Chapter 2

The sun had risen high and Sesshoumaru was feeling well enough to travel. He decided that it was time he got back to his palace. He knew his servants would be out looking for him. He got up to go.

"Where do you think you're going? You're not well enough to travel."

"Quiet woman. I answer to no one, especially not a human."

Shayan ran to stand in front of him. "Oh no you don't! That wound isn't healed enough. You'll open it back up if you head off now. You need to rest more. Come on." She tried to guide him back to the shelter but she found she couldn't budge him.

Sesshoumaru looked down at the small woman. She just barely came up to the middle of his chest. "You want proof girl?" He opened his top and showed her his wound, or at least the place where the wound had been. I was completely healed, there wasn't even a bruise to mark the spot.

Shayan's eyes went wide as she touched the area. "I don't understand. It was so deep and …" She looked up at him. "How?"

"I told you girl, I am a demon. I heal on my own. Now if you don't want that beating you promised I could give you, you had best stand aside." He pushed her to the side and walked on.

"Wait. I should go with you. At least until you meet up with your servant." She ran and got her bag and stuffed the oiled cloth along with her other things inside and ran after him.

"Why are you following me girl?"

"I just want to make sure you're going to be alright. That's all. So tell me more about the demons. I've always thought that they were legends."

They walked on talking of his realm and the different kinds of demons there were. He couldn't believe that this girl had lived so long and yet knew nothing of his kind. She explained that when she came from these things were considered myths. That she had always been told that they didn't exist and never did.

They came to a clearing and in the center of it was the most magnificent creature Shayan had ever seen. It had iridescent green scales and a main like a horse. But it had two heads.

"What is that?" She wanted to get close to the creature. "Can I touch it?"

"It's my dragon. Yes you may touch if you wish." He smiled. She was certainly a strange woman. Anyone else would have run away. But not this girl, she wants to pet the thing.

Shayan walked up to the creature in front of her. She reached out her hand to let the thing sniff her hand before petting the neck of one of the heads. "Oh, he's magnificent! I was always told these things didn't exist. I can't believe I'm seeing one. He's amazing." She said as she stroked the animal's head and neck. It nuzzled her hands.

Sesshoumaru came up behind her. She intrigued him. He didn't know why? He made a decision.

She turned and smiled up at him. "I guess this is goodbye. I'll see you later, maybe." And with that shestarted to walk away.

"Shayan, come here." Sesshoumaru said.

"Huh? Is there something you need?" She said as she returned to him.

He grabbed her about the waist and leapt up onto the back of the dragon. "Let's go." He commanded his little toad-like servant.

Shayan squeeled and struggled but couldn't get loose from the powerful lord. Then the dragon took to the skies. She had never flown without the benefit of a plane and was more than a little nervous. She pressed herself back into the chest of the demon lord, and hung onto his arm for dear life.

Sesshoumaru sniffed and then smiled. 'Finally, some fear.' he thought to himself. "I smell your fear girl. What troubles you?"

"I have never flown on the back of a mythical creature before and to tell you the truth, I'm a little afraid of falling off. You wont drop me, will you?" She looked around to see his face.

he pulled the girl in closer to his chest and whispered. "If I wanted you dead girl, I would have killed you long before this."

Shayan wasn't sure if he was trying to allay her fears or inspire new ones. Either way she wasn't going to let go of his arm no matter what, not until they landed.

After some time Sesshoumaru nudged her and pointed to the side. "There. Our destination."

"Is that your home?" She marveled at it. The palace was immense and had several beautiful gardens surrounding a large center courtyard. "It's beautiful."

"Master you're not thinking of bringing that human to your home are you. What would your father say? No human has ever set foot in this palace. Not even the human mother of…"

"Silence!"

"But master."

"Another word Jeken and you die."

Shayan twisted around to face Sesshoumaru. "Your servant seems upset. Maybe you should let me go here. I don't want to cause trouble."

"My servant will mind his place or he will die. As far as trouble is concerned I am the only one that you can get into trouble with in my home. I will bring whomsoever I please into my home."

