Wow, so I suppose this is my first author's note one this story in a while. So, hello. I apologize for the delays between chapters. Life gets busy after school begins. But I'm very glad to see you lot are enjoying it! I appreciate the reviews, the followers, the favorites, everything. You guys mean the world to me. So here's the awaited chapter 44. Please enjoy yourselves. There's a new character in this chapter. Brace yourselves! :P

-Mika

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

Mikage

Horrified, I looked around. Scarlet fluid dripped from the walls of the castle, bodies littering the ground. I choked down a gag, bringing a hand to my mouth at the sight of the guards, mangled and dismembered. My knees felt weak.

Who could have done this? My head was spinning, stomach twisting. All of this was so...sickening.

I felt myself fall back.

But instead of hitting the hard ground, something stopped me.

"Feeling a little light-headed, are you? Rest assured, I'll keep you safe, mistress."

I sucked in my breath, stagnant in the arms of a man. To my surprise, saving me from the stench of the dead was a sweet aroma of lilies. A pale hand held mine, other arm wrapped around my middle.

"Who...are you?" I huffed, too weak to move. His grip tightened, his chin leaning over my shoulder.

"Who, me? Just a guy who happened to be passing through."

I glanced sideways at him, letting out a low growl. He had pale skin, unruly hair the colors of mountain lilies. The white strands framed his face perfectly, golden streaks zooming through its surface. His eyes were like the yellow of the flower's stamens, playful, yet catty. His chin was thin, feminine. He leaned against my cheek. Before I could pull away, he used two fingers to force my head to the side.

"Now... How about we have a dance?"

I was repulsed by the word, trying to jerk away from him. Who did he think he was?

"Come now. Kagura can't have all of the dances... That's just not fair, is it, princess?"

I forced myself away from him, pushing him back. His hand was jerked away from my face, before I shifted to get a better look at him. He was tall. Taller than Sesshomaru, perhaps. He had broad shoulders, and long legs. His cheekbones were slightly visible, my gaze mostly falling to his dark eyelashes. He wore light green ballooning pants, kimono the same color. Over this however, was a long-sleeved vest that was not tied. He wore typical white socks with wooden sandals. Trailing from his left eye was a black, swirling vine pattern.

"Do you know what happened here?!" I yelled, calling upon roots from the ground. I imagined plowing them through his chest, getting whoever it was back.

"I can take a guess. But guess what?" he asked, glancing at his nails.

I hesitated, straightening my spine.

"What...?"

"You're really cute when you're angry."

I spat in response, shooting the roots from the ground.

"You won't think so anymore..." I snarled, hands poised at the ready. My limbs were shaking from all of this, and my throat burned with the wish to cry.

He slowly removed two sticks from his belt. He opened them with a single flick, revealing them to unfold into fans.

"I don't want to hurt you, princess."

He raised his arms in one quick motion. Before I knew it, Wind was spiraling around me, whipping my hair everywhere. I squinted my eyes against the gusting air, scrunching them shut against the dust that was being carried through it. Before I knew it, two warm hands were on my shoulders and the wind abruptly stopped.

"Of course, the fire burning around us isn't really all that romantic... Not to mention all that blood."

"ENOUGH!" I barked, sending a fist flying into his gut. He fell back a few paces, one eye shutting in pain. A wounded chuckle crackled from his mouth before he shifted his sights to me again, completely unfazed.

"That hurt, princess..." he said, voice honeyed. I was taken aback by his nearly immediate recovery, eyes blinking in shock.

"How are you...?"

"Simple. I am the flora. I can just heal without a single care! As long as there's heat..." He laughed, sending another slash of wind into the air. It wasn't directed at me, though.

Turning my head, I saw that it was none other than Lord Sesshomaru, silver hair carried with the harsh blow. I gaped as he knocked it away, eyes narrowed.

"Here to crash the party, are you?" asked the mysterious man. "Sorry, but you aren't coming between me and my princess!"