Groaning at the familiar pain, Kagome grabbed her head and tried to apply as much counter pressure as humanly possible to stop the throbbing. What happened she moaned to herself as she closed her eyes tighter and sunk further under the blanket that was covering her. As she began to drift back to sleep, images of her and Inukimi in Inuyasha's forest flashed in her mind, causing her to panic and abruptly sit straight up in bed.

Clutching the heavy brown fur blanket, Kagome looked around while she tried to slow her heavy breathing that was visible against the freezing temperature of the room. A fire smoldered in the fireplace, while shards of glass and crumbled stone that was once a part of the hole ridden wall littered the floor. Artwork was hung haphazardly on the walls of the maroon and green decorated room, while the crashing sound of waves on the rocks below drifted up through her window.

The wind picked up and began whistling through the cracks and holes in the wall, causing Kagome to shiver and wrap the blanket around her tighter. I need to get out of these damp clothes before I catch a cold. The floorboards creaked below her as she gingerly put weight onto them, causing her to grimace. She paused but the castle stayed just as quiet as before. Slowly and carefully, she made her way to the massive wooden closet that was to the right of the fireplace. Wow. Kagome stared in awe at the massive collection of outfit choices that were surprisingly intact for such a messy room. Garments in every color lined the entire length of the closet, and for a split second she forgot she was in the feudal era as she quickly inspected as many as she could. There must be a hundred outfits in here she thought giddily to herself. Ultimately she decided on a beautiful outfit that reminded her of Sesshomaru, silky white with patterns of yellow and purple.

Goosebumps covered her entire body as she quickly undressed, hoping to get back under the warm blanket until she could figure out a plan. Soft footsteps coming from the hall caused Kagome to peer around the closet door, her gaze fixated on the door left of the fireplace. When it opened, she saw a man walk in and look around briefly. "GET OUT!" She shrieked while whipping a shoe in his direction. "GET OUT GET OUT!"

Effortlessly, the man caught the shoe in the air and diverted his eyes towards the floor. "I apologize, I should have knocked first. Let me know when you are decent."

Surprised, and somewhat relieved by his manners, Kagome quickly finished dressing and raced back to the bed to get under the thick bedding to stop her uncontrollable shivering.

Tengu knocked softly on the door once he heard Kagome rustling under the covers. He had been eager to speak to the women who was brought to him by Lady Inukimi, and he had been checking on her every so often to see if she was awake. Before her departure, Lady Inukimi advised she would only be asleep until about sunrise. "I'll be damned," he muttered to himself with a smile, glancing out of the only window in the room. Sure enough, the sun was slowly emerging from behind the mountain covered with trees far in the distance. "Let's try this again, shall we?" he asked while tying his long brown hair back with an orange ribbon.

Kagome gasped. As Tengu was tying back his hair, a crescent moon briefly peaked from behind his bangs. She blinked furiously. Did I... imagine it? No, she thought, I definitely saw a crescent moon on his forehead, but his is... navy blue? Realizing she was staring, she smiled. "Sorry about that," gesturing towards the shoe she thew at him. "I woke up in a strange place. It's cold. I was naked..." she trailed off. "Where am I, anyway?"

Tengu frowned and glanced at the fireplace. "I'll have someone get the fire roaring for you again, this room is much too cold for a human." At the snap of his fingers, a few servants, seemingly human, scurried in and began tending to the fire. "May I?" he asked before sitting on her bed. Kagome nodded. "You are in the Northern Lands," Tengu began while staring disapprovingly at the disheveled room covered with debris. "I'll see to it that the room is cleaned, we weren't expecting company and this is the best room I had to offer."

Confused, Kagome tilted her head, "Did you... find me?" The last she could remember she was trying to battle against Inukimi who found her sitting at the Bone Eaters well. Did I actually win the battle? she asked herself. All I had was a piece of wood from the well to defend myself. I left my bow and arrows back at Kaede's house.

"No," Tengu laughed while standing up and tending to the fire himself now, "you were a gift."

Kagome's blood ran cold. "A.. gift?" She began to panic, "Does that mean Inukimi is here too?"

"Ah, so you know of Lady Inukimi then?" he asked with his back to her, watching the fire get taller and hotter.

"I guess you could you say that," Kagome said uneasily, not knowing where the conversation was headed.

"I will admit, I'm curious to learn more." Tengu began wiping away the sweat that was beading on his forehead from standing too close to the fire, once again revealing his crescent moon. "Since you are already changed, come, lets have breakfast and discuss this further."

