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Chapter 18: Bast

Rin lay sleeping in Ororo's arms having cooled down from her high fever. It burned like fire through her body leaving the poor child exhausted and pale to the flesh. It had been a few days since her previous talk with Sesshomaru in which she had found him absent from his home leaving her in charge of his palace as par their agreement. Sesshomaru was now securing the other part of his kingdom, ensuring obedience and allegiance to the Western throne much to her approval. During his time away, Ororo had spent the same amount of time looking after Rin, cleaning up the order of due process in his house, and reading as much about his lands, people, history, and species as possible.

Rin also had taken on a harsher cough as fluid built in her lungs and her runny nose became persistent. The royal demon physician she had learned was not adept to handling the sickness of humans let alone a child and so did not know what to do in Rin's case besides give her medicines that worked on sprite like demons. Ororo was humored and annoyed by his confessions, wanting nothing more than to slice his head from his shoulders. How could one call themselves a healer if they did not learn everything that is to be learned regarding the subject? To teach the physician a lesson, she thought to poison him with a human disease and see how he faired then. Healers, priest, and priestesses in her country always practiced and constantly learned as much as they could about healing. In a fury she had took Rin's health into her own hands. However, an outside force seemed to be intent on doing what the sickness wouldn't.

Ororo looked down at the bowl in front of her with laughter in her eyes. The fresh fruit, steamed fish, and vegetables looked delicious sitting so beautiful and succulent on the serving tray. Upon retrieving it she hadn't seen any servant apparently frightful of her nature. But that wasn't what caught her attention. She chuckled looking at the mushrooms that lay seemingly harmless plump and ready to be devoured sharing a special seasoning. A seasoning not common to the food in Japan or anywhere else in the world.

Poison.

Yes, someone thought to poison Rin or maybe them both. She was sure it was meant more so for Rin since on the platter were foods that she enjoyed. Whoever had done it was an idiot she surmised as Rin due to her illness was on a strict broth diet and couldn't eat anything solid even if she wanted to. Ororo rolled her eyes at the futile attempt having heard and seen far greater ones in her time that were more cunning and intelligent than what was here.

Ororo got up every morning and went to make Rin's meals which scared the kitchen staff quite a bit. Of course, they too stayed in the kitchen with her and were a bit antsy at her presence. Soon, they began helping her and sharing in conversation as she boiled the broth and checked it for poison. She had learned quite a few things about the house that way as they were all gossipers down there. She supposed if she ever needed entertainment, she did not have to go very far. She was sure now that Rin's attacker was a servant in the house after having carefully scanned the kitchen staff one by one. Ororo sighed rubbing Rin's head of hair thoughtfully at the small note to be taken from this.

"At least it's not someone of your own flesh." She whispered kissing Rin's forehead, thinking about her own family's history of being on the throne. Her history was full of siblings or advisors poisoning or assassinating an heir in the middle of the night or during a battle to spite them. It became part of the curriculum when taking the throne to learn about protecting oneself always, even from those loved most. The food was always checked, and the drink never taken from another's hand. But all that had changed now that she was here. Where food was shared and drink was poured to show great honor and respect.

Rin opened her eyes and reached the cup at her side. Immediately, Ororo helped her sit up to drink. Rin's sighed after taking a few big gulps of cool water before moving away. Ororo set the cup back to her side and lifted Rin in her arms. Rin hummed in relief before closing her eyes again and nuzzling her head into Ororo's chest where her head rested peacefully. Ororo rocked Rin back to sleep as the girl held onto her. Ororo administered a powder she had made for illnesses displaying the symptoms Rin had. She would wake the girl up to put something in her stomach and drink lots of warm strawberry, lemongrass, taro, tamarind, and honey water to break up the cold in her chest. She also made sure Rin bathed and was refreshed before she went back to sleep.

