The Maid!

Chapter Ten

Don't Daddle Now,
Power of the Monk!

Sesshoumaru stands in the center of a clearing trying to find a clue, any clue will do. "Not even a slight smell can I find, How can a creature not have a smell. I can not even feel her, I felt her when she woke she was scared for the first time I felt fear from her it surged through my bones, but now I don't feel anyth Cou Could she already be dead." Taking out the pouch Ash gave him, he sprinkles a little dust on the ground around him and it starts to light up with the image of footprints on the ground. "Good" Sesshoumaru smirks "Prepare yourself because I am coming for you." Sesshoumaru takes off in a steady pace throwing the dust every so often to make sure he is still on tightight path. "Why did he go after her it was like his sights were set on her, but why?" Sesshoumaru's thoughts lost on his mission, as he begins to pick up his pace, suddenly coming to dead stop. "Is this another one of your games Father, have you done t" Se" Sesshoumaru stands still as thoughts run through his head. "What if I decide to not save her and search again on my own. What then Father?" Sesshoumaru's voice fills with annoyance.

"Miroku." Inuyasha calls as he enters the opening of the cave. Miroku stands and turns to look at him. "ed yed you to come with me."

"Why is something wrong." Miroku looks at him with a questioning look as Flitter comes from around Inuyasha; with a big warm smile, Flitter gives him a 'hello' wave.

"This is Flitter he is the keeper of this cave and he said you can help me find it easier."

"Find what? The Diary." Mi scr scratches his head. "I don't know how Inuyasha I can't even see an inch in front of my face in there."

"You will see fine now." Flitter flashes his pearly whites. "I will be your guiding light." Miroku nods and they descend back into the cave with flitter leading the The The cave is all a blaze with the light from Flitters aura, gold and silver lights beam off the cave's walls as if there never was darkness to begin with. Miroku and Inuyasha follow quietly as their eyes scan the cave. Notches in the cave's walls hold many treasures that Inuyasha had not seen before.

"Does anyone ever come to claim these treasures?" Miroku asks curiously while his eyes widen at all the gold and good fortunes he cannot touch.

"I have only had the plre ore of leading one other down these passages." Flitter laughs. "But unfortunately I had to kill him when his hands touched what was not his." Miroku gulps and folds his hands in his robe sleeves, just as a precautionary. "Here we are." Flitter motions for them to enter the room Miroku looks around stacks and stacks of books, papers and scrolls lie before him.

"I see." Sighs Miroku, "You just wanted me to help you d

"You can not touch anything that is not yours." Flitter says with a smile.

"WHAT?" Snaps Inuyasha, "then how are we suppose to find it."

"That my friend's is your problem." A small s per perches on his lips.

"Well Monk do your thing." Snorts Inuyasha.

"My thing." Miroku turns to give him a cold look. "And just what is my thing Inuyasha."

"I don't know, Flitter said you could find it."

Miroku sighs as he turns his sights once more on the room's contents. "I don't know how."

Ash stands tall on top of Crystal Mountain with a sad face his head all in thoughts as his heart aches with unknowing.

"Master Ash." Verokie says softly to let him know he is there.

"Ouestsests?"

"They are enjoying a meal in the garden with Master Diamond."

"I see." Ash stands unmoving just looking out into the open sky. "I wonder Verokie, what do you think I should do."

Verokie walks up to him and puts a gentle hand on his shoulder, "What ever you decide Dear Brother, I will back you all the way."

Ash turns with a smile to look at Verokie. "Thank you." Verokie nods and turn lea leave. "Verokie can you do me one more favor."

"Yes Master anything you know that."

"No matter what decision I make promise you will always protect Mother."

Verokie smiles and his eyes sparkle as he looks at his older brother proud and tall he stands before him. "There will be no need for that promise Brother, you will always be with us." Verokie nods once more and is gone.

Ash turns to look out over the Mountain once more as a smile perches on his lips he takes out a crystal and throws it down to disappear in a gust of steam and wind. Reappearing in Thickmoan forest, he stands and studies the surroundings. Goth stands trying to heal the fallen trees. Ash walksr anr and kneels down beside her laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. Tears rolling down her cheek as her body goes weak from all the power she is using to heal the fallen trees.

"Goth."

"Master Ash, I am sorry I did not see it coming."

"Goth, it is not your fault nor is this something I did please know this."

"I know you would never harm my trees Ash that thought never crossed my mind."

"Very well... now move I will do what I can to help your children." Goth steps back to stand beside Ash as he raises his hands in the air a gust of wind comes blowing his thick black main and cloak up with it. Deep green crystals come from his hands as they start to swim and sway in and out of the forest around all the fallen trees. The crystals leave a trail of glowing green dust as they float freely through the air, the trees begin to stir and stand planting themselves back into the ground. Ash stands still arms lifted high and his eyes closed with a warm smile on his face. When all the trees stand, the crystals fly back to Ash ansappsappear in his hands then the wind slowly dies as he lowers his hands. With a heavy sigh and a nice big smile, his task is now complete. Goth bows before him. "Get up Goth I did this not for your bows but because you are a good friend."

