Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to InuYasha. Only, in this chapter, to my beautiful Captain and lovely Naiera.

A Chance Meeting

Naiera's POV

I wandered silently through the gardens, clutching my furs tighter to my chest as I weaved through the path. Thinking of how a month now had passed without any word from my father. If I felt this restless, I could only imagine how the rest of my family felt. Certainly my mother would bear the worst of it. The days proved long, and while we came to find a routine here that was of little comfort when that moment came that we thought of him. The moment where we realized that no news, could be either good or bad. It was the latter thought that echoed in our hearts and brought us a pain beyond compare. While we lacked for nothing here, everything being sought to by mother and Lord Sesshomaru, we would give up the comfort of it all for him. Sesshomaru himself had proved to be an unusual character. We would see him always at every meal, and every once in a while he would come while we were outside and strike conversation with my mother, under the watchful eye of Itachirou. In regards to him, my brother seemed to be alert in a way that I had never seen before, it was as if he were waiting for something to happen. What it was not even I could say, it was his mind and he was never easy to read, at least not for me.

I looked around me, the beauty of this place was certainly unmistakable and from time to time I wandered how it was my mother could leave. After my mind had quieted I could almost feel why, you felt as if you were a prisoner here. The beauty was a betrayal and the silence was maddening, I could only imagine without us here what it would feel like, especially to the small child that my mother must have been. How was it that she could smile as she always did with such loneliness around her, my father told me once that he had seen her as a child and that was the most memorable thing about her. She had not changed at all since her youth. With that in mind perhaps it was not as bad as I believed it to be, or maybe it was. You smile to hide the pain, hoping silently that if you smile enough it will hurt less.

I know well the truth of that. I smile everyday, as I have since I recovered, hoping to honor one of my father's wishes. He used to tell me that I could brighten the whole world with my smile, that it was a gift he envied. I now believe as my father he was duty bound to say such things but as a child I thought it to be a gift. I can think nothing less now because the pain in my heart has lessened. I wake everyday knowing that my family is at the edge of grief. If we falter for even a moment we will be overtaken, especially my mother, and not even Itachirou's strength will be enough to save her. I get up and smile, not allowing my siblings to feel the fear that lurks in the deepest portion of my soul, enough to nag at me with every waking moment. Or the moments I have to myself when the day has passed, a day like today. We took to playing our games as if nothing had changed, ignoring the fact that our best player was not here, that was a game all its own. A game that for the rest of tonight, I was tired of playing.

I worried for my father and it broke my heart a little more with every passing moment not knowing whether he was alive or… I worried for the mother who lived with the growing fear that she might have to bury her husband, and her children their father. I worried for my brother, who had to stand as the Lord of the North in his father's stead while he was only still a boy. Amidst all of this we had to live under this roof with Sesshomaru, while not openly acknowledged as our father, it was a silent truth that had a weight of a special kind. Thinking of that and what he must have meant to our mother and what their being reunited, especially under these circumstances, only made that truth harder to accept. I know that if our father had been given another choice this would not have been his path, he would not have brought us here and exposed to us a truth we were not ready to bear. A truth that I could not bear, of that much I was certain, but it did nothing to ease our stay here.

While we had found a new form of peace I had to wonder the cost. How much longer could we afford to stay here? Not with him, but within the safety of his walls while a war waged against our people and our land? It was not an easy battle, to stay. Especially not for Itachirou who I knew felt a deep sense of loyalty for a land that was as good as his. They had raised us and been good to us, now we were to get them killed and for what. Was our conscience the price of our security then?

I sighed deeply as my eyes wandered to the moon above me.

"Hold." The voice was smooth with an echo of hissing while it thundered with command. I could not help but like, and fear the sound at the same time.

I turned to find a man in robes with a stance that supported the blade he had aimed at my chest, directly above my heart. This man was a soldier, one that I had not seen once in my time here. My eyes rose across the ivory skin beneath dark fabric, from the thinness of his neck to the angled lines of his face. Every line of this man was hard, and sharp, even the points of his ears. I did not ignore the beauty that was found in every part and ignored it less when I acknowledged that this man was a demon. A thought confirmed to moment my eyes dropped from a hair that strayed from the tight tying that he had it in, from high arched brows into the snake-like eyes the color of the fresh autumn leaves. As his weapon lowered I looked briefly to the shine that came came from his hair and caught the dark shade of green that flew in the gentle wind and settled down his back. His frame was small, but I would not underestimate him as I am sure his enemies did. The stance that he had held was similar to what I had seen from Itachirou, and I knew him to be an excellent swordsman, trained by my father and the best in the North.

