Chapter 6

He had come. He had gotten my letter. That must mean he had agreed to the terms of the letter.

I kissed the back of Yukina's hand, giving her one last look.

"Everything will be alright now," I whispered in her ear.

I rose from my seat making my way to the door, stopping beside him. I leaned in closer to his ear.

"Do your best to treat this daughter correctly," I whispered.

I continued onto the greeting room. I was not a person who was easily made nervous. However, with each step I took. My heart pounded faster in my chest. The man my mother wrote of in her journals. The great demon emperor of the west. She said he was a kind and fair man. Even though he did not want to show it, she'd said he was a great friend of her family for generations. In the journal, she said that they had lost contact once she had become a teenager and married the king. If he was so good to her and her family, he could possibly be my way out. I picked up the pace, trying not to trip over my dress. I could see the doors up ahead. I smiled, my freedom was so close. I could taste it, but it soon faded when he stepped in my way.

"Hello, princess. Or, should I call you my betrothed? Should we possibly skip the honorifics altogether Himiko" he said with a sick smile.

The sound of my name leaving his lips, made my hair stand on end. I felt sick being this close to him. I could smell something coming from him. It made my throat sting.

"Do not ever say my name again. I am not your betrothed. I never will be. We are nothing to one another. You will never get your filthy hands on me."

He smiled. "A princess should not take that tone with anyone. Still, I do enjoy your fire. I will enjoy breaking you even more."

"Get out of my way. I will not be leaving with you Naraku."

"On the contrary princess, your father made promises. You are promised to me. I have paid a high price for you. We will be leaving here together. I will marry you and you will have my children. Until that body of yours breaks down."

"A half-bred beast such as yourself does not deserve someone of my stature. You are not fit to even grace the walls of this city. They will have to clean everything you have touched after you are gone. Only a fool would believe that you would actually make good on your promise of those demon soldiers."

I did not believe in using such vulgar slurs, but anything to hurt him and keep him away from me.

His eyes darkened, and he began walking towards me quickly. I began to back away, I knew I would not be able to get away. I heard the sound of the door opening. That is when I heard his voice.

"What do you think you are doing to my betrothed?" the voice asked.

I could see the shock on Naraku's face. No, it was fear but he hid it almost immediately. He turned to face him.

"Sesshomaru there seems to be some misunderstanding. This woman you see here is mine."

I took that as my chance. I picked up my dress and ran to him. I hid behind him safely. I was peering out from behind him. A smirk on my lips. I could see the annoyance on Naraku's face. I was out of his clutches. For now at least and that was enough."

"Yes, Naraku. There is a misunderstanding. The princess will not be going anywhere with you."

"You have no right!"

Sesshomaru stepped forward. "Are you challenging me?"

Naraku looked at me and then back at Sesshomaru.

"This is not over!" he said, storming away.

I could tell that he meant what he said. It would be foolish of me to underestimate his entitlement. Sesshomaru closed the door and I took a few steps back. He turned to face me. He was unlike anyone I'd ever seen. My mother had written in her journals that he had looked like someone out of a fairytale. I did not realize how right she was. I had never seen a demon up close, much less at all. Here we were taught that they were evil unsightly creatures, but this man standing before me was not unsightly in any sense. Nor could he be evil since he'd just come to my rescue; at least I hoped. He was tall. Taller than anyone I'd seen. His hair favored that of starlight. Dark pink markings on his cheeks. A dark blue crescent moon in the middle of his forehead and an eye color unlike any other I had ever seen. I could admit that he was breathtakingly beautiful. Anyone with eyes could see that.

"Princess."

His voice was deep and strong. The kind of voice that demanded respect without having to try too hard.

I curtsied. "Your majesty."

He walked past me, taking a seat.

"Please sit," he said, gesturing across from him.

I sat across from him, my back straight and hands folded in my lap. My eyes met his.

"I received your letter." he'd said

"Yes, you have. That is why you are here. Have you made your decision your majesty? Or have you come only to sate your curiosity?"

"You are the spitting image of her," he said, ignoring my question. "Your mother I mean."

"I have been told that very often. About my ques-"

"However, very different personalities. Your mother, Zarina, was a free spirit. A very rambunctious child. Never one to follow the rules, or behave as she should. Excuse my rambling, what I mean to say is how hard of a life you must have lived to be this... closed off and guarded."

It was the first time I had found myself speechless. Was I that easy to read? Or was he just that observant? He just continued to stare at me, waiting for me to answer.

"You can relax, princess. You have nothing to fear; not from me. To answer your question. Yes, I have decided to marry you."

"Why?"

My curiosity was getting the better of me. It gave me relief to know that I had made the right bet, but I wanted to know why.

"You want to know why I have agreed to your terms?"

"Yes."

"When the granddaughter of a family you have been very close with for many centuries. Sends you an urgent letter. Extending her hand in marriage. How could I possibly say no?"

"There has to be more to it than that, Your Majesty."

He quirked a brow. "Is that the conclusion you've come to?"

"Were you in love with my mother? Is that the reason you're willing to marry me because I look like her?"

He seemed genuinely shocked by what I said.

"Princess. I have never once thought of Zarina that way. Would you be jealous if I had?" he asked with a smirk.

"Not at all. My mother was a beautiful woman, and she did me a great favor by passing her beauty onto me."

"That she did. I dare say your beauty surpasses that of even her."

I paused, processing what he had said.

Was he flirting with me?

"That is the second time I have tripped you up princess. You are not living up to the rumors."

"Rumors?"

"The crown princess Himiko Gushiken. A beautiful woman, with a sharp mind. That part is true. Are you the sharp tongue they say you are? Is it all an act?"

I relaxed on the sofa.

"Your majesty. There seems to be a misunderstanding. While you are at the top of the list of eligible prospects. Please do not make the mistake of thinking that I need you. I have placed my sister in a place of power. She can just as easily rearrange other marriage proposals on my behalf. Still allowing me to escape from his place. If I have not been clear, please let me spell it out for you. I do not need you, Your Majesty."

He stood coming over to me, stopping only a few inches away from me. He bent over, placing his hands on either side of me. His face stopped an inch away from my own.

"It is finally nice to meet you. The real you... Himiko. This version of you I will happily marry." He said with a small smile.

Backing away, he walked over to the door and held his hand out to me.

"Have I met your standards, princess? Will you marry me?"

I looked at his hand and then back at him. I rose from my seat walking over to him, placing my hand in his.

"I do."