Chapter 7

I had been tossing and turning all night. I could not figure him out and it was bothering me. I had never been in this position before. The servants were on their best behavior once I told them he was an emperor. I made sure to have him placed in a room close to mine. Right across the hall from me to be exact. The sun was beginning to rise. I watched it peak over the hills pouring into my room. I had finally met him. The emperor of the Western empire, the great dog demon. I wondered if the stories about him were true. Or, if his reputation had preceded him. I sighed sitting up in bed. I was not in the clear yet. There were still some things I had to do. I slid out of bed, starting my bath. There would be no one coming to help me this morning. Especially not after what I had done yesterday. They would have their hands full with Sesshomaru. I took a quick bath, making sure not to get my hair wet, I quickly pinned it up. I wasted no time. I slipped into my corset quickly lacing it up. Years of practice. I chose another red dress, buttoning up the back. Red was one of his signature colors. This was me choosing a side without saying anything; yet. I slipped into a pair of white heels.

Now, another important battle. Breakfast.

I was placed in the room across the hall from her. I could hear her tossing and turning for the majority of the night. I had done the same. Spending the majority of the night thinking about her. She looked so much like her mother. Yet they could not be more different. The same silvery-white hair and emerald eyes. Instead of ivory, her skin resembled that of light chocolate. Her demeanor was cold and unyielding. Zarina was the picture of happiness. How could a child that had come from her present… as so unfeeling? I wonder who had snuffed out her light. Or if there was some part of it left to be saved. I expected to see a scared child before me, but no. This was a woman. One that was not easily intimidated. Men, demons, and beasts cowered in fear in such close proximity to me; but not her. This was a woman who was always on her guard. I will be announcing my engagement to her father today. I will marry her. Then, I can begin to fulfill the promise I made to Zarina, all of those years ago. As well as get out of this unfamiliar place. I grew tired of dressing like them and behaving like them. Wearing these uncomfortable shoes. The servants were aggressively pushy. Constantly trying to tend to my every need.

There was a knock at the door. "Enter."

The door opened slowly, and she came in. Her scent flooded the room. I went over to her.

"I am here to escort you, Your Majesty."

"There is no need to be formal with me. Call me Sesshomaru. We are to be married soon." I said, holding out my hand.

She sighed and I smiled. She took my hand and we began to walk to the throne room. The servants whispered and stared as we passed them by. She paid them no mind, staring ahead as if they did not exist.

Just what kind of life did you live here? That the servants felt comfortable enough to disrespect you like this.

I glared at a few of them; they clamped their mouths shut immediately. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. She reminded me of myself back then, before I had found Rin. A walking facade.

"You are staring at me."

"That is because you are beautiful."

"Do not use your flirtation as a cover-up. There is more than what you are letting on, and I will find out what it is eventually."

"I have no doubt you will. From what I can see you are a very intelligent woman."

I had been here only a day or so, but I had fully assessed the situation at hand. The kind of life you have lived this entire time. A sister who adores you, but a father who behaves as if you do not exist, because he is too wrapped up in his own problem. Your father's mistress who has no doubt made your life a living hell. Seeing you as nothing but an obstacle... an enemy. Last, a sister who adores you. However, had no real power to save you from the mistreatment you have endured.

I noticed she was wearing another red dress. She was smart. She was making a statement without actually saying it. We stopped at the doors, waiting for them to open. I could feel her nervousness. I slipped my hand into hers, giving it a slight squeeze.

I could feel him slightly squeezing my hand. He was trying to reassure me. The doors opened, my stomach turning the moment they had. Naraku was sitting at the table. I avoided his eyes. I could feel him burning holes through me. Instead, my eyes were locked on my fathers. Misaki and Ichiro, nor Yukina were nowhere to be seen. Only the king and his servants. We stepped into the dining room still hand in hand.

"The two of you come and sit here." the king said gesturing to his right.

We made our way over to the table. His hand slipped out of mine, and he pulled the chair out for me. I took my seat and he sat beside me.

"What is the meaning of your visit Sesshomaru? What intentions do you have with my daughter?"

My daughter. Those words sounded foreign coming from him.

"I plan to marry your daughter and make her the empress of the Western Empire."

Naraku banged his fist onto the table. "I will not stand for it. The princess was promised to me! I have pledged tens of thousands of my soldiers."

