of the night she had gotten into a routine of having her baths in their rooms.
Climbing in the large claw foot tub she sank down into the water letting it relax her. Letting her mind wander, as she washed, she thought of the last five weeks. It had been life changing that was for sure.
Fleeing her from her uncle, fighting in a mating challenge, hiding her identity from Sesshomaru, fighting another challenger, getting kidnaped, getting rescued, mating Sesshomaru, planning a trip home, getting home to find it in desperate need of repair, all of that in a matter of a month was enough to wear anyone down. But she had kept it together because she had no other option but too. And it had all been worth it.
She knew she was lucky that things had turned out as well as they had. She was bonded in a way that most mates dreamed of and that amazing man was helping her return her home to its former glory. He was putting in just as much time and effort as she to see that things were done properly. In a few more weeks it would once again be the crown jewel she remembered from childhood.
Akemi had not realized just how bad things had become in her own home. Then again being kept under lock and key probably had a lot to do with it. When she had first rode through the gates it had nearly made her weep to see her home in such disrepair. The walls needed repairs, the horse stables needed a new roof, and the baily needed to be cleaned. The interior had been just as filthy. And it certainly had not helped matters that her uncle had apparently up and disappeared after a visit to Lord Tomo's. With any luck he had gotten what was coming to him and she would never have to deal with the man again.
The servants had managed to keep the kitchens in working order and get the master quarters clean but the rest of the castle was not well tended. And though cleaning was slow going they were making headway.
Kayo and her mate Ken had been overcome with joy at her arrival and the help she had brought. The extra hands and supplies had brought a renewed hope that better days were coming for all. She would do anything needed to see that her people never went through such hardships again.
Sesshomaru had listened to Kayo and her mate as they explained what had been going on in the castle and gave a full accounting of what needed to be done to correct it. Sesshomaru had been so impressed at their thoroughness and loyalty to Akemi that he had appointed them as the head of servants and steward. When Sesshomaru and Akemi were not in residence they would have the responsibility of seeing that all ran smoothly.
Of course Kayo was on strict bed rest until she was strong enough to fulfill her duties. The old bird had of course tried to slip out and see to things but Akemi had found her and steered her back to her bed with a firm talking too. Kayo had complained that they had somehow switched roles and that she did not care for it, but it had made Akemi feel good to take care of someone she loved so much. Kayo and Ken were in a since the only family she had left. Well other than Sesshomaru and Rin of course.
Sesshomaru had gathered the men in the castle and asked them all to swear loyalty to him shortly after their arrival. Not one had said no. Sesshomaru had set his own men to guarding the castle and his mate and they rotated in with the castles men to train and help with rebuilding and repairs.
It would probably take a few more weeks to finish all the outer repairs but Akemi had hope that the inside would be done much sooner. They had already scrubbed down the most important rooms as well as the servant's quarters. New linens had replaced the old and all the curtains had been replaced with new ones as well. She had even seen to it that new clothes were ordered for the servants.
Rising out of her cooling bath water she grabbed a drying cloth and set about finding fresh clothes. Normally Hana already had them out and ready for her but she was putting in long days and Akemi had decided to let her off early to get some rest.
After dressing she climbed into bed and tried to ignore her sore muscles. She was dead asleep when Sesshomaru made it into bed an hour later.
He gazed down at his mate and felt a growing since of warmth. Who would have thought he would ever love his mate? He had done his best to make everyone think he had a heart of stone and for the most part it had not been a lie. Yet between Rin and Akemi he felt emotions that had always eluded him before.
But with these emotions came weakness. His mate and adopted child were his only weakness. If anything were to happen to him he would become the monster most believed him to be. So he would protect them and Kami help the one stupid enough to try to harm them.
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Sesshomaru woke with the morning sun and made his way down stairs to see to it that his men had their orders for the day. Things were progressing quickly but that didn't mean he could start relaxing. Men tended to work harder when you were there observing. The fact that he often stepped in and helped further the rate of progression.
Though he did not often indulge in hard labor it felt good to work his muscles. Ever since the final battle with Naraku there just had not been any good adversaries to go up against. Few demons could rival his powers.
Scanning the courtyard he analyzed his surroundings. It had been too quiet since their arrival. Sesshomaru had honestly thought Lord Tomo would have tried something by now. But no one had been caught trying to sneak into the castle or poison his food. Which Sesshomaru had honestly been expecting. Lord Tomo would never have the guts to outright challenge him and even if he did they both knew who would win that battle. So that only left underhanded methods.
So far he had no reason to believe any of his staff would waver from their loyalty to Akemi or him. They had been all too happy to come under new protection after years of neglect. If everything stayed that way then that only left Tomo with the options of figuring out a way to poison him or have him assassinated. And with his Inu bloodline he could easily smell any poison. And assassination was a death sentence to whoever was idiotic enough to believe that they could take him on and win.
Of course there was the possibility of kidnaping his mate and luring him into some type of trap. But in order to do that someone would have to get past his guards and the dozens of staff that surrounded her a day. That was something that Sesshomaru knew was not likely to happen as long as everyone stayed diligent and did not fall into a false since of security.
Even though things had been quiet Sesshomaru had no doubt that Lord Tomo was planning something. Or at the very least watching and waiting for the right moment to get what he wanted. Sesshomaru was doing everything in his power to see that that moment would never present itself.
Part of Sesshomaru wanted to go and hunt the bastard down. Tomo was already on the run. Sesshomaru had went to the man's estate to find only a skeleton staff there keeping it running.
Sesshomaru had question all of the staff and they had all given him the same story. There lord had several secret meetings with his most trusted men and then in the middle of the night he had packed up everything and left. The head of servants had been given strict instructions to follow in his lord's absence but knew nothing else. No one had been told for how long Tomo would be gone or where he had left for.
Some believed that he was probably hiding in one of his daughter's homes. Others thought said that they doubted he would go to them because he would not want to show a sign of weakness and it was no secret that his daughters held no love for their father.
Sesshomaru liked to think Tomo was held up in some shack or cave miserable and in fear of his wrath. With Sesshomaru own men out searching and gathering information it was only a matter of time before he found the rats hiding hole. And when he did it was going to be his pleasure to exterminate him.
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Lord Tomo sat in a rather large cave that held several different chambers. It once had been to home of a very old wolf tribe thousands of years ago. The location had been lost a long time ago until one of his men had confessed to playing in the cave as a child.
So when Tomo had to flee to a place that no one could find him at this had been his only choice. Though he was able to bring many amenities with him he still was outraged at having been forced to leave the comfort of his own home.
His men had been watching for weeks trying to find a way to kill Sesshomaru but as of yet no chink had been found in his armor. The estate was crawling with his men and servants. Neither Sesshomaru nor Akemi were ever really truly alone. They were always trailed by guards and surrounded by servants as they cleaned and repaired the place.
This was not boding well for his plans to assassinate the impudent pup from afar. It looked like he was going to need a particularly devious method to remove his problem. Picking up a vial of purple liquid he held it up to the candle light. He had the means all he needed was the way.