The Maid!

Chapter Thirteen

Inuyasha's Intrusion.... Sesshoumaru's Shock

Ash and Lulu reappear in her room. He holds her in his arms for one last embrace and kisses her passionately. "I wish you could go with me this day." He says as he breaks the kiss and gently stands her up. "I will see you again, don't worry it may be a few days but I will return." He grabs her chin to look her in eyes. "You do believe me." Lulu nods and gives him a warm smile. "Good, until then My Lulu." Ash smiles then disappears. Lulu gathers her things and heads off with a happy dance down the rickety steps to take a long hot well-deserved bath.

Sesshoumaru enters the castle with bags in hand the air is thick with the smell from her bath soaps he heads strait for her. Entering her bath area quietly asalwaalways does, she is relaxed to the point of being in a light slumber bright red pigtails protrude from her head. He throws her bags by the bath with a loud thud. Lulu almost jumps out of her skin plashing water at the intrusion in hopes it goes away, when she finally opens her eyes she is soaked and so is the not so happy Demon Lord in front of her. 'Shit! Why do you always sneak up on me' She gives a giggle after the fright of being woke up so rudely subsides.

"We are leaving again today, shortly so hurry with your preparations." Sesshoumaru stares at her with his icy gold eyes. Taking a step closer he extends his hand out toward her cheek and Lulu jumps back from him a little still looking him dead in his icy eyes. He gives a smirk pleased at her reaction. "So now you are scared of my touch."

'Your touch stings.' Lulu retorts.

"Stings? Yes that I like."

'Yeah well you would.'

"Yet no matter how my touch ss its it never seems to keep you quit." Sesshoumaru smiles with a nod and turns to leave.

'KILLER!' She cheers and he turns to look at her. 'Thanks for my stuff I thought this was gone forever.' She leans over out of the bath to dig through her bags her naked top half drips water all over the floor as she finally finds what she was digging for. 'Music once again.' She giggles and then looks up to notice Sesshoumaru watching her from the door. 'What?'

"It is amusing how happy you seem over the simplest things."

'Well..." she smiles as she puts her headphones on and sinks into the tub. 'Life is way to short spending it being upset all the time.' She giggles again. 'Even if I have to spend it with you.'

"You find living here humorous."

'NO! I find my situation with you a little humorous though, I mean if you think about it. Your always mad and unhappy so one of us as to be happy and I sure as hell don't think it will ever be you.' She waves her hand in the air and relaxes her head back. 'You really need to lighten up.'

"Lighten up?" Sesshoumaru tilts his head and walks back to hover over her. "What doest met mean?"

'Relax I didn't mean anything bad by it... see what I mean you really are tense."

Sesshoumaru growls and turns to leave once again. "Hurry or you will feel my sting once more." He commands as he disappears out the door.

'Sure.' Lulu clicks on the music and sinks lower. 'I'm right on that.'

Inuyasha growls as he paces back and forth. "What the hell is keeping them the sooner we get started the sooner we can get this over with."

"Relax Inuyasha I am sure they will be here soon. Besides think of this as a nice adventure I mean it is like a brake at least we aren't hunting demons for a change."

"Lord Inuyasha Lady Kagome, good morning to you."

"Ash." Kagome greets with a smile, Inuyasha gives a little grunt and head nod.

"I hope you don't mind Lord Inuyasha but I have invited myself along on this journey if it's not to much trouble."

"Wow, Ash I think that's great, how about Verokie will he join us as well." Kagome asks with an eager tone.

"What why would you ask that? Who cares if he comes or not." Inuyasha snaps with a tinge of jealousy.

Ash giggles as Kagome and Inuyasha start a staring contest. "No Verokie has something else to attend to, however I am sure we will meet up with him later." He looks up the path to see Miroku and the rest of them coming. "Well the whole party is here. Shall we start."

"Well I am ready I have been waiting forever." Inuyasha snorts.

"Well here you go." Ash hands them each a plan bag with a large think strap to go over their bodies.

"What the hell is this?"

"This Lord Inuyasha is previsions." Ash gives him a big warm smile. "And if you don't want to carry yours that is fine with me, but no whining when you don't have it when you need it. There is food a blanket and a heavy cape in each bag." Ash informs as he puts his over his head to hang across his body.

"Heavy cape?" Miroku digs in his bag.

"We are going to the Snow Caped Mountains" Ash laughs "Don't you think it would be wise to take something to keep you warm."

"Well you do have a point Master Ash." Miroku laughs as he tosses his bag over his head.

"Well I don't need it." Inuyasha huffs as he turns his back to everyone.

