Ametsuchi

By: lilsapphire2004

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Inuyasha owns me. I do not own Inuyasha. Inuyasha owns himself.

Chapter 9

"How is the girl doing?" asked the man.

"My lord. The girl has been put into more comfortable attire, and is still resting peacefully," said the servant.

"Good, Kayura. Keep a close watch on her for when she wakes up," said the man.

"Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru," said Kayura.

Kayura bowed and walked back to the royal sleeping wing of the palace. She stopped at the third door on the left, and took her post up in front of it.

'Shouldn't Lord Sesshoumaru have placed the girl into the guest wing?' thought Kayura.

She clasped her hands in front of her, and began to hum a song that her mother had sung to her when she was a young neko. A sound from the inside of the room brought her attention back to reality. She softly opened the door, and saw the young girl trying to get out of bed.

"My lady, you musn't get out of bed," ordered Kayura.

Kayura walked quickly to the other side of the bed before the girl could get the rest of the way out of bed. The girl struggled for a few minutes, before she finally gave in.

"Where am I?" she said hoarsely.

"You are at my lord's palace," stated Kayura.

"Where exactly is that?" asked the girl.

"My lady, you are in the Western Lands under the protection of Lord Sesshoumaru," said Kayura.

The girl thought about what Kayura had said. She finally remembered what happened. The fight between Inuyasha and his brother, and then her standing up to him. Beyond that she didn't remember anything.

"Could you please not call me "my lady"? My name is Leann," said the girl.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that," said Kayura.

"Why not?" she asked.

"You are the guest of Lord Sesshoumaru. You are to be treated as a person of high ranking," said Kayura.

"Well then. At least call me something besides "my lady". It makes me feel uncomfortable," said Leann.

"Yes, Lady Leann," said Kayura.

Leann leaned up in the bed to sit up. Kayura got up to help, but Leann held up a hand.

"Don't worry. I'm fine. I won't kill myself by sitting up," said Leann.

"But my--..Lady Leann, I was instructed to help you anyway possible," said Kayura.

Leann giggled, and stopped when she saw Kayura's sad face.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to laugh. I'm not used to having someone help me," said Leann.

Kayura stood up from her kneeling position and fluffed up Leann's pillow so she would be more comfortable.

"What is your name?" asked Leann.

"I am not to give you my name," said Kayura looking down at her feet.

"Who said you couldn't?" said Leann.

"Lord Sesshoumaru instructed me to see to your every need, but not to give any information about myself or him. I see that I have failed my duties, and according to the laws of servants I am to be killed," said Kayura.

Leann gasped and her eyes went round at what Kayura had said. She touched Kayura's shoulder softly scaring the girl out of her reverie.

"They can't kill you, because you haven't failed," said Leann.

"But I haven't seen to your every need," said Kayura.

"That doesn't mean anything. Just because I don't let you do everything doesn't mean that you have failed," said Leann.

"It doesn't?" asked Kayura.

"For a first need. What is your name? I wish to know," said Leann.

Kayura bit her lower lip and looked somberly at Leann.

"That is something I cannot tell you," said Kayura.

"Who's to know? I won't tell anybody that I know," said Leann smiling brightly.

"Lord Sesshoumaru will find out," said Kayura.

"Only if one of us tells, and it is definitely not going to be me," said Leann.

Kayura thought for a moment if she should to tell the lady her name or not. Finally she shook her head yes.

"My name is Kayura, Lady Leann," said Kayura.

"That's very pretty. What does it mean?" asked Leann.

"I do not know. I was never told," said Kayura.

"Oh," said Leann.

Leann began to lean up some more, but Kayura was there to keep her down. "Why won't you let me up?" asked Leann.

"Because of your weakened state, mistress. I was ordered to keep you in bed until Lord Sesshoumaru deemed you fit to get out of bed," said Kayura.

"What is the cause that I should be weakened?" asked Leann.

She racked her brain for anything that would have made her weak. She couldn't think of anything. She thought she might have contracted some weird feudal era disease.

"Do you not remember?" asked Kayura.

"No. Please enlighten me," said Leann.

"You turned into your youkai form, and fought with Lord Sesshoumaru. But instead of hurt him, you healed him. After healing him, you fainted into a deep sleep. You've been asleep for three days," said Kayura.

"What?!? That can't be. If I've been asleep for three days, then I have to get back to my friends before they get worried," said Leann.

