I See You [Sesshomaru]

Chapter 42

        "Welcome!" Lord Orochi greeted. "Welcome to my estate, Queen of the North." He gave a bow in greeting, Akiko returning the gesture gracefully when Tobi nudged her side discreetly before the two stood again to full height. "I am honored to have you in my home along with your companions."

        "The pleasure is mine," the young woman answered. "Thank you for meeting with me."

        "I've heard of the great things you have done since Lord Sesshomaru's gathering. Since Naraku made his appearance and you vanished."

        "It was rather unfortunate the gathering had to be cut short because of his interruption. I left swiftly to draw him and his demons away from the Western Lands once we realized what his target was," Akiko stated.

        "If you knew you were a target I'm curious as to why you would chance meeting with the lords and ladies of the land when there was a possibility he would attack. Someone who was not very understanding might think you meant to purposely put us in danger."

        "While that was not my intention to place anyone present in harms way, I wasn't aware that he would be so bold to attack out in the open and in the presence of so many powerful demons. In the past he has cowardly tried to attack me from behind or when the pack is thinned out for various reasons."

        He hummed in thought at that. "Naraku seems to have a great interest in you. For being a mortal that is."

        "An unfortunate situation that I am currently handling."

        "Really now?"

        Akiko nodded. "He's occupying my land. I'm trying to be rid of him."

        "You could just relocate," he stated rather casually. "Clans do so after a few centuries when they are pushed out due to stronger powers. Save yourself the trouble."

        Akiko cocked a brow at that. "If I didn't know any better, Lord Orochi, I would think you were trying to advise me not to reclaim what is mine."

        "Merely trying to speed up the process. The faster you're in power the better, is it not?"

        "Maybe better for me, but not for those still suffering in the north."

        "You and your pack could easily occupy the land running parallel with mine. One could even say it's almost as vast as the north, and it is more fertile than the mountainous terrains. It could be yours in an instant."

        "By taking it from the multiple Fox Clans in place."

        A smirk twitched at his lips. "You know your territories." Akiko didn't garner an answer for him, but she did take slight offense to the comment and knew it didn't sit well with the pack either. The jab was directed towards her possible ignorance of knowing the territories that surrounded them and was a method to see if she was incompetent to take the throne. "They have become a weak Clan in general. Which is a pity, because they were once great. Overpowering them would be easy."

        "And what if I don't wish to run them out, but to ally with them in time?"

        His brow cocked again at that. "With the Fox Clan? They wouldn't have much to offer you."

        "I don't need them too. An alliance doesn't always have to be a gain in strength or power for both parties."

        "So you would ally with someone that would have nothing to give?"

        "What they can't give now they could return tenfold in time. If given the right support from a stronger ally."

        "Interesting. Aren't you ever concerned that the once weak would become stronger than you and eventually overthrow your reign?"