Tender Love

'inner thoughts'


Chapter 7

The next morning Inuyasha awakened to another beautiful sunny day. Remembering the fight she had with Sesshomaru, her anger rose in her. She could not believe he would think she would lower herself to become the whore of that filthy pirate. She took several deep calming breathes and decided she would try not to fight with him today. 'Besides, I’m quite sure he has had the time to think about the awful things he has said to me and is downstairs waiting to apologize.' She smiled brightly and went to the hot spring to bathe.

After her relaxing bath, Inuyasha dressed herself in a blue silk robe with a round-collar and clasped on the right side. There was a border along the bottom of the robe. She slipped her feet into a pair of black leather shoes. Putting her hair in a braid, she tossed the heavy silver braid over her shoulder to hang down her back. Staring at herself in the mirror, Inuyasha decided she was more than ready to face her mate and graciously accept his apology.

She made her way downstairs and into the dining room almost with eagerness. Truth be told she was eager at the thought of seeing and being close to her new mate. ‘What could be coming over me?’ she questioned herself with a shy smile. ‘I have never felt so excited at the thought of seeing a man.'

The dining room was empty to her surprise, though, she could hear voices and noises through a door and entered a room that was obviously the kitchen.

Mina was standing in front of a large stove, stirring a number of pots and fussing at the two demon girls cutting vegetables at a long wooden table. Upon seeing Inuyasha, Mina spoke in a surprised voice. "Why, princess, what are you doing in this hot kitchen?"

Inuyasha gave the friendly old demoness a smile and lean against the wall next to the door. "I came down to breakfast, but no one seems to be around."

Mina nodded. "Everyone has eaten. Lord Sesshomaru left early this morning," said the demoness hanging her head sadly. She had overheard the arguing coming from the dining room last night as she was taking the plates from Sya's room back to the kitchen. She hated the thought of her lord saying such terrible things to her new sweet, little, innocent princess.

"Where did he run off to?" the words popped out of Inuyasha's mouth before she could stop them.

Mina's heart went out to the new lady of the west, she knew her lord sometimes let his temper get the best of him. She walked over and patted Inuyasha on the arm. "Now don't you fret about my lord. He is as stubborn as a mule sometimes, just like his father. But both Lord Sesshomaru and his father have a heart of gold for those they care about."

Inuyasha stared at her feet as she had her hands clasped tightly behind her back.

Mina hated to see this sweet young woman feeling so badly, but she knew she had to give her princess the message as her lord had ordered. Sometimes mina wished she could take the arrogant young demon, place him over her knee and paddle his backside. This she knew was wishful thinking and now she had to tell her lady. "Well," she said shuffling her feet and lowering her eyes, "the lord, he said to tell you that he will be going to go patrol the southern border of his lands and he would be back in a couple days."

"Oh," Inuyasha said, feeling a great let down, but not knowing why in the world she should feel this way. Inuyasha regained her composure and gave Mina a small smile. "Thank you for telling me, mina." She was not about to let anyone see how much Sesshomaru Aoki affected her. "Has Sya been down to breakfast yet?" she asked trying to change the subject.

Mina gave Inuyasha a large toothy grin, relieved that her lady was not too distressed. "Yes, she's been down and gone," snorted the fox demoness going back to the stove to continue her cooking.

"Really? Where has she gone? Did she say?" Inuyasha was surprised. She didn't think the lazy bitch would ever get her ass up and go out.

"Two of Lord Sesshomaru's personal guards had took her back to Nagasaki to shop."

"I see," said Inuyasha walking over to the table where the two young rabbit demons were cutting the vegetables. She reached over a picked up two pieces of carrots. "Well, at least you and the others won't have her to be worrying about for a while." Inuyasha ate the carrots and smile brightly at the three female demons. Mina smiled and winked at her new lady while the two young girls giggled behind their hands.

"Would you care for your breakfast now, princess?" Mina held up a tray of food.

"Yeah, I’m starving," said Inuyasha sitting down at the table where the servants eat.

"I was going . . ."

But before Mina could finish her sentence, Inuyasha stopped her. "I’m the only one here. So, there's no need in going into the other room to eat when I can eat it here."

"But princess . . ."