"You are the true Crystal Master." Goth stands staring him in the eyes with great admiration.

"Yes, however that is our little secrete." Goth smiles and nods in understanding. "Now I must go, I fear this may be more than Sesshoumaru can handle and he will never ask for help."

"No he is a proud stubborn one that Sesshoumaru." Goth giggles as she rubs her hand along a tree trunk.

"That he is." Ash smiles and turns to head off in the direction Sesshoumaru exited the forest.

"You know if he knew your true powers he would not think you are beneath him." Goth states.

"I fear that when he finds out the whole truth he will hate me more." Ash laughs before disappearing from the forest.

Sesshoumaru as continued his search to spite what his mind keeps telling him. Some other force makes him continue. "This is taking way to long and I am running out of powder to mark the tracks." Stopping he looks up to a giant mountain before him, a nasty black cloud looms over it, and a large hole is cut in the front of it. "Is this it, have I found the insidious cure.ure." An evil smirk perches his lips. "Good... I was getting bored." Sesshoumaru enters the cave slowly with his nose in the air. The cave is dark and the smell is overwhelming as he tries hard to focus on one, Lulu. "It smells like blood all kinds of blood I can't pick up her smell." Cautiously walking he narrows his eyes to try and focus scanning from side to side in hopes of not being surprised by the creature.

Ash has picked up Sesshoumaru's smell and now trails after him at a steady stride, fighting with his own emotions on what his intent is when he catches him. "I know I must not interfere unless need be, but I must stay close."

Miroku stands just staring at the piles in front of him. "I still don't understand what I am suppose to do Inuyasha, this seems pretty hopeless to me."

Flitter walks up and places a hand on Miroku's shoulder. "For someone like you, giving up hope I never thought was an option." Miroku turns to see a warm smile and gold eyes looking at him with kindness. Miroku then turns back his attention to the contents of the room.

"But..."

"Look within." Flitter pushes him forward. "Close your eyes and look within."

"Look within" Miroku chants to himself as he closes his eyes. The cave begins to stir with a warm wind, Miroku's robes start to flow he stands still letting the warm air wash over him relaxing into a state of pleasentness. Suddenly his eyes shoot open and he walks over to a pile with his staff he points. "Do you see it?"

"See What?' asks Inuyasha as he walks up to him.

"There," Miroku points, "that light do you see it?"

"I see no light Monk, just point it out I will grab it."

Miroku points with his staff, "the red one, get the red one."

"Are you sure, I don't want Flitter to think he has to kill me it would be a shame to leave all these treasures without a keeper." Inuyasha smiles at Flitter.

"I am sure, get the red one that glows."

"I see nothing Glowing!" Barks Inuyasha.

"Geeze Inuyasha your blind." Miroku touches it with his staff, "that one."

"Finally." Inuyasha reaches out and grabs a scroll that is red in color and the paper that surrounds it is also red. "Well Flitter this must be it since your not trying to kill us." Inuyasha smiles.

"You have found your treasure Inuyasha, I hope it is everything you expected." Flitter turns to exit the room. "Now I will guide you out." Miroku and Inuyasha follow.

Sesshoumaru travels deeper into the mountain trying hard not to be overwhelmed with the smell of blood, placing a hand over his mouth and nose. Spotting a flickering light up ahead, he conceals himself along the wall of the mountain, approaching the light he, almost, gasps at the sight before him. Stopping dead in his tracks he backs further up against the wall only to pull his hand back and finding it covered with blood. "What is this, the walls are painted with blood, what is this creature." He continues slowly until a shadow passes before him he freezes once again. When it is gone, he continues into the lit room. Scanning around there are bodies of young women hanging from the walls strapped with chains at their ankles and wrists. "What?" Sesshoumaru says in disbelief, even a human hatter such as himself could not fathom such a disgusting site. Tiny pricks all over their bodies as the blood drips into buckets below them none of them seem to be moving. A shadow creature, like the one that grabbed Lulu only smaller enters the room, Sesshoumaru slumps back in the shadows of the cave near the wall to hide once more, the creature goes around lifting each one of the girl's head to look at them. Sesshoumaru froze once again not sure of his next move. He starts to scan the room for Lulu and upon spotting her Sesshoumaru's soul fills with agony. Her naked form is chained down on a stone table in the middle of the room with torches all around it. Then the room starts to overflow with the Shadow creatures all standing around the table where Lulu lies. "What are they doing?"

Ash walks up to the entrance of the cave that he watched Sesshoumaru pass through, jerking his head back from the smell, he also covers his mouth and nose. "NO!" He practically shouts as he takes off in a dash to enter the cave. Putting his nose in the air, he quickly covers it again. "The blood overwhelms his smell which way do I go." Scanning around he also spots the flickering lights and heads off in that direction. Looking in he gasps "no". Sesshoumaru pulls him back against the wall to hide in the shadows with him.

"Ash, what are you doing here."