"As you wish Lord Inuyasha, however I am a demon too and I am not chancing it. So I suggest you do not either. Those mountains can get really mean." Ash turns to start his descend off Crystal Mountain. "They really don't like stuck up people such as yourself to begin with and if they think you are testing them they can get really mean." Ash laughs as Inuyasha gives one last grunt and grabs his bag to follow him.

"Hey why don't you just take us their with one of your crystals." Inuyasha asks as she jumps to catch up and walk beside Ash.

"Because I was told not to."

"Told by who?"

"Your Father."

"Oh so dear old Dad has this whole thing planed out down to every detail does he."

"Well he tried." Ash stops and turns to him "However I don't think that he planned on everything."

"What the hell does that mean."

"Inuyasha just come, you will get all your answers and maybe more then you bargain for." Ash pats him on the back. "So just try to enjoy the company of your friends while we endure this little adventure. I will not let anything happen to you or your friends. That is a promise."

"Well we don't need you for protection if that's why you are coming."

"I am coming because I want to. Not for any other reason."

Sesshoumaru stands outside in front of the castle to wait on Lulu, as she comes bouncing happily down the steps to stand a few feet behind him. She smiles looking up at the sky to see what he is staring so hard to see.

"Miss Lulu" comes Verokie voice from behind her; she jumps in fright and knocks right into Sesshoumaru knocking him a little off balance. Realizing its Verokie, she turns to face him with a giggle and smile. 'Man everyone likes to sneak up on me.' Verokie smiles and scratches his head. "I am sorry I did not mean to frighten you." Lulu just waves it off and s his him a big warm smile. "Did Lord Sesshoumaru not inform you that I would be joining you." Lulu shakes her head but gives him a thumb's up on the idea. Verokie tilts his head and gives her a thumb's up back. "Is that good" he smiles and she shakes her head. 'Very good' her mind spits, as she is getting all giddy and happy inside.

"Enough." Sesshoumaru growls as he heads off towards the forest. "Verokie you are not to make her happy you are to keep her at bay."

Verokie smiles and leans down to Lulu in a whisper "don't take it personal he don't like anyone being happy." Lulu gives a nod and smile. Verokie extends his arm to her. "Shall we." Lulu giggles and locks her arm in his and starts to march off behind Sesshoumaru.

"Grrrr, maybe I made a mistake in letting him come along. Now it seems I will have to endure to happy souls on this excursion."

"Would it please you more Lord Sesshoumaru if I smacked this human around to show her what she already knows." Verokie giggles as he gives Lulu a wink.

"And what is that?" Sesshoumaru snorts from his position about 10 feet ahead of them

"That I am stronger then her." Verokie gives a hardy laugh. "Or maybe you have already proved that fact to her and she knows her place, or MAYBE I should just strike her down and be done with her... Witch do you prefer Lord."

Sesshoumaru stops and turns to him with his icy stare. "Verokie do not test me as your brother tries because I may rid myself of you."

"Yes Lord." Verokie giggles as he gives a mocking bow. Sesshoumaru turns with a growl and continues on his way. Lulu stops and looks at Verokie with pleading eyes. "Oh don't look at me like that Miss Lulu I could never hurt you, no matter who would so order I only take my orders form one and he would kill me if I let anything happen to you." Verokie grabs her arm and locks it n win with his. "I think this will be fun." He leans down and whisper in her ear. "Just image how much we can annoy him together." Lulu giggles and strolls beside Verokie with her arm locked in his.

"Hey Ash, if you know so much let me ask you this. Why didn't my Father just hide it in the Cave of treasures why make a hunt of i
"
"Well Lord Inuyasha, what fun would it have been if it was in the first place you look. Besides I think your father has more of a lesson in this other then the secrets in his Diary."

"Lesson? Seems more like a scavenger hunt to me." Kagome spits as she jumps down trying to keepe wie with the rest of them.

"Well that was easy." Ash stands tall and takes in a deep breath as he waits at the foot of the mountain for the rest of the group.

"Easy for a Demon but I am tired and hungry." Kagome says as she rests on a rock after being the last to arrive.

"Stop complaining will ya." Inuyasha snorts as he grabs her and throws her on his back "We just started we don't have time to rest now
"W
"Well Ash since you know everything, which way now."

"Well Inuyasha I say we go this way." Ash smiles ly aly as he points dir direction.

"My... my Ash dropping the Lord bit finally." Inuyasha huffs as he starts walking in the direction Ash pointed.

"Would you prefer I call you Lord Inuyasha." Ash giggles as he steps in behind Inuyasha on the trail.

"I don't care what you call me."