They landed in the palace courtyard and dismounted the dragon. Sesshoumaru gave the servants orders regarding the care of the beast and then took the girl inside.

"Houto, Shayan is my guest. Find her a room and have a bath made ready for her." Shayan and the servant left and went down the hall. Sesshoumaru whispered something to another servant who quickly bowed and left his master.

Sesshoumaru was home. He would deal with his annoying brother, Inuyasha, later. Now he had other things on his mind. He went to his room and changed. He would bathe later. He wanted his guest to bathe first. He smiled briefly. She intrigued him and he wasn't sure why. He would keep her here with him as long as he could until he figured it out or tired of her.

Houto took the girl down the hall and turned a corner. The palace was huge. She had never been in such a place. She had no idea that the people of this era could build something this magnificent. All the places she had seen in this time were practically huts. They had to use stones on the roof boards to keep them from blowing away. But this place was wonderfully built and amazingly ornate. Everything was carved or had pearl and gold inlay.

The servant stopped in front of a door and slid it open. The room was huge. "This will be your room lady Shayan. Someone will be here soon to help you with your bath."

"Thank you. But you don't have to call me lady. I'm not anyone special."

"Oh no! Please, my lady I don't dare. The master would have my head if I spoke without the proper respect." He bowed and backed out of the room closing the door as he went.

Shayan looked around the room. It was hard to describe the décor. The walls and beams were ornately carved with lots of pearl and gold inlay. But as for the furnishings, they were sparse. There was a single chest that she assumed was for clothes, and a matt in the center of the room for sleeping. Other than that the room was bare. She was busy looking around the room when a knock on the door. It was another servant come to bring her to the bath.

She followed her down the hall and around yet another corner. It seemed to her that the palace went on forever. The servant stopped and opened a door. She was greeted by the most pleasant aroma she had smelt in a long time.

"If you will follow me my lady." She brought the girl to a corner of the room that had a screen around it for privacy. "You may wash yourself here while I get the tub ready." In Japan is was the custom to wash and rinse completely before getting into the tub. Shayan wasn't familiar with all the customs of the day and had committed many a faux pas. She had to learn fast so as not to offend the people that she worked for. She washed quickly before the servant returned. When she was done she peeked out around the screen. The servant looked at her and she ducked back behind the screen.

"Uh... Can you turn your back please? I really don't want anyone to see me like this." The servant nodded and turned. Shayan scooted out and jumped into the tub. She sighed. She hadn't had a real bath in ages. She had to get used to washing in a bowl or at the edge of a stream. This was a real treat. She sunk down in the hot water and hoped that this wouldn't end.

"When you are ready my lady I have some clean clothes here for you. And here is a towel to dry yourself off with. Do you wish me to leave you?" The servant asked.

"Yes please. I'll be fine, thank you." Shayan was in heaven. She soaked a little while and then got out of the tub and dried off. She picked up the clothes that had been set out for her. They were the most beautiful things she had seen. There were several pieces each made of the finest silk and embroidered with cherry blossoms and delicate branches. She put on the beautiful garments and wound around her middle the lovely white band. She had never worn anything so fine. She looked at herself in the mirror that was standing in the corner she looked like a lady.

A soft knock came on the door. "Sorry to interrupt you my lady. Are you done?" The servant asked.

"Yes, I'm ready."

"Good. My lord has asked me to bring you to him. Please follow me my lady." The servant let her to the main room of the palace.

Sesshoumaru was sitting at the table in the center of the room. He looked up as she entered. She was stunning. The kimono he had instructed the servant to give her, suited her perfectly. He held out his hand to her. "Come and sit with me."

She went and knelt down beside him at the table. A servant brought them some tea.

"Tell me girl, what have you learned of our customs? Has anyone instructed you in the ways of a lady?"

"Ways of a lady. Oh no I'm not a lady and I don't know anyone who is. All I know of this time period is how to get by. I do a little work here and there on the local farms to earn my keep and that's about it."

"Do you know how to serve tea?" He pointed to the tray.