She tried to get out of bed once more. But Kayura held her down.

"Why won't you let me up? I won't die from standing up, either," said Leann.

Kayura let her go, and Leann got up. She easily fell back down from a headrush. Kayura flew to her side.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just got up too quickly," said Leann.

At that exact moment, they heard a knock at the door. Leann tried to shrug the shirt back up on her shoulders, as Kayura got up from beside her and walked to the door to open it. She was surprised to see Lord Sesshoumaru on the other side.

"My lord, what are you doing here?" asked Kayura.

"Do you dare question me, wench?" said Sesshoumaru coldly.

"No, my lord, I'm really sorry. It will not happen again," said Kayura bowing.

Kayura stepped out of his way for him to enter. Leann struggled harder to get the foreign garment back onto her shoulders. Sesshoumaru stepped soundlessly in the rather large bedchamber. His eyes looked over the chamber, and finally his eyes landed on Leann trying to figure out the top of the garment. Leann turned around and her naturally rosy cheeks turned beet red.

"Can I help you?" she said.

"Please cover yourself appropiately, human," said Sesshoumaru.

Kayura rushed over and pulled the covering over Leann's shoulders and pulling the sash tighter.

"Well sorry if I can't figure out ancient foreign clothing," said Leann sarcastically.

Sesshoumaru suppresed a growl and chose to ignore her comment. High color still rose in Leann's cheeks, but she was angry. "Well, why are you here?" said Leann.

"If you are well enough, I came to talk to you about what happened three days ago," said Sesshoumaru.

"That is exactly what I need to know, because I can't remember," said Leann.

"Get into some more clothing and meet me in my study in ten minutes," said Sesshoumaru.

Before Leann could get anything, he was out the door and slamming it behind him.

"How rude!" said Leann.

"Mistress, we must get you ready," said Kayura.

"It'll take me forever just to figure out how to get out of these clothes," complained Leann.

"Not with my help. We'll be done in a few," said Kayura.

She moved Leann towards the open wardrobe. Kayura untied the sash from around Leann's waist and let it drop to the floor. She then pulled a navy blue silk kimono from the wardrobe, and held it to Leann.

"Do you have anything that has pants?" asked Leann.

"Pants?" asked Kayura unfamiliar with the term.

"Yes, you know? Something that I came here in?" said Leann.

"I only have a pair of men's hakamas and haori," said Kayura.

"As long as it is not a skirt, I will be happy," said Leann.

"But Sesshoumaru will not be happy," said Kayura.

"I don't care. He isn't my father," said Leann angrily.

"Yes, mistress. I will be back in a few minutes with the clothing," said Kayura.

She rushed out of the room, quickly. Leann sat down on the bed pulling the clothing close around her body. Kayura came back five minutes with a pair of blue hakamas, a white underhaori, and a silk white top haori. She also carried a piece of blue silk string.

"I'm sorry if I made you mad Kayura," said Leann.

"Please don't aplogize. It is my job to make you happy," said Kayura.

"How long have you been under the employ of Sesshoumaru?" asked Leann.

"It will be exactly ten months in two days," said Kayura.

"Do you like working under him?" asked Leann.

"Oh yes. Now please be still. I have to fix these bottoms to fit you," said Kayura.

Leann was quiet and let Kayura fit the bottoms to her waist. Kayura then took the bottom haori and wrapped each side on top of each other and tucked it into the hakamas. She fit the top haori around the bottom one and tied it neatly at the waist with the blue silk string.

"How does it look?" asked Leann.

"You are the first woman I have ever met that would rather wear men's clothing," Kayura laughed.

"It is a lot more comfortable then what I was in earlier," said Leann.

"Now I will show you where to talk to Lord Sesshoumaru," said Kayura.

Kayura went to the door and opened it for Leann to preceed her out. Leann went out of the room, and Kayura closed the door behind them. Leann followed her down the flight of stairs, and down a series of long and mazelike hallways. Kayura stopped a few minutes later and front of a large door, and knocked solidly on it.

"Come in," someone called from inside.

Kayura opened up the door, bowing. She waited for Leann to enter before she closed the door with a soft click.

Leann looked at Sesshoumaru with uncertainty rolling off of her in waves.

"Take a seat," he said instructing her to sit in one of the many chairs.

Leann took one nearest to where he is sitting.

"You are late," he said coolly.