Lulu and Verokie trail behind Sesshoumaru they seem to fall further and further back as his pace quickens up. "I don't think he likes are company Miss Lulu." Verokie jokes, Lulu nods her head in agreement then she reaches in the one bag she brought this time to pull out her Walkman. "What is that." Verokie asks with a curious face. Lulu shrugs and puts the headphones on his ears turning it down in hopes she doesn't get the same reaction from him that she got from Ash and Sesshoumaru, clicking it on she smiles warmly at Verokie who looks at her in wonderment as the music starts to play in his ears. "Unusual" Verokie says loudly considering the noise in his head. "I like it." He nods his head trying to catch the beat. "Witchy women..." he says with a smile. Lulu nods her head and grabs his hips to move him to the beat and they both start dancing as they loose even more ground between them and Sesshoumaru. "Are you the witchy women?" he asks and Lulu giggles shaking her head 'no'. As they dance and play Sesshoumaru cringes at the joy surging through his bones as if she wasn't happy enough on her own he himself added a playmate for her. "Oh it stopped." Verokie looked at her worried as if he had done something wrong. Lulu just shook her head and pressed a button and it started again. Verokie laughed as he repeated the words he heard it say. "The Demons squeal in sheer delight it is you they spy so plump so right." Verokie laughs at the words as he looks at Miss Lulu she nods and starts her steps again to follow behind Sesshoumaru. "Miss Lulu I really like this." Verokie giggles like a schoolboy as he scurries up behind her.
H!" H!" Ash gives a giggle and stepsbehibehind a tree to hide.

"What is it?" Inuyasha asks as he sniffs the air. "Sesshoumaru" He turns and puts Kagome down. "What... are you hiding" Inuyasha growls at Ash.

"This is not my fight." Ash smiles warmly and waves at him.

Miroku being at the end of the line turns and opens his wind tunnel as Sesshoumaru comes into view. "I will end this once and for all." He says as his tunnel picks up everything around him. Sesshoumaru stands feet planted as his hair wipes around his face from the wind tunnel. Lulu and Verokie start to catch up but the wind stops her in her tracks as she looks at Verokie who pulls the head set of his ears. Then suddenly Lulu is picked up and pulled in the direction of the wind tunnel her glasses come off and are quickly sucked into the tunnel. Sesshoumaru extends an arm and catches her as her body sways limply over his arm.

"Do you want to harm her." He asks with his icy stare. "Then her she is." Sesshoumaru drops his arm and Lulu takes off flying towards Miroku.

Miroku's eyes shoot wide as he hurries to cover the wind tunnel, catching Lulu in his arms as they both hit the ground hard. "Are you alright." He asks scared to touch her as she raises her head up to look at him.

'Hello handsome.' She giggles as she moves her hands to grab his wrists. 'Sorry about this that Ass as such a way with kindness'

"Are you talking to me?" Miroku looks at her with wide eyes. "But your lips aren't moving?"

'You can hear me.' She asks still stretched out on top of his form as Sango looks over at him with a jealous stare. 'She tightens her grip on his wrists 'Can you hear me?' she asks almost screaming in her head.

"Yes." Miroku answers with a low tone as he shakes his head.

"Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru says with a sneering tone. "What do you want?"

"What do I want, I was going this way first Sesshoumaru it seems you are looking for me yet again."

"Don't pride yourself on being that important in my life Little Brother. I am on a mission and you are blocking my path."

Inuyasha giggles and gives him a simper smile. "Your path seems to be my path this day Big Brother."

"Spit it out Inuyasha, what are you trying to say."

"It seems we are heading in the same direction. How does that make you feel Sesshoumaru to know that I know what your after."

"WHAT!" Sesshoumaru snaps "And how would you know what I am after." Sesshoumaru laughs an evil laugh as a grin perches on his face. "I see your Eldest Sibling as involved you in this game also."

"What are you barking about?"

"Oh I see he failed to inform you of just who he is." Sesshoumaru starts to walk towards Lulu and Miroku. "Maybe that is all in the fun of leading us around like buffoons." He reaches down and starts to peel Lulu of Miroku by her hair. She grabs tight to Miroku as her body starts to lift from his grabbing onto his beads they break and she pulls them closer to her as she is not so nicely lifted in the air. Miroku quickly grabs for them but stops as he recalls Ash's words digging he finds the beads Ash had given him and wraps them quickly around his wind tunnel. 'Thank you' Lulu smiles as she dangles by her hair in the air gripping his beads closer to her.

"Your Welcome." Miroku smiles as he moves to stand. Sesshoumaru moves his gaze from Inuyasha to Miroku.

