If Sesshomaru was someone who gave away emotions he'd be rolling his eyes right about then. For ten minutes straight Madame Eriko had been screeching and insulting his pet. He was starting to think just killing the woman would be better, it would certainly be best for his ears. After holding back a growl when a particularly high pitch scream fill the air Sesshomaru decided to intervene. It was pure self control that hindered his urge to cover his ears on the way, and the screams only grew in proportion upon his approach. He swung open the door and was shocked to find only Madame Eriko sitting in her chair. She was thrashing around madly in her chair screeching all the while, but never once got up. Had this wench lost her senses? Did she know what she looked like? "Is there any reason you find the need to act like a mad woman?" Madame Eriko screeched and thrashed some more.

"Why I don't know let me see… Could it be because YOU HORRIED LITTLE BEAST HAS STUCK ME TO THIS BLASTED CHAIR!" Again she thrashed around in her chair hoping to spring free from her cushioned prison. Sesshomaru had to admit, it was slightly amusing that his pet had done this. She was quite resourceful. He wondered how she managed it, he would need to ask later.

"And where is my pet?" There was little to no trace of her in the room. He suspected that she hadn't been in the room for very long.

"I don't know but when I find her I WILL KILL HER!" Sesshomaru growled at her giving clear warning that she would not live much longer if she tried.

"Jaken, Renka assist the wench." both nodded and hurried in to attend to their lord's bidding. Sesshomaru began the journey to his chambers where his pet would be hiding. She was running out of free passes with him, she needed to learn to behave or he would have to punish her. But he was almost sure her behavior would improve after that damn instructor was gone. He didn't even make it all the way to his room before he smelt salt. This made the demon lord curious, she hadn't cried in quite some time. He stormed into his room and let out a growl, informing her that he was not pleased. She might be crying but that would not get her out of trouble. "Come out." He waited for the rustle from under the bed. Five minutes passed. Nothing… "Do not make this Sesshomaru say it again."

"No!" Sesshomaru glared at the bed, her misbehavior had not been directed toward him in a while.

"You will come out or find yourself being dragged out!" He heard the rustle under the bed that he had been waiting for, after a moment of waiting out came Melody. She placed herself before him with her head bowed letting her tresses cover her delicate face. His lip curled, he detested things disrupting his view of her face."Would you have any idea why you instructor is screaming at the top of her lungs right now, and choose your words wisely girl."

"She's stuck to her chair." Melody felt like a four year old getting caught stealing a cookie before dinner. She didn't know what kind of punishment she was about to face but she was pretty sure it was worth it. Sesshomaru couldn't take it anymore; did she not know how much it displeased him to have her hair in her face? He knelt down and proceeded to remove it from her face, he didn't like what was hiding behind it. Melody sported a brilliant black eye and a busted lip.

"Why did you receive these?"

"I called her a bitch for yelling at me about sleeping with you all night long." Sesshomaru had reached the end of his patients.

"Stay here." He commanded before leaving to return to the hysterical wench. He was relieved that her screeching had stopped; his sensitive ears would be ringing for hours. He entered the room to find the Madame Eriko attempting to look presentable, not that it was really possible with a gaping hole on the back of her kimono. "Wench your services are no longer needed, you have by sundown to gather your things and be gone." Madame Eriko's face grew red.

"You think you can just simply dismiss me after everything that little whore has done to me!" In the blink of an eye the great dog demon had her by the throat, effectively cutting off her rant before her tones reached intolerable levels.

"That is exactly what I think and if you plan on saving your worthless life you'll do just that!" A flash of his red eyes made the woman gulp. Of course the woman wasn't a fool, she knew that Sesshomaru would live up to his threat.

Melody was overjoyed to have the horrid snake demon out of her life, but now Sesshomaru found no reason for her to leave his bedroom. The balcony was boring; the pillow was boring, even the walls of the room were boring! She was going absolutely stir crazy. In a attempt to keep herself sane her pranks on Jaken were becoming cruel.

"My lord perhaps Melody could go outside today?" Tsumi said hopefully as she served Rin her breakfast, the little girl happily dug in being quickly reprimanded for her lack of manners.

"No." She sighed, that was the answer she expected.

"But my lord she's bored and is taking it all out on Jaken. The imp is likely to die from stress soon." She pleaded again.

"Melody is likely to be the only one left of her kind, meaning she is worth far more than you can imagine. Letting her run outside and possibly be taken would be foolish. I shall speak to her about her trickery." Sesshomaru stood and motioned for Tsumi to follow. "Where is Jaken now?"