"Well sorry Mr. Ice for basking in the wonderful hospitality that you have offered me," said Leann.

He stared her down, but Leann continued to look at him the same way. She returned stare for stare.

"I am not here to argue with any of your petty thoughts. I am here, because I want you to tell me exactly what you are and where you came from," said Sesshoumaru.

"Sesshoumaru, you know more about me, then I know about myself," said Leann.

"In the future you will address me as "my lord" or Lord Sesshoumaru. Will not use my name in such a familiar tone," he said angrily.

"Well sorry for ruffling your feathers, but I would like to know why I am here and where my friends are at," said Leann almost as angrily.

Sesshoumaru could sense her aura rising, and turning from a calm soft orange to a fiery red. He could tell that she would be a formidable opponent if she was who he thought she was.

"Your friends know where you are at, and know that you are also safe during your stay here," said Sesshoumaru.

"Then why am I here?" she asked.

"Because I have need of you," said Sesshoumaru matter of factly.

"And what is your need of me, my lord?" she said edging each word with massive sarcasm.

"I need to know who or what you are. Also who and what your friends are," he said.

"I am Leann McCoy. An eighteen year old human female from the United States of America. Would you like to know the year was born or my favorite color also?" said Leann.

Sesshoumaru supressed the need to grab her by her neck and show her manners.

"No need. If you are human, then how were you able to take on the form of a full fire youkai?" he asked.

"A what?" she asked raising an eyebrow.

"A fire youkai. And a very powerful one at that," he said.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," said Leann.

"You turned into a fire youkai, and fought me," he said.

"I don't remember," said Leann.

"Then let me show you proof," he said.

Sesshoumaru rolled of the left sleeve of his haori, and showed her his arm.

"Do you remember doing this?" he asked.

"No, I don't," said Leann.

Sesshoumaru rolled down his sleeve, and turned towards the young girl.

"Then who was the girl who was a water youkai and then a human?" he asked.

"That was my friend, Amber. Her turning into that I think was some freak accident. But Inuyasha told me of something that might happen to me and my friends," said Leann.

"What did my dimwitted half brother say to you?" he asked.

"Inuyasha talked about something called elemental youkai," said Leann.

"What would he know about those? Elemental youkai haven't been seen for over six hundred years," said Sesshoumaru.

"I don't know. But Amber turning into a water demon, and me turning into a fire demon for a short period of time has to mean something," said Leann.

"If that is true, then there would need to be two more girls just like you. Elemental youkai come in packs of four and all are female," said Sesshoumaru.

"He said my friend Cassie might also be one, but we don't know who the forth would be," said Leann.

She began to play with her hands and looking down at her feet as if they were interesting.

---At Amber's Campsite---

Amber layed down for a moment for a bit of rest. She hadn't rested at all since Leann had went missing. Amber did not know where to look. Her food had ran out the day before, and she also could not find a good water source.

"God! Where are you Leann?" yelled Amber.

Amber felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Something was moving quick, and it was not the friendliest of runners. Amber jumped up to see a wolf demon running at her at full speed.

Amber closed her eyes and put her arms in front of face to shield herself. Fear intermingled with tears, and Amber began to feel her body tingle. She opened her eyes and looked down to see herself glowing a soft blue. She felt her back give a little and wings begin to sprout out of her back.

After a few minutes, the soft blue dissapated and Amber stood in her youkai form. She still saw the wolf demon coming after her, and she did the only thing she knew. She ducked and covered. She put her arms over her head.

Amber felt something pulse inside of her, and then she felt it shoot out. She looked up when she felt something hit the pulsing. Amber saw the wolf demon slide down off a barrier that seemed to be growing and growing. She noticed that the pulsing was creating an ice barrier. Amber began to stand up, and the barrier stopped growing and receded back into her body. She looked at the unconscious wolf demon not far from her. She got closer to him, and noticed that he was still breathing.

She bent down and shook him gently. He didn't respond.

'I must have really hurt him,' thought Amber.

Amber left him where he was, and went behind a tree. She looked down at her form and began to wonder how she was supposed to revert back to her human form. She groaned and stomped her foot on the ground. The ground started shaking, and a torrent of water shot out of the ground hitting Amber on the top of her head.

'Well at least I get a shower,' she thought.

---This chapter is over. It's four o' clock in the morning and I'm tired. So bye bye.---