As my eyes settled to him once more I dropped my hood and felt the winter wind blow through my hair. His body tightened as his eyes moved from me my hair. He sheathed his blade and bowed quickly.

"Forgive me, my Lady."

He stood and his eyes met me once more, standing as if he were in a trance. It was not uncomfortable I would hope, as I found myself absorbed in the design of his eyes. They were certainly frightening and while they would tell anyone of his form, they gave little else away. This man was no doubt as cunning as his form would suggest but there was an honesty to him as well. It was hard to imagine any of that at the moment he spoke, it was as if he were a hunter to approach a doe. Each word was careful and thoughtful, almost like he were afraid that I would be driven off by the faintest distress. He kept his voice calm and I swallowed every syllable.

"You must know that if I frightened you, that was never my intention. From the shadows I could not see who you are."

"You know me?"

"You are the guest of Lord Sesshomaru, daughter of the Lord of the Northern Lands, Lady Fujian."

I straightened, grateful that he did not acknowledge me as the daughter of a man who was nothing more than our host.

"And your name?" I said with stolen courage, this man could be a threat, but to whom?

"Forgive me, my Lady. I am Captain Ishida of the Western Guard."

My fear disappeared with further explanation. He was a soldier and protector of this land, sworn to the Lord Sesshomaru and therefore no more dangerous to me now than a butterfly.

"If I may inquire my Lady as to why you are away from the safety of the palace at such an hour?"

"I needed time to clear my thoughts, I will return. And as for your apology, it was I who startled you. I apologize." I bowed.

He stopped, as if he had never before received such a gesture. In his line of work that idea was not easily dismissed. He was born equal to a servant, to some Lords his life would have no value and it would be easily thrown away. It was his duty to give his life and for that he needed no gratitude of any kind. The life of a soldier was one that I was grateful none of my brothers would have to endure, and I was grateful that the Northern army had my father as a commander. He appreciated the efforts of his soldiers. I had seen a kindness in Sesshomaru though, I dismissed the thought that this man's response was of his making. Perhaps he had never received an apology for these particular circumstance from someone in my position.

"I am grateful for the concern my Lady." He stepped to me and my breath hitched a reaction his shadowed that very moment. "Might I escort you back?" There was something in his voice.

As he held his arm to me, I found it inexplicably hard to resist. I took it and followed him as he turned and led me back through the winding paths that would ultimately lead us back to the palace. His touch was warm and not without feeling and I wondered what it was about this man that had me with such thoughts. He was beautiful to be sure, unlike any other that I had seen but beyond that what was there. Looking at him I felt a sense of place. That was it. He did not look at me as some servants did, they were looks I preferred to dismiss. They were perhaps what my father tried to hide us from and I hoped my siblings would not see it. It was a look that put you in your place, they were full demons, even this man beside me, and from that point of view they were in a far better positions than I. I could not forget that.

By all mean this man was not my inferior, it was quite the opposite, but those too were not the eyes he met me with. It was as if he was seeing me, a thought that became reality with every moment he looked at me, every glance he stole as we made our way to the palace. He looked to me as if all I was was a girl, which considering what I truly am, was the greatest gift I had ever received from a stranger. It set my mind at ease, the most peace I had this past month as all I had to think about was how my birth helped to contribute to the war my father now fought. A war that endangered everything I have ever touched and loved.

"If it is not beyond my bounds, might I ask what thoughts drew you from the warmth and comfort of the palace?"

"You know of the war in the North?" I looked to him who turned his head to me, I noted how our speed of our walk had been slowly reduced.

"I have been told."

"My father fights that war."

"When did he leave?"

"A month ago tomorrow." I admitted weakly, not wishing to turn from the comfort I felt as his eyes changed.

"You have heard no news." It was not a question. My face must have given away the surprise as he took the moment to continue with a slight nod from me which he returned kindly. "I have been at the forefront of many wars, but I have been on the other side as well. My father was a soldier also."

"Was?"

"Yes. He passed, quite a long time ago."

I felt an instant fear for my father. He spoke gently as his head dropped, a slight break of emotion that recovered quickly as he looked at me.

