The crackle of the fire had Melody memorized has she contemplated her life as of late. A great sigh escaped her lungs as she recapped. If she thought her life was messed up before, she was sadly mistaken, her home life had never been quite this messed up… Home… Would she ever see her own time again, or did she even care? Nothing was waiting for her there, no friends, or family. Well, no family that mattered anyway. Back to the point though, her life here was far from fabulous, toy to a demon lord wasn't exactly of Melody's bucket list. She glanced around the camp, Kagome was snuggled up in her sleeping bag with the little Kitsune on her pillow, she looked so content, the demon slayer was on the ground curled up with the weird cat with two tails, the Monk kept a secret eye on them while also keeping watch, and Inuyasha was currently nowhere to be found. The last time anyone saw him he was sprinting after Lord Sesshomaru cursing the whole way.

"You should try to get some sleep." The Monk's voice brought Melody out of her musings.

"I doubt I will be able to."

"I realize that the accommodations aren't up to par with what you are used to with Lord Sesshomaru , but never the less Inuyasha doesn't pause much once we get going." Melody felt like rolling her eyes at the monk, did he really just make a reference to her being spoiled? He had no clue what she had been through there and quite frankly if he made a comment about it again she was going to give him a black eye. Plus was he a moron? How was going to get tired if she had a dragon to ride?

The next morning when everyone woke up Inuyasha returned grumbling that now they had to babysit yet another weakling. Melody hissed in his direction, to which he ignored her and stomped over to Kagome and began yelling. "Hey will you shut it! Your whining is making my ears bleed!"

"What did you say?"

"Are you deaf?" Inuyasha stomped right up to her and glared. "A simple glare won't scare me dimwit." A soft growl came out of his mouth but he stomped back up to the front of the pack.

"Can't we get rid of her yet?"

"No inuyasha, not until Sesshomaru comes back" Kagome reasoned with the rash Inuyasha. Why everyone seem to think she was trouble? Like she was a waste of time, or extra baggage to carry around. Even Kagome was acting like this was a chore. She hated that feeling; it drove her insane with anger. That's all she ever got after her father died. "We'll just have to stir clear of the band of seven for a while." Kagome whispered to inuyasha, they must not be aware that the ears on Melody's head were not just for looks. Then again, they probably didn't know a lot of things about her. This wasn't a bad thing that only meant she had the upper hand.

"Kagome, look and the picture I drew!" Shippo had leaped over to Kagome's shoulder to show her his picture. She simply waved him away; as she was too busy talking to Inuyasha to be bothered with such a simple thing. He looked back to Miroku and Sango, but they were also busy with their own conversation. He gave a great sigh and hopped down clutching his prized picture in his hand solemnly.

"Excuse me Shippo?" The little fox glanced over his shoulder at her. "May I see the picture you drew?" His eyes lit up like a firework and he raced over to her.

"This is my picture of a mountain!" Shippo practically shoved the drawing in Melody's face.

"Wow that's amazing; you're a really good artist." Melody almost giggled at the blush that took over his face as she gushed about his picture. The rest of the day Melody and Shippo sat on Ah and Un while he explained all the drawings he made. She gushed over them all making him feel quite proud of himself. The poor guy needed it too; Melody could see that he felt weak and unimportant around his friends.

Sesshomaru growled to himself, as he drummed his fingers on his arm rest. Since when did war seem boring? Everyone was giving excellent information, the soldiers were all prepared, and their enemy would be destroyed swiftly. So what was the problem? Sesshomaru growled again. He knew what the problem was, it was too quiet! He had become so used to his pet causing havoc that he didn't know how to handle quiet anymore. When had the girl become such a part of his life?

"My lord?" Sesshomaru's attention went to the tent opening where his General stood.

"What is it?"

"If I may speak?" Sesshomaru waved his clawed to signal him to continue. "Perhaps you would focus more if you had your pet here." Sesshomaru cast a glare at his general.

"This is no place for her."

"Renka or I could keep watch-"

"When it comes time for battle, neither you, Renka, nor I will have the time." Riku ended his dispute; it was obvious he would not win. He left the tent to let his lord have some peace. Sesshomaru growled at the door. This would be a long war. Every time he seemed to get focused Melody would creep into her mind. He would shake her out, but moments later she would whisper to him. Telling him that only he could touch her, and then a flash of some unknown man would be holding her. His eyes flashed red every time. Next his thoughts wandered to his last moments with Inuyasha

*~Flashback~*

"SESSHOMARU GET BACK HERE!" Inuyasha came flying at Sesshomaru with his sword. With a quick block he sent the Half-breed thundering into a tree. In a flash he stood before his worthless brother. He took him by the throat.

"Listen well baby brother." He sneered. "You are weak; you could never hope to defeat Naraku without my aid." Inuyasha glared at him with such intensity.