"Fetching more oils for your bathing chambers." Sesshomaru nodded and started for his chambers, the site he received when he arrived did not improve his mood, the door was slightly ajar leaving opportunity for Melody to wander off. Did no one realize how rare she was, or impulsive for that matter!

"Why is this door open Renka?"

"Uh, just waiting for Jaken sir." Renka was rigid, one of his best soldiers looked terrified, why Sesshomaru couldn't say. He wasn't about to bothered with that now, his pet was ever present on his priority list. An ice cold feeling washed over him. He glanced at the door and at the bucket on the floor then to Melody. She was even more terrified than Renka had been. Something then rammed right into the back of his leg.

"I'm so sorry Mi-, Milord why are you all wet?" Sesshomaru began growling. Melody grew very pale and began backing away. His growls got louder with every step she took, but that didn't stop her. The only thought that was in her mind was to run. She bumped into the balcony railing. That was it . The end of the line. Sesshomaru snapped his red eyes open and prepared to pounce. Melody squealed and did the only thing that came to mind. She jumped! Falling through the air was an amazing feeling. She felt weightless, relaxed, invincible even. However, she knew she wasn't and the feeling of death was seconds away from her. She knew she was going to die, no human could survive that kind of fall. She braced herself for the end. She closed her eyes and just let go of everything in her mind. Her tail flickered and she was flipped around. Her feet touched the ground and she was bent into a crouched position taking in the blow. Melody opened one eye she was alive? Unharmed? She didn't move, shock absorbed her mind, tanglible thought was no longer possible, there was nothing except darkness. She didn't even feel Sesshomaru catch her as she collapsed to the ground.

Melody awoke very stiff and sore. She yawned and stretched, it felt wonderful to the feeling of cool metal against her sore arms. Metal? She shouldn't be brushing against any metal. She opened her eyes. There were metal bars surrounding her forming a cage. But why was she in a cage? She had a feeling shouldn't wouldn't like the answer. She glanced around the room she was in. She couldn't place it, and there was no sign of anyone around. Melody huffed like a child. This wasn't funny, she shouldn't be in a cage. She stared at the bars with a vicious glint, willing the bars to melt away. Behind her the doors opened. Melody's ears parked up but didn't move. She had to admit, being able to smell and hear people coming was a great advantage. She listen as the person walked over to the desk and began writing. Melody sniffed the air. The smell of musk hit her nose. Sesshomaru was the one in the room. She guessed she was in his study. This was where he did all of his paperwork. "Can I get out of here?" She asked without moving. Sesshomaru glanced toward the cage. She wasn't even looking at him. She hadn't moved from the spot she had been since he entered.

"No." Melody's pout dropped and was replaced with a glare.

"Why not?"

"You must learn your place." Simple, straight forward, and very irritating! Melody let her mouth hang open. She couldn't believe what she just heard. Her cat like instincts were telling her to be quiet, but the teenager in her just couldn't.

"My place is not in some stupid cage!" Sesshomaru began growling as a warning, but that didn't stop her, not this time. "I don't deserve to be treated like some animal one minute and a sex toy the next! And I defiantly won't let you lock me up!" Melody started banging against the bars, doing anything and everything to make Sesshomaru mad. Her mission was accomplished quickly. She was wrenched from the cage and pinned underneath a very angry Sesshomaru.

"Perhaps you need a stricter lesson." He growled fiercely flashing his canines at her. Melody stared into blood red eyes. She gulped. Her instincts were in over drive. Everything was telling her to be a good little girl and just shut up. She just wasn't very good at listening to them. With another sudden streak of defiance she spit in his face. Next thing she knew was she was slammed face first into a wall. She didn't have any time to react before a siring hot pain burned at her back. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Sesshomaru's light whip. She was then blinded with tears as she was hit again. She gasped and arched her back, anything to get away from the pain. As the next strike hit her she bit down on her lip forcing the scream to stay lodge in her throat. She refused to give him the pleasure of hearing her scream. Melody soon felt blood start flowing from her lip. She had been so focused on the pain from her back that she didn't realize she pierced her lip. Again pain rippled through her body. It started at her back and went all the way to her finger tips and toes. Melody then started to see black spots. Her breathing became shallower. The last blow struck Melody's last ounce of strength. She sunk to the floor in a bloody heap. Sesshomaru let this whip disappear. He quickly called for servants to take care of the mess so he could return to his work.