"Yes, I think so. But I'm not sure if I have all the subtle bits to it." She took the tray that the tea service was sitting on and pulled it close. She took a small bowl and poured a little hot water into it, then wiped it inside and out with the cloth that was on the tray. Next she placed a small amount of tealeaves in the bowl then added some morehot water. She stirred it and handed it to Sesshoumaru. "What do you think? Did I do that right?"

He smiled as he took the bowl. "Yes, you did. Do they serve tea like this in your time?"

"No not really. Except for special occasions. I watched the wife of a village elder serve tea once when I worked at his home for a few weeks."

"You learn fast then, good."

"Sesshoumaru why did you bring me here? I don't belong here." Shayan asked that had been plaguing her since he put her on the back of the dragon.

"You need not concern yourself with that now." He sipped his tea and said nothing more of it. "Will you not also have some tea?"

She made tea for herself and studied her host. He was a strange one. One moment he was threatening her and the next moment inviting her to stay at his home. Why did he bring her here?

A servant brought in a meal for her. Sesshoumaru it seemed didn't eat, ever. He was watching her. She found it a little disconcerting to say the least. She decided to try again.

"Ok this is really bothering me. I want to know why I'm here? I'm sure it's not my winning personality. So what is it? Tell me."

Sesshoumaru only smiled at her. "Stop worrying. It's getting late and you must rest. Sheato! Lady Shayan needs her rest. Take her to her room. I will see you in the morning."

The servant stepped forward and bowed. "If you will follow me lady Shayan." She had been dismissed, so Shayan followed the servant to her room.

"Sheato, where are my things?" This was the first she noticed them missing.

The servant backed up nervously toward the door. "I … I'll ask the master. I'm… ah… I'll find out for you."

"That was weird." She said to herself. "What is going on?" She decided to press her reluctant host in the morning. Besides she intended to leave in the morning anyway. She would not stay at his home and not earn her keep. He was treating her like she was a lady and she felt terribly out of place. Shayan had promised herself that wherever she stayed she would work so as not to become a burden to anyone. She settled her self into bed and went to sleep.

The next morning Shayan woke early. She got up, got dressed and went out to find Sesshoumaru. She found him out in the courtyard speaking with yet another servant.

"Good morning," She said as she approached the lord. I just wanted to say thank you for your hospitality before I left. Can you tell me where my stuff is? I kind of want to get going early. I have a long way to go before I get to a village. I didn't see any nearby as we flew in."

"Go? Where are you planning to go?"

"Well I can't stay here. Not unless you have some sort of work here for me to do."

"You needn't work girl, I have decided that you will stay here. The seasons are changing and soon the snow will fly. I can't allow you to stay out in that make shift hut you use."

"Do you mean to say that you are not letting me go? Why?" She waited for him to answer her but he offered no reason. "Well I can't stay anywhere without working to earn me keep. I can't allow myself to become a burden to anyone. I promised myself that when I found out I was stuck here in your time. Is there work for me here? If there is then I will stay if not then I have to leave.either wayI want my things. I worked hard to earn them and I will need them when I leave here."

"No." He said as he walked away.

"No, what do you mean, no? You can't keep me here." She ran after him.

He stopped but didn't turn around. "Can't I? You will not leave here girl until I tell you to leave." Then he strode off. He left her in the courtyard with her mouth open.

'I don't believe this.' She thought to herself. 'He can't keep me here. I won't stay. I'll just find my things by myself.' She went inside and started her search. She quietly went from room to room carefully avoiding the many servants that the lord employed. She looked in every room with the exception of the lord's own room. She couldn't imagine him keeping a cooking pot in his room but she needed those things. She finally worked up the courage to go into the inner sanctum of the great lord. She had just begun to look around when she heard his voice behind her.

"Do you really think I would keep your trifles in here?" Sesshoumaru stepped forward.

"Well they have to be somewhere and this is the only place I hadn't checked yet. Where have you hidden them?"

"I didn't. I had your clothes and that disgusting cloth you use as a tent burned. As for your other trinkets, they were given to some peasant as he passed by."

"What?! How could you do that? Do you know how long I had to work just for the tent cloth alone? I can't just go out and replace that."

