Someone jumping on her bed awaked Akiko the next morning and there could only be one culprit behind it. "Rin, what is it?" she questioned groggily.

"Two servants are here to fit you into an outfit," the child grinned.

"Huh?"

"For Lord Sesshomaru's ball! You're so lucky you can go." The young woman could hear the pout in her voice and how much she wished to join.

No, Akiko didn't believe she was lucky at all as she stood in the middle of the room in nothing but her undergarments as the maids moved about. Taking her measurements they flipped through a few kimonos before narrowing it down to three. It was rather amusing to hear the girl talk about each one trying to describe them for her, and out right rejected one option because the color didn't look good on her. "Pretty..." Rin mused when a woman had managed to find another from the assortment. "It looks like the snow in winter."

It felt elegant, touching the fabric beneath her fingertips. The obi accented the curves of her hips, the front showing just enough cleavage, falling just past the wrists and below the ankle. As she marveled over the outfit a servant began to pull at the hair trying to determine a style for the event.

"I can't wear this," Akiko finally spoke up.

"Lord Sesshomaru said that if you do not accept he will not approve," a servant stated. Which meant there would be hell to pay later.

"Please," the other spoke up. "Do as the lord asks."

Akiko sighed, "Fine..."

When the fitting was over Rin and Akiko were left alone. She once more wore something provided by the child from the wardrobe, brushing her hair once dressed. "Rin?"

"Yes?"

"How would you describe Sesshomaru?"

The child thought it over glancing up and causing the brush to stop. "He can be emotionless and stern. Lord Sesshomaru is very strong and has defeated all of his enemies that stand in his way. But he can be kind."

The admiration for the demon was clear to hear in her tone of voice. "What does he look like?"

"You haven't felt his face?"

Akiko laughed softly. "We're not exactly... friendly with each other."

The girl hummed in thought. "Lord Sesshomaru has amber eyes, two magenta stripes on each cheek and a crescent marking on his forehead. He has long hair and it's white. The kimono is white and wears a fur around one shoulder with a yellow and blue sash. And he wears armor." The image built her in mind, but knew it wasn't completely accurate, though at least it was something. "Lord Sesshomaru also carries around his two swords. One can even bring someone back from the dead."

That rather surprised the young woman. "Bring back... the dead?"

"That's right! But it can only happen once to a person. That's how we met." Akiko listened to Rin's stories of their many travels. She admired this child for being so fearless to follow two demons through the wilderness and be faced with many enemies. And it was all very intriguing.

The day drew on, but not slow enough as evening set in and Akiko was left alone in her room to sit and wait for the gathering. She still couldn't understand as to why the demon wished for her to accompany him. He hated her and she didn't know what to make of him. How he treated a person could vary and the demon's moods could be very unpredictable.

There was a howl in the distance, coming through the open balcony. The young woman sighed at the beautiful sound, getting comfortable in her bed before closing her eyes. But she wasn't alone for long as something entered through the open window, padding softly across the floor. Her body tensed before it began sniffing her face, licking a cheek and causing her eyes to snap open. "Tobi..." she whispered.

The dog whined as she sat up, pulling him fully onto the bed and engulfing him in a tight hug. "I've missed you..." her breath shook. "I've missed you so much." She struggled to hold back tears as the animal nuzzled her excitedly, happy that he had found her. "Where's Kagome?"

"She is not here," came a low voice. It was a woman, but her heart beat wildly in surprise having not heard a person enter.

"Who...?"

"I am an ally of your companion, Tobi." Another snout pressed against a hand, the young woman's hand twitching and then reaching out to feel fur.

"You're... not human..." she spoke in surprise.

"I am the white wolf of the north, a soul stuck in a wolf demon form. I once was the Ice Queen."

"Queen...?" A thought came to her. "The blade was yours."

"Yes, when my Empire fell I was transformed into a wolf demon to wander the earth by Sesshomaru's father."

"Why were you fighting?"

"His grandfather wished to take my land and I refused to allow it at the price of his life."

"Oh..."

"Akiko, like your cousin, you are a reincarnation. You are destined to become the Ice Queen of the North."

Her breath caught in her throat taking a moment to answer. Akiko had been unaware of this side of the story and became increasingly nervous. If Sesshomaru's grandfather and father were apart of the clash long ago, maybe he was growing suspicious of her due to the sword. Was he as power hungry as his ancestors and this was the reason he brought her here? "Is that why I'm the only one who can use the weapon?"

"Yes. You are its new master. Anyone else who touches it will either have it vanish or be nothing more than a useless weapon with no powers."