"There is nothing wrong with the kitchen. Now." Inuyasha slapped her hand against the table. Mina sighed and placed the tray before her princess.

Inuyasha ate her breakfast at the long wooden table where the two girls were cutting vegetables. And every once in a while they would take turns glancing in wide eyed wonder at their new lady of the west.

Inuyasha almost shouted at Mina to sit down. The demoness was moving at great speed getting her cooking ready for lunch. As Inuyasha ate her food and in between bits she would question the elderly demoness about the western lands and about Sesshomaru. The latter, Inuyasha was really more interested in, but only asked a few questions about the demon, so Mina would not know how much she was interested in learning more about her mate.

Mina gave Inuyasha a knowing smile, went into a long history of the Aoki family, one which she never tired of telling to anyone who wished to hear. She started from when she had first came to the palace of the west.

Inuyasha was spellbound, listening to the demoness as she told of Sakura Aoki’s death at the birth of her only son and how she, Mina, had practically raised Sesshomaru singlehandedly. Then, at the end of her story, she did add reluctantly that Sesshomaru's father did take a hand in the matter now and then. She also added that because of said father, her sweet gently Sesshy was the hot-tempered lord of the icy wasteland everyone claimed him to be.

Inuyasha had to smile at the old demoness as she sat and listened to her trying to take all the praise for Sesshomaru being the powerful, intelligent and gentle demon he was today. She could not imagine the old woman being any more proud of Sesshomaru if he had been truly her own son.

"Whatever you do princess, when you have children, do not let their father raise them. You are just asking for trouble," said mina winking devilishly at the dog demoness. Inuyasha had turned bright red at the elder demoness' words.

Once breakfast was over, Mina led Inuyasha through every room in the castle talking all the while, pointing to almost every piece of furniture and explaining where it had come from and who had purchased it.

Inuyasha found she had never met a woman quite like Mina. She seemed to know everything there was to know about this castle, the family and all the servants that worked and resided there.

It was late in the afternoon when Mina led a tired Inuyasha to the front sitting room, thus completing the tour.

Inuyasha was exhausted. Although she enjoyed jumping from tree to tree as a form of exercise, she found her legs were aching and her whole body seemed weary to the bone. "I am so tired. I think I’ll wait until later to check out the gardens. Right now, all I want is a nice hot bath and my soft bed."

Mina gave her a sympathetic smile. "You'll feel fine tomorrow, you just go on up to your room and I’ll have your dinner brought up to you."

"Thank you, Mina," said Inuyasha slowly going up the stairs, "for showing me around today.”

"No need to thank me. You just go to your room and rest a bit before dinner." Mina smiled feeling a close bond being formed between her and her new princess.

xxxxx

The next day Inuyasha awoke late in the morning. She bathed and dressed herself, and hurried down to the kitchen hoping to have breakfast with Mina and talk to her about her plans while in Japan. Again there was no one there. Inuyasha sighed in disgust and flung her arms in the air. ‘I give up,’ she thought angrily. She had totally given up the idea of having a serious discussion with Sya since the other girl seems to go out of her way to avoid her.

Upon arriving, Mina had a plate of food on the table waiting for Inuyasha. The young princess said her good mornings to everyone and sat down to eat. Afterwards she helped mina to clean the dishes. The old demoness nearly fainted when the princess began to wash the dirty plates.

"My lady, this is not a thing for you to be doing," said the old demoness staring at her in shock. "Lord Sesshomaru would surely beat me if he were to find you in here cleaning dishes."

"Well, if Lord Sesshomaru didn't want me in the kitchen, then Lord Sesshomaru should not have run off like an idiot and left me here alone," Inuyasha said with a brittle smile on her face. "Now," she exhaled and smiled brightly at Mina, "What else can I help you with?"

Mina winced at how much venom was in her princess’ voice when she said Lord Sesshomaru’s name. "Everything else has been taken care of. So, why don't you take a walk in the garden."

"Maybe I will." She turned and walked out of the kitchen.

This was the routine Inuyasha did for the next six days. She would get up, eat breakfast and roam around the palace. Sya would be locked in either her room or she would have left to go . . . 'Wait, where did Sya run off to?’ Well, Inuyasha didn't care as long as the other did not actively get on her nerves. And as for her mate, that idiot hadn't even sent her a note saying when he would return home.