Ororo removed her from the furs and asked for new sheets which were replaced every day to be washed to keep her area sanitized. Once again, Ororo settled the little girl with her beloved beetle into the futon and silk covers before leaving to read a bit more in Sesshomaru's study. She grabbed the food bowl and tossed it into the raging fire burning into the hearth. She set the bowl down far away from Rin's hands for safety and fixed her appearance. She wore a cotton black gown with a gold collar around her neck and her hair was pulled into a long ponytail. Her ears had jeweled pendants and her arms were layered with jeweled bangles and cuffs. She looked to her bag again and took out another golden cat statue. She placed it in front of Rin and lowered herself down on the floor before it.

"Great Goddess Bast. Watch over Rin in my absence." She prayed whispering in Arabic and touching Rin's forehead to bless her. The cat's eyes glowed a bright green before settling back to its golden color. Ororo bowed again and thanked Ra for his everlasting love and guidance before standing to her feet. With a final look backwards at a snoring Rin, she left making sure to seal the room shut behind her. She walked down the hall to Sesshomaru's study when her eyes caught the sight of her new beloved friend that she had been working with for a while. His beard was held in his fragile hands pulling on it before flicking it behind his shoulder.

Ororo's hands went out and her smile bloomed. "Ah, Adviser Itoku-sama. What a good day it is to have seen you now." She spoke as he allowed her to grab his hands in a firm grip. It shook him a bit to have someone especially a female be so familiar with him all the time, but he rather liked her greetings and good-natured disposition. He was also taken aback at her use of the Japanese honorific at the end of his name which she hardly ever used before. Ororo never held back no matter what mood she was in. Itoku had learned this over the time that the castle had been alone without its ruling heir. Her state of dress today would be perfect for what was required of her he mused. He thought she looked positively regal and powerful. With an edge.

"Good Morning, Empress. Before I move forward, how does Rin fair?" He asked with wrinkled brown eyes full of concern.

Ororo smiled. "She is like her Lord. Stubborn and a fighter. She broke her fever this morning again. In my country her illness is quite common when the body is tired. It is quickly treatable if caught early. We are at the phase where her illness is draining from her body so she will wake up with a runny nose and clear her lungs by coughing." She explained watching his head nod in understanding. Ororo rubbed his rather muscular thin arms creating warmth to them. "I'm sure she will be pleased to find you have asked about her. Not many that I have met, do."

Itoku began to rub his beard again in thought. "I see you are more aware of our Lord's distrust of his house at the moment. As a precaution, no one has been able to interact with Rin closely except for her dedicated servants. Sesshomaru had even sent Rin away after the defeat of terrorist Naraku because he felt something wasn't right within these walls. I sense it as well."

Ororo nodded placing his words as food for thought a bit later. Rin was social and the girl needed interaction if she was to live normally around demons and humans. Fear should not stop someone from living. "I am aware of these concerns. Fear not. One of two at least has been caught and will suffer publicly for their crimes shortly." She soothed as he looked to her with shock. Her blue eyes lit up with mirth revealing the cold truth in her statement. Whoever it was, he knew they would encounter no mercy. He smiled remembering his old days of serving on the battlefield before he was able to steer himself on track again.

"My Lady, we are in need of your assistance." He took his hands back and reached into a compartment in the sleeves of his large robes. Itoku pulled out two folded letters. One had the familiar seal she had recognized from the King that threatened Lord Sesshomaru with war. She looked at it, flipping it over before her eyes roamed the paper. Her look of indifference at the letter frightened him a bit. But that was an understatement when he saw her smirk. She held it to her before reading the other which had the Inu crest on in. Using her nail, she cut it open and began to read it. Her name was written in the eloquent penmanship belonging to the Western Lord. He watched as her smile slowly faded and she frowned. Quickly, she folded it and looked to him with sharp eyes.

"So these foreign kings wish to meet with Sesshomaru and force their ideals on him. But since they can't meet with him, they want to meet with me and do the same." She stated out loud shaking her head. "I look forward to this meeting. Then I can threaten them to their face and kill a few while we're there." She stated looking to him. "And you have another issue which has now been brought to my attention…" She dragged.

Itoku smiled brightly as if he was speaking about the weather. "Well, we are in need of your sorting skills. As we have a meeting but our Lord has stated that you are to head it."

