A sincere thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed my story. Thank you so much! I know that many of you are confused abut where this is going, but trust me when I say that there is a method to the madness. I hope you enjoy and stay with me on the journey!

Chapter 7 - The Western Lord

Pushing through layers of of unconsciousness, Chihiro had the sensation that she was no longer alone. She was in an almost waking dream state. She was aware of her surroundings but still in a sleeping paralysis. And yes. She was not alone. A stranger. No, make that two strangers were next to her. She felt small, and far away from them. Was she lying down? Chihiro focused on trying to hear what they were saying…

Mumble…

Mumble.. And more mumbles…

"...So this is the human girl?"

"Yes my Lord, I believe she is known as Sen."

More mumbles. Chihiro was getting too tired to try to make sense of what the speakers were saying.

"Hmmm interesting. What next?"

"Well, after I recovered I tried to remover her from him."

"Did you now. How did that work for you?"

"It almost didn't."

"Surprising."

"Well..er..I promised the Commander that no harm would come to her and he allowed me to take her out of the room."

"Interesting, very interesting. Child, just how did you end up here and what brought you to the tower?" The musing sounded as if it was directed at her.

"Okay General Michio, I think I understand the situation here, but you have not explained why you had to incapacitate her."

"Oh, that." Sheepish laughter. In Chihiro's mind's eye she could see the fox general nervously scratch behind his pointy ear.

"The truth is, she ran back into the room and by the time I followed she was yelling at Commander Kohaku. I didn't know what would happen to her if I left her at it, and I had already promised my sworn brother that no harm would come to her. I had to protect her even if it was from him."

Understanding seemed to pass between the two speakers.

"Luckily Commander Kohaku let me take her. I think he on some level he was worried about the tower's continued effect on her."

"Effect? But I thought she was human."

Wait. Were they smelling her?

"I wonder….maybe everything we had thought before was wrong.." Chihiro felt old withered hands filled with strength gently brush her hair away from her face. Was something being exchanged between them? A burning sensation flowed through her body radiating from where he was touching her on her forehead.

"Sir?" The hand and burning stopped.

"Nothing. Keep her safe. That is another order." Footsteps moved to the door.

"Yes sir."

With a start Chihiro woke up. She didn't recognize the room she had been placed in. But it didn't unnerve her as much as it might have. She was getting used to waking up in unfamiliar places. Purposely not thinking about how strange her new life had become, she started to get up-

Wait a second! Why had she woken up so suddenly? Strange snippets of an overheard conversation...or had she dreamed that too? But that wasn't the important thing…. Lost in the water..reaching for something… That's right! She remembered! She had met the dragon before. She knew what she had to do! Getting up off the floor, Chihiro was glad to see that she was still in her clothes from earlier. That was an improvement. But where was she?

The room was a simple traditional japanese room with only the futon in the corner that she had been placed on. She was alone. Chihiro got up and walked to the only door in the room. It was a shoji screen. Sliding it to the side, she popped her head out. A long hallway lead down and more and more rooms where on either side. She decided to venture out. Right away she could tell that she was no longer in the tower. She didn't feel the fuzziness that was present in the tower, something that she was only just aware of because of its absence.

Her feet softly echoed as she walked down the hallway. She turned towards to noise. A small bunny spirit dressed in a simple cream colored yukata came up towards Chihiro. Chihiro froze. Should she try to run? She really didn't want to. She was sick of running. Maybe she could finally get some answers.

"Hello honored guest, if you would please come this way, your companions are waiting for you."

Well that was a pleasant surprise.

The bunny lead her down the main corridor to a room the opened up into a courtyard. Inside the room was small table and three familiar individuals were sitting around it.

"Sen! You're awake!" Lin jumped up and gathered Chihiro in her arms. "Dragon Boy didn't hurt you did he?! I swear I will kick his ass for how he treated you!"

"I'm fine Lin, he didn't hurt me...but Lin, what is really going on?"

Lin sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "Honestly, I'm not really sure either...it looks like my intel wasn't that accurate…" Lin trailed off and turned to face the other males kneeling around the low table.

No-Face and the same fox guard from before looked up at them.

Chihiro found herself staring back into brilliant blue eyes. Why did his eyes remind her of ice? And what was his role in all of this?

As if he was unnerved by her stare, the fox got up abruptly, tripped over his feet, and almost crashed into Chihiro as he made his way over to her. This was the guard as before who almost killed her? She didn't remember him being such a klutz.

Lin rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. She wasn't impressed by him either.