"Bastard…"

"You are lucky I am giving you this opportunity." Sesshomaru tightened his grip as to put emphasis on his next sentence. "That girl has been touched by no other but me; you will keep it that way little brother. Many will try, and you will see to it that none of them succeed. If you fail, I will tear apart you're whole little 'family' piece by piece while you watch, and then I will do it to you." He sent him flying into another tree before turning to leave.

*~End Flashback~*

He hoped the half-breed would be smart enough to heed his warning. Not only would he suffer, but Melody to would face his wrath. He would be blind with rage if someone else touched her. His beast would claim her violently many times before it would be satisfied. He didn't care that Inuyasha would suffer unimaginable pain. However, Melody suffering the same fate somehow left a bad taste in his mouth. Sesshomaru suddenly growled, he really needed to quit thinking about her!

Melody glared at the Inu-group, she blamed them for her boredom. They had decided that since they were carrying around useless extra baggage, that now was a good time to return to Eido. So now here she was stuck being the village freak. Many villagers followed her around as if waiting for her to do something exciting, and then there was the men, their eyes followed her everywhere. When some of them leered at her like a piece of meat it made her miss Sesshomaru, no one would dare look at her like that if he was near. He didn't look at her like a piece of meat, when he looked at her Melody melted inside. Wait, why was she thinking about him? He was the one who took her virginity, caged her, and even whipped her. She shouldn't be thinking about him at all. She should be looking for a way to hide her looks and go home. She scoffed at the thought; there was nothing there for her, just a lot of misery. Melody suddenly felt very lost. There was nothing for her anywhere. She was like a lost soul just blowing in the wind. She would pause every once in a while to take a glimpse around, and then the wind would pick up again. Carrying her off to another place, where she would be unwanted. "WOULD YOU GET LOST!" She screamed at the villagers who flinched and scattered. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the demon slayer whisper something to the monk. Something unpleasant no doubt.

"Is something wrong child?" Melody whirled around to see an elderly old woman with an eye patch. Melody recalled Kagome speaking with her once they arrived in the village; from the looks of her clothes she was a priestess.

"No, nothing…"

"If it were nothing ye would not be yelling." Melody glared at the woman. What was her problem, why couldn't the woman take a hint and leave her alone!

"Look, I don't know what bullshit Kagome filled you with but I really don't want to hear it."

"Kagome filled me with nothing; I merely saw a distressed girl and thought I could be of some help."

"You want to help me? HOW ABOUT GETTING RID OF MY TAIL AND EARS!" Melody turned ready to stomp away.

"A puzzle true, but every puzzle has an answer child." Melody frowned and turned again, but the old woman was already gone. Now she was curious, and when Melody was curious there was no stopping her. She followed the old woman's scent to a little hut and entered... There sat the woman sipping some tea, her back facing Melody. "So ye decided to listen what this old woman has to say."

"Only because you said something interesting." Melody sat facing her, eyeing her with suspicion.

"Let me tell ye a story child." Melody rolled her eyes but played along none the less. "Long ago there was a sorceress named Hiroko. She was powerful many feared her."

"Is there a point to this?"

"One day some very powerful Demons asked for her services. She was to create a being that would please…" Melody's widened. "This being would not be Human, Demon, nor Half. They would have animalistic features, and a very pleasing smell. Hiroko took the job for they were paying her well. She succeeded in her task only to realize what she had done. She watched the humans she cursed to become the slaves of those who could afford it. She tried to make amends for her terrible mistake by blessing some Oni-petto with amazing powers in hopes that they could break free. However the demons even took advantage of that. Hiroko tried to lessen the guilt by giving the poor creatures a way out. If they mated they would be released from the curse. Demons killed many to keep this a secret and once again Hiroko's plans were fouled. She gave up at that. She became a priestess in hopes to ease the pain in her soul." Melody blinked a couple of times as the woman ended her story.

"You know old woman that story merely left gave me a new place to direct all my anger." The priestess held up her hand.

"You never asked me the woman's full name."

"Why would I?"

"It was Eido."

"She has a village named after her, so what?"

"Though Hiroko could not undo her mistake she tried to make up for it as best she could. Being the person who created the curse she could do things to help the Oni-petto. She would disguise those who came to her, giving them a human form so that they might find happiness. When she died she had one final wish. The priest or priestess of the village would help any Oni-petto that came to them. Though none had Hiroko powers, she had made charms that would conceal their animalistic natures." The woman moved around the hut. She kneeled to the floor and pulled up a loose floor board, she took something from the dark hole before replacing the disguising her hiding spot once more. She then turned back to Melody and opened her hand. There was an old rag seeming to keep something hidden. "This is the last charm there is. I believe it's meant for the very last Oni-petto." Melody took the rag and opened it. A black and red beaded bracelet gleamed at her. "Put it on child and I will say the spell." Melody nodded and slid it onto her wrist. "Se-bu Kihaku Henshin!" (AN: it means Save Soul Disguise.) Melody felt a warm glow and watched as her claws vanished; glancing behind her she saw no tail. Her hands flew up to her cats ears, but they were no longer there. Melody was human again…