It's not like I have a choice, do I? Kagome wondered. Although it's not like I've asked if I can go home now. Nodding, she carefully avoided the glass on the floor and followed Tengu to the hall while ignoring the pounding headache she had from Inukimi's poison.

They walked in silence, but out of the corner of his eye he could see Kagome eyeing up the castle discreetly. Debris littered the floors here too, and although it was in much better condition from when he first arrived, he was regretting how much he destroyed the castle while fighting for it. When they arrived for breakfast, Tengu pulled the same seat out for Kagome that Lady Inukimi sat in just 10 hours prior. "New castle, don't mind the mess," he joked while pushing in her seat. "So," Tengu shoved a plate of breakfast food in front of her. "Tell me how you know Lady Inukimi."

"Uhhh, " Kagome hesitated not knowing how much to share. "Well, it's not much of a story. You see, years ago I traveled with her son's half brother and some friends we made along the way. Sometimes Sesshomaru and his group would cross paths with ours, but I only recently 'met her' when I was at Sesshomaru's castle and she showed up too."

Tengu nodded intently. "You know, Kagome, it's interesting to me that you do not refer to Sesshomaru as Lord Sesshomaru."

Stupid Kagome she thought to herself, but quickly came up with an explanation. "Oh yeah, duh," she said while slapping her forehead. "Once we all defeated Naraku I went home for a few years, and only recently came back. I'm still getting used to the fact that Sesshomaru is a Lord now."

"Very well," he said while taking a sip of his tea. "So tell me this then, Kagome, why would Lady Inukimi bring you here to the Northern Lands as a gift?"

"I don't know," Kagome shrugged. "It wouldn't be the first time a demon kidnapped me, and to be honest I don't know how demons feel about me for destroying Naraku and the Shikon Jewel. Right after it happened I went home."

Tengu studied Kagome as she ate her breakfast. I believe her, but that doesn't explain why Lady Inukimi would bring her here he thought while she chatted away. "Shikon Jewel, you say?" he interrupted and she nodded. "Ah, so I take it then that you are a priestess? Are you powerful?" he questioned, pretending he didn't know much about her to try to keep her comfortable and talking.

Kagome shrugged again. "When I went back home I wasn't doing priestess things, so I'm a little rusty. Clearly, since I'm here having breakfast with you after being poisoned again and kidnapped." Kagome began to laugh, before remembering what was on his forehead. "I couldn't help but notice your crescent moon," she mentioned while continuing to pick at her breakfast.

"What of it?" Tengu asked.

"Well, I don't know.. I was kidnapped by Inukimi, now I'm here... with you... with a similar marking..." Kagome stumbled on her words.

"You're a timid little thing, aren't you?" Tengu asked, amused by her rambling.

Kagome could feel her face getting hot from the insult. "I am not timid, okay! I just don't know what to ask!"

"Ask what you wish to know," Tengu shrugged indifferently.

"Fine," Kagome huffed. "Are you and Inukimi working together? I mean, your marking is a different color but what are the odds of that? I've traveled all over the place and have only ever seen two demons with that marking. Sesshomaru, Inukimi, and now you."

"You sure are worked up about this," Tengu chuckled while eating an egg. "To answer your question, no. We are not working together." Pushing his bangs aside, he continued, "We belonged to the same clan at one point in time. Theirs is purple because they are from the royal bloodline. However, I plan to make a new royal bloodline for the Northern Lands."

"What a relief," Kagome sighed while giving her plate to another human servant. "Do you know if Sesshomaru was told where I am? Do you know if he's coming for me?" she asked, letting her guard down.

Tengu's interest peaked. "Now, why would Lord Sesshomaru come for you?"

Kagome's face turned as white as the tablecloth once she realized her mistake of being too trusting with Lord Tengu. "Oh, well, I- I mean, I don't know..." she stammered. "I just... live there so I figured... maybe they would come and... get me?" Tengu stared at her without saying a word, watching her squirm like prey backed into a corner. "I guess I can always...walk home... myself?" she asked barely above a whisper with pleading eyes.

Tengu smiled at the suggestion before bursting into an uncontrollable laugh that echoed throughout the entire castle. "I'm sorry," Tengu laughed while wiping tears from his eyes. When he regained his composure he leaned forward in his chair, just inches from her face. "I've finally figured it out."