Ororo nodded moving alongside Itoku. "Take me where I am needed." She demanded as he quickly turned around and beckoned her to follow.

Her black dress billowed around her legs as they walked rather quickly than she had seen the man stroll in the past. They were going towards the center of the castle now where there was more activity throughout the day instead of the private quarters where she had rested with Rin. She passed by various soldiers and men all rushing into two double doors up ahead. The soldiers recognized her and moved out of her way bowing and showing respect. She nodded in kind to them before stopping to see to one of the soldiers. She stopped and reached for him catching his attention as he looked startled by her hands upon him. "Please make sure you inform the kitchen that there are to be no meals brought to Rin's room. Anyone that goes down there requesting food for Rin needs to be reported to me immediately." She stated as he nodded and rushed away to do her bidding.

Itoku looked back at her bewildered. The soldiers all behaved without hesitation. They moved and showed great respect to her as if she was their Lord. Surely, ladies of the court were honored but not in this manner where she could call out direct court orders, acknowledge them all in passing, and even touch them to gain attention. Their auras were climbing all over the place flexing powers and auras about showing her their strengths and she acknowledged them by flexing her own. They reached the double doors and strolled into the meeting room to see advisors, scribes, demons, and papers everywhere. They covered the tables and the floors with stacks randomly placed all about.

Itoku whispered. "Reports have been pouring in from soldiers since the Lord left. So much information and no one knows how to properly manage it."

The large white walls were alive with so much energy, it had her confused at first. Voices rang loudly along with other sounds from various demonic species with markings on their faces revealing their heritage and importance to demon society. Her eyes took in the scales, fur, sharp claws, snouts, tails and colorful skin tones. There was a large wooden table in the center with smaller wooden tables throughout the room filled with demons. Papers covered everything and were being waved about like flags as demons snarled regarding the content. The room was rather tall with big demons and small moving about the room frantically seeming out of control. She could see many dog demons in the room but with darker hair and different colored markings. The symbol of the crescent moon was bare from their foreheads as well. She followed behind Itoku listening as the room grew quiet and feathered utensils dropped. She looked at them all with a sly smirk enjoying the look on their faces as well as scanning the room committing faces to memory. The head adviser walked with her at her side smiling reassuringly to everyone before he held her hand and ushered her to an empty seat at the head of the table.

"What are you doing!"

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

She smiled brightly to them all and showed them a letter with his majesty's seal on it. "Gentlemen, I have been told by your Lord that you all received a letter regarding my temporary position as head of this house." She sat the letter on the table in front of her. Some advisers opened their letters showing her proof that they were aware of the situation. Others searched their robes and the papers on the table having lost it among the piles of paperwork coming in, clearly not taking its contents seriously. She heard lots of muttering, stammers, confusion, and cursing all around her making her eyes brighten considerably.

"Here I will allow you time to catch up while I verbally explain the situation." She stated flexing her aura shocking the men in the room at how strong and ancient it was. "I have been asked to help with your workload as well as serve on behalf of your Lord while he is aggressively attending to his people and their needs." She explained watching everyone shiver from her choice of words. They all knew he was mainly slaughtering whatever poor souls stepped in his way really. "Your Lord has left you, his home and this city to my care. He clearly states his demands in this letter…that he has given me the right and the means to exercise my rule." She explained pointing to the letter that one of the advisors held out as a few read it with squinting eyes.

"I will serve no one but my Lord, you volatile bitch!" One demon snarled bearing his claws at her across the table. Ororo didn't flinch at his loud animosity towards her. She looked to him slowly and then at his blue robes wondering how on earth did he become an advisor. He clearly wasn't an intelligent demon if he chose to insult her. Did he not just hear anything that she just said?

Ororo tilted her head and smiled at him. "Oh really?" She questioned before she stood.

