"It's been a month Miko, where is she?" Inuyasha's wench fidgeted nervously behind the half-breed, Sesshomaru on the other hand took his time to look around. He couldn't smell her at all, nor could he smell Ah and Un. His eyes flickered red. "I grow tired of waiting wench, where is Melody?" Kagome took a deep breath.

"We don't know…" Sesshomaru's eyes were instantly red. Hundreds of thoughts zoomed through the demon lords head, was she hurt, did someone kidnap her, and did someone touch her? The more he thought about the possibilities the more filled with rage he became, the Miko wasn't going to live through this encounter.

"It wasn't Kagome's fault; she just disappeared without a trace." Sango stepped in to defend her friend. Sesshomaru's blood filled eyes filled flickered to the demon slayer, she was most likely protecting the Miko from her soon to be painful end.

"That's right, we were in a village for supplies and she was gone." Kagome explained stepping out from behind Inuyasha.

"You think that's an excuse?" Kagome flinched at his tone.

"I didn't think she would run off." She had a pleading tone to her voice. Not that it would do any good. "We've looked everywhere, Inuyasha can't track her, and that night Ah and Un vanished too."

"It's been three weeks no human that wasn't from out time would survive. Face it Sesshomaru she's dead."

"Fool, did you think those ears were there simply for looks?" Sesshomaru smirk at the simpleton's idea. "Her hearing and sense of smell alone rival yours; she is not a normal human." Were they that simple indeed that they didn't understand basic lodge?

"Several days after being here she lost her feline features." Miroku was the one to speak this time. Though it didn't matter who spoke those simple words were enough to send Sesshomaru into frenzy. He had Inuyasha by the throat before anyone could blink.

"Are so weak little brother? So weak that you couldn't keep her untouched, for even a few measly days?" Inuyasha coughed and gasped.

"What are you talking about, no one touched her."

"There are absolutely only two ways for her to be rid of her features. Her death, or if she was mated."

"Wait, what does mate mean?" Kagome suddenly looked confused.

"It's what we human's call marriage, uh sort of…" Kagome's eye blew up.

"Melody's married!" Sesshomaru growled not liking the awful sound those words created in his ears, his fingers instinctively squeezed harder on the half-breed's throat.

"But I didn't see Melody get married and I was with her the whole time we were in the village." Sesshomaru smelt no lie in the kit's remark, meaning if she didn't mate then it was all some sort of an illusion, she had found a way to hide her cat like features from the world, that idea created a emotion in the demon lord that he didn't quite understand, he wasn't pleased that she choose to have human features she should be proud of her animal instincts. As he was deep in thought he noticed that his anger had begun fading away letting Inuyasha have a chance to escape his grip. The half breed didn't make it but a few stumbles away from him trying to catch his breath the entire time. Sesshomaru couldn't be bothered with him at the moment, he would now have to waste time looking for his pet, he hadn't expected her to run off and there would be no rhythm or reason to her whereabouts. Unless…

"Miko, you will go to your time and look for her." Inuyasha glared between gasps of breath.

"The hell she will, we got jewel shards to find!" How he managed to scream that sentence out through the gasps of air was impressive, even at deaths door he excelled at annoyance.

"Then find that group of undead mercenaries." Sesshomaru's voice had that final tone to it, her era was the one place that Sesshomaru could not follow, he needed to be sure that she wasn't there before he started his own search. The Monk decided he would add his "knowledge' to the conversation, a useless attempt in Sesshomaru's eyes but the human would speak anyway.

"But my lord, it is not that simple. They are either nowhere to be found or hiding their scent from inuyasha. We have had no run-ins with them in quite some time." Miroku fidgeted unsure how the demon was taking the news. His face held no emotion, and when it did it normally meant you should run. Sesshomaru was still for a few minutes than he turned to Kagome again.

"Miko, I will not ask again." Kagome gasped but nodded.

"Quit wasting our time with your stupid wench Sesshomaru!" Though force would generate the desired results, Sesshomaru found himself bored and impatient with beating the half-breed to a pulp, no he would play on the Miko's obvious weaknesses.

"Wasn't it the Miko's idea to bring Melody to this era in the first place?" Kagome slowly stood from her kneeled position next to Inuyasha. "She was captured and killed because they thought she was you. If I had not revived her you would have a death on your conscious." Kagome visibly paled as Sesshomaru's words began to eat her alive. Sesshomaru didn't show it, but he inwardly smirked, the Miko was easily manipulated. "And here you are continuing your journey like she never existed; I am rather surprised you're not out looking for her, since it's your fault she's here."

"Inuyasha I'm going home to look for Melody." Kagome looked completely distraught, Guilt was consuming her soul, and Sesshomaru noticed that her guilt ridden scent filled the area, it was rather disgusting.

"The hell you are! We got jewel shards to find!" The half demon stomped towards her growling.

"Inuyasha… Sit!" Sesshomaru's golden eyes followed Kagome as she headed to the Neko demon, presumably to begin her journey to her era, she didn't pause until his voice called out to her.

"Miko…" Kagome turned. "You have three days." Sesshomaru turned to leave.

