"…I can't do this…"

Sessho-maru paused in his ascent, turning to gaze at his mate-to-be who was presently collapsed several steps behind him.

"Is something the matter, koi?"

"I can't do this! There's no way…just no way…" Fawks shook her head. Sessho-maru knelt at her side.

"I thought you said you wanted to be with me…"

"I do! Look I love you but…there's no way I could ever meet your mother! What if she doesn't like me? What if she forbids you from marrying me?" she went on working herself into a panic.

"Calm down, Fawks-chan" Sessho-maru sighed.

"How can I possibly calm down?!"

"What she thinks about you or my choice in mating you is of no consequence. This is a formality and nothing more, nothing will deter my decision" he proclaimed, taking her hand. Fawks gave him a look but sighed in defeat.

"…Alright, let's get this over with…"

Fawks fidgeted under the gaze of the female Inu youkai.

"So, is this your little spit-fire, Sessho-maru?" the female asked.

"I plan to take Fawks-chan as my mate" he replied. Fawks bowed respectively, "My lady"

"Hm…How demure she appears…but your cousin has already told me what a little wildcat she is in bed…" the woman said with a smirk.

"…E…excuse me?!" Fawks began, her voice shrill.

"Worry not, my dear, it is good news. It means I can expect many grandchildren from you" she smiled. Fawks blushed again, glaring at her shoes. The female's hand caught her chin, tilting her head back to gaze into her face.

"…She certainly is lovely enough…and quite powerful, too" she muttered. "Tell me, child, why should I give you my blessing?"

"Eh?"

"Sessho-maru is my only son, after all. He is quite handsome not to mention wealthy and powerful. I trusted his father's decision to set him up with another noble because I knew she wouldn't be after him for his status. How can I be so sure of you?"

"…Excuse me…?" Fawks began. The woman released her, turning to once again seat herself on her throne.

"Many females desire my son, human and demon alike. Most of the females he has encountered were only interested in his power or good looks, how can I be sure that you're any different?"

"…Mother" Sessho-maru gave warning growl.

"And why not, Sessho-maru? Should I not be wary of the female you choose for a mate? Especially a girl of poor background with little to no experience on how to run a household let alone an empire. A girl who up until a few months ago was human?" Sessho-maru's mother raised an elegant eyebrow.

Sessho-maru was seething, his eyes pulsing red.

"It's okay, Sessho-maru…" Fawks began, placing a hand on his shoulder. He glanced at her.

"I understand what you're saying, my lady. If it were my son, I'd be suspicious, too. I don't know how to make you believe me so I'm just going to tell you the truth…"

She glared at the other female, her emerald eyes burning with determination, "I love Sessho-maru with all my heart and soul!"

"…Fawks-chan…"

"…I knew I was a burden to him…I knew my feelings were just getting in the way but I couldn't help it. I wanted to be with him not matter what, even when I tried to distance myself from him, my heart couldn't forget him…" Fawks blushed, clutching her chest. The female Inu studied her.

"…That's…how I honestly and truly feel. I never cared about his looks or his power or anything like that. You can ask him, I fought against these feelings tooth and nail…"

Sessho-maru smirked.

"…I know it sounds cruel but…I'm really happy he chose me over Sachiko. And if this reluctance is about me not being from a noble family, then you can kiss my ass because I guarantee you won't find a noble who loves Sessho-maru half as much as I do"

"Hmm…well put, it seems this girl as truly lost herself over you, Sessho-maru" the woman smirked.

"The feeling is mutual…" He smiled gazing at his future mate. Fawks smiled back.

"Well that's that, I suppose. You two should hurry and chose a date for the wedding. I want a grandchild as soon as possible!" she announced.

"Yes, mother…" Sessho-maru muttered leaning down to catch Fawks' lips in a heated kiss. She sighed in contentment, throwing her arms around his neck.

Sessho-maru's mother shook her head, "Sessho-maru…since when have you become such a love sick pup?"