Everyone watched as she walked towards him slowly unmoving from their position wanting to see the fallout. They have heard of her prowess and had seen it outside as she fought the General and the Western army. Her moves were languid, catching their attention as she seemed to walk without care in the world for his words. She stood in front of him watching his eyes redden. He growled at her warningly with his aura bearing deadly upon her to control and assert himself onto her person.

"Let me introduce myself properly to all of you." She stated with eyes bright searching their faces before landing onto his red ones. Her accent was thick, but her words were clear. "My name is Ororo and I am Queen of Egypt. And this means three things."

Suddenly his claws struck out to slap her and she caught his hand. She pulled him forward and turned him around using his arm against him. His body hit the table heavy as she bent his arm behind him to hold him into place. Everyone heard a loud cracking of bones and tendons popping. Gasps and mumbles were heard as many left the table in fright. Her aura exploded with lethality fighting his struggles and ignoring is yells of anguish. She pulled his arm again already feeling it break. "Be quiet!" She yelled in his ears silently hoping they would bleed from her voice. She made sure she had a firm grip on his arm before looking up to scan the faces around her.

Soldiers came in including General Kenji who had heard the commotion as well as felt her aura while he was running his errands. He looked a bit troubled but quickly stood back understanding what had transpired. She stared into his eyes until he nodded in understanding. He shook his head at the poor advisor knowing today he would meet his end. More soldiers came in to help apprehend him, but he held up his hand commanding them to stop. He turned and whispered his orders for them to leave in which reluctantly they did; closing the door behind them to stop people from coming inside.

"When I speak, listen." She loudly shouted pinning him down and stinging him with her electric powers. Her eyes glazed pearl white removing the beautiful blues that were once there. Everyone could feel the danger and electricity radiating off her fingertips and bouncing in the atmosphere. "I have three rules in which all of you will abide by or suffer like this poor fool will unfortunately do." She said pulling his arm a bit further. His claws were out and he threatened to transform but in a blink of an eye she electrocuted him stopping his transformation and causing him to faint; falling limp onto the table.

She straightened her dress and brushed up her hair to get herself in order. "Now as I was stating before I was so rudely interrupted…" She picked up the side of her dress and walked back to the chair she previously occupied. "I have been asked to use my knowledge to help get things into order. However, I do have three rules for everyone to follow or meet the fate in which that pitiful waste of sperm will suffer." She said pointing to the body lying on the floor. "Number one, I ask that you show me proper respect and I will in kind show you respect as well. I believe you all serve a purpose and that will be respected. Number two is that you do as I request until your Lord is here to sit here in my place and tell you otherwise. Number three is your honesty. Please express your concerns in a respectful manner and do not lie to me. I hate liars and that will immediately cost you your head here at the table." She stated looking around the room. Her eyes stayed ghostly white looking about to every being within the space. Everyone could feel the impending doom she would enact. Many looked at their fallen adviser on the floor knocked out from just her touch. She was very powerful and they knew unless magic of some kind was involved, that it was best to be quiet and do as she said. "I believe in chances, and you will find that I am a most gracious queen as I do care about the state of your affairs in this country as it affects my own. With that said, we are in need to address a few issues at this table." She stated pointing to all the paperwork thrown about the room and crumpled in the grips of demons. Her eyes looked up at General Kenji. "General!" She called out to him as he stood in the back. He came forward and bowed to her respectfully.

"General, you are to join us at this table in the mornings about once a week. On the council I would like to see you and your commander here to give a weekly report about the state of the men and your observations on the safety of your lands. Somebody write this down." She commanded as the scribes scurried about themselves trying to get their papers in order before writing. She glared at their disorganization watching them fumble and cause a further mess of the papers. "Stop!" She called out putting her hand up. Everyone in the room stilled afraid of her wrath. She stood up and quickly gathered all the paperwork off the table and stacked it into one pile. "Put all the papers into one big pile." She yelled out. Everyone watched finding her behavior maddening.

One demon voiced his concern. "B-but, Empress, it will all be a mess!"

