Thanks for your reviews GiR, InuIsMine!, and Gryffinrose. Naraku won't be angry with Mizoshi for changing the color of her kimono, but she will enrage him sooner or later through other means, InuIsMine! My update's slower than usual because of a general lack of ideas and a lot of distraction. (I finally got Inuyasha: The Secret of the Cursed Mask!) Don't worry, I'll still update regularly though.

The soft candlelight glowed in the darkness. Mizoshi cracked open the doors to the garden, for it was unseasonably warm. Again, she couldn't sleep, so she decided to get to know her room and simply listen to the nighttime noise outside. She wished there was a chime she could hang from the ceiling in the desire that it would sway and jangle its music with the wind. The halls were too quiet here.

Mechanically, she lit the incense burner in front of her and the sweet smell of soothing lavender wafted up. Lavender reduced stress and induced sleep, or so she had read a lifetime ago. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, she closed her eyes and prepared to meditate. When she opened her closed lids again, she discovered dawn had broken, although it hardly made a difference. The gloomy, oppressing clouds had returned. Here, the sun shone less often than it should. Another cause for her melancholy. Mizoshi had hoped the incense would drive all negativities out of her mind, but now they came rushing back three-fold with the last wisp of perfumed smoke.

What had befallen Kagura? She never returned. No one came around. Not Kanna or Naraku either. But, morning was here and so was breakfast. Would she be seated beside the master of the castle again? What had he done to Kagura? Or was the shifty demoness simply lying? Perhaps it was a new game: scare the terrified mortal. Human was what she considered herself. She had no defining characteristics or powers of a hanyou, save for those cursed golden eyes that set her apart from every other villager she had encountered on the road or in the marketplace.

Peacefully, she allowed herself to drift in an attempt to block Naraku's disturbing aura from her thoughts. Something that was nearly impossible to do when he was standing right in front of her with a bemused expression on his face. "Hello, Mizoshi. I hope I am not intruding."

"I have finished my meditation anyway," she explained.

He stepped further into the room. "You've changed your clothes."

"Green is my favorite color," she replied matter-of-factly.

He sighed deeply, wringing his hands together nervously. Nervousness was not a trademark of Naraku's. Mizoshi was instantly alert. Gazing at her sheepishly, he said the most unexpected thing. "I came today to apologize."

This was most unexpected. What was he up to? "Apologize? Whatever for?"

"For Kagura's rude behavior. My assistant conjures up elaborate tales to unsettle anyone staying here. I have reprimanded her, and hopefully she will learn how to behave better."

"What did you do to her?" The sentence came out in a hush.

"I have taken action. I did nothing that will scar her for the rest of her days. Instead, I simply verbally corrected her."

Privately, Mizoshi mused how many bruises Kagura hid under her kimono.

Naraku virtually across the floor and knelt beside her. "I am concerned you are not happy here," he whispered. "I wish to remedy the situation."

Then, let me go. She wanted to say that, but this was probably wasn't what he had planned. She turned to him hesitantly, gazing into those alluring yet dangerous crimson orbs. "Yes, Naraku-sama?"

His smile widened. "I wondered if you had any special talents you hadn't had the opportunity to pursue."

Talents? "What do you mean?"

"Talents or leisure activities. Calligraphy for example. Isn't there any interest you want to pursue to fill the long hours?"

She glanced over at him wonderingly. He seemed so…concerned. Did he really care for her happiness? Yet, he did make a point. The past four days were all lumped together in a ball of loneliness and sleep deprivation. As wrong as it was, she decided to take Naraku up on his offer. Mizoshi did believe Kagura's "elaborate tales" and admonitions, but with those mesmerizing red eyes focused on her throat, her response poured out as if by its own volition. "Painting. And drawing. Those are my interests."

"You paint?"

"Yes. I made my own paint by crushing up berries and tree bark I found in the woods surrounding the home of my other life. Also, I fashioned the bristles on my paintbrush from my own loose hair."

"How innovative of you. For one so young, you are a remarkable woman. Any man would be blessed to have you as his wife." Naraku's eyes were ablaze.

She blushed in spite of herself. Was this a hint? Maybe this was to be her fate: to grow ancient with Naraku in this depressing, haunted castle. Perhaps a half demon would be the only chance of a suitor. Humans couldn't and wouldn't trust her. But, Mizoshi was getting ahead of the situation.

"Are you flattering me, Naraku-sama?"

"What if I am?" he countered, his dark crimson eyes gleaming. "Well, in any case, I shall fetch you some paper, inks, and other tools for the art student."

Mizoshi was confused. "Art…student?"

"You are still learning, are you not? How proficient do you think you are with a brush in hand?"

"Fairly decent," she replied honestly, "but I've been so busy this year, I haven't had the chance to actually paint since last winter. I prepared black ink from any stray coal pieces I found in the snow. I even scratched drawings in the ice."

Naraku's lips curved into a slow smile. "Rest assured those seasons of poverty have ended."

Suddenly, she wanted to slap his handsome face. Her family wasn't rich, but they made do. There was always some sort of food on the table, even if it was just edible mushrooms and roots, and they never froze into ice statues during the colder months. Their mother had worked hard, and every child did his or her best. Mizoshi cared not for his superior tone. On the other hand, he was acting unusually kind and polite now. Why ruin it?

"Come to breakfast, Mizoshi," he continued, grabbing hold of her wrist. "There are fresh peaches and smoked trout awaiting you."

Again, more fruit. Where did Naraku get it? Was there a cellar below that was stored with the summer sweetness for the upcoming winter? Grudgingly, she let Naraku lead her down the corridor as if she were a child, not letting herself admit she secretly enjoyed holding onto this supposed cruel overlord's hand.