Sesshomaru

I had been consumed by the relentless preparations for the upcoming Changing of the Guard ceremony, a day filled with the meticulous details that required my unwavering attention. As the hours wore on, the incompetence of some of my staff had begun to wear thin my patience.

Turning a corner in the labyrinthine palace halls, I continued to mentally curse my father for his 'casual' trip just weeks before the celebrations. He had conveniently left all of the organizing and coordinating to me, an additional burden atop my already demanding responsibilities. My steps echoed with a sense of irritation and fatigue as I navigated the palace's inner corridors.

Then, my sharp senses detected the faint presence of another, and I spotted a young woman emerging from the family sanctuary, her presence a notable anomaly amidst the chaos of my day. "This part of the palace is out of bounds," I declared, my voice laced with authority. The last thing I needed was an intruder who lacked a proper understanding of her place within these hallowed halls.

My initial reaction to the young woman's presence was one of outrage. How dare she trespass into the forbidden realms of the house? Her audacity was evident in the way she met my gaze, a clear attempt at defiance. I gazed down at the strikingly beautiful woman before me, her eyes meeting mine with an unwavering intensity.

As I observed her, I sensed a reaction deep within myself, a flicker of strange, uncertain.

My initial reaction to the young woman's presence was one of outrage. How dare she trespass into the forbidden realms of the house? Her audacity was evident in the way she met my gaze, a clear attempt at defiance. I looked down at the strikingly beautiful woman before me, her eyes meeting mine with an unwavering intensity.

She was unlike any other female I had encountered, her features a curious blend of strength and vulnerability. Her hair, ebony as the darkest night, cascaded gracefully down her back, held in place by a simple yet elegant tie. Her attire was practical, yet it accentuated her graceful form. Her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of deep brown, held a depth that seemed to conceal hidden secrets.

As I observed her, I sensed a reaction deep within myself, a flicker of something strange and uncertain. It was an emotion I couldn't readily identify, a mix of curiosity and a vague sense of familiarity. I quickly shut down the errant thought.

"This part of the palace is out of bounds," I reiterated, my voice commanding, and my expression remaining unyielding. The woman before me needed to understand the boundaries of her place here.

The woman's decision to avert her gaze and dip her head was a clear acknowledgment of my authority, but her smile, however subtle, both infuriated and confused me.

"You have grown well," she remarked, whispered more to herself than me. She shook her head as if to rid herself of some errant thoughts.

"I must take my leave," her soft voice carried back to me, and she spared me a final glance, her gaze still respectfully averted. "There is much to prepare for the Changing of the Guard ceremony. I hope to see you again soon."

Without waiting for a response, the woman excused herself, I watched her turn and continue her graceful departure, her steps measured and graceful. Leaving me standing there, to ponder the encounter.

I dismissed her presence from my thoughts as I entered the sanctuary of my ancestors. If she had dared to disturb the sanctity of the House of the Moon, I would hunt her down and ensure her life ended in the most painful way possible.

Upon entering the room, I immediately bowed my head in deep respect to my elders, my forebears who had guided our clan for generations. However, what met my eyes was not a scene of destruction but rather one of unexpected tranquility.

An overwhelming sense of peace washed over my senses, and for a moment, I forgot my anger. My gaze fell upon the altar, and what I saw there took my breath away. A delicate palm sized mirror adorned in shimmering moonstones and intricately engraved rested delicately upon the altar, its delicate beauty contrasting with the stern and ancient surroundings.

I picked up the exquisite item and weighed it in my hand, a sense of nostalgia enveloped me. It was as if I had seen this mirror before, in another time and place. The memories of that distant moment began to stir within me, shrouded in the mists of time.

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