"I don't understand..." Kagome nervously bit her lip.

"You," Tengu's smile contorted as he leaned in closer and whispered into her ear, "are bait, which I fully intend to use you as."

Tengu's hot breath against Kagome's cold skin made her recoil in disgust. Gripping what was left of the arm rests on her chair, she watched as he leaned back into his chair with a smug smile on his face. The room felt like it was spinning around her while she tried to figure out his sudden change of demeanor.

Sweet treats appeared before them as soon as Tengu was done snapping his fingers, and he groaned with delight after taking a bite. "What? Dog's got your tongue?" he questioned gesturing his spoon towards Kagome's untouched treat while he took another bite. Frustrated by her lack of response he decided to fill the blanks in for her. "From what I've heard over the years, Lady Inukimi has developed quite the reputation for always meddling in business that is not hers. I knew there had to be some reason why she showed up out of the blue with a human priestess, but I couldn't figure out her current game." He paused, placing his spoon in the empty bowl in front of him. Walking slowly around the small windowless dining area, he continued. "Lady Inukimi has never enjoyed human company all that much, so I was surprised when she hand delivered me one. I see now you're not just any human though, you're Lord Sesshomaru's mate."

Kagome's cheeks turned various shades of red as she slumped in her chair. "Mate? No, no," she waved her arms frantically in protest. "We're not mates."

"Oh?" Tengu's eyebrows raised at her revelation. "I suppose that explains Lord Sesshomaru's absence. It seems he's in no rush for a mere human toy." Without thinking, Kagome reached out to slap him but he immediately grabbed her by the wrist before she made contact with his face. "Oh, did I strike a nerve? Whether Lady Inukimi is on my side and wants me to defeat Lord Sesshomaru, or she's on her son's side and wants him to defeat me... her goal is for Lord Sesshomaru to attack my newly acquired lands first."

"You're an idiot!" Kagome yelled. "Why would you play right into her game when you don't even know whose side she's on! Why not just let me go and you can join whatever alliance Sesshomaru has with the other lands?"

Tengu chuckled at her naiveté, "It seems that there's a misunderstanding about me, Kagome." Tenderly putting his arm around her shoulder and pulling her close he squeezed her cheeks hard between his fingers and forcefully turned her head to look around the war ravaged castle. His voice changed to a throaty, demented growl. "Do not underestimate me, Kagome. I will kill the Lords one by one and conquer all the lands until I become the supreme ruler."

Kagome ripped her face from his grasp, her cheeks still tinged red from his grip and glared at Tengu while he stood back up and brushed some dust from his clothing. "Well, now that that's settled," he said with a calm smile. "Why don't you go get settled in your new room? I have a servant assigned to you waiting." Disgusted, she turned without saying a word. "Oh and, Kagome?" Tengu called after her. "Loyalty is the difference between life and death here. Keep that in mind," he said with a wink.

What a jerk she mumbled to herself as she climbed the stairs that lead to the third floor. Rubbing her sore cheeks, she stopped and rested her back against the twisted stone stairwell and tried to process what just happened. How can he be so nice but also so... evil? Kagome sighed as she continued to her room and was startled to be greeted by a human women cleaning up her room. The women's jet black hair was short and sleek, and despite her gaunt face she had a warm genuine smile that tried to hide the sadness radiating from her eyes. She looks no older than me Kagome thought sadly to herself as she returned her smile.

"Hi, I'm Hana."

Author's note:

Why, hello hello!

Sorry for the delay in posting, again. I'll spare you the excuses and just ask you to enjoy this fluff that I somehow wrote in just 2 days?! I know it's a lot of talking and not much action or description, but it's setting up for some stuff I have in mind and I didn't want to wait another month or so to post it all in one chapter.

I had some time to sit and think out some plots/ideas and I'm so excited to write them out! Things could change, but overall I think what I have planned flows pretty well.

Also, I promise that Kagome is getting her redemption arc soon, just bare with me as I continue to set that up. Not sure if anyone noticed, but in chapter 9 at the end she actually worked up the courage to try and fight Inukimi. Granted she ended up poisoned and unconscious again but... hey. It happens. Maybe an old friend will be able to help stop that from happening? (wink, wink)

I know it's Tuesday (at least for me) and I claimed I was going to try to only post on Friday/Saturdays, but I figured it was the least I could do after not posting for awhile.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season, and that you're all happy and healthy. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and stick by me as I continue to work on my story, myself, and my hobby 3