Ann stood with her arms lifted out to her sides as Kai straightened her kimono. Ann's eyes were riveted on her, the old fears lingering. Kai's hands gently smoothed out the wrinkles and expertly tied her obi. As she finished, her caramel-colored eyes flicked to Ann's face.

"Are you sure you want to have dinner downstairs? My lord will most likely not be here." she said, a slight smile touching her lips.

"I'd rather he not be there," Ann stated flatly. "We piss each other off so it's probably better if we don't see each other." Kai chuckled, shaking her head.

"I'm sure that's not true."

"It is for me," Ann grumbled, lowering her arms and clenching her fists. Kai slid her hands into Ann's. Ann cringed but didn't completely pull away, trying to balance her discomfort with civility.

"My lord has redeeming qualities," she said earnestly. "He fights it, but he is a lot like his father." A nervous look crossed her face as she added, "Don't bring that up with him, unless you really do want a fight. His ultimate goal is to be better than his father in every way." Struck with curiosity, Ann asked,

"What was Sesshomaru's father like?" Kai smiled wistfully.

"He was wise and a great protector of his lands and its inhabitants. That's how he ended up dying. My lord Sesshomaru is like his father when it comes to defending us. He has fought many battles to keep the western lands safe."

"Then what does Sesshomaru have against his father?" Ann asked, her head tilting in confusion.

"He didn't agree with his father's love for the human woman, Izayoi," Kai said, a sad look crossing her face.

"Inuyasha's mother?" Ann asked. Kai nodded. Ann continued, her brow furrowed, "I don't understand why a demon loving a human is bad."

"It is taboo," Kai explained patiently. "A demon falling in love with a human is seen as a weakness and is looked down on."

"That's narrow-minded," Ann said, a smirk suddenly crossing her lips. "They're probably all just nervous of what unions like these will create, like Inuyasha. Given time, I'd bet he'll be able to kick Sesshomaru's ass." Kai looked shocked for a moment and then she laughed out loud.

"So, there are demons that you like," she said, her eyes bright. Ann blushed and, realizing she was still holding Kai's hands, yanked them away. "Please don't be mad," Kai exclaimed. "I wasn't trying to tease. You just surprised me and gave me hope. You judge Inuyasha on his character, so I have hope that maybe someday you'll see me in a positive light too." Ann's blush deepened but she didn't respond. Instead, she asked,

"Can you fix my hair?"

"Of course," Kai said brightly. "I will do something fancy, just in case my lord is home."

"Why would you do that?" Ann asked, startled. "It'd be wasted on him." Kai chuckled knowingly.

"We'll see."

Kai slid the door to the dining room open. This room was much like the rest of the castle, grand but with no decorations. The wood was highly polished and the dining table was well built while still looking elegant. Ann entered and was relieved to see only a young girl sitting at the table. She recognized her as the girl from the meadow, when she had first met Sesshomaru. The memory caused a wave of sadness to wash over her, but Ann pushed it down. She couldn't allow her sadness to take over again.

"Rin," Kai called softly from the door, "This is Ann. She is Lord Sesshomaru's guest. Can you keep her company during the meal?"

"Of course, Kai," Rin said brightly as she jumped to her feet and trotted around the table to take Ann's hand. "Come sit next to me." She said as she led Ann back around the table. Ann glanced over her shoulder just in time to see Kai's smile before the door shut. Ann sat next to Rin, watching the little girl stack food on a plate for her.

"Don't overdo it," Ann exclaimed, as the food piled high. "I still don't have much of an appetite."

"Oh, sorry," Rin giggled as she slid the plate in front of Ann. They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes. The food was delicious, and Ann allowed it to fill her with warmth. She had found that intentionally trying to allow positive experiences to influence her feelings was helping with some of her anger. She hadn't forgotten what Kai had said about feeling the darkness from the soul of the Shikon within her.

"I have to get better so I can face Naraku," she thought.

Remembering Rin, Ann covertly watched her out of the corner of her eye. She was at a loss of how to talk to this girl. She hadn't had much experience with children before this. They never seemed to avoid her, but she had never been able to get past her awkwardness with them. Finally, she broke the silence.

"Rin, how old are you?" she asked, mentally groaning. "I might as well ask her about the weather," she thought. Rin seemed unfazed by the question.

"I will be nine in the spring," she answered excitedly. "Momma told me that I was born when the cherry tree blossoms start to bloom."

"Oh," Ann responded, more questions entering her mind. "That's a nice way to remember. Where is your mother?"