"It already is!" She answered as the others all did as she said. General Kenji watched humorously along with Advsier Itoku as the table became clear of clutter. The demons that sat at the smaller tables began stacking their papers as well clearing the floors and their workstations. All the papers were stacked into three very large piles. She sighed and went back to her seat. "Put all three piles next to me." She stated as a few men volunteered to do as she said.

She smiled seeing a clean room and less mess. "Now I can truly see everyone's faces especially when you growl and hiss at me like I know you will. My own advisors do all the time." She stated with happiness feeling for once like as if she was home. She was very close with her advisors and so they had some privileges that many didn't including throwing fits and making jokes at her expense as long as they did not cross the line. "I'll carry this burden with you today, I suppose."

She watched a few demons smile and the older ones just outright laughed liking her humor. She found it interesting that they all ignored the fact that she almost killed a fellow man. Maybe he wouldn't be missed. She looked at a remaining solider in the room and pointed to the body. "Can someone take him to your dungeons. Lord Sesshomaru can deal with him when he returns." She said glaring at the demon lying uselessly on the floor. General Kenji nodded to a pair of solders to do as she said. The demon picked up the body and immediately took him out of the room. All eyes watched his body get dragged out before they all focused on her again.

"Now everyone stand up. We are going to rearrange this room so it makes sense otherwise I can't tell who does what." She stated standing as well and walking to the right side of the large room. "I will arrange you as the people of my court back home are arranged. Now all my advisors are to sit on this side of the room together by my side." She stated watching everyone move and gather their things while muttering under their breaths. They dragged but eventually it came to pass.

"Now all my scribes should be together on the left side of the room." She commanded. Already she was pleased and the visual cleanup. She separated the soldiers and the representatives from the cities and neighboring villages. So now there were four groups all placed in various corners of the room at the tables so that they had workspace leaving the big table bare of people.

"At the table should only be the head of each department. This means one scribe, once advisor, one accountant, one representative from the house, and the General. So, Advisor Itoku, you are to sit at my left always. General Kenji you are to sit at my right when you are present. The head of the scribes are to sit there." She pointed at an empty seat. She watched with satisfaction as everyone sat down and took their seats at the large table. "Make sure everyone has writing paper as well."

"Empress Ororo?" One advisor called out. "We do not have a head of the house. That usually falls under the ruling mate of the Lord nor do we have a head accountant."

"Hmmm…" she said humming on this thought. "Well, there has to be someone that is head of the house to report its doings." Her face lit up thinking of her old friend whom she came with to the village. Maybe she would like a position in the house as it would allow them to make income and she would get to watch the children. Also, her husband would make an excellent accountant. "I have someone in mind who will represent the house and the accountant position at the table." She stated looking around. A few more people deserved representation at the table, and she would work on that today already having in mind who she wanted present. A smile came to her lips at the possibilities.

"Now everyone where you sit will forever be your station unless demoted or killed." She stated firmly. "Please so that I may learn your names, write them down and fold them up so that I can read them."

The talking began and she saw the smiles as they all wrote in Japanese their names. One by one everyone turned theirs over. She read as best as she could watching them look at her for confirmation. She nodded in approval once everyone was done. "Excellent." She clapped once.

"Now let's get to work finally. Head Scribe Doku, you are responsible for writing down my commands into law agreed." She pointed at him watching as he nodded his head and dipped his pen in his ink pot.

"First, General as you are very busy…report any news that may affect this house." She commanded.

The demon nodded his head. She listened carefully as he spoke giving the account of Sesshomaru's actions as he combed over his lands. She nodded and asked questions while making sure one of the scribes had written down his report. When he had finished, she looked to the head scribe and nodded giving him the ready to write down her creed. "General Kenji, Thank you for your report. I would like for you to take me on a tour of your stations with the advisors to make sure that all of this castle is covered with soldiers. Rin as you all know now was attacked and I believe that everyone in this room can agree that the protection of her and the Lord is very important." She stated as there was a hesitation in their nods. "Right!" she yelled as a sea of "Hai's" broke out.