"I couldn't stay away, I just had a feeling you needed my help. I guess I was right."

"Humph." Sesshoumaru replied. "Well did you come with a plan?"

"No, what are those things and what are they doingve yve you found Miss Lulu?"

"I have no idea what they are she is on the table in front of them." Growls Sesshoumaru. "But I am helpless nothing I have will work on them, my sword won't cut them and my poison has no affect." Sesshoumaru scans the room once more. "I just wonder where the big one went." As they stand with wonng mng minds a figure walks in the room from the passage at the farthest side from them dressed in a black cloak that covers its face. All the other creatures back away from the table Lulu is laying on and bend down on one knee.


"Inuyasha and Miroku," Flitter bows to them both as they stand at the entrance of the cave. "It has been a great honor to meet you both." He stands and smiles a warm smile "Please do come back and see me anytime I would love the company." After their goodbyes, Flitter turns and heads back in a blinding light shoots forth and Inuyasha can hear the fluttering of his silver wings once again.

"Lord Inuyasha, what is your treasure." Myouga asks before clamping down on his neck for a good meal.

"I don't know." Inuyasha begins to unroll the scroll reading it aloud to them "Travel North to the snow caped mountains where you will find the Ice Goddess, Mija. There within lies what you seek." Inuyasha looks up from the scroll. "Now what the hell does this mean?"

"The Ice Goddess?" Myouga speaks with a daze in his eyes.

"You know her." Inuyasha and Miroku look at Myouga who is staggering back and forth on Inuyasha shoulder fluttering his eyes like a love struck schoolboy and his little flea face is a deep red.

"She is only the most beautiful Goddess that has ever lived not to mention powerful and kind." Myouga falls over as if struck by cupid's arrow.

"Feh," Inuyasha gives an eye roll at the flea "we better go Monk." Inuyasha says as he starts walking back towards Crystal Mountain. "We will get the others then I guess it's off to the Snow caped Mountains."

"Lord Sesshoumaru..." Ash begins but Sesshoumaru cuts him off by his hand going up telling him to shut up.

"Very good my children you have brought in a good crop this day." The cloaked figure walks up to the table and traces its hand along Lulu's bare leg. Lulu begins to stir and wake. Then they hear her chains clank as she tenses her body. Sesshoumaru lowers down to one knee and drops his head.

"I can feel her she is terrified, I don't believe this is Fathers doing."

"What?" Ash looks at him. "Hell no it isn't...... this he never planed."

"Well then we must get her out of there." Sesshoumaru stands to enter the lit room but is stopped by Ash's hand on his shoulder.

"Wait, if I distract them can you get all the girls out?"

"What? You want to save them all, that is why you are weak Ash. Are sights are not on the others I only her her." They hear the rattling of chains once more and look up as the shadow creatures carry Lulu to the wall and hang her up.

The cloaked person walks around checking the buckets. "This one. She is almost drained lay her on the table we can take her skin off now." To shadow creatures walk over and one undoes the chains while the other catches the limp body of the girl as she falls from the wall. Lulu watches as her whole body starts to shiver. Unable to scream for help as two more shadow creatures approach her with sticks that have sharp silver needles at the end of them. Taking the limp body of the other girl to the table that Lulu was laying on they strip her down of her clothes. The cloaked person then takes a knife out starts to skin the girl cutting around her ankle and flaying the skin from her legs. The two shadow creatures that have approached Lulu start pricking her with needles all over her body to let her blood seep out she passes out from the pain as Sesshoumaru's bones ach with the need to save her.

"I can't stand here and watch this When I get there attention on me, Sesshoumaru grab Lulu and as many as the other girls as you can and get them out of here, I will be fine." With that Said and not waiting on protest from Sesshoumaru, he rushes in the room and jumps to land on the table where the cloaked person is. Kicking the knife out of its hand and then doing a flip back off the table to land on the cloaked figure knocking the cape off from around its face. Ash gasps at the sight before him. It looks like a patch doll shin sewn together to create its face. "You kill them for r skr skin."

"I kill them to live." The cloaked person jumps back to its feet. The cloak falls from its body IT stands now naked in front of Ash, laughing. "I need their skin to become real. I need their skin and hair and nails and eyes." The creature talks slow and mean. "Do you see what I have become." Pointing at one of the shadow people a black nothing with white eyes all standing around Ash. "That is what I was now look at me. I am almost complete and they will be too. We need this and you will not stand in are way." The creature has many tones of skin sewn together by blood red threading and its hair a mixture of many shades and textures.

Sesshoumaru taking his cue glides up to Lulu lifting her head up by her chin to see her face. Her eyes open slightly to peer before her. 'You came' she says trying to smile at the Demon that has come to her rescue.

"Shhh." Sesshoumaru cuts the chains quietly trying not to act act attention.

"STOP THE OTHER ONE." The now uncloaked person yells. "I will take care of this one."


A/N... Sorry about the cliffy but had to do it for some reason... I did it to make you come back I guess... {Evil laugh fades} OH yeah please review... lots of love...................... Mules