With a sigh Melody Watched as Bankotsu slowly disappeared from the clearing. Would she ever see him again? She wondered…

Though, her attention was moved back to Sesshomaru, who was growling yet again. Curiously she looked back. His eyes were once again red and he was still in the low crouched position. "Um Sesshomaru…" He didn't speak just continued to growl. His beast was back in control and again it seemed it wanted her to submit. She had been free of rules and submission for so long; a shiver ran through her as she thought about the palace, not the best memories. Memories… She had certainly made a few of those with Bankotsu. When she was with him she could complete be who she wanted to be, he hadn't cared how childish she acted, or if she mouthed off to him, on the contrary he would smirk and mouth off right back to her. It was such a free feeling with no threat of punishment; she hadn't felt like that in a long time. She didn't want to go back to cages, chains, and punishment, but how could she change the way Sesshomaru saw her? Their relationship as it was simply possession. If she changed that, what would happen? Could she really put herself out there and turn the status of their relationship? Her father used to always tell her. "Just be yourself, you are amazing, why would you want to be anyone else!" His words echoed through her as she made her choice and her next move.

Next thing the growling Sesshomaru knew was he had been pushed onto his back with a smiling Melody straddling him. "So did you miss me?" To say that Sesshomaru was shocked would be an understatement. Never had she shown affection like this to him, his beast let out a purr of satisfaction causing his kitten to giggle. "Does that mean yes?"

"You really didn't run away." It was a statement of astonishment, but Melody chose to reply anyway.

"I knew they were going to say stuff like that to cover their own tails!" She leaned in close. "Next time take me with you, I'm not going to be stuck with that group again!" Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed.

"Making rules?" Melody shook her head.

"Nope, but if you stick me with them again, I will run away." Sesshomaru growled and flipped her on her back so their roles were reversed, the amount of dominance she was allowed was all used up for the day.

"Little one, mind your manners." Sesshomaru warned gently, he had just gotten her back; he was too exhausted to fight with her.

"I'm not trying to start a fight, but it was horrible, I had a better time running for my life and almost getting raped every other minute." Sesshomaru growled at the thought. He had a feeling he would like any of his little pet's adventure. She was no doubt in constant danger, both immoral and life threatening. He would like it better when she was back at the palace under constant watch. She slid her arms around his neck and brought herself closer to the warmth of his body. Again Sesshomaru was shocked, never had she touched him so freely and affectionately.

"Sesshomaru, do we have to go back?" Melody gave a pleading look.

"This Sesshomaru must return to the palace." He watched the emotions roam across her face; worry, fear, and dread were among them. Sesshomaru was at a loss, she gave him more emotion and interaction than ever before and he wasn't quite sure how to handle it. One thing was for sure; her journey has changed her in some way.

"No more cage." Though her voice sounded firm, she was yet again pleading with him.

"Are you going to run?"

"Listen Sesshomaru, I just had months to run. But I didn't, why do I need to stay in a cage?" She had a valid point, she had all the time in the world to leave this time and go home. Yet she remained. Not to mention the cage ended in disaster, she had been injured because she had not the ability to fight or run.

"Very well, no more cage." He almost smirked as her face instantly lit up. He took this as the perfect moment to claim her lips for the first time in months, he had nearly forgotten how they tasted and he was in desperate need of a reminder. She gasped as their lips made contact and he took that opportunity to deepen the kiss dominating her in yet another form. He paused his efforts as a moan slipped from Melody's body, shock caused Sesshomaru to pull away, but Melody wasn't having that, using her arms that had not left their position around his neck she tugged him back to her deepening the kiss once more. This time it was Sesshomaru making the noise, he groaned in pleasure at her attention. As his need for her grew to almost desperate levels he knew he needed to end their tryst right there. They were after all still on a battlefield and his little kitten was not fond of being caught in an affectionate position. He elegantly stood bringing a pouting pet with him. He started off toward the battle grounds and Melody followed along.

"No more trainers?" He inwardly cringed at the memory of the trainer he had hired for her. No, there would be no more trainers.

"Hn" Melody smiled again.

"What about going outside?"

"You will get sick without fresh air. Now no more talk of this." He could sense that she was pleased with that outcome which in turn put him at ease. If her attitude stayed as he experienced moments ago, he would give her practically anything her little heart desired. Once they arrived at the battlefield they were greeted by Renka, Riku, and Yuki Lord of the East. Renka and Riku both quickly checked Melody over for injuries before reporting to their lord and master.

"The battle is won my lord."

"Though, no one has been able to locate that wretch Sayko." The lord of the East scowled his disdain. Melody couldn't help herself she pointed to the direction they had just come from.

"What's left of him is over there." Lord Yuki blinked a few times at the girl before looking to lord Sesshomaru who had also been observing his pet. She wandered towards Renka and Riku suddenly wanting to be out of the spotlight. They ruffled her hair and commented how she was such a handle full to which she pouted in response.

"He dared an attempt at touching what is mine, his life was then forfeit." Yuki didn't see a reason to argue, his old friend had gone through great lengths to reunite with his pet again, and from the utterly peaceful wave of his aura he'd say that girl had an incredible effect on the dog demon. They were both glancing at the girl now; she was listening intently as Riku explained the battle to her. The lord of the east thought it was odd how at ease the girl seemed around demons. She wasn't the slightest bit scared of the General of the west or his second in command, did she not understand how immensely deadly they both were? Renka was the general of Sesshomaru's armies, though no match for the western lord himself, he was a very powerful demon, and his young brother Riku was no slouch either, perhaps young and impulsive, he was already second in command of the army. That was not due to relations, it was due to his impressive skills. Yet there the girl was acting like they were no more deadly than a fluffy white rabbit.

"She's strangely familiar with demons, where did you say you found her?" Sesshomaru at last looked to his old friend.

"I didn't."

"She must have come from a place where demon and humans coexist, she acts so natural around demons of power, their auras should be suffocating her." Sesshomaru saw no reason to hide the truth from his friend.

"I am the first demon she has ever laid eyes on." The shocked look on Lord Yuki's face reflected what he had felt when he found out that she had never seen a demon before. She adapted quite quickly to her surroundings and treated them all equal, like they were no different than her, something no human had ever done to them before. Perhaps that is why Renka and Riku took to her so well, they differed from Sesshomaru's goal of supreme conquest, Riku did not enjoy the shiver that females gave him when he passed, Melody had never done so, not even when she was crying over her lost necklace. A scowl graced his features that necklace had been the reasons for so many troubles with his pet and she just gave the trinket away to that walking corpse… The corpse that claimed Melody as his own, what had happened between them in the months that she was away? A deadly growl slipped out of the demon lords lips, there by receiving everyone's attention, including Melody's. A pout graced her lips as she stepped forward to the dog demon. Their eyes locked before she wrapped her arms around him nuzzling her nose into his kimono.

"My nose is burning." She muttered into his chest, though Yuki looked confused, Sesshomaru swiftly hoisted the girl into his arms and began walking off the battlegrounds. His anger could wait; his pet's well-being would come first. No doubt she used this as a way to distract him from his rage, but at this time he would overlook it. Besides with this small interaction his musings were confirmed, her animal traits were still there just concealed somehow.

"She doesn't have the control over her senses that we do, we are all covered in blood and was likely too much for her." Renka elaborated to the eastern lord while Sesshomaru walked off with his pet.

"What a strange girl…" Lord Yuki mused; Riku nodded his head in agreement.

"She's strange alright, and one of a kind."