Melody had to admit riding on this man machine guy was more interesting than being stuck in that muggy old cave, though she did wonder where they were headed though, there didn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to their paths. She tugged on her ankle in a bored manner grabbing Bankotsu's attention almost instantly, he didn't give her much space anymore as she had attempted to escape 42 times since she has been in their possession. Bankotsu practically kept her at arm's length now, and if he couldn't watch her than Jakotsu would. They had moved passed their differences, and by that it meant Jakotsu loved her now. His feelings for her had all changed about a week after she had been with the group.

*Flashback*

"You jerk, you ripped my dress!" Melody tried desperately to cover her now bare hip.

"Well there wasn't much there to begin with now was there?" Renkotsu sneered as perversely glanced over her body, there was a great temptation to hiss and scratch his eyes out. In fact she did pick up a rock to chuck at his shiny bald head but Bankotsu destroyed her chance at a shot by picking her up by her waist and hoisting her over to him.

"Jak, do you have anything she could wear?" Bankotsu watched his friend's jaw drop and he glared in Melody's direction, he didn't question him though, he wouldn't go against his big borther.

"Come on wench." He led her to a trunk and flipped open the lid, it was plum full of attire, he stood next to it and looked at her impatiently. "Well?" Melody jumped a little but none the less stepped forward to look through the trunk. She was at a loss; she didn't know what she was looking for. "Just pick one!" Jakotsu grumbled.

"I don't know, what would look good?" Jakotsu's eyes perked up a minute and he began rummaging through the trunk himself. He finally pulled out a lilac colored kimono with white blossom blooming all over the gown. Truly it was gorgeous, something fit for a princess, the attire that was made for her was more so made to please Sesshomaru's desires.

"Here!" he announced proudly.

"I don't know how to put it on…" Instantly Jakotsu lunged at her, before Melody knew what happened she was dressed and her hair was done up in a fancy bun.

"Big brother, look!" Jakotsu rushed over to Bankotsu and shoved Melody in front of him this time it was Bankotsu's turn to gawk.

"Can I dress her again tomorrow?" Thus resulting in Jakotsu's attachment to Melody.

*End Flashback*

Melody's ears twitched and she turned her head to the north. "Something's coming." Renkotsu sneered at her.

"What would a simple girl know?" Yet another temptation to hiss at the bald mercenary, it was quite clear that he thought himself far more intelligent and superior to most in the group, Jakotsu and herself were the lowest on the list in his opinion. So when Koga the wolf demon burst into the clearing Melody couldn't help flashing Renkotsu a smirk.

"Told you so…" Bankotsu looked down at her in slight awe.

"How did you do that?"

"How did I do what?" She replied innocently, though she knew playing dumb wasn't really going to work for long, Renkotsu might think his big brother was an idiot, but he was far from it. Bankotsu followed every unusual movement Melody made, she had almost let too much slip a few times now and she could tell Bankotsu was getting quite suspicious of her 'lucky guesses'. She really needed to get a better handle on it, but they were her instincts after all, she couldn't just stop using them. Melody could still feel Bankotsu's gaze burning through before Koga helped distract him by yelling their way.

"What are you doing here?" Kouga ignored the entire band of seven, Melody had his attention at the present time, which wasn't surprising as last he seen she was in Lord Sesshomaru's care.

"I'm sight seeing... What do you think I'm doing here, you moron!"Melody lifted her ankle to emphasize her point. Kouga took in her tied ankle then followed the rope to Bankotsu's leg. Bankotsu pushed Melody behind him and glared daggers at Kouga. Possessive as always, she had grown used to it, anyone that wasn't part of their group wasn't allowed very close to her. This didn't happen often, a traveler passing by, which she was sure didn't get to live after they left her sight, or if they needed to roam into a village for something. Now it was hide her from the smelly wolf.

"You'll die before you reach her wolf boy." Kouga scoffed.

"I don't want her!"

"It's just as well; I'd off myself if you somehow managed to rescue me." Kouga growled.

"Damn you're insolent!"

"Why would I listen to a dumb little wolf boy?"

"You're lucky I promised Kagome not to kill humans!" As the two kept going back and forth, the band of seven could only stare in shock. The bickering probably went on all day if Bankotsu hadn't covered Melody's mouth, and then Jakotsu took the opportunity to attack followed by the others.

"It's a pity you keep running; now your legs will be cut to shreds in order to get those jewel shards!" Melody cocked her head to the side in curiosity. She looked up at Bankotsu hoping he would notice and remove his hands. He did.

"What are jewel shards?"

"You don't know?" Melody shook her head. "They are shards of the sacred jewel of four, just one could increase ones power by tenfold." Melody reached down into her kimono and pulled out a small shard, it was the shard that Kagome had given her the day she fell down the well, she had kept it with her this entire time.

"Is this one?" Bankotsu couldn't stop himself from gawking at the girl slightly, where in the world did she get that? His hand itched to reach out and snatch the shard out of her hand but he did not, why though, he wasn't so sure. What was she going to do with it, she had no use for it, and she obviously didn't know how to use it. So then, what was stopping him? He did nothing as she slowly tucked the shard back into her kimono. Perhaps his thoughts would have lingered further on the matter had Jakotsu not grabbed his attention.

"What?"

"I asked if we should go after him big brother." Bankotsu looked at the empty meadow that was now scorched and burned, but empty of signs of the wolf demon.

"He's not worth it…" And like that they were on their way once again, but this time something was lingering in the shadows behind them. It unnerved Melody to no end, she couldn't quite smell in or hear it, but she could sense it was there, watching and following them. What was it and why did it show itself?