"This gracefully one here is Michio, one of the lower generals in the Western Lord's army." Lin said by way of introduction. Chihiro wasn't sure why Lin emphasized "lower." Before she could question it, Lin continued. "From what I heard, you two have already met."

Michio's ears turned pink from embarrassment and No-Face seemed to laugh in his hands.

Chihiro nodded a welcome back at Michio. She didn't quite trust him...but besides almost killing her when they first met... he hadn't really done anything wrong to her. Ok. Even she could admit that sounded bad.

"My deepest apologies Lady Sen. I promise you again, just as I promised Commander Kohaku, no harm will befall you here."

Chihiro didn't bother to correct him on her name. Her neck and arm were throbbing in protest of his words. But she really had no choice but to trust him.

Michio had regained his confidence and ignored Chihiro's unease. "Now that you are here, I will convey my Lord's wish to meet you…" He trailed off when he took in her weary, battle worn appearance. Even her clothes had indecent tears in them. That would not do.

"But first, have some refreshments, afterwards, I will have a servant escort you and Lin to the baths and have suitable clothes brought for you both." Michio mentally took in the women's proportions. Lin gave him a challenging look that Michio blushed at; again his ears went pink. To hide it, he made a sweeping elegant gesture for the two women to take seats around the low table.

Once they were all seated. No-Face provided Chihiro with her own steaming cup of green tea. The smell of jasmine green tea unintentionally brought a memory she had of Aki.

It was back when they were still trying to figure each other out. Her condo, which had felt spacious before, now felt tiny and cramped with two strangers living on eggshells. The newspaper had shown a festival was being held at the nearby Shinto temple. Impulsively, Chihiro grabbed Aki and together they tore out of the house practically running all the way there. Somehow, with all of the activities the did together, Aki began to drop his guard and she was able to finally see the sweet, goofy, little boy he really was. They had slipped into an easy familiarity while they ran around trying to win prizes, taste street food and watch demonstrations. That festival was the first time she heard Aki laugh.

Later into the evening, she noticed Aki starting fade and become a little overwhelmed by the growing crowds. Not wanting the night to end on a bad note, she took Aki to an out of the way teahouse higher on the hill so they could see the fireworks away from the crowds. Aki relaxed instantly next to her when they had taken their sets. The waitress complimented her on her handsome, well-behaved son. Aki blushed quickly looking away. Chihiro in a fit of playfulness drew her arms around Aki and gave him an impromptu kiss on his forehead. She couldn't remember her exact words to the waitress. But it must have been the right thing to say because when she looked back at him, he had the most hopefully expression across his face.

They ended up carrying their almost finished cups of tea outside to sit on the steps of the porch when the fireworks show started. During the end of the fireworks show, she felt the little boy completely drop his last wall of defence as he fell asleep resting his head in her lap. Empty tea cup forgotten. From that day on jasmine tea always reminder her of Aki.

Chihiro took a sip of some of the most exquisite jasmine tea she had ever tasted. But she couldn't forget why she was here. She knew that emotionally she was in dangerous territory… She used her senses to ground herself. The heat of the mug in her hands, earthy slightly floral smells tickled her nose, mingled perfectly with the light taste of tea on her tongue. With a few more deep inhales and exhales she felt a little more centered.

Looking back up, she realized that everyone had been silent and staring at her. Unsure of what to do with all of their attention on her, she gave a small smile that did not reach her eyes and took another sip of tea.

"You really are amazing for a human." Michio had his head cocked to the side as if a new angel would give him more insight in the the strange woman before him.

How do you respond to that?

Lin snorted. "Just ignore him Sen. He is an idiot with a bad case of Kohaku hero worship."

Before Michio could respond, a different servant brought in a tray of light refreshments filled with colorful sweet cakes. During the shuffle of serving, Michio stood up, directed the servants, and face the three weary companions bidding his farewell for the time being.

They were now finally alone. Lin turned back to Chihiro. "Are you really okay?"

"Yeah, I mean I am still alive and all…" Chihiro's voice started to choke.

"Oh honey!" Lin gathered her up into a sisterly hold in her arms..

"Lin, I think I failed! I couldn't get the dragon to listen to me….I didn't know what to say and I don't understand! What is really going on?"

"I'm not lying Sen, I don't know either, that fox wasn't really answering my questions. All I know is that I was found by tower soldiers when I got too close to the main entrance. I was taken into General Michio's chambers to be interrogated by him, but he was checking on Kohaku at the time, so I was left tied up and waiting for him for hours. Later, I learned he had been detained because of you and No-Face facing off with Dragon Boy in the top tower room."