"You can hear her." Sesshoumaru asks as he sets her down. Lulu backs up shaking her head in a 'no' motion.

"She has said not a word I telltelling you your welcome for catching her." Miroku smiles and gives Lulu a wink and she lets out the deep breath she was holding.

"I did not thank you."

"No... I never expect you will." Miroku ss ats at him.

"Don't pay attention to the Monk Sesshoumaru your attention needs to focus on me. I want to know what you're talking about."

Verokie steps out and comes up behind Lulu. "Miss Lulu are you alright, I am sorry I had no idea what had happened." She turns to look at him throws her arms around him and gives a reassuring nod.

"Verokie?" Inuyasha says with a questioning tone. "Why are you traveling with him."

"I am traveling with Miss Lulu." Verokie smiles as he scratches his head. "Who just happens to be traveling with Lord Sesshoumaru."

Suddenly Ash reaches out and pulls Kagome behind the tree with him Inuyasha turns to look at her as he hears something wiz swiftly past his ear. "What the Hell was that."

"Stay." Ash says sternly as he steps out from behind the tree. Bending down he picks up a needle. "Verokie take Miss Lulu to cover." Verokie nods and grabs her and takes off running for cover but suddenly her body goes limp and hits the ground. He scoops her up and carries her behind a rock not far off from Kagome. "Miroku get Sango to safety." He commands as he stands tall sniffing the air as his eyes pan back and forth looking for signs of the intruder. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha both stop in their steps as they too try to find the intruder. "Sess..." Ash starts but Sesshoumaru moves swiftly then looks back to pick a needle out of the tree he was standing in front of.

Kagome looks over at Verokie and Lulu and starts to dart towards them. "Don't move." Ash warns as he puts a hand up to stop her. "Verokie, Miss Lulu?" he asks without waving his eyes from panning the area. Verokie looks her over and pulls a needle from the side of her neck.

"She was hit." Verokie sniffs the end of the needle "it has been tipped with poison."

"I see." I voice fills the air so none can pin point where it comes from. "I got one of your precious pets."

Ash steps back behind the tree. "I am going to take you to Lulu I need you to sit with her I need Verokie's help with this foe." Kagome nods as her and Ash disappear to reappear behind the rock where Lulu and Verokie sit.

"Ash she won't last long if I don't get the poison out."

"How can I get it out." Kagome asks with a worried tone.

"Take this and cut a slit where the wound is and place this powder over the wound." Verokie hands her a small knife and a pouch.

"I will do my best." Kagome forces a reassuring smile.

"Lady Kagome, I have faith in you." Ash smiles as he touches her hand gently. "Miss Lulu couldn't be in better hands. Now Verokie are you ready." Verokie nods and they disappear. Ash reappears to stand by Inuyasha as Verokie appears beside Sesshoumaru.

"Could this BE any better." The voice cackles from above flowing through the air with a squeal to make all of them cringe at the pain in their ears. "I get to take down all three of The Great Demon Lord's Sons in one swell swoop."

"Lulu?" Sesshoumaru asks.

"Why Lord Sesshoumaru are you concerned." Verokie giggles as he stands in defense mode seeking the intruder.

"This is not time for games Verokie." Suddenly he reaches out and catches a needle before it hits him, sniffing the end. "Poison. Is this what she got hit with?"

"Yes." Verokie barley gets out before dodging another needle. "Damn they are almost invisible in their flight."

"What the hell are you babbling you cretin, I am his son yes so if you want me come on out and fight me. I will take you on alone. You chicken shit!!!" Inuyasha spits. "The other son is not worth it." He smirks over towards Sesshoumaru. "But you are mistaken if you think he had three sons."

"So the youngest Pup does not know. How funny!" The voice squeals, "Does the middle son know or was he also left in the dark. I wonder."

"I am done with this game." Sesshoumaru announces as he pounces in the air to land in a tree. "Spread out we are more of a target standing together."

"I have know idea Sango what is going on however I think we are safer here there are four strong demons defending us I think we should let them." Miroku smiles as he pulls Sango down out of view so the intruder will not strike her with a needle.

"Lulu?" Kogame looks down at her with a smile as she stirs and opens her eyes. "You need to sit still you were hit with a poison tipped needled and Verokie gave me this to put on you." She shows Lulu the pouch "I also wrapped your neck with a piece of Ash's shirt he ripped off and gave me." Lulu smiles as she reaches up and touchee wre wrap around her neck.