"I don't care girl I told you to stay here. I insist." Sesshoumaru had a strange look on his face. He was used to getting his own way and no matter what; this woman would be no different.

"No way! I'm not staying a moment longer." Shayan had, had it with this lunatic. She stormed out of the palace and headed straight to the main gate. "Open up!" She demanded as she neared the servant who minded the gate.

"I can't lady Shayan. Master's orders." The servant replied.

"What do you mean master's orders? I want to go now, so open up that gate."

"I can't lady, the master gave strict orders not to let you leave until the spring. He'll kill me if I dare disobey."

Shayan looked down at the little servant. Fear was all over his little toad-like features.

'Fine then.' She thought to herself. 'I'll just have to find another way.' She went over and sat down on one of the benches that were in the garden and started to think of a way around this guy. One question still burned. Why? Why was he so intent on keeping her here? Fine, she had done him a good turn but a hot bath more than made up for that. What did this guy want from her? Then her thoughts moved to what she was going to do next.

She looked around her. I was nice here and he was treating her well. Except for the fact that he disposed of her things. Maybe she should stay. Shayan gave her head a shake. No I can't do that. I would be a sponge and I hate sponges, always taking and never giving back. I will have to do something around here to earn my keep, or find a way to leave. She thought of the frightened servant. She didn't want to get anyone in trouble.

Then there was the issue of clothing. She couldn't work out in the field dress like a china doll. Maybe the servants could help her with that. There ought to be some cloth hanging around here. Yes that what she would do. She would make a new set of clothes. After a while the lord's guard will be down. He won't expect her to run.' She lookedaround the court yard and spotted what she needed 'I'llclimb that tree in the corner by the wall and jump down. Hopefully he won't notice she's gone for a few hours. In fact if she did it at night she'd have several hours to get to the next village.'

Satisfied with her plan Shayan went back into the palace and into her room. She stayed there for the rest of the day. Later a soft knock came on the door. "Yes?" She answered.

A servant opened the door and bowed. "The master sent me to bring you to the table. The meal is ready."

"No thank you. I don't want to eat with him." She spoke as she turned away. She was still angry with him for getting rid of her things.

The servant wasn't sure what to do. No one dared to disobey the master. It was suicide. "Please my lady. I beg you to reconsider. Come to dinner, the master is waiting."

"Let him wait. I won't eat with him. Not after what he did. And you can tell him what I said. I don't care." That last bit sounded childish she knew but how could he expect her to pretend that nothing is wrong when obviously it was. The servant bowed again and left the room. Shayan sat down in the corner and waited for the repercussions. She knew he'd be angry. The question was, what would he do? Maybe if she annoyed him enough he would kick her out. She shook her head. No, that won't happen. He's too stubborn for that.

Back in the main room Sesshoumaru was getting the bad news. The young maid would not be joining him at the meal. The lord was furious. He flicked his fingers at his servant and a whip of light energy erupted hitting the servant.

The little toad dropped to his knees and begged his master's mercy. "Please Master I tried to tell her. I begged her to come. Forgive me, please."

Sesshoumaru strode passed the cowering servant ignoring his pleas. He would not allow this human to disregard him in this manner. He went to her room and slid open the door.

Shayan didn't even look around. "I told you I'm not going. Now leave me alone."

"I have not intention of doing so. I gave a command girl. I expect it to be obeyed. Now come." Sesshoumaru's tone was level but the menace was evident. She would come or else.

She stood up, looked at him and said flatly. "No."

Sesshoumaru's patience was waning fast. "Do not play the fool with me girl. Do as I say, now." He took a step forward.

She tipped her chin defiantly. "I will do no such thing. You don't own me. I'm free and I will chose whether or not to eat and with whom I will eat. And I wont eat with you." She turned her back to him.

He looked at the tiny woman in front of him. She was no more than a girl yet she behaved so strangely. Any other woman would be honored to stay at such a palace and be dressed, as he had dressed her. What was wrong with this girl? She was acting the fool and behaving as an insolent pup.

"Fine girl. Don't eat." He left and gave instructions that no food be provided to her unless she partook of the meal in his presence.