'Well, you know what, to hell with him,' Inuyasha growled angrily. It was the afternoon of her seventh day at the palace and still no sign of her mate. Inuyasha went to the kitchen to talk to mina.

"Princess what can I do for you today? Lunch will be ready in a few minutes."

"Could you pack that for me," said Inuyasha smiling. "I'm feeling cooped up in this place. I think I will go to see my new friends."

"Oh, that's wonderful princess," Mina said with a large smile on her face. "I'll pack some extra. You and your new friends could have a picnic."

"Thank you Mina. You’re the best." Inuyasha kissed the fox demoness on the cheek and rushed upstairs to change.

xxxxx

And a short while later Inuyasha arrived at the home of her human friends. The monk was sitting on the porch sipping tea while the demon slayer was cleaning her boomerang. The creme colored two tail was sitting on Sango’s shoulder. Upon seeing the princess, Kilala leaped from her mistress' shoulder to leap into Inuyasha's arms.

"Princess, what brings you by today?" asked Sango. She and Miroku were about to stand and bow to her but Inuyasha stopped them.

"Will you two stop that," she grumped out. "You are my friends. You do not have to bow to me when we are by ourselves." She smiled at her friends and held up the lunch Mina had made. "Would you two like to join me in a picnic? Mina made a huge Lunch for us."

"We would be honored," said Miroku smiling. They got up and led the princess to a meadow that was only a short distance away from their house. The field was filled with yellow and blue flowers.

Inuyasha smiled staring up at the sky. She sighed in bliss. She could not have been more at peace than she was now.

Suddenly Inuyasha, Kilala, and Miroku sensed a demon presence coming toward them. They stood up with Miroku, Sango and Kilala standing protectively in front of the princess. Just then, a small fox child bound out of the grass over the humans head and into Inuyasha’s arms.

“Oh,” said Inuyasha startled as the kitsune clung to her shivering. “It’s a baby fox demon.”

“I am not a baby,” the child said grumpily and buried his face against her chest.

“What’s wrong?” asked Sango.

But before he could answer, a hulking gray demon with long black hair and horns growing from its head burst from the forest into the meadow. The huge demon glared at them hungrily as drool fell from its mouth. “What have we here? Two humans and a female hanyou for dinner and a kitsune and cat for dessert. This is truly a meal fit for a king.”

“You vile beast. You dare to think you can eat me,” Inuyasha said furiously. “You know not with whom you speak. I am Inuyasha, lady of the west, and you will not lay one filthy claw upon us.”

The demon smiled. “So you are the reining lord’s hanyou whore. I have to admit you are a tasty looking bit.”

“You dare . . . “ Inuyasha was filled with so much rage. Her golden eyes flashed with rage. “No one speaks to me like that and lives to tell about it.” Her soft voice was filled with indignant rage as her claws and fangs grew long. “Now, filthy vermin, die!” With the little kitsune still in her grasp, Inuyasha took to the air. “Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!” And with only one claw, she sliced the demon in half.

Miroku and Sango stared at the demoness in shock. They never thought such a delicate looking demoness could be so deadly.

She snorted in disgust and turned her back on the dead demon. “Are you all right kid?” Inuyasha asked the little fox.

“Yes,” he said looking up at her in awe and smiled. “Thank you princess for saving my life.” He kissed her on the cheek.

“Well, princess, that was amazing,” said Miroku. “Where did you learn to fight like that?”

“Although I am a princess, I am still only a half demon. I needed to learn to protect myself. My father was against the idea, but Jun and the other servants taught me. I also learned when I went to visit my friends. My father doesn’t know this, of course. He thinks it is unlady like for a princess to learn to fight.”

“Well, I’m glad you know how to fight,” said the fox smiling, his large green eyes sparkled in delight.

“So little fellow, what’s your name?” asked Sango.

“Shippo.” The little kitsune red hair was caked with dried mud and twigs. It was tied back with a leather string. His clothing was tattered.

“Where are your parents?” asked Inuyasha.