"I am sorry."

"Thank you, my Lady."

"Can you tell me then, if no news is better?If I am to fear the worst." I put the last of my hopes on the line to ask that question, seeing as he was a soldier, his answer would be far better than any I would receive elsewhere.

His eyes searched mine and I looked at him dreading the answer he was to give. My grip on him tightened and his eyes looked to my hold which loosened immediately, I moved to drop my hands, both of us stopping all together as his hand dropped to mine. My body lit with the touch of his skin on mine. His touch warmed me in a way that pulled all thought of cold from me. His eyes felt as if they could melt mountain tops. There would never be cold again with such a gaze. He looked to me as if he knew what thoughts were in my heart and it seemed as if he chose those words very carefully. Each lifting a weight within me.

"What were his last words to you?"

"I will come back." It was not a memory I struggled to recall, I thought on those words everyday, still I was confused by the question.

"Do you trust your father?"

"Of course."

"And what of yourself?"

"Yes." That was a lesson that my father had sought to instill in us the moment we were born, a lesson he strengthened with every passing day. A belief that I questioned every second he was gone, but I would not dishonor him by forgetting it.

"Then trust that. Trust yourself and believe your father's word true."

I felt the unfamiliar pull at my cheeks. It was not a forced smile, it came naturally, and was received by a smile of his. I loved the sight and hoped another day might pass where I would be fortunate enough to see it.

He was right. Ultimately this came down to whether or not I believed my father was true and I had been shown nothing less in the time I spent with him. He was always a man of his word and reminded us constantly that his life was for us, for mom. My father was a fighter, and if he was going to this war for us how could I doubt that he would be coming back? It was a lack of faith that no daughter should show in her father. Suddenly the weight I felt had lightened, I still held fear but seeing as I did not know his opponents I knew it was more that mystery than anything else. My father was a skilled swordsman and despite his failed attempts at retrieving cookies I know on the battlefield he must be brilliant. He had lived hundreds of years before my mother and fought many battles.

We continued our walk, the palace to cast it shadow on us with a couple more given steps and my thoughts turned to the cold I would feel the moment I turned from him.

"Well..." I said thinking of something to say.

"I hope you may find peace. Such dark thoughts do not suit you, my Lady."

"Do you believe my appearance should exclude me from such things?"

"No. You must live your life with a passion." He said to himself. "Your heart should."

I smiled, again a warmth pulled at my heart. We came to a halt before the steps that led up to the house.

"Well..."

He laughed, a joyous sound that echoed in the dark. It was not loud but I felt it vibrate in my core and I longed for the sound of more.

"Well..." He mocked.

I joined in.

"Well..." I coughed, attempting to sound serious. "Thank you for the escort, Captain."

"You are very welcome, my Lady."

Our eyes dropped to our hands, that quite obviously were reluctant to be pulled from one another. After a couple moments our hands fell together before separating completely leaving an emptiness that I had thought quite odd and uncomfortable. If you would think on it, these feelings should not be felt by strangers and while I wondered if he felt it too, I saw his reluctance to part matched mine as we stood there looking at the emptiness between us where our hands had once been held. Our eyes met again and that connection broke as we bowed to each other with a formality that I was quickly beginning to dislike.

"Goodnight, my Lady."

I turned to him.

"Naiera." His eyes sparkled with a light that came from something within, not even the moon could mirror the shine I saw as I looked to him.

A smile took shape on his lips.

"Takemaru."

"It was an honor to meet you, Takemaru."

"It was a pleasure, Naiera." I had never thought much of my name until I had heard the sound of it as it rolled from his lips.

His smiled was the last thing I saw before I turned into the house. The only thing I thought of as I made my way to my room. The last thing I thought of before I went to sleep. I had often wondered how such a chance meeting could bring two people together with a love that proved so strong it could give two people nine children. Still I could not say bu I could somewhat understand. I could not use love as the word to describe what I was feeling that much I was certain, and yet there were no other words. I loved the way that he looked at me, I loved the way he spoke to me, the sound of his voice immediately set me at ease even with the error of command that he held in the very first word he spoke to me. He was someone like I had never met before and I had never met him before. With that said, I had felt in my soul how wrong I was and if it was the kind of love that my father had for my mother I would be silly to walk away, not that I could if I wanted too. It was not love now, in these times that was a hard thing to come by, but if you could have it, you hold on to it and never let it go.