"She's dead," Rin said softly. When Ann gasped, Rin quickly waved her hands and smiled. "It's been a long time now. Honestly, I don't remember her or father very well."

"I'm still sorry," Ann said, as she scooped some food into her mouth. "I should have realized that would be the case since you are here. Sorry if I'm a little dense." Rin giggled and continued to eat her food.

"So how did you meet Sesshomaru?" Ann continued. This time, a tinge of sadness and fear entered Rin's eyes as she responded,

"He saved my life. I was killed by demons, and he brought me back to life." Ann's food was halfway to her mouth, but it now hovered in midair.

"You were killed by demons?" Ann asked aghast. "You remember this happening?" Rin merely nodded. Her small hands were clenched in her lap and her large brown eyes were downcast. Ann dropped her food and wrapped the little girl in a tight hug. She could feel the shivers running through the child's body.

"I'm so sorry," Ann gasped, unshed tears stinging her eyes.

"It's okay," Rin said, her tiny voice wobbly. "It doesn't bug me very much anymore. Sometimes I have bad dreams, but they are not as bad as they used to be." Ann pulled away from Rin to look in her face.

"If you ever need a hug after one of those dreams, just let me know. Even if it's in the middle of the night." Rin giggled, some of the sadness and fear leaving her face, and nestled back into Ann's arms.

"Thank you," she whispered in a small voice.

Unbeknownst to them, Sesshomaru stood just outside the door. He had been on his way to the dining room, but paused when he heard Ann's voice. Stealthily, he cracked the door open and watched the pair. Rin was in a state he was not used to seeing her in. She was tearful and scared at the memory of her death. Why had it never crossed his mind that this could be a problem for her as a human. He almost entered the room when Ann threw her arms around Rin's small body and pulled her close. Her face was full of empathy and compassion. Her actions towards Rin were unexpected. How could she care so deeply for her when they barely knew each other? His eyes narrowed as he tried to understand Ann and his own mixture of emotions produced by her behavior. Silently, he turned and walked away, his thoughts undecided on this strange human.

Early the next morning, Ann had Kai show her to the dojo. The room was long and spacious, its cream-colored tatami mats soft underfoot, contrasting with the dark wooden walls that gave it a solemn, grounded feel. Along one wall, weapon racks held an array of swords, spears and other traditional weapons, each meticulously maintained and gleaming in the morning light. Opposite the weapon racks, shoji doors opened out onto an archery range, where targets stood ready at varying distances. The air carried a faint scent of polished wood and the lingering presence of countless training sessions. Soft light filtered through the paper screens, casting a serene glow across the room, making it feel both peaceful and full of potential.

Ann had worn a pair of tight hakama pants and a short kimono. Loose clothing would only hinder her movements. Slowly she walked the length of the room, inspecting each weapon in awe. They were all high quality, and their edges were obviously sharp.

Amongst all the weapons, a naginata caught her attention. It was at least a foot taller than her with sturdy wooden shaft and a long, thin blade attached to its end that gleamed ominously. Ann carefully lifted the weapon from the rack while memories and emotions stirred within her. Ichiro had trained diligently in the art of naginatajutsu. Before she'd been allowed to train with him, she had loved to watch him. His movements had been fluid and graceful. His dedication to the art had been inspiring. A wave of sorrow overwhelmed Ann and, clutching the staff of the naginata tightly, she sank to her knees, a sob escaping her lips.

"When will it stop hurting so much," she whispered, her heart aching. The sadness morphed into anger, and suddenly she was on her feet with new determination. "Fucking Naraku," she growled as she launched into a fierce kata. She was no longer seeing the room. She was on some unnamed battlefield, fighting Naraku. Her strikes lacked eloquence, but they were vicious, which she preferred in that moment.

Her blade suddenly came in contact with another blade with a loud clang, bringing her back to herself. Before her stood Sesshomaru, his cold gaze assessing her with a hint of warning. As he reached for the staff of her naginata, yanking her forward with an unsettling strength, Ann's discomfort grew, a tangled mix of attraction for this beautiful creature and apprehension for what he was capable of.

"I could feel your anger from outside this room," he growled. "You need to control it or Naraku will defeat you without trying." Ann writhed at his closeness.

"Release me," Ann snapped, her voice quavering. "I can take care of myself." To her surprise, Sesshomaru complied, stepping back and allowing her space. His piercing gaze remained fixed upon her, a silent challenge hanging in the air.

"Prove it," he hissed. "If you can hold your own against me, then you might stand a chance against Naraku."