“They are dead. Mother died ten years ago, and my father was recently killed by two brothers called the Thunder Brothers.”

Inuyasha went pale at the mention of the brothers. “You mean . . . the pirate Thunder Brothers?” She nearly fainted when the little fox shook his head yes. ‘That means Naraku was here.’ “How long ago was this?”

“About six months ago.”

Inuyasha released her breath in relief. She had nothing to fear. Naraku was no where around to terrorize her. She shuddered at the memory of the vile pirate captain.

“Princess, is anything wrong?” asked Miroku worried. “You became pale at the mention of the brothers.”

“Just a bad thought, but I’m fine.” She smiled brightly at them then turned her attention to the fox kit. “Would you care to join us, Shippo? We have plenty of food.” The little fox jumped up and down in excitement in her arms.

“First, let’s move away from this spot. The scanvenger birds will be arriving soon,” said Sango. So they packed their picnic and moved away from the dead demon.

xxxxx

It was almost dinner time before Inuyasha once more found herself in front of the large magnificent home of her mate. When she went in, Mina met her at the front door and from her set expression Inuyasha knew she was angry.

"Princess Inuyasha, where have you been all this time? I was beginning to become worried again. I was beginning to think that you were attacked by some vile low level demon. Or that you were kidnaped. Is that blood I smell on you? What happened to you? Are you hurt? Lord Sesshomaru would be very angry if something had happened to you."

"I doubt that," Inuyasha grumbled to herself, but she said aloud "but I am sorry. I was having such a good time with my friends that I lost all track of time." She smiled but then the smile fell from her face as she continued. "As for Lord Sesshomaru being angry, I for one know that he would probably be happy if I were to come to harm. Then he would be rid of me." Tears started trickling down her face. Dammit! What was wrong with her? She could no understand her feelings. One minuted she was happy and carefree and the next minute when she thought of Sesshomaru she became emotional.

"You don't mean that, child." The demoness put her arms about her princess.

"I do. He doesn't care about me or my well being." She hung her head letting the tears fall from her eyes to the floor. "He didn't even want me for his mate. I was forced upon him."

“There, there, child, you go on upstairs and wash your face, and I’ll bring your meal up to you.”

Mina was about to say something when she noticed someone was behind the princess. “Princess, who is that behind you?”

Inuyasha dried her eyes and smiled up at the demoness. She pulled the frightened Shippo out front for Mina’s inspection. “Mina, this is Shippo. He is an orphan that was being chased by a demon. I’ve decided to let him stay here with us.”

Mina stared at the red hair, green eyed little fox demon. He was dirty and smelled awful. The old demoness crinkled her nose at the smell. Seeing this, Inuyasha's smile widened. “We tried to bathe him, but he would not let us.”

“I see,” Mina said smiling. “Aren’t you just the cutest little thing.” She leaned down and pinched Shippo on the cheek.

“It’s okay Shippo. Mina is the nicest person in the world.”

“She’s right little one. I will not hurt you.” She looked up at Inuyasha. “Don’t worry princess. I will have this little guy cleaned and dressed for dinner.”

“Okay.” Inuyasha slowly trudged her way upstairs and left Shippo in the capable hands of Mina. Inuyasha smiled when she heard Shippo’s excited voice tell Mina about the demon chasing him and how Inuyasha had killed it. She heard Mina gasp and knew she was going to hear an ear full when dinner was served.

xxxxx

The next morning Inuyasha hurried downstairs to the kitchen. As always, Mina had her breakfast waiting for her on the table. Shippo was already sitting down eating. The kitsune was clean and dressed in a forest green hakama and haori for kids. His hair was combed and held in a ponytail with a green ribbon. “Good morning,” said Inuyasha sitting down next to Shippo and began to eat.

“Good morning,” said both Shippo and Mina.

“Where did you get the kid’s clothing from?”

“They were some of Lord Sesshomaru’s old clothes that were put away in the attic. I’ve taken all his old clothes and had them cleaned for the little one to wear.”

“Thank you Mina, I hope he won’t mind?”

“I’m sure he won’t,” said the elderly demoness. “Those clothes were just going to waste up there collecting dust and cobweb. I hope you don’t mind, but I have sent for some tutors to teach the boy.”