"Good. You are free to go on your duties General." She stated as he bowed to her and left the room with a smirk on his face having clearly enjoyed the meeting. She nodded to his men as they followed behind him out the door leaving a few tables empty. She pointed to the representatives one by one and had them state the concerns of their villages. A scribe was assigned to each of them so that the account was written and signed along with a number at the bottom indicating the order in which it was received and the date. They tried to drag their issues out but she wouldn't have it warning everyone that they had until the sand ran out of the hourglass to state their address. The advisors and the scribes were pleased that the workload and the time was cut down, allowing them to destress and work on one thing at a time. Once they were addressed, she dismissed them with a promise that they would receive a letter with a confirmed solution to their problems or a formal address to deny their request.

She had just ended a final account when the door opened. She looked up to see a black cat with a gold collar come into the room. Immediately she opened her arms and it jumped into her hold. "Bast" she cooed before kissing its head. All the people in the room looked to her strangely wondering firstly how the cat was allowed entry by the demons. No one could smell the cat nor hear its heartbeat. Ororo stood understanding its message about Rin. "Gentlemen, let us rest for a moment. I am needed elsewhere." She called out setting the cat down and watching it affectionately jog out of the room.

She then broke them up for recess so that she could attend to Rin. Everyone watched in admiration as the Queen spoke kindly to them and shared in their banter before leaving. Many went to have lunch and do other things before they were called to rejoin. To their shock and befuddlement, they saw Ororo later in the day walk up the hallway with Rin held in her arms. The smell of sickness touched their noses and they looked at the child with concern having heard she was ill but not witnessing it. Many had never heard of a human illness before and were quite curious.

Ororo moved into the room next door which was a serving room for visitors. Her black feline bounded into the room sat patiently at the place where Rin was to be laid. The advisors clamored the doorway watching as she laid Rin down. Servants came quickly creating piles of light blankets to lay Rin down on. A broth was brought up and Ororo checked it to be sure it was well before feeding Rin. Ororo did not like leaving Rin for so long by herself and away from her while she was working so she brought her closer. They watched Rin hold onto Ororo asking questions and coughing for a bit before she took the medicine that would make her sleepy again. Ororo rocked Rin back to sleep and covered her body up. Upon standing everyone immediately rushed back to the meeting room to prepare for the next session. She looked back at Bast who was no more than a gold statue that sat above Rin's head glaring at the door. Ororo smiled before she walked out of the room. She turned to two guards by Rin's door and gave them specific instructions; that no one is to go in the room and food would be turned away. After securing Rin's safety she went to the meeting room and sat back down comfortably. The scribes had been dismissed so that they could catch up recording other things which would be brought to them later.

She watched the last advisor come in before she smiled and looked at the pile. "Now let's conquer these papers." Somehow, they managed to sort through everything by subject and split the work up by expertise of the advisor. Of course, anything that needed a decision from the Lord went into its own pile with a short description on the top of what was needed. Everything else was simply reports and the advisors had written very short summaries about the statements inside. On the top was a single word to indicate the subject matter and the date to keep them organized.

Ororo saw one that looked to be a follow up of the incident with Naraku. She looked up at the men and pointed to the paper. "I have read much on this Naraku character. But explain his presence in correlation with this castle someone."

A dog demon nodded his head. "Naraku was vile and a very powerful enemy especially with the aid of shards of the Shikon Jewel." He explained. "Our Lord was the only one powerful in the land to help stop the hanyou. Of course, he had the aid of the priestess and his half-brother." He mumbled not wanting his Lord to hear him say it. "This took time away from his lands. Naraku fled many battles when he was weakened or hid away when he didn't want to be found. There was also our Lord's pursuit of testing his strengths. So, this is why everything has been a mess. Lady Inukimi, his mother sees to the house occasionally, but she has been involved in politics with other Lords and Ladies and has her own house to serve. This is Sesshomaru's father estate. She has mentioned openly that she has no desire to rule these lands but comes by to make sure no one forgets who owns them. I presume she thought the loyalty and fear in the land would be enough to help keep the house running without a head."

