The demoness’s ruby lips curved upward. Skimming red-enameled claws through a silky forelock of her hair, she seemed to glide toward Kagome across the wilted, leaf-strewn shore. Against this backdrop of autumn, Sesshoumaru’s mother was the picture of ethereal beauty and grace. It was often said of Kagome that she was a stately lady, but

Kagome felt worse than wretched about locking Ikiryou away. But she didn’t know what else to do. With the way things were now, she couldn’t very well keep an eye on him every second. Deep down, she blamed herself for his aberrant behavior. She’d known this castle was no place for him, yet she’d kept

“What is it?” Kagome asked, frowning at the strangeness of the request. It wasn’t like the guard captain to barge in on her like this. An orderly man himself, he was unerringly respectful of her schedule. Knowing this, she couldn’t help but feel the beginnings of unease take root in her mind. “It would be

Kagome didn’t sleep much that night, nor the nights that followed. Insomnia was as bad as being drunk, she decided, as she caught herself nodding off once again. Koshirou’s promises to rally and resume his place in court remained merely that—words, and nothing more. While he enjoyed his early retirement, rising from bed to watch

From an overlook of weathered stone, Sesshoumaru gazed out, backlit by the embers of a dying sun. Red light seared along his pale armored form, burnished the needles of the fir tree beside him in points of glowing flame. Against this sweeping backdrop of blazing evergreen, he turned and fixed his gaze upon her. The

Holed up in Koshirou’s study, Kagome dined early and light. Apart from the occasional servant, her only company was the shamisen player Natsuko. Over her slender shoulder, the sleek, dark fall of her pinned hair streamed, more ornamented even than Kagome’s. Natsuko was very beautiful, and very vain. Of her talents most of all. Smoking

The only thing that gave Kagome any true sense of satisfaction was seeing Yahiko. When the maids were finished with her, she went directly to him. In one of the courtyards that served as a training ground, she found him sparring with his peers. He was a robust, healthy boy. As her adopted son, he

The lady of the castle finished her meal alone. Outside the main hall there was a vague clamor. With a wave, she bid for the doors to be opened, and the petitioners came streaming in. Sitting upon the dais, she repressed a weary sigh. As servants hastened to clear the trays away and bring her

“No,” Kagome shot back. “Why should I expect to be intruded upon at all?” Hirokin smiled. Leaving the window, he paused beside a lacquered table. Servants had already laid out Kagome’s dinner there, in anticipation of her return. Picking up one of the delicately-prepared morsels, Hirokin eyed it for a moment, before dropping it back