“I don’t mind. I was going to ask you about finding some for him.”

“I’m through,” said the little fox. “Can I go outside and play with the other children?”

“It's, may I go outside,” said Inuyasha.

Shippo crinkled his little nose and bit his bottom lip. "May I go outside and play with some of the other children?"

"Yes you may." Inuyasha smiled stroking the child's soft hair. The little kitsune leaped out of his chair and ran outside where some of the other children were playing.

“That little kit thinks the world of you,” said Mina smiling. “When you have pups of your own, I have a feeling that you will be a wonderful mother.”

Inuyasha smiled shyly and continued to eat. She watched Mina as the demoness worked over the hot stove. The two women had become fast friends and Inuyasha felt almost as close to Mina as she had been to Jun, her old nurse. Mina was always making Inuyasha laugh by telling her stories about Sesshomaru when he was a boy.

Mina was in the middle of one of these stories about how Sesshomaru, only five years old, had been missing all day worrying everyone half to death before he had come home with a large grin on his face. His whole body was covered from head to toe with mud and other stuff, and a line of fish in his hands. Inuyasha burst out laughing as the elderly demoness proceeded to tell her of the tongue lashing she had given him and the way he had just stood grinning until he finally said, "Well, if you are quite finished, I think I would like to go up and take a bath now." Mina chuckled. "That boy was something when he was young."

Both women were laughing out loud when Inuyasha heard a deep throaty laugh and whirled around in her chair. “Sesshomaru," the name escaped from her lips before she could stop herself.

Sesshomaru Aoki, with a small smile playing upon his lips entered the room and made a large formal bow in Inuyasha's direction. "And what do we have here? Another one of my kitchen servants?" he asked teasingly, looking with smiling eyes at Inuyasha's attire, his eyes lingering at her breasts.

Inuyasha blushed deeply, sensing a new warmth radiating from those cold, amber eyes.

Sesshomaru seeing Inuyasha's color rise, was quick to put her at ease. "Beloved, you are more beautiful this morning than I could envision in my mind on the lonely ride home." When he was standing in the doorway, he watched with amusement as his new mate was cutting up vegetables, and now she was working on making rice balls. He looked toward Mina, who had remained quiet during the conversation. "May I ask you, why your princess have to help you with your work? Have you not enough girls to help you in the kitchen?"

"Yes, my lord, I have plenty, but the princess she wanted to help and she was going to have things her own way." Mina chuckled. "She is almost as stubborn as you are."

"Is that so?" Sesshomaru questioned, his features softening once again.

Mina smiled nodding her head.

“I see a small kitsune out front. Is he your grandson, Mina?”

“Actually, he belongs to me,” said Inuyasha.

The demon lord stared at her with an arched brow.

“Well, you see, I went to visit my friends and the kit was being chased by a demon. So, I-I . . .” Inuyasha felt her throat starting to constrict as she saw the icy rage burning in his amber eyes.

“You what?” he demanded.

“She killed him,” said Mina placing her hands on her hips. “I might add that I was quite proud of this. It means that she will not let you bully her.”

Suddenly the iciness in his eyes melted away as he stared at his delicate mate in a new light.

“I couldn’t let him stay with Miroku and Sango. He would outlive them,” Inuyasha said in a small frighten voice. “So, I brought him back here.”

Sesshomaru continued to stare at his mate as her cheeks turned red, and smiled. "Well, Inuyasha, " she stated. "This is your home and as such you may do whatever you wish."

"Thank you."

"Well precious, we can talk more later but for now, Mina I am in need of something to fill my stomach and a bath," he said good-naturedly and then glided out of the room.

Inuyasha looked up at mina hardly believing that this was the same Sesshomaru who had stormed out of the palace a few nights ago. "I don't think I will ever understand that man, Mina."

Mina chuckled. "Understand him or not, you best hurry upstairs and helped him to prepare for his bath. He can get quite snooty when he as to wait for something."

"Hah," said Inuyasha smiling. "I thought snooty was part of his personality." She stood and kissed the elderly woman on the cheek, and then hurried out of the kitchen.