"ENOUGH" Ash says as he lifts his hands and Crystals fly from his fingertips, flying through the air to surround them all in a mist. "You have know idea creature who you are messing with." The crystals start to glow in a black mist around the intruder they are looking for. Inuyasha takes that cue to jump up and hack at it with the Tetsusaiga.

"What?" Inuyasha questions, "There is nothing there."

Another cackle squeals from the air once again, then a women lands in front of Verokie and pokes him dead aim in the forehead with a needle. He freezes in his spot unable to move. "Correction" she giggles "I know full well who I am dealing with Crystal Master." She pushes Verokie and he falls flat on his back "It is you who does not know who your dealing with." She turns to Ash and his mouth drops open.

Lulu sits up to see over the rock and sees Verokie lying on the ground. 'NO!' She pulls herself up to stand with great effort and Kagome grabs her wrist. "No Lulu don't go out there." Lulu pulls from Kagome's grip and staggers toward Verokie. 'Verokie' she cries in her head as tears roll down her cheeks.

"Shit! That voice" Miroku looks out from his hiding spot. "She is going to Verokie in the middle of this. Does she not understand."

"Who, what are you saying." Sango asks.

Ash spots Lulu and tries not to make it obvious but she turns to see Lulu stumbling over towards her latest victim. "I think not little girl." She says as she hurls a needle towards her. Lulu falls to the ground once again.

"Canace I thought we were your intended targets why do you pick on the others." Ash says with a calm voice as all his worries truly focus on Verokie and Lulu.

"That is true my Love." Canace smiles at Ash as she throws a needle his way. Ash quickly dodges her needle. "However I am sure that if I take down all those around you it will spark that fire I so love to see in you." She gives him a sexy smile and bats her eyes at him.

'Ouch' Lulu spits as she begins to stir again crawling this time because she is much closer to Verokie.

"She is moving but how I thought she got hit." Miroku says not to any one particular just thinking aloud.

Ash gives a small sigh of relief that the others cannot see as he tries to keep her attentions focused on him. "Canace what is you want."

Canace takes a couple steps forward towards Ash and away from Verokie and Lulu. "I want what your Father stole from my Father, but you already know this don't you Ash."

"Your Father lost that far, he made the bet that couldn't be won that was his own mistake. Why do you still blame my Father when you know the truth Canace." Inuyasha stands with a stunned look on his face.

Lulu crawls and reaches Verokie who looks at her with his deep blue eyes. He cannot move any other muscle in his body. Lulu reaches up and pulls the needle from his head and his body starts to relax from its tense trance. "Miss Lulu" He wraps around her and disappears quickly.

"What?" Canace turns to see them gone. "But I got her how could she move that was two poison tipped needles in a matter of minutes she is a mere human girl."

"You may have quick needles." Sesshoumaru laughs at her from his perch in the tree. "But your eyes are slow. She fell to the ground before your needle flew over her."

"What? Do you mock me. The middle son of the dead Demon Lord you may now have the title of the great Demon Lord of the West but we both know who stands before you."

"Alright enough of this" Inuyasha steps forward "What is all this babbling about him being a middle child. How do you know who he is or anything about me for that matter."

"Ahh yes..." Canace smiles as she approaches Inuyasha. "The little Pup that his eldest brother as tried so hard over the years to watch and take care of without him knowing. And why is a question I always wondered, why not just tell you."

"Tell me what?" Inuyasha asks as she comes closer her long black hair flying free with the wind, her gray eyes piece through him as she circles him.

"Enough Canace we will not play this game with you." Ash says as he lifts his hand and throws crystals at her. Canace jumps to stand by Sesshoumaru in the tree who quickly moves to strike her with his poison claws. Canace again jumps to land behind Kagome. Kagome jumps and runs to Inuyasha.

"So you take after your father and have fallen for a human little pup." Canace giggles. "Well I will tell you what your brothers wont before I kill you all. Ash is your brother as well. He was foolish enough to confide in me one night during passion." She bats her eyes at Ash again. "He believed me when I told him I loved him." She puts out her bottom lip in a pout. "But I was just using him to get to what I need. Unfortunately for me it was the wrong brother I was seducing I should have been seducing you or Sesshoumaru since it seems the Diary was left to you two."

"What?" Sesshoumaru asks from above. "How would you know of the Diary."

"That your faithful brother also confided in me. Amazing how a women can get so many answers out of a man doing a few nights of heated passion." Canace laughs looking straight into Ash's eyes. "I am tired now of this little question and answer game so I will finish you all off but one... after all I do need help in locating it ...any volunteers."


A/N... O.K. I must end there... I know it is not a good place to end but this Chap is flowing good (I hope) and is up to 5,000 words so I thought I better save some for the next chap...