LIn started to bite her lip. Not that she wasn't happy with their reception by the Western Lord's soldiers; it didn't make sense. She knew that she should be either integrated or imprisoned, Chihiro should be imprisoned with her or dead, and No-Face...well, she wasn't really sure they could hurt No-Face, but still…

The hours upon hours she had spent waiting for General Michio to appear had been pure torture. When the tall snow fox general entered his chambers he had been disheveled and surprised to see the bathhouse woman bound in thick rope waiting for him. Apparently in the confusion no one had told him about her.

"Once they found out I was one of your companions, I was told that you were recovering and I would be reunited with you soon." Lin didn't add that the Michio had been completely bewilder because of how Kohaku had reacted to the human girl. She didn't tell her that Michio was so hopefully now.

Chihiro nodded. Okay that explained a little bit of the what was going on, but not the why it was.

"Sen, what happened when you saw Kohaku?"

"The dragon?" was Chihiro's distracted response. Her mind was still trying to process everything she had learned. "Nothing really, I mean, he snapped at me, snarled, and kept trying to keep me separated from No-Face…" That was the gist of it right? She wasn't forgetting anything important was she?

"Hmm...I wonder.." Lin leaned over and took in a deep whiff of Chihiro's scent. "The fox was right, your scent is slightly off for a human. But I do not think it is for the reason he thinks."

"Lin?"

"I am just thinking out loud... Something is up with Kohaku. Even if he was angry, he wouldn't have treated you that way. What could it be? What could cause him to go completely feral…"

Feral?

Lin continued her musings out loud. "If Kohaku tried to create a mating bond with Gisele only to be betrayed by her...That could cause this type of response...But no. That cannot be it. Gisele would have suffered too. That does not fit her profile. And then how do you fit in? And why are they treating us so well?

"Lin please, slow down I need you to explain what you are talking about. What is a mating bond? What does it have to do with anything..."

"Okay. Sorry Sen, I guess that this is a lot for you huh? Let's see...spirits and humans share many attributes in common. We both can take as many lovers as we wish. The only difference is that when we mate, we mate for life. There are a series of rituals that must take place that combines souls and spiritual power of the mated pair. If one mated pair dies, the other may not be able to survive and if they do they will most likely go crazy. Or if the mating bond is left unfinished...there is a possibility that both of the almost-mates might go crazy or die too. Because of the risks involved, most spirits don't mate.

"Do you think the dragon mated with Gisele?" Why was that weird to say?

"...Well, if Kohaku had tried to mate with Gisele and she betrayed him, it would explain why Kohaku appears to be acting out of his mind..."

"But you don't think that is the case do you? And are you sure he was acting out of his mind? It's only my second dragon interaction, but it went better than the first one."

"Ha. Funny Sen. No. The Kohaku I knew would not have attacked you."

Chihiro didn't press the issue.

"As stupid as Kohaku can be," Lin started back up, "I just don't think he would have taken her as a mate so soon into their relationship. Plus, he didn't look at her the same way he looked at you..er you know like a man in love. Plus, I don't see Gisele being the type to risk creating a mating bond and sending Kohaku out to die. It would have practically sealed her death."

"Okay, I don't know Gisele, but that makes sense to me. But it doesn't explain .."

"Why are they treating us so well and what is really going on with Kohaku?" Finished Lin.

Chihiro nodded.

"Yeah, I know. The Western Lord has a reputation for wisdom and kindness...but we have been welcomed into his stronghold as if we were important guests...I'm not complaining….I just don't know what is going on. Plus we are going to get cleaned up and dresses in suitable clothing. There is no throne room here, so we do not have to worry about being presented before the courtiers and other lords of the ruling class…"

"So why does Michio care that we are cleaned-up and rested before being introduced to the Western Lord?" Chihiro finished Lin's thought

"It doesn't make sense...Neither of us have any standing to deserve this treatment…

"So, do you think it goes back to the white dragon? That is the only reason that makes sense….right?"

Neither woman had an answer to that question. No-Face also seemed to be lost in thought.

The same bunny servant from before re-entered the room and asked the women to follow her towards the baths. A different male servant, came to guide No-Face to his bath. During the walk, Chihiro felt a prickling at the back of her mind...she was missing something. That's it! She had forgotten to ask Lin why she was so sure the dragon wouldn't have attacked her! No. It was something else. She remembered waking up remembering something crucial; but for the life of her, she couldn't recall what it was. Oh well, it must not have been that important.