Inuyasha rushed upstairs to Sesshomaru's room. He had moved into one of the guest rooms since Inuyasha's arrival and now, as she entered the room, she found Sesshomaru removing his bone armor and placing it on a dummy.

As he turned and saw Inuyasha enter the room he gave her a warm, generous smile. "I hope you have been getting along all right during my absence?"

"Oh yes," she answered, finding it easier to talk with him while he was in a pleasant mood. “Mina has really been wonderful and I have been keeping myself busy."

"I'm sorry I had to rush off as I did, but I had to settle some business and it really couldn't wait," Sesshomaru said as he filled his eyes with the vision of her.

"I understand," Inuyasha said softly and lowered her eyes from his penetrating gaze. "I hope everything went well."

"Fairly well, but that's enough of this talk. Come over and sit down and tell me what you have been doing while I’ve been gone." He sat down on a pile of cushions that was near the window. Inuyasha knelt down on a cushion beside him.

"Well, I have helped Mina sometime, and I have gone to visit my friends I had met in the forest."

Sesshomaru arched a dark brow at this.

"They were so kind to me when we first met. I just wanted to visit them again. I have no friends my own age and, although I love Mina very much, there are some things she will not understand." Inuyasha clutched her hands together and rested them in her lap. "If you should forbid me from seeing them again, I think I will die of boredom."

Sesshomaru sighed. "You need not worry. They make you happy. I can see that. So, you can see them anytime you like." His heart skipped a beat as she graced him with a dazzle smile. Clearing his throat he said, "Continue, what else have you been doing?"

“Well, I rescued the little kitsune from that pathetic excuse of a demon.” She shrugged her shoulders. "Other than that nothing else. I've just been enjoying walking through the forest."

"So, you like walking in the forest?”

"Yeah. My father never knew. Some times when I was suppose to be staying with my friends. I would just be in the forest jumping from tree to tree enjoying the feel of the wind in my face and the clean smell of the forest itself."

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "My lord, lunch will be ready in a few minutes," said Mina.

"Okay Mina."

Inuyasha got up and went to the closet. She took out a pale blue yukata and walked over to her standing mate. Her cheeks were red as she untied his blue and yellow obi and walked around to stand behind him. Pulling the soft material down his powerful arms, she exhaled a deep breath in relief. His hair was so long until it covered his naked body like a blanket. Tossing his kimono on the bed, she slipped the yukata up his arms and he tied the obi himself.

"Will you join me for lunch Inuyasha?" he asked, as he walked over to the door.

"If you wish," she said following him out the door and down to the hot spring.

"I do wish it, but for now you had better go see about its cooking unless you would rather wash my back for me?" he grinned as he undid the obi and made to pull open the folds of his yukata.

Inuyasha's face turned a flame red as her eyes traveled down his body to stop at his long fingers. "I-I will see to your meal," she choked out and fled with Sesshomaru's laughter following her down the stairs.

xxxxx

After Sesshomaru had bathed and changed his clothes, he and Inuyasha ate a small lunch on the balcony that over looked the garden. Inuyasha found it hard to believe that this was the same man who had threatened to beat her, only a few short nights ago. He was so polite and considerate to her now. It seemed impossible to believe that night had actually occurred.

After the meal was completed, Sesshomaru rose and took Inuyasha's hand and as if they had been young lovers they strolled through the gardens, talking to each other of childhood memories and the life each had lived before.

As Inuyasha talked of her own childhood in China and told Sesshomaru about her mother and her nurse, Jun, she sat down beneath one of the Sakura trees. She sighed sadly. She had never felt so homesick or wished so hard for her mother to be alive and beside her as now.

"What is it?" Sesshomaru questioned her kneeling down and taking one of her small hands into his own.

"Nothing," Inuyasha whispered, embarrassed by her show of emotions. "I did not mean to act like this. I was only thinking of my mother and how happy and simple life had been when she was alive."

"You still have your father," he said tenderly.

She grunted. "You don't understand when my mother died my whole world seemed to fall apart. All of my father's love died along with my mother and when he took himself another wife, everything changed." She growled, trying to pull herself out of the angry mood which had overcome her. "I am sorry I did not mean to bore you with my past," she said finally reining in her anger.

"I was not bored. I wish to know everything about you."