"Why me?"

"I have long ago lost my powers and the ability to assume a human form. But do not be afraid. I understand that this is a lot to take in. I would have liked for you to stay removed from this world for a bit longer. But there is no turning back now. I will be there to guide you, lead you, should you choose this path."

That instantly interested the young woman. "I have a choice."

"Yes, but Akiko, I cannot stress how imperative it is for someone to take back the throne. The north is leaderless, weak. The consequence of the east and west taking the land left it vulnerable. Those in power are only stewards, and there are more sinister plans at work that will only destroy them. And once the darkness takes root it will continue to spread to other lands consuming it completely."

"I don't have any powers. I'm only a human."

"As I've said, you arrived in this era too early. Your powers have yet to awake. And due to the circumstances there is a window for that to change. Tomorrow night under the full moon during the solstice is your window to make a choice."

"If I was still in my world... would it have still happened?"

"No, because you were not in the proper environment."

Akiko sighed. "You mean that if I never brought the medical kit to Kagome this would have never happened?"

"Yes... and no... In years time we would have come in search of you. This was not how we planned our first meeting."

"How did you find me? Or even know of me?"

"Tobi is my Beta. At one time he was a general in my armies. He was sent to your world to find and look after you to ensure your safety."

"And if I refuse... to gain my powers? Are Tobi and I destined to part?" Akiko wasn't sure she'd be able to handle a second loss after such a short amount of time.

"He will stay by your side whatever your choice may be, not to worry. He did not befriend you only for this reason. The two of you share a very special bond with one another. He could never part from you." The young woman's hand absently stroked Tobi's head. But there was something that worried her and the white wolf could see it. "What's wrong?"

"I was just wondering as to why Sesshomaru hasn't come barging in. He'll catch your scent."

"No. We can mask it as if we don't even exist. You will be able to as well, should you choose to accept a certain path."

"Will I become a demon?"

"Not quite. There may be a few physical features that could change and your abilities will mirror that, however you will not be a demon or a half-demon. You will still be you."

Another question came to mind. "How would I escape? Whether if I choose to accept these powers or not I don't want to stay here."

"And you won't. The reason your cousin and her friends have not come marching to Sesshomaru's doorstep is because I told them not to. The gathering will be the only way you can escape with the lord paying attention to his guests."

But there was a flaw to this plan. "He has me escorting him."

The wolf was silent as Tobi gave a quiet growl. "That... complicates things." She had no idea. "Did you refuse?"

"You honestly think he would take orders from a human?"

No, that was a foolish question for her to ask, pacing, trying to come up with a solution. "You will need to distance yourself then at some point. There are tapestries in the halls near the ballroom. Tobi will hide behind one since you will not be locked away in your room like we had hoped. Only you will know when the right time will come for you to run."

"Which tapestry?"

"The one with the western hills sewn into it." She knew exactly what they were talking about, having remembered Rin describe it during a tour of the household. "It is the closest."

"How do you know it's there?"

"You don't honestly believe that while the lord is away traveling the lands that his servants and guard are competent to stop the wolves from entering. We know everything about this household."

"Why do you come here often if he's an enemy?"

"Though Sesshomaru had no part in the battle against my lands and he cares little for it like his grandfather and father it is wise to know your enemies. Besides, the knowledge he gathers on his journeys keeps us informed of other matters that concern us."

"What is your name?"

"Aisu. I am known as that now. We will hide in the forest and wait for your decision. I will let down my shield so Inuyasha can sniff us out. Tobi." The animal's head picked up from Akiko's lap. "Stay out of sight."

Licking the young woman's cheek once more he slipped silently from the room. "Is he still a dog then?" the young woman asked. "Or a wolf?"

"His powers were sealed when passing through the well, but his true strength will come forth if you assume your title."

"Again I ask, and if I don't?"

"In human form he was a half-breed, human father and a demon mother. It only makes sense he is a mix breed between a dog and wolf demon in this life and will always be powerful as one like he is now, even in a smaller form." Akiko nodded in understanding. "There is one more thing. If you go through with this, you must be in the light of the moon to acquire your powers. If you are not... then there will be no successor. The Empire will become nothing more than a memory."

"I... I will think about it..."

"Tomorrow night then. Should you not accept your power, Akiko, know that I will not be disappointed in you. I had hoped to wait for the proper moment, when your life in the future was sorted out and you could think properly knowing that your life there had been fulfilled and the matters here had been handled as well. But this was not your fault. If you wish to return home I will honor your decision."

And Aisu disappeared out the balcony.