Chapter 3:

Visitor, Part I

Azami yawned and stretched her arms over her head. "We've been walking for days, Sesshomaru."

"He is Lord Sesshomaru!" Jakken shouted.

"I'm bored," she continued ignoring Jakken. "There's nothing to look at but greenery and the only action I get is hunting a rabbit."

"Milord," Jakken whispered. However, Azami's ears picked up his voice. "Milord, perhaps it was a mistake bringing her with us. We could have just..."

"Silence!" Sesshomaru said suddenly. "Enough of your bickering. You act as though you were children."

"Well, technically," Azami began. Upon seeing the look on Sesshomaru's face, she stopped. "Aye, Sir." Her black ears lowered as a low growl came forth.

They came upon a vast, glassy lake. "We'll stay here for the night," Sesshomaru declared.

"So start setting up camp!" Jakken said to Azami, kicking her tent bag.

"Sorry," Azami answered. "You're going to have to do that if you want to sleep underneath something. Neither I nor Lord Sesshomaru will do it for you, toad." Azami looked around. Sesshomaru had disappeared. Whispering to herself she said, "Speaking of whom, where did he get to?"

"And what, pray tell," Jakken began. "Are you going to be doing?"

"I'm going to go swimming. Have fun!" She stuck her tongue out at Jakken and hurried off to the water. "I guess I should get rid of my tail and ears just for now. I hate the feeling of wet fur."

Once Azami had undressed, she stepped into the water. It was cool and refreshing. She took a deep breath and dove under. She felt her long black hair trail behind her as she swam.

Back on land, Jakken tried to open up the tent. He ended up getting tangled in it and resorted to tearing it apart.

"Very nice, toad," came Azami's voice. She had changed into brown shorts and a brown sleeveless top. On her arms and legs were greaves with the symbol of a black paw on each. Her black hair was pulled back into a long, tight braid. A few locks of hair flowed freely about her black, wolf-like ears. Her normally crystal blue eyes were aflame with anger. "Just ruin my tent, why don't you? That was quality material. Now I have to go steal another one!"

There was a rustling in the trees surrounding the lake. Azami looked around. There's no wind, she thought to herself. A strange scent drifted to her nose. She sniffed at the air. A demon. And this time it's not Lord Sesshomaru. It's something much different.

A screeching sound came from a tree. Azami spun in the direction of the sound. A giant bat woman hurtled at Azami, who bent over backwards just in time as the demon swooped.

"I'd guess it was a rat with wings!" Azami said to herself.

She dove for her swords as the bat demon swooped again. Azami sliced at the demon's foot as it sped by. It screeched at her again.

"Wench!" it shrieked. It perched itself on the bare branch of a tree. "Thou shalt pay for thine assay!"

"Don't bats usually come out at night?" Azami questioned, casually leaning on a sword.

"Anight thou shalt see mine face again. Address and arm thyself, girl. Fare ye well, wolf and toad."

"What's this?" Sesshomaru asked stepping up behind Azami.

"So," the bat said. "Thou art the Lord Sesshomaru?" It shrieked in laughter. "I was warned that this would be my bane? Thou art nothing! 'Till night, then. Fare ye well!" It turned and leaped from the tree, spreading its wings and flying off.

"How could you stand there and take that, My Lord?" Azami demanded of Sesshomaru.

"You have finally learned your place," he told her, turning away from her. Azami followed him.

"My Lord!" she said. "What are you planning? That bat demon will be back sometime come nightfall."

"Yes," Sesshomaru answered coolly. "She surely will. I have faith that you will be able to dispose of her."

Azami opened her mouth to ask why she had to do it, but closed it, deciding not to push the matter. "Yes, My Lord Sesshomaru."