Inuyasha lowered her head hiding the blush on her cheeks.

"I think for now you had better go and lie down and rest awhile. I do not wish you to take sick," Sesshomaru spoke as though to a naughty child, "since you have been taking care of the house and fighting rogue demons in my absence."

"I think a rest would be nice," Inuyasha answered relieved to find a way to be alone and pull herself together.

As Inuyasha made her way down the hall toward her room, Sya stepped out of her own room.

“Oh Inuyasha. I hear your mate has finally returned home. I would say you should try to be more becoming so as not to chase him away again, but since you're nothing more than a dirty half breed, I guess you can't make any promises." She grins evilly.

Inuyasha grinded her teeth together and bit back the rage that was threatening to erupt from her. Taking a deep breath, she just ignored the hateful comment, for now. "Yes, Sesshomaru is back. So, will you be joining us for dinner this evening?"

Sya made a small pout of anger at Inuyasha for ignoring her comment. She had wished for some fun with this vile, half breed, but it did not seem to be the day for it, so she proceeded to answer Inuyasha's question. "I do feel a small headache coming on, but perhaps it will be gone by dinner time."

"I was hoping to talk with you about your plans while you are here and your headaches, Sya."

"What?" Sya growled angrily.

"Well, you're a full-blooded demon. It's not natural for you to be having so many headaches," said Inuyasha. "I thought that you might want to see a healer."

"I have no wish to see a healer and I do wish you would mind your own business."

"But you are my business.” Inuyasha stated calmly. “As long as you live under this roof, I have every right to order you to see a healer." She tilted her head to side staring at the woman as her doggy ears swivelled back and forth on her head.

"You have no right whatsoever to order me to do anything," Sya said feeling the hackles at the nap of her neck rise with anger.

"Once again you are wrong." Inuyasha crossed her arms across her chest and glared at Sya as though she was nothing more than a pest. "Since you are being so forthright to me about your hatred toward me. I see no reason I should try and be nice to you anymore. I will tell you as I did your despicable aunt before I left China. Now, if you did not want to come all you had to do was just say so. I never wanted you to come with me anyway. It was my father and most likely that wretched wench you call aunt. Anyway, since you have been here, you have done nothing except stay locked in your room or disappear to heavens knows where. I have tried to be nice to you and give you the benefit of the doubt. But all you have done is shun my kindness."

"I don't . . ." Sya started to say but Inuyasha cut her off.

"You will be silent and listen to me." Inuyasha's eyes bled red as a faded jagged strip appeared on either side of her cheeks. "You have been rude, insulting, evil minded and nasty to me. Well guess what, I am tired of your shit! If you wish to leave, you may go. I care not where. It can be straight to hell for all I care. You stand here and say I have no right to interfere in your private business, but you are the one that is wrong. Encase you haven't been paying attention. I am the lady of the western lands. What I say goes around here. You are walking on very thin ice around here Sya. And if you push me too far, I just might break that ice and let you drown in its icy depths." Suddenly the red in her eyes changed back into the bright golden color. "Now, you can behave like a true demon noble, or I will treat you like the spoiled, rotten, spiteful, cheap little whore I know you to be." Inuyasha wore a chilling smirk on her face. "The decision is yours."

Sya was filled with so much rage, her hands which were now fists, shook with the pent up emotions at her side. Her claws tore through the flesh of her palms and blood dripped to the floor. She bowed stiffly to Inuyasha. "I understand, my lady," she said through clenched teeth. "I am sorry for my rude behavior. I will join you at dinner." With those words Sya turned on her heels and made her way back to her room, slamming the door behind her.

Inuyasha sighed shaking her head as she stared down at the tiny pool of blood on the floor. Then she went to her room. She had to smile at the expression on Sya's face. The girl looked as though she was about to pop open. Inuyasha knew it was childish of her to enjoy the rage she saw in the other girl's eyes but Sya had it coming. The girl has been downright uncivil to her and according to Mina, she has been rude to the servants as well. But Inuyasha meant every word she had said to Sya. She would not hesitate in kicking the shrew out if she did not started to behave properly. She sighed once and stripped out of her clothes and put on a pale green yukata and laid across the bed and fell immediately asleep.