Ororo nodded her head in understanding. It made sense that people would use the absence and the chaos to do side dealings and try to slack from duty. What better opportunity there was when there wasn't anyone overseeing the daily operations? This brought forward another question she had. "What of the other Kings? Did they too get involved with slaying this vermin?"

"Some Shoguns, Samurai, and demon warriors who had grudges against the demon came forward along with humans and spiritual men of the cloth. But no Lords or Ladies of the court got involved except for the Wolves and the Panthers. Many of the ruling sort protected their cities leaving the countryside to its own devices unsure of the threat."

Ororo looked at them in disbelief before chuckling. "I thought only kings of Babylon fled instead of aiding their people. And to think this Lord wants Lord Sesshomaru's aid in an asinine war but refused to get involved when he had a real threat at his door." She laughed loudly then as the men looked at her with mixed expressions. "No wonder your Lord is angry. I would be slaughtering too." She stated before reaching in her kimono pocket and pulling out the letter she had received. She showed the letter to the advisors as they all began talking about the consequences of starting a war and also one with the goal to eliminate humans.

"This Lord is clearly frightened of humans and hates them beyond reasoning. I'm not sure how your Lord will respond but for the record I will not endorse this pathetic laughable initiative as for one it is the biggest waste of resources and time. And two, I have no respect for Kings that do not go into battle before their people." She tapped her chin in further thought. "I would like for someone to find as much information about these Lords and Ladies so that I may read up on whom these false kings and queens are. I've never heard of Kings that want to attack the weak but cower when faced with a real foe. If the Romans could smell this…" She stated laughing harder.

Conversation flowed around the room as everyone seemed to be in a lighter mood especially seeing great progress being made. Tea had come and a few light refreshments were sat on the tables increasing everyone's happiness. Even an advisor broke out with his pipe to smoke tobacco because he was so comfortable in his work and with the Empress. This of course sparked a conversation about pine tasting tobacco and he even allowed her to take a pull from his pipe. The whole order laughed at her sour facial expression as she found it to be quite strong tasting. She then shared with him the invention in her home called the hookah in which men and women took part of. Conversation exploded as everyone was now interested in learning about Egypt. They had heard a few things mainly due to the long reign of demon rule that was legendary. They had many questions for her and asked about her country and her history as they were intrigued. A few spoke about her skin tone and asked about her origins. It was pleasant and refreshing to Ororo to be among enlightened men who genuinely asked and spoke for the sake of receiving knowledge instead of judging so quickly. Ororo left the reports to them as they were long and her command of Japanese still wasn't at its best. She was reading one document that she stared at for quite some time, lost in translation.

Adviser Itoku looked over and saw her struggle. He heard her mumbling Japanese under her breath as she was reading but she stayed stuck on a phrase and couldn't move passed it. He placed his own paper down and he poured her a cup of tea.

"Your Japanese is very good." He complimented. His own teacup received his attentions.

Ororo looked at him with humor in her eyes. "I must concur. I'm afraid I am severely lacking in vocabulary." She stated placing the paper down and taking a break from it.

"I didn't say it is perfect." He responded as she laughed at his cheeky comment. "Perfection cannot be obtained by anyone. There is always something to be learned."

"This I agree." She stated sighing gently. She took her teacup with both hands and sipped her tea.

The demon smoking his pipe looked to her. He popped the end out of his mouth and pointed it at her. "Would you be interested in a kanji session?"

Itoku rubbed his long white beard at the prospect. "Yes, we have all taught Lord Sesshomaru during his youth. If you are free in the early mornings, I wouldn't mind a lesson in exchange for conversation of course." He stated.

Ororo smiled brightly at this with relief in her eyes that she may obtain additional schooling with the language. She looked down at her paper and noticed that something else was there. She read the paper easily noting it was a different paper. It was not the paper she was having trouble reading earlier. She gaped and looked around before her eyes landed on the paper in front of Itoku. She looked at his face as he faked confusion. She smirked and reached out to pat his hands feeling the warmth underneath the wrinkled skin. "Well played Itoku-san."

He looked away mumbling as if he didn't not know what she was speaking about.