"I don't have to prove anything to you," Ann spat defiantly. "I've already told you I will be the one to kill Naraku." A malicious, smirk crossed Sesshomaru's face, sending a shiver down Ann's spine. Instinctively, she raised her naginata.

"You will fight me, human," he said. "You need to understand what you are up against." Ann swallowed, a sheen of sweat covering her skin.

"Fine," she said. As the word left her lips, Sesshomaru attacked. He leapt forward in a blur of motion, his sword raised high. Ann allowed her training to take over and countered his attacks. Her bones rattled at each powerful strike he delivered, her heart raced as she barely managed to keep up with his formidable pace. With a couple quick sweeps of her weapon, she pushed him back, but she knew it was a temporary reprieve.

He stood back several feet from her, his eyes narrowing. To her surprise, he sheathed his sword.

"You will have to do better than that," he said as he flexed his fingers. "I will give you an advantage and fight without a weapon."

"Great," Ann muttered, preparing herself to defend again. A contemplative looked crossed his face and he paused.

"Why are you not using your priestess powers?" he asked. Ann shrugged, never taking her eyes off of him.

"They take a lot out of me, not to mention they take a lot of time to set up. There would be no guarantee I could use them before my enemy would be on me."

"Naraku used them effortlessly," Sesshomaru pointed out. A wave of anger washed over Ann.

"Don't remind me," she growled, her frustration mounting. "I have no idea how he did that."

"You need to figure it out," Sesshomaru retorted sharply. "You won't win the way you are." The anger was building. Ann knew she should fight it, but Sesshomaru was pushing all the wrong buttons.

"Why don't you prove that I can't win," she challenged, her voice dripping with defiance. "I'm tired of you thinking you know what's best for me." Sesshomaru's eyes hardened, and he readied himself to attack.

"Gladly," he said. With alarming speed, he streaked forward, aiming a punch for her face. Ann allowed her anger to rage, fueling her strikes with her darkness. He blocked all of them until the last. Her weapon lit on fire with purple flames and blazed through his chest armor, shattering it. Sesshomaru retreated, ignoring the flames, his attention focused on her.

"Better," he said. "Now you must do it without the anger." Ann gazed at her weapon. It was alighted with purple flames, but they were ominously dark. She knew it was wrong, but she reveled in their sinister glow. The hate felt like a shroud to cover herself with, to protect against the hurt.

The sudden impact of Sesshomaru's strike sent Ann reeling, her weapon flying from her hands, her cheek burning with the force of the blow. As she struggled to regain her footing, Sesshomaru moved in for another attack. Ann held her hands up and, instead of hand signs, she visualized the shield. Sesshomaru came into contact with the purple light and was instantly sent flying back. He rolled across the tatami mats for several feet before he came to rest in a crouch. He was smoking and the look on his face was murderous.

Breathless and shaken, Ann watched Sesshomaru nervously.

"Are we done?" she asked, alert for any sudden movements.

"Yes," he snapped. His answer made Ann feel as if that had more meaning than just ending the fight. He stood and turned, leaving the room. Ann dropped to her knees and held her head in her hands. The darkness inside her was unsettling, but it also felt so good. It empowered her. The guilty feelings in her heart left her wondering if that was a good thing.

It was late at night and the moon cast a pale light through the window. Ann had locked herself in her room and now sat in front of her window lost in her thoughts. The events of the morning kept replaying in her head, leaving her to wonder if she should have handled it differently. On top of that, Kai hadn't visited her all day, making her feel she was in trouble.

"I shouldn't care," Ann mumbled to herself but she was still feeling regretful. Sesshomaru wasn't kind, but he was trying to help her.

A soft glow behind Ann suddenly caught her attention and she turned to find a small girl standing at the center of her room. Ann's senses prickled at the girl's ethereal appearance. She was completely white; her long hair, her skin and her kimono. In her child-like hands was a mirror with a white frame, its surface reflecting the dim light of the room. Her gaze was blank like a doll's.

"Naraku wishes to speak to you," she murmured in a wispy voice that sent a chill down Ann's spine. Ann rose to her feet, her gaze hardening.

"Where is he?" she demanded, her voice tinged with a steely determination that hid her uncertainty.

"Follow me," the girl responded. She turned and exited the room on silent feet. Ann didn't hesitate to follow. They traveled through the castle unseen and, passing through the gates, entered the dark forest that bordered Sesshomaru's castle. The moon cast ominous shadows that played with Ann's vision. A weight settled on her shoulders. She was going to face Naraku, whether she was ready or not.