The king held his hand up. "Mind your manners at the table Naraku. As well as in my presence. Yes, promises were made. However, you have yet to deliver on your end of our deal. Therefore, nothing has been made permanent."

Sesshomaru smirked while looking at Naraku's angry expression.

"Your majesty," Naraku began. "There seems to have been some misunderstanding. Princess Himiko was promised to me. We have made this agreement many weeks ago. Even though nothing has been made permanent. We must still be men and keep our word."

He was a man of nothing.

Sesshomaru looked Naraku in the eyes. " I will marry the princess," he said cutting in.

"She is not for you." Naraku shot back.

I watched the king while he watched them bicker back and forth.

Why was he letting this go on?

"Will you stop me from taking her hand in marriage? Can you? You who has not even a drop of royal blood in his veins. Just a half-breed who once used to be a man. A peasant man at that. Save yourself the further embarrassment. When I leave here, I will be leaving with Himiko. Not only has she told you what and who she wants. Rather who she does not want. You see what side she has chosen. Whose colors is it that she wears? How many times will you need to be rejected, for you to understand that it is not you?"

I simply sat by looking down at the food on my plate, listening intently. Sesshomaru was doing what I had intended. Acting as a wall between him and me.

"Himiko."

My eyes snapped up to the king's face.

"Yes, my king?"

"Is this what you wish? To marry his majesty?"

He was asking me what I wanted. He had never asked me what I had wanted. It was only a few weeks okay he told me I would be marrying that beast of a man. He had made it sound as if things were set in stone. Now, here he was asking me what I wanted.

"It is," I said.

"I see. Do you wish to marry at all?"

"I do not understand."

"If you do not wish to marry at all. You may remain here... become queen. If, that is what you wish."

I was searching his eyes. Was this some sort of trick? He seemed to be serious. All three of them were waiting to hear my answer. I took a sip of my water.

"I will marry his majesty Sesshomaru."

Naraku glared at me but I paid him no mind. The king waved his hand, calling the servant over to him.

"Please escort Naraku out of the castle. He will be leaving today."

"Kenji-"

"The princess has made her choice." the king said.

Naraku angrily stood from the table, storming out of the dining room. I watched in disbelief. This man has never taken my side, since the day I was born. We all watched the door close behind him. I could not hold it in any longer.

"What is the meaning of this?"

His eyes darted over to Sesshomaru.

"Do you wish for him to hear this conversation?"

"He may stay. We will be husband and wife soon. There is nothing I need to keep from him."

Especially not this pointless conversation.

"I see. Your sister... Yukina. Gave me a verbal lashing unlike any other. I did not know she was capable of such anger. She has always been so soft-spoken but for you... the sister she loves so much. I know that I cannot make it right, that I cannot make up for the things I have missed out on. It does not mean I do not want to try. You do not need to run. You do not need to marry to escape-"

I put my hand up. "Is this it? Was that the beginning of your apology? I have spent my entire life here always looking over my shoulder. Fending for myself. There were nights when I did not know if I would eat. Me! A royal princess spent many nights starving. Always alone, having to teach myself things. It was a miracle I turned out the way that I did. All because you were too busy to pay attention. So yes! I will run away from this place and attach myself to someone even more powerful than you, and build a wall so high around myself. That not you or anyone else will be able to reach or even see me. So yes, Father I do need to run. I do need to escape. There is nothing here for me. I will write to my sister but that is all! The rest of you-"

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to look at him, but he was looking at my father. Was this his way of telling me to calm down? I stood making my way over to the door. I could hear Sesshomaru trailing behind me. I reached for the door, but that was when he spoke.

"I deserve your anger Himiko. All of it. I will find a way to make this right. Even if it takes the rest of my life. Father sighed. "Together, your mother and I… we were a fusion of warmth and joy. Two souls just enjoying one another company. I will always have that... but what I have failed to realize. Is that I have always had you. I have taken the time I had with you for granted. You may never forgive me... but I need you to know that I will always be here. That may not be a comfort right now, but I will never stop waiting. Until the day that you do forgive me. Goodbye for now... my daughter."

There was a part of me that wanted her father's love. That scared little girl inside of me. I gripped the door handle, pulling it open. I left the room. My wounds were too deep, to be healed by a few simple words.

Still... it was a start.